Journal of Ideas in Health (JIDHealth)
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A paradox of the ovulatory patterns in the living laboratory, African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) from Tanzania
Get PDFThe African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) has emerged as a valuable model animal deployed in biomedical and other researches with humanitarian application due to its intelligence, socio-behavior, and adaptability to captivity. This rodent lives in solitary and belongs to the family Cricetidae that synchronises sexual behavioral onset with subsequent maturation of their gonads and gametes just prior to the beginning of the short rains of Tanzania. The current study set out to investigate whether ovulation in this species is induced or spontaneous. The study involved five sexually mature intact tame females and five sexually matured vasectomized wild males. Females were monitored non-invasively for ovarian cyclicity by measuring urinary progesterone every 2 days over 84days. Females were subjected to three separate step-wise experiments with different treatments as follows: step one was singly housed, which served as the control (C), followed by Non-Physical Contact with a vasectomized male (NPC) and Physical Contact with the same vasectomized male (PC), respectively. The average urinary progesterone concentration was similar in all three treatments, with a urinary progesterone spike indicating ovulation occurring in all treatments, suggesting a spontaneous ovulating strategy. However, upon assessment of the male penis, it was revealed that part of the glans penis had small epidermal spines which somehow resembles to those reported in induced ovulators. The findings from this study on the African giant pouched rat leaves a paradox as profiles of progesterone from females strongly suggest a spontaneous pattern of ovulation although the penile morphology of males have features suggesting induced pattern of ovulation.
Assessment of factors related to caregivers and children on the IMCI program outcomes in Baghdad City in 2021
Get PDFBackground: The implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program has led to enhancement in outcomes for many treatable childhood diseases. This study aims to assess how implementing IMCI affects child mortality and morbidity in Iraq.
Methods: A cross-sectional study spanning from January to December 2021 was carried out at primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) with IMCI units in Baghdad, Iraq. Using a lottery sampling method, 40 PHCCs were randomly chosen from a total of 235 centers across both sides of the city. A universal sampling technique was adopted to select all children attending these PHCCs regularly. With a p-value below 5%, multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the significant independent predictors at a 95% confidence interval.
Results: The majority of caregivers were mothers (97.8%), aged 20 to 30 years (75.8%), and housewives (59.2%). Sixty percent of children (6 to 35 months) had normal anthropometric measurements. Bottle feeding was common (44.2%), and most children had a normal neonatal history (82.9%). In bivariate analysis, the severity of illness, severe cases of diarrhea, and acute respiratory infection (ARI) showed significant associations with worsened or not improved outcomes (χ2 = 18.900, p < 0.001; χ2 = 6.265, p= 0.016; and χ2 = 7.549, p= 0.003, respectively). However, multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that mild and moderate illness severity (OR = 10.634, 95% CI: 6.985 to 16.192, p < 0.001), strict breastfeeding (OR = 3.307, 95% CI: 1.703 to 6.421, p < 0.001), and completing treatment at home (OR = 6.190, 95% CI: 4.115 to 9.311, p < 0.001) significantly improved outcomes through IMCI services.
Conclusion: Severe illness, especially in diarrhea and ARI, correlates with poorer outcomes. Conversely, exclusive breastfeeding, prompt medical attention within a day of illness onset, and completing home treatment are associated with improved outcomes
Postoperative satisfaction and perception among laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients in Diyala Province, Iraq
Get PDFBackground: Over the past two decades, laparoscopic surgeries have significantly progressed, and surpassing traditional surgical methods across multiple medical fields. This study aims to assess the patients’ satisfaction and the related factors toward the laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Iraq.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2023 to 30th March 2024 at the Alkalis General Hospital and Al Hayat Private Hospital, Diyala province, Iraq. Semi-structured questionnaire was recruited to collect the pre and post operative data from patients. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS-21, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: Data of 157 patients with mean age (+ Standard Deviation) of 47.57 (SD +12.80) were analyzed. Most of them (53.5%) were females, operated in public hospitals (52.2%), unemployed (51.6%), and earned less than USD 400 (60.5%). The majority of patients expressed high overall satisfaction with the laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure (42.7% being strongly satisfied and 38.9% satisfied). In the multiple logistic regression, the patients who were operated in private hospital (OR = 4.506, 95% CI: 1.394 to 14-577; P-value= 0.012), with monthly income exceeds USD 400 (OR = 4.887, 95% CI: 1.531 to 15.601; P-value=0.007), involved in the choosing of surgery technique (OR = 5.596, 95% CI: 1.425 to 21.982; P-value=0.014), and those recommend laparoscopic cholecystectomy for others (OR = 9.100, 95% CI: 1.425 to 21.982; P-value=0.001), had the highest odds ratios. The Hosmer and Lemeshow test indicated a good fit (p = 0.552).
Conclusion: Patient satisfaction is high especially among high income patients operated in private hospital however, the perception of postoperative outcomes remains important areas of focus, particularly in regions with unique healthcare challenges like Iraq
Seroprevalence and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii infecting Rodents and Pigs in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania
Get PDFBackground: Toxoplasma gondii, is an intracellular protozoan parasite that relies on both definitive and intermediate hosts, such as rodents and pigs, for completion of its life cycle. Despite its public health importance, data on its infection in these hosts is limited in Tanzania, notably the Iringa region that had reported human mortalities due to toxoplasmosis. This study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence and molecular detection of T. gondii in rodents and pigs in Iringa municipal.
Methods: The study employed a cross-section design where 127 rodents and 240 pigs were sampled from selected wards in Iringa municipal from January 2023 to March 2023. For serological analysis, the antibody ELISA method was employed. Seropositive rodents and pigs were subjected to Nested PCR for T. gondii DNA detection using brain and blood samples from rodents and pigs, respectively.
Results: Overall seroprevalence was 1.57% for rodents and 26.25% for pigs. Among the studied wards the highest proportion of Seropositive samples was from Kitwiru (6.25%) and Nduli (40%) for rodents and pigs, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that Pigs aged 13-24 months were significantly more likely to test positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies (p=0.0006), and antibody detection was strongly linked to hygiene practices in pig management (p < 0.0001). Additionally, in rodents, there was a statistically significant difference in exposure status related to species and collection site, with p-values of 0.043 and < 0.0001, respectively. T. gondii DNA was detected in 100% and 3.17% of seropositive rodents and pigs, respectively. Sequencing yielded one of each for rodents and pigs PCR positive samples respectively which showed about 98.36% to 99.15% similarity with T. gondii DNA from other countries isolated from different animal species.
Conclusion: The detection of antibodies to T. gondii and subsequent identification of T. gondii DNA in samples from rodents and pigs indicate the public health significance of these animal species in the transmission of toxoplasmosis within the study region. Consequently, it is crucial to implement prevention and control measures in the studied animals to mitigate potential human exposure
knowledge, attitude, and practice on brucellosis among livestock keepers in Kilosa district, Tanzania
Get PDFBackground: Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial zoonotic disease that is primarily caused by Brucella species. The current study aims to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice towards brucellosis among livestock keepers in Kilosa District-Tanzania.
Methods: The cross-sectional study design was employed from February to March 2023 in Kilosa district, Tanzania. A semi-structured questionnaire was employed to evaluate participants\u27 knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to brucellosis. Collected data were analyzed by using (Microsoft) MS Excel, and the chi-squared test.
Results: A total of 150 randomly selected livestock keepers participated in the study, with the majority being male. Participants’ ages ranged from 20 to 70 years. While 138 out of 150 (92%) had heard about brucellosis, only 18 (12%) demonstrated good knowledge of its transmission between livestock and from livestock to humans. Most respondents (80%) were aware of the disease\u27s clinical signs, identifying abortion in animals and headaches in humans as primary symptoms. Regarding attitudes and practices, 52 (34.7%) strongly agreed that brucellosis is a serious disease in livestock, but only 20 (13%) considered it a significant health threat to humans. Alarmingly, 138 (92%) reported consuming unboiled raw or soured milk. A statistically significant difference was observed in knowledge levels based on sex and education, with a p-value (**p < 0.01) for each variable. These findings highlight gaps in knowledge and risky practices that may contribute to the spread of brucellosis among livestock and humans.
Conclusion: This study has shown that there is little understanding and poor attitudes and practices towards brucellosis among livestock keepers in the Kilosa district. This can be addressed by providing community awareness campaigns about zoonotic diseases including brucellosis
The penetration, possibility of protection and treatment of COVID-19
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has had an unprecedented global impact, highlighting the urgent need to understand the virus\u27s penetration mechanisms, prevention methods, and the most effective treatment strategies. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and emerging developments in these areas. Firstly, the review examines the intricate pathways through which SARS-CoV-2 penetrates host cells. It explores the viral entry receptors, including angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and highlights the potential involvement of other receptors. Additionally, the review delves into the processes of viral replication, shedding light on the viral kinetics and factors influencing transmissibility. Secondly, the review presents an in-depth analysis of the various measures employed to protect individuals and communities from SARS-CoV-2 infection. It discusses the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as physical distancing, mask-wearing, and hand hygiene, in reducing transmission. Furthermore, the review explores the development and deployment of vaccines, including traditional approaches and novel vaccine platforms, examining their efficacy, safety, and the challenges posed by emerging variants. Lastly, the review provides an overview of the current treatment strategies for COVID-19. It evaluates the effectiveness of antiviral drugs, immunomodulatory therapies, and supportive care approaches in managing the disease. By gaining a deeper understanding of these aspects, we can contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions and improve global health outcomes in the face of COVID-19 and future pandemics.
Leptospira infection of rodents captured at the slaughterhouses and their risk to public health in Unguja island, Tanzania
Get PDFBackground: Leptospira infection is an invasion of animal or human body with the pathogenic spirochete bacteria of the genus Leptospira resulting to a disease called leptospirosis. This study aimed to investigate Leptospira infection and the carrier status of rodents caught near slaughterhouses at Unguja Island, Tanzania.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2022 at Unguja Island to determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira infection in rodents captured in and around the slaughterhouse’s compounds. A total of 302 sera samples from four slaughterhouses were tested for anti-leptospiral antibodies using microscopic agglutination test (MAT) with a panel of 5 Leptospira serovars: Pomona, Lora, Hebdomadis, Grippotyphosa and Sokoine; and were considered positive at MAT titer ≥1:20. Chi-square test and the Fisher exact test were used to assess the statistical association between variables at a p value of < 0.05.
Results: The overall seroprevalence of Leptospira infection in rodents was 10.6% (32/302). Individual rodent species had seroprevalence of 8.5% for Mus musculus, 0.0% for Mastomys natalensis, 20.8% for Rattus norvegicus, 9.3% for Rattus rattus and Cricetomys gambianus at 12.5%. However, the apparent seroprevalence in the individual slaughter facilities was 15.0% (15/100) Kinyasini, 10.4% (5/48) Mfenesini, 9.3% (5/54) Kisakasaka, and 7.0% (7/100) Muwanda.
Conclusion: With over ten percent of rodents testing positive for Leptospira infection, it is crucial to implement rodent control measures to prevent the spread of the disease to those working in or around the slaughterhouses in Unguja Island
Community mental health doulas (CMHD): a novel approach to addressing mental health challenges in America
Get PDFBackground: Mental health challenges in the United States persist, with significant disparities in access to care and outcomes. The Community Mental Health Doulas (CMHD) model emerges as a novel approach to address these issues by providing community-based, culturally competent support.
Methods: A literature review was conducted, synthesizing research on doula care, community health workers, and mental health interventions published between 2018 and 2024.
Results: The CMHD model shows promise in improving continuity of care, enhancing cultural competence, reducing stigma, and increasing community engagement. Implementation considerations include sustainable funding, ethical boundaries, collaboration with existing providers, and technology use. Challenges include potential resistance from traditional providers and ensuring quality across diverse communities.
Conclusion: The CMHD model represents a transformative approach to addressing mental health challenges. While further research and pilot studies are needed, it holds significant potential to improve outcomes and reduce disparities. Future efforts should focus on evaluating long-term impacts and advocating for integration into mainstream mental health services
The impact of water vapor thermal therapy of the prostate (rezūm) on sexual functions: a narrative review
Get PDFBackground: Senile prostate enlargement is an age-related condition. Many sexually active patients fear formal prostate surgeries owing to their negative impact on sexual performance. Minimally invasive procedures, including prostate water vapor thermal therapy (Rezūm®), were devised to make ends meet. This study aims to present a comprehensive narrative synthesis about the impact of prostate water vapor therapy on sexual functions.
Methods: A narrative literature review was performed in May 2023, using MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Ovid-Embase, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar; for the MeSH term “rezum AND sexual functions”. Selected reports were published articles from 2018 to date (the last 5 years). Only open-access journals in English were analyzed. Efforts were made to focus on the 2 main domains of sexual functions; erection and ejaculation.
Results: As per the concise MeSH term “rezum AND sexual functions”, a score of 207 hits appeared on the initial search. After eliminating duplicate and irrelevant papers, only 7 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were subjected to analysis. The analyzed articles were critically appraised to point out the studies` strengths and limitations. The gathered data were found to be consistent with one another as no outliers were detected.
Conclusion: Water vapor thermal therapy of the prostate showed satisfying preservation of erectile function with minimal ejaculatory dysfunction
Evaluation of first hospital entry and hospitalization related prescription polypharmacy targeting patients of fifty years old and more at a general hospital, Duhok, Iraq: Polypharmacy in elderly patients
Get PDFBackground: Polypharmacy is the intake of ≥ 5 medications. This study evaluates the prevalence of polypharmacy among elderly patients hospitalized during October 2023 at Azadi Hospital in Duhok, Iraq.
Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. The files of 373 patients aged ≥ 50 years were reviewed for the occurrence of polypharmacy (5 medications), major polypharmacy (6-9 medications) and excessive polypharmacy (≥ 10 medications) as well as their disease conditions.
Results: The 373 patients received 5 to 10 medications at first hospital entry, and during hospitalization (1-29 days), 220 (58.98%) of them received 5 to 12 medications. Cardiovascular disorders (44.04%) were the most encountered conditions in the hospitalized patients, followed by endocrine disorders (26.4%) and gastrointestinal disorders (8.14%). Polypharmacy occurred in 63 (16.89%) patients on the first day of hospital entry and in 73 (19.57%) during the hospitalization period. Major and excessive polypharmacy occurred among 90 (24.13%) and 2 (0.54%) of patients at the first entry and among 129 (34.58%) and 18 (4.83%) patients during the hospitalization, respectively. During hospitalization, polypharmacy significantly (Chi squared=22.655; df=1; p=1.9387˟10-6) increased by 17.43% when compared to that of the first hospital entry. The most commonly used medications at the first hospital entry were paracetamol (17.18%) followed by antibiotics (11.8%). During hospitalization the most commonly used medications were antibiotics (13.52%) followed by proton pump inhibitors (11.43%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of polypharmacy was high among elderly hospitalized patients. This condition might increase the risk of potential drug-drug interaction and the intake of inappropriate medications. Alerting clinicians about the significance of polypharmacy is necessary in prescribing and deprescribing medications to hospitalized elderly patients