International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS)
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Development of disaster nursing competency assessment instruments
Get PDFIt is important to ensure that nurses have sufficient skills and knowledge to handle emergency situations. This competency assessment can help improve nurses' readiness to face disasters and emergency situations that may occur. To develop an unobtrusive (observation) instrument for assessing disaster nursing competency which refers to the International Council of Nurses (ICN) disaster nursing competency framework, especially earthquake and volcano disasters. The starting date for the design of the disaster nursing competency assessment instrument was 2023. Then, the implementation of the research to test the instrument, which had been validated by experts using disaster nursing practice simulations, was conducted for a month from February to March 2023. The research design uses Design-Based, the sample criteria were active student status, emergency nursing, and disaster management courses. The total number of respondents was 80 students, and in the initial stage of testing the instrument during disaster simulation observations, a limited sample of 20 respondents was taken at random and assessed by five lecturers as raters. The instrument development stage started with the specification of the ICN disaster nursing competency assessment instrument. The Aiken index for the unobtrusive observation technique instrument with competency assessment rubric is high, valid, and met reliability requirements. Multifaceted analysis compared students, items, and lecturers from small and large samples. The analysis reveals that students' difficulty levels vary according to the assessing lecturer, with some mastering all items and others only mastering specific ones
Socio-demographic segmentation in sanitation based engagement in Koja, Jakarta
Get PDFUrban public health initiatives rely heavily on community participation to ensure success and sustainability. This study explores the socio-demographic determinants of community engagement in the public health initiatives of Koja Subdistrict, Jakarta. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, employing both qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires to gather data from a representative sample. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data, focusing on aesthetics, public health sanitation performance, community socialization, gender, age, and education. The findings reveal that aesthetic considerations, perceived sanitation performance, socialization practices, and demographic factors significantly influence the willingness to participate. Aesthetics and community socialization positively impacted engagement, while perceived high sanitation performance paradoxically discouraged individual participation. Furthermore, demographic factors such as gender, age, and education level showed varying degrees of influence, with gender disparities and higher education correlating with increased engagement. This study contributes to understanding public health participation dynamics and offers insight into designing tailored community engagement strategies. Policymakers and health officials can leverage these insights to effectively enhance community involvement and address public health challenges
Modeling determinants of stunting among children under five years in Urban Areas
Get PDFChild stunting remains a global public health problem. Compared to other middle-income countries, Indonesia is one of the countries with a high prevalence of stunting. This study aims to identify predictive indices and analyse the determinants of stunting in children under five in urban areas. Case control design was conducted on 420 (210 cases and 210 controls). Simple random sampling and side proportional techniques were used for sampling. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data through interviews and anthropometric measurements. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis and statistical significance expressed at 95% CI, as well as receiver operating characteristic analysis were used. Mothers with low education (OR=1.6, 95% CI=1.0-2.6), fathers with no permanent job (OR=1.5, 95% CI=1.0-2.4), pregnancy interval less than 24 months (OR=1.6, 95% CI=1.0- 2.6), family size of five or more (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.3-3.3), income below minimum household income (OR=1. 7, 95% CI=1.0-2.8), not exclusively breastfed (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.1-3.7), not fully immunised (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.0-4.4), low birth weight (OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.2-4.5), and a history of disease (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.0-3.8) were determinants of stunting. The most dominant determinant of stunting in children under five years old is low birth weight. Therefore, strategies and programmes are aimed at early prevention efforts, by increasing awareness to change community behaviour regarding improving maternal nutrition since pregnancy
Two decades of HIV/AIDS mortality trend analysis in the Philippines
Get PDFPublic health surveillance indicates that the country's HIV infection rate is rising, with the Western Pacific region experiencing the highest growth. Due to the scarcity of studies on HIV in the nation, the present state of the HIV epidemic must be ascertained by gathering data from public health surveillance and HIV mortality time trend analysis. The Department of Health's Philippine Health Statistics (PHS) provided the information. The PHS-recommended algorithms for vital health indicators were used to calculate mortality rates. According to the study's findings, the death rate in the nation is rising, necessitating tight efforts to stop the virus's transmission and provide access to anti-retroviral therapy. Although there is a considerable difference between the two sexes, men had a greater mortality rate than women, suggesting that men were more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS mortality. The study also revealed that HIV testing hurdles were to blame for making young to middle-aged individuals the population most susceptible to mortality from this illness. Additionally, the National Capital Region has the most significant mortality rate, so the government should focus on promoting health in this area as it has the highest mortality rate
Philippine traditional herbal remedies for hypertension
Get PDFCertain areas of the Philippines continue to rely on traditional non-pharmacological approaches, such as herbal medicine, for hypertension treatment, a significant public health problem globally. Therefore, a systematic review of plants used in the Philippines to treat hypertension, based on the PRISMA flow diagram, was carried out. Relevant ethnobotanical studies were retrieved from databases such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. Following the eligibility screening, 36 ethnobotanical studies were included. The majority of the studies included in this review came from Region XIII (CARAGA), Region VI (Western Visayas), and Region X (Northern Mindanao). The most prevalent plant family and species were Poaceae (12 species) and Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. (16 citations), respectively. Leaves were the most common plant parts utilized while decoction was the most frequently mentioned mode of preparation. Oral administration was the most widely used form of administration. This review highlights medicinal plants with potential antihypertensive properties. It underscores the need to conduct a systematic review of their pharmacological properties to determine which have been scientifically validated and are most effective against hypertension
Improving mental health, sleep, and decision-making skills through mindfulness practice
Get PDFMost of the previous studies on the efficiency of mindfulness to improve mental health states, and sleep quality, have focused on clinical samples. The present study aimed to examine the impact of mindfulness intervention training on mental health (depression, anxiety), sleep quality, life satisfaction, and decision-making skills in non-clinical sample. Using a non equivalent comparison group design, 52 university students were recruited via convenience sampling technique and randomly distributed into two groups – treatment and comparison groups. The treatment group a 30-hour of mindfulness training over one month. Results showed that mindfulness training significantly reduced depressive symptoms and improved sleep quality and life satisfaction in treatment group, although changes in anxiety and decision-making skills were non-significant. These findings contribute to the mindfulness literature and emphasize the importance of mindfulness practice in enhancing mental health and well-being in non-clinical settings
Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Morocco: diagnosis, treatment, quality of life, and associated factors
Get PDFTuberculosis remains a major public health challenge worldwide, despite significant advances in treatment and prevention. In Morocco, 30,000 cases of tuberculosis are recorded each year. In the Marrakech-Safi region, the incidence reaches 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The aim of this research was to assess the effectiveness of current diagnostic and treatment, and to measure the impact of tuberculosis on patients' quality of life. A cross sectional study was carried out on a sample of 480 tuberculosis patients. The results showed that low education levels (53.86%) and high unemployment (40.8%) were prevalent. More than 51% of patients do not have health insurance. High housing density was correlated with increased prevalence, and diabetes was frequent (40.19%). 27.50% used medicinal plants, and 13.11% interrupted medication due to long treatment duration. Males were more symptom-free (p<0.000). Males had more severe symptoms than females such as sputum (163 vs. 58 cases), weight loss (224 vs. 131 cases), cough (184 vs. 86 cases), and hemoptysis (70 vs. 27 cases). Urban residents showed significant differences in tuberculosis types (p = 0.034). Occupation and prior treatment influenced tuberculosis distribution and extrapulmonary tuberculosis prevalence (p = 0.000). 21.46% were permanently affected in their social life. Higher education level and non-smoking was linked to better health (p = 0.016; p = 0.002). These results contribute to a better management of diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies adapted to tuberculosis patients by strengthen health education and promote rapid access to specialist care
Work practices linked to seropositive leptospirosis among cattle farmers in Northeastern Malaysia
Get PDFLeptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease with significant global health implications, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. In Malaysia, the warm, humid climate and frequent exposure to livestock and contaminated environments increase the risk of infection, especially among agricultural workers. Cattle farmers regularly handle animals and work in unsanitary conditions, which puts them at heightened risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis seropositivity and identify risk factors associated with contracting leptospirosis among cattle farmers in Northeastern Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 120 cattle farmers in Northeastern Malaysia. Data were collected through an interviewer-guided questionnaire, and serological testing was performed using the microscopic agglutination test with a seropositive cut-off titre of ≥1:100. The prevalence of leptospirosis seropositivity was found to be 72.5%. Significant risk factors included working with a wounded hand (Adj. OR: 7.26; 95% CI: 2.61-20.18; p<0.001), working with a wounded leg (Adj. OR: 8.52; 95% CI: 1.98-36.66; p=0.004), not wearing rubber gloves (Adj. OR: 3.96; 95% CI: 1.13-13.91; p=0.032), and not showering immediately after work (Adj. OR: 6.04; 95% CI:1.69-21.62; p=0.006). The high seroprevalence of leptospirosis among cattle farmers indicates a significant occupational risk. Future prevention programs should prioritize promoting safe work practices to mitigate this risk
Evaluating cholera vaccine effectiveness in Harare Western District amidst a new outbreak, 2023
Get PDFFollowing targeted oral cholera vaccination (OCV) in 2018/2019, cholera cases declined. However, by July 17, 2023, Harare Western district reported 98 cases and 3 deaths. We investigated the outbreak to assess the long-term effectiveness of OCV in Harare Western district. We conducted a 1:2 unmatched case-control study among 46 cases and 92 controls. A case was any resident of Harare Western district with laboratory-confirmed cholera infection between April 22, - July 20, 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility data were analyzed and multivariable logistic regression identified independent factors. Vaccine effectiveness was calculated as (1-OR) x 100). OCV effectiveness was 72o% (95% CI 39-87; p<0.001). The majority of participants were females (52.2%) cases and 51.1% controls. Experiencing a sewage burst [aOR 9.75, 95% CI (2.60 to 36.62)] was an independent risk factor. Handwashing with soap [aOR 0.03,95% CI (0.01 to 0.17)], cholera vaccination [aOR 0.17, 95% CI (0.04 to 0.64)], and having a handwashing facility [aOR 0.04, 95% CI (0.01 to 0.18)] were independent protective factors. A total of 47.2% of boreholes (42/89) and 66.7% of wells (2/3) had excessive coliforms. Cholera strains were largely sensitive to ciprofloxacillin (90%). The outbreak was driven by water, sanitation and hygiene factors. This study provides evidence on long-term effectiveness of two-doses of OCV in an endemic urban setting. Vaccination status relied on participant recall and vaccination cards due to the absence of a central register, and while the study was sufficiently powered to assess the effectiveness of the two-dose regimen, the number of cases limited evaluation of single-dose effectiveness. Implementation of targeted OCV campaigns is recommended
Clinical dental students' perceptions of difficulties in fixed prosthodontics bridgework denture preparation: a pilot study
Get PDFPreparing abutment teeth for fixed bridgework presents varying challenges to dental students, impacting their training effectiveness and clinical outcomes. Understanding the most difficult stages can help improve educational strategies. This study aims to rank the difficulty of each stage in abutment tooth preparation using student evaluations, identifying the greatest challenges. A quantitative approach was used, analyzing perceptions of 155 clinical dental students from 2021-2023 cohorts at Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Trisakti, through the non-parametric Friedman’s ANOVA Test. Student evaluations covered seven stages of abutment tooth preparation, identifying variability in perceived difficulty from most difficult to easiest. Results indicate the most difficult stage is proximal reduction (mean rank: 3.01), followed by cervical preparation (mean rank: 3.28), and lingual reduction (mean rank: 3.35). The stages with the lowest difficulty are finishing (mean rank: 5.35), followed by alignment of preparation between 2 abutment teeth (mean rank: 4.85), buccal reduction (mean rank: 4.13), and occlusal reduction (mean rank: 4.03). Proximal reduction is particularly difficult due to the need for high technical skills and precision, requiring accurate space estimation and careful reduction without damaging adjacent teeth. This difficulty is compounded by natural variations in tooth shapes and positions among patients. Findings highlight the importance of refining educational strategies to tackle these challenges, enhancing student learning and clinical skills. This research provides crucial data on which stages need greater emphasis in the curriculum, aiding the creation of more efficient and focused training methods