Public Health Institute Journal (LJMU)
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A quantitative study exploring the relationship between physical activity and mental health of UK residents aged 18-24
No full textMental health issues amongst 18–24-year-olds is of the highest rate and is increasing yearly. Methods of mental health promotion such as talking therapy and the prescription of antidepressants, have increased in recent times, however rates of mental illness are still increasingly yearly. This study explored the relationship between physical activity, a method of health promotion, and mental health in the UK amongst 18-24-year-olds. More specifically, the aim of the research was to identify how exactly physical activity impacts mental health by exploring the experiences and attitudes of 18-24-year- olds towards these two topics. The study was quantitative, and data was gathered in the form of an online questionnaire of which the criteria was UK residents aged between 18 and 24 years. This data, based of 31 respondents, provided an insight into the physical activity levels, mental health states, attitudes towards physical activity and the different methods in which young adults choose to keep physically active.
The researcher used SPSS to analyse the data and create graphs, from which trends were identified such as higher levels of physical activity being strongly associated with better states of mental health and lower activity levels being associated with poorer states of mental health. Another main finding was the majority of participants feeling very strongly towards certain benefits of physical activity. Although there are numerous studies available that discuss the relationship between physical activity and mental health, the researcher felt there were certain gaps in existing literature such as primary focus on the age range of 18-24 and understanding their attitudes and personal experiences with mental health and physical activity. Recommendations such as providing evidence in promotional campaigns for physical activity, specifically its impact on mental health as well ways in which local councils can take action to support local residents in keeping physically active
Assessing the challenges in accessing family planning services amongst adolescent girls in Nigeria: A scoping review.
No full textBackground: Challenges associated with accessing family planning is seen as a huge threat to the promotion and further development of the Sustainable Development Goal 3.7. In Nigeria, female adolescents, both married and unmarried, struggle with control of their sexual and reproductive health due to various socio-economic and cultural factors, hindering their ability to access and utilise family planning services. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the challenges these adolescents face and how it prevents them from freely accessing contraceptives.
Methods: A scoping review of literature was conducted where relevant databases were searched using key terms related to the topic, with the aid of the PCC (Population (or participants)/Concept/Context) search framework. Thereafter, the screening process was carried out first by excluding duplicates of studies selected from the database, followed by a title and abstract then full text screening. Studies were selected against the set inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results: Studies reviewed assessed both the socio-economic and cultural factors which are barriers to the access of family planning by adolescent girls in Nigeria. Key factors ranged from provider bias, spouse discouragement, lack of social support, financial status, to cultural and religious norms, as well as age. The review revealed consistent results on how these factors serve as a significant threat to family planning access and therefore sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Conclusions: The inability of female adolescents to freely access birth control/contraceptives is a worldwide issue, but very common in Sub-Saharan African countries, like Nigeria. This issue contributes to overpopulation and adolescent girls undergoing illegal abortions, which increases their risk of maternal mortality and other reproductive health problems. It is therefore important for Nigeria’s Ministry of Health to enforce strong socio-economic and cultural structures which promote the ability of these adolescents to freely speak about their sexual health and seek advice on appropriate family planning services, to have better control over their reproductive health
A quantitative study on alternative menopausal treatment through opinions of Liverpool John Moores University students from the South Indian region of Kerala.
No full textBackground: Menopause is a global issue affecting women. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been a standard treatment, but due to cancer risks, women are increasingly turning to herbal remedies. This study explored Kerala students’ views on alternative treatment methods such as traditional herbal medicines and diet plans for reducing menopausal symptoms, benefits, and safety concerns. The findings highlight growing interest in alternative treatments, the importance of accurate information and support for menopausal women, and challenges in regulating herbal treatment. The study emphasised the need for comprehensive patient information and high-quality standards to address the changing landscape of menopausal symptom management.
Methods: LJMU Research Ethics Committee granted approval for this study. Demographics, views about alternative treatments options such as traditional herbal treatment, and dietary advice for managing menopausal symptoms were the questions covered in the study. Through social media platform WhatsApp, an online survey questionnaire link was sent to participants to complete the survey. The study had 103 participants. Through SPSS, descriptive and crosstabulation statistics were used to examine quantitative data.
Results: Main findings showed that age-related perceptions of traditional medicines varied, with no statistical significance (P = 0.318). No significant link was found between herbal medicine as a safer substitute (P = 0.341), side effect comparison, or first-line therapy. There were no discernible gender differences in the use of traditional herbs and modern medicine (P = 0.198). Notably, there was a significant association between herbal medicine suggestions and dietary advice (P = 0.001). There were no gender or age variations in the effects of diet on bone health and wellbeing (P = 0.717). These insights enhance students\u27 views on traditional herbs and dietary effects during menopause.
Conclusion: Research on menopause treatment highlights the intricate nature of symptoms and the alternative options available. Educating students about menopause is crucial for creating supportive environment for women. Traditional herbal medicines and diets are now globally popular alternatives, emphasizing the need for proper regulation, safety, and reliable data
Sudden cardiac events/deaths in young people.
No full textBackground: Over the decades, sports and physical activity have been on trend to focus on the future, to make it a little lighter, and brighter. Physical activity is said to be a modifiable risk factor that helps the individual to have an inverse relationship with comorbidities like high blood pressure, high blood sugar etc and benefits cardiovascular health. However, it is also proven that sudden deaths occur usually shortly after vigorous physical activity. Although sudden cardiac deaths (SCD)/Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) are seen at all ages, SCD in young adolescents has drawn major attraction. This study distinctly focuses on determining the ways to prevent unexpected or unforeseen negative health impacts on the young generation during vigorous exertion especially during sports and to assess the effectiveness of the existing screening methods to identify SCD. This paper followed Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and data was extracted, analysed, and summarised.
Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO host and grey literature like google scholar, NHS website, Office of National Registry (ONS), UK National Screening Programmes, Cardiac Risk for Young (CRY) website were searched, and six prospective observational studies were selected. The mentioned databases were searched using a traditional search strategy and five papers were obtained. The population of interest included young athletes and young non-athletes. In this study, only paper published in the United Kingdom were included, and therefore may not apply to the other regions.
Results: Results from the final five eligible studies showed that pre-participation cardiac screening (PPCS) has a positive effect in identifying young people at risk and proved the effectiveness of PPCS. Evidence also showed it is not only the young athletes at risk, but non-athletes as well. And so, it is important to standardize and mandate the screening protocols where necessary.
Conclusion: Various causes have been identified during the research which resulted in SCD/SCA in young athletes. Despite the significant controversy in this topic, the observational and cross-sectional studies included in this paper have shown that PPSC, clinical investigations like ECGs, on-site TTE and 24-hour ECG monitoring help in identifying and preventing unexpected cardiac events. Further research is necessary to fill in the evidence as cardiovascular disease (CVD) has always been a public health problem. Recommendations to prevent such tragic events were also included, highlighting the need for further research
Knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning cervical cancer screening among female university students in Nigeria: A systematic review.
No full textBackground: Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern, and understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cervical cancer screening among female university students is crucial for effective prevention and control efforts. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning cervical cancer screening among female university students in Educational Institutions in Nigeria.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and African Journals Online (AJOL) to identify relevant studies. The search yielded a total of 1,182 studies. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight studies involving a total of 3,300 female students met the final criteria for synthesis. The critical appraisal skilled Appraisal [CASP] checklist was used for quality assessment, and a narrative synthesis approach was adopted for data analysis and synthesis.
Results: The study identified knowledge deficiencies pertaining to cervical cancer and screening techniques among female university students in Nigeria. Cultural beliefs, fears, and perceived barriers exerted an influence on individuals\u27 attitudes towards screening. The prevalence of screening was observed to be low within the examined population. Several barriers were identified, including a lack of awareness, financial constraints, and limited access to screening services. The facilitators encompassed various components, namely social support, recommendations from healthcare providers, and educational campaigns.
Conclusion: This systematic review highlighted the necessity of implementing focused educational interventions aimed at enhancing knowledge, fostering positive attitudes, and improving screening practices among female university students in Nigeria. There is a need for the implementation of strategies aimed at overcoming barriers, enhancing accessibility to screening services, and fortifying the healthcare infrastructure. The results underscore the significance of policy assistance, continuous monitoring, and evaluation in effectively tackling cervical cancer screening within this demographic
Assessing the awareness and understanding of the risk factors of dementia amongst adults in the UK
No full textDementia is a growing public issue, particularly as life expectancy increases. Therefore, looking at ways to reduce the risk of dementia is something that could contribute to reducing the pressure on the healthcare system. The aim of the project was to assess the current awareness and understanding of the risk factors of dementia amongst adults in the UK.
An online survey administered through different social media platforms was used to identify trends in data that influenced adults\u27 awareness and understanding of dementia risk factors. This quantitative methodology allowed for the investigation of data to describe relationships between variables. The survey found that from the total 207 participants, the highest proportion of respondents (38%) were aged 18-25 and were from a healthcare and medical professional background (23%). They identified multiple types of dementia, with 40% of those over 50 choosing 3-5 types, which showed good understanding. Most respondents agreed that dementia progression was difficult in later stages, with struggles identified with movement (84%), eating and drinking (60.4%), and speech (42%). The majority correctly identified depression (12%), excessive drinking (11%), and social isolation (11%) as significant risk factors. They also believed a healthy lifestyle could lower dementia risk. However, the awareness of dementia and risk factors through different promotional platforms was low. Healthcare platforms were identified as the primary source of dementia knowledge, with a preference for billboards, GP, and Instagram being used to promote dementia awareness. Moreover, the significance of Admiral Nurses (Specialist Dementia Nurses) was acknowledged by both carers and ex-carers.
The study highlights the importance of bridging the gap in knowledge about risk factors among the public. Recommendations include exploring more recent studies on public awareness, understanding, and sources of knowledge. It is suggested that promoting not only the risk factors but also the side effects of dementia is necessary to increase public understanding and support those struggling. Further investigation into the significance of Admiral Nurses and a larger sample size is recommended to identify patterns and significance in different categories
Risk factors associated with postpartum depression among adolescent mothers: A systematic review of observational studies.
No full textBackground: Postpartum depression is a significant mental health concern among adolescents worldwide with negative consequences for affected mothers and their children (e.g., impaired mother- infant attachment and potential deficits in the children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development). However, little is known about the specific risk factors that contribute to its development. A thorough understanding of the risk factors associated with postpartum depression in this vulnerable population is vital for effective intervention and support. This systematic review aimed to identify risk factors associated with postpartum depression among adolescents and evaluate the quality of the evidence available.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in 2023 using EBSCO Medline, CINAHL, APA, PsycINFO and grey literature from Google Scholar. A search strategy was developed using the PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcomes) framework. The inclusion criteria included studies from different countries published between 2000 and 2023 and used a validated measure of postpartum depression with an onset within 12 months after childbirth and persistence beyond two weeks postpartum. The review examined adolescent mothers, who ranged in age from 13 to 19 years, and included risk factors that occurred before birth.
Results: The systematic review included a total of 6 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The results suggested several risk factors associated with the onset of adolescent mothers’ postpartum depression, including relationship challenges, prior history of depression, educational level, and social support. Relationship challenges (marital status, living with the family and partner, experiencing postnatal sexual problems, and having frequent arguments with the spouse) were the most prevalent risk factor for adolescent postpartum depression that was statistically significant across four studies.
Conclusion: This systematic review provided insightful information about the risk factors for adolescents’ postpartum depression. Further research should employ prospective longitudinal designs with precisely defined, timely, and standardised measurements of risk factors and postpartum depression to enhance our understanding of these risk factors over time. Such insights may enable healthcare professionals to create more effective support systems and preventive measures or adolescent mothers at risk, ultimately improving the mental health of both the mothers and their children
Knowledge of weight gain during pregnancy among Nigerian women.
No full textBackground: Maternal obesity and excessive pregnancy weight gain are linked to an increased risk of perinatal mortality. There is little published evidence proving Nigerian pregnant women\u27s understanding of these issues, their effects, and management solutions. The purpose of this study was to measure Nigerian pregnant women\u27s knowledge of weight gain during pregnancy and their knowledge of safe ways to manage it.
Methods: The cross-sectional research design was used for this study. The convenience sampling method was used to collect data using an online survey developed from validated questionnaires used in prior studies on 100 women who were members of a Nigerian Facebook group. Cronbach alpha was used to test the instrument\u27s reliability, while descriptive statistics and chi-square were utilised to analyse the data collected. All hypotheses were evaluated at the 0.05 level of significance.
Results: The results of this study showed that the majority (57.7% and 84.5%) of Nigerian women have a high level of knowledge of weight gain and safe ways of managing it, but it was also deduced from the results that a significant number (42.3%) of the respondents had a low level of knowledge of weight gain especially in the area of neonatal risks associated with greater maternal weight gain. There was statistically no significant difference between the knowledge of weight gain and socio-demographic characteristics such as marital status and highest level of education, occupational status, religion of the respondents and their knowledge of weight gain, but there was a statistical difference between those who currently care for children.
Conclusion: Nigerian women demonstrate a high level of knowledge of weight gain during pregnancy and safe ways or methods to manage it. But despite this optimistic conclusion, most of their responses show that many of the women were unaware of the neonatal risks associated with greater maternal weight gain. It is recommended that more interventions geared towards mothers getting a better understanding of these issues may serve as a motivator for them to maintain and manage their weight gain during pregnancy to enhance their baby\u27s prognosis and to avoid possible neonatal consequences of their actions
A quantitative study on the attitudes of students towards cannabis consumption in the United Kingdom.
No full textBackground: With rates of use increasing over the past ten years, cannabis use among teenagers and young people in the United Kingdom (UK) may be regarded a cultural norm. Cannabis consumption can be a public health concern due to its potential to impact various aspects of individual health and societal well-being including health risk, addiction and dependence, impaired driving, cognitive and educational impact, mental health and public safety. With few studies undertaken in Europe, most research focuses on cannabis use among students in the United States of America and Canada. This quantitative study examined how college students in the UK felt about cannabis use and the related drug laws. Additionally, it investigated how common cannabis usage was among students and identified the number who might have cannabis use disorder (CUD), as determined by the Cannabis use Disorder Identification Test - Revised (CUDIT-R).
Method: The data was collected through an online questionnaire. There was a total of 82 respondents, majority of them were international students. The target population were students from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and was shared to LJMU students through the Faculty of Health, who were the gatekeepers. The questionnaire also had CUDIT-R screening questions to determine CUD among the respondents.
Results: 70% of the respondents who had used cannabis in the previous six months had done so within the previous month. With 27% indicating possibility of CUD. Only 36% of respondents who used cannabis were international students, while 64% of respondents being UK based students. The number of students who supported the legalisation of cannabis in the UK has increased; currently, 55% of those who used cannabis in the past six months and 35% of those who did not support it. The impression of the effectiveness of the present drug policy in the UK is split, with 43% of international students believing it has been successful in decreasing the harm caused by drug use and 81% of UK-based students believing it has failed. Nearly half of students support the legalisation of recreational cannabis, reflecting a general trend in student attitudes toward cannabis use. It is also obvious that the young and vulnerable are not safeguarded from drug-related harms by the UK\u27s present drug policy.
Conclusion: In short, it was understood that cannabis consumption is considerably prevalent in the LJMU students’ community and a small percentage of them implied possibility of CUD. Major recommendations to control drug harm include comparative examination of legalisation support, customized educational initiatives, cross-cultural comparison and public health campaigns. To further understand cannabis use among student populations, as well as attitudes about the drug and related laws, more research is needed
Barriers and facilitators in the mitigation of infant mortality due to malnutrition in rural Africa: A qualitative systematic review.
No full textBackground: Despite adherence to guidelines, severe acute malnutrition in rural Africa leads to over 40% mortality among hospitalized infants. Although some intervention programs have been implemented to address infant mortality due to malnutrition in certain areas of rural Africa, most regions are still grappling with this issue as implementing interventions to address malnutrition in these settings is often hindered by various barriers and influenced by facilitators specific to rural Africa. This study aims to review qualitative research on barriers and facilitators to implementing interventions for reducing infant mortality due to malnutrition in rural Africa.
Methods: CINAHL and Medline were searched using search terms focused specifically on barriers and facilitators to the implementation of interventions aimed at reducing infant mortality due to malnutrition in rural Africa. Grey literature was also examined. Quality assessment was performed, and a directed content analysis approach was used for data extraction. The search yielded 209 records, resulting in 13 eligible papers after duplicates and inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. Barriers and facilitators were extracted and mapped to Scheirer and Dearing\u27s sustainability framework.
Results: The review identified three overarching themes: characteristics of the intervention, factors in the organizational setting, and factors in the community where the intervention is implemented. Factors such as adherence to protocols, securing sufficient funding, involving stakeholders, improving access and awareness, addressing maternal education and financial resources, utilizing data-supported interventions, enhancing capacity building, fostering community-based social support, and prioritizing nutrition emerged as important facilitators for successful implementation. However, challenges related to inadequate funding, insufficient stakeholder involvement, limited access, cultural practices, and low knowledge of interventions were identified as barriers.
Conclusion: This review holds significance for public health as it increases understanding of the factors that facilitate and hinder interventions aimed at reducing infant mortality caused by malnutrition in rural Africa. Given the elevated rates of infant mortality in these regions, understanding these facilitators and barriers aids in developing more impactful, sustainable interventions. This, in turn, can effectively decrease infant mortality rates and enhance the overall health and well-being of rural African communities
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