Public Health Institute Journal (LJMU)
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The relationship between airborne particulate matter and cardiovascular diseases in the United Kingdom.
No full textBackground: Particulate matter (PM) pollution in the air has been linked to a variety of negative health effects, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Understanding the link between PM and CVD is critical for developing public health policies and interventions. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the existing evidence on the relationship between airborne particulate matter and cardiovascular diseases, with a focus on the United Kingdom (UK).
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and relevant grey literature sources. A total of 798 records were initially identified, and after applying the eligibility criteria, 9 studies were included for analysis. The Critical Appraisal Skilled Program (CASP) checklist was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A narrative synthesis approach was employed to analyse the data.
Results: The nine (9) studies chosen provide evidence for the link between airborne particulate matter and cardiovascular disease in the United Kingdom. The findings show a significant positive correlation between long-term exposure to PM and the risk of developing various cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. Furthermore, short-term exposure to elevated PM levels has been linked to an increased risk of acute cardiovascular events. The studies found a 0.6% correlation with a mean PM level of 2.7, and the association was significant with a p-value of 0.001.
Conclusion: Long-term exposure to PM is associated with an increased risk of developing various cardiovascular conditions, while short-term exposure to elevated PM levels is linked to acute cardiovascular events. These findings highlight the importance of implementing effective air pollution control measures and public health interventions to mitigate the impact of airborne particulate matter on cardiovascular health in the UK
Improving medication adherence and physical activity in patients with type 2 diabetes living in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.
No full textBackground: Managing type 2 diabetes requires effective medication adherence and engagement in regular physical activity. However, there are unique challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa that impact these behaviours. This review aimed to explore the literature on medication adherence and physical health in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods: An exhaustive search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, the Web of Science, and relevant grey literature sources. The search strategy included keywords related to medication adherence, physical activity, and type 2 diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa. After applying the eligibility criteria, thirteen studies were selected for data extraction and analysis.
Results: The thirteen (13) papers were included in the scoping review and the findings point to several barriers to medication adherence and physical activity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Socioeconomic constraints, cultural beliefs, diet, limited access to healthcare services and resources, and a lack of health literacy are among them. Various interventions, such as community-based programmes, health education initiatives, and policy interventions, have been identified to address these barriers. However, evidence on the effectiveness and scalability of these interventions is limited. Medication adherence and physical activity among type 2 diabetes patients in Sub-Saharan African countries face significant challenges. It also identifies key themes and interventions for improving medication adherence, promoting physical activity, and improving diabetes management outcomes.
Conclusion: The review emphasises the importance of addressing socioeconomic and cultural factors in intervention design, such as affordability, incorporating traditional healing practices, and adapting physical activity options to local contexts. It emphasises the importance of multi-level approaches involving individuals, communities, and health-care systems. Based on this review it was concluded that the importance of community engagement, health system strengthening, and policy development in promoting effective diabetes management. Interventions that consider the socioeconomic and cultural context, encourage community participation, and strengthen healthcare systems are critical. More research is needed to assess the efficacy of interventions, investigate the relationship between medication adherence and physical activity, and identify novel strategies for improving diabetes management outcomes
Access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls in humanitarian settings in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.
No full textBackground: Many refugees and internally displaced women and girls worldwide face challenges related to their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), which significantly contributes to poor health outcomes. This is due to limited provision of sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS)during humanitarian crises which makes these women and girls more vulnerable to poor health outcomes. The focus of this research is on women and girls in humanitarian settings in Sub-Saharan Africa as it hosts the largest number of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) globally. This study aimed to identify what is known about the challenges in accessing SRHS for women and girls in humanitarian settings in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted to map the available literature on the topic by creating a search strategy with specific search terms and identifying relevant studies from three databases, then screening the studies based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, after the removal of duplicates.
Results: 12 studies and 1 report were included and analysed in this review. The key findings from these studies are the lack of trained healthcare professionals, poor standards of healthcare professionals, inadequate health facilities, contraceptive unavailability, unaffordability, and low awareness of SRHS, cultural, structural, and social barriers to accessing these critical services.
Conclusion: This review reveals the challenges faced by these women and girls in accessing SRHS. It is therefore recommended that the host government, in collaboration with international agencies, ensure that adequate funds are allocated to the health sector, promote professionalism among health professionals through additional training, and create more awareness about available SRHS, empowerment programs, and early sex education for women and girls. More research should be conducted in Sub-Saharan countries and explore marginalised areas of SRH such as self-induced abortion, menstrual resumption and stigma regarding abortion and contraception
Information sources consulted by women in Nigeria to manage menopausal symptoms: A systematic review.
No full textBackground: Menopause is a stage in a woman\u27s life that signifies the end of menstruation and fertility The age at which a woman begins to enter this phase ranges between 45 and 55 years, though some women enter earlier or later. Unlike Western societies, little is known about women’s health-related information on how to manage menopause in Nigeria. Due to the socio-cultural and health infrastructure in Nigeria, the experience of menopause and its attendant symptoms might be perceived and managed differently than in other parts of the world. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review to identify the various information sources consulted by women in Nigeria to effectively manage menopausal symptoms.
Method: The search for relevant publications from January 2003 to August 2023 was conducted on several databases. Of the 73 discovered studies, 12 were sourced from PubMed, 15 from Google Scholar, 20 from Medline, 2 from Scopus, 6 from Research Gate, and 24 from African Journals Online (AJOL). Only nine of these were deemed suitable based on the eligibility criteria. Seven of the included studies were quantitative in nature, whereas two adopted a qualitative method.
Results: Throughout different regions, Nigerian women rely on a blend of culture and the dynamics of urban evolution to source information for the management of menopausal symptoms. The review has demonstrated that women depend more on their community and family tier when sourcing information. Other sources of information include healthcare providers, television, and social media platforms, among others.
Conclusion: The reviewed documents collectively revealed that the experience of menopause differs across several regions of Nigeria. It was found that many Nigerian women experiencing menopausal symptoms seem to depend more on a non-medical source for information to strategically manage the condition. This preference for non-medical sources shows a serious gap in medical awareness which could possibly imply a serious cultural, social, and religious influence on the health behaviour of women in Nigeria
Effect of household air pollution on children’s health in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review.
No full textBackground: The study focuses on investigating the profound impact of household air pollution (HAP) on the health of children aged 0 to 5 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through a comprehensive systematic review.
Methods: A total of 1560 studies were identified through database searches, with 1120 duplicates removed in the initial screening phase. Subsequent assessment led to the evaluation of 440 studies, of which 56 advanced to the next phase. Ultimately, 20 studies were included in the systematic review, adhering to PRISMA guidelines for study selection.
Results: These selected studies collectively illuminate critical insights into the complex relationship between household air pollution and childhood health outcomes. Key findings reveal that prolonged exposure to household pollutants, including solid fuel, biomass, and particulate matter (PM2.5), is closely associated with adverse health effects in children. The risks extend to a spectrum of health issues, from acute respiratory infections and bronchitis to impaired lung function, childhood asthma, and increased mortality rates. Notably, the increased levels of PM2.5 are directly correlated with heightened risks of upper respiratory infections and bronchitis/bronchiolitis in children.
Conclusions: The research underscores the urgency of addressing this issue, particularly in LMICs where vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected. The study\u27s conclusions advocate for immediate action through a combination of interventions. These recommendations encompass transitioning to cleaner cooking technologies, improving household ventilation, implementing targeted health education campaigns, strengthening public health policies, and promoting multi-sectoral collaborations. The evidence highlights the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of household air pollution on children\u27s health and underscores the critical need for proactive measures. By leveraging these findings to inform policy, raise awareness, and catalyse innovation, stakeholders can work towards ensuring a healthier future for the youngest members of society in LMICs
A scoping review on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes compared to nicotine replacement therapy in smoking cessation among young adults.
No full textBackground: Electronic cigarettes and Nicotine Replacement Therapy are well recognised methods of quitting smoking in adults, and both have been shown to be effective in reducing tobacco use. However, their effectiveness and efficacy as a form of smoking cessation in young people is still uncertain. The aim of this scoping review was to map out available evidence on the effectiveness and role of e-cigarette and nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation among young adults.
Methods: To identify appropriate studies for this review, systematic search of PUBMED, MEDLINE, and grey literature search databases for publications that provided evidence smoking cessation for e-cigarette users and NRT users was conducted. Data synthesis was carried out initially using title and abstract, then full text screening. Then, the data extracted was characterized with results and findings made in the publications.
Results: Twenty studies were selected for review. There were ten randomised controlled trials (RCTs), two quantitative analyses, one case series, three systematic reviews and meta-analyses, one systematic review, one cohort study, two non-randomised uncontrolled before and after studies, among the twenty studies included in this scoping review. From the 20 studies, eleven studies focused on e-cigarettes aid, seven studies focused on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), while the remaining two studies focused on both e-cigarette and NRT for smoking cessation. The result of the review suggested that both e-cigarettes, which is popularly used among young adults, and nicotine replacement therapy are very good smoking cessation aids with both methods working effectively. The work also revealed that both e-cigarettes and NRT had some adverse effects.
Conclusion: E-cigarette and NRT have been shown as very good methods to quit smoking, from the research. There have only been a few studies on the effective role and safety of e-cigarette and NRT among young adults. There is a need for further study on the efficacy of NRT since it is not commonly used, and also the safety of long-term e-cigarette usage among young adults
A systematic review on the effectiveness of e-health and self-management of type 2 diabetes among elderly people.
No full textBackground: Type 2 diabetes is a common lifelong disease among the older population. However, this disease can be managed through various approaches, including e-health interventions and self-management. These e-health and self-management approaches have been extensively used. Still, less attention has been paid to revealing their effectiveness in ensuring health among older people with type 2 diabetes. This research aims to systematically review eligible literature to provide an updated report on the effectiveness of e-health and self-management interventions on type 2 diabetes among older people.
Methods: Studies that researched the effectiveness of digital health and self-management interventions on type 2 diabetes among older people were included. Two databases (EBSCOHost for MedLine and CINAHL) were searched for articles published between January 2013 and March 2023. The narrative synthesis approach was used to analyse the eligible studies. In addition, the CASP appraisal tool and Risk of Bias II checklist were used to report the methodological appraisal and the risk of bias, respectively.
Results: Ten studies were included in the review. Various e-health and self-management approaches were used across all studies. However, all studies provided evidence that e- health and self-management techniques are highly effective and have remarkable outcomes when used alongside pharmacological interventions. Across the reviewed studies, it was established that specific variables such as reduced health costs, improved quality of life and physiological parameters are associated with the adoption of e-health and self-management of type 2 diabetes among older people. However, it was impossible to report the relationship between adherence to these intervention and attainment of the desired outcomes among diabetic patients because none of the included studies reported the link.
Conclusions: The systematic review shows evidence that e-health and self-management techniques help manage type 2 diabetes. However, further research needs to be done to assess the relationship between these interventions on the specific targeted health outcome of each type 2 diabetes patient using them
A survey exploring knowledge and attitudes towards menopause among menopausal people in Sri Lanka.
No full textBackground: Every woman goes through menopause, which is a natural yet crucial stage that affects overall health and wellbeing. Lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards menopause can have a detrimental impact on women\u27s quality of life and make them suffer more. By diagnosing symptoms early, women can improve their quality of life both during and after menopause. One fourth of Sri Lankan population consist of women and menopause is an under researched topic in Sri Lanka. The purpose of this study was to explore menopausal women\u27s knowledge of and attitudes towards the menopause in Sri Lanka.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 57 women in Sri Lanka between 45-65 years using a quantitative study method and the participants were recruited through non-probability sampling approach. Data collection tool was an online questionnaire and analysis of data was done using SPSS version 28. A probability of p<0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: The study found that while most menopausal women are aware of what menopause is, 45.6% have little knowledge about it, with only 5.3% having very good knowledge. Over half of the participants were unaware of symptoms brought up by menopause, and only 10.5% knew about hormone replacement therapy. Most women believed that physical changes during menopause were inevitable and hence acceptable. 43.9% believed menopause marked the end of sexual life. However, only 14% had a positive view, and 24.6% had a negative view due to the loss of youth and fertility and other’s views were neutral. Additionally, 44.6% of respondents had no education about menopause at school, and 36.8% believed it was not necessary to consult a doctor during menopause. More than half of the population stated that they occasionally discuss openly about menopause with friends and family and 31.4% said they never discuss menopause openly.
Conclusions: Sri Lankan menopausal women had limited knowledge and mainly negative and neutral attitudes towards menopause. Healthcare professionals, especially public health midwives, therefore, should act as the major source of information regarding menopause-dispensing advice to women during menopausal transition
The association between early dental caries and malnutrition in Nigeria: A scoping review.
No full textBackground: Early Childhood Caries (ECC), also known as cavities or tooth decay, is a problem, especially in developing countries like Nigeria, and studies have shown that it is associated with malnutrition. This is because nutrition and diet play a significant role in the oral health and dental development of children. The review, therefore, was to explore various ways to show how early childhood caries is associated with malnutrition in Nigeria and ways to strengthen nutrition to reduce its prevalence in Nigerian children.
Methods: A scoping review of the literature published from 2019–2023 was conducted using four databases, CINAHL, PUBMED, BMC, and Google Scholar. To make this review precise and clear, further manual reference search were also undertaken. Also, for a comprehensive review, studies were screened for title and abstract as well as a full text review. More so, 5 out of 6 stages of Arksey and O ‘Malley ‘s framework for scoping reviews were adopted and followed. The data extracted for the purpose of this review were properly charted, categorised, and narratively synthesised. The PCC (Population, Concept, Context) mnemonic was also used to narrow searches.
Results: After screening against the exclusion and inclusion criteria, 13 studies were included. These studies provided information about early dental caries, particularly among Nigerian children, as it relates to their nutrition. These studies stated that dietary factors, especially the superfluous consumption of sugary snacks and beverages, contributed largely to early childhood caries (ECC), and its implications happened to be beyond the physical health of children. Some of the studies mentioned that poverty also causes ECC as it contributes to malnutrition, which in turn affects oral health. These studies further analyse the fact that Nigerian children, especially those in rural and suburban areas, are more susceptible to ECC than those in urban areas. The result further shows that despite having multiple studies on diet and dental caries in Nigerian children, there are still research and knowledge gaps.
Conclusion: This review highlights that improvements can be made through interventions in nutrition in Nigeria because there are many studies on nutrition and dental caries in children worldwide, especially in high-income countries, but the reverse is the case for Nigeria. Thus, the discussions presented in two of the articles provide insights into its significance as a crucial approach to combating ECC. This review demonstrates the feasibility of reducing the prevalence of ECC in Nigerian children via the implementation of effective nutrition intervention programmes, and it suggests that nutritional guidance, treatment in dentistry, and oral health programmes should be encouraged
The impact of workplace violence on turnover intention of emergency nurses: A systematic review.
No full textBackground: Emergency nurses face an increased risk of experiencing workplace violence, which is well documented in the literature and directly impacts their likelihood of resigning. An increase in nursing turnover has the potential to lead to result in inadequate staffing, jeopardise the quality of patient care, and exacerbate overcrowding and wait times. The research question was, “Does workplace violence influence turnover intention in emergency nurses who have experienced violence in their workplace”?
Methods: The search strategy for the review complied with the PEO (Population, Exposure, and Outcome) framework and was reported using the PRISMA flowchart. Electronic databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for literature studies published between 1995 and 2023. A predefined set of inclusion and exclusion criteria was used. Inclusion criteria included the population of interest (emergency nurses); exposure (workplace violence); outcome (turnover intention) and full-text articles available in English.
Results: A total of 9 articles, comprising cross-sectional quantitative studies, met the inclusion criteria and identified that the emergency nurses who experienced workplace violence considered quitting their job or even leaving the profession, and they had low job satisfaction. The negative impact of violence on their well-being leads to emotions such as sadness and anger, feelings of helplessness and burnout, and physical symptoms like fatigue and exhaustion, which lead to low job satisfaction and the intention to resign from their positions.
Conclusion: Emergency nurses who have encountered workplace violence have expressed intentions of resigning from their position or even exiting the profession, indicating a low level of job satisfaction. The deleterious effects of violent encounters have resulted in adverse emotional reactions such as sadness and anger, as well as feelings of helplessness and burnout, and physical manifestations including fatigue and exhaustion. Further qualitative studies can explore more of the phenomenon
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