Public Health Institute Journal (LJMU)
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How do students living in India’s urban and rural areas perceive and experience the impact of lockdown on their mental health? A systematic review
No full textBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges to global public health, with profound impacts on the mental health of students. This systematic review aimed to elucidate the perceptions and experiences of students residing in urban and rural areas of India regarding the mental health ramifications of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Methods: A comprehensive systematic review was conducted, synthesizing qualitative research studies focused on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on students. Studies published between 2020 and 2024 were retrieved from databases including CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar. A thematic analysis and comparative analysis was employed to identify and analyse recurring themes pertaining to mental health impacts, challenges, stressors, and coping mechanisms.
Results: The review revealed that urban students experienced significant emotional distress due to social isolation and the transition to online education, manifesting in increased levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. The lack of face-to-face interaction, coupled with prolonged screen time, contributed to feelings of loneliness and physical health issues such as poor vision and back pain. Conversely, rural students faced fewer disruptions in social interactions but encountered unique challenges such as increased family responsibilities and early marriages driven by economic constraints. The educational disruptions were compounded by limited access to digital resources and reliable internet, significantly hindering their ability to participate in online learning. Urban students primarily relied on digital tools, structured routines, and virtual social interactions as coping mechanisms, which helped mitigate some of the negative effects of isolation. In contrast, rural students engaged in traditional activities, shared tasks, and family bonding, emphasizing the importance of physical presence and community support in managing stress.
Conclusion: This study highlights the necessity for tailored mental health support programs, educational reforms, and economic assistance to address the distinct needs of students in urban and rural settings. Recommendations include the implementation of mental health initiatives, enhancements in online education engagement, and financial support to prevent early marriages and promote educational attainment. The findings emphasize the critical importance of context-specific policies to support the mental health and educational needs of students during and following crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 
The effectiveness of public health interventions to reduce motorcyclist road traffic accidents in Nigeria: A systematic review.
No full textBackground: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) rank among the eight-leading causes of global mortality. Numerous countries have implemented strategies and policies to curtail RTAs and their resulting injuries and fatalities. Motorcyclists face a disproportionately elevated risk of crashes, leading to severe injuries and deaths. Road traffic injuries (RTIs) constitute a mounting yet inadequately addressed global health emergency, necessitating efficacious preventive measures to ensure sustainable safety. Despite several previous reviews on this topic, a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of public health interventions remains limited, especially in low middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Nigeria, where daily increases in motorcycle-related accidents persist. This systematic review aims to bridge this gap by examining effective interventions to reduce RTAs.
Methods: A quantitative systematic review was executed, entailing a thorough literature search across Medline, PsycINFO, and grey literature sources, adhering to relevant eligibility criteria spanning from 2013 to 2023. The search strategy was formulated following the PICO (Population, Intervention, Control, Outcomes) framework. Inclusion criteria encompassed systematic reviews primarily conducted within LMICs. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) Quantitative Checklist. Analysis of the studies was accomplished through a narrative synthesis approach.
Results: Out of the 1,019 studies screened, 12 studies met the final analysis criteria. Three predominant outcomes emerged: accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Most studies investigated helmet use and laws, along with enforcement mechanisms. Additionally, other studies explored measures such as speed regulation, educational interventions, roadway enhancements, community initiatives, and comprehensive intervention strategies. Legislative interventions emerged as the most prevalent and effective, yielding reduced road traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities, particularly in conjunction with robust enforcement initiatives. Helmet use and adherence to laws also exhibited noteworthy reductions in accident-related injuries and deaths.
Conclusion: This systematic review has unveiled effective strategies to mitigate motorcycle- linked road traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Through emphasizing the significance of legislation, enforcement actions, and multifaceted approaches, this study contributes to the expanding repository of knowledge that can steer evidence-based policy making, fostering safer road environments and healthier societies
Attitude towards tobacco among students in the United Kingdom.
No full textBackground: The usage of tobacco has increased among United Kingdom (UK) students, along with rapidly growing health concerns among them. Tobacco companies across the world are using different smart marketing strategies to target teenagers who can easily be manipulated in the use of tobacco. It has also been specified that nicotine has a long-lasting effect on the brain development capacity of adolescence. This research paper will help identify the attitude of students towards tobacco.
Methods: The information was gathered using an online questionnaire to a total of 82 respondents, the majority of whom were international students. The target market was LJMU students, and the information was disseminated via the Faculty of Health, who were the gatekeepers.
Results: The use of tobacco among UK students have been reduced significantly as they have been found to consume tobacco related products like cannabis and electronic cigarettes in a limited and controlled manner. The study demonstrated statistical evidence with the help of crosstabulation and chi square analysis using SPSS.
Conclusions: Summarising the challenges and difficulties to reduce the consumption of tobacco, using behavioural therapy to manage students’ smoking and improve alternative behaviours and designing an online and offline tobacco control campaign to create awareness, has been suggested. Additionally, an open communication area by using the \u27National Tobacco Control Programme\u27 to recognise the personal issues of students as well as implementing ICT tools with software programs has also been recommended to improve students\u27 healthy life living objectives
A survey investigating university students’ knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to cervical screening test.
No full textBackground: Globally, cervical cancer has been deemed a public health concern as it is the fourth most common malignancy among women. In the United Kingdom, cervical cancer is the fourteenth most common cancer among women. The only preventive tool that can identify cervical cancer in its precancerous stage, when preventive actions can be taken, is cervical cancer screening (CCS). Numerous studies have examined the awareness, attitudes, and barriers to the adoption of CCS between different groups. However, this subject has not been studied among female students at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), the majority of whom fall within the CCS eligibility age range. This study aimed to explore LJMU female students’ knowledge of CCS, their attitudes towards CCS, and the factors that affect CCS uptake.
Method: The study was approved by Liverpool John Moore Ethics Committee. An online survey with binary closed ended questions were utilised as a quantitative method, and its design was guided by four validated questionnaires. The questionnaire was made available to websites connected to the institution for anonymous responses. The questionnaire examined the participants’ basic demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to the uptake of CCS. The study’s data was analysed using SPSS.
Results: The study recruited 92 participants and they exhibited good overall awareness of CCS as 67% have heard of CCS, but they had inadequate specific knowledge of CCS guidelines. Approximately 72% of the participants in the survey had a favourable view toward CCS. The uptake of CCS was poor as only 40 % of research respondents had participated in CCS, however 80% of those who had been screened reported a positive experience. Barriers to CCS uptake among study participants include embarrassment (62%), fear of pain (54%), fear of cervical cancer diagnosis (64%), and no health education on CCS (43%).
Conclusion: The study indicates that LJMU female students need health education on CCS because there is a low uptake of cervical cancer screening tests
Perception of menopause symptoms among Nigerian women: A scoping review.
No full textBackground: The menopause stage is an important part of every woman’s life. Menopause marks the period where a woman no longer produces viable eggs, and it is characterised by the cessation of the monthly menstrual cycle. The objective of this scoping review was to investigate the perception and awareness of menopause symptoms amongst Nigerian women. Furthermore, the research aimed to investigate the factors that affect Nigerian women, their awareness about menopause symptoms, as well as common sources where women obtain information about menopause symptoms.
Method: To achieve the aim of the research, a scoping analysis method was adopted. The method involved the description of the research question using the PCC (Population, Concept, Context) Framework. The PCC Framework enabled me to determine the research question using the population of interest – in this case, women- including peri- menopausal women, menopausal women, and post-menopausal women. Within the concept of research awareness levels and factors that affect these-Nigeria was the context. The search strategy was determined using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. An initial search of 3 databases (Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science) produced a total of 143 results. These were exported to Bibtex, and deduplication was performed leaving only 115 resources which were subject to title and abstract screening. At the end of the process, a total of 43 documents remained. In text- reference search yielded two results which were added to the previous 43 documents and full-text screening was performed. At the end of the screening process, 19 articles were selected for the review.
Results: Of the 19 articles selected, 16 were of cross-sectional survey design while two papers used a qualitative design, and one paper used a mixed method approach. A data extraction table was used to categorise findings of this research into themes which were analysed. A data extraction table was used to categorise findings of this survey. The findings of this survey showed that women had an appreciable awareness of menopause symptoms with factors such as age, level of education and cultural background being recognised as determinant factors.
Conclusion: The findings of the review highlighted the consideration of factors such as education, age and cultural background when designing intervention programmes for Nigerian women. It is recommended that future research should focus on these factors to develop adequate menopausal services
Perceptions of passive vaping from exposure to electronic cigarettes device – a United Kingdom perspective: A scoping review.
No full textBackground: The United Kingdom (UK) has recorded a significant increase in e-cigarette use in recent years, necessitating an in-depth examination through documented studies of what the UK population thinks about passive vaping trends in the context of exposure from e-cigarette devices and possibly identifying any knowledge gaps and limitations to address this critical public health issue. This scoping review aimed to provide an in-depth look at the current state of research on passive vaping from electronic cigarette devices in the UK.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted on CINAHL, Medline, and the Web of Science to identify primary studies for the review. Only studies published in English and conducted in the UK were considered eligible for inclusion. Thematic analysis was adopted in the synthesis to reveal patterns and connections within the articles that met the eligibility criteria, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the health risks associated with passive vaping.
Results: The findings of the 8 studies included showed a complex landscape of public attitudes and behaviour surrounding passive vaping, with several key themes emerging. Perceptions of harm and risk associated with passive vaping vary, with some people underestimating the potential health consequences while others expressed concerns about e-cigarette aerosol exposure. Findings showed that youth and adolescent passive vaping is a major concern because it can influence smoking initiation and addiction in this vulnerable population. Also, regulations and policies influence perceptions and behaviours related to passive vaping, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based policies that protect public health. Smoking cessation and harm reduction efforts should consider the potential risks of passive vaping and incorporate harm-mitigation strategies.
Conclusion: The current state of research on passive vaping from electronic cigarette devices in the UK reveals a multifaceted landscape of public attitudes and behaviours, yielding several pivotal insights. First and foremost, people\u27s perceptions of the harm and risk associated with passive vaping vary greatly, with some downplaying the potential health consequences while others express genuine concerns about e-cigarette aerosol exposure. Interventions to address the changing landscape of passive vaping in the UK and its potential impact on public health are imperative
The menstrual cup use among women in Kerala: knowledge, attitude and behaviour.
No full textBackground: Menstrual hygiene management is a critical aspect of women\u27s health, particularly in low-resource settings. Kerala, known for its progressive social indicators, offers an intriguing context to explore the acceptance and adoption of menstrual cups. Despite this, their adoption and usage patterns remain understudied within Kerala, India, where traditional practises and taboos persist. Limited access to conventional menstrual hygiene products and environmental concerns emphasises the need for sustainable alternatives. This dissertation investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding menstrual cup usage among women in Kerala, India, while proposing strategies for its wider acceptance.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among women in Kerala, India, using a structured online questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed based on validated scales and previous research, addressing knowledge, attitude, and behaviour related to menstrual cup usage. Ethical approval was obtained, and data was collected through an online questionnaire. The sample comprised 60 women of diverse age groups and backgrounds.
Results: Findings indicated relatively low awareness of menstrual cups, with only 42% of respondents having prior knowledge. However, among the aware, 78% held a positive attitude towards menstrual cups. Usage rates stood at 19.8%, hindered by concerns about insertion, removal techniques and limited familiarity. Interestingly, 65% of women expressed their willingness to try menstrual cups if provided with adequate information and guidance. Education emerged as a significant predictor of both knowledge and attitude, highlighting the role of awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, particularly in regions like Kerala where conservative norms prevail.
Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of comprehensive menstrual health education, aiming not solely at knowledge enhancement but also addressing practical concerns and misconceptions. Although the positive attitude towards menstrual cups is promising, interventions should prioritise augmenting practical skills through workshops and guided training. Moreover, the involvement of healthcare professionals in these initiatives could enhance credibility and endorse menstrual cups as secure and dependable alternatives. Sustainable menstrual hygiene practises, exemplified by menstrual cups, possess the potential to empower women, foster environmental sustainability, and substantially enhance menstrual health. This is particularly pertinent in regions like Kerala, where social awareness is notably high
A qualitative insight into the perceptions of young males aged 18-25 regarding risky gambling and alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom
No full textBackground: Gambling and alcohol have been recognised as two popular forms of leisure activity within the United Kingdom (UK), particularly amongst young males. Alcohol has reportedly had significant impact on young males gambling behaviour regarding impulsiveness due to intoxication. Both gambling and alcohol are recognised as public health issues, however, relatively little is known about how gambling and alcohol consumption may interact to increase risk. This study explores the perceptions of young males aged 18-25 on alcohol consumption and the impact it has on their gambling behaviour.
Methods: This study design implemented a qualitative approach to gain rich and in-depth data about perceptions and behaviour regarding alcohol and gambling. Using semi- structured interviews, ten males aged 18-25 from the UK were interviewed for roughly 30 to 45 minutes. Participants were asked questions on 4 topics, which derived from the literature: 1) Perception of behaviour, 2) Perception of risk, 3) Place and Setting and finally, 4) Government Legislation and Policy.
Results: After conducting a thorough thematic analysis six overall themes derived from each interview: 1) Alcohol has a significant impact on gambling behaviour and gambling has a significant impact on alcohol consumption. 2) Social influence has a significant impact on both behaviours. 3) Online gambling applications have increased alcohol and gambling consumption. 4) Calls to increase government harm reduction and prevention policy. 5) Regulation deemed necessary regarding gambling advertisement. 6) Experiences of both behaviours heavily influence perception.
Conclusions: This research study provides evidence that culture and social norms regarding gambling and alcohol consumption increases risky consumption within young males aged 18-25. Gambling is embedded in masculine culture, particularly those who enjoy sports. Young males believe alcohol increases risky gambling behaviour due to intoxication creating a sense of impulsiveness, lack of control and false sense of confidence. Evidence provided suggest that policy should aim to increase regulation and awareness to improve health and prevent further harm
The effects of recreational activities on the wellbeing of older adults in residential care homes: A systematic qualitative review.
No full textBackground: This thesis used a systematic literature review to explore the impact of recreational activities on the well-being of older adults in old age homes. The well-being of older adults is of extreme importance, especially in residential care settings where individuals may face challenges related to social isolation, physical limitation and cognitive decline. Literature has reported recreational activities as a promising avenue that promotes well-being and quality of life among older adults.
Methods: This research involved a systematic literature review to identify relevant studies published between 2013 to 2023. Nineteen studies were selected for the inclusion review, focusing on recreational interventions and their impact on the well-being of older adults in old age homes. These studies were analysed using thematic analysis to synthesise findings from these studies.
Results: The thematic analyses revealed consistent evidence of the positive effect of purposeful and tailored recreational interventions on the well-being of older adults in old age homes. Recreational activities investigated in this study were intergenerational theatre workshops, music engagement programmes, mental well-being and social interaction activities and tai chi. These activities improved physical health, mental well-being, social connectedness, and emotional state among older adults.
Conclusion: The findings of this research support the significance of recreational activities in promoting the well-being of older adults in old age homes. The positive impact of recreational interventions on various aspects of well-being underscores the need for greater attention and resources allocated to such programs in care home settings
A quantitative study assessing the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs surrounding cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening in UK based females aged 18+
No full textCervical cancer is a worldwide burden affecting women from all backgrounds; if detected early cervical cancer is highly preventable. The UK aims to eradicate cervical cancer by 2040 through Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations and the National Screening Programme, however screening rates in the UK have been declining for the past decade. The aim of this research was to investigate women\u27s knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards cervical cancer and cervical screening in the UK. A questionnaire was used to examine women’s knowledge of cervical cancer towards and the willingness to access cervical screenings. The online surveys were circulated on the researcher’s personal social media. Additionally respondents were recruited through QR codes on leaflets which were distributed in a local charitable organisation and to university peers; the overall number of respondents was 184. Results from the study found that women have good knowledge regarding the risk factors for cervical cancer but showed a lack in knowledge around the curability of cervical cancer. It was also found that women have accurate levels of knowledge around risk factors for cervical cancer and this increased with educational levels. Recommendations are for further research to be conducted on women’s attitudes and beliefs of cervical screening to highlight potential barriers to the National Screening Programme. Also, recommendations around providing equal levels of knowledge across all platforms and levels of education would be beneficial
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