European Journal of Medical and Health Research
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A Study to Assess the Parents' Knowledge about the Influenza Vaccination for Children in a Selected Community, Bangalore
No full textInfluenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection that can cause significant morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age. Despite its severity, influenza vaccination is not part of India’s routine immunization schedule, which often results in limited parental awareness and uptake. Parents play a pivotal role in ensuring timely vaccination; therefore, assessing their knowledge is essential for improving vaccine acceptance. This study aimed to evaluate parents’ knowledge regarding influenza vaccination for children, identify common sources of information, and examine associations between demographic factors and knowledge levels. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, and data were collected from 40 parents of children under five years residing in Kereguddadahalli, Bengaluru, through purposive sampling. A structured questionnaire was used, consisting of two sections: socio-demographic details and knowledge-based questions on influenza and its vaccination. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that 45% of parents demonstrated poor knowledge, 42.5% had good knowledge, and only 12.5% showed moderate knowledge. Healthcare workers emerged as the most common source of information (50%), followed by social media (15%), television/radio (12.5%), friends/relatives (12.5%), and ASHA workers (7.5%). The results highlight a considerable knowledge gap, with nearly half of the parents lacking adequate awareness about influenza vaccination. This study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted health education programs and community-level interventions to enhance parental knowledge and promote influenza vaccination, thereby safeguarding children from preventable illness
A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Computer Assisted Teaching Program on Knowledge Regarding Maladaptive Behavior and Its Health Risk among Adolescent in Selected High School at Bangalore
No full textMaladaptive behaviors are ineffective coping mechanisms that impair normal functioning. Adolescents aged 13-18 are particularly vulnerable to such behaviors during psychological and social transitions. This quasi- experimental study assessed a Computer-Assisted Teaching Programme (CATP) to improve knowledge of maladaptive behaviors and associated health risks. Using a one-group pretest-post-test design, fifty students from SR Prime High School, Chikkabanavara, Bangalore, were selected through non-probability authoritative sampling. Pretest scores ranged from 7 to 26 (mean 14.50 ± 4.08; 36.25%). Following the CATP, post-test scores increased to a range of 19–35 (mean 25.14 ± 3.51; 62.85%). A paired t-test demonstrated a highly significant improvement (t (49) = 12.97, p < 0.001), validating the programme’s effectiveness. Post-intervention categorization showed 8% of students remained in the inadequate knowledge category, 86% attained moderate knowledge, and 6% achieved adequate knowledge. These findings indicate that CATP substantially enhances adolescents’ awareness of maladaptive behaviors and health implications within a school setting. The study supports integrating CATP into school health education to improve mental health literacy, encourage adaptive coping, and facilitate early identification of at-risk youth. Further research should examine long- term retention, behavioural outcomes, and scalability across diverse educational contexts. Overall, CATP is feasible, acceptable, and promising for school-based mental health promotion nationwide
Stress Reduction and Management for Improved Mental Health Globally
Get PDFBackground: Stress is one of the leading public health challenges of the modern time. It is known to exacerbate and lead to long term negative health effects such as heart diseases and mental health disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has also increased the levels of stress in patients as social support has decreased with isolation and quarantine processes during the time of the pandemic.Objective: This paper will go on to discuss what measures can be taken to reduce stress for improved physical and mental health.Method: For this project extensive literature review was conducted to determine what leads to stress and how intervention approaches can stop stress. Additionally, given the regency of the COVID-19 pandemic, this research specifically wanted to make recommendations that would most help people who felt the effects of social isolation due to the pandemic and make further recommendations based on this. This paper has utilized literature and data all from within the past ten years, utilizing the highest regarded sources, and subject matter expertise across authors to make recommendations and inferences.Conclusion: This study has found that exercise such as yoga, deep breathing meditation, and having a positive attitude through personality traits such as playfulness, are all ways in which a person can reduce stress and improve their mental and physical health for improved quality of life and longevity. Lifestyle and a person’s profession also heavily influences levels of stress. Students have been shown to have the most increased levels of stress during the pandemic as well as hospital workers due to the change of setting and uncertainty for students and the high stress of contracting COVID-19 and putting one’s life on the line during the pandemic
Prevalence, Knowledge, and Risk Factors Related to Shisha Smoking Among Students at the Technical Institute of Mosul
Get PDFBackground: Hookah Smoking is very popular among men and women (young men, old men, and women). In spite of this, it is a severe risk to health and represents one of the major causes of worldwide death, and the scientific studies have supported that smoking through hookah as an alternative to smoking tobacco has many dangerous effects on human health.Methods: A sample of 210 participants was selected randomly by choosing the odd number from the Mosul Technical Institute students for the period from 1 October 2020 to 1 January 2021. A questionnaire was used to interview the students who took part in the present study in order to estimate the prevalence of shisha smoking among the participating sample; the respondents were given a brief idea of the study objectives, and their knowledge of shisha smoking and related diseases was verified through a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequency and percentage. The study has been approved by the ethics committee of the institute.Results: The result showed that out of 210 students who participated in this study, there were 58 smokers, 22 (34%) of them smoked shisha alone, 15 (23%) smoked cigarettes only, and 28 (43%) smoked hookah and cigarettes. The highest percentage of hookah smokers (71.0%) was in the age group (21-23), compared to 0.5% in the age group (27+). Most students avoided smoking in front of the family (78.6%) while they preferred to smoke a hookah with friends (66.2%). The majority of the participating answered that hookah smoking is more expensive than cigarettes (67.1%), and that is the reason for their preference for cigarettes over hookah, with a mean of 0.48, SD of 0.50, and 51.9%. Regarding the degree of students’ awareness in general about whether smoking shisha is less dangerous to health than smoking cigarettes, the degree of knowledge was weak. It was found that the cognitive level was poor and acceptable among the majority of the sample (67%). Regarding the prevalence of behavioral beliefs associated with hookah smoking, the survey indicated that the prevalence of correct ideas and beliefs prevailing among the sample members reached 53% and that 47% of the sample members had a wrong idea about the prevalence of hookah. Also, the association between the duration of smoking and study specialization was shown to be statistically significant (p=0.75*).Conclusion: Hookah smoking is still a popular health-threatening behavior for college students and young adults. This study indicated that there is a high percentage of hookah smoking among the study sample and that the participants in this study lack sufficient knowledge, lack of awareness, and the beliefs and misconceptions associated with hookah smoking, which requires governmental measures to reduce the harmful spread among students
The Relationship Between Calling and Burnout of Psychological Hotline Operators: Career Commitment as a Mediator
Get PDFBackground: Psychological hotlines have long been an important channel for public mental health support; however, the high intensity and stress of hotline work may lead to occupational burnout among operators. This study aimed to investigate the occupational burnout status of psychological hotline operators and explore the relationship between calling and occupational burnout, as well as the underlying mechanisms.Methods: The study employed a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative research was conducted using purposive sampling, involving semi-structured interviews with 18 psychological hotline operators (94.4% female, mean age 31.28±5.67 years, mean service duration 26.17±23.46 months) to explore the causes of occupational burnout and motivations for joining the profession. Quantitative research involved a longitudinal survey, collecting data at three time points (T1, T2, T3) over a two-month period, with 159, 137, and 125 valid responses, respectively. Among T1 participants, 89.9% were female, with a mean age of 36.06±9.53 years and an average service duration of 21.15±25.16 months.Results: calling was significantly associated with occupational burnout, but no lagged causal relationship was observed. There was a positive cross-lagged effect between calling and occupational commitment, with calling predicting an increase in occupational commitment, and occupational commitment further enhancing calling, with the latter showing stronger predictive power. These interactions were consistent over time. Although occupational commitment did not significantly predict occupational burnout, burnout significantly predicted a decrease in occupational commitment, and this effect persisted over time. Occupational commitment fully mediated the lagged effect of occupational burnout on calling.Conclusions: The work experiences of psychological hotline operators significantly impact occupational commitment and calling, which in turn affect occupational burnout. Hotline institutions should implement comprehensive institutional safeguards, foster an open culture, and provide group interventions to prevent or mitigate operator burnout and enhance calling and professional identity
Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Clinical Challenges and Management Insights from a Case Series in Basrah
Get PDFThe hallmarks of sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic hemoglobinopathy, include chronic hemolysis, vaso-occlusive crises, and systemic consequences, such as musculoskeletal symptoms that can sometimes resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This case series examines the clinical challenges and RA management strategies in five SCD patients, comprising three women and two men, aged 21–52 years. Important observations are the complexity of treatment due to comorbidities such as severe anemia and vaso-occlusive crises, as well as the delayed identification of RA because of symptoms that cross with SCD, like joint pain and inflammation. Patients responded differently to methotrexate (MTX), the major disease-modifying therapy. Two had modest disease activity; others required glucocorticoids or biological agents like rituximab, which sometimes resulted in SCD complications. While it benefited some individuals, the exact function of hydroxyurea was still unknown. Especially, alleviating the anemia caused by Methotrexate (MTX) requires folate supplements. The series stresses the need for a multidisciplinary approach, tailored treatments, and higher suspicion for RA when SCD patients suffer from persistent joint discomfort. These discoveries underline the part that chronic inflammation plays in the pathogenesis of both SCD and RA, therefore stressing the importance of close surveillance and customized treatment to enhance effects
Preliminary Results of Endoscopic Treatment of Vesicoureteral Reflux with Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid Copolymer in Children
Get PDFBackground: Endoscopic treatment with various bulking agents has been widely used as a therapy for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), because it is simpler, less time-consuming, and less painful than traditional surgeries. The ideal bulking agent for the injection therapies must be easily injectable, volume- stable, biocompatible, non-antigenic, non-migratory and with durable results.Objective: To evaluate the preliminary results of endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux with dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer in children.Patients and Methods: Forty three patients with 66 refluxing renal unit (RRU), 23 (53.5%)male and 20(46.5%) female, with a mean age of 4.7 years (range: 4 months to 12 years), were treated endoscopically with Dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer(Dx/HA) injection, in the Urological Department of Al-Sader Medical City/ Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf, and followed for a minimum of 12 months, VUR was unilateral in 20 (46.5%) and bilateral in 23 (53.5%) patients. Thereflux was from grade II to V in: 2 (3%), 20 (30.3%), 26 (39.4), 18 (27.3%) RRU respectively. The volume of Dx/HA injected was: 0.4 mL- 3mL per RRU with a mean of 1 mL.Results: All patients completed at least 12 months of follow up, reflux was disappeared in 45 RRU (68.1%) after just one injection, 21 RRU (31.9%) received a second injection, with reflux successfully disappeared in 12 RRU (57.1%) of the 21 RRU, and success rate of total group of RRU was 86.4%. Complications were: Two patients (4.6%) with 2 RRU (3%) develop ureteral obstruction, UTIs in 4 patients (9.3%) in the first 6 months postoperatively.Conclusions: The success rate shows that endoscopic treatment of VUR is very effective, and it can be considered the first line treatment option for VUR, with a low rate of complications
Uterine Perforation Due to IUD Migration: A Rare Cause of Pneumoperitoneum in an Elderly Female
Get PDFBackground: Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are widely used as a safe and effective form of long-term contraception. Although complications are uncommon, IUD migration and uterine perforation are rare but serious adverse events. These complications can lead to acute abdominal emergencies, including pneumoperitoneum and peritonitis, which may mimic gastrointestinal perforation.Case Presentation: We report the case of a 71-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and a left lower limb fracture, who presented with generalized abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. CT imaging revealed free intraperitoneal air (pneumoperitoneum), raising suspicion of gastrointestinal perforation. An emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed. Intraoperative findings revealed purulent peritoneal fluid and a perforation on the posterior wall of the uterus, with the IUD visibly protruding through the uterine serosa. The IUD was surgically removed, and the perforation could not be primarily repaired, and we performed a total hysterectomy. No gastrointestinal pathology was found. The patient recovered well postoperatively.Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of considering IUD-related uterine perforation in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen and pneumoperitoneum, even in elderly patients. Timely diagnosis and surgical management are essential to avoid life-threatening complications. Regular follow-up of IUD users, especially postmenopausal women, is critical for early detection of delayed complications
Jejunal Diverticulosis Revealed by Acute Intestinal Obstruction: A Case Report and Literature Review
Get PDFIntroduction: Jejunal diverticulosis is a rare and often asymptomatic condition that presents with vague and nonspecific symptoms, making diagnosis challenging. It is an acquired disorder where the mucosa and submucosa herniate through weakened areas of the intestinal muscle wall. Diagnosis is frequently incidental during imaging or surgery for unrelated conditions.Case presentation: We report the case of a 52-year-old multiparous woman with a history of right eye surgery, admitted for acute intestinal obstruction. She presented with abdominal pain, cessation of bowel movements, and delayed vomiting. Physical examination showed abdominal distension and tympanism. Imaging revealed small bowel distension with hydro-aerial levels and collapse of the terminal ileum and colonic frameManagement and Outcome : Intraoperative findings showed multiple jejunal diverticula and a strangulated small bowel loop due to parietal adhesions, mimicking an internal hernia. The adhesions were safely released, and the postoperative course was uneventful.Conclusion: Jejunal diverticulosis, though rare, predominantly affects elderly patients and can be associated with high morbidity and mortality. It should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of acute abdomen
Empowering Medical Students Through Community-Oriented Research: The Impact of Student-Selected Components
Get PDFFor efficient undergraduate medical research education at the College of Medicine, University of Zakho, three research modules, known as "Student Selected Components" (SSCs), have been added to the college’s academic curriculum. These modules aim to enhance research skills and encourage problem-solving via community-based health projects. More than 50 peer-reviewed publications and around 30 national and international conference presentations were the result of this program, which was under the mentorship of college academics and external researchers. This project has substantially enhanced the university's academic reputation and approval. This paper investigates the transformational effect of SSCs in fostering students’ research orientation, development, and institutional reputation. Moreover, it represents a successful experience, serving as a model for other colleges in the country to follow