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What differs former, light and heavy smokers? Evidence from a post-conflict setting
Get PDFBackground: Evidence suggests that people who live in regions affected
by the armed conflict are more likely to smoke. Objective: The purpose
of this study was to assess factors associated with smoking status in a
sample of students in the northern Kosovo province. Materials and
methods: A total of 514 students enrolled in University in Kosovska
Mitrovica, Kosovo, were recruited between April to June 2015 at Student
Public Health Center during mandatory health checks. Participants
filled in socio-demographic and behavioral questionnaire and Beck
Depression Inventory (BDI). Based on responses about smoking, students
were categorized in non-smokers, former smokers, light smokers (1-13
cigarettes/day) and heavy smokers (> 13 cigarettes/ day). Results:
Of 514 students, 116 (22.6%) classified themselves as smokers. Higher
education level of fathers (Odds ratio [OR]=2.89, 95% confidence
interval [CI] 1.30-6.44, p=0.009), not living with smokers (OR=0.42,
95%CI 0.15-0.97, p=0.017) and longer exposure to second hand smoke
(OR=1.07, 95%CI 1.01-1.13, p=0.036) was associated with former smoking.
Studying medical and natural sciences (OR=2.07, 95%CI 1.05-4.18,
p=0.040), consuming alcohol (OR=2.98, 95%CI 1.19-10.03, p=0.020),
living with smokers (OR=2.88, 95%CI 1.49-5.56, p=0.002), longer
exposure to second hand smoke (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.11, p=0.019) and
having a more intense depressive symptoms (OR=1.08, 95%CI 1.03-1.13,
p=0.002) was associated with light smoking. Being male (OR=0.22, 95%CI
0.07-0.41, p=0.001), older (OR=1.47, 95%CI 1.21-1.78, p=0.001), living
with smokers (OR=3.78, 95%CI 1.69-8.07, p=0.001), longer daily exposure
to second-hand smoke (OR=1.10, 95%CI 1.04-1.16, p=0.001), and having
more severe depressive symptoms (OR=1.12, 95%CI 1.07-1.18, p=0.001)
were associated with heavy smoking. Conclusion: Smoking prevention and
cessation programs should include the entire community, because
exposure to environmental second hand smoke may facilitate initiation
and more intense smoking. Screening of student smokers for depression
should be prioritized in the process of rebuilding the framework for
primary and secondary prevention in the post-conflict period
Exploring unsafe sexual practices among truck drivers at Meerut District, India: a cross-sectional study
Get PDFBackground: Despite implementation of HIV prevention programmes for
truck drivers in India, unsafe sex behavior among truck drivers has
been documented. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess
knowledge about HIV Transmission and modes of prevention, pattern of
condom use with high risk partners and explore the practice of unsafe
sex and its risk factors among truck drivers. Methods: This exploratory
cross-sectional study design was conducted on a recruited convenient
sample of 100 truck drivers above 18 years from March to May 2015.
Binary logistic regression was used to compute unadjusted odds ratio
[95% Confidence Interval] for establishing association of risk factors
with unsafe sex. Results: Overall, only 7% had complete knowledge about
HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention. 54% of truck drivers have sex
with a high risk partner (commercial sexual worker or men having sex
with men) and thirty-eight percent reported unsafe sexual practices due
to inconsistent condom use with them. The various risk factors found
significantly associated with unsafe sex were mean age of first
intercourse (OR= 0.92, 95% CI: 0.75 \u2013 0.97), access to
pornography (OR = 4.4, 95% CI: 1.8 \u2013 10.7) and conuming
psychoactive substance before sex (OR = 4.06, 95% CI: 1.09 \u2013
15.02). Conclusion: Socio-demographic, occupational factors,
pornography access and consuming psychoactive substances seems to
influence the sexual behaviour of truckers
Prevalence and associated factors of HIV-TB co-infection among HIV patients: a retrospective Study
Get PDFBackground: TB/HIV co-infection is a major public health problem in
many parts of the world. But the prevalence of co-infection was varies
among countries. This study was designed to assess prevalence of TB/HIV
co-infection and to determine its factors. Methods: A retrospective
study was done among HIV-positive patients at Hiwot Fana hospital from
December, 2014 to 2018. The study participants were selected by simple
random sampling. Patients with incomplete chart reviews were excluded
and demographic, clinical and laboratory information were analyzed
using SPSS and STATA. Uni-vitiate and bivariate logistic regressions
were applied. Results: Five hundred fourteen patients were enrolled in
this study. Of these, 187(37.4%) had TB. Bivariate logistic analysis
showed that HIV patients with regards to marital status[AOR = 2.6;
95%CI = 1.19- 2.89] , education status [AOR = 3.74; 95%CI =
2.47\u20135.66], weight less than 50kg [AOR = 2.54; 95% CI = 1.35
\u2013 4.81], CD4 level < 200cells/mm3 [AOR = 4.57; 95%CI =
2.38\u2013 6.86] and patient who were at WHO clinical stage III [AOR =
7.8; 95%CI = 5.15 \u2013 8.55] were significantly associated with
TB/HIV co-infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of TB among HIV
patients was high and predicted by marital, education status, weight,
CD4 cell count and WHO clinical stage III
Comparative incidence of adverse drug reaction during the first and subsequent year of antiretroviral therapy in a Nigerian HIV infected Cohort
Get PDFBackground: Despite close to two decades of antiretroviral therapy
(ART) in Nigeria, data on late on-onset ART-associated adverse drug
reactions (ADRs) are sparse. Objectives: To describe early and
late-onset ADRs and compare their incidence in an outpatient HIV
positive Cohort on ART. Method: We described the incidence of clinical
ADRs identified and documented in an outpatient clinic cohort of
HIV-positive patients treated between June 2004 and December 2015 at a
tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Incidence rates of ADRs during the
first and subsequent years of ART were compared. Results: of the 13,983
patients\u2019 data analyzed, 9317 were females (66%), and those in
the age bracket of 25 to 45 years made up 78% of the studied
population. During 52,411 person-years (py) of ART, 1485 incident ADRs
were recorded; Incidence rate (IR) 28.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]
26.9:29.8) ADRs per 1000 person-years (py) of ART. The IR of ADRs was
about two times higher in the first year of ART compared to subsequent
years of treatment; crude incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.77 (95% CI
1.59:1.97). Anemia, hypersensitivity reactions, and nervous system
disorders had 7, 23, and 5 times higher incidence, respectively, in the
first year of therapy, compared to subsequent years. Conclusion: The
first year of ART is the period of highest risk of ADRs. Individual and
programmatic treatment success in resource-limited settings requires
strategies for early identification and management of ADR during the
period of greatest risk of ADRs
Association of eNOS (G894T, rs1799983) and KCNJ11 (E23K, rs5219) gene polymorphism with coronary artery disease in North Indian population
Get PDFBackground: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and potassium
voltage-gated channel subfamily J member 11 (KCNJ11) could be the
candidate genes for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study
investigated the relationship of the eNOS (rs1799983) and KCNJ11
(rs5219) polymorphisms with the presence and severity of CAD in the
North Indian population. Methods: This study included 300 subjects, 150
CAD cases and 150 healthy controls. Single nucleotide polymorphism was
evaluated by Polymerase chain reaction and Restriction fragment length
polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Analysis was performed by SPSS (version 21.0).
Results: We observed that KK genotype of KCNJ11E23K (rs5219)
polymorphism (P=0.0001) genotypes and K allele (P=0.0001) was found to
be a positive risk factor and strongly associated with CAD. In the case
of eNOSG894T (rs1799983) there was no association found with CAD.
Conclusion: These results illustrate the probability of associations
between SNPs and CAD although specific genetic polymorphisms affecting
ion channel function and expression have still to be clarified by
further investigations involving larger cohorts
Pitfalls and technical errors in the first approach to neonates with anorectal malformations in a non-specialist context: can we do any better? A review from three Eastern African Centres
No full textIntroduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, Anorectal malformations (ARM) are
the most frequent cause of neonatal obstruction. Referral to a
Pediatric Surgeon is frequently delayed. The first treatment is often
delivered at not specialist level and mismanagement may result. Aim: To
study ARM patients referred beyond neonatal period and managed at a
non-specialist level. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty
patients were included (M/F ratio 63/67) among 144 admitted to three
Eastern African Hospitals with Pediatric Surgical facilities.
Demographics, type of anomaly, delay on referral, previous management,
most commonly observed errors are reported. Results: The Mean age at
referral was 23 months (range five weeks \u2013 23 years). Colostomy
was the most frequent surgery (92 cases). Stomas often did not follow
the recommended criteria. Ten per cent were not on the sigmoid, and 35%
were not divided. "Loop" or "double-barrel" colostomies did not exclude
the distal loop. Inverted (10,5%), prolapsed stomas (7,5%), short
distal loop (16%) were observed. Twenty-four cases (26%) needed redo.
Primary perineal exploration in eight patients resulted in
incontinence. Conclusions: Investments on training practitioners,
acting at District/Rural level, and closer links with tertiary centres
are recommended to avoid ARM mismanagement and delayed referral to a
Specialist
Ingestion of supplements and fortified food with iodine on the breast milk iodine concentration in deficiency areas: a systematic review
No full textIntroduction: The level of iodine in breast milk may be inadequate and
compromise the health of this, both due to excess and lack, some
population groups remain deficient because of the low consumption of
iodate salt, because there is an increase in consumption of other
sources of iodine, such as supplements and fortified foods. Objective:
To evaluate the effect of the consumption of fortified foods and
nutritional supplements with iodine on maternal milk levels.
Methodology: Systematic review based on the Prism method, using the
descriptors provided by DeCS. The reading, selection and analysis of
the methodological quality of the articles was done by two researchers
independently. Results: From 346 abstracts, 6 were eligible. The median
iodination range between the studies ranged from 75 to 600 \u3bcg in
supplements and 150 and 225 \u3bcg in fortified foods with effect on
increased iodine concentration of breastmilk (BMIC), achieving the
adequacy of the median BMIC in 4 of the 6 studies. Conclusion: Iodine
ingestion through supplements or fortified foods results in improved
iodine levels in breast milk
Prevalence and socio-economic factors affecting the use of traditional medicine among adults of Katikekile Subcounty, Moroto District, Uganda
No full textBackground: In Uganda generally and in rural areas in particular, use
of traditional medicine is a common practice, yet there remains lack of
evidence on the overall utilization of traditional medicine and there
are many aspects that remain unclear. Objective: To determine the use
of traditional medicine and factors associated with this among the
adults of Katikekile Subcounty in Moroto district. Methods: A
descriptive cross-sectional study using quantitative and qualitative
methods. Interviews among 323 respondents, and focus group discussions
were carried out among village traditional birth attendants, village
health team members, and traditional health providers. Results: Use of
traditional medicine among the adults of Katikekile Subcounty was 68%.
Usage was more prevalent among older people, and the majority of the
adults used traditional medicine often as their first line-treatment
for any illness. Herbs used for traditional medicines are usually
locally available and free-of-charge. Long distance to health-facility
based health care services, and medical fees contributed to the use of
traditional medicine. Conclusion: Use of traditional medicine among
adults of Katikekile Subcounty in Moroto in the Karamoja region in
Uganda was high, and majority of the adults often used traditional
medicine as first line-treatment. Both socioeconomic and health sector
factors were associated with use of traditional medicine
Burnout and quality of life among nurses working in selected mental health institutions in South West Nigeria
No full textBackground: Burnout remains a huge public health problem among nurses.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study assessed 259 nurses from
two Neuropsychiatric hospitals in Nigeria. Data was collected using a
sociodemographic/ job related questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout
Inventory (MBI), and the Short-Form health survey (SF-12). The
associations between sociodemographic characteristic and burnout was
anaysed using Chi square test, between burnout and quality of life
using Spearman correlation statistics. Predictors of burnout were
determined using binary regression analysis Results: Prevalence of
emotional exhaustion (EE) was 44.4%, depersonalization (DEP) 31.7% and
reduced personal accomplishment was 98.8%. Predictors of EE were: poor
funding from management, OR = 0.38 (95% CI 0.15-0.95) and role
conflict, OR = 2.44 (95% CI 1.03-5.78), while the predictors of DEP,
were age group, 31-40 years, OR = 0.37 (95% CI 0.18-0.77), male gender,
OR = 2.55 (95% CI 1.40-4.65), role conflict, OR = 6.53 (95% CI
0.88-7.81) and working at more urban city, OR = 3.07 (95% CI
1.54-6.16). The mean total Quality of life (QOL) scores were
significantly higher among respondents who had no EE and DEP p <
0.001. Conclusion: Burnout is high among mental health nurses and is
associated with poor quality of life
Physicochemical Characteristics of Harvested Rainwater under different Rooftops in Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria
No full textDue to scarcity of potable water in most rural and urban settings in
Ekiti State, rainwater harvesting from rooftop has been favoured as an
alternative source of water supply. This study investigated the
physicochemical characteristics of rainwater harvested from four
different rooftop sheets in Ikole-Ekiti and its environs. Samples were
collected three times from the month of June to August, 2018.
Parameters investigated include pH, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS),
Turbidity, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Alkalinity, Total Hardness,
Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Fe, Pb, Zn, Al, and Cu. Data obtained were
subjected to descriptive statistics to determine the mean and standard
deviation and water quality index measured. The result shows that the
physicochemical parameters ranges from 8.03-9.17 (pH), 0.47-3.17 NTU
(Turbidity), 56.20 -170.43 \u3bcs/cm (EC), 30.2-50.53 mg/L (TDS),
18.56-27.58 mg/L (Alkalinity), 19.94-24.08 mg/L (Total Hardness),
8.67-14.93mg/L (SO42+), 4.11-11.67mg/L (Cl-), 0 - 4.62 mg/L (Zn2+),
7.11-11.13 mg/L (Calcium), 0.07-1.56 mg/L (Al2+), 0.01-0.02 mg/L
(Cu2+), 9.41-21.33 mg/L (Mg2+), 29.04-40.35 mg/L (Na2+) and (Fe2+)
0.1-0.29 mg/L . Most of the measured parameters were all within
permissible water quality standard as recommended by World Health
Organizations (WHO) except for the slightly basic character of the
rainwater. All measured parameters were high in aluminum sheets and
coated rooftops but did not exceed the World Health Organization
permissible limit followed by Galvanized zinc rooftop and Panted
rooftop. Water Quality Index (WQI) for painted rooftop, aluminum
rooftop, galvanized zinc rooftop, and coated rooftop were 3.296, 1.335,
6.078 and 2.629 respectively indicating excellent water quality. The
study found that harvested rainwater in the area could be used for
domestic purpose with minimum treatment to enhance drinkability