Anna Galle, Maria S B Maguele, Elisio Maxlhusa, David Aguacheiro, Tina Krüger, Málica de Melo
{"title":"Scheduled couple consultations during pregnancy as a lever to increase male involvement in maternal health: results of a qualitative photovoice study in Mozambique.","authors":"Anna Galle, Maria S B Maguele, Elisio Maxlhusa, David Aguacheiro, Tina Krüger, Málica de Melo","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Men in low- and middle-income countries often play a critical role in maternal health by increasing access to and utilization of maternal health services. This photovoice study examined the experiences of men and women with scheduled couple consultations during pregnancy, supported by social mobilization activities, as a lever to increase male involvement during pregnancy and childbirth.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The lived experiences with scheduled couple consultations were evaluated by collecting photovoice data from couples, conducting focus group discussions with health providers and in-depth interviews with women. Analysis was done by applying a thematic inductive approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data were collected from five couples using photovoice, nine health providers by conducting focus group discussions and nine single women by conducting individual in-depth interviews. Two overall themes arose during analysis of the data: health center experiences and community norms about pregnancy. Overall, the couple consultations had a positive effect on the interest of the male partner in pregnancy and childbirth, but deep-rooted gender norms around women's roles during pregnancy persisted.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Implementing scheduled couple consultations at health center level, supported by social mobilization activities, is a promising strategy for stimulating active participation of male partners in maternal health.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jianming Yuan, Yuening Guan, Zhifeng Zhao, Jiankang Shen, Dan Tan, Fang Zhao, Lei Ge, Rongli Xie, Tingting Li
{"title":"Enteral nutrition therapy for elderly patients with common-type COVID-19, a retrospective study based on medical records.","authors":"Jianming Yuan, Yuening Guan, Zhifeng Zhao, Jiankang Shen, Dan Tan, Fang Zhao, Lei Ge, Rongli Xie, Tingting Li","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The objective was to investigate the implications of enteral nutrition for elderly patients with common-type coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were retrospectively extracted from medical records. Enteral nutritional supplementation was recommended for patients with a nutritional risk score >3. The preferred method was oral administration, and preparations included Ensure and TPF-T. Continuous variables were compared using analysis of two-tailed Student's t-tests or one-way analysis of variance for normally distributed data and the rank sum test for non-normally distributed data. Categorical variables were compared using the χ2 test or Fisher's exact test. Values of p <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mortality rate in the whole cohort was 9.54%. A total of 474 patients tested negative and were discharged; among them, 173 patients received enteral nutrition while 301 patients did not. There were significant correlations between mortality and age, serum albumin concentration, prognostic nutritional index, underlying severe disease status and diet condition. In patients with a poor diet, early use of enteral nutrition is associated with faster conversion to a negative polymerase chain reaction test.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The prognosis of elderly patients with common-type COVID-19 was related to their nutritional status. Enteral nutritional supplementation is the preferred method of nutrition because it is the simplest and most widely accepted method for patients. For patients with poor diet conditions, enteral nutritional intervention should be performed early.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Post-COVID-19 syndrome and low-grade inflammation: exploring gender and occupational inequalities in a retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Lin Yanhui, Wang Jiangang, Gao Jianping, Wang Tao","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To investigate the association between post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome (PCS) and chronic low-grade inflammation (LGI) in blood cells in 4108 mild COVID-19 patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The data were collected within 12-24 weeks before and 24 weeks after COVID-19 infection. The χ2 test was utilized to analyse the differences between two groups. The relationship between PCS symptoms and inflammatory cells was analysed by logistic regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The most common PCS symptom was cough, reported as 'occasionally' by 33.47% and 'frequently' by 5.92%. Women exhibited more severe symptoms than men. Among healthcare workers, palpitations were more pronounced (0.76% versus 0.35%), while the prevalence of other PCS symptoms was lower compared with non-healthcare workers. After adjusting for confounding factors, women showed a higher risk of five types of PCS, and healthcare workers had a greater risk of fatigue and dizziness compared with the non-healthcare worker. Fatigue was associated with lymphocytes, monocytes and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Cough correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), NLR and the platelet:lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Dizziness was linked to hs-CRP, NLR and PLR. Palpitations correlated with hs-CRP.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest that PCS symptoms may be associated with LGI in peripheral blood cells, gender and occupational inequalities, warranting further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143732540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sheba Mary Pognaa Kunfah, Linus Baatiema, Kenneth Mibut Dam, Leonard Baatiema
{"title":"The impact of COVID-19 on health system resilience to the cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak in the Upper West Region of Ghana: a qualitative study.","authors":"Sheba Mary Pognaa Kunfah, Linus Baatiema, Kenneth Mibut Dam, Leonard Baatiema","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic revealed significant weaknesses in global and national health systems. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health system resilience in responding to the cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) outbreak in Ghana.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study design and purposive sampling were used to select clinical, public health staff and community health volunteers. From October 2023 to January 2024, data were collected across five selected districts with the highest burden of meningitis cases in the Upper West Region facilitated by a semi-structured interview guide. To analyse the data, we adopted a thematic analysis approach guided by the new health systems resilience framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study revealed strengths and vulnerabilities across all six key domains of the resilience framework. These findings suggested that the health system was ill-prepared for the concurrent outbreaks, resulting in a suboptimal response. Key among the findings were the diverted attention towards COVID-19, inequitable distribution of resources and a delayed response to the meningitis outbreak.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by the health system during the concurrent health crises. There is a need to integrate emergency preparedness and response plans during concurrent outbreaks and to set up a dedicated public health emergency fund at the national and subnational levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yahaya Yaqub, Joan Ejembi, Aliyu Aminu, Zainab Rabilu Daninna, Zainab Lamido Tanko, Nasiru Usman Ibrahim, Oduma Audu, Bawa Ega
{"title":"Antibiotic resistance pattern of multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales from a rectal surveillance study in northern Nigeria.","authors":"Yahaya Yaqub, Joan Ejembi, Aliyu Aminu, Zainab Rabilu Daninna, Zainab Lamido Tanko, Nasiru Usman Ibrahim, Oduma Audu, Bawa Ega","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are important in clinical practice worldwide. As whole genome sequencing (WGS) technologies are adopted, it is key to understand the nature of MDROs before the introduction of WGS in resource-poor settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A hospital-based surveillance study was conducted in the largest referral health facility in northern Nigeria. A rectal swab sample was collected from each patient and samples were investigated for extended spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacterales (i.e. ESBL-PE and CRE, respectively). These MDROs were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and multiplex PCR. Statistical analyses were used to identify any associations between MDROs and selected antibiotics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of MDROs among participants (N=168) was 87.5% (n=147) for ESBL-PE and 4.2% (n=7) for CRE. All isolates were resistant to tetracycline and co-trimoxazole; however, most MDROs were susceptible to meropenem, ceftazidime-avibactam and fosfomycin (≥70%). blaSHV (33.3%; n=49) was the predominant ESBL gene carried by the isolates, followed by combinations of blaSHV, blaCTX and blaTEM. Although no carbapenemase genes were found, all CRE isolates had the blaOXA-48 gene, which may not be associated with phenotypic carbapenem resistance observed (χ2=0.056, p=0.81).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Research utilising WGS and bioinformatics will elucidate more of the molecular landscape of MDROs in resource-poor settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143702025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alemayehu Molla Tekalign, Hanna Lambero, Aboma Motuma
{"title":"Determinants of poor glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes in Dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia: a case-control study.","authors":"Alemayehu Molla Tekalign, Hanna Lambero, Aboma Motuma","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Ethiopia, there is little evidence on the factors contributing to poor glycaemic control. This study aimed to identify determinants of poor glycaemic control among type 2 diabetes in Dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in follow-up clinics. Cases were people with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥7%, while those with HbA1c <7% were controls. A total of 190 patients were recruited in chronic follow-up diabetic clinics. The data were collected using structured questionnaire interviews and extracted from medical charts and entered into EpiData (EpiData Association, Odense, Denmark) and exported to Stata version 16.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) for analysis. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify the determinants of poor glycaemic control.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study showed that being female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.73 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.10 to 6.79]), a smoker (AOR 14.85 [95% CI 5.25 to 42.88]), blood glucose monitoring ≤3 times per week (AOR 4.87 [95% CI 1.42 to 16.71]), overweight (AOR 4.96 [95% CI 1.82 to 13.52]) or obese (AOR 5.19 [95% CI 1.76 to 15.56]), ≥10 y on treatment (AOR 3.56 [95% CI 1.17 to 10.82]), having coronary artery disease (AOR 2.47 [95% CI 1.01 to 6.03]) and poor adherence to diabetic medication (AOR 0.24 [95% CI 0.10 to 0.63]) were found to be predictors of poor glycaemic control.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Smoking, overweight or obese, poor medication adherence and blood glucose levels lead to poor glycaemic control. This study shows the benefits of quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, adhering to medication and monitoring blood glucose levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143702031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tabitha D van Immerzeel, Indou Deme-Ly, Maty Diagne-Camara, Rebecca E Penzias, Daouda Seck, Abdallah Diallo, Amanda E Murungi, Carlos S Grijalva-Eternod, Marko Kerac, Abou Ba, Louise T Day
{"title":"Primary healthcare readiness for nutritionally at-risk infants aged under 6 months: a facility-based survey in Senegal.","authors":"Tabitha D van Immerzeel, Indou Deme-Ly, Maty Diagne-Camara, Rebecca E Penzias, Daouda Seck, Abdallah Diallo, Amanda E Murungi, Carlos S Grijalva-Eternod, Marko Kerac, Abou Ba, Louise T Day","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malnutrition in infants aged <6 mo (u6m) is poorly identified and managed in many countries, increasing the risk of poor growth and development. Addressing this gap, 2023 WHO malnutrition guidelines recommend assessment, classification and treatment at primary care level. This study aimed to assess primary healthcare facility readiness for nutritional care in infants u6m.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We adapted the Harmonized Health Facility Assessment (HHFA), adding items for Management of small and nutritionally At-risk Infants u6m and their Mothers (MAMI) at five care contact points. Our HHFA-MAMI tool captured 342 items using healthcare provider interviews, observations and registers data to calculate mean scores per area and median patient visits.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We surveyed 15 facilities in Senegal. General readiness scored 69.5%, MAMI availability and readiness 37.7%. Infrastructure (72.0%) and health workforce (60.7%) were available, while equipment (32.5%) and training (22.3%) scored low. Infants were frequently assessed (53.6%), not often classified (15.2%) as at risk, nor adequately treated (38.2%). Comparing contact points, delivery and sick child clinic scored highest in readiness, immunization in utilization.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Primary care readiness gaps exist in classifying and treating at-risk infants u6m, equipment and training. We found opportunities at each of the five contact points to implement WHO-recommended care.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mina Benaddi, Abdelhafid Benksim, Touria Fatihi, Sanaa Sabour Alaoui
{"title":"Health-related quality of life of people living with HIV in Beni-Mellal City, Morocco.","authors":"Mina Benaddi, Abdelhafid Benksim, Touria Fatihi, Sanaa Sabour Alaoui","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nowadays, the objective for people living with HIV (PLHIV) is living well and long with the infection rather than surviving it. This study assesses health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of PLHIV in Beni-Mellal City, Morocco, and the factors influencing HRQoL.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 PLHIV attending the regional hospital of Beni-Mellal, Morocco. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D Questionnaire (EuroQol-5D). A non-probabilistic χ2 test was used to determine factors associated with HRQoL of PLHIV. A multivariate binomial logistic regression model was applied to determine potential factors influencing HRQoL.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The rate of PLHIV with good HRQoL (≥0.59 EuroQol-5D score) was 64.4%. The factors associated with good HRQoL were male gender (p=0.026) (OR: 3.69; 95% CI 1.0 to 12.135), side effects (p= 0.006) (OR: 3.655; 95% CI 1.446 to 9.239), high CD4 count (p=0.001) (OR: 0.77; 95% CI 0.061 to 0.190), HIV representation (p=0.01) (OR: 7.923; 95% CI 1.65 to 38.04), good relationship with the healthcare team (p=0.002) (OR 5.771; 95% CI 1.0 to 12.135) and low viral load (p=0.001) (OR: 0.180; 95% CI 0.063 to 0.514).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Psychological support and challenging stigma are key in health strategies to improve the HRQoL of PLHIV.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dilini Mataraarachchi, Thomas Shepherd, Ram Bajpai, Gayan Ariyadasa, Nadia Corp, Priyamvada Paudyal
{"title":"Family-based sexual health interventions for adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: systematic analysis and meta-analysis.","authors":"Dilini Mataraarachchi, Thomas Shepherd, Ram Bajpai, Gayan Ariyadasa, Nadia Corp, Priyamvada Paudyal","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Family-based sexual health interventions (FBSHI) have received considerable attention for their success in promoting adolescent sexual health outcomes. However, their effectiveness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is unclear. Systematic searches were conducted for studies published from January 2000 to October 2023 using five electronic databases. Studies were included if they included adolescents aged 10-19 y and their family members (parents, siblings or primary caregivers) in a key intervention component, evaluated the effectiveness of the interventions using an experimental or quasi-experimental design, assessed sexual and reproductive health outcomes reported by adolescents and were carried out in LMICs. The review included nine studies, with 2404 adolescent participants and their families. Meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effects model. The key themes that emerged from this systematic review were: (i) FBSHI significantly improved adolescents' sexual health knowledge; and (ii) the impact of FBSHI on molding adolescents' sexual health attitudes, practices and family communication around sexual health topics was inconsistent. The importance of conducting combined interventions that involved adolescents and their parents to elicit better outcomes was highlighted in the review. Future research should prioritize under-represented geographical regions such as Asia and include culturally adopted, contextually relevant material to increase the acceptability and effectiveness in LMIC settings. By synthesizing existing literature, this review contributes to gaining a comprehensive understanding of varying strategies that can be used to ensure the effectiveness of family-based sexual health interventions in promoting adolescent sexual health in the LMIC setting. The review also highlights areas not explored by the existing research and that need attention when conducting further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}