Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit最新文献

{"title":"Comments on: \"COVID-19 and political instability may not be the only factors affecting students' mental health\".","authors":"Sounira Mehri, Josef Finsterer","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.9.650","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.9.650","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 9","pages":"650-651"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cross-sectional study of predictors of infant nutrition knowledge among new mothers in Iraq.","authors":"Aseel Muayad Salih, Tarik Ziyad Tarik Shwaish, Elaf Mohammed Saleh, Wefak Hasan Abdulraheem Alkawaz","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.9.641","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.9.641","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite recent improvements, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) remains a challenge in Basra, Iraq.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To describe the predictors of IYCF knowledge among new mothers in Basra City, Iraq.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study collected data on infant nutrition knowledge from 400 new mothers attending 12 primary health care centres in Basra, Iraq, between February and June 2023. Jamovi version 2.3 was used for statistical analyses. Predictive analysis was performed with univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression, and the results were reported as crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval. P < 0.05 was considered significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most (60%) of the women interviewed were younger than 19 years, married (98%), living in an extended family setting (93%), and in the lowest income level (76%). Age ≤19 was a significant predictor of knowledge about breastfeeding, formula feeding, complementary feeding, water and supplements, and food allergies (adjusted odds ratio range 2.24-5.30). Unemployment and low education status predicted lower knowledge about breastfeeding, complementary feeding, water and supplements, and food allergies, but neither unemployment nor low education status predicted lower knowledge about formula feeding. Receiving information from doctors or healthcare workers and social media or the internet was associated with better maternal IYCF knowledge while receiving information from family and friends predicted poorer knowledge about food allergy and water and supplements.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IYCF education in Basra should be improved, with particular attention to healthcare worker-mediated and social media- and family systems-based approaches. Priority should be given to the less educated, younger and unemployed women and those in the lower income group.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 9","pages":"641-649"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incidence of hospital-acquired infections among healthcare workers in Egypt before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Sameh Elhabashy, Amen Moawad, Shreen Gaber","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.9.612","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.9.612","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hospital-acquired infection is higher among healthcare workers (HCWs) than among other occupational groups, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated its incidence.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the incidence of hospital-acquired infections among HCWs in, Cairo, Egypt, during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cohort study collected and evaluated data on hospital-acquired infections (excluding COVID-19) from 1660 nurses, physicians, technicians, and housekeepers in 6 hospitals in Cairo Governorate, Egypt, 1 year before and 1 year during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were analysed using SPSS version 21.0 and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to test the magnitude and direction of relationships between the variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The rate of hospital-acquired infections was 3.1% before and 1.3% during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a significantly lower risk of hospital-acquired infection among the HCWs during the pandemic than before it. Incidence was highest among housekeepers (10.6%), and physicians had the highest relative risk (4.33). Before the pandemic, pneumonia was the most common hospital-acquired infection (20.8%) among HCWs, while hepatitis C was the most common (8.3%) during the pandemic. The most significant predictors of hospital-acquired infection were COVID-19 (before and during the pandemic), working area and profession.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There was a significant reduction in hospital-acquired infections among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic, attributed to increased adherence to infection prevention and control measures. Housekeepers, nurses and emergency department workers were at higher risk, indicating the need for further investigations among these groups of HCWs to understand the contributing factors and design targeted interventions to lower the risks and incidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 9","pages":"612-621"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors of the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye.","authors":"Banu Aslan, Özgür Önal","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.9.622","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.9.622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most prevalent conditions following a devastating earthquake or disaster.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore the prevalence of probable PTSD and its risk factors among earthquake survivors in Türkiye.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study examined 1100 survivors, aged ≥ 18 years, in 11 provinces of Türkiye affected by the 2 June 2023 earthquakes. We collected the data 5 months after the earthquakes and measured PTSD using the PTSD checklist for the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders fifth edition (DSM-5), the Connor-Davidson resilience scale, and multidimensional scale of perceived social support. We analysed the data using SPSS version 28.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The earthquake survivors were aged 18-89 years, mean age 35.59 years, and more than half of them were female (58.8%). Prevalence of probable PTSD was 55.2%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that prevalence of probable PTSD was predicted by female gender, current smoking, sleep disturbance, chronic disease, being trapped under the rubble, loss of a first-degree relative, post-earthquake sheltering in a tent or container or someone else's house, high post-earthquake anxiety, and low socioeconomic status. Survivors with high psychological resilience had lower probable PTSD prevalence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Prevalence of PTSD was high among our participants and psychological resilience seemed to be a mitigating factor for PTSD. There is therefore a need to focus on improving psychological resilience among earthquake survivors to prevent or minimise PTSD.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 9","pages":"622-631"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community-led interventions to re-engage people living with HIV into care in Pakistan.","authors":"Shaimaa Elsfoury, Bridget Mugisa, Muhammad S Pasha, Asghar Satti, Omer Haider, Uzair Tariq, Ahmed S Alaama, Muhammad S Jamil, Yvan Hutin, Joumana Hermez","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.9.603","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2024.30.9.603","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>By 2021, Pakistan had an estimated 210 000 people living with HIV (PLHIV), and 27% of those initiated into treatment in 2020 had disengaged from care within one year.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>We assessed the effectiveness of an intervention to re-engage PLHIV lost to follow-up into care in Pakistan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between September 2020 and May 2021, the Association of People Living with HIV (APLHIV) implemented a search and rescue intervention for PLHIV lost to follow-up in 2 large treatment centres in Pakistan. The centre staff reviewed records to identify those not in care for > 6 months and from September 2020 to May 2021, the APLHIV tracked them through telephone calls and home visits to re-engage them into care. We used SAS version 9.4 to analyse the data and univariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with disengagement and becoming untraceable.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 4184 PLHIV registered (74% male), 36% (1517) (83.9% male, 15.4% female, 0.7% transgender) had disengaged from care. APLHIV members tracked 696 (46%) of them; 295 (42%) were deceased and 325 (47%) were re-engaged into care. Reasons for disengagement were long distance from the ART centre or lack of resources (45%), injecting drug use (19%), adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy (9%), disinformation (9%), no male family member to accompany them to treatment centre after the death of husband (3%), and no reason given (15%). Injecting drug users and males were more likely to be lost to follow-up, and males were more likely to be untraceable.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This community-led intervention successfully re-engaged many PLHIV into care. The community-led re-engagement intervention should be upscaled to reduce loss to care and follow-up in Pakistan, especially among injecting drug users and male PLHIV.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 9","pages":"603-611"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unpacking the package of amendments to the International Health Regulations at country level.","authors":"Hanan Balkhy","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.9.597","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2024.30.9.597","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is home to 745 million people, of whom 107 million (14%) need humanitarian assistance. EMR is the source of 55% of the world's refugees and has 33.7 million people who have been forcibly displaced. Of the region's 22 Member States and territories, 13 are directly or indirectly affected by conflicts, 9 are classified by the World Bank as in 'fragile or conflict-affected situations' and 6 rank among the lowest globally on the World Bank's political stability and absence of violence indicator.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 9","pages":"597-600"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical presentation, outcome and management of snakebite cases in Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Musa Suliman Alfaifi, Bader Al-Yahya, Atheer Eid Alotaibi, Hamdan Mujarri Alaklabi, Ibrahim AlHelali, Ibrahim Al-Benhassan, Ali Obaid Albshabshe, Hadi Eissa Al-Ali, Hasan M Alzahrani, Nadia M Awaji, Sami Alshehri, Ali Yahya Darbi, Mohammed S Alqahtani, Tim Patrick Moran, Brent W Morgan","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.8.551","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2024.30.8.551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Snakebite envenomation remains a significant public health concern in Asir Province of Saudi Arabia.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To characterize snake species and the clinical presentation, outcome and management of snakebite cases admitted to 4 major hospitals in Asir Province, Saudi Arabia .</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study reviewed medical records of paediatric and adult snakebite cases admitted to 4 regional hospitals in Saudi Arabia between January 2000 and December 2021 using search terms \"snakebite\", \"cobra\", \"polyvalent antivenin\", \"antivenom\", \"compartment syndrome\", and \"fasciotomy\". The data were analysed using R software version 4.2.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-nine patients were identified, of whom 30 (43.5%) were children aged <18 years. Severe local or systemic manifestations occurred in 33 patients (47.8%) while compartment syndrome was suspected in 14 patients (20.3%), requiring fasciotomy in 11 (15.9%). The systemic manifestations included neurotoxicity (13 patients; 18.8%), coagulopathy (31 patients; 44.9%), rhabdomyolysis with creatine phosphokinase >1000 U/L (8 patients; 11.6%), and acute kidney injury (4 patients; 5.8%), with 2 progressing to end-stage renal disease. Three patients (4.5%) died. A majority (94%) received initial 5-vial antivenom dose, with 39% requiring additional doses. Antivenom-related adverse reactions were mild and transient in 6 patients (9%). Blood products and antibiotics were used in 30% and 67% of cases, respectively. Anticholinesterase therapy was administered to 3 patients (4.3%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Snakebites pose a significant public health threat in Asir Province of Saudi Arabia. Antivenom, in addition to supportive care, remains the cornerstone of therapy, however, to optimize patient outcomes, our study highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to management, as well as vigilant monitoring with prompt recognition and interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 8","pages":"551-560"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142669812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Retrospective, cross-sectional study of the determinants of acute flaccid paralysis among children in Pakistan.","authors":"Hina Parvaiz, Afzal Khan, Saddam Hussain","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.8.577","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2024.30.8.577","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Timely diagnosis of acute flaccid paralysis is very crucial in developing countries like Pakistan, because this will have significant impact on management.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the surveillance, aetiology and epidemiology of acute flaccid paralysis in a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective, observational study was conducted at the Paediatric Department of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, in 2022. Data on all children aged 1 month to 15 years and diagnosed with acute flaccid paralysis were retrieved from the electronic medical records and patient files of the hospital. The data were analysed using SPSS version 27.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighty-eight (1.34%) of the 6544 patients admitted to the paediatric ward met the inclusion criteria for acute flaccid paralysis; 63 (71.6%) of them were male, 25 (28.4%) female, mean age 6.68 ± 3.86 (mean ±SD) years. Guillain Barre Syndrome was diagnosed in 36 (40.9%) of them, meningoencephalitis in 26 (29.5%), septic arthritis in 6 (6.8%), and hypokalaemia paralysis and cerebrovascular accidents in 5 (5.7%). Three (3.4%) of the patients had post-diphtheria neuropathy and 1 (1.1%) had poliomyelitis. In-hospital mortality was 2.3% (2).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although acute flaccid paralysis is vaccine-preventable and its infectious aetiology is low, its surveillance in Pakistan should be continued to reduce occurrence and progress towards polio eradication.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 8","pages":"577-583"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142669879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Celebrating 50 years of Essential Programme on Immunization: What's achieved and what's next for the Eastern Mediterranean Region.","authors":"Hanan Balkhy","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.8.537","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2024.30.8.537","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The year 2024 marks a pivotal moment in global health: it is the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). This extraordinary achievement is a testament to the power of collective action, scientific innovation and unwavering commitment to child health.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 8","pages":"537-538"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142669744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of pediculosis among primary school children in Tunisia.","authors":"Dhekra Farjallah, Sameh Belgacem, Latifa Remadi, Raja Chaabane-Banaoues, Faouzia Trimech, Sihem Ben Fredj, Hamouda Babba, Najoua Haouas","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.8.561","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2024.30.8.561","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice) infestation is a global health concern, yet no study has examined its occurrence among primary school children in Tunisia.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the prevalence of Pediculus capitis and its epidemiological characteristics among primary school children living in rural and urban areas of Monastir, Tunisia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used 2-step stratified cluster sampling to randomly select 2396 children from 14 primary schools in Monastir during the 2022/2023 academic year. Head lice infestation was assessed through visual inspection of the hair, and data on the socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and pediculosis history of the children were collected. We used SPSS version 20 to analyse the data and used descriptive statistics to rate the frequencies. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between pediculosis and the predictor variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall infestation rate was 17.5% (95% CI 16.0-19.1%); infestation was 5 times higher among girls (29.1%) than boys (6.3%). Schoolchildren living in crowded family households, those in the third and fourth grades and whose parents had low education level were more exposed to infestation. Combing frequency, comb sharing and history of previous infestation had significant impact (P < 0.05) on the prevalence of pediculosis. Multivariate logistic regression showed gender and treatment outcome as the main potentiating factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight the need for pediculosis prevention and integrated health promotion programmes among primary school children and their parents, teachers and nurses in Monastir and other parts of Tunisia.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"30 8","pages":"561-569"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142669864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}