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":"The impact of tobacco consumption on household catastrophic health expenditure in Türkiye.","authors":"Sıtkıcan Saraçoğlu, Dilek Başar, Selcen Öztürk","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.11.757","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.11.757","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Understanding the financial burden of smoking on households is crucial for developing effective strategies and policies to reduce smoking and mitigate its impact on household health.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate the relationship between smoking and catastrophic health expenditure in Türkiye.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study used microdata from household budget surveys conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute in 2015 and 2019. The data included the socioeconomic characteristics, income levels and consumption patterns of various goods and services by individuals and households. We used the pooled logit model to analyse the factors influencing household catastrophic health expenditure, focusing on the smoking status of households.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The presence of a smoker in a household, an uninsured person, a disabled or ill member, and members with higher education were significant positive predictors of catastrophic health expenditure, while being poor, working and having school-aged children were significant negative predictors. Smokers within the household were the foremost contributors to the probability of catastrophic health expenditure, with a coefficient of 0.4101 and marginal effect of 7.94%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the need for comprehensive tobacco control measures that analyse and use critical information from the interactions between public health and economic stability to reduce tobacco consumption and the associated financial burdens on households.</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 11","pages":"757-763"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901358","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 analysis of soft drinks consumption patterns post-taxation in Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Abeer S Alzaben, Shahd Alabdulkader, Nahla Bawazeer, Basil H Aboul-Enein, Elizabeth Dodge, Joshua Bernstein, Nada Benajiba, Fatmah Almoayad","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.11.764","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.11.764","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sweetened soft drinks consumption contributes to the increasing prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia. In 2017, Saudi Arabia began imposing tax on sugar-sweetened drinks to combat obesity.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate the determinants of soft drinks consumption patterns among adults in Saudi Arabia 5 years after consumer tax implementation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1935 adults in Saudi Arabia, aged 20-60 years, predominantly female (80.4%). Data were collected using an online questionnaire that focused on the sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics and consumption patterns of participants, as well as their attitudes towards soft drink consumption. Spearman's correlation and principal component analysis were used to evaluate the factors influencing soft drink consumption. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A significant majority of the participants (82.9%, n = 1605) reported consuming sweetened soft drinks 1-3 times per month. Habitual consumption was the most cited reason (27.1%), followed by consumption at social gatherings (12.9%) and while eating at restaurants (12.4%). Advertising was the least (7.1%) consumption influencing factor. Correlation analysis revealed that availability (0.358, P < 0.05), social gatherings (0.357, P < 0.05) and affordability (0.336, P < 0.05) were significantly associated with consumption frequency.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite increased taxes on soft drinks in Saudi Arabia, consumption remains largely habitual among adults. The minimal impact of advertising and normalized price perceptions suggest that alternative strategies are required to effectively reduce soft drink consumption among this population.</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 11","pages":"764-771"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901343","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":"Development of a policy brief to reform waterpipe tobacco taxation in Egypt.","authors":"Aya Mostafa","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.11.779","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.11.779","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Waterpipe tobacco smoking is increasing in Egypt, although there are several interventions to reduce its use.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To describe the development of a policy brief to reform waterpipe tobacco taxation in Egypt.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>During 2019-2022, we synthesized available literature evidence on waterpipe tobacco taxation in Egypt and other countries. We then held a policy dialogue to engage various stakeholders to discuss and finalize a draft policy brief for Egypt.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The policy brief proposes 3 elements for improving waterpipe tobacco taxation in Egypt: establishing a public platform for national data on waterpipe tobacco economics; modelling the economic and public health benefits of an improved waterpipe tobacco taxation system; and raising waterpipe tobacco tax level and reforming the taxation structure.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Application of the knowledge-to-policy translation framework was instrumental in bridging the gap between evidence synthesis and political framing for the policy brief. More effort should be made to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking, particularly in settings where tobacco control governance is fragmented and tax policies are applied inconsistently.</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 11","pages":"779-787"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901362","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":"A review of sugar-sweetened beverages taxation in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.","authors":"Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, Anne-Marie Perucic, Asmus Hammerich, Adham Rashad Ismail Abdel Moneim, Eman T Ibrahim, Fatma Essa ALMatrooshi, Majid Mqbel Alkhalaf, Mondher Letaief, Nouf Khamis Alali, Taghreed Mohammed Alghaith, Marwa Ms Abbass","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.11.746","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2024.30.11.746","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The World Health Organization recommends taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) as part of cost-effective interventions to prevent diet-related noncommunicable diseases.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To analyse the adoption and implementation of SSBs taxation in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates and its impact on obesity rates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we collected information on progress with implementation of SSBs taxes in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates between January 2015 and December 2023. We searched literature published in Arabic and English on the subject and used the WHO acceleration scenario modelling tool to forecast the potential impact of SSBs on overweight and obesity in the 2 countries over the same period.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both countries implemented SSBs taxation consistently between 2015 and 2023, generating additional revenue and reducing obesity rates. The acceleration scenario estimates showed that SBB taxation could reduce overweight prevalence among children and adolescents (aged 5-19 years) from 38.2% in 2020 to 34.4% in 2030 in Saudi Arabia and from 37.0% to 34.6% in United Arab Emirates, and could reduce obesity rate by approximately 12.7% in Saudi Arabia and 9.5% in United Arab Emirates in the same period.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review provides further evidence that SSBs taxes can be effective in reducing sugar consumption, thereby reducing overweight and obesity rates. However, to effectively combat obesity and overweight among children and adolescents, taxation policies must be implemented alongside other strategies, including public health campaigns to increase awareness about the health risks associated with excessive sugar consumption.</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 11","pages":"746-756"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901132","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":"Tobacco taxes can save the next generation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.","authors":"Asmus Hammerich, Fatimah El-Awa, Nibras E Arabi, Chisomo Kasinja, Sophia El-Gohary, Hina Hafeez","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.11.798","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.11.798","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tobacco use remains a significant challenge to public health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), particularly among adolescents, despite various control measures implemented by countries.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the effectiveness of tobacco taxation policies in reducing consumption among adolescents in the EMR and identify optimal tax structures and enforcement strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey and the Global Tobacco Control Report up to 2023 to assess prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents, access to tobacco products, and types of taxes imposed by EMR countries. Literature reviews were conducted to examine global evidence on tobacco taxation effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis revealed high accessibility of tobacco products by adolescents in the EMR, with over 50% having easy access to cigarettes. Enforcement of age-related regulations was lacking. Effective tobacco taxation, with high and uniform excise taxes, emerged as a crucial measure for reducing tobacco use among adolescents.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Implementation and enforcement of tobacco taxation policies are vital to curb tobacco use among adolescents in the EMR. Comprehensive taxation strategies that limit affordability and accessibility, in line with WHO recommendations, can help mitigate the health burdens due to tobacco use among adolescents.</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 11","pages":"798-802"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901390","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":"The fundamental basis for sugar-sweetened beverages and tobacco products taxes: The theory behind the practice.","authors":"Anne Marie, Jeffrey Drope, Francesco Branca","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.11.718","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2024.30.11.718","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 11","pages":"718-719"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901349","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":"Perceptions about hypertension in an urban population in Pakistan.","authors":"Nimra Noor, Danish Hassan, Saira Khalid, Momina Kashif","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.10.682","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.10.682","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>As the risk factors and prevalence of hypertension continue to increase in Pakistan, it is imperative to understand the perceptions of patients about its prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and management to inform the design of programmes to improve management.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore patients' perceptions about the treatment, management and control of hypertension in an urban population in Pakistan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we conducted one-on-one interviews with 30 hypertensive patients at 2 urban government tertiary care hospitals in Lahore and Sargodha. The patients were aged 35-70 years, diagnosed with hypertension by a registered medical doctor, and being treated with anti-hypertensive medication. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using Quirkos.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Almost all the patients recognized the potential long-term consequences of hypertension. Most of them said regular use of prescribed medication was beneficial, including for blood pressure control and relief of symptoms. They understood the benefits of lifestyle modification, such as engaging in physical activity, for the management of blood pressure. They however had inadequate knowledge of their treatment regimens; some of them took their medications irregularly, while some took them only when they felt symptoms. Most patients relied solely on medical management.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We identified major challenges with the management of hypertension among the study population. Patients and caregivers relied mostly on medical management, with insufficient follow-up after initiating treatment. There is a need to improve patient follow-up and provide better patient education on the benefits of adhering to treatment regimens and adopting lifestyle changes including dietary and exercise management.</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 10","pages":"682-688"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690069","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":"Combating chikungunya in Pakistan: The critical need for vaccine deployment.","authors":"Muhammad Ahsan, Syeda Simrah Shah","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.10.704","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.10.704","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 10","pages":"704-705"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690042","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":"A review of antibiotic misuse and bacterial resistance in Iraq.","authors":"Ali Azeez Al-Jumaili, Kawther K Ahmed","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.10.663","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2024.30.10.663","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Antimicrobial resistance poses a serious threat to healthcare globally. Reviewing current practice regarding antibiotic prescription and use is crucial to understanding antimicrobial resistance issues in Iraq and how to tackle them.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To review and analyse studies addressing antimicrobial resistance as well as antibiotic prescription, dispensing and use in Iraq.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In June 2023, we searched Google Scholar for, and reviewed, empirical studies related to antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in Iraq.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-seven eligible studies published between 2012 and 2023 were included in the review. Multi-drug-resistant bacteria, such as E. coli and P. aeruginosa, were commonly reported by the studies. Most physicians in public hospitals prescribed antibiotics frequently and empirically without relying on culture and sensitivity tests, and community pharmacists often dispensed antibiotics to patients without prescriptions, indicating self-medication and misuse of antibiotics in Iraq. Antibiotic residuals were found in raw meat and drinking water. Although there were antimicrobial resistance control regulations and plans, they were not fully implemented.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review shows that antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic misuse are serious problems in Iraq. The responsible authorities should work together to implement and enforce compliance to the antimicrobial resistance control plans using the One Health approach.</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 10","pages":"663-670"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690075","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 analysis of a large-scale cholera outbreak in Sudan.","authors":"Hassan E El Bushra, Ahmed Aa Haroun, Mohamed A Alkhidir, Anwar Osman Banaga, Hibat Abbas Elbushra, Nihal Abdelrahim Nasr Osman, Layla Hamedelnile Abdalradi Hassan","doi":"10.26719/2024.30.10.698","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2024.30.10.698","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cholera outbreak is a significant public health threat in some parts of Sudan. In 2023, there was a large-scale outbreak in Gadarif State.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To analyse the 2023 cholera outbreak in Sudan and recommend prevention and control measures for the future.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective study we conducted an epidemiological analysis of data from suspected and confirmed cholera cases, aged ≥ 2 years, from 138 health centres in Gadarif State, Sudan.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1997 cholera cases were confirmed using rapid diagnostic test between 25 August and 17 December 2023. Most patients (99.2%) had severe watery diarrhoea, and vomiting was reported in over 73% of cases. Dehydration rates were similar for men and women (≈55-60%), average attack rate was 6.7 per 10 000 population. The attack rate varied by locality but not by gender across all age groups. The outbreak lasted 20 weeks and claimed 46 lives, giving a case fatality ratio of 2.6%. Public misconception about water chlorination substantially hindered control efforts.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The prolonged period of the outbreak and the high case fatality ratio highlight the need for better laboratory and epidemiologic surveillance as well as better preparedness and response for future outbreaks, along with educational activities to address myths and misconceptions.</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 10","pages":"698-703"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690087","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}