The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association最新文献

Background: Vaccine confidence is described as a belief that vaccines are effective, safe, and part of a trustworthy health system. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an Arabic tool to evaluate confidence in the received coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines (ARAB-VAX-CONF).

Methods: The research team developed the ARAB-VAX-CONF based on three areas specified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): confidence in vaccine effectiveness, confidence in vaccine safety, and confidence in the healthcare system. The analysis includes data from 406 eligible vaccinated persons (≥ 18 years). Cronbach's alpha was used to measure internal consistency, while convergent, discriminant, exploratory, and confirmatory factor analyses were used to verify construct validity.

Results: A total of 406 adults were recruited, with a mean age of 33.0 ± 12.2 years. A total of 63.1% were males, 56.7% were married, 21.9% had chronic conditions, 93.3% were nonsmokers, and 39.6% were obligated to obtain vaccines. The three domains of the scale met the criterion of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.7). Convergent validity was identified by the significant inter-item and item-mean score of the domain correlation (P < 0.001). Discriminant validity was reported as the inter-factor correlation matrix (< 0.7). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin sampling adequacy measure was 0.80, and Bartlett's sphericity test was significant (P < 0.001). Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the scale could be summarized into three factors. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the adequate psychometric properties and fit with observed data (root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.08, comparative fit index = 0.945, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.924, standardized root-mean-square residual = 0.086, normed fit index = 0.918, and goodness-of-fit index = 0.909).

Conclusions: The ARAB-VAX-CONF developed in this study is valid and reliable for assessing confidence in vaccine effectiveness, safety, and confidence in the healthcare system. The ARAB-VAX-CONF can support decision-makers in addressing the gap in vaccine confidence among various populations.

Background: In light of the existing body of scientific data, many substances are now recognized or reasonably assumed to be human carcinogens. Public knowledge about modifiable environmental carcinogens is regarded as a crucial first step in primary prevention. This study aimed to assess Jordanians' awareness of some of the recognized environmental human carcinogens and general cancer information.

Methods: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional descriptive survey based on a questionnaire completed by Jordanian participants aged 18 or above. The questions consisted of the following sections: socio-demographic characteristics, questions about the prevalent and non-prevalent cancer types in Jordan and general causes of cancer, closed-ended questions to evaluate knowledge about environmental carcinogens as well as factors that influence the development of cancer, source of knowledge about carcinogens and interest in learning about human carcinogens, and the best way for prevention of cancer.

Results: A total of 579 questionnaires were completed. Among respondents, 55.6% (n = 322) had a knowledge score ≥ 8 indicating good knowledge. However, low awareness was demonstrated regarding cancer-causing substances such as wood dust, Nitrosamines, Aflatoxins, Formaldehyde, Naphthalene, Asbestos, Benzene, and Arsenic. A significant portion of the participants failed to categorize infectious pathogens linked to cancer as variables that either cause cancer or raise the risk of developing cancer.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a good level of awareness regarding some environmental carcinogens but also highlighted the lack of knowledge about other environmental carcinogens. These findings may provide a guide for future awareness programs by health authorities.

Background: Despite the global decline in HIV infections and mortality worldwide, the HIV epidemic is still growing in the MENA region. In the region, People Living with HIV (PLWH) are facing many challenges related to cultural values, norms, and provided services which create significant obstacles to HIV prevention and control efforts. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the "2021 Louisiana Needs Assessment Questionnaire" for use among Egyptians and Arabic-speaking population.

Methods: Arabic translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire passed through five stages. The questionnaire was translated forward and backward then an expert committee reviewed the translated version. Another expert committee reviewed the developed version after modification to assess the content validity using the Content Validity Index (CVI). The last step included a cognitive interview of a convenient sample of 50 adult PLWH in five consecutive rounds to assess subjects' understanding of questions and response items and their meanings.

Results: Modifications were carried out all through the translation and adaptation process of the questionnaire including used words, nomenclature of services, adding or omitting response items, and ordering of questions and response items. The synthesized Arabic-adapted questionnaire has adequate content validity and all questions are clearly understood by the studied subjects. The calculated Content Validity Index of all questionnaire items ranged from 0.82 to 1.

Conclusion: The developed culturally adapted questionnaire has adequate content validity/semantic appropriateness. It can be used to assess the needs of PLWH in the MENA region with minor adaptations to fit each country. It can also be used to follow the outcome and impact of implemented programs and services. Further research is recommended to assess its psychometric properties.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, with women at higher risk after menopause. This increased risk is attributed to both aging and hormonal changes. Prior research has established a link between CVD risk perception and adopting healthy behaviors to prevent CVD. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of self-perceived CVD risk in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, and to identify factors that predict CVD risk underestimation among them.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the administrative sectors of Suez Canal University campus in Ismailia, Egypt, over a period of eight months starting in July 2022. A total of 390 eligible women (employees and workers) were randomly selected. Participants were interviewed to obtain data on demographics, medical history, self-perceived risk of CVD, self-perceived general health, awareness of factors that increase the risk of developing CVD, perceived stress, health literacy, numeracy, and self-perceived 10-year risk of developing major cardiovascular events. They also underwent measurements of blood pressure, weight, and height. The updated 2019 WHO/CVD risk non-laboratory-based prediction chart for the North Africa and Middle East Region was used to predict the 10-year risk of major cardiovascular events for the study participants. Risk accuracy was measured by comparing self-perceived CVD risk with predicted CVD risk.

Results: The ratio of self-perceived to predicted moderate/high CVD risk was 27.7% to 44.3%, respectively. The accuracy of CVD risk perception was 68.2%. Kappa analysis results showed fair and significant agreement between self-perceived and predicted CVD risk (kappa ± SE = 35.9 ± 4.1%, p < 0 .001). The proportion of women who underestimated their risks was 24.1%. Of those in the high-risk group, 93.3% underestimated their CVD risk, compared to 50.6% in the moderate-risk group. Factors that significantly predicted CVD risk underestimation included being married (aOR 14.5; 95% CI 1.4-149.9), low income (aOR 2.321; 95% CI 1.09-4.909), high BMI (aOR 4.78; 95% CI 1.9-11.9), hypertension (aOR 3.5; 95% CI 2-6.2), and old age (aOR 1.46; 95% CI 1.3-1.6).

Conclusions: Approximately one-third of our study participants misperceived their CVD risk; of those who did, 75.8% underestimated it. Marital status, old age, low income, high BMI, and hypertension strongly predicted CVD risk underestimation. These findings identified the menopausal women subgroups that could benefit from targeted health interventions designed to reduce CVD risk underestimation and improve risk accuracy.

Digital approaches have been recognized as an essential instrument for improving health systems to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the targets for universal health care. This review article discusses policy and regulatory developments in the arena of digital health, at the global level, with a particular focus on India. It also points out that there is a need for convergence among industry, policymakers, and civil society in addressing issues of privacy and accessibility to all individuals who require affordable and quality healthcare. For the best use of digital services, inter-sectoral collaboration is necessary to integrate organizational, human, financial, and technological resources.

Background: Household food waste significantly contributes to overall food waste. While the relationship between food security and food waste has been extensively studied at the macro level, there is a need for research focusing on the quantitative association between food security and food waste at the household level in developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of household food insecurity and household food waste and to examine the association between household food security and food waste using direct measurements.

Subjects and methods: A total of 215 households in Bogor Regency, Indonesia, participated in this cross-sectional study. Food waste was measured using waste composition analysis and a 7-day diary. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) questionnaire was used to assess household food security, while household income and the proportion of food expenditure were considered confounding factors. The association between food security and food waste was examined using Kendall tau-b and ordinal logistic regression.

Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity was 18.6%, and the average household food waste was 77 kg/cap/year. Cereals, tubers, and their derivatives (especially rice) and vegetables were major contributors to edible waste, while fruits dominated inedible waste. A negative association was observed between food waste and household food security (edible FW: p = 0.044, r = -0.110; total FW: p = 0.038, r = -0.114), suggesting that household food waste decreases as the severity of food insecurity increases. However, after adjusting for household income, the proportion of food expenditure, and the education levels of spouses, this association became statistically insignificant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: There was no significant association between household food security status and food waste. Household income plays a significant role in determining the quantity of household food waste, as higher income is associated with increased food waste. Strategies to prevent and reduce food waste should focus on major contributors such as rice and vegetables, especially among families with higher food accessibility.

Background: Video gaming is a popular leisure activity among adolescents. Those who play excessively are in danger of educational and social drawbacks and may become addicted to video gaming. Several published studies determined the prevalence of GD among children in specific Saudi regions. However, the current study assessed the national prevalence of video gaming disorder (GD) and its risk factors among school students in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A school-based survey was conducted among adolescents in all regions of Saudi Arabia during the academic year 2021-2022. A multistage stratified cluster sampling technique was used to select the school students. An Arabic-validated version of the 9-item dichotomous (yes/no) GD Scale based on the DSM-5 criteria was used to determine GD prevalence among the students. The score ranged from zero to nine (0-9). Participants who scored five or more were deemed as having GD. Students who scored less than five were classified as normal gamers (score 0-1) or risky gamers (score 2-4).

Results:  We recruited 5332 school students. Their mean age was 15.5 ± 1.7 years, and almost half of them were males (50.7%). According to the GD score, the prevalence of normal gamers was 39.08% (N = 1714), risky gamers 40.47% (N = 1775), and those with GD was, 20.45% (N = 897). Logistic regression was performed to determine the association between video gaming disorder and all the gathered variables, which include age, educational grade, sex, types of video gaming, and categories of video games played. The results showed that nationality, age, educational grade, sex, using only mobile devices to play, and playing puzzle and sports games were not associated with video gaming disorder. On the other hand, it was revealed that using tablets, game consoles, PCs; having multiple devices; and playing online, fighting, car racing, war, and adventure games were significantly linked to GD.

Conclusion: The prevalence of GD was 20.45% among Saudi school students who play video games. Utilizing more than one type of gaming device and playing games in the fighting, war, and multiplayer categories via an online connection were significantly linked to having GD. To limit video gaming addiction, we encourage screening, diagnosing, and treating disordered video gamers early. In addition, governmental authorities and video game companies should discuss and revise numerous policy measures to minimize the accessibility of video games, limit the harms and risks related to them, and assist video gamers in becoming effective members of society.

Background: Diabetes Self-Care Management (DSCM) is crucial for managing diabetes mellitus and improving patients' well-being. Research on the young age group in Jordan is limited, and there is a lack of studies using an evaluation tool for understanding diabetes pharmacotherapy. This study intends to fill the information gap by examining young Jordanian patients' knowledge and comprehension of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and its treatment modalities, evaluating their psychological well-being, and examining the relationship between children's psychological health and self-care.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Jordanian Ministry of Health hospitals in Amman from June 2021 to January 2022. A convenience sampling method was used to select Arabic-speaking diabetic patients aged 11-a8 years who provided signed consent. A sample size of 400 was estimated. A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on a literature review to assess sociodemographic characteristics and diabetes and insulin knowledge, and validated scales were used to assess self-management (SMOD-A) and psychological well-being (ChilD-S).

Results: Analysis of the questionnaire responses revealed varying levels of knowledge among the participants. Approximately half of the children (49.0%) demonstrated a lack of knowledge of diabetes pharmacotherapy. Psychological well-being indicators indicated moderate levels of happiness and feeling fine. The analysis of self-management indicators highlighted areas for improvement. Positive weak but significant correlations were found between children's knowledge about diabetes (r = 0.255, p < 0.01), diabetes pharmacotherapy knowledge (r = 0.125, p < 0.05), psychological well-being (r = 0.112, p < 0.05), and their diabetic self-management scores. A multivariate regression analysis identified predictors of self-management, including the child's school year (p = 0.035), ability to express feelings (p = 0.039), recent HbA1c levels (p = 0.028), and diabetes knowledge score (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Participants exhibited varying levels of knowledge about diabetes pharmacotherapy and self-management. Knowledge about diabetes was identified as a predictor for effective self-management. Moreover, glycemic control and diabetes mellitus awareness majorly impact overall self-management behaviors. Tailored education programs are necessary to fill knowledge gaps and enhance diabetes management among children.

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a commonly underestimated disorder that negatively impacts a woman's life. Medical workers, who live a more stressful life, may report an increased rate of PMS. Studies on the relationship between PMS and work-related quality of life for medical professionals are scarce, particularly in the Arab world. This study aimed to compare the frequency of PMS among medical versus non-medical workers at Zagazig University and to assess the association between PMS and their work-related quality of life.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample population consisted of 48 medical and 48 non-medical female workers aged 18-45 years from Zagazig University. The two groups filled out a questionnaire with 3 parts: sociodemographic and occupational data, the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), and the Work-Related Quality of Life Scale (WRQL).

Results: Severe PMS was reported in 45.8% of medical workers versus 20.8% of non-medical workers with a statistically significant difference between both groups (p = 0.009). Binary logistic regression showed that being a medical worker, clinical specialty, ≥ 8 years of work, ≥ 24 working hours per week, and having a non-set hourly schedule were predictors for severe PMS. PMS was found to be a statistically significant predictor of poor WRQL (p < 0.001). There was a highly significant negative correlation between the PMS score and the WRQL score (r =  - 0.302, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Among medical workers, PMS is more common and more severe, and WRQL is worse and negatively correlated with PMS. We suggest further studies with larger samples to prove this association and planning for public health programs to screen for and manage PMS among medical workers in our community.