Health Science Reports最新文献

Introduction: About 39.9 million people were living with HIV as of 2023, and HIV is more prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in HIV prevention. Despite the efficacy of PrEP, many persons, including men, do not have adequate knowledge and awareness of PrEP, and reviews on knowledge and awareness among men are scarce. This review aims to assess and synthesize the knowledge and awareness of PrEP among persons assigned as males at birth in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods and analysis: The proposed scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. The following information sources will be searched to retrieve relevant studies for this review: CINAHL, MEDLINE (Ovid), PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. Google Scholar, The Union Catalogue of Theses and Dissertations (UCTD) and SA ePublications via SABINET Online, WorldCat Dissertations and Theses via OCLC, ResearchGate, and American Doctoral Dissertations via EBSCOhost. All study designs, except existing reviews, will be included. All screenings (abstract screening and full-text screening) and data extraction will be conducted independently by two reviewers. Quantitative findings will be presented with frequency and percentages, while qualitative thematic analysis will be used to analyze qualitative findings.

Conclusion: This study will map out studies on knowledge and awareness of PrEP among men in sub-Saharan Africa. The results of this review will give insights into what men in sub-Saharan Africa know about PrEP, which can inform future interventions.

Background and aims: Clinical laboratories play a vital role in modern healthcare, where laboratory test results significantly influence medical decisions. However, laboratory professionals are often exposed to hazardous biological materials, underscoring the importance of biosafety management. This study aimed to assess biosafety practices among clinical laboratory professionals in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 81 participants was conducted using a standard questionnaire covering work habits, protective barriers, safety equipment, and biosafety policy perception. Descriptive data was summarized using a table and graph. Logistic regression was employed to determine factors affecting adherence to biosafety protocols. Statistically significant value was identified using p value ≤ 0.05, 95% CI, and OR.

Results: The results revealed high compliance with essential work habits, such as the use of mechanical pipettes 77 (95.1%) and proper handwashing after handling biohazardous material 78 (96.3%) and after removing gloves 80 (98.8%). However, adherence to the use of protective barriers 50 (61.7%), biosafety training 15 (18.5%), and emergency preparedness 28 (34.6%) were notably low. Only 35 (43.2%) of participants received appropriate immunizations, and access to biosafety equipment like biological safety cabinets was limited 15 (18.5%). Experience and training were significant predictors of biosafety compliance, highlighting the need for continuous education and institutional support.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of enhancing training programs, improving access to safety equipment, and ensuring the consistent application of biosafety protocols to protect laboratory personnel from hazardous biological materials and maintain public health.

Background: Globally, gastrointestinal (GI) infections are common, particularly in populations with low socioeconomic levels, including high illiteracy rates, ignorance, poor housing and lifestyles, and unfavorable environmental conditions. These risk factors are the underlying cause of GI parasitic infections in many developing nations, including Nepal.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and diversity of GI parasites and their association with a few risk factors within the marginalized indigenous Tharu people of the southern region of Nepal.

Methods: A purposive sampling method was used to collect stool samples from Tharu indigenous people (N = 179) in Thaskaul, Kolhabi, Bara, Nepal. The samples were preserved in a 2.5% potassium dichromate solution. The samples were analyzed by direct wet mount and acid-fast staining techniques and examined at 40×, 100×, 400×, and 1000× magnifications.

Results: Out of 179 stool samples, the prevalence rate of the GI parasites was 42.46% (n = 76), out of which females (43.00%, 43/100) had a slightly higher prevalence rate than males (41.77%, 33/79) (p > 0.05, chi-square tests at 95% confidence level). Out of nine species of GI parasites, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was highest among protozoa (30.17%, n = 54), whereas that of Ascaris lumbricoides was highest among helminths (5.59%, n = 10). Occupation, animal husbandry, parasitologic knowledge, drinking water sources, pork-feeding habit, diarrheal or stomachache symptoms, and drug-consuming history were associated with one or more GI parasitosis (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The moderate prevalence and diversity of GI parasitism in the Tharu population suggests the need for effective, efficient, and timely preventative and control measures in the study area. Further One Health Approach, by conducting studies that involve the examination of samples from the local populations, livestock, food, water, and soil, would be important.

Background and aims: In recent years, In Vitro fertilization (IVF) science has grown by leaps and bounds in the field of assisted reproduction, helping millions of couples worldwide. The aim of this study is to examine the extent to which infertile women are willing to pay for IVF services in Greece.

Methods: Through the distribution of questionnaires, willingness to pay (WTP) is recorded according to IVF success rates, and the relationship between WTP and the respondents' demographic characteristics is analyzed. Subjects were divided into two groups according to age and were given a hypothetical scenario, according to the contingent valuation approach.

Results: The majority of women were reluctant to pay the amount of money corresponding to the average cost of an IVF cycle in Greece. In particular, participants replied that the amount they would be willing to pay is only one-third of the indicative amount of €6000. Moreover, WTP is not influenced by the professional status or educational level of the participating women.

Conclusion: This study highlights the financial barriers many couples face when pursuing assisted reproduction. If the average cost of IVF were lower, infertile women would be willing to undergo more IVF cycles if necessary. This finding has important implications for the valuation of IVF services and the development of pricing policies to enhance affordability and accessibility. Policymakers must consider reforms that balance the cost of IVF with its societal benefits. By incorporating this aspect into pricing and policy decisions, Greece can improve the accessibility of IVF services and ensure equitable treatment opportunities for all concerned individuals.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients commonly exhibit significant morbidity and experience a diminished quality of life. Since there has been no prior research on pneumonia in our study population, we carried out this study to learn more about the situation.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 912 COPD patients with CAP who were receiving ICS treatment at the DHQ Hospital in Muzaffargarh, Punjab, Pakistan was conducted. Study began in February 2022 and ended in February 2023. Using multinomial logistic regression, the odds ratio and relative risk and Kaplan-Meier curves showed time-to-death and recovery by COPD status.

Results: Patients with COPD having a smoking history from 25 pack years and above had 22.791 higher odds of CAP (95% CI: 20.413-31.515), 21.527 higher odds of HTN (95% CI: 12.323-57.103), 16.955 higher odds of diabetes (95% CI: 22.954-29.331), and 13.964 higher odds of death in severity without COVID-19 vaccination (95% CI: 5.988-32.561) compared to patients with COPD having a smoking history from 10 to 15 pack years.

Conclusion: COPD patients with a shorter ICS duration had a lower CAP risk, and vice versa, while vaccinated patients had a less severe disease as compared to non-vaccinated patients.

Background and aims: Tobacco use among students is one of the most alarming problems throughout the world. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of cigarette and waterpipe smoking as well as their determinants among students in dormitories of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 293 students living in the dormitories of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences using random sampling method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used, which included demographic characteristics and patterns of cigarette and waterpipe smoking. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors related to cigarette and waterpipe smoking.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.99 ± 1.74 years and 49.8% of them were male. The mean age at the initiation of cigarette and waterpipe smoking was 15.53 ± 4.33 and 16.60 ± 3.01 years, respectively. The prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 6.48% and that of waterpipe smoking was 8.53%. In addition, 10.24% and 17.06% of the participants reported ever use of cigarette and waterpipe smoking, respectively. Moreover, the prevalence of tobacco smoking was higher in male students than in females (8.22% vs. 4.76% for cigarette smokers and 11% vs. 6.12% for waterpipe smokers). The results showed that there was a significant relationship between having cigarette-smoker family members and having cigarette-smoker friends with cigarette smoking. Also, waterpipe smoking was associated with having cigarette-smoker family members and having waterpipe smoker friends (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Tobacco use is relatively high among medical students. Since the family and social factors are related to cigarette and waterpipe smoking, the family and society should be informed about the dangers of cigarettes and waterpipe smoking. It is also emphasized that students with risk factors be identified.

Background and aim: Tonsil-surgery is a common treatment for tonsillitis and upper-airway obstruction. Health benefits are a key point of clinical concern. Aim: To evaluate health benefits 6-months after pediatric tonsil-surgery and to examine the influence of the perioperative period on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Method: Participants, 198 children (4-17 years) who underwent tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy on infection-related indications (TE ± A _infec , n = 46), tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy due to upper-airway-obstruction (TE ± A _obstr , n = 44), or tonsillotomy ± adenoidectomy due to upper-airway-obstruction (TT ± A _obstr , n = 108). Data were collected via a postoperative pain-diary, and 6-month-questionnaires. The Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) evaluated HRQoL. An additional questionnaire assessed disease-specific benefits, including open-ended-questions to capture what the children wanted to convey to other children scheduled for surgery.

Results: QoL-score after surgery was positive in all indication/surgical-method groups. The highest GCBI-scores were seen in the subscale-scores for physical health and vitality. Comparing TE ± A _obstr and TT ± A _obstr , no significant differences were noted in the total-score or in the subscores. No differences in GCBI-scores were seen between subgroups of patients divided by postoperative pain intensity and duration. No differences in frequency or loudness of snoring or ENT-infections were seen between the groups, and satisfaction rates were high. The information that the children considered essential to share with others covered details of the day of surgery, including the anesthesia, nutrition, pain and pain relief, and well-being after surgery.

Conclusions: All indication/surgical-method groups reported improvements regarding the health benefits of surgery, with the most pronounced effect being seen for physical health and vitality. TE ± A and TT ± A showed similar benefits in cases of obstructive and infection problems. Postoperative pain had no impact on QoL at the 6-month follow-up. Children's memories of the surgery can provide direction for management and improvements in children's care. Pain management needs to be optimized to improve recovery.

Background and aims: Primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) is a common pediatric condition characterized by involuntary nighttime bed wetting. Primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) is associated with altered antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion and lacks lower urinary tract symptoms. This study aimed to compare serum ADH levels between children with PMNE and a comparison group to explore its potential role in the pathophysiology of PMNE.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 40 children aged 6-15 years with PMNE and 40 age-matched children without enuresis (comparison group) attending the Pediatric Nephrology Outpatient Department at the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology (NIKDU) from January 2022 to July 2023. Blood samples and other clinical information along with laboratory investigation are done to ensure inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fasting serum ADH level, a competitive immunoassay was done with the Arg- Vasopressin ELISA kit. Relevant clinical and demographic data were analyzed using Student's t-test for continuous variables and Chi-square/Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables.

Results: The mean age of participants was 8.82 ± 2.71 years in the PMNE group and 9.01 ± 2.54 years in the comparison group (p = 0.760). There was no significant association between sex and PMNE (p = 0.370). Children with PMNE exhibited significantly lower serum ADH levels compared to the comparison group (p < 0.05). Additionally, children with more frequent enuretic episodes demonstrated a trend of lower ADH levels (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study provides evidence of a significant association between decreased diurnal serum ADH levels and PNE in children. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of PNE and suggest potential avenues for novel treatment strategies, emphasizing the importance of evaluating ADH levels in PNE management.