Capital City Regions Research Articles

Prevecardio: a single-visit population screening model for detection and prevention of 10-year cardiovascular risk

Abstract Introduction Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major contributor to global mortality. The early detection of cardiovascular risk factors, coupled with timely intervention strategies, is essential for CVD prevention. PreveCardio was developed as an innovative, single-visit population screening model designed to facilitate the early identification and management of cardiovascular risk factors within a population of 1 million in a European capital city region totaling 6 million inhabitants. Purpose This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors within the general population and to evaluate the effectiveness of the PreveCardio model in estimating 10-year cardiovascular risks and promoting preventive interventions. Methods In this cross-sectional prevalence study, individuals aged 50 to 75 from a health network were randomly selected and invited to participate in a comprehensive health check. The 30-minute screening consisted of lifestyle evaluations, anthropometric measurements, and blood tests for lipid profiles and glycated haemoglobin. The methodology was designed to provide participants with immediate feedback on their results, cardiovascular health and practical guidance for risk management. Results From the 8,492 individuals solicited, 3,546 took part in the screening: 56,83% were female, mean age 61,17 ± 7,33 y.o. Picture 1 shows the population's percentages with various modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including 20% with active smoking, 30% with sedentarism, 16% with risky alcohol consumption, 49% with non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 40% with overweight, and 30% with obesity. The screening revealed new diagnoses of LDL-hypercholesterolemia in 47% participants, high levels of blood pressure in hypertension range in 49%, prediabetes in 30% and diabetes in 2% (Picture 2). After use SCORE2 and SCORE-OP risk prediction algorithms, PreveCardio is estimated to potentially prevent between 39 to 202 fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events over 10 years. Predictive modelling based on PreveCardio data projected that expanding the screening across the capital region could prevent at least 26,260 cardiovascular events over 10 years. Conclusion(s) PreveCardio has established itself as a viable and effective model for the early detection of cardiovascular risk factors in a general population. It holds significant promise for public health impact by potentially reducing the incidence of CVD through comprehensive screening and proactive intervention.

A Literature Review of Transportation Logistics Policy Models in the Nusantara Capital City Region to Support National Economic Growth

The purpose of this study is to review and analyze several previous studies theoretically related to 1) The impact of Logistics Transportation Policy and spillover effects on National Economic Growth, 2) Some problems from the implementation of the Logistics Transportation Policy in a region, 3) Logistics Transportation Policy Model that can support National Economic Growth. The method used uses qualitative research, exploratory or interpretative systems with a systematic deductive process (Top-Down), guided by some empirical evidence obtained from the author's experience in the field of transportation and logistics, as well as qualitative interactions with several stakeholders and previous research. The results found are 1) in some countries, logistics policies have succeeded in having a positive impact on regional and national economic growth, 2) the ineffectiveness of a logistics policy is caused by high logistics costs, dysfunctional systems, unsupportive regulations, unsupportive human resources and infrastructure and weak coordination between stakeholders, and 3) a transportation logistics policy model that supports national economic growth must be able to involve stakeholders so that it can have a multiplier effect on the economic sector and national economic growth.

Entrepreneur’s View on business Challenges in Disentangle Regional Capital City: Evidence from Far Western Nepal

Background: Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in economic development by driving innovation and creating employment opportunities. However, entrepreneurs in Nepal, particularly in Far Western regions like Doti, face significant challenges that may hinder both entrepreneurial growth and the overall economic development of the region. Objective: This study aims to explore the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Doti, in starting and sustaining new ventures. It seeks to understand the key obstacles that affect business growth and provide insights for improving the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. Method: A convenient sampling method was used to select 280 entrepreneurs from Doti. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, designed and administered through KOBO. A pre-test was conducted with 5% of the sample to refine the instrument. The study employed descriptive statistics to analyze the data and identify the major challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Result: The findings reveal that more than half of the respondents in Doti faced significant entrepreneurial challenges. The most prevalent issues included changes in regional capital, lack of financial resources, insufficient innovation, a limited market size, and political instability. These challenges were found to severely impact the growth and sustainability of businesses in the region. Conclusion: The study highlights the pressing need for strengthened entrepreneurial policies, increased government support, promotion of technology and innovation, and better management of business resources in Doti. Addressing these challenges is essential to fostering a conducive environment for entrepreneurship and unlocking the economic potential of Far Western Nepal. Paper Types: Research Paper Keywords: Entrepreneurship, business challenges, Economic Development, Far Western Nepal JEL Classification: L26, O18, R11

Assessment of Demographic Characteristics Among CAD Patients by Ethnicity

Background: This study was carried out to assess the demographic characteristics among CAD by ethnicity. Methods: Retrospective study was performed in (SGNHC) Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal. Hospital Database of 837 patients were used to gather the information about the disease during one year period. SPSS version 20 was used for statistical analysis. Results: As the hospital lies in the Capital city and Central Region of the country, most of the population 604 (72.2%) had come from Central region, 126 (15.4%) from Western region, 62(7.6%) from Eastern region, 15(1.8%) from Far-western region and 11(1.3%) from Midwestern region. Conclusion: The study examined 837 CAD patients, primarily Brahmin/Chhetris (44.7%), with an average age of 58.6 years and 71.9% being male. Most patients were from Nepal's Central Region.Acute STEMI was the most common diagnosis, particularly among Newars, while NSTEMI and Angina Pectoris were more prevalent in Dalits. Single vessel disease was frequent in Muslims, with Dalits showing higher rates of triple vessel disease, highlighting demographic and regional variations in CAD severity.CAD has been identified as public health priority in Nepal given the current and predicted burden of all forms of heart disease within the country. This study found that there was a diverse distribution in its well-known traditional risk factors among major Nepalese ethnic groups and demographic characteristics.

Social development of regional capital cities as the factor of republican identity (de)stabilization in estimations of the population and experts (based on research in Izhevsk and Saransk)

Social development of regional capital cities as the factor of republican identity (de)stabilization in estimations of the population and experts (based on research in Izhevsk and Saransk)

Impact of Covid -19 incidence rate and government-initiated risk communication measures on individual's NPI practices.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) are the most widely recognized public health measures recognized globally to prevent the spread of Covid-19. NPIs' effectiveness may depend on the type, combination of applied interventions, and the level of proper public compliance with the NPIs. The expected outcome of behavioural practices varies relative to the intervention duration. This study aimed to assess the trend of community compliance to NPI with Covid-19 incidence and government-initiated interventions, and its variation by residence and sociodemographic characteristics of people. A weekly non-participatory field survey on individuals' NPI practices was observed from the 41st epidemiological week of October 5th, 2020, to the 26th epidemiological week of July 4th, 2021, a total of 39 weeks. The survey covered all 14 regional and national capital cities in Ethiopia. Data collection for the three NPI behaviours (i.e., respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene, and physical distance) was managed weekly at eight public service locations using the Open Data Kit (ODK) tool. The Covid- 19 incidence data and public health measures information from August 3rd, 2020 to July 4th, 2021 were obtained from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). More than 180,000 individuals were observed for their NPI practice, with an average of 5,000 observations in a week. About 43% of the observations were made in Addis Ababa, 56% were male and 75% were middle age group (18-50 years). The overall level of NPI compliance was high at the beginning of the observation then peaked around the 13th- 15th epidemiological weeks then declined during the rest of the weeks. The peak NPI compliance periods followed the high Covid-19 death incidence and government-initiated intensive public health measures weeks. Respiratory hygiene had the highest compliance above 41% whereas hand hygiene was the lowest (4%). There was a significant difference between residents of the capital city and regional cities in their level of compliance with NPI. Females comply more than males, and individuals had increased NPI compliance at the bank service and workplaces compared to those in the transport services at P = 0.000. An increased level of compliance with NPI was observed following intensive government-initiated Covid-19 prevention measures and an increased Covid-19 death incidence. Therefore, the intensity of government-initiated risk communication and public advocacy programs should be strengthened, possibly for similar respiratory disease pandemics in the future.

Assessing sustainable practices and managerial approaches in the hotel industry: A comparative case study

PURPOSE: The study is comparative, comparing sustainable practices and approaches in two hotels to better understand different management approaches. The study’s design provides valuable insights into the topic of sustainability practices in the hotel industry, and the results are analyzed and discussed in the context of existing academic knowledge on the issue. METHODOLOGY: The goal of the selection process was to find information-rich cases. After conducting initial online research, two four-star hotels in the same regional capital city in the Czech Republic were intentionally chosen. These hotels are direct competitors and have very similar target customers. To collect data, the authors conducted two separate semi-structured, in-depth interviews with the CEOs of both hotels, as well as observations in both establishments and additional interviews with staff. The interview protocol, which is innovative and newly assembled, was added to ensure the case study’s reliability and enable future comparisons. A comprehensive criterion table methodically presents the research outcomes. FINDINGS: Besides the list of sustainability practices applied in the hotels under study, the authors described two distinct management approaches. The first approach takes a broad perspective, considering all aspects of sustainability and incorporating it as a fundamental part of the company’s vision. In contrast, the second approach focuses narrowly on cost savings and profit generation. The form of business is the critical factor responsible for the difference in managerial approach. Interestingly, the study suggested that hotels belonging to large chains (and stock companies) may be more compelled to adopt sustainability practices and may have more established sustainability programs than independent hotels. IMPLICATIONS: In light of previous literature, the findings of this case study provide valuable theoretical contributions to managerial approaches to sustainability programmes, sustainability reporting, transparency, and more. Additionally, the newly assembled interview protocol is an innovative and important foundation for future research. The study also uncovers significant new barriers to the adoption of sustainability practices. From a managerial perspective, this study offers a comprehensive overview of hotels’ sustainability practices and serves as a practical list of potential sustainable practices for hotels to consider. Finally, the conclusion provides suggestions for future research that can further advance sustainable practices in the hotel industry. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The study’s significance stems from a thorough analysis of prior literature and conducting additional research in a new setting, providing a unique perspective on the topic of hotel sustainability within a specific area. The case study approach allowed for an in-depth examination of the selected cases, with attention to detail. The methodology and public interview protocol offer the potential for comparable studies in other regions to be conducted and compared in the future.

Epigenetics of the far northern Yakutian population

BackgroundYakuts are one of the indigenous populations of the subarctic and arctic territories of Siberia characterized by a continental subarctic climate with severe winters, with the regular January average temperature in the regional capital city of Yakutsk dipping below − 40 °C. The epigenetic mechanisms of adaptation to such ecologies and environments and, in particular, epigenetic age acceleration in the local population have not been studied before.ResultsThis work reports the first epigenetic study of the Yakutian population using whole-blood DNA methylation data, supplemented with the comparison to the residents of Central Russia. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed, among others, geographic region-specific differentially methylated regions associated with adaptation to climatic conditions (water consumption, digestive system regulation), aging processes (actin filament activity, cell fate), and both of them (channel activity, regulation of steroid and corticosteroid hormone secretion). Further, it is demonstrated that the epigenetic age acceleration of the Yakutian representatives is significantly higher than that of Central Russia counterparts. For both geographic regions, we showed that epigenetically males age faster than females, whereas no significant sex differences were found between the regions.ConclusionsWe performed the first study of the epigenetic data of the Yakutia cohort, paying special attention to region-specific features, aging processes, age acceleration, and sex specificity.

The Effect of Recruitment Process and Loyalty on the Work Commitment of Indonesian National Army (TNI) Personnel on Service at the Jayakarta Regional Military Command

Military District Command (Kodam) / Kodam Jaya is a military district based in the Special Capital City Region (DKI) Jakarta with its headquarters in East Jakarta City. Kodam Jaya is one of the military districts that accepts prospective personnel who is already a member of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) in the DKI Jakarta area and its surroundings. The personnel of Kodam Jaya have high dedication by showing good performance and are able to coordinate between personnel. However, the work performance shown by Kodam Jaya personnel is less committed to work, as evidenced by the reluctance to be transferred to the other sub-units that are still within the Jaya Regional Military Command. Given these problems, this research is to find out the results of the analysis of the influence of the recruitment process and personnel loyalty in determining the work commitment of personnel on duty at Kodam Jaya. This study used a descriptive-quantitative method, with 133 respondents who were known to be from the Kodam Jaya personnel. By using the Slovin formula in sampling, the study uses regression analysis to find out the relationship between variables. The results of this research, it was found that the recruitment process and loyalty can determine the work commitment of Kodam Jaya personnel with high influence. However, the recruitment process has a very low influence on the work commitment of Kodam Jaya personnel.

A Predictive Model for Cropland Transformation at the Regional Level: A Case Study of the Belgorod Oblast, European Russia

The problem of choosing the type of land use is now more relevant than ever. Against the backdrop of the growth of urbanized territories, the challenge is to preserve cropland, maintain the quality of soil resources, and find a balance between competing land uses. Forecasting and modeling changes in the area of cropland is a sought-after area of research against the backdrop of a growing shortage of fertile land and a threat to food security. In this study, on the example of one of the agriculturally most developed administrative regions of Russia (Belgorod Oblast), an approach to statistical modeling of agricultural land areas over the past 30 years is shown. Two approaches were used: statistical modeling of the dynamics of the total area of the study region’s cropland depending on the balance of other types of land and spatial interaction modeling of cropland in a key area. For the study region, administrative districts with positive and negative cropland dynamics were identified; the main types of land were revealed, due to which cropland is withdrawn, and a regression balance model was developed. It was revealed that the implementation of the planned regional programs to expand the development and conservation of meadow lands will reduce cropland by 3.07% or 83.2 thousand ha. On the example of one of the administrative districts with high rates of urbanization, the probability of cropland transformation into other types of land was estimated and a predictive spatial model of land use was developed. According to the forecast, about 6.2 thousand ha of cropland will turn into residential development land, and 2/3 of their area will be concentrated within 6 km from the borders of the regional capital city (Belgorod). The presented approach to forecasting the area of cropland and the threats of its reduction due to the need to replace other types of land is relevant for all agricultural regions and countries with developing urbanization processes.

Determinants of tree planting and retention behaviour of homeowners in built-up urban areas of Ghana

Urban forestry provides diverse ecosystem services to urban dwellers. However, urban forestry in Ghana has received little attention and investment over the years. The objectives of this study were to assess the socio-economic factors that influence homeowners’ perceptions of the ecosystem services provided by trees and to determine the factors that affect tree planting and retention decisions in built-up urban areas. Questionnaires were used to collect data from homeowners in three regional capital cities in Ghana (Kumasi: N = 205, Sunyani: N = 200; Cape Coast = 200). A binary logit model and MANOVA were applied to the data set of these 605 homeowners. The results of the binary logit model indicated that the age of the homeowner was significant (P = 0.009) and negatively related to the decision to plant or retain existing trees. Monthly income (P < 0.001), housing type (P = 0.042) and ethnicity (P = 0.089) were significant and positively related to the tree planting and retention decisions of the homeowners. The geographical location (city), gender and marital status significantly influenced homeowners' perceptions of the ecosystem services provided by urban trees.

Accountability of the Use of Regional Original Income and General Allocation Funds for Capital Expenditures of Regency and City Governments in The Province of East Java

This study aims to determine accountability management regional original income and general allocation funds for regional government capital spending Regencies and Cities in the Province of East Java. The type of this research is quantitative research using data quantitative tested and analyzed for furthermore get description management income original area and allocation funds general for capital spending. The data used in this study is data that is secondary, namely allocation general, income original area, allocation fund general and regional government capital spending Regencies and Cities in the Province of East Java in 2016-2020. This data collection technique uses documentation taken from the official website Ministry of Finance. Variable study among them that is management independent variable regional original income (X1) and general allocation funds (X2) as well dependent variable capital expenditure (Y). The population in this study is the report on the realization of the budget income and expenditures there are 38 regencies and cities in the East Java Province during 2016-2020 and the sample in this study is 20 regencies and cities in East Java Province, which consists of 15 regencies and 5 cities. Data analysis technique used in study this is analysis multiple linear regression. From the results data collection that has been done analysis show that: Management regional original income and general allocation fund are proven accountable used for capital expenditures for Regency and City Regional Governments in the East Java Province.

Prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B and C virus infections among female Sex workers in Ethiopia: Results of the national biobehavioral Survey, 2020.

Hepatitis B and C virus infections are endemic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest prevalence of these infections in the world. Female sex workers are exposed to sexually transmitted infections, including hepatitis B and C, because of their high-risk sexual behavior and limited access to health services. There are no large-scale data on the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among female sex workers in Ethiopia, a critical gap in information this study aimed to fill. This was a cross-sectional, biobehavioral survey conducted from December 2019-April 2020 among 6085 female sex workers aged ≥15 years and residing in sixteen (16) regional capital cities and selected major towns of Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected from the participants for hepatitis B and C virus serological testing. The data were collected using an open data kits (ODK) software and imported into STATA version16 for analysis. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and proportions) were used to summarize data on the study variables. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the strength of association between independent variables (risk factors) and the outcome (hepatitis B and C virus infection). Adjusted Odd ratio (AOR) was used to determine independent associations, 95% confidence interval to assess precision of the estimates, and a P value ≤ 0.05 to determine statistically significant. The prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections among the 6085 female sex workers was 2.6% [(95% CI (2.2,2.8)] and 0.5% [(95% CI (0.4,0.7)], respectively. Female sex workers who had 61-90 and ≥91 paying clients in the past six months [(AOR = 1.66; 95% CI, (0.99, 2.79); P = 0.054] and [(AOR = 1.66 95% CI, (1.11, 2.49); P = 0.013], respectively, age at first sex selling of 20-24 and >25 years [(AOR = 1.67; 95% CI, (1.14, 2.44); P = 0.009)] and [(AOR = 1.56; 95% CI (1.004, 2.43); P = 0.048)], respectively, known HIV positive status [(AOR = 1.64; 95% CI (1.03, 2.62); P = 0.036] were significantly associated with the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection. Similarly, hepatitis C was significantly associated with, age at first sex ≤15 years and age 16-20 years [(AOR = 0.21; 95%CI (0.07,0.61); P = 0.005)] and [(AOR = 0.18; 95% CI (0.061, 0.53); P = 0.002)], respectively, known HIV positive status [(AOR = 2.85; 95%CI (1.10,7.37); P = 0.031)] and testing positive for syphilis [(AOR = 4.38; 95% CI (1.73,11.11); P = 0.002)], respectively. This analysis reveals an intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B and a low prevalence of hepatitis C infection among female sex workers in Ethiopia. It also suggests that population groups like female sex workers are highly vulnerable to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections. There is a need for strengthening treatment and prevention interventions, including immunization services for hepatitis B vaccination, increasing HCV testing, and provision of treatment services.

Social Memory and Formation of Urban Identity of the Regional Capital City (on the Example of Saransk)

The subject of the study is the formation of urban identity based on group reflection on the past and present. The article summarizes the results of in-depth interviews with the experts and online observation of the thematic communities in the social network VKontakte, dedicated to the visual history of Saransk — the capital of the Republic of Mordovia and focusing on the late Soviet period as the era of its transformation into a major city, revealing the specific features of the social identity of the population of the republican capital, as well as the social functions of virtual urban communities as “assemblage points” of urban identity. Considering Saransk nostalgic communities in “new media” as a specific form of digitalization in modern “public history” and visualization of social memory, the author analyzes symbolic communication and manifestation of collective emotions of their members in modes of collective trauma and nostalgia. Author specifies the basic functions of nostalgic communities: the construction of cultural trauma of the social changes, promoting comprehension of responsibility for development of a city and stimulation of civil activity, formation of a complete image of a city in space and in time, identification of users with the generalized image of the city and urban community.

Comparing green spaces provision and accessibility indicators over a latitudinal gradient and multiple climate zones

Monitoring urban green space (UGS) indicators is key to assessing progress against the UNs sustainable development goals (SDGs). Within these indicators, measuring the provision of UGS as well as its accessibility is considered a major objective. However, neither the relationship between the two indicators, nor differences related to different types of UGS have been adequately evaluated. In this paper, these two indicators are calculated and analyzed for four size-based types of UGS and for 69 municipalities, which are part of the 16 regional capital cities of Chile. For the provision indicator, the average calculated over all municipalities does not reach the often proposed standard of 11 sq.m/inhab., but only 5.29 sq.m/inhab. Regarding the accessibility indicator, when a walking speed of 4 km/h is considered, the smaller residential green spaces have the highest accessibility (65 % of the population have access), but accessibility for larger GS is low. When a walking speed of 2 km/h is assumed, then accessibility drops to 29 %, 5 %, 5 % and 5 % respectively. We found that calculation results for the four types of UGS are statistically different, and therefore one type cannot replace another in case of monitoring: Higher UGS provision does not guarantee higher accessibility.

Who were the losers and winners during the Covid-19 pandemic? The rise of remote working in suburban areas

ABSTRACT The Covid-19 pandemic has rapidly altered the habits and lifestyles of every citizen worldwide and will have effects in the medium to long terms. The need for ‘social distancing’ has negatively affected urban areas and encouraged a rescheduling of working methods. Knowledge-intensive activities have been massively undertaken on a large scale in remote working, mainly carried out at home. Within this context, the paper explores the changes in working modalities towards remote working by focusing on the Lombardy region in north-west Italy. Specifically, it explores the renewed suitability of the municipalities outside the regional capital city of Milan with regard to remote workers during the pandemic and compares it with the period before the pandemic, and also it analyses which determinants play a role. The results show that municipalities closer to Milan with a strong broadband connection, a high concentration of knowledge workers and foreign immigrants are more suitable for hosting remote workers.

Municipality size and political participation: evidence from Australia

ABSTRACT Structural reforms over the past several decades have seen the institution of local government in Australia become progressively less local. Primarily as a result of municipal amalgamation, the average population of Australia’s local governments has more than doubled since the early 1990s. The democratic implications of this de-localisation, however, have been severely understudied. This article addresses this gap by analysing the effect of municipality size on several modes of local political participation in the mainland capital city regions of Adelaide and Perth. Drawing on a quantitative analysis of primary survey and electoral data, this paper presents evidence of a negative relationship between municipality size and participation – as size increases, rates of voting, candidacy, contact with local representatives, and council meeting attendance decrease. The implications for local government’s input legitimacy and its role as a training ground for democracy – as well as options for ‘re-localising’ local politics – are discussed.

Differences and similarities in the expansion of suburban built-up areas around the different city regions of three Central European countries

Examining the urban sprawl around middle-size cities in Hungary and Central Europe the rural change and suburbanization can be characterized by residential out-migration from cities and at the same time by immigration from the rural areas. These processes have intensibed in the former socialist countries after the 2000s and a number of problems have not been addressed, which have become apparent during the eighties and nineties in Western countries. A fast urban sprawl took place with a low level of special control and planning but under the pressure of economic and financial development. The rate of spatial growth often exceeds the rate of population growth, it even occurs in the absence of population growth. In Central European countries, the main destination for migration is the capital cities and their suburbs, therefore suburbanisation studies focus on these areas. However, our aim is to focus on regional centres and their agglomerations, comparing them to capital cities and rural areas. The most dynamic and new urbanisation processes are taking place in urban agglomerations. The phenomena observed in these countries, especially in regional cities, have no historical precedent, but are a novelty from both a social and an economic point of view. The paper concentrates on the urbanisation tendencies of three post-socialist countries – Slovakia, Hungary and Romania –, on the basis of the expansion of the impervious surfaces and the change in the number of the population. In each country the capital cities, the areas of the regional centres, and more remote rural areas are analysed separately. The goal is to examine how much these countries fit into world tendencies, and to see the differences in the density of inhabitants in areas touched differently by urbanisation, among the countries and compared to world tendencies. It is examined in all three countries that have gone through similar economic and political transitions what differences are caused by the diverse historical, geographical and settlement hierarchy endowments at the time of the development and migration boom following the world economic crisis of 2008. It is hard to detect what role the economic crisis played in this, but it is certain that the crisis led to a significant fall, which was followed by a development with quite different directions in the cities, urban fringes and rural areas in the surveyed countries. The flow into cities seems to have accelerated, concerning in the first place capital city regions and the edges of regional centres. Besides population movements, the expansion of built-up areas is much faster than that, especially in less densely populated areas where the dynamism of these was outstandingly high between 2012 and 2018. This may have several negative consequences. In areas in the vicinity of cities zones of such high population density may emerge which may lead to societal problems later.

Orthopaedic injury patterns at a tertiary referral hospital in Ethiopia: a prospective observational study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify the composition of orthopaedic injuries in Ethiopia. BackgroundInjuries are among the most common causes of death worldwide. This is especially true in developing countries, which lag in preventive efforts and have inadequate resources to treat injuries efficiently. As a result, understanding the trauma burden is crucial for future prevention and treatment accessibility initiatives. MethodsWe conducted an observational study using prospectively collected emergency orthopaedic trauma data between January 2018 and December 2021 from Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The incidence of all fractures, demographic data, trauma mechanisms, and injury types were examined by stratifying cases based on patients presenting from Addis Ababa, the capital city, or outside of Addis Ababa. These groups were chosen to account for the demographic differences that exist between individuals living in the capital city and other regions. ResultsOur study included 4712 patients with similar distribution from Addis Ababa and outside of Addis. Overall, 70% were between 18 to 55 (median 30). Road traffic incidents accounted for the most overall injuries (41%), including 130 motorcycle injuries (2.8%), while falls were the predominant mechanism (51.3%) for patients from Addis. Injuries of the lower limb accounted for 66% of injuries (n=4262/6412), the femur being the most affected (22%), followed by the pelvis and acetabulum (16%). One-quarter presented with open fractures and another quarter had multiple injuries. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated patients outside of Addis were 37% more likely to have multiple fractures and 69% more likely to have open fractures. ConclusionFuture directives should focus on preventive measures and address the management of complex injuries to overcome trauma injuries’ health and economic impacts. The initiatives shall focus on the varying primary mechanisms of injury for the different population groups in the capital city and in rural regions outside of the capital city.

Preparedness of governmental hospitals for COVID 19 prevention and care in Eastern Amhara region, Amhara Ethiopia, 2020

BackgroundCoronavirus disease affects the world in multidisciplinary ways. In Ethiopia, it affects many people, including health professionals. Health institutions should have been ready to handle COVID-19 cases and protect their staff from this pandemic. Hospitals in eastern Amhara provide services for more than 30 million people. ObjectivesTo assess the readiness of government hospitals in eastern Amhara for coronavirus disease prevention and treatment in 2019. MethodsThe institutional-based descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted in 28 governmental hospitals in the eastern Amhara region. A structured checklist exported to the word processing system online link was created. Randomly selected nurses in each hospital were virtually trained and collected the data; the link was shared with them. We use SPSS version 23 for data cleaning and analysis. For data summary and presentation, frequency, mean, tables, graphs, and text were used. Using concept analysis, different sections of these hospitals were assessed. A linear regression was done and Pearson correlation coefficient (r) values were used to measure the degree of relationship between dependent and independent variables. ResultsThis study indicates that more than half (57.14%) responded "no" to the questions, suggesting unpreparedness. The age of the hospital (r = 0.25), distance from the regional capital city (r = 0.113), distance from the capital city (r = 0.125), and location of the hospital (r = 0.094) had little relationship with the readiness of the hospital for COVID-19 disease prevention and care. Conclusion and recommendationIn this most hospitals were not ready to handle COVID-19 cases and couldn't protect staff from this pandemic. Therefore, local and regional health offices and the federal ministry of health, as well as other health organizations, should enhance their capacity to fight COVID 19.