Comparative Cross-sectional Study Research Articles

Device-Related Skin Reactions Increase Emotional Burden in Youths With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Parents.

Skin reactions due to technological devices pose a significant concern in the management of type 1 diabetes (T1D). This multicentric, comparative cross-sectional study aimed to assess the psychological impact of device-related skin issues on youths with T1D and their parents. Participants with skin reactions were matched in a 1:1 ratio with a control group. Diabetes-related emotional distress was evaluated using the Problem Areas in Diabetes-Teen version (PAID-T) for participants aged 11 to 19 years and the Problem Areas in Diabetes-Parent Revised version (PAID-PR) completed by parents. In addition, glucose control was assessed through glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics. A total of 102 children and adolescents were consecutively recruited. Adolescents with skin issues had higher PAID-T scores compared to those without (79.6 ± 21.1 vs 62 ± 16.8; P = .004). Parents of youths with skin reactions also reported higher PAID-PR scores than the control group (34.0 ± 11.0 vs 26.9 ± 12.3; P = .015). No differences were observed in HbA1c levels (6.9 ± 0.8% vs 6.8 ± 0.8%, P = .555) or CGM glucose metrics between the two groups. Remarkably, 25.5% were forced to discontinue insulin pumps and/or glucose sensors (21.5% and 5.9%, respectively). Our study highlighted the increased emotional burden experienced by youths with T1D and their parents due to device-related skin reactions, emphasizing the need for further research and interventions in this crucial aspect of diabetes management.

Assessment Tool by UNICEF and LATCH Scoring System for Identification of Inadequacy of Breastfeeding in Early Neonatal Period: An Observational Cross-sectional Comparative Study

Background: Breast milk is the most ideal nourishment for a neonate with a high level of bio-efficacy. Learning the right breastfeeding technique is a challenging job, especially for new and young mothers; hence, there is a need for a valid and reliable measuring tool to determine the adequacy of breastfeeding. Objective: To check the adequacy of breastfeeding in mother–neonate dyads using breastfeeding assessment tools by comparing UNICEF and LATCH scoring systems and to test the reliability of the tools through test–retest reliability. Design: An observational cross-sectional comparative study. Setting: Department of Neonatology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Methods: All stable neonates of ≥34 weeks gestational age born at the private tertiary care hospital were included in the study. Dyads in which breastfeeding was initiated within 6 hours of life were assessed using both LATCH and UNICEF tools on days 1 and 2 of life in the case of normal vaginal delivery and on days 1, 2 and 3 in caesarean deliveries, and were further followed up on days 5 and 7. Results: The median LATCH score and UNICEF score for breastfeeding showed an increase throughout the assessment period. A moderately positive correlation (Spearman’s rho = 0.732) was noticed between the two scores on day 1 of the assessment. On day 2 (Spearman’s rho = 0.81) and day 3 (Spearman’s rho = 0.735), a high positive correlation between the two tools was observed. However, day 4 revealed a low positive correlation (Spearman’s rho = 0.456). Meanwhile, the follow-up scores of both tools showed a high positive correlation (Spearman’s rho = 0.713). Conclusion: The study evidenced a positive correlation between the LATCH and UNICEF scores; both scoring systems displayed a good percent agreement on all the five assessment days. The test–retest reliability was high between the tools on days 1 and 2.

Medical Students’ Clinical Knowledge of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate and compare the clinical knowledge implications of the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) preservice education between pre-clerkship and junior clerkship medical students. Methods: This observational comparative cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2022 at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. A self-administered questionnaire was utilised and included questions on sociodemographic data, duration of IMCI preservice training, knowledge of the participants concerning the IMCI objectives and information on a range of childhood conditions. Results: A total of 97 medical students were included in the study. The majority of students (42.3%) had received 2 lectures in IMCI preservice training. The role of the IMCI approach in reducing childhood morbidity and mortality was advocated by the majority of students (80.8% in the junior-clerkship [JCR] group and 73.3% in the pre-clerkship group). The awareness of the IMCI component of improving the health system was higher in JCR compared to pre-clerkship participants (P = 0.044). When compared to pre-clerkship students, the JCR participants demonstrated a slightly higher awareness of skin pinch (P = 0.038), chest indrawing (P = 0.008), anaemia assessment based on nail bed examination (P = 0.002), diagnostic assessment of malnutrition based on palm examination (P = 0.018), sucking capacity in breastfeeding (P = 0.025), and vaccines such as those for tuberculosis (P = 0.001), pneumococcal (P = 0.018) and rotavirus (P = 0.007). Conclusion: The majority of students displayed good IMCI knowledge and JCR students showed better knowledge compared to pre-clerkship candidates. Keywords: Pediatrics; Disease Management; Students; Undergraduate Medical Education; Oman.

Sleep Quality and Quality of Life in Remitted Bipolar Disorder Patients: A Cross-sectional Comparative Study

Sleep Quality and Quality of Life in Remitted Bipolar Disorder Patients: A Cross-sectional Comparative Study

Detection and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Candida Species Isolated from the Urine of Patients in a Tertiary Health Facility, Southwest Nigeria

Aims: This study aimed to identify and determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Candida species causing UTI among patients attending a tertiary Teaching Hospital, in southwest Nigeria. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria between June 2017 and February, 2018. Methodology: A total of 250 participants whose provisional diagnosis was candiduria were recruited for this study. Urine samples were collected from consenting participants early in the morning into sterile wide mouth universal containers. These samples were cultured aerobically on Blood agar, Cystine-Lactose-Electrolyte Deficient (CLED) agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SAB) at 370C within 1 to 2 days. The isolates were profiled into species level using microscopic, biochemical test, chromogenic media (Chrom agar Candida) and Analytical Profile Index (API) 32C examination analysis. Results: An overall rate for Candidiasis in this study was 12.8% (32/250). The rate was higher in female 17.5% compared to 6.5% in their male counterparts (p=0.014). Highest rate of infections peaked at 28.6% among age group 83-92 years and lowest (6.7%) in age group 23-32 years. A total of 11 (4.4%) urine culture from participants produced C. albicans pure fungi isolates. However, by gender, this was statistically significant (p=0.003). A total of 81 bacterial (32.4%) and fungal isolates 32 (12.8%) were isolated and profiled. Distribution of Candida species indicated highest incidence in age range 31-40 years, followed by 21-30years and age 61-70 years age brackets. The isolated species were Candida albicans 11(34.4%), C. tropicalis 8(25%), C. parapsilopsis 6(19%), C. krusei 2(6.3%) and C. hellenica 1(3.1%). Sixty to seventy percent of fungal isolates were susceptible to ketoconazole and fluconazole while the susceptibility pattern of Candida species to itraconazole, terbinafine and nystatin varied between moderately susceptible to resistance. All the Candida isolates were resistant to griseofulvin. However, C. albicans was found to be the major Candida species causing Candidal urinary tract infection. The only C. hellenica isolated was resistant to all the antifungal drugs were approved except nystatin. Conclusion: High profile of Candida isolates and related UTI microbes were found in this study. There is need for advocacy for the use of API and Chrom agar Candida for routine diagnosis for Candida identification. Nevertheless, the Candida isolates were mostly susceptible to ketoconazole and Fluconazole but only the isolates were griseofulvin resistant.

Overweight and obesity and associated factors among public and private secondary school adolescent students in Harar city, Eastern Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Adolescent overweight and obesity are growing public health concerns in developing nations like Ethiopia. They are closely linked to an increased risk of non-communicable diseases, a deterioration in health-related quality of life, subpar academic performance, and a decline in social and emotional well-being. There is, however, little research in this field. Thus, this study aimed to assess overweight and obesity and associated factors among public and private secondary school adolescent students in Harar city, Eastern Ethiopia. A school-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 781 secondary school adolescents in Harar city from February to March 2022. Multi-stage sampling was used to identify 781 study participants (586 in public and 195 in private schools). Anthropometric measures and self-administered structured questionnaires were used to obtain the data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine the association between independent variables and overweight and obesity. Statistical significance was declared at P < .05. The overall magnitude of overweight and obesity was 9.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.2-11.4%] with 16.2% in private schools. Being female [adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.17-3.55], late adolescent age [AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31-0.90], bigger family size [AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.97], high paternal education level [AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.08-3.81], eating meat [AOR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.27-9.17] and not consuming breakfast daily [AOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.24-3.67] were factors associated with overweight and obesity among all secondary school adolescents. A high maternal educational level, not eating breakfast and dinner daily in private secondary school adolescents and having a feminine gender, eating eggs, and not walking or riding a bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously in public secondary school adolescents were factors associated with overweight and obesity. The extent of overweight and obesity was notably higher in the study area. Communities and educational institutions should work together to promote healthy lifestyle choices among adolescents, with a special emphasis on girls and students enrolled in private schools.

#2534 Classification of patients with acute kidney damage on the base of blood pressure value as a risk factor using a neural network

Abstract Background and Aims In acute kidney damage, the monitoring of hemodynamic status is best achieved by determining the blood pressure value. It is considered that the values of diastolic blood pressure in young and healthy people are constant from the aorta to the periphery, and the values of systolic and pulse pressure increase from the periphery to the aorta. The frequency of hypertension correlates with the presence of a cardiovascular precipitating risk factor in acute kidney injury, hypertension is also a modifying risk factor in the second and third stages of acute kidney injury, while the presence of hypotension on admission can be a clinical indicator of its cause. In patients with acute kidney damage and in patients with sepsis, the mechanism of autoregulation of mean arterial pressure, which is affected by stroke volume and heart rate, is not effective. The aim of the paper is to examine the classification of hospitalized patients with acute kidney injury based on blood pressure as a risk factor. Method The study included 86 patients over 18 years of age of both sexes (39 men 45.3% and 47 women 54.7%) with an average age of 66.85 ± 15.30 years who were diagnosed with acute kidney injury on admission to hospital treatment. Patients were divided into groups according to the stages of renal insufficiency. The study was designed as a cross-sectional comparative study. The assessment of the existence of acute kidney damage, as well as the determination of the stage of the disease, was based on the diagnostic criteria proposed by the K/DIGO expert group for acute kidney damage. The study did not include patients who had disease progression after acute kidney failure and were treated with dialysis for more than three months. Basic clinical, biochemical and hemodynamic parameters were determined in all subjects at the beginning of treatment, except for the analysis of nitrogen status, which was determined both before and at the end of treatment. During the formation of the neural network (pattern recognition Mat Lab), the parameters of systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure normalized by min-max normalization to values from 0 to 1 were included. The data were randomly distributed into three categories: 80% for training, 10% for test, 10% for validation, which means that the parameters of 68 patients were used for training, 9 patients for validation and another 9 patients for the test. The number of input parameters is 33 to 39, while the number of output parameters is 2 in relation to treatment. Formed neural networks with different included blood pressure parameters, structures of 25 neurons in the hidden layer, with 55 and 15 epochs and with accuracy of 97.7% and 90.7% of patient classification. Results Our results show that 40.3% of patients in the third stage of acute kidney injury have hypertension. The lowest average values of systolic (108.44 ± 22.81 mmHg) and diastolic (65.56 ± 15.29 mmHg) blood pressure were experienced by patients in the first stage of acute kidney damage, and the lowest values of mean arterial pressure existed in the second stage of acute kidney damage (68.20 ± 44.96 mmHg) .Statistically significant risk factors for the development of the third stage of acute kidney damage in the multivariate analysis were patients older than 65 years, and mean arterial pressure values less than 65 mmHg. The confusion matrices showed that the classifiers adapted to the minimum and maximum values of systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure are well adapted and achieve satisfactory accuracy with 97.7% and 90.7%. Conclusion By comparing blood pressure parameters in hospitalized patients in relation to the stage of acute kidney damage, no statistically significant deviations were found. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age over 65 was a significant independent risk factor for stage three acute kidney injury, while the multivariate model showed that risk factors for the development of stage three acute kidney injury were patients same age and middle arterial blood pressure less than 65 mmHg. Satisfactory accuracy of formed neural networks when classifying patients during validation training and test was also demonstrated.

#2987 Describing inflammatory markers in end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis

Abstract Background and Aims There is an increased inflammatory state in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). It is crucial to investigate if the decline in renal function influences on the levels of infectious and inflammatory parameters, particularly procalcitonin (PCT) which exhibits the highest specificity for bacterial infections. Additionally, it would be useful establish a PCT cut-off-value for patients on renal replacement therapy and ESRD in the absence of infection, facilitating the differentiation between those with and without bacterial infection. The aim of this study is to analyze infectious and inflammatory parameters, including PCT, in ESRD and HD patients. A secondary objective is to explore the link among inflammatory markers between themselves and with some specific clinical conditions. Method A cross-sectional observational comparative study was conducted involving HD patients (Group 1) and ESRD (Group 2). We assessed PCT, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Sedimentation Velocity (SV), and Ferritin, among others. Patients with active infection were excluded. For HD patients, analytical extraction was conducted before the midweek session. Results are presented as mean ± standard deviation for variables exhibiting a normal distribution, and as the median for variables displaying a non-normal distribution. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Group comparisons were conducted using Mann Whitney test for variables with a non-normal distribution. Relationships between parameters were examined using the Spearman correlation test and linear regression analysis. Significance was established at p &amp;lt; 0.05. The statistical software utilized was Jamovi (Version 2.3). Results We found in HD patients (Group 1) when compared to ESRD patients (Group 2) higher PCT levels, higher ferritin levels, and lower albumin levels, with statistical significance (Table 1). Conclusion There is a decrease in albumin levels and an increase in PCT, and ferritin levels in HD patients compared to ESRD patients. We observed that RCP, and ferritin were independent predictive factors of PCT levels, but, unexpected, diabetes was not. Given the fact that ESRD, and HD patients are in a chronic inflammatory status, it is difficult to assess the acute infectious severity in these patients. For that reason, the cut-off-values of inflammatory parameters in these patients in a non-infectious time-point needs to be clarified.

Public-Private Partnership In Healthcare: An Analysis Of Parents’ Perceived Care Quality In Pakistan’s Twin Cities Hospitals, Islamabad And Rawalpindi – A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Public-Private Partnership In Healthcare: An Analysis Of Parents’ Perceived Care Quality In Pakistan’s Twin Cities Hospitals, Islamabad And Rawalpindi – A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Adverse childhood experiences among people with schizophrenia at comprehensive specialized hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: a comparative study

BackgroundPeople who have encountered adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are predisposed to developing schizophrenia, experiencing exacerbated symptoms, and facing an elevated risk of disease relapse. It is imperative to evaluate the prevalence of ACEs to comprehend the specific attributes of this condition and enable the implementation of suitable interventions.AimsThe aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ACEs and its determinants among people with schizophrenia and the patient attendants in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.MethodA comparative cross-sectional study was carried out at the Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, from April 26 to June 10, 2023. A total of 291 individuals with schizophrenia and 293 individuals from the patient attendants were selected using a systematic random sampling method. A proportional odds model ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with ACEs.ResultsThe occurrence of at least one ACE among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia was 69.4%, while patient attendants had a 46.8%, as indicated by the Chi-square test, which showed a significant difference at p &amp;lt;0.05. The study findings indicated that individuals with schizophrenia who have encountered four or more ACEs are more inclined to have lower educational attainment (AOR: 4.69 [1.94 - 11.61]), low resilient coping mechanisms (AOR: 2.07 [1.11 - 3.90]), and poor social support (AOR: 3.93 [2.13 - 7.32]). Conversely, factors such as rural residency, illiteracy, and heightened attachment-related anxiety were found to be notably associated with the patient attendants.ConclusionIn this study, the substantial prevalence of ACEs emphasized the necessity for ACE screening and the implementation of evidence-based interventions to address and alleviate the overall burden of ACEs.

Internalized Stigma and Its Relationship With Quality of Life and Perceived Health Status in Rosacea and Acne Vulgaris: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Internalized Stigma and Its Relationship With Quality of Life and Perceived Health Status in Rosacea and Acne Vulgaris: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

A systematic review of personality and musculoskeletal disorders: evidence from general population studies

IntroductionWe conducted a systematic review to evaluate the quality and extent of evidence on associations between personality disorders (PDs) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in population-based studies, since these disorders are leading causes of disease burden worldwide.MethodsA search strategy of published, peer-reviewed and gray literature was developed in consultation with a liaison librarian and implemented for Embase, CINAHL Complete, Medline Complete, and PsycINFO via the EBSCOhost platform from 1990 to the present and CORDIS and ProQuest Dissertations &amp;amp; Theses Global, respectively. The inclusion criteria were as follows: I) general population participants aged ≥15 years; II) self-report, probable PD based on positive screen, or threshold PD according to the DSM-IV/5 (groupings: any, Clusters A/B/C, specific PD) or ICD-10/11; III) MSDs identified by self-report or ICD criteria (arthritis, back/neck conditions, fibromyalgia, osteopenia/osteoporosis) and III) cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional study designs. Two reviewers independently screened articles and extracted the data. Critical appraisal was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists for systematic reviews of etiology and risk. A descriptive synthesis presents the characteristics of included studies, critical appraisal results, and descriptions of the main findings. This review adhered to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.ResultsThere were 11 peer-reviewed, published articles included in this review (n = 9 cross-sectional and n = 2 case-control studies); participants were ≥18 years in these studies. No published gray literature was identified. Semi-structured interviews were the most common method to ascertain PDs; all studies utilized self-reported measures to identify MSDs. Overall, we detected limited and conflicting evidence for associations between PDs and MSDs.DiscussionThe main result may be explained by lack of population-based longitudinal evidence, heterogenous groupings of PD, and few comparable cross-sectional and case-control studies. Strengths of the review include a comprehensive search strategy and a discussion of mechanisms underlying possible associations between PDs and MSDs.ConclusionsThe quality of most studies included in this review that examined associations between PD and MSDs in general population adults was high. However, the results demonstrated limited and conflicting evidence for these associations, in part, due to lack of comparable evidence, which should be addressed in future research.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021243094.

Risky sexual behavior among university students who attended/did not attend HIV/AIDS, sexual, and reproductive health and life skill course: a comparative cross-sectional study

Risky sexual behavior among university students who attended/did not attend HIV/AIDS, sexual, and reproductive health and life skill course: a comparative cross-sectional study

DENTAL CARIES AND TREATMENT NEEDS AMONG CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN DHAMAR CITY, YEMEN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background and objective: A child with disability is a child who, for any reason, has a problem with learning, communication, or using their physical, and social activities. There are a lot of people with different disabilities around world which forms an important section of the community. The Objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs among children with and without physical disabilities in Dhamar City, Yemen. Study design: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among physical disability children (n=101) and control children (n=101), their age ranged from 6 to 12 years old in Dhamar City, Yemen. WHO Oral Health Assessment Form for children, 2013 was used for assessment of dental caries and treatment needs. Results: The findings of this study indicate a statistically significant difference in dt (decayed teeth) between children with physical disabilities and the control group (p=0.013). Among children with physical disabilities, 55.4% exhibited decay in their primary teeth, whereas the prevalence was 72.3% among the control children. The highest mean dmft scores were observed in the 6-7 years age group. Additionally, a significant difference in dmft values was found in the control children (p=0.001). It is essential to highlight that only 14.4% of the children evaluated in this study had no treatment needs identified. Conclusions: In conclusion, the prevalence of dental caries was lower among physical disability children than control. Control children have a significantly higher dental caries in primary teeth than physical disability children. Additionally, both groups exhibit a considerable proportion of unmet treatment needs. Peer Review History: Received 5 February 2024; Revised 13 March 2024; Accepted 24 April; Available online 15 May 2024 Academic Editor: Dr. Marwa A. A. Fayed, University of Sadat City, Egypt, maafayed@gmail.com Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Dr. George Zhu, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, sansan4240732@163.com Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye

Comparative Cross Sectional Prospective Study of Anterior Skull Base Thickness in Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhoea vs Matched Controls

Comparative Cross Sectional Prospective Study of Anterior Skull Base Thickness in Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhoea vs Matched Controls

Retinopathy of prematurity in multiple births versus single births preterm, extremely preterm infants

The purpose of the study was to compare the retinopathy of prematurity in preterm, extremely preterm infants between multiple and single births.It was a hospital – based cross sectional comparative study conducted among preterm 28 - ≤37 weeks of gestational age, extremely preterm ≤ 28 weeks of gestational age at delivery of multiple and single births. Data on Gestational age, birth weight, birth order (single/multiple), Risk factors, Refractive status, and Treatment type were noted. Ophthalmological findings were performed routinely at 4 weeks and repeated later depending upon the severity. 49 infants were involved in this study; 22 were born as singletons and 27 as multiples. Our results show 2.0% of subject in stage 1, 18.4% in stage 2, 8.2% in stage 3, 2.0% in stage 4 substantially corresponds with the severity of retinopathy of prematurity due to lower gestational week and lower birth weight. Multiple birth infants statistically had 6.1% in stage 1, 18.4% in stage 2, 8.2% in stage 3, 2.0% in stage 4 retinopathy of prematurity than single birth infants. Risk factor results indicates necrotizing enterocolitis (33.3% in stage 2), oxygen (35.5% in stage 2 and 16.1% in stage 3), sepsis (37.9%, and 20.7% in stage 3), and continuous positive airway pressure (44.4% in stage 2 and 11.1% in stage 3) Compound hyperopic astigmatism was the most typical refractive error in both births. Laser treatment accounts for 18.1% in both groups. This study showed a significant correlation with ROP development in multiple births.

Comparison Of Outcome Between Conventional And Video Laryngoscope In Predicted Difficult Intubation

Background: Endotracheal intubation is the mainstay of airway management in general anaesthesia. Failure to intubate the trachea, often known as difficult intubation, is always a possibility. To overcome difficult intubation, different methods of instrumental support were developed. Some authors. Methods: From March 2018 to September 2019, a comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at BSMMU, Dhaka in the department of anesthesia, analgesia, and intensive care medicine. A total of 60 patients with predicted difficult intubation who were scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation were selected for the study. Prediction of difficult intubation was assessed by modified Mallampati class III and IV or thyromental height. Results: Time taken from visualization of glottis for insertion of ETT was 12.8±2.3 sec in conventional laryngoscope which was significantly lower in video laryngoscope (15.0±3.6) (p =0.006). Time taken to visualize the glottis was 13.2±1.7 sec in conventional laryngoscope and 13.2±4.0 sec in video laryngoscope (p&gt;0.05). Total time for tracheal intubation was 49.0±6.4 sec in conventional laryngoscope and 53.2±9.9 sec in video laryngoscope (p&gt;0.05). Intubation with first attempt by video laryngoscope was (30/30; 100%) as compared with conventional laryngoscope (27/30; 90%) (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: It is evident from the study that intubation with video laryngoscope in comparison to conventional laryngoscope might provide better outcome in terms of ease of intubation and number of attempts during intubation for patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia. Bangladesh Armed Forces Med J Vol 56 No (1) June 2023, pp 7-13

Health inequality of rural-to-urban migrant workers in eastern China and its decomposition: a comparative cross-sectional study.

As a specific group with high health inequality, it is crucial to improve the health status and health inequalities of rural-to-urban migrant workers. This study aimed to evaluate the health inequality of migrant and urban workers in China and decompose it. A cross-sectional study was carried out, using a standardized questionnaire to obtain basic information, self-rated health to evaluate health status, concentration index to measure health inequalities, and WDW decomposition to analyze the causes of health inequalities. The concentration index of health for migrants was 0.021 and 0.009 for urban workers. The main factors contributing to health inequality among rural-to-urban migrant workers included income, exercise, and age. In contrast, the main factors of health inequality among urban workers included income, the number of chronic diseases, social support, and education. There were health inequalities in both rural-to-urban migrant and urban workers. The government and relevant authorities should formulate timely policies and take targeted measures to reduce income disparities among workers, thereby improving health inequality.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Mesh Repair of Inguinal Hernia for Military Personnel

Background: An organ or fatty tissue, like the colon, might abnormally emerge through the wall of the cavity in which it normally dwells, a condition known as a hernia. Inguinal hernia repair is among the most frequently done procedures by surgeons worldwide. Treatment includes pure tissue repairs to prosthetic repairs under open or laparoscopic approach. Though so many options are available but none is superior to others. Aim of the study is to compare the effectiveness of laparoscopic hernia repair with open mesh hernia repair. Methods: The study was a comparative cross-sectional study. The study, which took place between 2016 and 2018, involved 100 cases in the General Surgery department of Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Savar (30 cases of laparoscopic hernioplasty and 70 cases of open hernioplasty). Purposive sampling technique was used to collect data. Data were collected during follow up of patients by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Informed written consent were obtained from the patients and ethical issues were duly addressed. Results: There were 100 patients in the study, 30 of whom were assigned to group A (the laparoscopic group) and 70 to group B (the open group). In group A, the mean operating time was 103.67±23.57 minutes, while in group B, it was 50.26±2.57 minutes. In group A, there was a decrease in pain scores, with 90% of patients reporting 1-2 (mild discomfort). Three people are in excruciating pain. Conclusion: Inguinal hernia repair is a frequently performed general surgery treatment. Because of the large socio-economic impact of inguinal hernia repair, it is the responsibility of the surgeon to consider the most advantageous approach in each given situation. For all patients needing elective hernioplasty, laparoscopic, non-randomized, pre-peritoneal mesh repair for inguinal hernias is a safe, effective method that has clear advantages over open mesh repair. Bangladesh Armed Forces Med J Vol 56 No (2) December 2023, pp 17-23

Nutritional status of primary school children and their caregiver's knowledge on malnutrition in rural and urban communities of Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria.

Nutritional imbalance is an underlying cause of 2.6million death annually and a third of child's death globally. This study assessed and compared the nutritional status of primary school children and their caregiver's knowledge on malnutrition in rural and urban communities of Ekiti State. This is a cross-sectional comparative study carried out among 983 urban and rural primary school children in Ekiti State (495 in urban and 488 in rural) using interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire. A multi-stage sampling technique was used and data collected was analyzed using SPSS 23 with level of statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Underweight and stunting were relatively higher in rural (6.5% and 22.7% respectively) than in urban (6.3% and 19.4% respectively) and these differences are not statistically significant (p = 0.898, p = 0.197). However, wasting, overweight and obesity were higher in urban (12.7%, 6.1% and 7.7% respectively) than rural (11.5%, 3.7% and 7.5% respectively) but the difference is not statistically significant. (p = 0.242). Majority of the caregivers in both settings had good knowledge of malnutrition though higher in urban mothers (89.5%) with statistical significance than their rural counterparts (71.5%). However, there is no significant association between caregiver's knowledge and malnutrition in this study. Being in lower primary school class, relationship with caregiver, educational status of caregiver and occupation of caregiver were the common predictors of malnutrition among the school children in both community settings. Generally, the prevalence of malnutrition was high in both urban and rural primary school children in this study. However, while underweight and stunting were more prevalent among the children in the rural communities, wasting, overweight and obesity were more prevalent in the urban. The caregivers in both communities had good knowledge of malnutrition (better in the urban) but this is not good enough to bring a significant relationship with the occurrence of malnutrition in the children. Common predictors of malnutrition in both community settings are being in lower primary school class, relationship with caregiver, educational status of caregiver and occupation of caregiver. It is therefore recommended that regular continuous public enlightenment, nutritional education programmes and other programmes targeted at improving the economic power of the caregivers are measures that will improve the nutritional status of the primary school children.