Continuous Campaign Research Articles

Challenges, Barriers, and Facilitators in Telemedicine Implementation in India: A Scoping Review.

Telemedicine has revolutionized healthcare access by breaking geographical barriers and facilitating remote consultations. The eSanjeevani platform has been pivotal in India, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its benefits, implementing telemedicine faces various challenges and barriers. This scoping review aims to identifythese challenges, barriers, and facilitators in the Indian context. This review follows the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify studies published between January 2019 and January 2024. Studies on telemedicine adoption, barriers, and facilitators in India were included. Data were extracted and synthesized from 26 quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research studies. Individual-level challenges include limited digital literacy, particularly among older adults and those in rural areas, and health literacy issues. Barriers such as limited smartphone access, unreliable internet connectivity, and socio-cultural preferences for in-person consultations were identified. Facilitators at this level include family involvement, training programs, and community outreach. Provider-level challenges involve a lack of training and concerns about care quality, while barriers include insufficient infrastructure and medico-legal concerns. Facilitators include ongoing training, clear guidelines, and user-friendly telehealth systems. System-level challenges include integrating telemedicine into existing infrastructure and ensuring data security. Barriers include inadequate funding and resistance to change, while facilitators include policy support, investment in infrastructure, and collaborative efforts. Telemedicine holds great potential to enhance remote healthcare access in India, but its successful implementation requires addressing significant challenges and barriers. Strengthening digital infrastructure, enhancing digital literacy, standardizing protocols, and developing clear regulatory frameworks are essential. Collaborative efforts and tailored approaches that respect local cultures can further facilitate telemedicine adoption. Continuous research and public awareness campaigns are necessary to ensure telemedicine's sustainable and effective use in India.

EDUKASI BAHAYA DAN CARA DISPOSAL MINYAK JELANTAH

Used cooking oil has confirmed to be harmful to our health and environtment. In Indonesia, used cooking oil commonly reuse for cooking and dispose directly into the environment. Reusing used cooking oil will increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer and discharging it directly into environment causes water and soil pollution. However, a lack information has been delivered to the community. This article reported community service activity conducted at Desa Pacarkembang Tambaksari Surabaya that has been purposed to increase the community’ knowledge on the dangers and proper disposal of the used cooking oil. A total of 33 participants joined the event. 30 of them had filled the pre and post event questionnaire assessed knowledge in dangers and proper disposal of the used cooking oil. The results showed that there was a rise in number of participants who had positive knowlede on the potential harm and proper disposal method of used cooking oil. A continuous campaign and public education will increase the community knowledge and awareness in maintaining their health and environment.

A retrospective analysis of the trends in the prevalence of female genital mutilation and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Nigeria 2011-2021.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is widely acknowledged globally as a violation of the fundamental human rights of girls and women. FGM is still widely practiced in Nigeria but at diminishing rates. Primary care physicians must educate and campaign to end this hazardous practice in Nigeria, especially in high-incidence areas. This study fills the knowledge gap by identifying FGM determinants to help policymakers reduce it. The study employed a retrospective cross-sectional design using data from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund for 2011, 2016-2017, and 2021. The sampling involved multistage cluster sampling. Data analysis utilized IBM-SPSS, presenting FGM prevalence across years and exploring associations with various factors. This study analyzed 63,365 Nigerian women across a decade (2011, 2016-2017, and 2021). FGM awareness fluctuated (35.1% in 2016-2017, 33.0% in 2011, and 31.9% in 2021), while FGM prevalence increased from 46.6% (2011) to 69.5% (2021). Education correlated with lower FGM prevalence. Geographic disparities were observed, with the Southwest having the highest (70.1%) and the Northeast having the lowest (34.5%) prevalence. Religion influenced FGM rates, with Christians (54.2%) and those with other/no religion (58.0%) showing higher rates than Muslims (52.6%). Urban women had a slightly lower prevalence (52.6%) than rural women (54.2%), and wealth quintiles displayed variations. Variability was also evident among states, ranging from 2.0% to 86.3%. Daughters' circumcision was influenced by maternal circumcision status, education, region, religion, and wealth quintile. Common FGM procedures involved removing genital flesh (63.7%) and nicking without removal (55.1%), often performed by nurses/midwives (63.7%). The study emphasized the urgent need for continuous awareness campaigns and education to combat FGM among Nigerian women. Education emerged as a critical factor in reducing FGM, highlighting the importance of investing in girls' education.

Flowsheet development for and commissioning of the Kamoa-Kakula project

The Kamoa-Kakula copper resource, located west of Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was discovered and explored by Ivanhoe from 2008/9 on. As a greenfield project with prospects of high grade ore and a long life-of-mine, the need for best practice flowsheet development was recognised, so as to ensure sustainability of metallurgical performance at the at the maximum economic level from the orebody during metallurgical operations. Process Mineralogy, a hybrid discipline, has been developed in the mining industry over the last forty years, and its proper use has seen very successful outcomes in flowsheet development (Bradshaw, 2014; Lotter, 2011; Lotter et al., 2003; McKay et al., 2007; Pease et al., 2005). Drill core was sampled at site across six phases of flowsheet development that worked with the developing mine plan. The two main geomet units were hypogene and supergene, with the hypogene being unusually rich in bornite. The main variability is between supergene and hypogene, and between Kamoa and Kakula, but with less spatial variability within them. The first viable flowsheet was developed and demonstrated in nine months of test work, followed by various revisions and iterations as required by the discovery of variable mineralogy. The first flowsheet, called “Milestone”, was then challenged with an opportunity for a simpler but better-performing flowsheet, which became known as IFS4A. The simultaneous discovery of the Kakula resource refocussed the project due to its shallower depth and higher grade. Laboratory scale flotation testing using IFS4A in Phase 6 of Kamoa and two drill-holes of Kakula quickly confirmed that the Kakula ore outperformed the Kamoa supergene ore using this flowsheet. A mini-pilot plant campaign was run in 2019 with this flowsheet plus modifications, using 985 kg of metallurgical drill cores material to demonstrate the full flowsheet mass and value balance on a continuous operating campaign. This mass and value balance produced an estimated 85.6 % Cu recovery with a saleable concentrate grading 57.3 % Cu. Whereas this paper concentrates on the mineralogy and its contribution to process implications such as grinding requirements and flotation strategy, it is recognized that first-class design, engineering and construction contributed in no small measure to the successful start-up. This mass and value balance was used in the design of the grinding and flotation circuits, and contributed to the successful commissioning of the new concentrator in 2021, which averaged a recovery of 84.7 % at a grade of 50.5 % Cu, in good agreement with the testwork. A McNulty model for the commissioning data shows a better than Type 1A start-up. The flowsheet development part of the project is discussed in this paper as a case study.

Overview of JN.1 the variant of interest: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis

Amidst the ongoing global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes monitoring variants of interest (VOIs) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The JN.1 variant, initially considered within the framework of BA.2.86, has rapidly gained global prevalence, prompting its reclassification as an independent VOI. This study assesses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the JN.1 variant. A literature review from PubMed, and expert opinions from newspaper articles were utilized for information collection. The study incorporates a comprehensive SWOT analysis, associated with the JN.1 variant. The JN.1 variant's global dominance is marked by exponential increases in COVID-19 cases, impacting healthcare systems. While strengths include global guidance, vaccine effectiveness, and a robust surveillance system, weaknesses encompass wastewater analysis, seasonal impacts, and immune escape capabilities. Opportunities lie in continuous vaccination campaigns, monitoring, research, vaccine adaptation, and adaptive strategies. Threats include co-circulation with respiratory diseases, lower antibody responses, and potential global spread. The study underscores the importance of clear public communication, continuous surveillance, and research efforts in addressing the challenges posed by the JN.1 variant. Recommendations include assessing vaccine effectiveness, updating strategies and fostering global collaboration for a more effective response.

Elucidating the mechanisms of atmospheric new particle formation in the highly polluted Po Valley, Italy

Abstract. New particle formation (NPF) is a major source of aerosol particles and cloud condensation nuclei in the troposphere, playing an important role in both air quality and climate. Frequent NPF events have been observed in heavily polluted urban environments, contributing to the aerosol number concentration by a significant amount. The Po Valley region in northern Italy has been characterized as a hotspot for high aerosol loadings and frequent NPF events in southern Europe. However, the mechanisms of NPF and growth in this region are not completely understood. In this study, we conducted a continuous 2-month measurement campaign with state-of-the-art instruments to elucidate the NPF and growth mechanisms in northern Italy. Our results demonstrate that frequent NPF events (66 % of all days during the measurement campaign) are primarily driven by abundant sulfuric acid (8.5×106 cm−3) and basic molecules in this area. In contrast, oxygenated organic molecules from the atmospheric oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) appear to play a minor role in the initial cluster formation but contribute significantly to the consecutive growth process. Regarding alkaline molecules, amines are insufficient to stabilize all sulfuric acid clusters in the Po Valley. Ion cluster measurements and kinetic models suggest that ammonia (10 ppb) must therefore also play a role in the nucleation process. Generally, the high formation rates of sub-2 nm particles (87 cm−3 s−1) and nucleation-mode growth rates (5.1 nm h−1) as well as the relatively low condensational sink (8.9×10-3 s−1) will result in a high survival probability for newly formed particles, making NPF crucial for the springtime aerosol number budget. Our results also indicate that reducing key pollutants, such as SO2, amine and NH3, could help to substantially decrease the particle number concentrations in the Po Valley region.

Preliminary assessment of volatile organic compounds and hazardous gases dispersion at low winds: case study of Mellitah Gas Complex, Libya

Air pollution from industrial areas has become really worrying especially for city dwellers. The plume dispersion emitted from industrial sources is subject to several factors: temperature and emission rate velocity, wind speed and direction, source height, and atmospheric stability. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the dispersion coefficients correlated within a Gaussian plume approach to an industrial source in Libya (Mellitah Gas Complex) under low and moderate wind speeds. To this end, we have developed a specific code based on the Gaussian method to study the dispersion of (1) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from oil storage tanks and condensate storage tanks, and (2) sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted by the flaring process through three stacks of 80 m height. The emissions from multisource points and their dispersion have been predicted at calm wind conditions and the flammability and danger-prone toxic zones have been delimited around the studied site. The obtained results reveal that the emissions, particularly generated at low and moderate wind speeds, induce a dispersion with high concentration levels in the area surrounding the industrial site. The VOCs critical concentration region indicates a real risk of flammability at low-speed wind and stable atmospheric condition, from a height of 5 m above the ground. In fact, the VOCs concentration reach the Flammability Inferior Limit value of 0.018 m3 VOCs/m3 and these concentrations, appearing in the form of a plume, extend downstream to approximately 1000 m. The dispersion of NOx and SOx emissions downwind from the stacks are enhanced by wind speed; nevertheless, at 2 m height from the ground, the levels could exceed the limit value of 0.125 mg/m3, especially under the condition of unstable and very unstable atmospheric classes. From our findings, we recommend continuous monitoring campaigns inside and around the complex of Mellitah to ensure an environmentally secure zone that respects safety and health guidelines. Furthermore, enhanced simulations based on hourly weather conditions for extended area would be of great interest to accurately assess the air quality index in the region.

EDUKASI KHASIAT, PEMANFAATAN, DAN PEMASARAN PRODUK BUNGA TELANG (CLITORIA TERNATEA L.) PADA SANTRI PONDOK PESANTREN AL-AMANAH SIDOARJO

Clitoria ternatea L. known as Butterfly pea has been recognized for its benefits on health. The high content of anthocyanins, anthocyanidins and flavanols in its flower petals play an important role as an antioxidant. In this era, butterfly pea could be used as various product such as health drink, organics dye, cosmetics, etc. However, a lack information has been delivered to the community. This article reported community service activity conducted in Pondok Pesantren Al-Amanah Sidoarjo Krian that been purposed to increase the students’ knowledge on the benefits of butterfly pea and their skill in making health drink. A total of 114 students joined the event. 77 of them had filled the pre and post event questionnaire assessed knowledge in butterfly pea benefits. The results showed that there was a rise in number of participants who had positive knowlede on the advantages of butterfly pea. A continuous campaign and public education will increase the community knowledge and skill in the utilization of natural products for our health concern.

A Cross‐Sectional Study on the Occurrence of Maternal Mortality in Some Selected Hospitals in Kumasi Metropolis Using Zero‐Inflated Negative Binomial

Background: Maternal mortality is one of the most devastating and emotionally distressing occurrences that can be experienced by a family or society. The objective of the study was to investigate the risk factors associated with maternal mortality across the various sub‐metros using zero‐inflated models.Methods: The study used secondary data obtained from eight health facilities within Kumasi metropolis from 2018 to 2022. The zero‐inflated negative binomial (ZINB) is useful when dealing with count outcomes that show greater variability than would be expected in a standard Poisson distribution, a phenomenon known as overdispersion.Results: The maternal mortality rates (MMRs) for 2018 to 2022 were 427.53, 385.68, 284.21, 323.74, and 440.78 per 100,000 live births, respectively, in the Kumasi metropolis. The study found unsafe abortion, sepsis, tuberculosis, hemorrhage, and hypertension to be significantly associated with maternal mortality.Conclusion: We recommend a continuous health education campaign to encourage pregnant women to seek prompt medication when they suspect sepsis, hypertension, tuberculosis, and hemorrhage. Also, awareness about the risk associated with unsafe abortions should be promoted.

Hidrografski premer međunarodnih plovnih puteva u Republici Srbiji

European inland waterways are a key element of the European transport network and are mostly used for freight traffic. The hydrographic surveying is the basis for the maintenance of inland waterways and the establishment of safe navigation. A part of the European waterway corridor E80 consists of the rivers Danube, Sava and Tisza, which part of their course also flows through the Republic of Serbia. On these sections of the mentioned rivers, the competent state institutions are conducting a continuous campaign of hydrographic measurements, which, among other things, includes GNSS RTK positioning and depth measurement with a single-beam ultrasonic echo sounder. In this paper, the characteristics of these sections of rivers, the current methodology of depth measuring and positioning during depth measuring will be shown in details.

Impact of Counseling based Edu Vaccine on the Control and Prevention of COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Millions of people throughout the world are affected by the coronavirus outbreak brought on by the pandemic Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which is the first significant human catastrophe in history. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of counseling based Edu Vaccine on prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This pre and post designed, prospective, study was conducted in different states of India using an online survey. A 30-items questionnaire as an instrument was sent to 1597 potential responders. The responded participants were enrolled as study participants and divided into counseling and non-counseling groups. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Chi-square test was used to assess the level of association among variables and independent t-test was used to compare participants’ demographic and socioeconomic measurements. Results: Out of 1597 only 829 participants responded and completed the survey questionnaire. At baseline, half of the population found that the symptoms of COVID include fever, cough and trouble breathing, but after the counseling a significant change was observed (p<0.001) in the counseling group. 91.7% population were agreed that social distancing, maintain hygiene and public awareness can help to control the community spread or 3rd stage of COVID-19. Around 96 % of the population in the counseling group was aware of the preventive measures recommended by WHO to avoid COVID-19 infection after the counseling. Conclusion: A significant improvement was observed in general population’s the knowledge levels regarding COVID-19 and its preventive measures. We observed that people were aware of COVID-19 and preventive masseurs but they do not adhere so there is an urgent need to continuous educational campaigns with follow-ups that target less-educated, lower-income population and further studies are warranted.

Knowledge and Attitude about Radiation Hazards on Pregnant Women Among Non-Healthcare Students in Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA)

Lack of awareness on radiation exposure during pregnancy in Malaysia can lead to a higher possibility of rejection from pregnant women to undergo an examination using ionizing radiation. This study aims to assess the general knowledge and attitude regarding radiation hazards on pregnant women among students at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). A cross-sectional study was conducted among non-healthcare students in UniSZA. A questionnaire was distributed online using Google Form to assess knowledge and attitude of radiation hazards on pregnant women. Descriptive statistics and Independent T-test were used to determine the knowledge and attitude of the respondents. A total of 120 students have participated in this study. Equal sample sizes are obtained with 60 male students and 60 female students. The total mean knowledge and attitude score for all students is 1.31 and 4.13 respectively. The mean knowledge of female students (M=24.27) (P < .05) was higher compared to male students (M=20.20) (P < .05). Mean attitude of female students (M=17.40) (P < .05) was higher compared to male students (M=15.65) (P < .05). Female students have higher knowledge and attitude towards radiation hazards on pregnancy compared to male students. Lack of knowledge and attitude on radiation hazards on pregnancy can give serious effects in the future. Continuous awareness campaigns on the benefits and risks of radiation must be held through various platforms to educate people regarding the radiation hazards on pregnant women.

Patterns and practices of child labour among mothers in rural and urban areas in Lagos, Nigeria- A comparative study

Background: Child labour is a social phenomenon of global concern with serious consequences for child development, education and well-being. This study compared the pattern, attitude and child labour practices in urban and rural areas of Lagos State.Methods: This was a descriptive comparative cross-sectional study among mothers of children ages 5 to 17 years. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit 400 participants. The data was collected using a pre-tested, standardized questionnaire on child labour for household surveys. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences IBM (SPSS) version 20 software and the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.Results: Urban mothers were older (43.8± 1.8 years) compared to rural mothers (41.9± 12.7 years), and a higher percentage of urban mothers (52.5%) had secondary education in contrast to rural mothers (25.5%). Child labour was more prevalent among children aged 5 to 10 years in rural areas (55.5%) compared to urban areas (44.5%). Within the past year, 33.8% of urban children and 66.2% of rural children were involved in labour and hawking was the most prevalent work in 31.0% and 69.0% of urban and rural children. The majority of rural child labourers (68.4%) and 31.6% of urban child labourers worked 8 to 10 hours daily, with a statistically significant difference (p <0.001), primarily due to family support.Conclusion: There is a need for increased and continuous awareness campaigns aimed at educating communities, parents, and children about the detrimental effects of child labour on their overall well-being.

Deriving groundwater major ions from electrical conductivity using artificial neural networks supported by analytical hydrochemical solutions

Tracing groundwater chemistry requires broad and continuous sampling campaigns to keep track of groundwater deterioration. The need is pressing in coastal aquifers due to high water demand to meet rapid population growth. This paper uses artificial intelligence (AI) to develop an algorithm capable of predicting seven major chemical ions in water (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3−, Cl− and SO42−) from electrical conductivity (EC), a single input that can be easily acquired manually or via automated monitoring programs. The algorithm mainly relied on artificial neural network (ANN) to tackle complex and nonlinear relationships. It included a set of procedures among others, Levenberg-Marquardt back propagation multilayer perceptron (MLP), conjugate gradient back propagation with Fletcher-Reeves updates MLP, and support vector regression. The low accuracy of ANN models in predicting Ca2+ and HCO3− concentrations justified their calculation via advanced hydrochemical analytical solutions that were embedded in one AI scheme. The full scheme was trained and tested over an EC20 range of 400–3000 μS/cm, and then validated for new measurements elsewhere. It showed <15% discrepancy for the four ions that constitute the majority of groundwater chemical composition (Cl−, Na+, HCO3− and Ca2+). Higher uncertainties were associated with concentrations derived for EC values outside the training limits. The developed algorithm can save time and money in return of labor and laboratory work. It is an open source code publicly available for further improvements by training it on additional data covering a wider EC range.

Trace Metals in PM10 and Associated Health Risk in Two Urban Sites Located in Campeche

This study reports the trace metal concentrations in PM10 collected in two urban sites of Campeche, Mexico (the INAH site, located in the downtown, and the TNL site, located in the Tecnologico Nacional de Mexico campus Lerma). Trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, with Fe and Mn being the most dominant species. Cd and Co showed high values of enrichment factors, indicating that they were highly enriched by anthropogenic sources. A health risk assessment was carried out according to the IRIS-EPA methodology considering both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects and different age and gender population groups. The TNL site showed cancer risk coefficients that exceed the maximum limits established by the EPA and the WHO (1 × 10−6 and 1 × 10−5, respectively), being higher for Cd and Co. The non-carcinogenic risk exceeded the limits recommended by the EPA, being higher in the INAH site for cobalt (HQ = 28.92). There is a latent risk that the exposed population may develop cardiovascular and respiratory diseases due to inhalation of the metals measured in PM10. It is necessary to carry out more continuous monitoring campaigns of trace metals linked to PM10 in this area to enable a better understanding of the effects of these contaminants on the health of the exposed population. The results of the present work constitute the first efforts to evaluate the trace metals concentrations in PM10 in urban areas of the city of Campeche, Campeche and can be used to develop programs focused on improving air quality.

Elucidating the mechanisms of rapid O3 increase in North China Plain during COVID-19 lockdown period

Ozone (O3) levels in North China Plain (NCP) suffered from rapid increases during the COVID-19 period. Many previous studies have confirmed more rapid NOx reduction compared with VOCs might be responsible for the O3 increase during this period, while the comprehensive impacts of each VOC species and NOx on ambient O3 and their interactions with meteorology were not revealed clearly. To clarify the detailed reasons for the O3 increase, a continuous campaign was performed in a typical industrial city of NCP. Meanwhile, the machine-learning technique and the box model were employed to reveal the mechanisms of O3 increase from the perspective of meteorology and photochemical process, respectively. The result suggested that the ambient O3 level in Tangshan increased from 18.7 ± 4.63 to 45.6 ± 8.52 μg/m3 (143%) during COVID-19 lockdown, and the emission reduction and meteorology contributed to 54 % and 46 % of this increment, respectively. The lower wind speed (WS) coupled with regional transport played a significant role on O3 increase (30.8 kg/s). The O3 sensitivity verified that O3 production was highly volatile organic compounds (VOC)-sensitive (Relative incremental reactivity (RIR): 0.75), while the NOx showed the negative impact on O3 production in Tangshan (RIR: −0.59). It suggested that the control of VOCs rather than NOx might be more effective in reducing O3 level in Tangshan because it was located on the VOC-limited regime. Besides, both of ozone formation potential (OFP) analysis and observation-based model (OBM) demonstrated that the alkenes (36.3 ppb) and anthropogenic oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) (15.2 ppb) showed the higher OFP compared with other species, and their reactions released a large number of HO2 and RO2 radicals. Moreover, the concentrations of these species did not experience marked decreases during COVID-19 lockdown, which were major contributors to O3 increase during this period. This study also underlined the necessity of priority controlling alkenes and OVOCs across the NCP.

Household Waste Management Strategy in Upper Middle Housing

The growing volume of waste poses a significant challenge, with implications for environmental contamination, health, and aesthetics. While participatory waste management practices have been adopted in some areas, others resort to dumping on vacant land, leading to potential long-term repercussions. The focus on waste source management, particularly within households, becomes imperative. A descriptive study was conducted in the Sukabumi Sub-district, with the most residences. Targeting households with heads of families as respondents, the research encompassed a sample of 120 housing units selected through systematic random sampling. Instruments developed by the researcher were employed for data collection. Analysis was anchored on a univariate approach and the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) method. The community's education, knowledge, and occupation profiles were categorized as 'good'. Despite this, a gap in waste governance was identified. Community knowledge about waste management emerged as a strength, while the unrealized potential of converting organic household waste into compost was recognized as an opportunity. To address waste management effectively, it is recommended to prioritize community strengths and harness available opportunities, like independent composting through suitable technology for limited land areas. Emphasizing household waste reduction through the 3R+P model, tailored for upper-middle-class housing, and bolstering community waste management awareness through continuous campaigns is essential.

Analysis of the literacy level of health workers regarding Islamic life insurance at the Ofa Padang Mahondang Community Health Center

IntroductionFinancial literacy on Islamic life insurance is considered low. Various things can be the causes of this low literacy including the lack of socialization, education, and professional collaboration programs.ObjectivesThis study aims to analyze the literacy level of health workers regarding Islamic life insurance considering the phenomenon of still very low penetration and density of such product. MethodThis research uses descriptive quantitative methods. Primary data was obtained through a questionnaire. The population of this study was 38 health workers who worked at the Ofa Padang Mahondang Village Health Center, Pulau Rakyat District, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra Province.Results57.9% of respondents had a high level of financial literacy, being able to answer correctly above 80%. 34.2% of respondents were in the middle category, being able to answer correctly between 60%-80%. Only 7.9% respondents were in low category, being able to answer correctly below 60%. ImplicationsThe study highlights the importance of continuous education and awareness campaigns about Islamic insurance among healthcare professionals and the broader population.Originality/NoveltyThis study contributes to efforts to increase knowledge about Islamic life insurance for health workers as the spearhead of health services in Indonesia.

Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study.

Even though the COVID-19 vaccine has been available and free of charge to the targeted population in Ethiopia, the vaccination rate was lower than needed to achieve herd immunity at community level. This study aimed to explore community perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy in selected cities of Ethiopia involving 70 in-depth interviews and 28 focused group discussions. The audio-taped data were transcribed verbatim, translated into English, and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach using the ATLAS.ti software version 8. The findings revealed that COVID-19 was perceived as evil and caused fear and frustration upon its emergence. The community initially used traditional remedies for its prevention but later transitioned to employing non-pharmaceutical interventions. The primary reasons for vaccine hesitancy were misinformation and misconceptions, such as connecting the vaccine with the mark of the beast, a lack of trust due to the multiple vaccine types, a shorter production timeline resulting in distrust of its effectiveness, and a fear of pain and side effects. Based on our findings, we recommend monitoring the use of social media and countering misinformation with the correct information and continuous public health campaigns. Further studies should be conducted to assess the types and magnitude of impacts from the myths and misconceptions on vaccination uptake.

Heart Failure Awareness Among the General Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Heart failure (HF) continues to be a globally prevalent condition with a poor prognosis, severe morbidity, and a high mortality rate. Despite the severity of HF, relatively few studies on public awareness of the condition have been published, with the majority indicating that awareness is quite low. This study aimed to determine HF knowledge in the general Saudi community and its associated predictors. Methods An online survey was used to conduct a cross-sectional study on the Saudi population. The publicity committee of the Korean Society of Heart Failure drafted the questionnaire used in the present investigation. Three questions assessed knowledge of cardiovascular (CV) and cerebrovascular disorders;four questions assessed knowledge of HF, its etiology, and severity; and three questions assessed knowledge of readmission, mortality, and lifetime risk. Results A total of 1,124 respondents completed the questionnaire. Approximately half of the respondents (50.1%, n = 563) were unaware that HF is a pathological rather than a physiological process. Only 13.8% of the respondents were aware that the lifetime risk of developing HF is 20%, with even lower rates of correct responses for the one-year readmission rate (7.4%) and post-discharge one-year mortality from acute HF (7.3%). Female gender and lower levels of education were associated with a lack of HF awareness. A multivariate analysis revealed that income and information sourcewere substantially associated with cardiovascular disorder knowledge. Age, education, alcohol consumption, and information source were associated with awareness of the severity of HF. Conclusion The general population in Saudi Arabia (SA) exhibited a relatively low degree ofknowledgeof HF. We suggest increasing public awareness of HF through an educational campaign led by medical personnel and disseminated via various social media websites. Changes should be made to national healthcare policies to provide healthcare institutions with continuous promotion and iterative campaigns about healthy lifestyles and preventive activities to reduce disease-related costs and disability. HF awareness must be raised through increased concentration and education.