Cross-sectional Survey Research Articles

An unequal health policy landscape? Examining socioeconomic differences in acceptability and preferences for policies that aim to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health

BackgroundThis study explores socioeconomic differences in acceptability and preferences for policies that aim to reduce socioeconomic health inequalities. The investigated policies range from structural policies, requiring no individual agency, to...

Student nurses' views on an E-Learning module on comfort, safety, and mobility with older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Nursing students often receive insufficient training in older adults' care. Examine nursing students' perceptions of an e-learning module developed to enhance their knowledge about the comfort, safety, and mobility of older adults. A cross-sectional survey was administered to third-year baccalaureate nursing students at a Canadian university after they had completed the comfort, safety, and mobility module. The survey assessed students' perceptions of the e-learning module using four 5-pointLikert-type items. The survey also contained demographic questions and one open-ended question that invited participants to make any comments they wished. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants'demographic characteristics. Responses to the open-ended quesiton were summative content analyzed. The survey was completed by 119 participants, who reported that the module increased their confidence, perceptions and knowledge in working with older adults. Participants also found the method of instruction to be convenient, interactive, and enjoyable. Results suggest that the learning module has the potential to facilitate student nurses' learning about comfort, safety, and mobility.

Continuous glucose monitoring among nurse practitioners in primary care: Characteristics associated with prescribing and resources needed to support use.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can improve health for people with diabetes but is limited in primary care (PC). Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in PC can improve diabetes management through CGM, but NPs' interest in CGM and support needed are unclear. We describe behaviors and attitudes related to CGM for diabetes management among NPs in PC. This cross-sectional web-based survey of NPs practicing in PC settings used descriptive statistics to describe CGM experience and identify resources to support prescribing. We used multivariable regression to explore characteristics predicting prescribing and confidence using CGM for diabetes. Nurse practitioners in hospital-owned settings were twice as likely to have prescribed CGM (odds ratio [OR] = 2.320, 95% CI [1.097, 4.903]; p = .002) than private practice; those in academic medical centers were less likely (OR = 0.098, 95% CI [0.012, 0.799]; p = .002). Past prescribing was associated with favorability toward future prescribing (coef. = 0.7284, SE = 0.1255, p < .001) and confidence using CGM to manage diabetes (type 1: coef. = 3.57, SE = 0.51, p < .001; type 2: coef. = 3.49, SE = 0.51, p < .001). Resources to prescribe CGM included consultation with an endocrinologist (62%), educational website (61%), and endocrinological e-consultations (59%). Nurse practitioners are open to prescribing CGM and can improve diabetes management and health outcomes for PC patients. Research should explore mechanisms behind associations with CGM experience and attitudes. Efforts to advance CGM should include educational websites and endocrinology consultations for NPs in PC.

Sociodemographic Factors, Health-Risk Behaviors, and Chronic Conditions Are Associated with a High Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms: Findings from the Indonesian Family Life Survey-5.

Depression is a significant public health challenge. However, limited research exists regarding the risk of sociodemographic factors, health-risk behavior, and chronic conditions in relation to the development of depression in Indonesia. This study assesses the prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescents and adults, and identifies its potential associations with sociodemographic factors, health-risk behaviors, and chronic conditions. A national cross-sectional population-based survey was performed, using the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS-5), to assess depressive symptoms in respondents aged 15 years and older. Depression was evaluated using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale, and potential associations with sociodemographic factors, health-risk behaviors, and chronic conditions were examined using logistic regression analysis. The study revealed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms, with the highest incidence observed in the age group of 25-34 years. Factors such as unmarried status, younger age, good physical activity, and having chronic conditions showed associations with depression. These findings have implications for developing public mental health strategies to reduce the prevalence of depression in Indonesia.

Antibody Levels and Infection Status of Pertussis in the Population under Pertussis Resurgence in Guangxi in 2018: A Cross-Sectional Survey

ObjectivePertussis cases have increased markedly since 2018 in Guangxi. The aim of this study was to evaluate antibody levels and the infection status of pertussis in the resident population. MethodA total of 10,215 serum samples from residents were collected from August–November 2018 and tested for anti-pertussis IgG and toxin IgG using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsOf the collected samples, 1,833 (17.94%) tested positive for anti-pertussis IgG, with the median concentration of 16.06 IU/mL. Antibody level < 10 IU/mL accounted for more than 60% in children under 4 years of age, but declined with age, whereas the percentages of the other three levels (10–40, 40–50, and ≥ 50 IU/mL) increased almost with age (P < 0.001). Moreover, 7,924 samples were selected for anti-pertussis toxin IgG, of which 653 (8.24%) tested positive (≥ 40 IU/mL) with the median concentration of 5.89 IU/mL, and 204 participants (2.56%) had recent pertussis infection (≥ 100 IU/mL). Among the different age groups, the highest rates of positivity and recent infection were observed at 11–20 years of age, the lowest positivity rate at 5 years of age, and the lowest recent infection rate at 4 years of age (P < 0.001, P = 0.005, respectively). ConclusionThe survey results showed that all age groups in Guangxi lacked immunity against pertussis, which was one of the main factors contributing to the resurgence of pertussis in 2018. In addition, the prevalence of pertussis is relatively high in Guangxi, and its incidence is seriously underestimated, especially in adolescents and adults.

Predictors of confidence in research: a cross-sectional survey of pharmacists in the north of England.

Pharmacist-led research is key to optimizing medicines use and improving pharmacy services, yet it is not yet widely embedded into careers. This study aims to identify predictors of confidence in meeting the research learning outcomes in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Post-Registration Foundation and Core Advanced curricula, to provide targeted recommendations for building research capability and capacity within the profession. The study was a cross-sectional electronic survey, distributed to eligible pharmacists in March 2023 (n = 253). The survey gathered demographic information, research experience, and self-reported confidence in meeting the research learning outcomes in the RPS Post-Registration Foundation and Core Advanced curricula. Pre-determined independent variables were analysed using two binomial logistic regression models (one per curriculum) to identify predictors of the dichotomous variable: confidence with meeting all research learning outcomes in that curriculum. Participants were more likely to self-report as confident (versus not confident) with meeting all research learning outcomes in a curriculum if they had recent experience (within the previous 12 months) of research or research-related activities, held a postgraduate research qualification, had undertaken research training outside of a postgraduate qualification, discussed research in their appraisal, or worked in the hospital sector. Conversely, male gender, years practicing, and protected time for research did not predict confidence. A targeted approach, including improving access to research methods training, experience-based learning, mentorship, and linking research projects to key organizational objectives, could be the key to developing research capability and capacity across all sectors and career stages.

Diet quality among mothers and children in India: Roles of social and behavior change communication and nutrition-sensitive social protection programs

BackgroundLimited evidence exists on determinants of maternal and child diet quality. ObjectivesThis study examined the role of Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and nutrition-sensitive social protection (NSSP) programs on maternal and child diet quality. MethodsData were from cross-sectional phone survey on 6,627 Indian mothers that took place in late 2021. The Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ) was used to measure maternal and child diet quality, including minimum dietary diversity (MDD), dietary diversity scores (DDS), non-communicable disease (NCD)-Protect and NCD-Risk, adherence to dietary guidelines (All-5 and India-All-6), and unhealthy child feeding. Multivariate regression models were used to explore the association between diet indicators and coverage of SBCC and NSSP programs. ResultsMaternal and child diet quality was suboptimal, with more mothers (57%) achieving MDD than children (23%). SBCC was positively associated with healthy food consumption in children (Odds Ratio, OR=2.14 for MDD, β=0.60 for DDS and 0.54 for NCD-Protect), and mothers (β=0.38 for DDS and 0.43 for NCD-Protect). Cash transfers were associated with healthier diets in mothers (OR=1.45 for MDD, 1.86 for All-5, and 2.14 for India-All-6, β=0.43 for DDS and 0.26 for NCD-Protect), but less associations for children (β=0.14 for NCD-Protect). Receiving food was associated with healthier diets in mothers (OR 1.47 for MDD, β= 0.27 for DDS and 0.33 for NCD-Protect) and children (β=0.19 for DDS and 0.15 for NCD-Protect), but also with unhealthy food in children (OR=1.34). Exposure to multiple programs showed stronger associations with diet quality. ConclusionSBCC had greater positive impact on child feeding than food and cash transfers, while cash had a stronger association with improved maternal diets. Food and cash are also associated with unhealthy food consumption. Our study underscores the importance of interventions that combine education, resource provision, and targeted support to promote maternal and child diet quality.

Patient preferences for teleradiology services and remote image interpretation: An empirical study.

This study aims to examine patient preferences for teleradiology services and remote image interpretation. In this context, this study aims to address the following research questions: (i) How do patients perceive teleradiology services, focusing specifically on comfort, quality of care and satisfaction, communication and information, and accessibility and ease of use; (ii) How do patient demographics (age, gender, urban vs. rural residence) influence the perceptions on teleradiology services? A cross-sectional survey design is adopted in this study. The survey comprises five sections targeting demographic information, comfort, and preferences regarding remote image interpretation, perceived quality of care and satisfaction, communication and information clarity, and accessibility and technology aspects using five-point Likert scale ratings. A total of 406 patients (209 males and 197 females; 170 urban residents; 174 semi-urban residents, and 62 rural residents) using teleradiology services participated in the study. Participants reported high satisfaction with remote image interpretation (3.78 ± 1.19), quality of care (3.31 ± 1.19), understanding (3.84 ± 1.43), and user-friendliness (3.67 ± 1.29). Key issues were technical problems (3.81 ± 1.35), feedback difficulties (3.19 ± 1.58), privacy concerns (2.43 ± 1.46), and low awareness (2.37 ± 1.12). Urban participants scored significantly better in comfort, preferences, and communication than those from semi-urban and rural areas. Teleradiology design and implementation should be optimized to align with patient preferences and enhance overall satisfaction.

Correlates of stocking naloxone: a cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists.

Provision of take-home naloxone (THN) and overdose education reduces opioid-related mortality. In Australia, from July 2022, all Australian community pharmacies were eligible to supply naloxone for free through the nationalTHN Program. This study aimed to identify naloxone stocking rates and correlates of stocking naloxone across Australian pharmacies. Data were collected from a representative sample of Australian pharmacists in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia via an online survey. Data collected included pharmacy and pharmacist characteristics and services offered within the pharmacy, including needle and syringe programs, opioid agonist treatment (OAT) and stocking naloxone. Binary probit regression analysis was used to identify correlates of stocking naloxone after controlling for key covariates. Data from 530 pharmacists were analysed. In total, 321 pharmacies (60.6%) reported stocking naloxone. Chain pharmacies and pharmacies that provided OAT had a greater probability of stocking naloxone (B = 0.307, 95%CI: [0.057, 0.556], and B = 0.543, 95%CI: [0.308, 0.777] respectively). Most (61.7%) pharmacists felt comfortable discussing overdose prevention with patients who use prescription opioids, and this comfort was associated with a higher probability of stocking naloxone (B = 0.392, 95%CI: 0.128, 0.655). Comfort discussing overdose prevention with people who use illicit opioids was lower (49.4%) and was not associated with stocking naloxone. There is scope to increase stocking of naloxone and comfort with overdose prevention, particularly through addressing comfort working with higher risk groups such as people who use illicit opioids.

Barriers and risk factors associated with non-treatment-seeking for suicidality onset during the COVID-19 pandemic among young adults

IntroductionResearchers predict long-term increases in suicide deaths following the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about risk factors for suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal attempts (SA) or treatment barriers and promoters during the pandemic. We examine these factors in a young adult sample. MethodsAnalyses used a 2022 cross-sectional survey dataset (N = 1,956). Logistic regression identified factors associated with pandemic suicidality (i.e., SI, SA). Non-treatment seekers reported barriers to seeking treatment. Logistic regression identified promotive factors associated with treatment-seeking. Results28.6% of our sample developed suicidality during the pandemic, of whom 49.6% did not seek treatment. Asian race and sexual minority status were strongly associated with increased odds of pandemic suicidality. Among SI non-treatment-seekers, barriers were primarily attitudinal (e.g., “symptoms are not serious enough for treatment”); among non-treatment-seekers with SA, barriers were mostly structural (e.g., insufficient funds). Previous depression treatment was strongly associated with increased odds of treatment-seeking. ConclusionAsian American individuals were at increased risk for pandemic suicidality, which may reflect interpersonal risks related to COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism. Our findings point to a “foot-in-the-door” effect: past treatment-seeking was positively associated with future treatment-seeking. To promote this effect and decrease barriers, we suggest integrated mental health screening and referrals in primary care.

Perception on hematology/oncology pharmacy practice and education needs in Nigeria: A national survey.

Nigeria is a low-middle income country located in sub-Saharan Africa. Although cancer burden has continued to increase over time, there is a lack of pharmacists who specialize in oncology providing pharmaceutical care. The objectives of this study were to understand the perception of hematology/oncology pharmacy practice in Nigeria as well as the unmet education needs. This is a cross-sectional survey conducted in December 2023. Pharmacists who were active members of various pharmacy organizations in Nigeria were invited to complete the survey. The survey focused on the perceptions of training needs in oncology pharmacy, current challenges and opportunities, as well as resources and support needed. Descriptive statistics were utilized for the data analysis. Of the 263 responders, the largest group fell between 25 and 34 years old (35%), over half received a Bachelor of Pharmacy as their highest degree (53%), and majority did not receive any oncology pharmacy training as part of their education (73%). Many respondents strongly agreed that pharmacists in Nigeria need specialized training to better serve cancer patients (79%). Cancer therapeutics and chemotherapy pharmacology were more prioritized compared to other training needs (mean (SD): 2.63(1.95) and 2.69(1.64), respectively). The main challenge that respondents faced was a lack of relevant skills and knowledge in oncology pharmacy (mean (SD): 2.23(1.53)). More than a fourth of the respondents were aware about the board certification process (28.8%), citing overcoming the cost barrier as the main obstacle for taking the board examination (mean (SD): 1.92 (1.38)). Respondents preferred online courses and onsite specialty training (75%) as the mode of training to address unmet needs. Despite the challenges and unmet education needs in hematology/oncology clinical practice, Nigerian pharmacists are very willing to expand their knowledge and improve their skills in patient care. The findings of this study can inform policy makers, healthcare administrators, and pharmacy educators in developing global partnerships among pharmacy organizations which employ targeted strategies like sponsorships to address such unmet needs.

Knowledge status of skin tear prevention and its demographic and occupational influencing factors: A National cross-sectional survey among nurses.

A skin tear (ST) is a common skin injury that is often misdiagnosed or overlooked. This study examined the current state of nurses' ST knowledge and its influencing factors. A national cross-sectional survey combined with a quantitative analysis was used to provide evidence of poor ST knowledge among nurses and its influencing factors. An electronic questionnaire survey was conducted among 1293 nurses from 32 hospitals in 18 provinces across China, including a General Information Questionnaire, ST Knowledge Assessment Instrument (OASES) and a Self-directed Learning Competence Scale for Nurses (SLCS-N). The mean OASES score was 9.51 ± 3.15, with a score rate of 47.55%. Pearson's correlation analysis showed positive correlations, ranging from none to strong, between every dimension in the OASES and from strong to extremely strong between every dimension in the SLCS-N. Multivariate analysis revealed multiple independent factors influencing ST knowledge, such as hospital tier, specialized nurses in wound/ostomy/incontinence care, participation in training for wound/ostomy/incontinence management, willingness to undergo ST training, self-assessed grade in ST care and the degree of emphasis of managers. ST knowledge status was generally poor among nurses nationwide. Managers should establish a comprehensive and specialized curriculum-based system, develop evidence-based standardized nursing processes, and provide tailored training programs to address nurses' unique characteristics and individualized needs, thereby enhancing their proficiency in ST-related knowledge and skills. This study is the first to identify a poor level of ST knowledge among nurses nationwide, particularly in the four dimensions of risk assessment: prevention, treatment, classification, and observation. Based on the findings regarding demographic factors and ST experiences, an integrated management system and educational program should be implemented to improve nurses' awareness and knowledge in this field. No patient or public contributions.

Determinants of the utilization of recognized traditional and complementary medicine service in Malaysia: a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional population-based survey.

The utilization of traditional and complementary medicine (T&amp;CM) services has witnessed a global increase over the past decades. Currently, seven practice areas are recognized in Malaysia: traditional Malay medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Indian medicine, homeopathy, Islamic medical practice, chiropractic, and osteopathy. Many global studies have investigated the general determinants of T&amp;CM service utilization. However, there has been no comprehensive study reporting specific determinants of recognized T&amp;CM service utilization. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and specific determinants of recognized T&amp;CM service utilization in Malaysia at a national level. This study is a secondary analysis of data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), a cross-sectional population-based survey conducted in Malaysia in 2015. A total of 6,207 respondents aged ≥18 years were included in this study. The associations of sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors with the utilization of the three T&amp;CM service categories (traditional Malay medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and other T&amp;CM) were examined using three separate logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of recognized T&amp;CM service utilization in the last 12 months was 19.3%, with 15.0% for traditional Malay medicine, 3.9% for traditional Chinese medicine, and 1.5% for other T&amp;CM. The determinants of traditional Malay medicine service utilization were female sex; age range of 18-29 years; married or widowed/divorced status; Malay, Indigenous or other ethnicities; high household income; and being overweight/obese. The determinants of traditional Chinese medicine service utilization were the age range of 30-49 years, urban residential location, Chinese ethnicity, and adequate fruit and vegetable intake. No specific determinants were identified for other T&amp;CM. This study provided novel evidence of a strong ethnocultural ownership towards traditional medicine. User profiles were distinctively different between varied T&amp;CM services. Customized approaches to regulate, develop, and institutionalize specific T&amp;CM services are crucial for fulfilling the unique needs of diverse communities.

Interest and its associations with university entrance grades, lecturers’ perceived support, and student dropout

AbstractMotivation decreases in higher education programs and is associated with dropout. Consequently, analyzing the development of motivation and subsequent student behavior is needed. We focused on factors that influence subject interest through the cognitive–rational aspect (university entrance grades) as well as the emotional aspect (perceived support from lecturers) and associated these variables with student dropout. We used data from 2301 co-op students in their first academic year collected by cross-sectional survey and university administration. We identified direct effects of interest, support, and university entrance grade on dropout rates and found that interest mediates lecturers’ perceived support and student dropout.

THE IMPACT OF EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCES ON EMPLOYEE JOB PERFORMANCE IN COMMERCIAL BANKS IN NUWARA-ELIYA DISTRICT

The workplace environment keeps on changing, indicating its dynamic nature as well as unpredictability. Organizations require its employees to be more committed as well as to have a better cohesive working interrelationship. Emotional intelligence (EI) and spiritual Intelligence (SI) are the most important concepts introduced to psychology and management in the last decade and individual job performance (JP) is highly important for an organization. Hence, there is a need to identify the influence of EI and SI on JP. In addition to that only few studies so far have been conducted to explore impact of EI and SI on JP of employees which show an empirical knowledge gap. Hence, the main aim of this study is to emphasize the impact of EI and SI on JP of employee. In this study EI and SI are independent variables and JP as dependent variable. EI has four dimensions and SI has three dimensions. A cross-sectional survey using structured questionnaire was used to collect data from to 165 employees in selected Commercial Banks in Nuwara-Eliya District and all the items in the independent and dependent variables were tested through reliability test to ensure the consistency of the scale. Univariate analysis was carried out and the results show employees have high level of contribution of EI and SI to determine the JP. The correlational analysis was carried out and the result indicated there was a medium positive relationship between SI and EI, EI and JP and also SI and JP. The multi linear regression analysis was carried out and the results revealed that EI and SI significantly and positively impact on JP of employees. Moreover the above stated empirical knowledge gap has been filled certain extent through this research findings in banking sector. KEYWORDS: emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, job performance

The relationship between loneliness and blood glucose: a cross-sectional survey among Japanese

Recently, researchers have uncovered a correlation between loneliness and both the development and management of diabetes. Nevertheless, previous studies employing an unvalidated loneliness questionnaire impair result accuracy. Furthermore, this aspect has not been researched in the Japanese population. Therefore, this cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Kanagawa prospective “ME-BYO” Cohort Study (ME-BYO cohort) to investigate the correlation between loneliness, as measured by 20 items on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and blood glucose levels. A total of 666 participants were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 54.1 years and a mean BMI of 23 kg/m2. Half of the participants had obtained an education level beyond high school. The mean household income and physical activity level were reported as 6.83 million Japanese yen and 12.3 METs-h/day, respectively. Model 1 of the linear regression analysis determined that there was no significant association between the loneliness scale and HbA1c (p = 0.512). After adjusting for age, gender, BMI (model 2), sitting time, physical activity level (model 3), housemates, household income, and final education (model 4), and controlling for social support, quality of life, and depression (model 5), the results showed no significant association, with a p-value of 0.823, 0.791, 0.792, and 0.816, respectively. Thus, the study found no link between loneliness and HbA1c in the high SES population. This finding contradicts previous results and may be attributed to the impact of population characteristics, SES status, or genetic backgrounds.

Psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Parenting Concerns Questionnaire in parents with cancer.

Parenting concerns can be a major source of distress for patients with cancer who are parents of dependent children; however, these are often not addressed in health care. The Parenting Concerns Questionnaire (PCQ) is an instrument designed to assess parents' worries about the impact of cancer on their children and their ability to parent during this time. The Swedish version of thePCQ has, however, not been evaluated. This study therefore aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the PCQ in a sample of Swedish parents with cancer. A sample of 336 patients with cancer having dependent children (≤18 years) were included in a cross-sectional web-based survey. Participants completed questionnaires assessing parenting concerns, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms (DASS); self-efficacy, family functioning (FAD-GF); and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Descriptive analyses, as well as reliability and validity analyses, were conducted followed by a confirmatory factor analysis of the factor structure proposed by the authors of the original version of the PCQ. The majority were mothers (94.9%) with breast cancer (66.4%) aged 40-50 years (59.5%). The results showed evidence for convergent, criterion, and known group's validity, but the original three-factor structure of the PCQ was not fully supported by confirmatory factor analysis. Evaluating parenting concerns may be an important step towards identifying patients who could benefit from targeted psychosocial interventions. However, the PCQ may require some further refinement to fully capture the breadth of parenting concerns in parents with cancer in different settings.

Service Robots Acceptance among Customers of Insurance Companies: An Application of Service Robot Acceptance Model

Drawing from the Service Robot Acceptance Model (sRAM), this paper investigates the acceptance of service robots among customers of Nepalese insurance companies. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 243 customers of insurance companies through purposive sampling. Hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). This paper found that Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Perceived Usefulness (PU), Subjective Social Norms (SSN), and Perceived Social Interactivity (PSI) significantly influence Customer Acceptance of Service Robots (CASR). Additionally, PEOU significantly influences PU, and SSN significantly influences PU. However, Perceived Humanness (PH), Perceived Social Presence (PSN), Rapport (RAP), and Trust (TR) do not significantly influence CASR. This paper provides a significant evidencebased framework for developers and managers to prioritise the functional aspects, social presence, and social interactivity of service robots in the Nepalese insurance companies. This paper is one of the pioneering studies to explain service robot acceptance among customers of insurance companies by applying the sRAM in the Nepalese context.

Associations of hypertension and antenatal care-seeking with perinatal mortality: A nested case-control study in rural Bangladesh.

Maternal hypertension may be an underrecognized but important risk factor for perinatal death in low resource settings. We investigated the association of maternal hypertension and perinatal mortality in rural Bangladesh. This nested, matched case-control study used data from a 2019 cross-sectional survey and demographic surveillance database in Baliakandi, Bangladesh. We randomly matched each pregnancy ending in perinatal death with five pregnancies in which the neonate survived beyond seven days based on maternal age, education, and wealth quintile. We estimated associations of antenatal care-seeking and self-reported hypertension with perinatal mortality using conditional logistic regression and used median and interquartile ranges to assess the mediation of antenatal care by timing or frequency. Among 191 cases and 934 matched controls, hypertension prevalence was 14.1% among cases and 7.7% among controls. Compared with no diagnosis, the probability of perinatal death was significantly higher among women with a pre-gestational hypertension diagnosis (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.29, 6.57), but not among women with diagnosis during pregnancy (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.98, 2.98). We found no association between the number of antenatal care contacts and perinatal death (p = 0.66). Among women with pre-gestational hypertension who experienced a perinatal death, 78% had their first antenatal contact in the sixth or seventh month of gestation. Hypertension was more common among rural women who experience a perinatal death. Greater effort to prevent hypertension prior to conception and provide early maternity care to women with hypertension could improve perinatal outcomes in rural Bangladesh.

Assessment of antimicrobial stewardship programmes and antibiotic use among children admitted to two hospitals in Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health concern and irrational use of antibiotics in hospitals is a key driver of AMR. Even though it is not preventable, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes will reduce or slow it down. Research evidence from Sierra Leone has demonstrated the high use of antibiotics in hospitals, but no study has assessed hospital AMS programmes and antibiotic use specifically among children. We conducted the first-ever study to assess the AMS programmes and antibiotics use in two tertiary hospitals in Sierra Leone.MethodsThis was a hospital-based cross-sectional survey using the World Health Organization (WHO) point prevalence survey (PPS) methodology. Data was collected from the medical records of eligible patients at the Ola During Children’s Hospital (ODCH) and Makeni Regional Hospital (MRH) using the WHO PPS hospital questionnaire; and required data collection forms. The prescribed antibiotics were classified according to the WHO Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) classification. Ethics approval was obtained from the Sierra Leone Ethics and Scientific Review Committee. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS version 22.ResultsBoth ODCH and MRH did not have the required AMS infrastructure; policy and practice; and monitoring and feedback mechanisms to ensure rational antibiotic prescribing. Of the 150 patients included in the survey, 116 (77.3%) were admitted at ODCH and 34 (22.7%) to MRH, 77 (51.3%) were males and 73 (48.7%) were females. The mean age was 2 years (SD=3.5). The overall prevalence of antibiotic use was 84.7% (95% CI: 77.9% – 90.0%) and 77 (83.8%) of the children aged less than one year received an antibiotic. The proportion of males that received antibiotics was higher than that of females. Most (58, 47.2 %) of the patients received at least two antibiotics. The top five antibiotics prescribed were gentamycin (100, 27.4%), ceftriaxone (76, 20.3%), ampicillin (71, 19.5%), metronidazole (44, 12.1%), and cefotaxime (31, 8.5%). Community-acquired infections were the primary diagnoses for antibiotic prescription.ConclusionThe non-existence of AMS programmes might have contributed to the high use of antibiotics at ODCH and MRH. This has the potential to increase antibiotic selection pressure and in turn the AMR burden in the country. There is need to establish hospital AMS teams and train health workers on the rational use of antibiotics.