Frequent Hand Washing Research Articles

Systematic characterization of the barrier function of diverse ex vivo models of damaged human skin

BackgroundThe skin barrier plays a crucial role in protecting our body against external agents. Disruption of this barrier’s function leads to increased susceptibility to infections and dermatological diseases. Damaged skin can be due to the use of detergents, sunburn or excessive scratching. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic the recommended hygiene measures to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as wearing masks, frequent handwashing, and the use of sanitizers, can also potentially alter the skin barrier.ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to characterize the barrier function of ex vivo models of damaged human skin.MethodsSkin barrier damage was induced through different chemical and mechanical treatments, representative of the potential factors damaging human skin. The skin barrier function was evaluated in terms of permeability, dermal absorption capacity, stratum corneum thickness and gene expression of barrier markers. As inflammation is linked to skin barrier integrity, inflammatory markers were also analyzed.Results and discussionThe different treatments applied to ex vivo skin models allow the simulation of diverse degrees of skin damage, making these models valuable for assessing the efficacy of topical products targeted at skin repair and for studying the effects of compromised skin barrier on viral penetration.

Assessment of the Level of Awareness and Knowledge of Covid-19 among rural population in Khulna, Bangladesh

Objective: The objective of the study was to find out level of Awareness and knowledge about covid-19 among rural population in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive type of study was carried out in Bathiaghata Upazilla, Khulna from 25.11.21 to 25.12.2021. Adult persons, 455 (male 181 and female 274) with mean age ± SD was 24 ±1.5 years, selected purposively from the households in the adjacent villages were included in the study as respondents. Results: Among the respondents, 97.4% heard about covid-19. Of them, 292 (71.6%) had knowledge that the disease is transmitted by cough, sneezing, direct contact and the proportion of the respondents who knew about symptoms like high fever, headache, cough, loss of taste and loss of smell were 50.1%, 16.7%,16% and 7.4%, respectively. Most of the respondents received health care services from MBBS doctors (87.3%). The majority of the respondent (76.5%) identified who heard about prevention of covid-19 by wearing mask, as a good preventive practice against covid-19 infection, followed by frequent hand washing (18.4%) which is eventually important for the prevention of covid-19. Conclusion: It was a unique study that describing adult heath related knowledge on covid-19 among adult population in a rural area. The study results suggest a further need to strengthen health education about covid-19 among rural population in Bangladesh. Mediscope 2024;11(2): 62-67

Fight the Flu: Protect Yourself and Others

As flu season approaches, it's crucial to take steps to protect yourself and those around you. The flu, a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus, can lead to severe complications, especially in young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. The best defense against the flu is vaccination. Flu vaccines are updated yearly to match circulating strains, reducing your chances of getting sick. Even if you catch the flu, the vaccine can lessen the severity of symptoms and prevent hospitalization. Different types of vaccines, such as standard-dose, high-dose, and adjuvanted vaccines, are tailored for various age groups, including children, adults, and seniors. In addition to vaccination, practicing good hygiene, like frequent handwashing, covering coughs, and staying home if sick, plays a crucial role in flu prevention. Together, these strategies form a strong defense against the flu, safeguarding communities during flu season.

The Relationship of Individual Characteristics and Farm Biosecurity Implementation with The Incident of Contact Dermatitis

Poultry workers risk contracting diseases due to physical or biological exposure. One such disease is contact dermatitis. This study aims to analyze the individual and the application of livestock biosecurity that can be associated with cases of contact dermatitis in cage workers. This study a descriptive-quantitative that uses a cross-sectional approach. The research was conducted at PT. X in June 2022. The sample of this study was 43 people who were taken through simple random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The results were then tested using Chi-Square and Odds Ratio (OR) with a Confidence Level of 95%. The study showed that two variables were associated with contact dermatitis, namely cage ventilation (OR= 5.45; 95% CI: 1.21 - 24.43; P=0,020) and frequency of hand washing (OR= 2.70; 95% CI: 2.57 - 282.99; P=0,001). Meanwhile, variables that were not significantly related were age (P=0.306), gender (P=0.206), length of work (p=0.698), floor (P=1.000), and PPE usage (P=0.245). Poor environmental quality and personal hygiene practices could affect contact dermatitis in workers. Therefore, efforts are needed, such as occupational safety and health education for workers, routine health checks, and environmental inspections at PT. X.

Impact of COVID-19 health precautions on asymptomatic Streptococcus pyogenes carriage in palestinian children: a pre- and post-pandemic study

BackgroundStreptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) is a significant pathogen that causes diverse infections, ranging from pharyngitis to severe invasive diseases. Asymptomatic carriage in children is pivotal for transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic’s health measures, including mask wearing and enhanced hand hygiene, likely influenced GAS transmission dynamics. This study evaluated the impact of these precautions on the prevalence of asymptomatic pharyngeal GAS carriage among schoolchildren in the southern West Bank, Palestine.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases: pre-COVID-19 (November 2019–January 2020) and post-COVID-19 (November 2023–April 2024). Throat swabs were collected from 701 children (345 pre-COVID-19, 356 post-COVID-19) via cluster sampling. The samples were tested with the ABON Strep A rapid test and confirmed by culture. Sociodemographic, health, and household data were also collected. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression.ResultsThe prevalence of asymptomatic pharyngeal GAS carriage declined from 15.7% pre-COVID-19 to 10.4% post-COVID-19 (p = 0.038). Significant reductions were observed among urban residents (23.5–10.1%, p = 0.003) and those from medium socioeconomic backgrounds (16.0–9.1%, p = 0.008). Compared with urban residents, rural residents had lower GAS carriage rates (adjusted OR = 0.505, p = 0.023). Carriage rates also decreased among children with frequent sore throats (17.6–7.3%, p = 0.007) and those using private wells (52.5–14.9%, p < 0.001). Higher BMI was a significant risk factor (adjusted OR = 17.68, p < 0.001), whereas frequent tooth brushing (adjusted OR = 0.055, p < 0.001) and hand washing (adjusted OR = 0.367, p < 0.001) were protective factors.ConclusionsCOVID-19-related health precautions were correlated with a significant reduction in asymptomatic GAS carriage among Palestinian children. These findings suggest that public health measures, such as mask wearing and hand hygiene, can influence the transmission of respiratory pathogens. Ongoing surveillance and targeted interventions are essential for managing GAS infections, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Challenges and Related Interventions Being Practiced by the Employees of a Tertiary Care Centre Amidst the Lockdown Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction The lockdown to curb COVID-19 pandemic has affected day-to-day life of the public. The people faced many challenges in their daily life and took various measures to overcome them. Objective To explore challenges being faced by the employees of tertiary care centre during the lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic and various interventions undertaken by them to overcome those issues. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted in the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to enrol 151 class III and IV employees of a tertiary care hospital. The data was collected using a questionnaire comprising of socio-demographic profile sheet and questions regarding health-related challenges, preventive practices and the effect of lockdown on basic life activities of the employees of tertiary care Institute during COVID-19 pandemic. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee and written informed consent was taken from each participant. Results During lockdown, there was an increase in food intake, weight, duration of physical activity, frequency of bathing and changing clothes, involvement in household chores and time spent with children. However, there was no significant change in the sleeping patterns and sexual activity of the participants. They faced various difficulties in medical consultation of non-covid issues, could not procure medicines and skipped vaccinations of their children. The findings also show that people practiced various measures such as herbal and home remedies increased their frequency and duration of hand-washing and sanitisation and started wearing personal protective equipment to some extent to prevent transmission of COVID-19 infection. Conclusion and Recommendations The imposition of lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection affected the basic lifestyle of people and changed their behaviours. The people faced many difficulties in accessing healthcare services.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Occupational Contact Dermatitis in Healthcare Workers

&lt;div class="WordSection1"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is prevalent among healthcare workers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Symptoms include dryness, itchiness, and redness, with hands being the most affected. Risk factors include frequent hand washing, increased glove use, allergies, and lack of health and safety training. This review emphasizes the need for targeted prevention strategies and awareness programs.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; We conducted a systematic review using PubMed, focusing on studies involving healthcare workers and OCD. Keywords included "occupational contact dermatitis," "contact dermatitis," "healthcare workers," and "risk factors for OCD." Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire, including the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2002).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Result:&lt;/strong&gt; The review included 2,706 healthcare workers. Hand dermatitis was the most common, affecting 22% of participants. Key risk factors were a personal history of allergies, frequent hand washing, high glove usage, and insufficient health and safety training.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; This review identifies significant risk factors for OCD among healthcare workers, highlighting the need for interventions focused on reducing hand washing frequency, managing glove use, and improving health and safety training.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Hand Carriage of Yeast in Student of Medicine, Nursing, and Medical Laboratory Science: Impact of Infection Control Measures.

We studied yeast hand carriage of 260 healthcare students. We isolated yeasts in 27 students (10.4%), without differences between medicine, nursing, and medical laboratory science programs and gender. A significant lower prevalence of carriage was shown in the clinical cycle (2.7%) compared to the basic cycle (13.5%) (p = 0.022) and the preclinical cycle (13.5%) (p = 0.014). Increased handwashing frequency and the use of alcohol gel and antiseptic soap decreased yeast carriage. Students who applied moisturizing hand cream two or more times a day had a lower frequency of yeast carriage (3.4%) than those who did not use it or used it once a day (16.5%), showing a significant difference (p = 0.016). The most prevalent species was C. parapsilosis sensu stricto (81.5%), followed by Meyerozyma guilliermondii (C. guillermondii) (7.4%), Trichosporon mucoides (7.4%), and R. mucilagenosa (3.7%). One case showed mixed carriage of C. parapsilosis and C. albicans. All strains were sensitive to voriconazole, caspofungin, and anidulafungin. This study shows hand carriage of yeast in health students, mainly by C. parapsilosis, and the frequency of infection control measures and moisturizing hand cream is associated with colonization control.

Caring for Your Skin in the Birth Room

Amidst the flurry of providing maternity care, your skincare maybe overlooked. Daily skin-stressors can include dehydration from long hours, environments, mask-irritation, stress, poor eating and frequent hand washing.1 This article provides tips for you as midwives to take care of your skin at work.

Psychological and psychosocial determinants of COVID-related handwashing behaviours: A systematic review.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has resulted in illness, deaths and societal disruption on a global scale. Societies have implemented various control measures to reduce transmission of the virus and mitigate its impact. Individual behavioural changes are crucial to the successful implementation of these measures. One commonly recommended measure to limit risk of infection is frequent handwashing. It is important to identify those factors that can predict the uptake and maintenance of handwashing. We aimed to identify and synthesise the evidence on malleable psychological and psychosocial factors that determine uptake and adherence to handwashing aimed at reducing the risk of infection or transmission of COVID-19. We searched various literature sources including electronic databases (Medline ALL, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, ERIC, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Web of Science), web searches, conference proceedings, government reports, other repositories of literature and grey literature. The search strategy was built around three concepts of interest including (1) context (terms relating to COVID-19), (2) behaviour of interest and (3) terms related to psychological and psychosocial determinants of COVID Health-Related Behaviours and adherence or compliance with handwashing, to capture malleable determines. Searches capture studies up until October 2021. Eligibility criteria included observational studies (both retrospective and prospective) and experimental studies that measure and report malleable psychological and psychosocial determinants and handwashing at an individual level, amongst the general public. Screening was supported by the Cochrane Crowd. Titles and abstracts were screened against the eligibility criteria by three independent screeners. Following this, all potentially relevant studies were screened at full-text level by the research team. All conflicts between screeners were resolved by discussion between the core research team. All data extraction was managed in EPPI-Reviewer software. All eligible studies, identified through full-text screening were extracted by one author. We extracted data on study information, population, determinant, behaviour and effects. A second author checked data extraction on 20% of all included papers. All conflicts were discussed by the two authors until consensus was reached.We assessed methodological quality of all included studies using an adapted version of the Joanna Briggs Institute Quality appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies. Our initial searches yielded 23,587 results, of which 56 studies were included in this review. The included studies were cross sectional in design, came from 22 countries and had a combined sample of 199,376 participants. The vast majority of studies had samples from the general public, with eight of the studies focusing on specific samples. All included studies considered people over the age of 18. The quality of the majority of the studies was good (n = 30 rated low risk of bias), with 8 rated high risk of bias, predominately due to lack of reporting of recruitment, sample characteristics and methodology. Thirty-four studies were included in the narrative synthesis and 28 in the meta-analysis.Findings indicated that emotions about COVID-19 (worry [0.381, confidence interval [CI] = 0.270-0.482, I 2 = 92%) and anxiety (0.308, CI = 0.154-0.448, I 2 = 91%]), knowledge of COVID-19 (0.323, CI = 0.223-0.417, I 2 = 94%), and perceived social norms (0.303, CI = 0.184-0.413, I 2 = 92%) were among the malleable determinants most associated with handwashing. Perceived severity (0.006, CI = -0.011-0.023) and susceptibility of COVID-19 (0.041, CI = -0.034 to 0.115) had little to no effect on handwashing behaviour. Understanding the effects of various malleable determinants on COVID-related handwashing can aid in the development and implementation of interventions and public health campaigns to promote handwashing behaviour in potential new waves of COVID-19 or other respiratory infections. Emotions about COVID, knowledge of COVID and perceived social norms warrant further consideration in future research and policy.

Home Remedy Practices Among Stay-at-Home COVID-19 Patients in Bangladesh

During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh lacked treatments and immunizations, so patients used several home remedies to heal themselves. This study was conducted among stay-at-home COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh to determine their awareness of the disease and establish correlations between COVID-19 symptoms and the use of home remedies. This is a cross-sectional study that employed a convenient sampling technique. Primary data were collected using a convenient sampling technique from various demographic bases. Data were gathered through 70 face-to-face interviews and an online survey with 276 participants using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were from different regions and districts of Bangladesh. In total, 346 respondents participated in the study from May to August 2021. Nearly equal numbers of males and females of various ages participated. More than half of the participants were aged 21–30. Dhaka had the highest participation rate (82%). The study found that 95% of people were aware of the need to consult a doctor, and 99% of participants took the COVID-19 test. 46% of the participants were isolated for 1–2 weeks. Fever, dry cough, loss of smell, tiredness and fatigue, and aches and pains were the most commonly reported symptoms. 77% of the study's participants checked their O2 saturation level daily. Participants with and without various comorbid diseases used home remedies, like drinking honey-ginger tea, taking vapors or steam, eating more citrus fruits, frequent hand washing, etc. In Bangladesh, home remedies such as citrus fruits, honey-ginger tea, steam inhalation, hand washing, and mask usage were common among stay-at-home COVID-19 patients due to limited medical access. Despite seeking medical advice and testing, patients still prefer home care. This study emphasizes the need to understand these patterns and conduct further research to evaluate efficacy and inform policy development.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Carriage Among Cutting Specialties at the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center

Objective: To determine the point prevalence of, and risk factors associated with MRSA carriage among resident physicians of surgical departments at the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center. Methods: Design: Cross-sectional Study Setting: Tertiary Government Training Hospital Participants:51 resident physicians from different surgical departments (general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology – head and neck surgery and dermatology) underwent nasal and pharyngeal swabs with microbial culture and sensitivity testing to identify MRSA carriers. Fisher Exact Test and logistic regression were utilized to determine associations between MRSA carriage and various risk factors including frequency of hand washing and departmental affiliation. Results: Overall prevalence rate of MRSA carriage was 9.8%. Otorhinolaryngology residents had the highest combined prevalence of MRSA of 42.9%, significantly higher compared to other departments and were used as a reference in logistic regression analyses. Notably, handwashing only once daily was associated with a 20-fold increase in the risk of MRSA carriage (OR 20.5, 95% CI: 1.82 to 230, p = .014). Other departments did not demonstrate statistically significant differences in MRSA carriage rates. Conclusions: Otorhinolaryngology resident physicians had the highest combined prevalence of MRSA and nasal MRSA was found only in otorhinolaryngology residents. The surgical subspecialty and frequency of handwashing of the healthcare worker were identified as important risk factors to develop MRSA carriage. Targeted interventions (including enhanced infection control protocols and regular screening) are needed especially in high-risk departments.

7 - Exploring COVID-19 Lockdowns in Nigeria, South Africa and Botswana

The coronavirus-19 (Covid-19) pandemic has impacted the world in unprecedented ways. To contain the virus, countries across the world had to implement lockdowns and other Covid-19-related protocols, which included physical distancing, frequent handwashing, wearing masks and restricting the movement of people. Although literature on the impact of Covid-19 is emerging, it is still relatively unknown how countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) dealt with lockdowns. Applying nudge theory to three case studies— Nigeria, South Africa and Botswana—this paper explores the viability of Covid-19 lockdowns in SSA. The three cases shed light on the dynamics of Covid-19 lockdowns across different contexts in SSA. The paper argues that lockdowns were not ideal for regions like SSA, which has one of the world’s poorest populations. Nudging people’s behaviour in an effort to protect them from harm should, we submit, consider their socioeconomic context. More importantly, there is a need to decolonise, adapt and domesticate Western- style interventions like Covid-19 lockdowns to suit different situations. To this end, the paper provides some critical insights into the experience of lockdowns with some policy implications for future pandemics on the African continent and other parts of the global South.

#2805 The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on personal hygiene behaviours and the frequency of peritonitis in patients with peritoneal dialysis

Abstract Background and Aims Peritonitis is the most important complication encountered in patients with Peritoneal Dialysis (PD). It is very important to follow the rules of personal hygiene to prevent peritonitis. The COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) epidemic has led to the improvement of personal hygiene behaviours. In this study, we aimed to show the awareness created by the COVID-19 pandemic on personal hygiene behaviours in PD patients and to investigate the effect on the incidence of peritonitis. Method Fifty-two PD patients were included in our study. The personal hygiene behaviours of the patients were evaluated with a questionnaire consisting of 15 questions. The medical history, chronic diseases, height, weight and educational status of each patient were questioned. In addition, the averages of complete blood count and biochemical values of the patients before and after COVID-19 were noted and compared. The culture results of the patients who had peritonitis and the microorganisms grown were noted. Results Demographic characteristics of patients are summarized in Table 1. A significant difference was found in 11 personal hygiene behaviours, especially in the frequency of hand washing after the COVID-19 pandemic (p &amp;lt; 0.05). After the pandemic, there was a decrease in the rates of peritonitis, but no significant difference could be reached (22 (42.9%) vs. 7 (13.5%) peritonitis rates, p &amp;lt; 0.05). A decrease was also observed in gram (+) peritonitis case rates (Table 2). After the pandemic, the frequency of hand washing before attaching the transfer set (p = 0.014) and the frequency of daily/every other day dressing of the exit site (p = 0.026) were found to be higher in those who did not have peritonitis. Conclusion Due to a significant improvement in personal hygiene behaviours after the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in the rates of peritonitis and infection with gram (+) microorganisms was observed. In our study, it has been shown that the frequency of hand washing before attaching the transfer set and daily/every other day dressing of the exit site reduce the risk of peritonitis. Trainings for improving personal hygiene behaviours in PD patients should be expanded.

Are the Increased Frequency of Hand Washing After the COVID-19 Pandemic and Xerosis on the Hands Associated with the Occurrence of Hand Warts?

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed hand-washing habits. Exposure to water more frequently and time than normal causes dryness, dermatitis, and damage to the skin barrier. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the frequency and duration of exposure to water on the hands, obsession with hand washing, and warts on the hands. Material and Method: A questionnaire was administered to hand warts group (n=94), plantar warts group (n=46), and healthy volunteers (n=30) questioning the factors that predispose to wart formation, hygiene behaviors, hand moisturizing habits, and hand washing obsession. The presence of warts, localization, number, and clinical type, presence of xerosis, and hand dermatitis were recorded. Data from the hand warts group were compared with control groups of healthy volunteers with plantar warts. Results: The total exposure time of the hands to water per day was significantly higher in hand warts group than in the plantar warts group and healthy ones (

"Spanish flu," encephalitis lethargica, and COVID-19: Progress made, lessons learned, and directions for future research.

One hundred years ago, an influenza pandemic swept across the globe that coincided with the development of a neurological condition, named "encephalitis lethargica" for the occurrence of its main symptom, the sudden onset of sleepiness that either developed into coma or gradually receded. Between 1917 and 1920, mortality of the flu was >20 million and of encephalitis lethargica approximately 1 million. For lessons to be learned from this pandemic, it makes sense to compare it with the COVID-19 pandemic, which occurred 100 years later. Biomedical progress had enabled testing, vaccinations, and drug therapies accompanied by public health measures such as social distancing, contact tracing, wearing face masks, and frequent hand washing. From todays' perspective, these public health measures are time honored but not sufficiently proven effective, especially when applied in the context of a vaccination strategy. Also, the protective effects of lockdowns of schools, universities, and other institutions and the restrictions on travel and personal visits to hospitals or old-age homes are not precisely known. Preparedness is still a demand for a future pandemic. Clinical trials should determine the comparative effectiveness of such public health measures, especially for their use as a combination strategy with vaccination and individual testing of asymptomatic individuals. It is important for neurologists to realize that during a pandemic the treatment possibilities for acute stroke and other neurological emergencies are reduced, which has previously led to an increase of mortality and suffering. To increase preparedness for a future pandemic, neurologists play an important role, as the case load of acute and chronic neurological patients will be higher as well as the needs for rehabilitation. Finally, new chronic forms of postviral disease will likely be added, as was the case for postencephalitic parkinsonism a century ago and now has occurred as long COVID.

Perceptions and compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures in Southern and Central regions of Mozambique: A quantitative in-person household survey in the districts of Manhiça and Quelimane.

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted countries to swiftly implement rigorous preventive measures on a population-wide scale worldwide. However, in low-income countries like Mozambique this was difficult, coupled with a generalised lack of knowledge on how the population understood and complied with these measures. This study assessed community perceptions and implementation of anti-COVID-19 measures recommended by Mozambican authorities in Manhiça and Quelimane districts, including confinement, social distancing, frequent handwashing, mask wearing, and quarantine as the key practices to evaluate. We conducted a cross-sectional quantitative survey in October 2020 and February 2021, interviewing heads of households, face-to-face. The data collected included self-evaluation of compliance and existence of handwashing facilities and face-masks in the households, aided by observations. We present descriptive statistics on perceptions and compliance at individual and household levels. Out of the 770 participants, nearly all (98.7%) were aware of Coronavirus disease, including the term COVID-19 (89.2%). Knowledge varied between districts, with Manhiça participants showing higher levels of sufficient ability to define the disease. The symptoms most mentioned were dry cough (17.8%), fever (15.7%), flu-like symptoms (14.2%), breathing difficulties (13.6%), and headache (13.1%). Participants recognized various transmission modes, including touching infected objects and inhaling infected air. Preventive measures like handwashing with soap or sanitizing hands with alcohol, wearing masks, and social distancing were acknowledged, but the understanding varied. Compliance with these measures was generally low, with fewer than half of respondents reporting adherence to them. Only 30.4% of households had handwashing facilities (of which only 41.0% had water), and masks were often limited to one per person aged 6 years or more. Community members in Manhica and Quelimane were aware of COVID-19 but had limited understanding of what the preventive measures meant, and had lower levels of compliance. Understanding and addressing the factors affecting the proper implementation of these measures is crucial for improving community adherence in preventing infectious diseases with epidemic potential.

Understanding covid-19 prevention behaviours: Implications for social and health marketers for the prevention of future pandemics

From the integrative perspectives of the health belief model and social influence theories, the study sought to identify factors social and health marketers should focus on to elicit voluntary change in behavior toward the performance of COVID-19 infection prevention behaviors such as frequent handwashing with soap, social distancing, and avoidance of handshaking using mixed method approach. The quantitative data from 605 respondents through structured questionnaires were analyzed using PLS-SEM. The qualitative data through five focus group discussions were also analyzed using thematic analysis. The result shows that religiosity and trust in traditional medicine are the major factors contributing to the lack of severity and susceptibility to the coronavirus. The result further shows informational and normative social influencers as significant mediators between the constructs of the HBM and the performance of the COVID-19 protocols, suggesting that these influencers play a significant role in achieving the performance of the recommended behaviors.

Case Study of Conjunctivitis : A Comprehensive Review

Eye flu, commonly known as conjunctivitis, is an infectious condition affecting the inner surface of the eyelids and the outermost layer of the eye. It is characterized by redness, itching, and discharge. Viral or bacterial agents, as well as allergens, can trigger this inflammation. While typically not severe It can spread by direct or indirect touch and is very contagious. Proper hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding touching the eyes, helps prevent transmission. It is advised to consult a healthcare provider in order to receive an accurate diagnosis and suitable therapy.

Risk perception and food safety practices among Slovenian pet owners: does raw meat feeding of pets make a difference?

Commercially produced and home-made raw meat-based pet diets are becoming increasingly popular and have been recognised as an emerging public health risk by the European Food Safety Authority. The aim of this study was to investigate risk perceptions and self-reported pet food preparation practices in the home setting among pet owners who feed raw meat-based diet to pets. An online questionnaire was distributed to pet owners through social media groups. Ultimately, 750 respondents were included in the detailed analysis, divided into two subgroups, a “raw group” consisted of pet owners who provided raw meat-based diets for pets (n = 382), while the “conventional group” consisted of pet owners who did not (n = 368). There was no significant difference between the two groups in overall risk perception. Only one third of respondents in both groups were aware of the potentially fatal consequences of food poisoning. Self-reported frequency of hand washing, and surface cleaning, were significantly higher (p = 0.000) in the raw group than the conventional group. Food safety malpractices were noted in the raw feeding group, with 47% reporting to rinsing raw peat meat before preparing it, and 42% thawing frozen raw peat meat at room temperature on the kitchen counter. The results provide information on the prevalence of feeding raw meat to pets among Slovenian pet owners and provides the basis for developing tailored food safety education campaigns to improve risk awareness and provide food safety recommendations for pet owners providing raw meat-based diets for pets in Slovenia.