General Health Issues Research Articles

Mental Health Literacy Reduces Mental Disorder Stigma in Society

The general background mental health issues remain a major global health challenge, including in Indonesia, where mental illness is often stigmatized. Specific background mental illness stigma is prevalent in society, manifesting in negative attitudes towards individuals with mental disorders, thus affecting their acceptance and treatment. Knowledge gap there is limited research exploring the relationship between mental health literacy and mental illness stigma within community settings in Indonesia. This study aims to investigate the correlation between mental health literacy and mental disorder stigma among residents of a selected community. Results the findings reveal a significant negative correlation between mental health literacy and mental disorder stigma, indicating that higher levels of mental health literacy are associated with lower levels of stigma. Novelty this study contributes to the limited body of knowledge by demonstrating that improving mental health literacy can effectively reduce mental disorder stigma in community settings. Implications these results suggest that public health interventions focusing on mental health education may help reduce stigmatization, fostering a more supportive environment for individuals with mental health disorders, which may ultimately lead to better access to mental health services and outcomes. Highlights: Higher mental health literacy lowers mental disorder stigma. Stigma reduction improves mental health support in communities. Public health education can reduce mental disorder misconceptions. Keywords: Mental Health, Mental Disorder, Stigma, Community Attitudes, Education

Is Trending Social Media Platforms a Newfangled Language of Oral Health Promotion? A Short Communication

Abstract The global oral healthcare system faces significant challenges, including disparities in access to services and facilities along with a widespread lack of awareness about different preventive measures. The phrase “social media” describes a wide range of online platforms and software that let users interact, share, communicate, and explore. A sizable number of people now use social media applications. It has long been used to increase public awareness of general health issues. It has also gained acceptance in the dental sector in the last few years. It has been widely used as a tool for teledentistry and to disseminate oral health knowledge and information. This study emphasizes different digital media tools that can raise comprehensive oral health knowledge and the benefits and drawbacks of doing so along with discussing the significance of social media in endorsing oral health awareness among the population.

Oral lesions in patients consuming different types of smokeless tobacco. A literature review.

Introduction: Smokeless tobacco (ST) is widely consumed around the world, with products such as gutkha and paan masala being particularly common. These products typically contain areca nut, which is known for its carcinogenic properties and negative effects on oral health. In addition, tobacco is a key ingredient in ST and has been linked to a range of general and dental health issues, particularly among younger populations. Objetive: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the harmful effect of ST in the oral health. Method: A bibliographic search was conducted based on a sistematic review of articles published between January 2009 and March 2023, aided by PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar search engines. Results: Some studies have shown that ST and areca nut components can be particularly dangerous for people with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Additionally, tobacco has a significant impact on periodontal and dental health, with pathological lesions that may lead to malignant disorders. Peer pressure and stress are common reasons for ST addiction. As such, promoting the intention to quit this habit should be repeatedly emphasized to avoid the negative consequences of these products. Conclusion: the consumption of tobacco has taken a huge toll around the world with its frequency and health consequences. The widespread of ST products such as gutkha and paan masala has affected all age groups. These are responsible for many repercussions that are harmful to health.

Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Japanese Peacekeepers Deployed in South Sudan

Peacekeepers in United Nations missions experience potentially traumatic events, resulting in increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding the course and risk factors of PTSD symptom severity is crucial to ensure personnel safety. To investigate the incidence of PTSD, symptom severity trajectories, and potential risk factors associated with adverse trajectories among Japanese peacekeepers deployed in South Sudan. Data for this 6-year prospective cohort study were collected from December 2011 to December 2018 from Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel deployed at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, corresponding to before and up to 78 months after deployment. Of 3799 potential participants, 80 were excluded because of multiple deployments and 757 because of missing data, incomplete responses, or not providing informed consent. Therefore, 2962 participants were included in the analysis. Data analysis was performed from February 2022 to February 2024. The participants were deployed to United Nations Mission in South Sudan for 6 months. The 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised was used to assess PTSD symptoms, with 25 or more points indicating probable PTSD (p-PTSD). Sociodemographic data were collected, and the 30-item General Health Questionnaire was administered before deployment to identify risk factors for PTSD symptom severity. In the 2962 participants studied (2901 [97.9%] male; mean [SD] age, 33.9 [7.2] years), the incidence of p-PTSD was 3.95%. Latent growth mixture models identified 4 symptom severity trajectories: resilient (2143 [72.3%]), recovery (479 [16.2%]), protracted (182 [6.1%]), and delayed (158 [5.3%]). Multinomial logistic regression showed that sleep disturbance was a common risk factor for the 2 most severe trajectories (protracted: odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% CI, 1.08-1.54; delayed: OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03-1.53), whereas older age (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.06-1.48), anxiety and dysphoria (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.20-1.75), and general illness (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06-1.59) were associated with the protracted trajectory. This cohort study found that approximately 4% of the participants developed p-PTSD and identified 4 distinct PTSD symptom trajectories. The findings suggest that addressing sleep disturbance and general health issues could effectively prevent PTSD symptoms among peacekeepers.

Association between depression severity, mental health recovery and dropout from behavioral health care treatment

BackgroundUnderstanding the relationship between depression severity, patient recovery, and treatment continuity may help optimize the delivery of behavioral health services. MethodsUsing Cox proportional hazards regression, this study measures the association between treatment dropout and baseline depression severity, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the association between treatment dropout and baseline recovery, as measured by the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS). The study also explores heterogeneity by service line (general mental health, substance use disorder, and eating disorder), residential versus intermediate level of care setting, age groups (adolescent and adult), and dropout factors. The data include 14,689 patients treated at a multi-state behavioral health care provider, discharged between 2021 and 2022. Premature dropout from behavioral health care treatment for any cause, patient factors and administrative factors were used as separate outcomes. FindingsA unit increase in baseline PHQ-9 was associated with a 1.2% reduced treatment dropout risk (hazard ratio (HR): 0.988; 95% confidence interval [0.983–0.992]). A unit increase in baseline RAS score was associated with 0.5% increased dropout likelihood (HR: 1.005; 95% CI [1.004, 1.007]). Subgroup analyses show associations are driven by general mental health, adolescent, and intermediate level of care subgroups. Patients with higher baseline suicidality and lower willigness to ask for helphad a reduced risk of dropout. InterpretationPatients with greater depression severity and lower recovery scores at admission were more likely to stay in behavioral health treatment, especially among adolescents, patients with general mental health issues, and outpatients.

A Cross-sectional Study of Anemia Among Medical Students and its Impact on Learning, Physical and Emotional Well-being

Objective: To measure the prevalence of anemia and its effect on physical activity, learning skills and social, emotional impact in medical students. Background: Anemia is a general health issue which severely affects young adults during an intense growth period. The vast nature of medical curriculum demands hard efforts and hectic study schedule medical students at risk of anemia due to irregular eating habits which affects their learning skills and physical activity. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students (1st year and 2nd year) of Hazrat Bari Sarkar (HBS) Medical College), Islamabad, by administering a structured questionnaire. This was a year study from August 2023 to July 2024. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, along with venous blood samples. An automated hematology analyzer located in the Department of Pathology was used to measure hemoglobin. Data Analysis was performed by appropriate statistical tests, and statistical significance was set at P-values <0.05. Conclusion: More than half the students in our medical school were anemic and had a negative impact on their learning, physical and social well-being. This could possibly be due to their poor eating habits. The memory and academic performance of students can be improved by correction of anemia.

Leveraging LLM: Implementing an Advanced AI Chatbot for Healthcare

Using the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) in healthcare settings, mainly focusing on addressing general illness inquiries through chatbot interfaces. Leveraging the capabilities of LLMs, explore their potential to provide accurate and contextually relevant responses to users seeking information about common health concerns. LLM have the capacity continuously learn and improve from user interaction. Through benchmarking experiments, this paper evaluates the accuracy (61%) of LLM-based chatbots in understanding and responding to user queries related to general illnesses. The findings demonstrate the performance of LLMs against established benchmarks, shedding light on their efficacy in healthcare applications. By examining the intersection of LLM technology and healthcare, this research contributes to advancing the development of intelligent chatbot systems capable of providing reliable and informative support to individuals seeking medical guidance for general health issues.

Mental Health Among Hypertensive People and its Associated Factors: Findings From RISKESDAS 2018 Data

This study aims to investigate the complex relationship between general mental health issues, specifically depression, and hypertension, and to identify associated factors among individuals affected by these conditions in Indonesia. Using data from the Indonesia National Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS) in 2018, the study included a large sample of 88,590 individuals aged 30−59 with hypertension from various provinces and districts across Indonesia. The findings show that 11.5% of hypertensive individuals in the 30−59 age range in Indonesia experience general mental health problems, including common mental disorders, while 7.0% exhibit symptoms of depression. Importantly, individuals with multiple coexisting health conditions are more susceptible to mental health issues. Furthermore, factors such as female gender, lower educational attainment, unmarried status, unemployment, physician-diagnosed hypertension, and the presence of other concurrent health conditions are identified as contributors to an increased likelihood of experiencing general mental health problems and depression. Finally, this study emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health concerns among individuals dealing with hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in Indonesia, with a particular focus on those with lower educational levels, unmarried status, and unemployment.

In vitro comparative study of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Spondias mombim leaves, stem bark and charcoal on Streptococcus mutans

Plants are increasingly explored for their potential as antimicrobial agents. Spondias mombin plants have been used in folkloric medicine in the treatment of dental health and general health issues.

Variation in Dynamic Postural Control with Hip Strength Deficit in Young Adults

Background: Balance is a critical component of human movement and stability, particularly in young adults. The relationship between hip muscle strength and dynamic postural control, as measured by the Y Balance Test (YBT), has been the subject of various studies, yet the extent of this correlation remains not fully understood. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the variation in dynamic postural control with hip strength deficits in young adults. It sought to understand the correlation between hip muscle strength and dynamic balance, as well as to explore gender differences in balance performance. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 60 medical students from Akhtar Saeed Medical and Dental College, Lahore, aged 18-35 years. Participants with no lower extremity ailments or general health issues were included. The Y Balance Test and Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) were used for data collection. Strength was graded manually, and balance was assessed through the YBT, which involved forward, medial backward, and lateral backward movements. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0, with the Mann-Whitney U test applied to assess significant differences. Results: The study revealed significant gender differences in YBT scores, with males showing greater composite reach distances in both dominant (Mean Rank: Males = 46.05, Females = 23.29, P = .00) and non-dominant sides (Mean Rank: Males = 44.95, Females = 23.80, P = .00). However, no significant differences were observed in the YBT scores across grades 4 and 5 in various hip muscle groups (P > 0.05 in all comparisons). Conclusion: The study confirms significant gender differences in dynamic postural control but does not establish a strong correlation between hip muscle strength and balance performance. These findings suggest that other factors, such as training and physical attributes, may play a more significant role in balance. This research contributes to the understanding of balance dynamics in young adults and can guide the development of targeted training and rehabilitation programs.

Analysis of Value Chain of Cow Milk: The Case of Itang Special Woreda, Gambella, Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a long and rich history of dairy farming, which was mostly carried out by small and marginal farmers who raised cattle, camels, goats, and sheep, among other species, for milk. Finding the Itang Special Woreda cow milk value chain is the study's main goal. In order to gather primary data, 204 smallholder dairy farmer households were randomly selected, and the market concentration ratio was calculated using 20 traders. Descriptive statistics, econometric models, and rank analysis were used to achieve the above specified goals. Out of all the participants in the milk value chain, producers, cafés, hotels, and dairy cooperatives had the largest gross marketing margins, accounting for 100% of the consumer price in channels I and II, 55% in channels III and V, and 25.5% in channels V. The number of children under five, the number of milking cows owned, the amount of money from non-dairy sources, the frequency of extension service contacts, the amount of milk produced each day, and the availability of market information were found to have an impact on smallholders' involvement in the milk market. Numerous obstacles also limited the amount of milk produced and marketed. The poll claims that general health issues, sickness, predators, and a lack of veterinary care are plaguing farmers. In order to address the issue of milk perishability, the researchers recommended the host community and organization to construct an agro milk processor, renovate the dairy cooperative in the study region, and restructure the current conventional marketing to lower the transaction and cost of milk marketing.

A critical qualitative content analysis of media representations of underrepresented groups in the context of health identity

Information accuracy is imperative for the media representation regardless of what information or context is. A variety of health-related information is conveyed to viewers through television news and entertainment programs, which include but not restrict to the information about healthcare structure and health professionals, knowledge regarding general health issues, specific illnesses, or topics, and health-promoting behaviors. It is crucial to examine what messages viewers perceive through television programs given the impact on their perceptions, expectations, and actions in reality. Apart from the portrayal of health information, the framing of characters within a context can significantly contribute to the understanding of how exposure to media influences viewers’ lives. By conducting a critical content analysis, this qualitative study has explored media portrayals of individuals from underrepresented groups within the context of health in a fictional medical television drama. The findings provide a critical understanding of media exposure on how viewers perceive the social positioning of underrepresented groups in the context of health identity. Portrayals of underrepresented groups are understood through the discourses of condescension, cultural appropriation, stereotyping, and negativity.

Assessing non-right-handedness and atypical cerebral lateralisation as predictors of paediatric mental health difficulties.

Research utilising handedness as a proxy for atypical language lateralisation has invoked the latter to explain increased mental health difficulties in left-/mixed-handed children. The current study investigated unique associations between handedness and language lateralisation, handedness and mental health, and language lateralisation and mental health, in children, to elucidate the role of cerebral lateralisation in paediatric mental health. Participants were N = 64 (34 females [52%]; MAge = 8.56 years; SDAge = 1.33; aged 6-12 years) typically developing children. Hand preference was assessed via a reaching task, language lateralisation was assessed using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (fTCD) during an expressive language task, and mental health was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. As hypothesised, leftward hand preference predicted increased general mental health issues in children, with a strong relationship noted between leftward hand preference and the emotional symptoms subscale. Contrary to expectation, no relationship was found between direction of language lateralisation and general mental health issues, although exploratory analyses of subscales showed rightward lateralisation to predict conduct problems. Hand preference and direction of language lateralisation were also not significantly associated. The relatively weak relationship between manual and language laterality coupled with discrepancy regarding the predictive scope of each phenotype (i.e., hand preference predicts overall mental health, whereas language laterality predicts only conduct problems) suggests independent developmental pathways for these phenotypes. The role of manual laterality in paediatric mental health warrants further investigation utilising a neuroimaging method with higher spatial resolution.

Preoperative versus postoperative survival in patients with univentricular heart: a nationwide, retrospective study of patients born in 1990–2015

ObjectivesFew data exist on mortality among patients with univentricular heart (UVH) before surgery. Our aim was to explore the results of intention to perform surgery by estimating preoperative vs postoperative...

Consumption of herbal teas decrease health problems (fatigue, cough and throat problems, skin problems, and stomatitis)

Prevention plays a pivotal role within the healthcare sector, highlighting its significance. Numerous natural products have been extensively studied for their positive effects on enhancing health and boosting the body's resistance. Notable examples include Phyllanthus urinaria, Moringa, Centella Asiatica, and green tea leaves. In this study, we have combined these various proven natural ingredients, known for their immunomodulatory properties, in the form of herbal tea preparations. The primary objective of this research was to gather evidence and ascertain the benefits of consuming herbal tea on overall health status. To accomplish this, an experimental study employing a pre-post-test design was conducted. The health condition of the participants was evaluated both before and after the administration of herbal tea treatment. The health status indicators encompassed general health issues, such as fatigue, cough and throat problems, skin problems, and thrush. Each health problem was assessed based on categorized frequency levels: never, rarely, sometimes, often, or always/almost always. After receiving detailed explanations and providing their consent to participate, all respondents were provided with herbal tea packages and instructed to consume them regularly, once a day, for a duration of 21 days. Changes in their health status were closely monitored and recorded over the course of one month.

Internet Addiction: Predictor of Disturbed Emotion Regulation, Sleep quality and General Health in University Students

Excessive practice of using internet may result to behavioral addiction that is associated with detrimental physical, emotional and psychological health in university students by using between-groups correlational research design. The present research explored differences in university students with and without internet addiction regarding disturbed emotion regulation, poor sleep quality and general health issues. Further, the research explored internet addiction as a predictor of disturbed emotion regulation, poor sleep quality and general health issues in university students identified with internet addiction. The sample contained 600 students (375 with & 225 without internet addiction) from different public universities of Lahore. Findings revealed higher mean scores for the students with internet addiction on disturbed emotion regulation, poor sleep quality and general health issues (p < 0.01). Besides internet addiction, gender and nuclear family system emerged as significant predictors of disturbed emotion regulation, poor sleep quality and general health issues (p < 0.01) in university students. Research implications suggest that young adults from universities should be given counselling for appropriate usage of internet rather develop internet addiction so that they can be able to utilize internet rather than deteriorating their health and time

Feeling Scarred Without a Reason: Post-Partum Anxiety and Social Support in a Sample of Women at Government Sector Maternity Hospitals from Sargodha Pakistan

Postpartum depression is the most common problem that women face when they are of reproductive age, and it is a serious general health issue. The present study evaluated the impact of social support on postpartum depression among 320 women. By utilizing the purposive sampling technique, an interview schedule was taken as a tool based upon demographic queries asked of the respondent’s continued with the Edinburgh postnatal depression 10-item scale (EPDS) and perceived social support (PRQ85-Part 2). The results of the hypothesis were found to be significant at the alpha level. Analysis revealed that direct support was found to be negatively connected with postpartum depression. It explicitly demonstrates that an increase in social support, especially from the husband, can decrease postpartum depression in women, and a decrease in the levels of social support was found to be a prominent factor behind postpartum depression.

A Review on Recent Developments on Detection of Fall

Remote patient monitoring has always been a difficult problem in the medical field. Fall detection during monitoring is essential because falls are unexpected behaviors that can seriously affect a person's health, particularly those who are older. Accidental falls have moved to the top of the lists of general health issues in the past few decades. A fall detection system, with the emerging development of the technology, aims to decrease the number of deaths, injuries and the economic burden on the healthcare system. This study presents an in-depth analysis of the latest published research on vision-based detection of falls. It also covers the merits, demerits, and challenges of the previous works of vision-based fall detection, and the future scope of the research is also summarized.

Secondary school students’ school-related stressors during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Sabah, Malaysia

IntroductionDue to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption of education systems worldwide, secondary schools in Malaysia have shifted to online classes to ensure educational continuity. Therefore, it was necessary to investigate the various effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on secondary school students.MethodsA self-reported survey with closed and open-ended questions was used to collect data involving 1,067 secondary school students from eight schools in Sabah, Malaysia. The participants were mostly male (53.4%), with a mean age of 14.8 (SD = 1.64). The study involved students from various levels/grades, including transition class, forms 1–5, lower six, and upper six.ResultsStudents faced a variety of school-related stressors, including academic failure due to a poor online course; general mental health issues; a poor internet connection; a lack of in-person interaction; a SOP restriction; an inability to focus; too many homework assignments; burnout; becoming lazier; home conditions; and financial difficulties.DiscussionThe implications for classroom practice, policy formulation, and future research are examined.

Management of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation: The perspective of Spanish urologists. Results of the PANDORA Project (Part II)

IntroductionED and PE are the most common male sexual dysfunctions, although they remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. AimTo ascertain how a group of Spanish urologists currently address ED and PE. MethodsDescriptive study based on a self-designed questionnaire about the clinical practice in ED and PE upon diagnosis, treatment and monitoring, patient–physician relationship and the role of the patient's partner. ResultsThe survey was completed by 188 experienced urologists. Most patients went to the urologist's office without a previous diagnosis (92% of the urologists found <10 PE-diagnosed patients in public settings). The diagnosis of ED and/or PE was mainly carried out by the current urologist and not by another professional, particularly in private centres as opposed to public centres (78.8% vs 57.0% for ED; 82.0% vs 62.6% for PE). Most urologists believed that these disorders are underdiagnosed and deemed them as general health issues. 38% of urologists acknowledged using validated questionnaires to diagnose ED. PE was considered a subjective problem rather than a true disease and the use of PRO-based diagnosis of PE was not generally accepted (14%). Treatment options of both disorders were chosen as expected. Referral to the andrologist is usually scheduled in moderate-to-severe PE or severe ED. The cohort seemed to be mostly neutral (50%–75% for ED and 40%–55% for PE) regarding patient reluctancy to talk about their sexual problem. Patients’ partners play an important role in helping men seeking treatment. ConclusionUrologists should show more proactivity during anamnesis and routine visits to improve management of ED and PD.