Gezira State Research Articles

Utilizing Computer and Technological Devices to Improve the Performance of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Students: A Case Study of Secondary Schools in Al-Hasaheisa Locality, Gezira State, Sudan

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of technology integration in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes on learners' motivation and performance. It also seeks to provide training for EFL teachers to effectively incorporate technology into their instructional practices.
 Methodology: The research utilizes experimental and descriptive-analytical methods, involving 75 participants, including EFL students and teachers from secondary schools in Al-Hasaheisa Locality, Gezira State, Sudan. Data collection involves questionnaires and pre-post-tests administered to both teachers and students. The collected data is analyzed using the SPSS program.
 Findings: The study reveals that the use of technology in EFL classes facilitates English language teaching and learning. Despite the high internet costs in Sudan, EFL students actively engage in online collaboration activities. However, it is highlighted that nearly half of the EFL teachers lack sufficient training to effectively utilize the available computers and technological devices. The study emphasizes that EFL students display motivation to learn through computer usage, both inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, technology enables EFL learners to engage in computer-based assignments, practice problem-solving and critical thinking through e-activities, and improve their overall performance. Furthermore, utilizing technology allows teachers to provide a broader range of materials and information.
 Unique Contributions to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study recommends the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) in the EFL teaching and learning process. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive training programs to enhance EFL teachers' proficiency in effectively employing technology in their instructional practices.

A Classroom Ethnographic Study on Silence among EFL Graduate Students: A Case Study

Miscellaneous investigations have been implemented to investigate the factor of silence among Asian students in the ESL and EFL contexts and has generated huge literature most of which is related to ESL/EFL students’ silence because of several cultural and social factors. The study in hand reports on an ethnographic investigation of silence attitudes among Sudanese graduate learners in the EFL graduate linguistics environments with their academic staff in Gezira University, Sudan. The study has exploited a previously developed ethnographic interview protocol as well as observations with EFL graduate students and teachers in the MA linguistics. The researcher has investigated the probable patterns of silence among Sudanese EFL learners, explored the reasons behind this phenomenon and has attempted to trace the cultural interpretations among Sudanese silence. The participants of the study were eleven first-year graduates of English (all 26-38 years old) and 6 professors. The whole sample of the study was from Gezira University situated in the central region of Sudan. Another important factor is that the participants of this study came from different parts of Sudan including Khartoum, Darfur, and Gezira State etc. All the participants have BA and BEd in English language enrolling in Gezira University MA Program. The results of the study representing sufficient empirical proof highlight/emphasize that the Face Negotiation Model (Ting-Toomey 1994; West and Turner 2010; Wang and Yang 2005) indicates that Sudanese students’ silence behaviors are reported to be determined Sudanese cultural factors including its notions of face, sense of impact and infrequent social interactions.

Male’s Primary Breast Lymphoma: Rare Entity of Breast Malignancy, Wad Madani Teaching Hospital, Gezira State, Sudan, August 2023

<i>Background</i>: Primary breast lymphoma is a malignant lymphoma primarily involving breast in absence of previously detected lymphoma localizations. <i>Method</i>: A male of forty years old admitted to Department of Surgery; Wad Madani Teaching Hospital; Gezira State; Sudan; complaining of left breast lump for three months. Condition observed as a painful swelling in left breast, increasing gradually in size, associated with continuous high-grade fever, no rigors and relieved by analgesia, no nipple discharges. Had significant weight loss, anorexia, fatigability, back pain, dry cough with no hemoptysis, no history of headache, and no past or family history of similar condition. Examination: patient looks ill, pale, and not jaundiced. Breast examination: Left breast was larger than right one. Left breast: no nipple destruction, nipple was directed downward medially, no skin changes or dimpling, and no ulceration. There was a mass in left upper outer quadrant, measuring 6*7 cm, smooth surface, hard in consistency with well-defined edges, and attached to muscles but not to skin. No palpable axillary lymph nodes. Right breast was normal. Chest and abdominal examination were unremarkable. Investigations: Fine needle aspiration cytology showed poorly differentiated carcinoma. Incisional biopsy revealed: high grade Non-Hodgkins Lymphomas (Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma). He was referred to oncological department for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Conclusion and <i>Recommendation</i>: Primarily breast lymphoma is extremely rare among male, showing features mimicking breast carcinoma. Incisional biopsy was recommended for investigation of breast lump especially among males.

Tuberculosis in Sudan: systematic review and meta analysis

Every year, 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis (TB). Despite being a preventable and curable disease, 1.5 million people die from TB each year -making it the world’s top infectious disease. TB is the leading cause of death of people with HIV and also a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance. Its presumed that TB was the cause of 1% of the total deaths among inpatients in Sudan in 2017. The current study is aimed to provide pooled prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Sudanese as well as to determine any socio-cultural risk factors associated. A systematic review of the literature was conducted and regulated in accordance with the PRISMA Statement. After abstract and full text screening only twenty-six articles met our inclusion criteria and passed the quality assessment procedure. Pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence was assessed in sixteen included studies among participants from Khartoum, Gezira, Kassala, Blue Nile, River Nile, White Nile, Gadarif, Red sea, North Kordofan, Northern State, Sennar and West Darfur States, representing a total sample size of 11,253 participants of suspected individuals such as febrile outpatients, TB patients’ contacts and other groups such as HIV/AIDS patients, hemodialysis patients, School adolescents as well as pregnant women. The pooled prevalence was 30.72% [CI: 30.64, 30.81]. Moreover, Khartoum State recorded the highest pooled prevalence as 41.86% [CI: 14.69, 69.02] based on a total sample size of 2,737 participants. Furthermore, male gender and rural residence were found to be significantly associated with TB infection. Further research with larger sample sizes targeting prevalence and risk factors of TB among Sudanese population is needed to be conducted.

Diarrheal diseases prevalence among children of Sudan and socio cultural risks related; systematic review and meta analysis.

It is estimated that more than 4% of the causes of inpatient deaths in 2017 were due to diarrheal diseases. The current study is aimed to provide pooled prevalence of microorganisms causing diarrhea among Sudanese as well as determine any socio-cultural risk factors associated. A systematic review of the literature was conducted and regulated in accordance to PRISMA. After abstract and full text screening Twenty-one research articles were recruited to the study. Among witch eighteen research articles determined prevalence of causative microorganisms of Diarrhea; eight research articles determining prevalence of causative microorganisms of Diarrhea were conducted in Khartoum State, five in Gezira State, two in White Nile State, one in Kordofan State while two studies were conducted in several States. Moreover, majority of studies were concerned of prevalence among children while two studies were toward general population as well as mothers of children. The pooled prevalence of viral diarrhea in less than five years old children was 22.90% [15.37, 30.43] among more than 14 thousands' participants, the pooled prevalence of parasitic diarrhea was 31.40% [19.53, 43.27] among participants from different age groups while the pooled prevalence of bacterial diarrhea was 36.20% [14.00, 58.40]. No associated risk factors were able to be synthesized from included studies.

Chemical Characteristic of Yoghurt Produced by Small Scale levels and House Hold in Middle of Sudan

The quality of fermented dairy product is a delicate subject, it large depends on pre-and post-process handling. Yoghurt is usually produced by small scale and house hold levels The aim of this study was to evaluate the current situation of Yoghurt produced by small-scale levels and house hold in middle of Sudan. and determine chemical analysis of collected raw milk and yogurt samples from different sits in Khartoum and Gezira State in two seasons winter and summer. (32) sample were collected divided in to equal number (16). Yoghurt samples were collected during winter and summer season from different sites (two sites small scale and tow house hold levels, the study included five produced Yoghurt samples and one industrial samples, this study was conducted in the laboratory of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum. Sudan in the period from December. 2018 to June 2019. The results of the chemical composition analysis of collected Yogurt samples from different sites (Bahari, Omdurman, Khartoum and Eastern Nile) during winter and summer season presented no significantly different between moisture, total solids, fat, protein, and lactose in Khartoum and Gezira State during winter and summer season for chemical analysis. We concluded that Yoghurt samples collected from different areas has high nutritive value, it contains of good amount of protein, fat, lactose, moisture and there is no significant difference in chemical characteristic of yoghurt collecting from different sites in two states for both seasons.

Frequency of Rotavirus among under 5 Children Admitted to Wad Madani Pediatric Teaching Hospital with Diarrhea, Gezira State, Sudan (2021-2022)

Frequency of Rotavirus among under 5 Children Admitted to Wad Madani Pediatric Teaching Hospital with Diarrhea, Gezira State, Sudan (2021-2022)

Association between dietary carbohydrates intake, diabetes, obesity and breast cancer incidence among Sudanese women at the national cancer institute, Gezira State, Sudan (2021-2022)

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer and the main cause of death among women in Sudan. BC incidence rates is increasing in Sudan as estimate by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Wad Madani. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between high carbohydrate intake, diabetes obesity and risk of breast cancer. It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the NCI in Wad Madani, Gezira state in Sudan, during the period of 2021-2022, among 100 Sudanese women (ages: 20-75 years) who were confirmed to have BC. Data was collected by questionnaire consisted of questions about food intake and questions about BC risk factors. Physical measurements (height, weight and waist circumference) were taken. Laboratory tests (blood glucose) were done. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS version 22. The results showed that carbohydrate intake was positively associated with the risk of BC (p<0.05), and this association was higher in premenopausal women. Among carbohydrate components, the highest association were observed with sucrose and starch. BMI, waist circumference and diabetes mellitus were positively associated with the risk of BC. There was no association between age and BC (p>0.05). There was a very well correlation between consuming more than 30 grams per day of sugar (sucrose) and BC (r>0.50) while total sugar intake and carbohydrate intake had the lower correlation (0.433, 0.269), respectively (r<0.50). It was concluded that increased intake of foods rich in carbohydrates, especially sucrose and starch was directly associated with the risk of BC and its advanced stage in premenopausal Sudanese women. On the other hand, an increase in both waist circumference, body mass index and diabetes were positively associated with increased risk of BC.

The Level of Daily Life Skills Among Mild Intellectual Disabilities and its Relations to Demographic Variables in Central Sudan - Gezira State, Sudan

This study aims to indentify the daily life skills (self-skills, house activities, and community skills) as one of adaptive behavior demontions for learning ability (educable)with intellectual disability EID, and its relations to some demographic variables which are: gender, number of family members, order in family in terms of birth, the parents’ educational level, relationship of family communication with school) in Schools and special education centers in Gezira state, Central Sudan. The study adopted the descriptive method and used the adaptive behavior scale which is prepared by Bandar Nasir Alutaybi (2004). The sample consisted of comprehensive one of (133) educable intellectually disabled (78) males and (55) females. Data were analyzed statistically by using (SPSS) program. The study reveales that: the common characteristic of the daily life skills level with EID being low. There is variation in the level of daily life skills in the three dimensions (self-skills, home activities, and community skills). Statistically significant differences in the level of daily life skills with EID according to the gender variable in favor of males. No statistically significant differences in the level of daily life skills according to a variable (number of family members, Order in the family in terms of birth (first, middle, last, single), parents’ educational level, relationship between family communication to school). The study recommends detecting weaknesses and deficiencies in adaptive behavior skills for people with intellectual disabilities to find ways to address it, provide programs for training and guidance for intellectually disabled parents on daily life skills.

Impact of implemented vaccination strategies on vaccine uptake and attitude of final year pharmacy students toward COVID-19 vaccines in Gezira State, Sudan

Vaccine hesitancy is a global threat to public health. Hesitant individuals pose a major concern, as they can be viewed as a source of infection, which may lead to another outbreak. Effective strategies are needed to increase uptake, decrease hesitancy, and achieve herd immunity. This study aims to identify the impact of implemented strategies on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and uptake among final-year pharmacy students, and their acceptance and attitudes towards mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. An anonymous, internet-based cross-sectional study was developed using Google Forms and administered to final-year pharmacy students (254) at all pharmacy colleges in Wad Medani city, Sudan between August and September 2022. Overall, 30.7 % of students were hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The majority of students, 69.3 %, were already vaccinated and 60.9 % of them were initially hesitant about getting the vaccine but eventually did so. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was significantly associated with the institution students attended (p < 0.001). Institutions that had implemented encouraging vaccination strategies had a higher percentage of vaccinated students: 84.2 % and 77.1 %, compared to the institution that did not adopt any vaccination strategies 28.3 %. Availability of COVID-19 vaccines to students (OR 1.67 CI (0.70–3.96)), and encouraging COVID-19 vaccination in a way close to mandatory (OR 4.29, CI (1.85–9.96)) had the highest odds in increasing the vaccination uptake. While, not implementing any vaccination strategy (OR 0.24, CI (0.07–0.85) was less likely to increase vaccination uptake. Also, it was found that 72.5 % of students would accept mandatory vaccination for COVID-19. This study provides policymakers with evidence-based strategies that could increase the uptake and decrease hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines among a group of university students. Policymakers should encourage all universities to provide COVID-19 vaccines to their students, either through clinics or vaccination campaigns, and consider mandating the COVID-19 vaccine.

THE EFFECT OF A SUGGESTED TRAINING PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING THE COMPETENCIES OF THE MENTALITY RETARDATION CENTERS TEACHERS APPLIED STUDY- GEZIRA STATE

The study aims to clear off the effect of a training suggested program for developing the competencies of the mentality retardation centers teachers, the sample of the study contained of (23) teachers from the centers of the mentality retardation in Gezira State. The researcher has used the descriptive analytical semi – experimental curriculum, also the researcher has used the questionnaire to find out the necessary competencies, it consists of (6) parts each part represented necessary competency they are (diagnosis – planning for teaching the disabled child – executing the teaching activity – designing of the teaching aids – methods of learning and educational – the evaluation and the assessment). The number of the questionnaire items is (83). The training program which designed for developing the necessary competencies and applied on the study sample. Accumulative Test before and after the training on the suggested program. (SPSS) program has been used for analyzing the data and to get the results. The researcher has reached to the following results. The Profession`s competencies can be developed through the suggested training program , as also the study has shown differentials with statistics evidences at the level of (0.050) for the suggested training program through the accumulative test before and after the program , the results has shown the existence of differentials with statistics evidences about the Profession`s competencies due to the variable of the training in the areas (diagnosis – planning for teaching the disabled child – executing the teaching activity – designing of the teaching aids – methods of learning and educational) the differentials are for the favor and the interest for those who have full training, as there are differentials that have statistics evidence about the necessary competences due to the years of the experiences in the area (diagnosis) and the differential are for the favor and the interest for those who have experiences more than (11 years) , the result has concluded to the effectiveness of the suggested training program for developing the competencies of the teachers. The researcher has recommended the necessary of activating and developing the training programs for the teachers of the centers of the mentality retardation children through the training courses

Assessment of Physico-chemical Parameters of water quality of Ground Water, Almanagil town, Gezira State, Sudan

The current study was conducted to evaluate physical and chemical parameters of water quality taken from some of ground wells in Almanagil town, Gezira State, Sudan. The efforts, in this work, included a collection of different groundwater samples from Managil town. Many groundwater samples were collected from different wells distributed throughout the area of study. From all these groundwater samples, only eight samples were selected, to exclude repetition, and subjected to physico-chemical analysis. The physical characteristics including: conductivity (EC) of the collected samples were determined. The values of different chemical parameters as: pH, total dissolved salts (TDS) were measured according to the standard methods of analysis. In addition, the concentration of many anions (chloride, nitrite, nitrate) were determined. Results showed that EC between 440 -601 (ppm), GH 1000 (mg/L) all, NO3 and NO2 0.00 (mg/L) , Cl2 range between 0.7-3.58 (mg/L) ,KH 120- 362.667 (mg/L) ,salts 18.0-20.0 % , pH has values ranged from 8.0 – 8.5 while the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS (mg/L)) between 6.67 – 12.0 (mg/L) whereas (TDS (ppm)) between524.33- 653.67 . The results revealed significant different at (P≤ 0.01) with exception of (NO3) value zero so (NO2) and GH (1000mg/L) were not significant at P&gt; 0.05). The findings show validity of certain samples for human uses.

Pre-operative and Intra-operative Predictive Factors for Conversion of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, Wad Madani Teaching Hospital, Gezira State, Sudan; (September 2020 - June 2021)

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is gold standard for cholecystectomy. Objective: to determine pre- and intra-operative predictive factors for conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open. Methods: It was a comparative cross-sectional study performed in Wad Madani Teaching Hospital. Total coverage of patients (268 participants) admitted for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy during (September 2020 - June 2021). Dependent variable: open cholecystectomy; independent: socio-demographical characteristics, co-morbid illnesses, body mass index, drug and surgical history; ultrasound and intra-operative findings. Master sheet, SPSS version 25.0 and Chi square test was used. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Fifty six percent in age group (40-60 years); 87.3% females; 64.3% had normal body mass index; and 53% had history of abdominal surgery. Ultrasound findings: gall bladder wall thickness ≥4 in 91% and wasn’t fibrosed in 63.6%. Intra-operative findings: gall bladder contracted in 54.5%, Twenty-two cases converted to open; 72.3% of them in age group (40-60 years); and 72.3% were female. No statistical association between (socio-demographic characteristics; co-morbid diseases and number of admissions) and conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open. Regarding ultrasound findings: gall bladder wall thickness &lt; 4 had significant statistical association with laparoscopic cholecystectomy; apart from that there was no significant statistical association with any ultrasound findings and that of both laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy. For intra-operative findings there was statistical association between contracted gall bladder and conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open surgery. Conclusion: contracted gall bladder is the main factor for conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open surgery.

Aspiration level of Secondary School Students at Abuguta Administrative Unity in Gezira State and its Relationship with some variables

The research aimed to identify the aspiration level of a sample of Secondary School students, Gezira State, Abuguta Administrative Unity – Sudan. and to find out any statistically significant differences between the means of the sample members due to these variables: gender and specialization. To achieve this objective, the researcher used the analytical descriptive method on a sample which consisted of (123) students who were randomly selected. The researcher adopted aspiration level questionnaire prepared by Kamilia Abdelftah (1975). The study results revealed that the level aspiration of students of the Secondary School, Gezira State, Abuguta Administrative Unit was high. There were also no significant differences in the means of students' responses due to the variable gender, and there were also significant differences in the means of students' responses due to the variable specialization for arts.

THE IMPACT OF APPLYING INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS IN PUBLIC SECTOR ON QUALITY OF FINANCIAL REPORTS GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS (AFIELD STUDY ON GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS IN GEZIRA STATE – SUDAN)

This paper aimed to know the impact of applying international accounting standards in the sector. the year on the quality of financial reports and professional performance, and knowledge of the obstacles to the application of standards International accounting governmentinstitutions. The researcher used the analytical method Descriptive in the field study procedures by collecting information from its sources Primary and secondary data were collected by distributing a questionnaire specially prepared for this purpose. Purpose and distributed to the study population consisting of government institutions in Gezira State and the researcher used the statistical package for social sciences (spss) program. for analyzing the data of the study and testing satisfaction, and the researcher reached a group of results There is a degree of conceptual awareness in government institutions towards standards International accounting. There are also advantages in applying international accounting standards in institutions The most important of which is raising the efficiency of the accounting system and achieving the quality of accounting information Likewise, international accounting standards are applied in Governmental Institutions, and the application of International accounting standards on the quality of financial reports in government institutions. Its application leads to access to good financial reports and the delivery of financial reports that enable. Users are able to make rational decisions and the emergence of financial reports that are characterized by clarity and simplicity. And make the information contained in the financial reports more appropriate to the needs of users Likewise, there is an impact in the application of international accounting standards on the promotion of professional performance in Governmental institutions represented in the application of international accounting standards lead to promotion Professional performance within the institution and keep the accounting profession abreast of developments towards it and protect it practitioner. There is also a weakness in trade unions and associations that set standards Accountability in some countries and the lack of conviction of the responsible authorities in the application of accounting standards. International and insufficient financial resources for training is considered one of the most important obstacles Limit the application of international accounting standards. The study concluded a group of Recommendations, the most important of which is increasing the level of familiarity with international accounting standards by increasing Number of courses in the field of international accounting standards and work on developing the accounting profession In Sudan Governmental institutions‏ ,by activating the role of professional associations Responsible for the accounting profession. And the authorities concerned with the profession of accounting and auditing Work to remove obstacles that limit the application of international accounting standards.

Dissemination of Class A Cephalosporinases and Class D Carbapenemases in Escherichia coli Isolates From a Tertiary Hospital in Sudan.

Introduction The high prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and rising resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, which is a global therapeutic concern, are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) producers. It is unclear how E. coli that produces ESBLs spreads throughout Gezira state,Sudan. The study aimed to evaluate the dissemination of class A and class D resistance genes amongE. coliand to recognize the antibacterial activity of the locally used cephalosporins and carbapenems. Methods One hundred and fifteen isolates of uropathogenicE. coliwere collected from patients who attended a tertiary hospital. The isolates were identified using colony morphology, gram staining, and biochemical tests and checked for 16S rRNA using PCR. The multidrug-resistant (MDR) testing was conducted using agar disk diffusion. Finally, the class A and D resistance genes were analyzed by multiplex PCR. Results The study enrolled 200 patients with UTIs.E. coliisolates were found in 115 (57.5%) urine specimens examined, and 60 (52.2%) of them produced resistance to most locally used antibiotics. The antibiotic resistance pattern was higher against cefepime (100%), ceftizoxime (90%), cefuroxime (81.7%), and ceftriaxone (81.7%) and had lower activity against meropenem (13.3%). The genotypic characterization of class A cephalosporinases was 85% forblaCTX-M, 70% forblaSHV, and 33.3% forblaTEM, while for class D carbapenemases, it was 10% for bothblaOXA-23andblaOXA-51. Conclusion The considerable antibiotic resistance to the cephalosporins and meropenem and the increased predominance of theblaCTX-MandblaSHVgenes are serious concerns for the health authorities. Meropenem could still be used as the drug of choice for ESBL-producing E. coli.

Frequency of HEV Antibodies in Pregnant Women and Its Association with Existent Risk Factors, Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an increasing global problem and high endemicity is observed in many developing countries. Pregnancy predisposes women to chronic infection and various complications.&#x0D; Objective: This study aimed to investigate sero-positivity of HEV and existent risk factors among pregnant women in Gezira State, Sudan.&#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional design was followed, and a non–probability convenience sampling technique was used to collect 120 venous blood samples from pregnant women. Separated serum specimens was used for the quantitative detection of specific anti-HEV IgM and IgG by competitive ELISA method (MIKROGEN GmbH - Germany).&#x0D; Results: The frequency of positive results for HEV IgG antibodies in the study population amounted to 44.2 (53/120). Of the 53 HEV IgG positive pregnant participants 47.2% (25/53) were in the third trimester period, 39.6% (21/53) had preterm labor, 39.6% (21/53) had a history of abortion and 24.5% (13/53) with jaundice. Significant association was found between HEV IgG positive women and preterm labor (p-value 0.004), and history of jaundice (p-value 0.009).&#x0D; Conclusion: This preliminary study highlighted the high frequency of sero-positivity of hepatitis E virus in pregnant women in the studied area of Sudan.

Low uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Wad Medani City, Gezira State, Sudan: Hesitancy and poor accessibility

Vaccination is an important strategy in the fight against COVID-19. Although Sudan received vaccines since March 2021, vaccine uptake is very low. This study aimed to determine COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy in one of the largest Urban settings in Sudan. A survey was done among adults from 15 market places in Wad Medani city. Collected data included; demographic characteristics, vaccination status, type of received vaccine, number of received doses, side effects experienced after vaccination and reasons for refusing or delaying vaccination. In total, 1323 questionnaires were eligible for analysis. Most respondents were male (55.5%), younger than 60 years of age (89.5%) and received some sort of formal education (92.7%). Education level was significantly associated with vaccination uptake (p < 0.001). At the time of the study; 33.2%, 42%, 16.8% and 8% of participants were vaccinated, willing to receive vaccination, rejecting vaccination or haven’t decided to receive a COVID-19 vaccine yet respectively. The most common reason for rejection indicated by participants was safety concerns (79.3%). Reasons for hesitance expressed by 64% of participant who said they were willing to take the vaccine were unavailability and difficult access to vaccines. Participants who expressed willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine (42%) or were undecided (8%) were invited to a vaccination campaign. Of these, 27.9% attended and received their first shot of COVID-19 vaccine. Education level seems to be the main determinant for vaccination hesitancy. Safety concerns seem to play a major role in rejecting and delaying COVID-19 vaccination. Assuring vaccine's safety seems to be the way forward to reduce concerns about vaccination safety. Hesitancy was also shown to be partially related to difficulty in access to vaccines and a large proportion of the population are expected to receive the vaccine by improving availability and access.

The effect of paracetamol on the parasitological diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Objectives: Up until the present time, malaria represents an immense public health problem worldwide with a significant morbidity and mortality rate in many developing countries including Sudan. The use of antipyretics and analgesics in the settings of malaria has been a matter of contention over a vast period of time. Now, it is widely believed among the public and some health professionals in Sudan that the antipyretic and analgesic paracetamol disturbs the accuracy of the parasitological diagnosis of malaria. This study investigates the magnitude and effects of that belief through a descriptive study and examines the actual effect of paracetamol on the parasitological diagnosis of falciparum malaria through a clinical trial. Material and Methods: This is a conjoined study that includes a prospective and descriptive study and a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, and parallel-group clinical trial. The descriptive study included 846 participants from various states in Sudan. The targeted study subjects were the public and health professionals and the study was conducted utilizing an online-based questionnaire. The clinical trial included 325 patients with uncomplicated falciparum attending two primary healthcare outpatient clinics in Gezira state, Sudan. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either placebo tablets or 500 mg of oral paracetamol after the first blood smear sample was taken. The second blood smear samples were taken 2 h after taking treatment. Parasite density estimation and other parasitological data were obtained from each sample before and after treatment. Results: The majority of the public thinks that paracetamol affects the parasitological diagnosis of malaria (76.21%, n = 330/433). Personal experience and family and friends were the most dominant information sources for the public (31.20% and 28.01% respectively), while scholarly articles were the most common source of information for the health professional group (45.03%, n = 186/413). No significant differences between the parasitological findings acquired before and after taking the treatments among both the paracetamol group (P = 0.22) and the placebo group (P = 0.12). The parasite density mean for the paracetamol group differed by 16.31 P/μL after taking paracetamol, while the placebo group parasite density mean differed by 15.34 P/μL. The treatments did not inflict impacts on the advanced microscopic features of Plasmodium falciparum blood smears. Conclusion: Paracetamol does not affect the parasitological diagnosis of falciparum malaria.

Prevalence and determinants of chronic respiratory diseases in adults in rural Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) greatly contribute to worldwide mortality. Despite new data emerging from Africa, prevalence estimates and determinants of CRDs in rural settings are limited. This study sought to extend the existing research conducted in urban Sudan by conducting a rural comparison.METHODS: Participants aged ≥18 years (n = 1,850), living in rural Gezira State completed pre-and post-bronchodilator spirometry and a questionnaire. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and spirometric abnormalities were reported. Regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for CRDs.RESULTS: Prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction (CAO) was 4.1% overall and 5.5% in those aged ≥40 years. Reversibility was seen in 6.4%. Low forced vital capacity (FVC) was seen in 58.5%, and at least one respiratory symptom was present in 40.7% of the participants. CAO was more common among people aged 60-69 years (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.13-3.82) and less common among highly educated participants (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.27-0.93). Being underweight was associated with lower FVC (OR 3.07, 95% CI 2.24-4.20).CONCLUSIONS: A substantial burden of CRD exists among adults in rural Sudan. Investment in CRD prevention and management strategies is needed.