Good General Knowledge Research Articles

Off-Label Pediatric Medication Prescribing and Dispensing: Awareness and Attitudes among Community Pharmacists: A Questionnaire-Based Study.

Off-label practice in pediatrics requires relentless engagement from all the health professionals involved. Community pharmacists are the last ones in the prescribing-dispensing chain; therefore, they have the key responsibility of verifying the correctness of a treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted for assessing the awareness and views of Romanian community pharmacists, regarding off-label drugs in the pediatric population, through a 28-item questionnaire comprising five sections of different topics (general knowledge, frequency of prescribing and dispensing off-label medication, views, and attitudes). The sample size was 236 questionnaires with a response rate of 41.11%. A statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed with GraphPad Prism v.9. The results indicate that 55.1% of the community pharmacists have a good general knowledge and awareness regarding the off-label practice, although the legal frame is unclear. The responses highlight a high frequency of prescribing and request of medication for respiratory conditions (45.3%) and antibiotics (23.5%), with a concerning gap regarding the adverse events related to the off-label treatments (56.7%). A very small percentage of pharmacists (7.1%) contact a fellow healthcare professional when encountering an off-label prescription. In conclusion, in addition to the pharmacist's conduct towards the best interest of the patient, there is a clear need to improve the doctor-pharmacist collaboration in order to make an off-label treatment successful.

AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS COMMON EYE DISEASES OF CITIZENS IN MEDINA CITY, SAUDI ARABIA

Objective: The study aimed to assess the extent of knowledge regarding common eye diseases namely cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, refractive errors, and eye traumas among citizens of Medina City, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A total of 288 citizens (≥18 years old) of Medina city were selected and asked to answer online questionnaires regarding their knowledge on common eye diseases. The questionnaire includes demographics, awareness, and source of information of eye diseases. Results: Overall, the 283 participants have obtained a good mean general knowledge on cataract, strabismus, and refractive error, while nearly intermediate mean general knowledge about diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Knowledge scores of the participants were found to be highest for cataract (64.25±27.6), while lowest for glaucoma (47.76±34.3). The common source of information regarding eye disease were their family members and friends (33.3%, n=96). In term of socio-demographic factors, male gender was found to be the common factor that significantly influence the awareness of participants towards cataract, retinopathy, glaucoma, and refractive errors, while presence of eye problem was observed to significantly influence the knowledge of respondents towards retinopathy, glaucoma, and strabismus. Conclusion: This study concludes that proper and extended awareness and knowledge, such as creating health programs and effective health education, towards eye diseases must be imposed to help mitigate the cases of eye health diseases.

Evaluation of Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants Regarding People Living with HIV/AIDS and HIV-Associated Oral and Periodontal Lesions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Oral manifestations serve as important indicators of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and dental healthcare practitioners play a pivotal role in preventing and managing HIV. This study aims to assess and compare the knowledge and attitude of dental assistants and dental hygienists concerning people with HIV/acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in Jeddah province of Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional survey enrolled 160 dental hygienists and assistants practicing in Jeddah. Data was collected using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire comprising 50 questions that investigated knowledge about HIV/AIDS, awareness of HIV-associated oral and periodontal lesions, understanding of HIV transmission routes, and attitudes toward people with AIDS. In the study, 120 (75.0%) participants correctly recognized that individuals with HIV may appear healthy, while 123 (76.9%) participants admitted that HIV carriers have lower resistance to other diseases. Additionally, 126 (78.8%) participants confirmed an association between the virus and oral lesions, and 137 (85.6%) participants were aware of HIV transmission through blood. Moreover, 150 (93.7%) participants expressed their willingness to support, treat, and assist patients with AIDS, while only 10 (6.3%) participants expressed unwillingness. Notably, no statistically significant differences were found between dental assistants and hygienists in their knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and people with AIDS. This study demonstrated that dental hygienists and assistants possess good general knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and are well-informed about the disease's transmission routes. Moreover, a significant majority endorses the importance of treating and supporting AIDS patients.

Awareness and Risk Assessment of Breast Cancer Among Women in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Breast cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide including in Saudi Arabia. As a result, many cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to a poor outcome. Understanding risk perception is a significant component of awareness of breast cancer risks. It can be helpful to reduce the mortality of breast cancer via increasing awareness of the risk factors. Objective Our study was designed to assess the level of awareness among women in Saudi Arabia regarding breast cancer, including knowledge about risk factors, symptoms, and the importance of early detection. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, and participants were randomly selected. The target population in this study is all women in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected via an online questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using the StatisticalPackage for the Social Sciences (IBMSPSSStatisticsforWindows,IBMCorp., Version 21.0, Armonk,NY). Results About 713 women were enrolled in this study. Most of them (69%) were within the age group of 35-45 years old. Age at menarche was found to be 12-13 years old in 313 (43.9%) of the participants and age at first live birth was found to be 20-24 in about 360 (50.5%). The number of population with first-degree relatives that have a history of breast cancer is one relative in 126 (17.7%) of the participants and about 36 (5%) had breast biopsy. About 76 (10.7%) of the participants were considered as having a high risk of breast cancer according to the estimated five-year breast cancer-risk assessment (had a five-year breast cancer risk >1.66%). The mean knowledge score of the participants about breast cancer was found to be 4.62 ± 1.86 out of 8. About 509 (71.4%) of the participants were considered to be having a good level of knowledge about breast cancer. Long-term hormone contraceptive use and older age can increase the chance of developing breast cancer as agreed on by 363 (50.9%) and 287 (40.3%) of the participants respectively. A total of 677 (95%) of the participants mentioned that early detection is important to survive breast cancer. And 639 (89.6%) of the participants think that breast cancer is treatable and about 288 (40.4%) think that the suitable age to start mammography is above 30 years old. Conclusion There is a good general knowledge and awareness about breast cancer among study participants. There were few knowledge gaps regarding the effect of obesity,hormonal contraceptives and older age on the association withbreast cancer. About 10%of theparticipants were found to be having high five-year breast cancer risk.

Perceptions of South African plastic surgeons regarding academic education in the field of cleft lip and palate

ABSTRACT Background: Historically, South African plastic surgeons (PSs) have been managing cleft lip/palate (CLP) and craniofacial anomalies (CA). PS lead CL/P teams globally where the need arises. The complex, lengthy nature of CL/P management requires holistic services and collaboration between disciplines. Academic education should provide in-depth knowledge, interdisciplinary participation, and clinical exposure to field experts. Objectives: An investigation into exposure and knowledge of South African PS regarding management of CL/P. An opinion from practicing PS about academic educational needs for working with CL/P patients. Methods: Online survey and telephone interviews (a structured questionnaire) investigating opinions of PS in CL/P to determine satisfaction with the adequacy of academic education and perceived needs. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 41% of practicing PS from Medpages health-care provider database. Most respondents (63.3%) were between 30 and 49. Of them, 74% showed good general knowledge of CL/P. However, 76.5% acknowledged limited clinical training and exposure in this field, preventing them from adequate services provision to CL/P patients. Only 41% offered primary and/or secondary treatment to CL/P patients and 40% had participated in interdisciplinary teams. All agreed on the need for a dedicated training program(s) in CL/P management. The majority recommended subspeciality training through a clinical fellowship or a degree course. Conclusion: PS postgraduate academic training and clinical exposure are limited in the CL/P field. An educational strategy should be established to meet the needs of PS providing CL/P care. Part-time clinical fellowship and/or degree courses would prepare them adequately for a career managing CL/P and CA patients.

RESIDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE TOWARD COVID-19 DURING THE NEW PERIOD IN PHONG DIEN DISTRICT, CAN THO CITY

Background: COVID-19, a global health threat for over two years, has extensive and widespread effects. Due to the ever-changing nature of the Coronavirus, new variants are continually appearing, and more contagious variants emerge (such as Delta or Omicron variants, etc.) if we neglect to prevent the Covid-19 disease. A recent World Health Organization report shows that good hand hygiene and simple, low-cost prevention practices can prevent more than 70% of infections of Covid-19. Therefore, strategies to practice personal hygiene, vaccination, avoid overcrowding and wear masks outdoors are still recommended for disease control and prevention. Our study aims to provide the public with accurate, objective, and scientific knowledge on COVID-19 and its prevention. Objectives: 1. Assess the current status of people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the Phong Dien district in the new period. 2. Determine some factors related to people's disease prevention practice. Materials and methods: 1632 participants in cross-sectional descriptive research. Collect data by directly interviewing the subjects through a set of prepared questionnaires. Results: The percentage of people with good general knowledge is 9.6%, positive attitude at 89.9%, and good general practice is 32.5%. Most people know the cause of Covid-19 (99.1%); the lowest knowledge is that eating a healthy diet can fight Covid-19, accounting for 11.1%. Regarding COVID-19 prevention practices, 52.0% of people have time to wash their hands ≥20 seconds, and most of them wash their hands more than 90% of the time after touching surfaces such as door locks, elevator buttons when coughing, sneezing, etc. The content about good attitudes accounted for 85.3% to 96.4%. Subjects who have been infected with COVID19 good practices is 1.5 times higher than those who have never been infected with COVID-19 (p=0.02), families with ever infected with COVID-19 people have good practices 1.3 times higher than families without people infected with COVID-19 times (p=0.05). People with good knowledge and a positive attitude have an excellent practice rate 2.7 times higher than the other group, p<0.05. Conclusions: more attention should be paid to the role of COVID-19 epidemic prevention in the new normal period.

Knowledge and awareness of stroke in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study of the general population.

The study aimed to assess stroke knowledge among the general population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and determine the factors associated with stroke awareness among people. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the UAE between September and November 2021. The general population has self-administered an online bilingual survey (Arabic and English) distributed via social media platforms. The questionnaire covered general knowledge about stroke risk factors, consequences of stroke, and responding to somebody with acute stroke attack. A total of 545 surveys were completed, with more than half of the participants being female (58.5%), married (55.4%) and employed (59.4%). The majority were less than 50 years old (90.5%) and had a university degree (71.0%). Many of the participants (70.8%) had a good general knowledge of stroke; however, around 20% of the participants were able to recognize all symptoms and risk factors of stroke. The most common sources of stroke-related information were the internet/social media (53.6%). Females were better able to correctly identify at least one stroke symptom and outcome than males (p=0.008). University education has significantly affected participants' ability to identify early stroke symptoms (p=0.001) correctly. In addition, diabetic people were more likely to recognize at least one stroke outcome than non-diabetic people (p=0.039). The knowledge of stroke was good among highly educated people and females. However, the awareness of all stroke risk factors, symptoms, consequences and risk factors was inadequate among the general population of the UAE. Thus, there is still a gap between recognition of the relevant stroke and taking action among people.

Knowledge and awareness of stroke in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study of the general population

Background: The study aimed to assess stroke knowledge among the general population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and determine the factors associated with stroke awareness among people. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the UAE between September and November 2021. The general population has self-administered an online bilingual survey (Arabic and English) distributed via social media platforms. The questionnaire covered general knowledge about stroke risk factors, consequences of stroke, and responding to somebody with acute stroke attack. Results: A total of 545 surveys were completed, with more than half of the participants being female (58.5%), married (55.4%) and employed (59.4%). The majority were less than 50 years old (90.5%) and had a university degree (71.0%). Many of the participants (70.8%) had a good general knowledge of stroke; however, around 20% of the participants were able to recognize all symptoms and risk factors of stroke. The most common sources of stroke-related information were the internet/social media (53.6%). Females were better able to correctly identify at least one stroke symptom and outcome than males (p=0.008). University education has significantly affected participants' ability to identify early stroke symptoms (p=0.001) correctly. In addition, diabetic people were more likely to recognize at least one stroke outcome than non-diabetic people (p=0.039). Conclusions: The knowledge of stroke was good among highly educated people and females. However, the awareness of all stroke risk factors, symptoms, consequences and risk factors was inadequate among the general population of the UAE. Thus, there is still a gap between recognition of the relevant stroke and taking action among people.

Knowledge, attitude and preventative practice of tuberculosis in rural communities of Dikgale, Mamabolo and Mothiba health and demographic surveillance system in Limpopo province, South Africa

BackgroundTuberculosis continues to be a serious public health issue. To reduce the transmission of the disease, it is imperative to address the major obstacle of inadequate understanding regarding the causes, risk factors, treatments, and prevention of pulmonary TB. The study assessed knowledge, attitude, and preventative practices of tuberculosis among community members in Dikgale, Mamabolo and Mothiba (DIMAMO) Health Demographic Surveillance system, Limpopo Province South Africa.MethodsA cross-sectional clinic-based survey involving 360 participants was conducted at clinics at Dikgale, Mamabolo and Mothiba (DIMAMO) Health and Demographic Surveillance System. A standardised questionnaire on socio-demographic, knowledge, attitude and preventative practices towards tuberculosis based on (WHO) KAP-TB template guidelines was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0 was used to analyse data.ResultsThe results of the cross-sectional survey on KAP-TB illustrated that the participants have good knowledge, attitude, and perception of TB. Majority of the participants (n = 270, 75%) had good general knowledge, while (n = 90, 25%) had poor knowledge about TB. However, the study reports (n = 57, 15.6%) having knowledge of causative agents of TB. Participants showed a favourable attitude toward people who are infected with TB. 87% showed a favourable attitude while only 12.46% showed an unfavourable attitude towards TB. Participants showed a good practice of (71.7%) while (28.3%) of participants had poor practice towards TB.ConclusionHealth education interventions programme on TB needs to be intensified among the community members to improve TB awareness and reduce transmission. Focused educational interventions on TB aetiology and mode of transmission are required to increase TB preventative practices and improve health-seeking behaviour among community members.

COVID-19 and Vaccination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of People Working on Illegal Gold Mining Sites in French Guiana.

French Guiana is a French territory bordering Brazil and Suriname where the COVID-19 pandemic has severely strained the French Guianese health system. The people working on illegal gold mining sites in French Guiana, also known as garimpeiros, are mainly of Brazilian origin. Their health conditions are precarious, they live under the radar of the surveillance system and therefore, assessment of their health is quite challenging.. The objective of this study was to describe their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding COVID-19 and vaccination against this infection. We conducted an international multicenter cross-sectional survey between 1 March 2022 and 30 April 2022 in French Guiana and Suriname, using a structured questionnaire. Eighty persons were included, 95.0% of whom were Brazilian. Most had good general knowledge of COVID-19. Antibiotic prophylaxis had been practiced by 10.0% of participants. Forty-three people thought they had been infected with COVID-19 (53.8%). Self-medication was frequent, often with antibiotics (32.6%, mostlychloroquine, ivermectin or azithromycin) and most had not consulted a physician for symptoms of COVID-19. A majority (62.5%) had received at least one dose of vaccine. Those who were ever tested for COVID-19 were the most likely to be vaccinated (PR = 1.98, p = 0.009). Garimpeiros have a good level of knowledge about COVID-19 but the high consumption of antibiotics raises concerns about the selection of resistant bacteria. The vaccination rate was higher than that of the Guianese population. The most vaccinated individuals were those who had already taken a COVID test suggesting that these individuals had more exposure to the disease, were more health conscious, or had easier access to health centers.

Nutrition knowledge and willingness to seek nutritional counseling: analysis of data among a sample of university students

PurposeThis study aims to assess nutrition knowledge (NK) and willingness to seek nutritional counseling (WSNC) and their predictors among university students in Lebanon.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional design was used to enroll students from two large private universities in Lebanon. Data were collected by a standardized questionnaire. NK scores on general and specific nutrition areas were computed. The predictors of NK and WSNC were determined by multivariable logistic regression analyses.FindingsA total of 370 students were included, among which 68% had good general nutritional knowledge, which appears to be associated with being a pharmacy student (adjusted OR (aOR) = 4.26 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.55; 11.7]), and having a dietitian as a reference for nutritional information (aOR = 8.84 [95% CI 1.94; 40.3]). However, 64% of participants had a high specific nutritional knowledge score, which was related to either attending a school of arts and sciences or being a pharmacy student (aOR = 10.8 [95% CI 4.08; 28.5]). Most students (80%) had the will to seek nutritional counseling, which was positively associated with being a female (aOR = 2.01 [95% CI 1.10; 3.67]) and a pharmacy student (aOR = 2.62 [95% CI 1.15; 5.95]). The general nutritional knowledge score was significantly associated with the WSNC (aOR = 2.10 [95% CI 1.04; 4.25]).Originality/valueHigher nutritional knowledge and WSNC were found among students enrolled in health-related fields. These results underline how important nutrition education is as a strategy for inspiring college students to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Basic Knowledge of Hygiene in Voluntary Disaster Control Using - German Red Cross in the Rhein-Erft District as an Example

Full-time workers in the rescue service are often exposed to a risk of infection. The volunteers of the German disaster control (Katastrophenschutz; KatS) are exposed to a similar risk of infection when they are deployed. The aim of this study was to investigate the hygiene status of the two operational units of the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz; DRK) in the Rhein-Erft District (Rhein-Erft-Kreis; REK). The 66 volunteers of the two operational units (Einsatzeinheiten; EE) "NRW BM 05" and "NRW BM 02" were assessed by means of a written questionnaire. The results showed that they had good general knowledge of hygiene.There were, however, deficits in the knowledge of specific diseases and some multi-resistant pathogens. In general, perceived risk varied greatly, and was often above 5 on a scale from 1-10, where "1" stands for no perceived risk and "10" for high perceived risk. Thus, there is a certain "concern" about getting an infection in action. Appropriate training courses are needed to optimize this situation in the future.

Cervical Cancer Prevention Knowledge (Cckp-64) among Female Students in Novi Sad, Serbia during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Cervical cancer is a significant global health concern affecting young women, with over 500,000 new cases reported annually. This questionnaire-based study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of cervical cancer prevention among female students at the University of Novi Sad during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Cervical Cancer Knowledge Prevention-64 (CCKP-64) tool. The study sample consisted of 402 predominantly 20-22-year-old female students from either social or technical science faculties in urban environments. Results revealed that out of the 402 female students involved in the study, most had a good general knowledge of primary prevention of cervical cancer, with a correct answer rate ranging from 29.9 to 80.6%. On the contrary, only 63.4% of female students have heard about the vaccine against cervical cancer; 52.0% know that the vaccine exists in Serbia; and 31.8% know where to get vaccinated. Only a small proportion of students (9.7%) have encountered cervical cancer among their relatives/friends and think that the disease could affect them in the future (25.4%). Older students (>26 years) generally (p < 0.05) had better knowledge regarding distressing symptoms of cervical cancer, cytological examination and secondary prevention; however, it was also noted that a significant percentage of this age group reported not having received vaccinations (53.0%, p = 0.001). This study underscores the need for increased awareness and education about the HPV vaccine and secondary prevention among young women in Serbia. Future research should investigate knowledge and attitudes toward cervical cancer prevention in diverse populations to develop effective interventions and strategies. These findings have implications for public health policies in Serbia to promote cervical cancer prevention among young women.

Knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS among male prisoners in Kuwait

Background: Prisoners are considered as one of the high-risk populations for the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Targeting this group is one of the strategies to reduce the incidence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the community. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among male inmates in Kuwait’s prison by administering three sets of questionnaires to assess the level of their knowledge and awareness about the mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS, their risky personal behavior that may lead to HIV infection, and the presence of any negative attitudes and stigmatization towards HIV infected individuals. Results: The study included 123 male inmates, with a mean ± SD age of 30.9 ± 8.4 years. Most participants had a good general knowledge about the mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS including sharing contaminated syringes, but with misconception regarding handshaking and kissing. On the other hand, risky personal behaviors such as having unprotected sex and increased number of extramarital relationships (66%), and the avoidance of the regular use of condoms (75%) was high. The younger age group (&lt; 35 years) had more extramarital relationships than those &gt; 35 years (71.4% Vs. 46.4%; p=0.016). There was a perceived attitude of stigmatization among inmates towards people living with HIV. Conclusions: This vulnerable group of prisoners, especially young adults need educational programs to improve knowledge about transmission of HIV, and to correct and change their risky personal behaviors to protect them and the community against HIV transmission

Awareness and Attitude of Physicians on the Role of Dentists in the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Background: Efforts to evaluate physicians’ awareness and attitude toward dentists’ comprehensive role in OSA management are relatively negligible. Therefore, this study aimed to assess physicians’ awareness and attitude toward the role of dentists in OSA management in Saudi Arabia. Methods: In a multi-center cross-sectional study, a total of 358 physicians in Saudi Arabia were subjected to an e-questionnaire composed of three sections: (1) physicians’ demographic data, (2) physicians’ general and specific knowledge of OSA and its management [using 29 factual statements to be responded by “True, False, or I don’t know” responses], and (3) physicians’ attitude towards dentists’ role in OSA management [using 12 attitude statements to be responded by a Likert scale of “Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Usually, Always” responses]. A scoring system was applied for both knowledge and attitude, total and percentage mean scores (PMS) were calculated, and knowledge and attitude levels were categorized accordingly. Predictors of correct knowledge and favorable attitude were identified using multiple regression analyses. Results: Physicians had an overall average knowledge level (PMS = 56% ± 19.4%), with 35.5% and 5.9% reporting good general and specific knowledge levels, respectively (χ2 = 143.0, p < 0.001). Physicians had an overall neutral attitude level (PMS = 64.4% ± 17.5%), with about one-half reporting a neutral attitude level (48.9%) and only one-fourth reporting a positive attitude level (27.7%). Higher levels of knowledge were a significant predictor of favorable attitudes (t = 5.71, p < 0.001). Higher training levels were a significant predictor of correct knowledge (t = 3.60, p < 0.001) and favorable attitude (t = 3.15, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Physicians showed insufficient knowledge about OSA and a less than favorable attitude towards dentists’ role in its management. Enhancing medical curricula and clinical protocols and guidelines on the dentists’ role in OSA management is recommended.

A qualitative study to explore dietary knowledge, beliefs, and practices among pregnant women in a rural health zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo

BackgroundA nutritious and healthy diet during pregnancy is essential for the health of both mother and baby. Inadequate dietary intake during pregnancy contributes to maternal malnutrition and can have lifelong effects on the health of the child. Maternal malnutrition is common in many low-income countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kwango province, DRC, has a high prevalence of malnutrition among all population groups, including macro and micronutrient deficiencies among pregnant women. The study aimed to explore the dietary knowledge and practices of a pregnant woman in this area.MethodsThis study adopted a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews (IDIs) with pregnant women and key informants, and focus group discussions (FGDs) with fathers and grandmothers in the community, to explore women’s knowledge and practice about diet during pregnancy. Data were collected between January and April 2018. IDIs were conducted with pregnant women who were recruited at antenatal clinics during their second and third trimesters. IDIs were undertaken with selected key informants, who were health workers providing care to pregnant women, and included doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and community health workers. All IDIs and FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated to English. The triangulation method and thematic analyses were used.ResultsOverall, women showed good general knowledge about nutrition and the need for increased and varied foods during pregnancy, but little technical knowledge about nutrients and sources of nutrition. Healthcare facilities, media, NGOs, and family members were the main sources of nutritional information. However, women were unable to put this knowledge into practice, primarily due to poverty and poor access to a variety of foods. The Popokabaka community accessed food from farming, fishing, and the market, although purchasing food was frequently unaffordable. Cassava flour was the most common daily food. Food taboos, traditional practices, and late ANC attendance were identified as factors that influenced dietary practices.ConclusionsVarious social, economic, and environmental factors within the local community influenced dietary practices among pregnant women in rural DRC. A comprehensive approach is required to improve nutrition, and address food insecurity, cultural practices and improve the health outcomes of both mother and child.

Exercise During Pregnancy: Knowledge and Beliefs Among Females in Saudi Arabia

Background Exerciseduring pregnancy helps to promote health benefits for both the mother and fetus. One of the concerns among Saudi pregnant women is physical inactivity. The objective of this study was to assess females' knowledge, beliefs, and practices towardexercise during pregnancy in Saudi Arabia. Also, we investigated the most common barriers to exercising during pregnancy. Methods The study was a cross-sectional study that includedall Saudi females aged 18 years and above and excluded non-Saudi femalesand those aged less than 18 years.A self-administeredsurvey was distributed onsocial media platforms. The collected data were codedand analyzed usingSPSS version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results A total of 1207 participants were enrolled in the study. In regards to general knowledge and awareness levels, 1002 (83%)participants had a high level of knowledge and awareness, and 205 (17%) had a low level of knowledge and awareness. Exercise during pregnancy is essential was agreed on by 853 (70.7%) participants. The most reported sources of information on prenatal exercise were found to be websites, as reported by 56.7%of the participants. About 42.4%of the participants were sometimes exercising during pregnancy. The most common type of antenatal exercise was found to be walking, as mentioned by 83.5%of the participants. The most commonly reported barrier to practicing antenatal exercises was found to be fatigue, as reported by 53.9%of the participants, and lack of time. Age was found to be significantly associated with the level of beliefs, awareness, and knowledge regarding antenatal care. A statistically significant association was found between marital status and level of beliefs, awareness, and knowledge regarding antenatal care with married participants tending to be having a higher level of knowledge and awareness compared to other groups. Occupation and level of beliefs, awareness, and knowledge regarding antenatal care were found to be significantly associated. Conclusion We found good general knowledge and awareness levels regarding exercise during pregnancy. Beliefs towardexercise during pregnancy were below average. Future studies on how to promote regular exercise during pregnancy are recommended.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES REGARDING COVID-19 PREVENTION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS OF CAN THO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting all over the world; medical students are a successor force, providing great support to the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: to assess the completeness of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of COVID19 prevention as well as utilize factors influencing the good practices of medical students at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Materials and methods: A 2-week cross-sectional study (from October 1 to October 15, 2021) was conducted among 729 of 4th and 6th – year medical students at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy through an online survey with a set of 36 questions. Results: The score of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was moderately high (17.61±4.55). The percentage of students with good general knowledge (overall score ≥11) was 56.2%. Approximately 97.5% of the participants had positive attitudes about complying with disease prevention measures. There were 94.2% of students had good practices with preventive measures. The study showed that 2 factors related to good practices were good sufficient knowledge and positive attitudes (p&lt;0.05). Students with sufficient knowledge and positive attitudes performed better than students with insufficient knowledge and negative attitudes by 2.4 times (95% confidence interval: 1.18-4.8) and 7.2 times (95% confidence interval: 2.5-21.9), respectively. Conclusions: The majority of students had enough knowledge (56.2%), positive attitudes (97.5%) and good practices (94.2%) in COVID-19 prevention. High FCV-19S, females, sufficient knowledge, and positive attitudes had a significant correlation with good practices.

Investigation of the knowledge of South African high school rugby coaches on concussion and the return-to-play protocol.

Coaches are pivotal in the management of concussed players. Assessing the knowledge of high school rugby coaches with regard to concussion management will enable relevant future education on this topic to be covered. To investigate the knowledge of South African high school rugby coaches on concussion symptom recognition, knowledge and stepwise return-to-play (RTP) protocols. A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 143 first team, high school rugby coaches was completed via an electronic questionnaire. Independent variables included coach demographics, qualifications, experience, BokSmart accreditation, and school size. Dependent variables included knowledge scores on concussion symptoms, general concussion knowledge, stepwise RTP and Maddocks questions. Relationships between total scores for different demographic groupings were established using non-parametric techniques. The coaches had high general, symptom and overall concussion knowledge scores (77% - 80%) in contrast with low RTP scores (62%) and very low Maddocks questions knowledge scores (26%). The 35-44-year age group received top scores for symptom recognition (p=0.034) and total concussion knowledge (p=0.041). Larger category school coaches (p=0.008) and BokSmart accredited coaches (p=0.041) outperformed all other coaches in general concussion knowledge and total knowledge, respectively. However, respondents were not familiar with emotional symptoms or the importance of cognitive rest after a concussion. Educational programmes were the most popular knowledge source for coaches. In general, coaches presented with good general concussion knowledge but lesser expertise on emotional symptoms, cognitive rest and RTP management. Modifiable predictors of knowledge included the expansion of BokSmart accreditation, focussing information sessions on smaller rugby size schools and the education of coaches younger than 35 years or older than 45 years of age.

Associations between sociodemographic and level of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 among nursing students of University Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia

Background: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Since then, it has spread to 215 countries, and 42 million people around the globe are affected. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 play a role in determining the acceptance of behavioral change measures from health authorities to suppress this pandemic status. The KAP on COVID-19 is also important among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the outbreak of COVID-19. Hence, this study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 and its association with sociodemographic factors among nursing students of Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among the Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 nursing students. The questionnaire consists of four parts: 1) demographics, which surveys participants' sociodemographic information; 2) knowledge about COVID-19; 3) attitude towards COVID-19; and 4) practices relevant to COVID-19. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26.0 was used for data entry and analysis Result: A total of 113 Nursing Students participated in the study. More than half of the respondents have good general knowledge and practices of COVID-19. However, only one in three respondents have positive attitudes towards COVID-19. Older age was associated with good knowledge about COVID-19 (p=0.02). Female (P=0.02) and high household income (P=0.02) has a better attitude towards COVID-19. However, no significant association between sociodemographic and practices towards COVID-19. Conclusion: Most of the respondents demonstrate a good level of knowledge and practices towards COVID-19 but not for attitudes. Sociodemographic characteristics such as younger, male respondents and those with lower-income families have inadequate knowledge and practices towards COVID-19. Hence, health education programs such as campaigns need to be conducted to increase the knowledge and encourage adequate preventive practice towards COVID-19 should be targeted towards this group.