Faculty Of Health Research Articles

SURVEY LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL AND ANTHROPOMETRIC STATUS

Students of Physical Education Health and Recreation Faculty of teacher training and education are prepared to become competent educators in the field of sports. One of the skills competencies required is understanding and skills in measuring physical activity levels, understanding physical activity and anthropometry. The purpose of this study was adalah to determine and understand the measurement aktivitas of physical activity, understanding of physical activity and anthropometric status of students of Physical Education Health and Recreation FKIP. This study is cross-sectional research on students who administer the test and measurement of sports. Understanding of the level of physical activity measured by metode the test method, the level of physical activity was measured using a questionnaire GPAQ (global Physical Activity Questionanire) and tipe body type or somatotype was measured based on the health Charter Manual. Then the data is processed in a descriptive and correlation Person to determine the relationship between the level of understanding of physical activity, physical activity level and anthropometry using SPSS. The results showed that in all students who manage the course of sports tests and measurements have level a good level of physical activity baik GPAQ score an average of 7248.13 ° 2420.5 METs. Correlation test showed positive correlation between the level of understanding of physical activity and physical activity level correlation p < 0.05.

Improving Graduate Competence in Physical Training and Sports Student Training Programs at Surabaya State University

Community empowerment is an essential effort focused on fostering change in different areas, including athletics, social sciences, arts, and local culture. In the realm of sports, community empowerment aims to improve the quality of human resources, athleticism, and performance at provincial, national, and even global levels. It acts as a tool for molding community identity and is vital for the advancement of sports. A goal of this Community Empowerment Program (PKM) is to provide certified training for physical trainers to students in the Vocational Faculty and the Sports Science and Health Sports Study Programs within the Health Faculty. This initiative seeks to promote sports accomplishments at both student and wider levels, encompassing regional, provincial, national, and international tiers. Developing sports success through a systematic, enduring, and sustainable approach is crucial for creating sports excellence as a regional trait and national identity. Community engagement plays a vital role in influencing national sports policies and programs. The enhancement of sports via the Sports Study Program at FV and FIKK is crucial for achieving both community involvement in sports and sports success. The techniques used consist of training physical trainers and the creation of programs. Physical trainer training emphasizes creating physical conditioning that meets the requirements of particular energy systems, sport traits, and periodization to improve athletes' biomotor abilities. Moreover, attendees are taught how to create physical training plans to enhance athlete performance and achieve established goals. This program aims to prepare FV and FIKK sports students to create training plans that improve athlete performance and lead to success. The aim is to develop proficient coaches and top-performing athletes capable of representing East Java and Indonesia in various competitive arenas.

Motivation of Veterinary Public Health Faculties Across Veterinary Schools of the British Isles.

Veterinary public health (VPH) is a critical role of veterinarians regardless of their chosen career pathway and it is the role of VPH academics to inspire veterinary students within this essential topic. However, the alarming shortage of veterinarians has led to a significant reduction in veterinary policy makers and epidemiologists. The engagement of new graduates in public health roles is heavily influenced by their undergraduate teaching and extramural study opportunities. Worryingly, student engagement within VPH has been well documented to be poor in comparison to other subjects. As such, this study was designed to investigate what factors impacted VPH educators' motivation. To do this, a mixed methods survey was created and released electronically to 34 VPH academics across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. A total of 23 respondents, from nine veterinary schools spanning both countries, completed the survey. Data analysis involving both quantitative assessment and thematic analysis was undertaken. The results showed that VPH educators' intrinsic motivation was not problematic and most (n = 20) respondents felt motivated within their roles. However, all respondents had extrinsic issues that impacted their motivation, such as external stakeholders, curricula requirements, lack of student opportunity both regarding placement and as career options, as well as wider university issues. These themes led staff to feel undervalued in their roles, and as such highlight the areas that universities and external stakeholders need to act on to help fill the significant recruitment issues in this essential field. This study is, as far as the authors are aware, the first time globally that a VPH faculty have been asked to explore their motivation behind their teaching practices.

Cindy Ma: Science is often not black and white, and the answer usually lies in the grey.

Professor Cindy Ma heads the Human Immune Disorders Laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. She is a member of the Garvan Faculty, holds a conjoint appointment with UNSW Sydney (School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health), and is an NHMRC of Australia Investigator Grant Fellow (L1). Her research interests lie in the study of human diseases of the immune system such as primary immunodeficiencies due to inborn errors of immunity (IEI), resulting from disease-causing monogenic germline variants. Another area of research her laboratory is perusing is the pathways that cause severe allergies and atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and food anaphylaxis.

Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Research Roadshow 2024

AUT’s Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Research Roadshow is an annual event showcasing the diversity of research undertaken by faculty researchers, and postgraduate students. The 2024 faculty research roadshow was held on Thursday 12 September at AUT’s North Campus. The AUT Child and Youth Health Research Centre investigates the impact of illness and disability, home and family, health services, nutrition, physical activity and the wider environment on young people. We are committed to providing a space for young people’s voices. CYHRC presented members’ research abstracts. The theme of the roadshow was ‘Partnerships for Impact’ which for CYHRC projects incorporates – Youth as participants and coresearchers – Researchers in this field aim for meaningful youth engagement throughout the research process, from design, through recruitment and fieldwork, to dissemination. All important are efforts to create inclusive environments, provide appropriate support for youth, and demonstrate willingness to share decision-making power. For example, in two projects refugee youth were coresearchers helping to shape decision-making related to their health. Increasing the visibility of youth and the challenges they face - By focusing on a range of tools and activities, young participants and researchers, including postgraduate students, can significantly enhance their impact, visibility, and contributions to their fields. Building a strong research profile takes time and persistence, but ongoing effort will yield long-term benefits for research careers and the wider society. Partnering with organizations and actors interested in youth health – Such partnerships can contribute to youth health and empowerment and significantly increase the impact of research on youth voicelessness by application of key strategies and ensuring that organisations foster appropriate cultures and mindsets within their own and other organisations. By fostering partnerships, researchers can create a more robust ecosystem for addressing youth voicelessness. This collaborative approach ensures that research is not only more comprehensive and relevant but also more likely to lead to tangible improvements in young people's lives and opportunities for their voices to be heard. Challenges of partnering with youth given issues of voicelessness These include adult-centric perspectives and organisations, power imbalances, and communications difficulties. While there are many challenges, the potential for improved research impact makes youth engagement a valuable indeed imperative approach, especially for those focused on youth issues, such as youth health and wellbeing.

Integrating accelerometry, GPS, GIS and molecular data to investigate mechanistic pathways of the urban environmental exposome and cognitive outcomes in older adults: a longitudinal study protocol

IntroductionMaintaining cognitive health in later life is a global priority. Encouraging individuals to make health behaviour changes, such as regular physical activity, and providing supportive urban environments can help maintain...

Internal factors influencing students' decisions in choosing a public health study program, faculty of public health, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, 2024

Background: The existence of public health colleges is very important to train professionals to handle various public health challenges. Data shows that Indonesia has 3,107 universities, of which 95.97% are private universities. In the field of public health, the Faculty of Public Health of Halu Oleo University (UHO), which was established in 2011, shows significant development with two study programs and six specializations relevant to the needs of the community. The increasing interest in the UHO Public Health Study Program, which is accredited B, reflects the high public interest in this field. Public health graduates have broad employment opportunities, thanks to the interdisciplinary skills they acquire. This study aims to analyze the factors that affect students' decisions in choosing a specialization in the UHO Public Health Study Program, which is expected to provide insights for curriculum development and strategies to increase learning interest in the field of public health. Methods: The research method uses a quantitative approach with an exploratory research type. The sample in this study is active students of each batch in the public health study program, Faculty of Public Health, Halu Oleo University. The number of samples was 392 respondents. The sampling technique uses Proportionated Stratified Random Sampling. Data analysis using SMARTPLS 4. Results: The results showed that there was no influence of image with a path coefficient output value of 0.040 and a construct value below 1.96 of 0.089 and a p value of 0.373 >0.05; there was an influence of interest with a path coeficient output value of 0.327 and a construct value above 1.96 of 6.854 and a p value of 0.000 <0.05; there was a psychological influence with a path coeficient output value of 0.327 and a construct value above 1.96 0.265 and the construction value above 1.96 is 5.270 and the p value is 0.000 <0.05; There is an influence of lecturers with a path efficiency output value of 0.308 and a construct value above 1.96 which is 6.854 and a p value of 0.000 <0.05 with a student decision in choosing the Public Health study program, Faculty of Public Health, Halu Oleo university. Conclusion: There is an influence of interest, psychology, and lecturers on students' decisions in choosing the Public Health study program and there is no influence on the student's decision in choosing the Public Health study program, Faculty of Public Health, Halu Oleo University. Therefore, the management of the study program needs to improve the quality of academic services and organizational development within the scope of FKM UHO by implementing various organizational development strategies through expanding academic access, providing infrastructure and facilities, and improving human resources. And the faculty needs to develop cross-sector cooperation to improve student competence so that the graduates produced are competent and ready to work

Immediate adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in drive-through COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: A cross-sectional study.

Background & objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented global immunization efforts, with drive-through vaccination campaigns established to expedite and ensure safe coverage. However, research on immediate adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in these settings is limited. This study aims to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of immediate AEFI during drive-through COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using the Sinovac/CoronaVac vaccine Methods This cross-sectional study utilized secondary data from the local vaccine registry managed by the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, from July 27 to September 6, 2021. Participants included individuals aged over 11 yr without underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, or asthma. Key characteristics recorded were age, gender, and AEFI. Results Out of 27,459 registrants, only 20,817 were eligible and received a dose. The median participant age was 20 yr (IQR 10); 47 per cent were male (9,712) and 53 per cent female (11,105). The highest vaccination day was September 6, 2021, with 3,883 doses (18%). Among the 79 participants who experienced AEFI [0.38%; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.30-0.47], the median age was 19 yr (IQR 8); 41 per cent were male (34) and 59 per cent female (48). Systemic adverse events (92%) were more common than local events (6.3%), with dizziness (77.2%) being most prevalent. Interpretation & conclusions The findings of this study suggest that immediate AEFI occurred rarely in the drive-through vaccination setting, indicating that this method appears safe and efficient for COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly in the context of immediate AEFI. Most adverse events were mild, underscoring the importance of preparedness and close monitoring in drive-through vaccination campaign sites to ensure patient safety and enhance vaccine confidence.

Comparing paper-based and mobile application for rank-based peer assessment in interprofessional education: before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundEducation was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and there was a need to adapt the learning approaches to the situation. At the University of Gadjah Mada, many essential soft skills of healthcare professionals are taught using the interprofessional education (IPE) approach on-site. Our university responded to this crisis by offering online classes and similar types of training. Post-administration of the course, a peer-assessment was conducted, and it was used to provide feedback on the work or performance of peers among students. Peer assessment was done using paper-based and a mobile application during COVID-19. This study aimed to share a best practice for the implementation of a rank-based peer-assessment application for longitudinal interprofessional education in the community setting and to compare the score distribution of a rank-based peer-assessment before and after using mobile application.MethodsQuantitative research design was used by processing secondary data on student peer assessment scores from 3 bachelor programs (medicine, nursing, nutritionist) Community and Family Health Care with Interprofessional Education (CFHC-IPE) in Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health, Universitas Gadjah Mada. 4,790 students from 2018 to 2022 (5 years) were tracked before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The assessments carried out were offline, online, and blended learning, respectively. The assessment was carried out using a paper-based method before and during the pandemic, online-based with a mobile application was used. Thus, the peer-assessment was conducted manually or using paper-based method using a 5-rank scoring system. In 2019, the peer assessment was carried out using a mobile application and applied a 10-rank scoring system.ResultsThe rank-based peer assessment can be well implemented to make students assess their friends more objectively, with an average score 82.02 ± 8.68. The rightward shift in the distribution of scores indicates that the average score has improved after using the mobile application compared to before its use. (82.02 ± 8.68 vs. 62.39 ± 11.13, p < 0.05).ConclusionThe implementation of rank-based peer-assessment using a mobile application was well received during and after the pandemic by interprofessional undergraduate students. The online system made the assessment more objective and the average grades were seen to be better.

Development of the ethical behavior scale in nursing

BackgroundStudies about the evaluation of nursing care from the patient’s perspective are becoming more important. Ethic is an essential element in nursing care. Every person deserves to receive nursing care according to ethical principles, regardless of language, religion, race, or gender. In this study aimed to develop an instrument to evaluate the ethical behavior of nurses.MethodsThe methodological study used a mixed research method designed in accordance with the GRAMMS criteria. Qualitative data was obtained through in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were collected using the Ethical Behavior Scale in Nursing (EBSN). This study was conducted in 4 hospitals (nurses) and 3 health faculty (intern nurses/nursing students) in 2022. There are a total of 714 participants. The construct validity of the scale was evaluated with exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). Cronbach’s alpha and item total analysis established the internal consistency. Pearson correlation was used for the relationship between the total scale and sub-dimensions.ResultsCronbach’s alpha coefficient of the EBSN was 0.94. EBSN had 20 items and a five-factor structure which explained 70.45% of the total variance. Principal component analysis and CFA supported the theoretical construct EBSN. Fit measurements (x²/df) was 3.33. Pearson’s correlation coefficient in this data was 0.97.ConclusionThe results of the analysis show the items constituting the scale have validity and reliability criteria that can measure the ethical behavior in nursing profession. It is thought that including activities that will enable nurses to gain positive individual and professional values ​​on ethical issues such as patient rights and patient privacy during the education process will also positively affect their ethical sensitivities. Additionally, in order to increase nurses’ ethical awareness, nursing ethics issues should be included in post-graduation continuing education programs.

Mental Health Literacy and Stigmatizing Attitudes Towards Mental Illness Among Faculty of Health Sciences Students

Introduction: Mental health literacy plays a crucial role in enabling individuals to understand mental illnesses and reduce stigmatizing attitudes. This study aimed to assess the mental health literacy levels of health sciences faculty students, evaluate their stigmatizing attitudes toward mental disorders, and determine the relationship between these variables. Method: The study population consisted of 954 students enrolled in the faculty of health sciences at a university during the 2022-2023 academic year. Using a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error, the sample size was calculated as 274 students, and data collection was completed with 294 participants to account for potential data loss. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Mental Health Literacy Scale, and the Mental Illness Stigma Scale for health professionals. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA were applied for data analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 22 years; 83.7% were female, 94.9% were single, and 29.9% were fourth-year students. The mean mental health literacy score was 101.163±16.570, while the mean stigmatization score was 58.344±11.884. A significant negative and strong correlation was found between mental health literacy and stigmatization (r=-0.75; p

Survey of the Importance of Using Basic Biomedical Science Lecture Guidebooks Containing Personality Types for Health Faculty Students

In higher education, especially in the health sector, a deep understanding of the course material is the key to academic success. In improving the quality of student learning, the use of teaching materials is essential to achieve competency targets. However, each student has a different personality so that their learning style type is different. Based on this, it is necessary to develop more adaptive learning resources that not only include scientific materials, but also pay attention to the different personality types of students. This study aims to explore the importance of using basic biomedical science lecture guidebooks that are tailored to the personality types of students at the Faculty of Health. This research method uses a descriptive survey approach with a purposive sampling technique. A survey was conducted on a number of students to assess the effectiveness and needs of guidebooks designed based on personality types. The survey results showed that most students felt helped by the existence of guides that were in accordance with their learning characteristics, which ultimately improved understanding and academic achievement. It can be concluded that personalized teaching materials according to student personality are useful and needed in the learning process.

Effectiveness of a Novel Global Telemedicine Curriculum for Medical Students.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine collaborated with The Addis Clinic to create a global telemedicine elective for fourth-year medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The elective aimed to promote cross-cultural understanding by providing unique, hands-on telemedicine experience. To assess the effectiveness of the telemedicine elective, four of five medical students and 11 of 12 Kenyan clinical officers completed one-on-one interviews and surveys. Students and global health faculty connected virtually with patients and clinical officers from several rural clinics in Kenya during the 4-week elective. Per elective month, participants of the course included two fourth-year medical students and five Kenyan clinical officers. A medical school elective designed in collaboration with The Addis Clinic, using WhatsApp and Telemedicus platform, in which each medical student virtually assisted a team of Kenyan clinical officers with a variety of active patient cases. Qualitative analysis of interviews with medical students and Kenyan clinical officers yielded themes of increased competency with clinical decision-making and culturally appropriate care delivery. Implementation of a unique global telemedicine elective was feasible and well received by both medical students and clinical officers in Kenya. The elective can be implemented at other institutions with faculty experienced in global health who would like to partner with The Addis Clinic.

Searching for Equity: Strategies for Enhancing Racial/Ethnic Diversity in Applicant Pools for Public Health Faculty Searches.

Low racial/ethnic diversity among public health academics undermines our research, teaching, and practice. One important step for addressing this problem is to increase the diversity of applicant pools for open faculty positions. In this commentary, we share our experience conducting a tenure-track faculty search at a large public university. Through consultation with leaders within and beyond our school, we identified strategies to maintain a diverse pool of applicants across the search process. These strategies were to (a) convene and train well-rounded teams, including equity advocates, (b) write and advertise job announcements to welcome diverse applicants, (c) set and monitor data-informed diversity goals, and (d) evaluate applicants equitably. For each strategy, we share available data and resources. Although much work remains, search committees can benefit from emerging best practices in hiring to recruit applicants who better reflect the vibrant diversity of the students and communities that public health seeks to serve.

Delivering and evaluating a behaviour change communication training programme for farm advisors

Farm advisors provide knowledge and support to farmers, to help them change their on-farm practices or behaviours, with a view to improving the farm’s overall sustainability and competitiveness(1,2). In this way, advisors can be viewed as agents of change(3). In order to fulfil their role as agents of change, advisors must possess sufficient knowledge of human psychology and behavioural science, which is the discipline involved with understanding, predicting and changing behaviour(4,5). Despite this, within advisory education and professional development, it is considered that greater emphasis is given to advisory technical knowledge acquisition, than how to work effectively with others to support learning and change(6). Accordingly, this study aims to implement a behaviour change communication training programme for farm advisors and evaluate its efficacy. As much work within the health and social care field has been undertaken to support health related behaviour change, this study aims to adapt a behaviour change communication training programme originally developed for use within this field to the advisory setting(7,8).A mixed-methods case study under the pragmatic worldview was conducted. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Research Ethics Committee at Queen’s University Belfast. The programme was adapted from the ‘MAP of Health Behaviour Change Learning Programme’ (MAP) created by NHS Education for Scotland(9). Eight farm advisors completed the programme delivered by health psychologists, which involved the completion of a 40-minute online module and a one-day in-person workshop about the principles of person-centred communication and behaviour change techniques. The Brinkerhoff training evaluation model guided the evaluation(10). Quantitative questionnaire data, including perceived knowledge and confidence, was descriptively analysed. Qualitative data including surveys, logs and focus group/interview data was thematically analysed.Descriptive analysis found advisors scored highly in perceived knowledge (mean: 5.5) and confidence (mean: 5.5) post-training (measured on 6-point Likert scale). Thematic analysis determined three themes: valuable activities, takeaways, and programme evolution. Advisors valued open discussions and role-playing activities. A key takeaway was how to structure conversations about change; firstly, identifying a person’s stage of change, then delivering behaviour change techniques tailored to that stage. Further training on how to support individuals to explore and build motivation towards change was deemed beneficial.MAP was shown to be an effective training programme with applications in agriculture. This study offers insights for those involved in advisory education. Incorporating behaviour change communication courses into advisory programmes helps advisors develop knowledge surrounding the psychology behind behaviour change and additional competencies in supporting behaviour change at the farm level.

The impact on NZ university academic staffing over the pandemic years

The New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) sought information from all eight New Zealand (NZ) universities via Official Information Act (OIA) requests. The requests were for academic staff numbers on 1st May 2019 and 1st May 2023, capturing data before and after Covid-19 lockdowns. We requested numbers for permanent, fixed-term and casual academic staff for each faculty onthose dates with a breakdown of men, women and gender unknown/diverse. The aim was to look for impacts over this period on staff numbers in the sciences and how staff in different types of employment and gender were affected, but we also compared this data to other subject areas taught and researched at NZ universities. Since May 2023 there have been several additional tranches of layoffs at multiple universities which will not be captured in the data we present here. However, while it is arguable whether these new layoffs are due to the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic and subsequent global financial turmoil, we can see that certain subject areas ofacademia have already felt the effects in May 2023. Health faculties fared the best over the period, which might reflect the need for health research and development of the health workforce during a global pandemic. However, these gains were accompanied by large losses in humanities, education, and arts, as well as other subject areas such as fundamental sciences and engineering.

Could ‘flipping’ professional development engage teaching academics? Perceptions of authenticity and relevance

ABSTRACT Improving performance in learning and teaching through professional development (PD) of academic staff is a major goal of higher education institutions. However, gaps between strategy and implementation often hinder progress. Barriers include departmental cultures that do not value teaching, and insufficient attention to how academics perceive their PD needs. For decades, the significance of informal and social learning in the workplace has been known, yet academic development largely continues to be provided through formal instructional activities, focusing on individual development and with reports of low engagement. In this reflective study, we make use of two surveys of academic staff PD preferences in a STEM and health faculty of an Australian university, carried out in 2020 and 2021 for planning purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic but also in the context of a previous faculty re-think of academic development. Academic PD might be ‘flipped’ by addressing needs with recognition of perceptions of authenticity and relevance with informal, peer-to-peer workplace learning to complement formal activities. Understanding motivation for change is essential for engagement.

Exploring the Impact of Mentoring on Faculty Engagement and Retention Among Behavioral Health Faculty in Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Mentoring plays an integral role in the success of faculty. This study explores faculty access to formal and informal mentorship and how mentorship impacts faculty engagement. Data are from 2020 to 2023 administrations of the StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey. We compare clinically active faculty with a PhD or other health doctorate (OHD) in departments of psychiatry and neurology (Doctoral-PN) with both faculty with an MD or equivalent degree in those departments (Physician-PN), and with faculty with a PhD or OHD in other clinical departments (Doctoral-Other). Psychologists who are active in clinical care are represented in these departments although their representation likely varies by institution. Forty-four percent of Doctoral-PN faculty received formal mentoring and 65% received informal mentoring. Those receiving formal mentoring were more satisfied with professional development opportunities and reported increased understanding of promotion than those who were not. They were also more satisfied with their department and would recommend their medical school to others. The literature to date acknowledges the challenges to professional growth and advancement faced by Doctoral-PN faculty, including psychologists, practicing in academic health centers. This paper adds to previous research by presenting data on organizational outcomes associated with mentoring for these faculty.

Unveiling the Bioactive Phytochemicals of Momordica charantia Leaves and Their Antibacterial Effects

Article Unveiling the Bioactive Phytochemicals of Momordica charantia Leaves and Their Antibacterial Effects Muhammad Shehu Giwa 1, Basira Ibrahim 1, Fatima Musa 1 and Emad M. Abdallah 2,3,* 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, College of Science, Computing and Engineering, Kaduna State University, 800283 Kaduna, Nigeria 2 Department of Biology, College of Science, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia 3 Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN, Putra Nilai, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. * Correspondence: emad100sdl@yahoo.com Received: 21 September 2024; Revised: 9 October 2024; Accepted: 11 October 2024; Published: 16 October 2024 Abstract: Momordica charantia is widely cultivated in Zaria, Nigeria, and holds a prominent place in traditional medicine. Its leaves, fruits, and seeds are known to be rich in bioactive compounds and are commonly employed to treat various infections and diseases. This study aimed to investigate the bioactive components and antibacterial properties of methanolic leaf extracts and their fractions. Phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, steroids, and terpenoids. The methanolic extract was fractionated into n-butanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform fractions. The methanolic extract exhibited superior antibacterial activity compared to its fractions, suggesting potential synergistic effects among the plant’s constituents. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated using well-diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Salmonella typhi was the most susceptible bacterium, with zones of inhibition of 25.00 ± 0.10 mm, MIC of 12.5 ± 0.82 mg/mL, and MBC of 50 ± 0.22 mg/mL. This was followed by Escherichia coli (18.77 ± 0.25 mm, MIC: 50 ± 0.53 mg/mL, MBC: 100 ± 0.82 mg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (14.13 ± 0.91 mm, MIC: 50 ± 0.23 mg/mL, MBC: 100 ± 0.48 mg/mL). Among the fractions, the n-butanol fraction demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity. Subsequent analysis of this fraction using GC-MS identified key compounds, including 2-pentanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-, n-amyl isovalerate, 2(5H)-furanone, 3,5,5-trimethyl-, furan, tetrahydro-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-, and 3-tetradecanol acetate. In conclusion, the methanolic extract followed by n-butanol fraction of M. charantia exhibited significant antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria such as S. typhi and E. coli. Further research is recommended to isolate and characterize the bioactive compounds responsible for this activity.

Child maltreatment and insomnia symptoms among Chinese university students: the buffering role of self-efficacy.

Insomnia symptoms represent a significant public health concern, as it engenders substantial long-term health consequences. Considerable research has established the detrimental impacts of child maltreatment on sleep problems among university students. However, the role of self-efficacy in the association between childhood maltreatment and insomnia remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the associations between child maltreatment and insomnia symptoms among university students, and to investigate whether self-efficacy moderated the effects of child maltreatment on insomnia symptoms. A total of 2014 participants with random cluster sampling method were recruited from Jinan University in Guangzhou, China, from October 2022 to November 2022. Adjusting for covariates, the results of multiple logistic regression indicated that the participants with the experience of any type of child maltreatment (odds ratio [OR] 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63-3.07), childhood emotional abuse (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.95-3.41), childhood emotional neglect (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.87-1.54), childhood physical abuse (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.60-2.8), childhood physical neglect (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.64-2.92), childhood sexual abuse (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.46-2.68) were more likely to report insomnia symptoms than those without. Individuals reporting one-two types and three-five types of child maltreatment were 1.81 times (95% CI 1.30-2.52) and 3.77 times (95% CI 2.58-5.50) more likely to report insomnia symptoms than those reporting zero types of child maltreatment, respectively. Furthermore, robust linear regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy moderated the associations between child maltreatment and insomnia symptoms (β = 0.007, 95% CI 0.004-0.010). These findings underscore the need for integrated mental health education, support services, and faculty training to address the impact of child maltreatment on insomnia symptoms among university students. Policy recommendations include advocating for comprehensive mental health services, incorporating self-efficacy initiatives, and fostering community engagement for a holistic approach to student well-being.