Healthy Life Research Articles

Healthy Life Awareness, Blood Pressure Awareness and Insight Among Adult Individuals: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

To measure healthy life awareness, blood pressure awareness and insight levels, along with their predisposing factors among adult individuals. A population-based cross-sectional study. The population consisted of adult individuals in a rural district of a city in Türkiye. Voluntary individuals who visited the population screening, organized as the May Measurement Month activity, were invited to the study (n=290). The data were collected by a questionnaire, the Healthy Life Awareness Scale (HeLAS), and the Blood Pressure Awareness and Insight Scale (BASIS). Descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. The mean scores of the HeLAS and the BASIS were 49.62±8.30 and 2.89±1.43, respectively. Income level, regular physical activity habits, and formerly being diagnosed with hypertension were positively associated with ahealthy life awareness level. Former diagnosis of hypertension, regular medication usage, and being unemployed were the significant predisposing factors of blood pressure awareness and insight level. Most adult individuals displayed a moderate level of healthy life awareness and a low level of blood pressure awareness and insight. Nurses could take on the leading role in developing healthy lifestyle habits among individuals, ensure medication treatment adherence, and prevent hypertension prevalence.

Physiological Review of Ajeerna in the Development of Various Diseases

According to World Health Organization, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In Ayurveda also, health is nothing but harmonious balance in Doshas, Dhatus, Malas as well as Agni alongside a pleasant state of Atma, Manas and Indriya. Food and lifestyle plays important role in maintenance of health. Out of which food is most important factor for sustenance of healthy life and ensuring physiological function in human body. Food is not only essential for our physical wellbeing but it also nourishes mind. Digestion and assimilation of food is immensely important otherwise it can lead to diseases of gastrointestinal tract. Ajeerna means indigestion which is the first biomarker of malfunctioning of Jathaaragni. According to Charak Samhita, weak state of Jathaaragni (Agnimandya) is the root cause of all disease. Similarly, Madhav nidan also has mentioned that if Ajeerna is left untreated can lead to many diseases. So process of Ajeerna must be blocked by following the correct diet according to an individual's Prakriti and with proper medication treatment and lifestyle modifications. For the prevention of Ajeerna, Acharya Charak has mentioned dietary rules in the form of Ashtau ahar Vidhi Vishesh Ayatana and Acharya Shushrut has mentioned Dashvidha Ahara Vidhi vidhan. By following these guidelines and making thoughtful adjustments to diet and lifestyle, individuals can prevent the onset of Ajeerna and related diseases, ensuring the maintenance of balanced Agni and overall health.

The use of alternative protein sources in quail diets: A review

The growth of the Earth’s population and people’s striving for healthy life style lead to an increase in the global demand for protein food. Quails are a valuable source of protein, which is thought to reduce the risk of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Inclusion of alternative protein sources into the composition of feeds for quails is an answer to ecological problems associated with the use of traditional protein sources. Plants, insects, algae and mushrooms are among alternative protein sources that are mentioned most frequently in scientific studies. The aim of this review is analysis of scientific literature dedicated to the use of plants, insects, algae and mushrooms as alternative protein sources in feedstuff for quails. Plant sources of protein, such as soya and maize, are successfully used in feedstuff production. However, studies have shown that addition of other sources, including by-products of crop husbandry, will allow increasing sustainability and reducing the dependence of the industry on traditional raw materials. Flour from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae is the promising and most widely studied source of protein among insects and can positively affect productivity and health of quails. Among algae, it is necessary to mention spirulina (Spirulina platensis and Arthrospira platensis). Upon addition of 4% of the spirullina powder, productivity parameters in poultry increased. Mushrooms are described as a promising protein source in feedstuff that is also capable of ensuring an increase in productivity and quality of poultry meat. Today, however, there are few studies on this subject. It is recommended to focus further studies of the application of alternative protein sources in quail diets on questions of safety of their use and more detailed analysis of economic feasibility.

A comparison Study on User Acceptance of Digital Healthcare Services Among M40 and B40 Community in Selangor: A Study on SELangkah Application

Over time, the global digital healthcare industry has started to take shape with the aim of offering benefits to all residents. Much effort has been put into improving the effectiveness and accessibility of the healthcare system in Malaysia for the benefit of its people. The Selangor state government is working to make all communities safer and healthier places, and one of its initiatives is the SELangkah application. Nonetheless, there are still concern over the take up of digital healthcare services among citizens especially those in the low-income and middle-income communities; B40 and M40. Previous study has shown that different economic status has an impact towards the acceptance level in technology services. Therefore, this study utilises qualitative research method to investigate the state of user acceptance in digital healthcare services among B40 and M40 users in Selangor through the case study of SELangkah application. Focus group discussion was conducted with over 10 participants from Selangor to evaluate and compare the acceptance level of digital healthcare services between both income group with the instrument development were guided by the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (ETAM). The area of group discussion covers users’ perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude, behaviour, external challenges, and actual use. The findings show that both M40 and B40 group find the application to be beneficial; in addition, they believe there should be more awareness campaign to promote the application to the public. A few clear differences between the acceptance level of the two groups would be the simplicity of the language used in the application, the recommended features, and future needs between the two groups. M40 group find no difficulties to navigate the application but B40 group mention that the used words can be simplify. While M40 group recommended for gamification and high engagement features; the B40 group is looking more at practicality such as more information or linkages to nearby clinic. Nevertheless, both groups did not find major difficulties and they see a lot of benefit of the application. This will form the fundamental basis for future research efforts aimed at closing the technology acceptance gap and enabling a wider population to use technology as a tool to have a healthier life.

Perceptions, Barriers and Facilitators Regarding Nutritional Care for Patients with Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia: A Focus Group Study Among Healthcare Professionals

Nutrition and nutritional care are essential for optimal outcomes, and, therefore of importance for patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) given their high risk of complications. However, insight is lacking in how healthcare professionals directly involved in the care of patients with CLTI perceive nutritional care, as well as in the perceived barriers and facilitators regarding optimal nutritional care. In this qualitative study with a phenomenological approach, 3 online focus groups were conducted with various healthcare professionals directly involved in the care of patients with CLTI. Sample size was guided by information power. Focus group recordings were transcribed verbatim, and reflexive thematic analysis was performed. Seventeen healthcare professionals participated, including vascular surgeons, fellows in vascular surgery, a medical doctor and researcher, nurse specialized in wound care, general nurse, physical therapists, dietitians, and nutrition assistants. Four themes were generated: (1) nutritional care is crucial for optimal clinical outcomes and a healthy life, (2) insufficient attention to undernutrition and nutritional care by healthcare professionals, (3) patient-related factors challenge healthcare professionals in providing nutritional care, and (4) need for optimizing the organizational process related to nutritional care. Perceived barriers regarding nutritional care included knowledge deficits, nutritional care not being part of the healthcare professionals' routine, missing tools to identify undernutrition, patient-related factors, and time constraints. Facilitators regarding nutritional care included more scientific evidence regarding the effect of nutritional care on clinical outcomes and optimization of organizational processes related to nutritional care. Healthcare professionals perceive nutritional care as important for optimal outcomes, but nutritional care is not routinely implemented in the care of patients with CLTI. This lack of implementation of nutritional care may be due to the barriers perceived in various domains. The findings of this study stress the need to optimize nutritional care, with the aim of improving outcomes in the CLTI population.

Population-Level Distribution, Risk Factors, and Burden of Mortality and Disability-Adjusted Life Years Attributable to Major Noncommunicable Diseases in Western Europe (1990-2021): Ecological Analysis.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and neoplasms are leading causes of mortality worldwide. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the mortality burden and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to CVDs and neoplasms in Western Europe, investigate associated risk factors, and identify regional disparities. Additionally, the study evaluates the effectiveness of the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in promoting healthier lives in the region. The study collected data on mortality and DALYs due to CVDs and cancers from 24 Western European countries using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The analysis explored age, sex, and country-specific patterns, as well as risk factors contributing to these deaths. Additionally, the study examined time trends by calculating the annual percent change in mortality rates from 1990 to 2021 by region and cause. In 2021, CVDs and neoplasms accounted for 27.8% and 27.1% of total deaths in Western Europe, with age-standardized death rates of 106.8 and 125.8 per 100,000, respectively. The top two CVDs in this region were ischemic heart disease and stroke, with age-standardized death rates of 47.27 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 50.42-41.45) and 27.06 (95% UI 29.17-23.00), respectively. Similarly, the top two neoplasms were lung cancer and colorectal cancer, with age-standardized death rates of 26.4 (95% UI 27.69-24.47) and 15.1 (95% UI 16.25-13.53), respectively. Between 1990 and 2021, CVD mortality rates decreased by 61.9%, while cancer rates decreased by 28.27%. Finland had the highest CVD burden (39.5%), and Monaco had the highest rate of cancer-related deaths (34.8%). Gender differences were observed, with males experiencing a higher burden of both CVDs and cancer. Older individuals were also more at risk. Smoking had a stronger impact on CVD mortality and DALYs in males, while a higher Human Development Index was associated with increased cancer deaths and DALYs in females. The study findings highlight the substantial burden of NCDs, particularly CVDs and cancer, in Western Europe. This underscores the critical need for targeted interventions and effective implementation of the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs to achieve the goal of ensuring healthy lives for all.

Using the theoretical domains framework to identify the sociocultural barriers and enablers to access and use of primary and maternal healthcare services by rural Bangladeshi women: a qualitative study

In Bangladesh, increasing the use of primary healthcare (PHC) and maternal healthcare (MHC) services is the main focus of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-3, ensuring healthy lives and wellbeing for all. However, little is known about the sociocultural barriers and enablers to accessing and using PHC and MHC services among rural Bangladeshi women. This qualitative study aimed to identify sociocultural barriers and enablers to accessing and using PHC and MHC services among Bangladeshi rural women by using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). This exploratory qualitative study used focus groups and interviews to collect data from women (28), their husbands (8) and healthcare providers (18). Data were analysed using Framework approach underpinned by the TDF. Four main themes emerged from data analysis, of which key barriers were summarised in three themes: (i) family barriers including lack of family reinforcement, (ii) social barriers including gender of healthcare providers, and (iii) cultural barriers including superstition to access and use of healthcare services. The remaining theme, sociocultural support, included information about key enablers, such as family support, neighbourhood connection and media influence. Several key behavioural constructs that aligned with the TDF need to be targeted when developing an intervention to promote access and use of PHC and MHC services.

Trends in Healthy Life Years Between 2005 and 2019 in 31 European Countries: The Compression or Expansion of Morbidity?

Our objective was to assess morbidity trends in Europe and to classify European countries based on population ageing theories: the compression, expansion and dynamic equilibrium of morbidity. The proportions of healthy life years were calculated for 31 European countries for the period 2005-2019 based on life expectancy values and healthy life years at age 65years adopted from the Eurostat database. European countries were classified according to morbidity patterns applying the standard deviation distance from the average of relative change method between the selected years. A large degree of variation in terms of life expectancy and healthy life years at age 65years was determined between 2005 and 2019. While the life expectancy differences between men and women were consistent across all the European countries, the gender gap concerning healthy life years was more diverse. Approximately one-third of the countries fell into the expansion, compression and dynamic equilibrium categories, respectively. Significant variations were identified in healthy life year trends across European countries, which underscores the need for preventive strategies.

Trends in Research on the Concept of Active Ageing: A Bibliometric Analysis

Objective: This study aims to provide insights into the scientific activity in the field by conducting a bibliometric analysis of studies examining the concept of active ageing in the Web of Science_WoS database. Methods: The research includes studies retrieved from the WoS database during a search conducted on September 2, 2023, containing keywords such as "active ageing," "active and healthy ageing," "healthy and active ageing," and "ageing well." The study examined various characteristics of these studies, including their type, publication frequency, relationship with sustainable development goals, country of origin, subject, journals, co-authors, author citations, and keywords. Bibliometric analyses were conducted using VOSviewer software. Results: Out of the 1740 studies retrieved, materials such as editorials, book reviews, and conference abstracts (n=423) were excluded, leaving a total of 1317 studies for database inclusion, comprising 1203 articles and 114 reviews. Among the 1160 studies on Sustainable Development Goals, 15 out of 17 goals were covered. It was determined that 71% of the studies addressed the "Healthy and Quality Life" goal. Spain had the highest number of publications (n=201), while the United Kingdom received the most citations (n=3073). According to bibliographic matching analysis, the Gerontologist journal was identified as the most influential journal in the field. Conclusion: The number and impact of research on active ageing have increased over time. The importance and impact of research in this field hold great potential to enhance the quality of life of the future elderly population and stimulate their societal contributions.

Exploring the nexus between post-traumatic stress disorder and patriarchy: A gender-based variation.

Respected Editor, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder resulting from witnessing or experiencing trauma, aggravated by repeated exposure to stress and anxiety. We aim to highlight the underrepresentation of PTSD in a third-world country, its gender-specific variations, and its disproportionate prevalence in women in a male-dominated society. According to recent studies, gender-based differences in PTSD are reported as 2:1, favouring women. Statistics reveal that men face more traumatic incidents, ranging from violence, bloodshed, and natural disasters.1. Yet women are more susceptible to PTSD because men, encountering such occurrences regularly, perceive it as a norm and find it easier to cope with it than their female counterparts, who happen to have a more significant post-trauma recovery time, which may be a result of fluctuating gonadal hormone levels in young females, as hypothesized by recent studies.2 Furthermore, Pimlott-Kubiak’s theory of trauma and PTSD (2003) suggests that patriarchy exacerbates mental health disorders in women as a vast majority of victims of abuse happen to have their spouses as assailants, categorizing as intimate partner violence.3 Being considered a taboo, women who have experienced assault are silenced due to stigmatization. They become a target of victim shaming and are discouraged from discussing the matter. With no therapy, self-blame ensues, along with a wide spectrum of symptoms of PTSD, like borderline personality disorder, flashbacks, eating disorders, disassociation, and depression, forcing the ‘labelled’ women to sever all positive connections and distance themselves from their loved ones due to fear of being judged.4 Complex Chronic PTSD may result from witnessing or experiencing assault since childhood in an abusive household from an aggressive male, which can trigger mental health issues when dealing with life's challenges as adults.5 Failing to find any discussion on this topic in medical research databases including PubMed and PakMediNet, solidifies our point that lack of awareness and research about the adverse effects of patriarchy on the mental health of women living in a developing country leads to a society where negligence prevails, fueling a vicious cycle of psychological disorders, passed on from generation to generation. Being a disorder that haunts victims for life, PTSD should be tackled with awareness, therapies, and emotional support to ensure a healthy life for all women. More research should be conducted to highlight this issue so that people can talk about such concerns more comfortably and the harm caused by PTSD in Pakistani society can be minimized.

Holomics and Artificial Intelligence-Driven Precision Oncology for Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Addressing Challenges of a Rare and Aggressive Disease.

Background/Objective: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare yet aggressive form of thyroid cancer comprising a disproportionate share of thyroid cancer-related mortalities, despite its low prevalence. MTC differs from other differentiated thyroid malignancies due to its heterogeneous nature, presenting complexities in both hereditary and sporadic cases. Traditional management guidelines, which are designed primarily for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), fall short in providing the individualized care required for patients with MTC. In recent years, the sheer volume of data generated from clinical evaluations, radiological imaging, pathological assessments, genetic mutations, and immunological profiles has made it humanly impossible for clinicians to simultaneously analyze and integrate these diverse data streams effectively. This data deluge necessitates the adoption of advanced technologies to assist in decision-making processes. Holomics, which is an integrated approach that combines various omics technologies, along with artificial intelligence (AI), emerges as a powerful solution to address these challenges. Methods: This article reviews how AI-driven precision oncology can enhance the diagnostic workup, staging, risk stratification, management, and follow-up care of patients with MTC by processing vast amounts of complex data quickly and accurately. Articles published in English language and indexed in Pubmed were searched. Results: AI algorithms can identify patterns and correlations that may not be apparent to human clinicians, thereby improving the precision of personalized treatment plans. Moreover, the implementation of AI in the management of MTC enables the collation and synthesis of clinical experiences from across the globe, facilitating a more comprehensive understanding of the disease and its treatment outcomes. Conclusions: The integration of holomics and AI in the management of patients with MTC represents a significant advancement in precision oncology. This innovative approach not only addresses the complexities of a rare and aggressive disease but also paves the way for global collaboration and equitable healthcare solutions, ultimately transforming the landscape of treatment and care of patients with MTC. By leveraging AI and holomics, we can strive toward making personalized healthcare accessible to every individual, regardless of their economic status, thereby improving overall survival rates and quality of life for MTC patients worldwide. This global approach aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages.

Training and mentoring of Health Workers and Cadres of Bengkulu City Health Center in Monitoring The Growth and Development of Toddlers with The SDIDTK Application

Monitoring children's growth and development is one of the basic programs implemented by Community health center (Puskesmas) to ensure a healthy life and improve children's welfare. The Bengkulu City Health Office identified limited human resources and a lack of supporting tools as inhibiting factors in achieving SDIDTK service targets. The service was carried out through training on Growth and Development Monitoring with the Android-based SDIDTK Application and field assistance. The training was held on July 24-25, 2024 with 36 participants consisting of 17 health workers, 17 cadres from 17 health centers, and 2 staff from the Family Welfare Division of the Bengkulu City Health Office at the Campus 4 Hall of Bengkulu University. The results of the pre and post-test of the training showed that 94% of participants increased their knowledge. The results of the assessment of skills in using the application showed that 100% of participants were able to do as directed. SDIDTK Kit assistance was delivered to 17 Puskesmas with the signing of the Minutes by the Head of Service implementer and staff of the Health Division of the Bengkulu City Health Office. Field assistance was carried out for 2 weeks after the training in 17 Puskesmas working areas.

Series Introduction

THE FUSED health education series was developed as a one-stop guide for developing a quality curriculum for teaching health education. This first, two-part article introduces a new approach to teaching health education called THE FUSED Technique. THE stands for Teaching Health Education and FUSED stands for Functional (data driven) information, Using health-behavior outcomes (HBOs), Skill-based cues, Engaging teaching strategies, and Daily application in developing health-literate K-12 students. THE FUSED Technique was developed to teach health skills and content to today's K-12 learners. It focuses on lifelong health literacy and helps bridge standards-based and skill-based health education. At its core, FUSED is a skill-based health education teaching technique that engages K-12 students by using a variety of participatory methods to ensure that students have ample opportunities to practice and develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to lead healthy lives. Part 1 of this article describes how to build a FUSED unit and lesson, and Part 2 will describe how to implement a FUSED lesson.

Processing of social closeness in the human brain

Healthy social life requires relationships in different levels of personal closeness. Based on ethological, sociological, and psychological evidence, social networks have been divided into five layers, gradually increasing in size and decreasing in personal closeness. Is this division also reflected in brain processing of social networks? During functional MRI, 21 participants compared their personal closeness to different individuals. We examined the brain volume showing differential activation for varying layers of closeness and found that a disproportionately large portion of this volume (80%) exhibited preference for individuals closest to participants, while separate brain regions showed preference for all other layers. Moreover, this bipartition reflected cortical preference for different sizes of physical spaces, as well as distinct subsystems of the default mode network. Our results support a division of the neurocognitive processing of social networks into two patterns depending on personal closeness, reflecting the unique role intimately close individuals play in our social lives.

Prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adults in Ghana: a population-based cross-sectional study in the Volta Region

BackgroundVaccines have been instrumental in preventing up to three million deaths globally, according to the WHO. Despite this, COVID-19 vaccine uptake has faced challenges due to vaccine issues, production difficulties, and various socio-demographic, economic, structural, and cultural factors.Objective/aimThis study examined the factors influencing vaccine hesitancy among adults aged 18 and older in the Volta Region of Ghana.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 590 adults from three districts using multistage sampling. Respondents aged 18 years and above were recruited using a structured questionnaire and an interviewer-administered approach. Data analysis was conducted using STATA version 16. The relationship between the dependent and independent variables was assessed through logistic regression analysis, with statistical significance determined at a p-value of less than 0.05.ResultsA 42.5% rate of vaccine hesitancy was found. Key predictors included being an artisan (aOR = 1.99), a trader (aOR = 3.64), lacking nearby healthcare centres (aOR = 1.52), residing in rural areas (aOR = 0.41), earning less than 500 cedis (aOR = 0.57), and having a larger household size (aOR = 0.37). Not receiving information on vaccine side effects from health personnel (aOR = 5.6) was also a significant factor (p < 0.05).ConclusionTo enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake and advance towards ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages (SDG 3), healthcare interventions designed by health professionals should address these major predictors.

Literature Study: The Role of Health Cadres in Stunting Prevention to Support the Realisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's)

Introduction: Stunting is one of the chronic nutritional problems of global concern, including in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) agenda. In Indonesia, stunting is still a major health problem and contributor to child morbidity and mortality. To overcome this problem, prevention efforts are needed that involve various parties, including health cadres at the community level. This study aims to analyze the role of health cadres in stunting prevention to support the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). Methods: This study used a literature study by collecting and reviewing previous research, especially looking for information about the involvement of the role of health cadres in stunting prevention. Results: Health cadres have a role and function as the main driver at the community level to provide education, monitor children's nutritional status, and conduct nutrition intervention activities. Through increased capacity and knowledge, health cadres can help reduce the prevalence of stunting and support the achievement of the SDGs, namely ending hunger and ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all. Conclusion: Support and commitment from all parties are needed to strengthen the role of health cadres in supporting the realization of the SDGs. With the right support and good collaboration, this program can have a significant impact in improving the health and welfare of the community.

Evolving trends, regional differences, determinants, and disease sources of provincial-level health inequalities in china 1990–2019: a temporal convergence and novel triple decomposition analysis

BackgroundPromoting health equity has been a worldwide goal, but serious challenges remain globally and within China. Multiple decomposition of the sources and determinants of health inequalities has significant implications for narrowing health inequalities and improve health equity.MethodsLife expectancy (LE), healthy life expectancy (HALE), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates in 31 provinces of mainland China were selected as health status indicators, obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database. Temporal convergence analysis was used to test the evolving trends of health status. Dagum’s Gini coefficient decomposition was used to decompose the overall Gini coefficient based on intraregional and interregional differences. Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition was used to calculate contributions of determinants to interregional differences. The factor-decomposed Gini coefficient was used to analyze the absolute and marginal contribution of each component to overall Gini coefficients.ResultsFrom 1990-2019, China witnessed notable improvements in health status measured by LE, HALE, ASMR and age-standardized DALY rates.Nevertheless, the three regions (East, Central and West) exhibited significant inter-regional differences in health status, with the differences between the East and West being the largest. The adjusted short-term conditional β-convergence model indicated that the inter-provincial differences in LE, HALE, ASMR, and age-standardized DALY rates significantly converged at annual rates of 0.31%, 0.35%, 0.19%, and 0.28% over 30 years. The overall Gini coefficients of LE, HALE, and age-standardized DALY rates decreased, while the ASMR exhibited an opposite trend. Inter-regional and intra-regional differences accounted for >70% and<30% of overall Gini coefficients, respectively. Attribution analysis showed that socioeconomic determinants explained 85.77% to 91.93% of the eastern-western differences between 2010-2019, followed by health system determinants explaining 7.79% to 11.61%. The source-analysis of Gini coefficients of ASMR and age-standardized DALY rates revealed that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) made the largest and increasing absolute contribution, while communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNNDs) had a diminishing and lower impact. However, NCDs exerted a negative marginal effect on the Gini coefficient, whereas CMNNDs exhibited a positive marginal effect, indicating that controlling CMNNDs may be more effective in reducing health inequities.ConclusionsRegional differences are a major source of health inequities in China. Prioritizing prevention and control of CMNNDs, rather than NCDs, may yield more pronounced impacts on reducing health inequalities from the perspective of marginal effect, although NCDs remain the largest absolute contributor to health inequalities.

Nurses' perceptions regarding their own professionalism attributes to quality neonatal, infant and under-5 childcare.

Professional nurses are trained to provide quality care. Despite the professional nurses' acquired skill and professionalism attributes, the neonate, infant, and under-5-child mortality rates are high in sub-Saharan Africa. This health care report indicates that sub-Saharan Africa countries face a challenge in reaching the Sustainable Development Goal number 3 by the year 2030 (that is, ensuring healthy lives and reducing the mortality rates of children under 5). It has been reported that professionalism in nursing can improve the quality of care and positively change the health outcomes. This study employed a qualitative exploratory, descriptive design to explore and describe professional nurses' own professionalism attributes to provide quality care to neonates, infants, and under-5 children in the North West province in South Africa. Eight naïve sketches of an all-inclusive sample of invited professional nurses (N = 25; n = 8) were received. The naïve sketch questions were based on the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario's professionalism attributes. Tesch's eight steps of data-analysis were used, with an independent coder's assistance. The categories included (1) knowledge, (2) spirit of inquiry, (3) accountability, (4) autonomy, (5) advocacy, (6) collegiality and collaboration, (7) ethics and values, and (8) professional reputation, and each category generated sub-themes. Professional nurses are aware of their own professionalism attributes in quality of care of neonates, infants and under-5 children; the 'innovation and visionary' attribute did not emerge, which should receive more attention to strengthen quality care. However, a new attribute, 'professional reputation', reflecting a South African culture-orientated attribute, emerged from the data collected.

Pemberdayaan Siswa SD Tentang Keterampilan Cuci Tangan di Purbowangi Buayan Kebumen

Introduction: Efforts to change health behavior to support an increase in levels are carried out through a Clean and Healthy Living Behavior development program, one of which is washing hands. The low level of parental behavior in training children to wash their hands with soap before and after eating is the reason why it is important to wash their hands. Objective: The purpose of this service was to empower students to improve hand washing skills for students at Elementary School 4 Purbowangi Kebumen. Method: This public service was conducted by providing counseling using the correct hand washing demonstration method to 94 students, the activity steps include: the staff observes the hand washing skills of students before being given treatment (pretest), then provides counseling using a demonstration method about hand washing. The next step is for the service to observe the hand washing skills of students after being given treatment (posttest). Result: The results of this community service activity showed that the majority of participants were male, 51 students (54.3%), 33 (35.1%) aged at most 10 years. Hand washing skills before and after being given the intervention improved. This is evident from the results of the average hand washing skill before the demonstration was 41.0904 (poor) and the average hand washing skill after the demonstration was 96.2234 (very good). Conclusion: Activities to empower elementary school students regarding hand washing skills went smoothly and was able to improve the skills of all students in washing their hands.

Enhanced detection of diabetes mellitus using novel ensemble feature engineering approach and machine learning model

Diabetes is a persistent health condition led by insufficient use or inappropriate use of insulin in the body. If left undetected, it can lead to further complications involving organ damage such as heart, lungs, and eyes. Timely detection of diabetes helps obtain the right medication, diet, and exercise plan to lead a healthy life. ML approach has been utilized to obtain rapid and reliable diabetes detection, however, existing approaches suffer from the use of limited datasets, lack of generalizability, and lower accuracy. This study proposes a novel feature extraction approach to overcome these limitations by using an ensemble of convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) models. Multiple datasets are combined to make a larger dataset for experiments and multiple features are utilized for investigating the efficacy of the proposed approach. Features from the extra tree classifier, CNN, and LSTM are also considered for comparison. Experimental results reveal the superb performance of CNN-LSTM-based features with random forest model obtaining a 0.99 accuracy score. This performance is further validated by comparison with existing approaches and k-fold cross-validation which shows the proposed approach provides robust results.