Hygiene Issues Research Articles

Dukungan Keluarga Berhubungan dengan Personal Hygiene pada Lansia di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Binanga

Elderly refers to a condition where an organism has reached maturity in function and size and has undergone changes over time. Personal hygiene issues among the elderly often arise due to various physical, psychological, and environmental factors. Personal hygiene is a fundamental step in maintaining health, as a clean body can minimize the risk of contracting diseases, particularly those related to poor personal hygiene. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between family support and personal hygiene among the elderly in the Binanga Health Center working area. The research employed an analytical correlation design, emphasizing the relationship between variables or between independent and dependent variables. The study results indicate a significant relationship between family support and the personal hygiene of the elderly, as shown by the Chi-square test result with a p-value of 0.000 or α<0.05. This study demonstrates that elderly individuals who receive adequate physical, emotional, and informational support from their families tend to have better personal hygiene. These findings can serve as a foundation for developing elderly health programs, such as educating families on the importance of their support and role in maintaining the cleanliness of the elderly at the community level.

The history of the development of atmospheric air hygiene in historical milestones and persons of the A.N. Sysin Institute

This article presents a retrospective analysis of the origin and further development of domestic atmospheric hygiene, closely intertwined with the history of the A.N. Sysin Research Institute of Human Ecology and Environmental Hygiene since the beginning of the XX century. As the stages of the formation of an independent hygienic discipline and the deep integration of its scientific principles into the legislation and practice of the domestic sanitary and epidemiological service, the authors present the directions of research carried out at various times on the basis of the laboratory of atmospheric air hygiene of the Institute. For each such stage, the role of hygiene scientists who worked at the A.N. Sysin Research Institute at various times is indicated, as well as their achievements as a legacy preserved as part of the interdisciplinary scientific school of atmospheric hygiene. There are described works of such scientists as A.N. Sysin, V.A. Ryazanov, M.S. Goldberg, Yu.G. Feldman, V.A. Hoffmekler, M.A. Pinigin and L.A. Tepikina, which are rightfully considered classics of the scientific justification of the used sanitary and epidemiological requirements and hygienic standards. Along with the description of scientific ideas, the article presents fundamental problematic issues of atmospheric air hygiene, formulated at the Institute back in the 70s of the last century. The consistent development of regulatory legal regulation of atmospheric air protection in Russia up to the modern integration of an extensive database of hygienic standards into the practice of environmental regulation can be considered a reflection of the scientific achievements of the Laboratory of Atmospheric air Hygiene of the Institute. Adherence to traditions is presented on a par with advanced ideas developed at various times at the A.N. Sysin Research Institute, aimed at unconditionally ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population.

Информационная гигиена как фактор успешной профессиональной деятельности сотрудников уголовно-исполнительной системы

The article examines the issues of information hygiene as a factor of successful professional activity of employees of the penal correction system in the context of digital transformation. The insufficiency of research on information hygiene in the psychology of professional activity of specialists is emphasized. Information (digital) hygiene is a certain set of norms and rules that ensure optimal interaction with information of various kinds, which, in turn, ensures the preservation of professional health, personal resources, professional and personal identity and is one of the factors of success of professional activity in the context of digital transformation. Recommendations on the observance of information hygiene in the official activities of employees of the penitentiary system are given. The directions of the official activity of employees of the penal enforcement system in which the use of information hygiene is significant are highlighted: interaction with various information tools and software service products; organization of interdepartmental electronic interaction with law enforcement agencies and other federal executive authorities; information support for the activities of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia; information security and protection of information resources of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia; implementation of various projects of digital transformation of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia. Two approaches are proposed in training to improve the level of development of digital hygiene by employees of the penitentiary system: within the framework of higher and additional professional education. Considering information hygiene as a complex professionally important quality and a factor of successful performance of employees of the penal enforcement system, it is quite natural that these aspects can serve as the basis for taking into account and developing criteria for the success of professional activity in the future, an expanded description and characterization of generalized labor functions of professional standards by position, clarification of occupational and psychograms, optimization of procedures for professional selection and professional certification of employees of the penitentiary system in the dynamics of the professional path.

Control of bacterial contamination in three types of fish selected from the coastal and inland regions of Tipaza (Algeria)

This study addresses the problem of microbiological contamination in fish sold in the region of Tipaza, where food safety is a growing concern. It aims to assess the contamination levels in three fish species: sardine, mackerel saurale, and bogue. To achieve this, samples were collected and analyzed for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, thermotolerant coliforms, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella. The results revealed that all samples contained total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and thermotolerant coliforms within acceptable limits. However, high levels of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus were detected in bogue and saurale samples, indicating unsatisfactory bacteriological quality, particularly in samples from the city of Tipaza. No Salmonella contamination was observed. These findings highlight significant hygiene issues during fish transport and sale, contributing to microbial contamination. The study concludes that improving handling practices is crucial to ensuring fish safety and reducing health risks to consumers.

Feature-level fusion of face and speech based multimodal biometric attendance system with liveness detection

The rapid growth of deep learning and the Internet of Things has spurred the need for touchless biometric systems in areas where cleanliness and non-intrusive user interaction are critical. In order to authenticate seamlessly, traditional biometric methods such as fingerprint, hand, etc. recognition require physical contact and, therefore, risk hygiene issues, hence making face and speaker verification more viable alternatives. A robust Multimodal Biometric Attendance System (MBAS) is needed due to the vulnerabilities and limitations of single modality systems. In this research, we introduce MBAS using feature-level fusion of speech data with face data, combining the best of both worlds. The textural features based on a person’s facial appearance are integrated with dynamic speech information for liveness detection, followed by dimensionality reduction using linear discriminant analysis, and then incorporated into a Bi-LSTM classifier. Therefore, for better security, accuracy, and anti-spoofing attacks, this approach is proposed in addition to increasing accuracy as well as enhancing security against spoofing attacks. Two publicly available datasets, DeepfakeTIMIT and AVSpeech, are extensively explored to evaluate different fusion strategies, classifier types, and standard performance metrics. The proposed system outperformed other cutting-edge biometric based systems by exhibiting a 97.51% high accuracy rate with a precision of 99.10% and an equal error rate of 2.48%. These findings affirm the effectiveness and possible real-world applications of the MBAS concept, along with its enhancement ensuring safety. Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of incorporating advanced liveness detection into secure contactless biometrics solutions for modern attendance management in various industries that encompass both face and voice modalities.

The effectiveness of information, education, and communication (IEC) methods on food safety and hygiene among food vendors during Ramadan

Background: During Ramadan 2023, only 4.7% of the 104 snack and food outlets in Jakarta, Indonesia, at the Cilandak District Primary Health Center met hygiene and sanitation standards. The inspections involved supervising cleanliness, implementing HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point), and counseling on the implementation of health and food safety practices. Purpose: To evaluate the impact of information, education, and communication (IEC) methods on food safety and hygiene practices among street food vendors during Ramadan. Method: A quantitative design with a quasi-experimental approach, an information, education, and communication (IEC) methods on food safety and hygiene for food vendors during the month of Ramadan consisting of one group. The study had two steps: first, it inspected food outlets before and after an educational intervention using a health environment inspection (eIKL PaJan) form; secondly, it tested food samples using a rapid test. Three outlets were randomly selected from each of the five sub-districts, and the data was analyzed using a paired T-test. The level of statistical significance was set at an alpha level of 0.05. Results: Fifteen "takjil" snack vendors were evaluated, and most had non-conformity scores. The highest non-conformity scores were due to hand hygiene issues and lack of knowledge about food safety. After the intervention, the mean score of knowledge about safe food handling increased from 57.5 to 75.9, with p<0.001 indicating an increase in awareness of food safety perceptions. Of the fifteen food samples tested, six showed the presence of formalin in the rapid test. However, subsequent testing at the laboratory revealed that the samples were free of formalin. Conclusion: Our study highlights a significant public health concern: enhancing awareness can bolster the safety, cleanliness, and knowledge of snack food outlet proprietors. This could positively affect the economy, human resource quality, and health through the implementation of food security practices.

"We pray for the night to be shorter, so we can change our menstrual pads": A qualitative exploration of menstrual hygiene challenges among internally displaced adolescent girls in Northern Ethiopia, 2023.

Menstrual hygiene management is a critical aspect of adolescent health. However, access to adequate menstrual hygiene products and sanitation facilities is severely restricted during times of war. There is a dearth of information about the menstrual hygiene needs of adolescent girls during humanitarian crises. This study investigated the menstrual hygiene management needs of the internally displaced adolescent girls in the war-torn region of Tigray, Ethiopia. A qualitative study was conducted in three centers for internally displaced people in Mekelle, Tigray Region. Four focus-group discussions and six in-depth interviews were conducted using the local language among 39 adolescent girls aged 13-19 years. The collected data were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using the ATLAS.ti-7.5.18 software through a qualitative thematic analysis approach. Six primary themes were identified: 1) shortage of menstrual pads; 2) poor accommodation of latrine facilities; 3) silence around menstruation; 4) exchange of menstrual pads for life-saving commodities, 5) lack of privacy; 6) menstruation is a "curse" for adolescent girls living in displaced people's camps. The study highlights the significant challenges faced by internally displaced adolescent girls in managing their menstrual hygiene while living in camps for internally displaced people. Lack of access to adequate menstrual hygiene management supplies often leads them to use rags or worn-out clothing instead of menstrual pads. Access to adequate menstrual hygiene products and sanitation facilities is severely limited among displaced adolescent girls in Tigray. The findings emphasize the urgent need to address menstrual hygiene issues during emergencies. Supplying essential items such as sanitary pads, soap, water, sanitation infrastructure, and improved information on menstrual hygiene management should be prioritized.

Improve anti-biofilm efficacy of ultrasound by modulating the phase transition of exopolysaccharides

This study focused on the adverse sonochemical effect of ultrasound on biofilm extracellular polysaccharide and the adaptive biofilm responses for ultrasound resistance. Results showed ultrasound triggered phase transition of polysaccharides within biofilm from solation to gelation, which induced following biofilm viscoelasticity enhancement, consequential failure of biofilm removal and bacteria killing. Introducing additional cationic polysaccharide, 1.25 % chitosan, inhibited the ultrasound responsive polysaccharides gelation and biofilm viscoelasticity enhancement, exerted synergistic antibacterial (97.40 %) and antibiofilm (96.38 %) effects with 120 W ultrasound combined on S. aureus biofilm, prolonged the preservation time of milk 2.45 times longer compared with ultrasound alone. These findings indicated the possible mechanism and solution to improve ultrasound efficacy on biofilm control and bacteria suppression, exhibit the promising prospect of ultrasound combined strategy in hygiene issues of food and medical industry.

De la bruja “pecadora” a la bruja “demente”

The case of what happened with witchcraft and sorcery between the 14th and 18th centuries is paradigmatic when it comes to understanding the evolution of the consideration of crime as a mental illness between the 19th and 20th centuries. Witchcraft went from being considered as an exceptional crime very difficult to prove by conventional means, requiring a special procedure for its clarification, to becoming a medical problem centered in the search for diabolical stigmata, and even encouraged by possible situations of drugs consumption. From there to the falsely humanitarian consideration of witches as crazy persons, with the great sociopolitical and religious advantages that derived from this, there was only one step. The logical consequence of this perspective was the consideration of crime and social exclusion as public health problems and, therefore, transform them in matters of medical, psychiatric and hygienic issues. A history that should not be lost sight at present times. The new accusatory and stigmatizing public policies in relation to the treatment of those who do not fit into the general social picture can, as well, be considered like a new chapter of this issue of deep historical significance.

Menstrual hygiene management practice and associated factors among high school and preparatory school adolescent students in Debre Markos town, Northwest, Ethiopia: a mixed-method study

BackgroundDespite being a normal occurrence, menstruation requires hygienic care and is associated with a number of myths and wrongdoings. Menstrual hygiene issues have been linked to major health issues, such as urinary tract and reproductive tract infections. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the management of menstrual hygiene and related aspects among teenage students in Debre Markos town, North West, Ethiopia.MethodsFrom March 15 to April 15, 2019, teenage pupils in Debre Markos town participated in a cross-sectional mixed study. An in-depth interview and a self-administered structured questionnaire were used to gather data. Quantitative information was imported into Epi Data and then exported to SPSS for examination. A 95% Confidence Interval of p-value ≤ 0.05 was used to declare significance. The method of thematic content analysis was used to examine the qualitative data.ResultThis study comprised 531 individuals in total, with a 96.2% response rate. Approximately 260 adolescent females (49%, 95% CI: 39.2, 59.2) had good management practices for menstrual hygiene. Girls whose mothers were private employees (AOR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.99), self-employed (AOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.98) and housewives (AOR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.98), and parent-adolescent discussions about menstruation (AOR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.40, 3.34) were significantly associated with good menstrual hygiene management. Adolescence aged 17 years or older (AOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.32, 3.44) were found to have good knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene (AOR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.94). The qualitative study found that ignorance, an unfavorable school climate, and cultural and economic factors were the main causes of teenagers’ poor menstrual hygiene.ConclusionNearly half of adolescent girls had good menstrual hygiene practice. Menstrual hygiene practice was associated with adolescent age, knowledge of menstruation, maternal occupational and discussion with parents. Girls had difficulty to manage menstrual hygiene due to poor knowledge, unsafe school environment, and cultural barriers. Thus, school-based programs aimed at improving knowledge towards menstrual hygiene management are needed.

The Development of Flora and Fauna Conservation Area Through Signage and Digital Map: Study on Srengseng Urban Forest, West Jakarta

This research aims to identify and analyze the development of flora and fauna conservation areas through signage and digital maps in Srengseng Urban Forest, West Jakarta. The research method used is a qualitative method described by descriptive analysis conducted through in-depth interviews and documentation. This research concludes that Srengseng Urban Forest has proven unable to develop thoroughly in terms of signposting facilities. The obstacles, such as the lack of directions and the absence of a map of the location, affect the comfort of visitors and safety and hygiene issues. Suggestions that can be given to improve the development of conservation areas in Srengseng Urban Forest are that Srengseng Urban Forest should have multifunctional signage, such as directional signs that include several directions from facilities and attractions in the urban forest with signage placement in strategic locations, such as at the roundabout around the main entrance of the Srengseng Urban Forest. In addition to creating multifunctional signage, Srengseng Urban Forest also needs to have a digital map type map that visitors can access by scanning a QR Code to show an overall picture of the Srengseng Urban Forest area.

The Roles of NGOs in Skill Development of The Street Food Vendors for Hygienic Food Preparation and Serving in Bangladesh

This paper tried to explore the roles of non-government organizations in developing the skills of street food microentrepreneurs in health and safe food preparation and servicing in the western part of Bangladesh. The study utilized a qualitative approach, using a purposive sampling method to select respondents for in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The street food vendors and stakeholders were selected from the project team, and the research tools included in-depth interviews with 20 vendors, interviews with 8 key stakeholders, and two focus group discussions with customers and entrepreneurs. The researcher discovered that NGO plays a critical role in skill development for street food vendors in Bangladesh. Prior to the project, vendors were unfamiliar with safety, hygiene, cleanliness, and sustainable promotion. The project improved their skills in safety and security, market promotion, hygiene maintenance, cleanliness, and sustainable development by implementing various activities like training, meetings, workshops, food festivals and fairs, market linkage, stakeholder involvement, online and offline market promotion, and so on. The project also increased restaurant customers and market creation. However, the study found that food safety NGO workers and street food programs have collaborated to raise awareness about food safety, health, hygiene, and environmental issues. These initiatives have improved health and lifestyles, improved food quality, increased client numbers, and increased business profits. The stakeholders gathering in Bogura and Rajshahi focused on promoting product certification, with some microenterprises pursuing it. Microenterprises received work-based training on food safety and hygiene, leading to advancements in food packaging, safe raw materials, cleanliness, and hygiene practices. Product certification training increased stakeholders’ understanding of the importance of certification, and some MEs are now following it. The NGO organized a fair to highlight reputable food businesses and raise awareness of environmental sustainability, hygiene, and food safety. The entrepreneurs know how to prepare healthy dishes, increasing sales and revenue. This awareness have been raised due to the NGO’s interventions implemented for street food vendors in the study area.

Assessment of the effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based oral screening solution in the diagnosis of dental calculus, stains, and dental caries (Logy AI oral screening solution)

Background: The objective of this study was to clinically evaluate the precision of Logy AI's oral screening solution. This innovative module, driven by artificial intelligence, operates seamlessly through WhatsApp and as a standalone smartphone application. It is designed to detect various dental issues such as stains, calculus, and caries, utilizing images captured by a smartphone camera. The accuracy of the module was assessed by comparing its diagnoses with those made by dental professionals. Methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted in Saveetha Dental College, a tertiary care hospital in the southern part of India with 325 patients. Smartphone images taken were sent to the Logy AI oral screening solution which predicted if the patient had any oral hygiene issues like stains, calculus, and caries. Patients were examined by a dentist with visual-tactile and orthopantomogram (OPG) examination and were documented. Both were compared. Results: The accuracy of the Logy AI oral screening solution for the detection of stains, calculus, and caries was comparable with the dentist's diagnosis. The accuracy was 85% for caries, 97% for stains, and 83% for calculus. The sensitivity was 88% for caries, 89% for stains, and 82% for calculus. Conclusions: The Logy AI oral screening module demonstrates potential as an efficient oral screening tool suitable for community-level deployment, particularly in remote regions lacking access to costly dental equipment and healthcare professionals. Its accuracy and efficiency make it well-suited for operation in low-resource settings. Moreover, it holds promise as a valuable home screening tool for individuals seeking to monitor their oral health proactively.

Long-term outcomes of the Italian Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis control programme for dairy cattle.

The considerable epidemiological and economic implications of paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), have placed importance on control efforts aimed at preventing MAP transmission. In this context, Italy issued national guidelines for the control and status certification of MAP in dairy cattle in 2013. We assessed the long-term outcomes of the Italian MAP control programme for 14 dairy farms located in northern Italy by retrospectively reviewing the results of yearly serological tests, presence of clinical cases, MAP faecal shedding in serologically positive animals, farm management and health ranking as indicators of herd health between 2014 and 2021. A significantly higher number of serologically positive animals were observed between 2014 and 2016 than between 2017 and 2021, as well as an improving trend in the paratuberculosis health ranking for nine of the 14 farms. No clinical cases were reported. MAP shedding was detected in 9.4% of serologically positive animals. Discarding colostrum and prioritised culling of seropositive animals assisted by adoption of standardised serological testing were presumed to have a key role in MAP control, despite the reluctance of some farmers to address hygienic issues and improve the separation of calves from adult animals. The small number of farms included in this study and the fact that these were not randomly selected may limit the generalisability of the findings. The Italian paratuberculosis control plan has provided measures to limit the uncontrolled spread of MAP infection within and between herds by promoting animal trading between farms certified as negative or low risk.

Non-Invasive Alcohol Concentration Measurement Using a Spectroscopic Module: Outlook for the Development of a Drunk Driving Prevention System.

Alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant and falls under the category of psychoactive drugs. It has the potential to impair vital bodily functions, including cognitive alertness, muscle coordination, and induce fatigue. Taking the wheel after consuming alcohol can lead to delayed responses in emergency situations and increases the likelihood of collisions with obstacles or suddenly appearing objects. Statistically, drivers under the influence of alcohol are seven times more likely to cause accidents compared to sober individuals. Various techniques and methods for alcohol measurement have been developed. The widely used breathalyzer, which requires direct contact with the mouth, raises concerns about hygiene. Methods like chromatography require skilled examiners, while semiconductor sensors exhibit instability in sensitivity over measurement time and has a short lifespan, posing structural challenges. Non-dispersive infrared analyzers face structural limitations, and in-vehicle air detection methods are susceptible to external influences, necessitating periodic calibration. Despite existing research and technologies, there remain several limitations, including sensitivity to external factors such as temperature, humidity, hygiene consideration, and the requirement for periodic calibration. Hence, there is a demand for a novel technology that can address these shortcomings. This study delved into the near-infrared wavelength range to investigate optimal wavelengths for non-invasively measuring blood alcohol concentration. Furthermore, we conducted an analysis of the optical characteristics of biological substances, integrated these data into a mathematical model, and demonstrated that alcohol concentration can be accurately sensed using the first-order modeling equation at the optimal wavelength. The goal is to minimize user infection and hygiene issues through a non-destructive and non-invasive method, while applying a compact spectrometer sensor suitable for button-type ignition devices in vehicles. Anticipated applications of this study encompass diverse industrial sectors, including the development of non-invasive ignition button-based alcohol prevention systems, surgeon's alcohol consumption status in the operating room, screening heavy equipment operators for alcohol use, and detecting alcohol use in close proximity to hazardous machinery within factories.

Impact of oral health preventive program using specialized audio and tactile aids in visually impaired school children. A cross-sectional study.

The maintenance of oral hygiene and subsequent health related issues in visually handicapped children is a challenging task. Hence, tools must be used to ensure good oral health in these children. The study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of preventive programs on oral health using specialized audio and tactile aids in visually impaired school children. 100 visually handicapped children were selected for the study. They were divided into two groups: Group A (Training using Braille) and Group B (training by means of audio aids). Children were trained using appropriate tools and oral health was assessed using Plaque and Gingival bleeding indices. Independent 'T-test' was used for comparing mean ± SD values. Statistically significant improvements in both plaque and gingival bleeding indices were obtained on follow-up observations at 3rd and 6th months. The use of specialized tactile and audio tools significantly improved the oral health status of visually impaired school children.

Evaluation on Food Allergy in Young Females in the Age Group of 18-25 Years. A Study from Tamilnadu, India.

The development of allergies to foods, one of the most common forms of immune-mediated adverse food reactions, is characterized by the presence of IgE. Inflammation that is triggered by cell components and brought on by T lymphocytes and eosinophils may accompany it. Food allergy study was carried out at Sree Ramakrishna medical college of naturopathy and yogic sciences and hospital in Kulasekharam, Tamil Nadu, India. Females between the ages of 18 to 25 are participating in the study. After the purpose of the study was described, verbal consent was obtained. 30 people answered this questionnaire. The survey consists of thirty questions. The questionnaire parameters covered the following topics anxiety, skin diseases, facial hygiene, and digestive issues. Female participants who were unwilling or uncooperative were not allowed to continue with the study. Food allergies affect most women. They do not eat a healthy, balanced diet. The level of knowledge regarding the amount of food and water consumed is not typical. Thus, there is a greater need to educate women about the need to maintain excellent hygiene, eating a balanced diet, and drinking enough water. Future health care initiatives should focus on these areas to enhance the general health and well-being of young women.

Effect of solar radiation and full spectrum artificial sun light drying on the drying characteristics, ultra-structural and textural properties of white radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Traditional sun drying has long been employed as a method for preserving radishes (Raphanus sativus L.) However, it suffers from various uncertainties, including weather-related factors such as rain and cloudy days, the pressing issue of climatic change can lead to an impact on the traditional drying process and texture of radish. In this research, the full spectrum artificial sunlight drying (FSASLD) has been implemented to simulate the traditional open sun drying of white radish slices which helps to prevent hygienic issues and unstable climatic conditions. Water activity (Aw) was measured and observed to decrease from 0.89 to 0.60 under both drying methods, indicating the removal of moisture from radish cells. Mathematical modelling and color kinetics models were studied with respect to drying time. Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) was employed to assess hardness, and results showed an increase in hardness following both SD (1018.24 g to 1327.67 g) and FSASLD (1018.24 g to 1731.04 g) salt treated radish slices. These findings suggest that FSASLD can serve as a viable alternative to the conventional drying method and contributes to agricultural innovation and the food industry, reducing drying time significantly from 270 min to 200 min and minimizing the impact of adverse weather conditions and interference from animals and microorganisms.

External Fixator Stabilization Following Open Reduction and Combined Pelvic and Proximal Femur Osteotomy in Developmental Dysplasia Hip: A Surgical Note

Introduction: Maintenance of hip joint reduction after combined pelvic and femoral osteotomy in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in children using a hip-spica cast has the potential to cause numerous cast-related complications. We proposed a modification of the surgical technique where the hip reduction is maintained with an external fixator to avoid cast-related complications. Methodology: The surgical technique involved the placement of Scahnz pins along the iliac crest or lateral aspects of the ilium, in the supra-acetabular region below the pelvic osteotomy site, and the proximal femur. The pins were connected and stabilized with tubular/solid rods. Six children with 10 dysplastic hips [4 bilateral and 2 unilateral, International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IDHI) grade IV] were operated on with pelvic and femoral osteotomies and external fixator construct. The fixators were removed after 8 weeks and the children were followed up at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Results: The average age of the children was 6.5 years (range: 4 to 11 y). After an average follow-up of 10 months, the hips were reduced with IDHI grade of I in 7 hips and IDHI grade of II in 3 hips. There were no wound complications. Superficial pin tract infections were seen in all patients but responded to topical antibiotic application. There was no unplanned visit by the parents and no one complained of perineal hygiene issues. Conclusion: The external fixator construct maintains the hip reduction in DDH and allows the osteotomy sites to heal without any wound-related complications.

Experience of girls on menstrual hygiene and health

This study explores and analyses the lived experiences and challenges faced by girl in menstrual hygiene and health during their menstruation in school. While exploring the experiences the study related to liberal feminism prospect as girls' personal experiences in menstrual hygiene and health followed the empowerment theory of three key dimensions i.e. agency, resources, and achievements, and applied phenomenological study designed. Information was collected and analyzed by transcribing the record in the native language, coding, creating themes, and interrelationships of themes. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results show that girls were able to empower, foster confidence, and change individuals and society through schools and retain them in the school education system. Better service and an enabling environment from colleagues, teachers, and family are important. This is drawn from the study that, peer education and boys’ involvement in menstrual hygiene and health issues in school education and service improvement as well as health promotion are recommended to be treated as a priority in the future.