Important Associated Factors Research Articles

Study of placenta histopathology in low birth weight deliveries: A prospective cross-sectional study at Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital

Background: Placenta is the most important organ that represents the status of the mother and fetus. Its examination on gross and microscopy can reveal varied pregnancy-related diseases, decreasing future adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to examine the placenta histopathologically among low birth weight pregnancies. Materials and methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted in the Department of Pathology over one year. The placenta of low birth weight (weight < 2.5 kg) term pregnancies were histopathologically examined. The maternal demographics, co-morbidity, gravida, and hemoglobin levels were recorded. Descriptive statistics, and student t-test or Chi-square test were used for two-group analysis. Results: Thirty-two consecutive patients enrolled in each group. A significant proportion of the patients in the study group were anemic (9.2 vs. 11.5 gm/dl; p=0.03). Pregnancy-induced hypertension rate was significantly higher in the study group (31% vs. 9%; p = 0.042). Gross observations in low birth weight pregnancies were sub-chorionic fibrin deposition (75%), calcification (37%) and infarction (31%). On microscopy, chorionic vessel thrombosis was significantly higher in the study group (56% vs. 6%; p= 0.003). Furthermore, chorioamnionitis (34%) and placental floor infarction (12%) were also observed in a significantly higher number of placentas in the study group. Conclusions: Anemia and pregnancy-induced hypertension are important associated factors for low birth weight pregnancies. Pathological examinations reveal higher fibrin deposition, infarction, calcification, sub-chronic vessel thrombosis, and chorioamnionitis in low birth weight placenta.

Seroprevalence of Bordetella pertussis infection in children 1-14 years old: Indonesia basic health research (Riskesdas) 2013 and 2018 data.

Bordetella pertussis infection is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can cause complications such as pneumonia and death. A total of 62,646 cases of pertussis worldwide were reported by WHO in 2022. This study aimed to obtain the pertussis seroprevalence and sociodemographic data in children aged 1-14 years and its association factors in the community based on Riskesdas 2013 and 2018. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was carried out on data from 12,753 children aged 1-14 years collected from Riskesdas 2013 and 2018 in Indonesia. Pertussis serology data was obtained based on the results of the ELISA examination which was categorized as seropositive if anti-pertussis toxin IgG ≥ 100 IU/mL or anti-pertussis IgG > 11 NTU. Pertussis seropositive indicated recent pertussis infection if no pertussis vaccine was received within the last twelve months. Pertussis seroprevalence was found at 9.8% and 33.4% in Riskesdas 2013 and 2018 respectively. While 10.1% of children aged 5-14 years were found pertussis seropositive by excluding the possible effect of vaccination in the last twelve months in Riskesdas 2013. The most important associated factor in seropositive pertussis at ages 1-4 years and 5-14 years was a history of pneumonia in the last month (OR = 2.709, 95%CI: 2.592-2.831 in Riskesdas 2013 and OR = 2.421, 95%CI: 2.299-2.550 in Riskesdas 2018). In the adjusted analysis for respondents' characteristics, low maternal education was the predictive factor that most influenced pertussis seropositivity, especially in the 2013 Riskesdas (APOR = 2.983, 95%CI: 2.670-3.333). In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the seroprevalence of pertussis was high, especially in children aged 5-14 years, so that pertussis vaccine booster administration could be considered. Because the most influencing factor towards pertussis seropositive was low maternal education, the groups of children with low-educated mothers should be targets for strengthening complete vaccination coverage and disease control.

Assessing the Impact of Educational Strategies on Reducing Needle Stick Injuries for Nurses in Jordanian Hospitals

Background: Needle stick injuries (NSIs) are frequent occupational health hazards among nurses with several consequences including blood-borne infections. Literature indicates inadequate knowledge among nurses as an important associated risk factor. Notwithstanding, little attention has been given to the intervention programs to reduce the occurrences of NSIs in Jordan. The main objective of this research was to implement and assessing the impact of educational modules and strategies to minimize NSIs for nurses in Jordanian hospitals. Methods: a randomized control trial design with four arms including three intervention groups and one control group was applied. A total of 400 nurses were selected based on stratified random sampling from the four randomly sampled private hospitals. The educational intervention was then provided through three different strategies (Social Media (SM), Audio-Visual (AV), and combined method). Data were collected in three phases, at baseline, after three months, and after six months of the intervention. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the number of NSIs between the control and combined strategy groups (P= 0.002). After 6 months, significant differences were found between control and SM groups (P=0.032), control and AV groups (P= 0.007), and control and combined groups (P<0.001). The leading risk factors of NSIs included fatigue (P<0.001), lack of assistance (P= 0.001), emotional distress (P= .021), being rushed (P= .002), and Lack of skills (P= .001). The hierarchical regression for the prediction of changes in NSIs occurrence produced a model with four predictors after three months (P< .001), and six predictors after six months (P< .001). Conclusion: The educational intervention significantly decreased the occurrences of NSIs. Hospital administrators must consider significant risk factors for NSIs.

Spatial pattern and determinants of non-condom use among sexually active young people in Nigeria: a population-based, cross-sectional study

Non-condom use is known as one of the risky sexual behaviors among youth and a contributing factor to the high prevalence of HIV in Nigeria. Therefore this study aimed to assess the spatial pattern and determinants of non-condom use among sexually active young people in Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional analysis of population-based data involving 288 males and 780 females aged 15–24 years, giving 1068 sexually active young people drawn from the 2018 NDHS. The study adopted a multi-level and spatial analysis to identify factors associated with non-condom use in Nigeria. The prevalence of non-condom use was 57.7% in this study. The spatial analysis showed that the Northeastern and South–South regions of Nigeria had a high proportion of non-condom use among young people, while the Northwest, North-Central, and Southwestern parts had low proportions of non-condom use. On multilevel analysis, the individual and community level factors associated with non-condom use included exposure to media (AOR 0.59; 95% CI 0.39–0.91) and younger age (AOR 0.72; 95% CI 0.53–0.98). Areas with a high proportion of non-condom use should receive the most attention through the promotion of condom use and education, alongside a focus on important associated factors.

Patient-reported Outcomes Following Nonoperative Treatment of Pediatric First‐Time Patellar Dislocation

BackgroundPatellar instability is a common pediatric knee injury. The purpose of this study was to analyze PROMs (patient-reported outcome measures) after non-operative treatment following a first-time pediatric patellar dislocation. MethodsIn this single-center, retrospective study, patients <18 years old between January 2012 and December 2019 with a first-time patellar dislocation were evaluated. From this cohort, we included all those patients who initially underwent non-operative management and followed up for at least 1 year. Measures of patellar height and patellofemoral dysplasia were collected. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected at the initial and follow-up visit. Univariate and multivariate analyses were utilized to determine the rate and risk factors for recurrence and the changes in PROMs. Results176 knees were included in the initial analysis, and 80 in the pre- and post-PROM analysis. There was a 41% rate of recurrence at a mean of 16.4 months of follow-up. In a multivariate logistic regression model, trochlear dysplasia (OR:4.53, 95%CI: 1.61–12.7, P=0.004), patella alta (OR:4.27, 95%CI: 1.76–10.3, P<0.001), and tibial tubercle trochlear groove (TT-TG) > 15mm (OR:2.49, 95%CI: 1.3–6.03, P<0.001) were significant risk factors for recurrence. Patients with or without recurrence showed significant improvements in PROMs at 1 year follow-up. However, both groups had mean scores below the population average. Regardless of recurrence or not, KOOS-Child QoL scores ranked the lowest among all PROM scores at the final follow-up. ConclusionsThe findings of this study provide further evidence of the high rate of recurrent instability and important associated risk factors to consider. We also found that despite the overall improvement in all PROM subscales 1 year following the initial episode, both recurrence and no-recurrence groups demonstrated lower mean PROM scores than normal values. Furthermore, quality of life subscales showed the smallest improvement among all patients. Our results may be used to counsel patients and families regarding expectations after first-time and recurrent patellar dislocations. Key conceptsPatellar instability is one of the most common pediatric sports injuries with a high risk of recurrence.(1)In the absence of other factors, a first-time patellar dislocation is generally treated non-operatively, but the long-term outcomes are not clear.(2)In this study, we found a high risk of recurrent dislocation. In addition, while the PROMs improved for all patients, even patients without evidence of further instability demonstrated patient-reported outcomes lower than the general population.(3)Future research may reveal subtle residual instability or other factors as the reason for the lower functional status and also compare these outcomes with operative reconstruction. Level of evidenceCase series, Level IV

A Clinico-pathological Study and Management of Fungal Rhinosinusitis

Background: Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment; hence we are constantly exposed to them. Objectives were to know the clinical presentation, radiological and pathological characteristics and management aspects of fungal rhinosinusitis.Methods: 30 cases of fungal rhinosinusitis reported during study period were evaluated and data was collected through history taking, clinical examination, haematological, histopathological and radiological investigations. Management by surgical &amp; medical modalities were evaluated.Results: Fungal rhinosinusitis is more common in 3rd decade of life with male preponderance and more in low socio-economic status (73.3%). Nasal discharge (100%), nasal obstruction (96.7%), chronic headache (90%) and visual disturbances (23.3%) were important clinical features. Sinu-nasal polyp (66.7%) and allergic mucin (40%) were important associated factors. Orbital extension was seen in 33.3%, intracranial extension (20%) and extension to hard palate (6.7%). Computed Tomography scan had a sensitivity of 56.7% while histopathology and potassium hydroxide mount had a sensitivity of 93.33% in detecting cases. Observed mortality rate was 16.6%.Conclusion: Fungal rhinosinusitis is an important clinical entity which must be considered in all patientspresenting with unresolving rhinosinusitis

IJCM_353A: Association between Intimate Partner Violence and Substance Use : A Narrative Review

Background: Exposure to intimate partner violence can have lasting mental and physical health consequences and often goes unreported because lack of accessibility or awareness about assured care points for the victims of the same. Substance use can be a risk factor for both perpetrating IPV and being a victim of IPV. Community health-care facilities can prove to be a valuable care point for identifying victims of IPV if the available literature supports the hypothesis that substance use disorders are an important associated factor for IPV. Objective: To identify the substance use correlates of Intimate Partner Violence against women Methodology: A review of the available literature was done covering a period from 2000-2020 in English language across Google Scholar and PubMed. Primary studies and secondary analysis studies about association of IPV against females with substance use disorders were included. The review included both quantitative (cross-sectional, longitudinal) and qualitative articles. Results: After full text reading, 27 articles met screening criteria. The prevalence of intimate partner violence among females when their partner had a history of substance use ranged from 20.9 %to 90%. Substance use which included alcohol, tobacco, heroin, khat and other recreational drugs were consistently related to intimate partner violence. IPV involved emotional, physical and sexual violence. It was found that many victims of IPV turn to substance use or have a history of the same. Conclusion: There is a relation between substance use and intimate partner violence. This can prove to be beneficial in directing future efforts towards the development of policies and awareness regarding identification and integrated treatments for co-occurring partner violence and substance use disorders.

Behçet Hastalarında Kardiyak Tutulum: Retrospektif Tek Merkez Deneyimi

Behcet’s disease (BD) is well-known with mucocutaneous involvement, whereas the heart may rarely be involved, predicting morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to reveal the clinical characteristics of cardiac involvement in BD. We retrospectively screened 800 BD patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2021 for cardiac involvement. 14 patients who met these criteria were recruited in this study. Demographic information, clinical features, treatment modalities, and prognosis were evaluated. All patients were male and smokers. The mean age for cardiac involvement was estimated at 32.5 ±7,8 years. Cardiac involvement developed in one-third of the patients before disease diagnosis. Patients were classified into three major groups: 8 of intracardiac thrombosis (ICT), 2 of coronary artery aneurysms, and 4 of myocardial infarction (MI). The majority of ICT was seen in the right ventricle (6 out of 8). In all MI cases, the left main coronary artery was totally occluded. Deep vein thrombosis was seen in 57% of patients. Apart from steroids, cyclophosphamide was the most common preferred agent, used in 9 patients. Azathioprine and interferon use were seen in 4 cases. Warfarin was used in 10 patients and 4 cases received an antithrombotic agent. Mortality was seen in 2 cases due to unknown causes. Cardiac involvement is rare, but a serious manifestation of BD. ICT was the most common type with mostly involved the right heart chambers. Male gender and smoking were found as the most important associated risk factors in this population.

Predicting stunting in Rwanda using artificial neural networks: a demographic health survey 2020 analysis

Background Stunting is a serious public health concern in Rwanda, affecting around 33.3% of children under the age of five in 2020. Several examples of research have employed machine learning algorithms to predict stunting in Rwanda; however, no study used artificial neural networks (ANNs), despite their strong capacity to predict stunting. The purpose of this study was to predict stunting in Rwanda using ANNs and the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 2020. Methods We used a multilayer perceptron (MLP) architecture to train and test the ANN model on a subset of the DHS dataset. The input variables for the model included child, parental and socio-demographic’s characteristics. The output variable was a binary indicator of stunting status (stunted vs. not stunted). Results An overall accuracy of 72.0% on the test set was observed, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) of 0.84, indicating the model’s good performance. Several factors appear as important contributors to the probability of stunting among the negative value aspects. First and foremost, the mother’s height is important, as a lower height suggests an increased risk of stunting in children. Positive value characteristics, on the other hand, emphasie elements that reduce the likelihood of stunting. The timing of the initiation of breastfeeding stands out as a crucial factor, showing that early breastfeeding initiation has been linked with a decreased risk of stunting. Conclusions Our findings suggest that ANNs can be a useful tool for predicting stunting in Rwanda and identifying the most important associated factors for stunting. These insights can inform targeted interventions to reduce the burden of stunting in Rwanda and other low- and middle-income countries.

Prevalence of syphilis in transgender women and travestis in Brazil: results from a national cross-sectional study.

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of acquired syphilis and associated factors in a national survey. TransOdara was a cross-sectional study comprising transgender women and travestis (TGW) in five major cities in Brazil during December of 2019 and July of 2021. The sample was recruited using the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method. The outcome "active syphilis" was defined as a positive treponemal test and Venereal-Disease-Research-Laboratory (VDRL) title greater than∕ equal to ⅛. Sociodemographic variables were described. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression were performed, and odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. All analyses were performed in R, 4.3.1. A total of 1,317 TGW were recruited, with 1,291 being tested for syphilis, and 294 (22.8%) meeting the criteria for active syphilis. In bivariate analysis, black/mixed race (OR=1.41, 95%CI 1.01-1.97), basic level of education (OR=2.44, 95%CI 1.17-5.06), no name change in documents (OR=1.39, 95%CI 1.00-1.91) and sex work (past only OR= 2.22, 95%CI 1.47-3.32; partial OR=2.75, 95%CI 1.78-4.25; full time OR=3.62, 95%CI 2.36-5.53) were associated with active syphilis. In the multivariate analysis, sex work was the only associated factor, 2.07 (95%CI 1.37-3.13) past sex work, 2.59 (95%CI 1.66-4.05) part-time sex work and 3.16 (95%CI 2.04-4.92) sex work as the main source of income. The prevalence of active syphilis in this study was elevated compared with other countries in Latin America. Sex work was an important associated factor with active syphilis, highlighting the impact that this condition of vulnerability may have in the health of TGW, as members of a key, marginalized population.

Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Insomnia Catastrophizing Scale and relationship of insomnia severity with catastrophic thoughts, safety behaviors, and dysfunctional beliefs

BackgroundThis study aimed to clarify the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Insomnia Catastrophizing Scale (ICS) and to examine the relationship between insomnia severity and insomnia-related cognitive factors. MethodsA total of 786 participants were recruited via an online survey and classified into the insomnia group (n = 342) and healthy group (n = 444). The insomnia group comprised individuals who self-reported meeting the diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia disorder in the third edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders. ResultsThe ICS is used to independently assess nighttime (ICS–N) and daytime (ICS-D) catastrophic thoughts, and item response theory revealed that each ICS-N and ICS-D item can adequately assess catastrophic thoughts during the night and day, respectively. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the ICS-N and ICS-D were good. Further, the ICS-N and ICS-D had a significant positive correlation with insomnia severity, hyperarousal, sleep-related safety behaviors, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, and anxiety symptoms. Multiple regression analyses with insomnia severity as the dependent variable in the insomnia group demonstrated that catastrophic thoughts were more strongly associated with insomnia severity than sleep-related safety behaviors and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. The interaction between nighttime catastrophic thoughts and sleep-related safety behaviors increased insomnia severity. ConclusionsThe Japanese versions of ICS-N and ICS-D were found to be superior in measuring insomnia-related catastrophic thoughts and to have high reliability and validity. Furthermore, these findings more clearly demonstrate that the catastrophic thoughts may be an important associated factor of insomnia.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Lower Third of the Esophagus: A Case Report

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma usually predominates in the flat cells of the upper two thirds of the esophagus and is rare in the distal third due to histologic characteristics. Smoking and alcoholism are the most important associated risk factors and the predominant symptom is dysphagia. Surgery is the treatment of choice in localized disease; in advanced stages chemotherapy is used for palliative purposes. We present the clinical case of a 77-year-old man with a history of significant positive alcoholism and smoking and systemic arterial hypertension. He presented 2 months of evolution with progressive dysphagia, from liquids to solids, anorexia and hematemesis. Endoscopy reports linear erosions in the gastroesophageal junction with a stenosing, infiltrative and partially ulcerated tumor. Computed axial tomography with evidence of hepatic nodules compatible with distant activity. He was referred to general surgery for gastrostomy for enteral tube feeding and to medical oncology for treatment with chemotherapy with palliative intent.

Chewing ability and associated factors in older adults in Germany. Results from GEDA 2019/2020-EHIS

BackgroundOral well-being is an important component of general well-being and quality of life, as it is greatly influenced by the ability to chew and speak, and thus by central factors of social interaction. Because quality of life and participation are important factors for health in older age, the aim of this article was to examine the chewing ability, including associated factors, for the older population in Germany on the basis of a nationally representative sample.MethodsDatabase is the German Health Update (GEDA 2019/2020-EHIS), a population based cross-sectional survey of the Robert Koch Institute. In the telephone interview, participants aged 55 years and older were asked: “Do you have difficulty biting and chewing on hard foods such as a firm apple? Would you say ‘no difficulty’, ‘some difficulty’, ‘a lot of difficulty’ or ‘cannot do at all/ unable to do’?” Prevalences and multivariate prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) from log-Poisson regressions. Sociodemographic, health-, behavioral- and care-related characteristics were investigated as associated factors.ResultsThe analyses were based on data from 12,944 participants (7,079 women, 5,865 men). The proportion of people with reduced chewing ability was 20.0%; 14.5% had minor difficulty, 5.5% had major difficulty. There were no differences between women and men. The most important associated factors for reduced chewing ability were old age (PR 1.8, 95% CI 1.5–2.1), low socioeconomic status (PR 2.0, 95% CI 1.7–2.5), limitations to usual activities due to health problems (PR 1.9, 1.6–2.2), depressive symptoms (PR 1.7, 1.5–2.1), daily smoking (PR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3–1.8), low dental utilization (PR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and perceived unmet needs for dental care (PR 1.7, 95% CI 1.5–2.1).ConclusionsOne fifth of adults from 55 years of age reported reduced chewing ability. Thus, this is a very common functional limitation in older age. Reduced chewing ability was associated with almost all investigated characteristics. Therefore, its prevention requires a holistic view in the living environment and health care context of older people. Given that chewing ability influences quality of life and social participation, maintaining or improving chewing ability is important for healthy aging.

Abstract 13121: Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Venous and Arterial Thrombosis in COVID-19: A Nationwide Analysis

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to increase the risk of venous (VTE) and arterial (ATE) thromboembolism. However, the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of clinical thrombosis for inpatients with COVID-19 are not well known. We evaluated the incidence, associated factors, and mortality outcomes of VTE and ATE in COVID-19 infection. Hypothesis: COVID-19 is associated with a higher risk of thrombosis and mortality. Methods: Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during 2020 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample database and data was retrieved regarding clinical characteristics, incident VTE and ATE and mortality outcomes. Multivariate regression was performed to identify clinical factors associated with thrombosis and in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 inpatients. Results: Overall, 1,583,135 COVID-19 inpatients were identified out of which patients with thrombosis were 41% females with a mean age 65.4 (65.1-65.6) years. The incidence of thrombosis was 6.1%, including VTE 4.8%, ATE 3.0%, and in-hospital mortality rate was 13.4%. The main factors associated with overall thrombosis, VTE and ATE were paralysis, ventilation, solid tumors without metastasis, and metastatic cancer. Patients with thrombosis were more likely to have respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 (76.7% vs 75%, p&lt;0.001) compared to patients without thrombosis, along with comorbidities like complicated diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure, and acute presentations like septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney injury. Symptomatic and severe COVID-19 disease were associated with a higher risk of thrombosis (OR 1.37 (1.31-1.43) and OR 1.62 (1.49-1.76), respectively, p&lt;0.001) and VTE (OR 1.40 (1.33-1.46) and OR 1.66 (1.52-1.80) respectively, p&lt;0.001). Although all thrombosis categories were associated with higher in-hospital mortality for COVID-19 inpatients in univariable analyses (p&lt;0.001), they were not significant in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: Overall, thrombosis, especially VTE was found in approximately 5% of COVID-19 inpatients, while ATE was rare, with important associated factors identified, however they were not independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality.

Longitudinal observational study protocol – Preterm Infants: Microbiome Establishment, Neuro-CrossTalk and Origins (PIMENTO)

IntroductionVery preterm infants are at risk of abnormal microbiome colonisation in the first weeks to months of life. Several important associated factors have been identified including gestational age, mode of...

Shaggy aorta-An autopsy analysis.

Shaggy aorta is defined as "very extensive atheromatous disease with diffuse ulcers associated with soft, loosely held debris and a paucity of actual thrombus" and often results in visceral or peripheral arterial embolization (shaggy aorta syndrome). Most of the studies are clinico-radiological with hardly any assessment of the pathological features. We present an autopsy analysis of shaggy aorta. A retrospective study of autopsied cases of shaggy aorta over 15 years was conducted. The involvement of the various segments of the aorta (ascending, transverse, thoracic, and abdominal) was correlated with the clinical manifestations and cardiac/extra-cardiac findings at autopsy. The mortality was categorized as those related to shaggy aorta (Group I), related to cardiac diseases (Group II), and those unrelated to cardiovascular diseases (Group III). Nil. In a span of 15 years, there were 76 cases of shaggy aorta affecting predominantly males (85.5%) and patients in the sixth decades of life (mean age of 64.5 years). The important associated cardiovascular risk factors included hypertension, tobacco use, and diabetes mellitus. Predominant involvement of the entire aorta and arch + descending aorta was seen in 39.5% and 35.5% of the cases, respectively. Regardless of extreme severity, only half of the patients (37 cases, 48. 7%) had clinical presentation due to shaggy aorta. The occurrence of shaggy aorta may be more common than expected, and it would be important to keep this possibility in mind even in asymptomatic elderly patients with cardiovascular risk factors since aorto-arterial manipulations and anti-coagulant therapy can prove detrimental in such patients.

Drivers of food choice, meal pattern, and lifestyle habits among undergraduate students in Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Background and objective: Food choice is a complex human behavior, which is influenced by many interdependent factors. University students are exposed to unhealthy eating habits and poor dietary intake. This could be attributable to the independent food choices made. This study assessed the drivers of food choice, patterns, and lifestyle habits of undergraduate students at Lead City University Ibadan, Nigeria.Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional design and a multistage random sampling technique to select 200 respondents. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, eating habits, and dietary practices were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire.Results: The mean age of the students was 21 ± 2 years,46% of the students ate thrice per day, 36% skipped breakfast daily and 17% consumed alcohol. The main drivers of food choice among the students were sensory appeal in which taste (79%), pleasant texture (54%), and nice smell (54%) of food were considered very important. Concerning health and natural food content, the respondents considered good feeling (74%), weight control (48%), no additives (46%), low-fat content (42%), and low-calorie content (35%) as very important associated factors. Good value for money (53%), not expensive (42%), and easy availability (49%) were very important economic factors for driving food choices among respondents.Conclusion: Sensory appeal, health and natural food content, and price and purchase convenience were major drivers of food choice among respondents. It is recommended that regular nutrition education programs by the institution with emphasis on healthy dietary practices should be provided for the students.

Functional status associated with postural dizziness, but not postural hypotension, in older adults: a community-based study

BackgroundFunctional status, postural dizziness (PD), and postural hypotension (PH) were important issues in older adults. Only one study on the relationship for the three of them in female was without adjusting some important associated factors. This study was intended to investigate the association of PD and PH with functional status in older people of both genders.MethodsBased on a stratified randomized cluster sampling, 1361 subjects ≥ 65 years in the community were recruited from Tainan City, Taiwan, from 2000 to 2001. PH was defined as a decrease in systolic/diastolic blood pressure of ≥ 20/10 mm Hg after 1 or 2 min of standing. PD was defined by a positive response to dizziness-like symptoms after standing up from a supine position. Functional status included the activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).ResultsAfter adjusting other variables, ADL disability (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.35–2.51) and IADL disability (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.21–2.17) were associated with PD, but not PH. In male and female subgroups, ADL disability (male OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.08–2.67; female OR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.26–3.07) was associated with PD. In male, IADL disability was associated with PD (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.36–3.95).ConclusionsImpaired functional status, shown using ADLs or IADLs, was positively associated with PD, but not PH in older adults ≥ 65 years. Clinically, it may be important to evaluate PD in older adults with ADL or IADL disability.

Analysis of the Trends of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Gauteng Public Hospitals from 2009 to 2018.

Most investigations into the distribution of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have focused exclusively on bloodborne infections within individual health care institutions for shorter time periods. This has limited the analysis of a community-spread pathogen to snapshots within the hospital domain. Therefore, in this study we determined the demographic and geographical patterns of MRSA infections and their fluctuation in 10 years within all public hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. A retrospective analysis of S. aureus samples was done by deduplicating samples in two groups. The sample groups were placed into subsets with respect to demographic and geographical fields and compared across the studied period. Logistic regression was utilized to determine odds ratios for resistant infections in univariate and multivariable configurations. A total of 66,071 unique infectious events were identified from the 148,065 samples received over a 10-year period, out of which 14,356 were identified as bacteremia. MRSA bacteremia rates in Gauteng peaked in 2015 and have since decreased. Within Gauteng, metropolitan areas have the greatest burden of MRSA with children under 5 years of age and males being most affected. Medical wards have the highest S. aureus bacteremia rates, while intensive care units have the highest MRSA bacteremia rates. Patient age, admitting ward, and geographical district are the most important associated factors of resistance. MRSA acquisition rates have shown tremendous growth since 2009 but have since spiked and subsequently decreased. This may be due to the initiation of the National Guidelines on Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infectious Disease Surveillance. Further studies to determine the trajectory of infections are required to support these claims. IMPORTANCE S. aureus is the leading cause of a variety of devastating clinical conditions, including infective endocarditis, bacteremia, and pleuropulmonary infections. It is an important pathogen responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality. MRSA is a variant of interest originally responsible for difficult to treat hospital-acquired infections that has since achieved community spread throughout the world. Most investigations into the distribution of MRSA have focused exclusively on bloodborne infections within individual health care institutions for shorter periods. This has limited the analysis of a community-spread pathogen to snapshots within the hospital domain. This study sought to determine the demographic and geographical patterns of MRSA infections as well as how these have fluctuated over time within all public hospitals. This will also help in understanding the epidemiology and resistance trends of S. aureus, which will help clinicians to understand the clinical prospective and policy makers to design guidelines and strategies for treating such infections.

Utilization of insecticide-treated nets and associated factors among childbearing women in Northern Nigeria

BackgroundStudies have explored the correlates of insecticide-treated nets in Nigeria. The few studies that focused on Northern Nigeria mostly examined individual correlates, but largely ignored the community correlates. Also, the persistence of armed insurgencies in the region calls for more research attention. This study examines the utilization and the associated individual and community factors of insecticide-treated nets in Northern Nigeria.MethodsThe study adopted a cross-sectional design. Data were extracted from the 2021 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS). A weighted sample size of 6873 women was analysed. The outcome variable was the utilization of insecticide-treated nets. The explanatory variables selected at the individual/household level were maternal age, maternal education, parity, religion, sex of head of household, household wealth, and household size. The variables selected at the community level were the type of place of residence, geo-political zone of residence, the proportion of children under five who slept under a bed net, the proportion of women aged 15–49 who heard malaria media messages, and the community literacy level. Two variables, namely, the number of mosquito bed nets in the household, and the number of rooms used for sleeping were included for statistical control. Three multilevel mixed-effect regression models were fitted.ResultsThe majority of childbearing women (71.8%) utilized insecticide-treated nets. Parity and household size were the significant individual/household characteristics associated with the utilization of insecticide-treated nets. The proportion of under-five children in the community who slept under mosquito bed nets, and the geopolitical zone of residence were significant community correlates of the use of insecticide-treated nets. In addition, the number of rooms for sleeping, and the number of mosquito bed nets in the households were significantly associated with the utilization of insecticide-treated nets.ConclusionParity, household size, number of sleeping rooms, number of treated bed nets, geo-political zone of residence, and proportion of under-five children sleeping under bed nets are important associated factors of the utilization of insecticide-treated nets in Northern Nigeria. Existing malaria preventive initiatives should be strengthened to target these characteristics.