Monthly Income Level Research Articles

Predictors of Self-care Among Chinese Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: A Situation-Specific Theory-Guided Structural Equation Model Analysis.

Self-care is important for improving the health outcomes of individuals with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, predictors of self-care behaviors remain unclear in Chinese society. The aims of this study were to explore predictors of self-care in Chinese patients with CHF and clarify the complex relationships between predictors and self-care behaviors guided by the Situation-Specific Theory of Heart Failure Self-Care. A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals hospitalized with CHF in China. Person, problem, and environmental factors pertaining to self-care were collected by a questionnaire survey. Self-care was assessed by the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index version 6. Direct and indirect relationships between factors and self-care behaviors and the mediating role of self-care confidence were analyzed by the structural equation model. In total, 204 participants were involved in this study. The Situation-Specific Theory of Heart Failure Self-Care model demonstrated a good fit (root mean square error of approximation, 0.046; goodness of fit index, 0.966; normed fit index, 0.914; comparative fit index, 0.971). Inadequate self-care capabilities were common among Chinese patients with CHF. Person-related factors (female gender, higher monthly income and educational level), problem-related factors (severe New York Heart Association function class and better instrumental activities of daily living), and environmental factors (better social support and living in more developed areas) were significant predictors of better self-care behaviors ( P < .05). These associations were partly or fully mediated by self-care confidence. The Situation-Specific Theory of Heart Failure Self-Care can be used to guide research and practice in patients with CHF. Interventions and policies on promoting self-care in Chinese population living with CHF are encouraged, particularly for underserved populations.

Exposure of Child Maltreatment Leads to a Risk of Mental Illness and Poor Prognosis in Taiwan: A Nationwide Cohort Study from 2000 to 2015.

Objective: To investigate whether children with maltreatment exposure were associated with the risk of psychiatric disorders, suicide, and death. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, with 1592 child maltreatment cases and 6368 comparison cohort (1:4) matched for gender, age, and index year, from the Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database (LGTD2000) sampled from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in 2000, backtracking between 2000–2015 in Taiwan. The stratified Cox regression model was used to compare the risk of developing a mental illness and poor prognosis during the 15 years of follow-up. Results: There were 473 in the cohort with child maltreatment (675.10 cases per 100,000 person years) and 1289 in the comparison cohort (453.82 cases per 100,000 person years) that developed mental illness and poor prognosis. The stratified Cox regression model revealed that the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.91 to 11.76 (p < 0.05) after adjusting for monthly income level, occupation, and CCI after violence. Conclusion: Exposure to child maltreatment is associated with the risk of psychiatric disorders, but not suicide or death. This finding could be a reminder for clinicians about the mental health problems in patients with child maltreatment.

KONDISI SOSIAL EKONOMI DI MASA PANDEMI PADA PEDAGANG KAKI LIMA DI KELURAHAN BANTAN KECAMATAN MEDAN TEMBUNG

The influence most felt by street vendors in the Sub District Bantan District. Medan Tembung is the implementation of social distancing policy. As a result, some traders were confused and their income decreased. Social distancing still has an impact on the people's economy. One of the affected community groups is a street vendor in the Sub District Bantan District Convex Field. This study aims to determine the socio-economic conditions of the Street Vendors in Bantan Village, District Tembung fields during the Covid-19 period. The research method used is descriptive qualitative to get a clear picture of the socio-economic conditions of street vendors during the Covid- 19 pandemic. The sampling technique uses accidental sampling, so that data collection can be done through observation and interviews. Based on the research conducted, the results showed that the socio-economic conditions of the street vendors in the Sub District Bantan District. Medan Tembung has a sufficient monthly income level to meet the necessities of life. The level of education that is unable to enter the formal sector. The condition of the housing that is owned is seen from the physical condition of the building and the status of home ownership. Health conditions can be seen from what diseases are complained of and where to seek treatment. The factors that cause street vendors to maintain their business during the Covid-19 pandemic include the necessities of life, low education, inadequate skills, ease of entering the informal sector and having little capital. Other socio- economic impacts for street vendors include the emergence of several street vendors who experience broken household relationships, and disruption of children's education from some street vendors. As for the economic life of street vendors during the covid-19 pandemic, some street vendors chose to increase their income to continue to improve the economy. As well as the income of street vendors during the Covid-19 pandemic decreased very drastically. This is because buyers are quiet, especially those who have regular customers from school children

Examination of Decision-Making Levels of Individual Sports Persons (Table Tennis Example)

Aim: This study is to determine how the decision-making levels of individuals who play table tennis in Kyrgyzstan are shaped. Material and Methods: Scanning method was used in this study. This study has a descriptive and inferential nature. The study group of this research consists of 369 participants, 168 women and 201 men, who played table tennis in Kyrgyzstan in 2020. The study was shaped on the basis of voluntary participation criteria. In this study, a personal information form prepared by the researcher and a Decision Making Scale were used to collect data. Personal information form; Gender, age, education level, how many years have you been a licensed athlete, monthly income level, place of residence, profession and do you have any harmful habits? In addition, in order to determine the decision-making levels of the participants; The decision making scale (MDMS I-II) prepared by Mann et al. (1998) and adapted into Turkish by Deniz (2004) was used. The obtained data were transferred to the computer environment and evaluated with the SPSS 21.0 statistical program. Results: There is no significant difference in the decision-making levels of the table tennis players participating in the study in terms of gender, year of sport, education level, monthly income level and profession, but it was concluded that there was a significant difference in the do you have any harmful habits? variable. Conclusion: It has been concluded that the variables of gender, year of sport, education level, monthly income level and profession are not the determining factors of the decision-making levels of table tennis players. Keywords: Table tennis, Sports, Decision making.

Validation of the Chinese version of the Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire.

The Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire (WFRQ) is one of the most widely used and strong theory-based measurement tools of family resilience. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically test the Chinese version of the WFRQ (WFRQ-C). The WFRQ was translated following Brislin's translation model. Psychometric testing, combining classical theory test and item response theory, was conducted with a sample of 800 community adult residents. The Connor-Davidson resilience scale-10 (CD-RISC-10), Self-reported Family Happiness Scale (SFHS-1), and Family APGAR (Adaption, Partnership, Growth, Affection, Resolve) Scale (Family APGAR-5) were applied for convergent validity. Six items were deleted at the item analysis level. The minimum average partial test and a parallel analysis supported a three-factor structure, which was validated by confirmatory factor analysis. The three factors were named "Family belief system," "Organization, communication and problem solving," and "Utilization of external resources." The WFRQ-C was significantly correlated with CD-RISC-10, SFHS-1, and Family APGAR-5, with r values ranged from 0.51 to 0.56. The Cronbach's α was 0.97 for the scale and 0.93, 0.95, and 0.72 for the three factors, respectively. The ICCs of 0.96 for the whole scale, and 0.95, 0.75, and 0.95 for the three factors, respectively. The mean score for the WFRQ-C was 97.00 ± 17.94, of which per capita monthly income and education level were predictors. The 26-item WFRQ-C is a stable, concise, and validated tool to measure family resilience. It is applicable for Chinese community adults in nonspecific stressful settings and has potential utility in the health care domain.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Utilization among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinics in Tongaren Sub-County, Kenya: a Cross-sectional Survey

Background: In Kenya, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has been used in almost every culture to manage intolerable symptoms of pregnancy since ancient times. However, studies in Kenya have focused on herbal medicine which is just one of CAM practices. In rural settings (such Tongaren Sub-County), no studies have ever evaluated the prevalence and determinants of CAM use during pregnancy including the common CAM modalities used, and so there is need to bridge these knowledge gaps. Purpose: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of CAM utilization and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in Tongaren Sub-County, Bungoma County. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed in collecting data from 340 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Tongaren, Kenya. Quantitative data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires. Chi-square test was used to establish the associations between socio-demographic variables and CAM usage, and multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the relative effects of the various aspects of the variables which were significantly associated with CAM usage. Results: Among the 340 participants, 50.7% indicated using CAM modalities during pregnancy, indicating that CAM use prevalence in Tongaren is about 50%. 55.80% of CAM users concomitantly use CAM and conventional medicine. The high CAM use prevalence among participants was motivated by the preference of CAM over conventional medicine for certain illnesses (31.4%) and the perceived lack of response to conventional medicine (20.1%). It was noted that marital status, educational attainment of the spouse, employment status, occupation type, and household monthly income level are the major determinants of CAM usage. From the logistic regression analysis, the variables positively associated with CAM use among pregnant women were married status (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.341, p = 0.008), having a spouse with informal education (OR = 5.371, p &lt; 0.001), self-employed status (OR = 0.415, p = 0.028), farming occupation (OR = 2.777, p = 0.206), and household monthly income higher than 35,000 Kshs (OR = 0.093, p = 0.012). Conclusions: Due to the widespread trust in the safety and efficacy of CAM, the utilization of CAM during pregnancy is common among women in Tongaren Sub-County, which is a rural setting, and therefore CAM can be regarded as the backbone of rural health care in Kenya.

Quality of life of Iranian and Afghan pregnant women in rural Iran.

Pregnancy is a unique experience in a woman's life, which comes with physiological, metabolic, social, and psychological changes. The combination of these changes along with migration, may reduce the quality of life of pregnant women and mothers. This study aims to determine the quality of life in rural pregnant women. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Three hundred pregnant Iranian and Afghan women who attended the public health centers in regional Tehran, Iran, were systematically selected and included in the study. Different dimensions of health status were investigated using the standard health-related quality of life questionnaire (SF-26) through interviews. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. The psychological health subscale (38.00) in the Iranian pregnant women and the physical health subscale (38.83) in the Afghan pregnant women had the highest scores. The lowest score was in social functioning subscale in both groups (20.59 in Iranian and 21.22 in Afghans). In general, Iranian mothers had lower scores compared to Afghan mothers. There was a relationship between the quality of life of Iranian pregnant women, their level of education and family's monthly income (P <0.05), and between the quality of life of Afghan pregnant women with the lesser number of pregnancies (P <0.05). In rural Iran, the quality of life score and its subscales is comparably low in both Iranian and Afghan pregnant women. Interventions are needed to improve the quality of life in this vulnerable population.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depressive Symptoms Among Mizan-Tepi University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BackgroundDepression is an extremely common and widespread problem among university students. A better understanding of the magnitude and determinants of depressive symptoms is required to create appropriate interventions for those groups. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among Mizan-Tepi University students during the pandemic lockdown.MethodsFrom September 11th to September 25th, 2020, 779 Mizan-Tepi University students participated in this web-based cross-sectional study. The link was created with a Google Form, and the questionnaire was distributed to participants via e-mail, WhatsApp, Telegram, and other social media accounts. To determine the prevalence and determinants of depressive symptoms, both descriptive and inferential analyses were used. The chi-squared test of association and logistic regression were used to identify predictors of depressive symptoms among university students. We used (IBM) SPSS version 20 for all statistical analyses.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students was 39.5%. According to results of multivariable binary logistic regression, being female (AOR = 0.339, 95%CI: 0.220–0.522), being an alcoholic (AOR = 2.101, 95%CI: 1.452–3.041), smoking (AOR = 2.088, 95%CI: 1.460–2.986), being quarantined for 14 days (AOR = 1.775, 95%CI: 1.231–2.560), frequently using social media (AOR = 1.510, 95%CI: 1.063–2.145), fearing COVID-19 (AOR = 5.058, 95%CI: 3.508–7.292), having sleeping problems (AOR = 1.703, 95%CI: 1.051–2.760), having a family member infected with COVID-19 (AOR = 1.829, 95%CI: 1.211–2.763), being exposed to COVID-19 (AOR = 1.748, 95%CI: 1.114–2.743), monthly disposable income ≥ 501 ETB (AOR = 0.531, 95%CI: 0.359–0.784), having a higher level of hope (AOR = 0.158, 95%CI:0.056–0.447), and having high social support (AOR = 0.546, 95%CI: 0.374–0.797) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms among students.ConclusionIn this study, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was found to be high among university students. Being an alcoholic, smoking, quarantined for 14 days, frequently using social media, fearing COVID-19, having sleep problems, having a family member infected with COVID-19, and being exposed to COVID-19 were all associated with an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms, while being a female, having a high level of disposable monthly income, hope, and social support decreased the risk of depressive symptoms among university students. Interventions should be put in place to promote mental health among university students.

Evaluation of alarm fatigue of nurses working in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Service: A mixed methods study.

To reveal the existence of alarms in COVID-19 intensive care units, where medical devices with alarm function are frequently used, the effects of alarms on nurses, especially their on-the-job performances and social lives, and their coping methods. This was a mixed design, including descriptive and qualitative research methods with two stages, and was carried out between March and April 2021. The study adhered to the STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies and the COREQ guidelines for qualitative studies. Nurses in the COVID-19 intensive care unit of a university hospital constituted the sample. 58 nurses participated in the quantitative data phase, and 18 nurses in the qualitative interviews. More than half of the nurses worked in the COVID-19 intensive care unit for more than 5months and overtime, and 87.9 had day and night shifts. The monthly income level of 65.5% was between the hunger and poverty lines, and 12.1 % received psychiatric support in the last 6months. A positive and significant relationship was found between the mean score obtained from the alarm fatigue questionnaire and the level of discomfort felt due to the alarms (1-10 points) (p=0.001). Five themes and thirty sub-themes were emerged in the focus group interviews. The number of alarms of the medical devices in the COVID-19 intensive care units was more than the other intensive care units, resulting in fatigue in nurses. Since alarm fatigue is directly related to patient safety, the effective management of medical device alarms can reduce alarm fatigue and prevent potentially dangerous outcomes. Nurses care for patients with severe clinical conditions in COVID-19 intensive care units. This situation caused them to be exposed to more alarms. Nurses should make efforts to reduce their alarm intensity.

Food insecurity and mental health of college students in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study.

The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among college students and explore its association with indicators of mental and psychosocial health. Data were collected using a cross-sectional online survey from college students in different universities in Lebanon during the Spring 2021 semester. FI was assessed using the validated eight-item food insecurity experience scale. The mental health of college students was assessed using validated screening tools for depression, anxiety and well-being, namely the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the World Health Organization (WHO-5) index, respectively. Multiple linear regression models were conducted to assess the relationship of FI with PHQ-9, GAD-7 and WHO-5 scores. A total of 745 students completed the online survey. Approximately 39 % of students in the sample were experiencing FI of which 27·4, 8·1, and 3·5 % were experiencing mild, moderate and severe FI , respectively. Low maternal education, low household monthly income and high levels of stress were significant correlates of FI among college students (P-trend < 0·001). In addition, 22·6 and 34·4 % of students showed severe symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Regression models showed that FI was associated with higher scores on PHQ-9 and GAD-7 (β = 2·45; 95 % CI [1·41, 3·49]) and (β = 1·4; 95 % CI [1·1, 2·2], respectively) and lower scores on WHO-5 (β = -4·84; 95 % CI [-8·2, -1·5]). In conclusion, a remarkable proportion of college students reported experiencing different forms of FI, which was associated with poorer mental health and well-being outcomes. Public health programmes and interventions are needed to mitigate FI and improve student health-related outcomes.

FORMATION OF THE MECHANISM OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE

The subject of the research is the theoretical and methodological aspects of the formation of the mechanism of socio-economic development of Ukraine. Methodology. The study used the following general scientific methods: theoretical generalization; methods of positive and normative analysis, statistical analysis. The purpose of the work is to substantiate the formation of the mechanism of socio-economic development of Ukraine. Results. The purpose of the article is the formation of the mechanism of socio-economic development of Ukraine. Analysis of the socio-economic status of households in Ukraine showed that the average monthly total income of one household in 2020 was 12248 UAH. Minor disproportions are observed because the urban household received on average 12620 UAH per month, while the rural household received 11470 UAH per month. It was determined that on average per one person in a household (hereinafter people) the equivalent aggregate income (hereinafter income) was 5832 UAH per month, in urban households – 6096 UAH, in rural households – 5286 UAH. It was proved that the level of average monthly income per person was 2.8 times higher than the established subsistence minimum (2078 UAH). It was found that the main source of income in households with one child was income from work (77%), and in households with three or more children the share of this income was 1.2 times lower. The socio-economic condition of Ukrainian households is analyzed. The structure of total resources of all households is examined The structure of total household expenditures is also analyzed. The distribution of users of Internet services by purpose is studied. The formation of the mechanism of socio-economic development of Ukraine in terms of sustainable development is carried out. It is proved that the mechanism of formation and development of socio-economic systems can be characterized as a mutually agreed system of legal and methodological support, based on the basic principles of territorial systems (sustainability, multilevel, partnership, dynamism, focus on local needs, public participation) and aimed at ensuring the welfare of the community, the well-being of residents and increasing the competitiveness of the territorial system, by developing appropriate tools.

Challenges and Issues of Female Primary Education: A Case Study of Rajanpur, Pakistan

The study attempted to examine the socio-cultural factors which create problems in female primary education; to determine the role of families/parents in female primary education and to examine the lack of school facilities that creates hindrance in the school enrolment of the children. The study population of the study was all parents whose children were primary school age by using the interview schedule. The researcher used the stratified simple random sampling and selected the 300 respondents for the study. The researcher used the SPSS software and did the descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The findings of the study show that majority 155 (51.7) percent of the respondents were uneducated; majority 85(23.3) percent of the respondents whose monthly income was &lt;6000; majority 95 (31.7) percent of the respondents were laborers; culture is significantly and positively correlated with parental and school facilities with p-values .011 and .000 respectively; furthermore, the parental attitude was significantly and positively correlated with school facilities with p-value .000. The results of ANOVA showed that the levels of cultural, parental, and school facilities among different academic qualifications of the household. The findings show that there is a significant difference in the levels of cultural, parental, and school facilities among different academic qualifications of the household with p-values .000, .000, and .000 respectively. The findings showed that there was a significant difference in the levels of cultural, parental, and school facilities among different monthly income levels of the household with p-values .000; .000, and .000 respectively. The study recommended that government may have to pay attention in the studied area; construct new schools, give scholarships to needy students and start awareness seminars at the local level.

Evaluation of Dentistry Students’ Lifelong Learning Tendencies During the COVID-19

Aim: Dentistry education is a life-long, continuous education. The aim of this study was to determine the lifelong learning (LLL) tendencies of the dental faculty students who were receiving distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: 258 dentistry students participated the study. Research data was collected by 'Lifelong Learning Disposition Scale' (LDS). In the first part of the questionnaire, students were asked to reply socio-demographic questions and their ability to learn during the distance education process of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second part, there were questions about LLL. The low score obtained from the scale indicates that the LLL tendency is high. ANOVA and t-test were used for analysis of LDS score, and the Mann Whitney-U and Kruskal Wallis tests were used for sub-dimensions. Results: During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 40.3% of the students stated their status of learning skills as medium, 28.7% as bad and 11.6% as very bad. Students' mean score on the LDS scale was 88.26 ± 9.8. The mean LDS score was statistically significant according to their class, gender and their assessment of learning skills during the COVID-19 pandemic (p &lt;0.05). There was no correlation between the monthly income and academic success levels of the students and their LDS scores (p&gt; 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that the students made their own evaluations correctly during the Covid-19 pandemic. LDS scores of the students who stated their learning status as bad were significantly higher by 1,187 times. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to communicate using educational methods that aim to support students' learning skills. Therefore, new interventions should be planned to increase students' LLL tendencies.

Development and validation of psychological status questionnaire for parents of infantile hemangiomas

BackgroundInfantile hemangioma (IH) is the most frequent benign tumor of infancy which impacts the psychological status of parents of affected children. Parental psychological status has a significant effect on the therapeutic effect and long-term prognosis of IH children. However, no standard questionnaires had been established previously to assess the psychological status of Chinese parents of children with IH.MethodsThis study prospectively developed and validated a psychological status instrument for the assessment of parents of patients with IH and to identify clinical features with effects on the psychological status. A total of 350 parents completed the 35-item Psychologic Status Questionnaire for parents of Infantile Hemangiomas (IH-PSQ) and provided demographic information. The IH-PSQ was refined via item analysis, validity analysis (including exploratory factor analysis and criterion-related validity) and reliability analysis (including internal consistency reliability, split half reliability, and test-retest reliability).ResultsThe dimensionality of the items was evaluated using factor analysis, with results suggesting 5 factors: anxiety, depression, psychological imbalance, disease shame, and disease fear. The final instrument consists of 4 scales with a total of 23 items. Construct validity was demonstrated and IH-PSQ showed good internal coherence (Cronbach’s α: 0.957), good split half reliability (0.971), and good test-retest reliability (correlation coefficient: 0.967). The correlation coefficient between the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) of children with IH was 0.874 and 0.754, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis found that some characteristics will affect the score of IH-PSQ.ConclusionsThe IH-PSQ contains 5 dimensions and 23 entries, and with good reliability and validity, can objectively and effectively evaluate the psychological status of IH parents. Certain clinical characteristics of IH families, including parents’ own factors (including their monthly income and cultural level) and disease-related factors of affected children (including the duration of illness, tumor size, with or without complications, single or multiple, whether being treated or not), were associated with a greater impact on IH-PSQ.

Research on Innovation of Chain Enterprises from the Perspective of Omni-channel

Purpose &#8211; In line with the changes in consumer consumption habits and the pursuit of individualized and diversified needs, Omni-channel business models have become a new direction for the transformation and development of traditional retail companies. Design/Methodology/Approach &#8211; This paper takes various influencing factors as independent variables, and tends to choose online consumption as the dependent variable. This article divides the independent variables into two levels. The first is the internal level of resident characteristics, including gender, age, average monthly income level, marital status, and average online time. The second is the external level of online consumption, including product prices, product quality, product types, delivery speed, and after-sales service. Findings &#8211; Based on a brief introduction to the current situation of Omni-channel transformation of the retail industry and the impact of online retail on the changes in consumer behavior, the article takes three chain retail companies of Weidomei, Guodomei, and Ziyan Foods as examples. Deal with the four aspects of strategy, price system and membership system, and explore the Omni-channel innovation of the business model of food chain retail enterprises. Research Implications &#8211; Relevant suggestions are put forward in response to the problems existing in the innovation of the business model of food chain retail enterprises at this stage. Take the innovation of food chain retail companies in the Omni-channel model as a case, in order to provide ideas for food chain retail companies to achieve Omnichannel transformation, and provide a useful reference for the entire chain retail industry.

Comparison of effectiveness of oral hygiene instruction methods in improving plaque scores among 8-9-year children: a randomized controlled trial.

The relative effectiveness of different methods used for delivery of information regarding oral health in children has not been widely raised in the literature. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of verbal oral hygiene instruction (OHI) against the verbal instruction supplemented by three different methods (written, teeth teaching model, and videotape) on the mean plaque scores and to determine factors that may influence the effectiveness of methods used. Prospective-comparative randomized controlled trial carried out on 120 children aged 8-9years. Participants were randomly divided into four groups (verbal, verbal and written, verbal and teeth teaching model, and verbal and video). Plaque Control Index was evaluated at baseline and 4weeks after OHI. ANOVA and post hoc, t test, and ANCOVA were used for statistical analysis. A statistically significant decrease of the mean percentage of plaque scores was found indicating the effectiveness of different methods of delivery of OHI (p < 0.01, 0.001). Verbal supported by teaching model was the most statistically effective method (p < 0.001) followed by the verbal (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the improvement in plaque score (p < 0.001) between the four methods of OHI after controlling for age, gender, monthly income, mother's and father's educational levels and plaque index before delivery of OHI. Regardless of the method used, a gradient of effectiveness was observed in improving plaque scores. Verbal instruction supplemented by teaching model was the most effective. Effectiveness was influenced by monthly income, mother's and father's educational levels and plaque index before OHI.

Factors Influencing Diversification to Banana Farming in Kenya: A Case of Imenti South Sub-County

Banana farming has been practiced extensively over the world for a long time with the origin being Malaysia. India is the leading producer in the world and Uganda the leading producer of banana in sub-Saharan Africa. Kenya is one of the nations practicing banana farming, and the country has embraced this activity, with several regions in the country practicing banana farming for subsistence and commercial purposes. Meru County, specifically Imenti South sub-County, has embraced the activity with households in Imenti South sub-County engaging in banana farming at a high rate. This is an area that has formerly been associated with coffee farming as the major cash crop. Therefore, this study sought to investigate drivers of diversification to banana farming among selected households in Imenti South sub-County. The objective of the study was to determine factors influencing diversification to banana farming among households in the study area. The study used a cross-sectional study design employing mixed methods of data collection. Systematic random sampling was used to select a study sample of 388 farmers to participate in the study. Descriptive and multinomial logistical regression was used to analyze quantitative data using SPSS version 20. Findings indicated that 67% of the respondents were males. About a third (32%) of the respondents was aged 41-50 years while only 13% were aged 18-30 years. Close to half of the respondents (48%) had attained primary level of education as the highest education attainment and 39% of the respondents earned an average monthly income level of 5,000 and below. Regression analysis model revealed that Age, monthly income level, land size, access to reliable markets, access to sufficient farm inputs, access to hybrid planting materials, better payment/returns, high crop productivity, availability of sufficient water influence diversification to banana farming (P&lt;0.05). In conclusion, there is high rate of diversification to banana farming which is driven by high returns and productivity of the crop. However, the study established the need for the government and its allied stakeholders to develop and implement policy guidelines which create an enabling environment for diversification to banana farming such as proper market price regulation, supply of water to farms, easy access to production inputs and provision of high quality, hybrid planting materials to farmers.

Investigation of The Relationship Between The Life Quality and Life Satisfactions of Karate Do Coaches in The Covid-19 Outbreak Process

Aim: The aim of the study is to report the quality of life and life satisfaction of karate-do trainers during the covid-19 epidemic and public health restrictions, and to examine the relationships between trainers' quality of life and life satisfaction while the restrictions persist. Methods: During public health restrictions, Karate Do trainers were recruited through an online survey and social media posting of demographics, quality of life, and life satisfaction sections. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) and the 7-point Likert-type Life Satisfaction Scale developed by Diener et al. (1985) and validated in Turkish by Bekmezci and Mert (2018) were used. IBM SPSS 22 package was used for data analysis. Independent Sample T test, One way Anova Test and Pearson Correlation Test were used with the program. The significance level of all evaluations was taken into account as p&lt;0.05. Results: In the findings obtained in the study, no significant difference was found between the participants' gender, age, educational status, residence and coaching time, and life satisfaction in the sub-dimensions of quality of life. A significant difference was found between the monthly income levels of the participants and the sub-dimensions of the quality of life, namely the psychological field and the environmental field and life satisfaction. During the pandemic period, significant differences were observed in the levels of paying attention to mask-distance-hygiene rules and in all sub-dimensions of quality of life. As a result of the correlation analysis, it was observed that as the quality of life of karate do trainers increased, life satisfaction at the mid-low level increased positively. Conclusion: No significant difference was found between the variables of gender, age, education level, residence and duration of coaching of karate do trainers and quality of life and life satisfaction. It was observed that there was a significant difference between the monthly income of the trainers and the sub-dimensions of the quality of life, namely psychological domain, environmental domain and life satisfaction. As karate do trainers pay attention to hygiene rules in every period, significant differences were observed between the level of attention to mask-distance-hygiene rules and all sub-dimensions of quality of life during the pandemic period. From this point of view, it can be said that Karate Do trainers pay attention to hygiene rules, especially during the pandemic period. In our study, it was observed that as the quality of life of Karate Do trainers increased, their life satisfaction also increased moderately positively. It is predicted that this ratio will increase even more with the new regulations to be made on the living standards and personal rights of Karate Do trainers. Keywords: Covid-19, Karate Trainers, Quality of Life, Life Satisfaction.

Relationship between residential indoor air quality and socioeconomic factors in two urban areas in Alexandria, Egypt

The current study investigated indoor and outdoor levels of PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm), PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature and relative humidity (RH) in 60 households located in two urban residential areas in Alexandria. In addition, indoor concentrations of PM2.5, CO and CO2 were measured simultaneously in the domestic kitchens of all monitored homes. Information on buildings characteristics (ventilation, building age, etc.), domestic activities of the occupants (smoking, cooking, and cleaning), and socioeconomic factors (monthly income and education level) were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Furthermore, air exchange rates (AERs) were measured in the living rooms of all selected residences. Almost all measured parameters showed significant spatial variation (p < 0.01) between the two study areas. This spatial variability was mainly due to the impact of ventilation, indoor activities and socioeconomic status (SES). Households having natural ventilation through frequent opening of doors and windows had higher AERs and therefore showed stronger associations between indoor and corresponding outdoor levels of measured air pollutants compared to mechanically ventilated ones. The current study showed for the first time in Egypt the relationship between indoor air quality (IAQ) and socioeconomic factors and highlighted the importance of considering SES alongside other influencing factors when studying residential IAQ. SES variables examined in this study proved to be significant predictors for IAQ where households with lower monthly income and education level were more likely to have higher indoor pollutants’ levels. The findings of this research could identify the drivers of poor IAQ in lower socioeconomic residences.

Rabies And Treatment Following Dog Bites: Knowledge Among Adults Residing In A Semi-Urban Medical Officer Of Health Area In Sri Lanka

Introduction: Rabies is a zoonotic disease that is endemic in Sri Lanka and the main vector of human rabies is the dog. The county invests a huge portion of its annual health budget to prevent this deadly disease. The treatment following dog bite has an important place in the prevention of human rabies, which consists of the provision of first aid and Post Exposure Therapy (PET). The objective of the study was to describe knowledge on human rabies and treatment following dog bites (TFDB) and their associated factors among persons aged 20-59 years in a semiurban Medical Officer of Health area in Sri Lanka Method- A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among a random sample of 340 participants, aged 20-59 years in a semi-urban Medical Officer of Health area, Sri Lanka by using probability proportionate to the population size cluster sampling technique. Data were collected by using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire by two trained pre intern doctors and analyzed using SPSS 22 software. Results- Response rate was 94.7% (322/340). The mean age was 38.1 years (SD=11.2 years).Of the participants, 94% were Sinhalese (n=303): 87% Buddhists (n=280); 74.2% married (n=239); 64.6% employed (n=208); 82% lived in own house (n=264) with a median income of Rs. 38,000.00 (IQR=Rs. 38,000/=). Only 11.5% (n=37) were dog owners. Overall knowledge on rabies was good in 64.9%, (n=209): 70.8% (n=228) knew the route of entry of virus but < 45% knew cat & bat are also reservoirs. The factors associated with good knowledge on rabies were Sinhala (OR=3.4, 95% CI- 1.3 -8.9,p=0.01); having higher level of education (OR=18.7, 95% CI- 9.7 -35.8 ,p<0.001), being employed (OR=2.3, 95% CI- 1.4 -3.6 p<0.001), having a higher income level (OR=4.8, 95% CI- 2.9 -7.9, p<0.001);owning dog (OR=2.7, 95% CI- 1.6 -4.4, p<0.001). Overall knowledge on treatment following dog bite was good in 61.2 %,(n=197):89.6%,(n=288) on first aid but < 30% knew the importance of noticing offending dog’s health, observability, and what to do if a dog is suspected to have rabies. The factors associated with knowledge on the treatment following dog bite were: ever-married(OR=1.7, 95% CI- 1.1 -3.2, p=0.02); having a higher level of education (OR=13.3, 95% CI- 7.5-23.5, p<0.001); having a higher level of monthly income (OR=3.0, 95% CI-1.9 -4.8, p<0.001); being employed (OR=2.2, 95% CI- 1.4 -3.5, p<0.001); owning a dog (OR=27.7, 95% CI-3.7 -205.0, p<0.001). Conclusions and Recommendations: The majority of the study participants had good overall knowledge of rabies and treatment following a dog bite. In general, knowledge on non-canine reservoirs of rabies and treatment following dog bites on specific events were deficient. There is a need to give holistic knowledge with regard to rabies as well as treatment following a dog bite to the general public. Keywords—rabies, treatment following dog bites, knowledge, Sri Lanka