Selected Health Centers Research Articles

Utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Selected Hospitals in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area- Enugu State- South-East, Nigeria

Background: Malaria infection in pregnancy complicates about 32 million pregnancies each year in endemic areas in sub-Saharan Africa and can be life-threatening for both the mother and child (World Health Organization (WHO), 2017). The severe burden of disease has led to a global fight to control malaria. The World Malaria Report states that by the end of 2010, adequate insecticide-treated mosquito nets would have been delivered to sub-Saharan Africa to protect about 580 million people. This would protect 76% of the population at risk. More than 75 million people have received protection from indoor residual spray (WHO, 2017). Malaria increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for mothers, fetuses, and newborns. Aim: The study aimed to assess the utilization of insecticide treated nets among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in some selected hospitals in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State. Method: This study adopted a cross sectional study design. The sample consists of Two hundred (200) pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics in the selected health centres of Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State and were selected through a convenient sampling technique. The instruments for data collection were a self-structured questionnaire and an interview guide for those who could not read and write. Findings: Results showed high ownership of ITN with a poor level of utilization; no significant relationship between the pregnant women’s age, parity, and utilization of insecticide-treated net. Conclusions: The study concluded that high ownership of ITN does not translate to a good utilization level. It recommended a combination of subsidy and mass education campaigns to boost utilization.

Survey of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinic in two Selected Health Centers in Lugbe, AMAC, FCT, Abuja

Background: Hepatitis B Virus is a small, double-stranded DNA, and perinatal transmission from mother to infant at birth is highly efficient as many as 90% of infants. This was aimed at investigating the Knowledge and Status of Hepatitis B among pregnant women attending antenatal care in two selected health centres in Lugbe, Abuja.
 Method: A total of 220 pregnant women ranging from 15- 45+ years were randomly selected and assessed on demographic characteristics, HBV, knowledge and prevention of HBV infection using a well-structured self-administered questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0.
 Result: The result revealed that more than half (70.0%) of the respondents have not suffered the infection, while 26.8% have. More than three-quarters (85.0%) of the participants had only a single sexual partner, and 1.4% had more than three sexual partners. The majority (58.6%) identified HBV as the cause of hepatitis. Nevertheless, the majority were not knowledgeable about the risk factors of hepatitis, as more than half of them, believed that avoiding multiple sexual partners, sharing sharp objects, blood transfusion and vaccination do not prevent the contraction of the infection. There is a significant relationship between the participant's marital status, educational level and hepatitis status(p=0.044).
 Conclusion: The status of Hepatitis B virus infection was higher (26.8%) than what has been reported, and can be attributed to a low level of knowledge among the respondents on the causes of the infection. An aggressive campaign to increase knowledge and create more awareness among the respondents in the area should be mounted.

Awareness, attitudes towards genetic diseases and acceptability of genetic interventions among pregnant women in Burera district, Rwanda

Approximately 3% of all pregnancies are associated with conditions linked with disability, either mild or severe congenital diseases. This is a consequence of environmental and genetic exposures. Complications and poor management of these diseases arise due to limited knowledge, awareness about the disease, and limited resource settings. The current study assessed awareness, attitudes towards genetic diseases, and acceptability of genetic interventions among pregnant women. This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted among 664 pregnant women in six selected health centers in Burera district using a detailed questionnaire. The data were analysed using STATA Version 15 and entailed univariate, bivariate, and multivariable analyses. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. The mean age of the study participants was 28, and most of them were in the age range of 21 to 30 (50%). Most of the participants were married (91.1%), Christians (98.4%), farmers (92.7%), used public health coverage (96.6%), and attained primary studies (66.1%). The findings from this study showed that among participants, adequate awareness was at 29.5%, inadequate awareness at 70.5%, positive attitudes at 87.1%, negative attitudes at 12.9%, high acceptability at 97.1%, and low acceptability at 2.9%. While there was no significant difference between awareness and acceptability, there was a statistical significance between attitudes towards genetic diseases and acceptability towards the use of genetic services (p < 0.01). There was no statistical significance between sociodemographic or obstetric characteristics and the acceptability of genetic interventions. Participants with positive attitudes towards genetic diseases were more likely to develop a high level of acceptability and willingness towards the use of genetic interventions (OR: 5.3 [2.1–13.5]). Improving awareness about genetic diseases and establishing genetic interventions in healthcare facilities are needed.

Treatment outcome and associated factors among adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in selected health centers in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

The success rate of pulmonary tuberculosis in developing countries is different than expected despite effective treatment. We evaluated treatment outcomes and associated factors of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. A retrospective cross-sectional study was employed among randomly selected health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Patient records of adult pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated between January 1st, 2017, and December 31st, 2019 were reviewed. Convenient sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version 24-computer software was used for analysis. Participants' characteristics were descriptively described, and Bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine independent variables related to clinical outcomes. The significance level was determined at p-value < 0.05 and a 95% confidence level. Six hundred thirty-six patient records with a mean age of 37.49± 2.99 were reviewed. The overall treatment success rate was 84.9%. Absence of comorbid illness [AOR = 0.444; 95% CI:0.219-0.900], non-smoking [AOR = 0.35; 95% CI:0.194-0.645], and being HIV negative [AOR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.106-0.460] were associated with successful treatment outcomes, whereas, not having treatment supporter [AOR = 15.68; 95% CI: 8.11-30.33] was associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome. Treatment success in this study was below the average target set by WHO. HIV positivity, co-morbidities, and smoking increased risk of treatment failure. Patient education about cessation may improve treatment success.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards the use of Contraceptive Methods among Young Women aged 15-24 Years in Gasabo District, Rwanda

Background Unplanned pregnancies continue to be a major public health problem particularly in low-income countries. Their increase the risk of unsafe abortion, maternal morbidity, and mortality. Contraceptive methods play a crucial role in reducing unplanned pregnancies by providing individuals with the means to prevent or delay pregnancy. The recent Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey RDHS (2020) revealed a higher unmet need for family planning among adolescents and young adults compared adults’ women. This study aimed to provide valuable insights into the current status of contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practices among young women attending selected health centers in Gasabo district. Methods A cross-sectional study design was employed and quantitative approach was used to collect data from adolescent and young women aged 15 to 24 years who sought routine services at 16 health centers in Gasabo District. The sample size was determined using the Cochran formula, resulting in a sample of 384 participants selected using stratified sampling method. Data were cleaned analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results The results showed that 81.4% of the participants have good knowledge regarding contraceptive methods, while 18.6% have poor knowledge. The respondents generally held a positive attitude towards contraceptive methods (79.4%), Morever, 76.3% exhibit good practice towards the use of contraceptive methods. The Logistic regression showed that young women 20-24 years (AOR = 3.436, 95% CI = 1.007-6.733, p = 0.022), Having more than one child (AOR = 2.461, 95% CI = 1.054-7.246, p = 0.024), coming from higher ubudehe Category (AOR = 1.427, 95% CI = 1.071-3.561, p = 0.035) and receiving more income (AOR = 1.616, 95% CI = 1.025-3.671, p = 0.028) increase the odds of contraceptive methods use. However, being unemployed (AOR = 0.447, 95% CI = 0.09-0.921, p = 0.03) was negatively associated with contraceptive methods use. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of contraceptive methods in reducing unplanned pregnancies. The findings indicate a good level of knowledge, positive attitudes, and satisfactory practices among young women in Gasabo District. However, targeted interventions addressing factors such as age, parity, socioeconomic status, and employment are needed to further promote contraceptive use and minimize unplanned pregnancies.

"I think taking herbal medicine first can help prevent. If it doesn't work, then can take start taking the medication given by the doctors." Patients' perceptions towards hypertension in Fiji.

Hypertension remains a public health challenge worldwide however, the prevention, detection, treatment and management of this condition are not highly prioritized. Health knowledge has an important impact on individual's health. The ability to actively participate in screening, diagnosis and management of hypertension are influenced by patient's knowledge of hypertension. To understand why hypertension is so difficult to control, it may be of benefit to gain an understanding of the patient's perspective. Hence, the aim of the study is to explore the perceptions of patients on prevention and diagnosis of hypertension in Fiji. The study used a qualitative method approach. The study was conducted at the four purposively selected health centers in the Lautoka/ Yasawa medical subdivision. A purposive sampling was used which included all the patients who attended the SOPD, age more than 18 years and above, diagnosed with hypertension for 6 months or more and attended clinic at one of the 4 selected health centers. Semi-structured open-ended interview guide were used to collect data among patients through in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used manually to analyze the data using four steps that is immersion in the data, coding the data, creating categories and identifying themes / subthemes. Twenty-five SOPD patients took part in the in-depth interview and the responses were grouped into two themes. The themes emerged included hypertension knowledge and diagnosis of hypertension in a closed family and self. Subthemes derived from the hypertension knowledge were measures of awareness, hypertension aetiology, risk perception, origin of information and concept of prevention. Sub themes derived from the diagnosis of hypertension in a closed family were perception when first diagnosed, hypertension in relation and hypertension impact. Patients' knowledge on etiologies and risk factors of hypertension were generally poor. Majority of the participants learnt about hypertension in hospitals and few over radios and television. Diagnosis in a closed family triggered worrisome, fear and fright on some patients. Majority of the patients have less knowledge about various risk factors of hypertension. Worrisome, fearful, frightful, frustration and sadness were some of the reactions and emotions highlighted by the patients. It is important to design culturally tailored interventions that address the psychological and behavioral needs of the patients. Recommendation to conduct further studies to understand the perception of hypertension among the general public.

Immunization Program Intervention Training in Stunting Prevention Effort in Sampang Regency, Madura Island, East Java

Stunting was still a major health problem in Indonesia. Sampang Regency was one of the districts that experienced an increase in the prevalence of Stunting. According to the 2018 Riskesdas data, it shows that one in three babies under two years old (baduta) and babies under five years old (toddlers) in Indonesia are in the stunting category. To prevent stunting, intervention was needed to increase the number of immunization. The aim in this activity was to identify the barrier increasing Universal Coverage Immunization (UCI) to solve immunization problem by Human Centered-Design (HCD) method. The method used is a qualitative method using HCD, which is a method used to explore problems from the community side. This activity was involved by the head of the epidemiology and immunization section, the program holders of the Sampang district health office, coordinating midwives and immunization coordinators at selected health centers regarding immunization program interventions, namely exploring immunization problems from the community. The HCD intervention method has several steps, namely Persona, Journey of Map, Quote, Findings and Suggestions. The results from the intervention was every public health centers known to have a different picture related to portraits of people in the community who are influential in the implementation of the immunization program. This program showed that health was not only the responsibility of government or the health program holders, but everyone. The recommendations from the HCD training at the two public health centers agreed to re-advocate the immunization program to relevant stakeholders.

Factors Associated With Utilisation of 4th Postnatal Care among Mothers Seeking Vaccination for Children in Selected Health Facilities in the City of Kigali, Rwanda

Maternal mortality remains a global public health concern. Maternal mortality rate was 211deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017 with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for two third. A strengthened postnatal care can significantly reduce this unacceptable mortality. This study aims at assessing the factors associated with the utilization of 4th postnatal care services among mothers seeking vaccination for their children in selected health centers located in the city of Kigali. A cross-sectional study design was conducted in 10 health centers and 403 mothers were recruited. Data was collected using an interview-administered questionnaire, Chi-square and multivariate analysis were used to examine the relationship between independent variables and PNC4 attendance. Mothers who participated in the study (56.7%) were between the ages of 26 and 35, 47.6% were cohabiting, and 49.6% had completed secondary and TVET school. The attendance of PNC4 was 27%. PNC4 service awareness (AOR = 10.922, 95% CI: 5.869-20.325, P 0.001), ANC attendance (AOR = 2.334, 95% CI, 1.050-5.188, P = 0.038), and religion belief (AOR=0.338, 95% CI, 0.177-0.645, P=0.001) were significantly associated with PNC4 attendance. The utilisation of PNC4 is still low. PNC4 should be strengthened to ensure the well-being of the mothers and children. Keywords: Postnatal care, Vaccination for Children, utilization, Selected Health facilities, Kigali, Rwanda

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Shigella Species among Children under Five Years of Age with Diarrhea in Selected Health Centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Shigella and parasitic infections are common public health problems throughout the world. Shigellosis is an acute gastroenteritis infection and one of Ethiopia's most common causes of morbidity and mortality, especially in children under five. High resistance rates to commonly used antibiotic agents have been documented in different locations in Ethiopia. This study aimed to characterize the antimicrobial features of the Shigella species isolated from children under five years of age with acute diarrhea in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Using a cross-sectional study, freshly passed fecal specimens were collected for intestinal parasite and bacterial isolation. Fecal samples for bacterial identification were placed immediately in Cary-Blair media and transported to the Ethiopian Public Health Institution (EPHI) laboratory. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AMST) was conducted using the disk diffusion method. Data were described using descriptive statistical tools. The association of independent and dependent variables was evaluated with logistic regression. A P value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 8.2% with seven different species. Among the 534 stool-cultured specimens, 47 (8.8%) were positive for Shigella species. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AMST) showed that 100%, 93.6%, 80.9%, 72.3%, and 57.5% were susceptible to norfloxacin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and cefoxitin, respectively. However, 100% of the isolates were resistant to amoxicillin and erythromycin. More than 50% of the isolates were resistant to three and above antibiotics, while none of them were susceptible to all the antibiotics tested. All risk factors assessed did not show a statistically significant association with Shigella infection. The high levels of antibiotic resistance observed among the commonly prescribed antibiotics are alarming. The emerging resistance to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid signals a severe public health threat in the management of shigellosis. Raising awareness about resistance and educating health professionals, policymakers, and the public can help improve the quality of patient care and rational antibiotic use.

Prognostic value of triglyceride glucose index in population at high cardiovascular disease risk

BackgroundEarly identification of populations at high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and improvement of risk factors can significantly decrease the probability of CVD development and improve outcomes. Insulin resistance (IR) is a CVD risk factor. The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a simple and reliable index for evaluating IR. However, no clinical studies on the prognostic value of the TyG index in a high risk CVD population have been conducted. This study evaluated the relationship between the TyG index and prognosis in a high risk CVD population.MethodsThis study enrolled 35,455 participants aged 35–75 years who were at high CVD risk and visited selected health centers and community service centers between 2017 and 2021. Their general clinical characteristics and baseline blood biochemical indicators were recorded. The TyG index was calculated as ln[fasting triglyceride (mg/dl)× fasting blood glucose (mg/dl)/2]. The endpoints were all-cause death and cardiovascular death during follow-up. Cox proportional hazard models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between the TyG index and endpoints.ResultsIn the overall study population, the mean age of all participants was 57.9 ± 9.6 years, 40.7% were male, and the mean TyG index was 8.9 ± 0.6. All participants were divided into two groups based on the results of the RCS analysis, with a cut-off value of 9.83. There were 551 all-cause deaths and 180 cardiovascular deaths during a median follow-up time of 3.4 years. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, participants with a TyG index ≥ 9.83 had a higher risk of all-cause death (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.86, 95% Confdence intervals [CI] 1.37–2.51, P<0.001) and cardiovascular death (HR 2.41, 95%CI 1.47–3.96, P = 0.001) than those with a TyG index < 9.83. Subgroup analysis revealed that there was no interaction between the TyG index and variables in all subgroup analyses.ConclusionsThe high TyG index was associated with an increased risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular death in people at high risk of CVD. This finding demonstrates the value of the TyG index in the primary prevention of CVD.Trial registrationretrospectively registered, the registration number is K2022-01-005 and the date is 2022.01.30.

Self-medication practices among pregnant women in Ethiopia

BackgroundSelf-medication is a worldwide issue that requires special attention due to the potentially harmful effects it can have not only on pregnant women but also on the fetus.ObjectivesThis study assessed the magnitude of self-medication practice and associated factors among pregnant women following antenatal care (ANC) in primary healthcare settings in the North Wollo Zone of Ethiopia.MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 395 pregnant mothers who attended ANC follow-up in selected health centers in the North Wollo Zone of Ethiopia from April 20 to May 20, 2021. A multi-stage sampling method was employed to enroll participants. A face-to-face structured interview was conducted to collect the data. A logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with self-medication practice. A p value < 0.05 at the 95% confidence level was considered statistically significant.ResultsOut of a total of 444 participants approached, 395 (89%) participated in the study. Of these, 44.6% reported practicing self-medication during the current pregnancy. Age < 35 (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.02–9.15; p = 0.032), rural residence (AOR = 3.01, 95% CI 1.43–10.19; p = 0.017), and previous medication use (AOR = 5.02, 95% CI 1.24–12.93; p = 0.015) were found to have a significant association with self-medication practice.ConclusionSelf-medication was highly prevalent among pregnant women in the study setting and result indicates need for critical action. Younger rural women with a history of self-medication use should be provided counselling to find a prescription medication, and measures are needed to minimize self-medication related harm in pregnant women.

Level of Adherence to National Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline and Percieved Barriers Among Health Care Providers at Selected Health Centers in Arba Minch Zuriya Woreda, Southern Ethiopia.

Level of Adherence to National Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline and Percieved Barriers Among Health Care Providers at Selected Health Centers in Arba Minch Zuriya Woreda, Southern Ethiopia.

Determinants of Measles Vaccine Uptake among Mothers of Children between 9 and 24 Months in Narok North Subcounty

The low uptake of measles vaccines in Kenya is a noticeable public health problem. Therefore, the study assessed the determinants of low uptake and hesitancy of measles vaccination among mothers of children aged 9 – 24 months in Narok North Sub-County, Narok. Cross-sectional quantitative study was done. The study was conducted in four purposively selected health centers in Narok North Sub-County. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from 100 mothers. The multistage sampling method was used in this study to select the mothers who participated in the current study. The data were analysed descriptively. Additionally, Pearson’s chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis H, and logistic regression tests were conducted to determine the significance of the relationships and associations between the determinants and MCV uptake. A total of 69(69%) of the children (N =100) who had qualified for the first dose of measles vaccines (MCV1) had received the vaccines, while 31(31%) had not. Thirteen (26.5%) of the children (n = 49) who had qualified for the second dose of measles vaccine (MCV2) had received the vaccine, while 36(73.5%) did not. The significant maternal determinants of MCV uptake included; maternal age (p = .019) and maternal level of education (p = .030). The significant child’s determinants were birth order (p = .032) and place of birth (p = .001). The significant socioeconomic factors included; low socioeconomic background (p = .004) and cultural and religious issues (p = .003). The significant healthcare determinants included distance from the health facility (p = .020) and availability of vaccines in the health center (p = .000). Measles vaccine uptake was very low compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended coverage rate of &gt;95%. Thus, there is a need to provide health education and information to mothers or caregivers on measles vaccine uptake. Keywords: Vaccine, Vaccine Uptake, Measles

The effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on sexual function in reproductive aged women with hypothyroidism: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundHypothyroidism is the most common clinical disorder of the thyroid gland which is associated with an increased prevalence of sexual dysfunction even if treated with medication.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on sexual function in reproductive-aged women with hypothyroidism.Materials and methodsThis randomized clinical trial was performed on 66 reproductive-aged women with hypothyroidism referring to selected health centers in Izeh, Iran. Data collection tools included demographic information form and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Eligible individuals were randomly assigned to case (n = 33) and control (n = 33) groups using block randomization with the block size of 4. In addition to standard hypothyroidism treatment, the case group received 8 sessions of cognitive-behavioral group therapy, while the control group received only standard treatment.ResultsBefore of treatment, there was no significant difference between the mean score of sexual function and its dimensions between the case and control groups (p < 0.05). However, immediately and 4 weeks after completion of treatment, the mean total score of sexual function and its dimensions in the case group increased significantly compared to the control group (p < 0.001).ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, CBT can be effective in improving sexual dysfunction in reproductive-aged women with hypothyroidism. However, before recommending this therapy to women suffering from hypothyroidism, more detailed studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of this intervention, as an adjuvant treatment to the standard pharmacotherapy.

Response to "Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self-Examination: A Cross-Sectional Study of Women at Selected Health Centers in Oyo State, Nigeria".

I would like to thank Faleti et al. (2023) for describing the practice patterns of breast self-examination (BSE) in Nigeria. Early identification of the symptoms of breast cancer is important in the effort to improve quality.

Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Amharic Version of the World Health Organization's Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) Screening Tool Among Pregnant Women in North West Ethiopia, 2022: A Psychometric Validation.

The prevalence of prenatal common mental disorders afflicting the global community, including Ethiopia, is thriving. Therefore, a time-efficient and valid screening tool is required. This study aimed to culturally adapt and validate the self-reporting questionnaire-20 tool developed by the World Health Organization among pregnant mothers in Ethiopia. A total of 310 pregnant women completed the questionnaire at two selected health centers in the regional state of Amhara. The World Health Organization's Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 tool was first translated into Amharic by two experts. The back translation was done by two English experts. Internal consistency and reliability were assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed using composite reliability and extracted mean variance. SRQ-20 was tested for reliability and validity using principal components analysis and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sample adequacy with a cutoff value of 0.50 for each item. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure (KMO = 0.733) for sample adequacy and the Bartlett's sphericity test for the identity matrix indicated that the data were amenable to exploratory factor analysis. Principal components analysis identified six factors that explained 64% of the variation in the self-report questionnaire 20. Cronbach's alpha was 0.817 for the entire scale and the extracted mean variance was greater than 0.5 for all factors, indicating convergent validity. The extracted mean variance, composite reliability, and factor loadings were all greater than 0.75 for all factors in this study, indicating that convergent validity was satisfactory and that discriminatory validity was also satisfied. The composite factor reliability scores ranged from 0.74 to 0.84, and the square roots of the mean variances were greater than the factor correlation scores. The interview-based, culturally-adapted 20-item Amharic version of the SRQ-20 tool demonstrated good cultural adaptation and was also found to be valid and reliable in the present context.

A study to the effectiveness of STP on knowledge and performance level of the health workers on Pentavalent vaccine at selected health centres at Gonda, Uttar Pradesh

Introduction: Vaccine is a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several disease scientists’ take many approaches to designing vaccine against on microbes. The major cause of sickness and death of children in India is mainly due to Infectious disease.Title: “The effectiveness of STP on knowledge and performance level of the basic health on pentavalent vaccine at selected health centres at Gonda.Material and Method: In this study the quantitative research approach was adopted with pre-experimental research design to assess knowledge and performance level regarding pentavalent vaccination among health workers. The researcher recruited sixty health workers with purposive sampling techniques. The research instrument was divided into two parts, socio-demographic data and self-structured questionnaire. The criterion measure used in the study was extent of score on level of knowledge. Maximum obtainable score was 30 and divided into three categories that is adequate knowledge: 26-30, moderately adequate knowledge: 16-25 and Inadequate Knowledge: ≤15. Tool was prepared by extensive review of literature and validated by experts of Pediatrician and child health nursing. Ethical permission was obtained from ethical and research committee of Institution. After gaining approval, permission was taken from Medical and Nursing Superintendent of selected hospitals to conduct research study. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained during and after data collection. Result: In this study it was majority age of health worker were between 24 – 28 years belong Hindu religious and education status were higher secondary with maximum have no experienced. The pre-test knowledge score of Health workers regarding Pentavalent Vaccine revealed that 53.33% Health workers had inadequate knowledge, and 46.66% Health workers had moderately adequate knowledge and the post-test knowledge scores of Health workers regarding Pentavalent Vaccine revealed that 13.33% Health workers had adequate knowledge, 83.33% Health workers had moderately adequate knowledge 3.33%.The pre-test attitude score of Health workers regarding Pentavalent Vaccine. It revealed that 10(16.66%) Health workers had good attitude and 12(20%) Health workers had average level of attitude about Pentavalent Vaccine, 38(63.33%) Health workers had poor attitude. The Post test attitude score of Health workers regarding Pentavalent Vaccine. It revealed that 16.66 Health workers had good attitude, and 80% Health workers had average level of attitude. 4% Health workers had poor attitude. The significant difference between the mean score of pre and post-test knowledge score of the health workers regarding Pentavalent Vaccine paired‘t’ test was 7.65. Hence the researcher concluded that gain in knowledge is not by chance but by STP on Pentavalent Vaccine. The ‘r’ value of post-test level of knowledge and attitude was -0.22, there was a negative correlation between knowledge and attitude which was not significant. Significance association between age of the health worker, and experience. There was no association between religions, education, and source of information.Conclusion: In this study due to lack of educational status participants have very poor knowledge regarding knowledge and performance level of the health works on pentavalent vaccine & have association between knowledge regarding hypertension and there was no association between religions, education, and source of information.

Quality of Care for Patients with Hypertension in selected Health Centres in Rwamagana District, Rwanda

BackgroundHypertension is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and its prevalence is high in Rwanda. Rwanda has integrated the management of hypertension in health centres (HCs). However, little is known about the quality of hypertension care in HCs in Rwanda.Study objectiveTo examine the quality of care for patients with hypertension and associated outcome of hypertension control in Health Centres.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was used, and data were collected from a convenience sample of 202 patients. A self-reported questionnaire and blood pressure measurement were taken. Data were analysed using descriptive, bivariate, and hierarchical logistic regression analyses.ResultsA total of 166 (82.2%) patients participated in the study. Of these, 130 (78.3%) were females. Mean age was 57.8 (SD =14.0). The quality of hypertension care process was high with mean score of 5.86 over 7 (SD = 1.4). However, only 30.1% (n = 50/166) had well-controlled hypertension. Comorbidity (OR = 2.3; 95% CI:1.0-5.1, p =.039) and the quality of care (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1- 2.4, p = .024) were associated with higher odds of having hypertension control.ConclusionTailored patient-centred primary care interventions that consider comorbidity could contribute to hypertension control in primary HCs in Rwanda.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2023;6(1):84-98

Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self-Examination: A Cross-Sectional Study of Women at Selected Health Centers in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women in sub-Saharan Africa. However, knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) remains low. This project examined if there is an association between BSE knowledge.

Prevalence of neural tube defects among pregnant women in Addis Ababa: a community-based study using prenatal ultrasound examination

PurposeThe primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of NTDs at ultrasound examination in communities of Addis Ababa and secondarily to provide a description of the dysmorphology of the NTD cases.MethodsWe enrolled 958 pregnant women from 20 randomly selected health centers in Addis Ababa during the period from October 1, 2018, to April 30, 2019. Of these 958 women, 891 had an ultrasound examination after enrollment, with a special focus on NTDs. We estimated the prevalence of NTDs and compared it with previously reported hospital-based birth prevalence estimates from Addis Ababa.ResultsAmong 891 women, 13 had twin pregnancies. We identified 15 NTD cases among 904 fetuses, corresponding to an ultrasound-based prevalence of 166 per 10,000 (95% CI: 100–274). There were no NTD cases among the 26 twins. Eleven had spina bifida (122 per 10,000, 95% CI: 67–219). Among the 11 fetuses with spina bifida, three had a cervical and one had a thoracolumbar defect while the anatomical site for 7 was not registered. Seven of the 11 spina bifida defects had skin covering, while two of the cervical lesions were uncovered.ConclusionWe report a high prevalence of NTDs among pregnancies in communities of Addis Ababa based on screening by ultrasound. The prevalence was higher than in previous hospital-based studies in Addis, and the prevalence of spina bifida was particularly high.