Statistical Package For Social Studies Research Articles

Knowledge Organization Capability and Competitiveness of Chartered Public Universities in Kenya

Purpose: Knowledge has increasingly become one of the most critical determining factors for organizational competitiveness. In order to acquire and sustain a competitive advantage, it is vital for an organization to develop effective strategies that foster knowledge creation, transfer and integration in the performance of the organization. Knowledge organization refers to activities such as document description, indexing, and classification that provide systems of representation and order for information and knowledge materials. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between knowledge organization capability and competitiveness of chartered public universities in Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive design. The population of the research consisted of 31 chartered public universities authorized to operate in Kenya as at December 2020. The study adopted a census methodology while purposeful and convenient sampling was adopted to select respondents amongst the middle level management staff. The study used both secondary and primary data. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the primary data collection instrument. Out of 155 questionnaires that were sent out, 123 were filled and returned. Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) was used for data analysis. The study used regression model to estimate the level of significance which yielded a positive and significant influence of knowledge organization capability on competitiveness of chartered public universities in Kenya. Findings: The findings indicate that organizational initiatives such as effective knowledge collaboration and utilization, deployment of information technology systems that support knowledge organisation and easy access to information and data contribute to a healthy environment conducive for knowledge management. Owing to the foregoing, the study concluded that knowledge organization capability had a significant positive impact on competitiveness of chartered public universities. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that public universities needed to embrace knowledge organization capability in order to obtain sustainable competitive advantage.

The Relationship between Knowledge Sharing Capability and Competitiveness of Chartered Public Universities in Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between knowledge sharing capability and competitiveness of chartered public universities in Kenya. Universities are knowledge intensive environments, and play a central role in the creation and dissemination of knowledge that they generate. Accordingly, it would be expected that such institutions would adopt proactive approaches to the incubation of knowledge management capability and strategies, and that they would have better insight on how to achieve and optimize the value of their knowledge assets. However, research has shown that this is not the case, and that the approaches adopted by universities are passive and inconsistent. In addition, although there is a strong body of research in the area of knowledge management in commercial environments, and growing interest in knowledge management in public sector organizations, there has been little research on knowledge management capability in universities. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive design. The population of the research consisted of 31 chartered public universities authorized to operate in Kenya as at December 2020. The study adopted a census methodology while purposeful and convenient sampling was adopted to select respondents amongst the middle level management staff. The study used both secondary and primary data. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the primary data collection instrument. Out of 155 questionnaires that were sent out, 123 were filled and returned. Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) was used for data analysis. The study used regression model to estimate the level of significance which yielded a positive and significant influence of knowledge sharing capability on competitiveness of chartered public universities in Kenya. Findings: The findings pointed out that knowledge sharing capability significantly influenced competitiveness of chartered public universities in Kenya. The public universities should therefore entrench knowledge management practices in their day to day operations in order to remain competitive. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that public universities should embrace knowledge sharing practices in their operations as it enhances competitiveness. One of very important factor in knowledge sharing is that university stakeholders should be accorded with formal, informal and virtual space to interact with each other for knowledge exchange.

Perceptions and attitudes toward digital dentistry among dental professionals: a questionnaire survey study

In recent decades, digital technologies have become increasingly essential in dentistry, continuing the field's long-standing necessity of cutting-edge technology and innovation.The objective of the study was to determine the perception and attitude of dentists towards the use of digital technology.A Questionnaire study was conducted amongst 400 dental professionals. The questionnaire was sent electronically to all participants. The data from the filled forms was then compiled in a spreadsheet. The data was analyzed using IBM-SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Studies) Version 22. P value was taken as statistically significant (P-Value < 0.05). 58% dental professionals did not receive any training. 42% dental professionals have received formal training or education in digital dentistry during their professional career while 58% didn’t receive any training. 62% of professionals have noted changes in treatment outcomes or patient satisfaction since integrating digital dentistry technologies into their practice. 77% of participants expressed a willingness to adopt CAD/CAM systems in their practices. More than 75% were optimistic about bright future of digital technologies in dentistry in improving patient care and treatment outcomes.The majority of dental professionals were in the favor of incorporation of digital dentistry into clinical practice. Initial high cost of equipment’s and lack of formal training were the major barrier for incorporating digital technologies in routine clinical practice.

An investigation into the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among undergraduate medical students (A prospective cross-sectional KAP survey)

Introduction: The most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide is the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. It is believed that over 80% of sexually active women have contracted the virus at some point in their lives. About 11 million women in Saudi Arabia who are aged 15 to 44 years are at risk of having HPV-related cervical cancer. Aim: To assess the awareness and knowledge of undergraduate medical students (males and females) about the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination and to pinpoint the major factors influencing their attitudes towards it. Subjects and methods: A prospective, cross-sectional online survey included 411 undergraduate medical students (males and females) across different grades during three months, from January 1st to March 31st, 2024, at the Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. We statistically analyzed the collected data using Microsoft Office®, Excel® 2016, and IBM's Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS®) version 26.0. IBM is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Results: The majority of participating students were of young age, 20–25 years old (233, 56.69%), female (393, 95.62%), and of Saudi nationality (260, 63.26%). The most common recruited students were from the preparatory year (124, 30.17%), while the fewest were from the M6 grade (6, 1.46%). We implemented "Kamel's scoring system for students' awareness", which yielded the following scores: not acceptable (124, 30.17%), fairly acceptable (101, 24.57%), moderately acceptable (95, 23.11%), acceptable (71, 17.27%), and highly acceptable (20, 4.87%). Next, we implemented "Kamel's scoring system for students' knowledge", which yielded the following scores: very low (130, 31.63%), low (110, 26.76%), moderate (90, 21.90%), high (50, 12.17%), and very high (31, 7.54%). We implemented "Kamel's scoring system for students' attitude" to assess the students' attitude towards HPV vaccine utilization. We interpreted the calculated scores as inadequate or poor (136, 33.09%), reasonable or fair (100, 24.33%), sufficient or good (80, 19.46%), remarkable or very good (70, 17.03%), and outstanding or excellent (25, 6.08%). results were of statistical significance (the P-value is <0.00001). Conclusion: The estimated degree of awareness and knowledge about the HPV vaccination among undergraduate medical students at the Batterjee Medical College (BMC) was poor. This results in low motivation and utilization of the available vaccine.

The Effects of Sheng’ Vocabulary Usage in the Learning of Kiswahili Grammar in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya

Purpose: Sheng’ is a linguistic code based primarily on the Kiswahili structure and grammar with the lexicon drawn from Kiswahili, English and the various ethnic languages of Kenya; that are mostly spoken in towns and other urban areas. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effects of Sheng’ vocabulary on the learning of Kiswahili grammar in public secondary schools in Kenya. Methodology: Krejcie & Morgan sampling table was used to sample the schools. Stratified random sampling, simple random sampling and purposive strategy were used to sample the public secondary schools to participate. Krejcie and Morgan sampling table was used to sample 55 teachers of Kiswahili and 360 students to take part in the study. Data was collected using observation schedules, focused group discussion guides and a writing task for students. Questionnaires and interview guides were used for teachers of Kiswahili. Qualitative data collected was analyzed thematically to generate information that was summarized in graphics and discussed in narrative form. Quantitative data was analyzed with the help of Statistical package for social Studies. Findings: The findings of the study further revealed that Sheng’ vocabulary influenced written Kiswahili grammar as learners wrote Sheng’ words whereas they were expected to write standard Kiswahili. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy, and Practice: School administrators should come up with a school-based language policy so as to control learners’ language environment. The ministry of education should encourage the culture of drama, music and debate competition among schools. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development should also ensure language use is stipulated in Kiswahili curriculum and Sheng’ be considered as an independent language code in the country.

Time to tuberculosis development and its predictors among HIV-positive patients: A retrospective cohort study.

To assess the incidence and predictors of time to Tuberculosis (TB) development among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients attending follow-up care in health facilities of Hawassa, Ethiopia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study from April 1-30, 2023. A total of 422 participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. Data was collected from the medical records of patients enrolled between January 1, 2018 -December 31, 2022, using the Kobo toolbox. We used Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 26.0 for data analysis. To estimate the duration of TB-free survival, we applied the Kaplan-Meier survival function and fitted Cox proportional hazard models to identify the predictors of time to TB development. Adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and statistical significance was declared at a P-value of 0.05. The overall incidence rate of TB among HIV-positive patients was 6.26 (95% CI: 4.79-8.17) per 100 person-years (PYs). Patients who did not complete TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) were more likely to have TB than those who did (AHR = 6.2, 95% CI: 2.34-16.34). In comparison to those who began antiretroviral therapy (ART) within a week, those who began after a week of linkage had a lower risk of TB development (AHR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.21-0.89). Patients who received ART for six to twelve months (AHR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.05-0.61) and for twelve months or longer (AHR = 0.004, 95% CI: 0.001-0.02) exhibited a decreased risk of TB development in comparison to those who had ART for less than six months. The incidence of TB among HIV-positive patients is still high. To alleviate this burden, special attention should be given to regimen optimization and provision of adherence support for better completion of TPT, sufficient patient preparation, thorough clinical evaluation for major (Opportunistic Infections) OIs prior to starting ART, and ensuring retention on ART.

Effects of Introducing Different Levels of Groundnut Hay Treated with Urea and Molasses on Performance of Desert Lambs (Hammari Ecotype)

Non-traditional agricultural by-products are a potentially valuable alternative source of animal feed which may decrease dependence on traditional feed products and decrease overall feeding costs. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of using groundnut hay in lambs fattening. Groundnut hay was used at three levels (0, 20 and 30%) in three iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets (A, B and C). Twenty seven male lambs of Sudanese Desert sheep (Hamari ecotype) were selected according to their age (4-5months) and average live body weight (20.5Kg) and they were kept in Rural Development and Extension Center (R.D.E.C). The experimental feed includes three different levels of groundnut hay treated with urea and molasses (0, 20 and 30 %). Experimental animals were fed for 60 days included two weeks as adaptation periods. All the data was collected and statistically analyzed by using statistical package for Social Studies (SPSS version 17.0). an A Completely Randomized Design (CRD). One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncans multiple range were used to test for difference among the treatments means. The study showed a significant differences (P>0.05) among different treatments for average values of final live body weight gain(FLBWG), total live body weight gain(TLBWG), daily live body weight gain(DLBWG), feed conversion rate(FCR), feed conversion rate as % of live body weight gain, cost of one kg feed and cost of one kg live weight per (SG). While initial live body weight (ILBW) and daily feed intake (DFI) showed no significant differences (P>0.05) among different treatments. Treatment A (control) reported the highest and best values of final live body weight, daily weight gain, cost of one kg feed, and cost of one kg live weight followed by treatment B (%20) while treatment C (30%) reported the lowest values so, we recommend to use groundnut hay up to 20% for finishing desert lamb.

The Impact of Students' Satisfaction on Psychological Sense of Community among Undergraduate Students

A psychological sense of community is vital to increase engagement in studies and social activities while pursuing higher education. The primary aim of the present study was to examine the impact of students' satisfaction in terms of experiences with faculties, campus facilities, and extracurricular activities on undergraduate students' psychological sense of community. A purposive sampling method administered a self-report survey to 468 undergraduate students (18 to 25 years). Students' satisfaction scale (24 items) and the Collegiate Psychological Sense of Community Scale (14 items) were used as the instrument. The data were analysed via Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 28. Multiple regression analysis to identify the impact of students' satisfaction with the psychological sense of community. Findings showed a significant impact of students' satisfaction in terms of campus facilities (β = .92, p =.027) and extracurricular activities (β = .46, p = .031) on the psychological sense of community among undergraduate students. However, the result suggested that experience with faculty did not significantly predict undergraduate students' psychological sense of community (β = .016, p = .693). Results of this study were discussed concerning potential mechanisms through increasing students' satisfaction with an enhanced psychological sense of community. The implications of the study and recommendations for future research are presented. In sum, it recommended that more focused attention should be given to increase the psychological sense of community among undergraduate students.

Effect of lumbar-pelvic control on functionality in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Lack of pelvic control is a common functional impairment in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP), so pelvic stability may be critical to improve controlled movements and activities in these children. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effect of physical therapy programs combined with pelvic control exercises on controlled hip, knee, and ankle movements and gross motor functions in children with spastic CP. Thirty-two children diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy at levels II and III on the gross motor functional classification system participated in this study. They were randomly and equally divided by a computerized program into control and study groups. The control group (eight boys and eight girls) received the designed therapy program for one hour. The study group (four boys and twelve girls) received lumbar-pelvic control exercises for 20 minutes in addition to 40 minutes of a physical therapy program. The program for both groups was applied three times per week for twelve weeks. After twelve weeks of treatment, the controlled movement, functional ability plus a joint range of motion of the hip, knee, and ankle were assessed by selective motor control scale, Peabody scales, and Kinovia software program, respectively. All statistical measures were performed through the Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 20 for windows (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). The results of our study showed a statistically significant improvement in median selective motor control, the Z score of Peabody scale, and the mean angle of hip, knee, and ankle range of motion after the treatment program in the study group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Lumbar-pelvic control exercises are useful in improving the controlled movement and functional abilities in children with spastic diplegia CP when combined with a physical therapy program.

Modulation of the angle of rigid ankle-foot orthosis to control knee hyperextension in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a modified 5° dorsiflexion ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) to the traditional right angle rigid AFO on controlling knee hyperextension and improving spatiotemporal gait parameters in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). We used a pretest-posttest experimental design in which forty children (2-6 years) of both genders with unilateral CP were randomly assigned into two equal groups (A and B). Group A used a traditional right angle rigid AFO and received a selective exercise program to enhance walking pattern while group B used a modified 5° dorsiflexion rigid AFO and received the same exercise program as group A. Assessments for the knee angle during mid-stance and spatiotemporal gait parameters were done pre and post-intervention programs for both groups. All statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 25 for windows (IBM SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). There was a significant decrease in the knee angle in mid-stance post-treatment in groups A and B compared to pre-treatment (p < 0.001) but a significant increase in spatiotemporal gait parameters post-treatment in groups A and B compared to pre-treatment (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in the knee angle in mid-stance of group B compared to group A in post-treatment (p > 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in spatiotemporal gait parameters between groups post treatment (p > 0.05). In conclusion, using a rigid AFO improves the spatiotemporal gait parameters and decreases knee hyperextension for children with unilateral CP. Furthermore, a modified 5° dorsiflexion rigid AFO is recommended for better control of knee hyperextension than a traditional right angle rigid AFO for such cases.

Nail Changes in Immuno-Bullous Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Autoimmune blistering (AIBD) disorders affect mucosae, skin, and appendages. Appendageal involvement has not been studied extensively to date. However, they are important as nail changes are commonly encountered during a flare-up of the disease. To determine the prevalence and patterns of nail changes in various Immunobullous disorders and to study the relationship between the nail changes and the disease duration and severity. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, venerology, and leprosy at a tertiary care center in Mumbai. A cross-sectional study including a total of 74 cases of Immunobullous diseases was conducted and the prevalence of nail changes was determined. The association between the mean number of nail changes and the disease duration and severity was analyzed using ANOVA (Analysis of variance) and unpaired t-test. The Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) software was used for statistical evaluation. We found that the prevalence of nail changes was 91%. There was a significant difference in the mean number of nail changes with respect to the severity grades of mucosal involvement in AIBD (P value < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean number of nail changes with respect to the severity grades of Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), Pemphigus foliaceous (PF), subepidermal blistering diseases, and the duration of AIBD. Nails are frequently affected in AIBD. The number of nail changes is related to the severity of mucosal disease but not to duration.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN APOB AND APOA1 WITH INSULINEMIC STATUS IN PREDIABETIC SUBJECTS

The present study was mainly aimed at exploring the causal association of the atherogenic (ApoB) and antiatherogenic apolipoproteins (ApoA1) and their ratio in the basic defects of pancreatic β cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). An intermediate stage towards diabetes, the prediabetic stage, was chosen to explore the association. Following a standardized selection process, 131 subjects were purposefully recruited for the study, including 18 with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), 56 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 57 with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Fifty-nine healthy subjects served as controls. Glucose, lipid and insulin were estimated by glucose-oxidase, enzymatic colorimetric assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Serum ApoB and ApoA1 were estimated by immuno-nephelometric method. Appropriate statistical tools were used to calculate statistical differences using Statistical Package for Social studies (SPSS) for Windows V12. Absolute insulin (mIU) levels were significantly higher in the IGT and T2DM groups compared to controls (p 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). HOMA%B (meanSD) was significantly lower in T2DM groups (p=&lt;0.001) and higher in IGT compared to the controls although it is significantly lower in IFG compared to the controls but mean value is about 90%. HOMA%S was significantly lower in IGT and T2DM group (p=0.001 and 0.002 respectively). ApoA1 levels were significantly higher only in the T2DM group (p = 0.027), whereas ApoB levels were higher in both the IGT and T2DM groups (p = 0.026-0.001).. Neither ApoB nor ApoA1 showed any significant difference in the IFG group as compared to control. ApoB-ApoA1 ratio did not show significant difference among the groups. ApoB showed significant positive correlation with both fasting and postprandial glucose (p=0.006 and 0.040 respectively). In IGT group ApoB was positively correlated with absolute insulin (p=0.025) and HOMA%B (p=0.049) and negatively with HOMA%S (p=0.026). ApoB, but not ApoA1 or the ApoB and ApoA1 ratio, seem to have a causal association with insulin resistance, and elevation of ApoB is also modulated by obesity and atherogenic lipids. Bioresearch Commu. 9(1): 1170-1176, 2023 (January)

An Assessment of the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Planning and Implementation of Real Estate Development in the Port Harcourt Metropolis

In recent times, the failure of most Real Estate development in the Port Harcourt Metropolis could be attributed to the developers' poor implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility. This study, therefore, examines the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility of Real Estate Development within the Port Harcourt metropolis, such as the Rivtaf Golf Estate, on host communities - Okuru-Ama Community, Port Harcourt Local Government Area. The study adopts a quantitative approach enabled by survey research, as data for the study were collected through primary and secondary sources. Due to the concise nature of the study area, a total of seventy (70) questionnaires were judgementally selected as the sample size. These questionnaires were administered, filled out and returned by respondents from the Okuru Ama Community and some Rivtaf Golf Estate staff members. Field data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 22, and results were displayed in descriptive and inferential statistics in addition to the Relative Importance Index (RII). Available results indicate that Rivtaf Golf Estate has a good relationship with its host community and adheres strictly to its Corporate Social Responsibilities, significantly impacting Real Estate Development. The result further revealed that Rivtaf Golf Estate provides employment opportunities to some indigenes of the Okuru Ama community, makes contributions to the community scholarship purse, maintains the primary access road to the Estate through the community and sometimes sends Christmas packages to the community. The study recommends that there should be effective implementation of corporate social responsibility entered with host communities. Real Estate Developers should be socially responsible and sensitive to the interests of various stakeholders, especially the host community, by caring about the environment, community welfare and society in general.

Pattern and clinical phenotype of systemic lupus erythematosus among male patients: Hospital‐based study

AbstractBackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology. SLE is mostly considered a disease of women, though men may also be affected, and this may lead to a delay in diagnosis in men. The result is a greater burden of inflammation and subsequent organ damage over time. This study aims to assess the pattern, clinical phenotype and organ damage in male patients with SLE.MethodsA descriptive cross‐sectional study enrolled 30 male SLE patients in Omdurman Military Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan, during the period of December 2019 to May 2020. Data were collected by designated questioner containing demographics, age at diagnosis, clinical manifestations at onset and during the disease course and immunological assays. The data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Studies Program.ResultsThe mean age of 35.7 years ranged and the mean age at diagnosis was 32 years, and a third of the patients were found in the age group (30–39 years). The origin distribution showed that 50% of the patients were from central areas, and most of the patients were university graduates, the mean SLE duration was 5 years. Constitutional symptoms were the major manifestation at the onset of SLE in 56.7% of the patients. SLE manifestations during the course of the disease were mainly musculoskeletal manifestations in 87.7% of patients.ConclusionThe mean duration of the disease is 5 years, and the mean age of the patients is in the middle of their thirties, the constitutional symptoms were the major manifestation and musculoskeletal manifestations came second to that and almost all of them have positive antinuclear antibodies and anti‐dsDNA.

Perception, Attitude &amp; Barriers Amongst Dentists Using Digital and Electronic Technology

Introduction: In recent decades, digital technologies have become increasingly essential in dentistry, continuing the field's long-standing necessity of cutting-edge technology and innovation. Aims &amp; Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the perception and attitude of dentists towards the use of digital and electronic technology. Place and duration of study: Islamabad Dental Hospital from April to Sep 2020. Material &amp; Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 429 practicing dentists having more than 10 years of clinical experience. The questionnaire was distributed Those who are proficient with digital technology were sent the questionnaire electronically, while those who are not were given a printed copy. The data from the filled forms was then compiled in a spreadsheet. The data was analyzed using IBM-SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Studies) Version 22. P-Value &lt; 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Out of 800 distributed questionnaires, 429 completed questionnaires were received with a response rate of 54%. 145 respondents (33.8%) were 98.8% (n=424) demonstrated acceptance towards digital photography, 99.5% (n=427) were ready to utilize digital radiography, electronic or virtual models was appreciated by 97.7% (n=419. 138 (32%) of them thought it required proper technical training, 43 (10%) showed lack of comfort with the technology and 36 (8%) experienced lack of inter-doctor co-operation. Conclusion: While the vast majority of dentists see digital and electronic technologies as helpful for their work, many have noted challenges to more widespread adoption.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Hypertension among Pregnant Women Attending Aldayat and Saad Abu Elela Teaching Hospital Khartoum State -2020

Background: Pregnancy induced Hypertensive are the major causes of severe acute morbidity, long-term disability and death among mothers and babies. The worldwide prevalence of pre-eclampsia is 5–10%.&#x0D; Objectives: The objective of the study was to study the prevalence and associated factors of pregnancy-induced hypertension among pregnant women attending Aldayat and Saad Abu Elela Teaching Hospital Khartoum State-2020.&#x0D; Materials and methods: This descriptive hospital-based study was conducted in Aldayat and Saad Abu Elela Teaching Hospitals, the study covered all pregnant women in a period of two months from January to February 2020 to obtain a sample size of 239 pregnant women. Data were collected using WHO standardized questionnaire after modification to suit the study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 23. The association between different variables was checked using the chi-square test, P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.&#x0D; Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension among pregnant women was 7.5%. The distribution of prevalence of hypertension associating to age group among those affected: 44.4% among age group 18-30 years old then 33.3% among age group less than 18 year old and 11.1% in both group 31-45 and &gt;45 years old , respectively. The study revealed that the associated factors of hypertension among pregnant women were: Family history and first relative relationship, number of pregnancies, follow-up blood pressure during pregnancy, with 39%, 100.0%, 44.3%,100.0% , respectively, socio-demographic characteristics such as education level illiterate 5.5% khalwa 27.7% primary/basic 5.5% intermediate/secondary 25.5% university/post-university 33.3%),employment status employed 41%, Not employed 59%,nature of work sitting 27.8% Stand22.2%, Moved33.3%, all mentioned 16.7%,no. of hours per shift4 hours 11.7% 5-8 hours 56.1% &gt; 8 hours 32.2%, family monthly income in SDG&lt; 1500 31.1%, 1500-3500 38.9%, &gt; 3500 29.7%. From the interview with Medical Director and the Metron the main factors associated with hypertension were: family history, nutrition status, the number of pregnancies and obesity. The statistics showed a strong association between blood pressure among pregnant women from a side and education level, the number of pregnancies, follow-up during the pregnancy and family history from another side with P-value = 0.01, 0.02, 0.01 , 0.026 , 0.02 , respectively. There was no association between employment status, nature of work, increase of blood pressure during and before pregnancy, knowledge and time of diagnosis from a side and hypertension among pregnant women from another side with P-values (0.4, 0.47, 0.38, 0.42, 0.35) , respectively.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study revealed that the prevalence of hypertension among pregnant women associated with many factors such as: family history, age group, and follow-up during pregnancy, level of education, so based on the findings the study recommended that the pregnant women should be sensitized on the preventive measures for managing high blood pressure, health and nutrition education including physical education for all pregnant women with particular emphasis on the most affected age group, and there must be continued follow-up.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Hypertension among Pregnant Women Attending Aldayat and Saad Abu Elela Teaching Hospital Khartoum State -2020

Background: Pregnancy induced Hypertensive are the major causes of severe acute morbidity, long-term disability and death among mothers and babies. The worldwide prevalence of pre-eclampsia is 5–10%.&#x0D; Objectives: The objective of the study was to study the prevalence and associated factors of pregnancy-induced hypertension among pregnant women attending Aldayat and Saad Abu Elela Teaching Hospital Khartoum State-2020.&#x0D; Materials and methods: This descriptive hospital-based study was conducted in Aldayat and Saad Abu Elela Teaching Hospitals, the study covered all pregnant women in a period of two months from January to February 2020 to obtain a sample size of 239 pregnant women. Data were collected using WHO standardized questionnaire after modification to suit the study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 23. The association between different variables was checked using the chi-square test, P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.&#x0D; Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension among pregnant women was 7.5%. The distribution of prevalence of hypertension associating to age group among those affected: 44.4% among age group 18-30 years old then 33.3% among age group less than 18 year old and 11.1% in both group 31-45 and &gt;45 years old , respectively. The study revealed that the associated factors of hypertension among pregnant women were: Family history and first relative relationship, number of pregnancies, follow-up blood pressure during pregnancy, with 39%, 100.0%, 44.3%,100.0% , respectively, socio-demographic characteristics such as education level illiterate 5.5% khalwa 27.7% primary/basic 5.5% intermediate/secondary 25.5% university/post-university 33.3%),employment status employed 41%, Not employed 59%,nature of work sitting 27.8% Stand22.2%, Moved33.3%, all mentioned 16.7%,no. of hours per shift4 hours 11.7% 5-8 hours 56.1% &gt; 8 hours 32.2%, family monthly income in SDG&lt; 1500 31.1%, 1500-3500 38.9%, &gt; 3500 29.7%. From the interview with Medical Director and the Metron the main factors associated with hypertension were: family history, nutrition status, the number of pregnancies and obesity. The statistics showed a strong association between blood pressure among pregnant women from a side and education level, the number of pregnancies, follow-up during the pregnancy and family history from another side with P-value = 0.01, 0.02, 0.01 , 0.026 , 0.02 , respectively. There was no association between employment status, nature of work, increase of blood pressure during and before pregnancy, knowledge and time of diagnosis from a side and hypertension among pregnant women from another side with P-values (0.4, 0.47, 0.38, 0.42, 0.35) , respectively.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study revealed that the prevalence of hypertension among pregnant women associated with many factors such as: family history, age group, and follow-up during pregnancy, level of education, so based on the findings the study recommended that the pregnant women should be sensitized on the preventive measures for managing high blood pressure, health and nutrition education including physical education for all pregnant women with particular emphasis on the most affected age group, and there must be continued follow-up.

High rates of COVID-19 vaccine refusal among Afghan pregnant women: a cross sectional study

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus Type-2 (SARS-COV-2) was first detected in China and created a global pandemic rapidly. Subsequently after serious efforts different types of vaccines produced against the virus and recommended for all people including pregnant women. The aim of this study was to realize the willingness of pregnant women to accept the COVID-19 vaccine in Kabul Afghanistan. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted in gynecology wards of several hospitals in Kabul, Afghanistan from 10th of July to 20th of August 2021 through direct interview with the pregnant women who had come for prenatal care to the healthcare centers. The collected data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 25. Simple descriptive analysis computed for demographic characteristics and bi-variable (Chi-square) analysis was carried out to find out the associations of taking vaccine with demographic variables. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant at 95% confidence interval. A total of 491 who were completed the inclusion criteria included in the analysis. A small portion of pregnant women (8.6%) illustrated the intent to get the COVID-19 vaccine if it is recommended by the health authorities in Afghanistan. Our study found a high rate of COVID-19 vaccine refusal among pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan. They showed the concern on adverse effects of the vaccine as the main reason for refusal, emphasizing the need to reduce the misconception on vaccine efficacy and campaigns to enhance awareness on the vaccine safety and benefits for mothers and babies.

Association between unilateral functional ankle instability, limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and low back pain

There is growing evidence that supports the correlation between incidence of ankle dysfunction and low back pain (LPB). Although the spine and ankle seem like distant regions of the body, they are functionally connected by the lower extremity kinematic chain. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between functional ankle instability (FAI), limited ankle dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM) and (LPB). One hundred two subjects with chronic ankle sprain pain participated in this study. The mean ± SD age, weight, height, and BMI of the study group were 43.5 ± 12.96 years, 85.27 ± 14.22 kg, 172.9 ± 8.45 cm, and 28.59 ± 4.72 kg/m². LPB was measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), FAI was measured by the anterior drawer test and DF ROM was measured by the lunge test. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 25 for Windows. There was no statistically significant association between pain and age, pain and BMI, pain, and sex (p &gt; 0.05). There was a statistically significant association between pain and drawer test (odd ratio 5.68, p = 0.02) and a statistically significant association between pain and DF ROM (odd ratio 1.16, p = 0.01). The current study supported previous studies recommending FAI and limited ankle DF ROM as a factor in LPB. The authors suggest conducting similar studies with a larger number of participants and include functional measures scales or questionnaires to increase the validity and generalizability of the results.

Epidemiological profile of patients with urolithiasis in a tertiary care center of Eastern Nepal: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Background: This study is aimed to estimate descriptive statistics of socio-demographic and clinical profile of patients with urolithiasis visiting urology division, Department of Surgery of BPKIHS.Methods: This is a retrospective study. A total of 409 patients diagnosed with urolithiasis admitted to BPKIHS from January to December 2017 were included. The hospital medical records of patients were reviewed using a Pro forma to record the epidemiological data. The data was entered into the Microsoft Excel software and analyzed using statistical package for social studies (SPSS) software 23.0 version.Results: The peak age group of the high burden of urolithiasis observed was 20-30 years (27.1%) with the mean age plus standard deviation of the patients being 39.60±15.67 years. Among them, 54% were male and 46% were female with a ratio of 1.17:1. The most common site of urolithiasis was the ureter (44.1%) and kidney (39.3%). 11% of patients had stones on more than one site.Conclusions: It is concluded that the highest prevalence of urolithiasis is in the age group 20-30 years with male predominance and the common site being ureter. Further studies are needed as other factors affecting this disease are yet to be studied.