Top Health Research Articles

Malaria Slide Bank to Strengthen and Improve the Quality of Malaria Diagnosis: A National Slide Repository in India.

Malaria elimination is one of the top health care priorities in India, necessitating accessible and accurate diagnosis for effective treatment. A malaria slide bank in India is a collection of quality-controlled malaria-positive and -negative slides and is considered a vital asset for quality diagnosis. The collection of blood samples, preparation of blood smears, staining, quality control, molecular characterizations, and slide validation were carried out according to standard operating procedures in accordance with the WHO reference laboratory. The true count and parasite density per microliter were computed in accordance with WHO guidelines. Over 27 months, 48 batches (8,196 slides) were prepared. Overall, the majority of slide batches were Plasmodium vivax (45.9%; 22/48), followed by Plasmodium falciparum (25%; 12/48), malaria-negative infections (25%; 12/48), and mixed infections (4.1%; 2/48). All 48 batches passed internal validation by WHO-certified level-1 microscopists. For a batch, the true count was the median of the validators' counts (range, 111-280,795 parasites/µL). Except for mixed infections, the PCR results agreed with the verified microscopy results. Malaria slide bank slides would be a valuable tool for quality control, assurance, and microscopist training.

An osteoporosis knowledge assessment instrument - development and validation.

The consequences of osteoporotic fractures are extremely detrimental to the individual as well as to society. Adopting effective preventative measures is a top public health priority.

Inhibitory activity of luteolin on α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase in vitro and in vivo

SummaryObesity is becoming a top global health problem. Inhibition of digestive enzymes is an effective approach in weight management due to the reduction of energy absorption. In this study, the inhibitory effects of luteolin on α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase were investigated in vitro and in vivo via enzyme kinetics, fluorescence quenching, molecular docking and rat experiments. The results showed that luteolin inhibited α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase in a mixed‐type and uncompetitive manner with IC50 values of 29.31 and 42.74 μg mL−1 respectively. The binding of luteolin with the two enzymes caused the quenching of intrinsic fluorescence of protein. Molecular docking simulation revealed that luteolin could be located in the active pocket of α‐glucosidase and interact with the key amino acid residues. Moreover, a hydrophobic interaction and a van der Waals force were formed between luteolin and the key amino acid residues of pancreatic lipase (His264 and Ser153). In vivo studies further confirmed that luteolin could significantly decrease the absorption of glucose and triacylglyceride in rats by inhibiting α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase.

Profiling of the intestinal microbiota of stunted children in Semarang, Indonesia

Abstract. Susanti R, Zaenafreee I, Christijanti W, Mustikaningtyas D, Yuniastuti A. 2024. Profiling of the intestinal microbiota of stunted children in Semarang, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 1337-1343. Stunting is a top global health priority. Gut microbiota profiles correlate with growth biomarkers, including stunting. This study aims to profile the intestinal microbiota of stunted children in Semarang, Indonesia. This research is an observational analytical study with a cross-sectional design, conducted on children aged 3-3.5 years with stunting and normal nutritional status in Bandarharjo Village, North Semarang District, Semarang City, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Fecal samples were collected, kept in a cooler box, and taken to the laboratory to be analyzed for pH, worm eggs, Alpha-1-Antitrypsin (AAT) levels, and microbiota profile. Microbial DNA was extracted from stool samples. The diversity and abundance of the gut microbiota were determined using the 16S rRNA V3-V4 gene marker region. The diversity and abundance of the intestinal microbiota of stunted children are smaller than those of non-stunted children. The ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes in intestinal stunting is 96.45, while in healthy, it is 26.05. The intestinal microbes of healthy children were dominated by Lactobacillus rhamnosus (30.92%) and Bifidobacterium breve (21.49%). The intestinal microbiota of stunted children is dominated by the bacterial species Blautia obeum (23.5%) and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (19.13%). The concentration of AAT in the feces of stunted children is higher (75.49±7.68) than that of healthy children (26.73±4.48). The pH value of the feces of stunted children was higher (6.84±0.31) than that of healthy children (6.29±0.43). In conclusion, the composition of the microbiota indicates a condition of dysbiosis in intestinally stunted children. The intestines of stunted children may experience inflammation based on data on higher pH values, higher AAT levels, and deficiencies in bacterial species that benefit the host.

One-year outcomes of traumatic injuries among survivors in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study on the employment outcomes and functioning state

BackgroundTraumatic injury is one of the top public health challenges globally. Injury survivors often experience poor health and functioning and restricted participation in employment. In Ethiopia, there is a paucity...

Use of Immunoglobulin Y Antibodies: Biosensor-based Diagnostic Systems and Prophylactic and Therapeutic Drug Delivery Systems for Viral Respiratory Diseases.

Respiratory viruses have caused many pandemics from past to present and are among the top global public health problems due to their rate of spread. The recently experienced COVID-19 pandemic has led to an understanding of the importance of rapid diagnostic tests to prevent epidemics and the difficulties of developing new vaccines. On the other hand, the emergence of resistance to existing antiviral drugs during the treatment process poses a major problem for society and global health systems. Therefore, there is a need for new approaches for the diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of existing or new types of respiratory viruses. Immunoglobulin Y antibodies (IgYs) obtained from the yolk of poultry eggs have significant advantages, such as high production volumes, low production costs, and high selectivity, which enable the development of innovative and strategic products. Especially in diagnosing respiratory viruses, antibody-based biosensors in which these antibodies are integrated have the potential to provide superiority in making rapid and accurate diagnosis as a practical diagnostic tool. This review article aims to provide information on using IgY antibodies in diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic applications for respiratory viruses and to provide a perspective for future innovative applications.

Women alone modern contraceptive use decision making and its correlates, evidence from PMA CS 2021 survey

BackgroundWomen alone contraceptive decisions making has become one of the top burring public health agenda. Despite Contraceptive method options are available and accessible, contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in Ethiopia is not far beyond 41%. Evidences showed that the freedom of women to choose the contraceptive method they desired to use is one of the potential determinants for the sluggish pace of increase in contraceptive usage. In this era of sustainable development, determining the level of women own contraceptive use decision making and identifying its correlates is very critical for the ministries and relevant partners’ effort in tracking the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.2 by providing actionable evidence through informed decision-making with the aim of improving contraceptive uptake; reducing maternal mortality and improve newborn health.MethodsNationally representative cross-sectional data from Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) 2021 was used in this study. The sample was restricted among2446 married women who have been using or most recently used modern contraceptive method. Cell sample size adequacy was checked using a chi-square test. Frequency was computed to characterize the study participants. Multilevel binary logistics regression was used to identify factors associated with women own contraceptive use decision making. The findings were presented in a form of frequencies, percentage and as an odds ratio using 95% confidence interval. A p-value of 0.05 was used to declare significance.ResultsThis study revealed that higher than one in two women (59.49%; 95% CI: 57.7-61.38%) decide their contraceptive use by themselves. What is more interesting is that 1 in 16 women (6.06%) reported that they did not participated in their contraceptive use decision-making.-. Women aged 20 to 24 years; (AOR: 2.51 (1.04, 4.45)), women who stayed10 and above years in marriage; (AOR: 1.73 (1.08, 2.77)), whose husband and/or partner age is 41 and above years; (AOR: 2.14 (1.06, 4.31)) and those who obtained contraceptive method they desired; (AOR: 2.49 (1.36, 4.57)) had higher odds of deciding their current and/or recent contraceptive use by their own. On the other hand, women mixed feeling if they became pregnant at the time of the survey; (AOR: 0.6 (0.44, 0.91)), women who started using contraceptive at younger age, 19 to 24; (AOR: 0.6 (0.44, 0.81)), those who use long acting and/or permanent method; (AOR: 0.54 (0.41, 0.71)) and those married at younger age, 10 to 19 years; (AOR: 0.28 (0.09, 0.86)) had lower odds of independently deciding their current and/or most recent contraceptive use.Conclusion59% of women independently decide their contraceptive use which calls up on further improvement to enable each woman to decide by their own, with directing special focus for the 6.06% of women who reported no say in their contraceptive use decision. Activities targeting on enabling women to use the method they preferred, spacing their pregnancy, encouraging women to discuss with their husband on the time and type of contraceptive method they used, advocating and promoting marriage at least to be at the minimum age as indicate by the law and maintain the marriage duration as much as longer are hoped to improve women alone contraceptive use decision making to the fullest.

HEALTH PROBLEM ANALYSIS OF CLOSE CONTACT MANAGEMENT OF DIPHTHERIA DISEASE IN MADIUN CITY IN 2023

Background: Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae that can be prevented by immunization. Purpose: The purpose of this research is analyze health problems in the PD3I surveillance program at the Madiun City PP & KB Health Service in 2023. Methods: This research is a descriptive observational research. Prioritize problems using methods of Capability, Accessibility, Readiness, Leverage (CARL). The priority of the problems found is to identify the causes of the problem using fishbone analysis. The root cause of the problem that is found will create alternative solutions to the problem. Results: Management of close contact chemoprophylaxis and re-immunization diphtheria with a CARL score of 400 is a top priority health problem in Madiun City. Four cases of diphtheria have been identified during the year 2023 for a period of six months (January-June 2023), so the next action is to administer chemoprophylaxis to close contacts. The provision of chemoprophylaxis in Madiun City still has problems, namely the activities of drug-taking supervisors who are not health workers and the behavior of dropping out of drug-taking in close contacts due to the side effects of the drug erythromycin. Recommendations: Health workers need to monitor medication supervisors who are not health workers online through WhatsApp groups. Promotion of taking erythromycin medication with meals or after meals to minimize side effects of erythromycin. Promotion of medication adherence in close contacts.

PROBLEM ANALYSIS OF CHILD TUBERCULOSIS PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM LAMONGAN DISTRICT, EAST JAVA

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is one of the unresolved health problems in Lamongan District. The purpose of this study was to analyze the problems in the Child Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program in Lamongan Regency. This study was a descriptive observational study conducted at the Lamongan District Health Office from January 02 to January 27, 2023. Problem identification was conducted using brainstorming techniques and then prioritizing the problems using the CARL method (Capability, Accessability, Readiness, and Leverage). Furthermore, identification of the causes of problems that have been prioritized is carried out with a fish bone diagram using a process approach. Based on the root causes of the problems that have been identified, recommendations are given to the health department to overcome the problems found. Suboptimal cross-program/sector coordination with a CARL value of 505.440 became the top priority health problem in the child tuberculosis control program. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the discovery of child TB suspects and education through integration with other activities, improving the competence of field officers, ensuring budget availability, data management, good recording and reporting.

Integration of a fasting-mimicking diet programme in primary care for type 2 diabetes reduces the need for medication and improves glycaemic control: a 12-month randomised controlled trial

Aims/hypothesisThe aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on metabolic control of periodic use of a 5-day fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) programme as an adjunct to usual care in people with type 2 diabetes under regular primary care surveillance.MethodsIn this randomised, controlled, assessor-blinded trial, people with type 2 diabetes using metformin as the only glucose-lowering drug and/or diet for glycaemic control were randomised to receive 5-day cycles of an FMD monthly as an adjunct to regular care by their general practitioner or to receive regular care only. The primary outcomes were changes in glucose-lowering medication (as reflected by the medication effect score) and HbA1c levels after 12 months. Moreover, changes in use of glucose-lowering medication and/or HbA1c levels in individual participants were combined to yield a clinically relevant outcome measure (‘glycaemic management’), which was categorised as improved, stable or deteriorated after 1 year of follow-up. Several secondary outcome measures were also examined, including changes in body weight.ResultsOne hundred individuals with type 2 diabetes, age 18–75 years, BMI ≥27 kg/m2, were randomised to the FMD group (n=51) or the control group (n=49). Eight FMD participants and ten control participants were lost to follow-up. Intention-to-treat analyses, using linear mixed models, revealed adjusted estimated treatment effects for the medication effect score (−0.3; 95% CI −0.4, −0.2; p<0.001), HbA1c (−3.2 mmol/mol; 95% CI −6.2, −0.2 and −0.3%; 95% CI −0.6, −0.0; p=0.04) and body weight (−3.6 kg; 95% CI −5.2, −2.1; p<0.001) at 12 months. Glycaemic management improved in 53% of participants using FMD vs 8% of control participants, remained stable in 23% vs 33%, and deteriorated in 23% vs 59% (p<0.001).Conclusions/interpretationIntegration of a monthly FMD programme in regular primary care for people with type 2 diabetes who use metformin as the only glucose-lowering drug and/or diet for glycaemic control reduces the need for glucose-lowering medication, improves HbA1c despite the reduction in medication use, and appears to be safe in routine clinical practice.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03811587FundingThe project was co-funded by Health~Holland, Top Sector Life Sciences & Health, the Dutch Diabetes Foundation and L-Nutra.Graphical

Green fabrication of ZnO nanoparticles via spirulina platensis and its efficiency against biofilm forming pathogens

Excessive consumption of antibiotics is considered one of the top public health threats, this necessitates the development of new compounds that can hamper the spread of infections. A facile green technology for the biosynthesis of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the methanol extract of Spirulina platensis as a reducing and stabilizing agent has been developed. A bunch of spectroscopic and microscopic investigations confirmed the biogenic generation of nano-scaled ZnO with a mean size of 19.103 ± 5.66 nm. The prepared ZnO NPs were scrutinized for their antibacterial and antibiofilm potentiality, the inhibition zone diameters ranged from 12.57 ± 0.006 mm to 17.33 ± 0.006 mm (at 20 µg/mL) for a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, also significant eradication of the biofilms formed by Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae by 96.7% and 94.8% respectively was detected. The free radical scavenging test showed a promising antioxidant capacity of the biogenic ZnO NPs (IC50=78.35 µg/mL). Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory role detected using the HRBCs-MSM technique revealed an efficient stabilization of red blood cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the biogenic ZnO NPs have significant anticoagulant and antitumor activities as well as minimal cytotoxicity against Vero cells. Thus, this study offered green ZnO NPs that can act as a secure substitute for synthetic antimicrobials and could be applied in numerous biomedical applications.

Coverage and determinants of HIV testing and counseling services among mothers attending antenatal care in sub-Saharan African countries: a multilevel analysis

BackgroundHIV/AIDS is one of the top global public health threats that causes significant cases, deaths, and socioeconomic impact. Even though both HIV testing and counseling are identified as essential HIV interventions during pregnancy, large population-representative data shows that service coverage and determinants are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the coverage and determinants of HIV testing and counseling services among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care services in sub-Saharan African countries using different nationwide data.MethodsThis study was conducted on large national-representative data from the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) using multilevel analysis. Data extraction, cleaning, coding, and statistical analysis were performed using STATA version 17. Weighting was used to ensure the representativeness of the sample and to obtain reliable estimates and standard errors. The multivariable multilevel logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants of HIV testing and counseling during the antenatal care visit. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to measure statistical significance.ResultsA total of 83,584 women attending antenatal care were included in this study. HIV testing and counseling coverage in sub-Saharan Africa was found to be 62.87% with a 95% CI of 62.54–63.19%. The HIV testing and counseling determinants included being in the age group of 35–49 (AOR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.46–1.83), secondary and above education levels (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.39–1.60), having at least four ANC visits (AOR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.68–2.02), living in an urban area (AOR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.30–1.52), and living in countries such as Rwanda (AOR = 6.19; 95% CI: 5.19–7.38) and Mauritania (AOR = 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01–0.03).ConclusionThis study revealed that HIV testing and counseling coverage was 62.87% in sub-Saharan Africa. Factors affecting the HIV testing and counseling coverage were age, education, frequency of antenatal care visits, residence area, and living in Rwanda and Mauritania. Therefore, to increase HIV testing and counseling coverage in sub-Saharan Africa, policymakers on maternal health and other stakeholders should work with an integrated approach with other sectors and give prior attention to modifiable factors such as promoting women’s education and the comprehensiveness of antenatal care follow-up services during the follow-up.

Factors Underlying Vaccine Hesitancy and Their Mitigations in Saudi Arabia: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern in Saudi Arabia, impacting even well-educated parents. The decision-making process involves various factors such as accessibility, trustworthy information, and the influence of social networks, reflecting a complex interplay of emotional, cultural, social, spiritual, and political dimensions. This review seeks to evaluate the prevalence and trends of vaccine hesitancy, identify contributing factors, and explore potential solutions to enhance immunization rates. This review aligns with global concerns, as the World Health Organization has identified vaccine hesitancy as a top global health threat. Our systematic review will follow the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study) criteria for comprehensive assessment. We will conduct a thorough search across various databases, encompassing a wide range of vaccines, and pay special attention to vaccination campaigns and refusals. Inclusion criteria involve descriptive, observational, and analytical studies focusing on factors influencing vaccine acceptance or hesitancy. The study will use the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool for quality assessment and perform a narrative synthesis to summarize findings thematically. This systematic review is expected to unveil the prevalence and trends of vaccine hesitancy in diverse populations in Saudi Arabia, shedding light on cultural, religious, and social factors contributing to hesitancy. It aims to assess the effectiveness of implemented strategies, enable regional and global comparisons, and provide implications for tailored vaccination policies. Additionally, the review may pinpoint research gaps, guiding future investigations to address and mitigate vaccine hesitancy effectively. The findings are expected to have direct policy implications and guide interventions to strengthen vaccination programs and improve public health outcomes. PRR1-10.2196/54680.

The Relationship Between The Implementation of Patient Safety and The Quality of Nursing Services at Purwokerto Islamic Hospital

Background : Patient safety in drug administration is still a top global health priority because patient safety has become the most important indicator in the health care system for good and bad patient health. The lower the implementation of patient safety in administering medication, the better the quality of nursing services will be. Research Objective: To determine the relationship between the implementation of patient safety in administering inpatient medication and the quality of nursing services at RSI Purwokerto. Method: Quantitative methods were used with a correlational descriptive design with a cross-sectional approach. The sampling technique was total sampling, totaling 90 respondents. Results: From this research, the results showed that there were 41 inpatient nurses (91.1%) who implemented patient safety in administering medication well, and 42 inpatient nurses (93.3%) who assessed the quality of nursing services at RSI Purwokerto as good . The results of the bivariate analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the implementation of patient safety in administering medication and the quality of nursing services at RSI Purwokerto (p0.05). Conclusion: There is a relationship between the implementation of patient safety in inpatient medication administration and the quality of nursing services in hospitals.

Ready Reliable Care: The Defense Health Agency’s approach to high reliability

In its everyday actions, high reliability is the overarching framework guiding the Military Health System (MHS), comprised of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), the three Military Medical Departments and the Uniformed Services University. The High Reliability Organisation (HRO) framework, branded Ready Reliable Care (RRC) in the MHS, is based on process design, building culture and structures that promote safety, and improving outcomes to optimise HRO maturity. HROs achieve top outcomes and remain largely error free despite operating in complex or high-risk environments. Operations in HROs are characterised by repeatable processes that are regularly evaluated for change and improvement in collaboration with other affected areas of the organisation. DHA looks to other top health systems for leading HRO practices and characteristics to adapt and implement with the goal of achieving top outcomes in standardising processes; improving team communication; eliminating redundancies and gaps; and elevating the quality of care, safety and access for our beneficiaries. As part of that HRO journey, the DHA seeks to achieve system effectiveness across units through analysis, innovation and the sharing of information and knowledge. RRC provides a unified lens through which functional areas can learn from past experiences to build on and mature interoperable HRO capabilities that support service members and facilitate a consistent, safe, quality patient experience across the DHA. The DHA aims to ensure system maturity by conducting an assessment that will guide the development of capabilities needed to advance HRO principles and behaviours. In conjunction with functional subject matter experts, DHA developed an RRC Military Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) Maturity Index-Model to assess organisational HRO maturity at inpatient medical centres and community hospitals. The capability components of the RRC MTF Maturity Index-Model will align existing DHA and trusted national data sources and benchmarks to determine the current phase of RRC maturity at individual MTFs and across the system. Adaptation of this maturity index-model by other healthcare systems is possible and could provide other health systems with a tool to measure maturity of these healthcare systems as HROs.

Public Health Student Evaluation of Teaching Qualitative Research Using Interactive Methods

Abstract Background: Interactive teaching methods aid post graduate students in learning qualitative research. Four academic researchers from the United Kingdom had an opportunity to teach qualitative research methods, specifically consensus methods, to the Master of Public Health students (MPH) during a visit to India. This teaching formed part of a work package with All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh, India exploring the concept of family resilience among families with children under 6 years. Aims: To use the experiences of the MPH students to gain knowledge and create meaning about using the consensus methods. Participants: The participants were the MPH students. Methods: We used the workshop method to introduce the concept of family resilience by using the question, ‘What will be the three top public health priorities in India to support family resilience in the 21st century?’ as a central theme for all the workshops. Furthermore, we introduced qualitative research methods and hands on experience of consensus methods to the students. The students were introduced to Delphi and Group Concept Mapping (GCM) methods during workshop 1. Workshop 2 introduced Nominal Group Technique (NGT) through a short presentation followed by a practical hands on session using GCM data from workshop 1. The last workshop (3) focused on the World Café method. Results: The students evaluated the workshops highly and asked for online sessions on GCM, NGT, and World Café which will be planned in the future. Conclusion: We concluded that the post graduate curriculum for master’s in public health studies would benefit from teaching using interactive research methods which will enhance their critical thinking and autonomy. Second, although the MPH curriculum had quantitative methods in place, introducing qualitative consensus methods will open new avenues into future research. Finally, teaching using practical demonstration gives students a voice and makes learning effective and enjoyable.

Globally inconsistent: Countries with top health indices erratic developmental hip dysplasia screening protocols.

Developmental hip dysplasia is a prevalent pediatric musculoskeletal condition that lacks international standardized screening. We sought to characterize developmental hip dysplasia screening practices in countries with the top global health indices. We also explored diverse definitions in reported epidemiologic rates of this condition. We performed a scoping review of developmental hip dysplasia screening protocols utilizing countries ranked in the top 25 of the Bloomberg Global Health Index using a protocolized search strategy, progressing from academic to layperson sources. A reference was eligible for inclusion if it mentioned the countries' screening program and developmental hip dysplasia was the pathology of concern. Incidence rates, when present, were also recorded. The United States Census Bureau's International Database tool provided countries' populations. We compiled the data and performed descriptive statistics and appropriate validation methods. Twenty countries (80%) had searchable screening programs. Clinical screening with selective universal screening was the most commonly observed (n = 16). Four countries had universal ultrasound screening: Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. Five countries did not have searchable programs. No countries employed radiographic screening. Incidence rates were expressly stated in the literature for nine countries; however, the cohort of interest varied from developmental hip dysplasia versus severity of developmental hip dysplasia versus miscellaneous (e.g. requiring hospitalization). The findings of this investigation highlight international inconsistencies regarding developmental hip dysplasia screening and epidemiologic data. Screening variations exist despite consensus statements calling for uniformity. We agree with prior literature advocating for increasing consistency in developmental hip dysplasia management or, at a minimum, increasing transparency regarding how we manage these young patients.

Bronchiectasis among Indigenous adults in the Top End of the Northern Territory, 2011-2020: a retrospective cohort study.

To assess the prevalence of bronchiectasis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) adults in the Top End of the Northern Territory, and mortality among Indigenous adults with bronchiectasis. Retrospective cohort study. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults (18 years or older) living in the Top End Health Service region of the NT in whom bronchiectasis was confirmed by chest computed tomography (CT) during 1 January 2011 - 31 December 2020. Prevalence of bronchiectasis, and all-cause mortality among Indigenous adults with CT-confirmed bronchiectasis - overall, by sex, and by health district - based on 2011 population numbers (census data). A total of 23 722 Indigenous adults lived in the Top End Health Service region in 2011; during 2011-2020, 459 people received chest CT-confirmed diagnoses of bronchiectasis. Their median age was 47.5 years (interquartile range [IQR], 39.9-56.8 years), 254 were women (55.3%), and 425 lived in areas classified as remote (93.0%). The estimated prevalence of bronchiectasis was 19.4 per 1000 residents (20.6 per 1000 women; 18.0 per 1000 men). The age-adjusted prevalence of bronchiectasis was 5.0 (95% CI, 1.4-8.5) cases per 1000 people in the Darwin Urban health area, and 18-36 cases per 1000 people in the three non-urban health areas. By 30 April 2023, 195 people with bronchiectasis had died (42.5%), at a median age of 60.3 years (IQR, 50.3-68.9 years). The prevalence of bronchiectasis burden among Indigenous adults in the Top End of the NT is high, but differed by health district, as is all-cause mortality among adults with bronchiectasis. The socio-demographic and other factors that contribute to the high prevalence of bronchiectasis among Indigenous Australians should be investigated so that interventions for reducing its burden can be developed.

Pregnant women's adherence to COVID-19 prevention practice and associated factors in Jinka Town, South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia, a community based cross-sectional study

Background Pregnancy-related coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission and infection rates have continued to be a top public health concern. Pregnant mothers also have a higher risk of developing serious illness, needing to be admitted to an intensive care unit, and needing mechanical ventilation. More than six million people died as a result of COVID-19 worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive practice among pregnant mothers in Jinka Town. Methods In Jinka, South Omo Zone, between January 1 and January 30, 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Using a simple random sampling technique, 412 pregnant women were selected. Data were collected using a face-to-face interviewer-administered, pre-tested questionnaire. The data were entered using Epi-data version 3.1, and after being exported, were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify relevant components. An adjusted odds ratio and a 95% confidence interval were used to report the relationship between the covariates and the outcome variable. Results The percentage of participants who adhered to COVID-19 prevention measures was only 11.4% (95% CI: 8.5, 14.8). Mothers with at least a bachelor’s degree 3.71 (AOR=3.71, 95% CI=1.28, 10.73), a residency of 4.40 (AOR=4.40, 95% CI=1.96, 9.87), and a history of chronic illness of 4.30 (AOR=4.30, 95% CI=1.69, 10.93) were significantly associated with good adherence to COVID-19 prevention practices. Conclusions Only a very small percentage of pregnant women, according to this poll, adhere to COVID-19 preventative practices. In order to raise pregnant women’s awareness of COVID-19 preventive practices, it is crucial to use a variety of media for health education. Further, it is preferable to focus on urban living and give special attention to women without a formal education.

Adoption drivers of organic vegetable farming practices among vegetable farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract The practice of organic agriculture (OA) in Nigeria has undergone expansion due, among other things, to consumer interest in food safety issues. Organic Farming (OF) is a holistic production management system that promotes and enhances agro‑ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. The study investigated adoption drivers for organic vegetable farming practices among vegetable farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 120 organic vegetable farmers were sampled through a multistage sampling procedure, and survey questions were administered. Data were analysed using frequency counts, mean, and Ordinary Least Square (OLS). The majority of farmers had a good knowledge of Organic Vegetable Farming Practices (OVFP), which aids adoption and is a good signal for economic returns and sustainable livelihoods. The most rated of the three benefit domains was health, which averagely was rated high (x̅ = 1.38), while economic (x̅ = 1.04) and environmental conservation benefits (x̅ = 1.00) were both rated average; with enhanced good health and long life; reduced climate change effects, as well as generation of greenhouse gases and higher premiums in the marketplace identified as top health, environmental conservation, and economic benefits, respectively. Although the majority of farmers highly adopted OVFP, however, a closer examination of the few practices that the majority of the farmers did not adopt was of health and environmental significance. Farmers’ age, education, farm size, household size, knowledge, health, and economic benefits of OF were important drivers of adoption and practices of OF among Oyo State, Nigeria vegetable farmers. OF, therefore, is a sustainable agricultural approach that holds great potential for effectively contributing to local food security, the health of citizens, increased family health, and environmental standards.