Emotional Abuse Research Articles

The Role of Formal Schooling, Literacy, and Health Knowledge in Addressing Domestic Violence Against Women in West Africa

When “education” is cited as a solution for domestic violence, different aspects of knowledge acquisition are often omitted. This study uses 2019 Demographic and Health Surveys from four West African countries (The Gambia, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone) with a combined sample size of 12,480 women and generalized ordered logit regression to examine the effects of types of knowledge (years of schooling, literacy, and health knowledge) on domestic violence (physical abuse, emotional abuse, and control issues). The results suggest that literacy has the most reliable beneficial impact on domestic violence and was consistently associated with decreased odds of abuse. However, greater findings suggest that schooling, literacy, and health knowledge function as separate types of education and that their relationships are complex and context-specific. By neglecting to see these types of knowledge as separate entities that can operate together, it is possible that mitigation strategies for domestic violence are going undiscovered.

Metabolomics reveals the metabolic disturbance caused by arsenic in the mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease

Arsenic exposure has long been a significant global health concern due to its association with various human diseases. The adverse health effects of arsenic can be influenced by multiple factors, resulting in considerable individual variability. Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are particularly vulnerable to the effects of toxin exposure, yet the specific impact of arsenic in the context of IBD remains unclear. In this study, we employed a non-targeted metabolomics approach to investigate how arsenic exposure affects metabolic homeostasis in an IBD model using Helicobacter trogontum-infected interleukin-10 deficient mice. Our results demonstrated that arsenic exposure disrupted the balance of various metabolites, including tryptophan, polyunsaturated fatty acids, purine and pyrimidine metabolites, and branched-chain amino acids, in mice with colitis but not in those without colitis. Notably, several crucial metabolites involved in anti-inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism were significantly altered in mice with colitis. These results indicate that arsenic exposure in an IBD context can lead to extensive metabolic disturbances, potentially exacerbating disease severity and impacting overall health. This study underscores the necessity of evaluating arsenic toxicity in relation to IBD to better understand and mitigate associated health risks.

The Influences of Childhood Trauma and Parenting Styles on The Bipolar Disorder of Teenagers

After Covid-19, more and more students were reported to commit suicide, which shows that the mental health problems have become normal phenomenons in the adolescents. It has attracted more and more attentions of parents and teachers. Among all the mental health problems, bipolar disorder has been a common and serious problem in the teenagers. Bipolar disorder is a chronic and complex disorder which is partly diagnosed in the adolescence and early adulthood. The leading causes of bipolar disorder mainly focused on genetics and environment. This paper aims to explore the influences of two aspects, childhood trauma and parenting styles on the bipolar disorder of adolescents. In this paper, some retrospective literature was reviewed again. The results show that the incidents of childhood trauma are frequent and severe in bipolar disorder. In the five subscales, emotional abuse, emotional neglect are the main two subscales which have much influence on the morbidity of bipolar disorder. Besides, compared with the control group, the different parenting styles may have different influence on children. severe punishment, emotional care and understanding,over control and protection of fathers, and the severe punishment, emotional care and understanding, preference of subjects and denial and rejection chosen by mothers may be the influential factors of the teenagers with bipolar disorder. Therefore, childhood trauma should be avoided or decreased as much as possible. Besides, parents are supposed to create a more caring and tolerable environment full of love for their children.

Internal Validation of the Latvian Version of 16-Item Prodromal Questionnaire in A Help-Seeking Adolescent Population: Psychometric Analysis and Associated Factors.

The prodromal phase of a psychotic disorder is a period of altered functioning before the onset of the acute state; several interviews have been developed to determine whether individuals present with prodromal symptoms. The 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16) is a screening tool for evaluating those at risk of developing a psychotic disorder. The study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Latvian version of the PQ-16 in a sample of help-seeking adolescents referred for diagnostic assessment and look for possible associated socio-demographic and health-related factors. A cross-sectional study included patients admitted for evaluation between November 2022 and February 2023 in Riga's Children's Clinical University Hospital Child Psychiatry clinic. The data were collected during outpatient consultations by mental health professionals. We used the Latvian translation of PQ-16 and the socio-demographic and health-related factors questionnaire. Data were analysed with IBM SPSS 28; the scale's diagnostic accuracy and internal validity were examined. The study involved 107 adolescents aged 12% to 17%, 80.5% female, with a mean age of 14.98 (CI 14.70-15.26). Socio-demographic data and health-related variables did not significantly differ between the sexes (p > 0.05). The Latvian PQ-16 demonstrated excellent internal reliability with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.890. All 16 items were found to be valid with p < 0.001. A significant number of participants (73.8%) scored above the current cut-off of ≥ 6 with a mean of 9.17 (95% CI 8.41-9.93). Certain socio-demographic factors, such as female gender (p < 0.001), fair school performance (p = 0.048) and recent changes in school performance (p < 0.001), demonstrated a significant association with higher scores. Additionally, there were found significant associations between positive screening and health-related factors such as obstetric complications (p = 0.044), smoking (p = 0.002), alcohol consumption (p = 0.021), history of bullying in school (p < 0.001) and emotional abuse at home (p = 0.011). Latvian translation of PQ-16 showed high internal reliability and validity levels. Positive PQ-16 screening was associated with female gender, worsened school performance, obstetric complications, substance abuse and experienced emotional violence. The average score of 9.17 positive answers and 73.8% of participants screening positive for attenuated psychotic symptoms is significantly higher than in recent studies under similar conditions.

Systematic review of child maltreatment screening tools used by different occupational groups: a study protocol

BackgroundChild maltreatment (CM) encompasses physical, emotional or sexual abuse, physical or emotional/psychological neglect or intimate partner (or domestic) violence and is associated with adverse cognitive, behavioural, physical and social outcomes...

Anti-retinal Autoantibodies in Hydroxychloroquine Eye Toxicity.

Autoimmune retinopathy and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-related retinal toxicity share many similarities, raising the possibility autoimmunity plays a role in HCQ retinopathy. The objective of this study is to determine whether patients diagnosed with HCQ retinal toxicity are more likely to have circulating antiretinal autoantibodies (AAbs) compared to controls. We tested plasma samples for the presence of anti-retinal AAbs by immunoblotting in 270 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receiving HCQ. We then evaluated for the presence of HCQ retinal toxicity and other baseline risk factors for HCQ toxicity through chart review. Frequency of specific anti-retinal AAbs in patients with HCQ retinal toxicity was compared to those with no retinal toxicity via multivariate logistic regression. Patients with HCQ retinal toxicity had a higher likelihood of testing positive for anti-arrestin AAbs (60.7% vs 30.6%, P = 0.001) and anti-pyruvate kinase M2 AAbs (46.4% vs 28.1%, P = 0.05). Patients with HCQ eye toxicity also had a higher number of total anti-retinal AAbs (mean 3.0 ± 2.40 vs 2.04 ± 1.7, P = 0.01). In multivariate analysis accounting for risk factors associated for HCQ eye toxicity, the presence of anti-arrestin antibodies was associated with a 3.2-fold increase in the odds of developing HCQ eye toxicity. Anti-retinal AAbs were more common in patients with SLE with HCQ retinal toxicity. When controlling for risk factors associated with HCQ toxicity, anti-arrestin AAbs were associated with increased odds for the development of eye toxicity, suggesting a potential role for anti-retinal AAbs as a biomarker of HCQ eye toxicity.

Prevalence and outcomes of cancer and treatment-associated toxicities for patients with Ataxia Telangiectasia

Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) is a DNA repair disorder with cancer predisposition. Characterize the prevalence and outcomes of hematologic and solid cancers and treatment-associated toxicities in individuals with A-T. Data was retrospectively analyzed from the Johns Hopkins Ataxia Telangiectasia Clinical Center cohort. Cumulative incidence and standardized incidence ratios of cancer, survival probability after cancer diagnosis, and standardized mortality ratios were calculated. Cox regression estimated risk of death based on chemotherapy (standard v reduced) dosing and multivariable logistic regression evaluated cancer risk associations with ATM exons and variants. Eighty-four (16.5%) of 508 individuals were diagnosed with a primary cancer, 62 (74%) were hematologic in origin and 22 (26%) were solid organ cancers. The cumulative incidence of cancer was 29% by age 35 years. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurred most frequently (n=39), while solid cancers disproportionately affected those ≥18 years old (n=22). The standardized mortality ratio was 24.6 (95% CI:21.1-28.4) overall and 232.9 (95% CI:178.1-299.2) among individuals with cancer. Risk of death was higher when treated with standard/unknown versus modified chemotherapy (HR 2.2, 95% CI:1.1-4.4, p=0.024). Chemotherapy-associated toxicities developed in 58% of individuals, predominantly neurologic (n=14) and gastrointestinal (n=10) systems. Three exons were enriched for cancer-associated variants. Individuals with A-T experience a wide array of blood and solid organ malignancies, high mortality rates, and treatment related toxicities, highlighting need for targeted therapies to mitigate toxicity and optimize survival. A-T patients with cancer face elevated mortality rates, underscoring the urgency for tailored therapies to minimize toxicity and improve survival outcomes.

Vitreous tissue cryopreservation using a blood vessel model and cryomacroscopy for scale-up studies: Observations and mathematical modeling

Successful long-term cryobanking of multicellular tissues and organs at deep subzero temperatures calls for the avoidance of ice cryoinjury by reliance upon ice-free cryopreservation techniques. However, the quality of the cryopreserved material is the direct result of its ability to survive a host of harmful mechanisms, chief among which is overcoming the trifecta effects of ice crystallization, toxicity, and mechanical stress. This study aims at exploring improved conditions to scale-up ice-free cryopreservation by combining DP6 as a base cryoprotective agent (CPA) solution with an array of synthetic ice modulators (SIMs). This study is conducted by integrating cryomacroscopy techniques, thermal modeling, solid mechanics analysis, and viability and contractility investigation to correlate physical effects, thermal outcomes, and cryobiology results. As an extension of previous work, this study aims at scale-up of established baseline blood vessel models, while comparing the relative toxicity and vitreous stability of 4 ml and 10 ml samples of DP6 containing either sucrose as a SIM, or the commercial synthetic ice blockers (X1000 and Z1000). Using that established protocol, the addition and removal of DP6+0.6M sucrose and DP6 + 1% X1000 + 1% Z1000 were both well tolerated in rabbit carotid and pig femoral artery models, when assessed for metabolic recovery and contractility. Using cryomacroscopy, it was demonstrated that DP6 + 0.6M sucrose provided a stable vitrification medium under marginal cooling and warming conditions that resulted in >50% survival rate. By contrast, DP6 + 1% X1000 + 1% Z1000 was subject to visible ice formation during cooling under the same thermal conditions, resulting in a significantly lower recovery of ∼20%. Thermal modeling is used in this study to verify the actual cooling and rewarming rates in the specimens, while thermomechanics analysis is used to explain why fractures were observed using cryomacroscopy when the specimens were contained in glass vials but not in plastic vials.

Assessment of fitness for bleomycin use and management of bleomycin pulmonary toxicity in patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma: A British Society for Haematology Good Practice Paper.

This good practice paper (GPP) is intended to support clinicians in assessing patient fitness for bleomycin and in management of bleomycin pulmonary toxicity (BPT) where it occurs. Bleomycin, originally developed as an antibiotic in the 1960s, has been a cornerstone of therapy for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) since results of its use in combination with doxorubicin, vincristine and dacarbazine (ABVD) were first published by Bonadonna etal in 1975 1. The same author recognised high rates of respiratory morbidity in these patients 2, and bleomycin-;related pulmonary toxicity (BPT) is now a well-;recognised and feared complication with its use. ABVD and BEACOPP/ BEACOPDac (bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone, with procarbazine or dacarbazine) are standard first-;line treatments in CHL patients, but considerable variation remains in assessing patient fitness for bleomycin both clinically and with respiratory investigations. A recent survey of British haematologists regularly using bleomycin revealed that 87.5% have no local protocols for assessing patients in an evidence-;based fashion, with wide variations in practice captured in the same survey (personal data). A working group was established and a literature review undertaken with the goal of presenting practical recommendations for clinicians regarding bleomycin use based on available evidence and expert opinion.

Differential association between childhood trauma subtypes and neurocognitive performance in adults with major depression

BackgroundNeurocognitive impairment is one of the prominent manifestations of major depressive disorder (MDD). Childhood trauma enhances vulnerability to developing MDD and contributes to neurocognitive dysfunctions. However, the distinct impacts of different types of childhood trauma on neurocognitive processes in MDD remain unclear.MethodsThis study comprised 186 individuals diagnosed with MDD and 268 healthy controls. Childhood trauma was evaluated using the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form. Neurocognitive abilities, encompassing sustained attention, vigilance, visual memory, and executive functioning, were measured by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery.ResultsMultivariable linear regressions revealed that childhood trauma and MDD diagnosis were independently associated with neurocognitive impairment. Physical neglect was associated with impaired visual memory and working memory. MDD diagnosis is associated with working memory and planning. Interactive analysis revealed that physical/sexual abuse was associated with a high level of vigilance and that emotional neglect was linked with better performance on cognitive flexibility in MDD patients. Furthermore, childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, and emotional neglect were revealed to be risk factors for developing early-onset, chronic depressive episodes.ConclusionThus, specific associations between various childhood traumas and cognitive development in depression are complex phenomena that need further study.

Network analysis of childhood maltreatment and internet addiction in adolescents with major depressive disorder.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is closely linked to internet addiction (IA), especially in adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Previous studies have shown that adolescents who experience CM are more likely to develop IA and other psychological problems. This study aims to explore the complex relationship between CM and IA through network analysis, particularly identifying the core symptoms and bridge symptoms to better understand the development of IA in these adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in seven hospitals in Anhui Province, China, involving 332 adolescents diagnosed with MDD using DSM-5 criteria. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF) and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were used to assess CM and IA symptoms, respectively. Gender-based network analysis was also performed. Network analysis constructed a CM-IA network and identified core and bridge symptoms. "Depress/moody/nervous being offline", "Request an extension for longer time", "Sleep loss due to late-night logins", and "emotional abuse" emerged as central symptoms within the CM-IA network. Additionally, "emotional abuse", "sexual abuse", and "complaints about online time" were identified as key bridge symptoms linking CM and IA. These symptoms demonstrated significant connectivity, underscoring their critical role in linking CM and IA. The findings highlight the complex relationship between CM and IA in adolescents with MDD. Specific symptoms, such as emotional abuse and online-related symptoms, play important roles in understanding and intervening in adolescent IA. Future interventions should target these core and bridge symptoms for more effective prevention and treatment.

Gendered experience of military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (on the example of a military unit X 0000)

Over the past 10 years, the Ukrainian state has provided opportunities for women to serve in the army on an equal basis with men at the legislative level. Meanwhile, the army may still be identified as a maledominated institution, as Ukrainian servicewomen still face challenges during their service because of their sex.The empirical frame of the study was a case study (containing qualitative and quantitative components) of the experience of military service in the military unit X 0000. Based on the analysis of secondary sources and our own empirical research, we managed to identify gendered challenges specific to the experience of servicewomen in the Armed Forces, including during the Russian-Ukrainian war.The key gendered challenges of serving in the military unit X 0000 for women were vertical and horizontal gender segregation; the need to correspond with masculine standards and to combine the status of a military with the status of a woman, wife, and mother that sometimes have opposite role expectations, which can lead to role conflict; the need to combine childcare and household duties with work; stereotypes about servicewomen that exist within and outside the army; sexism and violence (psychological abuse and sexual harassment). The case study results allowed us to confirm empirically, illustrate with examples, and clarify the range of gendered challenges in the army, outlined in the analysis of secondary sources.The study highlights the special challenges for military women that arise during the period of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For example, women, unlike men, may be protected and prevented from working in ‘male’ positions. The article also shows that servicewomen may themselves uphold traditional gender roles, try to conform to patriarchal norms, and oppose gender equality. All this leads to the reproduction of gender inequality in the army.

Relative-to-resident abuse in Norwegian nursing homes: a cross-sectional exploratory study.

In community settings, relatives often provide care to their older family members, which is sometimes perceived as a high burden, overwhelming and stressful, contributing to an increased risk of elder abuse. In most countries, relatives have no legal obligation to provide care when family members are admitted to nursing homes; nevertheless, studies have shown that relatives continue to provide emotional, instrumental, and personal care after admission, often related to the understaffing and high workload of nursing staff. Despite the growing interest in elder abuse in nursing homes, most studies have concentrated on the abuse perpetrated by nursing staff or co-residents, but few studies have explored the abuse that relatives may perpetrate. This study was a cross-sectional survey of 3,693 nursing staff members recruited from 100 nursing homes in Norway, to examine the extent of relative-to-resident abuse in Norwegian nursing homes, as observed by nursing staff. The findings indicate that 45.6% of the nursing staff had observed one or more episodes of relative-to-resident abuse during the past year. Among the subtypes of abuse, 44.8% of the nursing staff had observed psychological abuse, 8.4% had observed physical abuse, 2.7% had observed financial/material abuse, and 0.7% had observed sexual abuse at least once during the past year. This is the first large study exploring the extent of relative-to-resident abuse in nursing homes, which is a phenomenon that is significantly less addressed than abuse committed by staff and co-residents. The findings in our study illustrate that abuse committed by relatives needs more awareness and attention to improve the well-being of nursing home residents. Further research is recommended to enhance our understanding of such abuse and should include other approaches measuring the proportion of relative-to-resident abuse, as relying solely on staff observations is insufficient for determining the prevalence in this case. Future studies should also examine the cumulative impact of victimization in nursing homes and should include an analysis of how cases of abuse are reported and handled.

Unveiling the interspecies correlation and sensitivity factor analysis of rat and mouse acute oral toxicity of antimicrobial agents: first QSTR and QTTR Modeling report

Abstract This study aims to identify toxic potential and environmental hazardousness of antimicrobials. In this regard, the available experimental toxicity data with rat and mouse acute oral toxicity have been gathered from ChemID Plus database (n = 202) and subjected to data curation. Upon the data curation 51 and 68 compounds were left for the rat and mouse respectively for the modeling. The quantitative structure toxicity relationship (QSTR) and interspecies correlation analysis by quantitative toxicity-toxicity relationship (QTTR) modeling was approached in this study. The models were developed from 2D descriptors under OECD guidelines by using multiple linear regressions (MLR) with genetic algorithm (GA) for feature selection as a chemometric tool. The developed models were robust (Q2LOO = 0.600–0.679) and predictive enough (Q2Fn = 0.626–0.958, CCCExt = 0.840–0.893). The leverage approach of applicability domain (ad) analysis assures the model’s reliability. The antimicrobials without experimental toxicity values were classified as high, moderate and low toxic based on prediction and ad. The occurrence of the same classification from QSTR and QTTR models revealed the reliability of QTTR models.Finally, the applied “sensitivity factor analysis” typifies the sensitivity of chemicals toward each species. Overall, the first report will be helpful in the toxicity assessment of upcoming antimicrobials in rodents.

Longitudinal bidirectional relations between psychological maltreatment by teachers and psychosocial adjustment during early adolescence

This study examined three models (relationship-driven model, symptom-driven model and transactional model) testing the across-time bidirectional relations between psychological maltreatment by teachers and early adolescents' psychosocial adjustment (i.e., internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and academic achievement) during early adolescence. A total of 4169 Chinese early adolescents (Mage = 9.93 years, SD = 0.73, 54% males) completed assessments across five waves, every six months. Employing autoregressive latent trajectory models with structured residuals (ALT-SR), the results revealed that adolescents’ internalizing problems and academic achievement were predicted by psychological maltreatment by teachers (supporting the relationship-driven model), whereas externalizing problems and psychological maltreatment by teachers were bidirectionally related (supporting the transactional model). Moreover, sex moderated the relations between psychological maltreatment by teachers and psychosocial adjustment. The finding of differential relations between psychological maltreatment by teachers and three components of psychosocial adjustment (i.e., internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and academic achievement) indicated that prevention and interventions should be tailored to different psychosocial adjustment difficulties.

Intergenerational transmission of childhood trauma in youths with mood disorders and their parents

ObjectiveChildhood trauma is a significant environmental stressor linked to mood disorder. It can affect not only the individuals directly involved but also the next generation through the intergenerational transmission of trauma. This study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the co-occurrence of childhood trauma in youths with mood disorders and their parents. MethodsWe assessed 443 individuals, 100 youths with DSM-5 mood disorders, 100 youths healthy controls (HCs), 92 s' parents and 161 adult HCs. History of childhood trauma was obtained using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The distribution patterns of childhood trauma subtypes was estimated through a multivariate model. Intraclass correlations (ICC) were calculated to account for the familial clustering of the sample. ResultsWe found significantly higher scores for Patients as compared to Young-HC in all the subtypes of childhood trauma (p < 0.05). Considering Parents and Adult-HC groups, Physical abuse (p = 0.001) and Emotional neglect showed higher scores in Parents (p < 0.001). Regarding the familial clustering of the sample, emotional (p < 0.001) and sexual abuse (p = 0.001), and emotional (p = 0.3) and physical neglect (p = 0.003) showed statistical significance, but only emotional abuse reveled a medium level ICC (0.25). ConclusionsOur study highlights the effect of intergenerational transmission of childhood trauma on the diagnosis of mood disorders in youths. Our findings underscore the significance of systematically assessing childhood trauma, in particular emotional abuse, in youths with mood disorders and their parents. Additionally, there is urgent need for evidence-based preventive measures aimed at promoting positive parenting strategies and emotionally supportive environments for children.

An analysis of child safeguarding cases managed by National Governing Bodies of sport across England and Wales

AbstractThis study responded to a recommendation in the independent Duty of Care Report that called for standardised data to be collected and analysed regarding safeguarding cases in sport. A standardised case data tool was developed and piloted before being adopted by National Governing Bodies across England and Wales. An analysis of the first 4 years of data shows that a total of 3129 cases were managed. Overall, 54% of cases concerned behaviour outside of the context of sport. This demonstrates that sport plays an important role in the broader child protection system. In the remaining 46% of cases, the safeguarding concern was related to behaviour in the context of sport. The most commonly reported forms of concern in sport were physical abuse (20%), contact sexual abuse (20%), non‐contact sexual abuse (17%) and emotional abuse (17%). The threshold for cases to be included in the analysis was that the case was judged to be sufficiently serious to involve referral to, or consultation with, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), Children's Services or the Police. There are clearly many cases that did not meet this threshold or were never reported, and hence, these data provide an indication of the safeguarding issues related to sport. The need to expand the tool to collect lower level concerns as well as to include safeguarding concerns regarding adults is advocated.

Domestic violence against women in rural areas of Saharanpur: A population-based study on prevalence and risk factors

ABSTRACT Background: Domestic violence (DV) against women is a global problem and is present in every country. It is a matter of serious concern in most communities and cultures and has consequences on women’s mental, physical, reproductive, and sexual health. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of DV among married women. Materials and Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 reproductive age group females in the rural area of district Saharanpur for a period of six months using multistage random sampling. Results: The prevalence of DV was found to be 21%. The most common type of DV was physical violence (18%) followed by psychological violence (12.8%), financial violence (5.5%), and sexual violence (2.3%). The major perpetrators of DV were the husbands in 79% of the cases. Regression analysis depicted a significant association between age, education of husband, husband’s addiction, and depression of study participants with events of DV. Multivariate analysis shows only the addictions of husbands and the depression status of study participants to be significantly associated with DV. Conclusion: The prevalence of DV was 21% which is still high and appropriate measures should be taken to strengthen the laws for women and to empower them.

Intimate Partner Violence and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in the Conflicted Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), perpetrated by male partners, inflicts physical, sexual, or psychological harm on women. During pregnancy, it becomes a significant public health concern and human rights violation, especially in conflict-affected areas, affecting both mother and fetus negatively. Research in Ethiopia often overlooks nonusers of antenatal services, primarily conducted in health facilities. This study addresses this gap, aiming to provide valuable insights into community dynamics. Hence, this study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with IPV during pregnancy in the conflict-affected district of Northeast Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study surveyed 603 postpartum women in the Argoba district, Amhara region Northeast Ethiopia, from March 26 to April 25, 2023, utilizing a multistage sampling technique. Data collection employed a structured questionnaire, coded, and entered into Epi-data 4.6, then analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive and Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Adjusted odds ratios were computed at a 95% confidence interval [CI], with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Model fit and multicollinearity were assessed for validity. The study found an overall prevalence of 45.1% (95% CI: 41.1-49.1) for IPV during pregnancy, with psychological violence being the most prevalent (38.0%), followed by physical (24.7%) and sexual violence (18.6%). Factors significantly associated with IPV included unwanted pregnancy (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.10-3.47), women's acceptance of violence (AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.64-3.48), having a partner who chews khat (AOR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.31-3.03), and spouse's engagement in multiple sexual partners (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.03-2.58). The study's findings indicate a higher prevalence compared to others, with key factors including unwanted pregnancy, acceptance of violence, khat chewing, and multiple sexual partners. Recommendations include comprehensive sex education, awareness campaigns, relationship counseling, community engagement, improved healthcare access, stronger legal frameworks, and empowerment programs.

A Comparison of Stereotactic Radiation Therapy in Elderly Patients with Central or Peripheral Stage I-II (T1-3 N0 M0) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

The objective of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in elderly patients aged 65 or older with clinical stage I-II non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), specifically examining the differences between centrally located lung tumors and peripherally located lung tumors. From April 2009 to January 2020, a total of 136 patients with 136 tumors (65 central, 71 peripheral; NSCLC) at an early stage (T1-3N0M0) were treated with SBRT at a single institution. Central/peripheral location was assessed retrospectively on planning CT scans. A propensity score matching analysis was utilized to compare the two groups. In addition, the prognosis and related toxicity were compared between the two study arms. A total of 33 central tumors and 33 peripheral tumors were matched and analyzed. The results showed no significant differences in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups. The 2-year OS was 71.88% (95% CI, 57.87%-89.27%) in the central lung cancer group, while it was 93.94% (95% CI, 86.14%-100.00%) in the peripheral lung cancer group (P=0.462). The 2-year PFS was 43.75% in the central lung cancer group, while it was 78.79% in the peripheral lung cancer group (P=0.279). Further subgroup analysis indicated that the location of peripheral tumor have a positive impact on OS in patients with adenocarcinoma. The occurrence of local failure, regional failure, or distant failure was comparable between central and peripheral tumors. There was no statistically significant difference in toxicity between the central and the peripheral tumor groups. The outcomes of SBRT for central tumors versus peripheral lung tumors in elderly patients with early-stage NSCLC were similar. SBRT demonstrated a similar level of safety in terms of toxicity for both central and peripheral lung tumors.