scholarly journals Beyond the diagnosis: a qualitative exploration of the experiences of persons with hepatitis B in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e017665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Ampong Adjei ◽  
Florence Naab ◽  
Ernestina S Donkor
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Lifestyle Modification ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Hepatitis B Infection ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Health Delivery ◽  
Mission Hospital ◽  
Health Delivery System ◽  
Qualitative Exploration ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveThis study explored the experiences of people with hepatitis B in the Accra metropolis.DesignThe study employed qualitative exploratory descriptive design with purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face interview and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed using content analysis.SettingsParticipants were recruited from one government and one mission hospital in Ghana.ParticipantsFourteen individuals aged between 26 and 45 years with hepatitis B infection were interviewed.ResultsThe findings of the study showed that people with hepatitis B in the Accra metropolis were unclear about the impact of their infection. Furthermore, they experienced psychological and social problems especially when they were initially informed about their hepatitis B status. Sadness, fear, shock, shame and disbelief were some of the experiences reported by participants. Coping strategies adopted include religiosity, denial and lifestyle modification.ConclusionsIt is, therefore, necessary as a country to integrate hepatitis B counselling into the already existing HIV structures in the health delivery system to offer support for individuals diagnosed with hepatitis B. Furthermore, it is important to draw lessons from the process used in the diagnosis of HIV, particularly in ensuring that people provide consent for being tested.

scholarly journals The impact of pictorial warning attached on cigarette packet to the attitude of smoking habit

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (Number 1) ◽  
pp. 20-23
Author(s):  
Dr. Kamrun Nahar ◽  
Prof. Dr. Belal Ahmed ◽  
Prof. Dr. Md. Khorshed Alam
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Habit ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Warning Message ◽  
Attitude And Practice ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

This was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted to assess the effect pictorial warning message on cigarette packets to the attitude and practice of smokers using a semi-structured questionnaire employing purposive sampling technique with a sample size of 214 by face to face interview carried out in different cities, towns, and villages of Bangladesh from August 2016 to February 2017. Almost 97.6% were male and Most of the respondents (40.9%) belonged to the 20-29 years age group. Majority (58.3%) of them were educated from secondary to graduate few percent below primary. Highest 22.9% respondents were students followed by 17.6% private job holder, 16.9% day labor and only 1.4% was jobless. About 40.2% started smoking by the influence of friends, 26.2% started on curiosity and 20% due to depression and majority 41.0% smoked 1-5 cigarette sticks per day. More than half (65.5%) of respondents felt relax to refreshing by smoking and about two third 77.6% continued their smoking due to habitual act or psychological pleasure Almost 93.4% gave attention to the pictorial warning on the cigarette packets. About 46.4% thought pictorial warning in cigarette packets alarms for not to smoke and only 23.8% thought smoking will cause cancer; 21.4% thought smoking is injurious to health. After seeing the pictorial warning on cigarettes 57.6% reduced the smoking number of sticks per day also attempted to quit smoking. To reduce this restricting the advertisement of tobacco, arranging campaign to raise awareness among people about the health and environmental hazards of smoking and increase the tax on tobacco.

Enhancing instructional outcomes with a serious gamified system: a qualitative investigation of student perceptions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein Haruna ◽  
Asad Abbas ◽  
Zamzami Zainuddin ◽  
Xiao Hu ◽  
Robin R. Mellecker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Attitude Change ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
School Students ◽  
Serious Gaming ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to evaluate the students’ perception of their learning experiences concerning serious gaming and gamification instructions and determines whether they were motivated enough and engaged during the educative process in a resource-poor context. Moreover, the study evaluated the impact of interactive instructional environment outcomes in terms of students’ perceptions of the learning catalysed by gamified systems, particularly in enhancing attitude change coupled with knowledge acquisition. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative research design technique to collect the data. A total of 108 first year secondary school students participated in a sexual health literacy course that lasted for a five-week learning period. Using a cluster-sampling technique, three classes were randomly assigned to serious gaming, gamification and teacher-centred instructions. Individual face-to-face interviews were used to assess students’ perceives required satisfaction with three instructions. Data were audio-recorded, and coding analysis was used using NVivo software facilitated qualitative data analysis. Findings The results show that serious gaming and gamification instructions trumped the traditional teacher-centred instruction method. While intervention students were all positive about the serious gaming and gamification instructions, non-intervention students were negative about conservative teacher-centered learning whose limited interactivity also undermined learning relative to the two innovative interventions. Research limitations/implications As a justification to limit face-to-face classes, this study may be useful during an emergency phenomenon, including the current situation of amid COVID-19. The implementation of serious gaming and gamification as remotely instructional options could be among the measures to protect educational communities through reducing close-proximity, and eventually, control contamination and the spread of viruses. Originality/value The application of serious gaming and game elements should not be conceptualised as universal but context-specific. This study shows that particularism is essential to optimise the results in terms of coming up with a specific design based on the scope of evaluation for positive results and develop an intervention that will work, especially in the resource-poor context of the developing world.

Impact of neonatal hepatitis B vaccination programme on age-specific prevalence of hepatitis B infection in teenage mothers in Hong Kong

2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (10) ◽  
pp. 2131-2139 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. T. LAO ◽  
D. S. SAHOTA ◽  
S. S. H. SUEN ◽  
P. K. S. CHAN ◽  
T. Y. LEUNG
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Teenage Mothers ◽  
Neonatal Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽  
Hepatitis B Infection ◽  
Immunization Programme ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYWe examined the impact of the neonatal hepatitis B immunization programme, first provided to all neonates born to mothers screened positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in late 1983, on the age-specific prevalence of HBsAg carriage in teenage mothers managed in 1998–2008. HBsAg carriage was found in 2·5%, 2·7%, 8·8% and 8·0% of mothers aged ⩽16, 17, 18, and 19 years, respectively (P = 0·004), which was also correlated with advancing age (P = 0·011). While neither difference nor correlation with age was found in mothers born before 1984, the prevalence of 1·2%, 1·5%, 7·1% and 8·3%, respectively, was significantly different among (P = 0·008) and correlated with (P = 0·002) age in mothers born 1984 onwards. Regression analysis indicated there was a significantly higher incidence of HBsAg carriage from age 17 onwards (adjusted odds ratio 2·55, 95% confidence interval 1·07–6·10,P = 0·035), suggesting that the protective effect of the vaccine declined in late adolescence.

scholarly journals The impact of smart phones and mobile devices on human health and life

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Sumaiya Mushroor ◽  
Shammin Haque ◽  
Riyadh A. Amir
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Smart Phone ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Smart Phones ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Impact

Background: Overuse of smart devices provides comfort and problems both physically and mentally. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of smart phone and mobile devices on human health and life.Methods: This descriptive type of cross sectional study was conducted for three months in Dhaka city among general population aged 18 to 70 years. Four hundred and forty respondents were selected by non-probability convenient sampling technique. Data were collected by face to face interview with a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire.Results: Among 440 respondents majority (76.6%) were below 25 years where 72.0% were students. A large proportion (90.5%) used smart phones for communication, 53.4% used for less than 5 hours daily. Majority (65.7%) had other electronic devices, most common 197 (68.1%) were laptop users where 118 (40.8%) used for studying. More than half 322 (73.2%) used earphones, 91 (20.7%) had ear problems and 223 (50.7%) lacked concentration. Many 299 (68.0%) had good relationship with family members, 208 (47.3%) stated that increased use of mobile devices hampered family life, 88 (42.3%) thought it reduced quality family time. Majority users 253 (57.5%) experienced physical discomfort after prolonged use and 95 (37.7%) suffered from headache. Association between age of respondents and time spent on smart devices was statistically significant (p<0.05). There was significant (p<0.05) association between ear problem and ear phone usage.Conclusions: Excessive use of smart phones should be avoided and social awareness increased through health programmes. Potential risks of cell phones and smart devices can be avoided by limiting the use.

scholarly journals Mathematical Modeling of Transmission Dynamics with Periodic Contact Rate and Control by Different Vaccination Rates of Hepatitis B Infection in Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 54-75
Author(s):  
Ali Abubakar ◽  
Reindorf Nartey Borkor ◽  
Anas Musah ◽  
Frank Kofi Owusu
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Contact Rate ◽  
Hepatitis B Infection ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Periodic Contact ◽  
Health Decision ◽  
Chaotic Solution ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

The paper evidenced that Hepatitis B infection is the world's deadliest liver infection and Vaccination is among the principal clinical strategies in fighting it. These have encouraged a lot of researchers to formulate mathematical models to accurately predict the mode of transmission and make deductions for better health decision-making processes. In this paper, an SEIR model is used to model the transmission of the Hepatitis B infection with periodic contact rate and examine the impact of vaccination. The model was validated using estimated data in Ghana and simulated in a MATLAB environment. The results showed that the vaccination rate has a great impact on the transmission mode of the Hepatitis B infection and the periodic contact rate may lead to a chaotic solution which could result in an uncontrolled spreading of the infection. It is concluded that even if the vaccination rate is 70%, the infection rate would reduce to the minimum barest so more newborns must be vaccinated.

scholarly journals The Impact of Leadership Communication and Empowerment on Job Motivation Amongst Public Sector Employees in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Abd Aziz Wan Mohd Amin ◽  
Mohd Shaladin Muda ◽  
Nik Wan Omar
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Federal Agency ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
State Agency ◽  
Leadership Communication ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Job Motivation ◽  
Empowerment Practice ◽  
The Impact

This paper describes a research project that investigated the influence of leadership communication and staff empowerment on job motivation among civil servants. The aim was to fill a gap in the management literature, especially in the Malaysian perspective under the dynamic context of the recent civil servant empowerment practices between state and federal agency departments. Three dimensions on leadership communication had been examined, namely, initiating structure, consideration, and communication orientation, and their link with empowerment and job motivation. A face-to-face survey was performed on 198 respondents from five state agency departments and five federal agency departments using a stratified random sampling technique. As well as the importance of literature contribution, some of the conclusions from this study can give an important insight for the Malaysian practitioners in public sector management. Part of the conclusion suggests that the consideration dimension is proven to be able to encourage empowerment practice and consequently would increase staff motivation. Another finding is that leadership communication based on the three dimensions above is better practised in the federal agencies than the state agencies. The study also proved that leadership communication, empowerment, and forecast factors would contribute toward the increase of motivation among workers.

scholarly journals A prospective study of hepatic safety of statins used in very elderly patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meizi Guo ◽  
Junli Zhao ◽  
Yingjiu Zhai ◽  
Panpan Zang ◽  
Qing Lv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Statin Therapy ◽  
Statin Treatment ◽  
Hepatitis B Infection ◽  
Very Elderly ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Statins play an important role in the care of patients with cardiovascular disease and have a good safety record in clinical practice. Hepatotoxicity is a barrier that limits the ability of primary care physicians to prescribe statins for patients with elevated liver transaminase values and/or underlying liver disease. However, limited population-based data are available on the use of statin therapy and on the hepatotoxicity of statins in very elderly patients. This prospective study evaluated the liver enzyme elevation during statin therapy in very elderly patients (≥80 years old). Methods Patients with hypercholesterolemia (LDL-C levels ≥3.4 and < 5.7 mmol/L), atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease (CHD), or a CHD-risk equivalent were enrolled and received once-daily statin treatment. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to study the impact of age, gender, hepatitis B infection, fatty liver disease, biliary calculus, other chronic diseases, drug kinds, alcohol abuse, statin variety, and statin dose variables. Results A total of 515 consecutive patients ranging from 80 to 98 years old were included in the analysis. These patients were treated with simvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, or atorvastatin. Twenty-four patients (4.7, 95% CI 2.7–6.6) showed an increase in their hepatic aminotransferase levels. No significant difference of hepatic aminotransferase elevation rates was observed in different statin treatment groups. The incidence of mild, moderate, and severe elevation of aminotransferase levels was 62.5% (15/24), 29.2% (7/24), and 8.3% (2/24), respectively. None of the patients developed hepatic failure. Nine patients with moderate or severe aminotransferase elevations discontinued therapy. The time of onset of hepatic aminotransferase elevation ranged from 2 weeks to 6 months after statin treatment. The onset of hepatic aminotransferase elevation was within 1 month for 70.8% of patients. The patients took 2 weeks to 3 months to recover their liver function after statin therapy cessation. Multivariate analysis identified chronic hepatitis B infection and alcohol consumption as independent factors associated with the hepatic response to statins: OR, 12.83; 95% CI (4.36–37.759) and OR, 2.736; 95% CI (1.373–5.454), respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of elevated transaminases was higher than published data in very elderly patients. Overall, statin treatment is safe for patients ≥80 years old.

scholarly journals Immune Status of Cohort of Children Vaccinated against Hepatitis B Virus in Ekiti State over Ten Years after Incorporation into National Program on Immunization

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
A. O. Ajayi ◽  
E. E. Emmanuel ◽  
I. O. Oluwayemi ◽  
A. Olu-Taiwo ◽  
M. S. Odimayo
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Seroconversion Rate ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Objective Evaluation ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Hbv Vaccination ◽  
The Impact

Background: Hepatitis B vaccine has been introduced in Nigeria for over a decade now, yet, data on sero-conversion status of the immunized cohort in the population are scarce. Such data are important for objective evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the HBV vaccination program. This study therefore aims at determining the sero-conversion status and the prevalence of HBV infection among immunized cohort of children in Ekiti state, Nigeria. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted across the three senatorial districts of Ekiti state, between October and December, 2017. A total of 441 children consisting of 226 males and 215 females (Male to female ratio= 1.1:1). Immunization was confirmed by immunization cards. Multistage sampling technique was used. Questionaire were administered after caregiver’s consent and assent from subjects, 2 to 5 mls of blood samples were then collected and tested for the various hepatitis B viral markers (HBeAg, HBeAb, HBcAb, HBsAb and HBsAg) using Hepatitis B combo kit manufactured by Innovita Biological Technology. Very low levels antibody titres which may not be detectable by qualitative detection method used is a limitation to this study. Results: Subjects were between 5 to 10 years. All subjects had 3 full doses of hepatitis B vaccination before the age of 1 year and all subjects were negative for HBsAg, HBeAg, HBeAB and HBcAb. However, only 47 (10.7%) had detectable HBsAb. Among HBsAb positive patients 22 were males while 25 were females. Our findings showed zero prevalence of hepatitis B but minimal seroconversion rate among vaccinated children in Ekiti state, Nigeria. Conclusion: Hepatitis B vaccination protects children against HBV in the study population. However, seroconversion rate showed that majority of the children may be at risk of HBV infection at a later age. We recommend a booster dose of HBV vaccination.

scholarly journals Ghana Go Digital Agenda: The impact of Zipline Drone Technology on Digital Emergency Health Delivery in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 242-253
Author(s):  
John Demuyakor
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Delivery System ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Delivery ◽  
Medical Supplies ◽  
Health Delivery System ◽  
The Impact

Ghana has deployed high-speed technology and digital initiatives for the daily management of all the sectors of the country under the theme ‘’Ghana Go Digital Agenda’’ policy initiative. These digital governance initiatives include the electronic or digital-health care systems, e-justice system paperless clearing of goods at port-banking, and other online services. Paramount among the many digital initiatives is the introduction of drones for emergency digital health delivery. Access to medical supplies in Ghana has been hindered by the difficulty of getting the supplies from the central points to other areas that are remotely located to enable the patients who need the services to get them. To overcome this challenge and deliver affordable and accessible health care services to the Ghanaian populace, the Government of Ghana engaged a US-based company Zipline Technology to use Drones in the supply of medical supplies for emergencies and hard-to-reach areas of the country. Since the introduction of this initiative in 2019, it has attracted mix-reactions from various stakeholders on the relevance of the drone technology project on health delivery in Ghana. This study used the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess drone technology’s impact on Ghana’s emergency health delivery system. The study utilized an online survey questionnaire to solicit data from participants. From the hundred (100) health facilities, located within the operational zone of the drone, twenty (20) were purposively sampled. Out of 550 questionnaires distributed, a total of 533 health workers (participants) validly responded to the online questionnaire. One key finding of our study indicates that the introduction of drone technology for medical supplies in Ghana has significantly impacted positively on the emergency health delivery system in Ghana.

scholarly journals EVALUASI KINERJA GURU SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEJURUAN SUMATERA BARAT PASCASERTIFIKASI

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-87
Author(s):  
Ramli Ramli ◽  
Nizwardi Jalinus
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Vocational Teachers ◽  
Achievement Level ◽  
Certified Teachers ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Teaching Load ◽  
Vocational Teacher ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Descriptive Method

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi (1) tingkat capaian UU no. 14 tahun 2005 tentang guru dan dosen, (2) beban mengajar guru SMK yang telah disertifikasi, dan (3) dampak sertifikasi ter-hadap kinerja guru di mata masyarakat. Metode penelitian yang di-gunakan deskriptif, populasi sebanyak 954 orang guru, sampel di-pilih sebanyak 247 orang dengan teknik random sampling. Data di-kumpulkan dengan angket dan dianalisis menggunakan teknik des-kriptif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa (1) secara umum guru SMK telah memenuhi kriteria UU No. 14 Tahun 2005 ten-tang Guru dan Dosen; (2) sebagian besar guru SMK telah mem-peroleh beban mengajar yang sesuai dengan yang ditetapkan peme-rintah yaitu 24 jam tatap muka, dan (3) secara umum dampak serti-fikasi relatif kecil terhadap kinerja guru, namun cukup baik ter-hadap kesejahteraan guru kejuruan. Kata kunci: evaluasi, sertifikasi, kinerja guru SMK ______________________________________________________________PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL’S CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN WEST SUMATRAAbstract This study was aimed to evaluate the achievement level of: (1) Law no. 14 of 2005 on teachers and lecturers, (2) the teaching load of vocational school teachers who have been certified, and (3) the impact of certification on the teachers’ performance. The research used descriptive method. The population comprised 954 teachers, and sample of 247 people were selected with a random sampling technique. Data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive techniques. The study found (1) the general vocational teachers had met the criteria of the law no. 14 of 2005 on teachers and lecturers. (2) the majority of teachers had acquired vocational teaching load in accordance with the government's full 24-hour face-to-face, and (3) in general, the impact of certification is relatively little on the performance of certified teachers, but good enough for the welfare of vocational teachers. Keywords: evaluation, certification, vocational teacher performance

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