scholarly journals High-level of anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients with general medical conditions and community residents: a comparative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eyaya Misgan ◽  
Habte Belete
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Center ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Community Residents ◽  
High Level

Abstract Background The global burden of anxiety and depressive symptoms become increasing, specifically accounts for high burden of morbidity among patients with medical conditions in low-income countries. The aim was to compare the level of anxiety and depressive symptoms in participants with general medical conditions and community residents in northwest Ethiopia. Methods Comparatively 2625 adults in the community and 1363 patients at health center in Mecha Demographic Surveillance and Field Research Center (MDSFRC) had interviewed. Level of anxiety and depressive symptoms was assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and logistic regression analysis was employed with corresponding adjusted OR (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) at p-value less than 0.05 declaration of significant. Results A higher prevalence of high-level anxiety and depressive symptoms, 12.6% with 95% CI; 11.0%, 14.0% and 10.1%, 95% CI; 8.0%, 12% were found among participants at health center compared to community residents, 6.8%, 95% CI; 7.0%, 8.0% and 5.2%, 95% CI; 4.0%, 6.0% at (p value < .0001), respectively. Social support, loss of a parent before age of 18 years, physical/verbal abuse, and having general medical conditions were significantly associated with both high-level anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, factors such as advanced age, perceived relative wealth, living alone, and having a family history of mental illness were associated with high-level of anxiety symptoms, but not with depressive symptoms. Conclusions Proportion of high-level of anxiety and depressive symptoms were found a two-fold higher in patients with medical condition than healthy residents in the community. Patients with medical illnesses should be assess for anxiety and depressive symptoms at health center.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Associated Factors of Suicidal Behavior Among Patients and Residents in Northwest Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Habte Belete ◽  
Eyaya Misgan ◽  
Tilahun Belete
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Center ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Primary Health Care System ◽  
Total Prevalence

There are a million suicide deaths in the world annually, and 75% of these occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, there are limited resources to prevent suicidal deaths in those regions. The aim was to assess the prevalence of suicidal behavior and associated factors among patients visiting for medical care at a health center and residents in the community. A comparative study was employed by interviewing 2,625 residents in the community and 1,363 patients at the health center about suicidal behavior in northwest Ethiopia, from March 2017 to February 2018. Logistic analysis was employed with adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) and with p-value &lt; 0.05. The total prevalence of suicidal behavior (ideation, plan, and attempt) was found to be 5.6% (with 95% CI range 5–6%). It was found to be 4.4% with 95% CI range 4–5% in residents and 7.9% with 95% CI range 6–9% in patients. Female sex, depressive symptoms, physical/verbal abuse, and feeling stigmatized were identified as a risk factors for suicidal behavior, whereas a healthy lifestyle, such as eating regular meals of fruits and vegetables, doing physical exercise regularly, and having public health insurance were identified as protective risk factors for suicidal behavior even after adjusting for being a patient or not. The proportion of suicidal behavior was double in patients compared with residents. Suicidal behavior should be assessed in patients who visit for medical help and integration of mental health service within the primary health care system is recommended, especially in low-income countries.

scholarly journals Exploring multilevel social determinants of depressive symptoms for Tanzanian adolescents: evidence from a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. jech-2020-216200
Author(s):  
Leah Prencipe ◽  
Tanja AJ Houweling ◽  
Frank J van Lenthe ◽  
Tia M Palermo ◽  
Lusajo Kajula
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional

BackgroundDepression has substantial and enduring impacts for adolescents, particularly those living in poverty. Yet, evidence on its determinants in low-income countries remains scarce. We examined the social determinants of depressive symptoms for Tanzanian adolescents.MethodsWe used cross-sectional data for 2458 adolescents (aged 14–19), to describe associations with depressive symptoms within and across five domains—demographic, economic, neighbourhood, environmental and social-cultural—using linear mixed models. We estimated depressive symptoms using the 10-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, which ranges from 0 to 30 and increases with additional symptoms.ResultsFactors associated with depressive symptoms in the fully adjusted models included experiencing five or more household economic shocks (β=2.40; 95% CI 1.48 to 3.32), experiencing droughts/floods (β=0.76; 95% CI 0.36 to 1.17), being in a relationship (β=1.82; 95% CI 1.30 to 2.33), and having moderate (β=1.26; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.71) or low (β=2.27; 95% CI 1.81 to 2.74) social support. Exclusive schooling was protective compared with being engaged in both school and paid work (β=1.07; 95% CI 0.05 to 2.61) and not engaged in either (β=0.73; 95% CI 0.24 to 1.22). Household size and relationship status were more important factors for girls, while employment status, and extreme precipitation were more important for boys.ConclusionMental health is associated with determinants from multiple domains. Results suggest that environmental shocks related to climate change contribute to poor mental health in adolescents, highlighting an important area for intervention and research.

Interactive effect between depression and chronic medical conditions on fall risk in community-dwelling elders

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1409-1418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senyeong Kao ◽  
Yun-Chang Wang ◽  
Ya-Mei Tzeng ◽  
Chang-Kuo Liang ◽  
Fu-Gong Lin
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Depression Status

ABSTRACTBackground: It is well documented that fall risk among elderly people is associated with poor health and depression. In this study, we set out to examine the combined effects of medical condition and depression status on fall incidents among community-dwelling elderly people.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the fall history of community-dwelling elders involving 360 participants. Those who had experienced at least two falls over the previous year, or one injurious fall, were defined as “fallers.” The Geriatric Depression Scale-15 was used as a screening instrument for depression status.Results: Based on a multivariate logistic regression and stratification analysis, depression was found to interact with various medical conditions on fall risk. In comparison with the non-depressive reference group, a six-fold fall risk was discernible among depressed elders with polypharmacy, while a five-fold risk was found among depressive elders using ancillary devices, along with a four-fold risk among depressive elders with diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Finally, arthritis was found to produce a nine-fold risk of falls among such populations.Conclusions: These findings suggest that greater emphasis should be placed on the integration of depression screening as an element of fall risk assessment in elderly people.

scholarly journals The 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus outbreak: Local contexts and future issues

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Cecon ◽  
Peter F McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
West African ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
News Reports ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
The Many ◽  
High Level ◽  
International Experts

Ebola is just one example of the many emerging and re-emerging diseases that continue to affect mainly the developing world. We argue that the unprecedented high level of infections and deaths in the 2013-2016 West African Ebola epidemic, together with the more general impact of Ebola and other emerging diseases on societies, is reflective of the unpreparedness of affected countries prior to an outbreak. Typically, the healthcare systems of most low-income countries are inadequately prepared to be able to deal with such large and unexpected outbreaks. In this paper, we attempt to analyse the emergence and spread of the West African Ebola epidemic, reviewing the situation in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone prior to the 2013-2016 outbreak. We also highlight some of the additional societal burdens that the outbreak has placed on these countries. By drawing lessons from this epidemic, as well as case studies of other (re-)emerging epidemic infections through a combination of literature searches and news reports, combined with the views of 10 international experts, we develop eight actions that might help potentially susceptible countries and the international community to prevent, contain or better respond to possible future outbreaks.

scholarly journals Global e-government development: besides the relative wealth of countries, do policies matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonçalo Paiva Dias
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Relative Wealth ◽  
Innovative Thinking ◽  
High Level ◽  
Government Development

Purpose This study aims to investigate whether, discounting the effect of the relative wealth of countries, it is possible to observe the relevance of policies for e-government development. Design/methodology/approach The deviations of countries' results from what could be expected, considering their relative wealth is calculated by using the residuals of a linear regression using the Gross Domestic Product per capita as the independent variable and the UN E-Government Development Index as the dependent variable. The countries that achieve better and worse results than expected are then identified and their cases are analyzed by resorting to secondary sources, namely, published research referring to their cases. Those research documents were identified by successively searching the Scopus database, the Google Scholar database and the Web of Science. Findings The existence of formal e-government strategies and plans and the capacity to implement them can make a difference, allowing countries to achieve better results than expected or, in their absence, to perform worse than expected. Research limitations/implications The proposed methodology can be useful to e-government researchers, particularly as a basis for deeper and more detailed studies. Practical implications Countries should invest in well-developed and focused strategies and continuity of public policies and their capacity to deliver results. For that purpose, political commitment and high-level coordination are key factors. For low-income countries, long-lasting cooperation with external experienced partners is crucial. For high-income countries, innovative thinking is a key enabler. Originality/value This study uses an innovative method to look beyond the effect of the relative wealth of countries and investigate the relevance of public policies for e-government development.

scholarly journals Improving Accuracy of Malaria Diagnosis in Underserved Rural and Remote Endemic Areas of Sub-Saharan Africa: A Call to Develop Multiplexing Rapid Diagnostic Tests

Scientifica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasheed O. Makanjuola ◽  
Andrew W. Taylor-Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Patient Treatment ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Effective Diagnosis

Clinical infection with malaria, caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, is considered a serious medical condition with the potential to become a life-threatening emergency. This is especially relevant to low-income countries in tropical and subtropical regions of the world where high rates of malaria-related morbidity and mortality are recorded. As a means to combat this major global public health threat, rapid and effective diagnosis remains the frontline action to initiate a timely and appropriate medical intervention. From all the approaches to parasite detection, rapid diagnostic tests, so-called RDTs, are the easiest to use and most cost-effective. However, some of the limitations inherent in this methodology could hinder effective patient treatment. A primary drawback is that the vast majority of commercially available RDTs detect only one of the five species of human malaria, P. falciparum. While this is the main cause of infection in many areas, it excludes the possibility of infection with another parasite (P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi) or of mixed infections containing different species. Hence, a diagnosis of non-P. falciparum malaria is missed. In turn, in resource-constrained settings where optimal microscopy is not available, a misdiagnosis of bacterial infection based on signs and symptoms alone often results in an inappropriate prescription of antibiotics. Here, we discuss how effective diagnosis of malaria and indiscriminate use of antibiotics in sub-Saharan Africa, a hot spot for P. falciparum transmission, may both be addressed by the development of innovative multiplexing RDTs that detect two or more species of Plasmodium.

scholarly journals The 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus outbreak: Local contexts and future issues

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Cecon ◽  
Peter F McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
West African ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
News Reports ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
The Many ◽  
High Level ◽  
International Experts

Ebola is just one example of the many emerging and re-emerging diseases that continue to affect mainly the developing world. We argue that the unprecedented high level of infections and deaths in the 2013-2016 West African Ebola epidemic, together with the more general impact of Ebola and other emerging diseases on societies, is reflective of the unpreparedness of affected countries prior to an outbreak. Typically, the healthcare systems of most low-income countries are inadequately prepared to be able to deal with such large and unexpected outbreaks. In this paper, we attempt to analyse the emergence and spread of the West African Ebola epidemic, reviewing the situation in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone prior to the 2013-2016 outbreak. We also highlight some of the additional societal burdens that the outbreak has placed on these countries. By drawing lessons from this epidemic, as well as case studies of other (re-)emerging epidemic infections through a combination of literature searches and news reports, combined with the views of 10 international experts, we develop eight actions that might help potentially susceptible countries and the international community to prevent, contain or better respond to possible future outbreaks.

scholarly journals Cervical cancer testing among women aged 30–49 years in the WHO European Region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianne Williams ◽  
Ivo Rakovac ◽  
Jocelyn Victoria ◽  
Tatiana Tatarinova ◽  
Marilys Corbex ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
European Region ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
High Level

Abstract Background Screening programs play an important role in a comprehensive strategy to prevent cervical cancer, a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of information about rates of cervical cancer testing, particularly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia where levels of cervical cancer are among the highest in the WHO European Region. The purpose of this article is to report on the lifetime prevalence of cervical cancer testing among females aged 30–49 years from across the WHO European region, and to describe high-level geographic and socioeconomic differences. Methods We used data from the European Health Information Survey and the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance survey to calculate the proportions of women who were tested for cervical cancer. Results The percentage of tested women ranged from 11.7% in Azerbaijan to 98.4% in Finland, with the lowest percentages observed in Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Testing was lower in Eastern Europe (compared to Western Europe), among low-income countries and among women with lower levels of education. Conclusion Effective cervical cancer screening programs are one part of a larger strategy, which must also include national scale-up of human papilloma virus vaccination, screening and treatment.

scholarly journals Antibiotic Use in Poultry Production in Grenada

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindonne Glasgow ◽  
Martin Forde ◽  
Darren Brow ◽  
Catherine Mahoney ◽  
Stephanie Fletcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
High Level

Objective. Research is often lacking in low-income countries to substantiate the regulation of antibiotics in poultry production. Nonregulation of antibiotics in food animal industries has implications for human health. This study was conducted to provide an understanding of farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of antibiotics in poultry production in Grenada. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted in August-September, 2016, surveying 30 poultry farmers each having 500 or more chickens grown for commercial purposes. Results. More than 1000 birds were kept on 18 (60.0%) farms. Antibiotics were used on the majority of farms (25, 83.3%). More than half of the respondents, 19 (63.3%), stated they were only somewhat aware of issues related to the use of antibiotics and the majority, 21 (70.0%), were also unable to define antimicrobial resistance. There was inconsistency in the farmers’ knowledge about how and when to use antibiotics. There was also a high level of noncompliance with manufacturers’ recommendations for use of antibiotics. The respondents were not aware of local programs to monitor antibiotic use or manage antibiotic resistance in the poultry industry. Conclusion. Generally, the farmers’ knowledge and practices were inconsistent with recommendations by the World Health Organization for antibiotic stewardship. While low-income countries, such as Grenada, are challenged with the lack of resources to undertake research and implement responsive actions, this research highlights the need for some immediate measures of remedy, such as education of farmers and monitoring procurement and use of antibiotics, to reduce risk to public health.

Vietnam Public Expenditure Review in the Period of 2007-2017 and Some Recommendations

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang Khac Lich ◽  
Nguyen Thi Huyen
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Budget Deficit ◽  
Public Expenditure ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Viet Nam ◽  
State Budget ◽  
Total State ◽  
High Level ◽  
Budget Expenditure

This study explores the current situation of public spending of Vietnam in the period from 2007 to 2017. The results show that the total state budget expenditure has increased over the past 10 years; however the growth rate of public expenditure has reduced. The state budget deficit and the ratio of public debt to GDP have remained at a high level. The analysis also indicates that there has been an increase in the proportion of recurrent spending in total state budget expenditure. By constract, the percentage of investment expenditure tends to decrease. Expenditures on health, education and science and technology have risen in recent years. Keywords Public expenditure, budget deficit, public debt, development investment expenditures, recurrent expenditures References  [1] Barro, Robert J., “Government spending in a simple model of endogeneous growth”, Journal of Political Economy 98 (1990) 5: 103-125.[2] Ngân hàng Thế giới, “Đánh giá chi tiêu công Việt Nam: Chính sách tài khóa hướng tới bền vững, hiệu quả và công bằng”, 2017.[3] Ngân hàng Thế giới, “Cải thiện hiệu suất và công bằng trong chi tiêu công”, 2017.[4] Sanjeev Gupta, Benedict Clements; Emanuele Baldacci and Carlos Mulas-Granados, “Fiscal Policy, Expenditure Composition and Growth in Low-Income Countries”, Journal of International Money and Finance, 24 (2005) 3, 441-463.[5] Vũ Sỹ Cường, “Cải cách chi tiêu công: Từ lý luận đến thực tiễn ở Việt Nam”, Viện Chiến lược và Chính sách Tài chính, 2018.

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