scholarly journals Medical Problems Among Rohingya Refugees and Medications Prescribed During IMARET Clinic Visits in Kelantan

Author(s):  
Tan Wen Rui ◽  
Ahmad Rashidi Mohamed Tahir ◽  
Nur Aizati Athirah Daud

Introduction: For years, thousands of the Rohingya have fled Myanmar to reside in different states in Malaysia. Without any legal status, they have limited access to government medical and healthcare facilities. This is because Malaysia is not a State party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. IMAM Response and Relief Team (IMARET), a medical NGO, has organized charity clinics for this minority group to provide basic medical aids. Objectives: To identify common medical problems and medications prescribed during IMARET charity clinics in Kelantan. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among Rohingya refugees attending IMARET charity clinics in Kelantan from June 2017 until May 2018. Data was collected from a medical clerking sheet. Medical problems were classified using ICD-10 classification, while medications prescribed were classified according to the first level of ATC code. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 24.0. Results: From 315 patients attended the clinic, most of the patients are of male gender (n=232, 73.1%). Mean age of the patients was 21.9 + 13.6 years (range: 1 – 75). Patients attended either one of the clinic locations; Tanah Merah (n=153, 48.5%), PengkalanChepa (n=78, 24.8%), and Kok Lanas (n=84, 26.6%). Most common medical problems observed were related to musculoskeletal system (n=104, 19.9%), mostly involving myalgia (n=96, 30.5%). Other common problems involved respiratory system (n=94, 18.0%), digestive system (n=68, 13.0%), and skin problems (n=57, 10.9%). Medications used for gastrointestinal disorders were mostly being prescribed in the clinics (n=179, 56.8%), followed by medications used for nervous system (n=114, 36.2%) and respiratory system (n=97, 30.8%). Most frequently prescribed medications include paracetamol, diclofenac, chlorpheniramine and multivitamins. Conclusion: Common medical problems observed among Rohingya refugees include myalgia, respiratory diseases and gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, medications used to treat these problems were shown to be frequently prescribed during clinics.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2021 Page: S26

2021 ◽  
pp. 175717742110127
Author(s):  
Salma Abbas ◽  
Faisal Sultan

Background: Patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities during outbreaks hinges on a prompt infection prevention and control response. Physicians leading these programmes have encountered numerous obstacles during the pandemic. Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate infection prevention and control practices and explore the challenges in Pakistan during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and administered a survey to physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes at 18 hospitals in Pakistan. Results: All participants implemented universal masking, limited the intake of patients and designated separate triage areas, wards and intensive care units for coronavirus disease 2019 patients at their hospitals. Eleven (61%) physicians reported personal protective equipment shortages. Staff at three (17%) hospitals worked without the appropriate personal protective equipment due to limited supplies. All participants felt overworked and 17 (94%) reported stress. Physicians identified the lack of negative pressure rooms, fear and anxiety among hospital staff, rapidly evolving guidelines, personal protective equipment shortages and opposition from hospital staff regarding the choice of recommended personal protective equipment as major challenges during the pandemic. Discussion: The results of this study highlight the challenges faced by physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes in Pakistan. It is essential to support infection prevention and control personnel and bridge the identified gaps to ensure patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Fakhoury ◽  
Claudine Burton-Jeangros ◽  
Liala Consoli ◽  
Aline Duvoisin ◽  
Delphine Courvoisier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Undocumented migrants live and work in precarious conditions. Few studies have explored the mental health consequences of such environment. The objective of this study is to describe the mental health of migrants at different stages of a regularization program. Methods This cross-sectional study included migrants undocumented or in the process of regularization. We screened for symptoms of anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance using validated tools. We created a composite outcome of altered mental health including these components plus self-report of a recent diagnosis of mental health condition by a health professional. Results We enrolled 456 participants of whom 246 (53.9%) were undocumented. They were predominantly women (71.9%) with a median age of 43.3 (interquartile range: 15.5) years, from Latin America (63.6%) or Asia (20.2%) who had lived in Switzerland for 12 (IQR: 7) years. Overall, 57.2% presented symptoms of altered mental health. Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance were 36% (95% confidence interval: 31.6–40.6%), 45.4% (95% CI: 40.8–50.1%) and 23% (95% CI: 19.2–27.2), respectively. Younger age (adjusted odd ratio: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–0.9 for each additional decade), social isolation (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4–4.2), exposure to abuse (aOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1–3.5), financial instability (aOR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.4–3.7) and multi-morbidity (aOR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.7–6.5) were associated with increased risk of having altered mental health while being in the early stages of the process of regularization had no effect (aOR: 1.3: 95% CI: 0.8–2.2). Conclusions This study highlights the need for multi-pronged social and health interventions addressing the various domains of undocumented migrants living difficulties as complement to legal status regularization policies. Protection against unfair working conditions and abuse, access to adequate housing, promoting social integration and preventive interventions to tackle the early occurrence of chronic diseases may all contribute to reduce the burden of altered mental health in this group. More research is needed to assess the long-term impact of legal status regularization on mental health.


Author(s):  
Behrad Pourmohammadi ◽  
Ahad Heydari ◽  
Farin Fatemi ◽  
Ali Modarresi

Abstract Objectives: Iran is exposed to a wide range of natural and man-made hazards. Health-care facilities can play a significant role in providing life-saving measures in the minutes and hours immediately following the impact or exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the preparedness of health-care facilities in disasters and emergencies. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Damghan, Semnan Province, in 2019. The samples consisted of all the 11 health-care facilities located in Damghan County. A developed checklist was used to collect the data, including 272 questions in 4 sections: understanding threatening hazards, functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability of health-care facilities. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: The results revealed that the health-care facilities were exposed to 22 different natural and man-made hazards throughout the county. The total level of preparedness of the health-care centers under assessment was 45.8%. The average functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability was assessed at 49.3%, 31.6%, and 56.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Conducting mitigation measures is necessary for promoting the functional and structural preparedness. Disaster educational programs and exercises are recommended among the health staff in health-care facilities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Andrew Finseth ◽  
Jessica Louise Hedeman ◽  
Robert Preston Brown ◽  
Kristina I. Johnson ◽  
Matthew Sean Binder ◽  
...  

Introduction. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used by Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. We sought to provide information on CAM use and efficacy in PD patients in the Denver metro area with particular attention to cannabis use given its recent change in legal status.Methods. Self-administered surveys on CAM use and efficacy were completed by PD patients identified in clinics and support groups across the Denver metro area between 2012 and 2013.Results. 207 patients (age69±11; 60% male) completed the survey. Responses to individual CAM therapy items showed that 85% of respondents used at least one form of CAM. The most frequently reported CAMs were vitamins (66%), prayer (59%), massage (45%), and relaxation (32%). Self-reported improvement related to the use of CAM was highest for massage, art therapy, music therapy, and cannabis. While only 4.3% of our survey responders reported use of cannabis, it ranked among the most effective CAM therapies.Conclusions. Overall, our cross-sectional study was notable for a high rate of CAM utilization amongst PD patients and high rates of self-reported efficacy across most CAM modalities. Cannabis was rarely used in our population but users reported high efficacy, mainly for nonmotor symptoms.


Author(s):  
Syed Sharaf Ali Shah ◽  
Safdar Pasha ◽  
Nikhat Iftikar ◽  
Altaf Ahmed Soomro ◽  
Nazia Farrukh ◽  
...  

Objective: To assess the magnitude of the problem of injection safety in public and private health facilities in two districts of Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between October and December 2020 among public and private health facilities of two districts of Pakistan: Gujarat in Punjab and Larkana in Sindh provinces. A convenient sample size of 60 healthcare facilities (30 from each district) was taken due to time and resource constraint. Six data collection tools were used which included structured observations and interviews with injection prescribers and providers based on WHO Revised Tool C, which were finalised after piloting. Results: Reuse of injection equipment was not observed in any of the 60 health facilities. In exit interviews of 120 patients, it was found that 27 (22.5%) patients reported receiving an injection, while 11 (9.2%) were prescribed intravenous (IV) drips. More injections and drips were prescribed in the private sector (n=15; 25.0%) in comparison with the public sector (n=12; 20.0%). Slightly higher proportion of IV drips were prescribed by the private providers when compared to public sector healthcare providers: 6 (10.0%) vs 5 (8.3%) respectively. Most of the prescribers (n=58; 96.7%) reported that patients who attended public and private health facilities demanded injectable medicines. Used syringes and drips were noted to be visible in open containers and buckets for final disposal in 20 (33.3%) assessed health facilities. Continuou...


Author(s):  
Susmita Bhattacharya ◽  
Amit Kyal ◽  
Payel Mondal ◽  
Partha Mukhopadhyay ◽  
Mrinalini Chowdhury ◽  
...  

Background: Most of the couples suffering from infertility report it to be the most stressful and depressing period of their life, more so if it is a primary infertility. Studies regarding the prevalence and role of infertility-specific stress especially in eastern part of India is very limited. The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of infertility-specific stress and its role in marital adjustment in women diagnosed with infertility.Methods: It was a cross-sectional study done on 80 married couple diagnosed with infertility (both primary and secondary) over 1 year from July 2016 to June,2017. Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), "semi-structured questionnaire" compiled by the authors and "ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders (Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines)" were used for the evaluation. The analysis was done using SPSS (version 16) and Chi-square test.Results: Around 86% infertile women and 21% infertile men were found to suffer from mental stress. Infertility related stress were more in patients with primary infertility than in secondary one. Women mostly (56.5%) coped with stress by self-blaming whereas men (58.2%) by blaming the partner.Conclusions: Mental stress was significantly associated with infertility. In fact, maladjustment in marital relation caused by the stress adversely affected the conjugal life and thus also the fertility. Proper counselling of both partners might be helpful to solve this problem.


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Sri Alemina Ginting ◽  
Isra Firmansyah ◽  
Dedi Satria Putra ◽  
Dachrul Aldy ◽  
Syahril Pasaribu ◽  
...  

Background In Indonesia, medical problems are indicated bydiseases associated with low socioeconomic status. The preva-lence of intestinal worm is still high in Indonesia.Objective The purpose of this study was to find the associationbetween socioeconomic status and the prevalence of intestinalworm infection.Methods A cross sectional study was done on 120 primary schoolchildren in Suka Village, Karo District, North Sumatra Province.Subjects were selected by means of random sampling. Kato Katzmethod was used in stool examination. Socioeconomic status wasreferred from the Survey Keluarga Sejahtera (Wealth Family Sur-vey) 1998 by the BKKBN (the National Coordination Board onFamily Planning). Data of socioeconomic status were collected byinterview using a questionnaire and analyzed by chi square test; pvalue of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results Eighty-four subjects (70%) suffered from intestinal worminfection. There was no significant association between either age(p=0.811) or nutritional status (p=0.792) and intestinal worm infec-tion, but there was significant association between sex and intes-tinal worm infection (p=0.028). There was also association betweenintestinal worm infection and father’s education (p=0.044). Mother’soccupation had a significant association with intestinal worm in-fection (p=0.001), but father’s occupation (p=0.474) did not. Nei-ther parents’ income (p=0.429) nor socioeconomic status (p=0.098)was associated with intestinal worm infection.Conclusion There was significant association between intestinalworm infection and sex, father’s education or mother’s occupation


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina M. Al Marzouqi ◽  
Michael E. Otim ◽  
Heba H. Hijazi ◽  
Leena S. Kehail ◽  
Ramsha A. Kamal

Abstract Objectives: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a global health pandemic that continues to have an impact on many aspects of everyday life. This study investigates the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 among healthcare workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This study uses a cross-sectional study design. The original data were collected using an online questionnaire distributed via a Google Forms link. Participants were healthcare workers currently working in the UAE healthcare facilities and recruited using snowball sampling. The questionnaire collected information on demographic variables and COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice.Results: In total, the sample of 107 healthcare workers completed the survey. About 92% of the participants worked in public institutions, 87% were from Dubai, and 673% were female. The majority were aged 31–40 years (34.6%), and 43% were radiographers. 66.4% held bachelor’s degrees and Indian nationalities were (28%) and the Philippinos were (28%). Most (90.7%) participants knew the absence of fever did not mean that the virus could not transmit from an infected person, and 84.1% agreed that wearing general medical masks prevented one from contracting COVID-19. However, only 36.4% strongly believed that wearing a well-fitting face mask was effective. In addition, only 15.9% reported confidently managing patients with symptoms of COVID-19, and 54.2% reported that they were afraid of contracting the virus from patients. Almost half of the participants avoided patients who had symptoms of COVID-19. Conclusion: Overall, healthcare workers’ COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices for healthcare workers in UAE healthcare facilities was very high. However, we found gaps in awareness regarding the spread of the pandemic. Our study recommends that providing healthcare workers with education programs and counseling services would help increase their confidence in treating patients with COVID-19.


Author(s):  
Yoan Chou ◽  
Dharmady Agus ◽  
Dwi Jani Juliawati

Background: Medical education is full of burden and pressure, so that medical students are prone to get depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. These have been proven by several researches conducted in the faculties of medicine from abroad as well as in Indonesia. Medical students, either preclinical or clinical, need to face many obstacles, but clinical students have more demands than preclinical students and they are directly responsible for patient safety. The more demands of the clinical students made them prone to have more depressive and anxiety disorder.Method: This research was conducted as a cross-sectional study on 200 students on Atma Jaya Medicine Faculty by choosing 100 pre-clinical and clinical students with simple random sampling. Data were collected with structured interviews by using MINI ICD-10 instrument to determine the depressive and anxiety disorder.Results: There were significant differences between the proportion of depressive disorder and anxiety disorder among preclinical and clinical students in FKUAJ 2015 (p = 0.044 and p = 0.048). The proportion of depressive disorder and anxiety disorder in clinical students are higher than preclinical students (29% vs. 17% and 38% vs. 25%).Conclusions: Clinical students are more prone to get depressive disorder 1,99 times and anxiety disorder 1,84 times than preclinical students FKUAJ year 2015 


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
BETTY MAGANDA ◽  
Godeliver A Kagashe ◽  
Honorata Chagula ◽  
Vitalis B Mbuya ◽  
Kisa Mwamwitwa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Poor quality products, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and medication errors (ME) are reported to negatively influence health care cost, patients’ treatment outcomes and quality of life. One way which can help in detection and prevention of their occurrence is through spontaneous reporting of these effects/events to the regulatory bodies. Despite the efforts done by regulatory bodies in different countries including Tanzania, the rate of reporting has remained low. This study therefore, assessed the participation of private healthcare facilities in pharmacovigilance (PV) activities in Tanzania Mainland. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in selected regions in Tanzania from December 2017 to June 2018. A total of 169 healthcare facilities and 192 healthcare professionals were involved. Data was collected using questionnaires and standard checklist. Results: Only (17%) of the respondents had good knowledge on PV activities and only (29.7%) of the participants had attended training on PV. Over 50% of respondents were not aware that PV activities reports are to be sent to a National pharmacovigilance center. Majority (89.7%) of the healthcare facilities assessed had no system for monitoring and reporting PV activities. About (55.7%) of the respondents said that they had observed ADRs in patients while (27.6%) had detected poor quality products and (51.1%) spotted medication errors in their practice, but none of them sent a report to the National pharmacovigilance center. Lack of PV tools (60.9%), poor knowledge on reporting procedures (69.8%) and lack of feedback and weak supervision from Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA (93.3%) and (9.4%), respectively were the major obstacles for carrying out PV activities. Of the 47 respondents whereas, their healthcare facilities had systems for monitoring and reporting PV activities had a view that attending more training (74.5%), increase availability of PV tools (10.6%), frequent supervision from TMDA (12.8%), and inclusion of PV training in undergraduate and postgraduate training curricula (2.1%) may improve involvement in pharmacovigilance activities Conclusions: Majority of private healthcare facilities participated poorly in PV activities, because of lack of pharmacovigilance training, knowledge on reporting and unavailability of systems and tools for monitoring and reporting on pharmacovigilance activities.


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