The Effect of Public Health Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Smoking Dependence & Passive Smoking

Background: According to increasing concern about the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of smoking this study was conducted to find the effect of health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic on smoking dependence & passive smoking. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2020, by using a valid and reliable questionnaire, the data were analyzed by using SPSS, version 20 software. Results: The study showed 16.9% of participants increased their nicotine use and 12.4% decreased their nicotine use. Despite no significant change in smoking dependence, we found that smokers who used to smoke more than 30 cigarettes per day before the quarantine increased by two folds. In addition, we found that smokers who awaken at night sometimes to have cigarettes before quarantine had increased markedly by 50% during quarantine. Furthermore, smokers who had an extreme urge to smoke over the week before the quarantine have elevated markedly during the quarantine from 31 smokers to 60. Also, over 35.2 % of surveyed individuals experienced a rise in smoking desire during the quarantine. Regarding passive smoking, the surveyed individuals reported a generally slight decline in exposure to secondhand smoking. However, the number of exposed individuals to smoking for more than 8 hours increased by 27%. Conclusion: During the lockdown, individuals smoked marginally more cigarettes compared to the periods before the lockdown with no significant change in smoking dependence. There was a slight decline in exposure to secondhand smoking. However, the number of exposed individuals to household smoking for more than 8 hours had been increased.

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Disposal Practices of Unused Medications Among Patients in Public Health Centers of Dessie Town, Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

Current Drug Safety ◽

10.2174/1574886315666200331140400 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 105-110

Author(s):

Haile Kassahun ◽

Dugessa Tesfaye

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Centers ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Global Challenge ◽

Northeast Ethiopia ◽

Unused Medications ◽

At Home

Background: Disposal of pharmaceutical waste among patients is a global challenge especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. Improper medication disposal can lead to health problems and environmental contaminations. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess disposal practices of unused medications among patients in public health centers of Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 263 patients in four public health centers of Dessie town, Ethiopia from March to June, 2019. Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires were used to collect data from each study subject. Results: The majority of the respondents, 224 (85.17%) had unused medications at their home during the study period. The most commonly reported disposal method in the present study was flushing down into a toilet 66 (25.09%). None of the respondents practiced returning unused medications to Pharmacy. Moreover, 85 (32.31%) of the respondents reported never disposing their medications and believed that it is acceptable to store medications at home for future use. Conclusion: In the present study, there was a high practice of keeping medications at home and most of the disposal practices were not recommended methods. In addition, most of the respondents did not get advice from pharmacists and other health care professionals on how to dispose off unused medications. Hence, there is a need for proper education and guidance of patients regarding disposal practices of unused medications.

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Obstetric Violence in Spain (Part III): Healthcare Professionals, Times and Areas

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073359 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3359

Author(s):

Desirée Mena-Tudela ◽

Susana Iglesias-Casás ◽

Víctor Manuel González-Chordá ◽

María Jesús Valero-Chillerón ◽

Laura Andreu-Pejó ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Informed Consent ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

Obstetric Violence

Background: Obstetric violence is a worldwide public health problem, which seems greater in Spain. As no studies were found that identify the most representative healthcare professionals, times, and areas involved in obstetric violence, the objective of this work was to study at what time of maternity, with which professionals, and in what areas women identified obstetric violence. Methods: This descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was performed from January 2018 to June 2019. The main variables were the area (hospital, primary care, both), the time (pregnancy, birth, puerperium), and the professionals attending to women. Results: Our sample comprised 17,541 participants. The area identified with the most obstetric violence for the different studied variables was hospitals. Women identified more obstetric violence at time of birth. Findings such as lack of information and informed consent (74.2%), and criticism of infantile behavior and treatment (87.6%), stood out. The main identified healthcare professionals were midwives and gynecologists, and “other” professionals repeatedly appeared. Conclusions: Having identified the professionals, times, and areas of most obstetric violence in Spain, it seems necessary to reflect on not only the Spanish National Health System’s structure and management but also on healthcare professionals’ training.

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A cross-sectional study using freedom of information requests to evaluate variation in local authority commissioning of community pharmacy public health services in England

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015511 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. e015511 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Adam John Mackridge ◽

Nicola Jane Gray ◽

Janet Krska

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Community Pharmacy ◽

Local Authority ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Freedom Of Information ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Public Health Services ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Information Requests

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The role of researchers in disseminating evidence to public health practice settings: a cross-sectional study

Health Research Policy and Systems ◽

10.1186/s12961-016-0113-4 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Allese B. McVay ◽

Katherine A. Stamatakis ◽

Julie A. Jacobs ◽

Rachel G. Tabak ◽

Ross C. Brownson

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Public Health Practice ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Practice ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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Anemia and Associated Factors Among Adults with Human Immune Deficiency Virus on Antiretroviral Therapy in Public Health Facilities of Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care ◽

10.2147/hiv.s259259 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol Volume 12 ◽

pp. 341-349

Author(s):

Abrham Mengistu ◽

Gudina Egata ◽

Behailu Hawulte ◽

Melese Markos ◽

Tsegaye Lolaso

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Immune Deficiency ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Human Immune Deficiency Virus ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Human Immune

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Perception of mucormycosis infection among Bangladeshi healthcare workers: an exploratory cross-sectional study in the year following the COVID-19 pandemic

Bulletin of the National Research Centre ◽

10.1186/s42269-022-00696-1 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Humayun Kabir ◽

Md. Kamrul Hasan ◽

Mamunur Rahman ◽

Shimpi Akter ◽

Golam Ishraque Chowdhury ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Fungal Infection ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Concern ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Monthly Income ◽

Public Health Concern ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Mucormycosis, a severe fungal infection, is an emerging public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the perception of mucormycosis among Bangladeshi healthcare workers. Results An exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out among the Bangladeshi healthcare workers from May 25, 2021, to June 5, 2021. The study found 422 responses from the healthcare workers of Bangladesh. Among the respondents, nearly half of them (45.26%) were doctors (n = 191). This study explored that the healthcare workers’ mucormycosis perception scores were significantly associated with their age, gender, profession, monthly income, marital status, job type, and death of friends and family members due to COVID-19. Conclusions This study emphasized the healthcare workers’ mucormycosis perception along with other associated factors. The findings could help policymakers to mitigate mucormycosis and related infectious diseases emergencies in the post-COVID-19 situation.

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Occupational exposure to blood/body fluid splash and its predictors among midwives working in public health institutions at Addis Ababa city Ethiopia, 2020. Institution-based cross-sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0251815 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. e0251815

Author(s):

Solomon Shitu ◽

Getachew Adugna ◽

Haimanot Abebe

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Body Fluid ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Addis Ababa ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Public Health Institutions ◽

Health Institutions

Background Blood/body fluid splash are hazards to health care professionals in their working area. Around twenty bloodborne pathogens are known to be transmitted through these occupational injuries. This problem alters the health status of health care professionals in different ways, including physically, mentally, and psychologically. Even though health professionals especially midwives who are working in delivery rooms are highly affected, little is known about the exposure. So, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of exposure to blood/body fluid splash and its predictors among midwives working in public health institutions of Addis Ababa city. Methods Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 438 study participants in public health institutions in Addis Ababa. Data was collected from March 1–20, 2020 by a self-administered questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. All variables with P<0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in a final model and statistical significance was declared at P< 0.05. Results In this study, a total of 424 respondents respond yielding a response rate of 97%. The prevalence of blood and body fluid splashes (BBFs) was 198 (46.7%). Not training on infection prevention, working in two shifts (> 12 hours), not regularly apply universal precautions, job-related stress, an average monthly salary of 5001–8000 were independent predictors of blood and body fluid splashes. Conclusion The study revealed that nearly half of midwives were exposed to BBFS. This highlights the need for key stakeholders such as policymakers and service providers to design appropriate policies to avert this magnitude and making the environment enabling to comply with standard precautions. We recommend that this study may be done by including rural setting institutions and by including other health professionals that are susceptible to BBFS at work. Formal training on infection prevention and safety practice to apply universal precautions will be needed from the concerned bodies to prevent exposures to blood/body fluid splash.

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Frequency and Severity of Adverse Drug Reactions to Medications Prescribed for Alzheimer’s Disease in a Brazilian City: Cross-Sectional Study

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2020.538095 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Tânia Regina Ferreira ◽

Luciane Cruz Lopes ◽

Cristiane de Càssia Bergamaschi

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Health System ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Public Health System ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Drug Reactions ◽

Cross Sectional

Background: There is lack of national studies that assess the risks associated with the drugs provided under the Brazilian public health system for treating Alzheimer’s disease. Then, this study determined the prevalence and severity of self-reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) prescribed to patients with Alzheimer’s disease in the Brazilian public health system.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out based on public data from the MEDEX system (information on dispensing data, known as exceptional dispensing medications) and interviews with patients and/or caregivers who get access to Alzheimer’s drugs at a public pharmacy in a large Brazilian city, between July and September 2017, inquiring about ADRs and serious adverse events (SAEs).Results: The subjects were asked about ADRs and SAEs related to the use of donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine and memantine. Out of 285 patients enrolled on the database, 250 participated in the study (87.7%). Among the participants, approximately 63.0% were female, 70.3% aged ≥75 years and 70.3% had comorbidities. Overall, 209 patients (83.6%) reported at least one ADR (total 1,149 ADRs) and rivastigmine was associated with the largest number of ADRs per patient (7.9 ADRs/patient). The predominant adverse effects were psychiatric disorders with common frequency (57.1%) and mild severity (89.0%). Six patients (2.4%) had SAEs that required hospitalization. The use of antipsychotics was the variable associated with ADR (OR = 4.95; 95% CI: 1.45–16.93; p = 0.011).Conclusion: There was a large number of reported ADRs and most of them were of common frequency and mild severity, being mainly related to psychiatric disorders. Considering the fragility of these patients, it is important to improve safety-related care in the use of drugs for treating this disease.

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Identifying risk factors of anemia among women of reproductive age in Rwanda - a cross-sectional study using secondary data from the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2014/2015

10.21203/rs.2.14859/v3 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Dieudonne Hakizimana ◽

Marie Paul Nisingizwe ◽

Jenae Logan ◽

Rex Wong

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Pregnant Woman ◽

Intrauterine Device ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hemoglobin Level ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Women Of Reproductive Age ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) continues to be among the major public health problems in many developing countries, including Rwanda, where it increased in prevalence between the 2015 and 2010 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) reports. A thorough understanding of its risk factors is necessary to design better interventions. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted in Rwanda on a nationally representative sample to assess factors associated with anemia among WRA. Accordingly, this study was conducted to address such gap. Methods A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the RDHS 2014-2015 report. The study population consisted of 6680 WRA who were tested for anemia during the survey. Anemia was defined as having a hemoglobin level equal to or below 10.9 g/dl for a pregnant woman, and hemoglobin level equal to or below 11.9 g/dl for a non-pregnant woman. Pearson’s chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression were conducted for bivariate and multivariable analysis, respectively. Results The prevalence of anemia among WRA was 19.2% (95% CI: 18.0 - 20.5). Four factors were found to be associated with lower odds of anemia, including being obese (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.40 - 0.91), being in the rich category (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63 - 0.87), sleeping under a mosquito net (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74 - 0.98), and using hormonal contraceptives (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.50 - 0.73). Five factors were associated with higher odds of anemia, including being underweight (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09 - 1.78), using an intrauterine device (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.05 - 3.75), being separated or widowed (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.09 - 1.67), and living in the Southern province (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.11 - 1.89) or in the Eastern province (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.88). Conclusion Anemia continues to pose public health challenges; novel public health interventions should consider geographic variations in anemia risk, seek to improve women’s economic statuses, and strengthen iron supplementation especially for Intrauterine device users. Additionally, given the association between anemia and malaria, interventions to prevent malaria should be enhanced.

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