Abstract: Conclusion: This study identified key factors influencing food hygiene practices among street food vendors in the Kadjebi District. While most vendors demonstrated good hygiene practices, significant predictors included ethnicity, training, water sources and attitudes towards hygiene. Vendors from non-Akan ethnic groups exhibited lower adherence to hygiene practices, emphasizing the need for culturally and linguistically tailored health education. Continuous training and access to potable water are essential for maintaining food safety standards. Addressing these factors is critical to reducing foodborne illnesses and contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-being). PubDate: Tue, 03 Jun 2025 04:34:28 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: The study reveals ongoing structural barriers that limit sufficient HIV prevention and retention in care for farm workers who are on treatment. Models of care that include patient-held records, workplace-provided services, and mobile healthcare are recommended. PubDate: Mon, 05 May 2025 23:49:44 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the need to develop culture-specific knowledge and awareness campaigns on omega-3, particularly regarding marine sources. The study also provides insight into the barriers causing low consumption of fish that need addressing. PubDate: Sat, 26 Apr 2025 02:35:04 +000
Abstract: Implications for Practice: Improved communication strategies can benefit both patients and clinicians. This can be achieved through provision of easily accessible reading materials on medical tests, explaining their advantages and disadvantages, thus empowering both patients and clinicians fostering shared decision-making. PubDate: Fri, 25 Apr 2025 06:19:19 +000
Abstract: The overweight/obesity high prevalence and the effects of climate change in Latin America underscores the possible positive outcomes of adopting a healthy and sustainable diet to respond to the region’s burden of nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). However, research on adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet in Latin America and its association with overweight/obesity is limited. This study explores the relationship between the EAT-Lancet diet adherence and overweight/obesity in a cross-sectional and urban multicentric study involving 6683 participants aged 15–65. Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was evaluated using the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI). The findings indicate that high adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet (fifth quintile) was not significantly associated with overweight/obesity (reference: first PHDI quintile, PR: 1.057, CI: 0.993–1.125, p-trend = 0.140) after adjusting for key covariates. Equivalent outcomes were found when assessing adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet using the EAT-Lancet Index, the World Index for Sustainability and Health (WISH), and the Healthy and Sustainable Diet Index (HSDI), after adjusting for the same variables. The persistently high prevalence of overweight/obesity among different adherence levels to the dietary pattern and the study’s design, do not appear to be the key factors contributing to the lack of association between these variables. Instead, the considerably low adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet in the sample as well as the low variability in adherence across participants with and without excess weight might help explain the lack of observed association. However, further research is needed to verify this conclusion. PubDate: Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:50:06 +000
Abstract: Conclusions: In the sample, 60.8% of older adults have access to social security coverage, representing a 6.7% increase on the percentage obtained for the 2015 sample. Identifying the barriers to social security coverage is necessary in order to improve access to the healthcare system and reduce health in equalities for all older Mexican adults. PubDate: Wed, 23 Apr 2025 20:11:26 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: This review highlights the pivotal role of vitamin D in women’s reproductive health, highlighting its comprehensive involvement in the menstrual cycle and its potential to enhance overall well-being. The findings suggest that ensuring adequate vitamin D levels, whether through sunlight exposure, diet, or supplementation, may offer significant benefits for menstrual health and related aspects of women’s health. PubDate: Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:33:52 +000
Abstract: Male partner involvement (male partner participation (MPP)) in antenatal care (ANC) is shown to boost ANC attendance and compliance to recommendations, which in turn improves maternal and newborn health outcomes. MPP is still low in Kenya and in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite this. According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2014), the MPP rate was 30%. Burundi (18.2%), Senegal (31.8%), and Zimbabwe (32.4%) showed comparable patterns. The purpose of this study was to identify the key factors affecting MPP in ANC visits as well as its prevalence. An analytical cross-sectional study design was conducted on a sample size of 250 mothers seeking childcare services in Kangundo, Machakos County, and Kenya, from July and August 2023. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling and data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was performed on all variables and associations with MPP were examined using the Chi-square (χ2) test. Logistic regression was used and a step-wise Akaike information criterion was done to determine the predictors of MPP. The prevalence of MPP in Kangundo was 29%. The significant predictors of MPP were health education (OR = 34.12; 95% CI: 13.36–95.55; p-value = 0), pregnancy complication (OR = 17.99; 95% CI: 5.62–66.72; p-value = 0), and the pregnant mothers request for male partner accompaniment to ANC (OR = 7.39, 95% CI: 3.04–19.77). In conclusion, to promote MPP, the study recommends that targeted healthcare education should be prioritized to inform male partners of their role and the importance of participating in ANC. The healthcare system must create an inclusive environment that facilitates MPP rather than relying solely on mothers to encourage their partners. PubDate: Fri, 18 Apr 2025 03:20:10 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: Military aircraft maintenance personnel, particularly individuals working in the engine bay, are exposed to notable risks of shoulder, wrist, back (static) and neck region injuries, which could affect their well-being and productivity. Consequently, aviation maintenance personnel should perform routine physical exercises as an alternative to ergonomic interventions. PubDate: Fri, 11 Apr 2025 21:10:23 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: Our study revealed a lower COVID-19 vaccine rate and a higher vaccine hesitancy rate in the Centre-Est Region of Burkina Faso. Improving communication about COVID-19 preventive measures might increase adherence to COVID-19 vaccination. PubDate: Tue, 08 Apr 2025 20:22:26 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: The coverage of full polio vaccination in Ethiopia was below 50%, which is below the global and regional percentage. Policies and programs must be formulated and implemented with a strong focus on women who have not used ANC visits, residents in rural areas, and uneducated women in child vaccination must be considered in Ethiopia. PubDate: Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:19:29 +000
Abstract: Recently, overweight and obesity among adolescents have become a growing concern, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of both preventive and effective management strategies. The present study aimed to assess knowledge and practices on the prevention of overweight and obesity among secondary school adolescents in Morogoro Municipality. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2023 among 253 randomly selected students studying in Form 1, Form 2, and 3 classes. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 25 was used for descriptive statistics to describe the study variables and logistic regression to identify factors associated with knowledge and practices on prevention of overweight and obesity. Among 253 respondents, 129 (51.0%) were females. Approximately 30% (n = 75) of the students mentioned vegetables and fruits as healthy foods, while 20.6% (n = 57) of the students were not aware of unhealthy foods. Despite the small number of students knowing that fruits and vegetables are healthy, only 20.2% (n = 51) and 43.5% (n = 110) reported consuming them 7 days a week, respectively. Most of the participants (82.2%, n = 208) were aware of the causes of overweight and obesity, and increasing physical activity (51.8%, n = 131) was the most cited preventive measure. Being in a higher level of study, that is, Form 2 (AOR 9.33, 95% CI: 2.71–32.10) and Form 3 (AOR 5.02, 95% CI: 1.38–18.25) were significantly associated with increased knowledge and practices on prevention of overweight and obesity. Conclusively, knowledge and practices regarding the prevention of obesity and overweight among secondary school adolescents vary significantly. While some aspects showed good knowledge and practices, others were less understood and practiced. This suggests a need for implementing a comprehensive community-based health education program focusing on adolescents as a window of opportunity for current and future prevention of overweight, obesity, and associated comorbidities. PubDate: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:04:52 +000
Abstract: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) poses a significant threat to vision if left undetected and untreated. This paper addresses this challenge by utilizing advanced deep learning (DL) algorithms with established image processing techniques to enhance accuracy and efficiency in detection. Image processing extracts critical features from retinal images, acting as early warning signs for DR. Our proposed hybrid model combines image processing and machine learning (ML) strengths, leveraging discriminative abilities and custom features. The methodology involves data acquisition from a diverse dataset, data augmentation to enrich training data, and a multistep image processing pipeline. Feature extraction utilizes ResNet50, InceptionV3, and visual geometry group (VGG)-19 and combines their outputs for classification. Classification employs a decision tree (DT), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and a modified convolutional neural network (CNN) with a spatial attention layer. Our work proposed a hybrid attention-based stacking ensemble with the mentioned models in the base layer and logistic regression model as meta layer, which further enhanced accuracy. The system, evaluated through metrics like confusion matrix, accuracy, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, promises improved diagnostic capabilities. The proposed methodology yields an accuracy of 99.768%. PubDate: Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:53:16 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: According to this study, concerns about side effects, family impact, perceived stigma, and prior HIV testing significantly influence female sex workers’ willingness to use PrEP. PubDate: Wed, 12 Mar 2025 22:04:42 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: This systematic review identifies the physicochemical properties that have the greatest impact on intermediate host snails. This data may assist officials in disrupting the transmission cycle in regions with schistosomiasis. Physicochemical properties can also predict snail abundance and water suitability, which are key factors when searching for transmission sites. PubDate: Mon, 10 Mar 2025 04:48:36 +000
Abstract: Teenagers are experiencing a shift in their eating habits toward fast food, which is high in unhealthy fats and carbohydrates and correlates with an increased risk of obesity and hypertension due to its high-calorie density, large portion sizes, and accessibility. This systematic review compares the evidence on the carbohydrate and fat intakes toward adolescent hypertension. This evidence-based analysis is based on the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 statement. The data were processed qualitatively to assess the risk of bias using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) standards as the threshold. This review was registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42024599534. Published studies up to March 2024 sourced from PubMed Central, Springer Link, EBSCO Host, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were used as databases in this study. Nine studies were included in this systematic review. Eight studies (88.9%) showed a relation between carbohydrates and fat intake toward adolescent hypertension. From six studies that mainly discussed comparing carbohydrates and fat intake and the risk of hypertension in adolescents, three out of six studies agreed that the risk of hypertension is more closely associated with higher fat intake than with carbohydrate intake. In summary, both excessive carbohydrate and fat intake are related to the development of hypertension in adolescents, but higher fat intake might show more outcomes in developing hypertension. This study is expected to be a theoretical foundation for future research. PubDate: Fri, 07 Mar 2025 03:20:22 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: These results suggest that treatments that target balance, cognitive, and depression states and improve manual function may be particularly important for improving participation, disability state, and physical activity time in community-dwelling older adults. PubDate: Tue, 04 Mar 2025 20:18:40 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: Since 2010, Nigeria’s health technology research has expanded significantly in different areas. Despite this growth, practical application remains limited. To fully digitize the healthcare system, collaboration among the government, private sector, and stakeholders is essential to fund projects and train leaders for effective integration of health tech solutions in the Nigerian healthcare system. PubDate: Thu, 27 Feb 2025 07:19:30 +000
Abstract: Discussion: The determinants of stunting in under-five children in South Lampung Regency are significantly influenced by child-specific factors, maternal conditions, and households with agricultural household livelihoods. To address stunting, it is essential to enhance maternal and child health programs and implement targeted nutritional interventions, particularly for agricultural households with farming fathers. Future research should investigate the impact of agricultural practices on child nutrition and assess the efficacy of interventions across various socioeconomic settings. Longitudinal studies are crucial for evaluating and refining stunting prevention strategies, ultimately contributing to the achievement of Indonesia Emas 2045. PubDate: Wed, 19 Feb 2025 23:18:38 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: Targeted educational initiatives, improved accessibility and enhanced patient support could significantly boost screening uptake, leading to earlier breast cancer detection, reduced mortality rates and better health outcomes for women in Malta. These insights are not only valuable for refining breast screening programmes across Europe but can also inform similar initiatives globally, particularly in countries with comparable barriers and healthcare challenges. Adopting these strategies in diverse contexts may help improve women’s health outcomes worldwide. PubDate: Sat, 08 Feb 2025 06:04:40 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic caused long-term psychological burden among HCWs. Further longitudinal researches are necessary to explore specific interventions to support HCWs’ mental health. PubDate: Sat, 25 Jan 2025 07:34:00 +000
Abstract: Conclusion: Despite IFA compliance rates within the national coverage range, forgetfulness, side effects, and inadequate counseling remain barriers. The persistence of anemia, even at a slightly lower rate than national data, remains a significant public health concern. Public health interventions are needed to improve IFA adherence, reduce anemia, and optimize maternal and fetal health outcomes in this population. PubDate: Thu, 09 Jan 2025 06:03:50 +000
Abstract: Conclusion and Implications: Intervention strategies such as simplified front-of-pack labeling may have a role in improving nutrition awareness and discouraging UPP consumption. PubDate: Sat, 04 Jan 2025 21:34:14 +000
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