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Concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) is a condition where both wasting and stunting exist in a child at the same time. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of WaSt and to identify potential associated factors in Ethiopia. A total of 33,650 children aged between 0 and 59 months were included in the analysis from the four waves of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants of WaSt. The prevalence of WaSt was found to be 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: (4.5-4.9)), with respectively 2.5% (95% CI: 2.1-3.1) and 4.9% (95% CI: 4.7-5.2) among children in urban and rural settings. Children: (i) in the age group 12-23 months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 4.16, 95% CI: (3.20-5.42)) and 24-59 months (AOR: 3.08, 95% CI: (2.28-4.17)); (ii) who were perceived by their mothers to be smaller than normal at birth (AOR: 1.98, 95% CI: (1.57-2.50)); (iii) had diarrhoea (AOR: 1.38, 95% CI: (1.11-1.71)); and (iv) fever in the past 2 weeks (AOR: 1.38, 95% CI: (1.10-1.71)) reported higher odds of WaSt. Being a female child (AOR: 0.57, 95% CI: (0.48-0.69)), having received measles vaccination (AOR: 0.71, 95% CI: (0.55-0.89)), having a mother with a normal body mass index (18.5-24.9 kg/m²) (AOR: 0.57, 95% CI: (0.48-0.68)), having a wealthier household (AOR: 0.67, 95% CI: (0.50-0.90)), and living in rural setting (AOR: 0.49, 95% CI: (0.32-0.74)) were associated with reduced odds of WaSt. The prevalence of WaSt was high, with approximately 1 in 20 Ethiopian children suffering from the condition and needing a prompt response to minimize the poor health and developmental outcomes. Children perceived by their mother to be smaller than normal at birth, older children, and babies with diarrhoea and fever had higher odds of WaSt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study explored the perceptions of adult smokers with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases regarding cigarette smoking cessation. We also explored factors that may hinder or facilitate smoking cessation process. Design: Qualitative descriptive exploratory design Sample: Purposive sample of 13 adult smokers with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases visiting outpatient cardiac and respiratory clinics at a private tertiary care hospital Measurements: In‐depth, face‐to‐face, and semi‐structured interviews were conducted. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim followed by a six steps process of manual thematic analysis of data. Results: Meaningful statements were assigned codes and grouped into categories. Categories were clustered under three themes representing individual factors, socio‐cultural factors, and institutional factors. Conclusions: Smoking cessation is influenced by personal, cultural, as well as social aspects. Institutionally, there is a need to recognize that smoking is a learned behavior; hence, prohibiting public smoking will potentially contribute to non‐smoking behaviors. Although the nature of misconceptions varies, this is imperative to ensure consistency in messaging, programming, and supports led by healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this article is to provide an integrative review of rural family members' experiences of a relative's inter‐facility transfer to an urban tertiary care centre for advanced critical care services. Background: Although there is an increasing awareness of the negative consequences of a relative's critical illness for family members, there has been limited research conducted on the impacts of this experience for families of patients in rural settings who require an inter‐facility transfer for advanced services. Search strategy: The search strategy for this review was framed by the study purpose, research question, and a conceptual structure of key constructs. Databases and reference lists were electronically and manually searched. Inclusion and exclusion criteria: Articles were included if they were research articles, available in English, and focused on family members' experiences of inter‐facility transfer during critical illness. Articles focusing on critical care transfers within a single urban setting, elective transfers undertaken for patient or family preference, transfers not associated with critical illness, and systematic or scoping reviews were excluded. Conclusion: Stress and anxiety are central to the rural family members' experience of this phenomenon. These constructs are influenced by modifiable factors, including the actions of health care providers, the financial burden associated with the transfer, the family members' physical proximity to the patient, and their access to information and support networks. Further research is required to explore potential short‐ and long‐term consequences of this experience and the experience of family members who are left behind and to develop and test interventions to support families. Relevance to clinical practice: This review highlights the concern that health care providers frequently misunderstand the needs of family members who are experiencing this phenomenon. Through a better understanding of this phenomenon, health care providers will be better positioned to effectively support these individuals during this unique experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood undernutrition is a global health challenge impacting child growth and survival rates. This deficit in nutritional status contributes to the increasing chronic disease prevalence and economic burden in individuals and throughout developing contexts. A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted in Arusha District of Tanzania to determine the prevalence and predictors of undernutrition in 436 children. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic and socio‐economic factors as well as feeding practices and prevalence of preventable childhood diseases. Anthropometric data were collected through the measurement of length/height and weight of all children. The prevalence of undernutrition was estimated based on Z‐scores indices below −2SD of the reference population for weight for age (underweight), height for age (stunting), and weight for height (wasting). Fifty percent, 28%, and 16.5% of the children were stunted, underweight, and wasted, respectively. The age above 2 years and being a male were associated with stunting. The age above 2 years, nonexclusive breastfeeding children, and living at Seliani and Oturumeti were associated with being underweight. Similarly, morbidity, none exclusively breastfed children, living at Oturumeti, and being born to a mother 35 years and above were associated with wasting. In this study, we found the prevalence of child undernutrition in Arusha District is high in comparison with national and regional trends and appears to be associated with being a male. It is recommended that nutritionists and health planners should focus on these key predictors when planning nutrition interventions to address the problem of undernutrition among underfive children in Arusha District. The contents of this page will be used as part of the graphical abstract of html only. It will not be published as part of main article. The prevalence of undernutrition is estimated by using anthropometric indicators: stunting, underweight, and wasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the impacts and implications of health reform/renewal for rural women in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. Design: The study was a multiple case study approach using mixed methods of focus groups, individual interviews, and trends/utilization analysis. Setting: Three rural communities – two in Saskatchewan; one in Manitoba. Participants: Rural women; non-health providers. Interventions: None. Outcome Measures: None. Results: This paper presents a four phase Integrated Community Policy Uptake Model which is derived from the experiences of rural women during the operationalizing of health reform policy. The model depicts a four phase integration of the health reform or renewal policy; specifically, ‘Taking In’, ‘Taking On’, ‘Taking Over’, and ‘Taking Beyond’. The Integrated Community Policy Uptake Model is firmly rooted in the perceptions and opinions of rural women, and is informed by their understanding of health policy. Conclusion: The involvement of rural women in the policy process is necessary. The model proposed potentially encourages women to become more directly engaged in future health policy making and planning. There is also significant potential for this model to inform decision makers of the perceptions, needs, and solutions offered by stakeholders such as rural women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a consideration of the role and meaning of the rural hospital is contextualised within the health reform environment in Saskatchewan (Canada). Individual and community perceptions of the impact of the conversion/closure of a rural hospital are often unheard and more often unheeded. Some researchers suggest hospital conversion/closure is a devastating event in the life of rural communities, yielding long-lasting medical, economic and psychological consequences. This article examines the concept of critical incidents with the intent of proposing a working definition of the concept. Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) construct of appraisal provides the framework for discussion and re-conceptualisation of critical incidents. The recommendation is to consider the adoption of an alternate definition of critical incident shifting away from professional or external delineation of an event's meaning. The proposed definition states that a critical incident is any external event that alters an individual's or community's life from the perspective of that individual or community. Finally, the conversion/closure of a rural hospital is considered within this re-conceptualised ‘critical incident’ definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors offer opinions on learning and teaching in higher education. The use of social media to allow nursing students to participate in the creation of content for their course as part of a blended learning experience, involving both classroom teaching and learning as well as learning and teaching within social media, is cited as an example of what is said to be a need for college teachers to move to new teaching strategies in the 21st century by incorporating educational technology to deal with issues of student disengagement.