Search

Introduction: Antenatal care (ANC) services play a crucial role in safeguarding the health of pregnant women during their reproductive years. This study aimed to evaluate the primary factors influencing the utilization of ANC among women of childbearing age in Isari town, Jigawa State. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 400 mothers of childbearing age, selecting them using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. The statistical analyses performed were descriptive analysis, Pearson's chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The majority of respondents (92.5%) indicated awareness of ANC, with a significant proportion expressing the necessity of ANC services (85.7%). 57.8% of the respondents indicated attending ANC services at least four times during pregnancy. Furthermore, the number of visits has a significant relationship with age (P < 0.001), educational level (P = 0.003), occupation (P = 0.043), mother's knowledge of pregnancy danger signs (P = 0.001), and husband's support for ANC (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Enhancing ANC utilization will necessitate focusing on women residing in rural areas and those with limited educational attainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since the emergence of COVID-19 in 2019, every country in the world has been affected to varying degrees. Long-term psychological pressure and anxiety will inevitably damage the physical and mental health of students. This study aimed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students who experienced stress and anxiety and to clarify which intervention was more effective. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted between January 2020 and December 2022 using online databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar by using the following keywords in combination: "COVID-19," "stress," "anxiety," "depression," and "intervention." The retrieved literature was screened and reviewed. Results: A total of 2,924 articles were retrieved using subject and keyword searches. After screening through the titles and abstracts, 18 related studies were retained. Their review revealed that: (1) most studies did not use medication to control stress and anxiety; (2) the standard methods used to reduce stress and anxiety were religion, psychological counseling, learning more about COVID-19 through the media, online mindfulness courses, improving sleep quality, and physical exercise; (3) the most effective interventions were physical activity and raising awareness about COVID-19 through the media and online mindfulness programs. However, some studies show that physical activity cannot directly relieve psychological stress and anxiety. Conclusion: Limited interventions are effective, but learning more about COVID-19 and using active coping strategies may help reduce stress and anxiety. The implications of COVID-19 are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infections with Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia are widely prevalent and responsible for serious public health issues among school-aged children in developing countries. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of these parasites among children from two primary schools in Um-Asher area, Khartoum, Sudan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 170 fresh stool specimens were collected during November 2017 to June 2018. The samples were examined by microscopy for the presence of the cysts or trophozoites of the two parasites. Results: The overall prevalence of both parasites among the 170 children was 20%, with 13 children infected with E. histolytica (7.6%) and 23 with G. lamblia (13.5%). Most of the positive cases were single infections. Only two children (1.2%) had mixed infections. Conclusions: The prevalence of both parasites was high. These gastrointestinal parasites remain a challenging public health concern wherever poor sanitation and limited health measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]