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Abstract Background Erectile dysfunction is no longer a whisper in the shadows; it’s a rising tide threatening the sexual health of millions of men in different regions. In the cases of diabetes, the condition worsens and has a potent cocktail of physical and psychological distress, chipping away at men’s confidence, self-esteem, and mental health. This worrying trend shows no signs of slowing down, with projections claiming a staggering 322 million men globally could be affected in the near future. This urgent issue demands immediate attention and action. Thus, this umbrella review intended to estimate the current burden of erectile dysfunction and associated risk factors among diabetic patients in the global context. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched for relevant studies in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar. These studies reported the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and associated risk factors in diabetic patients. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 tool. To estimate the pooled prevalence of erectile dysfunction, we employed a weighted inverse variance random-effects model. We further conducted subgroup analyses, assessed heterogeneity and publication bias, and performed sensitivity analyses to strengthen the robustness of our findings. Prediction intervals were also calculated to estimate the range within which future observations will likely fall. In all statistical analyses, the statistical significance was declared at P- value 40 years) (AOR = 1.95, 95CI: 1.03–3.24), DM duration (> 10years) (AOR = 1.90,95CI: 1.16–2.65), peripheral vascular disease (AOR = 2.74, 95CI: 1.42–4.06) and BMI (> 30 kg/m2) (AOR = 1.07,95CI: 1.01–1.20) were identified as associated risk factors of erectile dysfunction in diabetic patient. Conclusion The high global prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in diabetic patients is alarming, with an estimated two-thirds experiencing the condition. These findings underscore the significant burden of ED faced by diabetic men and emphasize the urgent need for global attention to the issue. This includes promoting early screening for erectile dysfunction in this population and ensuring access to appropriate treatment and support.

Abstract The current study investigated how and why sociocultural structures, situational conditions, and personal behavioural factors cause passengers to feel ill when travelling by minibuses, drawing on ideas from the social construction theory of illness. A significant objective was to investigate associated risk variables that influence passengers’ feelings of illness related to the social environment, addressing their beliefs, meanings, practices, and behaviours. A survey method was used to obtain data from 384 passengers for the study. The results of logistic regression indicated that feeling ill when travelling by minibuses differed from passenger to passenger; then, they had their own set of practical and emotional challenges that had no known medical reason. Compared with male and older passengers, female and younger passengers were more likely to feel ill. Furthermore, stress and role-set effects increased passengers’ experiences of feeling ill more than did passengers who had no stress prior to the trip and who had only one role. Additionally, passengers who travelled intermittently, utilized suppression techniques to lessen travel discomfort, and fastened seat belts were less likely to experience symptoms of illness. Passengers who travelled on unsafe roads and used alcohol before travel, on the other hand, were more likely to feel ill than those who travelled on safer roads and did not use alcohol before the trip. The findings suggest that passengers should be aware of predisposing conditions that result in illness, be able to rest before travelling, and use all suppressive methods to reduce or prevent illness while travelling by small buses.

The current study investigated how and why sociocultural structures, situational conditions, and personal behavioural factors cause passengers to feel ill when travelling by minibuses, drawing on ideas from the social construction theory of illness. A significant objective was to investigate associated risk variables that influence passengers' feelings of illness related to the social environment, addressing their beliefs, meanings, practices, and behaviours. A survey method was used to obtain data from 384 passengers for the study. The results of logistic regression indicated that feeling ill when travelling by minibuses differed from passenger to passenger; then, they had their own set of practical and emotional challenges that had no known medical reason. Compared with male and older passengers, female and younger passengers were more likely to feel ill. Furthermore, stress and role-set effects increased passengers' experiences of feeling ill more than did passengers who had no stress prior to the trip and who had only one role. Additionally, passengers who travelled intermittently, utilized suppression techniques to lessen travel discomfort, and fastened seat belts were less likely to experience symptoms of illness. Passengers who travelled on unsafe roads and used alcohol before travel, on the other hand, were more likely to feel ill than those who travelled on safer roads and did not use alcohol before the trip. The findings suggest that passengers should be aware of predisposing conditions that result in illness, be able to rest before travelling, and use all suppressive methods to reduce or prevent illness while travelling by small buses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is no longer a whisper in the shadows; it's a rising tide threatening the sexual health of millions of men in different regions. This worrying trend shows no signs of slowing down, with projections claiming a staggering 322 million men globally could be affected in the near future. In the cases of diabetes, the condition worsens and has a potent cocktail of physical and psychological distress, chipping away at men's confidence, self‐esteem, and mental health. This urgent issue demands immediate attention and action. Thus, this umbrella review intended to estimate the current burden of ED and associated risk factors among diabetic patients in the global context. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines will be searched for relevant Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis studies in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar. The quality of the included studies will be assessed using the new regress tool, the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 tool. To estimate the pooled prevalence of ED, we will employ a weighted inverse variance random‐effects model. We will further conduct subgroup analyses, assess heterogeneity and publication bias, and perform sensitivity analyses to strengthen the robustness of our findings. Prediction intervals will also calculated to estimate the range within which future observations will likely fall. In all statistical analyses, the statistical significance will be declared at p value < 0.05. Discussion: This umbrella review of systemic review and meta‐analysis will be the first to systematically explore and integrate evidence regarding the burden of ED and associated risk factors in the diabetic population in a global context. By estimating the worldwide burden and identifying risk factors of ED in this population, the study will contribute to uncovering the hidden burden. Thereby, the issue will get international attention to reduce its consequences on the sexual health of the diabetic population. Besides, it will also provide input and direction for future research outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The hearing threshold of more than 25 decibels (dB) at the frequencies (500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hertz) which are important for speech recognition can result in significant auditory deficits. Hearing loss can be slight, moderate, severe or profound hearing loss based on the average threshold. Objective: to determine the incidence, associated risk factors hearing impairment in a population of neonates seeking care at Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly. Methods: The present descriptive exploratory study was conducted among200 neonate who are born or admitted in Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly over a period of 12 months. Results: The first otoacoustic emission (OAE) screening was done on infants at the time of discharge from the NICU. Eighty-three infants (55.33%) had "refer" on the first OAE and the remaining 67 (44.67%) were passed results at the time of discharge. At 21 DAYS of life, on repeat screening with a second OAE test, 36% "refer" on the first screen had a "refer" result on the second DPOAE. However, 4.4% "pass" on the first screen turned out to be "refer" on the second screen. These 33 infants who had "refer" results on the second screen were subjected to testing. At 3 MONTHS of life, BERA was performed on 33 infants. 11 infants out of 33 had sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) on AABR. Conclusions: Two-stage OAE done prior to BERA is helpful in the early detection of hearing loss. Our study demonstrates the use of a combination of OAE and BERA testing ensures high sensitivity and acceptable specificity, and predict the incidence of hearing impairment in Neonates Our efforts identified 11 Neonates with auditory neuropathy who hopefully will benefit from early remediation of their hearing deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of dental caries, tobacco usage, and associated risk factors for dental caries in patients who visited a government hospital in Western, Nepal. Methods This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2022. Patients above 18 years visiting the dental OPD of a government hospital, and who had provided informed consent were enrolled in the study using a convenience sampling technique. As the study also involved an illiterate population, in that case, informed consent was obtained from their respective legal guardian as well. A pretested standardized, close-ended questionnaire was administered by researchers to gather information regarding the associated risk factors and oral hygiene practices. Clinical examination was done for dental caries according to the criteria by the World Health Organization (WHO) using the “DMFT” index (WHO modification 1987). Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was done and the odds ratio and p-value was calculated. For all tests, statistical significance was set at p

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is also the main cause of mortality in Pakistan, so it is necessary to identify the risk factors among the general population at earlier stages of diseases.so that precious lives can be saved. Objectives of the study were to determine the frequency of ischemic heart disease at the age of 30 years and above at tertiary Care Peoples Medical College hospital Nawabshah and identify the associated risk factors of ischemic heart disease at tertiary care Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah. Materials & Methods: This descriptive Cross-Sectional study was conducted at PMC Hospital Nawabshah from Nov 2022 to Dec 2022. About 245 known ischemic heart disease patients were interviewed through structured questionnaire, who visited in CCU (OPD) & ward. The information about associated risk factors like age, gender, education, Smoking, BMI, and nutrition was collected by non-probability convenience sampling and data was analyzed by using SPSS version 25. Result: The prevalence of ischemic heart disease in district Nawabshah was 22%. The main associated factors were the age with risk 32% in age group of 51-60 year, males are 52.65% and 47.35% female, and illiterate 69.80%, 14.69% are primary literate, 42.45% house wife female, 22.86% labours and overweight 35.10%. Conclusion: It was concluded in our study that IHD is a major public health problem and there is need to improve education systems, increase awareness about health and health related risk factors related to IHD in the communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small-scale fishers of Indian Sundarbans depend on open-water fisheries for their livelihoods. They often face health, occupational, and safety issues in their profession due to environmental, socio-economic, and policy changes. The morbidity pattern and related risk factors are important indicators of well-being for any community, hence applicable to small-scale fishers of Sundarbans. The present study was designed to assess patterns of morbidities, associated risk factors including occupational health hazards, and treatment-seeking behavior of small-scale fishers in the Indian Sundarbans. Material and Methods: Household surveys, focused group discussions, and personal interviews were conducted through a predesigned pretested structured questionnaire. Associated risk factors and the nature of seeking treatment were considered during the data collection covering 650 individuals from 132 fishers' families. Results: Morbidities were more frequent in males (39.33%) than in females (28.5%). The fever (31%) was the most dominant reason for morbidities followed by ocular ailments (23%), musculoskeletal disorder (20%), dermatological ailments (17%), and respiratory illness (9%). The highest morbidities (25%) were recorded in the age group of 21-30 years in males while that was 20% in the 11-20 years age group in the case of the females. Physical labor for fishing activities predisposes to health ailments of the studied population. Conclusions: The prevalence of morbidity among the fishermen community was found to be 28.5%. The understanding of the morbidity profile of a population in general and specific age groups of both sexes in specific sheds light on the vulnerability of working groups that will help for effective healthcare planning and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of dental caries, tobacco usage, and associated risk factors for dental caries in patients who visited a government hospital in Western, Nepal. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2022. Patients above 18 years visiting the dental OPD of a government hospital, and who had provided informed consent were enrolled in the study using a convenience sampling technique. As the study also involved an illiterate population, in that case, informed consent was obtained from their respective legal guardian as well. A pretested standardized, close-ended questionnaire was administered by researchers to gather information regarding the associated risk factors and oral hygiene practices. Clinical examination was done for dental caries according to the criteria by the World Health Organization (WHO) using the "DMFT" index (WHO modification 1987). Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was done and the odds ratio and p-value was calculated. For all tests, statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 219 participants completed the study with a mean age of 31.73 ± 12.46. The prevalence of dental caries and tobacco was found to be 80.36% and 5.02% respectively. Participants without health insurance had 2.35 times higher odds of dental caries (95% CI: 1.03–5.36). Not rinsing the mouth after eating sweets was associated with 3.07 times higher odds of dental caries (95% CI: 1.31–7.18). Those who hadn't visited a dentist in the past 12 months had lower odds (0.42; 95% CI: 0.18–0.94). Eating fresh fruit daily showed statistically higher odds (2.70; 95% CI: 1.04–6.99) of dental caries. Non-tobacco users had higher odds (14.19; 2.55–78.99) of dental caries. Conclusion: Dental caries is highly prevalent, while tobacco usage is relatively low. Factors associated with dental caries included lack of health insurance coverage, consumption of fruits once daily, recent dental visits within the past year, not rinsing the mouth with water after consuming sweets, and non-tobacco users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Unintended pregnancy is one of the most common reproductive health problems. The problem makes women with disabilities doubly burdened by their disabilities. The previous evidences are inconsistent and do not address all women with disabilities. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and its associated risk factors among women with disabilities in Dale and Wonsho districts and Yirgalem city administration central Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 355 randomly selected women with disabilities living in the selected districts from June 20 to July 15, 2022. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A multilevel logistic regression analysis model was employed to identify factors associated with an unintended pregnancy. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to report the measures of associations. Results In this study, the prevalence of unintended pregnancy among women with disabilities was 65.6% (95% CI: 60.4, 70.6). After adjusting for potential confounding variables, middle economic status (AOR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.02, 4.20), giving birth (AOR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.21, 3.99), extremity paralysis types of disability (AOR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.57), living in urban residences (AOR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.40) and alcohol using (AOR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.74) were risk factors with unintended pregnancy. Conclusions Unintended pregnancy among women with disabilities is remarkably high in central Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia. Economic status, giving birth, types of disability, residence, and alcohol use were factors associated with an unintended pregnancy. As a result, economic empowerment, strengthening education and information about unintended pregnancy and its prevention strategies in rural settings are vital.

Background: Dysmenorrhea is an often incapacitating condition that is characterized by painful menstruation and general body malaise. In Zimbabwe, this condition is understudied, and its associated risk factors are poorly understood. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of dysmenorrhea among female students at Midlands State University in Zimbabwe. Design: This is a cross-sectional study that employed simple random sampling technique to obtain data from 382 students using pretested and self-administered questionnaires. Methods: Data were analyzed using STATA version 16. Associations between dysmenorrhea, menstrual, sociodemographic, and lifestyle characteristics were measured using chi-square test and logistic regression model. Results: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 75.9%, with 28.6% of sufferers describing their pain as severe. Dysmenorrhea significantly affected the school/daily activities of respondents (χ2 = 18.22, p < 0.001). Family history (χ2 = 4.28, p = 0.04), age of menarche (χ2 = 14.8, p < 0.001), regularity of menstrual cycle (χ2 = 18.1, p < 0.001), and parity (χ2 = 8.8, p = 0.03) were associated with the prevalence of dysmenorrhea. The risk of developing dysmenorrhea almost doubled with positive family history (prevalence odds ratio = 1.68 (95% confidence interval: 1.03 to 2.75, p = 0.040)); increased with decrease in age of menarche (prevalence odds ratio = 0.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.10 to 0.45, p < 0.001)) and decreased with increase in parity (prevalence odds ratio = 0.15 (95% confidence interval: 0.03 to 0.82, p = 0.029)). However, the risk was low among those with irregular menstrual cycles (prevalence odds ratio = 0.14 (95% confidence interval: 0.10 to 0.33, p < 0.001)). Physical exercise, smoking, alcohol, and coffee consumption were not associated with the prevalence of dysmenorrhea (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Dysmenorrhea is common among female students at Midlands State University, and it significantly affects their academic activities. Family history, regular menstrual cycle, nulliparity, and lower age of menarche were risk factors. More awareness is recommended including studies on impact and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unintended pregnancy is one of the most common reproductive health problems. The problem makes women with disabilities doubly burdened by their disabilities. The previous evidences are inconsistent and do not address all women with disabilities. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and its associated risk factors among women with disabilities in Dale and Wonsho districts and Yirgalem city administration central Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 355 randomly selected women with disabilities living in the selected districts from June 20 to July 15, 2022. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A multilevel logistic regression analysis model was employed to identify factors associated with an unintended pregnancy. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to report the measures of associations. Results: In this study, the prevalence of unintended pregnancy among women with disabilities was 65.6% (95% CI: 60.4, 70.6). After adjusting for potential confounding variables, middle economic status (AOR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.02, 4.20), giving birth (AOR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.21, 3.99), extremity paralysis types of disability (AOR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.57), living in urban residences (AOR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.40) and alcohol using (AOR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.74) were risk factors with unintended pregnancy. Conclusions: Unintended pregnancy among women with disabilities is remarkably high in central Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia. Economic status, giving birth, types of disability, residence, and alcohol use were factors associated with an unintended pregnancy. As a result, economic empowerment, strengthening education and information about unintended pregnancy and its prevention strategies in rural settings are vital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: To investigate the use of physical restraints in aged care facilities(ACFs)and analyse its associated risk factors. Background: Physical restraints have been widely used in ACFs worldwide, but they can cause physical and mental harm to older people. It is important to regulate the use of physical restraint. Design: A cross‐sectional observational and correlational multicentre study. Methods: By convenience sampling method, we selected eight ACFs in four representative regions of Hunan province, China, for this study. The ACF‐related information was obtained by interviewing the managers and reviewing records. We conducted investigation and observation on the elderly in the ACFs to understand the use of physical restraints at three different times: 9:30–11:30, 16:00–18:00 and 19:30–21:30 on a working day. The STROBE checklist was followed for this cross‐sectional study. Results: This study found that the utilisation rate of physical restraints was 23.2%. The critical risk factors affecting the use of physical restrains include the following: (1) the ratio of nursing staff to the elderly residents; (2)whether there is a dementia care unit at the facility; (3) the number of elderly residents in each room; (4) the elderly residents' age, degree of education, marital status, care dependence and cognitive impairment; (5) whether the elderly has suffered from a stroke or senile dementia; (6) whether the elderly carries medical catheters. Conclusion: There is a lack of standardisation in the use of physical restraints in ACFs of central China. Chinese ACFs should develop guidelines and reduction measures to standardise the use of physical restraints, basing on the key factors affecting the use of physical restraints. Relevance to clinical practice: The use of physical restraints in ACFs is threatening the safety of the elderly residents. Understanding the implementation of physical restraint in ACFs can provide reference for reducing the use of physical restraint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eradication of neonatal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections, considered as a major public health priority, necessarily requires a mastery of the data on vaginal carriage in pregnant women. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of vaginal carriage of GBS in pregnant women, antibiotic susceptibility, and associated risk factors. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted over a period of 9 months (July 2020 to March 2021) in pregnant women between 34 and 38 weeks of gestation (WG) followed at the Nabil Choucair health center in Dakar. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility of GBS isolates were performed on the Vitek 2 from vaginal swabs cultured on Granada medium. Demographic and obstetric interview data were collected and analyzed on SPSS (version 25). The level of significance for all statistical tests was set at P <.05. The search of GBS vaginal carriage had involved 279 women aged 16 to 46 years, with a median pregnancy age of 34 (34-37) weeks' gestation. GBS was found in 43 women, for a vaginal carriage rate of 15.4%. In 27.9% (12/43) of volunteers screened, this carriage was monomicrobial, while in 72.1% (31/43) of women, GBS was associated with other pathogens such as Candida spp. (60.5%), Trichomonas vaginalis (2.3%), Gardnerella vaginalis (34.9%) and/or Mobiluncus spp. (11.6%). The level of resistance was 27.9% (12/43) for penicillin G, 53.5% (23/43) for erythromycin, 25.6% (11/43) for clindamycin and 100% for tetracycline. However, the strains had retained fully susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin. The main risk factor associated with maternal GBS carriage were ectocervical inflammation associated with contact bleeding (OR = 3.55; P =.005). The high rate of maternal vaginal GBS carriage and the levels of resistance to the various antibiotics tested confirm the importance of continuous GBS surveillance in our resource-limited countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background A Peste des petits ruminant is an acute, highly contagious and economically important transboundary viral disease of small ruminants. Despite the fact that food and agriculture organization and world organization for animal health plan to eradicate the disease by 2030, some studies indicated an increasing seropositivity of PPR infection in sheep and goats in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was employed to estimate the seroprevalence of PPR and to assess risk factors during the study period, February to April, 2020. Following purposive selection of the study districts, simple random sampling technique was employed to select individual animal during sample collection. A total of 384 serum samples were collected from apparently healthy sheep and goats. Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay was used to detect the presence of antibodies against PPR at national veterinary institute. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square (X2) and logistic regression analysis were used is this study. Results The overall animal level seroprevalence of PPR virus was found to be 60.15% (n = 231/384) and species level prevalence rate was found to be 38.18% (n = 42) in sheep and 68.98% (n = 189) in goats in the study areas. Among the associated risk factors considered; species, sex, age and herd sizes were significantly associated (P

Background: A Peste des petits ruminant is an acute, highly contagious and economically important transboundary viral disease of small ruminants. Despite the fact that food and agriculture organization and world organization for animal health plan to eradicate the disease by 2030, some studies indicated an increasing seropositivity of PPR infection in sheep and goats in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was employed to estimate the seroprevalence of PPR and to assess risk factors during the study period, February to April, 2020. Following purposive selection of the study districts, simple random sampling technique was employed to select individual animal during sample collection. A total of 384 serum samples were collected from apparently healthy sheep and goats. Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay was used to detect the presence of antibodies against PPR at national veterinary institute. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square (X2) and logistic regression analysis were used is this study. Results: The overall animal level seroprevalence of PPR virus was found to be 60.15% (n = 231/384) and species level prevalence rate was found to be 38.18% (n = 42) in sheep and 68.98% (n = 189) in goats in the study areas. Among the associated risk factors considered; species, sex, age and herd sizes were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the disease occurrence. Among the associated risk factors considered in this study, species, sex, age and herd size were found to be statistically associated with the seropositivity of PPR infection. Conclusion: The present study finding revealed that a higher seroprevalence of PPR virus infection and this confirms peste des petits ruminant virus is circulating in Afar region. Further studies should be carried out on the entire region to determine PPR seroprevalence and to develop appropriate control and eradication strategies of PPR disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by an obligate intercellular Gram-negative bacterium named Anaplasma (A.) marginale. In this study, we report the seasonal prevalence, potentially associated risk factors and phylogeny of A. marginale in cattle of three different breeds from Multan District, Southern Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 1020 blood samples (crossbred, n = 340; Holstein Friesian, n = 340; and Sahiwal breed, n = 340) from apparently healthy cattle were collected on a seasonal basis from March 2020 to April 2021. Based on PCR amplification of the msp5 partial sequence, overall, the A. marginale prevalence rate was estimated at 11.1% (113/1020) of the analyzed cattle samples. According to seasons, the highest prevalence rate was observed in autumn (16.5%), followed by winter (10.6%) and summer (9.8%), and the lowest was recorded in the spring (7.5%). The crossbred and Sahiwal cattle were the most susceptible to A. marginale infection, followed by Holstein Friesian cattle (7.9%). Analysis of epidemiological factors revealed that cattle reared on farms where dairy animals have tick loads, dogs coinhabit with cattle and dogs have tick loads have a higher risk of being infected with A. marginale. In addition, it was observed that white blood cell, lymphocyte (%), monocyte (%), hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations were significantly disturbed in A. marginale-positive cattle compared with non-infested cattle. Genetic analysis of nucleotide sequences and a phylogenetic study based on msp5 partial sequencing demonstrated that this gene appears to be highly conserved among our isolates and those infecting apparently healthy cattle from geographically diverse worldwide regions. The presented data are crucial for estimating the risk of bovine anaplasmosis in order to develop integrated control policies against bovine anaplasmosis and other tick-borne diseases infecting cattle in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPneumonia is the major killer of children under five ages than any other illness in the world. Thus, the main aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and associated risk factors of pneumonia among under-five-year children using the data of the University of Gondar referral hospital. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 270 children were selected by systematic sampling technique. The source of the data for this study was primary data. Data were entered and cleaned using Epi Info version 7 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Multinomial logistic regression models were used in this study. The prevalence of pneumonia among children under five was 18.5%. Multinomial logistic regression analysis result showed history of diarrhea (AOR = 2.130, 95% CI: 1.343–9.594), completely immunized (AOR = 0.131, 95% CI: 0.020−0.849, p value = .033), exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months (AOR = 0.108, 95% CI: 0.040−0.292, p value = 0.000), household history of ALRI (AOR = 3.142, 95% CI = 1.213–8.140, p value = 0.018), and crowded house (AOR = 3.908, 95% CI = 1.511–10.108, p value = 0.005) were statistically significantly associated with childhood pneumonia. The prevalence of pneumonia in this study is high. The results of the multiple multinomial logistic regression analysis models show that children who had a history of diarrhea for one month, immunization history, breastfeeding of the child, household history of ALRI, and children living in an overcrowded house were found to be statistically significant factors for pneumonia.

In West Africa, research on the hepatitis E virus (HEV) is barely covered, despite the recorded outbreaks. The low level of access to safe water and adequate sanitation is still one of the main factors of HEV spread in developing countries. HEV infection induces acute or sub-clinical liver diseases with a mortality rate ranging from 0.5 to 4%. The mortality rate is more alarming (15 to 25%) among pregnant women, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy. Herein, we conducted a multicentric socio-demographic and seroepidemiological survey of HEV in Senegal among pregnant women. A consecutive and non-redundant recruitment of participants was carried out over the period of 5 months, from March to July 2021. A total of 1227 consenting participants attending antenatal clinics responded to a standard questionnaire. Plasma samples were collected and tested for anti-HEV IgM and IgG by using the WANTAI HEV-IgM and IgG ELISA assay. The overall HEV seroprevalence was 7.8% (n = 96), with 0.5% (n = 6) and 7.4% (n = 91) for HEV IgM and HEV IgG, respectively. One of the participant samples was IgM/IgG-positive, while four were declared indeterminate to anti-HEV IgM as per the manufacturer's instructions. From one locality to another, the seroprevalence of HEV antibodies varied from 0 to 1% for HEV IgM and from 1.5 to 10.5% for HEV IgG. The data also showed that seroprevalence varied significantly by marital status (p < 0.0001), by the regularity of income (p = 0.0043), and by access to sanitation services (p = 0.0006). These data could serve as a basis to setup national prevention strategies focused on socio-cultural, environmental, and behavioral aspects for a better management of HEV infection in Senegal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) and prediabetes, and to evaluate the associated risk factors in a sample of adult Turkish population.Methods: A total of 4000 eligible study subjects, aged 20 years or older, chosen by multistage sampling on a field were considered. Of those 3721 subjects (2139 women and 1582 men) participated in the study.Results: The prevalence of prediabetes and DM were found to be as 6.4% and 10.4% (3.6% being newly diagnosed by this study), respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, advanced age (OR:26.7, p < 0.0005 in the group 70 years and over), marriage (OR:2.05, p = 0.047), housewives (OR:1.34, p = 0.003), family history of diabetes (OR:2.84, p < 0.0005), overweight (OR:1.61, p = 0.026), obesity (OR:2.25, p < 0.0005), hypertension (OR:1.42, p = 0.007) and dyslipidemia (OR:1.38, p = 0.028) were independent risk factors for being diabetic.Conclusions: DM is an important health problem in the adult population of Trabzon city. Newly diagnosed diabetic patients who were unaware of their status are at high risk. To control DM and associated risk factors, effective public health education and taking urgent steps are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Globally, the prevalence of Hyperglycemia first detected in pregnancy (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus) varies from 1 - 28 %. 16.2 % of women have some form of hyperglycemia, of which GDM is about 85.1%. 87.6% of GDM accounts are in low- and middle-income countries. Hyperglycemia in pregnancy is estimated to affect 21.4 million (16.9%) live births, with GDM accounting for 16% of these cases. In Kawolo General Hospital, pregnant women aren’t screened for blood glucose during antenatal visits, thus the need and relevance of investigating GDM, according to WHO recommendations. Methodology: A total of 334 participants were recruited by systematic random sampling. Blood and urine samples were collected. RBS, OGTT, and urine glucose tests were done. Data were analyzed using STATA version 13 to determine the prevalence and association between the risk factors of GDM among the respondents. Results The study revealed the prevalence of GDM as 4.5%. Hypertension and elevated blood pressure were significantly associated with GDM, with p values of 0.00 and 0.01 respectively among women of various ages, gravida, and trimester. The majority of the participants were aged 18 to 25 years (58.7%). over 86.5% were married. 56.9% had secondary education. (38.9%) were unemployed. (34.4%) were Catholics. (46.1%) had normal body mass index with an average body weight of 65 kg and 160cm (height). 70.6% had normal blood pressure. 21.56% had elevated blood pressure. (56.6%) had their protein uptake. Vitamins (100%) were high, moderate for carbohydrates (70.1%), and 96.4% low for fats. Conclusion The prevalence and associated factors among pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic were revealed, and thus the need for screening and treatment of both high blood pressure and high blood glucose levels. Recommendations: There’s a need to advise and sensitize them to complete all the antenatal visits and create awareness among pregnant women.

Background: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric conditions seen in primary health care clinics. On the other hand, teaching is one of the most stressful jobs. Objective: The aim was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of depression among secondary school teachers in the Medina region. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a representative sample of secondary school teachers of both genders in the Medina region. A multistage cluster sample technique was implemented to recruit the participants. The data were collected using a self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression questionnaire. Results: The study included 297 teachers. More than half of them (54.2%) were males and the vast majority (97.6%) were Saudis. Major depression, based on PHQ-9 depression questionnaire was reported among 8.4% of the participants, whereas minor depression was reported among 14.1% of them. Among the studied habitual factors, the smoking of Shisha and nonpracticing of physical exercise were significantly associated with depression among teachers. Regarding obstetric and gynecological factors, female teachers with a history of postnatal depression were more likely to have major and minor depression features than those without such history. Conclusion: Depression is a common health problem among secondary school teachers in Medina region affecting almost one quarter of them. Familial instability, shisha smoking, physical inactivity, heavy teaching load, and deficiency of educational competencies are strongly correlated with depression. Further studies are needed to explore the extent of the problem among teachers at different levels of teaching across the kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) worldwide has been noted, and this can have an adverse impact on maternal and infant health and well-being. As developing countries are undergoing an epidemiological transition due to urbanisation, Westernised diets and a sedentary lifestyle, the prevalence of GDM in rural areas needs to be determined, and its associated risk factors understood. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of GDM in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. A questionnaire adapted from the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Centre (DCP 2.0) was used to measure the prevalence and associated risk factors of GDM. In this study, 101 pregnant women (74%) who were attending antenatal care (ANC) visits in Greater Giyani health facilities completed the questionnaire. Overall, the prevalence of GDM in Greater Giyani, Mopani district was 1.9%. Pregnant women above 30 years with secondary education, employed, obese and at a gestational age of 31--35 weeks were more likely to present with GDM. The results of the current study showed that a family history of diabetes was significantly associated with the development of GDM amongst pregnant women diagnosed with the health condition (P-value=0.018). The study recommends that awareness campaigns be conducted by health practitioners working with women in primary healthcare centres and hospitals during ANC visits, outreach clinics and consultations to educate women about the risk factors associated with GDM and its adverse outcomes. Therefore, this will enable women who are pregnant to be cognisant of this obstetric condition and take precautionary health measures to avoid modifiable risk factors. This study recommends that further research needs to be done on the development of an ideal strategy for screening gestational diabetes in a South African context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: LDH, defined as the localized displacement of disc material beyond the margins of the intervertebral disc space is considered the most common cause of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Compared with nonspecific low back pain without radiating leg pain, LDH is associated with radiating pain/ radiculopathy,severe pain, disability, healthcare use and intervention. Objectives: To explorethe risk-factors associated with PLID/ LDH. Literature: In this review, best evidence synthesis included systemic reviews, cohort studies and case-control studies that investigated the risk factors for LDH/ PLID. Critiques: LDH with radiculopathy results from complex relationships between individual, behavioural, and work-related variables. Evidence revealed that- age, sex, education, BMI, cardiovascular risk factors, smoking, occupational lumbar load by forward bending postures and manual materials handling, perceived risk of work injury, decision freedom at work, regular or irregular three-shift work or regular night work in and time pressure at work are associated with the development. It is also found that manual occupation, genetics, and previous back pain may contribute to the development of LDH with radiculopathy in adults. Conclusion: Although the literature is varying quality and heterogeneous, but the evidence revealed that LDH/ PLID is an important source of pain and disability in society. Future research should focus on prospective designs examining modifiable risk factors and prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can reason a variety of health problems and can be fatal. According to the most recent estimates of the Global Burden of Disease study and WHO, viral hepatitis is accountable for around 1.34 million deaths yearly, which is comparable to the yearly number of deaths from HIV/AIDS (1.3 million), malaria (0.9 million), and tuberculosis (1.3 million). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of the Hepatitis B virus and associated risk factors among adults patients at Dessie Referral and Kemise General Hospitals. Methods: The source for the data on Hepatitis B virus (HBV) was all adults aged≥18 years that were admitted and tested for HBV from September 2020 to February 2021 were included in the study. A total of 1283 adults were admitted out of which, 1080 adults have completed measurements and had been taken into consideration for this examination, and others had been excluded from the examination because of exclusion criteria. To meet our objective descriptive statistics, the χ2 test and multiple logistic regression statistical models were used for data analysis. Results: In this study, a total of 1080 adults were included out of which 631 (58.4%) female and 449 (41.6%) were male with a mean age of 34(SD ±± $\pm \,$ 12.56) years. The overall prevalence of HBV among adults was 27.4% (95% confidence interval [CI];24.8–30.2). The results of this study showed that age 25–34(odds ratio [OR] = 3.6, p‐value = 0.005), 35–44 (OR = 6.67, p‐value <0.001), ≥45 (OR = 3.85, p‐value = 0.005), male (OR = 4.36, p‐value < 0.001), history of hospitalization (OR = 0.644, p‐value = 0.04), family history of HBV (OR = 1.96, p‐value = 0.005), and jaundice (OR = 2.50, p‐value = 0.005) were significant risk factors of HBV. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV in this study is 27.4%. The results of this study showed that age, male, history of hospitalization, family history of HBV, and jaundice were significant risk factors for Hepatitis B virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The correlation between associated local factors and peri-implantitis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the clinical and microbiologic profiles and periimplantitis to eventually categorize different groups of this disease. Materials and Methods: Subjects with at least one implant presenting signs of peri-implantitis were selected. The clinical, radiographic, occlusal, and microbiologic profiles of these infected implants were collected. Cases were classified into five peri-implantitis groups according to potential disease-triggering factors: surgically, prosthetically, biomechanically, purely plaque-associated, and a combination of them. Generalized estimating equations models were used to study differences among the potential risk factors. Cluster analyses were applied to investigate the correlation between clinical and microbiologic profiles and diseased implant samples. Results: Overall, 110 diseased and 121 healthy implants were included. The biomechanically associated group showed higher levels of microbiologic contamination inside the connection; however, the plaque-associated group had a higher level of microbial variety in the peri-implant sulcus. Cluster analyses demonstrated a significant ability to predict the associated factor of peri-implantitis. Moreover, radiographic marginal bone loss and implant width demonstrated the largest influence on the model. Conclusion: While peri-implantitis represents a plaqueinduced inflammatory condition, certain local factors might be associated with this biologic complication, as they imply plaque retention. Therefore, disease classification could be further implemented with the associated surgical, prosthetic, and biomechanical factors to better target the etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behablom Meharenet, Dessalew Shitu National Institute for the Control and Eradication of Tsetse Fly and Trypanosomosis, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Behablom MeharenetNational Institute for the Control and Eradication of Tsetse Fly and Trypanosomosis, Akaki Kaliti, PO Box 19917, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaEmail behablom@gmail.comBackground: A cross-sectional study was conducted from late October 2016 to June 2017, with the primary objective of estimating and analyzing the concurrent occurrence of both fascioliasis and trypanosomosis infections and associated risk factors along the tsetse-infested Didessa river basin.Methods: The methodology applied was based on stratified sampling for the parasitological study, with entomological and malacological surveys, including fly dissection.Results: The result of variance-ratio testing between trypanosomosis and fascioliasis infections (mean prevalence 0.117± 0.322 and 0.283± 0.451, respectively), was statistically significant (P[F>f]=0), with higher observed fascioliasis infection (n=147, 28.27%). Severe anemia was observed in trypanosomosis infection, with mean packed cell volume of 19.57 (OR=0.71, P>|z|=0.000), and vast fascioliasis infections identified among cattle with medium and poor body condition in terms of weight (n=91 [32.73%] and n=38 [21.47%]). On entomological study, 578 (62.62%) and 345 (37.38%) female and male Glossina tachinoides fly species were cached, respectively, with overall mean flies/trap/day of 5.19 (n=923). Despite the prevalence of trypanosomosis in infected cattle, of 130 G. tachinoides flies dissected, only three were found to be positive for an infection rate of 2.31%. Malacological study identified three snail species known to maintain fascioliasis: Lymnea truncatula (n=28, 45.16%), Lymnea natalensis (n=23, 37.10%), and Biomphalaria (n=11, 17.74%). Concurrent infection with fascioliasis and trypanosomosis was mainly associated with the co-occurrence of their intermediate host snails and Glossina flies, respectively, with 4.42% (n=23) prevalence.Conclusion: This study clearly demonstrated that the former parasite was highly associated with emaciation, whereas the second was responsible for anemia. In future,researchers should focus solely on estimating meat and milk production of local cattle to assess the economic impact of the study parasites.Keywords: concurrent infection, fascioliasis, trypanosomosis, associated risk factors, cattle

The environment, climate, social behaviour, and economic factors make developing countries vulnerable to parasitic infections. A cross-sectional study was conducted (Dec 2017-May 2018) to determine the prevalence of blood and urine parasites in Obizi, Amakama-Olokoro, a rural community in Umuahia South LGA, Abia State. Blood and urine samples were collected from 284 respondents. Sample analyses were done using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits and microscopy for blood and centrifugal sedimentation method for urine. Socio-demographic data and risk factors were collected with structured questionnaires. Statistical analysis was done using the Pearson’s Chi-square, with the PAST Statistical package. The results showed an overall blood parasitic prevalence of 32.4%. Plasmodium falciparum recorded the highest prevalence of 28.17% by RDT and 30.6% by microscopy. Trypanosoma brucei gambiense occurred as a mixed infection (1.8%). Schistosoma haematobium had a prevalence of 3.9%. Socio-demographic data showed there were more females (67.3%); more persons in the age group 61-70 years (31.0%) and more farmers (38.0%) in the studied population. More females were infected with Plasmodium falciparum (34.6%) while more males were infected with Schistosoma haematobium (8.6%) P. falciparum occurred in all the age groups. S. haematobium occurred only in three age groups with the highest prevalence found in the age group (11-20) years (26.9%). Malaria infection was higher in those who did not use ITNs (37.1%). Some reasons given for the non-usage of ITNs were high cost/non-availability and discomfort. Farming activities and swimming have been recognized as risk factors to the acquisition of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Schistosoma haematobium, respectively. Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Schistosoma haematobium still pose a serious health threat to the community. Eliminating vector breeding sites, the use of ITNs and changes in social behaviours will help reduce blood and urinary parasites and ensure a healthier and economically viable community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The province of Leyte accounts for at least half of the swine population in Eastern Visayas, Philippines and records the highest number of slaughtered pigs within the region. Given that the majority of pigs in the region are raised by smallholder farmers and that occupational exposure to ringworm has been recorded particularly in rural pig farmers, dermatophytosis could pose a significant public health risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors involved with dermatophyte infection in pigs raised by smallholder farmers in Baybay City, Leyte. Using actual culture procedures from 384 samples, our study confirmed the presence of dermatophytes among pigs which could be used as the basis for prevention and control programs in the future. While the overall prevalence is quite low (5.47%) with the Microsporum nanum being the most prevalent (3.91%) followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (1.04%) and finally Microsporum canis (0.52%), it is imperative that pig farmers should improve their management practices. In particular, the use of open-pit for manure disposal and the non-specific medication of pigs should be avoided.

Introduction. The burden of urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnancy has been understudied in Cameroon.Aim: to determine the prevalence and risk factors of UTI in pregnancy in a tertiary hospital in Cameroon.Materials and methods. A hospital-based matched case-control study of pregnant women with evidence of UTI and those without who underwent antenatal care and gave birth at the Douala General Hospital from January 2014 to December 2018. Demographic, reproductive health/clinical data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS.Results. The prevalence of UTI in pregnancy was 4.41 %. Poor antenatal care uptake (AOR = 5.64; 95 % CI = 2.21–14.33), multiple weekly sexual intercourses (AOR = 4.64; 95 % CI = 0.22–96.94), a history of UTI (AOR = 3.01; 95 % CI = 1.12–8.04) and drying the genitals from back to front (AOR = 5.50; 95 % CI = 1.95–15.44) were associated factors.Conclusion. The prevalence of UTI in pregnancy is low amid multiple associated factors. Screening for UTI in pregnancy should be made the standard of obstetric care in Cameroon.

Abstract Background Stillbirths bring grief to both mother and family but have been underreported in Cameroon. We aimed at determining the stillbirth rates and associated risk factors in the Buea Regional Hospital (BRH) and the Limbe Regional Hospital (LRH), Cameroon. Materials and methods This was a hospital-based unmatched case-control study in which files of women with stillbirth (cases) were analysed. A woman with a live birth in the same maternity during the same period served as a control. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. The stillbirth rate was the number of stillbirths per thousand births. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with stillbirth. Results Stillbirth rates at the BRH and LRH were 33.72 and 36.45 per 1000 live births. The factors that were independently associated with stillbirth were: referral status (AOR 3.95; 95% CI: 1.85–6.58, p = 0.000), late booking visit - after 12 weeks (AOR 13.64; 95% CI: 1.49–124.83, p = 0.021), preeclampsia (AOR 3.21; 95% CI: 1.23–8.35, p = 0.01), placental abruption (AOR 21.46; 95% CI: 2.36–194.77, p = 0.006), moderate anaemia (AOR 2.04; 95% CI: 1.09–3.83, p = 0.03), labour dystocia (AOR 5.37; 95% CI: 1.77–15.92, p = 0.003), low birth weight (AOR 5.27; 95% CI: 1.48–3.53, p = 0.000), and preterm delivery (AOR 2.81; 95% CI: 1.48–3.35, p = 0.002). Conclusion Stillbirth rates are high in both health facilities. Risk factors of stillbirths include referral from another health facility, anaemia, preeclampsia and late booking visit, placental abruption, labour dystocia, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Term, post-term and macrosomia were protective of stillbirth. We recommend electronic data storage in hospitals in Cameroon.

Ketut Suryana, 1 Hamong Suharsono, 2 I Gede Putu Jarwa Antara 1 1Department of Internal Medicine, Wangaya Hospital of Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia; 2Department of Biochemistry, Veterinary Faculty of Udayana, University of Denpasar, Bali, IndonesiaCorespondence: Ketut Suryana Akasia Street, Lane.VIII No. 22 Denpasar, Bali 80235, IndonesiaTel +62 859 537 839 44Email ketutsuryana@gmail.comBackground: Oral candidiasis (OC) is the most frequent opportunistic infection of the oral cavity caused by Candida species overgrowth. A wide variety of risk factor that contributes to yeast infection especially candidiasis. It might be acting as an early marker for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). There are some risk factors for PLWHA associated OC at Wangaya hospital in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.Aim: To identify risk factors of OC in PLWHA at Wangaya Hospital in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.Settings and Design: Case control study was conducted from March 1, 2016 and July 30, 2019, included 448 participants (207 cases and 241 controls). Consecutive recruitment was employed.Methods: Cases were PLWHA (18 to 60 years old) with OC and controls without OC. Diagnosis of OC based on the clinical features which are the pseudomembranous candidiasis; oral thrush. An interviewer administered a structured questionnaire used to collect information on risk factors. Statistical analysis used: bivariate analysis was performed on all variables. Chi-square test with statistically significant was at a level of 0.05.Results: The participants included 207 (46.20%) PLWHA with OC and 241 (53.80%) PLWHA who did not have OC. The majority participants, 293 (65.40%) were male. OC was associated with age [p = 0.03; OR = 0.66 (95% CI:0.45– 0.95)]; sex [p = 0.002; OR = 1.88 (95% CI:1.26– 2.80)]; Xerostomia [p = 0.000; OR = 4.15 (95% CI:2.76– 6.23)]; smoking [p = 0.000; OR = 6.83 (95% CI: 4.46– 10.44)]; alcohol consumption [p = 0.000; OR = 5.76 (95% CI: 3.74– 8.83)]; antibiotic usage [p = 0.000; OR = 4.49 (95% CI: 2.93– 6.90)]; CD4 count [p = 0.000; OR = 3.29 (95% CI:2.24– 4.86)]; HIV clinical stage [p = 0.000; OR = 3.58 (95% CI 2.39– 5.37)]. No significant association between prothesis with OC.Conclusion: We found that age, sex, xerostomia, smoking, alcohol consumption, antibiotic usage, CD4 counts and advanced HIV Clinical stage (AIDS) were significant associated risk factors for OC in PLWHA.Keywords: human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, oral candidiasis, associated risk factors

Introduction: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a S. aureus strain characterized by resistance to cloxacillin. Healthcare workers (HCWs), are recognized for their heightened risk for MRSA acquisition and possibly for MRSA nosocomial transmission. This crosssectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and the associated risk factors of MRSA colonization among healthcare workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman. Methodology: A total of 200 nasal swab samples were collected from the healthcare workers at SQUH during the period October 2nd 2018 to January 7th 2019. All nasal swab samples were examined microbiologically for the presence of MRSA using the standard method and the results were confirmed by detection of the mecA product (PBP2a). Data on associated risk factors for MRSA colonization was collected and analyzed. Results: Forty-one of the 200 screened healthcare workers (20.5%) were found to have nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus of which 63.4% were Methicillin Sensitive and 36.6% were Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA). Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)was isolated from fifteen of the 200 screened healthcare workers giving a prevalence rate of nasal colonization with MRSA of 7.5%. We found no statistical association between healthcare worker MRSA nasal colonization and age, gender, HCWs specialty, hand hygiene practices, skin condition, previous MRSA infection, and previous exposure to antibiotics. Conclusions: Identification of the prevalence and the associated risk factors of MRSA colonization in healthcare workers mandates continuous surveillance and the implementation of all possible preventive measures to reduce re-occurrences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the incidence of perinatal asphyxia, its risk factors and outcome at a single tertiary referral center in Cameroon. Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective case-control study on term neonates delivered at tertiary referral center over three months. Cases were defined as neonates with an Apgar score less than 7 at the 5[sup th] minute. Controls were neonates with an Apgar score greater than or equal to 7 at the 5[sup th] minute, matched to cases for gestational age and sex. Maternal socio-demographic, antenatal, intrapartum, and neonatal variables including delivery outcome, Sarnat's score, time of death if it occurred, and duration of admission were noted. Risk factors for perinatal asphyxia were determined. Results: Of 740 live births during the study period, 72 (9.7%) neonates had perinatal asphyxia and most of the asphyxiated neonates were males (sex ratio 1.4), 86.1% weighed between 2500-3999g, and 42 (58.3%) mothers were in the age group between 18-29 years. Following multivariate analysis, risk factors for birth asphyxia included: were single mothers [AOR=3.9993;95% CI: 1.1176-14.3110) p=0.0331], mothers who had urinary tract infection in pregnancy [AOR= 15.6325;95% CI: 2.3083-105.8688) p=0.0048], prolonged rupture of membranes [AOR=6.2537;95% CI: 1.1744-33.3013) p=0.0317], prolonged labor [AOR=3.6521;95% CI: 1.0940-12.1918) p=0.0352] and mothers who delivered by emergency caesarian section [OR=8.0169;95% CI: 2.3669-27.1537), p=0.0008]. Among the asphyxiated neonates, 15 died with a case fatality of 20.8%. Fourteen (93.3%) of those who died had severe asphyxia. Eighty-eight percent of asphyxiated neonates developed hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, of which, 54.7% were Sarnat's stage I, 15.6% stage II and 29.7% stage III. Conclusion: The incidence and case fatality of perinatal asphyxia are high. Early diagnosis, prompt management of pathological disorders during pregnancy and labor, and neonatal resuscitation could largely prevent perinatal asphyxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by an obligate intercellular Gram-negative bacterium named Anaplasma (A.) marginale. In this study, we report the seasonal prevalence, potentially associated risk factors and phylogeny of A. marginale in cattle of three different breeds from Multan District, Southern Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 1020 blood samples (crossbred, n = 340; Holstein Friesian, n = 340; and Sahiwal breed, n = 340) from apparently healthy cattle were collected on a seasonal basis from March 2020 to April 2021. Based on PCR amplification of the msp5 partial sequence, overall, the A. marginale prevalence rate was estimated at 11.1% (113/1020) of the analyzed cattle samples. According to seasons, the highest prevalence rate was observed in autumn (16.5%), followed by winter (10.6%) and summer (9.8%), and the lowest was recorded in the spring (7.5%). The crossbred and Sahiwal cattle were the most susceptible to A. marginale infection, followed by Holstein Friesian cattle (7.9%). Analysis of epidemiological factors revealed that cattle reared on farms where dairy animals have tick loads, dogs coinhabit with cattle and dogs have tick loads have a higher risk of being infected with A. marginale. In addition, it was observed that white blood cell, lymphocyte (%), monocyte (%), hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations were significantly disturbed in A. marginale-positive cattle compared with non-infested cattle. Genetic analysis of nucleotide sequences and a phylogenetic study based on msp5 partial sequencing demonstrated that this gene appears to be highly conserved among our isolates and those infecting apparently healthy cattle from geographically diverse worldwide regions. The presented data are crucial for estimating the risk of bovine anaplasmosis in order to develop integrated control policies against bovine anaplasmosis and other tick-borne diseases infecting cattle in the country.

In West Africa, research on the hepatitis E virus (HEV) is barely covered, despite the recorded outbreaks. The low level of access to safe water and adequate sanitation is still one of the main factors of HEV spread in developing countries. HEV infection induces acute or sub-clinical liver diseases with a mortality rate ranging from 0.5 to 4%. The mortality rate is more alarming (15 to 25%) among pregnant women, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy. Herein, we conducted a multicentric socio-demographic and seroepidemiological survey of HEV in Senegal among pregnant women. A consecutive and non-redundant recruitment of participants was carried out over the period of 5 months, from March to July 2021. A total of 1227 consenting participants attending antenatal clinics responded to a standard questionnaire. Plasma samples were collected and tested for anti-HEV IgM and IgG by using the WANTAI HEV-IgM and IgG ELISA assay. The overall HEV seroprevalence was 7.8% (n = 96), with 0.5% (n = 6) and 7.4% (n = 91) for HEV IgM and HEV IgG, respectively. One of the participant samples was IgM/IgG-positive, while four were declared indeterminate to anti-HEV IgM as per the manufacturer’s instructions. From one locality to another, the seroprevalence of HEV antibodies varied from 0 to 1% for HEV IgM and from 1.5 to 10.5% for HEV IgG. The data also showed that seroprevalence varied significantly by marital status (p < 0.0001), by the regularity of income (p = 0.0043), and by access to sanitation services (p = 0.0006). These data could serve as a basis to setup national prevention strategies focused on socio-cultural, environmental, and behavioral aspects for a better management of HEV infection in Senegal.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the workplace. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 210 workers of which 119 male (56.7%) and 91 female (43.3%) selected in a simple random manner in a company in the city of Kinshasa province between November 2013 to January 2014. Overweight was determined by workers with a body mass index between 25 and 29.9 kg / m2 and obesity by those with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg / m2. Results: This study found a prevalence of 23.8% of overweight workers and 48.1% of workers suffering from obesity with predominance in women (65.5% in men vs. 80.2% in women, p

Background: This cross-sectional study was carried out in White Nile State, Sudan from May to September 2017 to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths infections. Methods: Urine and stool samples were collected from all participants. Urine samples were examined for ova of Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) using a sedimentation technique, whereas the stool samples were tested by using the Kato-katz technique for Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) and other intestinal helminths. Results: Out of 347 urine samples and 336 stool samples examined, the prevalence of S. haematobium was 10% (35) and no positive cases were detected for S.mansoni. For the other intestinal helminths, the overall prevalence was 12.2% (41), the species detected were Hymenolepis nana 11.3% (38) and Taenia species 0.9% (3). Among the different schools, the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths in Alliya was 14.8% (17) and 16.8 %, respectively. In Gooz al salaam, the prevalence was 7.9% for S. haematobium and 18.5% for intestinal helminths. Moreover, the S. haematobium prevalence was 7.6% (8) in Hagar Assalya, but no positive cases were detected for intestinal helminths. Regarding the gender, S. haematobium infection was higher in males (6.3%) than in females 3.7%, but the females has higher intestinal helminths 8.9%. The age group (10-13) has higher prevalence for urinary schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths, 7.2% (25) and 9.5 % (32), respectively. Conclusion: The mothers' education and source of drinking water showed significance regarding urinary schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthic infections, meanwhile, the fathers' education was not significantly correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small-scale fishers of Indian Sundarbans depend on open-water fisheries for their livelihoods. They often face health, occupational, and safety issues in their profession due to environmental, socio-economic, and policy changes. The morbidity pattern and related risk factors are important indicators of well-being for any community, hence applicable to small-scale fishers of Sundarbans. The present study was designed to assess patterns of morbidities, associated risk factors including occupational health hazards, and treatment-seeking behavior of small-scale fishers in the Indian Sundarbans., Material and Methods: Household surveys, focused group discussions, and personal interviews were conducted through a predesigned pretested structured questionnaire. Associated risk factors and the nature of seeking treatment were considered during the data collection covering 650 individuals from 132 fishers' families., Results: Morbidities were more frequent in males (39.33%) than in females (28.5%). The fever (31%) was the most dominant reason for morbidities followed by ocular ailments (23%), musculoskeletal disorder (20%), dermatological ailments (17%), and respiratory illness (9%). The highest morbidities (25%) were recorded in the age group of 21-30 years in males while that was 20% in the 11-20 years age group in the case of the females. Physical labor for fishing activities predisposes to health ailments of the studied population., Conclusions: The prevalence of morbidity among the fishermen community was found to be 28.5%. The understanding of the morbidity profile of a population in general and specific age groups of both sexes in specific sheds light on the vulnerability of working groups that will help for effective healthcare planning and resource allocation., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Community Medicine.)

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis infection is among the STDs that are known to increase the risk of HIV infection. The present study aims to determine the seroprevalence of C. trachomatis among HIV positive women in Ilorin and Offa, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria., Methods: Serum samples from 400 HIV positive women attending the HAART Clinic in Offa and the Ilorin General Hospital in Kwara State, Nigeria, were screened using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), utilizing the immunocomb Chlamydia IgG test kit (Calbiotech, El Cajon, CA, USA) to check for the existence of anti- C. trachomatis antibodies., Result: Anti- C. trachomatis antibodies were present in 92 (23.0%) of the 400 HIV positive women samples. There was a higher prevalence among the age group 36-40 years. Hence, age groupings were statistically and significantly associated (p=0.001) with the seroprevalence of C. trachomatis among HIV positive women. Married HIV positive women (60.9%) had the highest prevalence of C. trachomatis , with a statistically significant association (p=0.001). There was a statistically significant association between the number of sexual partner(s) (p=0.001) and the seroprevalence of C. trachomatis among HIV positive women., Conclusions: The high frequency confirms the necessity for comprehensive sexual education among young adults and routine testing for anti- C. trachomatis . It reflects the endemicity of the infection in Ilorin and Offa Kwara State, Nigeria., Competing Interests: Competing interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The province of Leyte accounts for at least half of the swine population in Eastern Visayas, Philippines and records the highest number of slaughtered pigs within the region. Given that the majority of pigs in the region are raised by smallholder farmers and that occupational exposure to ringworm has been recorded particularly in rural pig farmers, dermatophytosis could pose a significant public health risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors involved with dermatophyte infection in pigs raised by smallholder farmers in Baybay City, Leyte. Using actual culture procedures from 384 samples, our study confirmed the presence of dermatophytes among pigs which could be used as basis for prevention and control programs in the future. While the over-all prevalence is quite low (5.47%) with the Microsporum nanum being the most prevalent (3.91%) followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (1.04%) and finally Microsporum canis (0.52%), it is imperative that pig farmers should improve their management practices. In particular, the use of open pit for manure disposal and the non-specific medication of pigs should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dyslipidemia and associated influencing factors in young adults in the southeastern coastal area of China.Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional survey and included 7,859 young people who underwent examinations at three hospitals in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. All subjects completed a questionnaire in the form of face-to-face interviews and underwent anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests. The continuous data are presented as the means ± standard deviations and were compared using Student's t-tests. The categorical variables are presented as proportions. The influencing factors associated with dyslipidemia were evaluated through a multivariate logistic regression.Results: The prevalence of dyslipidemia among young adults aged 18–45 years in the southeastern coast of China was high with 7.1, 15.0, 22.9, and 4.0% for high-total cholesterol (TC), high-triglyceride (TG), low-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and high-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Among those with dyslipidemia, a statistically significant difference in sex was observed, and all types of dyslipidemia were associated with smoking and alcohol consumption. However, those with high-TG, high-LDL, and low-HDL levels did not significantly differ in education level or occupation. The presence of dyslipidemia was significantly associated with increased age, the male sex (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.39–2.21), smoking (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.98–2.13), alcohol consumption (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.16–1.63), overweight or obesity (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.79–2.41), and intellectual work (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.11–1.72).Conclusion: The prevalence of dyslipidemia among young adults aged 18–45 years in the southeastern coast of China was high. To prevent dyslipidemia at an early age, it is essential to conduct effective intervention programs targeting risk factors and to implement routine screening programs.

Background: Intestinal helminthic infections are among the most important global socioeconomic and health problems. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of intestinal parasites in 366 children aged 2 to 15 years referred to the main pediatric health center of Lorestan Province, Iran. Methods: Microscopic analysis was performed on 366 stool samples. We applied direct smear, scotch tape, and formol-ether methods. Moreover, a questionnaire was filled in by parents or guardians of the children. Results: The results showed that 36 children (9.8%) were infected with at least one or more intestinal parasites. The most prevalent parasites were Enterobius vermicularis (6.8%), Hymenolepis nana (1.9%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (0.55%), in the order of their appearance. Statistical analysis showed that several risk factors were significantly associated with the prevalence intestinal helminthic parasites, including male sex (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.2–6.2; p

This article addresses the importance of identifying risk factors associated with postoperative infection following elective low-erextremity total joint arthroplasty. Specifically, this review discusses risk factors recognized by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons that should be carefully considered and assessed by the orthopaedic team in collaboration with the primary care provider before proceeding with surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a total of 1667 sera samples were collected from breeder, broiler and layer birds to determine sero-prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Mycoplasma synoviae (MS), Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarium (SPG) infections. Serum Plate Agglutination (SPA) test was used to determine the presence of antibodies against commercial MG, MS and SPG antigens. The overall sero-prevalence of MG, MS and SPG in case of broilers was 7.14, 10 and 5.35%, in the layer birds was 44.9, 42.6 and 51.32% and in broiler breeders was 59.6, 50.13 and 44.1% respectively. The study shows that sero-prevalence of MG and MS was higher in breeder as compared to that of layers and broilers. However, for SPG the prevalence was found highest in layers. The seroprevalence of MG was higher in female birds while of MS and SPG higher in males. The highest prevalence for all pathogens was found in the period from October to December. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]