Communication for behavioural impact in enhancing utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets among mothers of under-five children in rural North Sudan: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sudan. The entire population is at risk of contracting malaria to different levels. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of communication for behavioural impact (COMBI) strategy in enhancing the utilization of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) among mothers of under-five children in rural areas. METHODS: A randomized community trial was conducted in rural area of Kosti locality, White Nile State, Sudan, among mothers of under-five children, from January 2013 to February 2014. A total of 761 mothers from 12 villages were randomly selected, 412 mothers from intervention villages and 349 were from comparison villages. RESULTS: The knowledge of mothers, in intervention villages, about malaria vector, personal protective measures (PPM) against malaria, and efficacy of LLINs was significantly increased from 86.9 to 97.3 %; 45.9 to 92 % and 77.7 to 96.1 % respectively. Knowledge about usefulness of PPM, types of mosquito nets and efficacy of LLINs was significantly higher in intervention villages compared to comparison villages (p < 0.05), (η2 = 0.64). Mothers in intervention villages increasingly perceived, post-intervention, that malaria was a serious disease (99.3 %), a preventable disease (98.8 %) and also LLINs as an effective intervention in malaria prevention (92.2 %). This resulted in an increase in the utilization rate of LLINs from 19.2 to 82.8 % in intervention villages compared to comparison villages (p < 0.05) [OR = 4.6, 95 %, CI = (3.72-5.72)], (η2 = 0.64). The average of mothers' knowledge about malaria was increased by 64 % (η2 = 0.64), the use of LLINs was increased by 79 % (η2 = 0.79) and a positive attitude towards malaria was 2.25 times higher in intervention villages than among mothers in the comparison villages. CONCLUSIONS: These results established the usefulness of COMBI strategy for increasing awareness about malaria, developing a positive perception towards malaria prevention and, increasing the utilization of LLINs.

Acute upper respiratory infections admissions in England and Wales.

Acute respiratory infections block the bronchial and/or nasal systems' airways. These infections may present in a variety of ways, from minor symptoms like the common cold to more serious illnesses like pneumonia or lung collapse. Acute respiratory infections cause over 1.3 million infant deaths under the age of 5 each year throughout the world. Among all illnesses, respiratory infections make for 6% of the worldwide disease burden. We aimed to examine the admissions related to acute upper respiratory infections admissions in England and Wales for the period between April 1999 and April 2020. This was an ecological study using publicly available data extracted from the Hospital Episode Statistics database in England, and the Patient Episode Database for Wales for the period between April 1999 and April 2020. The acute upper respiratory infections-related hospital admissions were identified using the Tenth Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 5th Edition (used by National Health Service [NHS] to classify diseases and other health conditions) (J00-J06). The total annual number of admissions for various reasons increased by 1.09-fold (from 92,442 in 1999 to 193,236 in 2020), expressing an increase in hospital admission rate of 82.5% (from 177.30 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 176.15-178.44] in 1999 to 323.57 [95%CI: 322.13-325.01] in 2020 per 100,000 persons, P < .01). The most common causes were acute tonsillitis and acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites, which accounted for 43.1% and 39.4%, respectively. Hospital admissions rate due to acute upper respiratory infections increased sharply during the study period. The rates of hospital admissions were higher among those in the age group below 15 and 75 years and above for the majority of respiratory infections, with a higher incidence in females.

Impact of Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus on Blood Cells Indices and Plasma Components in Patients Without Nephropathy.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Diabetes mellitus (DM) the most prevalent consequences are diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, cardiovascular illnesses, erectile dysfunctions, stroke and cardiovascular difficulties. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus on blood cells' indices and plasma components. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This is a prospective cross-sectional study. The research was carried out at the King Fahad Medical Center in Riyadh, in duration from February, 2023 to May, 2023, in the interest of healthcare consumers attending the hematology laboratory for routine investigations. Sixty samples were collected and complete blood count, lipid profile, HbA1c and blood glucose for blood samples. <b>Results:</b> In this study, females accounted for 53.3% of the participants, while males accounted for 46.7%. In terms of age distribution, more than 55 years old accounted for 50% of the study's participants. A significant correlation has been found between HbA1c and red blood cell Mean Cell Volume (MCV) and there was a significant association between the high level of HbA1c and the red blood count. However, there was no significant correlation between plasma components and HbA1c. <b>Conclusion:</b> There is a remarkable effect of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and RBCs count and erythrocyte MCV.

Self-Reported Household Waste Recycling and Segregation Practices among Families in Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The reuse and recycling of household waste are correlated with a household's daily activities and commonly depend on sociodemographic factors. In this study, we aimed to assess and probe the level of awareness of waste reuse and recycling, self-reported household waste recycling and segregation practices, and the variables affecting the practices of households in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We employed a cross-sectional study utilizing the multi-stage random sampling of 279 households and a researcher-structured, online questionnaire in English and Arabic. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the level of awareness/practices, and inferential statistics was used to describe the correlational aspects. RESULTS: It was determined that female participants, younger participants, participants of both genders with university and postgraduate education levels, and urban residents were significantly associated with self-reported household waste segregation and recycling practices at the source. Plastics, paper, glass, food waste, textiles, and electronic waste were determined to be the most common types of household waste. A lack of expertise, awareness, demand for recycled products, and laws that support recycling was reported to affect female participants' failure to recycle. Social media, television, and educational institutions were shown to be sources of information regarding waste segregation and recycling. Therefore, awareness-raising polices must be developed to improve the prevalence, expertise, and efficiency regarding recycling and segregation. In addition, inventive methods, such as a card-based reward system, should be used to increase the demand level for recycled products.

Detection of Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR C677T) Mutation among Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Sudanese Patients.

Background: A genetic polymorphism that causes abnormal folate metabolism may lead to genomic instability and increase susceptibility to malignancies such as Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The purpose of this research is to identify methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T) (NCBI ID: 4524) mutation in ALL patients. Methods: The study was a descriptive case-control hospital-based study with one hundred Sudanese participants divided equally into fifty (50) Sudanese ALL diagnosed patients as cases and fifty (50) Sudanese individuals as controls. The MTHFR C677T mutant allele was detected using conventional PCR, with the primer sequence of MTHFR C677T F-TGAAGGAAGGTGTCTGCGGGA R-AGGACGGTGCGGTGAGAGTG. The study was conducted from January to March 2023, and samples were collected from the Radiation and Isotops Center at Khartoum Hospital. Results: The investigation revealed that 12 of the 50 patients in the case group (24%) had the MTHFR C677T mutant allele, and the study also revealed that there is significant correlation with the control group. There is no significant relationship between socio-demographic variables and MTHFR mutation detection in ALL patients. Also, the sociodemographic variables predictors of MTHFR mutation among ALL patients adjusted for smoking habit revealed no significant relationship. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the mutant allele of the Methylene Tetra Hydro Folate Reductase C677T was detected and demonstrated varying degrees of significance. It was concluded that the MTHFR C677T gene mutation was associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Sudanese patients.

Hemoglobinopathy Patterns in Anemic Patients with a Strong History of Sickle Cell Disease in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The most common genetic disease in humans is hemoglobinopathies, also known as hemoglobin hereditary diseases. The purpose of this study was to look at the hemoglobinopathy patterns in anemic patients with a history of sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on anemic patients attending the hospital with a strong family history of hemoglobinopathy and general signs and symptoms, as well as mild to moderate anemia crises. One hundred and ten people were chosen to participate in this study. The research was carried out between September, 2019 and October, 2020. <b>Results:</b> The sickle cell trait was the most common hemoglobinopathy in males (31.1%) and sickle cell trait+beta thalassemia minor was the most common in females (18%). The gender of patients and the distribution of hemoglobinopathy types were found to have a significant relationship (p-value of 0.001). <b>Conclusion:</b> A significant correlation was discovered between the gender of patients and the distribution of hemoglobinopathy types. More efforts must be made to raise the prevention of endogamy awareness among Saudis.

Needle-Stick and Sharp Injuries among Hospital Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Needle-stick or sharp injuries (NSIs) are critical occupational hazards for healthcare workers. Exposure to blood and body fluids through NSIs increases the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens among them. The objectives of this study were to estimate the annual incidence of NSIs and investigate the associated factors of NSIs among the healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between October and November 2021. A total of 361 healthcare workers participated in the survey from all over Saudi Arabia. The one-year incidence of at least one event of NSIs among the healthcare workers is estimated at 22.2% (95% CI: 18.0, 26.8). More than half of the injury events (53.8%) were not reported to the authority by the healthcare workers. Incidence of NSIs was highest among the physicians (36%) and was followed by nurses (34.8%), dentists (29.2%), and medical technologists (21.1%). The odds of NSIs was higher among the healthcare workers aged 26-30 years compared to the 20-25 years age group (OR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.04, 6.03), as well as among the workers who directly dealt with needles or other sharp objects while working compared to those who did not (OR: 5.9; 95% CI: 2.69, 12.97). The high incidence and low rate of reporting of NSIs highlights the need of education and awareness raising programs targeting healthcare providers with higher risk of injury.

E-Cigarette Use among Male Smokers in Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

E-cigarette use is increasing globally. Recent evidence suggests that e-cigarettes contain harmful substances that could cause adverse health outcomes. This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of e-cigarette use among male current smokers in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adult male current smokers in the Al-Ahsa province of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. We performed logistic regression analyses to investigate the factors associated with e-cigarette use among adult male current smokers. 325 current smokers participated in the study. A third of them (33.5%) were e-cigarette users. Almost all the study participants (97.0%) had heard about e-cigarettes. Participants who were occasional smokers (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.28; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.17-4.41) and had good knowledge perception of e-cigarettes (OR 3.49; 95% CI: 2.07-5.90) had higher odds of using e-cigarettes when compared to regular smokers of conventional cigarettes and current smokers with poor knowledge perception of e-cigarettes, respectively. In contrast, private employees (OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.07-0.85), and business owners (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01-0.63) had lower odds of using e-cigarettes compared to unemployed individuals. Compared with non-e-cigarette users, the rate of conventional cigarette smoking per day was significantly lower among e-cigarette users. Use of e-cigarette (OR: 3.57, 95% CI: 2.14-5.98), believing that e-cigarette quitting is hard (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.17-3.49) and trying to quit e-cigarettes (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.1-4.25) were found to be significant predictors of good knowledge perception of e-cigarettes among the current smokers. The use and knowledge perception of e-cigarettes were higher among occasional conventional male cigarette smokers than regular male smokers in Al-Ahsa province. The use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids should be examined further in the Saudi Arabian setting.

Dietary knowledge, attitude and practice among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Sudan: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In Sudan, the prevalence of diabetes in adults was estimated at 19.1% in 2015. This study assessed dietary knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Sudan. METHODS: We randomly selected 238 T2DM patients from a list of 2460 patients from the Jabber Abulizz Hospital. We interviewed them face-to-face using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the determinants of KAP regarding the recommended diets for T2DM patients. RESULTS: Majority of the patients demonstrated good knowledge (54.6%), positive attitude (79%); and good practice (58%). The result revealed that patients with formal education had 3.0 (95% CI: 1.6-5.7) times higher odds of having good diabetic dietary knowledge than those with informal education. While patients who had good knowledge and a positive attitude were respectively 4.7 (95% CI: 2.4-8.9) and 3.2 (95% CI: 1.5-6.7) times more likely to follow dietary recommendations than the patients with poor knowledge and negative attitudes. CONCLUSION: Irrespective of the socio-demographic position, the good knowledge and the positive attitude towards the recommended diet, all the T2DM patients complied with the dietary recommendations. These findings highlight the need for improving knowledge and promoting positive attitudes towards the recommended diet among T2DM patients.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Standard Infection Control Precautions among Health-Care Workers in a University Hospital in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) contribute to increased length of hospital stay, higher mortality and higher health-care costs. Prevention and control of HAIs is a critical public health concern. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of standard infection control precautions among health-care workers (HCWs) in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional online survey among HCWs was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Predictors of KAP were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analyses and independent sample t-tests. A total of 213 HCWs participated in the survey. The prevalence of good (≥80% correct response) knowledge, attitude, and practice were 67.6%, 61.5%, and 73.2%, respectively. The predictors of good knowledge included the age of the HCWs (>34 years) (adjusted odds ratio: 30.5, p < 0.001), and training (13.3, p < 0.001). More than 6 years of work experience was a significant predictor of having a positive attitude (5.5, p < 0.001). While the predictors of good practice were having >6 years of experience (2.9, p < 0.01), previous exposure to HAIs (2.5, p < 0.05), and training (3.5, p < 0.01). However, being female (0.22, p < 0.001) and older (>34 years) (0.34, p < 0.01) were negatively associated with knowledge. Results indicate that arranging training for HCWs might be useful in improving their knowledge of standard infection control precautions and is also expected to facilitate positive attitude and practice.