A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Contributions on Milk Fluoridation.

Fluoridated-milk schemes have been developed and implemented in many countries to prevent dental caries. This study aimed to evaluate the impact/influence of scientific publications, researchers, and institutions conducting research on milk fluoridation; to explore the international and inter-institutional collaboration and illustrate scientific output trends; and to pinpoint research hotspots in milk fluoridation research. This bibliometric analysis of original research articles on milk fluoridation includes all of the original articles published in peer-reviewed journals systematically extracted from the SCOPUS database. In total, 108 articles were included in this study, with a total of 11,789 citations. A majority (67.6%) of these articles were in the subject area of 'dentistry', 22.2% externally funded, 14.8% published in the journal, Caries Research, 7.4% authored/co-authored by Twetman S, 6.5% by authors from Universidad de Chile, and the UK had the highest output (24.1%). The network visualizations showed that those countries with current/past histories of implemented milk fluoridation programs were interconnected on the network visualization map, and they were predominantly the hotspots for original research on milk fluoridation. This study also identified inequalities in research outputs on the topic. With the current enormous global burden of dental caries in children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, there is an urgent need for greater and more equitable funding of milk fluoridation research globally.

Factors influencing cervical cancer screening practice among female health workers in Nigeria: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the most prevalent gynaecologic cancer in Nigeria. Despite being largely preventable through screening, cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. To reduce the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria, female health workers (FHWs) are expected to play an influential role in leading screening uptake and promoting access to cervical cancer education and screening. AIM: The aim of this systematic review is to assess the factors influencing cervical cancer screening (CCS) practice among FHWs in Nigeria. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search across six (6) electronic databases namely MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, African Index Medicus, CINAHL, and Web of Science between May 2020 and October 2020. Reference list and grey literature search were conducted to complement database search. Four reviewers screened 3171 citations against the inclusion criteria and critically appraised the quality of eligible studies. Narrative synthesis was used in summarising data from included studies. RESULTS: Overall, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria and were all quantitative cross-sectional studies. Included studies sampled a total of 3392 FHWs in Nigeria. FHWs had a high level of knowledge and positive attitude towards CCS. However, CCS uptake was poor. Predominant barriers to CCS uptake were the cost of screening, fear of positive results, lack of test awareness, reluctance to screen, low-risk perception, and lack of time. In contrast, being married, increasing age, awareness of screening methods, and physician recommendation were the most documented facilitators. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that a complex interplay of socioeconomic, structural, and individual factors influences CCS among FHWs in Nigeria. Therefore, implementing holistic interventions targeting both health system factors such as cost of screening and infrastructure and individual factors such as low-risk perception and fear of positive result affecting FHWs in Nigeria is critical to reducing the burden of cervical cancer.

Oral Health of Vegetarians is a Neglected Aspect of Stomatological Research: A Reflection based on PubMed Evidence

The vegetarians form one-fifth of the global population. The vegetarians are a peculiar group of people; existing body of scientific evidence shows that they are a highly vulnerable group of people when it comes to oral diseases. The oral health of vegetarians is a critical aspect of dentistry; however, current evidence­based on PubMed database search­shows a dearth of literature on this thematic area. It appears this aspect is being neglected in the field of stomatological research. INTRODUCTION It is a general saying that 'you are what you eat'.This is a very true statement; what you eat goes a very long way in determining who you are, where you come from, what you are passing through, what you are up to, and why you eat [1].There are many factors that determine the pattern and choicespeople makeinfeeding themselves and/or their families [1]. For example, some people's choices of food are based on religious ideologies. In some religious societies, what one eatsmay determine how others perceive him/her i.e.being referred to as a faithful or a non-faithful. Whilstit is forbidden to eat pork in Jewish and Muslim societies, it is not forbidden insome non-Muslim and non-Jewish societies[2,3]. Arguably,the initiation, maintenance and modification of eating habits are complex processes. Who are Vegetarians?Based on the content of what is being eaten, people are classified as vegetarians and non-vegetarians. A vegetarian is a person who abstains from eating meat (flesh), seafood, and by-products of animal slaughter [4,5]. On the other hand, a non-vegetarian is a person who eats any or all of what vegetarians abstain from. A vegetarian diet is a very special diet and it includes variety of delicacies (Table 1) [4,5].

Preventing Multimorbidity with Lifestyle Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A New Challenge for Public Health in Low and Middle-Income Countries.

OBJECTIVES: Low and Middle-Income Countries are experiencing a fast-paced epidemiological rise in clusters of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, forming an imminent rise in multimorbidity. However, preventing multimorbidity has received little attention in LMICs, especially in Sub-Saharan African Countries. METHODS: Narrative review which scoped the most recent evidence in LMICs about multimorbidity determinants and appropriated them for potential multimorbidity prevention strategies. RESULTS: MMD in LMICs is affected by several determinants including increased age, female sex, environment, lower socio-economic status, obesity, and lifestyle behaviours, especially poor nutrition, and physical inactivity. Multimorbidity public health interventions in LMICs, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa are currently impeded by local and regional economic disparity, underdeveloped healthcare systems, and concurrent prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases. However, lifestyle interventions that are targeted towards preventing highly prevalent multimorbidity clusters, especially hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, can provide early prevention of multimorbidity, especially within Sub-Saharan African countries with emerging economies and socio-economic disparity. CONCLUSION: Future public health initiatives should consider targeted lifestyle interventions and appropriate policies and guidelines in preventing multimorbidity in LMICs.

Combating childhood obesity: Reactions of children aged 10-11 years towards the National Child Measurement Programme.

The aim of this study was to explore the reactions of children aged 10-11 years towards being weighed and measured and subsequently told their correct weight as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The study was undertaken in primary schools in a Primary Care Trust (PCT) in the North East of England, UK. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted post-NCMP measurement (and the feedback) with a sample of 21 children, aged 10-11 years, conveniently sampled from the primary schools in the PCT. Findings from the study indicate that the NCMP, especially the weight feedback letter caused annoyance, panic and worry among children who were indicated to have weight problems and oversensitised all children about weight issues, regardless of their weight category. The NCMP is a potentially useful 'wake-up call' to the fact that something needs to be done for children identified to be overweight or obese but needs to be delivered with a sensitivity to the impact of the news on the child.