[Knowledge of mothers of children under 5 years of age about vaccination schedule]. / Conocimiento de las madres de niños menores de 5 años acerca del esquema de vacunación.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the level of knowledge of mothers of children under 5 years of age about vaccination schedule. METHODS: Cross-sectional, observational, descriptive, and analytical study, carried out in the Family Medicine Unit 1 of Orizaba, Veracruz, in which two questionnaires were applied to mothers of children under 5 years of age, one prepared by PAHO that qualifies attitudes. of parents about vaccines, and another that evaluates knowledge of immunizations. Absolute frequencies and percentages were estimated; and the association with Pearson's X2 was determined. RESULTS: A total of 138 women were registered, with age limits of 18 to 48 years. The level of knowledge was high (70.3%) and was related to the age, education (p = 0.00) and occupation (p = 0.03) of the mothers. The highest frequencies were for housewives (47.1%), professionals (3.5%), married (60.2%) and of the Catholic religion (81.2%). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the null hypothesis, which indicates that 70.3% have high knowledge about vaccination, and it is associated with the age, education, and occupation of the mothers.

OBJETIVO: Determinar el grado de conocimiento de las madres de niños menores de 5 años acerca del esquema de vacunación. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal, observacional, descriptivo y analítico, llevado a cabo en la Unidad de Medicina Familiar 1 de Orizaba, Veracruz, en el que se aplicaron dos cuestionarios a madres de niños menores de 5 años, uno elaborado por la Organización Panamericana de la Salud para calificar las actitudes de los padres acerca de las vacunas, y otro que evalúa el conocimiento de las inmunizaciones. Se estimaron frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes; y se determinó la asociación con X2 de Pearson. RESULTADOS: Se registraron 138 mujeres, con límites de edad de 18 a 48 años. El grado de conocimiento fue alto (70.3%) y se relacionó con la edad, escolaridad (p = 0.00) y ocupación (p = 0.03) de las madres. Las frecuencias más altas fueron para las amas de casa (47.1%), profesionistas (3.5%), casadas (60.2%) y de religión católica (81.2%). CONCLUSIONES: El 70.3% de las madres de niños menores de 5 años tiene conocimiento alto acerca de la vacunación, y se asocia con su edad, escolaridad y ocupación.

Evaluation of Soldiers' Knowledge and Sense of Threats Regarding Exposure to Biological Risk Factors at the Place of Service.

Exposure to harmful biological agents and the level of knowledge about specific risk factors are extremely important topics, especially among military personnel. This study evaluates the knowledge and perceptions of soldiers regarding exposure to biological risk factors during their service. This research was conducted using an online survey distributed through the WBBS research panel, in which 1331 soldiers from various demographic groups and ranks participated. The survey assessed awareness of biological threats, the level of knowledge about preventive measures, and the perceived adequacy of occupational health and safety training. The findings reveal that over 80% of respondents possess some level of knowledge about the types of biological agents they may encounter, yet significant gaps remain, particularly in training related to region-specific infectious diseases, with more than 75% of participants having not received such training. Additionally, approximately 5% of respondents reported high exposure, and around 4% reported very high exposure to harmful biological agents, highlighting the need for enhanced educational programs and preventive measures in military contexts. The study underscores the importance of continuous education and training to mitigate risks associated with biological hazards in military environments.

Knowledge and prevalence of urinary tract infection among pregnant women in Lebanon.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) rank among the most prevalent medical complications during pregnancy, affecting a significant number of women of reproductive age. We aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary tract infections among pregnant women and assess their knowledge of developing UTIs in Lebanon. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 215 pregnant women in Lebanon recruited via convenience sampling from various gynecologists and midwives between March 2023 and May 2023. A structured questionnaire was utilized to evaluate UTI prevalence and participants' knowledge levels. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 27. A significance level of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. This analysis revealed a UTI prevalence of 42.79% (95% CI: 38.21%-47.37%), The mean age of participants was 28.57 years. Knowledge assessment revealed that 66.51% (143/215) had average knowledge about UTIs, 20.47% (44/215) demonstrated good knowledge, and 12.79% (28/215) showed poor knowledge. Significant correlations were found between UTI prevalence and socioeconomic factors (P = 0.03), indicating higher incidence among women from lower economic backgrounds. Abnormal vaginal discharge was strongly associated with UTI prevalence (P < 0.001), suggesting it as a prominent symptom or risk factor. Additionally, a history of abortion correlated significantly with increased UTI incidence (P = 0.02), highlighting its relevance in pregnancy-related UTI risk. The study underscores the need for education programs tailored to raise awareness about UTI risks during pregnancy and promote preventive measures. Implementing these programs could significantly enhance maternal health outcomes in Lebanon.

Determination of the family caregivers'level of knowledge on pressure injury prevention.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine family caregivers' level of knowledge on pressure injury (PI) prevention. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional and descriptive design. Data were collected between February and May 2023. The population of the study consisted of family caregivers providing care to patients who were at risk of developing pressure injuries and who were planned to be discharged from the inpatient wards of the hospital. A total of 105 family caregivers participated in the study. RESULTS: Of all the patients, 61.9 % (n = 65) were female and their average age was 68.96 years (SD = 18.07). While 30.48 % (n = 32) of the patients were bedridden due to Cerebrovascular Accident, 28.57 % (n = 30) were bedridden due to old age, and 28.57 % (n = 30) had PI. Of all the caregivers, 71.43 % (n = 75) were female, and their average age was 47.11 years (SD = 14.85). While 97.14 % (n = 96) of the caregivers had not received any training on PI before, 90.48 % (n = 95) had not provided care to a patient with PI before. Family caregivers scored an average of 22.25 (SD = 6.96) points out of 40 on the Pressure Injury Prevention Knowledge Test (PIPKT). A significant difference was detected between the knowledge test scores and education level and income level (P = 0.006; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Family caregivers were found to need information about PI prevention. It is recommended to develop content on PI prevention in the guidelines for family caregivers.

The Knowledge Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the primary cause of mortality worldwide. Numerous factors can indicate the likelihood of developing CVDs. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of these risk factors is the initial step towards implementing successful preventive measures to defy the prevalence of CVDs across all demographics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Moroccan population's level of knowledge regarding cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). METHODS: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 744 participants. Their knowledge of CVD risk factors was assessed by the Heart Disease Facts Questionnaire (HDFQ). Socio-demographic characteristics were collected and statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 26.0, Armonk, NY). RESULTS: Among 744 participants, 475 (63%) were male and 409 (55%) were young adults. The mean HDFQ score was 64.36%. Overall, 47.4% of the respondents were aware of CVD risk factors, 27% had moderate knowledge and 25.6% had poor knowledge. The most commonly identified factors were smoking (86.8%), obesity (85.6%), and aging (80.5%). Age was the only factor that showed a significant association with the awareness of CVD risk factors. CONCLUSION: The level of knowledge of CVRF is moderate among the Moroccan population. Effective health education about CVRF and adequate prevention measures is certainly essential to minimize the burden of CVD.

Knowledge levels of doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics about nutrients and food supplements, a multicentre descriptive study.

PURPOSE: The use of nutrients and food supplements is increasing worldwide. Nutrients and food supplements frequently used in the surgical period may cause complications and side effects. This study was conducted to determine the level of knowledge about sixty-one nutrients and food supplements among doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics. DESIGN: A multicentre descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study was conducted between 15 February and 31 May 2022 with a total of 410 participants, including 143 doctors and 267 nurses, working in the surgical clinics of 8 hospitals, including public, university and private hospitals, within the borders of one province in Turkey. Data were collected face-to-face using a questionnaire developed by the researchers, which included descriptive characteristics of the doctors and nurses and questions about sixty-one nutrients and food supplements. RESULTS: The median overall success score of the doctors and nurses participating in the study regarding the use of nutrients and food supplements was 3.20 out of 100 points, the median success score of complications and side effects of nutrients and food supplements in the surgical period was 7.06 out of 33 points, the median success score for discontinuation of nutrients and food supplements prior to surgery was 0.21 out of 16 points, and the median success score for drug interactions of nutrients and food supplements was 1.70 out of 51 points. In addition, it was found that the overall success scores of doctors and nurses regarding nutrients and food supplements increased statistically significantly with increasing age and working years. The total success score of doctors and nurses who received training in nutrients and food supplements was statistically significantly higher than that of doctors and nurses who did not receive training. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it was found that the level of knowledge of nutrients and food supplements among doctors and nurses working in surgical clinics was less than half or even close to zero. Therefore, it is recommended that training on nutrients and food supplements should be included in the undergraduate and postgraduate education of doctors and nurses in order to prevent complications, side effects, drug interactions and patient safety related to the use of nutrients and food supplements in the surgical period.

Impact of an Educational Intervention on Oral Health Knowledge and Bacterial Plaque Control in Male Secondary School Students in a Peruvian Province: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention on oral health knowledge and bacterial plaque control in male secondary school students in a Peruvian province. Methods: This quasi-experimental study evaluated 294 male secondary school students in southern Peru. Oral health knowledge was measured with a validated 20-item questionnaire. Bacterial plaque was measured with the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). This was rated as Excellent: 0, Good: 0.1-1.2, Fair: 1.3-3.0 and Poor: 3.1-6.0, before receiving the educational intervention and after four weeks of receiving it. Variables such as age, area of residence, having health professionals as family members, educational level of mother and father, and living with parents were considered. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered. Results: The comparison between the level of oral health knowledge and the OHI-S, before and after 4 weeks of receiving the educational intervention, showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in all the categories of the variables studied. Likewise, before the educational intervention, there were significant differences in global knowledge about oral health among the categories of the following variables: age group (p=0.040), area of residence (p<0.001), educational level (father) (p=0.011) and living with parents (p<0.001). However, after four weeks of receiving the educational intervention, no significant differences were observed in all the variables studied (p>0.05). Regarding the OHI-S, no significant differences were observed in any of the variables studied, both before (p>0.05) and after four weeks (p>0.05) of receiving the educational intervention. Conclusion: After four weeks, the educational intervention significantly improved oral health knowledge and significantly reduced plaque bacterial plaque in male secondary school students in a Peruvian province, regardless of age, area of residence, having health professional family members, educational level of mother and father, and living with parents.

Examination of Pediatric Nurses' Knowledge of Anaphylaxis: A Descriptive Study.

Anaphylaxis is a vital systemic allergic reaction. A rapid diagnosis of anaphylaxis is lifesaving. In most cases, nurses are the first to encounter and intervene in anaphylaxis. Therefore, they have a vital responsibility in such cases. The aim of this study is to create a questionnaire and evaluate the anaphylaxis knowledge levels of pediatric nurses. This is a descriptive type of study. The study took place in Turkey. 80 pediatric nurses who work in pediatric intensive care, neonatal intensive care, child service, and pediatric emergency service participated in the study. The sociodemographic data collection form and the anaphylaxis knowledge level assessment form was used for the study. ANOVA and t-test are used to evaluate the data. The average anaphylaxis knowledge score of the pediatric nurses was found 12.61 ± 2.61, therefore it's moderate. The reliability of the questionnaire was high. Knowledge levels were moderately sufficient in diagnoses and insufficient in treatment and follow-up. Considering how critical anaphylaxis is, the moderately sufficient and insufficient knowledge levels are not substantial and should be increased advancedly. The questionnaire created for this study can be used in future studies. Health institutions should plan training regarding anaphylaxis and recompose anaphylaxis training in general, elaborate treatment and follow-up, and assess pediatric nurses' knowledge periodically.

Sistema de audiencias sanitarias para el desarrollo de conocimientos sobre riesgo reproductivo preconcepcional. 2020-2022

Introducción: El conocimiento preconcepcional de los factores de riesgo que posee una pareja, es vital para su modificación previa al embarazo y lograr una gestación exitosa. Objetivo: Elaborar un sistema de audiencias sanitarias que contribuya al desarrollo de conocimientos sobre riesgo reproductivo y su prevención. Métodos: Se realizó una investigación de desarrollo en el Policlínico Comunitario Andrés Casallas, del municipio Unión de Reyes, en el período comprendido entre junio de 2020 y mayo de 2022. El universo estuvo constituido por 101 mujeres en edad fértil. La investigación se realizó en dos etapas, las variables estudiadas fueron: factores de riesgo asociados al riesgo reproductivo preconcepcional y educación preconcepcional, además de las necesidades de aprendizaje, exploradas a través de la encuesta diseñada. Se aplicó una prueba piloto y se emplearon métodos empíricos y estadísticos para la validación de la encuesta. Resultados: En las mujeres estudiadas se observó un predominio de factores de riesgo ambientales asociados al riesgo reproductivo, una educación preconcepcional deficiente que las hace vulnerables, así como un nivel de conocimientos en prevención, evaluado de mal con necesidades educativas sentidas altas, por lo que se diseñaron los componentes que conforman el sistema de audiencias sanitarias. Conclusiones: El sistema de audiencias sanitarias, elaborado en correspondencia con las necesidades de aprendizaje diagnosticadas en las mujeres estudiadas, contribuirá al desarrollo de conocimientos en riesgo reproductivo preconcepcional y a la planificación futura de la gestación.

Introduction: Preconception knowledge of the risk factors that a couple has is vital for their modification prior to pregnancy and achieving a successful gestation. Objective: To develop a system of health hearings that contributes to the development of knowledge on reproductive risk and its prevention. Methods: A development research was carried out in the Community Policlinic Andrés Casallas in the municipality Union de Reyes, in the period from June 2020 to May 2022. The universe consisted of 101 women of childbearing age. The research was carried out in two stages; the variables studied were risk factors associated with preconception reproductive risk and preconception education, in addition to the learning needs, explored through the survey designed. A pilot test was applied and statistical and empirical methods were used to validate the survey. Results: In the women studied, there it was observed a predominance of environmental risk factors associated to the reproductive risk and a deficient preconception education that makes them vulnerable, as well as a level of knowledge in prevention, evaluated of bad with high felt educational needs, so the components that make up the health hearings system were designed. Conclusions: The health hearings system, designed in correspondence with the learning needs diagnosed in the women studied, will contribute to the development of knowledge in preconception reproductive risk and to the future planning of gestation.

Awareness and Sources of Knowledge about Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Cross Sectional Survey Study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a multifactorial sleep breathing disorder, seriously impacting quality of life and involving approximately 1 billion of the world's population. It is characterized by episodes of total cessation of breathing or decreases in airflow during sleep. Available data suggest that most cases of OSA remain undiagnosed even in developed countries. This is due to a lack of widespread knowledge about this pathology and the medical morbidities and mortality it brings about, among both laypeople and physicians. Moreover, despite receiving indications about the need to undergo specific evaluations for OSA signs and symptoms, sometimes patients do not pay sufficient attention to the problem. This is probably due to a lack of correct information on these issues. The present investigation analyzed the level of knowledge about OSA pathology and the sources through which a group of OSA patients gained information on their condition. A survey of 92 patients diagnosed with OSA (mean age 60.55 ± 10.10) and referred to the Unit of Orthodontics and Dental Sleep Medicine of the University of Bologna was conducted by means of a questionnaire investigating sociodemographic characteristics, the level of general knowledge on OSA pathology and its possible medical consequences. Despite about two third (67.38%) of the population demonstrating extensive knowledge, remarkably, a group of subjects (20.65%) had poor awareness of the OSA condition. A statistically significant correlation emerged between the level of knowledge about OSA and the level of education (p = 0.002). A great effort should be made to improve the quality of information and the communication modalities for OSA to enable a fully appropriate awareness of the condition among patients.

Nivel de conocimientos sobre lesiones premalignas bucales en pacientes geriátricos

Fundamento: El nivel de conocimiento sobre lesiones premalignas en la población geriátrica es un factor significativo que incide en la prevención, evitando la progresión a un cáncer bucal. Objetivo: Identificar el nivel de conocimiento de los pacientes geriátricos sobre las lesiones premalignas bucales. Metodología: Entre septiembre de 2019 y junio de 2021 se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo transversal en el Consultorio Médico de la Familia # 12 del municipio Cabaiguán, provincia Sancti Spíritus. La población estuvo constituida por 158 pacientes geriátricos y mediante un muestreo probabilístico aleatorio simple la muestra quedó conformada por 80. Se aplicaron métodos del nivel teórico, empírico, estadístico y matemático. Las variables utilizadas fueron edad, sexo, escolaridad, nivel de conocimiento sobre factores de riesgo y signos clínicos, conocimientos sobre el autoexamen bucal y la conducta a seguir. Resultados: Se constató que el nivel de conocimientos sobre factores de riesgo fue regular y sobre signos clínicos y forma y frecuencia del autoexamen bucal fue mal. La mayoría de la muestra en estudio conocía donde acudir y afirmó haber recibido información al respecto. Conclusiones: En su mayoría el nivel de conocimientos sobre lesiones premalignas se observó entre regular y mal con un descenso significativo del nivel de conocimientos en los pacientes de edades más avanzadas.

Background: The knowledge level about premalignant lesions in the geriatric population is a significant factor that influences on prevention, avoiding progression into mouth neoplasms. Objective: To diagnose the knowledge level in geriatric patients about buccal premalignant lesions. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was conducted between September 2019 and June 2021 at the Family Medical Office # 12 of Cabaiguán municipality, Sancti Spíritus province. The population was constituted by 158 geriatric patients and by means of a simple random probabilistic sampling, the sample was made up by 80. Theoretical, empirical, statistical and mathematical methods were applied. The used variables were age, sex, schooling, risk factors and clinical signs knowledge, knowledge of buccal self-examination and conduct to be followed. Results: The knowledge level about risk factors was found to be regular and on clinical signs and form and frequency of buccal self-examination was bad. The majority of the sample under study knew where to go and affirmed that they had received information about it. Conclusions: Mostly the knowledge level of premalignant lesions was observed to be regular to bad with a significant decrease in the knowledge level in more elderly patients.

[Conocimiento de las madres de niños menores de 5 años sobre la vacunación en la Unidad de Medicina Familiar 1, Orizaba, Veracruz].

Objective: Determine the level of knowledge and acceptance that mothers of children under 5 years of age have about vaccination. Methods: Statistical analysis was performed using the GraphPad Prism statistical program. Absolute frequencies and percentages were estimated for the qual- itative variables, and measures of central tendency and dispersion for numerical variables. The level of knowledge and acceptance of vaccination was associated with the variables using Pearson's Chi-square. Results: The level of knowledge that prevailed was high (70.3%) and was associated with age (p=0.00), education (p=0.00) and occupation (p=0.03). The most frequent occupation was housewife (47.1%), the most frequent schooling was professional education (3.5%), the majority were married women (60.2%) and Catholics (81.2%). Conclusions: The null hypothesis of our study is confirmed, obtaining that 70.3% of the population has high knowledge about vaccination in children under 5 years of age, it was also found that this knowledge is associated with age, schooling and occupation of the mothers participating in this study.

Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de conocimiento y aceptación que tienen las madres de niños menores de 5 años sobre la vacunación. Métodos: Se realizo el análisis estadístico en el programa estadístico GraphPad Prism. Se estimaron frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes para las variables cualitativas, y medidas de tendencia central y dispersión para variables numéricas. Se asocio el nivel de conocimiento y aceptación sobre la vacunación con las variables mediante de Chi cuadrada de Pearson. Resultados: El nivel de conocimiento que predomino fue alto (70.3%) y se encontró asociado a la edad (p=0.00), escolaridad (p=0.00) y ocupación (p=0.03). La ocupación más frecuente fue ama de casa (47.1%), la escolaridad con mayor frecuencia fue educación profesional (3.5%), la mayoría fueron mujeres casadas (60.2%) y católicas (81.2%). Conclusiones: Se confirma la hipótesis nula de nuestro estudio obteniendo que el 70.3% de la población tiene un conocimiento alto acerca de la vacunación en niños menores de 5 años, además se encontró que este conocimiento se encuentra asociado a la edad, escolaridad y ocupación de las madres participantes en este estudio.

Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Knowledge About Management of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients in Peruvian Dental Students: A Logistic Regression Analysis.

Background: Cleft lip and palate are relatively frequent craniofacial alterations caused by the lack of union of the frontonasal processes with the maxillary processes during the first weeks of intrauterine life. This study evaluated the sociodemographic factors associated with the level of knowledge about management of cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients in Peruvian dental students. Methods: This analytical, observational, cross-sectional and prospective study evaluated 191 dental students belonging to two branches of a private Peruvian university (one branch in the capital city and the other in a province), from September to November 2022. A validated questionnaire of 14 closed multiple-choice questions was used. A logit model was used to evaluate the influence of the variables: sex, age, academic year of study, marital status, relationship with CLP persons, place of origin and area of residence, on the level of knowledge of the students considering a significance level of p<0.05. Results: Of the total, 77%, 22.5% and 0.5% presented a poor, fair and good level of knowledge, respectively, on the dental management of the patient with cleft lip and palate. In addition, those who lived in urban areas were 2.8 times more likely to have poor knowledge about the dental management of patients with CLP, compared to those who lived in non-urban areas (OR = 2.83; 95% CI: 1.26-6.33). Finally, sex, age, marital status, place of origin, academic year of studies and relationship with CLP persons were not considered influential factors (p>0.05). Conclusion: Most of the students showed a poor level of knowledge about the dental management of patients with cleft lip and palate, a risk factor being that the students live in an urban area. It is recommended that educational authorities include selected topics on CLP in subjects related to infant, child and adolescent care.

Nivel de conocimientos de enfermeros sobre medicina natural y tradicional para la rehabilitación de operados de cardiopatías congénitas

Introducción: la medicina natural y tradicional puede integrarse a la rehabilitación de los pacientes operados de cardiopatías congénitas, por lo que se requieren profesionales de enfermería con preparación para realizar las intervenciones específicas útiles en estos pacientes. Objetivo: identificar el nivel de conocimientos que posee el personal de enfermería sobre medicina natural y tradicional para la rehabilitación de las personas operadas de cardiopatía congénita. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, en el Cardiocentro Pediátrico William Soler, de La Habana, durante el período junio-noviembre de 2019. Se aplicó una encuesta diseñada por los investigadores y validada por criterio de expertos. El universo lo constituyeron 100 enfermeras involucradas en el proceso de rehabilitación en práctica diaria, de las cuales se seleccionaron 60 mediante muestreo aleatorio simple. Para procesar la información se utilizó el software estadístico IMB SPSS Statistics. Resultados: se identificó el bajo nivel de conocimientos sobre las intervenciones de enfermería en medicina natural y tradicional para la rehabilitación de personas operadas de cardiopatías congénitas, resultado esperado por la insuficiente investigación en ese campo. Conclusiones: el estudio posibilitó identificar las debilidades relacionadas con el objeto de estudio, y propuso el diseño de un programa para la integración de la medicina natural y tradicional en las intervenciones de enfermería para la rehabilitación de personas operadas de cardiopatías congénitas.

Introduction: natural and traditional medicine can be integrated into the rehabilitation of patients operated of congenital heart diseases, so nursing professionals are required with training to perform the specific interventions that are useful in these patients. Objective: to identify the level of knowledge that the nursing staff have on natural and traditional medicine for the rehabilitation of patients operated of congenital heart disease. Materials and methods: across-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in the Pediatric Cardio Center William Soler, in Havana, during the period from June to November 2019. A survey, designed by the researchers and validated by expert criteria, was applied. The universe were 100 nurses involved in the rehabilitation process in their daily practice, of whom 60 were selected by simple random sampling. IMB SPSS Statistics software was used to process the information. Results: the low level of knowledge on nursing interventions in natural and traditional medicine for the rehabilitation of patients operated of congenital heart diseases was identified, an expected result due to insufficient research in this field. Conclusions: the study made it possible to identify weaknesses related to the object of study, and proposed the design of a program to integrate natural and traditional medicine into nursing interventions for the rehabilitation of patients operated of congenital heart diseases.

Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Evidence from Malaysia.

The interplay of physical, social, and economic factors during the pandemic adversely affected the mental health of healthy people and exacerbated pre-existing mental disorders. This study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the general population in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study involving 1246 participants was conducted. A validated questionnaire consisting of the level of knowledge and practice of precautionary behaviors, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) was used as an instrument to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results revealed that most participants possessed a high level of knowledge about COVID-19 and practiced wearing face masks daily as a precautionary measure. The average DASS scores were beyond the mild to moderate cut-off point for all three domains. The present study found that prolonged lockdowns had significantly impacted (p < 0.05), the mental health of the general population in Malaysia, reducing quality of life during the pandemic. Employment status, financial instability, and low annual incomes appeared to be risk factors (p < 0.05) contributing to mental distress, while older age played a protective role (p < 0.05). This is the first large-scale study in Malaysia to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population.

An analysis of the knowledge of adults aged between 18 and 45 on HPV along with their attitudes and beliefs about HPV vaccine: the Cyprus case.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this research is to analyze knowledge of adults between 18 and 45 years of age and living in the Northern Cyprus about Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) along with their attitudes and beliefs towards HPV vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research, which was planned as a descriptive and cross-sectional, was executed on the web. The research was completed with 1108 women and men adults between 18 and 45 years of age, living in the Northern Cyprus and volunteered to participate in the study. RESULTS: 51.90% of the adults participating in the study were found to be women, 8.84% had a Sexually transmitted disease (STD) before and 63.27% of the individuals who had a sexually transmitted disease before also had had HPV and they knew it, 77.55% had undergone a treatment for their disease, 59.18% were found to be actively infected with HPV. Statistically significant and positive correlations were determined between the overall scores of the participants from the Human Papillomavirus Knowledge Questionnaire (HPV-KQ) and their scores in the perceived severity, perceived benefits and perceived susceptibility sub-dimensions of the Health Belief Model Scale for Human Papilloma Virus and Its Vaccination (HBMS-HPVV) (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant and negative correlation between HPV-KQ scores, questions on Current HPV Vaccination Program and the perceived barriers sub-dimension of the HBMS-HPVV whereas there was a statistically significant and positive correlation between the HPV-KQ scores, questions on Current HPV Vaccination Program and the perceived benefits and perceived susceptibility sub-dimensions of the HBMS-HPVV (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It has emerged that the participants do not have enough information about HPV, they do not know the ways and symptoms of protection from HPV, they do not have enough information about early diagnosis and screening, and they know very little about the HPV vaccine. Health policies should be developed to increase the awareness of individuals about HPV, to increase education and to provide free vaccines.

Factors Associated with Epidemiological, Preventive and Health Care Knowledge of Dentists from North of the Peruvian Capital about COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study under a Predictive Model.

Aim: In dental practice there is a high risk of contact with fluids that may contain SARS-CoV-2. Salivary secretions in the form of droplets are the main route of infection. The present study aimed to evaluate factors associated with epidemiological, preventive and health care knowledge of dentists from the north of the Peruvian capital about COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This analytical, observational, cross-sectional and prospective study evaluated 142 dental professionals from the Directorate of Integrated Health Networks (DIRIS) in the north of the Peruvian capital during June to August 2022. A validated questionnaire of 20 closed multiple-choice questions was used to measure the level of epidemiological, preventive and health care knowledge about COVID-19. A logit model was used to evaluate the influence of the following variables: age, sex, marital status, children, origin, university of origin, academic degree, work modality, work status and number of training courses. In addition, a predictive model was constructed with the causal variables considering a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Epidemiological, preventive and health care knowledge about COVID-19 was fair in 17.6%, 34.5% and 57.7%, respectively. Likewise, all the variables analyzed were influential factors. It was observed that being single (OR = 0.05, CI: 0.01−0.26), having studied at a private university (OR = 0.09, CI: 0.023−0.38) and having received four to six trainings on COVID-19 related topics (OR = 0.02, CI: 0.002−0.238) were protective factors against fair knowledge. Conclusions: More than half of the dentists surveyed had fair knowledge about COVID-19. The factors that favored a good level of overall knowledge were: being single, having studied at a private university and having received 4 to 6 training courses on COVID-19-related topics. It is advisable that the competent authorities continue to educate dental professionals with training programs about infection control practices in accordance with the health care work they perform in their specialty. It will also be of utmost importance for the professional to be updated with reliable information accredited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the WHO.

Investigating factors that influence the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in an urban general hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In Ghana, only 52% of mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies and the rate of increase has been steadily slow across all geographical areas of Ghana. The purpose of this study was to determine the various factors that influence exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among mothers who visited the child welfare clinic at the Tema General Hospital, Accra, Ghana. METHODOLOGY: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at the Child Welfare Clinic of the Tema General Hospital, Accra, Ghana. A random sampling technique was used to recruit mothers with children between the ages of 6 months and 24 months attending the Child Welfare Clinic. Mothers were interviewed with the aid of a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Out of the 222 of mothers interviewed, 68.8% of them exclusively breastfed their infants up to 6 months. Mothers who have good knowledge were more than 3 times (AOR = 3.484, 95% CI 1.200, 10.122, P = 0.022) likely to breastfeed their children exclusively. Those who had positive attitudes towards EBF were about 4 times (COR: 4.018, 95% = 1.444, 11.181, P = 0.008) more likely to exclusively breastfeed than those who had poor attitudes towards EBF. Also, mothers whose spouses complained about EBF were about 3 times (AOR: 2.655, 95% CI 0.620, 11.365, P = 0.018) at increased odds of not exclusively breastfeeding their babies. CONCLUSIONS: High rate of EBF among mothers who visited the child welfare clinic was found. The mothers' level of knowledge and attitude towards EBF significantly influenced the 6 months of EBF. Spouses also showed a high influence on whether or not mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies.

Conocimientos sobre anemia ferropénica en madres de niños menores de un año de edad

Introducción: La carencia de hierro es la deficiencia específica de micronutrientes más frecuente en la población cubana. Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de conocimiento sobre anemia ferropénica en madres de niños menores de 1 año de edad. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y transversal realizado en el policlínico "Ramón López Peña". La población de estudio estuvo conformada por 352 madres de niños menores de 1 año de edad, que aceptaron participar en la investigación. Para la recolección de datos se aplicó un cuestionario. La variable a evaluar fue nivel de conocimientos. Resultados: El principal grupo de edad de las participantes fue entre 20 y 35 años (60,9 %) y en su mayoría casadas (59,3 %). El 53,1 % de estas cursaron el preuniversitario y 60,9 % cuenta únicamente con un hijo. El nivel de conocimiento sobre prevención de anemia ferropénica según dimensión conocimientos básicos fue alta en 54,7 % de las madres, 53 % presentaron conocimientos bajos en relación con las medidas preventivas, y en el tratamiento predominó el nivel medio en 54,2 % de la casuística. De forma general 38,9 % de las madres presentaron conocimientos medios sobre la prevención de la anemia ferropénica. Conclusiones: Aparte de que las madres presentan un nivel de medio a alto de conocimientos sobre la prevención de la anemia ferropénica, se deben intensificar las acciones de salud, encaminadas a elevar la educación nutricional, como elemento fundamental para su prevención.

Introduction: Iron deficiency is the most frequent specific micronutrient deficiency in the Cuban population. Objective: To determine the level of knowledge about iron deficiency anemia in mothers of children under one year of age. Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted at "Ramón López Peña" polyclinic. The study population consisted of 352 mothers of children under one year of age, who agreed to participate in the research. A questionnaire was applied for data collection. The variable to be evaluated was level of knowledge. Results: The main age group of the participants was between 20 and 35 years (60.9%) and mostly married (59.3%). 53.1% of them had pre-university studies and 60.9% have only one child. The level of knowledge about the prevention of iron deficiency anemia according to basic knowledge dimension was high in 54.7% of the mothers, 53% presented low knowledge in relation to preventive measures, and on the treatment, the average level predominated in 54.2% of the casuistry. In general, 38.9% of the mothers presented average knowledge about the prevention of iron deficiency anemia. Conclusions: Apart from the fact that mothers have a medium to high level of knowledge about the prevention of iron deficiency anemia, health actions should be intensified, aimed at raising nutritional education, as a fundamental element for its prevention.

Remote Learning in Higher Education: Evidence from Poland.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a sudden transformation at universities. The previous mode of teaching has been replaced by remote education, the effectiveness of which depends, among other things, on the technological infrastructure of universities and the digital competence of lecturers and students. The main objective of this study is to evaluate remote learning in higher education from the students' point of view. The uniqueness of the present research approach lies in the identification of four dimensions (socio-emotional, developmental, time-financial, and negative attitude) of students' evaluation of remote learning in higher education. The survey was conducted on 999 students studying remotely, including 518 women and 481 men. Most of the students surveyed had been studying remotely for 1-2 years and were studying full-time for their first degree. The research tool consisted of 16 mixed survey questions. Six of them were related to sociodemographic factors (including those related to the respondents' education), and eight were related to their experiences with and opinions about remote education, respectively. The remaining two questions were used to collect respondents' evaluations of the degree of importance to them of various advantages and disadvantages of remote education. The research showed that among the advantages of remote learning for students, the most important are saving time, the possibility of studying at a university far from home (another city, another country), the possibility of combining work and study, and reduced commuting costs. On the other hand, the disadvantages of remote learning of greatest importance to students include the loss of social ties due to lack of contact with peers, feelings of fatigue resulting from excessive use of information and communication tools, and greater susceptibility to various forms of distraction. In addition, the shape of students' education was relevant to the different dimensions of their evaluation of remote learning in higher education. The social-emotional size of remote learning is more important for students who study remotely in a blended mode (compared to uniform). The developmental dimension is essential for students who participate in remote learning activities for longer during the day. In addition, a more extended period of remote learning promotes the greater importance of the time-financial dimension when evaluating remote knowledge.