Cultural practices supporting early motherhood in a Ghanaian community.

Cultural practices help constitute a 'normal' way of life within a specific community and set the standard that members of the community are expected to adhere to. Some of these practices may have a short- and long-term influence on young people in ways supportive of teenage motherhood. This study explored cultural practices and beliefs in a study area in Ghana that encourage teenage girls into motherhood unintendedly. An exploratory design was used. Thirty teenage mothers and twenty-two opinion leaders participated in fieldwork conducted between October 2018 and February 2019. Data were analysed using an inductive approach. Four themes became apparent: fear of being cursed for having an abortion; sleeping arrangements; funerals and wakes; and practices of cohabitation in the study area. Cultural practices contribute to teenage motherhood in the Adaklu District of Ghana. Programmes, interventions and policies should be designed to take into consideration the needs, contexts, and backgrounds of teenagers. Future programmes to enhance teenagers ability to avoid teenage pregnancy and motherhood should consider factors such as the family, the person, the community, institutions, and national and international influences.

Measuring Paranoid Beliefs in Adolescents: A Comparison of the Revised-Green et al.'s Paranoid Thoughts Scale (R-GPTS) and the Bird Checklist of Adolescent Paranoia (B-CAP).

Research on paranoid beliefs in adolescents is in its infancy. Valid and reliable assessments are essential to advancing the field, yet there is no current consensus as to which are optimal to use in this population. This study compared the psychometric properties of two measures of paranoia in a general population adolescent sample. A cross-sectional study with quota sampling (gender and age) recruited adolescents (14-17 years) from the UK (n = 262) and USA (n = 200), who completed the Revised Green et al. Paranoid Thoughts Scale (R-GPTS) and the Bird Checklist for Adolescent Paranoia (B-CAP). We assessed factor structures, intercorrelations, overlap of participants identified as at-risk for paranoid thoughts via both scales, convergent validity (scales with one another) and discriminant validity (distress, wellbeing, bullying and discrimination). Both scales performed equally well in terms of factorial validity. Intercorrelations between the subscales and with general distress were high for both measures. However, a substantial percentage of participants were identified as having paranoid beliefs according to the R-GPTS but not the B-CAP. Furthermore, the B-CAP showed a very high correlations (0.69 ≤ r ≤ 0.79) with self-reported bullying experiences, which bordered on multicollinearity. Findings highlight the possibility that B-CAP may risk confounding paranoid beliefs with exposure to bullying more so than R-GPTS, and that B-CAP may miss instances of elevated paranoia that are captured by the R-GPTS. Future research needs to further explore this by validating both scales with an external (e.g., interview-based) criterion for paranoia.

Influencing Factors on Death Acceptance Among Thai Older Persons.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate both the direct and indirect effects of various factors on the acceptance of death. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 800 older Buddhist persons in Thailand, who were recruited through a multistage sampling method. Data were collected using six questionnaires and analyzed through path analysis using the MPlus program. RESULTS: Death anxiety was the main factor influencing death acceptance, with death anxiety exerting a negative direct effect on death acceptance. Buddhist beliefs about death demonstrated both a positive direct effect on death acceptance and a positive indirect effect on death acceptance through Buddhist practices. Furthermore, Buddhist practices exhibited a positive direct effect on death acceptance, while social support also showed a positive direct effect on death acceptance. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significant direct and indirect effects on death acceptance among older Thai Buddhists. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Buddhist-aligned interventions may be more effective and readily embraced by Thai older persons. For those who are receptive, nurses can foster death acceptance by developing interventions that reduce death anxiety and promote Buddhist beliefs about death, Buddhist practices, and social support.

Exploring self-care practices and health beliefs among men in the context of emerging infectious diseases: Lessons from the Mpox pandemic in Brazil.

Our goal was to explore self-care practices among men who have sex with men in the context of Mpox in Brazil. This study used qualitative research methods, including interviews and thematic analysis, to collect and analyze data from male participants across the Brazilian territory. The narratives unveil men's perspectives on self-care, risk reduction, and health beliefs during the Mpox pandemic. Our findings highlight a multifaceted approach to self-care among men, encompassing hygiene, physical contact management, mask usage, skin lesion vigilance, and adherence to official guidelines. Men's attitudes toward sexual behaviors emphasize the importance of reducing sexual partners, practicing safe sex, and combating misinformation through accurate information dissemination. The development of these behaviors and self-care practices can be facilitated by nurses guided by Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Theory, supported by patient-centered care, with strategies to address and confront the stigma associated with the disease and provide emotional support. Thus, the study underscores the pivotal role of self-care in mitigating infection risks, especially in the context of emerging infectious diseases. It acknowledges the impact of socio-cultural factors and healthcare policies on men's preventive measures. However, it also recognizes limitations, such as potential bias due to stigma concerns and a nonrepresentative sample. Ultimately, the research advocates for tailored education, promotion of gender equity, and healthcare empowerment to effectively manage health risks in such contexts.

Modeling the associations between emotion regulation, suicide crisis syndrome and suicidal behavior: Results in community and clinical samples.

BACKGROUND: Emotion Regulation (ER) and Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS) are psychological processes involved in suicide. Within ER, both the use of rumination and dysfunctional emotion beliefs are associated with suicide. SCS, a pre-suicidal mental state involving cognitive and affective dysregulation, is related to short-term suicide risk. AIMS: Here, we first examined associations between ER (beliefs about the uncontrollability of emotions and rumination), SCS and suicide behavior, and second, we test a multistep model in which ER factors are linked to suicide behavior through SCS. MATERIALS & METHODS: We conducted two cross-sectional studies to address this issue by self-reports. Study 1 used a community sample (N = 421). Study 2 used a clinical sample (N = 70). RESULTS: Results from both studies showed that beliefs about the uncontrollability of emotions and rumination were associated with higher levels of SCS symptoms and suicide behavior, and that SCS was associated with suicide behavior. In addition, path analyses showed that uncontrollability beliefs were linked to rumination, which in turn was associated with SCS, and this variable mediated the association between ER factors and suicide ideation (in both community and clinical samples) and suicide attempts (in the community sample). DISCUSSION: As we expected, in both samples, uncontrollability of emotions and rumination were positively related with SCS and suicide behavior. CONCLUSION: We emphasize the importance of addressing uncontrollability beliefs and rumination in suicide prevention.

The Emotion Beliefs Questionnaire: Psychometric properties, norms, and links to affective outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The Emotion Beliefs Questionnaire was recently developed to measure beliefs about the controllability and usefulness of negative and positive emotions. These are beliefs that have been theorised to be influential for emotion regulation and psychological outcomes. However, to date there are few studies utilising large, representative samples to examine the EBQ's psychometric properties and affective correlates. Our aim was to fill this gap by examining the EBQ's psychometric properties and exploring associations between emotion beliefs, emotion regulation, and affective disorder symptoms. METHODS: A sample of 1175 adults recruited from the general population in the United States completed measures of emotion beliefs, emotion regulation, and affective disorder symptoms. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses supported the EBQ's intended subscale structure, where controllability and usefulness beliefs were separated by valence. This structure was invariant across gender, age, and education categories. The EBQ correlated in expected ways with other measures, demonstrating good validity, and had good to excellent levels of internal consistency reliability. LIMITATIONS: This study used a non-clinical sample that was predominantly White. Future work should utilise clinical and cross-cultural samples to maximise generalisability of findings. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the EBQ is a psychometrically sound tool for measuring the multidimensional emotion belief construct. The EBQ may have clinical utility in the conceptualisation, assessment, and treatment of maladaptive emotion beliefs. Furthermore, our results highlight the importance of considering the potential influence of maladaptive emotion beliefs in emotion dysregulation and affective disorder symptoms.

Willingness of people with type 2 diabetes to engage in healthy eating, physical activity and medication taking.

AIM: To assess the willingness of people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) to engage in healthy eating, physical activity and medication taking, and explore associated patient factors. METHODS: Online survey among recently diagnosed T2D patients recruited in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK). Patient factors included general factors and behaviour-specific beliefs. Logistic regression analyses and explorative comparisons were conducted. RESULTS: Overall, 48% of 67 patients were willing to engage in all three management options, whereas 6% were not willing to follow any of them. 73% were willing to manage T2D with healthy eating, 73% with physical activity, and 72% with medication. Country of recruitment was significantly associated with willingness for healthy eating, with higher willingness among Dutch participants. Beliefs surrounding capability, opportunity, and motivation were significantly associated with willingness to engage in physical activity and medication taking. Many beliefs were similar regardless of willingness but those willing to engage in physical activity perceived less barriers and those willing to take medication had more positive and less negative outcome beliefs than those not willing. CONCLUSIONS: Willingness to engage in all management options was limited among recently diagnosed patients, and partly associated with behaviour-specific patient beliefs.

Association of somatic comorbidity and treatment adherence in patients with psychotic disorder.

BACKGROUND: Increased risk for somatic comorbidity in individuals with schizophrenia has been well established. In addition, psychiatric patients with somatic illnesses are more likely to have more psychiatric readmissions. Increased burden of treatment related to chronic somatic comorbidities may be associated with lower adherence to psychiatric medication. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 275 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. A general practitioner performed a complete physical health checkup for all participants, including a complete medical examination and laboratory tests. Patients' adherence, attitudes, insight, and side-effects were evaluated using the Attitudes toward Neuroleptic Treatment Scale. Overall symptomatology was measured using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Regression analysis was used to investigate interactions and associations among health beliefs, disease burden, and treatment adherence. Separate regression models were utilized to account for the complexity of health behavior and treatment adherence pathways. RESULTS: Patients' somatic comorbidity and health behavior were not associated with adherence or attitudes toward antipsychotic treatment. High dose of antipsychotics and obesity were related to the need for medical interventions, while a healthy diet reduced the risk. Higher BPRS score and older age were associated with having somatic symptoms. Somatic comorbidities had no negative effects on treatment adherence or attitudes. CONCLUSION: This study focuses on exploring possible associations between health beliefs and treatment adherence pathways in patients with psychotic disorders. Contrary to our hypotheses, we found no evidence to support our health belief and diseases burden models and their associations.

Where is the "counseling" in prenatal genetic counseling?

OBJECTIVE: Prenatal genetic testing is routinely offered to all pregnant patients in the United States and is variably offered to certain pregnant populations globally [1]. To achieve value-based, informed decision-making, we argue for a shift away from the predominant "teaching" model of genetic counseling practice that prioritizes information and counselor dominance, toward a "counseling" model of practice that prioritizes the patient's narrative, values and beliefs. DISCUSSION: Since prenatal testing began, genetic counseling has aimed to facilitate informed decision-making. Many patients are not familiar with the conditions which can be screened for prenatally or the quality of life of affected children. This lack of understanding can leave expectant parents unprepared to make informed decisions about prenatal testing. As the number of prenatal genetic tests expands, genetic counselors and all healthcare providers who discuss prenatal testing face a growing amount of information that is not feasible to explain to patients in a routine appointment. Research demonstrates that the common approach to genetic counseling, including in the prenatal setting, is the provision of biomedical information. Yet, genetic counseling outcome studies suggest that attending to the relational aspects of genetic counseling are associated with more positive patient outcomes, including enhanced knowledge, informed decision-making and greater patient satisfaction [2,3]. Through case vignettes, we illustrate the application of a counseling model of practice using Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) practice-based competencies in the domain of "Interpersonal, Psychosocial and Counseling Skills" [4]. Finally, we propose changes across the genetic counseling profession to move clinical practice toward a more relational model of care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A counseling model of genetic counseling practice leads to more positive patient outcomes [2,3]. Genetic counselors and other prenatal healthcare providers can leverage existing counseling and communication skills to support clients in value-based, informed decision-making in prenatal genetic counseling practice.

Nurses' knowledge and beliefs on pain management practices with hospitalised persons living with dementia: A qualitative descriptive study.

AIM: To understand nurses' knowledge, beliefs and experiences affect pain management practices in hospitalised persons living with dementia (PLWD). DESIGN: Naturalistic inquiry using qualitative descriptive design. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 registered nurses who worked in one acute care hospital in Southern California from October to November 2022. Data were analysed using content analysis to identify themes. RESULTS: Two themes were developed: improvising pain assessment, which included how pain was documented, and administration hesitancy referring to nurse's concerns about PLWD's confusion. Nurses described the challenges of assessing pain in hospitalised PLWD particularly if they were non-verbal and/or demonstrating responsive behaviours. Nurse's years of experience, dementia stigma, and their unconscious biases affected nurses' pain management practices. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings highlight the complex challenges of pain management in hospitalised PLWD that are exacerbated by nurses' knowledge deficits, negative stereotypical beliefs, dementia stigma and unconscious biases towards older people that contributes to undermanaged pain in hospitalised PLWD. IMPLICATIONS: A comprehensive strategy using an implementation framework is needed to address nurse's knowledge gaps, unconscious bias, dementia stigma and techniques that enhance communication skills is suggested. Building a foundation in these areas would improve pain management in hospitalised PLWD. IMPACT: Improving pain management in hospitalised PLWD would improve the quality of life, decrease hospital length of stay, prevent readmissions, and improve nurse satisfaction. REPORTING METHOD: The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). PATIENT CONTRIBUTIONS: Improving pain management in hospitalised PLWD would prevent long term confusion, episodes of delirium and improve quality of life as they recover from their acute illness for which they required hospital care.

Perspectives regarding cannabis use: Results from a qualitative study of individuals engaged in substance use treatment in Georgia and Connecticut.

Objective: Cannabis use is increasingly pervasive throughout the U.S. People in treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) may be especially at-risk of harm due to this changing context of cannabis in the U.S. This study's objective was to qualitatively describe experiences and beliefs around cannabis among people who had entered treatment for any SUD in the past 12-months. Methods: From May to November of 2022, we conducted 27 semi-structured interviews (n=16 in Georgia, n=11 in Connecticut) with individuals in treatment for SUD in Georgia and Connecticut. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using an emergent approach. Results: All participants had used cannabis in the past. Four themes emerged from the interviews. Participants: (1) perceived cannabis as an important contributor to non-cannabis substance use initiation in adolescence; (2) viewed cannabis as a substance with the potential to improve health with fewer side effects than prescription medications; (3) expressed conflicting opinions regarding cannabis as a trigger or tool to manage cravings for other non-cannabis substances currently; and 4) described concerns related to negative legal, social service, and treatment-related consequences as well as negative peer perception relating to the use of cannabis. Conclusion: Although participants described cannabis's important role as an initiatory drug in adolescence and young adulthood, many felt that cannabis was a medicinal substance for a range of health challenges. These findings suggest SUD treatment clinicians should address medicinal beliefs related to cannabis among their clients and emphasizes the need for research on cannabis use and SUD treatment outcomes.

A mobile app to challenge obsessional beliefs in adolescents: a protocol of a two-armed, parallel randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a crucial stage for the development of OCD symptoms that, in most cases, persist into adulthood. This requires designing preventive strategies tailored to this population. Therefore, we aim to describe the study protocol that will be used to examine the effectiveness of a mobile health application to challenge obsessional beliefs in adolescents. METHODS: A two-armed randomized controlled trial will be conducted on an adolescent sample from the general population. The experimental group will use the intervention module (GGOC-AD) of a mobile app on the GGtude platform for 14 days whereas the control group will use a non-active module (GGN-AD) of said app. Primary outcome measures will be obsessional beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and secondary measures will be self-esteem and emotional symptoms. Three assessment points will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. A linear multiple regression model with an intention to treat approach will be used. The expected total sample size will be 55 participants. DISCUSSION: We expect that the intervention group will show a reduction in obsessional beliefs and OCD-symptoms at post and follow-up in comparison with the control group. Additionally, we expect that the app will improve participants' self-esteem. This study could provide an accessible mobile health tool to prevent OCD-related symptoms in adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06033391 . Registered September 4, 2023.

Longitudinal Trajectories of Social Mobility Beliefs among Chinese Adolescents: The Protective Roles of Parental Academic Involvement and Adolescent Future Orientation.

Social mobility beliefs play a significant role in shaping adolescents' adaptive developmental outcomes, including well-being and academic functioning. Nevertheless, existing research may not cast light on the distinct trajectories and potential protective factors of social mobility beliefs. The present study aims to identify heterogeneity in trajectory patterns of social mobility beliefs among Chinese adolescents (Mage = 12.45, SDage = 2.60; 55.1% boys; 40.0% rural adolescents) in a four-wave (i.e., fall 2017, fall 2018, spring 2019, and fall 2019) longitudinal design, and examines the protective roles of parental academic involvement and adolescent future orientation. Three distinct trajectories of social mobility beliefs were identified: high-increasing (35.1%; a positive trajectory with the best developmental outcomes, including the lowest problem behaviors and depression symptoms, and the highest life satisfaction and academic competence), moderate-stable (49.8%), and low-decreasing (15.1%; a negative trajectory with the worst developmental outcomes, including the highest problem behaviors and depression symptoms, and the lowest life satisfaction and academic competence). Apart from the main effects of parental academic involvement and future orientation, a significant interaction effect of these two protective factors and adolescent group was detected, and only rural adolescents who reported both high levels of parental academic involvement and future orientation have a greater chance of being placed in the high-increasing trajectory than the low-decreasing trajectory. These findings highlight the significance of clarifying individual differences in the dynamic process of social mobility beliefs during adolescence, and elucidate rural-urban disparities in the influences of protective factors on social mobility beliefs trajectories, and inform individualized intervention strategies.

Manifestations, social impact, and decay of conceptual beliefs: A cultural perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Believing comprises multifaceted processes that integrate information from the outside world through meaning-making processes with personal relevance. METHODS: Qualitative Review of the current literature in social cognitive neuroscience. RESULTS: Although believing develops rapidly outside an individual's conscious awareness, it results in the formation of beliefs that are stored in memory and play an important role in determining an individual's behavior. Primal beliefs reflect an individual's experience of objects and events, whereas conceptual beliefs are based on narratives that are held in social groups. Conceptual beliefs can be about autobiographical, political, religious, and other aspects of life and may be encouraged by participation in group rituals. We hypothesize that assertions of future gains and rewards that transcend but are inherent in these codices provide incentives to follow the norms and rules of social groups. CONCLUSION: The power of conceptual beliefs to provide cultural orientation is likely to fade when circumstances and evidence make it clear that what was asserted no longer applies.

How does strength use relate to burnout among Chinese healthcare professionals? Exploring the mediating roles of beliefs about stress and basic psychological needs satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of burnout among healthcare workers remains chronically high. Former studies have indicated that strength use is a promising approach to reduce burnout. However, relatively little is known about the psychological mechanisms underlying the ability of strength use to reduce burnout, especially among healthcare workers. AIM: This study sought to examine the link between strength use and burnout in Chinese healthcare workers, and to explore the mediating roles of beliefs about stress and basic psychological needs satisfaction in that relationship. METHODS: This study was conducted in two time periods, from September to October 2020 and from February to September 2022. A total of 812 healthcare workers completed a multi-section questionnaire. RESULTS: Strength use was negatively associated with burnout and negative stress beliefs, and positively associated with positive stress beliefs, control beliefs, and basic psychological needs satisfaction. Moreover, negative stress beliefs, control beliefs, and basic psychological needs satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between strength use and burnout. Furthermore, effect contrasts revealed that the mediating effect of basic psychological needs satisfaction was stronger than that of negative stress beliefs and control beliefs. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed that negative stress beliefs, control beliefs, and basic psychological needs satisfaction act as mediators in the association of strength use with burnout. Furthermore, basic psychological needs satisfaction plays a more important mediating role than negative stress beliefs and control beliefs in the strength use-burnout relationship.

Perceptions and engagement of patients with chronic conditions on the use of medical cannabis: a scoping review.

CONTEXT: Studies generally focus on one type of chronic condition and the effect of medical cannabis (MC) on symptoms; little is known about the perceptions and engagement of patients living with chronic conditions regarding the use of MC. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aims to explore: (1) what are the dimensions addressed in studies on MC that deal with patients' perceptions of MC? and (2) how have patients been engaged in developing these studies and their methodologies? Through these objectives, we have identified areas for improving future research. METHODS: We searched five databases and applied exclusion criteria to select relevant articles. A thematic analysis approach was used to identify the main themes: (1) reasons to use, to stop using or not to use MC, (2) effects of MC on patients themselves and empowerment, (3) perspective and knowledge about MC, and (4) discussion with relatives and healthcare professionals. RESULTS: Of 53 articles, the main interest when assessing the perceptions of MC is to identify the reasons to use MC (n = 39), while few articles focused on the reasons leading to stop using MC (n = 13). The majority (85%) appraise the effects of MC as perceived by patients. Less than one third assessed patients' sense of empowerment. Articles determining the beliefs surrounding and knowledge of MC (n = 41) generally addressed the concerns about or the comfort level with respect to using MC. Only six articles assessed patients' stereotypes regarding cannabis. Concerns about stigma constituted the main topic while assessing relationships with relatives. Some articles included patients in the research, but none of them had co-created the data collection tool with patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our review outlined that few studies considered chronic diseases as a whole and that few patients are involved in the co-construction of data collection tools as well. There is an evidence gap concerning the results in terms of methodological quality when engaging patients in their design. Future research should evaluate why cannabis' effectiveness varies between patients, and how access affects the decision to use or not to use MC, particularly regarding the relationship between patients and healthcare providers. Future research should consider age and gender while assessing perceptions and should take into consideration the legislation status of cannabis as these factors could in fact shape perception. To reduce stigma and stereotypes about MC users, better quality and accessible information on MC should be disseminated.

Beliefs About Sexual Functioning Scale: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of Psychometric Properties Within Turkish Population.

Background and Purpose: Beliefs about sexual function play a very significant role in determining sexual dysfunctions. There are very few short and reliable scales that can be administered to both men and women to measure their beliefs about sexual function. In this study, the researchers aimed to define the cross-culturally adapted Turkish version of the Beliefs about Sexual Functioning Scale and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: In this methodological study which included 192 people, data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the personal information form and the Beliefs about Sexual Functioning Scale. Results: The content validity index and Cronbach's alpha value of the scale were .96 and .726, respectively. Findings indicate that the four-factor structure of the scale, whose items were reduced from 15 to 11, showed a good fit. According to the results of exploratory factor analysis, the scale preserved its original structure, but one subdimension (anal sex beliefs) was excluded from the scale because it was not suitable for the Turkish culture. The remaining four subdimensions accounted for 61.71% of the total variance. Conclusions: The Beliefs about Sexual Functioning Scale can be used to determine the beliefs about sexual functions of people living in Turkey.

Male involvement in maternal and child nutrition in low-income informal settlements, Nairobi, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Maternal and child nutrition is a significant public health concern because adequate nutrition is essential for the health, development, and well-being of mothers and children. Men can play a critical role in improving maternal and child health, including through their involvement in the nutrition of the mother and child. However, little has been studied on male involvement in maternal and child nutrition; therefore, this qualitative exploratory study focused on the level of male involvement and factors influencing male involvement in maternal and child nutrition in low-income urban informal settings. METHODS: Qualitative data collection methods were triangulated in the exploratory study to inform the study objectives. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with 30 men and 20 women based on the inclusion criteria that they have children aged between 6 and 23 months. An additional 10 key informant interviews with stakeholders in nutrition within the study setting were also carried out. Data from the qualitative interviews were captured in audio files with informed consent and permission to record from the study participants. The interviews were transcribed and translated into English transcripts for coding and analysis. Themes were derived from the five levels of the socio-ecological model of human behavior, namely, (i) individual factors; (ii) interpersonal factors; (iii) community factors; (iv) institutional factors guided the analysis. RESULTS: Findings from the study revealed that personal beliefs and values, the nature of work, mistrust and stigma and discrimination, and the association clinic visits with HIV testing, were some of the factors that influenced male involvement in maternal and child nutrition. CONCLUSION: It is important to recognize the potential value of research on the role of men in maternal and child nutrition and to identify ways to overcome the barriers to their involvement. By better understanding the factors that influence male involvement in maternal and child nutrition and the impact of this involvement on maternal and child nutrition, it may be possible to develop more effective interventions to promote the nutritional well-being of mothers and children.

Common misconceptions and myths about ovarian cancer causation: a national cross-sectional study from palestine.

BACKGROUND: Women's inability to recognize ovarian cancer (OC) causation myths to be incorrect may lead to behavioral changes that could distract them from actual risk factors and impact their treatment decision making. This study examined Palestinian women's recognition of OC mythical causes, and explored factors associated with good recognition. METHODS: A national cross-sectional study was conducted. Adult Palestinian women were recruited from hospitals, primary healthcare facilities, and public areas in 11 governorates. The Cancer Awareness Measure-Mythical Causes Scale was modified and utilized for data collection. Awareness level was determined based on the number of myths around OC causation recognized to be incorrect: poor (0-4), fair (5-9), and good (10-13). RESULTS: A total of 5618 participants agreed and completed the questionnaire out of 6095 approached (response rate = 92.1%), and 5411 questionnaires were included in the final analysis. The most recognized food-related myth was 'drinking from plastic bottles' (n = 1370, 25.3%) followed by 'eating burnt food' (n = 1298, 24.0%). The least recognized food-related myth was 'eating food containing additives' (n = 611, 11.3%). The most recognized food-unrelated myth was 'having a physical trauma' (n = 2899, 53.6%), whereas the least recognized was 'using mobile phones' (n = 1347, 24.9%). Only 273 participants (5.1%) had good awareness of OC causation myths as incorrect. Earning higher monthly incomes as well as visiting governmental healthcare facilities were associated with a decrease in the likelihood of exhibiting good awareness. CONCLUSION: The overall recognition of OC causation myths was low. Addressing mythical beliefs should be included in OC prevention strategies and public health interventions to improve women's understanding of OC risk factors versus mythical causes.

Awareness, attitudes, and beliefs of dementia in Indonesia.

INTRODUCTION: Tackling dementia stigma is a policy priority. In Indonesia, we have little insight into the general public's knowledge and attitudes about dementia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 4430 Indonesian adults recruited from Jakarta and North Sumatra, Indonesia. Measures included dementia knowledge and attitudes. RESULTS: A total of 86.3% (n = 3,803) of adults had not heard of the terms dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and commonly viewed dementia as a normal part of aging. Being older, incorrect knowledge about etiology, not having heard of the terms dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease, having less than primary education, and being from North Sumatra were associated with more negative attitudes (p-values < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Misconceptions and lack of awareness about dementia are common in Indonesia. Attitudes tended not to be negative, but our research highlights factors associated with dementia attitudes. Future research should use this information to better tailor and target potential anti-stigma strategies. Highlights: Most Indonesians had not heard of the terms dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease and thought it was caused by normal aging.The majority of participants held mixed or positive attitudes towards dementia.A series of demographic factors alongside poor awareness were associated with negative attitudes towards dementia.