Background: Spinal dysraphism represents a wide spectrum of congenital abnormalities of the spine. Myelomeningocele is considered the most common malformation and the most common we saw in our community, with its morb...Background: Spinal dysraphism represents a wide spectrum of congenital abnormalities of the spine. Myelomeningocele is considered the most common malformation and the most common we saw in our community, with its morbidity problems seen commonly in the postoperative period. ASQ-3<sup>TM</sup> Scores are the ages and stages questionnaire, third edition, and represent a tool to assess the development progress, especially in toddlers. Objectives: Evaluation of neurodevelopmental outcome among Sudanese toddlers with spinal dysraphism after surgical closure with or without a VP shunt using ASQ-3<sup>TM</sup> Scores. Methodology: This is a retrospective hospital-based study of 84 patients who underwent myelomeningocele repair at the National Center for Neurological Sciences (NCNS) during the period from 2017 up to 2019. Data were collected through a constructed questionnaire, including ASQ-3<sup>TM</sup> Scores. Data were processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) computer program. Version 25. Results: 84 patients were included in this study;all patients were diagnosed with spinal dysraphism. Out of them, 51 (60.7%) were 2 years old, 33 (39.3%) were 3 years old, 45 (53.6%) were male, 45 (53.6%) of patients mothers attended ANC irregularly, and 54 (64.3%) their mothers didn’t receive folate supplements. 44 (52.3%) of patients underwent MMC repair only, while 40 (47.7%) underwent MMC repair and VP shunt. The commonest postoperative complication was infection, reported in 12 (14.3%) of patients, followed by VP shunt revision in 9 (10.7%) of patients. Neurological assessment showed that the majority of patients need further assessment with a professional, 57 (67.9%) of children don’t walk, run, or climb like other toddlers as their parent’s state;also, half of patients (42, 50%) had medical problems, and 27 (32.1%) of their parent’s state that they do not talk like other toddlers their age. There was a statistically significant association between post-operative complications and展开更多
Research Background: The high prevalence of diabetes in Sudan, estimated at 16%, highlights the importance of effective health education in diabetes management. Diabetes self-management education has been identified a...Research Background: The high prevalence of diabetes in Sudan, estimated at 16%, highlights the importance of effective health education in diabetes management. Diabetes self-management education has been identified as a crucial tool in enhancing the knowledge, attitudes, and abilities necessary for self-management among individuals with diabetes. Aim: To assess the impact of diabetes self-management education on medication adherence and glycemic control in Sudanese adults with type 2 diabetes before and 3 months after the DSME intervention. Method: The study was conducted in Sudan between September 2022 and March 2023, it was an interventional, one-group, pre- and post-test study that aimed to assess the impact of diabetes self-management education (DSME) on medication adherence and diabetes control in Sudanese adults with type 2 diabetes. The research was conducted in primary health care centers in six cities in Sudan and involved 244 participants. The data entry and statistical analysis were conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0. A paired t test was used for analysis. Results: The study included 244 participants, 67% of whom were males. The age mean ± SD was 48.6 ± 9.3 years, and 85.3% of participants were married. Age at onset of diabetes mean ± SD was 40.60 ± 7.81 years;44.6% had diabetes for less than 5 years;and 84.1% had a positive family history of diabetes mellitus. The levels of poor, low, and partial adherence to medication decreased by 8.2%, 4%, and 20.6%, respectively, after the intervention. The levels of good and high medication regime adherence increased by 13% and 19.8%, respectively;BMI decreased by 1.1 ± 0.73 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (p = 0.005). The fasting blood sugar decreased by 69 ± 32.9 mg/dl (p = 0.049), and the glycated hemoglobin decreased by 1.21 ± 0.28% (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study reinforce the importance of patient education in improving glycemic control and enhancing self-management behaviors. Patient education plays a cri展开更多
Aim: To investigate depression, anxiety, PTSD, and insomnia levels among Sudanese citizens after a year has passed since the start of Armed Forces conflict in Sudan. Methods: An online survey was distributed. It is co...Aim: To investigate depression, anxiety, PTSD, and insomnia levels among Sudanese citizens after a year has passed since the start of Armed Forces conflict in Sudan. Methods: An online survey was distributed. It is composed of five parts, covering the following areas: 1) sociodemographic data;2) depression assessment;3) generalized anxiety disorder assessment;4) post-traumatic stress disorder assessment;and 5) insomnia assessment. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27 was used for data analysis;frequency and percentage were used to describe the qualitative variables. Spearman’s correlation analysis and Chi-square test were used for correlation and association analysis;a P-value equal to or less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 283 participants, primarily female (76.0%), with a mean age of 35.26 ± 6.96 years. The majority of participants were married (50.5%) and had a university level of education (50.2%). At the start of the war, 70.3% of participants were inside the war zones, and at the time of data collection, 73.5% were outside Sudan. The length of stay in the war zone ranged from 1 to 300 days, with a mean of 48.59 ± 70.284 days. Additionally, 63.3% of participants stated that they did not receive any form of mental health intervention, and the remaining did not provide an answer. There was a high prevalence of moderate-severe depression (50.5%), moderate anxiety (35.3%), PTSD (56.5%), and sub-threshold insomnia (53.4%) among the participants. Correlation analyses revealed associations between demographic factors such as sex, age, marital status, and education and mental health issues. Notably, female participants showed a higher prevalence of PTSD (53.0%) compared to male participants (67.6%). Conclusions: There is a substantial impact of war-related trauma on mental health, revealing a high prevalence of moderate-severe depression, moderate anxiety, PTSD, and sub-threshold insomnia among the participants. This emphasizes the importance of tail展开更多
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019, otherwise known as COVID-19, emerged in December of 2019. COVID-19 spreads through an airborne transmission route. Preventive measures were described to help decrease the spread o...Background: Coronavirus disease 2019, otherwise known as COVID-19, emerged in December of 2019. COVID-19 spreads through an airborne transmission route. Preventive measures were described to help decrease the spread of COVID-19 worldwide. There were a number of preventive measures that were globally adopted: social distance of at least 1 meter, mask wearing, washing hands for 20 seconds, and covering the mouth and nose if the person sneezes or coughs. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 362 students from the International University of Africa, Sudan, was carried out between August 2021 and September 2022. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 was used for data analysis;frequency and percentage were used to describe the qualitative variables. A chi-square test was used for association analysis;a P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among study participants, the females were 70.9%;most were 20 - 23 years old (73.6%). 54.2% were vaccinated against COVID-19;83.6% had good knowledge regarding the mode of transmission, and 76.1% stayed in during quarantine. 80.6% of participants understood social distancing correctly. 76.1% of males and 45.1% of females started or completed vaccination (P ≤ 0.05). 51.4% of males and 81.3% of females adhered to preventive measures (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: It is important to target health education campaigns and interventions to improve adherence to preventive measures among university students. Although the pandemic is coming to an end, a lesson should be learned from it, and future preparation should be employed.展开更多
Somalia is a country facing numerous challenges in achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and ensuring adequate healthcare financing, This article explores the complexities and obstacles that Somalia must overcome ...Somalia is a country facing numerous challenges in achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and ensuring adequate healthcare financing, This article explores the complexities and obstacles that Somalia must overcome in its pursuit of UHC, the paper begins by providing an overview of the current healthcare landscape in Somalia, highlighting the lack of infrastructure, political instability, and limited financial resources that hinder the establishment of a comprehensive and equitable healthcare system. It then examines the role of international aid and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in filling the healthcare gap, while emphasizing the need for a more sustainable, domestically financed solution. Drawing on a range of data sources and case studies, the article proposes a multi-faceted approach to strengthen healthcare governance, improve resource allocation, and foster local capacity building, the study delves into the unique obstacles that Somalia faces, including a lack of infrastructure, political instability, and limited financial resources, which hinder the establishment of a comprehensive and equitable healthcare system. The paper also examines the role of international aid and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in filling the healthcare gap, while highlighting the need for a more sustainable, domestically financed solution. The findings underscore the importance of political commitment, international cooperation, and innovative financing mechanisms in advancing towards UHC in Somalia, providing valuable insights for other low resource, conflict affected settings.展开更多
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, which is widely referred to as “COVID-19”, has been infecting more than 5.5 million over 144 countries. A vaccine is considered to be the mo...The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, which is widely referred to as “COVID-19”, has been infecting more than 5.5 million over 144 countries. A vaccine is considered to be the most awaiting intervention and hundreds of global R&D institutions engaged in unprecedented speed to develop the vaccine. The availability of COVID-19 vaccines may not translate into its uptake. Although governments will provide the vaccines, their uptake is voluntary. <strong>Objective:</strong> This study was carried out to evaluate the level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and it’s determinants among high risk groups for severe COVID-19 infection living in Mogadishu Somalia.<strong> Methods:</strong> The study was cross-sectional, descriptive analysis conducted to obtain reliable information about the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and it is determinants among high-risk groups living in Mogadishu, Somalia. The calculated sample size was 404 using Cochran’s formula = Z<sup>2</sup>p(1 <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></span> p)/d<sup>2</sup> and addition of 5% non-respondent rate. According to PESS population estimate in 2020, there are 17 districts. We grouped them into 2 strata and through simple random sampling one district was selected from each strata. After randomly selecting the two districts, three sub districts were randomly selected from each and then every second house (1, 3, 5) in the main roads will be selected. If target population were not found in the second selected house, the next house will be taken until sample size is obtained. <strong>Results:</strong> 59.4% of respondents were willing to accept and take vaccination while 40.6% of them were not accepting the vaccination. Being afraid of the side effect was the most common reason for not accepting the vaccine <strong>Conclusion: </strong>More than one third of respondents (40.6%) were not willing to accept the vaccination, knowledge towards COVID-19 was strongly associated w展开更多
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a term applied to describe depressive symptoms occurring during the first year of the postpartum period and is characterized by low mood, loss of enjoyment, reduced energy, and activity,...Postpartum depression (PPD) is a term applied to describe depressive symptoms occurring during the first year of the postpartum period and is characterized by low mood, loss of enjoyment, reduced energy, and activity, marked functional impairment, reduced self-esteem, ideas or acts of self-harm or suicide. The women’s change into motherhood is a difficult period that involves significant changes in the psychological, social and physiological aspects, and is considered to increase vulnerability for the development of mental illness. In Somalia, 1 in 20 women aged 15 - 49 die due to pregnancy- or birth-related complications every year. This makes being pregnant in Somalia a risk that has its own stress and anxiety. Objective: To evaluate postpartum depression and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methodology: The study is analytic cross sectional study design in which postpartum depression and its associated factors are measured. We used Cochran’s formula (Z<sup>2</sup>p(1 – p)/d<sup>2</sup>). Results: One fifth of the study population was found to have postpartum depression and the factors relating to it included marital status, substance abuse, mode and place of delivery. Conclusion: This shows that neglected mental health of the mothers in Somalia has its burden on the society. Recommendation: Mental health care component should be integrated with maternal care programs available in the country to work on prevention and control of motherhood related stress and depression among mothers who are giving birth under the very difficult circumstances in the country.展开更多
文摘Background: Spinal dysraphism represents a wide spectrum of congenital abnormalities of the spine. Myelomeningocele is considered the most common malformation and the most common we saw in our community, with its morbidity problems seen commonly in the postoperative period. ASQ-3<sup>TM</sup> Scores are the ages and stages questionnaire, third edition, and represent a tool to assess the development progress, especially in toddlers. Objectives: Evaluation of neurodevelopmental outcome among Sudanese toddlers with spinal dysraphism after surgical closure with or without a VP shunt using ASQ-3<sup>TM</sup> Scores. Methodology: This is a retrospective hospital-based study of 84 patients who underwent myelomeningocele repair at the National Center for Neurological Sciences (NCNS) during the period from 2017 up to 2019. Data were collected through a constructed questionnaire, including ASQ-3<sup>TM</sup> Scores. Data were processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) computer program. Version 25. Results: 84 patients were included in this study;all patients were diagnosed with spinal dysraphism. Out of them, 51 (60.7%) were 2 years old, 33 (39.3%) were 3 years old, 45 (53.6%) were male, 45 (53.6%) of patients mothers attended ANC irregularly, and 54 (64.3%) their mothers didn’t receive folate supplements. 44 (52.3%) of patients underwent MMC repair only, while 40 (47.7%) underwent MMC repair and VP shunt. The commonest postoperative complication was infection, reported in 12 (14.3%) of patients, followed by VP shunt revision in 9 (10.7%) of patients. Neurological assessment showed that the majority of patients need further assessment with a professional, 57 (67.9%) of children don’t walk, run, or climb like other toddlers as their parent’s state;also, half of patients (42, 50%) had medical problems, and 27 (32.1%) of their parent’s state that they do not talk like other toddlers their age. There was a statistically significant association between post-operative complications and
文摘Research Background: The high prevalence of diabetes in Sudan, estimated at 16%, highlights the importance of effective health education in diabetes management. Diabetes self-management education has been identified as a crucial tool in enhancing the knowledge, attitudes, and abilities necessary for self-management among individuals with diabetes. Aim: To assess the impact of diabetes self-management education on medication adherence and glycemic control in Sudanese adults with type 2 diabetes before and 3 months after the DSME intervention. Method: The study was conducted in Sudan between September 2022 and March 2023, it was an interventional, one-group, pre- and post-test study that aimed to assess the impact of diabetes self-management education (DSME) on medication adherence and diabetes control in Sudanese adults with type 2 diabetes. The research was conducted in primary health care centers in six cities in Sudan and involved 244 participants. The data entry and statistical analysis were conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0. A paired t test was used for analysis. Results: The study included 244 participants, 67% of whom were males. The age mean ± SD was 48.6 ± 9.3 years, and 85.3% of participants were married. Age at onset of diabetes mean ± SD was 40.60 ± 7.81 years;44.6% had diabetes for less than 5 years;and 84.1% had a positive family history of diabetes mellitus. The levels of poor, low, and partial adherence to medication decreased by 8.2%, 4%, and 20.6%, respectively, after the intervention. The levels of good and high medication regime adherence increased by 13% and 19.8%, respectively;BMI decreased by 1.1 ± 0.73 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (p = 0.005). The fasting blood sugar decreased by 69 ± 32.9 mg/dl (p = 0.049), and the glycated hemoglobin decreased by 1.21 ± 0.28% (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study reinforce the importance of patient education in improving glycemic control and enhancing self-management behaviors. Patient education plays a cri
文摘Aim: To investigate depression, anxiety, PTSD, and insomnia levels among Sudanese citizens after a year has passed since the start of Armed Forces conflict in Sudan. Methods: An online survey was distributed. It is composed of five parts, covering the following areas: 1) sociodemographic data;2) depression assessment;3) generalized anxiety disorder assessment;4) post-traumatic stress disorder assessment;and 5) insomnia assessment. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27 was used for data analysis;frequency and percentage were used to describe the qualitative variables. Spearman’s correlation analysis and Chi-square test were used for correlation and association analysis;a P-value equal to or less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 283 participants, primarily female (76.0%), with a mean age of 35.26 ± 6.96 years. The majority of participants were married (50.5%) and had a university level of education (50.2%). At the start of the war, 70.3% of participants were inside the war zones, and at the time of data collection, 73.5% were outside Sudan. The length of stay in the war zone ranged from 1 to 300 days, with a mean of 48.59 ± 70.284 days. Additionally, 63.3% of participants stated that they did not receive any form of mental health intervention, and the remaining did not provide an answer. There was a high prevalence of moderate-severe depression (50.5%), moderate anxiety (35.3%), PTSD (56.5%), and sub-threshold insomnia (53.4%) among the participants. Correlation analyses revealed associations between demographic factors such as sex, age, marital status, and education and mental health issues. Notably, female participants showed a higher prevalence of PTSD (53.0%) compared to male participants (67.6%). Conclusions: There is a substantial impact of war-related trauma on mental health, revealing a high prevalence of moderate-severe depression, moderate anxiety, PTSD, and sub-threshold insomnia among the participants. This emphasizes the importance of tail
文摘Background: Coronavirus disease 2019, otherwise known as COVID-19, emerged in December of 2019. COVID-19 spreads through an airborne transmission route. Preventive measures were described to help decrease the spread of COVID-19 worldwide. There were a number of preventive measures that were globally adopted: social distance of at least 1 meter, mask wearing, washing hands for 20 seconds, and covering the mouth and nose if the person sneezes or coughs. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 362 students from the International University of Africa, Sudan, was carried out between August 2021 and September 2022. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 was used for data analysis;frequency and percentage were used to describe the qualitative variables. A chi-square test was used for association analysis;a P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among study participants, the females were 70.9%;most were 20 - 23 years old (73.6%). 54.2% were vaccinated against COVID-19;83.6% had good knowledge regarding the mode of transmission, and 76.1% stayed in during quarantine. 80.6% of participants understood social distancing correctly. 76.1% of males and 45.1% of females started or completed vaccination (P ≤ 0.05). 51.4% of males and 81.3% of females adhered to preventive measures (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: It is important to target health education campaigns and interventions to improve adherence to preventive measures among university students. Although the pandemic is coming to an end, a lesson should be learned from it, and future preparation should be employed.
文摘Somalia is a country facing numerous challenges in achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and ensuring adequate healthcare financing, This article explores the complexities and obstacles that Somalia must overcome in its pursuit of UHC, the paper begins by providing an overview of the current healthcare landscape in Somalia, highlighting the lack of infrastructure, political instability, and limited financial resources that hinder the establishment of a comprehensive and equitable healthcare system. It then examines the role of international aid and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in filling the healthcare gap, while emphasizing the need for a more sustainable, domestically financed solution. Drawing on a range of data sources and case studies, the article proposes a multi-faceted approach to strengthen healthcare governance, improve resource allocation, and foster local capacity building, the study delves into the unique obstacles that Somalia faces, including a lack of infrastructure, political instability, and limited financial resources, which hinder the establishment of a comprehensive and equitable healthcare system. The paper also examines the role of international aid and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in filling the healthcare gap, while highlighting the need for a more sustainable, domestically financed solution. The findings underscore the importance of political commitment, international cooperation, and innovative financing mechanisms in advancing towards UHC in Somalia, providing valuable insights for other low resource, conflict affected settings.
文摘The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, which is widely referred to as “COVID-19”, has been infecting more than 5.5 million over 144 countries. A vaccine is considered to be the most awaiting intervention and hundreds of global R&D institutions engaged in unprecedented speed to develop the vaccine. The availability of COVID-19 vaccines may not translate into its uptake. Although governments will provide the vaccines, their uptake is voluntary. <strong>Objective:</strong> This study was carried out to evaluate the level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and it’s determinants among high risk groups for severe COVID-19 infection living in Mogadishu Somalia.<strong> Methods:</strong> The study was cross-sectional, descriptive analysis conducted to obtain reliable information about the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and it is determinants among high-risk groups living in Mogadishu, Somalia. The calculated sample size was 404 using Cochran’s formula = Z<sup>2</sup>p(1 <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></span> p)/d<sup>2</sup> and addition of 5% non-respondent rate. According to PESS population estimate in 2020, there are 17 districts. We grouped them into 2 strata and through simple random sampling one district was selected from each strata. After randomly selecting the two districts, three sub districts were randomly selected from each and then every second house (1, 3, 5) in the main roads will be selected. If target population were not found in the second selected house, the next house will be taken until sample size is obtained. <strong>Results:</strong> 59.4% of respondents were willing to accept and take vaccination while 40.6% of them were not accepting the vaccination. Being afraid of the side effect was the most common reason for not accepting the vaccine <strong>Conclusion: </strong>More than one third of respondents (40.6%) were not willing to accept the vaccination, knowledge towards COVID-19 was strongly associated w
文摘Postpartum depression (PPD) is a term applied to describe depressive symptoms occurring during the first year of the postpartum period and is characterized by low mood, loss of enjoyment, reduced energy, and activity, marked functional impairment, reduced self-esteem, ideas or acts of self-harm or suicide. The women’s change into motherhood is a difficult period that involves significant changes in the psychological, social and physiological aspects, and is considered to increase vulnerability for the development of mental illness. In Somalia, 1 in 20 women aged 15 - 49 die due to pregnancy- or birth-related complications every year. This makes being pregnant in Somalia a risk that has its own stress and anxiety. Objective: To evaluate postpartum depression and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last 12 months in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methodology: The study is analytic cross sectional study design in which postpartum depression and its associated factors are measured. We used Cochran’s formula (Z<sup>2</sup>p(1 – p)/d<sup>2</sup>). Results: One fifth of the study population was found to have postpartum depression and the factors relating to it included marital status, substance abuse, mode and place of delivery. Conclusion: This shows that neglected mental health of the mothers in Somalia has its burden on the society. Recommendation: Mental health care component should be integrated with maternal care programs available in the country to work on prevention and control of motherhood related stress and depression among mothers who are giving birth under the very difficult circumstances in the country.
