BACKGROUND Violence against healthcare workers(HCWs)in the Caribbean continues to prevail yet remains underreported.Our aim is to determine the cause,traits,and consequences of violence on HCWs in the Caribbean.AIM To...BACKGROUND Violence against healthcare workers(HCWs)in the Caribbean continues to prevail yet remains underreported.Our aim is to determine the cause,traits,and consequences of violence on HCWs in the Caribbean.AIM To determine the cause,traits,and consequences of violence on HCWs in the Caribbean.METHODS This research adopted an online cross-sectional survey approach,spanning over eight weeks(between June 6th and August 9th,2022).The survey was generated using Research Electronic Data Capture forms and followed a snowballing strategy to contact individuals using emails,social media,text messages,etc.Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the variables that influence violence,including gender,age,years of experience,institution type,and night shift frequency.RESULTS The survey was completed by 225 HCWs.Females comprised 61%.Over 51%of respondents belonged to the 21 to 35 age group.Dominica(n=61),Haiti(n=50),and Grenada(n=31)had the most responses.Most HCWs(49%)worked for government academic institutions,followed by community hospitals(23%).Medical students(32%),followed by attending physicians(22%),and others(16%)comprised the most common cadre of respondents.About 39%of the participants reported experiencing violence themselves,and 18%reported violence against colleague(s).Verbal violence(48%),emotional abuse(24%),and physical misconduct(14%)were the most common types of violence.Nearly 63%of respondents identified patients or their relatives as the most frequent aggressors.Univariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that female gender(OR=2.08;95%CI:1.16-3.76,P=0.014)and higher frequency of night shifts(OR=2.22;95%CI:1.08-4.58,P=0.030)were associated with significantly higher odds of experiencing violence.More than 50%of HCWs felt less motivated and had decreased job satisfaction post-violent conduct.CONCLUSION A large proportion of HCWS in the Caribbean are exposed to violence,yet the phenomenon remains underreported.As a result,HCWs’job satisfaction has diminished.展开更多
Background: Neonatal sepsis is known to result in 26% of mortalities in children below the age of five worldwide, countries in Sub-Saharan African recording the highest deaths. Although the deaths of neonates have red...Background: Neonatal sepsis is known to result in 26% of mortalities in children below the age of five worldwide, countries in Sub-Saharan African recording the highest deaths. Although the deaths of neonates have reduced world over up to 3.6 million counts, Chilenje General Hospital continues to register significant numbers of neonatal sepsis. This study aimed at investigating the factors associated with neonatal sepsis at Chilenje General Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted at Chilenje General Hospital. Data were collected by the use of a researcher designed questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 25. Frequencies were used for descriptive analysis while bivariate analysis was used to establish association among risk factors and outcome variables. Variables with significant association at 5% level were further subjected to multivariate analysis at α ≤ 0.05. Results: The study showed that out of 156 neonates, 40.4% (63/156) developed neonatal sepsis. Maternal factors that projected the incidence of sepsis amongst neonates were distance to nearest health facility [AOR: 6.3 (95% CI: 1.8 - 21.3), p = 0.003], occupation [AOR: 5.8 (95% CI: 1.2 - 27.6), p = 0.026], number of antenatal visits [AOR: 6.3 (95% CI: 1.9 - 21.6), p = 0.003], number of vaginal examinations [AOR: 10.8 (95% CI: 2.8 - 42), p = 0.001], and pregnancy induced hypertension [AOR: 5.4 (95% CI: 1.4 - 20), p = 0.013]. Neonatal risk factor which projected the incidence of sepsis was Neonate’s age [AOR: 18.8 (95% CI: 4.9 - 72.5), p = 0.000]. Conclusions: The chance of developing neonatal sepsis was strongly correlated with both mother and child variables, according to the study. In order to lower the chance of the neonate acquiring sepsis, encouraging maternal antenatal care use would assist to detect risk factors during prenatal, perinatal and postnatal care and apply the proper therapies.展开更多
This narrative literature review delves into the multifaceted realm of parental involvement in the rehabilitation of children with permanent hearing loss. While existing research has made strides in elucidating parent...This narrative literature review delves into the multifaceted realm of parental involvement in the rehabilitation of children with permanent hearing loss. While existing research has made strides in elucidating parental roles in this context, critical gaps persist, necessitating a comprehensive exploration to inform future endeavors. Our review synthesizes a wide array of studies, identifying these gaps and emphasizing the significance of addressing them. Themes emerging from the literature include the varying degrees of parental engagement, the impact of cultural and socio-economic factors, and the challenges faced by families navigating rehabilitation processes. The synthesis of this literature not only highlights the current state of knowledge but also provides a roadmap for future research efforts. By addressing these gaps, we aim to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of parental involvement in the rehabilitation of children with permanent hearing loss, ultimately fostering improved support systems and holistic care for affected families.展开更多
As Egyptian oil and gas downstream information technology has grown digitally over the past decade, security breaches against these digitally connected systems have also increased. These cyber security threats could h...As Egyptian oil and gas downstream information technology has grown digitally over the past decade, security breaches against these digitally connected systems have also increased. These cyber security threats could have devastating effects on the operations and reputation of these companies. Preventing such cyberattacks is crucial. Especially, with the significance of the Egyptian oil and gas downstream sector to the local economy and the fact that many of these connected systems are sometimes managed remotely. This paper examines the value of the ISO 27001 standard in mitigating the effect of cyber threat and seeks to inspire decision-makers to the importance of the proactive measures to strengthen their organization’s cybersecurity posture and protect information critical assets. The study stresses the importance of improving the local educational system to bridge the gap between supply and demand for cybersecurity specialists by implementing a structured approach that emphasizes behavior modification to get a high return on investment in cybersecurity awareness.展开更多
Background: Vaginal stenosis is an important adverse effect of brachytherapy for cervicalcancer. This study aimed to determine attitudes and practices contributing to vaginal stenosis following brachytherapy at the Ca...Background: Vaginal stenosis is an important adverse effect of brachytherapy for cervicalcancer. This study aimed to determine attitudes and practices contributing to vaginal stenosis following brachytherapy at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka—Zambia. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study design was employed, where 163 respondents were randomly selected after meeting inclusion criteria. A researcher-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Results: Out of the 163 women enrolled in this study, 42.3% had developed vaginal stenosis while 57.7% did not with age range 15 - 60+ years. 76% exhibited good practices to measures against vaginal stenosis while majority (93.9%) of the respondents demonstrated poor attitudes towards measures to prevent the condition. Women with poor practices versus good practices (OR = 1.07, CI = 0.52 - 2.21, p = 0.855), poor attitudes versus good attitudes (aOR = 1.28, CI = 0.29 - 5.71, p = 0.746) and those employed versus unemployed (aOR = 1.76, CI = 0.73 - 4.27, p = 0.210) had increased odds of vaginal stenosis. However, these increasing effects were not significant at 5% level of significance. Although length of brachytherapy showed no significant effect independently, the odds of having vaginal stenosis were over 2 times higher for women who had been on brachytherapy between 6 and 12 months compared to those on brachytherapy for less than 6 months (OR = 2.45, CI = 1.03 - 5.82, p = 0.042). Conclusions: Failure to practice recommended measures and poor attitudes towards therapy contributes to vaginal stenosis. Efforts should be channeled towards overcoming religious, traditional, cultural and personal impediments contributing to vaginal stenosis in women with cervical cancer receiving brachytherapy.展开更多
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health problem that has caused harm to the mental health of healthcare workers. In Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic has led healthcare workers to experience...Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health problem that has caused harm to the mental health of healthcare workers. In Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic has led healthcare workers to experience mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia and burnout. This study aimed to review published studies on the effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers, associated factors and coping strategies that have been employed in Africa. Methods: This was a systematic review that was conducted through searching databases including;PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar. The study included published literature from January 2020 to May 2022 that met the inclusion criteria. The selection of articles was conducted following the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. Results: A total of 39 articles were retrieved, of which only 18 met the inclusion criteria and were used in this study. Our review revealed that healthcare workers experienced mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress and burnout that were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Coping strategies such as religious practices, support from family members and colleagues and avoiding listening to social media about COVID-19 were used to minimize mental health problems. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused increased mental health disorders among healthcare workers in Africa. Identification of factors associated with mental health problems is cardinal in developing coping mechanisms against the psychological impact of COVID-19. Therefore, there is a need for governments to develop and implement strategies for protecting the mental health of healthcare workers during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.展开更多
In this study, a time series modeling approach is used to determine an<span style="font-family:Verdana;"> ARIMA model and advance counterfactual forecasting at a point of policy intervention. We consid...In this study, a time series modeling approach is used to determine an<span style="font-family:Verdana;"> ARIMA model and advance counterfactual forecasting at a point of policy intervention. We consider monthly data of HIV/AIDS cases from the Ministry of Health (Copperbelt province) of Zambia, for the period 2010 to 2019 and ha</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ve</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> a total of 120 observations. Results indicate that ARIMA (1,</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0,</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0) is an adequate model which best fits the HIV/AIDS time series data and is, therefore, suitable for forecasting cases. The model predicts a reduction from an average of 3500 to 3177 representing 14.29% in HIV/AIDS cases from 2017 (year of policy activation) to 2019, but the actual recorded cases dropped from 3500 to 1514 accounting for 57.4% in the same time frame.</span>展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Violence against healthcare workers(HCWs)in the Caribbean continues to prevail yet remains underreported.Our aim is to determine the cause,traits,and consequences of violence on HCWs in the Caribbean.AIM To determine the cause,traits,and consequences of violence on HCWs in the Caribbean.METHODS This research adopted an online cross-sectional survey approach,spanning over eight weeks(between June 6th and August 9th,2022).The survey was generated using Research Electronic Data Capture forms and followed a snowballing strategy to contact individuals using emails,social media,text messages,etc.Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the variables that influence violence,including gender,age,years of experience,institution type,and night shift frequency.RESULTS The survey was completed by 225 HCWs.Females comprised 61%.Over 51%of respondents belonged to the 21 to 35 age group.Dominica(n=61),Haiti(n=50),and Grenada(n=31)had the most responses.Most HCWs(49%)worked for government academic institutions,followed by community hospitals(23%).Medical students(32%),followed by attending physicians(22%),and others(16%)comprised the most common cadre of respondents.About 39%of the participants reported experiencing violence themselves,and 18%reported violence against colleague(s).Verbal violence(48%),emotional abuse(24%),and physical misconduct(14%)were the most common types of violence.Nearly 63%of respondents identified patients or their relatives as the most frequent aggressors.Univariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that female gender(OR=2.08;95%CI:1.16-3.76,P=0.014)and higher frequency of night shifts(OR=2.22;95%CI:1.08-4.58,P=0.030)were associated with significantly higher odds of experiencing violence.More than 50%of HCWs felt less motivated and had decreased job satisfaction post-violent conduct.CONCLUSION A large proportion of HCWS in the Caribbean are exposed to violence,yet the phenomenon remains underreported.As a result,HCWs’job satisfaction has diminished.
文摘Background: Neonatal sepsis is known to result in 26% of mortalities in children below the age of five worldwide, countries in Sub-Saharan African recording the highest deaths. Although the deaths of neonates have reduced world over up to 3.6 million counts, Chilenje General Hospital continues to register significant numbers of neonatal sepsis. This study aimed at investigating the factors associated with neonatal sepsis at Chilenje General Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted at Chilenje General Hospital. Data were collected by the use of a researcher designed questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 25. Frequencies were used for descriptive analysis while bivariate analysis was used to establish association among risk factors and outcome variables. Variables with significant association at 5% level were further subjected to multivariate analysis at α ≤ 0.05. Results: The study showed that out of 156 neonates, 40.4% (63/156) developed neonatal sepsis. Maternal factors that projected the incidence of sepsis amongst neonates were distance to nearest health facility [AOR: 6.3 (95% CI: 1.8 - 21.3), p = 0.003], occupation [AOR: 5.8 (95% CI: 1.2 - 27.6), p = 0.026], number of antenatal visits [AOR: 6.3 (95% CI: 1.9 - 21.6), p = 0.003], number of vaginal examinations [AOR: 10.8 (95% CI: 2.8 - 42), p = 0.001], and pregnancy induced hypertension [AOR: 5.4 (95% CI: 1.4 - 20), p = 0.013]. Neonatal risk factor which projected the incidence of sepsis was Neonate’s age [AOR: 18.8 (95% CI: 4.9 - 72.5), p = 0.000]. Conclusions: The chance of developing neonatal sepsis was strongly correlated with both mother and child variables, according to the study. In order to lower the chance of the neonate acquiring sepsis, encouraging maternal antenatal care use would assist to detect risk factors during prenatal, perinatal and postnatal care and apply the proper therapies.
文摘This narrative literature review delves into the multifaceted realm of parental involvement in the rehabilitation of children with permanent hearing loss. While existing research has made strides in elucidating parental roles in this context, critical gaps persist, necessitating a comprehensive exploration to inform future endeavors. Our review synthesizes a wide array of studies, identifying these gaps and emphasizing the significance of addressing them. Themes emerging from the literature include the varying degrees of parental engagement, the impact of cultural and socio-economic factors, and the challenges faced by families navigating rehabilitation processes. The synthesis of this literature not only highlights the current state of knowledge but also provides a roadmap for future research efforts. By addressing these gaps, we aim to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of parental involvement in the rehabilitation of children with permanent hearing loss, ultimately fostering improved support systems and holistic care for affected families.
文摘As Egyptian oil and gas downstream information technology has grown digitally over the past decade, security breaches against these digitally connected systems have also increased. These cyber security threats could have devastating effects on the operations and reputation of these companies. Preventing such cyberattacks is crucial. Especially, with the significance of the Egyptian oil and gas downstream sector to the local economy and the fact that many of these connected systems are sometimes managed remotely. This paper examines the value of the ISO 27001 standard in mitigating the effect of cyber threat and seeks to inspire decision-makers to the importance of the proactive measures to strengthen their organization’s cybersecurity posture and protect information critical assets. The study stresses the importance of improving the local educational system to bridge the gap between supply and demand for cybersecurity specialists by implementing a structured approach that emphasizes behavior modification to get a high return on investment in cybersecurity awareness.
文摘Background: Vaginal stenosis is an important adverse effect of brachytherapy for cervicalcancer. This study aimed to determine attitudes and practices contributing to vaginal stenosis following brachytherapy at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka—Zambia. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study design was employed, where 163 respondents were randomly selected after meeting inclusion criteria. A researcher-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Results: Out of the 163 women enrolled in this study, 42.3% had developed vaginal stenosis while 57.7% did not with age range 15 - 60+ years. 76% exhibited good practices to measures against vaginal stenosis while majority (93.9%) of the respondents demonstrated poor attitudes towards measures to prevent the condition. Women with poor practices versus good practices (OR = 1.07, CI = 0.52 - 2.21, p = 0.855), poor attitudes versus good attitudes (aOR = 1.28, CI = 0.29 - 5.71, p = 0.746) and those employed versus unemployed (aOR = 1.76, CI = 0.73 - 4.27, p = 0.210) had increased odds of vaginal stenosis. However, these increasing effects were not significant at 5% level of significance. Although length of brachytherapy showed no significant effect independently, the odds of having vaginal stenosis were over 2 times higher for women who had been on brachytherapy between 6 and 12 months compared to those on brachytherapy for less than 6 months (OR = 2.45, CI = 1.03 - 5.82, p = 0.042). Conclusions: Failure to practice recommended measures and poor attitudes towards therapy contributes to vaginal stenosis. Efforts should be channeled towards overcoming religious, traditional, cultural and personal impediments contributing to vaginal stenosis in women with cervical cancer receiving brachytherapy.
文摘Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health problem that has caused harm to the mental health of healthcare workers. In Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic has led healthcare workers to experience mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia and burnout. This study aimed to review published studies on the effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers, associated factors and coping strategies that have been employed in Africa. Methods: This was a systematic review that was conducted through searching databases including;PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar. The study included published literature from January 2020 to May 2022 that met the inclusion criteria. The selection of articles was conducted following the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. Results: A total of 39 articles were retrieved, of which only 18 met the inclusion criteria and were used in this study. Our review revealed that healthcare workers experienced mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress and burnout that were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Coping strategies such as religious practices, support from family members and colleagues and avoiding listening to social media about COVID-19 were used to minimize mental health problems. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused increased mental health disorders among healthcare workers in Africa. Identification of factors associated with mental health problems is cardinal in developing coping mechanisms against the psychological impact of COVID-19. Therefore, there is a need for governments to develop and implement strategies for protecting the mental health of healthcare workers during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
文摘In this study, a time series modeling approach is used to determine an<span style="font-family:Verdana;"> ARIMA model and advance counterfactual forecasting at a point of policy intervention. We consider monthly data of HIV/AIDS cases from the Ministry of Health (Copperbelt province) of Zambia, for the period 2010 to 2019 and ha</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ve</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> a total of 120 observations. Results indicate that ARIMA (1,</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0,</span><span style="font-family:""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0) is an adequate model which best fits the HIV/AIDS time series data and is, therefore, suitable for forecasting cases. The model predicts a reduction from an average of 3500 to 3177 representing 14.29% in HIV/AIDS cases from 2017 (year of policy activation) to 2019, but the actual recorded cases dropped from 3500 to 1514 accounting for 57.4% in the same time frame.</span>
