by Tenywa Isaac and Omona Kizito
Original Research
Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) is a chemoprophylaxis which reduces the risk of the first episode of TB occurring in people exposed to an infection or with latent infection and the risk of a recurrent episode of TB. WHO recommends isoniazid taken at a daily dose of 5 mg/kg (maximum 300 mg) for at least six months. In Uganda, only 16% of 15957 children contacts of smear-positive TB index cases are on preventive treatment. The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with uptake of isoniazid preventive therapy among children under 5 years’ tuberculosis contacts in Greater Kibaale. An analytical cross-sectional study design utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted among 207 children under 5 years’ tuberculosis contacts. They were recruited using convenience sampling methods. The caregiver of the children completed a structured questionnaire in English and translated into Lunyoro. Data was single-entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Bivariate, univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis methods were used to identify factors associated with uptake of isoniazid preventive. Of the 207 participants, the uptake IPT was low at 36.7%. Being in the age group of 35-44 years (AOR=15.856, 95% CI: 11.568-27.115), being married, AOR=17.867, 95% CI: 4.631-215.769), p=.008) being separated (AOR=4.4.35, 95% CI; 1.056-6.530, p=0.047), having a monthly income of 40,000-100,000 shillings (AOR=9.917, 95% CI: 6.380-15.450, p=.000), finding it easy to talk to other people about TB problem AOR=.012, 95% CI: .004-.303, p=.007), not screening for TB (AOR=0.391, 95% CI: .242-.791, p=.000) and receiving continuous counselling (AOR=0.004, 95% CI: .001-.142, p=.002) were independently associated with uptake of isoniazid preventive. Conclusively, the level of uptake of IPT was low. Contact screening seems a good entry point for delivery of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy to at-risk children when routinely practised as recommended by WHO.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2022, 10(2), 76-89. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-10-2-5
Pub. Date: March 31, 2022
2036 Views9 Downloads
by Hanan Elzeblawy Hassan, Somaia Ragab Eid, Aml ahmed Hassan and Kamilia Ragab Abou-Shabana
Original Research
Background: A gynecological examination is a stressful event that is the women may respond negatively as a consequence of no orientation before the examination. Aim: The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Pre-Gynecological Examination Counseling on Relieving Women’s Pain, Discomfort, and enhancing their satisfaction. Setting: Gynecological clinic at Beni-Suef University Hospital. Design: Α quasi-experimental study design. Sampling: Α purposive sample was 120 women (60 Study & 60 Control). Tools: (1): Counseling Interview schedule; (2): Comfort and pain scale; (3): satisfaction questionnaire; (4): VAS for pain; (5): Self-reported barriers; (6): Counseling interviewing questionnaire. Results: there was a marked improvement in knowledge, comfort, and satisfaction associated with alleviation of pain for the studied group than the control group about gynecological examination after counseling sessions with a highly statistically significant difference at (P<0.01). Conclusion: Counseling sessions regarding pre-gynecological examination had a positive effect on relieving women’s pain, discomfort and enhancing their satisfaction. Recommendation: reapplication counseling sessions for gynecological clinic settings in a different area. Awareness programs must be designed and instrumented at the gynecological clinic to enhance women’s satisfaction and correct their miss concepts related to the gynecological examination.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2022, 10(2), 63-75. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-10-2-4
Pub. Date: March 23, 2022
2047 Views
by David Thomas, Margaret Alston, Malliga Jambulingam, Ariel Hunt and Yvonne Bronner
Original Research
Background: Behavior change is essential in adopting healthy behaviors. Although several social media (SM) platforms such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc., are available to share information and to promote health behaviors, how are they used in and health promotion? What specific online platform is used in supporting the health promotion of adopting health behaviors in general? By this, it can be understood what SM platform can be used to change the behavior of some African American mothers’ infant safe sleep practices to prevent the risk of Sleep Related Infant Death. Objective: To explore the literature for the identification of specific social media platform(s) that is/are helpful in changing the behavior of the general population. Methods: PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar search engines were utilized to find articles that supported changes in health behavior following social media use, were published between 2010 to 2021, had free access, outlined interventions, and reported media marketing impacts, health promotion, as well as documented improvements in health behaviors. Findings: The findings of this literature review revealed that among all social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Myspace were utilized to obtain health information on various health topics including breastfeeding vaccinations, drug/alcohol use, physical activity, and more, Facebook was found to be the most utilized social media platform. Overall, women were the primary participants. However, no study has been done on changing the behavior of the African American mothers via social media platforms for adopting infant safe sleep practices. Conclusion and Recommendations: Although the literature has shown that Facebook was most utilized to improved behavioral health outcomes of various health topics, it did not describe how interventions led to improved behavioral health outcomes. Further research can be performed to identify how social media platforms influence health behaviors by measuring behavioral outcomes qualitatively and quantitatively. This result can be utilized to change the behavior of the African American mothers’ for adopting infant safe sleep practices.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2022, 10(2), 53-62. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-10-2-3
Pub. Date: March 01, 2022
2602 Views7 Downloads
by Venkataramana Kandi and Sabitha Vadakedath
Review Article
Clinical studies involve research that is carried out in human beings and has direct implications on the health of people who participate in it as study subjects. Moreover, clinical trials are performed on healthy and diseased human subjects, wherein the safety and efficacy of a novel drug/device are tested. Therefore, the study design and the subject recruitment assumes increased significance. In this review we attempt to comprehensively discuss the importance of ethics in clinical research and specific ethical considerations concerning the evaluation of medical products, epidemiological studies, human genetics, and genomic research, transplantation studies, reproductive procedures/interventions, research among geriatric and pediatric populations and research involving the development of vaccines and diagnostic devices.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2022, 10(2), 42-52. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-10-2-2
Pub. Date: March 01, 2022
2800 Views8 Downloads
by Aluku A, Bello SO, Anazodo MC, Aluku R, Joshua A, Tanze DY, Kayode O, Agbawu A, Odonye CE, Lawal AA and Hassan II
Original Research
Background: Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium and transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. This study determined the knowledge of caregivers about malaria, prevalence of malaria and compares the results of testing for malaria using rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) and microscopy. Methods: A prospective study carried out among children < 15 years in Lafia Nigeria. Testing was done using the Histidine Rich Protein-2 RDT kit and blood film microscopy. Bivariate analysis was done. Significant p is < 0.05. Results: Mean age of this study population is 15.0 ± 4.6 years. The overall incidence of malaria using RDT was 45.4% while 16.5% was reported positive using microscopy. The positive RDT was highest among children aged 6 month to < 5 years. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) between malaria diagnoses by RDT compared with the microscopy which implies that there is difference between the number of positive cases by mRDT and numbers of positive cases by microscopy. Overall 40 (14.1) participants were positive to both mRDT and microscopy in this study. Conclusions: There is high incidence of malaria in this study as one out of two febrile children seen had malaria. Rapid Diagnostic Test is a more efficient diagnostic tool for malaria compared with the microscopy. We therefore recommend; more efforts to be directed to halting the rising trend of new cases of malaria and RDT should be deployed at all levels of healthcare in diagnosing all febrile illness and prompt treatment based on the National guidelines.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2022, 10(2), 36-41. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-10-2-1
Pub. Date: February 27, 2022
1827 Views3 Downloads