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Feb 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2372-6601.jhor-16-1402
Background Blood donation is a common practice in many countries of the world and it benefits many of the people suffering from conditions which require blood transfusions. The blood donated should be appropriately screened for certain infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Syphilis and Gonorrhea through serological tests. Materials and Methods This cross sectional study was conducted from January 2014 to August 2014, Data was collected from eight dental hospitals in four provinces of Pakistan. Attendants of the patients admitted in the surgical ward with age more than 16 years were included. Knowledge and practices of the participants were evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire. Ethical consent was obtained from the ethical committee or concerned authority of all eight hospitals. Results Response rate was 84 %. In total 55% male and 45 % female participated with 15.5% of the total sample population was under the age of 20 years. The age group with the maximum number of participant was between 20 to 39 years of age. 26% and 22.5% of the males and female participants respectively had knowledge. About blood donation, lesser percentage of attendants, 7.2% of the males and 4.6% declared that they had donated blood in the past. Based on education levels, it was highest among graduates (3.5%) and less in primary educated (2.2%) and uneducated respondents was 0.7%. 18% of the males and 17% females asserted that they hold some kind of fear of blood donation. Conclusion The population is not adequately knowledgeable regarding blood donation. There is a need for proper campaign to educate masses at national level within Pakistan to promote more people to become regular volunteers.
Oct 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-16-1128
A popular scale for assessing knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease is the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS). The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of adding ‘don’t know’ to the original ‘true’ or ‘false’ response option. It was assumed that this modification would provide insight into the reasons underlying incorrect responses and could distinguish between misconceptions and knowledge gaps. To investigate this, carers (care home carers and informal carers) and members of the general population were recruited. The results showed that percentage correct responses was lower than previously reported, suggesting potential inflation of knowledge by guesses without the ‘don’t know’ option. Moreover, care-home workers were more likely to select the incorrect response than ‘don’t know’ compared to informal carers for several items related to the earlier stages of AD, suggesting a higher level of misconceptions around this topic and highlighting potential training needs for care home carers.
Dec 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-0436.jos-24-5322
Studies show that individuals with limited health literacy skills experience worse health outcomes in a multitude of chronic diseases including glaucoma. These patients have poorer compliance, worse disease understanding and greater disease progression. The main purpose of our study was to evaluate the knowledge about glaucoma basic concepts in patients with this disease. A 24 question survey was given to patients followed by the glaucoma department, by phone or in person. Epidemiological data and personal therapeutic regimens were collected as well as data concerning the pathophysiology, treatment and prognosis of the disease. Survey responses were obtained from 79 patients with a mean age of 72 years old. Most of the patients had a low education level. The majority of patients could not enumerate glaucoma risk factors (74.5%), their glaucoma type (94.9%) or the best glaucoma definition (57%). However, they were able to relate the disease to a high IOP (75.9%) and the possibility of it leading to blindness (96.2%). We believe that patients, when observed in their glaucoma appointments, tend to retain information related to the prognosis and consequences of the disease and not focus on the understanding of its pathophysiology, causes and mechanisms, which may reflect their concern about their own future. However, this may lead to some misconceptions about the definition of glaucoma and specially about what can cause this disease. Some investment should be done to improve health literacy in the glaucoma population, with appropriate language and handed material.
Apr 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-5257.ijgp-24-5041
Introduction Globally, 36.7 million individuals live with HIV/AIDS, with 2.5 million new cases annually. Youth (14-25 years) account for 45% of these new infections. Those aged 15-24 years are less likely to be aware of their HIV status and engage in HIV care compared to older adults. This study explores the use of HIV self-testing to improve access to HIV care among Kenyatta University undergraduates. Objective To identify barriers and facilitators to HIV self-testing in this group. Methodology Employing multistage cluster sampling, 398 students were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Results Of the participants (median age 21 years, 1:1.03 male-to-female ratio), 91.7% understood HIV's seriousness, with sexual intercourse as the primary transmission mode. Self-testing usage was 28.8%. Key barriers included fear of partner reaction, stigma, and lack of confidence. Significant facilitators were being female, knowledgeable about HIV, and sexually active. Conclusion Only 24% had prior HIV testing experience. The study highlights the importance of addressing fears and misconceptions while leveraging knowledge and sexual activity awareness to promote HIV self-testing.
Sep 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-20-3504
Background Induced abortions are globally sought, whether permitted, or not permitted. Community based information about abortion seeking by rural tribal women is scarce. Objectives Community based study was carried out to know the magnitude, profile, reasons, places, persons performing IA for rural tribal women. Material Methods Study was conducted in 118 villages to get the study subjects . Women from every fourth house were interviewed for desired information. Results and Conclusion Of all abortions, 2.17% in Melghat and 24.38 %in Sewagram were IA. Most women who had IA were young and 19% in Melghat region, 2.6% in Sewagram region were illiterate. Majority of Sewagram region, were housewives of low middle class, in Melghat unskilled workers of low economic class. In Melghat region all women reported seeking IA at health facilities,63% Private hospitals (PH), 18.5% Sub centres (SC), 7.4% Medical College (MC), 7.4% District hospital(DH), 3.7% Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and In Sewagram region 58% PH, 23% MC, 6.7% PHCs, 3.9% DH, 3.9% SCs and 3.9% at home. Most women said they had IA for spacing with no contraceptive use or contraceptive failure, poor health, poverty, IA were done medically in 76.2%, surgically 23%. No sex–selective IA were reported and there was no evidence Many women lacked awareness and had misconceptions, more so in Melghat region. In focus group discussions, common reasons for disfavoring IA were personal beliefs (34%), practice restrictions (19%). There was extreme poverty, still PH were used. Lot of awareness is required.
Jun 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-15-648
HIV/AIDS has become a global scourge affecting mainly young people. Sexual behavior change remains the most effective way of preventing further spread. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, perception and practice of safe lifestyles towards prevention of HIV infection among students of a tertiary educational institution in Abakaliki, south eastern, Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out, and participants were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using a pretested, self administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software, version 20. Three hundred and eighty seven participants were recruited for the study, including 199 (51.4%) males and 188 (48.6%) females. Mean age of participants was 23.6 ±2years. All (100%) of the participants were aware of the existence of HIV/AIDS, with the commonest source of information being electronic media (81.1%). Their knowledge of the routes of transmission and modes of prevention of HIV infection was high, though few of them have some misconceptions. Poor practice of safe lifestyles towards prevention of HIV infection as well as low perception of self-vulnerability to the risk of HIV infection was also found. There was poor practice of preventive lifestyles among the participants despite high knowledge of HIV transmission and preventive measures probably due to low perception of self-vulnerability to the risk of HIV infection. Health education should be intensified to impact sufficient comprehensive knowledge to change low perception of self-vulnerability among the students.
May 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-14-416
Objective: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) /acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) affect all levels of society and drivers are considered as vectors of HIV transmission because of the mobility of their work. The aim of this study was to assess struck drivers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices on HIV and AIDS in Burkina Faso. Methods: Quantitative method and cross-sectional survey using questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha 0.76 were used in this study. SPSS, version 18.0 was used for analysis. P-values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: 150 truck drivers participated in the study with a mean age of 38.71 years (SD=8.87), and ranged from 25 to 68 years old. It was observed that misconceptions about HIV transmission are quite prevalent among truck drivers. About 61 (40.7%) felt that AIDS can be transmitted by sharing meals, 35 (23.3%) stated that it can be spread by mosquito bite and 65 (43.3%) were of the opinion that AIDS can be transmitted by using same toilet and cloths. High-risk behavior was established in the study. 78% have other sexual partners besides their wives and 34% often visit sex workers in which 26 % had unprotected sex with sex workers. Alcohol seems to have a big role in their sexual behavior; thus 22 % of truck drivers declare drink alcohol before sex. There were significant association in demographic factors and knowledge, attitude and practice. Conclusion: The study findings underline the negative risk behaviors of truck drivers. Safe sex and use of condom have to be promoted through education program among truck drivers in Burkina Faso.