Aims: Anaemia in children aged 6 - 59 months is an important public health problem associated with increasing hospital costs, lengths of hospital stay, and development of complications later in life. Due to the signif...Aims: Anaemia in children aged 6 - 59 months is an important public health problem associated with increasing hospital costs, lengths of hospital stay, and development of complications later in life. Due to the significant caregiver roles of mothers, the level of mothers’ knowledge, beliefs and practices are important in addressing anaemia in children. This study investigated knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices of select mothers on anaemia and linked these with known factors for anaemia. Methodology: The case study was conducted at Mkuranga District Hospital, Paediatric Ward between December 2014 and April 2015. A cross-sectional design was used to recruit a convenience sample of 40 mothers whose children had a confirmed diagnosis of anaemia (through routine laboratory testing). Results: Within the sample, the majority of children were male (52.5%);aged 6 - 39 months (87.5%);and had a diagnosis of severe anaemia (75.0%) according to the World Health Organization’s definition. Over one third (35%) of mothers reported a prior history of anemia in their other children, and the majority (55%) had heard about anaemia prior to their child’s hospitalization. Maternal anaemia was reported by 67.5% of mothers. Mothers reported that maternal anemia (17.5%) and feeding practices (32.5%) are known contributing factors to anaemia in children. Mothers reported that anemia could be prevented (55.0%) and cured by herbal preparations (47.5%). In addition, some mothers indicated that anaemia was caused by witchcraft (22.5%) and eating lemons (2.5%). Conclusion: Severe anaemia was high among the studied population which aligned with their hospitalization status. Findings suggested potential gaps in control and management of anemia in children possibly related to low awareness or incorrect knowledge of the relationship between maternal and child anaemia. The findings also highlighted important cultural beliefs related to anaemia. There is an imperative for culturally and socially appropriate knowledge translation and exchange with mothers in order to impact on the prevention and control of anaemia in children in Tanzania.展开更多
BACKGROUND Ischemic bowel disease(IBD)is a critical condition caused by reduced blood flow to the intestines,leading to tissue damage and potentially severe complications.Early recognition and timely management are es...BACKGROUND Ischemic bowel disease(IBD)is a critical condition caused by reduced blood flow to the intestines,leading to tissue damage and potentially severe complications.Early recognition and timely management are essential for improving patient outcomes and reducing morbidity and mortality associated with IBD.AIM To evaluate the knowledge,attitude and practice(KAP)of healthcare professionals regarding IBD.METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals in China from November 2023 to December 2023 using a self-designed questionnaire.RESULTS A total of 315 valid questionnaires were analyzed,with 215 participants(68.25%)being female.The mean KAP scores were 17.55±5.35(range:0-24),27.65±2.77(range:8-40),and 18.88±4.23(range:6-30),respectively.Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed the following factors to be independently associated with knowledge:Age 26-35 years(β=2.80,95%CI:0.31-5.30,P=0.028),professional title(β=2.66,95%CI:0.91-4.41,P=0.003),position(β=-3.78,95%CI:-5.45 to-2.11,P<0.001),participation in IBD-related training(β=3.45,95%CI:2.39-4.51,P<0.001),and admission of more than five IBD cases in the past month(β=3.25,95%CI:1.58-4.92,P<0.001).Attitude was independently associated with knowledge(β=0.20,95%CI:0.15-0.26,P<0.001)and being a nurse or nursing supervisor(β=-1.30,95%CI:-2.16 to-0.40,P=0.003).Practice was independently associated with knowledge(β=0.20,95%CI:0.10-0.30,P<0.001)and attitude(β=0.24,95%CI:0.06-0.42,P=0.007).Structural equation modeling demonstrated direct effects of knowledge on attitude(β=0.24,P<0.001)and practice(β=0.26,P<0.001),as well as of attitude on practice(β=0.22,P=0.012).CONCLUSION Healthcare professionals demonstrated adequate knowledge but moderate attitude and inactive practice regarding IBD.Addressing the gaps in attitude and practice through targeted training programs and interventions is essential for improving patient care and outcomes.展开更多
Objective:To assess the socioeconomic characteristics influencing knowledge,attitudes,and practices in preventing toxocariasis among the adult Khmer population in Tra Vinh Province,Vietnam.Methods:This cross-sectional...Objective:To assess the socioeconomic characteristics influencing knowledge,attitudes,and practices in preventing toxocariasis among the adult Khmer population in Tra Vinh Province,Vietnam.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted across 30 communities in eight districts and cities of Tra Vinh Province using a 30-cluster random sampling method during 2023.Results:The study encompassed 760 participants(median age:52 years;interquartile range:39-63 years),female 65.9%.There existed moderate levels of knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices among participants,with variations across sociodemographic groups.Education(OR 0.53;95%CI 0.36-0.53;P=0.002),and average family income(OR 0.40;95%CI 0.24-0.68;P=0.001)were inversely associated with poor knowledge.Participants aged≥60 years had higher odds of negative attitudes(OR 5.26;95%CI 2.31-11.96;P<0.001)towards toxocariasis prevention.Not owning pets(OR 1.53;95%CI 1.13-2.08;P=0.006)and age≥60 years(OR 5.33;95%CI 2.61-10.86;P<0.001)were associated with significantly higher odds of poor preventive practices.Conversely,higher education(OR 0.11;95%CI 0.06-0.20;P<0.001)and higher income(OR 0.14;95%CI 0.06-0.33;P<0.001)were protective factors,significantly reducing the risk of poor preventive practices.Conclusions:Knowledge,attitudes,and practice levels regarding toxocariasis prevention among Khmer adults in Tra Vinh were moderate and associated with age,education and income.Targeted health education efforts,especially in rural and low-income groups,are essential to improve preventive behaviors and reduce infection risks.展开更多
Porcine Cysticercosis (PCC) and Human Cysticercosis (HCC)/Neurocysticercosis (NCC) are a burden to the community owing to the reduced value of animals, associated costs of treatment, decreased labour productivity and ...Porcine Cysticercosis (PCC) and Human Cysticercosis (HCC)/Neurocysticercosis (NCC) are a burden to the community owing to the reduced value of animals, associated costs of treatment, decreased labour productivity and social discrimination. There is limited knowledge on the management and prevention of PCC and epilepsy in Iringa rural. Therefore, the present study aimed at assessing indigenous knowledge, practices, attitudes and social impacts of PCC and epilepsy in Iringa rural district. A total of 588 people participated in the survey whereby 306 were pig farmers, 223 non-pig farmers and 59 families with epileptic individuals. It was found that 49.8% (χ2 = 0.003, DF = 1, p = 0.954) of pig keepers were aware of PCC, whereas the remaining 50.2% were not aware (χ2 = 25.5, DF = 1, p χ2 = 3.814, DF = 1, p = 0.51). People in Iringa rural believe epilepsy is caused by evil spirits, witchcraft and/or inheritance. It was concluded that there was limited knowledge on T. solium cysticercosis and epilepsy. This ignorance is the cause of poor practices, negative beliefs and attitudes that negatively affect the social life of People with Epilepsy (PWE) in communities. This study recommends that health education to raise awareness on cysticercosis/taeniosis and epilepsy should be one of the intervention measures for elimination of cysticercosis and epilepsy in Iringa rural district.展开更多
Introduction: Breastfeeding is the best way to provide ideal nutrition for optimal infant growth and development. Objectives: The aim of our work was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers of chil...Introduction: Breastfeeding is the best way to provide ideal nutrition for optimal infant growth and development. Objectives: The aim of our work was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers of children aged 0 - 24 months on exclusive breastfeeding in the Central African Republic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted from September 15 to October 15, 2024 among mothers of infants aged 0 to 24 months. Sociodemographic, obstetric and breastfeeding-related data were collected through individual interviews conducted during sensitizations on good feeding practices organized by the Tina Touadera Foundation. The chi2 test was used to test for relationships between variables, and the p significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The average age of the mothers surveyed was 27.67 years. 65.69% (n = 247) of mothers lived in urban areas and 55.85% (n = 210) were Muslim. 56.38% (n = 212) were living common-law and 34.04% (n = 128) were poor. Secondary-school mothers (44.42%, n = 167) and housewives (53.72%, n = 202) were in the majority. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was correctly defined by 79.26% (n = 298) of mothers and actually practised in 24.20% (n = 91) of cases. The main source of information was a health professional in 75.36% (n = 304) of cases. Among the 285 mothers who practised mixed breastfeeding, lack of time (33.33%) was the main reason. They acknowledged having given water (100%), corn porridge (75.09%) and/or artificial milk (24.91%) before the first 6 months of life. The average time for introducing water was 2.2 months, and for porridge/formula 2.79 months. More than half the mothers (55.05%) said they did not know their infants’ weaning age. Factors positively influencing the use of EBF were age under 29, residence in an urban area, primiparity, having been informed about AME by a health professional, and being a housewife or shopkeeper (p Conclusion: Mothers’ level of knowledge was heterogeneous but insufficient overall. An effective system of information and education from pregnancy to the first six months of life is needed to promote breastfeeding.展开更多
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and mostly affects school going children. Côte d’Ivoire is one of the most vulnerable countries to schistosomiasis, and its ...Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and mostly affects school going children. Côte d’Ivoire is one of the most vulnerable countries to schistosomiasis, and its prevalence varies by region. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in schools in the Upper Sassandra region to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of school children regarding schistosomiasis. In total, 354 students participated in the survey. Our results showed that, compared to the girls, the boys had a higher level of knowledge about schistosomiasis OR = 1.605 and p = 0.05. Regarding the signs, symptoms, and modes of transmission and prevention of schistosomiasis, the participants reported a low level of knowledge p > 0.05 and OR 1. In conclusion, it is important to target health messages in schools to reach the most vulnerable students effectively. This initiative aims to provide children with basic knowledge and skills in the transmission of schistosomiasis.展开更多
Objective:To assess knowledge and practice among nurses toward neonatal resuscitation in hospitals in Hebron.Methods:A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 151 nurses from Hebron.Data were collected using ...Objective:To assess knowledge and practice among nurses toward neonatal resuscitation in hospitals in Hebron.Methods:A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 151 nurses from Hebron.Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.Multiple logistic regression was conducted to test the associated factors with the dependent variables.Results:Only 9.3%of participants had a standardized level of knowledge,while 68.9%reported adequate skills for neonatal resuscitation.Factors associated with a standardized level of knowledge were age(p=0.001)and supportive supervision(p=0.007).Factors associated with the standardized practice level were the presence of hospital guidelines(p=0.028),previous training of nurses(p=0.011),and the presence of supportive supervision(p<0.001).Conclusions:The majority of emergency nurses in Hebron hospitals demonstrated a substandard level of knowledge of neonatal resuscitation.However,most of those nurses surprisingly reported a standardized practice level.The presence of hospital guidelines,training programs,or direct supervision for nurses are factors that can be considered to improve both knowledge and practice toward neonatal resuscitation among emergency nurses in Hebron.展开更多
COMPUTATIONAL knowledge vision[1]is emphasized as a novel perspective or field in this paper.It first proposes the visual hierarchy and its connection to knowledge,stating that knowledge is a justified true belief.To ...COMPUTATIONAL knowledge vision[1]is emphasized as a novel perspective or field in this paper.It first proposes the visual hierarchy and its connection to knowledge,stating that knowledge is a justified true belief.To further the previous research,we concisely summarize our recent works and suggest a new direction that knowledge is also a thought framework in vision.展开更多
Information regarding current status of handwashing knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and compliance with handwashing practice in nursing students in Jordan is limited. This study aims to explore handwashing knowledge, be...Information regarding current status of handwashing knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and compliance with handwashing practice in nursing students in Jordan is limited. This study aims to explore handwashing knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and self-reported compliance and to examine significant variables predicting compliance with handwashing practice among nursing students. The study used a cross-sectional survey design. Results found a statistically significant relationship between nursing students’ handwashing compliance and their handwashing knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (r = 0.68, 0.65, 0.58, P β = 0.423, P = 0.000), followed by attitudes (β = 0.322, P = 0.000), and beliefs (β = 0.171, P = 0.027). Specific handwashing training courses integrated in nursing education curriculum are recommended. These courses need to consider nursing students’ handwashing attitudes and beliefs in conjunction with handwashing knowledge.展开更多
Background and Objective: There is a rising concern about Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) related knowledge in rural communities of Sudan. This study focuses on determining t...Background and Objective: There is a rising concern about Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) related knowledge in rural communities of Sudan. This study focuses on determining the extend of knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about HIV/ AIDS among rural communities difficult to access in the six States of Sudan. Subjects and Methods: Six thousand and one hundred twenty five respondents were interviewed through the method of house-to-house visits. A structured questionnaire was administered by research assistants recruited from the Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum University during a rural residency campaign in six states of Central, Eastern and Northern Sudan during 2008/2009. Results: Of the total interviewees, 48% were aware of the HIV/AIDS risk;46% reported to have good health seeking behaviors for HIV/AIDS. 54.4% of women reported to have better knowledge about the disease than men (45.6%). 38% (2005) had not heard of safety use of condom whereas 16% (320) had used it. Logistic regression revealed that 5.3% of knowledge about the disease was explained by gender, education and religion adjusted over age of the respondents. Conclusions: Mass media were the most common source of information about the existent risk of HIV/AIDS in rural communities. These findings could assist Sudanese National Aids Programme (SNAP), healthcare providers and policymakers to develop informative materials and health education programs to educate rural community is about the risk of HIV/AIDS.展开更多
Objective:To identify the level of knowledge,attitude,and practice(KAP)toward osteoporosis among Jordanian nurses.Methods:A cross-sectional design was adopted in this study.A convenience sample of 443 Jordanian nurses...Objective:To identify the level of knowledge,attitude,and practice(KAP)toward osteoporosis among Jordanian nurses.Methods:A cross-sectional design was adopted in this study.A convenience sample of 443 Jordanian nurses were recruited from the public and private healthcare settings in Jordan.The assessment tool used in the current study contained 35 items,measuring KAP among Jordanian nurses toward osteoporosis.The correlation Pearson test and regression test were used to analyze data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences,version 21.Results:The total KAP scores were 33.53,37.65,and 22.7,respectively.These results revealed that Jordanian nurses have a moderate level of KAP toward osteoporosis.Conclusions:Jordanian nurses showed a moderate KAP toward osteoporosis,which should be improved as an effective step to reducing the growing incidences of osteoporosis.The lack of KAP holds a serious and growing impact on the Jordanian health sector and patients’health in terms of cost,healthcare resources,and social life.Nurses can play a valuable role in educating patients on bone fracture causes,perceived percentage,risks,and prevention,as well as in helping them with nutrition and lifestyle recommendations.展开更多
BACKGROUND Medication misuse or overuse is significantly associated with poor health outcomes.Information regarding the knowledge,cultural beliefs,and behavior about medication safety in the general population is impo...BACKGROUND Medication misuse or overuse is significantly associated with poor health outcomes.Information regarding the knowledge,cultural beliefs,and behavior about medication safety in the general population is important.AIM To conduct a survey on medication habits and explored the potential factors impacting medication safety.METHODS The current survey included adults from 18 districts and counties in Harbin,China.A questionnaire on medication safety was designed based on knowledge,cultural beliefs,and behavior.Both univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore the factors that impacted medication safety.RESULTS A total of 394 respondents completed the questionnaires on medication safety.The mean scores for knowledge,cultural beliefs,and behavior about medication safety were 59.41±19.33,40.66±9.24,and 60.97±13.69,respectively.The medication knowledge score was affected by age(P=0.044),education(P<0.001),and working status(P=0.015).Moreover,the cultural beliefs score was significantly affected by education(P<0.001).Finally,education(P=0.003)and working status(P=0.011)significantly affected the behavior score.CONCLUSION The knowledge,cultural beliefs,and behavior about medication safety among the general population was moderate.Health education should be provisioned for the elderly,individuals with a low education level,and the unemployed to improve medication safety in Harbin,China.展开更多
Most young person will become sexually active before their 20<sup>th</sup> birthday having to battle with early and unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal deaths and injuries. This study examine...Most young person will become sexually active before their 20<sup>th</sup> birthday having to battle with early and unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal deaths and injuries. This study examined young person’s sexual knowledge, attitudes and practices and their levels of utilization of sexual reproductive health. Our study progresses beyond current research of reporting only sexual behaviour among youth to have insight into sexual and reproductive health update drivers yielding new empirically robust results for the Ghanaian case for sexual and reproductive health service uptake. The descriptively cross sectional design was employed in sampling 170 youth (150 surveyed and 20 Interviewed) using the stratified sampling technique together with a purposive selection of one key informant. Test of significance and associations were performed with the Chisquare test. In all 45.2% (77/170) of youth (10 - 24) had had sexual experience in life time. In respect of in-school youth, 42% (63/150) had had sexual experience whiles 70% (14/20) out-of-school youth had had sexual intercourse in life time. A total of 28.8% (49/170) of all the youth had sexual intercourse in the last six months with only 40.1 (20/49) using condom for protection. Parental discussion of contraceptive methods (29.3%) and sexual and romantic relationship (28.0%) was the least sexual and reproductive health area discussed among in-school youth. Youth knowledge of the available sexual reproductive health service was statistically associated with reproductive health service utilization (X<sup>2</sup> = 0.00, P ≤ 0.05). A concerted effort is required from government, NGO, Civil society organizations and religious bodies to help translate youth knowledge about sexual health into responsible sexual life and protective sex.展开更多
Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of optimizing details in the operating room on the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of hospital infection prevention and control by surgeons, as well as the e...Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of optimizing details in the operating room on the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of hospital infection prevention and control by surgeons, as well as the effectiveness of infection control. Methods: From January 2022 to June 2023, a total of 120 patients were screened and randomly divided into a control group (routine care and hospital infection management) and a study group (optimizing details in the operating room). Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups in the data of surgeons’ level of knowledge, attitude, and practice in hospital infection prevention and control, infection rates, and nursing satisfaction, with the study group showing better results (P Conclusion: The use of optimizing details in the operating room among surgeons can effectively improve surgeons’ level of knowledge, attitude, and practice in hospital infection prevention and control, reduce infection occurrence, and is worth promoting.展开更多
AIM: To develop an eye health knowledge, attitude and practice(EH-KAP) field-based assessment tool for use in implementing effective eye health care services.METHODS: An instrument development and validation study. A ...AIM: To develop an eye health knowledge, attitude and practice(EH-KAP) field-based assessment tool for use in implementing effective eye health care services.METHODS: An instrument development and validation study. A Vietnam EH-KAP dataset were used to identify and eliminate redundant questions to develop a standardized tool. Face validity was assessed by the KAP survey team. Internal validity(congruency/criterion) was assessed by comparing descriptive analysis of two datasets(n=531;n=38) collected from the same sampling frame at different time points. Weighted scores were calculated for each construct. Kappa values for test-retest and inter-observer agreement were calculated to check the reliability of responses. The modified version was assessed by analysing the raw and ungrouped data. Responses were weighted and agreement was tested by comparing construct scores.RESULTS: Totally 38 respondents were included in this validation process(mean age 58.5 y). Mean scores for knowledge were 9.15(old questionnaire n=531) and 5.05(modified version). For attitude, the scores were 2.23 and 2.42, and for practice the scores were 3.33 and 2.21. Testretest agreement was between 62% to 93%(Kappa 0.24 to 0.86) for the ungrouped raw data, and 55% to 72%(Kappa 0.42 to 0.65) for KAP domain. Inter-observer Kappa value for ungrouped data was 0.37 and 0.45 for the weighted scores.CONCLUSION: This standardized tool applied at critical time points can assess trends in KAP within the same population and for comparison across groups. If used alongside a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness(RAAB), this tool provides a comprehensive perspective on eye-health of a population.展开更多
Cancer appears to pose a major threat to the health of the Sudanese population. It is the third leading cause of death in the Sudan after malaria and pneumonia, accounting for 5% of all deaths. In 2005, approximately ...Cancer appears to pose a major threat to the health of the Sudanese population. It is the third leading cause of death in the Sudan after malaria and pneumonia, accounting for 5% of all deaths. In 2005, approximately 22,000 people in the Sudan died from cancer and 17,000 of these people were less than 70 years old. This study was designed to: 1) assess nutrition knowledge and selected dietary beliefs related to cancer in Sudanese residing in Khartoum;2) identify perceived barriers to the adoption of eating behaviors consistent with those recommended for cancer prevention;and 3) describe the food preferences and dietary practices in Sudanese residing in Khartoum. An interviewer-administered questionnaire elicited demographic information, cancer-related food and nutrition knowledge, food preferences, selected dietary beliefs, barriers to healthy eating and food practices from 182 participants between the ages of 18 and 35 years. More than 50% of females and males correctly identified the food lowest in fiber from a given list. Respondents were knowledgeable about the fat content of their traditional foods, but unaware of the different types of fat. Only 8.8% of the respondents thought that consumption of fruits and vegetables reduced cancer risk. Resondents perceived nutritionists as the most reliable source of information about nutrition and cancer, and the media as the best source of information on nutrition and healthy cooking. “Samin”, feta cheese, a variety of stews, “Zalabia”, lean meat, brown bread, sesame oil, dried okra, fried fish, and chicken were described as preferred food items by respondents. Daily salt/ sodium intake was described by 44% and 39% of the male and female respondents, respectively, as “high” (>2400 mg/day). The findings of this study have clear implications for aggressive nutrition education intervention programs with emphasis on the traditional foods of the Sudan.展开更多
Osteoporosis has been recognized as a major public health problem by healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. The present study examines the osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, and some of the life habits in two diff...Osteoporosis has been recognized as a major public health problem by healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. The present study examines the osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, and some of the life habits in two different Saudi women’s groups (with family history, and without family history), to find the association of their knowledge and health beliefs with their preventive practice. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among a convenience sample of 288 young age (20 to 40 years) women attending the health centers in Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Both groups had an inadequate daily calcium intake with a significant difference between them. The women without family history had low mean of knowledge (8.9 ± 2.7) compared with family history group (9.3 ± 2.7) with a significant difference (p = 0.04). Based on the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS) subscale mean score, the perceived susceptibility and perceived severity were lower in women without family history with a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.02, 0.00;respectively). The family history group had lower mean score barriers of calcium intake and exercise with a significant difference between groups (p = 0.017, 0.013;respectively). Statistically significant correlation was found between calcium intake and OHBS subscale perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits of calcium intake and exercise, and perceived barriers of exercise only for the family history group. This study indicates inadequate daily calcium intake, with moderate knowledge of osteoporosis in Saudi women and highlights the need for diet and life habits interventions to improve calcium intake and exercise, which may help to reduce the burden of osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia.展开更多
Alternating-time Temporal Epistemic Logic (ATEL) which is an important kind of multi-agent cooperation logics only takes knowledge into account,but does not deal with belief of agents. By introducing three kinds of be...Alternating-time Temporal Epistemic Logic (ATEL) which is an important kind of multi-agent cooperation logics only takes knowledge into account,but does not deal with belief of agents. By introducing three kinds of belief operators into ATEL,a new multi-agent cooperation logic named ATBKL (Alternating-time Temporal Belief and Knowledge Logic) was developed. A model checking algorithm was proposed. It is proved that the model checking complexity of ATBKL is the same as that of ATEL,i.e.,the presented logic is better for further study of multi-agent systems.展开更多
<strong>Introduction</strong><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Appropriate feeding and consequentl...<strong>Introduction</strong><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Appropriate feeding and consequently good nutritional status </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of young children largely depends on their caregivers. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Aim</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: The current</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> study aimed at assessing maternal/caregivers’ current knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs regarding different aspects of infant and young child feeding in Eastern and Central Uganda. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methodology</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: A cross-sectional survey design with mixed methods employing both qualitative and quantitative methods was used for data collection. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: The study participants included 556 caregivers and 572 children. Results indicate that most caregivers (77%) were knowledgeable about key infant and young child feeding practices such as breastfeeding, complementary feeding and meal frequency. However, culture </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and economic hardships were</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">a major barrier to the applicability of this</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> knowledge. Nearly all (98%) children were ever breastfed with 41% having been initiated on breast milk in the first hour after birth and 68% of all the children below 6 months exclusively breastfed. Three percent of the children aged 6 - 23 months were classified as having either Moderate (2%) or Severe (1%) Acute malnutrition. The median birth weight was 3.2</span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Kgs with nine percent of the children classified as underweight at birth. The majority (78%) of the children consumed foods from at least four food groups however only </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">44% consumed heme-rich animal flesh food such as meat, poultry, organ</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> meats and fish, 29% consumed milk and milk products while only 11% consumed eggs. The barriers to improved nutritional status and health-seeking</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">behaviour in children from both regions were largely similar. Some of these included cultural practices which prohibit children from eating certain foods and lack of drugs in the health facilities. Lack of male involvement was a key barrier to health-seeking behaviour and the nutritional well-being of children. Males were, however, more knowledgeable about the key childcare practices that are critical to positive outcomes because they listen to radios, have access to social media and usually congregate at bars where this information is disseminated and exchanged. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> There should be continuous sensitization of mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding with special focus on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding as well as child feeding practices during ill</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ness. To increase protein intake in children 6 - 23 months, interventions </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">aimed at increasing consumption of these vital nutrients such as promotion of nutrition-sensitive agricultural enterprises like rearing of small livestock and chickens should be emphasized. Consumption of these foods is critical, especially during pregnancy and infancy. Finally, male involvement in maternal and child feeding should be encouraged.</span></span></span></span>展开更多
<strong>Background:</strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the commonest cause of</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> valvu...<strong>Background:</strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the commonest cause of</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> valvular heart disease in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The low cardiologist to patient ratio leaves a big challenge of RHD prevention and management to general practitioners in Cameroon. This makes it important to assess the aptitude of senior medical students who are doctors-to-be on RHD. This could thus give a base on which to increase awareness and decrease the burden of the disease. Therefore, we sort to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of senior medical students on rheumatic heart disease.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">General objective: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">To determine the level of knowledge, attitudes on rheumatic heart disease, and assess practices towards RHD and its prevention.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methodology: </span></b><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">A cross-sectional study was conducted in four medical schools in Cameroon for a period of 3 months </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(from January 1</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">st</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> to April 1</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">st</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2019)</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">. The senior medical students were recruited using a structured self-administered questionnaire and electronic forms. Data were entered into an excel spreadsheet and analysed with IBM SPSS version 25.0 for windows. The knowledge level was divided into tertiles (poor, moderate and good) while the attitudes and practices were divided into poor or good. Association to KAP was evaluated and Statistical significance was set at P</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.05. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> In total, 509 senior medical students (6</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and 7</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> year) were recruited. The mean age was 24.6 (SD</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">1.7) with 53.2% of students in the 19 to 24 years-old range. There were more females (51.7%) and level 6 students (50.1%). </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Most of the students had moderate knowledge (58.2%), with good attitudes and practices on rheumatic heart disease and its prevention. One-quarter of the students had good knowledge, attitudes, and practices on rheumatic heart disease. Lecture on RHD, history of sore throat and study in faculty of health science (FHS) was associated with good knowledge, attitudes, and practices on RHD. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Despite having most of the senior medical students (6</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and 7</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> years) in Cameroon with moderate to good knowledge of RHD, only a third has an above-average knowledge. There is a modest knowledge of RHD that could be used as an important foundation upon which to build RHD educational programs to expand awareness and understanding. Every 1 in 4 senior medical students have good knowledge, attitude and practice on RHD.</span></span>展开更多
文摘Aims: Anaemia in children aged 6 - 59 months is an important public health problem associated with increasing hospital costs, lengths of hospital stay, and development of complications later in life. Due to the significant caregiver roles of mothers, the level of mothers’ knowledge, beliefs and practices are important in addressing anaemia in children. This study investigated knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices of select mothers on anaemia and linked these with known factors for anaemia. Methodology: The case study was conducted at Mkuranga District Hospital, Paediatric Ward between December 2014 and April 2015. A cross-sectional design was used to recruit a convenience sample of 40 mothers whose children had a confirmed diagnosis of anaemia (through routine laboratory testing). Results: Within the sample, the majority of children were male (52.5%);aged 6 - 39 months (87.5%);and had a diagnosis of severe anaemia (75.0%) according to the World Health Organization’s definition. Over one third (35%) of mothers reported a prior history of anemia in their other children, and the majority (55%) had heard about anaemia prior to their child’s hospitalization. Maternal anaemia was reported by 67.5% of mothers. Mothers reported that maternal anemia (17.5%) and feeding practices (32.5%) are known contributing factors to anaemia in children. Mothers reported that anemia could be prevented (55.0%) and cured by herbal preparations (47.5%). In addition, some mothers indicated that anaemia was caused by witchcraft (22.5%) and eating lemons (2.5%). Conclusion: Severe anaemia was high among the studied population which aligned with their hospitalization status. Findings suggested potential gaps in control and management of anemia in children possibly related to low awareness or incorrect knowledge of the relationship between maternal and child anaemia. The findings also highlighted important cultural beliefs related to anaemia. There is an imperative for culturally and socially appropriate knowledge translation and exchange with mothers in order to impact on the prevention and control of anaemia in children in Tanzania.
文摘BACKGROUND Ischemic bowel disease(IBD)is a critical condition caused by reduced blood flow to the intestines,leading to tissue damage and potentially severe complications.Early recognition and timely management are essential for improving patient outcomes and reducing morbidity and mortality associated with IBD.AIM To evaluate the knowledge,attitude and practice(KAP)of healthcare professionals regarding IBD.METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals in China from November 2023 to December 2023 using a self-designed questionnaire.RESULTS A total of 315 valid questionnaires were analyzed,with 215 participants(68.25%)being female.The mean KAP scores were 17.55±5.35(range:0-24),27.65±2.77(range:8-40),and 18.88±4.23(range:6-30),respectively.Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed the following factors to be independently associated with knowledge:Age 26-35 years(β=2.80,95%CI:0.31-5.30,P=0.028),professional title(β=2.66,95%CI:0.91-4.41,P=0.003),position(β=-3.78,95%CI:-5.45 to-2.11,P<0.001),participation in IBD-related training(β=3.45,95%CI:2.39-4.51,P<0.001),and admission of more than five IBD cases in the past month(β=3.25,95%CI:1.58-4.92,P<0.001).Attitude was independently associated with knowledge(β=0.20,95%CI:0.15-0.26,P<0.001)and being a nurse or nursing supervisor(β=-1.30,95%CI:-2.16 to-0.40,P=0.003).Practice was independently associated with knowledge(β=0.20,95%CI:0.10-0.30,P<0.001)and attitude(β=0.24,95%CI:0.06-0.42,P=0.007).Structural equation modeling demonstrated direct effects of knowledge on attitude(β=0.24,P<0.001)and practice(β=0.26,P<0.001),as well as of attitude on practice(β=0.22,P=0.012).CONCLUSION Healthcare professionals demonstrated adequate knowledge but moderate attitude and inactive practice regarding IBD.Addressing the gaps in attitude and practice through targeted training programs and interventions is essential for improving patient care and outcomes.
文摘Objective:To assess the socioeconomic characteristics influencing knowledge,attitudes,and practices in preventing toxocariasis among the adult Khmer population in Tra Vinh Province,Vietnam.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted across 30 communities in eight districts and cities of Tra Vinh Province using a 30-cluster random sampling method during 2023.Results:The study encompassed 760 participants(median age:52 years;interquartile range:39-63 years),female 65.9%.There existed moderate levels of knowledge,attitudes,and preventive practices among participants,with variations across sociodemographic groups.Education(OR 0.53;95%CI 0.36-0.53;P=0.002),and average family income(OR 0.40;95%CI 0.24-0.68;P=0.001)were inversely associated with poor knowledge.Participants aged≥60 years had higher odds of negative attitudes(OR 5.26;95%CI 2.31-11.96;P<0.001)towards toxocariasis prevention.Not owning pets(OR 1.53;95%CI 1.13-2.08;P=0.006)and age≥60 years(OR 5.33;95%CI 2.61-10.86;P<0.001)were associated with significantly higher odds of poor preventive practices.Conversely,higher education(OR 0.11;95%CI 0.06-0.20;P<0.001)and higher income(OR 0.14;95%CI 0.06-0.33;P<0.001)were protective factors,significantly reducing the risk of poor preventive practices.Conclusions:Knowledge,attitudes,and practice levels regarding toxocariasis prevention among Khmer adults in Tra Vinh were moderate and associated with age,education and income.Targeted health education efforts,especially in rural and low-income groups,are essential to improve preventive behaviors and reduce infection risks.
文摘Porcine Cysticercosis (PCC) and Human Cysticercosis (HCC)/Neurocysticercosis (NCC) are a burden to the community owing to the reduced value of animals, associated costs of treatment, decreased labour productivity and social discrimination. There is limited knowledge on the management and prevention of PCC and epilepsy in Iringa rural. Therefore, the present study aimed at assessing indigenous knowledge, practices, attitudes and social impacts of PCC and epilepsy in Iringa rural district. A total of 588 people participated in the survey whereby 306 were pig farmers, 223 non-pig farmers and 59 families with epileptic individuals. It was found that 49.8% (χ2 = 0.003, DF = 1, p = 0.954) of pig keepers were aware of PCC, whereas the remaining 50.2% were not aware (χ2 = 25.5, DF = 1, p χ2 = 3.814, DF = 1, p = 0.51). People in Iringa rural believe epilepsy is caused by evil spirits, witchcraft and/or inheritance. It was concluded that there was limited knowledge on T. solium cysticercosis and epilepsy. This ignorance is the cause of poor practices, negative beliefs and attitudes that negatively affect the social life of People with Epilepsy (PWE) in communities. This study recommends that health education to raise awareness on cysticercosis/taeniosis and epilepsy should be one of the intervention measures for elimination of cysticercosis and epilepsy in Iringa rural district.
文摘Introduction: Breastfeeding is the best way to provide ideal nutrition for optimal infant growth and development. Objectives: The aim of our work was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers of children aged 0 - 24 months on exclusive breastfeeding in the Central African Republic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted from September 15 to October 15, 2024 among mothers of infants aged 0 to 24 months. Sociodemographic, obstetric and breastfeeding-related data were collected through individual interviews conducted during sensitizations on good feeding practices organized by the Tina Touadera Foundation. The chi2 test was used to test for relationships between variables, and the p significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The average age of the mothers surveyed was 27.67 years. 65.69% (n = 247) of mothers lived in urban areas and 55.85% (n = 210) were Muslim. 56.38% (n = 212) were living common-law and 34.04% (n = 128) were poor. Secondary-school mothers (44.42%, n = 167) and housewives (53.72%, n = 202) were in the majority. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was correctly defined by 79.26% (n = 298) of mothers and actually practised in 24.20% (n = 91) of cases. The main source of information was a health professional in 75.36% (n = 304) of cases. Among the 285 mothers who practised mixed breastfeeding, lack of time (33.33%) was the main reason. They acknowledged having given water (100%), corn porridge (75.09%) and/or artificial milk (24.91%) before the first 6 months of life. The average time for introducing water was 2.2 months, and for porridge/formula 2.79 months. More than half the mothers (55.05%) said they did not know their infants’ weaning age. Factors positively influencing the use of EBF were age under 29, residence in an urban area, primiparity, having been informed about AME by a health professional, and being a housewife or shopkeeper (p Conclusion: Mothers’ level of knowledge was heterogeneous but insufficient overall. An effective system of information and education from pregnancy to the first six months of life is needed to promote breastfeeding.
文摘Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and mostly affects school going children. Côte d’Ivoire is one of the most vulnerable countries to schistosomiasis, and its prevalence varies by region. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in schools in the Upper Sassandra region to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of school children regarding schistosomiasis. In total, 354 students participated in the survey. Our results showed that, compared to the girls, the boys had a higher level of knowledge about schistosomiasis OR = 1.605 and p = 0.05. Regarding the signs, symptoms, and modes of transmission and prevention of schistosomiasis, the participants reported a low level of knowledge p > 0.05 and OR 1. In conclusion, it is important to target health messages in schools to reach the most vulnerable students effectively. This initiative aims to provide children with basic knowledge and skills in the transmission of schistosomiasis.
文摘Objective:To assess knowledge and practice among nurses toward neonatal resuscitation in hospitals in Hebron.Methods:A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 151 nurses from Hebron.Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.Multiple logistic regression was conducted to test the associated factors with the dependent variables.Results:Only 9.3%of participants had a standardized level of knowledge,while 68.9%reported adequate skills for neonatal resuscitation.Factors associated with a standardized level of knowledge were age(p=0.001)and supportive supervision(p=0.007).Factors associated with the standardized practice level were the presence of hospital guidelines(p=0.028),previous training of nurses(p=0.011),and the presence of supportive supervision(p<0.001).Conclusions:The majority of emergency nurses in Hebron hospitals demonstrated a substandard level of knowledge of neonatal resuscitation.However,most of those nurses surprisingly reported a standardized practice level.The presence of hospital guidelines,training programs,or direct supervision for nurses are factors that can be considered to improve both knowledge and practice toward neonatal resuscitation among emergency nurses in Hebron.
基金supported in part by the Natural Science Foundation of China(62303361)in part by the Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(623QN266)+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(WUT:233110002)in part by the University-Industry Collaborative Education Program(231002531131826)in part by the National Key R&D Program of China(2018AAA0101502)
文摘COMPUTATIONAL knowledge vision[1]is emphasized as a novel perspective or field in this paper.It first proposes the visual hierarchy and its connection to knowledge,stating that knowledge is a justified true belief.To further the previous research,we concisely summarize our recent works and suggest a new direction that knowledge is also a thought framework in vision.
文摘Information regarding current status of handwashing knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and compliance with handwashing practice in nursing students in Jordan is limited. This study aims to explore handwashing knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and self-reported compliance and to examine significant variables predicting compliance with handwashing practice among nursing students. The study used a cross-sectional survey design. Results found a statistically significant relationship between nursing students’ handwashing compliance and their handwashing knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (r = 0.68, 0.65, 0.58, P β = 0.423, P = 0.000), followed by attitudes (β = 0.322, P = 0.000), and beliefs (β = 0.171, P = 0.027). Specific handwashing training courses integrated in nursing education curriculum are recommended. These courses need to consider nursing students’ handwashing attitudes and beliefs in conjunction with handwashing knowledge.
文摘Background and Objective: There is a rising concern about Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) related knowledge in rural communities of Sudan. This study focuses on determining the extend of knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about HIV/ AIDS among rural communities difficult to access in the six States of Sudan. Subjects and Methods: Six thousand and one hundred twenty five respondents were interviewed through the method of house-to-house visits. A structured questionnaire was administered by research assistants recruited from the Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum University during a rural residency campaign in six states of Central, Eastern and Northern Sudan during 2008/2009. Results: Of the total interviewees, 48% were aware of the HIV/AIDS risk;46% reported to have good health seeking behaviors for HIV/AIDS. 54.4% of women reported to have better knowledge about the disease than men (45.6%). 38% (2005) had not heard of safety use of condom whereas 16% (320) had used it. Logistic regression revealed that 5.3% of knowledge about the disease was explained by gender, education and religion adjusted over age of the respondents. Conclusions: Mass media were the most common source of information about the existent risk of HIV/AIDS in rural communities. These findings could assist Sudanese National Aids Programme (SNAP), healthcare providers and policymakers to develop informative materials and health education programs to educate rural community is about the risk of HIV/AIDS.
文摘Objective:To identify the level of knowledge,attitude,and practice(KAP)toward osteoporosis among Jordanian nurses.Methods:A cross-sectional design was adopted in this study.A convenience sample of 443 Jordanian nurses were recruited from the public and private healthcare settings in Jordan.The assessment tool used in the current study contained 35 items,measuring KAP among Jordanian nurses toward osteoporosis.The correlation Pearson test and regression test were used to analyze data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences,version 21.Results:The total KAP scores were 33.53,37.65,and 22.7,respectively.These results revealed that Jordanian nurses have a moderate level of KAP toward osteoporosis.Conclusions:Jordanian nurses showed a moderate KAP toward osteoporosis,which should be improved as an effective step to reducing the growing incidences of osteoporosis.The lack of KAP holds a serious and growing impact on the Jordanian health sector and patients’health in terms of cost,healthcare resources,and social life.Nurses can play a valuable role in educating patients on bone fracture causes,perceived percentage,risks,and prevention,as well as in helping them with nutrition and lifestyle recommendations.
基金Supported by 2021 Science Popularization Research Project of National Medical Information Network,Chinese Pharmaceutical Association,No.CMEI2021KPYJ00101。
文摘BACKGROUND Medication misuse or overuse is significantly associated with poor health outcomes.Information regarding the knowledge,cultural beliefs,and behavior about medication safety in the general population is important.AIM To conduct a survey on medication habits and explored the potential factors impacting medication safety.METHODS The current survey included adults from 18 districts and counties in Harbin,China.A questionnaire on medication safety was designed based on knowledge,cultural beliefs,and behavior.Both univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore the factors that impacted medication safety.RESULTS A total of 394 respondents completed the questionnaires on medication safety.The mean scores for knowledge,cultural beliefs,and behavior about medication safety were 59.41±19.33,40.66±9.24,and 60.97±13.69,respectively.The medication knowledge score was affected by age(P=0.044),education(P<0.001),and working status(P=0.015).Moreover,the cultural beliefs score was significantly affected by education(P<0.001).Finally,education(P=0.003)and working status(P=0.011)significantly affected the behavior score.CONCLUSION The knowledge,cultural beliefs,and behavior about medication safety among the general population was moderate.Health education should be provisioned for the elderly,individuals with a low education level,and the unemployed to improve medication safety in Harbin,China.
文摘Most young person will become sexually active before their 20<sup>th</sup> birthday having to battle with early and unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal deaths and injuries. This study examined young person’s sexual knowledge, attitudes and practices and their levels of utilization of sexual reproductive health. Our study progresses beyond current research of reporting only sexual behaviour among youth to have insight into sexual and reproductive health update drivers yielding new empirically robust results for the Ghanaian case for sexual and reproductive health service uptake. The descriptively cross sectional design was employed in sampling 170 youth (150 surveyed and 20 Interviewed) using the stratified sampling technique together with a purposive selection of one key informant. Test of significance and associations were performed with the Chisquare test. In all 45.2% (77/170) of youth (10 - 24) had had sexual experience in life time. In respect of in-school youth, 42% (63/150) had had sexual experience whiles 70% (14/20) out-of-school youth had had sexual intercourse in life time. A total of 28.8% (49/170) of all the youth had sexual intercourse in the last six months with only 40.1 (20/49) using condom for protection. Parental discussion of contraceptive methods (29.3%) and sexual and romantic relationship (28.0%) was the least sexual and reproductive health area discussed among in-school youth. Youth knowledge of the available sexual reproductive health service was statistically associated with reproductive health service utilization (X<sup>2</sup> = 0.00, P ≤ 0.05). A concerted effort is required from government, NGO, Civil society organizations and religious bodies to help translate youth knowledge about sexual health into responsible sexual life and protective sex.
文摘Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of optimizing details in the operating room on the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of hospital infection prevention and control by surgeons, as well as the effectiveness of infection control. Methods: From January 2022 to June 2023, a total of 120 patients were screened and randomly divided into a control group (routine care and hospital infection management) and a study group (optimizing details in the operating room). Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups in the data of surgeons’ level of knowledge, attitude, and practice in hospital infection prevention and control, infection rates, and nursing satisfaction, with the study group showing better results (P Conclusion: The use of optimizing details in the operating room among surgeons can effectively improve surgeons’ level of knowledge, attitude, and practice in hospital infection prevention and control, reduce infection occurrence, and is worth promoting.
基金Supported by the Australian Government Avoidable Blindness Initiative granted through CBM Australia
文摘AIM: To develop an eye health knowledge, attitude and practice(EH-KAP) field-based assessment tool for use in implementing effective eye health care services.METHODS: An instrument development and validation study. A Vietnam EH-KAP dataset were used to identify and eliminate redundant questions to develop a standardized tool. Face validity was assessed by the KAP survey team. Internal validity(congruency/criterion) was assessed by comparing descriptive analysis of two datasets(n=531;n=38) collected from the same sampling frame at different time points. Weighted scores were calculated for each construct. Kappa values for test-retest and inter-observer agreement were calculated to check the reliability of responses. The modified version was assessed by analysing the raw and ungrouped data. Responses were weighted and agreement was tested by comparing construct scores.RESULTS: Totally 38 respondents were included in this validation process(mean age 58.5 y). Mean scores for knowledge were 9.15(old questionnaire n=531) and 5.05(modified version). For attitude, the scores were 2.23 and 2.42, and for practice the scores were 3.33 and 2.21. Testretest agreement was between 62% to 93%(Kappa 0.24 to 0.86) for the ungrouped raw data, and 55% to 72%(Kappa 0.42 to 0.65) for KAP domain. Inter-observer Kappa value for ungrouped data was 0.37 and 0.45 for the weighted scores.CONCLUSION: This standardized tool applied at critical time points can assess trends in KAP within the same population and for comparison across groups. If used alongside a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness(RAAB), this tool provides a comprehensive perspective on eye-health of a population.
文摘Cancer appears to pose a major threat to the health of the Sudanese population. It is the third leading cause of death in the Sudan after malaria and pneumonia, accounting for 5% of all deaths. In 2005, approximately 22,000 people in the Sudan died from cancer and 17,000 of these people were less than 70 years old. This study was designed to: 1) assess nutrition knowledge and selected dietary beliefs related to cancer in Sudanese residing in Khartoum;2) identify perceived barriers to the adoption of eating behaviors consistent with those recommended for cancer prevention;and 3) describe the food preferences and dietary practices in Sudanese residing in Khartoum. An interviewer-administered questionnaire elicited demographic information, cancer-related food and nutrition knowledge, food preferences, selected dietary beliefs, barriers to healthy eating and food practices from 182 participants between the ages of 18 and 35 years. More than 50% of females and males correctly identified the food lowest in fiber from a given list. Respondents were knowledgeable about the fat content of their traditional foods, but unaware of the different types of fat. Only 8.8% of the respondents thought that consumption of fruits and vegetables reduced cancer risk. Resondents perceived nutritionists as the most reliable source of information about nutrition and cancer, and the media as the best source of information on nutrition and healthy cooking. “Samin”, feta cheese, a variety of stews, “Zalabia”, lean meat, brown bread, sesame oil, dried okra, fried fish, and chicken were described as preferred food items by respondents. Daily salt/ sodium intake was described by 44% and 39% of the male and female respondents, respectively, as “high” (>2400 mg/day). The findings of this study have clear implications for aggressive nutrition education intervention programs with emphasis on the traditional foods of the Sudan.
文摘Osteoporosis has been recognized as a major public health problem by healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. The present study examines the osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, and some of the life habits in two different Saudi women’s groups (with family history, and without family history), to find the association of their knowledge and health beliefs with their preventive practice. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among a convenience sample of 288 young age (20 to 40 years) women attending the health centers in Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Both groups had an inadequate daily calcium intake with a significant difference between them. The women without family history had low mean of knowledge (8.9 ± 2.7) compared with family history group (9.3 ± 2.7) with a significant difference (p = 0.04). Based on the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS) subscale mean score, the perceived susceptibility and perceived severity were lower in women without family history with a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.02, 0.00;respectively). The family history group had lower mean score barriers of calcium intake and exercise with a significant difference between groups (p = 0.017, 0.013;respectively). Statistically significant correlation was found between calcium intake and OHBS subscale perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits of calcium intake and exercise, and perceived barriers of exercise only for the family history group. This study indicates inadequate daily calcium intake, with moderate knowledge of osteoporosis in Saudi women and highlights the need for diet and life habits interventions to improve calcium intake and exercise, which may help to reduce the burden of osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia.
基金Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China ( No.2006J0316)College Scientific and Technological Projects of Office of Education of Fujian Province of China (No.JB09302)Scientific Research Foundation for Young Teachers of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University,China (No.08B21)
文摘Alternating-time Temporal Epistemic Logic (ATEL) which is an important kind of multi-agent cooperation logics only takes knowledge into account,but does not deal with belief of agents. By introducing three kinds of belief operators into ATEL,a new multi-agent cooperation logic named ATBKL (Alternating-time Temporal Belief and Knowledge Logic) was developed. A model checking algorithm was proposed. It is proved that the model checking complexity of ATBKL is the same as that of ATEL,i.e.,the presented logic is better for further study of multi-agent systems.
文摘<strong>Introduction</strong><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Appropriate feeding and consequently good nutritional status </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of young children largely depends on their caregivers. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Aim</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: The current</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> study aimed at assessing maternal/caregivers’ current knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs regarding different aspects of infant and young child feeding in Eastern and Central Uganda. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methodology</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: A cross-sectional survey design with mixed methods employing both qualitative and quantitative methods was used for data collection. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: The study participants included 556 caregivers and 572 children. Results indicate that most caregivers (77%) were knowledgeable about key infant and young child feeding practices such as breastfeeding, complementary feeding and meal frequency. However, culture </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and economic hardships were</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">a major barrier to the applicability of this</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> knowledge. Nearly all (98%) children were ever breastfed with 41% having been initiated on breast milk in the first hour after birth and 68% of all the children below 6 months exclusively breastfed. Three percent of the children aged 6 - 23 months were classified as having either Moderate (2%) or Severe (1%) Acute malnutrition. The median birth weight was 3.2</span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Kgs with nine percent of the children classified as underweight at birth. The majority (78%) of the children consumed foods from at least four food groups however only </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">44% consumed heme-rich animal flesh food such as meat, poultry, organ</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> meats and fish, 29% consumed milk and milk products while only 11% consumed eggs. The barriers to improved nutritional status and health-seeking</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">behaviour in children from both regions were largely similar. Some of these included cultural practices which prohibit children from eating certain foods and lack of drugs in the health facilities. Lack of male involvement was a key barrier to health-seeking behaviour and the nutritional well-being of children. Males were, however, more knowledgeable about the key childcare practices that are critical to positive outcomes because they listen to radios, have access to social media and usually congregate at bars where this information is disseminated and exchanged. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> There should be continuous sensitization of mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding with special focus on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding as well as child feeding practices during ill</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ness. To increase protein intake in children 6 - 23 months, interventions </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">aimed at increasing consumption of these vital nutrients such as promotion of nutrition-sensitive agricultural enterprises like rearing of small livestock and chickens should be emphasized. Consumption of these foods is critical, especially during pregnancy and infancy. Finally, male involvement in maternal and child feeding should be encouraged.</span></span></span></span>
文摘<strong>Background:</strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the commonest cause of</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> valvular heart disease in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The low cardiologist to patient ratio leaves a big challenge of RHD prevention and management to general practitioners in Cameroon. This makes it important to assess the aptitude of senior medical students who are doctors-to-be on RHD. This could thus give a base on which to increase awareness and decrease the burden of the disease. Therefore, we sort to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of senior medical students on rheumatic heart disease.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">General objective: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">To determine the level of knowledge, attitudes on rheumatic heart disease, and assess practices towards RHD and its prevention.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methodology: </span></b><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">A cross-sectional study was conducted in four medical schools in Cameroon for a period of 3 months </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(from January 1</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">st</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> to April 1</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">st</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2019)</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">. The senior medical students were recruited using a structured self-administered questionnaire and electronic forms. Data were entered into an excel spreadsheet and analysed with IBM SPSS version 25.0 for windows. The knowledge level was divided into tertiles (poor, moderate and good) while the attitudes and practices were divided into poor or good. Association to KAP was evaluated and Statistical significance was set at P</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.05. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> In total, 509 senior medical students (6</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and 7</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> year) were recruited. The mean age was 24.6 (SD</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">1.7) with 53.2% of students in the 19 to 24 years-old range. There were more females (51.7%) and level 6 students (50.1%). </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Most of the students had moderate knowledge (58.2%), with good attitudes and practices on rheumatic heart disease and its prevention. One-quarter of the students had good knowledge, attitudes, and practices on rheumatic heart disease. Lecture on RHD, history of sore throat and study in faculty of health science (FHS) was associated with good knowledge, attitudes, and practices on RHD. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Despite having most of the senior medical students (6</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and 7</span><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> years) in Cameroon with moderate to good knowledge of RHD, only a third has an above-average knowledge. There is a modest knowledge of RHD that could be used as an important foundation upon which to build RHD educational programs to expand awareness and understanding. Every 1 in 4 senior medical students have good knowledge, attitude and practice on RHD.</span></span>
