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May 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-20-3353
Mango LucioCorresponding author
Head for Higher Education in Healthcare, University of International Studies (UNINT) – Rome, Italy
In recent decades was observed a gradual increase in the detection of thyroid nodules in the adult population. Given the increase in prevalence of nodules, a similar trend to the growth in the incidence of thyroid cancers was found. The reasons for this increased incidence for thyroid cancer are controversial. Increased incidence is caused by an improvement in diagnostic techniques or does not result from an overdiagnosis, but represents a real increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer? Whatever the reality, the fact of an increased incidence of thyroid cancer for certain involves problems to global health which in any case must be evaluated and corrected.
Jan 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2640-6403.jtrr-25-5922
Kalmeta MargaretCorresponding author
Diabetic foot and leg ulcers represent a significant global health burden and are frequently associated with peripheral neuropathy, vascular compromise, infection, and high rates of recurrence and amputation. Standard wound care often fails to achieve healing in chronic cases due to unaddressed underlying neuropathic and vascular pathology. This feasibility study evaluated the Hemastyl™ System in patients with long-standing diabetic foot and leg ulcers that had failed standard care and, in many cases, had been diagnosed for amputation. Two prospective feasibility cohorts comprising 39 chronic infected diabetic wounds were treated with the Hemastyl™ System. Outcomes included rapid microbe reduction, high wound closure rates, subjective improvement in neuropathy-related symptoms, and avoidance of amputation in all amputation-diagnosed cases. These findings suggest that targeting neuropathy, vasculature, and microbial burden concurrently may offer a promising approach for healing complex chronic wounds in high-risk populations.
Nov 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-25-5745
Poole JolyonCorresponding author
Background Healthcare worker stress, anxiety, burnout, and trauma have been widely documented across global healthcare systems. Staff in maternal and neonatal units frequently encounter emotionally distressing events and work under high pressure with limited resources. In Zambia, despite some gains in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, fatality rates remain above national targets, exposing staff to repeated occupational trauma. Objective(s) This study aimed to assess the psychological well-being of staff in maternal and neonatal intensive care units, identify specific needs and stressors, and develop practical recommendations to improve resilience and support staff mental health. Methods A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) and Arthur Davison Children's Hospital (ADCH), two major tertiary hospitals in Zambia. Data were collected over four days in February 2025. The study included 87 (out of 161) healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives, and doctors. The Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS) and the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 (ProQOL 5) were used to collect quantitative data, which were analysed using descriptive statistics and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Open-ended survey questions provided qualitative data, which were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical approval was granted by the hospital ethics committee. Results High rates of clinical symptoms were observed. The overall prevalence of symptoms in the past 30 days was: anxiety (62%), depression (68%), burnout (50%), and secondary traumatic stress (46%). Junior doctors demonstrated the highest rates of depression (83%) and burnout (67%). The obstetrics and gynaecology and labour wards had the highest rates of secondary traumatic stress symptoms. Key qualitative themes identified were professional stressors, team and leadership issues, and the emotional burden of the work. Conclusion This study highlights an urgent need for both psychological and organizational support for maternal and neonatal healthcare staff in Zambia. The findings indicate that burnout and secondary traumatic stress are highly prevalent, particularly among junior doctors and those in high-risk wards. Targeted interventions at both systemic and individual levels are necessary to protect the well-being of healthcare workers and improve patient outcomes.
Jul 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-137X.ji-25-5581
Muthee Waweru EdmondCorresponding author
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) placed significant pressure on global health systems, necessitating rapid and widespread immunization, especially among healthcare workers (HCWs). Despite being prioritized in immunization programs, variations in vaccine uptake among HCWs have been reported across different settings. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among HCWs in Kiambu County, Kenya. An analytical cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 112 HCWs sampled using stratified random sampling from Level 2 to Level 5 healthcare facilities. Data were collected through a pre-tested and validated 18-item questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 29.0. Statistical methods included descriptive analysis, chi-square tests, logistic regression, and ANOVA. The overall COVID-19 vaccine uptake was 88.9%. Significant predictors of uptake included age (p = 0.048), cadre (p = 0.015), and facility level (p = 0.031). Knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines emerged as the strongest predictor, with HCWs demonstrating good-to-excellent knowledge being 14.97 times more likely to be vaccinated (p < 0.001). Confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness was also significantly associated with uptake (p < 0.001). Uptake was highest in Level 5 hospitals and lowest in dispensaries. The study reveals high vaccine uptake among HCWs in Kiambu County, but disparities persist due to individual and systemic factors. Strengthening vaccine education, institutional support, and deploying mobile vaccine education units in lower-level facilities could help close these gaps, offering practical strategies for improving HCW vaccine coverage in Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries.
Dec 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-24-5352
C. Katusi GodfreyCorresponding author
Introduction Adolescent pregnancy has become a global health concern in recent years, with maintaining dietary diversity being essential to ensure the health of both the mother and fetus. This study aimed to understand the dietary diversity and nutritional status among pregnant adolescents attending antenatal clinic and identify the factors influencing these outcomes. Methodology A hospital based cross-sectional study was done at St Francis Regional Referral Hospital at Ifakara, Tanzania. A total of 131 adolescent pregnant women consented to participate. Data was obtained using questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall. Results The study revealed that 93.1% (n=122) of adolescent pregnant women met the minimum dietary diversity score based on 24-hour recall period. Similar proportions were observed for age group but vary significantly with the number of children born (p< 0.001), marital status (p = 0.032) and education level (p< 0.001). Additionally, 93.9% (n=123) of adolescent pregnant women had a normal Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and 6.1% (n=8) were undernourished. Similar proportions were observed across age, number of children born, marital status, education status, and occupation. Conclusion Most adolescent pregnant women in this study achieved adequate dietary diversity. However, socio-demographic factors such as age, marital status, and education, as well as challenges like illness and loss of appetite, influenced their dietary diversity and overall nutritional status. Future research should adopt a community-based longitudinal approach to better understand these factors and provide a more comprehensive understanding on the dietary patterns of adolescent pregnant women.
Apr 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-2811.jmbr-23-4529
Wang LeiCorresponding author
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on global health and economies. The pandemic continues to spread and accurate forecasting of its spread is essential for the effective management of healthcare systems and the development of effective policies. The development of forecasting models for COVID-19 has become increasingly important as the pandemic continues to evolve. In this paper, we will summarize the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States state by state. And then, we utilize the temporal data of coronavirus spread from January 18, 2020 to January 29, 2023. Finally, we model the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak and perform prediction using ARIMA and time series forecasting models on some selected states.
Jan 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-21-4044
Chukwuma Sr ChrysanthusCorresponding author
The Chrysanthus Centre for Future-Oriented Studies, Centre For Future-Oriented Studies, CTR Future-Oriented Ltd, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
This paper attempts to present the dissemination and transmission dynamics of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases and the underlying features of gain-of-function research and geopolitics in the ambient within and across borders. Research and publication are relevant from perspectives in the management of local and global health because disease is perspicuously a geopolitical issue ostensibly linked to gain-of-function research where health diplomacy undergirds present and future global functionalities regarding the emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases. These have generated vehement reactions with propensity for extreme geopolitics and gain-of-function natural and anthropogenic activities. Geopolitical parameters and gain-of-function issues impact on the social determinants of health and vice versa. The convening and convergence of countries for unprecented epidemic or pandemic treaty settings or other formulations to confront emerging and reemerging infectious diseases will afford considerable opportunities concerning challenges in action, preparedness and response. Provisions are pertinent for legal instruments, effective and efficient systems to curb future threats and outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Dec 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-20-3662
Marks RayCorresponding author
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY 10027, United States
Background Most current Corona virus or COVID-19 pandemic deaths have been found to occur among populations older than 65 years of age, who often suffer from the presence of an array of chronic diseases that may be related to a co-occurring vitamin D deficiency. Another factor affecting older adults’ immune response mechanisms is air quality. In turn, air quality can impact the absorption of vitamin D from sunlight sources, a factor which could explain why older people, who are often vitamin D deficient, may be more likely than younger adults or healthy adults to be at risk for COVID-19 and poor outcomes. Aim This work was designed to examine the recent literature on COVID-19, vitamin D and air pollution and what it might imply for public health workers, policy makers, and others. Methods Available data accessed largely from the PUBMED data base for the year 2020 using the key words COVID-19, air pollution, and vitamin D deficiency were sought and selected items were carefully examined and documented in narrative and tabular formats. Results Many publications on COVID-19 prevail, but far fewer focus specifically on vitamin D deficiency and its possible role in explaining COVID-19 global health risk among older adults. A similar, albeit small number of publications, discuss the global pandemics of air pollution and its possible COVID-19 association, as well as its impact on vitamin D production. However, while most related articles support a possible independent as well as a dual role for both factors in COVID-19 the realm of this highly infectious widespread disease, very few actual studies have been conducted to date on any of these topical issues Conclusion More research to examine if vitamin D-based nutrients or supplements may provide some degree of community wide protection against COVID-19 in the older vitamin D populations, especially among those living in highly polluted areas may prove highly valuable. Controlling air pollution emissions globally and locally may also prove to be a highly impactful public health approach to reducing overall COVID-19 risk, and extent, and warrants study.
Oct 2020
Marks RayCorresponding author
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY 10027, United States
Background Osteoarthritis, a serious and increasingly prevalent disabling global health condition found largely among older adults, has been linked to the presence of excess body weight. But what contributes to this growing health epidemic of excess weight, which is increasingly observed in children? Moreover, can a case be made for predicting a possible negative linkage between the pervasive use of social media from the earliest point in time and possible subsequent childhood overweight or obesity and late life osteoarthritis that may be amenable to intervention? Methods To examine the most probable answers to these questions, the EBSCO, Scopus and PUBMED data bases were sourced for relevant data. The extracted data were carefully reviewed, categorized and documented in narrative format. Results While one cannot readily carry out research to answer the above questions, prevailing data imply that there is more risk of being overweight in childhood, as well as acquiring possible later life disabling osteoarthritis, or a more serious manifestation of this disease, through the prolonged, unfettered and frequent use of social media in early and middle childhood. Conclusion Those in the realm of developing preventive strategies against childhood overweight or obesity as well as osteoarthritis are strongly encouraged to examine the role of the media environment and messages children are exposed early on in this regard. Alternately, children who already have disabilities, joint pain due to arthritis or other health conditions, and who may have to rely more on social media than others who are active- may suffer more readily from an energy imbalance and become overweight if due precautions against this are not taken.
May 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2691-8862.jvat-20-3311
G. Elkabily AhmedCorresponding author
Ministry of health, Egypt
Currently, the emergence of a novel human corona virus, SARS-CoV-2, has become a global health concern causing severe respiratory tract infections in humans. Human-to-human transmissions have been described with incubation times between 2-14 days, facilitating its spread via droplets, contaminated hands or surfaces, resulting in high spread and death rates according to date, time and place of infection. We therefore reviewed the literature on all available information about the treatment of the cases, especially critical cases to decrease the mortality rate, the spread and incubation time of the virus by using the adaptive artificial passive immunity (anti-bodies from fully recovered patients with COVID-19).