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Dec 2025
Background Fast food consumption is the major cause of obesity and overweight in worldwide affecting more than 2 billion people, especially developing countries and low income countries. It can lead to hyperinsulinemia and development of insulin resistance, high energy density, high glycemic index, and fatty acid composition of fast foods may increase the prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors Objectives The main aim of this study was, to assess fast food consumption and its association with overweight /obesity among undergraduate students of University Hargeisa, Somaliland, 2023. Methods The study was carried out from May 01 to July 20, 2023 at University of Hargeisa using an institutional based cross-sectional study design to among 260 students. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was prepared based on review literatures and dig out from related studies. The anthropometric data was taken by data collectors to measure weight and height using a stadiometer. Data was entered and checked for errors using EPI-info version 7.1.5.0 and then, data were exported to statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software version 21 and STATA software version 14 for data processing and analysis. Descriptive statistics such as; frequencies, means and proportion was used for present the findings. A variable with P-values of less than 0.25 in the binary logistic regression analysis was entered into a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the independent predictors of stunting. Finally, variable at P-value less than 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression analysis was considered as a statistically significant variable. Results In this study, the majority 235 (90.4%, CI: 86.5- 93.8) of the study participants were fast food consumers. The study revealed that, from the total study participants 46(17.7%),127(48.8%),84(32.3%), 3(1.2%) were underweight, normal, overweight and obese respectively. A chi-square test revealed that there was a significant (p-value=0.058) associations between BMI and fast food consumption among students of University of Hargeisa. On multi-variable logistic regression model educational level of the students (AOR = 12.45 (95% CI: 1.7, 14.6)) and frequency of fruit (AOR = 0.76, 95% CI (0.7, 0.8)) and vegetable consumptions (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI (0.47, 0.575)) were found to be significantly associated with fast food consumptions (p < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, of the total 90.4% number of fast food consumers. A chi-square test revealed that there was a significant (p-value=0.058) associations between BMI and fast food consumption among students of University of Hargeisa. Educational level of the students and frequency of fruit and vegetable consumptions were found to be significantly associated with fast food consumptions. Effort should be made to increase access to fast food-related information and counseling.
Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-25-5852
South Asian female college students in the United States face mental health challenges shaped by intersecting experiences of discrimination and violence. This study examined how discrimination and violence contribute to depression in this population. An anonymous, cross-sectional, web-based survey (N=673) was distributed nationally through South Asian organizations, listservs, and social media. Validated measures assessed day-to-day discrimination, college-based discrimination, experiences of violence during college, and depression (PHQ-9). Bivariate analyses and multivariate linear regression examined associations, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Over half of participants (51.1%) reported college-based discrimination, 66.1% reported experiencing violence during college, and 25.7% met the criteria for depression. In adjusted models, day-to-day discrimination (β=0.261, p<0.001) and college violence (β=0.207, p<0.001) were significant predictors of depression. Bisexual and questioning/unsure students also reported higher depression scores than heterosexual peers. Discrimination and violence are key social determinants of mental health among this population. Findings underscore the need for culturally responsive mental health services, intersectional campus policies, and evidence-based interventions to promote health equity among minority women in higher education.
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.
Feb 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2766-8681.jcsr-24-4897
Introduction The arrangement of teaching content to relate to or unite concepts that are regularly taught in different academic courses or departments is referred to as integration of teaching. It simply refers to creating links between theoretical knowledge and actual application. Teaching the fundamental sciences in separate blocks prevents students from having the opportunity to connect and integrate their newly acquired knowledge. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of Integrated teaching method over traditional teaching and perception of students towards integrated method among first MBBS students Methodology The total of 62MBBS first year students are randomly divided into two groups, with 31 in each group. Group A is subjected for Conventional teaching and Group B for Integrated teaching method in the same topic. Among the 2 sessions one session is Horizontal and other is Vertical method of integrated teaching have been implemented. Finally, an evaluation test was conducted for both the groups and the mean marks obtained by the students were analyzed by using SPSS software version 17. Student’s perception towards this method was evaluated by pre-validated feedback questionnaire and analyzed. Results The mean marks (outof40) obtained by Group B (Conventional teaching) is 13.82 and by Group A (Integrated Teaching) is 31.18. So, the marks obtained by students after integrated method were found to be higher than the other group which underwent conventional teaching and this difference was found to be statistically significant (P <0.0001). Discussion and conclusion In comparison to the typical conventional method, integrated teaching has been found to be a more successful mode of instruction in terms of students' performance and assessment exams.
Nov 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-21-3909
Background & Objective Changing people’s attitude toward the environment is an important approach to the prevention of environmental damages. The present study aimed to evaluate environmentally responsible health-oriented behaviors in students. Materials and Methods This research was performed on 360 medical students (180 males and 180 females) who were selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a responsible environmental behaviors questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21 using linear regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation-coefficient. Results The scores of the environmental attitude, environmental knowledge, and environmental behaviors of the participants were estimated at 52.63±5.74, 74.43±5.99, and 103.37±11.51, respectively. An insignificant correlation was observed between the environmental knowledge and environmental behaviors of the students (r=0.07; P=0.20). However, the correlation-coefficient between the environmental attitude and environmental behaviors of the students was positive and significant (r=-0.54; P<0.001). A negative, significant correlation was also denoted between the environmental knowledge and environmental attitude of the students (r=-0.39; P<0.001). Conclusion Despite relatively poor environmental awareness and attitude, the majority of the students had proper environmental behaviors. Therefore, it seems that having an environmentally responsible behavior does not rely on environmental attitude and knowledge. In fact, behaviors influenced by social conditions and structure encourage and facilitate environmental behaviors.
Sep 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-23-4505
Background Many women feel physical or mood changes in the days before menstruation. Previous studies in other areas of Ethiopia have not looked at factors that could be related to the premenstrual syndrome. As a result, this study aims to fill these gaps by determining the prevalence and behavioral, reproductive, and menstrual factors that affect premenstrual syndrome in Arba Minch town. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Arba Minch town from April 1 to April 25, 2021. Participants were chosen using computerized simple random selection from a list of female students' registration numbers that had been transformed into unique codes. SPSS for Windows version 25.0 was used to analyze and interpret the data. Bivariate analysis was used to fit variables with a P-value of less than 0.2 for multivariable analysis. In multivariable logistic regression, variables with a P-value less than 0.05 are considered statistically significant. Result This study has revealed that 59.8% (95% CI: 55.8%–63.8%) of students have premenstrual syndrome. Dysmenorrhea (AOR = 3.172, 95% CI: 2.032, 4.952), family history of PMS (AOR = 3.155, 95% CI: 2.119, 4.697), normal body mass index (AOR = 0.244, 95% CI: 0.161, 0.37), and overweight (AOR = 3.739, 95% CI: 1.763, 7.931) were significantly associated with premenstrual syndrome. This study has revealed that 59.8% (95% CI: 55.8%–63.8%) of students have premenstrual syndrome. Dysmenorrhea (AOR = 3.172, 95% CI: 2.032, 4.952), family history of PMS (AOR = 3.155, 95% CI: 2.119, 4.697), normal body mass index (AOR = 0.244, 95% CI: 0.161, 0.37), and overweight (AOR = 3.739, 95% CI: 1.763, 7.931) were significantly associated with premenstrual syndrome. Conclusion Six out of ten Arba Minch town secondary school students had premenstrual syndrome. Dysmenorrhea, a family history of premenstrual syndrome, and body mass index were found to be significantly associated.
Apr 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-23-4412
Background People may have both negative and positive attitudes about other people, their way of living and those attitudes can be influenced by various factors. LGBTIQ individuals are facing various difficulties and barriers to run their daily life due to different attitudes of people. Attitudes may be different from person to person influenced by their knowledge, acceptance behaviour and understanding. By finding out the associated factors that influences the attitude of people we can change people’s view towards LGBTIQ individuals. Each and every person deserves to be treated equally regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, and preferences. Methods This was a cross-sectional study in which the sample size was 423 and the study population was nursing students. A simple random sampling method was used to select sample for the study. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data was entered in EPI 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS 25. A descriptive statistic was used to find out the frequency and percentage and analysis (chi-square) was used to find out the association between the dependent and independent variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Results showed that 87.2% have positive attitudes towards LGBTIQ individuals, and the majority (56.6%) have knowledge about homosexuality. Similarly, more than two-thirds (82.7%) of respondents were not homophobic, and 50.4% showed positive stereotypes about LGBTIQ individuals. Religion (p=0.030), caste (p=0.001) and Family type (p=0.016) were statistically significant with regard to the attitudes of students towards LGBTIQ. Conclusion The majority of students had positive attitudes towards LGBTIQ individuals and few had negative attitudes. Almost half of the respondents had adequate knowledge about homosexuality. The majority of students were not homophobic and few were homophobic. Half had positive stereotypes and about other half had negative stereotypes.
Nov 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-22-4332
Introduction Physical, psychological, and emotional growth are among the changes that define the adolescent stage. As compared to other age groups, adolescents are more vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health issues. Parents can become protective and influencing factors for their children to prevent risky sexual behavior. This study aims to assess adolescent-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health and its associated factors. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 212 adolescents aged 15–19 in higher secondary schools of Tokha Municipality. A self-administered structured modified questionnaire to assess the communication used the Weighted Topics Measure of Family Sexual Communication (WTM) tool with a simple random sampling technique of data collection. We performed descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square tests to analyze data and assess the association between variables. Data quality was assured through careful questionnaire design, pretesting, and training. Results The study found that about 75.9% of adolescents had communicated on SRH topics with their parents. Only 56.1%, 50.1%, 55.2%, and 50.5% of adolescents communicated about choosing a life partner, menstruation, physical and psychological changes during adolescence, and the physical growth and development of reproductive organs, respectively, while topics like using birth controls, when to start having sex, pregnancy, how to handle sexual pressure from a partner, STI and HIV/AIDs, about condoms, and abortion had never communicated by 61.3%, 86.6%, 69.3%, 85.8%, 72.2%, 78.8%, and 82.5% of adolescents, respectively. Adolescent-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health was significantly associated with the level of knowledge regarding sexual and reproductive health (X2 = 5.809, p = 0.01, df = 1). Similarly, there was a significant association with the perceived parenting style (X2 =3.932, p =0.04, df =1), living arrangements (X2 =6.376, p=0.01, df =1), and adolescent-parent communication. Conclusion It concluded that adolescent-parent communication on SRH issues is not satisfactory. Creating an adolescent-friendly environment at home and conducting awareness programs with the help of the local government of the respective schools would help to increase adolescent-parent communication.
May 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-22-4174
Introduction: Covid 19 pandemic affected all aspect of life, particularly schools attending. Students replaced their presentational lessons by on line distance learn. Ministry of health decisions varied between complete electronic study and attendance several days per week depending on the number of cases of the whole population. In Iraq, total cases till 15 of September, 2021, reached 1.963,264 and total death 21,631. Highest percent of confirmed cases in age group (30-39) years; 24.7%, while in children aged (0-9) years only 1.6%, and in older age group (10-19) years; 7.5%. Cases of covid19 at lower percent in small children and in school age children and tend to increase with age as it reached to 22.6% in age group (20-29). Objectives: Prevalence of covid 19 in students attending AL-dora medical center lab. Comparisons in number of cases of students before and after the school lock –down. Methods: It is a cross sectional study, included the records of schools health unit and lab records of VTM nasal or pharyngeal swab and rapid test in Al-Dora family health center from 1/10/2020 to 15/7/2021. Results: The study included 1711 students, the mean age group was 15.7 (± 4.9) years. The study showed the prevalence of covid19 in students attained the lab was 23.4%, highest percent was in age group >18 years and the lowest percent was in age group 6-12 years. The percent of vaccinated students in academic year 2020/2021 was 0.3 %( 3/1000). There is no significance difference in age group 6-12 years and age group >18 years before closing schools and colleges and after closing while age group 13-18 years showed a significant increase in positive cases after closing schools as cases increase from 18.1% to 25.9% after closing schools. Positive cases showed no significance difference with sex before and after closing. Discussions: The educational path of students in different age groups had broken down. Fear of parents could be justified but it could be exaggerated. School closures were applied almost around the world trying to decrease the potential spread of disease despite early studies suggested this would have less impact than most other non-pharmacological interventions.
Feb 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-22-4101
Medical education has been extraordinarily disrupted during the COVID-19 era worldwide. The pandemic limited routine ward or patient-based medical education. These limitations have resulted in new challenges for medical students, especially the final year students in completing their mandated curriculum. We are suggesting a revised curriculum for final year medical students, by following which we can address COVID restriction while making sure all competencies have been achieved by students. This revised curriculum centers around the usual placement of students in Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU), however all students will be posted in simulation wards/labs on their turn to enhance and consolidate their understanding and learning of common surgical cases in these wards, so that they can replicate these skills in SAU and wards on their turns. This article highlights how the proposed curriculum addresses the learning needs of final year medical students in their surgery rotation. The article will also summarize the critical appraisal process of our curriculum in the context of curriculum design theories. Finally, the article will highlight the quality assurance measures adhered to while developing the curriculum.
Sep 2021
Background This study was done to assess knowledge, attitude and preventive practices towards sexually transmitted infections among secondary school students in Mlimba Division, Ifakara, Tanzania. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2021. A total of 365 secondary school students (193 male; 172 female) aged between 12 and 23 years were surveyed by using a pretested self-administered questionnaire. Results The study found the majority 95.9% had heard of STDs, 77.8% knew symptoms of STDs, 86.8% knew mode of transmission, 94.0% knew the importance of use of condom during sexual intercourse. Among the sexually-active students, 70.7% had practiced sexual intercourse and 42.2% used condom during sexual intercourse. Conclusion The risky behavior practiced by the sexually-active students in this study is alarming. There is a need to introduce STD education curriculum in secondary schools so that appropriate intervention on STDs can be implemented.
Jan 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2766-8681.jcsr-21-3718
Currently, many educational practitioners do not agree on how flipped classroom affects students’ learning effect. In order to further explore the impact of flipped classroom on students’ learning effect, this paper conducts a quantitative analysis of some flipped classroom experimental and quasi-experimental studies systematically by means of meta-analysis method. The study finds that the random effect model shows that the combined effect is 0.373, reaching the statistical significance level, which indicates that flipped classroom has moderate positive effect on improving students' learning effect. There is no significant difference in the effect of flipped classroom on the learning effect of different subjects and stages, but the effect on primary school students is weaker. Significant differences in the effect on learning outcomes among different knowledge types have been found, and specifically, the flipped instruction is good for the study of practical knowledge, but has less influence on theoretical knowledge learning. Therefore, in the application of flipped classroom, it is necessary to pay attention to the characteristics of different learning objects and types of knowledge, and flipped classroom teaching cannot be used too much in primary school and the teaching of theoretical knowledge during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic.
Dec 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-20-3613
Empathy has been described as a multi-dimensional construct with cognitive and emotional components, both of which are concerned about responsivity to others. It has been touted as a skill essential for medical practice and thus useful to all healthcare professionals. It has been assessed in several countries and among several healthcare cadres however, there is a yawning gap in Ghana about its level in medical students. This study utilised a cross-sectional design to assess empathy using the Multi-Dimensional Emotional Empathy Scale in medical students of the University in Ghana. The scale has an alpha reliability of 0.88. One hundred and eleven students, aged 24 years ±1.5 years completed the study. Overall, there were more males than females. The mean empathy score for the cohort was 101SD 13 and this was adjudged to be low. There was no statistical difference between age, gender and clinical year and empathy in this cohort. The authors recommend that empathy, especially its cognitive aspects, should be taught in medical school curriculum of the University of Ghana Medical School, Accra.
Jul 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-20-3458
Daily intake of fruits and vegetables provides the basis for healthy nutrition. Yet low consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) persists among school-aged children. Framed by the Social Cognitive Theory, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of nutrition lessons combined with an active choice intervention on children’s FV consumption. Using a quasi-experimental design, 89 second graders were assigned to groups. Students in the experimental group (n=46) received four nutrition lessons combined with nine active choice sessions, while those in the control group (n=43) received active choice sessions only. Responses to pre- and post-intervention surveys that inquired FV knowledge and consumption were compared within and between groups using independent and paired t-tests. Empowered by improved knowledge, self-efficacy and the positive environment created through nutrition lessons and active choice, the experimental group showed improvement in consumption behavior compared to the control group at post-intervention: bringing FV to school and finish eating (69.7 vs. 51.2, p=.05 for fruits; 43.5 vs. 39.5, p=.41 for vegetables); like choosing FV (84.8 vs. 65.1, p=.01); like to eat more FV (80.4 vs. 62.8, p=.16); FV are healthy (100 vs. 95.3, p=.14). The magnitude of improvement is small yet consistent in every aspect of outcome measures. Combining nutrition education with the active choice component showed potential for a larger impact on behavior change among study participants. Parental support and community involvement could enhance the effectiveness of nutrition education in schools.
Jan 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-20-3170
Rates of gender-based violence remain high during college in India, a time of adolescent malleability where gender norms, gender perspectives, and responses to violence are open to change. Few gender-based violence interventions focus on college students and even fewer on bystander intervention as a preventative approach - a concept novel to India. This cross-sectional study reached 603 college students in India to examine current gender norms and perspectives, bystander intervention behaviours, and discussion of gender-based violence on campuses. Statistically significant differences were found between male and female college students in all scenarios of bystander intervention response and frequency of discussion of gender-based violence. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed significant differences in those who had never seen violence or had a positive bystander intervention response, compared to those who responded negatively. Given the findings, targeting college students appears a promising approach to change the narrative of gender-based violence and norms in India.
Jan 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-19-3146
Background Emotionally intelligent doctors are better able to perceive the need of the patient. In today’s world, where patient satisfaction is one of the most important criteria for a successful medical practice, emotional intelligence of doctors plays a vital role. Objectives To study emotional intelligence of post graduate medical students. Methods It is a cross-sectional study conducted in Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur during January- February 2019. The study participants were one hundred first - year post graduate students. Data collection was done using quick emotional intelligence self administered questionnaire. Data was entered in Microsoft office excels and analyzed with the help of epi info. Results In the present study total 100 post graduate students were assessed of which 56% were male. Emotional awareness and emotional management was better in male post graduate students in comparison with the females and the difference was found to be statistically significantly. The scores of the other two domains were almost equal in both. More than half of the study participants had a satisfactory EI score i.e. 25-34. Conclusion Male post graduate students had better EI. Most of the study participants had a satisfactory EI score.
Jul 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-19-2860
Background Adolescents is the transition from childhood to adulthood .Which is a time of opportunity, but also one of risk. In Ethiopia, sexual and reproductive health problems of adolescents are increasing from time to time related to many parents not feeling happy to discuss sexual matters in addition to early sexual commencement among adolescents. Objective This study was intended to assess parent-adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive health matters and associated factors among secondary and preparatory school students in Robe Town, Bale Zone, South East Ethiopia, 2017. Methods Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 394 secondary and preparatory school students in Robe town from April 10-25, 2017. Simple random sampling technique was used. Data was obtained through the use of a self administered questionnaire and supplemented by focus group discussion with parents. Data was entered using Epi Data 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS 20. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were done. Data quality was assured through careful questionnaire design, pretest and training. Results One hundred eighty six (47%) of the study participants had discussed at least two SRH issues with their parents. Grade eleven students were about nearly five times more likely discussed on sexual and reproductive matters with their parent compared with grade nine students (AOR: 4.88, 95% CI: 1.76, 13.54). Those living with relatives were 3.13 times less likely discussed as compared to those students are living with both parents (AOR: 0.32, 95%CI: (0.12, 0.80) and the odds of discussion on SRH matters is 2 times higher among females compared with their counterpart (AOR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.25, 3.26). Conclusions Communication on sexual and reproductive health matters between adolescent and parent was low. Majority of student preferred to discuss with their peers than parent. Being ashamed, parents lack of communication skill and parent knowledge on SRH issues were the major reasons mentioned by the students for not discussing about SRH matters with their parents. Therefore; comprehensive family life education needs to be initiated for the students and parents. Sexual information exchange between peers needs to be strengthened.
Feb 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-6655.jcap-18-2570
Self-determination is a key concept to promote greater self-awareness in the subjects with disability, to build appropriate educational or professional projects and to evaluate the already active programs. Using PRISMA checklist, I selected articles from different databases (CINAHL, Medline, Psych INFO, Cochrane Library, ERIC, Scholar. The 9 evaluation measures identified are analyzed with respect to: choice of the points of view to be collected, domains, items and data collection methods. The results show that while some scales focus on autonomy, empowerment, self-realisation and self-regulation and others focus on knowledge, skills and abilities, attitudes and beliefs. Two instruments added also: opportunities and support. With respect to the choice of the points of view to be collected: in some cases the student’s opinion is collected but in other cases their point of view is integrated or replaced with that of teachers and parents. Only one tool is designed for all children and starts from the belief that self-determination is important for all people, including those with a disability. A third element of the analysis is the possibility of answering the questions posed by the various evaluation tools. A typical form is Likert scale while in other cases open questions are used. The analysis highlights two critical issues. The variety of definitions of self-determination is inevitably reflected in the choice of domains and items and therefore self-determination is only partially investigated. Secondly the opinion and people with disabilities are sometimes completed or replaced by that of third persons as parents and teachers. Starting from the analysis of existing instruments. the article closes with a reflection on the possibility of constructing a scale that considers all the aspects of self-determination offered in the literature (at the individual and environmental level) and collects the opinion of all the subjects involved in self-determination projects. This synthesis represents a first step in the construction of a possible universal scale starting from the analysis of the literature. A comparison would then be necessary with the students with intellectual disabilities, the family members and the other actors involved to understand which domains are really meaningful to them and to build indicators that correspond to the elements that are important to them. In this way we would have a tool capable of combining the point of view of literature with that of the people directly involved.
Nov 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-9273.jbtm-18-2348
The transition to university can be a stressful time in a student’s life. Recent evidence demonstrates declining mental and physical health in college and university students compared to the general public. A prospective cohort study investigating mental and physical wellness over the course of a semester in a sample of first-year undergraduate students (N=74; 65%F) from nine faculties was completed at a large university in Canada. Sixty-eight (92%) students with a mean (SD, ±) age 18.2 ± 1.1 yrs., weight 67.9 ± 15.5 kg, height, 168.5 ± 11.6 cm and waist circumference 81.3 ± 9.8 cm completed the SF-36V2 quality of life questionnaire at the beginning and end of the semester in Fall 2014. A decrease in vitality (p=0.003), social functioning (p=0.004), emotional state (p=0.014), and mental health (p=0.019) outcomes as measured by the SF-36v2 occurred during the semester. In addition, aggregate mental health significantly declined from the beginning to the end of the semester (p <0.001), while physical health did not change (p=0.242). The importance of promoting and increasing awareness of campus wide mental health strategies should be considered a priority for first year undergrad students. Particularly, because students in their first year may take longer than one semester to adjust to the increased work load and although difficult to speculate it is possible that both mental and physical health would decline over the next (second) semester. Future research should aim for longer study duration.
Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-18-2223
Marijuana utilization among school aged adolescents is major public and mental health concern in Ghana and other developing countries, with the rate of usage soaring high among school going adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of marijuana utilization among selected Junior High School (JHS) students in the Central Region of Ghana and explore the relative impact of psychosocial factors accounting for its usage. Using a descriptive cross-sectional survey design with the Global School Based Survey GSHS questionnaire, a sample of 1400 school going adolescents students were drawn using multistage sampling procedure. Frequencies, percentages and binary logistic regression results indicated marijuana utilization prevalence of 9% (n = 122). Statistically, gender (OR = 0.52, 95% CI= 0.35 - .765, p = 0.001), religious affiliation (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.0 - 2.95, p = 0.034), socioeconomic background (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.33 - 1.23, p = 0.004) and geographical location (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.31 - .886, p = 0.016) significantly predicted marijuana utilization among school aged adolescents. No statistically significant variations were found in the odds of students’ marijuana usage for age (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.69 - 1.88, p = 0.590), parental communication (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.56 - 1.23, p = 0.348) and academic performance (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.66 -1.80, p = 0.744). Findings suggest that school based research should reflect and perhaps replicate existing prevalence, patterns of marijuana and other drug use through multiple school surveys nationwide. This pathway may provide useful information towards the design, evaluation and implementation of drug prevention cognitive-behavioural interventions and the development of stringent drug regulative standards.
Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-18-2178
Several studies examine the musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in university students sustaining physical load as part of their compulsory learning. However, only two somewhat outdated cross-sectional studies examine the physical education teacher (PET) students. This study aimed to explore the neck, shoulder and low back MSP prevalence in Greek PET students in a series of academic years. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to record the past 12-month neck, shoulder and, low back pain, across three academic years (n = 479). The year association to MSP prevalence was examined with the cross-tabulation analysis (using the column proportion test for the year comparison) and, the gender association to MSP prevalence with the χ2 test (SPSS 22.0, p ≤ 0.05). The year association to MSP prevalence was not significant (p > 0.05). The overall prevalence was 67.6%, with multiple pain at 25.7% and, the low back presenting the highest prevalence (40.9%). Women reported a higher prevalence of neck (36%) and low back (47%) pain (p ≤ 0.05). The majority of pain and time loss duration was 1-7 days. The low back required higher medical attention (19.0%) than the neck (9.2%) and the shoulder (12.9%). The recurrent pain was at 30%, with the previous injury/accident rate at 5.8%, 14.4% and 14.6% for the neck, shoulder and low back. Our PET students present an alarming MSP prevalence. Due to their distinct work demands as PE teachers, entering working life with the healthiest possible musculoskeletal system is of critical importance. Thus, university authorities should consider strategies for the prevention of MSP risk.
May 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-18-2090
Background: The Ghanaian culture expects women of reproductive age to reproduce. This makes pregnancy an acceptable occurrence in most tertiary institutions in Ghana. Although Ghanaian Universities allow pregnancy in school, challenges associated with pregnancies do not exempt pregnant students from following the academic requirements of the universities. This study therefore explores students’ experiences of copying with pregnancy in an academic environment in Ghana. Methods: This was a case study, quantitative and qualitative design using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides respectively for data collection. Respondents comprised twenty (30) pregnant full time and part time female students from campuses of University of Education, Winneba. Data collection was between October 2016 and May 2017. Quantitative data were analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23. The qualitative data was transcribed and manually analysed thematically. Results: The study found that majority of participants were adults between ages 26 and 30 years. More than half of them (66.7%) had no child and this was their first pregnancy which they felt was mistimed as it occurred during schooling, posing some physiological, financial and academic challenges which compelled students to devise various coping strategies to combine academic work and pregnancy amidst limited University provisions for pregnant students. Conclusions: The study results have policy and programme implications for meeting women’s needs for pursuing academic and reproductive goals concurrently. The study recommends that public universities in Ghana should institutionalise programmes on preconception counselling and coping with pregnancy in academic environment to enable female students make informed decisions on exercising their reproductive rights in whilst in the university to ensure positive maternal health outcomes.
Mar 2018
School is a competitive place where people have many duties and responsibilities. This requires coping abilities to manage academic stress efficiently. Objectives a) Determine the general level of stress among high school students; b) identify the students’ main sources of stress; c) identify the students’ main responses to stress; d) determine if students have protections against or risk factors for stress. Materials & Method The stress levels and the main responses to stress of 335 high school students, aged 15–19 years, were surveyed using Nowack’s Stress Profile. Results and Discussion Most of the students reported normal (54%) or lower (39%) stress levels, but women reported significantly higher stress levels than men (p < 0.05). The main sources of stress were examinations, choosing a career path, and family troubles. The students’ main responses to stress were listening to music, talking with someone about the problem, and exercise.
Feb 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-17-1908
Introduction The practices of having extreme and permanent body modifications as in tattoos and scarifications are gaining popularity among youths especially those in the universities. Not minding the unbearable and painful pressure of sharp objects on the tissues and the risk of being infected with blood transmitted infections including HIV, youths still engage in these practices. This study aimed to examine the extent to which university students are aware of the risks of using improperly sterilized and disinfected sharp objects. Materials and Method First year students in three universities, Federal, State and Private Universities were used for the study. A random sample of ninety (90) students made up of 30 students from each of the three universities studied was used. Drama was used as an intervention that will create awareness on risks of utilizing sharp objects in making scarifications. The completed copies of self-administered pre- and post-drama questionnaire were collected and analyzed quantitatively using Tables and percentages. Results Results showed that a good number of students 29 (97%) in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUA) , 28(93%) in Abia State University (ABSU) and 27( 90%) in Rhema University viewed sharing sharp objects like razor blades and syringes as risk to blood transmitted infections especially HIV. A total of 28(31%) of students both males and females in MOUA, ABSU, and Rhema had marks (scarification and/ or tattoos) on the body. The main reason for having the marks was for traditional identification and this was more among students in MOUA than in others. Conclusion Based on the results of the study, drama proved to be a valuable and timely intervention strategy that created awareness among university students on the risks of using sharp objects to make marks on the body.
Dec 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.3066-8042.jac-17-1693
Individuals with ADHD may benefit from assistive technologies (ATs). ATs include FM systems, MontivAIDR, Time Aids, iSelfControl and Kurzweil. Eligibility for acquiring these ATs is discussed first. The importance of eligibility is highlighted because the review of the literature suggests that these ATs may promote academic success among students with ADHD. Unfortunately, most of the research on the efficacy of ATs is directed at learning disabilities. Consequently, a review of ATs that support students with learning disabilities is provided with the overarching goal to encourage researchers to determine how ATs that support students with learning disabilities may also support students with ADHD. Finally, we discuss the ways in which ATs can maintain their efficacy over time for students with ADHD through the implementation of a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework. Concluding remarks will follow.
Aug 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-17-1686
Background: In the absence of a cure for HIV and AIDS, prevention remains the most effective strategy to eliminate the pandemic. Abstinence from sexual intercourse is, therefore, the primary prevention weapon among unmarried adolescents and young adults, especially the school-going ones. This study uses the main constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM), as the theoretical framework to investigate the psychosocial predictors of sexual abstinence among senior secondary school students in an urban setting in the Southwest region of Cameroon Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional design, collecting data from a stratified random sample of 420 students in November 2016, using a pretested structured questionnaire, and analyzing them using SPSS version 20 software programme, using binomial logistic regressions at the level 0.05. Results: Only 194 (46.2%) were abstaining from sex. Perceived susceptibility to HIV, perceived severity of HIV/AIDS, perceived benefits of sexual abstinence and perceived self-efficacy for sexual abstinence were not that high, 79.8%, 71.0%, 86.4% and 68.3% respectively. None of the above constructs of the HBM was a significant predictor of sexual abstinence. However, increasing age was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of sexual abstinence, OR=1.6 (95% CI 1.20-2.24, p=0.002). Conclusions: Senior secondary school students in urban Cameroon were not practicing sexual abstinence. Interventions and strategies to increase sexual abstinence are highly recommended and should focus on increasing the perception of risk of contracting HIV, which is assumed to be the immediate antecedent of sexual abstinence, on overcoming barriers to sexual abstinence and on sexual abstinence negotiating skills, and should target adolescent students (10-19 years old).
Jul 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-4518.jsdr-16-1413
Purpose: An intervention program was performed to improve meal habit, sleep habit and academic marks at school. This program was called “Super Meal Educational Program” which was supported by Japanese Ministry of Arts, Sports, Sciences and Education. Effects of the intervention were evaluated by comparing an integrated questionnaire study held both before and after the intervention of a half year. Method: The intervention program consisted of a lecture on sleep health and diurnal rhythms on children by an university professor, a series of lectures and practical classes by elementary school teachers on foods which can be collected nearby, and also practical courses as excursions to learn traditional meals and several foods resources which are products nearby. Integrated questionnaire study and also government official academic achievement test were performed before and after the intervention for 6 months in May to November, 2015. An integrated questionnaire was administrated to elementary school students of grades 1 to 6 (7-12 years old). For the younger students aged 6-9 years old, parents (mostly mothers) answered the questionnaire instead of their children. The participants consisted of 40 to 55 students in each grade from the first to the six one of the elementary school. The rate of answer to the questionnaire was more than 95% and the number of data used for statistic analysis was 295 before and 286 after the intervention. The integrated questionnaire included questions on the diurnal type scale (DTS), sleep habits, meal habits, and other questions on their environments and life-habits. Result: In the histogram on distribution of the diurnal type scale scores (DTS) before intervention, the students which occupied 25% evening-typed significantly shifted to more morning-typed ones after the intervention (p<0.001). There was significantly negative correlation between DTS scores before intervention and the amount of increased change in DTS during the intervention period (r=-390, r<0.001). For all students in the elementary school, there were no significant changes in sleep quality, bedtime in weekdays, wake up time and sleep hours before and after the intervention period. There was negative correlation between sleep hours in weekday before intervention and increased amount in sleep hours before and after that (r=-0.545, p<0.001). The longer the sleep hours were shifted longer during intervention, the better the academic achievement mark of mathematics was after the intervention (students in the second, third and fifth grades: p=0.001). Conclusion: At least for the students who had been originally evening-typed, the intervention on meal habits may be effective for longer sleep hours and improved school achievement and marking for especially mathematics in elementary schools.
Jul 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-612X.ijpr-17-1543
Our own long term experiences as clinical teachers among undergraduate medical students have generated the interest to investigate the plausible connection between students’ study orientation and their learning experiences in small groups.The objective of the study was to assess the hypothesis whether learning in small groups may contribute to study motivation. Participants were 52 undergraduate medical students (10-12 in each group) in the primary health care course between 1st and 5th year during the spring term 2012. The questionnaires used were the Inventory of General studies (IGSO) for study orientation and IQ questionnaire for group learning. The data were analyzed by Bayesian network modeling. In this study, the application used was the Bayminer (www.BayMiner.com) non-linear visualization modeling software. Positive atmosphere in a small group increases study motivation and commitment and predicts mutual trust and gives space to new ideas, where contradictive views can raise interesting discussions. Based on Bayesian modeling it seems that the experience of motivational problems in the present studies may be an indicator of study alienation and connected with the perception of small group dysfunctionality.
Aug 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-9273.jbtm-16-1175
Objective: To examine the relationships between Australian nursing students’ anxiety, depression, personality and family interaction with psychological well-being and suicidal ideation. Participants: A sample of 201 nursing students completed a series of structured questionnaires in an Australian University. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used. After explanation of this study, 201 nursing students voluntarily participated. Six reliable and structured questionnaires were used to do data collection. SPSS was used for data analysis including descriptive data, Pearson Correlation, and Stepwise Multiple Regression. Results: Anxiety and depression were positively associated with suicidal ideation and had negative relationships with psychological well-being. Positive personality and family interaction were positively associated with psychological well-being and negatively with suicidal ideation. Parents’ harsh discipline had a negative relationship with the nursing students’ psychological well-being. Conclusions: Depression, personality, and positive family interaction were significant predictors of Australian nursing students’ psychological well-being. Anxiety, depression, and harsh discipline were significant predictors of suicidal ideation
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.
Nov 2013 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-13-227
Background: In Nigeria HIV infection is transmitted mainly through heterosexual route, affecting mostly individuals within reproductive age groups. As a result, HIV/AIDS education is advocated as a strong component of family and reproductive health education in the school curriculum which should emphasize responsible sexual behavior, premarital chastity and protective sexual practice. Aims/ Objectives: To evaluate student’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS, premarital HCT, and reactions to possible discordant HCT results. Methods: Cross sectional questionnaire-based study of 600 students in 6 schools in Zaria/Sabon Gari LGAs. Exclusion criteria: students aged ≤13 years, married, in JSS 1-3, SS1. Results: 550 students completed questionnaire (92% response rate). 54.5% females (ᾱ age =17.5 ±2.7 years) versus 45.5% males (16.5 ±2.7 years), Muslims (53%) and Christians (47%) respectively. 76%, 57%, and 38% knew the meaning of AIDS, HIV and VCT respectively; while all knew both the routes of HIV transmission and preventive measures. More than two-third supported voluntary, free and self initiated premarital HCT, preferably in a private and confidential setting. None would marry a discordant HIV positive partner, while 61% would marry themselves if both have positive HIV results. Conclusion: Many students would shun marriage with discordant HIV+ partner.
Jul 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-24-5150
The instructional techniques in neuroanatomy laboratories continue to evolve to incorporate online interactive resources to improve student experience and outcomes. This study aims to design an “all in one”Virtual Interactive Brain Atlas (VIBA) that provides students with an educational resource that will improve their knowledge of neuroanatomy while in the brain lab and provide them with lab resources they can self-study and self-test. Coronal, midsagittal, whole brain, and horizontal brain slices were used to create detailed descriptions, interactive features, and quiz assessments to create VIBA. Upper level undergraduate and optometry students taking a neuroanatomy one-semester course were provided with VIBA for use during the semester. A paper survey was distributed after completing the course to determine student perception. No significant difference was indicated between the student groups regarding their self-reported understanding prior to the brain lab (p= 0.194) and after the brain lab (p= 0.308). There was a significant difference between the student populations when stating that they strongly agreed that the online brain atlas improved their understanding of neuroanatomy (p= 0.032) and that the VIBA tool was easy to navigate (p=0.048). There was a significant difference between the two student groups that strongly agreed that the online brain atlas quality was sufficient (p= 0.015). This online interactive brain atlas was created in a time-efficient manner from readily available models and was well received by experienced neuroanatomy faculty and students.
May 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2998-4122.jlr-24-4985
Despite a large number of studies examining syntactic features that are predictive of second language (L2) writing quality, assessed by human raters at the university level, few have systematically investigated this link using a large set of indices in the foreign language learning (EFL) classroom context. The current study sought to determine the extent to which a variety of syntactic complexity and sophistication indices are associated with and may predict writing quality by analyzing 30 argumentative essays written by undergraduate EFL students in an Ethiopian university classroom setting. To represent syntactic complexity as a multidimensional construct, we used conventional absolute measures, fine-grained clausal and phrasal indices, and newly proposed sophistication indices related to the use of verb argument constructions (VACs) indexed by TAASSC (Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Syntactic Sophistication and Complexity; 17. Essays were graded, and five separate predicted models of writing quality were created utilizing each complex feature index and all of the measures. Robust predictors of writing quality were identified at both syntactic complexity and sophistication dimensions. Regression analyses showed that the combined model including both fine-grained clausal complexity and VAC-based indices could account for 53.6% of the variance (the largest amount of variance in the study) in writing scores. The finding indicates that the inclusion of diversified adverbial modifiers and nonfinite clauses such as modal auxiliaries controlled by less frequent verbs were predictive of higher-quality writing. These findings shed light on some characteristics of L2 learners' writing growth and enable us to draw pedagogical implications for teaching and assessing writing in the Ethiopian EFL context.
Mar 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2642-3146.jec-24-4935
Promoting responsible energy usage in student hostels and residential buildings plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable development. By implementing cost-efficient strategies for managing and conserving energy, both students and homeowners can not only reap economic and social benefits but also mitigate the adverse environmental effects associated with energy consumption. Unfortunately, student hostels and residential buildings in developing countries like Ghana are falling behind in the adoption of energy efficiency and management practices, thereby missing out on valuable implementation opportunities. This study investigates the potential for energy efficiency and conservation measures in student hostels, specifically the GETFUND hostel of the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana. The hostel's monthly energy consumption is approximately 64,929.458kWh, which translates to $5,667.20. The objectives of the study include analysing the current electricity consumption pattern, identifying energy misuse, and recommending measures to save energy, as well as calculating the financial benefits of implementing energy management practices. The methodology employed is an energy audit approach. The results of this study can contribute to overall energy conservation efforts in Ghana and may be applied to other university residence halls in sub-Saharan African countries with similar climatic and energy-use characteristics. In a broader sense, the primary objective of this study is to enhance the energy efficiency of the GETFUND hostel and minimize energy wastage, resulting in substantial financial savings.
Aug 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-23-4701
Young adulthood is a sensitive phase that comes with many developmental tasks. Successful mastery of these challenges is crucial not only for long-term physical and mental health. A positive relationship with one's own body and associated healthy dietary and behavioral patterns are essential building blocks for healthy adolescence and adult life. But being overly concerned with healthy food may lead to decreased quality of life and negative (mental) health outcomes. This study was conducted via a cross-sectional online questionnaire including the Düsseldorfer Orthorexieskala(DOS), the WHO Quality of Life BREF and questions about life style and nutritional habits. We investigated the prevalence of ON and its relationship with different aspects of quality of life and lifestyle factors (sport and nu trtional habits) in a sample of young adults in Austria. No significant difference in the DOS-scores of male and female participants were found and no significant difference between students and non-students. High DOS-scores significantly impair all three domains of QoL. We did not find a significant relationship between high DOS-scores and taking nutritional supplements or being vegan, vegetarian or omnivore. Participants with high DOS-scores spent significantly more hours per week with sport/exercising.
Nov 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2644-1101.jhp-22-4273
The purpose of this topic is to add to the body of good teaching and learning that helps create the conditions for more critical thinking and practice skills that enable, keep students interested, and consistently motivate them. Teachers now have a greater focus on implementing motivational learning and studying strategies that are more relevant to the processes of teaching and learning thanks to new methodologies, which have further enhanced instructional strategies for teaching and learning. Positive school cultures that are long-lasting will result from these new methods and strategies. According to the authors, educators have been impacted by evidence-based practice and data-based decision making within the educational system. As a result, there is a growing need for educators to learn more about these resources that are relevant to students and can lead to greater success. These applicable interventions have a positive effect on students, and the information that helps them make decisions increases their response.
Jan 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2766-8681.jcsr-21-3762
Diagnosis of heart rate variability as an indicator of the impact of external and internal media can serve to make changes in the educational environment. The approach to the organization of the educational process is developed on the basis of quantitative indicators of the students’ functional state using the hardware-software complex " Varikard ".
Oct 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-6655.jcap-21-3922
This study aimed to evaluate acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) effectiveness in reducing high-risk behaviors and elevating problem-solving strategies in adolescents with addiction susceptibility in cyberspace. This study is longitudinal with quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. The target community in this research was 60 female students randomly selected from a Persian high school in Iran. Participants were randomly divided and placed equally into the experimental and control groups. The participants’ entry criteria were gender, aged from 15 to 18 years, addiction susceptibility, and high-risk behaviors cut-off points. Eight training sessions of ACT were presented in cyberspace for the experimental group between the pre-test and post-test intervals. Data collection instruments were the Iranian youth risk-taking scale, problem-solving strategies, and Iranian adolescents’ addiction susceptibility questionnaires. Participants were followed up after two months. The results using multivariate analysis of among subjects ANOVA showed ACT significantly influenced high-risk behaviors and its’ sub-scales except for the violence (p < .001).Furthermore, ACT affected the problem-solving strategies and its’ sub-scales instead of control, creativity, and confidence (p < .001). According to the findings, ACT decreased high-risk behaviors such as drug abuse, smoking, and unprotected sexual behaviors. These changes might be due to decreased helplessness and avoidance as well as increased acceptance and tendency to solve problems. Instead, problem-solving strategies were improved through ACT cyber treatment.
Aug 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2644-1101.jhp-20-3655
The present study examined the effects emotional intelligence on self-Efficacy of tertiary education students. Two scales Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Scale 44 and Schwarzer & Jerusalem Self Efficacy Scale 47 were used. The pilot study was conducted to assess the reliability of the instrument and main study was conducted to assess the results on sample of the study. A sample of 50 students (25 males, 25 females) were taken from universities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Both questionnaire were administered to the sample. The psychometric properties of pilot study were found satisfactory. In second phase main study was conducted which considered of sample of 200 university students (100 males and 100 females). The psychometric properties of main study were also satisfactory. Scores were analysed using SPSS software. Results of demographic variables such as age, birth order, mother education, father education and number of siblings are positively correlated with both scales and sub scales. The results were significant at (p<0.05) of mean differences with gender, education and family system. This survey consists of three hypotheses, which were accepted.
Aug 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-6655.jcap-21-3888
The number of children with SEN is continuously growing, leading to pressure on the few special schools available in the USA. Furthermore, the adoption of a special school system has been criticized on the basis that it isolates and discriminates against children with special educational needs and disabilities. Even though inclusive education can address such limitations, the application of the most appropriate pedagogical approaches for SEN learners is still a challenge. The presented study focused on critically appraising the pedagogical approaches for SEN learners in the 21st century and beyond. In order to achieve this goal, a systematic review of the literature approach was adopted. The literature search process was conducted on three databases: Education Full Text, Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts, and PsycINFO. The selection of these databases was influenced by their reputation of hosting high quality and up-to-date literature about special education. The initial literature search process generated 6129 hits, but only ten studies were finally selected for review after the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. A critical review of the evidence presented in the selected studies generated eight themes describing various pedagogical approaches for special education, within both blended and mainstream learning environment. Knowledge generated in this systematic review can be used by the special education sector of the U.S to develop pedagogical approaches for SEN students, leading to improved performance and social skill development.
Jul 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-21-3881
Phenomenology is a ritual of Qualitative research methodology. Interviews in healthcare enables researchers to recognise and understand data from lived experiences of the participants by using Phenomenological approach. The purpose of this article is to review the various face to face in depth interviews conducted using Husserl’s descriptive, Heidegger’s interpretive phenomenology or Hermeneutic phenomenological approach in healthcare. The in-depth interview will help to understand the health issues and ethical issues faced by participants. Methodology Four articles were selected based on phenomenological approach. Article.1 was based on Hermeneutic Phenomenology approach. In this study thirteen women were taken as sample. Sampling was done by snowball method. The women were asked to share their rural maternity experience. Data was analyzed without any influence of the researcher. Article.2 was based on Transcendental phenomenology. There were 15 students from 4 different cultural background belonging to different health professional programmes like nursing, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and physical therapy. Triangulation methods were used and semi structured interviews were conducted, recorded and transcribed. Health professional students shared their lived experience with patients. Article.3 was based on a study conducted using both Transcendental phenomenology for patients interviews and Hermeneutic phenomenology for healthcare professionals’ interviews. The semi structured interview of patient was taken to understand and record their lived experience with the medication without any bias or interpretation and data received was bracketed. The healthcare professionals’ interviews were conducted on Hermeneutic strategy regarding the medications they prescribe for life threatening illnesses. Article 4 was based on Hermeneutic phenomenological approach. There were nine patients selected and in depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. The patients shared their experience of living with a life limiting illness.
Feb 2021
Introduction Risk reduction intervention is meant to provide enhanced and desirable interventions for HIV prevention among adolescents especially the in-school. Adolescents have been identified as the most vulnerable groups that can easily acquire human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Therefore, adolescents are the appropriate target for HIV prevention efforts. Most interventions for adolescents focus on providing AIDS-related education with the assumption that improving knowledge would enable adolescents to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections. Numerous studies have shown that using class-room education alone is insufficient in reducing adolescents’ risky sexual behaviours. Therefore, this study used role-plays and peer facilitation for the study. Materials and Method The study used role-play and peer facilitation for the intervention strategy. The theme of the role-play was ‘My Future is My Choice’ (MFMC) intervention which was aimed to reduce HIV risk behaviours among sexually inexperienced adolescents. The role-play was carried out by 4 peer leaders who were trained in the theoretical framework of role-plays and peer facilitation by a consultant. With mastery and experience they carried out the role play in a regular classroom section for over 3 class periods, co-facilitated with the assistance of a volunteer teacher. A unique feature of this intervention was the dual focus on strategies that influenced both individual risk factors (i.e., attitudes, behavioural skills) and social environments (e.g., peer resources). A school was chosen by simple random sampling for the intervention. In the school chosen, a total sample of 65 students in senior secondary classes 2&3 ( SS2&3) were included in the study. These were the students considered to be sexually active who can respond to the questions in the questionnaire. Self-administered pre-and post-questionnaire were completed by the students. The results were analysed using frequency tables, descriptive and inferential statistics. Results The students studied were between the ages of 13-18 years. There was evidence that the role play ‘My Future is My Choice’ (MFMC) intervention created positive effects on reduction of HIV risk behaviours among the sexually inexperienced participants aged 13–18. Perceptions on methods of preventing risk reduction behaviours were also positively impacted by the intervention as 12(18.5%) and 34(52.3 %) of the respondents realized after post- intervention that having sex with someone outside marriage and being transfused with infected blood respectively Will constitute risk to HIV infection. Conclusion The role play which used the theme ‘My Future is My Choice’ (MFMC) intervention provided safer choices for reducing one or more measures of sexual risk behaviours among the sexual inexperienced respondents. It created the opportunity for the students to recognize that engaging in unprotected sex constitutes high risk for HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.
Jan 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-20-3633
Introduction HIV prevention services to in-school adolescents need good planning and management. HIV risk reduction interventions are geared toward measuring sexual risk behaviour outcomes of adolescents that predispose them to HIV infection. The sexual behaviour of adolescents, especially in-school adolescents should be assessed in the process. Adolescents have been identified as the most vulnerable group for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and as such, measures should be taken to prevent them from infection. One important reason for higher HIV prevalence among adolescents, especially girls, is the frequent practice of age-discrepant partnering, where older men, who are more likely to be infected with HIV, form sexual partners with younger girls. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge and sexual behaviour of in-school adolescents in the prevention of HIV and AIDs in rural areas of Abia State. Materials and Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey that was conducted between January and March 2020. Information was collected from 66 students of a community secondary school in the state. Participants were selected by a multi-stage sampling method and data were obtained using a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire. Results Respondents consisted of 40(60.6%) females and 26(39.4%) males with ages ranging from 13 to 19. Some of the respondents 28 (42.4%), are living with parents while 24(36.4%) live with close relatives. A good number of the respondents 39(59.1%), accepted that their friends are HIV positive. Majority of them 49(74.2%) have not been approached for sexual relationships. About 17(25.8%) of the respondents accepted that they have boyfriends and girlfriends. Out of this number, 12(18.2%) of them said they have been approached for sex and only 2(3%) of them accepted having sexual relationships with the opposite sex. Finding showed that only 1(1.5%) of the respondents claimed to have ever used condoms during sex. Of the sexually active respondents, 49(74.2%) of them are aware that HIV is a virus infection caused by having multiple sex partners while 14(21.2%) were not sure whether HIV is a virus or bacterial infection. Conclusion The study revealed a gap in the knowledge of HIV prevention as well as inappropriate sexual behaviour among the respondents. Therefore, meaningful strategies that will be culturally sensitive to modify adolescent sexual risk behaviours should be adopted.
Jan 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2766-8681.jcsr-21-3716
After entering the new century, people are facing a new external environment. Recently human society is coming into knowledge economy era, and the industrial structure has deeply been adjusted. Today, the past teaching method of imparting knowledge and getting people to accept education, or exam-oriented teaching ideas have been unable to keep up with the needs of the development of the Times. In the future, the key point of education is to promote people to understand the knowledge, and grasp rules between things. Based on this, it is particularly necessary for the talents cultivation to adopt a new idea of training. The paper takes the major in mathematics as an example, designs two classes of new teaching methods CT&CL and BOOF with the diversified assessment to cultivate students’ innovative thinking, providing a reference for the other students. The two classes of new teaching methods and the diversified assessment are worthy of further spreading and exercising during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic.
Aug 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-20-3439
Background Pregnancy and parturition are events of considerable significance in the life cycle of women. Though it is supposed that the quality of care during labor, birth, and postpartum period plays a great role for adverse outcomes of birth, various reports claimed that cesarean delivery carries a higher maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality compared to vaginal delivery. Therefore, this study assessed the Rate, Maternal and Fetal Outcome of Cesarean delivery performed by IESO at Shenen Gibe General Hospital, Jimma south west Ethiopia. Integrated Emergency surgical officer is a health professional qualified and authorized to perform emergency obstetrical-gynecological and emergency general surgical procedures. The training has started in 2010 in 3 universities and 10 affiliated sites with intake of 43 students. The MSc program in integrated emergency surgery is intended to achieve one of the millennium development goals (MDG): reducing the overwhelming maternal mortality ratio and perinatal mortality rate at the local and national level. (1) Methods Hospital based two-year retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed and data collected from November to December 2019 in shenen Gibe General Hospital ,Jimma south west Ethiopia. A total of 185 mothers who delivered by cesarean delivery from December 2017 to December 2018 and complete data were included in the study. Data were extracted using structured data collection format and cleaned, and entered into Epi data software version 3.1 and exported into SPSS version 26 for further descriptive analysis. Result Among 2115 deliveries in the two years of retrospective data, a total of 186 mothers were delivered by cesarean section, giving cesarean delivery rate 8.8 %. The leading indication for cesarean delivery was fetal distress (24.2%). Among the total cesarean delivery, 22 neonates were died, giving the proportion of neonate mortality rate 16.8%. One mothers were died following cesarean delivery, giving maternal mortality rate following cesarean delivery 12 per 1000 live births. The leading cause for maternal mortality was hemorrhagic shock Conclusion However, cesarean delivery rate in this study was within the WHO recommended range, the health outcome of mothers and neonates’ following cesarean delivery was not acceptable. The neonatal and maternal mortality following cesarean delivery was 16.8% and12 per 1000 live births respectively. The main cause of neonatal death was birth asphyxia.
Jul 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2694-2283.jsem-19-2938
An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is an important cause of rest in athletes. In most cases, ACL injuries do not require external contact and they are associated with biomechanical risk factors that increase ACL tension. The increase of the hip flexion angle (HF) is included within these. The ACL requires cooperation of the periarticular musculature of the knee, muscle groups, hip stabilizers and CORE muscles; consequently, fatigue caused by exercise would alter the balance and put this ligament at risk. The objective of the study is to determine the angular behavior for HF before and after a physical load (a standardized training) in children between 11 and 12 years old. A non-randomized clinical study was carried out. The sample consisted of 50 soccer school students born between 11 and 12 years old. The angular behavior of HF was compared before and after performing a training session. The angular behavior was measured through the Drop Jump test (DJ), with data obtained by inertial sensors. After the exercise, there was a significant increase in HF. It was concluded that the angular behavior of HF increases significantly in both extremities after training and that preventive measures must be applied for neuromuscular control of the hip.
Jul 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2694-2283.jsem-19-2949
Background The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is uncommon, but constitutes an important percentage of the lesions requiring more than 8 weeks of recovery in sports. Most ACL injuries do not require external contact and are associated with biomechanical risk factors that stress this ligament ACL: like an increase in knee valgus angle (KV) and hip flexion (HF) and a decreased in knee flexion (KF). The ACL requires muscle cooperation to resist the load; however, when there is fatigue, the protective capacity of the musculature would decrease. The objective of the study is to analyze the angular behavior before and after a physical load for HF in children of 14-15 years old. Hypothesis The physical load applied in a single training session is enough to change some biomechanical risk factors of ACL injury. Study Design Experimental study Level of Evidence 2b Methods The sample consisted of 50 students from different soccer schools between 14-15 years old. We analyzed the hip angular behavior of hip flexion before and after a training session. The angles where obtained from inertioal sensor while the students performed a Drop Jump test from a 30 centimeters drawer. Results Statistically significant differences were found in the differences between pre physical load HF / post-load HF (p = 0.00053), right pre physical load HF / right post- load HF (p = 0.0086) and left post- load (p = 0.0248206). Conclusions It was concluded that the angular behavior of HF increases significantly in both post-training limbs, after performing a physical load. Clinical Relevance This study analyzed the importance of using prevention injury programs since early stages, and give importance to the eccentric role of hamstring, gluteus and core exercises.
Jun 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2691-3208.ijli-19-2853
This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasite in schoolchildren in Damanhur, Egypt and some of its villages. The pathogenic enteric protozoa have been progressively involved in bargaining the soundness of a great many individuals, for the most part in creating nations. Mediations are being set up to control the dreariness and mortality because of these protozoan contaminations. A portion of these mediations target school going kids with regards to class based wellbeing intercession. The present examination concentrated on exploring the commonness of intestinal protozoan contaminations among younger students chose networks comprising of urban, urban-poor and per urban settlements in the Damanhour and a few towns. In the present work Giardia lamblia was the second usually identified protozoan with a diseases rate 10.4% among the analyzed cases. In the present examination generally speaking level of parasitic contaminations among the kids was 57.3%. It's viewed as Enterobius vermicularis was the most usually identified protozoan as it spoke to 4.1% of the parasitic diseases in the considered cases pursued by Ascaris lumbricoides; 1.4% and Giardia lamblia contaminations as they spoke to 0.6%; separately. The protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium are regularly present in surface waters and cause episodes in this manner legitimately affecting human wellbeing.
Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-18-2464
Background Nicaragua has the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancies in Latin America. Knowledge regarding sexual and reproductive health plays an integral part in sexual behavior. The objective was to assess school going adolescents' knowledge about sexual and reproductive health and possible factors affecting it in the semi-rural community of Tololar, Nicaragua. Methods A cross-sectional study with a self-administered questionnaire on tablets was used for data collection. All 253 registered students at the school present at the time of fieldwork who gave written informed consent were deemed eligible for the study. A total of 225 participants in the ages of 11-19 years were included. Simple linear regression and multiple linear regression were performed analyzing the outcome knowledge. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results The general knowledge about sexual and reproductive health was moderate; however, knowledge gaps were found such as prevailing myths and poor knowledge regarding human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) transmission and contraceptive methods. Being female and single were significant negative determinants of knowledge (p-value < 0.01) and knowledge increased significantly with age (p-value < 0.05). School teachers, websites, social networks, and TV were the most frequently chosen sources of information on the topic. Conclusions Increased education on sexual and reproductive health with new interventions particularly for young females is recommended. Using IT-based materials as a complement may be an effective way to reach out to adolescents.
Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2644-1101.jhp-18-2467
Sports participation reported in a positive relationship with health and academic achievement. Sports participation may improve cognitive health leading to improved academic achievement. Some other factors may also be involved in this regard including parental support and self-esteem. In this study, we examined the relationship between sports participation, parental support, self-esteem and academic achievement due to concern about reduced education level of students and serious lack of research regarding this issue in Pakistan. We hypothesized that sports participation would influence students’ academic achievement. We further conceptualized a mediation model in which sports participation enhanced academic achievement through enhancing parental support and self-esteem. 248 students from three universities of Pakistan (male = 188; mean age = 17.5, SD = 1.15; female = 60; mean age =17.3, SD = 1.18) participated in the study, in which questionnaires were used to measure parental support, sports participation, and self-esteem. Two scales were used to measure parental support (school based parental support and sports participation based parental support). Sports participation level was measured using an adapted version of The Physical Activity Index (PAI) Scale consisting of 3 items. Rosenberg self-esteem scale assessed self-esteem. Data analysis was performed using the structural equation modelling.We found no direct relationship between sports participation and academic achievement. We found parental support and self-esteem as mediators in the relationship between sports participation and academic achievement. The mediational models suggested focus on vital role of parental support and self-esteem to have better academic performance.
Nov 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-18-2345
Background: lifestyle modification is known as the cornerstone for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. To promote individual’s lifestyle, the first step is to measure their lifestyle by a valid and reliable tool. The aim of present study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the Persian version of Healthy Lifestyle and Personal Control Questionnaire (HLPCQ). Method: A crosssectional study carried out on 300 medical students in Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Data collected using a questionnaire contained demographic data and Persian version of HLPCQ. The reliability of the questionnaire determined using Cronbach’s alpha and intra class correlation coefficient (ICC). The construct validity of the questionnaire evaluated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 19 and Lisrel 8.8. Results: Internal consistency of HLPCQ was 0.78 using Cronbach’s alpha and 0.80 by ICC. In confirmatory factor analysis, the scale had acceptable goodness of fit indices. Conclusions: The Persian version of HLPCQ had excellent psychometric properties and can be used in in primary health care settings.
Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-18-2221
Background: Faculty of Medicine and Health sciences at University of Kassala, Sudan was established 1990. It adopts the traditional curricula, which implemented in preclinical (basic sciences) and clinical phases. This study was held to explore students' perception and attitudes towards the basic sciences. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted during April- August 2017 among 251 medical students. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. It was collected and analyzed using SPSS 16.0. Results: A total of 251 of participants in different phases of education in faculty of medicine and health sciences were included in the study; preclinical 116 (46.2%), 113 clinical (45.0%), and 22 (8.8%) were in internship. 95 (37.8 %) were males and 156 (62.2%) were females. The study revealed that physiology was the most preferable subject. Students' satisfaction to syllabus for anatomy, physiology and biochemistry was 61.4%, 43%, and 28.7% respectively. However, 46.6% of students spent a long time to understand biochemistry and 33.1% considered it as overloaded syllabus. Participants showed poor ability to link between theoretical and practical work in case of biochemistry (26.7%), where as anatomy and physiology were represented by 76.9% and 42.2% respectively. Less than half of students were able to integrate the subjects of basic sciences and basic with clinical sciences. Conclusion: In this study, the students determined the difficulties of recalling of information, poor integration between basic and clinical sciences and even integration within the subject. Development of integrated curriculum is necessary to improve the quality of education.
Feb 2018
Introduction and aims Previous research has focused primarily on the severity of the alcohol hangover. Much less is known about the duration of the alcohol hangover. The objective of this analysis was to examine the average duration of the alcohol hangover. Design and Methods N=811 Dutch students, aged 18-30 years old, completed a survey on alcohol consumption and their latest alcohol hangover. Overall hangover severity was reported for every two hours after waking up (starting 4am until midnight). Hangover duration was calculated from the moment of stopping alcohol consumption until the first time hangover severity scores reached zero. Results During the drinking session that resulted in their latest hangover they consumed a mean (SD) of 5.9 (6.2) alcoholic drinks, followed by 6.5 (2.0) hours of sleep. The start of the alcohol hangover was not assessed, as it can be assumed that BAC approached zero while participants were sleeping. From the moment of stopping alcohol consumption, the average duration of the alcohol hangover was 18.4 (3.8) hours. For the majority of drinkers, hangover duration ranged from 14 to 23 hours. Alternatively, the hangover lasts approximately 12 hours from the time of waking up. Hangover duration correlated significantly with hangover severity and total sleep time, but no significant association was found with the number of alcoholic drinks that were consumed. Discussion and Conclusions The duration of the alcohol hangover ranged from 14 to 23 hours, with an average of 18.4 hours after stopping drinking, or alternatively, about 12 hours after waking up.
Apr 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2644-1101.jhp-17-1460
The objective of this study was to study the selection of seat location by individuals in a group in a confined environment and to identify the factors leading people to prefer one location to another. We analyzed the seating location of students in a lecture hall over the course of two academic programs of different durations (19 days and 44 days). The goal was to determine the rate at which participants would settle into a specific seat location. Unobtrusive photography was used to collect objective data on an hourly basis. Results showed that in both courses participants began to settle into a specific location from the second day of class. Twenty percent of the participants had settled after 4-7 days or 15.5 hours in class. Settling continued for the duration of the shorter course. However, in the longer course settling stopped after 28.5 days on average. The plateau in the number of settlers depended on the number of days, not on the time actually spent in class. At the end of the longer course 52.5% of the participants had settled, compared to 38.9% in the shorter course. Settling into the same seat location can be interpreted as a strategy to establish a personal territory. These results indicate that about half of a cohort expresses the need for establishing a personal territory when in a confined and crowded environment, and this process takes about one month.
Jan 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-16-1292
Objective: A cross-sectional study was designed to collect socio-demographic and obstetric data about female teenagers who have pregnancy and visiting primary health care centers for antenatal care. Subjects and methods: Data were collected by a trained 60 medical students of the 6th level in Hadramout University during their post in primary health care centers from 20 May – 10 June 2008. A convenience sample of 237 teenagers who were attending the 12 PHC centers for antenatal care checking constituted the study subjects. Results: Fifty-one out of 237 (21.5%) pregnant women were of age 17 years or less. Most of them were from rural areas with statistically significant difference in both age groups (p-value <0.002),they were housewives (232/237 97.8%) and their husband’s mostly had non-professional jobs with a significant difference between both age groups (p-value <0.005). A high prevalence of anemia in teenage pregnant women was reported (76.7% of them had Hb level less than 11 g/dl) but there were no significant difference between mean Hb level in those at age of 17 years or less (9.9 SD=1) and those at age >17-<20 years (10.1 SD=1.18) p-value >0.05 About one-third of pregnant teenagers were second or multigravida (81/237 pregnant women 34.2%) but only 66 of them were delivered before. The majority of second/multigravida were delivered normally (57/66 pregnant women 86.4%) while only 31 of them (47%) gets their births in a health facility where LSCS was done for 9 pregnant women. The outcome of the pregnancy in teenage multigravida are 67 children; three of them were stillbirth and other 6 babies died within the first week of their life indicating the total children died during the perinatal period as 9 children ; so the perinatal mortality rate was very high in teenagers (9/67*1000 = 134/1000 births). Conclusions: Teenage pregnancy is common and accepted in Hadramout in Yemen; the main consequences are a high prevalence of anemia and high perinatal mortality rate.
Sep 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-16-1227
Introduction: Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) constitute public health challenge in Nigeria and adolescents are increasingly becoming vulnerable. It is necessary to provide adolescents in schools with risk-reduction educational interventions so as to expose them on the need to protect themselves from getting infected. This study used risk-reduction interventions (Class-room Instruction and Drama) to encourage risk-reduction practices among in-school adolescents. Materials and Method: Quasi-experimental design using 165 students randomly selected from three convenient co-educational secondary schools in the rural areas was adopted. Two experimental groups, class room instruction (CI) and drama (DR) were used. Baseline data using semi-structured questionnaire with 27- point risk reduction practices were collected. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA at p =0.05. Result: Scores for HIV risk reduction practices among the adolescents at baseline, classroom instruction (CI), drama (DR) and control respectively were 18.5±4.6, 19.8 ± 5.8 and 17.0 ± 4.8 . The mid-term scores obtained were 23.8 ± 3.4, 23.6 ± 3.4 and 17.7 ± 5.1. The scores obtained for CI, DR and control groups at follow-up were 24.9 ± 2.6, 26.7 ± 1.1 and 17.0 ± 5.3 respectively. The results showed more effective risk reduction practices among the intervention groups than control group. Conclusion Drama intervention yielded more positive outcomes in risk-reduction practices than others. Drama is therefore recommended as the best HIV and AIDS intervention programme for in- school adolescents.
Feb 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-14-566
Recent advancements in smartphone technology have provided new methods of dietary assessment. An iTunes application (app) called Meal Snap lets users take pictures of the meal they eat, and then estimates the calories of the food items eaten. We conducted a pilot study to explore the user-friendliness and calorie estimation functions of the Meal Snap app. Two female nutrition graduate students pilot-tested the Meal Snap app. Using the app, each student took pictures of foods and drinks consumed daily for two weeks. The data were analyzed using the Nutritionist ProTM software, version 4.4.0. The mean daily caloric intake obtained from the Meal Snap was then compared with that of Nutritionist ProTM. Paired samples t-tests and correlations were carried out using SPSS, version 19.Results indicated there was no significant difference in mean daily caloric consumption between Meal Snap and Nutritionist ProTM (p= 0.706). Additionally, there was a significant correlation between Meal Snap and Nutritionist ProTM calorie counts (Spearman r= 0.625, p< 0.001). It took about 35 minutes per week (or 5 minutes/day) to snap pictures and edit descriptions, whereas entering data for calorie analysis with Nutritionist ProTM took about 85-90 minutes per week (about 13 minutes/day).Findings suggest that Meal Snap may be a user-friendly tool to estimate dietary intake. Future research should include a larger sample and people of diverse ethnic backgrounds, dietary habits and age groups.
Jan 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-15-770
The objective of this study was to confirm the nutritional risk factors for asthma and obesity in adolescents using a cross-sectional survey. We included male and female adolescents aged 10 to 19 years of age in this study. The indicators of nutritional status used in this study were body mass index, the height-for-age index, and arm and waist circumferences. We used a food frequency questionnaire to estimate the average consumption of sodium. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and asthma characteristics were evaluated using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Factors associated with asthma in bivariate and multivariate analyses were assessed using the Poisson regression analysis. The significance level was set at 5%, and the analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package. We evaluated 1362 students with an average age of 15.65 ± 1.24 years. There was a positive risk for asthma between females (PR = 1.41) and asthma severity in adolescents with a high sodium intake (PR = 2.30). Within overweight adolescents, the prevalence for asthma risk washigher among females (PR = 1.66) and the high sodium intake group (PR = 1.98). An increased risk for asthma severity correlated with high sodium intake (PR = 3.07). There was a higher risk for asthma and its severity in females with high sodium intake. The same pattern was observed for adolescents with excessive weight.
Jan 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-13-180
Perception of Human Immunodeficiency Virus has been topical due to its central place in determining attitudes and care for people living with HIV/AIDS and having implications for the containment of the epidemic. People living with HIV/AIDS face social stigmatization due partly to misconception in the perception of the disease and people living with it and students are not left out in this stigmatization and discrimination. This study aimed at exploring the perception of HIV/AIDS by the students of Obafemi Awolowo University. The study utilized quantitative methodology –questionnaires to elicit information from 160 students on their perception of the disease. The sampling technique was quota sampling technique in which 40 students were randomly selected from each hostel out of the 4 selected hostels. The findings were that majority of the respondents view the disease and people living with it negatively (53.9) and dangerous (30.9) and 66.4 percent of the respondents did not see themselves being vualnerable to contracting the virus. The result further showed a significant association between knowledge and perception of the disease. It was also revealed that there was no significant relationship between perception of the disease and socio-economic status of students. This negative perception has serious implications for students living with HIV/AIDS in the University. In conclusion, the negative students’ perception of the disease and people living with it has serious implications for the containment of the epidemic in that people living with HIV/AIDS would hide their sero-positive status to avoid stigma and would in turn infect others. There is therefore need for intervention to change student perception to positive in the university.
Jun 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-14-615
Objective: To prevent childhood obesity, the Chilean government has recently implemented food regulation laws that apply to schools. This paper reviews the literature regarding the challenges in successfully integrating policies to regulate foods offered in schools. In addition, to understand some of the potential implementation barriers, a survey was conducted to evaluate how well food regulation laws were understood and implemented in Chilean schools. Methodology: A narrative literature review was conducted regarding food regulation policies in Chilean schools and potential barriers to implementation. This informed a subsequent descriptive, qualitative survey which was conducted in the Valparaíso region of Chile to examine knowledge, practices, and potential barriers to implementation of the new regulations. Twelve randomly-selected school food kiosk owners completed a survey and structured interview. Visual observations were also performed at each food kiosk. Content analysis identified trends in food items sold and determined the depth of understanding kiosk owners have of a specific new food law, "La Composición Nutricional de los Alimentos y Su Publicidad (20.606)." Key Results: 7 articles in Spanish and 10 in English were reviewed. The literature review revealed that unhealthful food options are readily available to Chilean students in school kiosks. The results of the survey and interview indicated that the school kiosk owners surveyed have a general understanding of the food law. 10 out of 12, however, were unsure of the law's exact contents. Unhealthful food options, inconsistent with regulation 20.606 were observed in all 12 visited kiosks. Conclusion: Evidence from a literature review and the survey findings confirm that unhealthful foods persist in Chilean schools, despite government food regulations. Although the majority of the school kiosk owners acknowledge law 20.606, most lack an understanding of its exact contents and their role in promoting healthier foods in schools. Further education of vendors and school administrators is needed to enhance compliance with the new Chilean food regulations.
May 2014 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-13-186
Despite recent improvements in teen pregnancy and birth rates, 2000 teens get pregnant each day in the U.S. Innovative strategies that are effective and acceptable within communities are needed to continue these declines in teen pregnancies. Captivating educational interventions enhanced by infant simulators, such as “Baby Think it Over” (BTIO), can discourage teen pregnancy. The purpose of this research was to evaluate a BTIO intervention to determine the effectiveness of the program in changing 236 high school students’ perceptions of the costs of teen parenting. From a comparison of pre-test/two post-test measures, it appears the participants recognized that teen parenting would be costly in terms of increased difficulty in making responsible decisions as well as the challenges of juggling school with parenting. They also recognized other costs including negative impacts on relationships, on feelings of personal worth, and the likelihood of diminished achievements in the future.
May 2014 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-12-186
Despite recent improvements in teen pregnancy and birth rates, 2000 teens get pregnant each day in the U.S. Innovative strategies that are effective and acceptable within communities are needed to continue these declines in teen pregnancies. Captivating educational interventions enhanced by infant simulators, such as “Baby Think it Over” (BTIO), can discourage teen pregnancy. The purpose of this research was to evaluate a BTIO intervention to determine the effectiveness of the program in changing 236 high school students’ perceptions of the costs of teen parenting. From a comparison of pre-test/two post-test measures, it appears the participants recognized that teen parenting would be costly in terms of increased difficulty in making responsible decisions as well as the challenges of juggling school with parenting. They also recognized other costs including negative impacts on relationships, on feelings of personal worth, and the likelihood of diminished achievements in the future.