International Journal of Public Health and Safety

Objectives: Explore methods that help improve the high infant morbidity and mortality problem associated with Baltimore city nation high teen pregnancy rate.

Study Design: Consider alternative hypotheses and present discoveries from high quality and rigorous research papers only.

Methods: Conduct a comprehensive search of peer-reviewed publications based on a wide range of keywords and overweigh the study results based on the quality and timing of the studies.

Results: Baltimore City has a teen pregnancy rate that is twice as high as the state of Maryland and three times as high as the national average, reflecting a kaleidoscope of social economic factors. A factor such as poverty is seen as a risk factor and a consequence of high teen births. Teen pregnancy carries higher risks of preterm babies and infant deaths. Teen pregnancy also hurt these adolescent mothers in terms of education and prospects later in life. Kangaroo Mother Care, a method emphasizing continuous skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their new-borns, has been medically proven to improve the health of preterm babies and reduce preterm related infant deaths. How does this work? Research suggests that skin-to-skin contact causes the body to produce more oxytocin, also known as the love hormone that protects us from pain and stress, in both the parent and the baby.

Conclusions: We advocate for the adoption of Kangaroo Mother Care as a cost effective and easy to implement an approach to alleviate problems with the high teen pregnancy rate in Baltimore City.

Background and objective: Poor feeding practices as well as lack of suitable complementary foods are responsible for under nutrition with poverty exacerbating the whole issue. The present study aim to develop sorghum based complementary foods supplemented with common bean and carrots and to analyze the nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of the formulated CF. In addition to this to determine acceptability of the supplemented foods for use by mothers and their children.

Material and methods: The study was conducted in Debube Ari Woreda, South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Four versions of porridge which includes 100% SF (control), 50:25:25 (SF: CBF: CF), 55:30:15 (SF: CBF: CF) and 70:20:10 (SF: CBF: CF) was prepared.

Key findings: The moisture contents of the formulated CF were generally low; values were less than 10%. The highest ash content (3.13%) was recorded in product 2, while product 1 had the least ash content. Energy values of the CF ranged between 336.97 and 360.19 kcal/100 g, with product 2 having the least value and 100% sorghum flour having the highest value. CF made with 100% sorghum flour (the control) had higher carbohydrates content. The fat content of the CF were generally low and this is likely to be desired by weight watchers. The fiber contents of all the CF were within the recommended range of not more than 5 g dietary fiber per 100 g dry matter (FAO/WHO, 1994). The protein content for each sorghum based complementary food had ranged from 8.34–12.56%. Vitamin A contents of all of the products were not detected. The iron content of the samples varied from 33.11 to 52.30 mg/kg. The lowest value of iron was contained in product 1 but product 2 had highest in iron content. The zinc content of the products varied from 13.99 to 17.94 mg/kg. Product 3 contained high zinc content whereas product 4 contained the lowest. The phytate content of the products was between 117.22 & 129.36 mg/100 g. The highest value of phytate was contained in product 1 but the least was detected in product 4. The tannin content of the products was between 596.31 & 1894.04 mg/100 g. The highest value of tannin was contained in product 1 but the least was detected in product 2. The molar ratio of phytate to zinc varied from 0.666 to 0.890. The highest molar ratio of phytate to zinc was contained in product 1. Similarly, molar ratio of phytate to iron varied from 0.196 to 0.332. The highest molar ratio of phytate to iron was contained in product 1 and lower phytate was contained product 2.

Summary and conclusion: The formulated CF contained higher protein and lower phytate and tannin contents than Codex recommended level. The use of sorghum, common bean and carrot flour blends in CF can greatly enhance the protein content, without compromising consumer acceptance. This study showed that nutrient dense CF could be produced from sorghum and common bean fortified with carrot flour than using sorghum flour alone.

Introduction: Successful Tuberculosis treatment out comes are the most important to control tuberculosis. Due to poor treatment out comes new strain of tuberculosis are raising and it is a serious public health concern. It is compelling to identify, and deal with factors determining treatment outcome.

Objectives: To identify Determinants of treatment outcome among Tuberculosis patients in Jeju woreda, Arsi zone Oromia Regional State Ethiopia 2019.

Methods: A case control study was used where cases were unsuccessfully treated and controls were successfully treated patients. Data was collected by stratified random sampling method and prepared checklist from patients taking DOT in four health centers from June 28/2009 to June 27/ 2018 in Arsi Jeju woreda. The study was done from September 4-14/2019 on 509 controls and 127 cases, 636 total samples. The sample size was calculated by Epinfo version-7 with CI 95%, power 80% and 1:4 cases to control ratio. The samples were selected from TB registration book. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used with 95% confidence interval. Variables with p value <0.2 in Bivariate analyses were moved to multivariate logistic regression. Variable with P value <0.05 in multivariate analyses had significance association with TB treatment out comes.

Results: The case group was composed of 93 (73% response rate) patients with poor treatment outcome while the control group was composed of 509 (100% response rate) patients with good treatment outcome. Un corrected drug dose during second phase treatment (AOR=17.949 95% CI 3.528-91.326), decrease weight at continuation phase (AOR=10.681 95% CI 3.076-37.098), positive sputum result at second month and HIV co-infection were the most determinant factors for unsuccessful treatment out comes of TB patients.

Conclusion and Recommendations: Patients with weight loss, positive smear result at second month, un corrected drug dose at second phase of treatment and HIV positive patients were at higher risk for poor treatment out comes. While patient with increased weight, negative smear result at the end of second month, corrected drug dose at second phase of treatment and HIV negative TB patient were greater chance for good treatment out comes. Evaluation of weight and smear result at second phase of treatment and taking action for patient do not increase weight and unable to convert their smear result and HIV co-infected patients needs close follow up and corrective action would be taken for at risk patients. Corrected drug dose should be given at second phase of treatment.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) having its origin in China has rapidly spread throughout the world to become pandemic. The infection has profound effect on various aspects of the society, including mental & physical health and also the economy of the society. To mitigate its impact, countries all over the world have adopted various measures such as social distancing, use of protective masks, hand washing, containment of people by implementing lock down in phases. As the pandemic may further weaken the health systems, resources, socio-economic status of the developing & underdeveloped countries, the strategies to halt pandemic becomes a real challenge. This study attempted to assess the psychological impacts & their resilience in terms of their perceived stress and coping ability towards it among the Indian population during the pandemic. An online survey using a snowball sampling technique was undertaken with the help of a semi structured questionnaire. A total of 278 responses were received. A total of 83% of the participants reported of moderate stress and almost 6% had high level of perceived stress. The respondents who were directly impacted by COVID-19 expressed that approx. 10% had loss of job, 21.2% experienced workloads at job, due to half attendance of the staffs & reduced working hours along with multitasking. About 29.5% of respondents stated to have better resilience during pandemic, 1.4% were not able to cope with the stress perceived and almost 69.1% were confident enough to sail through the catastrophe. With the years of lived experience, the resilience was found to be better. 7.1% of the people responded of not being able to hold on to the situation, with 5% having suicidal ideation. Mental health care needs were found in nearly 80% of the participants. Finding a resolute for the problem doesn’t limit to the governing bodies but the community participation too. Highly efficient individual based psychological rehabilitative measures require to be implemented by early intervention to the existing psychosocial problems.

Objective: The use and adverse effect of alcohol-based hand sanitizers as a preventive measure in combating the spread of COVID-19.

Materials and Methods: A literature search of the electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Research gate and Embase was conducted to retrieve articles investigating the protective effect of alcohol-based sanitizers against the spread of COVID-19 as well as its possible adverse effects. The search timeframe ranged from the inception of each database to August 2020.

Results: From an initial search of 456 articles, and after the removal of duplicates as well as applying the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 74 articles were finally included for this systematic review. Results showed promising protective effect of alcohol-based hand sanitizers against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, no adverse effect was observed after the use of alcohol-based sanitizers though there are certain possible adverse effect identified which includes skin toxicity, risk of skin burn due flammability etc.

Conclusion: Alcohol based hand sanitizers are effective against lipophilic viruses which means they are effective against coronaviruses. To ensure efficacy of the product, the recommended ethanol concentrates should be strictly adhered to and regulated. Alcohol based hand sanitizers has few adverse effects ranging from skin toxicity when ethanol concentrates is relatively high and not regulated courtesy of proliferation of fake products in the market. They are known to be flammable in nature and can cause skin burn if the safety and precautionary instructions are not strictly adhered to. Hand hygiene and the use of alcohol based hand sanitizers are effective in preventing direct and indirect spread of COVID-19.