Volume 8, Issue 4 (fall 2022)
Abstract
Backgrounds: For centuries, arboviruses have been spreading like a wildfire across the world, especially in developing countries like Nigeria with inadequate diagnostic and disease surveillance facilities, causing infinite death and suffering in human and animal populations. Therefore, this study aimed to discuss the impact of arboviruses on public health with a focus on Nigeria and West Africa.
Materials & Methods: About 100 research articles were downloaded from online journal databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and African Journals OnLine (AJOL) with the following keywords: arboviruses, emerging, public health importance, Nigeria, and Africa.
Findings: A total of 50 articles were used to write this review after a thorough screening. Arboviral infections caused by yellow fever, Rift Valley fever, West Nile, dengue, and chikungunya viruses were reported in Nigeria and discovered based on seroprevalence studies.
Conclusion: Hemorrhagic fever, abortion, neonatal death, and decreased production in livestock are the most obvious features of arboviral infections; therefore, they are of public health and economic importance. Thus, there is a need to strengthen and refurbish the healthcare system in the country by employing preventive and control measures, vaccination campaigns, and other strategies to prevent the occurrence of diseases in the future.
Volume 10, Issue 4 (Fall 2024)
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to elucidate the predominant bacterial species implicated in the etiology of vaginosis and to determine the most effective antimicrobial agents for their therapeutic management in Iraq.
Materials & Methods: Swab samples were collected through speculum-assisted vaginal examination. The process involved inserting a swab into the vaginal canal and rotating it for at least eight seconds before pulling it out. Standard procedures including microscopy, culture, and antibiotic sensitivity testing were applied to analyze vaginal swab samples.
Findings: Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the most common Gram-positive bacterium involved in bacterial vaginosis (44.3 %). Serratia species, were not detected at all (0.0 %). Among the Gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella was the most prevalent bacterium (at 18.8%), followed by Escherichia coli at (18.1 %). Candida was detected in 9.4% of cases. In antibiotic susceptibility testing, S. aureus exhibited maximum resistance to imipenem (100%) and high susceptibilitye to penicillin, vancomycin, and clindamycin. Gentamicin was the most effective antibiotic against E. coli and Klebsiella spp, while vancomycin was highly effective against Candida. These results, indicate that the treatment should be directed towards the antibiotics to which the bacteria show the highest sensitivity to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Conclusion: S. aureus was identified as the most common vaginal pathogen in Thi-Qar province, followed by Klebsiella spp., and E. coli, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the prevalence of different bacterial species and the most effective medications. The results will be invaluable for future prospective investigations.
Volume 11, Issue 2 (Spring 2023)
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to analyze the effect of knowledge on the application of clean and healthy living behavior through perceived susceptibility in the prevention of AIDS.
Participants & Methods: Using quantitative research, we examined the possible causality between certain factors possibly causing the studied symptoms. The statistical population was 290 people living in Wakatobi Regency, of whom 166 people were considered as samples using the Lemeshow formula. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using path analysis, t-test, and normality tests.
Findings: Based on the results of the path analysis, the path coefficient value of the knowledge to perceived susceptibility was 0.177 with a t-value of 7.762 > 1.974 and a p-value of < 0.005. Thus, it can be concluded that knowledge has a positive and significant effect on clean and healthy living behavior in the community.
Conclusion: The results showed that knowledge about the dangers of smoking had a significant effect on fostering clean and healthy behavior (PHBS) through perceived susceptibility.
