Journal of Health Reports and Technology
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Oct 2021

Context:

Disclosure of HIV positive infection status in children and Adolescents is multifaceted and should take into consideration their age, psychosocial maturity, cultural and clinical context. This study was conducted to examine disclosure experiences and challenges among children and ALWHA in Nigeria. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted narrative review of relevant literatures by searching PubMed, Google scholar and Medscape using predetermined keywords.

Findings are presented under themes of process of disclosure and age of disclosure, reasons and challenges of disclosure, reactions and responses to disclosure, consistent with various authors. This study shows that the mean age and reasons for HIV positive status disclosure are variable. Disclosure was mostly executed at home and mostly carried out by parents or caregivers of HIV-infected children. Reactions of children and ALWHA upon disclosure was mainly negative and ranged from feeling of anger to expression of shock to feeling of sadness and to crying. Barriers to HIV-positive status disclosure among caregivers were perceived sense immaturity and age of the child, fear of stigma, fear of child’s inability to cope, fear of blaming the parents and refusal to take antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. While caregivers highlighted several factors that affect disclosure of HIV status to children and adolescents, this study reveals both positive and negative impact on their emotions.

It is of note that approach to disclosure is critical, therefore caregivers and healthcare workers should be properly trained and supported with resources required to effectively carry out disclosure. There is need for continuous research to understand and develop age and culture specific approaches to disclosure in children and adolescents in Nigeria.

Out-of-pocket payments for medical services may undermine access to medical services and equity in healthcare financing.

The present study aimed to determine the distribution of the burden of out-of-pocket payments for healthcare services among the households in Qazvin province, Iran.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on the urban and rural households in Qazvin province, Iran during 2019 - 2020. Data were obtained from the Statistics Center of Iran (2019 - 2020). The optimal sample size was calculated to be 992 households, and the households were selected via three-stage random cluster sampling. Data were collected using a valid questionnaire and via face-to-face interviews with the household owners. The fair financial contribution index (FFCI), concentration index, and Kakwani index were estimated in the Stata software.

The estimated parameters indicated that during the study period (March 21, 2019-March 20, 2020), the FFCI value of the rural and urban households was 0.782 and 0.854, respectively. The out-of-pocket payment concentration index based on income rank was estimated at 0.188 in rural households (P < 0.05) and 0.031 in the urban households. In addition, the Kakwani index of the urban and rural households was calculated to be -0.165 and -0.84, respectively.

According to the results, out-of-pocket payments were unequally distributed among the households in Qazvin province in 2019 - 2020. These payments were mostly concentrated on the 5th - 7th deciles of urban households. On the other hand, the out-of-pocket payments during the study period were regressive. To promote financial equity, Qazvin health policymakers must run payment exemptions for low-income groups and also expand the medical insurance coverage and universal coverage of healthcare services.

Spiritual well-being is crucial in human health and reduces anxiety and depression. Therefore, identifying its underlying variables can improve individuals’ health.

This study aimed to predict a model of spiritual well-being based on belief in a just world mediated by positive and negative effects in university students of Tehran.

Thiswasa descriptive correlation study performed through path analysis. The statistical population consisted of students studying at different universities of Tehran during 2020 - 2021. The research sample comprised 301 university students (199 female and 102 male). The participants completed the SpiritualWell-Being Scale, Belief in a JustWorld Scale, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The model was evaluated using path analysis in AMOS 24.0.

The results showed that the path coefficient between positive affect and spiritual well-being was positive and significant, and the path coefficient between negative affect and spiritual well-being was negative and significant (P < 0.001). The total path coefficient between the belief in a just world (BJW) and spiritual well-being was positive and significant, and the path coefficient between the belief in an unjust world (BUW) and spiritual well-being was negative and significant (P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant positive indirect path coefficient between BJW and spiritual well-being (P < 0.001). Accordingly, the positive and negative affects played positive mediating roles between BJW and spiritual well-being.

Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that BJW, positive effects, and strengthening them can enhance the level of spiritual well-being and reduce the students’ negative effect, anxiety, and depression levels.

Salmonella gastroenteritis is a global health concern. Recently, increased resistance to Salmonella typhimurium has been reported in several countries.

The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, blaPSE-1, sipB/C, and cmlA/tetR genes in S. typhimurium isolates and determine their antibiotic resistance.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 110 fecal samples, which were collected from the patients referred to the hospitals and medical centers in Tabriz, Iran during eight months. After phenotypic identification, the antibiogram test and double-disc synergy test were performed on the isolates. Following that, the prevalence of resistance genes was evaluated using multiplex PCR and specific primers.

Out of 110 fecal samples, 26 samples (23.63%) were positive for S. typhimurium. The highest resistance of the isolates was against ceftazidime, cefotaxime, amikacin, and tetracycline (100%), and the lowest resistance was against imipenem (3.85%) and nalidixic acid (7.69%). In total, 15 S. typhimurium isolates (57.69%) were positive for the extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. In addition, the most common resistance genes in the isolates were cmlA/tetR (38.46%), blaTEM (34.61%), and blaCTX-M (26.92%). Four isolates (15.38%) carried sipB, three isolates (11.53%) contained blaSHV, and two isolates (7.69%) carried blaPSE-1.

The obtained results indicated the high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant S. typhimurium. Therefore, the identification of resistance genes is an important strategy for identifying and counteracting antibiotic resistance.

Depression is a common mental disorder, and one of the symptoms is low self-esteem. The study of depression and its correlation with self-esteem in students is paramount.

The present study aimed to determine the correlation between self-esteem and depression in the students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Iran.

This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was performed on 308 students of KUMS in 2018. Data were collected using the questionnaire of self-esteem and Beck depression inventory. The participants were selected via stratified sampling. Data analysis was performed using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test.

A significant correlation was observed between self-esteem and depression in the students (P < 0.01). Furthermore, significant associations were denoted between self-esteem, marital status, and interest in the field of study. However, no significant correlations were observed between self-esteem, depression, gender, grade point average, major, education level, and the place of residence.

Due to the correlation between high self-esteem and the lower prevalence of depression in students, it is suggested that students’ self-esteem be improved by conducting the necessary interventions, such as lifestyle modification, nutrition, and physical activity.

Internalizing and externalizing behaviors often emerge during adolescence. Early interventions could prevent severe or chronic mental health issues such as depression, suicidal tendencies, crime, and social harm, thereby potentially mitigating their adverse consequences.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of schema therapy for children and adolescents (ST-CA) on the externalizing behaviors of the adolescents referred to the counseling centers in Ahvaz, Iran.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The sample population included adolescents aged 12 - 14 years with behavioral, educational, and mood problems who were referred to the counseling centers in Ahvaz, Iran in 2020. In total, 30 adolescents were selected via convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control (15 per each). The experimental group received 14 sessions of ST-CA (120-minute weekly sessions). Data were collected using the child behavior checklist. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 26.0.

In the experimental group, the mean scores of externalizing behaviors at the pretest and posttest were 70.52  6.11 and 58.274.80, respectively. The mean score of aggression in the experimental and control groups at the posttest was 57.603.83 and 64.207.41, respectively. The mean score of rule-breaking in the experimental and control groups at the posttest was 55.536.10 and 61.077.63, respectively. ST-CA could significantly alleviate the externalizing behaviors of the subjects, such as aggression and rule-breaking (P < 0.001).

According to the results, ST-CA could effectively decrease externalizing behaviors. Therefore, this approach should be incorporated into the interventions designed for these cases. Our findings could lay the groundwork for further investigation in this regard.