ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia started vaccination of front-liners and adults in the community. The latter group might have insufficient knowledge to accept COVID-19 vaccination, therefore this research was to assess the knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among youths, specifically students in a Malaysian college. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 481 foundation students in Kolej MARA Kulim (KMKU). The minimum sample size, using Epi Info was 214. Students answered an online questionnaire using google form which included demographic data (age, gender) and ten questions on knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. For knowledge questions, students answered “yes”, “no” or “don’t know”, correct answer scoring 1. For acceptance questions, a 5-point Likert scale was used ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”. EXCEL and SPSS version 23 were used for analysis with Chi-square test done to test association (significant for p-value <0.05). Results: The response rate was 65.1% with 313 students, (45.4% males, and 54.6% females) aged 18-19 years. The majority (83.7%) had satisfactory to excellent knowledge scores (mean = 6.66 (SD=2.299, 95% CI 6.40-6.91), median = 7 (± IQR =3), while 16.3% obtained poor scores (≤ 4). The majority (90%) accepted vaccination. Higher knowledge scores were associated with higher acceptance rates in both genders (p-value= 0.000). Significantly more females (90.6%) than males (80.3%) had positive attitude towards vaccination (p-value = 0.009). Conclusions: The majority of the foundation students in KMKU were knowledgeable on COVID-19 vaccination and willing to receive the vaccination against the novel coronavirus.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To ascertain the frequency of electrolyte abnormalities in patients of probable and culture-proven sepsis on admission and assess any association of electrolyte disorders with mortality
Study Design: Descriptive study
Place and Duration of Study: NICU, Fazle-Omar Hospital, Rabwah, from October 2015 to September 2016
Methodology: All neonates with the diagnosis of probable and culture-proven sepsis during the study period admitted in NICU, Fazle-Omar Hospital, were included in the study. Electrolyte levels were categorised as normal, high or low and recorded in the data form, with age and outcome. Fisher exact test was used to test association. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis
Results: One hundred and fifty-one neonates were included in the study. Ten [6.6%] died. Among these, 114 [75.49%] had one or more electrolyte abnormalities. Median [IQR [interquartile range]] levels of sodium and chloride were, 140 [7.1], and 100.2 [7.4] mmol/L, respectively. Mean levels of potassium and calcium were 5.07 +/- 0.76 mmol/L and 2.35 +/- 0.338 mmol/L, respectively. Hyperkalemia was the commonest electrolyte disorder present in 60 [39.7%] neonates, followed by hypercalcemia in 50 [33.1%] and hypocalcemia in 20 [13.2%]. None of the neonates without any electrolyte abnormality died [p=0.053]
Conclusion: Majority cases of neonatal sepsis have got electrolyte abnormalities. Hyperkalemia was the commonest electrolyte imbalance followed by hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia