ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: : Osteoporosis is an important, global public health issue that is expected to become an epidemic by 2050, and particularly affect an increasing number of elderly women worldwide. The current study was designed to measure the current osteoporosis knowledge level among a sample population of women, to assess osteoporosis health beliefs, and assess osteoporosis preventive measures and factors related to those taking preventive measures. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, using multistage sampling. A total of 265 women were randomly selected among those attending outpatient clinics in primary health care units. The study used a questionnaire to assess knowledge, health beliefs, in addition to osteoporosis preventive behaviour. Results: About 59% of the participants showed inadequate knowledge and 70.7% had inadequate osteoporosis preventive behaviour. Inadequate knowledge levels were more common among the younger participants, and those with a lower educational level, absence of osteoporosis in first degree relatives and no history of fractures. Significant differences were observed in the mean score of overall health beliefs and all its sub-scales, except for perceived exercise benefits and perceived health motivation. Sub-optimal calcium intake levels were noted, but were significantly higher among those with adequate osteoporosis preventive behaviour than among those with inadequate osteoporosis preventive behaviour (907.2 ± 187.6 and 810.7 ± 123.3, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The sample of women under investigation showed unsatisfactory levels of knowledge regarding osteoporosis, substandard health beliefs and sub-optimal levels of calcium consumption. Community-based interventions should be conducted to overcome the barriers to adopting preventive behaviours.
ABSTRACT
The study aimed at determining the prevalence of incident occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials [OPIM] among healthcare personnel [HCP] during 2010 and at evaluating the factors associated with these incidents. Subjects and an epidemiological, retrospective, record-based study was conducted. All self-reported incidents of occupational exposure to blood and OPIM among HCP from all healthcare settings of the Kuwait Ministry of Health during 2010 were included. The total number of the exposed HCP was 249. The prevalence of incident exposure was 0.7% of the HCP at risk. Their mean age was 32.31 +/- 6.98 years. The majority were nurses: 166 [66.7%], followed by doctors: 35 [14.1%], technicians: 26 [10.4%] and housekeeping personnel: 22 [8.8%]. Needle stick injury was the most common type of exposure, in 189 [75.9%], followed by sharp-object injury, mucous-membrane exposure and contact with nonintact skin. The majority of needle stick exposures, i.e. 177 [93.7%], were caused by hollow-bore needles. Exposure to blood represented 96.8%, mostly during drawing blood and the insertion or removal of needles from patients [88 [35.4%]] and when performing surgical interventions [56 [22.6%]]. Easily preventable exposures such as injuries related to 2-handed recapping of needles [24 [9.6%]] and garbage collection [21 [8.4%]] were reported. Exposures mainly occurred in the inpatient wards [75 [30.1%]] and operating theaters [56 [22.6%]]. Among the exposed HCP, 130 [52.2%] had been fully vaccinated against hepatitis B virus [HBV]. Needle stick injuries are the most common exposure among HCP in Kuwait, and nurses are the most frequently involved HCP category. A good proportion of exposures could be easily prevented. HBV vaccination coverage is incomplete