Relationship Between Noise-Related Risk Perception, Knowledge, and the Use of Hearing Protection Devices Among Para Rubber Wood Sawmill Workers

BACKGROUND: The understanding of the relationship between risk perception, knowledge, and protective behaviors could play a major role in occupational risk control and management. Research exploring how workers perceive, recognize, and react to risks in different occupational settings is scarce in Thailand. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of noise-related risk perceptions and knowledge to the use of hearing protective devices (HPDs) among sawmill workers in Thailand. METHODS: Sawmill workers (n = 540) from four factories in Trang, Southern Thailand, participated in a questionnaire interview from December 2015 to January 2016. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models were used to explore the risk factors related to HPD use. Path diagram analysis was demonstrated and used to evaluate associations. RESULTS: Risk perception was significantly correlated with HPD use (p < 0.01), HPD training (p = 0.01), and the number of years of work experience (p = 0.03). Sawmill workers were likely to use HPDs based on their risk perception and HPD training. However, HPD training was inversely correlated with age and the number of years of work experience. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the importance of risk perceptions and knowledge, and these factors should be emphasized in the design and implementation of any personal safety intervention program for sawmill workers.

Effectiveness of self-empowerment-affirmation-relaxation [self-ear] program for postpartum blues mothers: a randomize controlled trial

Background and Objecvites: Approximately 55-85% of women worldwide have experienced postpartum blues [PPB] during 6-9 weeks after delivery without receiving the counseling program; more than 20% of them have developed into postpartum depression. Study objectives were to evaluate the effect of the SelfEAR program to improve the postpartum blues scores and serum allopregnanolone level among newly blues mothers

Methods: During June 2015 to May 2016, the randomized controlled trial was conducted among 76 Nulliparous blues mothers who were screened with Steinfs postpartum blues scores >/= 3. All participants were randomly assigned either to the intervention group [Self-EAR program] and the control group [standard postpartum care program]. The Self-EAR program was transformed into audio files which were installed in an MP3 digital device before providing it to the intervention group in order to be implemented at home three times per day for four weeks. Participants were assessed at baseline, 1-month, 2-month and 3-month follow-up for serum allopregnanolone level. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistic, chi-square test, t-test, and repeated measure analysis of variance

Result: After the 3-month follow-up, the results revealed positive effects of the Self-EAR program on postpartum blues scores [p-value=0.002] and serum allopregnanolone concertation [pvalue=0.001]. The participants in the intervention group had experienced significantly lower postpartum blues scores; on the other hand, they had significantly higher serum allopregnanolone level when compared with the control group

Conclusions: The findings suggested that the Self-EAR program was effective to improve postpartum blues scores and allopregnanolone level among newly postpartum blues mothers

Effectiveness of case based cultural competency among nurses working in private hospitals of Bangkok, Thailand: a quasi-experimental study

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of case based cultural competency level and its factors affecting on nurse job in two private hospitals of Bangkok, Thailand

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study implemented the cased-based cultural competent intervention in two private hospitals of Thailand in 2015. One hundred sixty six nurses from two control and intervention private hospitals through simple random selection method were selected for this study. Data was collected at the beginning of study [pre-test], immediately after the intervention and after two months of intervention [post-test]. Tool was pretested, validated and piloted before to conduct study

Results: Total 166 nurses were included in this study. The characteristics among the study participants were similar between both hospitals at the baseline and found statistically non-significant [p= > 0.05]. However, after the intervention the cultural knowledge, attitude and practice competency score levels have significantly increased among the nurses in the intervention group as compared to control group [p= < 0.05]

Conclusion: Study has concluded that an intervention has positively affected on cultural knowledge, practice and attitude competency among nurses working in private hospital of Bangkok Thailand

Determinants of severe acute malnutrition among children under five years in a rural remote setting: a hospital based study from district Tharparkar-Sindh, Pakistan

Objectives: To understand and catalogue the specific determinants of this alarming rate of malnutrition among children of Tharparkar district, Sindh Pakistan

Methods: This was a hospital based analytical survey. Data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire by interviewing mothers of the children [age 6-59 months], admitted in the hospital. Following WHO guidelines, weight and length/ height of 105 children were recorded. Study was conducted in District Headquarters Hospital, Tharparkar district of Sindh province

Results: Almost 48% children admitted in the hospital were identified with severe acute malnutrition. More males [55%] were malnourished as compared to females [45%]. Maternal education, household income, family size, breastfeeding, vaccination status, and frequent infections were found to be significantly associated with the severe acute malnutrition

Conclusion: Specific interventions on promoting exclusive breastfeeding, vaccination, and timely health care seeking behaviors would definitely improve the outcomes. Nevertheless, sector wide approaches would be needed on girls' education, poverty, and food security in the district in order to address the issue of malnutrition

Impact of waste management training intervention on knowledge, attitude and practices of teaching hospital workers in Pakistan

Objective: To evaluate the sustainability and effectiveness of training as an intervention to improve the knowledge, attitude and practices of hospital workers on health care waste management

Method: We conducted this quasi-experimental study in two tertiary care teaching hospitals in Rawalpindi in October 2013. Training, practical demonstrations and reminders on standard waste management were given to 138 hospital workers in one hospital and compared with 137 workers from the control hospital. We collected data 18 months after intervention through a structured questionnaire to assess the impact of the intervention. We used paired t-test to compare the scores on knowledge, attitude and practices at baseline and first follow up and final impact assessment. Chi square test was used to compare group variables between intervention and control groups

Results: After 18 months since intervention the mean scores on knowledge attitude and practices differed statistically significantly since baseline and intervention group had statistically significantly better knowledge positive attitudes and good health care waste management practices [p < 0.001]. Health care and sanitary workers in intervention group scored statistically significantly higher [p < 0.001]

Conclusion: Trainings of health and sanitary workers on health care waste management guidelines were sustainable among the intervention group after 18 months which shows the positive impact of our intervention. It is recommended that the trainings as intervention be included in the overall policies of the public and private sector hospitals in Pakistan and other similar settings

Practices and challenges of infectious waste management: a qualitative descriptive study from tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan

Infectious waste management practices among health care workers in the tertiary care hospitals have been questionable.The study intended to identify issues that impede a proper infectious waste management. Besides direct observation, in-depths interviews were conducted with the hospital administrators and senior management involved in healthcare waste management during March 2014. We looked at the processes related to segregation, collection, storage and disposal of hospital waste, and identified variety of issues in all the steps. Serious gaps and deficiencies were observed related to segregation, collection, storage and disposal of the hospital wastes, hence proving to be hazardous to the patients as well as the visitors. Poor safety, insufficient budget, lack of trainings, weak monitoring and supervision, and poor coordination has eventually resulted in improper waste management in the tertiary hospitals of Rawalpindi. Study has concluded that the poor resources and lack of healthcare worker's training in infectious waste results in poor waste management at hospitals