Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 prevention in Yemen: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Pandemics, especially in fragile war-torn countries like Yemen, challenge their already strained health systems. Community adherence to pandemic prevention measures is necessary to curb the severity and spread of emerging pandemics - which is influenced by factors, such as people's knowledge and attitudes toward the pandemic. No studies in Aden have been published on the communities' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 prevention to date. To understand adherence to pandemic prevention measures in contexts with fragile health systems, this study investigated KAP of Yemeni participants toward the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted face-to-face semi-structured questionnaires among 400 eligible participants whom were identified for participation in this study through systematic household sampling from eight districts in Aden, Yemen. Eligible participants were Yemeni community members who were ≥ 18 years, living for more than 10 years in Yemen, and were willing to voluntarily participate in the study. The questionnaire included questions surrounding the participants' COVID-19 knowledge (e.g., awareness of spread and prevention), attitudes (e.g., willingness to accept the vaccine or other prevention measures), and prevention practices during the pandemic (e.g., mask wearing, social distancing, vaccine uptake). Total KAP scores were calculated. Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were conducted using STATA 13 software. Results: From January to May 2021 we conducted 400 questionnaires with Yemeni community members. The average age was 41.5 ± 14.5 years (range 18-86 years). The results demonstrated that the participants in this study had an intermediate knowledge (53%) and fair attitude (58%) scores. However, participants reported very poor COVID-19 prevention practices- with only 11% demonstrating these practices. Only 25% (100/400) practiced social distancing, 25% (98/400) wore a mask, and only 6% (27/400) of participants accepted (at least one dose of) the COVID-19 vaccine. Factors associated with increased knowledge were being male, married, and surprisingly those having a primary and middle school education levels (p < 0.05). Also participants who were diagnosed with COVID-19 or had a family member diagnosed with COVID-19 (vs. those not diagnosed OR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.07-3.78, p < 0.05) were more likely to know that the vaccine protects against severe COVID-19 infection and were more likely to apply good practices such as accepting the vaccine (OR = 2.65, 95% CI 1.17-6.00, p < 0.05) compared to those who were not. Conclusion: These findings raise awareness for the need of community-oriented education programs for COVID-19 which considers associated factors to improve the level of public knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Implementation of an educational module on nosocomial infection control measures: a randomised hospital-based trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous cross-sectional studies have reported limited knowledge and practices among nurses regarding controlling nosocomial infections (NIs). Even though health institutions offer many irregular in-service training courses to solve such issues, a three year-nursing educational programme at institutions is not adequate to enable nurses to handle NIs. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the implementation of an educational module on NIs control measures among Yemeni nurses. METHODS: A single-blinded randomised hospital-based trial was undertaken involving 540 nurses assigned to two intervention groups and a waitlist group. Intervention group-1 received a face-to-face training course comprising 20 h spread over six weeks and a hard copy of the module, while intervention group-2 only received the hard copy of the module "without training". In contrast, the waitlist group did not receive anything during the period of collecting data. A self-administered NI control measures-evaluation questionnaire was utilised in collecting the data from the participants; before the intervention, at six weeks and 3 months after the end of the intervention. The period of data collection was between 1st May and 30th October 2016. RESULTS: The results from collecting and analysing the data showed a statistically significant difference in the mean knowledge scores between the intervention groups that were detectable immediately post-intervention with a mean difference (MD) of 4.31 (P < 0.001) and 3 months after the end of the intervention (MD = 4.48, P < 0.001) as compared to the waitlist group. Similarly, the results showed a statistically significant difference in the mean practice scores between the intervention groups immediately post-intervention (MD = 2.74, P < 0.001) and 3 months after the intervention (MD = 2.46, P < 0.001) as compared to the waitlist group. Intervention-1 (face-to-face training + module) was more effective than intervention-2 (module only) in improving Yemeni nurses' knowledge and practices regarding NI control measures compared to the waitlist group. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study found that intervention-1 could be offered to nurses in the form of an in-service training course every six months. The NI course should also be included in nursing curricula, particularly for the three-year-nursing diploma in Yemen. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Nosocomial infection educational module for nurses ISRCTN19992640 , 20/6/2017. The study protocol was retrospectively registered.

Randomized community trial on nosocomial infection control educational module for nurses in public hospitals in Yemen: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections remain a global health problem and they are considered as one of the leading causes of increased morbidity and mortality. In-service training courses related to infection control measures can help nurses to make informed and therapeutic decisions which could prevent or reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections. This study protocol is of a hospital-based trial to develop, implement and evaluate an educational module on nosocomial infection control among nurses in public hospitals in Yemen. This study is currently ongoing and at the analysis stage. METHODS: A three-arm single-blinded randomized community hospital-based trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed nosocomial infection control educational module among nurses in public hospitals in Yemen. To ensure effective delivery and acquisition of knowledge, the Situated Learning Theory was applied during the course of the intervention. A total of 540 Yemeni in-ward nurses, who had three years nursing diploma and at least a year of working experience in the selected public hospitals were recruited in this study. The hospitals were the unit of randomization whereby eight hospitals were assigned randomly to intervention and waitlist groups. Intervention group-1 (n = 180) received an educational module supported by audio-video CD and a training course for eight weeks. Intervention group-2 (n = 180) was given only the educational module with audio-video CD (without the training course). The waitlist group received no intervention during the period of data collection but they will be given the same training and learning materials after the completion of the study. DISCUSSION: This study contributes to the lack of a nosocomial infection control educational module for nurses in Yemen. It is hoped that the educational module will serve as an effective approach to increase the nurses' knowledge and improve their practices regarding nosocomial infection control measures and hence decrease the prevalence of nosocomial infections in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ID: ISRCTN19992640, Date of registration: 20/6/2017. This study protocol was retrospectively registered.

Correction to: Randomized community trial on nosocomial infection control educational module for nurses in public hospitals in Yemen: a study protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s12912-019-0333-3.].

Skin Cancer: ClinicoPathological Study of 204 Patients in Southern Governorates of Yemen.

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is a group of heterogeneous malignancies, in general classified into nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and melanoma skin cancer (MSC). Incidences are high in many parts in the world with considerable geographical and racial variation. In the Yemen, there has been scarce information about skin cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics and histological trend of skin cancer in Southern Governorates of Yemen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study covered 204 cases of skin cancer at the Modern Histopathology Laboratory and Aden Cancer Registry and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Aden, for the period 20062013. Data were classified regarding different demographic and tumor related variables and analyzed using CanReg4 for cancer registry and SPSS (version 21). RESULTS: The commonest encountered skin cancer was NMSC (93.1%). Generally, skin cancer appears slightly more frequently in females than males with a 1:1.06 male: female ratio, with a mean age of 62.9 years. Slightly higher than onethird (36.3%) were from Aden governorate. The head and neck proved to be the most common site in both males and females (58%). Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common histological type of skin cancer (50.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Skin cancer is a common cancer in patients living in southern governorates of Yemen. The pattern appears nearly similar to the international figures with a low incidence of MSC.

Breast Cancer Knowledge, Perception and Breast Self- Examination Practices among Yemeni Women: an Application of the Health Belief Model.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of breast cancer is rapidly increasing in Yemen with recent indications of constituting one-third of female cancers. The main problem in Yemen remains very late presentation of breast cancer, most of which should have been easily recognisable. Since stage of disease at diagnosis is the most important prognostic variable, early diagnosis is an important option to be considered for control of breast cancer in low resourced settings like Yemen. In the present study, we aimed at describing breast cancer knowledge, perceptions and breast self-examination (BSE) practices among a sample of Yemeni women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study covered 400 women attending four reproductive health centres in Aden, Yemen through face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire during April - July 2014. We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge about breast cancer, and screening practices as well as respondents' perceptions based on the five sub scales of the Health Belief Model (HBM): perceived susceptibility; perceived severity; perceived barriers; perceived benefits; and self-efficacy. The response format was a fivepoint Likert scale. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20) was used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Logistic regression analysis was conducted with BSE as a dependent variable. RESULTS: The mean age of women was 26.5 (S.D=5.6) years. The majority (89.0%) had never ever performed any screening. Two-thirds of respondents had poor knowledge. Perceived BSE benefits and self-efficacy and lower BSE barriers perception were significant independent predictors of BSE practice. CONCLUSIONS: Poor knowledge and inadequate BSE practices are prevailing in Yemen. The need for implementing culturally sensitive targeted education measures is mandatory in the effort to improve early detection and reduce the burden of breast cancer.

Epidemiology of nocturnal enuresis in basic schoolchildren in Aden Governorate, Yemen.

Nocturnal enuresis is a common problem among children and adolescents. Data regarding this problem in schoolchildren in Yemen are scarce. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of nocturnal incontinence in Aden school going children, describe its severity and identify the relation between nocturnal enuresis with personal and family characteristics. The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted on the public basic schoolchildren in Aden, Yemen, in the period November 2007-April 2009. A random, multistage sample of 890 students was taken from four districts in eight schools and divided into two strata: males and females. Data were obtained by using pre-recorded questionnaire, which was completed by parents. The response rate was 73.7% (656 students); 113 (17.2%) cases of nocturnal enuresis were encountered. Nocturnal enuresis decreased by age from 31.5% at 6-8 years to 8.7% at 15+ years (P < 0.05). Primary nocturnal enuresis affected 76.1%, of which the majority of children were bedwetting every night. Positive family history of nocturnal enuresis, deeper sleep, daytime enuresis, tea drinking, being non working father or with less education showed significant association with the occurrence of enuresis in the students. Stressful events in the previous 6 months of the study were twice more frequently noted. The study concluded that the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in Aden public school children and its associated factors are almost comparable with that reported in epidemiological studies from various countries. Health education will encourage the parents to be aware, cope with this problem and seek appropriate medical advice.

Daytime urinary incontinence among kindergarten children in Aden Governorate, 2003.

Daytime urinary incontinence is an involuntary or intentional voiding of urine in an awake child who is old enough to have developed control, and has a variable prevalence throughout the world. In Yemen, data regarding this problem are almost absent. In this study from the capital city of Aden, we aimed to: (1) determine the prevalence of daytime incontinence in kindergarten children aged 4-6 years, (2) identify the relation between daytime enuresis with personal and family characteristics of the children studied, and (3) describe the severity and characteristics of daytime enuresis in the studied children. A cross-sectional comparative study was undertaken in all kindergarten children aged 4-6 years in Aden Governorate and 1061 responded. Data were obtained by using a precoded self-administered questionnaire completed by the parents. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: personal and family characteristics of the studied children and the presence of daytime incontinence. The second part was responded if there was history of daytime incontinence, and contained information on the severity and possible associated factors. Daytime incontinence was encountered in 34 cases (3.2%); 18 were females. Significant differences between cases and incontinence-free children were encountered in birth order and type of kindergarten (P < 0.05). Majority (85.3%) had severe form of daytime incontinence. Bed wetting and combined day and night wetting were more frequent among males, whereas urinary symptoms (urgency, squatting, dysuria, dribbling) were more frequent among females. Working mother and frightening and emotionally stressful events in the 6 months preceding the study were significantly associated with daytime incontinence, while parents' education, punishment for daytime incontinence, and the presence of family history of incontinence were insignificant. In conclusion, this is the first study from Yemen reporting the prevalence of enuresis, similar to previous reports. Further studies are needed to explore this problem in our region to end the misery of the child and the family.