scholarly journals Awareness and Behaviors Regarding COVID-19 among Albanian Undergraduates

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Francesca Gallè ◽  
Arjeta Veshi ◽  
Elita Anna Sabella ◽  
Morena Çitozi ◽  
Giovanna Da Molin ◽  
...  

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to the adoption of restriction measures that have had notable consequences on the health and wellbeing of individuals. This survey was carried out on a sample of 905 Albanian undergraduates to assess their knowledge about COVID-19 and their health-related behaviors and communication changes during lockdown. The students were invited to complete a pre-validated questionnaire during lessons. The results show that the majority of the surveyed students were able to answer correctly about the main epidemiological features of the disease. The level of knowledge was proven to be proportional to the students’ education level (enrollment year and age). No considerable relationship emerged with respect to diet or smoking. On the other hand, a relevant portion of the sample (37.6%) declared decreased physical activity (PA). Finally, a notable increase in the intensity and frequency of communication with their peers and with their parents was declared by 34.7% and 50.8% of the sample, respectively. Lifestyle variables were found to be mutually related, as were communication outcomes. The participants showed a satisfactory awareness regarding the COVID-19 epidemic. However, the registered reduction in PA may represent a public health issue and should be addressed with adequate policies. The use of electronic media seems to have increased communication habits in this population group.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahya Najjar ◽  
Zeinab Hassan

Background: Self-treatment with antibiotics involves obtaining medicines without a prescription, sharing medicines with members of one’s social circle, or using leftover medicines stored at home. Objective: Assess the prevalence, knowledge level, reasons for practicing self-treatment of antibiotic among undergraduate university students. Methods: The study was conducted cross-sectional on a sample of 201 students. A pre-validated questionnaire called "self-treatment with antibiotics", containing 27 close-ended questions, was administered to each subject. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and the results expressed as counts and percentages. Results and Discussion: Knowledge about self-treatment with antibiotics was good in general, and health-related students had a better level of knowledge about self-treatment with antibiotics than non-health-related students. The majority of the participants had not used self-treatment with antibiotics. Gender, age, and the last time antibiotic taken affected selftreatment with antibiotics. The most common indication for self-treatment with antibiotics was flu, cold and tonsillitis. The most common reason for practicing self-treatment with antibiotics was being considered as a convenient and rapid solution. Internet was the main source for university students regarding knowledge about antibiotic use and resistance. Conclusion: Self-treatment with antibiotics is affected by several social and demographic variables, and the role of media, public policies, university curricula as well as physicians and pharmacists should be enforced and activated to eliminate inappropriate uses of antibiotics and to correct misconceptions that encourage self-treatment with antibiotics.


Author(s):  
Robert M. Bray ◽  
◽  
Rebecca P. Sanchez ◽  
Miriam L. Ornstein ◽  
Danielle Lentine ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Syazwani Hassan ◽  
Nur Nabila Zulkifly ◽  
Annapurny Venkiteswaran ◽  
Rohaida Abdul Halim

To ascertain the level of knowledge among primary school teachers towards the management of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in school and to determine the preference among teachers regarding the education tools that can be used to increase awareness and knowledge among them. A total of 150 teachers from primary schools in three different districts were included in the study and they were given self-administered questionnaires to be filled. The validated questionnaire was distributed randomly in the selected schools. The questionnaire included two scenarios comprising of tooth fracture and avulsion. Questions regarding awareness and management of these scenarios were asked. All 150 participants answered the questionnaire; of these 74% were females 26% were males. 64% of the participants had received tertiary education. Although 70% of teachers had obtained first aid training, only 9.3% of them had received training regrading dental injuries. About 53% of participants knew the correct answer for the appropriate response to fractured tooth and only 35.3% managed to correctly answer the question related to appropriate response to an avulsed tooth. Only 38.7% knew about appropriate rinsing solution and a mere 4.7% were familiar with proper storage media. Even though the teachers have poor knowledge regarding management of dental injuries, it is reassuring to know that 93% of them are keen on further training and awareness. More educational programmes need to be introduced to empower the teachers with the relevant knowledge required to deal with dental emergencies.


Author(s):  
Daiane Sofia Morais Paulino ◽  
Maira Pinho-Pompeu ◽  
Fernanda Raikov ◽  
Juliana Vasconcellos Freitas-Jesus ◽  
Helymar Costa Machado ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To evaluate the influence of health-related behaviors including food intake, physical activity, sleep time, smoking habits, stress, depression, and optimism on excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) among women with overweight and obesity. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Women's Hospital of the Universidade de Campinas, Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil, with 386 mediate postpartum women that fit the inclusion criteria of ≥ 19 years old, first prenatal care visit at or before 14 weeks, and single live baby. Dietary habits, physical exercise practice, sleep duration, smoking and alcohol habits were self-reported. Psychosocial history was evaluated using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R). Sociodemographic, obstetric, anthropometric, and neonatal data were retrieved from medical records. Descriptive statistics and stepwise logistic regression were performed. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 29.27% and 24.61%, respectively, according to the body mass index (BMI). Excessive GWG was observed in 47.79% of women with overweight and in 45.26% of women with obesity. Excessive GWG among overweight and obese women was associated with inadequate vegetable and bean consumption (odds ratio [OR] = 2.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35–6.46 and OR = 1.91; 95%CI: 1.01–3.63, respectively) and stress (OR = 1.63; 95%CI 1.01–2.64). After adjustment by maternal age, multiparity, sleep duration, smoking, and alcohol intake, we found that stress (PSS ≥ 20) was associated with excessive GWG in women with overweight or obesity (OR: 1.75; 95%CI: 1.03–2.96). Conclusion Among women with overweight and obesity, stress is the main variable associated with excessive GWG. Inadequate vegetables and beans consumption also showed association with excessive GWG.


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