Knowledge

ABSTRACT To assess the level of awareness of heart attack (HA) symptoms and action toward it among the general population in Saudi Arabia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia from September to December 2021. The total number of participants is 10044, individuals who met our criteria (N = 9,536) was selected as study participants, who were residents in Saudi Arabia, aged 18 years and older. An online questionnaire included questions about demographic characteristics, knowledge and awareness of heart attack symptoms and action toward it was distributed through social media. Then, data were entered into the excel sheet, then into the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for analysis. Knowledge of the participants about HA warning symptoms; only (3.2%) knew the seven symptoms of HA while (24.9%) of respondents only knew one symptom. Regarding the knowledge of the first action towards heart attack; (44.3%) stated that the first action is to call an ambulance. The correct ambulance service number was identified by (53.04%) of respondents. The findings revealed good awareness of the typical HA symptoms only. Generally, participants had poor awareness of recognizing all alarming HA symptoms and appropriate action toward it. Further educational efforts to the community are required to raise awareness, avoid pre-hospital delay, and reducing the mortality rate. Keywords: Knowledge, awareness, cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Postnatal care (PNC) is vital for the life of both mother and child as it reduces both marternal and infant morbidities and mortalities. However, in Kenya, PNC utilization is low (48%) but the cause is not known. Post-natal care –health seeking behavior among women oreproductive age in homa bay town Methods: A total of 377 mothers having children aged 6-8 weeks old participated in the study in which a community based cross sectional study using quantitative complemented by qualitative methods of data collection was employed. Quantitative data collection involved structured questionnaires administered to mothers proportionately and systematically randomly sampled. Qualitative data was collected through Key informant interview guide from 10 purposively selected health care providers and 11 lead community volunteers (CHVs). The SPSS version 17.0 and Chi square, Logistic regression and odds ratio were used for quantitative data analysis while thematic approach was used to analyse qualitative data to complement the findings. Results: Majority, 80% understood PNC and utilized such services within 6-8 weeks. About 81% of mother received information from skilled health workers. Majority,80% of women received immunization and was significant (χ² =12.635, p=0.027) to Utilization of PNC. Close 64% of women attended PNC services between two and three times. 67% mothers mentioned haemorrhage as the likely risk after delivery. Main attitude-related reason for low utilization of PNC service was lack of awareness (50.5%) of PNC, experience, expectation and perception that was significant (χ² =11.688, p=0.039) to access to PNC services. Majority who accessed PNC services expected physical examination (49.1%) and immunization of their babies (44.5%) and said the quality was good. On health seeking behaviours, 84% delivered in a health facility and 10.8% delivered home and was significant (χ² =11.354, p=0.003) to utilization of PNC. 89% accessed some form of PNC service was significant (χ² =21.515, p=0.000). There was a gap between knowing and understanding PNC as majority of the respondents had knowledge of PNC but attended twice and late between 4 and 6 weeks for purposes of immunization and sickness (hemorrhage). Conclusion: The study also revealed that positive attitude regarding reception by health providers, quality of service, expectation, experience and perception of PNC services increased utilization of PNC services.

ABSTRACT Background: While achievements have been gained with modern contraceptive use rising from 10% in 2005 to 47.5% in 2015 with a resultant fall in fertility from 6.1 children per woman to 4.2 children in Rwanda, there remain some challenges. The current study identified the influence of knowledge, attitude, accessibility and availability of contraceptive methods on unmet need for family planning among women of reproductive age in Rubavu District, Rwanda. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried among 270 women (15–49 years) attending public health facilities in western province, Rubavu district. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to measure knowledge, attitudes and accessibility of contraceptive methods. The outcome variable was unmet need for family planning (unmet need for spacing and limiting births).Bivariate analysis was done for the independent variable with the dependent variable then multiple logistic regressions was computed. To identify the independent effects of independent variables to unmet need for contraception, the Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval was computed and statistical significance was defined when p-value was less than 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of unmet was 46.6% (Unmet need for spacing 27.78% and unmet need for limiting 18.9%). After adjusting for other variables, contraceptive methods improve standard of life (OR = 0.445, 95 % CI =0.222-0.092 , P =0.023 , Family Planning (F P) methods cause weakness (OR = 2.879, 95 % CI =1.428-5.805, P =0.003; joint decision to use FP (OR =0.472 , 95 % CI =0.286-0.778 , P =0.003 ), decision to use FP taken by husband (OR =2.703 , 95 % CI =1.320-5.536 , P =0.007 , were significantly associated with unmet for spacing . While FP methods cause headache (OR = 2.240, 95 % CI =1.068-4.696, P =0.033 joint decision to use FP (OR =0.561, 95 % CI =0.367-0.858, P =0.008), decision to use FP taken by husband (OR =2.283, 95 % CI =1.078-4.856, P =0.032 for unmet need for limiting) Conclusion: The attitudes that FP methods cause weakness, FP methods cause headache and decision to use FP taken by husband increase unmet need for family planning.

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in women, and its incidence is on the increase. Knowledge and practice of breast self-examination are important strategies for early detection of the disease. The general objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of health education on breast self-examination amongst secondary school girls in Anambra State, Nigeria. Methodology: It was a before and after interventional study with control, in which 261 school girls were selected by multi-stage sampling method. The study group (197) which received health education was assessed contemporaneously with the control (64) at the pre- and post-intervention stages. Data was collected via self-administered questionnaire. Before health education, questionnaires were administered to assess their baseline knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self-examination. The study group received information on breast self- examination, but the control group had health talk on the basics of hand washing technique. Questionnaires were administered again to both groups to assess the effectiveness of education on breast self-examination. Data was analyzed and presented in tables. Result: Showed a significant increase in the percentage score for knowledge from 40.9% to 85% for the study group as opposed to the control group which percentage score remained unchanged at 47.1%. The attitude scores of respondents in both groups which were almost the same before education (93.4% and 87.5% respectively) before education, did not record significant changes following education (98% and 84.4% respectively).Overall the practice score reduced markedly from 67% to 39.6% among study group (p<0.001) but among those who continued BSE after education, significant improvements in specific practice item scores were recorded among them: (frequency- p<0.01; time- p<0.001; and place- p<0.001) Conclusion: The results demonstrated the effectiveness of education on th