International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

Abstract: Stroke is one of the most expensive medical illnesses. In Greece, information on rehabilitation costs after hospital discharge and type of treatment sessions have not been reported. This study provided the demographic profile, the rehabilitation training program and the direct rehabilitation costs of stroke outpatients. A retrospective study, based on a sample of 18 outpatients with stroke, who were all local residents of the prefecture of Thessaloniki and had their first documented rehabilitation session between J…

Abstract: Motorcycle-related traumatic brain injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Dominican Republic. Although rates of helmet use by motorcycle riders are low, little is known regarding the specific factors that drive this behavior. In this study, 26 adults in an urban Dominican hospital who self-reported riding motorcycles often without wearing a helmet participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews about their motorcycle use, collision history, and beliefs regarding helmets. A theoretical…

Abstract: Controlling congenital rubella is one of the targets of the World Health Organization. Most countries currently include rubella vaccine in their national immunization programmes, but not yet in Algeria. The aim of this study was to determine the sero susceptibility of rubella infection among women of childbearing age and the feasibility of establishing an organized prevention program in Algeria. This prospective, cross-sectional study was examined in healthy women of childbearing age (who gave informed consent) liv…

Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasites that cause infection to human. The aim of this study was to conduct a sero-prevalence survey of toxoplasmosis in several target groups, including: pregnant women, aborters, neonates, children, suspected cases, cancer patients, HIV patients, volunteers, and camels, drivers. A total of 1146 serum samples were collected and researched for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using Latex Agglutination Test (LAT). Five hundred (out of 1146 cases) resulted positive with a pre…

Abstract: Social support is an important buffer for the spouses of HIV infected men. This paper aims to find out the support systems from three different sources namely relational, friends and professional for the women who are the family caregivers. The study included 201 women who accompanied their spouses and children to 3 hospitals at Chennai and Vellore, Tamilnadu, India, during January to June 2007. Social Support was measured by a 9 item scale used in the RAND Medical Outcome Study (Sherbourne & Stewart, 1991). Majori…

Abstract: Homelessness increases a person’s exposure to infectious and communicable diseases paired with long periods of malnutrition which can cause some chronic conditions e.g anemia and degenerative bone diseases. Numerous studies in Canada, United States and Great Britain document the relationship between homelessness and health, the phenomenon does exist all around the world but in Sudan it was evident during the seventies and eighties of the 20th century. Chemicals used by homeless children such as inhalants are volati…

Abstract: Childhood malnutrition is an enduring problem in developing countries. Cases with mild-to-moderate malnutrition are likely to remain unrecognized because conventional measures of under nutrition may be missing out a considerable proportion of undernourished children present in the population. With this background, a community based study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of under nutrition among children by using various available indicators. It is a community based on cross sectional study carried out in th…

Abstract: This study assessed the cardiovascular (CV) risk profile of undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Seven hundred and ninety five copies of Framingham Heart study questionnaire were used to obtain information on CV risk factors; including smoking habit, sedentary lifestyle, diet, personality trait, age and gender. Participant’s blood pressure was obtained in sitting observing standard precautions. Weights and heights were obtained and body mass indices (BMI) and CV risk levels calculated. Dat…

Abstract: In view of the paucity of empirical data on condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) with their clients and regular/trusted sex partners in Nigeria, particularly Ogun State, this study was conducted to examine FSWs’ knowledge and perception about HIV/AIDS and find out their pattern of condom use with their clients and regular/trusted sex partners. One hundred and thirty-one FSWs were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires in Ogun State, South-West Nigeria. Results showed pervasive consistent condom use…

Abstract: In the era of accessible antiretroviral treatment where HIV becomes a chronic disease, disclosure of parental HIV status to children is fraught with challenges. This study seeks to understand if parents disclose their HIV status to their children, and gain insight into some factors that influence disclosure. This is a cross sectional descriptive study on 115 of 136 HIV positive patients attending the outpatient clinic of the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT) situated in Chennai, South India. Di…