International Journal of Scientific Reports

Magnitude of safe menstrual hygiene management practice and its associated factors among adolescents’ girls in secondary and preparatory schools in Dire Dawa city, Eastern Ethiopia, 2023

Mickiale Hailu — 2025-02-21

Background: In Africa, numerous adolescent girls miss school due to menstrual cramps, inadequate menstrual hygiene supplies, insufficient water and sanitation facilities in educational institutions, and anxiety regarding potential menstrual accidents. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of safe menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices in Dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia, in 2023.

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was carried out in Dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia. A Participants were chosen through a simple random sampling method. Data entry was performed using Epi Data version 4.1, and analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized to explore the relationship between MHM and independent variables. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and a p value of less than 0.05 were deemed statistically significant.

Results: The findings revealed that 62.6% of the students practiced safe MHM. Factors significantly associated with safe MHM included the residence of adolescent girls [AOR=2.58, 95% CI=1.37-4.83], the educational level of mothers [AOR=2.94, 95% CI=1.26-5.05], receiving regular pocket money from parents [AOR=1.9, 95% CI=1.2-2.98], and family size [AOR=5.5, 95% CI=3.12-9.89].

Conclusions: The study indicates that over half of the adolescent girls engaged in safe MHM practices. It is recommended that educational initiatives be implemented for rural teenage girls regarding safe menstrual hygiene practices, alongside fostering family support through resources and guidance.

Sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients attending a post-COVID-19 rehabilitation program: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Valéria B. Muniz — 2025-02-21

Background: Neurological and musculoskeletal manifestations related to COVID-19 are prevalent and can persist beyond 12 weeks, characterizing the “Long COVID”. This paper aims to describe the sociodemographic and clinical profile reporting the prevalence of cognitive, emotional and motor symptoms of patients seen at 2 Brazilian-Rehabilitation hospitals.

Methods: Multicentric, descriptive and observational, cross-sectional study, carried out by reviewing the electronic medical records of patients, from March to September 2021.

Results: 611 individuals participated in the study (mean age: 53.4 years), 58.4% were female. Three or more pre-existing comorbidities were reported by 38.6%. Three or more persistent symptoms were present in 77.3%. Neuropsychiatric (65.0%) and memory/attention impairments (55.6%); pain (53.7%) and fatigue (51.6%) were the most prevalent. The majority had the post COVID-19 functional status scale (PCSF) score to ≥2 (66.9%). There was no association between infection severity and reported functional status. Most of the participants did not show risk of fall at Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) (68.6%), and 93.9% presented an average walking speed of ≥ 0.80 m/s. Analyzing the COVID-19 severity and TUG test results, it was identified that severely or critical affected patients had moderate to high risk of fall (P=0,02). There were associations between functional status and gait speed (P=0,01) as well as with the presence of fatigue as a persistent symptom (p=0,03).

Conclusions: The study contributes to the knowledge of sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients who had COVID-19, showing persistent symptoms and the impact of Long-COVID on the individual's function.

Sleep quality and its association with academic performance amongst students in colleges of health technology, Akure, Ondo State

Sulaimon B. Ajeigbe — 2025-02-21

Background: Sleep constitutes a fundamental physiological phenomenon characterized by its intricate nature, whereby both the corporeal and cognitive domains undergo restorative processes for approximately eight hours each day.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study which employed a multistage sampling method to recruit the study participants. A semi constructed questionnaire was distributed to assess the research questions. Cumulative grade point average (CGPA) was used to measure the academic performance while Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was used to assess the sleep quality.

Results: Less than half of the students reported having good sleep quality (47%), while over half experienced poor sleep quality (53%). A significant number of students (49.5%) had lower credit grades, which may be attributed to the fact that nearly half of them had two to four carried-over courses from the previous semester. Factors that were associated with sleep quality are smoking (p=0.006), snoozing during lecture hours (p=0.036), taking coffee (p=0.0026) and using mobile phone before sleep (p=0.009).

Conclusions: This study underscores the link between sleep quality and academic performance among students at colleges of health technology. Notably, mobile phone usage before sleep was identified as a significant factor affecting both sleep quality and academic performance. It is recommended that Implementation of practical measures such as counseling services or adjustments to academic schedules to enhance sleep quality among students.

Magnitude of test anxiety and its determinants among midwifery and nursing students in Eastern Ethiopia, 2023

Mawerdi Adem Hassen — 2025-02-21

Background: Test anxiety is referred to as the set of psychological and behavioral responses that accompany concern about likely negative consequences or failure of an exam or similar evaluation situations. Test anxiety has an effect on academic achievement and success of students. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the magnitude of test anxiety among midwifery and nursing students in Eastern Ethiopia, 2023.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among midwifery and nursing students at Eastern Ethiopia universities. Study subjects were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The data were entered into Epi Data version 4.1, and the data was exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the association between test anxiety and independent variables. Finally, the AOR, 95% CI, and p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: the overall magnitude of test anxiety among midwifery and nursing students was 53.5% (95% CI=42.49-58.83). Being female [AOR=2.03, 95% CI=1.40-2.94], poor time management [AOR=2.33, 95% CI=1.62-3.36], psychological distress [AOR=1.4, 95% CI=1.03-2.14], and lack of study plan [AOR=1.59, 95% CI=1.09-2.30] were significantly associated with test anxiety.

Conclusions: Magnitude of test anxiety among midwifery and nursing students is pressing concern that can adversely affect their academic performance and overall well-being. Data suggests that this anxiety is not only common but also influenced by identifiable factors such as gender, time management, psychological health, and study habits.

Epinephrine nasal spray ‘Neffy’: a novel advancement in the treatment of anaphylaxis

Mahtab Zafar — 2025-02-21

Anaphylaxis is a severe, systemic allergic reaction characterized by rapid onset and potentially fatal outcomes if not treated immediately. It commonly results from exposure to allergens such as foods, insect stings, or medications. Recent studies indicate worldwide incidence to be approximately 46 cases per 100,000 population annually. Immediate administration of epinephrine is essential in preventing the escalation of symptoms, including hypotension, bronchoconstriction, and airway obstruction.

Hepaticojejunostomy for iatrogenic bile duct injuries

Himanshu Agrawal — 2025-02-21

Iatrogenic bile duct injuries (BDIs) are a serious complication of cholecystectomy, with an incidence ranging from 0.1% to 0.25% in open procedures and 0.3% to 2.6% in laparoscopic ones. Hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) is considered the gold standard for managing these injuries. This case series presents four patients with iatrogenic BDI, all managed with HJ at a low-volume center. The injuries occurred during laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy, and all were identified intraoperatively. The types of injuries varied, including complete transactions and cautery-related damage to the common bile duct, with one case requiring re-exploration and a side-to-side Roux-en-Y HJ due to postoperative obstructive jaundice. In all cases, the surgical team demonstrated the ability to manage these complex injuries effectively, despite limited experience in advanced hepatobiliary procedures. The cases emphasize the importance of early identification and intraoperative management of BDI, even in low-volume centers. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in most cases, with patients being discharged within 5 to 6 days. This series highlights that with proper surgical expertise, iatrogenic bile duct injuries can be successfully managed with HJ. However, patient safety should remain the top priority. If there is any doubt, referral to a higher center with specialized hepatobiliary expertise is advised.

Mandibular chondroblastic type osteosarcoma primarily diagnosed as chondrosarcoma as a result of radiation therapy: a case report

Alise Elizabete Rone — 2025-02-06

Radiation therapy is a recognized etiological factor for osteomyelitis, osteoradionecrosis and multiple sarcomas such as chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma. Here we present a case of mandibular chondroblastic type osteosarcoma induced by radiotherapy which was primarily misdiagnosed as chondrosarcoma. A female presented with main complaint of pain at the extraction site following multiple teeth extraction and sequestrectomy on the right lower jaw. Medical history revealed stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue which was treated by surgical excision, chemotherapy and radiotherapy ten years ago. Four recurring sequestrectomies were performed, but only histological material from the fourth sequestrectomy revealed grade 2 chondrosarcoma. This was followed by resection of the tumour and floor of the mouth, mandibular, lip and facial skin reconstruction and operation material through histology was again confirmed to be grade 2 chondrosarcomas. In a year’s time, pathological nodule in thyroid gland was found on CT, surgery was performed. Operation material now revealed high grade chondroblastic type osteosarcoma and additional radiotherapy and chemotherapy was prescribed. This case illustrated chondrosarcoma and chondroblastic type osteosarcoma as a rare malignant incidence, with diagnostical difficulties and treatment. Differential diagnosis should be considered if no positive changes are observed after the designated therapy as well as importance of immuno histological evaluation. One treated malignancy does not exclude development of another unrelated malignancy.