Asian Journal of Medicine and Health

Aims: We visualized the current state of research on publication outputs and citations in the field of medicine and health to uncover topic burst and citations among medical subject headings (MeSH) clusters.

Study Design: A bibliometric analysis.

Place and duration of Study: Using Pubmed indexed articles to inspect the characteristics of topics on medicine and health since 1969.

Methodology: Selecting 156 abstracts, author names, countries, and MeSH terms on January 10, 2019, from Pubmed Central (PMC) based on the terms of medicine and health in the title since 1969, we applied the x-index and impact factor to evaluate author individual research achievements and compute MeSH bibliometric performances. The bootstrapping method was used to estimate the median and its 95% confidence intervals and make differences in metrics among MeSH clusters. The dominant nations were selected using the x-index to display on a dashboard. We programmed Microsoft Excel VBA routines to extract data. Google Maps and Pajek software were used for displaying graphical representations.

Results: We found that (1)the dominant countries/areas are the Unlited States, Taiwan, and Australia; (2) the author Grajales, Francisco Jose 3rd form Canada has the most cited metrics such as author IF=39.46 and x-index=6.28; (3)the MeSH terms of organization & administration, standards, and prevention & control gain the top three degree centralities among MeSH clusters; (4) No any differences in metrics were found among MeSH clusters; (5) the article(PMID= 24518354) with three MeSH term of delivery of health care, social media, and software and published in 2014 was cited most at least 62 times.

Conclusion: Social network analysis provides wide and deep insight into the relationships among MeSH terms. The MeSH weighted scheme and x-index were recommended to academics for computing MeSH citations in the future.

Aim: To determine whether Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) taste blindness is associated with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and possible relationship between intake of treatment medications and PTC taste sensitivity.

Methodology: The study participants consisted of 100 type 2 DM patients on treatment (group 1) and 100 newly diagnosed type 2 DM patients not on drugs treatment (group 2). Apparently healthy individuals (100) served as controls (group 3). Informed consent was obtained from each participant at the commencement of the study. Tasters and non-tasters were determined using phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) taste strips (0.0143 mg/strip).

Results: In group 1, 66% were non-tasters; in group 2, 60% were non-tasters while 37% in group 3 were non-tasters. Phenylthiocarbamide taste perception varied significantly among the 3 groups studied (p < 0.001). Non-tasters of PTC in groups 1 and 2 were not significantly different (p = 0.38). Non-tasters of PTC in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001; OR 3.30 and p = 0.001; OR 2.55 respectively) were significantly higher than non-tasters in the control (group 3).

Conclusion: This study shows that inability to taste PTC is associated with type 2 DM. However, intake of DM treatment medications does not appear to have any significant influence on PTC taste sensitivity.

Aims: Mobile/cell phone use has become an important socio-medical means of communication. The reason people use a particular ear to answer phone calls more frequently may be associated with hemispheric dominance/ handedness. We aim to determine association between hemispheric and or auditory dominance in laterality in mobile phone use.   

Study Design:  This was a three month prospective cross-sectional study involving all consenting medical and paramedical respondents.

Place and Duration of Study: Hospital community in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City , between 15^th March to 15^th June 2018.

Method: A modification of the Edinburgh handedness inventory (EHI) was the survey tool. Information retrieved included social demographics, hand most commonly used for activities like writing and picking of phone calls and ear used for phone conversation and the reasons. Data was analyzed using SPSS 19.0

Results: Of the 300 questionnaires distributed, 234 (78%) were completed by the respondents. There were 120(51.3%) males and114 (48.7%) females.  Age ranged from 18 - 80years. A total of 201(85.9%) were right handed, 16(6.8%) left handed and 14(6.0%) ambidextrous. One hundred and fifty four (66%) routinely use their right hand to pick phone calls, 50(21.4%) left and 27 (11.5%) use both hands.

A total of 141(60%) receive calls with the right ear, 60 (25.6%) with left, and 31(13.2%) had no preference.  Reasons advanced for the use of any particular ear included convenience 173 (73.9%), and better acuity 35(15%). Forty two (17.9%) agreed that the use of cell phone made them aware of their poor hearing in a particular ear. Using Pearson’s two tailed test of significance the probability of a right hander using the right hand to pick a phone call and placing it on the right ear is 0.99 or 99%, Vis a Vis left hander.

Conclusion: There appears to be an association between hemispheric dominance and laterality when using the mobile phone.

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is a nutrition specific intervention that is crucial to growth and development of a young child and contributes to the attainment of sustainable development goals.

Aim: To determine the level of awareness, prevalence and determinants of EBF among nursing mothers attending Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Uyo Local Government, Nigeria

Place and Duration of Study: three selected Primary Health care facilities in Uyo Local Government (LG) of Akwa Ibom state Nigeria. June-July 2017.

Methods: The study used a descriptive cross sectional design involving 331 mothers attending child welfare clinics in three (PHC) facilities that were selected using simple random sampling techniques.  A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio- demographic characteristics, awareness and practice of EBF. Categorical variables were summarized using percentages, and continuous data using mean and standard deviation, chi square was used to assess the relationship between variables. While multivariate logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors of EBF practice .

Results: The level of awareness of EBF and early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) were 89% and 88.5% respectively and universal awareness was 81.3%. Out of 231 infants below 6 months, 42% of them were currently on EBF and 36.8% (122/331) of the infants 0-12 months had EBF, the EIBF rate was 54.4%, about 45% of the infants had been on infant formula. Mothers who practiced EBF were significantly older than those who did not, the predictors of EBF were; delivery at the health facility (AOR 4.3; 1.84-10.49), normal delivery (AOR 2.3; 1.15-4.4), those with 2 (AOR 1.9; 1.04-3.4)  or more than 3 children (AOR 4.7;1.91-9.9), mothers who had opportunity to breastfeed at work place (AOR 4;1.2-12.9) and mothers who were unemployed/self-employed (AOR 7.2; 2.2-23.7).

Conclusion: The practice of EBF remains poor despite relatively high level of awareness, measures such as Community-based breastfeeding support groups, one-on-one counselling and establishment of crèches in workplaces should be put in place. The international codes on marketing of breast-milk substitutes should be fully implemented.

Objective: Infection is a leading cause of hospitalization and the second most common cause of mortality among hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of infection prevention and control education program on improving healthcare workers knowledge, attitude and practices and reducing incidence of infection in the hemodialysis unit.

Methodology: All patients and healthcare workers in the unit within the study period were included. This study was conducted through 3 phases; Phase I: base line survey for assessment of infection prevention and control knowledge, attitude and practices among healthcare workers, Phase II: Intervention that included infection control standardized education program followed by post education survey. Phase III: Implementation of infection control program was done associated with assessment of blood born viruses (HCV, HBV & HIV) and monitoring patients for fever and/or local signs of inflammation at catheter exit or at skin around shunt to be subjected to blood culture.

Results: Health care workers knowledge, attitude and practices of infection prevention and control before intervention were unsatisfactory followed by significant improvement reflecting the effectiveness of such interventions. Regarding incidence of infection there were three cases of blood stream infections; two of them were multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) and no reported cases of seroconverion for HIV, HCV or HBV during study period. 

Conclusion: Lack of knowledge about infection prevention and control practices in hemodialysis unit could be significantly improved by standardized education program which results in reducing incidence of infections in such units.