2023 CiteScore: 0.8
pISSN: 2383-4196
eISSN: 2383-420X
Editor-in-Chief:
Hojjat Zeraati, PhD.
Current Issue
Vol 11 No 2 (2025): .
Articles
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Introduction: Recognizing the critical role of surveillance systems in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data for the prevention and control of hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM), this study aims to evaluate Iran's surveillance system for these conditions and to analyze the associated implementation challenges.
Methods: This study utilized existing information and documentation (secondary data). In the first section, we reviewed guidelines, survey data, reports, and articles published in various scientific journals related to the surveillance system for HTN and DM in Iran. In the second section, we extracted codes from studies that examined the challenges of the surveillance system, as well as from expert opinions of professionals working in this field at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, gathered through interviews. Final codes and sub-codes were identified during a session with specialists.
Results: National programs for preventing and controlling DM and HTN were initiated in 1991 and 1992, respectively. HTN screening is conducted at health houses, while DM screening is performed passively annually in urban areas and actively every three years in rural areas. This study categorized the primary challenges facing the healthcare surveillance system into three groups: challenges related to healthcare service recipients, challenges related to healthcare system staff, and challenges about higher-level healthcare administration.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that challenges within the healthcare system stem from various sources. Consequently, addressing these challenges necessitates multidimensional solutions that encompass all facets of the healthcare system, including service recipients, lower-level service providers, and high-level decision-makers.
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Background: Family planning is a vital aspect of reproductive health, encompassing contraceptive use, pregnancy, and STI prevention. Among Palestinian refugees in Jordan, particularly those utilizing UNRWA services, maternal mortality rates and contraceptive utilization highlight the urgent need to address gaps in family planning access. Sociocultural factors and service barriers remain determinants of contraceptive use and family planning outcomes in this population.
Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted from June 5–7, 2023, at the Marka health center in Jordan. The study involved structured interviews with 57 female patients, focus group discussions (FGDs), and semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers. Data collection explored sociodemographic factors, perceptions of family planning services, and sociocultural determinants influencing contraceptive use. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed to identify themes related to family planning knowledge, access, and utilization.
Results: Three major themes were determined: (1) Knowledge and access to family planning methods varied, with 59.6% of participants reporting contraceptive use. The most common methods included condoms (37.8%) and birth control pills (29.7%). (2) Sociocultural factors significantly shaped decisions, with 37.8% citing spousal preferences and 10.5% reporting pressure from extended family. (3) Perceptions of UNRWA’s services were largely positive, with 63% rating them adequate, although logistical challenges like long wait times hindered utilization. Younger women aged 18–29 formed most participants, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Most participants were housewives, with limited employment and varying educational levels.
Conclusions: While UNRWA’s family planning services are well-regarded, persistent barriers such as sociocultural constraints, limited knowledge, and service accessibility require targeted interventions. Addressing misconceptions, fostering supportive sociocultural environments, and improving logistical factors like wait times can enhance service uptake. Future research should explore long-term impacts of family planning initiatives and expand the scope to include other refugee populations to inform inclusive, effective health policies.
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Introduction: The use of fMRI imaging in medical science has led to the diagnosis of diseases at the very first stages before the disease get advancedwhich plays a significant role in some diseases such as Alzheimer's. Extracting useful information from these images is the first step in the initial diagnosis of the disease that the accuracy in extracting as much of this information as possible contributes significantly to the initial diagnosis. Increases the speed of processing and estimation accuracy which was done in the present study using a multi-purpose method. While in recent studies, simpler methods with a limited number of features were used.
Methods: The information of 140 patients with Alzheimer's disease was obtained, and the stable multipurpose feature extraction method was used to extract the information. In this way, two-level wavelet, modeling of wavelet coefficients, normalization method and feature selection are applied.
Results: The results obtained from the examination of 285 features in five categories showed that some of the information contained in the features overlapped and lacked useful information. In addition, dimensionality and noise reduction using the PCA algorithm showed that about 41% of the relevant features are outliers or missing information.
Cunclusion:In general, increasing the speed of processing and estimation accuracy which was done in the present study using a multi-purpose method. While in recent studies, simpler methods with a limited number of features were used.
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Background: Space-time scanning analysis to detect cylindrical spatio-temporal clusters of diseases is available. Yet, there is no satisfactory way to visualize the data. Our aim is to visualize spatio-temporal cylindrical clusters of dog rabies in Thailand from 2005 to 2021.
Methods: We obtained dog rabies data from 2005 to 2021 from the World Animal Health Information System under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The rsatscan package in R was applied to identify spatio-temporal clusters of dog rabies using the discrete Poisson model and Monte Carlo simulation. Using a user-defined function developed by our research team, cylindrical shapes were created based on the provincial administration maps to demonstrate significant clusters over space and time.
Results: The average incidence of dog rabies was 0.5 events per 100,000 human-years, and seven clusters were found during the study period in all five national regions, based on 15% of the population being at risk.
Conclusion: Seven dog rabies clusters were detected throughout Thailand. We recommend intensive control measures to alleviate dog rabies. Our method to generate multi-dimensional graphics can comprehensibly visualize cylinder-shaped outcomes from spatio-temporal data.
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Abstract
Background
Uncertainty in human life often arises from a lack of knowledge based on past events or unrealized circumstances. The Naive Bayes classification technique, rooted in conditional probability, offers a hypothesis-driven approach to linking two random occurrences and calculating posterior probabilities. Substance addiction remains a critical issue, particularly in patients hospitalized in community mental health centers, necessitating effective predictive methods for early identification and intervention.
Methods
This study employed the Naive Bayes algorithm to classify substance addiction tendencies in patients. To enhance prediction accuracy, feature selection was conducted using the Information Value (IV) method. Ten patient attributes were analyzed, including gender, education level, income status, and relationship status with family and environment, among others. Features with strong or medium predictive power were prioritized for the model.
Results
Four features—gender, education level, income status, and relationship status with family and environment—demonstrated strong or medium predictive power for substance abuse. The Naive Bayes algorithm revealed that males are approximately four times more likely than females to develop substance addiction. Patients with education levels ranging from primary to high school were more prone than those with college-level education or higher. Additionally, those under state protection exhibited a higher likelihood of substance abuse compared to other income statuses. Finally, individuals with poor or neutral relationships with family and their environment were more susceptible to addiction.
Conclusion
The Naive Bayes algorithm effectively classified substance addiction tendencies in hospitalized patients, emphasizing key predictive factors such as gender, education level, income status, and relational dynamics. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions tailored to at-risk populations, improving early detection and management strategies in community mental health settings.
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Backgrounds Epidemiological hospital data on primary brain cancers and mental illnesses can support research showing that epigenetic aberrations, among others, can be common for both entities.
Methods Retrospective data from Electronic Patients Records (EPR) from TUHC “Mother Teresa”, Albania, years 2005-2021, were analyzed after creating cutoffs on age, county (capital), epilepsy diagnosis, first admission and diagnosis groups. Combination of age at first hospitalization for the two groups of diagnoses was tested for normality, hypothesized to be a composed normal distribution.
Results The total number of patients fulfilling selection criteria for the period 2005-2021, was 48,303 admissions. First admissions were N=31,603 (65.4%), of which N=15,896 (50.3%) were from Tirana (the capital) county. The number of first admissions for the two major categories for Tirana (the capital) county were respectively; 6,807 (42.8%) and 9,089 (57.2%). Age on first admission mean (median) for Tirana county was 35.1 ± 22.1 (36.0) years. Age on first admission, mean (median), for the two major categories ‘Mental Disorders’ and ‘Other’ for Tirana county were respectively; 37.7 ± 15.4 (37.2) years and 33.0 ± 26.3 (31.0) years and split by sex; male (36.2 ± 15.4 (35.3) years and 32.4 ± 26.4 (28.0) years, p<0.001) and female (39.4 ± 15.4 (39.6) years and 33.8 ± 33.0 (26.0) years, p<0.019). Age-specific distribution (> 15years) data on ‘Mental Disorders’, ‘Other’ and ‘Total’ for Tirana county test positive about normality, Shapiro-Wilk > 0.005 but the only the data for ‘mental disorders’ don’t pass the ‘‘95% range check’’.
Conclusions Independent or common causative factors of Primary Malignant Neoplasm of Brain (PMNB) and Serious Mental Illness (SMI) show patterns of continuity at the age of first hospitalization.
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Mykola Kucherenko
; Lina Kovalchuk , Elena Bobro , Igor Romanenko , Iryna Romanenko , Oleksandr Oslavskyi , Tatyana Oslavskaya , Kira Kompaniiets , Inna Kovalova (Co-Corresponding Author)
Introduction: The impact of seawater on freshwater systems is well known. However, its role in the transmission of human diseases has not been sufficiently studied. Marine vessels entering tropical countries annually discharge thousands of tons of wastewater into water bodies. Although most vessels are equipped with wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the lack of regulations governing parasitological control creates significant risks of contamination of water bodies with pathogens causing parasitic diseases.
Methods: Between 2006 and 2011, 489 wastewater samples from WWTP-treated vessels arriving at Black Sea ports in Ukraine from parasitic disease-endemic tropical regions were collected. The samples were analyzed for the presence of tropical helminths and for compliance with the "State Sanitary Rules and Standards for the Discharge of Waste, Oil Products, Ballast Water, and Garbage from Ships into Water Bodies" (July 9, 1997, No. 199). Sampling was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA Guidance for Sampling and Analysis of Sludge for POTW Facilities, EPA/833/B-89/100). Wastewater analysis was carried out according to the "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" (APHA, 1995), ecological standards, and technologies of the U.S. EPA — Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge, as well as the U.S. EPA guidance on the sampling and analysis of POTW sludge.
Results: The study results showed that 36.2% ± 0.1% of the wastewater samples did not meet bacteriological standards, and 39.9% ± 0.1% did not meet chemical standards. Furthermore, 32.5% ± 0.1% of the wastewater samples were contaminated with parasite eggs and cysts.
Conclusion: It has been demonstrated for the first time that the WWTPs of marine vessels arriving from tropical regions, which do not ensure the deworming of wastewater, pose a potential health risk to populations living in coastal areas.
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Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is essential for improving maternal and newborn health by enabling early detection and treatment of potential complications. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) increased the recommended number of ANC visits from four to eight, aiming to enhance maternal health outcomes. This study explores the experiences of pregnant women in Jordanian refugee camps and examines the perceived impact of the revised WHO ANC schedule.
Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted at Zarqa health centers in Jordan from May 28, 2023, to July 26, 2023. Data were collected through structured interviews with 46 female patients (pregnant, postpartum, or trying to conceive), focus group discussions (FGDs) with six participants, and semi-structured interviews with six healthcare providers. Quantitative data were gathered using structured questionnaires, while qualitative data were obtained through FGDs and provider interviews.
Results: Participants unanimously agreed that eight ANC visits are essential for optimal maternal and fetal health. Approximately 90% expressed a need for clearer communication from healthcare providers during appointments. Despite demonstrating strong self-awareness about when to seek medical attention, participants highlighted key barriers to ANC access, including transportation challenges, childcare responsibilities, and long waiting times. Healthcare providers acknowledged these barriers and emphasized the need for improved patient communication and resource allocation. Overall, participants reported general satisfaction with the services provided at refugee health clinics.
Discussion: While refugee women in Jordan recognize the importance of the WHO-recommended ANC schedule, barriers such as inadequate communication, transportation difficulties, and childcare responsibilities persist. Addressing these barriers through targeted interventions, such as enhanced provider training, better scheduling, and community outreach, could significantly improve maternal and newborn healthcare outcomes in refugee settings.
Conclusion: Optimizing ANC access in refugee settings requires a multifaceted approach that addresses communication gaps, logistical challenges, and systemic healthcare barriers to ensure equitable maternal health outcomes.
