Qatar Journal of Public Health - الأعداد السابقة

Background: Due to the clinical environment in which they work, many medical interns are at increased risk of accidental needle stick injuries (NSIs). Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence of NSIs and the response of medical interns following such injuries.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Chennai among all medical interns, using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire.

Results: The prevalence of NSIs among interns in the past year was 34.8%. NSIs occurred most frequently during needle recapping (30.0%) among those who experienced an injury. Only 13.3% of the affected interns reported the incident to higher authorities.

Conclusion and recommendation: The occurrence of NSIs was found to be relatively common, with avoidable practices such as needle recapping contributed significantly to these injuries. Prevention of NSIs is a key component of workplace safety programs, and ongoing training of health care workers in safe practices is indispensable in hospital settings.

Background: Dengue fever (DF) has emerged as a significant global health threat and has become a serious public health concern in Oman. This study aims to investigate the risk factors associated with the current dengue outbreak and to offer recommendations for its prevention and management.

Methods: An unmatched case–control study involving 63 cases and 63 controls (1:1 ratio) was conducted on the outbreak that occurred between May and June 2024 in South Batinah, Oman. The cases were laboratory-confirmed dengue patients, while the controls were individuals from the same community who tested negative for dengue. Data were collected on demographic, environmental, behavioral, and socioeconomic factors. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between predictor variables and the probability of dengue infection.

Results: A total of 126 cases and controls were included. Males accounted for 86% of cases and 59% of controls. Among the cases, 33% were aged ≥55 years, whereas 41% of controls were aged 25–39 years. Male gender was a significant predictor of dengue infection, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 6.59 (95% CI: 1.04–41.76; p = 0.046). Patients notified 3–6 days after symptom onset had an AOR of 8.64 compared to those reported within <3 days. Joint pain (AOR: 0.02; 95% CI: 0–0.27; p = 0.004) and leukopenia (AOR: 12.89; 95% CI: 2.54–65.5; p = 0.002) were significantly associated with dengue infection. Houses less than 10 years old were protective against dengue infection, with an AOR of 0.05 (95% CI: 0.01–0.63; p = 0.02) compared to houses over 30 years old.

Conclusion: The study indicated that males, patients presenting 3–6 days after symptom onset, and those with leukopenia were at higher risk of dengue infection, while residing in newly built houses is associated with a lower risk. Mosquito control, particularly around older and poorly maintained homes, along with continuous vector surveillance, is essential.

Background: Menstrual health is a key determinant of academic outcomes and psychosocial well-being among young women; however, evidence from resource-limited settings remains limited. This study examined the associations between menstrual cycle phases, symptom severity, and academic performance among female students at Ibb University, Yemen.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between January 1 and March 31, 2025, enrolled 40 female students aged 22–30 years through convenience sampling. Prospective data collection included menstrual characteristics, academic absenteeism, concentration difficulties, perceived stress, anxiety, physical activity, sleep quality, and coping behaviors across the follicular, ovulatory, luteal, and menstrual phases. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the independent predictors of severe academic impairment, and interaction analyses assessed the effects of tribal affiliation and household income.

Results: Absenteeism was highest during the menstrual phase, with 57.5% (23/40) reporting absence, compared to 7.5% (3/40) in the follicular phase [χ²(3) = 32.1; p < 0.001]. Concentration difficulties (mean score: 3.7 ± 0.8) and perceived stress (4.0 ± 0.8) were significantly elevated during menstruation (p < 0.001 for both). Severe menstrual symptoms affected 65.0% (26/40) of participants during the menstrual phase and were associated with lower exam scores (mean: 68.9% ± 9.2%) and reduced assignment completion (75.0% ± 18.0%) compared to other phases (all p < 0.001). Intersectional analyses indicated that marginalized tribal affiliation combined with low income increased the odds of absenteeism by more than sevenfold (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.1–16.8; p < 0.001). Multivariable modeling identified dysmenorrhea severity (per 1-point increase, aOR = 1.4), cycle irregularity (aOR = 2.1), elevated stress (aOR = 1.5), marginalized tribal status (aOR = 2.8), and low household income (aOR = 2.4) as independent predictors of severe academic impact.

Conclusion: Menstrual cycle-related symptoms substantially impair academic performance and psychosocial health, with disproportionate effects on socially and economically marginalized students, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive, equity-focused interventions. These findings highlight the necessity of targeting menstrual pain management and providing psychosocial support to promote educational equity in low-resource university settings.

Background: Because Iraq’s people has been exposed to many traumas, including war and displacement, mental problems in Iraq are a serious concern. An important factor in the prevention and control of mental illnesses (MIs) is adequate awareness of these conditions and their related factors. This study aims to evaluate the awareness of MIs among the population of Mosul City, Iraq.

Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to assess public awareness of MI. Data was collected from participants who agreed to participate while visiting six different health institutions in Mosul City during the data collection period. Data was collected from participants over a four-month period using a questionnaire and analyzed with the SPSS software program.

Results: Among the 800 participants enrolled in this study, 68% reported experiencing unhappiness in the past months. Genetic inheritance as a cause of MI was acknowledged by 52.0% of participants. Inappropriate behavior and feelings of sadness were identified as signs and symptoms of MI by 48.5% and 47.8% of participants, respectively. The most commonly reported effect of MI was harmful consequences for oneself or others, followed by educational impairment, reported by 47.5% and 45.1% of participants, respectively. Regarding the treatment of MI, 76% of participants chose consulting a psychiatrist, while 32.6% believed that a religious leader could treat a mentally ill patient. The overall level of accepted awareness among the study population was 40.4%, with no significant differences observed across socio-demographic groups.

Conclusions: Experience with MI was common among participants; however, awareness of MI was generally low in the study population. It is recommended to improve health literacy, reduce stigma, and provide adequate MI treatment and counseling centers that are acceptable and accessible to all individuals.

Background: Midwakh smoking is a non-traditional form of tobacco use that is becoming increasingly prevalent in the Gulf region. Although many users are aware of its health risks, quitting remains challenging.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the motivation to quit and the factors influencing cessation among midwakh smokers in Qatar.

Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted between January 2022 and July 2022 using data from Qatar’s National Health Information System at Hamad Medical Corporation. Adults aged ≥18 years with a history of midwakh smoking (n=117) who could communicate in Arabic or English were randomly selected and provided informed consent. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results: Of the 117 participants, 73.5% reported attempting to quit midwakh in the past 12 months, primarily due to health concerns (87.2%) and cost (10.5%). Most quit attempts were unassisted (69.8%), while 14.0% used nicotine replacement therapy, 11.6% received counseling, and 5.8% used telephone support services. Among those who attempted to quit, 59.3% remained abstinent for several months. Current smokers (n=75) had a mean readiness-to-quit score of 7.2 out of 10 (SD=3.7). During healthcare visits, 69.4% were asked about their smoking status, and 47.0% were advised to quit. Subgroup analyses showed that males were older and more often motivated by health concerns, whereas females were younger and less likely to use cessation aids. Qatari participants were more likely to use quitlines, while non-Qataris more frequently reported lifestyle-related reasons for quitting.

Conclusion: Health concerns and poor tolerance to midwakh were the primary motivators for quit attempts. Although healthcare providers routinely assessed smoking status, provision of cessation counseling and support was limited. Enhancing brief advice and referrals to cessation services is essential to support quitting among midwakh users.

Myopia constitutes a significant public health challenge worldwide, with estimates indicating that nearly half of the world’s population could be affected by 2050. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this systematic review analyzed 32 peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2024 to evaluate associations among myopia, anxiety, and adolescent lifestyle behaviors. Results revealed a consistent dose–response pattern, indicating that adolescents with severe myopia had a 1.6-fold higher risk of anxiety compared to those without myopia. Significant risk factors included prolonged screen use (β = 0.43, p < 0.05), limited outdoor time (Odds Ratio, OR = 1.8), means that individuals with limited outdoor time were 1.8 times more likely to experience the negative outcome (or the odds of experiencing the outcome were 80% higher) compared to those without limited outdoor time, academic pressures, social stigma, and reduced self-worth. The prevalence of mood disorders was twice as high among myopic adolescents, especially in Asian urban areas with high myopia rates. These outcomes highlight clear gaps in anxiety-specific resources within vision care and draw attention to the economic consequences of unmanaged myopia. The review calls for timely and integrated public health measures and highlights evidence-based initiatives such as Singapore’s National Myopia Prevention Program, which reduced childhood myopia by 25% through structured outdoor-time policies, and India’s School Health Initiative, which lowered screen time by 30% through school-based screenings. Implementing these scalable strategies in collaboration with NGOs and in alignment with WHO guidelines is essential. Ultimately, cooperation between ocular and mental health providers is vital for addressing the growing psychological impact of myopia in young people.