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.

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.