Prevalence, response and associated factors of needlestick injury among health care workers in Orotta National Referral Hospital, Eritrea.

Background: Healthcare workers are at risk of occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids after sustaining needlestick injury which constitutes a risk for transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus or Human Immune-deficiency Virus.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence, response, and associated factors of needlestick injury by medical sharps among healthcare workers in Orotta National Referral Hospital, Asmara, Eritrea.

Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted between September and December 2017 among healthcare workers.

Evaluation of larvicidal potential of Eritrean medicinal plants against .

Larvicidal activity of three Eritrean medicinal plants was evaluated against by conducting the bioassay using WHO methods. Efficacy of the plant extracts of and was evaluated against 3rd instar larvae and mortality was recorded. LC and LC of the various plant extracts were also calculated using probit analysis.

Community knowledge and practice of malaria prevention in Ghindae, Eritrea, a Cross-sectional study.

Background: Little is known about community knowledge and practice towards malaria prevention in Ghindae, Eritrea.

Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study design was employed among 380 households. Participants were selected systematically.

Determinants of Child Marriage and Its Related Adverse Health Outcomes Among Married Women in Sub-Region of Serejeka, Central Region in Eritrea: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Child marriage is a fundamental violation of human rights that can have numerous adverse effects on girls' social, mental and physical health and wellbeing. Marriage in Eritrea relatively occurs earlier for women. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of child marriage, determinants and its related adverse health outcomes in five selected villages of the sub-region of Serejeka in Central region of Eritrea.

Construct validity and reliability Amharic version of perceived stress scale (PSS-10) among Defense University students.

Background: Perceived stress scale (PSS) is the most widely used tool for assessing stressful life events and its management. However, its validity and Reliability in Ethiopian Amharic language is not assessed.

Objective: To translate the perceived stress scale (version PSS-10) and assess its validity among Defense University students in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.

Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications of Environmental and Climatic Influences on Neurotransmitters and Neuronal Hormones Activities.

Neurodegenerative and neuronal-related diseases are major public health concerns. Human vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) increases with age. Neuronal hormones and neurotransmitters are major determinant factors regulating brain structure and functions.

Drug prescribing and dispensing practices in regional and national referral hospitals of Eritrea: Evaluation with WHO/INRUD core drug use indicators.

Rational use of medicine (RUM) for all medical conditions is crucial in attaining quality of healthcare and medical care for patients and the community as a whole. However, the actual medicine use pattern is not consistent with that of the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline and is often irrational in many healthcare setting, particularly in developing countries. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate rational medicine use based on WHO/International Network of Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) core drug use indicators in Eritrean National and Regional Referral hospitals.

Aqueous Extract and Its Fraction Prevents Blood Coagulation by Specifically Inhibiting the Intrinsic Coagulation Pathway: An in vitro Study.

Background: Currently, cardiovascular disorders are the primary cause of mortality in the world and constitute a serious medical problem. Blood coagulation is an essential process to prevent excessive blood loss through injured blood vessels; however, abnormal blood clotting in the blood vessels can result in fatal cardiovascular disorders. This study investigated the in vitro anticoagulant activity of crude extract and its fractions and their erythrocyte membrane stabilizing activity.

Dyslipidemia and associated risk factors among HIV/AIDS patients on HAART in Asmara, Eritrea.

Background: Though the initiation of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has led to decreased HIV/AIDS related mortality, the regimen has been reported to be associated with lipid toxicities. Baseline data on such disturbances are required to induce countrywide interventional HIV/AIDS programs. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and risks of dyslipidemia in HIV patients on HAART medication in Eritrea.

Trends of under-five mortality and associated risk factors in Zambia: a multi survey analysis between 2007 and 2018.

Background: Mortality at a young age is key to public health measures. This study aims to describe the burden, trend, and associated factors of under-five mortality rate (U5MR) in Zambia from 2007-to-2018.

Method: A sample of 29,274 children under-five were analyzed from the Zambia demographic and health survey (ZDHS).

Metabolic syndrome, associated factors and optimal waist circumference cut points: findings from a cross-sectional community-based study in the elderly population in Asmara, Eritrea.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), associated factors, and optimal waist circumference (WC) cut points in a subset of the elderly population in Asmara, Eritrea.

Design: A community-based cross-sectional study conducted between January and June 2018.

Setting: Asmara, Eritrea.

Determinants of antenatal care use in nine sub-Saharan African countries: a statistical analysis of cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys.

Objective: To explore the factors associated with antenatal care (ANC) visits.

Design: A secondary data analysis from cross-sectional studies was conducted.

Setting: Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sodium-calcium exchanger isoform-3 targeted Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal therapeutic intervention ameliorates cognition in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

The third isoform of the Na-Ca exchanger (NCX3) is crucial for a physiological fine-tuning of the Ca fluxes in excitable tissues. In this view, the NCX3 accounts for the aberrant Ca influx seen during neuronal excitotoxicity, such as in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, little is known about NCX3 regulation and functional properties.

Patterns and Determinants of the Double Burden of Malnutrition Among Adolescents: A 14-Year Follow-Up of a Birth Cohort in Rural China.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition and its associated factors among adolescents in rural China.

Study Design: A birth cohort of adolescents born to women in northwestern China who participated in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy from August 2002 to January 2006 was enrolled. Follow-up was conducted from June to December 2016.

Critical review of the (L.) Dunal: ethnobotany, pharmacological efficacy, and commercialization significance in Africa.

Background: (L.) Dunal () is a herb commonly known by its English name as Winter Cherry. Africa is indigenous to many medicinal plants and natural products.

Effect of nutrition education by health professionals on pregnancy-specific nutrition knowledge and healthy dietary practice among pregnant women in Asmara, Eritrea: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Healthy pregnancy and birth outcomes are greatly influenced by the intake of adequate and balanced nutrition. Pregnant women's nutritional knowledge and practice have been identified as an important prerequisites for their proper nutritional intake. The antenatal period with the opportunities for regular contact with health professionals appears to be the ideal time and setting to institute the intervention which could maximise pregnant women's outcome and that of their baby by motivating them to make nutritional changes.

Impact of adverse reactions to first-generation antipsychotics on treatment adherence in outpatients with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Antipsychotics are well-known to cause potentially serious and life-threatening adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that have been reported to be also one of the major reasons for non-adherence. In Eritrea, shortage of psychiatrists and physicians, inadequacy of laboratory setups and unavailability of second-generation antipsychotics in the national list of medicines would seem to amplify the problem. This study's objective is to determine the impact of adverse effects of first-generation antipsychotics on treatment adherence in outpatients with schizophrenia at Saint Mary Neuro-Psychiatric National Referral Hospital.

Neonatal Hypernatremic Dehydration Associated with Lactation Failure.

Hypernatremic dehydration secondary to lactation failure remains a potentially life-threatening condition in countries where advanced laboratory investigations are scarce. An 11-day term baby with excessive weight loss (33.6%), reduced urine output, fever, jaundice, doughy skin, opisthotonus posturing, and tachycardia with poor perfusion was presented to our neonatal care.

Assessment of Prevalence and Risk Factors for Intestinal Parasitosis, Malnutrition, and Anemia among School Children in Ghindae Area, Eritrea.

Background: Research studies on determination of risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections and related malnutrition and anemia in various tropical areas are necessary for appropriate preventive resource allocation and cost effective control. This study is aimed at evaluating the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitosis, malnutrition, and anemia amongst elementary and junior school students in Ghindae area, Eritrea.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 6 schools around Ghindae from February to April 2018.

Distribution of breast lesions diagnosed by cytology examination in symptomatic patients at Eritrean National Health Laboratory, Asmara, Eritrea: a retrospective study.

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a simple, relatively accurate, non-invasive, and cost-effective method of diagnosing most breast pathologies. To date, there is no sufficient data depicting the distribution of breast lesions detected by fine needle aspiration cytology in our healthcare setting. The aim of this study was to elucidate the general distribution of breast lesions diagnosed by cytology test at Eritrean National Health Laboratory.

Magnitude, Nature, and Risk Factors of Adverse Drug Reactions Associated with First Generation Antipsychotics in Outpatients with Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: ADRs to antipsychotics are amongst the major challenges in the treatment of patients with psychotic disorders. The extent of patient-reported ADRs assessed in many studies using standardized scales is found to be inconsistent. However, there is a paucity of such research in Eritrea.

Utilization of non-pharmacological methods and the perceived barriers for adult postoperative pain management by the nurses at selected National Hospitals in Asmara, Eritrea.

Background: Pharmacological methods are widely used for postoperative pain management however, poorly controlled pain continues to pose a significant challenge. Non pharmacological methods could contribute to the unresolved postoperative pain management in assisting nurses' routine care and reducing the need for medication. This study aimed to assess nurses' utilization of non-pharmacological methods in postoperative pain and the perceived barriers for their implementation at the National Hospitals.

Prevalence and associated factors of postpartum depression among postpartum mothers in central region, Eritrea: a health facility based survey.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that occurs within the first 12 months after delivery. It affects 20 to 40% of women living in the low-income countries. In resource limited countries discovering the predictors of PPD is important as it allows close follow-up and targeted screening of at risk mothers.

Effect of Health Education on Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity among Female Teachers Aged 40-60 Years in Asmara, Eritrea: A Quasiexperimental Study.

Background: Middle age is a period in women's life where many changes occur in their bodies due to the decline of gonadotropins. As a result, they face various vasomotor, psychological, and somatic symptoms. Moreover, chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, and osteoporosis are prevalent at this time.

Effect of health education on knowledge and attitude of menopause among middle-age teachers.

Background: Adequate knowledge and positive attitude toward menopause are important for women to tackle changes related to menopause. Even though all women experience menopause at some stage in their life, teachers face more difficulties more than other female employees due to the nature of their roles do. In Eritrea, menopause has been given little attention hence gaps exist concerning women's knowledge, attitude, and the effects of health education on the same subject.