Articles

<b>Background: </b>On the first of October 2018, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) launched an initiative; named “100 Million Healthy Lives”, for nationwide screening of hepatitis c virus (HCV) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV infection in the world where about 10% of the Egyptian population is affected by the disease. NCDs are the leading cause of mortality in Egypt and account for about 84% of all deaths. This study was conducted to a) Estimate the prevalence of participation in the national campaign on viral hepatitis C and non-communicable diseases among administrative workers in Ain shams University (ASU), b) Estimate the self-reported satisfaction of these participants with the campaign. <b>Subjects and</b> <b>Methods: </b>A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 administrative workers of ASU faculties between March and August 2019 in Cairo, Egypt. A multistage random sample was done. <b>Results: </b>The study showed that 96% of the study group participated in the campaign. “Evaluating health status” was considered the main reason for participation at 92%, followed by "desire to obtain follow-up card", at 36%. Non-participation rate was about 4% and the main cause of non-participation was “fear of needle prick". About 91% of the participants were satisfied with the provided services. Mass media played a major role in awareness about the campaign for 91% of participants. <b>Conclusions: </b>The majority of the study group participated and was satisfied with the campaign. Mass media played a major role in participant awareness of the campaign.

Even patients from developed nations have trouble staying on top of their drug compliance. When it comes to improper medicine use, there is an odd parallel between underdeveloped, emerging nations and the so-called developed world in the West. The key factor influencing whether patients stick to their treatment plan is their understanding and perception of the disease.

The study sought to examine the socio-economic and cultural factors that affect women’s participation in local level governance in selected districts in the Central Region of Ghana. The qualitative approach was employed for this study, and an interview guide was used to gather data from 11 women assembly members and two of their husbands, making a total of 13 participants. The participants were sampled using purposive, snowball and convenient sampling techniques. The data was analysed thematically. The study identified lack of self-confidence, limited funds, unsupportive family, abuse and harassment, political affiliations in the Assembly and unsupportive religious organizations as the socio-economic and cultural barriers to women participation in local level governance in Agona West, Gomoa West and Gomoa Central Districts in the Central Region of Ghana. The findings showed that despite the barriers, some of the women were able to surmount such challenges and became successful in the District Assembly elections. The study recommended that special fund should be set up by the government to support Assembly women to perform their roles and responsibilities within their communities regularly. Such funds may help them fulfil their campaign promises, which may encourage them to seek re-election in the District Assemblies. Also, female politicians should mentor potential female politicians. The mentors may support them to build the confidence required to engage in local level politics and to aspire higher positions in political office.

The purpose of the study was to examine factors associated with low female participation in colleges of education sports. The population of the study was made up of female colleges of education athletes from Central, Western and Western North Regions of Ghana. Purposive and simple random techniques were used to the colleges of education and the respondents for the study. All the all the six colleges of education were purposively sampled and sampling technique was used to select the one hundred and eighty (180) participants who participate in the College of Education Sports Association (CoESA) games and in the Central, Western and Western North Regions of Ghana were used for the study. The main instrument for the study was a self-structured questionnaire (r= 0.92) containing items based on a five-point Likert scale was used for data collection. The data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages and Chi-square test to determine the relationship among the factors. The study revealed that there is the need for college authorities and female coaches in the colleges of education to take care of female athletes and make adequate provision for more modern sports facilities and equipment to sustain their interest in sports participation. The study recommended that, that the coaches should be mindful of their approach to prospective sportswomen. It is also recommended that, various colleges of education should make a concerted effort to organize programmes and seminars regularly to educate females in the colleges on the career benefits of sports participation and iron out their misconceptions.

Today, non-governmental actors play an important role in the national and international arena. The geographical diversity of their field of activity and their different functions have made it impossible for government actors to be indifferent to the role of these new actors. NGOs act as “rival” or “partner” governments. In human rights, these organizations are more of a rival to governments; While on health, development, and the environment, they are considered more as partners of governments. In the Iranian legal system, the active role of these organizations in terms of environmental protection is undeniable; But there are still many gaps in the reaction phase; Appropriate conditions must be provided for the active participation of these actors in environmental litigation; In such a way that they can achieve their desired position in criminal proceedings as quasi-prosecutors.

<b>Objective: </b>The effects of muscle fatigue appear to elicit a transient means of postural instability; however, the recovery of postural stability after fatiguing exercise has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to determine the immediate effect of local vibration applied to fatigued plantar flexor muscles on postural stability in healthy young adults. <b>Design: </b>True Experimental (pre-test - post test design with a control group). <b>Setting:</b> A tertiary care centre. <b>Participations:</b> 42 healthy young adults. <b>Intervention:</b> Fatigue of plantar flexors muscles was induced by repeated dynamic contractions performed to maximum exhaustion. Experimental group (n= 21) received local vibration to fatigued muscles with a handheld vibrator whereas the control group (n = 21) received no intervention (rest). Postural stability was assessed using one leg stance test (OLST) under three different conditions viz. pre-fatigue, post-fatigue and post rest/vibration. <b>Results: </b>Comparative analysis of postural stability within the group was done pre-fatigue, post-fatigue and post rest/vibration condition using Kruskal-Wallis test. A significant decrease from pre-fatigue to post-fatigue condition (p-value < 0.001); and a significant increase from post-fatigue to post rest/vibration condition (p-value < 0.001) was observed in OLST in both - control group and experimental group. However, further comparison of OLST between the groups (using unpaired t test) showed a significant difference in post-fatigue condition versus post rest/vibration condition in favour of the experimental group. <b>Conclusion: </b>Plantar flexors fatigue significantly affects one leg stance time in healthy young adults. Results of this study show that there is an immediate effect of vibration to fatigued muscles on recovery of postural stability in healthy young adults. Recovery of postural stability achieved quickly with such a simple tool may help increase the degree of participation in sports and other similar activities which can cause muscles to fatigue. However, more studies are required to determine this effect using other clinical measures.