Assessing Barriers to Mental Healthcare Interventions for Deaf People in Ghana

While mental health issues are increasingly gaining attention in Ghana, little is known about the situation among deaf people. This study assessed the mental health care needs of deaf people in Ghana. A descriptive design, consisting of interviews and focus group discussions, was used to collect data from 97 participants. Findings indicated that participants had limited knowledge on mental health issues. Mental health stigma, inaccessible mental health information and exclusion from mental health programmes were the major barriers hindering access to mental health care services. This study bridges the knowledge gap and provides evidence for the implementation of deaf-friendly services.

Relationship between the use of smart medical services and mental health status

In this editorial,I comment on the article by Zhang et al.To emphasize the importance of the topic,I discuss the relationship between the use of smart medical devices and mental health.Smart medical services have the potential to positively influence mental health by providing monitoring,insights,and inter-ventions.However,they also come with challenges that need to be addressed.Understanding the primary purpose for which individuals use these smart tech-nologies is essential to tailoring them to specific mental health needs and prefe-rences.

Strengthening Active Aging through Older People’s Association and Economic Activity of the Older People in Nepal

Aging is a natural lifelong process ending in death. Many older people are living in poverty. Older people are generally considered dependent on others as they grow older. The purpose of this article is to explore the entrepreneurship activities of Nepalese older adults. Data for this study were collected from the project Help Age International (HAI) implemented in Nepal. Qualitative data observations and interviews were used to collect data. The findings of this study show the formation of the Older People’s Association (OPA) has supported many older people to participate outside the home in various social activities. Moreover, regular deposits through OPAs offer little help. OPAs support older people in their need of financial support to implement minor entrepreneurship. Older people who received support were pleased and were actively involved in their activities and also regularly deposited money in them. Subsequently, older people’s participation in social activities has increased and also helped to lower elderly abuse, loneliness, and depression. Local governments should promote such activities which will help with healthy aging.

A Study of the People’s Nature in Woodcuts During the Anti-Japanese War in Shanxi

The anti-Japanese woodcuts focus on the red revolutionary culture and describe the connotation of the Anti-Japanese War era,which is self-evident in the commemorative value of China’s revolutionary struggle history.For example,in Shanxi,China,woodcut art activities and social practice promotion activities organized around the theme of the Anti-Japanese War are also everywhere,which all show the people’s nature of the Chinese people during the revolutionary struggle from the two aspects of the red culture of the Anti-Japanese War and traditional art and culture,and its humanistic connotation is quite profound.In this paper,we first introduce the historical origin of woodcut during the Anti-Japanese War,and then show the people’s value connotation of woodcut art activities in Shanxi.This paper mainly discusses the image narration,language and picture narration and construction significance of woodcuts in Shanxi’s War of Resistance,fully reveals the narrative nature of image media,strives to arouse people’s recognition of this period of Shanxi’s War of Resistance culture and history,and reflects the realistic value and significance of Shanxi’s War of Resistance Woodcuts art activities.

Historical review and reflections on the participation of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of epidemics in the People’s Republic of China (from 1950 until now)

Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, both the Communist Party and the government have placed great emphasis on the advancement of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been actively involved in combating major epidemics such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and COVID-19. This article conducts a historical review of these three significant cases to elucidate how the acupuncture community has effectively utilized its unique advantages and characteristics through theoretical discussions, clinical practices, experimental research, as well as receiving administrative leadership and political support from the Communist Party of China and government. We provide an objective evaluation of their effectiveness while summarizing historical experiences to serve as a reference for future utilization of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in epidemic relief efforts. Additionally, propose four suggestions: strengthening Party leadership and enhancing political support;timely summarization of experiences to establish programs and systems;deepening scientific research by integrating experimental findings with clinical practice;focusing on public awareness campaigns and education to solidify grassroots foundations.

The Role of Library and Information Science Education in the Development of Community Health Information Services for People Living with HIV/AIDS: Perspectives of Directors and Managers of Public Libraries

This article identifies the role of library and information science (LIS) education in the development of community health information services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Preliminary findings are presented from semi- structured qualitative interviews that were conducted with eleven directors and managers of local branches in the Knox County Public Library (KCPL) System that is located in the East Tennessee region in the United States. Select feedback reported by research participants is summarized in the article about strategies in LIS education that can help local public librarians and others in their efforts to become more responsive information providers to PLWHA. Research findings help better understand the issues and concerns regarding the development of digital and non-digital health information services for PLWHA in local public library institutions.

Evaluation of a School-Based Health Education Program for Urban Indigenous Young People in Australia

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a school-based health promotion and education program in improving knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and behaviours of urban Indigenous young people regarding chronic disease and associated risk factors. A mixed methods approach was adopted for this evaluation;however, this paper will focus on the quantitative aspect of the study. The Deadly Choices? health education program was delivered weekly at six education facilities in Brisbane, Australia to participants from years seven to 12 over seven weeks. One school that received the Deadly Choices program the following term acted as the control group. Questionnaire data was collected immediately pre and post intervention to assess program impact. As self-reported by participants there were mostly significant improvements over time for questions relating to knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy regarding leadership, chronic disease and risk factors within the intervention group. There were also significant changes within the intervention group regarding breakfast frequency (P = 0.002), physical activity frequency (P ≤ 0.001), fruit (P = 0.004) and vegetable (P ≤ 0.001) intake. Overall, there were few significant differences between the control and intervention groups regarding health attitudes and behaviours;however, there were considerably more improvements relating to self-efficacy and knowledge of chronic disease and associated risk factors between groups. The program also facilitated 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health checks for participants. Deadly Choices is an innovative and comprehensive school-based program which has great potential to improve the health outcomes of Indigenous young people in urban areas by providing education in leadership and chronic disease prevention;engaging students in physical activity participation;and collaborating with health services to facilitate health checks.

Deepening China-Africa Cooperation, Benefiting People’s Health

CHINA and Africa have been a commu- nity of shared interests and shared destiny Their collaboration benefits not only the development of China and Africa but also promotes the unity and cooperation of developing countries. Health cooperation is a powerful testimony to the friendship between Chinese and African people. Based on win-win cooperation and aiming at the well-being of the people, China and Africa have attained fruitful results through health cooperation over the last five decades.

Celebrating 70 years of health research on the 70^th birthday of the People's Republic of China:Outstanding Scientific Achievements by Academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences A Chinese Academy of Engineering in Neural Regeneration

Gong Ju,Member,Chinese Academy of Sciences In 1953 Prof.Gong Ju was recruited by People’s Liberation Army to be a teacher in Department of Anatomy of the Fourth Military Medical University,a school just established and located in Xi'an,a very back-woods city.The university had little,if any,research facilities.

Oral health status of older people in residential homes in Saudi Arabia

The aim of the study was to de-termine the oral health status and treatment needs of elderly residents of residential homes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Among 129 elderly residents, 83 (51 males, and 32 females) of them were interviewed and clini-cally examined according to WHO criteria by two calibrated dentists. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 72 ± 8.5. Male subjects had a higher smoking rate than females. Among elderly subjects below 74 years old, 20.8% had a functional dentition (> or = 20), while only 6.7% for those aged greater or equal to 75 years (p = 0.0004). Mean number of the sound teeth in all subjects was 6.7 ± 8.5. The mean number of DMFT was 18.6 ± 12.6. The missing component was the highest (16 ± 13) for both genders. The mean number of decayed roots was 2.75 ± 3.95 in males and 0.63 ± 1.96 in females. Overall, males had more sound and decayed teeth and less filled and missed teeth than females. There was no significant difference between males and females in periodontal problems except the calculus scores. The majority of subjects in need for tooth extraction were male subjects. With no gender difference 63% were in need for restorations, 40% needed upper and lower full dentures. Need for partial dentures was 38% upper and 48% lower. Conclusion: The oral health of the institutionalized elderly population in Saudi Arabia is generally poor and their treatment needs are high.

Access to Supportive Health Services for People with Physical Disabilities: A Case of Health Facilities in Singida Rural District, Tanzania

Background: It is estimated that above one billion people (15%) of the world’s populations are living with disabilities. The poor and unfriendly infrastructure at health facilities is the core challenge for people with physical disabilities in accessing healthcare. This study aimed to explore at what extent the existing infrastructure and design of health facilities in Singida rural district, Tanzania supports people with physical disabilities to access healthcare. Methods: A cross sectional health facility-based assessment of all thirty-two functioning health facilities in the district was done between June and December 2020 using observational checklist and key informants’ interviews consist of measurement procedures of the architectural condition of health facilities. Observation checklist was designed based on standard of health facilities in Tanzania, national guideline for safe care standards for dispensaries, health centers and district hospital of 2014 and national guideline for water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities of 2017. Data were analyzed by SPSS-26 using descriptive statistics to obtain frequencies tables, percentage and figure. Qualitative data were analyzed by using NVivo-12 software. Results: The study revealed that there was no signage, entrance area, parking and toilets designated for people with physical disabilities in all health facilities. There was no special seat, examination table/bed and special weight scale for people with physical disabilities in all facilities. Also, the doors were not wide enough to support wheelchair user to maneuver in all health centers and dispensaries. In addition, door handles were not user friendly for wheelchair users. In fact, only the hospital and health centers had wheelchairs while 27 (96.4%) of all dispensaries had no wheelchairs. Furthermore, ramp and pathways were not available in all dispensaries. All health facilities had stairs but the challenge was most of the staircases had no floor located before the steps. Conclusion: The study revealed that the infrastructures in most healthcare facilities pose challenges to people with physical disabilities when they access healthcare services. These findings call for need of improving health facilities’ infrastructure to accommodate people with physical disabilities and this should be given a priority.

Factors related to compliance with the COVID-19 health regulations among young people

The coronavirus pandemic has affected all facets of our lives and all ages and social strata worldwide.Measures have been taken to protect against the spread of the virus,such as more rigorous hand hygiene,the use of face masks and social distancing.However,the focus has often been on young people,who have been seen as a group lacking sufficient respect for government-imposed measures.This review outlines the preventive measures that have been taken in different countries and discusses their specific impact on young people and adolescents,taking into account the developmental stage and concrete needs of this age group.It summarizes those studies that have provided information on compliance with preventive measures by young people and adolescents,concluding that although compliance levels among this age group are lower than among older adults,the general view of youths as non-compliant is not consistent with real,objective data.The review also summarizes different views regarding the possible reasons for this lower level of compliance,taking into account both social(gender and age)and personal factors(personality,empathy,prosociality,self-control,cognitive styles and motivations),and discusses the practical implications of these findings for the future.

Double Tragedy: Examining the Effects of Mental Health Stigma on Help Seeking Behaviour among Deaf People in Ghana

Background: Globally, mental health is recognized as one of the major public health issues, and mental health stigma is one of the main barriers to mental healthcare. While several studies have been conducted on the stigma associated with mental health, very little is known about the mental health stigma experienced by deaf persons with mental health conditions in Ghana. This study examines the experiences of double stigmatization by deaf people with mental health conditions in Ghana. Methodology: A descriptive, mixed method data collection was used for seventy-nine (79) participants. The paper presents findings from the only qualitative component of the study. Results: The findings from the study showed that deaf people with mental illness experienced double stigma, namely being stigmatized for being deaf and for having mental illness. This hindered access to mental health services for deaf people with mental health condition. Conclusion: Deaf people with mental health conditions experience double stigmatization which discourages them from seeking professional psychiatric care. This implies that efforts to reduce mental health stigma and create awareness on deafness should be improved upon. It is recommended that, in view of the impact of stigma on the provision and use of mental health care services, strategies to improve access to mental health care, should seriously consider concerns about stigma.

Evaluation of Quality of Healthcare Service Avaeilable to People Living with HIVIAIDS： Evidence from Enugu State

The study evaluated the quality of healthcare services given to PLWHA （people living with HIV/AIDS） in different communities of Enugu State of Nigeria. Descriptive cross sectional survey design was employed for the study. The participants were PLWHA attending health facilities in different communities in the state. A sample of 180 PLWHA who participated in the study were selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure and were interviewed at community level. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that 82.2% of the respondents were cared for by government health facilities, 75% were of the opinion that the health workers in those places do not discriminate against them, 81.7% felt that they were being given high quality healthcare, 82.8% stated that their drugs were readily available, 75% were of the opinion that the physical facilities in their care centers were adequate, 84.4% felt that grievance redressing were good while 90% felt that their healthcare providers maintain confidentiality about their conditions. It was concluded from the findings that quality of care provided to PLWHA in communities was of good quality as perceived by PLWHA and that the national antiretroviral programmes are making drugs available and affordable in the state. It was then recommended that all levels of government in the nation should strengthen the programmes on HIV prevention and control to maintain the continuity of care to PLWHA.

The Public Health VS the People＇s Autonomy： Banning Smoking in Orthodox Jewish Community

Smoking is a worldwide problem. Research in recent years has shown us that smoking and second hand smoking can cause many diseases1. As a result of the understanding of the results of smoking, the house of legislator in Israel decided to legislate a law that people under the age of 18 cannot smoke and, a couple of years later, it decided to ban smoking in public places. The problem begins when the law is affecting the person＇s autonomy and the person＇s culture. More than four decades ago when the smoking habit began in Israel, no one knew what the influence would be. Now, although that information is available, the orthodox community in Israel is not exposed to the knowledge. Smoking in this community begins from Purima or from the Bar-Mitzvah3 and from the will of the young orthodox to rebel. This law raises a question： Is it ethical to deprive the young orthodox of the right to smoke？ Alternatively, is there a better way to stop the orthodox from smoking than only the regulation？ In this paper, the author will try to show that regulation alone will not help in the orthodox community, and we need to think on more options to make the orthodox more informed to smoking problems. The author thinks that the best way will be to educate the orthodox community from young age.

Social demographic factors and leisure time physical activity influencing the self-rated health and happiness of Chinese people

Background and aims:The holistic definition of health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,but a state of complete physical,mental,and social well-being.However,related research on the influencing factor of self-rated health and happiness have generally remained separate.Therefore,this study aimed to 1)find individual level determinants of the two facets of health;and 2)investigate the covariance of the two facets of health within individual levels.Methods:Multivariate multilevel analysis of self-rated health and happiness at level 1,were nested within 10,968 people at level 2.Data were obtained from the 2015 Chinese General Social Survey.Results:Lower happiness and self-rated health were found in 1)females;2)the elderly;3)people with a lower educational level;4)people who were presently single;5)people with a lower self-rated economic status;6)people who resided in urban areas;and 7)people with sedentary lifestyles as compared to those in other categories of the same variable.After adjusting the related individual level determinants,the correlation coefficient of two facets of health at the individual level is 0.19,which indicates that no robust covariance was observed.Conclusions:The current study indicates the existence of disparity in the subjective physical and psychological dimensions of health among the elderly in China.Our findings emphasize the importance of paying attention to different aspects of health simultaneously in investigations and the benefits of leisure time activities.

Research progress on the health status and community management service needs of mobile elderly people

The health status of the floating elderly population and the need of community management services are complex and important problems.Owing to the change of living environment and the insecure medical care,the mobile elderly people have more health and psy-chological problems compared to the rest of the elderly population.Therefore,the community should take a variety of measures to meet their needs and help them to better adapt to the new living environment,and maintain their physical and mental health.This paper aims to summarize recent studies on the physical and emotional health problems of mobile elderly people and related community management service needs.

For People's Right to Safety Of Lives and Health——On development of health-related human rights in China

Medical and health work constitutes the prerequisite to protection of the people's right to safety of lives and health. Over the past decades, the Chinese Government has spared no effort in this regard and, as a result, the Chinese people's health has significantly improved. In the nationwide fight against the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic in the first half of 2003, the Government placed the health of the Chinese people and the safety of their lives above everything else. With a huge input of human, financial and material resources, the country won a decisive victory over the epidemic. Following is the full text of an interview by Human Rights with Gao Qiang, executive vice-minister of the Ministry of Health, on China's medical and health work and how it is related to protection of human rights.

Reform of Health System for People's Right to Health——An interview with Gao Qiang,Minister of Health

EDITOR＇S NOTE： In an interview given of late to our staff reporter, Gao Qiang, Chinese Minister of Health, spoke on the achievements made by China in medical and health work during the Tenth Five-Year Plan period （2001-2005）, the soaring medical costs that have invoked much public complaint, ways of carrying to depth the reform of the medical service system, development of the rural cooperative medical system and community-based medical services in cities, as well as prevention and control of AIDS. Following is a transcript of the interview.

Advances in Health Promotion for People with Disabilities and the Laws of Brazil

Brazilian laws guarantee the protection to the rights of the citizenship of people with disabilities and their participation in various social sectors which influence health promotion. One aimed at reflecting about the health promotion actions contemplated in Brazilian laws directed to people with physical, hearing and visual disabilities. Through the website of the National Secretariat for the Promotion of the Rights of People with Disabilities, one selected 14 laws whose content was articulated to the Health Promotion Charts in the process of discussion. The laws had as their main objective, the accessibility of people with disabilities to urban spaces, health, income, education, transportation and leisure, i.e. to public services that are essential for the establishment of health. It is concluded that there was a progress in the elaboration of laws that guarantee the rights and integration of this population. However, it is observed that the non-compliance of the laws makes the promotion of health impossible.