Background: Inadequate pain management is a problem in hospitalized children. Objectives: To explore knowledge and attitudes of nurses in management of pain in children. Methods: A descriptive design using qualitative...Background: Inadequate pain management is a problem in hospitalized children. Objectives: To explore knowledge and attitudes of nurses in management of pain in children. Methods: A descriptive design using qualitative methods was used to conduct the study. 17 nurses with prior pain management training were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Ethical approval was obtained from College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Nurses had some knowledge of pain assessment methods, treatment and use of morphine. Gaps, however, existed on how to use pain assessment scales, analgesics to use at each step of the WHO analgesic ladder, and how to effectively use morphine for pain relief. Although most nurses had positive attitudes towards children’s pain and use of morphine, negative attitudes were evident in some nurses regarding administration of morphine to neonates or acutely ill children. Conclusion and Implications: The study has revealed knowledge and attitude gaps which may reflect deficiencies in the pain education nurses received, non-availability of pain scales and lack of support for nurses to link theory with practice. Nurse leaders are challenged to provide repeated comprehensive education for nurses on pain assessment and management. Furthermore, user friendly pain scales should be developed, and nurses educated and demonstrated on their use. In addition, opportunities for supportive supervision with nurses in the clinical setting should be created for linkage of theory and practice.展开更多
Background: Unintended pregnancies remain a public health problem. Unintended pregnancies continue to be a leading predisposing factor to the high total fertility rate, high maternal and child health morbidity and mor...Background: Unintended pregnancies remain a public health problem. Unintended pregnancies continue to be a leading predisposing factor to the high total fertility rate, high maternal and child health morbidity and mortality. Unintended pregnancies lead to unsafe abortion and poor health-seeking behavior, especially among young and poor women. Knowledge of associated factors can help to design and implement appropriate interventions. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at Thyolo District Hospital in Malawi. Methodology: It was a quantitative cross-sectional study. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 396 women using a questionnaire. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit study participants. STATA version 13 package was used for univariate descriptive statistics, and logistic regression for bivariate and multivariate data analysis. Results: Slightly over half (54%) of women attending the antenatal clinic at Thyolo District Hospital had an unintended pregnancy. Unintended pregnancy was more likely to be reported among women of less than 20 years, education below secondary school level, marriage before 20 years, and polygamous relationships. In addition, families relying on farming alone other than employment or business were more likely to have an unintended pregnancy. Primgravidity and having no living child were also significantly associated with unintended pregnancy. Conclusion: Prevalence of unintended pregnancy is a health burden in Thyolo. Strategies to keep the girl child in school and delay marriage could address this challenge. Increasing access to effective contraceptive methods for the youth could mitigate the problem.展开更多
Background: Adherence to recommended lifestyle modification regarding hypertension control remains a serious problem in Malawi, leading to poor blood pressure control. Objective: This study examined factors that facil...Background: Adherence to recommended lifestyle modification regarding hypertension control remains a serious problem in Malawi, leading to poor blood pressure control. Objective: This study examined factors that facilitate adherence to recommended lifestyle modification among hypertensive clients’ at Malamulo hospital in Thyolo Malawi. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 108 clients who were recruited through a systematic sampling method. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Using statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22, Chi-Square (x2) test was applied to test each predictor variable for statistical significance. The significant predictors were entered into the logistic regression model to determine the independent predictors of recommended lifestyle modifications amongst clients. Odds ratio (OR) at 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to declare the independent effect of each variable on the outcome variable. Results: 108 respondents were enrolled in the study, the majority of who were women (60.2%). Findings demonstrated that clients had adequate knowledge of lifestyle modification with an overall knowledge rate of 92% though the overall adherence rate was poor at 53.8%. Having family support (OR = 4.587, 95% CI: 1.625, 12.947, p = 0.004) and support groups (OR = 4.043, 95% CI: 1.496, 10.926, p = 0.006) are more likely to facilitate adherence to recommended lifestyle modification unlike situations of non-involvement of family and lack of support groups. Conclusion: Clients demonstrated adequate knowledge of recommended lifestyle modifications with poor adherence to them. The presence of support groups and a strong family support system are important factors for fostering adherence to the recommended lifestyle modifications regarding hypertension control.展开更多
Parasitic weeds are a major threat to food security in Africa and control measures mostly done by smallholder farmers are not effective in eradicating the parasites.This results in a yield loss up to 100%.Parasitic we...Parasitic weeds are a major threat to food security in Africa and control measures mostly done by smallholder farmers are not effective in eradicating the parasites.This results in a yield loss up to 100%.Parasitic weeds comprise Alectra vogelii,Striga spp.,Orobanche spp.,Rafflesia spp.,and Phoradendron spp.Parasitic attachment is successful when three necessary conditions have been fulfilled namely the compatible host,suitable environment,and parasitic weed.These species parasite plant species through special attachment features such as modified leaves,suckers,haustoria,or modified roots.In Africa,the variability of parasitic weeds is largely driven by environmental factors such as temperature,rainfall,soil type,and crop husbandry practices.Warmer temperatures create more hospitable conditions for certain parasitic weeds,and allowing them to spread to new areas.Parasitic weed control is vital for effective crop production and the control strategies can be achieved through integrated weed control method that embraces mechanical,cultural,chemical,and biological methods.However,the most effective and crucial method is the cultivation of resistant varieties that provide long-term protection against parasitic weeds.Studies have been done on host-parasite attachment where dodder can send out new roots to infected neighbouring plants and spread their parasitic behaviour.More insight and knowledge should offer new goals for control within the life cycle of the parasitic weeds and their metabolic activities.Lastly,disciplines such as agronomy,plant breeding,nutrition,economics,and IT should play their roles effectively in combating parasitic weeds.展开更多
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are used to monitor various environmental conditions including movement, pollution level, temperature, humidity, and etc. Secure authentication is very important for the success of WSNs...Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are used to monitor various environmental conditions including movement, pollution level, temperature, humidity, and etc. Secure authentication is very important for the success of WSNs. Li <i>et al</i>. proposed a three-factor anonymous authentication scheme in WSNs over Internet of things (IoT). They argued that their authentication scheme achieves more security and functional features, which are required for WSNs over IoT. Especially, they insisted that their user authentication scheme provides security against sensor node impersonation attack, and resists session-specific temporary information attack and various other attacks. However, this paper shows some security weaknesses in Li <i>et al</i>.’s scheme, especially focused on sensor node masquerading attack, known session-specific temporary information attack and deficiency of perfect forward secrecy. Especially, security considerations are very important to the modern IoT based applications. Thereby, the result of this paper could be very helpful for the IoT security researches.展开更多
文摘Background: Inadequate pain management is a problem in hospitalized children. Objectives: To explore knowledge and attitudes of nurses in management of pain in children. Methods: A descriptive design using qualitative methods was used to conduct the study. 17 nurses with prior pain management training were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Ethical approval was obtained from College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Nurses had some knowledge of pain assessment methods, treatment and use of morphine. Gaps, however, existed on how to use pain assessment scales, analgesics to use at each step of the WHO analgesic ladder, and how to effectively use morphine for pain relief. Although most nurses had positive attitudes towards children’s pain and use of morphine, negative attitudes were evident in some nurses regarding administration of morphine to neonates or acutely ill children. Conclusion and Implications: The study has revealed knowledge and attitude gaps which may reflect deficiencies in the pain education nurses received, non-availability of pain scales and lack of support for nurses to link theory with practice. Nurse leaders are challenged to provide repeated comprehensive education for nurses on pain assessment and management. Furthermore, user friendly pain scales should be developed, and nurses educated and demonstrated on their use. In addition, opportunities for supportive supervision with nurses in the clinical setting should be created for linkage of theory and practice.
文摘Background: Unintended pregnancies remain a public health problem. Unintended pregnancies continue to be a leading predisposing factor to the high total fertility rate, high maternal and child health morbidity and mortality. Unintended pregnancies lead to unsafe abortion and poor health-seeking behavior, especially among young and poor women. Knowledge of associated factors can help to design and implement appropriate interventions. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at Thyolo District Hospital in Malawi. Methodology: It was a quantitative cross-sectional study. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 396 women using a questionnaire. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit study participants. STATA version 13 package was used for univariate descriptive statistics, and logistic regression for bivariate and multivariate data analysis. Results: Slightly over half (54%) of women attending the antenatal clinic at Thyolo District Hospital had an unintended pregnancy. Unintended pregnancy was more likely to be reported among women of less than 20 years, education below secondary school level, marriage before 20 years, and polygamous relationships. In addition, families relying on farming alone other than employment or business were more likely to have an unintended pregnancy. Primgravidity and having no living child were also significantly associated with unintended pregnancy. Conclusion: Prevalence of unintended pregnancy is a health burden in Thyolo. Strategies to keep the girl child in school and delay marriage could address this challenge. Increasing access to effective contraceptive methods for the youth could mitigate the problem.
文摘Background: Adherence to recommended lifestyle modification regarding hypertension control remains a serious problem in Malawi, leading to poor blood pressure control. Objective: This study examined factors that facilitate adherence to recommended lifestyle modification among hypertensive clients’ at Malamulo hospital in Thyolo Malawi. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 108 clients who were recruited through a systematic sampling method. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Using statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22, Chi-Square (x2) test was applied to test each predictor variable for statistical significance. The significant predictors were entered into the logistic regression model to determine the independent predictors of recommended lifestyle modifications amongst clients. Odds ratio (OR) at 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to declare the independent effect of each variable on the outcome variable. Results: 108 respondents were enrolled in the study, the majority of who were women (60.2%). Findings demonstrated that clients had adequate knowledge of lifestyle modification with an overall knowledge rate of 92% though the overall adherence rate was poor at 53.8%. Having family support (OR = 4.587, 95% CI: 1.625, 12.947, p = 0.004) and support groups (OR = 4.043, 95% CI: 1.496, 10.926, p = 0.006) are more likely to facilitate adherence to recommended lifestyle modification unlike situations of non-involvement of family and lack of support groups. Conclusion: Clients demonstrated adequate knowledge of recommended lifestyle modifications with poor adherence to them. The presence of support groups and a strong family support system are important factors for fostering adherence to the recommended lifestyle modifications regarding hypertension control.
文摘Parasitic weeds are a major threat to food security in Africa and control measures mostly done by smallholder farmers are not effective in eradicating the parasites.This results in a yield loss up to 100%.Parasitic weeds comprise Alectra vogelii,Striga spp.,Orobanche spp.,Rafflesia spp.,and Phoradendron spp.Parasitic attachment is successful when three necessary conditions have been fulfilled namely the compatible host,suitable environment,and parasitic weed.These species parasite plant species through special attachment features such as modified leaves,suckers,haustoria,or modified roots.In Africa,the variability of parasitic weeds is largely driven by environmental factors such as temperature,rainfall,soil type,and crop husbandry practices.Warmer temperatures create more hospitable conditions for certain parasitic weeds,and allowing them to spread to new areas.Parasitic weed control is vital for effective crop production and the control strategies can be achieved through integrated weed control method that embraces mechanical,cultural,chemical,and biological methods.However,the most effective and crucial method is the cultivation of resistant varieties that provide long-term protection against parasitic weeds.Studies have been done on host-parasite attachment where dodder can send out new roots to infected neighbouring plants and spread their parasitic behaviour.More insight and knowledge should offer new goals for control within the life cycle of the parasitic weeds and their metabolic activities.Lastly,disciplines such as agronomy,plant breeding,nutrition,economics,and IT should play their roles effectively in combating parasitic weeds.
文摘Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are used to monitor various environmental conditions including movement, pollution level, temperature, humidity, and etc. Secure authentication is very important for the success of WSNs. Li <i>et al</i>. proposed a three-factor anonymous authentication scheme in WSNs over Internet of things (IoT). They argued that their authentication scheme achieves more security and functional features, which are required for WSNs over IoT. Especially, they insisted that their user authentication scheme provides security against sensor node impersonation attack, and resists session-specific temporary information attack and various other attacks. However, this paper shows some security weaknesses in Li <i>et al</i>.’s scheme, especially focused on sensor node masquerading attack, known session-specific temporary information attack and deficiency of perfect forward secrecy. Especially, security considerations are very important to the modern IoT based applications. Thereby, the result of this paper could be very helpful for the IoT security researches.
