Conectar
Burns are a major cause of morbidity in Yemen, and their prevention relies heavily on community knowledge and safe practices. Understanding gaps in awareness and behaviour is essential for designing effective interventions. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding burn prevention and first aid among a Yemeni community. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 380 participants using a structured questionnaire distributed via social media and community networks. Data were collected on demographics, educational level, occupation, residential area and KAP related to household, electrical and chemical burns. Associations between participant characteristics and burn-related KAPs were analysed. Participants were predominantly female (63.7%), aged 15–45 years (79.8%), urban residents (92.9%) and university-educated (82.1%). Healthcare workers comprised 50.8% of respondents. Knowledge of burn prevention and first aid was highest among university-educated and healthcare participants, with 84.6% correctly identifying initial burn management. Unsafe practices, such as applying honey or toothpaste and improper handling of chemical or electrical injuries, were more common among less-educated, rural and nonhealthcare respondents. Urban participants demonstrated better preventive practices, while cultural reliance on traditional remedies persisted across all groups. Among predominantly urban and educated populations in Yemen, knowledge and attitudes toward burn prevention and first aid are generally favourable; however, gaps persist, particularly in rural and less-educated communities. Cultural practices and misconceptions continue to limit optimal care. These findings underscore the urgent need for culturally sensitive, literacy-appropriate, community-based interventions to improve burn prevention, first aid practices and equitable health outcomes.
Commentary on: Taylor SP, Kowalkowski MA, Skewes S, Chou SH. Real-world implications of updated surviving sepsis campaign antibiotic timing recommendations. Crit Care Med. 2024 doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006240.
Implications for practice and research Antibiotic delivery in suspected sepsis must be prioritised within the clinical context emphasising the need to individualise antibiotic timing according to patient profiles. In the absence of shock, a more lenient approach to antibiotic timing could support the rational use of antibiotics.
Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection and remains a critical challenge with high morbidity and mortality rates. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines serve as a cornerstone for sepsis management and are pivotal in standardising care. Taylor et al’s article
The postnatal period is critical for preventing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Globally, a significant proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths occur within the first 6 weeks after delivery. Timely and adequate postnatal care (PNC) can detect and manage life-threatening complications; however, service utilisation remains alarmingly low in many low- and middle-income countries, including Saudi Arabia. Addressing the behavioural and perceptual factors that influence service use is essential for improving health outcomes.
This study aimed to assess mothers’ utilisation of PNC services and examine how their health beliefs and sociodemographic characteristics influence this behaviour.
A cross-sectional study guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM) was conducted to explore predictors of PNC utilisation.
Eight primary healthcare (PHC) centres were randomly selected from 179 PHC centres distributed in the different governorates of the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia.
A total of 464 mothers were surveyed between October and December 2023 using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.
The primary outcome was PNC utilisation, defined by the number of postnatal visits. The independent variables included sociodemographic characteristics and HBM constructs (perceived susceptibility, benefits, barriers and cues to action).
In terms of PNC utilisation, 80.0% of participants had two or fewer postnatal visits, whereas 20.0% had three or more postnatal visits. Perceived barriers had the strongest influence (mean score 2.51±0.87), followed by cues to action (2.43±0.89), susceptibility (1.92±0.72) and benefits (1.86±0.64). In the multivariate analysis, perceived barriers, cues to action and perceived susceptibility were significantly associated with PNC utilisation, with adjusted ORs of 1.679 (95% CI: 1.007 to 2.799), 0.470 (95% CI: 0.256 to 0.863) and 0.405 (95% CI: 0.197 to 0.832), respectively.
PNC utilisation in the Jazan region remains suboptimal. Perceptual factors, particularly barriers and cues to action, play a central role in service use. Health interventions targeting these beliefs and improving follow-up mechanisms may help increase PNC engagement and improve maternal and infant health outcomes in Saudi Arabia.
Commentary on: Miller LG, McKinnell JA, Singh RD et al. Decolonization in Nursing Homes to Prevent Infection and Hospitalization. N Engl J Med. 2023 Nov 9;389(19):1766-1777.
Universal decolonisation of nursing home residents can reduce infection-related hospitalisations and overall hospitalisations. This may translate in the long term into potential reduction in healthcare costs of residents in nursing homes.
Nursing homes have a big role in healthcare delivery in the USA, thanks to the dramatic increase in population of older persons. Social interactions, indwelling devices, comorbidities and long stays predispose these residents to infections, particularly from multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), which in turn increase hospital admissions and deaths.
This cluster randomised trial
FreshRSS 