Informatics Publishing Limited

Abstract

Background: Mental health is defined as the capacity to work, capacity to love and the capacity to play and for recreation. It describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a disorder. Mental health refers to a broad array of activities directly or indirectly related to the mental well-being component. Mental illness was not recognized as public health problem both in developed and developing countries until the recent period of time (WHO, 1994). But there was evidence that mental illness can lead to increased mortality; in particular, the risk of death by suicide in persons with depression or substance abuse was well described ( Gelder et.al, 1989).

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of mental distress among students of Hawassa University, Ethiopia.

Method: Institution based cross-sectional study design was used. Respondents were selected by simple random sampling method. A total of 327 students were included. Simple Random Sampling technique was used. The data was collected by using a self administered structured questionnaire which was adopted from World Health Organization (WHO).

Results: A total of 327 students participated (with the response rate of 95.4%). In which 258 (78.8%) accounted for males and 55( 16.8%) accounted for females. Mean age of the students in our study was 22.6 for both male and females with a standard deviation of 2.41. In this study different factors that determine mental distress among study subjects were identified. a higher level of mental distress was reported in females than males which is statistically significant with at 95% CI (Xcal _(df=1)=5.95,P=0.015). Study year of the students were having significant association with mental distress(Xcal _(df=1)=5.95,P=0.015).

Conclusion: The family living condition was found to be strongly associated with mental distress. Especially those respondents whose parents (both father and mother) lost had high prevalence (60%) of mental distress as compared to those whose parents live together (49%),%), live in different place(25%), divorced (37.5%),one parent lost(29%).

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Abstract

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an ongoing challenge for critical care nurses as they use current evidence-based strategies to decrease its incidence and prevalence. Mechanical intubation negates effective cough reflexes and impedes mucociliary clearance of secretions, causing leakage and micro aspiration of virulent bacteria into the lungs. VAP is responsible for 90% of nosocomial infections and occurs within 48 hours of intubation. VAP is a major health care burden in terms of mortality, escalating health care costs, increased length of ventilator days and length of hospital stay.

Method: The sample was selected by using convenient sampling technique. One group pre test, post test design was used to conduct the study.

Objective: The design was adopted with primary objective to find the effectiveness of structured teaching programme by assessing the knowledge gain evaluated before and after implementing the structured teaching programme.

Results: The majority of nurses 21 (96.6%) were having inadequate knowledge on prevention of Ventilator associated pneumonia and about 9(30%) were having average knowledge. The majority 29(96.6%) of nurses were having above average knowledge on prevention of VAP and about 1(3.33%) were having average knowledge on prevention of VAP. In pre-test, 21(96.6%) were having inadequate practices on prevention of VAP. In post-test, there was good improvement in their practices.

Conclusion: The study findings revealed that majority of the respondents were not having sufficient knowledge and practices on prevention of VAP. Knowledge and practices on VAP had significantly improved after administering of structured teaching programme. The STP was found effective in increasing the knowledge and practices on VAP among critical care nurses.

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Background: Soft drinks are one of the most consumed non-alcoholic beverages throughout the world, and have substantial public health consequences. It has become a highly visible and controversial public health and public policy issue. Soft drinks are viewed by many as a major contributor to multi-system problems like Obesity, DM, Calcium deficits, dental caries, mental disorders and other health problems. In addition to this, several recent research evidence supports a positive link between soft drinks and depressive symptoms. However, data thus far are only from Caucasian populations and it needs further research based investigations. We have investigated whether high levels of consumption of soft drinks are associated with the depressive symptoms among university students, Ethiopia.

Method: The sample was selected by using proportionate simple random stratified sampling technique. Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to assess the factors associated with soft drink consumption and the depressive symptoms, among Hawassa university students, Ethiopia, 2007E.C.

Objective: To assess the depressive symptoms associated with over consumption of soft drinks among Hawassa university students in Hawassa University, Ethiopia.

Results: A total of 300 students were interviewed with a response rate of 100%. Most of the respondents were in age between 20-24 years (84.7%), Unmarried (89.3%), Orthodox (58%), urban (62.7%) and Amhara (35%). Seventy one percent of total respondents had habit of consumption; out ofConclusion: which only 15% consume on usual bases, and most of them had been taking for more than three years. Miranda, coca cola and Pepsi were the most preferred brands of soft drink. The most common depressive symptoms were feeling loss of interest in activities, Changes in weight, Feelings of incapacity, fatigue or weakness related to activities, and worrying about minor matters. Depressive symptoms were found to be significantly favored by habit of soft drink consumption, frequency of consumption and preferred time for consumption with respective p-value of 0.001 at 95% CI. The prevalence of depressive symptoms were 77% among habitual consumers and 46% among none or rare consumers. Only 9% had no depressive symptoms among those who took soft drinks every day.

Conclusion: Moderate level of consumption was observed among this population which could be significantly linked with some depressive symptoms. Those who take soft drinks once or more times a day would be more likely develop depressive symptoms, and they tend to develop more severe depression as amount increases. However, any consumption of one to six times per week is also likely to contribute some depressive symptoms.

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