SatelliteThe Ateneo de Zamboanga University (Filipino: Pamantasang Ateneo de Zamboanga), also referred to by its acronym AdZU is a private Catholic coeducational basic and higher education institution run by the Philippines Province of the Society of Jesus in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. AdZU began in 1912 as Escuela Catolica, a parochial school run by Spanish Jesuits. It is the second oldest Jesuit school in the Philippines and the second Jesuit school to be named Ateneo. It initially offered primary and secondary education for boys. It became a college in 1952 and a university in August 2001. It operates in three campuses. The main campus located in La Purisima Street, Zamboanga City is where the tertiary and senior high school departments are located and the annex campus in Barangay Tumaga, outside Zamboanga City proper, is where the junior high school and grade school units are located. The third and newest campus is the Lantaka Campus located in N. S. Valderroza St. Zamboanga City. This campus is a former resort hotel which was donated by its owner to the university. AdZU repurposed the facility and is now being used for educational, spiritual, religious, and social development purposes.
Introduction: Antenatal care (ANC) is a cornerstone of maternal and newborn health, facilitating the early detection and management of pregnancy-related complications. Understanding pregnant women's awareness and perceptions of available antenatal care services is essential for strengthening maternal health programs and promoting informed maternal healthcare-seeking behavior, particularly in rural communities. Aim: This study assessed the level of awareness and perceptions of pregnant women regarding antenatal care services provided by the Rural Health Unit in the Municipality of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay. Methods: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design was employed among 93 eligible women with incomplete or underutilized antenatal care services, selected through total enumeration from 210 women identified in Rural Health Unit maternal health records. Data were collected using a validated, researcher-developed questionnaire. Perceptions were assessed using selected constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM): perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and perceived susceptibility. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to analyze the data. Results: Respondents demonstrated a very high level of awareness of antenatal care services, with an overall composite mean of 3.95 (SD = 0.23). Awareness was consistently high across all assessed ANC components, led by tetanus toxoid vaccination (Mean = 3.97), followed by biophysical assessment, micronutrient supplementation, and ANC’s role in preventing complications (Mean = 3.96). Based on the selected HBM constructs, respondents demonstrated a very high favorable perception of ANC benefits (Mean = 3.42, SD = 0.51), a high level of perceived barriers (Mean = 2.88, SD = 0.72), and a high overall level of perceived susceptibility to pregnancy-related complications after reverse scoring (Mean = 2.58). While respondents recognized the general seriousness of pregnancy complications (Mean = 3.05), personal susceptibility ratings remained relatively low (Mean = 2.10). Conclusion: Pregnant women in the Municipality of Titay demonstrated a very high level of awareness of antenatal care services and generally favorable perceptions based on the selected constructs of the Health Belief Model. Although respondents recognized the benefits and overall seriousness of pregnancy-related complications, high perceived barriers suggest that awareness and favorable perceptions alone may not be sufficient to ensure consistent utilization of antenatal care services. Maternal health programs should therefore sustain health education and community-based outreach while implementing strategies that address contextual and practical barriers influencing maternal healthcare-seeking behavior.
Medical schools combine prior academic achievement, aptitude tests, interviews, and other measures to select applicants, but the predictive contribution of each component is context-dependent, and the study institution's own weighted admission composite had not been evaluated against its written examinations since its adoption. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the association between admission criteria and subsequent performance on the written summative examination in a Philippine medical program. The analytic cohort comprised 318 students admitted across eight cohorts from 2007 to 2014 who completed the academic curriculum through Year Level 3 by 2017, enrolled through total enumeration of all students meeting eligibility criteria. Data came from institutional admission records (undergraduate school and course, Latin honors, weighted point average [WPA], mental ability test, personality assessment, National Medical Admission Test component and percentile scores, interview score, and essay score) and registrar-recorded scores from 19 end-of-course written summative examinations. These measures were drawn directly from official institutional registrar and admissions records rather than newly collected instruments, and records were cross-checked for completeness before analysis. Frequencies, percentages, means, and ranges described the sample; Spearman correlation assessed categorical and ordinal admission variables, and simple and multiple linear regression assessed continuous admission variables against the Total Summative Score (TSS). The existing composite Total Admission Score (TAS) significantly predicted TSS: each one-point increase in the composite was associated with a 0.352-point increase in examination performance (95% CI 0.256–0.448; p<.001). In the multivariable model, WPA (B=0.505, 95% CI 0.314–0.696; p<.001) and Latin honors (B=1.324, 95% CI 0.299–2.349; p=.011) remained significant, while the aptitude, admission-test, and interview variables did not. Students with no remedial examinations had a higher mean WPA at admission than students with increasing numbers of remedials (88.7 versus 86.8, 84.9, and 83.9). Prior academic achievement was the most consistent predictor of written examination performance. The current composite showed statistically significant but limited predictive utility, and exact reweighting of admission components should not be implemented without reanalysis of the original data, internal validation, and evaluation against broader outcomes including clinical, professional, and community-based performance.
The rapid rise of e-cigarettes and vapes in the Philippines, especially after Republic Act No. 11900, has raised health concerns among youth. Though marketed as safer alternatives, their aerosols have been shown to cause harm. By measuring buccal micronucleus frequencies, this study found significantly higher counts in e-cigarette users compared to non-users, with secondhand smoke exposure independently associated with elevated genotoxic damage (adjusted OR 11.8; p = 0.035). The findings support stricter regulations and broader smoke-free policies to safeguard public health amid the growing use of electronic nicotine delivery systems.
Background:This study looks at pediatric research in the Zamboanga Peninsula and nearby provinces (Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi), focusing on what pediatricians are doing and the challenges they face with research after completing their training. Objective:The goal was to understand past and present research efforts and to identify what helps or hinders pediatricians in pursuing research. Methods:A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed utilizing results of the survey completed by 47 pediatricians-some members and some non-members of the Philippine Pediatric Society - Southwestern Mindanao Chapter (PPS-SWM), alongside qualitative focus group discussions. Results:The findings indicate a low level of research engagement among pediatricians in this region, with only 6.7% of respondents actively participating in research activities. While many pediatricians had done research during their training, few continue to do so during clinical practice. Key enablers for research involvement include peer support and training in research methods and statistics, and financial assistance. On the other hand, barriers include a lack of skills in technical writing, limited funding, and a general disinterest in research. Discussions revealed that many pediatricians find research to be an added burden, often prioritizing their clinical work instead due to financial concerns. The study suggests that to boost pediatric research in the region, it is essential to spark more interest in research and provide targeted training opportunities and wholistic support for individuals who exhibit a genuine interest in research instead of targeting pediatricians in general. Conclusion:This research underscores the need for a supportive environment that encourages pediatricians to engage in research, leading to better healthcare delivery and informed decision-making for children.
Background This study aimed to synthesize evidence and estimate pooled treatment success rates for drug-sensitive tuberculosis (TB), identify associated predictors, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines, examining literature from January 2018 to April 2023. Eligible studies reported on treatment success rates, patient-level predictors, or interventions. Random-effects models were employed to compute pooled effect sizes. Findings The pooled treatment success rate was 88%, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) benchmark of 85%. Significant predictors of treatment success included HIV-negative status, being a newly diagnosed case, receiving Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS), and the absence of smoking or alcohol use. Factors such as residence type (urban vs. rural), TB type (pulmonary vs. extrapulmonary), comorbidities (non-diabetic), and bacteriological confirmation did not show statistically significant associations with outcomes. Four interventions demonstrated statistically significant improvements in success rates: asynchronous video-observed therapy (aVOT), Medication Event Monitoring Systems (MEMS), patient support groups, and pharmaceutical care. The feasibility of some interventions, such as aVOT, may vary based on digital access and healthcare infrastructure. Conclusion A complex interplay of clinical, behavioral, and contextual factors influences TB treatment outcomes in LMICs. This study underscores the importance of implementing evidence-informed interventions tailored to local needs while considering the multifactorial nature of treatment success.
