Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem with serious physical, psychological, sexual, and socioeconomic consequences for women. This study compared patterns, predictors, and help-seeking behaviours related to IPV among women in rural and urban communities in Osun State, Nigeria. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted between May and July 2023 among 500 ever-partnered women (250 rural and 250 urban) selected through multistage sampling. Quantitative data were collected using a pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization’s Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence, while qualitative data were obtained through four focus group discussions. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression, and thematic analysis. Results: Physical violence was more common among rural women, whereas controlling behaviour and psychological violence predominated in urban communities. Significant predictors of IPV included partner alcohol consumption, childhood exposure to abuse, dysfunctional partner family background, and older partner age. Fewer than half of the respondents disclosed IPV, and among those who sought help, religious leaders and women's organisations were the most frequently consulted sources of support. Fear, shame, stigma, and economic dependence were the major barriers to help-seeking. Conclusion: Rural–urban differences exist in the patterns, predictors, and help-seeking behaviours associated with IPV. Strengthening referral pathways, survivor-centred support services, community education, and women's economic empowerment may improve IPV prevention and response.
Background: In commercial materials for rapid diagnostic tests, it is still common to find claims of “100% specificity”. From a statistical and epistemological point of view, this kind of statement is deeply problematic. Aims: This paper examines how justified those claims really are and what they mean in concrete clinical and public health settings. Methods: We analyze the statistical foundations of specificity estimation, apply the Mayo-Spanos severity framework, and review three commercial rapid antigen test listings to illustrate reporting practices. Results: Claims of 100% specificity are either logically falsified by observed false positives or unsupported by finite validation samples. The rule of three shows that zero false positives in n negatives only rule out a false-positive rate above 3/n. Severity analysis reveals that even with 210 negative samples, the claim that specificity >99.5% is supported with only 65% severity. In low-prevalence settings, assuming 100% specificity inflates positive predictive value (PPV) from 66% to 100%. Conclusion: Reporting 100% specificity is scientifically untenable. Regulatory and editorial standards could realistically require confidence intervals and, at the very least, discourage unqualified point estimates.
الخلفية: لا تزال الملاريا أثناء الحمل (MiP) مشكلة رئيسة للصحة العامة في أفريقيا جنوب الصحراء، وتسهم بدرجة كبيرة في مراضة الأمهات وحديثي الولادة ووفياتهم. ويُعد فهم معارف الحوامل واتجاهاتهن وتصوراتهن وممارساتهن الوقائية في هذا الشأن وتعزيزها ضروريًا لتحسين الوقاية من الملاريا ومكافحتها. الأهداف: قيّمت هذه الدراسة المعارف والاتجاهات والتصورات (KAP)، إلى جانب الممارسات الوقائية المتعلقة بالملاريا أثناء الحمل، لدى الحوامل المراجعات لعيادات رعاية ما قبل الولادة في أوكيتيبوبا بولاية أوندو، نيجيريا. المنهجية: أُجريت دراسة وصفية مقطعية لدى 165 امرأة حامل يراجعن عيادات رعاية ما قبل الولادة في مرفقين صحيين بأوكيتيبوبا، باستخدام أسلوب المعاينة متعدد المراحل. واستُخدمت الإحصاءات الوصفية لتلخيص خصائص المشاركات واستجاباتهن المتعلقة بالمعارف والاتجاهات والتصورات. النتائج: بلغ متوسط عمر المشاركات 28.6 ± 5.1 سنة، وكانت أغلبهن (66.1%) بين 26 و35 سنة. وكانت معظم المشاركات تقريبًا (95.2%) قد سمعن عن الملاريا أثناء الحمل، وحددت 92.7% لدغات البعوض على نحو صحيح بوصفها وسيلة الانتقال الأساسية. وأدركت معظم المشاركات خطورة الملاريا أثناء الحمل والدور الوقائي للناموسيات المعالجة بالمبيدات (91.5%) والعلاج الوقائي المتقطع بالسلفادوكسين–بيريميثامين (83.0%). ومع ذلك، استمرت مفاهيم خاطئة بشأن انتقال الملاريا والتداوي الذاتي واستخدام العلاجات العشبية. وكانت الاتجاهات الوقائية إيجابية عمومًا، مع أن الممارسات المبلغ عنها لم تتسق دائمًا مع معارف المشاركات. الاستنتاج: أظهرت الحوامل المراجعات لعيادات رعاية ما قبل الولادة في أوكيتيبوبا معرفة جيدة عمومًا واتجاهات إيجابية تجاه الملاريا أثناء الحمل. غير أن استمرار المفاهيم الخاطئة والممارسات الوقائية والعلاجية غير الملائمة يدل على الحاجة إلى تعزيز التثقيف الصحي قبل الولادة، والتواصل الهادف إلى تغيير السلوك بما يلائم الثقافة، والمشاركة المجتمعية المستدامة لتحسين النتائج الصحية للأمهات وحديثي الولادة.
Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of early-onset neonatal sepsis, and antenatal screening with intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis substantially reduces disease burden. Maternal awareness of, and participation in, GBS screening in Saudi Arabia remain poorly characterised. Aim: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of women in the Asir Region, southwestern Saudi Arabia, regarding pregnancy screening for GBS, and to identify factors associated with higher knowledge, better practices, and more positive attitudes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and November 2024 among women aged 18–45 years in the Asir Region. Data were collected using a validated, self-administered questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy history, and GBS-related KAP. Composite scores were standardised to a 0–100 scale and dichotomised using the median. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors. Results: A total of 371 women participated (mean age 32.6 ± 9.3 years); 74.7% had heard of GBS. High knowledge, good practice, and positive attitude scores were observed in 49.1%, 35.8%, and 41.2% of participants, respectively. Previous pregnancy, prior history of GBS, and specialist obstetric care were independently associated with better practices and attitudes. Conclusion: Despite relatively high awareness, GBS screening practices remain suboptimal, underscoring the need for standardised antenatal screening protocols and targeted education.
Background: Organ transplantation is a great advancement in modern medicine; it functions within a sensitive legal and ethical framework that seeks to balance the protection of fundamental human rights with medical needs. In India, this regulatory system is essentially founded upon the landmark legislation known as the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994. Aim: The aim is to critically analyze the legal development, basic provisions, and practical challenges of THOTA and its amendments, with a core focus on ethical, procedural, and regulatory perspectives. Methods: We conducted a detailed descriptive and analytical review, scrutinizing primary sources such as THOTA, its amendments, and related rules, along with secondary literature from various legal, medical, and bioethical journals. The study examines, in depth, the structure, procedures, and practice of the law. Results: THOTA established key milestones, such as the recognition of brain-stem death and a national allocation system. However, major gaps persist: inadequate infrastructure, low deceased-donor rates, and vulnerabilities to organ trafficking. Conclusion: Although THOTA provides a robust legal framework, systemic limitations seriously impede its practical application. Requirements to optimize ethical and effective organ transplantation in India include better infrastructure, digital integration, public awareness, and standardization of procedures.
