Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal

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BACKGROUND: Oral health conditions, such as dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, dental fluorosis, dental trauma, and oral cancer, are prevalent in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. However, there has been no systematic review of oral health promotion interventions in the region. AIMS: To review existing literature on oral health promotion programmes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and recommend improvements for the future. METHOD: We reviewed on PubMed and Google Scholar 61 articles published in the Eastern Mediterranean Region between 2010 and 2023...

BACKGROUND: The increasing emergencies and humanitarian challenges have worsened the mental health condition of women in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. AIM: To assess the prevalence, determinants and interventions to address mental health among women in fragile and humanitarian settings in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. METHODS: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines, we reviewed 59 peer-reviewed published studies (PubMed, IMEMR) and grey literature (WHO/IRIS) from January 2001 to February 2023, focusing on women's mental health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region...

BACKGROUND: Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. However, there is limited data regarding the disease in the Arab World, including the United Arab Emirates. OBJECTIVE: To analyse a scarlet fever outbreak in United Arab Emirates. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study included scarlet fever cases diagnosed at the Kanad Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates in 2022 and 2023. Data were retrieved from the hospital records and analysed using SPSS version 23...

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown short-term and long-term positive effects of family-centred care interventions on neonatal and maternal health, and developmental outcomes in neonatal intensive care units. However, some challenges and barriers limit implementation of family-centred care. AIM: To investigate parental barriers to implementing family-centred care in a neonatal intensive care unit in Islamic Republic of Iran. METHODS: A conventional content analysis was conducted at a neonatal intensive care unit in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran from 2020 to 2021...

BACKGROUND: Meningitis is still a major public health challenge globally. Both the viral and bacterial forms of the disease have been reported worldwide. In 2023, around 200 children with suspected meningitis were admitted to hospital in Halabja Governorate, Iraq. No outbreak of meningitis had been reported previously in that region. AIMS: To investigate the aetiology and epidemiology of meningitis among children in Halabja Governorate, Iraq, and expedite clinical management and prevention...

BACKGROUND: Adequate supply of rehabilitation health workforce is a prerequisite for enhancing access to rehabilitation care. However, there is a lack of comprehensive data regarding the supply of rehabilitation health workers in Saudi Arabia. AIMS: To determine the need for, and supply of, rehabilitation workforce, and investigate the relationship between rehabilitation workforce supply and rehabilitation needs in Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study measured the ratio of physiotherapists and occupational therapists per 10 000 population...

BACKGROUND: The private healthcare sector is a critical stakeholder in the provision of health care services, including noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and engagement with the sector is increasingly being advocated in efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage. AIM: This study was conducted to explore the role of the private health sector in delivering NCD-related primary care services in selected countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR): Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, and the Syrian Arab Republic...

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During a special session in December 2021, the World Health Assembly decided to establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The objective of the Pandemic Agreement is to enable Member States to prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics. Its provisions will apply during and between pandemics, unless otherwise specified, and it is expected to enter into force on the 30th day following the date of deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, formal confirmation, or accession with the Depositary...

BACKGROUND: The recent increase in myopia is a major public health concern worldwide, including in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). AIM: To provide data on the prevalence of myopia among school-age children in the EMR. METHODS: This study was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol. We searched the Web of Sciences, Scopus, Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, ProQuest, PubMed, and Medline for studies on the prevalence of myopia in the EMR published from January 2000 to May 2022...

BACKGROUND: The take-back campaign, which focuses on enhancing public awareness, safe medication disposal practices, stakeholder engagement and patient participation was used to promote medication safety in Kuwait. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of the take-back campaign in promoting medication safety in Kuwait. METHODS: The campaign was implemented systematically through several stages of planning, communication and coordination among several stakeholders...

BACKGROUND: Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The rapid antigen test was developed for testing infection, and it was necessary to assess its performance before widespread use in Tunisia. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid antigen test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs in Tunisia. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal samples were taken from COVID-19 suspected cases between October and December 2020 and tested using the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag test (SD-Biosensor, Republic of Korea) and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR)...

BACKGROUND: Although hepatitis B is vaccine-preventable, it remains a significant health problem. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first hepatitis B outbreak report from Türkiye. AIMS: To investigate the cause of hepatitis B outbreak in a nursing home for the disabled and make recommendations for prevention. METHODS: An outbreak of acute hepatitis B was declared in a nursing home for the disabled following the admission of 3 patients from the home in a hospital...

BACKGROUND: Although the concept of telehealth is of great interest globally, its potential has not yet been realized in Pakistan. It is therefore essential to explore the perspectives of stakeholders on the technology, particularly for mental health, to be able to increase and improve its use. AIM: To assess the perceptions and experiences of patients receiving tele-mental health services, including telepsychiatry and tele-psychotherapy, in Pakistan. METHODS: For this qualitative exploratory study, we conducted in-depth interviews with 49 individuals at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan...

BACKGROUND: The mental health of students plays a crucial role in their learning and performance. The COVID-19 pandemic, the political turmoil and a coup in Sudan has exacerbated stress and anxiety among university students in Sudan due to uncertainty about their academic activities. AIM: To assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurrence and coping strategies adopted by university students in Sudan. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to June 2022...

BACKGROUND: One of the keys to preventing a re-emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic is the attainment and maintenance of high vaccination coverage in urban and rural areas. AIMS: To estimate the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination in a rural population and identify the determinants of vaccination. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2023 in 5 rural districts of Sindh Province, Pakistan. From each district, 30 clusters (villages) were randomly selected, and 7 households were randomly sampled from each cluster using the 30/7 technique...

BACKGROUND: Violence against children constitutes a significant public health problem globally. AIM: To document and compare media reports of violence against children before and during COVID-19, and measures taken by countries to address such violence. METHODS: This comparative review covered news reports of violence against children from 1 January to 30 June of 2019 and 2020 in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region countries. A total of 823 articles published in Arabic and English, covering incidents, initiatives, opinions and views on all types of violence among children under 18 years of age were sourced using search engines and platforms and reviewed...

The ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to take an unbearable toll, with tens of thousands of civilian deaths, skyrocketing food insecurity, ongoing disease outbreaks, and massive destruction of infrastructure. The impact on people's lives is staggering, with over 35 000 people killed and 78 000 injured. Shockingly, 72% of those killed are women and children. Around 10 000 people are reported missing, many of whom are presumed dead under the rubble.

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