Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal

BACKGROUND: Many countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have developed packages of services for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), however, policymakers, especially in resource-constrained countries, still face challenges in delivering equitable, efficient and sustainable health services. AIMS: To provide guidance for EMR countries and develop packages of services for UHC. METHODS: We used information gathered from narrative reviews, national experiences and expert consultations to develop step-by-step guidance for the development of national packages of services for the achievement of UHC by countries in the EMR...

BACKGROUND: The tobacco control scale (TCS) score is used widely in European countries to evaluate the adoption of anti-tobacco policies by countries, however, data on the adoption of tobacco control programmes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) are limited to a 2009 survey. AIM: To compare the TCS score for measuring national tobacco control programmes in the EMR countries in 2009 and 2021. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey compared data from 21 EMR countries on 6 major indicators, including the price of cigarettes, tobacco smoke-free public places, national budget for tobacco control activities, ban on tobacco advertising, health warning labels on tobacco packets, and support for treatment of tobacco dependence...

BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested that sleep disorders have adverse effects on blood pressure. However, the findings remain controversial and only a few studies have investigated the association between sleep duration and hypertension among all age and sex subgroups. AIM: To evaluate the dose-response association between sleep duration and blood pressure in the Iranian population using the Ravansar non-communicable disease cohort study. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 9865 participants aged 35-65 years from the 2014-2017 Ravansar non-communicable disease cohort study...

BACKGROUND: Violence against women is a public health issue worldwide, affecting the physical and mental wellbeing of women, children and families. AIM: To determine the socio-demographic and economic factors contributing to violence against women in Morocco and offer recommendations for the prevention and reduction of violence. METHODS: Data for this study was obtained from the 2018 National Population and Family Health Survey. We applied the Chi-square test and t-test to study the possible associations between some socio-demographic and economic variables and violence against women...

BACKGROUND: Scorpionism (scorpion sting envenoming) is an endemic public health concern in many Arab Middle Eastern countries. However, our knowledge of the epidemiology of scorpion stings in the West Bank is limited. AIM: To investigate the epidemiology of scorpion stings in 4 districts of the West Bank over a specified period. METHODS: We obtained scorpion sting records from the main hospitals in 4 districts of the West Bank for 2012 and 2014-2020...

BACKGROUND: Addictive behaviours are a major public health problem, especially among adolescents, who are susceptible to experiencing multiple co-occurring addictions. AIM: To assess the prevalence of addiction problems and co-occurrences of addictive behaviours (substance abuse, problematic video gaming and social media addiction) and disorders among high school students in Sousse, Tunisia. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 in public high schools, in the urban area of Sousse, Tunisia...

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Another year ends with multiple humanitarian crises ongoing simultaneously across the globe. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 9 of the 22 Member States and territory are considered fragile or conflict-affected, with severe health consequences for the population.

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BACKGROUND: Repeated infection with Chlamydia trachomatis causes trachomatous trichiasis (TT). Surgery is the main and preferred method of treatment. However, many people decline surgery despite the availability of free services in nearby health facilities. AIMZ: To identify the determinants of surgery refusal among TT patients in Ethiopia. METHODS: This community-based, case-control study was conducted among 338 cases and 338 controls from 5 October to 17 December 2018...

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer places a significant burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The EuroMed Cancer Network (EuMedCN) brings together cancer experts and stakeholders from the Mediterranean countries to promote sustainable cancer screening and support implementation of the WHO Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem. AIM: To highlight the constructive role of EuMedCN in mitigating inequalities in access to cervical cancer prevention and screening across the Mediterranean LMICs...

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had serious impact on the social, economic, psychological, and physical aspects of a large segment of the society, including women who were married or in stable relationships. AIM: To evaluate changes in the desire to become mothers among married women in Türkiye during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from a self-administered questionnaire that examined the demographics and fertility preferences of 520 married Turkish women...

BACKGROUND: Acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine by healthcare workers (HCWs) can affect its acceptability by the general population. AIM: To assess COVD-19 vaccine acceptability among HCWs in Sana'a, Yemen. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study among 391 HCWs in Sana'a, Yemen, from January to March 2022. We used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on the demographics, profession, academic qualifications, and experience of HCWs, as well as their COVID-19 vaccine acceptability or hesitancy...

BACKGROUND: Comorbidities have a significant impact on the treatment and outcome of breast cancer. However, data on such comorbidities from low-income countries are limited. AIM: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of comorbidity data extracted from medical records for estimating the prevalence of comorbidities among patients registered in the clinical breast cancer registry of the Islamic Republic of Iran. METHODS: We collected data from the medical records of 400 patients on 30 comorbidities included in the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI)...

BACKGROUND: The healthcare system of the Islamic Republic of Iran provides special maternal health care services for mothers, regardless of their nationality. AIM: This study, supported by the United Nations Population Fund, was conducted to review available data associated with health indicators of Afghan mothers living in Islamic Republic of Iran. METHODS: This descriptive study used data from the electronic registration system of the Maternal Health Office of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education on characteristics, morbidity and mortality among Afghan mothers in the Islamic Republic of Iran from 2017 to 2019...

BACKGROUND: Fair access to essential medicines is a significant parameter in fulfilling the right to basic health. AIM: We investigated the availability, prices and affordability of essential medicines for chronic diseases in Ankara, Türkiye. METHODS: We used the procedures outlined in the WHO and Health Action International guidelines for measuring prices, availability, affordability, and price components of medicines. The sample consisted of 334 (14%) of the 2354 pharmacies in Ankara, and 24 essential medicines for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and palliative care, adopted from the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (2021)...

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking follows a progressive pattern throughout the lifetime; most adult smokers started smoking during adolescence. AIM: To understand the cigarette smoking trajectories and their predictors among adolescents and young adults in the Islamic Republic of Iran. METHODS: Using data from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, we followed 1169 adolescents (12-18 years old) into their young adulthood (28-32 years old), from 2002 to 2016...

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The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) Vision 2023 "Health for All by All" and the EMR Strategy 2020-2023 "Turning Vision into Action" place partnerships at the centre of WHO engagement, to enhance its voice, extend its technical and operational reach, and mobilize needed resources. To be effective, partnerships need to evolve from primarily transactional imperatives to strategic collaboration based on shared vision, value addition and trust.

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