A Fast Computational Formula for Kappa Coefficient
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2015
Pages:
1-3
Received:
26 December 2013
Accepted:
15 September 2014
Published:
12 January 2015
Abstract: Kappa coefficient is very important in clinical research when there is a requirement of inter-agreement among physicians who measure clinical data. It is too complicated to calculate traditional Kappa formula in huge data because of many arithmetic operations for determining probability of observed agreement and probability of chance agreement. Therefore, this research proposes a fast computational formula for Kappa coefficient based on comments about probability of observed agreement and probability of chance agreement. These comments lead to the method to save time cost when calculating Kappa coefficient and to reduce the number of arithmetic operations at least. Finally, such fast formula is applied into the gestational data measured in real world so as to evaluate its strong point.
Abstract: Kappa coefficient is very important in clinical research when there is a requirement of inter-agreement among physicians who measure clinical data. It is too complicated to calculate traditional Kappa formula in huge data because of many arithmetic operations for determining probability of observed agreement and probability of chance agreement. The...
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Childhood Diarrhea in Central Ethiopia: Determining Factors for Mothers in Seeking Modern Health Treatments
Ephrem Mamo Gebrehiwot,
Tezera Moshago Berheto,
Alemayehu Worku,
Tadele Dana Darebo,
Ephrem Lejore Sibamo
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2015
Pages:
4-9
Received:
20 January 2015
Accepted:
29 January 2015
Published:
3 February 2015
Abstract: Background: Diarrhea remains one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. A major contributing factor is the treatment provided by the mother. The current study was carried out to assess the behavior of mothers in seeking modern health care and its impact on childhood diarrhea in the Central Ethiopia. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected mothers or care providers who had at least one child under five years who had experienced diarrhea within the previous two weeks. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multiple regression analyses were performed. P-values less than 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals were used to determine an association between independent and dependent variables. Results: Ninety-five percent (413/434) mothers or care-providers completed the survey. Seventy-seven percent of urban and 54.4% of rural women sought care at a health institution. Mothers who lived in urban areas were four and half times more likely to seek modern treatment than rural dwellers [OR (95%CIs)=4.49(2.07, 9.7)], while mothers with grade 9-12 levels of literacy were nine times more likely to seek modern treatment than illiterate mothers [8.88 (1.15, 68.6)]. Households using latrines and with income greater than 30USD per month were 4.6 and 3.3 times more likely to seek modern treatment than who used open fields and who earned less than 30USD per month, respectively [4.62 (1.84, 11.60) and 3.31(1.45, 7.54)]. Increased fluids were given to only 50.8% urban and 26% rural children with diarrhea. Notably, fluids were stopped in 3.8% and 11.4% of urban and rural children, respectively, while fluid intake was reduced in 6.8% urban and 19.2% rural children. Conclusion: Socioeconomic factors such as the educational status of the women, the distance of health care facilities, and the method of disposing of excreta were significantly associated with the behavior of the mother in seeking modern treatment. An urgent requirement for improved health education and infrastructure for women is needed.
Abstract: Background: Diarrhea remains one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. A major contributing factor is the treatment provided by the mother. The current study was carried out to assess the behavior of mothers in seeking modern health care and its impact on childhood diarrhea in the Central Ethiopia. ...
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Update on Human Bone Hydatid Disease
Mulambalah Chrispinus Siteti,
Siteti Darwin Injete
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2015
Pages:
10-17
Received:
22 January 2015
Accepted:
6 February 2015
Published:
11 February 2015
Abstract: Hydatid disease is public health problem worldwide causing considerable health and economic loss. The disease may develop in almost any part of the human body. Bone involvement is often asymptomatic and diagnosis is primarily based on radiographic findings. Bone hydatidosis is less frequent than primary hydatidosis of the visceral organs. The localization of hydatid cysts in the bones has been little studied and so there is inadequate information in literature on the subsequent disease evolution from primary hydatidosis. We present a detailed review on hydatidosis of the bony skeleton particularly of patients who normally seek medical attention late. The review underlines the difficulties of diagnosis and treatment of bone hydatid disease and its variants that may be currently under-/mis-diagnosed in disease endemic areas. We hope to stimulate a high index of suspicion among clinicians to facilitate early diagnosis and to consider the disease(s) as a differential diagnosis in cases of multiple abnormal activities in bones especially among middle aged and elderly people in endemic areas. Bone hydatid disease treatment and management is delicate, expensive and risky and in most cases reccur at some point. We therefore advocate for improved active methods of disease prevention in endemic areas.
Abstract: Hydatid disease is public health problem worldwide causing considerable health and economic loss. The disease may develop in almost any part of the human body. Bone involvement is often asymptomatic and diagnosis is primarily based on radiographic findings. Bone hydatidosis is less frequent than primary hydatidosis of the visceral organs. The local...
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Health Promotion Practice and Its Associated Factors among Pregnant Mothers Attending ANC Services in Public Health Institution of Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia
Kidsti Tesfay,
Haftom Gebrehiwot,
Gebreziher Bruh,
Atsede Fantahun
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2015
Pages:
18-25
Received:
29 December 2014
Accepted:
15 January 2015
Published:
13 February 2015
Abstract: Introduction: Health promotion involves supporting personal and social development through providing information health education, and life skill straining, thereby increasing option for people to exercise more over control their own health and their environment, and to make choice conducive in health. A number of potentially modifiable risk factors are known to be associated with poor pregnancy out comes. However, to our knowledge no previous tangible research was done in the study area about health promotion. Thus, this paper, attempts to assess health promotion practice and its associated factors among pregnant women attending ANC services in public health institutions of Mekelle City. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 278 pregnant mothers at Mekelle city from December to June/ 2014. Simple random sampling technique with Probabilities proportional to size allocation technique was used. Data were analyzed by SPSS window version 20.0 soft ware package and presented using frequencies, percentages, crude odds Ratio, 95% Confidence Intervals and multiple logistic-regressions to adjust for possible confounding variables. Finally, the result of the study was presented using texts, figures and tables. Results: Out of 278 pregnant mothers who were participated in this study, 268 of them responded to the questionnaire making a response rate of 96.4%. The mean age of the participants was 25.87 (± 5.717) years, while the age range was 15 - 44. This research showed 79.9% of the respondents were found to have good Health promotion practices during their pregnancy. The major factors for health promotion practice during pregnancy were income, parity and unintended pregnancy. Women whose unintended pregnancies were 0.79 less likely to practice health promotion than women whose intended pregnancy (AOR= 0.21[0.07 – 0.56]). This finding strongly suggests that the government provide the issue of women education and empowerment more seriously to increase health promotion activity as a way of reducing maternal mortality in the country. And moreover antenatal care clinics should give due emphasis to provide the vital information and education to all pregnant women about health promotional activity.
Abstract: Introduction: Health promotion involves supporting personal and social development through providing information health education, and life skill straining, thereby increasing option for people to exercise more over control their own health and their environment, and to make choice conducive in health. A number of potentially modifiable risk factor...
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