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Topic: This mini-review addresses the critical issue of back pain among nurses in Zambia, highlighting the occupational health challenges they face within a resource-limited healthcare system. Type of Review: This is a literature mini-review synthesizing recent research findings and theoretical frameworks relevant to back pain in nursing. Main Focus: The review focuses on the prevalence, causes, and potential interventions for back pain among Zambian nurses, emphasizing the need for culturally relevant health messaging and systemic changes within the healthcare environment. Gaps Identified: While existing literature outlines various factors contributing to back pain, there is a notable lack of longitudinal studies assessing the long-term effectiveness of proposed interventions, as well as limited exploration of broader systemic issues within the Zambian healthcare infrastructure. Conclusions: Addressing back pain among Zambian nurses requires a comprehensive approach that includes tailored educational initiatives, effective workload management, and improvements in ergonomic support within healthcare settings. Practical Implications: The findings suggest actionable strategies for healthcare institutions to enhance nurse well-being, which in turn can improve patient care quality. Policy Implications: Policymakers are encouraged to implement systemic changes that address staffing shortages and improve workplace ergonomics, thereby fostering a healthier work environment for healthcare professionals. Relevance: This mini-review contributes to the ongoing discourse on occupational health in resource-limited settings, offering insights that are valuable for researchers, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers striving to enhance the working conditions and health outcomes for nurses worldwide.

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Background: This mini-review synthesizes current research on exercise knowledge and practices among pregnant women, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Key Findings: Recent studies indicate a generally positive attitude towards exercise during pregnancy across various cultural contexts. Walking and housework emerge as the most common forms of physical activity among pregnant women in these settings. Influencing Factors: The review explores factors influencing exercise knowledge and practice, including education level, parity, socio-economic status, and cultural beliefs. It also examines the sources of information pregnant women rely on for exercise guidance. Identified Needs: Despite growing awareness, there remains a need for more specific, culturally appropriate guidance on safe and beneficial exercises during pregnancy. Recommendations: The review concludes with recommendations for healthcare providers and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of incorporating exercise counseling into routine antenatal care and tailoring interventions to local contexts. Conclusion and Future Directions: This comprehensive overview highlights the potential for improving maternal and fetal health outcomes through appropriate physical activity during pregnancy, while also identifying areas for future research.

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Tuberculosis (TB) continues to rank among the world’s most serious health problems caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are several factors which are responsible for the exposure of tuberculosis among the communities. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the major factors for the exposure of tuberculosis disease among the persons. Worldwide, TB is one of the leading causes of death among people living with HIV. Tuberculosis is a serious health threat, especially for the people living with HIV. The socio-economic determinants such as unemployment, malnutrition and crowding play a significant role in increasing the rate of infection. In this article, we will discuss the socio-economic determinants of tuberculosis infection and disease. The rapidly growing consensus indicates that in the low and middle income country, the tuberculosis control programs are required with the investment in tuberculosis diagnostics and treatment in addition to action on the social determinants of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is most common among the disadvantaged group which includes the poor, ethnic minorities as well as hungry.

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Background: Cerebral palsy describes a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to non- progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing foetal or infant brain. In the industrialized world, the incidence of cerebral palsy is about two per 1000 live births. The incidence is higher in males than in females. The purpose of this study was to examine the motor abilities of children with cerebral palsy who received functional Physiotherapy and the improvement compared to the motor abilities of children in a reference group whose therapy was based on the principle of normalization of the quality of movement. Methodology: A comparative experimental study consisting of 30 cerebral palsy children assigned into two groups. Experimental (n=15) who underwent functional therapy and control (n=15) who underwent conventional physiotherapy were assessed for their improvement in functional skills. Result: Gross Motor functional measures (GMFM) reflects that Group A (Treated with functional therapy) is more effective than Group B (Treated with conventional therapy). Conclusion: This study concluded that there is a significant difference between the efficacies of functional physical therapy and conventional therapy in the treatment of CP children.

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Introduction: The burden of Tuberculosis (TB) in Africa continues to rise despite numerous interventions to stop the spread. Addressing factors associated requires a robust model that addresses cross-cutting issues in the continuum of TB care and management. The objective of this systematic review is to determine factors associated with poor treatment outcomes in newly diagnosed TB patients in sub-Saharan Africa. Method: The literature search identified 234 studies that were written in English. All the articles were identified via database search and imported into Mendeley for analysis. A total of 95 duplicates were removed and the abstracts of remaining studies were reviewed. A total of 139 abstracts were screened with misleading and non-open access journal articles removed. A full reading of the remaining 104 potentially relevant studies was done, in order to ascertain compliance with the inclusion/exclusion criteria and 24 studies were found to be eligible and were included in this review. Results: HIV co-infection, type of TB infection and gender were observed as most common factors associated with poor treatment outcomes in newly diagnosed patients. Several studies emphasized the impact of male gender on poor treatment outcomes stating a higher likelihood to developing unfavorable outcomes. Other factors identified included social factors namely employment, location, nutrition, failure to gain weight, failure to present at facility, delay to be treated at the facility and the type of facilities where one was treated. Conclusion: The common factors associated with poor treatment outcomes were HIV co-infection, type of TB infection and gender and these were notably underscored by social factors. Addressing these challenges will significantly improve the health outcomes of TB patients in the region.

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Introduction: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly in cases of uterine atony. Effective management is crucial to prevent severe complications and improve maternal outcomes. Intrauterine balloon tamponade techniques, such as the use of a condom balloon tamponade (CBT), have gained attention for their potential to control bleeding quickly and safely. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of intrauterine condom balloons in the treatment of atonic postpartum hemorrhage. Methods: This study is a prospective observational study conducted to assess the efficacy of intrauterine condom balloon tamponade (CBT) in the management of atonic postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, from January 2007 to December 2007. A total of 50 patients were selected by a purposive sampling technique. All collected data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 25.0). For continuous variables (e.g., blood loss, time to hemostasis), comparisons between groups (e.g., successful vs. unsuccessful tamponade cases) were performed using the Student’s t-test. For categorical outcomes, the Chi-square test was used to compare proportions. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: Intrauterine condom balloon tamponade (CBT) effectively managed atonic postpartum hemorrhage in 50 participants, achieving an 84% cessation of bleeding within 30 minutes. The average saline volume used was 500 mL, with a notable 16% of cases requiring additional surgical interventions, primarily hysterectomy. Blood transfusion was necessary for 68% of participants, with higher transfusion needs in cases of failed CBT. Maternal complications were minimal, with 8% experiencing postpartum fever and 4% developing uterine infections. The mean hospital stay was 5.0 days, with 40% staying longer than 5 days, reflecting the need for ongoing ..........

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Introduction: Vitamin D is crucial for bone growth, mineralization, and various metabolic processes in the body. Consequently, a deficiency or insufficiency of this vitamin can lead to long-term consequences, especially in children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency vitamin D deficiency in children aged between 1 to 16 years. Methods: This was an observational study conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Dr. Sirajul Islam Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka & Ad-Din Akij Medical College Hospital, Khulna, Bangladesh during the period from July 2023 to July 2024. The study enrolled children aged 1 to 16 years from the pediatric department, excluding those with specific health issues. Data analysis was conducted with SPSS 23, and ethical approval was obtained from Dr. Sirajul Islam Medical College & Hospital and Ad-Din Akij Medical College Hospital. Results: In our study, we included 100 children with vitamin D deficiency symptoms who attended the paediatrics department of our study institutions. Participants were categorized into four age groups: 1-3 years (30%), 4-6 years (15%), 7-10 years (21%), and 11-16 years (34%). The sample comprised 59% females and 41% males, with an average age of 12.84 years. Most were from middle-class families (39%), and 48% were in primary school. Common health issues included leg pain (58%), growth retardation (47%) and muscle pain/bone pain (39%). Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent, with rates of 50.00% in 1-3 years, 53.33% in 4-6 years, 47.62% in 7-10 years, and 61.76% in 11-16 years, indicating increased insufficiency with age. Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin D deficiency is high among our study children. A comprehensive action plan, including supplementation and food fortification, is crucial to prevent this deficiency in Bangladesh.

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Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of visual impairment in premature neonates. Early-onset neonatal sepsis, has been identified as a potential contributing factor to the incidence of ROP. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in early onset neonatal sepsis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Ophthamology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Dr. Sirajul Islam Medical College & Hospital Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 2022 to July 2024. Total 300 preterm neonates with ROP were included in this study. Then, they were divided into two groups- group A: 150 patients with early onset neonatal sepsis and group B: 150 patients with late onset neonatal sepsis. Result: The mean gestational age in Group A was significantly lower (28.9 ± 2.3 weeks) than Group B (30.1 ± 2.2 weeks) (p < 0.01). Maternal infections were higher in Group A (50%). Oxygen therapy duration was longer in Group A (14 ± 3 days) than in Group B (10 ± 2 days) (p < 0.01). Group A had more cases of ROP (70% vs. 57%, p = 0.02). Risk factors for ROP included gestational age <28 weeks (OR = 2.10), oxygen therapy (OR = 1.60), and mechanical ventilation (OR = 1.45). Conclusion: This study concludes that neonates with early-onset neonatal sepsis had higher incidence and severity of ROP, with key risk factors being low gestational age, prolonged oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and maternal infections.

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Background: Percutaneous sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for cystic lesions and has emerged as a preferred alternative to traditional surgical methods due to its faster recovery times and lower complication rates. A sclerosing agent is instilled into the lesion causing cyst wall inflammation and lesion shrinkage. It has a significant role in managing cystic lesions, with better health outcomes. Objectives: To evaluate the indications, outcomes, efficacy, and complications of percutaneous sclerotherapy in the management of cystic lesions. Methodology: The study was a prospective cross-sectional study involving patients with cystic lesions referred for percutaneous sclerotherapy. Data was collected, analyzed, and presented in percentages, graphs, tables. Technical and clinical success rates were calculated. Efficacy was analyzed using chi-square test. Results: 27 patients with cystic lesions were treated. Most were females (77.8%), and males (22.2%), with a male-to-female ratio of 1:3.5. The commonest indication was pain (26.1%), followed by pressure symptoms (22.7%) and abnormal swelling (20.5%). Most lesions were located in the liver (25.9%), followed by the kidney (18.5%). Majority had significant improvement in clinical symptoms and size reduction with p-values < 0.05. The technical success rate was 100% and the clinical success rate was 96.3%. Minor complications were encountered including mild pain (7.4%), catheter blockage, cyst abscess formation, catheter insertion site infection, and inflammatory cyst septations (each 3.7%). Conclusion: Percutaneous sclerotherapy is a safe, efficacious treatment of cystic lesions with a high technical and clinical success rate. It should be considered as a first line of treatment for cystic lesions.

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Introduction: Conjunctival autografting which is the mainstay in the management of pterygium. The conjunctival graft is most commonly harvested superiorly. However, superior bulbar conjunctiva may not be available for harvesting a graft in all cases and it would affect the outcome. This study aims at the efficacy of the inferior bulbar conjunctival grafting without using any suture or glue. Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Pabna Medical College Hospital, Pabna, Bangladesh during the period from January 2019 to December 2020. In our study, we included 100 eyes of 98 patients with primary pterygium who underwent surgical procedures in Pabna Medical College Hospital. Results: A total of 100 cases were included in this case series. Patient’s age ranged from 18 to 83 years (mean 48.08±12.76 years). Total graft dehiscence occurred in 2 eyes (2%), graft retraction in 10 eyes (10%), and recurrence was seen in 1 eye (1%). At 3 months postoperatively, the gain in uncorrected visual acuity ranged from 2-3 lines in the Snellen chart in 9 eyes, symblepharon does not occur in any patient and no other complication was noted. Conclusion: Our study shows that this simple technique for pterygium surgery may prevent the potential risk of bad outcomes of future filtration surgery and overcome the conditions when superior bulbar conjunctiva may not be available for harvesting a graft.