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Introduction: Adolescent Health Services (AHS), also known as Youth-Friendly Health Services (YFHS), aim to meet the unique health needs of individuals aged 10–19. Despite efforts to expand access, utilization remains suboptimal in many settings. This study aimed to determine factors influencing AHS utilization among adolescents in Mbala Township, Northern Zambia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 adolescents aged 10–19 years, selected through systematic sampling. Data were collected using a standardized interview schedule and analysed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with AHS utilization, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: While 75% reported having used AHS and 80% had access, only 43% demonstrated good utilization. Knowledge of AHS was high (83%), and 58% held positive attitudes toward their use. Major sources of information included health facilities (46%) and the community (30%). Barriers to utilization included shyness (43%), perceived discrimination by providers (42%), and health worker-related hindrances (73%). Distance to facilities was also a concern, with 50% requiring over 30 minutes to reach care. Utilization was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.031) and education level (p = 0.001). Logistic regression showed that being female (AOR = 1.75, p = 0.031), having secondary education (AOR = 2.90, p = 0.018), and a positive attitude (AOR = 1.84, p = 0.047) were significant predictors of AHS utilization. Conclusion: Despite high awareness and access, effective utilization of AHS in Mbala remains limited, largely influenced by gender, educational attainment, and attitudes. Interventions should focus on promoting youth-friendly services, reducing stigma, and enhancing community and provider engagement to improve adolescent health outcomes.

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Background: Psychological stress is the body's natural response to physical or emotional pressure, leading to the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. While stress can sometimes be beneficial by enhancing focus and decision-making, prolonged stress can negatively impact mental and physical health. To reduce its effects, practicing exercise, relaxation techniques, and effective time management is recommended. Objective: To Evaluate nurse’s knowledge Among Psychological stress in pediatric department and Nursery intensive care unit Methods: This descriptive cross sectional hospital-based study design to assess stress among nurses in the pediatric department and NICU at Almak Nimr Hospital in period extended from "December to February 2025" purposive sampling technique was used, with a sample size of 38 nurses. Data were collected using a closed-ended questionnaire designed by the researchers. The questionnaire consisted of 18 questions finally the data was analyzed by statistical package for social solution (SPSS) version 18 then the data represents in form tables and figures. Results: The results of present study clarified that less than half (48%) of the study group experienced stress due to workload, (16%) due to a lack of medical resources, (10%) due to dealing with critical cases, and conflicts with colleagues and patients, (16%) indicated that all the mentioned factors contributed to their work-related stress. Also about Impact of anxiety or stress affect the quality of professional performance more than half (52%) of study group had moderate impact, (16%) of study group had significant impact, (32%) of study group had minor impact. And about dealing with psychological stress the result showed that the majority (84%) of study group had poor knowledge, only (2%) of study group had good knowledge, and (14%) of study group had fair knowledge. Conclusion: The result concluded that the nurses knowledge regarding physical health effect of stress is (82%)

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Background: While current information on uterine fibroid (UF) includes mostly quantitative approaches, there is limited information known about women’s personal experiences and symptoms of UF described in their own words. Objective: This study explored the understanding of symptoms experienced by women diagnosed with UF and the burden of the disease on their quality of life. Methods: This was a qualitative exploratory study. Purposive sampling was used to select 10 women diagnosed with UF between March and April 2022. The study used semi-structured interviews, guided by the common-sense model of illness, during which they described UF symptoms they experienced and the different ways in which UF affected their life before presenting at the hospital. Thematic analysis, as described by Braun and Clark was used for data analysis. Results: Seven symptoms of UF experienced by participants emerged: menorrhagia, chronic pain, dysmenorrhea, abdominal bloating, pelvic pressure, pelvic mass and micturition difficulty. The burden of UF was felt across six areas of life: psychological, social, physical, socioeconomic/financial, employment and sexual life. Conclusion: The results reported in this current study illustrate that participants consider the burden of UF to be too much.

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Introduction: Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO4) is the first-line treatment for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, conditions that contribute significantly to maternal and fetal mortality worldwide. Despite its availability in Zambia, gaps in knowledge and competency among healthcare providers may hinder its effective use. This study aimed to assess the competence of nurses and midwives at Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital in the administration of MgSO4. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study where 100 respondents participated in the study. Participants were randomly selected. A structured questionnaires and checklists were used to collect data. Statistics Package for Social Sciences computer software package version 23.0 was used to analyze data. Chi square tests was used to test the significance of the association between Knowledge on administration of MgSo4, Competence in MgSo4 administration, among nurses and midwives at Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital. A 95% confidence interval and P value of 0.05 were used to ascertain the degree of significance. Multivariate binary logistic regression model to determine predictors of practices and need for information was also used. Result: On analyzing the dependent variables, majority, 71% demonstrated competence in MgSo4 administration. More than half 69% of respondents had knowledge on MgSO4 administration and 58% were trained. However, 31% lacked knowledge, and 29% were either unskilled or had limited skills. Almost all (92%) of the respondents confirmed MgSO4 being readily available in the department while 73.9% of respondents actively used it. Associated barriers to utilization included fear of side effects and lack of mentorship. Conclusion: Lack of knowledge was the main reason associated with lack of competence in MgSo4 administration among 29% of nurses and midwives regardless of the period of being in service. Particular attention should therefore be given to ensuring that nurses and midwives undergo train

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Introduction: The World Health Organization (2023) has identified neonatal asphyxia as being the third leading cause of early newborn deaths globally, accounting for approximately 24% of neonatal mortality (Workineh et al., 2020) found out that 24% of African births are affected by asphyxia. In Kenya, birth asphyxia accounts for 29% of deaths of neonates, and Nakuru County has a perinatal death rate (15/1000 live births) that surpasses WHO recommendations ((Ngare et al., 2020). The WHO recommends a maximum of 12 fatalities per 1000 live births and suggests interventions such as drying, stimulating, and warming newborns with birth asphyxia (Moshiro et al., 2019) Objective: To identify primary factors contributing to neonatal birth asphyxia at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study design, using secondary data collected from the hospital's Newborn Unit records was used with the target population of asphyxiated neonates with APGAR scoring < 7 within the first minute of extra uterine life. Results: The highest incidence was observed in those aged 13-25 years (38%), married (65%), with secondary education (60%), and who attended their first ANC visit (56%). Employment status also played a role, with unemployed mothers contributing to 37% of cases. Foetal factors, such as low birth weight (55.83%), premature gestation (57.5%), vertex presentation (63.33%), and male sex (60.42%), significantly increased the risk. Maternal-obstetric factors, including PROM (42%), meconium-stained liquor (53%), infections (33%), pre-eclampsia (44%), and prolonged labour (28%), were prevalent, though not significantly different in their impact. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among socio-demographic and foetal factors, while maternal-obstetric factors showed no significant variation in their contribution to birth asphyxia. Conclusion: Birth asphyxia remains a significant concern, with key contributors identified as socio-demographic

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Introduction: Nursing students frequently experience high levels of stress, anxiety and depression, which can impact their mental health and academic performance (Yonca, 2023; Fauzi et al., 2021). At Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU), there is an urgent concern regarding the mental health of nursing students, despite available counselling services and academic support. Objective: This study aimed to determine the levels of stress, anxiety and depression among diploma nursing students at LMMU. Methodology: A descriptive cross- section design was utilized, involving 198 diploma nursing students selected through stratified simple random sampling. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 27, employing binary logistic regression and Chi-Square tests to examine relationships between variables. Results: The participates ages (17- 36) were predominantly female (80.8%) and unmarried (92.9%). Moderate levels of stress, anxiety and depression were reported at 36.4%, 49% and 59.4%, respectively. The majority of the students (85.4%) stayed outside the campus while only 29 (14.7%) stayed within campus. The study found that factors such as age, gender, family history of mental illness, marital status, academic and financial pressures and living arrangements did not show statistically significant associations with moderate to high levels of depression among diploma nursing students at LMMU, despite some findings suggesting trends (e.g., younger age correlating with lower depression and living- off campus being linked to higher depression) Female students were observed to be 0.49 times less likely to develop moderate to high depression compared to males, whiles those from families with a history of mental illness were 1.22 times more likely to experience increased depression however, these associations were not statically significant (P>0.05).Notably, students who frequently experienced negatives thoughts were 1.82 times more

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Abstract: Introduction: Emotional distress among nurses has become a global health concern. Emotional issues associated with occupational stress have become a threat to the nursing profession. Emotional issues in the nursing profession results from the strenuous and demanding nature of the work. Therefore, the need to investigate the presence of and factors associated with emotional distress among nurses is fundamental to development of strategies that should address nurse’s plight with regards to the emotional toll that their work may have on them. The negative consequences of leaving emotional distress among nurses unaddressed motivated the need to undertake this study. Methodology: A cross sectional analytical study design was employed to conduct the present study at the University Teaching Hospitals in Zambia. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Zambia Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (UNZABREC) and permission to conduct the study was granted by the National Health Research authority (NHRA). The study involved 71 nurses working in Out-Patients Department who completed a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20), while Chi-square was used to test the association between categorical variables. In addition, binary logistic regression analysis was used to ascertain the relationship between the dependent variable (emotional distress) and the independent variables. P-values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Findings: Emotional distress was observed to be prevalent among 56.3 percent nurses and among the distressed, 25 percent showed high levels of distress. There was a strong association between emotional distress and coping among nurses (p-value < 0.001c) and as such it was found that nurses who employed adaptive coping strategies unlike maladaptive strategies proved to be less distressed. Occupational stressors showed