BACKGROUND

Access to prison healthcare and healthcare equity remains poorly understood in the Philippines. With Philippine jail health systems subjected to budgetary restrictions, optimization of efficient mechanisms in healthcare delivery is warranted. This makes understanding how PDLs’ utilization to healthcare services more relavant and of high importance.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine healthcare accessibility and explored what influences healthcare access by Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs). Additionally, the study looked into whether healthcare was equally accessible to different PDL subgroups.

METHODS

A descriptive-correlational design was employed in recruiting 261 PDLs utilizing stratified random sampling in two jail facilities in Dumaguete City from May to June 2023. Data on healthcare accessibility and availability from self-report survey questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS version 25.

RESULTS

Hierarchical linear regression analysis shows that, collectively, predisposing factors (age, sex) F=200.82, enabling resources (availability of health services) F=52.52, and perceived needs (physical activities, sleep, diet, and mental health) F=30.24 significantly predict healthcare accessibility, having the availability of healthcare services as the strongest predictor with an R2 change of 43.7% followed by percieved needs (3.9%) and predisposing factor (1.4%), respectively. Furthermore, ordinal logistic regression analysis shows that healthcare by age groups 18-34 (OR=0.379) and 35-54 (OR=0.449) are less likely to be available and accessed than those aged 55 and above. Additionally, availability and accessibility of healthcare are less likely for males (OR=0.24) than females while PDLs with average physical activities (OR=0.87), good (OR=50.7) to average sleep (OR=27.4), and average mental health (OR=0.35) have higher odds of availing and accessing healthcare than their poor counterparts.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that PDLs tend to access healthcare services based predominantly on availability rather than their desired needs warranting strategies that allow catering to a wide range of health needs in PDL subgroups which ultimately lead to better prison health outcomes.

Human ; Health Services Accessibility ; Health Services Needs And Demand ; Health Services ; Health Resources

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, the WHO showed that stroke is the second leading cause of death for people above 60, and 5th among the aged 15 to 59 population. In the Philippines, statistics revealed that 500,000 Filipinos suffer from stroke annually. Although preventive efforts have brought about a steady decline in incidence over the last several years, stroke is still the third leading cause of death. Baguio-Benguet Chapter notes a rise in the number of stroke patients affecting both adult and younger age groups. The increasing cases of lifestyle diseases predispose people to stroke. Stroke prevention, management, and rehabilitation are essential in bringing back the normal functioning of stroke patients. Care for stroke clients is a challenging task because of the varied knowledge, practices, and attitudes (KAP) fostering the needs of a stroke client. In the Philippines, family members of the stroke client are more likely to be the preferred caregivers.

OBJECTIVE

The study determined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the community members and the community resources on stroke prevention, management, and rehabilitation as a basis for program development.

METHODS

This study utilized a mixed research design. Data were gathered from 275 residents of Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet using a structured questionnaire, and 10 FGD Groups. Frequency, percentage, and mean computations were done to analyze quantitative data, whereas descriptive analysis was done for qualitative data.

RESULTS

The majority of the respondents (76%) knew that stroke happens due to insufficient blood supply to the brain. Generally, the community agreed about their attitude on the prevention (2.89), management (2.68), and rehabilitation (2.75) of stroke. The community sometimes practices stroke prevention (3.17), management (2.83), and rehabilitation (2.92). Qualitative data revealed that experiences on stroke resulted in scientific knowledge, evidence-based practices, and utilization of existing resources that include personnel, infrastructure, and programs for stroke prevention, management, and rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION

The experience, social support, and maximized utilization of existing community resources have assisted the knowledge acquisition, favorable attitudes, and safe practices of the community on stroke.

Human ; Attitude ; Community Resources

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, the WHO showed that stroke is the second leading cause of death for people above 60, and 5th among the aged 15 to 59 population. In the Philippines, statistics revealed that 500,000 Filipinos suffer from stroke annually. Although preventive efforts have brought about a steady decline in incidence over the last several years, stroke is still the third leading cause of death. Baguio-Benguet Chapter notes a rise in the number of stroke patients affecting both adult and younger age groups. The increasing cases of lifestyle diseases predispose people to stroke. Stroke prevention, management, and rehabilitation are essential in bringing back the normal functioning of stroke patients. Care for stroke clients is a challenging task because of the varied knowledge, practices, and attitudes (KAP) fostering the needs of a stroke client. In the Philippines, family members of the stroke client are more likely to be the preferred caregivers.

OBJECTIVE

The study determined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the community members and the community resources on stroke prevention, management, and rehabilitation as a basis for program development.

METHODS

This study utilized a mixed research design. Data were gathered from 275 residents of Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet using a structured questionnaire, and 10 FGD Groups. Frequency, percentage, and mean computations were done to analyze quantitative data, whereas descriptive analysis was done for qualitative data.

RESULTS

The majority of the respondents (76%) knew that stroke happens due to insufficient blood supply to the brain. Generally, the community agreed about their attitude on the prevention (2.89), management (2.68), and rehabilitation (2.75) of stroke. The community sometimes practices stroke prevention (3.17), management (2.83), and rehabilitation (2.92). Qualitative data revealed that experiences on stroke resulted in scientific knowledge, evidence-based practices, and utilization of existing resources that include personnel, infrastructure, and programs for stroke prevention, management, and rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION

The experience, social support, and maximized utilization of existing community resources have assisted the knowledge acquisition, favorable attitudes, and safe practices of the community on stroke.

Human ; Attitude ; Community Resources

BACKGROUND

Stress is a pervasive occupational hazard among healthcare workers, particularly in tertiary government hospitals with heavy workloads, limited resources, and emotionally demanding care. Chronic stress contributes to burnout, reduced job performance, and poorer patient outcomes, posing significant workforce and public health concerns. Despite post-pandemic recovery initiatives, evidence remains limited on how healthcare workers experience and manage stress in routine, non-crisis settings in Philippine tertiary hospitals. This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived stress, clinicodemographic and lifestyle factors among employees of a tertiary government hospital.

METHODS

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 173 stratified randomly selected employees of Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital (LHMRH), Mountain Province. A validated self-administered electronic questionnaire assessed clinicodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. Anthropometric measures, including body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio, supplemented self-reported data. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, and linear regression identified factors associated with perceived stress.

RESULTS

Most employees demonstrated suboptimal adherence to Lifestyle Medicine pillars, particularly nutrition (0.6% met recommendations), physical activity (61.8% low), and sleep quality (83.3% fair/poor). The overall perceived stress level was moderate (mean = 18.19). Linear regression revealed that bronchial asthma (p = 0.003), poor sleep quality (p < 0.001), and alcohol dependence (p = 0.023) were significantly associated with higher stress, while nutrition, physical activity, and social support were not.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare workers at LHMRH experience moderate stress primarily linked to poor sleep, alcohol dependence, and bronchial asthma. Targeted wellness programs promoting sleep hygiene, responsible alcohol use, and chronic disease management are recommended to strengthen workforce resilience and align with the Mental Health Act and Civil Service Commission directives.

Human ; Health Personnel ; Health Resources ; Burnout, Psychological

BACKGROUND

Organizational commitment strengthens care delivery and system responsiveness, yet high turnover and workforce exhaustion threaten healthcare stability. Understanding factors that sustain commitment is especially critical during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM

This study examined how nurses' attitudes toward their practice environment predict organizational commitment at King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

DESIGN

Across-sectional predictive correlational design was used.

METHODS

Data was collected from 275 staff nurses between October and November 2020 using convenience sampling. Attitudes toward the practice environment were assessed with the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PESNWI), while organizational commitment was measured using the Revised Three-Component Model Employee Commitment Survey. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, and multiple regression were conducted in SPSS version 21.

RESULTS

Nurses reported positive work attitudes, with the highest ratings for nursing care and interdisciplinary relationships, followed by management and leadership, and the lowest for adequate resources. Organizational commitment was moderate across affective, normative, and continuance domains. Regression analyses identified nursing care and interdisciplinary relationships as the most consistent predictor across all domains of commitment, including affective (p < .001), normative (p = .047), continuance (p = .004), and overall organizational commitment (p < .001). Adequate resources significantly predicted affective (p = .014) and overall commitment (p = .050), while management and leadership predicted normative commitment (p = .016).

CONCLUSION

Nurses' perceptions of their practice environment significantly shape organizational commitment during crisis conditions. Interdisciplinary collaboration consistently emerged as the strongest predictor, underscoring the value of teamwork and nurse–physician partnerships. Adequate staffing and resources also reinforced commitment, particularly in sustaining affective bonds. These findings underscored that supportive practice environments, through collaboration, adequate resources, and participatory leadership, enhance nurses' autonomy and sense of meaningful work, which in turn strengthen organizational commitment, retention, and resilience during crises.

Human ; Nurses ; Nursing ; Workforce ; Health Resources ; Covid-19 ; Work ; Leadership ; Environment ; Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES: Since many Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were not achieved, countries including Iran—despite achieving some of the MDGs—need regular planning to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This article examines maternal and child health indicators in the early years of the SDGs in Iran relative to several other countries.METHODS: This study was carried out through a secondary analysis of maternal and child health indicators in Iran. The results were compared with data from other countries divided into three groups: countries with upper-middle income levels, countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and the countries covered by the Outlook Document 1,404 (a regional classification). Then, the relationship between these indicators and the Human Development Index was investigated.RESULTS: Iran has attained better results than other countries with respect to maternal mortality, family planning, skilled birth attendance, under-5 deaths, incidence of hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination coverage, and antenatal care. In contrast, Iran performed worse than other countries with respect to under-5 wasting, under-5 stunting, and care-seeking behavior for children.CONCLUSIONS: Overall, among the 11 indicators surveyed, Iran has attained better-than-average results and seems to be improving. We recommend that Iran continue interventions in the field of maternal and child health.
Child Health ; Child ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Family Planning Services ; Growth Disorders ; Hepatitis B ; Human Development ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iran ; Maternal Health ; Maternal Mortality ; Mediterranean Region ; Parturition ; Vaccination

The Korean Society for Legal Medicine (KSLM) was founded in 1976 and launched its official journal, the Korean Journal of Legal Medicine (KJLM), in 1977. They have played an important role in Korea's forensic medicine and science, the demand for which has increased in Korean society over the years. A historical review is important and has a significant value in the advancement of forensic medicine and science in Korea. Accordingly, this study reviews and analyzes all papers published in KJLM for 39 years, from Volume 1, Issue No. 1 in 1977 to Volume 39, Issue No. 4 in 2015. There are 891 published papers, which are categorized into 318 review articles, 339 original articles, and 234 case reports. Of the total 891 papers, 377 (42.3%) are related to forensic pathology, whereas 111 (12.5%) concern forensic genetics. The major submitting institutes are forensic medicine departments of universities and the National Forensic Service. KJLM's history can be divided into two phases. The first phase is from the 1970s to the 1990s, and the second, from the 2000s to the present. Many review articles were published in the first phase; approximately 10% of these articles concern clinical forensic medicine and law. Articles on forensic genetics, identification, and entomology also started to be published in the first phase. In the next phase, many case reports from the National Forensic Service were published, and the number of articles on forensic pathology and forensic genetics multiplied. The results of this study provide KSLM and KJLM with direction toward sustainable development. This study is part of the organization's 40th anniversary celebration, and in commemoration of its contribution to advancing human rights and social stability in Korea.
Academies and Institutes ; Anniversaries and Special Events* ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Entomology ; Forensic Genetics ; Forensic Medicine* ; Forensic Pathology ; Human Rights ; Jurisprudence ; Korea

The emerging global needs call for an expanded role of public health nurses in global health. Their competency is essential in responding to the emerging health challenges and to contribute to the attainment of Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. This paper determined the self-assessed level of confidence of public health nurses on the global health competencies. The study utilized a quantitative, descriptive research design. A survey tool that contains a list of the global health competencies on global burden of disease, health implications of travel and displacement, social and environmental determinants of health, globalization of health and health care, health care in low resource settings, health care as a human right and development resource was utilized. A total of 17 public health nurses from the 16 health centers in Baguio City, Philippines were recruited through total enumeration. Higher scores were given to the competencies on social and environmental determinants of health while lower scores were found on competencies related to globalization of health and health care. Overall, the public health nurses in Baguio City assessed themselves as often confident on the global health competencies. The study highlights areas for improved education and training, which are essential in attaining the global health competencies. Integration of global health concepts in the practice of public health nurses is required to enhance their competency in dealing with global health issues and challenges. This study recommends global health training for public health nurses to enhance their awareness, preparation, and confidence in the global health competencies.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Nurses, Public Health ; Global Health ; Philippines ; Global Burden Of Disease ; Goals ; Health Resources ; Internationality ; Surveys And Questionnaires ; Awareness ; Human Rights ; Conservation Of Natural Resources

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the socio-ecological and health profile of the Philippine LIFECARE study sites, its health care services and leading causes of mortality and morbidity.

METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study that recruited participants aged 20-50 years from Metro Manila and four provinces (Bulacan, Batangas, Quezon, Rizal). Study sites were characterized according to their geographical area, terrain and environmental profile, and available health care system.

RESULTS: 3,072 subejects were included, with male-to-female ratio of 1:1.3 and majority aged 30-50 years. Metro Manila was the most congested site. Two-thirds of the 62 villages (barangays) were rural, outside the town proper, and in lowlands. One-fourth were along coastal area. Almost all were accessible by public transportation. Majority have reduced forest cover, but were relatively safe from environmental hazards. Rural health units, hospitals, and professional health care workers were concentrated in Metro Manila. Leading cause of morbidity was respiratory tract infection, while cardiovascular diseases caused most of mortalities.

CONCLUSION: Study sites were mainly rural, outside the town proper and in lowlands, with available public transportation. There is an unequal distribution of health resources. Cardiovascular diseases is still the leading cause of mortality. The disparities in geographical access to health care play an important role in shaping human health.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Resources

PURPOSE: This pioneering study aimed to investigate social disparities in breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) incidence rates among women across Iran's provinces from 2003 to 2009. METHODS: Provincial level population distribution data pertaining to women were obtained from the Statistical Centre of Iran. Age-standardized incidence rates of BC and OC were gathered from the National Cancer Registry. Human Development Index was used as the provinces' social rank (SR), and rate ratio and Kunst and Mackenbach relative index of inequality were used to assess social disparities. Annual percentage change (APC) was calculated using joinpoint regression, and Spearman rank correlation was used to examine the association between APC and SR. RESULTS: It was found that over the study period, annual incidence rates rose by 11.6% and 9.7% for BC and OC, respectively. Social disparities were substantial and stable in favor of provinces with lower SR in Iran, and were more profound for BC than OC. Correlations between APC and SR were small and nonsignificant for both BC and OC. CONCLUSION: The results showed that both BC and OC incidence increased in Iran during 2003 to 2009. There were positive associations between BC and OC incidence rates and the provinces' SR. This study's recommendations provide valuable information for health resource allocation pertaining to BC and OC control programs across provinces in Iran.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Demography ; Female ; Health Resources ; Health Status Disparities ; Human Development ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Iran* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Socioeconomic Factors