Introduction: Hearing loss is an important public health issue that negatively affects children’s speech, cognitive development, academic performance, and social interaction. Even mild hearing impairment may lead to adverse developmental outcomes. However, data on hearing loss among primary school children in Mongolia remain limited. Goals: To determine the prevalence, type, and severity of hearing loss among primary school students in Ulaanbaatar and to assess associated socio-demographic factors. Material and Method: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,254 primary school students. Hearing screening was performed using pure-tone audiometry following a standardized protocol. Students who failed the screening were referred for confirmatory diagnostic audiometry. Hearing loss was classified as mild (21–35 dB), moderate (36–50 dB), and severe (≥50 dB). Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis data were analyzed using RStudio software. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. Associations between hearing loss and independent variables were examined using chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. Variables with p<0.20 in univariate analysis were included in the multivariable logistic regression model. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ethical considerations: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (Approval No. 2024/3 06). Written informed consent was obtained from parents or legal guardians, and assent was obtained from participating students prior to data collection. Results: Of the 1,254 students, 116 (9.2%) required further evaluation, and hearing loss was confirmed in 23 students (1.8%). Most cases were mild in severity. Paternal education level was significantly associated with hearing loss (p=0.028), whereas no significant associations were observed for sex or household income. Conclusion The prevalence of hearing loss among primary school students in Ulaanbaatar was 1.8%, with most cases being mild and unilateral. These findings highlight the importance of implementing regular school-based hearing screening programs and improving parental awareness of children’s hearing health.

Background: Hearing loss among adolescents remains an important public health concern, as even mild degrees of hearing impairment can adversely affect cognitive development, academic performance, and social interaction. In Mongolia, evidence on the prevalence of hearing loss among school-aged children is limited, providing the rationale for conducting this study. Aim: To determine the prevalence, type, and severity of hearing loss and to assess associated demographic factors among middle and high school students in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Materials and Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted during 2024–2025 among 1,803 students from 18 general education schools across nine districts of Ulaanbaatar. Hearing screening was performed using pure-tone audiometry according to a standardized protocol, and students who failed the initial screening underwent confirmatory audiometric testing. Hearing loss was classified as mild (21–35 dB), moderate (36–50 dB), or severe (≥50 dB). Demographic information was collected from parents or guardians using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using R software. Associations were assessed using the chi-square (χ²) test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Result: Among the students screened, 7.4% were identified as requiring further evaluation, and hearing loss was confirmed in 2.3%. Parental educational level was significantly associated with hearing loss, while no significant differences were observed by sex. Conclusion The prevalence of hearing loss among middle and high school students in general education schools in Ulaanbaatar was 2.3%, with no significant difference by sex. Most identified cases were mild and unilateral, highlighting the need for regular school-based hearing screening and strengthened parental health education. The association between parental educational level and hearing loss suggests the importance of addressing social determinants, and further studies are warranted to explore additional risk factors such as the use of personal listening devices.

Background: Early recognition and prevention of common childhood illnesses are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality among children under five. Aim: To assess parental knowledge and preventive practices related to childhood illnesses in Mongolia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 175 parents and caregivers of children aged 0–59 months attending primary health care facilities in urban and rural areas. Data were collected using structured interviews assessing knowledge of general danger signs, prevention of diarrhea and respiratory illnesses, household environmental risk factors, and injury prevention. Descriptive statistics and comparative analyses were performed, with statistical sig nificance set at p<0.05. Results: Urban caregivers identified significantly more general danger signs than rural caregivers (mean 5.3 vs 3.2; p<0.001). Knowledge levels did not differ between caregivers of ill and healthy children. Preventive practices related to diarrhea showed no significant association with child illness status. Rural households reported higher exposure to indoor air pollution from solid fuel use. Injuries requiring medical attention were reported in 22.9% of children, with no signifi cant differences in injury prevention knowledge. Conclusion Parental knowledge varied by place of residence rather than child health status, underscoring the need for context-specific health education within primary health care services, particularly in rural settings.

Background: Although cardiovascular health is a crucial problem for Mongolian people, little information about metabolic syndrome (MetS), associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, is available in Mongolia. Aim: The aim of this study was to observe the epidemiological features of MetS in a general Mongolian population. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 1911 general Mongolian subjects (men=717, women=1194), who were aged ≥ 40 years and free of ischemic heart disease. The prevalence of MetS, as defined by International Diabetes Federation criteria, was determined. Result: The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in women (n=488, 40.9%) than in men (n=138, 19.2%). The prevalence of MetS was high, especially in the Khangai region. A moderateto-high alcohol consumption was a significantly positively associated factor of MetS in men (odds ratio [OR] =2.01; 95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.15-3.51; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =2.41; 95% CI: 1.31-4.44) and widowed status was a significantly positively associated factor of MetS in women (OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.18-2.18; AOR=1.49, 95% CI: 1.07-2.08). Conclusion MetS was prevalent in women compared with men among Mongolian adults. Preventive strategies aimed at men with higher alcohol consumption and women of widowed status may help reduce MetS, thereby improving cardiovascular health conditions in Mongolia.

Аbstract Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains one of the most important disorders associated with disability and mortality worldwide, and is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases in Mongolia. The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of IHD and its related factors in a general population in Mongolia.
We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey between March and September, 2009. General participants were recruited from urban to rural regions in a multistage random cluster sampling method. The diagnosis of IHD was based on the Rose questionnaire and electrocardiographic findings. A total of 369 (16.2%) subjects with IHD were diagnosed among 2280 participants. The prevalence of subjects with IHD was significantly increased by age: from 9.9% in individuals age 40-44 years compared to 17.7% in those over 60 years. Smoking habits (former and current) and non-frequent intake of fruits and vegetables were significantly positively associated with IHD in men, while heavy alcohol drinking habits and lower education period of time were significantly positively associated with IHD in women.
IHD was found to be prevalent, especially among people aged over 40 years, in Mongolia. Statistical factors related to IHD were found to be significantly different based on sex. The current data may provide relevant information to prevent IHD in the Mongolian population.

BACKGROUND: Pterygium is a fibrovascular wing shaped encroachment of conjunctiva onto the cornea. Although the pathogenesis remains obscure, the ultraviolet radiations (UVR), especially UVR-A and UVR-B (290-400 nm), are considered the most dangerous in developing pterygium among other environmental factors (hot, dry, windy, dusty and smoky environments and hereditary factors. The main histopathological change in primary pterygium is elastotic degeneration of conjunctival collagen. Patient complaints include foreign body feeling and visual loss due to corneal astigmatism or growth over the pupil and cosmetic problems. Anti-inflammatory drugs and lubricants have an important role minimizing the patient’s discomfort, but they do not cure the disease. After surgical removal there are still many recurrences regardless of the method used. Autologous conjunctival grafting seems to be the best method, given both the low recurrence rate and high safety. As described first by Kenyon et al. in 1985, a conjunctival autograft reported a recurrence rate of 5.3% with infrequent and relatively minor complications. The primary disadvantage of this technique is the prolonged operative time required when compared to the bare sclera technique. These disadvantages are outweighed by the lack of sight-threatening complications and the relatively low recurrence rate, which made this procedure gain popularity in many centers. The application of intraoperative 0.02% mitomycin C for the 5 minutes is efficient in reducing the recurrence rate to a minimum. METHODS: This retrospective case series, single center study was conducted on 239 patients, who underwent pterygium excision from Jan 2017 to Dec 2017 at the Department of Ophthalmology of the First Central Hospital. All patients had a detailed ophthalmic examination before the surgical intervention. Data were collected through a prepared questionnaire. Postoperative follow-up examination sheets were evaluated. Data for recurrence rate of pterygium excision were collected and analyzed by using SPSS version 17.. RESULTS: Among the 239 patients, who underwent an operation, 37.2% (n=89) were male and 62.8% (n=150) were female. Participants’ age ranged from 29 -70 years with mean age of 49.5 years old. There is no statistical significance between the stages of the disease and its post-operative outcome in the patients, who underwent pterygium excision surgery in 2017. Postoperative pterygium recurrence was in 9 patients (3.8%); 5 (55.5%) out of all 9 patients with recurred pterygium had underwent pterygium excision without conjunctival autograft. MMC was not used intraoperatively for all 9 (3.8%) patients with recurrence post pterygium excision. CONCLUSION: The relationship between pterygium stage and its post-operative recurrence was not statistically significant (P=0.683). The recurrence rate after pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft was low (P≤0.001) which showed significant statistically. There was no recurrence after pterygium excision with MMC (P≤0.001). The results of studies from Canada, Hong-Kong, India, Philippines and Iran were similar to our outcome.

Background Although cardiovascular health is a crucial problem for Mongolian people, little information about metabolic syndrome (MetS), associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, is available in Mongolia. Aim The aim of this study was to observe the epidemiological features of MetS in a general Mongolian population. Material and Methods This cross-sectional study was performed in 1911 general Mongolian subjects (men=717, women=1194), who were aged ≥ 40 years and free of ischemic heart disease. The prevalence of MetS, as defined by International Diabetes Federation criteria, was determined. Results The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in women (n=488, 40.9%) than in men (n=138, 19.2%). The prevalence of MetS was high, especially in the Khangai region. A moderate-to-high alcohol consumption was a significantly positively associated factor of MetS in men (odds ratio [OR] =2.01; 95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.15-3.51; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =2.41; 95% CI: 1.31-4.44) and widowed status was a significantly positively associated factor of MetS in women (OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.18-2.18; AOR=1.49, 95% CI: 1.07-2.08). Conclusion MetS was prevalent in women compared with men among Mongolian adults. Preventive strategies aimed at men with higher alcohol consumption and women of widowed status may help reduce MetS, thereby improving cardiovascular health conditions in Mongolia.