Studies in Medical and Health Sciences

Evaluation of Infection Prevention and Control Practices among Healthcare Workers in Teaching Hospitals in Ibb City, Yemen

Noman Ahmed Yahya Alhatemi — 2025-12-08

Introduction: Globally, nosocomial infections affect over 100 million patients each year. This study aimed to assess the perceptions, practices, and perceived barriers related to infection prevention and control (IPC) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in teaching hospitals in Ibb City, Yemen. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs at teaching hospitals in Ibb Governorate, Yemen, from September 2024 to March 2025. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The selected hospitals followed infection control guidelines overseen by infection control committees. Results: Among the participants, 77% had attended seminars, and 71.3% had participated in IPC training courses. Although 67% were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV), only 65.7% had completed all three doses, and just 4.3% had received the COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, 74.6% demonstrated moderate perception of IPC, while 65.1% showed good IPC practices. A significant difference in IPC practices was observed between Al-Thawrah Teaching Hospital (77.6% good practice) and Jiblah University Hospital (52%) (p = 0.001). Significant differences were also found in perceived barriers between the two hospitals (p = 0.001). Furthermore, practice level was significantly associated with both knowledge (p = 0.001) and perceived barriers (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Despite good IPC knowledge among HCWs, gaps remain in their practical implementation. The strong associations between knowledge, practice, and barriers underscore the need for targeted training programs and sustained institutional support to strengthen IPC compliance in teaching hospitals.

The effect of Rosemary and Cinnamon extracts on blood glucose levels in albino rats with Alloxan-induced diabetes

Asmaa Alsurmi — 2025-12-08

Background: Herbs have long been recognized for their medicinal properties, with rosemary and cinnamon noted for their health benefits. Rosemary is used for treating respiratory infections and has antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, while cinnamon is known for its antispasmodic and antimicrobial properties.

Objective : This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rosemary and cinnamon extracts on blood glucose levels in diabetic albino rats.

Methodology : Thirty male rats were divided into six groups, with five groups induced with diabetes using Alloxan. Group I served as the normal control, while Group II was the diabetic control. Groups III and IV received 400 mg/day of rosemary and cinnamon extracts, respectively, Group V received a combination of both, and Group VI received glibenclamide as a positive control. After eight weeks .

Results: The results showed that both extracts significantly reduced blood glucose levels (p < 0.0001), with reductions of 49.9% for rosemary and 58.8% for cinnamon. The combination of both extracts led to a 70.8% reduction in blood glucose levels (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: The individual use of rosemary and cinnamon extract has a significant effect in lowering blood glucose but the using of combined extract has more significant effect in lowering blood glucose.

Community-Based Pre-Cancerous Cervical Screening Using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) in Urban of Hodeidah , Yemen

Bushra Alsharabi — 2025-12-08

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in low-resource settings, where screening coverage is often inadequate. Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) offers a low-cost, accessible method for early detection of precancerous lesions, particularly in underserved urban populations.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of precancerous cervical lesions and associated risk factors among women in Hodeidah, Yemen using VIA test .

Methodology : A retrospective study design was conducted among 143 women who underwent VIA screening in Hodeidah, Yemen. Data on demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, behavioral exposures, reproductive history, clinical findings, and preventive measures were collected using structured questionnaires. VIA-positive women were referred for histopathological confirmation. Diagnostic indices—including sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and accuracy—were calculated to assess VIA performance.

Results: The overall VIA positivity rate was 12.6% (18/143), pre-cancerous lesions were identified in 12 women (8.3%) through VIA, and histopathology confirmed 13 cervical cancer cases (9.1%). VIA demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, with a sensitivity of 92.31%, specificity of 95.38%, and overall accuracy of 95.10%. VIA-positive women were more frequently aged 31–40 years (38.9%) and belonged to low-income groups (77.8%). Behavioral exposures such as smoking, qat chewing, and shamma use showed no clear association with VIA positivity. Moderate parity (1–4 births) was common among VIA-positive women (88.9%). Clinical symptoms, particularly post-coital bleeding (61.1% vs. 21.0%) and cervical ulcers (27.8% vs. 14.0%), showed strong associations with VIA positivity. Preventive measures were very limited, with only 2.8% vaccinated for HPV and 4.2% previously screened.

Conclusion: VIA proved to be a reliable, sensitive, and cost-effective method for detecting cervical pre-cancerous lesions, demonstrating strong diagnostic value in low-resource settings. Clinical symptoms—particularly post-coital bleeding and cervical ulceration—were more predictive of VIA positivity than behavioral or reproductive factors. Strengthening HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening programs remains essential to improving early detection and reducing disease burden.