Bio-nanotechnology application in wastewater treatment

The nanoparticles have received high interest in the field of medicine and water purification, however, the nanomaterials produced by chemical and physical methods are considered hazardous, expensive, and leave behind harmful substances to the environment. This chapter aimed to focus on green-synthesized nanoparticles and their medical applications. Moreover, the chapter highlighted the applicability of the metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the inactivation of microbial cells due to their high surface and small particle size. Modifying nanomaterials produced by green-methods is safe, inexpensive, and easy. Therefore, the control and modification of nanoparticles and their properties were also discussed

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

Attitudes of First-Year Medical Students Towards the Doctor Patient Relationship

In recent years, medical schools all over the world have instituted a variety of curricula to teach communication skills, professional values and ethics to medical students. Studies on the student attitudes towards doctor-patient relationships are lacking in Nepal. The present study was carried out to obtain information on the sharing and caring dimensions of the doctor-patient relationship and note any association of the dimensions with the demographic characteristics of the respondents. The study was carried out among first year students of the Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal in August 2003 using the patient-practitioner orientation scale. One hundred and sixty-five students participated. The mean ± SD total, caring and sharing scores were 3.71 ± 0.48, 3.51 ± 0.55 and 3.91 ± 0.62 respectively. Students whose first degree relative was a doctor had higher sharing score compared to those without doctor relatives. Female students had higher scores. Students had a positive attitude towards the doctor-patient relationship. Our scores were lower than those reported previously. Further studies are required and the results obtained will be helpful in designing a doctor-patient relationship course for Nepal. Key Words: Attitude, doctor-patient relationship, medical students, patient-centred care

The health belief model

© Cambridge University Press 2007.Development of the health belief model (HBM) In the 1950s US public health researchers began developing psychological models designed to enhance the effectiveness of health education programmes (Hochbaum, 1958). Demographic factors such as socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity and age were known to be associated with preventive health behaviours and use of health services (Rosenstock, 1974), but these factors could not be modified through health education. Thus the challenge was to develop effective health education targeting modifiable, individual characteristics that predicted preventive health behaviour and service usage. Beliefs provided an ideal target because they are enduring individual characteristics which influence behaviour and are potentially modifiable. Beliefs may also reflect different socialization histories arising from demographic differences while, at the same time, differentiating between individuals from the same background. If persuasive methods could be used to change beliefs associated with health behaviours and such interventions resulted in health behaviour change then this would provide a theory-based technology of health education. An expectancy–value model was developed in which events believed to be more or less likely were seen to be positively or negatively evaluated by the individual. In particular, the likelihood of experiencing a health problem, the severity of the consequences of that problem, the perceived benefits of any particular health behaviour and its potential costs were seen as core beliefs guiding health behaviour (see ‘Expectations and health’). Rosenstock (1974) attributed the first health belief model (HBM) research to Hochbaum’s (1958) studies of the uptake of tuberculosis X-ray screening

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Not AvailableAll people, whether educated or not, urban or rural, have cultural belief about the nutrition, health, causes of sickness or their remedial measures. Where professionals believe in substantial empirical evidence, farmers on the contrary rely more on observations, past experiences and accessibility of things needed to support their native lifestyle. According to a previous report (Satyapriya et al., 2020), the strengthening of internal Nutritional Health Locus of Control (NHLC) can help farmers feel more empowered and take charge of their nutrition and health. Thus their beliefs that rely more on cultural systems, can be revised in the light of new information and awareness. The ‘Health Belief Model’ (HBM) can be used alone or in combination with other models of learning theories and approaches, as the theoretical basis of a health education programs. Since no model or learning theory can explain or predict all aspects of health behavior, it will be more practical to combine compatible theories and models to create stronger health education programs. (Renuka et al., 2014). The HBM is often combined with: “Social learning theories and behavioral changes” in health education programs. In this study a Nutritional Health Belief Model (NHBM) has been used to understand the motivation to improve health, in context of anemia and nutritional health behavior among 100 farmers of backward districts of UP and Haryana in India. The sample of 100 farmers, was selected by simple random sampling technique. These districts in the 2 States were selected particularly due to their nutritional vulnerability. A basic framework has been designed to elucidate NHBM from the existing model health beliefs. Mokken’s Scaling Analysis (MSA) was used to select for a farmer’s perspective on nutritional health and motivational factors that influence their nutritional health beliefs. Since beliefs are related to health consciousness the relation between the major key factors of NHBM have also been reported in this study through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). NHBM complying to health consciousness and related key factors was the major deciding factor in agri-nutri linkage to health.Not Availabl