1,3-Bis(1-adamant­yl)imidazolium tetra­chloridoferrate(III)

The crystal structure of the title compound, (C23H33N2)[FeCl4], consists of 1,3-bis­(1-adamant­yl)imidazolium (BAIM) cations and tetra­hedral tetra­chloridoferrate(III) (TCF) anions. The BAIM cation possesses m symmetry, with the central imidazole ring and four C atoms of each terminal adamantyl group located on a mirror plane. The Fe and two Cl atoms of the TCF anion are also located on the mirror plane. The cyclo­hexane rings of the adamantyl groups adopt normal chair conformations

1,3-Bis(2,6-diisopropyl­phen­yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-3-ium triiodide

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C27H39N2 +·I3 −, the imidazolidinium ring is perpendicular to a mirror plane which bis­ects the cation. The dihedral angle between the imidazolidinium ring and the benzene ring is 89.0 (2)°. The triiodide anion also lies on a mirror plane and is almost linear with an I—I—I bond angle of 178.309 (18)°

Global pandemic and business performance: impacts and responses

The COVID-19 pandemic is anticipated to continue to the year 2022 and could lead to several business failures if entrepreneurs do not respond adequately. Thus, the purpose of this study is to introduce a framework that captures the impacts and potential responses to the ongoing pandemic. To do that, we conducted telephone interviews with ten entrepreneurs who operate enterprises within Nigeria. Data collected for analysis were transcribed, chronologically arranged, coded, and thematically analyzed using NVivo. Our findings revealed that, during the pandemic, businesses experienced limited opening hours, a decline in their clients' patronage, lower turnover, and employee demotivation. In response, business owners should consider re-strategizing their business activities, maintaining connections with clients, and exploiting available support measures. Our findings have profound theoretical and practical implications. For entrepreneurs and policymakers, they offer insights into the form of challenges confronting businesses during a pandemic. It also provides response activities that entrepreneurs could adopt to mitigate the impact of an epidemic on their enterprises’ performance. For the field of entrepreneurship, it advances the need to integrate public health (health-related issues) into entrepreneurship study and consider its multiple levels of influence on the performance of businesses

Exploring the efficacy of music in palliative care: a scoping review

Objective: There is an increasing recognition of the significance of music as a complementary therapy in palliative care. Limited studies exist on how music is used as a coping mechanism by palliative care patients. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to explore the efficacy of music interventions for palliative care. Method: We conducted a literature search between June and November 2019 in the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), British Nursing Index (BNI), and PubMed, which includes MEDLINE. The search identified eight articles which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Using thematic analysis, six themes were synthesied to show how music contributes to palliative care. The six themes include Pain management; Relaxation; Happiness and hope; Anxiety and depression management; Enhanced spirituality; and Improved quality of life. These themes reflect the psychological and emotional benefits palliative care patients derive from music therapies. Significance of results: Music therapy can be an effective psychosocial approach when managing palliative symptoms through its therapeutic effects on physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being

Socioeconomic status and other factors associated with HIV status among OVC in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Background: Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) are a high-risk group for HIV infection, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Purpose: This study aims to portray the socioeconomic profile of OVC and examine the association of household and parent/guardian characteristics with the HIV status of OVC. Methods: For this quantitative retrospective study, we obtained data from ICAP/DRC for a total of 1,624 OVC from households enrolled for social, financial, and clinical services between January 2017 and April 2020 in two provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haut-Katanga and Kinshasa. We computed descriptive statistics for OVC and their parents\u27 or guardians\u27 characteristics. We used the chi-square test to determine bivariate associations of the predictor variables with the dichotomous dependent variable, HIV positivity status. To analyze the association between these independent variables and the dichotomous dependent variable HIV status after controlling for other covariates, we performed firth\u27s logistic regression. Results: Of the OVC included in this study, 18% were orphans, and 10.9% were HIV+. The chi-square analysis showed that among parents/guardians that were HIV+, a significantly lower proportion of OVC (11.7%) were HIV+ rather than HIV- (26.3%). In contrast, for parents/guardians with HIV- status, 9.0% of OVC were HIV-negative, and 11.7% of OVC were OVC+. The firth\u27s logistic regression also showed the adjusted odds of HIV+ status were significantly lower for OVC with parents/guardians having HIV+ status themselves (AOR, 0.335; 95% CI, 0.171–0.656) compared with HIV-negative parents/guardians. The adjusted odds of HIV+ status were significantly lower for OVC with a monthly household income of \u3c $30 (AOR, 0.421; 95$30. Conclusions: Our results suggest that, with the exception of a few household and parent/guardian characteristics, the risk of HIV+ status is prevalent across all groups of OVC within this study, which is consistent with the existing body of evidence showing that OVC are in general vulnerable to HIV infection. With a notable proportion of children who are single or double orphans in DRC, HIV+ OVC constitute a high-risk group that merits customized HIV services. The findings of this study provide data-driven scientific evidence to guide such customization of HIV services

Community health workers’ involvement in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Wakiso District, Uganda

Background Community health workers (CHWs) are an important cadre of the global health workforce as they are involved in providing health services at the community level. However, evidence on the role of CHWs in delivering interventions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Uganda is limited. This study, therefore, assessed the involvement of CHWs in the prevention and control of NCDs in Wakiso District, Uganda with a focus on their knowledge, attitudes and practices, as well as community perceptions. Methods A cross-sectional study using mixed methods was conducted which involved a structured questionnaire among 485 CHWs, and 6 focus group discussions (FGDs) among community members. The study assessed knowledge, perceptions including the importance of the various risk factors, and the current involvement of CHWs in NCDs, including the challenges they faced. Quantitative data were analysed in STATA version 13.0 while thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data. Results The majority of CHWs (75.3%) correctly defined what NCDs are. Among CHWs who knew examples of NCDs (87.4%), the majority mentioned high blood pressure (77.1%), diabetes (73.4%) and cancer (63.0%). Many CHWs said that healthy diet (86.2%), physical activity (77.7%), avoiding smoking/tobacco use (70.9%), and limiting alcohol consumption (63.7%) were very important to prevent NCDs. Although more than half of the CHWs (63.1%) reported being involved in NCDs activities, only 20.9 and 20.6% had participated in community mobilisation and referral of patients respectively. The majority of CHWs (80.1%) who were involved in NCDs prevention and control reported challenges including inadequate knowledge (58.4%), lack of training (37.6%), and negative community perception towards NCDs (35.1%). From the FGDs, community members were concerned that CHWs did not have enough training on NCDs hence lacked enough information. Therefore, the community did not have much confidence in them regarding NCDs, hence rarely consulted them concerning these diseases. Conclusions Despite CHWs having some knowledge on NCDs and their risk factors, their involvement in the prevention and control of the diseases was low. Through enhanced training and community engagement, CHWs can contribute to the prevention and control of NCDs, including health education and community mobilisation

Nigerian cultural beliefs about mental health conditions and traditional healing: a qualitative study

Purpose: Cultural beliefs and traditions are integral to understanding indigenous mental health conditions (MHCs) and traditional healing. However, Nigerian cultural beliefs about MHCs and traditional healing are under-researched. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a qualitative design using a critical realist and social constructionist perspectives to explore Nigerian mental health care practitioners (MHCPs) and lay participants (LPs) views regarding mental health conditions and traditional healing. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed to select 53 participants (MHCPs = 26; LPs = 27; male = 32; female = 21) in four Nigerian cities (Ado-Ekiti, Enugu, Jos and Zaria). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed through thematic analyses. Findings: The datasets revealed three overarching themes, namely: (i) existing cultural beliefs about MHCs as spiritual curse; (ii) description of traditional healing as the first treatment modality for MHCs; and (iii) perceived stigma associated with MHCs and help-seeking behaviours. Originality/Practical implications: A study of Nigerian cultural beliefs and traditional healing contribute meaningfully to mental health systems. Future research and policy initiatives could explore ways of optimising traditional healing practices and community awareness programmes to increase access to mental health care in Nigeria

A one health approach to strengthening antimicrobial stewardship in Wakiso District, Uganda

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), as one of the global strategies to promote responsible use of antimicrobials to prevent antimicrobial resistance (AMR), remains poor in many low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). We implemented a project aimed at strengthening AMS in Wakiso district, Uganda using a One Health approach. A total of 86 health practitioners (HPs), including animal health workers, and 227 community health workers (CHWs) participated in training workshops, and over 300 pupils from primary schools were sensitized on AMR, AMS, and infection prevention and control (IPC). We further established two multidisciplinary online communities of practice (CoPs) for health professionals and students, with a current membership of 321 and 162, respectively. In addition, a Medicine and Therapeutics Committee (MTC) was set up at Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital. The project evaluation, conducted three months after training, revealed that the majority of the HPs (92.2%) and CHWs (90.3%) reported enhanced practices, including improved hand washing (57.3% and 81.0%, respectively). In addition, 51.5% of the HPs reported a reduction in the quantity of unnecessary antibiotics given per patient. This project demonstrates that AMS interventions using a One Health approach can promote understanding of the prudent use of antimicrobials and improve practices at health facilities and in communities

Access, use and disposal of antimicrobials among humans and animals in Wakiso district, Uganda: a qualitative study

Background: Inappropriate use of antimicrobials in both humans and animals is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In addition, human behaviours such as poor disposal of antimicrobials in the environment can increase their exposure to microbes which can impact on humans and animals. However, evidence on access, use and disposal of antimicrobials for humans and animals at community level in Uganda is limited. This study therefore explored access, use and disposal of antimicrobials among humans and animals in Wakiso district, Uganda. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted that involved focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). Participants of the FGDs were community health workers (CHWs) and farmers involved in animal husbandry, while key informants included: officials from the Ministry of Health; Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries; human and animal health professionals; district health officials; and members of the national AMR surveillance committee. Twelve FGDs were held (8 for CHWs and 4 for farmers) while 15 KIIs were conducted. Thematic analysis in NVivo (version 12) was performed. Results: Five main themes emerged from the study: access to antimicrobials in humans; access to antimicrobials in animals; use of antimicrobials in humans; use of antimicrobials in animals; and disposal of antimicrobials. Community members mainly accessed antimicrobials for humans from public health facilities such as government health centres, as well as private facilities, including drug shops and clinics. Antimicrobials for animals were obtained from veterinary practitioners and drug shops (both for humans and veterinary). Examples of inappropriate use of antimicrobials in both humans and animals was evident, such as sharing antibiotics among household members, and giving human-prescribed antimicrobials to food-producing animals as growth promoters. While some CHWs returned unused antimicrobials to public health facilities for proper disposal, community members mainly disposed of antimicrobials with general household waste including dumping in rubbish pits. Conclusions: There is a need to increase awareness among the population on proper access, use and disposal of antimicrobials for both humans and animals. Development of a drug disposal system at community level would facilitate improved waste management of antimicrobials. Together, these measures would help prevent the rate of progression of AMR in communities