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Anxiety and depression are two important mental health problems among the geriatric population. They are often undiagnosed and directly or indirectly responsible for various morbidities. Early and timely diagnosis has immense effect on appropriate management of anxiety and depression along with its co-morbidities. Owing to time constraint and enormous patient load, especially in developing county such as India it is hardly possible for a physician or surgeon to identify a geriatric patient suffering from anxiety and depression using any psychometric analysis tool. So, it is of utmost importance to develop a predictive model for automated diagnosis of anxiety and depression among them. This Letter aims to develop an appropriate predictive model, to diagnose anxiety and depression among older patient from socio-demographic and health-related factors, using machine learning technology. Ten classifiers were evaluated with a data set of 510 geriatric patients and tested with ten-fold cross-validation method. Highest prediction accuracy of 89% was obtained with random forest (RF) classifier. This RF model was tested with another data set from separate 110 older patients for its external validity. Its predictive accuracy was found to be 91% and false positive (FP) rate was 10%, compared with gold standard tool.

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major global health challenge, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations in low‐resource settings. Urban slum dwellers, often living in overcrowded and resource‐limited conditions, are among the most vulnerable to HIV infection due to socioeconomic and structural factors. Understanding perceived vulnerability and transmission knowledge is key to developing effective prevention strategies. This study assessed these factors among urban slum adults, offering insights into their awareness and its determinants. Methods The study employed a cross‐sectional survey conducted in slum areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh, using face‐to‐face interviews with 482 participants selected through convenient sampling (non‐probability). Participants aged 18 years or older were included in this study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, following rigorous training of research assistants, and the process was piloted to refine the instruments. Statistical analysis was performed using Excel, SPSS and Stata, incorporating descriptive and multiple linear regression analyses with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results The study revealed that participants had a mean age of 38.1 years (±13.92), with HIV vulnerability associated with being female, having family members with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), cooperative family dynamics, and moderate sleep durations. HIV knowledge was notably low, positively influenced by being male, educated, higher‐income, and engaging in social media use and physical exercise, while smoking negatively impacted knowledge. A negative association was found between perceived HIV vulnerability and knowledge, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to address these gaps. Conclusion The study identifies socio‐demographic and behavioral factors affecting HIV vulnerability and knowledge among urban slum dwellers. Tailored HIV‐related education for women, disadvantaged groups, and families with STD histories is vital to reducing stigma and improving awareness. Community initiatives like smoking cessation, healthy lifestyle promotion, and digital literacy are crucial for addressing disparities and enhancing well‐being.

Dietary patterns for consumers among the elite and middle‐income classes in developing countries are shifting rapidly toward the consumption of more animal‐based products. Although this shift presents opportunities, there are significant market failures affecting their preferences and willingness to pay (WTP). This study used a multistage sample survey of 309 consumers from three different communities of Bukavu, Eastern DRC, to examine the effect of socioeconomic/socio‐demographic characteristics and quality attributes on consumers’ purchasing decisions and WTP for meat products. The results suggested that about 53% of the respondents were dissatisfied with meat products in the market due to their high price, low quantity, unhealthiness, and harmful effects. Older female respondents living in urban areas were more likely to purchase meat products. Their WTP was significantly determined by attributes such as color, in‐mouth texture, and availability. Nutrition, harmful effects, and availability of meat products are the important factors that influence purchasing decisions among higher income groups. Addressing these market failures could have an impact on the meat market, improving the nutrition of low‐income consumers and ensuring food safety standards in DRC and other developing countries with similar challenges. Congolese household meat consumption and their preference for meat products were investigated. Healthiness, price, quantity, and harmful effect were important attributes for consumer preference in meat products. Socio‐demographic variables such as living area, gender, and age influence/determine purchasing decisions and willingness to pay. A different household income caused a different purchasing decision and willingness to pay. Availability was the most significant product attribute influencing the willingness to pay.

The paper presents the most comprehensive and large-scale study to date on how students perceive the impacts of the first wave of COVID-19 crisis in early 2020 on various aspects of their lives on a global level. With a sample of 30,383 students from 62 countries, the study reveals that amid the worldwide lockdown and transition to online learning students were most satisfied with the support provided by teaching staff and their universities’ public relations. Still, deficient computer skills and the perception of a higher workload prevented them from perceiving their own improved performance in the new teaching environment. Students were mainly concerned about issues to do with their future professional career and studies, and experienced boredom, anxiety, and frustration. The pandemic has led to the adoption of particular hygienic behaviours (e.g., wearing masks, washing hands) and discouraged certain daily practices (e.g., leaving home, shaking hands). Students were also more satisfied with the role played by hospitals and universities during the epidemic compared to the governments and banks. The findings also show that students with certain socio-demographic characteristics (male, part-time, first-level, applied sciences, a lower living standard, from Africa or Asia) were significantly less satisfied with their academic work/life during the crisis, whereas female, full-time, first-level students and students faced with financial problems were generally affected more by the pandemic in terms of their emotional life and personal circumstances. Key factors influencing students’ satisfaction with the role of their university are also identified. Policymakers and higher education institutions around the world may benefit from these findings while formulating policy recommendations and strategies to support students during this and any future pandemics.

Background Childhood obesity is rising in developed and developing countries, while childhood underweight is rising mainly in developing countries. Childhood underweight has been shown to increase a child’s risk of rapid weight gain. Overweight and obese children are more likely to become obese adults, which increases the risk of type-II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Studies concerning obesity among Palestinian children are scarce. The prevalence of obesity among Palestinian children has increased from 3 to 6% within 5 years in comparison to the worldwide rise from 1 to 7%, within 41 years. We aim to determine the current prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity among Palestinian school-age children and to assess the role of dietary and sociodemographic factors. Methodology A cross sectional study was conducted in Palestine in 2017. A total of 1320 school-age children and their 2640 corresponding parents were recruited. A written questionnaire was filled out by the parents. Anthropometric indices were measured and categorized according to the Center for Disease Control and prevention (CDC). Results The mean ± SD age of the children was 9.5 ± 1.5 years and 48.8% were females. The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity among the children was approximately 7.3% (95% CI = 5.9–8.8%), 14.5% (95% CI = 12.7–16.6%) and 15.7% (95% CI = 13.8–17.8%) respectively. Multinomial logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation of waist circumference, age, gender and living place with the body mass indexes of the students. Conclusion Our findings highlighted the accelerated increase in the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity (37.5%) among Palestinian children within a very short time in comparison to the globe. Therefore, Interventions aiming to prevent obesity and underweight at an early stage might be vital to avoid obesity later in life and its health-related co-morbidities, e.g. type-II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The objective of this research was to analyse the quality of life of nursing professionals and its relationship with socio-demographic variables and the work context. A multi-centre, descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. Questionnaires were administered to 1521 nurses working in the Andalusian Public Health System (APHS), Spain. Professional quality of life (ProQOL v. IV) was measured, as well as several socio-demographic and work-related variables. To this end, a descriptive analysis and multiple exploratory analyses were conducted. The levels of compassion fatigue (CF) and burnout (BO) were elevated. The level of compassion satisfaction (CS) was below the estimated mean. Marital status, the healthcare setting, the area where the centre is located, and the work shift are variables associated with CF. According to the multiple linear regression model, the predicting factors for the occurrence of CF were being married, working in primary care, in urban areas, and working a morning/evening/night shift. The variables related to CS were the professional’s age, sex, marital status, the healthcare setting of the centre, the location of the centre, and the work shift. Specifically, according to the exploratory model, the factors that predicted a reduction in CS were working in primary care, in urban areas, and working a morning/evening/night shift. However, being divorced increased CS. BO was influenced only by the work shift. Nursing professionals are exposed to certain factors that may influence professional quality of life. Some of these factors are related to the work context.

Limited information exists from the dietary pattern of children and adolescents particularly in developing countries. We aimed to detect major dietary patterns and their association with socio-demographic characteristics of Iranian adolescents. Healthy Heart Promotion from Childhood as one of the \"Isfahan Healthy Heart Program\", Iran, projects was conducted in adolescents aged 11-18 years in Isfahan, Najafabad, and Arak districts, Iran, selected randomly by multistage sampling. This survey was conducted on 1992 adolescents in 2007. Dietary intake was assessed using a 50-item food frequency questionnaire in both communities. Four major dietary patterns labeled \"prudent diet,\" fast food diet,\" \"animal fat diet,\" and \"Mediterranean diet\" were identified. We found a significant inverse relationship between prudent and animal fat dietary patterns with age, prudent and Mediterranean dietary patterns with being boy. However, a positive relationship between fast food dietary pattern and age; fast food and animal fat dietary patterns with being boy were detected (all P < 0.05). While urbanization and TV watching correlated positively with the fast food diet, an inverse relationship between urbanization and animal fat and Mediterranean dietary patterns were found (all P < 0.01). The animal fat and fast food dietary patterns inversely associated with nutrition knowledge; however, Mediterranean diet had a positive relationship with it (all P < 0.05). Membership in sport team was positively related to all dietary pattern and regular physical activity associated only with prudent diet (all P < 0.05). The study suggests that socio-demographic characteristics and physical activity are related to dietary patterns in Iranian adolescents.

Objective: To look for outcome and analyze the factors influencing outcome of depressed skull fracture in pediatric group managed at tertiary care neuro-surgery unit Study Design: Comparative Cross-sectional Study Place and Duration of Study: Neurosurgery department Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad Pakistan, from Jun 2021 to Apr 2022 Methodology: A prospective study was conducted on the pediatric patients managed for depressed skull fractures with any surgical intervention in our neurosurgery unit. Outcome was assessed at 72 hours by consultant neurosurgeon and classed as good outcome if discharged at 72 hours with GCS 15/15. Various sociodemographic and clinical variables were associated with presence of poor outcome among children included in the study Results: A total of 100 children were included in the final analysis. Out of them 69(69%) were male while 31(31%) were females. Mean age of the study participants was 8.88±4.731 years. Eighty-six (86%) children with depressed skull fracture had good outcome after surgery while 14(14%) had poor outcome. Statistical analysis revealed that presence of compound fracture, dural tear and brain contusion was statistically significant association with poor outcome (p-value<0.05) in our study participants. Conclusion: Outcome was good in most of the pediatric patients managed for depressed skull fractures in our study. Patients who had compound fractures, Dural tear or brain contusions at time of presentation were more at risk of having poor outcome in our study participants.

Background COVID-19 has been characterised by its global and rapid spread, with high infection, hospitalisation, and mortality rates worldwide. However, the course of the pandemic showed differences in chronology and intensity in different geographical areas and countries, probably due to a multitude of factors. Among these, socio-economic deprivation has been supposed to play a substantial role, although available evidence is not fully in agreement. Our study aimed to assess incidence and fatality rates of COVID-19 across the levels of socio-economic deprivation during the first epidemic wave (March–May 2020) in the Italian Province of Foggia, Apulia Region. Methods Based on the data of the regional active surveillance platform, we performed a retrospective epidemiological study among all COVID-19 confirmed cases that occurred in the Apulian District of Foggia, Italy, from March 1st to May 5th, 2020. Geocoded addresses were linked to the individual Census Tract (CT) of residence. Effects of socio-economic condition were calculated by means of the Socio-Economic and Health-related Deprivation Index (SEHDI) on COVID-19 incidence and fatality. Results Of the 1054 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 537 (50.9%) were men, 682 (64.7%) were 0–64 years old, and 338 (32.1%) had pre-existing comorbidities. COVID-19 incidence was higher in the less deprived areas (p < 0.05), independently on age. The level of socio-economic deprivation did not show a significant impact on the vital status, while a higher fatality was observed in male cases (p < 0.001), cases > 65 years (p < 0.001), cases having a connection with a nursing home (p < 0.05) or having at least 1 comorbidity (p < 0.001). On the other hand, a significant protection for healthcare workers was apparent (p < 0.001). Conclusions Our findings show that deprivation alone does not affect COVID-19 incidence and fatality burden, suggesting that the burden of disease is driven by a complexity of factors not yet fully understood. Better knowledge is needed to identify subgroups at higher risk and implement effective preventive strategies.

In recent years, precision farming has been receiving more attention from researchers. Precision farming, which provides a holistic system approach, helps farmers to manage the spatial and temporal crop and soil variability within a field in order to increase profitability, optimize yield and quality, and reduce costs. There has been considerable research in farmers’ adoption of precision agriculture technologies. However, most recent studies have considered only a few aspects, whereas in this study a wide range of farm characteristics and farmer demographics are tested to gain insight into the relevant aspects of adoption of precision farming in German crop farming. The results of a logistic regression analysis show that predictors with positive influence on the adoption of precision farming are agricultural contractor services such as an additional farming business, having under 5 years’ experience in crop farming, having between 16 and 20 years’ experience in crop farming, and having more than 500 ha of arable land. However, having a farm of less than 100 ha and producing barley are factors that exert a negative influence on the adoption of precision farming. The results of this study provide manifold starting points for the further proliferation of precision agriculture technologies and future research directions.