Healthcare Workers' Safety; A Necessity for a Robust Health System

It is a prevalent misconception that healthcare professionals are specialists and thus can effectively manage their health. This is probably true, but given recent pandemics and the rise in violence in medical settings, one is compelled to question whether their health and safety are sufficient for a robust healthcare system. This is important because protecting and promoting the health, safety, and well-being of health workers will improve the quality of patient care and increase the resilience of health services in the face of outbreaks and public health emergencies. We thus strive to answer this question and suggest potential remedies to this growing public health issue.

Integrating Maternal and Child Health Into Climate Change: A Holistic Approach

Objectives

In everyday language, climate change is an increase in the Earth's average temperature. Climate change negatively affects life support systems, including air, food, water, shelter, and security, on which humans depend. This paper aims to holistically integrate maternal and child health into climate change.

Methods

A narrative/literature review approach were adopted using papers sources from google scholar, research gate and web of science. About 10 papers was initially gathered and it was later scrutinized to 6.

Results

It was discovered that, climate change negatively impacts food and water security, heat stress, extreme weather, and air pollution, with women and children most affected. The World Health Organization estimates 250,000 climate-related deaths annually by 2050, disproportionately affecting maternal and child health. Integrating climate and maternal health strategies could offer benefits, yet research on adapting to climate change's effects on pregnancy outcomes is limited.

Conclusion

Addressing maternal and child health requires integrating health-focused strategies into environmental policies to reduce vulnerabilities to climate-related risks. A comprehensive approach can enhance resilience by improving healthcare access, education, and sustainable resource management, benefiting public health and environmental outcomes.

Extracellular vesicle-mediated drug delivery in breast cancer theranostics

Breast cancer (BC) continues to be a significant global challenge due to drug resistance and severe side effects. The increasing prevalence is alarming, requiring new therapeutic approaches to address these challenges. At this point, Extracellular vesicles (EVs), specifically small endosome-released nanometer-sized EVs (SEVs) or exosomes, have been explored by literature as potential theranostics. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the therapeutic potential of exosomes in BC, focusing on their advantages in drug delivery and their ability to mitigate metastasis. Following the review, we identified exosomes' potential in combination therapies, serving as miRNA carriers and contributing to improved anti-tumor effects. This is evident in clinical trials investigating exosomes in BC, which have shown their ability to boost chemotherapy efficacy by delivering drugs like paclitaxel (PTX) and doxorubicin (DOX). However, the translation of EVs into BC therapy is hindered by various challenges. These challenges include the heterogeneity of EVs, the selection of the appropriate parent cell, the loading procedures, and determining the optimal administration routes. Despite the promising therapeutic potential of EVs, these obstacles must be addressed to realize their benefits in BC treatment.

Exploring Psycho-Social Factors Influencing Exclusive Breastfeeding: Lived Experiences of First Time Mothers at Salaga Municipal Hospital, Savannah Region in Ghana

Objectives

Exclusive breastfeeding is a critical public health strategy known to reduce infant mortality and morbidity, and to enhance maternal and child health outcomes. This study explores the psychosocial factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among first-time mothers in Ghana, highlighting the challenges faced by first-time mothers in maintaining EBF for the recommended 6 months.

Methods

The study utilized an exploratory qualitative research design to gain in-depth understanding of first-time mothers' experiences with EBF, utilizing semi-structured interviews at the Salaga Municipal Hospital postnatal clinic.

Results

The study found stressors affecting mothers' exclusive breastfeeding practices, including lactation issues, infant positioning issues, and physical discomfort. Strong family support was found to be crucial for encouraging and sustaining EBF practices.

Conclusion

Psychosocial factors significantly influence exclusive breastfeeding among first-time mothers. Strategies include addressing lactation issues, providing infant positioning education, alleviating physical discomfort, and enhancing family support systems.