Public Health الصحة العامة
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- ItemSoap contamination by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in hospitals care units in Bethlehem and Hebron (West Bank, Palestine)(Al-Quds Univeersity, 2026-01-03) Shahd Raed Helmi AL-Qaisse; شهد رائد القيسيBackground: Washing hands with contaminated soap can increase the exposure to opportunistic pathogens and may contribute to the transmission of bacteria in public environments. One of these pathogens is Pseudomonas aeruginosa a gram-negative environmental bacterium, that predominantly lives in humid environment. It is a major cause of nosocomial infections in hospitals and causes acute or chronic infections in immunocompromised individuals. In addition, P. aeruginosa has an inherent resistance to antimicrobial agents, which can be more aggressive and cause severe therapeutic problems. However, P. aeruginosa as an opportunistic pathogen can activate useful phenotypes under environmental stress and persist in harmful situations such as the presence of antibiotic or antiseptic substances. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of P. aeruginosa contamination in soaps across hospital care units in Bethlehem and Hebron, Palestine. Methods: Soaps samples (N=79) were collected from various sections including, Intensive care units, Internal medicine units, Cardiac care units, Pediatric Oncology Department, Dialysis units, Rehabilitation, Post-natal care, Delivery room, Postnatal unit and Surgery. All samples were cultured in cetrimide agar plates for the isolation of P. aeruginosa without prior dilution. Preliminary tests including Gram stain, oxidase and growth at 42°C, coupled with Biochemical Identification using API 20 NE, used as confirmation tests for P. aeruginosa. Results: Out of 79 soap samples collected from different care units, 15 (18.98%) samples tested positively for P. aeruginosa. From Bethlehem hospitals, out of forty-five samples there are 6 (7.59%) positive samples were detected. However, thirty-four samples from Hebron hospitals, 9 (11.39%) were positive samples contaminated with P. aeruginosa. On the other hand, the results showed that among the samples collected, only 3/15 (20%) positive samples used by medical staff, while 12/15 (80%) positive samples were used by patients and their companions. Conclusion and recommendations: All positive samples in this study were obtained from refilled soap dispensers; these findings support the notion that refillable soap dispensers are more susceptible to bacterial contamination likely due to accumulation of liquid in the pump head. Accordingly, positive samples in this study may be attributed to several factors including the presence of some soap bottles without a cover pump, unhygienic bathrooms, unclean sinks, or perhaps the contamination occurred in some way through tap water. In addition, the ability of P. aeruginosa to form biofilm may enhance its persistence, virulence and resist to antimicrobial agents. Antibiotic resistance represents a major and growing global public concern. Thus, reducing the transmission of bacterial pathogen among patients is essential to limit antibiotic use and slowing the antibiotic resistance. Hence, it is important to ensure that effective hand hygiene is the most effective method mainly in healthcare settings, washing hands with proper and uncontaminated soap by medical staff or patients can help to reduce nosocomial infections. Consequently, hospitals are strongly encouraged to replace refillable soap dispenser with disposable, sealed nonrefillable system to ensure sterile and effective hand washing practices.
- ItemSelf-Perceived Health Status and Sense of Coherence among Children with Cancer in the West Bank, Palestine(Al-Quds Univeersity, 2026-01-03) Donya Mohammad Sobhi Anbar; دنيا محمد صبحي عنبرAbstract Introduction: Self-perceived health status (SPHS) and sense of coherence (SOC) are important concepts in understanding the health experience of children with cancer. This study aims to identify the level of SPHS and SOC, identify the relationship between medical and sociodemographic characteristics and SPHS/SOC, and identify the relationship between SPHS and SOC among children aged 8 to 18 years with a cancer diagnosis. This study aims to fill that gap by exploring the relationship between SOC and SPHS in children with cancer in the West Bank, Palestine. Understanding these concepts will reveal the children's coping mechanisms and help healthcare providers improve SOC in routine care to enhance SPHS, assist policymakers in creating supportive programs, and ensure psychological needs are met, while also guiding future research. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Two hundred participants completed the surveys, with a response rate of 54.1%. Participants were between 8 and 18 years old, had received a cancer diagnosis, were admitted to pediatric oncology/hematology wards or attended outpatient clinics at Najah National University Hospital (NNUH)/Nablus, Al-Istishari Hospital/Ramallah, and Beit-Jala Hospital/Bethlehem. Among the participants, 72% of children with cancer aged 8 to 18 years completed the PedsQL 3.0 Cancer Module Arabic Version, while 28% of children aged 13 to 18 years completed both the PedsQL 3.0 Cancer Module Arabic Version and the SOC-13 Arabic Version. The study period was from October 15, 2024, to December 16, 2025. Results: The findings revealed that the PedsQL mean was 52.02 (SD = 17.02) and had low SPHS; the highest score was in the domains of communication (mean = 67.96 ± 28.11), while the lowest SPHS was in the domains of worry (mean = 36.00 ± 29.02) and procedural anxiety (mean = 36.62 ± 27.68). Also, the SOC mean score was 55.02 (SD = 12.27), and 76.8% of participants had low SOC. The SOC domains were 19.54 ± 6.78 out of 35 for comprehensibility, 17.59 ± 3.86 out of 28 for manageability, and 17.89 ± 4.61 out of 28 for meaningfulness. Otherwise, Statistical analysis demonstrates a significant co-relationship between SPHS and SOC with r = 0.490, P-value < 0.01. Which means, high SOC indicates high SPHS, as a result, coping with stressors and living with cancer. Conclusion: The political situation in Palestine may negatively affect SOC in children overall, and specifically impact those with cancer, due to a lack of services and medication, and difficulty accessing healthcare. Tracking SPHS and SOC helps in understanding the impact of these barriers and assists caregivers in developing more effective interventions to improve the quality of care and support provided to these children. In summary, SOC is a key concept that affects SPHS among children with cancer. This shows that the psychological aspect in children is just as important as the medical aspect.
- ItemPrevalence and Risk Factors of Tuberculosis in the West Bank (2016-2024)(Al-Quds University, 2026-01-10) Rawan Moraweh Hussein Abdelhaq; روان مروح عبد الحقBackground: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global public health concern, including in low-incidence but high-risk settings such as Palestine, where political constraints, limited diagnostic capacity, and socioeconomic hardship may mask the true burden of disease. Although the West Bank reports fewer than one case per 100,000 population, the actual burden may be underestimated due to diagnostic limitations, underreporting, and operational constraints within the health system. Understanding the epidemiological trends, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and household transmission patterns is essential to strengthening surveillance and improving TB control strategies. Methodology: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using national TB surveillance data obtained from the Palestinian Ministry of Health for the years 2016–2024. Data were extracted from standardized investigation forms and DHIS2 databases. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed to assess sociodemographic, socioeconomic, clinical, diagnostic, and household contact variables, and to determine factors associated with TB forms and diagnostic outcomes. Results: From 2016 to 2024, a total of 67 confirmed TB cases (49 PTB and 18 EPTB) aged ≥10 years were reported in the West Bank, corresponding to a very low but fluctuating incidence of 0.09-0.36 per 100,000 population and an overall prevalence of 2.01 per 100,000. Cases were predominantly male (65.7%) with a median age of 47 years; PTB was more common among older adults, whereas EPTB was relatively more frequent in younger adults. Bivariate analysis showed that occupation (notably doctors and digger-truck drivers) was significantly associated with TB classification (p = 0.026). At the same time, sex, housing conditions, and diagnostic delays were statistically associated with higher bacteriological positivity in selected tests, reflecting increased infectiousness in specific subgroups. Diagnostic pathways relied mainly on acid fast stain, culture, imaging, and Mantoux testing, with minimal use of GeneXpert and substantial underreporting of several diagnostic results and comorbidities. Among 139 household contacts, 23.1% had a positive Mantoux test. However, tuberculosis preventive therapy was documented for only about two-thirds of eligible contacts, and overall treatment outcomes for index cases were poorly recorded. Conclusion: Although TB incidence in the West Bank remains low, the study highlights key epidemiological and clinical patterns that warrant attention, including occupational-related risks, diagnostic delays, and potential household transmission. Strengthening diagnostic capacity, enhancing early detection, improving documentation quality, and implementing targeted prevention strategies may help reduce future TB burden and support national progress toward the WHO End TB goals.
- ItemMidwives’ Awareness of alternative Birth Positions and the Factors Associated with their Use in the Southern West Bank(Al-Quds Univeersity, 2025-12-20) Balqees Ali Mohammed Hamdan; بلقيس حمدانBackground: This study was conducted to assess midwives’ awareness and practice regarding alternative birth positioning during labor in hospitals located in the Southern West Bank. The study was carried out during the academic year 2024–2025 and targeted practicing midwives working in governmental and private hospitals in the southern region. The research addressed a significant gap in the application of alternative maternal positions during labor, despite the growing global evidence supporting their benefits for maternal comfort, labor progress, and neonatal outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of awareness among midwives, examine their actual practices, and identify the clinical, demographic, and contextual factors that influence the use of birth positions during labor. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study design was adopted to ensure objective measurement of awareness and practice levels. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire originally developed by Garbel and Lyra (2021), for which official permission to use the tool was obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to explore associations between awareness, practice, and relevant influencing factors. Results: The findings indicated that over half of the participants (53.3%) were not sufficiently aware of alternative birthing positions, while 46.7% displayed satisfactory knowledge. The study identified that factors related to women, partner involvement, access to technology, and hospital policies significantly hindered the use of alternative positions during labor. Furthermore, the levels of awareness and practice were linked to demographic characteristics, including years of experience and educational attainment. Conclusion: these findings underscore the need for continuous professional development programs and practical training to enhance midwives’ knowledge and competence in applying evidence-based birthing positions. Strengthening awareness and addressing the influencing factors can contribute to improved maternal satisfaction, safer labor processes, and better neonatal outcomes. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating updated labor positioning practices into hospital protocols and midwifery education to ensure high-quality maternal care.
- ItemKnowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Infection Control Protocols Among Dental Students and Interns at Al-Quds University(Al-Quds Univeersity, 2025-12-20) Manal Ali Deif-Allah Ayyad; منال علي ضيف الله عيادBackground Infection control is an essential topic in dental education, as there is an elevated risk of infection in dental clinics. Dental students and interns are among the primary dental care providers during their clinical training stage. Therefore, it is believed that their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) significantly influence patient and community health safety from cross-infection. Objectives: This study attempted to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding infection control among fourth- and fifth-year dental students and interns participating in specialty programs at Al-Quds University (AQU). The study also assessed the impact of certain demographic characteristics on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), including year of study, gender, marital status, age, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination status. The study examined the discrepancies between participants' knowledge and attitudes and their actual clinical infection control procedures. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a valid and reliable self-administered questionnaire that was adapted from previous literature and international infection control standards for infection control in dental settings. The questionnaire was validated by internal and external experts to ensure the reliability of Cronbach’s alpha >0.8. The questionnaire was distributed online as a Google form to 400 eligible students. The total replies were 379 (response rate = 94.8%). The gathered data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. The applied data analysis tests were descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation, and inferential statistics including chi-square tests, independent sample t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Results: The results showed that students had moderate knowledge levels (mean= 3.45/7), a positive attitude (mean = 3.65/5), and generally favorable practices (mean = 4.08/5). Statistically significant associations were found between gender and both attitudes and practices, as well as between age and practices at (P ≤ 0.05). Knowledge didn’t vary significantly across demographic variables. However, there was a significant correlation between participants’ knowledge, Attitude, and practices of infection controls at (P< 0.001). Conclusion: In general, results showed encouraging levels of knowledge and practices with infection control standards. The majority of Al-Quds University (AQU) dental students and interns demonstrated good knowledge of key sterilization principles, particularly autoclave operation. The students also reflected on strong compliance with the essential protective tools (PPE), such as gloves and masks. Although students showed moderate knowledge and a positive attitude there were few gaps observed. The study recommends implementation of mandatory vaccination follow-up through a committee to verify protective immunity levels (anti-HBs Ab). Future infection control education should include simulation-based training modules to effectively connect theoretical knowledge with practical clinical application.