Background: Hypertension cases continue to increase both in numbers and their impact upon the quality of life of the affected individuals. A major hindrance to achieving blood pressure control in hypertension is non-adherence to medication. A key factor for poor adherence is the lack of confidence in therapy, and this is expressed sometimes through self-medication with herbal medicines and over-the-counter medicines. The study assessed the prevalence of herbal medicine use among hypertensive patients accessing care at the Outpatient Department of Asamankese Government Hospital. Methods: The study design is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study was conducted in the outpatient department of Asamankese Government Hospital in the West Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana. Participants recruited for the study were hypertensive patients aged 18 years or older who attended the study facility during the study period and provided informed consent. Participants were systematically recruited from all hypertensive patients visiting the Outpatients Department of the study facility by selecting every third patient who came to the pharmacy to take their medications. Results: A very high proportion of participants (90.1%) had at some point used herbal medicine for a health condition. A significant proportion (41.3%) of the participants were found still using herbal products at the time of this study. Most participants (85.1%) who used herbal medicine did so because they were seeking a cure. A very high proportion (86%) had not disclosed their use of herbal medicine to their healthcare providers. Conclusion: The prevalence of herbal medicine use among hypertensive patients receiving care from the outpatient department of the facility was found to be high, with the reason for use being a search for a cure. Herbal medicine use largely remained undisclosed to healthcare providers.

The post D411506040626 appeared first on International Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (IJAPSR).

Sexual intention is an important predictor of sexual behaviour and sexual risk-taking among youths. Understanding the determinants of sexual intention is essential for developing effective sexual and reproductive health interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual intention and its associated factors among youths in Samarahan District, Sarawak. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 youths aged 18–24 years in Samarahan District, Sarawak. Data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaires based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour framework. Variables assessed included socio-demographic characteristics, youth attitudes, perceived social norms, selfefficacy, internet pornography usage, sexual intention, and sexual risk behaviour. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chisquare tests, and correlation analysis. The mean age of respondents was 21.31 years (SD = 1.80). Sexual activity prevalence among respondents was 6.3%. Ethnicity and religion were significantly associated with sexual intention, whereby Malay and Muslim youths were less likely to report sexual intention. Youths with more permissive attitudes and higher self-efficacy scores were more likely to report sexual intention. Internet pornography usage was significantly associated with sexual intention. Sexual intention was also significantly associated with sexual risk behaviour. Sexual intention among youths in Samarahan District was significantly associated with sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, particularly permissive attitudes, religion, ethnicity, and internet pornography usage. The findings highlight the importance of culturally sensitive and comprehensive sexual health programmes that address behavioural attitudes, digital media exposure, and safe sexual practices among youths.
Keywords: Sexual Intention, Youths, Sexual Risk Behaviour, Internet Pornography, Sarawak, Theory of Planned Behaviour.

The post D411406040626 appeared first on International Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (IJAPSR).