Razi International Medical Journal
https://rimj.org/pubs/index.php/journal
<p>The <strong><em>Razi International Medical Journal</em></strong>, founded in 2021, is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal from Afghanistan that aims to impact public health and global health and is distributed internationally. The journal is produced and published in electronic and paper-based forms biannually, and there are no <a title="Article Processing Charges (APCs)" href="https://rimj.org/pubs/index.php/journal/publication_fee">article processing charges (APCs)</a>. The journal's scope is focused on:</p> <ul> <li>Global Health</li> <li>Public Health</li> </ul> <p>The journal is published two times a year in May and November.</p> <p>The Journal publishes research articles, review articles, correspondence, commentary, perspectives, letters to the editor, and editorials.</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> The <em>Razi International Medical Journal</em> (RIMJ) is published by the <a title="Afghanistan Center for Epidemiological Studies" href="https://aces-af.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Afghanistan Center for Epidemiological Studies</a> and should be distinguished from the<em> Razi Journal of Medical Sciences</em> (RJMS) published by <em>Iran University of Medical Sciences</em>.</p>Afghanistan Center for Epidemiological Studiesen-USRazi International Medical Journal2790-2080Hypertension among adult population of Herat city of Afghanistan: A cross-sectional study
https://rimj.org/pubs/index.php/journal/article/view/72
<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hypertension as a major health problem around the world which is responsible for 7.5 million or 12.8% of all deaths yearly around the world. To date, there is a scarcity of data concerning prevalence and risk factors of hypertension in Herat province of Afghanistan. Therefore, the present study estimated the prevalence of hypertension and its predictors among Afghan adults living in Herat city.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was administered in August 2022 among adults (N=504) in the Herat province of Afghanistan. The study examined hypertension, its risk factors among people living in Herat province of Afghanistan.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 504 participants, 27.4% of them had hypertension. age group, gender, body mass index (BMI), marital status, occupation, smoking, presence of another disease, and use of social media, were among the main variables associated with hypertension among participants of the study. Multiple regression analysis indicated that age (AOR=1.036, p<0.001), BMI (AOR=1.077, p=0.003), gender (AOR=2.910, p<0.001), presence of disease (AOR=0.541, p=0.026), use of social media (AOR=0.504, p=0.007), and Borani (AOR=1.316, p=0.028) were significantly associated with presence of hypertension.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The prevalence of hypertension is found high among adults living in Herat province of Afghanistan. One of the variables found to have a major impact on the prevalence of hypertension was eating Borani food. There is a need for health practitioners to assess self-care activities and blood pressure control, and educate patients the importance of hypertension monitoring and teaching practical techniques to boost their confidence and motivation to achieve a better self-care to have a healthier life.</p>Laleh SahadatRafea KhatibiMarjan ShayiqShiwa OmidwarSadaf WaliGhulam Dawood Hashemi
Copyright (c) 2023 Laleh Sahadat, Rafea Khatibi, Marjan Shayiq, Shiwa Omidwar, Mehrab Neyazi, Sadaf Wali, Ghulam Dawood Hashemi
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2023-11-292023-11-2932546110.56101/rimj.v3i2.72COVID-19 Vaccines Coverage in Afghanistan: a descriptive analysis of secondary data from DHIS2
https://rimj.org/pubs/index.php/journal/article/view/95
<p><strong>Background:</strong> Mass immunization is an economical and effective way to control the pandemic of COVID-19. Afghanistan started its first COVID-19 vaccination campaign at the national level in February 2021. Upon initiation, 10 target groups have been given priority to get vaccinated. This study focuses on a descriptive analysis of COVID-19 vaccination coverage at the national level.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a descriptive secondary data analysis of COVID-19 vaccination coverage from all 34 provinces of Afghanistan from February 2021 to June 2022. All data analyzed in this study were extracted from the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2), National EPI’s database for tracking EPI indicators, and analyzed using Epi Info V.7.2.1.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Since the launch of the COVID-19 vaccination, 33% of the population in Afghanistan has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, among which 26% are fully immunized. The coverage accounts for 13% of the total population in the country. Among the immunized population, 48% are female and 52% are male. At the provincial level, Kabul is the top-performing province with 54% of the target population, followed by Kandahar with 43%. Zabul and Nuristan had the lowest vaccination coverage of the target population, with only 5% vaccinated. Among administered vaccines, Johnson & Johnson are administered widely (67%), followed by Sinopharm (18%) and AstraZeneca (15%).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Vaccine coverage for all categories is lower than expected, with a higher interest in one-dose regimen vaccines. The low coverage shows a low demand for vaccine uptake. Provinces with lower coverage could undertake extended campaigns to maintain and enhance the coverage of vaccination. There is a demand for interventions to improve public awareness about COVID-19 as well. Furthermore, advocacy for full vaccination is required.</p>Hamidullah MatinKhwaja Mir Islam SaeedMir Salamuddin HakimShoaib Naeemi
Copyright (c) 2023 Hamidullah Matin, Khwaja Mir Islam Saeed, Mir Salamuddin Hakim, Shoaib Naeemi
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2023-11-292023-11-2932626910.56101/rimj.v3i2.95Knowledge, attitude and practice of antenatal exercise (ANEx) among married women in Afghanistan: A cross-sectional study
https://rimj.org/pubs/index.php/journal/article/view/126
<p><strong>Background:</strong> Antenatal physical activity is an important physical, mental, and biochemical factor to consider. Several studies across the world have demonstrated the importance of physical activity during the antenatal period. Various factors are associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Antenatal PA. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Antenatal PA among married women in Afghanistan.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Herat province. In total, 316 married women age group–16-60 were included in this study. Participants were asked about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Antenatal exercise (ANEx). </p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> More than half (56.3%) of the participants were between 16-30 years old. Two-thirds of the participants lived in urban areas, and one-sixth of the participants were illiterate (57.9%). Less than one-third of the participants had heard of antenatal exercises (32.0%). Approximately 72% of the participants had poor knowledge, 90% had poor attitudes, and only 4% practiced antenatal exercises. Higher education, residence in urban areas, and higher monthly family income were important predictors of knowledge regarding ANEx. Similarly, a greater number of children and higher education levels are determinants of ANEx practice.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices remained the main barriers to ANEx. In the current situation of political instability and a lack of healthcare facilities, community workers can only be a way to address this issue.</p>Shakila NiaziQudsia ShakoriMohadeseh AhmadiAbdul Wahed ZargoonRama Shankar RathRanjit Sah
Copyright (c) 2023 Shakila Niazi, Qudsia Shakori, Mohadeseh Ahmadi, Abdul Wahed Zargoon, Rama Shankar Rath, Ranjit Sah
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2023-11-292023-11-2932707810.56101/rimj.v3i2.126Physical and mental aspects of quality of life among Afghan school-going adolescents
https://rimj.org/pubs/index.php/journal/article/view/131
<p><strong>Background: </strong>The World Health Organization define quality of life (QoL) as "the individual's perception of their position in life, within the context of the culture and value systems in which they live, and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns’’. This study, focuses on the physical, and mental aspects of Afghan school adolescents' quality of life.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey study involving 545 adolescents was carried out in Herat province, Afghanistan. The participants were selected from 10 public primary, secondary, and high schools, which were randomly chosen from a pool of 86 schools registered with the Herat Education Department.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>The quality of life of almost half of the participants was poor on the physical component score (49.2%). Two-thirds of the participants had poor quality of life on the mental component score (66.8%). Multiple regression indicated that middle-income economic status (AOR=2.289, p=0.022), and low-income economic status (AOR=1.550, p=0.044) were significantly associated with physical component score of quality of life. It indicated that place of residency (AOR=1.620, p=0.040) was significantly associated with physical component score of quality of life.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study found that QoL of school students are low in both the physical and mental components. It is important to identify children and adolescents who are at risk of developing mental health problems at an early age. To help young people who are struggling with mental health issues and their access to medical treatments, targeted early preventative and intervention are required.</p>Abdul Qadim MohammadiLaila QanaweziVanya RangelovaHabibah AfzaliRaaz Mohammad TabibAroop Mohanty
Copyright (c) 2023 Abdul Qadim Mohammadi, Laila Qanawizi, Vanya Rangelova, Habibah Afzali, Raaz Mohammad Tabib, Aroop Mohanty
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2023-11-292023-11-2932798610.56101/rimj.v3i2.131Scabies Outbreak in Afghanistan Calls for Urgent International Response
https://rimj.org/pubs/index.php/journal/article/view/125
<p>N/A</p>Wazir Ahmad SarajAbdul Wahab AhadiRanjit SahAhmad Neyazi
Copyright (c) 2023 Wazir Ahmad Saraj, Abdul Wahab Ahadi, Ranjit Sah, Ahmad Neyazi
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2023-11-292023-11-2932515310.56101/rimj.v3i2.125