Research Article
The Characteristics of Sick Leave Holders at the PrimaryHealthcare Setting in Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
Salma Rashid Al-Kalbani*
,
Anwaar Al-Lawati
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, June 2025
Pages:
29-38
Received:
29 March 2025
Accepted:
7 April 2025
Published:
19 May 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.jfmhc.20251102.11
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Abstract: Introduction: Sick leave certification is an ongoing challenge at primary healthcare settings, influenced by various factors: patient, physician, and healthcare system. This study examined the determinants of sick leave certification at North Al-Khuwair Health Centre (NKHC), and the association between physicians' level of training and the justification of sick leave. Methods: An analytical, observational cross-sectional study was conducted among all patients issued sick leave certificates at NKHC between December 1 and 31, 2023. Univariate analysis was conducted to investigate the association between patient, doctor, healthcare setting factors, and sick leave justification. A multivariate, binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association between levels of training (the exposure variable) and justification of sick leaves (the outcome of interest) after adjustment for possible confounders. Results: A total 683 sick leaves were issued during the study period. Most sick leaves were issued to young patients (n = 587, 85.9%), female patients (n = 392, 57.4%), and those attending general practitioner clinics (n = 660, 96.6%). Over half of sick leaves were issued to patients with acute upper respiratory tract illnesses (n = 348, 51.0%). Univariate analysis showed significant association between age, sex, type of clinic attended, and sick leave justification. Family physicians (FMs) (n = 1, 4.3%, p < 0.001) issued fewer unjustified sick leaves than general practitioners (GPs) (n = 48, 7.3%, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, and after controlling for possible confounders, showed no significant association between doctor training level and sick leave justification. Conclusions: The study found that young, female patients are more likely to receive sick leaves. FMs were less likely to issue sick leave than GPs. No significant association between justification of sick leave and amount of training in this population. More research is required to better understand the possible factors that contribute to issuing sick leaves in primary care settings.
Abstract: Introduction: Sick leave certification is an ongoing challenge at primary healthcare settings, influenced by various factors: patient, physician, and healthcare system. This study examined the determinants of sick leave certification at North Al-Khuwair Health Centre (NKHC), and the association between physicians' level of training and the justific...
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Research Article
Traditional Foods and Herbal Preparations to Improve the Perceived Insufficiency of Breast Milk Among Lactating Women in the Dire Dawa Administration, Ethiopia: Mixed Study
Aminu Mohammed,
Bezabih Amsalu*,
Neima Redwan Abdu
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, June 2025
Pages:
39-52
Received:
4 February 2025
Accepted:
3 June 2025
Published:
14 July 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.jfmhc.20251102.12
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Abstract: Background: Perceptions of insufficient breast milk quantity and the use of some traditional food items and local herbs to increase it are a common phenomenon worldwide, particularly in low-resource countries like Ethiopia. But the food items and herbs used are variable and inconsistent in different areas. So far, studies are scarce nationally and in the study area. Purpose: This study was aimed at assessing the use of traditional food items and local herbs for the perceived benefit of breast milk increment and its associated factors among lactating women. Methodology: A community-based mixed study was conducted from October 01- 30, 2023 in the Dire Dawa administration, eastern Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 722 participants for the quantitative study and purposive sampling for the qualitative study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and semi-structured questions for focus group discussion. Quantitative data were entered and cleaned by Epi DATA (Version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS (Version 22). A P-value < 0.25 at bivariate to select variables for multivariate and ≤ 0.05 at multivariate with 95% confidence intervals was considered statistically significant. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis using open-source software. Results: 722 women for quantitative and nine focus group discussants for qualitative were included and the overall traditional food and local herbs use to increase perceived insufficient breast milk was 32.8% (95% CI: 29.4%–36.6%). A higher age group (AOR=2.31, 95%CI: 1.37-3.90), rural residence (AOR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.21-3.23), no formal education (AOR=2.25, 95%CI: 1.16-4.36), primary level education (AOR=2.02, 95%CI: 1.18-3.46), presence of medical illness (AOR=4.73, 95%CI: 1.96-11.43), prior use experience (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.78-4.46) and a lack of postnatal counseling (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.20-2.70) were associated with a higher likelihood of traditional food and local herbs use. Traditional food items and local herbs were the main identified themes in the qualitative results. Conclusion: The extent of traditional food and local herbs use to increase perceived insufficient breast milk was a common practice and associated with women’s age, education, resident area, presence of medical illness, prior use experience, and a lack of postnatal counseling. Stakeholders were recommended to increase postnatal counseling and awareness while taking women's residence and education level into account, as well as conduct additional community-based research.
Abstract: Background: Perceptions of insufficient breast milk quantity and the use of some traditional food items and local herbs to increase it are a common phenomenon worldwide, particularly in low-resource countries like Ethiopia. But the food items and herbs used are variable and inconsistent in different areas. So far, studies are scarce nationally and ...
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