Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention, May 1, 2024
Background: Mongolia faces a significant burden of cervical cancer, with the highest prevalence o... more Background: Mongolia faces a significant burden of cervical cancer, with the highest prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the region. Cervical cancer ranks as the third most common cancer among women in the country. This study aimed to assess the acceptance of self-sampling among young women in Mongolia and evaluate their knowledge regarding HPV and cervical cancer. Methods: In this study, participants provided a self-administered vaginal swabs to detect high-risk HPV genotypes. Both acceptability of self-sampling using swabs and participants knowledge regarding HPV and cervical cancer through a scored questionnaire were assessed. The knowledge scale was categorized into three groups: low (0-2), moderate (3-4) and high (5-6). Results: A total of 203 women aged 24-28 years completed the questionnaire and provided self-administered vaginal swabs. The majority (95.1%) found self-sampling technique using Copan Self Vaginal FLOQSwabs® easy to perform. Additionally, 98.5% indicated that the self-swab instructions were clear and comprehensive, while 94.1% reported no pain during the process. Furthermore, 67.8% of participants expressed a preference for performing the swab in a clinic rather than at home. All respondents chose selfsampling due to greater personal privacy, tranquility, reduced anxiety and time optimization. The questionnaire results revealed an overall low level of knowledge about HPV among participants, with a mean score at 1.9 out of 6 [95%CI 1.67-2.21] and a moderate level of knowledge regarding cervical cancer risks, with a mean score at 3.7 out of 6 [95%CI 3.19-4.21]. This pattern was consistent across both vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts, indicating a strong demand for enhanced awareness of HPV and cervical cancer. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the high acceptance of self-sampling among young women aged 24-28 years in Mongolia. However, it also underscores a significant need for improved awareness initiatives concerning HPV and cervical cancer in Mongolia.
Seasonal influenza is a common respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. It displays str... more Seasonal influenza is a common respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. It displays strong seasonal cycles and circulates in all parts of the world [1]. Annual epidemics of influenza cause disease burden with hundreds and thousands of deaths [2]. Influenza has symptoms such as high fever, sore throat, running nose and overall body aches. Influenza A is classified by the subtypes of hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). In the 20 th century, there were three worldwide outbreaks of influenza: 1918, 1957 and 1968. The pandemic of 1918 was caused by H1N1 avian-like influenza virus A, resulted to approximately 50-100 million people worldwide. While in 1957, H2N2 virus resulting from a recombination of avian and human influenza viruses emerged in East Asia, and caused 1.1 million deaths worldwide [2-4]. Third pandemic was also caused avian influenza A virus (H3N2), however the symptoms were clinically mild with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract disease. On the other hand, outbreaks of influenza virus B occur every two to four years and it has two lineages (B/Victoria and B/Yamagata) [5-6]. The possibility of the infection of influenza arises when wild bird flu virus is passed from bird to a human through domesticated bird, or a pig. It has been demonstrated that tracheal epithelial cells of the pig express both sialic acid-alpha-2, 3-terminal saccharides (SA-alpha-2,3), the receptor for avian virus, and sialic acid-alpha-2, 6-terminal saccharides (SA-alpha-2, 6), the receptor for swine/human virus [7-9]. Therefore, pigs have been considered to promote avian and human viral genetic re-assortment in order to produce a novel variant of the influenza virus [10]. Influenza Update No432, based on data up to 30 October 2022, of World Health Organization (WHO) FluNet surveillance platform showed that influenza activity increased in globally, and H3N2 subtype has been predominated [11]. It has been also reported that overall influenza activity in Europe is increasing trend with H3N2 subtype viruses, whilst high influenza activity with B/Victoria-lineage viruses predominating in central Asia [12]. However, there is now concern about the predictions of influenza outbreak. Some scientists believe that wide spread social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic would be effective at reducing influenza transmissions [13]. During the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States, the number of people infected with the influenza virus has decreased by 98 % compared to an average year. Moreover, the numbers of infected individuals with seasonal influenza which have been reported in Japan was also significantly lower [14]. The fixed-point prevalence of influenza infections was 0.01 which is hundred-times lower from epidemic judgment. In the
Background. e study aimed to evaluate inpatient antibiotic use in both the State Second Hospital ... more Background. e study aimed to evaluate inpatient antibiotic use in both the State Second Hospital and State ird Hospital in Mongolia, using the WHO developed and standardized ATC/DDD methodology. Methods. Data were collected from the State Second Hospital and State ird Hospital which are major public hospitals that provide health care for approximately one h of the Mongolian population. Antibiotic utilization was monitored retrospectively for ve years (2013-2017) using the ATC/DDD methodology and data were presented in DDD/ admission and DDD/100 bed days. Statistical analysis was performed using a Student's t-test for parametric data. A value of ≤0.05 was considered to be statistically signi cant. Results. e annual consumption rates in the State Second Hospital were stable over time while in the State ird Hospital consumption rates varied considerately between years. Overall, the total antibiotic consumption rate was very high, but has decreased in both hospitals. e rate of consumption of all antibiotics was approximately twice that in the State ird Hospital (421.7 DDD/100 bed days) between 2013 and 2017 when compared with the State Second Hospital (199.7 DDD/ 100 bed days), < 0.001). e seven most frequently used antibiotics comprised approximately 75% of all DDDs in both hospitals, in the period 2013-2017; being: amoxicillin, cefazolin, cefotaxime, ce riaxone, clarithromycin, cipro oxacin, and nitroxoline. However, this was not consistent when considering the individual years, since in 2015 and 2016, these seven active agents represented approximately 50%. Conclusion. is is the rst hospital-based study of antibiotic consumption rates reported in Mongolia. In addition to very high consumption rates, large di erences occurred between the hospitals investigated. Inappropriate and high levels of antibiotic use lead to increased costs and also increased nosocomial infection rates with potentially resistant species. e Government and health professionals need to take more active roles in improving and promoting quality antibiotic use among inpatients.
COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventi... more COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID-19 through the observance of health protocols, especially the use of sanitizers and disinfectants was given more attention. Despite the effectiveness of disinfection chemicals in controlling and preventing COVID-19, there are critical concerns about their adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the health effects of sanitizers and disinfectants on a global scale. A total of 91056 participants from 154 countries participated in this cross-sectional study through an electronic questionnaire. Results implied that detergents (67%), alcohol-based materials (56%), and chlorinated compounds (32%) were the most commonly used types of sanitizers and disinfectants. Most frequently reported health issues include skin complications 48.8% and respiratory complications 29.8%. The Chi-square test showed a signi cant association between chlorinated compounds with all possible health complications under investigation (p-value < 0.001). Examination of risk factors based on multivariate regression analysis showed that alcohols-based materials were associated with skin complications (OR, 1.98; 95%CI, 1.87-2.09), per-chlorine was associated with eye complications (OR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.74-1.93), and highly likely with itching and throat irritation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.90-2.11). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological complications (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92-2.44). The ndings of the current study suggest that health authorities need to implement more awareness programs about the side effects of using sanitizers and disinfectants during viral epidemics.
Background: Mongolia has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (U... more Background: Mongolia has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), but there are still challenges ahead with population ageing and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns and determinants of outpatient and inpatient health service use amongst older people in Mongolia. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire developed for the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO SAGE). There were 478 participants from rural areas and 497 participants from Ulaanbaatar (further divided into 255 ger/yurt district and 242 apartment district residents). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate determinants of outpatient and inpatient health service use with reported adjusted Odds Ratios (AORs) and 95 % Confidence Intervals (CIs). Results: Participants were aged 60 to 93 years. About 55 % of respondents used outpatient services in the past 12 months and 51 % used inpatient services in the past three years. Hypertension was the most common reason for health service use. Rural residents had longer travel times and were more likely to incur out-of-pocket expenditure (OOP). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that women were more likely to use outpatient services (AOR 1.88; 1.34-2.63). Compared to apartment residents in urban areas, ger residents in urban areas were less likely to use outpatient services (AOR 0.54; 0.36-0.83). There was no statistically significant differences in inpatient service by location. Increasing numbers of chronic conditions (1 and 2+ compared to none) were associated with both outpatient (AORs 2.59 and 2.78) and inpatient (AORs 1.97 and 3.01) service use. Conclusions: This study highlights the needs to address disparities in outpatient service use for rural and urban ger populations. Compared with other WHO-SAGE countries, older Mongolians have relatively higher use of inpatient health care services. With a high prevalence of hypertension and an ageing population, efforts to achieve UHC would benefit from reorienting care services towards prevention and primary care management of NCDs to reduce the costs from hospital-based care.
COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventi... more COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID-19 through the observance of health protocols, especially the use of sanitizers and disinfectants was given more attention. Despite the effectiveness of disinfection chemicals in controlling and preventing COVID-19, there are critical concerns about their adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the health effects of sanitizers and disinfectants on a global scale. A total of 91056 participants from 154 countries participated in this cross-sectional study through an electronic questionnaire. Results implied that detergents (67%), alcohol-based materials (56%), and chlorinated compounds (32%) were the most commonly used types of sanitizers and disinfectants. Most frequently reported health issues include skin complications 48.8% and respiratory complications 29.8%. The Chi-square test showed a signi cant association between chlorinated compounds with all possible health complications under investigation (p-value < 0.001). Examination of risk factors based on multivariate regression analysis showed that alcohols-based materials were associated with skin complications (OR, 1.98; 95%CI, 1.87-2.09), per-chlorine was associated with eye complications (OR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.74-1.93), and highly likely with itching and throat irritation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.90-2.11). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological complications (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92-2.44). The ndings of the current study suggest that health authorities need to implement more awareness programs about the side effects of using sanitizers and disinfectants during viral epidemics.
With the decentralisation of the Soviet Union system, Mongolia has gone through many challenges. ... more With the decentralisation of the Soviet Union system, Mongolia has gone through many challenges. The pharmaceutical sector has been privatised and over 80% of drugs are imported with Mongolia largely depending on international sources. Pharmacy education was traditionally orientated towards industry and product formulation. Most pharmacy graduates would seek positions in pharmaceutical marketing or industry. This has resulted in a shortage of pharmacists in other sectors. Pharmacy education has been acknowledged to be one of the important issues to be addressed in Mongolia. In order to improve the quality of the education and keep up with international standards, including Japan and the United States of America, the pharmacy curriculum has been revised seven times. A recent revision of the curriculum now includes clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice. However, little information has been published describing pharmacy education in Mongolia. The information presented in this report ...
Variable quality of dosage forms of a wide range of drugs has often been reported, prompting the ... more Variable quality of dosage forms of a wide range of drugs has often been reported, prompting the WHO to set standards for generic products. This study aimed to assess the quality and dissolution characteristics of generic ciprofloxacin 500 mg products available on the market, by comparison with a leading brand as well as to establish dissolution profiles in order to inform manufacturers and decision makers. A post-marketing quality assessment and comparative dissolution study of five generic ciprofloxacin products from different manufacturers available in Mongolia were completed. USP buffer at pH=1.2 (hydrochloric acid solution) and pH=4.5 (phosphate buffer solution) were dissolution media. In addition, weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time and assay were determined according to established methods. All five sampled products complied with the official specifications for uniformity of weight, friability and disintegration time. All five samples contained >99%...
Environmental factors contributing to reduced birth weight are of great concern because of the we... more Environmental factors contributing to reduced birth weight are of great concern because of the well-known relation of birth weight to infant mortality and adverse effects in later life. We examined the associations between air pollution exposures during pregnancy and low birth weight among all full-term births (gestational age 37-44 weeks) for a 2-year period (January 1996 through December 1997) in Seoul, South Korea. We evaluated these associations with a generalized additive logistic regression adjusting for gestational age, maternal age, parental educational level, parity, and infant sex. We used smoothing plots with generalized additive models to analyze the exposureresponse relation for each air pollutant. The adjusted relative risk of low birth weight was 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI) ϭ 1.04-1.12] for each interquartile increase for carbon monoxide concentrations during the first trimester of pregnancy. The relative risks were 1.07 (95% CI ϭ 1.03-1.11) for nitrogen dioxide, 1.06 (95% CI ϭ 1.02-1.10) for sulfur dioxide, and 1.04 (95% CI ϭ 1.00-1.08) for total suspended particles also for interquartile increase in exposure. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and total suspended particle concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy period are risk factors for low birth weight.
Background Mongolia has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UH... more Background Mongolia has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), but there are still challenges ahead with population ageing and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns and determinants of outpatient and inpatient health service use amongst older people in Mongolia. Methods Data were collected using a questionnaire developed for the World Health Organization’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO SAGE). There were 478 participants from rural areas and 497 participants from Ulaanbaatar (further divided into 255 ger/yurt district and 242 apartment district residents). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate determinants of outpatient and inpatient health service use with reported adjusted Odds Ratios (AORs) and 95 % Confidence Intervals (CIs). Results Participants were aged 60 to 93 years. About 55 % of respondents used outpatient services in the past 12 months and 5...
Background: High prevalence of falsified, counterfeit and substandard medicines pose a threat to ... more Background: High prevalence of falsified, counterfeit and substandard medicines pose a threat to public health and treatment failure. This study aimed to investigate the quality of selected essential medicines available in Mongolia.Methods: A cross-sectional study collected essential medicines from pharmacy outlets in Mongolia, during June and July, 2017. These products were then submitted for pharmacopoeial analysis and registration status.Results: A total of 1770 samples from 118 pharmacy entities were purchased from wholesalers in urban and rural areas. Pharmacopoeial analysis found 179 (10.1%) samples or eleven product groups were unacceptable. The prevalence of substandard locally produced medicines (n=105, 5.9%) was higher than imported equivalents [ (n=74, 4.17%, p=0.0001)]. Approximately one-third of all unacceptable tests were related to assay (n=73, 30.8%) and weight variation. Of 1770 samples, 76 (4.3%) were unregistered and the prevalence of unregistered samples was 3.8%...
Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention, May 1, 2024
Background: Mongolia faces a significant burden of cervical cancer, with the highest prevalence o... more Background: Mongolia faces a significant burden of cervical cancer, with the highest prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the region. Cervical cancer ranks as the third most common cancer among women in the country. This study aimed to assess the acceptance of self-sampling among young women in Mongolia and evaluate their knowledge regarding HPV and cervical cancer. Methods: In this study, participants provided a self-administered vaginal swabs to detect high-risk HPV genotypes. Both acceptability of self-sampling using swabs and participants knowledge regarding HPV and cervical cancer through a scored questionnaire were assessed. The knowledge scale was categorized into three groups: low (0-2), moderate (3-4) and high (5-6). Results: A total of 203 women aged 24-28 years completed the questionnaire and provided self-administered vaginal swabs. The majority (95.1%) found self-sampling technique using Copan Self Vaginal FLOQSwabs® easy to perform. Additionally, 98.5% indicated that the self-swab instructions were clear and comprehensive, while 94.1% reported no pain during the process. Furthermore, 67.8% of participants expressed a preference for performing the swab in a clinic rather than at home. All respondents chose selfsampling due to greater personal privacy, tranquility, reduced anxiety and time optimization. The questionnaire results revealed an overall low level of knowledge about HPV among participants, with a mean score at 1.9 out of 6 [95%CI 1.67-2.21] and a moderate level of knowledge regarding cervical cancer risks, with a mean score at 3.7 out of 6 [95%CI 3.19-4.21]. This pattern was consistent across both vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts, indicating a strong demand for enhanced awareness of HPV and cervical cancer. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the high acceptance of self-sampling among young women aged 24-28 years in Mongolia. However, it also underscores a significant need for improved awareness initiatives concerning HPV and cervical cancer in Mongolia.
Seasonal influenza is a common respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. It displays str... more Seasonal influenza is a common respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. It displays strong seasonal cycles and circulates in all parts of the world [1]. Annual epidemics of influenza cause disease burden with hundreds and thousands of deaths [2]. Influenza has symptoms such as high fever, sore throat, running nose and overall body aches. Influenza A is classified by the subtypes of hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). In the 20 th century, there were three worldwide outbreaks of influenza: 1918, 1957 and 1968. The pandemic of 1918 was caused by H1N1 avian-like influenza virus A, resulted to approximately 50-100 million people worldwide. While in 1957, H2N2 virus resulting from a recombination of avian and human influenza viruses emerged in East Asia, and caused 1.1 million deaths worldwide [2-4]. Third pandemic was also caused avian influenza A virus (H3N2), however the symptoms were clinically mild with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract disease. On the other hand, outbreaks of influenza virus B occur every two to four years and it has two lineages (B/Victoria and B/Yamagata) [5-6]. The possibility of the infection of influenza arises when wild bird flu virus is passed from bird to a human through domesticated bird, or a pig. It has been demonstrated that tracheal epithelial cells of the pig express both sialic acid-alpha-2, 3-terminal saccharides (SA-alpha-2,3), the receptor for avian virus, and sialic acid-alpha-2, 6-terminal saccharides (SA-alpha-2, 6), the receptor for swine/human virus [7-9]. Therefore, pigs have been considered to promote avian and human viral genetic re-assortment in order to produce a novel variant of the influenza virus [10]. Influenza Update No432, based on data up to 30 October 2022, of World Health Organization (WHO) FluNet surveillance platform showed that influenza activity increased in globally, and H3N2 subtype has been predominated [11]. It has been also reported that overall influenza activity in Europe is increasing trend with H3N2 subtype viruses, whilst high influenza activity with B/Victoria-lineage viruses predominating in central Asia [12]. However, there is now concern about the predictions of influenza outbreak. Some scientists believe that wide spread social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic would be effective at reducing influenza transmissions [13]. During the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States, the number of people infected with the influenza virus has decreased by 98 % compared to an average year. Moreover, the numbers of infected individuals with seasonal influenza which have been reported in Japan was also significantly lower [14]. The fixed-point prevalence of influenza infections was 0.01 which is hundred-times lower from epidemic judgment. In the
Background. e study aimed to evaluate inpatient antibiotic use in both the State Second Hospital ... more Background. e study aimed to evaluate inpatient antibiotic use in both the State Second Hospital and State ird Hospital in Mongolia, using the WHO developed and standardized ATC/DDD methodology. Methods. Data were collected from the State Second Hospital and State ird Hospital which are major public hospitals that provide health care for approximately one h of the Mongolian population. Antibiotic utilization was monitored retrospectively for ve years (2013-2017) using the ATC/DDD methodology and data were presented in DDD/ admission and DDD/100 bed days. Statistical analysis was performed using a Student's t-test for parametric data. A value of ≤0.05 was considered to be statistically signi cant. Results. e annual consumption rates in the State Second Hospital were stable over time while in the State ird Hospital consumption rates varied considerately between years. Overall, the total antibiotic consumption rate was very high, but has decreased in both hospitals. e rate of consumption of all antibiotics was approximately twice that in the State ird Hospital (421.7 DDD/100 bed days) between 2013 and 2017 when compared with the State Second Hospital (199.7 DDD/ 100 bed days), < 0.001). e seven most frequently used antibiotics comprised approximately 75% of all DDDs in both hospitals, in the period 2013-2017; being: amoxicillin, cefazolin, cefotaxime, ce riaxone, clarithromycin, cipro oxacin, and nitroxoline. However, this was not consistent when considering the individual years, since in 2015 and 2016, these seven active agents represented approximately 50%. Conclusion. is is the rst hospital-based study of antibiotic consumption rates reported in Mongolia. In addition to very high consumption rates, large di erences occurred between the hospitals investigated. Inappropriate and high levels of antibiotic use lead to increased costs and also increased nosocomial infection rates with potentially resistant species. e Government and health professionals need to take more active roles in improving and promoting quality antibiotic use among inpatients.
COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventi... more COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID-19 through the observance of health protocols, especially the use of sanitizers and disinfectants was given more attention. Despite the effectiveness of disinfection chemicals in controlling and preventing COVID-19, there are critical concerns about their adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the health effects of sanitizers and disinfectants on a global scale. A total of 91056 participants from 154 countries participated in this cross-sectional study through an electronic questionnaire. Results implied that detergents (67%), alcohol-based materials (56%), and chlorinated compounds (32%) were the most commonly used types of sanitizers and disinfectants. Most frequently reported health issues include skin complications 48.8% and respiratory complications 29.8%. The Chi-square test showed a signi cant association between chlorinated compounds with all possible health complications under investigation (p-value < 0.001). Examination of risk factors based on multivariate regression analysis showed that alcohols-based materials were associated with skin complications (OR, 1.98; 95%CI, 1.87-2.09), per-chlorine was associated with eye complications (OR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.74-1.93), and highly likely with itching and throat irritation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.90-2.11). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological complications (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92-2.44). The ndings of the current study suggest that health authorities need to implement more awareness programs about the side effects of using sanitizers and disinfectants during viral epidemics.
Background: Mongolia has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (U... more Background: Mongolia has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), but there are still challenges ahead with population ageing and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns and determinants of outpatient and inpatient health service use amongst older people in Mongolia. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire developed for the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO SAGE). There were 478 participants from rural areas and 497 participants from Ulaanbaatar (further divided into 255 ger/yurt district and 242 apartment district residents). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate determinants of outpatient and inpatient health service use with reported adjusted Odds Ratios (AORs) and 95 % Confidence Intervals (CIs). Results: Participants were aged 60 to 93 years. About 55 % of respondents used outpatient services in the past 12 months and 51 % used inpatient services in the past three years. Hypertension was the most common reason for health service use. Rural residents had longer travel times and were more likely to incur out-of-pocket expenditure (OOP). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that women were more likely to use outpatient services (AOR 1.88; 1.34-2.63). Compared to apartment residents in urban areas, ger residents in urban areas were less likely to use outpatient services (AOR 0.54; 0.36-0.83). There was no statistically significant differences in inpatient service by location. Increasing numbers of chronic conditions (1 and 2+ compared to none) were associated with both outpatient (AORs 2.59 and 2.78) and inpatient (AORs 1.97 and 3.01) service use. Conclusions: This study highlights the needs to address disparities in outpatient service use for rural and urban ger populations. Compared with other WHO-SAGE countries, older Mongolians have relatively higher use of inpatient health care services. With a high prevalence of hypertension and an ageing population, efforts to achieve UHC would benefit from reorienting care services towards prevention and primary care management of NCDs to reduce the costs from hospital-based care.
COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventi... more COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID-19 through the observance of health protocols, especially the use of sanitizers and disinfectants was given more attention. Despite the effectiveness of disinfection chemicals in controlling and preventing COVID-19, there are critical concerns about their adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the health effects of sanitizers and disinfectants on a global scale. A total of 91056 participants from 154 countries participated in this cross-sectional study through an electronic questionnaire. Results implied that detergents (67%), alcohol-based materials (56%), and chlorinated compounds (32%) were the most commonly used types of sanitizers and disinfectants. Most frequently reported health issues include skin complications 48.8% and respiratory complications 29.8%. The Chi-square test showed a signi cant association between chlorinated compounds with all possible health complications under investigation (p-value < 0.001). Examination of risk factors based on multivariate regression analysis showed that alcohols-based materials were associated with skin complications (OR, 1.98; 95%CI, 1.87-2.09), per-chlorine was associated with eye complications (OR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.74-1.93), and highly likely with itching and throat irritation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.90-2.11). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological complications (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92-2.44). The ndings of the current study suggest that health authorities need to implement more awareness programs about the side effects of using sanitizers and disinfectants during viral epidemics.
With the decentralisation of the Soviet Union system, Mongolia has gone through many challenges. ... more With the decentralisation of the Soviet Union system, Mongolia has gone through many challenges. The pharmaceutical sector has been privatised and over 80% of drugs are imported with Mongolia largely depending on international sources. Pharmacy education was traditionally orientated towards industry and product formulation. Most pharmacy graduates would seek positions in pharmaceutical marketing or industry. This has resulted in a shortage of pharmacists in other sectors. Pharmacy education has been acknowledged to be one of the important issues to be addressed in Mongolia. In order to improve the quality of the education and keep up with international standards, including Japan and the United States of America, the pharmacy curriculum has been revised seven times. A recent revision of the curriculum now includes clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice. However, little information has been published describing pharmacy education in Mongolia. The information presented in this report ...
Variable quality of dosage forms of a wide range of drugs has often been reported, prompting the ... more Variable quality of dosage forms of a wide range of drugs has often been reported, prompting the WHO to set standards for generic products. This study aimed to assess the quality and dissolution characteristics of generic ciprofloxacin 500 mg products available on the market, by comparison with a leading brand as well as to establish dissolution profiles in order to inform manufacturers and decision makers. A post-marketing quality assessment and comparative dissolution study of five generic ciprofloxacin products from different manufacturers available in Mongolia were completed. USP buffer at pH=1.2 (hydrochloric acid solution) and pH=4.5 (phosphate buffer solution) were dissolution media. In addition, weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time and assay were determined according to established methods. All five sampled products complied with the official specifications for uniformity of weight, friability and disintegration time. All five samples contained >99%...
Environmental factors contributing to reduced birth weight are of great concern because of the we... more Environmental factors contributing to reduced birth weight are of great concern because of the well-known relation of birth weight to infant mortality and adverse effects in later life. We examined the associations between air pollution exposures during pregnancy and low birth weight among all full-term births (gestational age 37-44 weeks) for a 2-year period (January 1996 through December 1997) in Seoul, South Korea. We evaluated these associations with a generalized additive logistic regression adjusting for gestational age, maternal age, parental educational level, parity, and infant sex. We used smoothing plots with generalized additive models to analyze the exposureresponse relation for each air pollutant. The adjusted relative risk of low birth weight was 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI) ϭ 1.04-1.12] for each interquartile increase for carbon monoxide concentrations during the first trimester of pregnancy. The relative risks were 1.07 (95% CI ϭ 1.03-1.11) for nitrogen dioxide, 1.06 (95% CI ϭ 1.02-1.10) for sulfur dioxide, and 1.04 (95% CI ϭ 1.00-1.08) for total suspended particles also for interquartile increase in exposure. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and total suspended particle concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy period are risk factors for low birth weight.
Background Mongolia has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UH... more Background Mongolia has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), but there are still challenges ahead with population ageing and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns and determinants of outpatient and inpatient health service use amongst older people in Mongolia. Methods Data were collected using a questionnaire developed for the World Health Organization’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO SAGE). There were 478 participants from rural areas and 497 participants from Ulaanbaatar (further divided into 255 ger/yurt district and 242 apartment district residents). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate determinants of outpatient and inpatient health service use with reported adjusted Odds Ratios (AORs) and 95 % Confidence Intervals (CIs). Results Participants were aged 60 to 93 years. About 55 % of respondents used outpatient services in the past 12 months and 5...
Background: High prevalence of falsified, counterfeit and substandard medicines pose a threat to ... more Background: High prevalence of falsified, counterfeit and substandard medicines pose a threat to public health and treatment failure. This study aimed to investigate the quality of selected essential medicines available in Mongolia.Methods: A cross-sectional study collected essential medicines from pharmacy outlets in Mongolia, during June and July, 2017. These products were then submitted for pharmacopoeial analysis and registration status.Results: A total of 1770 samples from 118 pharmacy entities were purchased from wholesalers in urban and rural areas. Pharmacopoeial analysis found 179 (10.1%) samples or eleven product groups were unacceptable. The prevalence of substandard locally produced medicines (n=105, 5.9%) was higher than imported equivalents [ (n=74, 4.17%, p=0.0001)]. Approximately one-third of all unacceptable tests were related to assay (n=73, 30.8%) and weight variation. Of 1770 samples, 76 (4.3%) were unregistered and the prevalence of unregistered samples was 3.8%...
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Papers by Gantuya Dorj