Vajira Medical Journal: Journal of Urban Medicine

543-548

Authors: Kamonpan Yongkittikasem, Thanyaros Sinsophonphap

OBJECTIVE: To compare behavioral problems between girls with central precocious puberty and normal girls in the Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 76 girls aged 6-11 years, 38 of whom were diagnosed with central precocious puberty and 38 who were considered normal with no evidence of pubertal development, from January 2021 to June 2022. A comparative study of behavioral problems was conducted using the Thai Youth Checklist for which parents are the respondents. Data were analyzed using the Independent T-Test to compare behavioral problem scores, while Fisher’s Exact Test was used to compare behavioral problem levels. Significance was indicated by a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed T-scores of total behavior problems (95%CI: 3.70 - 10.38, p-value <0.001), internalizing problems (95%CI: 3.42 - 11.91, p-value < 0.001), and externalizing problems (95%CI: 2.66 - 11.28, p-value = 0.002) which were significantly higher in the girls in the central precocious puberty group. The behavioral problems of girls with central precocious puberty and normal girls had normal levels of 68.40% and 92.10%, respectively (p-value = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Behavioral problems in girls with central precocious puberty were significantly higher than in normal girls. The results of this study support the idea that those girls with central precocious puberty had more behavioral problems.

557-564

Authors: Montana Ruengsakulrach, Yupaporn Amornchaicharoensuk, Pichada Saengrat

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mortality and morbidity rate of very low birth weight infants (VLBW) who were admitted to the neonatal care unit of Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University. METHODS: A retrospective review of statistical data from the medical record of VLBW infants who were admitted between January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2020 (7 years). The statistical data include data collected until infants were discharged from hospital. RESULTS: A total of 217 VLBW infants were analyzed. The mortality rate among VLBW infants during the 7-year study is 12%. The infant’s mortality rates of birth weight (BW) 1,000-1,499 g and 500-999 g were 5% and 25%, respectively. The mean gestational age was 29.4 ± 2.7 weeks, the mean BW was 1079.8 ± 255.9 g . The common morbidities were respiratory distress syndrome (65%), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (34.1%), hemodynamic significant patent ductus arteriosus (41%) and culture positive late onset sepsis (35.9%). On the 28th day after birth, the survival rate of birth weight 1,000-1,499 g was 95.7% and significantly higher than birth weight 500-999 g extremely low birth weight (ELBW) (80.3%). In addition, when comparing BW in two groups, it was found that the mortality and morbidity rate were higher in ELBW group with statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). The trend of mortality rate for VLBW infants were 23.3%, 20.7% and 18.2% in 2015-2017. However, the mortality rate was decreased to 7.9%, 3% and 7.3% in 2018-2020. CONCLUSION: The mortality and morbidity rates are significantly correlated to BW. The mortality and morbidity rate of VLBW infants tend to decrease each year.

575-582

Authors: Prapaiwan Danpradit, Natthanya Prasitsary

OBJECTIVE: The research objective was to study the effects of the Health Belief Model Educational Program by comparing the mean score levels, before and after program participation of perceptions to prevent COVID-19 and preventive behaviors of COVID-19 in the secondary school students. METHODS: This research was quasi-experimental research with one group pre- and post-test design. The 105 samples were the secondary school students of Wat Suttharam Secondary School, Bangkok who were selected by purposive sampling. Research tool was the Becker’s Health Belief Model Educational Program. The samples who participated in the program received knowledge of COVID-19 and perceptions to prevent COVID-19 with the application of the Health Belief Model. The program was implemented for 13 hours (3 days). The data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed by percent, mean, standard deviation and paired t-test. RESULTS: The results showed that, before and after program participation, the samples had a very good level of overall perceptions to prevent COVID-19 scores (X = 16.10 and 16.50 respectively) and the score was better after program participation with statistical significance (p < 0.01). The samples had a very good level of preventive behaviors of COVID-19 score (X = 2.22 and 2.34 respectively) and the score was better after program participation with statistical significance (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The Health Belief Model Educational Program on perceptions to prevent COVID-19 and preventive behaviors of COVID-19 was effective. The heath care teams and school teachers could apply the program to promote knowledge of prevention of COVID-19 and respiratory diseases to other secondary school students.