Background: The experience of menarche is often confusing and causes ambivalence among adolescent girls due to their lack of information on the menstruation cycle and menstrual vaginal bleeding. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of menstruation and menstruation hygiene in Afghanistan. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using a survey questionnaire administered from 10 March 2021 to 15 April 2021 among secondary school girls in Herat, Afghanistan.  It evaluated their knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices.  768 girls responded to the survey.  Data was encoded and statistically analysed using SPSS. Results: 53.3% of girls surveyed had a good knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene.  15.9% of girls surveyed who did not experience menarche showed a good knowledge score. In terms of practice, 32.9% took a rest and missed school during menstrual bleeding.  2.1% of the participants mentioned that teachers were the first source of information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Conclusion: Knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene among girls surveyed was lower than in other countries. Awareness campaigns regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene are recommended.  It is suggested to add a subject on these for secondary school girls to learn more and encourage them to openly discuss among themselves.

Background: Abortion as the termination of pregnancy prior to 20 weeks of gestation or a fetus born weighing less than 500g. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge and attitude of women on abortion in Herat city of Afghanistan. This cross-sectional study also serves to fill up the gap of the scarcity of data on abortion. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among women aged over 18 years old from over the 15 districts of Herat city of Afghanistan during 25th March 2021 to 1st June 2021. A total of 419 women participated in this study. Results: 30.3% of them were aged between 18-24 years old. 24.1% of the participants aged between 25-34 years old. 78.8% of the participants were married and 35.8% of the participants were Pashtuns. 41.5% of them heard about safe abortion methods. Only 23.4% of the participants had a good knowledge score on abortion. Good knowledge on abortion among participants were significantly associated with their ethnicity, educational level, father’s knowledge level, mother’s knowledge level, and economic status. Conclusion: A comprehensive campaign on safe abortion covering all the ethical, religious, constitutional, and scientific domains should be considered by the ministry of Public Health. It is recommended that the ministry of education of Afghanistan consider organizing trainings on safe abortion for high school male and female students.

Background Eye diseases are a major global health concern but are often neglected. This study aims to assess the sociodemographic determinants of knowledge on common eye diseases among the adult population in Afghanistan. Methods A cross-sectional survey was designed and conducted between August and October, 2021, including 509 adult population in the Herat province of Afghanistan. Participants' sociodemographics and knowledge of common eye diseases were recorded through an in-person interview. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to investigate factors associated with understanding common eye diseases among study participants. Result The mean age of the study participant was 34.96 years, with males making up nearly 53.4% of the total sample. Of the 509 respondents, 76.8% of them did not have enough information on common eye diseases; 79% of the participants did not know the definition of glaucoma disease. Only 47.3% of the participants of this study knew the meaning of cataract disease. The adjusted odds ratios (AOR) revealed that participants over 35 years of age had significantly higher odds of knowledge of eye disease [AOR: 3.629; 95%CI:1.770, 7.442] compared to the relatively younger age group of 18-34 years. A significant association was found between awareness about eye diseases and higher levels of education. Participants receiving higher education were found to have higher odds of being aware of the knowledge of eye disease. Conclusions Results showed low awareness about common eye disease among the younger adult population. The study, therefore, consolidates the need for promoting health literacy regarding common eye diseases in Herat province of Afghanistan. Keywords: Knowledge, awareness, common eye diseases, Herat-Afghanistan.

Background: COVID-19 affected not only people’s physical health but also their mental health too. The purpose of this study was to measure the level of depression, anxiety, and stress among COVID-19 patients before, during, and after being infected by the virus, living in Herat city of Afghanistan. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted among COVID-19 patients between April 22th 2020 and August 20th, 2020 living in Herat Province of Afghanistan. Our sample size was 100. To measure the level of depression, anxiety, and stress, among the COVID-19 patients, the developed version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 42 (DASS-42) standard questionnaire was used. Results: About 67% of participants were male and 14% of them were illiterate. Of all the participants in this study 12% of them used to smoke and 30% of them had a chronic disease accompanied. The result of this study shows that at the Start stage, 52.0% of the participants had a level of depression from mild to extremely severe. In the After stage only 10.0% of the participants had a level of depression from mild to severe. At the Start stage, 82.0% of the participants had a level of anxiety. At the End stage, 29.0% of the participants suffered a level of stress from mild to extremely severe. Conclusion: Generally, the COVID-19 patients’ mental health was affected negatively due to the disease. After passing the COVID-19 disease and knowing the facts about the disease, the anxiety, stress, and depression level of patients caused by the disease were decreased.

Background: Breast cancer prevalence is observed to be higher in developed economies, but the mortality rates due to the said disease tend to be similar or even higher among lower-income countries. Afghanistan is among these countries where breast cancer mortality has been predominant among the female population. This may be related late diagnosis and the presentation of the cancer at much later stages.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using a survey questionnaire administered from June 2021 to July 2021 among women living in Herat province of Afghanistan. It evaluated their knowledge and practice towards breast cancer. 534 women answered the survey. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS software.Results: Lower level of knowledge about breast cancer and the limitations to the practice of breast self-examination (BSE) were found to be associated with such late detection and treatment. Using data collected in Herat Province of Afghanistan, this study examined the individual level sociodemographic factors related with the level of knowledge about breast cancer and also with the practice of BSE. It was found that 44% of the study sample of 534 women had high knowledge level. There were fewer still who performed BSE at about 12% of the respondents. Further examination showed that lower education attainment, albeit illiteracy, and the employment status were correlated with knowledge and practice surrounding breast cancer.Conclusion: This entails the need to formulate programs targeting the specific needs of women with lower socioeconomic status to build capacity toward their health and wellbeing.