MonAMI Platform in Elderly Household Environment

Abstract Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination program in Tanzania started in 2000 in response to the Global program for the elimination of LF by 2020. Evidence shows a persistent LF transmission despite more than a decade of mass drug administration (MDA). It is advocated that, regular monitoring should be conducted in endemic areas to evaluate the progress towards elimination and detect resurgence of the disease timely. This study was therefore designed to assess the status of Wuchereria bancrofti infection in Culex quinqefasciatus and Anopheles species after six rounds of MDA in Masasi District, South Eastern Tanzania. Methods Mosquitoes were collected between June and July 2019 using Center for Diseases Control (CDC) light traps and gravid traps for indoor and outdoor respectively. The collected mosquitoes were morphologically identified into respective species. Dissections and PCR were carried out to detect W. bancrofti infection. Questionnaire survey and checklist were used to assess vector control interventions and household environment respectively. A Poisson regression model was run to determine the effects of household environment on filarial vector density. Results Overall, 12 452 mosquitoes were collected of which 10 545 (84.7%) were filarial vectors. Of these, Anopheles gambiae complex, An. funestus group and Cx. quinquefasciatus accounted for 0.1%, 0.7% and 99.2% respectively. A total of 365 pools of Cx. quinquefasciatus (each with 20 mosquitoes) and 46 individual samples of Anopheles species were analyzed by PCR. For Cx. quinquefasciatus pools, 33 were positive for W. bancrofti, giving an infection rate of 0.5%, while the 46 samples of Anopheles species were all negative. All 1859 dissected mosquitoes analyzed by microscopy were also negative. Households with modern latrines had less mosquitoes than those with pit latrines [odds ratio (OR) = 0.407, P < 0.05]. Houses with unscreened windows had more mosquitoes as compared to those with screened windows (OR = 2.125, P < 0.05). More than 80% of the participants own bednets while 16.5% had no protection. Conclusions LF low transmission is still ongoing in Masasi District after six rounds of MDA and vector control interventions. The findings also suggest that molecular tools may be essential for xenomonitoring LF transmission during elimination phase.

Download Full-text

Microdata analysis about the effects of health status and bequest motive on the elderly household assets in Japan

International Journal of Economic Policy Studies ◽

10.1007/s42495-021-00067-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Koji Yasuda

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

The Elderly ◽

Bequest Motive ◽

Elderly Household ◽

Household Assets

Download Full-text

Toward Capturing the Exposome: Exposure Biomarker Variability and Co-Exposure Patterns in the Shared Environment

10.1101/175513 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ming Kei Chung ◽

Kurunthachalam Kannan ◽

Germaine M. Buck Louis ◽

Chirag J. Patel

Keyword(s):

Rank Correlation ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Shared Environment ◽

Specific Factor ◽

Endocrine Disrupting Chemical ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Exposure Biomarker ◽

Exposure Patterns ◽

Household Environment ◽

Study Participants

AbstractBACKGROUND:Along with time, variation in the exposome is dependent on the location and sex of study participants. One specific factor that may influence exposure co-variations is a shared household environment.OBJECTIVES:To examine the influence of shared household and partner’s sex in relation to the variation in 128 endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposures among couples.METHODS:In a cohort comprising 501 couples trying for pregnancy, we measured 128 (13 chemical classes) persistent and non-persistent EDCs and estimated 1) sex-specific differences; 2) variance explained by shared household; and 3) Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (rs) for females, males, and couples’ exposures.RESULTS:Sex was correlated with 8 EDCs including polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (p< 0.05). Shared household explained 43% and 41% of the total variance for PFASs and blood metals, respectively, but less than 20% for the remaining 11 EDC classes. Co-exposure patterns of the exposome were similar between females and males, with within-classrs higher for persistent and lower for non-persistent chemicals. Medianrss of polybrominated compounds and urine metalloids were 0.45 and 0.09, respectively, for females (0.41 and 0.08 for males), whereas lowerrss for these 2 classes were found for couples (0.21 and 0.04).CONCLUSIONS:Overall, sex did not significantly affect EDC levels in couples. Individual, rather than shared environment, could be a major factor influencing the co-variation of 128 markers of the exposome. Correlations between exposures are lower in couples than in individual partners and have important analytical and sampling implications for epidemiological study.

Download Full-text

Household hygiene advice for patients with Clostridium difficile: Summary of hospital practice in Ontario, Canada

Canadian Journal of Infection Control ◽

10.36584/cjic.2019.009 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 85-92

Author(s):

Catherine Egan ◽

Andria Jones-Bitton ◽

Jan Sargeant ◽

J Scott Weese

Keyword(s):

Clostridium Difficile ◽

Online Survey ◽

Recurrent Infection ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Term Care ◽

Healthcare Settings ◽

Hospital Patients ◽

Household Environment

Background: While Clostridium difficile infection is a significant concern in healthcare settings, there is increasing evidence that transmission does not solely occur in hospitals and long-term care homes. Hospital patients are regularly discharged home following or during treatment, and it is likely that many excrete spores into their household environment, posing risks of reinfection to themselves and transmission of spores to others. Hence, recommendations on household hygiene might be important for control of C. difficile. The objective of this study was to investigate the information provided by Ontario hospitals to patients who have laboratory-confirmed symptomatic C. difficile infection with respect to household hygiene advice once they are discharged from hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and August 2018 and included an anonymous online survey, a website scan of Ontario hospitals, and a content analysis of information provided to patients on discharge. The survey was distributed to practicing infection control professionals in Ontario hospitals through the IPAC Canada listserv. One response per hospital corporation was accepted. Results: Responses were obtained from 46/145 (32%) Ontario hospital corporations. The majority (30/46; 65%) of respondents indicated they personally believed the household environment was important or very important in the transmission of C. difficile. Almost half (22/46; 48%) of respondents reported that their hospital had a policy to provide household hygiene advice to patients when discharged home. However, analysis of 31 hospital information sheets from the website scan identified that 27/31 (88%) contained a statement that suggested there is little risk of transmission in households, and only 2/31 (6.5%) provided the specific dilution of bleach that is known to be sporicidal. Conclusion: The household hygiene advice provided by Ontario hospitals downplayed the likelihood of transmission of C. difficile spores in household environments and described a level of hygiene that is likely inadequate to prevent transmission of C. difficile spores in the home. This may contribute to recurrent infection and colonization of household contacts.

Download Full-text

The Alarming Community Concern on Household Insecticide Exposure and Usage

IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia ◽

10.31436/imjm.v18i2.80 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Abdul Alif AH ◽

Muhammad Lokman M ◽

Afzan MY ◽

Siew PL ◽

Nik Fakhuruddin NH ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxic Effects ◽

Health Concern ◽

Tropical Country ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Insecticide Exposure ◽

Attitude And Practice ◽

Household Environment ◽

Knowledge Attitude And Practice

The utilization of insecticide in a household environment is a necessity especially for those living in the tropical country such as Malaysia. Tropical climate with high humidity and urbanization lead to pests breeding problem hence contributing to the spread of vector diseases such as dengue. Household insecticide such as aerosol sprays, coils and mats are made from a combination of chemicals from type 1 pyrethroid group which are recognized as safe and have minimal toxic effects on human. However, there have been cases of accidental and intentional insecticide poisoning which demonstrates the lack of studies on factors of knowledge, attitude and practice of insecticide usage, the exposure as well as clinical presentation since the symptoms are similar to other compounds which may lead to misdiagnosis. These insecticide chemicals do not only exert toxic effects to pest but to human too due to its highly toxic characteristic which causes diseases such as asthma, cancer, and other diseases following short or long-term exposure to the chemicals. As a result, there is a growing community health concern regarding the uncertainty and risk of insecticide exposure to human. Thus, the risk assessment of community’s knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the insecticide are essential in aiding towards the development of improving insecticide profile, safer insecticide handling and exploration of insecticide alternative. This will result in better insecticide awareness, as well as minimize the insecticide risk exposure and its adverse health effects to the community.

Download Full-text

don't tell me women aren't the stuff of heroes // 漫云女子不英雄

in:cite journal ◽

10.33137/incite.2.32822 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 34-45

Author(s):

Mia Sanders

Keyword(s):

Cultural Revolution ◽

Forced Migration ◽

Direct Result ◽

Intergenerational Effects ◽

The People ◽

Household Environment ◽

Sense Of Home ◽

The Cultural Revolution

This zine explores the intergenerational effects of my family’s forced migration—from Changsha to Taipei during the Cultural Revolution, and from Taipei to Toronto after my mother was born. I grew up in a difficult household environment, in large part because of my mother’s PTSD: a direct result of the trauma she has experienced throughout her lifetime in the diaspora. I now live with PTSD, as well. ”Don’t tell me women aren’t the stuff of heroes” is a meditation on displacement from home—across generations and borders—and the experience of finding a sense of home in the people who have hurt you the most.

Download Full-text