scholarly journals Optimizing cluster survey designs for estimating trachomatous inflammation-follicular within trachoma control programs

Author(s):  
Julia W. Gallini ◽  
Eshetu Sata ◽  
Mulat Zerihun ◽  
Berhanu Melak ◽  
Mahteme Haile ◽  
...  
2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L Mier ◽  
Susan J Picquelle

The main goal in estimating population abundance is to maximize its accuracy and precision. This is difficult when the survey area is large and resources are limited. We implemented a feasible adaptive sampling survey applied to an aggregated population in a marine environment and compared its performance with five classical survey designs. Specifically, larval walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the Gulf of Alaska was used as an example of a widespread aggregated population. The six sampling designs included (i) adaptive cluster, (ii) simple random, (iii) systematic, (iv) systematic cluster, (v) stratified systematic, and (vi) unequal probability. Of the five different adaptive estimators used for the adaptive cluster design, the modified Hansen–Hurwitz performed best overall. Of the six survey designs, the stratified systematic survey provided the best overall estimator, given there was accurate prior information on which to base the strata. If no prior information was available, a systematic survey was best. A systematic survey using a single random starting point with a simple random estimator performed as well as and sometimes better than a systematic cluster survey with two starting points (clusters). The adaptive cluster survey showed no advantages when compared with these two designs and furthermore presented substantial logistical challenges.


2006 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 367-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ortega ◽  
Rodríguez-Rodríguez ◽  
Aparicio ◽  
Marín-Arias ◽  
López-Sobaler

The fight against excess weight and obesity is a health priority. The aim of this study was to analyze the anthropometric changes induced by two weight control programs based on approximating the diet to the theoretical ideal (increasing the consumption of foods with the largest differences between the recommended and observed intakes: cereals and vegetables – for which a minimum of 6 and 3 servings/day are recommended, respectively). The study subjects were 57 Spanish women with a body-mass index (BMI) of 24–35 kg/m², all of whom were randomly assigned to one of two slightly hypocaloric diets for a six-week period: diet V, in which the consumption of greens and vegetables was increased, or diet C, in which the consumption of cereals was increased. Dietetic and anthropometric data were collected at the start of the study and again at two and six weeks. The dietary intervention approximated the subjects’ energy provision from proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to those recommended. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) improved with both diets. Reductions in body weight, BMI, and the amount of body fat (kg) were also achieved with both diets. Weight loss was 1.56 ± 0.93 kg and 1.02 ± 0.55 kg at two weeks with diet C and V respectively, and 2.8 ± 1.4 kg and 2.0 ± 1.3 kg at six weeks (p < 0.05). Approximating the diet to the theoretical ideal by increasing the consumption of vegetables or cereals may therefore be of use in weight control. In terms of weight loss and the improvement of the diet quality (energy profile and HEI), diet C was significantly more effective than diet V.


Author(s):  
Harald Klingemann ◽  
Justyna Klingemann

Abstract. Introduction: While alcohol treatment predominantly focuses on abstinence, drug treatment objectives include a variety of outcomes related to consumption and quality of life. Consequently harm reduction programs tackling psychoactive substances are well documented and accepted by practitioners, whereas harm reduction programs tackling alcohol are under-researched and met with resistance. Method: The paper is mainly based on key-person interviews with eight program providers conducted in Switzerland in 2009 and up-dated in 2015, and the analysis of reports and mission statements to establish an inventory and description of drinking under control programs (DUCPs). A recent twin program in Amsterdam and Essen was included to exemplify conditions impeding their implementation. Firstly, a typology based on the type of alcohol management, the provided support and admission criteria is developed, complemented by a detailed description of their functioning in practice. Secondly, the case studies are analyzed in terms of factors promoting and impeding the implementation of DUCPs and efforts of legitimize them and assess their success. Results: Residential and non-residential DUCPs show high diversity and pursue individualized approaches as the detailed case descriptions exemplify. Different modalities of proactively providing and including alcohol consumption are conceptualized in a wider framework of program objectives, including among others, quality of life and harm reduction. Typically DUCPs represent an effort to achieve public or institutional order. Their implementation and success are contingent upon their location, media response, type of alcohol management and the response of other substance-oriented stake holders in the treatment system. The legitimization of DUCPs is hampered by the lack of evaluation studies. DUCPs rely mostly – also because of limited resources – on rudimentary self-evaluations and attribute little importance to data collection exercises. Conclusions: Challenges for participants are underestimated and standard evaluation methodologies tend to be incompatible with the rationale and operational objectives of DUCPs. Program-sensitive multimethod approaches enabled by sufficient financing for monitoring and accompanying research is needed to improve the practice-oriented implementation of DUCPs. Barriers for these programs include assumptions that ‘alcohol-assisted’ help abandons hope for recovery and community response to DUCPs as locally unwanted institutions (‘not in my backyard’) fuelled by stigmatization.


Author(s):  
Goldie MacDonald ◽  
Gabrielle Starr ◽  
Michael Schooley ◽  
Sue Lin Yee ◽  
Karen Klimowski ◽  
...  

1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-89
Author(s):  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Syed Mustansir Hussain Zaidi ◽  
Hira Fatima Waseem

Background: Diarrhea founds to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in children less than five years. Various factors are associated with diarrhea but socio-demographic factors are the main key elements, which associated with diarrhea. Methods: This study was examined association of socio-demographic factors with diarrhea in children less than five years of age of Sindh, Pakistan, using data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted from January 2014 to August 2014. Data were collected for 18,108 children in whom 16,449 children had complete data of demographic variables being included in the analysis. Bivariate analysis was done using Pearson's Chi square test and multivariate analysis being done using binary logistic regression. Results: We found increased risk of diarrhea among children lives in rural areas while household wealth index quintile was also associated with diarrhea. Children in the poor, middle and fourth wealth index quintiles being at increased risk of diarrhea compared to children in the richest wealth index quintile. The highest risk of diarrhea was found for the child having mother with no education as well as children aged 12-23 months. Conclusion: Age of child, mother education and wealth index found significant with diarrhea while Male children, child aged 12-23 months, child with no mother education, child from rural areas and child from poor households found with high risk of diarrhea.


Author(s):  
V. V. Makarov ◽  
D. A. Lozovoy

  Enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL) has been known for more than a century and a half. Its occurrence and registration may have historically been associated with intensive breeding of dairy cattle in Western Europe to increase target productivity. It is known that any limiting intervention in the nature of the animal organism is always accompanied by an uncontrolled and unpredictable change in the genotype of a wider range than the required, particularly negative order. In particular, a decrease in the resistance to macroorganisms and the possibility of the new diseases emergence, including infectious ones (for example, immunodeficiencies such as BLAD syndrome of black-motley cattle and stress syndrome in pigs, the occurrence of scrapie and other slow sheep infections). In the last two decades of the last century, in many disadvantaged countries, primarily Western European, national programs for the eradication of EBL have been developed and subsequently successfully implemented. First of all the motivation was the economy of dairy cattle breeding (mainly the extension of productive age, as well as the tightening of requirements in international trade in cattle and bull products, breeding, pricing, etc.). In an analytical article are reviewed the elements of epizootology of EBL in the foreign countries with special attention to the situation in the USA, scenarios of various control programs, and promising methods for assessing the role of infected animals in the epizootic process. A critical assessment of the problem of EBL in the Russian Federation is given, the reasons for the ineffectiveness of against leucosis measures are discussed.


A non-standard approach to solving the activation planning problems of the standardized products in a multinomenclature workshop is considered. This approach is caused by writing control programs and developing new information systems without changing previously developed workstations, which were created by using an outdated programming languages, in particular Clipper applications. The concept of creating a single information space — a set of databases and software tools integrated at the software level is proposed. Keywords standardized product; normal; software; web interface; single window; automatic work place; production task; shift task; order-shift report; control and registration card


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