scholarly journals Default options: a powerful behavioral tool to increase COVID-19 contact tracing app acceptance in Latin America?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Cynthia Boruchowicz ◽  
Florencia Lopez Boo ◽  
Benjamin Roseth ◽  
Luis Tejerina
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
The United States ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Phone Survey ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Default Options ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Government ◽  
Financial Transactions ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract Given the rates of transmission of COVID-19, relying only on manual contact tracing might be infeasible to control the epidemic without sustained costly lockdowns or rapid vaccination efforts. In the first study of its kind in Latin America, we find through a phone survey of a nationally representative sample of ten countries that an opt-out regime (automatic installation) increases self-reported intention to accept a contact tracing app with exposure notification by 22 percentage points compared to an opt-in regime (voluntary installation). This effect is triple the size and of opposite sign of the effect found in Europe and the United States, potentially due to lower concerns regarding privacy and lower levels of interpersonal trust. We see that an opt-out regime is more effective in increasing willingness to accept for those who do not trust the government or do not use their smartphones for financial transactions. The local severity of the pandemic does not affect our results, but feeling personally at risk increases intent to accept such apps in general. These results can shed light on the use of default options not only for contact tracing apps but in public health overall in the context of a pandemic in Latin America.

Default Options: A Powerful Behavioral Tool to Increase COVID-19 Contact Tracing App Acceptance in Latin America?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Boruchowicz ◽  
Florencia López Bóo ◽  
Benjamin Roseth ◽  
Luis Tejerina
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Opposite Sign ◽  
The United States ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Default Options ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Financial Transactions ◽  
And Control ◽  
Shed Light

Being able to follow the chain of contagion of COVID-19 is important to help save lives and control the epidemic without sustained costly lockdowns. This is especially relevant in Latin America, where economic contractions have already been the largest in the regions history. Given the high rates of transmission of COVID-19, relying only in manual contact tracing might be infeasible. Acceptability and uptake of contact tracing apps with exposure notifications is key for the implementation the “test, trace and treat” triad. In the first study of its kind in Latin America, we find that for a nationally representative sample of 10 countries, an opt-out regime with automatic installation significantly increases the probability of acceptance of such apps in almost 22 p.p. compared to an opt-in regime with voluntary installation. This triples the size and is of opposite sign of the effect found in Europe and the United States. We see that an opt-out regime is more effective in increasing acceptability in South America compared to Central America and Mexico; for those who claim not to trust the national government; and for those who do not use their smartphones for financial transactions. The severity of the pandemic at the place of residence does not seem to affect the effectiveness of the opt-out regime versus an opt-in one, but feeling personally at risk does increase the willingness to accept contact tracing apps with exposure notifications in general. These results can shed light on the use of default options in public health in the context of a pandemic in Latin America.

Salvation through Christ or Marx: Religion in Revolutionary Cuba

1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret E. Crahan
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Latin America ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Strategies ◽  
Limited Impact ◽  
Lay Participation ◽  
The Government ◽  
The 1960S

Unlike churches in the rest of Latin America, those in Cuba did not embark at the outset of the 1960s on a period of liberalization and innovation in theology, pastoral forms, lay participation and political strategies. Rather, the coming to power in 1959 of a revolutionary government and the initiation of substantial societal restructuring reinforced conservatism within the churches. Strong challenges to the legitimacy of the government by the churches from 1959 through 1961 were not effective due largely to institutional limitations and their identification as bulwarks of prerevolutionary structures. Hence, in spite of a marked increase in participation and contributions, the churches' counterrevolutionary stance had limited impact. Contributing to this was the exodus of many religious activists to the United States and Spain, and a turning in upon themselves by the churches which came to serve as refuges from change.

The Revolution and Mexican Foreign Policy

1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 518-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Engel
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Mexican Revolution ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
The United States ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
The Revolution

In recent years the foreign policy of Mexico has often been criticized in the United States. The reaction of Mexico to steps taken by the United States in Latin America—in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere—has led to statements about Mexican foreign policy that indicate little understanding of Mexican mentality, history, and approach to international problems. Of primary concern in any attempt to shed light on the foreign policy of Mexico is the place of the Mexican Revolution in shaping the nation's approach to international problems.The Mexican Revolution has had profound effects on the development of the country. Since the beginning of the Revolution in 1910, Mexico has followed a path to political stability unique in Latin America. The Revolution and its effects on subsequent Mexican attitudes have been studied by many scholars in attempts to learn lessons for the other developing nations of the hemisphere.

scholarly journals Important contribution to Russian Latin American studies

2021 ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Anatoly Borovkov
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Political Development ◽  
American Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Politics ◽  
Latin American Studies ◽  
The Government

The book examines the main trends in Mexico's international activities in the first two decades of the XXI century, as well as the leading trends in its socio-political development. The author tried to show that Mexico is more and more actively involved in solving the main problems of world politics, where it emphatically takes independent positions. Mexico's relations with the United States, with the countries of Latin America, with China and Spain, as well as the prospects for expanding ties with Russia are analyzed, Mexico's position in the UN is shown and the prospects for the development of its foreign policy under the government of Lopez Obrador.

scholarly journals Awareness and Adherence to Government Guidelines on Physical Activity by American Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1293-1293
Author(s):  
Teresia Mbogori
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Physical Activity Guidelines ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Government ◽  
Chi Square Analysis

Abstract Objectives U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides physical activity guidelines for Americans. Current guidelines recommend at least 30–60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity 5 days a week. This level of physical activity is associated with reduction of many adverse health outcomes. This study sought to investigate the awareness and adherence to these guidelines by adults in the United States. Methods A secondary data analysis was conducted using the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-5 Cycle 3), a nationally-representative survey administered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Data were collected between January and May 2019 among 5438 adults. Participants were asked if they were aware of government guidelines on physical activity, where they had heard this information and the action they took. In addition, participants were asked the number of days in a week they were physically active or exercised and for how long. Descriptive and Chi square statistics were used to determine the level of awareness and adherence to physical activity guidelines and the relationship between awareness and actions taken. Results About 36% of the participants stated that they had not heard about government recommendations on physical activity. 46% stated that they heard about the guidelines but did not make any changes to their physical activity routine while 5.3% stated that they increased their physical activity. Sources of this information were, television (34%), social media or internet (25%), health professionals or doctor (24%), and magazines (19%). About 54% of the participants reported that they were physically active 3 or more days per week while 26% stated that they did no physical activity. About 68.4% of those who reported exercising did so for 30–60 minutes while 15% exercised for more than 60 minutes per day. Chi square analysis showed that a higher percentage of those who reported not exercising at all also reported that they had not heard about the government recommendations of physical activity (X2 = 29.6; P < 0.0001). Conclusions There still remains a considerable section of the population that is not aware of the government guidelines on physical activity. There is need for continued public education on the benefits of physical activity and the amount of physical activity that is likely to result in such benefits. Funding Sources None.

scholarly journals SECOND WAVE OF COVID 19 RISING CASES IN INDIA: SHORT COMMUNICATION SITUATION

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (04) ◽  
pp. 261-263
Author(s):  
Ajoke Akinola ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Time Record ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
First Time ◽  
Second Wave

Statistics currently indicated that the second wave of COVID 19 pandemic has killed over 2.94 million, and active cases 136.13 million globally as on April 12, 2021 reported by John Hopkins University and world health organization (WHO). India reported a first time record high ever of 13,689,453 COVID-19 infections, and 171,058 deaths from the ministry of health and WHO revealed on April 12, 2021. As India (13,873,825 confirmed cases and 172,085 deaths) (April, 14 2021) over takes Brazil, in the rising cases of Infection of COVID-19 as the second worst hit country in the world. It becomes the second-most affected country globally by the coronavirus after the United States (30, 888,765). Whereas the second wave is deadlier than the first wave according to the DG council of scientific and industrial research, Dr. Shekhar Mande.Preventable solutions are all but not limited to identify reasons for the spike and implement measures immediately. Some of which are uncontrolled gathering, floating of electoral commission (EC) guidelines on COVID-19 prevention during the election campaign political rallies. Some religious gatherings not adhering to the government protocol on COVID 19 prevention practices during this period (April 2021). Initially testing was limited to the high risk groups but has been expanded to cover several populations with the governments intervention. Further is to improve contact tracing, instead of negligence across the states. Drive for testing measures and rapid vaccination drive should continue as identified that authorities concerned are not testing enough. Lastly never ignore any warning signs or strange body feelings you might encounter. Act immediately, implement all preventive measures and seek medical help at once.

scholarly journals Acceptability of App-Based Contact Tracing for COVID-19: Cross-Country Survey Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Altmann ◽  
Luke Milsom ◽  
Hannah Zillessen ◽  
Raffaele Blasone ◽  
Frederic Gerdon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
The United States ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
User Acceptability ◽  
The Government ◽  
Viable Approach

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest public health crisis of the last 100 years. Countries have responded with various levels of lockdown to save lives and stop health systems from being overwhelmed. At the same time, lockdowns entail large socioeconomic costs. One exit strategy under consideration is a mobile phone app that traces the close contacts of those infected with COVID-19. Recent research has demonstrated the theoretical effectiveness of this solution in different disease settings. However, concerns have been raised about such apps because of the potential privacy implications. This could limit the acceptability of app-based contact tracing in the general population. As the effectiveness of this approach increases strongly with app uptake, it is crucial to understand public support for this intervention. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to investigate the user acceptability of a contact-tracing app in five countries hit by the pandemic. METHODS We conducted a largescale, multicountry study (N=5995) to measure public support for the digital contact tracing of COVID-19 infections. We ran anonymous online surveys in France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We measured intentions to use a contact-tracing app across different installation regimes (voluntary installation vs automatic installation by mobile phone providers) and studied how these intentions vary across individuals and countries. RESULTS We found strong support for the app under both regimes, in all countries, across all subgroups of the population, and irrespective of regional-level COVID-19 mortality rates. We investigated the main factors that may hinder or facilitate uptake and found that concerns about cybersecurity and privacy, together with a lack of trust in the government, are the main barriers to adoption. CONCLUSIONS Epidemiological evidence shows that app-based contact tracing can suppress the spread of COVID-19 if a high enough proportion of the population uses the app and that it can still reduce the number of infections if uptake is moderate. Our findings show that the willingness to install the app is very high. The available evidence suggests that app-based contact tracing may be a viable approach to control the diffusion of COVID-19.

Weathering the Storm: The Impact of Cutbacks on Public Employees

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclyn S. Piatak
Keyword(s):  
Great Recession ◽  
The United States ◽  
Federal State ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
Mass Layoffs ◽  
Government Sector ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

The United States saw mass layoffs and unemployment during the Great Recession, where jobs have been slow to recover especially in the government sector. Research on cutback management became widespread in the late 1970s into the 1980s and several researchers have called for attention to be reignited to determine what lessons can be applied to the Great Recession and beyond. However, little attention is paid to the influence of cutbacks on employees. How do layoffs impact public personnel? Using nationally representative employment data, this study examines sector differences in job loss, advance notice, job mobility, and sector switching. In addition to distinctions across job sectors, differences within the government sector across federal, state, and local employees are explored. Findings raise several questions for research and practice regarding the ability to recover staff in a timely manner, the diversity of the organization, and the capacity to cope with future crises.

scholarly journals Latin-Caribbean America in geostrategy of the Russian Federation

2019 ◽  
pp. 48-64
Author(s):  
Oleg Kondratenko
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Government ◽  
Latin American Countries

The policy and implementation of geostrategy of the Russian Federation in relation to the countries of the Latin-Caribbean region are considered. Russia is increasingly trying to demonstrate the status of a strategic partner with respect to Latin American Caribbean countries through the conclusion of various partnership agreements. On this basis, since the 2000s, the Russian Federation has sought to regain its influence in those Latin American countries that were the traditional sphere of presence of the USSR during the Cold War. It has been established that Russia is trying to gain favour among Latin American countries by establishing economic relations, mainly of a commercial nature. The Russian Federation has significant contracts for the supply of weapons to Latin American countries and is involved in the implementation of a number of energy projects, including the construction of nuclear power plants. Russia is also trying to demonstrate its presence in the region through the manoeuvres of its long-range strategic aviation and naval forces. At the same time, Russia is resorting to the support of bankrupt Latin American regimes such as the government of N. Maduro in Venezuela. All this has only exacerbated the crisis in Venezuela and its autocratic rule and led to a double rule in the country. However, Russia risks being pushed out of the region by China and the United States, which consider Latin America as a proving ground for a strategy of geo-economic “conquest”. The key countries for implementing the strategy of restoring Russia’s presence in the region are: Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and partly Brazil. The Russian Federation views these countries as strategic partners and a foothold for the further expansion of geopolitical and geo-economic influence in Latin America, as well as restrictions in the region of US influence. Against the backdrop of isolated manoeuvres by the Russian Air Force and the Navy, Moscow makes periodic statements about the rebuilding of former Soviet military bases in Latin American countries. However, such rhetoric of the Russian Federation can be regarded more as geopolitical PR in order to represent the virtual grandeur of Russia.

scholarly journals Acceptability of App-Based Contact Tracing for COVID-19: Cross-Country Survey Study

10.2196/19857 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. e19857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Altmann ◽  
Luke Milsom ◽  
Hannah Zillessen ◽  
Raffaele Blasone ◽  
Frederic Gerdon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
The United States ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
User Acceptability ◽  
The Government ◽  
Viable Approach

Background The COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest public health crisis of the last 100 years. Countries have responded with various levels of lockdown to save lives and stop health systems from being overwhelmed. At the same time, lockdowns entail large socioeconomic costs. One exit strategy under consideration is a mobile phone app that traces the close contacts of those infected with COVID-19. Recent research has demonstrated the theoretical effectiveness of this solution in different disease settings. However, concerns have been raised about such apps because of the potential privacy implications. This could limit the acceptability of app-based contact tracing in the general population. As the effectiveness of this approach increases strongly with app uptake, it is crucial to understand public support for this intervention. Objective The objective of this study is to investigate the user acceptability of a contact-tracing app in five countries hit by the pandemic. Methods We conducted a largescale, multicountry study (N=5995) to measure public support for the digital contact tracing of COVID-19 infections. We ran anonymous online surveys in France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We measured intentions to use a contact-tracing app across different installation regimes (voluntary installation vs automatic installation by mobile phone providers) and studied how these intentions vary across individuals and countries. Results We found strong support for the app under both regimes, in all countries, across all subgroups of the population, and irrespective of regional-level COVID-19 mortality rates. We investigated the main factors that may hinder or facilitate uptake and found that concerns about cybersecurity and privacy, together with a lack of trust in the government, are the main barriers to adoption. Conclusions Epidemiological evidence shows that app-based contact tracing can suppress the spread of COVID-19 if a high enough proportion of the population uses the app and that it can still reduce the number of infections if uptake is moderate. Our findings show that the willingness to install the app is very high. The available evidence suggests that app-based contact tracing may be a viable approach to control the diffusion of COVID-19.

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