The Geography of Mental Health and General Wellness in Galveston Bay After Hurricane Ike: A Spatial Epidemiologic Study With Longitudinal Data

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Gruebner ◽  
Sarah R. Lowe ◽  
Melissa Tracy ◽  
Magdalena Cerdá ◽  
Spruha Joshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Epidemiologic Study ◽  
Spatial Clusters ◽  
Spatial Scan Statistic ◽  
Scan Statistic ◽  
Hurricane Ike ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Geographic Space ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Geographically Targeted

AbstractObjectivesTo demonstrate a spatial epidemiologic approach that could be used in the aftermath of disasters to (1) detect spatial clusters and (2) explore geographic heterogeneity in predictors for mental health and general wellness.MethodsWe used a cohort study of Hurricane Ike survivors (n=508) to assess the spatial distribution of postdisaster mental health wellness (most likely resilience trajectory for posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS] and depression) and general wellness (most likely resilience trajectory for PTSS, depression, functional impairment, and days of poor health) in Galveston, Texas. We applied the spatial scan statistic (SaTScan) and geographically weighted regression.ResultsWe found spatial clusters of high likelihood wellness in areas north of Texas City and spatial concentrations of low likelihood wellness in Galveston Island. Geographic variation was found in predictors of wellness, showing increasing associations with both forms of wellness the closer respondents were located to Galveston City in Galveston Island.ConclusionsPredictors for postdisaster wellness may manifest differently across geographic space with concentrations of lower likelihood wellness and increased associations with predictors in areas of higher exposure. Our approach could be used to inform geographically targeted interventions to promote mental health and general wellness in disaster-affected communities. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:261–273)

scholarly journals Detecting Local Clusters of Under-5 Malnutrition in the Province of Marinduque, Philippines Using Spatial Scan Statistic

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 117863882094067
Author(s):  
Novee Lor C Leyso ◽  
Maylin C Palatino
Keyword(s):  
Z Score ◽  
Spatial Clusters ◽  
Spatial Scan Statistic ◽  
Scan Statistic ◽  
Double Burden ◽  
Malnourished Children ◽  
Double Burden Of Malnutrition ◽  
Spatial Scan ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Weight For Age

Underweight and overweight among under-5 children continue to persist in the island Province of Marinduque, Philippines. Local spatial cluster detection provides a spatial perspective in understanding this phenomenon, specifically in which areas the double burden of malnutrition occurs. Using data from a province-wide census conducted in 2014-2016, we aimed to identify spatial clusters of different forms of malnutrition in the province and determine its relative risk. Weight-for-age z score was used to categorize the malnourished children into severely underweight, moderately underweight, and overweight. We used the multinomial model of Kulldorff’s elliptical spatial scan statistic, adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. Four significant clusters across municipalities of Boac, Buenavista, Gasan, and Torrijos were found to have high risk of overweight and underweight simultaneously, indicating existence of double burden of malnutrition within these communities. These clusters should be targeted with tailored plans to respond to malnutrition, at the same time maximizing the resources and benefits.

scholarly journals 237Spatial distribution and correlates of HIV prevalence in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabulani Ncayiyana ◽  
Griffin Bell ◽  
Ari Solomon ◽  
Micheal Emch
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Spatial Clusters ◽  
Spatial Scan Statistic ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Hiv Epidemic

Abstract Background South Africa has a high HIV prevalence and generalized HIV epidemic. It is now well established that the HIV epidemic and its drivers are highly heterogeneous, even in generalized HIV epidemic settings. Methods This study uses data from South African HIV/AIDS, Behavioural Risks, Sero-status, and Mass Media Impact (SABSSM), 2005, 2008 and 2012 surveys. To identify spatial clusters, we used the spatial scan statistic method in SaTScan, assuming discrete Poisson distributions. Poisson regression models were used to explore the municipality-level correlates of HIV prevalence and a logistic regression model was used to determine individual-level correlates of HIV infection. Results Between 2005 and 2012, There was significant geographical variation in estimated HIV prevalence (range = <1.0%–27.5%). Eight, five and six significant overlapping high-risk spatial clusters of high HIV prevalence were detected in 2005, 2008 and 2012, respectively. HIV prevalence is clustered in the central and north-eastern regions of South Africa. Living in municipalities with high percentage of black South Africans, higher poverty index, higher population aged 25-49, and higher early sexual debut were associated with HIV prevalence, while living in municipalities with higher percentage male circumcision and a high percentage married were associated with low risk of HIV. Logistic regression revealed race, sex and mobility as correlates of HIV infection. Conclusions HIV prevalence is highly spatially heterogenous and affected by various municipal-level factors. Key messages Identification of the spatial clusters of HIV prevalence and contextual factors should inform targeted interventions that are necessary to bringing HIV infections under control.

scholarly journals StarScan: A Novel Scan Statistic for Irregularly-Shaped Spatial Clusters

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sriram Somanchi ◽  
David Choi ◽  
Daniel B. Neill
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Training Data ◽  
Ratio Score ◽  
Spatial Clusters ◽  
Spatial Scan Statistic ◽  
Scan Statistic ◽  
Total Change ◽  
Emergency Department Data ◽  
Log Likelihood ◽  
Spatial Scan

We propose StarScan, a new star-shaped scan statistic for detecting irregularly-shaped spatial clusters. StarScan generalizes the traditional, circular spatial scan statistic by allowing the radius of the cluster around a center location to vary continuously with the angle, but penalizes the log-likelihood ratio score proportional to the total change in radius. StarScan was compared with circular scan and fast subset scan on simulated respiratory outbreaks and bioterrorist anthrax attacks injected into real-world Emergency Department data. Given a small amount of labeled training data, StarScan learns appropriate penalties for both compact and elongated clusters, resulting in improved detection performance.

scholarly journals Physiological parameters of mental health predict the emergence of post-traumatic stress symptoms in physicians treating COVID-19 patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Dolev ◽  
S. Zubedat ◽  
Z. Brand ◽  
B. Bloch ◽  
E. Mader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic

AbstractLack of established knowledge and treatment strategies, and change in work environment, may altogether critically affect the mental health and functioning of physicians treating COVID-19 patients. Thus, we examined whether treating COVID-19 patients affect the physicians’ mental health differently compared with physicians treating non-COVID-19 patients. In this cohort study, an association was blindly computed between physiologically measured anxiety and attention vigilance (collected from 1 May 2014 to 31 May 31 2016) and self-reports of anxiety, mental health aspects, and sleep quality (collected from 20 April to 30 June 2020, and analyzed from 1 July to 1 September 2020), of 91 physicians treating COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 patients. As a priori hypothesized, physicians treating COVID-19 patients showed a relative elevation in both physiological measures of anxiety (95% CI: 2317.69–2453.44 versus 1982.32–2068.46; P < 0.001) and attention vigilance (95% CI: 29.85–34.97 versus 22.84–26.61; P < 0.001), compared with their colleagues treating non-COVID-19 patients. At least 3 months into the pandemic, physicians treating COVID-19 patients reported high anxiety and low quality of sleep. Machine learning showed clustering to the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 subgroups with a high correlation mainly between physiological and self-reported anxiety, and between physiologically measured anxiety and sleep duration. To conclude, the pattern of attention vigilance, heightened anxiety, and reduced sleep quality findings point the need for mental intervention aimed at those physicians susceptible to develop post-traumatic stress symptoms, owing to the consequences of fighting at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Traumatized Syrian Refugees with Ambiguous Loss: Predictors of Mental Distress

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 3865
Author(s):  
Anna Renner ◽  
David Jäckle ◽  
Michaela Nagl ◽  
Anna Plexnies ◽  
Susanne Röhr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Ambiguous Loss ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Boundary Ambiguity ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic

Refugees from war zones often have missing significant others. A loss without confirmation is described as an ambiguous loss. This physical absence with simultaneous mental persistence can be accompanied by economic, social or legal problems, boundary ambiguity (i.e., uncertainty about who belongs to the family system), and can have a negative impact on mental health. The aim of this study was to identify sociodemographic and loss-related predictors for prolonged grief, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatization in treatment-seeking Syrian refugees with post-traumatic stress symptoms in Germany experiencing ambiguous loss. For the present study, data were based on the treatment-seeking baseline sample of the “Sanadak” randomized-controlled trial, analyzing a subsample of 47 Syrian refugees with post-traumatic stress symptoms in Germany experiencing ambiguous loss. Sociodemographic and loss-related questions were applied, along with standardized instruments for symptoms of prolonged grief (ICG), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), PTSD (PDS-5) and somatization (PHQ-15). Linear regression models were used to predict mental health outcomes. Having lost a close family member and higher boundary ambiguity showed a statistically significant association with higher severity in prolonged grief. The overall model for somatization reached statistical significance, while no predictor independently did. Boundary ambiguity showed a statistically significant positive association with depression, while the overall model showed no statistically significant associations. Boundary ambiguity and missing family members seemed to be important predictors for prolonged grief. These findings support the importance of reunification programs and suggest an inclusion of the topic into psychosocial support structures, e.g., including psychoeducational elements on boundary ambiguity in support groups for traumatized individuals and families experiencing ambiguous loss. Further research is needed for a more detailed understanding of the impact of ambiguous loss on refugee populations.

scholarly journals Psychosocial interventions to support the mental health of informal caregivers of persons living with dementia – a systematic literature review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Wiegelmann ◽  
Sarah Speller ◽  
Lisa-Marie Verhaert ◽  
Liane Schirra-Weirich ◽  
Karin Wolf-Ostermann
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Subjective Burden ◽  
Dementia Caregivers ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

Abstract Background Informal caregivers of persons living with dementia have an increased risk of adverse mental health effects. It is therefore important to systematically summarize published literature in order to find out which mental health interventions generate effective support for informal caregivers of persons living with dementia. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of intervention content, effectiveness and subgroup differentiation of mental health interventions for informal caregivers of persons with dementia living at home. Method We searched four electronic databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Scopus and CINAHL) and included only methodically high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published in English or German language between 2009 and 2018. The intervention programmes focused on mental health of family caregivers. A narrative synthesis of the included studies is given. Results Forty-eight publications relating to 46 intervention programmes met the inclusion criteria. Burden, depression and quality of life (QoL) are the predominant parameters that were investigated. Twenty-five of forty-six interventions (54.3%) show positive effects on at least one of the outcomes examined. Most often, positive effects are reported for the outcome subjective burden (46.2%). Only six studies explicitly target on a certain subgroup of informal dementia caregivers (13%), whereas all other interventions (87%) target the group as a whole without differentiation. Conclusion The most beneficial results were found for cognitive behavioural approaches, especially concerning the reduction of depressive symptoms. Besides this, leisure and physical activity interventions show some good results in reducing subjective caregiver burden. In order to improve effectiveness, research and practice may focus on developing more targeted interventions for special dementia informal caregiver subgroups.

scholarly journals Space–Time Clustering Characteristics of Malaria in Bhutan at the End Stages of Elimination

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5553
Author(s):  
Kinley Wangdi ◽  
Kinley Penjor ◽  
Tobgyal ◽  
Saranath Lawpoolsri ◽  
Ric N. Price ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Program ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Spatial Clusters ◽  
Scan Statistic ◽  
Disease Control Program ◽  
Risk Areas ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Program Data ◽  
Time Scan

Malaria in Bhutan has fallen significantly over the last decade. As Bhutan attempts to eliminate malaria in 2022, this study aimed to characterize the space–time clustering of malaria from 2010 to 2019. Malaria data were obtained from the Bhutan Vector-Borne Disease Control Program data repository. Spatial and space–time cluster analyses of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax cases were conducted at the sub-district level from 2010 to 2019 using Kulldorff’s space–time scan statistic. A total of 768 confirmed malaria cases, including 454 (59%) P. vivax cases, were reported in Bhutan during the study period. Significant temporal clusters of cases caused by both species were identified between April and September. The most likely spatial clusters were detected in the central part of Bhutan throughout the study period. The most likely space–time cluster was in Sarpang District and neighboring districts between January 2010 to June 2012 for cases of infection with both species. The most likely cluster for P. falciparum infection had a radius of 50.4 km and included 26 sub-districts with a relative risk (RR) of 32.7. The most likely cluster for P. vivax infection had a radius of 33.6 km with 11 sub-districts and RR of 27.7. Three secondary space–time clusters were detected in other parts of Bhutan. Spatial and space–time cluster analysis identified high-risk areas and periods for both P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria. Both malaria types showed significant spatial and spatiotemporal variations. Operational research to understand the drivers of residual transmission in hotspot sub-districts will help to overcome the final challenges of malaria elimination in Bhutan.

A spatial scan statistic for survival data based on Weibull distribution

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (11) ◽  
pp. 1867-1876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijaya Bhatt ◽  
Neeraj Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Weibull Distribution ◽  
Survival Data ◽  
Spatial Scan Statistic ◽  
Scan Statistic ◽  
Spatial Scan
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