scholarly journals Methodologies to measure the coverage of vitamin A supplementation: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Miglietta ◽  
Annette Imohe ◽  
Andreas Hasman

Abstract Countries are increasingly transitioning from event-based vitamin A supplementation (VAS) distribution to delivery through routine health system contacts, shifting also to administrative, electronic-based monitoring tools, a process that brings certain limitations affecting the quality of administrative VAS coverage. At present, there is no standardised methodology for measuring the coverage of VAS delivered through routine health services. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify and recommend methods to measure VAS coverage, with the aim of providing guidance to countries on the collection of consistent data for planning, monitoring and evaluating VAS programmes integrated into routine health systems. We searched the PubMed®, Embase®, Scopus, Google Scholar and World Health Organization (WHO) Global Index Medicus databases for studies published from 1 January 2000 to 1 January 2021, reporting original data on VAS coverage and methodologies used for measurement. We screened 2371 original titles and abstracts, assessed twenty-seven full-text articles and ultimately included eighteen studies. All but two studies used a coverage cluster survey (CCS) design to measure VAS coverage, adapting the WHO Vaccination Coverage Cluster Surveys methodology, by modifying sample size and sampling parameters. Annual two-dose VAS coverage was reported from only four studies. Until electronic-based systems to collect and analyse VAS data are equipped to measure routine two-dose VAS coverage using administrative data, CCSs that comply with the 2018 WHO Vaccination Coverage Cluster Surveys Reference Manual represent the gold-standard method for effective VAS programme monitoring.

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-53
Author(s):  
Latifah Susilowati ◽  
Masta Hutasoit

Diarrhea is the leading cause of infant mortality in Indonesia. Data from the Bantul District Health Office showed that the diarrhea morbidity rate in 2015 was 4.57 per 1000 population. World Health Organization launched program to reduce morbidity and mortality due to pneumonia and diarrhea by recommending supplementation of vitamin A as an effort to maintain health since baby was born. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of vitamin A supplementation with the incidence of diarrhea in children aged 12 - 59 months in Kasihan 1 Public Health Center. This study was used case control design with a retrospective approach. The number of control and case group were 44 children of each. Researcher collected data of children aged 12 - 59 months who suffered diarrhea last 6 months then conducted a home visit to ask about the history of vitamin A supplementation in children. There was no statistically significant correlation between vitamin A supplementation and the incidence of diarrhea in children aged 12 - 59 months. Health workers especially nurses need to increase public awareness of vitamin A supplementation to children under five years old as a form of support for government program to prevent diarrhea.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olusola Oresanya ◽  
Abimbola Phillips ◽  
Ekechi Okereke ◽  
Abraham Ahmadu ◽  
Taiwo Ibinaiye ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Bi-annual high dose vitamin A supplements administered to children aged 6-59 months can significantly reduce child mortality, but vitamin A supplementation (VAS) coverage is low in Nigeria. The World Health Organization recommends that VAS be integrated into other public health programmes which are aimed at improving child survival. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) provides a ready platform for VAS integration to improve health outcomes. Methods A mixed methods study design was used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of co-implementing VAS with SMC in one local government area of Sokoto state in northern Nigeria. Existing SMC implementation tools and job aids were revised and community drug distributors, experienced in SMC delivery, were trained on the determination of VAS eligibility, administration of the correct doses and identification of adverse drug reactions. SMC and VAS were delivered using a door-to-door approach. VAS and SMC coverage were calculated and the outcome of the integration was assessed using questionnaires administered to 188 and 197 households at baseline and endline respectively. The Bowen framework was used to assess feasibility through focus group discussions and key informant interviews; thematic analysis was carried out on the qualitative data. Results At endline, the proportion of children who received at least one dose of VAS in the last six months increased significantly from 2–59% (p<0.001). There were no adverse effects on the coverage of SMC delivery with 70% eligible children reached at baseline, increasing to 76% (p=0.412) at endline. There was no significant change (p=0.264) in the quality of SMC, measured by proportion of children receiving their first dose as directly observed treatment (DOT), at endline (68%) compared to baseline (54%). Study findings demonstrated acceptability among caregivers, community drug distributors, State and National healthcare officials. Conclusion This study showed that it is feasible and acceptable to integrate VAS with SMC delivery in areas of high seasonal malaria transmission such as northern Nigeria, where SMC campaigns are implemented. SMC-VAS integrated campaign can significantly increase vitamin A coverage but more research is required to demonstrate the feasibility of this integration in different settings and on a larger scale.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olusola Oresanya ◽  
Abimbola Phillips ◽  
Ekechi Okereke ◽  
Abraham Ahmadu ◽  
Taiwo Ibinaiye ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundBi-annual high dose vitamin A supplements administered to children aged 6-59 months can significantly reduce child mortality, but vitamin A supplementation (VAS) coverage is low in Nigeria. The World Health Organization recommends that VAS be integrated into other public health programmes which are aimed at improving child survival. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) provides a ready platform for VAS integration to improve health outcomes.MethodsA mixed methods study design was used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of co-implementing VAS with SMC in one local government area of Sokoto state in northern Nigeria. Existing SMC implementation tools and job aids were revised and community drug distributors, experienced in SMC delivery, were trained on the determination of VAS eligibility, administration of the correct doses and identification of adverse drug reactions. SMC and VAS were delivered using a door-to-door approach. VAS and SMC coverage were calculated and the outcome of the integration was assessed using questionnaires administered to 188 and 197 households at baseline and endline respectively. The Bowen framework was used to assess feasibility through focus group discussions and key informant interviews; thematic analysis was carried out on the qualitative data. ResultsAt endline, the proportion of children who received at least one dose of VAS in the last six months increased significantly from 2% to 59% (p<0.001). There were no adverse effects on the coverage of SMC delivery with 70% eligible children reached at baseline, increasing to 76% (p=0.412) at endline. There was no significant change (p=0.264) in the quality of SMC, measured by proportion of children receiving their first dose as directly observed treatment (DOT), at endline (68%) compared to baseline (54%). Study findings demonstrated acceptability among caregivers, community drug distributors, State and National healthcare officials. ConclusionThis study showed that it is feasible and acceptable to integrate VAS with SMC delivery in areas of high seasonal malaria transmission such as northern Nigeria, where SMC campaigns are implemented. SMC-VAS integrated campaign can significantly increase vitamin A coverage but more research is required to demonstrate the feasibility of this integration in different settings and on a larger scale.


BMJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. n526
Author(s):  
François Lamontagne ◽  
Thomas Agoritsas ◽  
Reed Siemieniuk ◽  
Bram Rochwerg ◽  
Jessica Bartoszko ◽  
...  

Abstract Clinical question What is the role of drugs in preventing covid-19? Why does this matter? There is widespread interest in whether drug interventions can be used for the prevention of covid-19, but there is uncertainty about which drugs, if any, are effective. The first version of this living guideline focuses on the evidence for hydroxychloroquine. Subsequent updates will cover other drugs being investigated for their role in the prevention of covid-19. Recommendation The guideline development panel made a strong recommendation against the use of hydroxychloroquine for individuals who do not have covid-19 (high certainty). How this guideline was created This living guideline is from the World Health Organization (WHO) and provides up to date covid-19 guidance to inform policy and practice worldwide. Magic Evidence Ecosystem Foundation (MAGIC) provided methodological support. A living systematic review with network analysis informed the recommendations. An international guideline development panel of content experts, clinicians, patients, an ethicist and methodologists produced recommendations following standards for trustworthy guideline development using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Understanding the new recommendation The linked systematic review and network meta-analysis (6 trials and 6059 participants) found that hydroxychloroquine had a small or no effect on mortality and admission to hospital (high certainty evidence). There was a small or no effect on laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (moderate certainty evidence) but probably increased adverse events leading to discontinuation (moderate certainty evidence). The panel judged that almost all people would not consider this drug worthwhile. In addition, the panel decided that contextual factors such as resources, feasibility, acceptability, and equity for countries and healthcare systems were unlikely to alter the recommendation. The panel considers that this drug is no longer a research priority and that resources should rather be oriented to evaluate other more promising drugs to prevent covid-19. Updates This is a living guideline. New recommendations will be published in this article and signposted by update notices to this guideline. Readers note This is the first version of the living guideline for drugs to prevent covid-19. It complements the WHO living guideline on drugs to treat covid-19. When citing this article, please consider adding the update number and date of access for clarity.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 256
Author(s):  
Pedro Plans-Rubió

In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Global Vaccine Action Plan with the objective to promote essential vaccinations in all countries and achieve at least 90% vaccination coverage for all routine vaccines by 2020. The study assessed the mean percentages of vaccination coverage in 2019 for 13 routine vaccines, vaccination coverage variation from 2015 to 2019, and herd immunity levels against measles and pertussis in 2019 in countries and regions of WHO. In 2019, the mean percentages of vaccination coverage were lower than 90% for 10 (78.9%) routine vaccines. The mean percentages of vaccination coverage also decreased from 2015 to 2019 for six (46.2%) routine vaccines. The prevalence of individuals with vaccine-induced measles immunity in the target measles vaccination population was 88.1%, and the prevalence of individuals with vaccine-induced pertussis immunity in the target pertussis vaccination population was 81.1%. Herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro = 18 was established in 63 (32.5%) countries but not established in any region. Herd immunity against pertussis agents was not established in any country and in any region of WHO. National immunization programs must be improved to achieve ≥90% vaccination coverage in all countries and regions. Likewise, it is necessary to achieve ≥95% vaccination coverage with two doses of measles vaccines and three doses of pertussis vaccines in all countries and regions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 2036-2060 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIA MENICHETTI ◽  
PIETRO CIPRESSO ◽  
DARIO BUSSOLIN ◽  
GUENDALINA GRAFFIGNA

ABSTRACTIn 2002, the World Health Organization emphasised the concept of active ageing to manage and increase the last third of life. Although many efforts have been made to optimise treatment management, less attention has been paid to health promotion initiatives. To date, few shared guidelines exist that promote an active life in healthy older targets. To fill this gap, we conducted a systematic review to map health promotion interventions that targeted an active and healthy ageing among older citizens. Articles containing the key term active ageing and seven synonyms were searched for in the electronic databases. Because we were interested in actions aimed to promote healthier lifestyles, we connected the string with the term health. A total of 3,918 titles were retrieved and 20 articles were extracted. Twelve of the 20 studies used group interventions, five interventions targeted the individual level and three interventions targeted the community level. Interventions differed for the health focus of the programmes, which ranged from physical activity interventions to social participation or cognitive functioning. Most of the studies aimed to act on psychological components. The review suggests that different interventions promoted for active ageing are effective in improving specific healthy and active lifestyles; however, no studies were concerned directly with a holistic process of citizen health engagement to improve long-term outcomes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104365962110469
Author(s):  
Giorgia Rudes ◽  
Claudia Fantuzzi

Introduction: The World Health Organization states that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youngs, and racism has been proven to have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. These two plagues represent a public health priority, especially for susceptible minorities. Method: This systematic review analyzed 23 studies from multiple database searches, to understand the relationship between racism and suicidality in young minority groups. Results: The review demonstrated the correlation between racism and suicidality with the consequent development of mental disorders. There is strong evidence that the main suicide risk factor is acculturation, interpreted as the assimilation of the dominant culture with the loss of values from one’s cultural background. Discussion: Health care professionals should not underestimate the risk of suicidality associated with racism. Prevention is crucial and it should be implemented from a young age, in schools, through a joint intervention with children and their families, aiming toward integration without acculturation.


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