Epidemiological review ofToxoplasma gondiiinfection in humans and animals in Portugal

SUMMARYToxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis. However, data from Portugal are limited and a considerable part of the literature is in Portuguese. Currently, the rate of congenital infection in Portugal is unknown, and almost nothing is known of sequelae of congenital toxoplasmosis. There is no recent general population-based serological survey ofToxoplasma gondiiin humans in Portugal. In addition, there is little information on genetic characteristics ofT. gondiiin animals and humans. In the present paper, we review prevalence, clinical spectrum and epidemiology ofT. gondiiin humans and animals in Portugal. This knowledge should be useful to biologists, public health workers, physicians and veterinarians.

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Epidemiological review of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in Romania

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182013001509 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 141 (3) ◽

pp. 311-325 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

J. P. DUBEY ◽

I. HOTEA ◽

T. R. OLARIU ◽

J. L. JONES ◽

G. DĂRĂBUŞ

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Congenital Infection ◽

Protozoan Parasite ◽

European Countries ◽

Eastern European ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Common Cause ◽

Public Health Workers ◽

Eastern European Countries

SUMMARYInfections by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are widely prevalent in humans and other animals worldwide. However, information from eastern European countries is sketchy. In many eastern European countries, including Romania, it has been assumed that chronic T. gondii infection is a common cause of infertility and abortion. For this reason, many women in Romania with these problems were needlessly tested for T. gondii infection. Most papers on toxoplasmosis in Romania were published in Romanian in local journals and often not available to scientists in other countries. Currently, the rate of congenital infection in Romania is largely unknown. In addition, there is little information on genetic characteristics of T. gondii or prevalence in animals and humans in Romania. In the present paper we review prevalence, clinical spectrum and epidemiology of T. gondii in humans and animals in Romania. This knowledge should be useful to biologists, public health workers, veterinarians and physicians.

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Factors Associated with Intention of Serbian Public Health Workers to Leave Their Job: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182010652 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (20) ◽

pp. 10652

Author(s):

Katica Tripković ◽

Milena Šantrić-Milićević ◽

Milena Vasić ◽

Mirjana Živković-Šulović ◽

Marina Odalović ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Intention To Leave ◽

Population Based ◽

Tension Stress ◽

Budget Cuts ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Public ◽

Optimal Functioning ◽

Public Health Workers

Recruitment and retention of public health workers (PHWs) is crucial for the optimal functioning of the public health system at a time of budget cuts and the threat of a pandemic. Individual and job-related variables were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of the intention to leave a job during the COVID-19 outbreak among Serbian PHWs in 25 institutes of public health (n = 1663 respondents, of which 73.1% were female). A total of 20.3% of PHWs intended to leave their current job within the next five years. Males and persons aged younger than 55 years who had additional practice were more likely to report an intention to leave their job than females, those older than 54 years and those without additional work. While uncertainty and fear of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic were almost perceived as job attractiveness, other job-related characteristics were identified as significant barriers to maintaining the sufficient capacity of qualified PHWs in the future. Authorities need to address these factors, including the following: the feeling of tension, stress or pressure, and unavailability of information during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as dissatisfaction with respect, valuation, and the job in general.

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Policy Critique: The Philippine's Magna Carta of Public Health Workers

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e570102013-002 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Carl Abelardo T. Antonio

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Magna Carta ◽

Public Health Workers

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Working conditions and health status of 6,317 front line public health workers across five provinces in China during the COVID-19 epidemic: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-10146-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jinghua Li ◽

Jingdong Xu ◽

Huan Zhou ◽

Hua You ◽

Xiaohui Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Health Workers ◽

Front Line ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Public Health Workers

ABSTRACT Background Public health workers at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and primary health care institutes (PHIs) were among the main workers who implemented prevention, control, and containment measures. However, their efforts and health status have not been well documented. We aimed to investigate the working conditions and health status of front line public health workers in China during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods Between 18 February and 1 March 2020, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey of 2,313 CDC workers and 4,004 PHI workers in five provinces across China experiencing different scales of COVID-19 epidemic. We surveyed all participants about their work conditions, roles, burdens, perceptions, mental health, and self-rated health using a self-constructed questionnaire and standardised measurements (i.e., Patient Health Questionnaire and General Anxiety Disorder scale). To examine the independent associations between working conditions and health outcomes, we used multivariate regression models controlling for potential confounders. Results The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and poor self-rated health was 21.3, 19.0, and 9.8%, respectively, among public health workers (27.1, 20.6, and 15.0% among CDC workers and 17.5, 17.9, and 6.8% among PHI workers). The majority (71.6%) made immense efforts in both field and non-field work. Nearly 20.0% have worked all night for more than 3 days, and 45.3% had worked throughout the Chinese New Year holiday. Three risk factors and two protective factors were found to be independently associated with all three health outcomes in our final multivariate models: working all night for >3 days (multivariate odds ratio [ORm]=1.67~1.75, p<0.001), concerns about infection at work (ORm=1.46~1.89, p<0.001), perceived troubles at work (ORm=1.10~1.28, p<0.001), initiating COVID-19 prevention work after January 23 (ORm=0.78~0.82, p=0.002~0.008), and ability to persist for > 1 month at the current work intensity (ORm=0.44~0.55, p<0.001). Conclusions Chinese public health workers made immense efforts and personal sacrifices to control the COVID-19 epidemic and faced the risk of mental health problems. Efforts are needed to improve the working conditions and health status of public health workers and thus maintain their morale and effectiveness during the fight against COVID-19.

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