scholarly journals (A253) Integrated Community-Based Interventions to Overcome a Deadly Cholera Outbreak in Zimbabwe

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s69-s70
Author(s):  
M.N. Yao
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Water Purification ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Cholera Outbreak ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Health Threats

An unprecedented cholera outbreak affected Zimbabwe from August 2008 to July 2009 with 98,592 cases and 4,288 deaths, in 54 out of 62 districts. The main strategy used to overcome the outbreak was an integrated community-based interventions package. The present work is a case study to describe the strategy and lessons learned for future humanitarian crises and preparedness. The methodology was based on the review of epidemiological reports, assessment and surveys' reports, minutes of joint Health and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Clusters' meetings, and direct observation as Health Cluster Coordinator. Epidemiological data showed an increasing number of cases in rural areas with community deaths representing 66% of the 1,948 deaths from 61,304 cases on 31 January 2009. Risk factors identified in communities were: lack of awareness about the disease, cultural and religious behaviors, lack of potable water with weak sanitation, lack and inappropriate use of water purification tablets, and lack of soap and water containers for effective behavior change. There also was late arrival to cholera to the few treatment centers by rural populations. In addition to treatment centers, a package of interventions was implemented by multi-sectoral stakeholders. The package included: health and WASH education tools and practice sessions for healthy and hygienic behavior change and for an effective use of oral rehydration salt as first aid measure; community-based surveillance with an early warning system and response teams; and distribution of containers and water purification tablets with drilling of water points. Epidemiological data showed a significant decrease of cholera cases where the full package was implemented. This work showed that an integrated package of interventions jointly targeting risk factors can be effective on public health threats in rural communities. Community-based preparedness and response should then take into account an integrated joint intervention package to mitigate public health threats.

scholarly journals The 4-Level Approach: Prevention of Suicidal Behaviour Through Community-Based Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Hegerl ◽  
Ines Heinz ◽  
Ainslie O'Connor ◽  
Hannah Reich
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
The Many ◽  
Different Levels

Due to the many different factors contributing to diagnostic and therapeutic deficits concerning depression and the risk of suicidal behaviour, community-based interventions combining different measures are considered the most efficient way to address these important areas of public health. The network of the European Alliance Against Depression has implemented in more than 120 regions within and outside of Europe community-based 4-level-interventions that combine activities at four levels: (i) primary care, (ii) general public, (iii) community facilitators and gatekeepers (e.g., police, journalists, caregivers, pharmacists, and teachers), and (iv) patients, individuals at high risk and their relatives. This review will discuss lessons learned from these broad implementation activities. These include targeting depression and suicidal behaviour within one approach; being simultaneously active on the four different levels; promoting bottom-up initiatives; and avoiding any cooperation with the pharmaceutical industry for reasons of credibility.

Psychological Science Into Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-396
Author(s):  
Eleni Karayianni ◽  
Tom Van Daele ◽  
Jasminka Despot-Lučanin ◽  
Josip Lopižić ◽  
Nicholas Carr
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Psychological Science

Abstract. The public health outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has hit all aspects of life as we know it. We found ourselves trying to solve several concurrent crises that have afflicted us. The European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) launched the Psychologists’ Support Hub to share resources among its members and beyond and promote the continuing adoption of psychological science to battle the pandemic. In the greater context of evidence-based practice (EBP), the best available evidence is what we turn to for help in our decision-making on how best to address different challenges. However, there are challenges in implementing EBP when the science is limited, and we are still expected to be effective and efficient as professionals. The article outlines the need for EBP during the pandemic. Three vignettes display how that can be done while identifying obstacles and recommending ways forward in the future. The first one relates to the development of e-mental health services in Belgium following the March 2020 lockdown. The second describes addressing the needs of older adults in Croatia when it was hit by two crises simultaneously – the March 2020 lockdown and a destructive earthquake. The third looks at how targeted community-based interventions in Norway directed at social change can positively impact times of crisis. Overall, the pandemic presents a unique opportunity for professional growth for researchers, trainers, practitioners, and policymakers alike. EFPA can play a pivotal role in EBP adoption.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of hepatitis A in Greece in the last decade: management of reported cases and outbreaks and lessons learned

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Mellou ◽  
A. Chrysostomou ◽  
T. Sideroglou ◽  
M. Kyritsi ◽  
T. Georgakopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Oral Transmission ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
Outbreak Investigations ◽  
Sex With Men

Abstract Hepatitis A is a mandatory notifiable disease in Greece. Here, we present the epidemiological data for 2009–2018 and the results of outbreak investigations performed, and discuss future public health priorities. Overall, 1193 cases were reported; 320 migrants/refugees, 240 Roma, 112 travellers and 521 from the general population. The median age of the affected general population (37 years) had an increasing trend (from 30.8 years in 2009 to 40.5 in 2018, P < 0.001) and was significantly higher than that among Roma and migrants (7 and 8 years, respectively, P < 0.001). Twenty-two cases (2.2%) were unvaccinated patients with a chronic liver disease. Fifty clusters with 2–12 cases each were recorded; 44 were attributed to person-to-person transmission and six to food consumption. Three outbreaks accounting for 32.3% of the total number of recorded cases were identified; in 2013 among Roma (112 cases), in 2016 among refugees (188 cases) and in 2017 among men having sex with men (96 cases; 33 of them (34.4%) HIV-positive). The epidemiological data depict that improving living conditions and vaccination coverage of deprived populations, and informing adults on the disease focusing at faecal–oral transmission during sexual intercourse and travel should be the future public health priorities.

Building a Public Health Law and Policy Curriculum to Promote Skills and Community Engagement

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (S1) ◽  
pp. 30-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy T. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Law Students ◽  
Health Law ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Public Health Law ◽  
Building Process ◽  
Effective Community

This article describes implementation of a longitudinal curriculum in public health law, building on doctrinal coursework with skills-based coursework and opportunities for interdisciplinary, community-based engagement and service learning. It specifically describes development of a Policy Practicum, giving an example of how law students can learn policy skills and skills of effective community coalition work through a healthy homes partnership, highlighting areas where the curriculum can incorporate interdisciplinary education. It offers lessons learned during the curriculum-building process, and concludes with a more intensive service-learning strategy through the development of a Policy Lab.

Framing Community-Based Interventions for Gun Violence: A Review of the Literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monte-Angel Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Gun Violence ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Research

Abstract Social workers are uniquely situated to lead community-based efforts to reduce gun violence, which has been identified as a prevalent and pressing public health concern. The current literature, however, has not addressed the frameworks guiding community-based interventions for gun violence. In the present article, a systematic literature review examines frameworks used to support community-based interventions for gun violence and to evaluate their outcomes. The search found 13 articles—unique to gun violence interventions—organized by the frameworks shaping perceptions of gun violence and community-based research. The review assessed frameworks based on their relationship to intervention stage and study outcomes. Findings suggest that these community-based gun violence interventions are shaped by systems, public health, and community mobilization frameworks. The article discusses frameworks found to be associated with successful community-based interventions and explains how the findings are relevant to future social work practice and research.

Teaching Graduate Students to Evaluate Public Health Programs Through Community-Based Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-127
Author(s):  
Brenda M. Joly
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Core Competency ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Public Health Programs ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Community Based Learning

Public health professionals are increasingly called on to demonstrate program evaluation skills, a core competency for the field. Learning opportunities that are connected to community organizations with identified evaluation needs give students meaningful opportunities to build and test new skills. When thoughtfully implemented, community-based learning benefits both the student and the community, yet there are several important considerations for designing a course that incorporates this feature. This article describes one approach for teaching graduate public health students how to conceptualize and write a comprehensive program evaluation plan for a community agency, based on the needs, priorities, and capacity of that agency. Lessons learned and recommendations for adopting this model are discussed.

The application of the complexity theory to public health interventions: a review of the literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Contu ◽  
E Breton
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Complexity Theory ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Care Services

Abstract Background There is a growing recognition of the limitations of a linear cause-and-effect rationality in planning and evaluating public health interventions. Although this perspective is amenable to programme planning and evaluation, it leaves aside a whole array of mechanisms of change triggered by interactions taking place in complex social systems. Generative causality is one and recognized under a number of works referring to the complexity paradigm. Here we review the state of knowledge on what is often referred to as the complexity theory (CT), and present the results of a review of the literature on its application in public health. Methods We searched PubMed for articles, commentaries, editorials published in English, French and Italian, using the keywords 'Complexity Theory' (also plural). We categorized the fields of application of the CT according to the three core WHO's Essential Public Health Operations, i.e., Health Promotion, Prevention and Protection. All papers addressing issues related to health care services (but not prevention) were included in the category “health care services” while others were tagged as “others”. Results We found 203 papers meeting our inclusion criteria. The largest share of the research output applying the CT was in health care services (n = 167), followed by Health Promotion (5), Prevention (3) and Protection (2). 26 papers were labelled others. In health promotion/ prevention, applications of the CT have yet to integrate most of its concepts. Most authors tap into both the linear and generative rationality perspectives. Conclusions Although regularly deemed as promising in uncovering mechanisms for change triggered by public health intervention, applications of the complexity theory remain uncommon and has made little inroads in the public health domain. This is particularly the case for health promotion where one would assume that participatory community-based interventions would be an incentive to integrate this perspective. Key messages Although deemed promising the complexity theory has made little inroads in public health. Health promotion with its participatory community-based interventions can benefit from its application.

scholarly journals Post-partum depression in a cohort of women from a rural area of Tamil Nadu, India

2002 ◽  
Vol 181 (6) ◽  
pp. 499-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mani Chandran ◽  
Prathap Tharyan ◽  
Jayaprakash Muliyil ◽  
Sulochana Abraham
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Adverse Life Events ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Post Partum Depression

BackgroundCommunity-based epidemiological data on post-partum depression from developing countries are scarce.AimsTo determine the incidence of and risk factors for developing post-partum depression in a cohort of women living in rural south India.MethodWe assessed 359 women in the last trimester of pregnancy and 6–12 weeks after delivery for depression and for putative risk factors.ResultsThe incidence of post-partum depression was 11% (95% CI 7.1–14.9). Low income, birth of a daughter when a son was desired, relationship difficulties with mother-in-law and parents, adverse life events during pregnancy and lack of physical help were risk factors for the onset of post-partum depression.ConclusionsDepression occurred as frequently during late pregnancy and after delivery as in developed countries, but there were cultural differences in risk factors. These findings have implications for policies regarding maternal and child-care programmes.

scholarly journals Determinants of Infant Mortality in Southeast Nigeria: Results from the Healthy Beginning Initiative, 2013-2014

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Samantha A Slinkard, BA ◽  
Jennifer R Pharr, PhD ◽  
Tamara Bruno, MPH ◽  
Dina Patel, MSN ◽  
Amaka Ogidi, MEd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Neonatal Mortality ◽  
Prenatal Screening ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Live Births ◽  
Enugu State

Background: Neonatal mortality due to preventable factors occurs at high rates throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Community-based interventions increase opportunities for prenatal screening and access to antenatal care services (ANC) services. The Healthy Beginning Initiative (HBI) provided congregation-based prenatal screening and health counseling for 3,047 women in Enugu State. The purpose of this study was to identify determinants for infant mortality among this cohort.Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of post-delivery outcomes at 40 churches in Enugu State, Nigeria between 2013 and 2014. Risk factors for infant mortality were assessed using chi square, odds ratios, and multiple logistic regression.Results: There were 2,436 live births from the 2,379 women who delivered (55 sets of twins and one set of triplets), and 99 cases of neonatal/early postneonatal mortality. The neonatal mortality rate was 40.6 per 1,000 live births. Risk factors associated with neonatal mortality were lack of access to ANC services [OR= 8.81], maternal mortality [OR= 15.28], caesarian section [OR= 2.47], syphilis infection [OR= 6.46], HIV-positive status [OR= 3.87], and preterm birth [OR= 14.14].Conclusions and Global Health Implications: These results signify that culturally-acceptable community-based interventions targeted to increase access to ANC services, post-delivery services for preterm births, and HIV and syphilis screening for expectant mothers are needed to reduce infant mortality in resource-limited settings.Key words: Infant Mortality • Neonatal Mortality • HIV, Antenatal Care • Nigeria • Healthy Beginning InitiativeCopyright © 2018 Slinkard et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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