scholarly journals An approach to integrate population mobility patterns and sociocultural factors in communicable disease preparedness and response

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca D. Merrill ◽  
Ali Imorou Bah Chabi ◽  
Elvira McIntyre ◽  
Jules Venance Kouassi ◽  
Martial Monney Alleby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Circular Migration ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Migration Pathway

AbstractComplex human movement patterns driven by a range of economic, health, social, and environmental factors influence communicable disease spread. Further, cross-border movement impacts disparate public health systems of neighboring countries, making an effective response to disease importation or exportation more challenging. Despite the array of quantitative techniques and social science approaches available to analyze movement patterns, there continues to be a dearth of methods within the applied public health setting to gather and use information about community-level mobility dynamics. Population Connectivity Across Borders (PopCAB) is a rapidly-deployable toolkit to characterize multisectoral movement patterns through community engagement using focus group discussions or key informant interviews, each with participatory mapping, and apply the results to tailor preparedness and response strategies. The Togo and Benin Ministries of Health (MOH), in collaboration with the Abidjan Lagos Corridor Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adapted and applied PopCAB to inform cross-border preparedness and response strategies for multinational Lassa fever outbreaks. Initially, the team implemented binational, national-level PopCAB activities in March 2017, highlighting details about a circular migration pathway across northern Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. After applying those results to respond to a cross-border Lassa fever outbreak in February 2018, the team designed an expanded PopCAB initiative in April 2018. In eight days, they trained 54 MOH staff who implemented 21 PopCAB focus group discussions in 14 cities with 224 community-level participants representing six stakeholder groups. Using the newly-identified 167 points of interest and 176 routes associated with a circular migration pathway across Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, the Togo and Benin MOH refined their cross-border information sharing and collaboration processes for Lassa fever and other communicable diseases, selected health facilities with increased community connectivity for enhanced training, and identified techniques to better integrate traditional healers in surveillance and community education strategies. They also integrated the final toolkit in national- and district-level public health preparedness plans. Integrating PopCAB in public health practice to better understand and accommodate population movement patterns can help countries mitigate the international spread of disease in support of improved global health security and International Health Regulations requirements.

scholarly journals Persepsi Ibu Terhadap Iklan Vaksin Measles Rubella (MR)

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Muslimah Muslimah ◽  
Dian Ayubi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Electronic Media ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Data Collection Process ◽  
Depth Interviews

Measles and Rubella (MR) is a disease that is highly contagious and usually occurs in children aged 9 months until the age of 15 years. One effort that can be done to reduce the incidence of the disease is through health promotion about the importance of immunization. Purpose the promotion was packaged in the form of advertisements on electronic media with the aim of building perceptions that the importance of immunization for public health. Methods this research was a qualitative study with a method of collecting in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The number of informants in this study was 19 mothers who had children aged 0.9 to 15 years in one of the Puskesmas work areas in Merangin District, Jambi Province. Before the data collection process, all informants were asked to see two MR immunization advertisements. Results that immunization advertisements are interesting and contain humor. Meanwhile, informants who did not give MR immunization to their children tended to be negative towards MR immunization advertisements and tended to ignore the effects that arose if they did not give immunizations to their children. The recommendation that MR immunization advertisements should avoid using the fear arousal method and use the pay off idea method in those ads

scholarly journals Dating and Sex Among Emerging Adults in Nepal

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 675-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pramod R. Regmi ◽  
Edwin R. van Teijlingen ◽  
Padam Simkhada ◽  
Dev R. Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Young People ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Informal Education ◽  
Safer Sex ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Cultural Changes ◽  
Individual Interviews

Social and cultural changes in Nepal, including better communication facilities and transport, more urbanization and a rising age at which people marry, have created more opportunities for young people for “dating.” Our qualitative study explores whether the existence of dating cultures influences young people’s sexual behavior in Nepal. Focus group discussions with a total of 75 participants and 31 in-depth individual interviews were conducted among young people in Nepal. Most urban and rural young people liked the dating culture. Although it is a new kind of culture in Nepalese society, it is gaining popularity. The mass media were regarded as encouraging and creating an environment for dating. Most participants believed that dating culture encourages premarital and extramarital sexual behavior. The authors underpin their findings by linking it to the “emerging adulthood” framework. In terms of public health, they recommend that dating practice should be discussed in formal and informal education to promote safer sex.

scholarly journals Building the hospital event-based surveillance system in Viet Nam: a qualitative study to identify potential facilitators and barriers for event reporting

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 10-20
Author(s):  
Hien Do ◽  
Hien T Ho ◽  
Phu D Tran ◽  
Dang B Nguyen ◽  
Satoko Otsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Preventive Medicine ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Viet Nam ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Event Reporting ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers

Introduction: Hospitals are a key source of information for the early identification of emerging disease outbreaks and acute public health events for risk assessment, decision-making and public health response. The objective of this study was to identify potential facilitators and barriers for event reporting from the curative sector to the preventive medicine sector in Viet Nam. Methods: In 2016, we conducted 18 semi-structured, in-depth interviews, as well as nine focus group discussions, with representatives from the curative and preventive medicine sectors in four provinces. We transcribed the interviews and focus group discussions and used thematic analysis to identify the factors that appeared to affect public health event reporting. Results: We identified five major themes. First, the lack of a legal framework to guide reporting meant hospital staff relied on internal procedures that varied from hospital to hospital, which sometimes delayed reporting. Second, participants stated the importance of an enabling environment, such as leadership support and having focal points for reporting, to facilitate reporting. Third, participants described the potential benefits of reporting, such as support provided during outbreaks and information received about local outbreaks. Fourth, some challenges prohibited timely reporting such as not perceiving reporting to be the task of the curative sector and hesitancy to report without laboratory confirmation. Finally, limited resources and specialist capacities in remote areas hindered timely detection and reporting of unusual events. Discussion: This study identified potential opportunities to promote the detection and reporting of unusual events from health-care workers to the public health sector, and thus to improve the overall health security system in Viet Nam.

scholarly journals Management, Communication, Partnership, and Innovation Factors in Posbindu PTM Implementation Process in Gunung Batu Bogor City

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Siti Khodijah Parinduri ◽  
Pujiyanto Pujiyanto
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Management Communication ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Number Of Visits ◽  
Document Review ◽  
Depth Interviews

By 2015 the deaths due to PTM are 68% and projected in 2030 to increase to 74%. Indonesia in 2013 based on Riskesdas data shows that 69.6% of diabetes mellitus and 63.2% of hypertension are still undiagnosed. The government's proactive efforts are through the implementation of Posbindu PTM which shows a very different number of visits in the target area of the Pasir Mulya Public Health Center. The purpose of this study is to know more in the description of management, communication, partnership and innovation in the implementation of Posbindu PTM and the factors that determine the results of the evaluation of the implementation of Posbindu PTM. This study is a qualitative study with in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), document review and observation at two Posbindu PTM with the highest and lowest visits to people with similar characteristics. The results of this study indicate that human resource management is a contributing factor in the implementation of Posbindu PTM,  communication and innovation need to be supported by partnership. The implementation of Posbindu PTM is supported by the optimization of management, communication, partnership and innovation factors that are interrelated in improving the successful implementation.

scholarly journals Issues raised by nurses and midwives in a post-disaster Bantul community

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mire Sugino ◽  
Elsi Dwi Hapsari ◽  
Ema Madyaningrum ◽  
Fitri Haryant ◽  
Sri Warsini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nurses And Midwives ◽  
Post Disaster

Purpose – Bantul in Central Java was the most severely damaged area by a devastating earthquake in May 2006. Even after being victims themselves, nurses and midwives at public health centers worked devotedly. The purpose of this paper is to identify the nurses’ and midwives’ perceptions and understanding of their roles, as well as the needs of training in disaster preparedness and management. Design/methodology/approach – Focus group discussions and questionnaire survey were conducted with 11 nurses and 11 midwives of public health centers in Bantul. Content analysis was applied to analyze transcripts of the focus group discussions and the responses to questionnaire. Findings – Health care for survivors and community were provided by highly committed health professionals supported in strong community resilience. Donors driven relief programs tended to be unorganized and insensitive for local health providers. Besides, organized disaster management trainings are strongly needed to develop disaster nursing and preparedness. Research limitations/implications – Embedded problems of local health system and current nursing practice were highlighted. Originality/value – Focus group discussions provided vital information that can and must be used to improve disaster response capabilities. Moreover, it was equally it is crucial to examine carefully what unfolded during post-disaster intervention.

scholarly journals Lay community perceptions and treatment options for hypertension in rural northern Ghana: a qualitative analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. e023451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gertrude Nsorma Nyaaba ◽  
Lina Masana ◽  
Ama de-Graft Aikins ◽  
Karien Stronks ◽  
Charles Agyemang
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Community Perceptions ◽  
Hypertension Control ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions

ObjectiveAdherence to hypertension treatment is a major public health challenge for low and middle-income countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. One potential reason could be the discordance between lay and medical explanatory models of hypertension and its treatment. Understanding community perceptions and practices may contribute to improving hypertension control as they present insights into psychosocial and cultural factors that shape individual behaviour. We explore community perceptions regarding hypertension and its treatment in rural northern Ghana and how they differ from medical understanding.DesignThis was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to collect data, which were analysed using a thematic approach.SettingA multisite study conducted in four rural communities in two regions of northern Ghana.ParticipantsWe conducted 16 semi-structured interviews and eight focus group discussions with community leaders and members, respectively.ResultsThree major themes were identified: community perceptions, treatment options and community support for people with hypertension. Community perceptions about hypertension include hypertension perceived as excess blood in the body and associated with spiritual or witchcraft attacks. Traditional medicine is perceived to cure hypertension completely with concurrent use of biomedical and traditional medicines encouraged in rural communities. Community members did not consider themselves at risk of developing hypertension and reported having inadequate information on how to provide social support for hypertensive community members, which they attributed to low literacy and poverty.ConclusionThere is a substantial mismatch between communities’ perceptions and medical understanding of hypertension and its treatment. These perceptions partly result from structural factors and social norms shaped by collective processes and traditions that shape lay beliefs and influence individual health behaviour. Socioeconomic factors also thwart access to information and contribute to inadequate social support for persons with hypertension. These findings highlight the need for a public health approach to hypertension control targeting families and communities.

scholarly journals Patients’ Perspectives on Their Safety: A Qualitative Study in Two Public Health Facilities in Kaduna State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-109
Author(s):  
B.K. Lawal ◽  
S. Mohammed ◽  
M.A. Ladan ◽  
B.B. Maiha ◽  
A.A. Aliyu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Public Health Facilities ◽  
Healthcare Environments ◽  
Medical Wards

Background: Safe healthcare environments influence patients’ valuation of care received and impact on better health outcomes. It has been recognized that patients can contribute invaluably in improving the quality and safety of healthcare services they receive.Objective: To explore the perspectives of patients on their safety in healthcare.Methods: A qualitative study comprising of four (4) focus group discussions (FGDs) with six to eight participants was conducted in two public health facilities in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Patients admitted in medical wards (male and female) were recruited through a purposive sampling technique after obtaining their verbal informed consent to participate. A topic guide, containing open ended questions that explored patients’ opinions on their safety in healthcare was used for the discussions. All FGD sessions were recorded, transcribed and coded using thematic analysis.Results: The participants consisted of 15 females and 13 males in FGD sessions that lasted between 55 to 90 minutes. All participants were Hausa speaking, with varying levels of education. Six (6) themes were generated which the patients perceived to play a role in their safety in healthcare. These themes are: choice of hospital, patient satisfaction, patient experiences, patient engagement, communication openness and suggestions by patients for improvement.Conclusion: The findings of this study have highlighted both positive and negative perspectives of patients regarding their safety in healthcare. The patients provided some recommendations for areas where improvements are required for improved patient safety. These include infrastructural improvements, staffing, and availability of medicines, amongst others.

scholarly journals Democracy and Customary Power: Potential Exclusion of Village Fund Access for East Timorese Ex-Refugees

Society ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 470-485
Author(s):  
Ali Maksum ◽  
Wida Ayu Puspitosari ◽  
Juwita Hayyuning Prastiwi
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
East Timor ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Democratic Practices ◽  
New Residents ◽  
Customary Land ◽  
The Village ◽  
Depth Interviews

This research aims to reveal the relations between democracy and customary power in handling the East Timorese ex-refugees in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, related to democratic practices More specifically, democracy is limited to the context of potential exclusion access of the Village Fund for new residents. This research used a qualitative and case studies approach to reveal democratic practices related to the implementation of Village Funds that are intertwined with the local culture. The subjects in this research were new residents in Fatuba’a Village which is geographically close to the cross-border between Indonesia and East Timor. Nearly half of Fatuba’a’s populations are new residents who are East Timorese ex-refugees. A large number of new residents have become a complex social problem for Fatuba’a Village. The data collection techniques consist of observation, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The results showed that customary institutions play a significant role in distributing power both in aspects of government and village development, including the distribution of village funds-use. The Liudasik tribe is a successful dominant tribe obtaining legitimacy of the new residents by granting customary land as a place to live and farming for their contribution to elect the village head from the Liudasik tribe. In the context of the Village Fund, its use also shows the interdependence between new residents and the Liudasik tribe. Consequently, the new residents have an access to village funds. There is no exclusion of new residents for the Fatuba’a’s Village Fund-use. The dependence of new residents on customary institutions has perpetuated the customary power of the Liudasik tribe.

scholarly journals Ethical challenges experienced by public health nurses related to adolescents’ use of visual technologies

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1822-1833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilde Laholt ◽  
Kim McLeod ◽  
Marilys Guillemin ◽  
Ellinor Beddari ◽  
Geir Lorem
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Child Neglect ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Public Health Nurses ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
Visual Technologies

Background: Visual technologies are central to youth culture and are often the preferred communication means of adolescents. Although these tools can be beneficial in fostering relations, adolescents’ use of visual technologies and social media also raises ethical concerns. Aims: We explored how school public health nurses identify and resolve the ethical challenges involved in the use of visual technologies in health dialogues with adolescents. Research design: This is a qualitative study utilizing data from focus group discussions. Participants and research context: We conducted focus group discussions using two semi-structured discussion guides with seven groups of public health nurses (n = 40) working in Norwegian school health services. The data were collected during January and October 2016. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded into themes and subthemes using systematic text condensation. Ethical considerations: The leader of the public health nursing service who agreed to provide access for the study and the Norwegian Center for Research Data that reviewed and approved the study. All participants gave informed consent. Findings: In adolescents’ use of visual materials with public health nurses, ethical concerns were raised regarding suicide ideations, socially unacceptable content, violation of privacy, and presentations of possible child neglect. The nurses utilized their professional knowledge and experience when identifying and navigating these ethical dilemmas; they resolved ethical uncertainties through peer discussion and collaboration with fellow nurses and other professionals. Discussion: We discussed the findings in light of Annemarie Mol’s interpretation of the ethics of care. Mol expands the notion of ethical care to include the action of technologies. Conclusion: Although the increasing use of visual technologies offered benefits, school nurses faced ethical challenges in health dialogues with adolescents. To address and navigate these ethical issues, they relied on their experience and caring practices based on their professional ethics. Uncertainties were resolved through peer dialogue and guidance.

scholarly journals Identifying Local Realities and Anticipating Challenges in Building Capacity of Ontario Municipal Wastewater Systems in Tracking for SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
pp. 7-20
Author(s):  
Zobia Jawed ◽  
Gail Krantzberg ◽  
Sasha Voinson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Invasive Approach ◽  
Untreated Wastewater ◽  
Wastewater Systems

One of the biggest challenges that public health experts have ever faced is detecting and mitigating the community spread of COVID-19. Current clinical testing of COVID-19 patients is limited in terms of testing kits available, cost logistics, and detecting individuals that are mildly symptomatic and asymptomatic. False positives and false negatives also cloud the true picture of the pandemic. Ontario municipalities’ wastewater systems can provide new testing opportunities for a non-invasive approach in tracking and monitoring the community spread of COVID-19 through sampling raw sludge or untreated wastewater to test for SAR-CoV-2 RNA fragments. Current global and domestic research confirms the effectiveness of wastewater epidemiology surveillance of SAR-CoV-2 and can be detected even before individuals experience symptoms providing a real-time indicator for appropriate public health interventions. In collaboration with the COVID-19 Wastewater Consortium of Ontario (CWCO), an initiative of McMaster University, the objective of this research is to determine the means to optimize the current infrastructure capacity of municipal wastewater systems as an opportunity to monitor and track COVID-19 spread in the community by identifying local realities and risks. To identify local challenges, we distributed a survey amongst Ontario municipalities regarding wastewater treatment plants’ characteristics, held focus group discussions, and implemented an eight-week sampling program with CWCO’s partners. This report focuses on municipal wastewater treatment plants with in-house laboratory facilities to analyze the current capacity and limitations associated with their sampling and analysis programs. Drawing from survey responses and focus group discussions, we revealed gaps for municipalities to move forward with sample testing and data processing as well as governance challenges.

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