scholarly journals Advances from the International Thiamine Alliance

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 814-814
Author(s):  
Megan Bourassa ◽  
Gilles Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Thiamine Deficiency ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
At Risk Populations ◽  
Neurological Effects ◽  
Gates Foundation

Abstract Objectives Thiamine deficiency disorders, including beriberi, remain a pressing public health problem. Without rapid recognition of symptoms and treatment, it is often fatal, especially in infants, and can have lasting neurological effects for survivors. Thus our objective is to create an alliance of country representatives, public health professionals, physicians and researchers who can quantify the prevalence of thiamine deficiency disorders globally and create control and prevention strategies. Methods The first meeting of this international thiamine alliance was held in November 2019 to discuss the prevalence of thiamine deficiency disorders and devise strategies to improve thiamine status in at-risk populations. Results This alliance creates the first community of practice for thiamine deficiency. As a result of this meeting and recent data, there is growing recognition that thiamine deficiency is not localized to small areas within Southeast Asia, but covers a much broader area to include much of South and Central Asia, including areas of Kashmir and Assam in India and Bhutan. Challenges in diagnosing thiamine deficiency based on symptoms or biomarkers have been major barriers to recognizing thiamine deficiency disorders. Conclusions This group is now working to improve assessments of thiamine deficiency and raising awareness among the public health and medical professionals in areas where the diets are low in thiamine to ensure that its diagnosis is not overlooked. In areas with a known prevalence of thiamine deficiency, efforts are underway to increase dietary intake of thiamine, provide supplements especially to pregnant and lactating women, and fortify foods to improve thiamine status. Funding Sources Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

scholarly journals How Do They Feel About It? Testing a New Mixed Methods Survey Tool to Assess Collective Emotional Status

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Schwab ◽  
Vasileios Margaritis
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Prima Facie ◽  
Emotional Status ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Public Health Professionals

Emotions are now widely accepted as important elements of qualitative research, in studies of individuals and communities. However, collective emotional status—what a community feels about a given situation or proposition—can be challenging to assess. In this study, we examined the validity and acceptability of a new mixed methods survey tool, primarily qualitative, to address this challenge—the Assessment of Collective Emotional Status (ACES). The tool begins with an adjustable set of questions about emotion, to draw respondents’ attention to their own feelings. These are followed by an emotional self-assessment, in which respondents select and prioritize five emotional responses to a standardized stimulus, drawing from a new taxonomy of emotion words. In this study, the stimulus was a proposition that gun violence should be approached as a public health problem. We tested the tool in an international survey of public health professionals, mostly in the US and Europe (n=160). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected on knowledge and importance of emotion, adequacy of the taxonomy, emotional responses to the stimulus, and use of the tool. Scores were high for knowledge and importance of emotion. Perceived adequacy of the taxonomy was also high, especially with Black and Hispanic respondents, signifying good construct validity. The total weighted frequency of emotions in response to the stimulus was highest for encouraged (92.2%), open (78.8%), hope (77.2%) and interest (77.2%). Qualitative data yielded six themes—on knowledge of emotion, the taxonomy, responses to the stimulus, and use of the tool, which many respondents found easy and interesting to use. This study demonstrates the prima facie validity and acceptability of the ACES with an educated adult population.

scholarly journals Lessons Learned From an Intensive Writing Training Course for Applied Epidemiologists

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-434
Author(s):  
Jessica Arrazola ◽  
Malorie Polster ◽  
Paul Etkind ◽  
John S. Moran ◽  
Richard L. Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Publishing Process ◽  
Writing Courses ◽  
Training Course ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Council Of State

Although writing is a valued public health competency, authors face a multitude of barriers (eg, lack of time, lack of mentorship, lack of appropriate instruction) to publication. Few writing courses for applied public health professionals have been documented. In 2017 and 2018, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnered to implement a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Intensive Writing Training course to improve the quality of submissions from applied epidemiologists working at health departments. The course included 3 webinars, expert mentorship from experienced authors, and a 2-day in-person session. As of April 2020, 39 epidemiologists had participated in the course. Twenty-four (62%) of the 39 epidemiologists had submitted manuscripts, 17 (71%) of which were published. The program’s evaluation demonstrates the value of mentorship and peer feedback during the publishing process, the importance of case study exercises, and the need to address structural challenges (eg, competing work responsibilities or supervisor support) in the work environment.

scholarly journals Disaster-Related Shelter Surveillance During the Hurricane Harvey Response – Texas 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-55
Author(s):  
Amy Helene Schnall ◽  
Arianna Hanchey ◽  
Nicole Nakata ◽  
Alice Wang ◽  
Zuha Jeddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Critical Infrastructure ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Morbidity Data ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
At Risk Populations ◽  
Critical Resource

ABSTRACTObjectives:Hurricane Harvey left a path of destruction in its wake, resulting in over 100 deaths and damaging critical infrastructure. During a disaster, public health surveillance is necessary to track emerging illnesses and injuries, identify at-risk populations, and assess the effectiveness of response efforts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Red Cross collaborate on shelter surveillance to monitor the health of the sheltered population and help guide response efforts.Methods:We analyzed data collected from 24 Red Cross shelters between August 25, 2017, and September 14, 2017. We described the aggregate morbidity data collected during Harvey compared with previous hurricanes (Gustav, Ike, and Sandy).Results:Over one-third (38%) of reasons for visit were for health care maintenance; 33% for acute illnesses, which includes respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal symptoms, and pain; 19% for exacerbation of chronic disease; 7% for mental health; and 4% for injury. The Red Cross treated 41% of clients within the shelters; however, reporting of disposition was often missed. These results are comparable to previous hurricanes.Conclusion:The capacity of Red Cross shelter staff to address the acute health needs of shelter residents is a critical resource for local public health agencies overwhelmed by the disaster. However, there remains room for improvement because reporting remained inconsistent.

CERC as a Theoretical Framework for Research and Practice

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 26S-34S ◽  
Author(s):  
Shari Veil ◽  
Barbara Reynolds ◽  
Timothy L. Sellnow ◽  
Matthew W. Seeger
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Health communicators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed an integrated model titled Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) as a tool to educate and equip public health professionals for the expanding communication responsibilities of public health in emergency situations. This essay focuses on CERC as a general theoretical framework for explaining how health communication functions within the contexts of risk and crisis. Specifically, the authors provide an overview of CERC and examine the relationship of risk communication to crisis communication, the role of communication in emergency response, and the theoretical underpinnings of CERC. The article offers an initial set of propositions based on the CERC framework and concludes with a discussion of future directions.

Developing Interventions

2019 ◽  
pp. 229-242
Author(s):  
James L. Hadler ◽  
Jay K. Varma ◽  
Duc J. Vugia ◽  
Richard A. Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Causal Association ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Field Investigations ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Progressive Stage

Interventions are control and prevention measures that public health officials select and implement at one or more points in time after initiating a field investigation in response to an acute public health problem. Regardless of the nature of the problem, an immediate need exists to understand what is happening and to recommend and implement control and prevention measures that are scientifically justified and acceptable to the community. Public health officials must recommend these actions often without incontrovertible epidemiologic proof of a causal association between the putative source or cause of the problem and occurrence of exposure and disease or injury. Under such circumstances, the key question for the field epidemiologist and decision-makers is: “How much epidemiologic certainty is required before initiating action?” This chapter discusses the decision-making process regarding interventions during the course of epidemiologic field investigations and concludes with a summary of actions relating to interventions that should be considered at each progressive stage of the field investigation.

Pornography and Human Trafficking

2021 ◽  
pp. 179-186
Author(s):  
Emily F. Rothman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Human Trafficking ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Definition Of

Human trafficking is an insidious public health problem that may be worsened by the constant demand for new pornography, but sex workers’ rights—including the rights of pornography performers—are not always served by anti-trafficking efforts. This chapter provides a definition of human trafficking, reviews three main arguments about how pornography may influence human trafficking, and encourages public health professionals to value anecdotal information from both sex workers’ rights advocates and human trafficking survivors to move toward better science and evidence-informed decision-making.

Public health professionals’ perceptions of the capacity of China’s CDCs to address emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Xiaoliang Tong ◽  
Alana Hansen ◽  
Scott Hanson-Easey ◽  
Jianjun Xiang ◽  
Scott Cameron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
International Collaborations ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
And Control

AbstractBackgroundChina’s capacity to control and prevent emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases is critical to the nation’s population health. This study aimed to explore the capacity of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in China to deal with infectious diseases now and in the future.MethodsA survey was conducted in 2015 among 973 public health professionals at CDCs in Beijing and four provinces, to assess their capacity to deal with emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.ResultsAlthough most professionals were confident with the current capacity of CDCs to cope with outbreaks, nearly all indicated more funding was required to meet future challenges. Responses indicated that Yunnan Province faced more challenges than Anhui, Henan and Liaoning Provinces in being completely prepared and able to deal with outbreaks. Participants aged 20–39 years were more likely than those aged 40 and over to believe strategies such as interdisciplinary and international collaborations for disease surveillance and control, would assist capacity building.ConclusionThe capacity of China’s CDCs to deal with infectious diseases was excellent. However, findings suggest it is imperative to increase the number of skilled CDC staff, financial support, and strengthen county level staff training and health education programs.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity, Wasting and Stunting Among Young Children in a Drought Prone Area in South Ethiopia: A Cohort Study (P04-040-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehretu Belayneh ◽  
Eskindir Loha ◽  
Bernt Lindtjorn
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
South Ethiopia ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Poor Households ◽  
Prone Area

Abstract Objectives As many households in Ethiopia are food insecure, seasonal malnutrition could be an important public health problem related to food availability. Ethiopia requires effective community-based nutrition interventions to curb childhood malnutrition. Improving our understanding of the association between the agricultural cycle, rainfall pattern, and malnutrition is important. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the risks of food insecurity, wasting, and stunting among children in households of the Sidama Zone of Ethiopia during different seasons. Methods A cohort study design was employed in the chronically food insecure Boricha area. Data was collected on Pre-harvest season (March and June) and Post-harvest season (September and December) of 2017. Post-harvest season was food plenty season. We studied 935 mothers-child (aged 6 to 47 months) pairs from 894 households. Results At four seasons over a year, we did 3449 measurement (894 households) and 82% (2816) (95% CI: 80.3–82.9) were food in-secured. Severe food insecurity was higher in March (69%) as compared to 50% of September (X2 = 55.5, P < 0.001). From 3488 measurements, 44% (1533) (95% CI: 42.3–45.6) of children were stunted. Stunting showed seasonal variations with 38% (95% CI: 34.7–41.0) in March and 49% (95% CI: 45.8–52.5) in December (X2 = 22, P < 0.001). Six % (95% CI: 5.0–6.6) of children were wasted, with higher prevalence in March (8%) as compared to 3% of September (X2 = 20, P < 0.001). Multivariate risk analysis showed that wasting was higher among poor households, households with uneducated fathers, food in-secured households, and among children with recent illness. Stunting was higher among poor households and in households with low education. Conclusions The highest prevalence of wasting and food insecurity occurred in the same season. However, stunting occurred some months after the period with highest prevalence of food insecurity. Such a finding could have implications in evaluating the effect of interventions as the time relationship between food security and acute and chronic malnutrition differs. Funding Sources Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED); South Ethiopia Network Universities in Public Health (SENUPH). Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

Improving Competencies for Public Health Emergency Legal Preparedness

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (S1) ◽  
pp. 52-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine M. Gebbie ◽  
James G. Hodge ◽  
Benjamin Mason Meier ◽  
Drue H. Barrett ◽  
Priscilla Keith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Legal Response ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Public Health Emergency Preparedness

This paper is one of the four interrelated action agenda papers resulting from the National Summit on Public Health Legal Preparedness (Summit) convened in June 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and multi-disciplinary partners. Each of the action agenda papers deals with one of the four core elements of legal preparedness: laws and legal authorities; competency in using those laws; and coordination of law-based public health actions; and information.This action agenda offers options for consideration by those responsible for or interested in ensuring that public health professionals, their legal counsels, and relevant partners understand the legal framework in which they operate and are competent in applying legal authorities to public health emergency preparedness.Competencies are critical to an individual's ability to make effective legal response to all-hazards public emergencies.

Child Sexual Abuse Imagery

2021 ◽  
pp. 166-178
Author(s):  
Emily F. Rothman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Child Pornography ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
The United States ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Wide Range

Child pornography, also called “child sexual abuse imagery” and “child exploitation material,” is a serious public health problem. This chapter reviews what qualifies as child pornography in the United States, its prevalence, how it is made and disseminated, who views it, and whether seeing it is associated with child sexual abuse perpetration. The topic of self-produced child pornography is also addressed. The chapter explains the historical link between anti-child pornography activism and anti-gay rights activism, and cautions public health professionals that, historically, outrage about child pornography has been used to galvanize people and further repressive agendas. The chapter argues that child pornography prevention strategies need to be carefully devised, in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, and should be studied for effectiveness and unintended consequences.

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