Bias in Pertussis Incidence Data and Its Implications for Public Health Epidemiology

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eli E. Goldwyn ◽  
Pejman Rohani
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Mok ◽  
Oliver Oi Yat Mui ◽  
Kwan Pui Tang ◽  
Chi-Fai NG ◽  
Sunny Hei Wong ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has led to increase in global awareness of related public health preventive measures. The public awareness can be reflected by online searching trends of major search engines, namely Google Trends. OBJECTIVE This study aims to interpret online searches of COVID-19 related public health preventive measures and to identify possible correlations between early search trends and progression of the pandemic. METHODS Search data from five queries “Mask”, “Hand Washing”, “Social Distancing”, “Hand Sanitizer”, and “Disinfectant” were extracted from Google Trends (GT) in the form of Relative Search Volumes (RSV). Global incidence data of COVID-19 was obtained from January 1st to June 30th 2020. Subsequently, the data were analyzed and illustrated in forms of a global temporal RSV trend diagram, a geographical RSV distribution chart, scatter graphs comparing regional RSV with average daily cases; and heat-maps comparing temporal trend of RSV with average daily cases. RESULTS Global temporal trend revealed multiple surges in RSV, which were temporally associated with certain COVID news events. Geographical distribution showed differences of query interests among regions. Although scatter graphs failed to illustrate strong correlations between regional RSV and average daily cases, the heat-maps were able to demonstrate patterns of early RSV peaks in countries with lower average daily cases, for queries “Mask”, “Hand Sanitizer”, and “Disinfectant”, upon incorporating with the temporal element into analysis. CONCLUSIONS Early public awareness of multiple preventive measures was observed in countries with lower daily average cases. Public health authorities may look into early public awareness as an effective measure for future disease control.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Recchioni ◽  
V Castello ◽  
S Del Vecchio ◽  
V Ciaccio ◽  
A M Donia ◽  
...  

Abstract Issue Geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies are increasingly used in Public Health epidemiology, showing a great potential in anticipating and responding to actual and future challenges for the public health system and in improving health services' excellence. According to the evidences collected within a wide meta-research carried on of relevant literature (”GIS geographic information system” and “GIS geographic information system and training” on Pubmed; “epidemiologist use of GIS and training” and “epidemiologist use of gis” on Google Scholar),GIS and new sensing technologies are mostly used to: map air and water pollution, map diseases prevalence, predict infection diseases and vector-spread diseases in big areas, study health service coverage and preparedness in emergencies, map cities and study urban health, study climate changes for decision making. Description of the Problem Specific skills and training are required to address the use of GIS and new sensing technologies.The specific aim of our study is to identify the professional profile of a new figure, called 'Geomatic Epidemiologist' and to define its professional and educational standards, as well as the relevant training programs. Results Data collection and analysis of INAPP and ESCO databases about existing professional profiles (starting from 2016) has allowed drafting a first qualification schema and profile. The profile has been defined according to the 4C model (elaborated by Univaq) distinguishing between Hard Skills (technical knowledge and skills),Soft Skills (cognitive, individual and social) and interpersonal behaviors. Conclusions Profile will be validated with relevant stakeholders and Public Health professionals in order to deepen the understanding of the main competences required to study health issues with GIS and related technologies; to this extent, a questionnaire has been elaborated to evaluate relevance, frequency and complexity of each component of the profile Key messages Developing cross-disciplinary profiles, (i.e. the Geomatic Epidemiologist) integrating clusters of competences (holistic approach). Public health research challenges and excellence.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 2398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Leonardo Lemos dos Santos ◽  
João Luís Da Silva ◽  
Izabel Christina De Avelar Silva ◽  
Rosário Antunes Fonseca Lima

ABSTRACTObjective: to conduct a situational analysis and comparative data on violence in the cities of Recife, Olinda and Jaboatão provided by VIVA Inquiry 2009. Method: it is a cross-sectional epidemiological study, whose population was comprised of victims of violence who sought care in sentinel services in selected municipalities. Data were collected from official publications of the MS on the VIVA Inquiry 2009, being tabulated into spreadsheets, treated statistically and analyzed, allowing to compare the profiles of violence found. It was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Regents of the University of Pernambuco, protocol 271/10, according to the CAAE nº 0266.0.097.000-10. Results: in relation to the victim, the profile found were mostly men aged 20-29 years, brown and up to 8 years of schooling. Among the aggressors, males predominate, prevailing the fellow or former when the victims were female, and unknown when the victims were male. Conclusion: despite the territorial peculiarities, were found some variables with similar manifestations in three cities, such as victim and offender profile, nature of aggression and means. Descriptors: violence; sentinel surveillance; mandatory reporting; public health; epidemiology.  RESUMOObjetivo: realizar análise situacional e comparativa dos dados relativos à violência nas cidades de Recife, Olinda e Jaboatão, disponibilizados pelo VIVA Inquérito 2009. Método: estudo epidemiológico transversal, cuja população foi composta por vítimas de violências que procuraram atendimento nos serviços sentinela dos municípios pernambucanos Recife, Olinda e Jaboatão dos Guararapes. Os dados foram coletados a partir das publicações oficiais do MS sobre o VIVA Inquérito 2009, sendo tabulados em planilhas, tratados estatisticamente e analisados, permitindo comparar os perfis dos casos de violência encontrados, após submissão e aprovação do projeto de pesquisa pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Reitoria da Universidade de Pernambuco, protocolo 271/10, de acordo com o CAAE nº 0266.0.097.000-10. Resultados: em relação à vítima, o perfil majoritariamente encontrado foram homens entre 20-29 anos, pardos e com até 8 anos de escolaridade. Entre os agressores, predominou o sexo masculino, prevalecendo os companheiros ou ex quando as vítimas eram do sexo feminino, e pessoas desconhecidas quando as vítimas eram do sexo masculino. Conclusão: apesar das peculiaridades territoriais, foram encontradas algumas variáveis com manifestações semelhantes nas três cidades, tais como: perfil de vítima e agressor, natureza das agressões e meio utilizado. Descritores: violência; vigilância de evento sentinela; notificação de abuso; saúde pública; epidemiologia.RESUMENObjetivo: llevar a cabo un análisis situacional y comparativa de los datos sobre la violencia en las ciudades de Recife, Olinda y Jaboatão proporcionada por VIVA averiguación de 2009. Método: es un estudio epidemiológico transversal, cuya población se compone de víctimas de la violencia que procuraron tratamiento em servicios centinela de los municipios seleccionados. Los datos fueron recolectados de las publicaciones oficiales del MS sobre el VIVA averiguación 2009, siendo tabulados en hojas de cálculo, tratados estadísticamente y analizados, permitiendo comparar los perfiles de la violencia encontrados. Fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética de la Rectoría de la Universidad de Pernambuco, protoloco 271/10, de acuerdo con el nº CAAE 0266.0.097.000-10. Resultados: el perfil de las víctima más encontrado fue varones de 20-29 años, marrón y con hasta 8 años de escolaridad. Entre los delincuentes, predominó el sexo masculino, siendo predominante los compañeros, vigentes o anteriores, cuando las víctimas eran mujeres, y personas desconocidas cuando las víctimas eran hombres. Conclusión: a pesar de las peculiaridades territoriales, algunas variables se encontraron similares en las tres ciudades, como perfil de víctima y agresor, naturaleza de la agresión y los medios. Descriptores: violência; vigilancia de guardia; notificación obligatoria; salud pública; epidemiología.


1999 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-357
Author(s):  
Carol Brayne

In the last 50 years there has been both extraordinary and extraordinarily little progress in geriatric psychiatry, depending on the perspective from which the topic is viewed. In developed countries there has been a slow recognition of the emergence of the particular issues raised by aging populations. This has accelerated in the last few years, with the acknowledgment of the importance of the topic area in funding initiatives such as the European Union Framework V. In tandem with such developments has come the realization that aging populations, and their challenges, are not limited to the developed world, but also to developing countries that are experiencing demographic transition at much greater speed. Among the key areas of the impact of aging populations is health, and particularly mental health.


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