scholarly journals Disruptions to schistosomiasis programmes due to COVID-19: an analysis of potential impact and mitigation strategies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klodeta Kura ◽  
Diepreye Ayabina ◽  
Jaspreet Toor ◽  
T. Deirdre Hollingsworth ◽  
Roy M. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Mitigation Strategy ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Mass Treatment ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Central Pillar ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundThe 2030 goal for schistosomiasis is elimination as a public health problem (EPHP), with mass drug administration (MDA) of praziquantel to school-aged children (SAC) a central pillar of the strategy. However, due to COVID-19, many mass treatment campaigns for schistosomiasis have been halted with uncertain implications for the programmes.MethodWe use mathematical modelling to explore how postponement of MDA and various mitigation strategies affect achievement of the EPHP goal for Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium.ResultsIn moderate and some high prevalence settings, the disruption may delay the goal by up to two years. In some high prevalence settings EPHP is not achievable with current strategies, and so the disruption will not impact this. Here, increasing SAC coverage and treating adults can achieve the goal.The impact of MDA disruption and the appropriate mitigation strategy varies according to the baseline prevalence prior to treatment, the burden of infection in adults and stage of the programme.ConclusionsSchistosomiasis MDA programmes in medium and high prevalence areas should restart as soon as is feasible, and mitigation strategies may be required in some settings.

scholarly journals Modelling the impact of COVID-19-related programme interruptions on visceral leishmaniasis in India

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Epke A Le Rutte ◽  
Luc E Coffeng ◽  
Johanna Muñoz ◽  
Sake J de Vlas
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Mitigation Strategy ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Transmission Model ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Age Structured ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundIn March 2020, India declared a nationwide lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19. As a result, control efforts against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) were interrupted.MethodsUsing an established age-structured deterministic VL transmission model, we predicted the impact of a 6 to 24-month programme interruption on the timeline towards achieving the VL elimination target, as well as on the increase of VL cases. We also explored the potential impact of a mitigation strategy after the interruption.ResultsDelays towards the elimination target are estimated to range between 0 to 9 years. Highly endemic settings where control efforts have been ongoing for 5-8 years are most affected by an interruption, for which we identified a mitigation strategy to be most relevant. However, more importantly, all settings can expect an increase in the number of VL cases. This increase is substantial even for settings with a limited expected delay in achieving the elimination target.ConclusionBesides implementing mitigation strategies, it is of great importance to try and keep the duration of the interruption as short as possible, to prevent new individuals from becoming infected with VL, and continue the efforts towards VL elimination as a public health problem in India.

scholarly journals Modelling the impact of COVID-19-related programme interruptions on visceral leishmaniasis in India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Epke A Le Rutte ◽  
Luc E Coffeng ◽  
Johanna Muñoz ◽  
Sake J de Vlas
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Mitigation Strategy ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Transmission Model ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Age Structured ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In March 2020, India declared a nationwide lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus disease 2019. As a result, control efforts against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) were interrupted. Methods Using an established age-structured deterministic VL transmission model, we predicted the impact of a 6- to 24-month programme interruption on the timeline towards achieving the VL elimination target as well as on the increase of VL cases. We also explored the potential impact of a mitigation strategy after the interruption. Results Delays towards the elimination target are estimated to range between 0 and 9 y. Highly endemic settings where control efforts have been ongoing for 5–8 y are most affected by an interruption, for which we identified a mitigation strategy to be most relevant. However, more importantly, all settings can expect an increase in the number of VL cases. This increase is substantial even for settings with a limited expected delay in achieving the elimination target. Conclusions Besides implementing mitigation strategies, it is of great importance to try and keep the duration of the interruption as short as possible to prevent new individuals from becoming infected with VL and continue the efforts towards VL elimination as a public health problem in India.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence and sociocultural conditionants of Chagas disease in school aged children of marginal zones of Asunción

1998 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninfa I. Vera ◽  
Marisel Maldonado ◽  
Gloria Yaluff ◽  
Luis Simancas ◽  
Antonieta Rojas de Arias
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Rural Populations ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Marginal Zones

Chagas disease is becoming a public health problem in Latin America due to the wide distribution, the high prevalence, the magnitude of the damage caused and the difficulties to control it. In Paraguay, the disease is mainly distributed in the departments of Paraguari, Cordillera and Central. Prevalence in marginal zones, where migrations from rural populations and endemic areas make possible the urbanization of the disease, has no been studied yet. This is a descriptive study with a cross-sectional sampling and a probabilistic system recruitment carried out in school aged children from marginal zones of Asuncion to determine the prevalence of Chagas' disease. Serological methods, parasite isolation and questionnaires were used to achieve the goals. Nine hundred and fifty three children were studied to determine the prevalence of Chagas' disease in marginal zones which was 1.4%.

scholarly journals Insights from quantitative and mathematical modelling on the proposed WHO 2030 goal for schistosomiasis

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1517
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
World Health ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Schistosomiasis remains one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) impacting millions of people around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently proposed a goal of elimination as a public health problem (EPHP) for schistosomiasis to be reached by 2030. Current WHO treatment guidelines for achieving EPHP focus on targeting school-aged children. The NTD Modelling Consortium has developed mathematical models to study schistosomiasis transmission dynamics and the impact of control measures. Our modelling insights on Schistosoma mansoni have shown that EPHP is likely to be attainable in low to moderate prevalence settings using the current guidelines. However, as prevalence rises within high prevalence settings, EPHP is less likely to be achieved unless both school-aged children and adults are treated (with coverage levels increasing with the adult burden of infection). We highlight the challenges that are faced by treatment programmes, such as non-adherence to treatment and resurgence, which can hinder progress towards achieving and maintaining EPHP. Additionally, even though EPHP may be reached, prevalence can still be high due to persisting infections. Therefore, without interruption of transmission, treatment will likely have to continue to maintain EPHP. Further modelling work is being carried out, including extending our results to S. haematobium. By providing these modelling insights, we aim to inform discussions on the goals and treatment guidelines for schistosomiasis.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 Home Confinement in Children’s Refractive Errors

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5347
Author(s):  
Cristina Alvarez-Peregrina ◽  
Clara Martinez-Perez ◽  
Cesar Villa-Collar ◽  
Cristina Andreu-Vázquez ◽  
Alicia Ruiz-Pomeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Population ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Digital Devices ◽  
Visual Screening ◽  
Near Work ◽  
The Impact

Background: Myopia is a public health problem, with estimations that 50% of the world population will be myopic by 2050. Some environmental factors, such as time spent outdoors, doing near work, and using digital devices, influence the development of myopia in children. Home confinement in Spain has increased these risk factors, so this study aims to investigate the impact of home confinement during the COVID-19 outbreak in the vision of school-aged children; Methods: A cross-sectional study in children between 5 and 7 years old that completed a visual screening and a questionnaire about their lifestyles at opticians in Spain in September and October of 2019 and 2020. Statistical analysis to compare lifestyles pre and post confinement, and vision in 2020 versus a similar cohort examined at the same opticians in 2019, was conducted; Results: Spanish children spent less time outdoors and more time doing near work in 2020 than in 2019 (p ≤ 0.001). There was a significant decrease of the spherical equivalent (mean ± standard deviation; 0.66 ± 2.03 D in 2019 vs. 0.48 ± 1.81 D in 2020; p ≤ 0.001); Conclusions: Lifestyles of Spanish children changed during the home confinement at the beginning of 2020. Together with changes in their lifestyles, spherical equivalents have decreased, which implies higher figures of myopia for children aged between 5 and 7.

scholarly journals Modelling the impact of COVID-19-related control programme interruptions on progress towards the WHO 2030 target for soil-transmitted helminths

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Malizia ◽  
Federica Giardina ◽  
Carolin Vegvari ◽  
Sumali Bajaj ◽  
Kevin McRae-McKee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Control Programme ◽  
Mitigation Strategy ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Preventive Chemotherapy ◽  
Soil Transmitted Helminths ◽  
Individual Based Models ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
Catch Up ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background On 1 April 2020, the WHO recommended an interruption of all activities for the control of neglected tropical diseases, including soil-transmitted helminths (STH), in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper investigates the impact of this disruption on the progress towards the WHO 2030 target for STH. Methods We used two stochastic individual-based models to simulate the impact of missing one or more preventive chemotherapy (PC) rounds in different endemicity settings. We also investigated the extent to which this impact can be lessened by mitigation strategies, such as semiannual or community-wide PC. Results Both models show that without a mitigation strategy, control programmes will catch up by 2030, assuming that coverage is maintained. The catch-up time can be up to 4.5 y after the start of the interruption. Mitigation strategies may reduce this time by up to 2 y and increase the probability of achieving the 2030 target. Conclusions Although a PC interruption will only temporarily impact the progress towards the WHO 2030 target, programmes are encouraged to restart as soon as possible to minimise the impact on morbidity. The implementation of suitable mitigation strategies can turn the interruption into an opportunity to accelerate progress towards reaching the target.

HYPERTENSION – A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adia Pilav ◽  
Emira Tanović-Mikulec ◽  
Suada Branković ◽  
Vedran Đido
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Population Approach ◽  
Hypertension Control ◽  
Adequate Model ◽  
High Prevalence

Aim. The aim of this paper is to present public health importance of hypertension in population as one of the major CVD risk factor as well as a model of integrated approach to hypertension control at community level. Background. In spite of wide knowledge of pathophysiology and epidemiology in development of hypertension, ability to easily diagnose it, availability of efficient medications, hypertension continues to have high prevalence and setting up hypertension controls poses significant public health challenge. High prevalence of hypertension exists in all countries of the world, regardless of socioeconomic status of the country. It is estimated that the number of people with hypertension by 2025 will rise by 15-20%, and the number of sick people will increase up to 1.5 billion people worldwide. Methods. A review of the relevant literature which discusses the importance of defining clear strategies and interventions in the control of hypertension in countries, with particular emphasis on integrated hypertension management that has the greatest impact. Discussion. Effective and efficient hypertension control requires two approaches: population approach and individual approach to high-risk individuals. The balanced combination of population approach and an approach to access high-risk individuals is vital for the effective control of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions. Health systems in every country must be flexible and ready to provide adequate model of integrated approach to hypertension control at community level understanding their own local needs.

scholarly journals Neonatal malformations: organization of information flows in the S. Anna Hospital of Torino

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Bordino ◽  
A Musso ◽  
F Bert ◽  
R Siliquini
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Congenital Malformations ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Health Planning ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Live Births ◽  
Regional Health Planning ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Congenital malformations (CMs) represent a serious public health problem, both in terms of size (3% newborns/year) and severity of outcomes. The surveillance activity carried out by the Registers is an important tool for monitoring the frequency of events, to evaluate etiology, support research and public health actions. The aim is to evaluate the organization and the information network related to the diagnosis of malformation in the S. Anna presidium. Methods the retrospective study analyzed all newborns with one or more CM and all cases of TOPFA (Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Anomaly) for CMs in the period 01/2020 - 01/2021. A forward-looking pilot study was then set up to assess the impact on the quality of data collection through the introduction of a MC sheet. Results 510 cases of CMs were found in live births, 180 in TOPFA for CMs and 4 in stillbirths. The duration of hospitalizations averaged 14.5 days (σ 36.56), with a median of 4 days. In the CMs group, an average maternal age of 33.40 years (σ 9.32), a median of 33 years and a mode of 33 years were calculated, in the TOPFA group an average maternal age of 34 years (σ 6.34), a median of 34 years and a mode of 32 years. In the live births group, 701 maternal diagnoses were detected, categorized and compared with the various national reports. The MC Sheet was compiled for 60 patients, 16 (4.30%) patients before the introduction of the sheet (01/2020 - 09/2020) and 44 (30.43%) after its introduction (10/2020 - 01/2021). Regarding the assessment of the proper use of ICD9CM an adequacy of 78% was observed in the first group vs one of 100% in the second. Conclusions Our preliminary data assess the need for a Regional registry, for a comparison with the main national and regional sources available (also with a view to possible participation in the EUROCAT and ICBDSR registers) and for regional health planning. Key messages The study underlines the need for a Regional Registry of congenital malformations. The clinical file is not always a complete source for analysing data on congenital malformations.

scholarly journals The prevalence of scabies in Monrovia, Liberia: a population-based survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelui Collinson ◽  
Joseph Timothy ◽  
Samuel K Zayay ◽  
Karsor K Kollie ◽  
Eglantine Lebas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundScabies is known to be a public health problem in many settings but the majority of recent data is from rural settings in the Pacific. There is a need for high quality data from sub-Saharan Africa and peri-Urban settings to inform scale up of scabies control efforts. There have been anecdotal reports of scabies being a public health problem in Liberia but robust data are lacking.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional cluster-randomised prevalence survey for scabies in a peri-urban community in Monrovia, Liberia in February-March 2020. Participants underwent a standardised examination conducted by trained local health care workers. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using age-appropriate dermatology life quality indices (DLQIs). Prevalence estimates were calculated accounting for clustering at community and household levels and associations with key demographic variables assessed through multivariable random-effects logistic regression.Results1,318 participants from 477 households were surveyed. The prevalence of scabies prevalence was 9.3% (95% CI: 6.5-13.2%), across 75 (19.7%) households; impetigo or infected scabies prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4-1.9%). The majority (52%) of scabies cases were classified as severe. Scabies prevalence was lower in females and higher in the youngest age group; no associations were found with other collected demographic or socio-economic variables. DLQI scores indicated a very or extremely large effect on HRQoL in 29% of adults and 18% of children diagnosed with scabies.ConclusionsOur study indicates a substantial burden of scabies in this peri-Urban population in Liberia. This was associated with significant impact on quality of life, highlighting the need for action to control scabies in this population. Further work is needed to assess the impact of interventions in this context on both the prevalence of scabies and quality of life.Plain English summaryScabies is an infestation with a microscopic mite which affects many people living in low-resource tropical countries. It causes intense itching, which can lead to complications through bacterial infection and poor quality of life. To help develop global scabies control programmes, we need a better understanding of how common it is across different tropical settings. We conducted a survey to assess the burden of scabies and bacterial skin infection in a random sample of people living in a community in Monrovia, Liberia. Information about participants and their household were collected and their skin was examined; those with skin conditions were asked about its impact on quality of life.We examined 1,318 participants and found that almost 10% of people had scanies. Scabies was more common in young children, and was more common in male children than female children. We found that there was a large impact on quality of life due mostly to the itching that scabies causes and to people feeling embarrassed or sad because of their skin condition. This scabies survey is one of the first conducted across all age groups in recent years in sub-Saharan Africa and indicates a substantial burden and impact on quality of life. More work is needed to understand how common scabies is in different settings and the impact that different treatment strategies may have.

International Symposium on Measles Immunization: Summary and Recommendations

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-654
Author(s):  
SAMUEL L. KATZ
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Symposium ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Great Variability ◽  
International Conference ◽  
Environmental Setting ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Impact

The passage of 20 years since the first International Conference on Measles Immunization in November 1961 has been accompanied by very significant advances in our understanding of the impact of measles among different groups, in the development and the utilization of measles vaccines, and in the control of the disease. Throughout all these considerations, there remains great variability. This is manifest in the surveillance data on morbidity and mortality, the extent of vaccine utilization, and the attitudes about measles as a serious public health problem. Because of these variations it is obvious that any recommendations must be evaluated carefully and adapted appropriately to meet the needs of a given nation, a population group, a geographic locale, or an environmental setting.

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