scholarly journals Germany's low SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence confirms effective containment in 2020: Results of the nationwide RKI-SOEP study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannelore Neuhauser ◽  
Angelika Schaffrath Rosario ◽  
Hans Butschalowsky ◽  
Sebastian Haller ◽  
Jens Hoebel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Educational Group ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Seroprevalence Data ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Educational Groups ◽  
Low Educated

Pre-vaccine SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence data from Germany are scarce outside hotspots, and socioeconomic disparities remained largely unexplored. The nationwide RKI-SOEP study with 15,122 adult participants investigated seroprevalence and testing in a supplementary wave of the Socio-Economic-Panel conducted predominantly in October-November 2020. Self-collected oral-nasal swabs were PCR-positive in 0.4% and Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2-S1-IgG ELISA from dry capillary blood in 1.3% (95% CI 0.9-1.7%, population-weighted, corrected for sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.997). Seroprevalence was 1.7% (95% CI 1.2-2.3%) when additionally adjusting for antibody decay. Overall infection prevalence including self-reports was 2.1%. We estimate 45% (95% CI 21-60%) undetected cases and analyses suggest lower detection in socioeconomically deprived districts. Prior SARS-CoV-2 testing was reported by 18% from the lower educational group compared to 25% and 26% from the medium and high educational group (p<0.0001). Symptom-triggered test frequency was similar across educational groups. However, routine testing was more common in low-educated adults, whereas travel-related testing and testing after contact with an infected person was more common in highly educated groups. In conclusion, pre-vaccine SARS-CoV-2-seroprevalence in Germany was very low. Notified cases appear to capture more than half of infections but may underestimate infections in lower socioeconomic groups. These data confirm the successful containment strategy of Germany until winter 2020.

Freiwilliges Engagement in der „Lebensphase Alter“. Eine kontrastierende Betrachtung von niedrig- und ­hochgebildeten Personen in der Altersgruppe 50+ mit dem Freiwilligensurvey 2014

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 349-374
Author(s):  
Frank Micheel
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Individual Values ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Freiwilliges Engagement ◽  
Political Implications ◽  
Educational Groups ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Low Educated

Zusammenfassung Aus der Literatur ist bekannt, dass der Zugang zum Freiwilligenbereich in der „Lebensphase Alter“ durch Bildungsnachteile systematisch erschwert wird. Dieser Beitrag diskutiert, welche Faktoren ein freiwilliges Engagement von älteren Niedriggebildeten begünstigen und wie stark sie im Vergleich zu Hochgebildeten wirken. Auf Basis des Freiwilligensurveys aus dem Jahr 2014 wird nach differenzierenden Merkmalen (demografische Merkmale, Ressourcen, persönliche Werte sowie kontextuelle Aspekte) zur Erklärung freiwilliger Aktivitäten innerhalb der beiden Bildungsgruppen untersucht. Aus den multivariaten Analysen lassen sich folgende politische Implikationen ableiten: Strukturelle Verbesserungen in der gesundheitlichen Versorgung, in den ostdeutschen Regionen sowie in der Stadt- und Sozialplanung erhöhen die Chancen für Niedriggebildete zur sozialen Teilhabe im Freiwilligenbereich. Auf der individuellen Ebene ist die Stärkung der wahrgenommenen Erwartungskompetenz ein vielversprechender Ansatz. Abstract: Volunteering in Old Age: A Comparison Between Low and Highly Educated Individuals Aged 50+ It is known from literature that access to volunteering in old age is systematically restricted by educational disadvantages. This article discusses which factors enable older people with low education to volunteering compared to highly educated people. Based on the German Survey on Volunteering from 2014, empirical investigations explore differentiated characteristics (demographics, resources, individual values and social aspects) explaining volunteering within both educational groups. The following political implications are derived from multivariate analyses: Structural improvements in the areas of healthcare provision, in Eastern Germany, as well as urban and social planning raise the odds for volunteering among the low educated. On the individual level, improving perceived self-efficacy is a promising approach.

The impact of traditional healers on the treatment of psychotic patents in Alexandria, Egypt

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S399-S399
Author(s):  
S. Darwish
Keyword(s):  
Private Hospital ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionPsychotic symptoms in the Egyptian community have always been mixed up with supernatural phenomena. This makes patients and their families seek help from traditional healers who can abuse them physically, financially and sexually.AimThe aim of the study was to assess the impact of the traditional healers on the psychotic patients in the Egyptian community.ObjectivesTo measure the percentage of patients going to traditional healers and how much they pay and for how long.MethodsThe study was conducted on a total of 555 psychotic patients. Four hundred and fifty-five psychotic patients from the Mamoura Mental state Hospital and 100 psychotic patients from a private hospital in Alexandria in duration of three months in 2006. A special questionnaire was designed and was run for all patients and their families.ResultsA total of 67.4% of male patients consulted healers while 88.4% of the females consulted healers. Only 9.4% of the females who went to the healers were highly educated compared to 19.7% of the male patients. The majority of the patients who improved were illiterate or can only read and write. Lower socioeconomic groups tend to have a higher percentage in consulting healers and a longer duration of staying in treatment with them. Although therapy at the first session tended to be for free, from the second session forward patients pay more than they would pay seeing a psychiatrist.ConclusionsTraditional healers have a negative impact on the psychiatry practice and are sources of patient's abuse in Egypt.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic position and SARS-CoV-2 infections: seroepidemiological findings from a German nationwide dynamic cohort

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Hoebel ◽  
Markus M Grabka ◽  
Carsten Schroeder ◽  
Sebastian Haller ◽  
Hannelore Neuhauser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Position ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Pandemic Planning ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Low Educated ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Evidence on the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and infections with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is still limited as most of the available studies are ecological in nature. This is the first German nationwide study to examine differences in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections according to SEP at the individual level. Methods: The 'CORONA-MONITORING bundesweit' (RKI-SOEP) study is a seroepidemiological survey among a dynamic cohort of the German adult population (n=15,122; October 2020 to February 2021). Dried blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and oral-nasal swabs for viral RNA. SEP was measured by education and income. Robust logistic regression was used to examine adjusted associations of SARS-CoV-2 infections with SEP. Results: 288 participants were seropositive, PCR-positive, or self-reported a previous laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The adjusted odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection were 1.87-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.06–3.29) higher among low-educated than highly educated adults. Evidence was weaker for income differences in infections (odds ratio=1.65; 95% CI=0.89–3.05). Highly educated adults had lower odds of undetected infection. Conclusions: The results indicate an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in low-educated groups. To promote health equity in the pandemic and beyond, social determinants should be addressed more in infection protection and pandemic planning.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic position and SARS-CoV-2 infections: seroepidemiological findings from a German nationwide dynamic cohort

2021 ◽  
pp. jech-2021-217653
Author(s):  
Jens Hoebel ◽  
Markus M Grabka ◽  
Carsten Schröder ◽  
Sebastian Haller ◽  
Hannelore Neuhauser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Position ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Pandemic Planning ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Low Educated ◽  
The Relationship

BackgroundEvidence on the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and infections with SARS-CoV-2 is still limited as most of the available studies are ecological in nature. This is the first German nationwide study to examine differences in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections according to SEP at the individual level.MethodsThe ‘CORONA-MONITORING bundesweit’ (RKI-SOEP) study is a seroepidemiological survey among a dynamic cohort of the German adult population (n=15 122; October 2020–February 2021). Dried blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and oral-nasal swabs for viral RNA. SEP was measured by education and income. Robust logistic regression was used to examine adjusted associations of SARS-CoV-2 infections with SEP.Results288 participants were seropositive, PCR positive or self-reported a previous laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The adjusted odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection were 1.87-fold (95% CI 1.06 to 3.29) higher among low-educated than highly educated adults. Evidence was weaker for income differences in infections (OR=1.65; 95% CI 0.89 to 3.05). Highly educated adults had lower odds of undetected infection.ConclusionThe results indicate an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in low-educated groups. To promote health equity in the pandemic and beyond, social determinants should be addressed more in infection protection and pandemic planning.

Patterns of health inequalities explained

2019 ◽  
pp. 97-140
Author(s):  
Johan P. Mackenbach
Keyword(s):  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Health Care Expenditure ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Educational Expansion ◽  
European Regions ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic

Chapter 4 (‘Patterns of health inequalities explained’) is based on in-depth studies of the macro-level determinants of health inequalities, especially conducted for this book. It shows that the persistence of health inequalities is partly due to broader changes in society, such as educational expansion, increasing rates of intergenerational mobility, and more intermarriage of highly educated people. Another factor is that health improvements have been faster in higher than in lower socioeconomic groups, also because higher socioeconomic groups have benefited more from rising prosperity and rising health care expenditure, and have suffered less negative health impacts from rising income inequality and the transition towards liberal democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. Finally, it demonstrates the importance of the continued social patterning of health determinants, particularly poverty and smoking. It ends with a summary of how differences in the magnitude of health inequalities between European regions (North, South, East) should be understood.

scholarly journals Mating Market and Dynamics of Union Formation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Corti ◽  
Stefani Scherer
Keyword(s):  
Assortative Mating ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Union Formation ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Dynamic Perspective ◽  
Educational Groups ◽  
Educational Assortative Mating ◽  
Low Educated ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Partner Market

AbstractThe paper investigates the relationship between structural partner market constraints and the timing and educational sorting of unions in Germany (1985–2018). We integrate the literature on the effect of the reversed gender gap in education on educational assortative mating, with a focus on mating dynamics and the measurement of the partner market over the life course. We concentrate on two particular educational groups, low-educated men and highly educated women, those with worsening mating prospects and more subject to experience hypogamous unions. Our results show that the local education-specific mating squeeze influences union formation, its timing, and educational sorting. Indeed, for the two groups, the increasing supply of highly educated women in the partner market increases the likelihood of remaining single or establishing an hypogamous union, where she is higher educated than he. In line with search theory, we find the effects of the mating squeeze to become particularly visible after people turn 30 years of age. This is true for the risk of remaining single and forming an hypogamous union. We underline the necessity to study assortative mating and union formation from a dynamic perspective, taking into account changing structural conditions during the partner search process.

scholarly journals Physical inactivity and health inequality during coronavirus: a novel opportunity or total lockdown?

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000903
Author(s):  
Natalie F Shur ◽  
David Johns ◽  
Stefan Kluzek ◽  
Nicholas Peirce
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Inequality ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Restricted Movement ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
The World ◽  
Additional Burden ◽  
Public Health Promotion

Government-restricted movement during the coronavirus pandemic in various countries around the world has led to rapid and fundamental changes in our health behaviour. As well as being at a higher risk of contracting and being hospitalised with COVID-19, the elderly, those with chronic disease and lower socioeconomic groups are also disproportionately affected by restriction of movement, further widening the physical activity health inequality. In this viewpoint we discuss the physiological sequelae of physical inactivity, and the additional burden of ageing and inflammation. We provide recommendations for public health promotion and interventions to try to mitigate the detrimental effects of physical inactivity and rebalance the health inequality.

A Program to Increase Health Care for Children: The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program, by Henry K. Silver, MD, Loretta C. Ford, EdD, and Susan G. Stearly, MS, Pediatrics, 1967;39:756–760

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 102 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 245-247
Author(s):  
Robert A. Hoekelman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Nurse Practitioner ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Optimum Level ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
Pediatric Nurse ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas ◽  
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

The increase in population of the United States is occurring at a much more rapid rate than the increase in medical and nursing personnel available to maintain health services at an optimum level. Unless the pattern of furnishing health care, particularly to lower socioeconomic groups in both urban and rural areas, is drastically improved, these groups will suffer from increasingly inadequate health supervision. This paper describes an educational and training program in pediatrics for professional nurses (the “pediatric nurse practitioner” program), which prepares them to assume an expanded role in providing increased health care for children in areas where there are limited facilities for such care.

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