scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in Sierra Leone, March 2021: a cross-sectional, nationally representative, age-stratified serosurvey

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. e007271
Author(s):  
Mohamed Bailor Barrie ◽  
Sulaiman Lakoh ◽  
J Daniel Kelly ◽  
Joseph Sam Kanu ◽  
James Sylvester Squire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Sampling Weights ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
History Of ◽  
Nationally Representative

IntroductionAs of 26 March 2021, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had reported 4 159 055 cases of COVID-19 and 111 357 deaths among the 55 African Union member states; however, no country has published a nationally representative serosurvey as of October 2021. Such data are vital for understanding the pandemic’s progression on the continent, evaluating containment measures, and policy planning.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, nationally representative, age-stratified serosurvey in Sierra Leone in March 2021 by randomly selecting 120 Enumeration Areas throughout the country and 10 randomly selected households in each of these. One to two persons per selected household were interviewed to collect information on sociodemographics, symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, exposure history to laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, and history of COVID-19 illness. Capillary blood was collected by fingerstick, and blood samples were tested using the Hangzhou Biotest Biotech RightSign COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette. Total seroprevalence was estimated after applying sampling weights.ResultsThe overall weighted seroprevalence was 2.6% (95% CI 1.9% to 3.4%). This was 43 times higher than the reported number of cases. Rural seropositivity was 1.8% (95% CI 1.0% to 2.5%), and urban seropositivity was 4.2% (95% CI 2.6% to 5.7%).DiscussionOverall seroprevalence was low compared with countries in Europe and the Americas (suggesting relatively successful containment in Sierra Leone). This has ramifications for the country’s third wave (which started in June 2021), during which the average number of daily reported cases was 87 by the end of the month:this could potentially be on the order of 3700 actual infections per day, calling for stronger containment measures in a country with only 0.2% of people fully vaccinated. It may also reflect significant under-reporting of incidence and mortality across the continent.

Screening for Neuroblastoma: A Review of the Evidencejocelyn Chamberlain

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Chamberlain
Keyword(s):  
Screening Test ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Good Prognosis ◽  
Vanillylmandelic Acid ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Malignant Tumours ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chromosome 1P ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
History Of

Screening infants for the early detection of neuroblastoma is advocated by many paediatric oncologists and is practised in a limited number of places in the developed world, most notably in Japan where a national screening programme has been in operation since 1985. The screening test consists of measurements of the levels of vanillylmandelic acid and homovanillic acid in the urine; these metabolites of catecholamine are excreted in the urine of 92% of patients with clinically presenting neuroblastoma. The prognosis for children with symptomatic neuroblastoma is dependent both on age and stage, with children aged under 1 year and those with tumours of stages I, II, and IVS having a much better prognosis. Screening aims at detecting and treating during the first year those neuroblastomas which would otherwise present at an advanced stage in older children. Evidence from Japan shows that screening achieves the interim outcomes of a shift in the age distribution and stage distribution of neuroblastomas in populations for whom screening has been provided, and that survival of subjects detected by screening is over 90%, compared with around 50% for symptomatic subjects. However, there is not yet any clear evidence that screening results in a reduction in the incidence of advanced neuroblastoma in children over the age of 1, nor a reduction in mortality. Recent cross sectional analyses of age specific incidence and mortality suggest that screening may be having a limited effect, but as yet no analysis of these outcomes in cohorts for whom screening has been provided has been published. Other factors, such as improved chemotherapy, may also be contributing to lower mortality. A number of missed (interval) cancers have been diagnosed in children who screened negative both in the Japanese programme and in Canadian and English studies, indicating that there is a problem with the sensitivity of screening. But the screening test is highly specific with less than 0.1% of infants having false positive results requiring investigation. The natural history of neuroblastoma ranges from highly malignant tumours to biologically benign variants that regress without active treatment, the prevalence of the latter being inversely related to age. Serial measurements of biological markers, including ploidy, chromosome 1p deletion, and N-mycamplification, performed within the same patient at different times indicate that malignant potential does not progress over time. The distribution of these markers in cases detected by screening shows that they are inherently tumours with a good prognosis, whereas the reverse is true of interval cases. Thus screening is differentially picking up the tumours that are least likely to progress and failing to detect at least some tumours of those destined to die from the disease. Comparison of the yield of cancers detected by screening and the expected cumulative incidence of neuroblastoma throughout childhood suggest that screening “overdiagnoses” many nonprogressive cases, with consequent physical and psychological morbidity. On balance present evidence suggests that the number of deaths that could be prevented by screening is small and the potential for overdiagnosis is great. Unless further evidence from Japan or the results of a current North American trial conclude otherwise, screening cannot be recommended.

scholarly journals Prevalence and factors associated with tobacco use among men in India: findings from a nationally representative data

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Shariful Islam ◽  
K. M. Saif-Ur-Rahman ◽  
Md. Mofijul Islam Bulbul ◽  
Deepak Singh
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Smokeless Tobacco ◽  
Wealth Status ◽  
Sampling Weights ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tobacco Marketing ◽  
Legal Provisions ◽  
Lower Education ◽  
Smokeless Tobacco Use ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Background Tobacco consumption causes almost 638,000 premature deaths per year in India. This study sought to examine the prevalence and determinants of tobacco use among men in India. Methods We analyzed data from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey in India. These nationally representative cross-sectional sample data were collected from January 20, 2015, to December 4, 2016. A total of 112,122 men aged 15–54 years were included in this study. Primary outcomes were tobacco use categorized into smoking, smokeless, any tobacco, and both smoked and smokeless tobacco use. Complex survey design and sampling weights were applied in both the descriptive analyses and logistic regression models. We present the findings using odds ratios. Results The prevalence of tobacco use among men in India for the studied period was 45.5% (95% CI 44.9–46.1), smoking was 24.6% (95% CI 24.1–25.1), smokeless tobacco use was 29.1% (95% CI 28.6–29.6), and both smoked and smokeless tobacco use was 8.4% (95% CI 8.1–8.7). The prevalence of tobacco use among men was higher among the elderly, separated/divorced/widowed individuals, those with lower education and wealth status, alcohol consumers, manual workers, and residents of the northeast region. Multivariate analysis showed that age, lower education, occupation, region, alcohol consumption, separated/divorced/widowed status, and economic status were substantially associated with tobacco use among Indian men. Conclusions Innovative and cost-effective strategies targeting high-risk groups are crucial to curbing the tobacco epidemic in India. Anti-smoking campaigns should also focus on mitigating alcohol abuse. Reducing tobacco marketing and implementing formal education about the dangers of tobacco use, progressive taxing, packaging, and labeling of tobacco products and price strategies should be harmonized in legal provisions.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) among Health Care Workers in Three Health Facilities of Yaounde, Center Region of Cameroon

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 89-94
Author(s):  
Philippe Salomon Nguwoh ◽  
Akenji Blaise Mboringong ◽  
Joseph Fokam ◽  
Christian Ngounouh Taheu ◽  
Ibrahima Halilou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
History Of

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first appeared in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and has subsequently become a worldwide pandemic. During the pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) were very exposed to COVID-19 infected patients. The aim of this study was to determine seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) among HCWs in three health facilities of Yaounde. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 368 HCWs was conducted from January 18th to February 13th, 2021, in three health facilities located in city of Yaounde. Data of study participants were collected by face-to-face interviews using standard questionnaire. Blood samples were collected in labelled dry tubes and analyzed using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) cassettes (Abbott PanbioTMCOVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Device). The data collected was analyzed using Epi info version 7. Any value of p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The average age was 30.25 (SD±10.43) years old, range from 21 to 72 years old. Overall, the positivity rates of IgM, IgG and IgM+IgG were 6.79% (n=25), 17.93% (n=66) and 1.09% (n=4) respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that, the rate of IgM positivity was highest in laboratory personnel (χ2= 7.99, p=0.3) and IgG (χ2= 8.50, p=0.29), IgM+IgG (χ2= 1.92, p=0.26) respectively in pharmacy and clinical personnel. The clinical signs such as fever (˃38°C) or history of fever was statistically significant with IgM (χ2=11.71, p= 0.0006) while, sore throat was statistically significant associated with IgM (χ2= 14.3, p= 0.0008) and IgG (χ2= 6.33, p= 0.04). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal a high seroprevalence of circulation of the virus in hospital milieu in Yaounde suggesting the continuation of the COVID-19 « Track-Test-Treat » system to break the chain of transmission.

scholarly journals Sero-prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berhanu Nega Alemu ◽  
Adamu Addissie ◽  
Gemechis Mamo ◽  
Negussie Deyessa ◽  
Tamrat Abebe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serological Test ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
History Of ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Pcr Test

AbstractBackgroundAnti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests are being increasingly used for sero-epidemiological purposes to provide better understanding of the extent of the infection in the community, and monitoring the progression of the COVID-19 epidemic. We conducted sero-prevalence study to estimate prior infection with with SARS-CoV-2 in Addis Ababa.MethodsA cross-sectional study was done from April 23 to 28, 2020 among 301 randomly selected residents of Addis Ababa; with no known history of contact with confirmed COVID-19 person. Interviews on socio demographic and behavioural risk factor followed by serological tests were performed for SARS-CoV-2 IgM, and IgG antibodies, using COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette. The test has sensitivity of 87·9% and specificity of 100% for lgM; and a sensitivity of 97·2% and specificity of 100% for IgG. RT-PCR test was also done on combined nasopharyngeal and oropharengeal swabs as an important public health consideration.FindingsThe unadjusted antibody-based crude SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was 7·6% and the adjusted true SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was estimated at 8·8% (95% CI 5·5%-11·6%) for the study population. Higher sero-prevalence were observed for males (9.0%), age below 50 years (8.2%), students and unemployed (15.6%), those with primary education (12.1%), smokers (7.8%), alcohol consumers (8.6%), chatt-chewers (13.6%) and shish smokers (18.8%). Seroprevalence was not significantly associated neither with socio-demographic not behavioral characteristics. According to the findings, possibly more individuals had been infected in Addis Ababa than what was being detected and reported by RT-PCR test suggestive of community transmission. The use of serological test for epidemiological estimation of the extent of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic gives a more precise estimate of magnitude which would be used for further monitoring and surveillance of the magnitude of the SARS CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals AIDS incidence and mortality in injecting drug users: the AjUDE-Brasil II Project

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 827-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Nogueira Cardoso ◽  
Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa ◽  
Sueli Aparecida Mingoti
Keyword(s):  
Drug Users ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Injecting Drug Users ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Porto Alegre ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
History Of ◽  
Surveillance Database

This paper presents AIDS incidence and mortality among injecting drug users (IDUs) reached by the AjUDE-Brasil II Project. From a cross-sectional survey, 478 IDUs were interviewed in three Brazilian cities: Porto Alegre, São José do Rio Preto, and Itajaí. The cohort was followed up in the Brazilian surveillance database for AIDS and mortality during 2000 and 2001. AIDS incidence was 1.1 cases per 100 person-years, and the mortality rate was 2.8 deaths per 100 person-years. AIDS cases only occurred in IDUs who reported ever having shared injecting equipment. Female gender (RR = 5.30), homelessness (RR = 6.16), and report of previous sexual relations with same-sex partners (RR = 6.21) were associated with AIDS. Deaths occurred only among males. Homelessness (RR = 3.00), lack of income (RR = 2.65), HIV seropositive status (RR = 4.52), and no history of incarceration (RR = 3.71) were also associated with death. These findings support evidence that gender and socioeconomic conditions are both determinants of morbidity and mortality in Brazilian IDUs.

Current practices in naloxone prescribing upon hospital discharge

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 357-361
Author(s):  
Michelle Punzal, MD ◽  
Patricia Santos, MD, MBA ◽  
Xiaoshu Li, PhD ◽  
Douglas R. Oyler, PharmD ◽  
Alan M. Hall, MD
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
History Of ◽  
Current Practices

Objective: To evaluate current practices in naloxone prescribing upon hospital discharge.Design: Electronic cross-sectional survey.Setting: Academic medical center.Participants: Inpatient physicians and advanced practice providers.Main outcome measures: Respondents completed survey items including current naloxone prescribing practices, barriers to naloxone prescribing, and methods to improve naloxone prescribing.Results: The survey response rate was 51.6 percent. Greater than 90 percent of respondents agreed that naloxone should be prescribed for patients with an active opioid use disorder, history of overdose, and use of greater than 50 morphine milligram equivalents per day. Lack of patient education on proper use of naloxone was the most identified barrier to prescribing.Conclusions: Providers agree with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to prescribe naloxone to high-risk patients. Certain barriers affect the rate of naloxone prescribing at discharge, including lack of time, patient education, provider training, and concern for increasing riskier behaviors.

scholarly journals Prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection using a seroepidemiological survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Shakiba ◽  
M. Nazemipour ◽  
A. Heidarzadeh ◽  
M. A. Mansournia
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Asymptomatic Infection ◽  
Mitigation Strategy ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Critical Measure ◽  
History Of ◽  
Guilan Province

Abstract The prevalence of asymptomatic infection by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a critical measure for effectiveness of mitigation strategy has been reported to be widely varied. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic infection using serosurvey on general population. In a cross-sectional seroprevalence survey in Guilan province, Iran, the specific antibody against COVID-19 in a representative sample was detected using rapid test kits. Among 117 seropositive subjects, prevalence of asymptomatic infection was determined based on the history of symptoms during the preceding 3 months. The design-adjusted prevalence of asymptomatic infection was 57.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 44–69). The prevalence was significantly lower in subjects with previous contacts to COVID-19 patients (12%, 95% CI 2–49) than others without (69%, 95% CI, 46–86). The lowest prevalence was for painful body symptom (74.4%). This study revealed that more than half of the infected COVID-19 patients had no symptoms. The implications of our findings include the importance of adopting public health measures such as social distancing and inefficiency of contact tracing to interrupt epidemic transmission.

scholarly journals Predictors of eviction and quality of tenant-landlord relationships during the 2020-2021 eviction moratorium in the U.S.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Tsai ◽  
Minda Huang ◽  
John Blosnich ◽  
Eric Elbogen
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
History Of ◽  
Multivariable Analyses ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Relationship

In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued several agency orders that put into effect a national moratorium on evictions for over one year to limit transmission of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Little is known about landlord and tenant behaviors during the eviction moratorium. The current study used three waves of data from May 2020-April 2021 from a nationally representative sample of U.S. middle- and low-income tenants (n= 3,393 in Wave 1, n= 1,311 in Wave 2, and 814 in Wave 3) to examine tenants who were evicted during the eviction moratorium and the reported effects of the moratorium on tenant rental payments and tenant-landlord relationships. Across three Waves, 4.3% of tenants reported experiencing an eviction during the moratorium and 6-23% of tenants reported delaying paying rent because of the moratorium. Multivariable analyses found that tenants who delayed paying their rent, were female, or had a history of mental illness or substance use disorder were significantly more likely to report the eviction moratorium had a negative effect on the relationship with their landlord. Analyses also revealed that testing positive for COVID-19 was not a significant predictor of eviction but tenants with a history a homelessness were more than 9 times as likely to report an eviction than those without such a history. Together, these findings suggest the eviction moratorium has had some unintended consequences on rent payments and tenant-landlord relationships that need to be considered in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Prevalence and associated factors of post-traumatic stress disorder among emergency responders of Addis Ababa Fire and Emergency Control and Prevention Service Authority, Ethiopia: institution-based, cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e020705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yodit Habtamu Bezabh ◽  
Solomon Mekonnen Abebe ◽  
Tolesa Fanta ◽  
Agitu Tadese ◽  
Mikiyas Tulu
Keyword(s):  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Emergency Control ◽  
Emergency Responders ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Prevention Service ◽  
History Of ◽  
Post Traumatic

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence and associated factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among emergency responders at Addis Ababa Fire and Emergency Control and Prevention Service Authority, Ethiopia.DesignInstitution-based, cross-sectional design.SettingThe study was conducted at the Fire and Emergency Control and Prevention Service Authority, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Participants603 emergency responders who worked in the Fire and Emergency Control and Prevention Authority during the study period.MeasurementData were collected using a self-administered questionnaire: an adaptation of the standardised PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version. The questionnaire was administered to subjects on duty. Social support was measured using the Oslo 3-Item Social Support Scale, while other stressful life events were measured using the List of Threatening Experiences, that is, experiencing one or more stressful life events in the last 6 months. Reliability and construct validity were verified. To be diagnosed with PTSD, a subject must display at least three different types of symptoms at once. Coded variables were entered into Epi Info V.3.5.1 and then exported to SPSS V.20 for analysis. Descriptive and bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions and 95% CI were employed to establish and test statistically significant associations.ResultsA total of 603 subjects participated in the study, with 19.9% prevalence rate of PTSD (95% CI 16.9 to 23.1). The study found family history of mental illness (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.82; 95% CI 1.65 to 4.84), longer years of service (AOR=2.67; 95% CI 1.54 to 4.63), as well as prolonged exposure to emergency situations (AOR=0.44; 95% CI 0.24 to 0.84) and road traffic accidents (AOR=2.71; 95% CI 1.67 to 4.42) as significant predictors of PTSD among emergency responders.ConclusionThe prevalence of PTSD was high among the study population. Family history of mental illness, length of service, duration of exposure and type of exposure were found to be associated with PTSD. Mental health education and linking emergency responders with available mental health services/facilities should be prioritised to mitigate the problem.

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