scholarly journals National Narcissism predicts the Belief in and the Dissemination of Conspiracy Theories During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From 56 Countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 014616722110549
Author(s):  
Anni Sternisko ◽  
Aleksandra Cichocka ◽  
Aleksandra Cislak ◽  
Jay J. Van Bavel
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Health Organization

Conspiracy theories related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have propagated around the globe, leading the World Health Organization to declare the spread of misinformation an “Infodemic.” We tested the hypothesis that national narcissism—a belief in the greatness of one’s nation that requires external recognition—is associated with the spread of conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic. In two large-scale national surveys ( NTotal = 950) conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom, and secondary analysis of data from 56 countries ( N = 50,757), we found a robust, positive relationship between national narcissism and proneness to believe and disseminate conspiracy theories related to COVID-19. Furthermore, belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories was related to less engagement in health behaviors and less support for public-health policies to combat COVID-19. Our findings illustrate the importance of social identity factors in the spread of conspiracy theories and provide insights into the psychological processes underlying the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Vietnamese Public Health Practices in the Advent of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for Developing Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 163-164
Author(s):  
Jeconiah Louis Dreisbach
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) presents a great challenge to developing countries with limited access to public health measures in grassroots communities. The World Health Organization lauded the Vietnamese government for its proactive and steady investment in health facilities that mitigate the risk of the infectious disease in Vietnam. This short communication presents cases that could benchmark public health policies in developing countries.

scholarly journals The Role of a Medicalized Discourse in the Global Activities of the World Health Organization

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 173-191
Author(s):  
Marta Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
European Union ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Tobacco Policy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

This article presents selected results of a research project entitled Medicalization strategies of the World Health Organization1 in which the author analyzed and described three WHO policies characterized by a medicalizing approach. These three policies were compared with each other in terms of their conceptual (narrative) and institutional (practical) levels of medicalization and their effects. In order to better understand the role of a medicalized discourse in the global activities of the WHO, these three cases were also compared to one non-medicalizing policy. The aim of this article is twofold: firstly, to present two cases analyzed as part of the project, namely, the tobacco policy (a ‘medicalized’ one) and the ageing policy (a ‘non-medicalized’ one) and secondly, to consider the possible influence of WHO discourse on tobacco and ageing on public health policies in the European Union.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and its possible impact on the UN system

2020 ◽  
pp. 444-447
Author(s):  
Yaryna Zhukorska
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Security Council ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Collective Security ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

In the article, the author analyzes the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the activities of the UN system. Draws attention tothe ineffectiveness of the UN itself, WHO, as well as the activities of the Security Council and the General Assembly during this period.Draws a parallel with the Spanish flu of the early twentieth century and explores its impact on the development of international orga -nizations.The coronavirus pandemic has shown that the priority for any state is primarily national interests, not common ones. The existenceof international law and international mechanisms has simply been forgotten in the context of protecting national interests. Internationalorganizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization have proved ineffective and inflexible and tooslow to deal effectively with today’s threats.In fact, during the pandemic, the UN failed to reach a consensus on joint action in a critical international situation. The Secretary-General has openly stated that he expects the problem to be resolved and concrete measures to be taken by the G-20.As for WHO, its actions have been somewhat slow, but it has responded to information from Member States.According to the WHO, the main reason for such a rapid spread of the virus was the reluctance of states to heed the recommendationsof the WHO.There is currently no alternative to health cooperation other than WHO. Despite the shortcomings in its operation, which haveemerged in the face of such a large-scale and rapid threat, it is appropriate to improve decision-making in such situations, as well as toprovide additional leverage over Member States. Collective security must come first here, not the sovereign interests of an individualstate, be it China, the United States or Germany.The main problem for both the UN and WHO has been the imperfect decision-making mechanism. On the issue with the UN –the right of veto in the Security Council, WHO – the recommendatory nature of the decisions. Considers the possibility of grantingsupranational powers to the UN in key areas where the issue of collective security must clearly prevail over national interests. Jointaction must be the only right solution for the international community in combating today’s threats. And the national interest in suchcases must come after collective security.

scholarly journals Collective narcissism predicts the belief and dissemination of conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anni Sternisko ◽  
Aleksandra Cichocka ◽  
Aleksandra Cislak ◽  
Jay Joseph Van Bavel
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Identity Processes ◽  
Health Related Behaviors ◽  
Health Related

While COVID-19 was quietly spreading across the globe, conspiracy theories were finding loud voices on the internet. What contributes to the spread of these theories? In two national surveys (NTotal = 950) conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom, we identified national narcissism – a belief in the greatness of one’s nation that others do not appreciate – as a risk factor for the spread of conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that national narcissism was strongly associated with the proneness to believe and disseminate conspiracy theories related to COVID-19, accounting for up to 22% of the variance. Further, we found preliminary evidence that belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories and national narcissism was linked to health-related behaviors and attitudes towards public policies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Our study expands previous work by illustrating the importance of identity processes in the spread of conspiracy theories during pandemics.

scholarly journals Global Telemedicine Implementation and Integration Within Health Systems to Fight the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Call to Action

10.2196/18810 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e18810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Ohannessian ◽  
Tu Anh Duong ◽  
Anna Odone
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
National Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Levels Of Care ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Health Organization

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as a pandemic, with over 720,000 cases reported in more than 203 countries as of 31 March. The response strategy included early diagnosis, patient isolation, symptomatic monitoring of contacts as well as suspected and confirmed cases, and public health quarantine. In this context, telemedicine, particularly video consultations, has been promoted and scaled up to reduce the risk of transmission, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Based on a literature review, the first conceptual framework for telemedicine implementation during outbreaks was published in 2015. An updated framework for telemedicine in the COVID-19 pandemic has been defined. This framework could be applied at a large scale to improve the national public health response. Most countries, however, lack a regulatory framework to authorize, integrate, and reimburse telemedicine services, including in emergency and outbreak situations. In this context, Italy does not include telemedicine in the essential levels of care granted to all citizens within the National Health Service, while France authorized, reimbursed, and actively promoted the use of telemedicine. Several challenges remain for the global use and integration of telemedicine into the public health response to COVID-19 and future outbreaks. All stakeholders are encouraged to address the challenges and collaborate to promote the safe and evidence-based use of telemedicine during the current pandemic and future outbreaks. For countries without integrated telemedicine in their national health care system, the COVID-19 pandemic is a call to adopt the necessary regulatory frameworks for supporting wide adoption of telemedicine.

scholarly journals Men and COVID-19: A Pathophysiologic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 155798832095402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin S. Lipsky ◽  
Man Hung
Keyword(s):  
Early Recognition ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Animal Data ◽  
The Common ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Coronaviruses are single-stranded ribonucleic acid viruses that can cause illnesses in humans ranging from the common cold to severe respiratory disease and even death.In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as the first pandemic. Compared to women, most countries with available data report that men with COVID-19 have greater disease severity and higher mortality. Lab and animal data indicate that men respond differently to the SARS-CoV-2 infection, offering possible explanations for the epidemiologic observations. The plausible theories underlying these observations include sex-related differences in angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, immune function, hormones, habits, and coinfection rates.In this review we examine these factors and explore the rationale as to how each may impact COVID-19. Understanding why men are more likely to experience severe disease can help in developing effective treatments, public health policies, and targeted strategies such as early recognition and aggressive testing in subgroups.

scholarly journals Association between the use of a baby's bottle and pacifier and the absence of breastfeeding in the second six months of life

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1235-1244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Ribeiro Rigotti ◽  
Maria Inês Couto de Oliveira ◽  
Cristiano Siqueira Boccolini
Keyword(s):  
Bottle Feeding ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Prevalence Ratios ◽  
Janeiro State ◽  
Pacifier Use

Introduction: The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for two years or more and advises against bottle feeding and pacifier use.Objective: Investigate the association between bottle feeding and pacifier use, and breastfeeding in the second half-year of life.Methods: Survey in a municipality of Rio de Janeiro state, in 2006, interviewing those responsible for 580 children aged 6-11 months. Bottle feeding and pacifier use, and variables which in the bivariate analysis were associated with the outcome 'absence of breastfeeding' (≥ 0.20), were selected for multiple analysis. Adjusted prevalence ratios were obtained by a Poisson regression model.Results: 40% of the children 6-11 months were not being breastfed, 47% used a pacifier and 57% used a bottle. Pacifier use (PR = 3.245; CI95%: 2.490-4.228) and bottle feeding (PR = 1.605; CI95%: 1.273-2.023) were shown to be strongly associated with the outcome, and also with: mother's low schooling (PR = 0.826; CI95%: 0.689-0.990); low birth weight (PR = 1.488; CI95%: 1.159-1.910); mother not being the baby carer (PR = 1.324; CI95%: 1.080-1.622); and increasing age of the baby in days (PR = 1.004; CI95%: 1.002-1.006).Conclusions: The use of pacifiers and bottles can reduce continued breastfeeding. Stronger discouragement of these artifacts should be adopted in public health policies.

scholarly journals Respiratory disease mortality in the United Kingdom compared with EU15+ countries in 1985-2015: observational study

BMJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. k4680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin D Salciccioli ◽  
Dominic C Marshall ◽  
Joseph Shalhoub ◽  
Mahiben Maruthappu ◽  
Giuseppe De Carlo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Disease Mortality ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Uk

AbstractObjectiveTo compare age standardised death rates for respiratory disease mortality between the United Kingdom and other countries with similar health system performance.DesignObservational study.SettingWorld Health Organization Mortality Database, 1985-2015.ParticipantsResidents of the UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Norway (also known as EU15+ countries).Main outcome measuresMortality from all respiratory disease and infectious, neoplastic, interstitial, obstructive, and other respiratory disease. Differences between countries were tested over time by mixed effect regression models, and trends in subcategories of respiratory related diseases assessed by a locally weighted scatter plot smoother.ResultsBetween 1985 and 2015, overall mortality from respiratory disease in the UK and EU15+ countries decreased for men and remained static for women. In the UK, the age standardised death rate (deaths per 100 000 people) for respiratory disease mortality in the UK fell from 151 to 89 for men and changed from 67 to 68 for women. In EU15+ countries, the corresponding changes were from 108 to 69 for men and from 35 to 37 in women. The UK had higher mortality than most EU15+ countries for obstructive, interstitial, and infectious subcategories of respiratory disease in both men and women.ConclusionMortality from overall respiratory disease was higher in the UK than in EU15+ countries between 1985 and 2015. Mortality was reduced in men, but remained the same in women. Mortality from obstructive, interstitial, and infectious respiratory disease was higher in the UK than in EU15+ countries.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic in the World and its Relation to Human Development Index: A Global Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaher Khazaei ◽  
Elaheh Mazaheri ◽  
Ali Hasanpour-Dehkordi ◽  
Sajjad Rahimi Pordanjani ◽  
Ahmad Naghibzadeh-Tahami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Human Development Index ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Large Family ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Development Index ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

: Coronaviruses are a large family and a subset of Coronaviridae that include common cold viruses and other severe diseases like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This is an ecological study based on statistics of the prevalence of coronavirus disease until 30 April 2020, based on the reports sent to the World Health Organization (WHO). This study investigates the distribution of the incidence and trend of the incidence rate of COVID-19 in countries, and its relation with the human development index (HDI) until 30 April 2020. The results showed that the most cases of coronavirus disease until the mentioned date were in the United States of America (1,003,947 cases), Spain (212,917 cases), Italy (203,591 cases), the United Kingdom (165,225 cases), and Germany (159,119 cases), in sequence. The results exhibited a significant positive correlation between the incidence of COVID-2019 and HDI in the world (r = 0.470, P < 0.0001).

COVID-19 Truths, Lies, and Consequences

2021 ◽  
pp. 97-118
Author(s):  
Don L. Goldenberg
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Active Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Political Interference ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Misinformation and disinformation, most often propagated on social media sites, became rampant during the pandemic, contributing to myths and conspiracy theories. Such falsehoods resulted in inappropriate treatments, such as happened with hydoxychloroquine, and has contributed to vaccine hesitancy. Disinformation and political interference in institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) caused confusion for the American public and contributed to the poor pandemic performance in the United States. Anti-vaccine disinformation has interfered with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Healthcare providers need to take an active role in combating medical misinformation.

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