Prevalence of Otolaryngology Diseases in an Urban Homeless Population

2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982110606
Author(s):  
Massimo Ralli ◽  
Alessia Marinelli ◽  
Fabio De-Giorgio ◽  
Domenico Crescenzi ◽  
Marco de Vincentiis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Precancerous Lesions ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facility ◽  
Homeless Population ◽  
Primary Health Care Facility ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
N 93 ◽  
Clinical Records

Objective Otolaryngology diseases are common among people experiencing homelessness; however, they are seldom evaluated in a specialist setting, and investigations on their prevalence have rarely been conducted. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of otolaryngology conditions in an urban homeless population. Study Design Retrospective study. Setting Primary health care facility. Methods The clinical records of patients referred to the medical facilities of the Primary Care Services of the Eleemosynaria Apostolica, Vatican City, between October 1, 2019, and July 31, 2021, were retrospectively reviewed; those reporting at least 1 otolaryngology disease were included in the study. Results A total of 2516 records were retrospectively reviewed, and 484 (19.24%) were included in the study. The most common otolaryngology disease was pharyngotonsillitis (n = 118, 24.13%), followed by rhinitis with nasal obstruction (n = 107, 21.88%), hearing loss (n = 93, 19.01%), otitis (n = 81, 16.56%), abscess (n = 46, 9.40%), and sinusitis (n = 33, 6.74%). Head and neck cancer or precancerous lesions were reported in 34 subjects (7.02%). More than 1 simultaneous otolaryngology disorder was found in nearly 50% of our sample. A wide range of comorbidities was also reported. Conclusions Our results confirm an elevated otolaryngology demand in the homeless population and encourage the development of more efficient and effective strategies for a population-tailored diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Malaria amongst Adults in Remote Primary Health Care Facility in South-South Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-94
Author(s):  
Oche Prince I
Keyword(s):  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facility ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Malaria Prevalence ◽  
Childhood Mortality ◽  
Primary Health Care Facility ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Period Prevalence ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Clinical Records

Malaria is a serious public health burden with high morbidity and mortality in Nigeria accounting for 60% outpatient visits, 30% childhood mortality, 25% infant mortality and 11% maternal mortality, respectively, in the country. Malaria is endemic in Nigeria with consequent high economic burden. Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria. The prevalence of malaria is high in Nigeria resulting from several climatic, bioenvironmental and socio-demographic factors. Malaria prevalence is higher amongst dwellers with high poverty and illiteracy levels. The prevalence of malaria was evaluated retrospectively in this study using clinical records over 12 months in a remote primary healthcare facility in South-South Nigeria. The findings show varied malaria prevalence rates amongst the months, with 3 months below 50% and the remaining 9 months above 50%. The overall period prevalence was 56% (541/966). The high prevalence rate reported in this study reflects the endemicity of malaria in Nigeria and is consistent with other reports that malaria prevalence is higher in the south-south Nigeria than observed with other regions of the country. The study prevalence 56% is twice higher than the average national period prevalence of 23%.

scholarly journals Can public sector community health workers deliver a nurturing care intervention in South Africa? The Amagugu Asakhula feasibility study

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Klingberg ◽  
Esther M. F. van Sluijs ◽  
Stephanie T. Jong ◽  
Catherine E. Draper
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facility ◽  
Preschool Age ◽  
Primary Health Care Facility ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Primary Health

Abstract Background Nurturing care interventions have the potential to promote health and development in early childhood. Amagugu Asakhula was designed to promote developmentally important dietary and movement behaviours among children of preschool age (3–5 years) in South Africa. An initial formative study in Cape Town found the intervention to be feasible and acceptable when delivered by community health workers (CHWs) linked to a community-based organisation. This study evaluated the delivery of the Amagugu Asakhula intervention by CHWs linked to a public sector primary health care facility in Soweto, as this mode of delivery could have more potential for sustainability and scalability. Methods A qualitative design was utilised to assess feasibility, acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, implementation, fidelity and context. CHWs (n = 14) delivered the intervention to caregivers (n = 23) of preschool-age children in Soweto over 6 weeks. Following the completion of the intervention, focus group discussions were held with CHWs and caregivers. Further data were obtained through observations, study records and key informant interviews (n = 5). Data were analysed using deductive thematic analysis guided by a process evaluation framework. Results The delivery of the Amagugu Asakhula intervention through CHWs linked to a primary health care facility in Soweto was not found to be feasible due to contextual challenges such as late payment of salaries influencing CHW performance and willingness to deliver the intervention. CHWs expressed dissatisfaction with their general working conditions and were thus reluctant to take on new tasks. Despite barriers to successful delivery, the intervention was well received by both CHWs and caregivers and was considered a good fit with the CHWs’ scope of work. Conclusions Based on these findings, delivery of the Amagugu Asakhula intervention is not recommended through public sector CHWs in South Africa. This feasibility study informs the optimisation of implementation and supports further testing of the intervention’s effectiveness when delivered by CHWs linked to community-based organisations. The present study further demonstrates how implementation challenges can be identified through qualitative feasibility studies and subsequently addressed prior to large-scale trials, avoiding the wasting of research and resources.

scholarly journals Knowledge and perception about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic among patients attending a rural primary health care facility in Delhi

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1494
Author(s):  
Ekta Arora ◽  
Nidhi Budh ◽  
Rohit Katre ◽  
Bratati Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facility ◽  
Primary Health Care Facility ◽  
Preventive Strategies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Modes Of Transmission ◽  
Correct Knowledge ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Another decade is suffering from the wrath of another coronavirus. Currently, this pandemic has spread to almost all countries of the world taking lives of millions of people globally. This study has uncovered the perceived facts about COVID-19 by general population as well as the effect of IEC in modulating their perception and presenting right amount of information in a scientific manner. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out at rural health training center, Barwala on patients attending out-patient department at RHTC, for a duration of 2 months. Pre-tested questionnaire for assessing public perception and awareness were used to collect data. Appropriate statistical tests were applied to find out association between different variables. Majority of study subjects (98.5%) were aware about the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19. Out of the total study subjects, 90% of them had correct knowledge about various preventive strategies undertaken to break the chain of transmission. However, only about half of the study subjects (53.1%) had correct knowledge regarding various modes of transmission of novel coronavirus. Motivating the people to report any possible infection and to follow the preventive strategies being recommended by experts on timely basis is an important aspect to curb the ongoing menace of COVID-19.

Frequent attendance: a Clinical and Epidemiological Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S442-S443
Author(s):  
S. López-Romeo ◽  
G. Ledesma-Iparraguirre
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facility ◽  
Frequent Attenders ◽  
Frequent Attendance ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
New Strategies

BackgroundFrequent attenders (F a) are patients who attend a health care facility repeatedly. The frequency of frequent attendance at emergencies department has been defined as 4 or more attendances/annum. F a are few in number but they produce a high number of attendances.aimsTo determine prevalence of F a, mean attendances/year generated by F a and frequency of visits by months.Methodsa retrospective study was performed on psychiatry's emergency department database from January until December 2013. F a was defined as those with ≥ 4 attendances at emergency services in a year.Prevalence of F a, attendances’ prevalence, diagnosis’ prevalence, Mean attendances generated by F a and frequency of visits by months were analysed.Resultsamong 4824 attendances we found 181 F as (5.98%). Men represented 50.80% and women 49.20%. F a presented a mean of 6.33 attendances/year, while non-F a presented a mean of 1.29 attendances/year.in accordance with frequency of visits by months, it was observed that number of attendances was increased in april and May, in both F a and non-F a.ConclusionPrevalence of F a was 5.98%, F a generated a 23.74% of attendances. Most prevalent F a’ diagnoses were: anxiety disorder, personality disorder non-specified and schizophrenia.F a at emergency department contributes to overcrowd them. for this reason, it is important to take into account these results to develop new strategies to improve F a’ attention and prevent its occurrence.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Serum retinol in 1–6-year-old children from a low socio-economic South African community with a high intake of liver: implications for blanket vitamin A supplementation

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 716-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha E van Stuijvenberg ◽  
Serina E Schoeman ◽  
Carl J Lombard ◽  
Muhammad A Dhansay
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facility ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Primary Health Care Facility ◽  
Serum Retinol ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Vitamin A Supplementation ◽  
Breast Fed

AbstractObjectiveTo assess serum retinol, liver intake patterns, breast-feeding history and anthropometric status in pre-school children of a low socio-economic community where liver is regularly consumed.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingNorthern Cape Province, South Africa.SubjectsChildren aged 1–6 years (n243) who attended the local primary health-care facility and had not received a vitamin A supplement in the 6 months preceding the study. Non-pregnant female caregivers (n225), below 50 years of age, were also assessed.ResultsDespite stunting, underweight and wasting being prevalent in 40·5 %, 23·1 % and 8·4 % of the children, only 5·8 % had serum retinol concentrations < 20 μg/dl, which is in sharp contrast to the national prevalence of 63·6 %. None of the caregivers were vitamin A deficient. Liver was eaten by 89·2 % of children, with 87 % of households eating liver at least once monthly and 30 % eating it at least once weekly; liver was introduced into the diet of the children at a median age of 18 months. Ninety-three per cent of the children were being breast-fed or had been breast-fed in the past; children were breast-fed to a median age of 18 months. A significant negative correlation was found between educational level of the caregiver and frequency of liver intake (r= −0·143,P=0·032). There was no correlation between serum retinol and indicators of anthropometric or socio-economic status.ConclusionsThe blanket approach in applying the national vitamin A supplementation programme may not be appropriate for all areas in the country, even though the community may be poor and undernourished.

scholarly journals Health risk profile of prostitutes in Dublin

1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 485-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Mcdonnell ◽  
P M Mcdonnell ◽  
M O Neill ◽  
F Mulcahy
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facility ◽  
Risk Profile ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Injectable Drugs ◽  
Clinical Records

This study examined the health risk profile of prostitutes in Dublin. Clinical records of all 150 new prostitutes who attended a drop in clinic for prostitutes in Dublin city during the period 1991-1997 were reviewed. Variables examined included: age, use of injectable drugs, human immunodeficiency virus HIV status, hepatitis B and C status, presence of sexually transmitted disease STD , cervical cytology. Results showed the mean age of the women was 32 years. Among those tested, 2.5 were HIV positive, 5 were hepatitis B positive, 8 were hepatitis C positive and 25 had an STD. Almost 8 were injecting drug users IDU with higher prevalences of HIV, hepatitis B and C compared with non IDU < P 0.001 . The clinic has been successful in providing a health care facility for the specific health needs of this patient cohort.

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