scholarly journals COVID-19 infection across workplace settings in Qatar: a comparison of COVID-19 positivity rates of screened workers from March 1st until July 31st, 2020

Author(s):  
Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari ◽  
Asma Ali Al-Nuaimi ◽  
Jazeel Abdulmajeed ◽  
Sandy Semaan ◽  
Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction COVID-19 transmission was significant amongst Qatar’s working population during the March–July 2020 outbreak. The study aimed to estimate the risk of exposure for COVID-19 across various workplace settings and demographics in the State of Qatar. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing surveillance data of all workplaces with 10 or more laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19. These workplaces were categorized using a mapping table adapted from the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, 2017 version. The data was then analyzed to estimate and compare the positivity rate as an indicator of the risk of developing COVID-19 infection across various workplace settings in the State of Qatar. Results The highest positivity rate was reported amongst the Construction & Related (40.0%) and the Retail & Wholesale Trade sectors (40.0%), whereas, the lowest positivity rate was attributed to the healthcare workplace setting (11.0%). The highest incidence of COVID-19 infections occurred in South Asian nationalities and in the male gender. The private funded sector employees have seen higher positivity rate than employees of the governmental funded sector. Conclusion The elevated risk of infection in Construction and Retail & Wholesale Trade is probably due to environmental and educational vulnerabilities. The predominant labor force of those workplace categories is South Asian craft and male manual workers. Alternatively, the better containment of the healthcare workplace setting can be attributed to the enforcement of infection control and occupational safety measures. These findings imply the importance of using preventive and surveillance strategies for high-risk workplace settings appropriately.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Al Kuwari ◽  
Asma Al Nuaimi ◽  
Jazeel AbdulMajeed ◽  
sandy semaan ◽  
Hamad Al Romaihi ◽  
...  

Abstract IntroductionCOVID-19 transmission was significant amongst Qatar’s working population during the March-July 2020 outbreak. The study aimed to estimate the risk of exposure for COVID-19 across various workplace settings in the State of Qatar. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing surveillance data of all workplaces with ten or more laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19. These workplaces were categorized using a mapping table adapted from the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes 2017 version. The data was then analyzed to estimate and compare the positivity rate as an indicator of the risk of developing COVID-19 infection across various workplace settings in the State of Qatar. ResultsThe highest positivity rate was reported amongst the Construction (40.3%) and the Retail & Wholesale Trade sectors (40.3%) whereas, the lowest positivity rate was attributed to the healthcare workplace setting (11.0%). The private funded sector employees had higher positivity rates than employees of the governmental funded sector. ConclusionThe elevated risk of infection amongst screened workers in Construction and Retail & Wholesale Trade was probably due to Environmental and Educational vulnerabilities. On the other hand, the better containment within healthcare workplace settings can be attributed to the enforcement of infection control and occupational safety measures. These findings underline the importance of appropriately using preventive and surveillance strategies for high-risk workplace settings to mitigate the risk of infection.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Ferusgel

The problems examined in this study are about the safety measures of x-ray radiation in the radiology unit of Putri Hijau Hospital, Medan. This study aims to determine the factors that influence the safety measures of workers in the radiology unit of Putri Hijau Hospital, Medan. This type of research uses a cross sectional study. The population in this study were all workers in the radiology unit of Putri Hijau Medan Hospital, which numbered 30 people as radiology workers. The study sample used a total population of 30 people. Data analysis uses multiple logistic regression analysis. The results showed that there was an influence of sex (p = 0.032), knowledge (p = 0.049) and work attitude (0.019) on occupational health and safety measures of workers in the Radiology Unit of Putri Hijau Hospital Medan. It is recommended to research sites to routinely make training on X-ray radiation safety work and monitor workers, especially radiology units, to always act according to the rules of occupational safety and health. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitudes, Workers, X-Ray Radiation Safety Measures


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e001268
Author(s):  
Angela Koipuram ◽  
Sandra Carroll ◽  
Zubin Punthakee ◽  
Diana Sherifali

IntroductionPersons of South Asian descent have a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The management of T2DM in the South Asian community has required the support of adult children, potentially impacting the quality of life, diabetes-related knowledge, and risk perception among these caregivers.Research design and methodsTo investigate diabetes-related knowledge, quality of life, risk perception, and actual risk of developing diabetes among South Asian young adults whose parents are living with T2DM. A cross-sectional study was conducted (n=150). An online survey was administered. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in diabetes-related knowledge between males and females (p<0.001). Males (in comparison to females) had a lower risk perception of developing diabetes (p=0.06). Further, risk perception and diabetes-related knowledge were positively associated with caregiver’s physical health (p=0.002).ConclusionFindings highlight the importance of providing gender-specific and culturally tailored diabetes educational interventions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
B L O Luizeti ◽  
E M M Massuda ◽  
L F G Garcia

Abstract In view of the national scenario of scarcity of material and human resources in public health in Brazil, the survey verified the demographics of doctors who attend the Unified Health System (SUS) in municipalities of extreme poverty. An observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was carried out, based on secondary quantitative data from the Department of Informatics of the SUS using the TABNET of December 2019. The care networks variable was restricted to infer the number of physicians who attend the SUS in extreme poverty municipalities in Brazil. Municipalities of extreme poverty are those that at least 20% of the population have a household income of up to 145 reais per capita monthly. In Brazil, there are 1526 municipalities in extreme poverty, 27.4% of the country's total municipalities. 14,907 doctors linked to SUS work in this condition, 3.19% of the total of these professionals in Brazil. There is still disproportion between regions: North concentrates 11.2% of the municipalities in extreme poverty and 8.61% of the total number of doctors; Northeast, with 61.33% of these municipalities, for 61.5% of doctors; Southeast, with 15.46% of the municipalities in this condition, has 20.6% of doctors; South concentrates 10.87% of the municipalities under discussion with 5.61% of doctors and the Midwest, with 4.87% of these municipalities, has 3.54% of doctors. Between 2009 and 2018, there was a 39% increase in the number of doctors in these locations, however, for 2019, there was a decrease of 3.89%. The medical demographic distribution in Brazil is uneven, especially in the North. There is also the vulnerability of this population in view of the observed reduction in the number of professionals between 2018 and 2019 in municipalities of extreme poverty, for political reasons. It is evident the need to restructure the health system to guarantee access to health for this population, through the attraction and fixation of doctors in needy regions in Brazil. Key messages Shortage of doctors in extreme poverty municipalities reinforces the health vulnerability of the population in Brazil. The uneven medical demography in Brazil requires restructuring in the public health system.


HOMO ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.P. Aranha ◽  
S. Saxena ◽  
M. Moitra ◽  
K. Narkeesh ◽  
N. Arumugam ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 1422-1431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce V Taylor ◽  
John F Pearson ◽  
Glynnis Clarke ◽  
Deborah F Mason ◽  
David A Abernethy ◽  
...  

Background: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is not uniform, with a latitudinal gradient of prevalence present in most studies. Understanding the drivers of this gradient may allow a better understanding of the environmental factors involved in MS pathogenesis. Method: The New Zealand national MS prevalence study (NZMSPS) is a cross-sectional study of people with definite MS (DMS) (McDonald criteria 2005) resident in New Zealand on census night, 7 March 2006, utilizing multiple sources of notification. Capture—recapture analysis (CRA) was used to estimate missing cases. Results: Of 2917 people with DMS identified, the crude prevalence was 72.4 per 100,000 population, and 73.1 per 100,000 when age-standardized to the European population. CRA estimated that 96.7% of cases were identified. A latitudinal gradient was seen with MS prevalence increasing three-fold from the North (35°S) to the South (48°S). The gradient was non-uniform; females with relapsing—remitting/secondary-progressive (RRMS/SPMS) disease have a gradient 11 times greater than males with primary-progressive MS ( p < 1 × 10-7). DMS was significantly less common among those of Māori ethnicity. Conclusions: This study confirms the presence of a robust latitudinal gradient of MS prevalence in New Zealand. This gradient is largely driven by European females with the RRMS/SPMS phenotype. These results indicate that the environmental factors that underlie the latitudinal gradient act differentially by gender, ethnicity and MS phenotype. A better understanding of these factors may allow more targeted MS therapies aimed at modifiable environmental triggers at the population level.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiana Baggio Nerbass ◽  
Edcléia Regina Canzi ◽  
Renata dos Anjos Araujo ◽  
Dyane Corrêa ◽  
Rafaela Gonzaga dos Santos ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Hyperphosphatemia is associated with unfavorable outcomes, and the percentage of patients presenting with this condition in hemodialysis (HD) in kidney foundation units in the state of Santa Catarina (SC) is historically higher than that of patients in the state of Tocantins (TO). Objective: To assess the frequency of consumption of the main dietary sources of phosphorus and to compare them between the two states. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 123 patients, 66 of SC and 57 of TO: 52% were men, average age was 46.9 ± 15.7 years, and mean HD time 48 (57-71) months. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with 33 items that are dietary sources of phosphorus was applied. A consumption score was calculated for sources of organic, inorganic, and total phosphorus, and the six-month average of phosphatemia was obtained. Results: The mean phosphatemia of SC patients was higher (6.2 ± 1.5 vs 4.7 ± 1.3 mg/dL, p <0001) than TO patients, as well as the prevalence of hyperphosphatemia (62% vs 28%; p <10001). In the total sample, the foods most frequently consumed were milk and beans. Comparing the frequency of consumption between the two states, a significant difference was found in 17 items. In TO, beef and beans were the foods most frequently consumed, and in SC, fourteen other items of the FFQ (pork, sausages, dairy products, etc.) were the most frequently consumed. Phosphatemia correlated with the frequency of consumption of inorganic phosphorus sources. Conclusion: the frequency of consumption of several items was different between the states, and this explains the differences in phosphatemia between the two regions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Mitsunori Nisihara ◽  
Ana Carolina Possebom ◽  
Luiza de Martino Cruvinel Borges ◽  
Ana Claudia Athanasio Shwetz ◽  
Fernanda Francis Benevides Bettes

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the profile of lawsuits related to drug requests filled at the Federal Justice of the State of Paraná. Methods A cross-sectional study, and the data were obtained through consulting the lawsuits at the online system of the Federal Justice of Paraná. Results Out of 347 lawsuits included in the study, 55% of plaintiffs were women, with a median age of 56 years. Oncology was the field with more requests (23.6%), and the highest mean costs. A wide variety of diseases and broad variety of requested drugs were found in the lawsuits. Approximately two-thirds of them were requested by the brand name, and the most often requested drugs were palivizumab and tiotropium bromide. Only 14.5% of the requested medicines were registered in the National Medication Register. The Public Defender’s Office filled actions in 89.6% of cases and all lawsuits had an interim relief. The mean time for approval was 35 days and 70% of requests were granted. Conclusion Oncology was the field with the highest demand for medicines at the Federal Justice of Paraná in 2014. A great variety of medications was requested. The Public Defender´s Office represented most lawsuits. All demands had an interim relief, and the majority of requests were granted, within an average of 35 days.


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