Programmatic evaluation of a school-based typhoid vaccination campaign: findings of qualitative research

Background: Globally, typhoid fever is a vaccine preventable infectious disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Apart from EPI center, other alternative and accessible venues were needed for this vaccine like schools. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing acceptance and rejection of participation in school-based typhoid vaccination program in target communities in Karachi.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, 46 in-depth interviews were conducted with parents, teachers and administrators in the schools where the typhoid vaccine was provided. NVivo was utilized for data coding and themes were derived along with WHO’s analytical framework, vaccine hesitancy, that is, confidence, convenience and complacency, in responses to the vaccination.Results: Participants described confidence as a key factor that largely rooted their perceptions and attitudes related to the vaccination program. Stakeholders showed their concerns about affordability, safety and effectiveness and convenience of the vaccine’s delivery to the students. Satisfied participants from the school-based program showed lack of trust in quality of vaccine and vaccination procedures.Conclusions: Our findings indicate the importance of providing adequate information on vaccination through multiple communication channels, sustained social mobilization programs including community engagement. Addressing concerns through dialogic interactions were crucial for motivation and acceptance of the vaccination program.

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Eighty-six percent of Sri Lankans Wish to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine: A Window of Opportunity for Rolling Out a Successful Vaccination Campaign

International Journal of Community Resilience ◽

10.51595/injcr/11111116 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

NWANY Wijesekara ◽

KALC Kodituwakku ◽

BAMP Bulathsinghe ◽

JPT Sachinthani ◽

MMM Lakshani

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Communication Strategy ◽

Vaccination Program ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Window Of Opportunity ◽

To Receive

All countries look up to the COVID-19 vaccine as the panacea against the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have been rolled out globally, while Sri Lanka, too, is ready for its own. To assess the public opinion concerning the COVID-19 vaccination in Sri Lanka, we carried out an online survey from 17.12.2020 to 18.01.2021. Eighty-six percent (n = 1080) of the respondents reed to accept the vaccine. In the meantime, 9 % (n = 108) did not agree to receive the vaccine, while 5% (n = 62) had no idea. The protection given by the vaccine, trends in spreading the disease in the country, and the trust in the vaccine were reasons given for agreeing to get it. Reasons for not agreeing to get the vaccine were “being developed too fast”, the concern of side effects, and lack of trust in the vaccine. Ninety-one percent (n = 1120) of respondents agreed that other preventive measures such as handwashing, social distancing, and wearing face masks must be continued even with COVID-19 vaccination. The respondents prioritized frontline staff, elderly persons, and persons with chronic diseases for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine first. Transparent and accountable vaccine procurement, a robust health system with a well-performing Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI), and creative vaccine financing tools were seen as key strengths in the COVID-19 vaccination program. Besides, Sri Lanka, a health-literate and vaccine loving nation with an almost non-existent anti-vaccination movement, was also seen as a crucial contributor. While the current public opinion provides an ideal ground for a successful COVID-19 vaccination program, due to the inherent vulnerability of misinformation and outrages associated with adverse events following immunization, existing programs for surveillance of adverse events following immunization and surveillance risk communication strategy must be augmented. The window of opportunity of favorable public opinion must be utilized to roll out a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Sri Lanka. Keywords: COVID-19, Vaccine acceptance, Vaccine hesitancy, COVAX, Sri Lanka

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Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Success: Lessons Learnt from the Pandemic So Far. A Case Study from Poland

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9101153 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1153

Author(s):

Marcin Piotr Walkowiak ◽

Dariusz Walkowiak

Keyword(s):

Voter Turnout ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Vaccination Rate ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Political Views ◽

Key Factor ◽

Underlying Causes

The high effectiveness of a vaccination-promotion campaign, which may be measured by the number of those successfully convinced to get vaccinated, is a key factor in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. This, however, appears to be linked to the precise identification of the underlying causes for vaccine hesitancy behaviours. Based on a regression model (adjusted R2 of 0.78) analysing 378 sub-regions of Poland, we showed that such behaviours, even when going against the party agenda, can be indirectly yet precisely gauged predominantly through voting patterns. Additionally, education and population density were found to be positively related to low vaccine hesitancy, while markers of social exclusion, both external (employment rate) and psychological (voter turnout) ones, affected it negatively. In the second, follow-up part of our study, which analyses the changes that took place in two months (adjusted R2 of 0.53), we found a further increase in vaccination rate to be positively related to the number of those already vaccinated and to the political views of the population, and negatively related to its level of education. In both cases, there was a surprisingly weak relationship between the potential markers of accessibility and vaccination rate. In spite of the known overall differences in vaccination rates for different age and sex groups, these variables did not have any additional informative value in explaining the observed regional differences.

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Eighty-six percent of Sri Lankans Wish to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine: A Window of Opportunity for Rolling Out a Successful Vaccination Campaign

International Journal of Community Resilience ◽

10.51595/11111116 ◽

2021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

NWANY Wijesekara ◽

KALC Kodituwakku ◽

BAMP Bulathsinghe ◽

JPT Sachinthani ◽

MMM Lakshani

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Communication Strategy ◽

Vaccination Program ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Window Of Opportunity ◽

To Receive

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Forum: Morphological Awareness as a Key Factor in Language-Literacy Success for Academic Achievement

Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools ◽

10.1044/2020_lshss-20-00064 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (3) ◽

pp. 509-513

Author(s):

Ashley Bourque Meaux ◽

Julie A. Wolter ◽

Ginger G. Collins

Keyword(s):

Academic Achievement ◽

Academic Success ◽

Literacy Development ◽

Morphological Awareness ◽

Language And Literacy ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

School Based ◽

Literacy Success ◽

Key Factor ◽

Language And Literacy Development

Purpose This article introduces the Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools Forum: Morphological Awareness as a Key Factor in Language-Literacy Success for Academic Achievement. The goal of this forum is to relate the influence morphological awareness (MA) has on overall language and literacy development with morphology acting as the “binding agent” between orthography, phonology, and semantics ( Perfetti, 2007 ) in assessment and intervention for school-aged children. Method This introduction provides a foundation for MA development and explores the influence MA has over the course of school-aged language and literacy development. Through summaries of the 11 articles in this forum, school-based speech-language pathologists will be able to convey the importance of MA to promote successful educational outcomes for kindergarten to adolescent students. The forum explores researcher-developed assessments used to help identify MA skill level in first- through eighth-grade students at risk for literacy failure to support instructional needs. The forum also provides school-based speech-language pathologists with details to design and implement MA interventions to support academic success for school-aged students with varying speech-language needs (e.g., dual language emersion, vocabulary development, reading comprehension) using various service delivery models (e.g., small group, classroom-based, intensive summer camps). Conclusion MA is effective in facilitating language and literacy development and as such can be an ideally focused on using multilinguistic approaches for assessment and intervention. The articles in this issue highlight the importance in assessment measures and intervention approaches that focus on students' MA to improve overall academic success in children of all ages and abilities.

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Boilerplate

10.23943/princeton/9780691155333.001.0001 ◽

2012 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Margaret Jane Radin

Keyword(s):

Economic Efficiency ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Regulatory Agencies ◽

Jury Trial ◽

Comprehensive Treatment ◽

New Methods ◽

And Control ◽

Fine Print

Boilerplate—the fine-print terms and conditions that we become subject to when we click “I agree” online, rent an apartment, or enter an employment contract, for example—pervades all aspects of our modern lives. On a daily basis, most of us accept boilerplate provisions without realizing that should a dispute arise about a purchased good or service, the nonnegotiable boilerplate terms can deprive us of our right to jury trial and relieve providers of responsibility for harm. Boilerplate is the first comprehensive treatment of the problems posed by the increasing use of these terms, demonstrating how their use has degraded traditional notions of consent, agreement, and contract, and sacrificed core rights whose loss threatens the democratic order. This book examines attempts to justify the use of boilerplate provisions by claiming either that recipients freely consent to them or that economic efficiency demands them, and it finds these justifications wanting. It argues that our courts, legislatures, and regulatory agencies have fallen short in their evaluation and oversight of the use of boilerplate clauses. To improve legal evaluation of boilerplate, the book offers a new analytical framework, one that takes into account the nature of the rights affected, the quality of the recipient's consent, and the extent of the use of these terms. It goes on to offer possibilities for new methods of boilerplate evaluation and control, and concludes by discussing positive steps that NGOs, legislators, regulators, courts, and scholars could take to bring about better practices.

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Administrasi Layanan Khusus

10.31227/osf.io/c45d8 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Haisya Hamini

Keyword(s):

Learning Process ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

School Health ◽

Service Management ◽

Educational Goals ◽

Guidance And Counseling ◽

School Based ◽

Special Services ◽

School Cafeterias

This article describes the administration of special services. The teaching and learning process requires the support of facilities that are not directly used in the classroom. Facilities that do not directly include school libraries, school cooperatives, school health businesses and school cafeterias. Management of special services in schools is effective and efficient School Based Management (SBM). School is one of the facilities that can be used to improve the quality of Indonesia's population. Schools not only have responsibilities and duties to carry out the learning process in developing science and technology, but must maintain and improve students' physical and spiritual health.Special service management in schools is basically defined and organized to facilitate or facilitate learning, and can meet the special needs of students at school. Special services are provided in schools with a view to facilitating the implementation of teaching in the context of achieving educational goals in schools. Special services include guidance and counseling, libraries, laboratories, school health efforts (uks), canteens, school cooperatives, and transportation.

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Impacts of Vending Practices on the Microbiological Quality of Bread in the Ojoo Area of Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria

Current Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.2174/1573401313666171016162832 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 31-39

Author(s):

Oluwadara Oluwaseun Alegbeleye ◽

Wasiu Akinloye Oyebisi Afolabi ◽

Beatrice Oluwatoyin Opeolu ◽

Amin Mousavi Khaneghah

Keyword(s):

Food Safety ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Bacillus Species ◽

Potential Hazard ◽

Safety Regulations ◽

Bacillus Flexus ◽

Microbiological Methods ◽

Key Factor ◽

Quality Of Food

Background: Bacterial counts in ready-to-eat foods are a key factor in assessing the microbiological quality and safety of food. Periodic assessment of the microbiological quality of food is necessary to develop a robust database and help to ensure food safety. Methods: The bacterial contamination of a total of 336 bread samples collected from two bakeries and 10 vendors in Ojoo Area of Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria (December 2014 -June 2015) was evaluated. The microbiological quality of the bread loaves was investigated using standard microbiological methods (morphological, phenotypic and molecular characterization). Results: The results showed that the number of contaminated samples among the vended bread samples was higher than the bakery bread samples and can be summarized as Bacillus megaterium (4.30%), Staphylococcus arlettae (0.005%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (2.78%), Citrobacter freundii (2.40%), Bacillus flexus (1.64%), Bacillus species (49.59%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.12%), Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.92%), Pseudomonas species (0.045%), Escherichia coli (30.44%) Klebsiella sp. (0.040%) and Aeromonas hydrophila (3.72%). Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the bread samples which become contaminated after transport and handling can be considered a potential hazard to human health in the area. More stringent adherence to food safety regulations should be encouraged and enforced by the appropriate authorities. The findings of this study may be adopted to improve the hygienic conditions of bread distribution chain in the area as well as in other regions of the World.

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Correlation of Altmetric Attention Scores with Citations in Major Pharmacy Journals (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.13129 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Dave L Dixon ◽

William L Baker

Keyword(s):

Citation Count ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Scientific Output ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Promotion And Tenure ◽

Article Type ◽

Key Factor ◽

Number Of Citations ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND The impact and quality of a faculty members publications is a key factor in promotion and tenure decisions and career advancement. Traditional measures, including citation counts and journal impact factor, have notable limitations. Since 2010, alternative metrics have been proposed as another means of assessing the impact and quality of scholarly work. The Altmetric Attention Score is an objective score frequently used to determine the immediate reach of a published work across the web, including news outlets, blogs, social media, and more. Several studies evaluating the correlation between the Altmetric Attention Score and number of citations have found mixed results and may be discipline-specific. OBJECTIVE To determine the correlation between higher Altmetric Attention Scores and citation count for journal articles published in major pharmacy journals. METHODS This cross-sectional study evaluated articles from major pharmacy journals ranked in the top 10% according to the Altmetric Attention Score. Sources of attention that determined the Altmetric Attention Score were obtained, as well each articles open access status, article type, study design, and topic. Correlation between journal characteristics, including the Altmetric Attention Score and number of citations, was assessed using the Spearman’s correlation test. A Kruskal-Wallis 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the Altmetric Attention Scores between journals. RESULTS Six major pharmacy journals were identified. A total of 1,376 articles were published in 2017 and 137 of these represented the top 10% with the highest Altmetric Attention Scores. The median Altmetric Attention Score was 19 (IQR 15-28). Twitter and Mendeley were the most common sources of attention. Over half (56.2%) of the articles were original investigations and 49.8% were either cross-sectional, qualitative, or cohort studies. No significant correlation was found between the Altmetric Attention Score and citation count (rs=0.07, P = 0.485). Mendeley was the only attention source that correlated with the number of citations (rs=0.486, P<0.001). The median Altmetric Attention Score varied widely between each journal (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The overall median Altmetric Attention score of 19 suggests articles published in major pharmacy journals are near the top 5% of all scientific output. However, we found no correlation between the Altmetric Attention Score and number of citations for articles published in major pharmacy journals in the year 2017.

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A standardized framework for testing the performance of sleep-tracking technology: step-by-step guidelines and open-source code

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa170 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Luca Menghini ◽

Nicola Cellini ◽

Aimee Goldstone ◽

Fiona C Baker ◽

Massimiliano de Zambotti

Keyword(s):

Open Source ◽

Validation Studies ◽

Large Scale ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Large Scale Data ◽

Fast Pace ◽

Epoch Analysis ◽

Tracking Devices

Abstract Sleep-tracking devices, particularly within the consumer sleep technology (CST) space, are increasingly used in both research and clinical settings, providing new opportunities for large-scale data collection in highly ecological conditions. Due to the fast pace of the CST industry combined with the lack of a standardized framework to evaluate the performance of sleep trackers, their accuracy and reliability in measuring sleep remains largely unknown. Here, we provide a step-by-step analytical framework for evaluating the performance of sleep trackers (including standard actigraphy), as compared with gold-standard polysomnography (PSG) or other reference methods. The analytical guidelines are based on recent recommendations for evaluating and using CST from our group and others (de Zambotti and colleagues; Depner and colleagues), and include raw data organization as well as critical analytical procedures, including discrepancy analysis, Bland–Altman plots, and epoch-by-epoch analysis. Analytical steps are accompanied by open-source R functions (depicted at https://sri-human-sleep.github.io/sleep-trackers-performance/AnalyticalPipeline_v1.0.0.html). In addition, an empirical sample dataset is used to describe and discuss the main outcomes of the proposed pipeline. The guidelines and the accompanying functions are aimed at standardizing the testing of CSTs performance, to not only increase the replicability of validation studies, but also to provide ready-to-use tools to researchers and clinicians. All in all, this work can help to increase the efficiency, interpretation, and quality of validation studies, and to improve the informed adoption of CST in research and clinical settings.

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Willingness to Receive the COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Vaccines among the Saudi Population and Vaccine Uptake During the Initial Stage of the National Vaccination Campaign: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9070765 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 765

Author(s):

Amel Ahmed Fayed ◽

Abeer Salem Al Shahrani ◽

Leenah Tawfiq Almanea ◽

Nardeen Ibrahim Alsweed ◽

Layla Mohammed Almarzoug ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Online Survey ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Vaccine Uptake ◽

Influenza Vaccines ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

To Receive

This study aimed to assess the willingness to receive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and seasonal influenza vaccines and vaccine uptake during the early stage of the national vaccination campaign in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among adult Saudis between 20 January and 20 March 2021. The questionnaire addressed vaccine hesitancy, perceived risk, willingness, and vaccine uptake. Approximately 39% of the participants expressed vaccine hesitancy, and 29.8% and 24% felt highly vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, respectively. The majority (59.5%) were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, although only 31.7% were willing to receive the flu vaccine. Adjusted analysis showed that vaccine hesitancy (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.27–0.43) and the perception of being at high risk (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.68–4.60) independently affected the intention to be vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy was similar among those who were willing to be vaccinated (29.8%) and those who had already been vaccinated (33.1%). The perceived risk was significantly higher among those who had been vaccinated (48.1%) than among those who were willing to be vaccinated but had not yet been vaccinated (29.1%). In conclusion, the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia is high. Saudis who received the vaccine had a similar level of vaccine hesitancy and a higher level of perceived risk.

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