Community overview on the differential prevalence of Hepatitis E in two Sub Counties in Kitgum District: A qualitative study

Abstract Background There was an epidemic of Hepatitis E infection in Kitgum District in 2007. More than 10,422 people were infected, and over 166 deaths were registered due to the Hepatitis E virus. Kitgum District Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) showed that Hepatitis E cases continued to occur more in Mucwini than Kitgum Matidi Sub County despite instituting similar epidemic control measures in the two communities. The tenacity of the virus in Mucwini Sub County had remained unclear. Objective To assess communities’ views and perspectives on the differential prevalence of Hepatitis E in the two Sub Counties of Kitgum Matidi and Mucwini in Northern Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study using qualitative methods was conducted. Four Focus Group discussions and six key informant interviews were conducted with village health teams, local council chairpersons, health workers, and community members. These persons were chosen purposively because of their expertise and experience in community and health services. Face-to-face interview guides were administered to obtain detailed information on factors associated with the differential occurrence of Hepatitis E in the two Sub Counties. This study was approved by a local IRB and Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (UNCS&T). Results The most significant findings from this study were the differences in prevention and control practices in the two communities. Residents of Mucwini were less compliant to infection, prevention, and control guidelines, and disagreements between local councilors and village health teams in Mucwini led to poor implementation and non-adherence to guidelines on community control of Hepatitis E. Conclusion A differentially higher prevalence of Hepatitis E in Mucwini than Kitgum Matidi Sub County resulted from poor personal and community hygiene and non-adherence to behavior change communication among residents Mucwini compared to their counterparts in Kitgum Midi. The authors recommend a more proactive approach in managing the epidemic by securing the willingness of the affected community to adopt appropriate infection prevention and control guidelines. In addition, disagreements among stakeholders should be resolved timely so that all community members adhere to control measures.

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Improving knowledge, attitudes and practice to prevent COVID-19 transmission in healthcare workers and the public in Thailand

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10768-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rapeephan R. Maude ◽

Monnaphat Jongdeepaisal ◽

Sumawadee Skuntaniyom ◽

Thanomvong Muntajit ◽

Stuart D. Blacksell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Public ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Control Measures ◽

Infection Prevention And Control ◽

The Public ◽

Educational Videos ◽

Prevention And Control Measures ◽

And Control

Abstract Background Key infection prevention and control measures to limit transmission of COVID-19 include social distancing, hand hygiene, use of facemasks and personal protective equipment. However, these have limited or no impact if not applied correctly through lack of knowledge, inappropriate attitude or incorrect practice. In order to maximise the impact of infection prevention and control measures on COVID-19 spread, we undertook a study to assess and improve knowledge, attitudes and practice among 119 healthcare workers and 100 general public in Thailand. The study setting was two inpatient hospitals providing COVID-19 testing and treatment. Detailed information on knowledge, attitudes and practice among the general public and healthcare workers regarding COVID-19 transmission and its prevention were obtained from a combination of questionnaires and observations. Results Knowledge of the main transmission routes, commonest symptoms and recommended prevention methods was mostly very high (> 80%) in both groups. There was lower awareness of aerosols, food and drink and pets as sources of transmission; of the correct duration for handwashing; recommended distance for social/physical distancing; and about recommended types of face coverings. Information sources most used and most trusted were the workplace, work colleagues, health workers and television. The results were used to produce a set of targeted educational videos which addressed many of these gaps with subsequent improvements on retesting in a number of areas. This included improvements in handwashing practice with an increase in the number of areas correctly washed in 65.5% of the public, and 57.9% of healthcare workers. The videos were then further optimized with feedback from participants followed by another round of retesting. Conclusions Detailed information on gaps in knowledge, attitudes and practice among the general public and healthcare workers regarding COVID-19 transmission and its prevention were obtained from a combination of questionnaires and observations. This was used to produce targeted educational videos which addressed these gaps with subsequent improvements on retesting. The resulting videos were then disseminated as a resource to aid in efforts to fight COVID-19 in Thailand and worldwide.

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Developing a theory-based behavior change intervention to improve the prescription of surgical prophylaxis in an Egyptian University Hospital.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-410882/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anna-Leena Lohiniva ◽

Iman Heweidy ◽

Samiha Abdu ◽

Abouelata Omar ◽

Caroline Ackley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Behaviour Change ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Theoretical Domains Framework ◽

Control Measures ◽

World Health ◽

Infection Prevention And Control ◽

Surgical Prophylaxis ◽

Context Specific ◽

And Control

Abstract Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly pervasive due to multiple, complex prescribing and consuming behaviours. Accordingly, behaviour change is an important component of response to AMR. Little is known about the best approaches to change antibiotic use practices and behaviours. This project aims to develop a context-specific behaviour change strategy focusing on promoting appropriate prescription practices following the World Health Organization recommendations for surgical prophylaxis in an orthopaedic surgery unit in Egypt.Methods: The project included a formative qualitative research study was based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to explore the determinants for inappropriate prescription of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis at an orthopaedic unit. The intervention was developed to following the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) in a knowledge co-production workshop with infection prevention and control experts that ensured that the theory based intervention was a culturally acceptable, practical and implementable intervention. Results: The prescription of surgical prophylaxis was influenced by five TDF domains including, knowledge, belief in consequences (mistrust towards infection prevention and control measures), environmental factors (lack of prescription guidelines) , professional role and reinforcement (a lack of appropriate follow up actions influenced prescription of surgical prophylaxis). The appropriate set of behaviour change functions of BCW and related activities to improve the current practices included education, enablement, persuasion, environmental restructuring and restriction. Conclusions The study showed that a theory based and context specific intervention can be created by using the TDF and BCW together with knowledge-co creation to improve the prescription of surgical prophylaxis in and Egyptian orthopaedic unit. The intervention need to piloted and scaled up.

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Keeping the wolf at bay: Infection prevention and control measures for inpatient psychiatric facilities in the time of COVID-19

General Hospital Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.07.004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 ◽

pp. 51-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Brian Barnett ◽

Frank Esper ◽

Charles B. Foster

Keyword(s):

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Control Measures ◽

Infection Prevention And Control ◽

Prevention And Control Measures ◽

And Control ◽

Psychiatric Facilities

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AMR: effective infection prevention and control measures

Practice Nursing ◽

10.12968/pnur.2019.30.8.390 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (8) ◽

pp. 390-395

Author(s):

Naomi Fleming

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Control Measures ◽

Infection Prevention And Control ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Prevention And Control Measures ◽

Spread Of Infection ◽

And Control

Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise. As more infections are becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment, it would benefit practice nurses to be aware of the effective measures they can use to prevent the spread of infection, explains Naomi Fleming When micro-organisms are exposed to an antimicrobial, more susceptible organisms succumb, leaving behind those resistant to the antimicrobial. They can then pass on resistance to their offspring. The use and misuse of antimicrobials has increased the number and types of resistant organisms. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective and infections persist and may spread. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is key to reducing demand for antimicrobial use and reducing the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance. Poor IPC can increase the spread of drug-resistant infections. Interventions such as effective hand hygiene and vaccination have significant potential to limit opportunities for drug-resistant strains to emerge. Effective leadership is vital and nurses are central to promoting IPC, leading on IPC compliance and ensuring uptake of vaccination in primary care.

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