scholarly journals The impact of visiting operational departments on improving public health students’ learning about Rabies preventions, coetaneous Leishmaniasis, and serological tests of Brucellosis: a learning trip

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdurrahman Charkazi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Center ◽  
Total Satisfaction ◽  
Rabies Control ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Students Satisfaction

Abstract Background: Conventional teaching through lectures cannot be of much use and efficiency for achieving the educational goals of this course. Designing community-based teachings could be influential in students’ learning quality. Hence, the present study was conducted aiming to evaluate the impact of visiting the operational departments of Gonbad-e Kavous county healthcare center on improving public health students’ learning of educational objectives of the national infections disease combat program. Methods: Over a cross-sectional study, 97 students of continues and discontinuous bachelor’s majoring in public health visited the department of rabies prevention and control, coetaneous Leishmaniasis(CL) control, and the central laboratory of Gonbad-e Kavous county healthcare center over the first semester of the 2017-19 academic year. These students were introduced to the methods of treating Leishmaniasis patients and those bitten by animals as well as brucellosis diagnosis tests. The students were provided with the study's questionnaire after the visit so that they could fill it in. collected data entered SPSS v.15 statistical software and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an independent t-test. Results: 61 (62.9%) of the students were female and 50 (51.5%) people were discontinuous bachelor’s students. The average satisfaction of students with the CL, rabies control and prevention, and Brucellosis test departments was 93.38%, 89.25%, and 82.69%, respectively. Besides, the total satisfaction of the mentioned visits was 92.61%. Discontinuous bachelor's students' satisfaction with rabies control and prevention and Brucellosis departments was significantly higher compared to continuous bachelor's students (P<0.05). Conclusion: results indicated that students’ satisfaction with visiting the operational departments of Gonbad-e Kavous county healthcare center was high. Hence, further such visits are recommended for other public health students.

scholarly journals IMPACT OF MULTIPLEX PCR IN REDUCING THE RISK OF RESIDUAL TRANSFUSION-TRANSMITTED HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY AND HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES IN BURKINA FASO

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e2018041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arzouma Paul YOODA ◽  
Serge Theophile SOUBEIGA ◽  
Kompingnin Yacouba NEBIE ◽  
Birama DIARRA ◽  
Salam SAWADOGO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Multiplex Pcr ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Residual Risk ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Background and ObjectiveThe improved performance of serological tests has significantly reduced the risk of human immunodeficiency and hepatitis B and C viruses transmission by blood transfusion, but there is a persistence of residual risk. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of multiplex PCR in reducing the risk of residual transmission of these viruses in seronegative blood donors in Burkina Faso.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from March to September 2017. The serological tests were performed on sera using ARCHITECTSR i1000 (Abbot diagnosis, USA). Detection of viral nucleic acids was performed by multiplex PCR on mini-pools of seronegative plasma for HBV, HCV and HIV using SaCycler-96 Real Time PCR v.7.3 (Sacace Biotechnologies). Multiplex PCR-positive samples from these mini-pools were then individually tested by the same method.Results A total of 989 donors aged 17 to 65 were included in the present study. "Repeat donors" accounted for 44.79% (443/989). Seroprevalences for HIV, HBV, and HCV were 2.53% (25/989), 7.28% (72/989) and 2.73% (27/989), respectively. Of the 14 co-infections detected, HBV/HCV was the most common with 0.71% (7/989) of cases. Of 808 donations tested by multiplex PCR, 4.70% (38/808) were positive for HBV while no donation was positive for HIV or HCV.Conclusion: Our study showed a high residual risk of HBV transmission through blood transfusion. Due to the high prevalence of blood-borne infections in Burkina Faso, we recommend the addition of multiplex PCR to serologic tests for optimal blood donation screening.

scholarly journals Using informatics to guide public health policy during the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 660-664
Author(s):  
Jay G Ronquillo ◽  
William T Lester ◽  
Diana M Zuckerman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public Health Decision ◽  
Health Decision Making ◽  
Health Decision ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background Current and future pandemics will require informatics solutions to assess the risks, resources and policies to guide better public health decision-making. Methods Cross-sectional study of all COVID-19 cases and deaths in the USA on a population- and resource-adjusted basis (as of 24 April 2020) by applying biomedical informatics and data visualization tools to several public and federal government datasets, including analysis of the impact of statewide stay-at-home orders. Results There were 2753.2 cases and 158.0 deaths per million residents, respectively, in the USA with variable distributions throughout divisions, regions and states. Forty-two states and Washington, DC, (84.3%) had statewide stay-at-home orders, with the remaining states having population-adjusted characteristics in the highest risk quartile. Conclusions Effective national preparedness requires clearly understanding states’ ability to predict, manage and balance public health needs through all stages of a pandemic. This will require leveraging data quickly, correctly and responsibly into sound public health policies.

scholarly journals Are normoglycaemic individuals at risk of depression? The depression-dysglycaemic phenotype from a European population-based cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cuschieri ◽  
Julian Mamo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Depression Prevalence ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Depression is a chronic non communicable disease. It is a growing public health concern with established links with a number of co-morbidities, including diabetes mellitus. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression at a population level, establish the depression sub-population phenotypic characteristics while exploring for links between depression and a spectrum of glycemic abnormalities. Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted in Malta between 2014 and 2016. Participants were categorized into different sub-populations according to their glycaemic status. Depression prevalence rates and phenotypic characteristics for each sub-population were established. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify links with depression. Results Depression was prevalent in 17.15% (CI 95%: 16.01 – 18.36) with a female predominance. Those with known (as opposed to newly diagnosed) diabetes had the highest depression prevalence when compared to other glycemic sub-groups. These also exhibited a significant link with self-reported depression. However, at a population level, depression was mostly prevalent within the normoglycaemic sub-population. Conclusions The study confirms the strong link between diabetes and depression, especially, in a high risk dysglycaemic population. Of public health concern is the high depression occurrence within the normoglycaemic sub-population, which attributed for the majority of the Maltese population. In order to reduce the impact of mental health on the population, physicians may consider implementing depression screening clinical tools as part of their routine health check-ups at primary care level, irrespective of the glycaemic status of their patients.

scholarly journals Are normoglycaemic individuals at risk of depression? The depression-dysglycaemic phenotype from a European population-based cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cuschieri ◽  
Julian Mamo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Depression Prevalence ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Depression is a chronic non communicable disease. It is a growing public health concern with established links with a number of co-morbidities, including diabetes mellitus. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression at a population level, establish the depression sub-population phenotypic characteristics while exploring for links between depression and a spectrum of glycemic abnormalities. Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted in Malta between 2014 and 2016. Participants were categorized into different sub-populations according to their glycaemic status. Depression prevalence rates and phenotypic characteristics for each sub-population were established. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify links with depression. Results Depression was prevalent in 17.15% (CI 95%: 16.01–18.36) with a female predominance. Those with known (as opposed to newly diagnosed) diabetes had the highest depression prevalence when compared to other glycemic sub-groups. These also exhibited a significant link with self-reported depression. However, at a population level, depression was mostly prevalent within the normoglycaemic sub-population. Conclusions The study confirms the strong link between diabetes and depression, especially, in a high risk dysglycaemic population. Of public health concern is the high depression occurrence within the normoglycaemic sub-population, which attributed for the majority of the Maltese population. In order to reduce the impact of mental health on the population, physicians may consider implementing depression screening clinical tools as part of their routine health check-ups at primary care level, irrespective of the glycaemic status of their patients.

Risk Factors and Protective Immunity Against Rabies in Unvaccinated Butchers Working at Dog Slaughterhouses in Northern Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anh Kieu Thi Nguyen ◽  
Anh Hoang Vu ◽  
Thu Tuyet Nguyen ◽  
Dong Vinh Nguyen ◽  
Giang Chau Ngo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Rabies Virus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Multiple Exposures ◽  
Rabies Control ◽  
Vaccination History ◽  
Control And Prevention

Vietnam is a rabies-endemic country where eating dog meat is customary. However, the risks of rabies transmission to dog slaughtering and processing workers have not been identified. This study aimed to determine the rabies neutralizing antibody (NTA) and risk factors in dog slaughterers to propose appropriate intervention methods for this occupational group. In 2016, a cross-sectional study on NTA against rabies virus and related factors was conducted among 406 professional dog slaughterers in Vietnam. The participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and their sera were tested for rabies NTA by a rapid focus fluorescence inhibition test. Statistical algorithms were used to analyze the data. The results showed that most of the professional dog butchers (344/406 subjects, 84.7%) had no rabies NTA. Interestingly, 7.8% (29/373) had NTA without a rabies vaccination history. Over 5 years of experience as a dog butcher was positively associated with the presence of NTA in unvaccinated individuals (OR = 6.16, P = 0.001). The NTA in vaccinated butchers was present in higher titer and for longer persistence to those of other previously reported professionals, which is possibly as a result of multiple exposures to low levels of rabies virus antigens during dog slaughtering. Our study demonstrated that professional dog butchers in Vietnam are at a high risk of rabies virus infection, apart from those with common bite experiences. In countries where dog meat consumption is customary, rabies control and prevention activities should focus on safety during dog trading and slaughtering.

scholarly journals Characterization ofMycobacterium bovisfrom Humans and Cattle in Namwala District, Zambia

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sydney Malama ◽  
Tone Bjordal Johansen ◽  
John Bwalya Muma ◽  
Musso Munyeme ◽  
Grace Mbulo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Infected Cattle ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem in Zambia. While human to human transmission ofMycobacterium tuberculosisis of major importance in driving the tuberculosis epidemic, the impact ofMycobacterium bovistransmission from infected cattle is largely unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed at molecular characterization ofM. bovisin humans and cattle. A total of 100 human sputum samples and 67 bovine tissues were collected and analyzed for the presence of mycobacteria. Of 65 human samples that harbored acid fast bacteria (AFB), 55 isolates were obtained of which 34 were identified asM. tuberculosisand 2 asM. bovis. AFB-positive bovine samples (n=67) yielded 47 mycobacterial isolates among which 25 were identified asM. bovisand noM. tuberculosiswas found. Among theM. bovisisolates, spoligotyping revealed a high homogeneity in genotypes circulating in Namwala district. Human and cattle isolates shared identical MIRU-VNTR genotypes, suggesting that transmission between the two hosts may occur. Therefore, this study has documented zoonotic TB in human patients in Namwala district of Zambia. However, further molecular epidemiological studies in the study area are recommended.

scholarly journals Hypovitaminosis D in pregnancy: Is it a public health issue?

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-205
Author(s):  
José Rogério de Jesus Linhares de Souza ◽  
Tatyana Santana de Azevedo Silva ◽  
Eduardo Durans Figueredo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hypovitaminosis D ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Issue ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives: to measure the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in healthy pregnant women and to analyze the association among some variables and the levels of vitamin D. Methods: an analytical cross-sectional study. 174 healthy pregnant women were selected from four basic health units in São Luís, Brazil, from January to February 2017. The participants answered a questionnaire about sociodemographic and obstetric data. A blood sample was collected to evaluate the plasmatic level of vitamin D. The association between independent variables and the outcome was evaluated by using the Student’s t-test and Chisquare test. Results: the mean of vitamin D concentration was 24.9±6.6ng/ml. Forty women (23.0%) presented vitamin D sufficiency, 93 (53.4%) insufficient, and 41 (23.6%) with deficiency. There was a difference in the vitamin D concentration between evangelical (23.1 ng/ml) and non-evangelical (25.5 ng/ml) (p=0.02) and between primigravida (23.8 ng/ml) and non-primigravida (25.7 ng/ml) (p=0.03). There was a difference in the hypovitaminosis D between adolescents (89.7%) and non-adolescents (72.6%) (p=0.02) and between primigravida (85.0%) and non-primigravida (69.2%) (p=0.01). Low monthly income per capita was associated with a higher frequency of vitamin D sufficiency. Conclusions: Due to the impact of inadequate levels of vitamin D in pregnant women and their babies’ health, even in an equatorial city, hypovitaminosis D in pregnant women is an important public health issue.

scholarly journals Analysis of coordinating capacities in schools of grades 10 and 11 in a public school of Bogotá

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Morales Eraso ◽  
M Riveros Medina ◽  
A Gutiérrez Galvis ◽  
J Alvarado Melo ◽  
O Rubiano Espinosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public School ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Institutional Ethics ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Studies that address the problem of excess weight and inactive behaviors such as television and video games in children and adolescents have focused on chronic noncommunicable diseases, with few studies about the effects of sedentary lifestyle on coordination capacities (balance, precision and movement capacity). The objective of the study is to analyze the coordinative capacities in school children of grades 10 and 11 in a public school in Bogotá. This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 63 schoolchildren (30 men and 33 women) with an average age of 16.24 ± 0.689. The motor quotient was evaluated by means of the KTK test with the authorization of the institutional ethics committee, assent signature and informed consent. Descriptive statistics were obtained (mean SD frequencies, percentages). Data were tested using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and independent t-test was applied to measure the significant difference among the variables. P-value less than 0.05 was considered a significant difference. The motor quotient showed the following qualifications: symptomatic 11.1% (n = 7), normal 58.7% (n = 37) and good 30.2% (n = 19). Statistically significant differences (p &lt; 0,05) were found in the motor quotient between boys (37,048) and girls (34,374), with girls being mainly in the symptomatic category. It can be concluded that girls need to increase motor experiences to improve their coordinative abilities. The importance of this study consisted in the possibility of identifying the effects of sedentarism on coordination capacities, as well as the impact produced by the current government by reducing hours of physical education in schools, leading to an increase in sedentarism. For this reason, it is essential to develop research aimed at stimulating coordination capacities in schoolchildren as a strategy to reduce public health problems. Key messages For this reason, it is essential to develop research aimed at stimulating coordination capacities in schoolchildren as a strategy to reduce public health problems. Promotion of public policy as a Determining factor in the reduction of sedentarism in children, through Strategies that include assessment of Coordinating Capacities of schoolchildren.

scholarly journals Linguistic fairness in the U.S.: The case of multilingual public health information about COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damián E. Blasi ◽  
Vishala Mishra ◽  
Adolfo M. García ◽  
Joseph P. Dexter
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public Health Information ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Rapid Dissemination ◽  
The U.S

Lack of high-quality multilingual resources can contribute to disparities in the availability of medical and public health information. The COVID-19 pandemic has required rapid dissemination of essential guidance to diverse audiences and therefore provides an ideal context in which to study linguistic fairness in the U.S. Here we report a cross-sectional study of official non-English information about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the health departments of all 50 U.S. states. We find that multilingual information is limited in many states, such that almost half of all individuals not proficient in English or Spanish lack access to state-specific COVID-19 guidance in their primary language. Although Spanish-language information is widely available, we show using automated readability formulas that most materials do not follow standard recommendations for clear communication in medicine and public health. In combination, our results provide a snapshot of linguistic unfairness across the U.S. and highlight an urgent need for the creation of plain language, multilingual resources about COVID-19.

scholarly journals Promoting mask use on TikTok: An unconventional approach to public health education (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey H Basch ◽  
Joseph Fera ◽  
Isabela Pierce ◽  
Charles E Basch
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Us ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Health Organization

BACKGROUND Over the past decade, there has been an increasing secular trend in studies of social media and health. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the content and characteristics of TikTok videos related to an important aspect of community mitigation, namely use of masks as a way to interrupt transmission of SARS-CoV-2. METHODS One-hundred trending video with the hashtag #WearAMask, a campaign on TikTok, along with 32 videos posted by the World Health Organization (WHO) that included masks in any way (to date) were included in the sample. Metadata on each post and content categories created using fact sheets from WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) inform characteristics that were coded. RESULTS Videos posted using the hashtag #WearAMask garnered almost a half billion views, (n = 494,824,395) and videos posted by the WHO garnered over 57 million views. While the ratio of trending #WearAMask to WHO videos was ~3:1, the #WearAMask videos received almost 10 times as many cumulative views. A total of 68% of the trending #WearAMask videos used humor (garnering over 355 million cumulative views), but only three of the WHO videos used humor, and while 27% of the trending #WearAMask videos used dance (garnering over 130 million cumulative views), none of the WHO videos used dance. CONCLUSIONS This study is one of the first to describe how TikTok is being used for community mitigation of COVID-19 by promoting mask use. Because of its incredible reach, there is great potential to convey important public health messages to various segments of the population.

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