scholarly journals The Invention of Geospatial Decision Support System for Malaysian Tuberculosis Surveillance Data Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (SI3) ◽  
pp. 269-274
Author(s):  
Abdul Rauf Abdul Rasam ◽  
Noresah Mohd Shariff ◽  
JilorisF Dony

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the capabilities of a health information tool for disease preparedness and emergency responses. In Malaysia, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has been using MyTB system to support the national tuberculosis (TB) control program through data decision-making management. However, this present system does not seem to be considering geospatial element which is one of the important factors affecting TB control. Integrating the MyTB system with geospatial functions would enhance the explicit cognitive and behavior analyses of TB by proposing a MyGeoTBIS© to assist the local health authorities in exploring TB dynamics and multi-level infection control. Keywords: Geospatial, GIS, MyGeoTBIS, MyTB, tuberculosis disease eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2564

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidyanidhi Gumma ◽  
Kyle DeGruy ◽  
Davara Bennett ◽  
Thanh Nguyen Thi Kim ◽  
Heidi Albert ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Following the endorsement of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010, Viet Nam’s National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) began using GeneXpert instruments in NTP laboratories. In 2013, Viet Nam’s NTP implemented an Xpert MTB/RIF external quality assurance (EQA) program in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). Proficiency-testing (PT) panels comprising five dried tube specimens (DTS) were sent to participating sites approximately twice a year from October 2013 to July 2016. The number of enrolled laboratories increased from 22 to 39 during the study period. Testing accuracy was assessed by comparing reported and expected results; percentage scores were assigned; and feedback reports were provided to sites. On-site evaluation (OSE) was conducted for underperforming laboratories. The results from the first five rounds demonstrate the positive impact of PT and targeted OSE visits on testing quality. On average, for every additional round of feedback, the odds of achieving PT scores of ≥80% increased 2.04-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.39- to 3.00-fold). Future work will include scaling up PT to all sites and maintaining the performance of participating laboratories while developing local panel production capacity.


Author(s):  
Iman A. Basheti ◽  
Nizar M. Mhaidat ◽  
Sayer Al-Azzam ◽  
Rajaa Alqudah ◽  
Razan Nassar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background With the outbreak of Coronavirus infection (COVID-19), pharmacists play an important role in supporting local health during this emergency. Aim To assess the knowledge and to identify information sources regarding COVID-19 used by pharmacists, to investigate the active and public perceived roles of pharmacists, to explore the role of the pharmacy facilities and health authorities, and to identify barriers that would hinder pharmacists from performing their duties optimally in the United Arab Emirates. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional online study was conducted in the UAE during the COVID-19 outbreak, from 18 May to 20 June 2020. A validated online questionnaire addressing participants’ current knowledge about pandemics and COVID-19, source of information, and their perspectives of their role was used. Participants were licensed pharmacists practising in community and hospital pharmacies in UAE, academics, and pharmacy students. Results Almost two-thirds of the participants (71.2%) were aged 18–30 years, with 76.2% females. Only 57.5% of participants believed that they got enough education about pandemics, and 88.3% of them followed on the latest coronavirus updates regarding treatments, and that is mainly from the World Health Organization reports (53.9%), followed by health authorities (44.8%). Two-thirds of participants (69.7%) had good/very good current knowledge regarding COVID-19. Knowledge of pharmacy students compared to pharmacists was significantly higher (p < 0.001). Conclusion The majority of pharmacists and pharmacy students reported that they have a major role in managing pandemics executed through the community pharmacies and that it is their role to ensure the availability of key medications. Policymakers and health authorities are called upon to train pharmacists in advance of emerging situations, supporting and helping them to optimally fulfill their role.


2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-194
Author(s):  
Stan Houston

Ecuador is among the eight countries with the highest tuberculosis (TB) prevalences in the Americas (the World Health Organization estimates 141 new cases/100,000 population in 2002) and has had a poorly functioning TB control program. As described in an earlier editorial (1), the Canadian Lung Association, with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency, has been involved for four years in supporting Ecuador?s National TB Program. The initial phase of the project has just been completed, but the experience has already provided many valuable lessons, some quite unexpected.


Author(s):  
Musaed S. AlAli

Capital is coward, money tend to flee the markets during crises periods. In just few days after declaring Coronavirus as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), major stock markets lost more than 15% of their market capitalization. This study aims to examine the velocity of Coronavirus pandemic effect on major stock markets during the early stages of the pandemic. The study also examines whether or not there was any difference before and after the first confirmed Coronavirus case reported. Using the data on eleven major stock markets, results from this study shows that, out of the eleven markets under study, six markets showed no difference in mean return 30 trading days before and after reporting the first Coronavirus case in these countries. The results also showed that WHO announcement had a more impact on the stock markets performance than the announcements of local health authorities’ announcements. One interesting finding in this research is that there was an inverse relation between the distance of the stock market from Wuhan and the financial performance of that market.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Suhuyini Salifu ◽  
Khumbulani W. Hlongwana

Abstract Objectives To explore the mechanisms of collaboration between the stakeholders, including National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and the Non-Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Program (NCDCP) at the national, regional, and local (health facility) levels of the health care system in Ghana. This is one of the objectives in a study on the “Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of the Collaborative Framework for the Care and Control of Tuberculosis and Diabetes in Ghana” Results The data analysis revealed 4 key themes. These were (1) Increased support for communicable diseases (CDs) compared to stagnant support for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), (2) Donor support, (3) Poor collaboration between NTP and NCDCP, and (4) Low Tuberculosis-Diabetes Mellitus (TB-DM) case detection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Byung Soo Kang ◽  
San Ha Lee ◽  
Woo Jeng Kim ◽  
Jeong Ha Wie ◽  
In Yang Park ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although the World Health Organization and health authorities in most countries recommend that pregnant women receive inactivated influenza virus vaccines, coverage remains low. This study aimed to investigate (1) the proportion of pregnant women who received an influenza vaccination and influencing factors and (2) the proportion of obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) doctors who routinely recommend influenza vaccination to pregnant women and influencing factors. Methods Two separate, anonymized questionnaires were developed for physicians and pregnant and postpartum women and were distributed to multicenters and clinics in South Korea. The proportions of women who received influenza vaccination during pregnancy and OBGYN doctors who routinely recommend the influenza vaccine to pregnant women were analyzed. Independent influencing factors for both maternal influenza vaccination and OBGYN doctors’ routine recommendations to pregnant women were analyzed using log-binomial regression analysis. Results The proportion of self-reported influenza vaccination during pregnancy among 522 women was 63.2%. Pregnancy-related independent factors influencing maternal influenza vaccination were “(ever) received information about influenza vaccination during pregnancy” (OR 8.9, 95% CI 4.17–19.01), “received vaccine information about from OBGYN doctors” (OR 11.44, 95% CI 5.46–24.00), “information obtained from other sources” (OR 4.38, 95% CI 2.01–9.55), and “second/third trimester” (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.21–4.82).. Among 372 OBGYN doctors, 76.9% routinely recommended vaccination for pregnant women. Independent factors effecting routine recommendation were “working at a private clinic or hospital” (OR 5.33, 95% CI 2.44–11.65), “awareness of KCDC guidelines” (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.11–8.73), and “awareness of the 2019 national free influenza vaccination program for pregnant women” (OR 4.88, 95% CI 2.34–10.17). OBGYN doctors most commonly chose ‘guidelines proposed by the government or public health (108, 46%) and academic committees (59, 25%), as a factor which expect to affect the future recommendation Conclusion This study showed that providing information about maternal influenza vaccination, especially by OBGYN doctors, is crucial for increasing vaccination coverage in pregnant women. Closer cooperation between the government and OBGYN academic societies to educate OBGYN doctors might enhance routine recommendations.


Author(s):  
Hasan Ghodsi ◽  
Sanaz Sohrabizadeh ◽  
Reaza Khani Jazani ◽  
Amir Kavousi

ABSTRACT Objective: Volunteers need considerable resiliency to cope with formidable challenges during their operations in disaster scenes. The present study was conducted to identify factors affecting the different aspects of resiliency among volunteers in disasters. Material and Methods: The databases of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, Google Scholar, World Health Organization Library, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Library, PsycArticles, and SafetyLit were searched until September 29, 2018. The main search terms were resiliency, disaster, humanitarian aid worker, and volunteer. Results: A total of 548 documents were obtained and screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A number of 8 documents was selected for the final analysis. The main factors contributing to the resilience of volunteers at the 3 stages of pre-, during, and post-disasters were classified into 3 groups of individual, environmental, and organizational. Important factors affecting resilience of volunteers in disasters included previous disaster response experience and disaster-related training. Conclusion: Resiliency should be deemed integral to relief operations. Considering the main factors affecting volunteers’ resiliency, it is highly suggested that organizations active in humanitarian endeavors explore the factors impacting on resilience among their volunteers via various research methods and seek to select those with higher degrees of resilience in order to avert untoward consequences in their missions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Krishna Bahadur Thapa ◽  
Namrata KC ◽  
T Koirala ◽  
A Bhatttarai

Background: Dengue virus is now classified as a major global health threat by the World Health Organization. Bleeding is a common complication and is one of the most feared. There is an increase incidence in the adult population, hence, the focus of this study.Objectives: To determine the incidence of bleeding and the factors that influence its development among patients admitted with dengue fever at Fatima Medical Center, Phillipines from January 2009 to December 2011.Methods: This is a case control study using chart review. The incidence of bleeding is calculated using risk ratio. Factors affecting bleeding are determined using chi square for qualitative variables and T-test or ANOVA for quantitative variables. Simultaneous determination of factors association with bleeding will be analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Level of significance will be set at alpha = 0.05.Results: The female sex is significantly more prone to develop bleeding (p=0.044). There is no significant increase in bleeding in patients who have co-morbidities (p=0.447). In every one unit increase in WBC (1 x 109) the odds of bleeding decrease by 15%. For every one unit increase in hematocrit the odds of bleeding decreases by 6.8%. For every one unit increase in platelet count the odds of bleeding decreases by 3% that is every 10 unit increase in platelet count the odds of bleeding decrease by 22.9%.Conclusions: Female sex, a low initial WBC and platelet count will increase a patient’s propensity to develop bleeding.Journal of Gandaki Medical College Volume, 09, Number 2, July December  2016, page: 23-28


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-7
Author(s):  
Carolina de Mello-Santos ◽  
José Manoel Bertolote ◽  
Yuan-Pang Wang

Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America (in 2002 the population was approximately 175 million). Although life expectancy in Brazil has increased, suicide and other forms of injury-related mortality, such as homicide and accident, have increased as a proportion of overall mortality (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 1984; Brazil Ministry of Health, 2001). The suicide rate in Brazil (3.0–4.0 per 100 000 inhabitants) is not considered high in global terms (World Health Organization, 1999). Nevertheless, it has followed the world tendency towards growth: during 1980–2000, the suicide rate in Brazil increased by 21%. Elderly people present the highest suicide rates in absolute numbers, but the alarming finding in the Brazilian data is that the youth population is increasingly dying by suicide (Mello-Santos et al, 2005). This statistic partially confirms a forecast by Diekstra & Guilbinat (1993) that the number of deaths by suicide would dramatically increase over the next decades, mainly in developing countries, including Latin America. In these regions, socio-economic factors (such as an increase in divorce and unemployment and a decrease in religiosity) increase the risk of self-harm. We discuss the reasons for the low suicide rate in Brazil and highlight the socio-economic factors affecting its increase among the youth population in particular.


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