scholarly journals Management of Malaria in Children Younger Than 5 Years Old During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Sierra Leone: A Lesson Learned?

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo Buonsenso ◽  
Francesco Iodice ◽  
Bianca Cinicola ◽  
Francesca Raffaelli ◽  
Solia Sowa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
Peripheral Region ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Proactive Approach ◽  
The Impact

Growing evidences are showing the potential indirect effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the health systems of low-resource settings, where diseases such as Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Malaria represent major killers. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on Malaria programs in a peripheral region of Sierra Leone, previously involved by the Ebola outbreak in 2015, when malaria care have been impaired since local health systems were overwhelmed by Ebola cases. During COVID-19 in Sierra Leone, we did not notice a significant drop in malaria diagnosis in children, suggesting that a proactive approach in the management of malaria in endemic countries during COVID-19 may have had a positive impact. A comprehensive approach that include also educational activities to sensitize the local population, was useful to guarantee successful malaria diagnosis and treatment, and prevents excess of malaria deaths due to potential disruption of the local health systems related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

scholarly journals Management of malaria in children under 5-years-old during COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone: a lesson learned?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo Buonsenso ◽  
Francesco Iodice ◽  
Bianca Cinicola ◽  
Francesca Raffaelli ◽  
Solia Sowa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
Peripheral Region ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Proactive Approach ◽  
The Impact

AbstractGrowing evidences are showing the potential indirect effects of COVID-19 on the health systems of low-resource settings, where diseases such as Tuberculosis, HIV and Malaria represent major killers. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on Malaria programs in a peripheral region of Sierra Leone, previously involved by the Ebola outbreak in 2015, when malaria care have been impaired since local health systems were overwhelmed by Ebola cases. During COVID-19 in Sierra Leone, we did not notice a drop in malaria diagnosis in children, suggesting that a proactive approach in the management of malaria in endemic countries during COVID-19 may have had a positive impact. A comprehensive approach that include also educational activities to sensitize the local population, was useful to guarantee successful malaria diagnosis and treatment, and prevents excess of malaria deaths due to potential disruption of the local health systems related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.Contribution to the fieldwe performed a retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on Malaria programs in a peripheral region of Sierra Leone, previously involved by the Ebola outbreak in 2015, when malaria care have been impaired since local health systems were overwhelmed by Ebola cases. During COVID-19 in Sierra Leone, we did not notice a significant change in the middle term period in malaria diagnosis in children, suggesting that a proactive approach in the management of malaria in endemic countries during COVID-19 may have had a positive impact. A comprehensive approach that include also educational activities to sensitize the local population, was useful to guarantee successful malaria diagnosis and treatment, and prevents excess of malaria deaths due to potential disruption of the local health systems related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.Funding statementnothing to declareEthics statementsStudies involving animal subjectsGenerated Statement: No animal studies are presented in this manuscript.Studies involving human subjectsGenerated Statement: The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Bureh Town Community Hospital. Written informed consent to participate in this study was provided by the participants’ legal guardian/next of kin.Inclusion of identifiable human dataGenerated Statement: No potentially identifiable human images or data is presented in this study.Data availability statementGenerated Statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

scholarly journals Long-Term Impact of Interprofessional Medical Mission Service Trips in Sierra Leone

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen Tran ◽  
Jennie Jarrett ◽  
Scott Gardner ◽  
James Fernando ◽  
Mark Milliron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Competence ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Local Staff ◽  
Mission Service ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mission Trips

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of capacity-building short-term mission service trips to Sierra Leone on local health education and perspectives.Methods: This was a prospective, mixed-methods study. During three mission trips between June 2017 and December 2019, health professional students taught multiple locally selected patient care-related topics. Local staff completed knowledge questionnaires and were surveyed or interviewed on mission service impact along with the cultural competence of missionaries. Mission team members completed the Intercultural Effectiveness Scale (IES) and surveys to determine their cultural competence.Results: After initial education, 90% passed the knowledge questionnaire with at least a 50% and the correct response rate was 57.9 vs. 66.7% after 6 months and 2.5 years, respectively (p = 0.40). Local staff ranked education/training as most valuable (84%) and highly desired (53%). Mean IES score and survey responses of both missionaries and local staff rated mission team cultural competence as average.Conclusions: Education-focused mission trips in Sierra Leone seem to have long-lasting benefits and a positive impact on local staff, though improved intercultural competence is needed.

scholarly journals Resilience and Empowerment through Higher Education in Kakuma Refugee Camp: A Conversation

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. p64
Author(s):  
Paul O’Keeffe ◽  
Samuel Niyonkuru
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Refugee Camp ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Health Care Organisation ◽  
Care Organisation ◽  
The Impact

Resilience and empowerment are concepts that recently have become popularised in the world of forced displacement management policy and practice. Often undervalued and dismissed as being buzzwords, these concepts have become bound up in the burgeoning study of higher education in refugee contexts. This article explores these themes in the frame of a real-world experience of studying a blended learning medical studies course in Kakuma refugee camp and the impact it has had on an individual’s life and that of his community. Building on the academic discourse, we present a case study of the individual’s experience of studying an online and face-to-face course in Kakuma refugee camp and subsequently undertaking an internship with a local health care organisation. Through a discursive conversation, the subject of the case study reveals the positive impact this educational experience has fostered in his life by instilling resilience and empowering him to become a force for positive change in his community.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE CITY ECONOMY: AN EXAMPLE OF THE IMPACT OF A DISPLACED UNIVERSITY

2021 ◽  
Vol 298 (5 Part 1) ◽  
pp. 223-227
Author(s):  
TETYANA NESTORENKO ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Difficult Situation ◽  
National Technical ◽  
Technical University ◽  
Local Budget ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

The article considers the importance of a displaced university for the economy of the host city. The main directions of the impact of the displaced university on the local economy are analysed. The role of the displaced university for the revenue of the budget of the host city is considered. The example of Donetsk National Technical University shows the importance of displaced university for employment of the local population and reducing the rate of migration. The study aims to determine the impact of displaced universities on the economy of host cities (on the example of Donetsk National Technical University and Pokrovsk city). As a result of moving to the territories controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, the displaced universities, on the one hand, lost a significant part of their assets and found themselves in a difficult situation due to limited resources to continue their core business (training future professionals). On the other hand, the relocation of such universities was the impetus for the further development of host cities. The displaced university provides local youth with the opportunity to obtain higher education without leaving for other cities. Through their activities, displaced universities are creating new jobs for locals. Also, displaced universities are becoming big taxpayers to the local budget. That is why the support of displaced universities by the state and international organizations (granting certain preferences, financial assistance, etc.) will contribute not only to the “survival” of such universities but also to the socio-economic development of host cities. The study found that Donetsk National Technical University as a displaced university has a positive impact on the economy of the city of Pokrovsk: the university uses and pays for utilities provided by local businesses, buys goods and food from local producers. The university pays local taxes and fees to the local budget. Also, the local budget receives the taxes from university staff. Thanks to the activities of the university, about 400 jobs were created in the Pokrovsk city.

scholarly journals An Investigation into the Influence of Different Types of Nesting Materials upon the Welfare of Captive Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1835
Author(s):  
Naomi Anderson ◽  
Bala Amarasekaran ◽  
David Riba
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Pan Troglodytes ◽  
Relative Frequency ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Treatment Conditions ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Impact

Ensuring the welfare of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) is crucial, in part because they can act as a conservation resource in the case of wild populations becoming extinct. One strategy often adopted to ensure animal welfare is environmental enrichment. In this study, we investigated the impact of different nesting materials (leaves and branches, long grass, cotton sheets, and shredded newspaper) upon the welfare of chimpanzees housed at Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (Sierra Leone). Data was collected on 20 subjects (aged 4 to 15 years) between November 2019 and March 2020. Welfare was based on individuals’ relative frequency of affiliative, abnormal and agonistic behaviours, as well as their social and behavioural competence. We found that individuals’ welfare was higher when presented with nesting materials (compared to the control and post-treatment conditions), particularly when given shredded newspaper, regardless of whether the material was presented separately or in conjunction with another. In addition, welfare was highest: during the morning (vs evening); in groups of older individuals (vs younger); with females engaging in less agonistic behaviours compared to males; and males displaying relatively higher behavioural competence. Our results support previous research that captive chimpanzees be supplied with destructible nesting materials, and demonstrate that synthetic enrichments can indeed have a more positive impact upon welfare than their natural alternatives.

scholarly journals Impact of Communication Measures Implemented During a School Tuberculosis Outbreak on Risk Perception among Parents and School Staff, Italy, 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Gentili ◽  
Andrea Bardin ◽  
Elisa Ros ◽  
Cinzia Piovesan ◽  
Mauro Ramigni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Local Population ◽  
School Staff ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Open Approach ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Telephone Hotline ◽  
The Impact

Risk perception has a significant impact on decisions people make when facing a threat: a mismatch between actual hazard and perceived risk can lead to inappropriate behaviours and suboptimal compliance to recommended public health measures. The present study was conducted in the aftermath of a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak that occurred in 2019 in a primary school in Italy. The aim was to evaluate the impact of communication measures implemented by local health authorities (including face-to-face meetings between LHAs and the local population, weekly press announcements, implementation of a telephone hotline and of an information desk, and social media communication), on risk perception among parents of schoolchildren and school staff, and to identify factors related to a change in risk perception before and after the said activities. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to parents of schoolchildren (n = 846) and to school staff (n = 70). Participants were asked about the level of risk they had perceived at two distinct times: when they first became aware of the outbreak and following implementation of communication activities. A significant reduction of perceived risk was found in both groups (p < 0.001) following the communication activities. The largest reduction was found among participants who reported having appreciated the meetings with the LHA healthcare staff. Our findings suggest that keeping an open approach, explaining the actual threat to the population and adapting communication to different listening skills, are essential for health authorities to successfully manage a public health emergency.

scholarly journals Strategic Directions of the Service Sector Modernization in the Southern Macroregion

2019 ◽  
pp. 124-133
Author(s):  
Matvey Oborin
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Federal District ◽  
Health Resort ◽  
Structural Problems ◽  
Modern Development ◽  
Recreational Specialization ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this article is to study the directions of improving the activities of the health resort complex, which can have a significant impact on the socio-economic development of the region, as part of their development strategy. The service sector is recovering faster during the recession, successfully adapting to the crisis due to low costs and rapid response. Tourist and recreational services have a great potential for development due to the growing demand. The medical and health tourism as well as spa complex can be an important element of the strategy of the region, positively affecting other industries and the quality of life of the local population. The analysis of the stages of modern development of the health resort complex, its state in the country and in the Southern Federal District is carried out. The financial and economic indicators of the activity of the specialized enterprises are analyzed, the constraining factors are evaluated. It is shown that the existing potential is not sufficiently realized against the background of growing demand and low financial capabilities of the population. Spa treatment helps to solve important strategic problems but the accumulated structural problems make it vulnerable to the current market conditions of operation, in this regard, a set of measures is necessary to reduce the impact of negative factors. The recommendations that will have a positive impact on the implementation of regional development strategies especially in the regions with resort and recreational specialization are given.

scholarly journals The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health service utilisation in Sierra Leone

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Sevalie ◽  
Daniel Youkee ◽  
Alex J van Duinen ◽  
Emma Bailey ◽  
Thaimu Bangura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Health Service Utilisation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Hospital Data ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected health systems in many countries, but little is known about effects on health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines the effects of COVID-19 on health service utilisation in a sub-Saharan country, Sierra Leone. Methods: Mixed-methods study using longitudinal nationwide hospital data (admissions, operations, deliveries and referrals), and qualitative interviews with healthcare workers and patients. Hospital data were compared across Quarters (Q) in 2020, with day 1 of Q2 representing the start of the pandemic in Sierra Leone. Admissions are reported in total and disaggregated by sex, service (surgical, medical, maternity, paediatric), and hospital type (government or private not for profit). Referrals in 2020 were compared with 2019, to assess whether any changes were the result of seasonality. Comparisons were performed using students t test. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: From Q1-Q2, weekly mean hospital admissions decreased by 14.7% (p=0.005). Larger decreases were seen in male 18.8%, than female 12.5% admissions. The largest decreases were in surgical admissions, a 49.8 % decrease (p<0.001) and medical admissions, a 28.7% decrease (p=0.002). Paediatric and maternity admissions did not significantly change. Total operations decreased by 13.9% (p<0.001), whilst caesarean sections and facility-based deliveries showed significant increases, 12.7 % (p=0.014) and 7.5% (p=0.03) respectively. In Q3 total admissions remained 13.2% lower (p<0.001) than Q1. Mean weekly referrals were lower in Q2 and Q3 of 2020 compared to 2019, suggesting findings were unlikely to be seasonal. Qualitative analysis identified both supply-side factors, prioritisation of essential services, introduction of COVID-19 services and pausing elective care, and demand-side factors, fear of nosocomial infection and financial hardship. Conclusion: The study demonstrated a decrease in health service utilisation during Covid-19, the decrease is less than in other countries during COVID-19 and less than reported during the Ebola epidemic.

scholarly journals The Impact of Gender on Entrepreneurial Intention in a Peripheral Region of Europe: A Multigroup Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 415
Author(s):  
Sofia Gomes ◽  
João M. Lopes ◽  
José Oliveira ◽  
Márcio Oliveira ◽  
Tânia Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Peripheral Region ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
Personal Attitude ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

The last two decades were characterized by an increase in attention on entrepreneurship. An emerging trend in the literature is associated with the different contributions that genders may have regarding entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intentions. This paper assesses gender impact on entrepreneurial intention in a peripheral region of Europe. The methodology used is quantitative and based on a sample of 1114 observations. The obtained results suggest that women’s perceived behavioral control does not have a less direct positive impact on entrepreneurial intention when compared to men’s. Women’s personal attitude has a less direct positive impact on entrepreneurial intention when compared to men’s, as social norms, on the one hand, have a less direct positive impact on women’s personal attitude when compared to men’s, and, on the other hand, have a less direct positive impact on women’s perceived behavioral control when compared to men’s. Finally, it was also verified that social norms have a less positive indirect impact through personal attitude and perceived behavioral control on women’s entrepreneurial intention when compared to men’s. These findings contribute to enlighten the literature by strengthening the theoretical framework on women’s entrepreneurial intention in peripheral regions. Regarding practical contributions, suggestions are addressed to public decision makers, universities, and civil society, to adopt practices to increase entrepreneurship in women. This research is original because it is the first to perform this study in Portugal, a peripheral region of Europe.

scholarly journals Re-orientation of Health Services towards Health Promotion: An Australian Case Study of Aborted Health Service Reform

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fran Baum ◽  
Helen van Eyk ◽  
Catherine Hurley
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Reform ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Continuous Change ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines a case study of local health care reform in Australia that had as one of its aims the desire to increase the health promotion and partnership work of the region. The case study highlights the pressures contemporary health systems are facing and the challenge of re-orientating health services towards health promotion in this environment. Qualitative research, including interviews, focus groups, a staff survey and policy analysis were used to identify health system professionals? perceptions of the impact of health care reform. The case study portrays a complex system that is subject to frequent change but little reform. Our case study indicates that features of health systems that encourage collaborative partnerships are those where there is: an environment that encourages trust; a common purpose among the key players; a supportive external environment; practical projects to work on; organisational stability; commitment from staff throughout organisations; willingness to commit resources; evidence that change is likely to improve outcomes for users; and an organisational environment in which learning from past experience is encouraged. A number of constraints and tensions that work against introducing a greater emphasis on health promotion and collaboration within the system studied are discussed, including tensions between central funding bureaucracies and health care agencies and the reform fatigue and increasing cynicism among staff resulting from continuous change. The paper concludes that against the chaotic background of contemporary health service reform it is very difficult to bring about genuine reform to achieve a shift to more emphasis on health promotion and partnerships.

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