scholarly journals Prevalence and Correlation Analysis of Soil-Transmitted Helminths Infections and Treatment Coverage for Preschool and School Aged Children in Kenya: Secondary Analysis of the National School Based Deworming Program Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collins Okoyo ◽  
Suzy J. Campbell ◽  
Mark Minnery ◽  
Chrispin Owaga ◽  
Nelson Onyango ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Treatment Coverage ◽  
Time Points ◽  
School Based ◽  
National School ◽  
Weak Negative Correlation

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are among the most common parasitic infections globally, disproportionately affecting children. Treatment of STH in Kenya is often targeted at preschool (PSAC) and school aged (SAC) children delivered through annual mass drug administration (MDA) in primary schools. Understanding group-specific prevalence and dynamics between treatment and coverage is critical for continued treatment success. This study aims to provide detailed information on group-specific infection prevalence and relative reductions (RR), and their relationships with treatment coverage over time. Additionally, it aims to quantify the correlation between the observed school level infection prevalence and treatment coverage.Methods: Secondary analysis of existing data collected between 2012 and 2018 by the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) program of the National School-Based Deworming (NSBD) program was used. The M&E program conducted surveys utilizing cross-sectional study design, at four survey time points, in a nationally-representative sample of schoolchildren across counties in Kenya. In each participating school, the program randomly sampled 108 children per school, of both groups. Infection prevalence was estimated using binomial regression, RR in prevalence using multivariable mixed effects model, statistical correlations using structural equation modeling, and change-point-analysis using the binary segmentation algorithm.Results: Overall, STH prevalence for PSAC was 33.7, 20.2, 19.0, and 17.9% during Year 1 (Y1), Year 3 (Y3), Year 5 (Y5), and Year 6 (Y6) surveys, respectively with an overall RR of 46.9% (p = 0.001) from Y1 to Y6. Similarly, overall STH prevalence for SAC was 33.6, 18.4, 14.7, and 12.5% during Y1, Y3, Y5, and Y6 surveys, respectively with an overall RR of 62.6% (p < 0.001). An overall (all time points) significant but very weak negative correlation was found between treatment coverage and undifferentiated STH prevalence (r = −0.144, p = 0.002) among PSAC but not in SAC. Further, we observed inter-county heterogeneity variation in infection prevalence, RR, as well as correlations.Conclusion: The analysis showed that after six rounds of MDA, prevalence of STH has significantly declined among both groups of children, however not to a point where it is not a public health problem (below 1%). The analysis, additionally established an overall significant but weak negative correlation between treatment coverage and prevalence, indicating that the current treatment coverage might not be sufficient to drive the overall STH prevalence to below 1%. These findings will allow STH control programs in Kenya to make decisions that will accelerate the attainment of STH elimination as a public health problem.

scholarly journals Overt acts of perceived discrimination reported by British working-age adults with and without disability

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Emerson ◽  
Allison Milner ◽  
Zoe Aitken ◽  
Lauren Krnjacki ◽  
Cathy Vaughan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background Exposure to discrimination can have a negative impact on health. There is little robust evidence on the prevalence of exposure of people with disabilities to discrimination, the sources and nature of discrimination they face, and the personal and contextual factors associated with increased risk of exposure. Methods Secondary analysis of de-identified cross-sectional data from the three waves of the UK’s ‘Life Opportunities Survey’. Results In the UK (i) adults with disabilities were over three times more likely than their peers to be exposed to discrimination, (ii) the two most common sources of discrimination were strangers in the street and health staff and (iii) discrimination was more likely to be reported by participants who were younger, more highly educated, who were unemployed or economically inactive, who reported financial stress or material hardship and who had impairments associated with hearing, memory/speaking, dexterity, behavioural/mental health, intellectual/learning difficulties and breathing. Conclusions Discrimination faced by people with disabilities is an under-recognised public health problem that is likely to contribute to disability-based health inequities. Public health policy, research and practice needs to concentrate efforts on developing programs that reduce discrimination experienced by people with disabilities.

scholarly journals Do salt storage practices affect the iodine content of salt? - A school-based study in North India

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-168
Author(s):  
M Athar Ansari ◽  
Zulfia Khan ◽  
Ali Jafar Abedi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
School Children ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Iodine Content ◽  
North India ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Potassium Iodate ◽  
School Based ◽  
Iodine Supplementation ◽  
Multistage Sampling

Introduction: In India, IDD has been identified as a public health problem. At present best source for iodine supplementation is iodinated salt in the form of "Iodised Salt" containing potassium iodide (KI) and "Iodated Salt" containing potassium iodate (KIO3). Objectives: To find out salt storage practices in the houses and association of storage practices and iodine content. Methods: From 1st to 5th standard children (age group 6–12 years) were the “sampling units.” The required sample was selected by “Multistage sampling” by doing a sub-sampling. The sample size (N) calculated was 879. However, a total of 950 participants were included in the study. To check on spot salt storage practices, 70 families of school children were visited. The iodine content of salt samples was tested with spot testing kit (STK). Results: Out of 950 students, most of them (92.1%) used to take powdered salt. Out of 915 salt samples, collected, 79.0% samples were iodized and only 16.1% of salt samples had >15 ppm iodine content. Salt was kept in containers in 36 (51.4%) houses, but only 6 (8.7%) families were using airtight containers. The percentage of nil iodine was highest in open packets (35.7%). As the distance of salt storage from chullah increased, the level of iodine content was also improved. Conclusions: School children and their families should be told about the importance of taking adequately iodized salt and to follow correct salt storage practices. Sustained IEC activities should be carried out more vigorously to sensitize the students and community.

scholarly journals Serious non-fatal unintentional injuries among in-school adolescents in Sri Lanka: results from the 2016 Sri Lankan Global School-Based Health Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sashimali Wickramasinghe ◽  
Nalika Gunawardena ◽  
Dhanusha Punyadasa ◽  
Shanthi Gunawardena ◽  
Champika Wickramasinghe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Unintentional Injuries ◽  
School Based ◽  
The World

Abstract Background Unintentional injuries among adolescents is a major public health problem the world over. A great majority of the annual deaths among adolescents is due to unintentional injuries; it is also the leading cause of death among adolescents in the world. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of injuries and their associated factors among school going adolescents aged 13-17 years using data from the most recent Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in Sri Lanka. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire, among 3,262 adolescents attending government schools. The sample was selected through a two-staged cluster sampling technique. In the first stage, 40 schools were selected using probabilities proportional to school enrollment size, from all schools in the country that have classes in grades 8-12 . Then, from the selected schools, classes were selected using systematic equal probability sampling with a random start. The weighted prevalence was calculated, and logistic regression analysis was conducted in order to determine the correlates. Results During the 12 months before the survey, 35.8% (95% CI-30.7 - 41.1) of the students reported being seriously injured one or more times. The injuries were more common among males, but were equally common among the two different age groups (13-15 age group vs 16-17 age group). The most common type of injury was cut or stab wounds (5.5%), followed by broken bones/dislocated joints (5.3%). Multivariable analysis revealed that only a few factors were associated with injury, such as being of the male sex, being bullied, being physically attacked, and/or being in a physical fight. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the prevalence of serious unintentional injuries among school going adolescents is a major public health problem in Sri Lanka. This timely and comprehensive survey would help policy makers and researchers identify the unmet needs related to adolescent injuries. Furthermore, evidence generated form the study should be given due consideration when designing school-based interventions to prevent adolescent injuries.

scholarly journals Urogenital schistosomiasis infection prevalence targets to determine elimination as a public health problem based on microhematuria prevalence in school-age children

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. e0009451
Author(s):  
Ryan E. Wiegand ◽  
Fiona M. Fleming ◽  
Anne Straily ◽  
Susan P. Montgomery ◽  
Sake J. de Vlas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
School Age ◽  
Infection Level ◽  
Preventive Chemotherapy ◽  
Urogenital Schistosomiasis ◽  
Morbidity Control

Background Recent research suggests that schistosomiasis targets for morbidity control and elimination as a public health problem could benefit from a reanalysis. These analyses would define evidence-based targets that control programs could use to confidently assert that they had controlled or eliminated schistosomiasis as a public health problem. We estimated how low Schistosoma haematobium infection levels diagnosed by urine filtration in school-age children should be decreased so that microhematuria prevalence was at, or below, a “background” level of morbidity. Methodology Data obtained from school-age children in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Tanzania, and Zambia who participated in schistosomiasis monitoring and evaluation cohorts were reanalyzed before and after initiation of preventive chemotherapy. Bayesian models estimated the infection level prevalence probabilities associated with microhematuria thresholds ≤10%, 13%, or 15%. Principal findings An infection prevalence of 5% could be a sensible target for urogenital schistosomiasis morbidity control in children as microhematuria prevalence was highly likely to be below 10% in all surveys. Targets of 8% and 11% infection prevalence were highly likely to result in microhematuria levels less than 13% and 15%, respectively. By contrast, measuring heavy-intensity infections only achieves these thresholds at impractically low prevalence levels. Conclusions/Significance A target of 5%, 8%, or 11% urogenital schistosomiasis infection prevalence in school-age children could be used to determine whether a geographic area has controlled or eliminated schistosomiasis as a public health problem depending on the local background threshold of microhematuria.

scholarly journals Five-Year Follow-Up on the Prevalence and Intensity of Infections of Schistosoma mansoni in a Hard-to-Reach District of Madagascar

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Spencer ◽  
Cortland Linder ◽  
James M. St. J. Penney ◽  
Hannah J. Russell ◽  
Kate Hyde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Schistosoma Mansoni ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Biomphalaria Pfeifferi ◽  
The Impact

Schistosomiasis is a major public health problem in Madagascar. The WHO recommends preventive chemotherapy by mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel as the primary approach to control Schistosoma mansoni–related morbidity in endemic populations, alongside complementary interventions such as health education. The impact of annual MDA and health education programs was assessed in the hard-to-reach Marolambo district of eastern Madagascar, an area endemic for S. mansoni. Repeated cross-sectional studies undertaken 2015–2019 examined between 300 and 381 school-aged children (aged 5–14 years) annually. The prevalence and infection intensity of S. mansoni were assessed by urine-circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) dipsticks and coproscopy using Kato–Katz (KK) methodologies. After four rounds of annual MDA, a reduction in S. mansoni prevalence was seen in CCA (93.9% in year 1–87.7% in year 5; P = 0.007) and KK (73.9% in year 1–59.4% in year 5; P < 0.0001). The prevalence of heavy-intensity infections roughly halved from 23.7% to 10.1% (P < 0.0001), and the mean intensity of infection fell by 55.0% (480.2–216.3 eggs per gram of feces). A malacological survey found Biomphalaria pfeifferi snail intermediate hosts in multiple water contact sites including rice paddies, streams, and Nosivolo River. Despite reductions in infection prevalence and intensity, schistosomiasis still poses a significant public health challenge in Marolambo district. Twice yearly MDA cycles and/or community-wide MDA are suggested to better reduce infections. Expanding health education; improving standards of water, sanitation, and hygiene; and attention on snail-related control will also be important, especially in rice paddy irrigated areas.

scholarly journals Predicting the Effect of Environmental Humidity on COVID-19 Trend in Medan, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tri Bayu Purnama
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Spearman Correlation ◽  
Environmental Humidity ◽  
Spearman Correlation Test ◽  
Environment Parameters

Abstract COVID-19 remained a public health problem and reportedly associated with the environment. However, this environment parameters have not determined yet the correlation to COVID-19. This study used ecological study to investigate time series of environment parameters and COVID-19 data. Spearman correlation test was applied to analyzed the correlation. Humidity has detected as positive correlation with COVID-19 and temperature has shown as negative correlation. Predicting trend of environment parameters and COVID-19 is needed to conduct public health preparedness of COVID-19 strategy.

scholarly journals Achieving Elimination as a Public Health Problem for Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium: When Is Community-Wide Treatment Required?

2019 ◽  
Vol 221 (Supplement_5) ◽  
pp. S525-S530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaspreet Toor ◽  
David Rollinson ◽  
Hugo C Turner ◽  
Anouk Gouvras ◽  
Charles H King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
School Enrolment ◽  
School Based ◽  
Good School ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract The World Health Organization (WHO) has set elimination as a public health problem (EPHP) as a goal for schistosomiasis. As the WHO treatment guidelines for schistosomiasis are currently under revision, we investigate whether school-based or community-wide treatment strategies are required for achieving the EPHP goal. In low- to moderate-transmission settings with good school enrolment, we find that school-based treatment is sufficient for achieving EPHP. However, community-wide treatment is projected to be necessary in certain high-transmission settings as well as settings with low school enrolment. Hence, the optimal treatment strategy depends on setting-specific factors such as the species present, prevalence prior to treatment, and the age profile of infection.

scholarly journals Anaemia in schoolchildren in eight countries in Africa and Asia

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 749-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Andrew Hall ◽  
Emily Bobrow ◽  
Simon Brooker ◽  
Matthew Jukes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
African Countries ◽  
School Based ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractObjectiveTo report on the haemoglobin concentrations and prevalence of anaemia in schoolchildren in eight countries in Africa and Asia.DesignBlood samples were collected during surveys of the health of schoolchildren as a part of programmes to develop school-based health services.SettingRural schools in Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania and Vietnam.SubjectsNearly 14 000 children enrolled in basic education in three age ranges (7&ndash;11 years, 12&ndash;14 years and &Auml;15 years) which reflect the new UNICEF/WHO thresholds to define anaemia.ResultsAnaemia was found to be a severe public health problem (defined as >40% anaemic) in five African countries for children aged 7–11 years and in four of the same countries for children aged 12–14 years. Anaemia was not a public health problem in the children studied in the two Asian countries. More boys than girls were anaemic, and children who enrolled late in school were more likely to be anaemic than children who enrolled closer to the correct age. The implications of the four new thresholds defining anaemia for school-age children are examined.ConclusionsAnaemia is a significant problem in schoolchildren in sub-Saharan Africa. School-based health services which provide treatments for simple conditions that cause blood loss, such as worms, followed by multiple micronutrient supplements including iron, have the potential to provide relief from a large burden of anaemia.

scholarly journals Transmission of Onchocerciasis in Wadelai Focus of Northwestern Uganda Has Been Interrupted and the Disease Eliminated

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moses N. Katabarwa ◽  
Frank Walsh ◽  
Peace Habomugisha ◽  
Thomson L. Lakwo ◽  
Stella Agunyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Recombinant Antigen ◽  
Monitoring Data ◽  
Treatment Coverage ◽  
Focus Strategy ◽  
Skin Snips ◽  
Igg4 Antibody

Wadelai, an isolated focus for onchocerciasis in northwest Uganda, was selected for piloting an onchocerciasis elimination strategy that was ultimately the precursor for countrywide onchocerciasis elimination policy. The Wadelai focus strategy was to increase ivermectin treatments from annual to semiannual frequency and expand geographic area in order to include communities with nodule rate of less than 20%. These communities had not been covered by the previous policy that sought to control onchocerciasis only as a public health problem. From 2006 to 2010, Wadelai program successfully attained ultimate treatment goal (UTG), treatment coverage of ≥90%, despite expanding from 19 to 34 communities and from 5,600 annual treatments to over 29,000 semiannual treatments. Evaluations in 2009 showed no microfilaria in skin snips of over 500 persons examined, and only 1 of 3011 children was IgG4 antibody positive to the OV16 recombinant antigen. NoSimuliumvectors were found, and their disappearance could have sped up interruption of transmission. Although twice-per-year treatment had an unclear role in interruption of transmission, the experience demonstrated that twice-per-year treatment is feasible in the Ugandan setting. The monitoring data support the conclusion that onchocerciasis has been eliminated from the Wadelai focus of Uganda.

scholarly journals Serious non-fatal unintentional injuries among in-school adolescents in Sri Lanka: results from the 2016 Sri Lankan Global School-Based Health Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sashimali Wickramasinghe ◽  
Nalika Gunawardena ◽  
Dhanusha Punyadasa ◽  
Shanthi Gunawardena ◽  
Champika Wickramasinghe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
School Enrollment ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Unintentional Injuries ◽  
School Based

Abstract BackgroundUnintentional injuries among adolescents is a major public health problem world over. A great majority of the annual deaths among adolescents is due to unintentional injuries; being the leading cause of death among them throughout the world. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of injuries and their associated factors among school going adolescents aged 13-17 years using the data of the most recent Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in Sri Lanka.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted, using a self-administered questionnaire, among 3,262 adolescents attending government schools. The sample was selected through a two-staged cluster sampling technique. In the first stage, 40 schools were selected, using probability proportional to school enrollment size, out of all schools that have 8-12 grades in the country. Then, from the selected schools, classes were selected using systematic equal probability sampling with a random start. Weighted prevalence was calculated, and logistic regression analysis was conducted in order to determine the correlates.ResultsDuring the 12 months before the survey, 35.8% (95% CI-30.7 - 41.1) of the students reported being seriously injured once or more times. The injuries were more common among males, but were equally common among different age groups (13-15 age group vs 16-17 age group). The most common type of injury was cut or stab wound (5.5%), followed by broken bone/dislocated joint (5.3%). Multivariable analysis revealed that only a few factors were associated with injury, such as male sex, being bullied, being physically attacked, and/or being in a physical fight.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the prevalence of serious unintentional injuries among school going adolescents is a major public health problem in Sri Lanka. This timely and comprehensive survey would help the policy makers and researchers identify the unmet needs related to adolescent injuries. Furthermore, evidence generated form the study should be given due consideration while designing school-based interventions in order to prevent adolescent injuries.

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