scholarly journals Measuring Self-Reported Access to Assistive Technology Using the WHO Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) Questionnaire: Protocol for a Multi-Country Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13336
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Arne H. Eide ◽  
Wesley Pryor ◽  
Chapal Khasnabis ◽  
Johan Borg
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Study Data ◽  
World Health ◽  
Household Surveys ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
The World ◽  
Country Study ◽  
Global Initiatives

In 2018, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on improving access to assistive technology (AT), and mandated the WHO to prepare a global report on assistive technology based on the best available evidence and international experience. As limited data on access to AT at country and global levels were available, there was a need to conduct representative population surveys in order to inform the development of the global report, national AT programs, and global initiatives. The objective of this protocol is to describe a multi-country study of access to assistive technology in six self-reported areas: use, source, payer, satisfaction, unmet need, and barriers. In collaboration with WHO Regional and Country offices, Member States, and other stakeholders, the Assistive Technology Access team in WHO coordinates the study. Data are collected through household surveys using the rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) questionnaire. Findings from the surveys will be published in the global report.

scholarly journals Measles Distribution Map according to Measles Immunization and Vitamin A Coverage

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Vika Gress Vio Dilita ◽  
Lucia Yovita Hendrati
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Immunization Coverage ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Study Data ◽  
World Health ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Measles Incidence

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Indonesia is one of the ten countries with the most significant number of measles cases in the world. Immunization coverage in Trenggalek Regency has reached the target of prevention of measles in the elimination stage, namely measles immunization coverage> 95%, the incidence of measles persists and increases in the last three years, from 2013 to 2015. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the trends between measles immunization status and the provision of vitamin A with the incidence of measles in Trenggalek Regency. Methods: This type of research is an observational study with a cross-sectional study design. The sample population is consist of 14 sub-districts in Trenggalek Regency. Data was taken from the health profile of Trenggalek Regency in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In this study, data processing were analysed by Health Mapper application version 4.3.0.0 with product version 4.03 to determine data descriptively. Results: Distribution of measles incidence with immunization coverage in Trenggalek Regency in 2013, 2014, and 2015 showed that measles incidence tended to increase followed with the decreasing number of measles immunization coverage each year. Ironically, the distribution of measles incidence with vitamin A administration in 2013, 2014, and 2015 showed the incidence of measles had increased because of the inconsistent amount of vitamin A administration. Conclusion: Measles incidence tends to occur in low immunization coverage areas and has decreased from the previous year. Giving vitamin A does not prevent the occurrence of measles, but serves to reduce compilation.

scholarly journals Categories and health impacts of intimate partner violence in the World Health Organization multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy C Potter ◽  
Richard Morris ◽  
Kelsey Hegarty ◽  
Claudia García-Moreno ◽  
Gene Feder
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Country Study ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) damages health and is costly to families and society. Individuals experience different forms and combinations of IPV; better understanding of the respective health effects of these can help develop differentiated responses. This study explores the associations of different categories of IPV on women’s mental and physical health. Methods Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence, multilevel mixed effects logistic regression modelling was used to analyse associations between categories of abuse (physical IPV alone, psychological IPV alone, sexual IPV alone, combined physical and psychological IPV, and combined sexual with psychological and/or physical IPV) with measures of physical and mental health, including self-reported symptoms, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and nights in hospital. Results Countries varied in prevalence of different categories of IPV. All categories of IPV were associated with poorer health outcomes; the two combined abuse categories were the most damaging. The most common category was combined abuse involving sexual IPV, which was associated with the poorest health [attempted suicide: odds ratio (OR): 10.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.37-13.89, thoughts of suicide: 8.47, 7.03-10.02, memory loss: 2.93, 2.41-3.56]. Combined psychological and physical IPV was associated with the next poorest outcomes (attempted suicide: 5.67, 4.23-7.60, thoughts of suicide: 4.41, 3.63-5.37, memory loss: 2.33, 1.88-2.87-). Conclusions Understanding the prevalence and health impact of different forms and categories of IPV is crucial to risk assessment, tailoring responses to individuals and planning services. Previous analyses that focused on singular forms of IPV likely underestimated the more harmful impacts of combined forms of abuse.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 in Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Summary of Current Guidelines

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavita Narang ◽  
Eniola R. Ibirogba ◽  
Amro Elrefaei ◽  
Ayssa Teles Abrao Trad ◽  
Regan Theiler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
World Health ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Serious Infection ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Current Guidelines ◽  
In Pregnancy

Since the declaration of the global pandemic of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020, we have continued to see a steady rise in the number of patients infected by SARS-CoV-2. However, there is still very limited data on the course and outcomes of this serious infection in a vulnerable population of pregnant patients and their fetuses. International perinatal societies and institutions including SMFM, ACOG, RCOG, ISUOG, CDC, CNGOF, ISS/SIEOG, and CatSalut have released guidelines for the care of these patients. We aim to summarize these current guidelines in a comprehensive review for patients, healthcare workers, and healthcare institutions. We included 15 papers from 10 societies through a literature search of direct review of society’s websites and their journal publications up till 20 April 2020. Recommendations specific to antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum were abstracted from the publications and summarized into Tables. The summary of guidelines for the management of COVID-19 in pregnancy across different perinatal societies is fairly consistent, with some variation in the strength of recommendations. It is important to recognize that these guidelines are frequently updated, as we continue to learn more about the course and impact of COVID-19 in pregnancy.

scholarly journals The Great Masquerader: Tuberculosis Presenting as Community-Acquired Pneumonia

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (04) ◽  
pp. 592-604
Author(s):  
Keertan Dheda ◽  
Edson Makambwa ◽  
Aliasgar Esmail
Keyword(s):  
Community Acquired Pneumonia ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
The World ◽  
Diagnostic Approaches ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Tract Infections

AbstractAccording to World Health Organization estimates, tuberculosis (TB) and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are both among the top 10 global causes of death. TB and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), if mortality estimates are combined, would rank as the third most common cause of death globally. It is estimated that each year there are approximately 10 million new cases of TB that are associated with approximately 1.2 million deaths, and almost 450 million new episodes of LRTI (synonymous with CAP) with approximately 4 million associated deaths. Globally, Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most common cause of CAP. However, although well documented, it is not widely appreciated that in several parts of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and South America, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an important cause of CAP, if not the most common organism isolated in such settings. Thus, CAP due to M. tuberculosis is not uncommon in some parts of the world with up to a third of cases being attributable to M. tuberculosis. Consequently, TB remains an important clinical entity in the intensive care unit in these settings. Despite its frequency and importance, there are very limited data about TB CAP. In this review we discussed the epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, prognosis, and prevention of TB CAP. The utility of newer diagnostic approaches is highlighted.

scholarly journals Report of Positive Placental Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 in an Asymptomatic Pregnant Woman with COVID-19

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Ferraiolo ◽  
Fabio Barra ◽  
Chiara Kratochwila ◽  
Michele Paudice ◽  
Valerio Gaetano Vellone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
World Health ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Pharyngeal Swab ◽  
The World ◽  
Maternal And Neonatal Outcomes ◽  
Maternal Fetal Transmission ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Conclusive Data

Currently, limited data on maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with infection and pneumonia related to SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are available. Our report aims to describe a case of placental swabs positive for the molecular research on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 RNA in an asymptomatic woman with positive rhino-pharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 who underwent an urgent cesarean section in our obstetrics unit. Sample collection, processing, and laboratory testing were conducted in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidance. In the next months, conclusive data on obstetrical outcomes concerning the gestational age and pregnancy comorbidity as well as the eventual maternal–fetal transmission are needed.

scholarly journals Using Household Surveys to Assess Missed Opportunities for Simultaneous Vaccination: Longitudinal Examples from Colombia and Nigeria

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 795
Author(s):  
Dale A. Rhoda ◽  
Mary L. Prier ◽  
Caitlin B. Clary ◽  
Mary Kay Trimner ◽  
Martha Velandia-Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
World Health ◽  
Household Surveys ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Cluster Survey ◽  
The World ◽  
Coverage Quality

One important strategy to increase vaccination coverage is to minimize missed opportunities for vaccination. Missed opportunities for simultaneous vaccination (MOSV) occur when a child receives one or more vaccines but not all those for which they are eligible at a given visit. Household surveys that record children’s vaccination dates can be used to quantify occurrence of MOSVs and their impact on achievable vaccination coverage. We recently automated some MOSV analyses in the World Health Organization’s freely available software: Vaccination Coverage Quality Indicators (VCQI) making it straightforward to study MOSVs for any Demographic & Health Survey (DHS), Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), or Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) survey. This paper uses VCQI to analyze MOSVs for basic vaccine doses among children aged 12–23 months in four rounds of DHS in Colombia (1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010) and five rounds of DHS in Nigeria (1999, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018). Outcomes include percent of vaccination visits MOSVs occurred, percent of children who experienced MOSVs, percent of MOSVs that remained uncorrected (that is, the missed vaccine had still not been received at the time of the survey), and the distribution of time-to-correction for children who received the MOSV dose at a later visit.

scholarly journals The R346K Mutation in the Mu Variant of SARS-CoV-2 Alter the Interactions with Monoclonal Antibodies from Class 2: A Free Energy of Perturbation Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filip Fratev
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Similar Reduction ◽  
The World ◽  
Class 1 ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Health Organization

The Mu variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been recently classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the world health organization (WHO) but limited data are available at the moment. In particular, a special attention was given to the R346K mutation located in the receptor binding domain (RBD). In the current study we performed Free energy of perturbation (FEP) calculations to elucidate it possible impact on a set of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which have been shown to be strong inhibitors of the most other known COVID-19 variants. Our results show that R346K affects the class 2 antibodies but its effect is not so significant (0.66 kcal/mol); i.e. reduces the binding with RBD about 3 times. An identical value was calculated also in the presence of both class 1 and class 2 antibodies (BD-812/836). Further, a similar reduction in the binding (0.4 kcal/mol) was obtained for BD-821/771 pair of mAbs. For comparison, the addition of K417N mutation, present in the newly registered Mu variant in July 2021 in UK, affected the class 1 mAbs by 1.29 kcal/mol reducing stronger the binding by about 10 times. Thus, the resistance effect of R346K mutation in the Mu variant is possible but not so significant and is due to the additional decrease of antibody neutralization based on the reduced binding of class 2 antibodies.

scholarly journals “Health Technology Assessment in High, Middle and Low-income Countries: New Systematic and Interdisciplinary Approach for Sound Informed-policymaking”

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed AlKhaldi ◽  
Sara Ahmed ◽  
Aisha Al Basuoni ◽  
Marcel Tanner
Keyword(s):  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
The World ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Technological innovation has a significant role in improving health systems (HSs) and achieving universal health coverage. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared resolutions on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and other global organizations emphasized on HTA systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HTA is a modern multidisciplinary decision-making framework linking knowledge and policymaking in order to provide evidence to leaders and ensuring the value of resources by evaluating properties, effects, and/or impacts. The scope of HTA focuses on conducting assessments and analyses to investigate the medical, social, economic, organizational and ethical issues within health and social systems for generating management and technical solutions. HTA is important as it is rapidly growing and is seen as an essential development approach to tackle existing challenges, particularly in developing countries as they share most of the health burdens worldwide. The research aims to comprehensively evaluate HTA within the health and social systems and understand HTA within the national health system with regards to the level of knowledge about HTA, current HTA practices, application, capacity, gaps, and solutions by investigating the perceptions of health systems’ stakeholders in five countries, Canada, Switzerland, Lebanon, Palestine, and Tanzania selected according to the World Bank income classification. The project will last 12 months starts in January 2021 and ends in January 2022. A mixed-methods, quantitative and qualitative, along with a scoping review will be applied. In each country, fifty semi-structured questionnaires, twenty in-depth interviews, and one national focus group discussion will be conducted with health experts, managers, and policymakers selected purposively from the 1st and 2nd levels of the HS structure. Excel, IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and MAXQDA 12 (VERBI GmbH, Berlin) software programs will be used for data management and analysis. The research will form cutting-edge evidence and reference not only for the six countries, but also for the global, regional, and national endeavors with regards to opening a room for HTA best application and optimization based on the produced knowledge from this research. It will reveal lessons learned, determine gaps, and set an applicable strengthening framework for HTA. This framework will eventually aid the decision and policymakers in these countries, and other similar countries and international organizations to build a well-enabled and institutionalized HTA for better universal health coverage, health systems, and multi-sectoral development.

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