Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Fasciola hepatica Infection Among Children from 26 Communities of the Cusco Region of Peru

The sensitivity and utility of a standard faecal sedimentation method (FSM) and a modified stool sieving staining method (FSSM), both currently employed for the diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica infection were compared. Faecal samples were obtained from 51 bovines of an endemic area for fasciolosis in Southwestern Argentina. Each sample was placed in a recipient containing 5% formalin. Eight millilitres of the suspension, equivalent to 2g of faeces, were used for each of the two methods tested. The number of eggs found per sample was recorded. The proportion of positive samples obtained by the FSSM (27/51) was significantly higher than that by the FSM (11/51) (P<0.05). The percent of agreement between methods was 41%. Over a total of 27 positive samples detected by the FSSM, the FSM missed 16, yielding 60% false negative samples. The FSSM enhanced 2.5 times the sensitivity of diagnosis. The complexity of the FSM may decrease its sensitivity through missing and loss of eggs during sample processing. These results confirmed that the commonly used FSM underestimates the prevalence and the egg output in cattle and that the FSSM is a more reliable diagnostic method.

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Racial Disparities in Virologic Failure and Tolerability During Firstline HIV Antiretroviral Therapy

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz022 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Priya Bhagwat ◽

Shashi N Kapadia ◽

Heather J Ribaudo ◽

Roy M Gulick ◽

Judith S Currier

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Socioeconomic Factors ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

Virologic Failure ◽

Virologic Suppression ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

The Impact ◽

Racial Ethnic

Abstract Background Racial/ethnic disparities in HIV outcomes have persisted despite effective antiretroviral therapy. In a study of initial regimens, we found viral suppression varied by race/ethnicity. In this exploratory analysis, we use clinical and socioeconomic data to assess factors associated with virologic failure and adverse events within racial/ethnic groups. Methods Data were from AIDS Clinical Trial Group A5257, a randomized trial of initial regimens with either atazanavir/ritonavir, darunavir/ritonavir, or raltegravir (each combined with tenofovir DF and emtricitabine). We grouped participants by race/ethnicity and then used Cox-proportional hazards regression to examine the impact of demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors on the time to virologic suppression and time to adverse event reporting within each racial/ethnic group. Results We analyzed data from 1762 participants: 757 self-reported as non-Hispanic black (NHB), 615 as non-Hispanic white (NHW), and 390 as Hispanic. The proportion with virologic failure was higher for NHB (22%) and Hispanic (17%) participants compared with NHWs (9%). Factors associated with virologic failure were poor adherence and higher baseline HIV RNA level. Prior clinical AIDS diagnosis was associated with virologic failure for NHBs only, and unstable housing and illicit drug use for NHWs only. Factors associated with adverse events were female sex in all groups and concurrent use of medications for comorbidities in NHB and Hispanic participants only. Conclusions Clinical and socioeconomic factors that are associated with virologic failure and tolerability of antiretroviral therapy vary between and within racial and ethnic groups. Further research may shed light into mechanisms leading to disparities and targeted strategies to eliminate those disparities.

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Assessing Factors Associated with TB Awareness in Nepal: A National and Subnational Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105124 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5124

Author(s):

Yoko Iwaki ◽

Santosh Kumar Rauniyar ◽

Shuhei Nomura ◽

Michael C. Huang

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Factors ◽

Influential Factors ◽

Regional Level ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Middle Income ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Information And Communication ◽

High Level

Tuberculosis (TB) has still remained a serious global health threat in low- and middle-income countries in recent years. As of 2021, Nepal is one of the high TB burden countries, with an increasing prevalence of cases. This study evaluates factors associated with TB awareness in Nepal. This study uses data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey carried out from June 2016 to January 2017. Multilevel logistic regression is performed to examine the association of demographic and socioeconomic factors with TB awareness. Our findings show a high level of TB awareness in all seven provinces of Nepal. Province 5 has the highest level of awareness (98.1%) among all provinces, followed by provinces 3 and 4, while province 6 has the lowest awareness level (93.2%) compared to others. Socioeconomic factors such as wealth, education and owning a mobile phone are significantly associated with TB awareness. Socioeconomic determinants are influential factors associated with TB awareness in Nepal. The wide variation in the proportion of awareness at a regional level emphasizes the importance of formulating tailored strategies to increase TB awareness. For instance, the use of mobile phones could be an effective strategy to promote TB awareness at a regional level. This study provides valuable evidence to support further research on the contribution of information and communication technology (ICT) usage to improving TB awareness in Nepal.

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