scholarly journals Impact of a Measles and Rubella Vaccination Campaign on Seroprevalence in Southern Province, Zambia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea C. Carcelen ◽  
Simon Mutembo ◽  
Kalumbu H. Matakala ◽  
Innocent Chilumba ◽  
Gina Mulundu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Southern Province ◽  
Vaccination Strategies ◽  
Population Immunity ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Rubella Vaccination ◽  
The Impact

Zambia conducted a measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaign targeting children 9 months to younger than 15 years of age in 2016. This campaign was the first introduction of a rubella-containing vaccine in Zambia. To evaluate the impact of the campaign, we compared the MR seroprevalence estimates from serosurveys conducted before and after the campaign in Southern Province, Zambia. The measles seroprevalence increased from 77.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 73.2–81.9) to 96.4% (95% CI, 91.7–98.5) among children younger than 15 years. The rubella seroprevalence increased from 51.3% (95% CI, 45.6–57.0) to 98.3% (95% CI, 95.5–99.4). After the campaign, slightly lower seroprevalence remained for young adults 15 to 19 years old, who were not included in the campaign because of their age. These serosurveys highlighted the significant impact of the vaccination campaign and identified immunity gaps for those beyond the targeted vaccination age. Continued monitoring of population immunity can signal the need for future targeted vaccination strategies.

scholarly journals Using geospatial models to map zero-dose children: factors associated with zero-dose vaccination status before and after a mass measles and rubella vaccination campaign in Southern province, Zambia

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. e007479
Author(s):  
Rohan Arambepola ◽  
Yangyupei Yang ◽  
Kyle Hutchinson ◽  
Francis Dien Mwansa ◽  
Julie Ann Doherty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Mass Vaccination ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Southern Province ◽  
Catchment Areas ◽  
Childhood Vaccines ◽  
Rubella Vaccination ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionDespite gains in global coverage of childhood vaccines, many children remain undervaccinated. Although mass vaccination campaigns are commonly conducted to reach these children their effectiveness is unclear. We evaluated the effectiveness of a mass vaccination campaign in reaching zero-dose children.MethodsWe conducted a prospective study in 10 health centre catchment areas in Southern province, Zambia in November 2020. About 2 months before a national mass measles and rubella vaccination campaign conducted by the Ministry of Health, we used aerial satellite maps to identify built structures. These structures were visited and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) and measles zero-dose children were identified (children who had not received any DTP or measles-containing vaccines, respectively). After the campaign, households where measles zero-dose children were previously identified were targeted for mop-up vaccination and to assess if these children were vaccinated during the campaign. A Bayesian geospatial model was used to identify factors associated with zero-dose status and measles zero-dose children being reached during the campaign. We also produced fine-scale zero-dose prevalence maps and identified optimal locations for additional vaccination sites.ResultsBefore the vaccination campaign, 17.3% of children under 9 months were DTP zero-dose and 4.3% of children 9–60 months were measles zero-dose. Of the 461 measles zero-dose children identified before the vaccination campaign, 338 (73.3%) were vaccinated during the campaign and 118 (25.6%) were reached by a targeted mop-up activity. The presence of other children in the household, younger age, greater travel time to health facilities and living between health facility catchment areas were associated with zero-dose status. Mapping zero-dose prevalence revealed substantial heterogeneity within and between catchment areas. Several potential locations were identified for additional vaccination sites.ConclusionFine-scale variation in zero-dose prevalence and the impact of accessibility to healthcare facilities on vaccination coverage were identified. Geospatial modelling can aid targeted vaccination activities.

scholarly journals How Dead Wood in the Forest Decreases Relaxation? The Effects of Viewing of Dead Wood in the Forest Environment on Psychological Responses of Young Adults

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 871
Author(s):  
Emilia Janeczko ◽  
Ernest Bielinis ◽  
Ulfah Tiarasari ◽  
Małgorzata Woźnicka ◽  
Wojciech Kędziora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Short Exposure ◽  
Managed Forests ◽  
Environment Impact ◽  
Forest Environment ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Positive Feelings ◽  
The Impact

The intensity of the neutral environment impact on humans may be determined by specific features of space, including dead wood occurrence. Dead wood is claimed to be disliked by the public because it reduces the scenic beauty and recreational values of the forest. The attractiveness of a forest with dead wood may be determined by its variants. Much is known about the preference for landscape with dead wood, but there is little information available about how such a landscape affects a person’s mental relaxation, improves mood, increases positive feelings, levels of vitality, etc. Hence, the aim of our research was to investigate the psycho-logical relaxing effects of short 15-min exposures to natural and managed forests with dead wood. In the study, three areas within the Białowieża Primeval Forest were used to measure the impact of different types of forest with dead wood (A: forest reserve with dead wood subject to natural decomposition processes; B: managed forest with visible cut wood and stumps; C: man-aged forest with dead trees from bark beetle outbreak standing) on human psychological relaxation in a randomized experiment. The participants of the experiment were forty-one young adults aged 19–20. Each respondent experienced each type of forest at intervals visiting it. Four psychological questionnaires were used in the project (Profile of Mood States (POMS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS), and Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS)) before and after the short exposure to the forest were evaluated. The results show that a forest landscape with dead wood affects the human psyche, and the relaxing properties of such a landscape are better in a protected forest with natural, slow processes of tree dieback than those obtained in managed forests

scholarly journals Using geospatial models to map zero-dose children: factors associated with zero-dose vaccination status before and after a mass measles and rubella vaccination campaign

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Arambepola ◽  
Yangyupei Yang ◽  
Kyle Hutchinson ◽  
Francis D Mwansa ◽  
Julie Ann Doherty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Catchment Areas ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Childhood Vaccines ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Vaccination Campaigns ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Despite gains in global coverage of childhood vaccines, many children remain undervaccinated. Vaccination campaigns also known as Supplemental Immunization Activity (SIA) are commonly conducted to reach those who are undervaccinated. However, reaching these children even during an SIA is challenging. We evaluated the effectiveness of an SIA in reaching zero dose children. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in 10 health center catchment areas in Southern province, Zambia in November 2020. About 2 months before the measles and rubella SIA we developed aerial satellite maps which were then used to enumerate and survey households. Zero dose children were identified during this exercise. After the SIA, households with zero dose children identified before the SIA were targeted for mop up vaccination and to assess if they were vaccinated during the SIA. A Bayesian geospatial model was used to identify factors associated with zero-dose status before the campaign and produce fine-scale prevalence maps. Models were used to identify factors associated with measles zero-dose children reached in the campaign and identify optimal locations for additional vaccination sites. Results: Before the vaccination campaign, 4% of children under 9 months were DTP zero-dose and 17% of children 9-60 months were measles zero-dose. Of the 461 measles zero-dose children identified before the vaccination campaign, 338 (73.3%) were vaccinated during the campaign, 118 (25.6%) were reached by a targeted mop-up activity. The presence of other children in the household, younger age, greater travel time to health facilities, and living between health facility catchment areas were associated with zero-dose status. Mapping zero-dose prevalence revealed substantial heterogeneity, both within and between catchment areas. Several potential locations were identified for additional vaccination sites. Conclusion: Fine-scale variation in zero-dose prevalence and the impact of accessibility to healthcare facilities on vaccination coverage were identified. Geospatial modeling can aid targeted vaccination activities.

scholarly journals Impact of a Formal Lactation Curriculum for Residents on Breastfeeding Rates Among Low-Income Women

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-89
Author(s):  
Emma Qureshey ◽  
Adetola F. Louis-Jacques ◽  
Yasir Abunamous ◽  
Sandra Curet ◽  
Joanne Quinones
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Curriculum Implementation ◽  
Demographic Information ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Breastfeeding Rates ◽  
The Impact

Obstetrics-gynecology residents have inadequate training in lactation management and are typically unable to address basic breastfeeding needs. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the impact of a formal lactation curriculum for obstetrics-gynecology residents on breastfeeding. Demographic information, medical history, and breastfeeding rates were derived from medical records and hospital lactation logs. Breastfeeding outcomes of women with term, singleton infants were analyzed before and after curriculum implementation. The study included 717 women, 337 prior to intervention and 380 after intervention. Women who delivered after curriculum implementation were more likely to breastfeed exclusively at 6 weeks postpartum (odds ratio [OR]: 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28–3.15). A targeted breastfeeding curriculum was associated with increased exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 weeks postpartum in a diverse, low-income population.

scholarly journals Changes in Alcohol Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Young Adults: The Prospective Effect of Anxiety and Depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 4468
Author(s):  
Belén del Valle Vera ◽  
José Carmona-Márquez ◽  
Óscar Martín Lozano-Rojas ◽  
Alberto Parrado-González ◽  
Claudio Vidal-Giné ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Measured Quantity ◽  
Drinking Habits ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Drinking Frequency ◽  
The Impact

Health measures instantiated to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have imposed significant constraints for the population and impacted on drinking habits and mental health. This study longitudinally compared changes in alcohol consumption before and after the COVID-19 outbreak and the impact of sociodemographic and mental health variables on such changes among a community sample of young adults. Data were collected in the context of a larger, ongoing longitudinal study. The sample consisted of 305 young adults from Spain aged between 18 and 26 years (mean age = 21.27, (SD = 2.21), female = 53.4%; college students = 61.6%) who completed first (November-2019 and February-2020; i.e., before the outbreak of COVID-19) and second follow-up questionnaires (March 2021, a year after the COVID-19 outbreak). Alcohol use (quantity and drinking frequency), depression and anxiety symptoms were measured. Quantity and frequency of alcohol use decreased from the pre- to post-COVID-19 period. A decrease in drinking frequency was observed among college students, but not in noncollege peers. Although we found no effect of pre-COVID-19 anxiety on alcohol use changes, those with more depressive symptoms at the pre-COVID assessment were more resistant to decreasing their drinking quantity and frequency after the COVID-19 outbreak. This information will be of value when designing interventions aimed at reducing harmful alcohol use and highlights the role of mental health status when identifying high risk populations of young-adults during this, and future, public health crises.

Efficacy of Methocarbamol for Acute Pain Management in Young Adults With Traumatic Rib Fractures

2020 ◽  
pp. 106002802096479
Author(s):  
Lindsay P. Deloney ◽  
Melanie Smith Condeni ◽  
Cassandra Carter ◽  
Alicia Privette ◽  
Stuart Leon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Pain Control ◽  
Oral Morphine ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Rib Fractures ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Control Regimen ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Level 1 Trauma Center

Background: Rib fractures account for more than one-third of blunt thoracic injuries and are associated with serious complications. Use of nonopioid adjunctive agents such as methocarbamol for pain control has increased considerably. Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of methocarbamol addition to the pain control regimen on daily opioid requirements for young adults with rib fractures. Methods: This observational, retrospective study included patients aged 18 to 39 years with 3 or more rib fractures who were admitted to a level 1 trauma center between July 2014 and July 2018. Patients were dichotomized based on admission before and after methocarbamol addition to the institutional rib fracture protocol. The primary outcome was to determine the impact of methocarbamol on daily opioid requirements. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS) and diagnosis of pneumonia. Results: A total of 50 patients were included, with 22 and 28 patients in the preprotocol and postprotocol groups, respectively. All patients in the latter group received methocarbamol, whereas no patient in the preprotocol group received methocarbamol. Cumulative opioid exposure was significantly less for patients admitted after methocarbamol addition to the protocol (219 vs 337 mg oral morphine equivalents; P = 0.01), and hospital LOS was also decreased (4 vs 3 days; P = 0.03). No significant differences in the incidence of pneumonia or adverse effects were observed. Conclusion and Relevance: This is the first study to evaluate the impact of methocarbamol on reducing opioid requirements. Given the risks associated with opioids, use of methocarbamol as an analgesia-optimizing, opioid-sparing multimodal agent may be reasonable.

scholarly journals Mumps Outbreak in a Highly Vaccinated University-Affiliated Setting Before and After a Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccination Campaign—Iowa, July 2015–May 2016

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minesh Shah ◽  
Patricia Quinlisk ◽  
Andrew Weigel ◽  
Jacob Riley ◽  
Lisa James ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Rubella Vaccination

scholarly journals Projecting the impact of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ontario, Canada

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas N. Vilches ◽  
Kevin Zhang ◽  
Robert Van Exan ◽  
Joanne M. Langley ◽  
Seyed M. Moghadas
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Efficacy ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Transmission Model ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Population Immunity ◽  
Scenario Analyses ◽  
Protection Against Infection ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundResults of phase III vaccine clinical trials against COVID-19, although encouraging and well above initial expectations, have only reported on efficacy against disease and its severity. We evaluated the impact of vaccination on COVID-19 outbreak and disease outcomes in Ontario, Canada.MethodsWe used an agent-based transmission model and parameterized it with COVID-19 characteristics, demographics of Ontario, and age-specific clinical outcomes derived from outbreak data. We implemented a two-dose vaccination program, prioritizing healthcare workers and high-risk individuals, with 40% vaccine coverage and vaccine efficacy of 95% against disease. Vaccines were distributed at a rate of 30 doses per day per 10,000 population with a 6-day schedule per week. We projected the impact of vaccination on attack rates, hospitalizations, and deaths. For scenario analyses, we varied the vaccine efficacy against infection, under the assumption of 5% pre-existing population immunity.ResultsWith no protection against infection, a two-dose vaccination campaign with a time interval of 21 days between doses reduced attack rate, hospitalizations, and deaths by 44.6% (95% CrI: 34.5% - 54.3%), 63.4% (95% CrI: 56.1% - 69.9%), and 70.0% (95% CrI: 62.6% - 75.8%), respectively. These reductions were improved with increased vaccine efficacy against infection, with similar estimated ranges in the corresponding scenarios with a 28-day time interval between vaccine doses.ConclusionsVaccination can substantially mitigate ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks, even when vaccines offer limited protection against infection. This impact is founded upon a relatively strong vaccine efficacy against disease and severe outcomes.

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