1. |
- Do, Nga T. T., et al.
(author)
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Community-based antibiotic access and use in six low-income and middle-income countries: a mixed-method approach
- 2021
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In: The Lancet Global Health. - : Elsevier. - 2214-109X. ; 9:5, s. e610-e619
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Antimicrobial misuse is common in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), and this practice is a driver of antibiotic resistance. We compared community-based antibiotic access and use practices across communities in LMICs to identify contextually specific targets for interventions to improve antibiotic use practices.Methods: We did quantitative and qualitative assessments of antibiotic access and use in six LMICs across Africa (Mozambique, Ghana, and South Africa) and Asia (Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand) over a 2·5-year study period (July 1, 2016–Dec 31, 2018). We did quantitative assessments of community antibiotic access and use through supplier mapping, customer exit interviews, and household surveys. These quantitative assessments were triangulated with qualitative drug supplier and consumer interviews and discussions.Findings: Vietnam and Bangladesh had the largest proportions of non-licensed antibiotic dispensing points. For mild illness, drug stores were the most common point of contact when seeking antibiotics in most countries, except South Africa and Mozambique, where public facilities were most common. Self-medication with antibiotics was found to be widespread in Vietnam (55·2% of antibiotics dispensed without prescription), Bangladesh (45·7%), and Ghana (36·1%), but less so in Mozambique (8·0%), South Africa (1·2%), and Thailand (3·9%). Self-medication was considered to be less time consuming, cheaper, and overall, more convenient than accessing them through health-care facilities. Factors determining where treatment was sought often involved relevant policies, trust in the supplier and the drug, disease severity, and whether the antibiotic was intended for a child. Confusion regarding how to identify oral antibiotics was revealed in both Africa and Asia.Interpretation: Contextual complexities and differences between countries with different incomes, policy frameworks, and cultural norms were revealed. These contextual differences render a single strategy inadequate and instead necessitate context-tailored, integrated intervention packages to improve antibiotic use in LMICs as part of global efforts to combat antibiotic resistance.
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2. |
- Cambaco, Olga, et al.
(author)
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Community knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use in rural Mozambique : where is the starting point for prevention of antibiotic resistance?
- 2020
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In: BMC Public Health. - : BMC. - 1471-2458. ; 20:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundAntibiotic misuse and other types of unnecessary use of antibiotics can contribute to accelerate the process of antibiotic resistance, which is considered a global concern, mostly affecting low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Mozambique there is limited evidence on community knowledge and practices regarding antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. As part of the ABACUS project, this paper describes knowledge and practices of antibiotic use among the general population in the semi-rural district of Manhica to inform evidence-based communication intervention strategies for safer antibiotic use.MethodsThe study was conducted in Manhica, a semi-rural district of Southern Mozambique. Sixteen in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with community members to explore lay knowledge and practices regarding antibiotics and awareness of antibiotic resistance. The qualitative data was analysed using a combination of content and thematic analysis. The SRQR guidelines for reporting qualitative studies was performed.ResultsAlthough participants did not hold any consistent knowledge of antibiotics, their visual recognition of amoxicillin (distinct red yellow capsule) was acceptable, but less so for different types and brands of antibiotics. The majority of participants were aware of the term 'antibiotic', yet the definition they gave was rarely backed by biomedical knowledge. Participants associated antibiotics with certain colours, shapes and health conditions. Participants reported common habits that may contribute to resistance: not buying the full course, self-medication, sharing medicines and interruption of treatment. Most had never heard of the term 'antibiotic resistance' but were familiar with the phenomenon. They often understood the term 'resistance' as treatment failure and likened 'resistance' to non-compliance, ineffective medication, disease resistance or to an inability of the physical body to respond to it.ConclusionThere is a broad understanding of the importance of medication compliance but not specifically of antibiotic resistance. In addition, there is a recognized gap between knowledge of responsible drug compliance and actual behaviour. Future qualitative research is required to further explore what determines this behaviour. The existing ability to visually identify amoxicillin by its distinct red and yellow appearance is informative for future awareness and behavioural change campaigns that may incorporate visual aids of antibiotics.
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3. |
- Kinsman, John, et al.
(author)
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Case studies on preparedness planning for polio in Poland and Cyprus
- 2016
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The last cases of poliomyelitis due to wild poliovirus in Poland and Cyprus were registered in 1984 and 1995, respectively. Current efforts against polio are therefore aimed at maintaining the two countries’ polio-free status. The overall objective of this report is to support these two EU Member States in updating their polio preparedness planning. The specific aims of the case study were to: critically review implemented actions and identify gaps in order to propose approaches for strengthening the national polio plans; identify health system elements that are important in polio preparedness planning; and provide examples of collaborative efforts between these sectors in planning measures for outbreak response to polio as a cross-border health threat.
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4. |
- Kinsman, John, et al.
(author)
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Preparedness and response against diseases with epidemic potential in the European Union : a qualitative case study of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and poliomyelitis in five member states
- 2018
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In: BMC Health Services Research. - : BioMed Central. - 1472-6963. ; 18:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: EU Decision 1082/2013/EU on serious cross-border health threats provides a legal basis for collaboration between EU Member States, and between international and European level institutions on preparedness, prevention, and mitigation in the event of a public health emergency. The Decision provides a context for the present study, which aims to identify good practices and lessons learned in preparedness and response to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) (in UK, Greece, and Spain) and poliomyelitis (in Poland and Cyprus).METHODS: Based on a documentary review, followed by five week-long country visits involving a total of 61 interviews and group discussions with experts from both the health and non-health sectors, this qualitative case study has investigated six issues related to preparedness and response to MERS and poliomyelitis: national plans and overall preparedness capacity; training and exercises; risk communication; linking policy and implementation; interoperability between the health and non-health sectors; and cross-border collaboration.RESULTS: Preparedness and response plans for MERS and poliomyelitis were in place in the participating countries, with a high level of technical expertise available to implement them. Nevertheless, formal evaluation of the responses to previous public health emergencies have sometimes been limited, so lessons learned may not be reflected in updated plans, thereby risking mistakes being repeated in future. The nature and extent of inter-sectoral collaboration varied according to the sectors involved, with those sectors that have traditionally had good collaboration (e.g. animal health and food safety), as well as those that have a financial incentive for controlling infectious diseases (e.g. agriculture, tourism, and air travel) seen as most likely to have integrated public health preparedness and response plans. Although the formal protocols for inter-sectoral collaboration were not always up to date, good personal relations were reported within the relevant professional networks, which could be brought into play in the event of a public health emergency. Cross-border collaboration was greatly facilitated if the neighbouring country was a fellow EU Member State.CONCLUSIONS: Infectious disease outbreaks remain as an ongoing threat. Efforts are required to ensure that core public health capacities for the full range of preparedness and response activities are sustained.
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5. |
- Kinsman, John, et al.
(author)
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Synergies in community and institutional public health emergency preparedness for tick-borne diseases in Spain and the Netherlands
- 2018
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Within the broad context of EU Decision 1082/2013/EU on serious cross-border threats to health, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has initiated a case study project to investigate the synergies between communities affected by serious public health threats and the institutions (both health- and non-healthrelated) mandated to prepare for and respond to them. The premise for the project is that affected communities are increasingly recognised as key resources that can be used during public health emergencies, and that the concerns and experience of ordinary people should be harnessed as an important part of the response. The aim of this qualitative comparative case study project is to identify good practices related to community preparedness for tick-borne diseases. Two EU countries, Spain and the Netherlands, were selected for inclusion. Work in Spain focused around two cases of autochthonous infection with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus that emerged in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León in August 2016. Work in the Netherlands focussed on the first two endemic cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the country, appearing in July 2016 in the Utrecht and Twente regions. The response to the TBE cases was undertaken within the wider context of prevention work on lyme borreliosis (LB) in the country. Specifically, the study aims to: - Identify good practices and patterns of cooperation between affected communities and the official institutions mandated to address tick-borne diseases; - Identify inter-sectoral collaboration between health and non-health-related sectors with regard to tick-borne diseases; - Identify practices that could be of use for other EU countries in the area of public health preparedness.
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6. |
- Kinsman, John, et al.
(author)
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Synergies in community and institutional public health emergency preparedness for tick-borne diseases in Spain : a case study on Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever
- 2018
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Within the broad context of EU Decision 1082/2013/EU on serious cross-border health threats, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has initiated a case study project to investigate the synergies between communities affected by serious public health threats and the institutions (both health- and non-healthrelated) that are mandated to prepare for and respond to them. The premise for the project is that affected communities are increasingly being recognised as key resources that can be used during public health emergencies, and that the concerns, understanding and experience of ordinary people should be harnessed as an important part of the response. The aim of this case study project is to identify good practices related to community preparedness for tick-borne diseases. This report focuses on two cases of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) that emerged in Spain in August– September 2016, the first autochthonous clinical cases of CCHF in south-western Europe. Specifically, the study aims: - to identify good practices and patterns of cooperation between affected communities and the official institutions mandated to address tick-borne diseases such as CCHF; - to identify inter-sectoral collaboration between health and non-health-related sectors with regard to tickborne diseases, such as CCHF; - to identify actions that could be taken by other EU countries.
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7. |
- Matin, Mohammad Abdul, et al.
(author)
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What influences antibiotic sales in rural Bangladesh? : A drug dispensers' perspective
- 2020
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In: Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice. - : Springer Nature. - 2052-3211. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Antibiotic resistance poses a great threat to global health, especially in low- and middle-income countries with a high infectious disease burden and limited resources. In spite of regulations, antibiotics are sold in many settings as non-prescription medicines, resulting in inappropriate use and resistance.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the current status of access and use of antibiotics in rural Bangladesh, by exploring the perspectives and sales practices of antibiotic drug dispensers.Methods: We used a mixed methods approach (qualitative and quantitative). We mapped and characterized antibiotic purchasing and dispensing sites in the Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System catchment area. Furthermore, we investigated the volume of provision of systemic antibiotics in 10 drug outlets. We held 16 in-depth interviews with randomly selected antibiotics dispensers. Interviews explored factors associated with antibiotic selling. Responses were transcribed, coded for themes, and summarized. We used ATLAS.ti 5.2 for conducting a thematic analysis.Results: A total of 301 antibiotic dispensers were identified, of whom 92% (n = 278) were private and 8% (n = 23) public. 52% (n = 155) operated informally (i.e. without legal authorization). In order to promote and survive in their business, dispensers sell antibiotics for a range of conditions without a qualified physician's prescription. Factors that facilitate these inappropriate sales include lack of access to healthcare in the rural community, inadequate doctor: population ratio, limited dispenser knowledge, poor pharmacovigilance concerning safety of self medication, lack of enforcement of policies, financial benefits for both customers and dispensers, and high dependency on pharmaceutical companies' information.Conclusion: Dispensers in rural Bangladesh sell antibiotics inappropriately by ignoring existing national regulations. They operate the antibiotic sales without facing any legal barriers and primarily with a view to sustain their business, resulting in inappropriate sales of antibiotics to the rural community. The influence of the drug industry needs to be replaced with evidence-based, not commercially driven information. Awareness programs for antibiotic providers that promote understanding of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance through tailored interventions may be helpful in changing current antibiotic sales practices.
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8. |
- Micklesfield, Lisa K, et al.
(author)
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Physical activity and sedentary behavior among adolescents in rural South Africa : levels, patterns and correlates
- 2014
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In: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 14, s. 40-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Physical inactivity is increasing among children and adolescents and may be contributing to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. This study examines physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns, and explores associations with individual, maternal, household, and community factors amongst rural South African adolescents.Methods: In 2009, 381 subjects, stratified by ages 11-12-years and 14-15-years, were randomly selected from 3511 children and adolescents who had participated in a growth survey two years previously. Weight and height were measured and self-reported Tanner pubertal stage was collected. A questionnaire quantifying frequency and duration of physical activity (PA) domains and sedentary time for the previous 12 months was administered. Moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA mins/wk) was calculated for time spent in school and club sport. Socio-demographic and other related data were included from the Agincourt health and socio-demographic system (HDSS). The Agincourt HDSS was established in 1992 and collects prospective data on the community living in the Agincourt sub-district of Mpumalanga Province in rural north-east South Africa.Results: Puberty, maternal education and socio-economic status (SES) contributed significantly to the mulitiple linear regression model for sedentary behavior (R-2=0.199; adjusted R-2=0.139; p < 0.000), and sex, SES and maternal education contributed to the tobit regression model for school and club sport MVPA (p < 0.000). MVPA, calculated from school and club sport, was higher in boys than girls (p < 0.001), and informal activity was lower (boys: p < 0.05 and girls: p < 0.01) while sedentary time was higher (girls: p < 0.01) in the older than the younger groups. Ninety-two percent (92%) of the sample reported walking for transport.Conclusions: In this study of rural South African adolescent boys and girls, SES at the maternal, household and community level independently predicted time spent in sedentary behaviors, and school and club MVPA. This study provides local data that can be used to develop health promotion strategies specific to this community, and other similar communities in developing countries.
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9. |
- Welbourn, Richard, et al.
(author)
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Bariatric-Metabolic Surgery Utilisation in Patients With and Without Diabetes : Data from the IFSO Global Registry 2015-2018
- 2021
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In: Obesity Surgery. - : Springer. - 0960-8923 .- 1708-0428. ; 31:6, s. 2391-2400
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Comparative international practice of patients undergoing bariatric-metabolic surgery for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is unknown. We aimed to ascertain baseline age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and types of operations performed for patients with T2DM submitted to the IFSO Global Registry.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of patients having primary surgery in 2015-2018 for countries with ≥90% T2DM data completion and ≥ 1000 submitted records.RESULTS: , OR 2.76 (2.52-3.03), p < 0.001. This was not seen in women, OR 0.78 (0.73-0.83), p < 0.001. Sleeve gastrectomy was the commonest operation overall, but less frequent for patients with T2DM, patients with T2DM 54.9% vs without T2DM 65.8%, OR 0.63 (0.63-0.64), p < 0.001. Twelve out of 15 countries had higher proportions of gastric bypass compared to non-bypass operations for T2DM, OR 1.70 (1.67-1.72), p < 0.001.CONCLUSION: Patients with T2DM had different characteristics to those without T2DM. Older men were more likely to have T2DM, with higher rates of BMI <35 kg/m(2) and increased likelihood of food rerouting operations.
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10. |
- Wertheim, Herman, et al.
(author)
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Community-level antibiotic access and use (ABACUS) in low- and middle-income countries: Finding targets for social interventions to improve appropriate antimicrobial use : an observational multi-centre study
- 2017
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In: Wellcome Open Research. - : Wellcome Trust. - 2398-502X. ; 2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a poor link between antibiotic policies and practices exists. Numerous contextual factors may influence the degree of antibiotic access, appropriateness of antibiotic provision, and actual use in communities. Therefore, improving appropriateness of antibiotic use in different communities in LMICs probably requires interventions tailored to the setting of interest, accounting for cultural context. Here we present the ABACUS study (AntiBiotic ACcess and USe), which employs a unique approach and infrastructure, enabling quantitative validation, contextualization of determinants, and cross-continent comparisons of antibiotic access and use. The community infrastructure for this study is the INDEPTH-Network (International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in Developing Countries), which facilitates health and population research through an established health and demographic surveillance system. After an initial round of formative qualitative research with community members and antibiotic suppliers in three African and three Asian countries, household surveys will assess the appropriateness of antibiotic access, provision and use. Results from this sample will be validated against a systematically conducted inventory of suppliers. All potential antibiotic suppliers will be mapped and characterized. Subsequently, their supply of antibiotics to the community will be measured through customer exit interviews, which tend to be more reliable than bulk purchase or sales data. Discrepancies identified between reported and observed antibiotic practices will be investigated in further qualitative interviews. Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach will be employed to identify the conversion factors that determine whether or not, and the extent to which appropriate provision of antibiotics may lead to appropriate access and use of antibiotics. Currently, the study is ongoing and expected to conclude by 2019. ABACUS will provide important new insights into antibiotic practices in LMICs to inform social interventions aimed at promoting optimal antibiotic use, thereby preserving antibiotic effectiveness.
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11. |
- Abdullahi, Mohamed Farah, et al.
(author)
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Factors contributing to the uptake of childhood vaccination in Galkayo District, Puntland, Somalia
- 2020
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In: Global Health Action. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: As in many Sub-Saharan African countries, the health system in Somalia is not operating at the capacity needed to lift childhood vaccination coverage to ninety percent or above, as recommended by United Nations Children's Fund. Current national estimates of coverage for the six major vaccine preventable childhood diseases range from thirty to sixty percent. Infectious disease outbreaks continue to pose significant challenges for the country's health authorities.OBJECTIVE: This important qualitative study, conducted in Galkayo District, Somalia, investigates limiting factors associated with childhood vaccination uptake from the perspective of both communities and health care workers.METHODS: Qualitative information was collected through six focus group discussions with parents (n = 48) and five one-to-one interviews with health workers (n = 15) between March and May 2017, in three settings in the Galkayo District - Galkayo city, Bayra and Bacadwayn.RESULTS: From a health system perspective, the factors are: awareness raising, hard to reach areas, negative attitudes and perceived knowledge of health workers, inadequate supplies and infrastructure, and missed vaccination opportunities. From the perspective of individuals and communities the factors are: low trust in vaccines, misinterpretation of religious beliefs, vaccine refusals, Somalia's patriarchal system and rumours and misinformation. Parents mostly received immunization information from social mobilizers and health facilities. Fathers, who are typically family decision-makers, were poorly informed. The findings highlight the need for in-service training to enable health workers to improve communication with parents, particularly fathers, peripheral communities and local religious leaders.CONCLUSIONS: Enhancing knowledge and awareness of vaccination among parents is crucial. Fathers' involvement is lacking. This may be boosted by highlighting fathers' obligation to protect their children's health through vaccination. It is also important that men engage with the wider community in decision-making and advance towards the global vaccination targets.
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12. |
- Abraha, Atakelti, et al.
(author)
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Social determinants of under-5 child health : A qualitative study in Wolkayit Woreda, Tigray Region, Ethiopia
- 2019
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 14:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Despite the significant reductions seen in under-5 child mortality in Ethiopia over the last two decades, more than 10,000 children still die each year in Tigray Region alone, of whom 75% die from preventable diseases. Using an equity lens, this study aimed to investigate the social determinants of child health in one particularly vulnerable district as a means of informing the health policy decision-making process. An exploratory qualitative study design was adopted, combining focus group discussions and qualitative interviews. Seven Focus Group Discussions with mothers of young children, and 21 qualitative interviews with health workers were conducted in Wolkayit district in May-June 2015. Data were subjected to thematic analysis. Mothers’ knowledge regarding the major causes of child mortality appeared to be good, and they also knew about and trusted the available child health interventions. However, utilization and practice of these interventions was limited by a range of issues, including cultural factors, financial shortages, limited female autonomy on financial resources, seasonal mobility, and inaccessible or unaffordable health services. Our findings pointed to the importance of a multi-sectoral strategy to improve child health equity and reduce under-5 mortality in Wolkayit. Recommendations include further decentralizing child health services to local-level Health Posts, and increasing the number of Health Facilities based on local topography and living conditions.
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13. |
- Abraha, Atakelti, et al.
(author)
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The effects of maternal and child HIV infection on health equity in Tigray Region, Ethiopia, and the implications for the health system : a case-control study
- 2019
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In: AIDS Care. - : Routledge. - 0954-0121 .- 1360-0451. ; 31:10, s. 1271-1281
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Services that aim to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) can simultaneously reduce the overall impact of HIV infection in a population while also improving maternal and child health outcomes. By taking a health equity perspective, this retrospective case control study aimed to compare the health status of under-5 children born to HIV-positive and HIV-negative mothers in Tigray Region, Ethiopia. Two hundred and thirteen HIV-positive women (cases), and 214 HIV-negative women (controls) participated through interviews regarding their oldest children. Of the children born to HIV-positive mothers, 24% had not been tested, and 17% of those who had been tested were HIV-positive themselves. Only 29% of the HIV-positive children were linked to an ART programme. Unexpectedly, exposed HIV-negative children had fewer reports of perceived poor health as compared to unexposed children. Over 90% of all the children, regardless of maternal HIV status, were breastfed and up-to-date with the recommended immunizations. The high rate of HIV infection among the babies of HIV-positive women along with their low rates of antiretroviral treatment raises serious concerns about the quality of outreach to pregnant women in Tigray Region, and of the follow-up for children who have been exposed to HIV via their mothers.
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14. |
- Abraha Derbew, Atakelti, et al.
(author)
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Assessing the performance of the family folder system for collecting community-based health information in Tigray Region, North Ethiopia : a capture–recapture study
- 2024
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 14:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To assess completeness and accuracy of the family folder in terms of capturing community-level health data.Study design: A capture–recapture method was applied in six randomly selected districts of Tigray Region, Ethiopia.Participants: Child health data, abstracted from randomly selected 24 073 family folders from 99 health posts, were compared with similar data recaptured through household survey and routine health information made by these health posts.Primary and secondary outcome measures: Completeness and accuracy of the family folder data; and coverage selected child health indicators, respectively.Results: Demographic data captured by the family folders and household survey were highly concordant, concordance correlation for total population, women 15–49 years age and under 5-year child were 0.97 (95% CI 0.94 to 0.99, p<0.001), 0.73 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.88) and 0.91 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.96), respectively. However, the live births, child health service indicators and child health events were more erratically reported in the three data sources. The concordance correlation among the three sources, for live births and neonatal deaths was 0.094 (95% CI −0.232 to 0.420) and 0.092 (95% CI −0.230 to 0.423) respectively, and for the other parameters were close to 0.Conclusion: The family folder system comprises a promising development. However, operational issues concerning the seamless capture and recording of events and merging community and facility data at the health centre level need improvement.
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15. |
- Afari-Asiedu, Samuel, et al.
(author)
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Determinants of Inappropriate Antibiotics Use in Rural Central Ghana Using a Mixed Methods Approach
- 2020
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In: Frontiers In Public Health. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-2565. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The consequences of antibiotic resistance are projected to be most severe in low and middle income countries with high infectious disease burden. This study examined determinants of inappropriate antibiotic use at the community level in rural Ghana. Methods: An observational study involving qualitative and quantitative methods was conducted between July, 2016 and September, 2018 in Ghana. Two household surveys were conducted at two time points (2017 and 2018) among 1,100 randomly selected households over 1 year. The surveys focused on antibiotic use episodes in the past month. Four in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were performed to further explain the survey results. Determinants of inappropriate antibiotic use were assessed using a mixed effect logistic regression analysis (multilevel analysis) to account for the clustered nature of data. We defined inappropriate antibiotic use as either use without prescription, not completing treatment course or non-adherence to instruction for use. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed. Results: A total of 1,100 households was enrolled in which antibiotics were used in 585 (53.2%) households in the month prior to the surveys. A total of 676 (21.2%) participants out of 3,193 members from the 585 reportedly used antibiotics for 761 episodes of illness. Out of the 761 antibiotic use episodes, 659 (86.6%) were used inappropriately. Paying for healthcare without health insurance (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.10, 95% CI: 1.1-7.4, p-value: 0.026), not seeking healthcare from health centers (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-5.0, p-value: 0.018), or pharmacies (OR: 4.6, 95% CI: 1.7-13.0, p-value: 0.003) were significantly associated with inappropriate antibiotic use. Socio-demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with inappropriate antibiotic use. However, the qualitative study described the influence of cost of medicines on inappropriate antibiotic use. It also revealed that antibiotic users with low socioeconomic status purchased antibiotics in installments which, could facilitate inappropriate use. Conclusion: Inappropriate antibiotic use was high and influenced by out-of-pocket payment for healthcare, seeking healthcare outside health centers, pharmacies, and buying antibiotics in installments due to cost. To improve appropriate antibiotic use, there is the need for ministry of health and healthcare agencies in Ghana to enhance healthcare access and healthcare insurance, and to provide affordable antibiotics.
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16. |
- Afari-Asiedu, Samuel, et al.
(author)
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To sell or not to sell; the differences between regulatory and community demands regarding access to antibiotics in rural Ghana
- 2018
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In: Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice. - : BMC. - 2052-3211. ; 11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: In Ghana, there is extensive over-the-counter dispensing of antibiotics, resulting in high levels of inappropriate use, and an increase in antibiotic resistance. Regulations prevent Licenced Chemical Sellers (LCS, Over-the-Counter Medicine Sellers) from selling antibiotics other than Cotrimoxazole. In practice, however, these sellers sell a variety of antibiotics. This paper aims to provide insight into the differences between regulatory and community demands on the sale of antibiotics, and to explore how these differences in demand could be resolved to facilitate safe and appropriate use of antibiotics in rural Ghana.Methods: A total of 32 in-depth interviews were conducted in the Kintampo North and South Districts in Ghana; 16 among antibiotic suppliers, predominantly LCS, and 16 among community members. Six focus group discussions were also conducted among 40 community members. Data were coded using Nvivo 10 and thematically analyzed in line with study objectives. The results are presented as narratives with quotes to illustrate the findings.Results: Generally, antibiotic suppliers were aware that regulations prevent LCS from selling antibiotics except Cotrimoxazole. However, LCS sell all types of antibiotics because of community demand, economic motivations of LCS, and the poor implementation of regulations that are intended to prevent them from selling these medications. Factors that influence community demand for antibiotics include previous knowledge of effectiveness of some antibiotics, delays in seeking care at health facilities, financial constraints, and distance to health facilities. LCS suggested that they should be trained and allowed to sell some types of antibiotics instead of being prevented completely from selling. Community members also suggested that Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds should be equipped to dispense antibiotics.Conclusion: The sale of antibiotics by LCS at the community level is influenced by both structural and individual contextual factors. There is a need to educate community members on the appropriate access and use of antibiotics in rural Ghana. In addition, rather than enforcing rules that go against practice, it may be more effective to regulate the sale of antibiotics by LCS and train them to make their dispensing more appropriate. CHPS compound could also be equipped to dispense some antibiotics to improve appropriate antibiotic access at the community level.
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17. |
- Bancroft, Dani, et al.
(author)
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Vector control strategies in Brazil : a qualitative investigation into community knowledge, attitudes and perceptions following the 2015-2016 Zika virus epidemic
- 2022
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern following the rapid emergence of neonatal microcephaly in Brazil during the 2015-2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic. In response, a national campaign sought to control Aedes mosquito populations and reduce ZIKV transmission. Achieving adherence to vector control or mosquito-bite reduction behaviours, including the use of topical mosquito repellents, is challenging. Coproduction of research at the community level is needed to understand and mitigate social determinants of lower engagement with Aedes preventive measures, particularly within disempowered groups.DESIGN: In 2017, the Zika Preparedness Latin America Network (ZikaPLAN) conducted a qualitative study to understand individual and community level experiences of ZIKV and other mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. Presented here is a thematic analysis of 33 transcripts from community focus groups and semistructured interviews, applying the Health Belief Model (HBM) to elaborate knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of ZIKV and vector control strategies.PARTICIPANTS: 120 purposively sampled adults of approximate reproductive age (18-45); 103 women participated in focus groups and 17 men in semistructured interviews.SETTING: Two sociopolitically and epidemiologically distinct cities in Brazil: Jundiaí (57 km north of São Paolo) and Salvador (Bahia state capital).RESULTS: Four key and 12 major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) knowledge and cues to action; (2) attitudes and normative beliefs (perceived threat, barriers, benefits and self-efficacy); (3) behaviour change (household prevention and community participation); and (4) community preferences for novel repellent tools, vector control strategies and ZIKV messaging.CONCLUSIONS: Common barriers to repellent adherence were accessibility, appearance and effectiveness. A strong case is made for the transferability of the HBM to inform epidemic preparedness for mosquito-borne disease outbreaks at the community level. Nationally, a health campaign targeting men is recommended, in addition to local mobilisation of funding to strengthen surveillance, risk communication and community engagement.
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18. |
- Bardosh, Kevin Louis, et al.
(author)
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Integrating the social sciences in epidemic preparedness and response : A strategic framework to strengthen capacities and improve Global Health security
- 2020
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In: Globalization and Health. - : Springer Nature. - 1744-8603. ; 16:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The importance of integrating the social sciences in epidemic preparedness and response has become a common feature of infectious disease policy and practice debates. However to date, this integration remains inadequate, fragmented and under-funded, with limited reach and small initial investments. Based on data collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in this paper we analysed the variety of knowledge, infrastructure and funding gaps that hinder the full integration of the social sciences in epidemics and present a strategic framework for addressing them.Methods: Senior social scientists with expertise in public health emergencies facilitated expert deliberations, and conducted 75 key informant interviews, a consultation with 20 expert social scientists from Africa, Asia and Europe, 2 focus groups and a literature review of 128 identified high-priority peer reviewed articles. We also analysed 56 interviews from the Ebola 100 project, collected just after the West African Ebola epidemic. Analysis was conducted on gaps and recommendations. These were inductively classified according to various themes during two group prioritization exercises. The project was conducted between February and May 2019. Findings from the report were used to inform strategic prioritization of global investments in social science capacities for health emergencies.Findings: Our analysis consolidated 12 knowledge and infrastructure gaps and 38 recommendations from an initial list of 600 gaps and 220 recommendations. In developing our framework, we clustered these into three areas: 1) Recommendations to improve core social science response capacities, including investments in: human resources within response agencies; the creation of social science data analysis capacities at field and global level; mechanisms for operationalizing knowledge; and a set of rapid deployment infrastructures; 2) Recommendations to strengthen applied and basic social sciences, including the need to: better define the social science agenda and core competencies; support innovative interdisciplinary science; make concerted investments in developing field ready tools and building the evidence-base; and develop codes of conduct; and 3) Recommendations for a supportive social science ecosystem, including: the essential foundational investments in institutional development; training and capacity building; awareness-raising activities with allied disciplines; and lastly, support for a community of practice.Interpretation: Comprehensively integrating social science into the epidemic preparedness and response architecture demands multifaceted investments on par with allied disciplines, such as epidemiology and virology. Building core capacities and competencies should occur at multiple levels, grounded in country-led capacity building. Social science should not be a parallel system, nor should it be “siloed” into risk communication and community engagement. Rather, it should be integrated across existing systems and networks, and deploy interdisciplinary knowledge “transversally” across all preparedness and response sectors and pillars. Future work should update this framework to account for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the institutional landscape.
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20. |
- Carpenter, Lucy M, et al.
(author)
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Independent effects of reported sexually transmitted infections and sexual behavior on HIV-1 prevalence among adult women, men, and teenagers in rural Uganda
- 2002
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In: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. - 1525-4135 .- 1944-7884. ; 29:2, s. 174-180
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To assess whether sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexual behavior are independently associated with HIV-1 among adult women, men, and teenagers in rural Uganda. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: All adults (13 years and older) residing in 18 communities were invited to participate. HIV status was determined from serum samples and data collected during confidential interview. Independent effects of risk factors for HIV were estimated using adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from logistic regression. RESULTS: Women reporting genital ulcers in the last 12 months were over twice as likely to be HIV positive after adjustment for sociodemographic factors and number of lifetime sexual partners (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.9-3.4). Equivalent associations were stronger for men (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 2.2-4.7) but weaker for teenagers (OR, 2.0, 95% CI, 0.5-8.7). Number of lifetime sexual partners was associated ( p <.05) with HIV status for women, men, and teenagers independently of reported genital ulcers. Teenagers reporting casual partners were over four times ( p <.001), and men reporting condom use almost twice ( p <.001), as likely to be HIV positive. Neither history of genital discharge nor other measures of sexual behavior were independently related to HIV status. CONCLUSION: Reported STIs and sexual behavior are independently associated with HIV in rural Uganda. Community-based interventions to reduce HIV should target both and should include teenagers.
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21. |
- Chowdhury, Moyukh, et al.
(author)
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Rural community perceptions of antibiotic access and understanding of antimicrobial resistance : qualitative evidence from the Health and Demographic Surveillance System site in Matlab, Bangladesh
- 2020
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In: Global Health Action. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 12:sup1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The use of large quantities of antimicrobial drugs for human health and agriculture is advancing the predominance of drug resistant pathogens in the environment. Antimicrobial resistance is now a major public health threat posing significant challenges for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In Bangladesh, where over one third of the population is below the poverty line, the achievement of safe and effective antibiotic medication use for human health is challenging.Objective: To explore factors and practices around access and use of antibiotics and understanding of antimicrobial resistance in rural communities in Bangladesh from a socio-cultural perspective.Methods: This qualitative study comprises the second phase of the multi-country ABACUS (Antibiotic Access and Use) project in Matlab, Bangladesh. Information was collected through six focus group discussions and 16 in-depth interviews. Informants were selected from ten villages in four geographic locations using the Health and Demographic Surveillance System database. The Access to Healthcare Framework guided the interpretation and framing of the findings in terms of individuals' abilities to: perceive, seek, reach, pay and engage with healthcare.Results: Village pharmacies were the preferred and trusted source of antibiotics for self-treatment. Cultural and religious beliefs informed the use of herbal and other complementary medicines. Advice on antibiotic use was also sourced from trusted friends and family members. Access to government-run facilities required travel on poorly maintained roads. Reports of structural corruption, stock-outs and patient safety risks eroded trust in the public sector. Some expressed a willingness to learn about antibiotic resistance.Conclusion: Antimicrobial resistance is both a health and development issue. Social and economic contexts shape medicine seeking, use and behaviours. Multi-sectoral action is needed to confront the underlying social, economic, cultural and political drivers that impact on the access and use of antibiotic medicines in Bangladesh.
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22. |
- Clancy, India L., et al.
(author)
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Public health messages on arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti in Brazil
- 2021
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In: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Nature. - 1471-2458. ; 21:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil in 2015 followed the arrival of chikungunya in 2014 and a long history of dengue circulation. Vital to the response to these outbreaks of mosquito-borne pathogens has been the dissemination of public health messages, including those promoted through risk communication posters. This study explores the content of a sample of posters circulated in Brazil towards the end of the Zika epidemic in 2017 and analyses their potential effectiveness in inducing behaviour change.Methods: A content analysis was performed on 37 posters produced in Brazil to address outbreaks of mosquito-borne pathogens. The six variables of the Health Belief Model were used to assess the potential effectiveness of the posters to induce behaviour change.Results: Three overarching key messages emerged from the posters. These included (i) the arboviruses and their outcomes, (ii) a battle against the mosquito, and (iii) a responsibility to protect and prevent. Among the six variables utilised through the Health Belief Model, cues to action were most commonly featured, whilst the perceived benefits of engaging in behaviours to prevent arbovirus transmission were the least commonly featured.Conclusions: The posters largely focused on mosquito-borne transmission and the need to eliminate breeding sites, and neglected the risk of the sexual and congenital transmission of Zika and the importance of alternative preventive actions. This, we argue, may have limited the potential effectiveness of these posters to induce behaviour change.
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23. |
- Dalmar, Abdirisak Ahmed, et al.
(author)
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Rebuilding research capacity in fragile states : the case of a Somali-Swedish global health initiative
- 2017
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In: Global Health Action. - Abingdon : Informa UK Limited. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper presents an initiative to revive the previous Somali-Swedish Research Cooperation, which started in 1981 and was cut short by the civil war in Somalia. A programme focusing on research capacity building in the health sector is currently underway through the work of an alliance of three partner groups: six new Somali universities, five Swedish universities, and Somali diaspora professionals. Somali ownership is key to the sustainability of the programme, as is close collaboration with Somali health ministries. The programme aims to develop a model for working collaboratively across regions and cultural barriers within fragile states, with the goal of creating hope and energy. It is based on the conviction that health research has a key role in rebuilding national health services and trusted institutions.
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24. |
- de Vries, Daniel H., et al.
(author)
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Methodology for assessment of public health emergency preparedness and response synergies between institutional authorities and communities
- 2020
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In: BMC Health Services Research. - : BioMed Central. - 1472-6963. ; 20:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: This paper describes a participatory methodology that supports investigation of the synergistic collaboration between communities affected by infectious disease outbreak events and relevant official institutions. The core principle underlying the methodology is the recognition that synergistic relationships, characterised by mutual trust and respect, between affected communities and official institutions provide the most effective means of addressing outbreak situations.Methods: The methodological approach and lessons learned were derived from four qualitative case studies including (i) two tick-borne disease events (Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Spain, 2016, and tick-borne encephalitis in the Netherlands, 2016); and (ii) two outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis (norovirus in Iceland, 2017, and verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli [VTEC] in Ireland, 2018). An after-event qualitative case study approach was taken using mixed methods. The studies were conducted in collaboration with the respective national public health authorities in the affected countries by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The analysis focused on the specific actions undertaken by the participating countries' public health and other authorities in relation to community engagement, as well as the view from the perspective of affected communities.Results: Lessons highlight the critical importance of collaborating with ECDC National Focal Points during preparation and planning and with anthropological experts. Field work for each case study was conducted over one working week, which although limiting the number of individuals and institutions involved, still allowed for rich data collection due to the close collaboration with local authorities. The methodology enabled efficient extraction of synergies between authorities and communities. Implementing the methodology required a reflexivity among fieldworkers that ackowledges that different versions of reality can co-exist in the social domain. The method allowed for potential generalisability across studies. Issues of extra attention included insider-outsider perspectives, politically sensitivity of findings, and how to deal with ethical and language issues.Conclusions: The overall objective of the assessment is to identify synergies between institutional decision-making bodies and community actors and networks before, during and after an outbreak response to a given public health emergency. The methodology is generic and could be applied to a range of public health emergencies, zoonotic or otherwise.
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25. |
- de Vries, Daniel, et al.
(author)
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Synergies in community and institutional public health emergency preparedness for tick-borne diseases in the Netherlands : a case study on tick-borne encephalitis and lyme borreliosis
- 2018
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of this case study project is to identify enablers and barriers for community and institutional synergies related to preparedness and control of tick-borne diseases. The report focuses on an emerging tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) infection in the Netherlands— where the two first endemic cases occurred in July 2016 — in the context of the widespread and increasing incidence of lyme borreliosis. Specifically, the study aims to: - identify good practices and patterns of cooperation between affected communities and the official institutions mandated to address tick-borne diseases such as TBE and lyme borreliosis; - identify inter-sectoral collaboration between health and non-health-related sectors with regard to tick-borne diseases, such as TBE; - identify model community engagement action for other EU countries.
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26. |
- Edin, Kerstin, et al.
(author)
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Perspectives on intimate relationships among young people in rural South Africa : the logic of risk
- 2016
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In: Culture, Health and Sexuality. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1369-1058 .- 1464-5351. ; 18:9, s. 1010-1024
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper explores how young people in rural South Africa understand gender, dating, sexuality and risk-taking in adolescence. The empirical material drawn upon consists of 20 interviews with young men and women (aged 18-19) and reflects normative gender patterns characterised by compulsory heterosexuality and dating as obligatory, and representing key symbols of normality. However, different meanings of heterosexual relationships are articulated in the interviews, for example in the recurring concept of 'passing time', and these meanings show that a relationship can be something arbitrary: a way to reduce boredom and have casual sex. Such a rationale for engaging in a relationship reflects one of several other normative gender patterns, which relate to the trivialisation of dating and sexual risk-taking, and which entail making compromises and legitimising deviations from the 'ideal' life-script and the hope of a better future. However, risks do not exclusively represent something bad, dangerous or immoral, because they are also used as excuses to avoid sex, HIV acquisition and early pregnancy. In conclusion, various interrelated issues can both undermine and/or reinforce risk awareness and subsequent risk behaviour. Recognition of this tension is essential when framing policies to support young people to reduce sexual risk-taking behaviour.
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29. |
- Eklund Wimelius, Malin, 1972-, et al.
(author)
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What is local resilience against radicalization and how can it be promoted? : a multidisciplinary literature review
- 2023
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In: Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. - : Routledge. - 1057-610X .- 1521-0731. ; 46:7, s. 1108-1125
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this research note, we present results from a review of research on local resilience in relation to radicalization in public health, social work, crisis management, and community policing using terrorism studies as a point of departure. In order to identify agreements between literatures, we focus on how local resilience is understood, how it is said to be promoted, and how this knowledge could be synthesized. We show that resilience by and large is understood as both a process and a capacity underpinned by cooperation, social networks, and community resources and that an initial mapping of existing strengths and resources is pivotal for local resilience-building.
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32. |
- Godefay Debeb, Hagos, 1972-
(author)
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Maternal Mortality Then, Now, and Tomorrow : The Experience of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- AbstractBackground: Maternal mortality is one of the most sensitive indicators of the health disparities between poorer and richer nations. It is also one of the most difficult health outcomes to measure reliably. In many settings, major challenges remain in terms of both measuring and reducing maternal mortality effectively. This thesis aims to quantify overall levels, identify specific causes, and evaluate local interventions in relation to efforts to reduce maternal mortality in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia, thereby providing a strong empirical basis for decision making by the Tigray Regional Health Bureau using methods that can be scaled at national level. Methods: This study employed a combination of community-based study designs to investigate the level and determinants of maternal mortality in six randomly selected rural districts of Tigray Region. A census of all households in the six districts was conducted to identify all live births and all deaths to women of reproductive age occurring between May 2012 and September 2013. Pregnancy-related deaths were screened through verbal autopsy with the data processed using the InterVA-4 model, which was used to estimate Maternal Mortality Ratio. To identify independent determinants of maternal mortality, a case-control study using multiple logistic regression analysis was done, taking all pregnancy-related deaths as cases and a random sample of geographical and age matched mothers as controls. Uptake of ambulance services in the six districts was determined retrospectively from ambulance logbooks, and the trends in pregnancy-related death were analyzed against ambulance utilization, distance from nearest health center, and mobile network coverage at local area level. Lastly, implementation of the Family Folder paper health register, and its potential for accurately capturing demographic and health events, were evaluated using a capture-recapture assessment. Results: A total of 181 deaths to women of reproductive age and 19,179 live births were documented from May 2012 to April2013. Of the deaths, 51 were pregnancy-related. The maternal mortality ratio for Tigray region was calculated at 266 deaths per 100,000 live births (95% CI 198-350), which is consistently lower than previous “top down” MMR estimates. District–level MMRs showed strong inverse correlation with population density (r2 = 0.86). Direct obstetric causes accounted for 61% of all pregnancy–related deaths, with hemorrhage accounting for 34%. Non-membership in the voluntary Women’s Development Army (AOR 2.07, 95% CI 1.04-4.11), low husband or partner involvement during pregnancy (AOR 2.19, 95% CI 1.14-4.18), pre-existing history of other illness (AOR 5.58, 95% CI 2.17-14.30), and never having used contraceptives (AOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.37-4.85) were associated with increased risk of maternal death in a multivariable regression model. In addition, utilization of free ambulance transportation service was strongly associated with reduced MMR at district level. Districts with above-average ambulance utilization had an MMR of 149 per 100,000 LB (95% CI: 77-260) compared with 350 per 100,000 (95% CI: 249-479) in districts with below average utilization. The Family Folder implementation assessment revealed some inconsistencies in the way Health Extension Workers utilize the Family Folders to record demographic and health events. Conclusion: This work contributes to understanding the status of and factors affecting maternal mortality in Tigray Region. It introduces a locally feasible approach to MMR estimation and gives important insights in to the effectiveness of various interventions that have been targeted at reducing maternal mortality in recent years.
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33. |
- Godefay, Hagos, et al.
(author)
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A national programme of freely-available ambulance transportation for women in labour halves maternal mortality in Ethiopia : an operational analysis from Tigray Region
- 2015
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In: Tropical medicine & international health. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1360-2276 .- 1365-3156. ; 20:Suppl. 1, s. 72-72
-
Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Introduction: One of the challenges for maternal health services across Africa is physically getting women to health facilities for delivery at the appropriate time. A lack of transportation has often been cited as a major obstacle. The Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health implemented a national programme of freely available ambulance transportation in every District from 2012, and this operational analysis investigated the effects of the ambulance programme on maternal mortality.Methods: Maternal mortality was measured in a survey of six randomly selected districts in Tigray Region over a 1-year period in 2012/13. For the same time period, data from ambulance log books from the same six Districts were captured and ambulance trips associated with deliveries extracted. Data on month, distance to health facility and mobile network coverage at local area level were included.Results: The survey identified 51 maternal deaths and 19 179 live births, corresponding to an overall maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 266 per 100 000 live births. Districts using ambulances for at least 25% of deliveries had an MMR of 116 per 100 000 compared with 407 per 100 000 elsewhere. Distance from home to facility, the availability of a mobile telephone network and utilisation of ambulances were all independently associated with maternal mortality. When all these factors competed in a multivariable model at local area level, only utilisation of ambulances persisted as a significant factor, with a maternal mortality rate ratio of 0.51. One maternal death was estimated to have been averted for every 5000 ambulance-kilometres driven.Conclusions: Freely available ambulance transport in Ethiopia was associated with significant reductions in maternal mortality, although this was a strategy requiring substantial investment. Similar results could probably be achieved elsewhere given sufficient investment in vehicles and operational infrastructure.Acknowledgements: The Tigray Regional Health Bureau funded this operational assessment, including the maternal mortality survey and capturing the ambulance data. A collaboration grant from the Swedish Research Council facilitated analysis.Disclosure: Hagos Godefay is the Head of Tigray Regional Bureau and Kesetebirhan Admasu is the Minister of Health, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
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35. |
- Godefay, Hagos, et al.
(author)
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Can innovative ambulance transport avert pregnancy-related deaths? : One-year operational assessment in Ethiopia
- 2016
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In: Journal of Global Health. - : International Global Health Society. - 2047-2978 .- 2047-2986. ; 6:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND:To maximise the potential benefits of maternity care services, pregnant women need to be able to physically get to health facilities in a timely manner. In most of sub-Saharan Africa, transport represents a major practical barrier. Here we evaluate the extent to which an innovative national ambulance service in Ethiopia, together with mobile phones, may have been successful in averting pregnancy-related deaths.METHODS:An operational assessment of pregnancy-related deaths in relation to utilisation of the new national ambulance service was undertaken in six randomly selected Districts in northern Ethiopia. All 183 286 households in the six randomly selected Districts were visited to identify live-births and deaths among women of reproductive age that occurred over a one-year period. The uptake of the new ambulance transport service for women's deliveries in the same six randomly selected Districts over the same period was determined retrospectively from ambulance log books. Pregnancy-related deaths as determined by the World Health Organization (WHO 2012) verbal autopsy tool [13] and the InterVA-4 model [14] were analysed against ambulance utilisation by District, month, local area, distance from health facility and mobile network coverage.FINDINGS:A total of 51 pregnancy-related deaths and 19 179 live-births were documented. Pregnancy-related mortality for Districts with above average ambulance utilisation was 149 per 100 000 live-births (95% confidence interval CI 77-260), compared with 350 per 100 000 (95% CI 249-479) for below average utilisation (P = 0.01). Distance to a health facility, mobile network availability and ambulance utilisation were all significantly associated with pregnancy-related mortality on a bivariable basis. On a multivariable basis, ambulance non-utilisation uniquely persisted as a significant determinant of mortality (mortality rate ratio 1.97, 95% CI 1.05-3.69; P = 0.03).CONCLUSIONS:The uptake of freely available transport in connection with women's obstetric needs correlated with substantially reduced pregnancy-related mortality in this operational assessment, though the design did not allow cause and effect to be attributed. However, the halving of pregnancy-related mortality associated with ambulance uptake in the sampled Districts suggests that the provision of transport to delivery facilities in Africa may be a key innovation for delivering maternal health care, which requires wider consideration.
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36. |
- Godefay, Hagos, et al.
(author)
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Risk Factors for Maternal Mortality in Rural Tigray, Northern Ethiopia : A Case-Control Study
- 2015
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public library science. - 1932-6203. ; 10:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Maternal mortality continues to have devastating impacts in many societies, where it constitutes a leading cause of death, and thus remains a core issue in international development. Nevertheless, individual determinants of maternal mortality are often unclear and subject to local variation. This study aims to characterise individual risk factors for maternal mortality in Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based case-control study was conducted, with 62 cases and 248 controls from six randomly-selected rural districts. All maternal deaths between May 2012 and September 2013 were recruited as cases and a random sample of mothers who delivered in the same communities within the same time period were taken as controls. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent determinants of maternal mortality. Results: Four independent individual risk factors, significantly associated with maternal death, emerged. Women who were not members of the voluntary Women's Development Army were more likely to experience maternal death (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.04-4.11), as were women whose husbands or partners had below-median scores for involvement during pregnancy (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.14-4.18). Women with a pre-existing history of other illness were also at increased risk (OR 5.58, 95% CI 2.17-14.30), as were those who had never used contraceptives (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.37-4.85). Previous pregnancy complications, a below-median number of antenatal care visits and a woman's lack of involvement in health care decision making were significant bivariable risks that were not significant in the multivariable model. Conclusions: The findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing maternal mortality need to focus on encouraging membership of the Women's Development Army, enhancing husbands' involvement in maternal health services, improving linkages between maternity care and other disease-specific programmes and ensuring that women with previous illnesses or non-users of contraceptive services are identified and followed-up as being at increased risk during pregnancy and childbirth.
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37. |
- Godefay, Hagos, et al.
(author)
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Understanding maternal mortality from top-down and bottom-up perspectives : case of Tigray Region, Ethiopia
- 2015
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In: Journal of Global Health. - : The University of Edinburgh, Global Health Society. - 2047-2978 .- 2047-2986. ; 5:1, s. 83-90
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Unacceptably high levels of preventable maternal mortality persist as a problem across sub-Saharan Africa and much of south Asia. Currently, local assessments of the magnitude of maternal mortality are not often made, so the best available information for health planning may come from global estimates and not reflect local circumstances.METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional survey was designed to identify all live births together with all deaths among women aged 15-49 years retrospectively over a one-year period in six randomly selected districts of Tigray Region, northern Ethiopia. After birth and death identification, Health Extension Workers trained to use the WHO 2012 verbal autopsy (VA) tool visited households to carry out VAs on all deaths among women aged 15-49 years. All pregnancy-related deaths were identified after processing the VA material using the InterVA-4 model, which corresponds to the WHO 2012 VA. A maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was calculated for each District and expressed with a 95% confidence interval (CI).RESULTS: The MMRs across the six sampled Districts ranged from 37 deaths per 100 000 live births (95% CI 1 to 207) to 482 deaths per 100 000 live births (95% CI 309 to 718). The overall MMR for Tigray Region was calculated at 266 deaths per 100 000 live births (95% CI 198 to 350). Direct obstetric causes accounted for 61% of all pregnancy-related deaths. Haemorrhage was the major cause of pregnancy-related death (34%). District-level MMRs were strongly inversely correlated with population density (r(2) = 0.86).CONCLUSION: This simple but well-designed survey approach enabled estimation of maternal mortality in Tigray Region on a local, contemporary basis. It also provided insights into possible local variations in MMR and their determinants. Consequently, this approach could be implemented at regional level in other large sub-Saharan African countries, or at national level in smaller ones to monitor and evaluate maternal health service interventions.
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38. |
- Godefay, Hagos, et al.
(author)
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Undertaking cause-specific mortality measurement in an unregistered population : an example from Tigray Region, Ethiopia
- 2014
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In: Global Health Action. - : Co-Action publishing. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The lack of adequate documentation of deaths, and particularly their cause, is often noted in African and Asian settings, but practical solutions for addressing the problem are not always clear. Verbal autopsy methods (interviewing witnesses after a death) have developed rapidly, but there remains a lack of clarity as to how these methods can be effectively applied to large unregistered populations. This paper sets out practical details for undertaking a representative survey of cause-specific mortality in a population of several million, taking Tigray Region in Ethiopia as a prototype.SAMPLING: Sampling was designed around an expected level of maternal mortality ratio of 400 per 100,000 live births, which needed measuring within a 95% confidence interval of approximately ±100. Taking a stratified cluster sample within the region at the district level for logistic reasons, and allowing for a design effect of 2, this required a population of around 900,000 people, equating to six typical districts. Since the region is administered in six geographic zones, one district per zone was randomly selected.IMPLEMENTATION: The survey was implemented as a two-stage process: first, to trace deaths that occurred in the sampled districts within the preceding year, and second to follow them up with verbal autopsy interviews. The field work for both stages was undertaken by health extension workers, working in their normally assigned areas. Most of the work was associated with tracing the deaths, rather than undertaking the verbal autopsy interviews.DISCUSSION: This approach to measuring cause-specific mortality in an unregistered Ethiopian population proved to be feasible and effective. Although it falls short of the ideal situation of continuous civil registration and vital statistics, a survey-based strategy of this kind may prove to be a useful intermediate step on the road towards full civil registration and vital statistics implementation.
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39. |
- Haafkens, Joke, et al.
(author)
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Training needs for research in health inequities among health and demographic researchers from eight African and Asian countries
- 2014
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In: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: To support equity focussed public health policy in low and middle income countries, more evidence and analysis of the social determinants of health inequalities is needed. This requires specific know how among researchers. The INDEPTH Training and Research Centres of Excellence (INTREC) collaboration will develop and provide training on the social determinants of health approach for health researchers from the International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (INDEPTH) in Africa and Asia. To identify learning needs among the potential target group, this qualitative study explored what INDEPTH researchers from Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh feel that they want to learn to be able to conduct research on the causes of health inequalities in their country.METHODS: Using an inductive method, online concept-mapping, participants were asked to generate statements in response to the question what background knowledge they would need to conduct research on the causes of health inequalities in their country, to sort those statements into thematic groups, and to rate them in terms of how important it would be for the INTREC program to offer instruction on each of the statements. Statistical techniques were used to structure statements into a thematic cluster map and average importance ratings of statements/clusters were calculated.RESULTS: Of the 150 invited researchers, 82 participated in the study; 54 from Africa; 28 from Asia. Participants generated 59 statements and sorted them into 6 broader thematic clusters: "assessing health inequalities"; "research design and methods"; "research and policy"; "demography and health inequalities"; "social determinants of health" and "interventions". African participants assigned the highest importance to further training on methods for assessing health inequalities. Asian participants assigned the highest importance to training on research and policy.CONCLUSION: The identified thematic clusters and statements provide a detailed understanding of what INDEPTH researchers want to learn in order to be able to conduct research on the social determinants of health inequalities. This offers a framework for developing capacity building programs in this emerging field of public health research.
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40. |
- Hardon, Anita, et al.
(author)
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Do support groups members disclose less to their partners? The dynamics of HIV disclosure in four African countries
- 2013
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In: BMC Public Health. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2458. ; 13, s. 589-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Recent efforts to curtail the HIV epidemic in Africa have emphasised preventing sexual transmission to partners through antiretroviral therapy. A component of current strategies is disclosure to partners, thus understanding its motivations will help maximise results. This study examines the rates, dynamics and consequences of partner disclosure in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda, with special attention to the role of support groups and stigma in disclosure.METHODS: The study employs mixed methods, including a cross-sectional client survey of counselling and testing services, focus groups, and in-depth interviews with HIV-positive individuals in stable partnerships in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda, recruited at healthcare facilities offering HIV testing.RESULTS: Rates of disclosure to partners varied between countries (32.7% - 92.7%). The lowest rate was reported in Malawi. Reasons for disclosure included preventing the transmission of HIV, the need for care, and upholding the integrity of the relationship. Fear of stigma was an important reason for non-disclosure. Women reported experiencing more negative reactions when disclosing to partners. Disclosure was positively associated with living in urban areas, higher education levels, and being male, while being negatively associated with membership to support groups.CONCLUSIONS: Understanding of reasons for disclosure and recognition of the role of support groups in the process can help improve current prevention efforts, that increasingly focus on treatment as prevention as a way to halt new infections. Support groups can help spread secondary prevention messages, by explaining to their members that antiretroviral treatment has benefits for HIV positive individuals and their partners. Home-based testing can further facilitate partner disclosure, as couples can test together and be counselled jointly.
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41. |
- Hardon, Anita, et al.
(author)
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Dynamics of care, situations of choice : HIV tests in times of ART
- 2011
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In: Medical Anthropology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0145-9740 .- 1545-5882. ; 30:2, s. 183-201
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the 1990s, African AIDS programs followed a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) approach to HIV testing. In the wake of large scale AIDS treatment programs, policymakers opted for routine provider-initiated testing (PITC) with less emphasis on counseling, which led to concerns about the ethical conduct of HIV testing. Inspired by Annemarie Mol, we ask if PITC can be framed as good care, rather than as medical domination that threatens to violate patients' rights. Based on fieldwork in Ugandan and Kenyan health facilities, we reveal that situations of choice vary: patients in hospital wards, are given time to decide whether they want a test, while in antenatal care testing women find it very hard to opt-out. We argue that the medical context inherent in PITC provides an attractive moral space for people to undergo HIV tests.
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42. |
- Hardon, A P, et al.
(author)
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Hunger, waiting time and transport costs : time to confront challenges to ART adherence in Africa
- 2007
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In: AIDS Care. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0954-0121 .- 1360-0451. ; 19:5, s. 658-665
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Adherence levels in Africa have been found to be better than those in the US. However around one out of four ART users fail to achieve optimal adherence, risking drug resistance and negative treatment outcomes. A high demand for 2nd line treatments (currently ten times more expensive than 1st line ART) undermines the sustainability of African ART programs. There is an urgent need to identify context-specific constraints to adherence and implement interventions to address them. We used rapid appraisals (involving mainly qualitative methods) to find out why and when people do not adhere to ART in Uganda, Tanzania and Botswana. Multidisciplinary teams of researchers and local health professionals conducted the studies, involving a total of 54 semi-structured interviews with health workers, 73 semi-structured interviews with ARTusers and other key informants, 34 focus group discussions, and 218 exit interviews with ART users. All the facilities studied in Botswana, Tanzania and Uganda provide ARVs free of charge, but ART users report other related costs (e.g. transport expenditures, registration and user fees at the private health facilities, and lost wages due to long waiting times) as main obstacles to optimal adherence. Side effects and hunger in the initial treatment phase are an added concern. We further found that ART users find it hard to take their drugs when they are among people to whom they have not disclosed their HIV status, such as co-workers and friends. The research teams recommend that (i) health care workers inform patients better about adverse effects; (ii) ART programmes provide transport and food support to patients who are too poor to pay; (iii) recurrent costs to users be reduced by providing three-months, rather than the one-month refills once optimal adherence levels have been achieved; and (iv) pharmacists play an important role in this follow-up care.
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43. |
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44. |
- Henschke, Nicholas, et al.
(author)
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Strengthening capacity to research the social determinants of health in low-and middle-income countries : lessons from the INTREC programme
- 2017
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In: BMC Public Health. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2458. ; 17
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The INDEPTH Training & Research Centres of Excellence (INTREC) collaboration developed a training programme to strengthen social determinants of health (SDH) research in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). It was piloted among health-and demographic researchers from 9 countries in Africa and Asia. The programme followed a blended learning approach and was split into three consecutive teaching blocks over a 12month period: 1) an online course of 7 video lectures and assignments on the theory of SDH research; 2) a 2-week qualitative and quantitative methods workshop; and 3) a 1-week data analysis workshop. This report aims to summarise the student evaluations of the pilot and to suggest key lessons for future approaches to strengthen SDH research capacity in LMICs. Methods: Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with 24 students from 9 countries in Africa and Asia were used to evaluate each teaching block. Information was collected about the students' motivation and interest in studying SDH, any challenges they faced during the consecutive teaching blocks, and suggestions they had for future courses on SDH. Results: Of the 24 students who began the programme, 13 (54%) completed all training activities. The students recognised the need for such a course and its potential to improve their skills as health researchers. The main challenges with the online course were time management, prior knowledge and skills required to participate in the course, and the need to get feedback from teaching staff throughout the learning process. All students found the face-to-face workshops to be of high quality and value for their work, because they offered an opportunity to clarify SDH concepts taught during the online course and to gain practical research skills. After the final teaching block, students felt they had improved their data analysis skills and were better able to develop research proposals, scientific manuscripts, and policy briefs. Conclusions: The INTREC programme has trained a promising cadre of health researchers who live and work in LMICs, which is an essential component of efforts to identify and reduce national and local level health inequities. Time management and technological issues were the greatest challenges, which can inform future attempts to strengthen research capacity on SDH.
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45. |
- Hofman, Karen, et al.
(author)
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Addressing research capacity for health equity and the social determinants of health in three African countries : the INTREC programme
- 2013
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In: Global Health Action. - : CoAction Publishing. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 6, s. 1-7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The importance of tackling economic, social and health-related inequities is increasingly accepted as a core concern for the post-Millennium Development Goal framework. However, there is a global dearth of high-quality, policy-relevant and actionable data on inequities within populations, which means that development solutions seldom focus on the people who need them most. INTREC (INDEPTH Training and Research Centres of Excellence) was established with this concern in mind. It aims to provide training for researchers from the INDEPTH network on associations between health inequities, the social determinants of health (SDH), and health outcomes, and on presenting their findings in a usable form to policy makers.OBJECTIVE: As part of a baseline situation analysis for INTREC, this paper assesses the current status of SDH training in three of the African INTREC countries - Ghana, Tanzania, and South Africa - as well as the gaps, barriers, and opportunities for training.METHODS: SDH-related courses from the three countries were identified through personal knowledge of the researchers, supplemented by snowballing and online searches. Interviews were also conducted with, among others, academics engaged in SDH and public health training in order to provide context and complementary material. Information regarding access to the Internet, as a possible INTREC teaching medium, was gathered in each country through online searches.RESULTS: SDH-relevant training is available, but 1) the number of places available for students is limited; 2) the training tends to be public-health-oriented rather than inclusive of the broader, multi-sectoral issues associated with SDH; and 3) insufficient funding places limitations on both students and on the training institutions themselves, thereby affecting participation and quality. We also identified rapidly expanding Internet connectivity in all three countries, which opens up opportunities for e-learning on SDH, though the current quality of the Internet services remains mixed.CONCLUSIONS: SDH training is currently in short supply, and there is a clear role for INTREC to contribute to the training of a critical mass of African researchers on the topic. This work will be accomplished most effectively by building on pre-existing networks, institutions, and methods.
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46. |
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47. |
- Jalloh, Mohamed F., et al.
(author)
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Barriers and facilitators to reporting deaths following Ebola surveillance in Sierra Leone : implications for sustainable mortality surveillance based on an exploratory qualitative assessment
- 2021
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 11:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To understand the barriers contributing to the more than threefold decline in the number of deaths (of all causes) reported to a national toll free telephone line (1-1-7) after the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak ended in Sierra Leone and explore opportunities for improving routine death reporting as part of a nationwide mortality surveillance system. DESIGN: An exploratory qualitative assessment comprising 32 in-depth interviews (16 in Kenema district and 16 in Western Area). All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis to identify themes. SETTING: Participants were selected from urban and rural communities in two districts that experienced varying levels of Ebola cases during the outbreak. All interviews were conducted in August 2017 in the post-Ebola-outbreak context in Sierra Leone when the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation was continuing to mandate reporting of all deaths. PARTICIPANTS: Family members of deceased persons whose deaths were not reported to the 1-1-7 system. RESULTS: Death reporting barriers were driven by the lack of awareness to report all deaths, lack of services linked to reporting, negative experiences from the Ebola outbreak including prohibition of traditional burial rituals, perception that inevitable deaths do not need to be reported and situations where prompt burials may be needed. Facilitators of future willingness to report deaths were largely influenced by the perceived communicability and severity of the disease, unexplained circumstances of the death that need investigation and the potential to leverage existing death notification practices through local leaders. CONCLUSIONS: Social mobilisation and risk communication efforts are needed to help the public understand the importance and benefits of sustained and ongoing death reporting after an Ebola outbreak. Localised practices for informal death notification through community leaders could be integrated into the formal reporting system to capture community-based deaths that may otherwise be missed.
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48. |
- Kamali, Anatoli, et al.
(author)
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A community randomized controlled trial to investigate impact of improved STD management and behavioural interventions on HIV incidence in rural Masaka, Uganda : trial design, methods and baseline findings
- 2002
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In: Tropical medicine & international health. - : Wiley. - 1360-2276 .- 1365-3156. ; 7:12, s. 1053-1063
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To describe study design, methods and baseline findings of a behavioural intervention alone and in combination with improved management of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) aimed at reducing HIV incidence and other STDs. DESIGN: A three-arm community randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 18 rural communities (approximately 96 000 adults) in SW Uganda. A standardized behavioural intervention was implemented in 12 communities (arms A and B) through community-based education, meetings and information leaflets. Six of these communities in addition received improved STD management through government and private health units (arm B). Arm C communities received routine government health services. Impact assessment was through three questionnaire and serological surveys of 750-1000 adults in each community at 18-24-month intervals. The primary outcome measure was HIV incidence and secondary measures were syphilis and herpes simplex virus type 2 incidence, prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoea and Chlamydia trachomatis and sexual behaviour changes. RESULTS: Approximately 15 000 adults (72% of eligible population) were enrolled at baseline. HIV baseline prevalence rates were 9-10% in all arms and demographic and behavioural characteristics and STD prevalence were also similar. In intervention communities, there were 391 995 attendance at 81 502 activities (6.1 per target adult), 164 063 leaflets distributed (2.6 per person) and 1 586 270 condoms (16.5 condoms per adult). In the STD communities a total of 12 239 STD cases (65% women) were seen over a 5-year period (7.7 per 100 adults/year). CONCLUSION: This is the first community RCT of its type with a behavioural component. There is fair baseline comparability between study arms and process data suggest that interventions were adequately implemented.
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49. |
- Kamali, A, et al.
(author)
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Syndromic management of sexually-transmitted infections and behaviour change interventions on transmission of HIV-1 in rural Uganda : a community randomised trial.
- 2003
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In: The Lancet. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 361:9358, s. 645-52
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Treatment of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and behavioural interventions are the main methods to prevent HIV in developing countries. We aimed to assess the effect of these interventions on incidence of HIV-1 and other sexually-transmitted infections. METHODS: We randomly allocated all adults living in 18 communities in rural Uganda to receive behavioural interventions alone (group A), behavioural and STI interventions (group B), or routine government health services and community development activities (group C). The primary outcome was HIV-1 incidence. Secondary outcomes were incidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) and active syphilis and prevalence of gonorrhoea, chlamydia, reported genital ulcers, reported genital discharge, and markers of behavioural change. Analysis was per protocol. FINDINGS: Compared with group C, the incidence rate ratio of HIV-1 was 0.94 (0.60-1.45, p=0.72) in group A and 1.00 (0.63-1.58, p=0.98) in group B, and the prevalence ratio of use of condoms with last casual partner was 1.12 (95% CI 0.99-1.25) in group A and 1.27 (1.02-1.56) in group B. Incidence of HSV2 was lower in group A than in group C (incidence rate ratio 0.65, 0.53-0.80) and incidence of active syphilis for high rapid plasma reagent test titre and prevalence of gonorrhoea were both lower in group B than in group C (active syphilis incidence rate ratio, 0.52, 0.27-0.98; gonorrhoea prevalence ratio, 0.25, 0.10-0.64). INTERPRETATION: The interventions we used were insufficient to reduce HIV-1 incidence in rural Uganda, where secular changes are occurring. More effective STI and behavioural interventions need to be developed for HIV control in mature epidemics.
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50. |
- Kinsman, John, et al.
(author)
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A model for promoting physical activity among rural South African adolescent girls
- 2015
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In: Global Health Action. - : Co-Action Publishing. - 1654-9716 .- 1654-9880. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: In South Africa, the expanding epidemic of non-communicable diseases is partly fuelled by high levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour. Women especially are at high risk, and interventions promoting physical activity are urgently needed for girls in their adolescence, as this is the time when many girls adopt unhealthy lifestyles.OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study aimed to identify and describe facilitating factors and barriers that are associated with physical activity among adolescent girls in rural, north-eastern South Africa and, based on these, to develop a model for promoting leisure-time physical activity within this population.DESIGN: The study was conducted in and around three secondary schools. Six focus group discussions were conducted with adolescent girls from the schools, and seven qualitative interviews were held with sports teachers and youth leaders. The data were subjected to thematic analysis.RESULTS: Seven thematic areas were identified, each of which was associated with the girls' self-reported levels of physical activity. The thematic areas are 1) poverty, 2) body image ideals, 3) gender, 4) parents and home life, 5) demographic factors, 6) perceived health effects of physical activity, and 7) human and infrastructural resources. More barriers to physical activity were reported than facilitating factors.CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the barriers found in the different themes indicated potential remedial actions that could be taken, and these were synthesised into a model for promoting physical activity among South African adolescent girls in resource-poor environments. The model presents a series of action points, seen both from the 'supply-side' perspective (such as the provision of resources and training for the individuals, schools, and organisations which facilitate the activities) and from the 'demand-side' perspective (such as the development of empowering messages about body image for teenage girls, and encouraging more parental involvement). The development of physical activity interventions that incorporate this supply- and demand-side model would represent an additional tool for ongoing efforts aimed at tackling the expanding non-communicable disease epidemic in South Africa, and in other resource-constrained settings undergoing rapid health transitions.
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