International Journal of MCH and AIDS最新文献

Background: Although a few studies have assessed occupational exposure and knowledge on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV among health care workers (HCWs), limited information is available on the factors that influence the use of HIV PEP among HCWs after occupational exposure in Cameroon. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of occupational exposure to HIV infection and identify factors (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) that influence compliance to the use of HIV PEP among HCWs in the Biyem-Assi, Buea, and Limbe health districts.

Methods: A stratified cross-sectional study was carried out among health care workers from the Biyem-Assi, Buea, and Limbe health districts of Cameroon. A structured questionnaire adapted from previous studies was administered on the socio-demographic status, occupational exposure to biological agents as well as information on knowledge, awareness of PEP guidelines, attitude, and practice of the HCWs towards HIV PEP.

Results: Of the 312 participants, 198 (63.5%) experienced an occupational injury, and 240 (76.9%) had a good attitude towards HIV PEP. Age, place of work, and inadequate knowledge were determinants of occupational exposure. Whereas, awareness of PEP guidelines and being a medical doctor influenced compliance with HIV PEP, with 158 (51.0%) having adequate knowledge of the guidelines. Out of the 198 who experienced occupational injury, 114 (57.6%) adopted the good practice and 60 (30.3%) made use of HIV PEP.

Conclusion and global health implications: Over half of health care workers had occupational exposure to HIV with poor utilization of post-exposure prophylaxis though they were aware and knowledgeable of PEP guidelines and exhibited good practice. Compliance with HIV PEP utilization was influenced by gender, awareness of PEP guidelines, and specialty of the health care worker.

Background and objective: Teenage pregnancy is considered a social and health problem because of its multifaceted consequences for pregnant teens, their family and society. The objectives of this article are 1) to describe the vulnerabilities encountered by pregnant teenagers and their relatives throughout the time of transition from pregnancy to motherhood and 2) to identify the strengths that are mobilized by these individuals during this period.

Methods: The qualitative data collection and analysis methodology was based on John Dewey's Social Inquiry. Participants were recruited from nine health institutions in the North and Northeast departments of Haiti. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews, which were audiotaped, transcribed, and exported for coding after verification and validation. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis of Paillé and Mucchielli.

Results: A total of 50 interviews were conducted with 33 pregnant teenagers (aged 14 - 19 years) and 17 relatives. This research identified vulnerabilities and strengths experienced by the adolescent participants and their relatives during the motherhood transition.

Conclusion and global health implications: The experiences, challenges, and vulnerabilities associated with the teenage-motherhood transition and the needs of pregnant teens, partners, and parents were identified in this study. The results indicated that more attention must be given to psychosocial and material support programs for pregnant adolescents and their loved ones during the motherhood transition and after-childbirth period. When logically and effectively implemented, the study results and suggested recommendations can be used as tools for reaching local and global public-health initiatives in Haiti.

Background and objective: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is widespread mainly in low and middle-income countries. Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of FGM, accounting for about one of every four cases globally. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of FGM among three generations in Abuja, the federal capital city of Nigeria.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) within two area councils of Abuja (Bwari and Abuja Municipal) and Nyanya suburban district adjoining the federal capital territory in Nigeria. The respondents are pregnant women attending antenatal care at four selected health facilities. Data were collected using Google Forms and were analyzed with SPSS for Windows version 25.

Results: This study comprised data from 634 females (who had an average age of 33±6.0 years) from four major healthcare facilities in Abuja. The most common age group was 30 - 34 years (29.2%). The prevalence of FGM in the first generation (37.7%) was significantly higher than in the second (28.5%) and the third generations (8.7%) (p<0.01). The prevalence of FGM in the second generation was also significantly higher than in the third (p<0.01). The predictors of women circumcising their daughters include primary/no-education AOR 1.48 (95% CI: 0.41-5.31; p<0.05), being a traditionalist 4.94 (95% CI: 0.29-84.56; p<0.05), or Muslim 2.27 (95% CI: 0.94-5.49; p<0.05), respondent's mother being circumcised 1.69 (95% CI: 0.26-10.85, p<0.05) or mother's circumcision unknown 5.41 (95% CI: 0.78-37.34; p<0.05), respondents being circumcised 54.71 (95% CI: 0.78-37.34; p<0.001), culture 2.48 (95% CI: 1.00-6.19; p<0.05), and ignorance of adverse psycho-social/emotional effects of FGM 4.39 (95% CI: 1.46-13.17; p<0.05).

Conclusion and global health implications: Although there is a decline in FGM prevalence from the first generation to the third generation in Nigeria, the current prevalence of 8.7% remains a public health concern. Nigerian women's ongoing experience of FGM requires both individual and stakeholders' involvement to eradicate health-related problems such as tissue damage, infection, scarring, infertility, and pains during sexual intercourse, urination, and menstruation.

Background and objective: Vaccine uptake rates during pregnancy remain below target goals due to a convergence of factors. In particular, women of lower socioeconomic means and racial minorities typically have reduced rates of vaccine acceptance. This study aims to identify additional factors contributing to vaccine acceptance within a sample population of women receiving prenatal care in Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 11,500 pregnant women covered by Medicaid or ChipPerinate who received prenatal care during 2013-2021, assessing influenza (flu) and combined Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis (TDAP) vaccine acceptance in the patient population. We examined temporal trends in flu and TDAP vaccination rates using Joinpoint regression analyses and evaluated the factors associated with single or concomitant vaccine acceptance during the study period and during the COVID-19 pandemic using adjusted log-binomial regression models.

Results: In our population, 54% of patients received flu vaccination, and 76.1% received TDAP. TDAP rates increased from 2013-2015 but have shown an overall decline since then, as with the flu vaccine. Earlier entry to prenatal care (Prevalence Ratio [PR] 6.32; Confidence Interval [CI] 3.28-12.24) and pregnancy comorbidity such as gestational diabetes (PR 1.32; CI 0.82-2.19) were positively associated with uptake. In contrast, the NH-Black race was negatively associated with vaccine acceptance (PR 0.51 CI; 0.25-0.99). Otherwise, age and history of pre-pregnancy comorbidities were not significant predictors.

Conclusion and global health implications: Within demographic groups identified as at-risk for vaccine refusal, modifying factors further impact vaccine hesitancy. Identifying these elements will guide targeted patient efforts to promote vaccine uptake, both for routine prenatal recommendations and for COVID vaccination.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial adverse impact on the health and well-being of populations in the United States (US) and globally. Although COVID-19 vaccine disparities among US adults aged ≥18 years are well documented, COVID-19 vaccination inequalities among US children are not well studied. Using the recent nationally representative data, we examine disparities in COVID-19 vaccination among US children aged 5-17 years by a wide range of social determinants and parental characteristics.

Methods: Using the US Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey from December 1, 2021 to April 11, 2022 (N=86,335), disparities in child vaccination rates by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health insurance, parental vaccination status, parental COVID-19 diagnosis, and metropolitan area were modeled by multivariate logistic regression.

Results: During December 2021-April 2022, an estimated 40.1 million or 57.2% of US children aged 5-17 received COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination rates were lowest among children of parents aged 25-34 (34.9%) and highest among children of parents aged 45-54 (69.2%). Children of non-Hispanic Black parents, divorced/separated and single individuals, parents with lower education and household income levels, renters, not-employed parents, the uninsured, and parents without COVID-19 vaccination or with COVID-19 diagnoses had significantly lower rates of vaccination. Controlling for covariates, Asian and Hispanic children aged 5-17 had 134% and 47% higher odds of receiving vaccination than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Children of parents with a high school education had 47% lower adjusted odds of receiving vaccination than children of parents with a master's degree or higher. Children with annual household income <$25,000 had 48% lower adjusted odds of vaccination than those with income ≥$200,000. Although vaccination rates were higher among children aged 12-17 than among children aged 5-11, sociodemographic patterns in vaccination rates were similar. Parental vaccination status was the strongest predictor of children's vaccination status. Vaccination rates for children aged 5-17 ranged from 49.6% in Atlanta, Georgia to 82.6% in San Francisco, California.

Conclusion and global health implications: Ethnic minorities, socioeconomically-disadvantaged children, uninsured children, and children of parents without COVID-19 vaccination or with COVID-19 diagnoses had significantly lower vaccination rates. Equitable vaccination coverage among children and adolescents is critical to reducing inequities in COVID-19 health outcomes in the US and globally.

An overlooked endemic zoonosis in Africa, monkeypox infection, which has spread to multiple non-endemic countries since early May 2022, was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization on July 23, 2022. As of August 8, 2022, over 28,000 confirmed and probable monkeypox cases were reported globally, including 6 deaths from the African continent and 4 deaths from the non-endemic regions. Although the current outbreak mostly belongs to the West African clade, which has a lower-case fatality ratio of <1%, there is limited data among immune-weakened individuals infected with monkeypox. It is still unknown if pregnant people are more susceptible to monkeypox. In addition, it is unclear whether having monkeypox increases the risk of birth defects. This commentary addresses reported cases of monkeypox infection in pregnancy and the possible maternal and fetal outcomes, including congenital monkeypox, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Factors behind the escalating global monkeypox outbreak, as well as the prevention and control of monkeypox via the One Health approach, are discussed to shed light on curbing the continuous emergence of monkeypox.

Background and objective: In Malawi, emergency peripartum hysterectomy continues to be routine for the management of puerperal sepsis. While the hysterectomy may be life-saving for the mother, it carries with it life-altering permanent sterility. The surgeon is left with a difficult dilemma: remove the infection source (uterus) to preserve the life of the patient at the cost of her fertility, or preserve the uterus and fertility but risk worsening infection and possible death for the patient. The objective of this study was to (1) identify characteristics associated with mortality post-laparotomy due to puerperal sepsis and (2) identify characteristics associated with emergency peripartum hysterectomy in the management of puerperal sepsis.

Methods: In this retrospective chart review, we obtained medical records of patients who underwent laparotomy secondary to puerperal sepsis at a tertiary hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. Data collected included demographic information and clinical findings. These data were compared between women with and without adverse outcomes. Chi-squared tests were used to determine if there were significant relationships between variables and outcomes.

Results: Fifty-eight patient records met inclusion criteria. The following characteristics were significantly associated with mortality: age greater than 30, multiparity, vaginal delivery, and intensive care unit admission. Cesarean delivery and an intraoperative finding of necrosis were significantly associated with hysterectomy.

Conclusion and global health implications: Emergency peripartum hysterectomy in the setting of puerperal sepsis is a significant source of maternal morbidity and mortality. To prevent emergency peripartum hysterectomy, it is important to have prompt recognition and treatment of puerperal sepsis, to have access to adequate antibiotics, and to have standards to guide the role of hysterectomy as the definitive and necessary treatment for puerperal sepsis.

Background: Adolescents and young adults in the United States (US) have experienced a significant increase in drug overdose mortality rates in the last two decades. During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, they experienced a lack of access to substance use disorder treatment, stay-home orders, school closure, social isolation, increased psychological distress, and financial strain. Few studies have examined the impact of the pandemic on monthly trends in drug-overdose mortality among youth by race/ethnicity. This study estimates differential changes in monthly drug overdose mortality among youth in the US by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.

Methods: Monthly deaths from the final 2018-2020 national mortality data and the 2021 provisional mortality data were used, and monthly population estimates were obtained from the Census Bureau. We calculated age-specific monthly drug overdose deaths per one million population and used log-linear regression models to estimate monthly percent increases in mortality rates from January 2018 through October 2021.

Results: Drug-overdose deaths among individuals aged 15-34 increased by 36.5% from 2019 (21,152 deaths) to 2020 (28,879 deaths). From February 2020 to May 2020, the drug-overdose mortality rate increased by 62% for males, 53% for females, 79% for Blacks, 62% for American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs), 57% for Hispanics, 56% for non-Hispanic Whites, and 47% for Asians. From January 2018 to October 2021, the average monthly drug-overdose mortality rate increased by 2.69% per month for Blacks, 2.54% for AIANs, 2.27% for Hispanics, 1.37% for Asians, and 0.81% for non-Hispanic Whites. Increases in drug-overdose mortality were more rapid among males than females and among youth aged 15-24 than youth aged 25-34.

Conclusion and global health implications: During the peak months in 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact by race/ethnicity on trends in drug overdose mortality among the youth. Drug overdose mortality rates increased faster among Blacks, Hispanics, AIANs, and Asians compared to non-Hispanic Whites.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) that constitutes a public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Nigeria. There is need for updated information on the extent of the disease burden at community level to facilitate effective prioritization and monitoring of the disease.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among school-aged children in Obudu Local Government Area (LGA), one of the 18 LGAs in Cross River State, Southern Nigeria. Seven schools from seven communities were randomly selected for this study. A total of 1,113 urine samples obtained from school-aged children were screened for Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) eggs using standard parasitological method of diagnosis. Proteinuria and hematuria were evaluated using reagent test strips.

Results: In this study, 153 (13.7%) children were infected with S. haematobium. More males (86 or 14.7%) were infected than females (67 or 12.7%); the differences were not statistically significant. The overall geometric mean intensity of infection was 13.3 eggs/10ml of urine. Females (13.69 eggs/10ml of urine) had the highest intensity of infection than males (12.91eggs/10ml of urine). Prevalence of hematuria was 152 (13.7%) (95% C.I. = 10.649 - 18.751%) while the prevalence of proteinuria was 172 (15.5%) (95% C.I. = 5.162 - 38.712%). Prevalence of infection significantly (p<0.001) varied among the schools from 7.8% to 28.9%. Children aged 5-9 years old had the highest prevalence of infection 46 (17.1%). The prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis was 28.9%, 20.5% and 13.2%, respectively, among Betukwel, Ibong, and Ohong communities.

Conclusion and global health implications: Urinary schistosomiasis is still endemic in Obudu, Southern Nigeria but with decreased prevalence. Public health mitigation efforts such as mass chemotherapy, provision of safe water supply and sanitation facilities are recommended. Furthermore, health education should be encouraged within schools and communities.

Background: Health systems integration is becoming increasingly important as the global health community transitions from acute, disease-specific health programming to models of care built for chronic diseases, primarily designed to strengthen public-sector health systems. In many countries across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (pMTCT) services are being integrated into the general maternal child health (MCH) clinics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits and challenges for integration of care within a developing health system, through the lens of an evaluative framework.

Methods: A framework adapted from the World Health Organization's six critical health systems functions was used to evaluate the integration of pMTCT services with general MCH clinics in western Kenya. Perspectives were collected from key stakeholders, including pMTCT and MCH program leadership and local health providers. The benefits and challenges of integration across each of the health system functions were evaluated to better understand this approach.

Results: Key informants in leadership positions and MCH staff shared similar perspectives regarding benefits and challenges of integration. Benefits of integration included convenience for families through streamlining of services and reduced HIV stigma. Concerns and challenges included confidentiality issues related to HIV status, particularly in the context of high-volume, crowded clinical spaces.

Conclusion and global health implications: The results from this study highlight areas that need to be addressed to maximize the effectiveness and clinical flow of the pMTCT-MCH integration model. The lessons learned from this integration may be applied to other settings in sub-Saharan Africa attempting to integrate HIV care into the broader public-sector health system.