Pub Date : 2024-09-17DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.16.24313773
Arup Jana, Malay Pramanik, Arabinda Maiti, Aparajita Chattopadhyay, Mary Abed Al Ahad
Rapid urbanization in India is contributing to heightened poor air quality. Yet research on the impact of poor air on adverse birth outcomes (ABOs) especially in the public health aspect is less in India. This study investigates the influence of air quality on birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB). Utilizing data from the National Family Health Survey and satellite images, the study employs various statistical analyses and spatial models to elucidate the connection between in-utero exposure to air pollution and birth outcomes, both at the individual and district levels. It was observed that approximately 13% of children were born prematurely, and 17% were born with low birth weight. Increased ambient PM2.5 concentrations during pregnancy were associated with higher odds of LBW (AOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.29–1.45). Mothers exposed to PM2.5 during pregnancy had a heightened likelihood of delivering prematurely (AOR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.57–1.77) in comparison to unexposed mothers. Climatic factors such as rainfall and temperature had a greater association with ABOs. Children residing in the Northern districts of India appeared to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of ambient air pollution. Furthermore, indoor air pollution was found to be associated with LBW. Employing a distributed spline approach, the study identified a discernible upward trend in the risk of adverse birth outcomes as the level of exposure increased, particularly following an exposure level of 40 PM2.5 ug/m3. Among the spatial models employed, the MGWR spatial model exhibited the highest level of goodness of fit. In addition to addressing immediate determinants such as nutrition and maternal healthcare, it is imperative to collaboratively address distal factors encompassing both indoor and outdoor pollution to attain lasting enhancements in child health.
{"title":"In-utero exposure to PM2.5 and adverse birth outcomes in India: Geostatistical modelling using remote sensing and demographic health survey data 2019-21","authors":"Arup Jana, Malay Pramanik, Arabinda Maiti, Aparajita Chattopadhyay, Mary Abed Al Ahad","doi":"10.1101/2024.09.16.24313773","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.16.24313773","url":null,"abstract":"Rapid urbanization in India is contributing to heightened poor air quality. Yet research on the impact of poor air on adverse birth outcomes (ABOs) especially in the public health aspect is less in India. This study investigates the influence of air quality on birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB). Utilizing data from the National Family Health Survey and satellite images, the study employs various statistical analyses and spatial models to elucidate the connection between in-utero exposure to air pollution and birth outcomes, both at the individual and district levels. It was observed that approximately 13% of children were born prematurely, and 17% were born with low birth weight. Increased ambient PM2.5 concentrations during pregnancy were associated with higher odds of LBW (AOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.29–1.45). Mothers exposed to PM2.5 during pregnancy had a heightened likelihood of delivering prematurely (AOR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.57–1.77) in comparison to unexposed mothers. Climatic factors such as rainfall and temperature had a greater association with ABOs. Children residing in the Northern districts of India appeared to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of ambient air pollution. Furthermore, indoor air pollution was found to be associated with LBW. Employing a distributed spline approach, the study identified a discernible upward trend in the risk of adverse birth outcomes as the level of exposure increased, particularly following an exposure level of 40 PM2.5 ug/m3. Among the spatial models employed, the MGWR spatial model exhibited the highest level of goodness of fit. In addition to addressing immediate determinants such as nutrition and maternal healthcare, it is imperative to collaboratively address distal factors encompassing both indoor and outdoor pollution to attain lasting enhancements in child health.","PeriodicalId":501555,"journal":{"name":"medRxiv - Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142251951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-14DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.11.24313466
Gwenllian Wynne-Jones, Martyn Lewis, Gail Sowden, Ira Madan, Karen Walker-Bone, Carolyn A. Chew-Graham, Kieran Bromley, Sue Jowett, Vaughan Parsons, Gemma Mansell, Kendra Cooke, Sarah Lawton, Benjamin Saunders, John Pemberton, Cyrus Cooper, Nadine Foster
Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of adding a brief vocational advice intervention to usual care in reducing the number of days absent from work over a period of 6 months in adults given a fit note by their general practice. Design: Multicentre, pragmatic, two parallel-arm, randomised controlled trial with health economic analyses and nested qualitative study. A computer-generated stratified block randomisation (ratio 1:1) was used to allocate arms. Setting: Participants will be recruited from general practices in the UK. Participants: 720 adults consulting in general practice, for any health condition, and receiving a fit note who have been absent from work for more than two-weeks but less than six months. Interventions: Participants in the intervention arm will be offered usual care and vocational advice delivered by a Vocational Support Worker (VSW) remotely via phone or videoconferencing. Participants in the control arm will be offered usual care. Main outcome measure: Number of days off work over 6 months. Follow-up data collection is via questionnaires at 6 weeks and 6 months. Conclusions: This paper presents the rationale, design and methods of the Work And Vocational advicE (WAVE) trial. The results of this trial will provide evidence to inform primary care practice and guide the development of services to provide support for patients with work absence. Trial registration: Clinical Trials: NCT04543097 Protocol number: Version 5.1
{"title":"Protocol for the Work And Vocational advicE (WAVE) randomised controlled trial testing the addition of vocational advice to usual primary care (Clinical Trials: NCT04543097)","authors":"Gwenllian Wynne-Jones, Martyn Lewis, Gail Sowden, Ira Madan, Karen Walker-Bone, Carolyn A. Chew-Graham, Kieran Bromley, Sue Jowett, Vaughan Parsons, Gemma Mansell, Kendra Cooke, Sarah Lawton, Benjamin Saunders, John Pemberton, Cyrus Cooper, Nadine Foster","doi":"10.1101/2024.09.11.24313466","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.11.24313466","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of adding a brief vocational advice intervention to usual care in reducing the number of days absent from work over a period of 6 months in adults given a fit note by their general practice. Design: Multicentre, pragmatic, two parallel-arm, randomised controlled trial with health economic analyses and nested qualitative study. A computer-generated stratified block randomisation (ratio 1:1) was used to allocate arms. Setting: Participants will be recruited from general practices in the UK. Participants: 720 adults consulting in general practice, for any health condition, and receiving a fit note who have been absent from work for more than two-weeks but less than six months. Interventions: Participants in the intervention arm will be offered usual care and vocational advice delivered by a Vocational Support Worker (VSW) remotely via phone or videoconferencing. Participants in the control arm will be offered usual care.\u0000Main outcome measure: Number of days off work over 6 months. Follow-up data collection is via questionnaires at 6 weeks and 6 months. Conclusions: This paper presents the rationale, design and methods of the Work And Vocational advicE (WAVE) trial. The results of this trial will provide evidence to inform primary care practice and guide the development of services to provide support for patients with work absence. Trial registration: Clinical Trials: NCT04543097\u0000Protocol number: Version 5.1","PeriodicalId":501555,"journal":{"name":"medRxiv - Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":"211 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142251952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-10DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.09.24313328
Hinako Kawabe, Luran Manfio, Sebastian Magana Pena, Nicolette Zhou, Kevin Bradley, Cen Chen, Chris McLendon, Steven A Benner, Karen Levy, Zunyi Yang, Jorge A Marchand, Erica Fuhrmeister
Environmental surveillance and clinical diagnostics heavily rely on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for target detection. A growing list of microbial threats warrants new PCR-based detection methods that are highly sensitive, specific, and multiplexable. Here, we introduce a PCR-based icosaplex (20-plex) assay for detecting 18 enteropathogen and two antimicrobial resistance genes. This multiplexed PCR assay leverages the self-avoiding molecular recognition system (SAMRS) to avoid primer dimer formation, the artificially expanded genetic information system (AEGIS) for amplification specificity, and next-generation sequencing for amplicon identification. We benchmarked this assay using a low-cost, portable sequencing platform (Oxford Nanopore) on wastewater, soil, and human stool samples. Using parallelized multi-target TaqMan Array Cards (TAC) to benchmark performance of the 20-plex assay, there was 74% agreement on positive calls and 97% agreement on negative calls. Additionally, we show how sequencing information from the 20-plex can be used to further classify allelic variants of genes and distinguish sub-species. The strategy presented offers sensitive, affordable, and robust multiplex detection that can be used to support efforts in wastewater-based epidemiology, environmental monitoring, and human/animal diagnostics.
{"title":"Harnessing non-standard nucleic acids for highly sensitive icosaplex (20-plex) detection of microbial threats","authors":"Hinako Kawabe, Luran Manfio, Sebastian Magana Pena, Nicolette Zhou, Kevin Bradley, Cen Chen, Chris McLendon, Steven A Benner, Karen Levy, Zunyi Yang, Jorge A Marchand, Erica Fuhrmeister","doi":"10.1101/2024.09.09.24313328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.09.24313328","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental surveillance and clinical diagnostics heavily rely on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for target detection. A growing list of microbial threats warrants new PCR-based detection methods that are highly sensitive, specific, and multiplexable. Here, we introduce a PCR-based icosaplex (20-plex) assay for detecting 18 enteropathogen and two antimicrobial resistance genes. This multiplexed PCR assay leverages the self-avoiding molecular recognition system (SAMRS) to avoid primer dimer formation, the artificially expanded genetic information system (AEGIS) for amplification specificity, and next-generation sequencing for amplicon identification. We benchmarked this assay using a low-cost, portable sequencing platform (Oxford Nanopore) on wastewater, soil, and human stool samples. Using parallelized multi-target TaqMan Array Cards (TAC) to benchmark performance of the 20-plex assay, there was 74% agreement on positive calls and 97% agreement on negative calls. Additionally, we show how sequencing information from the 20-plex can be used to further classify allelic variants of genes and distinguish sub-species. The strategy presented offers sensitive, affordable, and robust multiplex detection that can be used to support efforts in wastewater-based epidemiology, environmental monitoring, and human/animal diagnostics.","PeriodicalId":501555,"journal":{"name":"medRxiv - Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142198815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-06DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.05.24313148
Eleni Asfaw Kebede, Tigist Workneh Leulseged
Background Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most common cancer worldwide and ranks 13th in incidence in Ethiopia. Occupational exposure is the second leading cause of BC after smoking, accounting for 21%–27% of BC cases in men and 11% in women. This study aims to investigate the association between occupational exposure to chemical substances and bladder cancer among patients in selected hospitals in Ethiopia.
{"title":"Association of occupational exposure to chemical substances with bladder cancer in Ethiopia: A multi-center matched case-control Study","authors":"Eleni Asfaw Kebede, Tigist Workneh Leulseged","doi":"10.1101/2024.09.05.24313148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.05.24313148","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Background</strong> Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most common cancer worldwide and ranks 13th in incidence in Ethiopia. Occupational exposure is the second leading cause of BC after smoking, accounting for 21%–27% of BC cases in men and 11% in women. This study aims to investigate the association between occupational exposure to chemical substances and bladder cancer among patients in selected hospitals in Ethiopia.","PeriodicalId":501555,"journal":{"name":"medRxiv - Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":"69 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142198816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-03DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.02.24312931
Chiara Dall’ora, Paul Meredith, Christina Saville, Jeremy Jones, Peter Griffiths
Importance Nurses’ work-related stress and sickness absence are high. The consequences of sickness absence are severe for health systems’ efficiency and productivity.
重要性 护士工作压力大，病假率高。因病缺勤对医疗系统的效率和生产力造成严重影响。
{"title":"The association between nurse staffing configurations and sickness absence: longitudinal study","authors":"Chiara Dall’ora, Paul Meredith, Christina Saville, Jeremy Jones, Peter Griffiths","doi":"10.1101/2024.09.02.24312931","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.02.24312931","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Importance</strong> Nurses’ work-related stress and sickness absence are high. The consequences of sickness absence are severe for health systems’ efficiency and productivity.","PeriodicalId":501555,"journal":{"name":"medRxiv - Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142198817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-31DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.30.24312844
Bethany Croak, Laura Rafferty, Marie-Louise Sharp, Alexandria Smith, Rafiyah Khan, Victoria Langston, Neil Greenberg, Nicola T Fear, Sharon A.M Stevelink
The role of women in the UK Armed Forces has changed considerably in the last decade. With drives to increase the number of women serving in the military, research must consider the impact of both service and transition into civilian life on the health and wellbeing of service and ex-servicewomen (female veterans). This paper adds to the field by providing the perspective of service providers supporting ex-service personnel with their mental health, employment, housing and other needs in addition to those working in policy affecting ex-servicewomen. This study aimed to explore their understanding of what constitutes a successful transition into civilian life, the barriers and facilitators to achieving this and how transition might be impacted by the gender of the individual transitioning. Interviews and roundtable discussions were held with stakeholders (n=28) and analysed using framework analysis. Four overarching themes were identified: ’Successful transition is individual and all-encompassing’, ‘The conflicting identities of servicewomen’, ’Sexism: women don’t belong in service’ and ’The needs of servicewomen’. The first theme describes how the process and result of successful transition is individual to each ex-servicewoman, whilst the remaining themes outline common challenges faced by ex-servicewomen on this journey. There was no singular definition of ’successful transition’, but stakeholders described barriers to a successful transition. They identified prominent gender-specific barriers rooted in misogyny and inequality during military service that permeated into civilian life and impacted support use and workplace experiences. Ex- servicewomen were often required to juggle multiple responsibilities, mother and partner, and identities, women and warrior, simultaneously. Policies should look to address elements of military culture that may reinforce gender inequality and ensure veteran services are inclusive and welcoming to women and cater for gender-specific needs such as gynaecological health. Whilst in-service and veteran-focused interventions are needed, entrenched sexism in general society should not be ignored.
{"title":"Barriers and facilitators to successful transition to civilian life for ex-servicewomen: the perspective of service providers and policymakers","authors":"Bethany Croak, Laura Rafferty, Marie-Louise Sharp, Alexandria Smith, Rafiyah Khan, Victoria Langston, Neil Greenberg, Nicola T Fear, Sharon A.M Stevelink","doi":"10.1101/2024.08.30.24312844","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.30.24312844","url":null,"abstract":"The role of women in the UK Armed Forces has changed considerably in the last decade. With drives to increase the number of women serving in the military, research must consider the impact of both service and transition into civilian life on the health and wellbeing of service and ex-servicewomen (female veterans). This paper adds to the field by providing the perspective of service providers supporting ex-service personnel with their mental health, employment, housing and other needs in addition to those working in policy affecting ex-servicewomen. This study aimed to explore their understanding of what constitutes a successful transition into civilian life, the barriers and facilitators to achieving this and how transition might be impacted by the gender of the individual transitioning. Interviews and roundtable discussions were held with stakeholders (n=28) and analysed using framework analysis. Four overarching themes were identified: ’Successful transition is individual and all-encompassing’, ‘The conflicting identities of servicewomen’, ’Sexism: women don’t belong in service’ and ’The needs of servicewomen’. The first theme describes how the process and result of successful transition is individual to each ex-servicewoman, whilst the remaining themes outline common challenges faced by ex-servicewomen on this journey. There was no singular definition of ’successful transition’, but stakeholders described barriers to a successful transition. They identified prominent gender-specific barriers rooted in misogyny and inequality during military service that permeated into civilian life and impacted support use and workplace experiences. Ex- servicewomen were often required to juggle multiple responsibilities, mother and partner, and identities, women and warrior, simultaneously. Policies should look to address elements of military culture that may reinforce gender inequality and ensure veteran services are inclusive and welcoming to women and cater for gender-specific needs such as gynaecological health. Whilst in-service and veteran-focused interventions are needed, entrenched sexism in general society should not be ignored.","PeriodicalId":501555,"journal":{"name":"medRxiv - Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142198818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-29DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.29.24312778
Moustafa Sherif, Aya Darwish, Balázs Ádám
Objectives To systematically review and meta-analyse the genotoxic impact of prenatal and early childhood pesticide exposure, investigating prevalence, specific pesticides, effect size, mechanisms, genetic susceptibility, and vulnerable periods.
{"title":"Genotoxicity of Prenatal and Early Childhood Exposure to Pesticides: A Protocol and Pilot Study of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"Moustafa Sherif, Aya Darwish, Balázs Ádám","doi":"10.1101/2024.08.29.24312778","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312778","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Objectives</strong> To systematically review and meta-analyse the genotoxic impact of prenatal and early childhood pesticide exposure, investigating prevalence, specific pesticides, effect size, mechanisms, genetic susceptibility, and vulnerable periods.","PeriodicalId":501555,"journal":{"name":"medRxiv - Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142198819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-26DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.26.24312258
Vy Kim Nguyen, Samuel Zimmerman, Justin Colacino, Olivier Jolliet, Chirag J Patel
Background: Body dissatisfaction can drive individuals to use personal care products, exposing themselves to Benzophenone-3 (BP3). Yet, no study has examined the link between body dissatisfaction and elevated chemical exposures. Objectives: Our study examines how body dissatisfaction impacts the racial differences in BP3 exposures. Methods: Using NHANES 2003-2016 data for 3,072 women, we ascertained body dissatisfaction with a questionnaire on weight perception. We ran two generalized linear models with log10-transformed urinary concentrations of BP3 as the outcome variable and the following main predictors: one with race/ethnicity and another combining race/ethnicity and body dissatisfaction. We also conducted stratified analyses by race/ethnicity. We adjusted for poverty income ratio, BMI, urinary creatinine, and sunscreen usage. Results: BP3 levels in Mexican American, Other Hispanic, Other Race, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Asian women were on average 59%, 56%, 33%, 16%, and 9% higher, respectively, compared to non-Hispanic Black women. Racial differences in BP3 levels are accentuated with body dissatisfaction. For example, Other Hispanic women perceiving themselves as overweight had 69% higher BP3 levels than non-Hispanic Black women (p-value = 0.01), while those perceiving themselves as at the right weight had 32% higher levels (p-value = 0.31). Moreover, minority women perceiving themselves as overweight tended to have higher BP3 levels than those who do not. For example, BP3 levels in Other Hispanic women perceiving themselves as overweight are significantly higher compared to those who do not (73%, p-value = 0.03). In contrast, such differences in the non-Hispanic White women are minimal (-0.5%, p-value = 0.98). Discussion: Minority women with body dissatisfaction show elevated BP3 exposure independent of sunscreen usage, implying that their elevated exposures may stem from using other personal care and consumer products. Further research is needed to determine if increases of exposure to potential toxicants occur among minority women with body dissatisfaction.
{"title":"Body dissatisfaction widens the racial disparities of Benzophenone-3, a chemical biomarker of personal care and consumer product usage","authors":"Vy Kim Nguyen, Samuel Zimmerman, Justin Colacino, Olivier Jolliet, Chirag J Patel","doi":"10.1101/2024.08.26.24312258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.26.24312258","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Body dissatisfaction can drive individuals to use personal care products, exposing themselves to Benzophenone-3 (BP3). Yet, no study has examined the link between body dissatisfaction and elevated chemical exposures. Objectives: Our study examines how body dissatisfaction impacts the racial differences in BP3 exposures.\u0000Methods: Using NHANES 2003-2016 data for 3,072 women, we ascertained body dissatisfaction with a questionnaire on weight perception. We ran two generalized linear models with log10-transformed urinary concentrations of BP3 as the outcome variable and the following main predictors: one with race/ethnicity and another combining race/ethnicity and body dissatisfaction. We also conducted stratified analyses by race/ethnicity. We adjusted for poverty income ratio, BMI, urinary creatinine, and sunscreen usage. Results: BP3 levels in Mexican American, Other Hispanic, Other Race, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Asian women were on average 59%, 56%, 33%, 16%, and 9% higher, respectively, compared to non-Hispanic Black women. Racial differences in BP3 levels are accentuated with body dissatisfaction. For example, Other Hispanic women perceiving themselves as overweight had 69% higher BP3 levels than non-Hispanic Black women (p-value = 0.01), while those perceiving themselves as at the right weight had 32% higher levels (p-value = 0.31). Moreover, minority women perceiving themselves as overweight tended to have higher BP3 levels than those who do not. For example, BP3 levels in Other Hispanic women perceiving themselves as overweight are significantly higher compared to those who do not (73%, p-value = 0.03). In contrast, such differences in the non-Hispanic White women are minimal (-0.5%, p-value = 0.98). Discussion: Minority women with body dissatisfaction show elevated BP3 exposure independent of sunscreen usage, implying that their elevated exposures may stem from using other personal care and consumer products. Further research is needed to determine if increases of exposure to potential toxicants occur among minority women with body dissatisfaction.","PeriodicalId":501555,"journal":{"name":"medRxiv - Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":"46 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142198820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-20DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.20.24312309
Lindokuhle Mokoena, Tanusha Singh
Vaccine hesitancy has emerged as a significant global challenge impacting healthcare institutions, workplaces and governments alike. Despite concerted efforts by the government and numerous other institutions in South Africa, low vaccination rates persist (33% as of November 13, 2023), reflecting the persistence of this global challenge. This challenge is particularly pronounced in educational institutions such as institutions of higher learning in South Africa, where many people converge, increasing the risk of viral exposure. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of healthcare workers (HCWs) at a Nursing College regarding voluntary and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. Employing a quantitative approach, a survey with closed-ended Likert-type questions was administered to 504 individuals at the College. The sample size of 218 respondents was calculated based on a margin of error of 5%, a confidence level of 95%, and an additional 25% contingency for potential incomplete data, resulting in a final representative sample of 270 respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for the analysis. Findings indicate a high uptake of voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations among HCWs, with some being mandated. Most HCWs demonstrated a strong commitment to safeguarding themselves and others. Despite concerns, HCWs thought the COVID-19 vaccines were effective, and their views were supported by a low level of infection among the participants, underscoring its efficacy in preventing transmission. Effective communication emerged as a critical factor in addressing post-vaccination behaviours and enhancing vaccine acceptance. However, the findings also highlighted the need for tailored outreach strategies to specific audiences, such as pregnant women, and the importance of addressing concerns about adverse effects through clear and open communication. Several factors influencing the choice between mandatory and voluntary vaccination were identified, including eligibility concerns, religious convictions, and financial considerations. Notably, concerns about safety and knowledge gaps outweighed these factors, suggesting the need for targeted educational initiatives to bolster vaccine acceptance. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of vaccination acceptance among an influential occupational group, with implications for the acceptance of other vaccines. Vaccination efforts can be strengthened by addressing concerns, enhancing communication strategies, and tailoring outreach efforts to promote public health in light of future outbreaks.
{"title":"Mandatory or Voluntary COVID-19 Vaccination: Insights into the Knowledge, Attitude and Perception among Healthcare Workers at a Nursing College in South Africa","authors":"Lindokuhle Mokoena, Tanusha Singh","doi":"10.1101/2024.08.20.24312309","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.20.24312309","url":null,"abstract":"Vaccine hesitancy has emerged as a significant global challenge impacting healthcare institutions, workplaces and governments alike. Despite concerted efforts by the government and numerous other institutions in South Africa, low vaccination rates persist (33% as of November 13, 2023), reflecting the persistence of this global challenge. This challenge is particularly pronounced in educational institutions such as institutions of higher learning in South Africa, where many people converge, increasing the risk of viral exposure. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of healthcare workers (HCWs) at a Nursing College regarding voluntary and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. Employing a quantitative approach, a survey with closed-ended Likert-type questions was administered to 504 individuals at the College. The sample size of 218 respondents was calculated based on a margin of error of 5%, a confidence level of 95%, and an additional 25% contingency for potential incomplete data, resulting in a final representative sample of 270 respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for the analysis. Findings indicate a high uptake of voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations among HCWs, with some being mandated. Most HCWs demonstrated a strong commitment to safeguarding themselves and others. Despite concerns, HCWs thought the COVID-19 vaccines were effective, and their views were supported by a low level of infection among the participants, underscoring its efficacy in preventing transmission. Effective communication emerged as a critical factor in addressing post-vaccination behaviours and enhancing vaccine acceptance. However, the findings also highlighted the need for tailored outreach strategies to specific audiences, such as pregnant women, and the importance of addressing concerns about adverse effects through clear and open communication. Several factors influencing the choice between mandatory and voluntary vaccination were identified, including eligibility concerns, religious convictions, and financial considerations. Notably, concerns about safety and knowledge gaps outweighed these factors, suggesting the need for targeted educational initiatives to bolster vaccine acceptance. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of vaccination acceptance among an influential occupational group, with implications for the acceptance of other vaccines. Vaccination efforts can be strengthened by addressing concerns, enhancing communication strategies, and tailoring outreach efforts to promote public health in light of future outbreaks.","PeriodicalId":501555,"journal":{"name":"medRxiv - Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142225330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-05DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.05.24311412
Lauren J Scott, Danielle Lamb, Chris Michael Penfold, M Theresa Redaniel, Nora Trompeter, Paul Moran, Rupa Bhundia, Neil Greenberg, Rosalind Raine, Simon Wessely, Ira Madan, Peter Aitken, Anne Marie Rafferty, Sarah Dorrington, Richard Morriss, Dominic Murphy, Sharon Stevelink
Objective To determine key workforce variables (demographic, health and occupational) that predicted NHS staff's 1) absence due to illness (both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related) and 2) expressed intention to leave their current profession. Methods Staff from 18 NHS Trusts were surveyed between April 2020 and January 2021, and again approximately 12 months later. Logistic and linear regression were used to explore relationships between baseline exposures and 12-month outcomes. Results We included 10,831 participants for analysis. At 12-months, 20% stated they agreed or strongly agreed they were actively seeking employment outside their current profession; 24% said they thought about leaving their profession at least several times per week. Twenty-percent of participants took 5+ days of work absence due to non-COVID-19 sickness in the 12-months between baseline and 12-month questionnaire; 14% took 5+ days of COVID-19 related sickness absence. Sickness absence (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related) and intention to leave the profession (actively seeking another role and thinking about leaving) were all more common among NHS staff who were younger, in a COVID-19 risk group, had a probable mental health disorder, and who did not feel supported by colleagues and managers. Conclusions There were several factors which affect both workforce retention and sickness absence. Of particular interest because they are modifiable, are the impact of colleague and manager support. The NHS workforce is likely to benefit from training managers to speak with and support staff, especially those experiencing mental health difficulties. Further, staff should be given sufficient opportunities to form and foster social connections.
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