Global health journal (Amsterdam, Netherlands)最新文献

In recent decades, the ecological environment has been increasingly challenged by the development of global industrialization and urbanization all over the world, even as global attention for health has raised dramatically. Common global environmental issues, such as air pollution and noise pollution, are associated with lasting impacts on health and contribute significantly to the overall burden of disease. Moreover, a global disparity exists between the burden of such environmental health issues and the global resources available to address this issue. To alleviate the environmental health impacts and ensure a sustainable future for human beings, China has made an important contribution to improving access to ecological protection, environmental governance, patriotic health campaigns, smart city construction, and so on. Experiences gained in China may be useful for some other countries, particularly the low- and middle-income countries with limited sources.

Background

Noise pollution is increasing across the world due to the increase in human activities in the urban areas. The main causes of noise pollution are man-made and environmental noise. However, long exposure to noise pollution could lead to dire health consequences like cardiovascular diseases, hearing impairment, sleep disturbances, and adverse social behavior etc., which is rarely documented in the study area.

Objective

Communities in the developing countries such as Ghana have little knowledge of effects of noise pollution on human health, which is demonstrated by their attitude towards this menace. This study assessed the health impacts of noise pollution and its spatial distribution in the Tarkwa Mining Community (TMC) of Ghana.

Methods

To achieve the study objective, questionnaires were administered; as well as collation of health data from major health centers in the study area. Noise levels were measured and noise map produced using geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Overlay maps of some diseases were done using overlay techniques in GIS. The noise exposure and corresponding noise doses for churches, working sites and social centers were also calculated using the respective formulae.

Results

The noise levels were found to be high above the prescribed Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, with traffic noise levels ranging from 65.00 dBA to 98 dBA, while that of churches ranged from 73.10 dBA to 107.00 dBA and that of working sites from 74.4 dBA to 115.2 dBA. The calculated noise exposure and corresponding noise dose for churches ranged from 75.1 dBA to 104.6 dBA (i.e., 10%‒8 000%), while that for workers’ sites were from 75.8 dBA to 115 dBA (i.e., 12%‒90 000%). Statistical regression and correlation analyses were done for diseases such as hypertension, ear problems and sleep disturbances.

Conclusion

The study has therefore revealed that the noise levels in the study area are very high and corresponding health impacts are prominent. Stakeholders and authorities should devise mitigating measures to combat this rising menace. The results revealed a strong positive correlation between noise and corresponding health impacts. Despite the positive correlation there are other causes and effects to the mentioned diseases.

Background

Both population-level epidemiological data and individual-level biological data are needed to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Population-level data are widely available and efforts to combat COVID-19 have generated proliferate data on the biology and immunoresponse to the causative pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, there remains a paucity of systemized data on this subject.

Objective

In this review, we attempt to extract systemized data on the biology and immuno-response to SARS-CoV-2 from the most up-to-date peer-reviewed studies. We will focus on the biology of the virus and immunological variations that are key for determining long-term immunity, transmission potential, and prognosis.

Data Sources and Methods

Peer-reviewed articles were sourced from the PubMed database and by snowballing search of selected publications. Search terms included: “Novel Coronavirus” OR “COVID-19” OR “SARS-CoV-2” OR “2019-nCoV” AND “Immunity” OR “Immune Response” OR “Antibody Response” OR “Immunologic Response”. Studies published from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020 were included. To ensure validity, papers in pre-print were excluded.

Results

Of 2 889 identified papers, 36 were included. Evidence from these studies suggests early seroconversion in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Antibody titers appear to markedly increase two weeks after infection, followed by a plateau. A more robust immune response is seen in patients with severe COVID-19 as opposed to mild or asymptomatic presentations. This trend persists with regard to the length of antibody maintenance. However, overall immunity appears to wane within two to three months post-infection.

Conclusion

Findings of this study indicate that immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 follow the general pattern of viral infection. Immunity generated through natural infection appears to be short, suggesting a need for long-term efforts to control the pandemic. Antibody testing will be essential to gauge the epidemic and inform decision-making on effective strategies for treatment and prevention. Further research is needed to illustrate immunoglobulin-specific roles and neutralizing antibody activity.

Background

In the context of China's aging population, meeting consumer demand is an essential way for nursing homes to fulfill social responsibilities and improve competitive advantages. However, since little is known about the elderly's service level and price choices for nursing home care, this study aims to explore the non-disabled elderly's nursing home admission intention, service level, and price choices.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 402 non-disabled respondents was conducted in three different income level cities of Zhejiang Province, in July and August 2018. Multinomial logistic regression and multiple linear regression were used to identify the determinants of admission intention, service level choice, and price choice.

Results

Education, residence, and number of children were significantly associated with nursing home admission intention. Compared to those with no intention, the elderly with higher income and household wealth were less likely to have conditional intentions, and those living with the family were less likely to have unconditional intentions. Compared to medium-level services, the elderly with higher monthly income (relative risk ratio [RRR] 3.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.801 to 5.233), household wealth (RRR 5.451, 95% CI: 2.249 to 13.216), and age (RRR 1.528, 95% CI: 1.004 to 2.326) were more likely to prefer high-level services, while older adults with higher monthly income (RRR 0.516, 95% CI: 0.344 to 0.774), and those with pensions (RRR 0.267, 95% CI: 0.076 to 0.931) were less likely to prefer low-level services. The elderly's price preference increased by 398 CNY as monthly income increased by 1 000 CNY, and by 270 CNY as the housing number increased by one. Having pensions increased price preference (468 CNY), whereas having health insurance decreased price preference (–690 CNY).

Conclusion

The elderly's intention of nursing home admission was primarily affected by sociodemographic factors, while price and service level choices were primarily affected by financial factors. Nursing homes should use the market segmentation method to provide precision nursing home care for different groups of non-disabled elderly.

Aims

This study aim to gain insights into attitudes, acceptance and knowledge levels among family physicians toward homosexual people, which are important as they may affect care among this at-risk group.

Methods

An anonymized self-administered questionnaire in English was posted with the assistance of the College of Family Physicians Singapore in February 2015 to its 1 529 members with self-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes for replies. The questionnaire included demographic questions such as age group, gender, religion, ethnicity, marital status and place of practice. Questions and scales that measured attitude, acceptance, knowledge and perception of colleagues who are homosexual were also included in the questionnaire.

Results

451 responses (29.5%) were obtained, of which 441 were valid (28.84%). About 52.8% of participants were found to have negative, 8.9% neutral and 38.3% positive attitudes toward homosexuality. Most (75.6%) were accepting of homosexuals, with 9.3% neutral and 15.1% not accepting. Knowledge levels were poor, with a mean score of 6.9 out of a maximum of 13. A strong correlation was found between the attitudes towards lesbians and gay men (ATLG) and acceptance of homosexuals scales (r = 0.69, P < 0.001), with moderate correlations between acceptance and knowledge (r = 0.54, P < 0.001) and ATLG and Knowledge (r = 0.54, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Despite majority of family physicians having negative attitudes towards homosexuality, most are able to accept homosexuality. With better education in sexual orientation in the medical educational curriculum, the increase in knowledge will lead to better care for people with homosexuality.

In this paper, we reviewed the various advanced technologies and methods that could help patients for measuring adherence of patients. There exist intelligent technologies that are available for measuring medication adherence, including medication event monitoring system (MEMS®), smart blister packs, radio frequency identification (RFID) embedded smart drawers, and wisely aware RFID dosage (WARD) system. Utilization of these advanced technologies and systems have aided in enhancing the adherence to a greater extent. For example, MEMS® refers to the electronic cap that counts the number of bottles opened, but it can be employed only with bottles. Smart blisters are pharmaceutical packagings that possess the capability of monitoring when a pill or tablet is taken out of its packing. All those intelligent technologies can help in active monitoring of patients regarding adherence and capable of eradicating various medication errors due to which adherence is affected.

Objective

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, causing significant mortality in the world, which contributed 11.7% to the overall cancer-related mortality in Afghanistan. In 2018, 3 062 new breast cancer cases were reported accounting for 29.7% of all cancers in women in the country. However, a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic system is lacking in Afghanistan. In this paper, we reported the implementation of a project aiming to establish a comprehensive breast cancer center in Herat province of Afghanistan.

Methods

From July 2017, a two-year-program initiated at Kimia Hospital in Herat. This first free diagnostic and therapeutic breast cancer project planned by the Afghanistan Surgeons Society – West and the Verein für Afghanistan-Förderung e. V., as well supported by three international foundations. The target populations of this project were women presenting with breast problems at Kimia Hospital in Herat and healthcare staff involved in breast cancer diagnosis and management.

Results

A group of six medical personnel chosen to represent the breast cancer core team for breast cancer diagnosis and management were trained in India. These caregivers established the breast cancer service and tumor board. During a period of 20 months, a total of 632 women with breast problems presented to Kimia Hospital of whom 44 (7.0%) were diagnosed with breast cancer. Diagnosis was established by a physical examination, ultrasonography, mammography, biopsy and histopathology. Treatment included surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Twelve seminars for 512 healthcare workers, 1 000 brochures and a movie were prepared for awareness-raising actions. For continuation of this project, potential resource providers were identified. A database was developed to record project findings.

Conclusion

Implementation of this comprehensive breast cancer project resulted in significant achievements in healthcare staff capacity building, diagnosis and management of breast cancer patients in Herat province. Data obtained in this project offer Afghan government, public health authorities, and the community the opportunity of improving diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in Afghanistan.