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Carducci B, Dominguez G, Kidd E, Janes K, Owais A, Bhutta ZA. Pivoting school health and nutrition programmes during COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. J Glob Health 2024; 14:05006. [PMID: 38236689 PMCID: PMC10795858 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.05006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Preventive and promotive interventions delivered by schools can support a healthy lifestyle, positive development, and well-being in children and adolescents. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presented unique challenges to school health and nutrition programmes due to closures and mobility restrictions. Methods We conducted a scoping review to examine how school health and nutrition programmes pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide summative guidance to stakeholders in strategic immediate and long-term response efforts. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and grey literature sources for primary (observational, intervention, and programme evaluations) and secondary (reviews, best practices, and recommendations) studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries from January 2020 to June 2023. Programmes that originated in schools, which included children and adolescents (5-19.9 years) were eligible. Results We included 23 studies in this review. They varied in their adaptation strategy and key programmatic focus, including access to school meals (n = 8), health services, such as immunisations, eye health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene-related activities (n = 4), physical activity curriculum and exercise training (n = 3), mental health counselling and curriculum (n = 3), or were multi-component in nature (n = 5). While school meals, physical activity, and mental health programmes were adapted by out-of-school administration (either in the community, households, or virtually), all health services were suspended indefinitely. Importantly, there was an overwhelming lack of quantitative data regarding modified programme coverage, utilisation, and the impact on children and adolescent health and nutrition. Conclusions We found limited evidence of successful adaptation of school health and nutrition programme implementation during the pandemic, especially from Asia and Africa. While the adoption of the World Health Organization health-promoting school global standards and indicators is necessary at the national and school level, future research must prioritise the development of a school-based comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to track key indicators related to both health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Carducci
- Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research, and Learning (PGCRL), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Georgia Dominguez
- Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research, and Learning (PGCRL), Toronto, Canada
| | - Emily Kidd
- Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research, and Learning (PGCRL), Toronto, Canada
| | - Karlie Janes
- Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research, and Learning (PGCRL), Toronto, Canada
| | - Aatekah Owais
- Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research, and Learning (PGCRL), Toronto, Canada
| | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research, and Learning (PGCRL), Toronto, Canada
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Centre of Excellence in Women, and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Watson J, Cumming O, Dreibelbis R. Nongovernmental Organization Practitioners' Perspectives on the Challenges and Solutions to Changing Handwashing Behavior in Older Children: A Qualitative Study. GLOBAL HEALTH, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023; 11:GHSP-D-22-00231. [PMID: 36853630 PMCID: PMC9972390 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-22-00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing handwashing with soap (HWWS) among older children (aged 5-14 years) can achieve a substantial public health impact. However, HWWS interventions targeting older children have had mixed success. Recent research has attempted to quantitatively identify effective intervention techniques; however, success is likely also influenced by the wider context of implementation. We explore nongovernmental organization (NGO) practitioners' perspectives on the challenges and solutions to HWWS interventions targeting older children to enhance understanding of what is required, beyond intervention content, for them to be effective. METHODS We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews in April-November 2020 with 25 practitioners employed across 11 NGOs and involved in HWWS interventions targeting older children in development and humanitarian settings. We used purposive and snowball sampling to recruit participants in roles at the global, national/regional, and local levels. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed to identify challenges and solutions to HWWS interventions targeting older children. Results were organized according to program development cycle stages. RESULTS Twelve themes relating to perceived challenges emerged: (1) lack of prioritization, (2) funding inconsistency, (3) insufficient formative research, (4) demand on resources, (5) unengaging intervention content, (6) non-enabling physical environments, (7) availability of skilled implementers, (8) reaching out-of-school children, (9) community mistrust, (10) lack of coordination, (11) lack of evaluation rigor, and (12) failure to assign older children's HWWS as a primary outcome in evaluations of hygiene interventions. Recommended solutions were at the intervention, organization, and sector levels. CONCLUSION Intervention design and delivery are important for the success of HWWS interventions for older children, but contextual factors, such as the availability of human and material resources and the level of coordination within and beyond the NGO sector, should also be considered. NGOs need to prioritize HWWS promotion among older children and support programs accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Watson
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Oliver Cumming
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Dreibelbis
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Suta S, Surawit A, Mongkolsucharitkul P, Pinsawas B, Manosan T, Ophakas S, Pongkunakorn T, Pumeiam S, Sranacharoenpong K, Sutheeworapong S, Poungsombat P, Khoomrung S, Akarasereenont P, Thaipisuttikul I, Suktitipat B, Mayurasakorn K. Prolonged Egg Supplement Advances Growing Child's Growth and Gut Microbiota. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15051143. [PMID: 36904143 PMCID: PMC10005095 DOI: 10.3390/nu15051143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein-energy malnutrition still impacts children's growth and development. We investigated the prolonged effects of egg supplementation on growth and microbiota in primary school children. For this study, 8-14-year-old students (51.5% F) in six rural schools in Thailand were randomly assigned into three groups: (1) whole egg (WE), consuming 10 additional eggs/week (n = 238) (n = 238); (2) protein substitute (PS), consuming yolk-free egg substitutes equivalent to 10 eggs/week (n = 200); and (3) control group (C, (n = 197)). The outcomes were measured at week 0, 14, and 35. At the baseline, 17% of the students were underweight, 18% were stunted, and 13% were wasted. At week 35, compared to the C group the weight and height difference increased significantly in the WE group (3.6 ± 23.5 kg, p < 0.001; 5.1 ± 23.2 cm, p < 0.001). No significant differences in weight or height were observed between the PS and C groups. Significant decreases in atherogenic lipoproteins were observed in the WE, but not in PS group. HDL-cholesterol tended to increase in the WE group (0.02 ± 0.59 mmol/L, ns). The bacterial diversity was similar among the groups. The relative abundance of Bifidobacterium increased by 1.28-fold in the WE group compared to the baseline and differential abundance analysis which indicated that Lachnospira increased and Varibaculum decreased significantly. In conclusion, prolonged whole egg supplementation is an effective intervention to improve growth, nutritional biomarkers, and gut microbiota with unaltered adverse effects on blood lipoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophida Suta
- Population Health and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Apinya Surawit
- Population Health and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Pichanun Mongkolsucharitkul
- Population Health and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Bonggochpass Pinsawas
- Population Health and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Thamonwan Manosan
- Population Health and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Suphawan Ophakas
- Population Health and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Tanyaporn Pongkunakorn
- Population Health and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Sureeporn Pumeiam
- Population Health and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | | | - Sawannee Sutheeworapong
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Research Unit, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
| | - Patcha Poungsombat
- Metabolomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Sakda Khoomrung
- Metabolomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
- Siriraj Metabolomics and Phenomics Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Pravit Akarasereenont
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Iyarit Thaipisuttikul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Bhoom Suktitipat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Korapat Mayurasakorn
- Population Health and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-9-4189-3266
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Chucherd O, Vallibhakara SAO, Paiwattananupant K, Puranitee P, Wattanayingcharoenchai R, Vallibhakara O. The effect of online video-assisted teaching program on medical students learning procedure of fractional curettage. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2023; 23:82. [PMID: 36732732 PMCID: PMC9893180 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04052-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Since 2020, with the entire world in crisis over the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), medical students have adapted to hybrid and distance learning. This study aims to compare the learning outcomes of students learning the procedure of fractional curettage in an online video-assisted teaching program to those of students learning the procedure in a traditional class. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was conducted among fourth-year medical students who rotated to Obstetrics and Gynecology courses between April 2021 and October 2021. Participants in the first two rotations were enrolled in traditional classes, and the online video-assisted teaching program was introduced in the subsequent two rotations. Both study groups took OSCEs (objective structured clinical examinations), a pre-test and post-test with MCQs (multiple choice questions), and a confidence and satisfaction level questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 106 fourth-year medical students, 54 in the traditional group and 52 in the online video-assisted teaching program, were recruited. The online video-assisted group showed a statistically better mean OSCE score (85.67 ± 11.29 vs. 73.87 ± 13.01, p < 0.001) and mean post-test MCQ score than the traditional group (4.21 ± 0.87 vs. 3.80 ± 0.98, p = 0.0232). Moreover, the mean difference between the two groups' pre and post-test MCQ scores was significantly different (0.96 ± 1.37 vs. 1.79 ± 1.50 in traditional and online video-assisted teaching program groups, respectively, P = 0.0038). The participants in the experimental group reported significantly greater confidence (P < 0.001) in performing the fractional curettage procedure. However, the mean satisfaction score was significantly higher in the control group (p = 0.0053). CONCLUSION The online video-assisted teaching program on the fractional curettage procedure, a necessary and skill-demanding procedure, is an effective and advantageous education tool that improves skills, knowledge, and confidence in fourth-year medical students. We recommend that the video-assisted teaching program is another effectively procedural teaching method for medical students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oracha Chucherd
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Sakda Arj-Ong Vallibhakara
- Faculty of Medicine, BangkokThonburi University, Bangkok, 10170, Thailand
- Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Krissada Paiwattananupant
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Pongtong Puranitee
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Rujira Wattanayingcharoenchai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Orawin Vallibhakara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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Gulati N, Nanda C, Hora RK. COVID-19 and its impact on mental health as a function of gender, age, and income. DISCOVER MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 3:4. [PMID: 36714273 PMCID: PMC9870201 DOI: 10.1007/s44192-022-00025-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of people from different socioeconomic classes. This has been done by creating an anxiety score, based on responses to a set of questions that were asked as part of a two-round telephonic survey done by Young Lives Data for India. Using this index, anxiety levels have been classified as high, medium, and low. As the dependent variable has an ordered nature, an ordered logit model has been used for regression. According to the results, job loss, death of the family's earning member or mishap in the family, and price increases all contributed to increased anxiety. The analysis indicates that anxiety levels among women were higher than among men because of the increased burden of household chores and childcare responsibilities. Also, anxiety levels were higher among those who perceived themselves as rich or poor as opposed to those who were comfortable in their income group. There was a higher anxiety level among the rich due to income loss and increased household responsibilities. A high percentage of children and elders reported feeling anxious; school closures and a lack of social interaction caused stress. Isolation also plagued the elderly. Furthermore, many students couldn't avail online learning opportunities due to a lack of resources. The government implemented many policies to mitigate these issues, which included those to mitigate the immediate hunger problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namrata Gulati
- Faculty of Economics, South Asian University, Akbar Bhawan, Satya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi Delhi, 110021 India
| | - Chandni Nanda
- Digital Assets & Outreach Team at Zigram Data Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Delhi, India
| | - Ramandeep Kaur Hora
- Faculty of Economics, South Asian University, Akbar Bhawan, Satya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi Delhi, 110021 India
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Baral S, Rao A, Rwema JOT, Lyons C, Cevik M, Kågesten AE, Diouf D, Sohn AH, Phaswana-Mafuya RN, Kamarulzaman A, Millett G, Marcus JL, Mishra S. Competing health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and early response: A scoping review. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273389. [PMID: 36037216 PMCID: PMC9423636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 has rapidly emerged as a global public health threat with infections recorded in nearly every country. Responses to COVID-19 have varied in intensity and breadth, but generally have included domestic and international travel limitations, closure of non-essential businesses, and repurposing of health services. While these interventions have focused on testing, treatment, and mitigation of COVID-19, there have been reports of interruptions to diagnostic, prevention, and treatment services for other public health threats. OBJECTIVES We conducted a scoping review to characterize the early impact of COVID-19 on HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, sexual and reproductive health, and malnutrition. METHODS A scoping literature review was completed using searches of PubMed and preprint servers (medRxiv/bioRxiv) from November 1st, 2019 to October 31st, 2020, using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms related to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 and HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, sexual and reproductive health, and malnutrition. Empiric studies reporting original data collection or mathematical models were included, and available data synthesized by region. Studies were excluded if they were not written in English. RESULTS A total of 1604 published papers and 205 preprints were retrieved in the search. Overall, 8.0% (129/1604) of published studies and 10.2% (21/205) of preprints met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review: 7.3% (68/931) on HIV, 7.1% (24/339) on tuberculosis, 11.6% (26/224) on malaria, 7.8% (19/183) on sexual and reproductive health, and 9.8% (13/132) on malnutrition. Thematic results were similar across competing health risks, with substantial indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and response on diagnostic, prevention, and treatment services for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, sexual and reproductive health, and malnutrition. DISCUSSION COVID-19 emerged in the context of existing public health threats that result in millions of deaths every year. Thus, effectively responding to COVID-19 while minimizing the negative impacts of COVID-19 necessitates innovation and integration of existing programs that are often siloed across health systems. Inequities have been a consistent driver of existing health threats; COVID-19 has worsened disparities, reinforcing the need for programs that address structural risks. The data reviewed here suggest that effective strengthening of health systems should include investment and planning focused on ensuring the continuity of care for both rapidly emergent and existing public health threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Amrita Rao
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jean Olivier Twahirwa Rwema
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Carrie Lyons
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Muge Cevik
- Division of Infection and Global Health Research, School of Medicine, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland
| | - Anna E. Kågesten
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | | | - Annette H. Sohn
- TREAT Asia, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya
- South African Medical Research Council/University of Johannesburg Pan African Centre for Epidemics Research Extramural Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Adeeba Kamarulzaman
- Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Gregorio Millett
- Public Policy Office, amfAR, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Julia L. Marcus
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Sharmistha Mishra
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Mueed A, Aliani R, Abdullah M, Kazmi T, Sultan F, Khan A. School closures help reduce the spread of COVID-19: A pre- and post-intervention analysis in Pakistan. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000266. [PMID: 36962220 PMCID: PMC10021268 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Closing schools to control COVID-19 transmission has been globally debated, with concerns about children's education and well-being, and also because of the varied effectiveness of the intervention in studies across the world. This paper aims to determine the effect of school closure policy on the incidence of COVID-19 in Pakistan. A Difference-in-Differences (DiD) analysis compared changes in COVID-19 incidence across cities that completely (Islamabad) and partially (Peshawar) closed schools during the second wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan. Effects of closing (November 2020) and reopening schools (February 2021) were assessed in Islamabad and Peshawar 10 and 20 days after policy implementation. In Islamabad, there was a greater decline in cases than in Peshawar when schools closed. After 10-days, the average reduction of daily COVID-19 incidence in Islamabad was lower by 89 cases (95% CI: -196, 18), due to complete school closure, with a relative reduction of 125 cases (95% CI: -191, -59) compared to Peshawar. Similarly, the relative increase in Islamabad after schools re-opened was 107 cases (95% CI: 46, 167) compared to Peshawar. After 20-days, the average daily COVID-19 incidence in both cities declined after school were closed (Islamabad: -81 [95% CI: -150, -13] versus Peshawar: -80 [95% CI: -148, -12]). COVID-19 incidence appeared to decline after schools reopened as well (Islamabad: -116 [95% CI: -230, -3] versus Peshawar: -30 [95% CI: -124, 63]). However, Peshawar's decline is not statistically significant. These results control for changes in testing as well as a daily time trend. The magnitude and speed of reduction in cases with a complete school closure, and a similar but reverse trend of increasing cases upon reopening, suggests that closing schools reduces COVID-19 transmission in communities. However, there are learning-loss and well-being costs for children and their parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Mueed
- Akhter Hameed Khan Resource Center, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Razia Aliani
- Akhter Hameed Khan Resource Center, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Twangar Kazmi
- Akhter Hameed Khan Resource Center, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Faisal Sultan
- Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Adnan Khan
- Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Research and Development Solutions, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Akbarialiabad H, Shidhaye R, Shidhaye P, Cuijpers P, Weaver MR, Bahrololoom M, Kiburi S, Njuguna IN, Taghrir MH, Kumar M. Impact of major disease outbreaks in the third millennium on adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights in low and/or middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e051216. [PMID: 35277399 PMCID: PMC8919461 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of young people continue to present a high burden and remain underinvested. This is more so in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where empirical evidence reveals disruption of SRHR maintenance, need for enhancement of programmes, resources and services during pandemics. Despite the importance of the subject, there is no published review yet combining recent disease outbreaks such as (H1N1/09, Zika, Ebola and SARS-COV-2) to assess their impact on adolescents and youth SRHR in LMICs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We will adopt a four-step search to reach the maximum possible number of studies. In the first step, we will carry out a limitedpreliminary search in databases for getting relevant keywords (appendix 1). Second, we will search in four databases: Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase and PsycINFO. The search would begin from the inception of the first major outbreak in 2009 (H1N1/09) up to the date of publication of the protocol in early 2022. We will search databases using related keywords, screen title & abstract and review full texts of the selected titles to arrive at the list of eligible studies. In the third stage, we will check their eligibility to the included article's reference list. In the fourth stage, we will check the citations of included papers in phase 2 to complete our study selection. We will include all types of original studies and without any language restriction in our final synthesis. Our review results will be charted for each pandemic separately and include details pertaining to authors, year, country, region of the study, study design, participants (disaggregated by age and gender), purpose and report associated SRHR outcomes. The review will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guideline (PRISMA-ScR). PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Patients or public were not involved in this study. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical assessment is not required for this study. The results of the study will be presented in peer-reviewed publications and conferences on adolescent SRHR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Akbarialiabad
- Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Pallavi Shidhaye
- Division of Clinical Sciences, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, India
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marcia R Weaver
- Departments of Health Metrics Sciences and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Mina Bahrololoom
- Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sarah Kiburi
- Department of Psychiatry, Mbagathi Hospital, Nairobi Metropolitan Services, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Irene N Njuguna
- Research & Programs, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mohammad Hossein Taghrir
- Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Manasi Kumar
- Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University, Kenya
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
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Fram MS, Nguyen HT, Frongillo EA. Food Insecurity among Adolescent Students from 95 Countries Is Associated with Diet, Behavior, and Health, and Associations Differ by Student Age and Sex. Curr Dev Nutr 2022; 6:nzac024. [PMID: 35317415 PMCID: PMC8929982 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzac024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adolescents' developmental tasks and challenges vary based on age, sex, and social context. Food insecurity affects adolescents, but existing research has been limited to a few country contexts and has treated adolescence as a singular developmental moment with limited consideration of potential differences in how food insecurity relates to developmental experiences based on adolescent age and sex. Objectives We aimed to describe relations between student-reported food insecurity and students' profiles of nutritional, physical activity, school absenteeism, health/mental health, and victimization experiences, and how these differ by student age and sex. Methods Using cross-sectional data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey, we examined adolescent reports of their food security among 337,738 students 11-18 y old from 95 countries. We identified their profiles of focal experiences, and used mixed-effects linear and logistic regression models to examine differences in these profiles by student food insecurity and how these differ by student age and sex. Results Of students, 25.5% aged 11-14 y compared with 30% aged 15-18 y reported food insecurity in the past 30 d. Food insecurity was associated with less frequent fruit and vegetable intake; more frequent soft drink intake; worse mental health; less physical activity; more missed school; higher odds of smoking, drinking, and using drugs; and more bullying victimization and sexual partners. Food insecurity was associated with reduced age- and sex-specific protection: greater substance use among younger adolescents, more sexual partners among older females, and greater worry among younger males. Food insecurity was also associated with increased age-specific risk: greater soft drink consumption among younger adolescents. Conclusions Across countries, adolescent food insecurity was associated with poorer nutritional, mental health, behavioral, and relationship profiles; these associations differed with student age and sex. Food insecurity interventions should attend to adolescent developmental stage and the gendered contexts through which adolescents navigate daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hoa T Nguyen
- Institute for Families in Society, College of Social Work, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Edward A Frongillo
- Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
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10
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Do the Benefits of School Closure Outweigh Its Costs? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19052500. [PMID: 35270192 PMCID: PMC8909310 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
School closure has been a common response to COVID-19. Yet, its implementation has hardly ever been based on rigorous analysis of its costs and benefits. We aim to first illustrate the unintended consequences and side effects of school closure, and then discuss the policy and research implications. This commentary frames evidence from the most recent papers on the topic from a public-health epidemiology and disaster risk reduction perspective. In particular, we argue that the benefits of school closure in terms of reduced infection rates should be better compared with its costs in terms of both short- and long-term damage on the physical, mental, and social well-being of children and society at large.
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11
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Aknin LB, De Neve JE, Dunn EW, Fancourt DE, Goldberg E, Helliwell JF, Jones SP, Karam E, Layard R, Lyubomirsky S, Rzepa A, Saxena S, Thornton EM, VanderWeele TJ, Whillans AV, Zaki J, Karadag O, Ben Amor Y. Mental Health During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review and Recommendations for Moving Forward. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2022; 17:915-936. [PMID: 35044275 PMCID: PMC9274782 DOI: 10.1177/17456916211029964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 90.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 has infected millions of people and upended the lives of most humans on the planet. Researchers from across the psychological sciences have sought to document and investigate the impact of COVID-19 in myriad ways, causing an explosion of research that is broad in scope, varied in methods, and challenging to consolidate. Because policy and practice aimed at helping people live healthier and happier lives requires insight from robust patterns of evidence, this article provides a rapid and thorough summary of high-quality studies available through early 2021 examining the mental-health consequences of living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Our review of the evidence indicates that anxiety, depression, and distress increased in the early months of the pandemic. Meanwhile, suicide rates, life satisfaction, and loneliness remained largely stable throughout the first year of the pandemic. In response to these insights, we present seven recommendations (one urgent, two short-term, and four ongoing) to support mental health during the pandemic and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara B Aknin
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sarah P Jones
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London
| | - Elie Karam
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Saint George Hospital University Medical Center
| | - Richard Layard
- Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics and Political Science
| | | | - Andrew Rzepa
- Global Food Security Program, Gallup Inc., London, England
| | - Shekhar Saxena
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
| | | | - Tyler J VanderWeele
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
| | - Ashley V Whillans
- Negotiations, Organizations and Markets Unit, Harvard Business School
| | - Jamil Zaki
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University
| | - Ozge Karadag
- Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University
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12
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Wu JT, Mei S, Luo S, Leung K, Liu D, Lv Q, Liu J, Li Y, Prem K, Jit M, Weng J, Feng T, Zheng X, Leung GM. A global assessment of the impact of school closure in reducing COVID-19 spread. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2022; 380:20210124. [PMID: 34802277 PMCID: PMC8607143 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2021.0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Prolonged school closure has been adopted worldwide to control COVID-19. Indeed, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization figures show that two-thirds of an academic year was lost on average worldwide due to COVID-19 school closures. Such pre-emptive implementation was predicated on the premise that school children are a core group for COVID-19 transmission. Using surveillance data from the Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Anqing together, we inferred that compared with the elderly aged 60 and over, children aged 18 and under and adults aged 19-59 were 75% and 32% less susceptible to infection, respectively. Using transmission models parametrized with synthetic contact matrices for 177 jurisdictions around the world, we showed that the lower susceptibility of school children substantially limited the effectiveness of school closure in reducing COVID-19 transmissibility. Our results, together with recent findings that clinical severity of COVID-19 in children is lower, suggest that school closure may not be ideal as a sustained, primary intervention for controlling COVID-19. This article is part of the theme issue 'Data science approach to infectious disease surveillance'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph T. Wu
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Shujiang Mei
- Department of Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Sihui Luo
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People's Republic of China
- Clinical Research Hospital (Hefei) of Chinese Academy of Science, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Kathy Leung
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Di Liu
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Qiuying Lv
- Department of Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Liu
- Anqing Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University (Anqing Municipal Hospital), Anqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Kiesha Prem
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Mark Jit
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jianping Weng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People's Republic of China
- Clinical Research Hospital (Hefei) of Chinese Academy of Science, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Tiejian Feng
- Department of Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueying Zheng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People's Republic of China
- Clinical Research Hospital (Hefei) of Chinese Academy of Science, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Gabriel M. Leung
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong
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13
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Yarhere I, Oragui O. Reduced admissions in the children's emergency room during coronavirus-19 pandemic in the university of port harcourt teaching hospital, Nigeria. NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/njm.njm_34_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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14
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Shankar PR, Palaian S, Vannal V, Sreeramareddy CT. Non-Pharmacological Infection Prevention and Control Interventions in COVID-19: What Does the Current Evidence Say? Int J Prev Med 2021; 12:174. [PMID: 37663401 PMCID: PMC10472080 DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_604_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), a major global public health emergency has significantly impacted human health and livelihoods. The pandemic continues to spread and treatments and vaccines are at different stages of development. Mass vaccination has been rolled out worldwide. This review article provides a narrative summary of the evidence on various non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) for COVID-19 containment. The authors reviewed the evidence published by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health map of COVID-19 evidence. Additional literature was identified from PubMed and Google Scholar, preprint sites, and news media. The search terms included "Social distancing measures" and "COVID 19", "Non-pharmacological interventions'' and "COVID 19", "COVID-19", "non-pharmacological interventions", "face mask", etc. The strength of the evidence for most studies on NPIs was 'weak to moderate' for restrictive NPIs. Ascertaining the impact of each NPI as a standalone intervention is difficult since NPIs are implemented simultaneously with other measures. Varying testing and reporting strategies across the countries and classification of deaths directly caused by COVID-19 create challenges in assessing the impact of restrictive NPIs on the case numbers and deaths. Evidence on hygiene measures such as face mask is more robust in design providing credible evidence on prevention of COVID-19 infection. Evidence from modeling studies, natural before-after studies, and anecdotal evidence from the strategies adopted by 'role model' countries suggests that continued use of NPIs is the only containment strategy until 'herd immunity' is achieved to reduce the severe disease and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Ravi Shankar
- IMU Centre for Education, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Subish Palaian
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences, Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
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15
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Baral S, Rao A, Twahirwa Rwema JO, Lyons C, Cevik M, Kågesten AE, Diouf D, Sohn AH, Phaswana-Mafuya N, Kamarulzaman A, Millett G, Marcus JL, Mishra S. Competing Health Risks Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic and Early Response: A Scoping Review. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.01.07.21249419. [PMID: 33442703 PMCID: PMC7805463 DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.07.21249419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 has rapidly emerged as a global public health threat with infections recorded in nearly every country. Responses to COVID-19 have varied in intensity and breadth, but generally have included domestic and international travel limitations, closure of non-essential businesses, and repurposing of health services. While these interventions have focused on testing, treatment, and mitigation of COVID-19, there have been reports of interruptions to diagnostic, prevention, and treatment services for other public health threats. OBJECTIVES We conducted a scoping review to characterize the early impact of COVID-19 on HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, sexual and reproductive health, and malnutrition. METHODS A scoping literature review was completed using searches of PubMed and preprint servers (medRxiv/bioRxiv) from January 1st to October 31st, 2020, using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms related to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 and HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, sexual and reproductive health, and malnutrition. Empiric studies reporting original data collection or mathematical models were included, and available data synthesized by region. Studies were excluded if they were not written in English. RESULTS A total of 1604 published papers and 205 preprints met inclusion criteria, including 8.2% (132/1604) of published studies and 10.2% (21/205) of preprints: 7.3% (68/931) on HIV, 7.1% (24/339) on tuberculosis, 11.6% (26/224) on malaria, 7.8% (13/166) on sexual and reproductive health, and 9.8% (13/132) on malnutrition. Thematic results were similar across competing health risks, with substantial indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and response on diagnostic, prevention, and treatment services for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, sexual and reproductive health, and malnutrition. DISCUSSION COVID-19 emerged in the context of existing public health threats that result in millions of deaths every year. Thus, effectively responding to COVID-19 while minimizing the negative impacts of COVID-19 necessitates innovation and integration of existing programs that are often siloed across health systems. Inequities have been a consistent driver of existing health threats; COVID-19 has worsened disparities, reinforcing the need for programs that address structural risks. The data reviewed here suggest that effective strengthening of health systems should include investment and planning focused on ensuring the continuity of care for both rapidly emergent and existing public health threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Amrita Rao
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Carrie Lyons
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Muge Cevik
- Division of Infection and Global Health Research, School of Medicine, University of St. Andrews, Scotland
| | - Anna E Kågesten
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | | | - Annette H Sohn
- TREAT Asia, amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg
| | | | | | - Julia L Marcus
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Sharmistha Mishra
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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16
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Jiang X, Chen Y, Wang J. Global Food Security under COVID-19: Comparison and Enlightenment of Policy Responses in Different Countries. Foods 2021; 10:foods10112850. [PMID: 34829131 PMCID: PMC8618370 DOI: 10.3390/foods10112850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: COVID-19 has exacerbated global food security risks, and the global food supply chain, especially in developing countries, has become more vulnerable. (2) Methods: In this paper, we discussed the current security of global food, response measures, and potential impacts, and analyzed the characteristics and evolution of food security policies in four representative countries: China, Italy, Malawi, Argentina. (3) Results: The results showed that most countries give priority to ensuring food access. Most underdeveloped countries adopt humanitarian intervention measures such as food distribution and transfer payments, while developed countries tend to implement development intervention policies such as supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises and guaranteeing employment. (4) Conclusions: Despite the ample global supply, developing countries still face long-term food security risks, highlighting the importance of strengthening global food security governance and risk management. Finally, a food security risk response policy framework was built to provide suggestions for effectively handling COVID-19 and similar public health emergencies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Jiang
- Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Yangfen Chen
- Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
- Correspondence: (Y.C.); (J.W.)
| | - Jieyong Wang
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Correspondence: (Y.C.); (J.W.)
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17
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Halperin DT, Hearst N, Hodgins S, Bailey RC, Klausner JD, Jackson H, Wamai RG, Ladapo JA, Over M, Baral S, Escandón K, Gandhi M. Revisiting COVID-19 policies: 10 evidence-based recommendations for where to go from here. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:2084. [PMID: 34774012 PMCID: PMC8590121 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12082-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Strategies to control coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) have often been based on preliminary and limited data and have tended to be slow to evolve as new evidence emerges. Yet knowledge about COVID-19 has grown exponentially, and the expanding rollout of vaccines presents further opportunity to reassess the response to the pandemic more broadly. MAIN TEXT We review the latest evidence concerning 10 key COVID-19 policy and strategic areas, specifically addressing: 1) the expansion of equitable vaccine distribution, 2) the need to ease restrictions as hospitalization and mortality rates eventually fall, 3) the advantages of emphasizing educational and harm reduction approaches over coercive and punitive measures, 4) the need to encourage outdoor activities, 5) the imperative to reopen schools, 6) the far-reaching and long-term economic and psychosocial consequences of sustained lockdowns, 7) the excessive focus on surface disinfection and other ineffective measures, 8) the importance of reassessing testing policies and practices, 9) the need for increasing access to outpatient therapies and prophylactics, and 10) the necessity to better prepare for future pandemics. CONCLUSIONS While remarkably effective vaccines have engendered great hope, some widely held assumptions underlying current policy approaches call for an evidence-based reassessment. COVID-19 will require ongoing mitigation for the foreseeable future as it transforms from a pandemic into an endemic infection, but maintaining a constant state of emergency is not viable. A more realistic public health approach is to adjust current mitigation goals to be more data-driven and to minimize unintended harms associated with unfocused or ineffective control efforts. Based on the latest evidence, we therefore present recommendations for refining 10 key policy areas, and for applying lessons learned from COVID-19 to prevent and prepare for future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Halperin
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Norman Hearst
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stephen Hodgins
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Robert C Bailey
- School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Klausner
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Richard G Wamai
- Integrated Initiative for Global Health, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Public Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joseph A Ladapo
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mead Over
- Center for Global Development, Washington, D.C, USA
| | - Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kevin Escandón
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
- Department of Microbiology, Universidad del Valle, Grupo de Investigación en Virus Emergentes VIREM, Cali, Colombia.
| | - Monica Gandhi
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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18
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Rahiem MDH, Krauss SE, Ersing R. Perceived Consequences of Extended Social Isolation on Mental Well-Being: Narratives from Indonesian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10489. [PMID: 34639788 PMCID: PMC8508155 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite several recent studies reporting on young people's well-being during COVID-19, few large-scale qualitative studies have been carried out that capture the experiences of young people from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) undergoing extended social restrictions. The challenges faced by young people from LMICs during COVID-19 are likely to be amplified by their countries' large populations, resource constraints, lack of access to health care, living conditions, socio-spatial contexts, and the pandemic's ramifications for communities. This study explored how youths perceived their well-being after being isolated for one-and-a-half years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative narrative research was employed as a method of inquiry. One-hundred and sixty-six university students in Jakarta, Indonesia, between the ages of 17 and 22 wrote reflective online essays on the consequences of extended pandemic isolation on their mental health. This data collection strategy offered an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon through the narratives of those who experienced it. Seven themes expressing the youths' perceived well-being were identified through inductive reflective thematic analysis: (1) the anguish of loneliness and estrangement; (2) a state of "brokenness" resulting from emotional agony and distress; (3) frustration, confusion, and anger; (4) the experience of conflicting emotions; (5) uncertainty about both the present and future; (6) a sense of purpose and fulfillment; and (7) turning to faith. The findings provide important insights into Indonesian youths' well-being following extended social restrictions following the outbreak. Their collective experiences can be used to inform policy and practice regarding the nature of support mechanisms required both during and following the pandemic, and in the future if such a situation were to occur again.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maila D. H. Rahiem
- Faculty of Education, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia;
| | - Steven Eric Krauss
- Institute for Social Science Studies (IPSAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
- Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
| | - Robin Ersing
- School of Public Affairs, University of South Florida, Tempa, FL 33620, USA;
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19
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Sweeney-Reed CM, Wolff D, Hörnschemeyer S, Faßhauer H, Haase A, Schomburg D, Niggel J, Kabesch M, Apfelbacher C. Feasibility of a surveillance programme based on gargle samples and pool testing to prevent SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in schools. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19521. [PMID: 34593887 PMCID: PMC8484445 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98849-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
School closures have a negative impact on physical and mental well-being, and education, of children and adolescents. A surveillance programme to detect asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection could allow schools to remain open, while protecting the vulnerable. We assessed the feasibility of a programme employing gargle samples and pool testing of individually extracted RNA using rRT-qPCR in a primary and a secondary school in Germany, based on programme logistics and acceptance. Twice a week, five participants per class were selected to provide samples, using an algorithm weighted by a risk-based priority score to increase likelihood of case detection. The positive response rate was 54.8% (550 of 1003 pupils). Logistics evaluation revealed the rate-limiting steps: completing the regular pre-test questionnaire and handing in the samples. Acceptance questionnaire responses indicated strong support for research into developing a surveillance programme and a positive evaluation of gargle tests. Participation was voluntary. As not all pupils participated, individual reminders could lead to participant identification. School-wide implementation of the programme for infection monitoring purposes would enable reminders to be given to all school pupils to address these steps, without compromising participant anonymity. Such a programme would provide a feasible means to monitor asymptomatic respiratory tract infection in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Sweeney-Reed
- Neurocybernetics and Rehabilitation, Dept. of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Doreen Wolff
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Hörnschemeyer
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Henriette Faßhauer
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Antonia Haase
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Schomburg
- Institute of Biometry und Medical Informatics (IBMI), Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Niggel
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- MaganaMed GmbH, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael Kabesch
- University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Research and Development Campus Regensburg (WECARE), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Apfelbacher
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Research and Development Campus Regensburg (WECARE), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Campbell H, Wood AC. Challenges in Feeding Children Posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Systematic Review of Changes in Dietary Intake Combined with a Dietitian's Perspective. Curr Nutr Rep 2021; 10:155-165. [PMID: 33993426 PMCID: PMC8123103 DOI: 10.1007/s13668-021-00359-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To examine the evidence that the dietary quality of children changed between the period preceding the COVID-19 pandemic and the first year during the pandemic. RECENT FINDINGS A systematic review of the evidence for dietary changes occurring as a result of the pandemic-related restrictions, in Part I of this article, yielded 38 original research articles. These articles had conflicting results, some describing improvements in overall quality and some describing deteriorations. As a whole the studies were characterized by a low study quality, and children were poorly represented. Taken together, these studies do not provide enough evidence to draw conclusions about whether dietary habits changed or not as a result of the pandemic. However, in a wider, narrative review of the psychosocial changes occurring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the known associations of these factors with a dietary intake in Part II, we conclude that there is a reason to expect that the dietary quality of children might have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. One the one hand, the literature fails to provide conclusive evidence on changes in the dietary quality of children resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the broader literature supports the hypothesis that children's dietary quality will have declined during the pandemic. Taken together, we urgently need more high-quality research on children's changes in dietary intake occurring over the pandemic. This will provide important information on whether any potential long-term consequences of such changes, if they exist, need to be examined and ameliorated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexis C Wood
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1000 Bates Street, Houston, TX, 77071, USA.
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21
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Escandón K, Rasmussen AL, Bogoch II, Murray EJ, Escandón K, Popescu SV, Kindrachuk J. COVID-19 false dichotomies and a comprehensive review of the evidence regarding public health, COVID-19 symptomatology, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, mask wearing, and reinfection. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:710. [PMID: 34315427 PMCID: PMC8314268 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06357-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Scientists across disciplines, policymakers, and journalists have voiced frustration at the unprecedented polarization and misinformation around coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Several false dichotomies have been used to polarize debates while oversimplifying complex issues. In this comprehensive narrative review, we deconstruct six common COVID-19 false dichotomies, address the evidence on these topics, identify insights relevant to effective pandemic responses, and highlight knowledge gaps and uncertainties. The topics of this review are: 1) Health and lives vs. economy and livelihoods, 2) Indefinite lockdown vs. unlimited reopening, 3) Symptomatic vs. asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, 4) Droplet vs. aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, 5) Masks for all vs. no masking, and 6) SARS-CoV-2 reinfection vs. no reinfection. We discuss the importance of multidisciplinary integration (health, social, and physical sciences), multilayered approaches to reducing risk ("Emmentaler cheese model"), harm reduction, smart masking, relaxation of interventions, and context-sensitive policymaking for COVID-19 response plans. We also address the challenges in understanding the broad clinical presentation of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. These key issues of science and public health policy have been presented as false dichotomies during the pandemic. However, they are hardly binary, simple, or uniform, and therefore should not be framed as polar extremes. We urge a nuanced understanding of the science and caution against black-or-white messaging, all-or-nothing guidance, and one-size-fits-all approaches. There is a need for meaningful public health communication and science-informed policies that recognize shades of gray, uncertainties, local context, and social determinants of health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Escandón
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
| | - Angela L Rasmussen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
- Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Isaac I Bogoch
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Eleanor J Murray
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Karina Escandón
- Department of Anthropology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Saskia V Popescu
- Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Jason Kindrachuk
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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22
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Łuszczki E, Bartosiewicz A, Pezdan-Śliż I, Kuchciak M, Jagielski P, Oleksy Ł, Stolarczyk A, Dereń K. Children's Eating Habits, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Media Usage before and during COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland. Nutrients 2021; 13:2447. [PMID: 34371957 PMCID: PMC8308833 DOI: 10.3390/nu13072447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge changes in people's lifestyle, health, and social relationships. This situation has had an impact on children and adolescents, affecting their health, intellectual, physical, and emotional development. The survey aimed to compare eating behaviors, level of physical activity (PA), hours of sleep, and screen time among Polish children and adolescents aged 6-15 years before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We obtained self-reported data from 1016 participants at two measurement points before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Poland to examine the influence of the lockdown and the distance learning on PA, dietary habits, sleep, and media usage of children and adolescents aged 6-15 years. The study identified dietary differences and changes in daily activity patterns (reduced sleep duration with higher sleep quality and reduced physical activity). Additionally, the increase in general media usage was observed during the pandemic alongside a reduction in smartphone usage. Together, the findings indicate increased sleep, physical activity, and reduced media usage and screen time among Polish children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Łuszczki
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (A.B.); (K.D.)
| | - Anna Bartosiewicz
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (A.B.); (K.D.)
| | - Iwona Pezdan-Śliż
- Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (I.P.-Ś.); (M.K.)
| | - Maciej Kuchciak
- Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (I.P.-Ś.); (M.K.)
| | - Paweł Jagielski
- Department of Nutrition and Drug Research, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-066 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Oleksy
- Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Department, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (Ł.O.); (A.S.)
| | - Artur Stolarczyk
- Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Department, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (Ł.O.); (A.S.)
| | - Katarzyna Dereń
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (A.B.); (K.D.)
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23
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Schultz L, Ruel-Bergeron J. Considerations for Monitoring School Health and Nutrition Programs. Front Public Health 2021; 9:645711. [PMID: 34336757 PMCID: PMC8322578 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.645711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
School health and nutrition (SHN) interventions are among the most ubiquitous public health investments and comprise a key mechanism for reaching populations that are otherwise difficult to reach through the health system. Despite the critical role of monitoring these multisectoral programs to enable data-informed adaptive programming, information to guide program implementers is scant. This manuscript provides an overview of how monitoring indicators can be selected across a SHN program's logical framework, with specific examples across five SHN implementation models. Adaptation of SHN programs in times of school closures, such as those currently being experienced globally due to the emergence of COVID-19, is also addressed. Key aspects of SHN program monitoring are explored, including: (1) why monitor; (2) what to measure; (3) how to measure; and (4) who measures. In situations of school closures, strategies to shift both program activities and corresponding monitoring mechanisms are critical to understanding the rapidly evolving situation and subsequently guiding policy actions to protect vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Schultz
- Global Financing Facility, Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, World Bank, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Julie Ruel-Bergeron
- Global Financing Facility, Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, World Bank, Washington, DC, United States
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24
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Sweeney-Reed CM, Wolff D, Niggel J, Kabesch M, Apfelbacher C. Pool Testing as a Strategy for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks in Schools: Protocol for a Feasibility Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 10:e28673. [PMID: 33979297 PMCID: PMC8166266 DOI: 10.2196/28673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND School closures are a widely implemented strategy for limiting infection spread in the current COVID-19 pandemic. The negative impact of school closures on children and young people is increasingly apparent, however. OBJECTIVE We aim to evaluate the feasibility of an infection monitoring program in schools to enable targeted quarantining to replace school closures. The program is currently being implemented in two model schools in Magdeburg, Germany, within the framework of the Study of Coronavirus Outbreak Prevention in Magdeburg Schools (Studie zur Ausbruchsvermeidung von Corona an Magdeburger Schulen [STACAMA]). METHODS Five pupils per class are pseudorandomly selected twice a week and asked to provide a gargle sample over a 16-week evaluation period. RNA is extracted from each sample individually in a laboratory and pooled according to school class for real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) analysis. Immediate individual sample testing will be carried out in the case of a positive pool test. Individual RNA extraction prior to pooling and application of rRT-PCR result in high test sensitivity. Testing will be performed in strict adherence to data protection standards. All participating pupils will receive a 16-digit study code, which they will be able to use to access their test. RESULTS When the study commenced on December 2, 2020, 520 (52%) pupils and their families or guardians had consented to study participation. The study was suspended after four test rounds due to renewed school closures resulting from rising regional infection incidence. Testing resumed when schools reopened on March 8, 2021, at which time consent to participation was provided for 54% of pupils. We will quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the logistics and acceptability of the program. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study should inform the design of infection surveillance programs in schools based on gargle samples and a PCR-based pool testing procedure, enabling the identification of aspects that may require adaptation before large-scale implementation. Our focus on each step of the logistics and on the experiences of families should enable a robust assessment of the feasibility of such an approach. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/28673.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Sweeney-Reed
- Neurocybernetics and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Doreen Wolff
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Niggel
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- MaganaMed GbmH, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael Kabesch
- University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Research and Development Campus Regensburg (WECARE), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Apfelbacher
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Research and Development Campus Regensburg (WECARE), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Chandima Madhu W, Hasanga R, Madhujith T, Champa Jayalakshmie W, Thamlini J. Food Supply, Consumption, and Food Safety Behavior Among a Group of Sri Lankans During Early COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. Asia Pac J Public Health 2021; 33:638-640. [PMID: 34024161 DOI: 10.1177/10105395211014704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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26
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The Impact of COVID-19 School Closure on Child and Adolescent Health: A Rapid Systematic Review. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8050415. [PMID: 34069468 PMCID: PMC8159143 DOI: 10.3390/children8050415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
School closures during pandemics raise important concerns for children and adolescents. Our aim is synthesizing available data on the impact of school closure during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on child and adolescent health globally. We conducted a rapid systematic review by searching PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar for any study published between January and September 2020. We included a total of ten primary studies. COVID-19-related school closure was associated with a significant decline in the number of hospital admissions and pediatric emergency department visits. However, a number of children and adolescents lost access to school-based healthcare services, special services for children with disabilities, and nutrition programs. A greater risk of widening educational disparities due to lack of support and resources for remote learning were also reported among poorer families and children with disabilities. School closure also contributed to increased anxiety and loneliness in young people and child stress, sadness, frustration, indiscipline, and hyperactivity. The longer the duration of school closure and reduction of daily physical activity, the higher was the predicted increase of Body Mass Index and childhood obesity prevalence. There is a need to identify children and adolescents at higher risk of learning and mental health impairments and support them during school closures.
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27
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Dembiński Ł, Huss G, Radziewicz-Winnicki I, Grossman Z, Mazur A, del Torso S, Barak S, Carrasco Sanz A, Hadjipanayis A. EAP and ECPCP Statement Risks for Children's Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Call for Maintenance of Essential Pediatric Services. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:679803. [PMID: 34046377 PMCID: PMC8146905 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.679803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdown have had drastic socioeconomic and psychological effects on countries and people, respectively. There has been limited access to health care and education. These negative consequences have had a significant impact on the well-being of children and adolescents. Therefore, the EAP and the ECPCP are requesting state, health, and education authorities as well as European pediatric societies and the healthcare professionals that special attention be given to this population and the problems they face as a result of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Dembiński
- The European Academy of Paediatrics, EAP, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Gottfried Huss
- The European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians (ECPCP), Lyon, France
- Kinder-Permanence Spital Zollikerberg, Zollikerberg, Switzerland
| | | | - Zachi Grossman
- The European Academy of Paediatrics, EAP, Brussels, Belgium
- Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Maccabi Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Artur Mazur
- The European Academy of Paediatrics, EAP, Brussels, Belgium
- Medical Faculty, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Stefano del Torso
- The European Academy of Paediatrics, EAP, Brussels, Belgium
- ChildCare WorldWide, Padova, Italy
| | - Shimon Barak
- The European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians (ECPCP), Lyon, France
- Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Angel Carrasco Sanz
- The European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians (ECPCP), Lyon, France
- Madrid Health Service, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adamos Hadjipanayis
- The European Academy of Paediatrics, EAP, Brussels, Belgium
- School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Paediatric Department, Larnaca General Hospital, Larnaca, Cyprus
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28
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CORRÊA EN, NEVES JD, SOUZA LDD, LORINTINO CDS, PORRUA P, VASCONCELOS RDAGD. School feeding in Covid-19 times: mapping of public policy execution strategies by state administration. REV NUTR 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-9865202033e200169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Objective Identify and discuss strategies for execution the National School Feeding Program by state administrations during the coronavirus disease pandemic 2019. Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional investigation. An exploratory review of the official publication of state governments and the Federal District to find out the strategies for the execution of the National School Feeding Program, after school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Information on the form of execution and the public served by the action were reviewed in a descriptive manner. Results Out of the 27 federative units, 55% distributed food kits, 26% supplied food cards/vouchers and 19% provided food kits and food cards/vouchers. As to the scope, 37% maintained general service, 30% attended schoolchildren from families registered in the Brazilian cash transfer program (Bolsa Família) and 26% attended schoolchildren from families registered in the Underprivileged Families Registry. Conclusion The National School Feeding Program was weak in terms of assuring the Human Right to Adequate Food and Food and Nutrition Security. The slowness of the federal administration and the gaps in the regulations issued may explain the changes in the reported strategies, which, in their majority, violate the principle of universality.
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