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Niu L, Li Y, Bai R, Pagán JA, Zhang D, Diaz A. Global prevalence of violence against children and adolescents during COVID-19: A meta-analysis. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 154:106873. [PMID: 38850751 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that children and adolescents are at an increased risk of experiencing violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited knowledge about the prevalence of violence against children and adolescents across different regions in the world. OBJECTIVE To estimate the pooled prevalence of violence against children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore how geographical and methodological factors explain the variation across studies. METHODS We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycInfo databases for articles published from January 1, 2020 to October 1, 2022. The study protocol was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022338181). We included published and unpublished studies available in English that reported the prevalence of violence (e.g., physical, emotional, or sexual violence, neglect, bullying) against children and adolescents (age <18 years) during the pandemic. Data extraction followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 2740 nonduplicate titles and abstracts were screened, and 217 full-text articles were reviewed for eligibility. RESULTS Twenty-five studies with 66,637 participants met inclusion criteria. Based on random-effects meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of violence against children and adolescents was 24 % (95%CI 18 %-30 %). The reported prevalence was higher in studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries compared to high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS Over one in five children and adolescents globally reported ever experiencing violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings highlight the urgent need for effective child protection policies and interventions, as well as multisectoral collaboration, to reduce violence against children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Niu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yan Li
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Ruhai Bai
- School of Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - José A Pagán
- Department of Public Health Policy and Management, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donglan Zhang
- Division of Health Services Research, Department of Foundations of Medicine, New York University Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, USA
| | - Angela Diaz
- Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Belon AP, Chew JL, Schwartz N, Storey KE, Smith BT, Pabayo R. Variability in public health programming and priorities to address health inequities across public health units in Ontario, Canada. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH = REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE 2024:10.17269/s41997-024-00896-4. [PMID: 38842770 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-024-00896-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In 2018, Ontario Public Health Standards were updated to include the foundational Health Equity Standard to guide planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs and services. Public health units (PHUs), the regional public health bodies, are now required to address health equity through four requirements: (a) Assessing and Reporting; (b) Modifying and Orienting Public Health Interventions; (c) Engaging in Multi-sectoral Collaboration; and (d) Health Equity Analysis, Policy Development, and Advancing Healthy Public Policies. METHODS This qualitative descriptive study explored how the 27 participating PHUs (out of 34) serving urban (N = 10), mixed urban-rural (N = 15), and rural (N = 9) populations addressed the Health Equity Standard. Using document analysis, we inductively and deductively coded the content of 68 PHU Annual Service Plan and Budget Submissions from a 3-year period (2018-2020) received from the 27 PHUs. RESULTS Emergent categories were organized into the four requirements and one additional emergent theme: Organizational Implementation of Health Equity. The approaches of embedding health equity into PHUs' activities varied across groups. Urban PHUs presented more diverse strategies, including working with a larger number of organizations, and participating in academic research projects. We found more process standardization and greater discussion of capacity building in urban and mixed urban-rural PHUs. Rural PHUs strategically addressed the needs of their diverse populations through relationship building with Indigenous communities. CONCLUSION Findings suggest broad implementation of health equity approaches in public health independent of PHUs' geographic size and population dispersion, though strategies and key challenges differ across units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Belon
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jo Lin Chew
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Kate E Storey
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Brendan T Smith
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Roman Pabayo
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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3
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Vallée A. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the socioeconomic gradient of hypertension. J Public Health Policy 2024:10.1057/s41271-024-00491-4. [PMID: 38831023 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-024-00491-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus the impact of socioeconomic factors on hypertension outcomes. This review examines the implications of the pandemic on the socioeconomic gradient of hypertension and explores the physiological and pathophysiological processes underlying this relationship. Changes in socioeconomic factors have disproportionately affected individuals with lower socioeconomic status, leading to adverse hypertension outcomes. The pandemic-related stressors, coupled with social isolation and disrupted daily routines, have contributed to elevated stress levels among individuals, particularly those with lower socioeconomic status. Equitable access to healthcare, enhancing health literacy and patient empowerment, and addressing social determinants of health are essential components of hypertension management strategies. By recognizing the specific challenges faced by individuals with lower socioeconomic status and implementing targeted interventions, public health efforts can help reduce the socioeconomic gradient of hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Vallée
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Foch Hospital, 92150, Suresnes, France.
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Zhou C, Wheelock ÅM, Zhang C, Ma J, Li Z, Liang W, Gao J, Xu L. Country-specific determinants for COVID-19 case fatality rate and response strategies from a global perspective: an interpretable machine learning framework. Popul Health Metr 2024; 22:10. [PMID: 38831424 PMCID: PMC11149258 DOI: 10.1186/s12963-024-00330-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are significant geographic inequities in COVID-19 case fatality rates (CFRs), and comprehensive understanding its country-level determinants in a global perspective is necessary. This study aims to quantify the country-specific risk of COVID-19 CFR and propose tailored response strategies, including vaccination strategies, in 156 countries. METHODS Cross-temporal and cross-country variations in COVID-19 CFR was identified using extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) including 35 factors from seven dimensions in 156 countries from 28 January, 2020 to 31 January, 2022. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was used to further clarify the clustering of countries by the key factors driving CFR and the effect of concurrent risk factors for each country. Increases in vaccination rates was simulated to illustrate the reduction of CFR in different classes of countries. FINDINGS Overall COVID-19 CFRs varied across countries from 28 Jan 2020 to 31 Jan 31 2022, ranging from 68 to 6373 per 100,000 population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the determinants of CFRs first changed from health conditions to universal health coverage, and then to a multifactorial mixed effect dominated by vaccination. In the Omicron period, countries were divided into five classes according to risk determinants. Low vaccination-driven class (70 countries) mainly distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, and include the majority of low-income countries (95.7%) with many concurrent risk factors. Aging-driven class (26 countries) mainly distributed in high-income European countries. High disease burden-driven class (32 countries) mainly distributed in Asia and North America. Low GDP-driven class (14 countries) are scattered across continents. Simulating a 5% increase in vaccination rate resulted in CFR reductions of 31.2% and 15.0% for the low vaccination-driven class and the high disease burden-driven class, respectively, with greater CFR reductions for countries with high overall risk (SHAP value > 0.1), but only 3.1% for the ageing-driven class. CONCLUSIONS Evidence from this study suggests that geographic inequities in COVID-19 CFR is jointly determined by key and concurrent risks, and achieving a decreasing COVID-19 CFR requires more than increasing vaccination coverage, but rather targeted intervention strategies based on country-specific risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Zhou
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Åsa M Wheelock
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine & Centre for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Institutet, Slona, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chutian Zhang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jian Ma
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhichao Li
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wannian Liang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jing Gao
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine & Centre for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Institutet, Slona, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Lei Xu
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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Diamond-Smith N, Logan R, Adler A, Gutierrez S, Marshall C, Kerns JL. Prenatal and postpartum care during the COVID-19 pandemic: An increase in barriers from early to mid-pandemic in the United States. Birth 2024; 51:450-458. [PMID: 38063250 DOI: 10.1111/birt.12800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in the provision of pregnancy and postpartum care. The purpose of this study was to describe changes in access to prenatal and postpartum care over time, from early in the pandemic (July 2020) to mid-pandemic (January 2021) and to explore socioeconomic and COVID-19-related economic factors associated with experiencing barriers to care. METHODS We recruited two cross sections of women and birthing people in the US in July 2020 (N = 4645) and January 2021 (N = 3343) using Facebook and Instagram Ads. RESULTS Three out of four women in the prenatal period and four out of five women in the postpartum period reported barriers to scheduling a visit. The likelihood of not having a visit (OR = 4.44, 95% CI 2.67-7.40), being unable to schedule a visit (OR = 2.73, 95% CI 1.71-4.35), and not being offered visits (OR = 4.26, 95% CI 2.32-7.81) increased over time. Participants were more likely to report barriers attending scheduled prenatal or postpartum appointments over time (OR = 2.72, 95% CI 2.14-3.45). Women who experienced more economic impacts from COVID-19 were older, less educated, and were Black, Indigenous, or a person of color, and were more likely to have barriers to attending appointments. CONCLUSIONS Certain subgroups are more at risk during COVID-19, and around 9 months into the pandemic, women were not only still facing barriers to care, but these had been amplified. Additional research using other data sources is needed to identify and ameliorate barriers and inequalities in access to prenatal and postpartum care that appear to have persisted throughout the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Diamond-Smith
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Rachel Logan
- Family and Community Medicine Department, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Aliza Adler
- Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sirena Gutierrez
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Cassondra Marshall
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Jennifer L Kerns
- Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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O'Regan R, Harnedy F, Reynolds B, Cormican L. Ethnic disparities and COVID-19 pneumonia in Ireland: a single-centre descriptive study of hospitalised patients in a tertiary university teaching hospital. Ir J Med Sci 2024; 193:1131-1136. [PMID: 38231319 PMCID: PMC11128384 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-023-03597-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we aim to describe the demographic, clinical and imaging characteristics, treatment course and subsequent outcomes of the first 116 cases presenting to a tertiary Dublin hospital with COVID-19 infection and to compare whether ethnic minority background was a risk factor for poorer disease outcomes in this cohort. Of 116 cases analysed, 100 (86%) patients presented from the community, 6 (5%) from care homes and 10 (9%) were existing inpatients. Fifty-four (46%) patients identified as being from an ethnic minority group. One hundred fourteen (98%) patients reported two or more symptoms at time of diagnosis with 81 (70%) patients having confirmed radiological findings of COVID-19 infection. Median duration of symptoms prior to hospital presentation was 6 days (IQR 3-10 days). The median age at presentation was 52 years (IQR 43-65). Co-morbidities recorded included hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, underlying respiratory disease, previous or current malignancy and current smoker. Twenty-six patients (22%) required ICU admission, 20 (76.9%) of these were from all other ethnic groups combined and 6 (10%) from White Irish group. Adjusting for variables of age, ethnicity and gender, all other ethnic groups combined were five times more likely to require ICU admission than White Irish group (Table 5). Patients from all other ethnic groups combined admitted to ICU were significantly younger than patients from White Irish group (OR 50.85 vs 62.83, P = 0.012). Our hospital's catchment area serves a wide-ranging and diverse population with many ethnic minority groups represented. Our data demonstrated that there was a significant overrepresentation of a younger cohort of patients from ethnic minority groups admitted to ICU with COVID-19 infection with less co-morbidities than that of the White Irish group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhea O'Regan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, RCSI Hospital Group, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Finbarr Harnedy
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, RCSI Hospital Group, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bearach Reynolds
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, RCSI Hospital Group, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Liam Cormican
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, RCSI Hospital Group, Dublin, Ireland
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7
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Heil C, Beese F, Du Y, Hövener C, Michalski N. [Subjective health in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic-a comparison of socio-demographic groups and pandemic-related risk factors]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2024:10.1007/s00103-024-03889-3. [PMID: 38789544 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-024-03889-3] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, daily life was significantly restricted due to the containment measures of the initial lockdown while SARS-CoV‑2 incidences remained relatively low. This study analyses socio-demographic and socio-economic groups in terms of changes in their subjective health during this phase. METHODS Data from the Socio-Economic Panel (n = 14,856, March-July 2020) were used to estimate the relative frequency of self-reported good health, great worries about one's own health, and high life satisfaction of men and women stratified by age, education, income, migration history, pre-existing medical conditions, and high-risk occupation. The results were mutually adjusted using logistic regression, displayed on a monthly basis, and compared with the pre-pandemic period. RESULTS Individuals of higher age, with lower education or income, and with pre-existing medical conditions reported positive health outcomes less frequently and worries more often. The differences between the subgroups remained largely stable compared to the pre-pandemic period. During the period of strongest restrictions due to infection-control measures, good health was reported less frequently by individuals with lower education or income compared to individuals with higher education or income. DISCUSSION The impact of the early phase of the pandemic on subjective health and life satisfaction was low for the majority of the examined groups. Relative impairments were only identified for women in low socio-economic positions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Heil
- Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
| | - Florian Beese
- Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Yong Du
- Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Claudia Hövener
- Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Niels Michalski
- Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland
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Manna A, Koltai J, Karsai M. Importance of social inequalities to contact patterns, vaccine uptake, and epidemic dynamics. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4137. [PMID: 38755162 PMCID: PMC11099065 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48332-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Individuals' socio-demographic and economic characteristics crucially shape the spread of an epidemic by largely determining the exposure level to the virus and the severity of the disease for those who got infected. While the complex interplay between individual characteristics and epidemic dynamics is widely recognised, traditional mathematical models often overlook these factors. In this study, we examine two important aspects of human behaviour relevant to epidemics: contact patterns and vaccination uptake. Using data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary, we first identify the dimensions along which individuals exhibit the greatest variation in their contact patterns and vaccination uptake. We find that generally higher socio-economic groups of the population have a higher number of contacts and a higher vaccination uptake with respect to disadvantaged groups. Subsequently, we propose a data-driven epidemiological model that incorporates these behavioural differences. Finally, we apply our model to analyse the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Hungary, providing valuable insights into real-world scenarios. By bridging the gap between individual characteristics and epidemic spread, our research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of disease dynamics and informs effective public health strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Manna
- Department of Network and Data Science, Central European University, Quellenstraße 51, Vienna, 1100, Austria
| | - Júlia Koltai
- National Laboratory for Health Security, HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Tóth Kálmán utca 4, Budapest, 1097, Hungary
- Department of Social Research Methodology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Márton Karsai
- Department of Network and Data Science, Central European University, Quellenstraße 51, Vienna, 1100, Austria.
- National Laboratory for Health Security, HUN-REN Rényi Institute of Mathematics, Reáltanoda utca 13-15, Budapest, 1053, Hungary.
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Nasrullah A, Virk S, Javed A, Shah A, Ramanujam D, Sharma A, Gutierrez L, Nauer K, Maggio M, Yin Y, Bajwa Y, Cheema T, Disilvio B. Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on functional and psychological parameters in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) patients. BMC Pulm Med 2024; 24:231. [PMID: 38745298 PMCID: PMC11092229 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03047-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 survivors may develop long-term symptoms of fatigue, dyspnea, mental health issues, and functional limitations: a condition termed post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a recommended treatment for PASC; however, there is a lack of data regarding PR's effect on multiple health indices and the factors that influence patient outcomes. The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on functional and psychological parameters in patients diagnosed with Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), thereby offering insights into the efficacy of such interventions in improving the quality of life and clinical outcomes for these individuals. METHODS We extracted patient demographic, comorbidity, and outcome data from Allegheny Health Network's electronic medical records. Functionality test results were compared before and after PR, including 6-minute walk test (6MWT), chair rise repetitions (CR reps), timed up and go test (TUG), gait speed (Rehab gait), modified medical research council scale (MMRC), shortness of breath questionnaire (SOBQ), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT) scores. Multiple regression analysis was done to evaluate the effect of comorbidities and patient factors on patient responses to PR. RESULTS The 55 patients included in this study had a mean time of 4 months between the initial COVID-19 diagnosis and the subsequent PASC diagnosis. Following pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), significant improvements were observed across various metrics. The distance covered in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) increased markedly from a pre-rehabilitation average of 895 feet (SD 290) to 1,300 feet (SD 335) post-rehabilitation, with a mean change of 405 feet (95% CI [333, 477]). Chair rise repetitions (CR reps) saw an increase from 9 (SD 3) reps to 13 (SD 3) reps, with a change of 4 reps (95% CI [3.7, 4.9]). The timed up and go test (TUG) time decreased significantly from 13 s (SD 5) to 10 s (SD 2), reflecting a mean reduction of 3 s (95% CI [-4.5, -2.5]). Rehabilitation gait speed improved from 1.0 m/s to 1.3 m/s, changing by 0.3 m/s (95% CI [0.2, 0.3]). The Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea scale showed a notable decrease from a mean of 2 (SD 1) to 1 (SD 1), a change of -1 (95% CI [-1.5, -1]). The Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ) scores reduced significantly from 51 (SD 21) to 22 (SD 18), with a change of -29 (95% CI [-34, -23]). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores decreased from 11 (SD 7) to 8 (SD 7), a reduction of -4 (95% CI [-5, -2]). Lastly, the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Assessment Test (CAT) scores significantly dropped from 18 (SD 7) to 9 (SD 7), changing by -10 (95% CI [-11, -8]). However, the presence of hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung diseases, outpatient status, and receipt of specific pharmacologic treatments (decadron, decadron + remdesivir, and decadron + remdesivir + tocilizumab) were identified as factors associated with a poor response to PR. CONCLUSION Our study supports PR as an integrated model of care for PASC patients to improve several physical and mental health indices. The long-term effects of PR on patients' functional status should be investigated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeel Nasrullah
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Shiza Virk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anam Javed
- Department of Internal Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aaisha Shah
- Department of Internal Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Deeksha Ramanujam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alisha Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Laura Gutierrez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kevin Nauer
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Yue Yin
- Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Tariq Cheema
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Briana Disilvio
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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10
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Hu X, Yuan D, Zeng Y, Guo C. Impact of the First-Wave COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Expenditure for Older Adults in China: Lessons from a Natural Experiment. J Aging Soc Policy 2024:1-21. [PMID: 38734975 DOI: 10.1080/08959420.2024.2348967] [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: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Older adults' access to healthcare services may have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored the effect of the first wave pandemic on the medical expenditure of older adults in China. Difference-in-Difference models captured both temporal and geographical variation in COVID-19 exposure to estimate the impacts of the pandemic on medical expenditure through a quasi-natural experiment. Data derived from the China Family Panel Studies. Results indicate that exposure to the pandemic significantly decreased total medical expenditures, hospital expenditures, and non-hospital medical expenditures of Chinese older adults by 15% (95% CI 12%-17%), 5% (95% CI 2%-7%), and 15% (95% CI 13%-16%), respectively, for each standardized severity increment. Females, less well-educated people, and individuals without internet access were most susceptible to experiencing these reductions. This study revealed that COVID-19 exerted a detrimental influence on the medical expenditure of older adults in mainland China. The "hidden epidemic" of non-COVID-19 medical needs of older adults deserves more attention on the part of policymakers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyuan Hu
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Dianqi Yuan
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuyu Zeng
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Guo
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
- APEC Health Science Academy (HeSAY), Peking University, Beijing, China
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11
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Myers C, Bennett K, Cahir C. Lessons learned from COVID-19: improving breast cancer care post-pandemic from the patient perspective. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:338. [PMID: 38730019 PMCID: PMC11087304 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08540-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the onset of the pandemic, breast cancer (BC) services have been disrupted in most countries. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the unmet needs, patient-priorities, and recommendations for improving BC healthcare post-pandemic for women with BC and to understand how they may vary based on social determinants of health (SDH), in particular socio-economic status (SES). METHODS Thirty-seven women, who were purposively sampled based on SDH and previously interviewed about the impact of COVID-19 on BC, were invited to take part in follow-up semi-structured qualitative interviews in early 2023. The interviews explored their perspectives of BC care since the easing of COVID-19 government restrictions, including unmet needs, patient-priorities, and recommendations specific to BC care. Thematic analysis was conducted to synthesize each topic narratively with corresponding sub-themes. Additionally, variation by SDH was analyzed within each sub-theme. RESULTS Twenty-eight women (mean age = 61.7 years, standard deviation (SD) = 12.3) participated in interviews (response rate = 76%). Thirty-nine percent (n = 11) of women were categorized as high-SES, while 61% (n = 17) of women were categorized as low-SES. Women expressed unmet needs in their BC care including routine care and mental and physical well-being care, as well as a lack of financial support to access BC care. Patient priorities included the following: developing cohesion between different aspects of BC care; communication with and between healthcare professionals; and patient empowerment within BC care. Recommendations moving forward post-pandemic included improving the transition from active to post-treatment, enhancing support resources, and implementing telemedicine where appropriate. Overall, women of low-SES experienced more severe unmet needs, which in turn resulted in varied patient priorities and recommendations. CONCLUSION As health systems are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the emphasis should be on restoring access to BC care and improving the quality of BC care, with a particular consideration given to those women from low-SES, to reduce health inequalities post-pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Myers
- School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St Stephen's, Green, Dublin, D02 YN77, Ireland.
| | - Kathleen Bennett
- Data Science Centre, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Caitriona Cahir
- Data Science Centre, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
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12
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Kern M, Glatz T, Mall MA, Seybold J, Kurth T, Mockenhaupt FP, Theuring S. Health-related quality of life and impact of socioeconomic status among primary and secondary school students after the third COVID-19 wave in Berlin, Germany. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302995. [PMID: 38722991 PMCID: PMC11081372 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In the earlier phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies in Germany and elsewhere found an overall reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among students. However, there is little evidence on later pandemic stages as well as socioeconomic influencing factors. We aimed to (1) describe HRQoL in a Berlin student cohort at two time points in mid-2021, and to (2) analyze the effects of household income and education. We assessed HRQoL of students from 24 randomly selected primary and secondary schools in Berlin, Germany, with the KIDSCREEN-10 index in June and September 2021. To adjust for non-response bias, inverse probability weighting was applied. The potential effects of both household income and education (lower vs. higher) were estimated in generalized linear mixed models, based on prior assumptions presented in directed acyclic graphs. Our cohort comprised 660 students aged 7-19 years. In June 2021, 11.3% [95% CI = 9.0% - 14.0%] reported low HRQoL, whereas in September 2021, this increased to 13.7% [95% CI = 11.1% - 16.5%], with adolescent girls more frequently reporting low HRQoL at both time points (20% [95% CI = 17.1% - 23.3%] and 29% [95% CI = 25.5% - 32.5%]) compared to boys and younger children. While there was no statistically significant total effect of lower household income on HRQoL, a negative effect of lower household education was statistically significant (β = -2.15, SE 0.95, 95% CI = -4.01 to -0.29, p = 0.024). In summary, students' HRQoL in mid-2021 was better than that documented in other studies conducted at pandemic onset using KIDSCREEN-10. Female adolescents reported low HRQoL more often, and lower household education significantly reduced children's HRQoL. Support strategies for psychosocial wellbeing should consider socioeconomically disadvantaged children as important target groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mascha Kern
- Institute of Public Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of International Health, Charité Center for Global Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Toivo Glatz
- Institute of Public Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus A. Mall
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Associated Partner, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Seybold
- Medical Directorate, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Kurth
- Institute of Public Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank P. Mockenhaupt
- Institute of International Health, Charité Center for Global Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Theuring
- Institute of International Health, Charité Center for Global Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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13
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Vameghi M, Saatchi M, Bahrami G, Soleimani F, Takaffoli M. How did we protect children against COVID-19 in Iran? Prevalence of COVID-19 and vaccination in the socio-economic context of COVID-19 epidemic. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303043. [PMID: 38722835 PMCID: PMC11081304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant risks to children worldwide. This study aimed to assess the COVID-19 protection status of children and explored the relationship between household socio-economic status and COVID-19 morbidity and preventive measures, including vaccination and mask-wearing, in two cities in Iran. METHOD A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2022 among 7 to 18-year-old children and their families in Tehran and Karaj. A total of 3,022 samples were selected using stratified multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected through interviews with children and adults, using questionnaires and was analyzed with Stata software version 14. RESULTS The analysis focused on 2,878 children with a median age of 12. Over half (54%) reported that the pandemic negatively affected their family's financial status, with 45% describing its impact on children's needs as negative or very negative. Just under 50% of respondents consistently wore masks during the study period, and around 54% had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Reasons for not getting vaccinated included concerns about side effects, ineligibility for the target age group, and overcrowding at vaccination sites. The odds of not getting vaccinated were significantly lower for children aged 15-18, with boys more likely to refuse vaccination than girls. CONCLUSION The financial impact of the pandemic in Iran affected families' ability to meet their children's needs. Moreover, low vaccination acceptance rates increased children's vulnerability to health problems and contributed to COVID-19 infections. Efforts should be made to increase vaccination acceptance, particularly among immigrant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meroe Vameghi
- Social Welfare Management Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Saatchi
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Giti Bahrami
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Farin Soleimani
- Paediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Centre, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marzieh Takaffoli
- Social Welfare Management Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Karki M, El Asmar ML, Sasco ER, El-Osta A. Public libraries to promote public health and wellbeing: a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1226. [PMID: 38702663 PMCID: PMC11069228 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18535-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Libraries in the UK have evolved from traditional book-lending institutions into dynamic community hubs, This study aims to explore the potential of libraries to act as community hubs to promote mental and physical health and wellbeing of community-dwelling adults, drawing on insights from both library users and library staff in England. DESIGN A mixed-method, cross-sectional study using online survey and interviews with community-dwelling adults and library staff. METHODS We collected data using a 14-item electronic survey and interviews with library users and staff to gauge perceptions. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to identify key trends and emergent themes. RESULTS We included 605 respondents from the survey and interviewed 12 library users and staff. Libraries remain popular and are considered a 'safe place by members of the community, regardless of their frequency of service usage irrespective of whether they are frequent users of services. However, a lack of awareness among library users about community-facing services could act as a hurdle to improving community health and wellbeing. Targeted engagement with residents is needed to increase awareness of libraries' services, including community interventions to help tackle loneliness and inequalities in digital and health literacy. Library staff often did not feel involved in important decision-making. Various barriers, drivers and practical recommendations were identified to leverage libraries as hubs to promote community health and wellbeing. CONCLUSION Libraries already offer a variety of resources that directly or indirectly support the health and wellbeing of community-dwelling adults and young people. However, public awareness of these services is limited. As we navigate post-pandemic recovery, libraries can serve as platforms for community engagement, fostering resilience, mental health support and reducing social isolation. Recognising libraries' untapped potential can lead to healthier communities and improved wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Karki
- Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, 323 Reynolds Building, Charing Cross Hospital, St Dunstan's Road, London, W6 8RP, UK.
| | - Marie Line El Asmar
- Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, 323 Reynolds Building, Charing Cross Hospital, St Dunstan's Road, London, W6 8RP, UK
| | - Eva Riboli Sasco
- Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, 323 Reynolds Building, Charing Cross Hospital, St Dunstan's Road, London, W6 8RP, UK
| | - Austen El-Osta
- Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, 323 Reynolds Building, Charing Cross Hospital, St Dunstan's Road, London, W6 8RP, UK
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15
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van Doren TP. Sex-based tuberculosis mortality in Newfoundland, 1900-1949: Implications for populations in transition. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e24033. [PMID: 38126589 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE During the second epidemiological transition, tuberculosis (TB) is one disease that declined substantially enough to reduce all-cause mortality. Sex-based differences in TB mortality may reveal an important dimension of population health transitions between the urbanizing and rural regions of Newfoundland. MATERIALS AND METHODS For the island of Newfoundland, yearly age-standardized sex-based TB mortality rates were calculated using individual death records from 1900 to 1949 (n = 30 393). Multiple linear regression models predict the relative rates (RR) of sex-based mortality and the absolute difference between males and females while controlling for time and region (the urbanizing Avalon Peninsula or rural Newfoundland). Multiple linear regression models also predict the median age at death from TB while controlling for time, region, and sex to assess if TB was shifting to an older adult disease compared to those typically afflicted in ages 20-44. RESULTS Female TB mortality was relatively and absolutely higher than males; additionally, RR and absolute differences between male and female mortality were significantly lower in rural Newfoundland than the Avalon Peninsula. Median age at death for males was significantly higher than females, and differences in median age at death increased over time. DISCUSSION The historically high prevalence of TB throughout Newfoundland, including domestic, social, and public health responsibilities of women, likely contributed to increased exposure and transmission, leading to higher observed mortality. Sex-based TB outcomes should be considered in the discussion of the progression of the epidemiological transition as dynamic inequalities that do not necessarily fit contemporary generalizations of sex-based TB epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor P van Doren
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
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16
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Dimopoulou D, Sotiri D, Kousi D, Loulou G, Raptaki K, Neofytou A, Dasoula F, Tampouratzi M, Koloi A, Eleftheriou E, Vergadi E, Papadimitriou E, Zorbadaki I, Mavridi A, Miliordos K, Steletou E, Strempela M, Fragkou PC, Spoulou V, Michos A, Gkentzi D, Papaevangelou V, Ladomenou F, Grivea I, Syrogiannopoulos G, Galanakis E, Zaoutis T, Tryfinopoulou K, Tsolia MN. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among children in Greece during Omicron variant period. Eur J Pediatr 2024; 183:2491-2499. [PMID: 38478132 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05486-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The Omicron variant is associated with increased transmissibility, but evidence about the impact of Omicron in seropositivity of children is limited. This study aims to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children during the different variants' subperiods. A prospective multicenter seroprevalence study was conducted in 7 University public hospitals in Greece from November 2021 to August 2022 (3 subperiods: November 2021-February 2022, March 2022-May 2022, June 2022-August 2022). Children from different age groups, admitted to the hospital or examined in outpatient clinics for reasons other than COVID-19 were enrolled. Neutralizing antibodies (Nabs), anti-Spike (anti-S) and anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 IgG in serum were evaluated. A total of 2127 children (males:57,2%; median age:4,8years) were enrolled. Anti-N IgG seropositivity increased from 17,8% in the first sub-period to 40,7% in the second sub-period and then decreased in the third sub-period (36,7%). Anti-S IgG seropositivity appeared to have an increasing trend over the study period, starting from 34,8% and reaching 80,7%. Children aged 1-4 years old have significantly higher anti-N IgG titers compared to children aged 0-1 years old (p < 0,001). Infants have significantly lower anti-S IgG titers compared to all other age groups (p < 0,001). Immunocompromised children and infants have the lowest seropositivity for NAbs.Conclusions During the Omicron period, seropositivity significantly increased, as a result of higher transmissibility. Neonates and infants have lower antibody titers compared to other age groups, while young children aged 1-4 years old present higher antibody titers, suggesting that this age group may mount a higher antibody response. Continuous surveillance seroprevalence studies are needed in children, in order to identify the true extent of SARS-CoV-2 and guide the planning of adequate public health measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra Dimopoulou
- Second Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. and A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon and Leivadias, Athens, 30601, Greece
| | - Despoina Sotiri
- Central Public Health Laboratory, Hellenic Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitra Kousi
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Outcomes Research (CLEO), Athens, 15451, Greece
| | - Garyfallia Loulou
- Central Public Health Laboratory, Hellenic Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Raptaki
- Central Public Health Laboratory, Hellenic Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - Ariadni Neofytou
- Second Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. and A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon and Leivadias, Athens, 30601, Greece
| | - Foteini Dasoula
- Second Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. and A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon and Leivadias, Athens, 30601, Greece
| | - Maria Tampouratzi
- Second Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. and A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon and Leivadias, Athens, 30601, Greece
| | - Athina Koloi
- Second Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. and A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon and Leivadias, Athens, 30601, Greece
| | - Eirini Eleftheriou
- Second Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. and A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon and Leivadias, Athens, 30601, Greece
| | - Eleni Vergadi
- School of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University General Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Eleni Papadimitriou
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University General Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Irini Zorbadaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Venizeleion General Hospital, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Artemis Mavridi
- Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Third Department of Paediatrics, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Evangelia Steletou
- Medical School, Department of Paediatrics, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Maria Strempela
- First Department of Paediatrics, Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Paraskevi C Fragkou
- First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, Evangelismos Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Spoulou
- First Department of Paediatrics, Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Michos
- First Department of Paediatrics, Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Despoina Gkentzi
- Medical School, Department of Paediatrics, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Papaevangelou
- Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Third Department of Paediatrics, Athens, Greece
| | - Fani Ladomenou
- Department of Pediatrics, Venizeleion General Hospital, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ioanna Grivea
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University General Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - George Syrogiannopoulos
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University General Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Galanakis
- School of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University General Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Theoklis Zaoutis
- Second Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. and A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon and Leivadias, Athens, 30601, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Tryfinopoulou
- Central Public Health Laboratory, Hellenic Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria N Tsolia
- Second Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. and A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon and Leivadias, Athens, 30601, Greece.
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Bosakova L, Rosicova K, Filakovska Bobakova D. Association of socioeconomic disadvantage and ethnicity with perinatal neonatal, and infant mortality in Slovakia. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1142. [PMID: 38658885 PMCID: PMC11040926 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18645-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infant mortality rates are reliable indices of the child and general population health status and health care delivery. The most critical factors affecting infant mortality are socioeconomic status and ethnicity. The aim of this study was to assess the association between socioeconomic disadvantage, ethnicity, and perinatal, neonatal, and infant mortality in Slovakia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS The associations between socioeconomic disadvantage (educational level, long-term unemployment rate), ethnicity (the proportion of the Roma population) and mortality (perinatal, neonatal, and infant) in the period 2017-2022 were explored, using linear regression models. RESULTS The higher proportion of people with only elementary education and long-term unemployed, as well as the higher proportion of the Roma population, increases mortality rates. The proportion of the Roma population had the most significant impact on mortality in the selected period between 2017 and 2022, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022). CONCLUSIONS Life in segregated Roma settlements is connected with the accumulation of socioeconomic disadvantage. Persistent inequities between Roma and the majority population in Slovakia exposed by mortality rates in children point to the vulnerabilities and exposures which should be adequately addressed by health and social policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Bosakova
- Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, P.J. Safarik University, Tr. SNP 1, Kosice, 040 01, Slovak Republic.
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 22, 771 11, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
| | - Katarina Rosicova
- Department of Regional Development, Land-Use Planning and Environment, Kosice Self-Governing Region, Nam. Maratonu Mieru 1, 042 66, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Filakovska Bobakova
- Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, P.J. Safarik University, Tr. SNP 1, Kosice, 040 01, Slovak Republic
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 22, 771 11, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Schuller AA, Verlinden DAA, Reijneveld SA, Vermaire JHE. Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the oral health behaviour of young children. Int J Dent Hyg 2024. [PMID: 38659332 DOI: 10.1111/idh.12808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
AIM Children up to the age of 10 are dependant primarily on their caregivers for oral care; COVID-19 lockdowns may have disrupted this care. We therefore assessed whether the COVID-19 lockdown affected routine parental oral care for their children. METHODS A short online survey regarding oral health behaviour and changes in the home setting during the COVID-19 lockdown was emailed to parents (n = 782, response 15%) participating in an existing study 'Healthy Teeth All Aboard (HTAA)'. RESULTS During the lockdown, 29% of parents reported that they skipped their children's toothbrushing more often than before the lockdown, and 49% of the children were allowed to consume sugary snacks or drinks more often. These behaviours were not significantly associated with socio-economic status, country of birth of the mother, work situation of the parents, school attendance patterns or HTAA participation status. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 lockdown affected the daily oral hygiene routines of children, potentially increasing caries risk. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dental professionals should be aware of the potential impacts on oral health in children in the circumstance of a new lockdown. Parents should be made aware of the oral health consequences of a lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemarie A Schuller
- Center for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
- TNO Child Health, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Sijmen A Reijneveld
- TNO Child Health, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Yang SL, Wu L, Huang HL, Zhang LL, Chen YX, Zhou S, Chen XX, Wang JF, Zhang CB, Bao ZJ. Diet and lifestyle behaviours simultaneously act on frailty: it is time to move the threshold of frailty prevention and control forward. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1097. [PMID: 38643079 PMCID: PMC11032589 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18639-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To analyse the association among the simultaneous effects of dietary intake, daily life behavioural factors, and frailty outcomes in older Chinese women, we predicted the probability of maintaining physical robustness under a combination of different variables. METHODS The Fried frailty criterion was used to determine the three groups of "frailty", "pre-frailty", and "robust", and a national epidemiological survey was performed. The three-classification decision tree model was fitted, and the comprehensive performance of the model was evaluated to predict the probability of occurrence of different outcomes. RESULTS Among the 1,044 participants, 15.9% were frailty and 50.29% were pre-frailty; the overall prevalence first increased and then decreased with age, reaching a peak at 70-74 years of age. Through univariate analysis, filtering, and embedded screening, eight significant variables were identified: staple food, spices, exercise (frequency, intensity, and time), work frequency, self-feeling, and family emotions. In the three-classification decision tree, the values of each evaluation index of Model 3 were relatively average; the accuracy, recall, specificity, precision, and F1 score range were between 75% and 84%, and the AUC was also greater than 0.800, indicating excellent performance and the best interpretability of the results. Model 3 takes exercise time as the root node and contains 6 variables and 10 types, suggesting the impact of the comprehensive effect of these variables on robust and non-robust populations (the predicted probability range is 6.67-93.33%). CONCLUSION The combined effect of these factors (no exercise or less than 0.5 h of exercise per day, occasional exercise, exercise at low intensity, feeling more tired at work, and eating too many staple foods (> 450 g per day) are more detrimental to maintaining robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Lan Yang
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Research Center on Aging and Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Lei Wu
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, 330006, Nanchang, P. R. China
| | - He-Lang Huang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, 330006, Nanchang, P. R. China
| | - Lang-Lang Zhang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, 330006, Nanchang, P. R. China
| | - Yi-Xin Chen
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Research Center on Aging and Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Sheng Zhou
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Research Center on Aging and Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Xiu-Xiu Chen
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Research Center on Aging and Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Jiao-Feng Wang
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Research Center on Aging and Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Chao-Bao Zhang
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Research Center on Aging and Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, P. R. China.
| | - Zhi-Jun Bao
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Research Center on Aging and Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, P. R. China.
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Gwanika Y, Rice HE, Metcalf M, Espinoza P, Kajoka HD, Rice HE, Staton C, Mmbaga BT, Majaliwa E, Smith ER, Cotache-Condor C. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in childhood and adolescent cancer care in northern Tanzania: a cross-sectional study. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:457. [PMID: 38609910 PMCID: PMC11010397 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12168-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has strained healthcare systems and presented unique challenges for children requiring cancer care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to cancer care for children and adolescents in Northern Tanzania. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the demographic and clinical characteristics of 547 pediatric and adolescent cancer patients (ages 0-19 years old) between 2016 and 2022 using the population-based Kilimanjaro Cancer Registry (KCR). We categorized data into pre-COVID-19 (2016-2019) and COVID-19 (2020-2022) eras, and performed descriptive analyses of diagnostic, treatment, and demographic information. A secondary analysis was conducted on a subset of 167 patients with stage of diagnosis at presentation. RESULTS Overall admissions nearly doubled during the pandemic (n = 190 versus 357). The variety of diagnoses attended at KCMC increased during the pandemic, with only five groups of diseases reported in 2016 to twelve groups of diseases in 2021. Most patients were diagnosed at a late stage (stage III or IV) across eras, with the proportion of under-five years old patients increasing late-diagnoses from 29.4% (before the pandemic), 52.8% (during the pandemic), when compared to the overall cohort. Around 95% of children in this age category reported late-stage diagnosis during the pandemic. Six out of the twelve cancer site groups also reported an increase in late-stage diagnosis. During the pandemic, the proportion of children receiving surgery increased from 15.8 to 30.8% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Childhood and adolescent cancer care changed in Northern Tanzania during the COVID-19 pandemic, with increased late-stage diagnoses presentations among younger patients and the increased use of surgical therapies in the context of a growing practice. Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric and adolescent cancer care can help us better adapt healthcare systems and interventions to the emerging needs of children and adolescents with cancer in the midst of a health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yotham Gwanika
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Services, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Hannah E Rice
- Duke Primary Care, Population Health, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Pamela Espinoza
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Happiness D Kajoka
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Services, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Henry E Rice
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Center for Global Surgery and Health Equity, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Catherine Staton
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Blandina T Mmbaga
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Esther Majaliwa
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Services, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania.
| | - Emily R Smith
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Cesia Cotache-Condor
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Center for Global Surgery and Health Equity, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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21
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Zhilkova A, Alsabahi L, Olson D, Maru D, Tsao TY, Morse ME. Hospital segregation, critical care strain, and inpatient mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301481. [PMID: 38603670 PMCID: PMC11008816 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital segregation by race, ethnicity, and health insurance coverage is prevalent, with some hospitals providing a disproportionate share of undercompensated care. We assessed whether New York City (NYC) hospitals serving a higher proportion of Medicaid and uninsured patients pre-pandemic experienced greater critical care strain during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether this greater strain was associated with higher rates of in-hospital mortality. METHODS In a retrospective analysis of all-payer NYC hospital discharge data, we examined changes in admissions, stratified by use of intensive care unit (ICU), from the baseline period in early 2020 to the first COVID-19 wave across hospital quartiles (265,329 admissions), and crude and risk-adjusted inpatient mortality rates, also stratified by ICU use, in the first COVID wave across hospital quartiles (23,032 inpatient deaths), based on the proportion of Medicaid or uninsured admissions from 2017-2019 (quartile 1 lowest to 4 highest). Logistic regressions were used to assess the cross-sectional association between ICU strain, defined as ICU volume in excess of the baseline average, and patient-level mortality. RESULTS ICU admissions in the first COVID-19 wave were 84%, 97%, 108%, and 123% of the baseline levels by hospital quartile 1-4, respectively. The risk-adjusted mortality rates for ICU admissions were 36.4 (CI = 34.7,38.2), 43.6 (CI = 41.5,45.8), 45.9 (CI = 43.8,48.1), and 45.7 (CI = 43.6,48.0) per 100 admissions, and those for non-ICU admissions were 8.6 (CI = 8.3,9.0), 10.9 (CI = 10.6,11.3), 12.6 (CI = 12.1,13.0), and 12.1 (CI = 11.6,12.7) per 100 admissions by hospital quartile 1-4, respectively. Compared with the reference group of 100% or less of the baseline weekly average, ICU admissions on a day for which the ICU volume was 101-150%, 151-200%, and > 200% of the baseline weekly average had odds ratios of 1.17 (95% CI = 1.10, 1.26), 2.63 (95% CI = 2.31, 3.00), and 3.26 (95% CI = 2.82, 3.78) for inpatient mortality, and non-ICU admissions on a day for which the ICU volume was 101-150%, 151-200%, and > 200% of the baseline weekly average had odds ratios of 1.28 (95% CI = 1.22, 1.34), 2.60 (95% CI = 2.40, 2.82), and 3.44 (95% CI = 3.11, 3.63) for inpatient mortality. CONCLUSIONS Our findings are consistent with hospital segregation as a potential driver of COVID-related mortality inequities and highlight the need to desegregate health care to address structural racism, advance health equity, and improve pandemic resiliency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Zhilkova
- Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY, United States of America
| | - Laila Alsabahi
- Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY, United States of America
| | - Donald Olson
- Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY, United States of America
| | - Duncan Maru
- Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY, United States of America
| | - Tsu-Yu Tsao
- Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY, United States of America
| | - Michelle E. Morse
- Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY, United States of America
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Lee KS, Choi YY, Kim YS, Kim Y, Kim MH, Lee N. Association between the COVID-19 pandemic and childhood development aged 30 to 36 months in South Korea, based on the National health screening program for infants and children database. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:989. [PMID: 38594741 PMCID: PMC11003091 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18361-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the neurodevelopment of children. However, the precise effects of the virus and the social consequences of the pandemic on pediatric neurodevelopment are not yet fully understood. We aimed to compare the neurodevelopment of children between before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as examine the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) and regional differences on the development. METHODS The study used the Korean Developmental Screening Test to compare the difference in the risk of neurodevelopmental delay between before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the relationship between experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of neurodevelopmental delay. Stratified analyses were performed to determine whether the developmental delays caused by the pandemic's impact varied depending on SES or regional inequality. RESULTS This study found an association between the experience of COVID-19 and a higher risk of neurodevelopmental delay in communication (adjusted OR [aOR]: 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19, 1.22; P-value: < 0.0001) and social interaction (aOR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.17; P-value: < 0.0001) domains among children of 30-36 months' ages. Notably, the observed association in the Medicaid group of children indicates a higher risk of neurodevelopmental delay compared to those in the non-Medicaid group. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the need to be concerned about the neurodevelopment of children who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also calls for increased training and support for Medicaid children, parents, teachers, and healthcare practitioners. Additionally, policy programs focused on groups vulnerable to developmental delays are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Shin Lee
- Public Health Research Institute, National Medical Center, 245, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, 04564, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Youn Young Choi
- Public Health Research Institute, National Medical Center, 245, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, 04564, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, National Medical Center, 04564, Seoul, Korea
| | - You Sun Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, National Medical Center, 04564, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Hospital, 03080, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yeonjae Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, 04564, Seoul, Korea
| | - Myoung-Hee Kim
- Center for Public Health Data Analytics, National Medical Center, 04564, Seoul, Korea
| | - Nami Lee
- Human Rights Center, Seoul National University Hospital, 03080, Seoul, Korea
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Juras MM, Coelho ACF, Vázquez AL, Ribeiro M, Kohlsdorf M, Custódio AL, Amador Buenabad NG, Perez LV, Hooley C, Barnett ML, Baumann AA. Parenting practices and interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: an exploratory cross-sectional study of caregivers in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. PSICOLOGIA-REFLEXAO E CRITICA 2024; 37:12. [PMID: 38583110 PMCID: PMC10999397 DOI: 10.1186/s41155-024-00295-1] [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: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic led countries' governments to rapidly establish lockdowns and social distancing, which altered family routines and the quality of family relationships worldwide. OBJECTIVES This exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to identify the impacts of the social distancing and lockdown in parenting practices of caregivers from Brazil, Mexico, and the USA, and to analyze the continuity of parenting intervention support for children and their families at the beginning of the pandemic in these countries. METHODS The sample consisted of 704 caregivers of children (286 from Brazil, 225 from Mexico, and 193 from the USA) who answered an online survey about parenting practices before/after quarantine, caregiver/child routines, feelings related to quarantine, changes in everyday life since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, contact with health professionals, and sources of parenting information. RESULTS Data indicate that caregivers from the three countries experienced similar parenting practices during this time, and did not report significant changes before and after the lockdown. They sought information about parenting predominantly via social media. Those receiving previous mental health care perceived the transition from in-person to telehealth services during the pandemic as feasible and acceptable. CONCLUSION This study will be helpful for clinicians and parents to contextualize their practices amid long-standing effects that the COVID-19 pandemic can have on children and their families during and post-pandemic from multiple cultural backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lucia Vazquez Perez
- National Institute of Psychiatry Ramon de la Fuente Muniz, Huntsville, Mexico
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Sun T, Jin B, Wu Y, Bao J. A study of the attenuation stage of a global infectious disease. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1379481. [PMID: 38645440 PMCID: PMC11026565 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1379481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Differences in control measures and response speeds between regions may be responsible for the differences in the number of infections of global infectious diseases. Therefore, this article aims to examine the decay stage of global infectious diseases. We demonstrate our method by considering the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020. Methods We introduce the concept of the attenuation rate into the varying coefficient SEIR model to measure the effect of different cities on epidemic control, and make inferences through the integrated adjusted Kalman filter algorithm. Results We applied the varying coefficient SEIR model to 136 cities in China where the total number of confirmed cases exceeded 20 after the implementation of control measures and analyzed the relationship between the estimated attenuation rate and local factors. Subsequent analysis and inference results show that the attenuation rate is significantly related to the local annual GDP and the longitude and latitude of a city or a region. We also apply the varying coefficient SEIR model to other regions outside China. We find that the fitting curve of the average daily number of new confirmed cases simulated by the variable coefficient SEIR model is consistent with the real data. Discussion The results show that the cities with better economic development are able to control the epidemic more effectively to a certain extent. On the other hand, geographical location also affected the effectiveness of regional epidemic control. In addition, through the results of attenuation rate analysis, we conclude that China and South Korea have achieved good results in controlling the epidemic in 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Sun
- Department of Statistics and Finance, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Baisuo Jin
- Department of Statistics and Finance, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yuehua Wu
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Junjun Bao
- Endoscopy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Mazzilli S, Paparatto G, Chieti A, Nannavecchia AM, Bisceglia L, Lopalco PL, Martinelli D, Tavoschi L. Comparison of geographical and individual deprivation index to assess the risk of Sars-CoV-2 infection and disease severity: a retrospective cohort study. Int J Health Geogr 2024; 23:8. [PMID: 38575967 PMCID: PMC10993505 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-024-00367-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has been shown that COVID-19 affects people at socioeconomic disadvantage more strongly. Previous studies investigating the association between geographical deprivation and COVID-19 outcomes in Italy reported no differences in case-hospitalisation and case-fatality. The objective of this research was to compare the usefulness of the geographic and individual deprivation index (DI) in assessing the associations between individuals' deprivation and risk of Sars-CoV-2 infection and disease severity in the Apulia region from February to December 2020. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study. Participants included individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection during the study period. The individual DI was calculated employing polychoric principal component analysis on four census variables. Multilevel logistic models were used to test associations between COVID-19 outcomes and individual DI, geographical DI, and their interaction. RESULTS In the study period, 139,807 individuals were tested for COVID-19 and 56,475 (43.5%) tested positive. Among those positive, 7902 (14.0%) have been hospitalised and 2215 (4.2%) died. During the first epidemic wave, according the analysis done with the individual DI, there was a significant inversely proportional trend between the DI and the risk of testing positive. No associations were found between COVID-19 outcomes and geographic DI. During the second wave, associations were found between COVID-19 outcomes and individual DI. No associations were found between the geographic DI and the risk of hospitalisation and death. During both waves, there were no association between COVID-19 outcomes and the interaction between individual and geographical DI. CONCLUSIONS Evidence from this study shows that COVID-19 pandemic has been experienced unequally with a greater burden among the most disadvantaged communities. The results of this study remind us to be cautious about using geographical DI as a proxy of individual social disadvantage because may lead to inaccurate assessments. The geographical DI is often used due to a lack of individual data. However, on the determinants of health and health inequalities, monitoring has to have a central focus. Health inequalities monitoring provides evidence on who is being left behind and informs equity-oriented policies, programmes and practices. Future research and data collection should focus on improving surveillance systems by integrating individual measures of inequalities into national health information systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Mazzilli
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Gianluca Paparatto
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Health Science Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Chieti
- Strategic Regional Health and Social Agency of Puglia (AReSS Puglia), Bari, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Bisceglia
- Strategic Regional Health and Social Agency of Puglia (AReSS Puglia), Bari, Italy
| | - Pier Luigi Lopalco
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Domenico Martinelli
- Hygiene Unit, Policlinico Foggia Hospital, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Lara Tavoschi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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26
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Zhang S, Wang T, Zhang L, Wei Y, Jian W, Guo J. Relationship between social inequality perception patterns and depressive symptoms among Chinese adults: A national representative longitudinal study. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2024:207640241243280. [PMID: 38570908 DOI: 10.1177/00207640241243280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rising prevalence of depressive symptoms presents a pressing global public health concern, exacerbated by prevailing social inequality. AIM This study seeks to identify latent profiles of social inequality perception and explore their associations with depressive symptoms. METHODS Data were obtained from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) involving 10,529 residents aged 18 years and above. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify different patterns of social inequality perception. Multiple linear regression analysis examined the links between these patterns and depressive symptoms. RESULTS Three distinct patterns of social inequality perception were identified: the disappointed pattern (TDP), the neutral pattern (TNP), and the positive pattern (TPP). Perceived social inequality was significantly associated with short-term and long-term depressive symptoms (β = .51, 95% CI [0.29, 0.72] vs. β = .51, 95% CI [0.27, 0.74]). Increases in social inequality perception patterns were also related to more severe depressive symptoms (β = .55, 95% CI [0.36, 0.74]). CONCLUSIONS Increasing perceived social inequality is closely linked to elevated depressive symptoms in Chinese adults. This underscores the need for tailored strategies aimed at addressing heightened perceptions of social inequality to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouchuang Zhang
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lanyue Zhang
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yuehui Wei
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Weiyan Jian
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
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27
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Eligulashvili A, Darrell M, Gordon M, Jerome W, Fiori KP, Congdon S, Duong TQ. Patients with unmet social needs are at higher risks of developing severe long COVID-19 symptoms and neuropsychiatric sequela. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7743. [PMID: 38565574 PMCID: PMC10987523 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58430-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated long COVID of patients in the Montefiore Health System COVID-19 (CORE) Clinics in the Bronx with an emphasis on identifying health related social needs (HRSNs). We analyzed a cohort of 643 CORE patients (6/26/2020-2/24/2023) and 52,089 non-CORE COVID-19 patients. Outcomes included symptoms, physical, emotional, and cognitive function test scores obtained at least three months post-infection. Socioeconomic variables included median incomes, insurance status, and HRSNs. The CORE cohort was older age (53.38 ± 14.50 vs. 45.91 ± 23.79 years old, p < 0.001), more female (72.47% vs. 56.86%, p < 0.001), had higher prevalence of hypertension (45.88% vs. 23.28%, p < 0.001), diabetes (22.86% vs. 13.83%, p < 0.001), COPD (7.15% vs. 2.28%, p < 0.001), asthma (25.51% vs. 12.66%, p < 0.001), lower incomes (53.81% vs. 43.67%, 1st quintile, p < 0.001), and more unmet social needs (29.81% vs. 18.49%, p < 0.001) compared to non-CORE COVID-19 survivors. CORE patients reported a wide range of severe long-COVID symptoms. CORE patients with unmet HRSNs experienced more severe symptoms, worse ESAS-r scores (tiredness, wellbeing, shortness of breath, and pain), PHQ-9 scores (12.5 (6, 17.75) vs. 7 (2, 12), p < 0.001), and GAD-7 scores (8.5 (3, 15) vs. 4 (0, 9), p < 0.001) compared to CORE patients without. Patients with unmet HRSNs experienced worse long-COVID outcomes compared to those without.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Eligulashvili
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Megan Darrell
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Moshe Gordon
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - William Jerome
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Kevin P Fiori
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Seth Congdon
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Tim Q Duong
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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Wachtler B, Beese F, Demirer I, Haller S, Pförtner TK, Wahrendorf M, Grabka MM, Hoebel J. Education and pandemic SARS-CoV-2 infections in the German working population - the mediating role of working from home. Scand J Work Environ Health 2024; 50:168-177. [PMID: 38346224 PMCID: PMC11064849 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES SARS-CoV-2 infections were unequally distributed during the pandemic, with those in disadvantaged socioeconomic positions being at higher risk. Little is known about the underlying mechanism of this association. This study assessed to what extent educational differences in SARS-CoV-2 infections were mediated by working from home. METHODS We used data of the German working population derived from the seroepidemiological study "Corona Monitoring Nationwide - Wave 2 (RKI-SOEP-2)" (N=6826). Infections were assessed by seropositivity against SARS-CoV-2 antigens and self-reports of previous PCR-confirmed infections from the beginning of the pandemic until study participation (November 2021 - February 2022). The frequency of working from home was assessed between May 2021 and January 2022.We used the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method to decompose the effect of education on SARS-CoV-2 infections. RESULTS Individuals with lower educational attainment had a higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection (adjusted prevalence ratio of low versus very high = 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.88; P=0.023). Depending on the level of education, between 27% (high education) and 58% (low education) of the differences in infection were mediated by the frequency of working from home. CONCLUSIONS Working from home could prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and contribute to the explanation of socioeconomic inequalities in infection risks. Wherever possible, additional capacities to work remotely, particularly for occupations that require lower educational attainment, should be considered as an important measure of pandemic preparedness. Limitations of this study are the observational cross-sectional design and that the temporal order between infection and working from home remained unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wachtler
- ORCID ID 0000-0002-3959-5676, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
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Landstra CP, Ruissen MM, Regeer H, Nijhoff MF, Ballieux BEPB, van der Boog PJM, de Vries APJ, Huisman SD, de Koning EJP. Impact of a Public Health Emergency on Behavior, Stress, Anxiety and Glycemic Control in Patients With Pancreas or Islet Transplantation for Type 1 Diabetes. Transpl Int 2024; 37:12278. [PMID: 38601276 PMCID: PMC11005033 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2024.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
A public health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic has behavioral, mental and physical implications in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). To what extent the presence of a transplant further increases this burden is not known. Therefore, we compared T1D patients with an islet or pancreas transplant (β-cell Tx; n = 51) to control T1D patients (n = 272). Fear of coronavirus infection was higher in those with β-cell Tx than without (Visual Analogue Scale 5.0 (3.0-7.0) vs. 3.0 (2.0-5.0), p = 0.004) and social isolation behavior was more stringent (45.8% vs. 14.0% reported not leaving the house, p < 0.001). A previous β-cell Tx was the most important predictor of at-home isolation. Glycemic control worsened in patients with β-cell Tx, but improved in control patients (ΔHbA1c +1.67 ± 8.74 vs. -1.72 ± 6.15 mmol/mol, p = 0.006; ΔTime-In-Range during continuous glucose monitoring -4.5% (-6.0%-1.5%) vs. +3.0% (-2.0%-6.0%), p = 0.038). Fewer patients with β-cell Tx reported easier glycemic control during lockdown (10.4% vs. 22.6%, p = 0.015). All T1D patients, regardless of transplantation status, experienced stress (33.4%), anxiety (27.9%), decreased physical activity (42.0%), weight gain (40.5%), and increased insulin requirements (29.7%). In conclusion, T1D patients with β-cell Tx are increasingly affected by a viral pandemic lockdown with higher fear of infection, more stringent social isolation behavior and deterioration of glycemic control. This trial has been registered in the clinicaltrials.gov registry under identifying number NCT05977205 (URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05977205).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril P. Landstra
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Merel M. Ruissen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Medical Decision Making, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Hannah Regeer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Michiel F. Nijhoff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Transplantation Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Bart E. P. B. Ballieux
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Paul J. M. van der Boog
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Transplantation Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Aiko P. J. de Vries
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Transplantation Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sasja D. Huisman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Eelco J. P. de Koning
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Transplantation Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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Gillibrand S, Kapadia D, Watkinson R, Issa B, Kwaku-Odoi C, Sanders C. Marginalisation and distrust in the context of the COVID-19 vaccination programme: experiences of communities in a northern UK city region. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:853. [PMID: 38504230 PMCID: PMC10953068 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18308-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are clear inequalities in COVID - 19 vaccination rates amongst marginalised groups, with lower rates for some minoritised ethnic and religious groups, younger people, those living in more deprived areas, and with lower socio-economic status. Existing research focuses on psychological and socio-economic factors that influence vaccine uptake and does not explore broader social and historical contexts. Understanding inequalities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake requires a critical examination of the drivers of, and barriers to, vaccination. METHODS We present findings from a co-designed qualitative research study undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus groups and interviews were used to examine the context underpinning responses to the COVID-19 vaccination in Greater Manchester, particularly focussing on experiences of marginalisation. Thematic framework analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS We found that the public's responses to the COVID-19 vaccination programme are intertwined with a longstanding history of institutional distrust and disenfranchisement, resulting from experiences of marginalisation and social inequalities. This was exacerbated further by the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on minoritised ethnic groups, younger people, and those with existing health conditions. CONCLUSIONS Histories of structural inequalities experienced by minoritised groups invoked feelings of suspicion and scepticism at the motivations of the agencies behind the vaccination rollout. This highlights the need for a contextualised analysis of attitudes to vaccines, considering pre-existing inequalities, which may be especially relevant for conceptualising public responses to the vaccination programme. Finally, our study shows the important ways in which public (dis)trust can impact public health policies. We recommend this should be incorporated into responses to future public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Gillibrand
- Centre for Primary Care & Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, The University of Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK.
| | - Dharmi Kapadia
- School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Ruth Watkinson
- Centre for Primary Care & Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, The University of Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Basma Issa
- Independent public contributor, Greater Manchester, UK
| | | | - Caroline Sanders
- Centre for Primary Care & Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, The University of Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
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Dodd-Reynolds C, Griffin N, Kyle P, Scott S, Fairbrother H, Holding E, Crowder M, Woodrow N, Summerbell C. Young people's experiences of physical activity insecurity: a qualitative study highlighting intersectional disadvantage in the UK. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:813. [PMID: 38491419 PMCID: PMC10941463 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18078-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intersecting socioeconomic and demographic reasons for physical activity (PA) inequalities are not well understood for young people at risk of experiencing marginalisation and living with disadvantage. This study explored young people's experiences of PA in their local area, and the associated impacts on opportunities for good physical and emotional health and wellbeing. METHODS Seven local youth groups were purposefully sampled from disadvantaged areas across urban, rural and coastal areas of England, including two that were specifically for LGBTQ + young people. Each group engaged in three interlinked focus groups which explored young people's perceptions and lived experience of PA inequalities. Data were analysed using an inductive, reflexive thematic approach to allow for flexibility in coding. RESULTS Fifty five young people aged 12-21 years of different sexualities, gender and ethnicity took part. Analysis yielded four themes: PA experiences across spaces; resigned to a lack of inclusivity and 'belonging'; safety first; complexities in access and accessibility. Young people felt more comfortable to be active in spaces that were simpler to navigate, particularly outdoor locations largely based in nature. In contrast, local gyms and sports clubs, and the school environment in general, were spoken about often in negative terms and as spaces where they experienced insecurity, unsafety or discomfort. It was common for these young people to feel excluded from PA, often linked to their gender and sexuality. Lived experiences or fears of being bullied and harassed in many activity spaces was a powerful message, but in contrast, young people perceived their local youth club as a safe space. Intersecting barriers related to deprivation, gender and sexuality, accessibility, disability, Covid-19, affordability, ethnicity, and proximity of social networks. A need emerged for safe spaces in which young people can come together, within the local community and choose to be active. CONCLUSIONS The overarching concept of 'physical activity insecurity' emerged as a significant concern for the young people in this study. We posit that PA insecurity in this context can be described as a limited or restricted ability to be active, reinforced by worries and lived experiences of feeling uncomfortable, insecure, or unsafe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Dodd-Reynolds
- Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Fuse, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LA, UK.
| | - Naomi Griffin
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Fuse, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Phillippa Kyle
- Newcastle University Business School, Fuse, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 4SE, UK
| | - Steph Scott
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Fuse, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 4LP, UK
| | | | | | - Mary Crowder
- ScHARR, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK
| | | | - Carolyn Summerbell
- Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Fuse, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LA, UK
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Ramos Monserrat M, Ramón Molinas J, Fuster Truyol M, Bonet Manresa A, Planas Juan T, Montaño Moreno JJ, Pérez Martín MDLÁ, Ruíz Armengol P, Personat Labrador A, Lamilla Buades CM, Carrión García VM, Salvá Garví M, Nuñez Jiménez C, Cabeza Irigoyen E. Assessing the social impacts of the COVID-19 crisis using phone helplines. The case of the Balearic Islands, Spain. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1270906. [PMID: 38550322 PMCID: PMC10976841 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1270906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Crises and health policies to tackle them can increase health inequalities. We explored the scope and usefulness of helplines set up during the COVID-19 crisis and characterised the vulnerability of their users. This study explored the geographic and socioeconomic effects of the telephone helplines set up by the Balearic Islands Government and aimed to characterise the vulnerability of their users. Methods Telephonic survey combined with a geographical analysis of a sample of calls made between 15th of March and 30th of June of 2020 to five helplines: COVID-19 general information; psychological, social (minimum vital income), labour (temporary employment regulation), and housing (rental assistance) helps. The questionnaire included sociodemographic and housing characteristics, type of problem, and if it was solved or not. We used multinomial regression to explore factors associated with having solved the problem. We calculated the standardised rate of calls by municipality using Chi-squared and z-test to test differences. Results 1,321 interviews from 2,678 selected (231 excluded, 608 untraceable, and 518 refusals). 63.8% of women, 48.7% were born in another country. They had no internet at home in 3.1%, only on the phone in 17.3%. The 23.5% had no income at home. The Problem was solved in 25.4%, and partly in 30.9%. Factors associated with not solving the problem were not having income at home (p = 0.021), labour (p = 0.008), economic (p = 0.000) or housing (p = 0.000) problems. People from 55 of 67 municipalities did at least one call. The highest rates of calls were from coastal tourist municipalities. Conclusion Helplines reached most of the territory of the Balearic Islands and were used mainly in tourist municipalities. It probably has not been helpful for families with more significant deprivation. Digital inequalities have emerged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ramos Monserrat
- Balearic Islands Public Health Department, Palma, Spain
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | | | - Marta Fuster Truyol
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Aina Bonet Manresa
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Trinidad Planas Juan
- Balearic Islands Public Health Department, Palma, Spain
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Juan José Montaño Moreno
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Catalina Nuñez Jiménez
- Balearic Islands Public Health Department, Palma, Spain
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Elena Cabeza Irigoyen
- Balearic Islands Public Health Department, Palma, Spain
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Schippers MC, Ioannidis JPA, Luijks MWJ. Is society caught up in a Death Spiral? Modeling societal demise and its reversal. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2024; 9:1194597. [PMID: 38533441 PMCID: PMC10964949 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1194597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Just like an army of ants caught in an ant mill, individuals, groups and even whole societies are sometimes caught up in a Death Spiral, a vicious cycle of self-reinforcing dysfunctional behavior characterized by continuous flawed decision making, myopic single-minded focus on one (set of) solution(s), denial, distrust, micromanagement, dogmatic thinking and learned helplessness. We propose the term Death Spiral Effect to describe this difficult-to-break downward spiral of societal decline. Specifically, in the current theory-building review we aim to: (a) more clearly define and describe the Death Spiral Effect; (b) model the downward spiral of societal decline as well as an upward spiral; (c) describe how and why individuals, groups and even society at large might be caught up in a Death Spiral; and (d) offer a positive way forward in terms of evidence-based solutions to escape the Death Spiral Effect. Management theory hints on the occurrence of this phenomenon and offers turn-around leadership as solution. On a societal level strengthening of democracy may be important. Prior research indicates that historically, two key factors trigger this type of societal decline: rising inequalities creating an upper layer of elites and a lower layer of masses; and dwindling (access to) resources. Historical key markers of societal decline are a steep increase in inequalities, government overreach, over-integration (interdependencies in networks) and a rapidly decreasing trust in institutions and resulting collapse of legitimacy. Important issues that we aim to shed light on are the behavioral underpinnings of decline, as well as the question if and how societal decline can be reversed. We explore the extension of these theories from the company/organization level to the society level, and make use of insights from both micro-, meso-, and macro-level theories (e.g., Complex Adaptive Systems and collapsology, the study of the risks of collapse of industrial civilization) to explain this process of societal demise. Our review furthermore draws on theories such as Social Safety Theory, Conservation of Resources Theory, and management theories that describe the decline and fall of groups, companies and societies, as well as offer ways to reverse this trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaéla C. Schippers
- Department of Organisation and Personnel Management, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - John P. A. Ioannidis
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Matthias W. J. Luijks
- Department of History of Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Yuan HY, Wong WH, Khairunnasa F, Ho HC, Chung GKK. Impacts of income inequality and the mediation role of reporting delays on COVID-19 deaths during 2020 and 2021 in Hong Kong: an observational study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e078838. [PMID: 38458781 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the impacts of demographic factors and income disparities on the case fatality rate (CFR) of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, taking into account the influence of reporting delays (ie, the duration between symptom onset and case confirmation). DESIGN Retrospective observational longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS A total of 7406 symptomatic patients with residence information reported between 23 January 2020 and 2 October 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The study examined the disparity in COVID-19 deaths associated with the factors such as age (≥65 vs 0-64 years old groups), gender and the income level of districts (low income vs non-low income). The severe reporting delay (>10 days) was considered as the mediator for mediation analysis. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was constructed. RESULTS We found that CFR was 3.07% in the low-income region, twofold higher than 1.34% in the other regions. Although the severe reporting delay was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of about 1.9, its mediation effect was only weakly present for age, but not for gender or income level. Hence, high CFR in Hong Kong was largely attributed to the direct effects of the elderly (HR 25.967; 95% CI 14.254 to 47.306) and low income (HR 1.558; 95% CI 1.122 to 2.164). CONCLUSION The disparity in COVID-19 deaths between income regions is not due to reporting delays, but rather to health inequities in Hong Kong. These risks may persist after the discontinuation of test-and-trace measures and extend to other high-threat respiratory pathogens. Urgent actions are required to identify vulnerable groups in low-income regions and understand the underlying causes of health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiang-Yu Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Centre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Wing Hei Wong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Fatema Khairunnasa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Department of Statistics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, Bangladesh
| | - Hung Chak Ho
- Department of Public and International Affairs, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Gary Ka-Ki Chung
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
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Bolt K, Gil-González D, Oliver N. Unconventional data, unprecedented insights: leveraging non-traditional data during a pandemic. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1350743. [PMID: 38566798 PMCID: PMC10986850 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1350743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic prompted new interest in non-traditional data sources to inform response efforts and mitigate knowledge gaps. While non-traditional data offers some advantages over traditional data, it also raises concerns related to biases, representativity, informed consent and security vulnerabilities. This study focuses on three specific types of non-traditional data: mobility, social media, and participatory surveillance platform data. Qualitative results are presented on the successes, challenges, and recommendations of key informants who used these non-traditional data sources during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain and Italy. Methods A qualitative semi-structured methodology was conducted through interviews with experts in artificial intelligence, data science, epidemiology, and/or policy making who utilized non-traditional data in Spain or Italy during the pandemic. Questions focused on barriers and facilitators to data use, as well as opportunities for improving utility and uptake within public health. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using the framework analysis method. Results Non-traditional data proved valuable in providing rapid results and filling data gaps, especially when traditional data faced delays. Increased data access and innovative collaborative efforts across sectors facilitated its use. Challenges included unreliable access and data quality concerns, particularly the lack of comprehensive demographic and geographic information. To further leverage non-traditional data, participants recommended prioritizing data governance, establishing data brokers, and sustaining multi-institutional collaborations. The value of non-traditional data was perceived as underutilized in public health surveillance, program evaluation and policymaking. Participants saw opportunities to integrate them into public health systems with the necessary investments in data pipelines, infrastructure, and technical capacity. Discussion While the utility of non-traditional data was demonstrated during the pandemic, opportunities exist to enhance its impact. Challenges reveal a need for data governance frameworks to guide practices and policies of use. Despite the perceived benefit of collaborations and improved data infrastructure, efforts are needed to strengthen and sustain them beyond the pandemic. Lessons from these findings can guide research institutions, multilateral organizations, governments, and public health authorities in optimizing the use of non-traditional data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylin Bolt
- Health Sciences Division (Assessment, Policy Development, and Evaluation Unit), Public Health - Seattle & King County, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Diana Gil-González
- Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Oliver
- European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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Moreno-Agostino D, Woodhead C, Ploubidis GB, Das-Munshi J. A quantitative approach to the intersectional study of mental health inequalities during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK young adults. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024; 59:417-429. [PMID: 36692519 PMCID: PMC9872068 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02424-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mental health inequalities across social identities/positions during the COVID-19 pandemic have been mostly reported independently from each other or in a limited way (e.g., at the intersection between age and sex or gender). We aim to provide an inclusive socio-demographic mapping of different mental health measures in the population using quantitative methods that are consistent with an intersectional perspective. METHODS Data included 8,588 participants from two British cohorts (born in 1990 and 2000-2002, respectively), collected in February/March 2021 (during the third UK nationwide lockdown). Measures of anxiety and depressive symptomatology, loneliness, and life satisfaction were analysed using Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) models. RESULTS We found evidence of large mental health inequalities across intersectional strata. Large proportions of those inequalities were accounted for by the additive effects of the variables used to define the intersections, with some of the largest gaps associated with sexual orientation (with sexual minority groups showing substantially worse outcomes). Additional inequalities were found by cohort/generation, birth sex, racial/ethnic groups, and socioeconomic position. Intersectional effects were observed mostly in intersections defined by combinations of privileged and marginalised social identities/positions (e.g., lower-than-expected life satisfaction in South Asian men in their thirties from a sexual minority and a disadvantaged childhood social class). CONCLUSION We found substantial inequalities largely cutting across intersectional strata defined by multiple co-constituting social identities/positions. The large gaps found by sexual orientation extend the existing evidence that sexual minority groups were disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Study implications and limitations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darío Moreno-Agostino
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, 55-59 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0NU, UK.
- ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, Melbourne House, 44-46 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LL, UK.
| | - Charlotte Woodhead
- ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, Melbourne House, 44-46 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LL, UK
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - George B Ploubidis
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, 55-59 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0NU, UK
- ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, Melbourne House, 44-46 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LL, UK
| | - Jayati Das-Munshi
- ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, Melbourne House, 44-46 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LL, UK
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
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Piesch L, Stojan R, Zinner J, Büsch D, Utesch K, Utesch T. Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns on Body Mass Index of Primary School Children from Different Socioeconomic Backgrounds. SPORTS MEDICINE - OPEN 2024; 10:20. [PMID: 38429549 PMCID: PMC10907325 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-024-00687-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood obesity is associated with various health outcomes. Restrictive measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, like lockdowns and school closures, affected children's daily structure, physical activity, dietary habits, and sleep quality, possibly exacerbating risk factors for childhood obesity and higher body mass index (BMI) in children. Poor socioeconomic conditions may have led to relatively higher risk for elevated BMI levels following pandemic measures. In this study, the impact of measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the BMI of third graders was investigated regarding children's socioeconomic background (SEB). METHODS Data from 41,728 children (8.84 ± 0.56 years, 20,431 female) were collected in the context of a cohort study. Children were tested either before the pandemic (preCOVID: Sept2017-March2020, n = 26,314), or following the first (postLDI: Aug2020-Dec2020, n = 6657) or second lockdown in Germany (postLDII: Aug2021-Jan2022, n = 8757). SEB was based on the official school type classification of the state of Berlin. Outcome was BMI standard deviation scores (SDS). RESULTS Significant effects of Time and SEB revealed elevated BMIs in postLDI (M = 0.23, p = 0.011) and postLDII (M = 0.22, p = 0.011) compared to preCOVID (M = 0.17) cohorts and higher BMIs for children with lower SEB (b = - 0.13, p < 0.001). A significant Time × SEB interaction indicated that the effect of SEB on children's BMI increased in response to lockdowns, especially in postLDII (b = - 0.05, p = 0.006). Results suggest that the COVID-19-related measures lead to increased BMI in children, and that children of lower SEB were at particular risk for higher BMIs following lockdowns. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the dependency of children's BMI on societal circumstances. Over the course of two lockdowns in Germany, children have experienced BMI increments, particularly in low socioeconomic areas. Authorities are called into action to counteract increasing rates of childhood weight by promoting physical activity of children and establishing related post-pandemic offers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludwig Piesch
- Institute of Educational Sciences, University of Münster, Bispinghof 5/6, 48143, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert Stojan
- Institute of Educational Sciences, University of Münster, Bispinghof 5/6, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Jochen Zinner
- Deutsche Hochschule für Gesundheit und Sport, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dirk Büsch
- Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Utesch
- Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Till Utesch
- Institute of Educational Sciences, University of Münster, Bispinghof 5/6, 48143, Münster, Germany.
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Robb K, Ahmed R, Wong J, Ladd E, de Jong J. Substandard housing and the risk of COVID-19 infection and disease severity: A retrospective cohort study. SSM Popul Health 2024; 25:101629. [PMID: 38384433 PMCID: PMC10879830 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study we examine associations between substandard housing and the risk of COVID-19 infection and severity during the first year of the pandemic by linking individual-level housing and clinical datasets. Residents of Chelsea, Massachusetts who were tested for COVID-19 at any Mass General Brigham testing site and who lived at a property that had received a city housing inspection were included (N = 2873). Chelsea is a densely populated city with a high prevalence of substandard housing. Inspected properties with housing code violations were considered substandard; inspected properties without violations were considered adequate. COVID-19 infection was defined as any positive PCR test, and severe disease defined as hospitalization with COVID-19. We used a propensity score design to match individuals on variables including age, race, sex, and income. In the severity model, we also matched on ten comorbidities. We estimated the risk of COVID-19 infection and severity associated with substandard housing using Cox Proportional Hazards models for lockdown, the first phase of reopening, and the full study period. In our sample, 32% (919/2873) of individuals tested positive for COVID-19 and 5.9% (135/2297) had severe disease. During lockdown, substandard housing was associated with a 48% increased risk of COVID-19 infection (95%CI 1.1-2.0, p = 0.006). Through Phase 1 reopening, substandard housing was associated with a 39% increased infection risk (95%CI 1.1-1.8, p = 0.020). The difference in risk attenuated over the full study period. There was no difference in severe disease risk between the two groups. The increased risk, observed only during lockdown and early reopening - when residents were most exposed to their housing - strengthens claims that substandard housing conveys higher infection risk. The results demonstrate the value of combining cross-sector datasets. Existing city housing data can be leveraged 1) to identify and prioritize high-risk areas for future pandemic response, and 2) for longer-term housing solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Robb
- Bloomberg Center for Cities, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rowana Ahmed
- Bloomberg Center for Cities, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John Wong
- School of Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elissa Ladd
- School of Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jorrit de Jong
- Bloomberg Center for Cities, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Frey A, Tilstra AM, Verhagen MD. Inequalities in healthcare use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1894. [PMID: 38424038 PMCID: PMC10904793 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45720-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to reductions in non-COVID related healthcare use, but little is known whether this burden is shared equally. This study investigates whether reductions in administered care disproportionately affected certain sociodemographic strata, in particular marginalised groups. Using detailed medical claims data from the Dutch universal health care system and rich full population registry data, we predict expected healthcare use based on pre-pandemic trends (2017 - Feb 2020) and compare these expectations with observed healthcare use in 2020 and 2021. Our findings reveal a 10% decline in the number of weekly treated patients in 2020 and a 3% decline in 2021 relative to prior years. These declines are unequally distributed and are more pronounced for individuals below the poverty line, females, older people, and individuals with a migrant background, particularly during the initial wave of COVID-19 hospitalisations and for middle and low urgency procedures. While reductions in non-COVID related healthcare decreased following the initial shock of the pandemic, inequalities persist throughout 2020 and 2021. Our results demonstrate that the pandemic has not only had an unequal toll in terms of the direct health burden of the pandemic, but has also had a differential impact on the use of non-COVID healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Frey
- Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, 42 Park End St, Oxford, OX1 1JD, UK
- Nuffield College, University of Oxford, 1 New Rd, Oxford, OX1 1NF, UK
- Amsterdam Health and Technology Institute, Paasheuvelweg 25, Amsterdam, 1105 BP, The Netherlands
- Stanford University, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, 42 Park End St, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Andrea M Tilstra
- Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, 42 Park End St, Oxford, OX1 1JD, UK
- Nuffield College, University of Oxford, 1 New Rd, Oxford, OX1 1NF, UK
- Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, 42 Park End St, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, 42 Park End St, Oxford, OX1 1JD, UK
| | - Mark D Verhagen
- Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, 42 Park End St, Oxford, OX1 1JD, UK.
- Nuffield College, University of Oxford, 1 New Rd, Oxford, OX1 1NF, UK.
- Amsterdam Health and Technology Institute, Paasheuvelweg 25, Amsterdam, 1105 BP, The Netherlands.
- Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, 42 Park End St, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK.
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, 42 Park End St, Oxford, OX1 1JD, UK.
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40
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Tinner L, Alonso Curbelo A. Intersectional discrimination and mental health inequalities: a qualitative study of young women's experiences in Scotland. Int J Equity Health 2024; 23:45. [PMID: 38424534 PMCID: PMC10903064 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-024-02133-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2021, Scotland became the first UK country to launch a Women's Health Plan. This policy signals increasing commitment to broader ambitions surrounding gender equality in health. Research shows a connection between discrimination and health, representing a contributor to health inequalities. There remains sparse evidence on how certain groups experience discrimination that could be useful for policymaking. This research set out to address this evidence gap through exploring how discrimination shapes young women's experiences of mental health and inequalities in Scotland. METHODS We interviewed women aged 16-25 years (n=28), living in Scotland, UK, adopting an intersectional approach to recruitment and data analysis. We used a semi-structured topic guide to facilitate open discussion about discrimination and health. Transcripts were analysed by two researchers using Thematic Analysis and NVivo software. FINDINGS We identified three themes that illuminate intersectional discrimination and the impact on mental health. The first outlines how experiences of discrimination in school, work and public spaces (and the anticipation of such) creates stress leading to mental health problems, particularly for participants from ethnic minority groups. The second highlights the lack of support for mental health, both at structural and interpersonal levels, which was viewed by young women as a form of intersectional discrimination, largely because of their gender and age. Finally, we developed a mid-level theory termed the 'chain of dismissal' that displays that for both physical or mental health symptoms, young women's concerns are immediately "written off" as anxiety-related and in turn a natural attribute of young women. These themes show that discrimination has the potential to amplify mental health problems for young women and is a likely contributor to health inequalities. CONCLUSIONS Structural disadvantages such as racism intersect with gender and age to compound the experience of discrimination for marginalised young women. To improve mental health and reduce health inequalities for young women, multi-level approaches are needed, with strong consideration of how the structural and cultural landscape as well as assumptions made by healthcare professionals have critical implications for young women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tinner
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Ana Alonso Curbelo
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Bambra C, Marmot M. Restructuring of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is a further step in the wrong direction for tackling health inequalities. BMJ 2024; 384:q413. [PMID: 38365274 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.q413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
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Armocida B, Monasta L, Sawyer SM, Bustreo F, Onder G, Castelpietra G, Pricci F, Minardi V, Giacomozzi C, Abbafati C, Stafford LK, Pasovic M, Hay SI, Ong KL, Perel P, Beran D. The Burden of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Among Adolescents and Young Adults in 24 Western European Countries, 1990-2019: Results From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Int J Public Health 2024; 68:1606491. [PMID: 38420040 PMCID: PMC10899430 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1606491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: As little is known about the burden of type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in adolescents in Western Europe (WE), we aimed to explore their epidemiology among 10-24 year-olds. Methods: Estimates were retrieved from the Global Burden of Diseases Study (GBD) 2019. We reported counts, rates per 100,000 population, and percentage changes from 1990 to 2019 for prevalence, incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of T1DM and T2DM, and the burden of T2DM in YLDs attributable to high body mass index (HBMI), for 24 WE countries. Results: In 2019, prevalence and disability estimates were higher for T1DM than T2DM among 10-24 years old adolescents in WE. However, T2DM showed a greater increase in prevalence and disability than T1DM in the 30 years observation period in all WE countries. Prevalence increased with age, while only minor differences were observed between sexes. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the substantial burden posed by DM in WE among adolescents. Health system responses are needed for transition services, data collection systems, education, and obesity prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Armocida
- Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases and Aging, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Monasta
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
| | - Susan M Sawyer
- Department of Paediatrics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Graziano Onder
- Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Geriatric and Orthopedic Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Castelpietra
- Outpatient and Inpatient Care Service, Central Health Directorate, Trieste, Italy
| | - Flavia Pricci
- Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases and Aging, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Minardi
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Giacomozzi
- Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases and Aging, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Abbafati
- Department of Juridical and Economic Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lauryn K Stafford
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Maja Pasovic
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Simon I Hay
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kanyin Lian Ong
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Pablo Perel
- Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Beran
- Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, University of Geneva and Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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Finning K, Haeffner A, Patel S, Longdon B, Hayes R, Ukoumunne OC, Ford T. Is neighbourhood deprivation in primary school-aged children associated with their mental health and does this association change over 30 months? Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024:10.1007/s00787-024-02385-y. [PMID: 38356042 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-024-02385-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
As both socioeconomic deprivation and the prevalence of childhood mental health difficulties continue to increase, exploring the relationship between them is important to guide policy. We aimed to replicate the finding of a mental health gap that widened with age between those living in the most and least deprived areas among primary school pupils. We used data from 2075 children aged 4-9 years in the South West of England recruited to the STARS (Supporting Teachers and childRen in Schools) trial, which collected teacher- and parent-reported Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at baseline, 18-month and 30-month follow-up. We fitted multilevel regression models to explore the relationship between Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile and SDQ total difficulties score and an algorithm-generated "probable disorder" variable that combined SDQ data from teachers and parents. Teacher- and parent-reported SDQ total difficulties scores indicated worse mental health in children living in more deprived neighbourhoods, which was attenuated by controlling for special educational needs and disabilities but remained significant by parent report, and there was no interaction year group status (age) at baseline. We did not detect an association between probable disorder and IMD although an interaction with time was evident (p = 0.003). Analysis by study wave revealed associations at baseline (odds ratio 1.94, 95% confidence interval 0.97-3.89) and 18 months (1.96, 1.07-3.59) but not 30 months (0.94, 0.54-1.57). These findings augment the existing, highly compelling evidence demonstrating worse mental health in children exposed to socioeconomic deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Finning
- Public Policy Analysis, Office for National Statistics, Newport, UK
| | - Amy Haeffner
- Exeter Medical school, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Sohum Patel
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Bryony Longdon
- Department of Health and Community Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Rachel Hayes
- Department of Health and Community Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Obioha C Ukoumunne
- Department of Health and Community Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Tamsin Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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44
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McGarity-Palmer R, Saw A, Tsoh JY, Yellow Horse AJ. Trends in Racial Discrimination Experiences for Asian Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:168-183. [PMID: 36602751 PMCID: PMC9815050 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01508-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asian Americans (AAs) are experiencing increased rates of anti-Asian racism during COVID-19. Experiences of racism, whether personal or collective, constitute stress and psychosocial trauma that negatively impact mental and physical health. OBJECTIVES Examine subgroup differences in rates of personal experience of discrimination and COVID-related collective racism and how each is associated with mental and physical health for AAs. METHODS Nationally representative data from the 2021 Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander COVID-19 Needs Assessment Project were used to estimate prevalence rates of discrimination and average COVID-related collective racism scores for AAs (unweighted N = 3478). We conducted logistic and linear regression models to examine subgroup differences by sociodemographic factors. We also conducted hierarchical logistic regression models to examine associations between racism and psychological distress and health decline. RESULTS Twenty-four percent of AAs (95% CI: 21.6, 25.6) reported experiencing discrimination during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subgroup analyses revealed that Chinese, younger adults, and AAs who completed the survey in an Asian language were significantly more likely to experience discrimination compared to their counterparts. For COVID-related collective racism, subgroup analyses revealed that Chinese, women, and adults ages 25-44 were more likely to report experiences of collective racism compared to their counterparts. Both discrimination and collective racism were independently associated with negative mental and physical health. CONCLUSION Discrimination and COVID-related collective racism are associated with negative mental and physical health outcomes for AAs. Results point to vulnerable AA subgroups and the need for targeted public health efforts to address racism in the context of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca McGarity-Palmer
- Department of Psychology, DePaul University, 2219 N. Kenmore Ave., Byrne Hall 560, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA
- Analyst Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Anne Saw
- Department of Psychology, DePaul University, 2219 N. Kenmore Ave., Byrne Hall 560, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA.
- Asian American Research Center On Health (ARCH), San Francisco, USA.
| | - Janice Y Tsoh
- Asian American Research Center On Health (ARCH), San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Aggie J Yellow Horse
- Asian American Research Center On Health (ARCH), San Francisco, USA
- School of Social Transformation, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
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McGarity-Palmer R, Saw A, Horse AJY, Yi SS, Tsoh J, Takeuchi D. Profiles of a COVID-19 Syndemic: Anti-Asian Racism, Economic Challenges, and Mental and Physical Health. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:300-312. [PMID: 36692660 PMCID: PMC9872729 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01519-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, Asians/Asian Americans have experienced co-occurring threats of anti-Asian racism, economic challenges, and negative mental and physical health symptoms. OBJECTIVES We examined the co-occurrence of COVID-19-related anti-Asian discrimination and collective racism, economic stressors, and mental and physical health challenges for Asians/Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also examined Asian/Asian American subgroups associated with these threats. METHODS Nationally representative data from the 2021 Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander COVID-19 Needs Assessment Project (unweighted N = 3,508) were used to conduct a latent profile analysis to identify unique typologies of the co-occurrence of these threats. We also conducted chi-square analyses to investigate subgroup differences by latent profile. RESULTS We identified five distinct latent profiles: multi-threat impact, low impact, collective racism, health challenges, and economic/health challenges. Forty percent of Asians/Asian Americans were in the multi-threat impact profile, indicating high levels across COVID-19-related threats. Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in profile membership. East Asians, US-born Asians/Asian Americans, and those aged 25-44 seemed to be particularly affected by the proposed syndemic; results also differed by income. CONCLUSION Asians/Asian Americans have experienced co-occurring and interrelated threats during COVID-19 that suggest the presence of a syndemic. Results from our study point to vulnerable Asian/Asian American subgroups and the need for targeted public health efforts to address racism, health challenges, and economic challenges in the context of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca McGarity-Palmer
- Department of Psychology, DePaul University, 2219 N. Kenmore Ave., Byrne Hall 560, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA
- Analyst Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Anne Saw
- Department of Psychology, DePaul University, 2219 N. Kenmore Ave., Byrne Hall 560, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA.
| | | | - Stella S Yi
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Janice Tsoh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David Takeuchi
- School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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46
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Alim M, Sulley S. Beyond Healing: Embracing the Triple Bottom Line Approach in Post-pandemic Healthcare. Cureus 2024; 16:e54019. [PMID: 38476781 PMCID: PMC10932512 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
A triple bottom line (TBL) encompasses economic, social, and environmental dimensions, which provides a strategy for transforming contemporary healthcare systems. This study contextualized current TBL developments in healthcare under the spotlight of COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges and opportunities. The paper has five sections, including an introductory section that outlines the TBL concept and its relevance to healthcare. Following this, we provide an overview of the three pillars of the TBL, including its economic, social, and environmental dimensions as they relate to healthcare. This section also includes several case studies to illustrate TBL-based practices in diverse healthcare settings, focusing on how these were implemented and the outcomes and barriers to adopting such practices. In addition to showcasing current TBL practices, we review three significant challenges to TBL and highlight potential areas for future research, such as innovative practices, educational reform, and the need for the development of robust TBL metrics. The overarching conclusion is that the TBL provides a profound approach to conceptualizing contemporary healthcare to meet the urgent requirements for a more resilient, equitable, and environmentally responsible healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mairy Alim
- Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, CMR
| | - Saanie Sulley
- Health and Biomedical Informatics, Independent Researcher, Washington, USA
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Reis Júnior WM, Ferreira LN, Molina-Bastos CG, Bispo Júnior JP, Reis HFT, Goulart BNG. Prevalence of functional dependence and chronic diseases in the community-dwelling Brazilian older adults: an analysis by dependence severity and multimorbidity pattern. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:140. [PMID: 38200484 PMCID: PMC10777626 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17564-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the advancements in knowledge about health care for older adults, essential gaps persist regarding the effects of chronic diseases as epidemiological markers of the state of functional dependence. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of moderate and severe functional dependence in Brazilian older adults and its association with chronic diseases and verify the multimorbidity patterns by dependence status. METHODS This cross-sectional analytical study used data from 11,177 community-dwelling Brazilian older adults from the 2013 National Health Survey conducted in Brazil. The dependent variables were moderate and severe functional dependence in basic activities of daily living (BADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs). The independent variables were defined based on the questions applied to measure each morbidity in a self-reported manner and asked, "Has a doctor ever diagnosed you as having (each disease)? Multimorbidity was simultaneously considered present for older adults with ≥ 2 chronic morbidities. The association between functional dependence on BADLs and IADLs separately by severity and the independent variables was verified from crude and adjusted estimates of the point prevalence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals using the regression model Poisson with robust variance. To group diseases into patterns, exploratory factor analysis was used. RESULTS The prevalences of moderate and severe BADL dependence were 10.2% (95% CI, 9.6-10.7) and 4.8% (95% CI, 4.4-5.2), respectively. Moderate and severe IADL dependence prevalences were 13.8% (95% CI, 13.1-14.4) and 15.6% (95% CI, 14.9%-16.2), respectively. When changing the condition from moderate to severe dependence in BADLs, in the presence of other mental illnesses and stroke, the probability of dependence increased more than four times in the case of other mental illnesses and more than five times for stroke. There was a linear trend for dependence severity, both moderate and severe, whereas, for severe dependence on IADLs, this same factor maintained a linear trend toward an increase in probability as the number of diseases simultaneously increased. CONCLUSIONS Chronic diseases are associated with functional dependence, with greater emphasis on mental illnesses and stroke in severe disability, considering their acute adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Bárbara Niegia Garcia Goulart
- Department of Health 1, State University of Southwest Bahia, Jequié, Bahia, Brazil.
- Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Rio Grande Do Sul. Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2777 Room 307, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90035-003, Brazil.
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48
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Scott S, McGowan VJ, Wildman J, Bidmead E, Hartley J, Mathews C, James B, Sullivan C, Bambra C, Sowden S. "I'll meet you at our bench": adaptation, innovation and resilience among VCSE organisations who supported marginalised and minoritised communities during the Covid-19 pandemic in Northern England - a qualitative focus group study. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:7. [PMID: 38172856 PMCID: PMC10765907 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10435-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and increased adversity and challenges for vulnerable and marginalised communities worldwide. In the UK, the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector play a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of people who are marginalised or experiencing multiple complex needs. However, only a small number of studies have focused on the impact that Covid-19 had on the VCSE sector. METHODS As part of a Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (HIIA), we conducted qualitative focus groups with staff and volunteers from five organisations to examine short, medium and longer-term impacts of Covid-19 upon the VCSE sector in Northern England. Nine online focus groups were conducted between March and July 2021. FINDINGS Focus group transcripts were analysed using Framework Analysis and yielded three central themes: (1) exacerbation of pre-existing inequalities, adversity and challenges for vulnerable and marginalised populations; (2) the 'price' of being flexible, innovative and agile for VCSE staff and volunteers; and (3) the voluntary sector as a 'lifeline' - organisational pride and resilience. CONCLUSIONS While the voluntary sector 'adapted at pace' to provide support during Covid-19 and in its continued aftermath, this resilience has potentially come at the cost of workforce and volunteer wellbeing, compounded by political obstacles and chronic shortage in funding and support. The VCSE sector has a vital role to play in the post-lockdown 'levelling up' agenda. The expertise, capacity and resilience of VCSE organisations, and their ability to respond to Covid-19, should be celebrated, recognised and supported adequately to maintain its resilience. To not do so threatens the sector's sustainability and risks jeopardising attempts to involve the sector in addressing the social determinants of health.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Scott
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK.
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria, St Nicholas' Hospital, Jubilee Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 3XT, UK.
| | - V J McGowan
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - J Wildman
- ScotCen, Scotiabank House, 6 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4AW, UK
| | - E Bidmead
- Institute of Health, University of Cumbria, Fusehill Street, Carlisle, CA1 2HH, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria, St Nicholas' Hospital, Jubilee Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 3XT, UK
| | - J Hartley
- VONNE, 4th Floor, MEA House, Ellison Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 8XS, UK
| | - C Mathews
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care, Waterfront 4, Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside, NE15 8NY, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - B James
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care, Waterfront 4, Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside, NE15 8NY, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - C Sullivan
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care, Waterfront 4, Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside, NE15 8NY, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - C Bambra
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria, St Nicholas' Hospital, Jubilee Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 3XT, UK
| | - S Sowden
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care, Waterfront 4, Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside, NE15 8NY, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Lesaine E, Francis F, Domecq S, Miganeh-Hadi S, Sevin F, Sibon I, Rouanet F, Pradeau C, Coste P, Cetran L, Vandentorren S, Saillour F. Social and clinical vulnerability in stroke and STEMI management during the COVID-19 pandemic: a registry-based study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e073933. [PMID: 38171619 PMCID: PMC10773394 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate whether the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a deterioration in the quality of care for socially and/or clinically vulnerable stroke and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. DESIGN Two cohorts of STEMI and stroke patients in the Aquitaine neurocardiovascular registry. SETTING Six emergency medical services, 30 emergency units, 14 hospitalisation units and 11 catheterisation laboratories in the Aquitaine region in France. PARTICIPANTS This study involved 9218 patients (6436 stroke and 2782 STEMI patients) in the neurocardiovascular registry from January 2019 to August 2020. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Care management times in both cohorts: first medical contact-to-procedure time for the STEMI cohort and emergency unit admission-to-imaging time for the stroke cohort. Associations between social (deprivation index) and clinical (age >65 years, neurocardiovascular history) vulnerabilities and care management times were analysed using multivariate linear mixed models, with an interaction on the time period (pre-wave, per-wave and post-first COVID-19 wave). RESULTS The first medical contact procedure time was longer for elderly (p<0.001) and 'very socially disadvantaged' (p=0.003) STEMI patients, with no interaction regarding the COVID-19 period (age, p=0.54; neurocardiovascular history, p=0.70; deprivation, p=0.64). We found no significant association between vulnerabilities and the admission imaging time for stroke patients, and no interaction with respect to the COVID-19 period (age, p=0.81; neurocardiovascular history, p=0.34; deprivation, p=0.95). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed pre-existing inequalities in care management times for vulnerable STEMI and stroke patients; however, these inequalities were neither accentuated nor reduced during the first COVID-19 wave. Measures implemented during the crisis did not alter the structured emergency pathway for these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04979208.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Lesaine
- CIC-EC 14-01, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U1219, Bordeaux Population Health, Bordeaux, France
| | - Florence Francis
- University of Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U1219, Bordeaux Population Health, Bordeaux, France
- Pôle de santé publique, Service d'Information Médicale, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Sandrine Domecq
- CIC-EC 14-01, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U1219, Bordeaux Population Health, Bordeaux, France
| | - Sahal Miganeh-Hadi
- CIC-EC 14-01, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U1219, Bordeaux Population Health, Bordeaux, France
| | - Floriane Sevin
- CIC-EC 14-01, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U1219, Bordeaux Population Health, Bordeaux, France
| | - Igor Sibon
- Stroke Unit, CHU Bordeaux GH Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS UMR 5287, INCIA, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | - Pierre Coste
- Coronary Care Unit, CHU de Bordeaux Hôpital Cardiologique, Pessac, France
| | - Laura Cetran
- Coronary Care Unit, CHU de Bordeaux Hôpital Cardiologique, Pessac, France
| | - Stephanie Vandentorren
- University of Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U1219, Bordeaux Population Health, Bordeaux, France
- Sante publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Florence Saillour
- University of Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U1219, Bordeaux Population Health, Bordeaux, France
- Pôle de santé publique, Service d'Information Médicale, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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50
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Mude W, Mwenyango H, Preston R, O'Mullan C, Vaughan G, Jones G. HIV Testing Disruptions and Service Adaptations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review. AIDS Behav 2024; 28:186-200. [PMID: 37548796 PMCID: PMC10803448 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-023-04139-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Access to treatment and care in safe clinical settings improves people's lives with HIV. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted vital HIV programs and services, increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes for people with HIV and HIV transmission rates in the community. This systematic literature review provides a meta-analysis of HIV testing disruptions and a synthesis of HIV/AIDS services adapted during COVID-19. We searched scholarly databases from 01 January 2020 to 30 June 2022 using key terms on HIV testing rates and services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The process of how the included articles were identified, selected, appraised, and synthesised was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We included 17 articles that reported changes in HIV testing during the COVID-19 pandemic and 22 that reported adaptations in HIV/AIDS services. We found that HIV testing decreased by 37% during the search period because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Service providers adopted novel strategies to support remote service delivery by expanding community antiretroviral therapy dispensing, setting up primary care outreach points, and instituting multi-month dispensing services to sustain client care. Therefore, service providers and policymakers should explore alternative strategies to increase HIV testing rates impacted by COVID-19 and leverage funding to continue providing the identified adapted services.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Mude
- School of Health Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Cairns Campus, 42-52 Abbott Street & Shields Street, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
| | - Hadijah Mwenyango
- School of Health & Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN, UK
| | - Robyn Preston
- School of Health Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Townsville Campus, Townsville, Australia
| | - Catherine O'Mullan
- School of Health Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bundaberg Campus, Bundaberg, Australia
| | - Geraldine Vaughan
- School of Health Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Sydney Campus, Sydney, Australia
| | - Gary Jones
- Cohort Doctoral Studies Program, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
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