Evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health service utilization in China: A study using auto-regressive integrated moving average model

Knowledge of Neonatal Danger Signs Among Mothers Attending Vaccination Centers in Central West Bank: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Aims

One core goal of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals is embracing good health and well-being among all age groups including the vulnerable neonatal age group. Aside from the contribution of preconception, antenatal, and intrapartum factors, neonatal health is a harmony between the mother's health and neonatal care. In Palestine, specifically in the Central West Bank, there is a scarcity of studies investigating the determinants of neonatal deaths. Through this study, we investigated the level of mothers' knowledge and awareness in recognizing neonatal danger signs (NDS) and associated factors.

Methods

A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted through convenient sampling. This study involved 377 mothers who gave birth in the last year and attended primary care centers for child vaccination in Ramallah and Jerusalem Governance from December 2023 to January 2024. This was done using structured questionnaires completed through face-to-face interviews covering socio-demographic variables, mothers' reproductive history, and NDS knowledge assessment.

Results

Among the 377 mothers, only 51% had good knowledge, reporting at least three danger signs. The most frequently mentioned were difficulty breathing (73.2%) and fever (64.7%), while hypothermia (2.7%) and convulsions (11.7%) were the least mentioned. Statistical analysis indicated that having a national health insurance card and an educated husband are significantly associated with mothers' knowledge of NDS. These factors could potentially be important to consider in intervention and educational programs aimed at improving mothers' knowledge.

Conclusion

This study showed that mothers' knowledge of NDS is relatively low, impacting public health in Palestine as in other developing countries. Therefore, collective efforts are needed to educate mothers on the importance of early NDS identification.

Nanobody-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Rapid Antigen Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV Proteins

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for pathogen detection methods that offer both low detection limits and rapid results. Despite advancements in simplifying and enhancing nucleic acid amplification techniques, immunochemical methods remain the preferred methods for mass testing. These methods eliminate the need for specialized laboratories and highly skilled personnel, making home testing feasible. Here, we developed nanobody-based lateral flow assays (LFAs) for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV in single and dual formats as point-of-care diagnostic tools. The developed LFAs are highly sensitive and successfully detected analytes at clinically relevant diagnostic cutoff values. Additionally, our results confirmed that the LFAs have a long shelf life and can be produced cost-effectively and with ease.

Global trends and burden of idiopathic epilepsy: regional and gender differences from 1990 to 2021 and future outlook

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) remains a significant neurological disorder, contributing to substantial global morbidity and mortality. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the global burden of IE from 1990 to 2021, focusing on trends in incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across different geographic regions. Additionally, the study projects IE burden trends through 2036, providing insights for future public health interventions.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021). IE incidence, mortality, and DALYs were analyzed by age, sex, year, and geographic location. Age-standardized rates were computed to facilitate comparisons across countries and regions. Temporal trends in IE burden were evaluated using Joinpoint regression, while future trends were projected using the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model.

RESULTS

In 2021, there were approximately 3.27 million new cases of IE globally (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 2.4 to 4.13 million) and 140,000 deaths (95% UI: 120,000 to 150,000). Total DALYs reached 13.88 million (95% UI: 10.73 to 17.62 million). The global age-standardized incidence rate increased from 38.12 per 100,000 in 1990 to 42.82 per 100,000 in 2021. The Andean and Central Latin American regions exhibited the highest incidence rates, while East Asia and Oceania reported the lowest. Despite a decrease in the global age-standardized mortality rate from 2.07 per 100,000 in 1990 to 1.74 per 100,000 in 2021, mortality rates remained elevated in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Male patients showed consistently higher incidence, mortality, and DALY rates compared to females, with the highest burden observed in children under 5 years and adults over 60 years.

CONCLUSION

Over the past three decades, global IE incidence has steadily increased, while mortality and DALY rates have declined, especially in high-income countries. However, low- and middle-income regions continue to face significant challenges due to limited access to healthcare. Public health efforts must prioritize enhancing early diagnosis and treatment capabilities in these resource-limited areas.

Cost-based COVID-19 vaccination and willingness to pay: A post-pandemic review

The primary objective of this paper is to serve as a valuable resource for policymakers who are confronted with the evolving landscape of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), considering both free and cost-based vaccination approaches. The potential consequences of shifting from free to cost-based vaccination are explored, encompassing its impact on global vaccine equity and prioritization, economic well-being, healthcare systems and delivery, public health policies, and vaccine distribution strategies. Examining past studies on willingness to pay for the initial COVID-19 vaccine dose and booster shots provides insights into how individuals value COVID-19 vaccinations and underscores the significance of addressing issues related to affordability. If COVID-19 vaccinations incur expenses, using effective communication strategies that emphasize the importance of vaccination and personal health benefits can increase willingness to pay. Making COVID-19 vaccines accessible through public health programs or health insurance can help alleviate financial barriers and increase vaccination rates.

Temporal trend in hospitalizations for malignant neoplasm and benign neoplasm: a nationwide study, China, 2004-2020

The increasing cancer burden calls for reliably assessed changes in the hospitalizations for tumors over time and space in China. This study evaluated trends in hospitalization rate, in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and medical costs for malignant and benign neoplasms. Data were derived from China Health Statistical Yearbooks from 2004 to 2020. Temporal trends in hospitalization rates and in-hospital mortality rates were assessed through the Cochran-Armitage Test. We used the linear model with continuous variables to test for the trend. The malignant neoplasm hospitalization rate increased from 1.1‰ to 5.8‰ and the benign neoplasm increased from 1.0‰ to 2.0‰. The in-hospital mortality rate due to malignant neoplasm and benign neoplasm decreased from 5.11 to 2.87% (P for trend < 0.001) and 0.14-0.01% (P for trend < 0.001), respectively. Among all patients hospitalized with malignant neoplasm, the average cost per hospitalization significantly increased during the study period (P for trend < 0.001), adjusted for the Consumer Price Index. However, the average LOS gradually decreased (P for trend < 0.001). In line with the trend of malignant neoplasm, the average cost per hospitalization increased significantly among all patients hospitalized for benign neoplasm (P for trend < 0.001), and the average LOS showed a steady downward trend (P for trend < 0.001). We found upward trends in hospitalization rates, and medical costs in neoplasms. By contrast, substantial decreases in in-hospital mortality and LOS. The hospitalization rate gap between urban and rural areas is narrowed.