There exist a huge gap between generation of evidence-based research findings and its use to inform policies in most developing countries. Further, it is evident that most developing countries are lagging behind in fo...There exist a huge gap between generation of evidence-based research findings and its use to inform policies in most developing countries. Further, it is evident that most developing countries are lagging behind in formulating appropriate policies aimed at improving people’s lives due to lack of evidence-based research findings. We describe the potential of a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in informing appropriate health interventions towards reducing the high maternal and child deaths in rural communities of north western Nigeria through the Verbal Autopsy (VA) data collection. VA data collection involves the use of VA questionnaires—set of open ended and closed ended questions adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) module— administered to the caregivers, parents or family members of a deceased person to elicit information on signs and symptoms and their durations, and other pertinent information about the deceased in the period before death. VA interviews were conducted by trained VA enumerators on all 2100 deaths reported during the update round 4 of routine data collection (July-December, 2012) and returned forms were checked for consistencies and completeness by a trained research officer. The forms were later coded by trained medical doctors for possible cause of death using the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) codes. Fifty cases of neonatal deaths, 1650 cases of infant and child deaths, and 400 cases of adult deaths were reported during the update round 4 data collection. Neonatal sepsis was reported as the leading cause of neonatal deaths (58%) while malaria and intestinal infectious diseases were reported as the leading cause of infant and child deaths and adult deaths respectively (45% and 17%, respectively). The study provides documented evidence of high neonatal deaths due to neonatal sepsis in an area with low hygiene and high home delivery rates. The findings from the VA data collection at Nahuche HDSS inform the intervention study on home distribution of chlorhexidine to pregnant women. The findings from this study call on government and other stakeholders to strengthen research capacity to generate timely data and findings returned to policy makers within the shortest period of time for decision making.展开更多
BACKGROUND Despite the Middle East and North Africa(MENA)Region reported to have the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV)globally,HCV infection levels in the majority of MENA countries remain inadequately char...BACKGROUND Despite the Middle East and North Africa(MENA)Region reported to have the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV)globally,HCV infection levels in the majority of MENA countries remain inadequately characterized.Blood donor data have been previously used as a proxy to assess levels and trends of HCV in the general population,however,it is unclear how comparable these populations are in MENA and whether blood donors provide an appropriate proxy.AIM To delineate HCV epidemiology among blood donors and the general population in the MENA.METHODS The data source was the systematically gathered MENA HCV Epidemiology Synthesis Project Database.Random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted.For comparison,analyses were conducted for Europe,utilizing the Hepatitis C Prevalence Database of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.RESULTS One thousand two hundred and thirteen HCV antibody prevalence measures and 84 viremic rate measures were analyzed for MENA.Three hundred and seventyseven antibody prevalence measures were analyzed for Europe.In MENA,pooled mean prevalence was 1.58%[95%confidence interval(CI):1.48%–1.69%]among blood donors and 4.49%(95%CI:4.10%–4.90%)in the general population.In Europe,pooled prevalence was 0.11%(95%CI:0.10%–0.13%)among blood donors and 1.59%(95%CI:1.25%–1.97%)in the general population.Prevalence in the general population was 1.72-fold(95%CI:1.50–1.97)higher than that in blood donors in MENA,but it was 15.10-fold(95%CI:11.48–19.86)higher in Europe.Prevalence was declining at a rate of 4%per year in both MENA and Europe[adjusted risk ratio:0.96(95%CI:0.95–0.97)in MENA and 0.96(95%CI:0.92–0.99)in Europe].Pooled mean viremic rate in MENA was 76.29%(95%CI:67.64%–84.02%)among blood donors and 65.73%(95%CI:61.03%–70.29%)in the general population.CONCLUSION Blood donor data provide a useful proxy for HCV infection in the wider population in MENA,but not Europe,and could improve HCV burden estimations and assess progress toward HCV elimination by 2030.展开更多
2012年,世界卫生大会（World Health Assembly）签署全球疫苗行动计划（Global Vaccine Action Plan,GVAP）,该计划旨在2020年前消除世界卫生组织（World Health Qrganization,WHO）5个区域的麻疹和风疹。2013年9月,WHO 6个区域的所有...2012年,世界卫生大会（World Health Assembly）签署全球疫苗行动计划（Global Vaccine Action Plan,GVAP）,该计划旨在2020年前消除世界卫生组织（World Health Qrganization,WHO）5个区域的麻疹和风疹。2013年9月,WHO 6个区域的所有国家都已确立消除麻疹的目标,其中3个区域还确立了消除风疹和先天性风疹综合征的目标.展开更多
Background:Intestinal schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni was first reported in Oman in 1979.We describe the trend in parasitological and serological prevalence of human infection with S.mansoni in the endemic ...Background:Intestinal schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni was first reported in Oman in 1979.We describe the trend in parasitological and serological prevalence of human infection with S.mansoni in the endemic area over the period 1982–2014,and the compliance of data generated by the national monitoring and evaluation system with schistosomiasis elimination criteria set by the Ministry of Health of Oman.Methods:Parasitological and serological assessments were carried out on population(mainly children)living in the area at risk for schistosomiasis in Dhofar,the country’s only endemic Governorate,for a period of over 30 years.Kato-Katz thick smear and Indirect Haemagglutination Assay were the techniques employed.Results:Data indicate a progressive decline in prevalence of S.mansoni throughout the 1980s and the 1990s,a recrudescence in the early 2000s,and a more marked decrease following the implementation of six rounds of mass treatment with praziquantel from 2007 to 2013.Latest parasitological prevalence(2011)was 0%,while latest serological prevalence(2014)was 0.11%.Conclusion:Transmission of schistosomiasis has reached very low levels in Oman.Elimination criteria established by the Ministry of Health of Oman(parasitological prevalence≤1%and serological prevalence≤5%)have been met since 2008.Further investigations are required to assess whether interruption of transmission has been achieved in some or all foci,in view of the establishment of a formal verification process under the auspices of WHO.展开更多
文摘There exist a huge gap between generation of evidence-based research findings and its use to inform policies in most developing countries. Further, it is evident that most developing countries are lagging behind in formulating appropriate policies aimed at improving people’s lives due to lack of evidence-based research findings. We describe the potential of a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in informing appropriate health interventions towards reducing the high maternal and child deaths in rural communities of north western Nigeria through the Verbal Autopsy (VA) data collection. VA data collection involves the use of VA questionnaires—set of open ended and closed ended questions adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) module— administered to the caregivers, parents or family members of a deceased person to elicit information on signs and symptoms and their durations, and other pertinent information about the deceased in the period before death. VA interviews were conducted by trained VA enumerators on all 2100 deaths reported during the update round 4 of routine data collection (July-December, 2012) and returned forms were checked for consistencies and completeness by a trained research officer. The forms were later coded by trained medical doctors for possible cause of death using the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) codes. Fifty cases of neonatal deaths, 1650 cases of infant and child deaths, and 400 cases of adult deaths were reported during the update round 4 data collection. Neonatal sepsis was reported as the leading cause of neonatal deaths (58%) while malaria and intestinal infectious diseases were reported as the leading cause of infant and child deaths and adult deaths respectively (45% and 17%, respectively). The study provides documented evidence of high neonatal deaths due to neonatal sepsis in an area with low hygiene and high home delivery rates. The findings from the VA data collection at Nahuche HDSS inform the intervention study on home distribution of chlorhexidine to pregnant women. The findings from this study call on government and other stakeholders to strengthen research capacity to generate timely data and findings returned to policy makers within the shortest period of time for decision making.
文摘BACKGROUND Despite the Middle East and North Africa(MENA)Region reported to have the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV)globally,HCV infection levels in the majority of MENA countries remain inadequately characterized.Blood donor data have been previously used as a proxy to assess levels and trends of HCV in the general population,however,it is unclear how comparable these populations are in MENA and whether blood donors provide an appropriate proxy.AIM To delineate HCV epidemiology among blood donors and the general population in the MENA.METHODS The data source was the systematically gathered MENA HCV Epidemiology Synthesis Project Database.Random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted.For comparison,analyses were conducted for Europe,utilizing the Hepatitis C Prevalence Database of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.RESULTS One thousand two hundred and thirteen HCV antibody prevalence measures and 84 viremic rate measures were analyzed for MENA.Three hundred and seventyseven antibody prevalence measures were analyzed for Europe.In MENA,pooled mean prevalence was 1.58%[95%confidence interval(CI):1.48%–1.69%]among blood donors and 4.49%(95%CI:4.10%–4.90%)in the general population.In Europe,pooled prevalence was 0.11%(95%CI:0.10%–0.13%)among blood donors and 1.59%(95%CI:1.25%–1.97%)in the general population.Prevalence in the general population was 1.72-fold(95%CI:1.50–1.97)higher than that in blood donors in MENA,but it was 15.10-fold(95%CI:11.48–19.86)higher in Europe.Prevalence was declining at a rate of 4%per year in both MENA and Europe[adjusted risk ratio:0.96(95%CI:0.95–0.97)in MENA and 0.96(95%CI:0.92–0.99)in Europe].Pooled mean viremic rate in MENA was 76.29%(95%CI:67.64%–84.02%)among blood donors and 65.73%(95%CI:61.03%–70.29%)in the general population.CONCLUSION Blood donor data provide a useful proxy for HCV infection in the wider population in MENA,but not Europe,and could improve HCV burden estimations and assess progress toward HCV elimination by 2030.
文摘2012年,世界卫生大会（World Health Assembly）签署全球疫苗行动计划（Global Vaccine Action Plan,GVAP）,该计划旨在2020年前消除世界卫生组织（World Health Qrganization,WHO）5个区域的麻疹和风疹。2013年9月,WHO 6个区域的所有国家都已确立消除麻疹的目标,其中3个区域还确立了消除风疹和先天性风疹综合征的目标.
基金Field activities reported in this article were implemented by the Ministry of Health of Oman over a period of 33 years,through national budget allocations.
文摘Background:Intestinal schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni was first reported in Oman in 1979.We describe the trend in parasitological and serological prevalence of human infection with S.mansoni in the endemic area over the period 1982–2014,and the compliance of data generated by the national monitoring and evaluation system with schistosomiasis elimination criteria set by the Ministry of Health of Oman.Methods:Parasitological and serological assessments were carried out on population(mainly children)living in the area at risk for schistosomiasis in Dhofar,the country’s only endemic Governorate,for a period of over 30 years.Kato-Katz thick smear and Indirect Haemagglutination Assay were the techniques employed.Results:Data indicate a progressive decline in prevalence of S.mansoni throughout the 1980s and the 1990s,a recrudescence in the early 2000s,and a more marked decrease following the implementation of six rounds of mass treatment with praziquantel from 2007 to 2013.Latest parasitological prevalence(2011)was 0%,while latest serological prevalence(2014)was 0.11%.Conclusion:Transmission of schistosomiasis has reached very low levels in Oman.Elimination criteria established by the Ministry of Health of Oman(parasitological prevalence≤1%and serological prevalence≤5%)have been met since 2008.Further investigations are required to assess whether interruption of transmission has been achieved in some or all foci,in view of the establishment of a formal verification process under the auspices of WHO.
