A Mentoring Program for the Promotion of Sexual Health Among Korean Adolescents

The purpose of this pilot study was to develop a mentoring program for the promotion of sexual health among Korean adolescents and to explore the effects of the program. A nonequivalent control group pre-test–post-test design was used. The mentoring intervention was conducted by eight nursing students who participated in the program as mentors using various methods such as formal group sessions and informal individual contacts. At the 12-week post-intervention, the interaction between time and group was statistically significant on both sexual knowledge and sexual attitude of the 17 adolescent mentees. The mentoring program demonstrated potential as a developmentally appropriate intervention for the sexual health promotion of adolescents and promises to enable nursing students to gain confidence in their professional capability.     

洞庭湖区钉螺空间格局的动态分析

目的探索洞庭湖区湖北钉螺空间格局的动态变化,为钉螺生态学及螺口动力学研究提供基础信息。方法选择湖南省岳阳市君山区洞庭湖的一块草滩为现场,在2007年10月～2008年5月洞庭湖未涨水期间进行系统抽样查螺;分框计数,压螺鉴定死活。对部分汇总数据进行对数转换,计算扩散系数C、众生指标I、平均拥挤度M^＊、La指标等聚集度指标;拟合Taylor模型LgS^2-Lgm,Iwao模型M^＊-m、兰星平的La-m模型,C-S2模型等对空间格局的分布进行检验。结果不不同时间点扩散系数C、众生指数I、平均拥挤度M^＊、La指标都有统计学意义,取值与界限值相比均使得S2-M〉0及S2/M〉1;Taylor对数线性模型,M＊-m、La-m、C-S2等线性模型均有统计学意义,参数取值组合也均使得S2-M〉0及S2/M〉1;聚集度指标随均值同方向变化。结论钉螺空间分布格局动态成聚集分布,聚集度指标随均值同方向变化。     

Epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 in a boarding school: Serological analysis of 1570 cases

BackgroundA large number of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infections were localized in school populations.ObjectivesTo describe the epidemiology, clinical features and risk factors associated with an outbreak that occurred at a vocational boarding school in Guangzhou, P.R. China.Study designData were collected prospectively and retrospectively through the use of on-site doctors and a post-outbreak survey and blood collection. The survey was used to confirm symptoms, and to investigate a series of flu-related factors such as dormitory conditions, health habits, vaccine history and population contact history. Blood samples were taken for serological analysis. Pandemic H1N1 infection was initially confirmed by a real-time RT-PCR assay. Following the identification of the outbreak by the Guangzhou CDC on September 4, cases were diagnosed symptomatically and retrospectively by serological analysis using the hemagglutination inhibition assay and a neutralization assay.ResultsThe infection rate was 32% (505/1570) and the attack rate was 22.2% (349/1570). The asymptomatic infection rate was 9.9% (156/1570). Sharing a classroom (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.62–2.91) and dormitory space (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.84–2.93) was associated with higher rates of infection. Opening windows for ventilation was the only control measure that significantly protected against infection.ConclusionSocial isolation and quarantine should be used to prevent the spread of infection. Ventilation and a control of air flow between classrooms and dorms should be implemented as possible. School closures may be effective if implemented early.     

Influenza in the Asia-Pacific region: Findings and recommendations from the Global Influenza Initiative

The fourth roundtable meeting of the Global Influenza Initiative (GII) was held in Hong Kong, China, in July 2015. An objective of this meeting was to gain a broader understanding of the epidemiology, surveillance, vaccination policies and programs, and obstacles to vaccination of influenza in the Asia-Pacific region through presentations of data from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.As well as a need for improved levels of surveillance in some areas, a range of factors were identified that act as barriers to vaccination in some countries, including differences in climate and geography, logistical challenges, funding, lack of vaccine awareness and education, safety concerns, perceived lack of vaccine effectiveness, and lack of inclusion in national guidelines. From the presentations at the meeting, the GII discussed a number of recommendations for easing the burden of influenza and overcoming the current challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. These recommendations encompass the need to improve surveillance and availability of epidemiological data; the development and publication of national guidelines, where not currently available and/or that are in line with those proposed by the World Health Organization; the requirement for optimal timing of vaccination programs according to local or country-specific epidemiology; and calls for advocacy and government support of vaccination programs in order to improve availability and uptake and coverage.In conclusion, in addition to the varied epidemiology of seasonal influenza across this diverse region, there are a number of logistical and resourcing issues that present a challenge to the development of optimally effective vaccination strategies and that need to be overcome to improve access to and uptake of seasonal influenza vaccines. The GII has developed a number of recommendations to address these challenges and improve the control of influenza.     

Prevalence and predictors of influenza vaccination among residents of long-term care facilities

Influenza is a respiratory illness which results in significant morbidity and mortality, especially in the older population. Older people living in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) have a significantly higher risk of infection and complications from influenza. Influenza vaccine is considered the best strategy to prevent infection in high-risk populations. In Australia, the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CNDA) suggests a vaccination coverage rate of 95% in both staff and residents¹. This study aims to measure the vaccination coverage rates for residents in LTCFs and identify predictors of vaccination uptake for these individuals.This study was conducted in nine LTCFs in four sites from March to September 2018. This was done via medical record reviews for residents over 65 years old in these LTCFs, collecting information such as vaccination status, age, gender, ethnicity and occupation. Simple and multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate the Odds Ratio (OR) to determine significant predictors of influenza vaccination uptake.The overall vaccination rate among LTCF residents was 83.6%. Significant predictors of vaccination were LTCF location, ethnicity and previous year vaccination status. Residents in LTCF Site D were less likely to be vaccinated compared to Site A (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02–0.61), non-Caucasians were less likely to get vaccinated (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.01–0.67), and residents who refused the 2017 vaccine were less likely to be vaccinated (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.01–0.15).Compared with previous Australian studies on LTCF vaccination rates, the overall vaccination rate was high in these LTCFs (83.6% versus 66–84%), but it varied across different sites. Reasons for varying vaccination rates should be explored further – for example, lower rates in non-Caucasians with diverse cultural backgrounds. Better understanding the causes of under-vaccination can help improve vaccination programs in LTCFs.     

Prevalence of meningococcal meningitis in China from 2005 to 2010

BackgroundWe aimed to estimate the prevalence and epidemiologic characteristics of meningococcal meningitis (MM) in mainland China (excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau) and to provide reference data for controlling the outbreak and prevalence of MM.MethodsData from the National Notifiable Diseases Registry System and the MM case information reporting system from 2005 to 2010 as well as data from the MM Surveillance System were used.ResultsThe morbidity of MM for the whole country was, on average, 0.09 cases per 100,000 (range 0.02 [2010]–0.18 [2005] cases per 100,000) from 2005 to 2010, the incidence rate was highest in the Xinjiang autonomous region (average 0.56 cases per 100,000), and the majority of cases came from Anhui province (average 0.32 cases per 100,000). Morbidity was highest in children under 1 year old (average 0.60 cases per 100,000). The proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases of serogroups A, B, and C were 37.2, 11.5 and 42.7, respectively, from 2005 to 2010.ConclusionsThe incidence level declined year-to-year in mainland China. Children and students are the most at risk groups. The proportion of serogroup C cases has increased year-to-year, and new cases of serogroup W135 have been found. Controlling the epidemic of serogroup C and preventing outbreaks of serogroup B and W135 represent major future challenges.