Public health facility quality and child immunization outcomes in rural India: A decomposition analysis

Universal coverage of routine childhood vaccines remains a challenge in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In India, vaccination campaigns have increased full immunization coverage among 12–23 month old children from an estimated 62% in 2015–2016 to 76% in 2019–2020. Long-term improvements in coverage will likely require systemic changes to both the supply and demand sides of immunization programs. However, the effect of health system inputs on child vaccination outcomes remains poorly quantified in India. We examined the association between the quality of public health facilities and child vaccination outcomes in rural India using data from the nationally representative Integrated Child Health and Immunization Survey (2015–2016) which covered 1,346 public primary health sub-centers and 44,571 households. We constructed two indices of sub-center quality using multiple correspondence analysis: one related to the general health infrastructure quality and the other measuring vaccine service delivery. Using probit regression, we analyzed the relationship between vaccination outcomes in children under 2 years of age and sub-center quality, controlling for household socioeconomic characteristics. Additionally, we conducted Fairlie decomposition analysis by wealth group — bottom wealth quintile relative to the top four wealth quintiles— to examine factors contributing to gaps in immunization between rich and poor households. Infrastructure quality index was positively associated with completion of seven vaccination outcomes: full immunization, DPT-1 (first dose of diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus), DPT-2, DPT-3, Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), hepatitis B (birth dose), and on-time vaccination (OTV). Vaccine service delivery index was positively associated with completion of measles vaccination. The distribution of infrastructure quality contributed to increased gaps in full immunization and OTV between rich and poor households, while greater proximity to vaccination site for poorer households reduced these gaps. Improved quality of health facilities, particularly facilities used by low-income households, may improve vaccination outcomes.     

Pain intensity is associated with both performance-based disability and self-reported disability in a sample of older adults attending primary health care centers

BackgroundOlder adults' function level can be used as a predictor of future detrimental events, such as disability, reliance on others, risk of institutionalization and likelihood of death. The assessment of function at the primary health care centers using self-reported and/or performance based measures is of prime importance.ObjectiveTo determine whether personal factors, pain, depression and physical activity are associated with self-reported and performance based disability for older adults aged ≥60 years attending primary health care centers, as measured by the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), respectively.MethodsParticipants (196 females and 55 males; mean age ± SD = 70.87 ± 7.76) had their pain, self-reported disability, performance, physical activity levels and depressive symptoms assessed. Regression analyses were performed with self-reported and performance-based disability as the dependent variable and age, sex, education, chronic conditions, depression, physical activity and pain characteristics as dependent variables.ResultsMean (SD) results for SPPB were 8.45 (2.86) and 20.06 (8.21) for WHODAS. Pain intensity, depression, pain frequency, number of chronic conditions and level of physical activity explained 44% of the self-reported disability variance. Pain intensity, age, level of physical activity, years of formal education and chronic conditions explained 37% of the performance variance. Pain intensity alone explained 27% and 18% of the self-reported and performance based disability, respectively.ConclusionFindings indicate that primary health care interventions should target pain intensity, depressive symptoms and physical activity as a means to preventing or decreasing both self-reported and performance based disability.     

Social determinants of health,inequality and social inclusion among people with disabilities

OBJECTIVE:

to analyze the socio-familial and community inclusion and social participation of people with disabilities, as well as their inclusion in occupations in daily life.

METHOD:

qualitative study with data collected through open interviews concerning the participants'' life histories and systematic observation. The sample was composed of ten individuals with acquired or congenital disabilities living in the region covered by a Family Health Center. The social conception of disability was the theoretical framework used. Data were analyzed according to an interpretative reconstructive approach based on Habermas'' Theory of Communicative Action.

RESULTS:

the results show that the socio-familial and community inclusion of the study participants is conditioned to the social determinants of health and present high levels of social inequality expressed by difficult access to PHC and rehabilitation services, work and income, education, culture, transportation and social participation.

CONCLUSION:

there is a need to develop community-centered care programs in cooperation with PHC services aiming to cope with poverty and improve social inclusion.     

Predictors of urinary levels of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid,and pentachlorophenol in 121 adults in Ohio

Limited data exist on the driving factors that influence the non-occupational exposures of adults to pesticides using urinary biomonitoring. In this work, the objectives were to quantify the urinary levels of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP), 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in 121 adults over a 48-h monitoring period and to examine the associations between selected sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and urinary levels of each pesticide biomarker. Adults, ages 20–49 years old, were recruited from six counties in Ohio (OH) in 2001. The participants collected 4–6 spot urine samples and completed questionnaires and diaries at home over a 48-h monitoring period. Urine samples were analyzed for 2,4-D, TCP, 3-PBA, and PCP by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Multiple regression modeling was used to determine the impact of selected sociodemographic and lifestyle factors on the log-transformed (ln) levels of each pesticide biomarker in adults. The pesticide biomarkers were detected in ≥89% of the urine samples, except for 3-PBA (66%). Median urinary levels of 2,4-D, TCP, 3-PBA, and PCP were 0.7, 3.4, 0.3, and 0.5 ng/mL, respectively. Results showed that 48-h sweet/salty snack consumption, 48-h time spend outside at home, and ln(creatinine) levels were significant predictors (p < 0.05), and race was a marginally significant predictor (p = 0.093) of the adults’ ln(urinary 2,4-D) concentrations. Strong predictors (p < 0.05) of the adults’ ln(urinary TCP) concentrations were urbanicity, employment status, sampling season, and ln(creatinine) levels. For 3-PBA, sampling season, pet ownership and removal of shoes before entering the home were significant predictors (p < 0.05) of the adults’ ln(urinary 3-PBA) levels. Finally for PCP, removal of shoes before entering the home and ln(creatinine) levels were significant predictors (p < 0.05), and pet ownership was a marginally significant predictor (p = 0.056) of the adults’ ln(urinary PCP) concentrations. In conclusion, specific sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were identified that increased the exposures of these adults to several different pesticides in their daily environments.     

医学生基层就业意向及影响因素分析

目的：了解医学生基层就业意向,分析其影响因素,为解决当前医学生就业难与基层人才短缺的结构性矛盾提供参考与建议.方法：采用自行设计的问卷调查表,对杭州师范大学、浙江医学高等专科学校的482名医学生进行调查,通过卡方检验与二分类Logistic多元回归分析医学生基层就业意向的主要影响因素.结果：44.4％的医学生不愿意去基层就业,仅有8.5％表示非常愿意去基层就业.多因素分析结果显示：女医学生的基层就业意向是男生2.5倍（P ＜0.001）;农村户口医学生的基层就业意向是城市户口医学生的2.1倍（P =0.007）;医学生的基层就业意向与政府政策和学校的基层就业指导的效果呈正相关.结论：制定积极的政策、做好宣传与引导工作、探索合理的用人机制、加强学校就业指导和深化教育教学改革是引导医学毕业生面向基层就业的重要措施.     

Do adult patients with diabetes mellitus living in rural part of Ethiopia and having poor social support have disproportionately poor self-care practice? A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed at determining the pooled national percentage of diabetic self-care practice and its determinants among adult diabetic patients in Ethiopian.MethodsDifferent electronic databases including PubMed/Medline and search engines such as Google scholar were used to retrieve published studies. The Joanna Briggs Institute quality appraisal checklists were used to appraise the quality of studies. Data were extracted using excel spreadsheets and analyses were done by STATA 14. Heterogeneity among studies was diagnosed using the I² test. The DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was employed for substantial heterogeneity (I2 > 50%). The pooled estimate of diabetic self-care and odds ratio was reported based on the 95% CI.ResultsA total of 3861 studies were identified, of which only 19 studies have reached the final qualitative synthesis and quantitative analysis. Well over half of the Ethiopian diabetic patients have good self-care 54.04% (47.07–61.01, I² = 97.3, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis by region showed that the highest pooled estimate was observed in Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples 81.96% (71.85–92.04), I² = 89.1, p < 0.002), whereas the lowest was from the Harari region 44.53% (32.16–56.89%) I² = 94%, p < 0.001). Being knowledgeable about diabetes Mellitus 2.69 (1.62, 4.46; I2 = 99%, p < 0.001), having good social support 2.25 (1.49–3.39; I² = 99%, p = 0.00), owning private glucometer 3.04(1.64, 5.65; I² = 97.4, P < 0.001), and being urban residents 3.26 (2.24, 4.74; I² = 96.3%, P < 0.001) promote diabetic victims to apply self-care practice.ConclusionsDespite the life-threatening complications of diabetes Mellitus, the percentage of patients applying self-care has remained low in Ethiopia, depicting the high proportion of diabetic patients are prone to develop long and short-term sequelae of diabetes Mellitus. Therefore, improving the client’s awareness about the disease and counseling clients about the significance of social support are believed to be possible strategies to improve self-care practice and policymakers are strongly recommended to combat complications to attain sustainable development goal 3.4 Aims to reduce premature death.RegistrationThe protocol has been registered under the prospective Register of Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PROSPERO) and received a unique registration number CRD42020151014.     

Determinants of protein–energy malnutrition in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review of observational studies

Protein–energy malnutrition is associated with numerous poor health outcomes, including high health care costs, mortality rates and poor physical functioning in older adults. This systematic literature review aims to identify and provide an evidence based overview of potential determinants of protein–energy malnutrition in community-dwelling older adults.A systematic search was conducted in PUBMED, EMBASE, CINAHL and COCHRANE from the earliest possible date through January 2013. Observational studies that examined determinants of protein–energy malnutrition were selected and a best evidence synthesis was performed to summarize the results.In total 28 studies were included in this review from which 122 unique potential determinants were derived. Thirty-seven determinants were examined in sufficient number of studies and were included in a best evidence synthesis. The best evidence score comprised design (cross-sectional, longitudinal) and quality of the study (high, moderate) to grade the evidence level. Strong evidence for an association with protein–energy malnutrition was found for poor appetite, and moderate evidence for edentulousness, having no diabetes, hospitalization and poor self-reported health. Strong evidence for no association was found for anxiety, chewing difficulty, few friends, living alone, feeling lonely, death of spouse, high number of diseases, heart failure and coronary failure, stroke (CVA) and the use of anti-inflammatory medications.This review shows that protein–energy malnutrition is a multifactorial problem and that different domains likely play a role in the pathway of developing protein–energy malnutrition. These results provide important knowledge for the development of targeted, multifactorial interventions that aim to prevent the development of protein–energy malnutrition in community-dwelling older adults.     

Hygiene practices in abattoir and slaughter slab,determinants and assessment of abattoir and slaughter slab facilities in Abakaliki,Ebonyi State South-East Nigeria

BackgroundWorkers in slaughterhouses engaging in unhygienic practices create conducive environments for zoonoses and meat contamination. Knowledge of hygiene practices and their determinants provides evidence for the design of targeted interventions.ObjectivesWe investigated knowledge and determinants of hygiene practices among workers in slaughterhouses and assessed slaughterhouse facilities in Abakaliki.MethodsWorkers in the Central Meat Market abattoir and Slaughter slab Abakaliki were interviewed in a cross-sectional quantitative study to ascertain their knowledge and hygiene practices while abattoir facilities were assessed using a checklist. Associations were analysed with Chi-square while predictors were determined using binary logistic model.ResultsWe interviewed 188 workers 75.5% and 85.6% of whom had good knowledge and good hygiene practices respectively. However, hand-washing before and after handling meat (44.1%), cleaning work surfaces with soap and water (45.2%) and sanitary disposal of waste (6.9%) were suboptimal. Knowledge of good hygiene practice was a predictor of good hygiene practice (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.0–11.3, p=0.001). Well water and borehole were present in both slaughterhouses and cold rooms were available in Central Meat market abattoir.ConclusionsThe level of good knowledge was high and this was a determinant of good hygienic practices. Training on hygiene practices is recommended to prevent meat contamination and zoonoses.