A systematic scoping review of environmental health conditions and hygiene behaviors in homeless shelters

Background

There are well-established relationships between health and homelessness, and shelters can facilitate the transmission of diseases and contribute to their prevention. Adequate environmental health conditions and hygiene behaviors in homeless shelters are fundamental to the health of their clients, a marginalized population. We report the status of environmental health conditions and hygiene behaviors in homeless shelters and associated health outcomes; interventions to improve these conditions, behaviors, and outcomes; and obstacles to improvement.

Challenges facing HIV-positive persons who use drugs and their families in Vietnam

It is hypothesized that persons who use drugs (PWUD) in Vietnam who are also HIV-positive may face additional challenges in psychosocial outcomes, and these challenges may extend to their family members. In this study, we examined depressive symptoms, stigma, social support, and caregiver burden of HIV-positive PWUD and their family members, compared to the outcomes of HIV-negative PWUD and their family members. Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessment data were gathered from 83 PWUD and 83 family members recruited from four communes in Phú Th? Province, Vietnam. For PWUD, although we observed a general decline in overall stigma over time for both groups, HIV-positive PWUD consistently reported significantly higher overall stigma for all three periods. Depressive symptoms among family members in both groups declined over time; however, family members of HIV-positive PWUD reported higher depressive symptoms across all three periods. In addition, family members of HIV-positive PWUD reported lower levels of tangible support across all three periods. Caregiver burden among family members of HIV-positive PWUD increased significantly over time, whereas the reported burden among family members of HIV-negative PWUD remained relatively unchanged. The findings highlight the need for future interventions for PWUD and family members, with targeted and culturally specific strategies to focus on the importance of addressing additional stigma experienced by PWUD who are HIV-positive. Such challenges may have direct negative impact on their family members' depressive symptoms, tangible support, and caregiver burden.     

我军第二次部队人员牙周疾病捷径调查和分析

目的:了解牙周疾病在我军部队人员中的流行情况。方法:采用世界卫生组织1997年版口腔健康调查基本方法和标准器材。结果:共调查1 269人,结果表明,我军现役人员男性牙龈炎患病率为21.12%,牙结石检出率为44.05%,早期牙周病患病率为2.75%,晚期牙周病患病率为0.39%。结论:根据本次调查结果和我军第一次口腔健康的牙周疾病监测,以及外军相关资料比照进行牙周疾病流行病学研究分析表明,我军牙周疾病患病率比较平稳,牙周疾病大部分处于早期阶段。     

Perceptions of severely and multiply disabled persons

Data from studies of rankings of acceptability and severity of various disabilities were converted to a common metric of percentile equivalent ranks. A total of 1331 data points from 53 studies yielded the following overall percentile equivalent ranks for 24 disabilities: diabetes (most acceptable), ulcer, arthritis, asthma, heart condition, speech problems, crippled, orthopedic disability, physical disability, amputation, emotional disturbance, appearance disability, deafness, learning disability, stroke, cancer, paraplegia, blindness, epilepsy, tuberculosis, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, mental illness, and multiple disabilities (least acceptable). Rankings of the severity of seven disabilities yielded a somewhat different order that correlated 0.55 with the total data. Rankings of a mild disability were, on average, 40 percentile points higher than rankings for the same disability labeled severe or profound.     

高原地区健康老年人重返平原后外周血T细胞亚群变化的观察

用单克隆抗体测定了移居高原的老年人重返平原后的T细胞亚群的变化结果:①移居西宁(2260m)组、天峻(3000m)组在西宁所测的OKT_3、OKT_4、OKT_8及OKT_4/OKT_8值与在苏州所测的当地老年人无差异。②移居西宁组急返平原后OKT_3、OKT_8水平明显低于返回平原后居住一年以上者(以下简称返回组)(P<0.01～0.001)但OKT_4/OKT_8无差异。③返回组与世居苏州老年人相比,前者OKT_3、OKT_4、OKT_8及OKT_4。OKT_8增高,其中OKT_3、OKT_4增高明显(P<0.01～0.02),作者认为长期移居高原返回平原后T细胞亚群也可能存在一“脱适应”阶段,即机体重新调整重新平衡的一种形式,这一阶段可能需一年以上。     

Age estimation in biopsy specimens of dentin

Determination of age at death on the basis of aspartic acid racemization in dentin is one of the most reproducible and accurate methods. In Germany, age estimation by this method has so far generally not been applied to living persons, since the extraction of a tooth exclusively for age estimation when it is not medically indicated is regarded as ethically and legally problematic. The development of a biopsy technique applicable to dentin took place against this background. Testing the technique and analysis of dentinal biopsy specimens revealed that the biopsy technique is a low-risk procedure that causes only minor discomfort to the affected person. It is readily practicable and facilitates standardized specimen removal. The relationship between the extent of aspartic acid racemization in dentinal biopsy specimens and age is very close, facilitating age estimation. A prerequisite for accurate results is the performance of biopsies under strictly standardized conditions. If this is guaranteed, age determination on the basis of aspartic acid racemization in dentinal biopsy specimens appears to be superior in precision to most other methods in living persons and can be used for all age groups.     

‘No‐one has listened to anything I’ve got to say before’: Co‐design with people who are sleeping rough

BackgroundDespite policies and programmes aimed at housing people who are homeless, there are still people who live and sleep rough. This project used the skills and knowledge of people in this situation to identify a strategy to mitigate some of the risks.ObjectiveTo describe the development and conduct of a co‐design project involving people who are homeless.Setting/Group MembersA Working Group of 11 was formed following a careful recruitment process from people who had volunteered after consultation by the project team. The co‐design approach was guided by a set of principles.MethodsEight members of the Working Group were interviewed by an external researcher (RM). The approach was primarily deductive, with the principles adopted by the project team used as a framework for data collection and analysis. The co‐design process was captured by the project leaders (BK, PC) supplemented with documentation review and team discussions.ResultsThe group met weekly for 12 weeks, with 8‐10 members present on average. They reviewed information from the survey, contributed ideas for solutions and ultimately decided to provide information via print, a website and an event. Important factors in on‐going involvement were carefully selecting group members and making participation rewarding for them.Discussion/ConclusionsVulnerable people such as those experiencing homelessness can be excluded from decision‐making processes affecting them, as they can be perceived as hard to reach and unable to make a meaningful contribution. This project demonstrated that a carefully managed project, with sufficient resources and commitment, it was possible to involve people who are homeless and maintain involvement over an extended time period.Public ContributionThe Working Group reviewed survey findings and developed an intervention to minimize the health, social and legal harms of sleeping rough. Several members reviewe this paper.     

Continuity of primary care and prenatal care adequacy among women with disabilities in Ontario: A population-based cohort study

BackgroundWomen with disabilities experience elevated risks for pregnancy complications and report barriers accessing prenatal care. Emerging evidence highlights the significant role primary care providers play in promoting preventive services like prenatal care.ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between continuity of primary care (COC) and prenatal care adequacy among women with disabilities.MethodsWe conducted a population-based study using health administrative data in Ontario, Canada. The study population included 15- to 49-year-old women with physical (n = 106,555), sensory (n = 32,194), intellectual/developmental (n = 1515), and multiple (n = 6543) disabilities who had a singleton livebirth or stillbirth in 2003–2017 and ≥ 3 primary care visits < 2 years before conception. COC was measured using the Usual Provider of Care Index. Nominal logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for prenatal care adequacy, measured using the Revised-Graduated Prenatal Care Utilization Index, for women with low versus moderate/high COC, controlling for other social and medical characteristics.ResultsWomen with disabilities with low COC, versus those with moderate/high COC, had increased odds of no (aOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.29–1.56), inadequate (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.16–1.23), and intensive prenatal care (aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19–1.25) versus adequate. In additional analyses, women with low COC and no/inadequate prenatal care were the most socially disadvantaged among the cohort, and those with low COC and intensive prenatal care had the greatest medical need.ConclusionImproving primary care access for women with disabilities, particularly those experiencing social disadvantage, could lead to better prenatal care access.