Category: Nevin Manimala

Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove). 2023;66(1):24-27. doi: 10.14712/18059694.2023.11.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: The sex ratio at birth approximates 0.515 (male : total, M/T), with 515 boys per 485 girls. Many factors have been shown to influence M/T including acute and chronic stress. Increasing maternal age is associated with a decline in M/T. In Aotearoa New Zealand, circa 15% of the population identify as of Māori heritage. This populationis generally considered to be socioeconomically disadvantaged. This study analysed M/T for Māori and non-Māori M/T births in Aotearoa New Zealand and relates these to mean maternal age at delivery.

METHODS: Live births by sex and maternal age at delivery were available from the website of Tatauranga Aotearoa Stats NZ for 1997-2021.

RESULTS: This study analysed 1,474,905 births (28.4% Māori) Pooled data shows that Māori M/T is significantly higher than non-Māori M/T (chi = 6.8, p = 0.009). Mean maternal age at delivery was less for Māori mothers but this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Several studies have shown that M/T is decreased in socioeconomically deprived populations, and for this reason Māori M/T is expected to be lower and not higher than non-Māori M/T. A lower mean maternal age at delivery might have explained the M/T differences noted in this analysis but this was not a statistically significant difference.

PMID:37384806 | DOI:10.14712/18059694.2023.11

J Infect Dis. 2023 Jun 29:jiad244. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad244. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Varicella causes a major health burden in many low- to middle-income countries located in tropical regions. Because of the lack of surveillance data, however, the epidemiology of varicella in these regions remains uncharacterized. Here, based on an extensive dataset of weekly varicella incidence in children ≤10 during 2011-2014 in 25 municipalities, we aimed to delineate the seasonality of varicella across the diverse tropical climates of Colombia.

METHODS: We used generalized additive models to estimate varicella seasonality, and clustering and matrix correlation methods to assess its correlation with climate. Furthermore, we developed a mathematical model to examine whether including the effect of climate on varicella transmission could reproduce the observed spatiotemporal patterns.

RESULTS: Varicella seasonality was markedly bimodal, with latitudinal changes in the peaks’ timing and amplitude. This spatial gradient strongly correlated with specific humidity (Mantel-statistic = 0.412, p-value = 0.001), but not temperature (Mantel-statistic = 0.077, p-value = 0.225). The mathematical model reproduced the spatial patterns observed not only in Colombia, but also México, and predicted a latitudinal gradient in Central American countries.

CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate large variability in varicella seasonality across Colombia. They further suggest that spatiotemporal humidity fluctuations can explain the calendar of varicella epidemics in Colombia, México, and potentially other countries in Central America.

PMID:37384795 | DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiad244

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 29;18(6):e0286735. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286735. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: 3 billion people lack proper home hand hygiene facilities globally. Of these, 1.4 billion (18%) lack soap or water, while 1.6 billion (22%) have neither. This analysis explores the link between living conditions and the use of essential agents in sub-Saharan Africa. This secondary data analysis examines potential associations between the domiciliary environment and the use of essential agents in sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS: Eighteen demographic and health surveys were used to analyze the association between household environmental factors and handwashing with essential agents. STATA version 16 was used to analyze data from 203,311 households across weighted samples. Using a multivariable multilevel mixed effect logistic regression analysis, it was possible to determine how each independent factor affected the outcome while taking the data clustering into account. The adjusted odds ratio and its associated 95% confidence interval were used to assess the independent factors’ statistical significance.

RESULT: Only one in three households 34.84%, practiced handwashing with essential agents, with the highest prevalence in Angola (70.2%) and the lowest in Malawi (6.5%). Educational status [aOR = 1.77; 95%(CI = 1.68-1.86)], female headship[aOR = 1.09; 95%(CI = 1.06-1.2)], household wealth[aOR = 4.08; 95%(CI = 3.84-4.33)], not sharing toilets with other homes[aOR = 1.13; 95%(CI = 1.10-1.17)], having a fixed place for hand washing[aOR = 1.49; 95%(CI = 1.45-1.54)], not having regular access to water [aOR = 0.09; 95%(CI = 0.095-0.10)]and being a rural resident [aOR = 0.85; 95%(CI = 0.82-0.88)] were associated with handwashing.

CONCLUSION: sub-Saharan nations are failing to demonstrate advancements in handwashing practices. There are still a lot of homes without access to basic infrastructure for handwashing and household water sources. For essential agent adoption programs to be successful in an environment with limited resources, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene measures must be implemented. Furthermore, it is critical to include contextual factors from the current study as well as socio-cultural and psychological characteristics that dissuade people from using essential agents in intervention strategies.

PMID:37384738 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0286735

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 29;18(6):e0287911. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287911. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

This article reports a preregistered study in which we attempted to replicate the results of an influential study on the ego-depletion effect reported by Job, Dweck, and Walton in 2010. The original Job et al. study (Study 1, N = 60) provided evidence that the ego-depletion effect-a performance decrease on a self-control task after performing another self-control task-occurs only for individuals who hold a belief that their willpower is limited. This moderation of the ego-depletion effect by one’s willpower mindset (limited vs. nonlimited) has been interpreted as evidence against a prevalent limited-resource account of self-control. Although this alternative account of the ego-depletion effect has become well-known, the statistical evidence of the original study was on shaky ground. We therefore conducted a preregistered replication of the original study with some methodological improvements. As in the original study, participants (N = 187) performed a self-control task (Stroop color-word interference task) after performing the control or depletion version of a letter cancelation task. Despite extensive analyses, we failed to replicate the original results: There was neither a significant main effect of ego depletion nor a significant moderation of this ego-depletion effect by individual differences in willpower mindset. Together with other recent failures to replicate the original moderation effect, our results cast doubts on the claim that an individual’s view of whether willpower is limited or not affects one’s susceptibility to the ego-depletion effect.

PMID:37384732 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0287911

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 29;18(6):e0287235. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287235. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To study the probability of seeking/undergoing aesthetic dental treatment (ADT) and compare self-perception of orofacial appearance (OA) based on sex, age, and monthly income; and to estimate the impact of OA on life satisfaction (LS) among Finnish and Brazilian adults, considering the indirect effect of receiving ADT and the moderating effects of those sociodemographic variables.

METHODS: This was an online cross-sectional study. Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES), Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used. Probability of seeking/receiving ADT was calculated using logistic regression and odds ratio (OR). OA scores were compared according to sociodemographic characteristics (ANOVA, α = 5%). Structural equations models estimated the impact of OA on LS.

RESULTS: 3,614 Finns [75.1% female, 32.0 (SD = 11.6) years] and 3,979 Brazilians [69.9% female, 33.0 (SD = 11.3) years] participated in the study. Women were more likely to receive ADT than men in both countries (OR>1.3). However, no statistically or practical significant differences were observed in OA between sexes (p>0.05 or p<0.05, ηp2 = 0.00-0.02). In Finland, demand for ADT (OR = 0.9-1.0) and OA scores (p>0.05) were the same among different ages and monthly income. In Brazil, younger individuals (OR>1.6) and those with higher monthly income (OR>2.7) were more likely to receive ADT, while those with lower income had a greater psychosocial impact of OA (p<0.05; ηp2>0.07). Individuals who were more satisfied with their own OA and had less psychosocial impact from OA had higher levels of LS (β = 0.31-0.34; p<0.01; explained variance: 9.8-13.1%).

CONCLUSION: Demand for ADT is influenced by sociodemographic and cultural factors. Greater societal pressure on physical appearance is observed among women in Western countries. In countries with high socioeconomic inequalities, consumerism and social prestige are involved in this demand. Self-perception of orofacial appearance plays a significant role in individuals’ subjective well-being. Therefore, the planning of aesthetic treatments in the orofacial region should consider the patient’s perceptions and social context.

PMID:37384731 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0287235

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 29;18(6):e0286537. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286537. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Assess the Saudi pharmacists’ perceptions of their responsibilities toward deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) patients, their current practices, and their need for communication skills training.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS: Pharmacist and deaf communication questionnaire (PDCQ), a newly structured, validated, pilot-tested, and self-administered online questionnaire, was used to collect data. A total of 303 pharmacists working in the Saudi community and outpatient pharmacies participated in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS and descriptive statistics were used to describe the study findings. These included Mean ± standard deviation (SD), frequency, and Chi-square tests.

RESULTS: Most pharmacists perceived that DHH patients had difficulty correctly understanding their medication instructions. Writing was the most common method used for communication, whereas the unavailability of interpreters and the low reading levels of these patients were the highest barriers to communication. Moreover, most pharmacists believed that they should be skilled at communicating with DHH patients. However, many pharmacists felt that they are not well prepared to communicate with these patients.

CONCLUSION: This research highlights the poor skills, low confidence and low knowledge Saudi pharmacists have about their legal obligations towards DHH patients. In addition, there is paucity of sufficient resources to help pharmacists improve their communication with such patients.

PMID:37384716 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0286537

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 29;18(6):e0279610. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279610. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa faces prolonged COVID-19 related impacts on economic activity, livelihoods and nutrition, with recovery slowed down by lagging vaccination progress.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the economic impacts of COVID-19 on food prices, consumption and dietary quality in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

METHODS: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study using a mobile platform to collect data from July-December, 2021 (round 2). We assessed participants’ dietary intake of 20 food groups over the previous seven days and computed the primary outcome, the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS), and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), with higher scores indicating better quality diets. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) linear regression models to assess factors associated with diet quality during COVID-19.

RESULTS: Most of the respondents were male and the mean age was 42.4 (±12.5) years. Mean PDQS (±SD) was low at 19.4(±3.8), out of a maximum score of 40 in this study. Respondents (80%) reported higher than expected prices for all food groups. Secondary education or higher (estimate: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.32, 1.15), medium wealth status (estimate: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.81), and older age were associated with higher PDQS. Farmers and casual laborers (estimate: -0.60, 95% CI: -1.11, -0.09), lower crop production (estimate: -0.87, 95% CI: -1.28, -0.46) and not engaged in farming (estimate: -1.38, 95% CI: -1.74, -1.02) were associated with lower PDQS.

CONCLUSION: Higher food prices and lower diet quality persisted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic and social vulnerability and reliance on markets (and lower agriculture production) were negatively associated with diet quality. Although recovery was evident, consumption of healthy diets remained low. Systematic efforts to address the underlying causes of poor diet quality through transforming food system value chains, and mitigation measures, including social protection programs and national policies are critical.

PMID:37384715 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0279610

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 29;18(6):e0287811. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287811. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Unplanned readmissions after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery are common, expensive, and result from failure to progress in postoperative recovery. The context of their preventability and extent of predictability remains undefined. This study aimed to define the 30-day unplanned readmission (UR) rate after CRC surgery, identify risk factors, and develop a prediction model with external validation.

METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent CRC surgery between 2012 and 2017 at Christchurch Hospital were retrospectively identified. The primary outcome was UR within 30 days after index discharge. Statistically significant risk factors were identified and incorporated into a predictive model. The model was then externally evaluated on a prospectively recruited dataset from 2018 to 2019.

RESULTS: Of the 701 patients identified, 15.1% were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Stoma formation (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.59-3.81), any postoperative complications (PoCs) (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.48-3.52), high-grade PoCs (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.18-5.11), and rectal cancer (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.48-3.52) were statistically significant risk factors for UR. A clinical prediction model comprised of rectal cancer and high-grade PoCs predicted UR with an AUC of 0.64 and 0.62 on internal and external validation, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: URs after CRC surgery are predictable and occur within 2 weeks of discharge. They are driven by PoCs, most of which are of low severity and develop after discharge. Atleast 16% of readmissions are preventable by management in an outpatient setting with appropriate surgical expertise. Targeted outpatient follow-up within two weeks of discharge is therefore the most effective transitional-care strategy for prevention.

PMID:37384713 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0287811

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 29;18(6):e0287722. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287722. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Great improvements in the health of newborns, children, and women in Pakistan are needed. A large body of literature has demonstrated that the majority of maternal, newborn, and child deaths are preventable with essential health strategies including immunization, nutrition interventions, and child health interventions. Despite the importance of these interventions for the health of women and children, access to services continues to be a barrier. Furthermore, demand for services also contributes to low coverage of essential health interventions. Given the emerging threat of COVID-19 coupled with already weak maternal and child health, delivering effective and feasible nutrition and immunization services to communities, and increasing demand and uptake of services is a pressing and important need.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This quasi-experimental study aims to improve health service delivery and increase uptake. The study included four main intervention strategies including community mobilization, mobile health teams offering MNCH and immunization services, engagement of the private sector, and testing of a comprehensive health, nutrition, growth, and immunization app, Sehat Nishani, for a period of 12 months. The target group of the project were women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and children under-five. The project was implemented in three union councils (UCs) in Pakistan including Kharotabad-1(Quetta District, Balochistan), Bhana Mari (Peshawar District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Bakhmal Ahmedzai (Lakki Marwat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Propensity score matching based on size, location, health facilities, and key health indicators of UC was conducted to identify three matched UCs. A household baseline, midline, endline and close-out assessment will be conducted for evaluating coverage of interventions as well as the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the community in the MNCH and COVID-19 context. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be used to test hypotheses. As well, a detailed cost-effectiveness analysis will be conducted to generate costing data for these interventions to effectively inform policymakers and stakeholder on feasibility of the model. Trial registration: NCT05135637.

PMID:37384671 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0287722

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 29;18(6):e0287567. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287567. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

Analyzing temporal and spatial distributions of airborne particles of biological origins is vital for the assessment and monitoring of air quality, especially with regard to public health, environmental ecology, and atmospheric chemistry. However, the analysis is frequently impeded by the low levels of biomass in the air, especially with metagenomic DNA analysis to explore diversity and composition of living organisms and their components in the air. To obtain sufficient amounts of metagenomic DNA from bioaerosols, researchers usually need a long sampling time with an expensive high-volume air sampler. This work shows the utilization of an air sampling device containing an economical, high-volume portable ventilation fan in combination with customized multi-sheet filter holders to effectively obtain high yields of genomic DNA in a relatively short time. The device, named ‘AirDNA’ sampler, performed better than other commercial air samplers, including MD8 Airport and Coriolis compact air samplers. Using the AirDNA sampler, an average DNA yield of 40.49 ng (12.47-23.24 ng at 95% CI) was obtained in only 1 hour of air sampling with a 0.85 probability of obtaining ≥10 ng of genomic DNA. The genomic DNA obtained by the AirDNA system is of suitable quantity and quality to be further used for amplicon metabarcoding sequencing of 16S, 18S, and cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) regions, indicating that it can be used to detect various prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Our results showed the effectiveness of our AirDNA sampling apparatus with a simple setup and affordable devices to obtain metagenomic DNA for short-term or long-term spatiotemporal analysis. The technique is well suited for monitoring air in built environments, especially monitoring bioaerosols for health purposes and for fine-scale spatiotemporal environmental studies.

PMID:37384659 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0287567