The COVID-19 pandemic and mental health in Kazakhstan.

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on mental health. We examined factors associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan. We surveyed 991 adults in Kazakhstan in July 2021 using multistage stratified sampling.

Parental attitudes, beliefs and behaviors toward childhood and COVID-19 vaccines: A countrywide survey conducted in Kazakhstan examining vaccine refusal and hesitancy.

Background: Vaccination rates worldwide have declined in recent years. This decrease is primarily driven by vaccine hesitancy, which remains understudied in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan. Furthermore, there is great concern about parental hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines, as previous studies have focused on adult vaccine hesitancy.

Study of seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Kazakhstan.

This study aimed to analyse the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Kazakhstan. This is a cross-sectional study of adult population in Kazakhstan for the period from October 2021 to May 2022. For the study, 6 720 people aged 18 to 69 were recruited (from 17 regions).

The Study of the Outbreak of Coronavirus Infection in a General Hospital in Almaty.

The study aimed to identify the possible causes of COVID-19 outbreak and its development in a general hospital in Almaty (from April 11 to May 6, 2020), where 682 persons were identified with a COVID-19. 546 were hospital employees (48.9%), including doctors (57.

Sero-prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in certain cities of Kazakhstan.

Background And Aims: Seroprevalence studies are needed to determine the cumulative prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to develop pandemic mitigation strategies. Despite the constant monitoring and surveillance, the true level of infection in the population of Kazakhstan remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the main cities of Kazakhstan.

Analysis of COVID-19 pandemics in Kazakhstan.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the demographic and epidemiological features of identified COVID-19 cases in Kazakhstan.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze COVID-19 cases (n=5116) collected from March 13 to June 6, 2020, in Kazakhstan.

COVID-19 in the paediatric population of Kazakhstan.

: To date, there have been no studies of COVID-19 infection in children in Central Asia, particularly the Republic of Kazakhstan. This report analyses the epidemiological data on COVID-19 infection in children in Kazakhstan.: The study included 650 paediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Knowledge and attitudes towards ambulatory treatment of tuberculоsis in Kazakhstan.

Background: Ambulatory based treatment of tuberculosis has been recently introduced in Kazakhstan. We sought to assess the attitudes of the general population, TB patients and their household members towards ambulatory TB treatment and identify how knowledge of TB is associated with these attitudes.

Methods: New pulmonary TB cases and their household and community controls were recruited from three regions of Kazakhstan in 2012-2014.

Evaluating Mobile Apps and Biosensing Devices to Monitor Physical Activity and Respiratory Function in Smokers With and Without Respiratory Symptoms or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept, Open-Label, Feasibility Study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global public health problem, and continuous monitoring is essential for both its management as well as the management of other chronic diseases. Telemonitoring using mobile health (mHealth) devices has the potential to promote self-management, improve control, increase quality of life, and prevent hospital admissions.

Objective: This study aims to demonstrate whether a large-scale study assessing the use of mHealth devices to improve the treatment, assessment, compliance, and outcomes of chronic diseases, particularly COPD and cardio-metabolic syndrome, is feasible.

Lung Function in Users of a Smoke-Free Electronic Device With HeatSticks (iQOS) Versus Smokers of Conventional Cigarettes: Protocol for a Longitudinal Cohort Observational Study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global public health problem. It is the third-leading cause of death in the world, the fourth leading cause of death in Kazakhstan, and is strongly associated with smoking. Smoking cessation reduces the severity of respiratory symptoms and COPD exacerbations.

Cross-Sectional Study of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Prevalence Among Smokers, Ex-Smokers, and Never-Smokers in Almaty, Kazakhstan: Study Protocol.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is significantly underdiagnosed in Kazakhstan, and there is no previously conducted study on COPD prevalence in the country.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of COPD among individuals aged 40 to 59 years based on results of spirometry before and after bronchodilator, presence of structural changes in the lungs (emphysema, inflammatory changes, and thickening of the walls of the large and small airways) detected by computer tomography, and the symptoms of COPD. The study has 3 study groups: smokers of conventional cigarettes, those who had quit smoking 1 to 5 years ago, and those who haven't smoked cigarettes.

Identifying risk factors associated with smear positivity of pulmonary tuberculosis in Kazakhstan.

Background: Sputum smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) patients have a high risk of transmission and are of great epidemiological and infection control significance. Little is known about the smear-positive populations in high TB burden regions, such as Kazakhstan. The objective of this study is to characterize the smear-positive population in Kazakhstan and identify associated modifiable risk factors.

Risk Factors for Primary Pulmonary TB in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan: A Matched Case-Control Study.

Background: This study examined the association between incident pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and social and behavioral characteristics in Almaty Oblast, Kazakhstan from 2012 to 2013.

Methods: We used a matched case-control design to estimate the role of factors for acquiring pulmonary TB. Totally 324 individuals were recruited from Sep 2012 to Mar 2013.

Migrant Workers in Kazakhstan: Gender Differences in HIV Knowledge and Sexual Risk Behaviors.

This study compares sexual risk behaviors among male and female migrant market vendors in Almaty, Kazakhstan. From the Barakholka Market, 209 male and 213 female market vendors were randomly recruited. Self-reported data were collected through standardized face-to-face interviews.

Effects of a couple-based intervention to reduce risks for HIV, HCV, and STIs among drug-involved heterosexual couples in Kazakhstan: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Project Renaissance is a randomized controlled trial of an HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention intervention conducted in Almaty, Kazakhstan. We hypothesized that couples assigned to the intervention of interest will have lower incidence of HIV, HCV, STIs, rates of unprotected sex, and unsafe injection over the 12-month follow-up period compared with those assigned to an attention control arm.

Design: A total of 300 couples (600 participants) where one or both partners reported injecting drugs in the past 90 days were randomized to 1 of 2 arms: (1) a 5-session HIV/HCV/STI prevention intervention (risk reduction: RR) or (2) a 5-session Wellness Promotion (WP) intervention.

HIV risks among injecting and non-injecting female partners of men who inject drugs in Almaty, Kazakhstan: implications for HIV prevention, research, and policy.

Background: Kazakhstan and other countries in Central Asia are experiencing a rapidly growing HIV epidemic, which has historically been driven by injection drug use, but is more recently being fueled by heterosexual transmission.

Methods: This paper examines HIV and HCV infection, as well as sexual and drug-related risks among female partners of men who inject drugs (MWID), comparing females who inject drugs (FWID) to non-injecting female partners on socio-demographic, relationship context, and structural characteristics.

Results: The prevalence rate of HIV was 30.

Prevalence, risk factors and social context of active pulmonary tuberculosis among prison inmates in Tajikistan.

Setting: Tuberculosis (TB) is highly prevalent in prisons of the former Soviet Union.

Objective: To understand the behavioral, demographic and biological factors placing inmates in Tajikistan at risk for active TB.

Design: We administered a behavioral and demographic survey to 1317 inmates in two prison facilities in Sughd province, Tajikistan along with radiographic screening for pulmonary TB.

Access to HIV counseling and testing among people who inject drugs in Central Asia: strategies for improving access and linkages to treatment and care.

Introduction: As a population profoundly affected by the HIV epidemic and in critical need of linkages to HIV treatment and care, PWID in Central Asia remain largely underserved. This paper provides an overview of the current state of HIV testing and counseling in Central Asia for PWID, identifies main barriers leading to gaps in service delivery, and discusses implications for improving strategies that promote HIV testing for PWID.

Methods: We reviewed a number of sources for this paper including unpublished government reports, published papers, and Ministries of Health of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan country progress reports to the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) for 2012.

HIV among injection drug users and their intimate partners in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

This paper examines prevalence rates of HIV, HCV, and syphilis among a sample of injecting drug users (IDUs) and their heterosexual intimate partners (N = 728) from Almaty, Kazakhstan. The study uses baseline data from Project Renaissance, a couple-based HIV prevention intervention delivered to a couple where one or both partners are IDUs. HIV prevalence rates among female and male IDUs were 28 %.

Implications of mobility patterns and HIV risks for HIV prevention among migrant market vendors in Kazakhstan.

Objectives: We examined the relationships between mobility characteristics and sexual risk behaviors among male and female migrant market vendors in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Methods: Participants completed a structured interview covering sociodemographics, mobility characteristics, sexual behaviors, and biomarkers for HIV, HCV, and syphilis. We used multivariate analyses to examine associations between mobility patterns and HIV risks after adjusting for sociodemographics.