Introduction to the Coproduction of Supervision Standards for Digital Peer Support: Qualitative Study.

Background: Digital peer support enhances engagement in mental and physical health services despite barriers such as location, transportation, and other accessibility constraints. Digital peer support involves live or automated peer support services delivered through technology media such as peer-to-peer networks, smartphone apps, and asynchronous and synchronous technologies. Supervision standards for digital peer support can determine important administrative, educative, and supportive guidelines for supervisors to maintain the practice of competent digital peer support, develop knowledgeable and skilled digital peer support specialists, clarify the role and responsibility of digital peer support specialists, and support specialists in both an emotional and developmental capacity.

Determinants of sickness absence duration after an occupational back injury in the Belgian population.

Background: This study aimed at assessing factors associated to the duration of sickness absence after a back injury in the Belgian working population, with a special emphasis on cultural factors.

Methods: The data were retrieved from the Belgian Fund for Work Accidents database over a 3-year period (2001-2003). The population source involved all Belgian workers under a job contract in the private sector registered as compensated cases for an accident that occurred at the workplace (n = 558,276).

Neonatal screening for sickle cell disease in Central Africa: a study of 1825 newborns with a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of systematic neonatal screening for sickle cell disease in the region of Great Lakes in Central Africa using a new approach with limited costs.

Methods: Between July 2004 and July 2006, 1825 newborn dried blood samples were collected onto filter papers in four maternity units from Burundi, Rwanda and the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We tested for the presence of haemoglobin C and S in the eluted blood by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test using a monoclonal antibody.

Street youths are the only high-risk group for HIV in a low-prevalence South American country.

Objectives: To measure HIV prevalence in various subpopulations in Bolivia.

Design: In 2002 in Cochabamba, we offered voluntary counseling and testing to homeless street youths, registered and unregistered commercial sex workers, truck drivers, and prisoners. We examined surveillance data of pregnant women and blood donors.