Introduction: To evaluate the impact of a novel design "Star Home" on the incidence of malaria, respiratory tract infections and diarrheal diseases among children, randomly selected households in Mtwara, Tanzania were offered a free, new Star Home. Drawing on longitudinal qualitative research that accompanied the Star Homes study, this article describes the experiences of residents and the wider community of living with these buildings.
Methods: A total of four rounds of face-to-face interviews were undertaken with residents of Star Homes (n = 37), control (wattle/daub) homes (n = 21), neighboring households n = 6), community members (n = 17) and community leaders (n = 6).
J Prev Interv Community
January 2025
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults and represents the leading cause of mortality. Risk factors for CVD in AI/AN adults are well-described, and a growing body of evidence reports the inequitable prevalence of factors associated with the development of CVD in AI/AN children, including obesity, physical inactivity, and diabetes mellitus (DM).
Objective: This article organizes and summarizes the evidence describing CVD risk factors in AI/AN children, discusses the social drivers of health impacting these risks, and highlights several programs that have demonstrated effectiveness in improving AI/AN child health.
Fetal echocardiography (FE) is recommended for parents with congenital heart disease (pCHD) due to a 3-6% recurrence risk of congenital heart disease (CHD). This study aimed to evaluate the cost of FE for detecting neonatal CHD in pCHD. FE data were collected between 12/2015 and 12/2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLOS Glob Public Health
January 2025
Improved cooking stoves (ICS) are intended to reduce indoor air pollution and the inefficient use of fuel yet there is often reticence to shift permanently to ICS. Drawing on a scoping review, this article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of factors affecting the acceptability of ICS. A scoping review was carried out using a systematic search strategy of literature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe standard dengue virus (DENV) neutralization assay inconsistently predicts dengue protection. We compare how IgG ELISA, envelope domain III (EDIII), or non-structural protein 1 (NS1) binding antibodies, and titers from plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) using standard and mature viruses are associated with dengue. The ELISA measures IgG antibodies that bind to inactivated DENV1-4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPandemics and natural disasters are recognized to cause major disruptions. The main objective of this study was to explore the impacts of COVID-19 and supertyphoon Odette in Cebu, Philippines. A total of 2630 participants were interviewed exploring the impacts of COVID-19 and supertyphoon Odette.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The increased emphasis on reimbursement, diversity, and burnout in hip and knee arthroplasty necessitates a foundational understanding of the surgeon workforce. The purpose of the study was to cross sectionally survey a representative sample of the AAHKS surgeon membership on the subject of salary, practice patterns, and demographic factors to establish a baseline framework for future advocacy efforts and initiatives.
Methods: An online survey was sent to AAHKS members between December 20, 2022 and January 19, 2023.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities
October 2024
Objectives: Obesity is a known risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). American Indian (AI) children have the highest obesity rates of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States (US). However, cardiometabolic health among AI adolescents is understudied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is a betacoronavirus belonging to the same genus as endemic human coronaviruses (hCoVs) OC43 and HKU1 and is distinct from alpha hCoVs 229E and NL63. In a study of adolescents in the Philippines, we evaluated seroprevalence to the hCoVs, whether pre-pandemic hCoV immunity modulated subsequent risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and if SARS-CoV-2 infection affected the transmission of the hCoVs.
Methods: From 499 individuals screened in 2021 for SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we randomly selected 59 SARS-CoV-2 negative and 61 positive individuals for further serological evaluation.
Introduction: This narrative review aims to frame the historical context of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) pediatric intensive care and offers suggestions for mitigating the impact of unique social drivers.
Methods: Recent literature was surveyed to determine pertinent studies describing intensive care outcomes in AI/AN children and was summarized in a narrative review.
Results: American Indian/Alaska Native people experience disproportionate health inequites due to unique social drivers of health, including settler colonialism, historical trauma, and systemic racism.
Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) are among the most morbid complications in total hip arthroplasty (THA). The ideal incubation time, however, for intraoperative cultures for PJI diagnosis remains unclear. As such, the aim of this study was to determine if any differences existed in culture-positive rates and organism detection between five-day and fourteen-day cultures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: As demand for total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty increases, more surgeons have pursued subspecialty training in adult reconstruction. However, little information is available regarding the practice environment in which these fellowship-trained surgeons practice. The purpose of this study was to describe the practice environments of contemporary adult reconstruction surgeons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSARS-CoV-2 serological testing is useful to determine seroprevalence, epidemiological trends, and the extent of transmission. The collection and transport of serum samples can be logistically challenging, especially in remote underserved areas. Dried blood spots (DBSs) would allow easier sample collection and logistical handling compared with standard serum collection, particularly for extensive and repeated SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCross-reactive antibodies (Abs) to epitopes that span envelope proteins on the virion surface are hypothesized to protect against dengue. Here, we measured Abs targeting the quaternary envelope dimer epitope (EDE) as well as neutralizing and binding Abs and evaluate their association with dengue virus (DENV) infection, vaccine response, and disease outcome in dengue vaccinated and unvaccinated children (n=252) within a longitudinal cohort in Cebu, Philippines (n=2,996). Abs targeting EDE were prevalent and strongly associated with broad neutralization of DENV1-4 in those with baseline multitypic immunity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Care seeking was assessed in preparation for a study of the health impact of novel design houses in rural Mtwara, Tanzania.
Methods: A total of 578 residents of 60 villages participated in this mixed-methods study from April to August 2020. Among them, 550 participated in a healthcare-seeking survey, 17 in in-depth interviews and 28 in key informant interviews.
Recent work demonstrates the limitations of the standard dengue virus (DENV) neutralization assay to predict protection against dengue. We perform studies to compare how a commercial IgG ELISA, envelope domain III (EDIII) or non-structural protein 1 (NS1) binding antibodies, and titers from plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) using reference standard and clinical mature viruses are associated with dengue disease. Healthy children (n = 1,206) in Cebu, Philippines were followed for 5 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A three-dose dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) was licensed for use in children aged 9 years and older starting in 2015 in several dengue-endemic countries. In 2016, the Philippine Department of Health implemented a dengue vaccination programme, which was discontinued because of safety concerns. We assessed the relative risk of developing virologically confirmed dengue among children who did or did not receive a single dose of CYD-TDV by previous dengue virus (DENV) infections at baseline classified as none, one, and two or more infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although many studies on the association between dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) exist in older adults, data on the association among adolescents and young adults living with disproportionate burden of cardiometabolic disorders are scarce.
Methods And Results: The SHFS (Strong Heart Family Study) is a multicenter, family-based, prospective cohort study of CVD in an American Indian populations, including 12 communities in central Arizona, southwestern Oklahoma, and the Dakotas. We evaluated SHFS participants, who were 15 to 39 years old at the baseline examination in 2001 to 2003 (n=1440).
Achieving health equity in populations with congenital heart disease (CHD) requires recognizing existing disparities throughout the lifespan that negatively and disproportionately impact specific groups of individuals. These disparities occur at individual, institutional, or system levels and often result in increased morbidity and mortality for marginalized or racially minoritized populations (population subgroups (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims & Objectives: With modern advancements in surgical techniques and rapid recovery protocols, incidence of outpatient total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is increasing. Previous literature has historically focused on cost, safety, and clinical outcomes, with few studies investigating patient expectations and experiences. The aim of this study was to survey preoperative patient expectations related to outpatient TJA surgery compared with perioperative perceptions and experience.
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