The association between infrastructure damage in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai and malaria risk in Sofala Province, Mozambique: an ecological study.

Background: In April 2019, Mozambique was hit by Cyclone Idai leaving substantial damage to infrastructure and nearly two million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Malaria risk has been associated with living in a rural setting, vicinity to water, and household structure, all factors which are impacted by severe storms. This study quantified the association between damage to infrastructure (health care facilities and schools) following Cyclone Idai and malaria outcomes: malaria incidence, severe malaria, and administration of intermittent preventative treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) in Sofala Province, Mozambique.

Association of anthelmintic treatment with malaria prevalence in Rural Sussundenga, Mozambique.

Mozambique has the 4 highest malaria incidence and mortality globally. Despite the existing malaria control strategies, malaria prevalence remains stagnant. These challenges have increased calls for innovative strategies in areas with the highest disease burden.

Household structure is independently associated with malaria risk in rural Sussundenga, Mozambique.

Introduction: Mozambique has the fourth highest malaria cases and malaria mortality globally. Locally, malaria incidence increases from low in the southern region to high in the central and northern regions. Manica Province in central Mozambique has the fourth highest prevalence of malaria out of the 11 provinces, and the highest in the central region of the country.

Long-lasting household damage from Cyclone Idai increases malaria risk in rural western Mozambique.

Cyclone Idai in 2019 was one of the worst tropical cyclones recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. The storm caused catastrophic damage and led to a humanitarian crisis in Mozambique. The affected population suffered a cholera epidemic on top of housing and infrastructure damage and loss of life.

A case-control survey study of environmental risk factors for primary hypoadrenocorticism in dogs.

Background: Primary hypoadrenocorticism in dogs is thought to be multifactorial with roles for both genetic and environmental factors. The contributions of environmental factors remain unexplored.

Objective: Identify environmental and lifestyle exposures associated with primary hypoadrenocorticism in 2 dog breeds with high risk of developing the disease.

COVID-19 vaccine decision-making among Black women: A qualitative study.

Objective: To understand COVID-19 vaccine decision-making among Black women in the United States.

Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews with 60 Black women (both African American and first- and second-generation immigrants originating from Africa and the Caribbean) living in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area.

Plasmodium falciparum community prevalence and health-seeking behaviours in rural Sussundenga District, Mozambique.

Background: Impacts of nationally directed malaria control interventions hinge on understanding malaria transmission and prevention at the community level. The decision to seek care or health-seeking behaviours provide valuable insight on knowledge of malaria, access to care, and efficacy of malaria case management. Thus far, few studies have focused on central Mozambique.

Does mothers' and caregivers' access to information on their child's vaccination card impact the timing of their child's measles vaccination in Uganda?

Introduction: On-time measles vaccination is essential for preventing measles infection among children as early in life as possible, especially in areas where measles outbreaks occur frequently. Characterizing the timing of routine measles vaccination (MCV1) among children and identifying risk factors for delayed measles vaccination is important for addressing barriers to recommended childhood vaccination and increasing on-time MCV1 coverage. We aim to assess the timing of children's MCV1 vaccination and to investigate the association between demographic and healthcare factors, mothers'/caregivers' ability to identify information on their child's vaccination card, and achieving on-time (vs.

Understudied Anophelines Contribute to Malaria Transmission in a Low-Transmission Setting in the Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia.

Malaria transmission has declined substantially in Southern Province, Zambia, which is considered a low-transmission setting. The Zambian government introduced a reactive test-and-treat strategy to identify active zones of transmission and treat parasitemic residents. This study was conducted in the Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia, concurrently with an evaluation of this strategy to identify vectors responsible for sustaining transmission, and to identify entomological, spatial, and ecological risk factors associated with increased densities of mosquitoes.

Spatiotemporal analysis of 11 years of data from southern China.

Background: Urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) globally. Reviews suggest high and persistently endemic STI epidemics in low and middle income countries. However population-based prevalence estimates in these settings are less common, underscoring the need for analyses of available data to characterize patterns of disease burden.

Malaria Temporal Variation and Modelling Using Time-Series in Sussundenga District, Mozambique.

Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Mozambique, which has the fifth highest prevalence in the world. Sussundenga District in Manica Province has documented high incidence at the local rural health center (RHC). This study's objective was to analyze the temporal variation and model its pattern in Sussundenga District, Mozambique.

Mapping Risk of Malaria as a Function of Anthropic and Environmental Conditions in Sussundenga Village, Mozambique.

Mozambique is a country in Southern Africa with around 30 million inhabitants. Malaria is the leading cause of mortality in the country. According to the WHO, Mozambique has the third highest number of malaria cases in the world, representing approximately 5% of the world total cases.

Sustained Malaria Transmission despite Reactive Screen-and-Treat in a Low-Transmission Area of Southern Zambia.

Malaria elimination strategies are designed to more effectively identify and treat infected individuals to interrupt transmission. One strategy, reactive screen-and-treat, starts with passive detection of symptomatic cases at health facilities. Individuals residing within the index case and neighboring households are screened with a malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and treated if positive.

The use of spatial and genetic tools to assess Plasmodium falciparum transmission in Lusaka, Zambia between 2011 and 2015.

Background: Zambia has set itself the ambitious target of eliminating malaria by 2021. To continue tracking transmission to zero, new interventions, tools and approaches are required.

Methods: Urban reactive case detection (RCD) was performed in Lusaka city from 2011 to 2015 to better understand the location and drivers of malaria transmission.

The Association Between Neighborhood Socioeconomic and Housing Characteristics with Hospitalization: Results of a National Study of Veterans.

Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) have an inextricable impact on health. If remained unaddressed, poor SDOH can contribute to increased health care utilization and costs. We aimed to determine if geographically derived neighborhood level SDOH had an impact on hospitalization rates of patients receiving care at the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) primary care clinics.

The use of GPS data loggers to describe the impact of spatio-temporal movement patterns on malaria control in a high-transmission area of northern Zambia.

Background: Human movement is a driver of malaria transmission and has implications for sustainable malaria control. However, little research has been done on the impact of fine-scale movement on malaria transmission and control in high-transmission settings. As interest in targeted malaria control increases, evaluations are needed to determine the appropriateness of these strategies in the context of human mobility across a variety of transmission settings.

The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Hospitalization in the Veterans Health Administration.

Introduction: This study aims to assess the effect of individual and geographic-level social determinants of health on risk of hospitalization in the Veterans Health Administration primary care clinics known as the Patient Aligned Care Team.

Methods: For a population of Veterans enrolled in the primary care clinics, the study team extracted patient-level characteristics and healthcare utilization records from 2015 Veterans Health Administration electronic health record data. They also collected census data on social determinants of health factors for all U.

The feasibility of fingerstick blood collection for point-of-care HIV-1 viral load monitoring in rural Zambia.

Viral load monitoring for HIV treatment is recommended but not feasible in many settings. A point-of-care test using capillary blood would increase access but may require up to 200 μL of blood to achieve a lower limit of detection of 1000 copies/mL. This cross-sectional study evaluated the feasibility of collecting 200 μL of capillary blood and blood collection preferences among adults in rural Zambia.

Efficiency of a Malaria Reactive Test-and-Treat Program in Southern Zambia: A Prospective, Observational Study.

To improve malaria surveillance and achieve elimination, the Zambian National Malaria Elimination Program implemented a reactive test-and-treat program in Southern Province in 2013 in which individuals with rapid diagnostic test (RDT)-confirmed malaria are followed-up at their home within 1 week of diagnosis. Individuals present at the index case household and those residing within 140 m of the index case are tested with an RDT and treated with artemether-lumefantrine if positive. This study evaluated the efficiency of this reactive test-and-treat strategy by characterizing infected individuals missed by the RDT and the current screening radius.

House Structure Is Associated with Infection in a Low-Transmission Setting in Southern Zambia.

House structure may influence the risk of malaria by affecting mosquito entry and indoor resting. Identification of construction features associated with protective benefits could inform vector control approaches, even in low-transmission settings. We examined the association between house structure and malaria prevalence in a cross-sectional analysis of 2,788 children and adults residing in 866 houses in a low-transmission area of Southern Province, Zambia, over the period 2008-2012.