Objectives: Community health workers (CHWs) fill in the insufficiency of health professionals in low-income countries. The CHWs' roles include health education of their constituents whose health they likewise take care. This study aimed to describe the concept and understanding of diabetes among CHWs in the Philippines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParasitic neglected tropical diseases, such as schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), remain as significant public health concerns in developing countries such as the Philippines. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis and STH among school-age children (SAC) and adults in two co-endemic provinces in Mindanao in southern Philippines as part of monitoring of national control programs. Stool samples were collected, processed using Kato-Katz technique, and examined microscopically for presence of intestinal helminth ova.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Occup Environ Hyg
May 2024
Traffic enforcers are exposed to various occupational health and safety hazards, including noise pollution, which may lead to occupational hearing loss. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss and to assess the relationship between occupational noise exposure level (ONEL) and abnormalities in air conduction thresholds among Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) employees along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Philippines. Eight-hour ONELs were measured among 108 participants working with greater than 5 years of service.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: New HIV infections in the Philippines are increasing at an alarming rate. However, over three quarters of men who have sex with men (MSM) have never been tested for HIV. HIV self-testing (HIVST) may increase overall testing rates by removing barriers, particularly fear of stigmatization and mistrust of providers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Trop
April 2022
Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence and seroprevalence of schistosomiasis in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte and to compare the performance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay antibody test (ELISA Ab) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (LAMP) for diagnosis of schistosomiasis.
Methods: The study was conducted in selected barangays (villages) in five municipalities in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte and included school-age children (SAC) who submitted stool and blood samples. Stool samples were examined using the Kato-Katz technique.
Setting: The 3rd national tuberculosis (TB) survey in the Philippines in 2007 reported a significant decline in the prevalence of TB. Since then, more significant investments for TB control have been made, yet TB burden estimates from routine surveillance data remain relatively stable.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB in the Philippines amongst individuals aged ≥15 years in 2016.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol
January 2021
Background: The current evidence on the use of probiotics in treating atopic dermatitis is inconclusive. This study determined the comparative effectiveness of the different types of probiotic strains in treating pediatric atopic dermatitis.
Methodology: Systematic and manual search for all randomized controlled trials available from inception until January 31, 2020, was done.
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) remains a public health concern in developing countries, such as the Philippines. Preschool-age children (PSAC) are among the high-risk groups for STH. Data on the status of STH in PSAC are needed to help guide policy formulation and program implementation; however, in the usual setting, such data may remain limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This article's objective was to describe the processes, strategies, and challenges of community-based recruitment to complement hospital-based recruitment for a global clinical outcomes trial on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Study Design And Setting: To increase the subject recruitment for the clinical research, field staff were trained on community-based recruitment strategies and activities. Courtesy calls and coordination with community organizations were done before recruitment activities.
Background: Brugada syndrome is the mechanism for sudden unexplained death. The Brugada ECG pattern is found in 2% of Filipinos. There is a knowledge gap on the clinical outcome of these individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to a USAID-funded study on blood banks, a national policy was instituted in 1994 that set standards for Philippine blood services, promoted voluntary donation, and led to a ban on commercial blood banks. In this follow-up study, we assess the safety of the supply by determining the residual risk for transfusion-transmitted infections (syphilis, hepatitis B and C, HIV). We also identified unsafe facility practices and generated policy recommendations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Metabolic syndrome(MetS) is an aggregation of multiple metabolic risk factors shown to lead to the development of cardiovascular disease. The International Diabetes Federation(IDF) and the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel Ⅲ(mNCEP) criteria are used in identifying MetS. This report will determine the prevalence of MetS and its component risk factors of the Philippine cohort of the LIFE course study in CARdiovascular disease Epidemiology(LIFECARE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Philippines (Tagalog) Short Form 36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2(®)) standard questionnaire among Filipinos residing in two cities.
Study Design And Setting: The official Philippines (Tagalog) SF-36v2 standard (4-week recall) version was pretested on 30 participants followed by formal and informal cognitive debriefing. To obtain the feedback on translation by bilingual respondents, each SF-36v2 question was stated first in English followed by Tagalog.