Implementing and Evaluating a Mobile Phone-Supported and Family-Centered Rehabilitation Program for People With Stroke in Uganda (F@ce 2.0): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Stroke is a global societal challenge. Annually, 13 million people experience stroke, and the prevalence of stroke is increasing in low-income countries; hence, accessible rehabilitation needs to be developed. Information and communication technology can help by providing access to rehabilitation support through information, self-evaluation, and self-management of rehabilitation.

A water quality dataset of levels of metal, nutrient and anions in sample water points from sixteen selected urban and rural districts of Uganda.

This dataset highlights some of the water quality issues in Uganda. The rationale for collecting the water samples was to test and ascertain the level and source of contamination. A total of one hundred and eighty five samples were collected from sixteen districts.

A weather features dataset for prediction of short-term rainfall quantities in Uganda.

Weather data is of great importance to the development of weather prediction models. However, the availability and quality of this data remains a significant challenge for most researchers around the world. In Uganda, obtaining observational weather data is very challenging due to the sparse distribution of weather stations and inconsistent data records.

High-resolution disease maps for cancer control in low-resource settings: A spatial analysis of cervical cancer incidence in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: The global burden of cervical cancer is concentrated in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), with the greatest burden in Africa. Targeting limited resources to populations with the greatest need to maximize impact is essential. The objectives of this study were to geocode cervical cancer data from a population-based cancer registry in Kampala, Uganda, to create high-resolution disease maps for cervical cancer prevention and control planning, and to share lessons learned to optimize efforts in other low-resource settings.

Barriers to eHealth adoption in routine antenatal care practices: Perspectives of expectant mothers in Uganda - A qualitative study using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model.

Current empirical evidence suggests that successful adoption of eHealth systems improves maternal health outcomes, yet there are still existing gaps in adopting such systems in Uganda. Service delivery in maternal health is operating in a spectrum of inadequacy, hence eHealth adoption cannot ensue. This study set out to explore the challenges that impede eHealth adoption in women's routine antenatal care practices in Uganda.

Particulate matter exposure predicts residence in high-risk areas for community acquired pneumonia among hospitalized children.

Particulate matter exposure is a risk factor for lower respiratory tract infection in children. Here, we investigated the geospatial patterns of community-acquired pneumonia and the impact of PM (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm) on geospatial variability of pneumonia in children.

Effects of childhood exposure to PM in a Memphis pediatric asthma cohort.

The effects of childhood exposure to ambient air pollution and their influences on healthcare utilization and respiratory outcomes in Memphis pediatric asthma cohort are still unknown. This study seeks to (1) investigate individual-level associations between asthma and exposure measures in high asthma rate and low asthma rate areas and (2) determine factors that influence asthma at first year of a child's life, first 2 years, first 5 years, and during their childhood. Datasets include physician-diagnosed asthma patients, on-road and individual PM emissions, and high-resolution spatiotemporal PM estimates.

A Scalable Field Study Protocol and Rationale for Passive Ambient Air Sampling: A Spatial Phytosampling for Leaf Data Collection.

Stable, bioreactive, radicals known as environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) have been found to exist on the surface of airborne PM. These EPFRs have been found to form during many combustion processes, are present in vehicular exhaust, and persist in the environment for weeks and biological systems for up to 12 h. To measure EPFRs in PM samples, high volume samplers are required and measurements are less representative of community exposure; therefore, we developed a novel spatial phytosampling methodology to study the spatial patterns of EPFR concentrations using plants.

Spatiotemporal patterns of childhood asthma hospitalization and utilization in Memphis Metropolitan Area from 2005 to 2015.

Objective: To identify the key risk factors and explain the spatiotemporal patterns of childhood asthma in the Memphis metropolitan area (MMA) over an 11-year period (2005-2015). We hypothesize that in the MMA region this burden is more prevalent among urban children living south, downtown, and north of Memphis than in other areas.

Methods: We used a large-scale longitudinal electronic health record database from an integrated healthcare system, Geographic information systems (GIS), and statistical and space-time models to study the spatiotemporal distributions of childhood asthma at census tract level.

Using an External Exposome Framework to Examine Pregnancy-Related Morbidities and Mortalities: Implications for Health Disparities Research.

Objective: We have conducted a study to assess the role of environment on the burden of maternal morbidities and mortalities among women using an external exposome approach for the purpose of developing targeted public health interventions to decrease disparities.

Methods: We identified counties in the 48 contiguous USA where observed low birthweight (LBW) rates were higher than expected during a five-year study period. The identification was conducted using a retrospective space-time analysis scan for statistically significant clusters with high or low rates by a Discrete Poisson Model.

Geographic Variation in Mortality Among Children and Adolescents Diagnosed With Cancer in Tennessee. Does Race Matter?

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death among children in the United States. Previous research has examined geographic variation in cancer incidence and survival, but the geographic variation in mortality among children and adolescents is not as well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate geographic variation by race in mortality among children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in Tennessee.

Exploration of preterm birth rates using the public health exposome database and computational analysis methods.

Recent advances in informatics technology has made it possible to integrate, manipulate, and analyze variables from a wide range of scientific disciplines allowing for the examination of complex social problems such as health disparities. This study used 589 county-level variables to identify and compare geographical variation of high and low preterm birth rates. Data were collected from a number of publically available sources, bringing together natality outcomes with attributes of the natural, built, social, and policy environments.

Scalable combinatorial tools for health disparities research.

Despite staggering investments made in unraveling the human genome, current estimates suggest that as much as 90% of the variance in cancer and chronic diseases can be attributed to factors outside an individual's genetic endowment, particularly to environmental exposures experienced across his or her life course. New analytical approaches are clearly required as investigators turn to complicated systems theory and ecological, place-based and life-history perspectives in order to understand more clearly the relationships between social determinants, environmental exposures and health disparities. While traditional data analysis techniques remain foundational to health disparities research, they are easily overwhelmed by the ever-increasing size and heterogeneity of available data needed to illuminate latent gene x environment interactions.

Predictive and epidemiologic modeling of the spatial risk of human onchocerciasis using biophysical factors: a case study of Ghana and Burundi.

Although recent efforts taken have substantially contained human onchocerciasis in many African countries, published reports indicate a recrudescence of the disease. To understand this problem, biophysical factors that favor the establishment of human onchocerciasis in Ghana and Burundi-countries identified as threat locations of recrudescence for neighboring countries-were analyzed. Data pertaining to the prevalence of human onchocerciasis in both countries was obtained from published sources.

The new and computationally efficient MIL-SOM algorithm: potential benefits for visualization and analysis of a large-scale high-dimensional clinically acquired geographic data.

The objective of this paper is to introduce an efficient algorithm, namely, the mathematically improved learning-self organizing map (MIL-SOM) algorithm, which speeds up the self-organizing map (SOM) training process. In the proposed MIL-SOM algorithm, the weights of Kohonen's SOM are based on the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. Thus, in a typical SOM learning setting, this improvement translates to faster convergence.

A New-Fangled FES-k-Means Clustering Algorithm for Disease Discovery and Visual Analytics.

The central purpose of this study is to further evaluate the quality of the performance of a new algorithm. The study provides additional evidence on this algorithm that was designed to increase the overall efficiency of the original k-means clustering technique-the Fast, Efficient, and Scalable k-means algorithm (FES-k-means). The FES-k-means algorithm uses a hybrid approach that comprises the k-d tree data structure that enhances the nearest neighbor query, the original k-means algorithm, and an adaptation rate proposed by Mashor.

A critical assessment of geographic clusters of breast and lung cancer incidences among residents living near the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers, Michigan, USA.

Objectives: To assess previously determined geographic clusters of breast and lung cancer incidences among residents living near the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers, Michigan, using a new set of environmental factors.

Materials And Methods: Breast and lung cancer data were acquired from the Michigan Department of Community Health, along with point source pollution data from the U.S.

Spatial variations in the incidence of breast cancer and potential risks associated with soil dioxin contamination in Midland, Saginaw, and Bay Counties, Michigan, USA.

Background: High levels of dioxins in soil and higher-than-average body burdens of dioxins in local residents have been found in the city of Midland and the Tittabawassee River floodplain in Michigan. The objective of this study is threefold: (1) to evaluate dioxin levels in soils; (2) to evaluate the spatial variations in breast cancer incidence in Midland, Saginaw, and Bay Counties in Michigan; (3) to evaluate whether breast cancer rates are spatially associated with the dioxin contamination areas.

Methods: We acquired 532 published soil dioxin data samples collected from 1995 to 2003 and data pertaining to female breast cancer cases (n = 4,604) at ZIP code level in Midland, Saginaw, and Bay Counties for years 1985 through 2002.

Geographic analysis of health risks of pediatric lead exposure: a golden opportunity to promote healthy neighborhoods.

In this retrospective study, the authors investigated pediatric blood lead levels (BLLs) at 2 threshold levels in neighborhoods across the US city of Chicago, examining geographic associations with demographic risk factors and housing characteristics, using data from large-scale childhood BLL screening records from 1997 through 2003. They used logistic regression and geostatistical methods to assess disease dynamics and probability of elevated BLLs. The results showed a significant decline of elevated BLLs, with levels measured at >or= 10 microg/dL decreasing by 74%, compared with a 40% decrease for the lower levels (6-9 microg/dL).

Spatiotemporal distributions of reported cases of the avian influenza H5N1 (bird flu) in Southern China in early 2004.

This study investigates spatiotemporal distributions of reported cases of the avian influenza H5N1 (bird flu) in Southern China in early 2004. Forty-nine cases of the avian influenza H5N1 covering a 6-week period (January 19, 2004, through March 9, 2004) were compiled from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the World Health Organization. Geographic information systems (GIS) techniques combined with statistical techniques were used to analyze the spatiotemporal variation of reported cases of avian influenza.

Socioeconomic determinants of planned methadone treatment.

Objectives: To examine socioeconomic characteristics associated with planned methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).

Methods: We performed multiple logistic regressions using data from the 1998 Treatment Episode Data Set, which tracks admissions for substance abuse treatment.

Results: MMT was more prevalent among heroin users than nonheroin users.

Local ecological factors, ultrafine particulate concentrations, and asthma prevalence rates in Buffalo, New York, neighborhoods.

Previous to this study various healthcare utilization studies and house-to-house surveys had shown that Buffalo's west side had a high utilization rate for asthma and high asthma prevalence in comparison with neighboring communities. The relative contributions of traffic-related pollution and personal and local ecological factors to the high asthma rates were still unknown. To investigate the potential roles of personal home environmental factors and local ecological factors in variations of asthma prevalence in Buffalo neighborhoods, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a systematic random sample of 2000 households in the city of Buffalo, New York, with a response rate of 80.

Geographic variations of childhood asthma hospitalization and outpatient visits and proximity to ambient pollution sources at a U.S.-Canada border crossing.

Background: Childhood asthma is a significant public health problem in the United States and evidence is accumulating regarding the contribution from traffic and ambient air pollution. This study is a companion piece of a related Buffalo asthma study in adults recently published in the July 2004 issue of American Journal of Public Health. This study focuses on children under 18 years of age diagnosed with asthma during a three-year period (2000-2002).

Risk factors for asthma prevalence and chronic respiratory illnesses among residents of different neighbourhoods in Buffalo, New York.

Study Objective: The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for asthma prevalence and chronic respiratory illnesses in Buffalo's neighbourhoods after previous studies reported increased levels of asthma among residents on Buffalo's west side.

Design: Cross sectional surveys.

Setting: Buffalo neighbourhoods along a US-Canada border crossing point.

Association between traffic volume and health care use for asthma among residents at a U.S.-Canadian border crossing point.

Little information is available about health impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) traffic-related pollution on residents near the major traffic corridors along the U.S.-Canadian border.