Contraceptive method switching and discontinuation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar: findings from a longitudinal cohort study.

The objective of this paper was to document contraceptive dynamics and associated correlates of contraceptive method switching and discontinuation in Myanmar during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a secondary analysis of panel data collected between August 2020 and March 2021 among married women of reproductive age of households registered for a strategic purchasing project in Yangon. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, bivariate tests of association and adjusted log-Poisson models with generalised estimating equations to examine relative risks and 95% confidence intervals.

A comparison of malaria prevention behaviours, care-seeking practices and barriers between malaria at-risk worksite migrant workers and villagers in Northern Shan State, Myanmar-a mixed method study.

Background: Migrant populations are at an increased risk of exposure to malaria due to their nature of work and seasonal migration. This study aimed to compare malaria prevention behaviours and care-seeking practices among worksite migrant workers and villagers in the malaria-at-risk areas of Eastern Myanmar close to the China border.

Methods: A mixed method study was conducted in March 2019.

Identities and HIV-Related Risk Behaviors Among Transgender Women in Myanmar: Perspectives from Transgender Women and Service Providers.

In Myanmar, transgender women (TGW) have historically been grouped into the men who have sex with men (MSM) population in program and surveillance data. There is no direct translation for the term transgender in Myanmar language, and there are no data on HIV prevalence or HIV-related risk behaviors among TGW. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how TGW identify and express themselves in Myanmar and their HIV-related risk behaviors.

Effects of a new health financing scheme on out-of-pocket health expenditure: findings from a longitudinal household study in Yangon, Myanmar.

Since 2017, Population Services International Myanmar (PSI/Myanmar) has been running Strategic Purchasing (SP) clinics in Hlegu and Shwepyithar townships in Yangon, Myanmar. In the project, Population Services International Myanmar simulated the role of a purchaser and contracted SP clinics through a capitation payment scheme. The project aimed to reduce the health-related financial burden of poor populations in the catchment area, by having them registered under respective SP clinics for access to a package of essential health services for a minimal fixed co-payment, as a replacement for usual fee-for-service payments.

Role of small private drug shops in malaria and tuberculosis programs in Myanmar: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The role of community drug shops in providing primary care has been recognized as important in Myanmar as in other countries. The contribution by private community drug shops to National Tuberculosis case notifications and National Malaria testing and positive cases is significant. Population Services International Myanmar (PSI/Myanmar) has been successfully training and engaging community drug shops to screen presumptive Tuberculosis to make referrals to public health clinics and perform malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDT) to malaria fever cases and provide management accordingly.

Novel mammogram-based measures improve breast cancer risk prediction beyond an established mammographic density measure.

Mammograms contain information that predicts breast cancer risk. We developed two novel mammogram-based breast cancer risk measures based on image brightness (Cirrocumulus) and texture (Cirrus). Their risk prediction when fitted together, and with an established measure of conventional mammographic density (Cumulus), is not known.

Measurement challenge: protocol for international case-control comparison of mammographic measures that predict breast cancer risk.

Introduction: For women of the same age and body mass index, increased mammographic density is one of the strongest predictors of breast cancer risk. There are multiple methods of measuring mammographic density and other features in a mammogram that could potentially be used in a screening setting to identify and target women at high risk of developing breast cancer. However, it is unclear which measurement method provides the strongest predictor of breast cancer risk.

Interval breast cancer risk associations with breast density, family history and breast tissue aging.

Interval breast cancers (those diagnosed between recommended mammography screens) generally have poorer outcomes and are more common among women with dense breasts. We aimed to develop a risk model for interval breast cancer. We conducted a nested case-control study within the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study involving 168 interval breast cancer patients and 498 matched control subjects.

Differential loss to follow-up rates among adult tuberculosis patients - Findings from the largest private sector tuberculosis clinic database in Myanmar.

Background: Population Services International (PSI) Myanmar's social franchise network of general practitioners, known as Sun Quality Health Clinics (SQHC), provided tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment with Direct Observed Treatment Short course (DOTs) across Myanmar since 2004, with a total of 898 clinics across the country. People who sought TB treatment from these SQHC by themselves were regarded as walk-in patients. To augment TB case notification, PSI Myanmar developed two treatment seeking channels: Community Health Services Providers (CHSP) and Interpersonal Communicators (IPC).

Predicting interval and screen-detected breast cancers from mammographic density defined by different brightness thresholds.

Background: Case-control studies show that mammographic density is a better risk factor when defined at higher than conventional pixel-brightness thresholds. We asked if this applied to interval and/or screen-detected cancers.

Method: We conducted a nested case-control study within the prospective Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study including 168 women with interval and 422 with screen-detected breast cancers, and 498 and 1197 matched controls, respectively.

Breast Cancer Risk Associations with Digital Mammographic Density by Pixel Brightness Threshold and Mammographic System.

Purpose To compare three mammographic density measures defined by different pixel intensity thresholds as predictors of breast cancer risk for two different digital mammographic systems. Materials and Methods The Korean Breast Cancer Study included 398 women with invasive breast cancer and 737 control participants matched for age at mammography (±1 year), examination date, mammographic system, and menopausal status. Mammographic density was measured by using the automated Laboratory for Individualized Breast Radiodensity Assessment (LIBRA) software and the semiautomated Cumulus software at the conventional threshold (Cumulus) and at increasingly higher thresholds (Altocumulus and Cirrocumulus, respectively).

Reducing the polyp burden in serrated polyposis by serial colonoscopy: the impact of nationally coordinated community surveillance.

Background: Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and an evolving management approach. The aims of this study were to assess the polyp burden reduction over time, and the incidence of CRC in serrated polyposis patients undergoing community surveillance.

Methods: This is an observational study based on prospectively collected data.

Associations of 5HTTLPR polymorphism with major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The neurotransmitter serotonin is understood to control mood and drug response. Carrying a genetic variant in the serotonin transporter gene (5HTT) may increase the risk of major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence. Previous estimates of the association of the S allele of 5HTTLPR polymorphism with major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence have been inconsistent.

Mammographic density defined by higher than conventional brightness thresholds better predicts breast cancer risk.

Background: Mammographic density defined by the conventional pixel brightness threshold, and adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer. We asked if higher thresholds better separate women with and without breast cancer.

Methods: We studied Australian women, 354 with breast cancer over-sampled for early-onset and family history, and 944 unaffected controls frequency-matched for age at mammogram.

Mammographic density defined by higher than conventional brightness threshold better predicts breast cancer risk for full-field digital mammograms.

Introduction: When measured using the computer-assisted method CUMULUS, mammographic density adjusted for age and body mass index predicts breast cancer risk. We asked if new mammographic density measures defined by higher brightness thresholds gave better risk predictions.

Methods: The Korean Breast Cancer Study included 213 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and 630 controls matched for age at full-field digital mammogram and menopausal status.