scholarly journals Socioeconomic impacts of elimination of Onchocerciasis in Abu-Hamed focus, northern Sudan: lessons after elimination

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Ahmed ◽  
Anas Elbashir ◽  
Asgad Adil ◽  
Asha A.Alim ◽  
Asia Mubarak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
The Social

AbstractIntroductionOnchocerciasis is one of the most devastating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and it is mostly prevalent in Africa. The disease has important heavy social and economic burdens on the infected populations including low productivity, unemployment, social isolation, and stigma.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe socio-economic impacts of the Onchocerciasis elimination in Abu-Hamed, River Nile State, Sudan; were investigated using a well-established questionnaire, 512 participants in ten affected communities were interviewed. Our findings revealed that these communities are recovering from the social and economic burden of the diseases, with 90% of the research participants reported general satisfaction about the elimination of the disease in their community, and about 48.3% of them attended secondary school or university. Only 0.6% reported unemployment, and 25.3% and 24.7% of the participants were workers and farmers respectively. Except about the vector biting and nuisance, the majority of the respondents (90%) had no complain after the elimination of the disease in the area. Also, 90.5% of the participants reported either stable or increase in their work performance during the last twelve months. About 93.8% of the respondents were engaged in normal daily activities and involved in happy events like marriage and giving birth during the last twelve months.Conclusions/SignificanceOverall, we conclude that the elimination of Onchocerciasis in Abu-Hamed has several positive impacts on the economy and social life of Abu-Hamed local communities, but this could be maximized by controlling the vector, which is still having a negative impact on the populations. Establishing local developmental projects will help these communities greatly to recover and become more productive.Author SummaryOnchocerciasis, also known as the river blindness, is a disease that caused by a parasitic worm which could infest people eyes or skin causing a blindness or sub-dermal disease. This worm is transmitted to human by the bite of an insect, the black fly. Although the disease is not fatal in most of the patient but it presents a significant economic and social burden on the infected people, their families and communities. This burden is a result of the social stigma associated with the skin form of the disease, and the lack of vision in case of blindness (ocular manifestation). Onchocerciasis was a public health problem in the study site, Abu-Hamed. In 2015, the disease was officially has been declared eliminated from the area. We investigated the socio-economic impacts of this success on the local communities. We have interviewed randomly selected 512 participants to understand their perspective and highlighting their experience regarding the disease elimination. Our research aimed to fill the gap of knowledge between the public health and social science by highlighting the social and economic benefits of health interventions and diseases elimination/eradication. Furthermore, to urge intervention programs to empower the local communities in the planning and implementation of health interventions for a better success.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic impacts of elimination of Onchocerciasis in Abu-Hamed focus, northern Sudan: lessons after elimination

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Ahmed ◽  
Anas Elbashir ◽  
Asgad Adil ◽  
Asha A. Alim ◽  
Asia Mubarak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
The Social

Abstract Background: Onchocerciasis is one of the most devastating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and it is mostly prevalent in Africa. The disease has important heavy social and economic burdens on the infected populations including low productivity, unemployment, social isolation, and stigma. Abu-Hamed focus is the first WHO certified elimination of Onchocerciasis in Africa.Methods: This a cross-sectional study used a well-established questionnaire to investigate the socio-economic impacts of the Onchocerciasis elimination in Abu-Hamed, River Nile State, Sudan in 2015; 512 participants in ten affected communities were interviewed.Results: Our findings revealed that these communities are recovering from the social and economic burden of the diseases, with 90% of the research participants reported general satisfaction about the elimination of the disease in their community, and about 48.3% of them attended secondary school or university. Only 0.6% reported unemployment, and 25.3% and 24.7% of the participants were workers and farmers respectively. Except about the vector biting and nuisance, the majority of the respondents (90%) had no complain after the elimination of the disease in the area. Also, 90.5% of the participants reported either stable or increase in their work performance during the last twelve months. About 93.8% of the respondents were engaged in normal daily activities and involved in happy events like marriage and giving birth during the last twelve months.Conclusions: Overall, we conclude that the elimination of Onchocerciasis in Abu-Hamed has several positive impacts on the economy and social life of Abu-Hamed local communities, but this could be maximized by controlling the vector, which is still having a negative impact on the populations. Establishing local developmental projects will help these communities greatly to recover and become more productive.

scholarly journals An ethical and prudential argument for prioritizing the reduction of parasite-stress in the allocation of health care resources

2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Powell ◽  
Steve Clarke ◽  
Julian Savulescu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Ethical Argument ◽  
The Social

AbstractThe link between parasite-stress and complex psychological dispositions implies that the social, political, and economic benefits likely to flow from public health interventions that reduce rates of non-zoonotic infectious disease are far greater than have traditionally been thought. We sketch a prudential and ethical argument for increasing public health resources globally and redistributing these to focus on the alleviation of parasite-stress in human populations.

Conclusion

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet O'Shea
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Fair Play ◽  
Competitive Sports ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Political Implications ◽  
The Social ◽  
Physical Play ◽  
The World ◽  
Right Wing Populism

This section contends with a central irony: Americans are among the most competitive people in the world, and yet we are among the least likely to play competitive sports in adulthood. This exercise gap is usually treated as a public health problem; the goal of this section is to treat it as a social and cultural concern. The conclusion therefore investigates the social and political implications of an American tendency to outsource physical play to experts: higher levels of fear, increased preoccupation with success at all costs, decreased creativity, and increasing rigidity of perspective and position. Specifically, the conclusion maintains that a neglect of fair play has dire consequences for democracy, a suggestion born out by the recent swing toward right-wing populism in politics.

scholarly journals Comparing Hospital and Primary Care Physicians’ Attitudes and Knowledge Regarding Antibiotic Prescribing: A Survey within the Centre Region of Portugal

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 629
Author(s):  
António Teixeira Rodrigues ◽  
João C. F. Nunes ◽  
Marta Estrela ◽  
Adolfo Figueiras ◽  
Fátima Roque ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Centre Region ◽  
Attitudes And Knowledge

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health problem, leading to longer hospital stays, raising medical costs and mortality levels. As physicians’ attitudes are key factors to antibiotic prescribing, this study sought to explore their differences between primary care and hospital settings. Methods: A survey was conducted between September 2011 and February 2012 in the center region of Portugal in the form of a questionnaire to compare hospital (n = 154) and primary care (n = 421) physicians’ attitudes and knowledge regarding antibiotic prescribing. Results: More than 70% of the attitudes were statistically different (p < 0.05) between hospital physicians (HPs) and primary care physicians (PCPs). When compared to PCPs, HPs showed higher agreement with antibiotic resistances being a public health problem and ascribed more importance to microbiological tests and to the influence of prescription on the development of resistances. On the other hand, PCPs tended to agree more regarding the negative impact of self-medication with antibiotics dispensed without medical prescription and the need for rapid diagnostic tests. Seven out of nine sources of knowledge’s usefulness were statistically different between both settings, with HPs considering most of the knowledge sources to be more useful than PCPs. Conclusions: Besides the efforts made to improve both antibiotic prescribing and use, there are differences in the opinions between physicians working in different settings that might impact the quality of antibiotic prescribing. In the future, these differences must be considered to develop more appropriate interventions.

scholarly journals Overt acts of perceived discrimination reported by British working-age adults with and without disability

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Emerson ◽  
Allison Milner ◽  
Zoe Aitken ◽  
Lauren Krnjacki ◽  
Cathy Vaughan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background Exposure to discrimination can have a negative impact on health. There is little robust evidence on the prevalence of exposure of people with disabilities to discrimination, the sources and nature of discrimination they face, and the personal and contextual factors associated with increased risk of exposure. Methods Secondary analysis of de-identified cross-sectional data from the three waves of the UK’s ‘Life Opportunities Survey’. Results In the UK (i) adults with disabilities were over three times more likely than their peers to be exposed to discrimination, (ii) the two most common sources of discrimination were strangers in the street and health staff and (iii) discrimination was more likely to be reported by participants who were younger, more highly educated, who were unemployed or economically inactive, who reported financial stress or material hardship and who had impairments associated with hearing, memory/speaking, dexterity, behavioural/mental health, intellectual/learning difficulties and breathing. Conclusions Discrimination faced by people with disabilities is an under-recognised public health problem that is likely to contribute to disability-based health inequities. Public health policy, research and practice needs to concentrate efforts on developing programs that reduce discrimination experienced by people with disabilities.

The role of public libraries in the development of social capital in local communities – a theoretical study

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-196
Author(s):  
Maja Dorota Wojciechowska
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

PurposeSocial capital, understood as intangible community values available through a network of connections, is a factor in the development of societies and improving quality of life. It helps to remove economic inequalities and prevent poverty and social exclusion, stimulate social and regional development, civic attitudes and social engagement and build a civic society as well as local and regional identity. Many of these tasks may be implemented by libraries, which, apart from providing access to information, may also offer a number of services associated with social needs. The purpose of this paper is to present the roles and functions that libraries may serve in local communities in terms of assistance, integration and development based on classical social capital theories.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the classical concepts of social capital in the context of libraries. It analyses the findings of Pierre-Félix Bourdieu, James Coleman, Francis Fukuyama, Robert Putnam, Nan Lin, Ronald Stuart Burt, Wayne Baker and Alejandro Portes. Based on their respective concepts, the paper analyses the role of the contemporary library in the social life of local communities. In particular, it focuses on the possible new functions that public libraries may serve.FindingsA critical review of the concept of social capital revealed certain dependencies between libraries and their neighbourhoods. With new services that respond to the actual social needs, libraries may serve as a keystone, namely they may integrate, animate and engage local communities. This, however, requires a certain approach to be adopted by the personnel and governing authorities as well as infrastructure and tangible resources.Originality/valueThe social engagement of libraries is usually described from the practical perspective (reports on the services provided) or in the context of research on the impact of respective projects on specific groups of users (research reports). A broader approach, based on original social theories, is rarely encountered. The paper draws on classical concepts of social capital and is a contribution to the discussion on possible uses of those concepts based on an analysis of the role of libraries in social life and in strengthening the social capital of local communities.

scholarly journals Technical and Humanities Students’ Perspectives on the Development and Sustainability of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasile Gherheș ◽  
Ciprian Obrad
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Representation Error ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Future ◽  
Humanities Students

This study investigates how the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is perceived by the students enrolled in technical and humanistic specializations at two universities in Timisoara. It has an emphasis on identifying their attitudes towards the phenomenon, on the connotations associated with it, and on the possible impact of artificial intelligence on certain areas of the social life. Moreover, the present study reveals the students’ perceptions on the sustainability of these changes and developments, and therefore aims to reduce the possible negative impact on consumers, and at anticipate the changes that AI will produce in the future. In order to collect the data, the authors have used a quantitative research method. A questionnaire-based sociological survey was completed by 928 students, with a representation error of only ±3%. The analysis has shown that a great number of respondents have a positive attitude towards the emergence of AI, who believe it will influence society for the better. The results have also underscored underlying differences based on the respondents’ type of specialization (humanistic or technical), and their gender.

scholarly journals Genetics and Public Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 529-546
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Biological Knowledge ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Environmental Models ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health And Disease

This chapter wraps up by discussing the crucial role played by public health specialists who must reconcile traditional public health concerns of health inequality and equity with safe and effective health interventions and diagnostics that meet individual health needs. Since most genetic diseases in the realm of public health are an interplay of different genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors, genomic science has given greater emphasis to the importance of molecular and cellular mechanisms in health and disease. New biological knowledge must be integrated with the social and environmental models to improve health at individual and population levels. Public health specialists must now be able to integrate genome-based knowledge into public health in a responsible, ethical, and effective way and anticipate the increase in the health service requirements likely to occur in the future. The foundational pillars of bioethics (beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice) must be protected by all public health stakeholders.

Misoprostol on trial: a descriptive study of the criminalization of an essential medicine in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Prandini Assis
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Essential Medicine ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Informal Markets ◽  
The Past ◽  
Legal Implications ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
The Social

Misoprostol is a medicine with a “double” social life recorded in several places, including Brazil. Within formal and authorized health facilities, it is an essential medicine, used for life-saving obstetric procedures. On the streets, or in online informal markets, misoprostol is treated as a dangerous drug used to induce illegal abortions. In the Brazilian case, despite a rich anthropological and public health analysis of the social consequences of misoprostol’s double life, there are no studies on the legal implications. This article offers such descriptive analysis, presenting and examining a comprehensive dataset of how Brazilian courts have treated misoprostol in the past three decades. It consists of an encompassing mapping of the “when, where, how, and who” of misoprostol criminalization in Brazil, pointing to the unjust consequences of the use of criminal law for the purpose of protecting public health.

Genetics and Public Health

2021 ◽  
pp. 630-646
Author(s):  
Oscar J. Wambuguh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Biological Knowledge ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Environmental Models ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health And Disease

This chapter wraps up by discussing the crucial role played by public health specialists who must reconcile traditional public health concerns of health inequality and equity with safe and effective health interventions and diagnostics that meet individual health needs. Since most genetic diseases in the realm of public health are an interplay of different genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors, genomic science has given greater emphasis to the importance of molecular and cellular mechanisms in health and disease. New biological knowledge must be integrated with the social and environmental models to improve health at individual and population levels. Public health specialists must now be able to integrate genome-based knowledge into public health in a responsible, ethical, and effective way and anticipate the increase in the health service requirements likely to occur in the future. The foundational pillars of bioethics (beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice) must be protected by all public health stakeholders.

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