scholarly journals A cluster of cholera among patients in a Vietnamese district hospital in 2010

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 910-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thuan Huu Vo ◽  
Ninh Hoang Le ◽  
J. Pekka Nuorti ◽  
Lan Trong Phan ◽  
Nguyen Nhu Tran Minh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Index Case ◽  
District Hospital ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Positive Culture ◽  
Watery Diarrhoea ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Vibrio Cholera ◽  
Public Health Staff ◽  
Mode Of Transmission

On July 20, 2010, three cases of cholera were reported from a district hospital in Ca Mau province, Vietnam. We investigated the likely source and mode of transmission of the outbreak. All hospitals in the province were requested to notify cases of acute watery diarrhoea. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Between July 12 and 22, seven cases with positive culture for Vibrio cholera were identified. Six cases were epidemiologically linked to the index case. Basic infection control practices were not in place at the hospital. Clinicians and public health staff should consider the possibility of nosocomial cholera transmission even in non-endemic areas.

scholarly journals Healthy public policy competences for public health: interactive and practice-oriented curriculum

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Guyon ◽  
R Lessard ◽  
M Masse-Jolicoeur ◽  
S Tessier
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Organizational Practices ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Healthy Public Policy ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Public Health Staff

Abstract Background Developing and implementing healthy public policy (HPP) is one of the practical competences expected of public health professionals in Europe and beyond (ASPHER 2018, Public Health Agency of Canada 2015, US Public Health Foundation 2014). Yet, organizational practices in building public health capacity to promote HPP are seldom documented. In order to improve its HPP interventions, the Montreal Public Health Unit has been leading and evaluating a HPP multidisciplinary community of practice since 2014. In response to participants’ requests, we recently formalized a HPP curriculum. Objectives Over a period of 12 months in 2018-2019, our objectives were to: (1) develop and pre-test a competency-based professional development curriculum in HPP for public health staff and interns (2) provide a repository of relevant references (3) identify dynamic pedagogical strategies applicable to a community of practice. Results As community of practice members and facilitators, we developed a HPP curriculum with the support of pedagogical and HPP experts. It was pre-tested and iteratively adjusted with members of the community of practice. We drew content from various disciplines including political sciences, public health, communication studies and public relations. We identified relevant: (1) competences; (2) core concepts; (3) practical skills; (4) key references; (5) practical case studies, (6) interactive pedagogical strategies such as an open-source online learning system. Conclusions We developed an innovative healthy public policy (HPP) curriculum in order to support an existing community of practice among public health staff. Dynamic pedagogical strategies and a more formal HPP curriculum can support competence development among public health staff, and this can be achieved while relying mostly on in-house expertise. This constitutes a stimulating capacity-building initiative for the enhancement of public health core competences. Key messages Developing healthy public policy is a core practical competence expected of public health professionals. Yet, organizational practices in building healthy public policy capacity are seldom documented. Developing dynamic pedagogical strategies and a more formal healthy public policy curriculum can support competence development among public health staff, while relying mostly on in-house expertise.

scholarly journals Evaluating the effectiveness of an emergency preparedness training programme for public health staff in China

Public Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 471-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chongjian Wang ◽  
Sheng Wei ◽  
Hao Xiang ◽  
Yihua Xu ◽  
Shenghong Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Public Health Staff

scholarly journals Microcystin Incidence in the Drinking Water of Mozambique: Challenges for Public Health Protection

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isidro José Tamele ◽  
Vitor Vasconcelos
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Water Quality Control ◽  
The People ◽  
Public Health Staff ◽  
Public Health Protection ◽  
Very High

Microcystins (MCs) are cyanotoxins produced mainly by freshwater cyanobacteria, which constitute a threat to public health due to their negative effects on humans, such as gastroenteritis and related diseases, including death. In Mozambique, where only 50% of the people have access to safe drinking water, this hepatotoxin is not monitored, and consequently, the population may be exposed to MCs. The few studies done in Maputo and Gaza provinces indicated the occurrence of MC-LR, -YR, and -RR at a concentration ranging from 6.83 to 7.78 µg·L−1, which are very high, around 7 times above than the maximum limit (1 µg·L−1) recommended by WHO. The potential MCs-producing in the studied sites are mainly Microcystis species. These data from Mozambique and from surrounding countries (South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania) evidence the need to implement an operational monitoring program of MCs in order to reduce or avoid the possible cases of intoxications since the drinking water quality control tests recommended by the Ministry of Health do not include an MC test. To date, no data of water poisoning episodes recorded were associated with MCs presence in the water. However, this might be underestimated due to a lack of monitoring facilities and/or a lack of public health staff trained for recognizing symptoms of MCs intoxication since the presence of high MCs concentration was reported in Maputo and Gaza provinces.

scholarly journals Breast Feeding in Pandemic Situation. How Does Sri Lanka Face the Challenge?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 214-214
Author(s):  
Neerodha Dharmasoma
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Health System ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Public Health System ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Public Health Staff ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives Sri Lanka has been awarded the first-ever ‘Green’ breastfeeding (BF) nation status by the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) in January 2020 (1) with the support of public health system. But, deviating attention of health services towards emergency pandemic situation has resulted in strained health systems and interruptions in humanitarian response leading to eroding access to essential and often life-saving nutrition services. Therefore, optimal breast feeding practices are at risk due to infected mothers’ isolation practices, exhausted public health system and misbeliefs among the community (2). This finds out how Sri Lanka plans to maintain high standards of breast feeding in pandemic situation. Methods We searched for the publications on breast feeding, Sri Lanka in pandemic situation from January 2020 to date. Results As a low and middle income country with an unbeatable public health system, Sri Lanka has already issued an interim guideline for public health staff in continuation maternal and child care services (3). It ensures domiciliary visits by public health midwives (PHMs), although the clinic based teaching sessions on breast feeding have been cancelled. Community awareness has been created that no evidence of transmission of SARS COV-2 via breast milk is available and how the benefits of breast feeding outweigh the risk of infection (4). It is recommended that breast feeding shouldn't be interrupted at all and hand hygienic practices before touching the baby are ideal. Infected mothers can wear a protective mask and rooming in, and kangaroo mother care should be practiced. Sri Lanka already had guidelines on ensuring adequate and appropriate infant feeding guidelines in emergency situations (5). Conclusions Despite the challenges faced by community and public health staff, Sri Lanka make efforts to maintain the achieved breast feeding standards. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of the pandemic on breast feeding practices in near future. Funding Sources None

scholarly journals Information Needs of Public Health Staff in a Knowledge Translation Setting in Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mê-Linh Lê
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Public Health Approach ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Public Health Staff ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Government ◽  
Government Of Canada

Introduction: In response to emerging public health crises in the early 2000s, the Government of Canada recognized the need for a more coordinated public health approach and launched the six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health (NCCPH). The information needs and information-seeking behavior of public health professionals is a relatively understudied area. In this paper, the results of a survey of NCCPH staff is provided and discussed as a means to help fill this gap in the literature. Also examined is the use of information specialists to ascertain whether they are being used to their full potential. Methods: A combination of telephone interviews, a literature review, and a questionnaire distributed to relevant staff. Results: The results indicated some similarities with previous studies such as a reliance on journal articles and colleagues as information sources. It was also shown that staff is unaware of many information resources now available. Training was indicated as a potential area of skills-based growth, as most staff have received limited instruction on searching and information retrieval skills, and required competencies can change frequently as new services, tools, and databases are introduced. Discussion: There is a strong inclination from the staff surveyed to seek information on their own, without the use of an information specialist. However, respondents indicated they are challenged most in their information seeking by a lack of time and awareness of what resources are available, two knowledge areas for which an information specialist is uniquely qualified. Awareness must be raised of the specialized skills of information specialists and how they are able to assist in the information-seeking and retrieval process.

scholarly journals Feasibility of implementation of CARD™ for school-based immunizations in Calgary, Alberta: a cluster trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Taddio ◽  
Joanne Coldham ◽  
Charlotte Logeman ◽  
C. Meghan McMurtry ◽  
Cheri Little ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
School Staff ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Cluster Trial ◽  
School Based ◽  
Public Health Staff ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Negative experiences with school-based immunizations can contribute to vaccine hesitancy in youth and adulthood. We developed an evidence-based, multifaceted and customizable intervention to improve the immunization experience at school called the CARD™ (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax, D-Distract) system. We evaluated the feasibility of CARD™ implementation for school-based immunizations in Calgary, Canada. Methods In a mixed methods study, two Community Health Centres providing immunization services, including 5 schools each with grade 9 students (aged approximately 14 years), were randomized to CARD™ or control (usual care). In the CARD™ group, public health staff and students were educated about coping strategies prior to immunization clinics. Clinics were organized to reduce fear and to support student’s choices for coping strategies. Public health staff in the CARD™ group participated in a focus group discussion afterwards. We sought a recruitment rate of 80% for eligible schools, an external stakeholder focus group (e.g., school staff) with 6 or more individuals, 85% of individual injection-related data acquisition (student and immunizer surveys), and 80% absolute agreement between raters for a subset of data that were double-coded. Across focus groups, we examined perceptions of acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility and fidelity of CARD™. Results Nine (90%) of eligible schools participated. Of 219 students immunized, injection-related student and immunizer data forms were acquired for 195 (89.0%) and 196 (89.5%), respectively. Reliability of data collection was high. Fifteen public health and 5 school staff participated in separate focus groups. Overall, attitudes towards CARD™ were positive and compliance with individual components of CARD™ was high. Public health staff expressed skepticism regarding the value of student participation in the CARD™ system. Suggestions were made regarding processes to refine implementation. Conclusion While most outcome criteria were satisfied and overall perceptions of implementation outcomes were positive, some important challenges and opportunities were identified. Feedback is being used to inform a large cluster trial that will evaluate the impact of CARD™ during school-based immunizations. Trial registration The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03948633); Submitted April 24, 2019.

Effect of low cost public health staff training on exclusive breastfeeding

2008 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 1115-1119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suneth Buddhika Agampodi ◽  
Thilini Chanchala Agampodi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Staff Training ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Public Health Staff

scholarly journals Crisis Decision-Making During Hurricane Sandy: An Analysis of Established and Emergent Disaster Response Behaviors in the New York Metro Area

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 436-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Chandler ◽  
David M Abramson ◽  
Benita Panigrahi ◽  
Jeff Schlegelmilch ◽  
Noelle Frye
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
New York ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
New York State ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Staff

AbstractObjectiveThis collective case study examined how and why specific organizational decision-making processes transpired at 2 large suburban county health departments in lower New York State during their response to Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The study also examined the relationships that the agencies developed with other emerging and established organizations within their respective health systems.MethodsIn investigating these themes, the authors conducted in-depth, one-on-one interviews with 30 senior-level public health staff and first responders; reviewed documentation; and moderated 2 focus group discussions with 17 participants.ResultsAlthough a natural hazard such as a hurricane was not an unexpected event for these health departments, they nevertheless confronted a number of unforeseen challenges during the response phase: prolonged loss of power and fuel, limited situational awareness of the depth and breadth of the storm’s impact among disaster-exposed populations, and coordination problems with a number of organizations that emerged in response to the disaster.ConclusionsPublic health staff had few plans or protocols to guide them and often found themselves improvising and problem-solving with new organizations in the context of an overburdened health care system (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:436–442).

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