scholarly journals Refocusing the Vietnam HIV surveillance to the most burden areas for epidemic control

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diep T. Vu ◽  
Duc H. Bui ◽  
Giang T. Le ◽  
Duong C. Thanh ◽  
Nghia V. Khuu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Panel Discussion ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
World Health ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
Strategic Direction ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Size Estimates

ObjectiveTo describe an exercise to identify priority provinces to be focused in the Vietnam National HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS).IntroductionThe Vietnam National HSS was established in 1994. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the epidemic was increasing rapidly, the HSS helped with the intensive close monitoring of the HIV epidemic. In its first 10 years, the HSS was rapidly expanded from 6 to 40 provinces and in some years, it was conducted semi-annually. After two decades, the HIV epidemic situation has changed. In most provinces, HIV prevalence has reported to have declined. Compared to the peak period, the HIV prevalence among key populations (KP) in the past decade decreased from 40-60% to 20% or lower. In many provinces, HIV prevalence was less than 10% among people who inject drugs (PWID) and less than 3% among female sex workers (FSW), and among men who have sex with men (MSM) (Table 1). At the same time, the HIV programme has since been scaled up widely with various interventions and expanded to most of the 63 provinces. In 2014, the government of Vietnam and international stakeholders conducted a joint review of the health sector response to the HIV epidemic and concluded that for better monitoring of the epidemic, a more focused and higher quality surveillance system was needed(1). In 2015, surveillance stakeholders conducted a detailed review of the HSS to discuss prioritization of the surveillance activities.MethodsThe prioritization exercise followed a principle that the HSS should be conducted in locations where there is a large population of KP with a high HIV prevalence and it is feasible to implement. Criteria for prioritizing provinces for inclusion were: 1) a high estimated KP size; 2) high HIV prevalence, measured as a 5 year (2011-2015) average prevalence (P); 3) few years with low HIV prevalence, defined as P <5% among PWID, <3% among FSW and MSM; 4) few years with insufficient HSS sample size, defined as n<150 for PWID, n<250 for FSW and MSM. Steps to prioritize provinces were:- Reviewed provincial data on KP estimates; HIV prevalence and achieved HSS sample sizes in 5 years, 2011-2015.- Developed a ranking algorithm taking into account KP size estimates, HIV prevalence and achieved sample sizes.- For each survey on PWID, FSW, MSM, took top ranked provinces for which sum of KP size estimates of these provinces exceeded 50% of the national KP size estimates.- Held a consultation workshop among domestic and international surveillance stakeholders to discuss the prioritization exercise. Issues of regional representation of the HSS in the North, South, Central and Highland regions was added as a criteria to adjust the priority list of HSS provinces. The consensus reached in the workshop was the basis for proceeding a formal approval at Ministry of Health.ResultsThe data review and panel discussion suggested that the number of provinces to implement HSS should be 20 for PWID, 13 for FSW, and 7 for MSM surveys. While total number of provinces reduced from 40 to 20, all 4 geographical regions of the country were covered. Even with the reduction of the geographical coverage of the HSS, large proportions of the KPs (63.9% of PWID, 58.9% of FSWs and 36% of MSM) were covered under the HSS (Table 2). In February 2017, the Ministry of Health officially approved the 20 priority provinces as a part of the new strategic direction of the Vietnam National HSS.ConclusionsThe data review and panel discussion suggested that the number of provinces to implement HSS should be 20 for PWID, 13 for FSW, and 7 for MSM surveys. While total number of provinces reduced from 40 to 20, all 4 geographical regions of the country were covered. Even with the reduction of the geographical coverage of the HSS, large proportions of the KPs (63.9% of PWID, 58.9% of FSWs and 36% of MSM) were covered under the HSS (Table 2). In February 2017, the Ministry of Health officially approved the 20 priority provinces as a part of the new strategic direction of the Vietnam National HSS.References1. World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2016, Joint Review of the Health Sector Response to HIV in Viet Nam 2014.

scholarly journals Potential Utility of Routine Programmatic Data in Monitoring National and State-Level HIV Epidemic in Nigeria: Data Triangulation Analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debem Henry ◽  
Aminu Yakubu ◽  
Mukhtar Ahmed ◽  
Gwamna Jerry ◽  
Dalhatu Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
National Level ◽  
State Level ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
World Health ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Epidemic Control ◽  
Hiv Epidemic

AbstractNigeria relies on data from periodic resource-intensive surveys such as antenatal HIV seroprevalence sentinel surveys (ANC-HSS) and population-based National AIDS and Reproductive Health Surveys (NARHS) for its HIV control efforts. Nigeria has not explored the use of readily available routine programmatic data (RPD) to easily inform and monitor epidemic control efforts at local settings in near real time. This study aimed to determine the utility of RPDs (Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission [PMTCT] and HIV Testing and Counseling [HTC]) as a proxy for monitoring HIV epidemic in Nigeria. Using World Health Organization 12 step triangulation procedures, we compared state-level seropositivity data from PMTCT and HTC programs to HIV prevalence data from NARHS and ANC-HSS reports in relevant pairs from 2010 to 2014 in Nigeria. The study population was pregnant women and general population. We abstracted relevant data from PEPFAR Nigeria data source and published national survey reports. We compared visual (scatterplots and maps) patterns and trends, and performed Pearson correlation and univariate linear regression models of the estimates for best matched/contiguous years for which data were available. Correlation between PMTCT2014 and ANC-HSS2014 was positive and significant (R=0.7,p<0.001). ANC-HSS2014 and HTC2014 were slightly correlated (R=0.4,p<0.05). Significant correlation was observed between ANC-HSS2010 and PMTCT2013 (R=0.8,p<0.001) and between ANC-HSS2010 and HTC2013 (R=0.6, p<0.001). All RPD sources and ANC-HSS indicated a decreasing trend in national HIV prevalence in Nigeria. PMTCT2014 data showed strong capability of predicting HIV prevalence in ANC-HSS2014 in regression model (B=2.09,p<0.0001). Use of routine PMTCT data in monitoring HIV prevalence among women of reproductive age could be more valid and reliable in local settings than the use of HTC data. Use of RPD to monitor national and sub-national-level HIV epidemic in between national surveys in Nigeria could maximize program resources, and promote a more responsive and efficient actions toward epidemic control.

scholarly journals Training on the management of depression in primary care in Azerbaijan

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-45
Author(s):  
Fuad Ismayilov ◽  
Sevil Asadova
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
World Health ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
State Institute ◽  
The World ◽  
Primary Care Doctors ◽  
Health Organization

In 2006, the Azerbaijan Ministry of Health and the World Bank launched the 6-year Health Sector Reform Project (HSRP). The principal goal of the Project is to prepare and implement a fundamental and comprehensive reform of the health system in Azerbaijan, including a major emphasis on strengthening the primary care system (Ministry of Health Project Implementation Unit, 2007). The project envisions the development of a new optimised system of services, with the integration of mental health into general healthcare. In the line of this process, the Public Health and Reform Centre (PHRC) of the Ministry of Health has developed evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on depression, for implementation within primary care (Ministry of Health, 2009). At the same time, representatives from the PHRC and the Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine of Azerbaijan Medical University, as well as the State Institute for Advanced Training of Physicians (in cooperation with the World Health Organization Country Office), formed a task force to carry out a survey to assess the need for education in mental health for primary care doctors. A total of 308 primary care doctors (see Table 1) working in 14 settings in different regions of the country were randomly selected and interviewed by the research team.

scholarly journals The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a need to strengthen the National HIV Program

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
J. Peter Figueroa ◽  
Jacqueline P. Duncan ◽  
Althea Bailey ◽  
Nicola Skyers
Keyword(s):  
Sex Workers ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Objectives. To assess the status of the HIV epidemic and programmatic implementation in Jamaica while identifying strategies for achieving effective HIV control. Methods. The assessment included a review of the core indicators of the UNAIDS Global Monitoring Framework, a desk review of program reports, and unstructured interviews of stakeholders. Results. HIV prevalence among adults in Jamaica was 1.5% in 2018 with an estimated 32 617 persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and 27 324 persons (83.8%) diagnosed with HIV; 12 711 (39.0% of all PLHIV or 46.5% aware of their status) were on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in the public health sector and 61.8% PLHIV on ART were virally suppressed. HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men remains high (31.4% in 2011, 29.6% in 2017) but has declined among female sex workers (12% in 1990, 2% in 2017). HIV prevalence among public sexually transmitted infection clinic attendees, prison inmates and the homeless has increased in recent years. During 2018 approximately 200 000 persons (14% of the population 15-49 years) were tested with 1 165 newly diagnosed PLHIV, indicating that many of the estimated 1 600 newly infected persons in 2018 were unaware of their status. Conclusions. Critical policy initiatives are needed to reduce barriers to HIV services, ensure young persons have access to condoms and contraceptives, affirm the rights of the marginalized, reduce stigma and discrimination, and introduce pre-exposure prophylaxis. While HIV spread in Jamaica has slowed, the UNAIDS Fast Track goals are lagging. The HIV program must be strengthened to effectively control the epidemic.

scholarly journals Southern social world-regionalisms: The place of health in nine African regional economic communities

2020 ◽  
pp. 146801812096185
Author(s):  
Nicola Yeates ◽  
Rebecca Surender
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
World Health ◽  
Regional Health ◽  
Regional Economic

This article presents key results from a comparative qualitative Social Policy study of nine African regional economic communities’ (RECs) regional health policies. The article asks to what extent has health been incorporated into RECs’ public policy functions and actions, and what similarities and differences are evident among the RECs. Utilising a World Health Organization (WHO) framework for conceptualising health systems, the research evidence routes the article’s arguments towards the following principal conclusions. First, the health sector is a key component of the public policy functions of most of the RECs. In these RECs, innovations in health sector organisation are notable; there is considerable regulatory, organisational, resourcing and programmatic diversity among the RECs alongside under-resourcing and fragmentation within each of them. Second, there are indications of important tangible benefits of regional cooperation and coordination in health, and growing interest by international donors in regional mechanisms through which to disburse health and -related Official Development Assistance (ODA). Third, content analysis of RECs’ regional health strategies suggests fairly minimal strategic ambitions as well as significant limitations of current approaches to advancing effective and progressive health reform. The lack of emphasis on universal health care and reliance on piecemeal donor funding are out of step with approaches and recommendations increasingly emphasising health systems development, sector-wide approaches (SWAPs) and primary health care as the bedrock of health services expansion. Overall, the health component of RECs’ development priorities is consistent with an instrumentalist social policy approach. The development of a more comprehensive sustainable world-regional health policy is unlikely to come from the African Continental Free-Trade Area, which lacks requisite social and health clauses to underpin ‘positive’ forms of regional integration.

scholarly journals A Transdisciplinary Approach to Address Climate Change Adaptation for Human Health and Well-Being in Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4258
Author(s):  
Caradee Yael Wright ◽  
Candice Eleanor Moore ◽  
Matthew Chersich ◽  
Rebecca Hester ◽  
Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Comprehensive Health ◽  
African Context

The health sector response to dealing with the impacts of climate change on human health, whether mitigative or adaptive, is influenced by multiple factors and necessitates creative approaches drawing on resources across multiple sectors. This short communication presents the context in which adaptation to protect human health has been addressed to date and argues for a holistic, transdisciplinary, multisectoral and systems approach going forward. Such a novel health-climate approach requires broad thinking regarding geographies, ecologies and socio-economic policies, and demands that one prioritises services for vulnerable populations at higher risk. Actions to engage more sectors and systems in comprehensive health-climate governance are identified. Much like the World Health Organization’s ‘Health in All Policies’ approach, one should think health governance and climate change together in a transnational framework as a matter not only of health promotion and disease prevention, but of population security. In an African context, there is a need for continued cross-border efforts, through partnerships, blending climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and long-term international financing, to contribute towards meeting sustainable development imperatives.

scholarly journals The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group in Israel

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Stein-Zamir ◽  
Shmuel Rishpon
Keyword(s):  
National Health ◽  
National Level ◽  
Vaccination Schedule ◽  
World Health ◽  
Advisory Group ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
Independent Evidence ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
National Immunization

AbstractNational Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are defined by the World Health Organization as multidisciplinary groups of health experts who are involved in the development of a national immunization policy. The NITAG has the responsibility to provide independent, evidence-informed advice to the policy makers and national programme managers, on policy issues and questions related to immunization and vaccines.This paper aims to describe the NITAG in Israel. The Israeli NITAG was established by the Ministry of Health in1974. The NITAG’s full formal name is “the Advisory Committee on Infectious Diseases and Immunizations in Israel”. The NITAG is charged with prioritizing choices while granting maximal significance to the national public health considerations. Since 2007, the full minutes of the NITAG’s meetings have been publicly available on the committee’s website (at the Ministry of Health website, in Hebrew).According to the National Health Insurance Law, all residents of Israel are entitled to receive universal health coverage. The health services basket includes routine childhood immunizations, as well as several adult and post - exposure vaccinations. The main challenge currently facing the NITAG is establishing a process for introducing new vaccines and updating the vaccination schedule through the annual update of the national health basket. In the context of the annual update, vaccines have to “compete” with multiple medications and technologies which are presented to the basket committee for inclusion in the national health basket. Over the years, the Israeli NITAG’s recommendations have proved essential for vaccine introduction and scheduling and for communicable diseases control on a national level. The NITAG has established structured and transparent working processes and a decision framework according to WHO standards, which is evidence-based and country-specific to Israel.The recent global COVID-19 pandemic is a major concern for all countries as well as a challenge for NITAGs. Currently, the NITAGs have a key role in advising both on sustainment of the routine immunization programs and on planning of the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, with ongoing updates and collaboration with the Ministry of Health and health organizations.

scholarly journals Yellow Fever Outbreak in Eastern Senegal, 2020–2021

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1475
Author(s):  
Moussa Moïse Diagne ◽  
Marie Henriette Dior Ndione ◽  
Alioune Gaye ◽  
Mamadou Aliou Barry ◽  
Diawo Diallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Fever ◽  
Yellow Fever Virus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Fever Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Ministry Of Health

Yellow fever virus remains a major threat in low resource countries in South America and Africa despite the existence of an effective vaccine. In Senegal and particularly in the eastern part of the country, periodic sylvatic circulation has been demonstrated with varying degrees of impact on populations in perpetual renewal. We report an outbreak that occurred from October 2020 to February 2021 in eastern Senegal, notified and managed through the synergistic effort yellow fever national surveillance implemented by the Senegalese Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the countrywide 4S network set up by the Ministry of Health, the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, and the surveillance of arboviruses and hemorrhagic fever viruses in human and vector populations implemented since mid 2020 in eastern Senegal. Virological analyses highlighted the implication of sylvatic mosquito species in virus transmission. Genomic analysis showed a close relationship between the circulating strain in eastern Senegal, 2020, and another one from the West African lineage previously detected and sequenced two years ago from an unvaccinated Dutch traveler who visited the Gambia and Senegal before developing signs after returning to Europe. Moreover, genome analysis identified a 6-nucleotide deletion in the variable domain of the 3′UTR with potential impact on the biology of the viral strain that merits further investigations. Integrated surveillance of yellow fever virus but also of other arboviruses of public health interest is crucial in an ecosystem such as eastern Senegal.

Evaluation of health system in Iraq from people's point of view: a comparative study of two different eras

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 380-387
Author(s):  
Saad Ahmed Ali Jadoo ◽  
Adil H. Alhusseiny ◽  
Shukr Mahmood Yaseen ◽  
Mustafa Ali Mustafa Al-Samarrai ◽  
Anmar Shukur Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Current Health ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Geographical Regions

Background: Since the 2003 United States–British Coalition military invasion, Iraq has been in a state of continuous deterioration at all levels, including the health sector. This study aimed to elicit the viewpoints of the Iraqi people on the current health system, focusing on many provided health services and assessing whether the public prefers the current health system or that was provided before the invasion. Methods: A cross-sectional survey designed to explore the Iraqi people’s opinions on their health system. A self-administered questionnaire using a multi-stage sampling technique was distributed in five geographical regions in Iraq to collect the data from the head of household between 1st October and 31st of December 2019. Multiple logistic regressions were recruited to determine the significant contributing variables in this study. Results: A total of 365 heads of households (response rate: 71.7%) with the mean age of 48.36 + 11.92 years (ranged 35-78) included in the study. Most of the respondents (61.4%) complained of healthcare inaccessibility, 59.7% believed that health resources were not available, 53.7% claimed a deterioration in the quality of care, and 62.2% believed that the political / media position did not contribute to positive changes during the past two decades. Indeed, most respondents (66.0%) believe that the current healthcare system is worse than before. In the multivariate analysis, there was a statistically significant relationship between the characteristics and opinions of the respondents. Young age group (p = 0.003), men (p = < 0.001), unmarried (p = 0.001), high educated (p = < 0.001), rural resident (p = < 0.001), unemployed (p = 0.003), monthly income of less than USD 400 (p = < 0.001), consider themselves to be unhealthy (p = 0.001),  and those who think that people are unhappy now than two decades ago (p = 0.012) have a more negative opinion of the health system. Conclusions: Most Iraqis surveyed expressed disappointment from the health system after the 2003 US-led invasion. The current health system is faltering at all levels and does not meet the citizens' basic needs. Health Transformation Program (HTP) has become inevitable to develop an accessible, affordable, high-quality, efficient, and effective health system.

scholarly journals Information and communication technologies in primary healthcare facilities in Egypt

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (01) ◽  
pp. 88-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taghreed M. Farahat ◽  
Nagwa N. Hegazy ◽  
Maha Mowafy
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Continuous Training ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Information And Communication

BackgroundThe health sector has always relied on technologies. According to World Health Organization, they form the backbone of the services to prevent, diagnose, and treat illness and disease. It is increasingly viewed as the most promising tool for improving the overall quality, safety and efficiency of the health delivery system.Aim of the studyThis was to assess the current situation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in primary healthcare in the terms of describing and classifying the existing work, identify gaps and exploring the personal experiences and the challenges of ICTs application in the primary healthcare.Subjects and methodsA mixed research method in the form of sequential explanatory design was applied. In the quantitative phase a cross-sectional study was conducted among 172 family physicians using a predesigned questionnaire. Followed by qualitative data collection among 35 participants through focused group discussions.ResultsNearly half of the physicians have ICTs in their work and they were trained on it. None of them developed a community-based research using ICTs technology. Training on ICTs showed a statistically significant difference regarding the availability and the type of ICTs present in the workplace (P&lt;0.05). Focused group discussion revealed that the majority of the participants believe that there is poor commitment of policymaker toward ICTs utilization in the primary care. Nearly 97% thinks that there is insufficient budget allocated for ICTs utilization in the workplace. Almost 88% of the participants demanded more incentives for ICTs users than non-user at the workplace.ConclusionsICTs resources are underutilized by health information professionals. Lack of funds, risk of instability of the electric supply and lack of incentives for ICTs users were the most common barriers to ICTs implementation thus a steady steps toward budget allocation and continuous training is needed.

scholarly journals Women and HIV/AIDS

1970 ◽  
pp. 14-17
Author(s):  
Randa Abul-Husn
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Control Programme ◽  
World Health ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World ◽  
Aids Related Complex ◽  
Women And Hiv ◽  
Health Organization

The first case of AIDS was reported in Lebanon in 1988. As of July 1994, 2,402 cases of AIDS, 398 ARC (AIDS Related Complex), and 8,423 HN positive cases were reported in the region of the Middle East. The disease is heavily underreported and under-estimated, according to the National AIDS Control Programme in Lebanon. The NACP was established in 1989 by the World Health Organization and the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document