Hygiene Prevention Research Articles

Hand Hygiene for Infection Prevention

Hand Hygiene for Infection Prevention

The impact of universal face masking and enhanced hand hygiene for COVID-19 disease prevention on the incidence of hospital-acquired infections in a Taiwanese hospital

ObjectivesDuring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, strict infection control measures have been implemented in healthcare settings and hospitals, including respiratory and hand hygiene. This study investigated the impact of these control measures on the incidence rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in a Taiwan medical center. MethodsThis study compared the consumption of personal prevention resources and the incidence density of HAI and MDRO in a medical center in Taiwan from January to May 2020, encapsulating the COVID-19 outbreak period in the study, to baseline data from the same timeframe in 2018 and 2019. ResultsThere was no significant difference between the number of inpatient days in 2020, 2018 and 2019. The consumption of either alcohol for hand hygiene or surgical masks significantly increased in 2020. However, the overall HAI incidence density did not significantly differ from the rate at the baseline period. It was found that the incidence density of MDRO was significantly lower in 2020, especially in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. ConclusionsA collateral benefit of the COVID-19 prevention measures on the incidence density of MDRO was observed in a hospital in Taiwan where the incidence of COVID-19 was low.

Grigory Vitalievich Khlopin is the pride of Russian hygiene science

Historical materials about the life and work of G.V. Khlopin, an outstanding scientist and hygienist, who created his own large scientific school. The main activity of which was the development of prevention and public hygiene. Biographical data are given, and scientific activity in the pre-revolutionary and Soviet periods is analyzed. The main directions of research work in the field of General hygiene, water supply hygiene, food hygiene, school hygiene, work in the field of anti-epidemic and anti-chemical protection are presented. The role of G.V. Khlopin in the formation and development of experimental hygiene is emphasized. The article describes his many-sided activities as a Professor of the Department of hygiene at the Military medical Academy, as well as his organizational and pedagogical activities, which laid the foundations for teaching hygiene at the higher medical school based on numerous textbooks and manuals published by him. The author notes the encyclopedic nature of knowledge, the great erudition of the scientist in all matters of hygiene, his unflagging ability to work, which made it possible to create capital guidelines on hygiene based on the works of domestic researchers. Attention is drawn to the activities of G.V. Khlopin in the creation of the Institute of preventive Sciences named after Z.P. Solovyov, organized with the aim of improving the educational process and research activities, as well as his work as a consultant to the Main military sanitary Department of the Workers and peasants red Army. A high assessment of the work of G.V. Khlopin, who holds the rank of full state Councilor, for the benefit of Russia, is the award of the order of St. Nicholas. Vladimir and SV. Stanislav, and in the years of Soviet power conferring the honorary title of honored scientist.

COVID-19 on Instagram: A content analysis of selected accounts

ObjectiveThis study aimed to characterize the representation of public health information related to COVID-19 posted on Instagram in 2020. MethodsThis qualitative content analysis study was conducted in Iran as one of the countries with the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19. Data were collected from the contents published from February 19 to April 3, 2020, on Instagram. The search feature of the Instagram app was used to find the posts related to Coronavirus or COVID-19. Overall, 1612 posts from 92 accounts were retrieved and analyzed using thematic analysis. ResultsA total of 23 themes emerged from the analysis of the retrieved posts. These themes include epidemiology and statistics, training and caring, general prevention guidelines, hygiene, healthy diet and lifestyle, patients, diagnosis and treatment, personal protective equipment, traditional medicine, psychology, children, cultural aspects, socio-cultural impacts, religious, misinformation, and wrong behaviors, animals, satire, condition of the healthcare system, politics, quarantine, operations of the Iranian National Disaster Management Organization (NDMO), economic impacts, and world news. ConclusionThe contents analysis of Instagram posts during a public health crisis can provide new and realistic insights into the crisis and identify the topics of interest or concern of the public. Furthermore, the information collected in this way can help policymakers identify the most critical issues from the public perspective and utilize the gained knowledge to manage the ongoing and future pandemics.

Prevention of COVID-19 in Internally Displaced Persons Camps in War-Torn North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Mixed-Methods Study.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic poses a grave threat to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). We examined knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to COVID-19 prevention among IDPs in war-torn Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Mixed-methods study with qualitative (focus group discussions, [FGDs]) and quantitative (52-item survey questionnaire) data collection and synthesis. FGDs (N=23) and survey questionnaires (N=164 IDPs; N=143 comparison group) were conducted in May 2020. FGD participants provided narratives of violence that they had fled. IDPs were statistically more likely to have larger household size, experience more extreme poverty, have lower educational attainment, and have less access to information through media and internet versus the comparison group (P<.05 for the comparison group). IDPs had a high level of awareness (99%) and fear (98%) of COVID-19, but lower specific knowledge (15% sufficient knowledge versus 30% among the comparison group, P<.0001), a difference which remained significant in a multivariable model adjusting for confounding. IDPs faced major barriers to implementing COVID-19 prevention measures. Physical distancing was impossible for IDPs in crowded shelters, and 70% reported coming in close contact with someone other than a family member within the past 24 hours (versus 56% of the comparison group, P=.014). Frequent movements in and out of the camp for subsistence left IDPs vulnerable to the introduction of COVID-19: 61% left the camp on a daily basis and 65% had received a visitor in the past month. Despite acceptance of hand hygiene for prevention, 92% lacked soap (versus 65% of the comparison group, P<.0001). IDPs' desire for peace and to return to their native homes, where COVID-19 precautions could be feasibly implemented, overshadowed their perceived benefits of measures such as a COVID-19 vaccine. These findings provide empiric evidence supporting the vulnerability of IDPs to COVID-19 and call for action to protect neglected displaced populations.

Design of Occupational Health and Safety Management System Based on ISO 45001, for a Company that Manufactures and Commercializes Low Voltage Electrical Boards

Muchas empresas en la busqueda de darse a conocer y aumentar la visibilidad, lo que implica la transmision de confianza en los productos que ofrece, y en la ejecucion de procesos de manera segura, recurren a la implementacion de sistemas de gestion. En esta contribucion, se propone el diseno del Sistema de Gestion de la Seguridad y salud en el trabajo para una empresa que fabrica y comercializa tableros electricos de baja tension. Se tiene como proposito principal mejorar las condiciones de trabajo de sus colaboradores y la productividad de la organizacion. Todo el trabajo realizado se soporto tanto en ISO 45001:2018, asi como en la legislacion colombiana. Lo anterior permitira el crecimiento de la empresa a nivel interno, contribuira al desarrollo de procesos logicos y por etapas para una mejora continua teniendo como principio el ciclo PHVA. Es importante mencionar que, durante la fase operacional, se desarrollaron herramientas como los programas de medicina preventiva, higiene y seguridad industrial, a su vez se plantearon alternativas que involucran la verificacion del cumplimiento de los requisitos de la norma establecidos, y asi lograr los resultados deseados del sistema de gestion. Las soluciones disenadas se fundamentaron, en el analisis y desarrollo de la identificacion de riesgos y peligros como primera instancia, esto fue primordial para el diseno documental del Sistema de Gestion, donde se pretende la normalizacion de los procesos y el aumento en la efectividad en la empresa.

ASSESSMENT STUDY OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF NURSES IN ROMANIA REGARDING HAND HYGIENE AND HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS

INTRODUCTION. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent adverse events of medical care, an important threat to patient safety that affects a significant number of patients annually. Hand hygiene is universally recognized as being the most effective method of preventing and limiting HAIs. Nurses have a critical contribution in providing clean and safe care to patients and preventing HAIs. METHODOLOGY. The nurses’ knowledge level, attitudes and self-reported practices regarding hand hygiene and HAIs was evaluated by using an original questionnaire which was applied at the beginning of the National Conference of The Order of Nurses, Midwives and Medical Assistants in Romania which took place between September 13-14, 2018, in Bucharest. The applied questionnaire included 32 items in 3 sections with the following structure: (1) 8 items related to demographic and professional data; (2) 10 items for assessing the level of knowledge; and (3) 14 items for assessing self-reported attitudes and practices. RESULTS. We analyzed the results of the assessment of the knowledge level, attitudes and self-reported practices of 576 Conference participants nurses who performed their professional activity in healthcare institutions in Romania. The analysis of the results obtained from assessing the knowledge showed that 16% (95%CI: 13.0-18.9) of the participants had a high level of knowledge (scores between 8 and 10), 58% (95%CI: 53.8-62.2) had a medium level (scores between 5 and 7) and 26% (95%CI: 22.4-29.7) a low level (scores lower than 5). The average score of the group was 5,51±2,07, reflecting an overall medium level of the group. Regarding the practice of workplace hand hygiene and the level of self-reported compliance, most participants (79% of them) declared high levels of compliance (at least 70-80%). The analysis of the answers to the items regarding the attitudes of the participants, which referred to the role of jewelry and nails in the occurrence and transmission of HAIs, the role and the importance of hand hygiene in HAIs prevention and the relationship between patient safety and HAIs prevention, showed an almost unanimous agreement with the statements that they contain (96%, 96% and 99%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS. Nurses in Romania have an inadequate knowledge level regarding hand hygiene and HAIs, which could represent a cause of HAIs and a barrier to patient safety, have positive attitudes and overestimated self-reported practices. Future research is needed to assess the level of observed compliance and its relationship with the nurses' knowledge and attitudes in the field of hand hygiene and HAIs. Keywords: nurses, knowledge, attitudes, practices, hand hygiene, healthcare-associated infections Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Therapeutic management of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases in times of pandemic COVID 19

Conoravirus 2019 or Covid-19 disease (acronym for COronaVirus Infectious Disease 2019) is an emerging highly contagious infection caused by the coronavirus strain SARS-CoV-2. In March 2020 it has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The rheumatologist is therefore faced with a challenge: an optimal management of COVID patients who are immunosuppressed not only by the disease but also by the immunosuppressive treatments they take. In fact, some of these drugs seem , oddly, to have antagonist effects on viral response and therefore are investigated in COVID treatment. Severe COVID-19 originates from a cytokine storm caused by increased levels of a number of cytokines and chemokines resulting in a multiorgan failure. The management of this cytokine storm is one of the major challenges regarding COVID-19 infection. Several pathways are investigated including drugs known to be efficient on rheumatology field (especially NSAIDs, corticosteroids, Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic diseases (DMARDs): biological or synthetic ones such as methotrexate, salazopyrine, leflunomide and Hydroxychloroquine). Given these facts, this review aimed to summarize the existing data that may support the therapeuting decision making of rheumatologists in this pandemic context. Glucocorticoids should be used at its lowest necessary dose regardless of exposure or infection status if needed to controlee underlying disease. They should never be stopped precipitously . Stable patients with no COVID 19 infection or exposure should continue their treatment either NSAIDs or immunosuppressants (CsDMARDs, TsDMARDs or bDMARDs) with no modification or dose reduction in case of life threatening organ lesion. Anti malarial drugs is to not discontinue them, considering the antiviral efficacy and the immunomodulatory rather than immunosuppressive effect. The anti Il 6 is also not to be stopped given their action on the inflammatory reaction caused by COVID19. In case of confirmed COVID 19 infection it is recommended to temporarily stop other immunosuppressive treatments. That guidance does not replace clinical judgment of the rheumatologist based on clinical severity of the infection or the ARD. Mostly guideline panel recommends underlying general preventive measures, e.g., social distancing and hand hygiene, reducing exposure of patients with minimizing health encounters.

Acute gastroenteritis outbreak: epidemiology at the core of investigation

Abstract Background At 28th February 2020, local public health authorities were notified that an occupational activity center headed to adult individuals with disabilities, in Guimarães (Portugal), had several cases of users vomiting or with diarrhea during that week, requesting control measures. Methods An outbreak investigation was carried out, with case definition being someone with nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. An epidemic curve was made with the number of cases per date of symptoms onset. Attack rate was calculated as the number of cases in the occupational activity center divided by the number of people in the same center. Results Mild, self-limited acute symptoms of nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea were identified in 18 individuals that attended the occupational activity center. The first case developed symptoms on 24th February (day 0); the second case appeared about 24 hours after; the peak occurred at day 4 with seven cases. Attack rate was 27% among users and 15% among monitors. The mean age was 40 years. Two cases went to the emergency department and were clinically diagnosed with acute viral gastroenteritis, no further care needed. Meals were served at a neighbor building, shared with another rehabilitation institution. The rehabilitation institution reported zero cases. Additionally, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point process was fully accomplished. Conclusions Clinical and epidemiological findings suggest a probable viral outbreak with person-to-person transmission. The incubation period is consistent with norovirus, the most common agent of viral gastroenteritis. No biological samples were collected, because symptoms were mild and there was no chance to do it. Environmental samples were not collected. Preventive hygiene measures were immediatly enhanced, namely hand washing, appropriate disinfection of contaminated surfaces and isolation if symptomatic. These measures are highly efficient breaking the chain of infection and that was obtained. Key messages Epidemiological findings are at the core of an outbreak investigation and support immediate implemention of effective control measures. Although laboratory results are important, they are not always available for outbreak investigation.

Mobilizing a Community-Academic Partnership to Provide DIY Handwashing Stations to Skid Row Residents During COVID-19.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a devastating impact on global health. In the United States and abroad, there is concern for how the novel coronavirus will affect vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness. Individuals who lack stable housing are more likely to have preexisting health conditions and limited access to basic preventative hygiene practices such as handwashing and sanitizing. The situation has become critical in Los Angeles' Skid Row neighborhood, where nearly 5,000 unhoused residents (13% of the city's homeless population) reside on any given night. Community members' concerns have mounted as social and health services in the area have decreased, and early efforts to prevent the transmission of coronavirus did not adequately address the lack of access to handwashing stations and hand sanitizing products. This Practice Note details an academic-community partnership that uses grassroots organizing to provide "do-it-yourself" handwashing stations to the Skid Row neighborhood. We describe how an academic-community partnership was mobilized to establish innovative practices in response to the coronavirus, offering lessons and recommendations for others hoping to do similar work.

Hygiene and Sanitation Challenge for COVID-19 Prevention in Indonesia

The case of Covid-19 in Indonesia continues to increase, transmitted directly and indirectly. Hygiene and sanitation approaches are needed for prevention. the purpose of this review is to review how the transmission COVID-19, the challenges of Indonesia, and the policy of COVID-19 prevention with hygiene and sanitation approaches. The results show Indonesia's challenges namely urban area density, air pollution, and smokers, low hand washing habits, low access to clean water and drinking water, open defecation behavior, limited personal protective equipment. COVID-19 control policy with the hygiene sanitation approach is carried out with 4 factors namely personal protect equipment, health education, personal hygiene, and sanitation.

A Community Responds to the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Case Study in Protecting the Health and Human Rights of People Who Use Drugs.

Effective responses to a global pandemic require local action. In the face of a pandemic or similar emergencies, communities of people who use drugs face risks that result from their ongoing drug use, reduced ability to secure treatment for drug use and correlated maladies, lack of access to preventive hygiene, and the realities of homelessness, street-level policing, and criminal justice involvement. Herein, we document the efforts of a coalition of people who use drugs, advocates, service providers, and academics to implement solutions to reduce these risks at a municipal and state level focusing on New Haven and the State of Connecticut. This coalition identified the communities at risk: active users needing access to harm reduction services, persons in treatment needing access to their medications, the homeless and marginally housed needing improved hygiene, people engaged in sex work, and the incarcerated needing release from custody. The section describing each of the risks demonstrates how the coalition acted preemptively at early stages of the pandemic, ahead of official initiatives, to develop ameliorative risk reduction solutions. Outcomes discussed include instances in which obstacles were overcome or still remain.

Pseudoscientific beliefs and practices in the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative review of unwanted experiments attributed to social media-based misinformation afflicting the public health

Background: On January 30, 2020, India reported its first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive case that led to the national lockdown, health surveillance, and travel restrictions. The Government of India (GoI) is advising personal hygiene practices as prophylaxis, however, remains poorly understood by the people. Too, believing in social media-based misinformation leading to pseudoscientific practices suggesting all from giving up non-vegetarian food to eating garlic is afflicting. This review sheds light on pseudoscientific beliefs and practices of the Indian public to prevent COVID-19. Methods: This narrative review gathered scientific evidence to describe the facts against pseudoscientific beliefs and practices in the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined available evidence from relevant research articles to present the facts about pseudoscientific practices. In particular, regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine and its practice to prevent COVID-19, we searched the high-quality literature in PubMed, PubMed Central, and Cochrane Library databases for the determined outcomes. Results: Based on scientific shreds of evidence, it is apparent that social media-based misinformation and its pseudoscientific practices severely affecting the public health in the COVID-19 pandemic. The public must look into the facts rigorously before performing pseudoscientific practices and need to follow GoI instructions perpetually. The findings of this review suggest a high level of public awareness of evidence-based prophylactic measures. Conclusion: There is an urgent need for public health promotion initiatives to bring up awareness of the COVID-19 spread and its preventive hygiene practices. The dissemination of health awareness to the public across the nation is warranted.

Practice characteristics and views of dental hygienists in Lithuania.

To evaluate the employment possibilities of Lithuanian dental hygienists. The questionnaire asked about the demographics of dental hygienists, characteristics of practice, patient load, career intentions, opinion about dental hygienists workforce and the need of governmental workforce regulation. The study consisted of all licensed dental hygienists in Lithuania in 2018 (N=1109). The final response rate was 52.1% (n=578), 64% (n=370) of respondents lived in the country's five main cities, and 73.5% (n=425) worked in these population centres, with 94.3% (n=545) worked in private sector. Over two-thirds of respondents said there was an excess of dental hygienists in Lithuania. Nearly 80% "always" or "sometimes" reported that they had insufficient patients, which may account for the prevalence of supplementary work (48.4%, n=280), that is work as a dental assistant (67.9%, n=190). Data obtained show that dental hygienists with less than ten years' experience were likely to work as a dental assistant (P<.05). Notwithstanding, 73.9% (n=428) of the dental hygienists reported that they only want to practice their profession. Most (83.4%, n=483) struggled to find dental hygienist work, and 70.5% (n=408) wanted regulation of number of dental hygienists at a national level. The respondents suggested there is (a) a lack of dental hygiene patients, (b) available workload for additional preventive dental hygiene services, (c) pressure to search for additional work, usually as a dental assistant. Governmental support to optimally regulate oral health human resources is, according to most dental hygienists, an emphatic wish as a possible solution at national level.

Risk factors for voice disorders in public school teachers in Cyprus.

SummaryAimsThe purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors for self-perceived voice disorders in teachers in Cyprus in order to determine the necessity for a preventative vocal hygiene education program which could improve their work performance.MethodsAn online questionnaire was completed by 449 teachers. The questionnaire extracted data regarding risk factors that may contribute to the development of voice disorders, occupational consequences of voice disorders and vocal hygiene education, as well as, a self-perceived severity of a participant’s voice problem. Subjects were split into two groups, teachers with Voice Disorder Index (VDI) ≤ 7 and teachers with VDI > 7. The chi-squared test was used to explore the differences in responses for each voice risk factor, occupational consequence and vocal hygiene education between the two groups.ResultsTeachers in the VDI > 7 group were more likely to frequently experience nasal allergies and respiratory infections, coughing, throat clearing, stress and yelling, have shorter breaks between classes, use loud voice, use their voice to discipline students, teach above students talking, etc. than teachers in the VDI ≤ 7 group. Moreover, teachers in the VDI > 7 group were more likely to limit their ability to perform certain tasks at work and reduce their activities or interactions “3-5 or more days” annually due to voice problems.ConclusionsHealth, voice use, lifestyle, and environmental factors may play a part in the development of voice disorders in teachers and have an impact on their job. Therefore, a preventative vocal hygiene education program is suggested.

Management of patients with multidrug-resistant organisms in rehabilitation facilities. Results of a survey in the Rhine-Main region, Germany, 2019.

Introduction: Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are a problem in medical facilities, including rehabilitation facilities in Germany. The national recommendations of the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO) for prevention of and dealing with patients affected by MDRO are obligatory in rehabilitation facilities. A survey on the management of patients with MDRO in rehabilitation facilities in the Rhine-Main area is presented below.Materials and methods: The questions from a recently published survey in 45 rehabilitation facilities in 26 European countries (Doherty et al., 2019) were largely adopted unchanged: the type, size, and organization of the facility, availability of guidelines on MDRO, screening and (estimated) prevalence of MDRO, as well as special hygiene measures or restrictions for patients with MDRO.Results: 22 of the 43 institutions contacted participated (58%). All facilities had specific recommendations on how to deal with MDRO and more than 95% had adequate hygiene staff. The facilities encompassed 4,369 beds, with 3,909 (89%) of them in single-bed rooms, and only a few offered 3-bed rooms. About 20% of patients in general rehabilitation and 100% in early neurological rehabilitation are screened on admission. Six (27%) facilities refused to accept patients with MDRO. 40% of the facilities treated these patients in their own room and/or in a separate area. 27% of the facilities prohibited eating in the dining room and participating in hydrotherapy. Only 6 (27%) of the rehabilitation centers indicated that patients with MDRO are allowed to participate in full rehabilitation programs.Discussion: In accordance with the results of Doherty et al. (2019), there were many restrictions for rehabilitation patients with MDRO, indicating considerable need for improvement. Necessary hygiene recommendations to avoid the transmission of MDRO must not lead to rejection of inpatient rehabilitation or to less intensive rehabilitation.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES IN CAXIAS, MARANHÃO, BRAZIL

Introdução: A entrada do coronavírus (SARS-CoV-2) no Brasil espalha-se rapidamente e chega às cidades do interior. Caxias, a quinta mais populosa do Maranhão, desde abril de 2020, registra casos de Covid-19. Neste estudo, o objetivo é analisar o perfil epidemiológico dos casos confirmados do novo coronavírus (SARS-Cov-2) notificados na cidade de Caxias–Maranhão. Delineamento: Estudo epidemiológico observacional, descritivo, realizado com dados secundários extraídos do Boletim “COVID-19 em Caxias-MA”, no período de 12 de abril a 01 de junho de 2020. Foram avaliadas faixa etária, sexo, área da cidade de casos confirmados e óbitos. Os dados foram agrupados no Microsoft Excel®, realizada análise estatística descritiva, frequência absoluta e relativa. Resultados: No período analisado foram confirmados 290 casos e 11 óbitos pelo novo coronavírus. Dos casos confirmados 24,8% na faixa etária entre 30 a 39 anos e 22,1% de 40 a 49 anos, 51,7% do sexo masculino e 96,5% da zona urbana. Os óbitos ocorrem em 54,5% do sexo feminino e na faixa etária de 60 a 69 anos (36,3%). Implicações: Torna-se necessária reforçar o distanciamento social, aumentar a realização de testes confirmatórios de COVID-19, promover noções de higiene para prevenção, monitoramento e controle a fim de minimizar a disseminação do vírus.

DESAFIOS NO ACESSO À ÁGUA E SANEAMENTO BÁSICO NO BRASIL E O CONTROLE DA COVID-19

O presente artigo de revisão buscou, por meio de informações em artigos científicos, documentos técnicos e legislações apresentar e discutir os impactos trazidos pela desigualdade no acesso aos recursos hídricos, e suas implicações na prevenção da COVID 19. Inicialmente se identifica o processo de transmissão do novo agente viral que colocou a maior parte da população mundial em quarentena, as medidas preventivas de higiene e a adoção do distanciamento e isolamento social. Em seguida é traçado um histórico da gestão do uso público dos recursos hídricos no Brasil e os motivos que levam a desigualdade não só no uso da água potável como em toda a estrutura de saneamento básico. Essa desigualdade reflete no alto impacto da COVID 19 nas populações vulneráveis do país.

Development of health education model (vaginal hygiene) in vaginal candidiasis prevention in pregnant women

The danger of VVC for pregnant women are: premature birth, premature rupture of the membranes, low birth weight. In America, 75% of women during reproduction have experienced VVC. Between 40-50% have recurrent infections and 5-8% have chronic candida infections. The purpose of this study is to obtain more comprehensive information regarding the development of models of health education (vaginal hygiene) in the prevention of vaginal candidiasis in pregnant women. The design used is Literature review. Articles were collected through Cochrane, Science Direct, Pubmed, Elseiver, Proquest (Links are from the library of unhas.ac.id) Pubmed, WHO, CDC, Google Scholar. The keywords used were VVC, prevention, audio-visual, modules, pregnant women. After collecting the article then article synthesis was made. Based on the articles collected, the result shows the lack of development of the health education model, namely the provision of modules and audio-visuals in the prevention of early VVC in pregnant women. Thus, through the provision of health education in the form of audio-visual and modules needed in the prevention of vaginal discharge of VVC in pregnant women. The development of models of health education (vaginal hygiene) can effectively prevent vaginal candidiasis by providing audio-visual and modules to pregnant women.

The psychology of social media communication in influencing prevention intentions during the 2019 U.S. measles outbreak

This study investigates beneficial effects of social media communication on encouraging positive health prevention behaviors among U. S. parents. The ongoing 2019 U. S. measles outbreak was the topical focus due to its urgency, highly contagious nature, societal impact, and high relevance to public health. Applying the Extended Parallel Process Model as a theoretical framework, social media expression and reception effects on different prevention intentions were examined along with self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity as potential mediators. The study found that both social media expression and reception were effective in encouraging preventive hygiene intention, but only through improved self-efficacy and perceived severity. For information seeking intention, both social media expression and reception were effective directly and indirectly through increased susceptibility and severity perceptions of measles infection on their child. Practical implications and study contributions are further discussed.