Members Of Risk Groups Research Articles

Trust in Governmental Health Communication on Covid-19

Trust in governmental communication is critical to the successful containment of public health crises. However, in highly politicised crises, trust varies as a function of partisanship. This research report examines the relationship between political preferences and trust in governmental health communication during the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany. We pay particular attention to the interaction between (a) different dimensions of vulnerability to the virus and (b) distrust rooted in partisan preferences. Using original data from a representative, four-wave online survey conducted in Germany in 2020 and 2021, we found moderate to low levels of trust in information from the government. Whereas belonging to a vulnerable age group (65+) and fear of infection were significantly associated with trust, identification as a member of a risk group was not. Voters of the right-wing populist AfD were less likely to trust government information. Finally, the association between fear of infection and trust was stronger among AfD voters than among voters of established parties. We conclude that public health campaigns should account for the fact that politicised individuals may not trust communicators in prolonged crises. Messages targeting members of risk groups and partisans of populist parties should make health risks relatable to them as individuals.

A Moderated Mediation Model Explaining the Relationship Between Risk-Group Membership, Threat Perception, Knowledge, and Adherence to COVID-19 Behavioral Measures.

BackgroundCOVID-19 is a threat to individual and global health, thus, reducing the disease's spread is of significant importance. However, adherence to behavioral measures against the spread of COVID-19 is not universal, even within vulnerable populations who are at higher risk of exposure to the virus or severe COVID-19 infection. Therefore, this study investigates how risk-group membership relates to adherence to COVID-19 behavioral measures, whether perceived threat of COVID-19 is a mechanism explaining this relationship, and whether knowledge about COVID-19 moderates these effects.MethodsWe conducted a web-based survey (N = 4,096) representative of the adult population in Germany with regard to gender, age (18 to 74), and province. Therein, we assessed risk group membership with two indicators (risk of exposure to COVID-19 and risk of severe COVID-19 infection), perceived COVID-19 threat with the Perceived Coronavirus Threat Questionnaire, knowledge about COVID-19 with a knowledge test; and adherence to six behavioral measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., keeping distance, using mouth-nose protection, and following contact restrictions). We used moderated mediation models to test whether perceived threat mediates the relationship between risk-group membership and adherence and whether knowledge about COVID-19 moderates this relationship.ResultsWe found that risk group members had more perceived COVID-19 threat and that knowledge about COVID-19 increased perceived threat. Moreover, risk group membership had a positive direct effect on adherence to most behavioral measures and risk group members with less knowledge about COVID-19 violated measures more frequently. Risk-group membership also had positive indirect effects on adherence via perceived COVID-19 threat. The moderated indirect effects of threat indicate that threat led to more adherence when knowledge was low, but lost relevance as knowledge increased.ConclusionThe results may help to evaluate disease-regulation measures and to combat the pandemic more effectively. For example, increasing COVID-19 knowledge in the general population could increase adherence to COVID-19 behavioral measures. However, policy makers should be mindful that this could also have negative mental health implications as knowledge increases perceived COVID-19 threat.

Conspiracy Theories and Their Societal Effects During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During COVID-19, conspiracy theories were intensely discussed in the media. Generally, both believing in conspiracy theories (i.e., explanations for events based on powerholders’ secret arrangements) and being confronted with a conspiracy theory have been found to predict cognition and behavior with negative societal effects, such as low institutional trust. Accordingly, believing in conspiracy theories around COVID-19 should reduce institutional trust, support of governmental regulations and their adoption, and social engagement (e.g., helping members of risk groups). We tested these predictions in a national random sample survey, an experiment, and a longitudinal study (Ntotal = 1,213; all studies were preregistered). Indeed, believing in and being confronted with a COVID-19 conspiracy theory decreased institutional trust, support of governmental regulations, adoption of physical distancing, and—to some extent—social engagement. Findings underscore the severe societal effects of conspiracy theories in the context of COVID-19.

Who is most affected by the Corona crisis? An analysis of changes in stress and well-being in Switzerland

ABSTRACT This study analyses the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis on stress and well-being in Switzerland. In particular, we assess whether vulnerable groups in terms of social isolation, increased workload and limited socioeconomic resources are affected more than others. Using longitudinal data from the Swiss Household Panel, including a specific Covid-19 study, we estimate change score models to predict changes in perceived stress and life satisfaction at the end of the semi-lockdown in comparison to before the crisis. We find no general change in life satisfaction and a small decrease in stress. Yet, in line with our expectations, more vulnerable groups in terms of social isolation (young adults, Covid-19 risk group members, individuals without a partner), workload (women) and socioeconomic resources (unemployed and those who experienced a deteriorating financial situation) reported a decrease in life satisfaction. Stress levels decreased most strongly among high earners, workers on short-time work and the highly educated.

Personal health data in times of apandemic-legal and ethical aspects

Im Zusammenhang mit der COVID-19-Pandemie ist immer wieder das Argument zu hören gewesen, Gesundheitsschutz müsse dem Datenschutz jedenfalls vorgehen. In dieser Pauschalität ist diese Aussage zwar plakativ, aber weder aus ethischer noch aus rechtlicher Sicht zutreffend. Eine Pandemie kann zwar durchaus einen Grund dafür liefern, vorübergehend auf Gesundheitsdaten zuzugreifen. Dabei ist aber zum einen darauf zu achten, dass dies nur in unbedingt notwendigem Ausmaß erfolgt und zum anderen, in welchem größeren Kontext diese Daten verwendet werden. Dieser Beitrag skizziert an drei Beispielen – Risikoatteste, Tracking Apps und Immunitätszertifikate – einige der dabei zu berücksichtigenden ethischen und rechtlichen Überlegungen. Damit soll verdeutlicht werden, dass auch in der Pandemie die Abwägung von Argumenten und die Verhältnismäßigkeit der ergriffenen Maßnahmen nicht aus den Augen verloren werden dürfen.

Hepatitis A in Poland in 2016

The aim of this article is to assess the epidemiological situation of Hepatitis A in Poland in 2016 with the regard to the recent years. The assessment was conducted based on the results of the analysis of data from the bulletins “Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2016” and “Vaccinations in Poland in 2016”, as well as information from the individual case- questionnaires and reports from epidemiological investigations in outbreaks of hepatitis A, submitted by the sanitary-epidemiological stations to the Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance in NIPH-NIH. In 2016 in Poland there were 35 cases of hepatitis A registered. Incidence per 100 000 inhabitants in the whole country was 0.09, but in different voivodeships varied from 0.03 (in Wielkopolskie voivodeship) to 0.28 (in podkarpackie voivodeship). The incidence among male was slightly higher than women and was 0.11 and 0.08/100 000 respectively. In 2016 a decrease in the incidence and percentage of imported cases was observed (comparing it to the previous year). Because of the increasing part of population prone to infection good epidemiological situation concerning HAV in Poland paradoxically increases the risk of an occurrence of HAV epidemic, especially in the scope of ongoing large multistate HAV outbreak among MSM. In relation to this situation the enhancement of surveillance over this disease and undertaking anti-epidemic actions gains particular importance, especially when it comes to promoting vaccinations among members of risk groups.

Climate-Change Sensitive Residential Areas and Their Adaptation Capacities by Urban Green Changes: Case Study of Linz, Austria

AbstractAs summer air temperatures continue to increase, urban areas will be most affected since urban building structures and materials intensify the heat island effect. The number of people who will be affected by increasing temperatures will rise, especially those in the heat-sensitive group of elderly people. Urban planning departments have to develop adaptation strategies in order to limit negative effects of climate change on their citizens. Due to their climatic ecosystem services, urban green areas can play an important role in this process. Since the effects of climate change can vary in different urban areas, a study was conducted focusing on identification of residential areas most affected by climate change according to surface cover structure and demographic characteristics in the City of Linz, Austria by using satellite images and demographic data. Residential areas with low vegetation cover and a high number of risk group members are identified as “climate-change sensitive residential areas...

Coping responses to HIV‐1 serostatus notification predict concurrent and prospective immunologic status

AbstractWe prospectively related coping strategies and immunologic measures in HIV‐1 seropositive and seronegative gay men over the 1‐year period following notification of their antibody test results. First, we related 18 asymptomatic HIV‐1 seropositive men's coping responses to antibody status notification with concurrently measured phenotypic and functional immunologic markers. Repeated‐measures ANOVAs indicated that seropositive subjects scoring above the median on post‐notification disengagement coping strategies (denial, behavioural disengagement, mental disengagement) had significantly lower concurrently measured T‐helper/suppressor (CD4/CD8) cell ratios, T‐inducer subset (CD4+CD45RA+) percentage values, and proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) than subjects scoring below the median on these scales. Disengagement coping responses also predicted 1‐year follow‐up immune markers; greater disengagement predicted poorer lymphocyte responsivity to PHA. Thirty sociodemographically‐equivalent, HIV‐1 seronegative gay men showed the opposite pattern such that greater disengagement coping predicted significantly greater lymphocyte responsivity to PHA and larger CD4+CD45RA+ percentage values at 1‐year follow‐up. Together these preliminary findings suggested that: (a) coping strategies relate to immunologic status differentially for infected and non‐infected risk group members; (b) strategies that distract seropositive individuals from the stress of infectivity are related to more impairment on some immunologic markers; and (c) these relationships occur concurrently and some appear to persist over as long as a 12‐month period.

Fear of aids: Are there replicable, invariant questionnaire dimensions?

To date, there has been only one study (Bouton et al., 1987) that aims specifically at developing a measure for assessing personal concern about acquiring AIDS. In the present study, it was argued that the suitability and/or validity of the Bouton et al. Fear of AIDS Scale should be seriously questioned on conceptual and psychometric grounds. In addition, there are no published studies in which the dimensionality of AIDS fear has been examined. The present investigation was carried out to examine whether fear of AIDS can be shown to emerge as a consistent fear composite in factor analysis of specific AIDS-related fears and whether it can be distinguished from Blood/Injury fears, the latter of which has been established as a complex which possesses both cross-sample and cross-national invariance qualities. The dimensional structure of a 38-item Fear of AIDS Schedule (the acronym FAIDSS being used for describing it) was explored with a sample of 684 American students. Principal components analysis with VARIMAX rotation revealed two separate but related, internally consistent and replicable dimensions of AIDS fear: (I) Fear of AIDS contraction associated with risky sexual behavior, and the fear of the psychological and somatic consequences of having caught the disease, and (II) Fear of exposure to the AIDS virus and other associated viruses through (a) interpersonal, not necessarily sexual, contact with members of risk groups and (b) the subjection to medical procedures. Both components were shown to be invariant across sex. Further analyses pointed to the possibility of using a general (i.e. overall) measure of AIDS fear next to the factorially-derived subscales. On the basis of the patterns of correlations of the fear of AIDS constructs with the conventional Fear Survey Schedule-III and background factors such as sex, age, ethnicity/race, students' major in college and religious preference, it was concluded that, if unjustified overgeneralizations or misleading undergeneralizations are to be avoided, the researcher/clinician should use both the subscales and the general scale conjointly. Evidence in favor of discriminant validity of the fear of AIDS constructs in relation to Blood/Injury fears was obtained. Some implications and recommendations for further study were given.

Identification of individuals at increased risk for AIDS among clinically asymptomatic homosexuals and abusers of intravenous drugs.

Immunological parameters previously shown to constitute an increased risk for progression towards AIDS have been observed in clinically asymptomatic individuals considered to be at risk for this syndrome. These parameters include severely decreased numbers of T helper cells (count below 400/mm3 blood for CD4+ cells were detected in 7 our of 33 HIV antibody-positive, asymptomatic homosexuals and in 3 out of 29 HIV antibody-positive, asymptomatic drug abusers) and elevated serum IgA and IgM levels (found in 7 to 30 percent of these subjects). Furthermore, up to 60% of risk group members showed a decreased lymphoproliferative response to tetanus toxoid as compared to only 11% of so-called low responders in the simultaneously tested healthy controls. Finally, the capacity to mount an immune response to viral glycoproteins was found to be impaired in individuals at risk for AIDS, as indicated by a low serum level of antibodies to tick-borne meningoencephalitis virus antigen in recently vaccinated subjects.

HIV-specific antibody among voluntary blood donors in Lower Saxony (FRG).

Anti-HIV test results of the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service of Lower Saxony from 1 June 1985 to 31 July 1986 inclusive were analysed retrospectively. Nine out of 70,936 donors who had not donated blood before 1 June 1985 (first-time donors) and 9 out of 261,231 donors who had donated blood before this date (repeating donors) were found anti-HIV confirmed positive at the time of the first blood donation during the study period. The prevalence of HIV antibody in first-time donors was significantly higher than in repeating donors (p less than 0.01). It was concluded that some members of risk groups used blood donation to obtain an anti-HIV test result. One out of 30,300 blood donations was confirmed anti-HIV positive. The results of this study justify the transfusion of blood donations that are reactive only in the initial ELISA test.

A three city comparison of the public's knowledge and attitudes about AIDS

Abstract A survey of knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about AIDS was administered simultaneously in San Francisco, New York and London to a total of 399 persons. The aim was to investigate how such knowledge and attitudes may he influenced by social and cultural contexts, as well as by disease epidemiology. Across all samples of the general public (excluding risk group members) in the three cities, general fear of AIDS and anti-gay attitudes were significantly negatively correlated with knowledge about AIDS. In the London sample, general fear of AIDS and anti-gay attitudes were significantly and positively associated with both sexual and general health behavior change. Only sexual behavior change, however, was significantly correlated with general fear of AIDS and anti-gay variables for the New York sample. Neither of these variables was significantly associated with behavior change of any kind in the San Francisco sample. We accounted for these inter-city differences by proposing a four-stage model of pu...

AIDS risk reduction: a community health education intervention for minority high risk group members.

During the past year, members of the Detroit Health Department health education staff have developed an Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) community education intervention. The intervention was designed in response to the growing public health problem of AIDS and the need to provide the community with accurate information regarding the transmission and prevention of the disease. The gap in AIDS education and information was particularly evident in the black community. In attempting to develop a comprehensive health education program, the staff encountered a number of barriers. Traditional antagonisms between the high-risk groups, homosexual and bisexual males and intravenous drug abusers, and the health department hampered the ability of the intervention team to design a clinic centered program. Concurrently, lack of access to the high-risk population and reactionary public sentiment toward the disease posed serious problems for developing community support for the implementation of an effective community-based program. The intervention team also found that traditional methodologies of health education program planning were inadequate. The staff lacked sufficient data on the beliefs and attitudes of the high-risk populations necessary to design relevant risk reduction activities. Recognizing our limited awareness and accessibility to the high risk groups, a strategy was developed to encourage members of the high-risk population to assume a leadership role in the development and implementation of the community-based program. The success of the Community Health Awareness Group (C-HAG) is, in part, a result of the willingness of high risk individuals to assume some responsibility in educating themselves and others. It also speaks to the efficacy of collaborative relationships between health workers and target populations when designing public health interventions.

Three-year incidence of AIDS in five cohorts of HTLV-III-infected risk group members.

The incidence of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) among persons infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) was evaluated prospectively among 725 persons who were at high risk of AIDS and had enrolled before October 1982 in cohort studies of homosexual men, parenteral drug users, and hemophiliacs. A total of 276 (38.1 percent) of the subjects were either HTLV-III seropositive at enrollment or developed HTLV-III antibodies subsequently. AIDS had developed in 28 (10.1 percent) of the seropositive subjects before August 1985. By actuarial survival calculations, the 3-year incidence of AIDS among all HTLV-III seropositive subjects was 34.2 percent in the cohort of homosexual men in Manhattan, New York, and 14.9 percent (range 8.0 to 17.2 percent) in the four other cohorts. Out of 117 subjects followed for a mean of 31 months after documented seroconversion, five (all hemophiliacs) developed AIDS 28 to 62 months after the estimated date of seroconversion, supporting the hypothesis that there is a long latency between acquisition of viral infection and the development of clinical AIDS. This long latency could account for the significantly higher AIDS incidence in the New York cohort compared with other cohorts if the virus entered the New York homosexual population before it entered the populations from which the other cohorts were drawn. However, risk of AIDS development in different populations may also depend on the presence of as yet unidentified cofactors.

Screening Tests for Blood Donors Presumed to Have Transmitted the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

We investigated 18 sets of blood donors from 12 to 50 months after they donated blood to recipients who subsequently developed the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Within each donor set, only one donor was suspected of having transmitted the disease (ie, member of an AIDS risk group). The other donors (n = 189) were not risk group members and served as controls. A number of laboratory tests distinguished suspected from nonsuspected donors, including determination of T helper/T suppressor cell ratio, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, and immune complexes, but none of these was as sensitive and specific as tests for antibody to the human retrovirus, HTLV-III/LAV.

Screening tests for blood donors presumed to have transmitted the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

We investigated 18 sets of blood donors from 12 to 50 months after they donated blood to recipients who subsequently developed the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Within each donor set, only one donor was suspected of having transmitted the disease (ie, member of an AIDS risk group). The other donors (n = 189) were not risk group members and served as controls. A number of laboratory tests distinguished suspected from nonsuspected donors, including determination of T helper/T suppressor cell ratio, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, and immune complexes, but none of these was as sensitive and specific as tests for antibody to the human retrovirus, HTLV-III/LAV.