Public Health Infrastructure Research Articles

A Study on Secure Wireless Mobile Data Exchange System in Healthcare Using RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification)

IoT provides a unified framework for coordinating the use of diverse real-world and digitally- enhanced healthcare assets. Telemedicine is appealing in poor countries because of a lack of access to healthcare services, an aging population with chronic diseases, rising healthcare expenditures, and a need to monitor patients remotely. The Internet of Things can provide individualized health services that enhance people’s quality of life while also reducing the burden on public health infrastructure. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to catalog, compare, and categorize previous research into Healthcare IoT (HIoT) systems. In order to better understand the backdrop, we looked at research articles on RFID-based Secure Wireless mobile data exchange systems in healthcare. There was also discussion of other crucial issues including security and interoperability. At the conclusion of this report, we briefly discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of each study. Lastly, there is a dearth of research into the security and interoperability concerns of IoT design in healthcare. Important outcomes of IoT in healthcare include improved information sharing, shorter hospital stays, and lower overall healthcare expenses. IoT in healthcare faced major obstacles due to concerns over patient privacy and data security.

Society for Education and the Advancement of Research in Connected Health SEARCH 2022 – The National Telehealth Research Symposium Abstracts Virtual Meeting November 16–18, 2022

Society for Education and the Advancement of Research in Connected Health SEARCH 2022 – The National Telehealth Research Symposium Abstracts Virtual Meeting November 16–18, 2022

Health of Post-Institutionalized Haitian Children Adopted to the United States.

Haiti remains a principal placement country for intercountry adoptees to the United States. This project reports the health status of children adopted from Haiti arriving to the U.S. and compares them to intercountry adoptees from other regions. A retrospective chart review was conducted of adoptees placed in the U.S. from Haiti (n=87), age and sex matched with intercountry adoptees placed in the U.S. from Asia (n=87) and Latin America (n=87) between January 2010 and November 2019. Data on immunization status, contagious diseases, and nutrition and growth were analyzed via linear, logistic, and multinomial regression. After adjusting for age, sex, and standardized height, children adopted from Haiti, compared to adoptees from Latin America and Asia, demonstrated a lack of immunity to hepatitis B (OR=5.89;6.87), increased immunity to hepatitis A (OR=0.38;0.30), infection by two or more parasites (OR=8.43;38.48), high lead levels (OR=23.79;7.04), and anemia (OR=15.25;9.18). Unexpectedly, children adopted from Haiti had greater standardized height (-1.28 vs. -1.82 and -2.13) and standardized weight (-0.32 vs. -0.57 and -1.57) than their counterparts from Latin America and Asia. Children adopted from Haiti face complex medical challenges undoubtedly related to the country's low socioeconomic status (SES) and the impact of recurrent natural disasters and governmental neglect on public health infrastructure. Appropriate care is critical in preventing and avoiding transmission of infectious diseases in adoptees and family members. The high incidence of anemia and elevated lead levels may further exacerbate the developmental effects of early institutional deprivation.

CDC-Supported National Network of Farmworker-Serving Organizations to Mitigate COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has partnered with the National Center for Farmworker Health to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on US farmworker communities. Immigrant farmworkers are often isolated from public health infrastructure. This partnership built the capacity of a national network of organizations to connect farmworkers to COVID-19 education and vaccinations in 20 states through training and resource sharing. The partnership funded 194 network member staff, trained 1130 individuals, and supported COVID-19 outreach to more than 600 000 farmworkers. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(2):166-169. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307159).

Reimagining Our Public Health Systems: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's National Commission to Transform Public Health Data Systems.

Reimagining Our Public Health Systems: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's National Commission to Transform Public Health Data Systems.

The health of the public: What has gone wrong?

COVID-19, a new pandemic, has swept the world. How could this have happened? In theory the world should have been prepared, armed as it has been since 2005 with a new set of International Health Regulations with universal commitment by WHO Member States. Yet disaster has struck. The authors of this paper consider that fundamental rethinking is needed, with a new review of the post-World War 2 international system for global governance for health. Whilst WHO and its present and future actions will be scrutinized, the organization is fundamentally made up of 194 Member States, which must share the responsibility for ensuring better global health protection in the future. It is clear the world needs a more effective WHO, but it also needs countries to support and develop their public health infrastructure to face today’s more complex health challenges, which can only grow in scope and complexity over coming years. The paper proposes several key steps to achieve these goals.

Challenges of tracking funding for pandemic preparedness and response

In this issue of The Lancet Global Health, the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Health Financing Collaborator Network aims to assess global health spending on pandemic preparedness and response.1 Detailed financial data is needed to support policy, governance, and ongoing decision making for pandemic preparedness and response. We need to know how much public health infrastructure costs in order to plan for the future. To support a mutual accountability framework, in which partners agree to be held responsible for commitments they have voluntarily made to each other, we need a way to track nations that have committed to supporting pandemic preparedness and response and how much of a commitment has already been disbursed.

E-government, political system and COVID-19 in Africa: lessons for future disruptive shocks

PurposeThis study aims to explore the role of mobile tracing applications as part of e-government services in combating the COVID-19 pandemic effects in Africa by analyzing the moderating role of sustainable development. This study also investigated the role of the political and economic systems in mitigating the negative consequences of COVID-19 and how e-government interacts in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThis study included the COVID-19 performance index for 94 countries belonging to different regions, including 20 African countries. Multiple linear regression was used for data analysis via Stata software. The study was conducted from the start of the pandemic to March 13, 2021.FindingsThe results show that less economically and technologically developed countries with generally authoritarian political systems, including African countries, could limit the spread of the pandemic better than some democratic, economically and technologically developed countries in the first wave of the pandemic. The promotion of sustainable development goals moderates the relationship between mobile tracing applications as part of the e-government service and the fight against COVID-19.Originality/valueThis study provides insight into the role of mobile application technology as an e-governance service in mitigating the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in a context characterized by economic limitations, fragile public health infrastructure and relatively high political instability, especially in Africa. The findings shed light on some of the difficulties African countries may face in incorporating technology into their development projects.

Internet of Things (IoT) based automated sanitizer dispenser and COVID-19 statistics reporter in a post-pandemic world.

Coronavirus is among the deadliest viruses of the 21st century. There is still a Coronavirus epidemic that affects most countries worldwide today. To prevent future outbreaks and protect public health, it is essential to invest in research and innovation on vaccines, treatments, diagnostic tests, public health infrastructure, and emergency response planning. Additionally, we need to work on mitigation strategies and take a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to prevent and fight against the virus. For the purpose of preventing the spread of microbial organisms, it is essential to take advantage of automatic sanitizer dispensers by deploying them in public places. This is one of the most feasible and effective ways to ensure that people have easy access to hand sanitizer and can reduce the spread of germs. The proposed solution is a contactless sanitizer dispenser with an integrated temperature monitoring system, as well as an alert system for users who exhibit the symptom of infection. Moreover, the proposed solution has added advantage of interfacing with an electronic door so that we can easily implement it at the entrance of a public building/public transportation. This dispenser will also collect data that can be used to identify a symptomatic user and alert the appropriate authorities for safe quarantine. In addition, it is also used to monitor usage metrics, record user entries, and conduct statistical surveys using the ThinkSpeak platform. The proposed model could be a feasible solution to prevent the entry of infected persons and asymptomatic carriers indoors. This can be achieved by implementing automated temperature screening before allowing entry into the building. This can help identify individuals who are potentially infected with the virus and prevent them from entering the premises and potentially spreading the disease to others. Overall, the proposed model is a comprehensive and practical solution that can help to prevent the entry of infected persons and asymptomatic carriers indoors and help to keep the public safe.

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion: Time to Presentation and Diagnosis

To evaluate the presentation patterns of patients diagnosed with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) from 2011 to2020. Retrospective cohort study SUBJECTS: The present study was conducted in 484 patients presenting within 30 days of symptom onset with accurate documentation of time of symptom onset, time of presentation to the health care system, and time of presentation to an ophthalmologist. An independent chart review of patients with CRAO was conducted. Demographic information including age, sex, and race were collected. Presentation patterns such as time of first symptoms, time of first contact with the health care system, and time of evaluation by an ophthalmologist were analyzed. Additionally, information regarding the medical venue or specialty of initial patient contact was collected. A total of 247 (51%) patients contacted the health care system within 4.5 hours of system onset, whereas 86 (17.8%) patients waited over 24 hours. Only 81 (32.8%) of the 247 patients who presented within 4.5hours saw an ophthalmologist within that time frame, whereas 172 (35.5%) of the entire cohort of 484 did not present to an ophthalmologist within 24 hours of vision loss. There was significant variability with regards to medical specialty of initial patient contact, with 292 (60.3%) patients first presenting to an emergency department and 133 (27.5%) patients first presenting to an ophthalmologist. Black and Hispanic patients presented later than patients of White, Asian, or other racial backgrounds (40.4 ± 10.2 hours versus 23.0 ± 3.4 hours, P= 0.05). Although no level 1 evidence-based treatment is currently available for CRAO, thrombolytic therapy may be promising. Even though over half of patients with CRAO within our institution connected with the health care system within a potential window for thrombolytic therapy, most did not receive a definitive ophthalmic diagnosis within that time frame. Public health educational campaigns and infrastructure optimization must speed up presentation times, decrease the time to ophthalmic diagnosis, and target vulnerable populations to offer and research timely administration of thrombolytic therapy. The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Invited Commentary: Some Social Epidemiologic Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In their recent article, Dimitris et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2022;191(6):980-986) presented a series of challenges modern epidemiology has faced during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including challenges around the scientific progress, epidemiologic methods, interventions, equity, team science, and training needed to address these issues. Here, 2 social epidemiologists who have been working on COVID-19 inequities reflect on further lessons with an added year of perspective. We focus on 2 key challenges: 1) dominant biomedical individualistic narratives around the production of population health, and 2) the role of profit in policy-making. We articulate a need to consider social epidemiologic approaches, including acknowledging the importance of considering how societal systems lead to health inequities. To address these challenges, future (and current) epidemiologists should be trained in theories of population health distribution and political structures of governance. Last, we close with the need for better investment in public health infrastructure as a crucial step toward achieving population health equity.

Benefits and challenges of consolidating public health functions into a National Public Health Institute: a policy analysis.

National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) around the world vary in composition. Consolidated organizational models can bring together critical functions such as disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response, public health research, workforce development and laboratory diagnosis within a single focal point. This can lead to enhanced coordination and management of resources and enable more efficient and effective public health operations. We explored stakeholders' perceptions about the benefits and challenges of consolidating public health functions in an NPHI in seven countries where the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has supported NPHI establishment and strengthening. From August 2019 through January 2020, we interviewed a total of 96 stakeholders, including NPHI staff (N = 43), non-NPHI government staff (N = 29) and non-governmental and international organization staff (N = 24) in Cambodia, Colombia, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda and Zambia. We conducted a policy analysis using Tea Collins's health policy analysis framework to assess various possible options for coordinating public health functions and their likely effectiveness. The findings can be used by policymakers as they consider public health infrastructure. We found that consolidating functions in an NPHI, to the extent politically and organizationally feasible, promotes efficiency, flexibility and coordination, as well as supports data-driven health recommendations to government decision makers. Countries pursuing NPHI establishment can weigh the potential challenges and benefits of consolidating functions when determining which public health functions will comprise the NPHI, including clarity of role, access to resources, influence over decisions and political viability.

A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kabul, Afghanistan form 2020 to 2021

Background: Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected diseases in several countries, but Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is the largest center of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the world. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Kabul during 2021 and 2022. [Methods: The present study was a descriptive-cross-sectional retrospective study. It was done based on the information of patients who visited the NMLCP from January, 21, 2021 to October 29, 2022, for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. Required information including age, gender, type, number and location of the lesion, and date of the visit were extracted from the hospital database. Results: The result of this study showed that the highest rate of CL was in 2021 and the lowest was in 2022. Most infected were children. Face lesion was the most common lesion in the patients and most of the infected patients had one lesion while others had more lesions. Conclusion: in this study, we demonstrated that 12,292 people were infected with CL in Kabul in 2021 and 2022. The cutaneous leishmaniasis epidemicity in Afghanistan is mainly due to poverty, lack of access to health services, cultural and social barriers, lack of vector control, destruction of public health infrastructure, poor access to health services, and migration of people from non-endemic regions to endemic provinces.

Epidemiological Shifts in Infectious Diseases in China: Implications and Policy Recommendations.

In recent decades, China has experienced significant alterations in its landscape of infectious diseases, with noteworthy reductions in historically prevalent illnesses such as tuberculosis and viral hepatitis. At the same time, emerging pathogens like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Influenza A virus subtype H7N9 (H7N9), and SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pose new challenges. These epidemiological shifts, fueled by fast economic development, urbanization, modifications in the healthcare system, and an aging population, present considerable obstacles to the country's public health infrastructure and policy frameworks. This article provides a comprehensive review of these changes, underscoring the driving forces behind them and the resultant impact on health policy and infrastructure. It stresses the challenges and calls for an intensification of surveillance efforts, the establishment of collaborative partnerships both nationally and internationally, the encouragement of worldwide cooperation, and the reinforcement of public health education as pivotal strategies for managing China's changing spectrum of infectious diseases.

Temporary trend of breast cancer mortality in the state of Santa Catarina in the period from 1996 to 2019

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common female cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women around the world. It has repercussions not only on human health, but also on health services due to the high incidence resulting in a large number of consultations and treatments. The disease is responsible for a large demand for hospitalizations throughout Brazil, where an increase in mortality rates is observed and Santa Catarina does not differ from the national scenario. The study aimed to analyze the temporal trend of the breast cancer mortality rate in the state of Santa Catarina from 1996 to 2019 Methods: This is an ecological epidemiological study of time series of breast cancer mortality in the population residing in the state according to age groups and health macro-regions. Data were obtained from the Mortality Information System and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Simple linear regression of standardized mortality rates according to the world standard population was performed. p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Data showed 9,637 deaths in the period. There was a significant upward trend in mortality in the state (from 6.50 to 7.92/100,000 women). An upward trend was observed in the age groups of 30–39 years, 60–69 years, and over 80 years. All seven health macro-regions showed an upward trend in mortality. Conclusion: The overall mortality rate from breast cancer in Santa Catarina showed a significant upward trend. A significant increase was also observed in the age groups of 30–39 years, 60–69 years, and 80 years old or older and in all health macro-regions. Problems in public health infrastructure, lack of control of risk factors and deficiency in mammographic screening are revealed. The elaboration and strengthening of public policies to control the disease are fundamental.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health: Undermining Public Health, Facilitating Reproductive Coercion.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health continues a trajectory of U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence that undermines the normative foundation of public health - the idea that the state is obligated to provide a robust set of supports for healthcare services and the underlying social determinants of health. Dobbs furthers a longstanding ideology of individual responsibility in public health, neglecting collective responsibility for better health outcomes. Such an ideology on individual responsibility not only enables a shrinking of public health infrastructure for reproductive health, it facilitates the rise of reproductive coercion and a criminal legal response to pregnancy and abortion. This commentary situates Dobbs in the context of a long historical shift in public health that increasingly places burdens on individuals for their own reproductive health care, moving away from the possibility of a robust state public health infrastructure.

Adaptive Transformation of Historic Water Works in Hamburg, Germany: From Essential Infrastructure and Cornerstone of Public Health to Valuable Man-Made Ecosystems and Designed Public Spaces

Adaptive Transformation of Historic Water Works in Hamburg, Germany: From Essential Infrastructure and Cornerstone of Public Health to Valuable Man-Made Ecosystems and Designed Public Spaces

A cross-sectional study of public health workforce and infrastructure at subcenters in District Bandipora of Jammu and Kashmir, India

A cross-sectional study of public health workforce and infrastructure at subcenters in District Bandipora of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Molecular Epidemiology of Plasmodium species in Conflicted Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) Pakistan.

Military conflicts have been significant obstacles in detecting and treating infectious disease diseases due to the diminished public health infrastructure, resulting in malaria endemicity. A variety of violent and destructive incidents were experienced by FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). It was a struggle to pursue an epidemiological analysis due to continuing conflict and Talibanization. Clinical isolates were collected from Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai agencies from May 2017 to May 2018. For Giemsa staining, full blood EDTA blood samples have been collected from symptomatic participants. Malaria-positive microscopy isolates were spotted on filter papers for future Plasmodial molecular detection by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) of small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (ssrRNA) genes specific primers. Since reconfirming the nPCR, a malariometric study of 762 patients found 679 positive malaria cases. Plasmodium vivax was 523 (77%), Plasmodium falciparum 121 (18%), 35 (5%) were with mixed-species infection (P. vivax plus P. falciparum), and 83 were declared negative by PCR. Among the five agencies of FATA, Khyber agency has the highest malaria incidence (19%) with followed by P. vivax (19%) and P. falciparum (4.1%). In contrast, Kurram has about (14%), including (10.8%) P. vivax and (2.7%) P. falciparum cases, the lowest malaria epidemiology. Surprisingly, no significant differences in the distribution of mixed-species infection among all five agencies. P. falciparum and P. vivax were two prevalent FATA malaria species in Pakistan's war-torn area. To overcome this rising incidence of malaria, this study recommends that initiating malaria awareness campaigns in school should be supported by public health agencies and malaria-related education locally, targeting children and parents alike.

Getting Further Faster: Illuminating Opportunities for Health Departments to Support Community-Driven Social Determinants of Health Interventions.

Getting Further Faster: Illuminating Opportunities for Health Departments to Support Community-Driven Social Determinants of Health Interventions.