Shelter Facilities Research Articles

Determinants of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among children and adolescents in the subacute stage of Kahramanmaras earthquake, Turkey

BackgroundEarthquakes are potentially traumatic natural disasters due to their destructive nature, and huge impacts, producing scenes of horror, undesirable and uncontrollable results. Children are affected mainly by earthquakes not only physically but also psychologically. We aimed to evaluate the rates of probable PTSD and related factors in children and adolescents after the February 6 Kahramanmaras earthquake.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 246 children and adolescents were included. The research was conducted in Hatay, one of the most affected provinces, between 06/07/2023-06/08/2023. Sociodemographic form, Children’s Depression Inventory, Children’s Posttraumatic Response Reaction Index, Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, Child and Youth Resilience Measure and Social Support Appraisals Scale for Children were applied by face-to-face survey method.ResultsThe median age of the participants was 12 (8-18). 133 (54%) of the participants were girls. Probable depression rate was 98%, and probable anxiety disorder rate was 63%. Probable mild, moderate, severe and very severe PTSD rates were 18%, 29%, 43% and 8%, respectively. The probable severe PTSD rate was higher in children who were injured in the earthquake (p = 0.032), who received outpatient treatment (p = 0.016), and who saw people trapped under the collapse (p = 0.012). Also, the children whose sleep routines have changed post-earthquake were found to have more probable severe PTSD (p < 0.001). Access time to the potable water supply (p = 0.045), toilet facilities (p = 0.045), shelter facilities (p = 0.004), heating facilities (p = 0.001), clothing supply (p < 0.001) and healthcare services (p = 0.009) were found to be associated with probable severe PTSD right after the earthquake. In the fifth month of the earthquake, inadequate meeting of clothing needs (p = 0.018), educational services (p = 0.028) and social activity opportunities (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with probable severe PTSD. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of probable severe PTSD was increased 2.9 times in those with post-earthquake sleep changes (p = 0.001) and 11.1 times in those with probable anxiety disorders (p < 0.001). Also, it has been shown that each unit increase in the APP-family score reduces probable severe PTSD risk by 2% (p = 0.002).ConclusionIn the current study, the rates of probable PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders were considerably high. Probable anxiety disorder and sleep disturbance were significant predictors of probable severe PTSD. On the other hand, social support from family was found to be a significant protective factor for severe PTSD risk. We conclude that the lack of meeting needs that increase the risk of probable severe PTSD differs in the acute and subacute phases.

Community case study for surveillance and early case-detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections across high-risk key populations: the Sentinella programme.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, an ad hoc organisational framework was established between academic, local government and community partners to implement the "Sentinella - Identify, Trace and Prevent" screening programme in Verona, north-east Italy. Between September 2020 and May 2021, key populations not covered by any screening policies at the local and national level were screened for SARS-CoV-2. Target populations were: older adult residents (males >65 years and females >75 years), bus and taxi drivers, social workers, supermarket employees, hospital cleaning and catering staff, researchers working in the local hospitals, students, and people experiencing homelessness (PEH). Five dedicated swab clinics, home testing facilities, and one mobile clinic were activated to collect nasopharyngeal swabs. Molecular analysis was performed for all the subjects; an antigen-rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) was also implemented as a point-of-care test for PEH. Medical follow-up, psychological support, and quarantine facilities were organised for subjects who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Overall, 2075 subjects participated in the surveillance programme. Amongst these, 1,572 were residents/workers, whilst 503 were PEH. A total of 127 (6.2%) participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Sixty-nine were residents, 58 PEH. The incidence rate was 4 per 10.000 person/day (95% CI 3.1-5.0). The highest prevalence and incidence rates were found amongst supermarket employees (9.7% and 8.5 per 10.000 person/day, 95% CI 3.81-18.86, respectively), followed by hospital cleaning staff (8.1%, 7.6 per 10.000 person/day, CI 95% 4.9-11.7). Regarding PEH, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 11.5%. All PEH identified as positive were isolated in dedicated shelter facilities. Amongst the 69 residents/workers who were quarantined, 53 were reached for initial psychological support for assessing the presence of any psychological distress or psychiatric pathology. Amongst the subjects evaluated, 10 (18.9%) presented clinically significant psychological discomfort and accessed the stepped-care psychological intervention. The community partnerships played a pivotal role in optimising early case detection. Promotion of testing helped to prevent and contain more efficiently potential clusters through strategic planning, especially for PEH. Insights from the study highlight the importance of community partnerships in public health emergencies, particularly in the context of highly transmissible diseases pathways.

FORMATION OF A NETWORK OF EVACUATION BUS ROUTES FOR THE SALTIV RESIDENTIAL AREA OF KHARKIV

Evacuation mobility of the population during military operations or emergencies is one of the most vital tasks in ensuring the safety and rescue of citizens. Planning this mobility requires a conceptual approach, system analysis, and a comprehensive preparatory stage. The primary task for organising the population’s bus transportation during evacuation is planning routes and determining their time parameters. This process requires preliminary determination of the points of traffic organisation, establishment of routes and meeting points, allocation of resources, and coordination of work with other types of passenger transport. The study aims to develop the sequence of formation of evacuation bus routes in the Saltiv residential area of Kharkiv and to establish the functional effect of operational parameters of their work on the duration of population evacuation. The methodological basis for building a network of evacuation bus routes is a developed structural model of the impact of input parameters on the general evacuation time for the population and the transport capabilities of the routes. This model describes the functional relationship between the existing volume of passenger transportation on urban transport routes, the share of passengers subject to evacuation, the number of stopping points on evacuation routes, the length of routes, the speed of movement, the time of boarding and disembarking the passengers, the capacity of buses and their number. The criterion for evaluating the efficiency of the routes is the total time of population evacuation, depending on the number of buses on the routes. Based on the analysis of the location of shelter facilities and transfer stations on the subway line, we established that it is expedient to create seven evacuation routes that ensure the timely evacuation of the population. After assessing the available passenger traffic on city transport routes, we determined the potential demand for evacuation transportation. The analysis of the operational parameters of the routes made it possible to specify the time indicators for the evacuation of the population. The analysis of the interaction processes resulted in a diagram of the structural contour of the functional connection. The developed analytical models helped to establish several indicators characterising the operation of evacuation bus routes. The developed theoretical foundations are the basis for simulation modelling and setting the regularity of changes in evacuation efficiency assessment indicators depending on the number and capacity of buses. Based on the real-life conditions, the study determined the need to use two buses on each route to evacuate the population in the district. Such conditions will ensure the transfer of the population to the safe zones within 18.3 to 31.7 hours. Keywords: population evacuation, bus, evacuation route, volume of transportation, travel time.

Causes of shelter cats mortality in the Czech Republic

Awareness of the causes of mortality in shelter cats can contribute to its effective reduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of mortality in cat shelters in the Czech Republic, taking into account the age of the animals and their length of stay in the shelter facilities until natural death or euthanasia. A cooperation with two private no-kill shelters in the Czech Republic was established. The subject of the study were records of 3047 cats admitted to the selected shelters in the period from 2013 to 2023. A total of 357 (11.7 %) out of 3047 cats died or had to be euthanized in two monitored shelters. No significant difference (p > 0.05) in the cat mortality was found between the two shelters (11.5 % and 12 %). The median length of stay of cats in the shelter until death or euthanasia was 23 days. The highest mortality was recorded in the youngest cats (≤ 6 months). The most common causes of death or euthanasia of cats in both shelters were feline infectious peritonitis (21.6 %), panleukopenia (18.5 %) and upper and lower respiratory tract infections (17.5 %). Adult and older cats were significantly (p < 0.05) more prone to death due to renal failure and cancer than young animals and kittens. The results of the study contribute to the knowledge on the health of cat population in shelters in the Czech Republic and can serve as a basis for further work that will target mortality reduction strategies in at-risk categories.

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION AND LOGIC MODEL FOR PREVENTING EMERGENCIES DUE TO IMPACT ON PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS OF SMALL SHELTER FACILITIES BY SHOCK AND IMPULSE LOAD

The article examines problems of preventing emergencies due to damage to small shelter facilities caused by the impact of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which, in turn, leads to shock-impulse loading of their upper hemisphere and the following destruction. The development of a civilian protection system against terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in the form of an extensive network of small shelter facilities increases the level of individual and collective protection of the population, especially in cities that fall within the area of enemy missile and artillery strikes. Therefore, when designing and building settlements, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of protecting the civilian population from both shrapnel-type damage, which already has a practical implementation in existing projects, and from possible high-precision destruction of the upper hemisphere of small shelter facilities by a UAV warhead of high explosive or thermobaric type. Relevant design solutions should focus on preventing terrorist emergencies due to shock-impulse loading of the upper hemisphere of small shelters, which is formed by considering the information-logic model for preventing local-level emergencies due to shock-impulse loading of small shelter facilities. The information-logic model assumes the existence of two security management loops for a small shelter: external and internal. It is worth noting that the external loop is an integral part of the overall urban (regional) air defence system and includes the block of measures to directly affect the threat (striking UAV) in the form of firearms and electronic warfare. The result of the successful development of management decisions by the external control loop is eliminating the threat of an enemy attack UAV. On the other hand, the experience and individual elements of the UAV are the basis for the formation of initial conditions of the mathematical model for preventing terrorist emergencies due to the shock and impulse load of small shelter facilities. The initial conditions represent the result of the development of two consecutive blocks: a block for collecting UAV characteristics and a block for analysing the shock-impulse load that occurs or is predicted based on the characteristics of the attacking UAV. The basis of the internal control loop is the mitigation design unit, which determines further information exchange within this loop. In particular, it triggers the block for improving the effectiveness of protection, which receives statistical and predictive information on emergencies that have occurred (nature of damage and consequences). It allows for continuous updating of information on the characteristics of construction materials used in the construction of shelter facilities and the effectiveness of design solutions, forming characteristics of a small shelter. The result of the corresponding block is the formation of boundary conditions of the mathematical model for preventing terrorist emergencies due to the shock and impulse loading of small shelters. The basis of the block for forming the coupling equation of the mathematical model for preventing terrorist emergencies due to shock-impulse loading of small shelter facilities is the theoretical and practical achievements of the theory of reliability and its derivative theory of plasticity. An appropriate solution to the problem of preventing terrorist emergencies due to shock and impulse loading of small shelter facilities allows further implementation of management decisions to improve the efficiency of protection. Thus, the study solved an urgent scientific problem, namely, the formation of an information-logical model for the prevention of local-level emergencies due to shock-impulse loading of small shelter facilities, the implementation of which allows to form management decisions to improve the security of small shelters and is the basis for further development of an appropriate mathematical model and methodology. Keywords: information-logic model, shock-impulse load, small shelter facility, emergency.

Multi-criteria comparison analysis of spatial equity for emergency shelters in old and new urban districts: A case study in Wuhua District and Chenggong District of Kunming City, China

With the progression of urbanization and the concentration of populations in urban areas, cities are increasingly exposed to disaster risks. Emergency shelters play a critical role in disaster prevention and mitigation, as they are vital for providing temporary refuge and protection during and after catastrophic events. Assessing the spatial equity of these shelters is conducive to enhancing emergency relief capabilities and aiding in disaster risk reduction. However, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the comparative and quantitative disparities between new and old urban areas, particularly in developing countries like China, where urbanization is rapid and populations are dense. To address this issue, this study employed a combination of multi-source data and GIScience technology to analyze the spatial equity of emergency shelters in Wuhua District and Chenggong District of Kunming City, China. We evaluated the overall spatial equity of emergency shelters in both the old urban area (Wuhua District) and the new urban area (Chenggong District) using a comprehensive evaluation model with three criteria: evacuation population capacity, spatial accessibility, and the level of per capita effective shelter area. The results revealed that the old urban area suffers from insufficient effective emergency shelter capacity due to saturated construction land. More than 67 % of the shelters are short-term emergency shelters located close to buildings, which compromises spatial accessibility during earthquake disasters. The level of per capita effective shelter area, as indicated by SSTD, is 24.42 in Wuhua District, suggesting that the effective shelter area in each subdistrict is consistently low, regardless of its urban or suburban classification. In contrast, the new urban district boasts substantial effective emergency shelter capacities, both in the long-term and short-term types, surpassing the reference capacities. The rational spatial layout of various types of emergency shelters ensures that most regions with concentrated buildings are enveloped in accessibility time layers within a 25-min range. The SSTD index of Chenggong District is 349.23, underscoring the significant disparity in the level of per capita effective shelter area at the subdistrict scale, particularly in the district's urban villages and suburban regions. The findings of this study serve as a scientific reference for emergency management and urban planners to reasonably plan or upgrade shelter facilities, thereby improving urban resilience and promoting spatial equity in resource allocation among subdistricts, communities, and residents.

Physical therapy interventions for people experiencing homelessness to improve pain and self-perceived health status

BackgroundHomeless shelters have emerged as components of the social services network, playing an important role in providing health care to the homeless population. The aim of this study was to evaluate an individualized physical therapy intervention for people experiencing homelessness and to determine the relationship between self-perceived variables.MethodsPre and post study, setting at the “Santa y Real Hermandad de Nuestra Señora del Refugio y Piedad” homeless shelter in Zaragoza, Spain. Participants were people experiencing homelessness with musculoskeletal disorders who attended a physical therapy service at shelter facilities. A physical therapy program was implemented including health education, exercise and manual therapy, electrotherapy, thermotherapy and bandaging. Demographic variables (age and gender), nationality, employment situation, educational level, pain location, number of painful areas, feeling of loneliness (3-Item Loneliness Scale; values from 3 to 9), pain intensity (Numerical Pain Rating Scale [NPRS]; from 0 to 10) and self-perceived health (Clinical Global Impression [CGI]; from 1 to 7).ResultsSixty-four homeless people (age of 46.4 ± 10.9 years) participated in the study. Musculoskeletal pain was reported by 98.4% of subjects, with moderate pain intensities (6.1), and 48.4% presenting with pain at multiple sites. Perceptions of loneliness were low (3.7 ± 2.5) and self-perceived health status was moderately ill (3.5 ± 1.7). Positive significant correlations were identified between pain intensity and self-perceived health. The average number of sessions was 1.5 (± 0.8), with manual therapy (35.6%) followed by health education (23.5%) being the most frequently used techniques. Both pain and self-perceived health improved after treatment, even following a brief intervention.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the potentially negative impact of untreated pain on the self-perceived health of homeless individuals with musculoskeletal disorders that should be targeted for consideration. The findings suggest that a paradigm shift in pain management, including a physical therapy service in shelters, is needed to address the rehabilitation demands of these individuals in a real-life context. This study was approved by the Aragon Ethics Committee (PI19/438) and performed according to the Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs (TREND) statement.

Multicriteria assessment of the response capability of urban emergency shelters: A case study in Beijing

Urban emergency shelters are pivotal for safety, with effective evaluation criteria enabling decision-makers to identify strengths and weaknesses, facilitating targeted enhancements. This study aims to propose a scientific criteria system for assessing urban emergency shelters on a smaller scale, employing the analytical hierarchy process and multisource data. Considering six key perspectives—site safety, spatial accessibility, demand matching, shelter facilities, operation, administration and maintenance (OA&M), and public awareness—a hierarchical structure of evaluation indicators for assessing the emergency response capability of urban emergency shelters is presented. To demonstrate the practicality and scientific validity of the proposed indicator system, we apply GIS analysis to evaluate the Yuandadu Park Emergency Shelter in Beijing. The findings validate the effectiveness of the indicator system and its potential for assessing individual shelters comprehensively. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of shelters through this comprehensive assessment, decision-makers can make informed choices to improve overall emergency preparedness and response in urban settings.

Homelessness and mortality: gender, age, and housing status inequity in Korea.

We compared mortality rates among various housing statuses within the homeless population and investigated factors contributing to their deaths, including housing status, gender, and age. Using a comprehensive multi-year dataset (n=15,445) curated by the National Tuberculosis Screening and Case Management Programs, matched with the 2019-2021 Vital Statistics Death Database and National Health Insurance claims data, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates and conducted survival analysis to estimate differences in mortality rates based on housing status. The mortality rate among the homeless population was twice as high as that of the general population, at 1,159.6 per 100,000 compared to 645.8 per 100,000, respectively. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the primary causes of death. Furthermore, individuals residing in shelter facilities faced a significantly higher risk of death than those who were rough sleeping, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 2.11). This increased risk was especially pronounced in older adults and women. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, as the homeless population faces significantly higher mortality rates. Older adults and women in shelter facilities are at the highest risk.

Aerial visual data-driven approach for berthing capacity estimation in restricted waters

Coastal ship berth planning and management necessitate accurate identification of ship position and size, yet this is complicated by the presence of diverse ship types and mixed distribution patterns. Traditional survey-based and position-tracking ship monitoring methods have limitations in reflecting the precise spatial information of coastal ships and their surroundings. This paper introduces a novel aerial visual data-driven methodology to estimate the berthing capacity of sheltered space for stationary ships in geographically dispersed water areas. To measure the berthing capacity, image data from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey is collected to reflect the spatial information of all types of ships. A deep learning-based computer vision algorithm is used to automatically detect, identify, and classify ships in sample images. Additionally, we introduce the occupancy factor to empirically quantify the spatial proportional correlation between the ship size and the requisite berthing capacity. A validation test of the proposed method is conducted across all sheltered spaces in Hong Kong, and the UAV survey yields over 7,000 informative images of all types of local ships. The ship identification algorithm achieves an average identification rate of 98.6%, demonstrating higher accuracy and reduced labor and time consumption than observational survey and manual counting methods. Findings indicate that the suggested sheltered space for individual ships is 7.75 times the ship size. The approach provides greater flexibility in estimating berthing capacity for mixed berthing forms in extensive or geographically dispersed water bodies, thereby having the potential to support the design of berths, anchorage areas, and typhoon shelter facilities in coastal regions.

ANALISIS POTENSI PANTAI PERERENAN SEBAGAI DAYA TARIK WISATA DI DESA PERERENAN BADUNG BALI

Analysis of the potential of Pererenan Beach to become a tourist attraction in Pererenan Village is the subject of discussion in this study. The purpose of this study (1) to find out the tourism potential of Pererenan Beach so that it can be developed as a tourist attraction. (2) to find out the opportunities and challenges faced by the management regarding the potential development of Pererenan beach as a tourist attraction. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach. Data was collected through observation techniques, interviews, literature and documentation. This study uses concepts based on 5A, namely attractions, accessibility, amenities, activities, and comfort. On the opportunities and challenges faced by the management of Pererenan Beach it was found that the management parties were the Village Government, Village Communities and Traders. The results of this study found that apart from having beautiful natural potential and being used as a place to see the sunset, Pererenan Beach has cultural potential in the form of traditional kite competitions which are held every year as well as the potential to develop surfing sports. There are several things in the management of the Pererenan Beach tourist destination that need to be optimized, namely the lack of management of tourist attractions, especially shelter facilities, parking lots, public toilets and waste management, lack of tourist facilities and infrastructure, incompetent human resources, and undeveloped products. maximum for tourists. The results of this study can be used as a reference for improving the development of Pererenan Beach Tourism Attraction in the future.

PERAN PUSAT PELAYANAN TERPADU PEMBERDAYAAN PEREMPUAN DAN ANAK DALAM PENANGANAN KASUS KEKERASAN BAGI ANAK KORBAN, PELAKU DAN SAKSI (Studi Kasus Di Kabupaten Pohuwato)

This study examines the role of the Integrated Service Center for Women and Children Empowerment (ISCWCE) in handling cases of child violence. The research method used is empirical, using primary data in the form of interviews and primary legal data, secondary legal data and tertiary legal data. The results showed that in carrying out its role, ISCWCE experienced several obstacles, including the lack of assistance personnel in the field which impacted the effectiveness of the services provided and the unavailability of shelter facilities for victims of child violence

Spatial accessibility analysis and location optimization of emergency shelters in Deyang

The selection and planning of the location of emergency shelters have a crucial impact on the safety of residents and cities. In this paper, based on multivariate open geographic data, the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area method, K-means clustering, and particle swarm optimization algorithm methods are utilized to carry out a spatial accessibility analysis and location optimization of emergency shelters in Deyang City, Sichuan Province, China. The study shows that: (1) Deyang City’s emergency shelters are higher than the government’s relevant standard requirements in terms of major indicators such as single building area, total area and per capita shelter area. (2) The spatial distribution of emergency shelters in the study area is uneven and unreasonable, with accessibility from the urban center outwards, exhibiting a “high-low” distribution pattern. (3) The study suggests that 10 new emergency shelters can reduce the number of accessible blind areas by 43.31%. The study recommends that the assessment and construction of emergency shelter facilities in rural areas in China and globally should be emphasized. Reliable recommendations for improvement of emergency shelter planning in Deyang city are provided in the study results.

Redesign of Trans-Semarang Bus Stop at Prof. Soedarto Segment Using an Accessibility Approach

Bus rapid transit, which was established in the city of Semarang in 2009, is expected to be a solution for the transportation needs of the people of the city of Semarang. With good service and economical prices, bus rapid transit is quite a favorite form of transportation for the citizens of Semarang. However, the current design of the Trans-Semarang bus stop is still far from easy for its users to access. The need for public services in the form of easy accessibility of users, both disabled and elderly. There needs to be a review from the Semarang City government, regarding the fulfillment of bus shelter facilities and designs that are still less than standard. This study uses a descriptive method using qualitative techniques. The research subjects were bus stops and users of the Trans-Semarang bus stop. Data collection techniques used are observation and documentation. The results of the research obtained on the design of the Trans-Semarang bus stop indicate that there are several shortcomings in the design of the Trans-Semarang bus stop along the Prof. Soedarto. To achieve the standard of comfort in terms of accessibility, it is necessary to redesign the bus stop design following the standards of building design regulations. Some of these shortcomings have been improved by redesigning the Trans Semarang bus stop with an accessibility approach. In addition, it is necessary to add several facilities that are not yet available so that the function of the Trans-Semarang bus stop can be used optimally and sustainably by the residents of Semarang.

Spatial Accessibility of Urban Emergency Shelters Based on Ga2SFCA and Its Improved Method: A Case Study of Kunming, China

Emergency shelters are important public facilities for urban disaster prevention and mitigation. Measuring their spatial accessibility provides a valuable reference for urban modernization and a balanced layout of emergency shelters. In previous studies, the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (Ga2SFCA) method has the shortcoming of ignoring the effect of a fixed search radius on accessibility. In this study, an improved Ga2SFCA method was proposed to evaluate emergency shelter accessibility in the main urban area of Kunming, China. The parameters of the serviceability of the shelters and the degree of population aggregation were introduced to calculate their effect on the search radius. The traditional Ga2SFCA method and the improved method were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the improved method is more reasonable and realistic in the search radius of densely populated areas and areas lacking shelters, thus providing highly objective and accurate accessibility to emergency shelters. Further, the spatial distribution of the emergency shelters in the main urban area of Kunming was unbalanced and did not match the population density distribution. The accessibility of shelters in parts of the northwestern, eastern, and central parts of the city was low. The method presented in this study could be used to provide reference and support for the government and planners to reasonably plan shelter facilities and promote equal access for all residents to shelter resources.

Diagnostic Accuracy of a Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test Among People Experiencing Homelessness: A Prospective Cohort and Implementation Study.

Detection strategies in vulnerable populations such as people experiencing homelessness (PEH) need to be explored to promptly recognize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks. This study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of a rapid SARS-CoV-2 Ag test in PEH during two pandemic waves compared with gold standard real-time multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR). All PEH ≥ 18years requesting residence at the available shelters in Verona, Italy, across two cold-weather emergency periods (November 2020-May 2021 and December 2021-April 2022) were prospectively screened for SARS-CoV-2 infection by means of a naso-pharyingeal swab. A lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (Biocredit® COVID-19 Ag) was used as antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT). The rtRT-PCR was performed with Allplex™ SARS-CoV-2 assay kit (Seegene). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated as measures for diagnostic accuracy. Overall, 503 participants were enrolled during the two intervention periods for a total of 732 paired swabs collected: 541 swabs in the first period and 191 in the second. No significant differences in demographic and infection-related characteristics were observed in tested subjects in the study periods, except for the rate of previous infection (0.8% versus 8%; p < 0.001) and vaccination (6% versus 73%; p < 0.001). The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the cohort was 8% (58/732 swabs positive with rtRT-PCR). Seventeen swabs were collected from symptomatic patients (7%). Among them, the concordance between rtRT-PCR and Ag-RDT was 100%, 7 (41.2%) positive and 10 negative pairs. The overall sensitivity of Ag-RDT was 63.8% (95% CI 60.3-67.3) and specificity was 99.8% (95% CI 99.6-100). PPV and NPV were 97.5% and 96.8%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity did not change substantially across the two periods (65.1% and 99.8% in 2020-2021 vs. 60% and 100% in 2021-2022). A periodic Ag-RDT-based screening approach for PEH at point of care could guide preventive measures, including prompt isolation, without referral to hospital-based laboratories for molecular test confirmation in case of positive detection even in individuals asymptomatic for COVID-19. This could help reduce the risk of outbreaks in shelter facilities.

Experiences of Undocumented Parents Reuniting with Children Who Entered the United States as Unaccompanied Minors

In 2021, the United States saw an exponential influx of unaccompanied migrant children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Upon apprehension at the border, unaccompanied children are placed in the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) temporary shelter facilities. The ORR is responsible for locating, vetting, and releasing the children to their family, guardians, or a suitable sponsor. Undocumented parents seeking reunification may fear cross-examination and background checks. This study aimed to explore the experiences of undocumented families reunified with their children with the help of a community-based organization (CBO). A collective case study method was used to collect qualitative data from seven parents. Respondent parents expressed their rationale for allowing their children to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, their experience with the ORR, and the reasons they pursued community-based guidance. The results document the depth of trauma and difficulties parents of unaccompanied migrant children face with American service providers. It is recommended that immigration-related government agencies form relationships with culturally diverse organizations that are trusted by immigrant communities.

Refugee Shelter on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi

Refugee shelters are a crucial asylum in restoring the physical and psychological situation. Although Indonesia is a strategic stopover country for refugees, refugee shelter facilities in the country are still far from international eligibility standards. South Sulawesi, the province with the second highest number of refugees in Indonesia, currently does not have a shelter to accommodate the diverse needs of refugees. Therefore, the purpose of this design is to design a refugee shelter in South Sulawesi that complies with international eligibility standards and can meet the needs of refugees and make it easier for the government to control. To meet this goal, data collection was conducted through a literature review of existing international refugee shelter standards and precedent building. After that, a site analysis is carried out to produce a building shape that is in accordance with the condition of the site. The result of the design is a refugee shelter that can complete architectural and non-architectural aspects including characteristics, basic needs, and evacuation activities.

Refugee Shelter on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi

Refugee shelters are a crucial asylum in restoring the physical and psychological situation. Although Indonesia is a strategic stopover country for refugees, refugee shelter facilities in the country are still far from international eligibility standards. South Sulawesi, the province with the second highest number of refugees in Indonesia, currently does not have a shelter to accommodate the diverse needs of refugees. Therefore, the purpose of this design is to design a refugee shelter in South Sulawesi that complies with international eligibility standards and can meet the needs of refugees and make it easier for the government to control. To meet this goal, data collection was conducted through a literature review of existing international refugee shelter standards and precedent building. After that, a site analysis is carried out to produce a building shape that is in accordance with the condition of the site. The result of the design is a refugee shelter that can complete architectural and non-architectural aspects including characteristics, basic needs, and evacuation activities.

The epidemiological follow-up process for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in migrant shelters on the northern border of Mexico from July to December 2020: Between contagion underestimation and containment.

Elements associated with an increased risk factor for the contagion of COVID-19 in shelters include the turnover and overcrowding of people, time spent in communal areas, daily supply needs, water availability, and sanitation levels. The "Report on the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Migrants and Refugees," shows that factors such as the shortage of food, supplies, water, sanitizing materials, spaces for healthy distancing, financial resources for rent and essential services, and the lack of medical or psychological care complicated providing care for migrants and applicants seeking international protection. We describe shelter operations regarding the detection and follow-up of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases showing mild symptoms among the migrant population housed in the border cities under study. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with study subjects (people in charge, managers, coordinators, shelter directors) from 22 migrant shelters, and 30 with key informants. We studied the cities of Tijuana (Baja California), Nogales (Sonora), Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua), Piedras Negras (Coahuila), and Heroica Matamoros (Tamaulipas). The research was based on a qualitative methodological design with an ethnographic approach. The information collected was transcribed and systematized into two tables or analytical templates, one for interviews with study subjects, and another for interviews with key actors. Overall, seventy-eight registered shelters provided accommodation services for migrants in the five cities the study focused on: thirty-seven in Tijuana, five in Nogales, twenty-two in Ciudad Juárez, eight in Piedras Negras, and five plus a camp (six in total) in Matamoros. The major concentration of shelters was in Tijuana (47.4%) and Ciudad Juárez (28.2%). At the beginning of the pandemic, only a few shelter facilities met quarantine and isolation guidelines, such as having separate bathrooms and sufficient space to isolate the "asymptomatic" and "confirmed" from close "contacts". The lack of isolation space and the inability to support the monitoring of patients with COVID-19 posed a challenge for those housed in shelters, forcing many shelters to close or continue operating behind closed doors to avoid becoming a source of infection during the pandemic. Contrary to speculation, during the onset of the pandemic northern border migrant shelters did not become sources of COVID-19 infection. According to the data analyzed from 78 shelters only seven had confirmed cases, and the classification of "outbreak" was applied only in two facilities. Contagion control or containment was successful as the result of following a preventive containment logic, including the isolation of all suspected but unconfirmed cases, without a clear understanding of the human and financial resources required to maintain isolation areas. However, shelters in the study implemented protocols for epidemiological surveillance, control, and prevention with elements that interfered with monitoring spaces, and processes that caused oversights that resulted in underestimating the number of cases. Due to travel restrictions imposed to prevent and contain coronavirus infections it was impossible to stay on-site in the cities studied, except for Tijuana, or carry-out recordings of migrants' views in shelters.