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Summary Background Diarrhoea and respiratory infections are the two biggest causes of child death globally. Handwashing with soap could substantially reduce diarrhoea and respiratory infections, but prevalence of adequate handwashing is low. We tested whether a scalable village-level intervention based on emotional drivers of behaviour, rather than knowledge, could improve handwashing behaviour in rural India. Methods The study was done in Chittoor district in southern Andhra Pradesh, India, between May 24, 2011, and Sept 10, 2012. Eligible villages had a population of 700–2000 people, a state-run primary school for children aged 8–13 years, and a preschool for children younger than 5 years. 14 villages (clusters) were selected, stratified by population size ( vs >1200), and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or control (no intervention). Clusters were enrolled by the study manager. Random allocation was done by the study statistician using a random number generator. The intervention included community and school-based events incorporating an animated film, skits, and public pledging ceremonies. Outcomes were measured by direct observation in 20–25 households per village at baseline and at three follow-up visits (6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after the intervention). Observers had no connection with the intervention and observers and participant households were told that the study was about domestic water use to reduce the risk of bias. No other masking was possible. The primary outcome was the proportion of handwashing with soap at key events (after defecation, after cleaning a child's bottom, before food preparation, and before eating) at all follow-up visits. The control villages received a shortened version of the intervention before the final follow-up round. Outcome data are presented as village-level means. Findings Handwashing with soap at key events was rare at baseline in both the intervention and control groups (1% [SD 1] vs 2% [1]). At 6 weeks' follow-up, handwashing with soap at key events was more common in the intervention group than in the control group (19% [SD 21] vs 4% [2]; difference 15%, p=0·005). At the 6-month follow-up visit, the proportion handwashing with soap was 37% (SD 7) in the intervention group versus 6% (3) in the control group (difference 31%; p=0·02). At the 12-month follow-up visit, after the control villages had received the shortened intervention, the proportion handwashing with soap was 29% (SD 9) in the intervention group and 29% (13) in the control group. Interpretation This study shows that substantial increases in handwashing with soap can be achieved using a scalable intervention based on emotional drivers. Funding Wellcome Trust, SHARE.

Background:\ud Campylobacter jejuni is the most common bacterial cause of human infectious intestinal disease.\ud \ud Methods:\ud We genome sequenced 601 human C. jejuni isolates, obtained from two large prospective studies of infectious intestinal disease (IID1 [isolates from 1993–1996; n = 293] and IID2 [isolates from 2008–2009; n = 93]), the INTEGRATE project [isolates from 2016–2017; n = 52] and the ENIGMA project [isolates from 2017; n = 163].\ud \ud Results:\ud There was a significant increase in the prevalence of the T86I mutation conferring resistance to fluoroquinolone between each of the three later studies (IID2, INTEGRATE and ENIGMA) and IID1. Although the distribution of major multilocus sequence types (STs) was similar between the studies, there were changes in both the abundance of minority STs associated with the T86I mutation, and the abundance of clones within single STs associated with the T86I mutation.\ud \ud Discussion:\ud Four population-based studies of community diarrhoea over a 25 year period revealed an increase over time in the prevalence of the T86I amongst isolates of C. jejuni associated with human gastrointestinal disease in the UK. Although associated with many STs, much of the increase is due to the expansion of clones associated with the resistance mutation.

To investigate implementation of outpatient pulse oximetry among children with pneumonia, in Malawi.In 2011, 72 health-care providers at 18 rural health centres and 38 community health workers received training in the use of pulse oximetry to measure haemoglobin oxygen saturations. Data collected, between 1 January 2012 and 30 June 2014 by the trained individuals, on children aged 2-59 months with clinically diagnosed pneumonia were analysed.Of the 14 092 children included in the analysis, 13 266 (94.1%) were successfully checked by oximetry. Among the children with chest indrawing and/or danger signs, those with a measured oxygen saturation below 90% were more than twice as likely to have been referred as those with higher saturations (84.3% [385/457] vs 41.5% [871/2099];Implementation of pulse oximetry by our trainees substantially increased the referrals of Malawian children with severe hypoxaemic pneumonia. When data from oximetry were excluded, retrospective application of the guidelines published by WHO in 2014 failed to identify a considerable proportion of severely hypoxaemic children eligible only via oximetry.Étudier l'utilisation de l'oxymétrie de pouls chez les enfants atteints de pneumonie en traitement ambulatoire au Malawi.En 2011, 72 prestataires de soins de santé de 18 centres de santé ruraux et 38 agents de santé communautaires ont été formés à l'utilisation de l'oxymétrie de pouls pour mesurer la saturation en oxygène de l'hémoglobine. Des données collectées entre le 1er janvier 2012 et le 30 juin 2014 par les individus formés sur des enfants âgés de 2 à 59 mois atteints d'une pneumonie cliniquement diagnostiquée ont été analysées.Sur les 14 092 enfants inclus dans l'analyse, 13 266 (94,1%) ont été examinés avec succès grâce à l'oxymétrie. Parmi les enfants présentant un tirage sous-costal et/ou des signes de danger, ceux dont la saturation en oxygène mesurée était inférieure à 90% avaient plus de deux fois plus de chances d'être orientés vers un spécialiste que ceux présentant une saturation plus importante (84,3% [385/457] contre 41,5% [871/2099]; P 0,001). L'utilisation de l'oxymétrie semble avoir augmenté de 0% à 27,2% (P 0.001) le taux d'orientation vers un spécialiste dans le cas des enfants souffrant d'hypoxémie sévère sans tirage sous-costal ni signes de danger. En l'absence d'oxymétrie, si les directives en la matière publiées par l'Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) en 2014 avaient été appliquées, 390/568 (68,7%) enfants souffrant d'hypoxémie sévère examinés dans les centres de santé considérés et 52/84 (61,9%) enfants souffrant d'hypoxémie sévère examinés par des agents de santé communautaires n'auraient pas pu bénéficier d'une orientation vers un spécialiste.L'utilisation de l'oxymétrie de pouls par les individus formés a considérablement accru l'orientation vers un spécialiste des enfants malawites atteints de pneumonie sévère et ayant développé une hypoxémie. Lorsque les données provenant de l'oxymétrie étaient exclues, l'application rétrospective des directives publiées par l'OMS en 2014 ne permettait pas d'identifier une proportion considérable d'enfants souffrant d'hypoxémie sévère qui remplissaient les conditions requises uniquement au vu de l'oxymétrie.Investigar la implementación de la oximetría de pulso ambulatoria en niños con neumonía en Malawi.En 2011, 72 profesionales de la salud de 18 centros de salud en zonas rurales y 38 trabajadores de la salud comunitarios recibieron formación con respecto al uso de la oximetría de pulso para medir las saturaciones de oxígeno de la hemoglobina. Se analizaron los datos, que las personas formadas recopilaron entre el 1 de enero de 2012 y el 30 de junio de 2014, de niños de 2 a 59 meses de edad con un diagnóstico clínico de neumonía.De los 14 092 niños incluidos en el análisis, se realizaron las pruebas con oximetría de manera satisfactoria a 13 266 (94,1%). Entre los niños con retracción costal y/o signos de peligro, aquellos con una medida de saturación de oxígeno por debajo del 90% tenían más del doble de probabilidades de haber sido derivados que aquellos con saturaciones más elevadas (84,3% [385/457] frente al 41,5% [871/2 099];La implementación de la oximetría de pulso por las personas formadas incrementó de forma sustancial las derivaciones de los niños de Malawi con neumonía hipoxémica grave. Cuando se excluyeron los datos procedentes de la oximetría, la aplicación retrospectiva de las directrices publicadas por la OMS en 2014 no pudo identificar un porcentaje considerable de niños hipoxémicos graves que cumplían los requisitos únicamente a través de la oximetría.الاستقصاء بشأن تنفيذ عمليات قياس التأكسج في العيادات الخارجية للأطفال المصابين بالالتهاب الرئوي في ملاوي.حصل 72 من مقدمي خدمات الرعاية الصحية في 18 مركزًا طبيًا ريفيًا و38 عاملاً في مجال الخدمات الصحية المجتمعية في عام 2011 على تدريبات متعلقة باستخدام تقنية قياس التأكسج بهدف قياس نسب تشبع الأكسجين والهيموجلوبين. وتم تحليل البيانات المجمعة في الفترة بين 1 كانون الثاني/يناير 2012 و 30 حزيران/يونيو 2014 بواسطة الأفراد المدرّبين، وهذه البيانات خاصة بالأطفال البالغ أعمارهم ما بين 2 إلى 59 شهرًا والمصابين بمرض الالتهاب الرئوي الذي تم تشخيصه داخل العيادات.من بين 14092 طفلاً شملهم التحليل، كان 13266 طفلاً منهم (بنسبة ‏94.1‏%) قد تم فحصه بنجاح بواسطة تقنية قياس التأكسج. ومن بين الأطفال الذين يعانون من بروز القفص الصدري أثناء التنفس و/أو علامات الخطر، كان أولئك الذين لديهم نسبة تشبع الأكسجين أقل من 90‏% لديهم أرجحية مضاعفة لإحالتهم للعلاج باعتبارهم من الأطفال الذين لديهم نسبة تشبع أعلى (84.3‏% [385/457] مقابل ‏41.5‏% [871/2099[؛إن تنفيذ عملية قياس التأكسج بواسطة المتدربين لدينا أدى بشكل كبير إلى زيادة حالات الإحالة للعلاج بالنسبة للأطفال المصابين بالالتهاب الرئوي الحاد في ملاوي. وعندما تم استبعاد بيانات قياس التأكسج، فشل التطبيق بأثر رجعي للمبادئ التوجيهية الصادرة من منظمة الصحة العالمية في عام 2014 في تحديد نسبة كبيرة من الأطفال المصابين بخلل الجهاز التنفسي الحاد والذين كانوا مؤهلين للعلاج نتيجة استخدام تقنية قياس التأكسج فقط.旨在调查马拉维肺炎患儿门诊脉搏血氧饱和度检测的实施情况。.2011 年，18 个农村医疗中心的 72 位医疗护理人员和 38 位社区医疗工作者接受了培训，学习使用脉搏血氧饱和度检测法测量血氧饱和度。 我们分析了受训人员于 2012 年 1 月 1 日到 2014 年 6 月 30 日期间采集的年龄在 2-59 个月、临床诊断为肺炎的儿童的数据。.在我们分析的 14 092 位儿童中，13 266 (94.1%) 位已经成功接受血氧饱和度检测。 在出现胸部凹陷和/或危险症状的儿童中，测量的血氧饱和度低于 90% 的儿童转诊的可能性是饱和度更高儿童的两倍以上（分别为 84.3% [385/457] 和 41.5% [871/2099];受训人员对脉搏血氧饱和度检测的实施大幅度提高了马拉维重度低氧性肺炎患儿的转诊率。 但是如果不采用血氧饱和度检测中的数据，而是追溯式采纳 WHO 2014 年发布的指南，则相当大比例的仅通过血氧饱和度检测才能确诊的重度低氧血症儿童无法得到确诊。.Изучить амбулаторное применение пульсоксиметрии у больных пневмонией детей в Малави.В течение 2011 года 72 врача из 18 сельских больниц и 38 местных медицинских работников были обучены использованию пульсоксиметрии для измерения насыщенности гемоглобина кислородом. Были проанализированы данные, собранные обученными лицами на протяжении периода с 1 января 2012 года по 30 июня 2014 года у детей в возрасте от 2 до 59 месяцев, которым был поставлен диагноз «пневмония».Из 14 092 детей, включенных в анализ, у 13 266 (94,1%) удалось успешно провести пульсоксиметрию. Дети со впалой грудью и (или) опасными симптомами, у которых измеренная насыщенность кислородом была менее 90%, более чем в два раза чаще направлялись в больницу, чем дети с высокой оксигенацией (84,3% (385 из 457 детей) против 41,5% (871 ребенок из 2099), р 0,001). Доступность оксиметрии привела к повышению уровня направления в больницу для детей с серьезной гипоксемией без впалой груди или опасных симптомов с 0 до 27,2% (p 0,001). В отсутствие оксиметрии и при использовании соответствующих рекомендаций Всемирной организации здравоохранения (ВОЗ), опубликованных в 2014 году, 390 из 568 детей (68,7%) с серьезной гипоксемией в центрах проведения исследования и 52 из 84 детей (61,9%) с серьезной гипоксемией, которых осматривали местные медицинские работники, не были бы направлены в больницу ввиду отсутствия показаний.Внедрение пульсоксиметрии нашими стажерами значительно повысило частоту направления в больницу малавийских детей с серьезной гипоксемией пневмонийного происхождения. При исключении из анамнеза данных пульсоксиметрии ретроспективное применение рекомендаций ВОЗ от 2014 года не позволяло выявить значительное количество детей с серьезной гипоксемией, необходимость госпитализации которых оказалось возможным определить только с помощью оксиметрии.

John S Luque,1 Jonathan N Maupin,2 Daron G Ferris,3,4 Wendy S Guevara Condorhuaman4 1Department of Public Health Sciences, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 2School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; 4CerviCusco, Cusco, Peru Background: Peru is characterized by high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates. The country also experiences significant gaps in quality cervical cancer screening coverage for the population.Objective: This descriptive mixed methods study conducted in Cusco, Peru, aimed to assess the attitudes and perceptions of medical staff, health care workers, and patients toward a cervical cancer screening program that included both clinic-based and community outreach services conducted by a nongovernmental organization clinic (CerviCusco). The study also explored patient knowledge and attitudes around cervical cancer and about the human papillomavirus (HPV) to inform patient education efforts.Methods: The study employed structured interviews with key informants (n=16) primarily from CerviCusco, which provides cervical cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment services, and surveys with a sample of patients (n=30) receiving services at the clinic and at screening campaigns.Results: The majority of key informant medical staff participants felt that the general public had a very negative view of government health services. One theme running throughout the interviews was the perception that the general population lacked a culture of preventive health care and would wait until symptoms were severe before seeking treatment. Regarding services that were received by patients at CerviCusco, the participants responded that the prices were reasonable and more affordable than some private clinics. Patients attending the rural health campaigns liked that the services were free and of good quality.Conclusion: CerviCusco has demonstrated its capacity to provide screening outreach campaigns to populations who had not previously had access to liquid-based cytology services. The finding that patients had generally low levels of knowledge about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine prompted the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate educational and promotional materials to improve the educational component of the periodic campaigns conducted primarily in rural areas of Andean Peru. Keywords: Pap test, rapid assessment, global health, screening programs, outreach, South America

Uncovering SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms)-environment interactions can generate new hypotheses about the function of poorly characterized genetic variants and environmental factors, like pesticides. We evaluated SNP-environment interactions between 30 confirmed prostate cancer susceptibility loci and 45 pesticides and prostate cancer risk in 776 cases and 1,444 controls in the Agricultural Health Study. We used unconditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multiplicative SNP-pesticide interactions were calculated using a likelihood ratio test. After correction for multiple tests using the False Discovery Rate method, two interactions remained noteworthy. Among men carrying two T alleles at rs2710647 in EH domain binding protein 1 (EHBP1) SNP, the risk of prostate cancer in those with high malathion use was 3.43 times those with no use (95% CI: 1.44–8.15) (P-interaction = 0.003). Among men carrying two A alleles at rs7679673 in TET2, the risk of prostate cancer associated with high aldrin use was 3.67 times those with no use (95% CI: 1.43, 9.41) (P-interaction = 0.006). In contrast, associations were null for other genotypes. Although additional studies are needed and the exact mechanisms are unknown, this study suggests known genetic susceptibility loci may modify the risk between pesticide use and prostate cancer.

Background: Industrial swine operations emit odorant chemicals including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and volatile organic compounds. Malodor and pollutant concentrations have been associated with self-reported stress and altered mood in prior studies. Objectives: We conducted a repeated-measures study of air pollution, stress, and blood pressure in neighbors of swine operations. Methods: For approximately 2 weeks, 101 nonsmoking adult volunteers living near industrial swine operations in 16 neighborhoods in eastern North Carolina sat outdoors for 10 min twice daily at preselected times. Afterward, they reported levels of hog odor on a 9-point scale and measured their blood pressure twice using an automated oscillometric device. During the same 2- to 3-week period, we measured ambient levels of H2S and PM10 at a central location in each neighborhood. Associations between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively) and pollutant measures were estimated using fixed-effects (conditional) linear regression with adjustment for time of day. Results: PM10 showed little association with blood pressure. DBP [β (SE)] increased 0.23 (0.08) mmHg per unit of reported hog odor during the 10 min outdoors and 0.12 (0.08) mmHg per 1-ppb increase of H2S concentration in the same hour. SBP increased 0.10 (0.12) mmHg per odor unit and 0.29 (0.12) mmHg per 1-ppb increase of H2S in the same hour. Reported stress was strongly associated with BP; adjustment for stress reduced the odor–DBP association, but the H2S–SBP association changed little. Conclusions: Like noise and other repetitive environmental stressors, malodors may be associated with acute blood pressure increases that could contribute to development of chronic hypertension.

The European response to COVID-19 has revealed an inconvenient truth. Despite having integrated public health concerns across all its policies – be it agriculture, consumer protection, or security –, the Union cannot directly act to save people’s lives. Only member states can do so. Yet when they adopted unilateral measures to counter the spread of the virus, those proved not only ineffective but also disruptive on vital supply chains, by ultimately preventing the flow of essential goods and people across the Union. These fragmented efforts in tackling cross-border health threats have almost immediately prompted political calls for the urgent creation of a European Health Union. Yet this call raises more questions than answers. With the aim to offer a rigorous and timely blueprint to decision-makers and the public at large, this Special Issue of the European Journal of Risk Regulation contextualizes such a new political project within the broader constitutional and institutional framework of EU public health law and policy. By introducing the Special, this paper argues that unless the envisaged Health Union will tackle the root causes of what prevented the Union from effectively responding to COVID-19 – the divergent health capacity across the Union –, it might fall short of its declared objective of strengthening the EU’resilience for cross-border health threats.

Response curves of An. nuneztovari model to: (A) Elevation (srtm); (B) Temperature seasonality (bio 4); (C) Annual precipitation (bio 12); (D) Population; (E) LULC; and (F) Jacknife of variable importance (Red bar shows the gain when all variables are used. The light blue bar shows the gain when a specific variable is excluded from analysis, a lower gain indicating that the specific variable has more information not contained in other variables. The dark blue bar indicates gain when the specific variable is used in isolation) (PDF 258Â kb)