bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mental health in the general population over 1 year of the Covid-19 pandemic: findings from Ireland
Authors: Troya MI 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated public health measures on mental health is a cause of increasing concern. We have measured indices of mental health among adults in the general population in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) during the period of May 2020-April 2021.

Methods
Nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey with data collected in ROI during four study waves involving 3,920 participants: Wave 1: May 26-June 17, 2020 (N = 969), Wave 2: July 1-23, 2020 (N = 1014), Wave 3: September 5-28, 2020 (N = 1008), Wave 4: April 16-28, 2021 (N = 929). Participants were recruited from adults resident in RoI, aged 18 years+ using random-digit-dialling of land lines and mobile phones and interviewed by a professional market research organisation (Ipsos MRBI). Data from Waves 1-4 will be presented including trends over the 12-month period. Finding from Waves 1 and 2 are presented here. Mental health was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS), including standard questions on self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts.

Results
Of the 1,983 participants from Waves 1-2, 27.7% (n = 549; 95%CI:0.26%-30%) reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, 74 (3.8%;95%CI:3%-5%) disclosed self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts. Female participants (RR:1.60, 95%CI:1.37-1.87), employed individuals experiencing work change (RR:1.50,95%CI:1.24-1.82), participants cocooning due to a health condition (RR:1.34,95%CI:1.08-1.66), those self-isolating (RR:1.25,95%CI:1.03-1.51) and those reporting moderate-heavy drinking (RR:1.27,95%CI:1.09-1.47) were at increased risk of depression and anxiety symptoms. Participants aged 18-29 and those in the two lowest income categories were most likely to report self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts.

Conclusions
The prevalence of țanxiety and depression in the general population has increased relative to pre-pandemic estimates in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and associated public health measures.

Key messages
In nationally representative telephone surveys of Irish adults conducted following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the prevalence of anxiety and depression is estimated at approximately 30%. Higher than average levels of anxiety or depression were reported in females, those who had experienced a change in their work, individuals cocooning and those with moderate to heavy drinking.
Poor physical activity as a risk factor for mental health disorders
Authors: Stubbs B 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Rates of common mental disorders appear to be increasing among both adolescent and adult population affecting life quality and expectancy. Availability of the treatments il limited to a large portion of the global population thus new approaches toward the prevention and treatment of mental illnesses need to emerge in order to reduce the global and growing burden of these conditions. A great body of evidence has linked both the onset and symptoms of various mental disorders to lifestyle factors such as physical activity and diet. Given their modifiable nature, there has been an increasing interest in the implementation of physical activity in the prevention and adjunctive treatment among people with mental illnesses. Robust evidence indicates that physical activity may in fact, by influencing a range of biological and psychosocial processes, contribute to healthy aging, improve sleep and preserve cognition across the lifespan as well as affect associated with mental disorders serious physical health comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, metabolic risk factors such as adiposity and premature mortality. The plausible effects of physical activity toward mental health may be at least partially explained by its potential in modulating hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Finally, higher levels of physical activity have been consistently associated with a reduced risk of both affective and cognitive disorders.
Vulnerability risk assessment in the context of climate change – the need for interdisciplinarity
Authors: Haigh F 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Addressing wicked problems such as climate change vulnerability require a process whereby evidence of different kinds, interests, values and meanings are brought together in order to understand and anticipate the effects of change (such as a climate change) on health and health inequities in a population and then decide how best to respond. Understanding and addressing climate change vulnerability requires understanding complex climate science, policy making and politics, individual level decision making, history, nature, society, culture, urban planning, economics, structure and agency - the list goes on.
Health Impact Assessment provides a framework and process for carrying out this task of bringing together different stakeholders and types of disciplinary knowledge. However, this involves intellectual, social, and practical challenges including:
This presentation will:
Digital health literacy and online information-seeking behaviour of Lebanese university students
Authors: Bouclaous C , Kamand A Al , Daher R , Razim A Al , Haddad I , Kaedbey HD 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
This cross-sectional study evaluates digital health literacy (DHL) and web-based information-seeking behaviour of Lebanese university students in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the ‘infodemic'.

Methods
18 universities took part in the study. Ethical approval was sought from the ethics committees of the participating universities. Data collection was carried out in May-August 2020. The survey was discontinued due to the devastating explosion that shook Beirut early August.

Results
A total of 602 students (60.1% females), 20.6 years (±4.3) took part in the study. 54% reported using the Internet to seek for COVID-19 information in the past month. Students in fields other than health and social sciences (HHS), and not using official sources, had limited DHL for information seeking (26.6%). Lebanese students, at undergraduate level, with a health impairment, and not using official sources and news portals had limited DHL for adding self-generated content (35.9%). Students at undergraduate level, who used social media for information, had limited DHL for evaluating reliability (42.7%). Non-HHS, with a health impairment, and not using official sources had limited DHL for determining relevance (32.0%). Graduate students had higher odds of having sufficient DHL for adding self-generated content (OR = 2.304; 95% CI = 1.076, 4.937) and evaluating reliability (OR = 2.440; 95% CI = 1.171, 5.087). Frequent users of official sources had higher odds (OR = 1.684; 95% CI = 1.065, 2.665) of having sufficient DHL for adding self-generated content. Those who regularly used social media for information had lower odds (OR = 0.577; 95% CI = 0.351, 0.946) regarding evaluating reliability.

Conclusions
Health education programmes in Lebanon need to strengthen digital health literacy in university students, particularly in undergraduates, in fields other than health and social sciences, in those relying on social media, and those with a health impairment.
Substance use instruments for refugees-systematic review
Authors: Marth S , Jakubauskiene M , Schäfer Ingo , Lindert J 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Substance use is a problem among refugee populations. Instruments which assess substance use have been translated into different languages, but are not culturally sensitive. This research gap has to be filled to acquire information about substance use disorders in refugee populations, especially from Arabic countries, as a confession to using substances in those countries is culturally problematic.

Methods
Following databases were systematically searched: EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Sciences and PsychInfo resulting in 2659 hits. After removing 5 duplicates, 2650 studies were screened. After exclusion of irrelevant studies, 264 studies were assessed for eligibility and 128 studies were, so far included. Inclusion criteria were original studies, migrant or refugee participants, minimum age 18 years, usage of quantitative measures and substance use as the outcome. A data extraction sheet was developed with three reviewers working on it.

Results
49 studies were found to use validated instruments. Most frequently used was the AUDIT (n = 17), followed by the WMH-CIDI (n = 11) and the CAGE questionnaire (n = 9). The majority of the studies (n = 55) used self-developed instrument with few items. To our knowledge, no study used a culturally sensitive adapted questionnaire.

Conclusions
More studies used self-developed items for assessing substance use than validated instruments. None of the studies used a culturally sensitive adapted instrument. This is a clear indication that such an instrument is needed for research and treatment. With a culturally sensitive instrument, the care for refugees and migrants could be improved and adjusted, possibly resulting in better public health outcomes.

Main messages
As refugee populations continue to grow, an adequate screening instrument for substance abuse/dependence for these individuals is missing. With the development of a culturally sensitive instrument, identification and treatment of refugees and migrants can be improved.
1.M. Workshop: Protecting and preparing healthcare workers: what to learn from COVID-19 to strengthen resilience?
Authors:   Organised by: EUPHA-HWR, European Observatory, WHO,   Chair persons: Ellen Kuhlmann (EUPHA-HWR), Matthias Wismar (European Observatory)
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
This workshop is dedicated to the WHO International Year of Health and Care Workers in 2021 in recognition of their commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the first wave of the pandemic healthcare workers were lionised, yet societies' and health policymakers' appreciation of their new ‘heroes' was decreasing when corona fatigue was increasing. Health systems and policymakers have not fully understood the new emergent threats during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health workforce protection and pandemic preparedness are not limited to individual healthcare workers, but strongly impact in health system resilience.

Objectives
This workshop sets the focus on the protection and preparedness of healthcare workers for global public health emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to identify strengths and weaknesses of health workforce policy during COVID-19 and to highlight the need for a health system and governance approach. The following major questions will be addressed: How can the protection and pandemic preparedness of healthcare workers be improved? How can the capacities of the health workforce be used and governed more effectively during a pandemic? What policy priorities can be identified to support the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers and prevent infection and deaths, as well as post-COVID fatigue, burn-out and job leaves? How can we build back better and more equitable, including strengthening gender equality and establishing solidarity-based health workforce migration policy?

Results
The workshop introduces novel results drawn from four European comparative studies. A number of important policy recommendations are emerging from the research, which include among others: (1) improve attention to the complex health and social needs of healthcare workers, (2) implement comprehensive surveillance and monitoring systems, (3) establish European health workforce governance to mitigate shortages and inequality between countries and globally, and (4) take action to implement gender equality policies and to better protect female healthcare workers.

Conclusions
The workshop will stimulate critical debate and improve knowledge exchange across countries and between researchers. It will contribute to creating resilience of the health workforce and health systems and to build back better after COVID-19 in a fair and equitable manner.

Key messages
Health systems must be accountable for the protection and preparedness of healthcare workers. Action is needed to develop a health workforce surveillance system on national and EU level.
Does precarious situtation impact contraceptive use in a context of full health insurance coverage?
Authors: Congy J , Bouyer J , de La Rochebrochard E 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
To promote their sexual and reproductive health and rights, women need full access to contraception and choice of contraceptive method. Precarious women may have difficulties in accessing contraception even in developed countries with widespread health insurance coverage. It is difficult to explore this issue through national surveys that often include too few precarious women. We aimed to compare contraceptive use among precarious and non-precarious women based on the exhaustive French health insurance database.

Methods
The French health insurance database covers 98% of the population living in France and includes all healthcare reimbursements. Contraceptives are partly reimbursed by the national health insurance. For people in a precarious situation, they are fully reimbursed by a specific system called universal health coverage. We selected all women aged 15-49 years living in metropolitan France in 2019. We compared the prevalence of use of each contraceptive method: pill, hormonal intra-uterine device (IUD), copper IUD and implant, between precarious and non-precarious women.

Results
Among the study population of 14 million women, 11% were in a precarious situation. Fewer precarious women used contraceptives (31%) than non-precarious women (44%, p &lt; 0.001). When using a contraceptive, precarious women used a different method than non-precarious women: under the age of 30 years, they used the pill much less and implants more often; above 35 years, they used hormonal IUDs less often and the pill and implants more often.

Conclusions
Although in France contraceptives are fully reimbursed for precarious women, they used fewer and different contraceptives than non-precarious women. Social inequalities may exist even in such a favorable national context. Further research should explore barriers that precarious women may encounter in accessing and choosing their contraception.

Key messages
Although French national health insurance fully covers contraceptives for precarious women, their use of contraceptives is much lower (31% versus 44%), suggesting possible social inequalities. When using contraception, precarious women do not use the same methods as non-precarious women, suggesting possible differences in their contraceptive choice or differences in medical practice.
'Wherever you are, my son, wait for me.' study on medically assisted reproduction
Authors: Napolitani M , Lorenzini L , Valentini V , Alaimo L , Nante N 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Introduction
In Italy the use of Medically Assisted Procreation (MAP) is increasingly frequent also because the mean age at which Italian women have their first child has increased in recent decades (31.8 years in 2017) and it is more difficult to have a child for an older woman. The aim of this study was evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcomes of MAP and compare them with those of natural pregnancies.

Methods
The cross-sectional study was performed during the period January 2015-June 2019. All women that gave birth in the Hospital of Siena were included. The sample was divided in two groups (Natural pregnancy/MAP Pregnancy). The outcome variables were: maternal age, number of foetus, type of childbirth, timing of the birth, Apgar Index and necessity of hospitalization in neonatal intensive therapy unit (NITU) or resuscitation. The statistical analysis was performed with Stata 12.

Results
In total 5066 females were included (4.5% MAP pregnancy). The average age (±SD) of females was 32,9±5,56 (min 14-max 61). The mean age (±SD) of women with PMA was significantly higher 38.7 ± 5.7 vs. 32.6± 5.4 of those who had natural pregnancy. In PMA Pregnancy there was a higher probability of multiple pregnancy (OR = 16.13; 95% CI 10.38-25.07; p &lt; 0.001), Caesarean Section (OR:4,54; 95% CI 3.28-6.31; p &lt; 0,001) and preterm birth (OR 3.79; 95% IC 2.80-5.14; p &lt; 0.001). Apgar index at the first minute was significantly lower in children born from pregnancies from MAP (8,6 ±1,4 vs, 9 ±1,4 p &lt; 0.01), the difference was significant even in the 5th minute (9,6 ±0,7 vs. 9,8 ±0,6 p &lt; 0.01). Children born by MAP Pregnancy had higher probability of hospitalization in Neonatal Intensive Care (OR = 3.12; 95% CI 2.12-4.59; p &lt; 0.001).

Conclusions
In our sample we found that MAP is used by women with older average age and it is associated with less favourable maternal and neonatal outcomes than those from natural conception.

Key messages
In Italy the use of Medically Assisted Procreation (MAP) is increasingly frequent because it is more difficult to have a child for an older woman. In our sample we found that MAP is used by women with older average age and it is associated with less favourable maternal and neonatal outcomes than those from natural conception.
Antenatal care access and concerns of pregnant women during pandemic: a population-based study
Authors: Taneri PE , Torun SD , Yavuz M , Sezerol MA , Tasci Y , Aydin HL , Bilir E 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to burden the health of vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. It has been estimated that antenatal care coverage has been decreased with workforce, supplies, demand, and access reductions during the outbreak in some countries. The study aimed to investigate the health care access and concerns of pregnant women during the pandemic.

Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted among 331 pregnant women in one district of Istanbul (Üsküdar) and a random sampling method was applied. The data was collected between November 22nd and December 18th 2020 by telephone interview after verbal consents were taken from the participants. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. The study was approved by the Bahcesehir University Institutional Ethics Board.

Results
The median age of the participants was 30 years, the median gestational age was 24 weeks. Among the participants 9.6% were previously diagnosed with COVID-19, 15.8% had a chronic disease, 48.2% were nulliparous and 18.6% had a high-risk pregnancy. The frequency of having concern for their own health was 70.7%, for their children's health was 73,0%, for going to visits in healthcare facilities was 81.0% and for giving birth during the pandemic was 83.0%. Also, 17.1% did not go to antenatal visits because of the COVID-19 concerns. According to the logistic regression analysis, women who had chronic disease had higher concerns about their own health; women who had chosen to go to hospitals for antenatal care visits had higher concerns about children's health and giving birth, and women who had concerns about going to health facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic were less likely to go to family health centers.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that the concerns related to the pandemic among pregnant women are at significant levels. Measures should be taken to ensure that antenatal care services are not interrupted throughout the current pandemic.

Key messages
Significant concern levels were detected among pregnant women in our sample. Measures should be taken to ensure to maintain uninterrupted antenatal care services.
Toward resourcefulness: Pathways for community positive health
Authors: Peters L , Shannon G , Kelman I , Meriläinen E , Scobie M , Clark-Ginsberg A , Myhre S 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Communities play a central role in strengthening their health, but conventional community health promotion often adopts paternalistic and top-down approaches. Conversely, agentic approaches are critiqued for tasking marginalized communities to create change without opportunities. Taking into consideration these shortcomings, we ask how communities may be most effectively and appropriately supported in their pursuit of health. We review community health literature to articulate how community health is understood, moving from negative to positive conceptions; determined, moving from a risk-factor orientation to social determination; and promoted, moving from conventional to agentic approaches. We develop the concept of resourcefulness as a pathway to strengthen positive health, and explore how this approach may be applied in diverse communities through fieldwork in Kenya, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US. Through resourcefulness-based approaches to community health, communities cultivate agency to 1) conceptualize what constitutes their health and assets and 2) pursue and sustain health agendas driven by local priorities, needs, and learning, while they also work to 3) change power imbalances that drive inequitable patterns of resource distribution and 4) nurture ecologically sound relationships with their local environment. We discuss how resourcefulness addresses tensions between resource use and sustainability, and how communities leverage partnerships for change. We make practical suggestions to apply resourcefulness as a process-based, place-based, and relational strategy, while recognizing that contexts and scale matter and limit the viability of community-based solutions.

Key messages
Resourcefulness-based strategies can forge new pathways to sustainable and self-sustaining community positive health. Resourcefulness builds on agentic approaches, but it also challenges inequitable power relations and environmental practices that degrade local capacities for health.
Serum neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Authors: Marchi S 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
The recent spreading of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, carrying several mutations in the spike protein, could impact on immune protection elicited by natural infection or conferred by vaccination. This study aimed at evaluating the neutralizing activity against the viral variants emerged in the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7), Brazil (B.1.1.28.1), and South Africa (B.1.351) in human serum samples from hospitalized patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 during the first pandemic wave in Italy in 2020.

Methods
Serum samples of 42 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Italy between March and May 2020, were included in the present study. Samples available for each patient at three time points were selected: hospital admission sample, sample showing the highest neutralizing antibody titre against 2019-nCov/Italy-INMI1 strain (Wuhan strain), and the last sample available during hospital stay. Samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody against B.1.1.7, B.1.1.28.1, and B.1.351 wild type viruses by micro-neutralization assay.

Results
The decrease of neutralizing antibody titre for all three variants was statistically significant at any time point. At discharge/decease, 59.5% of patients showed a decrease (≥2 fold) in neutralizing antibody titre against the B.1.1.7 variant, 83.3% against the B.1.1.28.1 variant, and 90.5% against the B.1.351 variant with respect to the original strain.

Conclusions
The reduction of neutralizing antibody titres against all analysed variants, and in particular B.1.1.28.1 and B.1.351 ones, suggests that previous symptomatic infection might be not fully protective to exposure of SARS-CoV-2 variants carrying a set of relevant spike mutations.

Key messages
A reduction in neutralizing antibody titres against B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and B.1.1.28.1 variants was observed. Previous symptomatic infection might be not fully protective to exposure of SARS-CoV-2 variants carrying a set of relevant spike mutations.