Article
Economics
Darin Christensen, Oeindrila Dube, Johannes Haushofer, Bilal Siddiqi, Maarten Voors
Summary: Research suggests that skepticism about the quality of health systems in developing countries contributes to higher mortality rates. By improving the perceived quality of healthcare through interventions, it is possible to promote community health and enhance the resilience of health systems during crises like epidemics.
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Young Eun Kim
Summary: This study assessed the impact of the Ebola virus disease outbreak on child mortality in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone from 2014 to 2016. The results showed that the child mortality rate decreased significantly for children born after the outbreak, but the association with the increase in Ebola cases remained strong. Additionally, there were variations in the utilization of maternal health services after the outbreak.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
K. Megan Collier, Elizabeth K. Klein, Stephen Sevalie, Bailah Molleh, Yusuf Kabba, Abdulai Kargbo, Joseph Bangura, Henry Gbettu, Stewart Simms, Clara O'Leary, Stacy Drury, John S. Schieffelin, Theresa S. Betancourt, Thomas M. Crea
Summary: The 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak was the largest in history, resulting in approximately 11,000 deaths. This study explores the knowledge and beliefs about the disease among Ebola survivors and their families, emphasizing the importance of community-based public health responses.
JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Daniela Manno, Philip Ayieko, David Ishola, Muhammed O. Afolabi, Baimba Rogers, Frank Baiden, Alimamy Serry-Bangura, Osman M. Bah, Brian Kohn, Ibrahim Swaray, Kwabena Owusu-Kyei, Godfrey T. Otieno, Dickens Kowuor, Daniel Tindanbil, Elizabeth Smout, Cynthia Robinson, Babajide Keshinro, Julie Foster, Katherine Gallagher, Brett Lowe, Macaya Douoguih, Bailah Leigh, Brian Greenwood, Deborah Watson-Jones
Summary: This study investigated the association between Ebola virus antibody seropositivity and concentration, and potential risk factors for infection. Among 1,282 adults and children from a community affected by the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, 8% tested positive for virus antibodies without experiencing any disease symptoms. Antibody concentration was found to increase with age.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nadezhda Duffy, Dana Bruden, Harold Thomas, Erin Nichols, Barbara Knust, Thomas Hennessy, Mary R. Reichler, James Bangura, Charles Keimbe, Amara Jambai, Oliver Morgan, Ismail Farmar, Francis Davies, Mohamed Sima Dumbuya, Hannah Kamara, Mohamed Kallon, Joseph Kpukumu, Sheku Abu, Fatmata Bangura, Saidu Rahim Bangura, Tomeh Bangura, Hassan Benya, Sandi Blango, Imurana Conteh, Peter Conteh, Bintu Jabbie, Sheku Jabbie, Luseni Kamara, Francis Lansana, Maada Rogers, Sahr Brima Sewa, Matthew Yamba, P. Bessler, Faith Washburn, E. Ervin, S. Campbell, W. Chung, S. Hersey
Summary: Household contacts who provide care to an Ebola virus disease (EVD) case have a significantly higher risk of contracting EVD compared to contacts who do not provide care. Limiting the number of care providers in a household can reduce the risk of EVD transmission to both care providers and non-care providers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachid Muleia, Marc Aerts, Christel Faes
Summary: The study investigated the spatial heterogeneity of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone in 2014 using a stochastic SEIR model, and found differences in transmission rates among districts. Bayesian estimation revealed potential persistence of the outbreak or likelihood of new cases in certain districts.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rianna T. Murray, Laura Briggs Drew, Christina Memmott, Ya-Maila Bangura, Elisabeth F. Maring
Summary: The Ebola epidemic from 2014-2016 in West Africa greatly impacted communities and families, with little known about the experiences of survivors. This qualitative study in Sierra Leone revealed that participants faced challenges such as fear, financial distress, and confusion during and after the epidemic. Despite the country being declared Ebola-free, stigma, fear, and distrust towards the government and healthcare system continued among community members. Future research should focus on the extended impact of the epidemic on communities, including long-term psychological, social, and economic consequences.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Samuel C. Ficenec, Donald S. Grant, Ibrahim Sumah, Foday Alhasan, Mohamed S. Yillah, Jenneh Brima, Edwin Konuwa, Michael A. Gbakie, Fatima K. Kamara, Nell G. Bond, Emily J. Engel, Jeffrey G. Shaffer, William A. Fischer, David A. Wohl, Susan D. Emmett, John S. Schieffelin
Summary: This study characterizes hearing loss among Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) survivors, finding that over 1/5 of survivors develop hearing loss. The association between hearing impairment and symptoms affecting the eye and nervous system is noted, suggesting a common mechanism of pathogenesis.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ashley Hazel, Michelle C. Davidson, Abu Rogers, M. Bailor Barrie, Adams Freeman, Mohamed Mbayoh, Mohamed Kamara, Seth Blumberg, Thomas M. Lietman, George W. Rutherford, James Holland Jones, Travis C. Porco, Eugene T. Richardson, J. Daniel Kelly
Summary: This study examines the spread of the Ebola virus within social networks in Sukudu village. Although no evidence explaining the decline of the epidemic was found, the study excludes potential reasons and identifies three social interactions in Ebola transmission.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sachin Agnihotri, Charles Alpren, Brima Bangura, Sarah Bennett, Yelena Gorina, Jadnah D. Harding, Sara Hersey, Ansumana S. Kamara, Mohamed A. M. Kamara, John D. Klena, Fiona McLysaght, Nishi Patel, Lance Presser, John T. Redd, Thomas T. Samba, Alexander K. Taylor, Mohamed A. Vandi, Scott Van Heest
Summary: This study details the process of consolidating epidemic records and establishing a database during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, with a focus on assisting families in locating the graves of loved ones who passed away during the epidemic through the SLED Family Reunification Program. The project aimed to create a data source for epidemiological research and highlighted the characteristics, strengths, and limitations of this unique information source for public health research.
ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Susannah H. Mayhew, Dina Balabanova, Ahmed Vandi, Gelejimah Alfred Mokuwa, Tommy Hanson, Melissa Parker, Paul Richards
Summary: This study presents an interdisciplinary analysis of local responses to Ebola in Sierra Leone, highlighting the influence of diverse systems of care. The research shows that local arrangements lead and shape responses, emphasizing the importance of alignment between health systems and wider social, cultural, political, and economic organizations.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nicholas Paul Oliphant, Nicolas Ray, Andrew Curtis, Elizabeth Musa, Momodu Sesay, Joseph Kandeh, Anitta Kamara, Kebir Hassen, Shane O'Connor, Yuki Suehiro, Hailemariam Legesse, Ebeny Francois Temgbait Chimoun, Debra Jackson, Tanya Doherty
Summary: Little is known about strategies for optimizing the scale and deployment of community health workers to improve geographic accessibility of primary healthcare services. The study uses data from Sierra Leone to explore the optimization of the scale and deployment of community health workers, providing insights for current policy and future plans.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kathryn M. Hogan, Henry Saidu Bangura, Jing Li, Mohamed Akmed Salim Kamara, Jiafu Jiang, Michael E. von Fricken
Summary: This study examines the impact of the 2014-2016 Ebola virus outbreak on tuberculosis treatment outcomes at a military hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The results show that factors such as HIV status, patient age, TB status, and the time since the start of the outbreak are significantly associated with TB treatment outcomes. The probability of unknown and unsuccessful treatment outcomes increased with each month after the outbreak.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Claudette Amuzu, Peter Bai James, Abdulai Jawo Bah, Alex Vandy Saffa Bayoh, Shepherd Roee Singer
Summary: Child survivors of the 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus disease outbreak were more likely to experience musculoskeletal, ocular, auditory, and neurological symptoms compared to their close contacts over a year after the outbreak ended. Joint pain and headache were the most common self-reported symptoms in both groups.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sena Mursel, Nathaniel Alter, Lindsay Slavit, Anna Smith, Paolo Bocchini, Javier Buceta
Summary: This article explores the transmission of Ebola virus disease in Sierra Leone, identifies predictors and risk areas through a survey and data analysis, and proposes strategies for resource deployment and prevention.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shinichi Kuriyama, Hirohito Metoki, Masahiro Kikuya, Taku Obara, Mami Ishikuro, Chizuru Yamanaka, Masato Nagai, Hiroko Matsubara, Tomoko Kobayashi, Junichi Sugawara, Gen Tamiya, Atsushi Hozawa, Naoki Nakaya, Naho Tsuchiya, Tomohiro Nakamura, Akira Narita, Mana Kogure, Takumi Hirata, Ichiro Tsuji, Fuji Nagami, Nobuo Fuse, Tomohiko Arai, Yoshio Kawaguchi, Shinichi Higuchi, Masaki Sakaida, Yoichi Suzuki, Noriko Osumi, Keiko Nakayama, Kiyoshi Ito, Shinichi Egawa, Koichi Chida, Eiichi Kodama, Hideyasu Kiyomoto, Tadashi Ishii, Akito Tsuboi, Hiroaki Tomita, Yasuyuki Taki, Hiroshi Kawame, Kichiya Suzuki, Naoto Ishii, Soichi Ogishima, Satoshi Mizuno, Takako Takai-Igarashi, Naoko Minegishi, Jun Yasuda, Kazuhiko Igarashi, Ritsuko Shimizu, Masao Nagasaki, Osamu Tanabe, Seizo Koshiba, Hiroaki Hashizume, Hozumi Motohashi, Teiji Tominaga, Sadayoshi Ito, Kozo Tanno, Kiyomi Sakata, Atsushi Shimizu, Jiro Hitomi, Makoto Sasaki, Kengo Kinoshita, Hiroshi Tanaka, Tadao Kobayashi, Shigeo Kure, Nobuo Yaegashi, Masayuki Yamamoto
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Haorile Chagan-Yasutan, Firmanto Hanan, Toshiro Niki, Gaowa Bai, Yugo Ashino, Shinichi Egawa, Elizabeth Freda O. Telan, Toshio Hattori
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Atsushi Hozawa, Kozo Tanno, Naoki Nakaya, Tomohiro Nakamura, Naho Tsuchiya, Takumi Hirata, Akira Narita, Mana Kogure, Kotaro Nochioka, Ryohei Sasaki, Nobuyuki Takanashi, Kotaro Otsuka, Kiyomi Sakata, Shinichi Kuriyama, Masahiro Kikuya, Osamu Tanabe, Junichi Sugawara, Kichiya Suzuki, Yoichi Suzuki, Eiichi N. Kodama, Nobuo Fuse, Hideyasu Kiyomoto, Hiroaki Tomita, Akira Uruno, Yohei Hamanaka, Hirohito Metoki, Mami Ishikuro, Taku Obara, Tomoko Kobayashi, Kazuyuki Kitatani, Takako Takai-Igarashi, Soichi Ogishima, Mamoru Satoh, Hideki Ohmomo, Akito Tsuboi, Shinichi Egawa, Tadashi Ishii, Kiyoshi Ito, Sadayoshi Ito, Yasuyuki Taki, Naoko Minegishi, Naoto Ishii, Masao Nagasaki, Kazuhiko Igarashi, Seizo Koshiba, Ritsuko Shimizu, Gen Tamiya, Keiko Nakayama, Hozumi Motohashi, Jun Yasuda, Atsushi Shimizu, Tsuyoshi Hachiya, Yuh Shiwa, Teiji Tominaga, Hiroshi Tanaka, Kotaro Oyama, Ryoichi Tanaka, Hiroshi Kawame, Akimune Fukushima, Yasushi Ishigaki, Tomoharu Tokutomi, Noriko Osumi, Tadao Kobayashi, Fuji Nagami, Hiroaki Hashizume, Tomohiko Arai, Yoshio Kawaguchi, Shinichi Higuchi, Masaki Sakaida, Ryujin Endo, Satoshi Nishizuka, Ichiro Tsuji, Jiro Hitomi, Motoyuki Nakamura, Kuniaki Ogasawara, Nobuo Yaegashi, Kengo Kinoshita, Shigeo Kure, Akio Sakai, Seiichiro Kobayashi, Kenji Sobue, Makoto Sasaki, Masayuki Yamamoto
Summary: The study established a community-based cohort to assess the long-term impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on disaster victims and gene-environment interactions on major disease incidence. Results showed that 70% of participants joined at health check-up sites, Type 1 survey participants were more likely to have psychological distress, women were more likely to have psychological distress than men, and coastal residents had higher levels of psychological distress compared to inland residents.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kevin K. C. Hung, Sonoe Mashino, Emily Y. Y. Chan, Makiko K. MacDermot, Satchit Balsari, Gregory R. Ciottone, Francesco Della Corte, Marcelo F. Dell'Aringa, Shinichi Egawa, Bettina D. Evio, Alexander Hart, Hai Hu, Tadashi Ishii, Luca Ragazzoni, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Joseph H. Walline, Chi S. Wong, Hari K. Bhattarai, Saurabh Dalal, Ryoma Kayano, Jonathan Abrahams, Colin A. Graham
Summary: The Sendai Framework emphasizes the importance of human health in disaster risk reduction and calls for enhanced health emergency and disaster risk management. Developing a skilled Health EDRM workforce is crucial, but there are gaps in identifying training competencies and workforce strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Akindele Abimibayo Adeoya, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Mikiko Fuda, Tomoko Okamoto, Shinichi Egawa
Summary: Disasters pose a threat to the nutritional health of children, but adequate infant and young child feeding can prevent malnutrition and save lives. Despite progress in nutritional support during disasters, child malnutrition remains a concern. Factors such as malnutrition before disasters, food insecurity, living conditions in shelters, poor breastfeeding practices, sociocultural factors, and organizational challenges all impact child nutrition in disasters. It is recommended to adopt a coordinated approach that includes preparedness, policy development, and education for children, families, and relief workers. Periodic nutritional assessments and designated authorities are necessary for providing nutritional support. Education and involvement of the general population are also important. Future assessments should consider food allergies in children and the impact of nutrition on child mental health in disasters.
TOHOKU JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Hirokazu Kamata, Shuji Seto, Anawat Suppasri, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Shinichi Egawa, Fumihiko Imamura
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of hypothermia during tsunami disasters based on casualty data from Miyagi Prefecture during the Great East Japan Earthquake. The research examined the spatial distribution of hypothermia victims' locations and the effects of age group, location, environmental temperature, and tsunami exposure at different scales. It was found that hypothermia victims were only identified in coastal areas, indicating an increased risk of hypothermia due to wetting of the body caused by exposure to tsunami water and a cold environment at evacuation centers. The proportion of older individuals (>70 years) among hypothermia victims was significantly higher compared to drowning victims. Based on these findings, a response checklist in evacuation centers and a modified government response flowchart are proposed to reduce the risk of hypothermia after a disaster.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2022)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Kevin K. C. Hung, Makiko K. MacDermot, Emily Y. Y. Chan, Sonoe Mashino, Satchit Balsari, Gregory R. Ciottone, Francesco Della Corte, Marcelo F. Dell'Aringa, Shinichi Egawa, Bettina D. Evio, Alexander Hart, Tadashi Ishii, Luca Ragazzoni, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Joseph Harold Walline, Chi S. Wong, Saurabh Dalal, Ryoma Kayano, Jonathan Abrahams, Qudsia Huda, Colin A. Graham
Summary: This study used the Delphi consensus method to provide strategic recommendations for strengthening the workforce for Health EDRM in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and high-income countries (HIC). The expert panel identified important areas such as human resources, planning and coordination, and community capacities for Health EDRM.
PREHOSPITAL AND DISASTER MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Hiroaki Maruya, Tetsuya Torayashiki, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Fumihiko Imamura
Summary: The occurrence rate of subsequent earthquakes is projected to be a hundred times higher than normal when the Nankai Trough Earthquake experiences partial rupture. Companies and organizations that play important roles in social activities should cooperate and take feasible actions. The recommended responses would vary based on the level of influence from the subsequent partial rupture earthquake.
JOURNAL OF DISASTER RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Junko Okuyama, Shin-Ichi Izumi, Shunichi Funakoshi, Shuji Seto, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Kiyoshi Ito, Fumihiko Imamura, Mayumi Willgerodt, Yu Fukuda
Summary: This study suggests that improving depressed mood may enhance resilience in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on an analysis of historical data from high-school students affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Hideaki Karasawa, Koh Miura, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Minoru Kobayashi, Taiki Kajiwara, Takashi Kamei, Shinobu Ohnuma, Michiaki Unno
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Junko Okuyama, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Shuji Seto, Yu Fukuda, Toshiki Iwasaki, Toru Matsuzawa, Kiyoshi Ito, Takako Izumi, Hiroki Takakura, Fumihiko Imamura, Tadashi Ishi
JOURNAL OF DISASTER RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yayoi Nakamura, Tomomi Suda, Aya Murakami, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Ichiro Tsuji, Yumi Sugawara, Masafumi Nishizawa, Kazuaki Hatsugai, Shinichi Egawa
TOHOKU JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Hiroyuki Sasaki, Hiroaki Maruya, Yoshiko Abe, Motoo Fujita, Hajime Furukawa, Mikiko Fuda, Takashi Kamei, Nobuo Yaegashi, Teiji Tominaga, Shinichi Egawa
TOHOKU JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2020)