Article
Psychology, Biological
Anna Josephson, Talip Kilic, Jeffrey D. Michler
Summary: Phone survey data from Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, and Uganda shows that 256 million individuals-77% of the population-live in households that have lost income during the pandemic. Attempts to cope with this loss are exacerbated by food insecurity and an inability to access medicine and staple foods. Student-teacher contact has dropped significantly among households with school-aged children.
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Cynthia Williams, Di Shang
Summary: This study aimed to examine the systemic differences in telehealth usage among people who live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The results showed that age, gender, race, education, employment status, and income factors impact telehealth usage. The study found that Asian and Hispanic patients were more likely to use telehealth, while non-Hispanic Black patients continue to face telehealth inequity. Rating: 9 out of 10.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Chifundo Annessia Kunyenje, Gowokani Chijere Chirwa, Sebastian M. Mboma, Wingston Ng'ambi, Emmanuel Mnjowe, Dominic Nkhoma, Lucky Gift Ngwira, Marlen Stacey Chawani, Ben Chilima, Collins Mitambo, Amelia Crampin, Joseph Mfutso-Bengo
Summary: Equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for ending the pandemic. Disparities in vaccine coverage exist both among low-income and high-income countries, mainly due to limited supply, unequal distribution, production constraints in low-income countries, weak health systems, vaccine hesitancy, and misconceptions. To address this inequity, efforts should focus on expanding COVAX, waiving intellectual property rights, technology transfer, and conducting mass vaccination campaigns.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Wafa Abu El Kheir-Mataria, Basma M. Saleh, Hassan El-Fawal, Sungsoo Chun
Summary: The study found that approximately 49% of parents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (L & MICs) accept vaccinating their children against COVID-19. The main determinant of their decision is the belief that the vaccine is essential in fighting the pandemic, while concerns regarding efficacy, safety, and side effects contribute to vaccine hesitancy.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ricky Y. T. Chiu, Noah Kojima, Garrett L. Mosley, Kwok Kin Cheng, David Y. Pereira, Matthew Brobeck, Tsun Leung Chan, Jonpaul Sze-Tsing Zee, Harsha Kittur, Cheuk Yiu Tenny Chung, Eric Tsang, Kajal Maran, Raymond Wai-Hung Yung, Alex Chin-Pang Leung, Ryan Ho-Ping Siu, Jessica Pui-Ling Ng, Tsz Hei Choi, Mei Wai Fung, Wai Sing Chan, Ho Yin Lam, Koon Hung Lee, Sean Parkin, Felix C. Chao, Stephen Ka-Nung Ho, Daniel R. Marshak, Edmond Shiu-Kwan Ma, Jeffrey D. Klausner
Summary: The INDICAID COVID-19 rapid antigen test showed high sensitivity and specificity in both symptomatic and asymptomatic populations, with significant improvements in expediting positive RT-PCR test results through a dual-track testing algorithm. This test, when used in conjunction with RT-PCR, offers a more efficient strategy for community testing and controlling SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brian Nicholson, Philip Turner, Thomas Fanshawe, Alice Williams, Gayatri Amirthalingam, Sharon Tonner, Maria Zambon, Richard N. Body, Kerrie Davies, Rafael Perera, Simon de Lusignan, Gail Hayward, F. D. Richard Hobbs, R. A. P. T. O. R. C. StudyGroupandtheCONDORSteeringCommittee RAPTOR C StudyGroup and the CONDOR Steering Committee
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of two point-of-care tests (POCTs) for SARS-CoV-2 in routine community care. The results showed that both POCTs had sufficient sensitivity and specificity, and these tests may not reliably detect the disease more than a week after symptom onset.
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jeff Clyde G. Corpuz
Summary: This article highlights the importance of ensuring equitable access to effective and safe COVID-19 vaccines for low-income countries in order to achieve global immunization.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Cathrine Axfors, John P. A. Ioannidis
Summary: This mixed design synthesis estimated the infection fatality rate (IFR) of COVID-19 in community-dwelling elderly populations and other age groups through seroprevalence studies. The results showed that the IFR in community-dwelling elderly was lower than previously reported.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
C. E. French, S. Denford, E. Brooks-Pollock, H. Wehling, M. Hickman
Summary: This study evaluates the COVID-19 lateral flow testing among asymptomatic university students. The results indicate low testing uptake and demographic disparities, highlighting the need for innovative strategies to increase student participation.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sabuj Kanti Mistry, Ben Harris-Roxas, Uday Narayan Yadav, Sadia Shabnam, Lal Bahadur Rawal, Mark F. Harris
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on both physical and mental health globally, underscoring the need for psychosocial support. Utilizing Community Health Workers (CHWs) could be a cost-effective way to address psychosocial vulnerabilities during and after the pandemic.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Thomas N. Vilches, Ellen Rafferty, Chad R. Wells, Alison P. Galvani, Seyed M. Moghadas
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing frequent and rapid antigen testing in the workplace. The findings suggest that starting frequent antigen testing early in a surge, without confirmatory testing, is the preferred screening program for detecting asymptomatic infections in workplaces.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shuying Gou, Xuedong Liu
Summary: The Mexican economy declined for two consecutive years from 2019 to 2020, with a significant drop of 8.4% in the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people in poverty and poverty rate in Mexico increased in 2020 compared to 2018. Despite the Mexican government's efforts to implement social relief policies, the overall decrease in residents' income and the lack of focused support for low-income households during the pandemic have worsened the poverty problem.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Yaofeng Zhou, Yuhao Wu, Lu Ding, Xiaolin Huang, Yonghua Xiong
Summary: The global COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus has posed a serious threat to human life and health since its discovery in December 2019. Lateral flow assay (LFA) has been widely accepted as a critical point-of-care diagnostic platform for the rapid diagnosis of COVID-19, although it faces challenges and requires continuous improvement to enhance its efficiency in clinical diagnostics.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jinhua Pan, A. Kezhong, Zhixi Liu, Peng Zhang, Zhiyin Xu, Xiaoqin Guo, Guangtao Liu, Ao Xu, Jing Wang, Xinyu Wang, Weibing Wang
Summary: The study assessed the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination through face-to-face and online surveys conducted in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Qinghai. The results showed that 82.6% of participants were willing to receive the vaccine. Factors such as gender, age, education level, health status, and positive attitudes towards vaccines were associated with the acceptance of vaccination.
Article
Oncology
Shahid Umar, Andriy Chybisov, Kristie McComb, Catherine Nyongesa, Christine Mugo-Sitati, Anastacia Bosire, Charles Muya, Corinne R. Leach
Summary: Disruptions caused by COVID-19 have severely affected access to healthcare services for cancer patients in Kenya. A study found that patients who lost access to hospitals due to travel restrictions were more likely to experience delays in cancer treatment. The study also identified that longer travel times to hospitals were associated with increased odds of cancer care delays. It is important to consider transportation needs and uninterrupted access to cancer care and medicines in order to improve the situation for patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2022)