ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the symptoms of anxiety resulting from social distancing and its impacts on the Brazilian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study consisted of a cross-sectional survey, with data constructed through an online questionnaire that included sociodemographic information and information about anxiety symptoms. The questions were constructed considering the concept of "mental health waves", as being the mental health demands presented at the respective moment of the pandemic. The sample consisted of 632 participants, and the prevalence of anxiety identified was 81%, with no statistically significant differences between genders. The main factors related to anxiety were loneliness (OR=2.18, 95% CI=1.16-4.09), sleeping difficulties (OR=2.59, 95% CI=1.57-4.28), irritability (OR= 1.85, 95% CI=1.11-3.09), financial difficulties (OR=1.85, 95% CI=1.01-3.40), and problems related to emotional isolation (OR=2.43, 95% CI=1.47- 4.01). In the context of the challenges for mental health, the results obtained contribute to deeper understanding of the changes related to anxiety that emerged with the advent of social distancing policies and the context of the pandemic.
O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os sintomas de ansiedade decorrentes do distanciamento social e seus impactos sobre a população brasileira durante a pandemia COVID-19. O estudo consistiu em uma pesquisa transversal, com dados construídos por meio de questionário online que incluía informações sociodemográficas e informações sobre sintomas de ansiedade. As questões foram construídas considerando o conceito de "ondas de saúde mental", como sendo as demandas de saúde mental apresentadas no respectivo momento da pandemia. A amostra foi composta por 632 participantes, e a prevalência de ansiedade identificada foi de 81%, sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os sexos. Os principais fatores relacionados à ansiedade foram solidão (OR=2,18, 95% IC =1,16-4,09), dificuldades para dormir (OR=2,59, 95% IC =1,57-4,28), irritabilidade (OR= 1,85, 95% IC =1,11%-3,09), dificuldades financeiras (OR=1,85, 95% IC =1,01-3,40) e problemas relacionados ao isolamento emocional (OR=2,43, 95% IC =1,47-4,01). No contexto dos desafios para a saúde mental, os resultados obtidos contribuem para uma compreensão mais profunda das mudanças relacionadas à ansiedade que surgiram com o advento das políticas de distanciamento social e o contexto da pandemia.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Background: Although primaquine (PQ) is indicated for G6PD-deficient patients, data on weekly PQ use in Brazil are limited. Methods: We aimed to investigate malaria recurrences among participants receiving daily and weekly PQ treatments in a real-life setting of two municipalities in the Amazon between 2019 and 2020. Results: Patients receiving weekly PQ treatment had a lower risk of recurrence than those receiving daily PQ treatment (risk ratio: 0.62, 95% confidence interval: 0.41-0.94), using a model adjusted for study site. Conclusions: Weekly PQ use did not increase the risk of malaria recurrence. Further studies with larger populations are warranted.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Understanding the epidemiology of malaria through the molecular force of the blood-stage infection of Plasmodium vivax (molFOB) may provide a detailed assessment of malaria transmission. OBJECTIVES In this study, we investigated risk factors and spatial-temporal patterns of incidence of Plasmodium infection and clinical malaria episodes in three peri-urban communities of Manaus, Western Brazilian Amazon. METHODS Monthly samples were collected in a cohort of 1,274 individuals between April 2013 and March 2014. DNA samples were subject to Plasmodium species. molFOB was calculated by counting the number of genotypes observed on each visit, which had not been present in the preceding two visits and adjusting these counts by the respective times-at-risk. FINDINGS Respectively, 77.8% and 97.2% of the population remained free of P. vivax and P. falciparum infection. Expected heterozygosity for P. vivax was 0.69 for MSP1_F3 and 0.86 for MS2. Multiplicity of infection in P. vivax was close to the value of 1. The season was associated with P. vivax positivity [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.6 (1.9-5.7)] and clinical disease [aHR 10.6 (2.4-47.2)]. P. falciparum infection was associated with previous malarial episodes [HR 9.7 (4.5-20.9)]. Subjects who reported possession of a bed net [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.6 (1.2-2.2)] or previous malaria episodes [IRR 3.0 (2.0-4.5)] were found to have significantly higher P. vivax molFOB. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Overall, P. vivax infection prevailed in the area and infections were mostly observed as monoclonal. Previous malaria episodes were associated with significantly higher P. vivax molFOB.