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Background The safety of drinking water is closely related to people's health. In recent years, relevant studies have identified some health related problems with drinking water in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The complex and diverse natural environment embraced by the vast jurisdiction of the region may lead to uneven drinking water quality across the region. Objective To evaluate eight chemicals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium (hexavalent), lead, mercury, fluoride, trichloromethane, and carbon tetrachloride in urban drinking water in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2021, and to provide reference for optimizing urban water supply system and ideas for further developing strategies to promote population health. Methods A total of 1228 monitoring sites were set up in urban areas of Inner Mongolia, and water samples were collected once in dry season (May) and once in wet season (August−September). Eight chemicals of interest in drinking water were detected according to the Standard examination methods for drinking water, and assessed for health risks using the health risk assessment model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and following the Technical guide for environmental health risk assessment of chemical exposure. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the concentrations of eight chemicals in urban drinking water by water seasons and water sample types. Results In 2021, a total of 2381 samples of urban drinking water were tested in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, including 1195 samples in wet season and 1186 samples in dry season; 389 samples of finished water and 1992 samples of tap water. The positive rates of arsenic and fluoride were 26.25% and 96.77%, respectively. The positive rates of cadmium, chromium (hexavalent), lead, mercury, trichloromethane, and carbon tetrachloride were 6.22%, 16.63%, 6.09%, 16.67%, 18.98%, and 8.36%, respectively. The exceeding standard rate of fluoride was 4.87%. Trichloromethane and carbon tetrachloride were qualified in all samples. There were statistical differences in the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium (hexavalent), lead, and carbon tetrachloride in urban drinking water between water seasons (Z=−3.847, P<0.05; Z=2.464, P=0.014; Z=−3.129, P=0.002; Z=4.341, P<0.05; Z=4.342, P<0.05). Only fluoride concentration was found statistically different among different water sample types (Z=−2.287, P=0.022). The non-carcinogenic risks of ingestion and dermal exposure to each chemical in drinking water by water seasons and water sample types were all less than 1, but the P95 total non-carcinogenic risks of oral exposure were greater than 1. The P95 carcinogenic risks of oral exposure to some chemicals in drinking water by water seasons and water sample types were>10−4, which suggested carcinogenic risks, while the carcinogenic risks of dermal explore to chemicals were all less than 10−6. Conclusion In 2021, urban drinking water in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is generally safe, but arsenic, cadmium, chromium (hexavalent), lead, mercury, and fluoride still exceed the national limits, posing certain health risks.
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ObjectiveTo analyze the equity of medical and health resource allocation in 12 cities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and to provide policy suggestions for further optimizing the allocation of medical and health resources. MethodsBased on two dimensions of geography and population， a comprehensive evaluation of the equity of medical and health resource allocation was conducted using location entropy， health resource density index （HRDI）， entropy-weighted TOPSIS method， and GIS spatial analysis. ResultsLocation entropy showed that the allocation of medical resources in each league city exceeded or approached 1 in the population dimension， but less than 1 in the geography dimension. HRDI revealed that the number of health institutions in Tongliao City was 8.3 times that of Alxa League； the number of beds， health technical personnel， practicing （assistant） physicians， and registered nurses in Wuhai City was 20.3 times， 18.2 times， 15.2 times， and 22.7 times that of Alxa League. The entropy-weighted TOPSIS method showed that the top three weighted indicators were registered nurses （24.14%）， health technical personnel （22.63%）， and practicing （assistant） physicians （21.13%）. Allocation of medical resources in Hulunbuir City， Xilinguole League， and Alashan League was significantly inequitable； GIS spatial analysis showed that the equity of medical resource allocation exhibited a decreasing distribution pattern from the central region to the western and eastern regions. ConclusionThere is a significant disparity in the equity of medical and health resource allocation among various leagues and cities， with resource allocation in the population dimension being better than in the geographical dimension. Allocation of medical and health human resources should be strengthened.
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Objective@#To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among five high-risk populations in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, so as to provide insights into improvements in the control strategy for hepatitis C. @*Methods@#The detection of anti-HCV antibody was collected from patients receiving renal dialysis, patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals, physical examination populations, unpaid blood donors and subjects admitted to family planning clinics in national hepatitis C surveillance sentinels in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2013 to 2021, and the year-, gender- and age-specific prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was analyzed. @*Results@#The mean prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was 2.19%, 1.81%, 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.03% among 3 600 patients receiving renal dialysis, 3 600 patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals, 18 000 physical examination populations, 18 000 volunteer blood donors and 3 600 subjects admitted to family planning clinics, respectively. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody appeared a tendency towards a decline among patients receiving renal dialysis (χ2trend=49.065, P<0.001) and volunteer blood donors (χ2trend=11.419, P=0.001). The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was higher among male patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals than among females (2.34% vs. 1.36%; χ2=4.826, P=0.028), and no gender-specific prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was seen among other four high-risk populations (all P>0.05). The highest prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was detected among patients receiving renal dialysis (3.30%) and patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals at ages of 50 to 59 years (3.35%), while the highest prevalence was found among physical examination populations at ages of 60 years and greater (0.18%). @*Conclusion@#The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was high among patients receiving renal dialysis and patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals and low among physical examination populations, volunteer blood donors and subjects admitted to family planning clinics in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2013 to 2021. Periodical monitoring of anti-HCV antibody is recommended among the elderly.
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Objective To comprehensively obtain the present situation of medical radiation protection resources by investigating the basic information of all medical institutions in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China from 2017 to 2019. Methods An investigation was conducted on the basic information of medical institutions according to the unified plan of medical radiation protection monitoring project issued in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, involving all radiodiagnostic medical institutions throughout the region. Results By the end of 2019, there were 1195 radiological diagnosis and treatment institutions, 7285 radiation workers, 2705 sets of radiological diagnostic equipment, 36 medical accelerators, and 22 sets of nuclear medicine equipment in the whole region. Conclusion The radiological diagnosis and treatment resources in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are developing rapidly. However, the problems of insufficient per capita resources and uneven development among the cities are becoming increasingly prominent.
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Objective To investigate the distribution and changing trend of canine echinococcosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, so as to provide the scientific evidence for prevention and control of canine echinococcosis in high-risk areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Methods All data pertaining to Echinococcus infections in canine feces and sampling survey of human echinococcosis were collected from the echinococcosis-endemic foci of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2012 to 2018, and the prevalence of Echinococcus infections was investigated in dogs and humans. In addition, the spatial distribution characteristics and clusters of canine echinococcoses were identified. Results A total of 164 139 canine fecal samples were detected in the echinococcosis-endemic foci of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2012 to 2018, and there were 2 136 fecal samples positive for Echinococcus coproantigens. The positive rates of Echinococcus coproantigens were 0.54% to 1.73% in dogs from 2012 to 2018, with a tendency towards a decline seen in the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in dogs (χ2 = 108.83, P < 0.01), and there was a significant difference in the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens in dogs among years (χ2 = 155.27, P < 0.01). Three-dimensional trend analysis showed that canine echinococcosis was mainly concentrated in east of central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and a high prevalence was detected in New Barag Right Banner and Sonid Right Banner. The global spatial distribution of canine echinococcosis appeared a random pattern in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2012 to 2018 (Moran’s I > 0, P > 0.05), and there were “high-high” and “high-low” clusters of canine echinococcosis in local areas. The prevalence of human echinococcosis was 0.08%, and there was a significant difference in the prevalence among regions (χ2 = 147.61, P < 0.01), with a high prevalence seen in West Ujimqin Banner, Jarud Banner and New Barag Right Banner. In addition, the prevalence of human echinococcosis correlated positively with the Echinococcus coproantigen-positive rate in dogs (r = 0.52, P < 0.01). Conclusions The prevalence of Echinococcus infections shows an overall tendency towards a decline in dogs in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2012 to 2018, with a high prevalence found in New Barag Right Banner and Sonid Right Banner. Human echinococcosis is concentrated in clusters of canine echinococcosis, where health education and targeted control interventions requires to be intensified.
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Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human echinococcosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, so as to provide evidence for the development of the precision control strategy of human echinococcosis in the region. Methods A sampling survey of human echinococcosis was conducted in 28 banners (counties, districts) of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2012 to 2017, and the epidemiological characteristics were descriptively analyzed. Results A total of 90 058 residents were examined for echinococcosis in 28 banners (counties, districts) of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2012 to 2017, and 71 patients were detected with echinococcosis, with a detection rate of 0.08%. No echinococcosis cases were identified in 8 banners (counties), and there were 6 banners (counties) with echinococcosis prevalence of 0.1% to 1%, and 14 with prevalence of 0 to 0.1%. The echinococcosis prevalence was significantly greater in women (0.11%) than in men (0.05%) (χ2 = 10.09, P = 0.001), and the highest prevalence was detected in patients at ages of over 50 years (38 cases, 53.52%). In addition, the highest echinococcosis prevalence was detected in herdsmen (0.14%), or in primary school children (0.13%). Conclusions Human echinococcosis is widely, but lowly prevalent in Inner Mongolia Region, with a diverse density of infections. Echinococcosis has remarkable characteristics of regional and population clusters in Inner Mongolia Region, and the management of echinococcosis requires to be reinforced in key regions and populations.
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Objective To investigate the spatial distribution patterns and changing tendency of reported echinococcosis patients in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2013 to 2018, so as to provide the evidence for the management of echinococcosis in high-risk areas. Methods All data pertaining to echinococcosis patients in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were captured from the National Notifiable Communicable Disease Reporting System from 2013 to 2018 and analyzed using a spatial epidemiological method. Results The incidence of reported echinococcosis was 0.22 to 0.41 per 100 000 in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2013 to 2018, and the number of banner reporting echinococcosis patients increased from 24 in 2013 to 39 in 2018. The highly prevalent areas of echinococcosis were mainly concentrated in West Ujimqin Banner (the highest incidence, 19.23 per 100 000), East Ujimqin Banner (the highest incidence, 12.93 per 100 000) and New Barag Right Banner (the highest incidence, 11.66 per 100 000). Three-dimensional trend analysis showed that the areas with high incidence of reported echinococcosis were mainly located in central by eastern parts of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. There was a positive spatial autocorrelation in the number of echinococcosis patients, and the cases appeared a clustering distribution (Moran’s I > 0, P < 0.05), with “high-high” and “low-high” regions. Conclusion The reported echinococcosis patients show a spatial aggregation in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the hotspot areas are mainly concentrated in Xilingol League and Chifeng City, in which targeted control interventions for Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are recommended to be intensified.
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Objective@#To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and its trends of other infectious diarrhea diseases in infants in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.@*Methods@#Statistical analysis was conducted on other infectious diarrhea cases of infants in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from China Information System for Disease Prevention and Control from 2005 to 2016. The main methods were descriptive epidemiology for population, area and time distribution of these registered cases in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The trends were analyzed by the ratio of fixed base and ring base. Area map method was used for regional differences.@*Results@#From 2005 to 2016, 17 760 other infectious diarrhea diseases of infants were reported in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, accounting for 58% of the total reported cases. The cases number and incidence showed an overall upward trend. After 2011, the growth rate of case reports and incidences slowed down relatively. The peak of the incidence was in July and August (4 739 cases), accounting for 27% of cases of the whole year. Seventy-three point forty-four percent of the cases were located in Hulunbeier City (5 161 cases, 29.06%), Hohhot City (4 465 cases, 25.14%) and Baotou City (3 417 cases, 19.24%) . Except for Wuhai City, the remaining 11 cities showed increased incidence of other infectious diarrhea diseases in infants. The ratio of male to female was 1.55∶1, and the incidence in males was higher than that in females every year. Twelve-month-old (5 800 cases, 33%) had the greatest proportion. Clinical diagnosis (56.26%) and confirmed diagnosis (43.51%) were the main categories, but the rate of pathogen labeling was only 7.60%.@*Conclusions@#After 2011, the incidence of other infectious diarrhea diseases of infants in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have slowed down relatively. However, the incidence has significant time, region and population aggregation.
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Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and its trends of other infectious diarrhea diseases in infants in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Methods Statistical analysis was conducted on other infectious diarrhea cases of infants in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from China Information System for Disease Prevention and Control from 2005 to 2016.The main methods were descriptive epidemiology for population,area and time distribution of these registered cases in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.The trends were analyzed by the ratio of fixed base and ring base.Area map method was used for regional differences.Results From 2005 to 2016,17 760 other infectious diarrhea diseases of infants were reported in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,accounting for 58％of the total reposed cases.The cases number and incidence showed an overall upward trend.After 2011,the growth rate of case reports and incidences slowed down relatively.The peak of the incidence was in July and August(4 739 cases),accounting for27％of cases of the whole year.Seventy-three point forty-four percent of the cases were located in Hulunbeier City(5 161 cases,29.06％),Hohhot City(4 465 cases,25.14％)and Baotou City(3 417 cases,19.24％).Except for Wuhai City.the remaining 11 cities showed increased incidence of other infectious diarrhea diseases in infants.The ratio of male to female was 1.55∶1,and the incidence in males was higher than that in females every year.Twelve-month-old(5 800 cases,33％)had the greatest proportion.Clinical diagnosis(56.26％)and confirmed diagnosis(43.51％)were the main categories,but the rate of pathogen labeling was only 7.60％.Conclusions After 2011,the incidence of other infectious diarrhea diseases of infants in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have slowed down relatively.However,the incidence has significant time,region and population aggregation.