Assessment of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among people living with HIV/AIDS: a single-centered study

Introduction: as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are distributed and administered globally, hesitancy towards the vaccine hinders the immunisation of a significant number of vulnerable populations, such as people living with HIV/AIDS. Hence, this study aims to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) attending clinicaloutpatient follow-up at State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri (SSHM), Borno State, Nigeria. Methods: a hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among 344 PLHIV receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the United States President´s Emergency Plan for AIDS (PEPFAR) clinic in SSHM from 4 th January to 25th February 2022. Data were collected using a structured and pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. The results were presented using frequencies and percentages. The factors that are associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were identified using the Chi-square statistical test. Results: among the 344 respondents of the study, only 88 (26.6%) received the COVID-19 vaccine. Out of the 256 respondents that did not receive the vaccine, only 10.5% (27/256) are willing to be vaccinated, while the majority; 57.8% (148/256) are not willing to be vaccinated and 31.7% (81/256) of the respondents are uncertain, thus resulting in a hesitation rate of 89.45%. There was no statistically significant association between COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and the study´s independent variables; where p-value is greater than 0.05. Conclusion: hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccine is high among PLHIV and there is no any statistically significant association between COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and the independent variables of the study where p-value is greater than 0.05. Hence, it is necessary to develop targeted strategies to boost vaccine uptake among this vulnerable population.

As dimensões intangíveis da prática assistencial: biopolítica, ética e afeto em sua relação com a clínica / Intangible dimensions of care: biopolitics, ethics and affection in relation to clinical practice / Las dimensiones intangibles de la práctica asistencial: biopolítica, ética y afecto en su relación con la clínica

Este artigo é parte inicial de uma pesquisa realizada em um centro de transplante de medula óssea, do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), cujos usuários são pessoas em situação de extrema vulnerabilidade. Sua proposta é analisar dimensões que atravessam a prática em saúde e não se reduzem a resultados imediatamente mensuráveis, podendo ser chamadas de dimensões intangíveis do cuidar. O objetivo é refletir sobre o encontro profissional-paciente, em sua relação com o adoecimento e a morte, sob o conceito psicanalítico de inconsciente. Para isso, foi realizado o relato de situações vividas no campo denominadas vinhetas clínicas; e, com base nas articulações teóricas elaboradas, consideram-se os vetores da biopolítica, ética e afeto como axiais à assistência. Conclui com a necessidade de propor perspectivas do cuidar que reconheçam a subjetividade concernida à prática assistencial. (AU)

This article is based on the initial stages of a study undertaken in a public bone marrow transplant center for extremely vulnerable people. We analyze dimensions that cut across health care practice not reduced to immediately measureable results, otherwise called intangible dimensions of care. We reflect on the intersection between health professionals and patients in relation to illness and death drawing on the psychoanalytic concept of the unconscious. To this end, we document situations experienced in the field called clinical vignettes. Drawing on the theoretical framework, we consider the vectors biopolitics, ethics and affection to be core aspects of care. We conclude that there is a need for approaches to care that recognize the subjectivity of health care practice. (AU)

Este artículo es parte inicial de una investigación realizada en un centro de trasplante de médula ósea del Sistema Único de Salud, cuyos usuarios son personas en situaciones de extremada vulnerabilidad. Su propuesta es analizar dimensiones que atraviesan la práctica en salud y no se reducen a resultados inmediatamente mensurables, pudiendo llamarse de dimensiones intangibles del cuidar. El objetivo es reflexionar sobre el encuentro profesional-paciente en su relación con la enfermedad y la muerte, bajo el concepto psicoanalítico de inconsciente. Para ello, se realizó el relato de situaciones vividas en el campo, denominadas viñetas clínicas; y a partir de las articulaciones teóricas elaboradas se consideran los vectores de la biopolítica, ética y afecto como axiales a la asistencia. Se concluye con la necesidad de proponer perspectivas del cuidar que reconozcan la subjetividad relativa a la práctica asistencial. (AU)

Distribution of ABO, Rhesus D and Subgroups of ABO among Blood Donors in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

ABO, Rhesus D and subgroups of ABO are highly immunogenic and are the common cause of antibody production in mismatched blood transfusions, haemolytic transfusion reaction and maternal alloimmunization. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of ABO, Rh D and subgroups of ABO among blood donors attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria. ABO, Rhesus D and subgroups of ABO antigen status of 176 blood donors with mean age of 30.44 � 8.210 years attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto were determined using tile method for ABO and Rh D and conventional tube method for anti- A1, anti- H reagents for ABO subgroups respectively. Among the 176 subjects tested, blood group O+ was the most frequent group with 93 (52.8%), 39 (22.2%) were blood group B+, 37(21.0%) were blood group A+, 5 (2.8%) were blood group AB+, 2 (1.1%) were blood group O-. No data was obtained for A-, B- and AB- blood groups. Out of 37 A blood groups obtained, 31 (83.8%) had A1 antigens and 6 (16.2%) had A2 antigens. Out of the 5 AB blood groups, all had A1B antigens. The study also shows that there was statistically significant difference between blood group A and ethnic groups (Hausa, Fulani and Yoruba) (p<0.05). Blood group O was found to be the most frequent followed by B, A and AB except among Hausa which revealed a pattern of O> A> B> AB. ABO, subgroups shows majority had A1 followed by A2 and A1B respectively.

Nursing human resource management of infectious disease hospitals under novel coronavirus pneumonia threats / 中华医院管理杂志

With the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia, Beijing You'an Hospital has become one of the three infectious disease specialist hospitals designated to treat patients of such pneumonia. Under the premise of comprehensively implementing various emergency treatment tasks and ensuring the normal operation of other wards, the Nursing Department has put in place emergency plans and deployed due manpower for rapid response, timely personnel deployment, and reasonable reserve echelon structure. These measures have been taken as required by the patients’ numbers, critical conditions, disease diagnosis, and the guidelines of treatment and protection. While ensuring the completion of treatment work, we manage to leverage nursing human resources in a scientific, standardized and maximized efficiency manner, to ensure the quality of nursing, and the physical and mental health of nursing staff.

Unsedated Colonoscopy: Experience from an Endoscopy Centre.

Aim and Objective: Colonoscopy is generally considered a painful procedure requiring sedation. Due to the high cost of sedation colonoscopy, coupled with the attendant morbidity and mortality, there is a general trend towards unsedated colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of unsedated colonoscopy on the success of caecal intubation, factors predictive of painful procedure and to compare with results elsewhere. Materials and Methods: Forty one consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy were recruited into this study. The study was carried out at a privately owned low-volume endoscopy centre: Gilead specialist hospital (GSH), Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria from January 2010 to December 2011. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the centre’s Research and Ethics Committee and all the patients gave their individual written consent. SPSS version 15.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) was deployed for statistical analysis using the t-test for quantitative variables and χ2 test for qualitative variables. Differences were considered to be statistically significant if P value was less than 0.05. Results: The male: female ratio was 1.93:1. The mean age of the studied population was 53.20±9.53 years [age range from 30-71. The indications for colonoscopy were; lower gastrointestinal bleeding (41.5%), abdominal pain or discomfort (19.5%), diarrhea (12.2%), suspected cancer [Patients with history of GI bleeds, weight loss, recurrent diarrhoea and ileus (12.2%), constipation (7.3%) and routine examination (7.3%). Overall, caecal intubation was achieved in 70.7% of cases while in 29.3% caecal intubation was unsuccessful. With on demand analgesia, and exclusion of both cases of obstruction (tumors) and poor bowel preparations, caecal intubation rate rose to 94.3%. Causes of unsuccessful caecal intubation included: abdominal pain or discomfort (33.3%), bowel obstruction (25%), poor bowel preparation (16.7%), anxiety (6.6%) and obesity (8.3%). Colonoscopy findings were haemorrhoids (36.6%), polyps (17.1%), colorectal cancer (14.6%), arteriovenous malformations (7.3%), anal fissure (4.9%), inflammatory bowel disease (2.4%) and normal findings (17.1%). Bowel preparation was adjudged adequate in 80.5% (33/41) of the patients. Female gender and abdominal pain as indication for colonoscopy were found to be predictive for painful colonoscopy (p<0.05). Conclusion: Unsedated colonoscopy with on demand analgesia is advocated in resource poor countries to minimize the direct and indirect costs of colonoscopy. It is also recommended to minimize patient burden in screening and surveillance colonoscopy. Colonoscopists are advised to use the warm water (37°C) method in this setting as against the traditional air insufflations to achieve a high success rate of caecal intubation.