ABSTRACT
Background: Global Health Partnerships (GHPs) represent collaborative efforts towards training, research, and capacity building. Virtual GHP initiatives (VGHPIs) evolved to ensure GHP continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the current VGHPI landscape is unknown. This study aimed to increase understanding of the existing GHPs' perspectives on VGHPIs to inform future approaches for re-organization and reprioritization of GH activities. Methods: From 15 October to 30 November 2020, authors conducted an online, international survey using snowball sampling to assess pandemic-related changes in activities and document perceived acceptability and barriers to VGHPIs. Analysis stratified responses by country income classification and GHP type. The authors described categorical and continuous data using descriptive statistics. Chisquare tests were used to analyze categorical variables, with alpha set at 0.05. Results: A total of 128 respondents described 219 GHPs, with 82/128 (64%) responding to >1 GHP. Most GHPs (152/219, 69%) were transnational, of >5 years duration (157/219, 72%) and with bidirectional site visits (127/219, 60%);with HIC partners sending significantly more learners to LMIC partner sites (P = 0.0098). Within GHPs, respondents reported the pandemic was a significant disruptor to communication (122/219, 56%), funding (71/219, 32%), activities (195/219, 89%), and access to professional support (73/219, 33%). While 84/219 (38%) of GHPs described VGHPIs prior to the pandemic, respondents indicated that VGHPIs would be important to the majority (206/219, 94%) of GHPs moving forward. Available resources for VGHPIs were significantly different between LMIC and HIC respondents, as were their preference for VGHPIs, technological capacity, and acceptability of VGHPIs (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between groups regarding VGHPIs' perceived barriers. Conclusion: The pandemic disrupted many essential GHP elements, compounding on differences in the resources and preferences for VGHPIs between LMIC and HIC. VGHPIs have the potential to bridge existing gaps and maximize gains, bi-directionality, and equity of GHPs during and after COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Purpose : Individuals with vision loss are experiencing new and unique challenges due to physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross sectional study to understand challenges and to learn about adaptive strategies employed. Methods : The Casey Eye Institute EHR (EPIC) was queried for patients meeting the following criteria: best corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better seeing eye;age 18-100, and active email address. 762 requests for participation in completing a 23- question survey were emailed via REDcap and responses were received from 46 patients;19 male and 27 female. The data was analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Comparisons were made between age, duration of visual impairment, severity of visual impairment to effects of physical distancing and adaptive strategies. Comparisons were made using the chi-squared test. Results : 44% of participants reported that physical distancing impacted their willingness to run essential errands and 52% agree or strongly agree that they have difficulty maintaining physical distancing due to their visual impairment. 65% agree or strongly agree that changes to the layout of familiar places, to encourage physical distancing, makes navigating more difficult. There is an association between age and this difficulty with navigating due to changes to the layout (p<0.01). Younger participants rated navigating as more difficult with changes to the layout, not older participants. 72% agree or strongly agree that visual markers used to indicate 6 feet physical distance are helpful in public places. 39% of participants reported that they use strategies to maintain physical distancing when in public. The most common strategies included Sighted Guide or avoiding situations where others may be present. Individuals with vision loss for >10 years, but not since birth, are most likely to report using strategies to maintain physical distancing. Conclusions : The need to physically distance during a pandemic poses unique challenges for individuals with vision loss. Policies for physical distancing should consider this population. Visual markers on the ground to indicate 6 feet of separation can be helpful and it is important to be mindful when making changes to the environmental layout. Further research to learn more about the strategies utilized by this population to adapt to these challenges is needed.
ABSTRACT
Since April 2020, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) has asked for people to wear face masks in public to curb the spread of COVID-19. This shift has given rise to a mass movement of cloth mask making. Artists have leapt into action to produce masks for healthcare and frontline workers or as an alternative economy for lost income, while others customize masks to communicate identity, beliefs, or concerns. Mask making has also raised questions about the future of fashion with regards to health and sustainability. Through a series of conversations, experts from the arts, fashion, sustainability, and medical fields were invited to talk about the variety of issues, and questions this moment of mask making and wearing have produced. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Ana María Rule has been helping the scientific community and the public understand the spread of particulates and the effectiveness of masks. Through scholarly publications, Rule has proposed ways of safely reusing limited personal protective equipment, and questioned the results of studies gauging the safety of textile facemasks. Rule agreed to speak in the Art of Masks series as a way to educate the textile interested community about the limits of fabric facemasks, and how best to protect themselves and others. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.