ABSTRACT
The environment plays an important role in disease dynamism and determining people's health. In particular, the built environment has a great impact on controlling both chronic and infectious diseases in humans. The present research has been done in terms of practical purpose, in terms of exploratory method at exploratory level and based on future research approach. The present study, by operationalizing the framework of spatial and functional structure of cities, provides a more comprehensive approach to optimizing control programs and policies to reduce infectious diseases using indicators affecting urban structure and function with a future-research approach .The propulsion forces are determined by Delphi method, and then these factors are based on the importance and uncertainty, prioritization and the most critical factors, and software (MicMac) is used to write possible scenarios. During the scenario development phase, a total of 45 variables were identified. According to the research findings, among these factors, the index of worn-out texture and density of life, weakness of urban management, economic situation, improper distribution of urban services are the most key factors in the spatial and functional structure of this metropolis in the face of infectious diseases. Subsequent rankings had the highest direct impact as well as environmental quality, and poor physical activity had the highest direct impact on other variables. © 2022 Journal of Environmental Studies. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated rapid top-down dissemination of reliable and actionable information. This presents unique challenges in engaging low-literate communities that live in poverty and lack access to the Internet. We describe the design and deployment of a voice-based social media platform, accessible over simple phones, for actively engaging such communities in Pakistan with reliable COVID information. We developed three strategies to overcome users' hesitation, mistrust, and skepticism in engaging with COVID content. Users were: (1) encouraged to listen to reliable COVID advisory, (2) incentivized to share authentic content with others, and (3) prompted to critically think about COVID-related information behaviors. Using a mixed-methods evaluation, we show that users approached with all three strategies had a significantly higher engagement with COVID content compared to others. We discuss how new designs of social media can enable users to engage with and propagate authentic information. © 2022 ACM.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also known as pseudotumor cerebri, is a rare neurological manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Case Presentation: In this case study, we present a 10-year-old girl with headache, diplopia, bilateral sixth nerve palsy, and papilledema following a history of seven days of fever about two weeks ago. In lumbar puncture, the opening pressure was 56 cmH2O. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was suggestive of IIH. Nasopharyngeal reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was positive for COVID-19. Oral acetazolamide was prescribed, and the patient improved completely after three weeks of continuous medical treatment. Conclusions: Since IIH is a rare neurological complication of COVID-19, we have to suspect COVID-19 infection in any patient with IIH. © 2021, Author(s).