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Feminist scholars and activists have long fought to make visible the fundamental but overlooked social reproduction work performed primarily by women, often in households. Taking on black feminist criticisms of the initial prioritization of the experience of white, middle-class women, these debates have developed into a broader social reproduction theory, which emphasizes the relationality of multiple forms of oppression under capitalism. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its lockdowns, temporarily turned the traditional distribution between visible and invisible work on its head when many so-called productive workers were ushered into their homes, leaving only the most essential workers publicly visible in the streets and valorized in online spaces. The sudden visibility of these generally low-paid, often racialized and marginalized workers now coded as ‘essential' highlighted the importance of the work of social reproduction. However, the category of essential workers was ambivalent, in that by making visible some forms of social reproduction it continued to obscure others, especially familial care work and housework. In this article we analyse the ambivalent category of the essential worker and argue that it exemplifies, as social reproduction theory attests, that the capitalist production process always requires invisible labour, even as some previously invisible forms become increasingly visible. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Gender Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
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This paper seeks to contribute to the rethinking of wellbeing in organisation studies. First, it contributes to critiques of corporate wellness by drawing on social reproduction theory to show how the wellbeing of every individual worker is dependent on the efforts of many, often unacknowledged, others. Corporate wellness initiatives epitomise the dominant, neoliberal narrative of wellbeing in which individuals are posited as responsible for the maintenance of their own wellbeing. Against this, social reproduction theory highlights the relational, socially distributed and materially grounded character of wellbeing. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic opened an opportunity to radically rethink wellbeing. A social reproduction reading of the category of the essential worker allows us to analyse some of the tensions and contradictions involved in the work of producing wellbeing today. It shows the unequal distribution of both the work involved and of its rewards. In sum, this paper helps extend debates over wellbeing in organisation studies beyond, on the one hand, individualised accounts of wellbeing and, on the other, accounts that ultimately confine understandings of wellbeing to the traditional workplace. It argues for the need for organisational studies of wellbeing to take the wider social reproduction of wellbeing as its starting point.
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The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the impact of unplanned change, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, on organizational culture and employee retention among essential workers in a growing healthcare organization. The research addresses the importance of employee retention, including factors related to retention, consequences of retentions, and the financial impact of employee attrition. Additionally, the research addresses employer strategies to increase retention, such as organizational culture, job satisfaction, employer brand, and generational differences in the workplace. The conceptual framework used for this research is an adaptation of the Burke-Litwin model of organizational performance and change (BLMOPC). The study sought to examine the change to the organization caused by the external environment factor of the COVID-19 pandemic by exploring the transactional factors of work unit climate and individual needs and values. Data collection consisted of a survey instrument and interviews with survey participants. The findings and results support the conceptual framework suggesting that the transformational factor of organizational culture is influenced by the transactional factors which can be leveraged to inform leaders and turn the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity to create a stronger organizational culture. Recommendations to address the impact of the COVID-19 on organizational culture and employee retention are discussed and include a quantified and transparent approach to compensation and developing an organizational culture that promotes work-life balance and leadership presence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
This paper seeks to contribute to the rethinking of wellbeing in organisation studies. First, it contributes to critiques of corporate wellness by drawing on social reproduction theory to show how the wellbeing of every individual worker is dependent on the efforts of many, often unacknowledged, others. Corporate wellness initiatives epitomise the dominant, neoliberal narrative of wellbeing in which individuals are posited as responsible for the maintenance of their own wellbeing. Against this, social reproduction theory highlights the relational, socially distributed and materially grounded character of wellbeing. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic opened an opportunity to radically rethink wellbeing. A social reproduction reading of the category of the essential worker allows us to analyse some of the tensions and contradictions involved in the work of producing wellbeing today. It shows the unequal distribution of both the work involved and of its rewards. In sum, this paper helps extend debates over wellbeing in organisation studies beyond, on the one hand, individualised accounts of wellbeing and, on the other, accounts that ultimately confine understandings of wellbeing to the traditional workplace. It argues for the need for organisational studies of wellbeing to take the wider social reproduction of wellbeing as its starting point.
ABSTRACT
Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic caused stress, social isolation and physical inactivity in many. We proposed to review anthropometric/biochemical profiles in girls seen for precocious puberty (PP) (ages 5-8 years) during the pandemic (3/2020- 3/2021) compared to girls seen in the prior 2 years (2/2018-2/2020) and look at environmental and psychosocial impacts. Methods A retrospective chart review of the girls prepandemic (Pre-PD) were compared to those seen during the pandemic (PD). Criteria for PP: luteinizing hormone (LH range: 0.02-0.3 mIU/L, ECLIA, Esoterix) with >0.3 defined as pubertal;estradiol (range <36 pg/ml for age 7-9 years, LCMS, ARUP) with >=36.0 pg/ml defined as pubertal;follicle stimulating level (FSH 0.4- 6.5 IU/L ECLIA, ARUP). Girls with isolated adrenarche were excluded. Pelvic ultrasound with ovarian volumes (OVs>1cc considered pubertal) and MRI pituitary were done as indicated. Bone age/chronological age ratio (BA/CA) >1 was considered advanced. A Covid-19 impact survey was sent via a HIPAA compliant REDCap link to assess activity, sleep, and psychosocial stressors, distress on 0-10 scale (mild 0-4, moderate 5-7, severe 8-10) to families. T-tests and bivariate correlations were run (SPSS Ver 21). Results In total 56 subjects were included (pre-PD=23 vs. PD=33). A 30% increase in puberty referrals was noted during the pandemic. Weight (mean+ SD: Pre-PD vs. PD: 26.8+/-5 vs. 26.9+/-5.7 kg) and BMI (17.3+/-2.3 vs.16.8+/-2.3kg/m2). Estradiol (9.7+/-7.5 vs.21.9+/-16.6 pg/ml;p-value =0.006), random LH (1 vs. 15) were pubertal. OVs (1.75+/-1.1 vs. 2.75 cc) and BA/CA (1.1+/- 0.4 vs. 1.0+/-0.5) were seen in the two groups respectively. There was a correlation between estradiol levels and OVs in PD group (r= 0.5;p=.05). Survey results showed 61% of subjects used remote learning, 55% spent >4 hours on social media (Tik Tok, WhatsApp, etc.), 50% reported no exercise and 33% reported no social interaction. Stress was moderate with a parental report of 5.4/10, (50%essential workers, 18% lost jobs) & children reported stress level of 4.8/10. Conclusions We report an increased incidence of PP during the pandemic (perhaps due to a delay in evaluation) and a more advanced puberty (higher estradiol levels and greater OVs) compared to Pre-PD patients. Though weight gain, potentially due to inactivity, did not appear to contribute, we believe that stress, excessive social media use and/or isolation could be factors which contributed to the increased incidence of PP during the pandemic.
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COVID-19 has been a sustained and global crisis with a strong continual impact on daily life. Staying accurately informed about COVID-19 has been key to personal and communal safety, especially for essential workers-individuals whose jobs have required them to go into work throughout the pandemic-As their employment has exposed them to higher risks of contracting the virus. Through 14 semi-structured interviews, we explore how essential workers across industries navigated the COVID-19 information landscape to get up-To-date information in the early months of the pandemic. We find that essential workers living through a sustained crisis have a broad set of information needs. We summarize these needs in a framework that centers 1) fulfilling job requirements, 2) assessing personal risk, and 3) keeping up with crisis news coverage. Our findings also show that the sustained nature of COVID-19 crisis coverage led essential workers to experience breaking points and develop coping strategies. Additionally, we show how workplace communications may act as a mediating force in this process: lack of adequate information in the workplace caused workers to struggle with navigating a contested information landscape, while consistent updates and information exchanges at work could ease the stress of information overload. Our findings extend the crisis informatics field by providing contextual knowledge about the information needs of essential workers during a sustained crisis. © 2022 ACM.
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BACKGROUND: Public health preventive measures have been a necessary intervention in preventing COVID-19 transmission. OBJECTIVE(S): The objectives of this study were 1) To investigate how the adherence to COVID-19 public health measures among parents and children in Ontario changed over time;2) To determine if provincial lockdowns were associated with higher adherence to public health measures among parents;3) To determine if school closures were associated with higher adherence to public health measures among children. DESIGN/METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted in children aged 0-10 years and their parents through the TARGet Kids! COVID-19 Study of Children and Families in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada (April 2020 -May 2021). Parents completed weekly questionnaires on sociodemographics and public health practices. The primary exposure was calendar date. Secondary exposures were provincial lockdowns and school closures. The primary outcome was adherence to public health preventive measures (staying home, limiting visitors in the home, avoiding contact with others, socially distancing, and handwashing, measured as number of days practicing per week) measured separately for parents and children. Linear mixed effects regression and piecewise linear splines mixed effects models were conducted. RESULT(S): 819 children and their parents contributed 13,220 observations to the study over 13 months. Mean age was 5.6 years (SD=2.7) and 373 were female (45.5%). 273 children (35.1%) had a parent who worked as an essential worker and 254 (35.4%) of families lived in a COVID-19 'hotspot'. The number of days per week that parents adhered to all 5 public health measures decreased by 0.029 days (p<0.001), and by 0.146 days for children (p<0.001) over the study duration. For parents, adherence to the five public health measures decreased over time during the first lockdown (beta=- 0.06, p<0.001) and first reopening (beta=-0.01, p<0.001), but increased again during the second lockdown (beta=0.01, p<0.001). For children, adherence to the five public health measures decreased over time during the first school closure, increased during the second closure, and decreased during second reopening (beta=-0.04, p<0.01). See Figure 1. CONCLUSION(S): Parents and children both decreased in their adherence to social distancing, staying at home, and avoiding contact with others over time. Lockdown after a period of reopening increased parent adherence to public health measures and school closures increased adherence in children. Supports may be necessary to help children and parents maintain adherence to public measures over prolonged periods of lockdown and school closure. .
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The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the impact of unplanned change, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, on organizational culture and employee retention among essential workers in a growing healthcare organization. The research addresses the importance of employee retention, including factors related to retention, consequences of retentions, and the financial impact of employee attrition. Additionally, the research addresses employer strategies to increase retention, such as organizational culture, job satisfaction, employer brand, and generational differences in the workplace. The conceptual framework used for this research is an adaptation of the Burke-Litwin model of organizational performance and change (BLMOPC). The study sought to examine the change to the organization caused by the external environment factor of the COVID-19 pandemic by exploring the transactional factors of work unit climate and individual needs and values. Data collection consisted of a survey instrument and interviews with survey participants. The findings and results support the conceptual framework suggesting that the transformational factor of organizational culture is influenced by the transactional factors which can be leveraged to inform leaders and turn the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity to create a stronger organizational culture. Recommendations to address the impact of the COVID-19 on organizational culture and employee retention are discussed and include a quantified and transparent approach to compensation and developing an organizational culture that promotes work-life balance and leadership presence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
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BACKGROUND: Disproportionate risks of COVID-19 in congregate care facilities including long-term care homes, retirement homes, and shelters both affect and are affected by SARS-CoV-2 infections among facility staff. In cities across Canada, there has been a consistent trend of geographic clustering of COVID-19 cases. However, there is limited information on how COVID-19 among facility staff reflects urban neighborhood disparities, particularly when stratified by the social and structural determinants of community-level transmission. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the concentration of cumulative cases by geography and social and structural determinants across 3 mutually exclusive subgroups in the Greater Toronto Area (population: 7.1 million): community, facility staff, and health care workers (HCWs) in other settings. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational study using surveillance data on laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases (January 23 to December 13, 2020; prior to vaccination rollout). We derived neighborhood-level social and structural determinants from census data and generated Lorenz curves, Gini coefficients, and the Hoover index to visualize and quantify inequalities in cases. RESULTS: The hardest-hit neighborhoods (comprising 20% of the population) accounted for 53.87% (44,937/83,419) of community cases, 48.59% (2356/4849) of facility staff cases, and 42.34% (1669/3942) of other HCW cases. Compared with other HCWs, cases among facility staff reflected the distribution of community cases more closely. Cases among facility staff reflected greater social and structural inequalities (larger Gini coefficients) than those of other HCWs across all determinants. Facility staff cases were also more likely than community cases to be concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods (Gini 0.24, 95% CI 0.15-0.38 vs 0.14, 95% CI 0.08-0.21) with a higher household density (Gini 0.23, 95% CI 0.17-0.29 vs 0.17, 95% CI 0.12-0.22) and with a greater proportion working in other essential services (Gini 0.29, 95% CI 0.21-0.40 vs 0.22, 95% CI 0.17-0.28). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 cases among facility staff largely reflect neighborhood-level heterogeneity and disparities, even more so than cases among other HCWs. The findings signal the importance of interventions prioritized and tailored to the home geographies of facility staff in addition to workplace measures, including prioritization and reach of vaccination at home (neighborhood level) and at work.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , COVID-19/epidemiology , Health Personnel , Humans , Residence Characteristics , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the general public was concerned about the mental health impacts of unemployment due to COVID-19 and the stress essential workers experienced during this time. Several reports indicated that people in distress were turning to digital technology, but there was little evidence about the impact of these tools on mitigating distress. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to determine the acceptability, feasibility, usability, and effectiveness of mobile mental health apps for decreasing mental health symptoms in essential workers and unemployed individuals with suicide risk. METHODS: We recruited participants who indicated that they were unemployed because of COVID-19 or were COVID-19-designated essential workers. Participants were randomized to 1 of 4 free commercial mobile apps for managing distress that were (1) highly rated by PsyberGuide and (2) met the criteria for intervention features these participants indicated were desirable in a previous survey. Participants used the apps for 4 weeks and completed baseline and 4-week self-assessments of depression, anxiety emotional regulation, and suicide risk. RESULTS: We found no differences between the apps in any outcome but did find significant changes in depression and anxiety over time (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ]-9: estimate=-1.5, SE 0.2, 95% CI -1.1 to -1.8, P<.001; Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale [GAD]-7: estimate=-1.3, SE 0.2, 95% CI -1.0 to -1.6, P<.001). We found no significant changes in suicidal behavior (Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised [SBQ-R]) or emotional regulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form [DERS-SF]) for the 4 weeks. We did find a significant dose-response pattern for changes in depression and anxiety. Using the app at least once a week resulted in greater improvements in treatment conditions over time on depression (estimate=-0.6, SE 0.2, 95% CI 1.0-0.2, P=.003) and anxiety (estimate=0.1, SE 0.2, 95% CI 0.4-0.6, P=.78). There was no association between app frequency and changes in suicidal behavior (SBQ-R) or emotional regulation (DERS-SF). We further found a significant difference between the conditions with regard to app usability, with the control app being the most usable (meanBeautiful Mood 72.9, SD 16.7; meanCOVID Coach 71.2, SD 15.4; meanCalm 66.8, SD 17.3; mean7 Cups 65.2, SD 17.7). We found no significant differences for app acceptability or appropriateness. CONCLUSIONS: Few studies have evaluated prospectively the utility and usability of commercial apps for mood. This study found that free, self-guided commercial mobile mental health apps are seen as usable, but no one app is superior to the other. Although we found that regular use is indicated for effects on depression and anxiety to occur in those who are more symptomatic, regression to the mean cannot be ruled out. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04536935; https://tinyurl.com/mr36zx3s.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mobile Applications , Humans , Mental Health , Unemployment , PandemicsABSTRACT
Introduction: The impact of the COVID19 pandemic on pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders like mitochondrial disease (MtD) has not been well characterized. Viral infection is a major cause of morbidity in children with MtD. Historically, pediatric patients with MtD experience neurologic decline and metabolic decompensation if exposed to viral infection and families practice strict risk mitigation behavior to avoid infection. As many caregivers of children with MtD are essential workers, the household serves as a transmission risk factor. To better understand SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with MtD, we conducted a serologic study of MtD households. Methods: Families with a child with MtD were shipped a Neoteryx Blood Collection kit. Patient samples came from fifteen states across the United States as well as two European countries. All household individuals provided a dried blood sample which was shipped back for analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against both the nucleocapsid and the spike protein. Online questionnaires were also distributed to each family to assess exposure risks, MtD severity, and viral symptomatology. These data will allow us to define the status of proximate contacts of children with MtD, as well as symptomatology and asymptomatic infection. Results: Twenty families enrolled with N = 83 samples collected. All 20 families had at least one member with a positive nucleocapsid antibody test. Of the 21 patients with mitochondrial disease, 18 were positive for antibodies against the nucleocapsid antibody. However, of the 14 MtD patients who reported community testing prior to sampling, only one patient with MtD had known a positive test in the community. Of those with positive nucleocapsid antibodies, 29% had a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 infection. Symptomatology analysis concluded that between March of 2020 and the sampling date, 6 patients experienced fever or chills, 2 experienced a new or worsening cough, 1 experienced shortness of breath, 2 experienced pneumonia and 1 presented with muscle or body aches. Conclusion: There is serologic evidence that the majority of families affected by mitochondrial disease have been exposed to COVID19 despite strict risk mitigation behaviors. Of the patients exposed to COVID19, almost all had another family member also exposed, indicating the household as a possible transmission factor. None of these patients experienced hospitalization, neurologic decline, or metabolic decompensation. This implies that patients with mitochondrial disease may be capable of having asymptomatic COVID19 infections and may be able to tolerate this disease without acute decompensation. This may have implications about mitochondrial function in the immune response to COVID19. Future directions for this study include a network scale up model which will aid in making broader generalizations about this disease community through exposure levels.
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Little is known about the relationship between homeworking and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic and how it might differ by keyworker status. To understand this relationship, we use longitudinal data collected over three time points during the pandemic from three British cohort studies born in 1958 (National Child Development Study), 1970 (British Cohort Study) and 1989-90 (Next Step) as well as from a population-based study stratified by four age groups (Understanding Society). We estimate the association between life satisfaction, anxiety, depression, and psychological distress and homeworking by key worker status using mixed effects models with maximum likelihood estimation to account for repeated measurements across the pandemic, allowing intercepts to vary across individuals after controlling for a set of covariates including pre-pandemic home working propensities and loneliness. Results show that key workers working from home showed the greatest decline in mental health outcomes relative to other groups. Pre-pandemic homeworking did not significantly change the nature of such a relationship and loneliness slightly attenuated some of the effects. Finally, mental health outcomes varied across age-groups and time points. The discussion emphasises the need to pay attention to key workers when assessing the relationship between mental health and homeworking.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cohort Studies , Depression/epidemiology , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Mental Health , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted sleep, with some populations such as essential workers reporting insomnia and poor sleep health. Prior research has suggested (but not tested) that this worsening of sleep may be tied to a lack of control over one's health or safety during the pandemic. This study tests this prediction and examines the role of perceived control as a protective factor against poor sleep in essential workers. Methods: This study uses data from the NDSU National COVID Study, which has followed 301 nationally-representative American adults across four waves of data collection since April 2020. The current analysis includes data from wave 1 (April 2020) in 279 participants who had complete demographic, essential worker, perceived control (including domain general perceived control as well as health, COVID, work-specific control), and sleep health (RU SATED) data. Using t-tests and correlations, we hypothesized: (1) sleep health would be worse in essential workers compared with others;(2) perceived control would relate to better sleep health;and (3) perceived control would be a stronger predictor of sleep health in essential workers relative to others. Results: There were no significant differences in sleep health between essential workers (N=44, M=8.27, SD=2.72) and others (N=235, M=8.46, SD=2.54;t=-0.44, p=.66). In the full sample, all indices of perceived control were significantly related to better sleep health (rs=.17-.31, ps<.004). Associations were stronger in essential workers (N=44, rs=.30-.56, ps<.05) than in others (N=235, rs=.13- .31, ps<.04). In sensitivity analyses that excluded participants not working for pay (e.g., people who were unemployed, retired, or receiving disability) from the other category, moderation effects were stronger;only COVID-related perceived control was significantly related to sleep health (N=110;r=.24, p=.01) in non-essential workers. Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate links between perceived control and sleep. Although sleep health was not significantly different between essential and non-essential workers, we found that perceived control was especially beneficial for essential workers' sleep. Our results suggest interventions to improve perceived control, a modifiable psychosocial resource, might improve sleep health for essential workers.
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Introduction: Sleep Reactivity (SR), a trait-like tendency for stressful events to trigger sleep disturbances, is an established diathesis for insomnia and depression. However, no studies to date have examined SR in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and it's related restrictions. Thus, the goal of this analysis is to test whether SR confers a vulnerability for greater sleep and mood symptoms due to the stress of COVID-19 and it's related restrictions. We hypothesized that (1) The onset of the pandemic will trigger greater increases in insomnia symptoms in highly sleep reactive individuals. 2) Sleep-reactive individuals would experience reduced recovery of insomnia, anxiety, and depression symptoms over the course of the pandemic. Methods: SR, insomnia, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II), respectively, at two time points (early-pandemic, 6-month follow-up). Additionally, participants retrospectively reported ISI prior to the pandemic. N = 253 adults from Stanford's COVID-19 Pandemic Sleep Study (April-November 2020) provided baseline insomnia measures, and were excluded if they reported pre-pandemic clinical insomnia (ISI >10). Rankedcorrelation tests were used to test the current hypotheses. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate changes in mean insomnia, depression, and anxiety scores. Covariates included essential worker status, sex, and age. Results: ISI after COVID-19 was significantly higher than retrospective, pre-pandemic ISI (t = 8.2, d = 0.55, p < 0.0001). However, SR was not significantly correlated with the pandemic-related increase in ISI (ρ = 0.07, p = 0.34). Depression significantly increased after 6-months (t = 2.0, d = 0.27, p = 0.047), whereas anxiety did not (t = 1.7, d = 0.26, p = 0.10). Neither changes in depression nor anxiety were predicted by SR (Depression: ρ = 0.15, p = 0.32;Anxiety: ρ = -0.13, p = 0.40). Conclusion: Insomnia and depression, but not anxiety, increased with the onset of the pandemic. However, trait SR was not a predisposing factor for pandemic-related sleep and mood changes. This is the first analysis examining SR as a risk factor for insomnia and mood symptoms in the pandemic.
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Background: During COVID-19 in 2020, medical students at The University of Melbourne were withdrawn from clinical sites, leading to challenges in delivery of curriculum and assessment. Objectives: To describe the development of the Mental Health Medical Education Leads Australia and New Zealand (MHMELANZ) community of practice network. To outline the adaptations to teaching mental health (MH) in the medical doctorate (MD) at The University of Melbourne in 2020 and 2021, and future redesigned learnings and challenges. Methods: To outline the MH curriculum within the MD and MH during 2020 and 2021. Findings: Reduction in MH curriculum space, inequity in opportunity, adaptation of teaching to online (asynchronous to enhance clinical contact) and the need to address learning outcomes over 2 years. Presentation of governmental advocacy for essential worker status, while enhancing near-peer and well-being supports, is included. Conclusion: The capacity to adapt the curriculum and strong liaison between the university, hospitals and state government, has ensured delivery of the MH curriculum during 2020 and 2021. Future redesign of the MD will incorporate learnings through this experience and the MD will have an opportunity to be enhanced with the MHMELANZ network.
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Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases and deaths remain substantially higher among Latino populations in the United States. Risk of infection may be associated with occupational exposures and a greater burden of depression. This study sought to identify factors associated with COVID-19 infection and COVID 19 related depression among immigrant Latino essential workers. Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey to assess the prevalence of infection and COVID-19 related needs and concerns was administered. Depression was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Comparisons by essential worker group: Indoor (i.e. supermarket)/Outdoor (i.e. construction) were determined using Nonparametric Mann Whitney U test, X2, and Fisher tests. Multivariable logistic regression models were estimated to determine factors associated with the probability of prior infection and COVID-19 related depression (PHQ9 score >=10). Results: 227 essential workers (median [IQR] 39.9 [32.7-47.6] years;130 [57.3%] male;213 (93.8%) foreign born) completed the survey. Seventy (30.0%) reported prior COVID-19 infection. Outdoor workers were more likely to be male, report higher housing density, and were less likely to be insured. Outdoor worker status was associated with higher odds of COVID-19 infection. Odds of depression was higher for respondents reporting prior infection, increased with the number of needs reported, and was nearly five times higher for uninsured workers. Conclusions: Data from Latino essential workers in regions with high rates of infection indicate the need for occupational precautions to mitigate risks of reinfection. Results further underscore the need for clinical screenings to identify the burden of COVID-19 related depression in at risk populations. Supported By: Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Inc. Keywords: Depression, COVID-19 pandemic, Disparities
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Background. Understanding the disease burden of SARS- CoV-2 in young children has been challenging as the majority are asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms and were rarely tested. SARS-CoV-2 is traditionally detected through respiratory secretions but has also been reported in feces where shedding may continue for weeks after respiratory samples show resolution. We examined the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in already collected fecal samples from young children through the pandemic as well as associated demographic factors. Methods. As part of an ongoing longitudinal microbiome study in Northern Virginia, serial stools samples were collected from infants before and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Reverse transcription quantitative-PCR detecting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid gene in the N1 and N2 regions was performed. Penalized logistic regression models were developed to evaluate the association between fecal positivity and potential risk factors. Results. The overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in infant feces was 1.69 % (13 samples) with a prevalence at delivery, 2, 6, 12 and 24 months of 0, 0, 2.56, 1.96, and 0.85 % respectively. Fecal positivity was first detected 31 days before the reported first case of Covid-19 in Northern Virginia;prevalence rates peaked in September at 4.5% (Figure 1). Only one infant who tested positive was symptomatic with COVID-19 21 days before his stool was collected. Of the 13 positive samples, 8 reported Hispanic ethnicity and 7 reported an essential worker (Table 1). Penalized logistic regression model showed association between Hispanic ethnicity and testing positive (OR 5.04 (95% CI 1.7 - 15.0)) that remained after controlling for the presences of an essential worker (OR 4.7 (95% CI 1.6 - 14.0)). Conclusion. Prevalence of SARS- CoV-2 in infant stool correlated with the prevalence of COVID-19 during the pandemic, with higher rates in those of Hispanic ethnicity corelating with regional trends. Fecal positivity in asymptomatic infants even before quarantine restrictions supports the early but silent transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This study likely underestimates true prevalence rates as stool samples were stored without viral preservative. There are many socioeconomic factors that predispose to disease while ethnicity may be a mediating or confounding factor.
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Introduction: In 2017, Parking Concepts, Inc (PCI) implemented a corporate prevention plan to reduce injuries and illnesses by integrating occupational. Health and safety (OHS) with business operations. By 2019 PCI had significantly reduced all key metrics. In 2020, COVID-19 brought challenges to their frontline essential workers. Ultimately PCI’S OHS plans proved powerful in effectively mitigating injury and illness across their 185 worksites, resulting in further reduction in injuries and illness, including: • Total Injuries 78% • Litigated Claims 89% • Direct Cost 81% Measurement and Methods: Risks identified through a 5-year retrospective analysis were used as baseline measurements and to identify and target risks. Specificity in risk reduction methods was essential in reducing targeted risks: • Leadership direct participation • Innovative communication methods and technology to deliver OHS materials increased employee confidence and trust • COVID-19 corporate policies, procedures, and training by state and local delivered to each employee through multiple communication channels in various languages to accommodate all employees • Strategic and efficient execution in OHS methods hit the targeted risks • Annual PCI Wellness Challenges enhanced employee morale Results and Conclusions: The power of leadership commitment, execution of methods, use of technology, and innovative communication strategies proved successful before and during a global pandemic. PCI, poised to seamlessly respond to the pandemic while continuing to reduce all injuries and risks, demonstrates the sustainability of its OHS model.
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In 2014, the Japanese government established the Karoshi Prevention Measures Promotion Law to take preventive measures against the Karoshi problems. According to the law, Karoshi etc. is defined as: - death due to cerebrovascular disease / heart disease due to excessive workload - death from suicide due to mental illness due to strong psychological burden at work - although not fatal, these cerebrovascular diseases, heart diseases, and mental disorders. Evidence has accumulated showing long working hours leads to heart diseases and stroke. A systematic review conducted as a WHO/ILO project confirms those working at least 55 hours a week are at higher risk of dying from heart disease and stroke. Globally, 488 million people worked excessively long hours, leading to 745,000 heart disease and stroke deaths in 2016 (Pega et al., 2021). Association between long working hours and depression is not evident (Rugulies et al., 2021), but a systematic review indicates that long working hours were associated with depressive symptoms and the estimated risk was larger among Asian countries where long working hours are more prevalent compared with other regions (Virtanen et al., 2018). Overall association of long working hours with adverse health outcomes is modest (Ervasti et al., 2021). However, as the prevalence of long working hours is so large that the impact on health problems cannot be ignored (Li and Siegrist, 2021). During the pandemic of COVID-19, overwork of essential workers has become a big issue. Working from home (tele-working) is also considered to lead to long working hours. Long working hours may lead to morbidity through both exposure of adverse working conditions and loss of necessary leisure time activities. The adverse working conditions include hazardous factors including psychosocial stress. Activities lost due to long working hours are healthy behaviours such as physical activities and sleep. The most important function during leisure time is to provide the time for recovery. Long working hours have been shown to affect both quantity and quality of sleep: which prevent recovery and influence hormonal regulations. Based on the Karoshi Prevention Measures Promotion Law, the Japanese Cabinet decided "Outline of Measures to Prevent Death from Overwork" in 2018 and revised it in 2021. The outline stipulates various measures to prevent Karoshi by taking into consideration anticipated work-style changes that going with the spread of the new coronavirus disease. According to this new outline, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan will continue to work on the measures toward the realization of “zero Karoshi” society in cooperation with related ministries and agencies. Karoshi cannot be prevented by reducing working hours alone. Research pointed out that the impact of long working hours on health problems was larger among workers of lower socioeconomic status than those of higher socioeconomic status (Li et al., 2020). Business practices and general consumption behaviours may also be related to working hours. To prevent Karoshi, continuous and multi-faceted efforts, including increased public understanding, are necessary.