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Background: Monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been considered by the World Health Organization (WHO). We examined the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin antibodies in southwestern Iran in spring 2020. The circulation of SARS-CoV-2 is high in the general population, especially among health care workers (HCWs) who are in close contact with patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antigen in high-risk occupational and low-risk groups to investigate risk factors for serum positivity in Shiraz, southwestern Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed on 366 participants (204 from high-risk and 162 from low-risk subjects). IgG and IgM antibodies were detected using Pishtaz Teb COVID-19 ELISA Kits to evaluate SARS-CoV-2-antigen in serum samples. After enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), serum prevalence, as well as IgG/IgM positive factors, was determined using logistic regression. Results: From July to September 2020 (a few months after reporting the first case of COVID-19 cases in Iran), out of 366 survived people, 72 (40.9%) were IgG positive, and 50 (27.5%) were IgM positive. The frequency of positive serology for IgG and IgM antibodies in individuals aged < 30 years was higher in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group. Multivariate logistic regression showed that headache (OR 0.312 [95% CI: 0.136 - 0.717]) and cough (OR 0.427 [95% CI: 0.182 - 1.004]) factors were associated with IgG or IgM positive serology. Conclusions: Between July and September 2020, the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antigen was high in Shiraz. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM antibodies in the high-risk group and their family as low risk was shown to increase viral infection due to close contact with COVID 19 patients than in the general population. Several factors were found to be related to the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antigen that needs to be considered by policymakers to determine what to do about the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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BACKGROUND: Knowledge of social and gender determinants, which influence the places where people are exposed to COVID-19, may be relevant in the development of preventive and control strategies. The aim of this paper was to determine the context in which COVID-19 cases were infected (household, work/labor, health, social-health, and social-leisure settings) according to country of origin, occupational social class and gender, which is essential in order to designing public health strategies. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of an epidemiological registry of 56,628 COVID-19 incident cases was made, whose exposure/ contagion setting was studied according to the previous variables from June 15 to December 23, 2020, in the Region of Murcia (Spain). An exact Fisher test was used to study the distribution of COVID-19 cases based on the above variables. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence was higher in people from Africa (5,133.5 cases/100,000 inhabitants) and Latin America (11,351.1) than in non-immigrants (3,145.7). It was also higher in women (3,885.6) than in men (3,572.6). It is noteworthy, that 53.3% of the cases with employment were workers in industry or construction, artisans, agricultural workers, or elementary occupations. In contrast, during the second semester of 2020, 41.3% of the employed population in the Region of Murcia performed such jobs. The household was the main exposure setting (56.5% of cases with a known setting), followed by social-leisure (20.7%) and work/labor (18.2%). The labor settings were more important in immigrants from Africa (28.4%) and Latin America (35.7%) than in non-immigrants (12%), inversely to social-leisure settings. Labor context was more important in women (19.6%) than in men (16.5%) and in manual workers (44.1%) than in non-manual workers (26.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The context in which COVID-19 cases were infected is different according to social inequalities related to country of origin, gender and occupational social class.
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The aggregate numbers and rates of ambulatory care visits by active component service members in 2021 were the highest of the previous ten years. Most disease and injury categories experienced slight increases in both rates and numbers. From 19% of ambulatory care visits in 2020 to less than 15% in 2021, telehealth contacts were used less frequently. The statistics for 2021 demonstrate a return to pre-pandemic levels, notwithstanding the possibility that the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was related with declines in the incidence of disease and injury diagnoses in the community of service members seeking ambulatory care. Additionally, the proportions of telehealth-delivered medical encounters have similarly decreased to the lower levels seen before the pandemic. Lessons learned may direct future actions to lower the frequency of disease and harm in the post-pandemic era. This study details the ambulatory health care visits made by active component members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps in 2020 in terms of frequency, rates, trends, and other factors. U.S. service members' ambulatory visits to fixed military and nonmilitary medical treatment facilities (reimbursed through the Military Health System [MHS]) are recorded in standardized, computerized records. The Defense Medical Surveillance System (DMSS), the data source for this report, routinely archives these records for health surveillance purposes. This research excludes ambulatory visits that are not frequently and fully recorded using standardized electronic records (for example, during deployments, field training exercises, or at sea). As in previous MSMR reports, the primary (first-listed) diagnostic position of the visit records was used to categorize all records of ambulatory visits of active component service members according to the first four characters of the ICD-10 codes. In this research, a specific query of the DMSS records was carried out to identify ambulatory visits that were completed via "telehealth" encounters rather than in-person meetings (e.g., via telephone or video conferencing). Most data summaries included both types of encounters and did not make a distinction between them, however due to the rise in telehealth encounter usage during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, changes in the proportions of telehealth encounters were examined.
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Introduction: the quality of medical care is directly related to the appropriate work environment and the satisfaction of the health staff. With the appearance of COVID-19, the work environment in health institutions has worsened. Background: to identify the factors that influence the work environment of the public and private health institutions of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador, during the period June-August 2021. Method: implementation of a study with a quantitative approach of correlational scope and transectional design in 349 health workers, to whom a 25-questions questionnaire was applied, that measured factors such as: contagion risk, working hours, medical resources and job stability. The results of the study were statistically analyzed through SPPS 20 and AMOS 24, with the previous development of Cronbach's alpha. Results: 94% of the participants considered the work environment of their institutions as inappropriate, while 6% said they did not. Females, and ages ranging between 22-35 years predominated. All the variables of the hypothesized model exceeded 0.70 and the total Cronbach's alpha reached 0.728;the hypothesized model met the convergent and discriminant validity of the variables. The risk of contagion yielded a value of beta=0.148, while the working day resulted with beta=0.010, medical resources beta=0.006 and job stability beta=0.007. Conclusions: the findings determined that the risk of contagion is the most influential factor in the work environment of the institutions under study during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The recent vaccination campaign targeting the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) carried out in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, on the background of the current unstable global pandemic situation, makes it necessary to study post-vaccination population immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and thus identify key features of immunity in organized military collectives. In the future, this will make it possible to objectively assess the risks of a worsening pandemic situation, effectively adjust the ongoing sanitary and anti-epidemic measures aimed at preserving and strengthening the health of military personnel, as one of the main conditions for maintaining the combat readiness of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. During a study conducted on epidemic indications, it was found that vaccination with Gam-Covid-Vac contributes to the formation of collective immunity with 95% effectiveness. A gender-based analysis of the immune response showed that the proportion of persons who lack class G immunoglobulins to SARS-CoV-2 among females is twice than that among men (9.3% and 4.7%, respectively). Seroprevalence indicators, classified by blood group, range from 94.4% (AB (IV) Rh-) to 97.4% (A (II) Rh-). There were no significant differences in seroprevalence between groups of people with different blood groups;however, the highest value of seroprevalence was seen among military personnel with blood group A (II) Rh-. In this context, it is advisable to continue monitoring the formation of immunity in individuals with various blood groups. The results obtained made it possible to form a primary medical and social "portrait" of a serviceman with the most adequate immune response to the introduction of the Gam-Covid-Vac vaccine (a man under the age of 20 with blood type A (II) Rh-) and to draw a conclusion about the high effectiveness of vaccination in military units (formations) staffed by conscripts and military educational organizations.
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Background: In times of an epidemic such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the public's knowledge and attitude toward the disease affects the ability to abide to different preventive measures. Aims and Objectives: (1) to assess the knowledge and awareness of the domestic helpers in a tribal population, (2) whether the domestic helpers practice appropriate preventative measures that are recommended by WHO. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was designed and carried out using questionnaire among rural domestic workers in Mizoram, above 14 years of age belonging to both Mizo and Non-Mizo ethnicity. Data were collected from 105 participants and analyzed through t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: Majority of the respondents had higher secondary level of education (78.1%) and 95.2% could identify COVID-19 as a communicable disease. Almost all the participants (97.1%) were afraid of infection and the majority (92.4%) had fear of dying with the disease. Three-fourth of the participants were working during the pandemic of which 44.8% had volunteered. Media (68.6%) was the most common source of information about the disease. The education level was significantly associated with knowledge and attitude scores whereas there were no significant differences with respect to the practice (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings indicate an overall good KAP of the rural domestic workers. Since these workers move from house to house and also take care of the vulnerable, and that they themselves and the families, they work for may be at an increased risk of infection with COVID-19, these findings are important from a health campaign perspective.
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Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of an epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by occupational exposure in Xining, Qinghai province, from October 17 to November 2, 2021 and provide evidence for the prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: In accordance with the requirements of the COVID-19 prevention and control protocol (eighth edition), epidemiological survey and field response were conducted and throat swabs were collected from the confirmed cases and close contacts. Real time-PCR(RT-PCR) was used to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid. Gene sequencing was performed for the throat swabs of partial confirmed cases by high throughput sequencing. Results: A total of 11 COVID-19 cases were reported in this epidemic, including 3 cases in a family and 8 cases in medical staff. Nine cases were women, 2 cases were men. The cases in epidemic had 3 generations. The average incubation period was 3.18 day. The infection was mainly occurred in working place. The risk factors included sharing telephone, computer and other office equipment. The initial symptoms were cough (10 cases, 90.97%). Unstandardized taking off protective suit in field epidemiological survey and inappropriate design of waterproof boot cover were the main risk factors for the occupational exposure. The SARS-CoV-2 detected belonged to VOC/Delta variant. Conclusion: This epidemic was caused by occupational exposure. It is suggested to strengthen the field supervision and guide of the wearing of protective suits, improve the design of waterproof boot cover and reduce the contacts of field workers with others.
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Objective: To investigate the prevalence of asymptomatic norovirus infections status in kitchen workers in schools, child care settings, and catering service units and other key places in Tongzhou district of Beijing from 2019 to 2021, and provide evidence for scientific prevention and control of norovirus infection. Methods: The simple random sampling method was used to select the kitchen workers, especially the kitchen workers preparing cold dish, from catering service units, schools, childcare settings, construction sites, hotels as study subjects, and their anal swabs or stool samples were collected for norovirus nucleic acid detection by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Descriptive method was used to analyze the asymptomatic norovirus infection status of the kitchen workers. Results: A total of 3880 samples were collected from 552 units, and 15 norovirus positive cases were detected, including 1 sample positive for GI and 14 samples positive for GII. The asymptomatic norovirus infection rate was 0.39% (15/3880), in which 0.30% (5/1656) in man, and 0.45% (10/2224) in women. No asymptomatic infections were detected in age groups < 18 years and > 60 years, and 2055 cases were detected in age group 19- years, with a positive rate of 0.34% (7/2055), and 1637 cases were detected in age group 46- years, with a positive rate of 0.49% (8/1637). In 2019 when no COVID-19 epidemic occurred, the asymptomatic norovirus infection rate was 1.00% (1/100), but the asymptomatic norovirus infection rate was 0.39% (11/2805)in 2020 and 0.31%(3/975)in 2021 in the context of COVID-19 epidemic. Conclusion: The asymptomatic norovirus infection rate in kitchen workers in key places in Tongzhou was similar to the average level in Beijing during the same period. In COVID-19 epidemic period, the asymptomatic norovirus infection rate was lower than that before the epidemic.
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Social restriction policies increase the risk of obesity in society because it is influenced by increasingly narrow space for movement so that physical activity is reduced and consumption increases due to feeling bored at home. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused people's lifestyles to change from those previously operating offline to online, including how to get food. Large-scale social restriction policies make food service providers cooperate with the Online Food Delivery (OFD) platform to make it easier to reach consumers. This study aimed to analyze the effect of using an online food delivery application on improving the nutritional status of office workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is an analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design. The study involved 408 workers in Jakarta who experienced the impact of COVID-19. The data analysis technique used SPSS 20, which adjusted test results to the variable data scale. It is known that there was an increase in body weight and nutritional status (p< 0.05) during the large-scale social restriction policy implementation. There is a correlation between physical activity and nutritional status (p< 0.05). There is no significant correlation between the frequency of ordering food online with nutritional status. There is an increase in body weight and an increased risk of obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Introduction: The health workers are one of the most prone to becoming infected with COVID-19, due to their exposure during their relationship with patients. Background: To determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in workers of the Pediatric Hospital of Camaguey in the period from January to December 2021. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in a universe of 238 workers with a polymerase chain reaction-confirmed diagnosis during the aforementioned period;registered in a database. The variables studied included age group, sex, occupational category, service of origin, clinical manifestations, quarter of the year, and possible source of infection. The data were processed using the statistical program SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), version 25.0, on a Pentium IV computer. Informed consent and the bioethical principles of confidentiality of information were taken into account in the research. Results: The female sex predominated (54.7%) at ages 50-59 years. They were mostly nursing staff (29.4%), infected during the third trimester (39.9%) in the community (59.3%), presenting symptoms such as nasal discharge (32.8%) and fever (17.6%), working in the pediatric medicine wards (28.2%). Conclusions: Despite the difficult epidemiological situation, the main source of infection was the community. There were no institutional transmission events and there were no deaths.
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Background: COVID vaccines have been rolled out all over the world after emergency use authorization in the prevailing pandemic situation. However, hesitancy about its safety and efficacy exists among beneficiaries. Vaccine hesitancy can be a barrier to adequate immunization coverage. Aims and Objectives: This qualitative study was undertaken among health care workers in the rural field practice area of a tertiary care hospital, to find out their perceptions about COVID vaccines, and reasons behind hesitancy toward the same. Materials and Methods: Six focused group discussions (FGD) were held with the help of moderator. Each FGD had five members, so 30 members were included in the study. Health care workers included doctors, nurses, ANM/ASHAs, and other health care workers. Results: There were 17 males and 13 females. Doctors had a positive attitude toward vaccination, but other health care workers had mixed perception regarding vaccination. Most grass root level workers were sceptical about the efficacy of the vaccine. Conclusion: Mostly positive attitude toward COVID vaccines was observed in the present study. Hesitancy toward vaccines was observed in some health care workers, and it likely rooted from their inadequate knowledge about the vaccine.
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The detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during wastewater treatment leads to concerns about whether this process may represent a focal point for the transmission of COVID-19. An epidemiological analysis, based on a COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette, performed on 134 wastewater workers from 59 wastewater treatment plants from the province of Granada (Spain) showed a seroprevalence of 8.95% in IgG for SARS-CoV-2, which is similar to the incidence rate found for the general population of the province (9.6%;95%CI = 7.2-12.8). These findings suggest that current safety measures are sufficient for the protection of workers against SARS-CoV-2.
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Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic has caused global problems in various areas of life and has a huge impact on the functioning of health care and the medical profession. This virus was a new threat to the health of each of us, so the daily medical practice required safeguards that previously did not have to be used. This is especially important in a dental practice where virus transmission through aerosol can easily occur. Aim: The aim of the study is to develop current recommendations for the organization of work in a dental office during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the applicable guidelines and normative acts. Material and methods: The contents of the "Recommendations for the procedure for the provision of dental services in the situation of an epidemic announced in the territory of the Republic of Poland in relation to SARS-CoV-2 virus infections", published by the Ministry of Health, and recommendations of the Working Group of the Polish Dental Society were used. Results: The results constitute a set of practical tips for the functioning of a dentist's office in a state of epidemic. Conclusions: In the event of an epidemic, refer to current guidelines. It is essential to provide urgent medical care to acute patients and schedule appointments as needed.
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Background: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) funded Education and Research Centers (ERCs), located at 18 universities, with the mission to train occupational safety and health (OSH) leaders. The Florida Sunshine ERC has trained hundreds of students since its inception in 1997 through seven programs that collaboratively foster interdisciplinary education and applied research and practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented practical challenges for educators, students, and trainees, forcing institutions to move to remote learning. The pandemic also magnifies the importance of public health and OSH. Purpose: This evaluation elicited feedback from ERC trainees early in the pandemic (2020) and again in 2021 on how the pandemic affected their training, professional development, career plans, and wellbeing. Methods: Open-ended surveys were collected and focus groups were held with currently enrolled trainees from seven Sunshine ERC programs. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and qualitative transcripts were analyzed using MAXQDA software. Results: Through survey responses (45 respondents) and focus group discussions (9 participants), ERC trainees shared their perspectives on pandemic impacts in their performance and wellbeing, transition to remote learning, their respective OSH fields, and career plans during the pandemic. Programs should consider enhancing OSH curricula to respond to training needs and issues related to occupational stress and well-being, pragmatism and disaster response, and even more interdisciplinary training to prepare for emerging population-wide threats. Conclusions: OSH training will require shifts in teaching modalities and content to prepare OSH professionals for the future. Evaluation results informed teaching and training modifications to ensure that ERC objectives continue to be met and that trainees are well-prepared and supported.
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Objective: To understand the anxiety and insomnia of nurses in 2020 and its influencing factors, so as to provide orientation for formulating relevant policies. Methods: A total of 738 nurses in a designated hospital for treatment of COVID-19 patients in Quanzhou were investigated by convenient sampling. The basic demographic information, cognition of COVID-19, anxiety and insomnia of these subjects were surveyed with self-made questionnaire, self rating anxiety scale (SAS) and insomnia severity index(ISI). The influencing factors of anxiety and insomnia were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: The incidence of anxiety and insomnia were 8.5% and 35.8%, respectively. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that regular physical exercise was the influencing factor to reduce nurses' anxiety(beta =-4.226, P = 0.002) and insomnia (beta = - 1.706, P = 0.003). Nurses who had a personal history of disease (beta = 3.320, P = 0.023), considered resignation due to the COVID -19 (beta = 5.012, P = 0.031), thought that they might infect their family members and/or friends with COVID-19 virus (beta = 4.631, P < 0.001) and were treated differently by others (beta = 3.829, P = 0.003) had more anxiety;nursing staff who had a personal history of disease (beta = 1.277, P = 0.036), considered resignation due to the COVID-19 (beta =1.946, P = 0.045), worried about infecting other people with novel coronavirus (beta = 1.063, P = 0.006), thought that they might infect their family and friends with COVID-19 virus (beta =1.156, P = 0.003) and were treated differently by others (beta =1.507, P = 0.004) also had more serious insomnia. There was a positive correlation between anxiety and insomnia[beta and its 95% CI value was 0.280(0.258, 0.302, P < 0.001)]. Conclusions: In 2020 nurses in Quanzhou had anxiety and insomnia, which were affected by many factors. Employers should pay attention to the mental health of high-risk personnel and carry out psychological intervention when necessary.
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Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic put the health system in Mexico to the test. The rapid conversion to "COVID hospitals" and the difficulties already faced by public health institutions, such as the saturation of health services, lack of hospital structure and person-al protective equipment, had a negative impact on the working conditions and health of primary care physicians in COVID areas. Background: To identify the factors that affected the working conditions and health of physicians who worked in COVID areas in public health institutions in Mexico. Methods: A bibliographic review was carried out, six different databases were consulted, readings on the discussion of occupational health of physicians in COVID areas were included, and nine articles were selected. Results: The working conditions were described as precarious: lack of personal protective equipment, working hours of more than ten hours, and absence of a contract. In terms of health, this group of professionals was found to suffer from stress, anxiety, fear and anguish. Conclusions: The participation and cooperation of physicians, health authorities, governmental sectors, involved institutions and associations, the involvement of public policies, the health system and the society can join efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections, as well as the rate of contagion and comorbidities. All these actions will make it possible to re-duce the stress levels and work overload of health professionals.
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The aim of the present study was to investigate the challenges facing pharmacy practice in dealing with the risk of infections in COVID-19 by implementing different precautions. A retrospective, questionnaire survey was conducted, and 57 pharmacists in the cities of Dobrich and Stara Zagora were surveyed with a preliminary questionnaire in the period January-May 2022. The questionnaire contains 46 questions about respondent characteristics, pharmacies, information about COVID-19, and worker and staff protection measures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of additional measures have been implemented in pharmacies and by pharmacists to ensure the safety of patients and pharmacy workers, but they do not fully meet international safety standards. Still unsolved challenges for pharmacists and pharmacies are the inability to change the space, as well as to guarantee separate service for infected patients. It is necessary for the state institutions to introduce the same measures for all health professionals in order to guarantee the non-delay of providing pharmaceutical services in the conditions of a pandemic.
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Since the forest products industry is a labor-intensive that should be considered important in terms of occupational accidents and diseases. In the forest products industry sector, there is a high potential for the emergence of negativities in terms of occupational health and safety due to the working environment's mechanical, physical, and environmental factors. It will be possible to prevent occupational accidents and diseases by taking the necessary precautions for occupational health and safety in working environments. This study is aimed to examine the factors affecting risk-taking behavior from the perspective of blue-collar (employee) and white-collar (manager) workers in forest products industry sectors operating in the TR42 Level 2 region. For this purpose, 148 different enterprises with 10 or more employees for the forest products industry in the study region and 10835 employees with the number of employees in these enterprises consisted of the universe of the study. Due to the pandemic (Covid-19) process in 2020, 687 participants from a total of 64 different businesses, 36 and 28 of them from furniture and wood & cork products businesses, respectively, were reached through face-to-face interviews. Questionnaires were used as a data collection tool in the study. As a result, white-collar workers think that blue-collar workers tend to take more risks, more importance is given to security-related issues within the enterprise, and working conditions are better within the enterprise. This study will provide guiding information to understand the factors affecting the risk-taking behavior of both white-collar and blue-collar workers.
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This study aimed to evaluate the perception of family caregivers in the care process of patients with COVID-19. This study was conducted on 19 family caregivers, who were selected using purposive sampling from 2021 to 2022. Unstructured interviews were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using the Kyngas conventional content analysis approach. The analysis of data led to three main themes, including unremitting efforts in physical care in the light of traditional medicine, accuracy, and intelligence in psychological attention and trying to maintain environmental health. According to the results, family caregivers provide high levels of self-sacrificing, continuous, and comprehensive, combined with fear and loneliness care in different dimensions with little or no support from the family, community, and health team.
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The Covid-19 pandemic has sparked unprecedented scientific mobilization, particularly in epidemiology. Despite this, the health burden is such that one can speak of a public health failure. This article discusses the reasons for this hiatus. It emphasizes the importance of the role of occupational physicians in this context. It presents lessons for the future.