Teledermatología aplicada en zonas extremas: experiencia de 4 centros asistenciales chilenos en ámbito rural y aislamiento extremo / Teledermatology in Remote Parts of Chile: Experience in 4 Isolated Rural Areas

Introducción: La teledermatología (TD) ha sido implementada en Chile como estrategia de salud para suplir el déficit de dermatólogos y aumentar la resolutividad de la atención primaria. Esta estrategia fue implementada en la Provincia de Palena en 2013, sin un análisis de las atenciones brindadas hasta la fecha. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, de concordancia inter-observador. Se analizan todas las consultas por TD de Ayacara, Chaitén, Futaleufú y Palena desde 2013 a 2017. Datos obtenidos de plataforma MINSAL. Concordancia diagnóstica calculada con índice kappa. Resultados: Total 326 consultas de TD con promedio de edad de 35,8 años (DE: 22,4), en su mayoría de sexo femenino (59,8%). Mayoría de TD originadas en Palena, con un 40,8%. Tiempo de respuesta promedio de 12,6 días (DE: 22,8), disminuyendo a 6,4 días (DE: 5,2) tras la incorporación de dermatólogo en el Hospital de Puerto Montt (p = 0,0005). Concordancia diagnóstica moderada entre el médico general y el dermatólogo, con índice kappa de 0,5. Un 20,6% de las consultas requirió evaluación presencial. Tiempo de respuesta promedio de 12,6 días (DE: 22,8), aumentando a 25,7 días (DE: 41,2) sí requirió evaluación presencial (p < 0,0001). Conclusiones: La TD es una herramienta diagnóstica y terapéutica necesaria para el médico general en zonas aisladas. La concordancia diagnóstica moderada es similar a estudios internacionales, pero inferior a estudios nacionales. Es relevante el menor tiempo de respuesta al incorporar un dermatólogo al servicio. La diferencia significativa entre el tiempo de respuesta de la consulta presencial versus la teleasistida requiere una mejor gestión asistencial

Background: Teledermatology was introduced in Chile to make up for the lack of dermatologists and improve the primary care system's ability to resolve problems. This strategy was implemented in the province of Palena in 2013, but outcomes were not analyzed and reported until now. Material and methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with analysis of inter-rater agreement on diagnoses. All the teledermatology consultations made on behalf of patients in Ayacara, Chaitén, Futaleufú, and Palena from 2013 through 2017 were analyzed. Data were extracted from the MINSAL platform. The κ statistic was used to assess diagnostic agreement. Results. A total of 326 teledermatology consultations were made. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 35.8 (22.4) years. The majority (59.8%) were female. Palena generated the largest volume of cases (40.8%). The mean time until a teledermatology diagnosis was given was 12.6 (22.8) days. This response time decreased to 6.4 (5.2) days after a staff dermatologist from Hospital Puerto Montt joined the program (P = .0005). Diagnosis concordance between the general practitioner and the dermatologist was moderate (κ = 0.5). Physical examination by the dermatologist at the hospital of reference (Puerto Montt) was necessary for 20.6% of the patients, and time until a definitive diagnosis for the patient took longer in such cases (25.7 (41.2) days) than for the cases that didn't need a physical evaluation at the Hospital of Puerto Montt (P < .0001). Conclusions. Teledermatology provides a necessary diagnostic and therapeutic resource for general practitioners in isolated locations. Diagnostic agreement is moderate between the generalist and the specialist, similar to agreement in international studies but lower than agreement reported in other Chilean studies. The reduction in diagnostic response time after incorporation of a dermatologist on staff at the hospital of Puerto Montt was significant. The significant difference between the time for diagnosis under teledermatology and the delay when physical examination is required at the hospital of Puerto Montt identifies an aspect of care management to improve

Teledermatology in Remote Parts of Chile: Experience in 4 Isolated Rural Areas. / Teledermatología aplicada en zonas extremas: experiencia de 4 centros asistenciales chilenos en ámbito rural y aislamiento extremo.

BACKGROUND: Teledermatology was introduced in Chile to make up for the lack of dermatologists and improve the primary care system's ability to resolve problems. This strategy was implemented in the province of Palena in 2013, but outcomes were not analyzed and reported until now. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with analysis of inter-rater agreement on diagnoses. All the teledermatology consultations made on behalf of patients in Ayacara, Chaitén, Futaleufú, and Palena from 2013 through 2017 were analyzed. Data were extracted from the MINSAL platform. The κ statistic was used to assess diagnostic agreement. RESULTS: A total of 326 teledermatology consultations were made. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 35.8 (22.4) years. The majority (59.8%) were female. Palena generated the largest volume of cases (40.8%). The mean time until a teledermatology diagnosis was given was 12.6 (22.8) days. This response time decreased to 6.4 (5.2) days after a staff dermatologist from Hospital Puerto Montt joined the program (P=.0005). Diagnosis concordance between the general practitioner and the dermatologist was moderate (κ=0.5). Physical examination by the dermatologist at the hospital of reference (Puerto Montt) was necessary for 20.6% of the patients, and time until a definitive diagnosis for the patient took longer in such cases (25.7 [41.2] days) than for the cases that didn't need a physical evaluation at the Hospital of Puerto Montt (P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Teledermatology provides a necessary diagnostic and therapeutic resource for general practitioners in isolated locations. Diagnostic agreement is moderate between the generalist and the specialist, similar to agreement in international studies but lower than agreement reported in other Chilean studies. The reduction in diagnostic response time after incorporation of a dermatologist on staff at the hospital of Puerto Montt was significant. The significant difference between the time for diagnosis under teledermatology and the delay when physical examination is required at the hospital of Puerto Montt identifies an aspect of care management to improve.

The implementation of environmental health policies in health care facilities: The case of Malawi.

Establishing and maintaining safe and sufficient environmental health (EH) conditions in health care facilities (HCFs) is important to prevent and control infections. In 2018, the Government of Malawi finalized an environmental health policy that defines specific targets and programs for EH in healthcare settings. This and other related policies have been used since 2010 as a guide for EH practice in HCFs, but the implementation of these policies has been incomplete to-date. This study qualitatively examines the successes and shortcomings of implementing these policies in Malawi's public HCFs. Thematic analysis of interviews with 53 respondents from all levels of government was used to identify the successes of the policies and the barriers to effective implementation using Contextual Interaction Theory. The greatest identified strength lies in the design of the EH department and its ability to connect individual HCFs and EH actors directly to the policy-making level of government. Identified barriers to implementation include: insufficient financial support; lack of human resources; incomplete reporting; poor stakeholder coordination; and insufficient training of EH actors. We recommend refresher trainings for all EH actors, the establishment of a directorate level EH position, and strengthened coordination to improve the collection, analysis, and reporting of monitoring data to enable EH actors to advocate for the additional funding needed to develop programs for EH personnel and to apply effective EH interventions.

Non-invasive ventilation with bubble CPAP is feasible and improves respiratory physiology in hospitalised Malawian children with acute respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: In low-income countries and those with a high prevalence of HIV, respiratory failure is a common cause of death in children. However, the role of non-invasive ventilation with bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) in these patients is not well established. METHODS: A prospective observational study of bCPAP was undertaken between July and September 2012 in 77 Malawian children aged 1 week to 14 years with progressive acute respiratory failure despite oxygen and antimicrobial therapy. RESULTS: Forty-one (53%) patients survived following bCPAP treatment, and an HIV-uninfected single-organ disease subgroup demonstrated bCPAP success in 14 of 17 (82%). Compared with children aged ≧60 months, infants of 0-2 months had a 93% lower odds of bCPAP failure (odds ratio 0·07, 95% confidence interval 0·004-1·02, P  =  0·05). Following commencement of bCPAP, respiratory physiology improved, the average respiratory rate decreased from 61 to 49 breaths/minute (P  =  0·0006), and mean oxygen saturation increased from 92·1% to 96·1% (P  =  0·02). CONCLUSIONS: bCPAP was well accepted by caregivers and patients and can be feasibly implemented into a tertiary African hospital with high-risk patients and limited resources.

Street children's vulnerability to HIV and sexually transmitted infections in Malawian cities.

BACKGROUND: Street children have largely been ignored in the fight against HIV and AIDS. While some initiatives exist, the nature of street life, probably has not allowed viable interventions to be implemented. However, this is a group of people that could qualify as a "most at risk" group. This study set out to explore street children's vulnerability to sexual exploitation in the cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi. OBJECTIVE: The objective for this study was to explore street children's vulnerability to HIV and STIs infection. DESIGN: This qualitative study employed In-depth interviews with street children in the two main cities of Malawi. A total of 23 street children were interviewed. RESULTS: The study strongly suggests that street children could be vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. This is due to various factors which include low knowledge levels of STI and HIV, high risk sexual practices, lack of safer place to spend their nights for both boys and girls rendering them vulnerable to sexual abuses and the use of sex as a tool to secure protection and to be accepted especially for the newcomers on the street. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights street children's vulnerability to sexual exploitation which predisposes them to risk of HIV and AIDS as well as Sexually Transmitted infections. Furthermore, the street environment offers no protection against such vulnerability. There is need to explore potential and context sensitive strategies that could be used to protect street children from sexual exploitation and HIV and AIDS infection.

Street Children's Vulnerability to HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Malawian Cities

"Background: Street children have largely been ignored in the fight against HIV and AIDS. While some initiatives exist; the nature of street life; probably has not allowed viable interventions to be implemented. However; this is a group of people that could qualify as a ""most at risk"" group. This study set out to explore street children's vulnerability to sexual exploitation in the cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi.Objective The objective for this study was to explore street children's vulnerability to HIV and STIs infection. Design This qualitative study employed In-depth interviews with street children in the two main cities of Malawi. A total of 23 street children were interviewed. Results The study strongly suggests that street children could be vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. This is due to various factors which include low knowledge levels of STI and HIV; high risk sexual practices; lack of safer place to spend their nights for both boys and girls rendering them vulnerable to sexual abuses and the use of sex as a tool to secure protection and to be accepted especially for the newcomers on the street. Conclusions This study highlights street children's vulnerability to sexual exploitation which predisposes them to risk of HIV and AIDS as well as Sexually Transmitted infections. Furthermore; the street environment offers no protection against such vulnerability. There is need to explore potential and context sensitive strategies that could be used to protect street children from sexual exploitation and HIV and AIDS infection."

Escherichia coli removal in waste stabilization ponds: a comparison of modern and classical designs.

Two PC-based waste stabilization pond design procedures, based on parameter uncertainty and 10,000-trial Monte Carlo simulations, were developed for a series of anaerobic, facultative and maturation ponds to produce < or = 1000 E. coli per 100 ml for both 50% and 95% compliance. One procedure was based on the classical Marais equations and the other on the modern von Sperling equations. For the range of parameter variations selected the classical design procedure required less land area and had a shorter hydraulic retention time than the modern design procedure. For both procedures the design for 90% compliance required substantially more land and a longer retention time than the design for 50% compliance. Regulators and designers should seek a balance between system reliability (as set by the percentage compliance specified or adopted) and system costs, especially (but not only) in developing countries. It is recommended that new waste stabilization pond (WSP) systems be designed for compliance with a given E. coli effluent requirement by the classical procedure and that existing overloaded WSP systems be upgraded using the modern procedure.

Looking for change in response to the AIDS epidemic: trends in AIDS knowledge and sexual behavior in Zambia, 1990 through 1998.

This study investigates trends in AIDS knowledge and sexual behavior among men and women in urban Lusaka 1990 to 1998, and in all of Zambia, 1992 to 1998. Using data from representative surveys of urban Lusaka and of the country as a whole, population proportions were estimated to examine trends in knowledge and sexual risk behaviors. Differences in the estimated proportions between 1990 and 1998 were tested in Lusaka. In all Zambia, tests of difference were conducted between the earliest and latest years for which data were available for each indicator. A decline in premarital sexual activity was observed in urban Lusaka. In 1990, 50% of never married women reported no sexual experience, compared with 60% in 1998 (p =. 003); among men, the figures were 38% and 53%, respectively (p <. 001). Fewer women (1990, 8%; 1998, 2%; p <.001) and men (1990, 31%; 1998, 19%; p =.07) had extramarital partners. The bulk of change observed in urban Lusaka took place from 1990 to 1996; the changes in men's behavior observed between 1996 and 1998 were also observed in the national estimates for those years. National figures for other indicators from 1992 to 1998 were less encouraging. Apart from an increase in having ever used condoms, no change in women's sexual behavior was observed. Fewer men had premarital sex from 1996 to 1998 (1996, 64%; 1998, 46%; p <.001), but condom use with nonregular partners decreased among men (1996, 38%; 1998, 29%; p =.02). Prevention campaigns focused on education about AIDS and promoting safer sexual behavior appear to have made a difference in the early 1990s in Zambia. Findings from more recent years indicate that further change has stagnated. Renewed efforts are needed, particularly targeting condom use with nonregular partners.