Development of a home-based COVID-19 curriculum for Filipino children

Background@#COVID-19 caused educational institutions to transition online, necessitating tailored interventions in spreading factual information. Formal learning in the Philippines has yet to resume physically. @*Objectives@#This methodological and formative research sought to develop a contextualized, home-based, and age-appropriate COVID-19 prevention curriculum for Filipinos within ages 5-8, 9-12, and 13-16. This articledescribes the process of co-developing the curriculum and identifying key themes in curriculum development which may be relevant to low-middle income countries (LMIC).@*Methodology@#Preliminary curriculum materials were developed based on COVID-19 prevention literature and existing health promotion materials. A focus group discussion (FGD) with eight subject experts was conducted to explore the barriers and facilitators to knowledge and behavioral change. Results were analyzed thematically using predetermined themes: content, structure, delivery, and appropriateness to context. @*Results@#The co-development provided insights through academic, professional, and cultural lenses. Subthemes were generated from content, delivery, structure, and appropriateness to context recommending the use of activities that are engaging and empowering to the child and providing support for carers. Curriculum key outcomes of this research include a clearer, comprehensive, accurate, and contextualized curriculum in relation to the target age groups. @*Conclusion@#Curriculum co-development may be improved by involving key persons in the community. To promote behavioral change and hygienic practices among Filipino children, active, constructive, and interactive learning methods, as well as a motivational approach, must be employed. Major findings for curriculum effectiveness highlighted the importance of the following: prevention-focused materials, accurate and updated information, summary provisions at the curriculum's end, availability of activity materials, household involvement, and open-ended activities. Future research may work on contextualizing other health literacy curricula to the local context and tailoring interventions at the community level.

Investigation of six selected bacterial species in endo-periodontal lesions.

AIM: To investigate and determine possible associations of six tested bacteria belonging to 'orange' and 'green' complexes, in endo-periodontal lesions: Parvimonas micra, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Eubacterium nodatum, Eikenella corrodens and Capnocytophaga sputigena. METHODOLOGY: Forty-six patients presenting with different types of endo-periodontal lesions were investigated. Clinical examinations, periapical radiographs and microbiological sampling from the canal system (endo) and periodontal pockets (perio) were performed. Qualitative and semiquantitative evaluation of bacteria was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA-DNA hybridization (micro-IDent plus; Hain Lifescience, Germany). RESULTS: Extremely high bacterial loads in endodontic samples were recorded for P. micra, F. nucleatum and C. sputigena, while periodontal samples were often colonized by the same species, plus C. rectus. Significant association was recorded between F. nucleatum-endo and P. micra-endo (P = 0.03, Fisher's exact test). There was marginal evidence of associations between: (i) C. sputigena-endo and C. sputigena-perio (P = 0.06, Fisher's exact test); (ii) P. micra-endo and P. micra-perio (P = 0.05, Fisher's exact test). Sensitivity to percussion was associated with an increased chance of cases with P. micra-endo (P = 0.03, Pearson chi-square test). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that F. nucleatum, P. micra and C. sputigena may play a role in the pathogenesis of endo-periodontal lesions.