Social science & medicine
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Social science & medicine · Nov 2020
Investigating spatial variation and change (2006-2017) in childhood immunisation coverage in New Zealand.
Immunisation is a safe and effective way of protecting children and adults against harmful diseases. However, immunisation coverage of children is declining in some parts of New Zealand. ⋯ Our findings show that childhood immunisation coverage varies by socioeconomic and demographic factors across CAUs. We also identify important spatial variation and changes over time in recent years. This evidence can be used to improve immunisation related policy in New Zealand.
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Social science & medicine · Nov 2020
Resilience and demographic characteristics predicting distress during the COVID-19 crisis.
Due to lack of vaccine or cure, the COVID-19 pandemic presents a threat to all human beings, undermining people's basic sense of safety and increasing distress symptoms. ⋯ Individual resilience and well-being have been found as the first and foremost predictors of COVID-19 anxiety. Though both predictors are complex and may be influenced by many factors, given the potential return of COVID-19 threat and other future health pandemic threats to our world, we must rethink and develop ways to reinforce them.
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Social science & medicine · Nov 2020
Observational StudyCOVID-19 pandemic, government responses, and public mental health: Investigating consequences through crisis hotline calls in two countries.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is an immense global health threat that has invoked unheard-of containment measures in numerous countries to reduce the number of new infections. ⋯ The present study supports the notion that the implementation of severe measures affects public mental health. However, the negative mental health effects of COVID-19 may be reduced if severe governmental restrictions are kept in place as briefly as possible.
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Social science & medicine · Nov 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialMotivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: An online experiment.
Maintaining social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic can save lives. We therefore set out to test communication strategies to promote social distancing. ⋯ Messages that invoke thoughts of infecting vulnerable people or large numbers of people can motivate social distancing and, hence, help to limit the spread of COVID-19. Stated public evaluations (obtained via focus groups or surveys) may underestimate the actual effectiveness of such emotional messages.