Journal of epidemiology and global health
-
J Epidemiol Glob Health · Sep 2014
Multicenter StudyChikungunya outbreak in Al-Hudaydah, Yemen, 2011: epidemiological characterization and key lessons learned for early detection and control.
Little is known about the occurrence of chikungunya fever in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). In January 2011, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPH&P) of Yemen reported to WHO an increasing number of "dengue-like" acute febrile illnesses of unknown origin from one of its coastal governorates. An epidemiological investigation was conducted in Al-Hudaydah governorate between 23 and 26 January 2011 by a joint team of WHO, the MoPH&P of Yemen and the U. ⋯ The investigation led to the detection of an outbreak of chikungunya in Yemen which was the first time ever from any of the 22 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO. Appropriate public health control measures were strengthened following the investigation, and the outbreak was contained. This paper provides a short description of the outbreak and its epidemiological characteristics and highlights the important lessons that were learned for early detection and control of chikungunya in countries where competent vectors for transmission of the virus exist.
-
J Epidemiol Glob Health · Sep 2014
Multicenter StudyMicroResearch: finding sustainable local health solutions in East Africa through small local research studies.
Sub-Saharan African countries have urged grassroots input to improve research capacity. In East Africa, MicroResearch is fostering local ability to find sustainable solutions for community health problems. At 5years, the following reports its progress. ⋯ MicroResearch helped build local capacity for community-directed interdisciplinary health research.
-
J Epidemiol Glob Health · Mar 2014
Measuring the accuracy of a point system to diagnose tuberculosis in children with a negative smear or with no smear or culture.
In Brazil, a scoring system was adopted to diagnose tuberculosis in childhood. This study determined the accuracy in diagnosing tuberculosis in children with either a negative smear or with no smear or culture conducted in a reference center in João Pessoa Paraíba - Brazil. It is a phase III validation study, using a cross-section design. ⋯ The results for the scoring system with the cut-off of 30 points were: sensitivity 78.57% (95%-CI: 65.56-88.41%), specificity 69.16% (95%-CI: 59.50-77.73%), positive predictive value (PPV): 57.14% (95%-CI: 45.35-68.37%), negative predictive value (NPV): 86.05% (95%-CI: 76.89-92.58%), likelihood ratio (+): 2,55, pre-test probability: 34.36%, and post-test probability (+): 57.14%. This supports the current recommendation for the use of this scoring system in Brazil and similar sites with the cut-off of 30 points. However, as the discriminatory power of the point scoring system may vary across settings, it would be advisable to replicate this phase III study in different settings.
-
J Epidemiol Glob Health · Mar 2014
Availability of results from clinical research: failing policy efforts.
Trial registration has a great potential to increase research transparency and public access to research results. This study examined the availability of results either in journal publications or in the trial registry from all studies registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. ⋯ Existing policy does not ensure availability of results from clinical research. International policy revisions should charge principal investigators with ensuring that the approved protocols and posted data elements are aligned and that results are available from all conducted studies.
-
J Epidemiol Glob Health · Dec 2013
Results of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey and implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries.
We used Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) data collected over time to monitor articles of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). ⋯ The GYTS data can be used for monitoring, evaluation of national tobacco control plans and defining future directions for tobacco control.