COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Bangladeshi adults: Understanding predictors of vaccine intention to inform vaccine policy

Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccine intention among Bangladeshi adults. Methods Secondary data from the COVID-19 Beliefs, Behaviors & Norms Survey conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Facebook were analyzed. Data were collected from 2,669 adult Facebook users in Bangladesh and was collected between February 15 and February 28, 2021. Binomial logistic regression examined the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination intent and demographic variables, risk perception, preventive behaviors, COVID-19 knowledge, and likelihood of future actions. Results Seventy-nine percent of respondents reported intent to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Intent to get vaccinated was highest among females, adults aged 71–80, individuals with college or graduate-level degrees, city dwellers, and individuals who perceived that they were in excellent health. Results of the binomial logistic regression indicated that predictors of vaccination intent include age (OR = 1.39), high risk perception of COVID-19 (OR = 1.47), and intent to practice social distancing (OR = 1.22). Discussion Findings suggest that age, perceived COVID-19 risk, and non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 interventions may predict COVID-19 vaccination intent among Bangladeshi adults. Findings can be used to create targeted messaging to increase demand for and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Bangladesh.

Counter-hegemonic Computing: Toward Computer Science Education for Value Generation and Emancipation

Students’ lives, both in and out of school, are full of different forms of value. Wealthy students enjoy value in the form of financial capital; their fit to hegemonic social practices; excellent health care and so on. Low-income students, especially those from African American, Native American, and Latinx communities, often lack access to those resources. But there are other forms of value that low-income students do possess. Most examples of what we will call Counter-Hegemonic Practice (CHP) in the African American community involve some mixture of Indigenous African heritage, contemporary innovation in the Black community, and other influences. Moving between these value forms and the computing classroom is a non-trivial task, especially if we are to avoid merely using the appearance of culture to attract students. Our objective in this paper is to provide a framework for deeper investigations into the computational potentials for CHP; its potential as a link between education and community development; and a more dignified role for its utilization in the CS classroom. We report on a series of collaborative engagements with CHP, largely focused on African American communities.

Lifestyle behaviours of children and adolescents during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland and their relation to well-being: a population-based study

Background: Previous studies assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's and adolescent's lifestyle focused mainly on the first wave in early 2020. We aimed to describe changes in adherence to recommendations for physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and sleep duration over the first two waves of the pandemic (March-May 2020 and October 2020-January 2021) in Switzerland, and to assess the associations of these lifestyle behaviours with life satisfaction and overall health, as indicators of well-being. Methods: We included 3168 participants aged 5 to 18 years from four Swiss cantons. Participants or their parents completed repeated questionnaires and reported on their (child's) PA, ST, sleep, life satisfaction, and overall health. We analysed lifestyle behaviours in terms of adherence to international recommendations. We used linear and logistic regression models to assess the associations of number of recommendations met and adherence patterns with well-being indicators. Findings: Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the percentage of participants meeting the recommendations for PA and ST decreased strikingly during March-May 2020, while there was a slight increase in those meeting recommendations for sleep. During October 2020-January 2021, the percentage of compliant children for PA and ST increased but remained lower than before the pandemic. Participants meeting all three recommendations were more likely to report excellent health (OR: 1.87 [1.15-3.08]) and a higher life satisfaction score (β: 0.59 [0.30-0.88]) than participants not meeting any recommendation. Adherence to recommendations for PA and sleep, PA and ST, and sleep and ST was similarly associated with both well-being indicators. Interpretation: We show a substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's and adolescents' lifestyle behaviours with a partial recovery over time, and an association between lifestyle and well-being. Public health policies to promote children's and adolescents' well-being should target PA, ST, and sleep simultaneously. Funding: Corona Immunitas.

Chronic Diseases and Self-Reported Health Status Among American Indian/Alaska Native Older Adults

Background In the 1800s and 1900s, U.S. federal “Indian” policy (e.g., boarding schools, relocation) created historical trauma with impacts that reverberate today, such as the significant health challenges experienced among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Our study seeks to better understand the burden of chronic disease, and also resilience, among AI/AN older adults. Methods Data came from Cycle VII (2018-2020) of the National Resource Center on Native American Aging’s “Identifying Our Needs: A Survey of Elders” survey of AI/AN adults ages 55+ from primarily rural tribal survey sites (N=20,642). Analysis explored self-assessed health status (very good/excellent, good, fair/poor) and looked for significant differences in prevalence of chronic conditions a doctor ever told them they had (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, arthritis, asthma). Results Self-reported health among AI/AN adults age 55+ was: 26% very good/excellent, 39% good, and 35% fair/poor. 87% of respondents had 1+ chronic illness; 37% had 3+. Among those reporting very good/excellent health, 75% had 1+ chronic illness and 19% had 3+. High blood pressure was the most common chronic disease, at 56% (44% for very good/excellent compared to 67% for fair/poor), followed by diabetes, at 36% (24% for very good/excellent compared to 46% for fair/poor). Conclusions All of the chronic conditions examined showed significantly higher prevalence among AI/AN adults 55+ with fair/poor health. Notably, 1 in 5 respondents with 3 or more chronic conditions indicated very good/excellent health, reinforcing that successful aging can still be experienced by those with chronic health conditions.

Driving Habits of Older Adults in Massachusetts: Variations by Sex, Age, Race, Income, Housing Density, and Health

Maintaining ability to drive is critical to independent living among older adults residing in suburban and rural communities. We administrated structured questionnaire about driving behaviors to 370 persons age 65 and older living in Central Massachusetts between 2018 and 2020. Of them, 307 were active drivers. Driving in the past year was strongly associated with being male, White race, higher income, non-urban resident, and good-to-excellent health. Advancing age was associated with lower frequency of driving, less miles driven, lower percentage of the day spent in transportation. Men and women drove with nearly equal frequency (~26 days/month), but men drove significantly more miles. Non-White drivers were significantly more likely to avoid driving out of town or in difficult conditions, even after controlling for age, sex, income, and density of residential area. In conclusion, driving behaviors differed significantly by age, sex, income, race, and housing density. Further investigation is warranted.

Pain Among African American Family Caregivers: Association With Health Outcomes

African Americans experience high rates of undermanaged pain as they age. African Americans often become family or informal caregivers, and undermanaged pain may have implications for their overall health and ability to perform caregiving tasks. The purpose of this study was to examine if pain was related to overall health and number of caregiving activities among African American caregivers. We used data from round 7 of the National Study of Caregiving (N= 646 African American caregivers, mean age= 57 years [SD=15]). Pain over the prior month was participant-assessed. Of this sample, 451 (69.7%) were women, 324 (50.1%) had pain, and 309 (47.8%) had multiple comorbidities. The number of caregiving activities ranged from 8 to 14 with mean of 11.6 (SD= 1.4). In a logistic regression model, controlling for income, education, and comorbidities, we found having pain in the last month was associated with lower likelihood of very good or excellent health (Adjusted OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.69) and greater likelihood of having depressive symptoms (Adjusted OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.34 to 3.10). In a linear regression model, however, pain was not significantly related to the number of caregiving activities (R2 = 0.04). Findings suggest that while pain is related to poorer physical and mental health outcomes among African American caregivers, even pain does not deter them from providing care for care recipients. Management of pain among African American caregivers may be beneficial for improving their own overall health and mental health.

Meet Caregivers Where They Are: A Remote Intervention Connecting Caregivers to Community Resources

Informal caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are a vulnerable, often isolated population with high rates of financial strain and need for community resource supports. Little is known about how best to connect these caregivers to resources, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. CommunityRx-Caregiver is an evidence-based intervention that connects caregivers to community resources for basic needs, wellness, and caregiving. Using preliminary data from a randomized trial of CommunityRx-Caregiver (N=344), we examined caregivers’ baseline confidence in finding community resources and their engagement in the CommunityRx-Caregiver intervention. Caregivers enrolled December 2020-February 2021 (n=26) received (1) personalized lists of community resources via text message (HealtheRx), (2) access to an online resource portal (FindRx) and (3) automated texts offering support for finding resources. Most caregivers were female (65%), Black (92%), >60 years old (64%) and 44% reported very good or excellent health. Nearly half of caregivers (46%) were completely confident in finding community resources. Overall, 81% of caregivers engaged with a text message or the FindRx. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of caregivers responded to at least one text message. More than a quarter (27%) used the FindRx tool; 5/7 of those shared FindRx resources with others. Caregivers sought resources including in-home personal care, exercise classes and support groups. Caregivers of people with ADRD, many of whom had low confidence in finding resources, engaged with a multi-modal information technology-based intervention to obtain community resource support. These preliminary findings suggest caregivers were receptive to a remotely-delivered community referral intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A review on medicinal plants as potential sources of natural immunomodulatory action

The concept of immunomodulation was proposed by Edward Jenner, while working on polio vaccine in 1796. A brawny, fine-functioning immune system is the keystone of excellent health. Immune replies are the consequence of an effectual interaction among innate (natural and non-specific) and acquired (adaptive and specific) components of the immune system. Inequity or failure of the immune systems is connected with a variety of chronic illness counting allergies, autoimmune diseases, cancers and furthers. Diverse innate and adaptive immune cells that are incorporated in this multifaceted networking organization may symbolize talented targets for expanding immunotherapeutics for treating specific immune illness. An assorted array of natural, synthetic, and recombinant compounds is accessible with both advantages and demerits. A range of phytochemicals have been remote, differentiated and customized for expansion and employ as avoidance or cure of human diseases, but the request of customary or novel medicinal plants for employ as immunomodulators in indulgencing immune diseases is still comparatively limited. At present, there is much-growing interest in the use of medicinal plants as modulators of the complex immune system. Numerous therapeutic consequences of plant extracts have been recommended to be because of their extensive assortment of immunomodulatory effects and persuade on the immune system of the human body. In present review paper, various medicinal plants, their resultant crude or fractionated phyto extracts and the precise phytochemicals remote from them are conversed in terms of their immunomodulatory bioactivities. We also review their possible for future expansion as immunomodulatory or inflammation-regulatory therapeutics or agents. Keywords: Immunomodulation, Immune system, Phytochemicals, Medicinal plant, Plant extracts

MARKETING, HEALTH LITERACY, AND THE USE OF MELASMA AND FRECKLE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PRODUCTS

The research goals of this study were to identify the association between marketing and health literacy and the use of products to prevent and treat melasma and freckles among working-age women in northeast Thailand. One thousand one hundred forty-three working-age women were randomly selected using multistage sampling from 4 provinces in northeast Thailand to participate in a self-administered structured questionnaire. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) evaluated the associations between product use and the studied factors. The majority of respondents (59.49%; 95% CI = 50.09 – 62.33) were current users of these products. Factors associated with product use were adequate to excellent health literacy (adj OR = 2.88, 95% CI = 2.51-3.42, p < 0.001), product marketing (adj OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.59-2.84, p < 0.001), presence of freckles (adj OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.53-2.79, p < 0.001), and melasma (adj OR = 2.05: 95%CI = 1.52-2.67, p < 0.001). The other significant covariates were age 30-44 years (adj OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.78-2.81, p < 0.001), having a bachelor’s degree or higher (adj. OR = 2.03, 95%CI = 1.61-2.11, p 0.005), and average monthly income > 15,000 THB (adj. OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.60-2.91, p < 0.001). About sixty percent of working-age women were current users of melasma and freckle prevention/treatment products. Health literacy and product marketing were positively associated with product use. Other associated factors were facial skin conditions, age, education level, and income. The study findings provide pertinent information to policymakers and the community about implementing educational health literacy programs.

Penyuluhan Bantuan Hidup Dasar Pada Siswa/i di SMA Yayasan Anastasia Pancur Batu Kabupaten Deliserdang Sumatera Utara

ABSTRAK Kesehatan yang prima akan di dapatkan ketika tubuh mendapatkan oksigen yang baik. Henti nafas diakibatkan melemahnya kerja jantung sampai dengan terhentinya kerja jantung dan dapat mengakibatkan tidak terpenuhinya oksigen dalam tubuh yang artinya kebutuhan dasar hidup tidak dapat terpenuhi. Tujuan dari penyuluhan bantuan hidup dasar adalah meningkatkan pengetahuan dan dapat melakukan tindakan secara mandiri untuk pertolongan bantuan hidup dasar di lingkungannya. Sasaran kegiatan ini adalah siswa/i SMA Yayasan Anastasia Pancur Batu. Metode yang digunakan dalam penyuluhan bantuan hidup dasar ini adalah dengan melakukan presentasi materi dan melakukan simulasi bantuan hidup dasar. Hasil dari kegiatan ini adalah siswa/i mempu mengetahui tentang dasar-dasar pemberian bantuan hidup dasar dan mampu melaksanakan pemberian bantuan hidup dasar di lingkungannya. Diharapkan dengan dilaksanakannya penyuluhan ini, pada siswa/i dapat sigap dan mampu memberikan bantuan hidup dasar guna memperkecil angka kematian. Kata Kunci : Bantuan Hidup Dasar, Penyuluhan Kesehatan ABSTRACT Excellent health will be obtained when the body gets good oxygen. Stopping breathing is caused by the weakening of the work of the heart to the cessation of the work of the heart and can result in not meeting oxygen in the body, which means that the basic needs of life cannot be fulfilled. The purpose of basic life support extension is to increase knowledge and be able to take action independently for basic life support assistance in their environment. The target of this activity is SMA Anastasia Pancur Batu Foundation. The method used in this basic life support extension is to present the material and perform basic life support simulations. The result of this activity is that students are able to know the basics of providing basic life support and are able to provide basic life support in their environment. It is hoped that with the implementation of this counseling, students can be alert and able to provide basic life support in order to reduce the mortality rate. Keywords: Basic Life Support, Health Education