Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Infect Dis. 16 December 2024; Volume 230 (Issue 6); e1235-e1244.; DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiae221
Cortes-Azuero O, Lefrancq N, Nikolay B, McKee C, Cappelle J, et al.
J Infect Dis. 16 December 2024; Volume 230 (Issue 6); e1235-e1244.; DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiae221
BACKGROUND
Nipah virus (NiV), a highly lethal virus in humans, circulates in Pteropus bats throughout South and Southeast Asia. Difficulty in obtaining viral genomes from bats means we have a poor understanding of NiV diversity.
METHODS
We develop phylogenetic approaches applied to the most comprehensive collection of genomes to date (N = 257, 175 from bats, 73 from humans) from 6 countries over 22 years (1999–2020). We divide the 4 major NiV sublineages into 15 genetic clusters. Using Approximate Bayesian Computation fit to a spatial signature of viral diversity, we estimate the presence and the average size of genetic clusters per area.
RESULTS
We find that, within any bat roost, there are an average of 2.4 co-circulating genetic clusters, rising to 5.5 clusters at areas of 1500–2000 km2. We estimate that each genetic cluster occupies an average area of 1.3 million km2 (95% confidence interval [CI], .6–2.3 million km2), with 14 clusters in an area of 100 000 km2 (95% CI, 6–24 km2). In the few sites in Bangladesh and Cambodia where genomic surveillance has been concentrated, we estimate that most clusters have been identified, but only approximately 15% of overall NiV diversity has been uncovered.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings are consistent with entrenched co-circulation of distinct lineages, even within roosts, coupled with slow migration over larger spatial scales.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1 December 2023; Volume 69 (Issue 8); 1898-1908.; DOI:10.1177/00207640231179323
Shaw SA, Lee CT, Ahmadi M, Karim Shor Muluk H, Mohamed Jibril Z, et al.
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1 December 2023; Volume 69 (Issue 8); 1898-1908.; DOI:10.1177/00207640231179323
BACKGROUND
Among refugees residing in countries of first asylum, such as Malaysia, high rates of psychological distress call for creative intervention responses.
AIMS
This study examines implementation of a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model promoting emotional well-being and access to services.
METHOD
The one-session intervention was implemented in community settings by refugee facilitators during 2017 to 2020. 140 Participants including Afghan ( n = 43), Rohingya ( n = 41), and Somali ( n = 56) refugees were randomized to receive either the intervention at baseline, or to a waitlist control group. At 30 days post-intervention, all participants completed a post-assessment. Additionally, after completing the intervention, participants provided feedback on SBIRT content and process.
RESULTS
Findings indicate the intervention was feasible to implement. Among the full sample, Refugee Health Screening-15 emotional distress scores reduced significantly among participants in the intervention group when compared to those in the waitlist control group. Examining findings by nationality, only Afghan and Rohingya participants in the intervention condition experienced significant reductions in distress scores compared to their counterparts in the control condition. Examining intervention effects on service access outcomes, only Somali participants in the intervention condition experienced significant increases in service access compared to the control condition.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate the potential value of this SBIRT intervention, warranting further research.
Among refugees residing in countries of first asylum, such as Malaysia, high rates of psychological distress call for creative intervention responses.
AIMS
This study examines implementation of a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model promoting emotional well-being and access to services.
METHOD
The one-session intervention was implemented in community settings by refugee facilitators during 2017 to 2020. 140 Participants including Afghan ( n = 43), Rohingya ( n = 41), and Somali ( n = 56) refugees were randomized to receive either the intervention at baseline, or to a waitlist control group. At 30 days post-intervention, all participants completed a post-assessment. Additionally, after completing the intervention, participants provided feedback on SBIRT content and process.
RESULTS
Findings indicate the intervention was feasible to implement. Among the full sample, Refugee Health Screening-15 emotional distress scores reduced significantly among participants in the intervention group when compared to those in the waitlist control group. Examining findings by nationality, only Afghan and Rohingya participants in the intervention condition experienced significant reductions in distress scores compared to their counterparts in the control condition. Examining intervention effects on service access outcomes, only Somali participants in the intervention condition experienced significant increases in service access compared to the control condition.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate the potential value of this SBIRT intervention, warranting further research.
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
Journal of Humanitarian Affairs. 23 November 2023; Volume 5 (Issue 2); 24-29.; DOI:10.7227/JHA.107
Leyland J, Tiller S, Bhattacharya B
Journal of Humanitarian Affairs. 23 November 2023; Volume 5 (Issue 2); 24-29.; DOI:10.7227/JHA.107
While health misinformation is important to address in humanitarian settings, over-focusing on it can obfuscate a more holistic understanding of a community’s needs in a crisis. Through Médecins Sans Frontières’ experience of deploying a platform to tackle health misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, this field report argues that, while important, health misinformation became a diversionary topic during COVID-19, which represented a lack of trust between communities, humanitarian organisations and health institutions, rather a fundamental obstacle to effective humanitarian interventions.
From our practitioners’ viewpoint, we reflect on the deployment of the ‘MSF Listen’ platform in our programmes and how it evolved from a purely misinformation-focused digital tool to a broader workflow and approach to understanding community needs in crises through accountable management of community feedback.
From our practitioners’ viewpoint, we reflect on the deployment of the ‘MSF Listen’ platform in our programmes and how it evolved from a purely misinformation-focused digital tool to a broader workflow and approach to understanding community needs in crises through accountable management of community feedback.
Journal Article > ReviewFull Text
Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 1 January 2019; Volume 14 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1097/COH.0000000000000514
Khwairakpam G, Burry J
Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 1 January 2019; Volume 14 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1097/COH.0000000000000514
With increasing availability of generic direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and associated price reductions, various governments, multilateral institutions, and donors have started providing testing and treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. More data on the quality of these generic medicines and on cost-effectiveness of their use are becoming widely available. This review seeks to describe some of the treatment programs for HCV that are evolving in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Int AIDS Soc. 8 April 2011; Volume 14 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1186/1758-2652-14-7
van Cutsem G, Saphonn V, Saramony S, Vibol U, Zhang FJ, et al.
J Int AIDS Soc. 8 April 2011; Volume 14 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1186/1758-2652-14-7
To better understand the need for paediatric second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART), an ART management survey and a cross-sectional analysis of second-line ART use were conducted in the TREAT Asia Paediatric HIV Observational Database and the IeDEA Southern Africa (International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS) regional cohorts.
Protocol > Research Protocol
Stringer B, Alcayna T, Caleo GNC, Carrion-Martin I, Froud A, et al.
1 June 2020
What are the perceptions of community groups toward preserving their health and wellbeing during a COVID-19 outbreak?
Both rural, urban, camp, open and conflict settings will be included. Recognising that different locations may have been exposed to COVID-19 in its early phase, it will continue to explore within each setting throughout the outbreak period. So far, the following sites are to be included:
• Nigeria: Anka and Benue IDP camps (Pilot)
• Jordan: Syrian refugee Zaatari camp
• Iraq: Syrian and Iraqi refugee camp(s)
• Sierra Leone: Tonkolili project (Pilot)
• Malaysia: Penang Rohingya refugees : Myanmar Pauktaw camp, Rakhine state
• Bangladesh:Cox Bazaar camps and Kamrangirchar peri-urban slum
• Ethiopia Gambella camp
• Democratic Republic of Congo: South Kivu (Fizi and Kimbi-Lulenge health zones)
Further sites may be submitted to ERB during the outbreak.
Both rural, urban, camp, open and conflict settings will be included. Recognising that different locations may have been exposed to COVID-19 in its early phase, it will continue to explore within each setting throughout the outbreak period. So far, the following sites are to be included:
• Nigeria: Anka and Benue IDP camps (Pilot)
• Jordan: Syrian refugee Zaatari camp
• Iraq: Syrian and Iraqi refugee camp(s)
• Sierra Leone: Tonkolili project (Pilot)
• Malaysia: Penang Rohingya refugees : Myanmar Pauktaw camp, Rakhine state
• Bangladesh:Cox Bazaar camps and Kamrangirchar peri-urban slum
• Ethiopia Gambella camp
• Democratic Republic of Congo: South Kivu (Fizi and Kimbi-Lulenge health zones)
Further sites may be submitted to ERB during the outbreak.