Quilt Plots: A Simple Tool for the Visualisation of Large Epidemiological Data

<div><p>Background</p><p>Graphical representation of data is one of the most easily comprehended forms of explanation. The current study describes a simple visualization tool which may allow greater understanding of medical and epidemiological data.</p><p>Method</p><p>We propose a simple tool for visualization of data, known as a “<i>quilt plot</i>”, that provides an alternative to presenting large volumes of data as frequency tables. Data from the Australian Needle and Syringe Program survey are used to illustrate “<i>quilt plots</i>”.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Visualization of large volumes of data using “<i>quilt plots</i>” enhances interpretation of medical and epidemiological data. Such intuitive presentations are particularly useful for the rapid assessment of problems in the data which cannot be readily identified by manual review. We recommend that, where possible, “<i>quilt plots</i>” be used along with traditional quantitative assessments of the data as an explanatory data analysis tool.</p></div

Supplemental Material - Understanding the impact of women’s correct risk perception on human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis: Insights from South Africa

Supplemental Material for Understanding the impact of women’s correct risk perception on human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis: Insights from South Africa by Handan Wand, Jayajothi Moodley, Tarylee Reddy, Sarita Naidoo in International Journal of STD & AIDS.</p

<i>Percent tabulation</i>: percentage of people who inject drug attending needle and syringe programs since 1995 with Hepatitis C virus by age × survey years.

<p><i>Percent tabulation</i>: percentage of people who inject drug attending needle and syringe programs since 1995 with Hepatitis C virus by age × survey years.</p

Crude incidence rates for HIV seroconversion.

<p>Crude incidence rates for HIV seroconversion.</p

Scabies and Impetigo Prevalence and Risk Factors in Fiji: A National Survey

<div><p>Background</p><p>Scabies is recognised as a major public health problem in many countries, and is responsible for significant morbidity due to secondary bacterial infection of the skin causing impetigo, abscesses and cellulitis, that can in turn lead to serious systemic complications such as septicaemia, kidney disease and, potentially, rheumatic heart disease. Despite the apparent burden of disease in many countries, there have been few large-scale surveys of scabies prevalence or risk factors. We undertook a population-based survey in Fiji of scabies and impetigo to evaluate the magnitude of the problem and inform public health strategies.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>A total of 75 communities, including villages and settlements in both urban and rural areas, were randomly selected from 305 communities across the four administrative divisions, and all residents in each location were invited to participate in skin examination by trained personnel. The study enrolled 10,887 participants. The prevalence of scabies was 23.6%, and when adjusted for age structure and geographic location based on census data, the estimated national prevalence was 18.5%. The prevalence was highest in children aged five to nine years (43.7%), followed by children aged less than five (36.5%), and there was also an indication of prevalence increasing again in older age. The prevalence of scabies was twice as high in iTaukei (indigenous) Fijians compared to Indo-Fijians. The prevalence of impetigo was 19.6%, with a peak in children aged five to nine years (34.2%). Scabies was very strongly associated with impetigo, with an estimated 93% population attributable risk.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>As far as we are aware, this is the first national survey of scabies and impetigo ever conducted. We found that scabies occurs at high levels across all age groups, ethnicities, and geographical locations. Improved strategies are urgently needed to achieve control of scabies and its complications in endemic communities.</p></div

Overview of Sampling.

<p>Flowchart depicts the participant numbers that were included and excluded. *10 years is considered the age of criminal responsibility in Australia.</p

Forest Plot of Unadjusted and Adjusted Hazard Ratios for Any and Violent Convictions.

<p>Figure depicting the associations between TBI and any violent offending, relative to the non- exposed comparison groups: general community, full siblings, or twins.</p

Demographic characteristics of the study sample compared to national census data.

<p>*data on 83 participants were not recorded</p><p>Demographic characteristics of the study sample compared to national census data.</p

Association between scabies and impetigo.

<p>Association between scabies and impetigo.</p

Prevalence of impetigo in Fiji.

<p>*data on 83 participants were not recorded;</p><p>†adjusted odds ratio calculated by gender, ethnicity, age, division and location).</p><p>Prevalence of impetigo in Fiji.</p