A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Significance Communicating in ways that motivate engagement in social distancing remains a critical global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested motivational qualities of messages about social distancing (those that promoted choice and agency vs. those that were forceful and shaming) in 25,718 people in 89 countries. The autonomy-supportive message decreased feelings of defying social distancing recommendations relative to the controlling message, and the controlling message increased controlled motivation, a less effective form of motivation, relative to no message. Message type did not impact intentions to socially distance, but people’s existing motivations were related to intentions. Findings were generalizable across a geographically diverse sample and may inform public health communication strategies in this and future global health emergencies. Abstract Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the stingless bee Melipona interrupta manaosensis (Apidae: Meliponini)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Melipona interrupta manaosensis is an important pollinator in the Neotropics. This stingless bee is reared by locals for honey production and also for conservation purposes. Eleven microsatellite markers were isolated from M. i. manaosensis and characterized in 32 individuals from the Meliponary of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Manaus, AM, Brazil. The number of alleles observed for each locus ranged from 2 to 5 (average 2.77). The polymorphism information content (PIC) varied between 0.08 to 0.62 (average 0.34) and the discriminating power (D) ranged from 0.61 to 0.99 (average 0.85). The observed heterozygosity (HO) and the expected heterozygosity (HE) ranged from 0.04 to 1.00 and 0.04 to 0.67, respectively. These microsatellites will be useful for future genetic studies of M. i. manaosensis populations and correlated species contributing with Amazon biodiversity preservation.212730Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundacaode Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Avaliação de conhecimentos e práticas que adultos e crianças têm acerca da doença de Chagas e seus vetores em região endêmica de Minas Gerais, Brasil Evaluation of knowledge and practices related to Chagas disease and its vectors among adults and children in an endemic region in Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Apesar do sucesso no Programa de Controle da Doença de Chagas (PCDCh) no Brasil, alguns locais encontram dificuldades na manutenção do programa, sobretudo após a descentralização do setor saúde. Sabe-se que a sustentabilidade das ações de controle dos vetores da doença de Chagas depende da informação e participação comunitária. O presente trabalho avaliou os conhecimentos e práticas que a população de Bambuí, Minas Gerais, apresenta sobre os triatomíneos e a doença de Chagas. O conhecimento foi testado por meio da aplicação de questionário acompanhado de seis figuras de hemípteros para identificação. Participaram da pesquisa tanto adultos, como crianças dos ensinos fundamental e médio das escolas rurais presentes no município. Os dados apontaram que a população de Bambuí tem bons conhecimentos gerais sobre os triatomíneos e a doença de Chagas em ambos os grupos (adultos e crianças), entretanto os conceitos se mostraram limitados quanto ao que fazer para evitar esses vetores invadindo domicílios. Os resultados ressaltam a necessidade de campanhas educativas no contexto do PCDCh como elemento fundamental da participação comunitária no combate aos triatomíneos.<br>Despite the success of the Chagas Disease Control Program (PCCD) in Brazil, some endemic areas have experienced difficulty in maintaining the program's activities, especially after the health system's decentralization, since the sustainability of control measures for Chagas disease and vectors is known to depend on information and community participation. This study aimed to analyze knowledge and practices related to vectors and Chagas disease in Bambuí, Minas Gerais State, Brasil. The population's knowledge was tested with a questionnaire, accompanied by six illustrations of triatomine bugs for identification. Both adults and primary and secondary schoolchildren in rural areas of the county participated in the research. The Bambuí population showed good overall knowledge on triatomines and Chagas disease in both groups (adults and children), although the concepts were limited to preventing the insect vector from invading houses. The results emphasize the importance of educational campaigns in the context of the program as a fundamental component of community participation in Chagas disease vector control