SARS-CoV-2 incidence and hospitalisation in South Tyrol (Italy): a population-based ecological study

Literature associating SARS-CoV-2 spread to environmental variables such as altitude, tourism, vaccination adherence and demographics, is inconclusive and contrasting. This study aimed at studying these relationships during the first unrestricted winter in South Tyrol, a multicultural Italian alpine province. Methods: An ecological study was performed, based on the 20 districts of the area. Data about incidence and hospitalization between November ’21 and February ’22 was collected and associated to geographical, demographic and health-related characteristics via bivariate analyses. Results: Incidence (range: 15% - 22%) and hospitalization (range: overall = 0.09% - 0.26%/ intensive care unit (ICU) = 0 - 0.06%) varied widely among districts. Incidence showed positive correlations with average altitude (Rho = 0.62, p < 0.001), tourist amount (0.54, p < 0.04) and average family size (0.66, p < 0.005); whereas negative ones with vaccination coverage (-0.62, p < 0.04) and population density (-0.44, p < 0.05). Similar trends were observed for ICU admissions. Incidence was significantly higher in Ladin speaking districts and lower in Italian ones, while ordinary wards admission appeared lowest in Ladin districts and higher in the Italian ones, as well as close to main cities and hospitals. Conclusions: Living in urban districts, geographically and linguistically closer to the Health Authorities, may have played a protective role against infection and severe disease, through an increased adherence to public health preventive measures. The concomitant higher rate of admissions might be due to the easier access to the structures. By contrast, infection spread was higher in rural and sparsely populated districts, associated with greater winter tourism and family sizes, but also characterized by lower herd immunity and institutional closeness. More attention should be paid to communities with special needs (geographical and cultural) to ensure equitable means for future pandemics

Pregnancy e-health: a multicenter Italian cross-sectional study on internet use and decision-making among pregnant women

Our study aimed to estimate the prevalence of pregnancy e-health seekers in a large Italian sample; to explore the factors influencing the choices of the childbearing women regarding their lifestyles after internet consultation; and finally to investigate potential differences between primiparous and multiparous women in internet use to find information about pregnancy. Methods A multicentre survey was carried out in seven Italian cities. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire administered in waiting rooms of outpatient departments by medical doctors. Respondents were questioned about their sociodemographic status, their use of the internet to seek pregnancy information and their consequent choices to modify their lifestyles. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results Almost all women were pregnancy e-health seekers (95%), including those who also received information from healthcare professionals. Indeed, the main reason for searching the web was the need of further knowledge on pregnancy-related topic, over and beyond other key advantages of the net such as anonymity, simplicity and rapidity. A higher likelihood of changing lifestyle after pregnancy e-health was observed among the women who searched institutional websites; declared more confidence in the information retrieved; participated into pregnancy-centred forum online; and were residents in Italy. Conclusions To reduce the likelihood for women of both finding erroneous information or misinterpreting correct ones, healthcare professionals should commit to fill the information gap and guide pregnant women in the online searches. Also, future studies are strongly needed to analyse the quality and accuracy of health information found on the web