Association of SARS-COV-2 Cycle Threshold Values with Clinical and Epidemiological Features of Children and Adolescents in Iran

Background: The associations between the epidemiological, clinical, and serological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the nasopharyngeal viral load have not, yet, been understood completely. Methods: This cross-sectional single center study of outpatient children and adolescents was conducted between January and March 2021. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal swab specimens was positive for SARS-CoV-2. Nasopharyngeal Cycle threshold (Ct) values were measured for all patients considering different clinical features, age, and sex, in presence of covid-19 specific serum antibody. Results: The data of 70 individuals with confirmed COVID-19 were analyzed (mean (range) age: 9.6 (5-14) years; 29 females (41%)). Sixty-four children (91.4%) were symptomatic at the time of sampling (mean time of symptom onset, 3.9 days). There were no differences in mean Ct values between the symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (31.4 vs 28.8, p=0.247). Ct values were significantly lower in cases with diarrhea (p=0.044) and younger children (p=0.003). No correlation was found between Ct values and gender (p=0.415). Serum antibody was measured in 25 (36%) patients. Presence of antibody was not associated with Ct values (p=0.121). Fifty-nine cases (84.3%) reported exposure to a SARS-CoV-2 positive household. Conclusions: Higher nasopharyngeal Ct values, suggesting lower virus load, are related to older age, but there is no difference in Ct values between genders. Considering that diarrhea may predict lower Ct values in the respiratory system, the importance of early quarantine of children with atypical symptoms (such as gastrointestinal symptoms) or children in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 family member is highlighte

FINANCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND SEASONAL FOOD SECURITY: EVIDENCE FROM MALAWI

115 pagesThe role of financial engagement in household food insecurity is arguably nowhere more important than in impoverished rural regions that are vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations in food availability and access, and a range of other less predictable shocks and stressors. Financial engagement theoretically helps smooth food consumption across these challenges and provides more choice in balancing consumption needs. An emerging literature has shed light on seasonal food security and investigated financial engagement's role in alleviating food insecurity. However, due to the scarcity of high-frequency data, we still know little about how financial engagement is connected to contemporary food security, capturing seasonality and real-time shock experiences. This study aims to help fill this gap, utilizing high-frequency monthly data on 6,000 rural Malawians. We use financial engagement, five different food security measurements, and shock experiences while controlling for seasonality. We find that while credit is positively associated with average dietary diversity and food security-related coping strategies among rural households during the lean and growing season, it can be negatively associated with food security indicators during the secondary and main harvest under specific circumstances. A similar relationship also exists between savings and insurance, and food security. Generally, the association between financial engagement and food security is heterogeneous across different food security indicators. It strongly depends on three factors: the type of financial engagement, the timing in terms of growing seasons, and the nature and the number of the shocks household experiences

The effect of guided imagery on stress and attachment of mothers of premature infants in neonatal intensive care unit: A quasi-experimental study

Background. Premature birth, in addition to causing health problems in infants, increases stress in the mother and reduces attachment between mother and baby. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of guided visualization on stress and attachment of mothers of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods. This quasi-experimental study was performed on 35 mothers with premature infants admitted to the NICU of Mahdieh Hospital of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mothers were selected by available sampling method and randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. For mothers in the intervention group, the intervention was performed from the first to the fifth day of birth through training and sending guided imagery files. On the day of admission and discharge, the parental stress questionnaire and the postpartum attachment questionnaire were completed by the mother. SPSS software (version 20) was used to analyze the data. Results. The mean total score of maternal attachment on the fifth day of the intervention was significantly higher in the intervention group (P<0.001). Also, the mean total score of mothers' attachment status on the day of discharge was significantly higher in the intervention group (P<0.001). Conclusion. Implementation of guided visualization program reduced stress in mothers with premature infants admitted to the NICU, and consequently increased the level of attachment. Practical Implications. Mothers are the primary caregivers of infants, and promoting maternal health has an effect on infants. In addition to reducing stress in preterm infants, this study can help improve the quality of infant care and increase attachment and parenting. The present study offers a completely cost-effective way to reduce the costs of long-term hospitalization and improve the quality of nursing