Attitudes towards compulsory vaccination in Italy: Results from the NAVIDAD multicentre study

ABSTRACT: Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a considerable issue in European countries and leads to low coverage rates. After a long debate, Italy has made vaccination mandatory for admission to its schools. Methods: In the NAVIDAD study (a cross-sectional multicentre study), a 63-item questionnaire was administered to 1820 pregnant women from 15 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee's opinion on mandatory vaccines, as well as their socioeconomic status, sources of information about vaccines, confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service (NHS), and intention to vaccinate their newborn. Results: Information sources play a key role in determining the opinion on restoration of mandatory vaccines; in particular, women who obtained information from anti-vaccination movements are less likely to accept the vaccines (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.21\u20130.58, p < 0.001). Women who had confidence in healthcare professional information agreed more on mandatory vaccination than did the other women (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.62\u20134.36, p < 0.001); those who perceived that healthcare professionals have economic interest in child immunization and who declared that healthcare providers inform only on vaccinations benefits not on risks were less likely to agree on compulsory vaccination (OR: 0.66, CI 95%: 0.46\u20130.96, p = 0.03; OR: 0.66, CI 95%: 0.46\u20130.95, p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: Information sources and confidence towards health professionals are the main determinants of acceptance of mandatory vaccine restoration. To increase the acceptability of the restoration and reduce vaccine hesitancy, these aspects need to be strengthened

Il contributo del teleriscaldamento al miglioramento energetico ed ambientale - Studio del caso nella provincia di Forl\uec

Scopo primario di questo elaborato \ue8 comparare la scelta di adottare un impianto di teleriscaldamento centralizzato associato ad una pompa di calore in alternativa al tradizionale riscaldamento autonomo con caldaie a gas; evidenziando l\u2019impatto economico ed ambientale di entrambe le soluzioni. Dopodich\ue9 si prosegue indicando la possibilit\ue0 per il riscaldamento centralizzato di adottare una filtro innovativo ad impatto nullo, in grado di agire anche sull\u2019aria ambiente come mezzo attivo per ridurre le PM10

A systematic review of literature regarding the characteristics and motivations of breastmilk donors

Background: Breastmilk’s nutritional properties have been known to humanity for centuries. Human milk banks are institutions providing donor human milk to babies with limited access to breastfeeding, especially preterm babies. Research aim: The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic review of literature, regarding the characteristics and motivations of milk donors and to identify factors influencing their willingness to donate their breastmilk. Methods: The systematic review of literature was conducted using PRISMA statement. Papers were searched in PubMed database using the terms: ‘Milk bank AND donor characteristics’. After screening, seven papers were included. Two reviewers read the papers and produced an overview table. Results: The majority of studies (three) were undertaken in Brazil, one in USA, and three in Western Europe (Italy, Spain and France). Differences in donors’ characteristics were observed across the studies. Average age of donors varied; the youngest donors were reported in Brazil (24.8 ± 5.2 years), the oldest donors were reported in Italy (35–36 years old). The majority of donors were married. The percentage of donors with medium-high education level was higher in USA and European countries (83%–87%) in comparison to Brazil (39%–78%). Donors in Brazil were less likely to be employed outside the home (53%–63%); on the other hand, only 35% of North Americans stayed at home. Work situation of donors did not influence their willingness to donate milk. In almost all studies, primiparous donors represented around 50%. Average donation period was 3–4 months; the age of donors was inversely associated with volume of donated milk. The most important source of information about breastmilk donation was healthcare professionals. The most frequently reported motivations to donate reported in the studies were ‘desire to help other babies’ and ‘excessive milk production’. Recommendation from healthcare professionals and knowledge of infant needs were important motivations among Brazilian donors. The majority of donors evaluated their experience as ‘positive’ or ‘excellent’. Conclusion: To ensure an adequate quantity of breastmilk for Human Milk Banks (HMB) it is necessary to enrol new milk donors continually. In this process the role of educated and dedicated healthcare professionals is absolutely fundamental

Cocaine contamination of banknotes: a review

Background: The analysis of drug traces on banknotes with different validated techniques can provide important information about the types of substances that are used in a geographical region. The aim of our review was to investigate banknotes' contamination by cocaine, by its metabolite, but also by other drugs. Methods: A systematic literature search (English written literature) was conducted in MEDLINE, and Scopus, collecting studies from 1974 till 2017. The Key search terms included: 'banknote AND drug'; 'banknote AND cocaine'. Results: The literature search yielded 88 publications; 9 were included in our review. In six studies that showed banknotes' positivity to cocaine, the percentage ranged from 2.5% to 100%. The concentration of cocaine ranged from 0.09 ng/note to 889 mg/note. Benzoylecgonine was indentified only in three studies with a range from 0.71 to 130 ng/note. Other indentified drugs were: amphetamine derivatives, opiates, benzodiazepines. Conclusions: Circulating banknotes could be used to indicate substances used in a population, and those recently introduced in a geographical macro-area. The identification of very high amounts of cocaine can provide important information for the identification of banknotes used in illegal trafficking. © The Author 2017

Attitudes towards compulsory vaccination in Italy: Results from the NAVIDAD multicentre study

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a considerable issue in European countries and leads to low coverage rates. After a long debate, Italy has made vaccination mandatory for admission to its schools. Methods: In the NAVIDAD study (a cross-sectional multicentre study), a 63-item questionnaire was administered to 1820 pregnant women from 15 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee's opinion on mandatory vaccines, as well as their socioeconomic status, sources of information about vaccines, confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service (NHS), and intention to vaccinate their newborn. Results: Information sources play a key role in determining the opinion on restoration of mandatory vaccines; in particular, women who obtained information from anti-vaccination movements are less likely to accept the vaccines (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.21–0.58, p < 0.001). Women who had confidence in healthcare professional information agreed more on mandatory vaccination than did the other women (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.62–4.36, p < 0.001); those who perceived that healthcare professionals have economic interest in child immunization and who declared that healthcare providers inform only on vaccinations benefits not on risks were less likely to agree on compulsory vaccination (OR: 0.66, CI 95%: 0.46–0.96, p = 0.03; OR: 0.66, CI 95%: 0.46–0.95, p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: Information sources and confidence towards health professionals are the main determinants of acceptance of mandatory vaccine restoration. To increase the acceptability of the restoration and reduce vaccine hesitancy, these aspects need to be strengthened

Knowledge and beliefs on vaccines among a sample of Italian pregnant women: Results from the NAVIDAD study

none35noBackground: Vaccine hesitancy is an emerging phenomenon in European countries and leads to decreasing trends in infant vaccine coverage. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of confidence and correct awareness about immunizations, which are crucial for the success of vaccination programmes. Methods: As part of the NAVIDAD multicentre study, we examined vaccination confidence and complacency among a sample of 1820 pregnant women from 14 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee’s knowledge, beliefs and misconceptions, as well as their socioeconomic status, information sources about vaccines and confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service. Results: Only 9% of women completely believed to the efficacy, necessity and safety of vaccinations. Almost 20% of them had misconceptions on most of the themes. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge considering educational level: women with a high educational level have less probability of obtaining a low knowledge score (odds ratio (OR) 0.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34–0.54]). The level of knowledge was also influenced by the sources of information: women who received information from their general practitioner (GP) and from institutional websites had a significantly lower chance of having misconceptions (OR 0.74 [95% CI 0.58–0.96]; OR 0.59 [95% CI 0.46–0.74]). Finally, the results underlined the influence of trust in healthcare professional information on the likelihood of having misconceptions (OR 0.49 [95% CI 0.27–0.89]). Conclusions: The data suggest the efficacy of GPs and institutional websites as a source of information to contrast misconceptions and underline the importance of confidence in the healthcare system to increase complacency and confidence in vaccines.noneBert F.; Olivero E.; Rossello P.; Gualano M.R.; Castaldi S.; Damiani G.; D'Errico M.M.; Di Giovanni P.; Fantini M.P.; Fabiani L.; Gabutti G.; Loperto I.; Marranzano M.; Masanotti G.; Nante N.; Rosso A.; Squeri R.; Signorelli C.; Siliquini R.; Alfano R.; Buttinelli E.; Cappadona R.; D'Agati P.; Genovese C.; Giubbini G.; Giuliani A.R.; Golfera M.; Gori D.; Di Martino G.; Massimi A.; Odone A.; Quattrocolo F.; Stracci F.; Voglino G.; Zocco G.Bert, F.; Olivero, E.; Rossello, P.; Gualano, M. R.; Castaldi, S.; Damiani, G.; D'Errico, M. M.; Di Giovanni, P.; Fantini, M. P.; Fabiani, L.; Gabutti, G.; Loperto, I.; Marranzano, M.; Masanotti, G.; Nante, N.; Rosso, A.; Squeri, R.; Signorelli, C.; Siliquini, R.; Alfano, R.; Buttinelli, E.; Cappadona, R.; D'Agati, P.; Genovese, C.; Giubbini, G.; Giuliani, A. R.; Golfera, M.; Gori, D.; Di Martino, G.; Massimi, A.; Odone, A.; Quattrocolo, F.; Stracci, F.; Voglino, G.; Zocco, G