ER access by foreign citizens between 1999 and 2014 in five large hospital of Rome, Italy

...Lack of information about the health services and the status of illegal immigrant can make difficult for foreign population to access primary care, leading to misuse of emergency rooms (ER). This study investigated the accesses between January 1999 and December 2014 to the ERs of five large hospital of Rome, Italy

Highly specific memory B cells generation after the 2nd dose of BNT162b2 vaccine compensate for the decline of serum antibodies and absence of mucosal IgA

Specific memory B cells and antibodies are a reliable read-out of vaccine efficacy. We analysed these biomarkers after one and two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine. The second dose significantly increases the level of highly specific memory B cells and antibodies. Two months after the second dose, specific antibody levels decline, but highly specific memory B cells continue to increase, thus predicting a sustained protection from COVID-19. We show that although mucosal IgA is not induced by the vaccination, memory B cells migrate in response to inflammation and secrete IgA at mucosal sites. We show that the first vaccine dose may lead to an insufficient number of highly specific memory B cells and low concentration of serum antibodies, thus leaving vaccinees without the immune robustness needed to ensure viral elimination and herd immunity. We also clarify that the reduction of serum antibodies does not diminish the force and duration of the immune protection induced by vaccination. The vaccine does not induce sterilizing immunity. Infection after vaccination may be caused by the lack of local preventive immunity because of the absence of mucosal IgA

Urban Health and Social Marginality: Perceived Health Status and Interaction with Healthcare Professionals of a Hard-to-Reach Community Living in a Suburban Area of Rome (Italy)

The study reports an urban health investigation conducted in Bastogi, an outskirt of Rome (Italy) characterised by social marginalization and deprivation. Our aim was to analyse the health perception, health-related behaviours, and interaction with healthcare professionals of the inhabitants of Bastogi compared to the population living in the area of the same local health unit (ASL). The Progresses of Health Authorities for Health in Italy questionnaire (PASSI) was administered to a sample of 210 inhabitants of Bastogi. Data were analysed and compared to those of the ASL collected in 2017–2018. The socio-economic indicators showed an overall worse condition for the inhabitants of Bastogi, with a significantly higher proportion of foreign and unemployed residents and a lower educational level compared to the ASL. Significant differences in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, mental health complaints, and participation in prevention strategies, including cancer screening, were found. The questionnaire showed a lower help-seeking behaviour and a lack of reliance on health professionals in Bastogi inhabitants. Our findings highlight how social determinants produce health inequities and barriers to accessing healthcare. The difficulties of conducting quantitative research in complex and hard-to-reach contexts, characterized by high social vulnerability, are outlined

Emergency Department as an epidemiological observatory of Human Mobility. The case of Rome Metropolitan Area (EMAHM). A descriptive analysis of the visits to the ED of the Northern African population

This study focuses on the analysis of Big Data obtained from the Emergency Departments (EDs) of five hospitals located in the metropolitan area of Rome, Italy. The analysis of ICD9-CM discharge diagnoses shows clear differences between the Italian population and the North African population and confirms that many of the dynamics and health conditions regarding migrants are due to the inappropriate use of health services and, eventually, of the EDs. Our results afford indication about how we could identify shortcomings and critical issues within the primary care system and, more generally, in the management of psycho-social and socio-economic support for immigrant populations

Emergency Department as an epidemiological observatory of Human Mobility. The case of Rome Metropolitan Area (EMAHM). A descriptive analysis of the visits to the ED of the Northern African population

This study focuses on the analysis of Big Data obtained from the Emergency Departments (EDs) of five hospitals located in the metropolitan area of Rome, Italy. The analysis of ICD9-CM discharge diagnoses shows clear differences between the Italian population and the North African population and confirms that many of the dynamics and health conditions regarding migrants are due to the inappropriate use of health services and, eventually, of the EDs. Our results afford indication about how we could identify shortcomings and critical issues within the primary care system and, more generally, in the management of psycho-social and socio-economic support for immigrant populations

Methodological Comparison of Different Projects

In order to compare the methodological aspects of the different projects, while also placing them within a common framework, a form was specially drafted. This form was filled out in May 2019 by one or more members of each work group (Ascoli Piceno, Bologna, Milano, Roma, Trieste). The form was divided into three different sections (“Context characterisation methods”; “Community involvement methods”; “Networking methods”). Each section was created in order to highlight multidisciplinary aspects, the collaboration among different roles, and the problems and limitations the could have been faced. The sections differ in their design, although a common scheme was used in nearly all parts: narrative description, players, actions, instruments and sources. Consequently, all projects were therefore analysed according to the following matrix. Considering the specificity of the Recovery-Net project, this project was analysed solely for context characterisation methods