TB STIGMA – MEASUREMENT GUIDANCE

TB is the most deadly infectious disease in the world, and stigma continues to play a significant role in worsening the epidemic. Stigma and discrimination not only stop people from seeking care but also make it more difficult for those on treatment to continue, both of which make the disease more difficult to treat in the long-term and mean those infected are more likely to transmit the disease to those around them. TB Stigma – Measurement Guidance is a manual to help generate enough information about stigma issues to design and monitor and evaluate efforts to reduce TB stigma. It can help in planning TB stigma baseline measurements and monitoring trends to capture the outcomes of TB stigma reduction efforts. This manual is designed for health workers, professional or management staff, people who advocate for those with TB, and all who need to understand and respond to TB stigma

Methods of Thermoregulation for Children Who Were Born Preterm

Bakalaura darba tēma ir “Termoregulācijas nodrošināšana pirms laika dzimušiem bērniem”. Tēmas aktualitāti nosaka iegūtā statistika, kā arī pētījumi, kuri liecina par priekšlaikus dzimušu bērnu problēmām, patoloģijām, kā arī iespējamajiem traucējumiem. Bakalaura darba mērķis ir noskaidrot pirms laika dzimuša bērna termoregulācijas nodrošināšanas pasākumus. Bakalaura darba jautājums: Kādi ir priekšlaikus dzimuša bērna termoregulācijas nodrošināšanas pasākumi un metodes? Bakalaura darbā izvirzītie uzdevumi: 1.veikt literatūras analīzi par pirms laika dzimušu bērnu, termoregulācijas nodrošināšanu ; 2.izstrādāt pētījuma instrumentu – interviju; 3.veikt pētījumu; 4.apkopot un analizēt iegūtos rezultātus; 5.izdarīt secinājumus. Bakalaura darba ietvaros iegūtie rezultāti: Darba autors ir apkopojis informāciju par termoregulācijas nodrošināšanas pasākumiem pirms laika dzimušajiem bērniem, tika sasniegts darba mērķis. Termoregulācijas nodrošināšanas pasākumi ir dažādi, tie ietver inkubatorus, siltum gultas, siltum lampas, segas, plēves, ūdens gultas u.c. metodes. Atslēgvārdi: termoregulācija, pirms laika dzimušie bērni, priekšlaicīgi, siltums, atdeve , inkubators, siltum gulta.The theme of the paper is “Methods of thermoregulation for children who were born preterm”. The aim of work is to understand improving methods of thermoregulation for childer who were born preterm. The question of this work is: What are the thermoregulation improving methods for children who were born preterm? The tasks are: 1.Analyze literature about preterm birth. 2.Make the instrument of research. 3.Make a research. 4.Make a concludion. The results: There are so many ways how to improve thermoregulation of children who were born preterm. That includes heat lamps, special beds, incubator, blankets and other methods. Keywords: thermoregulation, preterm birth, preterm, heat, conduction, incubator.

Environmental Impact of Geosynthetics in Coastal Protection

Geosynthetic materials are applied in measures for coastal protection. Weathering or any damage of constructions, as shown by a field study in Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia), could lead to the littering of the beach or the sea (marine littering) and the discharge of possibly harmful additives into the marine environment. The ageing behavior of a widely used geotextile made of polypropylene was studied by artificial accelerated ageing in water-filled autoclaves at temperatures of 30 to 80 °C and pressures of 10 to 50 bar. Tensile strength tests were used to evaluate the progress of ageing, concluding that temperature rather than pressure was the main factor influencing the ageing of geotextiles. Using a modified Arrhenius equation, it was possible to calculate the half-life for the loss of 50% of the strain, which corresponds to approximately 330 years. Dynamic surface leaching and ecotoxicological tests were performed to determine the possible release of contaminants. No harmful effects on the test organisms were observed

Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and stigma related to latent tuberculosis infection: a qualitative study among Eritreans in the Netherlands.

Background: Tailored and culturally appropriate latent tuberculosis (TB) infection screening and treatment programs, including interventions against TB stigma, are needed to reduce TB incidence in low TB incidence countries. However, we lack insights in stigma related to latent TB infection (LTBI) among target groups, such as asylum seekers and refugees. We therefore studied knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and stigma associated with LTBI among Eritrean asylum seekers and refugees in the Netherlands. Methods: We used convenience sampling to interview adult Eritrean asylum seekers and refugees: 26 semi-structured group interviews following TB and LTBI related health education and LTBI screening, and 31 semi-structured individual interviews with Eritreans during or after completion of LTBI treatment (November 2016–May 2018). We used a thematic analysis to identify, analyse and report patterns in the data. Results: Despite TB/LTBI education, misconceptions embedded in cultural beliefs about TB transmission and prevention persisted. Fear of getting infected with TB was the cause of reported enacted (isolation and gossip) and anticipated (concealment of treatment and self-isolation) stigma by participants on LTBI treatment. Conclusion: The inability to differentiate LTBI from TB disease and consequent fear of getting infected by persons with LTBI led to enacted and anticipated stigma comparable to stigma related to TB disease among Eritreans. Additional to continuous culturally sensitive education activities, TB prevention programs should implement evidence-based interventions reducing stigma at all phases in the LTBI screening and treatment cascade

Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and stigma related to latent tuberculosis infection: a qualitative study among Eritreans in the Netherlands

Background: Tailored and culturally appropriate latent tuberculosis (TB) infection screening and treatment programs, including interventions against TB stigma, are needed to reduce TB incidence in low TB incidence countries. However, we lack insights in stigma related to latent TB infection (LTBI) among target groups, such as asylum seekers and refugees. We therefore studied knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and stigma associated with LTBI among Eritrean asylum seekers and refugees in the Netherlands. Methods: We used convenience sampling to interview adult Eritrean asylum seekers and refugees: 26 semi-structured group interviews following TB and LTBI related health education and LTBI screening, and 31 semi-structured individual interviews with Eritreans during or after completion of LTBI treatment (November 2016–May 2018). We used a thematic analysis to identify, analyse and report patterns in the data. Results: Despite TB/LTBI education, misconceptions embedded in cultural beliefs about TB transmission and prevention persisted. Fear of getting infected with TB was the cause of reported enacted (isolation and gossip) and anticipated (concealment of treatment and self-isolation) stigma by participants on LTBI treatment. Conclusion: The inability to differentiate LTBI from TB disease and consequent fear of getting infected by persons with LTBI led to enacted and anticipated stigma comparable to stigma related to TB disease among Eritreans. Additional to continuous culturally sensitive education activities, TB prevention programs should implement evidence-based interventions reducing stigma at all phases in the LTBI screening and treatment cascade