Access to and utilization of COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) among people living with HIV (PLWH): A mixed methods study from Cambodia

PLOS Global Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 4(2), P. e0002940 - e0002940

Published: Feb. 13, 2024

Several COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests have been approved in Cambodia, but no evidence exists about the access to and utilization of these tests. This limits public health interventions increase testing, especially among vulnerable populations such as people living with HIV (PLWH). We conducted a mixed method study PLWH Phnom Penh, between July August 2022 understand their current Ag-RDT levels, well key barriers drivers. undertook cross-sectional survey focus group discussions 280 10 PLWH, respectively, from five treatment centres using probability-proportional-to-size simple random sampling approach. Access was defined having received within six months administered Ag-RDT, either oneself or others, 12 prior study. calculated means, standard deviations proportions for continuous categorical variables, linear regression model effects account clustering. Additionally, we fitted logistic assess factors associated access. For qualitative data, used thematic analyses identify barriers/enablers utilization. About 35% (n = 101) reported had an test past months. 11% 32) participants themselves, 4% 10) others 9% 24) done both, Age education appeared be models. Price advice pharmacists were commonly main selection criteria brand chosen. Ag-RDTs are important tool familiarity use price could hinder better uptake,

Language: Английский

---

What Chicago community organizations needed to implement COVID-19 interventions: lessons learned in 2021

Frontiers in Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: July 10, 2023

Introduction As the COVID-19 pandemic placed a spotlight on health inequities in United States, this study aimed to determine local programmatic needs of community organizations (CO) delivering interventions across Chicago. Methods In summer 2021, Chicagoland CEAL Program interviewed 34 COs that were providing education, testing, and/or vaccinations communities experiencing poor outcomes. The interviews analyzed thematically and organized around logistical challenges funding/resource needs. Results routinely offered testing (50%) or (74%), with most (56%) employing some evaluation. Programs utilizing trusted-messenger systems deemed effective, but resource-intensive. CO specific clustered sustaining effective outreach strategies, better coordination, wanting comprehensive trainings, improving program evaluation, promoting services programs. Conclusion reached populations low-vaccine confidence using trusted messengers overcome mistrust. However, replenishment resources needed sustain such strategies should be prioritized. Leveraging help negotiate organizations’ interorganizational create training programs, provide evaluation expertise are deliverable supports may bolster prevention. Policy implications Achieving justice requires all institutions power participate meaningful engagement, build capacity, infuse equity throughout aspects research processes.

Language: Английский

---

Leveraging an implementation science partnership network to understand how Federally Qualified Health Centers operationalize and address health equity

Translational Behavioral Medicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1), P. 23 - 33

Published: Aug. 5, 2023

Health equity-focused implementation research requires using definitions and approaches that are relevant meaningful to partners. We examined how health equity was operationalized addressed at Federally Qualified Centers (FQHCs). conducted semi-structured interviews with leadership (n = 19) staff 12) 10 FQHCs in an science partnership network for cancer control understand they equity. performed rapid qualitative analysis shared findings a larger group of 13 community centers (including the FQHCs) Implementation Learning Community (ILC) identify action areas practice, followed by second phase synthesizing codes into themes mapping onto framework advancing healthcare organizations. Participants defined as central mission FQHCs, identified barriers (e.g. financing models) facilitators interpreter services) FQHCs. These resonated ILC participants who emphasized challenge addressing root cause social determinants inequities limited available resources importance developing collaboration communities data collection, interpretation, use, ownership. Themes captured recommendations advance daily work including investments staffing, training, resources. Mapping from equity-centered FQHC partners organizations can provide clear, context-specific direction actions aimed improving

Language: Английский

---

A Call to Improve Usability, Accuracy, and Equity of Self-Testing for COVID-19 and Other Rapid Diagnostic Tests

Health Equity, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 731 - 734

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

The increasing availability of rapid diagnostic self-tests (RDSTs) for COVID-19 has played an important and role during the pandemic. However, many underserved communities, RDSTs potential benefits are offset by problems with usability, accuracy, equity. Given increased need interest in home testing acute chronic diseases, including COVID-19, this piece offers ways that regulatory agencies, federal public health test developers should engage diverse communities to ensure equity throughout development, implementation, evaluation. Such engagement will maximum personal current future under real-world conditions.

Language: Английский

---

Missing data and missed infections: investigating racial and ethnic disparities in SARS-CoV-2 testing and infection rates in Holyoke, Massachusetts

American Journal of Epidemiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 193(6), P. 908 - 916

Published: Feb. 29, 2024

Routinely collected testing data have been a vital resource for public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic and revealed extent to which Black Hispanic persons borne disproportionate burden of SARS-CoV-2 infections hospitalizations in United States. However, missing race ethnicity missed due disparities limit interpretation obscure true toll pandemic. We investigated potential bias arising from these 2 types through case study carried out Holyoke, Massachusetts, prevaccination phase First, we estimated rates by ethnicity, imputing using joint modeling approach. then reported comparing rate estimates with derived seroprevalence survey. Compared non-Hispanic White population, found that population had similar (476 tested per 1000 vs 480 1000) but twice (8.1% 3.7%). evidence inequitable testing, higher than (79 60 1000).

Language: Английский

---

A Federally Qualified Health Center-led Ethics & Equity Framework & Workflow Checklist: An Invited Commentary in Response to a Relational Public Health Framing of FQHCs During COVID-19

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 52(1), P. 41 - 44

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

With disparate rates of morbidity and mortality among minoritized communities, COVID-19 illuminated the need for equity-informed practices in public health. Pacia et al posit FQHCs as entities that addressed inequity when others failed. This commentary further situates how address health crisis institutional racism related inequities every day presents a FQHC-led Ethics Equity Framework Workflow Checklist to guide ethical equitable engagement with FQHCs.

Language: Английский

---

Predictors of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization in group homes for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities

Disability and health journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(4), P. 101645 - 101645

Published: June 5, 2024

More than seven million people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) live in the US and may face an elevated risk for COVID-19. To identify correlates of COVID-19 related hospitalizations among ID/DD group homes Massachusetts. We collected data during March 1, 2020–June 30, 2020 (wave 1) July 2020–March 31, 2021 2) from Massachusetts Department Public Health six organizations administering 206 1,035 residents ID/DD. The main outcomes were infections hospitalizations. fit multilevel Cox proportional hazards models to estimate associations observed predictors assess contextual home- organizational-level effects. Compared residents, home had a higher age-adjusted rate wave 1 (incidence ratio [IRR], 12.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.51–13.84) 2 (IRR, 2.47; CI, 2.12–2.88) 17.64; 12.59–24.70) 4.95; 3.23–7.60). more likely aged 65+ 6+ resident beds recent infection staff residents. Aggressive efforts decrease density, staff-to-resident ratios, through such as vaccination, addition ongoing access personal protective equipment testing, reduce living homes.

Language: Английский

---

A qualitative study of how structural vulnerability shaped COVID-19 testing behaviors in Portland, Maine

Frontiers in Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Oct. 17, 2024

People with structural vulnerabilities (including immigrants, people who use drugs, and those are unhoused or uninsured) more likely to experience COVID-19 testing disparities relative other groups. We documented barriers facilitators explored how created and/or exacerbated barriers.

Language: Английский

---

Assessing Barriers to COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing in Community Pharmacies: Insights from Alabama

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 102286 - 102286

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Missing data and missed infections: Investigating racial and ethnic disparities in SARS-CoV-2 testing and infection rates in Holyoke, Massachusetts

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 28, 2023

Abstract Routinely collected testing data has been a vital resource for public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic and revealed extent to which Black Hispanic persons have borne disproportionate burden of SARS-CoV-2 infections hospitalizations in United States. However, missing race ethnicity missed due disparities limit interpretation obscure true toll pandemic. We investigated potential bias arising from these two types through case study Holyoke, Massachusetts pre-vaccination phase First, we estimated rates by race/ethnicity, imputing using joint modelling approach. then reported comparing rate estimates derived seroprevalence survey. Compared non-Hispanic white population, found that population had similar (476 vs. 480 tested per 1,000) but twice (8.1% 3.7%). evidence inequitable testing, with higher compared (77 58 1,000).

Language: Английский

---