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American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease
Number of Followers: 14

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 2333-116X - ISSN (Online) 2333-1275
Published by Science and Education Publishing

[75 journals]

Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions of Socio-ecological and
Socio-anthropological Determinants of COVID-19 in Lusaka District of
Zambia
- Authors: Fri A. Fonchin; Linda Basikolo, Simegnew A. Kallu, Henson Kainga, Jezreel Mwiinde, Vistorina Benhard
  Pages: 40 - 49
  Abstract: Background: The Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a disease of public health concern by the WHO in January 2020, one month after its emergent. Efforts have been made to raise and improve public awareness of COVID-19. Zambia has reported repeated waves of the COVID-19 pandemic with highest transmissions in Lusaka, the Copperbelt, and Ndola districts. Populations’ knowledge, attitude, and perceptions (KAPs) towards COVID-19 have impacts on control and prevention measures. Despite the collection of research on KAPs towards COVID-19, the KAP of socio-ecological and socio-anthropological determinants regarding the disease remains speculative. Hence, this study investigates KAPs of socio-ecological and socio-anthropological determinants of COVID-19 among the inhabitants of Lusaka district of Zambia. Methodology: A total of 301 inhabitants from four Lusaka District Compounds were sampled by a simple random method using a cross-sectional study design and interview-based questionnaires data collection method to investigate the KAPs of ecological and anthropological determinants of COVID-19. The analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis for associations between participants KAPs towards COVID-19, and finally, a multivariate logistic regression to determine KAP predictors. Findings/conclusion: Majority of study participants were females (54.5%). 53.2% of the respondents were in the age group of 18–28 years, and mostly (53.5%) single. 46.5% participants had tertiary level of education and (57.8%) had a monthly income of 0-K1000. The overall KAP knowledge was moderate (67.1%), and only 51.5% of participants demonstrated a positive attitude towards preventing COVID-19 infections. Socio-demographic factors had a weak bearing on KAP and attitude scores, with levels of education and gender being the only significant variables, respectively. This study indicates a poor understanding of COVID-19 with respect to ecological and anthropological determinants. Governments need to ensure more awareness campaigns to improve the populations’ KAPs towards future infectious diseases that may occur.
  PubDate: 2022-06-30
  DOI: 10.12691/ajeid-10-2-1
  Issue No: Vol. 10, No. 2 (2022)
Characterization of Breeding Habitats and Larval Abundance of Malaria
Vectors across Selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), in Morogoro
Region, Tanzania
- Authors: Mbogo N. Kija; Sharadhuli I. Kimera, Ladslaus L. Mnyone
  Pages: 50 - 58
  Abstract: Mosquitos continue to be insects of global attention for several centuries due to their ability to inhabit a wide range of ecological conditions that enable them to breed in diversified environments. The Anopheles species particularly the female mosquito is the main vector for malaria transmission in human. In Tanzania, for many years the control of malaria transmission is centered on attacking adult mosquitoes lagging behind the immature stages of the vector. Therefore, area- specific identification and characterization of mosquito breeding sites is important towards designing effective vector control measures among potential clusters such as higher education institutions. The study employed a repeated cross-sectional survey for six months (wet and dry season) that ran from March to August 2021. Each season had three months of data collection at an interval of two weeks. Breeding sites characterization, larval sampling, identification and measurements were done on every visit to every site and recorded. Parametric and non-parametric tests were statistically significant to most of indices at p < 0.05. During wet season, 11 072 and 3 620 mosquito larva for Anopheline and Culicine respectively were observed across institutions. For dry season, 1 436 and 880 for Anopheline and Culicine larva respectively observed across institutions. The study revealed multiple positive breeding sites across institutions that pose a great risk of exposure for malaria transmission. Thus, we recommend for intentional measures to be taken at the root grass of mosquito reproduction rather than concentrating on adult mosquitoes only.
  PubDate: 2022-07-06
  DOI: 10.12691/ajeid-10-2-2
  Issue No: Vol. 10, No. 2 (2022)
Vaccination Coverage, Discrepancies and Trends in Measles Epidemics in the
North West Region of Cameroon
- Authors: Wasu Chrispus Nchandone; Ginette Claude Mireille Kalla, Njamnshi Alfred Nkongnyu, Same Ekobo Albert, Assob Jules Clement Nguedia
  Pages: 59 - 67
  Abstract: Background: Measles, because of its burden of morbidity and mortality, is one of the most important diseases targeted by immunization. Caused by a virus, it is very contagious and therefore requires vaccination during the first year to avoid serious complications. Global death toll was over 140,000 persons in 2018. In recent years, measles cases have increased and outbreaks recorded due to declining vaccination coverage worldwide. Thus, countries that were previously declared measles-free and preparing to eliminate measles are still recording cases. This increase in measles incidence has also been observed in the North West region of Cameroon and outbreak surveys have indicated low vaccination coverage. Objective: Determine vaccination coverage and gaps for BCG, Pentavalent and Measles vaccines; as well as measles epidemic trends in the North West region of Cameroon. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study with retrospective collection of routine vaccination records and measles epidemic census reports that were carried out at the Regional Delegation of Public Health from 2009 to 2015. The data collected using a structured form were: data from immunization coverage records; age groups and time periods of measles cases reported during measles outbreaks. Results: Overall vaccination coverage for BCG, Pentavalent and measles was low, ranging from 55.5% to 74.7%; with a high dropout rate of more than 15.4% between the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine and the measles vaccine in 2010. The measles vaccine recorded its highest vaccination coverage of 67.9% in 2011. Measles outbreaks have been noted to mainly affect children between the ages of 5 and 15 and occur from January to March with a peak in February. Conclusion: Overall immunization coverage is low with high dropout rates between vaccines. The highest immunization coverage for the measles vaccine was 67.9%; with variations over time. Measles epidemics in the North-West region occur from January to March, with peaks in February and mainly concern children aged between 5 and 15 years.
  PubDate: 2022-07-24
  DOI: 10.12691/ajeid-10-2-3
  Issue No: Vol. 10, No. 2 (2022)
The Theory of Urban Endemo-Epidemiogenesis
- Authors: Pr Meva’a Abomo Dominique
  Pages: 68 - 78
  Abstract: The Theory of urban endemo-epidemiogenesis is a general explanatory hypothesis of the processes of emergence and geographic spread of infectious diseases in the city. According to this theory, each city has an urban geosystem of endemo-epidemies structured in two hemispheres, which are in constant opposition or confrontation. The first one is the precursor-hemisphere that is composed to four specific systems: (1) the pathogen, (2) vulnerability, (3) classic itineraries of dissemination and (4) channels of dissemination systems. The second one is the resilient-hemisphere that is also composed to four specific systems: (1) the preventive, (2) health-promoting, (3) curative/healing and (4) surveillance systems. Endemo-epidemiogenesis is a foreseeable and predictable mathematical response to spatialized and temporalized relationships of mistrust or power that are constantly constructed, deconstructed and reconstructed between these two hemispheres from the laws of causality that are identified in this study. The city now becomes a heterogeneous, dynamic and complex socio-spatial order of endemo-epidemiogenesis, unlike the countryside which is a relatively homogeneous, fixed and simplex socio-spatial order of endemo-epidemiogenesis.
  PubDate: 2022-08-05
  DOI: 10.12691/ajeid-10-2-4
  Issue No: Vol. 10, No. 2 (2022)

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