In her study entitled “The effect of physical barriers under an elevated house on mosquito entry: an experimental study in rural Gambia”, our CISeAL principal investigator, Majo Carrasco-Tenezaca, examined the impact of physical barriers on the entry of Anopheles gambiae and Mansonia mosquitoes, the main vectors of malaria. In four inhabited experimental huts located in rural Gambia, each elevated 2 meters above the ground, nocturnal collections of mosquitoes were carried out using light traps. Temperature and carbon dioxide levels were monitored inside and outside the huts, and different physical barrier treatments were applied and alternated every four nights. The experiment was conducted over 32 nights, measuring mosquito numbers and temperature in each hut.
A significant reduction in Anopheles gambiae and Mansonia mosquito entry was found in elevated huts, with 53% fewer mosquitoes in huts with open space below, 24% fewer in huts with air-permeable walls, and 31% fewer in huts with solid walls, compared to huts on the ground. However, Culex mosquito entry was not affected by height or physical barriers. The findings suggest that raising a house 2 meters off the ground reduces the entry of Anopheles gambiae and Mansonia mosquitoes, but not Culex mosquitoes. In addition, it was observed that the protective effect of height is diminished if physical barriers are installed under the hut. These results have important implications for the design of mosquito control strategies and prevention of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria.
We invite you to read the full article at the following link:
In her recent contribution to “The need for global social epidemiology in the polycrisis era”, our CISeAL Principal Investigator Ana Lucía Moncayo explains how the accumulation of several global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, international conflicts, economic instability and climate change, has created an era of polycrisis. These events are not only simultaneous, but interact and amplify their effects on a global scale, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations and exacerbating poverty and inequality worldwide.
From a public health perspective, it highlights how the era of polycrisis has led to a dramatic decline in the social determinants of health (SDOH), dramatically increasing morbidity and mortality among the poorest and widening health disparities.
In this context, social epidemiology, which has traditionally generated a wealth of evidence on how social vulnerabilities and inequalities influence various diseases and health conditions, focuses mainly on descriptive studies in high-income countries.
In her latest article, CISeAL researcher Ana Lucia Moncayo makes an essential contribution to research into the effects of social programs on public health in Brazil. Ana Lucia and her team study the impact of conditional cash transfer programs, social pensions and primary health care on mortality and hospitalization rates in Brazil between 2000 and 2030.
Using a longitudinal ecological model with multivariate negative binomial regression models, the study integrated a retrospective analysis from 2000 to 2019 with dynamic microsimulation models to forecast possible infant mortality scenarios to 2030.
Results revealed that consolidated coverage of the programs studied was associated with reductions in overall mortality and hospitalization rates. Specifically, these programs are estimated to have prevented around 1,462,626 deaths over the period 2004-2019. Furthermore, it is predicted that a mitigation strategy that increases coverage of these programs could prevent 1,305,359 deaths and 6,593,224 hospitalizations through to 2030, compared to budget austerity scenarios that would reduce coverage of these interventions.
We are pleased to share the results of a study in which our CISeAL Research Associate José Villacís took part, which sheds light on the molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli in Ecuador. This study arises in response to the growing global concern about antimicrobial resistance and its impact on public health.
During the study, 95 clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli were collected from six Ecuadorian hospitals. A high prevalence of carbapenemase production was observed in 96.84% of the isolates. The blaKPC, blaNDM and blaOXA-48 genes predominated in Enterobacterales, with blaKPC being the most prevalent. On the other hand, the blaVIM gene was detected in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while blaOXA-24/40 was the most common in Acinetobacter baumannii.
Most isolates showed co-resistance to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. However, both ceftazidime/avibactam and meropenem/vaborbactam demonstrated activity against carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli that produce serine-carbapenemases.
In the last decade, the world has witnessed a worrying transformation in eating patterns, causing an alarming increase in overweight and obesity (OW/OB) rates not only in rich countries but also in low- and middle-income nations. Ecuador is no exception to this trend, facing a reality where one in three children is affected by this problem.
In order to better understand the socioeconomic, demographic and behavioral determinants of overweight and obesity among Ecuadorian children aged 5 to 11 years, our CISeAL researcher, Betzabé Tello, took part in a secondary analysis of data collected in the 2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey.
The study employed a cross-sectional design to analyze the prevalence of OW/OB in 10,807 schoolchildren, using multivariable and multilevel logistic regression models to assess adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios by a series of explanatory variables.The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the age group studied was 36.0%.Males had a 1.26-fold increased risk of OW/OB compared to females.With each additional year of age, the risk of OW/OB increased by 1.10 times.Children from higher economic quintiles showed higher odds of OW/OB compared to those from the lowest quintile.
Larger household size and regular physical activity were associated with lower odds of OW/OB, whereas recognition and use of processed food labels was linked to increased risk.
This study highlights the critical need to develop and implement public policies focused on creating healthy environments and addressing the social, commercial and environmental determinants of childhood overweight and obesity.
We invite you to read the full article at the following link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0296538
This study involved our CISeAL researchers, Hugo Pereira and Erika Quishpe, who played a key role in the design and implementation of the research methodology.
Comprehensive care for people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes includes self-care training to recognize warning signs. People with diabetes and cognitive deficits may find it difficult to care for themselves, so different educational strategies may prove useful, particularly in small towns. The aim of this study was to evaluate learning about diabetes and associated foot care using conversation cards in people with diabetes and cognitive deficits.
A quasi-experimental study was conducted before and after three years, approved by the research ethics board. Participants, people with type 2 diabetes and cognitive deficits, were randomly selected from a list of health centers and trained in small groups. The educational sessions were divided into two parts: the first dealt with diabetes and diabetes care, while the second focused on foot care. Conversation cards were accompanied by question cards and theme cards. A survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices was conducted before and after the educational intervention to assess learning.
In healthcare, the well-being of professionals is not only crucial to their own quality of life, it also has a direct impact on patient safety and satisfaction. In a recent study, our CISeAL Research Associate Christian F. Juna looks at the challenges faced by nurses in emergency situations, highlighting the intrinsic relationship between emotional exhaustion and the quality of care delivered.This comprehensive analysis reveals how the work environment, the emotional and physical demands of the profession, and the management of interactions with patients and their families can lead to emotional exhaustion. This condition not only harms nurses' health, but can also affect patient safety, by increasing the risk of errors, lowering the quality of care and negatively affecting the nurse-patient relationship.
