- Home
- Search Results
Search Results
Filter :
FILTER BY keyword:
- Qatar [3]
- COVID-19 [1]
- COVID-19 challenges [1]
- PHC [1]
- Salmonella surveillance [1]
- case investigation [1]
- case investigator concerns in Qatar [1]
- cold chain [1]
- epidemiological surveillance [1]
- food- and water-borne pathogen [1]
- immunization [1]
- incidence rates [1]
- pre-symptomatic transmission [1]
- primary health care center [1]
- public health [1]
- public health control [1]
- [+] More [-] Less
FILTER BY author:
- Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi [5]
- Elmoubasher Farag [4]
- Hamad Eid Al Romaihi [2]
- Mohammed Al-Hajri [2]
- Nandakumar Ganesan [2]
- Salih Ali Al-Marri [2]
- Shazia Nadeem N. Ahmed [2]
- Abdelaziz M Tawengi [1]
- Abdulrazig Hummaida [1]
- Abrar Ahmed [1]
- Ahmed Ismail [1]
- Alia Hassan Al-Kuwari [1]
- Amal Mohammed Al-Yafei [1]
- Devendra Bansal [1]
- Elmoubasher Abu Baker Abd Farag [1]
- Emad Ibrahim [1]
- Enayat Salem [1]
- Farhat Fatima [1]
- Fatimah Ahmed Elnour [1]
- Hana Al-Masri [1]
- Humberto Guanche Garcell [1]
- Ives Hubloue [1]
- Marwa Saleh Mohamed Abuzaid [1]
- Mervat Rady [1]
- Michel Debacker [1]
- Mohamad Al Thani [1]
- Mohamed A Sallam [1]
- Mohamed Abdelrahman Nour [1]
- Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari [1]
- Mohamed Hamad Al-Thani [1]
- [+] More [-] Less
FILTER BY language:
FILTER BY content type:
FILTER BY publication:
FILTER BY affiliation:
- Qatar [2]
- 1Department of Public Health, Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control Section, Supreme Council of Health, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 1Department of Public Health, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 1Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control, Public Health Department, Supreme Council of Health, QA [1]
- 2Family and Community Medicine Department, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Doha, Qatar [1]
- 2SCH, QA [1]
- 2The Cuban Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Dukhan, Qatar [1]
- 3Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 3Director of Health Lifestyle Programs and Preventive Medicine, Aspetar, Doha, Qatar [1]
- 4Head of Child Health Service, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Doha, Qatar [1]
- Basic Medical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar E-mail: [email protected] [1]
- Health Protection and Communicable Diseases, Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar [1]
- Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health-Qatar E-mail: [email protected] [1]
- [+] More [-] Less
FILTER BY article type:
FILTER BY access type:
How MERS-CoV Helped Overcome Communication Barriers in Qatar
Background
As a conventional type of communication health education usually face several barriers that make its outcome fall short. Among many lack of interest distraction and rejection are well documented barriers to engaging audience in a communication process leading to behavioral change. Despite the novel corona virus which was responsible for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) created public concerns it on the other hand paved the road to effective health education via raising receivers’ attention. With the aim to highlight the context and factors attributed to educate the public during epidemics this study documented how the outbreak of MERS-CoV offered valuable opportunities to communicate critical educational messages on the recommended preventive behaviors and practices.
Methods
In this retrospective study we documented the timeline of MERS-CoV key events in Qatar along with the disseminated health education messages that were captured by the print media during the period Sep 2012 through Nov 2013.
Results
The media documented that one of the first two reported cases worldwide was a Qatari national. A significant turn of the public's risk perception about MERS-CoV took place when studies documented that camels are thought to play critical role in the virus transmission to humans. Six months after the identification of the first case this relationship was confirmed when it was declared that the MERS-CoV was isolated from camels in Qatar provided that raising camels is a social norm and an embedded cultural practice in the country and across the region. Nevertheless MERS-CoV cases and deaths continued to be reported.
Out of 153 news stories reported on MERS-CoV 12 major developments either reporting confirmed cases or deaths were identified in Qatar. Two Press conferences sixteen press releases and two interviews were counted all from competent authorities. As the novel virus captured the media attention all aspects of the new virus were extensively reported ranging from the basic information about the virus traits the clinical signs and symptoms treatment outcome of cases to the ongoing researches epidemiological findings of the most vulnerable persons the zoonotic nature of the disease and the recommended course of action. The public pressing demand for updates and information drove the media interest to arrange talk shows and interviews with the high health officials to give firsthand accounts about the virus and the prevention and control efforts.
While fresh MERS-CoV cases were reported from The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fears were growing that Hajj season may allow for a large scale spread of the virus. The publicized health education messages at that time called upon the most-at-risk group to postpone going to Hajj and Umrah be assessed for medical fitness get vaccinated against seasonal flu and avoid the crowded and badly ventilated areas. This group involved elderly and patients with chronic illnesses or impaired immunity. Afterwards frequent hand washing and drinking pasteurized camel milk or consuming well-cooked camel meat was advised along with minimizing close contact with symptomatic persons.
Discussion
The timeline of MERS-CoV events along with the communication activities in response to them gave a strong indication about the correlation between the media interest and public concern of a particular subject in hand and the opportunities created by this momentum to communicate key information and recommended course of action by the competent authorities to satisfy the public's needs on the other hand.
Three main factors influenced how MERS-CoV was perceived in Qatar: its unfamiliarity the epidemiological link to camels and the way media had portrayed it. Like any other exotic risk MERS-CoV's acknowledged unfamiliarity even to health officials seduced the media to fill the uncertainty vacuum by persistently focusing on the similarities with the deadly SARS epidemic that erupted in 2002 thereby allowing for scary scenarios to seed in the public's imagination. It was then announced that a kind of relationship had been established between the infected persons and camels before a Qatari scientific team declared that the life MERS CoV was isolated from an infected camel. The immediate result of this perceived risk was heightened public attention and interest. However the repeatedly announced symptoms of suspected cases allowed for better identification and induced voluntary reporting of cases to healthcare facilities.
Substantial proportion of the communication process usually devoted to achieve the preparatory steps of seizing the audiences’ attention besides making sure that the content matters to them. Whereas the public need for information was being satisfied through news releases and press conferences health education messages constituted a prime ingredient of the communication content.
Despite of the denial and stigma linked to the unfamiliar disease the communicated health messages had a tangible influence on giving the target audience the information necessary to take decisions on the personal and community level. According to records of the medical Hajj committee response to the pre-travel medical assessment and vaccination was remarkable. Patients complied with the isolation requirements. Nevertheless Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials were not prepared prior to the press conferences indicating missed opportunities.
After all no significant rejection to the recommended course of action was identified.
Study limitations
As this study was based on reviewing the content of print media other types of mass media were excluded. Moreover it was important to determine the extent to which the target communities relied on official press releases and press conferences to gain information related to MERS-CoV.
Conclusion
Couple of factors contributed to the successful engaging of the target communities to adopt the recommended course of action: the perceived risk of the novel virus which made the public highly attentive the timing of the health education messages that usually coincided with the critical disease developments and the assignment of credible well-known resource officials from the competent authorities. As the public uptake of behaviors recommended by trusted authorities tends to be very high during epidemics efforts should be made on designing health education messages to be injected within media products like press conferences and press releases during early preparedness phases.
Status of cold chain management among health care providers in Qatar: Primary health care center based intervention study
Objective: The study aimed to assess cold chain management status among health care professionals at primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Qatar. Methods: A cross-sectional design with pre-post intervention study was conducted in 21 PHCCs. A structured cold chain checklist was used to collect data regarding the status of cold chain management system in the centers before and after educational intervention. Results: Prior to the intervention six key criteria for cold chain management were present in all 21 PHCCs (100%) eight were present in >80% another eight were present in 60–80% while 13 were present in < 60%. Post intervention these figures improved to 8 13 4 and 10 respectively. Conclusion: In Qatar cold chain management system practices among primary health care workers were generally positive. These practices significantly improved following an educational intervention within the targeted primary health care centers. Therefore it is recommended that all health care professionals working in PHCCs should receive mandatory cold chain management training prior to their initiation of clinical practice to ensure delivery of safe and effective vaccines in Qatar.
Viral hepatitis C serological and behavioral survey among single male laborers in Qatar
Background: Hepatitis C viral infection is a public health concern worldwide and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in several countries that supply the State of Qatar with many of its laborers. The objectives were to measure the prevalence of hepatitis C viral infection among single male laborers; detect the practices that may catalyze the spread of the infection; and assess the knowledge gap.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 and involved 504 expatriate single male laborers seeking health care in two Qatar Red Crescent health centers.
Results: Results showed that only 5% of the total participants have ever been tested for hepatitis C and positive serology was detected in 4 respondents (0.8%) three of them from Egypt and one from Nepal. Three out of the 4 positive cases did not know they were infected and 2.5% lived with someone harboring the infection. Respondents appeared to have varying healthcare needs with 57% subject to medical procedures outside Qatar. Various risk practices for hepatitis C infection were reported including ear/body piercing (21.9%) tattooing (13.3%) contact with blood (17.0%) sharing personal equipment (12.2%) and injecting with used needles or syringes (7.4%). Less than 40% of respondents had knowledge of all modes of hepatitis C transmission.
Conclusion: Further actions notably building HCV monitoring system setting a prevention plan building screening strategy were need to be complemented by a contract renewal or a 3-year screening policy.
Preparing for infectious disease threats at FIFA sporting events: What Qatar should learn from the available practices?
Background: Qatar is about to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup-WC this can stress the public health system and resources of Qatar as hosting country. Reducing public health risks and ensuring people's safety at The Qatar 2022WC requires thorough planning and coordination. The aim is to obtain a comprehensive insight into the available practices concerning the infectious diseases preparedness and response for major Sporting events and to advise Qatar W.C-2022 health committee accordingly.
Methods: A desk review of WHO literature in public health considerations during mass gatherings was done with particular focus on the Communicable Disease alert and response for mass gatherings.
Results: The literature suggests certain critical factors and preconditions for success that are common to most events as well as strategic organizational and tactical lessons learned that can be applied for Qatar WC 2022 includes Comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted before the event this will allows planners in Qatar to reduce the risk of communicable disease outbreaks associated with WC2022. Plans for risk management and risk communication need to be developed. New surveillance system should be in place for a sufficient length of time prior to the WC and this surveillance need to be divided into three phases Pre-WC surveillance WC-based surveillance and Post-WC surveillance.
Conclusion: The challenge for Qatar is to recognize the possible benefits from the outset of planning for the coming 2022WC and to build a positive and Strategic approach to communicable diseases issues into the earliest stages.
A retrospective epidemiological study on the incidence of salmonellosis in the State of Qatar during 2004–2012
Background:Salmonella is a food- and water-borne pathogen that can be easily spread in a population leading to the outbreak of salmonellosis that is caused by ingestion of mixed salads contaminated by the pathogen. Most cases occur in the late spring months and can be seen as single cases clusters or episodes. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of salmonellosis in the State of Qatar. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study carried out in laboratory-confirmed cases of salmonellosis during 2004–2012 from all Salmonella surveillance centers. Therapeutic records of patients who were clinically suspected of having Salmonella diseases were analyzed. Initially cases with typhoid fever were investigated in the laboratory by means of Widal agglutination tests while non-typhoidal Salmonella diseases were determined based on culture technique. Results: The annual incident of salmonellosis cases were 12.3 23.0 30.3 19.4 15.3 18.0 22.7 18.5 and 18.1 per 100000 population in 2006–2011 and 2012 respectively. The number of salmonellosis cases was high among less than 2-year-old females and 3-year-old males. In addition one-fourth of patients (27.7%) were Qatari when compared to other nationalities. A significant difference in age was found between Qatari (6.08 ± 12.28 years) and non-Qatari (15.04 ± 19.56 years) patients. Of the reported cases 79.8% included the onset date of the first symptoms. Contact phone numbers were available for 94% of the cases but addresses were available for only 50.4% of cases. The time difference between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 5.4 ± 5.7 days. The most frequent serotype reported were type b (41.9%) type d (26.9%) and type c1 (12.2%). Conclusion: The present surveillance data showed a high incidence of salmonellosis in Qatar that poses a serious public health problem. Special intervention and health awareness programs are required for early screening detection and treatment as well as for strengthening the surveillance system of salmonellosis with special emphasis on the laboratory study of cases.
Challenges faced during COVID-19 outbreak investigation in Qatar: From the investigators’ perspective
Background: Case investigation and surveillance is a key step in managing any epidemic. This report aimed to identify the main challenges faced by COVID-19 case investigators in Qatar and to suggest possible solutions to improve the case investigation process in managing future pandemics. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select 40 COVID-19 case investigators posted at the Ministry of Public Health Qatar. Interviewees were from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and had been investigating COVID-19 cases for more than 6 months at the time of interview. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were done to collect data which was anonymized before analyzing for the purpose of this qualitative study. Results: The most common concern faced in conducting case investigations was language barrier given the multinational and diverse diasporas Qatar is host to. Authenticity of the investigation was a matter of suspicion for many patients; whereas the majority of the investigators opined that multiple calls received from different healthcare departments asking for information overwhelmed many patients. Laborers/migrant workers often did not divulge information due to fear of repercussions from their supervisors. Social stigma associated with COVID-191 caused reluctance to reveal the index case and close contacts. Information regarding social gatherings attended and public places visited was often concealed (Figure 1). Cultural differences as well hindered smooth investigation in a few cases. Rising case load at times put restraints on improved coordination between different health departments2 and structured guidance for investigators3 about the pandemic response system which could help to deliver appropriate health services more efficiently. Comprehensive orientation in using the Electronic Surveillance database could also improve the efficacy of epidemiological analysis for improved public health outcomes. Conclusion: Addressing these challenges will help the public health team in Qatar to increase preparedness and efficiency in managing potential future outbreaks especially in view of upcoming mass gathering events such as the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
Pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19: Implications for control measures in Qatar
Public health control measures for communicable diseases are often based on the identification of symptomatic cases. However emerging epidemiological evidence demonstrates the role of pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmissions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Understanding high-risk settings where transmissions can occur from infected individuals without symptoms has become critical for improving the response to the pandemic. In this review we discussed the evidence on the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 its effect on control strategies and lessons that can be applied in Qatar. Although Qatar has a small population it has a distinct setting for COVID-19 control. It has a largely young population and is mostly composed of expatriates particularly from the Middle East and Asia that reside in Qatar for work. Further key considerations for Qatar and travel include population movement during extended religious holiday periods screening and tracing of visitors and residents at entry points into the country and expatriates living and working in high-density settings. We also consider how its international airport serves as a major transit destination for the region as Qatar is expected to experience a rapid expansion of visitors while preparing to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.