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Communicating the risk of COVID-19 during sporting events in Qatar: Challenges and opportunities
Background: After a long unprecedented pause sporting events were cautiously resumed in Qatar in September 2020. With the persisting COVID-19 uncertainties characterizing the COVID-19 risks related to sports activities remains to be examined making it difficult to give clear messages 1. This report describes some of the key challenges and opportunities for communicating COVID-19 risks associated with sporting events. Methods: The outbreak investigation report for COVID-19 cases related to the Asian Federation Cup (AFC) Champions League-West hosted in Qatar Sep 14th to Oct 3rd 2020 was interpreted and taken as a case study. Results: The outbreak investigation reports which involved approximately 74 COVID-19 cases is shown in Figure 1 and constituted the main subject to communicate the risks of the infection. The investigation teams were engaged in person-to-person communication reviewing the history of the possible risk exposure and explaining the recommended measures. Clubs’ physicians and delegations besides the local organizing committee seem to have played a pivotal role as a credible source of information to the players and media about the possible case scenarios and the control measures23. The yet unclear mode of transmission may have contributed to the poor risk perception and the compliance with the unfamiliar preventive recommendations23. Conclusion: The profound evolution of the pandemic has already offered a unique opportunity to overcome the ‘lack of attention’ in the communication of communicable diseases. Using the epidemiological findings to communicate COVID-19 risks during sporting events seemed to be beneficial to explain the virus characteristics emphasizing the role of the epidemiological approaches to improve the risk perception and the compliance with the public health advice.
An Integrated Approach for Enhancing Food Safety in Qatar
This study was carried out to assess hygiene conditions food handling practices food safety knowledge of food service providers (FSPs) and the microbial quality of food served in different food service establishments in Doha. Fifty-three FSPs were randomly selected among 200 FSPs. Face-to-face interviews with the food safety managers at each participating FSP were conducted using a survey consisting of 40-questions (demographic data on workers HACCP training knowledge on personal hygiene and safe-food handling practices) in October-December 2015. In addition to survey questionnaire a checklist was used to determine the implementation of international food safety standards by observing actual practices applied at each FSP. All FSPs who took part in the initial survey were also invited to participate in one of three one-day educational workshops focused mainly on important components of food safety management system and held in 2016. At the time of workshops each participant was also encouraged to take part in the microbial quality assessment study. Out of 53 establishments only 10 FSPs (2 fine-dine-in 2 casual sit-in 2 catering 2 fast-food and 2 takeaway) accepted to provide food and swab samples from their entities. At the time of each visit to select FSPs various menu items (food cooked in a short time ready-to-eat foods vegetables dairy-based deserts sandwiches and raw seafood e.g. oysters) were sampled in duplicate (based on the daily menu prepared at the time of sampling) at different food preparation stages (receiving food storage food preparation holding/cooking and serving). The microbial quality of food samples (n = 105) served and swabs collected from food preparation surfaces (n = 58) were also assessed using select media (APC MCA XLT4 and LSA). The identification of positive samples was carried out using VITEK-2 system. After the microbial assessment a follow-up survey consisting of 24 questions was developed to determine the impact of the educational trainings on food service providers' daily operational practices. The FSP managers who participated in the initial survey were invited by phone or email or in person to take part in the follow-up survey. Out of 53 FSPs only 16 were available to answer the questions due to reasons beyond the control of the research team. The major reasons for a low participation were 1) several managers moved back to their country without any contact information 2) many of them changed their jobs and there was a no way of communicating with them since they did not provide an alternative email or a phone number. The survey results indicated that average service years of FSPs was 11 the average age of food safety managers interviewed was 33 most managers (66%) had college degree and 68% of them were trained on HACCP. It was demonstrated that casual-sit-in and fine-dine-in restaurants are the only FSP types which consistently kept records (100%) followed by fast-food (36%) and catering (14%) FSPs. The microbial analysis indicated that the average APC in food samples collected from all FSPs met the international standards while the APC counts of swab samples were considered unsatisfactory since the levels were above 106 Log10 CFU/cm2. The highest bacterial count was reported in swab samples (7.26 Log10 CFU/cm2) collected from preparation area in takeaway restaurants. Concerning the target organisms (Escherichia coli Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) among 105 food samples and 58 swab samples collected 13 samples (8%) exhibited positive results for possible target pathogens. Positive samples were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae Klebsiella oxytoca Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pantoea spp. Overall the participants were highly satisfied (average score: 4.39/5 ± 0.20) with the information presented in the training workshops held in 2016 indicating that the workshops helped improve their knowledge on food safety; change their attitudes towards safe handling foods and inform them about the changes on food safety laws and regulations in Qatar. These results provided insight information on the aspects of behavioural changes that confirm the value of intervention studies. One important note which is important to mention that the participating managers indicated that they need open communication between the policymakers and the FSPs to be able to make sure that they will not be left behind if there is any changes/updates on food safety rules and regulations applied in the country. This issue is going to be addressed by posting constant updates on GSO (food safety standards applied in Qatar) on the website recently developed and hosted under the Ministry of Public Health website. Results obtained in this study might help food safety managers in these select FSPs to better understand the need for implementing effective control measures in order to prevent contamination and eventually protect the public health.
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.
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.
Use of Health Belief Model to assess risk perception and practices of camel farm owners in Doha about MERS-COV, 2015
MERS-COV is an emerging zoonotic disease primarily originated in Arabian Peninsula where camel industry and trade are part of the local culture and economy. Camels were proposed to be the possible reservoir. A convenient sample of 78 camel owners were interviewed through a structured questionnaire to assess their risk perception and practices. All were males mean age of 42.5 ± 12.7 years. Most of camel owners were Qatari (94.9%) working with camels for 10 years or more (85.8%). Most of the owners are aware about the disease (93.6%) mostly from T.V (75.6%). However only 37% of them know that the disease can be transmitted from camel to human or from human to human. The majority of owners (79.5%) had low to moderate knowledge score regarding MERS-COV. More than half of them had low perceived susceptibility to catch the disease. Perceived reasons for susceptibility were being in close contact with camels (82.2%) or exposure to camel products (76.7%). The majority (74%) feel to be protected from the disease mostly because their farms are clean (78.1) or due to long history of working with camels without catching disease (69.9%). More than half of owners (54.8%) had high perceived severity score and thought it can lead to hospitalization (86.3%) or death (69.9%). The most perceived protective measures were washing hands with soap and water (84.9%) and keeping away from sick people (78.1%). The most perceived barriers to using protective measures were being unavailable (56.2%) or unpractical (43.8%). Sixty percent of owners have high self -efficacy score however very low percentages were using protective measures (4–12%). Health education sessions should be conducted to camel owners in Qatar to increase their awareness and risk perception about MERS-COV.