Day 1 :
- Epidemiology and Public Health, Cancer Epidemiology, Psychiatric Epidemiology, Maternal, Infant, and Child Health, Reproductive, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology
Session Introduction
Lakshmi Krishnan
Niramai Health Analytix, India
Title: AI-based scalable breast cancer screening solution in resource-constrained settings
Biography:
Dr. Lakshmi Krishnan is Clinical Research Scientist at Niramai and oversees its activities related to clinical studies and trials. She is an oral pathologist with a unique work experience of over 8 years in the fields of clinical research, technology innovation for public health, and scientific writing. She is a University rank holder and has completed a fellowship in Healthcare Technology Innovation from HTIC, IIT Madras. Having chosen to give up on clinical practice and pursue research in the domain of public health, she has contributed to a multi-centric cervical cancer screening project with PGI, Chandigarh and MCC, Thalassery and also worked in a Tata Trust funded breast and cervical screening programme in Pune.
Abstract:
Cancer of the breast is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in India. Detecting breast cancer at early stages is critical for providing early treatment and thereby reducing disease morbidity and mortality. Mammography is the only screening method proved by randomized trials to reduce breast cancer mortality. However, it is less sensitive in women with dense breasts, and hence, its usage is limited in Asian countries where breast cancer is being increasingly detected in younger pre-menopausal women. Moreover, in India, where breast cancer screening is recommended at district hospitals (DHs), there are just 55 mammography machines at Government DHs to cater to 763 districts. Apart from increasing screening uptake at DHs, it is also necessary to make screening accessible at community health centres (CHCs). In a resource constrained setting, the cost of the equipment and high-skill requirement for interpretations makes mammography less affordable and feasible as a routine screening method. The more affordable clinical breast examination suffers from inconsistent results and late detection.
Niramai’s Thermalytix™ is an AI-based solution that has demonstrated high sensitivity for screening breast cancers. This automated test is affordable, accessible, scalable for population-level screening and has already been used to screen over 30,000 women. However, loss to follow-up and risk perception in the asymptomatic population remains a barrier for large-scale screening programmes. This can be addressed by taking a holistic approach and combining screening of the top three cancers: breast, cervical, and oral cancers, along with other major non-communicable diseases such as cardio-vascular disease, stroke, and diabetes at the CHC level.
Maksut Senbekov
S.D. Asfendiyarovs Kazakh National Medical University, Kazakhstan
Title: A review of the effect of digital technologies on public health and medical education
Biography:
Senbekov Maksut T. graduated from the law faculty of the Karaganda Economic Society of KaZpotrebSoyuz with a degree in Legal Regulation in the Sphere of Economics in 2004, as well as the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Abstract:
Relevance. Recently, as a result of the development of technology, many areas of education and the provision of medical services in particular have changed significantly.
The recent spread of COVID-19 around the world has forced attention to online methods of service delivery, which could not but affect the field of public health. Thus, today it is relevant to modernize technologies such as telemedicine and medical education using remote sensing methods.
Thus, the use of remote technologies will ensure increased accessibility of healthcare services for the population, as it implies open access to information. Also, diagnostic and medical services are becoming more affordable in low-income regions.
Materials and methods. A literature review was carried out using scientific databases Cochraine, PubMed, Web of science. Studied modern methods of telemedicine and medical education using methods of distance education.
Results. The review showed that in modern conditions (the spread of the COVID-19 viral infection), telemedicine methods and methods of remote medical education are relevant and will improve the efficiency of the healthcare system.
Maksut Senbekov
S.D. Asfendiyarovs Kazakh National Medical University, Kazakhstan
Title: A review of the effect of digital technologies on public health and medical education
Biography:
Senbekov Maksut T. graduated from the law faculty of the Karaganda Economic Society of KaZpotrebSoyuz with a degree in Legal Regulation in the Sphere of Economics in 2004, as well as the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Abstract:
Relevance. Recently, as a result of the development of technology, many areas of education and the provision of medical services in particular have changed significantly.
The recent spread of COVID-19 around the world has forced attention to online methods of service delivery, which could not but affect the field of public health. Thus, today it is relevant to modernize technologies such as telemedicine and medical education using remote sensing methods.
Thus, the use of remote technologies will ensure increased accessibility of healthcare services for the population, as it implies open access to information. Also, diagnostic and medical services are becoming more affordable in low-income regions.
Materials and methods. A literature review was carried out using scientific databases Cochraine, PubMed, Web of science. Studied modern methods of telemedicine and medical education using methods of distance education.
Results. The review showed that in modern conditions (the spread of the COVID-19 viral infection), telemedicine methods and methods of remote medical education are relevant and will improve the efficiency of the healthcare system.
Maksut Senbekov
S.D. Asfendiyarovs Kazakh National Medical University, Kazakhstan
Title: A review of the effect of digital technologies on public health and medical education
Biography:
Senbekov Maksut T. graduated from the law faculty of the Karaganda Economic Society of KaZpotrebSoyuz with a degree in Legal Regulation in the Sphere of Economics in 2004, as well as the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Abstract:
Relevance. Recently, as a result of the development of technology, many areas of education and the provision of medical services in particular have changed significantly.
The recent spread of COVID-19 around the world has forced attention to online methods of service delivery, which could not but affect the field of public health. Thus, today it is relevant to modernize technologies such as telemedicine and medical education using remote sensing methods.
Thus, the use of remote technologies will ensure increased accessibility of healthcare services for the population, as it implies open access to information. Also, diagnostic and medical services are becoming more affordable in low-income regions.
Materials and methods. A literature review was carried out using scientific databases Cochraine, PubMed, Web of science. Studied modern methods of telemedicine and medical education using methods of distance education.
Results. The review showed that in modern conditions (the spread of the COVID-19 viral infection), telemedicine methods and methods of remote medical education are relevant and will improve the efficiency of the healthcare system.
Maksut Senbekov
S.D. Asfendiyarovs Kazakh National Medical University, Kazakhstan
Title: A review of the effect of digital technologies on public health and medical education
Biography:
Senbekov Maksut T. graduated from the law faculty of the Karaganda Economic Society of KaZpotrebSoyuz with a degree in Legal Regulation in the Sphere of Economics in 2004, as well as the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Abstract:
Relevance. Recently, as a result of the development of technology, many areas of education and the provision of medical services in particular have changed significantly.
The recent spread of COVID-19 around the world has forced attention to online methods of service delivery, which could not but affect the field of public health. Thus, today it is relevant to modernize technologies such as telemedicine and medical education using remote sensing methods.
Thus, the use of remote technologies will ensure increased accessibility of healthcare services for the population, as it implies open access to information. Also, diagnostic and medical services are becoming more affordable in low-income regions.
Materials and methods. A literature review was carried out using scientific databases Cochraine, PubMed, Web of science. Studied modern methods of telemedicine and medical education using methods of distance education.
Results. The review showed that in modern conditions (the spread of the COVID-19 viral infection), telemedicine methods and methods of remote medical education are relevant and will improve the efficiency of the healthcare system.
Bhatt Kumari Bandana
Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal
Title: Depression among orphan children residing in orphanages in Nepal: a cross-sectional study
Biography:
Kumari Bandana Bhatt is a Senior Public Health officer in the Department of Health Services under Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal. In her role, she is responsible for the planning, preparedness and management of epidemic/outbreak, vector borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases as well as planning of the program and budget. She is also involved in researches associated with public health issues. Moreover, providing trainings, their monitoring and supervision is also the major role in her job. She has earned the degree of the Master of Science in Public Health (Epidemiology) and the Master of Public Administration (MPA). She has conducts seven independent study; 3 of them have been published in international Journals. She is fond of writing articles related to present health scenario of the country. She has a good knowledge of Nepali, English, and Hindi language.
Abstract:
Background: Children living in orphanages are vulnerable groups of the population separated from the care and love of their parents. Lack of parental support during the early years of growth and development can lead to develop and manifest different levels of depression. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among orphan children residing in orphanages in Nepal.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 20 orphanages of Nepal. The orphanages were selected by simple random sampling method and 13-17 years children were invited to participate in the study. A structured self-administered questionnaire and Standard Beck Depression Inventory-III (BDI-II) tools were used for data collection whereas logistic regression was used for identifying associated factors with depression at the significant level α = 0.05.
Results: A total of 322 orphans participated in the study; 55.4% were males, the average age was 14.7 years. Most of the participants (91.3%) studied in secondary level and most (32.8%) belonged from indigenous ethnic group. The overall prevalence of depression among orphans was 32.2%, with higher preponderance among the female population (39.2%). In the multivariate model, sex, health problems, social support, and being bullied were significantly associated with depression in orphans. Females were 2.30 times more likely to develop depression than males (95% CI=1.38-3.82). Those who had health problems were 2.08 times more likely to develop depression than those who did not (95% CI=1.21-3.57). Those who had low social support were 2.48 times more likely to develop depressive symptoms than those who had high social support (95% CI=1.24-4.95), and those who had been bullied were 2.59 times more likely to develop depressive symptoms than those who were not bullied (95% CI=1.46-4.59).
Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of depression among children living in the orphanages in Nepal particularly among girls. Therefore, measures should be taken to identify, prevent and eliminate any practices within orphanages that may be reproducing discriminatory and stigmatizing behaviors that exist toward girl’s which research has shown to impact adversely on the mental health and wellbeing of children and which can manifest in depression.
Tahmina Nasrin Poly
Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
Title: Artificial Intelligence in Ophthalmology: A Meta-Analysis of Deep Learning Models for Retinal Vessels Segmentation
Biography:
Abstract:
Methods: A systematic search on EMBASE, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted for studies that were published between 1 January 2000 and 15 January 2020. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) procedure. The DL-based study design was mandatory for a study’s inclusion. Two authors independently screened all titles and abstracts against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. We used the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool for assessing the risk of bias and applicability.
Conclusion: The findings of our study showed the DL algorithms had high sensitivity and specificity for segmenting the retinal vessels from digital fundus images. The future role of DL algorithms in retinal vessel segmentation is promising, especially for those countries with limited access to healthcare. More compressive studies and global e orts are mandatory for evaluating the
Josua Ligairi
Fiji National University, Fiji
Title: NCD Monitoring and Surveillance Systems and its adaptability to Fiji’s context: A Systematic Review
Biography:
Currently a lecturer at the Fiji National University for Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Previously worked with the World Health Organisation working on the adoption of the WHO PEN protocols to Fiji's context. Before WHO, I was providing technical support to the Australian AID bilateral health program. Have a Master of Applied Epidemiology and a background in Public Health.
Abstract:
The UN High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases passed a Political Declaration on NCD prevention and control in 2011, emphasizing the great need for NCD surveillance including LMICs. A review of literature was conducted and set for full text citations published in English dated 1 January, 2007 to 31 August 2019. MESH terms or key words were selected from the following groups of generic terms: the following words “Health surveillance systems” and “NCD monitoring and surveillance system”. 10 literatures were tabulated focusing on the title of the study, the surveillance design and their recommendations. 60% of the NCD surveillace system reviewed use passive surveillance, 30% uses passive assisted sentinel surveillance and 10% use passive assited spatial surveillance. Based on countries surveillance system there was an equal distribution on involvement in Policy development (33%), Behavioural risk associated aggregates (33%) and Intergrated health information System (33%).Through intense review, passive assisted sentinel surveillance was mostly practiced and the use of spatial surveillace in this context for interregional comparisons of specified diseases. The suitable surveillance system that can be adopted by Fiji is a passive assisted sentinel surveillance system enhanced with Spatial data.
Paulo Vitor Marques Simas
University of Campinas, Brazil
Title: Epidemiological surveillance in reservoir animal – one health practice to avoid spillover
Biography:
Paulo Vitor Marques Simas is Bachelor at Biological Sciences (2007) when developed the research titled Analysis of seasonal distribution of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus in children younger than 6 years old related to climatic factors in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Master at Microbiology (2008), Virology area studying Genetic variability of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus isolated from hospitalized and day care children. Both, bachelor and Master degree, at Sao Paulo State University, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. PhD in Genetic and Molecular Biology (2015), Virology area with the thesis Metavirome of Tadarida brasiliensis bats at University of Campinas, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. A dedicated professional with extensive experience in Genetic and Molecular Biology in the Virology area.
Abstract:
The key to control emerging infectious diseases is to perform active epidemiological surveillance to identify the main healthy reservoir animals into each ecosystem. In this sense, Tadarida brasiliensis bats specie is widely distributed in the American Continent and the species and occur in the most populated areas of Brazil. This specie is adapted to urban areas, enabling contact and spread of several viral agents to humans, domestics and production animals. Some viral families like Coronavirus (CoV) stands out for sanitary and epidemiological surveillance, since highly pathogenic virus strains have evolved from bats like SARS in 2002, MERS in 2013 and probably SARS-2 current epidemic. The aim is to characterize the Coronavirus species and its phylogenetic relationships using viral metagenomics in T. brasiliensis bats’ specie, a typical specie distributed into Americas. We used anal and oral swabs of bats’ specimens collected in Jequitibás Wood, Central region of Campinas City, São Paulo State, Brazil in 2011. Samples were subjected to Next Gen-Sequencing (NGS) using the Illumina platform HiSeq 2500. Phylogenetic analyzes were performed in MEGA. The BLAST similarity search was conducted from different databases and matches were obtained with sequences of viral origin of great interest for health surveillance like unclassified Alphacoronavirus. Phylogenetic analyzes only for coronavirus matches included representative sequences of all genus of Orthocorovirinae subfamily – alpha, beta, gamma and deltaCoV and were performed using maximum likelihood methods (ML) and neighbor-joining (NJ). We identify sequences phylogenetically related AlphaCoV-like, Appalachian Ridge Cov.2, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV), HCoV-NL63, Bat Coronavirus 1B, the viruses of importance to one health. One sample was validated using RT-PCR and Sanger Sequencing and was similar to PEDV. Considering the zoonotic impact of many CoV, our results contribute greatly to a better understanding of the molecular eco-epidemiology in the evolution of these viral agents before epidemics spillover.
Abdulazeez Abubakar
University of Medical Sciences, Nigeria
Title: Distribution of multiple-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis among HIV sero-positive and sero- negative populations in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria
Biography:
Abstract:
Introduction: Multiple-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-Tb) has become a global issue especially in many African countries. Regular studies are needed to ascertain its early detection and elimination in the endemic regions in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates
Objective: To assess the frequency of MDR-Tb among HIV sero-positive and seronegative populations in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria.
Method: Sputum samples were collected from 1,601 subjects provisionally diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin-Nigeria. Inclusion criteria were based on a cough for at least three weeks with no response to antibiotics treatment or when the chest Xray indicated TB infection. From each patient three specimens were obtained for Ziehl Neelsen staining and 4ml of blood were collected for HIV antibody testing.
Results: The frequency of Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) positive cases was 10.86% while 0.72% MDR-Tb and 3.2% concurrent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV were documented. Statistically, no significant association between age and MDR-Tb (X2=0.6731, P>0.05) was found.
Conclusion: The study revealed 10.86% of AFB positive cases, 0.74% MDR-Tb cases and 3.2% concurrent infection between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV. We therefore recommend aggressive and effective control measures to prevent further transmission of MDR-Tb between patients and health care workers while increased access to ART for HIV infected MDR-TB patients is also suggested.
Abdulazeez Abubakar
University of Medical Sciences, Nigeria
Title: Distribution of multiple-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis among HIV sero-positive and sero- negative populations in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria
Biography:
Abstract:
Introduction: Multiple-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-Tb) has become a global issue especially in many African countries. Regular studies are needed to ascertain its early detection and elimination in the endemic regions in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates
Objective: To assess the frequency of MDR-Tb among HIV sero-positive and seronegative populations in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria.
Method: Sputum samples were collected from 1,601 subjects provisionally diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin-Nigeria. Inclusion criteria were based on a cough for at least three weeks with no response to antibiotics treatment or when the chest Xray indicated TB infection. From each patient three specimens were obtained for Ziehl Neelsen staining and 4ml of blood were collected for HIV antibody testing.
Results: The frequency of Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) positive cases was 10.86% while 0.72% MDR-Tb and 3.2% concurrent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV were documented. Statistically, no significant association between age and MDR-Tb (X2=0.6731, P>0.05) was found.
Conclusion: The study revealed 10.86% of AFB positive cases, 0.74% MDR-Tb cases and 3.2% concurrent infection between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV. We therefore recommend aggressive and effective control measures to prevent further transmission of MDR-Tb between patients and health care workers while increased access to ART for HIV infected MDR-TB patients is also suggested.
Christabellah Namugenyi
Makerere University, Uganda
Title: Factors affecting the utilization of Antenatal Care services by women in Semi-nomadic areas in Uganda
Biography:
Christabellah Namugenyi is a graduate student at Makerere University, Kampala pursuing a Masters Degree in statistics. She is aged 26 years. She has co-authored on two papers and has been serving a training statistician at the Uganda Virus Research Institute.
Abstract:
Despite the government efforts to increase the access and use of essential maternal care services such as Antenatal Care (ANC) services, the number of women utilizing these ANC services has not increased most especially in the semi-nomadic areas. The general objective of this study was to determine the factors affecting the utilization of ANC among women in the semi-nomadic areas, case of Kotido and Moroto districts.
Secondary data collected through a stratified two-stage cluster sampling design by monitoring and evaluation project of PEPFAR in Uganda 2016 was used. Sub-counties were treated as strata from which 19 mothers with children aged 0-11 months were randomly selected. Overall, 228 mothers were selected from each district.
The data obtained was analyzed using STATA at two stages, using the Pearson Chi-square, and the logit model were used to find the association / relationship between the number of ANC visits and the various explanatory variables (age, marital status, distance to the health facility, partner involvement, education level). Analysis revealed that the number of ANC visits made by a woman living in Semi-Nomadic areas was highly influenced by education level of women and their marital Status except distance to the health facility.
Based on the findings, the government should encourage Girl-child education to empower women to handle issues concerning their health as an urgent matter and also avail them with knowledge about the goodness that comes with them obtaining the maternal services.
Christabellah Namugenyi
Makerere University, Uganda
Title: Factors affecting the utilization of Antenatal Care services by women in Semi-nomadic areas in Uganda
Biography:
Christabellah Namugenyi is a graduate student at Makerere University, Kampala pursuing a Masters Degree in statistics. She is aged 26 years. She has co-authored on two papers and has been serving a training statistician at the Uganda Virus Research Institute.
Abstract:
Despite the government efforts to increase the access and use of essential maternal care services such as Antenatal Care (ANC) services, the number of women utilizing these ANC services has not increased most especially in the semi-nomadic areas. The general objective of this study was to determine the factors affecting the utilization of ANC among women in the semi-nomadic areas, case of Kotido and Moroto districts.
Secondary data collected through a stratified two-stage cluster sampling design by monitoring and evaluation project of PEPFAR in Uganda 2016 was used. Sub-counties were treated as strata from which 19 mothers with children aged 0-11 months were randomly selected. Overall, 228 mothers were selected from each district.
The data obtained was analyzed using STATA at two stages, using the Pearson Chi-square, and the logit model were used to find the association / relationship between the number of ANC visits and the various explanatory variables (age, marital status, distance to the health facility, partner involvement, education level). Analysis revealed that the number of ANC visits made by a woman living in Semi-Nomadic areas was highly influenced by education level of women and their marital Status except distance to the health facility.
Based on the findings, the government should encourage Girl-child education to empower women to handle issues concerning their health as an urgent matter and also avail them with knowledge about the goodness that comes with them obtaining the maternal services.