Health literacy and risk of viral hepatitis among Chinese school children.

INTRODUCTION: Poor literacy is associated with hepatitis morbidity and mortality. Adolescents are especially at risk of hepatitis C. This study investigated viral hepatitis literacy, risk, and influencing factors among Chinese middle and high school students. METHODOLOGY: A supervised self-administered survey was conducted with school children from six schools in Shantou, China. Data on demographics, health literacy, and risk of viral hepatitis were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1732 students (from three middle and three high schools) participated in the study. Their major information resources were the internet (39.5%, 685/1732), television (28.8%, 498/1732), family (27.7%, 479/1732), and school (21.2%, 368/1732). The mean literacy score on the manifestations and risk factors of hepatitis was 3.4 ± 2.2 and 4.0 ± 2.3 (out of 8), respectively. Multiple linear regression models showed being female and in high school, having parents with higher education levels, and school or clinicians as an information resource were independent positive predictors, whereas poor awareness of risk factors was a negative predictor for health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: We report the risk of hepatitis among Chinese middle and high school students due to limited literacy and poor attitudes towards health-risk behaviors. Health education in school is recommended for preventable health risks among Chinese adolescents.

Comparison of 14 respiratory pathogens among hospitalized children during and after the COVID-19 outbreak in Chaoshan area.

BACKGROUND: Since January 2020, measures has been adopted in the Chaoshan area to limit the spread of COVID-19. Restrictions were removed after August 2020. At the same time, children returned to school. We previously reported the changes of 14 main respiratory pathogens in hospitalized children before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in Chaoshan area. However, the changes of respiratory pathogen spectrum in hospitalized children after the epidemic are still unknown, which will be elucidated in this study. METHODS: There are 6201 children hospitalized with respiratory tract infection were enrolled in the study, which were divided into two groups: 2533 from outbreak group (1 January 2020-31 December 2020), and 3668 from post-outbreak group (1 January 2021-31 December 2021). Pharyngeal swab samples were collected. 14 respiratory tract pathogens were detected by liquid chip technology. RESULTS: The positive rate of pathogen detection is significantly lower in the outbreak group (65.42%, 1657/2533) than that in the post-outbreak group (70.39%, 2582/3668; χ2 = 17.15, P < 0.05). The Influenza A virus (FluA) detection rate was 1.9% (49) in 2020, but 0% (0) in 2021. The detection rates of Bordetella pertussis (BP) decreased from 1.4% (35) in 2020 to 0.5% (17) in 2021. In contrast, the detection rates of  Influenza B virus (FluB), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Haemophilus influenzae (HI), Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) increased from 0.3% (8), 24.7% (626), 2.0% (50) and 19.4% (491) in 2020 to 3.3% (121), 27.9% (1025), 4.6% (169), 22.8% (836) in 2021, respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The detection rates of pathogens such as FluA, FluB, CMV, HI, SP, BP were statistically different between 2020 and 2021. From 2020 to 2021, the positive rates of Flu, CMV, HI and SP increased, while the positive rates of FluA and BP decreased. After the COVID-19 prevention and control measures are gradually relaxed, the positive rate of respiratory pathogens in children aged from 6 months to 6 years will increase.

COVID-19 epidemic and Chinese medical students: perception, emotions, attitudes, and conformity during domicile quarantine.

INTRODUCTION: Students from Shantou University Medical College were subject to domicile quarantine during the early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODOLOGY: We investigated their experience during March-April 2020 using a cross-sectional, self-administered, anonymous online survey. RESULTS: Out of 531 respondents, 75.7% became aware of the outbreak via the Internet (61.7%), WeChat (57.8%), and Weibo (49%). Nearly all students knew COVID-19 manifestations, incubation period, and transmission modes; about half considered wearing facemask and hand hygiene as effective epidemic interventions. They experienced various emotional reactions that changed significantly in response to the outbreak, lockdown, and quarantine (ps < 0.001), with depression in 23.3%. Most students (83.4%-99.4%) had positive attitudes and good compliance towards domicile quarantine and preventive measures. Females were significantly better than males in hand hygiene compliance (p = 0.04). More students with positive attitudes and good compliance than those without educated their families (ps < 0.05 - ps < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression showed negative relationships between anger and hand hygiene attitude (OR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.01-0.87); confusion and quarantine compliance (0.30, 0.12-0.76); and anger and compliance with quarantine (0.32, 0.11-0.93), facemask (0.12, 0.03-0.50), and hand hygiene (0.27, 0.08-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed how multichannel risk communication, early awareness, positive attitudes, and conformity of medical college students might have contributed to the favorable outcome from the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Clear, accurate, consistent, early risk communication by the local, national, and international public health authorities seems critical to promote public understanding, correct risk perception, and rational emotions and attitudes, leading to optimal conformity.

COVID-19 outbreak prevention by early containment in Shantou, China.

INTRODUCTION: To report about the successful outbreak containment of COVID-19 in Shantou, one of the prefectural cities of Guangdong province in the mainland China. METHODOLOGY: All patients confirmed as having COVID-19 between 23 January and 25 March 2020 by RT-PCR assay in the clinical lab of Shantou CDC were included and divided into three groups based on the source of identification: hospital diagnosis, contact tracing, and community screening. Collected data was analyzed and compared among these three groups. RESULTS: A total of 25 COVID-19 cases were identified in Shantou. The first case was identified on 14 January 2020 at one of two COVID-19 dedicated hospitals in Shantou. The majority of the cases were either imported from Wuhan or linked to Wuhan/Hubei. The median lag time for diagnosis (i.e., the time between symptom onset and case confirmation) was 2 days (IQR, 2.0-4.0) for all cases, 9 days (IQR, 7.0-10.0) for the cases diagnosed in hospitals, 2 days (IQR, 1.5-2.0) for the cases in contact tracing, and 4 days (IQR, 2.5-4.5) for cases in community screening, with a significantly longer diagnosis lag time in hospitals (p = 0.003). Multivariate linear regression models showed larger family size and severe cases as the significant predictor for increasing number of close contacts. CONCLUSIONS: The current pandemic appears to exist for an uncertain period. The early containment measures applied in Shantou, a city with insufficient healthcare resources for COVID-19, seems to be appropriate for cities or areas with similar profiles.