Factors Associated with HPV Knowledge Among Professionals in the City of Francisco Beltrão, Brazil.

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, affecting nearly 50% of the world population. HPV can lead to tissue damage and is associated with many types of cancers. Healthcare professionals' knowledge regarding HPV infection are essential in assuring favorable outcomes for those exposed to HPV, either in prevention or in intervention efforts. In this cross-sectional, population-based study, we explored the levels of HPV knowledge among health professionals in a Brazilian municipality. In total, 260 individuals (90% women), aged 21-66 years (Mean = 40.10 ± 9.30) participated in this investigation and responded to standard questionnaires measuring HPV knowledge as well as sociodemographic and occupational data. Regarding HPV knowledge, 85 (32.8%) individuals were considered to have sufficient knowledge (scored good or very good according to percentile classifications), whereas 174 (67.2%) were labeled as having insufficient knowledge. Mann-Whitney tests showed higher HPV knowledge among those who reported not having children (p = 0.05) and lower levels in the group of community health workers (CHW; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analyses showed that having children (OR = 0.50; 95%CI: 0.26, 0.96) and being a CHW (OR = 0.52; 95%CI: 0.28, 0.97) were independently associated with insufficient knowledge about HPV. In conclusion, data reported in this study might aid in understanding factors associated with HPV management given the evidence collected from healthcare professionals, suggesting strategies to promote both health education and promotion.

Sailing on the ark of Scopus: Narra J new journey.

Global health crises such as the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have highlighted the unique value of scientific research in the realm of public health and related disciplines. Although we have witnessed rapid growth in scientific output in the past years, concerns regarding scientific rigor and research integrity also emerged.

Cross-sectional study for COVID-19-related mortality predictors in a Brazilian state-wide landscape: the role of demographic factors, symptoms and comorbidities.

OBJECTIVE: The Brazilian state of Paraná has suffered from COVID-19 effects, understanding predictors of increased mortality in health system interventions prevent hospitalisation of patients. We selected the best models to evaluate the association of death with demographic characteristics, symptoms and comorbidities based on three levels of clinical severity for COVID-19: non-hospitalised, hospitalised non-ICU ward and ICU ward. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using binomial mixed models. SETTING: COVID-19-positive cases diagnosed by reverse transcription-PCR of municipalities located in Paraná State. PATIENTS: Cases of anonymous datasets of electronic medical records from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The best prediction factors were chosen based on criteria after a stepwise analysis using multicollinearity measure, lower Akaike information criterion and goodness-of-fit χ2 tests from univariate to multivariate contexts. RESULTS: Male sex was associated with increased mortality among non-hospitalised patients (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.47 to 2.11) and non-ICU patients (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.43) for symptoms and for comorbidities (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.59 to 2.25, and OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.52, respectively). Higher mortality occurred in patients older than 35 years in non-hospitalised (for symptoms: OR 4.05, 95% CI 1.55 to 10.54; and for comorbidities: OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.24 to 7.27) and in hospitalised over 40 years (for symptoms: OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.08 to 6.87; and for comorbidities: OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.22 to 5.79). Dyspnoea was associated with increased mortality in non-hospitalised (OR 4.14, 95% CI 3.45 to 4.96), non-ICU (OR 2.41, 95% CI 2.04 to 2.84) and ICU (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.72) patients. Neurological disorders (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.35 to 3.46), neoplastic (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.75 to 5.93) and kidney diseases (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.35) showed the majority of increased mortality for ICU as well in the three levels of severity jointly with heart disease, diabetes and CPOD. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of the predictor's assessment for the implementation of public healthcare policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly to understand how non-pharmaceutical measures could mitigate the virus impact over the population.

Vaccine hesitancy among communities in ten countries in Asia, Africa, and South America during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccine hesitancy is considered one of the greatest threats to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination programs. Lack of trust in vaccine benefits, along with concerns about side effects of the newly developed COVID-19 vaccine, might significantly contribute to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The objective of this study was to determine the level of vaccine hesitancy among communities in particular their belief in vaccination benefits and perceived risks of new vaccines. An online cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 countries in Asia, Africa, and South America from February to May 2021. Seven items from the WHO SAGE Vaccine Hesitancy Scale were used to measure a construct of belief in vaccination benefit, and one item measured perceived riskiness of new vaccines. A logistic regression was used to determine which sociodemographic factors were associated with both vaccine hesitancy constructs. A total of 1,832 respondents were included in the final analysis of which 36.2% (range 5.6-52.2%) and 77.6% (range 38.3-91.2%) of them were classified as vaccine hesitant in terms of beliefs in vaccination benefits and concerns about new vaccines, respectively. Respondents from Pakistan had the highest vaccine hesitancy while those from Chile had the lowest. Being females, Muslim, having a non-healthcare-related job and not receiving a flu vaccination during the past 12 months were associated with poor beliefs of vaccination benefits. Those who were living in rural areas, Muslim, and those who did not received a flu vaccination during the past 12 months had relatively higher beliefs that new vaccines are riskier. High prevalence of vaccine hesitancy in some countries during the COVID-19 pandemic might hamper COVID-19 vaccination programs worldwide. Programs should be developed to promote vaccination in those sociodemographic groups with relatively high vaccine hesitancy.

Willingness-to-pay for COVID-19 vaccine in ten low-middle-income countries in Asia, Africa and South America: A cross-sectional study.

Vaccine hesitancy is considered as one of the greatest challenges to control the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A related challenge is the unwillingness of the general public to pay for vaccination. The objective of this study was to determine willingness-to-pay (WTP) for COVID-19 vaccine among individuals from ten low- middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, Africa, and South America. Data were collected using an online questionnaire distributed during February - May 2021 in ten LMICs (Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, and Tunisia). The major response variable of in this study was WTP for a COVID-19 vaccine. The assessment of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was based on items adopted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) vaccine hesitancy scale constructs. In this study, 1337 respondents included in the final analysis where the highest number of respondents was from India, while the lowest number was from Egypt. A total of 88.9% (1188/1337) respondents were willing to pay for the COVID-19 vaccination, and 11.1% (149/1337) were not. The average WTP for COVID-19 vaccination was 87.9 US dollars ($), (range: $5-$200). The multivariate model analysis showed that the country, monthly household income, having a history of respiratory disease, the agreement that routine vaccines recommended by health workers are beneficial and having received the flu vaccination within the previous 12 months were strongly associated with the WTP. Based on the country of origin, the highest mean WTP for COVID-19 vaccine was reported in Chile, while the lowest mean WTP for the vaccine was seen among the respondents from Sudan. The availability of free COVID-19 vaccination services appears as a top priority in the LMICs for successful control of the ongoing pandemic. This is particularly important for individuals of a lower socio- economic status. The effects of complacency regarding COVID-19 extends beyond vaccine hesitancy to involve less willingness to pay for COVID-19 vaccine and a lower value of WTP for the vaccine.

Dimensions of youth psychopathy differentially predict concurrent pro- and antisocial behavior.

OBJECTIVE:: To investigate the unique contribution of narcissism and impulsivity, in addition to callous-unemotional (CU) traits, in explaining concurrent prosocial and antisocial behavior. METHOD:: Two hundred and forty-nine schoolchildren (53% female; age 9-12 years) completed the self-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD). Two statistical models were tested, predicting conduct problems (CP) and prosocial behavior (PB). In the first one, CU traits and gender were entered into the equation. The second model added narcissism and impulsivity. RESULTS:: Gender, narcissism and impulsivity, but not CU, were statistically significant predictors of CP in the second model (F3,226 = 45.07, p < 0.001, R2 = 43.7%; betas: gender = -0.20, narcissism = 0.29, impulsivity = 0.36, CU = 0.06). PB was significantly predicted by all domains except gender (F3,226 = 42.57, p < 0.001, R2 = 42.4%; betas: gender = 0.08, narcissism = -0.16, impulsivity = -0.23, CU = -0.41). CONCLUSION:: Our results confirmed that CU traits refer to a distinct manifestation of psychopathy in youth, but we also found that narcissism and impulsivity are equally important when predicting CP. Previous reports of sex differences on APSD and SDQ domains were also corroborated.

Dimensions of youth psychopathy differentially predict concurrent pro- and antisocial behavior

Objective: To investigate the unique contribution of narcissism and impulsivity, in addition to callous-unemotional (CU) traits, in explaining concurrent prosocial and antisocial behavior. Method: Two hundred and forty-nine schoolchildren (53% female; age 9-12 years) completed the self-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD). Two statistical models were tested, predicting conduct problems (CP) and prosocial behavior (PB). In the first one, CU traits and gender were entered into the equation. The second model added narcissism and impulsivity. Results: Gender, narcissism and impulsivity, but not CU, were statistically significant predictors of CP in the second model (F3,226 = 45.07, p < 0.001, R2 = 43.7%; betas: gender = -0.20, narcissism = 0.29, impulsivity = 0.36, CU = 0.06). PB was significantly predicted by all domains except gender (F3,226 = 42.57, p < 0.001, R2 = 42.4%; betas: gender = 0.08, narcissism = -0.16, impulsivity = -0.23, CU = -0.41). Conclusion: Our results confirmed that CU traits refer to a distinct manifestation of psychopathy in youth, but we also found that narcissism and impulsivity are equally important when predicting CP. Previous reports of sex differences on APSD and SDQ domains were also corroborated.