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1.
Trauma Violence Abuse ; : 15248380241227985, 2024 Feb 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38347820

ABSTRACT

Natural disasters have increased in frequency and severity in recent years. Emerging research also suggests that natural disasters increase the risk of human trafficking. This confluence of phenomena makes it critically important to better prepare communities for preventing and responding to human trafficking during and after a natural disaster. Yet, there is no available synthesis of the extant research to inform these preparations. The present scoping review aims to fill this gap by outlining the existing literature on the nexus of disasters and human trafficking. The review follows the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis-Scoping Review guidelines. Sources were identified through manual reference checking and in four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, APA PsychINFO, and EBSCO Discovery Service. In total, 46 sources met the inclusion criteria, that is, they focused on the nexus between human trafficking and natural disasters, demonstrated scientific rigor, and were published after 2000 and in English. Overall, the reviewed literature provided initial evidence on the association between natural disasters occurrences and increases in national and transnational human trafficking activity, understanding of the compounding vulnerabilities conducive to trafficking following disasters, and recommendations for the prevention and response to human trafficking in the wake of disasters. Future studies should evaluate prevention initiatives, including awareness campaigns and interventions that mitigate trafficking vulnerabilities. In practice, it is crucial to integrate anti-trafficking efforts into disaster relief protocols, empower vulnerable populations, and advocate for enhanced legal protections for displaced and migrant individuals.

2.
BMC Public Health ; 24(1): 379, 2024 02 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38317121

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Wildfire smoke contributes substantially to the global disease burden and is a major cause of air pollution in the US states of Oregon and Washington. Climate change is expected to bring more wildfires to this region. Social media is a popular platform for health promotion and a need exists for effective communication about smoke risks and mitigation measures to educate citizens and safeguard public health. METHODS: Using a sample of 1,287 Tweets from 2022, we aimed to analyze temporal Tweeting patterns in relation to potential smoke exposure and evaluate and compare institutions' use of social media communication best practices which include (i) encouraging adoption of smoke-protective actions; (ii) leveraging numeric, verbal, and Air Quality Index risk information; and (iii) promoting community-building. Tweets were characterized using keyword searches and the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out. RESULTS: 44% of Tweets in our sample were authored between January-August 2022, prior to peak wildfire smoke levels, whereas 54% of Tweets were authored during the two-month peak in smoke (September-October). Institutional accounts used Twitter (or X) to encourage the adoption of smoke-related protective actions (82% of Tweets), more than they used it to disseminate wildfire smoke risk information (25%) or promote community-building (47%). Only 10% of Tweets discussed populations vulnerable to wildfire smoke health effects, and 14% mentioned smoke mitigation measures. Tweets from Washington-based accounts used significantly more verbal and numeric risk information to discuss wildfire smoke than Oregon-based accounts (p = 0.042 and p = 0.003, respectively); however, Tweets from Oregon-based accounts on average contained a higher percentage of words associated with community-building language (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This research provides practical recommendations for public health practitioners and researchers communicating wildfire smoke risks on social media. As exposures to wildfire smoke rise due to climate change, reducing the environmental disease burden requires health officials to leverage popular communication platforms, distribute necessary health-related messaging rapidly, and get the message right. Timely, evidence-based, and theory-driven messaging is critical for educating and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about protecting themselves from harmful exposures. Thus, proactive and sustained communications about wildfire smoke should be prioritized even during wildfire "off-seasons."


Subject(s)
Air Pollution , Social Media , Wildfires , Humans , Public Health , Washington
3.
Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med ; 32(1): 11, 2024 Feb 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38347576

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Accidental hypothermia with severe frostbite is a rare combination of injuries with a high risk for long-term sequelae. There are widely accepted recommendations for the management of avalanche victims and for frostbite treatment, but no recommendation exists for the treatment of frostbite in severe hypothermic patients, specifically for the management of hypothermic avalanche victims presenting with frostbite. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a previously healthy, 53-year-old male skier who was critically buried by an avalanche at 2300 m of altitude at an ambient temperature of - 8 °C for nearly 23 h. The victim was found with the right hand out of the snow and an air connection to outside. He was somnolent with Glasgow Coma Scale 11 (Eye 4, Verbal 2, Motor 5) and spontaneously breathing, in a severely hypothermic state with an initial core temperature of 23.1 °C and signs of cold injuries in all four extremities. After rescue and active external forced air rewarming in the intensive care unit, the clinical signs of first-degree frostbite on both feet and the left hand vanished, while third- to fourth-degree frostbite injuries became apparent on all fingers of the right hand. After reaching a core body temperature of approximately 36 °C, aggressive frostbite treatment was started with peripheral arterial catheter-directed thrombolysis with alteplase, intravenous iloprost, ibuprofen, dexamethasone and regional sympathicolysis with a right-sided continuous axillary block. After ten months, the patient had no tissue loss but needed neuropathic pain treatment with pregabalin. CONCLUSION: The combination of severe accidental hypothermia and severe frostbite is rare and challenging, as drug metabolism is unpredictable in a hypothermic patient and no recommendations for combined treatment exist. There is general agreement to give hypothermia treatment the priority and to begin frostbite treatment as early as possible after full rewarming of the patient. More evidence is needed to identify the optimal dosage and time point to initiate treatment of frostbite in severely hypothermic patients. This should be taken into consideration by future treatment recommendations.


Subject(s)
Avalanches , Frostbite , Hypothermia , Male , Humans , Middle Aged , Hypothermia/complications , Rewarming/adverse effects , Frostbite/therapy , Frostbite/complications , Altitude
4.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 3591, 2024 02 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38351213

ABSTRACT

Anthropogenic activities have been shown to significantly affect marine life. Water pollution and oil spills are particularly deleterious to the fish population, especially during their larval stage. In this study, Sobaity-sea bream Sparidentex hasta (Valenciennes, 1830) larvae were exposed to serial dilutions of water-accommodated fraction of Kuwait crude oil (KCO-WAF) for varying durations (3, 6, 24, 48, 72 or 96 h) in acute exposure regime. Gene expression was assessed using RNA sequencing and validated through RT-qPCR. The RNA sequencing data were aligned to the sequenced genome, and differentially expressed genes were identified in response to treatment with or without KCO-WAF at various exposure times. The highest number of differentially expressed genes was observed at the early time point of 6 h of post-exposure to KCO-WAF. The lowest number of differentially expressed genes were noticed at 96 h of treatment indicating early response of the larvae to KCO-WAF contaminant. The acquired information on the differentially expressed genes was then used for functional and pathway analysis. More than 90% of the differentially expressed genes had a significant BLAST match, with the two most common matching species being Acanthopagrus latus and Sparus aurata. Approximately 65% of the differentially expressed genes had Gene Ontology annotations, whereas > 35% of the genes had KEGG pathway annotations. The differentially expressed genes were found to be enriched for various signaling pathways (e.g., MAPK, cAMP, PI3K-Akt) and nervous system-related pathways (e.g., neurodegeneration, axon guidance, glutamatergic synapse, GABAergic synapse). Early exposure modulated the signaling pathways, while KCO-WAF exposure of larvae for a longer duration affected the neurodegenerative/nervous system-related pathways. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed the differential expression of genes at each time point. These findings provide insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of the deleterious effects of acute exposure to oil pollution-on marine fish populations, particularly at the early larval stage of Sparidentex hasta.


Subject(s)
Perciformes , Petroleum Pollution , Petroleum , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Animals , Petroleum/toxicity , Petroleum/analysis , Water/analysis , Larva/genetics , Kuwait , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases , Fishes , Gene Expression Profiling , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Petroleum Pollution/adverse effects , Petroleum Pollution/analysis
5.
Sci Total Environ ; 917: 170363, 2024 Mar 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38308900

ABSTRACT

Living shorelines aim to enhance the resilience of coastlines to hazards while simultaneously delivering co-benefits such as carbon sequestration. Despite the potential ecological and socio-economic benefits of living shorelines over conventional engineered coastal protection structures, application is limited globally. Australia has a long and diverse coastline that provides prime opportunities for living shorelines using beaches and dunes, vegetation, and biogenic reefs, which may be either natural ('soft' approach) or with an engineered structural component ('hybrid' approach). Published scientific studies, however, have indicated limited use of living shorelines for coastal protection in Australia. In response, we combined a national survey and interviews of coastal practitioners and a grey and peer-reviewed literature search to (1) identify barriers to living shoreline implementation; and (2) create a database of living shoreline projects in Australia based on sources other than scientific literature. Projects included were those that had either a primary or secondary goal of protection of coastal assets from erosion and/or flooding. We identified 138 living shoreline projects in Australia through the means sampled starting in 1970; with the number of projects increasing through time particularly since 2000. Over half of the total projects (59 %) were considered to be successful according to their initial stated objective (i.e., reducing hazard risk) and 18 % of projects could not be assessed for their success based on the information available. Seventy percent of projects received formal or informal monitoring. Even in the absence of peer-reviewed support for living shoreline construction in Australia, we discovered local and regional increases in their use. This suggests that coastal practitioners are learning on-the-ground, however more generally it was stated that few examples of living shorelines are being made available, suggesting a barrier in information sharing among agencies at a broader scale. A database of living shoreline projects can increase knowledge among practitioners globally to develop best practice that informs technical guidelines for different approaches and helps focus attention on areas for further research.


Subject(s)
Carbon Sequestration , Floods , Australia
6.
Sci Total Environ ; 919: 170831, 2024 Apr 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38340859

ABSTRACT

The increasing risk of climate change in the Anthropocene underscores the importance and urgency of enhancing resilience to climate-related disasters. However, the assessment of resilience to disasters with traditional statistical data is spatially inexplicit and timeliness inadequate, and the determinants of resilience remain unclear. In this study, we employed spatially detailed daily nighttime light images to assess socio-economic disturbance and track near real-time recovery of coastal communities in Southeast China following super typhoon Meranti. Furthermore, we constructed a "exposure-sensitivity-adaptive capacity" framework to explore the role of key factors in shaping spatiotemporal patterns of recovery. Our case study showed a significant spatial disparity in socio-economic recovery in the post-typhoon period. Low-urbanized areas recovered relatively rapidly with the weakest socio-economic disturbance they suffered, and middle-urbanized areas experienced the slowest recovery despite the disruption being moderate. Remarkably, high-urbanized areas were the most severely impacted by the typhoon but recovered fast. The exposure to hazard, socio-economic sensitivity, and adaptive capacity in communities explained well the spatial disparity of resilience to the typhoon. Maximum wind speed, percentage of the elderly, and percentage of low-income population significantly negatively correlated with resilience, whereas commercial activity intensity, spatial accessibility of hospitals, drainage capacity, and percentage of green open space showed significantly positive relationships with resilience. Notably, the effects of key factors on resilience were spatially heterogeneous. For instance, maximum wind speed exhibited the strongest influence on resilience in middle-urbanized areas, while the effect of commercial activity intensity was most pronounced in low-urbanized areas. Conversely, spatial accessibility of hospitals and drainage capacity showed the strongest influence in high-urbanized areas. Our study highlights the necessity of linking post-disaster recovery with intensity of hazard, socio-economic sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to understand community resilience for better disaster risk reduction.

7.
BMC Emerg Med ; 24(1): 21, 2024 Feb 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38321422

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: During natural catastrophes, hospital staff members' readiness for crisis management-particularly concerning patient evacuation and improving their safety-becomes paramount. This study aimed to identify the components contributing to hospital staff members' preparedness to evacuate patients in an emergency. METHOD: A systematic review was conducted by searching databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and grey literature through May 2023. Studies that offered unique qualitative or quantitative data regarding hospital personnel readiness to evacuate patients in an emergency were included. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were used to examine the extracted data points. RESULTS: In total, there were 274 scientific articles. The total number of unique studies decreased to 181 after removing duplicate articles. 28 papers that were deemed appropriate for additional study were found based on the titles and abstracts of these articles. Eighteen papers that met the inclusion criteria were selected for the systematic review after their entire texts were finally assessed. Hospital staff preparedness for patient evacuation was divided into four primary topics and nineteen sub-themes. The four primary themes that emerged were management, communication, individual issues, and training on the evacuation process. CONCLUSION: The implementation of proper disaster evacuation training programs can be achieved by elevating the perceived sensitivity and protective motive of personnel and considering the personnel's stages of change. Training hospital staff to properly evacuate patients during disasters is also significantly impacted by other factors, such as effective administration, leadership and prompt and efficient communication.


Subject(s)
Disaster Planning , Disasters , Hospitals , Transportation of Patients , Humans , Communication , Personnel, Hospital
8.
Public Health ; 228: 73-81, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38325059

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Public health messaging during disasters help to provide knowledge and guidance for preventative behaviours and risk reduction. The aim of this review is to explore how public health messages are currently being provided during disasters and identify what influencing factors contribute to the effectiveness of these messages. STUDY DESIGN: Scoping review. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted using guidance from Joanna Briggs Methodology for Scoping Reviews. A narrative synthesis was utilised due to the heterogeneity of findings. The review included seventeen sources, addressing a variety of disasters around the globe over the past two decades. RESULTS: Three key influencing factors were identified and are illustrated in a concept model called the Audience, Information, Messenger and Mode (AIMM) Public Health Messaging Scale. This conceptual model depicts considerations such as the quantity, quality, and framing of information, the human and technological sources used for delivery and the audience needs and capabilities required for optimal message impact and effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Public health messages do influence prevention behaviours during disasters, but they must be carefully tailored and delivered to ensure adequate reach, comprehension, and compliance.


Subject(s)
Disasters , Public Health , Humans , Narration
9.
J Environ Manage ; 352: 119985, 2024 Feb 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38184870

ABSTRACT

Flooding is expected to increase due to climate change, urbanisation, and land use change. To address this issue, Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) are often adopted as innovative and sustainable flood risk management methods. Besides the flood risk reduction benefits, NBSs offer co-benefits for the environment and society. However, these co-benefits are rarely considered in flood risk management due to the inherent complexities of incorporating them into economic assessments. This research addresses this gap by developing a comprehensive methodology that integrates the monetary analysis of co-benefits with flood risk reduction in economic assessments. In doing so, it aspires to provide a more holistic view of the impact of NBS in flood risk management. The assessment employs a framework based on life-cycle cost-benefit analysis, offering a systematic and transparent assessment of both costs and benefits over time supported by key indicators like net present value and benefit cost ratio. The methodology has been applied to the Tamnava basin in Serbia, where significant flooding occurred in 2014 and 2020. The methodology offers valuable insights for practitioners, researchers, and planners seeking to assess the co-benefits of NBS and integrate them into economic assessments. The results show that when considering flood risk reduction alone, all considered measures have higher costs than the benefits derived from avoiding flood damage. However, when incorporating co-benefits, several NBS have a net positive economic impact, including afforestation/reforestation and retention ponds with cost-benefit ratios of 3.5 and 5.6 respectively. This suggests that incorporating co-benefits into economic assessments can significantly increase the overall economic efficiency and viability of NBS.


Subject(s)
Floods , Risk Management , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Urbanization , Climate Change
10.
Prehosp Disaster Med ; 39(1): 85-93, 2024 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38221901

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Interest in nuclear power as a cleaner and alternative energy source is increasing in many countries. Despite the relative safety of nuclear power, large-scale disasters such as the Fukushima Daiichi (Japan) and Chernobyl (Ukraine) meltdowns are a reminder that emergency preparedness and safety should be a priority. In an emergency situation, there is a need to balance the tension between a rapid response, preventing harm, protecting communities, and safeguarding workers and responders. The first line of defense for workers and responders is personal protective equipment (PPE), but the needs vary by situation and location. Better understanding this is vital to inform PPE needs for workers and responders during nuclear and radiological power plant accidents and emergencies. STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify and describe the PPE used by different categories of workers and responders during nuclear and radiological power plant accidents and emergencies. METHODS: A systematic literature review format following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines was utilized. Databases SCOPUS, PubMed, EMBASE, INSPEC, and Web of Science were used to retrieve articles that examined the PPE recommended or utilized by responders to nuclear radiological disasters at nuclear power plants (NPPs). RESULTS: The search terms yielded 6,682 publications. After removal of duplicates, 5,587 sources continued through the systematic review process. This yielded 23 total articles for review, and five articles were added manually for a total of 28 articles reviewed in this study. Plant workers, decontamination or decommissioning workers, paramedics, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), emergency medical technicians, military, and support staff were the categories of responders identified for this type of disaster. Literature revealed that protective suits were the most common item of PPE required or recommended, followed by respirators and gloves (among others). However, adherence issues, human errors, and physiological factors frequently emerged as hinderances to the efficacy of these equipment in preventing contamination or efficiency of these responders. CONCLUSION: If worn correctly and consistently, PPE will reduce exposure to ionizing radiation during a nuclear and radiological accident or disaster. For the best results, standardization of equipment recommendations, clear guidelines, and adequate training in its use is paramount. As fields related to nuclear power and nuclear medicine expand, responder safety should be at the forefront of emergency preparedness and response planning.


Subject(s)
Disasters , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Nuclear Medicine , Humans , Emergencies , Nuclear Power Plants , Personal Protective Equipment
11.
Curr Environ Health Rep ; 11(1): 71-87, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38221599

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Climate change poses a serious threat to human health and well-being. Australia is not immune to the public health impacts and continues to be underprepared, putting the population health at risk. However, there is a dearth in knowledge about how the Australian public health system will address the impacts of climate change. RECENT FINDINGS: This integrative review synthesises tools, frameworks, and guidance material suitable for climate change adaptation from a preventive public health perspective. The literature search was conducted in electronic databases MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Of 4507 articles identified, 19 articles met the inclusion criteria that focused on operational methods in public health and excluded the clinical context and reactive disaster response approaches. This review revealed that Australia is ill-prepared to manage climate change adverse health impacts due to ineffective adaptation strategies. The review highlights that Australia urgently requires effective adaptation strategies such as undertaking a National Adaptation Plan process and an improved understanding in managing complex health risks. Taking this action will strengthen the public health system and build health resilience especially for vulnerable populations. These findings will help understand and develop of the necessary adaptive strategies in Australia.


Subject(s)
Disasters , Population Health , Humans , Australia , Climate Change , Public Health
12.
PLoS One ; 19(1): e0296393, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38166092

ABSTRACT

Teachers play a pivotal role, both as educators and community leaders at the heart of any communities. This study seeks to address: "How do community-based interventions influence teacher resilience and well-being in the context of disaster education, and consequently, how does this affect overall community resilience?" Employing the rigorous PRISMA systematic review approach, we examined relevant studies, emphasizing the relationship between teacher resilience, well-being, and the efficacy of community-based disaster education interventions. 47 studies met the specific inclusion criteria and were included in in-depth analysis. This study identified a set of key interventions that have demonstrably boosted teacher resilience and well-being. There was a discernible positive relationship between teacher resilience and the effectiveness of community disaster education initiatives. The relationship between teacher resilience, their well-being, and effective community-based disaster education interventions is intricate and multifaceted. Enhanced teacher resilience contributes substantially to the success of disaster education programs. The interplay between teacher and community resilience emerged as a complex, symbiotic relationship, with teacher well-being acting as a cornerstone for effective community-based interventions. Reinforcing teacher resilience and well-being is integral to the success of community-based disaster education initiatives. Ensuring their well-being not only enhances educational outcomes but also fortifies community resilience. Teachers play a pivotal role in not only educating the younger generation but also in enhancing community resilience. Thus, any strategy aimed at supporting community resilience must integrate comprehensive measures to ensure the well-being and resilience of teachers. This nexus between education and community resilience emphasizes the necessity for integrated, holistic, and community-centric approaches to disaster management.


Subject(s)
Disaster Planning , Disasters , Resilience, Psychological
13.
BMC Public Health ; 24(1): 312, 2024 01 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38281022

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Wildfire smoke exposure has become a growing public health concern, as megafires and fires at the wildland urban interface increase in incidence and severity. Smoke contains many pollutants that negatively impact health and is linked to a number of health complications and chronic diseases. Communicating effectively with the public, especially at-risk populations, to reduce their exposure to this environmental pollutant has become a public health priority. Although wildfire smoke risk communication research has also increased in the past decade, best practice guidance is limited, and most health communications do not adhere to health literacy principles: readability, accessibility, and actionability. This scoping review identifies peer-reviewed studies about wildfire smoke risk communications to identify gaps in research and evaluation of communications and programs that seek to educate the public. METHODS: Four hundred fifty-one articles were identified from Web of Science and PubMed databases. After screening, 21 articles were included in the final sample for the abstraction process and qualitative thematic analysis. Ten articles were based in the US, with the other half in Australia, Canada, Italy, and other countries. Fifteen articles examined communication materials and messaging recommendations. Eight papers described communication delivery strategies. Eleven articles discussed behavior change. Six articles touched on risk communications for vulnerable populations; findings were limited and called for increasing awareness and prioritizing risk communications for at-risk populations. RESULTS: This scoping review found limited studies describing behavior change to reduce wildfire smoke exposure, characteristics of effective communication materials and messaging, and communication delivery strategies. Literature on risk communications, dissemination, and behavior change for vulnerable populations was even more limited. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations include providing risk communications that are easy-to-understand and adapted to specific needs of at-risk groups. Communications should provide a limited number of messages that include specific actions for avoiding smoke exposure. Effective communications should use mixed media formats and a wide variety of dissemination strategies. There is a pressing need for more intervention research and effectiveness evaluation of risk communications about wildfire smoke exposure, and more development and dissemination of risk communications for both the general public and vulnerable populations.


Subject(s)
Environmental Pollutants , Fires , Health Communication , Wildfires , Humans , Smoke/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/prevention & control , Fires/prevention & control
14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38234161

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the association between earthquakes and adverse perinatal outcomes is limited. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between earthquakes and perinatal outcomes including preterm birth and low birth weight. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched studies using MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Platform Search Portal, and ClinicalTrials.gov on February 9, 2023. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included before-and-after studies that evaluated the associations between earthquakes and perinatal outcomes in women living in affected areas. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two independent reviewers extracted data. We calculated the pooled odds ratio (OR) with the random-effects model. We analyzed outcomes in subgroups of Asians and others. We evaluated the certainty of evidence with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. MAIN RESULTS: We included 2 607 405 women in 13 studies. Earthquakes may not increase preterm birth (nine studies, 1 761 760 participants: OR 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98-1.24, low certainty of evidence) or low birth weight (seven studies, 1 753 891 participants: OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.94-1.28, low certainty of evidence). Subgroup analyses showed that earthquakes may be associated with an increase of preterm birth among populations in Asia (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.07-1.95), but this was not evident in others (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.83-1.05). CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal outcomes might not change after earthquakes. Further research on the association between earthquakes and perinatal outcomes, combined with an assessment of the characteristics of the region, is needed.

15.
Aerosp Med Hum Perform ; 95(2): 101-112, 2024 Feb 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38263111

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Migraine is a common condition that can carry considerable risk to aeromedical duties. Because randomized controlled trials are not an appropriate method to evaluate flight safety risk for medical conditions that may cause subtle or sudden incapacitation, the determination of fitness-to-fly must be based on risk assessments informed by extrapolated evidence. Therefore, we conducted a review of current literature to provide background information to inform the aeromedical risk assessment of migraine using a risk matrix approach.METHODS: We identified studies on topics pertinent to conducting an aeromedical risk assessment of migraine. We generated an overview of the literature synthesizing the findings of articles retrieved from searches of Scopus, Ovid, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library published in English from all years, in both general and aircrew populations. International headache and neurology guidelines, as well as headache policies from the U.S. Air Force, were also reviewed.RESULTS: This review includes information on the following topics relevant to conducting an evidence-based risk assessment of migraine: diagnosis, prevalence, incidence, natural course, clinical presentation, triggers, comorbidities, neuroimaging, implications of family history, and efficacy of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies.DISCUSSION: This review summarizes current literature on migraine for use in a risk matrix approach to the aeromedical assessment of migraine in prospective and current aircrew. Awareness of the most current epidemiological data related to a variety of migraine parameters facilitates an evidence-based risk assessment of migraine in aircrew and requires iterative updates as new information becomes available.Mainland RL, Skinner CR, Saary J. Aeromedical risk of migraine. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(2):101-112.


Subject(s)
Air Ambulances , Migraine Disorders , Humans , Prospective Studies , Headache , Exercise
16.
Minerva Anestesiol ; 2024 Jan 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38270922

ABSTRACT

Pain is widely studied and is considered a major clinical, social, and economic problem worldwide, although it remains poorly understood. For disaster victims, the complex picture, biologically, psychologically, and socially, only makes the situation even more complicated. This narrative review aims to describe specific aspects of pain and pain management in disaster victims. We reviewed relevant literature, both on pain management and selected specific data related to conflict victims. We discuss the complexity of the picture, its different aspects, and mechanisms. We discuss the limitations of current approaches and propose a simple strategy, including mitigation plans, all illustrated by a case study based on a personal experience in the Gaza Strip in 2022. The vulnerability factors are well known, as well as the tangle of intense acute pain and the persistence of pain in the subacute and chronic phase. However, the management of acute pain is, in a disaster context, more constrained than chosen. Empirical evidence suggests a focus on modifiable risk factors as well as the evaluation of strategies guiding future management. This management may depend on obstacles and barriers, linked to the context of the disaster, the availability of medicines, techniques, skills as well as linguistic and cultural barriers. Our proposal includes systematic assessment and, in a later phase, tailored and personalized treatment. In the chronic phase of rehabilitation and follow-ups, the essential place for management of psychological and social aspects become predominant. In disaster areas, including during and after conflict, the management, and recommendations for the management of acute and chronic pain are complex, distinct but interdependent. Acute pain must be systematically assessed and treated while personalized care pathways are desirable at a later stage. Psychological and social considerations are essential. Data collection should be systematically considered.

17.
Risk Anal ; 44(1): 203-228, 2024 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37121578

ABSTRACT

To assess the economic ripple effect, this study integrates agent-based modeling (ABM) with a multiregional input-output (MRIO) table to develop an assessment model that considers capacity recovery process. The intermediate and final demands in the MRIO table are used to describe the agents' interdependence. Survival analysis is used to construct capacity rate curves. By defining the first- and second-order ripple effects, ABM is used to capture the ripple process in days. To conduct a case study, the service and retail sectors in Enshi in Hubei, China, are selected as disaster-affected sectors (they were severely affected by the July 17, 2020 flood disaster). The main findings are as follows: (1) With the first-order ripple effect, the losses caused by service and retail are concentrated within Enshi. Enshi's final demand, construction, and raw materials manufacturing sectors as well as Wuhan's construction sector are seriously affected. (2) With the second-order ripple effect, the losses caused by the service and retail sectors expand, forming a prominent industrial ripple chain: "service (retail)-raw materials manufacturing-construction." (3) The direct and indirect losses caused by the service sector are more significant than those caused by the retail sector. However, the loss ratio of the service sector is smaller than that of the retail sector because of its sound industrial structure and strong resilience. Hence, the indirect losses caused by different sectors are not entirely determined by their direct losses; instead, they are also related to the degree of perfection of the structures of different sectors.

18.
Integr Environ Assess Manag ; 20(2): 533-546, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37462252

ABSTRACT

Industrial disasters have caused hazardous air pollution and public health impacts. Response officials have developed limited exposure guidelines to direct them during the event; often, guidelines are outdated and may not represent relevant elevated-exposure periods. The 2019 Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) fire in Houston, Texas led to large-scale releases of benzene and presented a public health threat. This incident highlights the need for effective response and nimble, rapid public health communication. We developed a data-driven visualization tool to store, display, and interpret ambient benzene concentrations to assist health officials during environmental emergencies. Guidance values to interpret risk from acute exposure to benzene were updated using recent literature that also considers exposure periodicity. The visualization platform can process data from different sampling instruments and air monitors automatically, and displays information publicly in real time, along with the associated risk information and action recommendations. The protocol was validated by applying it retrospectively to the ITC event. The new guidance values are 6-30 times lower than those derived by the Texas regulatory agency. Fixed-site monitoring data, assessed using the protocol and revised thresholds, indicated that eight shelter-in-place and 17 air-quality alerts may have been considered. At least one of these shelter-in-place alerts corresponded to prolonged, elevated benzene concentrations (~1000 ppb). This new tool addresses essential gaps in the timely communication of air pollution measurements, provides context to understand potential health risks from exposure to benzene, and provides a clear protocol for local officials in responding to industrial air releases of benzene. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:533-546. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).


Subject(s)
Air Pollutants , Disasters , Air Pollutants/analysis , Texas , Benzene/analysis , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Data Visualization , Retrospective Studies
19.
J Public Health Manag Pract ; 30(1): 130-132, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37713642

ABSTRACT

When rural communities are faced with an emergency or disaster, their capacity to support the response is often exceeded. The NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis and the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) developed the Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response Toolkit (the Toolkit) to support rural communities with disaster planning, response, and recovery. The Toolkit provides information drawn from literature, subject matter experts, and case studies and shares key considerations for emergency preparedness. This article highlights the development of and key insights from the Toolkit, including preparedness frameworks, population considerations, plan and assessment examples, and funding support. Investing in emergency preparedness is vital for rural communities and this Toolkit offers strategies and best practices for each phase of a disaster.


Subject(s)
Disaster Planning , Rural Population , Humans , Rural Health
20.
J Educ Health Promot ; 12: 367, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38144016

ABSTRACT

Disasters create a large amount of human needs. Health services in natural disasters are considered the main factor of human survival. The present study was conducted to determine the method of providing health services to at-risk groups during natural events such as earthquakes in 2022. This systematic review was conducted based on English and Persian studies published in Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, and PubMed databases, as well as internal databases including SID, Magiran in the fields of title, abstract, and keywords such as natural disaster, earthquake, health services, mental health services, psychosocial support system, nursing services, relief, mental and physical health, and its MeSH equivalents with all of the possible combinations. Finally, 11 studies were identified as eligible among the 48 ones found in the initial search. To examine the quality of studies, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and STROBE evaluation checklists were used. Based on the results, 1834 studies were found after screening and investigating the inclusion criteria, among which 237 and 1549 were excluded due to repetition and unrelated titles, respectively. Then, 48 studies remained after reviewing their abstracts, resulting in including 11 in English (N = 10) and Persian (N = 1) from different countries during 2003-2020. The reviewed studies included semi-experimental and experimental (N = 5) and descriptive ones (N = 6). A large number of studies (N = 21) were related to providing services in the event of multiple disasters and were excluded. About 92% (N = 10) of the studies were conducted in English and more than 90% were related to providing services after the earthquake including providing mental health services (N = 6), the cognitive behavioral intervention (N = 3), rapid assessment of needs (N = 1), as well as mental health services and disaster education (N = 1). The vast majority of studies demonstrated improvement in psychosocial functioning, facilitation of children's normal development, and successful adaptive functioning with an intervention. Based on the results, mental health training affects more when local people are trained to assess the victims based on mental and psychological status. Earthquake is regarded as an opportunity that allows professionals to discover and introduce intervention combination modules to provide mental health services while helping victims who need emotional support and comfort. However, various types of services should be provided, especially in earthquake-prone areas before and after the earthquake in order to achieve a life with fewer complications and a higher quality considering the amount of trouble created by such disaster as a special condition.

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