Mentor Communication (Sweden)

Schistosomiasis (SCH) and soil transmitted helminthiases (STH) have been historically recognized as a major public health problem in Angola. However, lack of reliable, country wide prevalence data on these diseases has been a major hurdle to plan and implement programme actions to target these diseases. This study aimed to characterize SCH and STH prevalence and distribution in Angola. A country wide mapping was conducted in October 2018 (1 province) and from July to December 2019 (14 provinces) in school aged (SAC) children in 15 (of 18) provinces in Angola, using WHO protocols and procedures. A total of 640 schools and an average of 50 students per school (N = 31,938 children) were sampled. Stool and urine samples were collected and processed using the Kato-Katz method and Urine Filtration. Prevalence estimates for SCH and STH infections were calculated for each province and district with 95% confidence intervals. Factors associated with SCH and STH infection, respectively, were explored using multivariable logistic regression accounting for clustering by school. Of the 131 districts surveyed, 112 (85.5%) are endemic for STH, 30 (22.9%) have a prevalence above 50%, 24 (18.3%) are at moderate risk (prevalence 20%-50%), and 58 (44.3%) are at low risk (<20% prevalence); similarly, 118 (90,1%) of surveyed districts are endemic for any SCH, 2 (1.5%) are at high risk (>50% prevalence), 59 (45.0%) are at moderate risk (10%-50% prevalence), and 57 (43.5%) are at low risk (<10% prevalence). There were higher STH infection rates in the northern provinces of Malanje and Lunda Norte, and higher SCH infection rates in the southern provinces of Benguela and Huila. This mapping exercise provides essential information to Ministry of Health in Angola to accurately plan and implement SCH and STH control activities in the upcoming years. Data also provides a useful baseline contribution for Angola to track its progress towards the 2030 NTD roadmap targets set by WHO.

In den ländlichen Gebieten von Äthiopien besteht aufgrund der schlecht ausgebauten Infrastruktur ein stark eingeschränkter Zugang zum Gesundheitswesen für Mutter und Kind. Das TEMACC-Forschungsprojekt zielt darauf ab, das Potenzial von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT) für die ländliche Entwicklung zu untersuchen und Tools zur Verfügung zu stellen. Ziel ist die Entwicklung einer Serviceplattform, die es einerseits Müttern ermöglicht, Gesundheit-Informationen einfach zu erhalten, ohne lange Strecken zurücklegen zu müssen. Weiterhin soll die Kommunikation im End Glied der Gesundheitsversorger zur nächsten Versorgungsstufe vor Ort gverbessert werden, welche bis dato nur in einem wöchentlichen Treffen stattfindet. Primärer Endpunkt ist die Verbesserung der Gesundheitsversorgung von Müttern und Kindern.

Purpose: The purpose of this semicontrolled prospective study was to report on the outcomes of 10 Swedish-speaking children treated with the Lidcombe Program and how the parents viewed the treatment. Method: Ten children at an age from 2:9 to 5:8 (years:months) referred to two clinics for communication disorders were consecutively included in the study. The children had been stuttering for 0:9 to 3:3 with a mean stuttering frequency of 10.1% syllables stuttered (%SS; 0.8–33.9) before treatment. Parents and teachers filled out questionnaires concerning the children’s speech and the parents also answered questions on their views on the program. Results: Eight children completed the program and were reassessed upon completion of the program, about 2 years after progressing to stage 2. There was a significant decrease in mean %SS before and after treatment (7.6 vs. 0.1%, respectively) with a large Cohen effect size (d = 2.9). Parents and teachers found that the treatment had a positive effect on the children’s stuttering and all parents would recommend the Lidcombe Program to other families. Conclusion: The results of this preliminary study suggest that the Lidcombe Program can be an effective treatment for Swedish-speaking preschool children who stutter.