Browsing by Subject "Prevalence"

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Background: Torque Teno Virus (TTV) is ubiquitous, possibly zoonotic, and has potential for clinical and global health research application. The goals of the current study were to determine prevalence of TTV among pneumonia patients in two Malaysian hospitals, compare results from qPCR and conventional PCR detection methods, and to compare TTV infection against self-reported exposure to bushmeat products.

Methods: Medical officers obtained plasma, PBMC, and NP swab samples, along with bushmeat exposure information from 34 pneumonia patients in Sibu and Kapit hospitals. Samples were tested for TTV using qPCR. Results were corroborated using conventional PCR. Cornfield’s and McNemar’s exact methods were used to analyze infection by exposure, and agreement between PCR results respectively. Diagnostic abilities of the qPCR test were analyzed using conventional PCR as the gold standard.

Results: Conventional PCR reported 17.65% TTV prevalence, while qPCR reported 91.18%. Household size (OR=0.00, 95% CI=0.00, 0.96) and gender (OR=infinity, 95% CI=1.39, infinity) had statistically significant impacts on odds of infection. The qPCR method showed 100% sensitivity, but 7.69% specificity.

Conclusions: Results suggest low prevalence of TTV within the study population, and reaffirm findings by other researchers that smaller household size and being female are associated with decreased odds of TTV infection. Though statistically insignificant, indications that exposure to bushmeat in general increases odds of TTV infection should be investigated further. Researchers must be aware of differences in diagnostic capabilities between PCR methods for TTV detection when designing their own diagnostic studies or conducting TTV related literature reviews.

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Problem and Purpose: Arab adolescents are considered a particularly vulnerable population to depression. The substantial lack of mental health services and the stigma associated with mental illness on the one hand; and poverty, unemployment, and lack of reasonable hopes for a decent future in the context of corruption of regimes and perceived social injustice on the other, call for establishing committed and effective policies to tackle depression and its associated stigma among Arab adolescents at risk for or diagnosed with depression. However, there is a substantial lack of research that can inform the current profile of adolescent depression in the Arab region. We conducted two systematic reviews on Adolescent depression and mental illness stigma in the Arab region and found that there is currently no solid evidence available on the prevalence of depression among Arab adolescents and its potential associations with depression stigma and help-seeking beliefs and intentions. This gap in the literature makes it difficult to design, implement, and disseminate effective interventions to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adolescent depression. Therefore, the overarching purpose of this study was to estimate a prevalence of depression symptoms among Arab adolescents, and determine relationships with depression stigma, depression etiologic beliefs, and likelihood to seek help for depression.

Methods: This study was conducted in Jordan, a Middle Eastern Arab country. A pilot study with a sample of 88 Jordanian adolescents was first conducted to assess the feasibility of collaboration and coordination with the proposed recruitment sites; assess proposed recruitment strategies; confirm the utility of the translated self-reported measures and examining their psychometric properties; and obtaining preliminary findings. Based on the lessons learned from this pilot study, we designed a nationally representative, school-based survey. Data were collected from 2,349 adolescents aged 12-17, using a packet of self-administered questionnaires that included measures on sociodemographic and health history, depression severity, depression stigma, depression etiologic beliefs, and likelihood to seek help for depression. A passive consenting procedure was used to obtain parental consents, while returning the survey questionnaires was considered a tacit assent for the adolescents. The study obtained the needed Institutional Review Board approvals from both Duke University and the University of Jordan. Participants represented all three regions in the country, with 34% from the northern (suburban) region, 43% from the central (urban) region, and 23% from the southern (rural) region.

Results: The majority of the adolescents were females (59%) and 15-17 years old (67%). Almost 14% reported having at least one chronic health problem, 15% reported having a mental health problem, 25% reported having academic difficulties, 8% reported that they had received a psychiatric diagnosis, and 22% reported that they had sought psychological help at some point in the past. The mean total depression score was 16.3 (SD=11.2, 95% CI=15.8 to 16.7), with 34% of the sample reporting moderate to severe depression. Depression was significantly higher among respondents who were female, ages 14-15 years, and living in families with monthly incomes less than JD300 (USD 423); and who reported having a chronic health problem, mental health problem, learning difficulty, a psychiatric diagnosis and/or seeking previous psychological help. Adolescents endorsed multiple etiological factors for depression. The most often reported factors were stressful events in one’s life (72%), social factors (65%), and one’s weak will (56%). On the other hand, the least reported factors were genetic or inherited problems (24%), chemical imbalance (30%), and punishment for wrong doings (35%). Adolescents were more likely to seek help for depression from a family member (57%), followed by a counselor (46%), psychiatrist (43%), religious leader (39%), and general practitioner (28%). In addition, 53% of the adolescents reported they will be willing to take medications for depression, while 50% expressed willingness to seek a therapy, and 25% of the adolescents reported they will not be willing to seek any professional help for depression. Almost half of the adolescents agreed on items that reflect stigmatizing attitudes towards depression. Adolescents reported higher rates of perceived depression stigma than personal depression stigma. Depression stigma was not significantly associated with the adolescent’s severity of depression, but with adolescent’s sex, age, region of residence, parents’ education, and history of mental health problem.

Conclusions: This study revealed alarming results in terms of the current high prevalence and social determinants of adolescent depression in Jordan. The study also shed light on how depression stigma manifests among Jordanian adolescents and how such stigma relates to their beliefs about depression and likelihood to seek professional psychological help. We discuss how healthcare providers, researchers, and educators can focus attention on developing effective and culturally appropriate screening, prevention, and intervention approaches using evidence-based guidelines to promote Jordanian adolescent mental health, particularly for depression. This approach will be important not only for Jordan, but for all of the Arab region, given that many of the Arab countries have been witnessing years of mass violence, armed conflicts, and war. The study also provides important recommendations on when, how, and why to utilize school settings for anti-depression stigma interventions. Overall, findings from this study provide a solid, culturally competent foundation from which to conduct future research to tackle depression and its associated stigma, and reflect the unique characteristics of Arab culture.

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