Search Results (43)

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) globally, linked to severe complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. In the Brazilian Amazon, socioeconomic vulnerability and the absence of screening policies exacerbate risks, particularly among female sex workers (FSWs). Objective: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of anti-C. trachomatis IgG antibodies among FSWs in five municipalities of Pará State, Brazilian Amazon, and identify epidemiological factors associated with infection. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study (2005–2007) included 348 FSWs recruited via convenience sampling. Sociodemographic and behavioral data were collected through questionnaires, and blood samples were analyzed by ELISA for anti-C. trachomatis IgG. Statistical analyses included Fisher’s exact tests, odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using SPSS 21.0. Results: Overall seroprevalence was 93.9% (327/348; 95% CI: 83.1–90%). Significant associations included a household income of 1–3 minimum wages (98.4%; p = 0.0002), sexual partners from the same region (98.8%; p = 0.0421), and age >42 years (96.3%). Most reported inconsistent condom use (43.7%), multiple monthly partners (54.6%), and illicit drug use (53.4%). Discussion: The extremely high seroprevalence reflects chronic C. trachomatis exposure, driven by socioeconomic deprivation and limited healthcare access. Comparisons with global data underscore the urgent need for screening policies, absent in Brazil for FSWs, and highlight the vulnerability of this population. Conclusions: The findings reveal an alarming burden of C. trachomatis exposure among Amazonian FSWs. Integrated strategies, including routine screening, sexual health education, and inclusion of FSWs in priority health programs, are critical to reduce transmission and associated complications. Full article

Adult entertainment work may be associated with increased vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV. In Brazil, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV infection has been available through the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) since November 2017, representing a significant advancement in public sexual health policy. The objective of this study was to understand the individual and social determinants that promote PrEP use among adult entertainment workers. This was a cross-sectional, analytical, and quantitative study. A multivariate modeling approach was employed to identify factors independently associated with PrEP use. The study included 254 adult entertainment workers using oral PrEP through the SUS, predominantly young adults (141; 55.5%), SUS users (248; 97.6%), single (213; 83.9%), non-white (142; 55.9%), cisgender (148; 58.3%), and heterosexual (152; 59.8%). Factors independently associated with greater PrEP use included having adult entertainment as the main source of income (aPR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.86–3.95), prior use of PEP (aPR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.63–3.81), undergoing any type of health treatment (aPR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.15–2.12), and having a history of STIs (aPR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.10–2.08). Conclusion: PrEP use in this population was strongly influenced by structural and contextual factors, indicating that the availability of the technology alone does not ensure its effectiveness. Full article

Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence and epidemiological changes of major sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Korea over the past decade. Methods: From 2010 to 2021, patients diagnosed with STIs based on ICD-10 codes were analyzed using Korean Health insurance data. The analysis included the number of patients, prevalence, and age-specific prevalence (in 5-year intervals) over this period. We examined changes in disease patterns over time by analyzing the annual trends and age-specific prevalence of bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, mycoplasma, gonorrhea, and syphilis; viral STIs such as genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and other infections including scabies, pubic lice, and trichomoniasis. Results: In 2010, the STI with the highest prevalence due to an infectious pathogen was trichomoniasis (256.65/100,000), while latent syphilis had the lowest prevalence (5.29/100,000). In 2021, the STI with the highest prevalence was genital herpes (254.54 per 100,000 persons), and latent syphilis continued to have the lowest prevalence. Bacterial STIs showed a decreasing trend. Viral STIs showed a continuous increase throughout the study period, with anogenital warts (AGW) having the highest rate of increase. Other infections showed a decreasing trend. HIV and AGW in men showed a rapid increase. Gender differences varied depending on the disease. Conclusions: While bacterial STIs have gradually declined, viral STIs have continued to increase during last decade. The characteristics of each pathogen vary according to age and gender, necessitating the establishment of risk groups for each pathogen and the development of prevention policies accordingly. Full article

Straw incorporation (SI) is a key strategy for promoting sustainable agriculture. It aims to mitigate environmental pollution caused by straw burning and enhances soil organic matter content, which increases crop yields. Consequently, the accurate and efficient monitoring of SI is crucial for promoting sustainable agricultural practices and effective management. In this study, we employed the Google Earth Engine (GEE) to analyze time-series Sentinel-2 data with the Mann–Kendall (MK) algorithm. This approach enabled the extraction and spatial distribution retrieval of SI regions in a representative household mode area in Northeast China. Among the eight tillage indices analyzed, the simple tillage index (STI) exhibited the highest inversion accuracy, with an overall accuracy (OA) of 0.85. Additionally, the bare soil index (BSI) achieved an overall accuracy of 0.84. In contrast, the OA of the remaining indices ranged from 0.28 to 0.47, which were significantly lower than those of the STI and BSI. This difference indicated the limited performance of the other indices in retrieving SI. The high accuracy of the STI is primarily attributed to its reliance on the bands B11 and B12, thereby avoiding potential interference from other spectral bands. The geostatistical analysis of the SI distribution revealed that the SI rate in the household mode area was 36.10% in 2022 in the household mode area. Regions A, B, C, and D exhibited SI rates of 34.76%, 33.05%, 57.88%, and 22.08%, respectively, with SI mainly concentrated in the eastern area of Gongzhuling City. Furthermore, the study investigated the potential impacts of household farming practices and national policies on the outcomes of SI implementation. Regarding state subsidies, the potential returns from SI per hectare of cropland in the study area varied from RMB −65 to 589. This variation indicates the importance of higher subsidies in motivating farmers to adopt SI practices. Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and the MK test were used to effectively monitor SI practices across a large area. Future studies will aim to integrate deep learning techniques to improve retrieval accuracy. Overall, this research presents a novel perspective and approach for monitoring SI practices and provides theoretical insights and data support to promote sustainable agriculture. Full article

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection presents a significant public health challenge globally, particularly in high-burden countries like Nigeria, where an estimated 2.4 million individuals are living with HCV. HCV self-testing (HCVST) can potentially bridge the significant diagnosis gap and help individuals to determine their HCV status in the privacy of their homes. It offers a solution to overcome barriers related to stigma and limited access to healthcare. In Nigeria, Self-testing for hepatitis C has only been implemented in a pilot research context. This study aimed to assess stakeholder and community awareness and perceptions of HCVST in Nigeria. The findings will provide insights that could inform effective policies and future scale-up programs for HCV control. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using an online social media survey administered through SurveyMonkey. The survey was disseminated across social media platforms and groups between October–November 2023. Participants included Nigerians (both health professionals and non-health professionals) aged 18 years or older residing in any of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Data collected include sociodemographic characteristics, awareness and perceptions of HCVST, and perceived benefits and barriers. Results: Of 321 respondents, 94% perceived HCVST as highly important. While 77% of respondents knew about HIVST, only 58% had prior knowledge of HCVST. The analysis also showed that healthcare workers had greater awareness of HIV self-testing (82.3%) compared to non-healthcare workers (50.0%). Most respondents (88%) were highly likely to recommend HCVST and perceived it as a cost-effective alternative to traditional testing. Key perceived benefits included increased disease detection and control (67%), improved access to testing (21%), and reduced stigma (11%). In the unadjusted model, geographical zone (Southern Nigeria: cOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.30–0.77, p = 0.002), work experience (more than 20 years: cOR = 2.79, 95% CI: 1.11–8.07, p = 0.039), and prior awareness of HIV self-testing (cOR = 5.24, 95% CI: 3.00–9.43, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of HCVST awareness. However, in the adjusted model, only prior awareness of HIV self-testing remained significant (aOR = 4.77, 95% CI: 2.62–8.94, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The strong support for HCVST among stakeholders in Nigeria highlights its potential to enhance HCV control, especially within the broader context of infectious diseases like STIs. The greater awareness of HIV self-testing among healthcare workers compared to non-healthcare workers indicates the need for targeted awareness campaigns for non-healthcare populations. Addressing these awareness gaps, leveraging lessons from HIVST, and using existing infrastructure will be crucial. Prioritizing public education, outreach, and effective linkage to care will drive the impact of HCVST in achieving HCV elimination goals and position it as a model for expanding similar STI interventions in Nigeria. Full article

This study investigates the spatial boundaries and mechanisms of the effect of scientific and technological innovation (STI) on high-quality agricultural development (HQA) to enhance agricultural practices. By employing a double-fixed spatial Durbin model and analyzing panel data from 167 prefectural-level cities in major grain-producing regions spanning from 2004 to 2021, we revealed significant spatiotemporal variations in the impact of STI on HQA in both local and adjacent cities. Our findings remained robust after rigorous testing. The study identified the spillover range of STI to be 420 km, displaying a distinctive inverted U-shaped trend around 170 km. Mechanism analysis indicates that both agricultural industry upgrades and human capital levels within 420 km amplify the influence of STI on local HQA, with only the latter demonstrating spillover effects. Within 170 km, both factors effectively regulate HQA in adjacent cities, while beyond this distance, only human capital regulatory impact continues to exhibit spillover effects. These insights offer theoretical guidance for designing effective agricultural scientific and technology promotion policies aimed at elevating the quality of HQA. Full article

In China, an emerging social issue involves a subset of rural women who, because of family and culture, become inadvertently matched up with and married to closeted men who have sex with men (MSM). These women—referred to as Tongqi—often discover they are in a loveless marriage, but any effort to change their situation results in intense backlash, discrimination, and stigma from families, village communities, and even government and healthcare institutions. This study explores the experiences of Tongqi, examining the influence of social interaction, community relationships, and macrostructural factors that coalesce to create an environment of chronic enacted stigma. In-depth interviews were conducted with 59 rural Tongqi, 11 of whom contracted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) from their spouses. The findings reveal the significant role of extended kinship networks and macrostructural elements, such as hukou (household registration) and government officers, as well as village-level lineage structures. Informant data highlights how lineage relationships, interwoven with gender practices, contribute to the enacted stigma impacting the physical and psychological health of Tongqi. Tongqi report psychological effects such as an array of symptoms reflecting post-traumatic stress, chronic depression, and attempted suicide. Tongqi also report adverse physical health concerns involving reproductive health, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and pregnancy complications. These findings helped produce possible policy recommendations to address the most pressing issues faced by Tongqi. Full article

Background: Syphilis remains a significant global public health issue, and female sex workers (FSWs) are highly vulnerable to the etiological agent of this disease. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of exposure to Treponema pallidum, as well as the vulnerability factors among FSWs in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective study involving 360 FSWs from five cities in Pará was conducted from 2005 to 2007. Blood samples were collected for treponemal and non-treponemal testing, and epidemiological information was obtained through interviews. Results: The exposure rate to T. pallidum was 37.7% (136/360), and the majority of FSWs had serological results indicating past exposure (21.1%). Among the FSWs exposed to T. pallidum, most of them were single, aged 23 to 42 years old, had less than 8 years of schooling, and had a family income of between 1 and 3 minimum wages. They reported using condoms during sexual intercourse and had no history of sexually transmitted infection (STI). Furthermore, many of the FSWs exposed to T. pallidum reported having more than 20 sexual partners per month, and had partners from other Brazilian states, but not from other countries. An age over 42 years and a reduced level of education were factors associated with exposure to T. pallidum. Finally, a high rate of exposure to T. pallidum among FSWs in the Brazilian state of Pará (from 2005 to 2007) was detected. In later years, epidemiological studies conducted with FSWs recorded that this rate remained high. Measures to control, treat, and prevent syphilis among FSWs were necessary between 2005 and 2007, and they are still imperative today. Actions related to educational programs and STI control, treatment, and prevention measures contained in Brazilian policies aimed at women’s health have not changed the vulnerability scenario of FSWs regarding their exposure to T. pallidum, even after 16 years, and must be reviewed and adapted to the conditions of the Brazilian Amazon. Full article

This paper looks into the determinants of national innovation performance from the perspective of policy regime and establishes a theoretical model on how a country’s dual Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy regimes, democratic and meritocratic, and national absorptive capacity (NAC) jointly determine its national innovation performance. A democratic STI policy regime promotes innovation through channels of freedom, social equality, and public participation. A meritocratic STI policy regime promotes innovation through channels of good governance and rational policymaking. The model further proposes that the relationships between STI policy regimes and national innovation performance are moderated by potential NAC (PNAC) and realized NAC (RNAC) in opposing directions. The fixed-effects panel regression of OECD countries confirms that both democratic and meritocratic STI policy regimes have positive effects on national innovation performance. Moreover, the democratic effect is positively moderated by PNAC but negatively moderated by RNAC. In contrast, the meritocratic effect is positively moderated by RNAC but negatively moderated by PNAC. The major contribution of this paper is to highlight the importance of a country’s STI policy regimes as the bedrock and NAC as the leverage to generate more homegrown innovations. Full article

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) research is essential for the development of population-tailored evidence-based policies and programs that support sexual health among adolescent girls. However, ethical challenges create barriers to girls’ participation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). From February to September 2019, girls aged 16–20 (n = 30) who participated in the Jovenes Sanos study in Tijuana, Baja California (ClinicalTrials: NCT03660514) responded to in-depth interviews (IDs) on the perceived risks and benefits of participating in studies which address gender-based violence, unintended pregnancy, and STIs. Emergent themes indicated the need to ensure that consent and incentive procedures are tailored to the developmental level of participants, while highlighting the importance of researcher–participant relationships, and demonstrating how research can serve as an opportunity to empower girls to express their sexual health medical needs. Understanding adolescent girls’ voices is a critical step in ensuring that consent to participate SRH research is tailored to the developmental needs of participants, is culturally competent, and has a participant-centered approach. Full article

Scientific and technological innovation (STI) is an important internal driver of social and economic development. Reasonable evaluation of regional scientific and technological innovation (RSTI) capability helps discover shortcomings in the development of urban development and guides the allocation of scientific and technological resources and the formulation of policies to promote innovation. This paper analyzes new opportunities created by big data and artificial intelligence for the evaluation of RSTI capability, and based on this analysis, the collaborative evaluation schemes of multi-entity participation are investigated. In addition, considering the important value of unstructured data in evaluating STI, the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic model and sentiment analysis method are employed to analyze the construction of an evaluation indicator system that integrates scientific and technological news data. To fully utilize the respective advantages of human experts and machine learning in the field of complex issue evaluation, this paper proposes an RSTI capability evaluation model based on AHP-SMO human-machine fusion. This study promotes the integration of science and technology and economy and has theoretical and practical significance. Full article

Mpox caused a worldwide outbreak in 2022, disproportionately affecting MSM reporting high-risk sexual behaviors. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of people receiving MVA-BN vaccination with those of individuals diagnosed with mpox to guide future vaccination policies. This was a retrospective study on people with mpox infection or vaccination at San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy, from May to November 2022. Characteristics were compared using Mann–Whitney or chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests; multivariable logistic regression and classification tree analysis were applied. Overall, 473 vaccinated individuals and 135 with mpox were included; 472/473 and 134/135 were MSM. People with mpox were more frequently living with HIV (48.9% vs. 22.4%, p < 0.001), had ≥1 previous STI (75.6% vs. 35.7%, p < 0.001), were chemsex users (37.8% vs. 6.34%, p < 0.001), were with a higher number of partners (23.0% vs. 1.69%, p < 0.001), and had engaged in group sex (55.6% vs. 24.1%, p < 0.001). At multivariable analysis, PLWH (aOR = 2.86, 95%CI = 1.59–5.19, p < 0.001), chemsex users (aOR = 2.96, 95%CI = 1.52–5.79, p = 0.001), those with previous syphilis (aOR = 4.11, 95%CI = 2.22–7.72, p < 0.001), and those with >10 partners (aOR = 11.56, 95%CI = 6.60–21.09, p < 0.001) had a higher risk of infection. This study underscores the importance of prioritizing MSM with prior STIs and multiple partners as well as chemsex users in vaccination policies to curb mpox spread. A destigmatized assessment of sexual history is vital for comprehensive sexual health strategies. Full article

A firm’s sustainable technological innovation (STI) is an important strategy to cope with the global challenges of the climate emergency and resource constraints. To encourage firms to pursue sustainable innovation, the government put its efforts into designing a proper environmental policy (EP). According to Porter’s hypothesis, a well-designed and flexible EP will advance the pace of a firm’s innovation. This paper argues that a flexible EP portfolio combining market and non-market-based EP instruments may affect a firm’s STI. Market-based EP instruments are cost-effective and consistent from a long-term view, whereas non-market-based EP instruments are more forceful and effective in the short term. Hence, these two kinds of EP instruments could complement each other. Furthermore, technical executives in top management teams will moderate the relationships between EP instruments and firms’ STI. Data analysis results of 618 Chinese public firms, who constantly participated in R&D activities during 2015–2019, supported these hypotheses. Contributions to EP and firm innovation theory, as well as suggestions for policymakers and firms’ top management teams, are discussed. Full article

This study aims to empirically investigate the effect of Science, Technology, and Innovation Official Development Assistance (STI ODA) on the innovative capacity of developing countries. Particularly, this study attempted to examine the moderating effects of R&D investment and its effect on innovative capacity. To do this, a panel fixed model analysis was carried out with ODA and macroeconomic data on 84 developing countries from 2002 to 2018. The findings indicated that STI ODA was found to have no direct positive effect on innovative capacity. However, it had a positive effect on innovative capacity when the moderating effect of R&D investment was significant and when the proportion of R&D investment increased. The findings of this study serve as a guide for policymakers in terms of having better understanding of the relationship between STI ODA, R&D investment, and innovative capacity. Hence, policy makers and practitioners are able to design a good policy to be adopted such that absorptive capacity should be prioritized for STI ODA to be effective in helping developing countries to escape poverty and achieve sustainable development goals. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind to analyze the moderating effect of R&D investment on the relationship between STI ODA and innovative capacity in a developing country context. Full article

This research aims to identify typologies of companies willing to cooperate with universities to foster knowledge co-creation and ease knowledge transfer to students within courses, training, communities of practises, etc., regardless of the business sector they are active in. To implement the research scope, we rely on the qualitative comparative analysis method (QCA). Interactions between causal factors within the university–industry relations, and knowledge co-creation have been examined. The results obtained indicate two typologies. Type 1 includes companies oriented towards supporting interactions with universities based on education, research, student placements, training, and community services such as consultancy, and product development. These acknowledge both the necessity of creating platforms to establish more ties with universities and the importance of alumni connections to develop effective campus management. Type 2 includes companies that are not interested in understanding or supporting the mission of universities in society, not developing ties with universities, and generating only a superficial interaction, which hinders their involvement in the creation of knowledge with universities. From a managerial perspective, this paper highlights the relationship between universities and industry and how this could contribute to increased resilience for a society facing unexpected challenges, such as the global crisis related to COVID-19 and the present state of international political instability. Full article