ISCIII - Artículos
Recent Submissions
Deletion patterns, genetic variability and protein structure of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3: implications for malaria rapid diagnostic test in Amhara region, Ethiopia
Background: Although rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) play a key role in malaria-control strategies, their efficacy has been threatened by deletion and genetic variability of the genes pfhrp2/3. This study aims to characterize the deletion, genetic patterns and diversity of these genes and their impli...
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Stigma: The Perceptions of Tuberculosis in Equatorial Guinea
Tuberculosis remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in Equatorial Guinea, with an estimated incidence of 280 per 100,000 inhabitants, an estimated mortality rate of 96 per 100,000 inhabitants, and a treatment non-adherence rate of 21.4%. This study aimed to identify the factors ...
Age differences in knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
This study aims at describing the evolution of Spanish population preventive practices during the COVID-19 pandemic of the between January and June 2021, and differences by age group. Data was drawn from the COSMO-Spain online survey, rounds (R) 4, 5 and 6. Multiple linear regression models with pr...
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Spain and associated factors
Introduction: The present study explores the reasons of those who have not been vaccinated in the later stage of the vaccine rollout in Spain and its associated determinants. Methods: Cluster and logistic regression analyses were used to assess differences in claimed reasons for vaccine hesitancy i...
Identification and Distribution of Human-Biting Ticks in Northwestern Spain
Ticks transmit a wide diversity of pathogens to a great variety of hosts, including humans. We conducted a tick surveillance study in northwestern Spain between 2014 and 2019. Ticks were removed from people and identified. Tick numbers, species, development stages, the timeline, seasonal and geogra...
Prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection and associated clinical symptoms among schoolchildren living in different altitudes of Amhara National Regional State, northwest Ethiopia
Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is a parasite that causes strongyloidiasis in humans. It is prevalent in the tropics and sub-tropics where poor sanitation is a common problem. The true prevalence of S. stercoralis in Ethiopia is underestimated due to the lack of a "Gold" standard diagnostic m...
Behavioural insights and the evolving COVID-19 pandemic
Behavioural sciences have complemented medical and epidemiological sciences in the response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. As vaccination uptake continues to increase across the EU/EEA - including booster vaccinations - behavioural science research remains important for both pandemic policy, planning ...
Colorimetric and Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) for Detection of Loa loa DNA in Human Blood Samples
Loiasis, caused by the filarial nematode Loa loa, is endemic in Central and West Africa. Loa loa has been associated with severe adverse reactions in high Loa-infected individuals receiving ivermectin during mass drug administration programs for the control of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasi...
Psychometric Properties of the COVID-19 Pandemic Fatigue Scale: Cross-sectional Online Survey Study
Background: Pandemic fatigue is defined as feelings of demotivation to follow preventive measures against COVID-19, together with decreased trust in government and frequency of information-seeking behaviors. Objective: This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the COVID-19-specific ...
Residents perceptions of the alcohol environment: A participatory photovoice project in two districts with different socio-economic status in a large city
The purpose of this study was to present the alcohol environment as perceived by its residents in two districts of Madrid using the Photovoice participatory methodology. Secondly, we compared the results according to the socio-economic status of the districts. The study was conducted in the city of...
Compliance with the main preventive measures of COVID-19 in Spain: The role of knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perception
In epidemics such as COVID-19, major changes need to be made to the population's behavior to prevent infection and stop disease transmission. The three most recommended preventive measures are wearing a mask, washing hands with soap or hydroalcoholic gel, and watching an interpersonal distance of a...
Availability, Promotion, and Signs of Alcohol Consumption: A Mixed Methods Study of Perceived Exposure and Objective Measures
This study describes the alcohol environment comparing residents' perceptions and objective measures in two different income-level districts. Measures were gathered between 2017 and 2018 in two districts with different income levels in Madrid, Spain. We obtained perceived measures using Photovoice....
Risk Perception among health professionals in the first case of secondary Ebola infection in Spain. Case study
[EN] In 2014, the first case of secondary Ebola infection outside Africa detected in Spain, caused a sense of global threat. This study assess Risk Perception amongst the health personnel and identify the agents that amplified or reduced it. Through a snowball sampling, 5 in-depth interviews were c...
Do agri-food market incentives improve food security and nutrition indicators? a microsimulation evaluation for Kenya
The sustainable development goal #2 aims at ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030. Given the numbers of food insecure and malnourished people on the rise, the heterogeneity of nutritional statuses and needs, and the even worse context of COVID-19 pandemic, this has become an urgent challenge for f...
Evaluation of five diagnostic methods for Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Amhara National Regional State, northwest Ethiopia
Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal parasite that can cause chronic infection, hyperinfection and/or a dissemination syndrome in humans. The use of techniques targeting ova fails to detect S. stercoralis, as only larvae of the parasite are excreted in faeces. Due to the absence o...
Feature importance: Opening a soil-transmitted helminth machine learning model via SHAP
In the field of landscape epidemiology, the contribution of machine learning (ML) to modeling of epidemiological risk scenarios presents itself as a good alternative. This study aims to break with the "black box" paradigm that underlies the application of automatic learning techniques by using SHAP...
Evaluation of LAMP for the diagnosis of Loa loa infection in dried blood spots compared to PCR-based assays and microscopy
Background: Loa loa is a filarial species found exclusively in West and Central Africa. Microscopy is the traditional diagnosis method for human loiasis. Several molecular methods have developed as an alternative approach for identification of L. loa filarial parasites. Objectives: The aim of this ...
Mapping health behaviour related to Chagas diagnosis in a non-endemic country: Application of Andersen's Behavioural Model
Background: Chagas disease has become a challenge for non-endemic countries since population mobility has increased in recent years and it has spread to these regions. In order to prevent vertical transmission and improve the prognosis of the disease, it is important to make an early diagnosis. And...
Barriers and Facilitators for Exclusive Breastfeeding within the Health System and Public Policies from In-Depth Interviews to Primary Care Midwives in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)
The aim of this study is to describe the perspectives of Primary Care midwives regarding factors that benefit or are detrimental to exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) within the health system and public policies. The study was carried out in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) and is based on qualitative m...
Temporal evolution of the resistance genotypes of Plasmodium falciparum in isolates from Equatorial Guinea during 20 years (1999 to 2019)
Background: Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, particularly in Africa. As such, resistance to anti-malarial drugs is one of the most important problems in terms of global malaria control. This study assesses the evolution of the different resistance markers over time and the pos...