Blended learning is a hybrid of classroom and on-line learning that includes some of the conveniences of on-line courses without the complete loss of face-to-face tact. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate student achievement and satisfaction with blended learning course delivery compared to a traditional face-to-face class format in a general health course. Method: Surveys were distributed to randomly selected classes during the fall 2007 semester: three blended and one traditional sections participated (n=251). Results: Total satisfaction scores between blended (54.986) and traditional (49.788) classes were significantly different (p< 0.01). Achievement by students of blended and traditional sections brought mixed findings, yet blended students’ overall grades were significantly higher (p=0.048). Conclusion: Results indicated that a blended course delivery is preferred over a traditional lecture format, and promising data emerged to challenge teachers’ traditional approach to teaching general health courses at the university level.

This study quantifies the transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2 across public health districts in Georgia, USA, and tests if per capita cumulative case count varies across counties. To estimate the time-varying reproduction number, R_t of SARS-CoV-2 in Georgia and its 18 public health districts, we apply the R package ‘EpiEstim’ to the time series of historical daily incidence of confirmed cases, 2 March–15 December 2020. The epidemic curve is shifted backward by nine days to account for the incubation period and delay to testing. Linear regression is performed between log₁₀-transformed per capita cumulative case count and log₁₀-transformed population size. We observe R_t fluctuations as state and countywide policies are implemented. Policy changes are associated with increases or decreases at different time points. R_t increases, following the reopening of schools for in-person instruction in August. Evidence suggests that counties with lower population size had a higher per capita cumulative case count on June 15 (slope = −0.10, p = 0.04) and October 15 (slope = −0.05, p = 0.03), but not on August 15 (slope = −0.04, p = 0.09), nor December 15 (slope = −0.02, p = 0.41). We found extensive community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 across all 18 health districts in Georgia with median 7-day-sliding window R_t estimates between 1 and 1.4 after March 2020.

Background: Caregivers of asthmatic children have a poor knowledge of proper asthma-management practices in Nigeria. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors of caregivers in the management of asthma in children under 5 years of age in Oyo State, Nigeria. Methods: While a mixed method was used in the original research, this brief describes the quantitative method used in this study to evaluate caregivers’ asthma-management practices. A 55-item questionnaire on childhood asthma knowledge, attitude, and practice was administered during child welfare-clinic visits to 118 caregivers. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Version 25.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and 95% CI. Result: More than 70% of caregivers knew that asthma is associated with airway inflammation and about 90% knew that flu infections triggered asthma attacks in their children. Caregivers with a higher income (OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.558–5.778; p = 0.001) were 3.0 times more likely to practice proper asthma-care behavior than those with a lesser income. Conclusions: Childhood asthma remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in Nigeria. An optimal public health approach is needed to identify and target underserved communities that suffer poorer asthma outcomes and to improve caregivers’ knowledge and practices of asthma management.

Objective: Long-term immunity acquired maternally against infectious pathogens has been reported in animal studies, but epidemiological evidence remains lacking. To assess long-term maternal immunity in humans against infectious pathogens, we examined COVID-19 disease burden in communities with varying breastfeeding practices. Methods: Using data from 159 counties in Georgia, the United States, from March 1, 2020, through February 28, 2022, we calculated the daily incidence, mortality, and fatality rates of COVID-19 and estimated rate ratios (RRs) in counties with low (<62%, n = 36) and moderate breastfeeding initiation rates (BFIRs) (62–79%, n = 81) compared to counties with high BFIRs (≥79%, n = 42) adjusted for counties’ sociodemographic and quantified indicators of public health interventions. Results: More than 80% of 2 million cases involved individuals aged 18 or older. The daily incidence and mortality curves in the counties with high BFIRs lagged 2 weeks behind those in the counties with low BFIRs. Daily mortality reached 10 deaths per million during every major surge in low BFIR counties, but in high BFIR counties, this occurred only during the 2020–2021 winter spike. Compared to high BFIR counties, counties with low BFIRs had a daily incident RR of 2.95 (95% CI = 1.11, 6.00) in rural counties and 1.45 (1.03, 2.04) in urban counties on February 28, 2022, the cutoff date. Conclusions: A significantly higher COVID-19 incidence occurred in low BFIR counties compared to that in high BFIR counties. Breastfeeding may confer long-term immunity against emerging infectious pathogens by enhancing an individual’s biological immunity or strengthening the community’s social defense.

Background: Caregivers of asthmatic children have poor knowledge of proper asthma man-agement practices in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors of caregivers in the management of asthma in children under age 5 in Oyo State, Nigeria, using the Health Belief Model. Methods: While a mixed method was used in the original research, this brief describes the quantitative method used in this study to evaluate caregiver’s asthma management practices A 55-item questionnaire investigating childhood asthma knowledge, attitude, and practice was administered during child welfare clinic visits to 118 caregivers. To gain insights into caregivers’ beliefs about asthma management practice behavior, focus group discussions were conducted among two groups of 10 caregivers. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Version 25.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and 95% CI. Result: More than 70% of caregivers knew that asthma is associated with airway inflammation and about 90% knew that Flu infections triggered asthma attacks in their children. Overall, 70% of caregivers from the focus group discussions found preventive measures including avoidance of common triggers like dust and smoke, wearing warm clothes in cold weather, environmental sanitation, regular visits to the clinic, and medication adherence helpful. Similarly, caregivers reported the use of quick-to-relieve OTC drugs rather than seeking medical attention. Caregivers with higher income (OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.558-5.778; P = 0.001) were 3.0 times more likely to practice proper asthma behavior than those with a lesser income. Conclusion: Despite having moderate knowledge of asthma, caregivers of asthmatic children had wrong perceptions and inadequate knowledge about preventive and treatment options. An optimal public health approach is needed to identify and target underserved communities that suffer poorer asthma outcomes and improve caregivers’ knowledge and skills in asthma management practices. The need to pay more attention to the proper management of childhood asthma among caregivers in underserved populations cannot be overemphasized.