Correct procedures and cutting corners: a qualitative study of women's occupational health and safety in a beauty therapy industry

Prevalence and Identification of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Genospecies in Ticks from Northeastern China

Lyme disease is considered as one of important tick-transmitted zoonosis in northeastern China, where the causative agents, the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, remain poorly characterized. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence and genospecies of B. burgdorferi s.l. in ticks in northeastern China. In May, 2015, a total of 2785 unfed adult ticks were collected in the Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces of northeastern China, with the predominant tick species of Ixodes persulcatus (59.9%), followed by Haemaphysalis concinna (14.8%), Haemaphysalis longicornis (8.9%), Dermacentor nuttalli (9.4%), and Dermacentor silvarum (7.0%). Only I. persulcatus was tested positive for Borrelia spirochetes DNA by PCR, targeting the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and 16S rRNA genes, with a prevalence of 1.9%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and 16S rRNA genes showed that these positive samples were grouped into four pathogenic genospecies for humans, including Borrelia garinii (2.8%), Borrelia afzelii (0.2%), Borrelia bavariensis (0.1%), and Borrelia bissettii (0.1%). These results showed that B. garinii is the predominant genospecies and I. persulcatus is the main tick host and carrier in northeastern China. To our knowledge, B. bissettii were detected for the first time in China.

Procedimentos de biossegurança adotados por profissionais de serviços de embelezamento

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar procedimentos de biossegurança adotados por profissionais de manicure, pedicure, tatuagem, piercing e maquiagem definitiva em Jacareí-SP. Utilizou-se abordagem descritiva e observacional de corte transversal. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada entre maio e junho de 2011. Foram feitas quarenta entrevistas com profissionais de estabelecimentos localizados no centro e nos dez bairros mais populosos. Utilizou-se questionário para avaliar conhecimentos e atitudes dos profissionais e um formulário para a observação de seus procedimentos e estrutura física dos estabelecimentos. Verificou-se falta de conhecimento sobre biossegurança pelos profissionais e deficiência na regulamentação desses serviços. Embora 55% dos profissionais tenham realizado treinamento, seus procedimentos e a infraestrutura dos estabelecimentos foram favoráveis à transmissão de doenças. Sobre os processos de limpeza, desinfecção e esterilização de instrumentais, nenhum dos entrevistados sabia o tempo e a temperatura ideal para a esterilização, 57,5% tinham equipamento inadequado para sua realização e 80% não tinham termostato ou termômetro no equipamento para a conferência da temperatura. Apenas 57,5% acreditavam que poderiam transmitir doenças durante sua prática profissional. Quarenta e cinco por cento dos entrevistados relataram ter tido contato com sangue sem luvas. Outro problema observado foi a reutilização de materiais descartáveis. Somente 10% possuíam área específica para a esterilização de instrumentais. Evidenciou-se a necessidade de formação de qualidade sobre boas práticas de biossegurança a esses profissionais, além de normas e diretrizes pormenorizadas para a prevenção de infecções nesses serviços, bem como a melhoria da vigilância nesses estabelecimentos.

Generating best evidence from qualitative research: the role of data analysis

OBJECTIVE

To outline the importance of the clarity of data analysis in the doing and reporting of interview-based qualitative research.

APPROACH

We explore the clear links between data analysis and evidence. We argue that transparency in the data analysis process is integral to determining the evidence that is generated. Data analysis must occur concurrently with data collection and comprises an ongoing process of 'testing the fit' between the data collected and analysis. We discuss four steps in the process of thematic data analysis: immersion, coding, categorising and generation of themes.

CONCLUSION

Rigorous and systematic analysis of qualitative data is integral to the production of high-quality research. Studies that give an explicit account of the data analysis process provide insights into how conclusions are reached while studies that explain themes anchored to data and theory produce the strongest evidence.

A risky treat: exploring parental perceptions of the barriers to seating their children in the rear seats of passenger vehicles

BACKGROUND

Sitting in the rear seat of a vehicle rather than in the front seat reduces children's risk of injury or death by > or =35% in the event of a crash. As road trauma is a leading cause of child morbidity and mortality in highly motorised nations, even in countries where restraint use is high, encouraging parents to place children in the rear seats of vehicles offers a low-cost avenue to improving children's overall health. However, little is known about the factors that affect parents' decisions about seating positions.

OBJECTIVE

To explore parental perceptions of barriers to placing their children in the rear seat of passenger vehicles whenever possible.

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

Focus group discussions were held with urban parent-drivers to elicit their concerns about children's car safety and barriers to rear-seat use.

RESULTS

Most parents had a rule that children should sit in the rear seat. Parents said that they relaxed these rules for a variety of reasons including social pressure, perceptions of the trip as short and because children regard sitting in the front seat as a treat. Parenting style, child cooperativeness, social pressure and inability to justify the risk of injury were identified as barriers to rear-seat travel.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective interventions to increase the proportion of children travelling in the rear seat should address parents' experiences of pressure to relax seating rules and risk perception, as well as provide strategies that support sound parental safety decisions.