The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to the availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Healthcare workers' adherence to PPE use has been suboptimal placing patients, workers, and the public at risk. The purpose of this study was to identify healthcare workers' health beliefs regarding PPE and their risk for infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article describes the quantitative component of a mixed methods study. The quantitative phase was descriptive and nonexperimental. A link to an online survey was distributed through social media outlets and professional nursing organizations to record healthcare workers' perceived health beliefs regarding PPE and their risk for infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors that affected healthcare workers' health beliefs regarding PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic included COVID vaccination status, adequate PPE resources in their healthcare setting, and if they provided direct care.

The global age standardized prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has doubled (4.7% to 8.5%) over the last three decades and is increasing more rapidly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The global economic burden of diabetes affects individuals and health care systems and is estimated to cost $825 billion USD a year. Within Mexico, T2DM is the second leading cause of mortality and the leading cause of morbidity using disability associated life years (DALYs). A retrospective chart review and cost analysis, analyzing those at risk of diabetes, was conducted at a rural community health clinic in Jalisco, Mexico. The goal was to project the cost of providing an appropriate scope of care and plan prevention-based population health programs. The results demonstrated that out of 264 charts reviewed, 218 (83%) had one or more diabetic risk factor. The estimated per patient per visit cost is $127.22 MP (Mexican Peso, 2018) and as the number of diabetes risk factors increases for an individual patient, the mean cost of their care to the system increases (p < .001). Those with at least one risk factor comprise the majority in both males and females with a median age of 36 and median BMI of 28, and this group also has the highest percentage of borderline hypertension (46%). This data demonstrates an opportunity to intervene in a group of young adults (ages 27-46) with a cluster of high-risk borderline risk factors and preventing them from developing obesity, hypertension and diabetes later in life.

Background: Globally, there is a large unmet need for family planning in the postpartum period: 90% of women in this group want family planning for birth spacing or to avoid unintended pregnancies and stop child bearing once desired family size has been reached. In total 76% of Rwandan women want family planning postpartum, yet a 26% unmet need remains. Currently, the four most commonly used postpartum family planning methods in Rwanda are injections, subdermal implants, pills, and condoms. The economic and health benefit impact of the current method selection has not yet been evaluated. Methods: To evaluate the impact of current usage rates and method types, this cost effectiveness analysis (CEA) compared the most frequently used family planning methods in Rwanda broken into two categories, longer-acting reversible contraception (LARC) (injections and subdermal implants) and shorter-acting reversible contraceptives (non-LARC) (pills and condoms). A time horizon of 24 months was used to reflect the World Health Organization suggested two-year spacing from birth until the next pregnancy, and was conducted from a health systems perspective. This CEA compared two service package options to provide a comparator for the two method types, thus enabling insights to differences between the two. Results: For women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Rwanda, including LARC postpartum family planning methods in the options, saves $18.73 per pregnancy averted, compared to family planning options that offer non-LARC methods exclusively. Conclusion: There is an opportunity to avert unplanned pregnancies associated with increased utilization of LARC methods. The full benefits of LARC are not yet realized in Rwanda. Under the conditions presented in this study, a service package that includes LARC has the potential to be cost-saving compared with one non-LARC methods. Effective health messaging of LARC use for the postpartum population could both enhance health and reduce costs.

Background: Globally, there is a large unmet need for family planning in the postpartum period: 90% of women in this group want family planning for birth spacing or to avoid unintended pregnancies and stop child bearing once desired family size has been reached. Women spend on average about 30 years, or three-quarters of their reproductive lives, attempting to avoid pregnancy. In total 76% of Rwandan women want family planning postpartum, yet a 26% unmet need remains. Methods: This cost effectiveness analysis compared the two most frequently-used family planning methods in Rwanda, longer-acting reversible contraception (LARC), injections and subdermal implants, and shorter-acting reversible contraceptives (non-LARC), pills and condoms. Women who do not use contraception postpartum were also represented. A time horizon of 24 months was used to reflect the World Health Organization suggested two-year spacing from birth until the next pregnancy, and the analysis was conducted from a health systems perspective. Results: For women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Rwanda, including LARC postpartum family planning methods in the options, saves $18.73 per pregnancy averted, compared to family planning options that offer non-LARC methods exclusively. Conclusion: There is an opportunity to avert unplanned pregnancies associated with the increased utilization of LARC methods. Despite the availability of LARC methods in many of Rwanda’s health facilities, the full benefits are not yet realized. LARC is cost-saving compared with non-LARC methods. Effective public health messaging campaigns and other promotion targeting current resistance to LARC use for the postpartum population could both enhance health and save public health funds.