The study objective was to examine barriers and facilitators of maternal health services utilization in Myanmar with the highest maternal mortality ratio in Southeast Asia. Data for 258 mothers with children under five were extracted from a community health survey administered between 2016 and 2017 in Mandalay, the largest city in central Myanmar, and analyzed for associations between determinants of maternal health care choices and related outcomes. The study showed that late antenatal care was underutilized (41.7%), and antenatal care attendance was significantly associated with geographical setting, household income, education, and access to transportation (p ≤ 0.05). Less than one-third of women gave birth at home and 18.5% of them did so without the assistance of traditional birth attendants. Household education level was a significant predictor for home delivery (p < 0.01). Utilization of postnatal care services was irregular (47.9%–70.9%) and strongly associated with women’s places of delivery (p < 0.01). Efforts geared towards improving maternal health outcomes should focus on supporting traditional birth attendants in their role of facilitating high-quality care and helping women reach traditional health facilities, as well as on maternal health literacy based on culturally appropriate communication.

Objectives Public health nurses (PHNs) have a significant role in engaging the voice and actions of school communities in promoting the health of children and youth. School nursing was one of the early 20th century public health nursing foci and specialties in Canada, however over several decades, there has been a gap in actualizing PHNs’ full potential in schools. At the same time, intersectoral and interdisciplinary comprehensive school health (CSH) models have emerged as exemplars of partnerships between schools and communities to advance health promotion and ultimately chronic disease prevention with school populations (Pan‐Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health, ; World Health Organization, ). Design and Measurement Using a participatory action research methodology we explored the role of PHNs in CSH, drawing on the concept of engagement in intersectoral healthy school teams. Results and Conclusions The three themes that emerged from the data analysis were: facilitators of public health nursing engagement, barriers to public health nursing engagement, and the influences of community context on engagement. Overall, findings indicate that the PHN role in CSH must be developed and supported so that PHNs remain a vital link between school health communities, programs, and policies in the promotion of health.

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Results: Sixty (23.3%, 95% CI 18.1 -28.4) of the 258 respondents who provided Brief PHQ ratings exceeded the traditional cut-point of 10 + on the scale indicating presence of depression. As many men as women reported depression. An inverse relationship between financial comfort scores and depression was highly significant. Depression was significantly related to poor health status and to a decline in health in the last year. In linear regression, poor financial comfort, poor health status, and a decline in health in the last year were related to higher rates of depression even when age and sex were controlled. Conclusion:The results support the contention that a major disaster was created for farmers by the BSE outbreak and that it had long-term mental health consequences. These results also highlight the need for disaster management building on resilience and tailored to the unique needs of this population.

Conclusion:The findings of this research are consistent with previous studies following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In order to design a public health intervention to minimize occupational-related illness following a disaster, health departments should understand the most susceptible populations for the development of mold-related illness and implement strategies that specifically target the high-risk exposures in these populations. Methods: An epidemiological study was conducted in Magway, Myanmar in July 2016, using a written survey in the local Burmese language with 119 items that assessed demographics, occupational and physical health, and type of disaster response with associated illness and injury. 234 participants, 48 (21%) health care professionals, 45 (19%) firefighters, and 141 (60%) volunteers including NGO workers and farmers, completed the survey. 160 were male, 73 were female, and the average age was 33 years. The data were organized using Excel and analyzed using SPSS.Results: The study revealed that the highest incidence of injuries and illness during a disaster occurred during floods (63.7%) as compared to cyclones (18.9%) and landslides (16%). There was no significant difference with respect to the incidence of cuts, burns, sprains, broken bones, and diarrhea in farmers, firefighters, and health care professionals in the regular setting versus a disaster setting. However, the incidence of heat stroke in farmers (17% and 24%, respectively), vomiting in firefighters (0% and 16%, respectively), and coughing for both farmers (17% and 21%, respectively) and firefighters (18% and 37%, respectively) was significantly higher than that of health care workers. Conclusion:The results of this study revealed that first responders, including firefighters and farmers, have a higher risk of injury and illness than health care workers both during the course of their regular employment and during times of disaster. Methods: To enhance the ability of students to function in disaster response, practical disaster exercises were added to the curricula. We chose typical disaster training formats, both to solidify learning as well as directly train to disaster management. These elements were integrated into a more typical curricula. This included both drills and exercises. Drills involved hands on training such as communication with radios and decontamination. Exercises were carried out in both a tabletop format as well as full scale simulation events. Results: The new curricula was successfully implemented over two cycles of domestic and international response course training. Course evaluations showed very high engagement of students with a clear understanding of principles taught. Conclusion: Introduction of practical training, typical of disaster responders into public health curricula, enhances student engagement and learning.