PHI 511 Foundations of Public Health For Qualitative Methodology

Provide a concise description of the relevant key points addressed in the source. Include in the annotation a brief description of how you plan to use each source (e.g., provides statistics for the problem, etc.).

Answer:

Suthar, M. S., Diamond, M. S., & Gale Jr, M. (2013). West Nile virus infection and immunity. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 11(2), 115-128.

The research was carried out by Gale Jr., M., Diamond M.S. and Suthar M. and published in 2013 by the Nature Reviews Microbiology. In this article, the authors studied the infections caused by the West Nile virus and how it affects the people. The researchers also studied the issue of immunity as it relates to the virus. To carry out the studies, the scholars used qualitative methodology. Here, a sample size was selected using a simple random technique and used in the study. Data collection was done using questionnaires and survey. It enabled the researchers to collect and analyze accurate and valid data that would be relied upon to produce reliable findings that can be generalized to understand the infection and immunity of the West Nile virus.   

The researchers established that West Nile virus has become an issue of public concern in the USA. Since the report of the first case, the virus has been affecting many people. The prevalence of the West Nile viral infection has been on the rise. However, the rate of diseases-linked to the virus is still minimal because it averagely stands at around 10%. In terms of immunity, the researchers established that human beings develop natural immunity against the virus after the first infection. The research is important and should be used when studying about the burden of infectious disease in the USA. It is a reliable resource which contains accurate and relevant information on West Nile virus. Infection and immunity are important issues that must be captured when conducting a research on West Nile virus. 

Amanna, I. J., & Slifka, M. K. (2014). Current trends in West Nile virus vaccine development. Expert review of vaccines, 13(5), 589-608.

In this article, Slifka, M. and Amanna I., carried a research to study the changing trends in the invention of vaccines to treat and prevent the West Nile virus. West Nile virus diseases, just like many of the infectious diseases should be treated using vaccination as one of the intervention measures. In this research, the scholars decided to use quantitative methodology to collect and analyze the data. After identifying the target population, a sample of 372 was selected and used in the research. To analyze the data, the researchers used statistical methods. This was appropriate because it enabled the researchers to adequately analyze the data and make it simple and easy to understand and interpret.

The researchers found out that West Nile virus has become an issue of public health concern. The virus has been affecting people and causing numerous diseases such as West Nile Fever, West Nile Neuroinvassive Disease, West Nile Virus Encephalitis, West Nile Meningitis, West Nile Poliomyelitis, West Nile Reversible Paralysis, and Non-Neurologic complications such as hepatitis, orchitis, and nephritis.  The researchers established that these are diseases which can be handled by using vaccines. Therefore, although no treatment has been so far discovered, epidemiologists have been doing a commendable job in developing the vaccines which can be relied upon by the public to deal with the high prevalence of West Nile-linked infections.  The article should therefore be included in the research because it provides detailed and updated information on the changing trends in the development of vaccines for the virus. 

Harrigan, R. J., Thomassen, H. A., Buermann, W., & Smith, T. B. (2014). A continental risk assessment of West Nile virus under climate change. Global change biology, 20(8), 2417-2425. 

‘A continental risk assessment of West Nile virus under climate change’is an article which was written by Smith, T., Buermann, W., Thomas, H., and Harrigan, R., and published by the Global Change Biology. In this article, the authors carried out a research to study the prevalence of West Nile virus and its relationship with climate change. in order to carry out this study, the researchers chose to use qualitative methodology. Here, data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using statistical methods. The use of this methodology enabled the researchers to do a marvelous job by producing reliable findings which can be generalized to understand a larger picture of West Nile virus.

In their studies, the scholars established that West Nile virus is not a small problem which only affects the USA. Instead, it is a global issue which affects many countries across the world. Over the years, West Nile virus has escalated to cause burden on the healthcare system of different countries. The virus is linked to many diseases which need to be properly handled. In terms of causation and spread, the researchers found out that the prevalence of the virus is closely linked to climate change. The changing trends in global climate have negatively impacted on the virus because it has increased the chances of its spread and prevalence. The article is therefore useful and should be included as a reference material when conducting a research on West Nile virus. It contains relevant and current information that can be relied upon to carry out an extensive research on the virus. 

Cervantes, D. T., Chen, S., Sutor, L. J., Stonecipher, S., Janoski, N., Wright, D. J., & Busch, M. P. (2015). West Nile virus infection incidence based on donated blood samples and neuroinvasive disease reports, Northern Texas, USA, 2012. Emerging infectious diseases, 21(4), 681.

In this research, the authors sought to study the relationship between blood donation and the incidences of infection of the West Nile virus. This is a very important aspect of the West Nile virus because it touches on an area which has not been exploited by many researchers. To carry out this research, the scholars decided to use quantitative. This is a research design in which data was collected using interviews and questionnaires. Since the study was based in Texas, it had to draw its sample from Northern Texas alone. The participants were engaged in experimental studies which die not harm them in any way. The narrowing down of the study to Northern Texas was a commendable idea because it was an appropriate setting for the study given its previous outbreaks.

In this research, the scholars revealed that there is a close relationship between blood transfusion and West Nile viral infections. Many people have contracted West Nile infections because of the reception of blood donated by other people who have been diagnosed with West Nile infections and other neuroinvasive diseases. The article can be an invaluable reference material for a research on West Nile virus. It provides adequate and reliable information on the contributions of blood transfusion on the spread of West Nile infections. This is an important area that will be taken seriously when conducting a research on the virus. As a public health burden, West Nile virus should be studied to establish its causes and the treatment interventions that should be adopted to deal with it. After all, it was written by reputable scholars whose credibility and authority has been proven.