Session B: Transformation and Innovation in Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic which began in Wuhan, China in December 2019 rapidly spread across the globe, leaving in its wake public health and economic crisis. In Africa, the least developed continent in the world, the effects of the pandemic were just as devasting. Africa had previously had experiences dealing with endemics, and so the foreign press was keenly interested in how it fared in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies about the media reportage on Africa in public health crisis have been approached from the point of view of how such crisis were framed. Very few studies have specifically targeted Western media coverage of Africa’s COVID-19 situation, and those few have taken the representation or framing approach as well. This study specifically examines what major issues were common amongst Western media’s reportage of Africa’s COVID-19 situation, and not necessarily how they were framed, taking into consideration what is reflected in some African media as well. A thematic analysis of 22 news articles across 4 Western news outlets, and 13 articles from 2 African media outlets (for comparative purposes) using Grounded Theoretical approaches, resulted in two broad themes- Situation gravity and Contributing factors, which reviews the African COVID-19 outlook. The results and implications for theoretical studies are discussed.

Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) frequently endure painful crises and rely on opioids to alleviate their discomfort. However, they encounter challenges in accessing adequate opioid prescriptions due to provider bias and restrictive prescribing practices. Furthermore, systemic racism exacerbates these difficulties, particularly given that the majority of individuals with SCD are Black or Hispanic. The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) is designed to address drug-seeking behavior and prevent repetitive opioid prescriptions. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether this program affects the prescription of necessary pain medications for individuals with SCD. This study aims to examine provider behavior, attitudes, and decision-making regarding opioid prescriptions for individuals with sickle cell disease before and after the implementation of the PDMP in Georgia. Specifically, the study targets clinical providers working in various capacities, including Emergency Department physicians, hospitalists, primary care providers, and SCD specialists. The study found that providers generally hold favorable opinions of the PDMP, citing its role in facilitating prescribing decisions by providing objective evidence of patients' prescription histories. However, discrepancies between PDMP information and patient reports were noted. Providers recommended enhancing PDMP data to aid in verifying prescription information. Overall, the study suggests that the PDMP helps mitigate provider bias in opioid prescribing for individuals with SCD, although opportunities for improvement exist. Moreover, it is crucial to focus on addressing the needs of specific populations that have frequently been overlooked in the policy-making process, including individuals with SCD.