#Norwegian Institute of Public Health

[sagunpaudel]

Postdoctoral Opportunity in Public Health/Global Health

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s vision is better health for all. We produce, summarize and communicate knowledge for the public health sector and healthcare services. Our main activities are emergency preparedness, knowledge and infrastructure. Infrastructure comprises registries, health surveys, biobanks and laboratory services. The Institute is a government organization under the…

[mightyflamethrower]

Higher Incidence Of COVID-19 Found Among Consistent Mask-Wearers: Peer-Reviewed Study | ZeroHedge

People who wore protective masks were found to be more likely to contract COVID-19 infections than those who didn’t, according to a recent Norwegian study.

People who wore protective masks were found to be more likely to contract COVID-19 infections than those who didn’t, according to a recent Norwegian study.

The peer-reviewed study, published in the journal Epidemiology and Infection on Nov. 13, analyzed mask use among 3,209 individuals from Norway. Researchers followed them for 17 days, and then asked the participants about their use of masks. The team found that there was a higher incidence of testing positive for COVID-19 among people who used masks more frequently.

Among individuals who “never or almost never” wore masks, 8.6 percent tested positive. That rose to 15 percent among participants who “sometimes” used masks, and to 15.1 percent among those who “almost always or always” wore them.

Adjusting for factors such as vaccination status, the study determined that individuals who sometimes or often wore masks had a 33 percent higher incidence of COVID-19, compared to those who never or almost never wore masks. This jumped to 40 percent among people who almost always or always wore them.

However, adjusting for “differences in baseline risk over time,” the risk of wearing masks turned out to be “less pronounced,” with only a 4 percent higher incidence of infection among mask-wearers.

“The results contradict earlier randomized and non-randomized studies of the effectiveness of mask-wearing on the risk of infection,” the researchers wrote.

“Most of these studies reported that wearing a face mask reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection. Some observational studies have reported manyfold reductions while one community-based randomized trial failed to demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in infection risk and one cluster randomized community trial found only a modest reduction.”

The researchers pointed out a major limitation of their study: Individuals who used masks may have done so to protect others from their own infection. This could explain the “positive association between risk of infection and mask usage.”

Behavioral differences and the fact that the survey was based on self-reporting could also contribute to bias, it stated.

There’s also a possibility that mask wearers felt safe while wearing masks and thus didn’t follow other regulations such as social distancing, which raised their risk of contracting COVID-19, the study said.

“Our findings suggest that wearing a face mask may be associated with an increased risk of infection. However, it is important to note that this association may be due to unobservable and non-adjustable differences between those wearing and not wearing a mask,” the researchers stated.

“Therefore, caution is imperative when interpreting the results from this and other observational studies on the relationship between mask-wearing and infection risk. Recommendations to wear face masks in the community are largely informed by low certainty evidence from observational studies.”

Researchers called for more trials and studies to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of wearing masks against transmission of respiratory pathogens.

The study was fully funded by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. It reported no conflicts of interest.

Masking Mandates

The new study comes at a time when some regions in North America are reinstating mask mandates amid a reported increase in COVID-19 cases.

At the beginning of November, many regions in the Bay Area issued masking rules in health care settings ahead of the respiratory disease season, when infections such as COVID-19, the flu, and respiratory syncytial virus are expected to spread.

In the state of California, San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano issued masking mandates, with the rules remaining in effect until next March or April.

While in some places only staff and workers of a health care facility are required to wear masks, others require patients and visitors to wear masks as well.

Rosemary Hills School in Maryland announced in September that it distributed KN95 masks to students and teachers while mandating masking for at least 10 days after three students from a classroom tested positive for COVID-19.

A month earlier, school officials with the Kinterbish Junior High School in Cuba, Alabama, asked students, employees, and visitors to wear masks “due to the slow rise of COVID cases in the area.”

Seven hospitals in Canada reinstated mask mandates last month to “help prevent transmission of COVID-19.”

In British Columbia, Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry announced that health care workers, volunteers, and visitors would be required to wear “medical” masks in all public health care facilities starting on Oct. 3.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing masks to counter COVID-19. “Masking is a critical public health tool and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask,” it said in an August 2021 update.

Certain states have already made it clear that mask mandates wouldn’t be allowed. In August, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in an X post that there would be “NO mask mandates in Texas.”

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo highlighted the issue of the ineffectiveness of masking policies.

“What do you call re-imposing mask policies that have been proven ineffective or restarting lockdowns that are known to cause harm? You don’t call it sanity,“ he said in a post on X. "These terrible policies only work with your cooperation. How about refusing to participate.”

In an interview with the Brownstone Institute in February, Tom Jefferson, a senior associate tutor at the University of Oxford and lead author of the study, pointed out that there hasn’t been a “proper trial” of masks whereby a huge, randomized study was done to check their effectiveness. Instead, some experts overnight began to perpetuate a “fear-demic.”

[studyingismyenemy]

Norwegian nutrition policy

So, I actually managed to start studying. I am from Norway so everything about nutrition I write here is based on studies Norway and other nordic countries have done. Also all my information is coming from my professors presentations. Here is what I have learned:

The focus on food have changed a lot over the years in Norway. In the 1800s the focus was on getting enough food to grow the population. In the 1900s vitamins were discovered and there was more focus on nutrition. In 1950-60s diet surveys showed that there was a correlation between consumption of fat and heart and vascular diseases. Today there is an increase in lifelong health conditions. So, Norway has a nutrition policy to combat this.

Where did the policy come from? It comes from many years of effort from both Norway and other countries. These are the different organizations that have influenced the Norwegian nutrition policy: Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations, the World health organization, the world food conference (UN), and more. 

The general goals of the Norwegian nutrition policy are:

Reduce health related health issues

Make sure food is good for the health and safe to eat

Contribute to a diet that consumers find satisfactory and contribute to sustainable food production. 

Norway’s action plan is:

“Healthy diet, taking pleasure in food and great health for all”

Diet, food and meals are important for health and well-being, and are an important part of the day. In Norway the studies show that un-health diets together with high blood pressure and tobacco kills most people. A part of the action plan is to contribute to the UNs sustainability goals.  The action plan will contribute to a healthy diet to promote health and prevent diet-related diseases. The measures are targeting the entire population with special attention to children, young, families with children and elders.

There are five measures:

Enjoying food and a healthy diet

Create good eating habits in kindergarten, 20 minutes lunch break in school, finding joy in eating and food care for elders, healthy options available at the workplace

Good and simple choices

Reduce salt in ready to eat meals, reduce intake of unhealthy food and promote eating healthy food. Satisfy the intake of iodine and vitamin D. environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.

Communication and knowledge

Tools and recourses for food and health in middle- and high-school. Carry on the small changes can give big results initiative. Training programs for employees in institutions, prisons and asylum reception 

Food, meals and nutrition in health and care professions

Knowledge about food, meals and nutrition, promote breast-feeding, have nutrition strategies in hospitals and nutrition considerations connected to drugs.

Research, development and innovation

UNIK (Utvikling i norsk kosthold (development in Norwegian diet))

Multiple agencies are involved in the nutrition work. 

Helsedirektoratet (the Directorate of Health) give national nutritional advice 

Folkehelseinstituttet (public health institute)

Mattilsynet (the Norwegian Food Authority)

Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø ( The Science Committee for Food and the Environment)

https://www.mattilsynet.no/mat-og-drikke/forbrukere is where you can find information about food and health from public authorities (in Norway, its in Norwegian). 

Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) constitute the scientific foundations for national nutrition recommendations and food-based dietary advice. The NNR concerns Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and the Baltic countries. The NNR contains information about: 

Fluid and water balance

Energy

Fat and fatty acids

Carbohydrate

Dietary fibre

Protein

Vitamins

minerals

breast-feeding

sustainability

https://pub.norden.org/nord2023-003/index.html is the link to the NNR 2023 (it’s in English)

Kostråd for å fremme folkehelsa og forebygge kroniske sykdommer (Nutrition recommendations to promote public health and prevent chronic illness) is a report made by a national council of nutrition and is the scientific base for the 13 Norwegian nutritional recommendations. They are updated (next update in August 2024). The 13 recommendations concern food and physical activity. Recommendation 1 and 2 are based on an overall assessment of diet and physical activity, recommendations 3-13 are more specifically connected to different food groups, dietary supplements and physical activity. (more about this later).

The Norwegian recommendations about diet and physical activity are published by the Directorate of Health based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations and the Nutrition recommendations to promote public health and prevent chronic illness report. There Norwegian recommendations include:

Nutrition recommendations

Recommendations about physical activities and sitting still

Recommendations concerning the distribution of energy giving nutrition as a part of the total energy consumption, and the consumption of dietary fibre. 

 Recommendations about consumptions of vitamins and minerals, salt, alcohol and dietary supplements

Reference values for energy consumption

UNIK (Development in Norwegian diet) follows the development in the population every year (more about this later). 

WOOOOOO, I might have started studying almost a month later than planned, but at least I did something!!! Very proud of me. Let’s hope I manage to continue, but it’s always starting that’s the most difficult part. Wish me luck!

[tieflingkisser]

Withholding tax revenue and revoking banking waivers could paralyze Palestinian economy - UN experts warn

GENEVA, Thursday, April 25, 2024 (WAFA) - Unilaterally cutting off Palestinian banks from the global banking system would be a violation of the fundamental principles of international law, two UN experts warned today after an Israeli Minister threatened to revoke a protection waiver issued annually to two banks in Israel that maintain connections to Palestinian financial institutions. “Cutting off Palestinian banks from the global banking system unilaterally also violates the principle of sovereign equality of states, the principle of non-intervention into the domestic affairs of states, the principle of cooperation in good faith,” the experts said. “The impossibility of bank transfers will affect all people of Palestine indiscriminately, exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, and affect all fundamental human rights, including the right to food, right to water and sanitation, right to health, freedom from torture and the right to life.” The Palestinian economy runs on the Israeli shekel and its financial dealings with the rest of the world must go through the Israeli banking system. Isolating the Palestinian Authority from the financial world will cripple the Palestinian economy, the experts warned, recalling that the protection waivers guaranteed under the Oslo and Paris Accords. Since the 1990s peace accords, Israel has also collected tax revenue on behalf of Palestinians and transferred the funds to the Palestinian authority. A large portion of these funds is used for wage payments. Since 24 January 2024, the monthly tax revenue previously allocated to the Palestinian Authority’s public sector employees in Gaza has been transferred to a Norwegian-based trust account. However, the Norwegian fund cannot release the money to pay public sector employees in Gaza without Israel’s permission. “Because a significant proportion of taxes in the Palestinian Authority’s budget is collected by Israel, the Palestinian Authority is vulnerable to unilateral suspensions by Israel of transfers of clearance revenue, qualifying as unilateral coercive measures contrary to international law,” the experts said. The experts have established communication channels with the Israeli Government to address these concerns. They called for interim measures to prevent irreparable harm and potential breaches of international law. The experts are Professor Attiya Waris, an Independent Expert on Foreign Debt and human rights, and Professor Alena Douhan, a Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

[scientificinquirer-blog]

Occupations that are cognitively stimulating may be protective against later-life dementia

People with a history of cognitively stimulating occupations during their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s had a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia after age 70, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the Columbia Aging Center, and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The findings highlight the importance of cognitive stimulation…

[kayvanh123]

Were you aware that engaging in physical activity can shield you from chronic pain?

In 2023, a study conducted by researchers from UiT The Arctic University of Norway, the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN), and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health discovered that among a sample of over 10,000 adults, those who engaged in physical activity exhibited a higher tolerance for pain compared to their sedentary counterparts. Furthermore, they observed a correlation between increased activity levels and elevated pain tolerance.

Following this revelation, the researchers aimed to explore the potential impact of physical activity on the likelihood of experiencing chronic pain several years later, while also investigating its relationship with pain tolerance.

Anders Årnes, a doctoral fellow at UiT and UNN and one of the researchers involved in the study, elaborates, “We found that individuals who engaged in more physical activity during their leisure time had a decreased risk of developing various forms of chronic pain 7-8 years later. Even a slight increase in activity, such as transitioning from light to moderate levels, was associated with a 5% decrease in the risk of reporting chronic pain.”

He further notes that for severe chronic pain affecting multiple body areas, higher levels of activity were linked to a 16% reduced risk.

The researchers discovered that pain tolerance played a crucial role in this observed protective effect. This suggests that physical activity enhances our capacity to endure pain, potentially explaining how it contributes to lowering the risk of severe chronic pain.

The study, which included nearly 7,000 participants from the extensive Tromsø survey, examined participants’ exercise habits and assessed their cold pain tolerance in a laboratory setting. Subsequently, they monitored whether participants experienced pain persisting for three months or longer, encompassing pain affecting multiple body regions or presenting as more severe.

Although 60% of participants reported some form of chronic pain, severe pain in multiple body areas was reported by only 5% of them. Fewer individuals experienced more serious pain conditions.

The findings of the research were recently published in the journal PAIN — Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain.

Regarding exercise for individuals already dealing with chronic pain, Årnes suggests, “Physical activity itself is not inherently risky, but individuals with chronic pain can benefit significantly from a tailored exercise program designed to help them manage their exertion levels effectively. Healthcare professionals specializing in chronic pain management can provide valuable assistance in this regard. As a general guideline, there should be no persistent exacerbation of symptoms following exercise over an extended period, although some post-exercise reactions can be anticipated.”

For more information about our clinic, medical professionals, and treatment options, please visit our main website.

[jobrxiv]

Postdoc in pregnancy epidemiology / genomics University of Gothenburg Joins us as a postdoc at the PerinatalLab to study within-country differences of pregnancy outcomes or genetics of preterm delivery! See the full job description on jobRxiv: https://jobrxiv.org/job/university-of-gothenburg-27778-postdoc-in-pregnancy-epidemiology-genomics/?feed_id=68274 #epidemiology #genetics #Pregnancy #ScienceJobs #hiring #research

[screenshots123]

📰 New wave of Covid virus in Norway fills up vaccination centers 📆 November 22, 2023

“For the vast majority, it really doesn’t matter anymore if you’re sick with the flu or Covid,” Dr Ingebjørn Bleidvin, chief medical officer in Hadsel, Northern Norway, told state broadcaster NRK on Wednesday. “Most people can drop testing and save some money.”

The state health ministry officially changed the status of the Covid virus earlier this week, on the grounds it no longer is especially dangerous to the public. Many falling ill still seem to want to know whether they’ve been hit by Covid, even by another bout of the virus. “Sales of Corona tests are seven times higher than they were during the autumn holidays” in late September and early October, Silje Ensrud of the pharmacy chain Apotek 1 told NRK. “We haven’t sold so many testing kits since February 2022.”

Some pharmacies in Northern Norway, where there have been outbreaks of the virus, have seen their stocks almost depleted. Testing kits were once handed out for free by state and local health care agencies, but now they can cost as much as NOK 120 (around USD 12).

Only those with weak immune systems or those undergoing cancer treatments are still advised to get tested, to determine exactly which respiratory ailment they may have. State health officials are no longer collecting data or publishing new statistics on Corona cases, and postive test results aren’t recorded.

Officials are keen, however, to get all Norwegians age 65 and over vaccinated against new variants of the virus, along with those who have chronic diseases. Vaccination rates were also sluggish earlier this fall, and public health institute FHI was concerned that too few were getting their booster shots. A sharp rise in infection has since sent many flocking to vaccination centers, where booster shots remain free of charge.

Oslo’s large vaccination center in the capital’s Nydalen district was among those suddenly facing such long lines that it suspended its “drop-in” service and is currently requiring appointments. The first available slots were at least a week away.

[decentralvaccine]

Covid 19 Vaccines May Cause Unexpected Vaginal Bleeding

Women who don’t menstruate — including postmenopausal women and those on contraceptives — were several times more likely to experience unexpected vaginal bleeding after COVID-19 vaccination than before the vaccines were offered, a study1 finds.

When COVID-19 jabs were rolled out globally, many women reported heavier-than-usual menstrual bleeding soon after vaccination. Study author Kristine Blix, at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo, wanted to look at the trend systematically, particularly in women who don’t normally have periods, such as those taking contraceptives or who have been through menopause.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02996-6

[afceuganda]

Employment opportunities with CAUD Project, Eastern Uganda

TREAT Child alcoholism use Disorder (CAUD) in Eastern Uganda is a four year inter institutional project between Makerere University School of Public Health, Center for International Health, University of Bergen, The Norwegian University of science and Technology, University of Oslo and NKVST Norwegian Center for Violence and Trauma Stress. This project will investigate the magnitude of child…

[hanna-portfolio]

World news: Norwegians suffer with loneliness as pandemic affects mental health

People from Norway have revealed their struggles with loneliness and how the past year has affected their mental health.

A survey from December last year by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health revealed a high number of people struggling with loneliness and mental health.

The ones suffering the most are those living alone and the younger generation, and one in three students revealed that they are lonely.

Mathilde Johnsen, 20, admits that the past year has been really hard. She is a first-year student at Kristiania University College and says that studying online has been tough and she has struggled to get to know her course mates.

She said: “This past year has been really lonely, but at the same time filled with so much love. I have realised who my real friends are, and I have learned so much about myself.”

Anne Reneflot, Department Director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, said that it is too soon to determine how the publics mental health has developed since the beginning of the pandemic.

She added: “But existing findings from Norway suggests that the elderly’s and young people’s mental health have worsened somewhat during the pandemic, both when studying mental health problems and satisfaction with life.”

For Eva Holm, 79, the past year has been “incredibly hard”.

She said: “I live alone so even before the pandemic I felt lonely at times, but the past year has been even harder. Everything is different now.”

She revealed that the pandemic has definitely affected her mental health.

She explains: “Some days have been harder than others. The constant feeling of being lonely can definitely have an affect your mental health.

“There are some days where I have been so tired that I haven’t been able to get out of bed. I just lay there for several hours.”

Before the pandemic she and her friend group would meet several times a week. It’s been over a year since they last met.

She added: “I’m too old to have a job. But in times like these I wished that I had one or lived with someone.

“I have never watched as much TV as I have this past year. And I don’t really like television”.

[rnewspost]

Lifelong marriage may lower the risk of developing dementia in old age

If you are married continuously for many years in mid-life, you have a lower risk of developing dementia in old age. This has been confirmed by a recently published study based on data from HUNT Study health surveys in Nord-Trøndelag. “Being married can have an influence on risk factors for dementia,” says Vegard Skirbekk at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH/FHI). The researchers…

[euro-journal-english-news]

Cucumbers linked to multi-country Salmonella outbreak

Cucumbers linked to multi-country Salmonella outbreak

A Salmonella outbreak in Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands has been linked to contaminated cucumbers from Spain. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) said 72 people are sick in the Salmonella Agona outbreak and 24 have been hospitalized. People across the country fell sick from the end of October to the start of December. Patients are aged 1 to 88, with a median of 36 years old, and…

[dreddymd]

Norwegian health agency recommends banning AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine due to blood clot risks

Norwegian health agency recommends banning AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine due to blood clot risks

Norway’s health agency has recommended that the country permanently abort using the AstraZeneca Wuhan coronavirus vaccine. The recommendation came after Norwegian scientists found that the vaccine, made in partnership with the University of Oxford, did cause blood clots. The agency’s advice went contrary to guidance from other health authorities and regulators insisting on the vaccine’s…

[jobrxiv]

Post doc Norwegian Institute of Public Health Are you interested in a post doctor position investigating violence related to mental disorders, using a new unique nationwide registry linkage? See the full job description on jobRxiv: https://jobrxiv.org/job/norwegian-institute-of-public-health-27778-post-doc/?feed_id=46644 #ScienceJobs #hiring #research #postdoc Oslo #Norway #PostdoctoralFellow

[saxafimedianetwork]

COVID-19 Spreading in Norway’s Migrant Areas, Somalis Hit Hardest – Reports