ISSN 2326-7291
Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Operational impacts of the Tamale abattoir on the environment
Conrad Atogi-Akwoa Weobong* and Enyonam Y. Adinyira
Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University for Development Studies, Box 1350TL, Tamale, Ghana.
Accepted 07 January, 2019
Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the water and noise quality of the Tamale abattoir to evaluate their effects on the environment. The abattoir is located in Tamale, the regional capital of the Northern Region of Ghana. Data on noise quality was taken using the Integrated Noise Level Meter at five different locations. The results of maximum and minimum noise levels generated at the abattoir were 95.4 and 60.4 dB(A), respectively, which exceeded EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) standard of 70 and 60 dB(A), respectively. Generally the influent met the recommended standard for treated water quality except for faecal and total coliform counts of 36 and 84 CFU, respectively, instead of 0 CFU recommended by EPA. The effluent was highly polluted and did not meet the set standards for effluent discharges into the environment. The extremely high levels of BOD (3300 mg/L) and low dissolved oxygen (0 mg/L) were strong indications of high organic pollution in the effluent. Effluent faecal coliforms level of 450,000/100 ml and total coliforms of 550,000/100 ml were recorded. Residents of the community where the abattoir is located complained about bad odour, pollution of their water source (dam) from the effluents and the outbreak of maggots, flies and diseases such as malaria, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhea.
Key words: Abattoir, water quality, coliforms, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), noise quality, environment.
Conrad Atogi-Akwoa Weobong*, Enyonam Y. Adinyira
Page: 1 - 8
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1123Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
An assessment of the impact of health education on maternal knowledge and practice of childhood immunization in Kware, Sokoto State
Oche, M. O.1*, Umar, A. S.1, Ibrahim, M. T. O.1 and Sabitu, K.2
1Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
2Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Accepted 22 February, 2019
Abstract
Immunization is one of the most powerful and cost effective weapons of modern medicine, and is a major tool being used to achieve the 4th Millennium Development Goals (MDG). This study was therefore aimed at assessing the impact of health education using the Community Level Nutrition Information System for Action (COLNISA) strategy on knowledge and practice of childhood immunization among mothers in Kware town, Sokoto State. This was a controlled community trial in two semi urban communities in Sokoto State, Nigeria. The study population comprised of mothers of children 0 to 23 months old chosen based on eligibility criteria. A total of 179 mother-child pairs were recruited into the study. Data collected at baseline and after intervention were analyzed using EPI INFO 3.3 software. The level of knowledge was assessed using a scoring system as adequate and inadequate which is used to assess immunization coverage for diptheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT3). At baseline, 59 and 53% of the mothers had adequate knowledge of childhood immunization in the intervention and control communities, respectively. However, following intervention, 69 and 51% of the mothers in the intervention and control communities, respectively had adequate knowledge. Similarly, at the post intervention phase of the study, DPT3 rose from 21 to 33% in the intervention community while a decrease in coverage from 26 to 20% was observed in the control community. Generally the low immunization coverage in the study area could be attributed to the low level of knowledge among the mothers about immunization services and the poor attitude of health workers. The finding of this study, strongly indicate that improved knowledge and community participation has the potential to create positive attitudinal and behavioural change if culturally appropriate community educators and influencers are used.
Key words: Nigeria, childhood immunization, maternal knowledge, health education intervention, community volunteers.
K , A. S, Oche , M. T. O and Sabitu, M. O*, Ibrahim , Umar
Page: 1 - 8
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1122Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessment of public awareness on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Athens, Greece, and the effects of an awareness-raising national action plan
Epameinondas N. Kosmas1,2, Silvia Dumitru1,2, Konstantinos Kougianos1,2, Elpida Theodorakopoulou1,2, Maria Harikiopoulou1,2, Ourania Anagnostopoulou1,2 , Michail Toumbis1,2, Nikolaos M. Siafakas1,3, and Nikolaos Tzanakis1,3
1Hellenic Thoracic Society, Athens, Greece.
2Chest Diseases Hospital “Sotiria”, Athens, Greece.
3University Hospital of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Accepted 23 February, 2019
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lacks public recognition despite its high prevalence. Given the absence of an awareness assessing disease-specific questionnaire, we developed the 10-item Athens COPD awareness questionnaire (10-ACAQ, with 4 demographic and 6 COPD-oriented questions) in an attempt to assess the level of public awareness on COPD in 2002. Then, a 6-year action plan (2003 to 2008) was designed to raise public awareness, which consisted of publishing relevant articles in newspapers/magazines, interviews/presentations in TV/radio, talking to public and educating primary care physicians. With the use of 10-ACAQ, we evaluated the impact of our action plan on raising public awareness during the World COPD days of 2005, 2007 and 2008. In 2002, 228 subjects completed the 10-ACAQ. 47% had heard about the disease but only 13% was really aware of COPD. In 2005, 2007 and 2008, the 10-ACAQ was administered to 298, 239 and 258 citizens respectively. The level of public knowledge on COPD increased significantly from 13% (2002) to 29, 45 and 55% respectively (p<0.001). In conclusion, substantial improvement in public awareness level on COPD has been accomplished through a continuum of activities targeting mass media and primary care physicians. The 10-ACAQ appears to be an easy-to-use and valid questionnaire to evaluate public knowledge on COPD.
Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), public awareness, COPD awareness questionnaire.
Michail Toumbis, Epameinondas N. Kosmas, Ourania Anagnostopoulou, Nikolaos M. Siafakas and Nikolaos Tzanakis, Maria Harikiopoulou, Silvia Dumitru, Elpida Theodorakopoulou, Konstantinos Kougianos
Page: 1 - 7
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1121Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Glutathione–S-transferase polymorphic status modifies the arsenic induced clinical manifestation in Nadia District of West Bengal, India
Sarmishtha Chanda1,4, Bhaswati Ganguli2, Uma B. Dasgupta1 and Debendranath Guha Mazumder3
1Department of Biophysics, Molecular biology and Bioinformatics, University of Calcutta, 92, APC Road, Kolkata-700009, India.
2Department of Statistics, University of Calcutta, 35, BC Road, Kolkata-700019, India.
3Department of Gastroenterology, DNGM Research Foundation, Kolkata,700035, India.
4Department of Physiology, Presidency University, Kolkata, India.
Accepted 04 January, 2019
Abstract
Subsoil water contamination with arsenic is a burning global health issue. People experiencing exposure to contaminated water by arsenic through out years can give rise to development of myriad clinical manifestations with a chief of arsenicosis which is the collective form of pigmentation and keratotic lesion of the skin. We surveyed over a population of above 500 people in West Bengal who are chronically exposed to arsenic at various doses through their drinking water through out years which revealed a discreet variation in the development of such symptoms. This discrimination may be due to the error in metabolism which comes from the polymorphic association of genes particularly involved in arsenic metabolism. To check our hypothesis we conducted a case control study over 78 study subjects including control and arsenic exposed people, with different level of exposure, chosen from the Nadia district of West Bengal, India. Our result revealed that GST polymorphism is closely associated with the degree of urinary excretion of arsenic in people with arsenic exposure. Persons with GSTMI and TI null genotype showed a significantly decreased level of total urinary arsenic than GSTMI and TI non null genotype of the same exposure group and also from the unexposed control group. The degree of keratosis and pigmentation also goes high in exposed people with GSTMI or TI null genotype. The overall skin manifestation is also significantly higher in persons with null genotype of GST in comparison to non null counterpart of the study population.
Key words: Pigmentation, keratosis, arsenic exposure, GST polymorphism, total urinary arsenic.
Sarmishtha Chanda, Bhaswati Ganguli, Uma B. Dasgupta and Debendranath Guha Mazumder
Page: 1 - 5
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1120Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Prevalence of hydatidosis in small ruminants and its economic significance in Modjo Modern Export Abattoir, Ethiopia
Abiyot J.1, Beyene, D.1, and Abunna F.2
1Haramaya University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P. O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
2Haramaya University, School of Veterinary Medicine, P. O. Box, 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Accepted 19 January, 2019
Abstract
This study was conducted from November 2009 to April 2010 with a purpose to assess the prevalence and economic significance of hydatid cyst in slaughtered sheep and goats at Modjo Modern Export Abattoir (MMEA), Ethiopia. The result of this study revealed that a total of 1115 small ruminants (348 sheep and 767 goats) were randomly sampled and examined after slaughter for the presence of hydatid cysts in the visceral organs (lungs, livers and hearts) and on muscles of the animals using the standard meat inspection procedures, where 97 (8.7%) were positive. The positive samples were taken to the laboratory for the cyst identification; fertility and viability test were performed. The study indicated that the prevalence of the hydatid cyst in the study area was 28 (8.05%) in sheep and 69 (8.99%) in goats which showed no significant variation between the two species. The distribution of cysts in the internal organs showed little significant variation between two organs (Lung and liver) in both animal species (χ2 = 0.272, P>0.05). From the total examined sheep, 22 (78.6%) of the lung, 9 (32.1%) of liver and 1 (3.6%) of the heart which in goats was, 37 (53.6%) for lung, 27 (39.1%) liver, 0 (0%) heart and 4 (5.6%) muscles, respectively. Lung was the most commonly affected organ both in sheep and goats. Retrospective data in the abattoir from 2005 to 2009 showed an overall prevalence of 5.4 and 11% in sheep and goats, respectively. With a total of 599685 small ruminants slaughtered, 15807 of lung and 9099 of the liver were found infected with hydatidosis. The total annual economic loss incurred due to hydatidosis in small ruminants slaughtered in Modjo modern export abattoir during the study periods was 69,139.77 Ethiopian Birr (ETB). Hence, this study supports evidence to stress the economic consequences and pathological patterns of hydatidosis at the facility and some recommendations suggested.
Key words: Ethiopia, hydatidosis, prevalence, economic significance, abattoir.
D and Abunna F, Beyene , Abiyot J
Page: 1 - 8
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1119Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Prevalence of dementia in an elderly illiterate native Mexican population of indigenous origin
Rafael Stryjer 1, 4*, Baruch Spivak1, 4, Roni Shiloh2, 4, Lea Polak3, 4,Abraham Weizman2, 4 and Josè Martin Rabey3, 4
1Beer Yaakov-Ness-Ziona Mental Health Center, Ness-Ziona, Israel.
2Geha Mental Health Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel.
3Assaf Harofeh, Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
4Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Accepted 21 February, 2019
Abstract
This study aimed to clarify whether or not low level of education may function as a risk factor for dementia among native Mexicans. A door-to-door survey study in an elderly illiterate native Mexican subpopulation of indigenous origin was performed in order to detect prevalence of dementia using both DSM-IV criteria and the Brookdale test. The total village population surveyed included 2226 inhabitants, of which 65 subjects were over 65 years. Dementia, according to DSM IV criteria, was diagnosed in 8 patients above 65 years (9.4% of the target population), while, according to the Brookdale test, it was diagnosed in 5 patients above 65 years (5.9% of the target population). We found a higher prevalence of dementia according to DSM-IV in patients above 65 years (9.4%) in our study subpopulation, which may support the assumption that low education as well as age may contribute to a higher prevalence of dementia.
Key words: Dementia, Brookdale test, DSM-IV, illiteracy.
Abraham Weizman and Josè Martin Rabey, Roni Shiloh, Lea Polak, Rafael Stryjer *, Baruch Spivak
Page: 1 - 4
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1118