Injury morbidity in an urban and a rural area in Tanzania: an epidemiological survey

Background  

Injuries are becoming a major health problem in developing countries. Few population based studies have been carried out in African countries. We examined the pattern of nonfatal injuries and associated risk factors in an urban and rural setting of Tanzania.     

A case-control study of female-to-female nonintimate violence in an urban area

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics surrounding female-to-female nonpartner violence and to identify independent factors associated with risk of female-to-female intentional injuries. METHODS: A case-control investigation was conducted among women who resided in an urban, low-income community and presented for emergency department care for injuries inflicted by female nonpartners. RESULTS: Women were typically victimized by women they knew (88%), in outdoor locations (60%), and in the presence of others (91%). Those found to be at risk for injury typically were young and socially active, used marijuana, and had experienced other kinds of violence. CONCLUSIONS: The present results showed that women injured by female nonpartners had limited resources, experienced disorder in their lives, and were the victims of violence within multiple relationships.     

A profile of diarrhoea in an urban slum area

Researchers followed 90 households (445 people) in Sunderpur slum in Varanasi in Upper Pradesh, India for 1 year and collected stool samples when people were ill with diarrhea to determine diarrhea incidence and causes of diarrheal disease. The water supply consisted of a well, public tap, or house tap with 30 households in each group. They noted 106 diarrheal episodes for an incidence of around 23%. Incidence decreased significantly with age (p.001). For example, it was 62.9% for children 5 years old, 34% in the school age population, and 8.7% in people =or 15 years old. Improved resistance to infection and/or improved personal hygiene could have accounted for this difference. Diarrheal incidence was considerably lower in the autumn (9.3%) and winter months (11.1%) than the spring (49.1%) and summer months [rainy season] (30.5%) (p.001). Researchers found at least 1 parasite in the stool sample of 81.5% of cases. The leading causative agents included Ascaris lumbricoides (42.1%), Entamoeba histolytica (35.2%), hookworm (7.9%), and Escherichia coli (5.7%). Diarrhea incidence was much higher in persons whose water supply was a well (35.8%) compared to 23.2% for those with a public tap, and 12.8% for those with a private tap. These results concerning the water supply corroborated those of the Planning Research and Action Institute's (Upper Pradesh) pilot piped water supply program in the areas of Banki, Parendra, and Mokhampur in which incidence was highest in Banki where the water supply was an open well. The next highest and the lowest incidences were among those whose water supply consisted of public taps and private taps respectively.     

A descriptive cross-sectional study of annoyance from low frequency noise installations in an urban environment

In order to improve the living conditions for respondents highly exposed to traffic noise, it has been recommended that one side of the building should face a "quiet side". Quiet may, however, be spoilt by noise from installations such as ventilation and air-conditioning systems. The noises generated by installations of this kind often have a dominant portion of low frequencies (20-200 Hz) and may be a source of great annoyance and sleep disturbance. This paper describes the cross-sectional part of an intended intervention study among residents exposed to traffic noise on one side of the building and to low frequency noise from installations on the other side of the building. A questionnaire masked as a general living environment study was delivered to a randomly selected person in each household. In total 41 respondents answered the questionnaire (71% response rate). Noise from installations was measured indoors in a bedroom facing the courtyard in a selection of apartments and outdoors in the yard. 24h traffic noise outdoor and indoor levels were calculated. The noise levels from installations were slightly above or at the Swedish recommendations for low frequency noise indoors with the window closed and exceeded the recommendations by about 10 dB SPL when the window was slightly opened. The proportion of persons who reported that they were very or extremely annoyed indoors from noise from installations was more than twice as high as for traffic noise. Installation noise also affected respondents' willingness to have their windows open and to sleep with an open window. The high disturbance of installation noises found in this study indicates the importance of also regulating the noise exposure on the "quiet side" of buildings. Further studies will give a better base for the extent of annoyance and acceptable levels of installation noises.     

A mark-release-recapture study on dispersal and flight distance of Culex pipiens pallens in an urban area of Japan

A mark-release-recapture of Culex pipiens pallens was conducted in an urban area of Japan during June 26-29, 2007. Larvae naturally occurring in rain gutters were collected and reared to adults in a laboratory. A total of 10,183 emerging female Cx. pipiens pallens of 4-8 days old were marked with fluorescent dye and released from one site. Recapture was made on 4 consecutive days using 41 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention traps with 1 kg of dry ice and human landing collection, and 121 marked females were recaptured. The overall recapture rate was 0.01. The mean distance traveled by the recaptured females was estimated as 470, 287, 326, and 517 m on days 1-4, respectively. The maximum flight distance of host-seeking Cx. pipiens pallens was estimated as 1,217 m based on the relationship between distance from the release site to the collection site and the total number of recaptures/traps. The population size of female Cx. pipiens pallens in the study area was estimated as 100,904 +/- 8,509. The size of operational area for the control of Cx. pipiens pallens in urban area is discussed.     

Bed bug infestations in an urban environment

Until recently, bed bugs have been considered uncommon in the industrialized world. This study determined the extent of reemerging bed bug infestations in homeless shelters and other locations in Toronto, Canada. Toronto Public Health documented complaints of bed bug infestations from 46 locations in 2003, most commonly apartments (63%), shelters (15%), and rooming houses (11%). Pest control operators in Toronto (N = 34) reported treating bed bug infestations at 847 locations in 2003, most commonly single-family dwellings (70%), apartments (18%), and shelters (8%). Bed bug infestations were reported at 20 (31%) of 65 homeless shelters. At 1 affected shelter, 4% of residents reported having bed bug bites. Bed bug infestations can have an adverse effect on health and quality of life in the general population, particularly among homeless persons living in shelters.     

Kriged and modeled ambient air levels of benzene in an urban environment: an exposure assessment study

Background  

There is increasing concern regarding the potential adverse health effects of air pollution, particularly hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). However, quantifying exposure to these pollutants is problematic.     

A prospective study of morbidity and mortality rates among farmers and rural and urban nonfarmers

Farmers are known to have lower morbidity and mortality rates than the mean for other occupational groups in the general population. Whether this is due to the urban-rural health gradient or to occupational factors related to farming is not clear. To explore this issue, we conducted a prospective study of farmers and matched rural and urban referents. Official hospital admission and mortality data for the years 1989-1996 were obtained. The relative risk of being admitted to hospital were 10% higher among rural and urban referents than among the farmers. The biggest differences were seen for mental and cardiovascular disorders. The odds of dying during follow-up did not differ between the two rural groups but were doubled among urban referents. In conclusion, the lower morbidity and mortality rates among farmers are partly due to the urban-rural health gradient but in addition salutogenic factors linked to farming seem to be active.     

Noise levels in an urban Asian school environment

Background noise is known to adversely affect speech perception and speech recognition. High levels of background noise in school classrooms may affect student learning, especially for those pupils who are learning in a second language. The current study aimed to determine the noise level and teacher speech-to-noise ratio (SNR) in Hong Kong classrooms. Noise level was measured in 146 occupied classrooms in 37 schools, including kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and special schools, in Hong Kong. The mean noise levels in occupied kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and special school classrooms all exceeded recommended maximum noise levels, and noise reduction measures were seldom used in classrooms. The measured SNRs were not optimal and could have adverse implications for student learning and teachers’ vocal health. Schools in urban Asian environments are advised to consider noise reduction measures in classrooms to better comply with recommended maximum noise levels for classrooms.     

A study of dietary intakes and dietary preferences by questionnaire at a health facility in an urban area]

Dietary preferences and intakes of 2504 patients in a human dock in Tokyo were studied by questionnaire and analyzed according to: 1. Comparison of dietary patterns for breakfast to that for lunch and dinner. 2. Consistency between dietary patterns according to Category Score Table for Breakfast and that from Hayashi's Quantification Theory Type III (QIII). Dietary patterns for breakfast were shown to fall into four Types based on dietary intakes and dietary preferences: Balanced Diet-Japanese Style (Type 1); Balanced Diet-Western Style (Type 2); Unbalanced Diet-Western Style (Type 3); and Unbalanced Diet-with drinks (Type 4). Based on the responses to the questionnaire, there was no correlation between the dietary pattern for lunch to that for breakfast. On the other hand, the dietary pattern for dinner tended to correlate with breakfast. The sample population was divided into two random groups A and B. Group A was analyzed by QIII, and B by the four types of breakfast dietary patterns. Comparison of scores for categorized values for Group A with those of the Group B indicated 91.8% consistent rate. These results, demonstrate that this questionnaire can be used effectively to sort intakes into four dietary patterns, and may be useful in preventive health care studies.     

北京市城区儿童祖辈-父母共同养育社区干预研究

目的 研究社区亲子关系干预措施对北京市城区祖辈-母共同养育质量的作用,为开发适宜社区应用的婴幼儿心理保健模式提供依据。方法 2013年12月-2014年3月选取北京市海淀、石景山区4所社区卫生服务中心管理的4~11月龄儿童203名,按1∶1随机分为研究组和对照组。研究组在常规儿童定期体检中对家长个体化技能指导和咨询,并每月1次对家长进行知识讲座。对照组儿童及家庭仅接受常规儿童健康检查与指导。1年后通过问卷调查比较两组儿童家庭祖辈-父母共同养育情况。结果 两组家庭祖辈与父母缺乏育儿沟通和养育冲突问题较为突出。研究组家庭中祖辈对母亲的情感支持程度(P<0.01)和配合度更高(P=0.046);研究组中祖辈和母亲存在养育分歧(P=0.046)、以及祖辈在儿童面前说母亲坏话的家庭比例均低于对照组(P=0.04)。结论 社区亲子关系干预措施对提高共同养育者在育儿过程中的配合度、减少养育分歧、减少损害亲子关系发展行为等方面具有积极作用,但对共同养育其他维度作用有限。建议进一步完善社区促进亲子关系干预策略。     

Occupational health and the environment in an urban slum in India

The Indo-Dutch Environmental & Sanitary Engineering Project under the Ganga action Plan in Kanpur and Mirzapur is being executed within the Indo-Dutch bilateral development cooperation framework. The project aims to integrate physical, social and health related improvements. It is expected that the development approach and methodology can be replicated in other urban settlements in India. The project is being supplemented by a training and institutional strengthening programme to facilitate the transfer of new technologies and improvement of operation and maintenance of the new facilities. The project is also aimed at the improvement of the living conditions of the population, by installing drinking water and drainage systems. A socio-economic unit in the project supports the technical interventions by enhancing the community to participate in project activities. The Occupational Health Programme in Jajmau, an industrial slum of Kanpur, aims to improve the working conditions of tannery workers. Four hundred and ninety-seven tannery workers and 80 employees not engaged in leather work, from 20 tanneries, were interviewed and underwent physical examination. The mean age of tannery workers was 32 years, about half of them recently migrated to Kanpur. The majority of the workers are illiterate, have temporary jobs and 85% have a monthly income between 300 and 600 Rs. Occupational morbidity was 28.2%. Regular meetings with tannery owners, the training of tannery workers in first aid, and support for the installation of safety and health councils in tanneries are the main programme activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Material versus social deprivation and health: a case study of an urban area

Socioeconomic factors are one of the main determinants of health inequalities. However, which component of socioeconomic status affects health most and how that relationship should be measured remains an open question. The aim of this study was to compare material and social deprivation indexes in order to determine which better explains health inequalities within an urban area. Following a review of the literature on small area deprivation indexes, a case study of the Italian city Genoa is presented. The city of Genoa is split into 71 small areas [urbanistic units (UU)], each of which has about 9,500 inhabitants. For each small area, socioeconomic indicators were extracted from the 2001 Census, whereas health indicators were computed from the death registry for 2001–2003. Factorial analyses was used to choose the deprivation variables, which were utilised to create two distinct deprivation indexes referring to material and social deprivation, respectively. Both deprivation indexes are positively correlated with health status proxied by standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) under 65. The material index, however, correlates more highly with SMRs than the social index, and thus the material index is the more suitable measure to explain variations in premature mortality within an urban area. Moreover, the two indexes must be kept distinct.      

Blood-feeding of Culex mosquitoes in an urban environment.

The modified capillary tube precipitin test was used to identify blood meal sources of Culex quinquefasciatus emerging from sewage ditches in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Canines were the primary hosts, but Passeriformes and humans were also suitable blood meal sources. The percentage of Cx. quinquefasciatus feeding on these 3 hosts fluctuated with the habitat and the season.     

Associations of park features with park use and park-based physical activity in an urban environment in Asia: A cross-sectional study

Park use is associated with health, yet our understanding of park features related to their use is limited. Singapore's parks were audited for 30 micro-features, then geospatial analysis characterized micro-features scores for parks nearest to participants' homes. Adults (3,435) reported their park use and park-based physical activity. Using linear regression models, we found living near a park with higher micro-features scores was associated with more time in parks and park-based physical activity. Specific micro-features were associated with more park time (wildlife areas, water features, forested areas, unpaved trails (2–2.6 h/month, p < 0.05)) and with physical activity in parks (water features, forested areas, large playground, open green spaces (1.8–2.2 h/month, p < 0.05)). These findings could inform parks planning to support population-health.