International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 187-188, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Maternal Mortality in India: Problems and strategies

¹Debalina Datta and ²Pratyay Pratim Datta

¹Ph.D Scholar, Public Health, SaiNath University, Ranchi, India.

²Post Graduate Resident, Pharmacology, Hi-Tech Medical College, Bhubaneswar, India. Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected].

Accepted 21 July, 2015

Abstract

Any health or health related problem which affects a vast majority of people and hampers the progress of an area or nation or which damages normal lifestyle of people and moreover which is preventable at least to a certain extent, can be called a public health problem. In developing country like India, in the patriarchal society the social position of a vast majority of women is not up to the mark. This creates a dreadful public health problem as a result of high Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR).

Key words: Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), women, pregnancy, maternal mortality, health.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 183-186, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Epidemiology of brainstem haemorrhage in a population of patients admitted at the Department of Neurology, Fann Teaching Hospital, Dakar-Senegal

Touré K.^{1, 3*}, Sarr M.¹, Soumah D.³, Sow A.³, Basse/Faye A.³, Diagne N.S.³, Ndao A.K.³, Diop/Sene M.³, Seck L.B.³, Ndiaye M.³, Diop A.G.³, Tal Dia A.², Ndiaye M.M.³

¹Department of Health Sciences, University of Thies, Senegal.

²Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontostomatology, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar-Senegal.

³Department of Neurology, Fann Teaching Hospital, Dakar-Senegal.

Corresponding author. Email:  [email protected]. Tel:+221 77 5566467 Fax: +221 33 8640339.

Abstract

Brainstem haemorrhage is a low but lethal health condition and few studies have been conducted about it in Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the epidemiology of brainstem haemorrhage among patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, Fann University, Dakar-Senegal. During a cohort study, patients hospitalized from February to July 2009 for brainstem haemorrhage were followed at days 1, 3, 7, 15 and 90. Sociodemographic characteristics of the patient, medical history, clinical, biological, radiological and prognostic data were collected. In a population of 711 patients, 288 cases of stroke were reported, of which 91 were haemorrhagic. The number of brainstem haemorrhage cases was 10 representing a frequency of 10.98% of the total cases of haemorrhagic stroke and 1.49% of the total population. The patients had a mean age of 54.6 years. They were mostly male (6 cases), admitted for coma (4 cases). Hypertension was the main past medical history (5 cases). The mean time of admission was 26.9 hours. The haemorrhage was mainly located at the pons and peduncle (4 cases) and all the brainstem (3 cases). Lethality rate was 70% with 10% on day 3, 33.3% at day 7, 16.7% at day 15 and 60% at day 90. It is necessary to sensitize the community about the primary prevention of stroke.

Key words: Cerebral haemorrhage, brainstem haemorrhage, epidemiology, stroke, Senegal.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 4 (6), pp. 179-182, June, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis among patients visiting Bahir Dar health center, Northwest Ethiopia

Awoke Derbie^1* and Daniel Mekonnen¹

¹Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding Author. E-mail: [email protected] Tel. +251 913 05 98 87

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the world’s deadliest communicable diseases, responsible for ill-health among millions of people each year. Early detection and management of the disease is crucial to reduce associated burdens. Cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2014 to February 2015 at Bahir Dar health centre. Sputum samples were collected stained with Ziehl Neelsen staining technique and examined microscopically.  Data were analysed by using SPSS for Windows and descriptive statistics was used to present figures. Of 103 study subjects, the majority 70(67.9%) were males. The mean age of the participants was 36.1 years. The overall prevalence of smear positive tuberculosis was 7 (6.8%). Relatively higher smear positive tuberculosis was observed among males, illiterates, older age groups, family size 5-10, cigarette smokers and alcohol drinkers. Although the numbers of study subjects were quite limited to draw strong conclusions, the observed prevalence calls up the stakeholders to undertake prevention and control measures.

Key words: Prevalence, smear positive tuberculosis, smokers, patients.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 4 (6), pp. 162-171, June, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
 

Case Study 

Climate change impact on the health of African women and adaptation strategies

*Nwoke E.A and Ibe S.N.O

Department of Public Health Technology, School of Health Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel. (234) 8036775479.

Abstract

Climate change is now compromising the sustainability of human development on the planet because it threatens human health and the ecological support systems on which life depends. Health impact of climate change is grouped into direct and indirect effects depending on whether they occur predominantly via the impact of climate variables upon human biology or are mediated by climate-induced changes on biological and biogeochemical systems. Direct impacts stem from extreme events such as heat waves, floods, droughts, windstorms and wildfires. Indirect effects of climate change on health may arise from the disruption of natural systems, causing infectious diseases, malnutrition, food and water-borne illnesses and increased air pollution. These effects of climate change are more and expected to be experienced more in Africa. African women whether as resident or migrants are most vulnerable group because of their social role as managers of household resources (water, fuel, food and so on) and care givers. In addition, because of their biological and social disposition, African women are confronted with greater risk of these emerging health challenges due to climate change. This paper therefore discusses the climate change impact on the health of African women and the need for this most vulnerable group, to adapt strategically to these emerging health challenges due to climate change.

Key words: Climate change, impact, health, Africa women, adaptation strategies.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN: 2326-7291 Vol. 4 (6), pp. 172-178, June, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Review on global warming and disease dynamics

Gebawo Tibesso Bedasso

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, P.O.Box 229, Ziway.

E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +251 912 15 27 64,

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to elaborate the concept of global warming and to highlight the impact of global warming on animal and human vector borne disease. Global Warming is defined as the increase of the average temperature on Earth. Global warming is a gradual process that threatens to have serious consequence over time, including elevated sea level, crop failure, famine, change in global rain fall pattern, changes to animals and plant populations and serious health effect. The diseases are global entities that depend dynamically on interaction between the host populations and the existing regional climate and thus global warming result in considerable shift of the spectrum of the diseases. Global warming accelerate the spread of disease primarily because warmer global temperature enlarge the geographic range in which disease carrying animals, insect and microorganism and germs and viruses they carry can survive. Global warming can influence the emergence and reemergence of vector borne disease such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and viral disease like West Nile fever. Generally, climate plays an important role in the seasonal pattern or temporal distribution of diseases that are carried and transmitted through vectors because the vector animals often thrive in particular climate conditions. Therefore, factor that results in global warming should be reduced.

Key words: Global warming, disease dynamics, vectors, disease, transmission. 

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN: 2326-7291 Vol. 4 (6), pp. 158-161, June, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of cognitive impairment varied with sex and education in an elderly population 60 years and over living in the commune of Diourbel, Senegal

Touré K.^1,2,3*, Coumé M.^4,, Sow A.,² Basse A.², Diagne N.S.², Sarr Moustapha.¹ , Ndao A.K.², Diop M. S.², Seck L.B.², Ndiaye M.², Tal Dia A.³, Diop A.G.² and Ndiaye M.M.²

¹Department of Health Sciences, University of Thies, Senegal.

²Department of Neurology, Fann Teaching Hospital, Dakar-Senegal.

³Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta. Diop University, Dakar-Senegal.

⁴Medico Social and University Teaching Center of IPRES, Dakar-Senegal.

*Corresponding auhor. E-mail:[email protected]. Tel. +221 77 5566467.

Abstract

With the aging of the population, cognitive impairment is becoming frequent. Thus, a study was conducted to estimate its prevalence in a Senegalese elderly population 60 years and over living in the commune of Diourbel, Senegal. A cross sectional study was conducted from July to august 2007 in a population of elderly aged 60 years and over living in the commune of Diourbel, Senegal to screen for cognitive impairment. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyles, physical activity, social network, medical history, familial history of dementia were collected with a structured questionnaire. Interviews were completed with a clinical exam and neuropsychological testing with the Test of Senegal. Cognitive impairment was defined as a score of ≤ 28/39 with the Test of Senegal. The population (584 elderly) had a mean age of 69.5 years (±7.3), was mostly female (54%), married (74.6%), and illiterated (80.1%).  Social network was poor, alcohol and smoking rare. Hypertension (58%), arthritis (45.9%), gastro-intestinal diseases (38.2%), anemia (29.5%) and cataract (22.9%) were the main health conditions reported. History of dementia was reported by 26.2%. Prevalence of cognitive impairment was 20.7% (95% CI: 17.7%-23.7%). This prevalence was more frequent among female and illiterated elderly persons. Prevalence of cognitive impairment was high and more frequent in female and illiterated elderly population living in the commune of Diourbel, Senegal.

Key words: Cognitive Impairment, Prevalence, Elderly population, Diourbel, Senegal.