International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Longitudinal study on obesity trends in urban school children of Sousse, Tunisia: A 4-year analysis

Harrabi Imed¹, Maatoug Maaloul Jihene¹*, Ben Hammouda Hamida¹, Gaha Rafika¹, Lazreg Fatma², Boussaadia Amel² and Ghannem Hassen¹.

¹Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Farhat Hached Hospital, BP 126 4002 Sousse Tunisia.
²Regional Direction of Scholar Medicine, Tunisia.

Accepted 18 September, 2023

Abstract

Our objective was to examine tracking patterns of body mass index (BMI) as well as their predictors between childhood and adolescence. A cohort of 452 Tunisian children aged 13 - 15 years was followed for 4 years (1999 - 2003). Tracking of BMI was defined as in individual maintaining a certain status or relative position (relative BMI quartile) overtime. After 4 years, almost 50% of the subjects had maintained their relative positions, but 25% had moved into a lower or higher quartile. The BMIs of thin and fat were more likely to track: 61.9 and 66.7% remained in the bottom and upper quartiles, respectively. Overweight children were 2.6 times as likely as all other children to become overweight adolescents. Individual’s initial BMIs, sex and socioeconomic status helped to predict tracking and change in BMI. Predictors of overweight tracking found in this study would be useful to select children at risk for preventive intervention.

Key words: Obesity, adolescents, cardiovascular risk factor.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 13 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Streamlining mathematical models for testing Chlamydia intervention strategies

Catherine Heffernan¹* and Jacob A. Dunningham²

¹Leeds Primary Care Trust, West Park Ring Road, United Kingdom or Institute of Health Sciences, Charles Thackrah
Buidling, University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

²School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.

Accepted 10 September, 2023

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a rise in applications of mathematical modelling in sexually transmitted infections. This paper outlines a new approach to mathematical modelling that tests intervention efforts on Chlamydia. The aim was to produce a simple model that can be used when new data comes to hand without the need to re-run the simulation. A simple model was developed to study the effects of interventions in lowering rates of Chlamydia in a high-risk population of 16 to 24 year olds. Parameters are informed by the best available data. The model was verified by running it backwards in time to see if it correctly ‘retrodicts’ rates of Chlamydia in the past. The model predicted that Chlamydia would disappear long-term if there were 45% condom use, annual check- ups and 23.5% successful contact tracing among the high-risk 16 – 24 year old age group. The model’s expressions can be applied readily to different populations of interest and to address specific questions, indicating that the model is a quick and easy tool to apply in public health policy making.

Key words: Mathematical modelling, Chlamydia, public health interventions, partner notification, annual check-up, condom use.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Challenges in accessing primary health care services for rural communities in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Ibrahim Musa Jaro and Abdulhamed Adamu Ibrahim

Department of Geography, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Accepted 12 October, 2023

Abstract

In Jigawa state urban settlement pattern exhibit discrete format, while the rural setting is made up of settlements units of individual distinct villages. They have basic welfare facilities like markets, hospitals, schools and other social facilities located in them. This study examines and explains how accessibility problems affect level of utilization of the primary health care system (as measured the location hospitals) in Jigawa state. The result revealed that distribution of primary health care centres and facilities is not homogeneous because of political policy and so their location does offer equal access or uniform benefit to the rural people. It was also found out that few settlements have primary health centres and cottage hospitals located in them and they are poorly connected by road. And so, the number of people utilizing the primary health care centers and facilities declines because of the increasing distance between their places of residences and points were they obtain health services. Other reasons which have contributed to low level of utilization are user fees for services, cost of transport, non-availability of drugs, lack of good doctors and qualified nurses, long waiting time for treatment. All these encouraged people to go for options provided by traditional orthodox. It was recommended that there should be improvement in the location of primary health care centres and good roads should be constructed to link all health facilities.

Keywords: primary health care, settlement, rural people, Jigawa state.
 

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2023. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Perspective

SARS-CoV-2 and Malaria Reciprocal Cross-Immunity

TareefFadhilRaham; MOH-Iraq email: [email protected]
Accepted April 14, 2023

Abstract

Expectations are well known to overestimate Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) burden in all the malaria-endemic regions, especially in Africa. The reported numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Africa were the least. Expectations also overestimated the malaria burden. In April 2020, WHO predicted malaria deaths doubling during the pandemic if actions werenot taken. However, the global malaria case incidence remained unchanged and didn't rise, as expected. Furthermore, against all expectations, the global malaria death count did not rise in 2021, and the malaria death count was even averted unexpectedly in Africa. Despite the effect of malaria endemicity on COVID-19 incidence and severity as suggested by the previous literature, the role of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in decreasing malaria incidence and severity was not raised yet. Through this perspective, we reviewed and discussed existing data and literature concerning the malaria burden in 2020 and 2021 with the corresponding COVID-19 data to identify whether the spread of COVID-19 disease was related to the lower-than-expected malaria burden.The existence of malaria and   SARS-CoV-2 reciprocal cross-immunity was suggested for the first time.
Keywords: Reciprocal Immunity; CrossImmunity;SARS-CoV-2; Malaria;COVID-19.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determinants of knowledge and awareness about AIDS: Urban-rural differentials in Bangladesh

Mosiur Rahman

Department of Population Science and Human Resource Development, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 22 August, 2022

Abstract

This study utilized data from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004 to identify the determinants of knowledge about AIDS for women of urban and rural areas of Bangladesh, bi-variate and multivariate logistic regression methods were employed in analyzing data. This study found that a wider gap exists between urban and rural areas regarding knowledge about AIDS, where every 8 out of 10 urban women know about AIDS but almost half of the rural women still do not know about AIDS. Mass media play a major role for growing awareness about AIDS in both of these areas. In the urban area 61.6 percent women knew at least one correct way to avoid AIDS but rural women are in miserable condition because the corresponding figure for rural women was only 31.3% that means 37.7 and 67.7% among urban and rural women respectively still did not know how to avoid AIDS. Binary logistic regression method shows that education, occupation, ever use of contraception, currently using condom, permission to go to hospital/health center, mass media exposure, region of residence and wealth index significantly influence the knowledge about AIDS among rural women, whereas, in the urban areas except occupation and currently using condom all these remaining variables appear as the significant predictors of knowledge about AIDS.

Key words: AIDS, mass media, Bangladesh, logistic regression analysis.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 12 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Cyanobacteria and absence of cyanotoxins in a public water supply source

Ludmilla Santana Soares e Barros^1*, Fagner Correia de Souza², Lúcia Helena Sipaúba Tavares² and Luiz Augusto do Amaral³

¹Center of Agrarian, Environment and Biological Sciences (CCAAB) of UFRB, Cruz das Almas BA Brazil, 44380-000.

²UNESP Aquaculture Center, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FCAV/UNESP, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n. 14884-900, Jaboticabal SP Brazil.

³Preventive Veterinarian Medicine and Animal Reproduction of FCAV/UNESP, 14884-900, Jaboticabal SP Brazil.

Accepted 16 September, 2022

Abstract

Current analysis, involving measurements of biotic and abiotic factors, determined which factor favored cyanobacteria with subsequent concentrations of microcystins in water collected from a public water supply source during the dry and rainy periods and which received residual water from agricultural production systems. Since no microcystins were detected, waters fitted within the maximum limits of 1mg.L^-1 for MC-LR. Nevertheless, if aquiculture production systems are not properly administered, especially for the diet factor, great risks will exist in the contamination and pollution of fresh water. This fact may cause intoxication to the population that use the water and to the aquatic plants and animals which make it their habitat.

Key words: HPLC, nitrogen, organic matter, microcystins, phosphorus.