scholarly journals Investigation of Noise Pollution in an Educational Building – Case Study of Babylon University in Iraq

2022 ◽  
Vol 961 (1) ◽  
pp. 012068
Author(s):  
Rawaa Al-Isawi ◽  
Intidhar Jabir Idan ◽  
Afrah Abood Hassan

Abstract Acoustic conditions, considered an indicator of the level of comfort, are a major concern in educational facilities since they are linked to students’ well-being and learning capacity. In this study, measurements of the acoustical comfort conditions were performed using portable IEQ meter have been assessed in four selected areas of environmental engineering department building (The classroom for fourth year, student’s corridor, teacher’s corridor and reception area) in the University of Babylon in Hillah City. This was done by analyzing the data measured for 13 months from August (2020) to August (2021). Statistical analysis by using the linear regression test was performed to determine the relationship between the selected areas. Noise is the major parameter for the educational areas that can interfere with the students’ activities and eventually, this will have a detrimental effect on the students’ physical and psychological health. The acquired results were compared to the reference values specified in the handbook to international standards for noise compliance in academic educational facilities. The results show that all the studied areas in the Environmental Engineering Department had back-ground noise levels out of the recommended threshold limit values (>50 dB) revealed that the indoor environment of these areas was of poor quality, indicating the require for interventions. This study can be considered a pilot study for future comparable research on Iraqi universities.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-112
Author(s):  
Zeynep Ümmühatun Özen ◽  
Mustafa Tosun ◽  
Enes Yasa

In this study, the effects of noise, due to the increase in population in urban centers, industrialization and land traffic, are evaluated on human health, indoor life standards, and auditory comfort. For this purpose, noise levels were recorded in Ahmet Hilmi Nalcaci Street, which is one of the densest streets of Konya. The recordings were performed at 14 different stations, three times a day and for 14 days. A "Testo 815" brand device was used for measurement and recording. The results of the measurements were evaluated according to international standards and domestic regulations, taking into account the situations where windows and doors, which constitute integrity and blanks in the envelope of a structure, are open. It was determined that the noise levels recorded at the stations are above the discomfort threshold. Settlement-and architecture-level measures to reduce and control noise are suggested in the study. It was determined that the most effective measure in this context would be isolation in structure envelopes. Types of walls generally used in the buildings around the street, which is the subject of the study, were determined and the sound penetration loss values for these walls were given. The sound penetration loss values were also compared to indoor noise limit values in certain measurement points and excessive noise values were presented in the study. Keywords: Noise pollution, traffic noise control, environmental noise, urban level noise, Testo 815


Author(s):  
V.R. Kuchma ◽  
M.I. Stеpanova ◽  
T.V. Shumkova ◽  
I.E. Aleksandrova

For the purpose of the development of novel approaches during the commission stage, the hygienic assessment of conditions of training in specially constructed innovative building of SKOLKOVO International Gymnasium was performed. Hygienic examination of innovative architectural and planning solutions, learning conditions and hygienic modeling of the optimal placement of furniture and equipment in multi-faceted educational facilities with panoramic glazing made it possible to predict the provision of the gymnasium with an optimal level of sanitary and epidemiological well-being of students. This is achieved by the innovative layout of the gymnasium building and its territory. Hygienic specification of zoning of both buildings and premises of the educational institution, include the requirements to satisfy the hygienic criteria on children education, motor activity, organization of proper nutrition, and using the building as a center for family leisure. Hygienic modeling of educational furniture and equipment provides optimal conditions (viewing angle) for visual work of students in all multifaceted classes. The obtained data are the basis for amendments to the state sanitary and epidemiological rules and regulations in the field of organization of education and upbringing of children.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70
Author(s):  
Tapio S. Katko ◽  
Jarmo J. Hukka

This paper aims at shedding light on the significance of water epidemics and their potential positive impacts on improving preparedness in water and sanitation services. We explore the water epidemic of Nokia in 2007 and preparedness-related reactions since then. The corona case confirms the fundamental role of clean water for well-being in communities, the need for sound management of water services to proactively promote public health, as well as the need for expanding conventional water and environmental engineering education and research to offer more holistic views.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjali Bansal ◽  
Laxmi Kant Dwivedi

Abstract Background According to United Nations, 19% of females in the world relied only on the permanent method of family planning, with 37% in India according to NFHS-4. Limited studies tried to measure the sterilization regret, and its correlated factors. The study tried to explore the trend of sterilization regret in India from 1992 to 2015 and to elicit the determining effects of various factors on sterilization regret, especially in context to perceived quality of care in the sterilization operations and type of providers. Data and methods The pooled data from NFHS-1, NFHS-3 and NFHS-4 was used to explore the regret by creating interaction between time and all the predictors. Predicted probabilities were calculated to show the trend of sterilization regret amounting to quality of care, type of health provider at the three time periods. Results The sterilization regret was increased from 5 % in NFHS-1 to 7 % in NFHS-4. According to NFHS-4, for those whose sterilization was performed in private health facility the regret was found to be less (OR-0.937; 95% CI- (0.882–0.996)) compared to public health facility. Also, the results show a two-fold increase in regret when women reported bad quality of care. The results from predicted probabilities provide enough evidence that the regret due to bad quality of care in sterilization operation had increased with each subsequent round of NFHS. Conclusion Many socio-economic and demographic factors have influenced the regret, but the poor quality of care contributed maximum to the regret from 1992 to 2015. The health facilities have seriously strayed from improving the health and well-being of women in providing the family planning methods. In addition, to public facilities, the regret amounting to private facilities have also increased from NFHS-1 to 4. The quality of care provided in the family planning operation should be standardized in every hospital to strengthen the health systems in the country. The couple should be motivated to adopt more of spacing methods.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Muhammad ◽  
Shobhit Srivastava ◽  
T. V. Sekher

Abstract Background Greater cognitive performance has been shown to be associated with better mental and physical health and lower mortality. The present study contributes to the existing literature on the linkages of self-perceived income sufficiency and cognitive impairment. Study also provides additional insights on other socioeconomic and health-related variables that are associated with cognitive impairment in older ages. Methods Data for this study is derived from the 'Building Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India'. The final sample size for the analysis after removing missing cases was 9176 older adults. Descriptive along with bivariate analyses were presented to show the plausible associations of cognitive impairment with potential risk factors using the chi-square test. Also, binary logistic regression analysis was performed to provide the relationship between cognitive impairment and risk factors. The software used was STATA 14. Results About 43% of older adults reported that they had no source of income and 7.2% had income but not sufficient to fulfil their basic needs. Older adults with income but partially sufficient to fulfil their basic needs had 39% significantly higher likelihood to suffer from cognitive impairment than older adults who had sufficient income [OR: 1.39; OR: 1.21–1.59]. Likelihood of cognitive impairment was low among older adults with asset ownership than older adults with no asset ownership [OR: 0.83; CI: 0.72–0.95]. Again, older adults who work by compulsion (73.3%) or felt mental or physical stress due to work (57.6%) had highest percentage of cognitive impairment. Moreover, older adults with poor self-rated health, low instrumental activities of daily living, low activities of daily living, low subjective well-being and low psychological health were at increased risk for cognitive impairment. Conclusion The study highlights the pressing need for care and support and especially financial incentives in the old age to preserve cognitive health. Further, while planning geriatric health care for older adults in India, priority must be given to financially backward, with no asset ownership, with poor health status, older-older, widowed, and illiterate older individuals, as they are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment.


Author(s):  
Andrea Zammitti ◽  
Chiara Imbrogliera ◽  
Angela Russo ◽  
Rita Zarbo ◽  
Paola Magnano

Italy was quickly hit hard by the coronavirus. ‘Lockdown’ has significantly impacted the psychological health, personal wellbeing and quality of life of the people. The study aims to explore the relationship between positive and negative affect, as well as positive (spiritual well-being and flourishing) and negative outcomes (psychological distress caused by a traumatic life event in terms of perception of PTSD symptoms) on Italian adults during the lockdown period. Data was collected between April and May 2020. The participants were 281 Italian adults aged between 18 and 73 years. The survey was composed of the following measures: Flourishing Scale, Jarel Spiritual Well-Being scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Fear of COVID-19. The mediational analysis shows that fear of COVID-19 fully mediates the relationship between negative affect and spiritual well-being and flourishing; fear of COVID-19 partially mediates the relationship between negative affect and PTSD symptoms; the positive affect shows only direct effects on positive outcomes. Therefore, fear of COVID-19 does not play any mediation role. Implications for psychological interventions and future research will be discussed.


Challenges ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Tanja Sobko ◽  
Gavin T. L. Brown

Urbanized children today have fewer opportunities to interact with nature which may lead to a greater risk of mental health problems. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate which particular changes in connectedness to nature (CN) would improve psychological well-being (PW) in young children. Six hundred and thirty-nine preschoolers (52.0% boys, age 34.9 ± 9.5 months) participated in Play&Grow, an early environmental education intervention. Children’s CN and PW were evaluated by parents before and after the program with validated measures; the CNI-PPC (four factors) and the SDQ, Strength and Difficulties questionnaire (five factors), respectively. The effectiveness of the intervention on the primary outcomes (CN, PW) as well as the relationship between them was analyzed in a repeated measures path model with intervention status as a causal predictor. Specific CN factors consistently increased ProSocial behavior and reduced Hyperactivity and Emotional problems. In summary, this study showed that the previously reported impact shifted from the total CN score to the specific CN factors. The Play&Grow intervention positively increased children’s CN and improved some aspects of psychological well-being in children which is a preliminary evidence of developmental benefits of connecting young children with nature. Our results indicate promising direction of action for the improvement of families’ psychological health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Aslanyan ◽  
S Sahakyan ◽  
V Petrosyan

Abstract Background Literature suggests increasing evidence that incompetent midwifery education results in poor quality of care. The study compared and evaluated the level of compliance of the Armenian national criterion on midwifery with the global competency standards and developed recommendations for improvement. Methods The study team conducted a document review using a standardized checklist, which was adapted from the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) core assessment tools. The document review explored if the main knowledge and skills/ability related elements of each ICM competency were separately covered by different modules of the national criterion using a scoring system with categories: not met, partially met, fully met and unspecified. Results Although the national criterion did not have specifically defined competencies, most of the elements required by the ICM were present as specific learning outcomes under different modules of the criterion. Midwifery program curriculum was described as intensive with unnecessarily heavy workload. Additionally, the document review reviled that most of the learning outcome defined in modules of the national criterion focused more on theoretical knowledge rather than practical skills and abilities. Overall, the ICM required competency in provision of care during pregnancy was the most comprehensively covered one in the national criterion, while the competency in facilitation of abortion related care was the lowest covered. National criterion did not highlight the importance of topics such as women's rights and health, principles of epidemiology, statistical methods of research, cultural, local and ethical beliefs. Conclusions The systematic comparison of the national criterion with internationally recognized essential competencies demonstrates significant gaps. The study team recommends revisions to the national criterion to make it competency based. Key messages Midwifery education criteria in Armenia did not reflect internationally accepted midwifery competency’s fundamental philosophy and values. Given the shortcomings of the current national midwifery education criterion, a comprehensive revision of the competencies of midwives in Armenia should be considered.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 646-646
Author(s):  
Jerin Lee ◽  
Natalie Shook

Abstract The past two decades have been marked by a rapidly aging population in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018), making prejudicial attitudes toward older adults (i.e., ageism) and the impact of such attitudes more relevant. As such, ageism researchers have worked tirelessly to not only understand this normalized and insidious form of bias, but also develop efforts to combat it. This symposium will feature four ageism researchers who will showcase both the growing pains and novel contributions of ageism research, ranging from the impact of ageism on psychological health to ageism interventions to issues related to the measurement of ageism. Specifically, Dr. Ayalon will present findings regarding difficulties with the assessment of exposure to ageism and the consequences of ageism for psychological well-being. Dr. Horhota will share research demonstrating challenges associated with confronting ageism. Dr. Levy will present a model showcasing factors associated with the reduction of ageism. Ms. Lee will discuss research findings examining the construct validity of several ageism measures. These talks highlight theoretical and real-world implications associated with the complex nature of ageism, providing important directions for enriching ageism research going forward.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Amankwah-Poku ◽  
Delight Abla Klutsey ◽  
Kwaku Oppong Asante

Abstract Background The prevalence of disclosure of status to children living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is low in most sub-Saharan African countries, leading to poor compliance and adverse psychological outcomes in these children. This study examined the influence of disclosure on health outcomes in children living with HIV and their caregivers. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, 155 HIV-positive children between age 6–15 years and their caregivers were administered standardized questionnaires measuring adherence to medication, children's psychological well-being, caregiver burden, and caregivers’ psychological health. Results Results indicated that only 33.5% of the children sampled knew their status. Disclosure of HIV status was significantly related to medication adherence, psychological wellbeing, the burden of caregiving, and the length of the disclosure. A child’s age and level of education were the only demographic variables that significantly predicted disclosure of HIV status. In a hierarchical analysis, after controlling for all demographic variables medication adherence, psychological well-being and burden of caregiving were found to be significant predictors of disclosure of status in children living with HIV. Conclusions Findings suggest the need for disclosure of status among children living with HIV for a positive impact on their medication adherence and psychological health. These findings underscore the need for the development of context-specific interventions that will guide and encourage disclosure of status by caregivers to children living with HIV.


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