scholarly journals Trends in Poisoning and Bites among Patients Referred to the Limbe Regional Hospital, South-West Cameroon

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Brice Nkontcheu Kenko ◽  
Anna Ewang Mekone ◽  
Jacob Mugri Ekaineck
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Regional Hospital ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Dog Bite ◽  
Emergency Ward ◽  
South West ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Animal Bites

Poisoning is a common public health issue as it affects millions of people in all social levels worldwide. This retrospective cohort study assessed trends in poisoning and bites among patients referred to the Limbe Regional Hospital from the 1st January 2009 to the 31st December 2018 (10 years). After clearance from public health authorities, data was collected from April to July 2019 at the Emergency Ward of the Limbe Regional Hospital from records. The Limbe Regional Hospital received 244 patients from 2009 to 2018 because of poisoning and animal bites. Twelve types of poisons and eight types of bites were recorded. Dog bite (33.20%), snake bite (15.16%) and ingestion of bleaching agent (11.48%) were significantly (p<0.001) more frequent. Based on gender, males (55%) significantly (p<0.01) suffered from more than females (45%). The age of the patient significantly (p<0.001) influenced the frequency of poisons and bites as patients under 30 years old were the most affected group. The occupation of the patient significantly (p<0.001) influenced the frequency of poisoning and bites with a high percentage occurring in unemployed patients (67.21%). The number of cases significantly changed according to seasonality. While a few cases (7%) occurred under unknown circumstances, accidental cases (80%) were significantly (p<0.001) higher than suicide attempts (13%). This study raises awareness of poisoning and bites, and stresses on the importance of the safekeeping of toxic compounds, respecting prescribed drugs doses, being careful when dealing with animals and the need to create psychological and poison management centers in Cameroon.

Reptile-associated salmonellosis in children aged under 5 years in South West England

2014 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Murphy ◽  
Femi Oshin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Exposure Age ◽  
South West ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Uk ◽  
South West England ◽  
Children Under 5

ObjectiveTo determine the proportion of Salmonella cases in children aged <5 years that were reptile-associated salmonellosis (RAS) and to compare the severity of illness.DesignTo analyse all cases of salmonellosis reported to public health authorities in children aged under 5 years in the South West of the UK from January 2010 to December 2013 for reptile exposure, age, serotype, hospitalisation and invasive disease.Results48 of 175 (27%) Salmonella cases had exposure to reptiles. The median age of RAS cases was significantly lower than non-RAS cases (0.5 vs 1.0 year). RAS cases were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalised (23/48) compared with non-RAS cases (25/127; p=0.0002). This trend continued in cases aged under 12 months, with significantly more RAS cases hospitalised (19/38) than non-RAS cases (8/42; p=0.003). Significantly more RAS cases had invasive disease (8/48: 5 bacteraemia, 2 meningitis, 1 colitis) than non-RAS cases (4/127: 3 bacteraemia, 1 meningitis).ConclusionsReptile exposure was found in over a quarter of all reported Salmonella cases in children under 5 years of age. RAS is associated with young age, hospitalisation and invasive disease.

scholarly journals Salt in Fast Food Products and Ready-to-Eat Sauces: Should it Be a Matter of Concern for Public Health?

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Aurelia ZUGRAVU ◽  
Monica TARCEA ◽  
Florin SOPTICA ◽  
Daniela PATRASCU ◽  
Anca STOIAN-PANTEA
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Salt Intake ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Contemporary World ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

Abstract: Salt intake is an important public health issue in the contemporary world, since salt overconsumption is a major risk factor for high blood pressure. Some of the important sources of salt are fast food products, generally over salted in order to be desirable for the consumer. In the present study we evaluated salt levels in some very popular fast food dishes in Romania, in 2011. Local public health authorities gathered randomly 5 samples per product (shaorma, burger, pizza) in their county. Samples of sauces were also gathered, as important components of fast food dishes (mayonnaise, ketchup, other). Salt levels were measured in local laboratories. Data was collected by the National Institute of Public Health. Results showed considerable differences between samples, with minimal values under 1 % salt and maximal values of 1.9% (burgers, Arad; pizza, Olt). Differences were present not only in on-spot produced dishes, but also in ready-to-eat sauces, where some producers use very high quantities of salt. The average values of salt concentrations were: 1.5% for pizza, 1.33 % for shaorma, burgers and mayonnaise, 1.87% for ketchup and 1.4% for other sauces. Figures found are over the average values for home-made dishes, so efforts need to be made to determine fast food business operators to add less salt and to enhance taste by substituting it with other seasonings like herbs and spices. Food reformulation initiatives, although very difficult to implement in the gastronomy/ fast food sector, may achieve significant results in tackling salt intake via fast food products and ready-to-eat sauces and dressings.

scholarly journals Five year (2013-2017) trends in poisoning among patients of the Buea Regional Hospital, South-West Region (Cameroon)

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (16) ◽  
pp. 209-216
Author(s):  
Daniel Brice Kenko Nkontcheu ◽  
Norbert Ngameni Tchamadeu ◽  
Marlyn-Uriel Ngwe-Bell
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Regional Hospital ◽  
Accidental Poisoning ◽  
Dog Bite ◽  
Hospital Data ◽  
Temporal Dynamic ◽  
West Region ◽  
Cancer Mutation ◽  
South West

Millions of people suffer from poisoning worldwide and some die because of complications. The aim of this study was to assess five-year trends in poisoning among patients referred to the Buea Regional Hospital. Data was collected from records in the Emergency Unit, in records from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2017, using a form designed for the purpose. A total of 335 cases of poisoning were recorded. Twenty-nine (29) types of poisoning agents were recorded; the highest percentage was dog bite (23.28%), followed by food poisoning (18.81%). There was a temporal dynamic in poisoning as the year 2015 had the highest number of cases with percentage of 25.38% while the year 2014 had the lowest number of cases with a percentage of 13.44%. Moreover, the gender was not associated with poisoning as the percentage in males (50.15%) was not significantly (P > 0.05) different from the percentage in females (49.85%). Besides that, the gender did not determine poisoning circumstances (P > 0.05) even though more female were concerned with suicide attempts. Accidental poisoning was significantly (P < 0.001) more common (86.27%) than suicide attempts (13.73%). Based on the marital status, single patients were significantly (P < 0.001) more affected (65.97%) as compared to married ones (34.03%). Additionally, the frequency varied significantly (P > 0.001) in terms of patient's occupation with unemployed being the most affected group (63.28%) as compared to workers (36.72%). Based on ages, the age group (16-30 years) was the most affected (40.90%). Fortunately, the percentage of healed cases (97.91%) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the percentages of cases reported dead (2.09%); nevertheless, chronic signs such as immune suppression, cancer, mutation and reduction of reproductive capacities may appear many years later. Inevitably, more studies on poisoning should be made; this will raise the necessity to sensitize populations on poisoning and the need to create poison management centres.

scholarly journals Users’ Beliefs Toward Physical Distancing in Facebook Pages of Public Health Authorities During COVID-19 Pandemic in Early 2020

2021 ◽  
pp. 109019812110144
Author(s):  
Soon Guan Tan ◽  
Aravind Sesagiri Raamkumar ◽  
Hwee Lin Wee
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Belief Model ◽  
United States Public Health ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Belief Model ◽  
The Health Belief Model

This study aims to describe Facebook users’ beliefs toward physical distancing measures implemented during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic using the key constructs of the health belief model. A combination of rule-based filtering and manual classification methods was used to classify user comments on COVID-19 Facebook posts of three public health authorities: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, Public Health England, and Ministry of Health, Singapore. A total of 104,304 comments were analyzed for posts published between 1 January, 2020, and 31 March, 2020, along with COVID-19 cases and deaths count data from the three countries. Findings indicate that the perceived benefits of physical distancing measures ( n = 3,463; 3.3%) was three times higher than perceived barriers ( n = 1,062; 1.0%). Perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 ( n = 2,934; 2.8%) was higher compared with perceived severity ( n = 2,081; 2.0%). Although susceptibility aspects of physical distancing were discussed more often at the start of the year, mentions on the benefits of intervention emerged stronger toward the end of the analysis period, highlighting the shift in beliefs. The health belief model is useful for understanding Facebook users’ beliefs at a basic level, and it provides a scope for further improvement.

scholarly journals Fueling the Covid-19 pandemic: summer school holidays and incidence rates in German districts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Plümper ◽  
Eric Neumayer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Summer School ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Robert Koch Institute ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Holiday Period ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

AbstractBackgroundThe Robert-Koch-Institute reports that during the summer holiday period a foreign country is stated as the most likely place of infection for an average of 27 and a maximum of 49% of new SARS-CoV-2 infections in Germany.MethodsCross-sectional study on observational data. In Germany, summer school holidays are coordinated between states and spread out over 13 weeks. Employing a dynamic model with district fixed effects, we analyze the association between these holidays and weekly incidence rates across 401 German districts.ResultsWe find effects of the holiday period of around 45% of the average district incidence rates in Germany during their respective final week of holidays and the 2 weeks after holidays end. Western states tend to experience stronger effects than Eastern states. We also find statistically significant interaction effects of school holidays with per capita taxable income and the share of foreign residents in a district’s population.ConclusionsOur results suggest that changed behavior during the holiday season accelerated the pandemic and made it considerably more difficult for public health authorities to contain the spread of the virus by means of contact tracing. Germany’s public health authorities did not prepare adequately for this acceleration.

scholarly journals Indoor Environmental Quality in Dwellings and Lifestyle Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Russian Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5975
Author(s):  
Vladimir Reshetnikov ◽  
Oleg Mitrokhin ◽  
Elena Belova ◽  
Victor Mikhailovsky ◽  
Maria Mikerova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Contagious Diseases ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Isolation Index ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern, and as a response, public health authorities started enforcing preventive measures like self-isolation and social distancing. The enforcement of isolation has consequences that may affect the lifestyle-related behavior of the general population. Quarantine encompasses a range of strategies that can be used to detain, isolate, or conditionally release individuals or populations infected or exposed to contagious diseases and should be tailored to circumstances. Interestingly, medical students may represent an example of how the COVID-19 pandemic can form new habits and change lifestyle behaviors. We conducted a web-based survey to assess changes in lifestyle-related behavior of self-isolated medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then we analyzed the sanitary-hygienic regulations of the Russian Federation to determine the requirements for healthy buildings. Results showed that during the pandemic, the enforcement of isolation affects medical students’ lifestyle-related behavior and accompanies an increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and healthy buildings are cutting-edge factors in preventing COVID-19 and NCDs. The Russian sanitary-hygienic regulations support improving this factor with suitable requirements for ventilation, sewage, waste management, and disinfection. Herein, assessing isolation is possible through the hygienic self-isolation index.

Preparedness and response in Portuguese emergency plans - Interaction with public health

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Leiras ◽  
A Martins
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Authority ◽  
Civil Protection ◽  
Emergency Plans ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Protection Authority

Abstract Background Articulation between Civil Protection and Public Health authorities is of paramount importance to control, reduce and prevent threats to the health of the population in situations of crisis or catastrophes. National Civil Protection Authority produces Emergency Plans which describe the role of every stakeholder in emergency situations. Role and importance of Public Health and Public Health Authorities is not always present or well described and known amongst stakeholders. Methods Data was collected from all Districtal Emergency Plans (n = 18). Each document was analysed considering time frame, refences to Public Health and Health Authorities, definition of roles, communication channels, coordination and inclusion of intersectoral communication flow. Quantitative analysis included absolute and relative frequencies and qualitative analysis to all parts related to the terms “Public Health” and “Health Authority”. Each document was reviewed by 2 independent researchers. Results From 18 Districtal Emergency Plans (DEP) analysed, 94,4% (n = 17) had references to Public Health, but none referred the role of Public Health Officers. Only 16,7% referred to Health Authorities, although 94,4% mentioned the law 135/2013, defining the role and attributes of Health Authority. In 72,2%, coordination of Public Health Measures was attributed to the National Medical Emergency Institute. Epidemiological surveillance and Public Health Emergencies were referred in 55,6%, and attributed to the Regional Administration of Health. Conclusions Public Health Authorities and Public Health Medical Officers role in articulation with National Civil Protection Authority in emergency situations lacks severely, with this role being replaced by other entities. This is of great concern regarding management and control of diseases, particularly communicable diseases. Key messages Public Health Authorities lack the necessary involvement in Emergency Plans and emergency situations. Public health measures are coordinated by other entities rather than Public Health Authorities.

scholarly journals Communicating Recommendations in Public Health Emergencies: The Role of Public Health Authorities

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
Taylor A. Holroyd ◽  
Oladeji K. Oloko ◽  
Daniel A. Salmon ◽  
Saad B. Omer ◽  
Rupali J. Limaye
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

Public Health Preparedness of Post-Katrina and Rita Shelter Health Staff

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 500-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daksha Brahmbhatt ◽  
Jennifer L. Chan ◽  
Edbert B. Hsu ◽  
Hani Mowafi ◽  
Thomas D. Kirsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Technical Support ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Training ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Training ◽  
Clinical Scenarios ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Hurricanes Katrina And Rita

AbstractIntroduction:During 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the US Gulf Coast, displacing approximately two million people. With >250,000 evacuees in shelters, volunteers from the American Red Cross (ARC) and other nongovernmental and faith-based organizations provided services. The objective of this study was to evaluate the composition, pre-deployment training, and recognition of scenarios with outbreak potential by shelter health staff.Methods:A rapid assessment using a 36-item questionnaire was conducted through in-person interviews with shelter health staff immediately following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Data were collected by sampling at shelters located throughout five ARC regions in Texas. The survey focused on: (1) public health capacity; (2) level of public health awareness among staff; (3) public health training prior to deployment; and (4) interest in technical support for public health concerns. In addition, health staff volunteers were asked to manage 11 clinical scenarios with possible public health implications.Results:Forty-three health staff at 24 shelters were interviewed. Nurses comprised the majority of shelter health volunteers and were present in 93% of shelters; however, there were no public health providers present as staff in any shelter. Less than one-third of shelter health staff had public health training, and only 55% had received public health information specific to managing the health needs of evacuees. Only 37% of the shelters had a systematic method for screening the healthcare needs of evacuees upon arrival. Although specific clinical scenarios involving case clusters were referred appropriately, 60% of the time, 75% of all clinical scenarios with epidemic potential did not elicit proper notification of public health authorities by shelter health staff. In contrast, clinical scenarios requiring medical attention were correctly referred >90% of the time. Greater access and support from health and public health experts was endorsed by 93% of respondents.Conclusions:Public health training for sheltering operations must be enhanced and should be a required component of pre-deployment instruction. Development of a standardized shelter intake health screening instrument may facilitate assessment of needs and appropriate resource allocation. Shelter health staff did not recognize or report the majority of cases with epidemic potential to public health authorities. Direct technical support to shelter health staff for public health concerns could bridge existing gaps and assist surveillance efforts.

Development of a Scale to Measure Trust in Public Health Authorities: Prevalence of Trust and Association with Vaccination

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Taylor A. Holroyd ◽  
Rupali J. Limaye ◽  
Jennifer E. Gerber ◽  
Rajiv N. Rimal ◽  
Rashelle J. Musci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document