scholarly journals Research Article: Impact of Cooking Fuel Choices on Maternal Lung Functions in Selected Rural and Urban Areas of Copperbelt Province, Zambia

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 01-09
Author(s):  
David Mulenga

Background: Considering the respiratory health risk of exposure to biomass cooking fuel emissions, this study was conducted to elucidate the relationship between cooking fuel choices and declined pulmonary function in rural and urban population in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 1,170 healthy nonsmoking pregnant women from Masaiti and Ndola predominantly using biomass fuel for cooking. Questionnaire based data was acquired along with standardized measures of lung function. MIR Spirobank G (Italy) was used in spirometry based on American Thoracic Standards. Results: The present study found that over two thirds (69.2%) of pregnant women in the study population use biomass for cooking and only 12.4 % use electricity only. Declined lung function was found to be statistically significantly associated with cooking fuel choices (p – value 0.005) and a weak association was observed with gravida at a p-value of 0.056. Pregnant women using crop residues as cooking fuel were two times more likely to have a declined lung function [AOR 2.33 (1.27, 4.30)] compared with pregnant women using mixed fuel type (biomass and electricity) and those using electricity only were 57% less likely to have a declined lung function [AOD 0.43 (0.26, 0.69)]. Conclusion: Use of biomass for cooking among pregnant women is a strong determinant of declined lung function. Interventions to improve maternal respiratory health outcomes in Zambia and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa should involve making cleaner cooking fuel energy options available and accessible by ordinary women from both rural and urban areas.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tulika Sharma ◽  
Paramjeet Singh ◽  
Himanshu Phulwari

The purpose of the present study was to find out the attitudes of primary caregivers towards mental illness. The hypothesis was “there would be a significant difference in the attitude of primary caregivers towards mental illness by people belonging to rural and urban areas.” The sample consists of 50 subjects (25 females and 25 males out of it, 25 were from the rural population & 25 were from the urban population). The age group consists of the participants was from 18 years to 65 years, and their education qualification was not an obligation. Personal data consist of demographic information was also collected. The scale “The Community Attitudes Towards Mental Illness scale (CAMI)” was developed by Taylor and Dear in 1981, was used to assess the attitude towards mental illness of the subjects. For statistical analysis, correlation and student t-test were used for the p-value and to found the differences in the attitudes of primary caregivers. The results showed variances in the primary caregivers’ attitudes between the rural area and the urban area.


Africa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 606-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens Greiner

ABSTRACTRural–urban migration and networks are fundamental for many livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. Remittances in cash and kind provide additional income, enhance food security and offer access to viable resources in both rural and urban areas. Migration allows the involved households to benefit from price differences between rural and urban areas. In this contribution, I demonstrate that rural–urban networks not only contribute to poverty alleviation and security, but also further socio-economic stratification. This aspect has been ignored or neglected by most scholars and development planners. Using ethnographic data from Namibia, I have adopted a translocal perspective on migration and stratification, focusing on the resulting impact in rural areas where modern urban forms of stratification, induced by education and income from wage labour, are on the increase.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
William Agyemang ◽  
Emmanuel Kofi Adanu ◽  
Steven Jones

Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana has witnessed an increase in the use of motorcycles for both commercial transport and private transport of people and goods. The rapid rise in commercial motorcycle activities has been attributed to the problem of urban traffic congestion and the general lack of reliable and affordable public transport in rural areas. This study investigates and compares factors that are associated with motorcycle crash injury outcomes in rural and urban areas of Ghana. This comparison is particularly important because the commercial use of motorcycles and their rapid growth in urban areas are a new phenomenon, in contrast to rural areas where people have long relied on motorcycles for their transportation needs. Preliminary analysis of the crash data revealed that more of the rural area crashes occurred under dark and unlit roadway conditions, while urban areas recorded more intersection-related crashes. Additionally, it was found that more pedestrian collisions happened in urban areas, while head-on collisions happened more in rural areas. The model estimation results show that collisions with a pedestrian, run-off-road, and collisions that occur under dark and unlit roadway conditions were more likely to result in fatal injury. Findings from this study are expected to help in crafting and targeting appropriate countermeasures to effectively reduce the occurrence and severity of motorcycle crashes throughout the country and, indeed, sub-Saharan Africa.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_B) ◽  
pp. B24-B26
Author(s):  
Corine Houehanou ◽  
Léopold Codjo ◽  
Philippe Adjagba ◽  
Arnaud Sonou ◽  
Hugues Dohou ◽  
...  

Abstract Hypertension constitutes a major health concern worldwide and particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative of the International Society of Hypertension for raising awareness of high blood pressure (BP). This work aims to determine the prevalence, awareness and levels of treatment and control of hypertension among adults participating in the MMM Campaign in Benin in 2019 (MMM19). A cross-sectional survey including volunteers aged ≥18 years was carried out in June 2019 in 13 rural and urban areas in Benin. BP measurement followed the MMM19 protocol. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg, or a diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg (based on the mean of the second and third readings) or taking antihypertensive medication. A total of 3637 people were screened with a female predominance (61.4%) and a mean age of 44.4 ± 16.1 years. A total of 1363 (37.5%) participants had hypertension. Of 1363 participants with hypertension: 64.5% were aware of their status and 43.9% were taking antihypertensive medication. Among 598 participants taking anti-hypertensive medication, 34.9% had controlled BP (systolic BP <140 mmHg and diastolic BP <90 mmHg). The results suggest a high prevalence of hypertension in Benin and that intensifying actions for its primary prevention, early detection and effective management should be encouraged.


2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 2062-2071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gita Ramjee ◽  
Handan Wand ◽  
Claire Whitaker ◽  
Sheena McCormack ◽  
Nancy Padian ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chowdhury Farheen ◽  
◽  
Md Maruf Haque Khan ◽  
Muhammad Ibrahim Ibne Towhid ◽  
Sabrina Mousum ◽  
...  

Background: Although the government of Bangladesh made the use of masks mandatory in public settings during COVID-19, individuals have been reluctant to follow. We intended to know how many people used face masks in public settings during COVID-19. Methodology: This study was conducted in several public settings in Shahbag, an urban sub-district of Dhaka; and Sirajdikhan, a rural sub-district of Munshiganj in Bangladesh on November 2020. A total of 4011 people were identified from the video-graphic data captured from 20 public places for monitoring the use of masks. Finding: More than two-thirds of those observed had no face masks or did not utilize them properly. People in urban regions (43%) used mask more in an appropriate manner than those in rural areas (26%). Females wore masks comparatively more than males (53% vs. 35%, p-value <0.001). People used masks more in the morning than in the afternoon (39% vs. 34%, p-value <0.001). People were seen to use a mask more in hospital areas (60%) than in other places. However, in public transportation stands only one-fourth (25%) of the people wore a mask in an appropriate manner. In binary logistic regression male sex, rural area, public places and time of observation (afternoon) were found as risk factors for not wearing a mask. Interpretation: The general population of both rural and urban areas of Bangladesh is reluctant to wear face masks. Along with the ongoing vaccination campaign, people of Bangladesh need to wear masks for the prevention of COVID-19. Funding: This research has been partially supported by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-27
Author(s):  
Dr. Chimata Triveni ◽  
◽  
Dr. Tirumuru Divya ◽  
Dr. Ponna Rama Devi ◽  
Dr. N. Lakshmi Chowdary ◽  
...  

Introduction: Visual impairment affects students’ routine schoolwork and day-to-day activities.Hence, the aim is to study the prevalence of various refractive errors and their comparison amongschool children of 5-15 years in rural and urban areas. Methods: This cross-sectional studyexamined 998 students from both rural and urban schools. After obtaining ethical clearance andinformed consent, students were examined for refractive errors. The students with the refractiveerror were given a socio-demographic questionnaire and questionnaire regarding their usage oftelevision, computer, and family history of refractive errors. A Chi-square test was used to test thestatistical significance of proportions. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant, anddata were analyzed by using coGuide software, V.1.03 Results: The prevalence of refractive errorwas found to be 6.41 %, with a prevalence of 7.61% in urban and 5.21% in rural areas. Thedifference in the type of refractive error between the study groups was found to be insignificant,with P= 0.897. Conclusion: Prevalence of refractive errors was more in urban school children thanrural. Refractive error was more prevalent in 13-15 years age group in both rural and urban schoolchildren. The most common refractive error was myopia, followed by astigmatism andhypermetropia.


Author(s):  
Ina Kusrini ◽  
Donny Kristanto Mulyantoro ◽  
Dwi Hapsari Tjandrarini ◽  
Hadi Ashar

BACKGROUND: Anemia is the most common type of malnutrition in pregnant women, and when combined with another nutritional problem, it would increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. AIM: This study aims to analyze the risk of double undernutrition in pregnant women with anemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used secondary data from the 2018 National Basic Health Survey as well as biomedical anemia samples. Anthropometric measurements were maternal body height, middle–upper circumference (MUAC) for chronic energy malnutrition (CEM); anemia was predicted using hemoglobin levels. The number of samples is 484, considering the minimum sample size for each undernutrition proportion. RESULTS: Anemia in pregnant women is not a single malnutrition issue. Almost one–third of pregnant women with anemia also had another form of undenutrition. In this study, the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women (%) is 35.7; stunted is 35.9, and CEM is 16.7. The malnutrition was identified as double nutritional problems coexistence to anemia, such as prevalence stunted–anemia (%) 12.5; anemia–CEM 9.2; and anemia–stunted–CEM 4.4. Overall, CEM is associated with anemia with p < 0.05 and AOR 2.25 (CI; 1.38–3.66), adjusted to height and type of residence, education, and occupation. Urban areas have a similar risk to rural areas with AOR for CEM to anemia, 2.29 (CI; 1.12–4.69); rural areas 2.23 (CI; 1.14–4.33), respectively. Moreover, women with double of undernutrition stunted–CEM in rural areas have a risk of anemia with AOR 2.75 (1.14–6.65). CONCLUSION: The risk of anemia in pregnant women with chronic energy malnutrition has increased more than twice in rural and urban areas.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document