Health Problems Encountered by Short-Term European Volunteers in a Nongovernmental Organization in Cambodia

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Barrio Cortes ◽  
Claudia Rojas Muñoz ◽  
Miguel Ángel Acosta Benito ◽  
Ángela Hidalgo Baz ◽  
Ángel Vicario Merino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Nongovernmental Organization ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Regular Treatment ◽  
Preventative Health ◽  
Health Course ◽  
Health Related

Short-term volunteers are susceptible to a wide spectrum of morbidities, mostly infectious diseases preventable with general hygiene and preventive measures. This study aimed to identify the health problems encountered by European short-term volunteers collaborating for 1 month with a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in Cambodia and to describe their characteristics. A prospective, descriptive observational study was conducted on short-term volunteers who collaborated with an NGO in Cambodia during August 2018. Informed consent and sociodemographic, clinical, and preventative health-related questionnaire data were provided by 198 volunteers. The health problems encountered were confirmed in a primary care consultation with healthcare professionals. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. The median age of the volunteers was 22 years (interquartile range = 21–24), and 64% were women. Some (18.2%) had allergies, 8.6% had preexisting health conditions, and 10.6% were under regular treatment. A total of 77.3% visited a pretravel consultation clinic, 39.9% completed a specific pretravel health course, 21.7% took malaria prophylaxis, 92.4% received hepatitis A vaccination, and 82.3% received typhoid fever vaccination. Medical assistance was sought by 112 (57.3%) of the volunteers. The average number of health problems was 2.5 (standard deviation = 1.5), and the total number of health problems attended by the medical team was 279. The most common health problems were upper respiratory infections (12.2 per 1,000 person-days), wounds (10.8 per 1,000 person-days), and diarrhea (6.3 per 1,000 person-days). Short-term volunteers experienced a high rate of health problems during their stay in Cambodia, but most of the problems were mild and preventable and resolved quickly. Pretravel consultation and specific pretravel health training seemed to increase disease awareness.

scholarly journals Air pollution and health: Evidence from epidemiological studies and population impact

2020 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
pp. 00016
Author(s):  
Francesco Forastiere ◽  
Carla Ancona
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Short Term ◽  
European Respiratory Society ◽  
Pollution Effects ◽  
Tract Cancer

Outdoor air pollution —in particular particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone— can exert its effects on health after acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) exposures. Short-term exposures increase the probability of the onset of acute diseases within a few days, such as myocardial infarction or stroke, or even death in the case of susceptible individuals. Long-term exposures are associated with decreased survival and incidence of several non-communicable diseases, including cardiorespiratory conditions and lung cancer. In Europe, the large ESCAPE project (European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects — www.escapeproject.eu) evaluated the chronic effects of air pollution in the cohorts of adult subjects. The results of ESCAPE show an association between chronic exposure to air pollutants and natural mortality, cardiovascular events, lung, brain, breast and digestive tract cancer. The recent joint statement of the European Respiratory Society and the American Respiratory Society clarifies the wide spectrum of adverse effects of pollution, including “new” diseases such as neurological and metabolic syndrome previously not studied. The estimates by the Global Burden of Disease provide nowadays indications that air pollution causes illness and mortality, just after diet, smoking, hypertension and diabetes: 4.2 million premature deaths a year worldwide. Ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lower respiratory infections are the main conditions associated with air-pollution–related mortality.

Socio Demographic and Clinical Profile of Indoor Female Patients of RINPAS

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Rajni Suri ◽  
Anshu Suri ◽  
Neelam Kumari ◽  
Amool R. Singh ◽  
Manisha Kiran
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional

The role of women is very crucial in our society. She cares for her parents, partner, children and other relatives. She performs all types of duties in family and also in the society without any expectations. Because of playing many roles, women often face many challenges in their life including both physical and mental. Mental health problems affect women and men equally, but some problems are more common among women including both physical and mental health problems. Aim of the study - The present study is aimed to describe and compare the clinical and socio-demographic correlates of female mentally ill patients. Methods and Materials: The study includes 180 female mentally ill patients based on cross sectional design and the sample for the study was drawn purposively. A semi structured socio-demographic data sheet was prepared to collect relevant information as per the need of the study. Result: The present study reveals that the socio-demographic factors contribute a vital role in mental illness. Findings also showed that majority of patients had mental problems in the age range of 20-30 have high rate. Illiterate and primary level of education and daily wage working women as well as low and middle socio-economic status women are more prone to have mental illness. Other factors like marital status, type of family and religion etc also important factors for mental illness. Keywords: Socio demographic profile, female, psychiatric patient

scholarly journals Fanconi Bickel syndrome: clinical phenotypes and genetics in a cohort of Sudanese children

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salwa A. Musa ◽  
Areej A. Ibrahim ◽  
Samar S. Hassan ◽  
Matthew B Johnson ◽  
Asmahan T. Basheer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Transporter ◽  
Novel Mutation ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Rare Condition ◽  
Neonatal Diabetes ◽  
Abdominal Ultrasound ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS) is a rare condition of carbohydrate metabolism, caused by a recessive defect in the facilitative glucose transporter GLUT2 encoded by the SLC2A2 gene and characterized by a wide spectrum of phenotypical features. There is a paucity of reported data on FBS from Sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we describe the clinical, biochemical and genetic characteristics of our patients with FBS from Sudan, a country with a high consanguinity rate. Patients & methods Eleven patients from ten unrelated Sudanese families were included. Clinical & biochemical data were documented and imaging studies done including bone survey and abdominal ultrasound. Liver biopsy was done to confirm the pathological diagnosis in 45% of cases and molecular genetics was performed through contribution with the Exeter genomics laboratory for ten patients. Results Reported consanguinity was 70% among our patients. Growth was significantly impaired at presentation with mean weights of (-5.3 ± 1.8) SD and heights (-5.4 ± 2.5) SD. Severe chest deformity was present in (27%) and all patients showed features of rickets at presentation. Three patients had neonatal diabetes requiring insulin therapy of which one has been reported before. Six families lost undiagnosed siblings with similar clinical presentations. We identified a total of four homozygous pathogenic SLC2A2 variants in our patients, one of whom had a novel mutation. Conclusions FBS is not uncommon in Sudan where there is a high rate of consanguinity. Many cases are likely missed because of variable presentation and lack of public and professionals’ awareness. This is the first series to describe this condition from Sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Embitterment as a Specific Mental Health Reaction during the Coronavirus Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Beate Muschalla ◽  
Clio Vollborn ◽  
Anke Sondhof
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Perceived Injustice

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Embitterment can occur as a reaction to perceived injustice. During the pandemic and restrictions in daily living due to infection risk management, a range of many smaller or severe injustices have occurred. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study is to investigate what characterizes persons with high embitterment, mental illness, embitterment and mental illness, and those without embitterment or mental health problems. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted an online survey including persons from the general population in November 2020 and December 2020, the phase during which a second lockdown took place, with closed shops, restaurants, cultural and activity sites. 3,208 participants (mean age 47 years) gave self-ratings on their present well-being, burdens experienced during the pandemic, embitterment, wisdom, and resilience. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Embitterment occurred among 16% of the sample, which is a high rate in comparison with 4% during pre-pandemic times. Embitterment was weakly correlated with unspecific mental well-being. There were more persons with embitterment than those with embitterment and a mental health problem. Persons with embitterment reported less coronavirus-related anxiety than persons without embitterment. However, embittered persons reported more social and economic burdens and more frequent experiences of losses (job loss and canceling of medical treatments). Embittered persons perceive their own wisdom competencies on a similar level as persons with mental health problems or persons without mental health problems. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Embitterment is a specific potentially alone-standing affective state, which is distinguishable from general mental health and coping capacities (here: wisdom). The economic and social consequences of pandemic management should be carefully recognized and prevented by policy.

scholarly journals Health problems awareness during travel among faculty members of a large university in Latin America: preliminary report

2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Cristina Nakamura Tome ◽  
Thaís Brandi Canello ◽  
Expedito José de Albuquerque Luna ◽  
Heitor Franco de Andrade Junior
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Large Male ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Health Counseling ◽  
Health Safety

Health safety during trips is based on previous counseling, vaccination and prevention of infections, previous diseases or specific problems related to the destination. Our aim was to assess two aspects, incidence of health problems related to travel and the traveler's awareness of health safety. To this end we phone-interviewed faculty members of a large public University, randomly selected from humanities, engineering and health schools. Out of 520 attempts, we were able to contact 67 (12.9%) and 46 (68.6%) agreed to participate in the study. There was a large male proportion (37/44, 84.1%), mature adults mostly in their forties and fifties (32/44, 72.7%), all of them with higher education, as you would expect of faculty members. Most described themselves as being sedentary or as taking occasional exercise, with only 15.9% (7/44) taking regular exercise. Preexisting diseases were reported by 15 travelers. Most trips lasted usually one week or less. Duration of the travel was related to the destination, with (12h) or longer trips being taken by 68.2% (30/44) of travelers, and the others taking shorter (3h) domestic trips. Most travelling was made by air (41/44) and only 31.8% (14/44) of the trips were motivated by leisure. Field research trips were not reported. Specific health counseling previous to travel was reported only by two (4.5%). Twenty seven of them (61.4%) reported updated immunization, but 11/30 reported unchecked immunizations. 30% (9/30) reported travel without any health insurance coverage. As a whole group, 6 (13.6%) travelers reported at least one health problem attributed to the trip. All of them were males travelling abroad. Five presented respiratory infections, such as influenza and common cold, one neurological, one orthopedic, one social and one hypertension. There were no gender differences regarding age groups, destination, type of transport, previous health counseling, leisure travel motivation or pre-existing diseases. Interestingly, the two cases of previous health counseling were made by domestic travelers. Our data clearly shows that despite a significant number of travel related health problems, these highly educated faculty members, had a low awareness of those risks, and a significant number of travels are made without prior counseling or health insurance. A counseling program conducted by a tourism and health professional must be implemented for faculty members in order to increase the awareness of travel related health problems.

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