Saúde, estilo de vida e urbanização em Moçambique: problemas e perspectivas / Health, Lifestyle and urbanization in Mozambique: problems and perspectives

A irreversibilidade do processo de urbanização da população mundial está a atingir Moçambique de uma forma abrupta com múltiplas consequências para a saúde e bem, estar. Entre outros, o aumento da mecanização, o tempo de televisão, o uso do automóvel e o recurso a alimentação artificial, está a transformar, em poucos anos, uma população activa em pessoas sedentárias sujeitas à poluição e níveis de ansiedade até então desconhecidos. Os estudos disponíveis demonstram de forma clara uma enorme redução dos espaços para a recreação activa e uma concomitante redução do dispêndio energético por actividade física habitual. Como consequência, os dados epidemiológicos indicam um aumento, nas cidades, da obesidade, hipertensão e diabetes em adultos. Por seu turno, as crianças em idade escolar estão a conhecer um crescimento em todos os factores de risco de doença cardiovascular e uma redução do seu nível de desenvolvimento motor. A falta de planeamento no crescimento urbano está a ter consequências catastróficas na saúde da população urbana. Neste quadro, a denominada transição epidemiológica acontece sob a forma de acumulação, dado que a população continua muito permissiva a doenças transmissíveis e sofre agora a acumulação de um grupo de patologias associadas ao sedentarismo e desiquilíbrio nutricional.

The process of urbanization of the world population is reaching Mozambique rather abruptly with multiple consequences for the health and well-being. Increased mechanization, screen time, car use and use of fast food are causing, in a short time period, a dramatic changing in lifestyle. Population is reducing their activity levels, that used to be high, the stress levels are increasing as well as the environmental pollution. The available studies demonstrate a huge reduction of spaces for active recreation and a concomitant reduction of energy expenditure for physical activity. As a consequence, epidemiological data indicate an increase in the prevalence of obesity, hypertension and diabetes in adults. In turn, studies are demonstrating that the school aged children are increasing prevalence in all risk factors for cardiovascular disease and a reduction in their level of motor development. Lack of urban planning on urban growth seems to cause disastrous consequences on the health of the urban population. Thus, the so-called epidemiological transition are happening in the form of accumulation since the population remains very permissive to transmissible diseases adding to them an increased in the sedentary lifestyle and nutritional imbalance related diseases.

PURE ifying Research on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in South Africa

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes; cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancers are a major public health problem. In an effort to increase awareness about the behavioural risk factors for NCDs a community-based project was implemented in Khayelitsha. Informed by the results of this study the School of Public Health at the University of the Western Cape joined the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study in January 2009. The study seeks to scientifically document the root-causes of the traditional risk factors for NCDs by following-up adults aged 30 to 75 years for 12 to 15 years and collecting individual-; household-; community- and national-level information. Responding effectively to the growing burden of NCDs incorporates addressing societal and biological pathways from environmental causes to primordial predispositions and adequately managing the primary risk factors

Susceptibility of Culex Quinquefasciatus say (Diptera: Culicidae) in Khartoum Locality (Sudan) to Malathion; Temephos; Lambdacyhalothrin and Permethrin Insecticides

Abstract:background et objectives:Mosquito control is becoming increasingly difficult because of the developmentof resistance in vectors to conventional insecticides. The resistance in vectors warrants development of newer insecticides for mosquito control besides use of other counter-measures. This study aimed to determine the susceptibility of adult and larvae of Cx.quinquefasciatus mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) to malathion; temephos; lambdacyhalothrin and permethrin insecticides in Khartoum locality.Material et methods:Susceptibility of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to malathion; lambdacyhalothrin and permethrin; and of the larvae to temephos in Khartoum locality was carried out; following WHO standard susceptibility tests. One to three days old female mosquitoes; which were reared from field collected immature stages; were exposed to discriminating dosages of the insecticides; for respective exposure periods. Then knockdown time and 24-hours mortality were recorded. For larvae which were exposed to a series of temephos concentrations; and LC 50 and LC 90 values were calculated.results:The study revealed that;Culex quinquefasciatus is predominant in Khartoum locality. Evidence of resistance was revealed to malathion and the two pyrethroids against Culex quinquefasciatus. The average KDT 50 values consider high and indicated resistance. But larvae stages were found to be susceptible to temephos.Interpretation et conclusion:Resistance of the field population of Cx. quinquefasciatus in Khartoum was revealed to malathion; lambdacyhalothrin and permethrin. On the other hand; the same population of Cx. quinquefasciatus is still sensitive to temephos. Therefore; the vector control unit should consider introducing rotation of insecticidesas a management strategy to increase the duration of the usage of the current insecticides. Furthermore; a rationalized use of insecticides coupled with regular monitoring of insecticide resistance is recommended to mitigate the rapid emergence of insecticide resistance

Effets de la pression demographique sur la repartition des glossines et l`evolution de la trypanosomiase humaine africaine en milieu urbain et periurbain de la ville province de Kinshasa; Republique Democratique du Congo

En 1999; les points de contact homme-glossines et leurs relations avec la persistance de la trypanosomiase humaine africaine dans l`espace urbain et periurbain de la ville province de Kinshasa ont ete etablis. Un suivi de l`evolution de la maladie et de la presence des glossines par rapport aux activites des populations de la ville de Kinshasa montre qu`apres 7ans; les espaces de Djili; Kimbanseke et Buma ont ete debarrasses des glossines et que le taux de prevalence de la trypanosomiase humaine africaine dans ces zones a diminue de maniere significative. L`anthropisation de ces espaces a eu un impact sur la distribution des glossines et de la maladie. En revanche; au niveau de Kimwenza et de Djili brasserie; deux quartiers de la peripherie de la ville; la reduction de l`espace occupe par les glossines a plutot augmente le contact homme mouche tse-tse avec comme consequence l`augmentation du risque de la transmission de la maladie du sommeil

STDs; HIV; AIDS and urbanisation process in Kenya

"The AIDS epidemic in Kenya constitutes the greatest public health challenge of our time. It has been recognized that social factors associated with urbanization process are important in the rapid spread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Kenya. It is; therefore imperative to provide knowledge; attitude and practice (KAP) baseline data that would provide a basis for designing intervention measures for changing sexual practices in order to avoid AIDS. The study focused on eight districts of Kenya; namely; Mombasa; Machakos; Kajiado; Nairobi; Nyeri; Kisumu; South Nyanza (now Kuria; Migori and Homa Bay) and Busia (figure 1). There is a high and widespread awareness of AIDS. However; the actual knowledge of AIDS appeared to be lacking since most respondents associated the disease with other forms of ""curses"". The younger generation appeared to be more aware of STDs; HIVs and AIDS but the awareness decreases with age and increases with the level of education. It is; therefore; important that the programmes on STDs; HIVs and AIDS should be intensified. Mass media and other interpersonal communication channels should also be intensified since they play an important role in imparting knowledge and awareness about the dreaded disease."

Housing for the low income urban population

This report is an evaluation of the South Lunzu Traditional Housing Project in Blantyre. Of the 11;000 present inhabitants about 4;000 had been found at the inception of the project; a further 4;000 had been forced by the Malawi Housing Corporation [MHC] to settle; and only about 3;000 had come voluntarily. Of these; only about 2;000 had passed the formal application procedure; and quite a number was not of the low-income group. The road network and the water supply system being completed according to plan; were already found in a firststage of gradual decay

Urban housing survey: 1987 (Blantyre and Lilongwe Cities)

The National Statistical Survey conducted the Urban Housing Survey in the cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe from mid-May to mid-June 1987 as requested by the Malawi Housing Corporation [MHC] in order to obtain data on the potential market for construction in the Intermediate Traditional Housing Areas of the two cities

National physical development plan

Outlines the National Physical Development Plan in an attempt to integrate socioeconomic planning and development with physical or spatial planning to cope with rapid urbanization and socioeconomic development