Mapping urban physical distancing constraints, sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from Kenya

With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, public health measures such as physical distancing were recommended to reduce transmission of the virus causing the disease. However, the same approach in all areas, regardless of context, may lead to measures being of limited effectiveness and having unforeseen negative consequences, such as loss of livelihoods and food insecurity. A prerequisite to planning and implementing effective, context-appropriate measures to slow community transmission is an understanding of any constraints, such as the locations where physical distancing would not be possible. Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, we outline and discuss challenges that are faced by residents of urban informal settlements in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We describe how new geospatial data sets can be integrated to provide more detailed information about local constraints on physical distancing and can inform planning of alternative ways to reduce transmission of COVID-19 between people. We include a case study for Nairobi County, Kenya, with mapped outputs which illustrate the intra-urban variation in the feasibility of physical distancing and the expected difficulty for residents of many informal settlement areas. Our examples demonstrate the potential of new geospatial data sets to provide insights and support to policy-making for public health measures, including COVID-19

Bacterial reservoirs in a health care environment: case of the Douala general Hospital, Cameroon

Background:Health care acquired infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitals. There is very little documentation of this important problem in our resource limited setting. The aim of our study was to identify bacterial reservoirs and microorganisms with the potential of nosocomial infections in our health care environment Methods:Bacteriological samples from the air; surfaces; equipment; personnel and patients from six units of the Douala General Hospital; Cameroon were collected for culture according to standardised collection; culture and germs identification techniques. of all collected samples were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. These included 83.3 of air samples and 100; 54.1and 48.7of specimens respectively. The same bacteria found on the hands of nursing personnel were same as on both surfaces and equipment. The intensive care and neonatal units were the most contaminated with 100 positive cultures. The sterilization unit was bacteria free

A South African database of samples analysed for the presence of asbestos

Background: Asbestos mining and other activities have left a legacy of environmental contamination. Asbestos was used in a large number of manufactured products but little is documented about the nature and location of these products. Compliance with asbestos regulations depends on accurate identification of the presence of asbestos. The National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) has been identifying asbestos for regulatory purposes since 2003. Objective: To analyse a database of samples submitted for asbestos analysis to the NIOH. Methods: Asbestos was identified using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The data were analysed using STATISTICA version 11. Results: From 2003 to 2012; 1514 samples were analysed. Asbestos was identified in 59.9 of the bulk samples and crocidolite was present in 45.4 of these. Information about samples containing asbestos; including their origin and associated activities; are described. Conclusions: Although asbestos is no longer mined or used in South Africa; workers remain at risk of exposure due to asbestos-containing materials which persist in the environment. Knowledge of these materials gained from routinely collected data may assist in the safe removal of asbestos and prevent further adverse health =effects

Current State of Public Cemeteries in River State; Nigeria

Cemeteries or 'sleeping places' are where bodies or cremated remains are buried. Dead bodies are essentially 'wastes' and their improper disposal in the form of burial may come with health implications. This is particularly apt in Nigeria and indeed Rivers State where unsupervised burials are carried out in homes (houses); compounds and community-based cemeteries. A walk through survey of five functional public cemeteries in Rivers State appraised their current state and their possible health implications. This on-the-spot site visit revealed infrastructural; operational and maintenance challenges which have further stressed the need for better managed public cemeteries and more objective studies on the subject

A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Aircraft Noise on Families who Reside in Close Proximity to an Airport

Background: The use of air transportation has grown in the last century; escalating the noise exposure of families residing in close proximity to airports. The audiological effects need to be assessed to determine the impact of this increase on children and young adults living near to airports in South Africa.Method: Hearing patterns for these individuals were compared to those residing 30 km away from the airport. Sixty people; between the ages of 12-30 years; were assessed. Participants completed a questionnaire and were subjected to a diagnostic audiological test battery and tested using diagnostic distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs).Results: Participants residing in close proximity to the airport presented with a notch configuration in the high frequencies; as opposed to those who lived further away. DPOAEs indicated a change in hearing in the high frequencies between the test populations. The positive relationship between the pure tone results and the DPOAEs strengthens the claim that aircraft noise has an effect on the hearing patterns of individuals living near to airports. Participants also experienced annoyance resulting from such noise.Conclusion: The results highlight the need for investigation into the hearing of individuals who reside in close proximity to airports. Comprehensive studies will be informative and beneficial to the field of audiology in South Africa. The highlighted health and safety issues require in-depth study to formulate a stronger argument for monitoring the hearing of families who are exposed to aircraft noise

The Pattern and distribution of communicable diseases among medical admissions in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Global and regional estimates show that non-communicable diseases are rising in importance relative to other causes of ill health as populations age and the fight continues against communicable diseases. However; communicable diseases remain a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the developing world.Aim: The study was carried out to determine the pattern of communicable diseases in the medical wards of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital; (UPTH) over four consecutive years (June2000 June 2004). Methods: The study was retrospective and data were obtained from the medical registers in the medical wards and the records department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Medical admissions due to communicable diseases were carefully selected and analyzed.Results: There were 1441 cases of various communicable diseases out of a total of 3294 medical admissions constituting 43.8; while non-communicable diseases accounted for 56.2.The top ten communicable diseases identified were tuberculosis; HIV/AIDS; septicaemia; lobar pneumonia; acute viral hepatitis; chronic liver disease(viral); enteric fever; malaria; urinary tract infections and amoebic liver disease. Conclusion: Communicable diseases still remain a major cause of morbidity in Port Harcourt hence the double burden of disease. There is need for improvement in housing; provision of portable water; immunization; health education and improved sanitation amongst other social amenities to reduce the scourge of communicable diseases in Nigeria

Les facteurs de mortalite neonatale infantile et juvenile dans la commune III du district de Bamako

L'objectif de cette etude est d'etudier les facteurs de risque des mortalites neonatales infantiles et juveniles liees aux principales maladies de l'enfance dans la commune III du district de Bamako; par interrogatoire retrospectif des meres sur le devenir des naissances vivantes jusqu'a 59 mois sur une periode d'une annee avant le debut de l'enquete. L'interrogatoire avait ete concu pour eviter le maximum de biais lie a la memoire des meres. Chez nos cas de deces les principales causes de cette mortalite ont ete par ordre decroissant :- Les IRA (23;3); - le paludisme et la diarrhee (13.3) ; - La malnutrition (10) ; - le petit poids de naissance; la candidose digestive; la meningite et la rougeole pour la meme importance (6;7) ; La survie des temoins a ete fortement menacee par : - l'IRA (41.2) ; - le paludisme (23;5) ; - la diarrhee (17.6) ; - la malnutrition (8;8Nous signalons par ailleurs que des causes comme le petit poids de naissance; la candidose digestive; la meningite; la souffrance foetale; le tetanos neonatal et infantile; et l'hemorroide qui ont occupe une frequence de 30chez les cas n'ont pas ete retrouvees chez les temoins. En effet; les facteurs aggravant cette mortalite d'apres notre analyse statistique ont ete le de l'enfant; l'absence de systeme d'evacuation des eaux usees et des ordures menageres; l'etat sale des cours et alentours des maisons ainsi que des latrines; le statut vaccinal incorrect de l'enfant; le mode d'alimentation de l'enfant; la parite; l'age des meres; le niveau de vie faible du menage; l'absence d'un premier recours apres le debut d'une quelconque maladie