Prevalence of tobacco use in selected Johannesburg suburbs

Background. Tobacco smoking is estimated to kill more than 44 000 South Africans every year. Studies have shown that since the introduction of tobacco control measures, national smoking prevalence has declined in South Africa (SA). Objective. To determine the prevalence of tobacco smoking over a 7-year period in five impoverished neighbourhoods in Johannesburg, SA.Methods. Data were collected through the annual administration of a prestructured questionnaire to one adult respondent in preselected dwellings from 2006 to 2012. Information was collected on socioeconomic status, smoking practices and health status.Results. Over the 7-year period of the analysis, smoking levels remained unchanged. The proportion of households with one or more smokers varied significantly across the five study neighbourhoods. Approximately 20% of households in Hillbrow and as many as 77% in Riverlea had a member who smoked.Conclusions. Despite a national downward trend in smoking levels, tobacco use remains high and persistent in certain vulnerable communities, requiring scaled-up action to reduce the risk of a range of tobacco-related diseases

Domestic Water Sourcing and the Risk of Diarrhoea: a Cross-Sectional survey of a Periurban Community in Jos; Nigeria

Background:Water and sanitation has been identified as an important component of Primary Health Care (PHC) necessitating the World Health Organization to declare 1981- 1990 as the international water years. Nigeria is the largest single country in sub Saharan Africa worst hit with about three quarters of its population unable to access safe water. The study aims to examine the association between domestic water sourcing practice and the risk of developing diarrhea. Methodology : A total of 200 households were studied over an eight week period from 4 June to 31st July 2005 using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Epi Info version 3.5.1. Results:Most of the household (80) were seen to source domestic water from the municipal pipe-borne water supply; while only 5source water from their own dug-in well only. 27of the households reported diarrhea in their household in the last six month. The diarrhea was found to have bivariate association with the number of children in the household; the educational level of the household head; and income of household head. No association was found between diarrhea and age of household head. Conclusion : The study showed that there is association between domestic water sourcing practice and the risk of developing diarrhea. It is therefore recommended that high premium be placed on improving access to water and improved household hygiene as a way of helping to curb diarrhea

The Effect of Insectide-Treated Bed Net on Malarial Parasitaemia and Haemoglobin Level of Under-Five Children in a Semi-Urban Community in South-South Nigeria

Background: Imperfect control measures like insecticide-treated bed net that merely reduces transmission; appear unlikely to have any significant effect on malarial morbidity in an area of intense perennial malaria transmission. Also; some field studies have indicated that the efficacy achieved might be due to the high coverage rate achieved during the trial that produced a mass killing of mosquitoes in the communities. Aim : To assess the impact of the use of the insecticide-treated bed net in a programme situation; on malarial parasitaemia; haemoglobin levels and spleen sizes in under-five children; in an area of intense perennial malaria transmission in South-South Nigeria. Methods: The study was carried out over a six-month period in two communities in the Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State; South-South Nigeria. A non-randomized control group pre-intervention-post-intervention study design was used. Fifty five children under five years systematically chosen from buyers of the nets sold by a social marketing project were used as the intervention group. Fifty eight children were recruited as controls; from a neighbouring community about ten kilometers away; and matched for age and socio-economic status of their parents with those in the intervention group. Results: The baseline data of the study groups were broadly the same (p 0.1). However; in the post-intervention study; there was a 0.75g/dl (p0.05) difference in the haemoglobin level of the children; with a concomitant difference of 24.05 (p-value 0.05) in the proportion with moderate anaemia (8g/dl). There was also a 2.03cm (p-value 0.001) difference in spleen size; and a 34.42 (p-value 0.05) difference in the prevalence of splenomegaly. The 21.35 difference in the proportion with parasitaemia between the two groups was also found to be significant (p-value 0.05). Conclusion : The study shows that insecticide-treated bed net can be an effective tool for malaria control in an area of intense perennial malaria transmission

Root surface caries occurence; oral hygiene status and habits in a selected suburban population; Ile-Ife; Nigeria

Objectives: The study evaluated root surface caries (RS C) occurrence in relation to oral hygiene status and habits in a suburban Nigerian Population. Methods: Seven hundred and twenty consecutive subjects; aged 20 years and above of both genders; attending the General Outpatient Department (GOPD) of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC); Ile-Ife; Nigeria; were recruited. RSC was scored with Banting's diagnostic convention and Oral Hygiene Status (OHS) with Oral Hygiene Index - Simplified (OHI-S). Results: RSC prevalence figure was 11.6. While the association between RSC and OHS was significant (P 0.05) that between RSC and Oral Hygiene Habit (OHH) was not proven (p 0.05). RSC occurrence increased with advancing age. Frequency of tooth cleaning was not significantly associated with RSC occurrence; and being male or female had no significant effect on RSC occurrence. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study; though RSC does not seem to be a serious public health problem in the studied population; Oral Health Education campaign should be adopted for preventive and early care

Contribution a l'etude des problemes medico-sociaux des jeunes adolescents a Guediawaye (Zone suburbaine de Dakar; Senegal)

Une enquete dans le district de Guediawaye; aupres d'adolescents ages de 12 a 16 ans; recrutes selon une methode d'echantillonnage aleatoire stratifie dans 4 milieux differents a ete menee afin d'evaluer leurs principaux problemes medico-sociaux. Elle a abouti aux constatations suivantes: la majorite vit dans des conditions socio-economiques difficiles marquees par la promiscuite; un revenu familial faible; et un bas niveau d'instruction des parents; 39;2 pour cent ont ete places sous la tutelle d'un parent autre que les parents geniteurs; 98;8 pour cent ne trouvent pas de structures de loisirs dans leur environnement; l'usage du tabac et de la drogue est respectivement de 14 pour cent et 1 pour cent; 79;4 pour cent des eleves ont difficilement acces aux fournitures scolaires; alors que les adolescents en apprentissage d'un metier ont des contraintes liees a de longues heures de travail (95 pour cent); les affections morbides sont assez variees; dominees par les douleurs abdominales (37;8 pour cent) loin devant les traumatismes (6 pour cent); le recours therapeutique le plus frequent est le traitement traditionnel ou empirique. Les auteurs preconisent la mise en place de centres medico-sociaux faisant intervenir toutes les personnes et ressources impliquees dans la prise en charge des adolescents

Factors which influence birth intervals in women attending a postnatal clinic in suburbs of Kampala; Uganda; 1991

By interviewing 132 women who attended a postnatal clinic at a maternity centre in the suburbs of Kampala; Uganda; in the months of april and may; 1991; it was possible to estimate birth intervals. More than 50 percent of women had previous birth intervals of less than 2 years. A combination of women's previous pregnancies and having gone to school showed a statistically significant difference when compared with intervals. The other minor factors which influenced birth intervals were women's age and region of origin in Uganda. It is concluded that previous family planning practice influenced birth intervals. So education and information on family planning should be given everywhere and to everyone

Root Surface Caries Occurrence; Oral Hygiene Status and Habits in a Selected Suburban Population; Ile-Ife; Nigeria

Objectives: The study evaluated root surface caries (RS C) occurrence in relation to oral hygiene status and habits in a suburban Nigerian Population. Methods: Seven hundred and twenty consecutive subjects; aged 20 years and above of both genders; attending the General Outpatient Department (GOPD) of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC); Ile-Ife; Nigeria; were recruited. RSC was scored with Banting's diagnostic convention and Oral Hygiene Status (OHS) with Oral Hygiene Index - Simplified (OHI-S). Results: RSC prevalence figure was 11.6While the association between RSC and OHS was significant (P 0.05) that between RSC and Oral Hygiene Habit (OHH) was not proven (p 0.05). RSC occurrence increased with advancing age. Frequency of tooth cleaning was not significantly associated with RSC occurrence; and being male or female had no significant effect on RSC occurrence. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study; though RSC does not seem to be a serious public health problem in the studied population; Oral Health Education campaign should be adopted for preventive and early care