Utilization of Secondhand Childcare productsand Perceived Health Risks among Mothers of Under-Five Years Children in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria

Background: Second-hand economy is a universal phenomenon. In Nigeria, it cut across many decades and all spectrums of life even in childcarepractice. The role of second-hand products in childcare practice and provisioning has been under reported in scholarly discuss in Nigeria. Hence,the prevalence of secondhand childcare products utilization, different categories of secondhand products available for childcare, the perceived health hazards and the reasons why consumers patronize secondhand products for childcareamong mothers of under five years in Ibadan Nigeria.Methods:A cross sectional concurrent mix-methods approach was used in the study. The quantitative and qualitative data weredone simultaneously. While mothers of under-five children were purposively selected for in-depth interviews, a total sampling of all consenting mothers of under-five found at immunization clinic of Primary health care centres were sampled for survey. A total number of 403 mothers of under five children participated in the survey while 50 IDIs were conducted with buyers (mothers) and traders of secondhand children's products. Qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis, while the quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square test.Results:The mean age of mothers is ± SD 28.6 ± 5.4. Majority of respondents 209 (51.9%) had senior secondary education, 140 (34.7%) had tertiary education and only 2 (0.5%) had no formal education. About 339 (84.1%) utilized secondhand childcare products, while 64 (15.9%) never used secondhand childcare products. Mothers with at least senior secondary education 209 (51.9%) were found to be the highest users of secondhand childcare products. Procurement and utilization of secondhand childcare products was based on quality value, availability, affordability attached to constructed superiority of western civilization wrapped around provisioning in childcare. Conclusion: Many mothers of under-five children in Ibadan utilizes secondhand products in childcare. Embedding secondhand products health hazard in health talk during immunization clinics will be beneficial and help in educating mothers on reduced and safe utilization of secondhand products in childcare

Determinantes da taxa de recuperação da COVID-19: um estudo de caso para o município de Belo Horizonte ­ MG / Determinants of the COVID-19 recovery rate: a case study for the municipality of Belo Horizonte ­ MG

Objetivo: Analisar a evolução da eficiência da rede pública de saúde do município de Belo Horizonte no tratamento da COVID-19. Métodos: Foi utilizada a metodologia conhecida como Análise Envoltória de Dados em Dois Estágios, na qual o índice de eficiência do tratamento da COVID-19 pelos hospitais públicos de Belo Horizonte, obtido no primeiro estágio, foi regredido com variáveis ambientais, isto é, variáveis que estão fora do controle dos gestores municipais. Resultados: Enquanto os índices de eficiência relativa apresentaram comportamento descendente e oscilante ao longo do tempo, as variáveis ambientais com poder de influência nos índices de eficiência, e que tiveram sinal de coeficiente conforme o esperado, foram apenas a "Taxa de ocupação da enfermaria", a "Taxa de ocupação da UTI" e a dummy de "semana com feriado". Conclusão: Apesar de as hipóteses não terem sido totalmente cumpridas, observou-se que as vacinações tiveram o efeito de mudar o perfil dos internados, diminuindo a idade média deles

Objective: To analyze the evolution of the efficiency of the public health network in the municipality of Belo Horizonte in treating Covid-19. Methods: The methodology known as Two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis was used, in which the efficiency index of Covid-19 treatment by public hospitals in Belo Horizonte, obtained in the first stage, was regressed with environmental variables, i.e., variables that are beyond the control of municipal managers. Results: While the relative efficiency indices showed a downward and oscillating behavior over time, the environmental variables with power to influence the efficiency indices, and that had a coefficient sign as expected, were only the "ward occupancy rate", the "ICU occupancy rate" and the fictitious "week with vacation". Conclusion: Although the hypotheses were not fully met, it is important to note that vaccines had the effect of changing the profile of inpatients by decreasing their average age

Vulnerabilidade e resposta social à pandemia de Covid-19 em territórios metropolitanos de São Paulo e da Baixada Santista, SP, Brasil / Vulnerabilidad y respuesta social a la pandemia de Covid-19 en territorios metropolitanos de São Paulo y de la Región de la Baixada Santista, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Vulnerability and social response to the Covid-19 pandemic in metropolitan territories of São Paulo and Baixada Santista, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Este artigo analisa a vulnerabilidade e o enfrentamento à pandemia de Covid-19 em 16 territórios metropolitanos de São Paulo e da Baixada Santista (São Paulo, Brasil), objetos de pesquisa participante desenvolvida por estudo de casos múltiplos, sob o referencial teórico da vulnerabilidade e dos direitos humanos, em 2020. As condições socioeconômicas são distintas entre os territórios. A vulnerabilidade à infecção e à doença pelo coronavírus é relacionada a fatores individuais, sociais e programáticos: informações, percepções e possibilidades de proteção; convivência familiar/interpessoal, moradia, trabalho e violência; e acesso a cuidados de saúde e programas sociais. As redes de solidariedade, formadas principalmente por associações comunitárias e movimentos sociais, enfocam superar a fome, gerar renda e acessar direitos. Para a resposta social, é fundamental reconhecer as necessidades específicas, as experiências potentes e a centralidade do caminhar conjunto de sujeitos e coletivos em cada território.(AU)

Este artículo analiza la vulnerabilidad y el enfrentamiento a la pandemia de Covid-19 en 16 territorios metropolitanos de São Paulo y de la Región de la Baixada Santista (São Paulo, Brasil), objetos de investigación participante, desarrollada por estudio de casos múltiples, bajo el referencial teórico de la vulnerabilidad y de los derechos humanos, en 2020. Las condiciones socioeconómicas son distintas entre los territorios. La vulnerabilidad a la infección y enfermedad por el coronavirus se relaciona a factores individuales, sociales y programáticos: informaciones, percepciones y posibilidades de protección; convivencia familiar/interpersonal, vivienda, trabajo y violencia; y acceso a cuidados de salud y programas sociales. Las redes de solidaridad, formadas principalmente por asociaciones comunitarias y movimientos sociales, se enfocan en superar el hambre, generar renta y tener acceso a derechos. Para la respuesta social, es fundamental reconocer las necesidades específicas, las experiencias potentes y la centralidad del caminar conjunto de sujetos y colectivos en cada territorio.(AU)

This paper analyzes vulnerability and the tackling of the Covid-19 pandemic in 16 metropolitan territories of São Paulo and Baixada Santista (State of São Paulo, Brazil), objects of a participatory research developed in 2020 through a multiple-case study, in light of the theoretical framework of vulnerability and human rights. Socioeconomic conditions are different between territories. Vulnerability to coronavirus infection and disease is related to individual, social and programmatic factors: information, perceptions and possibilities of protection; family/interpersonal coexistence, housing, work and violence; and access to healthcare and social programs. Solidarity networks, formed mainly by community associations and social movements, focus on overcoming hunger, generating income and accessing rights. For the social response, it is essential to recognize specific needs, powerful experiences and the centrality of the joint walk of individuals and collectives in each territory.(AU)

A Study of Bacteriological Quality of Street-Hawked Milk in Ilesha Metroplolis, Osun State, Nigeria

Milk, a nutrient-rich liquid food produced in the mammary glands of mammals, contains low bacterial counts when it leaves the udder, but it may get contaminated from the environment, exterior of udder, water, soil, milkers' hands and utensils. Contamination can serve as a source of spread of certain harmful human bacterial diseases like tuberculosis, diphtheria, salmonellosis and food poisoning if consumed in raw form. This study, therefore, was designed to evaluate bacteriological quality of milk samples collected from various localities within Ilesha metropolis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty (20) samples of fresh raw milk were collected in sterilized bottles from various nomadic milk hawkers in Ilesha. Methylene blue reductase test, standard plate count on standard plate count agar and isolation of possible pathogens using selective culture media was carried out on the samples. RESULTS Of the 20 samples of raw milk collected for bacteriological analysis, 3 samples were found to be of excellent quality, 5 were very good, 4 were good, 5 were fair and 3 were of poor quality. The actual standard plate count for excellent and very good quality ranged between 33-54 and 62 - 80 colony forming units (cfu). The organisms isolated and biochemically characterized from the raw milk samples were found contaminated with Escherichia coli (4 strains), Staphylococcus aureus (8 strains), Streptococcus pyogenes (5 strains), Streptococcus agalactiae (3 strains) and Enterobacter aerogenes (5 strains). African Journal of Health Sciences Volume 34, Issue No.4, July- August 2021 476 CONCLUSION The results obtained from this study showed that the milk sold in raw form could be hazardous to human health if sold without adopting hygienic measures

Prevalence of Candida albicans among Female Patients in Two Selected Hospitals in Owerri Metropolis, Imo State Southeastern Nigeria

The incidence of candidiasis in the female reproductive tract is a serious threat to public health. This study assesses the prevalence of Candida albicansamong female patients in the two selected hospitals in Owerri metropolis. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 120 female patients between the ages of 16-56 years. Only patients who showed no symptoms of urinary tract infections and who were not on anti-fungal therapy at the time of the study were included in the study. A well-structured interview questionnaire was used to source information on socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents as well as the risk factors of Candida albicansinfections. High Vaginal Swab (HVS) was aseptically collected from each of the patients, using a sterile swab stick. The collected samples were labeled appropriately and immediately sent to the microbiology/mycology lab for analysis. The HVS samples were respectively streaked directly into sabouraud agar plates and incubated anaerobically at 37oC for 48 hours. Yeast growth characteristics were noted. Positive colonies were sub-cultured in Macconkey agar to obtain pure isolates. The Candida albicanswere properly identified and confirmed by germ tube test, gram staining and biochemical tests. The results showed that the overall prevalence of Candida albicansamong the women was (53.34%). The prevalence was highest among the patients in the age group 16-25 (44.17%), lower education qualification (n=65, 54.17%) and pregnant women (n=44, 36.67%). The possible risk factors for the infection include use of antibiotics (n=85, 70.83%), use of nylon underwear (n=78, 65.00), use of public toilet (n=90, 75.00%), use of squat WC (n=59, 9.17%) and use of oral contraceptive (n=59, 49.17%). The results call for preventive measures to protect women. Therefore public health education and campaign should be adopted

Screening of Antimicrobial Residue in Commercial Eggs in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State

The objectives of the study were to screen for antimicrobial residue in table eggs in Maiduguri metropolis. Multistage sampling technique was used based on the 4 major district of Maiduguri Metropolis Viz; Bolori, Gwange, Kyarimi park and Shehuri North. Four hundred commercial egg samples were collected for the study. One hundred and sixteen table eggs were sampled from 35 randomly selected poultry layer farms and 284 were obtained from 37 randomly selected egg commercial retail outlets. The antimicrobial screening of eggs was carried out using the disc diffusion method where Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 from spectra medics' laboratory in Ogun state was used as the test organism. One hundred and sixteen (116) table eggs collected from farms across the study district, 36 (31%) were each from Bolori and Gwange, 39 (33.6%) from Kyarimi Park and 5 (4.3%) from Shehuri North. A total of 49 positive samples were obtained which include 17 (47.2%), 21 (58.3%), 10 (25.6%) and 1 (20%) from Bolori, Gwange, Kyarimi Park and Shehuri North respectively (Fig. 2). There was no significant difference (P=0.095) among the clusters. Out of the 284 egg samples collected from the retail outlet, 201 (70.1%) samples were from Jos and 83 (29.2%) from Ibadan. A total of 100 (35.2%) samples were positives for antimicrobial screening which comprises of 71 (35.32%) and 29 (34.94%) from Jos and Ibadan respectively. With no significant difference between the two sources (P=0.902). From this study, it was concluded that: There is small flock size (backyard) farm in Maiduguri with 94.3% of the farmers holding equal or less than 500 birds in their farms. Antimicrobial residue detected in the study area is alarming.

A cidade dos homens: tragédia de um édipo suspenso / The city of men: tragedy of a oedipus suspended / La ciudad de los hombres: tragedia de un edipo en suspensión

O homem, ao nascer, confronta-se com o desamparo como marca definitiva da sua condição. Diferente de outros animais que nascem mais ou menos capazes de enfrentar as intempéries da natureza, o homem, também afetado pela fragilidade do corpo e pelas diversas dificuldades impostas pelo relacionamento com outro, necessita de uma bolsa externa, não biológica, mas cultural. Essa necessidade faz com que o homem busque abrigo e se organize em favor de um ecossistema próprio: a cultura. A metrópole moderna, como um habitat específico da cultura, desenvolveu-se como órgão protetor da humanidade em oposição à hostilidade natural; no entanto, contemporaneamente ela se torna violenta e opressiva. Sobre substrato paradigmático junguiano, induzimos, perante um corpo literário interdisciplinar, a hipótese de que a cidade, enquanto símbolo de proteção materna, abriga a cultura moderna como um filho que se apropriou da potência criativa do pai, mas não reinvestiu essa potência na própria adaptação ao meio. Concluímos que essa suspensão edípica tem perenizado, na cultura moderna, uma condição infantil, hoje insustentável tanto internamente quanto no meio natural.

At birth, human being faces his helplessness as the definitive mark of his condition, unlike other animals that are born somehow capable of facing the nature's obstacles. Every human being is affected by the fragility of the human body and the variety of difficulties imposed not only by the environment, but also by the relationships each person needs to create with others. For this reason, humankind needs an external non-biological bag, but cultural bag. This necessity makes the man to seek shelter and organize himself in favor of an ecosystem of his own: culture. Modern metropolis is the culture's specific environment and it has developed as a shield to humankind in opposition to its natural hostility. However, it becomes violent and oppressive. Inferring above the Jungian paradigm substratum and before an interdisciplinary literary body, the hypothesis that the city, as a symbol of maternal shelter, it protects Modern Culture as a child who borrowed his father's creative power. Despite that, the child did not redirect the power in his own adaptation to the environment. Therefore, we conclude this oedipal suspension has imprinted in modern culture a childish condition, unsustainable both internally and in the environment.

El hombre, al nascer, se confronta con el desamparo como marca definitiva de su condición. Diferente de otros animales que nascen más o menos capaces de enfrentar las intemperies de la naturaleza, el hombre, también afectado por la fragilidad del cuerpo y por las diversas dificultades que la alteridad le impone, necesita de una bolsa externa, no biológica, mas cultural. Esa necesidad obliga al hombre a buscar abrigo y a organizarse a favor de un ecosistema propio: la cultura. La metrópolis moderna se desenvolvió como órgano protector de la humanidad en oposición a la hostilidad natural; sin embargo, actualmente la ciudad se torna violenta y opresiva. Sobre substrato paradigmático junguiano, inducimos, ante un cuerpo literario interdisciplinar, la hipótesis de que la urbe, como símbolo de protección materna, abriga a la cultura moderna como un hijo que se apropió de la potencia creativa del padre, pero no invirtió esa potencia en su propia adaptación al medio natural. Concluimos que esta suspensión edípica ha prolongado, en la cultura moderna, una condición infantil, hoy insustentable tanto interna, cuanto ambientalmente.

Black Soul: invisibilidade no lazer e emergência na cidade / Black Soul: invisibility in leisure and emergency in the city

Não havendo encontrado no campo de estudos do lazer nenhuma pesquisa que focasse o Black Soul no campo de estudos do lazer, o estudo de revisão bibliografia ora apresentado foca a partir de uma leitura de pesquisa de diferentes campos de conhecimento sobre a presença do estilo musical no Brasil. Nesse artigo, conclui-se a partir de uma leitura sócio histórica, que o estilo musical e o baile a ele relacionado configuram uma prática sociocultural de lazer, destacando aspectos de sua (re)emergência na metrópole Belo Horizontina do início do século XXI.

The literature review in this work identified the lack of specific researches about the Black Soul ball which made the author support its discussion on related studies on the presence of black music in Belo Horizonte city. The initial conclusions shown that this music genre and its ball figure a social and cultural practice of leisure wherein the aspects of the Black Soul (re) emergency are highlighted in Belo Horizonte metropolis in the beginning of the 21 st century.

Hip hoppers: os manos na cultura / Hip hoppers: “bros” (brothers) in culture / Hip hoppers: los hermanos en la cultura

Laços tribais destruídos por sequestro, incursão oceânica compulsória e trabalho escravo sob coerção. Novas irmandades de resistência e luta se formam quotidianamente a partir, principalmente, dos traços culturais comuns e dos ideais de liberdade, igualdade, fraternidade e felicidade, também para os filhos da África. Ideais que se espalham e se reinventam de maneira virótica pelo planeta em reinterpretações e interações com outras culturas e etnias, desde os primeiros diálogos transatlânticos até a atualidade. Transformando, paulatinamente, a paisagem sociocultural mundial, tornando-a menos desigual, mais livre, consciente, fraterna, colorida, musical e alegre, apesar dos obstáculos que se lhes apresentam.

Tribal bonds were destroyed by kidnapping, compulsory oceanic raid, and forced, slave labor. New brotherhoods of resistance and fight are formed every day especially from common cultural traces and ideals of freedom, equality, fraternity, and happiness; it also happens for the children of Africa. These ideals have spread and reinvented themselves virally across the planet, in reinterpretations and interactions with other cultures and ethnicities, since the first transatlantic dialogues. Little by little, world social and cultural scenery has been changed, becoming less unequal and freer, friendlier, happier, more conscious, more colourful, and more musical, despite the obstacles they face.

Lazos tribales destruidos por el secuestro, la incursión oceánica obligatoria y el trabajo esclavo bajo coerción. Nuevas hermandades de resistencia y lucha se forman cotidianamente, a partir, principalmente, de los rasgos culturales comunes y de los ideales de libertad, igualdad, fraternidad y felicidad, también para los hijos de África. Ideas que se difunden y se reinventan de manera viral por el planeta, en nuevas interpretaciones e interacciones con otras culturas y etnias, desde los primeros diálogos transatlánticos hasta la actualidad. Transformando, paulatinamente, el paisaje sociocultural mundial, tornándolo menos desigual, más libre, consistente, fraterno, colorido, musical y alegre, a pesar de los obstáculos que se les presentan.

Dificuldades e estratégias de enfrentamento referentes à gestão do trabalho na Estratégia Saúde da Família, na perspectiva dos gestores locais: a experiência dos municípios do Rio de Janeiro (RJ) e Duque de Caxias (RJ) / Difficulties and confronting strategies regarding the work management in the Family Health Strategy, in the perspective of local managers: the experience of the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Duque de Caxias (RJ)

Objetivou-se identificar as dificuldades e as estratégias de enfrentamento referentes à gestão do trabalho na Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF). Estudo exploratório, qualitativo, cujos dados foram coletados em 2011, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com gestores dos municípios do Rio de Janeiro (RJ) e Duque de Caxias (RJ), e submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Constituem dificuldades: infraestrutura precária e baixa remuneração. As estratégias para atração e fixação profissional incluem: melhorias em infraestrutura e qualificação. A consolidação da ESF nas metrópoles tem potencialidade de despertar transformações no modelo de atenção que concretizem a saúde como direito social.

It aimed to identify the difficulties and confronting strategies regarding to the labor management in the Family Health Strategy (ESF). Exploratory and qualitative study, whose data were collected in 2011, through semi-structured interviews with managers of the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Duque de Caxias (RJ), and subjected to content analysis. There are difficulties: precarious infrastructure and low income. Strategies for attracting and professional fixing include: improvements in infrastructure and qualification. The consolidation of the ESF in the metropolis has a potential of awakening changes in the model of care that contribute for the materialization of the health as a social right.

Ciudad/metrópoli, subjetividad y valorización en el marco del capitalismo financiariado / City/metropolis, subjectivity and valorization within the framework of the financialized capitalism

En este artículo se analizan, desde un punto de vista crítico, algunos de los rasgos fundamentales de las transformaciones acontecidas en las ciudades/metrópolis del capitalismo globalizado en las últimas tres décadas. Se aborda el impacto de la economía financiarizada en las dimensiones espacial, económica, política, social y psicosocial. Las consecuencias de aquellas determinaciones quedan reflejadas en distintos procesos, entre los que destacaremos: la función determinante de la praxis del activo financiero en la relaciones productivas/reproductivas y del capital circulante; la reconfiguración de los sistemas urbanos y arquitectónicos con arreglo a los nuevos formatos que compartimentan y bunkerizan espacios; y, por fin, la esfera simbólica y discursiva de la subjetividad/intersubjetividad. En suma, se trata de deconstruir la ciudad/metrópoli, basada en una axiomática de relaciones sociales monetizadas y de poder asimétrico...

This article deals with, from a critical point of view, several basic features of the most important changes occurred in the cities/metropolis of the globalized capitalism in the last three decades. It is an analysis about the financial impact on spatial, economical, political, social and psychosocial dimensions. The effects of those determinations are reflected in different processes such as: the financial asset praxis influence in the productive/reproductive and circulating capital relations; the redesign of the architectural and urban systems, with regard to the new patterns that compartmentalize and bunkerize spaces; and, finally, the symbolic and discursive processes of the subjectivity/intersubjectivity. Finally, the aim here is to deconstruct the city/metropolis, based on an axiomatic of the monetized social links and asymmetric power...

Community pharmacist impacts on self-medication management among Rural dwellers, kwara state central, nigeria.

The role of pharmacist has not only advanced from traditional medication dispensing but also to direct patient care and pharmaceutical interventions aiming at enhancing the populace wellbeing. Objective: The objective of this research was to assess the impact of rural community pharmacist on drug self-medications and disease prevalence among rural settings in the Kwara State Central, Nigeria. . Method: This study was conducted between September, 2011 and February, 2013 in eight rural communities on 730 respondents, following a six-week pilot study on 50 respondents. Respondents aged 30 years and over and regular clients of the community pharmacy were included into the study. Self-medications were assessed using pre-tested and validated questionnaire. Pharmaceutical interventions were carried out on the respondents by the clinical pharmacist at every two months for eighteen months. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were for the computation of the data. Results: Male respondents were one third of the population studied, while female had the highest percentage of 69.9%. Respondents between the age of 40 and 50 years dominated with 42.3% and majority (88.1%) of the rural residents were illiterates. Farming was the core livelihood of the respondents and survived on less than ten thousand naira Nigeria money ($63) per month. Among the combinations of drugs abused by the respondents, the regimen containing combination of (prednisolone, diclofenac and paracetamol) had the highest users. The least used combination was (Ibuprofen, Diclofenac plus Prednisolone). These combinations were taken two times daily by the majority participants. The most common reasons given for self-medications were osteoarthritis (31.1%), poverty (17.4%), general body pain (14.3%), lack of health facilities (4.6%), ignorance (4.3%) among others. The intervention offered by the pharmacist had reduced the mean systolic blood pressure significantly (p<0.05) from 161mmhg to 129 mmhg and diastolic blood pressure from 104mmhg at baseline to 86 mmhg. Post-intervention evaluation revealed the impact of the pharmacist, as the respondents with dyspepsia at baseline significantly (p<0.05) reduced from 220 to 53 participants. Conclusion: Pharmacist interventions on self-medication of drugs greatly enhanced patient healthcare in the rural communities.

Metrópole e região: dilemas da pactuação da saúde. O caso da Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista, São Paulo, Brasil / Metropolitan and regional health planning: dilemmas of the Pact for Health in the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Area, São Paulo State, Brazil

O trabalho aborda aspectos da relação entre metropolização e regionalização em saúde, tendo por base os processos de regionalização e pactuação na Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista, São Paulo, Brasil. Trata-se de estudo de caso, realizado em dois momentos: o primeiro, no início da implementação do Pacto pela Saúde (2007) e dos Colegiados de Gestão Regional (CGR), e o segundo, em 2010. Foram entrevistados gestores municipais e regionais do SUS e a direção da Agência Metropolitana. Também foram analisadas atas de dez anos de reuniões da Comissão Intergestora Regional e do Conselho de Desenvolvimento da Baixada Santista. Emergiram quatro grandes temas: financiamento e infraestrutura; utilização de serviços; ineficiência das instâncias e instrumentos de gestão; relação entre os níveis de gestão. Permaneceu latente a questão da metropolização, que aparece de forma incipiente ou tangencial à gestão regional. Avalia-se que apesar de algumas limitações, o CGR vem se legitimando como espaço de gestão regional.

This paper focuses on the relationship between metropolitan and regional health planning based on the processes of regionalization and the Pact for Health in the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Area, São Paulo State, Brazil. The method used was a case study in two stages, namely during initial implementation of the Pact for Health (2007) and the Regional Administration Committees (CGR) and in 2010. Municipal and regional health systems managers and the director of the Metropolitan Agency were interviewed, and records were analyzed from ten years of meetings of the Regional Inter-Administration Committee and the Regional Development Council. Four issues emerged: financing and infrastructure; health services utilization; inefficiency of the Regional Health Administration's instruments and decision-making levels; and the relationship between different levels in the Administration. Metropolitan health management remained as an underlying issue, appearing only incidentally or tangentially to regional management. Despite some limitations, the CGR has been legitimized as a space for regional health management.

A metrópole moderna, o olhar surrealista: considerações benjaminianas / Walter Benjamin's approach to the modern metropolis and the glance surrealistic

Walter Benjamin intenta apresentar a cidade, em sua multiplicidade e diversidade, como espaço de experiência sensorial e intelectual, local de encenação dos conflitos sociais e de transformações urbanísticas. Suas ruas são palco de circulação de mercadorias, repletas de enigmas; o lugar onde o sujeito autônomo, senhor de uma razão iluminista, perde-se em meio a uma labiríntica multidão - de pessoas, de objetos, de imagens -, e em que a experiência de rapidez, de anonimato pode ser realizada de modo mais radical do que em qualquer outro lugar. Desse modo, ler a cidade é ler um mosaico, e Benjamin retoma uma das mais profícuas leituras da metrópole urbana: a visada surrealista.

Walter Benjamin aims to present the different and multiple aspects of modern city. It is seen as the place where men have sensorial and intellectual experience, where social conflicts and urban transformations take place. In the streets of the city goods are sold and bought and they are mysterious and cannot be understood at once. In the street of modern city autonomous citizen, guided by enlighted thinking, cannot distinguish himself among a huge crowd of people, objects and images. In this very context, he does feel the speed things change and his own anonymous presence. The city can only be read as a mosaic and Walter Benjamin tries to understand it in the surrealistic way that he considers the richest form of doing so.

Bacteriological evaluation of some sachet water on sales in Owerri metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria

Aims: Continuous increase in the sale and indiscriminate consumption of packaged drinking waters in Nigeria is of public health significance. In order to safe guard public health, it is essential that the available packaged water is of the highest quality. This study was carried out to evaluate the bacteriological quality of packaged water on sale in Owerri metropolis, Imo State of Nigeria. Methodology and Results: From 30 registered sachet water factories, 8 samples each was purchased randomly fifteen of the brands of sachet water all over Owerri metropolis in Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria. These were analyzed for presence of bacterial indicators of water quality. Four weeks later, a second batch of the samples was collected from other brands. A mean plate counts was taken and the organisms from each water sample identified using standard procedures. The results showed that 11 (73.3%) sachet water brands had growths of pathogenic organisms in the first batch while 10 (66.6%) had growth in the second batch. The isolates were identified to be Klebsilla spp., Serratia spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Chromobacterium spp. The study showed that Klebsiella pneumoniae [7(29.2%)] was the most predominant. This was closely followed by Serratia spp. [6(25.0%)] and Proteus mirabilis [6(25.0%)]. Pseudomonas aeruginosa [3(12.5%)] and Chromobacterium spp. [2(8.3%)] was least predominant. Mean total heterotrophic bacteria plate counts (HPC) per millilitre ranged from 0.0 to 6.0 x 102 CFU/mL at 22 °C and 0.0 to 7.0 x 102 CFU/mL at 37 °C (first batch) and 0.0 to 5.0 x 102 CFU/mL at 22 °C and 0.0 to 10.0 x 102 CFU/mL at 37 °C for the second batch. Thus they fell below the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standard of 100 HPC per millilitre of water. Bacteriological examination of different brands of sachet water samples collected from different locations showed that only Vince water and Akudo table water was found to be safe for drinking while the other brands of sachet water from mobile vendors in Owerri metropolis was not potable. Conclusion, Significance and Impact of study: Hence, the bacteriological quality of some of the brands of sachet water on sale in Owerri was of poor quality index. The study suggests that sachet water could be a route of transmission of enteric pathogens among the populace. In order to safe guard public health, highest quality brands of sachet water is therefore advocated.

Análise bayesiana do modelo de herança monogênica no melhoramento vegetal: um exemplo com abobrinha / Bayesian analisys of monogenic inheritance model in plant breeding: a case study with zucchini

Uma estratégia comum em programas de melhoramento é conduzir estudos básicos de herança para investigar a hipótese de controle do caráter por um ou poucos genes de efeito principal, associados ou não a genes modificadores de pequeno efeito. Neste trabalho, foi utilizada a inferência bayesiana para ajustar modelos de herança genética aditiva-dominante a experimentos de genética vegetal com várias gerações. Densidades normais com médias associadas aos efeitos genéticos das gerações foram consideradas em um modelo linear em que a matriz de delineamento dos efeitos genéticos tinha coeficientes indeterminados (precisando ser estimada para cada indivíduo). A metodologia foi ilustrada com um conjunto de dados de um estudo de herança da partenocarpia em abobrinha (Cucurbita pepo L). Tal ajuste permitiu explicitar a distribuição a posteriori das probabilidades genotípicas. A análise corrobora resultados anteriores da literatura, porém foi mais eficiente que alternativas prévias que supunham a matriz de delineamento conhecida para as gerações. Conclui-se que a partenocarpia em abobrinha é governada por um gene principal com dominância parcial.

A common breeding strategy is to carry out basic studies to investigate the hypothesis of a single gene controlling the trait (major gene) with or without polygenes of minor effect. In this study we used Bayesian inference to fit genetic additive-dominance models of inheritance to plant breeding experiments with multiple generations. Normal densities with different means, according to the major gene genotype, were considered in a linear model in which the design matrix of the genetic effects had unknown coefficients (which were estimated in individual basis). An actual data set from an inheritance study of partenocarpy in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) was used for illustration. Model fitting included posterior probabilities for all individual genotypes. Analysis agrees with results in the literature but this approach was far more efficient than previous alternatives assuming that design matrix was known for the generations. Partenocarpy in zucchini is controlled by a major gene with important additive effect and partial dominance.

Comparação entre modelos para predição do nitrogênio mineralizado: uma abordagem bayesiana / Comparison of the models for prediction of the mineralized nitrogen: a bayesian approach

Neste trabalho, desenvolveu-se uma abordagem bayesiana para predizer as quantidades de nitrogênio mineralizados por intermédio de modelos não lineares. Os modelos não lineares considerados para avaliar a dinâmica da mineralização do nitrogênio e para ilustrar o procedimento bayesiano foram: modelo de Cabrera, Marion, Stanford e Smith. A comparação dos modelos foi feita por meio do Fator de Bayes (FB) e do Critério de Informação Bayesiano (BIC). A inferência sobre os parâmetros realizou-se por intermédio do Amostrador de Gibbs e do Metropolis Hastings. O modelo de Cabrera (1993) foi o que proporcionou melhor qualidade de ajuste ao conjunto de dados de mineralização de nitrogênio, sendo seguido pelo modelo de Stanford & Smith (1972) e, por último, o de Marion et al. (1981).

In this work one developed a Bayesian approach to predict the amount of mineralized nitrogen through nonlinear models. The nonlinear models considered to evaluate the mineralization of organic nitrogen and to illustrate the Bayesian procedure were: models of Cabrera, Marion, Stanford and Smith. The comparison of the models was promoted through the Bayes Factor (FB) and Bayes Information Criterion (BIC). Inference on the parameters was carried out through the Gibbs Sampling and Metropolis Hastings. The model that provided better adjustment quality to the group of data was Cabrera's model (1993), followed by the model of Stanford & Smith (1972) and the last one by Marion et al. (1981).

Pollen in Bangkok metropolis: II. allergenic importance and cross reactivity among pollen.

By the intracutanous test using 14 different kinds of pollen extracts in 1,007 allergic rhinitis patients, we have found that 84.72 percent of these patients gave more than two plus reaction to Bermuda grass extract, 82.10 percent to careless weed, 79.10 percent to Para grass, 76.51 percent to cane, 70.60 percent to Sedge, 68.11 percent to Acacia and 61.50 percent to Ferns. Other pollen extracts gave less than 50 percent of positive skin test reaction; they are English plantain, Pyrethrum, Johnson grass Crysanthemum, Corn, Sunflower and Palm listed in decreasing order. There was no direct relationship between the incidence of atmospheric pollen and the positive skin test reaction. However, grass and weed pollen are the most frequently encountered and also the most potent allergenic pollen. It was also proved that there was significant correlation between the skin test reaction of different kinds of grass pollen and also between weeds and pollen other than grass. This implied that there was probable cross-reactivity among all kinds of pollen which was relevant to the findings from other studies using more sophisticated test methods. But it should be emphasized that although they share some allergens, each kind of pollen also possesses its unique allergen.

Airborne pollen in Bangkok metropolis: I. incidence and seasonal variation.

By using the Rotorod sampler, airborne pollen was surveyed at 8 different stations in Bangkok Metropolis. At each station the glass rod was exposed thrice a week throughout the year. Pollen grains were found in every exposed rod and altogether 16 different kinds of pollen were identified. The common pollen found, listed in decreasing order, were Cyperaceae 23.34%, wild grasses 19.56%, cultivated grasses 11.08% and Amaranthaceae 8.08%. Unidentified pollen was also encountered for 10.04%. These pollen were present in the Bangkok atmosphere all year round but their peak was during October to February and again in June. Both types and amount of pollen found at each station studied did not show much difference.