Health effects of noise exposure levels among instrumentalists in pentecostal churches in port harcourt city, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Noise is everywhere in our daily lives and becomes very important as it affects our health. Religion is anintegr al part of daily lives and the use of acoustic and electronic instruments in worship. With the increase in sophistry of these instruments come their attendant untoward effects on the auditory organs of the body. This study was to assess noise exposure levels amongst instrumentalists in Pentecostal churches in Port Harcourt City, Nigeria.MATERIALS & METHODS: Following ethical consideration, 216 consenting respondents from 30 churches in Port Harcourt were recruited by table of random numbers. Structured close ended interviewer administered questionnaire incorporating the Hearing Health Quick Test (HHQT) was used to access demographic data. Hearing assessments were also performed using tonal audiometry. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics.RESULTS: Most 90.28% and 37.96% of respondents were male and within the 39-45 year-old age range respectively. Also, 80.56% of respondents were aware that loud music can cause permanent hearing loss. The prevalence of NIHL andTinnitus was 39% and 38% respectively; and only 19% used Hearing Protection Devices (HPD). Statistically significant risk of NIHL was observed in musicians who had experienced tinnitus, played only amplified instruments and Music experience greater or equal to 10 years (p=0.001).CONCLUSION: Gospel instrumentalists are exposed to noise in the course of their duties which have significant effect on their hearing. Use of Hearing Protection Devices (HPD) as a personal protective equipment is encouraged just as health education of this group of workers is necessary

Pattern of accidents in building construction sites in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.

Background: Building construction workers are engaged in a dangerous job, exposing them to an array of hazards. Construction accidents cause deaths, injuries and economic loss each year. The leading cause building site accidents include falls from unsafe working conditions and scaffolding. This study was to determine the pattern of hazards / accidents in building construction sites in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State Nigeria. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 400 consenting respondents (366 males and 34 females) using a multistage sampling system. They responded to closed ended, structured interviewer/self administered questionnaires which probed socio-demographics, occupational history, knowledge and behavior towards workplace hazards. There was also a walk-through survey of sampled work sites. Data collected in Excel spread sheet were analyzed and presented in descriptive and analytical statistics.. Results: This showed 278 (69.50%) of the workers agreed to being exposed to hazards at the work place. The hazards in order of prevalence include noise (31.46%), falling off from the ladder or height (29.25%), slips, trips and low falls (29.04%), dust (24.39%), heat (25.51%), flame/fire (24.94%), puncture wound (22.54%), struck by falling objects (19.18%), gases or vapors (17.27%), fumes (16.16%), cold (18.08). Injuries sustained in this study include musculoskeletal (46.85%), Puncture wounds (32.87%), Electrocutions (8.39%). Conclusion: Hazards abound in building construction sites and efforts at prevention and control are at best poor and ineffective. There is need for institution of safety standards with training of workers on hazards they are likely to confront as they ply their trade.

Soil transmitted helminth infection among farmers in Ukwa West Local Government Area, Abia State, south-east, Nigeria.

Background: Farmers like most groups of workers are faced with a multiplicity of hazards and biological hazards like Soil Transmitted Helminths - a major Public health problem in the tropical like Nigeria is one of them. This study was to determine the prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs) infections among farmers in Ukwa West Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, South East Nigeria. Methods: Following ethical clearance,290 consenting farmers were recruited to participate in this descriptive cross sectional study. They responded to pre-tested, structured, close ended interviewer administered questionnaires which probed socio-demographics,knowledge and behaviour towards STHs. Also, stool and blood samples were collected from participants and examined for helminth ova and estimation of packed cell volume respectively. A Walk Through Survey of the farms for immediate work place situation and safety was carried out. Collected data were analysed using descriptive and analytical tools. Results: There was a 33.1% prevalence of infection with STHs and a 67.6% prevalence of anaemia among respondents. Hookworm had the highest (59.6%) prevalence just as anaemia amongst farmers with STHs was higher than among respondents who were not diagnosed with the disease. Knowledge of STHs and the availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPEs) were poor. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of STHs among farmers in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, South East Nigeria occasioned inter alia by the behaviour and poor use of PPEs. Health Education, routine de-worming and use of PPEs are recommended.

Effects on packed cell volume and parasitic worm load from deworming pupils of a public school in Rivers State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Parasitic worms infect millions of school age children worldwide and this is even more evident in the tropics where basic personal general hygiene still remains a challenge. One of the consequences of parasitic worm infestation in children is anaemia which is objectively measured by estimating the packed cell volume. This study carried out through four months was to examine the effects, (on packed cell volume and parasitic worm load) of de-worming pupils of a primary school in Rivers State. METHOD: This two-phase quasi-experimental intervention study had 218 pupils (i.e. study and control groups) selected by multi-stage sampling from a primary school. Their packed cell volumes were estimated with centrifuge hematocrit and stool examined for parasitic worms with saline wet prep microscopy. A dose of Albendazole was administered to the study group. The data presented in Microsoft Excel spread sheet, were then analysed using SPSS version 17, T-test and Chi Square respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of ova in the stool of the study group dropped significantly from the pre-intervention 53.4% to a post intervention 11.5% P = 0.00). Also, the mean packed cell volume in the study group increased from 32.2 + 3.3% to 33.1 + 3.0% P = 0.03). The values for the control remained essentially same pre- and post-intervention. CONCLUSION: The de-worming intervention significantly reduced the parasitic worm load and improved the packed cell volume of the pupils. It is recommended that school age children be routinely dewormed as part of the School Health Programme.

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

Recent Change of locality as Risk Factor for Malaria Fever among New Residents of Ahoada East Local Government Area in Southern Nigeria

Relocation which is a well-known determinant of malaria in non-immune travelers to malarious areas; has also been found to be a risk factor for malaria among semi-immune persons who change locality within endemic regions. Further research evidence suggests that the higher transmission intensity at the travel location is an underlying factor which may indicate exposure to new variants of P falciparum for which specific immunity is lacking. This study was conducted to determine if recent change of locality increased the risk of malaria fever among semi-immune National Youth Service Corps members serving in a district in southern Nigeria.Method: Ninety six corps members who had just been posted to Ahoada-East LGA in southern Nigeria and 83 others that had been in service for six months; were followed up for malaria fever in a prospective cohort design over a 3 month period from September 2010 to December 2010. Active surveillance was used to obtain reports of fever among the cohort; followed by medical examination at designated local health facilities.Results: No significant differences in age and use of protection against malaria were found between the study groups. The incidence proportion of malaria for the recently relocated group (34) was significantly higher than that of the resident group (15.7). Recent change of locality was more associated with malaria fever (RR 2.19; 95 CI 1.243.88; AR 54.4).Conclusion: The recent change of locality within an endemic region; which serves as an indicator of exposure to new variants of P falciparum; for which specific immunity is lacking; is a significant risk factor for malaria fever. Protection against malaria is recommended for semi-immune individuals moving to new locations with significant risk of malaria transmission

Evaluation of Peak Expiratory Flow rates (PEFR) of Workers in a Cerment Factory in Port Harcout South-South; Nigeria

Occupational lung diseases (OLD) remain one of the most common workplace health challenges since the industrial revolution. One of the risks for OLD is the exposure to cement dust which is associated with varying degrees of respiratory symptoms and reduction in lung function. This study aimed to measure the peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) of workers in a cement manufacturing company in Port Harcourt and estimate the determinants of the measured rates.Method: In this descriptive cross-sectional study; 105 workers of a cement company who presented for the annual fitness to work exercise were sampled and had their peak expiratory flow rates measured using a spirometer. Data were also collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and a walk through survey carried out to examine workplace situation. The results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The study showed that 13.3 of the workers had abnormal (i.e low) PEFR. The lowest mean PEFR of 327.5L/min was found among workers who had worked for 21 23 years and worked mainly at the production and bagging area. Most of the workers (81.9) made effective use of some form of personal protective equipment (PPE).Conclusion: Reduction in the PEFR implied that prolonged exposure to cement dust may result in decreased lung function and by extension pulmonary disease. The high percentage of normal PEFR found among the workers; irrespective of their duration of work; could be attributed to the effective use of the PPE

Perceptions of indoor air quality associated with ventilation system types in elementary schools.

With the increased utilization of school buildings on a year-round basis, school indoor air quality has become a national concern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible associations between ventilation system type and occupant perception of indoor air quality. Staff (n = 403) from 12 schools completed a self-administered questionnaire. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, air exchange rates, and particle counts were also measured for each school. Schools with unit ventilator (UV) systems had the lowest mean CO2 level at 637 ppm, followed by the variable air volume (VAV) systems with 664 ppm, and constant volume (CV) systems with a mean of 703 ppm. Schools with UV systems had the lowest mean air exchange rate at 2.67 air changes per hour (ACH), followed by the VAV system type at 2.80 ACH and the CV system type at 4.61 ACH. Indoor versus outdoor particle ratios were calculated for each ventilation system type. Particles with aerodynamic diameters ranging from 0.1-1.0 microm had a geometric mean ratio ranging from 0.38 to 0.68; particles with aerodynamic diameters ranging from 1-3 microm had ratios ranging from 1.39 to 5.47, and particles with aerodynamic diameters greater than 3 microm had ratios ranging from 3.20 to 14.76. Schools using VAV systems had a significantly lower prevalence of red and watery eyes while schools with UV systems had an elevated prevalence of nasal congestion, sore throat, headache, and dustiness complaints. This increased prevalence of complaints in buildings with UV systems may be due to the increased particulate levels.

Field validation study of NO2 personal passive samplers in a "diesel" haulage underground mine.

Three passive samplers are now commercially available for NO2. This field validation, conducted in an underground mine, attempted to address both the precision and accuracy of the three now commercially available. The probable sources of NO2 were identified as diesel engines and blasting operations. Comparative sampling was conducted with the passive samplers versus the standard "baseline" impingement method. The three NO2 samplers were as follows: 1) PRO-TEK (DuPont); 2) Palmes (MDA); 3) VaporGard (MSA). Three sets of data consisting of impingers and passive sampler results were taken on top of a moving diesel vehicle over a three-day period. An expanded metal screen was welded in a "free standing" plane above the vehicle to serve as a sampling platform. The evaluation of concentration data suggested that correlations of accuracy and precision versus the impinger method were best for the Palmes and VaporGard samplers. The PRO-TEK sampler does not seem to produce accurate data, but it is somewhat precise. Factors of sensitivity, accuracy, precision, cost, ease of analysis, and stability must be weighed.