International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

Abstract: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are major public health problems in India, including Gujarat. Narmada district is a tribal area. The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of goitre in primary school children; to determine median urinary iodine concentration; to assess level of iodine in salt samples at household and retail shop level; and to study profile of salt sold at retail shops in Narmada district, Gujarat. 30 cluster survey method was used for the study in primary schools of Narmada Distri…

Abstract: Partially eutrophicated site (A) and free-flowing site (B) of Otamiri River in Owerri, Nigeria, separated by a barricade were evaluated to determine their relative pollution status. Microbiological analysis using membrance-filtration techniques detected high presence of Salmonella spp., Vibro spp., Staphylococus aureus and faecal Streptococci. Aerobic bacterial counts of 5.0 x 105 cfu/100ml were obtained from site B and 4.5x 103 cfu/100ml from site A. The physico-chemical analysis revealed high conductivity of 178…

Abstract: Under-nutrition prevents growth and development in children and is the leading factor to illness and death among children less than five years of age in developing countries. The objective of the study was to determine associations of demographic, cultural and environmental factors with frequency and severity of malnutrition among children less than five years of age in Zambia. We used data from the Zambia multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS) from years of 1999 to 2000. Altogether 6,142 children participated in…

Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of multiple antibiotic-resistant faecal indicator bacteria in streams and wells which serve as major sources of water for inhabitants of Ile-Ife city in Southwestern Nigeria. Water samples from 2 streams and 10 wells situated at different parts of the city were collected over a 6-month period. The total heterotrophic bacteria, faecal coliform and enterococci counts were performed using standard procedures, and the sensitivity of the isolates to antibiotics was…

Abstract: Northwest Nigeria is frequently beset with inadequate water supply. The safety of drinking water to the people in this part of the country has been of major concern as a result of frequently reported incidences of waterborne infections. To ascertain incidences of waterborne infections in this study, patient medical records in several primary health care centres in Sokoto, Shuni and Tambuwal towns in Northwest Nigeria were examined to collect data on incidences of waterborne infections and bio-data of the patients…

Abstract: Although HIV transmission among Namibian in-school adolescents is mainly heterosexual, previous data on sexual activity are not disaggregated, making it difficult to target interventions. This study conducted a disaggregated analysis of coital activity and explored various factors associated with coital activity among Namibian High School students. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 18 schools located in six education regions. Data were collected from 829 students through a structured questionnaire. Pearso…

Abstract: Malaria is under regular and ongoing surveillance, to detect changes in its trends or distribution in order to initiate investigative or control measures in the country. Owing to limited availability of resources and rational use under the program, prevention and control activities against malaria varies in areas with different intensity of malaria transmission. Transmission dynamics, surveillance, mapping of disease burden for malaria in arid ecological setting of Jodhpur, Rajasthan has described in this study. Mo…

Abstract: Travel medicine has emerged as a new field of medicine that involves pre-travel evaluation, contingency planning during travel, and post-travel care. Its implementation showed major discrepancies among different countries. This study aims to assess the health information given to travelers and detect their sources of information. This is a cross sectional analytical observational study of 397 travelers implemented on different travel destinations all over Egypt. It adopts self-administered structured questionnaires…

Abstract: A study to generate epidemiological data on tuberculosis in cattle and humans in Enugu State, through a retrospective survey of abattoir and hospital records for a five-year period (2004 to 2008) was undertaken. A total of 748 and 2452 cases of tuberculosis were recorded in cattle and humans respectively. Statistical analysis showed that a variation in seasonal prevalence in both studied population, but the variation was not statistically significant. Sex-associated prevalence differed in both studied populations…

Abstract: Medical schemes are insurance institutions that cover medical expenses in South Africa. These institutions reimburse their members for actual expenditure on health. The Medical Schemes Act (Act 131 of 1998) defines the business of a medical scheme as the business of undertaking liability in return for a contribution in order to make provision for obtaining any relevant health service. The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) is an autonomous statutory body created by parliament to regulate the medical schemes industry…

Abstract: Aim of the study was to compare the ability of the all patients refined diagnosis related groups (APR-DRG) with the centre for medicare and medicaid services diagnosis related groups (CMS-DRG) in predicting multidimensional impairment of elderly patients. Cases discharged from 20 geriatric units were grouped by the CMS-DRG and the APR-DRG. A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) was performed using the activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), short portable mental status…

Abstract: Self-medication is becoming a common type of self-care behavior among the population of many countries. Many international studies have investigated the prevalence and nature of self-medication practices at the population level. In Nigeria, some workers have also looked at the population prevalence of self-medication in general; however the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among medical undergraduates has not yet been studied. The interest in studying this practice among this select group is due to the fact…

Abstract: The study was conducted to assess the knowledge and skills of tutors on Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in some pre-service health training institutions in Nigeria to identify their training needs. The study was a cross sectional survey using a structured self-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. A total of 62 tutors from 5 pre-service health training institutions were selected. The level of knowledge was assessed using a scoring system as adequate or in adequate. Overall, 25 (40.3%) of…

Abstract: Gender based violence is gaining more and more recognition, the world over. The prevalence and factors associated with physical violence as it affects both men and women taking into account the hierarchical nature of the data was reported in this study. A descriptive cross sectional survey was carried out on adult women and men in three selected states of Nigeria. A random effect logistic model was fitted. More female respondents had experienced physical violence compared with males. Behavioural factors of partners…

Abstract: Direct and indirect risk factors are implied in increased elders’ visceral fat level, namely socio-economic, gender, age, workload, physical activities and eating pattern. The aim of study was to get the information on visceral fat level and its risk factors amongst The Indonesian Javanese elderly. A total of 812 elder’s (517 women and 295 men) participated in the cross sectional study. Results showed that 12.8% of respondents with high level of visceral fat and 26.7% almost reach high level. Rural and urban areas…