-
Role of Safety and Health Awareness in Occupational Safety and Health Performance in Public Health Facilities in Machakos County, Kenya
Patrick Kinyanjui Njogu,
Charles Mburu,
Benson Karanja
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
1-7
Received:
3 January 2019
Accepted:
29 January 2019
Published:
22 February 2019
Abstract: The Kenya Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) obligates employers to ensure the provision of occupational safety and health information and training to all persons in their workplaces. In spite of this requirement, the risk of occupational exposures among the healthcare workers remains high. The researchers aimed to determine whether occupational safety and health (OSH) awareness among health workers and health management hindered implementation of OSHA in public dispensaries and health centres, using Machakos County. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted in February 2018 and involved 107 health workers in public dispensaries and health centres and 42 members of the Health Management in Machakos County. It involved physical observations, collection of data from respondents, and analysis of the data. Linear regression results indicated strong negative relationship between OSH awareness and hindrance in the implementation of OSHA. The prediction factor was -0.6400, p<0.05. These showed that one unit increase in OSH awareness predicted a decrease of 0.64 units of hindrance in the implementation of OSH Act. The null hypothesis, Implementation of Occupational Safety and Health Act is not affected by OSH awareness among health workers and health management, failed in favour the alternative hypothesis. The researchers concluded that lack of OSH awareness among health workers and management hindered implementation of OSHA in the selected facilities. The health workers and management should be trained in OSH. Regular OSH refresher seminars should be conducted and OSH information disseminated and displayed throughout the health facilities. OSH policy should be communicated through trainings and displays in health facilities.
Abstract: The Kenya Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) obligates employers to ensure the provision of occupational safety and health information and training to all persons in their workplaces. In spite of this requirement, the risk of occupational exposures among the healthcare workers remains high. The researchers aimed to determine whether occupati...
Show More
-
Determination of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination Tolerance Limit by Food Insect (Brachytrupes membranaceus) in Bodo Community, Niger Delta, Nigeria
Gbarakoro Tambeke Nornu,
Ozonma Obiageli Ukamaka
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
8-13
Received:
16 December 2018
Accepted:
11 January 2019
Published:
19 March 2019
Abstract: Petroleum hydrocarbon contaminant passes from contaminated soils to soil-inhabiting food insects and alter the tolerance limit and nutritional contents of the insects. Species samples of adult Brachytrupes membranaceus; an edible insect mostly consumed by children in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, and its soil substrates were collected from petroleum contaminated habitat-types of 5yr-pipeline, 2yr artisanal refinery-source pollution and unpolluted sites, monthly for 6 months (May-Oct, 2017), using hand and bucket-type soil auger, at Bodo community. The samples were processed in the laboratory for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) and nutritional content, using KJELDAHL method and analyzed by GCFID and UV spectrophotometer analyses, respectively, to investigate human health impact of TPH contamination through insect-pathways. The results indicated that the mean values of the TPH in the soil were 1.35ppm (control), 373.67ppm (pipeline) and 351.37ppm (artisanal refinery) and in the crickets the values were 6.42ppm (control), 355.90ppm (pipeline) and 312.93ppm (artisanal refinery). The TPH in insects collected monthly from the control habitat-type recorded below 100ppm and those insects collected from polluted habitat-type recorded above 100ppm. Four mineral elements, Fe, Ca, Mg and P were detected in crickets collected from the three habitat-types. The habitat-type which contained higher TPH concentration recorded higher values of Fe (pipeline: 349mg/kg), Mg values was higher in artisanal refinery (187.8mg/kg) and P values was higher in the control (283.2mg/kg). The increase in levels of mineral elements, proteins and fat in polluted crickets-habitats over those of non-polluted was abnormal and hydrocarbon-induced and may cause human health implications for cricket consumers. Statistical analyses indicate a significant difference between the concentrations of TPH in the soils and crickets collected from the control and polluted habitat-types but insignificant between that of the soils and crickets collected from the same polluted habitat-types. Results implies that the TPH contained in the crickets exceeded the allowable tolerance limit by Nigerian authority, and had impact on levels of mineral elements.
Abstract: Petroleum hydrocarbon contaminant passes from contaminated soils to soil-inhabiting food insects and alter the tolerance limit and nutritional contents of the insects. Species samples of adult Brachytrupes membranaceus; an edible insect mostly consumed by children in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, and its soil substrates were collected from pet...
Show More
-
Stress Response in Swedish Ambulance Personnel Evaluated by Trier Social Stress Test
Kåre Karlsson,
Patrik Persson Niemelä,
Anders Jonsson,
Carl-Johan Törnhage
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
14-23
Received:
7 January 2019
Accepted:
2 March 2019
Published:
19 March 2019
Abstract: According to previous research, ambulance personnel often consider themselves as healthy, but at the same time several studies show that they suffer from several stress-related illnesses, take early retirement and even suffer early death. The aim of this study was to explore mental stress during the Trier Social Stress Test. Questions were whether heart rate measurement could replace cortisol concentration in saliva as an indicator of stress and if there were differences between genders. During 20 Trier Social Stress Tests heart rate and salivary cortisol concentrations were measured. Heart rate was measured every 15 seconds and salivary cortisol was collected at seven occasions. Fourteen men and six women (sixteen ambulance nurses and four paramedics) participated. A questionnaire with background data was collected. Statistical analysis used was non-parametric tests to adjust for misalignment. During the Trier Social Stress Test women had their highest salivary cortisol concentration before start of test while the maximum values for men were 10 to 20 minutes after start. In contrast, there was no difference in heart rhythm before, during and after test between genders. No correlation between heart rate and salivary cortisol was found. There was no significant difference in stress response according to personnel’s age or level of education. Women and men exhibit different hormonal stress responses when it comes to performing unfamiliar actions, something that has not been seen before. Since no correlation could be seen between heart rate and salivary cortisol concentration they cannot replace each other as indicators of stress.
Abstract: According to previous research, ambulance personnel often consider themselves as healthy, but at the same time several studies show that they suffer from several stress-related illnesses, take early retirement and even suffer early death. The aim of this study was to explore mental stress during the Trier Social Stress Test. Questions were whether ...
Show More
-
Comparative Study of Hematological Disorders of Antiviral Treatments in Algerian Chronic Hepatitis C Patients
Kamilia Guedri,
Aziez Chettoum,
Nawel Attoui
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
24-31
Received:
22 January 2019
Accepted:
6 March 2019
Published:
21 March 2019
Abstract: Viral hepatitis C (HCV) is a major health problem that affects important number of people around the world, the emergence of new direct antiviral treatments is a real therapeutic revolution to days it allows the cure hepatitis C in the majority of patients, but these treatments is accompanied by numerous side effects. Sofosbuvir, Pegylated interferon and Ribavirin are the standard care for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Algeria. In this study, we are interesting to investigate hematological toxicity of Antiviral treatment in Algerian patients with chronic hepatitis C. We carried out a comparative study, which involved 300 men and women Algerian at different ages. The determination of the various Epidemiological, Hematological, biochemical (AST, ALT, Glycemia) and virological (Viral load) parameters was performed. The analysis of 300 data shows that the infection with hepatitis C affects the age group between (46 - 65 years) with a percentage of 67% with a female predominance 82% and a clear predominance of genotype 1b with a percentage (89%), Dual therapy (Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin) and triple therapy (Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin + Pegylated interferon) induce a high hematological toxicity - Hemolytic anemia ( revealed by a decrease of the number of Red blood cell and Hemoglobin level, as well as the percentage of hematocrit and the increase of mean corpuscular volume that induced the increase of red blood cell masse and the expansion) - Thrombocytopenia (revealed by the decrease in the number of platelets ) and leukopenia (translated by the decrease in the number of White blood cells and lymphocytes as well as monocytes, and a very significant increase in granulocytes) whereas in monotherapy (Sofosbuvir) a low toxicity was noticed, the Patients how receiving triple therapy (Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin + Pegylated interferon) can be developing diabetes mellitus. Antiviral treatments were significantly induced hemolytic anemia, leucopenia and thrombopenia in Algerian patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Abstract: Viral hepatitis C (HCV) is a major health problem that affects important number of people around the world, the emergence of new direct antiviral treatments is a real therapeutic revolution to days it allows the cure hepatitis C in the majority of patients, but these treatments is accompanied by numerous side effects. Sofosbuvir, Pegylated interfer...
Show More
