by Rima Kumari Sah, Prem Kumar Sah, Jitendra Kumar Sah, Sudip Chiluwal and Sanjeev Kumar SHah
Original Research
Background: Safe drinking water and basic sanitation are crucial to the preservation of human health, especially among children. Water, sanitation and hygiene related issues are still a burning issue in the context of developing countries. Saptari district of Nepal, water supply coverage is 83% and sanitation coverage is only 25 % which is lower than national coverage. This could lead to poor hygienic practice in the community and it may adversely affect the health of vulnerable under-five children. Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) among mothers of under-five children in rural households of Saptari district of Nepal.Methodology Cross sectional study was undertaken in 21 Village Development Communities of Saptari district of Nepal. Multistage sampling method was used and 420 mothers of under-five children were interviewed about their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding water, sanitation and hygiene. Results: Out of 420 mothers, majority of participants had appropriate knowledge (74.8%) and poor knowledge (25.71%) on water, Sanitation and hygiene. 57.14% participants had positive attitude on water, sanitation and hygiene while (42.85%) had negative attitude. Regarding practice, (60%) participants did good practice and (40%) did poor practice. Almost 94.3% of the respondents used hand pump as a source of drinking water, (34.8%) used latrine for defecation. More than half (56.19%) of respondents washed hand with soap and water after defecation. A statistically significant difference in the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of participants was seen according to their educational level at p<0.05. Conclusion:Present study showed that knowledge and attitude on safe practice of water, sanitation and hygiene among mothers were affected by their education level. Hence there is a need to spread information on the importance of proper practice on water, sanitation and hygiene in rural areas through available evidences based on BCC strategies and multiple dissemination channels.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2017, 5(5), 163-169. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-5-5-5
Pub. Date: October 24, 2017
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by Adaeze Chidinma Oreh
Opinion Paper
Nigeria is widely recognized as contributing a major proportion of the global burden of diseases. The majority of her population reside in the rural areas and belong to the informal workforce that is largely untouched by government’s National Health Insurance Scheme, leaving universal health coverage for Nigeria’s citizens a dream still far from realization. Nigeria’s health sector is thus plagued with myriad inequities and inefficiencies, leaving many individuals and families impoverished by catastrophic health expenditures out of their pockets. A well-thought-out strategy for the implementation of universal health coverage utilizing increased government expenditure, strengthened legislation, innovative financing mechanisms, recruitment, training and support of community health workers, community-based financing schemes, and private sector engagement is therefore necessary.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2017, 5(5), 159-162. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-5-5-4
Pub. Date: October 19, 2017
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by Hernández Medina Miriam Selene, Hernández Serrano Carolina, López González Ana Laura, Barragán López Norma, Islas Vega Iracema, Mariela Lizbeth Cobián Díaz, Reynoso Vázquez Josefina and Ruvalcaba Ledezma Jesús Carlos
Original Research
It is understood as public health functions the set of actions that must be carried out with specific purposes, necessary for the achievement to improve the health of populations. The objective was inAnalyze the values-attributes, honesty, knowledge, passion and social sensitivity from the execution of the essential functions of public health in our country "Mexico" decreed by PAHO in 1997. A systematic review of articles detected on the internet and a video titled [Medellin, From Fear to Hope] with the central theme Medellin Colombia the most educated, articles and critical analysis of our reality on the matter. It was found that in our country there are many areas of opportunity to carry out the essential functions of public health, corruption, non-knowledge-based employment or curriculum of health professionals, lack of passion for what they do linked with the lack of knowledge and therefore the lack of social sensitivity. In conclusion. The quality of the work based on values, honesty, knowledge, passion and social sensitivity is deficient derived from antivalores-corruption, so in addition, the execution of the essential functions of public health in our country is limited, for the same quality of poor health care.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2017, 5(5), 154-158. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-5-5-3
Pub. Date: October 19, 2017
7672 Views1979 Downloads
by Fayez Saud Alreshidi, Ibrahim A. Bin ahmed, Saleh Hadi Alharbi, Sami Awejan Alrashedi, Ali Ghannam Alrashidi, Kalaf Jaze Kalaf Alshammeri and Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed
Original Research
Background:Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths in females worldwide. Increased Knowledge about breast cancer associated risk factors will prevent a number of people from getting the disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge and attitudes related to the relationship between smoking, alcohol, radiation, cosmetics use and risk of breast cancer in the Northern Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in Northern Saudi Arabia. Essential identification data about smoking, alcohol, radiation, cosmetics use as risk for breast cancer were took from 555 Saudi volunteers living in the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia. Results: When asking the participants the question “Do you think tobacco smoking can increase the risk of breast cancer?” Out of 549 respondents, 23.7% stated yes and the remaining 76.3% stated that smoking doesn’t increase the risk of breast cancer. When the participants were asked “Do you think exposure to radiation increase the risk of breast cancer?” Out of 549 respondents, only 15.5% stated yes and the remaining 84.5% stated that radiation exposure doesn’t increase the risk of breast cancer. When the participants were asked “Do you think exposure to some cosmetics usage increase the risk of breast cancer?” Out of 547 respondents, about 62.7% stated yes and the remaining 37.3% stated that cosmetic use doesn’t increase the risk of breast cancer. Conclusion: Although, the great majority of study population were females, the knowledge level of breast cancer risk related to cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and radiation exposure is very low.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2017, 5(5), 147-153. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-5-5-2
Pub. Date: October 14, 2017
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by Farah Sabrin, Klinton Ali, Sabiha Akter, Md. Ashraful Islam, Md. Junaid Hossen and Shahin Mahmud
Original Research
Bangladesh is a densely populated country of South East Asia that has a rich tribal presence. It has 1.2 million tribal people which is just above one percent of the total population which belong to in about 58 tribal groups who are living in different parts of the country. The Study was conducted at the Rajshahi Division, in the Naogaon and Rajshahi district at different villages where the Santali and Oraon people lived from their ancestors. Information on their socio-demography, health, disease condition and other related information were collected through a pre-planned questionnaire and the collected data were analyzed to reveal the desire status through Excel and SPSS. The survey covered a random sample of 150 children among three groups (Bengali, Santhal and Oraon). This investigation deals with the assessment of nutritional status and socio-demographic condition through anthropometric indices of children. Most of the child of study area was dropped out before completing primary level education and high number of Bengali respondent of this area completed education from high school and College. Socioeconomic conditions and nutritional status of Bengalis were better than the tribal. Majority of the tribal were thin and lean with medium to short stature. The study showed that females are more underweight then the males. Normal weight group of Bengali male children (57%) was higher than other ethnic groups Santhal (33%) and Oraon male children (30%). This scenario was also same to female. Food adequacy was much lower in Oraon group than Bengali and Santhal. Tribal children were unable to take adequate and nutritional essential food. Only 44% of Santhal and 36% of Oraon intake adequate food as needed for them where 92% of Bengali child took adequate food. Diseases rate was higher in Santali children (40%), than Bengali (16%) and Oraon (38%). The outcome of this study will give an authentic view about the Santhal and Oraon children’s current nutritional status and health condition which may draw the attention of policy makers, health workers and social workers to take necessary steps as soon as possible for ensuring their basic needs for better livelihood.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2017, 5(5), 138-146. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-5-5-1
Pub. Date: October 12, 2017
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