The Prevalence of Childhood Asthma, Respiratory Symptoms and Associated Air Pollution Sources Among Adolescent Learners in Selected Schools in Vhembe District, South Africa.

Unlabelled: This study investigated the prevalence of childhood asthma and respiratory symptoms with their associated air pollution sources among adolescents aged 13-14 years residing in a Malaria-endemic region.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 2855 adolescents from fourteen (14) selected schools in communities exposed to high levels of air pollution from indoor residual spraying (IRS) that is used for malaria vector control in the Vhembe region. Data were collected using a self-administered standardized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire.

Dietary patterns and risk of developing asthma among pre-schoolers.

Background: Early childhood dietary patterns have been identified as potential factors that can influence the development of asthma in children. The objective of the study was to determine the association between dietary patterns, identified through principal component analysis (PCA), and asthma in pre-schoolers.

Methods: This unmatched case-control study used data from 3145 pre-schoolers participating in the parent population-based observational study conducted in a District Municipality, Province.

Prevalence of Wheezing and Its Association with Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure among Rural and Urban Preschool Children in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of wheezing and its association with environmental tobacco smoke exposure among rural and urban preschool children in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, an area associated with poor air quality.

Methods: In this study, parents/caregivers of preschool children ( = 3145) completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression models.

Systematizing Information Use to Address Determinants of Health Worker Health in South Africa: A Cross-sectional Mixed Method Study.

Background: Recognizing that access to safe and healthy working conditions is a human right, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for specific occupational safety and health (OSH) programs for health workers (HWs). The WHO health systems' building blocks, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlight the importance of information as part of effective systems. This study examined how OSH stakeholders access, use, and value an occupational health information system (OHIS).

Selection of appropriate on-site household sanitation options for rural communities of Zimbabwe - case of Mbire district, Zimbabwe.

Selecting an appropriate sanitation option involves multiple stakeholders with often conflicting objectives. A multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework was developed to inform decision makers on selecting appropriate sanitation options for rural communities. Criteria established from literature were evaluated and weighted on-line by stakeholders.

Frameworks for mitigating the risk of waterborne diarrheal diseases: A scoping review.

Background: Diarrhea is one of the major cause of death and morbidity around the world.

Objectives: This scoping review summarizes existing frameworks that aim to mitigate the risks of waterborne diarrheal diseases and describe the strengths and weaknesses of these frameworks.

Eligibility Criteria: Published frameworks designed to mitigate the risks of waterborne diarrheal diseases.

Community-level interventions for mitigating the risk of waterborne diarrheal diseases: a systematic review.

Background: Waterborne diarrhea diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. These diseases can be mitigated by implementing various interventions. We reviewed the literature to identify available interventions to mitigate the risk of waterborne diarrheal diseases.

Drivers and barriers to sustained use of Blair ventilated improved pit latrine after nearly four decades in rural Zimbabwe.

Background: Some latrines remain unused even under conditions of high coverage in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries. Not much is known on household latrine use in the long term in the absence of an intervention. The current work assesses drivers and barriers to sustained use of a ventilated improved pit latrine (Blair VIP) design where it originated and how rural households adapt it to climate change.

Allergy and Household Living Conditions among Adolescents Living near Gold Mine Tailing Dumps in the Gauteng and North West Provinces of South Africa.

This quantitative exploratory baseline study aimed to investigate whether allergy among adolescents was associated with household living conditions, including living near gold mine tailing dumps in South Africa. A questionnaire based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies was used to collect information on allergy and household risk factors among adolescents ( = 5611). A chi-square test was applied to determine the relationship between community (exposed/unexposed) and confounding variables.

Supervised Kohonen Self-Organizing Maps of Acute Asthma from Air Pollution Exposure.

There are unanswered questions with regards to acute respiratory outcomes, particularly asthma, due to environmental exposures. In contribution to asthma research, the current study explored a computational intelligence paradigm of artificial neural networks (ANNs) called self-organizing maps (SOM). To train the SOM, air quality data (nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter), interpolated to geocoded addresses of asthmatics, were used with clinical data to classify asthma outcomes.

Development and validation of a framework to improve neglected tropical diseases surveillance and response at sub-national levels in Kenya.

Background: Assessment of surveillance and response system functions focusing on notifiable diseases has widely been documented in literature. However, there is limited focus on diseases targeted for elimination or eradication, particularly preventive chemotherapy neglected tropical diseases (PC-NTDs). There are limited strategies to guide strengthening of surveillance and response system functions concerning PC-NTDs.

Organizational factors associated with health worker protection during the COVID-19 pandemic in four provinces of South Africa.

Background: Health workers, in short supply in many low-and-middle-income countries, are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aimed to assess how South Africa, prepared to protect its health workers from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study design applying participatory action research in four provinces of South Africa.

Feasibility of implementing recommendations to improve neglected tropical diseases surveillance and response in Kenya: a modified Delphi study.

Background: Effective health information systems (HIS) are critical towards achieving timely response to preventive chemotherapy neglected tropical diseases (PC-NTDs) and their eventual elimination. Strengthened HIS enable prompt case detection and effective response to halt disease transmission and prevent probable outbreaks. This study aimed to assess the importance and feasibility of implementing recommendations for improving surveillance core functions, support functions and surveillance attributes concerning PC-NTDs in Kenya.

Effect of Sanitation Interventions on Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trials in Rural Communities of Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

A systematic review of published literature (2000-2019) evaluating the impact of sanitation interventions on the prevalence of disease, parasite infestation, and/or child growth using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was done according to the PRISMA checklist. Earlier reviews indicated mixed evidence citing relatively poor quality evidence from mixed designs. Public health policy and practice appear to rely on evidence from RCTs.

Frameworks for selecting appropriate rural sanitation technology options in low- and middle-income countries: a critical review.

Several rural technology options exist on the sanitation market with different characteristics, yet project failures in some developing countries were attributable to inappropriate technology choices. Frameworks that are used to select sanitation technology options (hard copy, computer programmes) were developed by researchers and project implementers. They vary in design and application as there is no standard format.

High blood pressure and exposure to dust from gold mine dumps among the elderly in South Africa: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To investigate whether high blood pressure was associated with living close to a mine dump among the elderly in South Africa.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the elderly in communities 1-2 km (exposed) and 5 km or more (unexposed), from five pre-selected mine dumps in Gauteng and North West provinces of South Africa.

Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 2397 elderly, using a previously validated ATS-DLD-78 questionnaire from the British Medical Research Council.

Association between ambient air pollution and cause-specific mortality in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg, South Africa: any susceptible groups?

Studies have confirmed that adverse human health effects that are associated with exposure to air pollution may differ depending on other factors such as age, gender, environmental conditions, and socio-economic factors. This study was conducted to assess the association between ambient air pollution and cause-specific mortality in the three big cities in South Africa and to determine the susceptible groups thereof. Cause-specific mortality data for all ages and PM, NO, and SO in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg for the period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2010 were obtained.

A systematic review on improving implementation of the revitalised integrated disease surveillance and response system in the African region: A health workers' perspective.

Background: The revised integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) guidelines adopted by African member states in 2010 aimed at strengthening surveillance systems critical capacities. Milestones achieved through IDSR strategy implementation prior to adopting the revised guidelines are well documented; however, there is a dearth of knowledge on the progress made post-adoption. This study aimed to review key recommendations resulting from surveillance assessment studies to improve implementation of the revitalised IDSR system in the African region based on health workers' perspectives.

Evaluation of health surveillance system attributes: the case of neglected tropical diseases in Kenya.

Background: Control of preventive chemotherapy-targeted neglected tropical diseases (PC-NTDs) relies on strengthened health systems. Efficient health information systems provide an impetus to achieving the sustainable development goal aimed at ending PC-NTD epidemics. However, there is limited assessment of surveillance system functions linked to PC-NTDs and hinged on optimum performance of surveillance system attributes.

A health worker knowledge, attitudes and practices survey of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control in South Africa.

Background: Health workers are crucial to the successful implementation of infection prevention and control strategies to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at healthcare facilities. The aim of our study was to determine SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control knowledge and attitudes of frontline health workers in four provinces of South Africa as well as explore some elements of health worker and health facility infection prevention and control practices.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was utilised.

Assessment of surveillance core and support functions regarding neglected tropical diseases in Kenya.

Background: Effective surveillance and response systems are vital to achievement of disease control and elimination goals. Kenya adopted the revised guidelines of the integrated disease surveillance and response system in 2012. Previous assessments of surveillance system core and support functions in Africa are limited to notifiable diseases with minimal attention given to neglected tropical diseases amenable to preventive chemotherapy (PC-NTDs).

The Frequency of Fast Food Consumption in Relation to Wheeze and Asthma Among Adolescents in Gauteng and North West Provinces, South Africa.

The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases have been on the rise, especially in developing countries due to life-style changes. The study aimed to investigate the association between the frequency of fast food consumption with wheeze and asthma among adolescents. A previously validated self-completed questionnaire from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood was used to collect information on demographics, socioeconomic status, house characteristics, adolescent respiratory health and diet.

Non-allergic rhinitis and associated risk factors among the elderly in communities close to gold mine dumps in Gauteng and North West provinces in South Africa: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To investigate whether non-allergic rhinitis among the elderly was associated with living close to mine dumps METHODS: Elderly persons (n = 2397) residing in communities 1-2 km (exposed) and ≥ 5 km (unexposed) from five preselected mine dumps in Gauteng and North West provinces in South Africa were included in the cross-sectional study, using a previously validated modified ATS-DLD-78 questionnaire from the British Medical Research Council.

Results: The overall prevalence of non-allergic rhinitis in this study was 23.99%.

Maternal urinary levels of trichloroacetic acid and association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The current study aimed to determine the association between trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes among third-trimester pregnant women who were exposed to chlorinated drinking water. A total of 205 pregnant women who participated in the disinfection by-products exposure and adverse pregnancy outcome study in South Africa were randomly asked to participate in this study by providing their morning urine sample voids. Samples were analysed for urinary creatinine and TCAA.