Household's willingness-to-pay estimation for safe drinking water: a case study in Vietnam

2013 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.This thesis explores consumer behavior of households for drinking water by surveying and analyzing 235 households (HHs) in Hanoi and Hai Duong in the North of Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh in South of Vietnam. Two classical methods have been employed, Contingent valuation method (CVM) and averting behavior method (ABM). Binary logit regression can help to identify internal and external factors influencing the decision of whether or not to pay for clean drinking water. In addition, the linear regression method allows to explore and to quantify the magnitude of relationship between the dependent variable and independent variables. Generally, about half of the households surveyed are willing to pay for better drinking water. Most of them are HHs living in two major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. On average for all of the sampled households, the value of willingness-to-pay makes up small percentage of household income, just 0.247% of total household income. The decision to pay for water depends on both internal factors: the level of education and awareness, as well as external factors: living conditions and existing water source. For those households that are willing to pay to get clean water services, income, and current status of water resources are strong variables. In addition, those households that are actively looking for information and learning related to water often pay a fee for water use. Different measures are practiced by HH's to prevent diseases caused by possible polluted drinking water. Of the five averting activities, boiling water is HHs' priority in rural areas due to low cost while buying bottled water is HH's choice in the city because of the convenience. Young people tend to use bottled water more than old people. Using a water filter increases amount of money they would be willing to pay for clean water, while income and habitat of using drinking water are also strong factors in determining willingness to pay a higher monthly water bill. This survey has compared two values: the value of WTP and the cost of averting expenditure (CAE). My results showed that WTP is not always greater than CAE. Empirical results have policy implications on drinking water price strategies and drinking water related projects investment in Vietnam. Policy-makers or planners should consider income, gender, level of education, existing water sources, lifestyles, and locale when making drinking water price strategies and water related investment

Universal Design to Limit Food Cross-Contamination: Incased Set of Kitchen Utensils with Five Color-Coded Food Chopping Boards and Knifes

This-study is focused on a-conceptual-design of a-kitchen-appliances/utensils-set, comprising of five-color-coded food-chopping-boards and five-matching-color-coded-knifes, to-reduce cross-contamination at private-homes, as-well-as at food-establishments. Selected-relevant-Patents, as-well-as products, available locally and internationally, were analyzed. The-Joseph-Joseph Index™ Color-Coded Chopping-Boards set (of four), was chosen as a-point of reference for the-current-design; its-seven-identified-limitations have-directed the-scope of the-current-design. Target-specifications/objectives, of the-set, were formulated from the-document-analysis, while Pair-wise-Comparison-Charts were-used, to-rank the-importance of the-objectives, in the-different-levels. The-best-ranked-design (out of the-four-alternatives made) was chosen, via standard Engineering-Design Weighted-Decision-Matrix (EDWDM) and ‘Drop and Re-vote’ (D&R) method. 2D-drawings, of the-best-design-alternative, were created via computer-aided-design (CAD) AutoCAD-software 2018, while 3D-modeling, of the-set and all-its-components, was produced by Autodesk-Inventor-Version: 2016 (Build 200138000, 138). Designed-labels (positioned on each-board and each-knife, as-well-as on the-set itself, as an-inclined-panel) were introduced, to-cater for the-people with color-blindness (according to-the-fundamental-principles of the-Universal-design), and also to-avoid-confusion (as a-reminder which board is which) for all-users. The-study adopted ‘analysis’ method of materials-selection. The-main objectives, of the-intended-set, was used as a-guide, in-preliminary-materials-selection. This-concise-study has focused on conceptual-design only; and, hence, it-is further-recommends to: (i) carry-out a-detailed-design; (ii) select a-specific-material (out of the-group, identified by this-study); (iii) choose a-mode of fabrication of the-set; (iv) examine the-possibility of incorporating of anti-microbial-agent(s) and/or coating(s); (v) fabricate the-prototype(s); (vi) conduct explorative-use-ability-trials; and (vii) analyze the-marketing-aspect of the-final-set. This-work is potentially-beneficial-to engineering-product-design students and faculty, as-well-as to-households and food-establishments (subject-to successful-implementation). Keywords: Color blindness; Materials selection; Food safety; Joseph Joseph Index™ Color Coded Chopping Boards set. DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/10-5-05 Publication date:June 30th 201

Climate change and health in Southeast Asia – defining research priorities and the role of the Wellcome Trust Africa Asia Programmes

This article summarises a recent virtual meeting organised by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam on the topic of climate change and health, bringing local partners, faculty and external collaborators together from across the Wellcome and Oxford networks. Attendees included invited local and global climate scientists, clinicians, modelers, epidemiologists and community engagement practitioners, with a view to setting priorities, identifying synergies and fostering collaborations to help define the regional climate and health research agenda. In this summary paper, we outline the major themes and topics that were identified and what will be needed to take forward this research for the next decade. We aim to take a broad, collaborative approach to including climate science in our current portfolio where it touches on infectious diseases now, and more broadly in our future research directions. We will focus on strengthening our research portfolio on climate-sensitive diseases, and supplement this with high quality data obtained from internal studies and external collaborations, obtained by multiple methods, ranging from traditional epidemiology to innovative technology and artificial intelligence and community-led research. Through timely agenda setting and involvement of local stakeholders, we aim to help support and shape research into global heating and health in the region.</ns4:p

Climate change and health in Southeast Asia – defining research priorities and the role of the Wellcome Trust Africa Asia Programmes

This article summarises a recent virtual meeting organised by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam on the topic of climate change and health, bringing local partners, faculty and external collaborators together from across the Wellcome and Oxford networks. Attendees included invited local and global climate scientists, clinicians, modelers, epidemiologists and community engagement practitioners, with a view to setting priorities, identifying synergies and fostering collaborations to help define the regional climate and health research agenda. In this summary paper, we outline the major themes and topics that were identified and what will be needed to take forward this research for the next decade. We aim to take a broad, collaborative approach to including climate science in our current portfolio where it touches on infectious diseases now, and more broadly in our future research directions. We will focus on strengthening our research portfolio on climate-sensitive diseases, and supplement this with high quality data obtained from internal studies and external collaborations, obtained by multiple methods, ranging from traditional epidemiology to innovative technology and artificial intelligence and community-led research. Through timely agenda setting and involvement of local stakeholders, we aim to help support and shape research into global heating and health in the region

Wastewater and excreta use in agriculture in northern Vietnam : health risks and environmental impacts

Wastewater is commonly used in agriculture and aquaculture in developing countries but also in developed countries due to the growing water scarcity. In Vietnam, the use wastewater and excreta in agriculture has a long tradition. While this practice has clear advantages (fertiliser, economic impacts etc.), it harbours potential risks for health and environment. The aim of the thesis was to understand the health and environmental risks related to wastewater and excreta reuse in an agricultural community in Northern Vietnam, with a focus on intestinal parasitic infections and diarrhoeal diseases and nutrients flow. This work is to optimizing the benefit of wastewater and excreta reuse in agriculture in from health and environmental perspective, which allows proposing potential interventions for health and environmental improvement. Methods In the study area - 2 communes of Hoang Tay and Nhat Tan in Hanam province, Northern Vietnam - wastewater (i.e. Nhue River and local pond), human and animal excreta are commonly used as water irrigation and fertilisers: (i) Cross-sectional, cohort and nested case-control studies were conducted to assess the relative importance of exposure to wastewater and excreta for parasitic infection and diarrhoeal episodes. Exposure data were obtained from household and individual interviews. Stool examinations were used to assess infection status. (ii) Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of Escherichia coli, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum infection due to the exposure to wastewater and excreta was conducted using multi-trial Monte Carlo simulations to estimate diarrhoeal risks. (iii) Material flow analysis (MFA) was used to analyse nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) flows in the environmental sanitation and agricultural systems. Results Helminth infections were prevalent (e.g. Ascaris lumbricoides 24%, Trichuris trichiura 40%, and any helminth infections 47%). Risk of infection increased for people having direct contact with Nhue River water (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.2), and using human excreta as fertiliser (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.3). Tap water use in household was a protective factor against T. trichiura infection (OR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9). Entamoeba histolytica infection was not associated with contact with Nhue River and pond water, and human and animal excreta, but with close contact with domestic animals (OR = 5.9, 95% CI 1.9-18.9), never or rarely washed hands with soap (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.1-10.0) and average socioeconomic ststus (OR = 4.3, 95% CI 1.3-14.0). Diarrhoeal incidence in adults was 0.28 episodes per person per year (pppy). The direct contact with water from the Nhue River (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.7) and local ponds (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-4.3), handling practices of human excreta (OR = 5.4, 95% CI 1.4-21.1), and animal excreta (OR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.8-6.0) as fertilisers were important risk factors for diarrhoeal diseases. Furthermore, inadequate use of protective measures (OR = 6.9, 95% CI 3.5-13.9), close contact with people having diarrhoea (OR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.4-10.3), never or rarely washed hands with soap (OR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.8-6.3), eating raw vegetables the day before (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4-6), and rainwater use in household for drinking (OR = 5.4, 95% CI 2.4-12.1) were also associated with increased the risks of diarrhoeal diseases. QMRA revealed that the most hazardous exposures included direct contact with Nhue River, local pond and field water, household sewage, and composted excreta. The annual infection risks due to exposure to wastewater exceeded the WHO reference level (10-4, i.e. ? 1 infection per 10,000 individuals), e.g. in scenario of growing rice, G. lamblia caused an infection risk of 0.75, C. parvum (0.39), and E. coli (0.96). The annual diarrhoeal risks were much greater than the WHO threshold values of 10-3 (i.e. 0.001 pppy), e.g. due to G. lamblia (0.50), C. parvum (0.15) and DEC (0.24) in scenario of growing rice. MFA simulations highlighted that the sanitation system is an important source of nutrients entering the surface water. Every year, 109 tonnes of N and 35 tonnes of P (75% N and 65% P from on-site sanitation system effluents) are discharged into the drainage system; and 118 tonnes of N and 25 tonnes of P released into surface water. Furthermore, simulations revealed that if nutrient management is not improved, levels of nutrients due to wastewater, faecal sludge, and organic solid waste will double until 2020. Conclusions In the agricultural settings, where wastewater and excreta are commonly used, important health and environmental impacts were documented. For mitigation purposes, personal hygiene practices and safe water and food consumption must be further addressed. Adequate on-site sanitation system technologies are warranted to assure waste treament and reduce nutrients discharge to the environment. Further investments in this direction are warranted to improve benefit-risk ratio for the agricultural community and increase sustainability of this agricultural system

VI Workshop on Computational Data Analysis and Numerical Methods: Book of Abstracts

The VI Workshop on Computational Data Analysis and Numerical Methods (WCDANM) is going to be held on June 27-29, 2019, in the Department of Mathematics of the University of Beira Interior (UBI), Covilhã, Portugal and it is a unique opportunity to disseminate scientific research related to the areas of Mathematics in general, with particular relevance to the areas of Computational Data Analysis and Numerical Methods in theoretical and/or practical field, using new techniques, giving especial emphasis to applications in Medicine, Biology, Biotechnology, Engineering, Industry, Environmental Sciences, Finance, Insurance, Management and Administration. The meeting will provide a forum for discussion and debate of ideas with interest to the scientific community in general. With this meeting new scientific collaborations among colleagues, namely new collaborations in Masters and PhD projects are expected. The event is open to the entire scientific community (with or without communication/poster)

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations

Wastewater irrigation and health: assessing and mitigating risk in low-income countries

Wastewater irrigation / Public health / Health hazards / Risk assessment / Epidemiology / Sewage sludge / Excreta / Diseases / Vegetables / Leaf vegetables / Economic impact / Wastewater treatment / Irrigation methods / Developing countries