The association between socioeconomic status and adult mortality in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

MSc (Med), Population-Based Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009Introduction: Although socioeconomic inequality in health and mortality is currently on the top of the epidemiologic debate, studies however on the subject among adult population in Africa has been hampered due to the long absence of data in many countries. With the present reliable records of deaths from emerged demographic surveillance systems on the continent, adult mortality can now be accurately estimated. Objectives: The study‟s main objectives were 1. To calculate and show trend in adult mortality rate in ACDIS between 2001 and 2007. 2. To measure the association between mortality and individual‟s socio-economic status in the ACDIS. Methods: Individuals were selected based on age (15-64 yrs) and residency (Resident in the DSA on 1st January 2001). The total number of adults who met the criteria was 33,677; out of whom 4,058 died during the seven years follow up period. Mortality rates were computed using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates expressed per 1000 PYO. Household wealth index was constructed by use of PCA. The association between SES and adult mortality was assessed using Cox proportional Hazard model controlling for potential confounders such as age, sex and marital status. Results: The High group of the socioeconomic quintile had the highest mortality rate of 22.2 per 1000 PYO, 95% CI (20.7 - 23.7). There was no significant trend in the rates among the SES groups. After adjusting for the potential confounders; the effect of socioeconomic status in the highest SES category was 0.10 times less likelihood for death compared to the lowest SES group [HR=0.90, p=0.042, 95% CI (0.81 - 0.99)]. Conclusion: This study revealed that adult socioeconomic status is not significantly associated with adult mortality. Reducing the gap between the rich and the poor might not be the effective way in reducing adult mortality

Evaluation of a universal long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) distribution campaign in Ghana: cost effectiveness of distribution and hang-up activities.

BACKGROUND: Between May 2010 and October 2012, approximately 12.5 million long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) were distributed through a national universal mass distribution campaign in Ghana. The campaign included pre-registration of persons and sleeping places, door-to-door distribution of LLINs with 'hang-up' activities by volunteers and post-distribution 'keep-up' behaviour change communication activities. Hang-up activities were included to encourage high and sustained use. METHODS: The cost and cost-effectiveness of the LLIN Campaign were evaluated using a before-after design in three regions: Brong Ahafo, Central and Western. The incremental cost effectiveness of the 'hang-up' component was estimated using reported variation in the implementation of hang-up activities and LLIN use. Economic costs were estimated from a societal perspective assuming LLINs would be replaced after three years, and included the time of unpaid volunteers and household contributions given to volunteers. RESULTS: Across the three regions, 3.6 million campaign LLINs were distributed, and 45.5% of households reported the LLINs received were hung-up by a volunteer. The financial cost of the campaign was USD 6.51 per LLIN delivered. The average annual economic cost was USD 2.90 per LLIN delivered and USD 6,619 per additional child death averted by the campaign. The cost-effectiveness of the campaign was sensitive to the price, lifespan and protective efficacy of LLINs.Hang-up activities constituted 7% of the annual economic cost, though the additional financial cost was modest given the use of volunteers. LLIN use was greater in households in which one or more campaign LLINs were hung by a volunteer (OR=1.57; 95% CI=1.09, 2.27; p=0.02). The additional economic cost of the hang-up activities was USD 0.23 per LLIN delivered, and achieved a net saving per LLIN used and per death averted. CONCLUSION: In this campaign, hang-up activities were estimated to be net saving if hang-up increased LLIN use by 10% or more. This suggests hang-up activities can make a LLIN campaign more cost-effective

Enhancing the Design of a Secured Campus Network using Demilitarized Zone and Honeypot at Uew- kumasi Campus

The increasing complexity of information systems, as well as the rapid development of new vulnerabilities and exploits, the security of campus networks needs to be hardened to minimize or eradicate security flaws. Aim: To discover the vulnerabilities and enhance the creation and deployment of secured campus network.  Place and Duration of study: University of Education, Winneba – Kumasi campus. Methodology:  The integration of De-Militarized zone and Honeypot techniques was used to beef up the security of the campus network against vulnerabilities and exploits. Penetration testing was used in the assessment of the University of Education’s network infrastructure, and to demonstrate attacks and intrusion into the network infrastructure. Results: Two firewall DMZ architecture techniques protect sensitive resources of the campus network by sanctioning the inflow and outflow of traffic, determining which segment allow and disallow traffic,   whiles the Honeypot techniques were configured to keep the attention of attackers diverted from the main network, the full strength of an attack, until the administrators are prepared to put the effective counter in place. The fusion of DMZ and, Honeypot provide the System Administrators to effectively management the security of the campus networks. Conclusion: Honeypots are used to detect vulnerabilities based on the attacker’s behaviour and, data collected by honeypots can be used to enhance other security technologies.  The fusion of DMZ and Honeypot into the security models of the campus network made it more robust

Campus Network and Systems Security Assessment Using Penetration Testing: The Case of the University of Education Winneba, Kumasi

Network intruders are becoming more sophisticated in their approach, resulting in many difficulties in preventing them. They exploit both well-configured systems and vulnerable systems. Aims: To examines the performance of a campus network against attacks on the network systems. Place and Duration of Study: University of Education, Winneba- Kumasi campus. Methodology: Penetration testing was adopted to investigate the vulnerabilities that may occur in a university network. This helps to test for vulnerabilities on the network system that may expose the system to exploits. Results: The test revealed that system-based attacks might be propelled by malignant pariahs on the Internet and noxious insiders straightforwardly associated with inward systems. The perpetrators can exploit vulnerabilities in network foundations and frameworks, for example, servers (web servers, software servers, file and mail servers, etc.), routers, and firewalls.  Conclusion: This work presents a way to deal with evaluating the security stance of a college utilizing penetration testing that meddles negligibly with the flow of traffic and activities on the network infrastructure. attack Insurance against network-based attacks is mind-boggling and, in the offer, to relieving one framework normally gives a stage that can be utilized to dispatch more attacks