Geographic Information Systems: A Toolbox for Sustainable Tourism in Southern Africa

Achieving sustainable tourism is a multidisciplinary process fraught with development planning obstacles that require advanced spatial data and information system management. Tourism growth and planning pronouncements are becoming increasingly complex without a corresponding organised computerised spatial data and information management system. Tourism organisations are also grappling with the challenges of achieving sustainable tourism development. The emergence of geographic information systems technology can help address the challenges associated with achieving sustainable tourism development. Geographic information systems technology provides opportunities for spatial data and analysis of tourism resources for sustainable development. Through content analysis, this study reviews how geographic information systems technology can contribute to sustainable tourism development. Specifically, the authors examined the role of geographic information systems technology in managing environmental impacts, analysing the suitability of locations, identifying conflicting interests, and modelling relationships for sustainable tourism development within the Southern African context. The findings indicate that geographic information systems technology has the potential to contribute to sustainable tourism development and achieving sustainable development goals. It offers a snapshot of the state-of-the-art in this rapidly evolving field to tourism academics, managers, and policymakers

Blaming Active Volcanoes or Active Volcanic Blame? Volcanic Crisis Communication and Blame Management in the Cameroon

This chapter examines the key role of blame management and avoidance in crisis communication with particular reference to developing countries and areas that frequently experience volcanic episodes and disasters. In these contexts, the chapter explores a key paradox prevalent within crisis communication and blame management concepts that has been rarely tested in empirical terms (see De Vries 2004; Brändström 2016a). In particular, the chapter examines, what it calls, the ‘paradox of frequency’ where frequency of disasters leads to twin dispositions for crisis framed as either: (i) policy failure (active about volcanic blame on others), where issues of blame for internal incompetency takes centre stage, and blame management becomes a focus of disaster managers, and/or: (ii) as event failure (in this case, the blaming of lack of external capacity on active volcanoes and thereby the blame avoidance of disaster managers). Put simply, the authors investigate whether perceptions of frequency itself is a major determinant shaping the existence, operation, and even perceived success of crisis communication in developing regions, and countries experiencing regular disaster episodes. The authors argue frequency is important in shaping the behaviour of disaster managers and rather ironically as part of crisis communication can shape expectations of community resilience and (non)-compliance. In order to explore the implications of the ‘paradox of frequency’ further, the chapter examines the case of the Cameroon, where volcanic activity and events have been regular, paying particular attention to the major disasters in 1986 (Lake Nyos Disaster - LND) and 1999 (Mount Cameroon volcanic eruption - MCE)

Anthropometry measures and prevalence of obesity in the urban adult population of Cameroon: an update from the Cameroon Burden of Diabetes Baseline Survey

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to provide baseline and reference data on the prevalence and distribution of overweight and obesity, using different anthropometric measurements in adult urban populations in Cameroon. METHODS: The Cameroon Burden of Diabetes Baseline Survey was a cross-sectional study, conducted in 4 urban districts (Yaoundé, Douala, Garoua and Bamenda) of Cameroon, using the WHO Step approach for population-based assessment of cardiovascular risk factors. Body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were measured using standardized methods. Overall, 10,011 individuals, 6,004 women and 4,007 men, from 4,189 households, aged 15 years and above participated. RESULTS: Based on body mass index, more than 25% of urban men and almost half of urban women were either overweight or obese with 6.5% of men and 19.5% of women being obese. The prevalence of obesity showed considerable variation with age in both genders. Using body mass index provided the highest prevalence of obesity in men (6.5%) and waist-to-hip ratio the lowest prevalence (3.2%). Among women, using waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference yielded the highest prevalence of obesity (28%) and body mass index the lowest (19.5%). There was a trend towards an increase in age-adjusted odd ratios of being overweight or obese with duration of education in both sexes. CONCLUSION: The study provides current data on anthropometric measurements and obesity in urban Cameroonian populations, and found high prevalences of overweight and obesity particularly over 35 years of age, and among women. Prevalence varied according to the measure used. Our findings highlight the need to carry out further studies in Cameroonian and other Sub-Saharan African populations to provide appropriate cut-off points for the identification of people at risk of obesity-related disorders, and indicate the need to implement interventions to reverse increasing levels of obesity

The Closing of a Mine: A Case Study of the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Works at the Moshaneng Asbestos Mine, Botswana

A preliminary analysis of the reclamation efforts at the Moshaneng asbestos mining area in Botswana was undertaken. The study was performed in order to determine a benchmark for more detailed studies on the environmental hazard potential due to the potential presence of asbestos minerals within and outside of the former mining region. The analysis included the physical examination of the closed mining shafts, the chemical and mineralogical analysis of surface water, asbestos tailing dumps and air samples. The closing of the inclined and vertical shafts was incomplete as the potential for collapse of several of the old shafts was found. The chemical and mineralogical analysis indicated that asbestos minerals were present in the sampled surface waters, tailing dumps and air samples. Leached products (e.g., Mg and Ca) were present in the surface water, but the source of these may have been leached from non asbestiform amphiboles. The most dominant asbestos mineral found at all sites was chrysotile. A variety of minerals associated with the mining (quartz, calcite and sillimanite) were found in the tailings dumps but these minerals were not abundant in the nearby stream sediments or soils, suggesting that the vegetation surrounding the tailings dumps prevented their transport. Analysis of surface waters found high concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Fe and Mn) that were also found in the tailings dumps. The leaching of these minerals is downgrading the water quality of nearby ponds used by domestic livestock. Analysis of air samples determined that all samples contained small amounts of asbestos fibers which are probably the greatest health risk to the local community due to the abandoned asbestos mining. Future studies should expand the number of sampled sites as well as number of locations for air, water and tailing samples analysed to further clarify the results of this study

The insertion/deletion polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene predisposes Cameroon female type 2 diabetes mellitus patients to essential hypertension

The association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and essential hypertension (EH) is not well  understood. Both conditions result from an interaction of multiple genetic (ethnic) and environmental (geographical) factors. One possible genetic determinant is the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism. Observations on the association between this polymorphism and EH in T2DM patients have been inconsistent in different populations. Given the high prevalence of EH in diabetic patients in the South West Region (SWR) of Cameroon, the aim of this work was to study the relationship between I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and hypertension in T2DM patients. ACE I/D polymorphism was determined by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and D/D typing was further reconfirmed using insertion-allele-specific amplification. Analysis of ACE genotype and allele frequencies revealed statistically insignificant differences between the normotensive and hypertensive T2DM subjects. On the contrary, the frequency of the I allele was significantly lower in the normotensive than the hypertensive diabetic females. These findings suggest that the I allele of the ACE gene predisposes female T2DM patients to EH.Key words: Diabetes, Hypertension, Angiotensin converting enzyme, Insertion deletion, Genetic polymorphis

The social psychology of infertile couples in Abakiliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi state, Nigeria

Infertility is one of the major health problems of public concern. It is more so not only for its clinical consequences, but also for its socio-psychological damages on both the individual and the family/society. The purpose of this study was to appraise the knowledge and attitude of couples towards infertility in Abakiliki Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Data were collected using a structure questionnaire. The population consisted of 164 subjects (74 males and 90 females) systematically selected from six communities in Abakiliki LGA. Results generated revealed that gender did not have any significant influence on knowledge of causes of infertility, whereas a significant relationship between age of couples and their knowledge on infertility was discovered. It was recommended that women who could not get pregnant in the early years of marriage should report to any family planning clinic or consult medical experts for counseling/advice and/or solution. Couples should consider the adoption of children in order to keep their marriage intact and alleviate the pains of childlessness.Keywords: Infertility, marriage, childlessness, gender, NigeriaInternational Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(1): 76-80, 201