The impact of health education on the prevalence of faecal-orally transmitted parasitic infections among school children in a rural community in Cameroon

Background: Faecal-orally transmitted parasites are those parasites which are spread through faecal contamination of food and drinks. Infections with these parasites are among the most common in the world being responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality, especially in children. This study was carried out to determine the impact of health education on the prevalence of faecal-orally transmitted parasitic infections among primary school children in a typical African rural community. Methods: An intervention study was conducted in two villages in the South-West Region of Cameroon. A total of 370 volunteer pupils aged between 5-15 years were enrolled in the study out of which 208 were from Kake II experimental arm) and 162 from Barombi-Kang (control arm). The research was conducted in two phases. In phase 1, stool samples were collected from all participants and analyzed using the formol-ether concentration technique and health education was given to the pupils in the experimental village but not in the control village. Phase 2 was conducted six months later during which only stool samples were collected and analyzed from both villages. Results: Before health education intervention (phase1) faecal-orally transmitted parasites were present in 106 (50.9%) stool specimens collected in Kake II and in 84 (51.5%) of those collected in Barombi-kang. The difference in prevalence between these two villages was not significant (P>0.05). After health education intervention (phase2), 56 (26.9%) stool specimens were positive for faecal-oral parasite in Kake II and 92 (54.7%) in Barombi-kang, and the difference in prevalence between these two villages was statistically significant (P0.05). The change in the prevalence of infection was significant in Kake II (50.9% vs. 26.9%, P0.05). Hence, health education applied in the experimental village was responsible for the drop in the prevalence observed, especially among pupils infected with Ascaris lumbricoides (24.9% vs. 3.4%, P=0.004) Conclusion: Health education through the framework of schools can be used as a strategy for the control of faecal-orally transmitted parasitic infections among children in African rural communities.Key words: Intestinal parasites, parasitic infections, health education, Cameroo

Volcanic Ash from the 1999 Eruption of Mount Cameroon Volcano: Characterization and Implications to Health Hazards

Volcanic ash from the 1999 eruption of Mount Cameroon volcano has been characterized for its particle size and shape (by scanning electron microscopy, SEM), and mineralogy (by X-ray diffractometry, XRD). Also the total fluorine (F) content of the ash was determined by the selective ion electrode method. The results show that the Mount Cameroon ash particles have a variety of shapes including fibrous, rounded, subrounded, irregular, angular, eleongated and bladed. All the ash samples have a significant proportion (~ 30%) of ash < 4 ƒÊm in size and thisis classified in occupational medicine as 'thoracic' and 'respirable' ash that is considered harmful to health. The XRD patterns show that the ash contains plagioclase feldspar, enstatite, augite and chromite, which, if fine enough may cause irritation of the respiratory tract, but they are relatively insoluble in the alveolar region. The ash lacks free silica, the main mineral in volcanic ash responsible for causing silicosis. The F concentration in the ash ranges from 46 ƒÊg/ g to 189ƒÊg/g. This is high considering that the lethal dose of F is set internationally at ~ 100ƒÊg/g. This study forms the basis for a long term monitoring of volcanic ash risk and possible mitigation measures of the Mount Cameroon volcano.Keywords: volcanic ash, Mt. Cameroon, health hazardsCendre de Volcan de L'Eruption de 1999 du Mont Cameroun: Caracterisation et Implications aux Risques Sanitaires.La cendre de volcan de l'eruption de 1999 du mont Cameroun a ete caracterisee pour la dimension et la forme de ces particules (en utilisant la microscopie electronique a balayant, SEM), et mineralogie (diffractometrie a rayon X, XRD). En outre toute la teneur en fluor (F) de la cendre a ete determinee par la methode selective d'electrode d'ion. Les resultats prouvent que les particules de cendre du mont Cameroun ont une variete de formes comprenant : les fibreux, les arrondies, les sous arrondies, les irreguliers, les angulaires et les ovales. Tous les echantillons de cendreont une proportion significative de (~ 30 %) de cendre ayant la taille < 4 m et ceci est classifie dans la medecine du travail comme la cendre 'thoracique' et 'respirable' qui est consideree nocif a la sante. Les modeles de XRD montre que la cendre contient le feldspath de plagioclase, l'enstatite, l'augite et la chromite qui, s'ils sont assez fins, peuvent produire l'irritation de la cavite nasale mais sont relativement insolubles dans la region d'aveolaire. La cendre manque de la silice libre, qui est le minerai principal de la cendre volcanique responsable d'engendrer la silicose. La concentration de F dans la cendre s'echelonne de 189 g/g. Ceci est eleve considerant que la dose mortelle de F est place internationalement aux environs de ~ 100 g/g. Cette etude forme la base pour une surveillance a long terme du risque volcanique et des mesures possibles de reduction du volcan de mont Cameroun.Mots cles : cendre de volcan, Mont Cameroun, risques sanitaire

Investigating the Management of Geological Hazards and Risks in the Mt Cameroon Area Using Focus Group Discussions

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