Agricultural chemical exposures and birth defects in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa A case – control study

BACKGROUND: South Africa is one of the major users of pesticides on the African continent. The Eastern Cape is the second largest province in South Africa. There has been growing concern about the occurrence of certain birth defects which seemed to have increased in the past few years. In this paper we investigate associations between exposure to agricultural chemicals and certain birth defects. Few such studies have been undertaken in the developing world previously. METHODS: Between September 2000 and March 2001 a case – control study was conducted among rural women in the area of the Eastern cape to investigate the association between women's exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of birth defects. Information on birth defects was obtained from the register of the Paediatrics Department at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane, one of the largest referral hospitals in the province. The cases were children who were diagnosed with selected birth defects. The controls were children born in the same areas as the cases. Exposure information on the mothers was obtained by interview concerning from their activities in gardens and fields. Data were analysed using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 89 case mothers and 178 control mothers was interviewed. Babies with birth defects were seven times more likely to be born to women exposed to chemicals used in gardens and fields compared to no reported exposure (Odds Ratio 7.18, 95% CI 3.99, 13.25); and were almost twice as likely to be born to women who were involved in dipping livestock used to prevent ticks (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.15, 3.14). They were also 6.5 times more likely to be born to women who were using plastic containers for fetching water (OR 6.5, 95% CI 2.2, 27.9). Some of these containers had previously contained pesticides (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.06, 3.31). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a link between exposure to pesticides and certain birth defects among the children of rural South African women who work on the land. Education programmes for women alerting them to the dangers to their babies from the use of pesticides and alternative farming methods and elimination of the reuse of pesticide containers are indicated as preventive measures

Musculoskeletal Problems Associated with University Students Computer Users: A Cross-Sectional Study

While several studies have examined the prevalence and correlates of musculoskeletal problems among university students, scanty information exists in South African context. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, causes and consequences of musculoskeletal problems among University of Venda students’ computer users. This cross-sectional study involved 694 university students at the University of Venda. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information on the sociodemographic characteristics, problems associated with computer users, and causes of musculoskeletal problems associated with computer users. The majority (84.6%) of the participants use computer for internet, wording processing (20.3%), and games (18.7%). The students reported neck pain when using computer (52.3%); shoulder (47.0%), finger (45.0%), lower back (43.1%), general body pain (42.9%), elbow (36.2%), wrist (33.7%), hip and foot (29.1%) and knee (26.2%). Reported causes of musculoskeletal pains associated with computer usage were: sitting position, low chair, a lot of time spent on computer, uncomfortable laboratory chairs, and stressfulness. Eye problems (51.9%), muscle cramp (344.0%), headache (45.3%), blurred vision (38.0%), feeling of illness (39.9%) and missed lectures (29.1%) were consequences of musculoskeletal problems linked to computer use. The majority of students reported having mild pain (43.7%), moderate (24.2%), and severe (8.4%) pains. Years of computer use were significantly associated with neck, shoulder and wrist pain. Using computer for internet was significantly associated with neck pain (OR=0.60; 95% CI 0.40-0.93); games: neck (OR=0.60; 95% CI 0.40-0.85) and hip/foot (OR=0.60; CI 95% 0.40-0.92), programming for elbow (OR= 1.78; CI 95% 1.10-2.94) and wrist (OR=2.25; CI 95% 1.36-3.73), while word processing was significantly associated with lower back (OR=1.45; CI 95% 1.03-2.04). Undergraduate study had a significant association with elbow pain (OR=2.47; CI 95% 1.03-5.95). There is high prevalence of musculoskeletal problems among the University of Venda students which were predominantly neck, shoulder and wrist pain, attributed to prolonged time on the computer/incorrect sitting position, uncomfortable laboratory chairs and stress