The profile of malaria and intestinal parasites among refugees attending the Denis Hurley Centre in central Durban in 2014.

Master of Medical Sciences in Public Health Medicine.The majority of the refugee population congregate and live in major South African cities, some in overcrowded housing without access to basic health care and social services. These conditions put them at risk of transmission and spread of communicable diseases both amongst themselves and in the population they come into contact with. Therefore, knowledge of the burden of communicable diseases among them is crucial. In South Africa, there is limited data available on the prevalence of malaria and intestinal parasites in refugee populations. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and intestinal parasites among refugees attending the Denis Hurley Centre in Central Durban in South Africa in 2014. Three articles analyse 303 participants, who attended the Denis Hurley Centre, Emmanuel Cathedral Parish in Central Durban, aged 18 years and above, provided written consent and responded to a questionnaire on their demographic details. The presence of malaria, intestinal parasites and haematological profiles of the participants were analysed using Rapid test detection kits, microscopy and the Sysmex XE 5000 automated haematology analyser. The results confirm the presence of asymptomatic malaria (prevalence 3.8%) in the refugee population living in the city. The majority of those infected originated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, followed by Burundi and Rwanda. More than 90% of the infections were due to Plasmodium falciparum. The prevalence of intestinal parasite infection among 270 participants was 18.8%. Common parasites identified were hookworm and A. lumbricoides. The results showed eosinophillia in 40.2% of 92 participants who were screened for haematological parameters. The mean absolute haemoglobin (Hb) level was reduced in 6.5% of the malaria positive patients (9.2 g/dl) with an extremely low packed cell volume (PCV) of 28.3%. While the total non-malaria infected cases 93.5% had a normal mean absolute Hb value of 12.6 g/dl and a slightly low packed cell volume value of 38 %. Results from the present study confirm the presence of and provided useful information on the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and chronic intestinal parasites in the refugees attending the Denis Hurley Centre in Central Durban

Parasitaemia and haematological changes in malaria-infected refugees in South Africa

Background. Haematological changes associated with malaria are well recognised, but may vary with level of malaria endemicity and patient background, haemoglobinopathy, nutritional status, demographic factors and malaria immunity. Although malaria in South Africa (SA) has been reduced dramatically in endemic areas, little is known about the haematological changes associated with malaria infection among refugee populations who live in SA cities. Objective. To describe haematological alterations among malaria-infected refugees living in Durban, SA.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2012 to July 2013 inclusive at a refugee centre in central Durban. Blood samples from 102 adult black African refugees were examined for infection with malaria parasites, and haematological profiles were compared with standard normal values.Results. Malaria infection was detected in 16 (15.7%) of the 102 participants. The mean haemoglobin (Hb) value was reduced (mean 9.2 g/dL) in the participants with malaria, who also had an extremely low mean packed cell volume (PCV) of 28.3%. The mean Hb value in the non-malaria-infected participants was normal (12.6 g/dL), and the mean PCV was slightly low (38.0%).Conclusions. Anaemia was more common among participants with malaria infection than among those who were uninfected. Other haematological changes were common in both infected and uninfected participants, suggesting that infections other than malaria, or other underlying factors that cause haematological alterations, may be present. This research needs to be expanded to include a large sample and other areas and infections.

Health implications of stream water contamination by industrial effluents in the Onitsha urban area of Southeastern Nigeria

Nigeria has abundant surface and ground water resources many of which are polluted and can be detrimental to human health when consumed. This study investigated the effects of effluents discharged by industries into streams on the health of people who depend on stream water for domestic purposes in the Onitsha urban area of eastern Nigeria. Water samples collected from eleven discharge locations underwent physico-chemical and microbiological analyses. Data on the effects of industrial effluents on health were obtained from records in the public hospitals located in Onitsha as well as through questionnaire surveys and field observations. The results of the analyses revealed that the effluents grossly degrade surface water bodies; several parameters (temperature, iron, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, lead, magnesium, total heterotrophic counts, total coliform group, pH) had values which were higher than the WHO (2011) safety limits for drinking water. The contamination of investigated streams by effluents had negative impact on the health of stream users. The discussion included health effects of polluted water and the prevalence of water borne or related diseases in the area. Implications of these findings were also discussed. Management measures capable of minimizing contamination of surface water in the study area were suggested

Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS coinfection in patients attending Directly Observed Treatment Short‐course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Nigeria: A retrospective study

Background and Aim(S)This study retrospectively assessed the prevalence of TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS coinfection among patients that attended the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria, between 2013 and 2017.MethodsThe study adopted a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological survey design. A total of 1443 case files of patients aged 15−60 who were treated in DOTS centers selected from Anambra State's 21 Local Government Areas between 2013 and 2017 were investigated. The uniform data form, a standardized instrument used in Anambra State's health facilities for data collection, was used to collect data from case files of all those identified as coinfected with TB and HIV/AIDS.ResultsThe mean prevalence rate of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the state during the 5-year period (2013–2017) was 20.00%. The highest annual prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection was recorded in 2014 (23.84%). The state's prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection increased dramatically from 13.17% in 2013 to 23.84% in 2014, followed by a slight downward trend to 22.80% in 2015, 20.17% in 2016, and 20.03% in 2017. In terms of gender, age, marital status, and occupation, females (59.5%), those aged 15 to 25 years (30.7%), married people (43.90%), and traders/business owners (50.7%), respectively, had the highest rates of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS coinfection during the study period.ConclusionThe findings of this study show that young people, females, married people, and traders/business owners appear to be the most vulnerable groups affected by TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection, accounting for the majority of the disease burden in the state. To address the high prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the Anambra State, novel intervention and control programs should be developed and implemented, and existing intervention frameworks should be strengthened