A Severe Lack of Evidence Limits Effective Conservation of the World's Primates

Threats to biodiversity are well documented. However, to effectively conserve species and their habitats, we need to know which conservation interventions do (or do not) work. Evidence-based conservation evaluates interventions within a scientific framework. The Conservation Evidence project has summarized thousands of studies testing conservation interventions and compiled these as synopses for various habitats and taxa. In the present article, we analyzed the interventions assessed in the primate synopsis and compared these with other taxa. We found that despite intensive efforts to study primates and the extensive threats they face, less than 1% of primate studies evaluated conservation effectiveness. The studies often lacked quantitative data, failed to undertake postimplementation monitoring of populations or individuals, or implemented several interventions at once. Furthermore, the studies were biased toward specific taxa, geographic regions, and interventions. We describe barriers for testing primate conservation interventions and propose actions to improve the conservation evidence base to protect this endangered and globally important taxon

A Pilot Study on Integrating Videography and Environmental Microbial Sampling to Model Fecal Bacterial Exposures in Peri-Urban Tanzania

Diarrheal diseases are a leading cause of under-five mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. Quantitative exposure modeling provides opportunities to investigate the relative importance of fecal-oral transmission routes (e.g. hands, water, food) responsible for diarrheal disease. Modeling, however, requires accurate descriptions of individuals' interactions with the environment (i.e., activity data). Such activity data are largely lacking for people in low-income settings. In the present study, we collected activity data and microbiological sampling data to develop a quantitative microbial exposure model for two female caretakers in peri-urban Tanzania. Activity data were combined with microbiological data of contacted surfaces and fomites (e.g. broom handle, soil, clothing) to develop example exposure profiles describing second-by-second estimates of fecal indicator bacteria (E. coli and enterococci) concentrations on the caretaker's hands. The study demonstrates the application and utility of video activity data to quantify exposure factors for people in low-income countries and apply these factors to understand fecal contamination exposure pathways. This study provides both a methodological approach for the design and implementation of larger studies, and preliminary data suggesting contacts with dirt and sand may be important mechanisms of hand contamination. Increasing the scale of activity data collection and modeling to investigate individual-level exposure profiles within target populations for specific exposure scenarios would provide opportunities to identify the relative importance of fecal-oral disease transmission routes

Vivência de violência entre escolares brasileiros: resultados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE) Violence exposures by school children in Brazil: results from the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE)

Este artigo apresenta os principais resultados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE). Aplicou-se questionário em uma amostra de conglomerados de 60.973 estudantes do 9º ano do ensino fundamental de escolas públicas e privadas das capitais dos estados brasileiros e do Distrito Federal, entre março e junho de 2009. Analisam-se prevalências e intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) das situações de violência envolvendo adolescentes. Foram identificadas as seguintes situações: insegurança no trajeto casa-escola (6,4%; IC95%: 6,1%-6,8%) e na escola (5,5%; IC95%: 5,2%-5,8%); envolvimento em brigas com agressão física (12,9%; IC95%: 12,4%-13,4%), com arma branca (6,1%; IC95%: 5,7%-6,4%) ou arma de fogo (4,0%; IC95%: 3,7%-4,3%); agressão física por familiar (9,5%; IC95%: 9,1%-9,9%). As situações de violência foram mais prevalentes entre estudantes do sexo masculino. Houve grande variação segundo as cidades estudadas. Os adolescentes estão expostos a diferentes manifestações de violência nas instituições que supostamente deveriam garantir sua proteção e desenvolvimento saudável e seguro - a escola e o lar. Esses resultados visam apoiar medidas de promoção à saúde e prevenção desses fatores de risco.<br>This article presents the main results of the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE). A questionnaire was applied to a sample of 60,973 students of the 9th year of Junior high school in public and private schools of the Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District, between March and June 2009. The prevalence and confidence interval of 95% (CI 95%) of the violence situations involving adolescents were analyzed. The following situations were identified: lack of safety on the way home-school (6.4%; CI95%: 6.1%-6.8%) and at school (5.5%; CI95%: 5.2%-5.8%); involving fights with physical aggression (12.9%; CI95%: 12.4%-13.4%), with knife (6.1%; CI95%: 5.7%-6.4%) or fire arm (4.0%; CI95%: 3.7%-4.3%); physical aggression by family member (9.5%; CI95%: 9.1%-9.9%). Violence situations were more prevalent among male students. There were great variations among the cities studied. Adolescents are exposed to different violence manifestations in the institutions that supposedly must assure their protection and healthy development: school and the home. These results aim to support health promotion measures and prevention of these risk factors