Framework for Participatory Quantitative Health Impact Assessment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Background: Conducting health impact assessments (HIAs) is a growing practice in various organizations and countries, yet scholarly interest in HIAs has primarily focused on the synergies between exposure and health outcomes. This limits our understanding of what factors influence HIAs and the uptake of their outcomes. This paper presents a framework for conducting participatory quantitative HIA (PQHIA) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including integrating the outcomes back into society after an HIA is conducted. The study responds to the question: what are the different components of a participatory quantitative model that can influence HIA implementation in LMICs? Methods: To build the framework, we used a case study from a PQHIA fieldwork model developed in Port Louis (Mauritius). To explore thinking on the participatory components of the framework, we extract and analyze data from ethnographic material including fieldnotes, interviews, focus group discussions and feedback exercises with 14 stakeholders from the same case study. We confirm the validity of the ethnographic data using five quality criteria: credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, and authenticity. We build the PQHIA framework connecting the main HIA steps with factors influencing HIAs. Results: The final framework depicts the five standard HIA stages and summarizes participatory activities and outcomes. It also reflects key factors influencing PQHIA practice and uptake of HIA outcomes: costs for participation, HIA knowledge and interest of stakeholders, social responsibility of policymakers, existing policies, data availability, citizen participation, multi-level stakeholder engagement and multisectoral coordination. The framework suggests that factors necessary to complete a participatory HIA are the same needed to re-integrate HIA results back into the society. There are three different areas that can act as facilitators to PQHIAs: good governance, evidence-based policy making, and access to resources. Conclusions: The framework has several implications for research and practice. It underlines the importance of applying participatory approaches critically while providing a blueprint for methods to engage local stakeholders. Participatory approaches in quantitative HIAs are complex and demand a nuanced understanding of the context. Therefore, the political and cultural contexts in which HIA is conducted will define how the framework is applied. Finally, the framework underlines that participation in HIA does not need to be expensive or time consuming for the assessor or the participant. Yet, participatory quantitative models need to be contextually developed and integrated if they are to provide health benefits and be beneficial for the participants. This integration can be facilitated by investing in opportunities that fuel good governance and evidence-based policy making

Data for a city-level health impact assessment of urban transport in Mauritius

Participatory quantitative Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) in developing countries are rare partly due to data scarcity. This paper reports on primary data collected in the city of Port Louis to complete a HIA of urban transport planning in Mauritius. We conducted a full-chain participatory HIA to assess health impacts on the basis of a transport mode shift in Port Louis, Mauritius [1]. By applying mixed-methods, we estimated averted deaths per year and economic outcomes by assessing the health determinants of air pollution, traffic deaths and physical activity. The participatory quantitative HIA included [1] baseline data collection [2] co-validation of transport policy scenarios with stakeholders and [3] quantitative modelling of health impacts. We used the risk assessment method for HIA appraisal. The data can be reused for epidemiological analysis and different types of impact assessments

AEROMICOTA DE AMBIENTES INTERNOS: COMPARACION DE METODOS DE MUESTREO

El procedimiento de muestreo utilizado paradeterminar el grado de contaminación fúngica enambientes internos, difiere según los autores. Por ello,con el fin de conocer si el método utilizado por nuestrogrupo de investigación, es comparable con otrasmetodologías, se ha realizado un estudio comparativocon varios sistemas de captación de esporas del aire,incluyendo equipos volumétricos (Aeroscope Chirana,System Air Sampler, Burkard Personal Culture) así comoel método tradicional por sedimentación. Los resultadosobtenidos muestran que apenas existen diferenciascuando se utilizan los sistemas volumétricos, sinembargo, el método por sedimentación ha sido menoseficaz, tanto desde el punto de vista cuantitativo comocualitativo. Mientras, el método directo por hisopado,resulta un buen complemento para determinar la fuentede contaminación. También se ha determinado la horadel día con mayor carga fúngica, que se localiza almediodía y tras el análisis de varios medios de cultivo,se concluye que el Agar Glucosa de Sabouraud resultaadecuado para este tipo de investigaciones

Enfermedad funcional tiroidea en la población de edad avanzada

ObjetivoDescribir la prevalencia de enfermedad funcional tiroidea (EFT) y otras afecciones asociadasa ella en una población de edad avanzadaDiseñoEstudio descriptivo transversalEmplazamientoCentro de atención primaria urbanoPacientesMuestra representativa de toda la poblacion atendida con edad . 60 anosMediciones principalesVariables demográficas, antecedentes clínicos de enfermedad tiroidea y afecciones asociadas a ella, índice de masa corporal, tests reducidos para el diagnóstico de depresión y ansiedad, Mini-Mental Test, electrocardiograma, determinación de colesterol total y colesterol unido a lipoproteínas de baja densidad (cLDL) y determinación de tirotropina y tiroxina libre si ésta estaba alteradaResultadosSe estudio a 192 personas, un 56% mujeres, con un 53% de 60–69 anos y un 12% con edad superior a 79 anos. Un 10% tenia antecedentes de EFT previa. La prevalencia de EFT activa fue del 13% (10,41% hipotiroidismo subclinico, 0,52% hipotiroidismo clinico, 1,56% hipertiroidismo subclinico y 0,52% hipertiroidismo clinico). La prevalencia de nuevos diagnosticos de EFT fue del 4,1% (7 hipotiroidismos y 1 hipertiroidismo, todos subclinicos). En el hipotiroidismo, se detectaron durante el estudio, las siguientes enfermedades: un 43% de trastornos de ansiedad, un 38% de sindromes depresivos, un 28,5% de deterioros cognitivos, un 9,5% de demencias, un 26% de alteraciones electrocardiograficas, un 47,6% de obesidad y un 28,5% de colesterol total . 250 mg/dl. En el hipertiroidismo se detectaron: un 50% de sindromes depresivos, un 25% de deterioros cognitivos, un 25% de alteraciones electrocardiograficas y un 50% de obesidadConclusionesLa prevalencia de EFT en la población de edad avanzada es superior a la de la población general, con un predominio del hipotiroidismo, las enfermedades subclínicas y las mujeres. Respecto a las enfermedades clásicamente asociadas a la disfunción tiroidea, se han observado pocas diferencias entre la población afectada de EFT y la no afectada. El papel del médico de atención primaria es importante para disminuir el infradiagnósticoObjectiveTo describe the prevalence of functional thyroid pathology (FTP) and pathologies associated with it in an elderly populationDesignDescriptive, cross-sectional studySettingUrban primary care centrePatientsRepresentative sample of the entire population attended that was 60 years old or overMain measurementsDemographic variables, clinicalhistory of thyroid pathology and pathology associated with it, Body Mass Index, small tests for diagnosing depression and anxiety, the mini-mental test, electrocardiogram, determination of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and of free thyrotrophin and thyroxin if it is disturbedResults192 people were studied, 56% women, 53% between 60 and 69 and 12% over 79 years old. 10% had a history of previous FTP. Prevalence of active FTP was 13% (10.41% sub-clinical hypothyroidism, 0.52% clinical hypothyroidism, 1.56% subclinical hyperthyroidism, and 0.52% clinical hyperthyroidism). Prevalence of new diagnoses of FTP was 4.1% (7 with hypothyroidism and 1 with hyperthyroidism, all sub-clinical). During the study the following pathology was detected in hypothyroidism sufferers: 43% anxiety disorder, 38% depressive syndrome, 28.5% cognitive deterioration, 9.5% dementia, 26% electrocardiographic disturbances, 47.6% obesity, and 28.5% with total cholesterol .250 mg/dL. In hyperthyroidism, 50% with depressive syndrome, 25% with cognitive deterioration, 25% with electrocardiographic disturbances, and 50% with obesity were detectedConclusionsFTP is more prevalent among theelderly than in the population as a whole, with predominance of hypothyroidism, subclinical pathology and among women. In terms of pathology traditionally linked to thyroid malfunction, few differences were found between the population affectedwith FTP and those not affected. Primary care doctors are important in reducing underdiagnosi

The influence of pre-fermentative maceration and ageing factors on ester profile and marker determination of Pedro Ximenez sparkling wines

The influence of pre-fermentative maceration and ageing factors on the ester profiles of Pedro Ximenez sparkling wines was evaluated. The pre-fermentative maceration consisted of the skin-maceration of musts at 10 degrees C for 6 h. The sparkling wines were produced following the Champenoise method. Samples were monitored at 3, 6 and 9 months of ageing on lees. Sparkling wines with pre fermentative maceration displayed higher contents of ethyl esters of branched acids and cinnamates. Meanwhile, those without maceration showed higher levels of ethyl esters of fatty acids and higher alcohol acetates. The study of statistical interactions elucidated different hydrolytic kinetics and developments in higher alcohol acetates and ethyl esters of branched acids during ageing. The application of a dual criterion based on univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate analyses (OPLS-DA) allowed us to identify new potential volatile markers related to pre-fermentative maceration and ageing time, reported for the first time in sparkling wines

Application of molecular topology to the prediction of inhibition of Trypanosoma cruzi Hexokinase by bisphosphonates

Se ha desarrollado un modelo topológico-matemático para la búsqueda de nuevos derivados bisfosfonatos activos frente a la hexokinasa de Trypanosoma cruzi. Utilizando el análisis lineal discriminante se ha seleccionado una función con cuatro variables capaz de predecir adecuadamente la CI50 para cada compuesto de las series de entrenamiento y test. El modelo propuesto se ha aplicado a una librería molecular y se han propuesto nuevas estructuras potencialmente activas frente a T. cruzi.A topological-mathematical model has been arranged to search for new derivatives of bisphosphonate compounds acting as inhibitors against Trypanosoma cruzi hexokinase. By using linear discriminant analysis, a four-variable function was achieved allowing an accurate prediction of the IC50 for each compound of the training and test series. After carrying out a virtual screening based upon such a model, new structures potentially actives against T. cruzi are proposed.Este trabajo ha sido posible gracias al Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Ministerio de Sanidad, España (proyecto SAF2005-PIO52128) y al Máster Internacional en Enfermedades Parasitarias Tropicales, Universidad de Valencia

Faraday effect : a field theoretical point of view

We analyze the structure of the vacuum polarization tensor in the presence of a background electromagnetic field in a medium. We use various discrete symmetries and crossing symmetry to constrain the form factors obtained for the most general case. From these symmetry arguments, we show why the vacuum polarization tensor has to be even in the background field when there is no background medium. Taking then the background field to be purely magnetic, we evaluate the vacuum polarization to linear order in it. The result shows the phenomenon of Faraday rotation, i.e., the rotation of the plane of polarization of a plane polarized light passing through this background. We find that the usual expression for Faraday rotation, which is derived for a non-degenerate plasma in the non-relativistic approximation, undergoes substantial modification if the background is degenerate and/or relativistic. We give explicit expressions for Faraday rotation in completely degenerate and ultra-relativistic media.Comment: 20 pages, Latex, uses axodraw.st

Análisis aerobiológico del polen de Cupressaceae en Granada (sureste P. Ibérica): su repercusión en la población atópica

XV lnternational A.P.L.E. Symposium of Palynolog