Influencing factors for cholera and diarrhoea: Water sanitation and hygiene in impoverished rural villages of Beluran District, Sabah, Malaysia

The lower percentage of water, sanitation and hygiene are the root causes of diarrhoea and cholera. Cholera is a sudden onset of acute watery diarrhoea which can progress to severe dehydration and death if untreated. The current pandemic, Vibrio Cholera O1 started in 1961. This study explores water, sanitation, hygiene and cholera and diarrhoea in three affected villages of Beluran District, Sabah Malaysia to support effective and timely public health intervention. This cross sectional study uses purposive sampling. All (114) households were interviewed and household water samples collected. The study reported lower coverage improved sanitation facilities (35.3% to 52.3%), no latrine at home (37% to 63%), improved water supply (52% to 60%), and prevalence of hand washing after toilet (57% - 74%). For water quality, Ecoli was present in household water (32% to 37%) but Vibrio cholerae was not isolated in any of the water samples tested. Statistically significant associations were found for; 1) occupation−non-agriculture and unimproved sanitation facility and 2) house ownership and correct knowledge of ORS preparation. Predictors for household water quality were: latrine at home, and improved household toilet. Aggressive strategies to improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene−hand washing after toilet−were recommended for future prevention of cholera and diarrhoea in the affected area

Electrical safety in a hospital setting: A narrative review

Electrical hazard is a significant threat in hospitals that require sustainable assessment and improvement. Workplace assessment and medical surveillance systems are often overlooked, and employees fail to comply with the necessary measures that have been instructed at the workplace. The incidents are attributed to a lack of knowledge regarding occupational safety and health and a lack of awareness regarding electrical hazards importance. The consequences of neglecting these assessments may result in health deterioration and low work quality and may also cause disability and impairment. This review describes occupational safety and health perspective about electrical hazards in hospital settings. Further preventive measures were recommended to outline practical and feasible steps resulting in a safer and healthier working environment

Workplace violence in healthcare settings: The risk factors, implications and collaborative preventive measures

Violence at work refers to acts or threats of violence directed against employees, either inside or outside the workplace, from verbal abuse, bullying, harassment, and physical assaults to homicide. Even though workplace violence has become a worrying trend worldwide, the true magnitude of the problem is uncertain, owing to limited surveillance and lack of awareness of the issue. As a result, if workplace violence, particularly in healthcare settings, is not adequately addressed, it will become a global phenomenon, undermining the peace and stability among the active communities while also posing a risk to the population’s health and well-being. Hence, this review intends to identify the risk factors and the implications of workplace violence in healthcare settings and highlight the collaborative efforts needed in sustaining control and prevention measures against workplace violence

Effects of ambient air pollutants on cardiovascular disease hospitalization admission

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Air pollution is associated with population growth and economic advancement. Severe cardiovascular complications that require extensive medical service are aggravated by air pollutants. This study illustrates the trend and correlation of cardiovascular disease hospital admission with air pollutants in Sabah for the past 9 years (2010–2019). The additional information obtained from this study will be useful to enhance proper environmental management and reduce air pollution in the cities of Sabah. METHODS: Ecological study design was utilized with cardiovascular disease hospital admission and ambient air pollutants in Sabah retrospective data. Data were collected from four districts with established continuous air quality monitoring stations. Collected data were analysed spatially and statistically. Autoregressive integrated moving average modelling was implemented to forecast the cardiovascular disease hospital admission. FINDINGS: Kota Kinabalu recorded the highest hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease, followed by Sandakan, Tawau and Keningau. The cardiovascular disease hospital admission prevalence rate in Kota Kinabalu was 12.45 per 1,000 population, followed by Sandakan, Tawau and Keningau (4.54; 4.18; and 5.88 per 1,000 population) in 2019. The cardiovascular hospital admissions increased in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau. The nitrogen dioxide (<0.04 ppm), carbon monoxide (<9 ppm), ozone (<0.05 ppm) and PM10 (<100 µg/m3 ) gases detected are below the national standard limit levels. In the later years of the series, the ozone and fine particulate gases intensify. Carbon monoxide has the highest positive correlation with cardiovascular disease hospital admission compared to other air pollutants. The autoregressive integrated moving average (0,1,1) with carbon monoxide and ozone as external regressors is the model with minimum Akaike information criterion. CONCLUSION: The carbon monoxide concentration in ambient air illustrates a potential risk for the increasing cardiovascular disease hospital admission number in Sabah. The study findings provide evidence-based source for the healthcare management team, policymakers, and community to sustain clean and safe ambient air

Ecological study of sick building syndrome among healthcare workers at johor primary care facilities

Introduction: Persistent exposure to indoor hazards in a healthcare setting poses a risk of SBS. This study determines the prevalence of and risk factors for SBS among healthcare workers in health clinics. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across four health clinics from February 2022 to May 2022. As part of the study, self-administered questionnaires were completed to determine symptoms related to SBS. An indoor air quality (IAQ) assessment was conducted four times daily for fifteen minutes at five areas in each clinic (laboratory, lobby, emergency room, pharmacy, and examination room). Result: Most of the areas illustrated poor air movement (500 CFU/m3). The prevalence of SBS was 24.84% (77) among the healthcare workers at the health clinics. A significant association with SBS was noted for those working in the examination room (COR = 2.86; 95% CI = 1.31; 6.27) and those experiencing high temperature sometimes (COR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.11; 0.55), varying temperature sometimes (COR = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.003), stuffy air sometimes (COR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.005; 0.64), dry air sometimes (COR = 0.20; 95% CI = 0.007; 0.64), and dust sometimes (COR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.11; 0.60) and everyday (COR = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.14; 0.81). Only healthcare workers in the examination room (AOR = 3.17; 95% CI = 1.35; 7.41) were found to have a significant risk of SBS when controlling for other variables. Conclusion: SBS is prevalent among healthcare workers at health clinics

Respiratory disorders associated with dust exposure among construction workers at Bornean higher learning institution teaching hospital

Respiratory disorders can occur due to dust exposure at workplace. Dust exposure which consists of silica, asbestos and other type of mineral dust are very common. The high dust exposure can increase the workers risk of having respiratory disorders. The association between dust exposure and respiratory disorders among construction workers in Sabah are not well studied. This study aims to establish the association between respiratory disorders and dust exposure among construction workers of a Bornean higher learning institution teaching hospital. A cross-sectional study was done among the said construction workers. A standardised respiratory disorders questionnaire and spirometry machine were used. Dust exposure were measured using gravimetric method after sampled using personal air sampler. Age, smoking status, and marital status was significantly associated with respiratory symptoms. A higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher among males (42.7%) compared to their female counterpart (21.4%). A higher prevalence of respiratory disorders among widow/widower/divorced workers (50.0%) compared to married (45.8%) and single workers (25.0%). A higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms among workers who smoke (51.2%) compared to workers who does not smoke (22.7%) also observed. Piping workers had the highest dust exposure and followed by the cement and plastering workers

Occupational lung disease: A narrative review of lung conditions from the workplace

Occupational lung diseases are lung conditions caused or made worse by materials when a person is exposed to a workplace. The diagnosis of an occupational disease is important for workers’ decision to continue work and for their eligibility under compensation programmes. We revisit the existing lung diseases that are closely associated with the occupation at the workplace namely occupational asthma, silicosis, black lung disease, farmers’ lung disease, asbestos-linked disease, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Occupational lung diseases contribute toward global health and economic impacts. Prevention and control of occupational lung diseases require a collaborative effort among employers, workers, occupational physicians, pulmonary physicians, industrial hygienists, and members from other disciplines

Occupational Exposure to Dust and the Relationship with the Respiratory Symptoms, Lung Function among Construction Workers of the University of Malaysia Sabah

BACKGROUND: The respiratory tract often becomes the site of injury from occupational exposure. All construction sites generate high levels of dust, typically from concrete, silica, asbestos, cement, wood, and stone, sand, and therefore, the workers are exposed to this airborne dust and increased their risk of developing respiratory disorders. Limited studies have been conducted to assess the relationship between respiratory symptoms, lung function, and occupational dust exposure among construction workers in Sabah. AIM: The objectives of this study are to determine the occupational exposure to dust and the relationship with the respiratory symptoms as well as lung function among construction workers in UMS Teaching Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of construction workers working in all sections in the development of UMS Teaching Hospital. A standard respiratory questionnaire was distributed to construction workers and lung function measurement was performed using Spirometry and the results of their respiratory status were compared between workers who were exposed and unexposed to dust. Occupational dust exposure was determined by the gravimetric method using an air sampler. The total duration of the collection was 8 h and the filters with the dust samples were analyzed in the laboratory. RESULTS: The result showed three parameters that were significantly associated with respiratory symptoms, namely, age, marital status, and smoking status. Male workers had a higher prevalence (42.7%) of having respiratory symptoms compared to female workers (21.4%). Widow/widower/divorced (50.0%) had a higher prevalence of having respiratory symptoms compared to married (45.8%) or single workers (25.0%). Workers who smoke had a higher prevalence (51.2%) of having respiratory symptoms compared to non-smoker’s workers (22.7%). CONCLUSION: The highest dust exposure is the piping workstation, followed by the cement and plastering workstations. These warrant the compulsory use of personal protective equipment by construction workers during work, improving the quality of dust masks, and standardizing their usage. Effective engineering controls should also be promoted on construction sites

A University-Wide Preparedness Effort in the Alert Phase of COVID-19 Incorporating Community Mental Health and Task-Shifting Strategies: Experience from a Bornean Institute of Higher Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic caught the world by surprise, causing millions of confirmed cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths. Hence, the Malaysian government announced a Movement Control Order at the start of the containment phase to flatten the epidemiological curve. Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), a public university in Borneo, was accelerated into alert phase because of high risk of case importation from more than 400 China incoming undergraduates. Measures to mitigate the potential COVID-19 outbreaks in its population were taken by using conventional public health measures with special attention to task-shifting and widespread community mental health interventions. A Preparedness and Response Centre was established to overseer the mitigating measures happening inside the university. Measures taken included empowerment of frontline staff, strengthening of restrictions, strengthening university health center, vigorous contact tracing, widespread health education, maintaining cultural sensitivity, and establishment of early standard operating procedures and university continuity plans. Hence, UMS was able to ensure no importation of cases into its campus during both acute and containment phases at the nationwide level