International Journal of Public Health and Safety

Spraying of chemicals is essential as weapon for destroying pests, insects and diseases that are inimical to crops, animals and human beings as they destroy people’s fortunes. While protecting the food system and properties, exposure to chemicals often impact negatively on the health of farmers and pest exterminators when precautionary measures are not taken seriously by pest applicators. In this regard, the objectives of this study were to: identify hazards faced by farmers and commercial pest exterminators; assess conditions that increases the risk of pesticide exposure on the part of farmers and pest exterminators; and examine the health hazards associated with spraying chemicals. Findings of the study identified different types of hazards such as itchy eyes, skin irritation and heavy breathing when protective equipment is not worn by farmers and pest exterminators. The study concludes that pesticide risks are high when protectives are not used in enclosed environments over long hours of spraying.

Introduction: Diabetes during HIV infection remains frequent and the mechanism is complex, linked both to HIV and especially to Antiretroviral Drugs (ARVs). This HIV-diabetes comorbidity increases the cardiovascular risk. This is a major public health problem. In developing countries, very few studies have been carried out on the association between diabetes and HIV. The objective of this study was to evaluate the co-morbidity of diabetes and HIV in the Medicine Department of the Sikasso Hospital.

Patients and methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study from March to August 2013. The study populations were patients over 15 years old followed up in external consultation for HIV infection. Diabetes screening was performed in all patients followed for HIV. Patients with HIV and diabetes co-morbidity were included out of a population of 324 HIV patients.

Results: We collected 18 patients among 786, i.e. a hospital frequency of 2.29%. The average age was 42 years and the sex ratio was 0.2 (3H/15F). HIV1 was involved in 94.45% of cases. And 50% (9/18 cases) of the patients were WHO stage 3, 11% had a CD4 count below 200 cells/ mm3. The patients were treated with ARVs in 83% of cases (15/18 cases). And the majority, 72% (13/15 cases) were on 2 nucleoside inhibitors combined with a non-nucleoside inhibitor. Diabetes was discovered after starting ARV treatment in 38.88% of cases. Type 2 diabetes was the most frequent with 77.78% (14/18 cases). The mode of discovery of diabetes was incidental in 7 cases (39%) and clinical in 11 cases (61%). Diabetes was treated with insulin in 9 cases (50%), oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) in 7 cases (39%) and diet alone in 2 cases (11%). HIV1 viral load was performed in 7 patients on ARV treatment and 5 were undetectable. The vast majority of patients (95%, 16 cases) were in the care circuit and 5% of deaths were recorded.

Conclusion: HIV and antiretroviral treatment constitute an important risk factor for the development of diabetes cardiovascular disease.

Background and Aim: Identifying hazards and risk assessment in schools is an effective and practical measure to prevent accidents and injuries to primary student’s school.

Methods: In this study, after identifying the activities, by visiting, observing and interviewing the responsible persons and primary school students in Khorramabad, potential risks using FMEA method were identified and risk assessment was considered, taking into account the severity of the effect, the probability of occurrence. Consequences and the level of exposure to risks were done and then risk rating was determined using TOPSIS decision method.

Results: In the present study, the total rank of safety and health risks of schools in different levels H, M and L respectively 4, 60 and 100 and in the results of environmental aspects assessment in different levels H, M and L, respectively. 12, 48 and 75 and in TOPSIS technique the special score was 0.8314, Also, the highest decision matrix for safety risks is related to the lack of strength of school buildings.

Discussion and Conclusion:Based on the results of the present study, most schools had moderate and similar status in terms of safety and health status and environmental aspects. Water consumption management was in schools, this issue requires more attention and accuracy in order to improve and enhance safety, health and environment.