3rd World Countries Research Articles

Developing an aquaponics system to learn sustainability and social compromise skills

The goal of this project, one of the proposals of the EPS@ISEP Spring 2014, was to develop an Aquaponics System. Over recent years Aquaponics systems have received increased attention since they contribute to reduce the strain on resources within 1st and 3rd world countries. Aquaponics is the combination of Hydroponics and Aquaculture and mimics a natural environment in order to successfully apply and enhance the understanding of natural cycles within an indoor process. Using this knowledge of natural cycles, it was possible to create a system with capabilities similar to that of a natural environment with the support of electronics, enhancing the overall efficiency of the system. The multinational team involved in the development of this system was composed of five students from five countries and fields of study. This paper describes their solution, involving the overall design, the technology involved and the benefits it can bring to the current market. The team was able to design and render the Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings of the prototype, assemble all components, successfully test the electronics and comply with the budget. Furthermore, the designed solution was supported by a product sustainability study and included a specific marketing plan. Last but not least, the students involved in this project obtained new multidisciplinary knowledge and improved their sustainable development, social compromise, team work and cross-cultural communication skills

Paediatric Obesity: An Anthropometric study of school children aged between (4-19) years

Background: World wide spreading on an alarming rate the new non-communicable disease with less paid attention as compared to other nutritional studies: Obesity is catching the attention of medical practioners and policy makers alike. Obesity trends are causing serious public health concerns not only in developed countries but also in the 3rd world countries (developing nations) like ours, as they are causing excusive burden on the viability of already compromised health care system. Objective: This report present the urban anthropometric data of school going children of the state which came into existence not long ago, with varied health needs and limited health care resources: the state of Chhattisgarh. The study states the prevalence of obesity and overweight among school children of Raigarh district and focuses on tabulating BMI charts for Chhattisgarh State population’ as a data base is not available for the same till date. Materials Methods: Data was collected from school going children of an urban school at Raigarh aged between 4-19 years for both girls and boys. Data was subjected to statistical analysis and results obtained were compared with the WHO guidelines and also postulated by Indian Academy of Paediatrics. Total 4421 students were subjected towards anthropometric measurements. Result: The overall prevalence of obesity (i.e. Subjects having BMI more than 95th percentile) was 5.01 percent. Among boys it was 4.98 percent whereas among girls it was observed at 5.05 percent. Overweight children who ranged between 85th to 95th percentiles recorded a total share of 9.97 percent which was seen as 10 percent in boys and 9.92 percent in girls. But in adolescent age groups the prevalence calculated was far more than expected. Conclusion: This latest data adds to the knowledge about the obesity trends in the newly developing state of Chhattisgarh and requires timely intervention by health authorities for its control. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i5.12191Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(5) 2015 41-46

English

INTRODUCTION: Pericardial tuberculosis remains a major problem in 3rd world countries. It is estimated to account for 70 % of large pericardial effusions & most cases of constrictive pericarditis in developing countries.(1,2) A 55 year old male presented with dyspnea on exertion and anasarca since 2 months. The patient had history of right sided pleural effusion 4 years ago and approximately 200 cc of fluid had been aspirated. The patient had not taken anti-tubercular treatment in the past. On examination the patient had bilateral pedal edema, raised JVP, hepatomegaly, ascites, and findings suggestive of right sided pleural effusion. Clinical features were suggestive of congestive heart failure. Chest X-ray (frontal & lateral) showed right sided pleural effusion and pericardial calcification. These findings were confirmed on CT. Pleural aspiration revealed thick pus. Pericardial calcification prompted us to consider constrictive pericarditis as one of the differential diagnosis. ECG revealed low voltage and T wave inversion, USG abdomen confirmed hepatomegaly & ascites. There was no evidence of portal hypertension. 2-D Echo revealed thick and calcified pericardium, septal bounce was not noted, IVC was not dilated but was not collapsing. Mitral E wave deceleration time was normal.

ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIES BECOMING SICK BY RATIO ANALYSIS

Industries becoming sick has become a great problem everywhere in this industrial world especially in the 3rd world countries. Many researches have been done to analyze the problem and suggest opinions about solving this problem as huge amount of capital is lost if an industry becomes sick and go out of business. If the numbers become multiple, such happenings might affect national economy and thus it draws attention of political and business leaders besides new entrepreneurs of the country. In this paper an attempt has been made to analyze this problem by using financial ratio analysis. Various financial ratios of two numbers of medium and large industries of one industrial corporation in Bangladesh have been calculated by using actual financial data of the industries. The data has been analyzed and a correlation has been shown with various financial ratios with the industries becoming sick. The authors hope that the findings of the analysis will attract attention of academicians, industrialists, political leaders, and the owners of the industries which are becoming sick and will also show a guiding path to new entrepreneurs. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jme.v44i1.19495

Abstract P96: Pacemaker Reutilization is a Safe and Effective Means of Delivering Electrophysiological Healthcare in Third World Countries a Meta-Analysis

Background: The inequality of healthcare between rich and poor countries appears to be escalating. Several small studies have suggested that pacemaker reutilization is an effective means of delivering healthcare for those with limited resources. This meta-analysis sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pacemaker reuse. Methods: We searched medical databases from January 1 st 1975 to July 1 st 2009 for studies that compared pacemaker reuse with a control population of new device implantation. Random-effects models were used to calculate summary odds ratios (OR). The primary endpoint was overall complication rate. Results: A total of 4 trials enrolling 603 subjects were integrated into this analysis. Compared to new pacemaker implantation, reutilization of previously implanted devices were not associated with a significant increase in overall complications (OR 0.98 [0.64 - 1.49]; p= 0.914). Furthermore, there was no increased risk of infection (OR 0.81 [0.41 - 1.62]; p=0.552), physiological complications (OR 1.06 [0.54 - 2.07]; p= 0.868), or device malfunction (OR 1.29 [0.51 - 3.29]; p=0.590). Device-related deaths were observed in neither group. Conclusions: Pacemaker reutilization, when compared to new device implantation, is not associated with higher rates of infection, physiological malfunction, or device malfunction. Pacemaker reuse is a safe, efficacious, and ethical alternative to address the medical needs for those in 3 rd world countries who could not afford therapy otherwise.

Non-Oral Poster 33

OBJECTIVES: To review our experience pertaining to the surgical repair of rectovaginal fistulae during a medical mission at Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Included are the scope of the problem, surgical repair, and the opportunity for resident learning experience during the mission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In May 2009, a MEDRETE (medical readiness mission) involving urogynecologic surgical care was undertaken for two weeks at the Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Two attending urogynecologists, 2 OB/GYN senior residents, 4 aneshtesia providers, and OR staff were deployed to Tegucigalpa from Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Seventy-two patients were evaluated for surgery with problems including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and rectovaginal fistula. Sixty-one surgical procedures were performed over 9 operating days. Eleven patients were identified as having rectovaginal or anovaginal fistulae. The average age of these patients was 26 years and average parity was 3. Nine of these patients sustained injury during childbirth which was not attended by physician or mid-wife or not properly repaired. The average time these patients waited for evaluation was 18 months. Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa, Honduras is the main teaching hospital and also provides free care to patients with little means. There are approximately 65 deliveries per day in this hospital with an average of 2 attending obstetricians and 2 residents each day. RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent surgical repair of rectovaginal or anovaginal fistulae. Eight of these underwent sphincteroplasty, and three underwent perineoplasty alone. Each spent one night in the hospital and were discharged the next day. Each case was staffed by an attending urogynecologist with a senior level OB/GYN resident. At the conclusion of the mission, the senior resident was acting as primary surgeon with attending assistance. Prior to the mission, each resident reported exposure to 2 4th degree repairs and no rectovaginal fistulae procedures. To date, there were no major complications reported with only one patient with a perineal skin separation. Ten of the eleven patients were seen in follow up by the Honduran Gynecologist. At the conclusion of the mission, there were approximately 50 patients with the similar condition waiting for evaluation. CONCLUSION: Recto-vaginal fistula is a devastating condition in 3rd world countries where it is a common complication of childbirth resulting from obstructed labor or either poorly or unrepaired obstetric lacerations. It is exceedingly rare in developed countries. Social, emotional and psychological consequences incurred by women with obstetric fistulas can lead to stigmatization, isolation and loss of social support and in some cases divorce or separation. In the United States, with diminishing use of episiotomy and fewer operative vaginal deliveries utilizing forceps, the opportunity to train Obstetric and Gynecology residents this important skill has decreased. Other than the obvious benefit of providing surgical care to the impoverished population of a Third World country, it provided a robust learning experience for OB/GYN residents.

PAP smear in third world countries? Still an option

1030 Background: Cervical cancer is the most frequent malignancy in 3rd world countries. Early detection programs have not helped to decrease mortality in this countries because they have not been able to cover entire population. This has created the misconception that those programs are not useful in 3rd world countries. This is true due several reasons including lack of knowledge, low income and impossibility to mobilize to places were this test can be performed. The cost for the governments can be high and they do not invest enough resources because cancer is not a priority in our countries. Since 1999 we started a program in a defined area trying to cover the entire population and by using a different approach we believe there is a cost effective way to run nationwide programs. Method: From 1999 to 2004 we started a early detection and prevention program for cervical cancer in a very poor area in Tegucigalpa denominated Campo Cielo that included 23 small neighborhoods, this included a 11,000 houses and more than 60,000 people living. We did targeted the female population in the range of 25 to 59 years old that resulted in 15,731 ladies. This project was sponsored by UICC. The program was based in trained technicians that spent his time at the community and were promoting and educating people in the area in a home by home basis and taking PAP smear in different areas every day (mobile clinics) trying to cover the entire population. The results were sent the same day for processing and they were deliver to the ladies in a personal basis to ensure they receive it. If the result was positive for malignancy a major effort to assure treatment was done. Emphasis was taken in quality control. Results: The initial results were discouraging, only 400 PAP smears the first year mostly due reluctant population. Once the people was educated the number increased up to 11,310 a year covering more than 70% of the population. Initial non adequate smears of 3.68% that dropped to 1,15%. The percentage of first time patients also dropped from 33% to 15%. We found 137 Low grade lesions, 164 High grade lesions and 51 with invasive carcinoma. Conclusion: It is feasible to develop an effective cost effective early detection program for uterine cervix cancer in 3rd world countries using intensive education and mobile clinics for PAP smear. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

An evaluation of online learning environments(OLE) on the adult at-risk population

This paper deals with the evaluation of an Online Learning Environment(OLE) paradigm as it pertains to adult at-risk groups. Adult at-risk groups are classified as • Graduates of urban high schools • People who are being forced to work longer because of the change in retirement laws • The recent plethora of immigrants from 3rd world countries • People who have reentered the work force after years of child caring and/or elder care • People who reside in remote areas where educational and research opportunities are limited • Females OLE students tend to have trouble competing in an educational setting because • Many OLE students are older, have jobs, and families. • Students are interested in obtaining a degree for a better job or are retraining to retain employment with their present employer • Distance education often isolates the student. This isolation removes motivational factors that involving a peer group. Additionally distance education students are usually of very diverse backgrounds • Older students are generally not computer literate and thus have to conquer the course work and the delivery vehicle

Third World environmentalism: case studies from the Global South

A detailed look at environmental attitudes & government policies in 7 developing countries: India, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Romania, & Iran. Surprisingly, the author finds reasons to be optimistic about 3rd world countries' awareness & efforts.

Emission inventory for Nigeria with CAREAIR

CAREAIR is the abbreviation for "Computer aided Analysis of Reduction strategies for Emissions and ambient AIR pollution". It is a modelling-system for air pollution analyses including a flexible emission model developed at the IER. The PC-based version of the system is especially designed for applications in so-called 3rd-world countries, but in fact it can be used for any country. A modeling database for many emission relevant processes and related emission factors is part of it. This paper first gives a short overview on the capabilities of CAREAIR and secondly presents part of the emission inventory for Nigeria, which has been elaborated using CAREAIR during a cooperation between the University of Stuttgart (FRG) and the Obafemi Awolowo University of Ile-Ife (Nigeria). In particular estimates of the yearly emissions of total Hydrocarbons (VOC = Volatile Organic Compounds), divided into CH4 (Methane) and NMVOC (Non-Methane-VOC), NOx (Nitrogen Oxides), N2O (Nitrous Oxide), CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) and CO (Carbon Monoxide) emissions in Nigeria 1989 are given.

TÜRK ARKEOLOJİSİNİN SORUNLARI VE BAZI ÖNERİLER

There is a long history and tradition behind the Turkish archaeology. Today, the infrastructure of the Turkish archaeology is at a level where one can have an eye on outside our borders and even do research. With its rich experience, Turkish archaeology can lead and guide many 3rd world countries. At the same time, this will further raise the level of Turkish archeology and make it rival to other countries. Today, in many countries, it is unlikely that any investment will be made without the approval of archaeologists. In a rapidly developing country like Turkey, strong action must be planned to protect the cultural heritage. However, no matter what field, a country's scientific activity cannot be left to the decision of a political authority. In this context, the problems the Turkish archaeology may face in the 1990s are discussed.

Child health in the Third World

While most infant-related health problems in the Third World can be attributed to commonplace diseases, the lack of resources necessary to implement Western styles of medicine suggests the need for new strategies -- those that rely less on technology and more on grass roots efforts. Most illnesses in the developing world are the result of the top 5-10 diseases. Of the 4 million deaths from pneumonia each year, 97% take place in the Third World. Measles causes the yearly deaths of 1.6 million. Many of these diseases have been eradicated in the West; the others can be easily treated. But in the 3rd World, health problems are compounded by the fact that attention is often sought late, as well as the lack of doctors and nurses. Most of those with Western-style medical training rarely practice in rural or urban slum areas. One strategy to meet these difficulties is to train personnel on how to diagnose and treat these 5-10 common diseases without them having to go through Western-style training -- reminiscent of the famous "barefoot doctors" of China. These local health workers can more easily meet the health needs of isolated areas, since they can be trained to carry out immunization, and teach nutrition and family planning. Furthermore, this strategy does not rely on high technology, following instead the scheme laid out by acronym GOBI -- Growth monitoring. Oral rehydration therapy, Breast feeding, and Immunization. Developed nations can help in this effort by supporting WHO, UNICEF and other international organizations, as well as sending personnel to work in 3rd World countries. While individual 3rd World nations must confront these problems, worldwide social, political, and economic changes will be necessary.

The World Health Organization: School Health Initiatives

The United Nations and its family of operational agencies have existed for almost five decades. For school health personnel, to understand how these agencies operate--in particular, the World Health Organization (WHO)--is worthwhile. To understand how WHO influenced the practice of health education for school-aged youth, some critical events that have occurred during the past five decades are reviewed and several current and future activities are identified and described.

Breast-feeding in Asia: An overview

This review considers some of the many reasons why researchers and policy makers are increasingly concerned about breastfeeding (BF). It discusses the contraceptive effect and health benefits of BF, and review major BF trends and patterns in selected countries and areas of Asia. It also discusses the complementarity between BF and contraceptive use, and highlights the findings of the studies contained in this special issue of the "Journal." In populations without access to modern contraception, birth intervals (BIs) are determined by the length of BF. The contraceptive effect of BF has been well documented. BF plays an important role in child nutrition and health in 3rd world countries. There are lower incidence of infant morbidity in Asia. Maternal antibodies in breast milk protect the infant from gastrointestinal illness and respiratory infections. Breastfeeding is very economical. The risk of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome from the infected mother to the child in the breast milk is a new contraindication to BF. However, BF is not as effective as a contraceptive after 6 months. Modern methods of postpartum contraception must be used. Introduction of contraceptive pills in some setting may be done too early. Family planning programs can help women use BF as a contraceptive method. BF should be seen as a "lactational amenorrhea method" in the "cafeteria" of FP methods. Users of the lactational amenorrhea method need to be represented in service statistics. FP surveys should find out if BR is used for fertility regulation. The other articles in the journal are summarized.

Land Use, Migration, and Natural Resource Deterioration: The Experience of Guatemala and the Sudan

There has been little research directly linking migration to environmental degradation. Guatemala has had a population growth rate of 3%/year for the past 2 decades. The level of rural to urban migration has been heavy because of insurgency and wide rural to urban income gaps and land inequalities although it still remains low for a Latin American country which usually have high percentages of urban populations. Using past population trends population projections were used in an effort to predict the environmental effect of population growth and migration. Current land distribution indicates that rapid fragmentation of land is occurring through inheritance. Guatemala is suffering from many of the same problems as other 3rd world countries: soil erosion deforestation sedimentation of water sheds and urban pollution. A variety of policy interventions are needed including family planning services land redistribution and price and technology policies that stimulate agricultural production and raise rural family incomes and labor absorption. Other policies that deal directly with deforestation and soil erosion e.g. farmer education programs and stricter enforcement of existing legislation banning unauthorized tree cutting are needed. Decertification in the Sudan is being caused by patterns of migration and population growth. Sudans population is mostly rural and settled with 11% being nomadic and 20% being urbanized. The Sudan suffers from many of the same problems as other African countries. There has been a general decline in agricultural production per capita over the last 15 years despite large increases in agricultural land use. Growing numbers of people animals and crops have placed stress on rangelands. New Water resource development has concentrated nomadic patterns in certain areas causing rapid land degradation. Deforestation has grown because of increased need for wood and charcoal. Along with deforestation decertification is increasing because land is left bare from overuse. While the causes of environmental deterioration are not yet well understood population growth is an obvious factor that if controlled would reduce the stress on the environment.

Migrant Labor and Sexually Transmitted Disease: AIDS in Africa

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is worldwide, but the clinical and epidemiological pattern of the disease in Africa is different from that in developed areas. "Type 1 AIDS" occurs in industrialized North America and Europe; it has a distinctive sex ratio (16:1) and risk pattern of IV drug use and sexual practices. "Type 2 AIDS" occurs in Third World countries, particularly in eastern, southern, and central Africa. It is characterized by an entirely different sex ratio (1:1) and by distinctively different risk patterns. Both epidemics are caused by the HIV-1 virus. The key concept for understanding the origins of the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 AIDS is the migratory labor system in eastern, central, and southern Africa. This system causes long absences, increased family breakdown, and increased numbers of sexual partners. Historically the organization of this labor market has created a population which suffers from epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases. These historical patterns are presented as evidence for the contemporary transmission of AIDS. When contemporary AIDS and HIV-1 seropositivity prevalence data are examined, a systematic temporal and geographic pattern emerges for the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Despite a paucity of good data, the prevalence data from eastern, central, and southern Africa support the thesis of migrant labor's role in the transmission of AIDS.

Population and Family Planning: An International Perspective

Since the 1960s, the U.S. government has supported population and family planning programs in Third World countries, on the grounds that rapid population growth impairs the ability of those countries to develop economically; family planning programs contribute to fertility decline; and such programs help improve the health of mothers and children. Although the United States remains the largest single donor of funding for international population programs, its support has weakened during the eight years of the Reagan administration and patterns of funding for those programs have changed substantially. Since the 1960s, however, contraceptive use has increased in the Third World and fertility has fallen substantially. The decline has been uneven, though--considerable in some countries, moderate in others but very small in many. The performance of family planning programs around the world has varied widely, and questions remain as to what, if anything, can be done to increase success. For the future, three aspects of population and fertility control in developing countries merit special attention: the supply of contraceptive commodities going to family planning programs; the maintenance and strengthening of the family planning infrastructure; and the need to examine the policy implications of differing patterns of fertility and population growth for national development and individual well-being.

A cost-effective but safe protocol for the staging of invasive cervical carcinoma in a third world country

The treatment and prognosis of invasive cervical carcinoma depends on proper clinical staging. The prestaging investigations are time-consuming and costly and 3rd world countries find it difficult to adhere to 1st world protocols. In the search for a more cost-effective but safe protocol for pre-treatment investigation the analysis of some of the special investigations performed on a total of 903 patients with invasive cervical carcinoma have proven beyond doubt that some of these investigations can be omitted without harming the patient. The Gynecologic Oncology Unit of the Tygerberg Hospital R.S.A. propose such a cost-effective protocol provided some criteria are strictly adhered to in safeguarding proper health care.

Our Demographically Divided World

At this time the contemporary world is being divided in two by demographic forces: nearly half the world including the industrial countries and China is establishing a balance between births and deaths leading to an improvement in living conditions; but in the other half where birthrates remain high rapid population growth is beginning to overwhelm local life support systems in many countries leading to ecological deterioration and declining living standards. Existing demographic analysis fail to explain the negative relationships between population growth and life-support systems that now are emerging in scores of 3rd world countries. As the 1990s approach new demographic criteria are needed. Countries now in their 4th decade of rapid population growth have failed to complete the demographic transition and the drop in living standards is making it difficult for them to complete the demographic transition. Unless the relationship between rapidly multiplying populations and their life support systems can be stabilized development policies are likely to fail. The remainder of this monograph directs attention to the following: carrying capacity stresses; diverging food and income trends; growing rural landlessness; population growth and conflict; the demographic trap of rapid population growth and the associated ecological and economic deterioration which prevents completion of the demographic transition; national fertility declines; and completing the demographic transition. At this time much of the world is making slow progress toward realizing the balance of birth and death rates needed to complete the demographic transition. Responsibility for stopping population growth remains both in the high growth regions that have the highest stake in averting the consequences of continued population growth and in the low growth regions that can provide the financial and technical assistance necessary for successful family planning programs.

Population Replacement and Immigrant Adaptation: New Issues Facing the West

Industrialized nations are entering a new stage in the demographic transition from high birthrates to low birthrates and as they do questions are being raised about the need to rethink immigration policies. Since 1965 fertility rates in many developed countries have fallen substantially below the level needed for population replacement. Immigration from 3rd World countries contributes to population growth in 2 ways: 1) through the addition of the migrants themselves and 2) through their subsequent fertility often higher than that of the nonmigrant population. If fertility in Western industrial nations remains low 3 broad conclusions follow: 1) in the short run the potential for change in ethnic racial linguistic and other compositional aspects of national populations is probably greater in Europe than it is in the US; 2) unless they wish their populations to decline countries with below-replacement fertility need immigrants--if not now then eventually; and 3) populations that have both immigration and low fertility for a prolonged period exhibit a kind of demographic transfusion. Because it is a national policy to admit large numbers of new migrants to the US each year the government should more closely examine what happens to migrants once they have entered the country how well migrants adjust to life in the US and what can be done by the host population to facilitate this adjustment.