Communities In Central Region Research Articles

Assessing the Awareness on Symptoms and Risk Factors of Stroke amongst Rural Community in Central Region of Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

As the third leading cause of mortality in Malaysia, stroke is recognised as a medical emergency which requires urgent medical attention within a limited timeframe to prevent exacerbation of the brain damage and death in patients. Recent report revealed a high prevalence of pre-hospital delay amongst the stroke patients due to the lack of awareness on symptoms and risk factors of stroke, as well as poor understanding on appropriate action towards stroke. A number of studies had assessed stroke awareness amongst urban population residing in central region of Malaysia but yet amongst rural population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst individuals residing in rural districts of Selangor by using a set of questionnaires assessing the sociodemographic characteristics, as well as the awareness and action towards stroke symptoms and risk factors. All 343 respondents were able to recognise at least one modifiable risk factor for stroke. Meanwhile, only 36.44% were able to identify all the stroke symptoms. Despite majority of them were familiar with the stroke term, less than half of the respondents were aware of calling the emergency medical service as the appropriate action towards stroke symptoms. The present study indicated a poor level of awareness and action towards stroke symptoms and risk factors amongst rural population residing in Selangor.

Effects of Decline in Fish Landings on the Livelihoods of Coastal Communities in Central Region of Ghana

Fishing along Ghana’s coast is the main livelihood for local communities, and it contributes significantly to their incomes. Most of them get employment, food security, and access to better health care through fishing activities. However, the fishing industry has been saddled with many challenges in recent times, which has led to low landings. This study aimed to assess the causes and effects of the decline in fish landings on the livelihood of coastal communities in the Central Region of Ghana. The systematic sampling technique was used to randomly select 200 households from four communities. A questionnaire was designed to elicit information from fisherfolk based on Likert scale estimation. In addition, time-series data of fish landings and imports for 51 years (1976–2017) was used in the analysis. The results from the study indicate that fish landings are declining, and this is affecting the income levels of fisherfolk. However, the impact of income decline on the female fisherfolk is lower as compared to their male counterparts. To mitigate against dwindling incomes, the fisherfolk have adopted livelihood diversification coping strategies. The key livelihood options identified in the communities are masonry, trading, and commercial driving. The fisherfolk mentioned overfishing, pollution, use of smaller mesh size nets, and unapproved methods of fishing as drivers of decline in fish landings. This study recommends that mandated institutions with oversight responsibilities in the fishing industry should be strengthened to enable them to conduct their functions effectively, so, they halt the decline in fish catch.

Hepatitis A immunity in Yozgat, Turkey.

BACKGROUNDSince routine immunization could change the epidemiological profile of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in the future, it is important to determine the baseline immunity to HAV across Turkey.OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A among individuals 6 years of age and older in Yozgat, Turkey.DESIGNCross-sectional.SETTINGCommunity in central region of Turkey.PATIENTS AND METHODSQuestionnaires and blood specimens were collected and the presence of hepatitis A IgG antibodies against hepatitis A virus was determined quantitatively by ELISA.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESThe rates of hepatitis A immunity by age group.SAMPLE SIZE1862.RESULTSImmunity to hepatitis A was 79.1% (n=1473). The mean (SD) age was 17.1 (14.7) years in the nonimmune group and 37.8 (19.5) years in the immune group (P<.001), and immunity increased with age. No significant difference in immunity rate was detected between genders in children and adults. The seropositivity rate for subjects ages 6–19 years was lower than in subjects aged 20–96 years (52.2% versus 93.9%; P<.001).CONCLUSIONA catch-up vaccination program is needed for persons aged 6–19 years in Yozgat.LIMITATIONSSingle region data which can not be generalized. For this reason, a multi-centered study that can reflect the whole country is recommended.

Housing Surroundings and Self-reported Cases of Malaria in two Communities in Central Region of Ghana

Malaria remains a major health problem in Ghana. Mosquito breeding sites play significant role in malaria infection and transmission, but studies in this area are scanty in Ghana. This study assesses the association between housing surroundings with mosquito breeding sites and self-reported cases of malaria in two communities in Central Region of Ghana. In a cross-sectional study, 319 representatives of households in two communities in Central Region of Ghana provided information on self-reported malaria cases, use of ITN and some demographic characteristics. The surroundings of houses were also inspected for presence of mosquito breeding sites. Using chi square test, variables were compared between the two communities and with logistic regression analyses, the factors associated with self-reported malaria was assessed. Prevalence of self-reported malaria was 23.2%. More than half (58.6%) of the houses had surroundings that could serve a breeding sties for mosquitoes. Educational level and community were independently associated with self-reported cases of malaria. By multivariate analyses the community in the forest belt (OR=2.894; 95% CI: 1.672 – 5,010; P=0.000) remained significantly associated with self-reported malaria. Prevalence of self–reported malaria was high in the region, with the community in the forest belt having higher malaria prevalence than the community in the coastal belt. The proportion of housing surroundings with potential breeding sites for mosquito was high. The fight against malaria could intensify efforts that improve behaviours for avoiding of mosquito bites and keeping housing surroundings clean.

Diversity of popular names of the main medicinal plants (MP) used by the local people in the central region of South America

The diversity of the main „medicinal plants names“-(MP) most used by the local people in the central region of South America (21 municipalities of the Southwest of Mato Grosso, Brazil) were investigated in 2005. Firstly, the popular names of the main MP were obtained. Three „reference“ people in each of the 21 municipalities were indicated as informants by their pairs (21×3=63 informants). In every region, the informants (63) listed 503 MP. The list presented from 42 to 137 different MP names by municipality. Two presented more than 100 MP names while one presented less than 50, and the remaining 18 municipalities between 50–100 MP. One way to measure the diversity of MP „within and between municipalities“ was through „recurrent indications“ of same MP. To this RI index was used (RI=Sum of the number of MP names cited by the three informants of each municipality divided by the number of different MP names cited in this municipality). The lowest RI value was 1.085 and the highest 1.693, indicating that the list of MP names was more distinct in the municipalities with lower RI and more similar in the municipalities with higher RI. The average number of MP listed per county (municipality) was 107. Only one MP(urtigão) was mentioned unanimously by the three informants of a same municipality. In general, the recurrence of indications (RI) was low. It's revealing a great informative, cultural and ethnoknowledge diversity in respect of medicinal plants used by these communities in central region of South America.