South East Research Articles

Molecular basis of resistance to leaf spot disease in oil palm

IntroductionLeaf spot disease caused by the fungal pathogen Curvularia oryzae is one of the most common diseases found in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) nurseries in South East Asia, and is most prevalent at the seedling stage. Severe infections result in localized necrotic regions of leaves that rapidly spread within nurseries leading to poor quality seedlings and high economic losses.MethodsTo understand the molecular mechanisms of this plant-pathogen interaction, RNA-Seq was used to elucidate the transcriptomes of three oil palm genotypes with contrasting pathogen responses (G10 and G12, resistant and G14, susceptible) following infection with C. oryzae spores. Transcriptomes were obtained from Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing of mRNA at four different time points (day 0, before treatment; day 1, 7, and 21 post treatment).Results and discussionAnalysis of differentially expressed gene (DEG) profiles in these three genotypes provided an overview of the genes involved in the plant defence. Genes involved in disease resistance, phytohormone biosynthesis, gene regulation (transcription factors), and those encoding proteins associated with cell wall hardening were identified and likely contribute to the resistance of oil palm to C. oryzae. Such genes represent good candidates for targets to enhance oil palm productivity and resilience through molecular breeding approaches.

Birth defects reporting and surveillance in India: a narrative review.

Mortality attributable to birth defects (congenital anomalies, congenital disorders) is increasing in low and middle-income countries, including India. Surveillance is essential to inform strategies to address these disorders. The objective of this narrative review was to document the birth defects surveillance/reporting systems in India, their current status, structures and reporting formats. The review used empirical analysis of retrieved literature to answer the framed research questions. Publications on birth defects surveillance in India was negligible. Website searches yielded information on two surveillance systems. The WHO South East Asia Region-Newborn-Birth Defects (SEAR-NBBD) surveillance for congenital disorders uses a non-representative sample of hospitals to conduct passive surveillance for eight congenital anomalies. The system has a hierarchy of quality control measures to assure data accuracy. The second system is a child screening and early intervention service (the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, RBSK), which reports data on nine birth defects among children screened at birth, in the first six weeks of life, and till 18 years of age. The RBSK uses existing community-based staff and competency-appropriate screening tools that incorporate defined referral routes to secondary or tertiary level of care. Data from neither of these systems is available in the public domain. The review identified that the strengths and weaknesses of both these systems can be utilized to put in place a potentially sustainable sentinel surveillance for monitoring birth defects in India.

The Relationship Between Confidence and Anxiety in Facing the Workforce Among Final-Semester Students

This study aims to determine the relationship between self-confidence and anxiety in facing the world of work in final semester students at the Faculty of Technologies, South East Technological University. The method used in this study is the person correlation research method. Data collection techniques using the scale method. The self-confidence scale and anxiety scale in dealing with the world of work are measured using the Likert scale model. On the self-confidence scale, there are 40 items and on the anxiety scale in dealing with the world of work, there are 40 items. The reliability coefficient for the self-confidence scale is 0.447 and the reliability coefficient for the anxiety scale in facing the world of work is 0.408. To find out the relationship between self-confidence and anxiety in facing the world of work in final semester students, the Pearsion correlation technique was used. The results of this study's data analysis showed a significant value of the relationship between anxiety and self-confidence of 0.000 <0.05 which indicates that there is no relationship between self-confidence and anxiety. The result of obtaining the pearson correlation between the two variables is -0.002. This can be interpreted that the relationship between anxiety and self-confidence has a negative direction and is not significant. This means that the research hypothesis is accepted. In other words, there is a negative relationship between self-confidence and anxiety in facing the world of work in final semester students at the Faculty of Psychology, South East Technological University.

The Effect of Insecurity on Tourism Activities in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

The tourism sector in Jos, Plateau State, which was once a key driver of economic growth and local development, has experienced a severe decline due to the persistent insecurity in the state. This study examines the effect of insecurity on tourism activities in Jos, Plateau state. The study used a descriptive, cross-sectional survey research design. A sample size of 400 respondents was selected from the total population of 1,260,200 using the Tare Yamane formula. Questionnaires were distributed to 400 randomly selected respondents across Jos North, Jos South, and Jos East LGA. Interviews were also conducted with six key informants to complement the data gathered from the questionnaires. Responses from the questionnaires were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages while quantitative data were analysed while outlining the key point presented by the key informant. The study revealed that insecurity in Jos has significantly affected tourism activities. Major effects include a decline in foreign investment, widespread unemployment, reduced patronage of tourist centres, and diminished state revenue. Insecurity also deters foreign investors, disrupts livelihoods in the tourism sector, and tarnishes Jos's reputation as a tourist destination. The study recommended that drones and CCTV cameras are examples of advanced technologies that should be used to provide real-time surveillance to identify and discourage criminal activity within the State.

Unveiling autism spectrum disorder in South East Asia through a public health Lens

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted developmental condition characterized by persistent challenges in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Though there is no cure, early and intensive interventions can significantly improve the quality of life for those affected. The aim of this paper is to examine the complexities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from a public health perspective in South East Asian region, highlighting the global rise in prevalence and the compounded challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in ASD prevalence from 4 to 5 cases per 10,000 children in the 1980s to 11.3 per 1,000 children in 2012 highlights the need for effective interventions. The pandemic exacerbated behavioral issues, anxiety, and screen time-related health problems, underscoring the importance of adjusting strategies for early identification and support. Diagnostic tools like the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) play a critical role in community-based screening. Effective prevention strategies include primary measures such as public awareness campaigns and genetic counseling, secondary measures focusing on early identification and intervention, and tertiary measures involving ongoing support and therapy. Addressing implementation challenges, particularly in low-income countries, requires enhanced public awareness, training of community health workers, and integration of ASD services into primary healthcare systems. Future research should aim to develop and evaluate scalable, culturally relevant interventions and explore the impact of environmental factors on ASD. Comprehensive strategies at the community level, combined with robust public health policies, are crucial for improving outcomes for individuals with ASD and their families.

Integration of the aSSKINg framework into the electronic patient record: a quality improvement project.

Assessment of pressure ulcer (PU) risk is important in clinical practice and the need to document it in the patient's record is paramount. Despite national and international guidelines highlighting the need to document PU risk, nursing documentation remains variable. The first article in this series discussed the evidence base underpinning the development of clinical guidelines for PUs, alongside the creation of bundle approach for PU prevention. The second article presented the results of a clinical audit exploring compliance against a PU prevention bundle (aSSKINg framework) in an adult community nursing setting in the South East of England. This final article in the series presents the results of a quality improvement project that involved a clinical audit following the implementation of the aSSKINg framework into the electronic patient record (EPR). The aim was to improve nursing documentation for patients with PU risk. The clinical audit was conducted in two parts, with a pilot phase running between 6 February 2023 and 15 April 2023. After the template implementation into the EPR, a follow-up audit was undertaken between 1 November 2023 and 31 January 2024. Overall compliance against the aSSKINg framework improved, especially the completion of the PURPOSE-T on the first visit, full skin assessment and repositioning advice. Following the pilot phase, the aSSKINg template was rolled out in a phased approach to the adult community nursing, enhanced care home matrons and urgent community response teams.

Systematic Regional Aerosol Perturbations (SyRAP) in Asia Using the Intermediate‐Resolution Global Climate Model FORTE2

AbstractEmissions of anthropogenic aerosols are rapidly changing, in amounts, composition and geographical distribution. In East and South Asia in particular, strong aerosol trends combined with high population densities imply high potential vulnerability to climate change. Improved knowledge of how near‐term climate and weather influences these changes is urgently needed, to allow for better‐informed adaptation strategies. To understand and decompose the local and remote climate impacts of regional aerosol emission changes, we perform a set of Systematic Regional Aerosol Perturbations (SyRAP) using the reduced‐complexity climate model FORTE 2.0 (FORTE2). Absorbing and scattering aerosols are perturbed separately, over East Asia and South Asia, to assess their distinct influences on climate. In this paper, we first present an updated version of FORTE2, which includes treatment of aerosol‐cloud interactions. We then document and validate the local responses over a range of parameters, showing for instance that removing emissions of absorbing aerosols over both East Asia and South Asia is projected to cause a local drying, alongside a range of more widespread effects. We find that SyRAP‐FORTE2 is able to reproduce the responses to Asian aerosol changes documented in the literature, and that it can help us decompose regional climate impacts of aerosols from the two regions. Finally, we show how SyRAP‐FORTE2 has regionally linear responses in temperature and precipitation and can be used as input to emulators and tunable simple climate models, and as a ready‐made tool for projecting the local and remote effects of near‐term changes in Asian aerosol emissions.

Oblique Rifting in the Southern Tibetan Plateau Revealed From 3‐D High‐Resolution Seismic Travel‐Time Tomography Around the India–Eurasia Continental Collision Zone

AbstractThe India–Eurasia continental collision zone (IECCZ) is an ideal setting for studying plate collision processes, plateau uplift mechanisms, and orogenic activities. Several models have attempted to explain the north–south (N‒S) collision and east–west (E‒W) extension based on geological and geophysical observations. Among them, the subduction of the subducted Indian lower crust (SILC) and the deep geometric shape of the southern Tibetan rifts are still controversial. To address these issues, we selected P‐ and S‐wave arrival times from 35,193 earthquakes recorded by 575 permanent and temporary stations and applied an improved double‐difference tomography method to obtain high‐resolution 3‐D P‐ and S‐wave velocity structures of the crust and uppermost mantle and relocated earthquake event locations around the IECCZ. The N‒S velocity profiles display a northward‐subducting high‐velocity layer stretching from the 20–40 km depth range in the Himalayan belt to the 50–60 km depth range beneath the northern Lhasa terrane (NL), suggesting that the eclogitized SILC extended beyond the Indus–Yarlung suture, reaching the NL. Additionally, the E‒W velocity profile at the SILC front reveals a discrete high‐velocity layer at depths of 40–60 km beneath the Longgar, Tingri–Nyima, Xianza‐Dinggye, and Yadong–Gulu rifts, implying that the SILC experienced tearing. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the seismicity, large‐earthquake source mechanisms near the Moho, and tomographic images of the study area, we proposed a new dynamic model of the India–Eurasia collision and N–S‐trending rifts. The significant characteristic of this model is that the rifts cut through the crust obliquely, not vertically.

Summertime compound heat extremes change and population heat exposure distribution in China

Amid the cumulative effects of rapid urbanization and climate warming, urban residents face serious health threats posed by heat extremes. Long-term monitoring of extreme high temperatures in cities can provide a foundational framework for mitigating the urban heat environment and enhancing the livability of residents. Utilizing long-term MODIS land surface temperature (LST) data, this study examined the fluctuations of extreme high temperatures, as well as the distribution of urban populations exposed to heat extremes and the associated health risks for urban residents across 289 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2002 to 2020, considering natural, population and economic regional scales. The results indicated that: (1) Variations in extreme high temperatures. Extreme LST thresholds exhibited an upward trend, with the nighttime growth rate being 0.24°C/decade higher than the day. Regions characterized by higher extreme LST thresholds during the day were concentrated in Northwest and North China, while nighttime were primarily found in South Central and East China. Furthermore, regions showing higher extreme LST thresholds during the day and night were situated in well-developed cities. (2) Changes in cities exposed to heat extremes. Over the past 19 years, the majority of cities have been exposed to compound extreme high temperatures, and the number of such cities increased from 230 to 256. Notably, nearly 42% of cities have been exposed to extreme high temperatures for 15 consecutive years or longer, particularly concentrated in East China and South Central China. Developed cities were more likely to endure persistent heat extremes, especially those with a population of over 5 million and a per capita GDP of over 20,000, which have almost continuously experienced heat extreme exposure for the past 19 years. (3) Urban populations exposed to compound heat extremes. The urban population heat exposure across the country was on the rise, with the fastest growth rate of 2.91 million people per year in the nighttime, and a greater escalation in East and South Central China. Moreover, cities with lower levels of population and economic development represented the primary areas for growth0, while cities with moderate development levels showcased the slowest growth rate. (4) Health risks for urban residents. The number of urban residents dying from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases increased by 522,500, with the elderly and males accounting for a greater proportion of the increase by 234,200 and 149,800, respectively. Additionally, there existed a significant positive correlation between the deaths and heat extremes during the day and night.

Evaluation of an intervention package developed to reduce pre-registration nursing student attrition rates: A mixed method study

BackgroundHigher educational institutions strive to recruit and retain student nurses into pre-registration programmes to support a sustainable nursing workforce. Attrition rates for student nurses are high and escalating, with around one in three nursing students in the United Kingdom failing to complete their degree programmes. Risk factors for student attrition include the attributes students bring to their study environment, as well as their behaviours and academic outputs. Modern learning analytics engagement tool can monitor attrition risk through tracking students as they engage with learning resources and other institutional opportunities. AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention package aimed at reducing pre-registration nursing student attrition rates at a Higher Education Institute in South East England. Design and methodsOur mixed methods study design had three phases. Phase 1: design of an intervention package and its planned implementation. Phase 2: piloted the intervention with 1198 student nurses. Phase 3: semi-structured interviews with five student nurses. ResultsThe learning analytics engagement tool was able to identify 144 students who were struggling and/or disengaging with their academic studies. 17 % (n = 24) students responding to the initial email contact. Of these 24 students, 67 % (n = 16) did not want a meeting with the Intervention Officer, who they were unfamiliar with, and only one attended a meeting. ConclusionOur evaluation of the effectiveness of an intervention package in reducing pre-registration nursing student attrition rates revealed valuable insights. Findings revealed that a lack of trusting relationships with intervention facilitators is likely to diminish engagement with such interventions.

Assessing and mapping the vulnerability index of Bangladesh to natural and climate-induced disasters: A spatial analysis at the subdistrict level

This study assesses and maps the vulnerability index of Bangladesh at the subdistrict level to a range of natural and climate-induced disasters. Four vulnerability index maps are created using principal component analysis and categorized into five risk levels: (1) no/very low risk, (2) low risk, (3) moderate risk, (4) high risk and (5) very high risk for each sub-district. The results reveal that the south east region is highly vulnerable to cyclones, Haor region stands out as the most vulnerable area for flash floods, with numerous subdistricts facing very high to high risk levels; northern and north-eastern regions are prone to cold waves, while the western part of Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to heat waves. This comprehensive spatial analysis provides critical information for disaster risk reduction and adaptation strategies, assisting decision-makers in identifying the most vulnerable areas and prioritizing interventions. The findings of this study might be useful for policymakers as well as planners.

Pre-Miocene Subsurface Structure Imaging Using Seismic and High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Data, South East Ghara in South Gulf of Suez.

Pre-Miocene Subsurface Structure Imaging Using Seismic and High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Data, South East Ghara in South Gulf of Suez.

Classrooms and comfort temperature in South East Nigeria

A field study was conducted in naturally ventilated public-school buildings located in the warm and humid climate of Imo State in Nigeria, to determine the comfort temperature of the schoolchildren. The survey took place from October 2017 to May 2018, covering rainy season and dry season, where objective and subjective approaches to data collection were employed. Results of the fieldwork of the 330 surveyed children (aged 7-12 years) revealed that the maximum comfort temperature derived from their responses corresponding to mean thermal sensations of +0.85, is 31.6oC for the combined classrooms. This is about 4.9oC higher than the ASHRAE upper 80% acceptability limit. Furthermore, when categorized according to season and time of day, the comfort temperature were also found to be higher than the ASHRAE upper limit. The study shows that respondents in a tropical country, such as in Nigeria, can be comfortable at high temperatures. The information on comfort temperature is important as that may guide professionals in the building industry to achieve eco-friendly and sustainable classrooms that use less energy and at the same time provide thermal comfort to the occupants.

Maximising the (unequal) benefits of foreign direct investment: addressing the two-speed problem

ABSTRACT The UK is made up of broadly two types of local economies, characterised by two types of equilibria. One, ‘high-skill equilibria’, consists of richer localities throughout the country (e.g. London, South East, Cambridge, Oxford) which attract high-tech FDI, venture capitalists, high levels of innovation, skills and productivity. Another, ‘low-skill equilibria’ locations, have low levels of innovation, skills and productivity, even despite high levels of activity, in some cases. The notion of the two equilibria was recognised in an earlier volume of Contemporary Social Science and discussed in some detail in the editorial by Fai and Tomlinson (2023). The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential policy interventions for inward investment, focused not merely on growth, but on productivity growth, with the core purpose of helping lagging regions recover. We present a framework which explores how inward investment can be leveraged to ‘move the dial’ in lagging regions of the UK, rather than merely offering more of the same in terms of output, productivity and employment opportunities – which would attract activity that is subsequently rather divorced from the rest of the local economy. Our proposed framework summarises the nature of the interaction between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and the host economy, enriched with insights from supply chain analysis, economic geography and the trade-offs involved in delivering transformative growth and productivity.

Larger size of Conn's adenoma is associated with lower cure rates post adrenalectomy.

The cure for patients with primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) secondary to solitary adrenal adenoma is adrenalectomy. We investigated the impact of size of Conns' tumour on hypertension resolution in a multi-ethnic South East Asian Cohort. Retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent surgery for PHA between January 2010 to December 2022 was performed. Clinicopathological parameters that included tumour size, blood pressure parameters, class and dosage of drugs, biochemical indices and details of surgery were collected. Cure of hypertension was defined as normal blood pressure post-adrenalectomy. Statistical significance was defined as a P value of < 0.05. 94 patients (40 female:54 male; 102 women; age 49.3 ± 11.8 years) with PHA were operated on laparoscopically (79 trans-abdominal and 15 retroperitoneal approach). Tumour size ranged from 0.4 to 4.6cm (mean 1.5 ± 0.6cm). Hypertension Grades were Grade 1 in 38 (40%), Grade 2 in 45 (48%) and Grade 3 in 11 (12%) patients. Patients were on a mean of 3 classes of drugs prior to surgery and this decreased to mean of 1 class of drug post adrenalectomy. All patients were rendered normokalaemic and overall cure of the patients from hypertension was 82.0%. Large adenoma (defined as greater than 1.5cm) resulting in a greater decrease in blood pressure (mean decrease of 32mmHg systolic, 15mmHg diastolic and MAP 20mmHg) in comparison to smaller adenomas (p = 0.003), but with lower cure rates of hypertension (p = 0.038). Large Conn's adenomas result in a greater reduction in blood pressure post-adrenalectomy but with decreased cure rates of hypertension compared to the small adenomas.

Influence of changes in anthropogenic and natural sources on global aerosol optical depth during COVID-19 lockdown: Ground-based observations, satellites, models

We analyze, in this study, for the first time, multi-source data - high-quality ground-based observations (Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET)) and satellite (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)) data in combination with two high resolution model (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications-2 (MERRA-2) and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS)) outputs, and examine the changes in aerosol optical depth (AOD) across the globe during Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) lockdown (2020) period. Statistical significance of the change in aerosol characteristics (AOD and species AODs) from normal (2017–2019 mean) to COVID (2020) period is calculated by two-tailed Student's t-test. AERONET AODs decreased by 20–40% during peak lockdown period in spring and summer of 2020 in most locations across the globe, and these changes are statistically significant. The observed magnitude of changes (increase/decrease) are consistent between AERONET and MODIS. Both global models (MERRA-2 and CAMS) capture well, observed AOD changes. OMI absorbing aerosol index captures increases in carbonaceous aerosols due to wildfires and dust. Global analysis reveals that changes in total AOD and species AODs are highest, and statistically significant during spring over Middle East, South and East Asia. Among all regions, change in dust AOD is maximum over South Asia during spring (>75%; −0.04 decrease in dust AOD in −0.05 change in total AOD) which is statistically significant. Black carbon (BC) and sea salt contribute ≤10% to AOD across the globe. Decrease in BC AOD is maximum over South Asia (50%) during spring 2020 providing a direct evidence for the impact of applied restrictions on anthropogenic activities. Decrease in AOD over North America, Europe, Russia, Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and South East Asia led to global decrease in AOD. This quantitative documentation of changes in AODs due to reduction in aerosol components/species, their regional and seasonal variations are crucial in planning and supporting future mitigation efforts.

Analysis of Interfaith Marriage Legality in Indonesia and South East Asia Countries

Interfaith marriage in Indonesia is still a problem in Indonesia which is supported by multiple interpretations of regulations. The author in this article will discuss the analysis of interfaith marriage in Indonesia after the issuance of SEMA Number 2 of 2023. This article was made with the aim of analyzing and comparing regulations in Indonesia with other countries. The results of the study show that after the issuance of SEMA, the practice of interfaith marriage still occurs in Indonesia, which is also supported by the lack of government firmness in establishing the applicable regulations.

Measurement of Free Trade Zones’ Investment Attraction: Sustainable Corporate Development Perspective

This study explores the measurement of FTZs’ investment attraction from a sustainable corporate development perspective. Through a comprehensive evaluation framework, the study assesses FTZs’ investment attraction across five indicators: urban business environment, economic development strength, innovation and openness vitality, urban environmental friendliness, and high-quality enterprise development. The weights of each layer’s indicators are calculated using entropy weight and the PCA method. The evaluation results of the investment attractiveness of China’s FTZs show that the investment attraction of FTZs in different regions exhibits hierarchical characteristics and unbalanced development. East China and South China occupy the forefront. Disparities in provincial FTZs’ developmental balance are conspicuous. Guangdong, Shanghai, and Beijing top the charts in terms of congruence with their overall environment rankings, whereas Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian exhibit a mismatch between their sub-indices and their relatively strong overall investment attractiveness. Conversely, Henan, Anhui, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Hunan, and Tianjin, though balanced in sub-environmental development, lag in overall investment appeal, necessitating concerted efforts towards balanced development. On the whole, compared with other indicators, innovation and openness vitality and high-quality enterprise development seem relatively weak. Drawing from our insights, foreign investors can choose free trade zones according to their own development needs. Policymakers can devise targeted interventions to bolster FTZs’ investment attractiveness, tailored to scores and rankings.

Ophthalmology demand-capacity management in South East London through a single point of access (SPoA): a new model using NHS eRS.

Ophthalmology demand-capacity management in South East London through a single point of access (SPoA): a new model using NHS eRS.

Urban slum housing quality, and its public health implications in Nigeria: a case of urban slum residents in Enugu metropolis, South East, Nigeria

IntroductionHousing remains a strategic social determinant of health. In Sub-Saharan Africa, most urban dwellers live in slums with attendant health implications. This study assessed the housing conditions of the slums of Enugu metropolis and the public health implications.MethodsThis is a community-based cross-sectional study of 459 slum residents of the Enugu metropolis. Ethical clearance was obtained from the UNTH, Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC). Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 23. Data were summarised using mean and standard deviation, frequency and proportion as appropriate and presented in tables and figures. The chi-square test was used for association at p-value ≤ 0.05 significance.ResultsThe mean age (SD) of the respondents was 32.93(12.34) years. A higher proportion (N = 180, 39.2%) were 18-27years, females (N = 282, 61.4%), married (N = 297, 64.7%), attained secondary education (N = 273, 59.5%), Igbo (N = 453, 98.7%), and self-employed (N = 327, 71.2%). They demonstrated good knowledge of standard housing specifications (N = 231, 50.3%) and the effects of housing conditions on health (N = 297, 64.7%). Also, most lived in a one-room apartment (N = 201, 43.8%) and cooked in a separate kitchen (N = 150, 32.7%) with a gas cooker as the major source of heat supply for cooking (N = 249, 54.2%). Sixty-three (13.7%) of the respondents didn’t have access to suitable toilet facilities. A higher proportion, (N = 171, 37.3%) used pipe-borne water, and electricity as the major source of light (N = 447, 97.4%). The most prevailing health condition was malaria/fever (N = 258, 97.4%). Despite having pests and rodents-infested dwellings, only (N = 156, 34.0%) had insecticides in the house. Equally, (N = 132, 28.8%) of them lived with broken floors.ConclusionsDespite good knowledge of the public health implications of poor housing, most dwellings remained substandard and unhealthful with associated prevalent health conditions.RecommendationThere is a need for a health campaign against the poor living conditions in the slums.