Environmental Health Education Research Articles

Prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal helminthic infections in children from Lorestan province, Western Iran

BackgroundIntestinal helminthic infections are among the most important global socioeconomic and health problems. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of intestinal parasites in 366 children aged 2 to 15 years referred to the main pediatric health center of Lorestan Province, Iran. MethodsMicroscopic analysis was performed on 366 stool samples. We applied direct smear, scotch tape, and formol-ether methods. Moreover, a questionnaire was filled in by parents or guardians of the children. ResultsThe results showed that 36 children (9.8%) were infected with at least one or more intestinal parasites. The most prevalent parasites were Enterobius vermicularis (6.8%), Hymenolepis nana (1.9%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (0.55%), in the order of their appearance. Statistical analysis showed that several risk factors were significantly associated with the prevalence intestinal helminthic parasites, including male sex (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.2–6.2; p < 0.05), residing in rural regions (OR = 4.2; 95% CI: 2.1–10.6; p < 0.001), no handwashing habit before eating (OR = 5.2; 95% CI: 2.2–12.5; p < 0.001), and consuming raw or unwashed vegetables and fruits (OR = 4.8; 95% CI: 2.3–11.2; p < 0.001). ConclusionThe present study showed a high overall frequency of intestinal helminthic infections among the children in Lorestan province, Iran. The results of the risk factor analysis suggest that improving environmental hygiene and health education would be important for effective control of intestinal parasitic infections.

High Bride Price as Determinant of Marital Stability among Akwa-Ibom People in Surulere Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

Bride price represents a contract between families where material items and money are paid by the groom to the bride’s family for the bride for the purpose of marriage. This study investigated High Bride Price as determinant of Marital stability among Married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. The purpose of the study was to: (i) assess whether highbride price is a determinant of domestic violence (ii) examinewhether high bride price is a determinant of emotional problem among married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere, Lagos State.A descriptive research design of survey type was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised all married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere, Lagos State.Multi stage sampling technique consisting of purposive, clustered, proportionate and simple random sampling technique was used to sample three hundred and seventy three (373) respondents from two associations in Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area. Researchers’-designed questionnaire with four point Likert rating scale was used for the study which was validated by experts from the Departments of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Kwara State. Cronbach alpha statistical tool was used to ascertain the internal consistency of the instrument and a reliability correlation of coefficient, ‘r’ 0.85 was obtained through split-half method. Data collection was conducted by the researchers and trained research assistants. Inferential statistics of Chi-square (χ2) was used to analyse the postulated null hypothesesat 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that marital stability of married Akwa-Ibom people is affected because; i. High bride price is a significant determinant of domestic violence among married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere because (cal. χ 2 value 146.678 is greater than critical x 2 value 21.03) at df 12 at 0.05 level of significance and High bride price is a significant determinant of emotional problems among married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere because (cal. χ 2 value 143.062 is greater than critical x 2 value 21.03) at df 12 at 0.05 level of significance.The study concluded that high bride price led to domestic violence and emotional problems which determines marital stability among Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere, Lagos State.Therefore, the study recommended that high bride price should be reduced in order to avoid domestic violence which determines marital stability among Akwa-Ibom people and high bride price should be well modified in order to mitigate the occurrences of emotional problems which determine marital stability among Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere Area in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis: perception, prevalence, and spatial distribution in municipality of Nossa Senhora do Livramento, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

The midwest region of Brazil has witnessed an increase in the number of cases of human (HVL) and canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the population's perception of these diseases, factors associated with CVL, its spatial distribution, and the prevalence of anti-Leishmania spp. in 385 dogs, determined using a commercially available immunochromatographic rapid test and confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the 385 samples, 54 were positive for CVL and confirmed by ELISA, corresponding to a prevalence of 14%. Knowledge of signs of CVL by tutors (p = 0.038); previous occurrence of CVL in the vicinity (p = 0.022); symptomatic dog(s) (p = 0.014), splenomegaly (p = 0.055), and ear ulcer(s) (p = 0.059) were significantly associated with CVL. The results revealed a significant prevalence of CVL spatially distributed in rural and urban contexts. The association between environmentally related variables and perception and the occurrence of CVL underscores the importance of implementing control and prevention strategies primarily focused on environmental management and health education activities.

Evaluating Effectiveness of Online Learning Modules in Pediatric Environmental Health Education.

Content and training about pediatric environmental health are lacking in healthcare professionals' education. In an initiative to improve pediatric environmental health education, the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) program offers free, interactive, web-based ("eLearning") modules on environmental health topics. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of PEHSU eLearning modules in increasing knowledge about pediatric and reproductive environmental health. This is a retrospective analysis of 994 users who had completed at least one of the 12 PEHSU eLearning modules and its associated pre-test and post-test scores between March 2016 and November 2018. Users who completed modules between March 2016 and April 2018 received a 6-month follow-up survey to assess the impact of the knowledge gained on their clinical practice. A wide range of clinical professionals and nonclinical professionals utilized and completed the PEHSU eLearning modules. For all users, post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores, with an increase of 30.55% ± 22.37 (paired t-test, p < 0.0001), after completion of eLearning modules. PEHSU eLearning modules are effective at increasing environmental health knowledge of clinical and nonclinical professionals. Further studies are needed to determine long-term knowledge retention and clinical impact.

Advancing the symptom science model with environmental health.

Globally, indoor and outdoor pollutants are leading risk factors for death and reduced quality of life. Few theories explicitly address environmental health within the nursing discipline with a focus on harmful environmental exposures. The objective here is to expand the National Institutes of Health Symptom Science Model to include the environmental health concepts of environmental endotype (causative pathway) and environmental exposure. Meleis' research to theory strategy for theory refinement was used. Research workshop proceedings, environmental health nursing research expert consensus, panelist research trajectories, and review of the literature were utilized as data sources. Ongoing emphasis on the physical environment as a key determinant of health and theoretical perspectives for including environmental exposures and endotypes in symptom science are presented. Definitions of these concepts, further developed, are provided. Recommendations to strengthen environmental health nursing research and practice through capacity building/infrastructure, methods/outcomes, translational/clinical research, and basic/mechanistic research are included. The revised model deepens theoretical support for clinical actions that include environmental modification, environmental health education, and exposure reduction. This modification will enable a middle-range theory and shared mental model to inspire the prioritization of environmental health in nursing leadership, research, practice, and education.

Environmental Health Education for Asbestos-Contaminated Communities in Italy: The Casale Monferrato Case Study.

Background:Environmental health education contributes towards increasing awareness of communities to prevent exposure to hazardous substances. Casale Monferrato, the operating site for the Eternit asbestos-cement factory from 1907 to 1986, is a prioritized asbestos-contaminated site for remediation in Italy. The area is prone to severe asbestos-related diseases. About 50 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in Casale Monferrato annually; mesothelioma has been shown to be caused by occupational, environmental and domestic asbestos exposure.Objectives:The goal of this paper is to analyze the Casale Monferrato case study in terms of youth engagement in environmental health education initiatives on asbestos risk and health impact. The paper aims at underlining the lessons learned in order to share the success of this initiative with other communities living in asbestos-contaminated sites in different countries.Methods:Peer education methodology has been used through the Asbestos Classroom to involve teachers, students and other local stakeholders in training activities, in selection of the contents for educational materials and interactive tools, as well as in choosing the presentation process for the aforementioned knowledge sharing instruments.Findings:From November 2014 to June 2018, 185 high school students and teachers were trained through the Asbestos Classroom. Through December 2018, they trained 3,241 classroom visitors. The Classroom relies on an inclusive participative process in which young people play a key role in the network of relationships within their community.Conclusions:The paper corroborates the importance of engaging the educational system in communication efforts aimed at fostering collective awareness on environmental risk and health-related impacts for communities living in industrially contaminated sites. Considering the global dimension of the asbestos contamination and disease burden, this experience might be of relevance both in countries that banned asbestos and in those where asbestos is not yet prohibited.

Developing e-module of environmental health for gaining environmental hygiene awareness

As a developing country, handling garbage is one of the major problems of the Indonesia’s society. Thus, introducing the environmental education (especially, environmental health) could be used as one solution. Therefore, the education on environmental health is needed to gain the awareness of Indonesia’s society toward environmental hygiene awareness. In order to support the environmental health education, e-modules can be considered as a tool to spread environmental education. The developed module is designed for Indonesia’s society. Here, the developed e-module is tested based on validation of experts, and the implementation to user has been observed, which showed that 84.91% users can accept the modules.

Community health perceptions and human environmental exposure to chromium contamination in a small New Jersey City.

Following a 1983 chromic acid (hexavalent chromium [CrVI]) spill from a Garfield, NJ electroplating plant, CrVI-contaminated water was found in a local firehouse basement in 1993. An ATSDR public health advisory was issued for the plant site in 2010, and from 2008-2015, fourteen residential properties have required remediation to address CrVI-contaminated dust in the basements. As part of the Community Outreach and Engagement Core of the NYU NIEHS Center, seventytwo Garfield residents aged 18-65 years, participated in a community survey with the goal of identifying concerns related to environmental and community health. Thirty-two percent responded that they 'didn't know' if they were exposed to chemicals or pollutants where they live. This finding suggests a limited awareness of environmental chemical exposures, chromium contamination and/or potential exposure to CrVI. Furthermore, toenail clippings were collected from forty-seven Garfield residents and analyzed for total chromium levels to assess potential long-term exposure. On average, residents living on/inside the contaminated plume area had higher total chromium levels in their toenail clippings than residents living outside the plume area. However, chromium levels for all participants were within the range of historical normal. This study highlights the value of partnerships between environmentally-impacted community's and academic scientists working together to identify potential contaminant exposures and address public health concerns through research and environmental health education.

Empowerment of coastal communities Through Systems Approach in the Field of Environmental Health in Kendari city, Southeast Sulawesi Province, indonesia

One of the health problems faced by coastal communities is community behavior in the management and utilization of environmental resources. Coastal area has problems like the limitations of environmental health facilities that cause the health status low. The study aimed to know the Coastal Community Empowerment with a environmental health systems approach of Kendari. The type of study was qualitative. The informants was 12 people. Data collection uses in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussion. Results of the implementation program appeared in three dimensions: a) Development of local communities through cross training sectors: agriculture and food, fisheries, private institutions, finance lending institutions and academics; and empowering youth groups through social activities. Empowerment through health village was carried out with: environmental cleanliness, family education, clean and healthy behavior, increasing family income, hydroponic planting methods, and utilizing plastic waste. b) Judging from the aspect of social policy, there was already the KOTAKU program (city without slums). c) Social action: Initiation of Movement 1 house 1 hand-washing, family medicinal plants, mobilizing to cleanliness the house yard, waste transportation services, coordinating with the Government to provide environmental health education, made a healthy smoke-free village. Conclusion: Community empowerment in order to improve environmental health behaviors can be more effective if using all potential stakeholders, education and training, local community development, social action and social policy. Recommendation: needin for socialization, education and training for the community, advocacy and collaboration across sectors of government agencies, and continuous supervision.

The theoretical basis of contemporary health pedagogyas a pedagogical subdiscipline

The article presents the Social-Ecological model of health and elements of the classical concept of social pedagogy, indicating the theoretical basis of pedagogy in health promotion with its cognitive and scientific interest and emphasizes environmental health education in the context of its practical application. The article also indicates the social pedagogy as a meta-theory of contemporary pedagogy in health promotion.

Federal Weatherization and Health Education Team up: Process Evaluation of a New Strategy to Improve Health Equity for People With Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Unhealthy housing is a major cause of respiratory health inequity. In-home health education improves health equity for low-income and minority populations with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Yet, outcomes of educational interventions are limited by poor housing conditions. Federal weatherization programs represent a promising source of funding for home repairs. Innovative legislation in Washington State integrates the 2 interventions as "Weatherization Plus Health," offering environmental health education in partnership with the Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income families with respiratory disease. This practice brief describes process evaluation results of a Weatherization Plus Health program in Pierce County, Washington. Evaluation data were gathered via interviews with service providers and ethnographic observation. Workers report that the combined intervention expanded their understanding of their practice, skills, and feelings of efficacy in meeting client needs. Integrating federally funded home weatherization with health education shows promise for building public health system capacity and increasing health equity.

El derecho ambiental y la educación para la salud de los estudiantes universitarios

The work addresses the theoretical foundations of environmental law and health education in universities, exposes the different positions of various national and international authors, assumes important principles and definitions related to environmental law, environmental education and education for health. The study of these positions is essential for the development of actions that favor the personality formation of university students. An approach is made of essential legal and pedagogical categories that contribute to individual and collective health care, based on the compliance with norms related to the environment, the prevention of diseases and the perception of risk to develop an environmental legal education that favors the balance between man and nature.

Environmental Safety Assessment of a Printing Plant in Cairo, Egypt

Background: The workplace environment impacts workers health, morale, productivity and engagement - both positively and negatively. The workplace environment in most of industry is unsafe and unhealthy. During the past ten years, the printing services have met a large development. Technological changes and the introduction of new work processes in the matter of printing have had a deep impact on labor, security and health. Objectives: to describe the environmental features of a printing press in Cairo. Methods: A descriptive observational study was carried out in a big printing press in Cairo, Egypt. Assessment of the work environment (prepress department, printing department, bookbinding section & office) was done using checklist modified from that of occupational safety team, 2012. Results: The majority of the study participants (79.5%) in the printing press were working in the printing and bookbinding department. which complains from poor ventilation, poor housekeeping, presence of spills & tripping hazards, lack of personal protective equipments, presence of noisy machines, significant manual handling & awkward body positions, lack of first aid kit & hazardous containers (ink containers in the printing department & adhesives in the bookbinding department) were left open. By comparing the departmental total score of the items in the environmental checklist; the prepress department were the highest in fulfilling the positive items with score (86.66%) and the printing & bookbinding department were the least with total score (40.09%). Conclusion: The study concluded that some areas of the printing press (printing & bookbinding department) need urgent attention to the work environment and recommend periodic environmental examination, good housekeeping, training, health education & provision of protective measures. Further work to confirm these findings in other study settings & population is also needed.

Perceived roles of sex education on reproductive and sexual health habit of in school adolescents in Ilorin Metropolis

The study investigated perceived roles of sex education on reproductive and sexual health habit of in-school adolescents in Ilorin Metropolis. Adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health habit is very important as this would determine to a large extent the reproductive health outcome of the adolescents. The study investigated: (i) examine if prevention of unwanted pregnancy will be a perceived role of sex education among in-school adolescents; (ii) investigate whether prevention of STIs will be a perceived role of sex education; (iii)find out if avoidance of risky sexual behaviour will be a perceived role of sex education among in school adolescents. A descriptive research design was employed for this study. Population for this study comprised all adolescents in all secondary schools in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 480 respondents. A researcher developed questionnaire validated by three experts from the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education. A correlation co-efficient of .87r was obtained through test re-test method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Data collection was collected by the researcher with four trained research assistants. The seven postulated hypotheses were tested using inferential statistics of chi-square at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of this study showed that prevention of unwanted pregnancy was significantly perceived as a role of sex education among in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis because calculated ᵪ2 value of 345.53 is &gt; table 2 value of 12.59; STI’s prevention was significantly perceived as a role of sex education among in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis because calculated ᵪ2 value of 156.70 is &gt; table 2 value of 12.59 and avoidance of risky sexual behaviour was significantly perceived as a role of education among in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis because calculated ᵪ2 value of 337.35 is &gt; table 2 value of 32.67. It was concluded that prevention of unwanted pregnancy, STI’s prevention and avoidance of risky sexual behaviour will be a perceived role of sex education among in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis. It was recommended that sex education should be given adequate priority among other subjects being taught in schools to prevent in-school adolescents from getting involved in sexual risky behaviour that could lead to unwanted pregnancy or contracting sexually transmitted infections which could impaired their educational pursuit and even affect their reproductive system, Sex education should emphasis abstinence to help in-school adolescents delay sexual activities in order to focus on their studies and avoid being dropped out of school as a result of unwanted pregnancy and parents and religious leaders should support the teaching of sex education at home and in school, as well as to provide proper information on sex education to their adolescent children in order to develop positive attitude and belief towards sexual relationship.

“Context matters”: The challenges and opportunities of designing tertiary public and environmental health education in South Auckland

This article outlines a study protocol, detailing the proposed methodology and findings of our preliminary literature review, for co-design of future NZ public and environmental health education for the South Auckland campus of AUT University. This research project aims to contribute to healthy communities and city, embrace emerging technologies, maximize youth employability, and develop an outstanding 21st Century tertiary environment. The proposed project will contribute to a significant re-conceptualization of curriculum; student learning and voice; and partnerships with communities and a fast-changing industry. Using a design based research approach to curriculum development, the research practitioners in this project will immerse themselves in the context of the project, be guided by emerging theory in developing design principles, construct features of an intervention and evaluate the impact on teaching and learning. Situated in Kaupapa Māori and Pacific epistemologies and utilising collaborative design principles, the study will explore the diverse and complex context in which public and environmental health will be provided at AUT South. Of particular relevance will be an examination of the following drivers of tertiary, and public and environmental health, education in the 21st century: the unique South Auckland context, the need to embrace evolving concepts of public health, rapid technological change, and changing education paradigms. Our ultimate goal is to develop co-designed interventions that accommodate the unique cultural and ethnic makeup of the South Auckland context with the opportunity for transferability across the tertiary sector, situated within a social constructivist philosophy appropriate for our new digital economy and environmental challenges.

Community perceptions on the health risks of acid mine drainage: the environmental justice struggles of communities near mining fields

Environmental and social research studies have debated the impact of acid mine drainage (AMD). Solutions to the problems caused by AMD have tended towards a technocratic investment in temporary to long-term solutions. However, the health effects of AMD remain neglected in research and policy arenas because of the lack of documented evidence. As a result, this renders the problem invisible, while the impact is deleterious for poor communities. Such communities suffer the effects of AMD principally through a perpetual risk posed by water pollution. Moreover, they are voiceless and excluded from matters affecting their well-being. This study was carried out with a community in Carolina, near the Mpumalanga coal mining fields. It tested their understanding and perceptions of health risks associated with AMD. The goal was to uncover the knowledge of the research participants of the existence of AMD and of its impact on their physical health and well-being. Qualitative methods were employed to measure knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions and to analyse the diseases inventory of the study population. Findings suggest that communities located near mines are affected by mining externalities that pose a threat to their health. It was also discovered that such communities are excluded from any planning and decision-making by local mining authorities. This case study presents strong evidence in favour of empowering marginalised communities by including them in decision-making, actively facilitating their participation, and exposing them to environmental health education to increase their awareness and reduce the risks caused by mining externalities.

Sedekah Sampah sebagai Upaya Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Melalui Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini di Kauman Tamanan Banguntapan Bantul

Waste matter is the main problem in public and are still many people do not care and are not used for the purposes of economic. garbageIn the Tamanan Banguntapan, Bantul, there are eight PAUD. PAUD Taman Melati is the only operating financing paud rely on fully on the donor. Through devotion community charity garbage in early childhood PAUD Taman Melati this hope it will give additional operational funding at the same time providing early environmental health education to students and education, environmental health to her parents and residents. In addition also increased economic. residents collectively. Community empower­ment charity waste is conducted through the socialization phase, training advocacy and. monitoring evaluation. The results of the charity garbage in early childhood PAUD Taman Melati able to provide the funding of operational PAUD Taman Melati The data being processed and analyzed in deskritif. Waste management, can give good results either directly and devotion langsung.secara directly through this com­munity paud obtain funding through charity. operational wasteIndirectly community capable of performing pengeloaan. Garbage. This also provides early childhood education to clean and healthy living behavior.

Environmental health education

Environmental health education aims to reduce the impact of risk factors for patients. The caregiver's role is to adopt a positive education approach with concrete ways of controlling the living environment. He or she must support people in asserting their choices in terms of health and to make their own contribution to reducing risks.

A picture speaks a thousand words: Using participant photography in environmental pedagogy for medical students.

Imparting a positive attitude toward social determinants of health among medical students has remained a challenge in medical education. This pedagogical exercise attempted to use a toxic tour with participant photography technique to impart environmental health education as part of the community medicine curriculum for medical students. In collaboration with a local environmental health nongovernmental organization, faculty from two medical colleges took a set of 13 medical students to Ennore thermal power plants as a part of a toxic tour to view the air and water pollution caused due to the operation of the power plants. The students were instructed to capture photographs of the environmental hazards using their mobile phone cameras and share them on a social media platform. Immediately after the tour, the students discussed their experiences with the faculty. Two weeks after the toxic tour, the students engaged in a focus group discussion in which they discussed their experiences, advantages, and disadvantages of the toxic tour and participant photography method and their attitudes toward environmental health. This pedagogical exercise led to the active engagement of the students with the environmental hazards in the area. They shared 70 photographs on the social media platform. In reflection, students described that they found the method very useful to actively engage with the environment, look for and find the hazards, revisit, and reflect on the photos, and use the photos to share the knowledge and experience. They also demonstrated a positive social determinants and public health attitude during the discussions. Participant photography technique during a toxic tour can impart affective domain of learning related to environmental health among medical students.

Combating Climate Injustices: An Informal Science and Popular Education Approach to Addressing Environmental Health Disparities.

As global warming worsens, addressing environmental health disparities and justice is increasingly important. This necessity is evident in southern metropolitan Tucson, Arizona, an area underserved and disproportionately experiencing the effects of climate change. Including underserved groups in problem solving can spur knowledge generation and the building of community capacity to address and mitigate environmental health challenges posed by climate justice. This article describes a community-based project that utilized a peer education framework coupled with citizen science design. Community health workers (promotoras) were trained in environmental health, climate change, and environmental monitoring protocols to then educate and train families about these same subjects. The study goal was to evaluate science and environmental health learning, awareness, and self-efficacy at the promotora and residential levels resulting from intensive 40-hour trainings, peer education via home visits, and environmental monitoring. Pre- and postsurveys were completed by the promotoras and the families they visited. Motivations for participation as well as changes in self-efficacy and knowledge were analyzed. Results revealed that the promotora's motivations were primarily internal and they were concerned with health. Using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p =.05), it was observed that for both study groups, knowledge of water and energy conservation statistically increased, as well as self-efficacy for environmental action and scientific learning. This article demonstrates that promotoras are critical in environmental health and climate science peer education. These findings can be used to further develop peer education citizen science projects in underserved communities, ensuring that efforts increase participants' learning, self-efficacy, and enhance social-ecological outcomes.