Hygienic Studies Research Articles

Сучасні аспекти захворюваності гінгівітом та пародонтитом дітей та підлітків України, ефективність лікування та профілактики

The purpose of the work was to study modern aspects of the incidence of gingivitis and periodontitis in children and adolescents in Ukraine and to create an algorithm for treatment and prevention tactics in this pathology. It has been established that the high prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis among children and adolescents makes this problem one of the most important problems of modern dentistry. The problem of periodontal pathology in children and adolescents is due to both the prevalence of diseases and the fact that poor-quality treatment of diseases in childhood and adolescence will lead to severe irreversible damage to periodontal tissues in adults. Modern prevention of inflammatory periodontal diseases in children and adolescents should be carried out on the basis of an algorithm of therapeutic and preventive measures: elimination of local traumatic factors, restoration of the anatomical shape of the teeth, high-quality treatment of the root system, replacement of defective restorations, professional oral hygiene, selection and correction of means and methods of individual hygiene. Results and discussion. The results of the study of oral hygiene and periodontal condition in patients with chronic limited catarrhal gingivitis and chronic localized periodontitis showed that the average value of most of the studied parameters in patients had significant differences when compared with healthy individuals in the control group, as well as between groups of patients. Index evaluation of the functional state of the peripheral circulation in the periodontal tissues of young patients revealed a significant decrease in capillary resistance. Based on literature data and the results of our own research and an objective method for predicting the localization of inflammatory diseases of periodontitis, a therapeutic and prophylactic tactic was developed in young patients with indications of diseases and risk factors for their development. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the developed method of treatment and prevention of localized periodontal tissue damage in patients of the main group was carried out on the basis of the results of clinical, physicochemical and functional research methods in comparison with groups of patients who underwent therapeutic and preventive measures in the traditional way. The results of treatment of localized inflammatory periodontal diseases were analyzed in 34 patients of the main group with chronic limited catarrhal gingivitis, 26 patients with chronic localized periodontitis of degree I and in a similar number of patients in the comparison group with an identical diagnosis. Conclusion. The results of treatment of 60 patients of the main group showed the high efficiency of the developed method. At the same time, a significant improvement in the subjective and objective symptoms of diseases was found. Complete clinical recovery with the elimination of the inflammatory process in the gums was found in 94.1% of patients with chronic limited catarrhal gingivitis of degree I. The obtained positive results of treatment of the main group of young patients with localized inflammatory lesions of periodontal tissues in terms of hygienic and periodontal indices and the state of peripheral circulation confirm the high efficiency of the developed algorithm for the treatment and prevention of these diseases

Evidence of Antimicrobial Resistance from Maternity Units and Labor Rooms: A Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Study from Gujarat, India.

The main objective of this study was to determine the microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance pattern among isolated bacteria from the environment surfaces of maternity units and labor rooms of healthcare facilities in the Gujarat state of India. The cross-sectional study was conducted in ten healthcare facilities, where the microbiological swab samples were collected from various pre-decided environmental surfaces of the maternity and labor rooms as part of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) assessment. The swabs were analyzed by conventional microbiological culture methods to identify microorganisms, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The study provides an insight into the microbial contamination of the visibly clean areas, i.e., the maternity ward, labor room, and general wards of the healthcare facilities. The labor rooms were found to be highly contaminated in comparison to other selected sites. The microbiological findings revealed a predominance of Gram-negative bacteria, specifically Pseudomonas species. The antibiotic susceptibility testing indicates resistance against many commonly used antibiotics. This study produces an identified necessity for enhancing microbiological surveillance in labor rooms and maternity units. This study also highlights the importance of microbiological status along with the WASH status of healthcare facilities.

The examination of sleep hygiene, quality of life, and schizotypy in young adults

The co-occurrence of sleep disruption and schizophrenia-spectrum symptomology is common, with current research supporting the use of interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi), which include sleep hygiene education. Sleep hygiene refers to patterns of pre-sleep behaviors that can promote or impair sleep. These behaviors are easily identified and modifiable, potentially holding promise as targets of research and clinical practice. However, there is little research examining sleep hygiene in those at-risk for schizophrenia, measured through clusters of sub-clinical symptoms known as schizotypy. Given the likelihood poor sleep exacerbates negative emotions, thus serving as an etiologically relevant stressor, the study of sleep hygiene in at-risk populations appears warranted. Additionally, quality of life (QOL) has previously been shown to be negatively associated with sleep hygiene and schizophrenia-spectrum risk. As such, QOL domains were included to quantify the extent pre-sleep habits and dimensional schizotypy impact individuals’ wellbeing. Data was collected from a non-clinical sample of 385 young adults (M = 20.83, SD = 3.61). As anticipated, higher schizotypy was correlated with poorer sleep hygiene and reduced QOL, although only negative schizotypy predicted QOL in the final regression model controlling for sex differences. Sex differences were present for all variables of interest except disorganized schizotypy. Post-hoc item-level analyses suggested that higher levels of schizotypy were correlated with emotional rumination prior to sleep, while increased negative schizotypy was associated with reduced QOL. Future research should further evaluate sleep hygiene as a potentially relevant risk variable in the development of schizophrenia-spectrum symptomology and associated decline in QOL.

Риски нарушения здоровья машинистов горных машин от шумо-вибрационного воздействия

Application of heavy-duty mining equipment can change the labor conditions for the employees, the intensity of the existing factors of the working environment and the labor process. Hygienic studies to assess the impact of vibration and acoustic factors on the modified EKG-8 and EKG-10 mechanical shovels and the BELAZ dump trucks showed that the actual noise and vibration levels in the operator cabins are significantly lower than those of the previously produced same types of machines. The probability of workers' complaints of the lower back pain, the risk of developing initial and moderate manifestations of the vibration disease, as well as the early signs of hearing loss and risks of its deterioration among the workers who service upgraded mining machines were calculated using the existing methods based on the obtained spectral characteristics of noise and vibration of the investigated mechanical shovels, dozers, dump trucks. The calculations show that the probability of developing the vibration disease of the 1st degree for operators of mechanical shovels within 10 years of employment decreased from 5.04% to 1.82% at vibration acceleration of 0.19 ms-2, and from 8.68% to 4.41% within 25 years of service. The risk of hearing loss among the personnel operating the upgraded machines is significantly lower and the early signs are observed after 25 or more years of work experience.

The state of the feet in younger schoolchildren in the conditions of an innovative form of education

Introduction. The foot is the foundation of health, performing essential functions for ensuring human life. The foot’s disorders and deformities significantly limit the body’s capabilities and reduce the quality of life, starting from childhood. A necessary condition for prevention is the assessment and control of the feet, including educational activities. The importance of such studies increases with hygienic studies of innovative forms of education. Materials and methods. The study involved 220 7-9 year children (104 boys and 116 girls), studying in an innovative form of education that implements the mode of dynamic postures sitting at a table and standing at a desk. Plantographic studies were carried out using a copy print of the trace “Bauerfiend” (Germany). For the analysis of plantograms, the Striter method was used. Various symmetrical (two-sided) and asymmetric (one-sided) combinations of right and left foot states were evaluated (11 variants in total). Results. The features of the prevalence of symmetrical and asymmetric forms of states of the longitudinal arch of the foot in students aged 7-9 years are determined. Symmetrical forms of foot conditions were found in 64.1% of children, asymmetric-in 35.9 %. The prevalence of normal bilateral arch of the foot was observed in only 28.6 % of children, flat feet-in 13.2 %, flattening-in 17.3%, elevated arch-in 4.1 %, hollow foot-in 0.9 % of children. In the course of training from the 1st to the 3rd grade in dynamic poses, positive dynamics of the feet states was noted 1.8 times more often than unfavourable. The features of the dynamics of the state of the feet were revealed: the frequency of flat feet did not change, the increased arch of the right foot decreased by 3.5 times, the left - by 11 times; the flattening of the right foot increased by 1.6 times, the left foot - by 1.8 times. It is pointed out that it is necessary to identify asymmetric states of the feet that have a prognostic value in the formation of disorders of the musculoskeletal system in children, including in educational activities. Limitations. The criteria for inclusion of children in the study were the age from 7 to 9 years and the absence of acute diseases at the examination. Conclusion. The obtained data should be considered when conducting and analyzing the results of foot examinations in the process of preventive medical examinations of the child population.

Diagnostic significance of lipid profile indicators for assessing chemical workers’ cardiovascular risk

Introduction. The main cause of the able-bodied population’s death in the Russian Federation is cardiovascular diseases. It is known that one of the most important factors of cardiovascular risk is a violation of lipid metabolism, which is an indicator of atherogenesis processes activation. In this regard, it is relevant to study the lipid spectrum and its effect on the cardiovascular risk’s level for workers of various industries, who are exposed to a complex of harmful production factors. The study aims to investigate lipid metabolism and atherosclerotic processes in chemical production workers for the opportune implementation of therapeutic and preventive measures. Materials and methods of research. Comprehensive clinical and hygienic studies in the chemical industry have been carried out. Hygienic studies and assessment of working conditions of employees were accomplished using the current regulatory documents. Surveyed were divided into 3 groups: machine operators (I group), machinery repair locksmiths (II group), control and measuring devices’ locksmiths (CMD) (III group - comparison). To identify risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), a screening examination was conducted within the framework of periodic medical examinations of 3761 male workers, a study of the lipid spectrum in 846 workers. Employees with high and very high cardiovascular risk according to the SCORE system underwent in-depth medical examination using clinical laboratory, functional, ultrasound examination methods (179 people). The relative risk and etiological proportion were calculated in order to establish a causal relationship between the complex of harmful production factors and the formation of hypercholesterolemia. Results. The data of the conducted studies showed that the factors of cardiovascular risk in workers of I and II groups have harmful working conditions on the workplace (general class of working conditions 3.2), smoking, obesity, hypertension, which are more common in the group of machinery repairmen which was compared with workers of other professions. It was found that the average values of total cholesterol in blood serum, LDL cholesterol were higher in the examined I-II groups than III group. Analysis of the state of the cardiovascular system main indicators for workers of various professions obtained as a result of in-depth examination in a hospital revealed, that signs carotid arteries atherosclerotic changes were more often registered in workers of I-II groups. The revealed indicators of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis increased in proportion to the length of service in harmful working conditions. Conclusion. The conducted research allowed to substantiate the algorithm of stage-by-stage examination, dynamic monitoring of the chemical production workers’ health’s state in order to detect atherosclerosis earlier and integrate therapeutic and preventive measures timely.

Diethylhexyl phthalate as a current problem of hygienic safety of packaging and packaged drinking water

Introduction. The chemical safety of packaged drinking water is influenced by many factors, including the quality of packaging materials. The chemical components included in the packaging can migrate into drinking water and have a negative impact on human health. The most common types of packaging for drinking water are polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PET) and polycarbonate (PC) bottles. In the production of polymers, to soften and increase the flexibility of the finished product, special substances are added to the material - plasticisers, including dialkyl or alkyl aryl esters of orthophthalic acid (phthalates), among which di (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which has toxic properties. The purpose of this study is to analyse various samples of plastic containers in contact with drinking water for the presence of DEHP in polymers and to study the emission of DEHP from polymer packaging into a model environment. Materials and methods. Research has been carried out on 11 samples of containers for drinking water of domestic production, of which nine samples were represented by PET bottles of various sizes and two samples of containers from PC with a volume of 19.0 litres. There was determined the content of DEHP in the container material and the level of migration of DEHP into the aqueous model environment. Sanitary and hygienic studies were carried out based on the Chemical Analytical Center “Arbitrage” of the DI. Mendeleev All-Russian Scientific Research Institute using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS). GSO 11366-2019 for the composition of a solution of orthophthalic acid esters in methanol was used as a standard sample for the calibration characteristics; a deuterated analogue of the analyte, DEHP-D4, was chosen as an internal standard. Results. In all studied samples of packaging materials, the residual content of DEHP was in the range of 1.7-4.2 mg/kg of polymer; the levels of DEHP migration into aquatic model media were determined at T = 20 °C and T = 40 °C in the range of (8.6-71.0) μg/dm3. Conclusion. One of the sources of contamination of packaged drinking water with DEHP is PET and PC containers. The results obtained indicate the need to include DEHP in the list of monitored sanitary and hygienic safety indicators in the technical regulations of the EAEU TR 044/2017 and TR CU 005/2011 and to consider the issue of restrictions on its use in the production of food packaging. Limitations of the study. As part of this work, samples of bottles from six domestic container manufacturers were analysed. To study the migration of the target component, a model medium was used - distilled water, which does not imitate the mineral composition of drinking water and has certain pH and electrical conductivity values. Studies of the level of DEHP migration were carried out at an ambient temperature of 20 °C and 40 °C and an exposure time of 30 days. The measurement range of DEHP in polymers and the model medium in this study was (0.1-5) µg/sample. The expanded uncertainty of the results of measurements of the DEHP content in the entire measurement range did not exceed 20%.

Selective behavioral response of Trichoplax (Placozoa) to RGB-light stimuli

Introduction. The marine animal Trichoplax (Placozoa), which has the animalcular organization among invertebrates, but with outstanding social behaviour and specific movement of the body and its cells, is a model animal for studying various biophysical and chemical processes, including responses to external stimuli. In the articles of specialists from many universities, the problem of Trichoplax phototaxis (Placozoa) is covered in a hypothetical and declarative form. However, there are no specific studies on the behavioural response of these protozoa and their cells to monochrome light signals with different wavelengths that are characteristic of its light habitat at a depth of 5 to 20 meters. Materials and methods. The studies were conducted on laboratory animals Trichoplax sp. H2. Studies of the behavioural response of Trichoplax were performed using modern methods of optical microscopy: Nikon Eclipse Ts2R-Fl Optical Microscope; optical microscopes: Nikon SMZ-1270, Stemi 305; An optical microscope “Leonardo 3.0“(specially designed for the project) allows simultaneously observing the behaviour of a group of Trichoplax and each Trichoplax of this group at a low level of illumination and a stable temperature of its aquatic habitat. Two web cameras were used in the microscope-the upper one with a 1.9 Mp matrix and the lower one - 5 Mp). Results. The theoretical analysis of the spectral composition of light and the degree of its polarization in the marine habitat of the protozoan multicellular animal Trichoplax (Placozoa) and the features of its gene-cell structure is carried out. Based on the laws of hydrooptics and the survival strategy (“food-prey”), the coordinate axes of the light-medium for Trichoplax are determined (the light vertical (395 nm) and two horizontal light axes - the reflected horizontal light from the food (green - 532 nm) and the fluorescent light coming from the aragonite shell of the predator mollusc (red - 630 nm). Based on the animal’s responses to these RGB light stimuli, the hypothesis of RGB phototaxis in Trichoplax and the kinesis of its cells was expressed and confirmed. The monochrome light signals red - 630 nm, green - 532 nm and blue - 395 nm are selected for Trichoplax control. Limitations of the study. In the study of Trichoplax (Placozoa), the behavioural response of this animal and its cells to monochrome light signals with different wavelengths was studied using modern optical microscopy methods, which make it possible to simultaneously observe the behaviour of both the Trichoplax group and each animal of this group at a low level of illumination and stable temperature of its aquatic environment. Conclusion. For the first time, the behaviour of Trichoplax and its cells was controlled using light signals, and the presence of RGB phototaxis and kinesis in its cells was also proved in Trichoplax. The discovery of the RGB-taxis Trichoplax (Placozoa) changed the established scientific ideas in the evolution of colour vision in animals Trichoplax (Placozoa) and the human visual analyzer functioning of its pineal gland. The presented method can be used in hygienic studies of the influence of external pollutants on the environment and the effect of light on the human pineal gland.

A Comparative Study of Personal Hygiene in Public and Private Schools in an Urban Local Government Area of Rivers State

Background: Healthy and well-nourished children are better able to participate completely in school and hence profit from education. Poor hygiene habits contribute to the increasing burden of communicable diseases by causing days lost to illness. The study aims to compare the level of knowledge and practice of personal hygiene of pupils of public and private schools in an urban Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.
 Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in four public and private primary schools in Port Harcourt LGA, Rivers State. The sample size was calculated and 139 pupils were randomly selected, 75 in the public and 64 in the private schools. Data collection was done with the use of interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS Version 16. Differences in means were compared using Student’s t-test while association between categorical variables were examined with Chi-Square (X2) test. A probability value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.
 Results: Public and private school pupils had very good hygiene knowledge (Χ2=0.101; p=0.97). Assessment of the personal hygiene revealed that the proportion of pupils who were rated as ‘very clean’ was higher in the private schools than the public schools, although not statistically significant (Χ2=2.881; p=0.277). There were significant differences in favour of the private schools in the cleanliness of the nails, body (skin) and mouth/teeth with p-values of 0.027, 0.003 and 0.003 respectively.
 Conclusions: Pupils in public and private schools have a very high level of hygiene knowledge but low hygiene practice. This could indicate that additional health personnel are needed in Nigeria and other poor nations to care for the health of schoolchildren.

Video engagement to improve handwashing duration: A longitudinal study assessing creative and messaging fatigue

BackgroundPoor hand hygiene can contribute to increased rates of health care and community-acquired infections. Effective hand hygiene involves both a washer's technique and the duration of their wash. MethodsThe purpose of this longitudinal study was 2-fold: to improve the ability of hand-washers to meet the recommended handwashing duration of ≥20 seconds and to assess the effect of washer fatigue with the intervention. An innovative system of smart connected soap and towel dispensers synchronized to engaging video content was implemented to meet this objective. ResultsThe intervention increased mean handwashing duration by 7.5 seconds (95% CI: 6.6, 8.4) and improved handwashing duration ≥20 seconds by 39.3% (P < .001). Using a similar cohort of hand-washers over 26 months, the video content had peak effect in month 1, and declined to a new steady state at month 11. DiscussionHandwashing for the recommended time can be difficult to achieve. Most hand hygiene studies examine the rate of completion without measuring duration. ConclusionsVideo engagement can improve and sustain handwashing duration. To mitigate creative and messaging fatigue, video content refresh for this intervention should be considered at 3 months for optimal effect or at 11 months prior to full decline to new steady state.

Knowledge and perception of hand hygiene: A survey using WHO standardized tools in Tehran, Iran.

Background:Proper hand hygiene is the most important action in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). In this study, the knowledge and perception of hand hygiene assessed among nurses as the most exposed personnel to patients.Methods:In this analytical cross-sectional study, the nurses working in different wards of a collegiate tertiary hospital in Tehran were investigated by standardized WHO questionnaires.Results:Of the 101 participating nurses 89 (88.1%) were females. 81 (80.2%) had received formal related training. The 69 respondents estimated the mean prevalence of HCAI to be 38.91% and 98 (97.1%) considered hand hygiene an effective prevention in this regard. 78 (77.3%) perceived hand hygiene as the center priority; 82, 83 and 79 of participants would think that good hand hygiene matters for their superiors, colleagues and patients, respectively. The practice of hand hygiene was stated to be difficult by 48 (47.5%) respondents. There was no significant difference in self-reporting of hand hygiene practice among nurses in age (P=0.68), the degree of education (P=0.574), work experience (P=0.64), nor their wards (P=0.131). There was a significant reverse relationship with the supposed difficulty level of doing hand hygiene (P=0.049). The mean score of the nurses' knowledge was 66.53 (±9.41) based on the answers to the questions of the knowledge questionnaire.Conclusion:Knowledge and perception of hand hygiene, as this study showed, might not to be satisfactory; therefore, planning to improve these indicators and regular monitoring using standard tools is necessary for all healthcare centers.

The 1927 Soviet Manual on Social Hygiene: The Transfer of Ideas and a New Methodology

The article analyzes the first original Soviet (Marxist) textbook of social hygiene, “Social Hygiene: Manual for Medical Students and Doctors”, edited by A. V. Molkov and published in 1927. This textbook is compared on with the German books on social hygiene, whose translations into Russian were published in the 1920s. The examination of the evolution of Soviet social hygiene in regard to the curriculum structure and the content of textbooks in the context of the history of social health in Europe and North America leads to a conclusion that, in the early 1920s, the Soviet agenda of social hygiene was brought into line with the European agenda. The textbook edited by Molkov can be regarded as the culmination of this process of Soviet social hygiene modernization modeled after the German social hygiene: the content of Molkov’s textbook is almost fully consistent with B. Chajes’ “Kompendium der sozialen Hygiene” (1923). It had finalized the departure from the prerevolutionary tradition of “public medicine” and adoption of the agenda of society health problems and their solutions that was then widespread in Europe and America. The most significant difference between the Soviet manual and German books is scientific methods. One of the ideologists of German social hygiene, A. Grotjahn, described this discipline as a fusion of hygiene and social sciences (economics, law, political science, sociology, etc.). In the Soviet version of social hygiene, the methodology of social sciences was substituted with the dogmata of communist ideology and Soviet regulatory legal acts. However, the attempt to substitute social scientific methodology in the study of social hygiene with the Marxist approach failed and, while in the 1920s it appeared like an innovation in the spirit of the time, as years went by, the inherent contradictions between the two approaches only got deeper.

Effects of social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on changes in daily activity: A case study of physical education students

Background: The study sought to describe student time use and to analyse the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (lockdown) on changes in the time use and their role within the context of health and social aspects. Material &amp; Methods: The research was carried out every year from 2017 to 2020 in the same period of time. The study included 340 students of physical education. In their time budget diaries, the participants noted down the amount of time devoted to activities performed in a typical week. Results: The study showed that during the lockdown, students devoted less time to sports training, social meetings or cultural activities as compared to previous years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of time devoted to the majority of activities was different on weekdays and at weekends. The results also showed that women devoted more time to personal hygiene and individual study, while men spent more time doing sports training. Conclusions: The crisis sparked off by COVID-19 resulted in considerable changes in student time use. The findings show that the allocation of time to various activities depends on gender, days of the week, legal regulations and recipients.

Methodological foundations for substantiating safe levels of exposure to artificial nanomaterials (for example, carbon nanotubes) (literature review)

Introduction. The unique physicochemical properties of carbon nanotubes allow them to be used in many fields. The global nanomaterials market is growing every year. An important step in introducing products to the domestic and world markets is to determine the safe exposure levels of CNTs. Establishing a corporate standard can serve as a preliminary stage before the approval of a state hygiene standard. Material and methods. The material for the analysis was the sources of information on the available standards for the content of CNTs in the air of the working area using information from regulatory agencies, research centers, CNT manufacturers, bibliographic and abstract databases Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, RSCI. Results. A scheme for justifying safe levels of exposure to CNTs (corporate standard) has been developed, consisting of several stages: characterization of CNTs in the air at workplaces, selection of experimental doses of CNTs, preparation of CNT dispersions, and conducting toxicological and hygienic experiments. Justification of the corporate standard is carried out in in vitro and in vivo experiments. The planning of experiments should be carried out taking into account the target organ under the influence of CNT - the respiratory system. The recommended dose / concentration range for experiments should include doses / concentrations derived from calculated and literature data. A necessary step is to obtain homogeneous dispersions in which CNTs become bioavailable for biological systems. In vitro and in vivo experiments determine the level of exposure at which no harmful effect is observed and / or the lowest level of exposure at which there is a harmful effect on the cell culture / respiratory tract of animals. After the stage of substantiating the corporate standard, the enterprise should take measures for several years to adjust the corporate standard based on data from clinical and hygienic studies, during which the working conditions and health status of workers are monitored, and extended toxicological and hygienic studies. Conclusion. The presence of a corporate standard will allow the manufacturer of CNTs to carry out activities for the development and implementation of a production control program with the introduction of monitoring the air condition in the working area. The development of a corporate regulation can be seen as a preparatory stage before the establishment of a government regulation.

Risks of health disorders in pedagogical, medical workers and preventive measures

The formation of a healthy lifestyle and a healthy lifestyle in the work of various activities, developing a program that includes appropriate measures to correct the functional state of employees of nervous and emotional labor, is currently one of the essential areas of occupational health. The study aims to assess the prevalence of behavioral risk factors for health disorders and the effectiveness of measures to correct overstrain in pedagogical and medical workers, depending on the personal level of anxiety. The researchers conducted comprehensive physiological and hygienic studies. We described behavioral risk factors, awareness of health-saving issues based on a questionnaire (346 teachers), a professional graphical assessment of the intensity of efforts. Psychophysical studies help to study the states of various functions of the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system, psychological testing, and general physical performance (GPP) according to the RWC170 test when evaluating the implemented model of motor activity and assess the effectiveness of relaxation in the shungite room. We performed static processing of the data obtained using statistical programs EpiInfo 3.5.2., Statistica 10, Microsoft Excel 2010 using adequate methods of statistical analysis. The study of the prevalence of the factors risky cheek of life for the health of teachers revealed insufficient physical activity (61.1% (95% CI 54.7-67.2)), inadequate sleep duration (46.1% (95% CI 40.0-52.4)), eating disorders (16.2% (95% CI 11.9-21.5)) tobacco smoking (15.8% (95% CI 11.5-20.9)). The developed and implemented regime, which increases the volume of motor activity to 8-9 hours a week instead of 3-4 hours, contributed to an increase in resistance to stress effects, a decrease in the percentage of identified teachers with a low level of physical fitness. A high degree of nervous and emotional tension in the work of general practitioners, the possibility of infection with COVID-19 leads to the formation of a high level of anxiety in a significant part (63.7-72.2%) of medical workers, which indicates the purposefulness of a psychological correction measure. The conducted production studies have shown the usefulness of using in programs for correcting the functional conformity of pedagogical and medical workers, an increase in motor activity using physical culture and sports, and relaxation in the shungite room.

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN DAIRY INDUSTRY

Introduction: Prevention of occupation diseases and elimination of risk factors are important tasks in the field of occupational health in various industries. Aim: To provide the evidence for the need of preventive measures in dairy industry in a Russian setting. Methods: We used secondary data from regular sanitary and hygienic studies with the total sample of 3779 dairy workers and performed a new study using 77 exposed and 35 non-exposed individuals at one of the regular check-ups in Saratov. Relative risks (RR) and etiological fractions (EF) were calculated. Results: Dairy workers are exposed to a wide range of risk factors including both hot (27.5-28.8 ° C) and cold (4.4 to -18 °C) air temperature, noise exceeding the permissible exposure limit by 4.5-18 dBA, insufficient lighting and physical overload. This allows classifying the working conditions as class 3.1-3.3 according to the national classification of occupational risks. Sensorineural hearing loss (RR = 4.3; EF = 76.7 %; CI = 1.6-3.9), diseases of the nervous system (RR = 4.4; EF = 77.2 %; CI = 2.358.21) and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (RR = 2.2; EF = 55.1 %; CI = 1.17-3.1) were mainly attributed to occupational factors. Concluzion: Assessment of occupational risks and health needs of workers in dairy industry should be performed using a combination of sanitary-hygienic, epidemiological and clinical studies. Our findings contribute to better understanding of occupational diseases among dairy workers and can be used for identifying target groups for specific preventive measures.

Air pollution in the working area of the laboratories of the petrochemical complex – a risk factor for reproductive health disorders in female workers

Introduction. Protection of women’s health who combine work with maternity and care for children is one of the most critical areas of state social policy. The professional activity of female workers in harmful working conditions is associated with the impact of production factors on their bodies, which may also pose a potential danger to their reproductive health. According to Service of State Statistics (Rosstat), in the Russian Federation in 2017-2018, 22.8-23.4% worked in conditions that did not meet sanitary and hygienic standards, in the Republic of Bashkortostan - 20.6-21.7% of female workers. Materials and methods. The working conditions of female workers engaged in laboratory and analytical activities at petrochemical enterprises were studied. One hundred twenty measurements of noise, vibration, microclimate were carried out, 3074 air samples of the working area were selected and analyzed. The coefficient of summation of chemicals with a unidirectional effect of action and reproductive toxicity is calculated. Results. Hygienic studies found that female workers at the petrochemical complex were exposed to harmful chemicals, whose concentrations in the air of the working area were determined below the maximum allowable. These substances have a different nature of action on the body, including potentially dangerous to reproductive health. The summation coefficient of chemical substances with unidirectional effects and reproductive toxicity was in the range from 1.04 to 1.53, which, according to Guideline R.2.2.2006-05, corresponds to Class 3.1 of working conditions. There was an intensity of the labour process due to the three-shift nature of the work. Conclusion. Laboratorians, chemical engineers of the petrochemical complex were exposed to combined exposure to chemicals belonging to 2-4 hazard classes, many of which had a unidirectional mechanism of action and at the same time represented, to some extent, a potential hazard to women’s reproductive health. The overall assessment of working conditions of female workers corresponds to harmful class - 3.1, which requires the development of measures to reduce the occupational risk of violations of reproductive health.

“The weather is not good”: exploring the menstrual health experiences of menstruators with and without disabilities in Vanuatu

Menstrual health is essential for gender equality and achieving the sustainable development goals. Though currently lacking, understanding and addressing menstrual health and social related inequalities requires comparison of experiences between menstruators with and without disabilities. We completed a mixed-methods population-based study of water, sanitation and hygiene, disability and menstrual health in TORBA and SANMA Provinces, Vanuatu. Methods included a census, nested case-control study, in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), PhotoVoice and structured observations. We undertook a population census of 11,000+ households and recruited 164 menstruators with and 169 without disabilities (aged 10-45) into a nested case-control study. 20 menstruators across both groups were selected for the qualitative component. Menstruators with disabilities were five times (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 5.5, 95% Confidence Interval 1.8 - 16.5) more likely to use different bathing facilities to others in the household, nearly twice as likely (1.8, 1.1 - 3.1) to miss social activities, and three times (3.0, 1.6 - 5.7) more likely to eat alone during menstruation. Menstrual restrictions were widespread for all, but collecting water and managing menstrual materials was harder for menstruators with disabilities, particularly those requiring caregivers' support. These factors negatively impacted menstruators with disabilities' comfort, safety and hygiene, yet they reported less interference of menstruation on participation. Negative factors affecting all menstruators disproportionately impact those with disabilities, compounding existing inequalities. Menstruators with disabilities may have reported less interference because they are accustomed to greater participation restrictions than others. Australian Government's Water for Women fund and public donations.

Hygienic aspects of the impact of working conditions on the health of motor transport drivers

The profession of a motor vehicle driver is potentially dangerous due to the risk of road accidents, the acquisition of professional and professionally caused diseases, sudden death at the workplace. Taking this into account, comprehensive clinical and hygienic studies were conducted, the purpose of which was to assess the occupational risk of damage to the health of drivers on the basis of data on working conditions, occupational and professionally caused diseases, road accidents and cases of sudden death at the workplace. The working conditions, the state of health of drivers were studied, the professional and professionally-conditioned morbidity and cases of sudden death at the workplace from a common disease were analyzed. It is established that the working conditions of drivers are characterized as harmful 3 classes of 1–3 degrees (class 3.1–3.3), which cause the development of occupational diseases, mainly of the musculoskeletal system; the growth of chronic professionally caused pathology (hypertension, arthropathy, dorsopathy) and the death of the driver at the workplace from a general disease. The results of the study formed the basis for the development of preventive measures.

Обґрунтування гігієнічного нормативу кратності повітрообміну у медичних приміщеннях амбулаторій, вбудованих у житлові будинки, для збереження та зміцнення здоров’я медиків

Objective: We substantiated a hygienic standard for air exchange multiplicity in the doctors’medical premises at the ambulances built into residential houses to preserve and strengthen their health. Materials and methods: The analytical method was applied in the work (regulatory framework of sanitary and town-planning legislation, development of the hygienic standard by calculation method). The air exchange calculation for the working places of family doctors of the built-in ambulances was carried out in accordance with the NBS B.2.5-67:2013 Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Results and discussion: The calculation of air exchange rate for the doctors’ working places of the healh care facilities built into the residential houses was carried out in accordance with the NBS B.2.5-67:2013 Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (Annex X (mandatory) Minimum Outdoor Air Consumption) and corresponding formulas. To calculate the air exchange in the doctors’premises, the category of the works of the doctors of the ambulance medical practice, which refers to light physical (office) work by the category I; the number of nurses at work at the same time and the potential number of visitors (2 persons - doctor and patient; 3 persons - doctor, nurse and patient and / or doctor, patient and accompanying person; 4 persons - doctor, nurse, patient and accompanying patient person); the minimum air consumption per 1 person - 60 m3 / hour; the regulatory size of the area of the medical premises (12 m2, 18 m2) and different types of housing estate with 2.5 m and 3 m premise high were taken into account. Conclusions: To replace the current standard K = 1 (NBS B.2.2-10-2001 Health Care Facilities), the standards of optimal air exchange multiplicity K = 6.44 and K = 8.40 in doctors’ medical facilities with different sizes and the number of people staying simultaneously were substantiated on the basis of the conducted hygienic study of the conditions of the placement of modern health care facilities of ambulance type built into residential houses. In order to ensure strengthening and preservation of the health of medical staff and patients and to create the proper sanitary and anti-epidemic working conditions for staff, the health care facilities, built into residential houses, need the mechanical plenum-exhaust ventilation according to the new reasonable standards of air exchange multiplicity for medical premises.