Mosquito Coils Research Articles

PROTOTYPE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM KEBAKARAN BERBASIS INTERNET OF THINGS MENGGUNAKAN GEOLOCATION NEO6MV2

Fire is one of the disasters that can be caused by human negligence and natural disasters. Fires can causetrauma to humans and the environment, losses that can be material and non-material such as social impacts. oneof them, the cessation of a person's business or stagnation, and then it has a huge impact on the economy and caneven cause fatalities. In general, fires can be caused by electric short circuits, human negligence (mosquito coils,cigarettes), lightning, drought and volcanic eruptions. Fires can be detected when the fire has started to grow andsmoke can be seen rising from inside the building. In most cases many buildings or buildings, fires are not handledquickly so that when the fire department arrives many buildings and items have been burned. This happenedbecause the public response was not fast enough in responding to fires so that they did not grow. Another factor isthat people do not know the telephone number to contact the nearest fire department. In this study, a fire detectionprototype will be developed using a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), which will be connected to a flame sensor, aDHT11 temperature sensor, and a NEO6MV2 GPS module that can provide a prototype location and has beenintegrated by the Internet of Things (IoT). The advantage of this prototype is that if the fire has enlarged, the toolwill send the location of the fire to the fire department via the WhatsApp application

Identifikasi Density Figure dan Pengendalian Vektor Demam Berdarah pada Kelurahan Karanganyar Gunung

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a disease that has a main vector of the Aedes aegypti mosquito by transmitting the disease through its bite. Based on 2018 Health Department data, Semarang Larva Free Index (LFI) in 2018 was 91.7%. To find out the population density of Aedes aegypti larvae in the densely populated Karanganyar Gunung Village, a study was conducted. Based on the analysis of research data, the value of Larva Free Index (LFI) = 94.77%, House Index (HI) = 5.22%, Container Index (CI) = 2.86% and Breteau Index (BI) = 5.72%. So that from value of HI, CI and BI, value of Density Figure (DF) obtained is two. This shows that the larvae density is moderate. So that action is needed to control mosquitoes as a vector of dengue fever. From the results of the questionnaire, physical vector control was 92% of the total 105 respondents. While chemical control (such as using mosquito coils) was carried out by 90%, biology (such as keeping fish in water reservoirs for mosquito larva predators) by 61% and self-protection (such as using of anti-mosquito lotions) by 46% of a total of 105 respondents. However, there are still 2% of the total 105 respondents who did not control the vector at all.

Water Solubility Distribution of Organic Matter Accounts for the Discrepancy in Hygroscopicity among Sub- and Supersaturated Humidity Regimes.

Water uptake properties of organic matter (OM) are critical for aerosol direct and indirect effects. OM contains various chemical species that have a wide range of water solubility. However, the role of water solubility on water uptake by OM has poorly been investigated. We experimentally retrieved water solubility distributions of water-soluble OM (WSOM) from combustion of mosquito coil and tropical peat using the 1-octanol-water partitioning method. In addition, hygroscopic growth and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity of solubility-segregated WSOM were measured. The dominant fraction of WSOM from mosquito coil smoldering was highly soluble (water solubility (S) > 10-2 g cm-3), while that from peat combustion contained ∼40% of less-soluble species (S < 10-3 g cm-3). The difference in water solubility distributions induced changes in the roles of less water-soluble fractions (S < 10-3 g cm-3) on CCN activity. Namely, the less water-soluble fraction from mosquito coil combustion fully dissolved at the point of critical supersaturation, while that for tropical peat smoldering was limited by water solubility. The present result suggests that water solubility distributions of OM, rather than its bulk chemical property, need to be quantified for understanding the water uptake process.

The Prevalence of Malaria Parasites and the Dynamics of Malaria Vectors in Adenta-Barrier in Ghana

Background: Malaria burden is generally lower in urban settings. Urban malaria is likely to surge due to rapid and unplanned urbanization. Hence, this study sought to determine the prevalence of malaria parasite and malaria vectors in Adenta-barrier, a suburb of Adentan Municipality.&#x0D; Methods: The study followed a cross sectional study design pattern. Mosquitoes were collected from 40 houses in the study site using the pyrethrum spray catches (PSC) method, and malaria parasite screening was carried out on 90 participants. A well-structured form was used to record data on the use of insecticide-treated nets, insecticide spray, and mosquito coil in the community. The mosquitoes collected were morphologically identified.&#x0D; Results: The malaria parasite prevalence at the study site was 1.1%, and the use of insecticide-treated nets, insecticide spray, and mosquito coil were 13.4%, 7.5%, and 11.9% respectively. As far as vector abundance were concerned, habitat, resting and feeding behavior were taken into consideration. The majority of the mosquitoes collected during the study were Culex 95.7% (22), and the rest was Aedes 4.3% (1). Both Culex and Aedes mosquitoes were found in resting states. Study participants reported majority (80%) of the bites they sustained to have occurred during the early hours of the day. The study area also possessed several easily identifiable breeding sites for mosquitoes.&#x0D; Conclusion: The prevalence of malaria in the study area was low and no Anopheles mosquitoes was found. The majority of mosquito species present in the locality was Culex with a few Aedes.

FAKTOR RISIKO PERILAKU KELUARGA DENGAN KEJADIAN INFEKSI SALURAN PERNAPASAN AKUT (ISPA) PADA BALITA DI INDONESIA: META ANALYSIS TAHUN 2015-2020

countries. The proportionate mortality rate (PMR) due to ARI in children under five in the world is 16%, two thirds of deaths are infant deaths. The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors for family behavior with the incidence of ARI in children under five in Indonesia. The method in this study uses meta-analysis to find the effect size value using JASP software version 0.9.2. Sources of data in this study came from Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Pubmed then sorted according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and obtained 37 research articles. The results of secondary data from the meta-analysis method found that the variable using mosquito coils had a 1.094 times greater risk of experiencing the incidence of ARI in toddlers. The conclusion from the results of the meta-analysis that has a higher level of risk on the family behavior variable is the family smoking habit variable. Efforts to control the risk of ARI in toddlers by conducting periodic counseling or promotion about the dangers of ARI disease, reducing the factors that influence the incidence of ARI in toddlers by providing good nutrition for the growth and development of infants, as well as communities or families who have toddlers to stop smoking, especially in the house or near.Keyword: ARI incidence, family behavior, and toddlers

ANALISIS PERILAKU KELUARGA BALITA DAN KONDISI LINGKUNGAN FISIK RUMAH TERHADAP KEJADIAN PNEUMONIA PADA BALITA DI INDONESIA: LITERATURE REVIEW TAHUN 2012-2021

ABSTRACTPneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that adversely affects the lungs caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi, where pneumonia accounts for 15 percent of under-five deaths in the world and resulted in 808,694 children dying in 2017 (WHO, 2019). The purpose of this study was to analyze family behavior and the condition of the physical home environment with the incidence of pneumonia in children under five in Indonesia. The method in this study is a literature review. The data sources in this study came from Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Pubmed then sorted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and obtained 28 research articles.The results of the analysis of several studies show that smoking habits of family members (83.3%), use of mosquito coils (50%), house occupancy density (72.7%), and type of house floor (50%) are associated with the incidence of pneumonia in children under five. . It is hoped that the puskesmas can make efforts to control the risk of pneumonia in toddlers by conducting periodic counseling about the dangers of smoking to toddlers and how to overcome them, as well as relating to factors that affect the physical condition of the home environment, especially in the density of residential houses with a house building area that should be sufficient. for the occupants in it.Keywords: Pneumonia Incidence, Literature Review, Family behavior, Home Physical Environment Condition.ANALISIS PERILAKU KELUARGA BALITA DAN KONDISI LINGKUNGAN FISIK RUMAH TERHADAP KEJADIAN PNEUMONIA PADA BALITA DI INDONESIA: LITERATURE REVIEW TAHUN 2012-2021

A Review on Antimalarial Activities of Aloe species Extracts

Among the most prevalent diseases caused by protozoan parasites, the parasites of the genus Plasmodium cause malaria. Malaria is transmitted to humans by the infected female anopheles mosquito. Malaria is a vector-borne disease and it continues to have devastating effects on people’s lives, especially in developing countries. To control malaria, many popular practices exist to avoid the nuisance of mosquito bites such as fumigation, burning green leaves on the hut’s threshold, mosquito coils, insecticide sprays, and repellents. Due to the vast metabolic diversity of plants, natural products may offer relatively cheaper and an easy alternative treatment opportunity to treat malaria. The genus Aloe is one of the top medicinal plants that has maintained its popularity over the course of time. Aloe in one form or another is a common domestic medicine and is the basis of most pharmaceutical preparations. Various components present in the Aloe species have been found effective against many diseases, including malaria. Although most of the antimalarial activities were based on in vivo tests, in vitrotests were also analyzed by certain researchers. The leaf latex in all Aloespecies and the isolated compounds displayed antimalarial activity in a dose-independent manner. Considering that natural molecules have acted as natural templates in the development of antimalarial agents, it is encouraged to investigate further analyses into Aloe constituents and their values against malaria. It should be followed with phytochemical and pharmacological analyses to give scientific ground to medicinal knowledge and future potential utilization.

First Trimester of Pregnancy as the Sensitive Period for the Association between Prenatal Mosquito Coil Smoke Exposure and Preterm Birth.

Mosquito coils are efficient mosquito repellents and mosquito coil smoke (MCS) contributes to indoor air pollution. However, no prior population-based study has investigated whether prenatal MCS exposure is a risk factor for preterm birth (PTB) and whether exposure to MCS in different trimesters of pregnancy is associated with different levels of risk. The sample involved 66,503 mother–child dyads. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationships between prenatal MCS exposure during different trimesters of pregnancy and PTB. We found that prenatal MCS exposure was associated with a greater likelihood of PTB (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.05–1.20). The prenatal MCS exposure during the first trimester was associated with 1.17 (95%CI: 1.09–1.25) times the odds of being PTB, which was higher than exposure during the second trimester (OR = 1.11, 95%CI: 1.03–1.19) and during the third trimester (OR = 1.08, 95%CI: 1.01–1.16). In the stratified analysis, prenatal MCS exposure significantly increased PTB risk among girls but not among boys. Our results indicated that maternal MCS exposure during pregnancy was associated with PTB and that the first trimester might be the sensitive period. In light of these findings, public health interventions are needed to reduce prenatal exposure to MCS, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Use of insecticide-treated nets and other household insecticides for preventing malaria in six-year-old children in Benin, sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND AND AIM In addition to early diagnosis and treatment of malaria, the cornerstone of malaria control lies in the use of insecticides such as long-lasting insecticidal treated nets (LLITNs), household spraying, mosquito coils or sprays. However, the quantification of other household insecticides use, including coils and sprays, was less assessed so far. The main insecticide used for LLITN, coils and sprays is pyrethroid. The objectives of the study were to describe the LLITN and other household insecticides used for preventing malaria and to determine factors associated with these different uses. METHODS Data were collected on 567 mothers from a birth cohort in the district of Allada, a semi-urban area in Benin. Mothers were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire when their offspring were 6 years of age. Associations between LLITNs, other household insecticide use, sociodemographic and environmental factors, were assessed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS Eighty percent of mothers declared that their six-year-old child slept under a LLITN the night before the visit. Approximatively 23% and 7% of households used coils and sprays at home, respectively. When using coils, 62% of families were using them at least once a week. Being a girl, living with the father, having a high number of siblings at home, rainy season and non-use of coils at home were significantly associated with LLITN use. Use of coils was associated with non-LLITN use, having moved since child’s birth and absence of stove in the house. CONCLUSION Children at six years of age were frequently sleeping under LLITN. However, a considerable proportion of them was sleeping in proximity to coils, but not under LLITN. These coils have no proven efficacy in the reduction of malaria vectors so far and may potentially expose children to pyrethroids.

PENGARUH PENGETAHUAN DAN PENGGUNAAN OBAT NYAMUK BAKAR DENGAN KEJADIAN ISPA PADA BALITA DI DESA REJUNO

According to WHO (World Health Organization), that ± 13 million children under five in the world die every year and these deaths occur in developing countries in Asia and Africa. ARI is a group of diseases that cause the highest absenteeism compared to other diseases. Patients with ARI in Rejuno Village, Karangjati District in 2020 as many as 53 cases and in 2021 as many as 75 cases. This study aims to determine the effect of knowledge, use of mosquito coils, and cooking fuel with the incidence of ARI in Rejuno Village, Karangjati Ngawi. This study uses a quantitative method with a case control. The population in this study were 75 toddlers with a sample of 60 respondents consisting of 30 cases of ARI and 30 controls. The sampling technique in this study was simple random sampling. Data collection using questionnaires and observations were analyzed by chi-square test. The results showed that there was an influence between knowledge and the incidence of ARI, p-value : 0.036, OR: 3.596, 95% CI 1.21-10,63 and there was no effect between the use of mosquito coils with the incidence of ARI, p-value was obtained: 0.291, OR : 0,571 , 95% CI 0,20-1,62.

The Assessment of Community Knowledge and Prevention Practices of Malaria in a Rural Community in South Africa

Background: Malaria is a serious public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and affects the health and wealth of nations and of individuals. Malaria became a public health issue killing more than 627 000 people in sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa, Malaria is endemic in 3 provinces namely: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Kwazulu Natal. Limpopo contributes more cases than the other provinces in the country. Objective: The study assessed the knowledge and preventive practices regarding malaria in a rural community in South Africa. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using systematic probability sampling to select 151 household members. All the households in each village were visited and the head of each household was interviewed. Data was collected through close-ended questionnaires and analysed through the Statistical Package for Social Science version 24. The analysed data is presented in tables, graphs, and percentages. Results: The findings revealed that most participants 103(67.8%) have secondary education, and all (100%) had heard about malaria. The main source of malaria information was nurses 48%. Most participants knew that malaria is transmitted through mosquito bites (86%) by an infected mosquito (77%.%). About 63% of the participants knew the basic signs of malaria such as headache, shivering, and high fever. About 59 (39%) said they used mosquito coils and wore long-sleeved clothes in their household to avoid mosquito bites. Conclusion: Malaria poses a threat to the lives of people living in malaria-endemic areas. Community members of Masisi Village know how malaria is transmitted, what causes it, and its signs and symptoms. However, malaria prevention practice is still cited as a public health challenge. Therefore, health education should emphasize methods of malaria prevention and control.

Thinness negatively affects lung function among Sri Lankan children.

BackgroundThere have been conflicting findings on the effect of body mass index (BMI) on lung functions in children. Therefore, we studied the relationship between spirometry parameters and BMI among healthy Sri Lankan school children aged 5–7 years.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 296 school children (5–7-year-old) without apparent lung disease. Recruitment was done with stratified random sampling. Spirometry parameters, FEV1, FVC, PEFR, and FEV1/FVC ratio were determined. The acceptable and reproducible spirometry recordings were included in the analysis. Simple and multivariate linear regression analysis examined possible associations of lung function parameters with BMI, socio‐demographic variables and indoor risk factors. Also, the mediator effect of gender on lung function through BMI was explored.ResultsThe participants’ mean age (SD) was 6.4 (0.65) years. One-third were thin/severely thin (37%). A statistically significant difference in FVC (p = 0.001) and FEV1 (p = 0.001) was observed between BMI groups (obesity/overweight, normal, and thinness). Yet, PEFR or FEV1/FVC did not significantly differ among BMI groups (p = 0.23 and p = 0.84). Multivariate regression analysis showed that FEV1 and FVC were significantly associated with BMI, child’s age, gender, family income, father’s education, having a pet, and exposure to mosquito coil smoke. Interaction between gender and BMI for lung functions was not significant. The thin children had significantly lower FVC (OR: -0.04, 95%CI: -0.077, -0.012, p = 0.008) and FEV1 (OR: -0.04, 95%CI: -0.075, -0.014, p = 0.004) than normal/overweight/obese children. Family income demonstrated the greatest effect on lung functions; FVC and FEV1 were 0.25L and 0.23L smaller in low-income than the high-income families.ConclusionLower lung function parameters (FVC and FEV1) are associated with thinness than normal/overweight/obese dimensions among children without apparent lung disease. It informs that appropriate nutritional intervention may play a role in improving respiratory health.

The Relationship Between The Physical Condition Of The House And Smoking Habits With The Incidence Of Acute Respiratory Infections In Toddlers In The Work Area Of The Rambah Health Center In 2022

Acute respiratory infektion (ARI) Are Infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract caused by viruses, fungi and bacteria. The candition of the home environment that has not met the requirements and the smoking habits of family members in the hous are, factors in the insidence of ARI toddlers in Rambah Tengah Hulu. The purpouse of this studi was to determini the relationship between physical home factors and smoking habits of family member with the insidence of ARI among children under Rambah Tengah Hulu. This type of research is quantitative using a cross sectional study design. Conducting interviews, observation and house measurements, namely house ventilation and house humidity with total sample of 100 respondents using the Purvosif sampling technique. The subjek of this study were monthers of toddlers 0-24 months. The research was conducted in Rambah Tengah Hulu in februare- march 2022. Data analysis was carried out unnivariate and bivariate using the Chi Square test with a 90% degree of confidence. From the results of research and discussion it can be concluded that of the 5 variabels all there is a relationship between the area of house ventilation pvalue = 0,049 ( α 0,05 ), Use of cooking fuel = 0,0013 ( α 0,005), Occupancy density Pvalue= 0,000 ( α 0,05), Smoking habits of family members Pvalue= 0,008 (α 0,05), Use of mosquito coils Pvalue= 0,008 (α 0,05) Whit the incidence of ari in toddlers in Rambah Tengah Hulu in 2022. The results of this study are expected to provide prevention and control for the community and can be used as a reference for knowing physical factors of the house and smoking habits of family members that cause ARI in toddlers.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Relation to Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Bangladesh.

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya are common in Bangladesh, with frequent outbreaks in the rainy season. Analysis of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people toward any crisis is fundamental to addressing any gap. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional study mainly focusing on the northern, southern and central parts of Bangladesh to understand the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people regarding MBDs, mosquito habitats, or control measures. A total of 1720 participants were involved in the study from 33 out of 64 districts of Bangladesh, of which 56.9% were male. While most of them knew about dengue (97.1%), chikungunya (81.4%), and malaria (85.2%), only half of them were aware of filaria (53.3%), which is endemic to the northern region. A knowledge score (0–8, low), (9–16, moderate), (17–24, high), and attitude score (0–4, poor), (5–8, moderate), and (9–13, high) were assigned. While poor and moderate attitudes were considered negative, good attitudes were considered positive. About 45% of the respondents had a moderate knowledge score (50–70); however, about 67.9% of participants showed a good attitude score (>70) towards the control of MBDs. It was found that the knowledge and attitude of the responders were related to their profession (knowledge p < 0.001; attitude, p = 0.002), residential area (knowledge p < 0.001; attitude, p < 0.001), and education level (knowledge p < 0.001; attitude p = 0.004). A mosquito is a kind of nuisance bug, and about 79.8% of responders admitted that they kill mosquitoes as soon as they notice them. They also use bed nets (93.7%) followed by mosquito coils (85.7%) as a preventive method. Interestingly, 73.2% of the responders were reluctant to contact the local government during an increase in mosquito numbers. Overall, the people of Bangladesh have a positive attitude towards the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases. It is highly recommended that the government creates more knowledge regarding this issue and develops collaborative approaches with local people to implement robust preventive measures against mosquito-borne diseases.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) on Malaria Prevention and Treatment among Residents in Dutse, Jigawa State Nigeria

Overcoming the menace of a disease is achieved through proper prevention and treatment, therefore, this study was carried out assess the knowledge, attitude and practices on prevention and treatment on malaria among residents in Dutse town. Three hundred (300) structured questionnaires were administered to obtain data on demographic characteristics, basic knowledge on malaria and practices on prevention and treatment. The respondents were within the age range of 16-55 years. 136 (45.0%) were males and 164 (54.7%) were females. All of the respondents were educated, informally 22 (7.3%), secondary (44.6%) and tertiary 96 (32%). 258 (86%) knew that malaria is caused by Plasmodium, 280 (93%) are aware of malaria transmission by a female Anopheles mosquito 172 (57.3%), 146 (48.7%) of the respondents come down with malaria 2-3 times a year while 23 (15.3%) have malaria &gt;5 times a year.112 (37.3%) believed rainfall is responsible for high prevalence of malaria, 86(28.7%) thought dirt is responsible while 66(22%) thought stress is responsible and 36(12%) thought is resistance. Majority of the respondents 97(32.3%) used mosquito coil and ensured cleanliness to prevent malaria,73 (22.3%) spray with aerosol and cleanliness, 38 (12.7%) use fan and 8 (2.7%) use chemoprophylaxis to prevent malaria using Fansider 4 (50%) and Chloroquine 4 (50%). Most of the respondents 188 (62.8%) go to the hospital when they are sick, 94 (31.3%) go to chemist and 20 (6.7%) used herbs, some of which are 6 (30%) neem leaves while 14 (70%) use Artemisinin annua (rai daure). Treatment of malariaamong the respondents is done with ACT by 154 (51.3%), 106 (35.3%) use combo of ACT and Fansider while 40 (13.3%) use chloroquine. Majority of the respondents 284 (94.7%) buy the drug while 16 (5.3%) get them free. Only 154 (51.3%) completes their drug dosage and 174 (58%) know that dosage noncompliance can cause resistance. Prevention and treatment methods employed by the respondent may not translate to malariaelimination. Therefore, continual sensitization and improvement in treatment cannot be over emphasized. Keywords: AttitudeKnowledge,Malaria, PreventionTreatment and Dutse

The Impact of the use of Anti-Mosquito Coil on Hemoglobin (Hb) and Hematocrit Levels in Elderly Social Homes Tresna Werdha Sabai Nan Aluih, Sicincin, Padang Pariaman

Background and Aim: The content of chemical compounds is harmful to human health in all anti-mosquito repellent on the domestic market. Exposure to toxic substances derived from anti-mosquito repellent are known to reduce large amounts of iron and important protein in forming hemoglobin so that it can directly cause the incidence of acute anemia. Material and Method: This study is a Quasi Experimental study with a posttest group only design in which the administration is carried out at the end of the treatment period to see the relationship of the independent variable, exposure to the smoke of mosquito coils to the dependent variable, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. This research sample uses purposive sampling technique with certain criteria with the number of samples that can be 90 elderly people. The results of the study will be analyzed using the independent sample T test (&lt;0.05) to see the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable, by first conducting a normality test using the Kolmogorov - Smirnov test. Result: From the results of statistical analysis using the independent sample T test, it was found that there was a significant effect between the exposure of anti-mosquito smoke to the levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit levels (p-value 0.00). then it is also known that there are significant differences between the hemoglobin levels and hematocrit levels of each group. Conclusion: In this study it can be concluded that there is a significant effect of anti-mosquito smoke exposure on hemoglobin levels and elderly hematocrit levels. Keywords: mosquito repellent, hemoglobin, hematocrit, elderly.

Perception and Practices on Transmission of Vector Borne Diseases among Rural People

Introduction: Vector-borne diseases are illnesses transmitted by arthropods or invertebrates and caused by different microorganisms in human. These diseases accounts for almost 20% of the diseases and disability suffered globally. More than 50% the global population at present projected to be at risk of diseases transmitted by arthropod or invertebrate vectors. Knowledge on the existing perception and practices on transmission of vector borne diseases among rural community would be beneficial to provide a need-based health care delivery system to them. Objective: To know about the perception and practices regarding vector borne diseases in rural community. Materials and Methods: This observational type of crosssectional study was conducted by non-probability purposive sampling method in 474 respondents of Dhamrai and Saturia Upazila from August 2019 to February 2020. Data were analyzed by using Microsoft office packages and calculator and presented in the form of tabulation and diagrams. Results: Findings of this study showed that 76% respondents were Muslims and 35% respondents were above 50 years old. Among 474 respondents, 88% and 78% stated mosquitos and houseflies as vectors responsible for transmitting various diseases, after that 35% Itch mite, 34% Louse and 42% Sandflies. Respectively 72% and 85% respondents stated Malaria and Dengue is transmitted by arthropod vectors, followed by 54% Chikungunya, 35% Kala azar, 13% Filariasis and 33% Typhoid fever. Though, 64%, 67%, 86% and 22% respondents stated bite of mosquito as mode of transmission of malaria, chikungunya, dengue and filariasis correspondingly. In particular, 95%, 87%, 1% and 17% respondents stated personal protection measures, removal of water collection, fogging and spraying as the control measures for mosquito and other vector associated diseases respectively. However, 91%, 74% and 78% respondents used mosquito net, mosquito coil and screening of windows as their frequently used methods for preventing vector borne diseases. Conclusion: Knowledge about arthropod vectors and vector borne diseases at rural level requires improvement. A fair percent of respondents having satisfactory information regarding the name of arthropod vector and illnesses transmitted by them, their mode of transmission in addition to distinct control measures for the prevention of vector borne diseases. Community oriented health education modules should be adopted by the government to boom the knowledge of the village people concerning name of precise vectors and the sicknesses transmitted by means of them. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 17, No 2 (December) 2021: 33-38

Risk factors associated with childhood asthma in 5 – 11 years old children

Background: Various factors are known to precipitate an attack of asthma. Though no obvious causes can be found in these instances however since our climate and environment differ as do our habits and diets from those in other countries it is pertinent to examine whether the trigger factors in Sri Lanka are also different. So, the mothers of the asthmatic children were questioned regarding the likely precipitating factors pertaining to the present attack. Methods: In order to identify the risk factors for childhood asthma in children in the age group 5 – 11 years a community based cross sectional analytical study was conducted in the Colombo Municipal Council area in the Colombo district. The sample size included 683 children in the age group of 6 – 11 years residing in the Colombo Municipal Council area. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: Childhood asthma was statistically significantly associated with the following factors: Child’s history of eczema(p&lt;0.05), exclusive breast feeding beyond six months (p&lt;0.05), location of house near dusty environment (p&lt;0.001), main fuel as firewood (p&lt;0.05), place of sleep(p&lt;0.05),the type of mattress cover(p&lt;0.001), burning of mosquito coils (p&lt;0.05),birth weight less than 2.5kg(p&lt;0.001), Family history of asthma(p&lt;0.001), and smoking habits of the father when at home(p&lt;0.001). The other factors which were looked into were the age of starting the complementary feeding (p&gt;0.05), age of starting the formula feeding (p&gt;0.05), family history of allergy (p&gt;0.05), these were not significant. After the logistic regression birth weight less than 2.5 Kg has shown the strongest association with childhood asthma (OR 5.35), Whereas starting of complimentary feeding before 6/12 has a protective effect (OR .24). Conclusion: Birth weight less than 2.5 Kg has shown the strongest association with childhood asthma

Evaluating the applicability of the ratio of PM2.5 and carbon monoxide as source signatures

Air pollution is among the top risk faced by people around the world, and therefore combating it is among the top priorities. It begins with identifying the sources that contribute the most to local air pollution to prioritize their control. There are advanced methods for source identification and apportionment, but such methods are not available in many low-income countries and not everywhere in all high-income countries. We propose a simplified method by using source the signatures to help obtain information about the local source contribution if no other methods are available. Using low-cost monitors, particle mass (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations were measured and the ratio of CO/PM2.5 was determined. We investigated outdoor and indoor sources, including vehicular exhaust, combustion of biomass, incense and mosquito coil burning, and cigarette smoking. The results show that the ratios differed significantly between certain pollutant sources. Compressed natural gas (CNG) engines have a high ratio (mean value of 972 ± 419), which is attributed to relatively low PM2.5 emissions, while ship emissions and cigarette smoke recorded a relatively low ratio. Most traffic emissions recorded higher ratios than those of bushfire emissions, and ratios of most outdoor pollutant sources were much higher than those of indoor pollutant sources. There is a clear trend for ratios to decrease from high to low for CNG, petrol, diesel for buses, and fuel for ships. Our results suggest that the ratio of CO/PM2.5 can be used as an effective method to identify pollution sources.

Has Zika Been Forgotten? Findings From Nationwide Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Mosquito Preventive Practices in Malaysia.

The aim of this study is to assess knowledge and attitudes toward Zika virus disease (ZVD) as well as mosquito prevention practices in Malaysia at a nationwide level. Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) were conducted between June 2019 and February 2020. There are gaps in knowledge about the symptoms, mode of transmission, and risk of microcephaly. The mean for the Zika-related knowledge score was 5.9 (SD ± 4.4) out of a possible score of 14. The majority perceived little or no risk of getting ZVD (75.0%) and 75.5% were a little or not at all worried about ZVD. A high proportion reported the use of insect sprays or mosquito coils to prevent mosquito bites; however, a relatively lower proportion of people reported fixing mosquito netting on doors and windows, and using mosquito bed nets. The mean for the mosquito prevention practices score was 11.9 (SD ± 4.7) out of a possible score of 27. Important factors influencing mosquito prevention practices include household income, environment factors, risk perception, and Zika-related knowledge. Zika prevention measures should be targeted in priority toward residents in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods. Campaigns should focus on messages highlighting the high risk of getting dengue.