Semi-urban Town Research Articles

Mothers’ choice of health management services for under-five children with common illnesses: evaluating social workers’ impact in Nigerian health sector

ABSTRACT Introduction Every child deserves the right to life. In Nigeria like other African countries, a high burden of child mortality prevails. Attaining a low-mortality rate of children entails that mothers who are the primary caregivers are in the best position to provide quality healthcare management. Method With the phenomenological approach in qualitative research, the researchers sourced data using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and In-Depth Interviews (IDI) from 38 mothers of various categories. The participants were purposively selected from four government and mission health institutions in a semi-urban Nsukka town, Enugu State. Data were analyzed thematically. Findings Results revealed that mothers utilize health institutions including government, mission, private, pharmacies and patent medicine vendors when seeking healthcare for their children. Their inability to recognize potential life-threatening conditions is the leading factor in increasing child mortality. Findings show that because participants were concerned about financial challenges; they were ready to adopt traditional medicine as an alternative to modern medicine. The study showed evidence of unsafe strategies mothers adopt for the health management of their under-five children with common illnesses. Participants indicated little knowledge of social workers’ engagement in health institutions. Conclusion Healthy living is essential in the protection from illnesses. Since under-five children are vulnerable to illnesses, their mothers should provide them with quality healthcare management. The study recommends that social workers’ engagement with health providers and users in semi-urban societies could help propagate healthcare awareness and strategies in mothers’ choice of health management for under-five children in Nigeria. Overall, adequate health policy consideration should be given to all under-five children in Nigeria.

Efficacy of an Artificial Intelligence App (Aysa) in Dermatological Diagnosis: Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Dermatology is an ideal specialty for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven image recognition to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient care. Lack of dermatologists in many parts of the world and the high frequency of cutaneous disorders and malignancies highlight the increasing need for AI-aided diagnosis. Although AI-based applications for the identification of dermatological conditions are widely available, research assessing their reliability and accuracy is lacking. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of the Aysa AI app as a preliminary diagnostic tool for various dermatological conditions in a semiurban town in India. This observational cross-sectional study included patients over the age of 2 years who visited the dermatology clinic. Images of lesions from individuals with various skin disorders were uploaded to the app after obtaining informed consent. The app was used to make a patient profile, identify lesion morphology, plot the location on a human model, and answer questions regarding duration and symptoms. The app presented eight differential diagnoses, which were compared with the clinical diagnosis. The model's performance was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and F1-score. Comparison of categorical variables was performed with the χ2 test and statistical significance was considered at P<.05. A total of 700 patients were part of the study. A wide variety of skin conditions were grouped into 12 categories. The AI model had a mean top-1 sensitivity of 71% (95% CI 61.5%-74.3%), top-3 sensitivity of 86.1% (95% CI 83.4%-88.6%), and all-8 sensitivity of 95.1% (95% CI 93.3%-96.6%). The top-1 sensitivities for diagnosis of skin infestations, disorders of keratinization, other inflammatory conditions, and bacterial infections were 85.7%, 85.7%, 82.7%, and 81.8%, respectively. In the case of photodermatoses and malignant tumors, the top-1 sensitivities were 33.3% and 10%, respectively. Each category had a strong correlation between the clinical diagnosis and the probable diagnoses (P<.001). The Aysa app showed promising results in identifying most dermatoses.

Comparative Machine Learning Models for Predicting Loan Fructification in a Semi-Urban Area

The current research proposes a reliable and robust machine learning (ML) model which outperforms among six other models in predicting loan fructification obtained by entrepreneurs in a semi-urban area. The proposed model predicts if an entrepreneur can make grow a loan from a microfinance firm, a bank, a financial company, or an individual. The proposed model uses primary data collected from entrepreneurs residing in Butembo, a semi-urban town located in eastern of the democratic republic of Congo as dataset. This study uses a dataset that contains 5868 records. Seven ML model performances are compared in the loan fructification prediction: support vector machine, random forest, extra-trees, decision tree, naïve bayes, k-nearest neighbors, and logistic regression. Support vector machine reveals to be the best model for predicting loan fructification using features such as age, years of working experience of the entrepreneur, entrepreneur loan repayment conviction, used mean by the lender to recover its loan, entrepreneur opinion on the disadvantage of taking out a loan, capacity of the entrepreneur to invest after obtaining loan, entrepreneur position on the possibility of launching a business without a loan, entrepreneur willingness to apply again for loan in the future, success project after obtaining loan. The study uses accuracy, recall, precision, and f-score as metrics to assess the developed models. The four metrics for support vector machine scored 95%, 95%, 83%, and 83%, respectively. The proposed model confirms the robustness of support vector machine in predicting loan fructification.

A comprehensive study on the physicochemical characteristics of faecal sludge from septic tank and single pit latrine facilities in a typical semi-urban Indian town: a case study of Rajasthan, India

Faecal sludge (FS) samples were analysed to assess their characteristics. FS has high chemical oxygen demand, ranging from 4406 to 160 000 mg l−1, influenced by sludge age, sanitation type, and inflow/outflow to onsite sanitation contaminants.

CUSTOMER PERCEPTION: SPECIAL REFERENCE TO “OLA” ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Electric vehicles have rapidly gained prominence in the automotive industry, and Ola, a prominent player in the ride-sharing sector, has ventured into the electric vehicle market. The rapid rise of electric vehicles (EVs) in the automotive industry has spurred Ola, a leading ride-sharing company, to enter the electric vehicle market. This study investigates customer perceptions of Olas electric vehicles in Nelamangala, a semi-urban town near Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, within the context of an industry undergoing a sustainability transformation. The research aims to uncover factors shaping customer perception, adoption, and expectations regarding Olas EVs, focusing on attitudes, preferences, and concerns of residents. By addressing research gaps specific to semi-urban regions and the Indian market, this study provides valuable insights into the barriers and facilitators of EV adoption, ultimately benefiting Olas strategy refinement and informing policymakers and urban planners in promoting sustainable transportation options. The study seeks to bridge the knowledge gap in a burgeoning field of electric mobility and its adoption, particularly in semi-urban settings. KEYWORDS: Customer perceptions, Sustainability, Semi-urban, Adoption.

Spatiotemporal distribution of pollutants and impact of local meteorology on source influence on pollutants' level in a traffic air-shed in Lagos megacity, Nigeria.

Pollution from vehicular emissions is a major cause of poor air quality observed in many urban and semi-urban towns and cities. As such, this study was conducted to assess air quality and the spatiotemporal distribution of vehicular and traffic-related pollutants in several air sheds of Lagos megacity, the economic nerve centre of Nigeria. A setup of low-cost air quality sensors comprising five (5) units was deployed between November 2018 and February 2019 within traffic corridors in the heart of the city. Diurnal variation of pollutants indicated that carbon dioxide (CO2) peaked during the early hours of the day, total oxide (Ox = NO2+O3) peaked at mid-day while carbon monoxide (CO) had two distinct peaks which correspond to morning and evening rush hours. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration peaked during evening hours. Average concentrations are NO2 (97.1 ± 9.7) ppb, Ox (78.6 ± 27.2) ppb, CO2 (450.1 ± 31.2) ppm, and CO (2285.63 ± 743.7) ppb. Average concentrations of pollutants were above thresholds set by the World Health Organization (WHO) except for NO2 which was within the range permissible limits. The implication of this is that the atmosphere is polluted due to elevated concentrations of airborne pollutants, an indication which is of both health and environmental concern. The air quality index (AQI) indicates that the quality of ambient air varies from good to very unhealthy for Ox, and unhealthy to very unhealthy for CO, while AQI for PM2.5 and PM10 showed hazardous at all the sampling locations except at UNILAG where it is unhealthy for the sensitive group. For all of the sampling sites, conditional bivariate probability function (CBPF) plots show a significant agreement with the location of known pollution sources.

Influence of Antecedent Beliefs on Digitized Financial Services Adoption among Customers in Rural and Semi-urban Towns in Ghana

This paper reports results of an investigation into modelling factors that influence customers’ attitude and decisions to adopt digitized financial services (DFSs) in rural and semi-urban towns in Ghana. Quantitative cross-sectional research approach was used. Seven hundred and twenty-seven (727) rural customers were randomly selected from a semi-urban town and three adjoining rural communities in Ghana to test the applicability of technology acceptance model (TAM) within such a context. Structural equation modelling was employed to assess stated hypotheses. The results of the study suggest that perceived usefulness, trust in bank and security and reliability positively influence DFS usage. DFSs can play a positive role in financial service outreach and can increase the participation of rural population in formal financial activities. Hitherto, little academic attention has been given to digitization of financial services in semi-urban African towns. The study contributes to filling this research gap.

Digital financial service adoption decisions of semi-urban Ghanaian university students – implications for enterprise development and job creation

PurposeThis paper reports results of an investigation into semi-urban Ghanaian university youths' attitude to digitized financial services (DFSs) and the determinants of their adoption decisions.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative cross-sectional research approach was used. Three hundred and seventy-five (375) university students were randomly selected from a semi-urban town in Ghana to test the applicability of technology acceptance model (TAM) within such a context. Structural equation modeling was employed to assess stated hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate a high penetration of digital financial services among the students, which confirms the applicability of TAM for such studies. The results further suggest that DFS provides a pathway to financial inclusion and can stimulate small enterprise development and job creation in Ghana's semi-urban communities.Originality/valueHitherto, little academic attention has been given to digitization of financial services in semi-urban African towns. The study contributes to filling this research gap.

Prevalence and Pattern of Mobile Gaming among Senior Secondary School Students in a Semi-Urban Town in Nigeria

Background: Excessive mobile gaming among young people has become a global public health issue. This paper aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of mobile phone gaming among secondary school students.&#x0D; Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 401 secondary school students in Orlu, selected using multistage sampling technique. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to acquire information on the socio-demographic characteristics and pattern of gaming. The Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) was used to assess problems related to gaming in the last 12 months. Data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 21. Pearson's Chi-square test was used for categorical variables while Students ttest was used for continuous variables. p 0.05 was regarded as significant.&#x0D; Results: Two (0.6%) of the respondents met the criteria for Internet gaming disorder. Three hundred and fifty-seven (89%) respondents had played mobile games at least once in their lifetime while three hundred and thirteen (78.1%) had played mobile games at least once in the past 12 months. One hundred and ten respondents (35.1%) had played mobile games nearly every day in the past 12 months. Most respondents, 132 (42.2%) played games offline. Two hundred and twentynine respondents (73.2%) have betted with others on the outcome of games played.&#x0D; Conclusion: Mobile gaming was common among secondary school students in Orlu, but the rate of gaming disorder was low. Measures targeted at adolescents should be developed to educate them on the potential dangers of mobile gaming.

Integrated Framework for Inclusive Town Planning Using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Method for a Semi Urban Town

Planning is a continuous process and must incorporate a regular evaluation of implementation and further revision for effective and efficient utility for the betterment of society through modification of the planning standards. Development plans for cities / towns are criticized for being rigid and static, having little regard for investment planning efforts, and taking a very long time in the process of formulation and approval. In depth analysis and review of the existing situation, covering the demographic, economic, financial, infrastructure, physical, environmental, and institutional aspects, is important so as to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the city overall development. In the present study, an attempt has been made to thoroughly review the existing planning standards adopted for the preparation and implementation of development plans in India, especially in Maharashtra. Since the development plan's objectives are not measurable, this study will use the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assess their level of performance. For the purpose of identifying the various viewpoints of various stakeholders, field surveys and questionnaire surveys were conducted. This application can be used as an objective evaluation tool for planners and policy makers to improve planning practices and provide necessary knowledge for revising plans. The results indicated the importance of criteria from the pre-planning, preparation, and implementation stages of DP. These results were used for two semi-urban towns in Maharashtra regions and could also be used by planning engineers for further development of planning standards. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-12-07 Full Text: PDF

Road Safety Regulations: How Compliant are Commercial Motorcyclists in Semi-Urban Towns in Western Nigeria?

The aim of the study was to determine compliance with road safety laws and factors that influence it among commercial motorcyclists in semi-urban towns in Western Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was done using a multi-stage sampling technique of 502 commercial motorcyclists. Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics with statistical significance determined at a 95% confidence interval and p-value of 0.05. The median age of respondents was 30 years; most were in the second and third phases of life. Compliance with road safety regulations was good in only 26% of respondents; mobile phone usage and alcohol drink riding was found in 31.9% and 28.1%, respectively. Approximately 96.4% indulged in carrying more than one pillion rider, 48% admitted to riding against traffic, and 83.3% wore reflective jackets at night. Use of stimulants was reported among 39.4% of respondents, while only 13.7% smoke cigarettes. The reported crash was found in 56.8% of respondents. Those with previous traffic violations and those that admitted fault for the crash were 2.75 times and 2.51 times more likely to comply with road safety regulations [AOR:2.748, 95%CI: 1.784- 4.332 and AOR: 2.512, 95% CI: 1.195-5-5.278] respectively. Compliance with road safety regulations was poor among commercial motorcyclists in the study population. Measures gingered towards increasing observance of road safety regulations such as increased safety education, effective policing to enforce compliance and punishment of erring riders, should be instituted. This will eventually translate to increased awareness and enhance road safety

A novel theatre-based behaviour change approach for influencing community uptake of schistosomiasis control measures

BackgroundAppropriate behaviour change with regard to safe water contact practices will facilitate the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health concern. Various approaches to effecting this change have been trialled in the field but with limited sustainable outcomes. Our case study assessed the effectiveness of a novel theatre-based behaviour change technique (BCT), in combination with cohort awareness raising and capacity training intervention workshops.MethodologyOur study was carried out in four rural communities in the Mwanza region of Tanzania and in the semi-urban town of Kemise, Ethiopia. We adapted the Risk, Attitude, Norms, Ability and Self-regulation (RANAS) framework and four phases using a mixed methods approach. Participatory project phase engagement and qualitative formative data were used to guide the design of an acceptable, holistic intervention. Initial baseline (BL) data were collected using quantitative questionnaire surveys with 804 participants in Tanzania and 617 in Ethiopia, followed by the theatre-based BCT and capacity training intervention workshops. A post-intervention (PI) survey was carried out after 6 months, with a participant return rate of 65% in Tanzania and 60% in Ethiopia.ResultsThe intervention achieved a significant improvement in the knowledge of schistosomiasis transmission being associated with poorly managed sanitation and risky water contact. Participants in Tanzania increased their uptake of preventive chemotherapy (males: BL, 56%; PI, 73%, females: BL, 43%; PI, 50%). There was a significant increase in the selection of sanitation (Tanzania: BL, 13%; PI, 21%, Ethiopia: BL, 63%; PI, 90%), safe water and avoiding/minimising contact with infested waters as prevention methods in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Some of the participants in Tanzania followed on from the study by building their own latrines.ConclusionsThis study showed that substantial positive behaviour changes in schistosomiasis control can be achieved using theatre-based BCT intervention and disease awareness training. With the appropriate sensitisation, education and stakeholder engagement approaches, community members were more open to minimising risk-associated contact with contaminated water sources and were mobilised to implement preventive measures.Graphical

Crippled By Fear: Anxiety Disorders Among Adolescents In Nigeria

More than half of all lifetime psychiatric disorders begin by the early adolescent period, with anxiety and depressive disorders responsible for a significant part of this disease burden [1]. Collectively referred to as childhood emotional disorders, juvenile-onset anxiety and depressive syndromes are widely recognized to be the most prevalent group of mental disorders in this population, as they are in adults [2-6]. The prevalence of anxiety disorders in adolescent populations is estimated to range between 8.3% to 27.0% [7]. The National Comorbidity Replication Survey - Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A) in the United States found a lifetime rate of 31.9% for any anxiety disorder [8]. In comparison, a study in rural Uganda demonstrated a 26.6% prevalence rate of anxiety disorders amongst children and adolescents [9]. In a local study conducted among adolescents aged 13–18 years in a semi-urban Nigerian town, anxiety disorders’ estimated 12-month prevalence rate was 15% [10].

The Role of Financial Institutions in Smallholder Agriculture Development:Ethiopian Context

Financial constraints in smallholder agriculture remain pervasive in developing countries like Ethiopia. The government of Ethiopia is doing its best to tackle the financial bottleneck through financial inclusion and several institutional arrangements that hinder smallholders’ agriculture that represent the landslide figure in the country. This review is aimed at finding financial institutions serving smallholders in the country, evaluating the mode of service delivery of financial institutions regarding smallholder development, exploring the challenges of financial institutions, and examining the challenges that hinder smallholders in accessing services from financial institutions. There are formal, semi-formal, and informal institutions are delivering service packages to alleviate the smallholders’ financial problems through credit, saving, insurance, and to some extent, insurance services. In terms of terms, formal financial institutions (banks and insurance companies) have virtually no access to the rural population; they are all located in urban and semi-urban towns, classify smallholder agriculture as a risky business, discriminate against smallholders, and require collateral that smallholders cannot provide. However, they reach smallholders indirectly through loans they provide to the MFIs. MFIs and RuSACCOs are the main formal and semi-formal institutions that are mainly established on a poverty lending approach. Startup capital supply for SMEs is attached to MFIs indifferently. They are serving smallholders through loan provision and saving and have devised a group lending scheme where members will be accountable for others. Despite the financial inclusion proclamation, MFIs are dominated by the ruling political party. However, they are the most profound financial institutions that serve smallholders and the poorest segment of the population. Despite the tremendous expansion, progress, and the enormous resources mobilized by financial institutions in the country, especially MFIs and RuSACCOs, a substantial proportion of the rural population remains underserved. Due to the one-size-fits-all services of MFIs and the limitation of funds to expand clients, extremely low uptake and sluggish penetration of the credit service to smallholders indicates the prevalence of unbanked and untapped financial potential. Therefore, 80 percent of the poor and smallholders depend on the informal financial sector, mainly on Iqqub, Iddir, and money lenders, since they are culture-appropriate, flexible, easily accessible, and cost-effective. Insurance endeavors are rarely known in Ethiopian smallholders’ context despite its necessity. Thus, strengthening the capacities of MFIs and RuSACCOs, linking need-based input credit, designing a credit guarantee scheme, connecting these institutions with other government payment schemes, meeting the credit demands of commercial, semi-commercial, and subsistence smallholders, and launching and scaling up WII on a micro-insurance platform are all essential. Keywords: Financial institutions, formal, informal, semi-formal, smallholder agriculture DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-1-03 Publication date: January 31 st 2022

Urological Endoscopy: Results of the First 15 Months, in Kara (Togo)

Background: The urology department of the Teaching Hospital of Kara is the 2nd urology department in Togo, Kara being a semi-urban town located 400 km from Lomé the capital. While for a long time only open surgery was used, the acquisition of urological endoscopic equipment in February 2021, has revolutionized the urological management of patients. Objective: Report the results of the first 15 months of urological endoscopy practice at the Kara Teaching Hospital, identify the particularities, announce the prospects. Patients and Methods. This was a retrospective and descriptive study, which took place in the urology department of the Kara Teaching Hospital, from February 2021 to April 2022, i.e. a period of 15 months. The register of operative reports and patient records were used for data collection. The following parameters were studied: age, sex, diagnosis, indication, diagnostic or therapeutic nature of the procedure, and results. EPI INFO 7.2.4.0 software was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 102 urological procedures (endoscopic and non-endoscopic) were performed during the study period; of the 102 interventions, 62 were endoscopic urological interventions, i.e., 60.7% of the interventions. The average age of patients treated was 55.5 years (±16.4) with extremes ranging from 28 to 87 years. Men accounted for 84% of patients treated. Prostatic hypertrophy was the most common urological pathology in our study, requiring endoscopic intervention in 40% of cases. Transurethral resection of the prostate was the most performed endoscopic procedure in our study with 43.5% of cases. The various endoscopic interventions resulted in success in 96.7% of cases. Conclusion: Urology nowadays cannot be done without endoscopy. At the Kara Teaching Hospital, the results are already promising after less than 24 months of endoscopic practice in urology. Advocacy must be made to political decision-makers, so that the situation is even better, for the good of both urologists and patients.

Comparative Evaluation of the Nutritional Status and Habits of Students Studying in Private and Government Schools in a Semi-Urban Town in India –Kumbakonam Urban Rural Epidemiological Study - KURES -1

Malnutrition is a universal and an ever-rising problem due to changes in the lifestyle and eating habits among the children. The malnourished children are prone to illness. Hence, we planned to conduct a study in school children, both in Government set up and a private set up, to review their nutritional status and the influencing factors. Two thousand students in the age group of 8-17 years were interviewed for their food habits, asking them to fill up a proforma along with anthropometric measurements. Among the children interviewed 72% were malnourished, but only 0.06% were obese. The nourishment was significantly better in private school children but still 58% were underweight. There was a strong liking for fast food among children from both the groups. The playing time was less than an hour in a majority of students. Conclusion: There is an alarming census of underweight children in a semi-urban Indian town, but obesity is not that alarming, with an incidence rate &lt; 1%. There is an urgent need to promote games among children of all socioeconomic status. A blanket ban on fast food items in the school campus is the need of the hour. Undernourished children form majority of students going to school in India. This includes children attending private paid schools. The incidence of obesity is still so low so that any community level action on the same is presently not needed in India.

A Comparative Analysis Of Gender And Old Age Problems In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The study of old age problems is an emerging field in Pakistan. Old age brings variety of problems for both males and females, however, the nature of the problems of elderly men and women are different. This paper compares and analyses the problems faced by elderly men and women. This research study has been conducted in the semi urban town of Timergara, the head quarter of District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Data was collected from the respondents aged 60 years and above through in-depth interviews. The respondents were selected using convenient sampling technique. The study finds that because of gender discrimination and cultural factors, women have lower access to health services than men. Consequently health problems of elderly women are more severe than the health problems of elderly men. The study further finds that women at old age are poorer than men due to cultural restrictions on education, women employment, deprivation from property inheritance. Lack of old age pension and widowhood also plays role in poverty of elderly women.

Acute responses of airway oxidative stress, inflammation, and hemodynamic markers to ambient PM2.5 and their trace metal contents among healthy adolescences: A panel study in highly polluted versus low polluted regions

Particulate air pollutants are known contributors to global cardiorespiratory mortality through several pathways. We examined the effects of varied exposure to PM2.5 and trace metals on biological markers of airway inflammation, oxidative stress, and hemodynamic function of young individuals living in two different exposure settings.We enrolled and followed a panel of 97 healthy nonsmoking participants aged 15–18 years living in a highly polluted metropolitan city of Tabriz (TBZ) and a much less polluted semi-urban town of Hadishahr (HDS). For five consecutive months, the subjects were examined by a physician, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels (FENO) were measured. Samples of exhaled breath condensation (EBC) were obtained for measuring interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and total nitric oxide (NOx). We measured daily outdoor PM2.5 mass concentration in a fixed station in each location for all this period. The PM-metal content was analyzed by ICP-MS. The linear mixed-effects regression models were applied for data analysis.The averages of PM2.5 mass and total metals in TBZ were nearly two and four times higher than in HDS, respectively. In TBZ, an increased IQR of PM2.5 mass during 0–5 days was -correlated with a significant rise in diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, TNF-α, FENO, and NOx and reduction of IL-6. Moreover, exposure to low PM2.5 concentration is significantly -correlated with an elevation in diastolic blood pressure in HDS. We also observed that exposure to metal constituents in the highly polluted region is correlated with increased TNF-α and IL-6 with 131.80% (95% CI: 56.01, 244.39) and 47.51% (95% CI: 33.01, 62.05) per IQR of Hg, respectively.This study suggests that exposure to ambient PM2.5 and their metal contents in highly polluted areas may incite significant changes in airway inflammation, oxidative stress, and hemodynamic parameters in healthy subjects.

Metal pollution source apportionment in two important Rivers of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: a case study of Bizana and Mthatha Rivers

Regular monitoring of the chemical status of water bodies remains crucial in countries where data on chemical fingerprints that can assist in environmental policy is still limited. The current study focused on the concentrations of 14 metals and their sources in two important South African rivers that pass through various rural areas and two semi-urban towns in the province of the Eastern Cape. Most of the essential metals were within the South African guidelines for domestic water use except for selenium and iron which reached the concentrations of 131 and 712 µg L−1 that exceed the guideline values of 20 and 200 µg L−1, respectively. Cadmium and lead were above the South African Water Quality Guidelines and World Health Organization limits of 3 and 10 µg L−1, attaining the highest concentrations of 35 and 34 µg L−1, respectively. The impact of the wastewater treatment plant effluent and the municipal dumpsite leachates on metal ion concentrations in the rivers was observed for some metals. The metals source was related to deterioration of galvanized corrugated steel sheets from scrap yards and dwellings made-out of galvanized corrugated sheets, as well as agricultural activities and natural geological processes. An overview of the current water quality status of the two rivers may serve as a basis for sink-oriented pollutant fingerprinting toward sustainable water sources for communities.

Performing the Living Heritages of a Semi-Urban Town in Malaysia: A/r/tography on the Heutagogy Approach

Performing the Living Heritages of a Semi-Urban Town in Malaysia: A/r/tography on the Heutagogy Approach