Background: Many African countries have seen a decline in communicable diseases and infant mortality with a concomitant emergence of Western-type, resource-draining, chronic diseases in a growing mid-aged population. This poses a threat to countries with very limited resources and points to the urgent need for data to predict the impact of this emerging trend on health and economy.Methods: A cohort of 76,356 unselected immigrants to Israel, from the Gondar area in Ethiopia, was studied for patterns of non-communicable diseases emergence following their move to a Western environment. Age-specific prevalence rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and important risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, BMI and smoking) were calculated by time since immigration and compared to those of 767,082 same period immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and to the Israeli Jewish population, using the Clalit Chronic Disease Registry.Results: Prevalence rates of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity and smoking all increased significantly in every age-group among the Ethiopian immigrants. The increase started within 5 years of immigration and sometimes exceeded the rate in the local Israeli population, most notably with diabetes. Disease rates among the FSU immigrants were lower in magnitude and different in trend. Rates of malignancies changed differentially by type and etiology of disease.Conclusion: Major temporal increases of chronic diseases morbidity were documented in immigrants from semi-rural Ethiopia to a Western environment. African countries undergoing gradual Westernization need to take immediate preventive measures to tackle the emerging problem. These can involve health education measures or the use of risk reducing drugs as possible approaches.
Background: Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease of public health and economic importance. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mbeya region between November 2015 and January 2016 to investigate the seroprevalence of human brucellosis and identify associated risk factors among individuals in risky occupations. Methods: A total of 425 humans from six occupational categories were serially tested for Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA), for screening and confirmation, respectively. A questionnaire survey was also administered to participants to collect epidemiological data. Results: The overall seroprevalence among the occupationally exposed individuals was 1.41% (95% CI: 00.64-3.12). Seroprevalence was higher among butcher men 5.6% (95% CI: 1.68-5.26), herds men 1.35% (95% CI: 0.18-9.02); and abattoir workers 1.1% (95% CI: 0.26-4.22) although there was no statistical significance. (Pvalue =.18). Seroprevalence was also higher among men (1.8%) compared to females (0%) (Pvalue =.19). and also, among those aged < 11 years (2.5%). Individuals who consumed raw milk had a higher seroprevalence (1.56%) compared to those who drunk boiled milk while seropositivity was 0.88% among those who assisted animals during parturition (Pvalue =.49). Butcher men were at higher risk of exposure compared to other occupational categories. Our findings show the presence of brucellosis in occupationally exposed individuals in Mbeya region. Conclusion: There is need to sensitize the concerned professions in order to reduce the risk of acquiring Brucella infections from animals and animal products This also calls for public health awareness about the disease, and implementation of measures to prevent further spread of brucellosis within and outside the study area.
Mother-Child and Birth cohort studies offer an excellent opportunity to evaluate the effects of ’early life’ exposures providing an insight in the etiology of chronic diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first study that aims to provide a comprehensive review of these studies in the Middle East Area (MEA). Authors searched to relevant registries, the Pubmed interface, internet search tools and had personal contact with study PIs. The search revealed 117 mother-child and birth cohort studies from 9 MEA region countries (Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar). Variability in the identified studies refers to the study design, objectives and the years of recruitment. Biological samples and data on environmental exposures were absent with the exception of limited studies (n = 44). This review revealed a sufficient number of available cohorts, however few have followed up children beyond the age of 2 years. Improved study designs focused on molecular and environmental data acquisition are required in a region that shares a set of unique characteristics in terms of landscape, climate, culture, and lifestyle. This review provides valuable information for planning future studies and set the grounds for collaborationswithin the MEA region and internationally.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of foodborne pathogens is of public health concern, especially in developing countries such as Zambia. This study was undertaken to determine the antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella isolated from retail broiler chicken carcasses purchased from open markets and supermarkets in Zambia. A total of 189 E. coli and five Salmonella isolates were isolated. Identification and confirmation of the isolates were done using Analytical Profile Index (API 20E) (Biomerieux®) and 16S rRNA sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) were performed using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion technique using a panel of 9 antibiotics. WHONET 2018 software was used to analyze AST results. The E. coli isolates were mostly resistant to tetracycline (79.4%), ampicillin (51.9%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (49.7%). Two of the five Salmonella isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic. This study has demonstrated the presence of AMR E. coli and Salmonella on retail broiler chicken carcasses from open markets and supermarkets, which is of public health concern.
Objective: In the contemporary aging society, subjective well-being is an important determinant of quality of life for older adults living alone. Although the association between improved health and subjective well-being in this population is well documented, the types of activities associated with subjective well-being are unclear.Methods: This study assessed the relationship between subjective well-being and activity types among older adults living alone based on a secondary analysis of the 2014 Survey of Attitudes Towards Older People Living Alone data. We conducted a Poisson regression analysis to determine the association between activity and subjective well-being.Results: After adjustment for age, sex, subjective physical health, subjective mental health, and income, higher levels of subjective well-being were significantly associated with spending time with family, meeting friends, playing with pets, eating, hiking, traveling, and watching sports.Conclusion: Going out and interactive activities, as well as individual activities outside the home, are associated with higher levels of subjective well-being. Promoting these activities has the potential to increase the subjective well-being of older adults.
