Jacques Oosthuizen

Magnitude and contributory factors of postnatal depression: a community-based cohort study from a rural subdistrict of Bangladesh

BACKGROUND Recent evidence suggests that the prevalence of postnatal depression (PND) is highest in low-income developing countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of PND and its associated risk factors among Bangladeshi women. METHOD The study was conducted in the Matlab subdistrict of rural Bangladesh. A cohort of 346 women was followed up from late pregnancy to post-partum. Sociodemographic and other related information on risk factors was collected on structured questionnaires by trained interviewers at 34-35 weeks of pregnancy at the womans home. A validated local language (Bangla) version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS-B) was used to measure depression status at 34-35 weeks of pregnancy and at 6-8 weeks after delivery. RESULTS The prevalence of PND was 22% [95% confidence interval (CI) 17.7-26.7%] at 6-8 weeks post-partum. After adjustment in a multivariate logistic model, PND could be predicted by history of past mental illness [odds ratio (OR) 5.6, 95% CI 1.1-27.3], depression in current pregnancy (OR 6.0, 95% CI 3.0-12.0), perinatal death (OR 14.1, 95% CI 2.5-78.0), poor relationship with mother-in-law (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.1-11.8) and either the husband or the wife leaving home after a domestic quarrel (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.6-10.2). CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of PND in the study was similar to other countries in the South Asian region. The study findings highlight the need for programme managers and policy makers to allocate resources and develop strategies to address PND in Bangladesh.

Validation of the Bangla version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for a Bangladeshi sample

In developing countries, postnatal depression (PND) is estimated to affect a high proportion of women following childbirth. There are no reliable estimates for the magnitude of the problem in Bangladesh, a country of 140 million people. The lack of a validated Bangla version of screening scale such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) has hindered attempts to quantify and address the problem in the country. This study was carried out among Bangladeshi women to validate the Bangla version of the EPDS with the help of a multi‐disciplinary research consultative group. A research assistant administered the Bangla EPDS to a convenience sample of 100 mothers at 6–8 weeks postpartum attending an urban childhood immunization clinic. A psychiatrist examined all women using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for DSM‐IV diagnosis of depression. Nine (9%) women were found to have depression. Internal consistency was tested using Cronbachs alpha coefficient (0.84). The optimal Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) cut‐off score of Bangla EPDS was 10 with a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 87 %, positive predictive value of 40%, and negative predictive value of 99%. The Bangla EPDS is thus a valid and reliable screening scale for identifying PND in Bangladesh.

Global Warming and Heat Stress Among Western Australian Mine, Oil and Gas Workers

The earth is currently experiencing a change in its climate which in some areas is resulting in warmer ambient temperatures. Globally the frequency and severity of heat waves have increased over the last few decades leading to an associated increase in the burden of morbidity and mortality associated with heat waves. Global temperatures are predicted to rise even further in the foreseeable future [1, 2].

The control of formaldehyde vapour in the human anatomy laboratory of a traditionally disadvantaged South African medical school

Formaldehyde vapour monitoring was conducted over the period July 1993 to September 1995 in the Human Anatomy Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine; University of Natal. During the initial study, ambient levels of formaldehyde vapour exceeded the American (ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV). An intervention in the form of ventilation controls was implemented and proved to be effective in reducing formaldehyde vapour levels. Whether that reduction is sufficient to prevent long-term health effects such as neoplasms and sensitisation remains to be established. The use of alternative methods of environmental control of exposures to formaldehyde are discussed and recommendations are made to reduce the exposure of workers in such situations.

Effectiveness of S-Methoprene Briquets and Application Method for Mosquito Control in Urban Road Gullies/Catch Basins/Gully Pots in a Mediterranean Climate: Implications for Ross River Virus Transmission.

Abstract Floating emergence traps were used in 15 road gullies to determine the effectiveness and longevity of S-methoprene briquets over 124 days. Samples were taken monthly from October 2014 to March 2015. Two treatment methods were assessed: application of briquet using a float, and application without a float. These methods were compared with untreated control gullies. Mosquito emergence peaked in early November, and decreased by February. Effectiveness of the briquet was not impacted significantly by the presence or absence of a float (P = 0.329). Gullies yielded a mean of 108 mosquitoes per day per gully over the season. Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes notoscriptus were the most abundant species. The maximum number of Cx. quinquefasciatus emerging could exceed 1,600 per day per gully. Aedes notoscriptus numbers could exceed 70 adults per day per gully. Treatment with S-methoprene was highly effective against both species for at least 70 days and partially effective for up to 120 days. Treatment provided no control by day 124. S-methoprene provided 90% control over 124 days. Road gullies have been confirmed as a significant larval habitat and are likely to be increasing the potential for Ross River virus transmission in the area.

Occupational health and safety in cannabis production: an Australian perspective

ABSTRACT The legal Australian cannabis industry has been rapidly expanding due to increased awareness of the plant’s therapeutic potential, as well its diverse range of applications including biofuel, textiles, building materials, food, nutritional supplement, and animal feed. The objective of this paper is to describe the current landscape of the commercial Australian cannabis industry, summarise occupational health and safety (OHS) hazards in cannabis-related working environments, and provide suggestions for safeguarding worker health and well-being in this emerging industry. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 1900 and 2017 was undertaken to identify case studies and original epidemiological research on OHS hazards associated with the cannabis cultivation and the manufacture of cannabis-based products. The review found that the majority of OHS studies were undertaken in the hemp textile industry during the late twentieth century, with a small number of articles published from a variety of occupational environments including forensic laboratories and recreational marijuana farms. Cannabis harvesting and initial processing is labour intensive, and presents a physical hazard Depending on the operation, workers may also be exposed to a variety of biological, chemical, and physical hazards including: organic dusts, bioaerosols, pollen/allergens, volatile organic compounds, psychoactive substances (tetrahydrocannabinol [THC])), noise, and ultraviolet radiation. Little research has been undertaken on the exposure to inhalable organic dust and other bioaerosols during the commercial cultivation and manufacture of cannabis-based products. Furthermore, there is an absence of Australian-based research and OHS guidance materials to help professionals develop risk management strategies in this evolving industry. It is recommended that: Investigation into the toxicological properties of cannabis dusts, specifically in relation to potential occupational exposures during cultivation and manufacture, should be a priority. The interim adoption of the respirable cotton dust exposure standard of 0.2 mg/m3 for workplace exposure in hemp facilities until a cannabis workplace exposure standard is developed, and that exposure to medicinal cannabis containing THC are kept as low as reasonably practicable. An industry partnership be established for the development of an Australian health and safety guideline for the production of medicinal cannabis and hemp. A classification to meet the requirements of the Global Harmonization Scheme should be undertaken to ensure consistency in the use of safety and risk phrases in cannabis-related industries.

“Looking over the Backyard Fence”: Householders and mosquito control

(1) Background: Vector-borne diseases are a significant public health problem in Western Australia. Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of a number of pathogens and may pose a serious nuisance problem. Prevention efforts in the State are multi-faceted and include physical, chemical, and cultural control methods for restricting mosquito breeding. This is less complex where breeding areas are located within public open spaces. In Australia’s developed urban areas, breeding sites are, however, frequently located within private residential landholdings, where the scope of public health officials to act is constrained by law and practicality. Consequently, mosquito prevention in these locations is predominantly the responsibility of the residents. This research addressed a gap, both in understanding the degree to which “backyard” mosquito breeding has the potential to contribute to local mosquito problems, and in assessing what residents “think and do” about mosquito control within their home environment. (2) Methods: The study was conducted in the Town of Bassendean, a metropolitan Local Government Area of Perth, Western Australia, in close proximity to two natural, productive mosquito breeding sites, namely Ashfield Flats and Bindaring Park. A total of 150 householders were randomly surveyed during the summer of 2015–2016, to gauge residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) Survey) in regards to mosquitoes, their breeding and ecology, and avoidance or minimization strategies. The survey comprised nine questions covering residents’ knowledge (3 questions), attitudes (3 questions), and practices (3 questions), as well as additional questions regarding the basic demographics of the resident. Larvae were collected from backyard containers and reared to adults for species identification. A series of Encephalitis Vector Surveillance carbon dioxide (EVS CO2) traps were also deployed, to assess adult mosquito density and species composition. (3) Results: Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse), a known container-inhabiting species, accounted for just over 50% of all mosquitoes identified. Most residents were aware of mosquito-borne disease and its risk in their local area. While the majority (79%) of the sample correctly identified Ross River virus as the most common infection in WA, a significant gap in the general knowledge of residents in regards to mosquito biology and breeding habits, was noted. Furthermore, only 50% of residents reported using personal protective measures to reduce mosquito bites and only one in six residents undertook physical or chemical mosquito control around their home. Additionally, 60% of respondents believed that mosquito control was “a job for the council and the state government”, rather than for individual householders. (4) Conclusions: A significant gap in the knowledge of residents in the study area existed in regards to the general knowledge of mosquitoes and their breeding habits; types of treatments that could be employed within the home; and the residents’ responsibility for the management of mosquito breeding on their private property. A public education campaign has been deployed to educate the residents.

The Highs and Lows of Making a Bucket List—Quantifying Potential Mosquito Breeding Habitats in Metropolitan Backyards

While the development of land for residential housing along the Swan and Canning Rivers in Perth, WA, Australia has reduced natural mosquito breeding sites, the role of backyard container breeding remains a relatively unknown factor. Local Governments responsible for these areas focus management and control efforts on low lying, tidally driven mosquito habitats to control Aedes vigilax (Skuse) and Aedes camptorhynchus (Thomson) mosquitoes in an effort to reduce both the nuisance and disease risk to residents. In spite of their efforts, Local Governments continue to receive complaints regarding mosquito nuisance, even when environmental conditions do not favor hatching and development of the two species in the Swan River tidal flats. In this study, 150 backyard inspections were conducted in the residential suburb of Bassendean, Perth, WA, Australia, situated in close proximity to the Swan River tidal plain. The occurrence and species composition of the mosquito fauna found in residential backyards was documented. Of the backyards inspected, 94% were found to possess containers capable of breeding mosquitoes, although only 3% contained mosquito larvae. Nine species of mosquito were collected from containers ranging in capacity from 0.05 to 50 L across the study area. Additionally, encephalitis virus surveillance trapping was conducted within residential properties and compared to the tidally driven natural habitat at Ashfield Flats and a tidally influenced brackish creekline at Bindaring Park. The species composition of the fauna at the three habitat types differed significantly, with Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse) dominating residential lots and A. vigilax more prevalent at the saltmarsh site. Bindaring Park had an adult composition at the mid-point of these two habitats, reflecting its proximity to both the Swan River and residential lots.