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Adolescent health is critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, ‘health for all at all ages’. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), mining projects hold promise for social and economic development. Yet, the extent to which the health and well-being of adolescents are impacted by industrial mining is poorly understood. In this paper, we aim to investigate how adolescent health and well-being is perceived by key informants and caregivers in communities that have been affected by industrial mining projects in Mozambique.
A qualitative study was implemented from May–July 2022 in two rural districts in Mozambique’s northern and central regions. Both districts have large industrial mining projects: a coal mine in Moatize district and a mineral sands mine in Moma district.
A total of 21 key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with a range of stakeholders, including health professionals and civil society and private sector representatives. In addition, four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with adolescents’ caregivers.
Through the combined results from the KIIs and FGDs, four main health concerns affecting adolescents in mining areas were identified: sexually transmitted infections, respiratory tract infections, diarrhoeal diseases and malaria. Mining activities were perceived to exacerbate negative health effects and contribute to poor health outcomes among adolescents. Although mining companies invested in public infrastructure, most participants did not perceive this investment as a positive contribution to the health and well-being of adolescents.
Our study sheds light on the multifaceted challenges perceived by stakeholders that adolescents residing in mining communities in Mozambique face. Insufficient priority is given to effective interventions that specifically target adolescent health in the two study mining areas. In order to leave no one behind, as stipulated by the sustainable development agenda, more emphasis should be placed on the role and responsibility of mining companies in adequately addressing adolescents’ unique health needs in mining settings in SSA.
by Janaína de Pina Carvalho, Sarah Nascimento Silva, Tália Santana Machado de Assis, Endi Lanza Galvão, Mayra Soares Moreira, Mônica Viegas Andrade, Kenya Valéria Micaela de Souza Noronha, Gláucia Cota
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected infectious disease with a global distribution and a known health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impact. However, no utility-based HRQoL assessments for CL patients are available. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the health-related quality of life among patients with CL attending a Brazilian reference center. A retrospective interview-based longitudinal study was conducted using the EQ-5D-3L/VAS to assess the current health status during active disease, and retrospectively before the onset of disease symptoms. In addition, socioeconomic data were collected via a standardized questionnaire, and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected directly from medical records. A total of 143 patients with a mean age of 52 (±17) years were included, 73% of whom were men. The mean utility score before the onset of CL symptoms was 0.858. Comparison of responses related to health status before and after disease onset revealed significant losses (pWe aim the isolated and combined effects of sedentary behaviour exposure time and physical activity levels on muscle strength in older adults.
This prospective observational cohort study, analytical in nature, using exploratory survey methods and physical performance testing. With 5-year longitudinal follow-up (2015–2020).
A total of 459 older adults participated in the baseline, with a total of 224 being included/located again in the follow-up. We evaluate muscle strength using handgrip tests and sit-to-stand tests. The international physical activity questionnaire was used to measure physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Generalised Estimation Equations tested both independent and combined effects, reporting results as β coefficients and confidence intervals.
Older adults exhibiting low sedentary behaviour displayed enhanced handgrip strength compared to those with high sedentary behaviour. Notably, older adults who were sufficiently active with low sedentary behaviour, sufficiently active with high sedentary behaviour, and insufficiently active with low sedentary behaviour showed increased handgrip strength compared to their counterparts who were insufficiently active with high sedentary behaviour. This trend was consistent for lower limb strength.
Interventions that encourage a reduction in sedentary behaviour and an increase in physical activity are essential to maintain muscle strength among older adults.
The findings of this study underscore the importance of addressing both sedentary behaviour and physical activity levels in clinical interventions aimed at preserving muscle strength in older adults. Routine assessments of physical activity and sedentary behaviour could help tailor personalised exercise programs, potentially enhancing functional independence and reducing the risk of frailty and disability in older patients.
Patients were involved in the sample of the study.
This study was conducted in accordance with the Strengthening Research in Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.
Objetivo: Analizar la distribución especial de casos de infección por drogas tuberculosis/VIH en el estado del nordeste brasileño y su correlación con los indicadores sociales, económicos y de la salud. Métodos: Estudio ecológico, realizado en Ceará, con 49 personas con tuberculosis/VIH. Datos de los sistemas oficiales de salud, analizados por la correlación de Pearson, ArcGIS y del índice global de Moran. Resultados: Hubo mayor número de casos en 2017 (24,5%) y en Fortaleza (63,8%), con prevalencia de casos en barrios, con promedio de 3,44-3,61 residentes, en hogares con 1 a 3 baños y responsables con ingreso entre R $ 429,02 y R$ 1111,32. Conclusiones: En la mayoría de los casos coinfectados farmacorresistentes estaban localizados en la capital del estado, en regiones socialmente desfavorecidas.
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