Water & nutitonal status | FSM in emergencies | Behavioral maintenance | Cholera outbreaks | Household hygiene & malaria | Handwashing in classrooms
Dan Campbell
Does access to water matter? A study on the nutritional status of primary-aged children in India.
Jnl Public Health, Nov 2015. Authors: E. Liu, D. Balasubramaniam, and A.F. Hunt.
Abstract/order info: http://goo.gl/lIL4vp
Although the determinants of nutritional status, which is critical to children's well-being, have been extensively studied in developing countries, there is very little understanding of the relationship between nutritional status among children and water access. This study attempts to fill this gap in the literature by studying primary-aged children (aged between 6 and 14) in India. These empirical findings show that improving access to drinking water is critical to advance the nutritional status of children in India.
Lactic Acid Fermentation, Urea and Lime Addition: Promising Faecal Sludge Sanitizing Methods for Emergency Sanitation.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, Nov 2015. Authors:
Full text: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/11/13871
In this research, three faecal sludge sanitizing methods—lactic acid fermentation, urea treatment and lime treatment—were studied for application in emergency situations. Based on Malawian prices, the cost of sanitizing 1 m3 of faecal sludge was estimated to be €32 for lactic acid fermentation, €20 for urea treatment and €12 for hydrated lime treatment.
Mechanisms of behavioural maintenance: Long-term effects of theory-based interventions to promote safe water consumption.
Soc Sci Med, Sep 2015. Authors: Jennifer Inauena & Hans-Joachim Mosler.
Abstract/order: http://goo.gl/s9yYw7
Theory-based interventions can enhance people’s safe water consumption, but the sustainability of these interventions and the mechanisms of maintenance remain unclear. We investigated these questions based on an extended theory of planned behaviour. Perceived behavioural control, intentions, commitment strength and coping planning were associated with maintenance. In line with previous studies, the results indicate that commitment and reminders engender long-term behavioural change.
Predictive Time Series Analysis Linking Bengal Cholera with Terrestrial Water Storage Measured from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Sensors. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015. Authors: Jutla A, Akanda A, Unnikrishnan A2, Huq
A, Colwell R.
Abstract/order: http://goo.gl/xXGByZ
Outbreaks of diarrheal diseases, including cholera, are related to floods and droughts in regions where water and sanitation infrastructure are inadequate or insufficient. However, availability of data on water scarcity and abundance in transnational basins, are a prerequisite for developing cholera forecasting systems. With more than a decade of terrestrial water storage (TWS) data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, conditions favorable for predicting cholera occurrence may now be determined.
Practical Teaching Tips for Proper Hand Washing and Preventing the Spread of Germs and Illnesses in the Classroom. J Olson.
Full text: http://goo.gl/72avVc
An interesting article on teaching handwashing in classrooms.
Domestic Larval Control Practices and Malaria Prevalence among Under-Five Children in Burkina Faso.
PLoS One, Oct 2015. Authors: Souleymane Diabaté , Thomas Druetz, Tiéba Millogo, Antarou Ly, Federica Fregonese, Seni Kouanda, Slim Haddad.
Full text: http://goo.gl/lsef8B
Larval source management has contributed to malaria decline over the past years. However, little is known about the impact of larval control practices undertaken at the household level on malaria transmission. Cleaning the house and its surroundings, eradicating breeding sites, and eliminating hollow objects that might collect water play a substantial role in preventing malaria among under-five. There is a need for national malaria control programs to include or reinforce training activities for community health workers aimed at promoting domestic larval control practices.