Objectives. To undertake a critical review describing key strategies supporting development of participatory research (PR) teams to engage partners for creation and translation of action-oriented knowledge. Methods. Sources are four leading PR practitioners identified via bibliometric analysis. Authors’ publications were identified in January 1995–October 2009 in PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Science and CAB databases, and books. Works were limited to those with a process description describing a research project and practitioners were first, second, third, or last author. Results. Adapting and applying the “Reliability Tested Guidelines for Assessing Participatory Research Projects” to retained records identified five key strategies: developing advisory committees of researchers and intended research users; developing research agreements; using formal and informal group facilitation techniques; hiring co-researchers/partners from community; and ensuring frequent communication. Other less frequently mentioned strategies were also identified. Conclusion. This review is the first time these guidelines were used to identify key strategies supporting PR projects. They proved effective at identifying and evaluating engagement strategies as reported by completed research projects. Adapting these guidelines identified gaps where the tool was unable to assess fundamental PR elements of power dynamics, equity of resources, and member turnover. Our resulting template serves as a new tool to measure partnerships.

Jon Salsberg

David Parry

Pierre Pluye

Soultana Macridis

Carol P. Herbert

Ann C. Macaulay

Successful Strategies to Engage Research Partners for Translating Evidence into Action in Community Health: A Critical Review

Occupational exposure to lead is common among automobile technicians and constitutes 0.9&#x25; of total global health burden with a majority of cases in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the blood lead levels of automobile technicians in roadside and organised garages in Lagos State, Nigeria. This was a comparative cross-sectional study. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Physical examinations were conducted and blood was analysed for lead using atomic spectrophotometery. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the median blood lead levels of each group using the independent sample (Mann-Whitney U) test. Seventy-three (40.3&#x25;) of the organised compared to 59 (34.3&#x25;) of the roadside groups had high blood lead levels. The organised group had statistically significant higher median blood lead levels of, 66.0&#x2009;&#xb5;g/dL than the roadside 43.5&#x2009;&#xb5;g/dL (P &#x3c; 0.05). There was also statistically significant association between high blood lead levels and abnormal discolouration of the mucosa of the mouth in the organised group. Automobile technicians in organised garages in Lagos have higher prevalence of elevated blood lead levels and higher median levels than the roadside group. Preventive strategies against lead exposures should be instituted by the employers and further actions should be taken to minimize exposures, improve work practices, implement engineering controls (e.g., proper ventilation), and ensure the use of personal protective equipment.

Abdulsalam Saliu

Onajole Adebayo

Odeyemi Kofoworola

Ogunowo Babatunde

Abdussalam Ismail

Comparative Assessment of Blood Lead Levels of Automobile Technicians in Organised and Roadside Garages in Lagos, Nigeria

Objective. To evaluate differences in the short-term relationship between weather conditions and the incidence of hip fracture in people aged 65 and over among two regions of Spain. Methods. Hip fracture incidence was calculated for the years 2000&#x2013;2008 for residents of Health Area 14 in Valencian Community (Mediterranean climate) and the &#x201c;Mancha Centro&#x201d; Health Area in Castilla-La Mancha (inland climate), Spain. The relationship between hip fracture incidence and weather was analyzed with a case-crossover design and explored in subgroups defined by sex, age, and fracture type. Results. In the inland area, a positive and significant tendency for hip fracture incidence was observed (annual increase: 1.5&#x25;) whereas in the Mediterranean area a seasonal increase of 9&#x25; was noted in autumn and winter with respect to spring. Weather conditions, especially wind, were significantly associated with hip fracture incidence: days with more frequent windy periods and/or a greater wind velocity were associated with an increase in hip fracture incidence of 51&#x25; in the Mediterranean area and 44&#x25; in the inland area. Conclusions. Hip fracture incidence exhibits seasonal changes that differ between the Mediterranean and inland areas. The short-term relationship with climate, although similar in both areas, may partly explain these seasonal changes.

Jos&#xe9; Mar&#xed;a Ten&#xed;as

Marisa Estarlich

Eusebio Crespo

Carmen Rom&#xe1;n-Ortiz

Angel Arias-Arias

Ferran Ballester

Short-Term Relationship between Hip Fracture and Weather Conditions in Two Spanish Health Areas with Different Climates

Objective. To assess the occupational health hazards faced by healthcare workers and the mitigation measures. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing quantitative data collection methods among 200 respondents who worked in 8 major health facilities in Kampala. Results. Overall, 50.0&#x25; of respondents reported experiencing an occupational health hazard. Among these, 39.5&#x25; experienced biological hazards while 31.5&#x25; experienced nonbiological hazards. Predictors for experiencing hazards included not wearing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), working overtime, job related pressures, and working in multiple health facilities. Control measures to mitigate hazards were availing separate areas and containers to store medical waste and provision of safety tools and equipment. Conclusion. Healthcare workers in this setting experience several hazards in their workplaces. Associated factors include not wearing all necessary protective equipment, working overtime, experiencing work related pressures, and working in multiple facilities. Interventions should be instituted to mitigate the hazards. Specifically PPE supply gaps, job related pressures, and complacence in adhering to mitigation measures should be addressed.

Rawlance Ndejjo

Geofrey Musinguzi

Xiaozhong Yu

Esther Buregyeya

David Musoke

Jia-Sheng Wang

Abdullah Ali Halage

Christopher Whalen

William Bazeyo

Phillip Williams

John Ssempebwa

Occupational Health Hazards among Healthcare Workers in Kampala, Uganda

While it is known that toxic metals contribute individually to child cognitive and behavioral deficits, we still know little about the effects of exposure to multiple metals, particularly when exposures are low.  We studied the association between children&#x2019;s blood lead and hair arsenic, cadmium, and manganese and their performance on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III.  Ninety-two preschool children (age 13&#x2013;42 months) from Montevideo, Uruguay, provided a hair sample and 78 had a blood lead level (BLL) measurement.  Using latent class analysis (LCA), we identified four groups of exposure based on metal concentrations: (1) low metals, (2) low-to-moderate metals, (3) high lead and cadmium, and (4) high metals.  Using the four-group exposure variable as the main predictor, and fitting raw scores on the cognitive, receptive vocabulary, and expressive vocabulary scales as dependent variables, both complete-case and multiple imputation (MI) analyses were conducted. We found no association between multiple-metal exposures and neurodevelopment in covariate-adjusted models.  This study demonstrates the use of LCA together with MI to determine patterns of exposure to multiple toxic metals and relate these to child neurodevelopment.  However, because the overall study population was small, other studies with larger sample sizes are needed to investigate these associations.

Katarzyna Kordas

Graciela Ardoino

Donna L. Coffman

Elena I. Queirolo

Daniela Ciccariello

Nelly Ma&#xf1;ay

Adrienne S. Ettinger

Patterns of Exposure to Multiple Metals and Associations with Neurodevelopment of Preschool Children from Montevideo, Uruguay

The content of 12 elements in Cambodian dried striped snakehead fish was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The present study compares the level of the trace toxic metals and nutritional trace elements in the fish processed using solar drying system (SDS) and open sun drying (OSD). The skin of SDS fish has lower level of As, Pb, and Cd compared to the OSD sample. As such, the flesh of the fish accumulated higher amount of toxic metals during OSD compared to SDS. However, arsenic was detected in both samples within the safe limit. The nutritional elements (Fe, Mn, Mg, Se, Mo, Cu, Ni, and Cr) were higher in the skin sample SDS fish compared to OSD fish. These beneficial metals were not accumulated in the flesh sample SDS fish demonstrating lower level compared to drying under conventional system. The reddish coloration of the SDS fish was due to the presence of high Cu content in both the skin and flesh samples which possibly account for no mold formation 5 days after packaging. As conclusion, drying of Cambodian C. striata using solar-assisted system has proven higher content of the nutritious elements compared to using the conventional system despite only slight difference in the toxic metals level between the two systems.

Dayang Fredalina Basri

Nur Faizah Abu Bakar

Ahmad Fudholi

Mohd Hafidz Ruslan

Im Saroeun

Comparison of Selected Metals Content in Cambodian Striped Snakehead Fish (Channa striata) Using Solar Drying System and Open Sun Drying

Outdoor air pollution is increasingly considered as a serious threat for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The aim of this study is to investigate the association between outdoor pollutants and cardiovascular diseases among adults in Lebanon and to examine the possible moderator effect of cigarette smoking status on this association. A multicenter case-control study was conducted between October 2011 and October 2012. Cases were hospitalized patients diagnosed with CVD by a cardiologist while the control group subjects were free of any cardiac diseases. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco consumption, self-rated global health, pollution exposure, and other risk factors was collected using a questionnaire. The results of the logistic regression revealed that living near busy highway (OR 5.04, 95&#x25; CI (4.44&#x2013;12.85), <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-0.6617603pt" id="M1" height="9.65971pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.99795 53.2534 9.65971" width="53.2534pt"><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,0,0)"><path id="g113-81" d="M600 480C600 590 528 650 384 650H143L137 622C222 614 225 607 210 531L130 127C113 41 106 36 23 28L17 0H294L300 28C204 36 195 42 212 127L243 284L314 263C327 263 339 263 352 264C465 271 600 337 600 480ZM508 481C508 351 402 304 329 304C289 304 265 311 250 317L295 559C302 594 310 606 323 611C335 616 350 619 367 619C455 619 508 573 508 481Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,12.15,0)"><path id="g117-91" d="M512 -3V55L134 254V256L512 456V514L75 281V230L512 -3Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,23.887,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,30.39,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,33.48,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,39.983,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,46.486,0)"><path id="g113-50" d="M384 0V27C293 34 287 42 287 114V635C232 613 172 594 109 583V559L157 557C201 555 205 550 205 499V114C205 42 199 34 109 27V0H384Z"/></g></svg>) and close to local diesel generator (OR 4.76, 95&#x25; CI (2.07&#x2013;10.91), <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-0.6617603pt" id="M2" height="9.65971pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.99795 53.2534 9.65971" width="53.2534pt"><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-81"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,12.15,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-91"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,23.887,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,30.39,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,33.48,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,39.983,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,46.486,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g></svg>) was significantly associated with CVD. The association between the CVD and exposure to outside pollutants differed by cigarette smoking status. A clear difference was noted between nonsmokers and current smokers OR 4.6, 95&#x25; CI (1.10&#x2013;19.25) and OR 10.11, 95&#x25; CI (7.33&#x2013;20.23), respectively. Forthcoming studies are needed to clarify the potential link between outdoor air pollution and cardiovascular diseases in Lebanon. Public health interventions must be implemented to reduce air pollution and to improve air quality.

Zeina Nasser

Pascale Salameh

Habib Dakik

Elias Elias

Linda Abou Abbas

Alain Lev&#xea;que

Outdoor Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Diseases in Lebanon: A Case-Control Study

Chronic exposure to urban traffic pollution is documented to promote atherosclerosis in adults but little is known about its potential effects in children. Our study examined the association of long-term exposure to traffic with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in 287 healthy children. Residential proximity and distance-weighted traffic density (DWTD) were used as proximity markers for traffic-related air pollution exposure. The multivariable analyses revealed that children residing &#x3C;100 meters from the nearest heavily trafficked road had cIMT mean and maximum measurements that were increased by 15&#x25; and 11&#x25; compared to those living &#x2265; 200 meters away (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-0.2129908pt" id="M1" height="9.21094pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.99795 59.7809 9.21094" width="59.7809pt"><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,0,0)"><path id="g113-81" d="M600 480C600 590 528 650 384 650H143L137 622C222 614 225 607 210 531L130 127C113 41 106 36 23 28L17 0H294L300 28C204 36 195 42 212 127L243 284L314 263C327 263 339 263 352 264C465 271 600 337 600 480ZM508 481C508 351 402 304 329 304C289 304 265 311 250 317L295 559C302 594 310 606 323 611C335 616 350 619 367 619C455 619 508 573 508 481Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,12.15,0)"><path id="g117-34" d="M535 323V373H52V323H535ZM535 138V188H52V138H535Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,23.887,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,30.39,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,33.48,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,39.983,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,46.486,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0135,0,0,-0.0135,52.989,0)"><path id="g113-50" d="M384 0V27C293 34 287 42 287 114V635C232 613 172 594 109 583V559L157 557C201 555 205 550 205 499V114C205 42 199 34 109 27V0H384Z"/></g></svg>). Similar increases in cIMT were identified for children in the highest versus lowest DWTD tertile. Children who resided 100&#x2013;199 meters from traffic or in the middle DWTD tertile also exhibited increased cIMT but these differences were not statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were identified between residential distance to traffic or DWTD and systemic inflammation indicators (CRP, IL-6). The study results suggest that exposure to urban traffic promotes arterial remodeling in children. This finding is important since even small increases in cIMT over time can potentially lead to earlier progression to atherosclerosis. It is also important because traffic-related pollution is potentially modifiable.

Rodrigo X. Armijos

M. Margaret Weigel

Orrin B. Myers

Wen-Whai Li

Marcia Racines

Marianne Berwick

Residential Exposure to Urban Traffic Is Associated with Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Children

About this journal

Journal of Environmental and Public Health publishes research covering all population-wide health issues. The journal serves the public health community: epidemiologists, clinicians, toxicologists, governmental agencies, policy makers, and NGOs.

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Chief Editor, Dr Ike S. Okosun, is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, The Obesity Society and the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene.&nbsp;His research focuses on epidemiology of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome.

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Journal of Environmental and Public Health - Table of contents 2015

Journal of Environmental and Public Health | Hindawi

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Journal of Environmental and Public Health publishes research covering all population-wide health issues. The journal serves the public health community: epidemiologists, clinicians, toxicologists, governmental agencies, policy makers, and NGOs.

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Journal of Environmental and Public Health

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