SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Local Government”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

Application of CCME Water Quality Index to monitor water quality: a case study of the Mackenzie River Basin, Canada.

All six ecosystem initiatives evolved from many years of federal, provincial, First Nation, local government and community attention to the stresses on sensitive habitats and species, air and water quality, and the consequent threats to community livability. This paper assesses water quality aspect for the ecosystem initiatives and employs newly developed Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) which provides a convenient mean of summarizing complex water quality data that can be easily understood by the public, water distributors, planners, managers and policy makers. The CCME WQI incorporates three elements: Scope - the number of water quality parameters (variables) not meeting water quality objectives (F(1)); Frequency - the number of times the objectives are not met (F(2)); and Amplitude. the extent to which the objectives are not met (F(3)). The index produces a number between 0 (worst) to 100 (best) to reflect the water quality. This study evaluates water quality of the Mackenzie - Great Bear sub-basin by employing two modes of objective functions (threshold values): one based on the CCME water quality guidelines and the other based on site-specific values that were determined by the statistical analysis of the historical data base. Results suggest that the water quality of the Mackenzie-Great Bear sub-basin is impacted by high turbidity and total (mostly particulate) trace metals due to high suspended sediment loads during the open water season. Comments are also provided on water quality and human health issues in the Mackenzie basin based on the findings and the usefulness of CCME water quality guidelines and site specific values.

Arctic Regions↗

PubMed2006

Assessing the impact of leather industry to water quality in the Aojing watershed in Zhejiang Province, China.

The development of the leather industry in the Aojiang watershed of Zhejiang province increased the release of waste water. In the waste water, ammonium nitrogen (NH(+) (4)-N) and germanium (Ge) are the main pollutants. In recent years, literature has documented that the intake of high concentrations of NH(+) (4)-N and Ge harms human health and biological species. This paper focuses on assessing the trends of NH(+) (4)-N and Ge concentrations in the released waste water in Aojiang watershed and on understanding their relationships with the released waste water using regression and correlation statistics. The paper also utilizes the integrated pollution index to evaluate the water quality in the watershed. Preliminary results show that, from 1992 to 1998, the concentrations of NH(+) (4)-N and total Ge increased 13 and 14 times, respectively, and they decreased somewhat after 1998. The concentrations of NH(+) (4)-N and total Ge are positively correlated to the amount of released waste water. These concentrations of NH(+) (4)-N and Ge, respectively, exceed 12 and 3 times, of the water standards. The water quality in the watershed degraded from Type III in 1992 to over Type V in 2003 when they were compared with the national water quality standards. It appeared that the pollution had positive correlation with leather industry production. The degraded water has no doubt affected human health and the ecosystem health. These results can provide scientific information for the local government to reasonably adjust the industry structure and reduce the pollution to protect the environment.

China↗

PubMed2005

The effect of social mixing controls on the spread of smallpox--a two-level model.

Responding to a possible bioterror attack of Smallpox has become a major concern to governments, local public officials and health authorities. This concern has been reflected in numerous studies that model and evaluate possible response strategies. Many of these studies consider only vaccination policies and assume homogeneous mixing, where all instances of contacts in the population are equally likely. Such a mixing pattern is rather unlikely to represent population interaction in a modern urban setting, which typically is separated into households on the one hand, and into daily meeting sites such as schools and offices, on the other hand. In this paper we develop a two-level social interaction model where an individual moves back and forth between home and a daily meeting site, possibly passing through a general meeting site such as mass transit system or other crowded areas. Based on the model, we evaluate the effect of social mixing controls, situational awareness of the public health system and mass vaccination on the spread of smallpox. It is shown that mixing controls and alertness of the response system may have a significant impact on the spread of the epidemic. Some policy recommendations are discussed.

Bioterrorism↗

PubMed2005

The impact of subsidized health insurance for the poor: evaluating the Colombian experience using propensity score matching.

This paper evaluates the impact of Colombia's subsidized health insurance program (SUBS) on medical care utilization. Colombia's SUBS program is a demand-side subsidy intended for low-income families, where the screening of beneficiaries takes place in decentralized locations across the country. Due to the self-selection problems associated with non-experimental data, we implement Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methods to measure the impact of this subsidy on medical care utilization. By combining unique household survey data with community and regional data, we are able to compute propensity scores in a way that is consistent with both the local government's decision to offer the subsidy, and with the individual's decision to accept the subsidy. Although the application of PSM using these rich datasets helps to achieve a balance between the treatment and control groups along observable dimensions, we also present instrumental variable estimates to control for the potential endogeneity of program participation. Using both methods, we find that Colombia's subsidized insurance program greatly increased medical care utilization among the country's poor and uninsured. This evidence supports the case for other Latin American countries implementing similar subsidy programs for health insurance for the poor.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2007

Prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment among school children in south-western Nigeria.

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and identify the causes of blindness and visual impairment in school children of Ilesa-East Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. A total of 1144 school children in primary and secondary schools were selected using a 2-stage random sampling method and examined to determine the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment. A total of 17 (1.48%) children were blind or visually impaired. These comprised of 11 (0.96%) children who were visually impaired and 4 (0.3%) who were severely visually impaired. Only 2 (0.15%) school children were blind. The causes of visual impairment were refractive error 10 (0.87%) and immature cataract 1 (0.08%), causes of severe visual impairment included corneal opacities 2 (0.2%), amblyopia leading to squint 1 (0.08%) and 1 cataract 1 (0.08%). The causes of blindness in school children were corneal scars presumed to be due to vitamin A deficiency 1 (0.08%) and keratoconus 1 (0.08%). Causes of blindness and visual impairment in children attending regular schools in Nigeria were treatable. Prevention, early recognition and prompt treatment of these diseases by regular screening of school children would definitely reduce unnecessary visual handicap in Nigerian school children so that they can attain their full potential in the course of their education. Also, information from this study is relevant for the purpose of planning eye care programmes for the prevention of blindness in Nigerian school children. This will go a long way in the prevention of unnecessary blindness and visual impairment in school children.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1982

Abortion and informed consent requirements.

Supreme Court decisions have liberalized a woman's right to decide whether to obtain an abortion. Some state and local governments have tried to circumvent these decisions by enacting requirements designed to discourage abortions by, among other things, dictating to physicians an elaborate litany of specific information that must be communicated to a patient as a necessary precondition of her informed consent for an abortion. This article discusses the legal status of such requirements, their implications for the professional autonomy of physicians, and the role of the medical profession in challenging these restrictions, on its own behalf and in concert with its patients.

Abortion, Legal↗

PubMed1992

Maternal tetanus toxoid coverage during pregnancy in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

A cluster survey on maternal tetanus toxoid (TT) coverage was carried out in the Ile-Ife Central Local Government Area. Out of the 896 mothers of babies 0-12 months old who were interviewed, 668 (74.6%) claimed they received TT during pregnancy, this was confirmed in 37 (4.1%) and in only 25 (2.8%) of these cases could the babies be said to have been protected from neonatal tetanus (NNT) at birth. About 35% of the babies were delivered at home/churches where most babies with NNT are usually born.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

A survey of predilection sites and degree of disability associated with guineaworm (Dracunculus medinensis).

Of the 1,200 people surveyed for dracontiasis in Ribi and Kanje villages in Awe Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria, 982 (82%) were infected. Most infections (98%) involved the lower limb. Worms emerging from the umbilicus, groin, palm, wrist, and upper arm were also encountered. Of the 982 infected persons 206 (21%) were totally incapacitated, 193 (20%) were seriously disabled, and 431 (44%) suffered mild incapacity, while 152 (16%) were unaffected. Of the 5 species of cyclopoid copepods found in their main water source, only Thermocyclops nigerianus and Mesocyclops aequatorialis harboured guineaworm larvae.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

The effects of human activities on natural radiation exposure: health and regulatory implications.

A decade ago, interest in "enhanced" natural radiation was focused primarily on localized industrial activities, e.g., uranium, radium, thorium and phosphate production. Recognition that all human activities influence natural radiation exposure, and that indoor radon exposure is particularly sensitive to such activities (building construction practices, occupant life-styles) has added a new dimension to the problem. Public health assessments must address the problem of high individual risks of lung cancer as well as substantial population risks that are only minimally ameliorated by reduction of high exposures. In the United States, Federal, State, and local government agencies are collaborating with the private sector in developing the information needed for public guidance. Voluntary standards relating to building construction practices are likely to be developed.

Environmental Exposure↗

PubMed1993

Mechanisms involved in the coordinate regulation of strategic enzymes of glucose metabolism.

In this review, we evaluate the relative regulatory importance of specific strategic enzymes (in particular glycogen synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase [ACC] and the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex [PDH]) for carbohydrate utilization as an anabolic precursor and as an energy substrate during the nutritional transitions between the fed and fasted states. The involvement of the specific protein kinases contributing to the inactivation of these enzymes by phosphorylation [cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, AMP-activated protein kinase and PDH kinase] in achieving each regulatory response is also assessed. We demonstrate a striking temporal correlation between hepatic glycogen mobilization and PDH and ACC inactivation by phosphorylation during the immediate postabsorptive period; in contrast, rates of hepatic glycogen synthesis and PDH and ACC expressed activities do not change in parallel during refeeding. The results are consistent with shifting of the primary sites of control for overall hepatic carbon flux during the fed-to-starved and starved-to-fed nutritional transitions achieved, at least in part, by a complex pattern of regulation by protein phosphorylation and metabolites which is critically dependent on the precise nutritional status. Data are also presented that demonstrate asynchronous suppression of glucose uptake/phosphorylation and pyruvate oxidation in cardiac and skeletal muscle during progressive starvation. Analogous asynchrony is observed in the reactivation of these processes in cardiac and skeletal muscle during refeeding after starvation. We provide evidence in support of the concept that selective suppression of pyruvate oxidation in oxidative muscles during early starvation and during the initial phase of refeeding is achieved because of differential sensitivity of glucose uptake/phosphorylation and pyruvate oxidation to lipid-fuel utilization. We discuss the relative importance of regulatory events governing local fatty acid production and utilization (via lipoprotein lipase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, respectively) or overall fatty acid supply (dictated by events at the adipocyte) for fuel utilization by muscle during nutritional transitions. Finally, we assess the regulatory importance of glycogen synthesis in determining overall rates of glucose clearance by skeletal muscle during alimentary hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

PubMed1989

Rheumatic tricuspid stenosis without involvement of the mitral valve.

We describe a case of rheumatic tricuspid stenosis without involvement of the mitral valve. Rheumatic disease of the tricuspid valve is very rare in the absence of concomitant mitral valvar disease. We suggest that the closing pressure at the valve is not the only factor governing localization of the rheumatic process.

Echocardiography↗

PubMed1987

Health expenditure by area in Finland--an indicator of equity.

The responsibility of organizing and funding health services has in Finland been delegated to small local government units (to 461 communes, average pop. about 11,000), but not to counties or provinces like e.g. in other Nordic countries. PHC is organized by one or few communes and for the specialist level services they have formed 21 Central Hospital Regions (CHR). The central government pays per cent subsidies which are weighted on the basis of income of each community. In 1982 the average share of central government was 44.3% and the communes were responsible for 28.6% of the total expenditure. The national sickness insurance is subventing mainly private services. Its share was in 1982 about 11%. Direct personal costs were about 16%. There are no marked regional differences in the structure of services, e.g. the average share of inpatient care expenditure was 53% and the differences between regions small (z 6%). Total expenditure varied as indexes between regions from 82 tot 119. One reason is the high costs of some university hospitals which do not receive full compensation for services made available to other regions. The expenditure by region did not correlate at all with indicators of ageing. The same can be said of areal differences in income level. Only SMR, a crude indicator of the level of health, correlated positively with expenditure. It is concluded that the areal equity is acceptable if measured with expenditure. The general structure of services does not markedly differ between CHRs. The total health expenditure has been and will remain at the relatively low level of 6.5-7.0% of the GNP. The involvement of small communes is seen as a favourable basis of controlling the expenditure and developing an efficient service system.

Catchment Area, Health↗

PubMed1991

Socioeconomic status and cancer mortality and incidence in Melbourne.

Data were obtained for all deaths registered between 1979-1983, and for all new cancers recorded at the Victorian Cancer Registry between 1982-1983, in residents of Melbourne. A socioeconomic status (SES) measure had been produced for each local government area (LGA) by principal components analysis of sociodemographic variables recorded at the 1981 census. A SES score from 1 to 10 was assigned to each death and cancer. Population data from the census were similarly scored. Age standardised rates for all cause mortality, for mortality from all causes other than cancer and for both incidence and mortality of total cancers, cancer of the stomach, colon, rectum, lung, female breast, cervix, uterus, prostate and bladder, and for melanoma, lymphoma and leukaemia were analysed as a function of SES decile using weighted linear regression. Despite the limited number of years of data and the misclassification of the SES score, analyses showed there were inequitable distributions of mortality, and of some major cancers, across social strata in Melbourne during the early 1980s. The incidences of cancer of the breast, colon, prostate and melanoma were all positively associated with SES, while the incidences of cancer of the stomach, lung and cervix demonstrated negative SES gradients. For cancers where incidence showed a significant SES gradient there was a similar SES gradient with mortality. These patterns are consistent with the literature and implicate SES differences in education and access to services. Implications for health policy are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Geographic distribution and demographic correlates of colorectal cancer mortality in Sydney, New South Wales.

Colorectal cancer (CC) has the highest incidence of any internal malignancy in Australia and is a major cause of death. A knowledge of the geographic distribution of CC will aid in the identification of high risk groups for whom diagnostic and treatment facilities should be provided and may give clues to aetiological factors. Total CC deaths and age-standardized mortality ratios for Local Government Areas in Sydney, Australia were mapped and the relationships between mortality and selected demographic measures were examined. Several statistically significant zero-order correlation coefficients were found but multiple regression analysis showed a dominant independent negative effect of distance from the centre of the city on CC mortality. No substantial independent effects of demographic variables were observed. The existence of presently unmeasured environmental aetiological factors is postulated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Accessibility to general hospitals in rural Bendel State, Nigeria.

The concern is growing in Nigeria as in many other developing countries that the rural population, in spite of its size, is the most neglected in the distribution of social facilities. Even in the rural areas the spatial disparity in the location of the few available facilities aggravates the problem of some segments of the population. The case of accessibility to general hospitals in rural Bendel State of Nigeria is examined in this paper because general hospitals are crucial to the success of the free medical delivery system being attempted in the state. Using some surrogate measures of accessibility the study attempts a classification of all the rural Local Government Areas in the state according to their relative accessibility to general hospitals. Finally, the paper discusses some implications of the findings for social services planning in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Health Expenditures↗

PubMed1986

The place of primary health care in a comprehensive health system.

UNLABELLED: In considering the place of Primary Health Care in a comprehensive health system, we must first consider what is meant by the term 'comprehensive'. Comprehensive systems take into account all phases of life from infancy to old age, and integrate all aspects of being, including physical, psychological, mental, social, environmental, political and so on. It is the task of those who deliver the primary health care system to evaluate and prioritize health needs in specific populations, and to implement programs which honor the community's unique priorities, taking into account all phases and aspects of life. Drawing upon data collected from a comprehensive field survey of community health activities in Hiketa, in Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku, and other similar surveys carried out in Japan, as well as references such as the Report of the International Conference on Primary Health Care (Alma Ata), and the World Health Organization Global Strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000, this background paper will outline the critical aspects to be considered in implementation of primary health care in comprehensive health systems, as a context for further discussion. Aspects to be considered are as follows: Community representation and participation Evaluation of health needs Prioritization of health needs IMPLEMENTATION: consultation with specialists IMPLEMENTATION: utilization of local resources IMPLEMENTATION: health education IMPLEMENTATION: support of local government IMPLEMENTATION: co-ordination of laymen, specialists, officials and others Evaluation Follow through. Illustrative examples will be used to highlight problems and solutions as each aspects is considered.

Community Health Services↗

PubMed1988

Audiology training in Nigeria--I: A training model.

The purpose of this paper was to develop a model for preparing professional audiology personnel in a developing country (Nigeria). Professional audiologists in Nigeria are expected to provide basic and advanced audiologic services in hospitals, special schools for the hearing-impaired and to develop, conduct or supervise hearing conservation programs in regular school settings, industries as well as local government health centers. The competencies expected of students upon completing their professional programs are presented in the form of 'training modules' vis-a-vis basic science, medical educational, hearing conservation, aural rehabilitation and clinical practicum. Training implications of the modules are discussed with regards to the promise they hold for the preparation of audiology personnel particularly in developing countries.

Audiology↗

PubMed1995

Positive life orientation and recovery from myocardial infarction.

The study examined the relationship between positive life orientation (PLO) and recovery from a recent myocardial infarction (MI), i.e. heart attack. PLO was defined as a predisposition to selectively focus one's attention on the brighter side of any situation. An 11-item measure of PLO was developed. Seventy male patients of first MI receiving treatment at a local government hospital were interviewed twice, 4-5 days after their first heart attack (time 1) and a month after their first heart attack (time 2). The interview schedule consisted of measures of PLO, perceived recovery, expected recovery, helplessness, personal control and mood state. At time 1 all these measures were administered but at time 2 measures of only PLO, personal control, perceived recovery and mood state were administered. In addition, the attending doctor assessed the patients' medical recovery at time 1. Results showed positive correlation of patients' PLO scores with their medical recovery, perceived recovery, expected recovery, personal control and mood state but negative with helplessness. PLO scores were not influenced by patients' age, education, or income. Patients' scores on PLO at two time points were not significantly different and were positively correlated. Their scores on sense of personal control and perceived recovery increased significantly at time 2. Significant intercorrelations among variables, under study, often reduced to insignificance on partialling out PLO. PLO, thus emerged as an important factor in recovery from MI.

Adult↗