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Urbanization and de-urbanization of the black population before the Civil War.

Pre-Civil War black urbanization is examined using data from federal census records, 1790 to 1860. The black population is found to be as urban as the white population initially, but its urbanization underwent relative decline in the last two decades before the Civil War. Foreshadowing current patterns, the northern black population was heavily concentrated in the largest cities, and the free black population was the most urban of all groups. The timing of black urban decline in the North, as well as regional and size of place differences in that decline, suggest that both competition with immigrants in major eastern seaboard cities and the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850 contributed to black de-urbanization. For the South, the explanations of black urban decline proposed by Wade, Conrad and Meyer, Goldin, and Bonacich are evaluated, and Bonacich's split labor market theory is judged to be most consistent with the demographic trends.

Black or African American

The use of COSAS in the analysis of vaccination coverage in urban, peri-urban and rural populations in the Edendale/Vulindlela district of KwaZulu.

A repeat vaccination coverage survey has been conducted in the Edendale/Vulindlela district of KwaZulu. The survey data were processed using the Coverage Survey Analysis System (COSAS) developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) through its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). A modified random cluster sampling method was used to select 281 children between the ages of 12 and 23 months. Of the children surveyed, 83% were in possession of Road-to-Health cards (RTHCs). The best estimate of overall coverage for doses up to and including the second doses of polio and diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) was 85% or higher, but estimates for polio 3 and measles, at 72% and 67% respectively, remain suboptimal. Stratification of coverage into urban, peri-urban and rural categories revealed that the major contribution to the fall-off in coverage, after the second dose of polio and DPT, came from children in the peri-urban category with estimates of 52% for polio 3 and 38% for measles. The fact that coverage in the peri-urban population for doses up to and including polio 2 was 78% or higher indicated that the peri-urban influence responsible for this drop-out effect occurred between the approximate ages of 5 and 8 months. This identified populations in informal peri-urban settlements as a priority group for urgent intervention and further study. The estimation of missed opportunities at visits when vaccinations are normally given, found in this survey to occur in 17% of children, was a useful feature of COSAS and provided a basis for a specific intervention.

Cluster Analysis

Physical growth and development of urban native Americans: a study in urbanization and its implications for nutritional status.

Anthropometric measurements and hematocrits are reported on a mixed longitudinal sample of 1309 urban native Americans from Minneapolis from 22 days through 19 years of age (the sample size for each measurement varied from 276 to 1309). The results are compared to the United States national probability samples from the National Center for Health Statistics (HANES and HES), as well as, from 6 through 12 years, to a sample of related American Indians from a reservation in northern Minnesota. Compared to the United States standards, the urban sample is slightly shorter and, in general, consistently heavier. The skinfold thicknesses (triceps and subcapular) varied by site, sex, and age, relative to the standard. In general, the native Americans had thicker skinfolds except for males below 6 years of age, and for the subcapsular in female at all ages. Relative to the sample from the reservation, the urban natives are taller, heavier, with thicker skinfolds and greater weights-for-height. The potentially greater risk for obesity associated with urbanization is discussed. While the mean hematocrits were very close to accepted standards, 35% of infants and children less then 6 years of age had values less than 34.

Adolescent

[Significance of urban climatologic expert assessment for urban planning and development].

Aspects of urban climatology relevant to urban planning are given in respect of quality of the atmosphere and urban climate modification. This paper deals with the spatial evaluation of emission and incidence of air pollution, local conditions of air flow and diffusion, climatic effects of different surface types and conditions of urban ventilation.

Air Movements

Platelet aggregations, fatty acids, clotting factors and serum lipids in rural and urban blacks, and urban whites in South Africa.

Platelet fatty acids, platelet aggregations, and coagulation factors were measured in 27 rural blacks, 27 urban blacks and 39 urban whites. Platelets were significantly less aggregable to collagen and arachidonic acid in in both black groups as compared to whites (p less than 0.01), but there were no significant differences in ADP or epinephrine aggregation between these groups. Factor VIII coagulant activity was much higher in rural and urban blacks than whites (p less than 0.001), and the partial thromboplastin times were shorter (p less than 0.005). Platelet arachidonic acid showed a marked difference between the groups, being 16.4 +/- 5.4% of total platelet fatty acids in the rural blacks, 19.9 +/- 4.2% in the urban blacks and 22.6 +/- 3.3% in the whites (p less than 0.001). Whites had higher LDL and lower HDL cholesterol than blacks (p less than 0.005). These findings suggest that in addition to the well known association of raised LDL cholesterol and acute myocardial infarction, platelet aggregation patterns and platelet arachidonic acid levels may be associated risk factors in coronary thrombosis.

Adult

Malaria and urbanization in central Africa: the example of Brazzaville. Part IV. Parasitological and serological surveys in urban and surrounding rural areas.

Five schools were chosen in different districts of Brazzaville where the intensity of malaria transmission, determined in a previous study, is representative of the very varied conditions observed in this town in relation to urbanization. The parasitological and serological results found in schoolchildren are analysed according to the level of transmission to which they are exposed, and compared with the results of a longitudinal survey carried out in the rural area of the Brazzaville region. In the urban area malaria prevalences in schoolchildren aged from 5 to 9 years and from 10 to 14 years vary considerably according to the districts. They are, respectively, 78.9% and 84% in Massina, 58.8% and 71.7% in Talangai, 32.3% and 46.9% in Bacongo and 5.6% and 12.6% in Moungali. In Poto-Poto, no positive thick films were found in a representative sample of 62 schoolchildren aged 6 and 7 years who have always lived in this district, and the malaria prevalence is only 6.9% in schoolchildren aged 14 and 15. In the rural area, the malaria prevalence is 76.4% in schoolchildren aged 5 to 9 and 82% in those aged from 10 to 14. According to standard immunofluorescent technique, 63% of children aged 6 and 7 years living since birth in the central part of the Poto-Poto and Moungali districts have no detectable antibodies. In the rural area, all children over 4 years of age are seropositive. These results show that the decrease in vectorial density which accompanies urbanization has considerable parasitological repercussions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

Availability of environmental health services among blacks in urban and peri-urban areas of South Africa.

Fundamental to primary health care is the need to provide adequate environmental health services to the population. Such services constitute primary prevention, and, under some circumstances, may have a greater impact on health than the provision of personal health services. This study aimed to assess the availability of environmental health services among blacks living in urban and peri-urban areas of South Africa. A stratified random sample of 800 households was selected. After discussions with the Urban Foundation, it was felt that the proportion of informal dwellings obtained (20%) underestimated the true figure, which was closer to 50%. For that reason estimates are presented for a range of values (20-50% informal dwellings). For environmental health services the percentage availability was 30-45% for reticulated water in the home; 18-29% for an inside flush toilet; and 48-62% for possession of a personal refuse receptacle. Data obtained on domestic fuel use indicated that 41-61% of households had electricity. General indicators of social class showed that 62% of households had a monthly income less than R400, and that 22-30% of mothers with children under 5 years of age had an educational level of less than Standard 5. All of the measures were substantially worse among people living in informal dwellings. The data indicate that urgent attention should be given to improving the foundations of primary health care, particularly by providing and giving attention to equity, intersectoral co-ordination and community participation in the provision of essential environmental health services.

Black or African American

Environmental determinants of acute respiratory symptoms and diarrhoea in young coloured children living in urban and peri-urban areas of South Africa.

The impact of environmental risk factors associated with housing was examined in relation to diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory symptoms in South African coloured children. A multistage cluster sample representative of all coloured people living in the major urban and peri-urban areas of South Africa was used for the study. Interviews were conducted with respondents from 1,227 households. Overall, 8.5% children under 5 years were reported to have had diarrhoea, while 29% had experienced coughing and breathing problems in a 2-week recall period. Individual risk factors identified using the odds ratios (ORs) for diarrhoea included not having an inside tap or a flush toilet in the homes (both yielded an OR of 3.3), not owning a refuse receptacle (OR = 2.5), not being connected to an electricity supply (OR = 2.5), low household income (OR = 1.8), more than 2 people per room (OR = 2.0) and less than Standard 5 maternal education (OR = 1.6). Absence of an inside toilet, not having a refuse receptacle and overcrowding all remained as independent risk factors after logistic regression analyses. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that not having a refuse receptacle and the absence of electricity for heating purposes were independently associated with respiratory symptoms. The overall preventive potentials for respiratory symptoms were significantly less than those for diarrhoea. Improving physical access to essential environmental health services in urban areas and improvements in the educational status of women are urgently needed if childhood infections are to be prevented.

Black or African American

Health risks associated with animals in different types of urban areas: present status and new ecological conditions due to urbanization.

For different reasons urban areas are colonized by numerous animal groups. From the aspect of the incidence of zoonoses the following animal groups are primarily significant: 1) food-producing animals; 2) pets; 3) synanthropic mammals; 4) synanthropic birds; 5) synanthropic arthropods. Certain species live in central parts of urban areas which the A. attempts to classify, and particularly in suburban areas which serve for recreation of town inhabitants. From the aspect of the occurrence of different animal species the A. points out the significance of various parts of urban agglomerations.

Animal Population Groups

Hospitalization in an urban homeless population: the Honolulu Urban Homeless Project.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate and estimate the cost of hospitalization in a defined urban homeless population. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Kalihi-Palama Health Clinic Health Care for the Homeless Project, Hawaii State Hospital and seven acute care hospitals in Honolulu, Hawaii. PATIENTS: A total of 1751 homeless clients contacted between 1 December 1988 and 30 November 1990. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 1751 individuals were studied for an aggregate of 871.3 person-years. Five hundred sixty-four hospitalizations were identified: ninety-two to the state psychiatric hospital and 472 to acute care hospitals. The age- and sex-adjusted hospitalization rate for acute care hospitals was 542/1000 person-years (compared with the state rate of 96/1000 person-years). Homeless persons were admitted to acute care hospitals for 4766 days compared with a predicted 640 days. The age- and sex-adjusted rate of admission to the state psychiatric hospital was 105/1000 person-years (compared with the state rate of 0.8/1000 person-years). Homeless persons were admitted to the state psychiatric hospital for 3837 days compared with a predicted 139 days. CONCLUSIONS: Homeless individuals in this study were hospitalized in acute care and psychiatric hospitals far more frequently than were members of the general population.

Adult

A new EPI strategy to reach high risk urban children in Bangladesh: urban volunteers.

Many community based outreach programs in low income countries utilize illiterate women to provide health services. However, illiteracy may present special problems in immunization or other programs requiring extensive record-keeping and follow-up. In a trial involving twenty-nine volunteers from urban slum communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a community-based referral and record-keeping system for use by semi-literate and illiterate volunteers in immunization outreach activities was evaluated over a thirteen month period. The women were uniformly, regardless of literacy, able to use the system to effectively refer and follow-up clients. Although volunteer performance as measured by numbers of referrals was below initial targets, completion rates were high; 87% of children and 96% of women referred completed the full series of immunizations. By facilitating active community participation, the system provides a feasible approach to reducing the high drop-out rates currently associated with immunization programs.

Bangladesh

[The quality of life in historical urban sections--basic principles for urban renewal planning].

Living in the city is increasingly en vogue. In particular, ancient historical town areas are redeveloped to residential areas with the aim of creating "Isles of the Blest" while engendering a host of new problems; unhealthy additional density by building on originally free inside sites of blocks; new garages for residents right in the middle of redevelopment areas resulting in traffic nuisance due to congestion, noise and exhaust gases in narrow alleys; and hence, unhealthy living. Healthy living demands restoration of the original qualities of the historical town districts as a condition sine qua non for all town planning operations.

Architecture