Occupational Hearing Hazards among Informal Sector Welders in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Introduction: Noise, an undesirable sound which is found in all areas of occupational activity, is still a matter of concern given the damage it causes. Various machines and tools, from simple to sophisticated ones, produce several types of noise in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to assess the current status of occupational hearing loss among informal sector welders in the city of Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study which was conducted among 122 informal sector welders over a period of five months. The study used an anonymous questionnaire on noise exposure in the workplace and collected audio-metric data of welders. The survey collected data on welders who had a minimal three-year duration of employment without the morbidity associated with the Ear Nose Throat (ENT) region. Socio-professional data (age, duration of employment, sex, education), noise exposure, awareness of hazards and audiometric data were taken into account. Results: 122 questionnaires were completed by male subjects, or 100% (n = 122). The mean age of welders was 36.37 ± 11.91 years with extremes being 20 and 63 years. The mean duration of employment was 11.51 ± 9.6 years with extremes being 3 and 44 years. Audiometric data have shown 37.96% (n = 41) of occupational hearing loss. Three degrees of hearing loss were recorded, notably mild hearing loss standing at 80.49% (n = 33);moderate and severe hearing loss standing at 2.44% (n = 1). Ninety-six percent (n = 117) of welders reported not using personal protective equipment (PPE) and 1% (n = 111) were aware of the hazard associated with noise exposure in the workplace. A correlation was found between welders with an advanced age (p < 0.001;RP = 3.66 (2.16 - 6.22)) and hearing loss, and between the duration of employment and hearing loss (p < 0.001;RP = 6.48 (3.32 - 12.65)). Conclusion: In the study area, occupational hearing loss among welders is a relevant fact. Three degrees of hearing loss were identified. Most of those suffering from it have developed a mild type of hearing loss whose continued development can be stopped. Despite the fact that welders are aware of the hazards associated with noise exposure in the workplace, they hardly protect themselves. Lack of a culture of prevention and poor enforcement of the existing laws could account for such a situation. There seems to be a crucial need to put in place a program for protecting the welders’ auditory organs in the workplace.

Epidemiological Profile of Men Who Have Sex with Men: First Data about Male Sex Workers in Central African Republic (CAR)

Objectives: Sex work is not well documented among African men. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of men who have sex with men (MSM) and eventually to determine the proportion of sex workers (SW) among them, as well as the proportion of MSM who have been victims of gender-based violence (GBV). Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study coordinated by the Direction de la Médecine du Travail was carried out at the headquarters of the association ALTERNATIVES in Bangui Bangui from July 1 to October 31, 2021. Consenting MSM present during the study period were systematically included. Sociodemographic variables, those relating to the future vision of the activity and to GBV were collected and analyzed using Epi-Info version 7 software. Results: Forty MSM with an average age of 23 years and mainly secondary education (75.0%) were included. The vast majority of MSM were unemployed (85.0%). 45.0% had been victims of GBV and wanted to stop working as an MSM (47.5%), and almost 2/3 (65.0%) would accept another income-generating activity in exchange for the MSM. Violence was sexual (32.5%), economic (22.5%), physical (20.0%), verbal (12.5%) and psychological (12.5%). Conclusion: The MSM were mainly young, poorly educated, unemployed, and almost half were victims of GBV. The desire to change MSM activity to another income-generating activity alongside that of MSM shows that many of them are SW, workers in the informal sector. This must be taken into account in prevention activities, even if the data needs to be confirmed on a much larger sample.

Socio-Demographic and Occupational Aspects of HIV-HBV Co-Infection in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR): Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: HIV-HBV co-infection is a major public health problem that has not been sufficiently explored in the Central African workplace. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of HIV-HBV co-infection among people who living with HIV (PLHIV) in the infectious and tropical diseases department of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de lAmiti Sino-Centrafricaine in Bangui. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2021 in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department at the Amiti Sino-Centrafricaine University Hospital. It included the files of all PLHIV, which included the results of HBV serology. A standardized form was used to collect socio-demographic and professional data by documentary review. Data was analysed using Epi-Info 7 software. Means, proportions were calculated as well as Chi square witch was significant if p-value was below 0.05. Results: The study included 265 patients, 188 were women (70.1%) and 77 men (29.1%), giving a sex ratio of 0.45. Mean age was 35.8 years, higher in men (40 years) than in women (35.8 years) (p 0.0001). The age groups 25 to 34 (37.7%) and 35 to 44 (33.6%) were in the majority (71.3%). The majority of PLHIV were unemployed (57.1%), including housewives (43.0%). HBV prevalence was 14.3%, including 7.2% among the unemployed, who account for half of all co-infections. The search for associations between HIV-HBV co-infection and all socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status) and socio-professional categories showed no significant difference (p 0.05). Conclusion: PLHIV were predominantly young adults, female, and unemployed;no occupation was significantly associated with co-infection. The vast majority of co-infected people were not covered by the occupational health system (unemployed or informal sector). Urgent action is needed to improve workers access to occupational medicine in CAR.

Lessons and challenges for the recycling sector of Brazil from the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19

The 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic imposed unprecedented challenges in Brazilian governance sectors,mostly in the waste management system.Herein,we analyse the main challenges of the recycling sector in Brazil to cope with this scenario.Understanding difficulties during the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 can help improve waste recycling in the post-pandemic period in Brazil and other developing nations that face similar issues.The current pandemic exposed the deficiencies of this system,and some important lessons can be learned.Recommendations are drawn to advance the proper management of recyclables in the country.The Government must increase total investments in the recycling industry’s infrastructure and support local recycling initiatives during a public health crisis and beyond.In sum,this paper strengthens the idea that waste segregation at the source and selective collection will not be sufficient without massive investments in the recycling sector’s infrastructure.The future challenge includes strengthening the economic markets for recycled materials.

Knowledge and learning in the horticultural innovation system: A case of Kashmir valley of India

The system of innovation(SI)in the agriculture sector,termed as Agricultural Innovation System(AIS),is one of the most recent trends in innovation research,especially in the developing economies.This approach considers several factors such as actors,complex networks and learning,socio-cultural and political factors that affect the innovation process within a dynamic system.Using the AIS approach,the present paper explores the knowledge and learning interactions in the horticultural sector of Kashmir Valley of India,which offers a mix of both formal and informal activities.The research methodology is qualitative in nature based on both primary and secondary data.For primary data collection,apple growers,private and government sector actors were interviewed and secondary data is based on various reports and published materials related to the apple production in Kashmir.The analysis explores the interactions of knowledge production by formal and informal means in the horticultural sector specifically focusing on the informal ways.In the study,taking the case of canker disease treatment in apple trees by informal ways depicts the productive use of informal knowledge in the horticultural system.It was observed that many factors(social networks,life-long experiences,learning,coordination and group interactions)affect the informal knowledge generation process and the connectivity between formal and informal actors is lagging in the horticulture sector.

Appropriate solid waste management system in Quelimane (Mozambique):study and design of a small-scale center for plastic sorting with wastewater treatment

Appropriate solid waste management(SWM)strategies are necessary to avoid severe environmental and sanitary impacts,especially in low-income countries.Such strategies are most likely to succeed whether implementing actors are supported by scientific research.In this paper,the results of a collaboration between local authorities and researchers are presented and discussed that are the assessment of waste generation in the city of Quelimane(Mozambique),integrating existing and field-collected data and the design of a small-scale center for plastic sorting to complement the SWM system of the city.The center is expected to receive about 0.3-0.4 t/day of plastic waste(5%-7%of the overall amount of plastic waste daily produced in Quelimane).As long-term sustainability represents a typical issue,simplicity of operation was a leading principle in the design of the center;moreover,the design included a treatment plant(WWTP)for generated wastewater,whose management is usually neglected in such interventions.Among others,natural wastewater treatment(constructed wetlands)has been chosen for its affordability.Noteworthy,the so-conceived WWTP appears as a novelty in the scientific literature associated with small-scale plastic sorting plants.The system is designed to treat an average flow of 6 m3/day and consisted of a septic tank followed by a subsurface flow constructed wetland.Overall,the COD(chemical oxygen demand)and TSS(total suspended solids)removal higher than 80%and 90%were estimated,respectively.Based on this work,both the center and the WWTP were successfully realized,which are waiting to become operational.In the authors’opinion,the implemented procedure could become a reference for broader investigations and surveys.