Mirko S Winkler1, Astrid M Knoblauch2, Aurélie A Righetti2, Mark J Divall3, Manso M Koroma4, Ibrahim Fofanah5, Hamid Turay5, Mary H Hodges5, Jürg Utzinger2. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland mirko.winkler@unibas.ch. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland. 3. SHAPE Consulting Ltd, Pretoria 0062, South Africa. 4. Northern Polytechnic, P.O. Box 32, Makeni, Sierra Leone. 5. Helen Keller International, P.O. Box 369, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As biofuel projects may be associated with positive and negative effects on people's health and wellbeing, a health impact assessment was performed for the Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone (ABSL) project. We present data from the baseline health survey, which will provide a point of departure for future monitoring and evaluation activities. METHODS: In December 2010, a cross-sectional survey was carried out in eight potentially affected communities. A broad set of clinical and parasitological indicators were assessed using standardised, quality-controlled procedures, including anthropometry and prevalence of anaemia, Plasmodium falciparum and helminth infections. RESULTS: Complete datasets were obtained from 1221 individuals of 194 households and eight schools. Of children aged <5 years (n=586), 41.8% were stunted, 23.2% were underweight and 4.8% were wasted. Very high prevalences of anaemia and P. falciparum were found in children aged 6-59 months (n=571; 86.1% and 74.0%, respectively). Overall, 73.7% of women of reproductive age (n=395) were anaemic. In school-aged children (n=240), 27.9% had light- to moderate-intensity hookworm infections, whereas Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Schistosoma mansoni were rare (<3% each). CONCLUSIONS: The detailed description of the baseline health conditions, in combination with future health surveys, will deepen the understanding of how a biofuel project impacts on community health in a rural setting in sub-Saharan Africa.
BACKGROUND: As biofuel projects may be associated with positive and negative effects on people's health and wellbeing, a health impact assessment was performed for the Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone (ABSL) project. We present data from the baseline health survey, which will provide a point of departure for future monitoring and evaluation activities. METHODS: In December 2010, a cross-sectional survey was carried out in eight potentially affected communities. A broad set of clinical and parasitological indicators were assessed using standardised, quality-controlled procedures, including anthropometry and prevalence of anaemia, Plasmodium falciparum and helminth infections. RESULTS: Complete datasets were obtained from 1221 individuals of 194 households and eight schools. Of children aged <5 years (n=586), 41.8% were stunted, 23.2% were underweight and 4.8% were wasted. Very high prevalences of anaemia and P. falciparum were found in children aged 6-59 months (n=571; 86.1% and 74.0%, respectively). Overall, 73.7% of women of reproductive age (n=395) were anaemic. In school-aged children (n=240), 27.9% had light- to moderate-intensity hookworm infections, whereas Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Schistosoma mansoni were rare (<3% each). CONCLUSIONS: The detailed description of the baseline health conditions, in combination with future health surveys, will deepen the understanding of how a biofuel project impacts on community health in a rural setting in sub-Saharan Africa.
Authors: Astrid M Knoblauch; Mary H Hodges; Mohamed S Bah; Habib I Kamara; Anita Kargbo; Jusufu Paye; Hamid Turay; Emmanuel D Nyorkor; Mark J Divall; Yaobi Zhang; Jürg Utzinger; Mirko S Winkler Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2014-12-12 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Astrid M Knoblauch; Mark J Divall; Milka Owuor; Colleen Archer; Kennedy Nduna; Harrison Ng'uni; Gertrude Musunka; Anna Pascall; Jürg Utzinger; Mirko S Winkler Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-03-19 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Astrid M Knoblauch; Mark J Divall; Milka Owuor; Gertrude Musunka; Anna Pascall; Kennedy Nduna; Harrison Ng'uni; Jürg Utzinger; Mirko S Winkler Journal: BMC Womens Health Date: 2018-05-01 Impact factor: 2.809