[Functional disorders in female agricultural field workers].
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Adult↗
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Field worker's forum.
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Employee Performance Appraisal↗
Correlates of field-worker performance in the Indonesian family planning program: a test of the homophily-heterophily hypothesis.
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Adult↗
Field workers' forum: immunology of leprosy.
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Antibody Formation↗
The correlation between family planning program inputs and contraceptive use in Indonesia.
Using 1980 Census and 1986 service statistics program inputs, this paper evaluates the net correlation of socioeconomic, region, and program variables with 1987 contraceptive prevalence and method-specific use rates for Indonesian regencies and municipalities. The region variables--primarily, though not exclusively, reflecting program design and maturity--correlate most strongly with the contraceptive prevalence rates. Field-worker activities, field-worker supervisor activities, and community-based distributors also have a correlation with these rates. Pill use is highest in the areas that are predominantly Islamic and least developed, whereas the pattern is reversed for use of the IUD, condom, and other modern methods (mainly female sterilization). The findings are assessed in terms of their implications for policymaking.
Community Health Services↗
Respiratory consequences of exposure to wood dust and formaldehyde of workers manufacturing oriented strand board.
A cross-sectional study was performed at a plant in which 99 workers were employed in the manufacture of oriented strand board. This group was compared with 165 unexposed workers from the petroleum industry. Both groups were assessed, using a questionnaire, spirometry, and skin prick tests to common environmental antigens. Environmental studies showed a low dust level of 0.27 mg/m3, consisting of particles of a mass median aerodynamic equivalent diameter of 2.5 microns. There were variable concentrations of formaldehyde, up to 0.27 ppm. A significant difference between the oriented strand board workers and oil field workers was noted for the forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio, without significant differences in either the forced expiratory volume in 1 s or the forced vital capacity. Oriented strand board workers who were current smokers were three times as likely to have a forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio of less than 75% of that found in the currently smoking oil field workers. Significant reductions in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p = .044) and forced vital capacity (p = .022) in oriented strand board workers were noted across the work shift. The oriented strand board workers complained of self-reported asthma and of lower respiratory tract symptoms significantly more frequently than did oil workers for all of the symptoms examined. The prevalence of atopy was not different in the two groups. Lung function was significantly better in oriented strand board workers who had no symptoms, compared with oriented strand board workers who were symptomatic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗
Obesity indices and their interrelationships when applied to workers.
Using results of periodic health examinations of middle or small size establishments in Kitakyushu-City conducted by an occupational health service from April to September in 1982, the relationships among ten obesity indices of 30-59 years old male workers (27,376 persons) were investigated classified by age groups (30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 age groups) and by occupations (total occupation, field workers and office workers). Obesity indices adopted here are those derived from weight and height and are used mostly in Japan. Though the means of obesity values were various, the means in the 40-49 age group were higher than those in other age groups through all the indices and all the occupations. And those for office workers were higher than those for field workers through all the indices and all the age groups. The percentage of workers whose obesity values were 20+ in the Minowa index was about 14% and this percentage was attained almost by 20+ in the Katsura and the Kato indices, by 15+ in the NK, the Matsuya, the Matsuki and the CN indices, by 5+ in the Broca index, by 25+ in the Quetelet index and by 156+ in the Rohrer index. Though the percentage of hypertensive office workers was higher than that of hypertensive field workers in the 40-49 age group, proportion adjusted by any obesity index was similar and there were scarcely any differences of adjusted proportions between office workers and field workers.
Adult↗
Combination of low back pain and previous low back pain and shoulder stiffness in construction employees.
A postal questionnaire for the prevalence of low back pain was studied with relevance to stiffness of that shoulder and a history of low back disorders in construction employees. The percentage of clerical employees with low back pain was 31.3% and of field workers was 30.3%. Odds ratios representing a relative risk factor for low back pain relating to each age group showed 2.35 in the clerical and 2.10 in the field workers at the age of 30-34 years, and 3.34 and 2.58 at the age of 35-39 years, respectively. In the persons with positive previous low back pain, the prevalence rate of low back pain was 52.6% in the clerical, and 50.2% in the field workers. Odds ratios for low back pain relating to previous low back pain significantly exceeded unity for the clerical employees (OR = 9.53) and the field workers (OR = 10.28), compared to those without a history of previous low back pain. The incidence of stiffness of the shoulder was 48.2% in the clerical and 45.2% in the field workers, and the prevalence rate of low back pain among those with stiffness of the shoulder was 68.5% in the clerical and 65.8% in the field workers. Odds ratio were 3.03 in both groups. Among each age group, the prevalence rate of stiffness of the shoulder with low back pain increased gradually to a maximum in the 45-49 age group of 19%, and then dropped. In those with a history of low back pain and/or stiffness of the shoulder, the prevalence of low back pain showed significantly greater value than other risk factors.
Adult↗
A training pack. Field programme management: food and nutrition.
One of the main barriers to development is the lack of adequately trained field staff. It is now widely recognized that the field worker plays a crucial role in implementing community development programmes. National development plans may look promising on paper but without the staff in the field, capable of managing the programmes, there is little chance for substantial gain from development efforts. To help address the problem of training for field workers, the Food Policy and Nutrition Division has produced the Training Pack. Its aim is to help field workers develop simple management skills which can be used in their daily work. The material in the Pack stresses those management techniques required by all field workers, whether their primary responsibility is agriculture, health, nutrition or community development. The Pack uses aspects of food and nutrition to illustrate the basic management skills, without attempting to turn the field workers into nutritionists. The emphasis of the Course is on the planning, implementation and evaluation of community activities. The practical approach advocated by these training materials is described in detail here.
Community Health Workers↗
Social networks, ideation, and contraceptive behavior in Bangladesh: a longitudinal analysis.
Longitudinal survey data from a panel of married women in Bangladesh is used to estimate the impact of a social network approach to family planning field worker communication and to test a theoretical model of behavior change that explains why women adopt modern contraceptives. Government field workers were trained to organize group discussions with women in the homes of opinion leaders located at central points in each village's social network. A set of intervening variables, referred to collectively as 'ideation', are derived from diffusion of innovation and social network theory to explain how the social network approach affects contraceptive behavior. The rate of increase in modern contraceptive use was found to be five times greater among women in the social network approach than among women who were visited by field workers at home. The impact of the social network approach on modern contraceptive use was almost double that of conventional field worker visits after controlling for the effects of prior contraceptive use and intention, prior home visits, and selected socio-demographic characteristics. Both approaches had the same degree of impact on ideation. The results confirm the influence of ideation on fertility change and suggest that family planning programs would benefit from training field workers to use a social network approach.
Adolescent↗
Preparing international relief workers for health care in the field: an evaluation of organizational practices.
The growth of the humanitarian aid industry has led to the proliferation of relief programs and the rapid rise in the number of relief personnel working in the field. One major necessity in developing successful international programs is appropriately trained field personnel. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the educational practice and training methods for field workers by non-government organizations (NGO). Of the 53 organizations surveyed, 64% responded that they sent health care workers to acute human emergencies. A majority of organizations, 31/53 (59%), used manuals as the primary method of training for workers before going into the field. Eighty-five percent of organizations (45/53) supplied their workers with trip briefings from prior personnel before going into the field, and 91% (48/53) had an on-site coordinator. Only 34% (18/53) provided classroom teaching or orientation prior to departure. The average number of months spent by workers abroad was < or = 1 for nearly half (49%) of the NGOs. Only 34% (18/53) of the NGOs required that personnel had previous international experience. Training of humanitarian workers varies significantly between non-governmental organizations. Lack of standardization in training programs and wide variation of provider preparedness indicates the need by NGOs for enhanced training for field personnel.
Altruism↗
Standardizing contact investigation protocols.
SETTING: The State of Alabama Department of Public Health Division of Tuberculosis Control. OBJECTIVE: To standardize contact investigation protocols and implement an intervention to increase TB field worker adherence to the protocols with the goal of promoting efficiency and effectiveness in contact investigations. DESIGN: A process evaluation of existing data collection and management systems and protocols was performed. Standardized protocols and an intervention to increase TB field worker adherence to the protocols were created and pilot tested. These were then implemented and formative evaluation data were collected. RESULTS: The process evaluation revealed considerable variance among field workers with regard to protocols and definitions of variables related to contact investigations. Protocols were standardized and an intervention targeted at TB field workers was developed. The intervention consisted of a training workshop and the development of a computer-based contact investigation module. This was successfully implemented throughout the state. CONCLUSIONS: To perform effective contact investigations and conduct studies to improve the effectiveness of these investigations, TB control programs must pay careful attention to precisely defining variables and concepts related to the contact investigation. Furthermore, protocols must be standardized and resources devoted to training of TB field workers to ensure adherence to protocols.
Alabama↗
Usefulness of an inexpensive, Paracheck test in detecting asymptomatic infectious reservoir of plasmodium falciparum during dry season in an inaccessible terrain in central India.
OBJECTIVES: The performance of a new indigenous rapid diagnostic test, Paracheck Pf was evaluated in detection of Plasmodium falciparum in asymptomatic children in remote forest villages of Mandla district, central India to determine the lower limits of sensitivity and specificity of rapid test. METHODS: A finger prick blood sample was collected to prepare blood smear and for testing with the Paracheck test. The blood smears were read by an experienced technician blinded to the Paracheck results. The figures for specificity, sensitivity, accuracy and predictive values were calculated using microscopy as gold standard. RESULTS: The new diagnostic test had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 89%. The positive and negative predictive values were 71% and 98%, respectively. The J -index was 0.83%. CONCLUSION: The rapid test was found to be very easy to perform and the result could be read reliably by field workers. The field evaluation with this new inexpensive test, ($0.65/test) indicates that it could be used as an epidemiological tool in the management of malaria particularly in areas where microscopy is not operationally feasible to attain the goal of the roll back malaria initiative.
Adolescent↗
The effect of operations research on program changes in Bangladesh.
This article is based on the ten-year experience of an operations research project in Bangladesh. It assesses how, and under what circumstances, research-based advice and results of pilot projects contribute to change in large-scale public programs. It discusses project research on issues facing the national family planning program: recruitment and training of field-workers; delivery of injectable contraceptives; management information; field-workers' use of service registers; field supervision; satellite clinics; and contraceptive user fees. These issues are used to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of a long-term institutionalized project, and to describe the diversity of means for communication with policymakers. The analysis shows that research, policy decision, and implementation can occur in any sequence. Policy advice that disrupts long-standing power relationships and organizational culture takes a great deal of effort to implement. Operations research can produce useful changes in organizational behavior, even when large-scale problems remain.
Bangladesh↗
Balancing rigour and acceptability: the use of HIV incidence to evaluate a community-based randomised trial in rural Uganda.
Recent debate about the evaluation of community based, HIV/AIDS behavioural interventions has focused on the appropriateness of the randomised controlled trial (RCT) design, and the difficulty of obtaining reliable outcome measures. A community based HIV AIDS behavioural change RCT, recently conducted in rural Uganda, used HIV incidence as the principal outcome measure. This paper examines the acceptability of the trial from the community perspective. It asks whether, in a rural African setting, it is possible to implement a scientifically rigorous evaluation without compromising acceptability of the trial to the community. Opinions of the trial held by community members working as trial field workers were collected by semi-structured interview (n = 37), and focus group discussions (4) Community opinions of the trial were ascertained through 10 focus groups. For both field workers and the community, the sero-survey was more salient than the intervention, and the source of many rumours and disputes. Despite intensive mobilisation and close monitoring of field workers, it was impossible to ensure the veracity of explanations about the survey at ground level, and to protect each individual from coercion. The community expected a reward in return on their blood. Although the introduction of incentives at the final survey round increased the acceptability of the trial, they not only created jealousies and tensions, but also led to expectations of greater rewards in future. We conclude that RCTs in poor, rural communities are feasible, but the challenges involved should not be underestimated. Obtaining community support for the trial, respecting established hierarchies, and close supervision of field workers are all essential, but even then, controversies should be anticipated. There is an urgent need for relevant guidelines to help researchers navigate the complex ethical issues involved.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
[Analysis of environmental technological risks: prospects for the worker's health field]
The objective of this paper is to identify theoretical questions and challenges for the public health field, especially the field of workers' health, raised by technological and environmental risks related to the workplace but going beyond it. Using industrial chemical risks as an example, the authors show the vulnerability of contemporary societies in handling such risks and the worsening situation in peripheral countries. The scope of risk analysis is presented according to the engineering, toxicological, and epidemiological approaches as well as the critique raised by the social sciences. Science alone cannot solve such complex problems as technological and environmental risks. To overcome these limits, some theoretical and methodological proposals have been developed by the risk analysis and workers' health fields. The authors emphasize the discussions on the interdisciplinary, systemic, and participant approaches, incorporating the interaction between knowledge and dialogue as fundamental conditions for the prevention and control of technological and environmental risks.
Journal Article↗
[Effects of exposure to TNT on sex hormones in male workers].
Field investigation on labour hygiene in two plants producing trinitrotoluene (TNT) in Henan Province showed most air TNT levels in the workplace exceeded national maximum allowable concentration (MAC 1 mg/m3) and the skin of the workers exposed to TNT was severely contaminated. Determinations of serum levels of sex hormones showed those of testosterone were lower, but those of interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH or LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were higher in workers exposed to TNT than that in controls with statistical significance (P < 0.01).
Adult↗
Ixodid ticks feeding on humans in South Africa: with notes on preferred hosts, geographic distribution, seasonal occurrence and transmission of pathogens.
This paper records the identities of 558 ixodid ticks feeding on 194 humans in South Africa. These ticks belonged to 20 species in six genera and those most frequently encountered were AmblYomma hebraeum, Haemaphysalis leachi, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus gertrudae and Rhipicephalus simus. With the exception of the larvae of R. appendiculatus, the incidents of these ticks feeding on humans correlated well with their seasonal occurrences on preferred hosts. Ticks were also collected at monthly intervals, for 14 consecutive months, from the clothing of a game-guard providing protection for field-workers engaged in the collection, by means of flannel strips, of free-living ticks from the vegetation of four localities in the southern region of the Kruger National Park. In addition, with the exception of 3 months when the particular worker was absent, ticks that fed on one of the field-workers were collected over the same 14-month period. A total of 54,429 free-living ticks belonging to 14 species and six genera were collected from the vegetation at the four localities during this time and 3751 ticks belonging to 11 species and six genera from the clothing of the game-guard. The larvae of A. hebraeum and Boophilus decoloratus were the most numerous of the immature ticks, and H. leachi and R. simus of the adults on both the vegetation and the guard's clothing. Ticks fed on the field-worker on six occasions and 14 were collected, all of which were A. hebraeum larvae.
Adult↗