Human migration implies adaptations to new environments, such as ways to benefit from the available biodiversity. This study focused on the use of animal-derived remedies, and we investigated the effects of migration on the traditional medical system of the indigenous Truká people. This ethnic group lives in Northeast Brazil and is currently distributed in four distinct villages. In these villa...

Trachoma, a blinding eye disease caused by repeated and prolonged infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, is a significant public health problem for sub-Saharan Africa. Tanzania has had a National Trachoma Task Force since 1999, working on trachoma control in endemic districts. The objective of this study was twofold: first, to determine the current status of infection and clinical trachoma in th...

We use a model of optimal portfolio choice to measure heterogeneity in risk aversion among households in Thai villages. There is substantial heterogeneity in risk preferences, positively correlated in most villages with alternative estimates based on a full risk-sharing model.

BACKGROUND Dams are important to ensure food security and promote economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. However, a poor understanding of the negative public health consequences from issues such as malaria could affect their intended advantages. This study aims to compare the malaria situation across elevation and proximity to dams. Such information may contribute to better understand how ...

BACKGROUND Shigellosis is rare in Taiwan, with an average annual incidence rate of 1.68 cases per 100,000 persons in 2000-2007. However, the incidence rate for a mountainous township in eastern Taiwan, Zhuoxi, is 60.2 times the average rate for the entire country. Traveling between Zhuoxi's 6 villages (V1-V6) is inconvenient. Disease transmission among the villages/tribes with endemic shigellos...

BACKGROUND Several million children are killed each year by diarrhoeal diseases; preventive strategies appropriate for developing countries are vital. Despite strong circumstantial evidence that flies are vectors of diarrhoeal diseases, no convincing studies of the impact of fly control on diarrhoea incidence in developing countries have been reported. We undertook a randomised study of the eff...

BACKGROUND An intervention trial of the 'SuperAmma' village-level intervention to promote handwashing with soap (HWWS) in rural India demonstrated substantial increases in HWWS amongst the target population. We carried out a process evaluation to assess the implementation of the intervention and the evidence that it had changed the perceived benefits and social norms associated with HWWS. The e...

INTRODUCTION Ageing is accompanied by increased risks of chronic disease, declined functioning and increased dependency. Physical activity is critical to retaining health and independence, but the majority of older people are insufficiently physically active to achieve these benefits and have high levels of sedentary (sitting) time. Activity programmes are often offered in retirement villages; ...

BACKGROUND A recent trial with PCV-7 in a rural Gambian community showed reduced vaccine-type pneumococcal carriage in fully vaccinated compared with control communities. We measured pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody concentrations in this trial to understand further the mechanisms underlying the observed changes. METHODS A single-blind, cluster-randomized (by village) trial was conducted ...

health is defined as situation of physical, psychological, and social welfare, which include both lack of diseases and best access to healthy standard without any religion, political, and socio-economic discrimination. more programs have been executed concerning rural environment from 1980s in islamic republic of iran. however, documents show that health level is low in rural area. rural health...