Heavy metal exposure and symptoms of respiratory infection among children under-five (5) residing near an open dumpsite: a cross-sectional study at Abokobi
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Date
September, 2019
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of
Acute Respiratory Infection(ARI) defined as Acute Upper Respiratory Infection
(AURI) and Acute Lower Respiratory Infection(ALRI), the levels of toxic metals
in biological media (blood), and hand washed water among children under five (5)
residing near Abokobi dump site in the Ga-East Municipality. Participation in the
study was voluntary; based on that, a population of 200 children under five (5) and
their parents residing within 200meters around the dumpsite were recruited as
participants for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to present data.
It came out that, the proportion of self-reported symptoms of acute upper
respiratory infection (AURI) and acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) was
high in all children respectively.
Cadmium was high in children aged 0-2years than 2-4 years and Lead was the
same in ages 0-2years and 2-4 years in biological media (blood). Lead was the
same in ages 0-2 years and 2-4 years while Cadmium and Mercury were high in
Ages 2-4 years than ages 0-2 years in the handwashed water. There was significant
association between residual levels of Arsenic in blood samples and symptoms of
AURI. Similarly there was significant association between residual levels of Cd
and symptoms of ALRI. However, there was no significant association between
residual levels of the other toxic metals in blood samples and symptoms of AURI
and ALRI. The study therefore recommended Parents should ensure regular
medical checkup for children who live close to dumpsites for detection of
symptoms of diseases to avert any health risk they may be exposed to. Ministry of
Health should intensify public education on good practices in child care to avert
the development of preventable diseases such as acute respiratory infections. The
Ministry of Local Government through the Ga-East Municipal should create
awareness on proper waste management practices. Finally, Local Government
Ministry and the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources should permanently
ban or prohibit the use of the dumpsite.
Description
This dissertation is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master in Environment and Public Health Degree.
Keywords
Respiratory infection, children under-five, Abokobi