1.Risk and impact assessment of climate change on human health by different climatic zones of Mongolia
Shurentsetseg Kh ; Saijaa N ; Enkhtuya P ; Odontsetseg Brown ; Demberelsuren J ; Burmaajav B
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2012;162(4):30-35
Introduction
Worldwide, numerous studies have been conducted and many papers have been published about the impact of climate change on human health, and the correlations between air temperature, precipitation, droughts, and floods, and their adverse health effects such as respiratory and water-borne diseases. Scientific evidence on this issue continues to mount, showing that the effects of climate change are mostly adverse to human health. In Mongolia however, scientific research on the effects of climate change on health is at its starting point and only a few studies have been conducted.
Goal
Determine and assess risk factors and effects of climate change on human health
Materials and Methods
The study area included Zavkhan, Selenge, Dornod, Umnugovi aimags (provinces) and Ulaanbaatar city, each representing one of the five climatic zones of Mongolia. Daily meteorological variables for temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, highest wind speed, precipitation and relative humidity of the selected study sites from 2009 to 2011 were acquired from the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environmental Monitoring. Statistical analysis of the collected data was done using the SPSS18 program and 95%CI was used to determine inter-zonal differences of weather and climatic variables.
Results
In order to determine climate risk factors, the analysis used the number of days when temperature exceeded mean annual air temperature by +25°С/-25°С, and their sequences, the number of days when the absolute temperature exceeded +30°С in summer months, and -30°С in winter months, and their sequences, the number of days when daily fluctuations in atmospheric pressure exceeded 30 hPa and the number of days when relative humidity was lower than 30 percent or greater than 80 percent, and their percentage of the total number of days.
2.The Study of Respiratory System Disease Morbidity and Mortality of Ulaanbaatar City Population
Suvd B ; Enkhjargal A ; Oyunerdene O ; Narantungalag G ; Saijaa N
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2010;151(1):16-20
This survey had conducted for determining respiratory system disease and mortality trend of Ulaanbaatar city population and for developing evidence based recommendations. In accordance with the methodology we had done meta-analysis and statistical analysis on data 2004-2008. For the data analysis we used SPSS and parametric and non-parametric tests were used for determining disease changes and differences of seasonal, age and gender. In recent 5 years, in Ulaanbaatar, respiratory system disease cases are continuously leading 5 leading causes of disease. In 2008, respiratory system disease cases were 865.0 per 10000 populations and it is compare to 2004 increased by 10-30 percent. Children and women are more tend to attend to hospitals due to diseases cases. The survey also revealed that incidence of pneumonia (116.7-145.8 per 10000 populations) was the most visited case from other ICD10 causes of diseases.The mean age of mortality of respiratory system disease was 36.6±31.8 and the oldest age was 101 and the youngest was under 1 year old during 2004-2008 in Ulaanbaatar. During spring season, acute respiratory system disease, chronic bronchitis pneumonia and others respiratory system disease cases were more admitted from the respiratory system disease. Whereas, during autumn season, emphysema, during winter season bronchitis were the leading causes of respiratory system disease admission (x2=33.779, p=0.013).CONCLUSION: The statistics, 2004-2008 in Ulaanbaatar, were showing respiratory system disease trend constantly and continuously increasing. Age, gender and seasonal characteristics were signifi cantly correlated with the respiratory system disease. During these 5 years, 932 deaths were recorded and mean age of dying was 36.6±31.8.
3.Consumption of Pesticide and its Health Impact
Tserendolgor U ; Batgargal J ; Khalsankhyy J ; Davaadulam B ; Saijaa N ; Burmaa B
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2009;147(1):71-75
Even though the use and production of polychlorinated biphyls (PCBs) and organochlorine (OC) pesticides have been regulated worldwide, in agreement with the Stockholm convention in 2001, they are still posing serious environmental threat both to wildlife and humans. These lipophilic compounds, with high resistance to degradation and long half- lives in humans, have been confirmed to bioaccumulate in fatty tissues of biological specimens such as blood, breast milk, and adipose tissues through dietary intake. The analysis of these tissues reveals the rate of exposure and distribution in the environment.
4.Findings of study of knowledge and attitude on health promoting workplaces of Khentii aimag
Orkhonchimeg N ; Saijaa N ; Oyunchimeg M ; Bujinlkham B ; Dashnamjilmaa D ; Tsendjav J ; Alimaa G
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2013;163(1):62-66
BackgroundThe target group of the project, working age population, is more vulnerably exposed to the risk factors of NCDs due to deficiency of physical activities, stress, unhealthy eating, etc. The current study was carried out to assess the knowledge and attitude on health promoting workplaces among the employees of public and non-governmental organizations and businesses operating in Kherlen soum of Khentii aimag, identify their needs and make conclusions.Materials and MethodsThe cross-sectional study used questionnaires for 195 employees of 10 public agencies and 3 business entities of Kherlen soum of Khentii aimag, focus group discussions among 32 employees and individual interviews with 13 managing officials.ResultsWomen composed 38% (74 persons) and men composed 62% (121 persons) of the participants of the study. As for the duration of the service, 115 people or 58.7% have served for 1-10 years, 49 people or 25% have served for 11-20 years, 21 persons or 10.7% have served for 21-30 years and 6 persons or 3.1% have worked for 30 years. As for the knowledge of health promoting workplaces, the absolute majority of the participants demonstrated medium or low level of knowledge with statistical significance (p<0.01) among ages, with women demonstrating higher level of knowledge and increasing trend with the years of work. Absolute majority of the participants of the qualitative survey answered that possess insufficient information of health promoting workplaces. Majority or 54.2% (105) of the participants understand health promoting workplaces as provision of working conditions and organization of preventive health check ups. Creating healthy workplaces will have no negativeimpact but increased productivity, higher morale, better wellness, according to the respondents. Job satisfaction as an impact of health promotion at workplace was supported by 48.4% of the employees at 20-30 years age and 54.2% of the employees who have served for 11-20 years. 57.7% (112) of the respondents disagree that their workplaces created health promoting conditions. The knowledge of the majority of the participants in insufficient as 89.3% answer that WHP is provision of healthy environment for working. Health promotion is not implemented sufficiently at the policy level and is limited merely to improvement of physical environment and solution of social problems, with insufficient behavior targeting actions and participation of employees in health promoting activities.Conclusions:1. The knowledge on health promoting workplaces is insufficient.2. The answers of the respondents that lack of health promotion at workplaces will reduce productivity (69.2%) and adversely affect the health of the employees (44.7%) demonstrate the need in WHP.3. The further activities necessary for further development of health promoting workplaces were identified as provision of comprehensive knowledge, cooperation with professional organizations and learn from experiences of health promoting workplace models, mutual learning and solution of the financial issues.