In recent years,under the influence of multiple factors such as traditional ideas and living economic conditions,the aging population in China continues to increase.Most of the elderly are more inclined to aged at hom...In recent years,under the influence of multiple factors such as traditional ideas and living economic conditions,the aging population in China continues to increase.Most of the elderly are more inclined to aged at home,and the first places for elderly activities are communities and the surrounding environment,which greatly affects the convenience of life and happiness of the elderly.In this paper,Changxindian area in Fengtai District of Beijing was as the research object,and detailed calculation and analysis were carried out by using POI data and arcGIS software.The relative location of residential areas and surrounding public toilets was explored,and the best location of public toilets in the daily walking area under the model of community home-based care for the elderly was further studied.展开更多
The infection control in surfaces of public toilets environment is a matter of great concern and a major challenge, especially during mass gatherings. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of ...The infection control in surfaces of public toilets environment is a matter of great concern and a major challenge, especially during mass gatherings. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of titanium dioxide nanoparticles coating on environmental surfaces of public toilets during Hajj time. A pilot study has been designed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the surfaces of public toilets. The results showed a significant reduction in colony-count of the test samples. Maximum average reduction count of test microbes of the seats and walls reached (99.7%) while that of the doors reached (99.1%) which was statistically significant (P value = 0.001). It was concluded that there was a marked effect of a mixed TiO2 coating on reducing the microbial count at the surfaces of public toilets environments. Further research on efficacy against specific organisms, intestinal parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteriophage is recommended.展开更多
Cost recovery and user satisfaction are among the core objectives of any public or quas-public good provision.Public toilet service provision has been the domain of local government until when liberalisation policies ...Cost recovery and user satisfaction are among the core objectives of any public or quas-public good provision.Public toilet service provision has been the domain of local government until when liberalisation policies struck the developing south.With stringent condition to reduce the fiscal burden,local government authorities have sought to offload some of its core functions including the management of public toilets to contracted firms.Based on regression and comparative quadrant analysis,this study evaluates cost recovery and user satisfaction in relation to public toilet condition based on a total of 729 user responses and 31 public toilet operators.The observations point to misguided decision to place public toilet management under contracted firms instead of placing then under Public Private Partnership(PPP).The decision to place public toilets management under private contract or individual contract is only secondary to PPP if the focus is to achieve both cost recovery and user satisfaction.However,if the focus was to achieve only cost recovery regardless of the need to protect users,then the decision would have been well founded but can be conspired inappropriate in as long as public toilets remain the domain of public good.展开更多
<div style="text-align:justify;"> <span style="line-height:1.5;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Pathologies transm...<div style="text-align:justify;"> <span style="line-height:1.5;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Pathologies transmissible by hand such as gastrointestinal pathologies constitute a real public health problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where hygienic conditions are precarious. This study took place at Félix Houphou</span><span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:Verdana;">ë</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">t-Boigny</span></span><span "="" style="line-height:1.5;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> University from April to August 2018. The samples were taken from toilet surfaces such as doorknobs, tap heads, flush push buttons and seats WC. A total of three hundred and sixty-eight (368) samples were obtained, including 170 from the staff toilets and 198 from the student toilets. The results revealed the presence of total coliforms, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Escherichia</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Salmonella</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. The surfaces of student toilets were the most contaminated surfaces. The presence of entero-bacteria on the contact surfaces of the toilets of the Félix Houphou</span><span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:Verdana;">ë</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">t-Boigny university represents a health risk for the university population.</span></span> </div>展开更多
Toilet facilities in public places are a necessity and are supposed to be present in any public place where people visit. Despite the importance of toilet facilities in public places, there is limited access to toilet...Toilet facilities in public places are a necessity and are supposed to be present in any public place where people visit. Despite the importance of toilet facilities in public places, there is limited access to toilet facilities in public places in Sub-Saharan Africa and this has been a persistent issue. Given that limited studies have been done on availability and use of toilets in public places, this study aimed to fill this research gap. To achieve the objective of the study, a cross-sectional study was used to select participants from the study site. The sample size was 400 after adjustment for non-response. Results from the study showed promising as 95% of public places had a toilet and water for hand washing. However, most of the toilet facilities lacked soap. Toilets in offices and hospitals were perceived to be cleaner and of good quality compared to those in markets and travel agencies. Results also showed that participants hardly used toilets in markets and travel agencies. Toilet facilities in offices and churches were most used, as office toilets were rated clean and of good quality by the participants. The study recommends the need for routine checks by the council to ensure the presence of toilet facilities in public places and the need to sensitise business owners on the importance of having and maintaining toilet facilities in their business establishments.展开更多
Flushed with the success of making the island’s lavatories among the clea-nest in the world,a Singapore-based organization marked"World Toilet Day"onWednesday with a call for more hygiene in public faciliti...Flushed with the success of making the island’s lavatories among the clea-nest in the world,a Singapore-based organization marked"World Toilet Day"onWednesday with a call for more hygiene in public facilities. [初译]岛国新加坡的公厕已跻身于全球最清洁的公厕之列,在对这一成就欢欣鼓舞之余,总部设在新加坡的一组织在周三"世界厕所日"之时呼吁使公共卫生设施更加卫生。展开更多
Functional constipation(FC)is considered the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder in children with a pooled global prevalence of 14.4%(95%confidence interval:11.2-17.6)when diagnosed based on the Rome IV c...Functional constipation(FC)is considered the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder in children with a pooled global prevalence of 14.4%(95%confidence interval:11.2-17.6)when diagnosed based on the Rome IV criteria.Its pathophysiological mechanisms are thought be multifactorial and complicated,resulting in difficult management.Currently,the most effective medication,when used in parallel with toilet training,is osmotic laxatives.Children’s adherence to medication and parental concern regarding long-term laxative use are the main contributors to treatment failure.Recently,novel therapies with a high safety profile have been developed,such as probiotics,synbiotics,serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor agonists,chloride channel activators,and herbal and transitional medicines;nonetheless,well-designed research to support the use of these therapies is needed.This review aims to focus on multiple aspects of FC in children,including global prevalence,pathogenesis,diagnostic criteria,tools,as well as conventional and novel treatment options,such as non-pharmacological management,including adequate fiber and fluid intake,physiotherapy,or neuromodulators.We also report that in very difficult cases,surgical intervention may be required.展开更多
Functionally impaired people always have difficulty accomplishing activities of daily living.In this regard,tasks including toileting and bathing have a higher prevalence rate of injuries and greater risk of falling.I...Functionally impaired people always have difficulty accomplishing activities of daily living.In this regard,tasks including toileting and bathing have a higher prevalence rate of injuries and greater risk of falling.In this study,a body-transfer wheelchair was developed to assist people in transferring from bed to wheelchair for bathing,and toileting.The bodytransfer wheelchair is a semi-automatic wheelchair that has features such as a controlled leg and backrest,linkage commode slot,and height adjustment.The wheelchair consists of a seat and a main frame that can be detached to enable bathtub transfer.This mechanism lets the user stay on the seat while being transferred into the bathtub without any risk of falling.A linkage mechanism was developed as a part of the seat for ease of toileting.Kinematic and force analysis was conducted to calculate the force required for each actuator.It has been proved by the experimental results that the wheelchair can securely and comfortably transfer a patient from the bed to the toilet or bathtub.A survey has been conducted to evaluate the wheelchair prototype design idea.Two focus groups were chosen:one comprised of functionally impaired people,and the other comprised of caregivers.The results of the survey show that 60%of both functionally impaired people and caregivers would like to use the body-transfer wheelchair for toileting and bathing purpose.Additionally,on average 65%of both focus groups find it convenient to operate the body-transfer wheelchair independently.展开更多
Rapid urbanisation and quest for better livelihood, push-pull factor of occupations education, policy changes attract large scale rural population to urban areas. It is well documented that in spite of better public h...Rapid urbanisation and quest for better livelihood, push-pull factor of occupations education, policy changes attract large scale rural population to urban areas. It is well documented that in spite of better public health facilities including tertiary care hospitals which are available in the urban areas but the services are underutilised by the urban poor. Aim: Hence, in this paper, it is attempted to comprehend the reasons for underutilisation of available public health facilities and to compare the difference with non-slum areas of the major metropolitan cities of India. Methods: A secondary data from National Family Health Survey-III for five major metropolitan cities namely, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai is used for the analysis. Slum data which are classified by both the agencies, that is census of India and NFHS-III as slum households only considered for analysis. Results: In Mumbai slums about 90% of the households are having water sources from public tap or piped to yard followed by Hyderabad having better water supply and Chennai slum dwellers having minimum access to good water sources. About 11.4% of the households do not know where their toilet drainage is connected. There is a significant (P 0.05) 75% to 79%, Kolkata and Chennai have parallel high proportion, that is more than 95% (P > 0.05) and Mumbai stands as median percent age as 89.6. Apart from Delhi, about 40% to 45% of the slum population is in the opinion of “long waiting time” in the government hospitals, and the same trend of proportions is observed for “poor quality of service”.展开更多
Global water security is a severe issue that threatens human health and well-being. Finding sustainable alternative water resources has become a matter of great urgency. For coastal urban areas, desalinated seawater c...Global water security is a severe issue that threatens human health and well-being. Finding sustainable alternative water resources has become a matter of great urgency. For coastal urban areas, desalinated seawater could serve as a freshwater supply. However, since 20%-30% of the water supply is used for flushing waste from the city, seawater with simple treatment could also partly replace the use of freshwater. In this work, the freshwater saving potential and environmental impacts of the urban water system （water-wastewater closed loop） adopting seawater desalination, seawater for toilet flushing （SWTF）, or reclaimed water for toilet flushing （RWTF） are compared with those of a conventional freshwater system, through a life-cycle assessment and sensitivity analysis. The potential applications of these processes are also assessed. The results support the environmental sustainability of the SWTF approach, but its potential application depends on the coastal distance and effective population density of a city. Developed coastal cities with an effective population density exceeding 3000 persons.km-2 and located less than 30 km from the seashore （for the main pipe supplying seawater to the city） would benefit from applying SWTF, regardless of other impact parameters. By further applying the sulfate reduction, autotrophic denitrification, and nitrification integrated （SANI） process for wastewater treatment, the maximum distance from the seashore can be extended to 60 km. Considering that most modern urbanized cities fulfill these criteria, the next generation of water supply systems could consist of a freshwater supply coupled with a seawater supply for sustainable urban development.展开更多
Removal of inorganic nitrogen （inorganic-N） from toilet wastewater, using a pilot-scale airlift external circulation membrane bioreactor （AEC-MBR） was studied. The results showed that the use of AEC-MBR with limit...Removal of inorganic nitrogen （inorganic-N） from toilet wastewater, using a pilot-scale airlift external circulation membrane bioreactor （AEC-MBR） was studied. The results showed that the use of AEC-MBR with limited addition of alkaline reagents and volumetric loading rates of inorganic-N of 0.19-0.40 kg inorganic-N/（m^3·d） helped achieve the desired nitrification and denitrification. Furthermore, the effects of pH and dissolved oxygen （DO） on inorganic-N removal were examined. Under the condition of MLSS at 1.56-2.35 g/L, BODs/ammonia nitrogen （NH4＋-N） at 1.0, pH at 7.0-7.5, and DO at 1.0-2.0 mg/L, the removal efficiencies of NH4^＋-N and inorganic-N were 91.5% and 70.0%, respectively, in the AEC-MBR. The cost of addition of alkaline reagent was approximately 0.5-1.5 RMB yuan/m^3, and the energy consumption was approximately 0.72 kWh/m^3 at the flux of 8 L/（m^2-h）.展开更多
A rural model composting toilet system still had some pathogens in the compost after months of operation and hence requires a post-treatment. The aim of the study was to sanitize compost withdrawn from the composting ...A rural model composting toilet system still had some pathogens in the compost after months of operation and hence requires a post-treatment. The aim of the study was to sanitize compost withdrawn from the composting toilet by setting post-treatment conditions. The kinetics inactivation of MS2 bacteriophage, selected as indicator for pathogenic viruses were determined during post-treatment at different temperatures (30°C, 40°C and 50°C) with varying moisture contents (50%, 60% and 70%). As a result, the inactivation rates during the post-treatment were 0.093 - 0.020 h-1, 0.025 - 0.088 h1, 0.447 - 0.100 h-1 at 30°C, 40°C and 50°C respectively. The inactivation rate coefficient (k) values of MS2 bacteriophage depended on higher temperature but not on moisture content.展开更多
Background: Otitis media is one of the most common childhood infections, the leading cause of doctor’s visit by children in ENT clinic. The acute form if not recognized early is commonly characterized by suppuration ...Background: Otitis media is one of the most common childhood infections, the leading cause of doctor’s visit by children in ENT clinic. The acute form if not recognized early is commonly characterized by suppuration from the middle ear following perforation of the tympanic membrane otherwise referred to as acute suppurative otitis media (ASOM). If not adequately treated, it progresses to chronic suppurative otitis media with attendant challenges in management. Ceasation of ear discharge is an indication of resolution of disease. The objective of this study is to appraise the value of local ear suction toileting and dressing in the ceasation of ear discharge in acute suppurative otitis media. Materials and Method: Consecutive new cases of acute suppurative otitis media seen at the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic of a tertiary health centre in north western Nigeria were assessed for efficacy of aural toileting and dressing with antibioctic impregnated guaze in the treatment of acute suppurative otitis media and compared with patients with similar disease without aural toileting and dressing or dressing with normal saline soaked guaze in addition to systemic antibiotic and antihistamine medications. Ear toileting was done by suctioning the discharge with suction machine, and cleaning the external auditory canal with hydrogen peroxide and methylated spirit. They were then dressed with gauze impregnated with antibiotic ear drops daily until there was no more ear discharge. The period of ceasation of ear discharge in each group was assessed. Results: There were 39 patients with acute suppurative otitis media (ASOM). Eighteen were females (46.2%) while 21 were males (53.8%), giving M:F ratio 1:2.1. Their ages ranged between 1 month and 45 years. About 36 (92.3%) were children and out of this, 28 (77.8%) were less than 5 years old. The average period of ceasation of discharge was 24 - 48 hours with those undergoing ear toileting and dressing but varied between 7 and 10 days with those without ear dressing or dressing with normal saline soaked guaze. This finding compelled us to stop the study on ethical grounds when this was carried out in the first 5 patients on each side of the study groups necessitating reversals of other groups to aural toileting and dressing with antibiotic impregnated guaze. Conclusion: Local ear toileting and dressing appear to show significant contribution to the early ceasation of ear discharge and are highly recommended not only for acute suppurative otitis media but also for all suppurative ear diseases.展开更多
Background: Accessibility enables the effective participation of disabled persons in public and private areas and the use of urban equipment and street furniture. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the physical ac...Background: Accessibility enables the effective participation of disabled persons in public and private areas and the use of urban equipment and street furniture. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the physical accessibility of toilet facilities in urban and rural primary health care units. Methods: It was a quantitative descriptive study conducted in 157 Primary Health Care Units of 16 municipalities in the Baturité Massif region, Ceará, Brazil. The study took place from August 2014 to May 2015, with a checklist type form, designed from the Technical Standard 9050 of the Brazilian National Standards Organization, specifying the ideal access conditions established by law to allow mobility of persons with physical disabilities. Data were processed through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software and organized into tables. Results: Toilets designed for physically disabled people were accessible as the location and signs (59.9%), identified with symbols for males and females (57.3%);however, the doorway width was smaller than needed to accommodate a wheelchair (77.7%). Inside the bathroom, only the forward approach was possible (59.9%). Grab bars positioned on the side and rear walls were inadequate or nonexistent (67.6%);toilet seats (91.1%) and toilet paper dispensers (96.2%) were mostly in inaccessible heights;flush controls in appropriate height (59.2%) and activated by light pressure (58%). Sinks without pedestal (51%), but higher than recommended (80.3%) and without single handle faucets (95.6%). It was verified that the toilets of basic health units located in urban areas had better accessibility conditions compared to those in rural areas. Conclusion: Results showed that the analyzed units presented physical inaccessibility in some toilet facilities, making it difficult or even impossible the accessibility for the disabled. The inclusion of accessibility features in health services for this clientele provides equal opportunities and social inclusion.展开更多
Objective:To identify the unusual breeding sites of two dengue vectors,i.e.Aedes albopiclus(Ae.albopictus) and Aedes aegypti(Ae.aegypti).Methods:During the second half of 2010, we performed an occasional survey in rur...Objective:To identify the unusual breeding sites of two dengue vectors,i.e.Aedes albopiclus(Ae.albopictus) and Aedes aegypti(Ae.aegypti).Methods:During the second half of 2010, we performed an occasional survey in rural(Teluk Tempoyak) and urban(Gelugor) areas of Penang Island,Malaysia,to identify cryptic breeding sites.Results:In the rural area,we found heterogeneous immature stages of Ae.albopiclus in the water bowl of an encaged bird.We also observed Ae.aegypti eggs deposited in the flush tank of a toilet in the urban area.Conclusions: It can be concluded that both breeding patterns can increase contact with hosts(humans and birds) and presumably population densities of Ae.albopictus and Ae.aegypti,thereby potentially boosting the risks for spread and transmission of arboviral diseases.展开更多
Background: It is known that, for reasons of hygiene and/or anxiety, some first year primary school children actively choose to avoid going to the toilet whilst at school, while at the same time many young children’s...Background: It is known that, for reasons of hygiene and/or anxiety, some first year primary school children actively choose to avoid going to the toilet whilst at school, while at the same time many young children’s primary care visits are due to urinary tract and bowel problems. By this age most children can recognise the bodily signals indicating the need for a toilet visit, and can independently perform the associated routines. Aim of this study was to describe the experience of healthy 5 to 6 years old when needing and using toilets whilst at pre-school. Methods: A qualitative descriptive method was used. Seventeen children aged 5 to 6 years were interviewed. Results: Nearly all used the toilet when the need arose, but there were times during the day when their freedom to use the toilet was restricted. Most children experienced periods of waiting outside the toilet and a long wait could result in a decision to not use it. On those occasions when help was needed, it was usually necessary to shout once or more in order to attract the teacher’s attention. Some children found the toilets clean and fresh while others found them dirty and smelly. Privacy during toilet visits was desirable among the children but queue outside the toilet was a cause of worry. Conclusion: The children were mostly able to use the toilet whilst at preschool, despite the challenges to their senses and integrity and occasionally issues with the teacher’s rules. The need for privacy often had to yield to the teacher’s need to control the children or even because toilet doors and/or locks were not adapted to the children’s requirements.展开更多
Application of improperly treated compost from composting toilet is one of the causes of bacterial contamination in the field, crops, food and water. The study characterized the die-off represented by kinetic inactiva...Application of improperly treated compost from composting toilet is one of the causes of bacterial contamination in the field, crops, food and water. The study characterized the die-off represented by kinetic inactivation rate coefficient, k (h-1) of Enterococcus in clay and sandy loam soils, determined the effect of temperature, compost-to-soil ratio and soil type on the inactivation rates of Enterococcus and evaluated the health risk associated with the amendment of compost from composting toilet in real conditions using local climatic data. The soils were amended with compost to soil ratios of 1:10, 1:25, 1:50 and 1:100 held at different temperatures (30°C, 40°C and 50°C). Inactivation of Enterococcus (pathogenic bacteria) in the soil with high temperature under different compost application rates was tried in the laboratory test and the Quantitative Microbial Health Risk evaluated. The study results indicated the inactivation rates of Enterococcus in clay soils as 0.015 - 0.027 h-1, 0.246 - 0.322 h-1, 0.397 - 0.571 h-1 whilst sandy loam soils recorded 0.056 - 0.130 h-1, 0.348 - 0.447 h-1 and 0.475 - 0.630 h-1 for 30°C, 40°C and 50°C respectively. Inactivation rates of Enterococcus in soils amended with compost from the composting toilet depended on temperature and soil type but not on the compost-to-soil ratios and compost from the composting toilet amended to the soils is safe for use in six (6) days.展开更多
Generally discharges from on-site sanitation （OSS） system could be a source of pollution to the environment if not well managed. This work illustrates the potential of subsurface infiltration to treat secondary effl...Generally discharges from on-site sanitation （OSS） system could be a source of pollution to the environment if not well managed. This work illustrates the potential of subsurface infiltration to treat secondary effluent from a novel on-site vermi-biofiltration system called the Biofil Toilet Technology （BTT）. In practice, the BTT effluent is discharged via sub-surface infiltration. The focus of the research was to determine possible contaminant removal within the first 1.5 m depth of soil column. To achieve this objective, laboratory scale soil columns were designed and constructed for the treatment of secondary domestic wastewater from the BTT. Four different soil columns, each with 1.5 m depth of soil （sandy soil--SS, loamy soil--LS, clayey soil----CS, and red laterite soil--RLS） and fifth column with 0.45 m multi-layer sand filter were constructed and characterized. The columns were fed with the BTT effluent and sampled at ports spaced at 0.3 m, 0.8 m, and 1.5 m depths. Using the samples, parameters like COD, BODs, TSS, T-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, PO4-P, and pathogenic indicator microbes were monitored. RLS and SS columns efficiently removed COD, BODs, and TSS from the BTT effluent below the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency （GH EPA） guideline values. Up to 99% COD removal were observed in RLS column. A two to five log pathogen removal was recorded for the soil columns. The RLS and SS were found to have a high efficacy for contaminant removal with up to 80% of all contaminants being removed at a depth of 0.3 m along the soil columns. Thus the subsurface infiltration system can serve as a promising technology for the BTT effluent treatment. The study recommends the incorporation of infiltration systems to the BTT especially for areas with high water table or clayey soils.展开更多
Background: Urinary Incontinence is a common symptom among the older and frail older people. Apart from affecting the quality of life and skin complications, the demand on assistance could be too high for any sufferer...Background: Urinary Incontinence is a common symptom among the older and frail older people. Apart from affecting the quality of life and skin complications, the demand on assistance could be too high for any sufferer. While conservative means of treatment do not work, special incontinence apparel could be a good compromise. Objective: To create an absorbent, antiseptic, antiperspirant and deodourant diaper for the older and dependent people suffering from urinary incontinence. Material and Methods: Antiperspirant and antiseptic medicinal materials have been reported in Traditional Chinese Medicine and two herbs were screened out to provide the required effects. A combination of Fraxini Cortex, Calamine and Zinc oxide made in powder forms was impregnated into a pocket of the diaper. Laboratory tests were performed to confirm the antiseptic, antiperspirant and deodourant effects of the materials. A self-control clinical trial on the diaper was organized in an elderly home. Results: Antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus, E. coli and Candida were proven. Antiperspirant effects were confirmed using acetylcholinesterase inhibitor testings. Volunteers using the Sudoscan machine further demonstrated the weak antiperspirant effects of the herbs. A pilot study on 31 dependent diaper users gave positive feedbacks of more comfort, less leakage, odour and better skin conditions. The overall satisfaction reached 79%. Conclusion: A special diaper with antiseptic, antiperspirant and deodourant effects could be created with inexpensive herbal powder impregnated and could be recommended to the older and frail older people with urinary incontinence.展开更多
It is well known that a lot of children avoid going to the toilet during school. This is mainly due to poor hygienic standards in the toilets but also due to fear and insecurity when visiting the toilet during recess....It is well known that a lot of children avoid going to the toilet during school. This is mainly due to poor hygienic standards in the toilets but also due to fear and insecurity when visiting the toilet during recess. Studies show that children are not always allowed to go to the toilet during class and that many teachers decide when the children may satisfy their toilet needs. The purpose of this study was to describe teacher＇s attitudes and strategies when schoolchildren need to go to the toilet. Interviews with 17 teachers working in five Swedish compulsory schools. The teacher＇s attitudes were that the physiological need or children＇s will should determine when they could go to the toilet and that children have different toilet needs. All teachers used rules to regulate toilet visits during class. The rules were not communicated and required the interpretation of the children. The teachers demanded openness and information about the toilet needs of the children. Suspected misuse of toilet visits led the teacher to make their own assessment of the children＇s toilet needs, as a sanction toilet visits could be prohibited. The strategies used during class did not reflect the health-promoting attitude the teachers told about. In reality, the task of maintaining order and control was prioritised. The strategies used were not adapted to children＇s needs, which could have significance for maintaining toilet habits consistent with health and well-being.展开更多
文摘In recent years,under the influence of multiple factors such as traditional ideas and living economic conditions,the aging population in China continues to increase.Most of the elderly are more inclined to aged at home,and the first places for elderly activities are communities and the surrounding environment,which greatly affects the convenience of life and happiness of the elderly.In this paper,Changxindian area in Fengtai District of Beijing was as the research object,and detailed calculation and analysis were carried out by using POI data and arcGIS software.The relative location of residential areas and surrounding public toilets was explored,and the best location of public toilets in the daily walking area under the model of community home-based care for the elderly was further studied.
文摘The infection control in surfaces of public toilets environment is a matter of great concern and a major challenge, especially during mass gatherings. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of titanium dioxide nanoparticles coating on environmental surfaces of public toilets during Hajj time. A pilot study has been designed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the surfaces of public toilets. The results showed a significant reduction in colony-count of the test samples. Maximum average reduction count of test microbes of the seats and walls reached (99.7%) while that of the doors reached (99.1%) which was statistically significant (P value = 0.001). It was concluded that there was a marked effect of a mixed TiO2 coating on reducing the microbial count at the surfaces of public toilets environments. Further research on efficacy against specific organisms, intestinal parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteriophage is recommended.
文摘Cost recovery and user satisfaction are among the core objectives of any public or quas-public good provision.Public toilet service provision has been the domain of local government until when liberalisation policies struck the developing south.With stringent condition to reduce the fiscal burden,local government authorities have sought to offload some of its core functions including the management of public toilets to contracted firms.Based on regression and comparative quadrant analysis,this study evaluates cost recovery and user satisfaction in relation to public toilet condition based on a total of 729 user responses and 31 public toilet operators.The observations point to misguided decision to place public toilet management under contracted firms instead of placing then under Public Private Partnership(PPP).The decision to place public toilets management under private contract or individual contract is only secondary to PPP if the focus is to achieve both cost recovery and user satisfaction.However,if the focus was to achieve only cost recovery regardless of the need to protect users,then the decision would have been well founded but can be conspired inappropriate in as long as public toilets remain the domain of public good.
文摘<div style="text-align:justify;"> <span style="line-height:1.5;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Pathologies transmissible by hand such as gastrointestinal pathologies constitute a real public health problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where hygienic conditions are precarious. This study took place at Félix Houphou</span><span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:Verdana;">ë</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">t-Boigny</span></span><span "="" style="line-height:1.5;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> University from April to August 2018. The samples were taken from toilet surfaces such as doorknobs, tap heads, flush push buttons and seats WC. A total of three hundred and sixty-eight (368) samples were obtained, including 170 from the staff toilets and 198 from the student toilets. The results revealed the presence of total coliforms, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Escherichia</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Salmonella</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> spp. The surfaces of student toilets were the most contaminated surfaces. The presence of entero-bacteria on the contact surfaces of the toilets of the Félix Houphou</span><span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:Verdana;">ë</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">t-Boigny university represents a health risk for the university population.</span></span> </div>
文摘Toilet facilities in public places are a necessity and are supposed to be present in any public place where people visit. Despite the importance of toilet facilities in public places, there is limited access to toilet facilities in public places in Sub-Saharan Africa and this has been a persistent issue. Given that limited studies have been done on availability and use of toilets in public places, this study aimed to fill this research gap. To achieve the objective of the study, a cross-sectional study was used to select participants from the study site. The sample size was 400 after adjustment for non-response. Results from the study showed promising as 95% of public places had a toilet and water for hand washing. However, most of the toilet facilities lacked soap. Toilets in offices and hospitals were perceived to be cleaner and of good quality compared to those in markets and travel agencies. Results also showed that participants hardly used toilets in markets and travel agencies. Toilet facilities in offices and churches were most used, as office toilets were rated clean and of good quality by the participants. The study recommends the need for routine checks by the council to ensure the presence of toilet facilities in public places and the need to sensitise business owners on the importance of having and maintaining toilet facilities in their business establishments.
文摘Flushed with the success of making the island’s lavatories among the clea-nest in the world,a Singapore-based organization marked"World Toilet Day"onWednesday with a call for more hygiene in public facilities. [初译]岛国新加坡的公厕已跻身于全球最清洁的公厕之列,在对这一成就欢欣鼓舞之余,总部设在新加坡的一组织在周三"世界厕所日"之时呼吁使公共卫生设施更加卫生。
基金Thailand and Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fund Chulalongkorn University,No.HEA663000047.
文摘Functional constipation(FC)is considered the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder in children with a pooled global prevalence of 14.4%(95%confidence interval:11.2-17.6)when diagnosed based on the Rome IV criteria.Its pathophysiological mechanisms are thought be multifactorial and complicated,resulting in difficult management.Currently,the most effective medication,when used in parallel with toilet training,is osmotic laxatives.Children’s adherence to medication and parental concern regarding long-term laxative use are the main contributors to treatment failure.Recently,novel therapies with a high safety profile have been developed,such as probiotics,synbiotics,serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor agonists,chloride channel activators,and herbal and transitional medicines;nonetheless,well-designed research to support the use of these therapies is needed.This review aims to focus on multiple aspects of FC in children,including global prevalence,pathogenesis,diagnostic criteria,tools,as well as conventional and novel treatment options,such as non-pharmacological management,including adequate fiber and fluid intake,physiotherapy,or neuromodulators.We also report that in very difficult cases,surgical intervention may be required.
基金This work is financially supported by both Taiwan,China ,Building Technology Center and Center for Cyber-physical System Innovation from the Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project by the Ministry of Education(MOE)in Taiwan,ChinaThis research is also financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology,Republic of China,Under Grant 108-2221-E-011-140-MY2.
文摘Functionally impaired people always have difficulty accomplishing activities of daily living.In this regard,tasks including toileting and bathing have a higher prevalence rate of injuries and greater risk of falling.In this study,a body-transfer wheelchair was developed to assist people in transferring from bed to wheelchair for bathing,and toileting.The bodytransfer wheelchair is a semi-automatic wheelchair that has features such as a controlled leg and backrest,linkage commode slot,and height adjustment.The wheelchair consists of a seat and a main frame that can be detached to enable bathtub transfer.This mechanism lets the user stay on the seat while being transferred into the bathtub without any risk of falling.A linkage mechanism was developed as a part of the seat for ease of toileting.Kinematic and force analysis was conducted to calculate the force required for each actuator.It has been proved by the experimental results that the wheelchair can securely and comfortably transfer a patient from the bed to the toilet or bathtub.A survey has been conducted to evaluate the wheelchair prototype design idea.Two focus groups were chosen:one comprised of functionally impaired people,and the other comprised of caregivers.The results of the survey show that 60%of both functionally impaired people and caregivers would like to use the body-transfer wheelchair for toileting and bathing purpose.Additionally,on average 65%of both focus groups find it convenient to operate the body-transfer wheelchair independently.
文摘Rapid urbanisation and quest for better livelihood, push-pull factor of occupations education, policy changes attract large scale rural population to urban areas. It is well documented that in spite of better public health facilities including tertiary care hospitals which are available in the urban areas but the services are underutilised by the urban poor. Aim: Hence, in this paper, it is attempted to comprehend the reasons for underutilisation of available public health facilities and to compare the difference with non-slum areas of the major metropolitan cities of India. Methods: A secondary data from National Family Health Survey-III for five major metropolitan cities namely, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai is used for the analysis. Slum data which are classified by both the agencies, that is census of India and NFHS-III as slum households only considered for analysis. Results: In Mumbai slums about 90% of the households are having water sources from public tap or piped to yard followed by Hyderabad having better water supply and Chennai slum dwellers having minimum access to good water sources. About 11.4% of the households do not know where their toilet drainage is connected. There is a significant (P 0.05) 75% to 79%, Kolkata and Chennai have parallel high proportion, that is more than 95% (P > 0.05) and Mumbai stands as median percent age as 89.6. Apart from Delhi, about 40% to 45% of the slum population is in the opinion of “long waiting time” in the government hospitals, and the same trend of proportions is observed for “poor quality of service”.
文摘Global water security is a severe issue that threatens human health and well-being. Finding sustainable alternative water resources has become a matter of great urgency. For coastal urban areas, desalinated seawater could serve as a freshwater supply. However, since 20%-30% of the water supply is used for flushing waste from the city, seawater with simple treatment could also partly replace the use of freshwater. In this work, the freshwater saving potential and environmental impacts of the urban water system （water-wastewater closed loop） adopting seawater desalination, seawater for toilet flushing （SWTF）, or reclaimed water for toilet flushing （RWTF） are compared with those of a conventional freshwater system, through a life-cycle assessment and sensitivity analysis. The potential applications of these processes are also assessed. The results support the environmental sustainability of the SWTF approach, but its potential application depends on the coastal distance and effective population density of a city. Developed coastal cities with an effective population density exceeding 3000 persons.km-2 and located less than 30 km from the seashore （for the main pipe supplying seawater to the city） would benefit from applying SWTF, regardless of other impact parameters. By further applying the sulfate reduction, autotrophic denitrification, and nitrification integrated （SANI） process for wastewater treatment, the maximum distance from the seashore can be extended to 60 km. Considering that most modern urbanized cities fulfill these criteria, the next generation of water supply systems could consist of a freshwater supply coupled with a seawater supply for sustainable urban development.
基金Project supported by the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program (863) of China (No. 2002AA601220)
文摘Removal of inorganic nitrogen （inorganic-N） from toilet wastewater, using a pilot-scale airlift external circulation membrane bioreactor （AEC-MBR） was studied. The results showed that the use of AEC-MBR with limited addition of alkaline reagents and volumetric loading rates of inorganic-N of 0.19-0.40 kg inorganic-N/（m^3·d） helped achieve the desired nitrification and denitrification. Furthermore, the effects of pH and dissolved oxygen （DO） on inorganic-N removal were examined. Under the condition of MLSS at 1.56-2.35 g/L, BODs/ammonia nitrogen （NH4＋-N） at 1.0, pH at 7.0-7.5, and DO at 1.0-2.0 mg/L, the removal efficiencies of NH4^＋-N and inorganic-N were 91.5% and 70.0%, respectively, in the AEC-MBR. The cost of addition of alkaline reagent was approximately 0.5-1.5 RMB yuan/m^3, and the energy consumption was approximately 0.72 kWh/m^3 at the flux of 8 L/（m^2-h）.
文摘A rural model composting toilet system still had some pathogens in the compost after months of operation and hence requires a post-treatment. The aim of the study was to sanitize compost withdrawn from the composting toilet by setting post-treatment conditions. The kinetics inactivation of MS2 bacteriophage, selected as indicator for pathogenic viruses were determined during post-treatment at different temperatures (30°C, 40°C and 50°C) with varying moisture contents (50%, 60% and 70%). As a result, the inactivation rates during the post-treatment were 0.093 - 0.020 h-1, 0.025 - 0.088 h1, 0.447 - 0.100 h-1 at 30°C, 40°C and 50°C respectively. The inactivation rate coefficient (k) values of MS2 bacteriophage depended on higher temperature but not on moisture content.
文摘Background: Otitis media is one of the most common childhood infections, the leading cause of doctor’s visit by children in ENT clinic. The acute form if not recognized early is commonly characterized by suppuration from the middle ear following perforation of the tympanic membrane otherwise referred to as acute suppurative otitis media (ASOM). If not adequately treated, it progresses to chronic suppurative otitis media with attendant challenges in management. Ceasation of ear discharge is an indication of resolution of disease. The objective of this study is to appraise the value of local ear suction toileting and dressing in the ceasation of ear discharge in acute suppurative otitis media. Materials and Method: Consecutive new cases of acute suppurative otitis media seen at the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic of a tertiary health centre in north western Nigeria were assessed for efficacy of aural toileting and dressing with antibioctic impregnated guaze in the treatment of acute suppurative otitis media and compared with patients with similar disease without aural toileting and dressing or dressing with normal saline soaked guaze in addition to systemic antibiotic and antihistamine medications. Ear toileting was done by suctioning the discharge with suction machine, and cleaning the external auditory canal with hydrogen peroxide and methylated spirit. They were then dressed with gauze impregnated with antibiotic ear drops daily until there was no more ear discharge. The period of ceasation of ear discharge in each group was assessed. Results: There were 39 patients with acute suppurative otitis media (ASOM). Eighteen were females (46.2%) while 21 were males (53.8%), giving M:F ratio 1:2.1. Their ages ranged between 1 month and 45 years. About 36 (92.3%) were children and out of this, 28 (77.8%) were less than 5 years old. The average period of ceasation of discharge was 24 - 48 hours with those undergoing ear toileting and dressing but varied between 7 and 10 days with those without ear dressing or dressing with normal saline soaked guaze. This finding compelled us to stop the study on ethical grounds when this was carried out in the first 5 patients on each side of the study groups necessitating reversals of other groups to aural toileting and dressing with antibiotic impregnated guaze. Conclusion: Local ear toileting and dressing appear to show significant contribution to the early ceasation of ear discharge and are highly recommended not only for acute suppurative otitis media but also for all suppurative ear diseases.
文摘Background: Accessibility enables the effective participation of disabled persons in public and private areas and the use of urban equipment and street furniture. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the physical accessibility of toilet facilities in urban and rural primary health care units. Methods: It was a quantitative descriptive study conducted in 157 Primary Health Care Units of 16 municipalities in the Baturité Massif region, Ceará, Brazil. The study took place from August 2014 to May 2015, with a checklist type form, designed from the Technical Standard 9050 of the Brazilian National Standards Organization, specifying the ideal access conditions established by law to allow mobility of persons with physical disabilities. Data were processed through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software and organized into tables. Results: Toilets designed for physically disabled people were accessible as the location and signs (59.9%), identified with symbols for males and females (57.3%);however, the doorway width was smaller than needed to accommodate a wheelchair (77.7%). Inside the bathroom, only the forward approach was possible (59.9%). Grab bars positioned on the side and rear walls were inadequate or nonexistent (67.6%);toilet seats (91.1%) and toilet paper dispensers (96.2%) were mostly in inaccessible heights;flush controls in appropriate height (59.2%) and activated by light pressure (58%). Sinks without pedestal (51%), but higher than recommended (80.3%) and without single handle faucets (95.6%). It was verified that the toilets of basic health units located in urban areas had better accessibility conditions compared to those in rural areas. Conclusion: Results showed that the analyzed units presented physical inaccessibility in some toilet facilities, making it difficult or even impossible the accessibility for the disabled. The inclusion of accessibility features in health services for this clientele provides equal opportunities and social inclusion.
基金financially supported by Universiti Sains Malaysia(grant No.07-05-16-MG1-GMB15 and 1001/PBIOLOG1/842004)and a fellowship grant
文摘Objective:To identify the unusual breeding sites of two dengue vectors,i.e.Aedes albopiclus(Ae.albopictus) and Aedes aegypti(Ae.aegypti).Methods:During the second half of 2010, we performed an occasional survey in rural(Teluk Tempoyak) and urban(Gelugor) areas of Penang Island,Malaysia,to identify cryptic breeding sites.Results:In the rural area,we found heterogeneous immature stages of Ae.albopiclus in the water bowl of an encaged bird.We also observed Ae.aegypti eggs deposited in the flush tank of a toilet in the urban area.Conclusions: It can be concluded that both breeding patterns can increase contact with hosts(humans and birds) and presumably population densities of Ae.albopictus and Ae.aegypti,thereby potentially boosting the risks for spread and transmission of arboviral diseases.
文摘Background: It is known that, for reasons of hygiene and/or anxiety, some first year primary school children actively choose to avoid going to the toilet whilst at school, while at the same time many young children’s primary care visits are due to urinary tract and bowel problems. By this age most children can recognise the bodily signals indicating the need for a toilet visit, and can independently perform the associated routines. Aim of this study was to describe the experience of healthy 5 to 6 years old when needing and using toilets whilst at pre-school. Methods: A qualitative descriptive method was used. Seventeen children aged 5 to 6 years were interviewed. Results: Nearly all used the toilet when the need arose, but there were times during the day when their freedom to use the toilet was restricted. Most children experienced periods of waiting outside the toilet and a long wait could result in a decision to not use it. On those occasions when help was needed, it was usually necessary to shout once or more in order to attract the teacher’s attention. Some children found the toilets clean and fresh while others found them dirty and smelly. Privacy during toilet visits was desirable among the children but queue outside the toilet was a cause of worry. Conclusion: The children were mostly able to use the toilet whilst at preschool, despite the challenges to their senses and integrity and occasionally issues with the teacher’s rules. The need for privacy often had to yield to the teacher’s need to control the children or even because toilet doors and/or locks were not adapted to the children’s requirements.
文摘Application of improperly treated compost from composting toilet is one of the causes of bacterial contamination in the field, crops, food and water. The study characterized the die-off represented by kinetic inactivation rate coefficient, k (h-1) of Enterococcus in clay and sandy loam soils, determined the effect of temperature, compost-to-soil ratio and soil type on the inactivation rates of Enterococcus and evaluated the health risk associated with the amendment of compost from composting toilet in real conditions using local climatic data. The soils were amended with compost to soil ratios of 1:10, 1:25, 1:50 and 1:100 held at different temperatures (30°C, 40°C and 50°C). Inactivation of Enterococcus (pathogenic bacteria) in the soil with high temperature under different compost application rates was tried in the laboratory test and the Quantitative Microbial Health Risk evaluated. The study results indicated the inactivation rates of Enterococcus in clay soils as 0.015 - 0.027 h-1, 0.246 - 0.322 h-1, 0.397 - 0.571 h-1 whilst sandy loam soils recorded 0.056 - 0.130 h-1, 0.348 - 0.447 h-1 and 0.475 - 0.630 h-1 for 30°C, 40°C and 50°C respectively. Inactivation rates of Enterococcus in soils amended with compost from the composting toilet depended on temperature and soil type but not on the compost-to-soil ratios and compost from the composting toilet amended to the soils is safe for use in six (6) days.
文摘Generally discharges from on-site sanitation （OSS） system could be a source of pollution to the environment if not well managed. This work illustrates the potential of subsurface infiltration to treat secondary effluent from a novel on-site vermi-biofiltration system called the Biofil Toilet Technology （BTT）. In practice, the BTT effluent is discharged via sub-surface infiltration. The focus of the research was to determine possible contaminant removal within the first 1.5 m depth of soil column. To achieve this objective, laboratory scale soil columns were designed and constructed for the treatment of secondary domestic wastewater from the BTT. Four different soil columns, each with 1.5 m depth of soil （sandy soil--SS, loamy soil--LS, clayey soil----CS, and red laterite soil--RLS） and fifth column with 0.45 m multi-layer sand filter were constructed and characterized. The columns were fed with the BTT effluent and sampled at ports spaced at 0.3 m, 0.8 m, and 1.5 m depths. Using the samples, parameters like COD, BODs, TSS, T-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, PO4-P, and pathogenic indicator microbes were monitored. RLS and SS columns efficiently removed COD, BODs, and TSS from the BTT effluent below the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency （GH EPA） guideline values. Up to 99% COD removal were observed in RLS column. A two to five log pathogen removal was recorded for the soil columns. The RLS and SS were found to have a high efficacy for contaminant removal with up to 80% of all contaminants being removed at a depth of 0.3 m along the soil columns. Thus the subsurface infiltration system can serve as a promising technology for the BTT effluent treatment. The study recommends the incorporation of infiltration systems to the BTT especially for areas with high water table or clayey soils.
文摘Background: Urinary Incontinence is a common symptom among the older and frail older people. Apart from affecting the quality of life and skin complications, the demand on assistance could be too high for any sufferer. While conservative means of treatment do not work, special incontinence apparel could be a good compromise. Objective: To create an absorbent, antiseptic, antiperspirant and deodourant diaper for the older and dependent people suffering from urinary incontinence. Material and Methods: Antiperspirant and antiseptic medicinal materials have been reported in Traditional Chinese Medicine and two herbs were screened out to provide the required effects. A combination of Fraxini Cortex, Calamine and Zinc oxide made in powder forms was impregnated into a pocket of the diaper. Laboratory tests were performed to confirm the antiseptic, antiperspirant and deodourant effects of the materials. A self-control clinical trial on the diaper was organized in an elderly home. Results: Antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus, E. coli and Candida were proven. Antiperspirant effects were confirmed using acetylcholinesterase inhibitor testings. Volunteers using the Sudoscan machine further demonstrated the weak antiperspirant effects of the herbs. A pilot study on 31 dependent diaper users gave positive feedbacks of more comfort, less leakage, odour and better skin conditions. The overall satisfaction reached 79%. Conclusion: A special diaper with antiseptic, antiperspirant and deodourant effects could be created with inexpensive herbal powder impregnated and could be recommended to the older and frail older people with urinary incontinence.
文摘It is well known that a lot of children avoid going to the toilet during school. This is mainly due to poor hygienic standards in the toilets but also due to fear and insecurity when visiting the toilet during recess. Studies show that children are not always allowed to go to the toilet during class and that many teachers decide when the children may satisfy their toilet needs. The purpose of this study was to describe teacher＇s attitudes and strategies when schoolchildren need to go to the toilet. Interviews with 17 teachers working in five Swedish compulsory schools. The teacher＇s attitudes were that the physiological need or children＇s will should determine when they could go to the toilet and that children have different toilet needs. All teachers used rules to regulate toilet visits during class. The rules were not communicated and required the interpretation of the children. The teachers demanded openness and information about the toilet needs of the children. Suspected misuse of toilet visits led the teacher to make their own assessment of the children＇s toilet needs, as a sanction toilet visits could be prohibited. The strategies used during class did not reflect the health-promoting attitude the teachers told about. In reality, the task of maintaining order and control was prioritised. The strategies used were not adapted to children＇s needs, which could have significance for maintaining toilet habits consistent with health and well-being.
