Introduction. There is a multitude of reports concerning the prevalence of diseases connected with the occurrence of air pollution, mainly particulate contamination. Cracow has been struggling with the poor air quality and the excess concentration of PM10 for many years. This has established a need to inform inhabitants about the environmental health risks resulting from air pollution. One of the main sources of information is the printed mass media. The aim of the study is the assessment of the degree of information about the environmental health risks related to air pollution in the city of Cracow by selected daily newspapers between 2009-2013. Material and methods. A quality and exploration research with some components of quantitative research have been conducted. The content of newspaper articlesconcerning air pollution in Cracow published in Dziennik Polski, Gazeta Krakowska and Gazeta Wyborcza between 2009–2013 has been analysed. The number of articles concerning air pollution in Cracow has been compared with the annual number of instances of exceeding the daily standard of particulate matter PM10 in Cracow between 2009–2013. Then, graphs have been presented. Results. Multifarious aspects of articles concerning air pollution in Cracow have been distinguished. The annual number of articles each year has increased. Based on premises formulated as a result of conducted analysis, it has been stated that the number of published articles concerning air pollution in Cracow has not increased proportionally with the degree of air pollution. Conclusions. The degree of air pollution in Cracow has not been the only factor that has influenced the number of newspaper articles concerning the topic, published by selected daily newspapers between 2009–2013. It seems that other issues (for example the activity of the social movement Krakowski Alarm Smogowy) may have influenced the interest of daily newspapers in the questions of air pollution.
PL
Wstęp. Udowodniono naukowo, że zła jakość powietrza ma negatywny wpływ na ludzkie zdrowie. Jednym z miast, w których od wielu lat systematycznie odnotowuje się ponadnormatywną koncentrację pyłu zawieszonego PM10 jest Kraków. Stwarza to potrzebę informowania mieszkańców o środowiskowym ryzyku dla zdrowia, wynikającym z zanieczyszczenia powietrza. Do przekazywania informacji o środowiskowym ryzyku wykorzystywane są m.in. drukowane media masowego przekazu. Celem badania jest ocena stopnia informowania o środowiskowym ryzyku dla zdrowia związanym z zanieczyszczeniem powietrza w Krakowie, przez wybrane dzienniki lokalne ukazujące się w latach 2009–2013. Materiał i metody. Przeprowadzono eksploracyjne badanie jakościowe, z komponentami badania ilościowego. Analizowano treść artykułów prasowych dotyczących zanieczyszczenia powietrza w Krakowie, opublikowanych w Dzienniku Polskim, Gazecie Krakowskiej i Gazecie Wyborczej w latach 2009–2013. Następnie zestawiono liczbę artykułów dotyczących zanieczyszczenia powietrza w Krakowie z roczną liczbą przekroczeń średniodobowej normy pyłu zawieszonego PM10 w Krakowie w latach 2009–2013 i na tej podstawie przedstawiono wykresy. Wyniki. Po analizie treści opublikowanych artykułów dotyczących zanieczyszczenia powietrza w Krakowie stwierdzono, że ich liczba wzrastała w latach 2009–2012, podczas gdy średnioroczna koncentracja pyłu PM10 ulegała zmniejszeniu. Wnioski. Stopień zanieczyszczenia powietrza w Krakowie nie był jedynym czynnikiem, który wpłynął na liczbę artykułów prasowych poświęconych temu tematowi, opublikowanych przez trzy wybrane dzienniki lokalne wydane w latach 2009–2013. Wydaje się, że inne kwestie (np. działalność ruchu społecznego – Krakowski Alarm Smogowy), także mogły mieć wpływ na zainteresowanie prasy codziennej zagadnieniami jakości powietrza.
This article assesses Poland’s performance with respect to the level of child violence prevention applying public health approach, based on an examination of current national policies to support the prevention of violence toward children (0–18 years) in July 2013. The analysis included the child violence surveillance, leadership and capacity, law and its’ enforcement, children’s rights protection, national policies, programmes and strategies, national media campaigns and education that support the child maltreatment, neglect and abuse prevention.The review of law and policy documents, interviews by phone or e-mail with representatives of government departments was conducted. The questionnaire developed in the frame of the European Project TACTICS (Tools to Address Childhood Trauma, Injury and Children’s Safety) was applied. Each policy was assessed on 3-points scale.The following scores were obtained for each of the overarching policies of child violence prevention in Poland (out of possible 100%): 80% in child violence surveillance system and leadership,75% in children’s rights protection, 63% in capacity related to support to the child-victim, and 71% in child maltreatment, neglect, and abuse prevention.Poland is doing a good job at the national level in addressing violence against children in all areas examined. However, the violence area scores indicate that further action is required in most areas, particularly in overarching polices addressing violence against children in the area of capacity related to support to the child-victim, and specific policies for the prevention of child maltreatment, neglect and abuse.Poland has undertaken a number of actions in the area of leadership and infrastructure including an national strategy in child domestic violence prevention. However, the level of child violence control and prevention in other settings is poor and not sufficient.Policies of children’s right protection need further efforts to ensure full implementation. There is a need for Poland to fund and support the implementation and monitoring of existing evidence-based good practices, paying particular attention to vulnerable groups such as children with disabilities, migrant children, children from minority groups (i.e. Romani children) and those in care institutions.There are some good programmes and services available in Poland to develop capacity both for children themselves and their families. However follow-up and monitoring to ensure implementation, particularly for those aimed at kindergartens and schools is needed. The monitoring of implementation of all available resources for school-aged children are required, which result also in decrease of socio-economic inequalities.The government approved the National Program of Domestic Violence Prevention, which does not include other areas of child maltreatment or abuse occurring outside of the domestic setting (e.g., sexual abuse occurring outside the home) and this leaves a gap that should be addressed. The development of national guidance and policy regarding assessment in situations of potential, suspected child maltreatment, neglect or abuse would strengthen existing services. The addition of home visits for new parents that include education on prevention of child violence would not only increase capacity, but would also provide another opportunity to screen for the risk of child violence.
Perceived air quality is an important measure for evaluating the health impact and quality of life in studies that have been carried out in the area of public health for years. The aim of this paper is to review and sum up the multidisciplinary knowledge regarding this topic, as well as to outline some main insights presented in the field of risk perception research. The literature on the perception of air pollution risks is structured around the five topics, proposed by the authors. Particular attention is focused on research that explores such issues as: factors influencing the air quality perception, the association between the subjective assessment of air pollutants and their objectively measured levels, the influence that perception of air quality has on human attitudes and activities. The paper concludes by evaluating the relevance of the reviewed knowledge for the future research and the field of public health practice.
Health related quality of life assessment is an topic in public health, especially in socially meaningful chronic diseases. Chronic diseases such as asthma reduce the patient’s quality of life significant. The influence of environmental factors on health has been interested researchers for many years also in the public health area. Nowadays, we know that the clinical symptoms of the disease is a result of genotype-environment interaction. Despite our reach data of environmental threats, studying their influence on health or chronic diseases course seems insufficient. Thus, the analysis of relations and environmental factors influence on the quality of life assessment of patients with asthma may supplement the knowledge of environment influence on a human being. Previous research show that changing dust in the air and pollution causes increase or decrease of allergic symptoms, whereas the relations of life quality assessment of patients with asthma with the environment influence is not unequivocal.
Introduction. Asthma is a chronic disease, from which more and more people in the world suffer. It is connected with many bothersome symptoms and limitations, which result in decreased quality of life for the patient. Environmental and individual aspects do not necessarily affect individuals in the same way, so it is necessary to determine which factors have predominantly impacted on an individual, in order to minimize their impact and to take better control over treatment of asthma. The aim of this research was to compare the quality of life among patients with bronchial asthma living in Krakow in the areas where they get exposed to varying concentrations of particulate matter (PM10). Material and methods. The study included 98 adults diagnosed with bronchial asthma. The research was conducted using the AQLQ poll. PM10 concentration was measured in several Malopolska Air Pollution Monitoring Stations located throughout the city. Results. Analyzing the quality of life in the view of symptoms, activity limitations and emotional well being, there was a substantial statistical difference observed in people occupying the areas with different PM10 concentrations. No significant statistical difference was observed in the frequency of asthma symptoms caused by the environmental stimuli between the 2 discussed groups. One group of patients who came to the allergy clinic for control of asthma symptoms and the second group who live in the vicinity of the monitoring stations measuring PM10 concentrations. Conclusions. For many of the cases, the quality of life was not worse for patients with asthma living in an area with slightly elevated concentrations of PM10, and sometimes paradoxically the quality of life was improved. These results show that PM10 concentrations do not correlate with quality of life of asthma patients.
PL
Wstęp. Astma oskrzelowa to przewlekła choroba, na którą cierpi coraz więcej ludzi na całym świecie. Związana jest z występowaniem wielu uciążliwych dla pacjenta objawów i ograniczeń, powodujących obniżenie jakości ich życia. Nie wszystkie czynniki osobnicze i środowiskowe mają takie samo znaczenie, dlatego należy ustalić, które mają silniejsze oddziaływanie, aby je zminimalizować oraz lepiej kontrolować i leczyć astmę. Celem badania była ocena wpływu zanieczyszczenia powietrza PM10, w zależności od poziomu ekspozycji, na jakość życia pacjentów z astmą oskrzelową, mieszkających w Krakowie. Materiał i metody. Badaniem objęto 98 pacjentów z rozpoznaniem astmy oskrzelowej, którzy zgłosili się na wizytę kontrolną do poradni alergologicznych w Krakowie. Jakość życia mierzono za pomocą ankiety AQLQ, a stężenie pyłu zawieszonego w powietrzu PM10 odpisano z publikowanych pomiarów trzech stacji automatycznego monitoringu powietrza w Krakowie. Wyniki.Wbadanej grupie pacjentów wykazano istotne statystycznie, choć nieoczekiwanie odwrotne różnice w pojedynczych odpowiedziach na pytania w 3 domenach: objawy, emocje i ograniczenia aktywności, a nie wykazano różnic w domenie nazywanej bodźce środowiskowe, pomiędzy badanymi mieszkającymi w pobliżu stacji monitoringowych, wykazujących wyższe wartości stężenia PM10. Wnioski. Większość zbadanych wskaźników jakości życia nie była gorsza u chorych na astmę oskrzelową, zamieszkałych w strefie o nieco wyższym poziomie stężenia PM10, a niekiedy ta zależność była nawet paradoksalnie odwrotna. Wyniki te pozwalają twierdzić, że obniżenie jakości życia w tym zaostrzenie objawów astmy oskrzelowej nie jest powiązane z wpływem PM10, w sposób proporcjonalny do dawki tego zanieczyszczenia powietrza.
Injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children and adolescents in Poland. In 2009, 1220 children age 0-19 years died as a result of injury. If the rate of injury deaths in Poland could be reduced to the level of the Netherlands, it is estimated that 703 (58%) of these lives could have been saved. The aim of this study was to assess child and adolescent unintentional injury prevention in Poland through national law and policy. The study was based on an examination of law and policies existing and implemented or enforced in Poland which support child safety, including specific injury areas such as road safety, water safety, fall prevention, poisoning prevention, burn and scalds prevention, choking and strangulation prevention. The review of law and policy documents, as well as interviews by phone or e-mail with representatives of government departments was conducted. The questionnaire developed in the frame of the European Project TACTICS (Tools to Address Childhood Trauma, Injury and Children’s Safety) was applied. Each policy and law as a marker for specific injury areas was assessed on 3-points scale. The following scores were obtained for each of the areas of child and adolescent injury prevention in Poland (out of possible 100%): 89% in moped and motor scooter safety, 86% in poisoning prevention, 75% in pedestrian safety, 75% in cycling safety, 75% in water safety and drowning prevention, 64% in burn and scalds prevention, 59% in passenger and driver safety, 59% in choking and strangulation prevention, 50% in fall safety. Child home safety related to prevention of falls, burns and scalds, choking and strangulation has not received the adequate attention. The greatest gains in injury prevention have been made in road safety and poisoning prevention. It is important to both continue these efforts and give equal attention to injuries occurring in and around the home, sport and leisure environments. There is a need to support and fund good practices injury prevention measures based on community level targeting families with low socio-economic status.
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