Research in the service of public health
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The three news vignettes below are used to illustrate the sig-
nificant role research evidence plays in the service of public
health. Enjoy.
a) Church air is 'threat to health'
Air inside churches may be a bigger health risk than that beside
major roads, research suggests. Church air was found to be con-
siderably higher in carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons than
air beside roads travelled by 45,000 vehicles daily. (BBC News
11/20/04)
Get more details from source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4026537.stm
c) Antibiotic halves HIV/AIDS deaths
Giving Africa's HIV-positive children a cheap antibiotic (co-
trimaxole) could nearly halve the death rate, research shows.
(BBC News. 11/19/04)
Get more details from source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4021887.stm
b) Computer use link to eye disease
Heavy computer use could be linked to glaucoma, especially among
those who are short-sighted, fear researchers. Glaucoma is
caused by increased fluid pressure within the eye compressing
the nerves at the back, which can lead to blindness if not
treated. The findings are published in the Journal of Epidemiol-
ogy and Community Health (BBC News. 11/16/04)
Get more details from source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4008185.stm
A. Odutola
mailto:chpss_abo2@yahoo.com