To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Environmental health – Dominican Republic.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Environmental health – Dominican Republic'
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 29 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Environmental health – Dominican Republic.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Donison, Kori S. (Kori Shay) 1981. "Household scale slow sand filtration in the Dominican Republic." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28624.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-83).
Slow sand filtration is a method of water treatment that has been used for hundreds of years. In the past two decades, there has been resurgence in interest in slow sand filtration, particularly as a low-cost, household-scale method of water treatment. During January 2004, the author traveled to the northwestern Dominican Republic to evaluate the performance of BioSand filters installed over the past two years. BioSand filter performance was evaluated based on flow rate, turbidity removal and total coliform removal in communities surrounding the cities of Mao, Puerto Plata and Dajabon. Filter owners were interviewed about general filter use, water storage methods, filter maintenance practices, and water use. Data analysis revealed that even though the majority of filters were removing large portions of both total coliform and E. coli contamination, no filters met the WHO water quality guideline of less than one CFU/100 ml. Analysis also revealed that at low turbidities, turbidity removal and total coliform removal are not correlated. Examination of flow rate and bacterial removal near Puerto Plata revealed that filters with fast flow rates and intermittent chlorination were observed to have the lowest total coliform removal rates. Analysis of storage data revealed that failure to use safe water storage containers leads to recontamination of filtered water. During Spring of 2004, a laboratory was conducted to examine longer-term thermotolerant coliform and turbidity removal. The study compared removal rates between two BioSand filters, one of which was paired with a geotextile prefilter used in the construction of the Peruvian Table Filter. The study revealed that thermotolerant coliform removal rates by the BioSand filter without
(cont.) the geotextile stabilized after an initial period of lower bacterial removal efficiency. Thermotolerant coliform removal in the BioSand filter with the geotextile prefilter dropped throughout the experiment, suggesting that pairing a BioSand filter with a prefilter is detrimental to filter performance. Combining the results of the survey analysis and data gathered in the Dominican Republic with the results of the laboratory analysis of Spring 2004 suggests that BioSand filter users in the Dominican Republic should continue to use their filters. If possible, BioSand filter use should be combined with post-filtration chlorination to kill the remaining bacteria. The BioSand filter is a valuable and effective household-scale water treatment method for the Dominican Republic.
by Kori S. Donison.
M.Eng.
2
Minn, Pierre H. "Health as a human right and medical humanitarianism on the Haitian-Dominican border." Thesis, McGill University, 2004. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=83129.
Full textAbstract:
At a government hospital in the town of Dajabon, in the northwestern Dominican Republic, doctors and nurses must make decisions on whether or not to treat Haitian patients who have crossed the border in search of health care. This thesis examines the discourses and practices of Haitian patients and Dominican health care providers in the context of two co-existing but contrasting rhetorics: health as a human right, and medical humanitarianism. Using data collected through semi-structured interviews and participant observation, I examine how social, political, and economic forces shape medical encounters on the Haitian-Dominican border.
3
Parker, Casey Lee. "Armature: Infill, A Health Care Facility in Verón, Dominican Republic." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/34616.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this book is to explore the idea of duration of physical architectural elements, and how their relative permanence or temporariness affects time and memory. This project takes on the program of a healthcare facility in the community of Verón located in the Dominican Republic. Through the exploration of materials, the identity of the project is defined by a series of walls that bring order and scale to not only the clinic but the surrounding community as well.Master of Architecture
4
Lubitz, Rachael Lauren. "A late Holocene paleoenvironmental reconstruction of a coastal lake in northeastern Dominican Republic." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/53950.
Full textAbstract:
Coastal lakes, lagoons, and wetlands often provide excellent records of environmental change related to both marine and terrestrial processes. Although coastal paleoenvironments in the Caribbean have been a subject of increasing interest, long-term environmental reconstructions from lakes on the Atlantic side of the Caribbean islands are lacking. Laguna Limon is a freshwater lake in the El Seibo province of northeastern Dominican Republic. We collected a 315-cm sediment core from the center of the lake to examine lake evolution using loss-on-ignition and foraminiferal analysis. Loss-on-ignition results indicated the presence of a low-energy lagoon in the lake's present location between about 4700 and 1400 cal yr BP. During this period a foraminiferal assemblage dominated by the brackish-water Ammonia parkinsoniana but also containing relatively-abundant normal-marine salinity taxa (e.g., Quinqueloculina spp., Archaias angulatus, and Trochulina rosea) gradually was replaced by a low-diversity assemblage dominated by Ammonia tepida and Ammonia parkinsoniana, indicating a gradual decline in salinity due to the lagoon's growing isolation from the Atlantic Ocean. By 1400 cal. Yr. BP, the lake had become a shallow wetland, indicated by sediments with a high organic content. At 1200 cal. Yr. BP the lake flooded with freshwater, as it remains today. This study provides context for ongoing research into the environmental and human history of the Laguna Limon area.Master of Science
5
Rosario, de De Jesus Santa Felicita. "Social-Economic Benefits of Payment for Environmental Services in Yaque del Norte Watershed, Dominican Republic." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/85240.
Full textAbstract:
This research analyzes private and social costs of forest conservation in Yaque del Norte watershed, DR. It calculates private costs as average annual income from farming activities and social costs as the externalities from erosion and CO2 emissions. Social cost estimates are based on the difference in erosion and CO2 between conserved forest and other land use categories. The effect of soil erosion on the wellbeing of people is measured by its effect on reduced space at Tavera dam for water availability to generate electricity and to irrigate agricultural lands downstream. The social cost of increased annual carbon emission from potential land use change is estimated using IPCC default emission factors and social cost of carbon estimates. Private costs are inferred from a nonlinear binary response model that estimates the relative importance of factors affecting forest conservation decisions of households. Results show that payment level, measured through rental value, is not significant for landholders' decisions to sign a PES contract. Annual cropland is the most profitable land use in the area. Other important, but less profitable, land covers are pasture, coffee and managed forest. Cropland also generates the highest cost for society in terms of erosion and CO2 emissions. The comparison of private and social costs shows that only livestock generates a social cost that exceeds average private income. If forest conservation were to be justified based on social benefits, the analysis must include a more comprehensive assessment of what people value from conserved forest in YNW, such as the effect of erosion for water treatment costs. Any proposal to retain forests social benefits, such as REDD+ initiative, should take into account the high cost forgone by forest owners when deciding the distribution of benefits of carbon sequestration.Master of Science
6
Peterson, Justin Ross. "At What Cost? In Search of an Efficient Model of Rural Health in the Dominican Republic." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/146635.
Full textAbstract:
Health care is one of the most salient issues in contemporary society. To a large extent, the delivery is a reflection of the social values, the political will, and the financial resources of a nation. The Dominican Republic has a unique set of challenges around which a unique health delivery system has evolved. This paper first explores the history and structure of the health care system. Focusing on rural communities, it then reviews the challenges to health including shortages of medical personnel and supplies, high maternal mortality, challenges in the water and sanitation sectors, and cultural prejudice. Finally, it offers solutions that are derived from successful programs employed internationally, always held to the standard of culturally and financially feasible in the Dominican context.
7
Stoffle, Richard W. "Buen Hombre Presentations." University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/292955.
Full text
8
Holt, Shelley. "A Survey of Water Storage Practices and Beliefs in Households in Bonao, Dominican Republic in 2005." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2009. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/iph_theses/116.
Full textAbstract:
INTRODUCTION: More than 2.2 million people die each year from diarrheal disease. Most cases of diarrheal disease can be linked with a lack of access to clean water and sanitation. The proper usage of sanitation, hygiene and safe drinking water are all mechanisms by which to prevent or limit fecal contamination, and in turn, reduce the risk of diarrheal disease. As a result, it is imperative to examine and understand risk factors for fecal contamination of drinking water in the home. One way to assess fecal contamination is to use indicator bacteria such as E. coli. These bacteria can be easily measured and have been weakly associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal illness. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if characteristics of household drinking water storage containers impacted the concentration of total coliforms and E. coli in the stored household drinking water in rural Dominican Republic communities. METHODS: The data were collected through a cross-sectional survey and from a four month prospective cohort study in rural communities in the Dominican Republic during 2005. Data analysis was conducted using STATA 10. Descriptive statistics were calculated and reported as percentages. Bivariate statistics were carried out to test independent associations between container characteristics and E. coli. In addition, t-tests were used to examine differences in concentrations of E. coli and total coliforms as well as other household and water characteristics that may play an important role in household drinking water management and practice and contamination. RESULTS: After testing independent potential risk factors for E. coli contamination, it was determined that household storage practices have a significant impact on drinking water quality. More specifically, households that stored drinking water in containers with narrow openings (typically < 2 inches in diameter) had lower concentrations of E. coli. The water was more likely to remain protected from additional contamination once stored in the home. DISCUSSION: The association with household storage practices with E. coli contamination reveals the importance of point of drinking water management in the home. Specifically, we documented simple storage practices (commonly practiced in homes in the Dominican Republic) that can protect or reduce drinking water from contamination once in the home. While previous literature has been unable to identify a single most important risk factor of E. coli contamination in drinking water, findings from this study and previous studies indicate that more research is needed to further elucidate the role of household drinking water storage techniques in protecting household members and reducing risk of disease.
9
Perrin, Georges. "A Comparative Analysis of the Attitudes towards People Living with HIV/AIDS between Haiti and the Dominican Republic." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2010. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/iph_theses/87.
Full textAbstract:
BACKGROUND: HIV-related stigmatizing attitudes are persistent concerns in developing countries and have been shown to fuel the spread of the epidemics. The purpose of this study is to provide a comparative analysis between Haiti and the Dominican Republic in regards to the population’s attitude towards People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the Demographic Health Surveys involving 15,715 Haitians and 55,170 Dominicans from 2005 to 2007 were used. A score of attitudes was established from six items such as the willingness to care for infected relatives, the willingness to buy vegetables from an HIV infected vendor, the perception that HIV patients should be ashamed of themselves, the agreement to blame and force them to keep their serostatus secret and finally the agreement to allow infected teachers to continue their jobs. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate analyses of selected socio-demographic variables were obtained by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
RESULTS: Logistic regression models showed that female Dominicans and male Haitians, respondents of higher socio-economic status and with more accurate HIV-related beliefs were significantly more tolerant towards PLWHA (p<.001). Furthermore, the Dominican Republic’s data analysis suggested that those aged between 30 and 44 years old, living in urban areas and married expressed more tolerance for the HIV- infected individuals. Overall, the attitudes and beliefs of the Haitians adjusted for socio-demographic variables did not differ markedly from the Dominicans.
CONCLUSION: The attitudes towards PLWHA seem to be associated with the nature of the HIV-related beliefs in some vulnerable groups. The findings of this study should guide the design of appropriate programs aimed at the education of targeted populations.
10
Stauber, Christine E. Sobsey Mark D. "The microbiological and health impact of the biosand filter in the Dominican Republic a randomized controlled trial in Bonao /." Chapel Hill, N.C. : University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/u?/etd,1263.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007.Title from electronic title page (viewed Mar. 26, 2008). "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering." Discipline: Environmental Sciences and Engineering; Department/School: Public Health.
11
Perez, Eddy Nelson. "A Human Security Population-Based Approach to Achieve Equity, Solidarity and Gender Sensitivity for the Population Living in Southwestern Bateyes of the Dominican Republic." Scholarly Repository, 2009. http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_dissertations/418.
Full textAbstract:
The present study was designed to contribute to the application of human security principles in vulnerable populations, using the Bateyes (sugar mill camps) from the Dominican Republic (DR) as a case study. Following the Robin Hood principle of using resources allocated for the identification and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a base from which to build infrastructure for other health and human security needs, this project sought to reduce inequalities and promote equal rights in a vulnerable population living in isolated rural areas of the DR. The impact of a human security model versus non-intervention (standard of care) was examined longitudinally in relationship to the outcomes (prevention of morbid events such as HIV, tuberculosis, diarrhea, dengue, malaria, and model impact on breastfeeding and vaccines rates). The project was implemented in three phases: baseline assessments, implementation of a human security model over a six month period, and evaluation of the interventions at six and twelve months after the initiation of the intervention. Qualitative evaluation methods were used to complement quantitative assessments. An economic analysis was also conducted to evaluate the costs of the intervention and potential sources of economic benefits. Overall, at baseline, the owners of the houses from Batey A (Case) were more likely to respond incorrectly than the residents of Batey B (Control) questions about knowledge, attitudes and practices, for the most prevalent infectious diseases of the southwestern area of the Dominican Republic. To control for baseline differences between the study groups, a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) score system was created. The KAP score system showed that the people living in Batey A had a higher percentage of right answers than residents of Batey B, six months after the intervention. These findings, however, were not observed at the 12 month follow-up visit, suggesting that future studies using the human security intervention model may need to be maintained for more than 6 months, to promote sustainability. Economic analysis revealed that the total cost-savings of the Program to the Ministry of Health and society overall to be 252,399USD. In addition, at the follow-up visits, morbidity and mortality rates of the study population were lower than the rates reported in a recent Demographic Health Survey conducted in the Southwestern Bateyes of the DR. The qualitative interviews allowed for the identification of community perceptions of the model, as well as the necessity for an interdisciplinary approach, including structural interventions (i.e. water pump, construction of latrines, etc) and monitoring community security-related issues through household monthly visits. The use of HIV resources demonstrated that the money allocated for HIV prevention could be utilized, not only to reduce the burden of disease, but also to invest in health systems and services. Applied to other settings, the design and outcomes of this study could have a beneficial impact on refugee and undocumented populations in other countries under the impact of the structural violence observed in the Bateyes of the DR.
12
Baker, Margaret Cameron. "Impact of an elimination programme on health systems : a case study of integrating a lymphatic filariasis elimination programme into primary health care in the Dominican Republic." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.479046.
Full text
13
Michalek, Jeffrey L., Thomas W. Wagner, Joseph J. Luczkovich, and Richard W. Stoffle. "Multispectral Change Vector Analysis for Monitoring Coastal Marine Environments." Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/296670.
Full textAbstract:
Documenting temporal changes to coastal zones is an essential part of understanding and managing these environments. The exclusive use of traditional surveying tools may not be practical for monitoring large, remote, or rapidly changing areas. This paper investigates the utility of multispectral Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite data for documenting changes to a Caribbean coastal zone using the change vector analysis processing technique. The area of study was the coastal region near the village of Buen Hombre on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The primary habitats of interest were the intertidal mangrove for ests, and the shallow water seagrasses, macroalgae, and coral reefs. The change vector analysis technique uses any number of spectral bands from multidate satellite data to produce change images that yield information about both the magnitude and direction of differences in pixel values (which are proportional to radiance). The final products
were created by appending color-coded change pixels onto a black-and-white base map. The advantages and limitations of the technique for coastal inventories are discussed.
14
Tshikuka, Mulumba Jose-Gaby. "Relationships between environmental risk factors, parasitic infections and health outcomes in an urban African setting." Thesis, McGill University, 1995. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=40014.
Full textAbstract:
The relationships between parasitic infections, environmental and living conditions, and health outcomes were studied in subdivisions of lower (LSES) and higher (HSES) socio-economic status Lubumbashi, Zaire. The two LSES subdivisions had higher prevalences of Plasmodium infection and higher rates of stunting, abdominal pain and low packed cell volume (PCV) than the HSES subdivision. The prevalence and intensity of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura was not associated with socio-economic status. Maternal education was a significant predictor of A. lumbricoides intensity in both LSES and HSES subdivisions. Factors related to poor sanitation were risk factors for A. lumbricoides in LSES subdivisions, whereas a high ratio of relatives to immediate family members per household predicted high intensity infection in the HSES subdivision. The risk of stunting was higher in children with A. lumbricoides, that of wasting was higher in children with A. lumbricoides or T. trichiura whereas the risk of kwashiorkor was high with T. trichiura but very reduced in those with A. lumbricoides. The four most common clinical conditions were diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and low PCV. Hookworm infection, T. trichiura infection, young age and residence in LSES subdivisions were determinants of diarrhea. T. trichiura infection, young age and living in a LSES subdivision were risk factors for abdominal pain. Plasmodium infection and young age were associated with fever. LSES was predictive of low PCV. No combination of parasites had antagonistic or synergistic effects on clinical indicators examined. Based on this study, it is suggested that one parasite will increase the risk of infection with another. Although maternal education should be improved in all subdivisions, attention to sanitation, crowding and diet in the LSES subdivisions, and to the role of relatives and visitors in parasite transmission in the HSES subdivision should be priorities.
15
Kraft, Shannon M. "An Examination of the Relationship between Levels of Drinking Water Quality and the Occurrence of Self-Reported Diarrheal Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study in the Dominican Republic, 2005-2006." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2010. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/iph_theses/178.
Full textAbstract:
Background: 884 million people do not have access to clean water, which is a potential contributor to diarrhea (JMP, 2010). The purpose of this study was to examine the potential associations between the occurrence of diarrhea and the levels of turbidity, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli (E. coli), in 185 households in Bonao, Dominican Republic in 2005-2006.
Methods: A biweekly water quality dataset and a weekly diarrhea occurrence dataset were merged using three different methods. T-tests and odds ratios were calculated for all three different datasets. Multivariate logistic regression was also conducted.
Results: There were 430 cases of diarrhea out of 14,245 observations. In the age-adjusted multivariate logistic regression, turbidity (OR = 1.36; p-value = .012) and total coliforms (OR = .842; p-value = .006) were found to be significant for an association with the occurrence of diarrhea. E. coli was not found to be significant for an association.
Conclusions: This study strengthens the evidence supporting a positive association between turbidity and the occurrence of diarrhea. This study also showed a negative association between total coliforms and diarrhea. Future studies are needed to clarify these associations.
16
Mazumdar, Sohinee. "Geographic information systems in the application of precision agriculture for sustainable sugarcane production in the Republic of Panama." Thesis, McGill University, 2008. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=18772.
Full textAbstract:
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have revolutionized the development of the sophisticated resource management method known as Precision Agriculture (PA). PA involves the wise management of agricultural inputs based on knowledge of soil and plant health heterogeneity over a field, in order to minimize environmental impact and increase economic efficiency. A GIS platform was created as the basis of PA implementation at Azucarera Nacional sugarcane plantation in Panama. Field data collection took place over two years, from 2005 to 2006. A digital map of Mangote plantation was created and linked to production records. Detailed field sampling was also conducted on seven parcels of Mangote plantation, including soil conductivity monitoring and plant chlorophyll monitoring. Data was spatially interpolated to create raster coverages. Soil salinity variation within some parcels studied justifies the creation of soil salinity management zones. Salinity zones were found to be relatively stable over the study period and in general conductivity at a depth was higher than at the surface. The root mean square errors obtained using Inverse Distance Weighting as opposed to Ordinary Kriging did not vary greatly, and hence it is recommended to use the simpler method (IDW) at the study site. Plant chlorophyll profiles revealed nitrogen deficiencies in some study parcels. Plant chlorophyll also showed within parcel variability as well as variability over the study period. No direct spatial correlation was found between conductivity readings and plant chlorophyll readings, although parcels with extreme salinity showed depressed chlorophyll values. The ground-based chlorophyll sampling showed no correlation with NDVI, however the NDVI coverages were deemed useful for the visual identification of plant stress. In general, GIS based management shows promise in improving Azucarera Nacional's agricultural efficiency.Les systèmes d'information géographiques (SIG) a révolutionné l'élaboration de la méthode sophistiquée de gestion connue sous le nom d'agriculture de précision (AP). L'AP implique la gestion sage des entrées agricoles basées sur la connaissance de l'hétérogénéité de santé de sol et des récoltes dans un champ, afin de réduire au minimum les impactes sur l'environnement et augmenter l'efficacité économique. Une plateforme de SIG a été créée comme base d'exécution de AP à la plantation de canne à sucre d'Azucarera Nacional au Panama. La collection de données a eu lieu sur deux ans, de 2005 à 2006. Une carte digitale de la plantation Mangote a été créée et liée aux dossiers de production. Le prélèvement de données dans le champ a été conduit sur sept champs particuliers de la plantation Mangote, quel incluse une enquête de conductivité de sol et des mesures de chlorophylle. Des données ont été interpolées pour créer des surfaces continues. La variation considérable de salinité de sol dans quelques champs étudiés justifie la création des zones de gestion de salinité de sol. Des zones de gestion de salinité sont relativement stables au cours de la période d'étude et en général la conductivité à une profondeur est plus haute que sur la surface. Les erreurs quadratiques moyenne obtenues en utilisant IDW, en comparaison avec OK, n'ont pas changé considérablement et par conséquent on lui recommande l'IDW comme l'option le plus simple. Les profils de chlorophylle ont indiquées insuffisances d'azote pour quelques champs. Les profiles de chlorophylle ont également montrée la variabilité dedans les champs, aussi bien que la variabilité au cours de la période d'étude. Aucune corrélation directe n'a été trouvé entre les lectures de conductivité et les lectures de chlorophylle bien qu'en général les champs avec la salinité extrême aient montré des valeurs diminuées de chlorophylle. Le système de pr
17
Myrberg, Kristina, and Caroline Knutsson. "A Study of Building Procedure in the Dominican Republic : -How to develop a sustainable building process.-Are there applicable models and techniques from Sweden?" Thesis, Jönköping University, JTH, Civil Engineering, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-10158.
Full textAbstract:
This report is the final thesis and the conclusion of the final project that was done during the spring semester of 2009, in the city of Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic, West Indies by Caroline Knutsson and Kristina Myrberg.
The project is based on the field studies that are done in the investigation together with the information from interviews from the construction sites and the collected information from the research. The focus is concentrated in an investigation about the construction techniques that are used, the building materials and the working conditions on the construction site. A study has been done of a Swedish model of urban planning with environmental objects (SAMS), made by the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (Boverket), and successively applied in a project in South Africa. With the purpose of investigate if it is possible to apply the same model in the Dominican Republic, a review of the current environmental- and urban planning in the country has been done. Through the studies we think that an introduction of planning with environmental objectives and a development towards a sustainable and ecological society is possible in the Dominican Republic.
After field studies on the construction sites, it was relevant to discuss the working conditions and the safety for the constructers.
The thesis also deal with the waste problem, since it is a problem that is not taken care of neither in the building sector or in the society. The suggestion is to recycle and reuse more of the waste, especially all the concrete that is used in the buildings. Sweden have come a long way ahead in the questions of sustainable housing and ecological building, to spare and reduce the effect the building sector has on the environment. This is questions of more importance than ever today, when we are seeing the effects of the climate change in the world. An investigation is done of the possibility to apply any of the methods that are used in Sweden today to make the housing more sustainable and environmentally friendly, also in The Dominican Republic. The result is some suggestions of methods and technologies that might be applicable in the Dominican Republic.
18
Peabody, Duncan. "Field and Laboratory Comparison of the Hydraulic Performance of Two Ceramic Pot Water Filters." Scholar Commons, 2012. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4199.
Full textAbstract:
Currently 884 million people worldwide are living without access to an improved source of drinking water (WHO/UNICEF, 2011). Piped-water on premises is the ultimate goal of World Health Organization (WHO) due to the ability to treat all of the water and distribute it safely in pressurized pipes. However, Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) is an option for improving the quality of drinking water where that infrastructure is not yet developed, especially where there is a risk of recontamination between point of collection and point of use (Clasen, 2006).
This study analyzed one such HWTS, the ceramic pot water filter. The study compared the hydraulic properties of the FilterPure (FP) and Potters for Peace (PFP) ceramic pot filters through a thirteen-month field study in the Dominican Republic and laboratory studies at the University of South Florida.
In the field study 55 filters were tested for first hour flow rate and hydraulic conductivity. Eight first hour flow rate tests were conducted in the field on one month intervals during months 7- 13. FP filters had an average first hour flow rate of 553 ml/hr and PFP Filters had a first hour flow rate of 395 ml/hr. No significant change in first hour flow rate was observed over time in FP filters. PFP experienced an average increase of 31 ml/hr per month during the seven-month testing period.
Falling head tests were conducted on four filters in the laboratory and the flow rate was modeled to determine hydraulic conductivity. Hydraulic conductivity values for FP filters ranged from k = 0.0495 - 0.0831 cm/hr and for PFP filters ranged from k = 0.0136 - 0.0389 cm/hr.
Eight out of 29 (26%) Potters for Peace filters in the field had first hour flow rates of less than 250 ml/hr by month nine of the study and had to be replaced and removed from the study. In total 24 of 55 (44%) filters (8 FP and 16 PFP) had to be removed from the study due to several reasons discussed in this thesis.
19
Ramsey, Sheryll Elaine. "The effect of selected health, environmental, and socioeconomic variables on energy and protein intake in the Dominican Republic." 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/27523.
Full text
20
"Flood prediction using distributed hydrologic modeling in the Dominican Republic." Thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1911/62216.
Full textAbstract:
The Yuna River watershed experiences long-duration floods near its mouth, and deadly flash floods in its mountainous upper reaches. To better understand this watershed, a distributed hydrologic model is created that describes flood behavior and acts as a resource for flood control decisions. Since gage and hydrologic data in the watershed is sparse, the model requires customized calibration to historic storms. Using the calibrated model outputs, a GIS-based Area-Slope statistic is proposed that prioritizes tributaries for flood control and permits implementation of parallel modeling in nearby watersheds. Additionally, a flood alert tool is proposed that catalogues expected peak flows, times to peak, and time delays around the city of Bonao. Potential structural controls are tested for effective flow attenuation, including reservoirs and diversions. The flood control analysis indicates that a multiple structure approach and/or a non-structural approach is necessary in Bonao, where a number of topographic factors exacerbate flooding.
21
Caffrey, Maria Anne. "Holocene Climate and Environmental History of Laguna Saladilla, Dominican Republic." 2011. http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/955.
Full textAbstract:
Stratigraphic analyses of lacustrine sediments provide powerful tools for reconstructing past environments. The records that result from these analyses are key to understanding present-day climate mechanisms and how the natural environment may respond to anthropogenic climate change in the future. This doctoral dissertation research investigates climate and environmental history at Laguna Saladilla (19° [degrees] 39' N, 71° [degrees] 42' W; ca. 2 masl), a large (220 ha) lake along the north coast of Hispaniola. I reconstructed changes in vegetation and environmental conditions over the mid to late Holocene based on pollen, microscopic charcoal, and diatoms in an 8.51 m sediment core recovered from the lake in 2001. Fieldwork in December 2009 included the use of ground penetrating radar to identify subaqueous deltas that indicate past positions of the Masacre river, which flows into the lake from the Cordillera Central. Laguna Saladilla was deeper and more saline from the base of the sediment profile approximately 8030 cal yr BP to about 3500 cal yr BP. Mangrove (Rhizophora) pollen percentages were highest around 7650 cal yr BP, when mollusk shells in the core suggest marine conditions. The lake became progressively brackish ca. 3500 cal yr BP, followed by a transition ca. 2500 cal yr BP to its current freshwater state. This shift in water chemistry was likely due in part to a change in the position of the Masacre river. Diatoms show that lake levels decreased as evaporation/precipitation ratios increased. Amaranthaceae and other herbs dominated the pollen record under the drier conditions of the last 2500 cal yr BP; pollen of fire-adapted taxa, particularly Pinus, increased in the last 800 years. Patterns of microscopic charcoal influx at Laguna Saladilla over the Holocene are similar to patterns at Lake Miragoane, Haiti and Laguna Tortuguero, Puerto Rico. The changes in fire frequency or extent indicated by these Caribbean charcoal records may be driven by increased winter insolation at ca. 5000 cal yr BP that led to earlier winter drying. Comparing the charcoal record to archeological data and other paleoenvironmental records facilitated the disentangling of changes in climate from anthropogenic impacts.
22
Stonbraker, Samantha Brown. "Health Information Behavior of HIV Positive Adults in the Dominican Republic." Thesis, 2016. https://doi.org/10.7916/D8765FH8.
Full textAbstract:
The ability of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) to effectively manage their health is dependent on the successful acquisition and use of health information. This may be particularly challenging in limited resource settings where numerous barriers may prevent people from finding, understanding, and applying the information that could lead to better health management. In this dissertation, I aimed to explore the health information behavior of HIV positive adults attending Clínica de Familia in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Offering free treatment and services to over 1,600 HIV positive adults makes this one of the largest HIV treatment centers in the Dominican Republic. Initially, an integrative review of the literature was conducted to summarize research that has explored the patient-identified information needs of HIV positive adults in Latin America and the Caribbean and to identify predominant health information needs of these individuals. Then, a retrospective chart review of 201 randomly selected medical records, two focus group discussions, and an adapted version of Wilson’s 1996 model of information behavior were used to develop a 64-item survey to assess health information behavior. The survey was administered during 107 individual interviews with HIV positive adults being seen at the Clinic. Participants were mostly female (60%), Dominican (75%), and lived in La Romana (59%). Approximately half of participants (49%) were married or in a serious relationship and about a third (33%) of participants had all or some of high school education or higher. Responses to information behavior survey items indicated that patients might not understand all of the health information they do receive, cultural variations may influence understanding of viral transmission, and that participants had low levels of health literacy. Data obtained through the surveys were further analyzed to identify patient characteristics associated with active health information seeking, higher information processing and more information use. Significantly associated patient characteristics were: having ever cared for someone who was very sick, age, gender, length of time at the clinic, and comorbidities. Providers at the Clinic as well as those working in underserved areas globally may use these results to advance their knowledge of the ways in which HIV positive adults interact with health information. This enhanced understanding can inform communication and health education programs that provide the information patients need to manage their health in a more usable way. Future research should examine what methods can be used to more effectively provide health information to patients living in constrained resource settings with limited educational backgrounds.
23
"Malaria in the Dominican Republic: A spatial analysis of risk and vulnerability." Tulane University, 2003.
Find full textAbstract:
During the 1990s, the Dominican Republic experienced economic growth which reached a high of 6% per year by 2000. At the same time, malaria incidence dramatically increased, rising two- to three-fold in different parts of the country. This paper examines the relationship between development and malaria vis-a-vis the dynamics of social and environmental change in a southeastern province of the Dominican Republic over the last decade. Two distinct approaches to development serve as the departure point for this exploration. Socio-environmental factors including land use and the extent of land cover change associated with sugarcane monoculture and tourism are explored in relation to malaria distribution by using remotely-sensed data and GIS techniques. Analyses are conducted using statistical and geo-spatial methods, and interpreted through a qualitative framework. The process of developing tourism, specifically the construction that serves as a precursor, introduces factors that heighten the malaria risk to the surrounding populations without providing resources to mitigate the threat. Malaria dynamics in and around resort communities show two marked trends. During the initial construction phase, malaria cases peak. These peaks are quickly controlled and overall vulnerability to malaria declines for those within the resort communities, but malaria does not end. The risk is pushed to proximal communities. These communities lack the resources to respond to the malaria danger, and thus prove highly vulnerable to sustained transmission. The hazard stems from environmental and social change. In contrast, risk in the agriculturally-based communities has changed little over the course of ten years. These populations are less vulnerable to malaria than communities which are near tourist facilities. The most vulnerable communities, however, consist of migrant laborers found in both agricultural and tourist settings. These pockets of vulnerability are created largely through social inequity. This analysis is undertaken with an end goal being the formulation of policy to address immediate and long-term vulnerabilitiesacase@tulane.edu
24
Luft, Heidi Suzanna V. "Safe Sex Communication between Women and their Stable Partners in the Dominican Republic." Thesis, 2017. https://doi.org/10.7916/D8C82NPS.
Full textAbstract:
Aside from sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean is the only region where the number of women and girls living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is greater than that of men and boys. In the Dominican Republic (DR), the number of all diagnosed HIV cases that were women increased from 27% in 2003 to 51% in 2013, which indicates a shift in the burden of HIV from men to women. Women in stable relationships in the DR have risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) related to high rates of multiple concurrent partners and low condom use among stable partners. Past HIV prevention efforts in the DR have largely focused on encouraging consistent condom use. However, this may not be a feasible solution for women in relationships. In this dissertation, I sought to examine safe sex communication (SSC) as a possible alternative to consistent condom use for HIV/STI prevention among women in stable heterosexual relationships in DR. I began by conducting an integrative literature review and identified multiple relationship, individual, and partner factors related to SSC among Latina women in stable relationships. Then I conducted a mixed methods study guided by the Theory of Gender and Power with women in stable heterosexual relationships who seek care at Clínica de Familia La Romana in the DR. First, I conducted a qualitative descriptive study to describe SSC. Emergent content analysis of eleven interview transcripts following Colaizzi’s method revealed two main themes: (1) Context of sexual risk (i.e., the meaning of safe sex for stable partners, behaviours related to sexual risk, beliefs and attitudes related to sexual risk, confianza (trust) between stable partners, economic power within relationships, and learning to manage safe sex within a stable relationship) and (2) SSC (i.e., reasons to talk about safe sex, methods, content, and outcomes, influential factors, and ideas for improvement). Second, I conducted a cross sectional survey with 100 women to identify psychosocial correlates of SSC. The mean age of women was 35.72 years, average relationship length was 8.5 years, and 46.91% were living with HIV. Logistic regression analysis revealed that lower SSC self-efficacy (OR = 0.20, 95% confidence interval = 0.08 – 0.50) and greater difference in age between partners (OR = 0.91, 95% confidence interval = 0.85 – 0.98) were both significantly related to less SSC. Information from this dissertation can be used to help identify women in the DR who are at risk for poor SSC with their stable partners and guide researchers, health care providers, and other individuals involved in efforts to reduce HIV/STI risk among this population to develop more effective interventions for this population. Future research should determine which safe sex behaviors SSC is related to among Latina women with stable partners, as well as which aspects of SSC can be generalized to women of all Latino subcultures and nationalities. Additionally, more information is needed about the male partner’s role in SSC within their stable relationship and what factors influence partner SSC among Latino men in stable relationships.
25
Madrid, Fitumai. "A Comparative Analysis of the Health Status of Children Under 5 Years of Age in the Dominican Republic and Dominican Bateyes." 2014. http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/iph_theses/351.
Full textAbstract:
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Child malnutrition contributes to more than 33% of child deaths and is directly related to the productivity and success of the adult population. To combat these stark figures, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals set out to halve levels of malnutrition by 2015. While recent U.N. reports indicate that many countries are on track to reach the MDGs, there may be sub-populations within these countries that do not fair as well. The purpose of this study is to provide a comparative analysis of the nutritional status of children younger than five years of age in the Dominican Republic and the Dominican Batey sub-population. This comparison will be based on stunting levels, reportedly the best indicator of child malnutrition, as it indicates sustained levels of nutritional deficiency.
METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the 2007 Dominican Republic Standard and Special Demographic Health Surveys involving 11,149 Dominican children and 919 children from Dominican Bateyes, respectively, were used. Version 20 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to conduct descriptive statistics, analysis of variance tests, and independent samples T-test using selected socio-demographic variables.
RESULTS: A significant difference in height-for-age (stunting) was identified between Bateyes (M= -83.52, SD =134.783) and the general population (M = -51.88, SD = 134.576; t (10,032) = -6.301, p = .00, two-tailed). Study findings indicate that overall, children under five years of age who reside in Dominican Bateyes are more malnourished than their Dominican counterparts (15.9% in Bateyes as opposed to 10.8% in the general population). Furthermore, Batey children are .34 times more moderately stunted, and one time more severely stunted, than children who reside in other areas of the Dominican Republic.
CONCLUSION: While the Dominican Republic is on track to meet MDG Goal 1, a significant portion of the population does not fair as well. The substantial underlying differences that exist between the Dominican the Batey sub-population have led to higher rates of stunting and require further analysis. The findings of this study should guide the design of appropriate interventions aimed at reduction of malnutrition within Batey communities.
KEY WORDS: stunting, malnutrition, children, Dominican Republic, Batey, Millennium Development Goals
26
Prieur, Keys Genevieve N. "An analysis of micronutrient consumption of mothers using the Demographic and Health Surveys of the Dominican Republic." 2016. http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/iph_theses/446.
Full textAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Micronutrient deficiency (vitamin A, iron, and iodine) is highly prevalent in the Dominican Republic as indicated by food consumption patterns, which are not reflective of consumption of micronutrient dense foods. Previous studies (Neves, Ramalho, Padilha, & Saunders, 2014) have shown that nutrition education offered by prenatal providers has a positive impact on nutrition outcomes in mothers and children. Little research exists which examines the difference in micronutrient consumption among mothers in the Dominican Republic. The aim of this study was to determine differences in micronutrient rich food consumption of mothers in the Dominican Republic based on type of prenatal provider (General practitioner, Obstetrics/gynecology (OBGYN) or no Provider).
METHODS: The 2007 Dominican Republic DHS dataset was employed for this study. Odds ratios from multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine association between sources of prenatal service and micronutrient food intake. Statistical adjustments were made for residence, wealth index, education, marital status, smoking age and number children ever had.
RESULTS: Compared with mothers who did not utilize any of the prenatal services, mothers who sought care from General practitioners and OBGYN had increased odds of consuming vitamin A, iodine and iron micronutrient rich foods, adjusting for residence, wealth index, education, marital status, smoking age and mother’s total number of children. However, the associations were not statistically significant. Compared to mothers who did not use prenatal care, mothers who used the services of General practitioners and OB/GYNs had greater odds, (OR=1.09; 95% CI:0.85-1.41) and (OR=1.29; 95% CI:1.01-1.65) respectively, of consuming at least one micronutrient food. Compared to mothers who did not use prenatal care, mothers who used the services of General practitioners (OR=1.31; 95% CI:1.00-1.70) and OB/GYNs and (OR=1.36; 95% CI:1.05-1.75), had greater odds of consuming at least two micronutrient foods. The corresponding odds ratios for consuming all three micronutrients for mothers using the services of General practitioners and OBGYN were 1.48 (95% CI=0.80-2.74) and 1.51 (95% CI=0.84-2.74), respectively.
Prenatal Care and Micronutrient Dense Foods 3
DISCUSSION: Improvements and access to programs providing nutrition education for prenatal care providers, and medical and nutrition assistance to poor mothers may help to increase micronutrient rich food consumption in the Dominican Republic.
KEY WORDS: micronutrient, diet, maternal, Dominican Republic
27
"The microbiological and health impact of the biosand filter in the Dominican Republic: A randomized controlled trial in Bonao." THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL, 2007. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3272806.
Full text
28
Davila, Tania Elizabeth. "At the margin of the park : social inequality in urban environmental planning in the Santo Domingo greenbelt." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/ETD-UT-2012-08-6218.
Full textAbstract:
Greenbelts have been used around the world to control urban growth and to enhance the natural environment of cities since the last century. However, some Latin American governments, influenced by urban renewal principles and modern planning, have implemented greenbelts to beautify and order cities. Much criticism has arisen about the social repercussions of using greenbelts as a way to control citizen behavior, which in many cases has resulted in exclusionary practices, especially of low-income populations. Based on a case study that documents and analyzes the uses and perceptions of residents of the informal settlement, Los Platanitos, of the Parque Nacional Mirador Norte, my research attempts to illuminate the political and social processes shaping urban environmental planning in Santo Domingo in order to understand practices of exclusion and marginalization in contexts marked by socioeconomic inequalities.text
29
Semenya, Khomotso. "Environmental health risks associated with firewood induced volatile rganic compounds in Senwabarwana Villages, Republic of South Africa." Thesis, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/27393.
Full textAbstract:
Firewood is a dominant household fuel type used in many developing countries. Even in
countries where there is improved access to electricity, most households still rely on firewood
for their energy needs. Harvesting of some wood is illegal, however the high poverty rate,
absence of alternative fuels and lack of law enforcement means even the protected wood
species will continue to be used, with consequent pressure on the forests. Furthermore, the
combustion of firewood for domestic use takes place in poorly ventilated homes emitting
hazardous pollutants, which causes indoor air pollution and affect human health.
The use of firewood as a household fuel can be superimposed nearly perfectly on that of socioeconomic development. Additionally, the use of household firewood is invariably associated
with poverty in countries, in communities within a country and in households within a
community. Indoor air pollution studies on human health should then consider socio-economic
factors which seem to be one of the determinants of both firewood use and ill health, a
determinant which is often neglected in most indoor air pollution studies. Domestic inhalation
of firewood smoke is one of the mechanisms linking socio-economic (poverty) to disease.
The current study sought to determine a baseline of wood usage and health risks caused by
volatile organic compounds in Senwabarwana villages. This study integrated observations,
ethnobotanical meta-analysis and experimental into one comprehensive integrated
environmental health risk assessment framework to assess the risks associated with exposure
to volatile organic compounds from firewood combustion. Basic information about firewood
usage, socio-economic dynamics and perceived health problems related to volatile organic
compounds was collected using a structured questionnaire. The Vac-U-Chamber was used to
sample the air.
The results show that firewood is extensively used in poorly ventilated kitchens for cooking
and home heating in Senwabarwana villages. Ten priority firewood plant species are frequently
used in the study area, namely Mohweleri (Combretum apiculatum), Moretshe (Dichrostachys
cinera), Motswiri (Combretum imberbe), Mokgwa (Acacia burkei), Mushu (Acacia tortilis),
Motshe (Cussonia paniculate), Mokata (Combretum hereroense), Mphata (Lonchocarpus
capassa), Mokgalo (Ziziphus mucronate) and Mogwana (Grewia monticola), in their order of
preference. The results also indicated thirteen common reasons or factors that influence the hoice of firewood plant species by households, the main four being: (i) the embers formed
during combustion, (ii) heat value, (iii) low ash content and (iv) availability of the firewood
plant species. Further analysis revealed several uses and ranking thereof, including reviewing
the national status and legal profile of each identified plant species. The study found that most
of the firewood species used in Senwabarwana Village were indigenous. Major drivers of
firewood use are household income, educational status of breadwinners, family sizes, and place
of residence, fuel affordability and accessibility, among others.
Concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene per plant species were studied to
assess the risk exposed to the Senwabarwana community. Literature indicates that these
pollutants have several health effects associated with acute exposure such as eye, nose and
throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Both hazard quotient and hazard
index were found to be less than one indicating no risk exists with the use of plant species used
for firewood in Senwabarwana even to sensitive individuals. The risk of developing health
effects due to the presence of the studied volatile organic compounds can be assessed as
negligible.
Since firewood is a more convenient source of energy, it is recommended that the size of the
windows be extended for ventilation. Agroforesty should also be implemented as a
conservation method. The wood that emits less concentration of pollutants be used for
firemaking.Environmental Sciences