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Environmental and occupational health needs assessment in West Africa: opportunities for research and training

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

Data are lacking on environmental and occupational health risks and resources available for the prevention of related diseases in the West African subregion.

Methods

A needs assessment survey was conducted to identify environmental and occupational health concerns, and needs and strategies for skills training in the region. The survey was followed by a consensus-building workshop to discuss research and training priorities with representatives from countries participating in the study.

Results

Two hundred and two respondents from 12 countries participated in the survey. Vector-borne diseases, solid waste, deforestation, surface and ground water contamination together with work-related stress, occupational injury and pesticide toxicity were ranked as top environmental and occupational health priorities, respectively, in the region. Top training priorities included occupational health, environmental toxicology and analytic laboratory techniques with semester-long Africa-based courses as the preferred type of training for the majority of the courses. Major differences were found between the subregion’s three official language groups, both in perceived health risks and training courses needed.

Conclusions

The study results have implications for regional policies and practice in the area of environmental and occupational health research and training.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the West African Health Organization (WAHO), Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah, former president, University of The Gambia, and Prof. Ousman Nyan, Provost, School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, The University of The Gambia, for their valuable guidance and championing this subregional effort.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public and Environmental Health, School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, The University of The Gambia, Brikama Campus, P.O. Box 5330, Serrekunda, Gambia

    Edrisa Sanyang & Rex A. Kuye

  2. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, 4261 Westlawn, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Edrisa Sanyang, Jaime Butler-Dawson & Kristina Venzke

  3. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, 2213 Westlawn, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Marek A. Mikulski

  4. Ponseti International Association, University of Iowa Healthcare, 118 College of Medicine Administration Building, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Thomas Cook

  5. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, 2207 Westlawn, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Laurence J. Fuortes

Authors
  1. Edrisa Sanyang
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  2. Jaime Butler-Dawson
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  3. Marek A. Mikulski
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  4. Thomas Cook
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  5. Rex A. Kuye
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  6. Kristina Venzke
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  7. Laurence J. Fuortes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laurence J. Fuortes.

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Funding

This study was part of the Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEOHealth) Projects R24-TW009564 and R24-TW009571 and was funded by Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health.

Conflict of interest

Edrisa Sanyang declares he has no conflict of interest to declare. Jaime Butler-Dawson declares she has no conflict of interest to declare. Marek Mikulski declares he has no conflict of interest to declare. Thomas Cook declares he has no conflict of interest to declare. Rex Kuye declares he has no conflict of interest to declare. Kristina Venzke declares she has no conflict of interest to declare. Laurence Fuortes declares he has no conflict of interest to declare.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Sanyang, E., Butler-Dawson, J., Mikulski, M.A. et al. Environmental and occupational health needs assessment in West Africa: opportunities for research and training. Int J Public Health 62, 317–325 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-016-0881-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-016-0881-1

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