O presente estudo tem como meta primordial investigar a temática aeromicrobiota do ambiente hospitalar, especialmente, do centro cirúrgico com vistas a enfocar contaminação biológica por conseqüência da climatização artificial, bem como fornecer informações técnicas aos profissionais afins. Assim, estabeleceu-se como objetivos específicos: quantificar e categorizar a produção do conhecimento científico nacional e internacional relacionada a aeromicrobiota do ambiente hospitalar e testar um método de avaliação microbiológica do ar do ambiente cirúrgico considerando os parâmetros biológicos da legislação nacional, e o binômio custo/benefício. As autoras evidenciaram na literatura investigada que a avaliação microbiológica do ar é expressiva nos estudos, e, quanto ao tipo de microrganismo o Aspergillus sp e o Staphylococcus sp foram os mais mencionados. Em seguida, apontam a problemática da aerocontaminação biológica e discutem as alternativas de controle da qualidade do ar. Com relação a avaliação microbiólogica do ar por meio de placas Petrifilm™ AC – Aerobic Count (3M, St Paul, MN, USA) em diferentes salas cirúrgicas ortopédicas observaram que o número de amostras positivas da entrada foi menor que na saída do ar: sala1, 0,0 na entrada e 55,6 na saída; sala 2, 40 e 83,3 e na 14 de 20,0 e 60,0%, respectivamente. Quanto ao nível de contaminação (ufc) foi expressiva apenas duas amostras da sala 2. No computo geral, os gêneros isolados foram Bacillus, Micrococcus, Actinomyces. Vale acrescentar que fungos não foram detectados. Esses resultados apontam para a eficiência do sistema de climatização. Alertam para a necessidade de uma pluralidade de ações estruturadas na multidisciplinaridade, bem como, na aplicação crítica das Resoluções e Portarias vigentes. / This study has as main goal to investigate about air microbiology of hospital environment, specially, surgical center, aiming to focus biological contamination due to artificial climate, as well as to provide technical information to professionals. So, the specific goals of this study are to quantify and classify national and international production of scientific knowledge related to air microbiology of hospital environment and test an evaluation method of air contamination, taking into account biological parameters of Brazilian legislation, and the relationship between cost and benefit. The authors have pointed out into scientific literature that air microbiological evaluation is expressive and the microorganisms Aspergillus and Staphylococcus were mentioned mostly. Next, they show the problems concerning biological contamination by air and discuss about alternative ways of controlling air quality. Regarding the microbiological air evaluation applying Petrifilm™ AC – Aerobic Count plates (3M, St Paul, MN, USA) in different orthopedic surgical rooms, the results reveal a greater number of positive samples collected at the air exit compared to those at the air entry: room 1 got 0.0 at entry and 55.6 at exit; room 2, 40 and 83.3 and room 14, 20.0 and 60.0%, respectively. The contamination level (ufc) was expressive only on two samples of room number 2. The final analysis shows that the isolated genus were Bacillus, Micrococcus and Actinomyces and fungus were not detected. These results point out the efficiency of the air conditioning system and strengthen to the need of a plurality of structured actions in the multidisciplinary field, as well as in the appliance of Brazilian legislation.

O presente estudo tem como meta primordial investigar a temática aeromicrobiota do ambiente hospitalar, especialmente, do centro cirúrgico com vistas a enfocar contaminação biológica por conseqüência da climatização artificial, bem como fornecer informações técnicas aos profissionais afins. Assim, estabeleceu-se como objetivos específicos: quantificar e categorizar a produção do conhecimento científico nacional e internacional relacionada a aeromicrobiota do ambiente hospitalar e testar um método de avaliação microbiológica do ar do ambiente cirúrgico considerando os parâmetros biológicos da legislação nacional, e o binômio custo/benefício. As autoras evidenciaram na literatura investigada que a avaliação microbiológica do ar é expressiva nos estudos, e, quanto ao tipo de microrganismo o Aspergillus sp e o Staphylococcus sp foram os mais mencionados. Em seguida, apontam a problemática da aerocontaminação biológica e discutem as alternativas de controle da qualidade do ar. Com relação a avaliação microbiólogica do ar por meio de placas Petrifilm™ AC – Aerobic Count (3M, St Paul, MN, USA) em diferentes salas cirúrgicas ortopédicas observaram que o número de amostras positivas da entrada foi menor que na saída do ar: sala1, 0,0 na entrada e 55,6 na saída; sala 2, 40 e 83,3 e na 14 de 20,0 e 60,0%, respectivamente. Quanto ao nível de contaminação (ufc) foi expressiva apenas duas amostras da sala 2. No computo geral, os gêneros isolados foram Bacillus, Micrococcus, Actinomyces. Vale acrescentar que fungos não foram detectados. Esses resultados apontam para a eficiência do sistema de climatização. Alertam para a necessidade de uma pluralidade de ações estruturadas na multidisciplinaridade, bem como, na aplicação crítica das Resoluções e Portarias vigentes. / This study has as main goal to investigate about air microbiology of hospital environment, specially, surgical center, aiming to focus biological contamination due to artificial climate, as well as to provide technical information to professionals. So, the specific goals of this study are to quantify and classify national and international production of scientific knowledge related to air microbiology of hospital environment and test an evaluation method of air contamination, taking into account biological parameters of Brazilian legislation, and the relationship between cost and benefit. The authors have pointed out into scientific literature that air microbiological evaluation is expressive and the microorganisms Aspergillus and Staphylococcus were mentioned mostly. Next, they show the problems concerning biological contamination by air and discuss about alternative ways of controlling air quality. Regarding the microbiological air evaluation applying Petrifilm™ AC – Aerobic Count plates (3M, St Paul, MN, USA) in different orthopedic surgical rooms, the results reveal a greater number of positive samples collected at the air exit compared to those at the air entry: room 1 got 0.0 at entry and 55.6 at exit; room 2, 40 and 83.3 and room 14, 20.0 and 60.0%, respectively. The contamination level (ufc) was expressive only on two samples of room number 2. The final analysis shows that the isolated genus were Bacillus, Micrococcus and Actinomyces and fungus were not detected. These results point out the efficiency of the air conditioning system and strengthen to the need of a plurality of structured actions in the multidisciplinary field, as well as in the appliance of Brazilian legislation.

L’expertise du risque biologique joue un rôle central dans l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre de la politique sanitaire et environnementale au niveau de l’Union européenne. Depuis la crise dite de la « vache folle », le législateur de l’Union a reconnu la nécessité d’encadrer davantage cette expertise. Toutefois, si le droit de l’Union s’intéresse au cadre scientifique de l’expertise du risque biologique, il traite de façon lacunaire la question de son cadre juridique. En effet, si les exigences d’indépendance, d’impartialité et de transparence sont affirmées à l’égard de l’expert, leur application manque de clarté et menace à terme la protection de la santé et de l’environnement des citoyens de l’Union. Pour remédier à ce problème, cette étude propose des critères ayant pour but l’établissement d’une réglementation au niveau de l’Union de l’expertise du risque biologique. Ces critères ont été établis après l’analyse du cadre juridique existant, des modèles d’expertise issus des législations de certains Etats membres et tiers à l’Union ainsi que de contributions doctrinales. / Biological risk expertise plays a central role in the development and implementation of health and environmental policy at EU level. Since the "mad cow" crisis, the Union's legislator has recognized the need to provide more guidance for this expertise. However, while EU law is concerned with the scientific framework of biological risk expertise, it does not address the issue of its legal framework in a comprehensive way. Indeed, while the requirements of independence, impartiality and transparency are affirmed with regard to the expert, their application lacks clarity and ultimately threatens the protection of the health and environment of EU citizens. To address this problem, this study proposes criteria for establishing EU-level regulation of biological risk expertise. These criteria were established after analysis of the existing legal framework, models of expertise from the legislation of certain Member States and third countries as well as doctrinal contributions.

Introdução: O Atendimento Pré Hospitalar (APH) tem por finalidade prestar atendimento em situações de urgência e emergência clinica ou traumática, no local do evento e durante o transporte até uma instituição de destino, com o suporte especifico para o tipo de urgência ou emergência. Os trabalhadores da equipe do APH móvel vivenciam situações emergenciais que envolvem constante exposição a materiais biológicos. Considerando a ocorrência de acidentes de trabalho com exposição a material biológico potencialmente contaminado como um dos principais riscos para os trabalhadores da saúde. A escassez de estudos que contemplem o APH, propõe-se o desenvolvimento deste estudo. Objetivo: Elaborar protocolos de prevenção de acidentes de trabalho e de condutas pós-exposição ocupacional a material biológico para trabalhadores de saúde de um serviço de atendimento préhospitalar (APH). Método: Trata-se de uma pesquisa documental, na qual o levantamento de dados foi realizado de duas maneiras: pesquisa bibliográfica e pesquisa documental. A pesquisa bibliográfica foi feita por meio de buscas em bases de dados. A pesquisa foi conduzida em sete fases: determinação dos objetivos; elaboração do plano de trabalho; identificação das fontes; localização das fontes e obtenção do material; tratamento dos dados; confecção das fichas e redação do trabalho; construção lógica e redação do trabalho. O estudo foi desenvolvido no Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU) gerenciado pelo Consórcio Intermunicipal de Saúde da Região Ampliada Oeste do Estado de Minas Gerais (CIS-URG OESTE). O corpus da análise foi representado por periódicos, artigos e dispositivos legais nacionais, estaduais e institucional que regulamentam a Rede de Urgência e Emergência no âmbito nacional. Foram selecionados 104 documentos. A coleta de dados foi realizada no mês de outubro de 2018 e o tratamento dos dados foi de forma sistematizada, organizada, descritiva e analítica. Não houve necessidade de apreciação da Comissão Nacional de Ética e Pesquisa - CONEP para o desenvolvimento deste estudo por não envolver seres humanos. Resultado: Os documentos foram agrupados em duas categorias, permitindo conhecer, delinear e estabelecer os protocolos e fluxos de atendimento aos trabalhadores do SAMU. A primeira categoria de organização do material foi referente a pesquisa bibliográfica. A segunda categoria representou a pesquisa documental; a qual foi subdividida em quatro etapas para análise de toda a legislação nacional, estadual e regional acerca da regulamentação da Rede de Urgência e Emergência no âmbito nacional e o conjunto de documentos sobre a atuação do CIS-URG OESTE. Os dispositivos legais e manuais ministeriais acerca das condutas da promoção da saúde do trabalhador exposto a material biológico no Brasil serviram de embasamento teórico para elaboração de protocolos de prevenção de acidentes e de condutas pósexposição ocupacional a material biológico aos trabalhadores de saúde que atuam no APH do CIS-URG OESTE. Após analises dos referidos documentos, foram elaborados fluxogramas de atendimento aos trabalhadores e os protocolos de ações de prevenção e tratamento imediato em casos de acidentes de trabalho com material biológico neste estudo. Assim este material representa uma produção técnica que será utilizada no CIS-URG OESTE para a promoção da saúde no trabalho. Considerações finais: O trabalho em saúde no APH não é apenas um processo técnico e mecânico, desprovido do caráter humanizante. Representa um conjunto de relações dos diversos atores, um processo complexo cujas condições de trabalho potencialmente, são geradoras de adoecimento. Deste modo, a produção técnica elaborada neste estudo, representa ações técnicas, educativas e de padronização de ações que visam promover a saúde e a qualidade de vida do trabalhador de saúde do APH na Região Ampliada Oeste de Minas Gerais / Introduction: Pre-hospital Care (PHC) is intended to provide emergency and clinical or trauma emergency services, at the event site and during transportation to a destination institution, with specific support for the type of emergency or emergency. The workers of the mobile PHC team experience emergency situations that involve constant exposure to biological materials. Considering the occurrence of occupational accidents with exposure to potentially contaminated biological material as one of the main risks for health workers. The shortage of studies that contemplate the PHC, the development of this study is proposed. Objective: To elaborate protocols for the prevention of occupational accidents and post-occupational exposure to biological material for health workers of a pre-hospital care service (PHC). Method: it is a documentary research, in which the data collection was carried out in two ways: bibliographic research and documentary research. The bibliographic research was done through searches in databases. The research was conducted in seven phases: determination of objectives; preparation of the work plan; identification of sources; location of sources and procurement of material; processing of data; preparation of the fiches and writing of the work; logical construction and writing of the work. The study was developed in the Mobile Emergency Care Service (MECS) managed by the Intermunicipal Health Consortium of the Western Region of the State of Minas Gerais (CIS-URG WEST). The corpus of the analysis was represented by national, state and institutional periodicals, articles and legal provisions that regulate the Emergency and Emergency Network at the national level. We selected 104 documents. Data collection was performed in October 2018 and the data treatment was systematized, organized, descriptive and analytical. There was no need for appreciation of the National Commission for Ethics and Research (CONEP) for the development of this study because it did not involve human beings. Results: The documents were grouped in two categories, allowing to know, to delineate and to establish the protocols and flows of service to the workers of MECS, to wit: first category of organization of the material was referring to bibliographical research; which constituted the synoptic record of the selected primary sources, the second category: documentary research; and this subdivided into four stages or moments referring to the thematic axes; which includes all national legislation that implements and establishes the urgency and emergency network at the national level, the state legislation that implements the emergency and emergency network at the state and regional level, and the set of documents and legislation that constitute the CIS- URG WEST for the management of the emergency and emergency services of the said region and the legal provisions and ministerial manuals that dictates the conduct of prevention, promotion and recovery of workers exposed to biological material, which served as a basis for the elaboration of prevention protocols of accidents and of conducts after occupational exposition to biological material to the health workers that work in the PHC of the CIS-URG WEST. Finals considerations: The work in health in the PHC is not only a technical and mechanical process, devoid of the humanizing character. It represents a set of relations of the various actors, a complex process whose working conditions potentially generate illness. Thus, the technical production elaborated in this study represents technical, educational and standardization actions that aim to promote the health and quality of life of the PHC health worker in the Extended Western Region of Minas Gerais

Biodiversity loss is an important issue for New Zealand: for the domestic environment, economy and society, but also for New Zealand as a member of the international community. Biodiversity offset banking is making an important contribution to addressing such issues in a number of countries around the world. Developing the ability to participate and take advantage of possible benefits requires comprehensively understanding both the fundamental principles and varying concepts, and supports the analysis necessary for New Zealand to progress towards offset banking. New Zealand can learn much from observing and investigating overseas models and use them as valuable templates. California and New South Wales provide examples of potential policies and frameworks (both economic and social) to establish and operate successful offset banking systems. Discussions of offset banking, both in theory and practice, frequently concern the potential failings of the system. These issues can be conceptualised as various forms of risk. Considering offset banking as sustainable development, this thesis addresses such risks to reflect the tripartite biological, financial and social framework of sustainable development. Biologically, risk is in the potential biodiversity outcomes are inadequate, unexpected or undesirable. Scientific uncertainty underlies this, both inherently and from the limits of current scientific disciplines. Through expanding scientific knowledge and experience, measures for reducing or accommodating the risk of uncertainty are emerging. Financial risk represents concerns that individual banks may lack the monetary support to achieve the specific biodiversity conservation required for the site. Also the system of interacting banks, bankers and traders may fail to produce financial outcomes that support effective and efficient biodiversity conservation over the breath of the scheme. Social risk lies in the potential that societies’ individuals conduct themselves in ways that conflict with achieving biodiversity conservation through malfeasance or negligence. Additionally, there is social risk that an offset banking system fails to respond appropriately to broader society and human, such as equity and intergenerational justice. Here, deliberating these risks is primary to appreciating how design elements and emergent properties minimize risks. Given comprehensive understanding, components of a system can be designed and allow informed policy, regulations and rules to offer successful risk mitigation. For this reason policy, rules and regulations observed within California and New South Wales helps to discuss this and establish guidance for New Zealand offset banking design to draw upon. Californian systems are achieving promising conservation and continued growth; New South Wales’ Biobanking scheme is robustly designed and in its early stages. Each contrasts in design and carries varying criticisms. California has been observed as potentially shortcoming biologically, whereas New South Wales Biobanking has been questioned based on the strength and character of its economic underpinnings. In addition to these considerations, New Zealand has significant societal perspectives to incorporate given current popular, socio-democratic conservation modus operandi. Identifying the three forms of risk present highlights the importance of allocating appropriate consideration and expertise to the biological, economic and social components of offset banking. Successful sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and risk mitigation may be achieved through designing mechanisms, regulations and governing policy for offset banking. New Zealand may therefore expand the success and application of current offsetting by taking guidance from examples and analysis presented here.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:04:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao elisangelo.pdf: 337742 bytes, checksum: e97ec8ce95e8cc32cd7effa2f9bfdd5d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-06-29 / Com os objetivos de avaliar a freqüência de acidentes com Material Biológico (MB) entre os profissionais que atuam no atendimento pré-hospitalar (APH), estabelecer o perfil desses acidentes e verificar a adesão das medidas de biossegurança por esses profissionais, realizou-se um estudo transversal com trabalhadores do APH da cidade de Goiânia-GO. Os dados foram obtidos pela aplicação de um questionário para caracterização sócio-demográfica e sobre a ocorrência de acidente com MB e os fatores de risco relacionados e as medidas preventivas utilizadas. Do total dos profissionais investigados, 57,62% têm menos de 30 anos, 57,02% são do sexo feminino, 71,18% têm jornada semanal de trabalho superior a 44 horas e 51,41% trabalham mais de cinco anos no APH. Enfermeiros, médicos e técnicos em enfermagem constituíram o grupo saúde (57,06%) e socorristas e condutores o grupo não-saúde (42,94%). A prevalência da ocorrência de acidentes variou de 41,24%, para o grupo não-saúde, a 58,41% para o grupo saúde. Quarenta e cinco acidentes foram classificados como graves, sendo que o sangue foi o MB envolvido em 86,30% dos casos. O descuido foi referido por 22,00% como a causa principal do acidente e 64,38% aconteceram durante a realização de procedimentos e 28,76% durante o manuseio de materiais após o uso. Referiram esquema vacinal completo contra hepatite B 73,44%. O grupo não-saúde apresentou a maior prevalência quanto ao não uso dos equipamentos de proteção individual (EPI). A não adesão ao uso dos EPI e o tempo de atuação, foram fatores associados à ocorrência do acidente entre o grupo saúde, enquanto que para o grupo não-saúde, a maior significância ocorreu entre as variáveis, jornada superior a 44 horas semanais, não uso de luvas e não imunização contra a hepatite B (p<0,05). Os resultados desse estudo evidenciam a necessidade de estruturação e implementação de um sistema efetivo de vigilância e controle acidentes com MB para todos os profissionais do APH (saúde e não-saúde), que possibilite o conhecimento dos acidentes e que forneça subsídios para os programas de educação permanente.

The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of preventable risk factors for NCDs among the adult population in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was employed to describe the distribution of behavioural and biological risk factors for NCDs, assess the status of knowledge, perceptions, attitude and behaviour of the study participants for NCDs and their risk factors, and a matched case-control study to identify the determinants of hypertension. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire for the interview, physical measurements including weight and height scales, non-elastic measuring tape for waist and hip circumferences, Omron digital BP apparatus for blood pressure and heart rate; Accutrend Plus for measuring fasting blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. For the descriptive cross-sectional study a total of 2347 participants were included, and for the matched case control study a total of 117 cases and 235 controls participated. Behavioural and biological risk factors were assessed. Only 0.8% of the study participants used optimal fruit serving per day. The prevalence of low level physical activity (<600 MET-minutes/week) was 44.8%. The magnitude of ever alcohol consumption was 66.8%. However, the magnitude of khat chewing and tobacco smoking among the study participants was not as high as the other risk factors i.e. 3.3% and 2.3% respectively. The magnitude of hypertension, central obesity, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia was 9.9%, 22.2%, 3.5%, 30.3% and 32.2% respectively. Factors associated with the risks aforementioned were gender, age, place of residence, education, knowledge status on NCDs, mental stress and others. The status of knowledge on CVDs, breast and cervical cancers, diabetes and their potential risk factors was low and not comprehensive. Misconceptions on NCDs and body size and shape were pervasive. Risky behaviours underlying NCDs were rampant in the study population. Factors related to poor knowledge on NCDs were gender, age, place of residence, education and misconceptions on NCDs. The determinants of hypertension were physical inactivity, duration of alcohol intake, central obesity and mental stress. Awareness raising interventions on NCDs and their risk factors; improving socio-economic status and accessibility to health care settings have to be in place to curb these formidable problems. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Les inventions biotechnologiques ont un double visage, une face bienveillante et une face terrifiante, chacune source potentielle de risques majeurs. Comment les contrôler et les réguler ? La recrudescence des catastrophes majeures (crises sanitaires) liées à l’usage de produits biotechnologiques, d’une part, puis l’échec à l’adoption d’un protocole de vérification à la Convention d’interdiction des armes biologiques suivi de l’émergence de nombreuses publications à risques dans le domaine des biotechnologies, d’autre part, démontrent l’omniprésence et la transversalité de cette problématique. Par leur essence duale, les biotechnologies appellent des solutions globales. La voie d’une gestion cohérente semble s’ouvrir au travers d’un corps de règle prenant tous ces paramètres en considération, les risques majeurs. L’avantage de cette législation, si elle admet une modification préalable de la nomenclature des risques majeurs en y intégrant les risques liés aux conflits, reposera sur sa globalité et sur la responsabilisation de tous. Face à une menace biotechnologique qui est perçue comme dominante dans les années à venir, l’émerge d’un ordre public mondial favorable à un accroissement de la responsabilité des Etats à l’égard de la sécurité humaine serait souhaitable. Le but de toute institution étatique étant de garantir à ses ressortissants leur sécurité et leur sûreté quelles que soient les circonstances, cet ordre public pourrait trouver ses bases au sein des réglementations relatives aux droits de l’homme et au droit de l’environnement ; réglementations déjà émancipées de la distinction entre situations de paix, de crises ou de conflits / The biotechnological inventions have a double face, a kindly face and a terrifying face, each potential source of major risks. How to control them and to regulate them? The outbreak of the major disasters (sanitary crisis) bound to biotechnological products, on one hand, the failure to the adoption of a Protocol to the Biological Weapon Convention, followed by the emergence of numerous publications at risks in the field of biotechnology, on the other hand, demonstrate the omnipresence and the transverse character of this problem. By their duality, biotechnologies need global solutions. The way of a coherent management seems to open through a body of rule considering all these parameters, the major risks. The advantage of this legislation, if it admits a preliminary modification of the list of the major risks by integrating the risks connected to the conflicts, will be based on its global aspect and everyone’s responsibility. In front of biotechnological threat, which is perceived as dominant in the years to come, an emergent world law and order favourable to an increase of the responsibility of States towards the human safety would be desirable. The purpose of any state institution is the guarantee of Nationals safety, whatever circumstances are, this law and order could find its bases within the regulations relative to human rights and to environmental law; these regulations are already indifferent to the distinction between situations of peace, crisis or conflicts

The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of preventable risk factors for NCDs among the adult population in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was employed to describe the distribution of behavioural and biological risk factors for NCDs, assess the status of knowledge, perceptions, attitude and behaviour of the study participants for NCDs and their risk factors, and a matched case-control study to identify the determinants of hypertension. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire for the interview, physical measurements including weight and height scales, non-elastic measuring tape for waist and hip circumferences, Omron digital BP apparatus for blood pressure and heart rate; Accutrend Plus for measuring fasting blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. For the descriptive cross-sectional study a total of 2347 participants were included, and for the matched case control study a total of 117 cases and 235 controls participated. Behavioural and biological risk factors were assessed. Only 0.8% of the study participants used optimal fruit serving per day. The prevalence of low level physical activity (<600 MET-minutes/week) was 44.8%. The magnitude of ever alcohol consumption was 66.8%. However, the magnitude of khat chewing and tobacco smoking among the study participants was not as high as the other risk factors i.e. 3.3% and 2.3% respectively. The magnitude of hypertension, central obesity, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia was 9.9%, 22.2%, 3.5%, 30.3% and 32.2% respectively. Factors associated with the risks aforementioned were gender, age, place of residence, education, knowledge status on NCDs, mental stress and others. The status of knowledge on CVDs, breast and cervical cancers, diabetes and their potential risk factors was low and not comprehensive. Misconceptions on NCDs and body size and shape were pervasive. Risky behaviours underlying NCDs were rampant in the study population. Factors related to poor knowledge on NCDs were gender, age, place of residence, education and misconceptions on NCDs. The determinants of hypertension were physical inactivity, duration of alcohol intake, central obesity and mental stress. Awareness raising interventions on NCDs and their risk factors; improving socio-economic status and accessibility to health care settings have to be in place to curb these formidable problems. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)