AIM： To evaluate the prevalence and sociodemographics of gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） symptoms and to identify treatment patterns among GERD patients. METHODS： A telephone survey of a representative samp...AIM： To evaluate the prevalence and sociodemographics of gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） symptoms and to identify treatment patterns among GERD patients. METHODS： A telephone survey of a representative sample of the adult Israeli population was conducted. The questionnaire included detailed sociodemographics, history of GERD symptoms and the various treatments used. RESULTS： The survey included 2027 subjects. Twice weekly, once weekly and monthly GEP, D symptoms were reported by 8.4%, 12.5% and 21.5% of subjects, respectively. There was no difference in prevalence between men and woman; however, GERD symptoms were significantly more prevalent within the older age group and lower socioeconomic status. Among those reporting weekly symptoms, a quarter did not use any kind of therapy and another quarter used various traditional remedies （e.g. soda, milk, almonds, etc.）. Antacids were used by 35.1%, H2 blockers by 13.2% and PPIs by 17.5%. CONCLUSION： We found that 12.5% of the adult Israeli population experience weekly GERD symptoms. GERD prevalence and sociodemographics are similar to those described in other Western countries, and treatment is still suboptimal.展开更多
BACKGROUND Septic shock,the most severe form of sepsis,remains a major global health challenge with high mortality.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has exacerbated this burden,as severe acute respiratory...BACKGROUND Septic shock,the most severe form of sepsis,remains a major global health challenge with high mortality.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has exacerbated this burden,as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection often leads to sepsis and septic shock.Racial and ethnic differences in critical illness outcomes are well-documented,but their impact on COVID-19 associated septic shock remains unclear.AIM To examine epidemiologic data to explore racial and ethnic differences in outcomes in COVID-19 associated septic shock.METHODS Using the National Inpatient Sample(2020–2021),we conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess racial and ethnic disparities in septic shock outcomes among adults(≥18 years)with concurrent COVID-19.Primary and secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality,acute kidney injury(AKI),AKI requiring dialysis,and mechanical ventilation.Adjusted multivariable logistic regression accounted for demographics,comorbidities,hospital characteristics,and inhospital events.RESULTS Among 396795 weighted hospitalizations,Non-Hispanic Black(NHB)(25.3%)and Hispanic(30.4%)populations were younger and had greater comorbidity burdens than Non-Hispanic White(NHW)patients.Compared to NHW,adjusted analyses showed higher in-hospital mortality[adjusted odds ratio(aOR)=1.21,95%CI:1.15-1.27],mechanical ventilation use(aOR=1.19,95%CI:1.12-1.27)and AKI requiring dialysis(aOR=1.16,95%CI:1.07-1.25,P<0.001)among Hispanic patients.NHB patients had similar mortality to NHWs but had higher risk of mechanical ventilation(aOR=1.15,95%CI:1.09-1.22)and AKI requiring dialysis(aOR=1.65,95%CI:1.54-1.76).Mean length of stay and cost were longest and highest for Hispanic patients.CONCLUSION Our study showed that there was higher mortality in Hispanic patients,and higher renal and respiratory complication in both NHB and Hispanic groups compared to NHW group.Future research identifying the causes of the observed differences in complications are required to inform targeted strategies that may mitigate modifiable risk factors and optimize early detection of organ failure to optimize outcomes in this population.展开更多
Objectives:Schizophrenia is a profoundly stigmatized mental health condition,characterized by misconceptions that affect societal attitudes,policy development,and the lived experiences of individuals with the conditio...Objectives:Schizophrenia is a profoundly stigmatized mental health condition,characterized by misconceptions that affect societal attitudes,policy development,and the lived experiences of individuals with the condition.This study aimed to develop and validate a multidimensional scale for assessing societal stigma towards schizophrenia,while exploring how demographic factors influence such attitudes.Methods:Drawing on an extensive literature review and consultations,the study identified five domains of stigma:Workplace Capability,Intimate Relationships,Autonomy,Risk Perception,and Recovery.Using a two-phase methodology,a preliminary 38-itemscale was administered to 729 participants from the general Spanish population,refining the measure through descriptive and exploratory factor analysis.Subsequently,a revised 34-item scale was validated through confirmatory factor analysis with an independent sample of 417 participants.Results:The final model showed good fit(RMSEA=0.056,CFI=0.938,TLI=0.933)and strong internal consistency(α=0.73–0.86).Findings revealed that stigma was most pronounced in the domain of Autonomy(Mean=2.83,SD=0.91),reflecting pervasive doubts about individuals’ability to live independently and achieve meaningful integration into society.Stigma varied significantly across demographic variables,with higher levels reported among men,older individuals,married participants,and those outside health professions(p<0.01).Conversely,healthcare professionals,younger individuals,and those familiar with someone with schizophrenia generally reported less stigma(p<0.01).Conclusion:This study developed and validated a robust multidimensional scale for assessing societal stigma toward schizophrenia.The five-factor model—Workplace Capability,Intimate Relationships,Autonomy,Risk Perception,and Recovery—was empirically supported.Autonomy and Recovery emerged as themost stigmatized domains across the Spanish general population.The scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties and effectively captured stigma patterns linked to key sociodemographic variables.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cancer survivorship is a growing concern globally,yet few studies have explored the quality of life(QoL)outcomes among survivors in the Middle East,particularly in Saudi Arabia.AIM To assess QoL using the W...BACKGROUND Cancer survivorship is a growing concern globally,yet few studies have explored the quality of life(QoL)outcomes among survivors in the Middle East,particularly in Saudi Arabia.AIM To assess QoL using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF(WHOQOL-BREF)and to evaluate the impact of demographic and clinical factors among Saudi cancer survivors.METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 102 adult cancer survivors recruited from a tertiary hospital in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia.Participants completed the WHOQOLBREF,which assesses four QoL domains,including physical health,psychological health,social relationships,and environment.Univariate and multivariable robust linear regression models(Huber estimator)were used to identify QoL score predictors,adjusted for key sociodemographic and clinical variables.RESULTS The mean participant age was 44.5 years;72.5%of the participants were female.The mean domain scores were as follows:physical health was 3.05±0.53,psychological health was 3.56±0.79,social relationships was 3.39±0.84,and environment was 3.29±0.74.Socioeconomic and social vulnerability factors,including low income,rental housing,widowed/divorced marital status,and lower education,were independently associated with poorer QoL scores.Residents in rural settings had significantly lower scores in all domains.CONCLUSION Our findings reveal noticeable disparities in QoL among Saudi cancer survivors driven by socioeconomic and demographic factors.These insights underscore the need for context-sensitive survivorship programs in Saudi Arabia,with special attention to social support,mental health,and economic stability.展开更多
Background:Esophageal cancer(EC)is a lethalmalignancy.The sociodemographic index(SDI)is a critical factor influencing the disease burden of EC.Risk factors,including alcohol use and diet,vary significantly by SDI leve...Background:Esophageal cancer(EC)is a lethalmalignancy.The sociodemographic index(SDI)is a critical factor influencing the disease burden of EC.Risk factors,including alcohol use and diet,vary significantly by SDI level,affecting the disease outcomes.This study utilized the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 database to determine the age-standardized mortality rates(ASMR)and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year rates(ASDRs)for EC attributable to alcohol use and a diet low in vegetables across countries with different SDI.Methods:Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021,covering from 1990 to 2021,were analyzed for 204 areas categorized into quintiles based on the SDI.Exposure levels for alcohol and vegetable intake were defined,and data were standardized using the global population structure to ensure comparability.Trend lines for the disease burden were plotted using R version 4.3.0(R Foundation for Statistical Computing,Vienna,Austria).Statistical analyses were conducted using Joinpoint 4.9.1.0(The Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences,USA)regression to assess temporal trends in mortality and ASDRs,focusing on the annual percent change and average annual percent change across various SDI categories.Results:From 1990 to 2021,the ASMR and ASDR for EC decreased globally across all SDI levels and in both sexes.The areas with a middle SDI initially had the highest rates but experienced the fastest declines,falling below high-middle–SDI countries by 2021.The ASMRs attributable to alcohol use generally declined,except in low-middle–and low-SDI nations.The greatest rates among males and the total population were found in high-middle–SDI nations,whereas high-SDI nations had the highest rates among females.The ASMRs associated with a diet low in vegetables decreased in all areas.Conclusions:Despite the overall declining trend in the EC burden associated with alcohol use and diets low in vegetables,EC remains a significant global health concern.Strengthening the focus on key populations,implementing public health policies to reduce alcohol consumption,and promoting increased vegetable intake may collectively reduce the global burden of EC.展开更多
Introduction: Multiple endocrine and metabolic abnormalities, particularly overweight and obesity, have emerged as significant global public health concerns. This paper examines the impact of these conditions on healt...Introduction: Multiple endocrine and metabolic abnormalities, particularly overweight and obesity, have emerged as significant global public health concerns. This paper examines the impact of these conditions on health outcomes and underscores the necessity for comprehensive strategies to address them. Background: Overweight and obesity have been observed in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) both before and after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. This study investigates the risk factors associated with overweight and obesity in HIV-infected patients. Methods: A total of 492 HIV-infected patients, both treatment-naïve and those undergoing treatment, were recruited from Yaoundé Central Hospital in Cameroon. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected from each patient. Blood pressure and abdominal fat measurements were also taken. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to IDF criteria. Patients were categorized into two weight status groups: underweight/normal weight and overweight/obese. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 27.5% and 8.5%, respectively, with only 6.1% of patients being underweight. Abdominal obesity, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and CD4 cell counts were associated with risk factors in overweight and obese patients. These parameters should be considered when investigating metabolic disorders in HIV-infected patients, as in the general population. Conclusion: Our study indicates a high risk of developing metabolic syndrome among overweight/obese individuals, who were 5.7 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome compared to those of normal weight/underweight. These findings support the hypothesis that overweight and obesity are also prevalent in HIV-infected patients and they are risk factors that have to be taken into consideration to better manage this issue. These results may provide essential information on the fact that being underweight is not the only issue to take into consideration in these patients but that overweight/obesity is now present. Prevention and management strategies should consider both aspects.展开更多
There is currently a dearth of information pertaining to socio-demographic factors and eating practices in a multicultural country like Mauritius. This study was therefore undertaken to probe the different eating prac...There is currently a dearth of information pertaining to socio-demographic factors and eating practices in a multicultural country like Mauritius. This study was therefore undertaken to probe the different eating practices among an adult sample population in Mauritius in an endeavor to establish significant relationships, if any, with common socio-demographic and socio-economic factors. A self-designed questionnaire, (randomly distributed to n = 387 adults), pertaining to socio-demographic variables, vegetarianism, breakfast patterns, eating out of home meals (OHMs), food frequency questions and dieting practices were asked. Males (21 - 40 yrs) had a significantly (p 0.05) to adherence to the recommendations for the consumption of fish. The socio-demographic factors most influential towards eating practices were gender, age and socio-economic status represented by education and occupation. In conclusion, relationships recorded in the present study were comparable to Western eating practices and the availability of certain foods has compelled Mauritians to develop its own and unique eating patterns which can be of relevance in providing accurate health targets for future nutrition interventions in Mauritius.展开更多
To identify sociodemographic characteristics and risk factor of Demodex infestation,756 students aged 13-22 years in Xi'an,China were sampled for the school-based cross-sectional study.Demodex was examined using t...To identify sociodemographic characteristics and risk factor of Demodex infestation,756 students aged 13-22 years in Xi'an,China were sampled for the school-based cross-sectional study.Demodex was examined using the cellophane tape method(CTP).The results showed that the total detection rate of Demodex was 67.6%.Logistic regression analysis revealed that five variables(gender,residence,sharing sanitary ware,frequency of face-wash per day,and use of facial cleanser) were found to be uncorrelated with Demodex infestation,whereas three variables(age,skin type,and skin disease) were found to be independent correlates.Students aged over 18 years had 22.1 times higher odds of Demodex infestation compared to those under 16 years and students aged 16-18 years also had 2.1 times higher odds compared to those aged 13-15 years.Odds of having a Demodex infestation for oily or mixed skin were 2.1 times those for dry or neutral skin.Students with a facial skin disease had 3.0 times higher odds of being infested with Demodex compared to those without.The inception rate of students with facial dermatoses increased in parallel with increasing mite count.The inception rates were 21.3%,40.7%,59.2%,and 67.7% in the negative,mild,moderate,and severe infestation groups,respectively(χ2=60.6,P<0.001).Specifically,the amount of infested mites and inception rate of acne vulgaris were positively correlated(R2=0.57,moderate infestation odds ratio(OR)=7.1,severe infestation OR=10.3).It was concluded that Demodex prevalence increases with age,and Demodex presents in nearly all adult human.Sebaceous hyperplasia with oily or mixed skin seems to favour Demodex proliferation.Demodex infestation could be associated with acne vulgaris.The CTP is a good sampling method for studies of Demodex prevalence.展开更多
This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate cancer patients'cognitive level of pain control and to evaluate the patient-related factors or barriers to effective cancer pain management in China.In seven tertiar...This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate cancer patients'cognitive level of pain control and to evaluate the patient-related factors or barriers to effective cancer pain management in China.In seven tertiary hospitals across China,372 patients experiencing cancer pain were surveyed through a self-designed questionnaire to assess the factors associated with effective pain control.Patients'demographic data and pain control-related factors were recorded.Cluster sampling and binary logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between predictive factors and effective pain control.The survey showed that the majority of the patients were more than 45 years old(76.3%),and 64.4%had an average annual income of more than 20000 RMB.One-third of the patients suffered from cancer pain for more than 3 months,and 75.1%received professional guidance during medication.The barriers to pain control for patients included preference to enduring pain and refusing analgesics(62.9%),negligence towards drug usage(28.5%),concerns about the addiction(48.2%)and adverse reaction(56.4%).The average annual family income,pro fessional guidance,knowledge of pain medication,adherence to analgesics,and concerns about addiction to analgesics were significantly correlated to the effect of patients'pain control.The study presents major barriers to optimal pain control among patients with cancer in China.Our findings suggest that educational programs and medical insurance reimbursement support from the government are urgently needed to overcome the cognitive barriers toward effective pain management and to relieve the economic burden among patients with cancer pain in China.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seven thousand one hundred and fiftytwo women with ...AIM: To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seven thousand one hundred and fiftytwo women with primary breast cancer from the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Registry were recruited after receiving patients' consent, they were asked to complete standardized questionnaires which captured their sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors associated with breast cancer development. Among them, clinicopathological data and patterns of treatment were further collected from medical records of 5523 patients with invasive breast cancers. Patients were divided into two groups according to the age at diagnosis: younger(< 40 years old) vs older patients(≥ 40 years old) for subsequent analyses.RESULTS: Analysis on the sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to risk factors were performed on 7152 women with primary breast cancer and the results revealed that younger patients were more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles; these include a lack of exercise(85.4% vs 73.2%, P < 0.001), having high stress in life(46.1% vs 35.5%, P < 0.001), having dairy/meat-rich diets(20.2% vs 12.9%, P < 0.001),having alcohol drinking habit(7.7% vs 5.2%, P = 0.002). Younger patients were also more likely to have hormone-related risk factors including nulliparity(43.3% vs 17.8%, P < 0.001) and an early age at menarche(20.7% vs 13.2%, P < 0.001). Analyses on clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment were performed on 5523 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. The invasive tumours in younger patients showed more aggressive pathological features such as having a higher percentage of grade 3 histology(45.7% vs 36.5%, P < 0.001), having a higher proportion of tumours with lymphovascular invasion(39.6% vs 33.2%, P = 0.003), and having multifocal disease(15.7% vs 10.3%, P < 0.001); they received different patterns of treatment than their older counterparts.CONCLUSION: Younger patients in Hong Kong are more likely to encounter risk factors associated with breast cancer development and have more aggressive tumours than their older counterparts.展开更多
Objective:To surveill emerging variants by nanopore technology-based genome sequencing in different COVID-19 waves in Sri Lanka and to examine the association with the sample characteristics,and vaccination status.Met...Objective:To surveill emerging variants by nanopore technology-based genome sequencing in different COVID-19 waves in Sri Lanka and to examine the association with the sample characteristics,and vaccination status.Methods:The study analyzed 207 RNA positive swab samples received to sequence laboratory during different waves.The N gene cut-off threshold of less than 30 was considered as the major inclusion criteria.Viral RNA was extracted,and elutes were subjected to nanopore sequencing.All the sequencing data were uploaded in the publicly accessible database,GISAID.Results:The Omicron,Delta and Alpha variants accounted for 58%,22%and 4%of the variants throughout the period.Less than 1%were Kappa variant and 16%of the study samples remained unassigned.Omicron variant was circulated among all age groups and in all the provinces.Ct value and variants assigned percentage was 100%in Ct values of 10-15 while only 45%assigned Ct value over 25.Conclusions:The present study examined the emergence,prevalence,and distribution of SARS-CoV-2 variants locally and has shown that nanopore technology-based genome sequencing enables whole genome sequencing in a low resource setting country.展开更多
Natural resource-management studies have become increasingly attentive to the influences of human factors. Among these,cultural biases shape people’s responses to changes in natural resource systems. Several studies ...Natural resource-management studies have become increasingly attentive to the influences of human factors. Among these,cultural biases shape people’s responses to changes in natural resource systems. Several studies have applied grid-group cultural theory to assess the effects of multiple value biases among stakeholders on natural resource management. We developed and administered a questionnaire in the Heihe River Basin(n = 364) in northwestern China to investigate the appropriateness of applying this theory in the Chinese context of natural resource management. The results revealed various cultural biases among the respondents. In descending order of prevalence, these biases were hierarchism(46.98%), individualism(26.65%), egalitarianism(18.96%), and fatalism(2.78%), with the remaining respondents(4.67%) evidencing no obvious bias. Our empirical study revealed respondents’ worldviews and the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on cultural biases, as theoretically posited. Among the variables examined, age had a positive and significant effect across all biases except individualism. The correlation of income to all cultural biases was consistently negative. Only education had a negative and significant effect across all biases. Women were found to adhere to egalitarianism, whereas men adhered to individualism and hierarchism. Thus, grid-group cultural theory was found to be appropriate in the Chinese context, with gender, age, education, and income evidently accounting for cultural biases. Relationships between environmental attitudes and cultural biases conformed with the hypothesis advanced by grid-group cultural theory. This finding may be of value in explaining individuals’ environmental attitudes and facilitating the development and implementation of natural resource-management policies.展开更多
Background: Breastfeeding is a natural and critical act that provides nutrients and energy for the infant and young child;and through a public health intervention such as exclusive breastfeeding, it improves the survi...Background: Breastfeeding is a natural and critical act that provides nutrients and energy for the infant and young child;and through a public health intervention such as exclusive breastfeeding, it improves the survival rates of the infant. Objective: To determine the breastfeeding practices and the sociodemographic determinants of exclusive breastfeeding amongst nursing mothers present at the Imo state university teaching hospital Orlu. Methods: A cross sectional analytical study design was used that included all nursing mothers present within a 4 week study period. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were done with frequencies and summary statistics. Chi square statistics were computed to determine significant associations and binary logistic regression was used to determine sociodemographic predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice. P value was set at 0.05 significant level. Results: While most of the respondents were aware of exclusive breastfeeding (92.5%), only 24% of the respondents were practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Work and school activities, and the feeling that breast milk was insufficient for the needs of the baby were the reasons for not practicing exclusive breastfeeding for a majority of the respondents (56.6%). Furthermore, 61% of those that were practicing non-exclusive breast feeding gave a cereal or infant formula in addition to the breast milk for 3 to 6 months. It was further revealed that there were statistically significant relationships between breastfeeding practice and maternal age (p = 0.003), level of maternal education (p = 0.005) and maternal occupation (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Understanding and taking into cognizance the sociodemographic characteristics will enable the design, and adequate delivery of appropriate and effective strategies that improve exclusive breastfeeding practice.展开更多
Background: In the Caribbean in particular Ja-maica, no study has been done to examine married respondents in order to understand reasons for their greater health status. The ob-jectives of the current study are: 1) e...Background: In the Caribbean in particular Ja-maica, no study has been done to examine married respondents in order to understand reasons for their greater health status. The ob-jectives of the current study are: 1) examine the sociodemographic characteristics of married people in Jamaica;2) evaluate self-rated health status of married people in Jamaica;3) deter-mine factors that account for good health status of married people and 4) provide public health practitioners with empirical studies that can be used to formulate policies for men in particular non-married men in Jamaica. Materials and me- thods: Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 6,783 respondents. It was a nationally representative sample. Logistic re-gression analysis was used to ascertain the correlates of health status. Results: The mean age for women in marriage in Jamaica was 6 years lower than that of men. The correlates of good health status (including moderate health) of respondents in descending order were self- reported illness (OR = 0.12, 95%CI = 0.01- 0.17);age (OR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.93-0.96);income (OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.05-1.66) and sex of respon-dents (Or = 1.14-2.32)—χ2(df = 4) = 383.2, P < 0.05. The four variables accounted for 44.4% of the explanatory power of the model;with self-reported illness accounting for 32.5% of the explanatory power. Conclusion: Marriage pro-vides greater access to more socioeconomic resources for its participants as well as increase men’s unwillingness to visit medical care prac-titioners.展开更多
The prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption is high in our context. The fight against this scourge requires accurate identification of sociodemographic factors for a better communication strategy. Objective: To de...The prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption is high in our context. The fight against this scourge requires accurate identification of sociodemographic factors for a better communication strategy. Objective: To determine the sociodemographic factors associated with alcohol consumption in a population of hospitalized patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during two months in 14 hospital departments of the University Hospital CHU-Yalgado Ouédraogo (CHUYO) in Ouagadougou, by interview and document review. All patients hospitalized for less than a year, aged 18 at least and consenting were included. Excessive alcohol consumption was defined as consumption ≥210 g/week in men and 140 g/week in women according to WHO, a score ≥8 in men and in women ≥7 by AUDIT Questionnaire, a score ≥2 according to the DETA questionnaire. Socio-demographic factors as age, sex, religion, educational level, marital status, occupation and salary status were filled for all patients. Results: A total of 391 patients were included. The average age was 44 ± 16.26 years and the sex ratio of 1.34. Among them, 135 (34.53%) were consumers of alcohol. The prevalence of excessive consumption ranged from 7.92% to 10.49%. A statistically significant relationship was found between alcohol consumption and sex (p 0.03), religion (p 0.01) and education level (p 0.01). On the contrary, no significant relationship was found between alcohol consumption, age, marital status and occupation. The salary status “employee” appears to promote the consumption of alcohol by some tools. Conclusion: The excessive consumption of alcohol is common in our population especially by educated men of non-Muslim religion. This hypothesis should be corroborated in a study within the general population to better set control strategies against this scourge.展开更多
Background: Preterm delivery is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality globally. In more than half of the cases, the exact cause is unknown and it is largely unpredictable. Certain maternal, social and dem...Background: Preterm delivery is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality globally. In more than half of the cases, the exact cause is unknown and it is largely unpredictable. Certain maternal, social and demographic characteristics are risk factors and often help to predict and prognosticate the neonatal outcomes. Objective: This study was designed to determine the maternal socio-demographic characteristics and neonatal outcomes of patients managed for singleton preterm delivery in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Method: This was a 4-year retrospective analysis of patients managed for preterm birth from 1st January 2012 through 31st December 2015. Results: Over the study period there were a total number of 623 singleton preterm deliveries in the facility, while there were 9647 deliveries in the facility;the preterm birth rate was 6.5% or 65 per 1000 deliveries. The mean maternal age was 28.79 ± 5.33 while the mean parity was 1.89 ± 1.98. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 33.67 ± 2.62 and 2.30 ± 0.78 kg respectively. Apgar score in 1 minute was 6.89 ± 3.27, while in the 5th minute was 7.95 ± 3.42. Majority of the patients were multiparous and booked for antenatal care in the facility. Most of the preterm labour started spontaneously and were delivered vaginally. The caesarean section rate in this study was 35.5%. Fetal distress and preeclampsia/eclampsia were the commonest indications for caesarean section. The male to female ratio was 1.1:1. Nearly half of the neonates were born with normal birth weight and 427 (68.5%) were alive at discharge. However, 196 (31.5%) suffered early neonatal death due to prematurity. Maternal parity, booking status and fetal weight were significant determinants of fetal outcome with a p-value 0.05. Conclusion: Birth weight was the most important determinant of neonatal survival and the unbooked patient was an important determinant of poor outcome. Booking for antenatal care and ensuring optimal weight at delivery would go a long way at reducing the poor neonatal outcome associated with preterm delivery.展开更多
Background: Cannabis can be associated with short-term and long-term adverse effects such as psychotic states, risk of dependence, provoking relapse and aggravating existing psychotic symptoms. Aim: The current study ...Background: Cannabis can be associated with short-term and long-term adverse effects such as psychotic states, risk of dependence, provoking relapse and aggravating existing psychotic symptoms. Aim: The current study is a descriptive cross-sectional hospital based study that aims to identify the prevalence and correlates of cannabis use among patients with mental illness. Methods: The study was conducted in two outpatient psychiatry clinics in Khartoum (Sudan). The sample size was 348 consecutive patients over 2 months’ study period. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were documented. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data variables, and tabulated tables were used to calculate chi-square test for categorical data and the significance was set at p Results: A total of 96 participants (27.6%) had history of cannabis abuse;all of them were male patients. The majority (51%) started to use cannabis between 10 - 19 years of age, and most of them (86.6%) had a duration of less than five years of using cannabis. Psychiatric symptoms occurred after starting cannabis use in 17.7% of cases. We found a statistically significant difference related to age when comparing the age of cannabis users and non-users (p = 0.0239). The majority of patients with comorbid mental illness and cannabis abuse (89.5%) were below the age of 40 years. There was also statistically significant association between educational level achieved and history of using cannabis (p = 0.00001). Those with history of cannabis are more likely to be manual laborers (46.9%), and those with no history of cannabis were mostly unemployed (44%), indicating significant influence of employment history (p = 0.0064). The relation between using cannabis and the clinical psychiatric diagnosis was not statically significant (p = 0.125). Conclusion: Cannabis use is highly prevalent among people with mental illness. It is related to age, educational level and type of work.展开更多
This article documents socio-demographic predictors of anxiety and depression among Maasai women in resource poor settings in Northern Kenya.These findings emerged from the findings of a dissertation research that aim...This article documents socio-demographic predictors of anxiety and depression among Maasai women in resource poor settings in Northern Kenya.These findings emerged from the findings of a dissertation research that aimed to establish the treatment effectiveness of an eclectic model of psychoeducation(PE)in treating depressive and anxiety symptoms among the women.The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design which had an experimental group(EG)and control group(CG).The population for the study was 686 female members of Conservation Enterprise Groups(CEG)in Laikipia County,from which a sample of 200 were recruited for the study(EG,n=100 and CG,n=100),at 80%power and 30%effective size.The Beck’s Depression Inventory(BDI)and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory(BAI)tools were used to assess the symptoms of depression and anxiety,respectively.The PE was provided as an intervention treatment to the EG at the middle and end of the study,after which the respondents were tested for symptoms of depression.The study established the prevalence of depression as 26.7%and 31.3%for anxiety and disorders,among women in the region.Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 21.0.展开更多
Background: Despite improvements in antenatal and intrapartum care, stillbirth still remains an important, largely understudied and pregnant problem in obstetrics. Most of the stillbirths occur in the developing world...Background: Despite improvements in antenatal and intrapartum care, stillbirth still remains an important, largely understudied and pregnant problem in obstetrics. Most of the stillbirths occur in the developing world and the majority of stillbirths are preventable. Objective: To determine the stillbirth rate, the identifiable risk factors and sociodemographic factors associated with stillbirths. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of all deliveries conducted at UATH over a five-year period spanning from the January 2012 to December 2016. In this study, stillbirths were considered as foetal death at or after 28 weeks of gestation or a birth weight of 1000 g or more. The folders of cases that met the definition of stillbirth within the study period were retrieved and analyzed for sociodemographic factors, type of stillbirth, fetomaternal determinants of stillbirths and presumptive/identifiable risk factors for the stillbirth. Results: There were a total of 5714 deliveries within the period under review, of which 288 resulted in stillbirths giving an institutional stillbirth rate of 50.4/1000 deliveries. Out of the 288 stillbirths, 136 (47.2%) were fresh stillbirths while 152 (52.8%) were macerated. Macerated stillbirth (152, 52.8%) was slightly predominant, with obstructed labour 94 (32.6%) being responsible for most of the stillbirths. Most of the stillbirths were preterm (183, 63.5%). There were 6 congenitally malformed stillbirth foetuses and no autopsy was carried out on any of the 288 stillborn. However, majority of the parturients who had stillbirth were unemployed (137, 47.6%) and uneducated (110, 38.2%). Conclusion: The stillbirth rate within the study period appears. Complications of labour seem to be the leading risk factor for stillbirth in this study. Low socioeconomic status underscores the need to reduce factors related to social, educational, occupational and healthy inequalities in the developing world.展开更多
Aim: To describe the socio-demographic profile of the participants and the ocular pathologies seen during a 3-day free eye screening and cataract surgical camp, to identify the groups we need to create awareness to, a...Aim: To describe the socio-demographic profile of the participants and the ocular pathologies seen during a 3-day free eye screening and cataract surgical camp, to identify the groups we need to create awareness to, and to improve access in subsequent outreaches. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 552 participants that attended a cataract surgical outreach camp in New Karu Local Government Area (L.G.A.), Nasarawa State from 10<sup>th</sup> to 14<sup>th</sup> September 2013. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 using descriptive analysis such as frequencies and cross-tabulation. P Results: Six hundred and sixty-six people registered and 552 were examined comprising of 205 males and 347 females. The majority (81.7%) were younger than 60 years old, accounting for 4.5 times more than those older than 60. Females were in the majority (63%). Amongst those older than 60 years, males were slightly higher as compared to those younger than 60 years, where females were twice as much. Most of the participants (71.3%) reside within the L.G.A. Amongst those that reside within the L.G.A., females were twice the men and there was a fairly even distribution of both sexes amongst those that reside outside the L.G.A. The majority of the screened participants (41%) required presbyopic correction. Cataract was the second commonest ocular pathology (22.6%) and 53 (9.6%) participants with VA ≤ 6/60 were offered the free cataract surgery. Conclusion: There was an increase in female participation and those younger than 60 years. Amongst those younger than 60 years and those that reside within New Karu L.G.A., female participation was twice as much as males. When the barrier of distance is eliminated, it increases female participation.展开更多
文摘AIM： To evaluate the prevalence and sociodemographics of gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） symptoms and to identify treatment patterns among GERD patients. METHODS： A telephone survey of a representative sample of the adult Israeli population was conducted. The questionnaire included detailed sociodemographics, history of GERD symptoms and the various treatments used. RESULTS： The survey included 2027 subjects. Twice weekly, once weekly and monthly GEP, D symptoms were reported by 8.4%, 12.5% and 21.5% of subjects, respectively. There was no difference in prevalence between men and woman; however, GERD symptoms were significantly more prevalent within the older age group and lower socioeconomic status. Among those reporting weekly symptoms, a quarter did not use any kind of therapy and another quarter used various traditional remedies （e.g. soda, milk, almonds, etc.）. Antacids were used by 35.1%, H2 blockers by 13.2% and PPIs by 17.5%. CONCLUSION： We found that 12.5% of the adult Israeli population experience weekly GERD symptoms. GERD prevalence and sociodemographics are similar to those described in other Western countries, and treatment is still suboptimal.
文摘BACKGROUND Septic shock,the most severe form of sepsis,remains a major global health challenge with high mortality.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has exacerbated this burden,as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection often leads to sepsis and septic shock.Racial and ethnic differences in critical illness outcomes are well-documented,but their impact on COVID-19 associated septic shock remains unclear.AIM To examine epidemiologic data to explore racial and ethnic differences in outcomes in COVID-19 associated septic shock.METHODS Using the National Inpatient Sample(2020–2021),we conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess racial and ethnic disparities in septic shock outcomes among adults(≥18 years)with concurrent COVID-19.Primary and secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality,acute kidney injury(AKI),AKI requiring dialysis,and mechanical ventilation.Adjusted multivariable logistic regression accounted for demographics,comorbidities,hospital characteristics,and inhospital events.RESULTS Among 396795 weighted hospitalizations,Non-Hispanic Black(NHB)(25.3%)and Hispanic(30.4%)populations were younger and had greater comorbidity burdens than Non-Hispanic White(NHW)patients.Compared to NHW,adjusted analyses showed higher in-hospital mortality[adjusted odds ratio(aOR)=1.21,95%CI:1.15-1.27],mechanical ventilation use(aOR=1.19,95%CI:1.12-1.27)and AKI requiring dialysis(aOR=1.16,95%CI:1.07-1.25,P<0.001)among Hispanic patients.NHB patients had similar mortality to NHWs but had higher risk of mechanical ventilation(aOR=1.15,95%CI:1.09-1.22)and AKI requiring dialysis(aOR=1.65,95%CI:1.54-1.76).Mean length of stay and cost were longest and highest for Hispanic patients.CONCLUSION Our study showed that there was higher mortality in Hispanic patients,and higher renal and respiratory complication in both NHB and Hispanic groups compared to NHW group.Future research identifying the causes of the observed differences in complications are required to inform targeted strategies that may mitigate modifiable risk factors and optimize early detection of organ failure to optimize outcomes in this population.
文摘Objectives:Schizophrenia is a profoundly stigmatized mental health condition,characterized by misconceptions that affect societal attitudes,policy development,and the lived experiences of individuals with the condition.This study aimed to develop and validate a multidimensional scale for assessing societal stigma towards schizophrenia,while exploring how demographic factors influence such attitudes.Methods:Drawing on an extensive literature review and consultations,the study identified five domains of stigma:Workplace Capability,Intimate Relationships,Autonomy,Risk Perception,and Recovery.Using a two-phase methodology,a preliminary 38-itemscale was administered to 729 participants from the general Spanish population,refining the measure through descriptive and exploratory factor analysis.Subsequently,a revised 34-item scale was validated through confirmatory factor analysis with an independent sample of 417 participants.Results:The final model showed good fit(RMSEA=0.056,CFI=0.938,TLI=0.933)and strong internal consistency(α=0.73–0.86).Findings revealed that stigma was most pronounced in the domain of Autonomy(Mean=2.83,SD=0.91),reflecting pervasive doubts about individuals’ability to live independently and achieve meaningful integration into society.Stigma varied significantly across demographic variables,with higher levels reported among men,older individuals,married participants,and those outside health professions(p<0.01).Conversely,healthcare professionals,younger individuals,and those familiar with someone with schizophrenia generally reported less stigma(p<0.01).Conclusion:This study developed and validated a robust multidimensional scale for assessing societal stigma toward schizophrenia.The five-factor model—Workplace Capability,Intimate Relationships,Autonomy,Risk Perception,and Recovery—was empirically supported.Autonomy and Recovery emerged as themost stigmatized domains across the Spanish general population.The scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties and effectively captured stigma patterns linked to key sociodemographic variables.
基金Supported by KAU Endowment(WAQF)at King Abdulaziz University,Jeddah,Saudi Arabia.
文摘BACKGROUND Cancer survivorship is a growing concern globally,yet few studies have explored the quality of life(QoL)outcomes among survivors in the Middle East,particularly in Saudi Arabia.AIM To assess QoL using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF(WHOQOL-BREF)and to evaluate the impact of demographic and clinical factors among Saudi cancer survivors.METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 102 adult cancer survivors recruited from a tertiary hospital in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia.Participants completed the WHOQOLBREF,which assesses four QoL domains,including physical health,psychological health,social relationships,and environment.Univariate and multivariable robust linear regression models(Huber estimator)were used to identify QoL score predictors,adjusted for key sociodemographic and clinical variables.RESULTS The mean participant age was 44.5 years;72.5%of the participants were female.The mean domain scores were as follows:physical health was 3.05±0.53,psychological health was 3.56±0.79,social relationships was 3.39±0.84,and environment was 3.29±0.74.Socioeconomic and social vulnerability factors,including low income,rental housing,widowed/divorced marital status,and lower education,were independently associated with poorer QoL scores.Residents in rural settings had significantly lower scores in all domains.CONCLUSION Our findings reveal noticeable disparities in QoL among Saudi cancer survivors driven by socioeconomic and demographic factors.These insights underscore the need for context-sensitive survivorship programs in Saudi Arabia,with special attention to social support,mental health,and economic stability.
基金The Science and Technology Planning Project of Shantou in 2021(No.210616086490125)the Guangdong Department of Education’s SpecialGrant for Key Area Programs(No.2021ZDZX2023)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82072607,No.81871975)all provided funding for this work.
文摘Background:Esophageal cancer(EC)is a lethalmalignancy.The sociodemographic index(SDI)is a critical factor influencing the disease burden of EC.Risk factors,including alcohol use and diet,vary significantly by SDI level,affecting the disease outcomes.This study utilized the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 database to determine the age-standardized mortality rates(ASMR)and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year rates(ASDRs)for EC attributable to alcohol use and a diet low in vegetables across countries with different SDI.Methods:Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021,covering from 1990 to 2021,were analyzed for 204 areas categorized into quintiles based on the SDI.Exposure levels for alcohol and vegetable intake were defined,and data were standardized using the global population structure to ensure comparability.Trend lines for the disease burden were plotted using R version 4.3.0(R Foundation for Statistical Computing,Vienna,Austria).Statistical analyses were conducted using Joinpoint 4.9.1.0(The Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences,USA)regression to assess temporal trends in mortality and ASDRs,focusing on the annual percent change and average annual percent change across various SDI categories.Results:From 1990 to 2021,the ASMR and ASDR for EC decreased globally across all SDI levels and in both sexes.The areas with a middle SDI initially had the highest rates but experienced the fastest declines,falling below high-middle–SDI countries by 2021.The ASMRs attributable to alcohol use generally declined,except in low-middle–and low-SDI nations.The greatest rates among males and the total population were found in high-middle–SDI nations,whereas high-SDI nations had the highest rates among females.The ASMRs associated with a diet low in vegetables decreased in all areas.Conclusions:Despite the overall declining trend in the EC burden associated with alcohol use and diets low in vegetables,EC remains a significant global health concern.Strengthening the focus on key populations,implementing public health policies to reduce alcohol consumption,and promoting increased vegetable intake may collectively reduce the global burden of EC.
文摘Introduction: Multiple endocrine and metabolic abnormalities, particularly overweight and obesity, have emerged as significant global public health concerns. This paper examines the impact of these conditions on health outcomes and underscores the necessity for comprehensive strategies to address them. Background: Overweight and obesity have been observed in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) both before and after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. This study investigates the risk factors associated with overweight and obesity in HIV-infected patients. Methods: A total of 492 HIV-infected patients, both treatment-naïve and those undergoing treatment, were recruited from Yaoundé Central Hospital in Cameroon. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected from each patient. Blood pressure and abdominal fat measurements were also taken. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to IDF criteria. Patients were categorized into two weight status groups: underweight/normal weight and overweight/obese. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 27.5% and 8.5%, respectively, with only 6.1% of patients being underweight. Abdominal obesity, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and CD4 cell counts were associated with risk factors in overweight and obese patients. These parameters should be considered when investigating metabolic disorders in HIV-infected patients, as in the general population. Conclusion: Our study indicates a high risk of developing metabolic syndrome among overweight/obese individuals, who were 5.7 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome compared to those of normal weight/underweight. These findings support the hypothesis that overweight and obesity are also prevalent in HIV-infected patients and they are risk factors that have to be taken into consideration to better manage this issue. These results may provide essential information on the fact that being underweight is not the only issue to take into consideration in these patients but that overweight/obesity is now present. Prevention and management strategies should consider both aspects.
文摘There is currently a dearth of information pertaining to socio-demographic factors and eating practices in a multicultural country like Mauritius. This study was therefore undertaken to probe the different eating practices among an adult sample population in Mauritius in an endeavor to establish significant relationships, if any, with common socio-demographic and socio-economic factors. A self-designed questionnaire, (randomly distributed to n = 387 adults), pertaining to socio-demographic variables, vegetarianism, breakfast patterns, eating out of home meals (OHMs), food frequency questions and dieting practices were asked. Males (21 - 40 yrs) had a significantly (p 0.05) to adherence to the recommendations for the consumption of fish. The socio-demographic factors most influential towards eating practices were gender, age and socio-economic status represented by education and occupation. In conclusion, relationships recorded in the present study were comparable to Western eating practices and the availability of certain foods has compelled Mauritians to develop its own and unique eating patterns which can be of relevance in providing accurate health targets for future nutrition interventions in Mauritius.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30872199)the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (No. 2006C247),China
文摘To identify sociodemographic characteristics and risk factor of Demodex infestation,756 students aged 13-22 years in Xi'an,China were sampled for the school-based cross-sectional study.Demodex was examined using the cellophane tape method(CTP).The results showed that the total detection rate of Demodex was 67.6%.Logistic regression analysis revealed that five variables(gender,residence,sharing sanitary ware,frequency of face-wash per day,and use of facial cleanser) were found to be uncorrelated with Demodex infestation,whereas three variables(age,skin type,and skin disease) were found to be independent correlates.Students aged over 18 years had 22.1 times higher odds of Demodex infestation compared to those under 16 years and students aged 16-18 years also had 2.1 times higher odds compared to those aged 13-15 years.Odds of having a Demodex infestation for oily or mixed skin were 2.1 times those for dry or neutral skin.Students with a facial skin disease had 3.0 times higher odds of being infested with Demodex compared to those without.The inception rate of students with facial dermatoses increased in parallel with increasing mite count.The inception rates were 21.3%,40.7%,59.2%,and 67.7% in the negative,mild,moderate,and severe infestation groups,respectively(χ2=60.6,P<0.001).Specifically,the amount of infested mites and inception rate of acne vulgaris were positively correlated(R2=0.57,moderate infestation odds ratio(OR)=7.1,severe infestation OR=10.3).It was concluded that Demodex prevalence increases with age,and Demodex presents in nearly all adult human.Sebaceous hyperplasia with oily or mixed skin seems to favour Demodex proliferation.Demodex infestation could be associated with acne vulgaris.The CTP is a good sampling method for studies of Demodex prevalence.
基金This work was financially supported by Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.2016CFB678).
文摘This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate cancer patients'cognitive level of pain control and to evaluate the patient-related factors or barriers to effective cancer pain management in China.In seven tertiary hospitals across China,372 patients experiencing cancer pain were surveyed through a self-designed questionnaire to assess the factors associated with effective pain control.Patients'demographic data and pain control-related factors were recorded.Cluster sampling and binary logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between predictive factors and effective pain control.The survey showed that the majority of the patients were more than 45 years old(76.3%),and 64.4%had an average annual income of more than 20000 RMB.One-third of the patients suffered from cancer pain for more than 3 months,and 75.1%received professional guidance during medication.The barriers to pain control for patients included preference to enduring pain and refusing analgesics(62.9%),negligence towards drug usage(28.5%),concerns about the addiction(48.2%)and adverse reaction(56.4%).The average annual family income,pro fessional guidance,knowledge of pain medication,adherence to analgesics,and concerns about addiction to analgesics were significantly correlated to the effect of patients'pain control.The study presents major barriers to optimal pain control among patients with cancer in China.Our findings suggest that educational programs and medical insurance reimbursement support from the government are urgently needed to overcome the cognitive barriers toward effective pain management and to relieve the economic burden among patients with cancer pain in China.
文摘AIM: To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seven thousand one hundred and fiftytwo women with primary breast cancer from the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Registry were recruited after receiving patients' consent, they were asked to complete standardized questionnaires which captured their sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors associated with breast cancer development. Among them, clinicopathological data and patterns of treatment were further collected from medical records of 5523 patients with invasive breast cancers. Patients were divided into two groups according to the age at diagnosis: younger(< 40 years old) vs older patients(≥ 40 years old) for subsequent analyses.RESULTS: Analysis on the sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to risk factors were performed on 7152 women with primary breast cancer and the results revealed that younger patients were more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles; these include a lack of exercise(85.4% vs 73.2%, P < 0.001), having high stress in life(46.1% vs 35.5%, P < 0.001), having dairy/meat-rich diets(20.2% vs 12.9%, P < 0.001),having alcohol drinking habit(7.7% vs 5.2%, P = 0.002). Younger patients were also more likely to have hormone-related risk factors including nulliparity(43.3% vs 17.8%, P < 0.001) and an early age at menarche(20.7% vs 13.2%, P < 0.001). Analyses on clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment were performed on 5523 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. The invasive tumours in younger patients showed more aggressive pathological features such as having a higher percentage of grade 3 histology(45.7% vs 36.5%, P < 0.001), having a higher proportion of tumours with lymphovascular invasion(39.6% vs 33.2%, P = 0.003), and having multifocal disease(15.7% vs 10.3%, P < 0.001); they received different patterns of treatment than their older counterparts.CONCLUSION: Younger patients in Hong Kong are more likely to encounter risk factors associated with breast cancer development and have more aggressive tumours than their older counterparts.
文摘Objective:To surveill emerging variants by nanopore technology-based genome sequencing in different COVID-19 waves in Sri Lanka and to examine the association with the sample characteristics,and vaccination status.Methods:The study analyzed 207 RNA positive swab samples received to sequence laboratory during different waves.The N gene cut-off threshold of less than 30 was considered as the major inclusion criteria.Viral RNA was extracted,and elutes were subjected to nanopore sequencing.All the sequencing data were uploaded in the publicly accessible database,GISAID.Results:The Omicron,Delta and Alpha variants accounted for 58%,22%and 4%of the variants throughout the period.Less than 1%were Kappa variant and 16%of the study samples remained unassigned.Omicron variant was circulated among all age groups and in all the provinces.Ct value and variants assigned percentage was 100%in Ct values of 10-15 while only 45%assigned Ct value over 25.Conclusions:The present study examined the emergence,prevalence,and distribution of SARS-CoV-2 variants locally and has shown that nanopore technology-based genome sequencing enables whole genome sequencing in a low resource setting country.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (41571516)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA19040500 , XDA19070502, XDA2010010402)Gansu Province Social Science Planning Project (YB063)
文摘Natural resource-management studies have become increasingly attentive to the influences of human factors. Among these,cultural biases shape people’s responses to changes in natural resource systems. Several studies have applied grid-group cultural theory to assess the effects of multiple value biases among stakeholders on natural resource management. We developed and administered a questionnaire in the Heihe River Basin(n = 364) in northwestern China to investigate the appropriateness of applying this theory in the Chinese context of natural resource management. The results revealed various cultural biases among the respondents. In descending order of prevalence, these biases were hierarchism(46.98%), individualism(26.65%), egalitarianism(18.96%), and fatalism(2.78%), with the remaining respondents(4.67%) evidencing no obvious bias. Our empirical study revealed respondents’ worldviews and the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on cultural biases, as theoretically posited. Among the variables examined, age had a positive and significant effect across all biases except individualism. The correlation of income to all cultural biases was consistently negative. Only education had a negative and significant effect across all biases. Women were found to adhere to egalitarianism, whereas men adhered to individualism and hierarchism. Thus, grid-group cultural theory was found to be appropriate in the Chinese context, with gender, age, education, and income evidently accounting for cultural biases. Relationships between environmental attitudes and cultural biases conformed with the hypothesis advanced by grid-group cultural theory. This finding may be of value in explaining individuals’ environmental attitudes and facilitating the development and implementation of natural resource-management policies.
文摘Background: Breastfeeding is a natural and critical act that provides nutrients and energy for the infant and young child;and through a public health intervention such as exclusive breastfeeding, it improves the survival rates of the infant. Objective: To determine the breastfeeding practices and the sociodemographic determinants of exclusive breastfeeding amongst nursing mothers present at the Imo state university teaching hospital Orlu. Methods: A cross sectional analytical study design was used that included all nursing mothers present within a 4 week study period. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were done with frequencies and summary statistics. Chi square statistics were computed to determine significant associations and binary logistic regression was used to determine sociodemographic predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice. P value was set at 0.05 significant level. Results: While most of the respondents were aware of exclusive breastfeeding (92.5%), only 24% of the respondents were practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Work and school activities, and the feeling that breast milk was insufficient for the needs of the baby were the reasons for not practicing exclusive breastfeeding for a majority of the respondents (56.6%). Furthermore, 61% of those that were practicing non-exclusive breast feeding gave a cereal or infant formula in addition to the breast milk for 3 to 6 months. It was further revealed that there were statistically significant relationships between breastfeeding practice and maternal age (p = 0.003), level of maternal education (p = 0.005) and maternal occupation (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Understanding and taking into cognizance the sociodemographic characteristics will enable the design, and adequate delivery of appropriate and effective strategies that improve exclusive breastfeeding practice.
文摘Background: In the Caribbean in particular Ja-maica, no study has been done to examine married respondents in order to understand reasons for their greater health status. The ob-jectives of the current study are: 1) examine the sociodemographic characteristics of married people in Jamaica;2) evaluate self-rated health status of married people in Jamaica;3) deter-mine factors that account for good health status of married people and 4) provide public health practitioners with empirical studies that can be used to formulate policies for men in particular non-married men in Jamaica. Materials and me- thods: Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 6,783 respondents. It was a nationally representative sample. Logistic re-gression analysis was used to ascertain the correlates of health status. Results: The mean age for women in marriage in Jamaica was 6 years lower than that of men. The correlates of good health status (including moderate health) of respondents in descending order were self- reported illness (OR = 0.12, 95%CI = 0.01- 0.17);age (OR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.93-0.96);income (OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.05-1.66) and sex of respon-dents (Or = 1.14-2.32)—χ2(df = 4) = 383.2, P < 0.05. The four variables accounted for 44.4% of the explanatory power of the model;with self-reported illness accounting for 32.5% of the explanatory power. Conclusion: Marriage pro-vides greater access to more socioeconomic resources for its participants as well as increase men’s unwillingness to visit medical care prac-titioners.
文摘The prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption is high in our context. The fight against this scourge requires accurate identification of sociodemographic factors for a better communication strategy. Objective: To determine the sociodemographic factors associated with alcohol consumption in a population of hospitalized patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during two months in 14 hospital departments of the University Hospital CHU-Yalgado Ouédraogo (CHUYO) in Ouagadougou, by interview and document review. All patients hospitalized for less than a year, aged 18 at least and consenting were included. Excessive alcohol consumption was defined as consumption ≥210 g/week in men and 140 g/week in women according to WHO, a score ≥8 in men and in women ≥7 by AUDIT Questionnaire, a score ≥2 according to the DETA questionnaire. Socio-demographic factors as age, sex, religion, educational level, marital status, occupation and salary status were filled for all patients. Results: A total of 391 patients were included. The average age was 44 ± 16.26 years and the sex ratio of 1.34. Among them, 135 (34.53%) were consumers of alcohol. The prevalence of excessive consumption ranged from 7.92% to 10.49%. A statistically significant relationship was found between alcohol consumption and sex (p 0.03), religion (p 0.01) and education level (p 0.01). On the contrary, no significant relationship was found between alcohol consumption, age, marital status and occupation. The salary status “employee” appears to promote the consumption of alcohol by some tools. Conclusion: The excessive consumption of alcohol is common in our population especially by educated men of non-Muslim religion. This hypothesis should be corroborated in a study within the general population to better set control strategies against this scourge.
文摘Background: Preterm delivery is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality globally. In more than half of the cases, the exact cause is unknown and it is largely unpredictable. Certain maternal, social and demographic characteristics are risk factors and often help to predict and prognosticate the neonatal outcomes. Objective: This study was designed to determine the maternal socio-demographic characteristics and neonatal outcomes of patients managed for singleton preterm delivery in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Method: This was a 4-year retrospective analysis of patients managed for preterm birth from 1st January 2012 through 31st December 2015. Results: Over the study period there were a total number of 623 singleton preterm deliveries in the facility, while there were 9647 deliveries in the facility;the preterm birth rate was 6.5% or 65 per 1000 deliveries. The mean maternal age was 28.79 ± 5.33 while the mean parity was 1.89 ± 1.98. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 33.67 ± 2.62 and 2.30 ± 0.78 kg respectively. Apgar score in 1 minute was 6.89 ± 3.27, while in the 5th minute was 7.95 ± 3.42. Majority of the patients were multiparous and booked for antenatal care in the facility. Most of the preterm labour started spontaneously and were delivered vaginally. The caesarean section rate in this study was 35.5%. Fetal distress and preeclampsia/eclampsia were the commonest indications for caesarean section. The male to female ratio was 1.1:1. Nearly half of the neonates were born with normal birth weight and 427 (68.5%) were alive at discharge. However, 196 (31.5%) suffered early neonatal death due to prematurity. Maternal parity, booking status and fetal weight were significant determinants of fetal outcome with a p-value 0.05. Conclusion: Birth weight was the most important determinant of neonatal survival and the unbooked patient was an important determinant of poor outcome. Booking for antenatal care and ensuring optimal weight at delivery would go a long way at reducing the poor neonatal outcome associated with preterm delivery.
文摘Background: Cannabis can be associated with short-term and long-term adverse effects such as psychotic states, risk of dependence, provoking relapse and aggravating existing psychotic symptoms. Aim: The current study is a descriptive cross-sectional hospital based study that aims to identify the prevalence and correlates of cannabis use among patients with mental illness. Methods: The study was conducted in two outpatient psychiatry clinics in Khartoum (Sudan). The sample size was 348 consecutive patients over 2 months’ study period. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were documented. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data variables, and tabulated tables were used to calculate chi-square test for categorical data and the significance was set at p Results: A total of 96 participants (27.6%) had history of cannabis abuse;all of them were male patients. The majority (51%) started to use cannabis between 10 - 19 years of age, and most of them (86.6%) had a duration of less than five years of using cannabis. Psychiatric symptoms occurred after starting cannabis use in 17.7% of cases. We found a statistically significant difference related to age when comparing the age of cannabis users and non-users (p = 0.0239). The majority of patients with comorbid mental illness and cannabis abuse (89.5%) were below the age of 40 years. There was also statistically significant association between educational level achieved and history of using cannabis (p = 0.00001). Those with history of cannabis are more likely to be manual laborers (46.9%), and those with no history of cannabis were mostly unemployed (44%), indicating significant influence of employment history (p = 0.0064). The relation between using cannabis and the clinical psychiatric diagnosis was not statically significant (p = 0.125). Conclusion: Cannabis use is highly prevalent among people with mental illness. It is related to age, educational level and type of work.
文摘This article documents socio-demographic predictors of anxiety and depression among Maasai women in resource poor settings in Northern Kenya.These findings emerged from the findings of a dissertation research that aimed to establish the treatment effectiveness of an eclectic model of psychoeducation(PE)in treating depressive and anxiety symptoms among the women.The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design which had an experimental group(EG)and control group(CG).The population for the study was 686 female members of Conservation Enterprise Groups(CEG)in Laikipia County,from which a sample of 200 were recruited for the study(EG,n=100 and CG,n=100),at 80%power and 30%effective size.The Beck’s Depression Inventory(BDI)and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory(BAI)tools were used to assess the symptoms of depression and anxiety,respectively.The PE was provided as an intervention treatment to the EG at the middle and end of the study,after which the respondents were tested for symptoms of depression.The study established the prevalence of depression as 26.7%and 31.3%for anxiety and disorders,among women in the region.Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 21.0.
文摘Background: Despite improvements in antenatal and intrapartum care, stillbirth still remains an important, largely understudied and pregnant problem in obstetrics. Most of the stillbirths occur in the developing world and the majority of stillbirths are preventable. Objective: To determine the stillbirth rate, the identifiable risk factors and sociodemographic factors associated with stillbirths. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of all deliveries conducted at UATH over a five-year period spanning from the January 2012 to December 2016. In this study, stillbirths were considered as foetal death at or after 28 weeks of gestation or a birth weight of 1000 g or more. The folders of cases that met the definition of stillbirth within the study period were retrieved and analyzed for sociodemographic factors, type of stillbirth, fetomaternal determinants of stillbirths and presumptive/identifiable risk factors for the stillbirth. Results: There were a total of 5714 deliveries within the period under review, of which 288 resulted in stillbirths giving an institutional stillbirth rate of 50.4/1000 deliveries. Out of the 288 stillbirths, 136 (47.2%) were fresh stillbirths while 152 (52.8%) were macerated. Macerated stillbirth (152, 52.8%) was slightly predominant, with obstructed labour 94 (32.6%) being responsible for most of the stillbirths. Most of the stillbirths were preterm (183, 63.5%). There were 6 congenitally malformed stillbirth foetuses and no autopsy was carried out on any of the 288 stillborn. However, majority of the parturients who had stillbirth were unemployed (137, 47.6%) and uneducated (110, 38.2%). Conclusion: The stillbirth rate within the study period appears. Complications of labour seem to be the leading risk factor for stillbirth in this study. Low socioeconomic status underscores the need to reduce factors related to social, educational, occupational and healthy inequalities in the developing world.
文摘Aim: To describe the socio-demographic profile of the participants and the ocular pathologies seen during a 3-day free eye screening and cataract surgical camp, to identify the groups we need to create awareness to, and to improve access in subsequent outreaches. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 552 participants that attended a cataract surgical outreach camp in New Karu Local Government Area (L.G.A.), Nasarawa State from 10<sup>th</sup> to 14<sup>th</sup> September 2013. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 using descriptive analysis such as frequencies and cross-tabulation. P Results: Six hundred and sixty-six people registered and 552 were examined comprising of 205 males and 347 females. The majority (81.7%) were younger than 60 years old, accounting for 4.5 times more than those older than 60. Females were in the majority (63%). Amongst those older than 60 years, males were slightly higher as compared to those younger than 60 years, where females were twice as much. Most of the participants (71.3%) reside within the L.G.A. Amongst those that reside within the L.G.A., females were twice the men and there was a fairly even distribution of both sexes amongst those that reside outside the L.G.A. The majority of the screened participants (41%) required presbyopic correction. Cataract was the second commonest ocular pathology (22.6%) and 53 (9.6%) participants with VA ≤ 6/60 were offered the free cataract surgery. Conclusion: There was an increase in female participation and those younger than 60 years. Amongst those younger than 60 years and those that reside within New Karu L.G.A., female participation was twice as much as males. When the barrier of distance is eliminated, it increases female participation.
