scholarly journals The association between informal caregiving and behavioral risk factors: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 911-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Gottschalk ◽  
Hans-Helmut König ◽  
Christian Brettschneider

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to compare informal caregivers/dementia caregivers to non-caregivers regarding alcohol consumption, smoking behavior, obesity, and insufficient physical activity and to identify caregiving-related factors (caregiving intensity, length of caregiving, relationship to the care recipient, and type of caregiving task) which are associated with behavioral risk factors in caregivers/dementia caregivers. Methods Using cross-sectional data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we performed the statistical analyses applying logistic regression models and accounted for confounding using the entropy balancing approach. Results For caregivers (n = 12,044), the odds of overweight/obesity and smoking were higher (OR = 1.14/1.34, p < 0.05) and the odds of binge drinking and insufficient physical activity were lower (OR = 0.86/0.83, p < 0.05) than for non-caregivers (n = 45,925). For dementia caregivers, results point in the same direction. Caregiving-related variables tend to influence the likelihood of behavioral risk factors, but depending on the kind of factor considered, in different directions. Conclusions Being a caregiver is associated with risky and health-promoting behavior. However, the effects are relatively low. Future studies should study potential pathways between caregiving characteristics, psychological impacts of caregiving, health behavior, and mental or physical health.

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 119-122
Author(s):  
Rajib Mondal ◽  
Rajib Chandra Sarker ◽  
Palash Chandra Banik

Background and aims: Behavioral risk factors of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are established during early age and continued into adulthood. In Bangladesh, the scenario of NCD risk factors among students was inadequately studied. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the prevalence of behavioral risk factors of NCDs between undergraduate medical and nonmedical students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 undergraduate students (equal number of students from medical and nonmedical backgrounds). Respondents were selected purposively from 5 purposively-selected institutions. Modified WHO STEPS instrument was used for data collection. Respondents were asked about their behavioral risk factors (tobacco use, insufficient fruit and vegetable intake, inadequate physical activity, and alcohol consumption) by face-to-face interviews. Results: Men students were more in both groups. The mean age of the medical and nonmedical students was 22.1±2.0 and 21.8±1.9 years, respectively. Tobacco use was more among nonmedical students than that among the counterpart (22.1% vs. 15.7%). Medical students were more used to take insufficient fruits and vegetables compared to nonmedical students (97.9% vs. 93.6%). Equal proportions (71.4%) of students in both groups were used to perform inadequate physical activity. Alcohol consumption was observed more among nonmedical students (12.9% vs. 8.6%). Conclusion: Behavioral risk factors of NCDs were remarkable among students of both groups, mainly among nonmedical students.


Author(s):  
Rufia Shaistha Khanum ◽  
D. Sunil Kumar ◽  
Satendra Kumar Verma ◽  
M. R. Narayanmurthy

Background: Cancer has affected humans since pre-historic times, but in recent years its occurrence has sharply increased. The common causative factors are an individual’s diet, decreasing physical activity, consumption of tobacco and alcohol. Cancer deaths are increasingly popular as the world is ignorant of its harmful lifestyle habits. Interventions focusing on behavior change are key to curb diseases caused by behavioral risk factors. The aim of the study was to identify the association between multiple behavioral risk factors and cancer in rural women.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bharat hospital and Institute of oncology for a period of 5 months (February 2021-June 2021). A total of 380 rural women diagnosed with cancer were included in the study. A structured proforma was used to collect data about behavioral risk factors. The data was coded and entered in MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistical analysis was done. Crosstables were constructed, Chi square test was done to find the association of behavioral risk factors causing cancer.Results: Significant association was found between the frequency of dairy products intake/week, frequency of fruits intake/week, frequency of vegetable intake/week, frequency of sweets intake/week, the frequency of tea, coffee consumption/day, frequency of smoking/week, frequency of snuff, sun protection practices and various cancers.Conclusions: Multiple behavioral risk factors like diet, physical activity, tobacco consumption, alcohol use, sun exposure, etc., are can be modified and treated. Proper education and health promotion are the keys to decrease non-communicable diseases.


2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1750-1767 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.S. Onésimo Sandoval ◽  
Jenine K. Harris ◽  
Joel P. Jennings ◽  
Leslie Hinyard ◽  
Gina Banks

Author(s):  
Poonam Banga ◽  
Tarundeep Singh ◽  
Rajesh Kumar

Background: Habits get established during the transitional age of adolescence making it important to conduct surveillance to detect high risk behaviours at an early age. Feasibility of such a surveillance system was tested for monitoring the risk factors in schools.Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in randomly selected schools of Chandigarh in India, by enrolling 226 students of class V to XII. A pretested structured questionnaire on dietary pattern, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol consumption, drug abuse, mental health, sexual behaviour etc., was administered after ensuring privacy and confidentiality.Results: A total of 226 students with a mean age of 14years (range 10 to 19years) participated in the study. The prevalence of tobacco use was 8%, alcohol consumption was 3%, and drug abuse was 4%. About 47% were involved in a physical fight. Around 7% students were overweight. About 50% of the students skipped breakfast during previous week, and 6% had no intake of fruits and vegetables in last one month. Only 53% reported consistent use of seat belts.Conclusions: Several behavioral risk factors were prevalent among school children in Chandigarh. Behaviour surveillance to monitor trends should be conducted at regular intervals.


Author(s):  
Henrique Diório de Souza ◽  
Rossana Pulcinelli Vieira Francisco ◽  
Eliane Azeka Hase ◽  
Giselle Rodrigues Mota Diório ◽  
Adriana Lippi Waissman ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
K Adhikari ◽  
MR Adak

Introduction: Cardiovascular and other chronic diseases are becoming the major causes of morbidity and mortality in most of the third world countries, including Nepal. Unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and consumption of tobacco, alcohol, drugs etc. are major global determinants of non-communicable diseases and contribute to the excess death and disability among the poor in terms of mortality. This study was done to estimate the prevalence of behavioral risk factors of NCDs among adolescent. Methods: A cross sectional study based on WHO stepwise approach for surveillance of Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs) risk factors was conducted in Chitwan District to assess the risk factors of NCDs. Information was collected on substance abuse, dietary habits and physical activity through personal interview. Results: A bout 50% male and 30% female respondents were currently abusing one or other forms of substance. Male (39%) and female (26%) were using tobacco products. It was found that only 14% of respondents were doing satisfactory level of physical activities. Conclusions: Substantially high levels of the various behavioral risk factors among adolescents in Chitwan District suggest an urgent need for awareness raising programmes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/joim.v34i3.8916 Journal of Institute of Medicine, December, 2012; 34:39-43  


Author(s):  
Evangeline Mary A. ◽  
Seenivasan P. ◽  
Shibiyeswanth R. I. ◽  
Prakash V. ◽  
Solaimuthurajagopal S. ◽  
...  

Background: Lifestyle diseases are now the major causes of premature morbidity, mortality, and economic loss in developed and developing countries, including the younger age groups.The four major preventable behavioral risk factors are tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol. Life of adolescents is a transitional period, offering them good opportunities for establishing health-promoting lifestyles. This study is done to assess the prevalence of behavioral risk factors for lifestyle diseases of college going adolescents of Chennai. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 483 randomly selected undergraduate students from randomly selected colleges in Chennai between March and September 2016 by two stage stratified sampling method using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was fed into excel sheet and Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was done using SPSS v.21 package. Results: The participants were between 17 and 20 years. They belonged to professional and non professional colleges. 78% students had unhealthy lifestyle habits. All the participants had at least one risk factor in them. The awareness on the risk factors was significantly less among non professional students, but they had significantly better behavioural habits than the professional students. Boys had significantly better habits than girls and students who were overweight significantly had unhealthy lifestyle habits. Conclusions: The study reflects the poor lifestyle habits of all college-aged individuals, which can be effectively improved by health education and behaviour change communication. 


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