scholarly journals Cannabis use and suicide attempts among 86,254 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 21 low- and middle-income countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre F. Carvalho ◽  
Brendon Stubbs ◽  
Davy Vancampfort ◽  
Stefan Kloiber ◽  
Michael Maes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
School Based ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Low And Middle Income

AbstractBackground: Evidence suggests that cannabis use may be associated with suicidality in adolescence. Nevertheless, very few studies have assessed this association in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this cross-sectional survey, we investigated the association of cannabis use and suicidal attempts in adolescents from 21 LMICs, adjusting for potential confounders.Method: Data from the Global school-based Student Health Survey was analyzed in 86,254 adolescents from 21 countries [mean (SD) age = 13.7 (0.9) years; 49.0% girls]. Suicide attempts during past year and cannabis during past month and lifetime were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted.Results: The overall prevalence of past 30-day cannabis use was 2.8% and the age-sex adjusted prevalence varied from 0.5% (Laos) to 37.6% (Samoa), while the overall prevalence of lifetime cannabis use was 3.9% (range 0.5%–44.9%). The overall prevalence of suicide attempts during the past year was 10.5%. Following multivariable adjustment to potential confounding variables, past 30-day cannabis use was significantly associated with suicide attempts (OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.42–2.91). Lifetime cannabis use was also independently associated with suicide attempts (OR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.74–3.04).Conclusion: Our data indicate that cannabis use is associated with a greater likelihood for suicide attempts in adolescents living in LMICs. The causality of this association should be confirmed/refuted in prospective studies to further inform public health policies for suicide prevention in LMICs.

scholarly journals Gaps in Capacity in Primary Care in Low-Resource Settings for Implementation of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mendis ◽  
Igbal Al Bashir ◽  
Lanka Dissanayake ◽  
Cherian Varghese ◽  
Ibtihal Fadhil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Health Financing ◽  
Noncommunicable Disease ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Objective.The objective was to evaluate the capacity of primary care (PC) facilities to implement basic interventions for prevention and management of major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.Methods.A cross-sectional survey was done in eight low- and middle-income countries (Benin, Bhutan, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, and Vietnam) in 90 PC facilities randomly selected. The survey included questions on the availability of human resources, equipment, infrastructure, medicines, utilization of services, financing, medical information, and referral systems.Results and Conclusions.Major deficits were identified in health financing, access to basic technologies and medicines, medical information systems, and the health workforce. The study has provided the foundation for strengthening PC to address noncommunicable diseases. There are important implications of the findings of this study for all low- and middle-income countries as capacity of PC is fundamental for equitable prevention and control of NCDs.

scholarly journals Active School Travel Is Associated with Fewer Suicide Attempts Among 127, 097 Adolescents Aged 13 to 17 Years from 34 Low-and Middle-Income Countries

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si-Tong Chen ◽  
Qian Yu ◽  
Brendon Stubbs ◽  
Cain Clark ◽  
Zhihao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factor ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
School Travel ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
School Based ◽  
Active School Travel ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Subjects: This study explored the association between active school travel (AST) and suicide attempts among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: We used the data from the Global School-based Health Survey, including 127, 097 adolescents aged 13-17 years from 34 LMICs. A self-reported survey was used to collect data on AST and suicide attempts as well as some key control variables. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between AST and suicide attempts. A meta-analysis with random effects was undertaken to identify the difference in the association between AST and suicide attempts. Results: Across all the adolescents, the prevalence of AST was 37.0% (at least five times a week) and the prevalence of suicide attempts was 11.6% (at least once in the past 12 months). Adolescents who engaged in AST were less likely to have suicide attempts (OR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.75-0.90) irrespective of gender (boys: OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.64-0.90; girls: OR = 0.87, 0.78-0.98). The country-wise analysis indicated a large inconsistency in the association between AST and suicide attempt across the countries (I2 = 63%, p < 0.01). Conclusions: AST would appear to be a protective factor for reducing suicide attempts among adolescents in LMICs. However, the association between AST and suicide attempts varied greatly across the countries. Future studies should confirm or negate the association between AST and suicide attempts. When designing interventions aimed at preventing suicide attempts for adolescents, country-specific factors should be taken into consideration.

scholarly journals Active School Travel is Associated With Fewer Suicide Attempts Among 127, 097 Adolescents Aged 13 to 17 Years From 34 Low-and Middle-income Countries

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si-Tong Chen ◽  
Qian Yu ◽  
Brendon Stubbs ◽  
Cain Clark ◽  
Zhihao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factor ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
School Travel ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
School Based ◽  
Active School Travel ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background. This study explored the association between active school travel (AST) and suicide attempts among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. Methods. We used the data from the Global School-based Health Survey, including 127, 097 adolescents aged 13-17 years from 34 LMICs. A self-reported survey was used to collect data on AST and suicide attempts as well as some key control variables. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between AST and suicide attempts. A meta-analysis with random effects was undertaken to identify the difference in the association between AST and suicide attempts. Results. Across all the adolescents, the prevalence of AST was 37.0% and the prevalence of suicide attempts was 11.6%. Adolescents who engaged in AST were less likely to have suicide attempts irrespective of gender. The country-wise analysis indicated a large inconsistency in the association between AST and suicide attempt across the countries. Conclusions. AST would appear to be a protective factor for reducing suicide attempts among adolescents in LMICs. However, the association between AST and suicide attempts varied greatly across the countries. Future studies should confirm or negate the association between AST and suicide attempts.

scholarly journals Anthropometrical measurements and maternal visceral fat during first half of pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Cortez Kretzer ◽  
Salete Matos ◽  
Lisia Von Diemen ◽  
José Antônio de Azevedo Magalhães ◽  
Alexandre da Silva Rocha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Anthropometric Measurements ◽  
Reliable Estimate ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Visceral Adipose ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Prenatal care is fundamental for achieving good results in the outcome of pregnancy, however, the coverage in Brazil is still low. In the impossibility of pre-gestational weight measure and subsequent body mass index (BMI) values, the others anthropometric measurements are useful and may be ideal for measuring the nutritional status of pregnant women, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess the anthropometrical measurements during pregnancy and compared it to maternal ultrasound visceral adipose tissue.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with pregnant women from the city of Porto Alegre (city), capital of Rio Grande do Sul (state), southern Brazil, from October 2016 until January 2018. Anthropometrical variables (weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), circumferences of calf and neck and triceps skin folds – TSF and subscapular skin folds – SBSF), and ultrasound variables (visceral adipose tissue – VAT and total adipose tissue – TAT) were collected. To verify the correlation of anthropometric and ultrasound measurements, non-adjusted and adjusted Spearman correlation was used. The study was approved by the ethics committees.Results Among the 149 pregnant women, 54.8% (n=80) were white race. The age median was 25 years [21 - 31], pre-pregnancy BMI was 26.22kg/m 2 [22.16 – 31.21] and gestational age was 16.2 weeks [13.05 – 18.10]. The best measurements correlated with VAT and TAT were MUAC and SBSF, being anthropometric measurements with a higher correlation than pre-pregnancy BMI.Conclusion It is possible to provide a practical and reliable estimate of VAT and TAT from anthropometric evaluation (MUAC or SBSF) that is low cost, efficient and replicable in outpatient clinic environment, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

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