The Epidemiology of Māori Suicide in Aotearoa/New Zealand

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Coupe

AbstractSuicide is a Māori Public Health Issue. Suicide rates in Aotearoa/New Zealand are amongst the highest in OECD countries in the 15-24 year age group and second only to Hungary in other age groups (WHO, 1996; Disley & Coggan, 1996). Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people under the age of 25 years in Aotearoa/New Zealand and a major public health problem (Coggan, 1997). Approximatel, 540 New Zealanders kill themselves each year (Rose, Hatcher, & Koelmeyer, 1999). The total Māori suicide rate (per 100 000) increased to 17.5 in 1997, compared to non-Māori (13.1), and the Māori youth suicide rate (33.9) far exceeded the equivalent non-Māori rate (24.3), reflecting the disparity between Māori and non-Māori (Ministry of Health, 1997). This paper aims to present epidemiological data on Māori suicide and then use the existing literature to discuss possible reasons for the high Māori rate.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sashimali Wickramasinghe ◽  
Nalika Gunawardena ◽  
Dhanusha Punyadasa ◽  
Shanthi Gunawardena ◽  
Champika Wickramasinghe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Unintentional injuries among adolescents is a major public health problem the world over. A great majority of the annual deaths among adolescents is due to unintentional injuries; it is also the leading cause of death among adolescents in the world. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of injuries and their associated factors among school going adolescents aged 13-17 years using data from the most recent Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in Sri Lanka. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire, among 3,262 adolescents attending government schools. The sample was selected through a two-staged cluster sampling technique. In the first stage, 40 schools were selected using probabilities proportional to school enrollment size, from all schools in the country that have classes in grades 8-12 . Then, from the selected schools, classes were selected using systematic equal probability sampling with a random start. The weighted prevalence was calculated, and logistic regression analysis was conducted in order to determine the correlates. Results During the 12 months before the survey, 35.8% (95% CI-30.7 - 41.1) of the students reported being seriously injured one or more times. The injuries were more common among males, but were equally common among the two different age groups (13-15 age group vs 16-17 age group). The most common type of injury was cut or stab wounds (5.5%), followed by broken bones/dislocated joints (5.3%). Multivariable analysis revealed that only a few factors were associated with injury, such as being of the male sex, being bullied, being physically attacked, and/or being in a physical fight. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the prevalence of serious unintentional injuries among school going adolescents is a major public health problem in Sri Lanka. This timely and comprehensive survey would help policy makers and researchers identify the unmet needs related to adolescent injuries. Furthermore, evidence generated form the study should be given due consideration when designing school-based interventions to prevent adolescent injuries.


Author(s):  
Rishabh Gupta ◽  
Shavi Mahajan ◽  
Deepika Dewan ◽  
Rajat Gupta

Background: Osteoporosis is a major public health problem, associated with substantial morbidity and socio-economic burden. The objective of the present study was to screen the general population for osteoporosis in a rural area of Jammu region. Methods: 3 screening camps were conducted at 6 monthly intervals between the time period 2015-2016, at the Accidental Hospital, Chowki Choura, which is a rural area of district Jammu, J&K. A total of 270 subjects in the age group 20 to 80 years were subjected to screening through BMD measurements using calcaneal QUS and they were analyzed on the basis of T-scores. Results: Out of 270 subjects, 120 were males and 150 were females. Among 120 males, 68 were in the age group of 20 - 49 years, and 52 were above 50 years. In the age group 20-49 years, 26 males (38.2%) had osteopenia, and 4 (5.9%) had osteoporosis. In males above 50 years of age, 35 (67.3%) had osteopenia and 6 (11.5%) had osteoporosis. Out of 150 females, 94 were in the age groups 20-49 years, and 56 were above 50 years of age. In the age group 20-49 years, 51 females (54.3%) had osteopenia and 12 (12.8%) had osteoporosis. In females above 50 years of age, 32 (57.1%) had osteopenia and 15 (26.8%) had osteoporosis. Conclusions: The overall prevalence of osteoporosis among screened population was 13.7%. It increased with age in both males and females; however the prevalence of osteoporosis was more among females as compared to males (18% vs. 8.3% respectively). 


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-10
Author(s):  
Hira Ejaz ◽  
Nirmal Walicha ◽  
Saba Rizwan ◽  
Sadaf Javeria ◽  
Sana Iqbal ◽  
...  

Background: Malnutrition continues to be a major public health problem in developing and underdeveloped countries. The objectives of the study were to determine the determinants of nutritional status of under 5 years children in our population. Materials & Methods: This analytical cross sectional study was conducted by the Department of Public Health, Islamabad, Federal College, Islamabad, from November 2016 to March 2017. Sample size was 200 selected by convenient sampling. Demographic variables were sex, age-groups, socio-economics status, family structure. Research variable was nutritional status. The data collection was done in urban slums of Islamabad on a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS software. Results: Out of 200 children, 117(58.5%) were boys and 83(41.5 %) were girls. One hundred (50%) children were of 6 to 24 months and 100(50%) were of 25 to 59 months of age. Eighty three (41.5%) were rich and 117(58.5%) were poor. One hundred and fifty eight (79%) children were from joint family system and 42(21%) were living in nuclear family system were children. One hundred and fifty one (75.50%) were normal, 39(19.50%) were mild and 10(5%) were having severe malnutrition. Conclusion: Except age all the other factors including sex, socio-economics status and family structure were associated with nutritional status of under 5 year children.


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-280
Author(s):  
A. Dudlová ◽  
P. Juriš ◽  
P. Jarčuška ◽  
Z. Vasilková ◽  
V. Vargová ◽  
...  

Abstract Helminth infections caused by Enterobius vermicularis have a cosmopolitan character and most often affect the paediatric pre-school and school age population. The presented study was conducted to determine the prevalence of E. vermicularis in the analyzed population of children in the Eastern Slovakia. The Graham’s scotch tape method was used to investigate the presence of Enterobius vermicularis eggs in 390 specimens. The analyzed set consisted of 218 girls and 172 boys, divided by age into three groups - aged from 5 months to 2 years, aged from 3 to 6 years, and aged from 7 to 15 years. Investigation of perianal scotch tapes of children for the presence of E. vermicularis eggs revealed the prevalence of E. vermicularis was P = 3.59 %. Depending on the incidence of E. vermicularis infection, we detected no statistically signifi cant difference (p> 0.05). The prevalence of E. vermicularis in boys was P = 4.07 %, and in girls P = 3.21 %. The highest prevalence of E. vermicularis was recorded in the group of children aged from 3 to 6 years (P = 5.03 %). Most of the samples were positive at age 4 and 5. The lowest prevalence was in the group of children aged from 5 months to 2 years (P = 0.97 %), and the prevalence of E. vermicularis in the group of children aged from 7 to 15 was P = 3.91 %. The difference in the incidence of E. vermicularis infection among different age groups of children was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). Enterobius vermicularis nematode infection and enterobiasis currently represents a major public health problem in Slovakia. At the present its occurrence is the most frequent in the paediatric population. Therefore it is important to introduce a targeted hygienic-epidemiological measure in children’s collectives, what also should include proper and effective diagnostics and frequent recurrent therapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 1067
Author(s):  
Ranganatha A. Devaranavadagi ◽  
Srinivasa S.

Background: Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi. It is a major public health problem in India. Typhoid fever is endemic in many developing countries. Wide variations in the clinical manifestations of typhoid fever make its diagnosis a challenging task. This study was conducted to understand the wide range of clinical manifestations, complications and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of typhoid fever in children.Methods:Prospectively, 113 children admitted in pediatric unit with confirmed Typhoid fever from September 2015 to December 2016 at KIMS hospital, Bangalore were included. In each case, age, sex, presenting complaint, laboratory investigations and antibiotic sensitivity pattern are collected and analysed.Results: Out of 113 cases, 72 cases (63.8.1%) were males, 41 cases (36.2%) were females. The most common age group was 5-10 years. The most common symptom was fever, seen in 100% cases, followed by anorexia (61%), vomiting (44%) and abdominal pain (18%). The most common sign observed was toxic look in 68% of the cases, followed by coated tongue in 49% and hepatomegaly in 44%. Leucocytopenia was found in 34% of cases. Eosinopenia was found in 39% of cases. Anaemia was found in 16% of cases. Thrombocytopenia was found in 15% of cases. Blood culture was positive in 20% of cases. Use of municipal water for drinking was found in 65% of cases. Outside eating was found in 40% of cases. Unhygienic practices were found in 64% of cases. Duration of hospital stay varied from 3-10 days. No mortality reported.Conclusions:Typhoid fever is most commonly observed with unhygienic practices and eating of unhealthy outside food. This major public health issue can be tackled by bringing awareness among people regarding disease transmission and its various preventive measures. 


2021 ◽  
pp. 127-129
Author(s):  
Fabian Danilo Unigarro Ramirez ◽  
Modesto Leite Rolim Neto

Introduction: The increase of violence against children is characterized as a serious public health problem.  The media has continuously reported cases of: rape perpetrated against children, increased violence against this age group and alarming epidemiological data resulting from the isolation of the pandemic by SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Studies were identified using large-circulation international journals found in two electronic databases: Scopus and Embase. Results: Cases of harassment, rape, manipulation of the child's genitals, oral, anal or genital penetration, pedophilia, exploitation, dissemination of erotic images of children in social networks, exhibitionism, masturbation, Voyeurism and incestuous abuse are classified as child sexual abuse. The numbers of legal abortions in child and adolescent victims of rape tends to increase a 100% taking into account the in the first cases of 2020. Conclusion: discussions for the implementation of public policies and healthcare for children victims of sexual abuse are important for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration into the society, considering all the sequel that this vulnerable group acquires after the crime.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Coronel-Martínez ◽  
Luis Augusto Moya-Barquín

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) disproportionately affect young people, with more than half of the infections occurring in 15- to 25-year-olds, although as an age group they constitute only 25% of the sexually active population. Adolescents have been considered as a key and vulnerable population; adolescents are considered as marginalized populations (i.e., poor access to adequate health services, social and parental acceptance, stigmatization, among others. Every year, 87 million new cases of gonorrhea are reported worldwide in the population from 15 to 49 years old. In 2016, the estimated global prevalence of CT in 15-to 49-year-old women was 3.8% and in men 2.7%, with regional values ranging from 1.5 to 7.0% in women and 1.2 to 4.0% in men. The worldwide prevalence of HSV-2 among 15–49-year old is 11.3% and for HSV-1 among 0–49-year-old is 67%. These numbers alert us about the increase in the frequency of these diseases among young populations; more open sexual behavior could be an important factor for this increase; the treatment of these diseases is challenging due to the difficulties with detection and treatment; in the case of gonorrhea, it could become a major public health problem due to the emerging antimicrobial resistance; in the case of Chlamydia, despite the effective treatment, reinfection is still a possibility and for genital herpes, the disease can be controlled but not cured. This chapter will describe the most important aspects of these three diseases for supporting the clinicians and researchers about the management of sexually transmitted diseases in the adolescent population.


2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bocar Kouyaté ◽  
Victor Nana

Malaria is a major public health problem in Burkina Faso. Statistics from health facilities in 2006 show that 40.1 percent of medical consultations, 53.4 percent of hospital admissions, and 45.8 percent of deaths are malaria related (2). Malaria among children under 5 years of age accounted for 46 percent of all cases in 2004, 49 percent in 2005 and 48 percent in 2006. In the same age group, malaria was the cause of 66.4 percent of deaths in 2004, 62.0 percent in 2005 and 62.7 percent in 2006.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Miltenovic ◽  
M Vujetic

Abstract Background Suicides fall in violent deaths and more recently have shown an increasing trend in developed and developing countries. This is a major public health problem that could and should be prevented. Unfortunately, it is among the top twenty leading causes of death worldwide. This public health problem exists in Belgrade and Serbia, as well. Methods An analysis of death certificates shows an insight into the causes of death of inhabitants of Belgrade. The paper presents data from the Database of deceased persons in Belgrade, for the period 2009- 2018. Data are analyzed using frequencies and incidence rates by sex, age groups, month of death, day of death, and municipality of residence of deceased. Results In Belgrade, from 2009 to 2018 the incidence rate of suicides is decreasing. The standardized suicide rate was highest in 2009 (12/100.000). Men often committed suicides at all observed years, and the rates are usually higher as in women. The highest number of suicides occur in April, July and June and observing days within a week Wednesday and Tuesday lead. The average age of men who committed suicide was 57 years and women 59.5 years. The most common method of carrying out the suicide was 'by hanging, strangulation and suffocation' (X70 according to ICD-10) and frequency was 45.2%. Conclusions The incidence rate of suicides at Belgrade territory shows the trend of decline in the observed period, between 2009 and 2018. Besides that, other attributes indicate that age-sex-manner of suicides could be changed, as for being targeted for prevention. Preventing suicides is a new challenge for public health and all public sectors have to be involved in prevention. Considering ageing of a population, migration and other negative demographic trends in Belgrade and Serbia, it is necessary to raise our competencies in inhibition of these unfortunate events. Key messages Preventing suicides is a challenge for public health. It is necessary to raise competencies in order to prevent suicides.


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