scholarly journals Time trends of socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent smoking in Okinawa, Japan, 2008–2016: a repeated cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Minoru Takakura ◽  
Masaya Miyagi ◽  
Akira Kyan

Abstract Background Smoking among Japanese adolescents has decreased noticeably. However, little is known whether the decreasing trend in adolescent smoking can be seen across all socioeconomic status (SES) groups. This study aimed to examine trends in socioeconomic inequalities in smoking among Japanese adolescents between 2008 and 2016. Methods We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study using data from three surveys of high school students in Okinawa, Japan, in 2008, 2012, and 2016. The study participants consisted of 7902 students in grades 10 through 12 (15–18 years). Smoking was assessed as current cigarette use. SES indicators included familial SES (parental education and family structure) and student’s own SES (school type). To evaluate absolute and relative inequalities, prevalence differences (PDs) and ratios (PRs) between low and high SES groups were estimated. The slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) were also calculated. Results Smoking prevalence among boys and girls significantly declined from 11.5% and 6.2% in 2008 to 4.7% and 1.9% in 2016, respectively. Similar decreasing trends in smoking were found among most of the SES groups. The PDs and SII for parental education in boys and family structure in girls decreased over time while those for school type persisted among boys and girls. The PRs and RII for school type in boys increased while those for other SES indicators among both sexes remained stable over time. Conclusions Smoking among Japanese adolescents has been declining and time trends of socioeconomic inequalities in smoking varied by absolute and relative measures. Further policies and/or interventions to reduce smoking inequalities should focus on the context of schools, especially in vocational high schools.

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e042908
Author(s):  
Tingting Zhang ◽  
Jialan Hong ◽  
Xueting Yu ◽  
Qiulin Liu ◽  
Andi Li ◽  
...  

ObjectivesSocioeconomic inequalities in oral health are often neglected in oral health promotion. This cross-sectional study assessed the association between dental caries and socioeconomic status (SES) among preschool children in China.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingData from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey of China (2015), comprising of 40 360 children aged 3–5 years was used.MethodsDental caries indicators including prevalence of dental caries, dental pain experience and number of decayed, missing and filling teeth (dmft). SES indicators included parental education and household income. The associations between SES and dental caries were analysed by using negative binomial regression or Poisson regression models according to data distribution. Relative and absolute inequalities in dental caries were quantified by using the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) and Slope Index of Inequality (SII), respectively.ResultsThere were significant associations between SES and prevalence of dental caries and dmft (p<0.001). Children from lower educated (RII 1.36, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.43; SII 0.97, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.13) and lower household income (RII 1.17, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.24; SII 0.55, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.75) families had higher dmft than those from well-educated and most affluent families. Relative and absolute inequalities in dental caries were larger in urban areas by household income, and in rural areas by parental education.ConclusionsAssociation between dental caries and SES was demonstrated and socioeconomic inequalities in dental caries existed among Chinese preschool children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. e31.1-e31
Author(s):  
T Samuel ◽  
K Aquilina ◽  
W Dawes

ObjectivesTo investigate the current understanding parents have of concussion in their rugby-playing children aged 9–17.DesignCross-sectional studySubjects86 parents from four clubs completed an online questionnaireMethodsAreas covered (1) Parental experience of concussion (2) Rate of viewing of the RFU concussion educational video (RFUCEV), (3) Identification of symptoms of concussion (4) Understanding of the risk of concussion. Each participant was given a composite score, out of 19, based on their performance in symptom identification and true/false questions. Independent-sample two-tailed t-tests were conducted to analyse scores, primarily controlling for viewing of the RFUCEVResultsThere was a significant difference in the scores between the group that had viewed the RFUCEV (n=32, M=14.75, SD=2.55) and those who had not (n=54, M=13.05, SD=2.87); t(84)=2.75, p=0.00721. Additionally, over 25% of parents reported that their child had suffered a concussion, and this was also found to significantly improve the awareness score (p=0.04678)ConclusionsStatistically significant improvement in composite scores after viewing the RFUCEV makes it reasonable to require compulsory parental education prior to signing up a child to play rugby. This would build on the protocol changes made by the RFU in 2014 and further progress the safety of the sport. We suggest the video be improved to emphasise the areas highlighted as inadequately understood, including the increased risk of concussion in under-18s compared to adults.


2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 160
Author(s):  
Hartono Gunardi ◽  
Adra Firmansyah ◽  
Sri Rezeki S Harun ◽  
Sudigdo Sastroasmoro

Backgi-ound Hepatitis B (HB) has been classified as moderate-tohighlyendemic in Indonesia. HB vaccination, the most effectivemethod to prevent HB viral transmission, induces protectiveantibodies against HB surface antigen (anti-HBs). However, theseantibodies decline in titer over time. Studies on the duration ofprotection and the prevalence of n on-responders in Indonesianadolescents have been limited.Objectives To determine anti-HBs titers in 15-17-year oldIndonesian adolescents given primary HB vaccine during infancyand the prevalence of non-responders after a HB vaccine boosterdosage.Methods This cross-sectional study was performed from Februaryto September 2008 on adolescents aged 15-17 years in threesenior high schools in Jakarta who received complete primary HBvaccines during infancy, based on parents' recall. Investigationsincluded HB vaccination history, anthropometric measurements,and blood tests for anti-HBs before and 4-6 weeks after a boosterdose ofHB vaccine.Results Of 94 subjects, 35 had protective anti-HBs and 59 hadundetectable anti-HBs. A booster dose was administered to 5 8 of then on-protected subjects, of which 33 showed anamnestic responses.However, 25 subjects failed to generate protective anti-HBs. Takinginto consideration the adolescents with protective anti-HBs beforeand after the booster dose, serologic protection was demonstratedin 73%. Non-responder prevalence was 27%. The high prevalenceof non-responders may indicate bias of parents' recall.Conclusion Protective anti-HBs is detected in less than half ofIndonesian adolescents given primary HB vaccine during infancy.Following booster dosage, anamnestic responses are n oted in onethirdof subjects. The prevalence of non-responders is 27%, butconfirmation with further study is needed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. e12827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fereshteh Salarvand ◽  
Zahra Fatehi ◽  
Maryam Shahali ◽  
Kamran Balighi ◽  
Maryam Ghiasi ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea H Weinberger ◽  
Lauren R Pacek ◽  
Melanie M Wall ◽  
Misato Gbedemah ◽  
Joun Lee ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe prevalence of cigarette smoking is nearly three times higher among persons who use cannabis and have cannabis use disorders (CUDs), relative to those who do not. The current study examined cigarette quit ratios from 2002 to 2016 among US adults with and without cannabis use and CUDs.MethodsThe current study analysed US adults aged 18 years and older from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual cross-sectional study. Quit ratios (ie, proportion of former smokers among ever-smokers) were calculated annually from 2002 to 2016. Time trends in quit ratios by cannabis use/CUDs were tested using logistic regression.ResultsIn 2016, the quit ratios for people with any cannabis use (23%) and CUDs (15%) were less than half the quit ratios of those without cannabis use and CUDs (51% and 48%, respectively). After controlling for demographics and substance use disorders, the quit ratio did not change from 2002 to 2016 among persons with CUD, though it non-linearly increased among persons with cannabis use, without cannabis use and without CUDs. Quit ratios increased more rapidly among those who reported past-month cannabis use compared with those without past-month cannabis use.ConclusionsCigarette smoking quit ratios remain dramatically lower among people who use cannabis and have CUDs and quit ratios did not change significantly from 2002 to 2016 among those with CUDs. Public health and clinical attention are needed to increase quit ratios and reduce harmful cigarette smoking consequences for persons with cannabis use and CUDs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 3037-3044
Author(s):  
Eva Summerhays ◽  
Mats Eliasson ◽  
Robert Lundqvist ◽  
Stefan Söderberg ◽  
Tanja Zeller ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Vitamin D, produced through cutaneous photosynthesis or ingested via foods or supplements, has generated considerable research interest due to its potential health effects. However, epidemiological data on the time trends of vitamin D status are sparse, especially from northern Europe. We examined the time trend of vitamin D concentrations in northern Sweden between 1986 and 2014. Methods We used data on 11,129 men and women (aged 25–74 years) from seven population-based surveys (the Northern Sweden MONICA study), recruited between 1986 and 2014. Serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) status was measured using a one-step immunoassay (Abbott Architect). Multivariable linear regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and a number of other variables, were used to estimate the time trend of vitamin D concentrations. Results The mean value of vitamin D in the entire study population was 19.9 ng/mL [standard deviation (SD) 7.9], with lower values in men (19.4 ng/mL; SD 7.5) than in women (20.5 ng/mL; SD 8.2). Using the survey in 1986 as reference category, the multivariable-adjusted mean difference [95% confidence interval (CI)] in ng/mL was 2.7 (2.2, 3.3) in 1990, 3.2 (2.7, 3.7) in 1994, 1.6 (1.0, 2.1) in 1999, − 2.0 (− 2.5, − 1.4) in 2004, 1.0 (0.4, 1.5) in 2009, and 3.1 (2.5, 3.6) in 2014. Conclusion In this large cross-sectional study, we observed no clear upward or downward trend of vitamin D concentrations in northern Sweden between 1986 and 2014.


Author(s):  
Kallol Roy ◽  
Veena G. Kamath ◽  
Asha Kamath ◽  
Johnson Alex ◽  
Asha Hegde

Abstract Background: Adolescence is a tumultuous period of hormonal and psychological transitions ranging from 10 to 19 years (WHO). This growth phase is usually accompanied by stressors. Very few studies have reported the prevalence of stress levels among adolescent boys. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and determinants of stress and its tolerance levels among high school boys. Methods: A cross sectional study design was selected for this purpose. A standardized self reported questionnaire was administered to 1153 high school boys. A score of 130 and more was used to classify the participants as stressed. Results: The prevalence of stress and its tolerance levels was found to be 55% and 33.7%, respectively. Also correlations suggest that parental education and occupational status play a significant role in adolescent stress. Together, these findings suggest necessitating an intervention to counter the same. Conclusion: The proportion of stressed adolescent boys (55.5%) reported to have poor stress tolerance (41%). Studies addressing stress among high school adolescents remain unexplored. The basic determinants of stress are not researched upon these age groups. Our study reports the prevalence of stress to be 55% among high school boys. This could be the fundamental basis of designing suitable stress management programs for adolescents that could reduce their stress levels.


2012 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Jiménez-Pavón ◽  
Juan M. Fernández-Alvira ◽  
Saskia J. te Velde ◽  
Johannes Brug ◽  
Elling Bere ◽  
...  

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