scholarly journals Effects of spousal migration on access to healthcare for women left behind: A cross-sectional follow-up study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260219
Author(s):  
Heidi S. West ◽  
Mary E. Robbins ◽  
Corrina Moucheraud ◽  
Abdur Razzaque ◽  
Randall Kuhn
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Utilization ◽  
Barriers To Care ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Wide Range

Background Women left behind by migration represent a unique and growing population yet remain understudied as key players in the context of migration and development. Using a unique longitudinal survey of life in Bangladesh, the Matlab Health and Socioeconomic Surveys, we examined the role of spousal migration in healthcare utilization for women. The objective of this study was to assess realized access to care (do women actually get healthcare when it is needed) and consider specific macrostructural, predisposing, and resource barriers to care that are related to migration. Methods and findings In a sample of 3,187 currently married women, we estimated multivariate logistic and multinomial regression models controlling for a wide range of baseline sociodemographic factors measured as far back as 1982. Our analyses also controlled for selection effects and explored two mechanisms through which spousal migration can affect healthcare utilization for women, remittances and frequent contact with spouses. We found that women with migrant spouses were approximately half as likely to lack needed healthcare compared to women whose spouses remained in Bangladesh (predicted probability of not getting needed healthcare 11.7% vs. 21.8%, p<0.001). The improvements in access (logistic regression coefficient for lacking care for left-behind women -0.761 p<0.01) primarily occurred through a reduction in financial barriers to care for women whose spouses were abroad. Conclusions Wives of international migrants showed significantly better access to healthcare even when accounting for selection into a migrant family. While the overall story is one of positive migration effects on healthcare access due to reductions in financial barriers to care, results also showed an increase in family-related barriers such as not being permitted to get care by a family member or travel alone to a facility, indicating that some of the benefits of migration for women left behind may be diluted by gendered family structures.

scholarly journals Who gets lost and why: A representative cross-sectional survey on sociodemographic and vestibular determinants of wayfinding strategies

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Ulrich ◽  
Eva Grill ◽  
Virginia L. Flanagin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Vestibular Function ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Population Based ◽  
The Other ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

AbstractWhen we think of our family and friends, we probably know someone who is good at finding their way and someone else that easily get lost. We still know little about the biological and environmental factors that influence our navigational ability. Here, we investigated the frequency and sociodemographic determinants of wayfinding and their association with vestibular function in a representative cross-sectional sample (N = 783) of the adult German-speaking population. Wayfinding was assessed using the Wayfinding Strategy Scale, a self-report scale that produces two scores for each participant representing to what degree they rely on route-based or orientation (map-based) strategies. We were interested in the following research questions: (1) the frequency and determinants of wayfinding strategies in a population-based representative sample, (2) the relationship between vestibular function and strategy choice and (3) how sociodemographic factors influence general wayfinding ability as measured using a combined score from both strategy scores. Our linear regression models showed that being male, having a higher education, higher age and lower regional urbanization increased orientation strategy scores. Vertigo/dizziness reduced the scores of both the orientation and the route strategies. Using a novel approach, we grouped participants by their combined strategy scores in a multinomial regression model, to see whether individuals prefer one strategy over the other. The majority of individuals reported using either both or no strategy, instead of preferring one strategy over the other. Young age and reduced vestibular function were indicative of using no strategy. In summary, wayfinding ability depends on both biological and environmental factors; all sociodemographic factors except income. Over a third of the population, predominantly under the age of 35, does not successfully use either strategy. This represents a change in our wayfinding skills, which may result from the technological advances in navigational aids over the last few decades.

scholarly journals Impact of medical and behavioural factors on influenza-like illness, healthcare-seeking, and antiviral treatment during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic: USA, 2009–2010

2013 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. BIGGERSTAFF ◽  
M. A. JHUNG ◽  
C. REED ◽  
S. GARG ◽  
L. BALLUZ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Disease ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Healthcare Seeking ◽  
Treatment Practices ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYWe analysed a cross-sectional telephone survey of U.S. adults to assess the impact of selected characteristics on healthcare-seeking behaviours and treatment practices of people with influenza-like illness (ILI) from September 2009 to March 2010. Of 216 431 respondents, 8·1% reported ILI. After adjusting for selected characteristics, respondents aged 18–64 years with the following factors were more likely to report ILI: a diagnosis of asthma [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1·88, 95% CI 1·67–2·13] or heart disease (aOR 1·41, 95% CI 1·17–1·70), being disabled (aOR 1·75, 95% CI 1·57–1·96), and reporting financial barriers to healthcare access (aOR 1·63, 95% CI 1·45–1·82). Similar associations were seen in respondents aged ⩾65 years. Forty percent of respondents with ILI sought healthcare, and 14% who sought healthcare reported receiving influenza antiviral treatment. Treatment was not more frequent in patients with high-risk conditions, except those aged 18–64 years with heart disease (aOR 1·90, 95% CI 1·03–3·51). Of patients at high risk for influenza complications, self-reported ILI was greater but receipt of antiviral treatment was not, despite guidelines recommending their use in this population.

scholarly journals Toward Prevention of Doping in Youth Sport: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Correlates of Doping Tendency in Swimming

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (23) ◽  
pp. 4851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajber ◽  
Maric ◽  
Rodek ◽  
Sekulic ◽  
Liposek
Keyword(s):  
Reference Value ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Youth Athletes ◽  
Intensive Training ◽  
Training Methodology ◽  
Doping Behavior ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Sectional Analysis

Doping is recognized as one of the most important problems in sports, but a limited number of studies have investigated doping problems in youth athletes. This study aimed to evaluate doping tendency (potential doping behavior (PDB)) and correlates of PDB in youth age swimmers. The participants were 241 competitive swimmers (131 females; 15.3 ± 1.1 years of age, all under 18 years old). Variables included predictors and PDB (criterion). Predictors consisted of sociodemographic factors (gender and age), sport-related variables (i.e., experience in swimming and sport achievement), variables explaining coaching strategy and training methodology, consumption of dietary supplements (DS), knowledge about doping, and knowledge about sports nutrition and DS (KSN). In addition to the descriptive statistics and differences between genders, a multinomial regression using PDB as the criterion (negative-, neutral-, or positive-PDB, with a negative-PDB as the reference value) was calculated to define associations between predictors and criterion. With only 71% of swimmers who declared negative-PDB results indicated an alarming figure. Boys with better KSN were more negatively oriented toward positive-PDB (OR: 0.77, 95%CI: 0.60–0.95). In girls, lower competitive achievement was evidenced as a risk factor for neutral-PDB (OR: 0.39, 95%CI: 0.24–0.63). Also, higher neutral-PDB (OR: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.81–0.96) and positive-PDB (OR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.83–0.99) were identified in girls who began with intensive training in younger age. Because of the alarming figures of PDB, there is an evident need for the development of systematic antidoping educational programs in youth swimming. In doing so, focus should be placed on girls who began intensive training at an earlier age and those who did not achieve high competitive results.

Clinically relevant and simple immune system measure is related to symptom burden in bipolar disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 297-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole Köhler-Forsberg ◽  
Louisa Sylvia ◽  
Thilo Deckersbach ◽  
Michael Joshua Ostacher ◽  
Melvin McInnis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Lithium Treatment ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Specific Symptoms

ObjectiveImmunological theories, particularly the sickness syndrome theory, may explain psychopathology in mood disorders. However, no clinical trials have investigated the association between overall immune system markers with a wide range of specific symptoms including potential gender differences.MethodsWe included two similar clinical trials, the lithium treatment moderate-dose use study and clinical and health outcomes initiatives in comparative effectiveness for bipolar disorder study, enrolling 765 participants with bipolar disorder. At study entry, white blood cell (WBC) count was measured and psychopathology assessed with the Montgomery and Aasberg depression rating scale (MADRS). We performed analysis of variance and linear regression analyses to investigate the relationship between the deviation from the median WBC, and multinomial regression analysis between different WBC levels. All analyses were performed gender-specific and adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, race, and somatic diseases.ResultsThe overall MADRS score increased significantly for each 1.0×109/l deviation from the median WBC among 322 men (coefficient=1.10; 95% CI=0.32–1.89; p=0.006), but not among 443 women (coefficient=0.56; 95% CI=−0.19–1.31; p=0.14). Among men, WBC deviations were associated with increased severity of sadness, inner tension, reduced sleep, reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, inability to feel, and suicidal thoughts. Among women, WBC deviations were associated with increased severity of reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, lassitude, inability to feel, and pessimistic thoughts. Both higher and lower WBC levels were associated with increased severity of several specific symptoms.ConclusionImmune system alterations were associated with increased severity of specific mood symptoms, particularly among men. Our results support the sickness syndrome theory, but furthermore emphasise the relevance to study immune suppression in bipolar disorder. Due to the explorative nature and cross-sectional design, future studies need to confirm these findings.

scholarly journals The Covid Impact to Public Healthcare Utilization Among Urban Low-Income Subsidized Community in Klang Valley Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 233339282110024
Author(s):  
Sharifah Zawani Syed Ahmad Yunus ◽  
Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh ◽  
Adliah Mhd Ali ◽  
Faiz Daud
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Utilization ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Income Group ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Low Income Population ◽  
Klang Valley ◽  
Chi Square Analysis

Background: Appropriate level of healthcare utilization is one of the aims in translating health system inputs into improving the outcome of population health. Healthcare utilization services in Malaysia remains relatively low as compared to the rate in most high-income countries and some gaps exist across socioeconomic status. After the financial handouts deemed Household Living Aid (HLA) to low-income earners, Malaysia has recently implemented a financial health protection scheme toward for low-income group known as PeKa B40 to improve their access for healthcare services. This study aims to determine the healthcare utilization among the low-income population living in urban Klang Valley, and to explore the relationship between healthcare utilization with the demographic characteristics of this population. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study using face to face structured questionnaire. All 447 respondents included were low-income earners enrolled in the HLA. Chi-square analysis and multiple logistic regression were used to examine association between the risk factors and healthcare utilization. Results: The response rate was 93.5%. The healthcare utilization among the respondents during the partial lockdown period was 19.5% and 33.1% during the recovery lockdown period. Enrollment in the PeKa B40 scheme among the 7.6% respondents was not associated with healthcare utilization. After controlling for the variables, those aged 60 years and above [AOR: 1.87; 95% (CI): (1.07; 3.27)], self-rated poor health status [AOR: 2.16; 95% (CI): (1.07; 4.34)], having NCDs [AOR: 4.21; 95% (CI): (2.23; 7.94)], and being hospitalized in the past 12 months [AOR: 3.54; 95% (CI): (1.46; 8.62)], were more likely to utilize healthcare services as compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: The results from this study is valuable for policy recommendations to improve on the coverage of the PeKa B40 scheme and healthcare access for the low-income population especially during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Digital and Economic Determinants of Healthcare in the Crisis-Affected Population in Afghanistan: Access to Mobile Phone and Socioeconomic Barriers

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 506
Author(s):  
Jin-Won Noh ◽  
Yu-Mi Im ◽  
Kyoung-Beom Kim ◽  
Min Hee Kim ◽  
Young Dae Kwon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Financing System ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Specific Factors

Despite recent progress in Afghanistan’s health system from the support of international donors and NGOs, protracted conflicts combined with a series of natural disasters have continued to present substantial health risks. Extreme poverty has still aggravated social determinants of health and financial barriers to healthcare. Little is known about the context-specific factors influencing access to healthcare in the crisis-affected population. Using a subset of data from ‘Whole of Afghanistan Assessment (WoAA) 2019’, this study analyzed 31,343 households’ data, which was collected between 17 July and 19 September 2019 throughout all 34 provinces in Afghanistan. The outcome measured was access to care in the healthcare facility, and multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to identify the specific factors associated with access to healthcare. Of 31,343 households exposed to complex emergencies in Afghanistan, 10,057 (32.1%) could not access healthcare facilities when one was needed in last three months. The access to healthcare was significantly associated with displacement status, economic factors such as employment status or total monthly income, and the distance to healthcare facilities. Significant increase in healthcare access was associated with factors related to communication and access to information, such as awareness of humanitarian assistance availability and mobile phone with a SIM card, while disability in cognitive function, such as memory or concentration, was associated with poorer healthcare access. Our findings indicate that the crisis-affected population remains vulnerable in access to healthcare, despite the recent improvements in health sectors. Digital determinants, such as access to mobile phone, need to be addressed along with the healthcare barriers related to poverty and household vulnerabilities. The innovative humanitarian financing system using mobile communication and cash transfer programs would be considerable for the conflict-affected but digitally connected population in Afghanistan.

scholarly journals Study of Health-Related Quality of Life and Healthcare Utilization among Type 2 Diabetic Population in an Urban Area of Eastern Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Sangita Shah ◽  
Nilambar Jha ◽  
Deepak Kumar Yadav ◽  
Prajjwal Pyakurel ◽  
Sanjib Kumar Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Healthcare Utilization ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Type 2 Diabetic

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and places huge burden on public health funding. Diabetes affects quality of life through associated complications, comorbidity, and disease burden. Consequently, people have frequent healthcare visits. This study assessed quality of life and healthcare utilization patterns among type 2 diabetic populations in an urban area of eastern Nepal. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 participants of age ≥20 years with type 2 diabetes in Itahari using a semistructured questionnaire. A D-39 questionnaire was used to assess quality of life. Five wards were selected by systematic random sampling, and the population was proportionate according to the sample size. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to identify the factors associated with quality of life and its domains. Results. The highest mean score ± SD was found in the domain anxiety and worry (57.34 ± 11.08). About 18.5% of the participants perceived extremely affected quality of life. Hypertension (55.55%) was the most common comorbidity. Age, marital status, literacy, alcohol, disease duration, comorbidity, and complications were significantly associated with overall quality of life. In last 6 months of duration, 93.7% had hospital visits. Among them, 8.1% had emergency visit and 5.9% were admitted in the hospital. Conclusion. People with diabetes in this study were more affected in the domain anxiety and worry. The frequency of healthcare access and utilization in patients with type 2 diabetes was high. The quality of life among them could be improved by taking care on healthy behavior, comorbid conditions, and complications.

scholarly journals The development of a patient and caregiver narrative archive to support patient-centered research

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen M McTigue ◽  
David Fear ◽  
Ken Hunter ◽  
Sri Karanam ◽  
James Uhrig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Healthcare Team ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Doctor Patient Communication ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Decision ◽  
Anatomic Locations

Background: Engaging patients and other stakeholders is a key tenet of patient-centered research, but can be challenging to implement.  Objectives: To determine the feasibility of using patient narratives for informing comparative effectiveness research and engaging patients in the research process.Research Design: Cross-sectional study.Participants: The first 153 participants to share a story using the MyPaTH Story Booth protocol were, on average, aged 51 (18.8). Most were white (79%) or African American (13%) and well-educated.Measures: Participants self-categorized their narratives according to the sort of health experience(s) described (e.g., diagnosis, doctor/patient communication), the anatomic locations of health problems discussed and the type of disorder or condition addressed. They also reported on whether they were interested in engaging in clinical research as a participant or stakeholder and their satisfaction with the study processes.Results: The archived narratives addressed a wide range of health experiences of relevance to clinical researchers, most often medical treatment (82%), communication with healthcare team members (81%), diagnosis (64%), symptoms (61%), healthcare access (60%) and health decision-making (60%). Health problems related to diverse anatomic locations were addressed. Health conditions such as mental health concerns (35%), infections (23%) and cancers (20%) were often discussed. Among participants, 63% expressed interest in learning of opportunities for stakeholder engagement in research related to their stories. Ninety seven percent were very satisfied or satisfied with the MyPaTH Story Booth process. Conclusions: The narrative archive represents a unique resource for researchers interested in developing and carrying out patient-centered research projects to improve health or healthcare.

scholarly journals Association between cigarette smoking status and voting intentions: Cross sectional surveys in England 2015-2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Cox ◽  
Jamie Brown ◽  
Cheryl McQuire ◽  
Frank de Vocht ◽  
Emma Beard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Conservative Party ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Liberal Democrats ◽  
Political Views ◽  
Voting Intentions

Abstract Background and aims Cigarette smoking takes place within a cultural and social context. Political views and practices are an important part of that context. To gain a better understanding of smoking, it may be helpful to understand its association with voting patterns as an expression of the political views and practices of the population who smoke. This study aimed to assess the association between cigarette smoking and voting intentions and to examine how far any association can be explained by sociodemographic factors and alcohol use. Methods Pooled monthly representative repeat cross-sectional household surveys of adults (16+) in England (N = 55,482) between 2015 and 2020 were used to assess the association between cigarette smoking status and voting intentions, and whether this was accounted for by age, occupational grade, gender, region and alcohol use. Voting intention was measured by asking ‘How would you vote if there were a General Election tomorrow?’ Respondents chose from a list of the major English political parties or indicated their intention not to vote. Results In adjusted multinomial regression, compared with intending to vote Conservative (majority party of government during the period), being undecided (aOR1.22 [1.13-1.33] <0.001), intending to vote Labour (aOR1.27 [1.16-1.36] <0.001), to vote “Other” (aOR1.54 [1.37-1.72] <0.001), or not to vote (aOR1.93 [1.77-2.11] <0.001) was associated with higher odds of current relative to never smoking rates. Intending to vote for the Liberal Democrats was associated with a significant lower odds of current smoking prevalence (aOR0.80 [0.70-0.91] <0.001) compared with intending to vote Conservative. Conclusions Controlling for a range of other factors, current as compared with never-smokers appear more likely to intend not to vote, to be undecided, to vote for Labour or a non-mainstream party, and less likely to vote for the Liberal Democrats, compared with the Conservative party.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document