scholarly journals The Sweet and Sour of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-33
Author(s):  
Al-Alawy Khamis ◽  
Azaad Moonesar Immanuel ◽  
Muhsineh Shatha ◽  
Gaafar Reem ◽  
Aden Bashir
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Population Based ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Sweetened Beverage

Obesity is a common and preventable Non-Communicable Disease that is of great importance. Population-based interventions are recognized to have a profound effect on improving health outcomes. One of these approaches includes the adoption of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax. Objectives: There were three objectives, 1) Explore the associations between age, gender, nationality, and SSB consumption, 2) explore SSB consumption during Covid-19 lockdown and, 3) inform policy decision making. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in the United Arab Emirates. We performed descriptive analysis and chi-square for independence to test the difference between the expected and the observed frequencies in one or more categories. Results: Since the introduction of the SSB tax, we report no change in SSB consumption by age, gender, or nationality. Further analysis of the proportion of sugar intake per day was significant (P-value <0.001) by nationality. There was no significant change in SSB consumption by age, gender, or nationality during the Covid-19 lockdown. Further analysis within the group that reported a change in SSB consumption (80.5%) had a reduction in SSB consumption. Conclusions: Age, gender, and nationality do not significantly impact SSB consumption, or during Covid-19 lockdown; thus, we accept the Null Hypothesis. Imposing a levy on frequently consumed SSB or revisiting levy by the gram, volume, or type of added sugar (or in combination) may prove more effective in reducing SSB consumption. Further research is needed to determine the extent income and education influence SSB consumption in the UAE and the enablers and barriers associated with SSB consumption.

scholarly journals An Investigation of Hypertension Risk Factors among Adults in Oshikoto Region in Namibia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Emilia Shiwa Ashipala ◽  
Linda Ndeshipandula Lukolo
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Population Based ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hypertension Risk ◽  
Obesity And Overweight ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Harmful Use

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension complications are responsible for 9.4 million deaths worldwide and among these deaths, 51 % are due to stroke and 45% are due to heart disease like heart failure. This study aims to investigate the hypertension risk factors among adult in Oshikoto region, Namibia. METHODS: A community population-based, cross- sectional survey was conducted using WHO STEPwise approach among 375 adults in Oshikoto region. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was done to determine the association between risk factors and Hypertension, based on p-value &lt;0.05. RESULTS: Overall prevalence for risk factors was: physical inactivity (25.3%), unhealthy diet (75.7%), tobacco use (9.1%), harmful use of alcohol (40.8%). 20.5% overweight with majority (85.7%) of them were females. Obesity was 9.1% in which 91.2% were females. Hypertension prevalence was 24.3%. Four percent of individuals were having two multiple risk factors for hypertension, 2.4% with four risk factors and 1.1% with more than four risk factors. Age group (OR=2.48, 95%CI=1.44-4.26, P=0.001), Obesity (OR=3.48, 95%CI=1.55-7.79, P=0.003), and overweight (OR=2.34, 95%CI=1.31-4.19, P =0.004) were significant risk factors for hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a high prevalence and burden of hypertension risk factors such as obesity and overweight among adults in Oshikoto region, thus, these results highlight the need for interventions to reduce and prevent those risk factors of hypertension in Oshikoto region, Namibia.

scholarly journals Prevalence and determinants of cataract surgical coverage in India: findings from a population-based study

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balasubramaniam Bharath ◽  
Sannapaneni Krishnaiah ◽  
Ahmed Imtiaz ◽  
Ramanathan V. Ramani
Keyword(s):  
Cataract Surgery ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Population Based ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
History Of

Background: Cataract is the leading cause of avoidable blindness in most parts of developing world, including India. The objectives were to assess cataract surgical coverage (CSC) and investigate the determinants for CSC among people aged 50 years or older in India.Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted to include 2023 residents aged ≥50 years old from 72 clusters of 20 districts in six states from various parts of India. Presenting visual acuity (VA), history of cataract surgery and operable cataract were assessed by trained professionals. Prevalence of CSC and factors influencing cataract surgery (CS) were studied in the multivariable logistic regression model. A two-sided p-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results: Cataract surgery was done in 478 (23.6%) people in both eyes. Using VA<6/18 cut-off, the CSC was estimated as 67.2% in persons. In LR model, increased age was significantly associated with increased CS (P<0.0001). The odds of prevalence of CS was significantly lower in Uttar Pradesh; adjusted Odds Ratio (OR), 0.59; (95% CI: 0.36-0.95; p=0.032) and in persons with diabetes; OR: 0.61; (95% CI: 0.38-0.94; p=0.028).Conclusions: Cataract surgical need is currently not being met in India and the increasing prevalence of diabetes is an additional major challenge in addressing the gap in CS.

Perception of Malaria Transmission and Preventive Strategies among Adolescents in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Nneka Gabriel-Job ◽  
Joyce Okagua
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Transmission ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Rivers State

Introduction: Malaria is a cause of mortality in African. Though preventable it has remained a public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa where more than 90% of all malaria cases occur. The study is intended to determine the perception of malaria transmission and prevention among adolescent in Rivers State. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescents in secondary schools in Port Harcourt.  A Self-administered questionnaire was employed for data collection. Descriptive analysis was carried out. Comparing two mean was by t-test while test for significance was by chi square. In all a p value of ≤ 0.05 was regarded as significant. Results: Results of the 969 subjects 445 (45.9%) were males while 524 (54.1%) were females. The mean age was 14.3 ± 1.2 years. All the respondent (100%) had heard of malaria, 957 (98.8%) were aware that mosquito was the vector, 923(95.3%) reported that the mode of transmission was through a bite by mosquito. Misconception regarding transmission of malaria was identified among 46(4.7%) participants. 760 (78.4%) of them possessed Insecticidal Treated Nets (ITN). Factors that enhanced ITN use among the respondents includes being a Junior student (p<0.001, OR=12.48, CI= 8.07-19.31), higher socioeconomic class (p<0.001, OR= 2.39, CI=1.71-3.33) while age and family size were not significantly associated. Conclusion: Adolescents in Rivers State have considerable information on malaria transmission and prevention however utilization of ITN is poor. Health education is needed to enhance the use of ITN among adolescents in Rivers State.

scholarly journals Prevalence and factors associated with fatigue in the Lausanne middle-aged population: a population-based, cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e027070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Coralie Galland-Decker ◽  
Pedro Marques-Vidal ◽  
Peter Vollenweider
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence and factors associated with fatigue in the general population.DesignPopulation-based, cross-sectional survey performed between May 2014 and April 2017.SettingGeneral population of the city of Lausanne, Switzerland.Participants2848 participants (53.2% women, age range 45–86 years).Primary outcome measurePrevalence of fatigue the previous week, defined as a score of ≥4 using the Fatigue Severity Scale.ResultsThe prevalence of fatigue was 21.9% (95% CI 20.4% to 23.4%) in the total sample. On bivariate analysis, participants with fatigue were younger, had a higher body mass index, a lower handgrip strength and lower ferritin levels. Participants with fatigue were more frequently women, had a lower educational level, presented more frequently with clinical insomnia, diabetes, anaemia, depression and low thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) values, had a higher consumption of antihistamines, antidepressants and hypnotics, and rated more frequently their health as bad or very bad. Multivariable analysis showed that obesity (OR 1.40 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.91)), insomnia categories (p value for trend <0.001), depression (OR 3.26 (95% CI 2.38 to 4.46)), anaemia (OR 1.70 (95% CI 1.00 to 2.89)) and low self-rated health status (p value for trend <0.001) were positively associated with fatigue, while older age (p value for trend 0.002) was negatively associated with fatigue. Conversely, no association was found for diabetes, TSH levels, antihistamines or hypnotics.ConclusionIn a population-based sample aged 45–86, fatigue was present in one out of five subjects. Regarding clinical factors, sleep disturbances such as insomnia and sleep apnoea should be assessed first, followed by depression. Regarding biological factors, anaemia should be ruled out, while screening for hypothyroidism is not recommended as a first step. Sleep complaints and fatigue in older subjects are not due to ageing and should prompt identification of the underlying cause.

scholarly journals Assessing Legislative Interest for a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax in a Midwestern State

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Murray ◽  
Colleen Loo-Gross ◽  
Mary Pham ◽  
Sonja Armbruster ◽  
Kelly Konda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survey Design ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Party Affiliation ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Personal Consumption

BACKGROUND: This study sought to ascertain the opinions of members of the Kansas Legislature regarding pending sugar-sweetened beverage taxation legislation, including perceptions that such a tax would generate revenue or be associated with personal sugar-sweetened beverage consumption habits. METHODS: This study utilized a cross-sectional survey design and was conducted by administering an electronic or telephone survey of the 2010-2011 Kansas Legislature. Publicly-listed contact information for the 165 members in both chambers of the 2010-2011 Kansas Legislature was obtained. State legislators were invited via e-mail, telephone, or both to complete the survey. The main outcome measure was the degree of agreement or disagreement with the idea of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation. RESULTS: Seventy-eight legislators (47.3%) responded. Of these, 90.5% disagreed or strongly disagreed with taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages, and 86.5% disagreed or strongly disagreed with taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages if generated funds were set aside to subsidize healthy choices. Party affiliation, geographic area represented, and personal consumption of sugar-sweetened behaviors were not associated significantly with legislators’ opinions of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of respondents in the Kansas Legislature reported opposing a sugar-sweetened beverage tax. While some respondents identified obesity as a problem, taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages was not a favorable option among Kansas legislators.

Evaluation of Knowledge, Practices, Attitude, and Anxiety of Nurses towards COVID-19 during the Current Outbreak in Karachi, Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-90
Author(s):  
Shaheena Salman Alwani ◽  
Muhammad Mansoor Majeed ◽  
Zoobia Ramzan ◽  
Shahzad Rauf ◽  
Muhammad Saad Syed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
P Value ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Anxiety Levels

Background: Since the emergence of the novel coronavirus, the front line soldiers during this pandemic are the healthcare professionals because of their direct association with COVID19 patients. In the management of such patients, nurses play a significant role through proper care and preventive measures. Due to its contagious nature, fatality, and no proper medicine, it is a risk to the health and life of nurses and has an impact on their psychological health. The aim of the current study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices, and anxiety levels of the frontline nurses. Methods: It was an online questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey targeting only those nurses involved in the management of COVID-19 patients from different hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. Descriptive analysis, Chi-Square, and t-tests were applied. P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Data of 78 nurses were analyzed. We observed that nurses possess good knowledge about COVID-19, its sources, symptoms, and routes of transmission of the Virus, etc. The knowledge mean score was calculated at 14.67 ± 3.36. Health Department /Hospital and social media are the main sources of information regarding COVID-19. We investigated that 92.3% of the nurses had mild to severe anxiety and anxiety levels are significantly higher among females (P<0.05). Conclusion:-We concluded that the nurses performing their duties with COVID-19 positive patients have good knowledge and attitude. But their anxiety levels are high. Psychological interventions along with training should be given.

scholarly journals The rural Uganda non-communicable disease (RUNCD) study: prevalence and risk factors of self-reported NCDs from a cross sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trishul Siddharthan ◽  
Robert Kalyesubula ◽  
Brooks Morgan ◽  
Theresa Ermer ◽  
Tracy L. Rabin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Disease Information ◽  
Rural Africa ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

Abstract Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are an increasing global concern, with morbidity and mortality largely occurring in low- and middle-income settings. We established the prospective Rural Uganda Non-Communicable Disease (RUNCD) cohort to longitudinally characterize the NCD prevalence, progression, and complications in rural Africa. Methods We conducted a population-based census for NCD research. We systematically enrolled adults in each household among three sub-counties of the larger Nakaseke Health district and collected baseline demographic, health status, and self-reported chronic disease information. We present our data on self-reported chronic disease, as stratified by age, sex, educational attainment, and sub-county. Results A total of 16,694 adults were surveyed with 10,563 (63%) respondents enrolled in the self-reported study. Average age was 37.8 years (SD = 16.5) and 45% (7481) were male. Among self-reported diseases, hypertension (HTN) was most prevalent (6.3%). 1.1% of participants reported a diagnosis of diabetes, 1.1% asthma, 0.7% COPD, and 0.4% kidney disease. 2.4% of the population described more than one NCD. Self-reported HTN was significantly higher in the peri-urban subcounty than in the other two rural sub-counties (p < 0.001); diagnoses for all other diseases did not differ significantly between sub-counties. Odds for self-reported HTN increased significantly with age (OR = 1.87 per 10 years of age, 95% CI 1.78–1.96). Male sex was associated with lower odds of reporting asthma (OR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.34–0.82) or HTN (OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.26–0.40). Conclusions The RUNCD will establish one of the largest NCD patient cohorts in rural Africa. First analysis highlights the feasibility of systematically enrolling large numbers of adults living in a rural Ugandan district. In addition, our study demonstrates low levels of self-reported NCDs compared to the nation-wide established levels, emphasizing the need to better educate, characterize, and care for the majority of rural communities.

scholarly journals Using nutritional survey data to inform the design of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in low-resource contexts: a cross-sectional analysis based on data from an adult Caribbean population

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e035981
Author(s):  
Miriam Alvarado ◽  
Rachel Harris ◽  
Angela Rose ◽  
Nigel Unwin ◽  
Ian Hambleton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Free Sugars ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Sweetened Beverage ◽  
High Sugar ◽  
Nutritional Survey ◽  
Nationally Representative

ObjectiveSugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes have been implemented widely. We aimed to use a pre-existing nutritional survey data to inform SSB tax design by assessing: (1) baseline consumption of SSBs and SSB-derived free sugars, (2) the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars that would be covered by a tax and (3) the extent to which a tax would differentiate between high-sugar SSBs and low-sugar SSBs. We evaluated these three considerations using pre-existing nutritional survey data in a developing economy setting.MethodsWe used data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Barbados (2012–2013, prior to SSB tax implementation). Data were available on 334 adults (25–64 years) who completed two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. We estimated the prevalence of SSB consumption and its contribution to total energy intake, overall and stratified by taxable status. We assessed the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars subject to the tax and identified the consumption-weighted sugar concentration of SSBs, stratified by taxable status.FindingsAccounting for sampling probability, 88.8% of adults (95% CI 85.1 to 92.5) reported SSB consumption, with a geometric mean of 2.4 servings/day (±2 SD, 0.6, 9.2) among SSB consumers. Sixty percent (95% CI 54.6 to 65.4) of SSB-derived free sugars would be subject to the tax. The tax did not clearly differentiate between high-sugar beverages and low-sugar beverages.ConclusionGiven high SSB consumption, targeting SSBs was a sensible strategy in this setting. A substantial percentage of free sugars from SSBs were not covered by the tax, reducing possible health benefits. The considerations proposed here may help policymakers to design more effective SSB taxes.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Knowledge, Practices, Attitude and Anxiety of Pakistan’s Nurses towards COVID-19 during the Current Outbreak in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
SS Alwani ◽  
MM Majeed ◽  
MZ Hirwani ◽  
S Rauf ◽  
SM Saad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
P Value ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Anxiety Levels

AbstractSince the emergence of the novel corona virus, the front line soldiers during this pandemic are the healthcare professionals because of their direct association with COVID19 patients. In the management of such patients, nurses play a significant role through proper care and preventive measures. Due to its contagious nature, fatality and no proper medicine, it is a risk to the health and life of nurses and has an impact on their psychological health.In the current study we assessed the knowledge, attitude, practices and anxiety levels of nurses who are directly involved in the management of COVID-19 patients.It was an online questionnaire based cross sectional survey targeting only those nurses involved in the management of COVID-19 patients from different hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. Descriptive analysis, Chi Square and t-tests were applied. P value < 0.05 was considered significant.Data of 78 nurses was analyzed. We observed that nurses possess good knowledge about COVID-19, its sources, symptoms and routes of transmission of the Virus etc. The knowledge mean score was calculated 14.67 ± 3.36. Health department /Hospital and social media are the main sources of information regarding COVID-19. We investigated that 92.3% of the nurses had mild to very severe anxiety and anxiety levels are significantly higher among females (P< 0.05).We concluded that the nurses performing their duties with COVID-19 positive patients have good knowledge and attitude. But their anxiety levels are high. Psychological interventions along with training should be given.

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