scholarly journals Acceptability and Use of Interactive Voice Response Mobile Phone Surveys for Noncommunicable Disease Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance in Rural Uganda: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Ssemugabo ◽  
Elizeus Rutebemberwa ◽  
Dan Kajungu ◽  
George W Pariyo ◽  
Adnan A Hyder ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND There is need for more timely data to inform interventions that address the growing noncommunicable disease (NCD) epidemic. With a global increase in mobile phone ownership, mobile phone surveys can bridge this gap. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the acceptability and use of interactive voice response (IVR) surveys for surveillance of NCD behavioral risk factors in rural Uganda. METHODS This qualitative study employed user group testing (UGT) with community members. The study was conducted at the Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (IM-HDSS) in Eastern Uganda. We conducted four UGTs which consisted of different categories of HDSS members: females living in urban areas, males living in urban areas, females living in rural areas, and males living in rural areas. Participants were individually sent an IVR survey, then were brought in for a group discussion using a semistructured guide. Data were analyzed thematically using directed content analysis. RESULTS Participants perceived that IVR surveys may be useful in promoting confidentiality, saving costs, and raising awareness on NCD behavioral risk factors. Due to the clarity and delivery of questions in the local language, the IVR survey was perceived as easy to use. Community members suggested scheduling surveys on specific days and sending reminders as ways to improve their use for surveillance. Social issues such as domestic violence and perceptions toward unknown calls, technological factors including poor network connections and inability to use phones, and personal issues such as lack of access to phones and use of multiple networks were identified as barriers to the acceptability and use of mobile phone surveys. However, incentives were reported to motivate people to complete the survey. CONCLUSIONS Community members reflected on contextual and sociological implications of using mobile phones for surveillance of NCD behavioral risk factors. The opportunities and challenges that affect acceptability and use of IVR surveys should be considered in designing and implementing surveillance programs for NCD risk factors.

10.2196/15000 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. e15000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Ssemugabo ◽  
Elizeus Rutebemberwa ◽  
Dan Kajungu ◽  
George W Pariyo ◽  
Adnan A Hyder ◽  
...  

Background There is need for more timely data to inform interventions that address the growing noncommunicable disease (NCD) epidemic. With a global increase in mobile phone ownership, mobile phone surveys can bridge this gap. Objective This study aimed to explore the acceptability and use of interactive voice response (IVR) surveys for surveillance of NCD behavioral risk factors in rural Uganda. Methods This qualitative study employed user group testing (UGT) with community members. The study was conducted at the Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (IM-HDSS) in Eastern Uganda. We conducted four UGTs which consisted of different categories of HDSS members: females living in urban areas, males living in urban areas, females living in rural areas, and males living in rural areas. Participants were individually sent an IVR survey, then were brought in for a group discussion using a semistructured guide. Data were analyzed thematically using directed content analysis. Results Participants perceived that IVR surveys may be useful in promoting confidentiality, saving costs, and raising awareness on NCD behavioral risk factors. Due to the clarity and delivery of questions in the local language, the IVR survey was perceived as easy to use. Community members suggested scheduling surveys on specific days and sending reminders as ways to improve their use for surveillance. Social issues such as domestic violence and perceptions toward unknown calls, technological factors including poor network connections and inability to use phones, and personal issues such as lack of access to phones and use of multiple networks were identified as barriers to the acceptability and use of mobile phone surveys. However, incentives were reported to motivate people to complete the survey. Conclusions Community members reflected on contextual and sociological implications of using mobile phones for surveillance of NCD behavioral risk factors. The opportunities and challenges that affect acceptability and use of IVR surveys should be considered in designing and implementing surveillance programs for NCD risk factors.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-89
Author(s):  
Aida Pilav ◽  
Aida Rudić ◽  
Suada Branković ◽  
Vildana Doder

Introduction The objective of the paper is to analyze and to assess prevalence of the major behavioral risk factors among adult population (25-64 years of age) in the rural and urban areas in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH).Methods Data were taken from cross-sectional population survey on the health status population in the FBIH. To ensure a sample representative for the adult population in the FBIH it was applied the two-stage stratified systematic sample. The survey covered a total of 2735 adult population aged 25-64 years, of which 1087 in the urban areas and 1648 in rural areas.Results. The prevalence of smoking among men in rural areas is significantly higher than among men in urban areas (69% vs. 55%), while the prevalence of smoking among women is higher in urban than in rural areas (45% vs. 31%). There is no statistically significant difference in prevalence of obesity and physical activity according to the age groups among men and women in the urban and rural areas. The frequency of changes in behavior related to acquiring healthy living habits in the rural areas is statistically significant among men and women, while in the urban areas there is no statistical significance among the sexes.Conclusions. The results indicate that there are no significant differences in prevalence of factor risks in urban and rural areas. Prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles is high, and the results should be used to improve standard planning of health promotion-prevention programs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Phoebe Tran ◽  
Lam Tran ◽  
Liem Tran

Abstract Background Due to the high prevalence of diabetes risk factors in rural areas, it is important to identify whether differences in diabetes screening rates between rural and urban areas exist. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine if living in a rural area, rurality, has any influence on diabetes screening across the US. Methods Participants from the 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 nationally representative Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys who responded to a question on diabetes screening were included in the study (n = 1,889,712). Two types of marginal probabilities, average adjusted predictions (AAPs) and average marginal effects (AMEs), were estimated at the national level using this data. AAPs and AMEs allow for the assessment of the independent role of rurality on diabetes screening while controlling for important covariates. Results People who lived in urban, suburban, and rural areas all had comparable odds (Urban compared to Rural Odds Ratio (OR): 1.01, Suburbans compared to Rural OR: 0.95, 0.94) and probabilities of diabetes screening (Urban AAP: 70.47%, Suburban AAPs: 69.31 and 69.05%, Rural AAP: 70.27%). Statistically significant differences in probability of diabetes screening were observed between residents in suburban areas and rural residents (AMEs: − 0.96% and − 1.22%) but not between urban and rural residents (AME: 0.20%). Conclusions While similar levels of diabetes screening were found in urban, suburban, and rural areas, there is arguably a need for increased diabetes screening in rural areas where the prevalence of diabetes risk factors is higher than in urban areas.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihua Wang ◽  
Lin Qiu ◽  
Rina Sa ◽  
Xia Li ◽  
Feng Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Behavioral risk factors (BRFs) and biological risk factors contribute majorly to the development of non-communicable chronic diseases. We aimed to explore the covariation, cluster and distribution of risk behaviors in northwest China. Material/Methods Multistage clustering sampling was adopted to select participants for the survey. We obtained the data and investigate the prevalence and clustering pattern (mean number of risk factors) of eight risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases, including four behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking, consumption of fruit and vegetables, physical activity) and four biological risk factors (overweight and obesity, raised blood pressure, raised fasting blood glucose and raised total serum cholesterol). Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to investigate the independent demographic and socioeconomic covariates of clustering of the eight risk factors.Results The prevalence of eight risk factors in northwest China were found: insufficient fruit and vegetable intake,59.82%; overweight and obesity, 46.82%; raised blood pressure, 30.88%; Current smoking, 28.21%; physical inactivity, 24.63%; raised total serum cholesterol, 20.96%; raised blood glucose, 4.27% and harmful use of alcohol, 2.16%. 64.73% of the Chinese in northwest China had two or more risk factors. Being a male, old, living in rural areas, having a lower education level and being separated, divorced or widowed all tends to have more BRFs. Conclusion There is a high prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases among residents in northwest China. Public health interventions are needed to reduce these risk factors and ought to target those who are male, old, poorly educated and live in rural areas.


Author(s):  
Fadzai Mukora-Mutseyekwa ◽  
Hajo Zeeb ◽  
Lydia Nengomasha ◽  
Nicholas Kofi Adjei

Background: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases is rising in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Zimbabwe, yet, the risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among women in the country have not been explored. This study investigated the trends in prevalence and demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral risk factors of overweight and obesity among Zimbabwean women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 2005–2015. Methods: Data from the 2005/2006, 2010/2011 and 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral risk factors and obesity and overweight (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). We further estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity over the period covered by the surveys. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased substantially from 25.0% in 2005 to 36.6% in 2015. Some of the risk factors for overweight and obesity were older age (40+) (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.73–6.01) in 2015, being married, high economic status, being employed, residence in urban areas and alcohol use. Educational attainment and smoking status were not associated with overweight and obesity across all surveys. Conclusions: We provide the first detailed analysis of trends and risk factors for overweight and obesity between 2005 and 2015 among women in Zimbabwe. The findings indicate that women of reproductive age are at high, and increasing, risk of excess weight. Thus, prevention and control measures are needed to address the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Zimbabwe.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihua Wang(Former Corresponding Author) ◽  
Lin Qiu ◽  
Rina Sa ◽  
Xia Li ◽  
Feng Liu(New Corresponding Author) ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Risk factors including both behavioral risk factors (BRFs) and biological risk factors contribute majorly to the development of non-communicable chronic diseases. We aimed to explore the covariation, cluster and distribution of risk behaviors in Shaanxi province of China. Methods Multistage clustering sampling was adopted to select participants for the survey. We obtained the data and investigate the prevalence and clustering pattern (mean number of risk factors) of eight risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases, including four behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking, consumption of fruit and vegetables, physical activity) and four biological risk factors (overweight and obesity, raised blood pressure, raised fasting blood glucose and raised total serum cholesterol). Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to investigate the independent demographic and socioeconomic covariates of clustering of the eight risk factors. Results The prevalence of eight risk factors in Shaanxi province were found: insufficient fruit and vegetable intake,59.82%; overweight and obesity, 46.82%; raised blood pressure, 30.88%; current smoking, 28.21%; physical inactivity, 24.63%; raised total serum cholesterol, 20.96%; raised blood glucose, 4.27% and harmful use of alcohol, 2.16%. 64.73% of the Chinese in Shaanxi province had two or more risk factors. Being a male, old, living in rural areas, having a lower education level and being separated, divorced or widowed all tends to have more risk factors. Conclusion There is a high prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases among residents in Shaanxi province of China. Public health interventions are needed to reduce these risk factors and ought to target those who are male, old, poorly educated and live in rural areas.


2021 ◽  
pp. 174569162198924
Author(s):  
Annelise A. Madison ◽  
M. Rosie Shrout ◽  
Megan E. Renna ◽  
Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine candidates are being evaluated, with the goal of conferring immunity on the highest percentage of people who receive the vaccine as possible. It is noteworthy that vaccine efficacy depends not only on the vaccine but also on characteristics of the vaccinated. Over the past 30 years, a series of studies has documented the impact of psychological factors on the immune system’s vaccine response. Robust evidence has demonstrated that stress, depression, loneliness, and poor health behaviors can impair the immune system’s response to vaccines, and this effect may be greatest in vulnerable groups such as the elderly. Psychological factors are also implicated in the prevalence and severity of vaccine-related side effects. These findings have generalized across many vaccine types and therefore may be relevant to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. In this review, we discuss these psychological and behavioral risk factors for poor vaccine responses, their relevance to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as targeted psychological and behavioral interventions to boost vaccine efficacy and reduce side effects. Recent data suggest these psychological and behavioral risk factors are highly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, but intervention research suggests that psychological and behavioral interventions can increase vaccine efficacy.


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