scholarly journals The Prevalence of Undernutrition and Associated Factors among Children Aged One to Five Years in Siyambalanduwa MOH Area

Aim: High prevalence of child undernutrition is a well-known issue in rural areas of Si Lanka. Identification of real burden, underlying specific causes and addressing those issues will help to improve the nutritional status of those children. Objective: To describe the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among children aged one to five years in Siyambalanduwa MOH area. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 421 child-mother pairs in Siyambalanduwa MOH area using two stage cluster sampling method. Data collection done by using pre tested interviewer administered questionnaire. Relevant anthropometric measurements were done according to WHO slandered guidelines. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20. The chi-square test was used, and P<0.05 was considered for statistically significant. Results: Overall 41% of children aged 1-5 years were undernourished in Siyambalanduwa MOH area. Among the study subjects 24% were underweight, 25.7% were stunted, 16.4% were wasted, 9.2% were both underweight & stunted, 6.8% were both, underweight & wasted, 0.5% were both stunted & wasted and 9.9% were underweight & stunted g & wasted. Only the low total monthly income (P<0.001) and low birth weight (P<0.001) were significantly associated with child undernutrition. Conclusions and recommendations: Prevalence of undernutrition among children aged 1-5 years is unacceptably high and urgent efforts to reduce undernutrition should be a priority. Future studies should focus on assessing how to reduce the burden of undernutrition with low cost interventions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahrzad Mazhari ◽  
Hassan Ziaaddini ◽  
Nozar Nakhaee ◽  
Azam Kermanian

Background: It is generally accepted that due to various reasons, the age of drug abuse prevalence continues to decline, which imposes numerous personal and social dysfunctions. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of drug abuse among adolescents in Kerman, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,000 10th - 12th-grade students in the academic year of 2017 - 2018 selected by random cluster sampling. Data collection tools included demographic characteristics checklist and alcohol smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST). Data were analyzed using chi-square test. Results: The results showed that the highest prevalence of substance abuse among students was related to tobacco, alcohol, and sedatives. It was also demonstrated that the use of cigarettes, sedatives, cannabis, and amphetamine was significantly higher among male subjects compared to female participants (P < 0.05). Moreover, 16.4, 12.9, and 5.1% of the tobacco, alcohol, and sedative users required low interventions, respectively, whereas 1.5, 0.8, and 0.4% of them required high interventions, respectively. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, there was higher drug abuse prevalence in male students compared to female students. As such, it seems that consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics in adolescents requires serious intervention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-163
Author(s):  
Mohd Shaiful Ehsan Shalihin ◽  
Nuria Syafira Abd Muttalib ◽  
Nur Syahirah Azmi ◽  
Zahra Najwa Mohd Zin

Comprehensive care towards geriatric health can be sustained by having good knowledge and attitude among the providers. Hence, this research aims to measure the knowledge and attitude of the final year medical students towards geriatric health and determine the associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the students using structured questionnaires of Geriatric-Attitude-Scale and Palmore-Facts-on-Aging-Quiz was used. Data was analysed using Mann Whitney U test, Chi square test and Spearman correlation coefficient analysis for the association between the score and studied variables. Median score of students’ knowledges is at 14.00 (IQR 13.00) and mean score for attitude is 48.52 (+5.53) respectively. Place of residence (P= 0.01) and presence of grandparents (P= 0.04) were the significant factors that affected knowledge of students towards geriatrics while number of siblings (P= 0.05) influenced attitudes of students towards geriatrics. Improvement of current geriatric curriculum should be done with more refined implementation of gerontology course in the basic medical learning.


Author(s):  
Alireza Javidmehr ◽  
Yagoob Garedaghi ◽  
Amir Babak Sioufi

Introduction: Cryptosporidiosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease that is caused by Cryptosporidium species and leads to acute or chronic diarrhea and vomiting in patients. Due to the suitable conditions of East Azerbaijan province for parasite transmission, the present study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in patients with gastroenteritis referred to hospitals and reference laboratories of East Azerbaijan province during 2018-2019. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on patients with diarrhea who referred to hospitals and reference laboratories of East Azerbaijan province during 2018-2019. In this study, 180 fecal samples were collected from patients with gastroenteritis by cluster-random sampling. Stool samples were stored in 10% formalin and transferred to a parasitology laboratory and examined for parasite contamination by modified acid-fast staining (Modified Ziehl-Neelsen) method. Data were analyzed by chi-square test using SPSS. Results: Out of 180 samples, the highest number of diarrhea samples belonged to the age group over 40 years (35.5%) and the lowest belonged to the age group of 10-20 years (7.7%). Additionally, 56% of subjects were male and 44% were female. Of these patients, 57.7% lived in urban areas and 42.3% in rural areas. Cryptosporidium was observed in 1.6% (3 cases) of patients with gastroenteritis. There was a statistically significant relationship between Cryptosporidium infection and the age of patients with diarrhea (P<0.05). Conclusion: In the present study, a lower prevalence of cryptosporidiosis has been determined in comparison with previous studies in East Azerbaijan province. However, Cryptosporidium and other parasitic infections in the feces of patients with diarrhea referred to hospitals or reference laboratories need to be carefully diagnosed by appropriate parasitological methods.


Author(s):  
Rabeya Sultana

Background: Despite the high prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure among Bangladeshi adults, little is known about the knowledge regarding the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke among the youth aged 15-24 years in Bangladesh. Against this background, the present study was conducted among the youth in Bangladesh to ascertain their levels of knowledge regarding health effects of secondhand smoke and its associated factors.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 656 respondents between the age of 15-24 years old selected by multistage cluster sampling. This study was conducted in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. Data was analyzed using Chi square testing and multivariate logistic regression.Results: The proportion of good, average and poor knowledge scores among respondents were 30.5%, 50.0% and 19.5% respectively. Age and education were significant independent predictors of good knowledge. Furthermore, education and gender were tended as independent predictor of average knowledge. OR for age: 1.12 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.25); OR for education: 1.27 (95% CI: 1.15 to 1.40).Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study found that less than one-third of the youth had a good level of knowledge on secondhand smoke health effects. The government needs to focus more on less-educated individuals and adolescents if a successful policy is to be implemented.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-364
Author(s):  
Rahul Narayan Gaikwad

Objective: This study was conducted to find out the youth perspective about the use of tobacco and its ill effects. The survey was conducted at a private Engineering college of Nagpur, Maharashtra India. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study with self-administered modified Global youth tobacco survey (GYTS) questionnaire was used for data collection. Eight hundred nine college students of age group between 17 year-24years were included in this study. The questionnaire comprised of information on socio-demographic characteristics and questionnaire was used to gather data on knowledge, attitude and practices of participants about tobacco use. Data analysis was performed by using chi-square test and Statistical significance was measured at a level of 0.05. Result: Out of 806 total participants, 136 (16.8) were current tobacco consumers, significantly high prevalence of tobacco use was observed among boys 106 (13.1) than girls 30 (3.7). Moreover, a higher number of boys 106 (13.1) started smoking at young adolescent age (13- 20 years) than girls30 (3.7). Conclusion: The findings in the study suggest that tobacco use is still an important risk behavior amongst students. Tobacco use was comparatively higher amongst boys though its use is not restricted to them only. There is a need to plan to gather nationwide baseline data on the use of tobacco by young adolescents and the factors associated with initiation of tobacco habit.KeywordsGlobal youth tobacco survey (GYTS); Tobacco prevalence; Tobacco use among youth.


Author(s):  
Hassan Hashemi ◽  
Mohammad Saatchi ◽  
Abbasali Yekta ◽  
Babak Ali ◽  
Hadi Ostadimoghaddam ◽  
...  

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of asthenopia and its associated factors in a sample of university students in Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were selected using multistage cluster sampling. Presence of at least one of the 10 symptoms—foreign body sensation, diplopia, blurred vision, eye swelling, dry eye, eye pain, difficulty in sustaining visual operations, decreased visual acuity, tearing, and photophobia—was considered as asthenopia. Ocular examinations, including uncorrected/corrected visual acuity measurement, objective/subjective refraction, cover test, amplitude of accommodation (AA), and near point of convergence (NPC) were performed. Results: Of the 1,462 students (mean age: 22.8 ± 3.1 years), 73% were women. The age- and gender standardized prevalence was 70.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 68.3–73.5), 39.8% (95% CI: 36.4–43.1), and 19.7% (95% CI: 16.0–23.3) based on the presence of at least one, two, and three symptoms, respectively. The prevalence was significantly higher in females (P = 0.048), hyperopic students (P < 0.001), and astigmatic participants (P < 0.001). The mean AA and NPC were 9.7 ± 2.6 D and 10.2 ± 4.2 D (P = 0.008) and 7.0 ± 2.1 cm and 7.7 ± 3.9 cm (P < 0.001) in participants with and without asthenopia, respectively. Multiple regression model revealed age (28–29 years), astigmatism, and NPC as independent associated factors (odds ratios: 3.51, 1.61, and 0.91, respectively). Conclusion: This study shows relatively high prevalence of asthenopia in university students. Demographic factors and visual system disorders are important risk factors and timely correction of conditions may lead to decreased asthenopia.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sultan Mahmud ◽  
Md Mohsin ◽  
Saddam Hossain Irfan ◽  
Abdul Muyeed ◽  
Ariful Islam

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that causes thousands of deaths in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the high-risk countries among 30 high TB burden countries. In this study, we aimed to assess the knowledge, practices, attitudes towards TB, and the factors associated with them in the general population of Bangladesh. Method: A web-based anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted among the general population in Bangladesh. A comprehensive consent statement was included at the beginning of the survey by explaining the study's intent, types of questions, anonymous and voluntary nature. Analysis was carried out using the chi-square test and univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Among 1,180 eligible respondents, 58.64% were males, and 62.37% were married. The majority of the participants (78.28%) were aged between 15 to 44 years. Overall adequate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and good practices about TB were found respectively in 47.8%, 44.75%, and 31.19% of the general population of Bangladesh. Almost the same sets of associated factors were found to influence adequate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and good practices towards TB among general people. Males, young, unmarried, respondents with higher education, and urban respondents were more likely to have adequate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and good practices towards TB. Conclusion: Policymakers need to design programs and interventions to improve knowledge, attitudes, and good practices towards TB among the general people by focusing on vulnerable groups such as females, young and older people, people who live in the rural areas, and illiterate/less educated people.


Author(s):  
Prakash Dudhani ◽  
Sanjay Khandekar

Background: There was a strong correlation between increase in hypertension and changing lifestyle factors. The problem which lies with the hypertension is that it cannot be cured completely. And its management requires lifelong medication with some life-style modifications. Decreased physical activities coupled with increased mental tension are important contributors of hypertension. They are usually seen amongst employees of the profession where working is typically sedentary.  The main objectives were to study on prevalence of hypertension and risk factors among Government Gazetted officers of Maharashtra, India.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried among gazetted officers working in various departments of state Government for a period of one year in Solapur district. 355 Gazetted Government officers of class I & class II cadre were studied. Blood pressure was measured with a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Chi-square test was applied to assess risk factors.Results: In present study, the prevalence of hypertension among Gazetted officers was observed 20.28%. There was significant positive association was found between age and prevalence of hypertension. And also it was found significantly higher in men than women. The association between education and hypertension found to be statistically significant (P<0.001), while there was no association between socioeconomic status and hypertension was found (P=0.33). Prevalence of hypertension was noted higher at every level of BMI. Prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in smokers, alcoholic and had significant association (P<0.05).Conclusions: We conclude that, because of high prevalence of hypertension in Gazetted officers, periodically they should be screened for the same.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 594-597
Author(s):  
Ankeeta Menona Jacob

The global burden of injuries in 2017 showed that 57.2 million people were affected. The study aimed to assess the patterns of injuries and costs related to the treatment of injuries. Injury in rural areas tends to be under-reported, which hinders estimation of the true prevalence of physical injuries for implementing injury prevention strategies at the community level. A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of a private medical college from May to August 2019. Physical injuries sustained by 1723 individuals over three months were collected and were classified based on ICD-10. Descriptive data were expressed using frequencies and percentages and median (Interquartile Range). Independent T-test, Mann Whitney U test, Chi-square test was used to determine statistical differences between the variables. The total number of injuries recorded was 105(6.9%) among 1723 individuals. The most common injuries were superficial injuries in 77 (70.0%), of which 98(89.1%), of which the upper 55(50.0%) limb was more affected than lower limbs 43(39.1%). The overall 3-month injury rate was 60.94(49.6-72.23) per 1000 persons. The median amount of money spent on the treatment of injuries was INR 225.0(50.0-1000.0).


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 957-965
Author(s):  
Silvia Bandeira da Silva Lima ◽  
Walcir Ferreira-Lima ◽  
Flávia Évelin Bandeira Lima ◽  
Fellipe Bandeira Lima ◽  
Amanda Santos ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of this study was to verify sleep hours and associated factors among Brazilian and Spanish students. A cross-sectional study with students aged 11 to 16 years-old was carried out in Paranavaí, Brasil (n = 264) and Cáceres, Spain (n = 233) between 2013 and 2015. Sleeping hours were verified regarding time in minutes, sleep in weekdays, weekends and after lunch/Siesta. All data were checked for normality by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test (X2) and Odds Ratio estimates were used (p < 0.05). High prevalence in both groups of sleeping 8 hours or more a night at the weekend. The prevalence of sleeping on weekdays, > 8 hours, 6 to 8 hours and < 6 hours among Spanish and Brazilian students, respectively. Nearly a quarter of each group responded that makes the siesta. Spanish students had 3 times higher chance to sleep < 8 hours a night in weekdays, among students from 14 to 16 years old and among the underactive. At the weekends the chance of sleeping < 8 hours is 2 times greater among the Spanish students. Simple guidelines could help so that sleep habits do not affect school development, such as practicing physical activity regularly, sleeping at least 8 hours a night, avoid excessive access to technology at night.


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