scholarly journals Factors Influencing Unintended Pregnancies amongst Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cambodia

Author(s):  
Farwa Rizvi ◽  
Joanne Williams ◽  
Elizabeth Hoban

Background: Unintended pregnancies in Cambodian youth are a major reproductive health concern with detrimental personal and socioeconomic consequences. A social ecological model was used to identify sociodemographic factors potentially associated with unintended pregnancies, and an analysis of data from the 2014 Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey was used to determine associations. Methods: Weighted data were analysed using multiple logistic regression analyses for 3406 Cambodian sexually active single, in union or married females aged 15–29 years. Results: The prevalence of unintended pregnancy was 12.3%. Unintended pregnancy was significantly associated with younger age groups (15–24 years), multiparity, history of abortion, and current use of modern contraceptive methods. All women had an increased likelihood of unintended pregnancy when the husband alone or someone else in the household made decisions about their access to healthcare. Conclusion: The burden of unintended pregnancies is associated with young age, multiparity, history of abortions, unemployment, and low autonomy for accessing healthcare. Multi-pronged, holistic reproductive and sexual health program interventions are needed to increase literacy and accessibility to modern contraception and to raise awareness about women’s health and status in Cambodia.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0245923
Author(s):  
Alamgir Sarder ◽  
Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam ◽  
Maniruzzaman ◽  
Ashis Talukder ◽  
Benojir Ahammed

Aim Unintended pregnancy is a significant public health concern in South Asian countries because of its negative association with the socioeconomic and health outcomes for both children and mothers. The present study aimed to explore the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and explore its determinants among women of reproductive age in six South Asian countries. Methods Nationwide latest demography and health survey data from six South Asian countries, including Bangladesh (2014), Pakistan (2017–2018), Nepal (2016), Afghanistan (2015), Maldives (2016–2017) and India (2015–2016) were pooled for the present study. Multivariate analysis was performed to explore the association between unintended pregnancy and its associated factors. Results Amongst the total women (n = 41,689), overall, 19.1% pregnancies were reported as unintended (ranging from 11.9% in India to 28.4% in Bangladesh). The logistic regression model showed that younger women (15–19 years) had 1.42 times higher chance of unintended pregnancies. The odds of unintended pregnancies was 1.24 times higher for poorest women and 1.19 times higher for poorer women. Further, urban women (aOR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.50–0.80), women having no children (aOR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.09–0.12), smaller (≤4) family (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.67–0.78), those who intent to use contraceptive (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.60–0.86), currently living with partner (aOR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.81–0.99), first cohabitation in teenage (≤19 years) (aOR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.78–0.92) were less likely to report unintended pregnancies. Conclusions This study has showed that women’s age, wealth index, place of residence, number of children, family size, the intention of contraceptive use, living with a partner, and first cohabitation age are essential determinants of unintended pregnancy. These factors should be considered when trying to reduce unintended pregnancy in six South Asian countries. However, there is a need to improve health education, counselling, skills-building, sex education, modern contraceptive use and its access in this region. Intervention programs regarding reproductive health and policies are warranted to reduce rates of unintended pregnancy in South Asian countries.


Author(s):  
A. Kapan ◽  
S. Stefanac ◽  
I. Sandner ◽  
S. Haider ◽  
I. Grabovac ◽  
...  

The increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes in past decades has aroused public health concern. This study aims to review the literature on the prevalence of e-cigarette use among the general adult and young populations in Europe. We searched Medline and Google Scholar from September 2019, and included “prevalence of e-cigarettes”, “electronic cigarettes” or “e-cigarettes”, and “electronic nicotine delivery system” or “vaping”. The prevalence of current e-cigarette use ranged from 0.2% to 27%, ever-use ranged from 5.5% to 56.6% and daily use ranged from 1% to 2.9%. Current smokers of conventional cigarettes showed the highest prevalence for the use of e-cigarettes, ranging from 20.4% to 83.1%, followed by ex-smokers, with ranges from 7% to 15%. The following socio-demographic factors were associated with a higher chance of using e-cigarettes: male sex and younger age groups; results for economic status were inconclusive. In European countries, there is a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use among males, adolescents and young adults, smokers of conventional cigarettes, and former smokers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Evans ◽  
Breanna De Leon ◽  
Reaghan Bathrick ◽  
Annie Ricupero

Background: Unintended pregnancy continues to be a public health concern across the nation. National data demonstrates the highest rates of unintended pregnancy occurs in women who are 18 to 24 years old. Providing practical and meaningful health education about contraception has the potential to reduce unintended pregnancy and improve quality of life for young adults. This paper describes the design and methodology for a comprehensive contraceptive education intervention at a public university. Methods: Convenience sampling was used with a custom survey conducted in Women’s Health classes from 2015-2021. Surveys contained questions about demographic characteristics, knowledge of contraception options, sources of knowledge, stress levels, and confidence in knowledge. Students completed a pretest, received a comprehensive contraception health education lecture, and completed a post-test. Data collection was approved by the university’s IRB, and analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 27. Conclusion: At a time when reproductive freedom, choice, and justice is scrutinized and suppressed, it is imperative that young adults maintain and understand the importance of having control over when, where, and how they decide to have children if they desire to do so. There is a need for continued comprehensive health education and appropriate resources at the university level. The use of assessments, building trusted professor-student relationships, and exploring credible and reliable information sources can be used to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies for college-aged students. If significant, the replication of the design and methods could have a significant impact on the public health problem of unintended pregnancies, maternal health equity, and reproductive justice.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-331
Author(s):  
Joseph Maytal ◽  
Shlomo Shinnar ◽  
Solomon L. Moshé ◽  
Luis A. Alvarez

In an ongoing study of status epilepticus, 193 children with status epilepticus of varying causes have been followed up for a mean period of 13.2 months. Of these, 97 patients were recruited prospectively. The patients' ages ranged from 1 month to 18 years (mean, 5.0 years). The cause of the status epilepticus was classified as idiopathic in 46 cases, remote symptomatic in 45, febrile in 46, acute symptomatic in 45, and progressive neurologic in 11. The mortality and incidence of sequelae following status epilepticus was low and primarily a function of etiology. Seven children died within 3 months of having the seizure. New neurologic deficits were found in 17 (9.1%) of the 186 survivors. All of the deaths and 15 of the 17 sequelae occurred in the 56 children with acute or progressive neurologic insults. Only two of the 137 children with other causes sustained any new deficits (P < .001). Duration of the status epilepticus affected outcome only within the acute symptomatic group (P < .05). Neurologic sequelae occurred in 29% of infants younger than 1 year of age, 11% of children 1 to 3 years of age, and 6% of children older than 3 years of age. However, this was a reflection of the greater incidence of acute neurologic disease in the younger age groups. Within each cause, age did not affect outcome. Of the 193 children, 61 (32%) had a history of prior unprovoked seizures. Of the 125 surviving children with no history of prior unprovoked seizures, 37 (30%) had subsequent unprovoked seizures. It is concluded that the morbidity of aggressively treated status epilepticus in children, in the absence of an acute neurologic insult or progressive neurologic disorder, is low.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel H. Nyarko

Background. Hypertension is a global health problem. Yet, studies on hypertension rarely focus on women in Ghana. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of hypertension history among Ghanaian women in reproductive age.Methods. This study used data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were carried out to ascertain the prevalence and determinants of hypertension history among the respondents.Results. The study found that the overall prevalence of hypertension history among the respondents was 7.5%; however, there were vast variations within most of the sociodemographic categories. Age, level of education, marital status, work status, and wealth status had a significant relationship with hypertension history among the respondents. Women in advanced age groups, highly educated, married, and widowed/divorced/separated, nonworking women, and women from wealthy households were at higher risk of having hypertension history.Conclusion. Myriads of sociodemographic factors determine the hypertension history of women in Ghana. It is therefore essential to target medical and psychosocial hypertension interventions at Ghanaian women in the higher risk groups.


Author(s):  
Rajat Sanker Roy Biswas ◽  
Fahim Ul Hasan ◽  
Aklima Sultana ◽  
Md Kamal Uddin ◽  
Debashis Chowdhury ◽  
...  

Introduction: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) causes outbreaks of jaundice and it is associated with morbidity and higher maternal mortality. There is a recent outbreak of hepatitis in the Chittagong city and present study is aimed to observe the clinical and serological trends along with outcome of hepatitis cases visiting two tertiary care hospitals Chittagong, Bangladesh. Methods: It was an observational study done in two tertiary care hospital of Chittagong in a period of 3 months (May, June & July 2018) among 230 patients of hepatitis. After inclusion with written informed consent patients were introduced a questionnaire. Their demographic data, risk behaviors were noted, history related to hepatitis were recorded. Examination was done and evaluation regarding presence of hepatic encephalopathy at bed site was noted. Later serological findings were evaluated. After collection of all data it were compiled and analyzed by SPSS- 20. Results: Among 230 cases age group, gender and locality of the study patients were analyzed where younger age groups specially 21-30 years 114(49.6%) and 31-40 years 38(16.5%) were the most affected group. Gender distribution was found mostly same. Halishahar area which is located in western part of the Chittagong city was found mostly affected 196(85.2%). Use of water from WASA (Water and Sewerage Authority) supply was 168(73%) and deep tubewel water was 56(24.3%). Among them 80(34.8%) subjects do not boil water Anorexia (74.8%) nausea (77.4%) vomiting (83.5%) history of fever (89.6%) passage of dark color urine (99.1%) and weakness (97.4%) were some common presenting complaints. Family history of jaundice was found in 40.9% of cases. Among all 216(93.91%) had clinical jaundice, 91(39.56%) had right upper quadrant of the abdomen pain, 41(17.8%) had hepatomegally, 14(6.1%) had spleenomegally, 24(10.4%) had signs of hepatic failure and 34(14.8%) female were pregnant. Anti HEV was found positive in 164(71.3%) cases, 12(5.2%) were positive for anti HAV, 6(2.6%) were positive for HBsAg. None was found anti HCV positive. Among all 4(1.8%) cases died due to hepatic failure or multi-organ failure with AKI. All of them were pregnant. Two pregnant lady had missed abortion. Among all 11(4.7%) cases loosed follow and 213(92.60%) cases had uneventful recovery. Conclusion: This outbreak of HEV was of usual pattern of morbidity and mortality, and therefore points to water supply and sanitation issues. Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.17 (2); Jul 2018; Page 2-5


2021 ◽  
pp. 43-44
Author(s):  
S. Balameena ◽  
R Agavendra ◽  
Karthikeyan Karthikeyan ◽  
Sujatha Sujatha ◽  
Sabarish Sabarish ◽  
...  

Background:Burden of Osteoporosis and its related fractures are enormous and growing public health concern. Worldwide, an estimated 200 million adults suffer from osteoporosis. Vertebral and non-vertebral fractures are the most clinically relevant osteoporotic fracture because they are expensive to treat and have severe consequences for middle aged and elderly population.(1 ,2) The purpose of our study was to assess calcaneal ultrasound score as a screening test for osteoporosis. Material and Methods: Fifty patients above the age of 40 years who attended a health checkup camp conducted by our institute in a suburban population base of Chennai,Tamilnadu was subjected for noninvasive QUS of calcaneum bone as a screening test for osteoporosis. They were divided into different age groups ,co-morbid conditions noted and BMD scores from QUS was assessed. Statistical method were used with SPSS Version .It was a cross sectional descriptive study. Results: A total of 50 patients underwent QUS of calcaneum bone in our study , all of them above the age of 40 years. 33(66%) of them were females and 17(34%) were males. Eight patients( 16% ) had T score < -2.5 out of which 1 was male. 26 patients(52%) had T scores in the osteopenic range (-1>Tscore>-2.5).16 patients(32%) had T scores in the normal range. 40 % of patients had associated osteoarthritis and four patients had diabetes. 2 patients who underwent screening had past history of nontraumatic fractures. Conclusion: QUS of calcaneum is a good screening tool for assessing bone density in our country since its cost effective and can be used in various screening camps. The machine is portable and can be used with minimal training making it easier for the primary caregiver. It has reasonably good sensitivity and fair specicity when using Tscore of -2.5 as the cut off point. However DEXAis the gold standard for treatment and followup of patients with osteoporosis.


1985 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Lo ◽  
T. M. Leung

Coroners' statistics indicated there were 684 suicides for the whole of Hong Kong in 1981. This gave a crude suicide rate of 18.1 per 100,000 population aged 15 years and over and constituted 2.7% of all deaths reported in that year. Only a few data were recorded in all coroners' files but additional data were obtained from police records on 168 of these suicides. The age and sex distribution among the suicides as well as the effect of marital and employment status on suicide rates were found to be similar to western countries. Jumping from a height was the most common method of suicide (47.2%) followed by hanging (30.8%). Psychiatric illness and chronic physical disability were two most important precipitating causes of suicide (39.8% and 35.7% respectively). Twenty per cent had a history of previous attempts with one-third occurring within six months of their completed suicide. Over 40% had communicated their suicide intention to others, while 19% left a note. ‘Psychiatric’ cases as a group had special features: there were more in the younger age groups, more with records of previous suicide attempts and more chose readily available methods.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farwa Rizvi ◽  
Joanne Williams ◽  
Steven Bowe ◽  
Elizabeth Hoban

Background Unmet need is the gap between women’s need and their practice of using contraception. Unmet need for contraception in female adolescents and women in Cambodia is a public health concern which may lead to unintended pregnancies or abortions that can contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality. Methods Bronfenbrenner’s Social Ecological Model was used as a theoretical framework to analyze data from the 2014 Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey to ascertain demographic and social factors potentially associated with unmet need for contraception. Bivariate and weighted multiple logistic regression analyses with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were conducted for 4,823 Cambodian, sexually active females aged 15–29 years. Results The percentage of unmet need for contraception was 11.7%. At the individual level of the Social Ecological Model, there was an increased likelihood of unmet need in adolescent girls 15–19 years and women 20–24 years. Unmet need was decreased in currently employed women. At the microenvironment level, there was an increased likelihood of unmet need with the husband’s desire for more children and when the decision for a woman’s access to healthcare was made by someone else in the household. At the macroenvironment level, unmet need was decreased in women who could access a health facility near their residence to obtain medical care. There were no urban rural differences found in the Cambodian sample population. Conclusion Unmet need for contraception in Cambodian females adolescents and women is associated with younger age, unemployment and low personal autonomy for accessing healthcare but not with education or wealth status. There is a need to implement culturally appropriate reproductive and sexual health literacy programs to increase access to modern contraception and to raise women’s autonomy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (12) ◽  
pp. 947-953
Author(s):  
Jean Paul Bikorimana ◽  
Ursin Bayisenge ◽  
Tonya Huston ◽  
Eugene Ruberanziza ◽  
Jean Bosco Mbonigaba ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Podoconiosis is a progressive swelling of the legs affecting genetically susceptible people who live in areas with irritant red clay soils and walk barefoot. The disease is a public health concern in many countries, including Rwanda. Methods This retrospective study described individual and familial characteristics of patients with podoconiosis attending the Heart and Sole Africa (HASA) clinics in Rwanda. Data on patient characteristics and family history were retrieved from electronic medical records (January 2013 – August 2019). A multiple regression analysis was used to explore factors influencing age of onset of podoconiosis. Results Among 467 patients with podoconiosis, the mean (standard deviation) age of onset was 34.4 (19.6) years, 139 (29.8%) patients developed podoconiosis at &lt;20 years of age, 417 (89%) came from Musanze or neighboring Burera Districts, and 238 (51.0%) had a family history of podoconiosis. Increasing patient age was associated with older age at onset of disease (p&lt;0.001), while an increased number of relatives with podoconiosis (p&lt;0.002) was significantly associated with earlier disease onset. Conclusion Most patients with podoconiosis were women, and more than half had a family history of podoconiosis. An increased number of relatives with podoconiosis was associated with a significantly younger age at disease onset.


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