The Impact of Bedbug (Cimex spp.) Bites on Self-Rated Health and Average Hours of Sleep per Day: A Cross-Sectional Study among Hong Kong Bedbug Victims

Bedbugs (Cimex spp.) are a nuisance public-health pest that is on the rise globally, particularly in crowded cities such as Hong Kong. To investigate the health impacts of bedbug infestations among bedbug victims, online surveys were distributed in Hong Kong between June 2019 to July 2020. Data on sociodemographics, self-rated health, average hours of sleep per day, and details of bedbug infestation were collected. Bivariate and multivariable analysis were performed using logistic regression. The survey identified 422 bedbug victims; among them, 223 (52.9%) experienced ≥five bites in the past month; most bites occurred on the arms (n = 202, 47.8%) and legs (n = 215, 51%), and the most common reaction to bites were itchiness (n = 322, 76.3%), redness, and swelling of the skin (n = 246, 58.1%), and difficulties sleeping or restlessness (n = 125, 29.6%). Bites usually occurred during sleep (n = 230, 54.5%). For impact on daily life in the past month, most bedbug victims reported moderate to severe impact on mental and emotional health (n = 223, 52.8%) and sleeping quality (n = 239, 56.6%). Lower self-rated health (aOR < 1) was independently associated with impact on physical appearance (p = 0.008), spending money on medication or doctor consultation (p = 0.04), number of bites in the past month (p = 0.023), and irregular time of bites (p = 0.003). Lower average hours of sleep per day (aOR < 1) was independently associated with impact on mental and emotional health (p = 0.016). This study brings attention to the neglected issue of bedbug infestation by considering bedbugs as an infectious agent instead of a vector and providing empirical evidence describing its health impacts.

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Association of Differences in Dietary Behaviours and Lifestyle with Self-Reported Weight Gain during the COVID-19 Lockdown in a University Community from Chile: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13093213 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 3213

Author(s):

Addi Rhode Navarro-Cruz ◽

Ashuin Kammar-García ◽

Javier Mancilla-Galindo ◽

Gladys Quezada-Figueroa ◽

Mariana Tlalpa-Prisco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Food Groups ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dietary Behaviours ◽

The Impact ◽

University Community

Domiciliary confinement of people is one of the main strategies to limit the impact of COVID-19. Lockdowns have led to changes in lifestyle, emotional health, and eating habits. We aimed to evaluate the association of differences in dietary behaviours and lifestyle with self-reported weight gain during the COVID-19 lockdown in Chile. In this cross-sectional analytical study, five previously validated surveys were condensed into a single 86-item online questionnaire. The survey was sent to 1000 potential participants of the university community; it was kept online for 28 days to be answered. Of the 639 respondents, the mean self-reported weight gain during confinement was 1.99 kg (standard deviation [SE]: 0.17) and 0.7 (SE: 0.06) units of body mass index (BMI) (both p < 0.001) and the median difference in body weight during lockdown was 3.3% (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.0–6.7). The differences of intake of most food groups before and during lockdown were associated with greater self-reported weight, BMI and percentage weight gain. Differences in lifestyle (odds ratio [OR] = 14.21, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 2.35–85.82) worsening eating habits (OR = 3.43, 95%CI: 2.31–5.09), and more consumption of sweet or filled cookies and cakes during lockdown (OR = 2.11, 95%CI: 1.42–3.13) were associated with self-reported weight gain. In conclusion, different dietary behaviours (mainly consumption of industrialized foods) during lockdown, as well as quality of life deterioration were the main factors associated with self-reported weight gain during lockdown.

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Impact of Pregnancy-Related Venous Thromboembolism on Quality of Patients’ Lives

Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis ◽

10.1177/10760296211040873 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 107602962110408

Author(s):

Naser Al-Husban ◽

Leena N. Alnsour ◽

Zaid El-adwan ◽

Nada A. Saleh ◽

Mazen El-Zibdeh

Keyword(s):

Drug Level ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Past ◽

Hospital Visits ◽

Future Pregnancy ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

The Impact

Background: During pregnancy, the risk of venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) is increased at least five times compared with non-pregnant women of the same age, while the relative risk in the postpartum period can be as high as sixty times. The aim of the study was to explore the impact of pregnancy-related VTE on patients' mental, professional, social and personal life. Methods and Materials: Cross-sectional study at Jordan University Hospital's Obstetrics Department. Results: There were 112 women. Forty-six (41.1%) had a postpartum VTE. Twenty-eight of the patients (25%) had comorbidity. Eleven (9.9%) had a previous episode of VTE. Thirty-nine (35%) of the women reported three or more hospital visits over the past six months. Twenty-one (19.6%) of the women answered that their leg or chest pain has impeded their social activities. Anxiety/Depression was reported by 96.43% while Pain/Discomfort by 73.21%. A significant reduction of time spent on their work (correlation = 0.663, significant at <0.01) and accomplishing less work (correlation = 0.787, this was significant at <0.01) was found; 57.14% of patients indicated that VTE affecting their future pregnancies; 58.9% of patients were receiving anticoagulants with the most commonly used drug was aspirin. Twenty-four (36.4%) of the women were on multiple anticoagulant therapies. Twenty-five of the patients receiving medications do not monitor their medications and 20 patients said that monitoring the drug level was a bother to them. Conclusions: Pregnancy-related VTE had a significant adverse impact on physical, mental and professional life of women. It also had negative effects on future pregnancy plans.

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The impact of racially-motivated housing discrimination on allostatic load among Indigenous university students

10.21203/rs.2.12992/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Cheryl Currie ◽

Takara A. Motz ◽

Jennifer L Copeland

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

University Students ◽

Allostatic Load ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Housing Discrimination ◽

The Past ◽

Wear And Tear ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Allostatic load (AL) is a preclinical marker of the pathophysiologic processes that precede the onset of disease. The goal of this study was to examine the association between racially-motivated housing discrimination and AL score within a sample of Indigenous university students.Methods Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from Indigenous adults attending university in a small city in western Canada between 2015 and 2017 ( N = 104; Mean age = 27.8 years). An item adapted from the Experience of Discrimination Scale was to assess racially-motivated housing discrimination in the past 12 months. AL was measured as a composite of 7 biomarkers assessing neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune system function. Bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrapped linear regression models were used to examine associations adjusting for age, income, parenthood, and other situations in which discrimination had been experienced.Results Indigenous university students who experienced racially-motivated housing discrimination in the past year (16.8% of the sample) had an average AL score of approximately 4, which was almost double that of their peers who had not. In an adjusted model. racially-motivated housing discrimination was associated with a-1.5 point increase in AL score. This model explained 35% of the adjusted variance in AL score, of which racially-motivated housing discrimination explained 24% ( R 2 Change = 0.24, F Change = 32.52, Sig. F Change p <0.001).Conclusions Indigenous adults who experienced racially-motivated housing discrimination in the past year had early and more pronounced wear and tear on neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune system functioning in young and middle adulthood than Indigenous peers who did not. These findings combine with others to highlight the need for increased efforts to prevent racially-motivated housing discrimination in urban centres.

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Influence of workshop attendance on management of pediatric fecal incontinence in Nigeria

Annals of Pediatric Surgery ◽

10.1186/s43159-019-0004-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Taiwo Akeem Lawal

Keyword(s):

Fecal Incontinence ◽

Management Practices ◽

Postgraduate Training ◽

Surgical Care ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Past ◽

The Impact ◽

Training Opportunities ◽

And Training

Abstract Background The care of children with fecal incontinence is suboptimal with inadequate support and training opportunities. The postgraduate training of pediatric surgeons on the management of fecal incontinence is inadequate since each training center is not likely to see enough number of cases yearly. Supplemental training through workshops on fecal incontinence may help to bridge the gap. The aim of this cross sectional study was to evaluate the impact of previous attendance of a workshop on fecal incontinence management practices among pediatric surgeons. Results A total of 41 respondents participated. Eleven (26.8%) respondents had attended a workshop in the past and seven (17.1%) had done a Malone antegrade continent enema (MACE) on patients. A higher proportion of respondents who had practiced for over 15 years had attended a workshop on fecal incontinence compared to those who had not attended one (90.9% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.001). The proportion of respondents who had attended a workshop on fecal incontinence and had performed a MACE (18.2%) was higher than the proportion of those who had not attended a workshop and had performed a similar procedure on patients (3.3%), p = 0.047. Conclusions One quarter of pediatric surgeons in the country surveyed had attended a workshop on fecal incontinence. Prior attendance of a workshop on fecal incontinence is significantly related to experience and significantly influenced the performance of a MACE procedure. Supplementation of the training of pediatric surgeons through workshops on fecal incontinence will help to improve capacity in pediatric colorectal surgical care.

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A Cross-sectional study among Hospital Employees- Metabolic Syndrome and Shift Work

The Indonesian Journal of Occupational Safety and Health ◽

10.20473/ijosh.v10i2.2021.258-264 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 258

Author(s):

Santhosh E Kumar ◽

Antonisamy B ◽

Henry Kirupakaran ◽

Reginald G Alex

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Shift Work ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Sample Size Calculation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Shift Workers ◽

Hospital Employees ◽

The Impact

Introduction: Shift workers and metabolic syndrome are on the rise in developing nations. The link between Metabolic syndrome and shiftwork is not clear. This study aims to measure the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among shift workers and daytime workers and to assess the association between metabolic syndrome and shift work. Methods: Cross- sectional study was done in a South Indian hospital. Participants were selected via systematic random sampling between the age group of 25 -50 years. There were two study groups – day and shift workers. Sample size calculation was done with an alpha error of 0.05 and power of 80% to detect a 12.5% difference for metabolic syndrome prevalence between the two groups. Outcomes studied include the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and odds of developing metabolic syndrome among shift workers. The Chi-square test and independent t-test were the tests of significance used. The impact of relevant parameters on metabolic syndrome was assessed using univariate and multivariable analysis. Results: Eighty employees were studied in each group. At baseline, differences include; daytime workers were older in age, had a better quality of sleep, were less active physically, and consisted of more vegetarians. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome prevalence was thirty-three percent among the participants. The odds ratio (adjusted for relevant confounders) for shift workers to develop metabolic syndrome was 0.55 (95% CI 0.24 -1.29). Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in a third of the hospital employees studied. There was no statistical difference between shift and daytime workers for the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Increased awareness, screening, and preventive measures of the disease are recommended.Keywords: daytime, hospital, metabolic syndrome, shift work, sleep

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Poor self-rated health and associated factors among elderly urban residents

Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/1983-1447.2014.04.46916 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 35-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Joana Darc Chaves Cardoso ◽

Rosemeiry Capriata de Souza Azevedo ◽

Annelita Almeida Oliveira Reiners ◽

Cecília Victorazzo Louzada ◽

Mariano Martinez Espinosa

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Factors ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Prevalence Ratio ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Study Data ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Measure Of Association ◽

The Impact

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of bad self-rated health in the elderly and associated demographic and socioeconomic factors. This was an epidemiological, cross-sectional study. Data were collected through interviews using the BOAS (Brazil Old Age Schedule) questionnaire. The study included 573 elderly residents in the urban area of Cuiabá-MT, Brazil. The adopted measure of association was the prevalence ratio. For multivariate analysis, multiple Poisson regression was used. The prevalence of poor/very poor self-rated health was 30.9% and the associated factors were income, number of morbidities and urinary incontinence. The association of demographic and socioeconomic factors with poor/very poor self-rated health among the elderly in this study shows the need for assistance and policies that minimize the impact of these factors on the lives and health of the elderly.

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Prevalence of Smoking and Impact of Pictorial Health Warning on Quit Attempts Among Youths in Bhaktapur, Nepal

Journal of Global Oncology ◽

10.1200/jgo.18.33400 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽

pp. 27s-27s

Author(s):

B. Dhungel ◽

K. Basnet

Keyword(s):

Sampling Technique ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Warnings ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Warning ◽

The Past ◽

Quit Attempt ◽

Quit Attempts ◽

Quitting Smoking ◽

The Impact

Background: Nepal for the first time implemented laws regarding the pictorial health warnings in April 2014 regardless of an unsuccessful challenge that was set up by the tobacco industry in 2011. Results from several studies have shown that health warnings on cigarette packages have been helpful in warning smokers as well as nonsmokers regarding the harms of cigarette smoking, encouraging smokers to quit and also preventing nonsmokers from starting to smoke. Aim: The objective of this study was to find the impact of pictorial health warning on quit attempts. Methods: An explanatory cross-sectional study was conducted among youths aged 15-24 years in Suryabinayak-5, Bhaktapur with probability systematic random sampling technique using self-administered questionnaire. Results: Half (50%) of the respondents first tried smoking at the age of 16 or older. Seventeen percent of the respondents smoked cigarettes either occasionally or regularly during the past 30 days. Most of the respondents (91%) have not tried smokeless tobacco products ever in their life. Sixty-seven percent of the respondents had noticed PHW on cigarette packages during the past 30 days. One fourth (21.8%) respondents made an quit attempt due to PHW during the past 12 months and their maximum duration of abstinence during the last quit attempt was more than a week but less than a month. From the study it is found that there is statistically significant association between noticing pictorial health warning and thought about quitting smoking or intention about not starting smoking. Conclusion: Pictorial warnings effectively increased peoples quitting intentions, attempts as well as relinquishing cigarettes. Our findings suggest that implementing 90% pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs in Nepal would discourage smoking.

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Uptake and correlates of chlamydia and gonorrhea testing among female sex workers in Southern China: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11526-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Pei Zhen Zhao ◽

Ya Jie Wang ◽

Huan Huan Cheng ◽

Ye Zhang ◽

Wei Ming Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behaviors ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Southern China ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Past ◽

Female Sex

Abstract Background Female sex workers (FSW) are highly susceptible to chlamydia and gonorrhea infection. However, there is limited literature examining their testing uptake to date. This study aimed to assess the uptake and determinants of chlamydia and gonorrhea testing among FSW in Southern China. Methods A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was performed in five cities in Southern China. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, chlamydia and gonorrhea testing, and the utilization of health care services from participants were collected through face-to-face interviews. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine factors associated with chlamydia and gonorrhea testing, respectively. Results Overall, 1207 FSWs were recruited, with the mean age of 30.7 ± 6.8 years and an average number of clients of 7.0 (4.0–10.0) per week. 65.4% participants constantly used condoms with clients during the past month. Only 7.5 and 10.4% had been tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea in the last year, respectively. Multivariable analysis indicated that FSW who worked at low tiers (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 2.36, 95%CI:1.23–10.14), had more clients in the last month (aOR = 1.03, 95%CI:1.01–1.05), used condoms consistently (aOR = 1.79, 95%CI:1.12–2.86), had STD symptoms (aOR = 4.09,95%CI:2.62–6.40), had been tested for HIV (aOR = 5.16, 95%CI:3.21–8.30) or syphilis (aOR = 6.90, 95%CI:4.21–11.22) in the last year were more likely to have chlamydia testing. In addition, FSW who had more clients in the past month (aOR = 1.02,95%CI:1.00–1.04), had STD symptoms (aOR = 3.33, 95%CI:2.03–5.46), had been tested for HIV (aOR = 3.94, 95%CI:2.34–6.65) and syphilis (aOR = 3.27, 95%CI:1.96–5.46) in the last year were more likely to have gonorrhea testing. Conclusions The testing rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea are low among Chinese FSW. Integrating chlamydia and gonorrhea testing into HIV testing promotion programs may help bridge the gap among FSW.

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Prevalence and Factors Associated With Postpartum Depression During the Covid-19 Pandemic Among Women in Guangzhou, China: A Cross-sectional Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-27560/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ribo Xiong ◽

Yan Liu ◽

Peiqin Liang ◽

Yiding Wang ◽

Si Shi

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression Model ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Female Population ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic is a public health emergency of international concern. To date, there are limited studies that have investigated the impact of VOVID-19 pandemic on mental health among female population. This is especially pertinent with the emotional health vulnerability surrounding pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the prevalence of PPD and it’s related factors among women in Guangzhou, China, during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from 30th March 2020 to 13th April 2020 using anonymous online questionnaire among 864 women at 6-12 weeks postpartum. The Chinese version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and a questionnaire regarding associated factors were administered to all participants. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors that were significantly associated with PPD.Results: The prevalence of PPD among women at 6-12 weeks postpartum was 30.0%. A multivariate logistic regression model identified significant factors as: immigrant women, persistent fever, poor social support, concerns about contracting COVID-19 and certain precautionary measures.Conclusions: The findings suggest the need for policies and interventions to not only mitigate the psychological impacts but also targeting disadvantaged sub-groups of women following childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Prognostic Utility of Clinical Epilepsy Severity Score Versus Pretreatment Hypsarrhythmia Scoring in Children With West Syndrome

Clinical EEG and Neuroscience ◽

10.1177/1550059416662425 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 280-287 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rachna Sehgal ◽

Sheffali Gulati ◽

Savita Sapra ◽

Manjari Tripathi ◽

Ravinder Mohan Pandey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Severity Score ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

West Syndrome ◽

Cognitive Outcomes ◽

Global Score ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Past ◽

Prognostic Utility ◽

The Impact

This cross-sectional study assessed the impact of clinical epilepsy severity and pretreatment hypsarrhythmia severity on epilepsy and cognitive outcomes in treated children with West syndrome. Thirty-three children, aged 1 to 5 years, with infantile spasms were enrolled if pretreatment EEG records were available, after completion of ≥1 year of onset of spasms. Neurodevelopment was assessed by Development Profile 3 and Gross Motor Function Classification System. Epilepsy severity in the past 1 year was determined by the Early Childhood Epilepsy Severity Score (E-Chess). Kramer Global Score of hypsarrhythmia severity was computed. Kramer Global Score (≤8) and E-Chess (≤9) in the past 1 year were associated with favorable epilepsy outcome but not neurodevelopmental or motor outcome.

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