scholarly journals Comparing age and sex trends of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis and syphilis infections in Samoa in 2012 and 2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Robert Carney ◽  
Michaela Howells ◽  
Aaone Tanumafili ◽  
Athena Matalavea ◽  
Judith Gafa ◽  
...  

In Samoa, the seroprevalence rates of sexually transmitted infections other than HIV have been endemically high over the past decade, despite years of prevention programming. Odds ratio and χ2 tests were conducted to compare the rates of positivity of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis across age groups from 2012 and 2017 surveillance data in Samoa. Young people aged 15–19 years were significantly more likely to have a chlamydia infection compared to all other age groups in both 2012 and 2017. Hepatitis B infections were more common in males and those aged 30 and above in both 2012 and 2017. Hepatitis C had no significant differences in age, but it was more common in males in 2012 and more common in females in 2017. Older age groups (aged 45 and above) were more likely to have a positive syphilis test in both 2014 and 2017 when compared to those aged 15–24 years. The results of this analysis confirm previously observed trends in Samoa for younger age groups’ prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and for older age groups’ prevalence of hepatitis B and C. But the analysis also unexpectedly found that older age groups (aged 45 and above) are more likely to test positive for syphilis (for years 2014 and 2017). Further studies are needed to assess behavioural risk factors associated with older populations in order to explain the increase in risk and to design interventions suited to this demographic.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Hellerstedt ◽  
Arianna Moccia ◽  
Chloe M. Brunskill ◽  
Howard Bowman ◽  
Zara M. Bergström

AbstractERP-based forensic memory detection is based on the logic that guilty suspects will hold incriminating knowledge about crimes they have committed, and therefore should show parietal ERP positivities related to recognition when presented with reminders of their crimes. We predicted that such forensic memory detection might however be inaccurate in older adults, because of changes to recognition-related brain activity that occurs with aging. We measured both ERPs and EEG oscillations associated with episodic old/new recognition and forensic memory detection in 30 younger (age < 30) and 30 older (age > 65) adults. EEG oscillations were included as a complementary measure which is less sensitive to temporal variability and component overlap than ERPs. In line with predictions, recognition-related parietal ERP positivities were significantly reduced in the older compared to younger group in both tasks, despite highly similar behavioural performance. We also observed ageing-related reductions in oscillatory markers of recognition in the forensic memory detection test, while the oscillatory effects associated with episodic recognition were similar across age groups. This pattern of results suggests that while both forensic memory detection and episodic recognition are accompanied by ageing-induced reductions in parietal ERP positivities, these reductions may be caused by non-overlapping mechanisms across the two tasks. Our findings suggest that EEG-based forensic memory detection tests are invalid in older populations, limiting their practical applications.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.A. Nilanga Nishad ◽  
S.A. Hewage ◽  
K. Arulmoly ◽  
M.S. Amaratunge ◽  
J de Silva ◽  
...  

AbstractOut of 39 billion people who are blind around the world, 20 billion (51.3%) is due to cataract, which is preventable. This study intended to assess the prevalence and factors associated with cataract among elderly in a divisional secretariat area in Sri Lanka. This community based cross sectional study assessed randomly selected470 adults over 60 years of age. Diagnosis of cataract was made by a slit lamp examination by medical officers, and classified according to Oxford Lens Opacity Classification system (LOCS III). Majority was between 60-69 age groups and 71% was females. The prevalence of cataract was estimated to be 80.6% including operated eye and 73.6% excluding the operated eye, with a female preponderance in lower age categories. Commonest type of cataract was the nuclear type (n=422; 44.9%), with a majority in grade 2 (218; 23.2%). The prevalence of cataract surgery in the diseased population was as low as 7%. Cataract leading to blindness is very prevalent among adults over 60 years of age in the studied area. Females tend to develop the disease at an early age than males. These findings warrant screening programme for elderly at community level, targeting females at a younger age than males. Future studies are recommended to assess the coverage and barriers for cataract surgeries at national level, which would be immensely useful in planning and improving health services.


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 930-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ione Jayce Ceola Schneider ◽  
Marui Weber Corseuil ◽  
Antonio Fernando Boing ◽  
Eleonora d'Orsi

The purpose of this paper is to describe the knowledge about mammography and to identify associated factors in female adults and elderly. Data were obtained from two population surveys, one with female adults and another with elderly women from Florianópolis (SC) in 2009 - 2010. A descriptive analysis of the variables was carried out, the appropriate mean of responses about mammography was estimated and crude and adjusted Poisson regression was conducted to identify associated factors. Among adults, 23.1% answered all of the questions appropriately and the appropriate average responses was 7.2 (95%CI 7.1 - 7.3) in a total of 9. In the adjusted model, older age, higher education and income were associated with knowledge about mammography. For the elderly, 15.3% answered all questions appropriately and the average of appropriate responses was 6.4 (95%CI 5.2 - 6.5) and the factors associated with knowledge about mammography in the adjusted model were younger age groups, increased education and income, and identification of mammography as the main diagnostic method for breast cancer. Information about mammography can neither be transmitted in a clear way nor be easily understood; there are also demographic and socioeconomic differences concerning the knowledge about the exam.


BMC Nutrition ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg Bilukha ◽  
Alexia Couture ◽  
Kelly McCain ◽  
Eva Leidman

Abstract Background Ensuring the quality of anthropometry data is paramount for getting accurate estimates of malnutrition prevalence among children aged 6–59 months in humanitarian and refugee settings. Previous reports based on data from Demographic and Health Surveys suggested systematic differences in anthropometric data quality between the younger and older groups of preschool children. Methods We analyzed 712 anthropometric population-representative field surveys from humanitarian and refugee settings conducted during 2011–2018. We examined and compared the quality of five anthropometric indicators in children aged 6–23 months and children aged 24–59 months: weight for height, weight for age, height for age, body mass index for age and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) for age. Using the z-score distribution of each indicator, we calculated the following parameters: standard deviation (SD), percentage of outliers, and measures of distribution normality. We also examined and compared the quality of height, weight, MUAC and age measurements using missing data and rounding criteria. Results Both SD and percentage of flags were significantly smaller on average in older than in younger age group for all five anthropometric indicators. Differences in SD between age groups did not change meaningfully depending on overall survey quality or on the quality of age ascertainment. Over 50% of surveys overall did not deviate significantly from normality. The percentage of non-normal surveys was higher in older than in the younger age groups. Digit preference score for weight, height and MUAC was slightly higher in younger age group, and for age slightly higher in the older age group. Children with reported exact date of birth (DOB) had much lower digit preference for age than those without exact DOB. SD, percentage flags and digit preference scores were positively correlated between the two age groups at the survey level, such as those surveys showing higher anthropometry data quality in younger age group also tended to show higher quality in older age group. Conclusions There should be an emphasis on increased rigor of training survey measurers in taking anthropometric measurements in the youngest children. Standardization test, a mandatory component of the pre-survey measurer training and evaluation, of 10 children should include at least 4–5 children below 2 years of age.


Author(s):  
Seth C. Kalichman ◽  
Chauncey Cherry ◽  
Denise White ◽  
Mich'l Jones ◽  
Moira Kalichman

Background: Antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) offer promising new avenues for HIV prevention. Unfortunately, people infected with HIV who have co-occurring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are more infectious than suggested by the amount of virus in their peripheral blood. We examined the history of sexually transmitted coinfections in people living with HIV. Methods: People living with HIV/AIDS completed confidential computerized interviews that assessed history of STI, sexual behaviors, and STI knowledge. Results: Among 414 men and 156 women currently receiving ART, 53% had been diagnosed with at least 1 STI since testing HIV positive; 24% women, 19% men, and 11% transgender persons had been diagnosed with an STI in the past year. History of STI was associated with younger age, greater STI knowledge, substance use, and ART nonadherence. Conclusions: Aggressive strategies for detecting and treating STI in people receiving ART will be necessary to achieve protective benefits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. e134101320989
Author(s):  
Natália de Carvalho Scharf Santana ◽  
Camila Barros Galinari ◽  
Izabel Galhardo Demarchi ◽  
Marcia Edilaine Lopes Consolaro ◽  
Jorge Juarez Vieira Teixeira

To investigate the general prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the factors associated with syphilis and HIV in women treated in the Integrated Health System (SINAS). Cross-sectional database study with 6.993 patients treated at a referral center in the state of Paraná, Brazil, from January 2013 to December 2015. The overall prevalence was 2.39% for syphilis and HIV, being 0.65 and 0.22% for pregnant women and 3.07 and 0.78% for non-pregnant women, respectively. After adjusting the variables in the logistic regression model, the main predictors associated with syphilis were the age groups 41 to 59 and 60 to 83 years old (p <0.001), non-pregnant women (p <0.01), marital status married (p <0.001), drug use (p <0.01) and previous STIs (<0.001). For HIV, the predictors were city of residence (<0.001), reason for search (p <0.01), reported previous STTs (p <0.001). The population served had a higher prevalence of syphilis when compared to the international panorama, while the HIV values were lower. The predictors associated with STIs were non-pregnant, heterosexual women, aged between the second and fourth decade of life, higher education and who did not use condoms regularly. This study presents relevant information for the evaluation and development of measures that prevent, control and are related to the diagnosis and treatment of the investigated STIs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 450
Author(s):  
Paulo Jorge Nogueira ◽  
Miguel De Araújo Nobre ◽  
Paulo Jorge Nicola ◽  
Cristina Furtado ◽  
António Vaz Carneiro

Article published with errors: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/13928On page 376, in Abstract, paragraph Results, where it reads: ”Despite the inherent uncertainty, it is safe to assume an observed excess mortality of 2400 to 4000 deaths. Excess mortality was associated with older age groups (over age 65).”It should read: “An excess mortality of 2400 to 4000 deaths was observed. Excess mortality was associated with older age groups (over age 65).”On page 376, in Abstract, paragraph Conclusion, where it reads: ”The excess mortality occurred between March 1 and April 22 was 3 to 5 fold higher than what can be explained by the official COVID-19 deaths.”It should read: “Despite the inherent uncertainty, the excess mortality occurred between March 1 and April 22 could be 3.5- to 5-fold higher than what can be explained by the official COVID-19 deaths.”On page 376, in Resumo, paragraph Conclusão, where it reads: “Da análise dos resultados é possível concluir que o excesso de mortalidade ocorrido entre 1 de março e 22 de abril foi 3 a 5 vezes superior ao explicado pelas mortes por COVID-19 reportadas oficialmente.”It should read: “Apesar da incerteza inerente, da análise dos resultados é possível concluir que o excesso de mortalidade ocorrido entre 1 de março e 22 de abril poderá ter sido 3,5 a 5 vezes superior ao explicado pelas mortes por COVID-19 reportadas oficialmente.”On page 377, last line of the first paragraph, where it reads: “If the lockdown had some protective effect on overall mortality, like summer holiday months seem to have, these effects may be observed some, if not all, age groups.”It should read: “If the lockdown had some protective effect on overall mortality, like summer holiday months seem to have, these effects may be observed in all age groups.”On page 377, section Results, third paragraph, last sentence where it reads: “Mortality in the younger age groups was, on average, below the proposed baselines, as hypothesized.”It should read: “Mortality in the younger age groups was, on average, lower than the proposed baselines as theorized.”On page 382, section Conclusion, last sentence, where it reads: “Overall, these results point towards an excess mortality that is associated with and that is 3 to 5-fold higher than the official COVID-19 mortality.” It should read: “Overall, these results point towards an excess mortality that is associated with and that could be 3.5- to 5-fold higher than the official COVID-19 mortality.” Artigo publicado com erros: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/13928Na página 376, no Abstract, parágrafo Results, onde se lê: “Despite the inherent uncertainty, it is safe to assume an observed excess mortality of 2400 to 4000 deaths. Excess mortality was associated with older age groups (over age 65).”Deverá ler-se: “An excess mortality of 2400 to 4000 deaths was observed. Excess mortality was associated with older age groups (over age 65).”Na página 376, no Abstract, parágrafo Conclusion, onde se lê: “The excess mortality occurred between March 1 and April 22 was 3 to 5 fold higher than what can be explained by the official COVID-19 deaths."Deverá ler-se: “Despite the inherent uncertainty, the excess mortality occurred between March 1 and April 22 could be 3.5- to 5-fold higher than what can be explained by the official COVID-19 deaths.”Na página 376, no Resumo, parágrafo Conclusão, onde se lê: “Da análise dos resultados é possível concluir que o excesso de mortalidade ocorrido entre 1 de março e 22 de abril foi 3 a 5 vezes superior ao explicado pelas mortes por COVID-19 reportadas oficialmente.”Deverá ler-se: “Apesar da incerteza inerente, da análise dos resultados é possível concluir que o excesso de mortalidade ocorrido entre 1 de março e 22 de abril poderá ter sido 3,5 a 5 vezes superior ao explicado pelas mortes por COVID-19 reportadas oficialmente.”Na página 377, na última linha do primeiro parágrafo, onde se lê: “If the lockdown had some protective effect on overall mortality, like summer holiday months seem to have, these effects may be observed some, if not all, age groups.”Deverá ler-se: “If the lockdown had some protective effect onoverall mortality, like summer holiday months seem to have, these effects may be observed in all age groups.”Na página 377, secção Resultados, terceiro parágrafo última frase, onde se lê: “Mortality in the younger age groups was, on average, below the proposed baselines, as hypothesized.”Deverá ler-se: “Mortality in the younger age groups was, on average, lower than the proposed baselines as theorized.”Na página 382, secção Conclusion, última frase, onde se lê: “Overall, these results point towards an excess mortality that is associated with and that is 3 to 5-fold higher than the official COVID-19 mortality.”Deverá ler-se: “Overall, these results point towards an excess mortality that is associated with and that could be 3.5- to 5-fold higher than the official COVID-19 mortality.”


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5084-5084
Author(s):  
Kazuhiro Takehara ◽  
Hiroko Nakamura ◽  
Osamu Samura ◽  
Tomoya Mizunoe ◽  
Akihisa Saito ◽  
...  

5084 Background: To estimate the prevalence and genotypes of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) among older Japanese women, using liquid-based cytology (LBC). Methods: ThinPrep LBC specimens were collected from 11,039 Japanese women (age range, 14-98 years). After classifying cytodiagnosis, specimens were analyzed for HPV DNA using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction method. Cervical smear specimens from 1,302 women showed positive results. To examine the prevalence of HPV in women defined as negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM), 2,563 samples were randomly selected from the remaining 9,737 women. Comparisons were made between women ≥50 years of age (older age group) and women <50 years of age (younger age group). Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. In this study, the high-risk HPV genotypes encountered were 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, and 58. Results: In the older age group with abnormal smear findings, HPV genotypes were detected in 49.7% (148/298), including high-risk HPV genotypes in 40.9% (122/298). In the younger age group with abnormal smear findings, HPV genotypes were detected in 71.7% (720/1004), including high-risk HPV genotypes in 58.1% (583/1,004). In NILM, HPV-positive rates were 4.5% (39/873) in the older age group and 11.8% (199/1,690) in the younger age group. In high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) or more severe cytological findings, HPV genotypes of each group (older age group/younger age group) were detected in 61.7%/83.1%, and high-risk HPV genotypes were detected in 56.4%/74.7% of women. In positive cervical smears, HPV 16 was the most frequently detected (28.5%) in the younger age group, while HPV 52 (31.3%) and 58 (27.2%) were detected more frequently than HPV 16 (18.4%) in the older age group. Conclusions: In Japan, although HPV infection as a cause of abnormal cervical cytology is more frequent among younger age groups than in older age groups, high-risk HPV infection was more highly associated with older individuals (older age group/younger age group: abnormal smear findings, 82.4%/81.0%; HSIL or more severe cytological findings, 91.3%/89.9%). In older age groups, HPV 52 and 58 were more frequent than HPV 16.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. CGast.S3732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace X. Ma ◽  
Yin Tan ◽  
Min Qi Wang ◽  
Ying Yuan ◽  
Wang Gyu Chae

Objective The purpose of this community-based study was to determine factors associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening compliance and non-compliance among Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Cambodian adults with varying levels of English language proficiency. Methods A cross-sectional design was used consisting of a sample of 1,603 Asian adult men and women. Results Overall, 71.4% of the sample reported having never been screened and 28.6% reported being screened for HBV Demographic, acculturation, and barrier factors were differentially associated with screening rates among the subgroups. Demographic factors associated with never-screened were: lower education, younger age, being male, and no insurance for Chinese; lower education, lower income and no insurance for Cambodians; younger age and unmarried for Koreans; and no health insurance for Vietnamese; Acculturation factors associated with never-screened were: not speaking English for Chinese; not speaking English, not reading newspapers in English, and watching TV in one's native language for Cambodians; not speaking English for Koreans; while no significant factors were found for Vietnamese. All barriers were associated with never-screened for Cambodians and Chinese. Those who lacked knowledge about HBV and had language and transportation barrier were more likely to be never-screened for Koreans. There were no significant relationships between the barriers and the screening status for Vietnamese. Conclusions High incidence of HBV and liver cancer in Asian Americans mandates a more vigorous and more culturally and linguistically appropriate educational effort to increase screening and vaccination for HBV in these underserved and mostly uninsured populations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asmaa Al-Chidadi ◽  
Dorothea Nitsch ◽  
Andrew Davenport

Background Studies in hemodialysis patients suggest that hyponatremia is associated with increased mortality. However, results from peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are discordant. We wished to establish whether there was an association between serum sodium and mortality risk in PD patients. Methods We analyzed 3,108 PD patients enrolled at day 90 of renal replacement therapy (RRT) into the UK Renal Registry (UKRR) data base with available serum sodium measurements (in 3 groups: ≤ 137, 138 - 140, ≥ 141 mmol/L) who were then followed up until death or the censoring date (31 December 2012). Analysis used Cox-regression with adjustment for age, sex, year of starting RRT, primary renal disease, serum albumin, smoking, and comorbidities. Results Unadjusted mortality rates were 118.6/1,000 person-years (py), 83.4/1,000 py, and 83.5/1,000 py for the lowest, middle, and highest serum sodium tertiles, respectively. After adjustment for covariates, patients in the lowest serum sodium group had almost 50% increased risk of dying compared with those with the highest serum sodium (hazard ratio [HR] 1.49, confidence interval [CI]:1.28 - 1.74), with a graded association between serum sodium and mortality. The association of serum sodium with mortality varied by age (p interaction < 0.001), and whilst this association attenuated after adjustment for confounding variables in the older age groups (55 - 64, and > 65 years), it remained in the younger age group of 18 - 54 years (HR 2.24 [1.36 – 3.70] in the lowest compared with the highest sodium tertile). Conclusions Lower serum sodium concentrations at the start of RRT in PD patients are associated with increased risk of mortality. Whilst this association may well be due to confounding in the older age groups, the persistent strong association between hyponatremia and mortality in the younger age group after adjustment for the available confounders suggests that prospective studies are required to assess whether active intervention to maintain serum sodium changes outcomes.


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