scholarly journals Influence of socio-demographic factors and length of disease on adherence of patients with arterial hypertension

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 140-144
Author(s):  
Marijana Jandrić-Kočič ◽  
Snežana Knežević

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization defines patient adherence as the willingness to adapt its behavior (in terms of therapy, diet, lifestyle, and diagnostic procedures) to the recommendations agreed with the healthcare provider. Objective. The study aimed to determine the impact of socio-demographic factors and length of elevated blood pressure on the adherence of patients with arterial hypertension. METHOD: The study was performed as a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 170 patients, 88 (51.8%) women and 82 (48.2%) men, with a mean age of 58 ± 7.9 years. In addition to the general questionnaire, the study used the Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale. RESULTS: Statistically significantly higher adherence was found in subjects aged 60-69 years and participants in the study with arterial hypertension for more than 15 years (p<0.05). Subjects with completed primary school had statistically significantly lower adherence (p<0.05). Place of residence, employment status and gender of the respondents did not show a statistically significant influence on the adherence of the respondents (NS). CONCLUSION: It uses the age, educational status and duration of arterial hypertension in the adherence of examination statistics. Place of residence, employee status and gender of respondents do not show a statistically significant impact.

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelika Kobylińska ◽  
Nicole Sochacki-Wójcicka ◽  
Dariusz Gozdowski ◽  
Dorota Bomba-Opoń ◽  
Mirosław Wielgoś ◽  
...  

Introduction. Pregnancy is a period of increased risk of oral diseases that affect both the course of pregnancy and child’s health. Pregnant women should pay particular attention to dental and periodontal health by implementing intensified preventive and therapeutic activities. Aim. An evaluation of the reasons for dental visits and the types of dental services among pregnant women, with reference to the impact of the socio-demographic factors such as place of residence and the type of medical facility. Material and methods. An electronic survey was conducted among women up to 5 years postpartum (consent of the bioethical committee of Medical University of Warsaw). Socio-demographic data as well as information on the course of pregnancy, dental appointments during pregnancy, the type of dental procedures and the type of attended healthcare facilities were collected. The chi-square test and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. A p ≤ 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results. A total of 3,439 questionnaires completed 2 weeks to 5 years after delivery by women aged between 13.1 – 45.4 years, including 40.9% of urban residents, 74.8% of women with higher education, and 41% of women in good economic situation, were analysed. A total of 62.3% of respondents reported attending dental appointments (usually private) during pregnancy. The need for treatment was the most common reason for the visit. The attendance and the reasons for dental visits depended on the age, economic status, professional activity, place of residence, level of education, dental care before pregnancy and gynaecologist’s recommendations. A total of 63% of women who reported to the dentist received dental care. The most common procedures included dental caries treatment (53.7%), dental scaling (13.6%) and endodontic treatment (9.5%). Dental radiography was less common (2.5%). Except for tooth extraction and endodontic treatment, all procedures were usually performed in private practices rather than those having a contract with the Polish National Health Fund. Conclusions. Dental attendance among pregnant women, which is modified by socio-demographic factors, is associated with the need for dental treatment and a referral from a gynecologist. The limited use of preventive procedures and avoiding diagnostic radiology during pregnancy indicate the need to educate both future mothers and dentists on dental care in pregnancy.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Roberta Magnano San Lio ◽  
Andrea Maugeri ◽  
Maria Clara La Rosa ◽  
Antonio Cianci ◽  
Marco Panella ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends women (1) to initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth; (2) to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months; and (3) to continue breastfeeding until two years of age. However, women do not always adhere to these recommendations, threatening the health of their children. The present study aims to evaluate breastfeeding status and the main maternal factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding for six months among women from the “Mamma & Bambino” study, a prospective cohort settled in Catania, Italy. Materials and Methods: We used data from 220 women (median age = 37 years) enrolled in the “Mamma & Bambino” cohort during prenatal obstetric counselling. Self-reported breastfeeding status was collected during the follow-up interviews at 1 and 2 years, referring to breastfeeding status (i.e., yes or no) and type of breastfeeding (i.e., exclusive or predominant). We also collected data about duration of breastfeeding to classify women into those who adhered to the WHO recommendation and those who did not. Results: In the general population, we noted that the proportion of women who have breastfed increased with increasing educational level. Accordingly, logistic regression analysis demonstrated that medium (OR = 3.171; 95% CI = 1.285–7.822; p = 0.012) and high educational levels (OR = 4.549; 95% CI = 1.525–13.570; p = 0.007) were positively associated with breastfeeding if compared to low educational level. Among women who have breastfed, instead, the proportion of adherents to the WHO recommendation was higher among those with medium–high educational level and those who were employed. In line with this, we demonstrated that full-time employment (OR = 2.158; 95% CI = 1.033–4.508; p = 0.041) and medium educational level (OR = 4.632; 95% CI = 1.227–17.484; p = 0.024) were positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Conclusions: Socio-demographic factors should be taken into account through public health strategies for improving maternal knowledge about health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.


Author(s):  
Aldo Shpuza ◽  
Xhesika Xhetani

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines physical activity (PA) as any movement of the body produced by skeletal muscle that requires expenditure of energy. The aim of research is to assess the prevalence of and socio-demographic characteristics associated with physical inactivity (PI) among adult primary healthcare (PHC) users in Tirana, the capital of Albania.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Tirana from November 2020 to January 2021. During this period 500 consecutively approached individuals aged ≥18 years exiting PHC centers were interviewed face-to-face about the presence of some of the risk factors for non-communicable disease. A structured WHO STEPS questionnaire, an integrated part of which is the instrument required for this study, “Global PA Questionnaire,” was used. In addition to demographic and socioeconomic data, we obtained data on the performance of PA in terms of domains, duration, and intensity. Logistic regression was used to assess socio-demographic factors associated with PI.Results: Prevalence of PI in the study population was 31.6%. Following multivariable adjustment for all covariates, significant positive correlates of PI were female gender, rural residence, retiree status, and unemployment. Conversely, there was an inverse association with moderate level of education.Conclusions: Similar to that of other European populations, the population of Tirana has a high rate of PI showing an upward tendency. The population groups at the highest risk of PI who may be targeted for intervention programs to address this risk factor are women, rural residents, unemployed persons, and retirees.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Barrera Herrera ◽  
Mariajosé Neira-Cofré ◽  
Paola Raipán-Gómez ◽  
Patricio Riquelme-Lobos ◽  
Bertha Escobar Alaniz

Abstract: Perceived social support and socio-demographic factors in relation to symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress in Chilean university students. Research with university students shows a high prevalence of mental disorders, so it is necessary to study the impact of protective variables such as social support. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of perceived social support and the socio-demographic factors gender and socio-economical level on symptomatology related to depression, anxiety, and stress. In the framework of a non-experimental and cross-sectional design, 449 undergraduate students answered the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results showed that perceived social support was negatively associated with psychopathological symptoms, and that family support is the strongest predictor of mental health symptomatology. These findings indicate that family social support is important to Chilean university students and plays a protective role against the symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress in this stage in life.Keywords: emerging adulthood; perceived social support; depression; anxiety; stress.Resumen: Las investigaciones con universitarios evidencian alta prevalencia de trastornos mentales por lo que es necesario estudiar el impacto de variables protectoras como el apoyo social. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la influencia del apoyo social percibido y de los factores sociodemográficos de género y nivel socioeconómico en la sintomatología depresiva, ansiosa y de estrés. En el marco de un diseño no experimental y transversal, 449 estudiantes universitarios respondieron las Escalas de Depresión, Ansiedad y Estrés (DASS-21) y la Escala Multidimensional de Apoyo Social Percibido (MSPSS). Los resultados mostraron que el apoyo social percibido se asocia de forma inversa a los síntomas psicopatológicos y que el apoyo familiar es el mejor predictor ante la aparición de sintomatología de salud mental. Los resultados confirman que los jóvenes chilenos otorgan importancia al apoyo social familiar, el cual cumple un rol protector ante los síntomas de ansiedad, depresión y estrés en esta etapa vital.Palabras clave: Adultez emergente; apoyo social percibido; depresión; ansiedad; estrés.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S511-S511 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Al Alawi ◽  
H. Al Sinawi ◽  
S. AL-Adawi ◽  
L. Jeyaseelan ◽  
S. MurthiP

IntroductionStigma toward mental illness is an international phenomena and it has negative consequences on the patients and their families. Studies on public attitudes toward people with mental illness (PWMI) in the Arab world initially reported less prevalence of stigma compared to other societies; however, follow up studies showed that stigma was influenced by specific socio-cultural factors.AimsThis study aims to examine public attitudes toward people with mental illness in Oman and the impact of socio-demographic factors.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional survey conducted among the general public in Oman. The attitude was measured via the Attitude toward Mental Illness (AMI) questionnaire. Various demographic factors were examined including age, place of residence, occupation and previous encounter with PWMI. The data were collected using online research methods.ResultsA total of 601 subjects participated in this study, (M: 41.4%, F: 58.6%). 48% of the participants were aged 15–30 years while 46% were aged 31–45 years. The majority of the participants were employed and 10% were students. After adjusting for all other variables, subjects aged (15–30years) had less positive attitude compared to those aged (46–60 years) (P = 0.06). Socio-demographic factors such as gender, occupation and previous contact were correlated with the endorsement of positive attitudes toward PWMI.ConclusionThis study illustrated that public attitudes toward PWMI in Oman is generally sub-optimal. The observed attitudes were strongly influenced by age, gender, occupation and previous exposure to PWMI. Future studies with robust methodology are recommended to scrutinize the present findings.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Walusa Assad Gonçalves-Ferri ◽  
◽  
Fábia Martins Pereira-Cellini ◽  
Kelly Coca ◽  
Davi Casale Aragon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The World Health Organization recognizes exclusive breastfeeding a safe source of nutrition available for children in most humanitarian emergencies, as in the current pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite the Brazilian national guideline protecting breastfeeding practices, there are many concerns about protecting infants from their infected mothers. This study aimed to analyze how the Brazilian hospitals and maternity services promote and support mothers suspected or diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional and multicenter study which collected data from 24 Brazilian hospitals and maternity services between March and July 2020. Representatives of the institutions completed a questionnaire based on acts to promote and support breastfeeding, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and Brazil’s federal law recommendations. Results The results showed that in delivery rooms, 98.5% of the services prohibited immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their infants and did not support mothers to initiate breastfeeding in the first hour. On the postnatal ward, 98.5% of the services allowed breastfeeding while implementing respiratory hygiene practices to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Companions for mothers were forbidden in 83.3% of the hospitals. Hospital discharge was mostly between 24 and 28 h (79.1%); discharge guidelines were not individualized. Additionally, a lack of support was noticed from the home environment’s health community network (83.3%). Hospital and home breast pumping were allowed (87.5%), but breast milk donation was not accepted (95.8%). There was a lack of guidance regarding the use of infant comforting strategies. Guidelines specific for vulnerable populations were not covered in the material evaluated. Conclusions In Brazil, hospitals have not followed recommendations to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding during the COVID-19 outbreak. The disagreement between international guidelines has been a major issue. The absence of recommendations on breastfeeding support during the pandemic led to difficulties in developing standards among hospitals in different regions of Brazil and other countries worldwide. The scientific community needs to discuss how to improve maternal and infant care services to protect breastfeeding in the current pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Idika E. Okorie ◽  
Ricardo Moyo ◽  
Saralees Nadarajah

AbstractWe provide a survival analysis of cancer patients in Zimbabwe. Our results show that young cancer patients have lower but not significant hazard rate compared to old cancer patients. Male cancer patients have lower but not significant hazard rate compared to female cancer patients. Race and marital status are significant risk factors for cancer patients in Zimbabwe.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-185
Author(s):  
R. Ishrat ◽  
A. Mujaddadi ◽  
M.S. Ali ◽  
D. Talwar ◽  
M.E. Hussain

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reliability and responsiveness of the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) to estimate exercise capacity in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This was a cross-sectional longitudinal study performed on stable PAH patients (n=30, mean age ± standard deviation, 60±13.6 years) with World Health Organization functional class II & III. Reliability was assessed by comparing the distance covered between ISWT-1 (initial) and ISWT-2 (retest). Responsiveness was determined by comparing the distance covered in the ISWT-3 post pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) to the ISWT-1. The distance covered between ISWT-1 (177±87.85 m) and ISWT-2 (191.67±96.39 m) was not statistically significant. The result of the relative reliability has shown to be excellent with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1 = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.95-0.99). Absolute reliability was evaluated through the standard error of the measurement and minimal detectable change at a 95% confidence interval (MDC95) were 12.29 and 33.9 m, respectively. Bland Altman plot showed good agreement between the two ISWTs. Following PR, the effect size (ES=0.78) and standardised response mean (SRM=1.50) were moderate and large respectively. ISWT is considered to be a reliable and responsive measure to estimate exercise capacity in patients with PAH. The ISWT may be considered a suitable alternative tool over a 6-min walk test and in the absence of equipment availability or expertise for conducting cardiopulmonary exercise test for the assessment of exercise capacity in these patients.


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