scholarly journals The Church, the School and the Family as Powerful Primary Teen Sex Educators

2021 ◽  
pp. 43-57
Author(s):  
Nathan Oigo Mokaya
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
The Body ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Sexual Ethic

Human beings are sexual beings throughout their entire lives. The stages of sexual development are a human developmental process involving biological and behavioral components. It does not take much insight or cultural awareness to realize that we need to be concerned about the culture in which our children are growing in. The patterns of behavior among the youth reveal morality level is at an all-time low; long regarded as a consequent factor of modernization. The philosophies of materialism, autonomy, entitlement, and hedonism beckon them at every turn. Moral values such as honesty, obedience, kindness, respect, hard work, self-discipline, humility and fear of God have significantly been affected by modernization. Lack of self-control, dishonesty and careless attitude is the character of modern youth.  Sexual risk behavior among Kenyan youths is a major public health concern. Nearly 400,000 young women aged  between  12 and  19 years  become  pregnant in Kenya  each  year, most of them  unintentionally, and half of the  roughly  200,000 new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed each year are among 15 to 24 years old.  Sexuality is God’s life-giving and life-fulfilling gift. Our culture needs a sexual ethic focused on personal relationships and social justice rather than particular sexual acts. All persons have the right and responsibility to lead sexual lives that express love, justice, mutuality, commitment, consent, and pleasure. Grounded in respect for the body and for the vulnerability that intimacy brings, this sexual ethic fosters physical, emotional, and spiritual health. A great deal of research  attention has been and  remain  devoted to understanding what puts adolescents at risk to these  outcomes, given their enormous social, economic, and public  health  consequences. More effort is required to address these risky sexual activities among youths. One of the ways is through the identification of additional contributors to this behavior that have been understudied factors that put teens at risk and levers that can be used in preventive interventions.

scholarly journals Normalisation and Stigmatisation of Obesity in UK Newspapers: a Visual Content Analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mr. Chris Patterson ◽  
Dr. Shona Hilton
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Obese Adults ◽  
Manifest Content ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
The Uk

Obesity represents a major and growing global public health concern. The mass media play an important role in shaping public understandings of health, and obesity attracts much media coverage. This study offers the first content analysis of photographs illustrating UK newspaper articles about obesity. The researchers studied 119 articles and images from five major national newspapers. Researchers coded the manifest content of each image and article and used a graphical scale to estimate the body size of each image subject. Data were analysed with regard to the concepts of the normalisation and stigmatisation of obesity. Articles’ descriptions of subjects’ body sizes were often found to differ from coders’ estimates, and subjects described as obese tended to represent the higher values of the obese BMI range, differing from the distribution of BMI values of obese adults in the UK. Researchers identified a tendency for image subjects described as overweight or obese to be depicted in stereotypical ways that could reinforce stigma. These findings are interpreted as illustrations of how newspaper portrayals of obesity may contribute to societal normalisation and the stigmatisation of obesity, two forces that threaten to harm obese individuals and undermine public health efforts to reverse trends in obesity.

scholarly journals Iodine Content of Salt Use after Years of Universal Iodization Policy and Knowledge on Iodized Salt among Households in the Sissala East Municipality in Upper West Region of Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Prince Kubi Appiah ◽  
Clement Tiimim Yanbom ◽  
Martin Amogre Ayanore ◽  
Alex Bapula
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Iodine Deficiency ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Iodine Content ◽  
The Body ◽  
Iodized Salt ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Salt Iodization

Background. Iodine deficiency is a global public health concern as it leads to inadequate production of thyroid hormone in the body, causing too many destructive consequences on the roles and functions of different human organs and muscles including brain growth and can manifest into many damaging effects such as intestinal cerebral impedance, cancer of intestine, breast disorders, and physical deformities like goitre and cretinism to one’s body. Despite all these negative effects, there are several important public health programs including universal salt iodization (USI) to improve on households’ iodine intake, notwithstanding this, countless families are still eating foods containing less iodine or no iodine at all. Hence, this study examined the intake of iodized salt after years of universal salt iodization and the knowledge on iodized salt among households in the Sissala East Municipality. Method. A descriptive cross-sectional study was adopted to collect data for the study. Data were collected from women in charge of household meal preparation using a semistructured questionnaire and rapid field iodine test kits. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used for the data analysis and presented in tables and graphs. p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Findings. Only 41.4% of the households have good knowledge on benefits of iodized salt and dangers associated with iodine deficiency. It was realized that the health workers (46.6%) and television were the main sources of information on iodized salt. Household salt usage with adequate (>15 ppm) levels of iodine was 44.0%; however 85.9% of the salts were stored in covered containers. The study showed significant associations between knowledge on iodized salt and educational level (p≤0.001), occupation (p=0.043), religion (p=0.027), and ethnic lineage (p=0.046). Also, the use of iodized salt showed associations with the educational level (p≤0.001), occupation (p=0.003), religion (p=0.042), and knowledge on iodized salt (p≤0.001). Conclusions. Only about 4 in 10 households were consuming salt with adequate iodine, and this coverage is very low compared with the 90% or more coverage recommended by WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD. Having secondary and tertiary education and having good knowledge of iodized salt has a great influence on the use of iodized salt; however, with this low level of knowledge of importance of iodized salt among women responsible for house food preparations, there is the need for health professionals to intensify education and promotion on iodized salt in the area and to monitor and verify iodine content of salts produced and sold in the market all times, as the source of the salt might have contributed to the low levels of iodine in the household salt.

scholarly journals Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coliin swine: the public health perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Tseng ◽  
Pina M. Fratamico ◽  
Shannon D. Manning ◽  
Julie A. Funk
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Biological Studies ◽  
Human Illness ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractShiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) strains are food-borne pathogens that are an important public health concern. STEC infection is associated with severe clinical diseases in human beings, including hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure and death. Cattle are the most important STEC reservoir. However, a number of STEC outbreaks and HUS cases have been attributed to pork products. In swine, STEC strains are known to be associated with edema disease. Nevertheless, the relationship between STEC of swine origin and human illness has yet to be determined. This review critically summarizes epidemiologic and biological studies of swine STEC. Several epidemiologic studies conducted in multiple regions of the world have demonstrated that domestic swine can carry and shed STEC. Moreover, animal studies have demonstrated that swine are susceptible to STEC O157:H7 infection and can shed the bacterium for 2 months. A limited number of molecular epidemiologic studies, however, have provided conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between swine STEC and human illness. The role that swine play in STEC transmission to people and the contribution to human disease frequency requires further evaluation.

Driving Frequency and Its Impact on Road Rage Offending and Victimization: A View From Opportunity Theory

2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Asbridge ◽  
Jennifer Butters
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Driving Frequency ◽  
Road Rage ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Opportunity Theory ◽  
Using Data

Road rage has been described as a key criminal justice and public health concern. Although research attention to this issue has expanded dramatically, most of this work has focused on the identification of predisposing individual factors. It is equally important to begin to assess those factors that may modify the likelihood of road rage including the broader structural opportunities that are connected with the propensity to be involved in a road rage incident. Drawing on opportunity theory, this article examines whether there is a relationship between increased opportunities to be involved in road rage and an increased likelihood of being a road rage victim or offender. The analysis is further extended to specifically test whether this relationship is linear, thereby examining the applicability of the opportunity saturation hypothesis. Using data from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Monitor, our findings support both the application of opportunity theory to understanding road rage and the presence of opportunity saturation. Although a clear relationship exists between kilometers driven and experiences of road rage, evidence emerged suggesting there may be a threshold whereby increased opportunities for road rage do not lead to road rage behavior.

scholarly journals Predictors of malnutrition among elderly people above 65 Years in East Ethiopia: Neglected public health concern

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdu Oumer Abdu ◽  
Imam Dagne ◽  
Ahmed Ali
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Background A nutritional problem, especially under nutrition is one of the common public health problems in elderly causing greater mortality and economic loss in developing countries. However, evidences on the risk factors for increased nutritional risk among elderly is not well stated in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and predictors of malnutrition among elderly (> = 65 years) in Eastern Ethiopia.Methods Community based survey was conducted among randomly selected 592 elderly age above 65 years of age in Harari region selected using multistage sampling Pretested full Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool was used to classify as malnourished (MNA score <17), at risk of malnutrition (MNA score of 17 to 23.5) and otherwise normal. Validated geriatric depression scale short form (15 items) was employed to screen for depression. Statistical tables, frequency, percentage and graphs. Ordinary logistic regression was employed to identify predictors of malnutrition and plum method was used to generate odds ratio. Level of statistical significance was declared at P value less than 5%. Chi-square test, crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence was reported. Results A total of 592 respondents with response rate of 93.4% were interviewed. A total of 306 (51.7%) and 93 (15.7%) were found to be at risk of malnutrition and malnourished respectively. The predicted log odds of being malnourished was higher among those from rural residents (AOR = 2.08: 1.25-3.45), not on working (AOR = 1.31: 95% CI: 0.87-1.95) and did not have health insurance (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI; 0.97-2.58). Those with chronic pain (AOR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.15-2.51), previous hospitalization (AOR = 1.59: 95% CI: 1.27-2.38) and not able to cover their personal expense (AOR =1.61: 95% CI: 1.12-2.30) were predictors of malnutrition. The relationship between previous hospitalizations with malnutrition among elderly is moderated significantly by the presence of chronic pain (β = 0.113, p = 0.015).Conclusions Malnutrition among old age is public health concern that needs attention. Economic vulnerability, residence, depression, presence of chronic disease and hospitalization were an important risk factors for malnutrition among old age.

scholarly journals A NUTRITION VIEW OF COVID 19 IN THE PANDEMIC

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 396-409
Author(s):  
Ana Lúcia Alves Caram ◽  
Gracinalda De Oliveira Silveira ◽  
Edna Cristina Mariano de Lima ◽  
Anna Christina Aires Braga Carneiro ◽  
Josiane Ferreira De Mello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Infectious State

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2. This virus has become a major public health concern worldwide, causing a collective outbreak, leading to the pandemic in 2020. People become infected with other common coronaviruses throughout their lives, but currently the concern is the COVID-19 type due to its severity in some cases. The immune system protects the body against external aggressions and preserves the body's homeostasis, and nutrients are involved in the development and preservation of this system. Considering the degree of complications that can occur in an individual with COVID-19, regardless of their age group, and in some cases even lethal, there was an interest in researching studies about this disease, and which nutrients are mentioned in the literature regarding immunity in this disease. The aims of this research were to describe concepts about the disease COVID-19 and to identify nutrients involved in the immunity and treatment of this disease, through a literature review in the period from December 2019 to October 2020. There is no doubt that it is essential to maintain an adequate nutritional status, through a balanced diet that can contribute to a better coping with the infectious state. Supplementation of vitamins, minerals, probiotics and prebiotics can provide the immune system, several of them were cited as an adjunct to the treatment of COVID-19, including their doses, but there was a lack of agreement regarding the dose of nutrients. Obviously maintaining social distance, wearing masks and proper hygiene are essential to reduce the risk of contamination, while not having access to vaccination.

scholarly journals TELAAH METODE DIAGNOSIS CEPAT DAN PENGOBATAN INFEKSI Salmonella typhi

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Dudi Hardianto
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Typhoid Fever ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Salmonella Typhi ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Acute Infectious Disease ◽  
Contaminated Food ◽  
Diagnosis Method

Review on Rapid Diagnosis Method and Treatment of Salmonella typhi Infection ABSTRACTSalmonella is a genus of gram-negative bacilli which are pathogenic for human. Recently over 2,500 serotypes of Salmonella have been reported. Of these, the most common serotype causing typhoid fever which is acute infectious disease in small intestine due to S. typhi entering the body through contaminated food or drink. S. typhi infection remains a major public health concern worldwide because of the subsequent economic burden for the cost of surveillance, prevention, and treatment. In Indonesia, typhoid fever is an endemic disease that threatens public health and becomes a complex problem because it increases career cases and drug resistance, so its diagnosis is needed. Although there is already a diagnosis method of typhoid fever conventionally, a fast, easy and reliable diagnosis method is needed to diagnose typhoid fever by medical personnel in endemic countries. Typhoid fever is treated by antibiotics and prevention efforts are carried out through vaccination.Keywords: antibiotics, pathogen, rapid detection, Salmonella typhi, typhoid fever ABSTRAKSalmonella adalah bakteri basil gram negatif yang bersifat patogen terhadap manusia dan saat ini telah dilaporkan lebih dari 2.500 serotipe. Salah satu serotype Salmonella diketahui menyebabkan penyakit demam tifoid yaitu infeksi akut pada usus halus akibat S. typhi yang masuk ke dalam tubuh melalui makanan dan minuman yang tercemar. Infeksi S. typhi menjadi masalah utama dalam kesehatan masyarakat di seluruh dunia karena bebani ekonomi yang ditimbulkannya untuk biaya pengawasan, pencegahan, dan pengobatan. Di Indonesia, demam tifoid merupakan penyakit endemis yang mengancam kesehatan masyarakat dan menjadi masalah kompleks karena demam tifoid meningkatkan kasus-kasus karier dan resistensi obat sehingga diperlukan diagnosisnya. Meskipun sudah ada diagnosis demam tifoid secara konvensional, tetapi diperlukan metode diagnosis yang cepat, mudah dan andal untuk mendeteksi demam tifoid oleh tenaga medis yang bekerja di negara-negara endemik. Demam tifoid diobati dengan pemberian antibiotika dan dilakukan upaya pencegahan melalui vaksinasi.Kata Kunci: antibiotika, demam tifoid, deteksi cepat, patogen, Salmonella typhi

scholarly journals Monsters in our food: Foodborne trematodiasis in the Philippines and beyond

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-485
Author(s):  
Jan Clyden B. Tenorio ◽  
◽  
Elizabeth C. Molina ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Foodborne Trematodes

Foodborne trematodiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by zoonotic trematodes that persist mainly in impoverished areas in the Asia-Pacific region. Globally, about 2 million disability life years (DALYs) are lost due to these parasitic infections. Four groups of foodborne trematodes are known to cause significant illness: fish-borne liver fluke infections caused by Opisthorchis and Clonorchis spp.; water vegetable-borne Fasciola spp. infections; crustacean-vectored paragonimiasis; and those caused by intestinal trematodes. In the Philippines, endemic foodborne trematodes of public health concern include Paragonimus westermani, some members of Heterophyidae and Echinostomatidae, and Fasciola hepatica/ F. gigantica. Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis have also been reported in the country. Data on the epidemiology of these zoonotic illnesses remain scarce and in need of research attention in the Philippines. Culturally rooted eating behaviors in endemic areas are important risk factors to acquiring and perpetuating foodborne trematodiasis. The combination of mass drug administration (MDA), provision of clean water and maintenance of good sanitation and hygiene (WASH), community health education towards modification of risky behaviors, surveillance, and veterinary public health interventions have been shown to be effective in combatting these zoonotic parasitoses. An integrated control and prevention program anchored on the One Health paradigm is a must to address these illnesses. This paper aims to review the biology and epidemiology of, and public health interventions against zoonotic foodborne trematodiasis in the Philippines and its neighboring countries.

scholarly journals Histoplasmosis: An Important Mycosis of Public Health Significance

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahendra Pal
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Histoplasma Capsulatum ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Dimorphic Fungus ◽  
Health Significance ◽  
Sporadic Cases

Histoplasmosis, a highly infectious fungal disease of public health concern, is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus that occurs in mycelial and yeast form. The respiratory tract is recognized as the primary site of H. capsulatum var.capsulatum and the infection is acquired by inhalation of fungal spores from the saprobic environment. Disease can occur in sporadic as well as in epidemic form causing morbidity and mortality in susceptible individuals. Sporadic cases of histoplasmosis are reported from over 60 countries of the world including India. In USA, 25,000 cases of histoplasmosis are diagnosed every year. Certain groups of people who are associated with the soil related activities are at greater risk for developing the severe forms of disease. The fungus has the potential to infect every organ of the body including the skin, lung, brain, eye, adrenal gland, heart, liver, spleen, nose, gastrointestinal tract etc. The infection remains asymptomatic in over 90% of cases. The clinical presentation is varied and the affected person shows fever, headache, dry cough, dyspnea, chest pain, profuse sweating, lymphadenopathy, lesions in the mouth and skin etc. histoplasmosis in immune compromised patients, especially suffering from AIDS has poor prognosis. Mycological, immunological, and molecular techniques are employed to confirm an unequivocal diagnosis of disease. However, the isolation of H. capsulatum var. capsulatum from the clinical specimens still considered the gold standard of diagnosis. Antifungal drugs like liposomal amphotericin B and itraconazole are recommended for the management of disease. The disseminated histoplasmosis can be fatal if left untreated. It is imperative that immune compromised persons must avoid visiting the heavily contaminated sites that are inhabited by bats excreta and avian droppings

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document