Bathing Habits Research Articles

Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among School-going Children of Age 1-5 years in Dharan, Eastern Nepal

Intestinal parasitic infections have been a major public health burden of developing countries, especially in children. Higher prevalence has been reported among school children, mostly in rural areas of Nepal where water, toilets, hygiene, and sanitation facilities are insufficient. This cross-sectional study was carried out from April to September 2019 to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school-going children1-5 years of Dharan, Nepal, and to assess the associated risk factors. Stool samples were collected in a clean, dry, screw-capped, and wide-mouthed plastic container, kept in an icebox, and transported to the laboratory. Data relating to different risk factors were collected from the parents of 116 participants using a structured questionnaire. The parasites were identified by using the direct wet mount method and formal-ether concentration method. Pearson’s chi-square test was carried out to establish associations between dependent and independent variables using SPSS version 20, and the test considered a greater than < 0.05% as statistically significant with a 95% confidence level. Out of the 116 stool samples, 9 (7.75%) tested positive for the parasitic infections in which 5 (55.5%) were protozoa and 4 (44.45%) were helminths. The prevalent parasites, were Entamoeba histolytica (23%), Hyamenolepis nana (22%), Giardia lamblia (11%), Hookworm (11%), Entamoeba coli (11%), Ascaris lumbricoides (11%), and Intestinal parasitic infections had a significant association with drinking water, bowel syndrome, bathing habit, toilet facility, and washing hands after toilets (p<0.05). Lack of toilets, poor hygiene, and unsafe drinking water were the main risk factors. Improved hygienic practices, safe drinking water, and the use of latrines could lower the rate of parasitic infections.

Sauna habits/bathing and changes in lower urinary tract symptoms – Tampere Ageing Male Urologic Study (TAMUS)

Objective To evaluate the effect of sauna bathing on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a Finnish population-based cohort. Methods A mail survey was sent to a population-based cohort of 50-, 60-, and 70-year-old men in 1994 followed by repeat questionnaires in 1999 and 2004. The evaluation of ten different types of LUTS was based on Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS-1). The weekly frequency of sauna bathing was assessed in the first questionnaire and divided into three subgroups (0–1, 2, and ≥3). The prevalence, incidence, and remission rate of each LUTS was assessed based on the initial and follow-up assessments. In addition, the mean DAN-PSS-1 symptoms score, medication for LUTS, and operative treatment were determined at each time-point. Chi-square test, a linear-by-linear test, and binary logistic regression analysis were used to assess statistical significance. Results The population-based cohort included initially 3,163, men of whom 1,306 (41.3%) responded to all three questionnaire rounds and were included in the analysis. There was no clear association between sauna bathing frequency and prevalence of the nine LUTS, nor with incidence and remission rates. The only exception was feelings of incomplete emptying, with lower prevalence associated with frequent sauna bathing. There were no clear differences in the medications or operations for LUTS by sauna bathing habits. Conclusion Based on our results, sauna bathing does not affect LUTS development or natural history in the long-term.

Prevalence, intensity and associated risk factors of Schistosoma mansoni infections among schoolchildren around Lake Tana, northwestern Ethiopia.

Schistosomiasis is one of the widely distributed neglected tropical diseases. It is a serious public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is highly prevalent and widely distributed in Ethiopia due to suitable environmental factors and human activities. The prevalence and infection intensity varied from locality to locality in the country. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni infection and associated risk factors among schoolchildren around Lake Tana. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 710 schoolchildren from February to April 2021 in eight selected primary schools around Lake Tana. A questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic information and potential risk factors of S. mansoni infection. After collecting socio-demographic information, students were requested to bring about 2grams of stool specimens for parasitological examination. The collected stool samples were processed using a single Kato-Katz and Ritchie's concentration techniques. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23 and factors with a p-value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni was 34.9% (95% CI: 31.4-38.7) among schoolchildren in the study area. The eggs per gram (EPG) of stool ranged from 24 to 1659 with arithmetic and geometric mean values of 138.1 EPG and 85.1 EPG, respectively. The majority of S. mansoni infections (61.4%) were classified as low infection intensity. Among the different determinant factors being male (AOR = 1.74; 95%CI = 1.233-2.457; P-value = 0.002), bathing habits (AOR = 1.494; 95%CI = 1.013-2.199; P-value = 0.043) and students attending at Qunzela primary school (AOR = 10.545; 95%CI = 3.264-34.067; P-value = 0.001), Alabo primary school (AOR = 3.386; 95%CI = 1.084-10.572; P-value = 0.036) were significantly associated with S. mansoni infection. This study revealed that more than one-third of schoolchildren were infected by S. mansoni in the study area. The majority of the infections were classified as low infection intensity. Being male, bathing habits and schools in which students attended were independent explanatory factors for S. mansoni infection. Therefore, integrated control strategies are needed to improve the health conditions of schoolchildren in the study area.

Sadi Maréchal, Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity. A Study of the Evidence from Italy, North Africa and Palestine A. D. 285–700. (Late Antique Archaeology (Supplementary Series), Vol. 6.) Leiden, Brill 2020

Article Sadi Maréchal, Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity. A Study of the Evidence from Italy, North Africa and Palestine A. D. 285–700. (Late Antique Archaeology (Supplementary Series), Vol. 6.) Leiden, Brill 2020 was published on August 1, 2021 in the journal Historische Zeitschrift (volume 313, issue 1).

Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity. A Study of the Evidence from Italy, North Africa and Palestine A.D. 285–700, by Sadi Maréchal

Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity. A Study of the Evidence from Italy, North Africa and Palestine A.D. 285–700, by Sadi Maréchal

Attenuated Risk of Pneumonia Due to Inflammation by Frequent Sauna Baths: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY.

Inflammatory pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of pneumonia. Frequent sauna sessions may reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections including pneumonia independent of inflammation. We aimed to evaluate the independent and joint associations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and frequency of sauna bathing (FSB) with risk of pneumonia in a prospective cohort study. Serum hsCRP as an inflammatory marker was measured using an immunometric assay and FSB was assessed by self-reported sauna bathing habits at baseline in 2264 men aged 42-61 yr. Serum hsCRP was categorized as normal and high (≤3 and >3 mg/L, respectively) and FSB as low and high (defined as ≤1 and 2-7 sessions/wk, respectively). Multivariable-adjusted HRs (CIs) were calculated for incident pneumonia. A total of 528 cases of pneumonia occurred during a median follow-up of 26.6 yr. Comparing high versus normal hsCRP, the multivariable-adjusted risk for pneumonia was HR = 1.30 (95% CI, 1.04-1.62). The corresponding risk was HR = 0.79 (95% CI, 0.66-0.95) comparing high versus low FSB. Compared with men with normal hsCRP and low FSB, high hsCRP and low FSB was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia in multivariable analysis (HR = 1.67: 95% CI, 1.21-2.29), with no evidence of an association for high hsCRP and high FSB and pneumonia (HR = 0.94: 95% CI, 0.69-1.29). In a general middle-aged to older male Caucasian population, frequent sauna baths attenuated the increased risk of pneumonia due to inflammation.

Hot-water bathing before bedtime and shorter sleep onset latency are accompanied by a higher distal-proximal skin temperature gradient in older adults.

Passive body heating in controlled settings could shorten sleep onset latency (SOL). The hypothesized mechanism is vasodilation-induced heat loss before bedtime. However, this evidence is based on small sample-sized studies in specific populations. Thus, we analyzed the association of hot-water bathing and its before-bedtime timing with SOL and heat loss in a large study population of older adults. We conducted a longitudinal analysis using repeated measurements of hot-water bathing and sleep among 1,094 older adults (mean age, 72.0 years). SOL was recorded using actigraphy and self-reported sleep estimates and was categorized into conditions (intervals of 1-60, 61-120, 121-180, and > 181 minutes between hot bath and bedtime) and compared with the control condition of no bathing. The heat-loss indicator, distal-proximal skin temperature gradient, was examined in the same categorization. Mixed-effects linear regression models suggested that the bathing conditions of 61-120 minutes and 121-180 minutes showed significantly shorter log-transformed actigraphic SOL by 0.23 log-minutes (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.03-0.42) and 0.32 log-minutes (95% CI, 0.09-0.56), shorter self-reported SOL by 0.16 log-minutes (95% CI, 0.02-0.30) and 0.18 log-minutes (95% CI, 0.01-0.35), and higher distal-proximal skin temperature gradient for 30 minutes before bedtime by 0.49°C (95% CI, 0.22-0.75) and 0.51°C (95% CI, 0.20-0.83), respectively, independent of potential confounders. Hot-water bathing before bedtime is significantly associated with shorter SOL and higher distal-proximal skin temperature gradient among the large-scale older population. This finding could enhance the generalizability of hot-water bathing habits for ameliorating sleep initiation difficulty.

Pilonidal Sinus Disease: An Analysis of the Factors Affecting Recurrence.

To assess the success of treatment methods at reducing recurrence, the most important problem in pilonidal sinus disease (PSD), along with factors affecting the occurrence of PSD and posttreatment recurrence. The researchers retrospectively analyzed files of patients treated for PSD between 2003 and 2018. Three study groups were created: G1, G2, and G3. G1 included all PSDs with recurrence, and a comparable number of cases without recurrence were selected randomly for the G2 group. The control group, G3, included healthy individuals without PSD. In all groups, the following were recorded: body mass index, skin color and oiliness, family history of PSD, hair overgrowth, smoking habit, time spent sitting per day, and number of baths per week. The following were additionally recorded for G1 and G2: treatment methods, follow-up periods, pretreatment abscess(es), and time of onset of complaints before treatment. The number of recurrences and the period between last treatment and recurrence were also recorded for G1. G1 comprised 234 patients; G2, 247 patients; and G3, 128 healthy individuals. The significant factors causing recurrence included body mass index, family history, bathing habits, hair overgrowth, skin color and oiliness, time spent sitting per day, smoking habit, abscess(es), and duration of symptom(s) (P < .05). Limberg flap repair was the most successful treatment method. Sixty-three (27%), 135 (58%), and 185 (79%) recurrences occurred in the first 6 months, in the first year, and in the first 2 years, respectively. The researchers recommend Limberg flap repair for treatment. It is possible to reduce recurrence by taking preventable factors into consideration.

High fitness levels, frequent sauna bathing and risk of pneumonia in a cohort study: Are there potential implications for COVID-19?

BackgroundThere is an ongoing debate on a potential protective role of habitual physical activity and passive heat therapy on the risk of COVID‐19, a respiratory infectious disease that can manifest as severe pneumonia. To explore these putative roles, we evaluated the independent and joint associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and frequency of sauna bathing (FSB) with pneumonia risk in a prospective cohort study of 2275 men aged 42‐61 years at recruitment.Material and MethodsObjectively measured CRF and self‐reported sauna bathing habits were assessed at baseline. CRF was categorized as low and high (median cut‐offs) and FSB as low and high (defined as ≤1 and 2‐7 sessions/wk, respectively). Multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for incident pneumonia.ResultsDuring a median follow‐up of 26.6 years, 529 cases of pneumonia occurred. Comparing high vs low CRF, the multivariable‐adjusted HR (95% CIs) for pneumonia was 0.75 (0.61‐0.91). Comparing high vs low FSB, the corresponding HR was 0.81 (0.68‐0.97). Compared to men with low CRF & low FSB, the multivariable‐adjusted HRs of pneumonia for the following groups: high CRF & low FSB; low CRF & high FSB; and high CRF & high FSB were 0.88 (0.65‐1.20), 0.89 (0.71‐1.13), and 0.62 (0.48‐0.80) respectively.ConclusionsIn a general male Caucasian population, a combination of high fitness levels and frequent sauna baths is associated with a substantially lowered future pneumonia risk compared with each modality alone. The implications of these findings in altering COVID‐19 disease or its severity deserve study.

Effects of bathing habits of full bath or shower bath on subsequent HSP bathing method

Effects of bathing habits of full bath or shower bath on subsequent HSP bathing method

Is there a relationship between intrapersonal, personal hygiene, and physical environment with incidence of scabies?

Scabies is one of the most common dermatological problems and affects about 200 million people each year around the world (WHO, 2019). This study aims to see the relationship between intrapersonal, personal hygiene and the physical environment on the incidence of scabies at the Sultan Hasanuddin Islamic Boarding School. This is a quantitative research with an observational analytic approach with a case control design. The sampling technique used was exhaustive sampling (80 students). Chi-Square test results for the interpersonal contact variable was that there was a relationship between changing prayer equipment (p value = 0.000) and the incidence of scabies, th¬ere was no relationship between changing toiletries (p value = 0.115), sleeping huddled (p value = 0.769) to the scabies¬¬¬¬¬¬. For the personal hygiene variables, there was no relationship between bathing habits and the incidence of scabies and there was a relationship between nail cutting habits (p value = 0.004) and changing underwear (p value = 0.000). For the physical environment variables, there was a relationship between lighting (p value = 0.005) humidity (p value = 0.002) on the incidence of scabies and there was no relationship between the physical quality of water and the scabies. It is hoped that there will be efforts to improve the personal hygiene, intrapersonal and sanitation behavior of each student. The results suggest that there is a need for policies in the form of sanctions or rewards for students who can practice intrapersonal, personal hygiene and good environment

Penyakit Skabies Berhubungan Dengan Personal Hygiene Masyarakat

Based on the Hulu Sungai Tengah District Health Office report, scabies continues to exist and is a problem that must to resolved immediately. The working area of the Pagat Health Center, which is one of the sub-districts in Hulu Sungai Tengah, experienced the highest increase in scabies cases. The purpose of this study was to determine personal hygiene relations include bathing habits and habit of using soap together with scabies in the working area of the Pagat Health Center. This type of research uses a retrospective approach (case-control study), which compares the behaviour of the sick group with a lively group associated with the incidence of scabies. The sample of this research is 30 people. Data will be analyzed using the x2 test (Chi-square). The results of this study indicate there is a relationship between bathing habits with the incidence of scabies P-value = 0.026

Acute Vascular Benefits of Finnish Sauna Bathing in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease

BackgroundFinnish sauna bathing habits are associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular mortality. The physiologic adaptations mediating this association remain to be fully elucidated. This study tested the hypothesis that Finnish sauna bathing acutely improves peripheral flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in middle-aged and older adults with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). MethodsTwenty-two adults (20 male, 2 female; 67 ± 10 years) with stable CAD underwent 2 periods of 10 minutes in a Finnish sauna (81.3 ± 2.7°C, 23 ± 3% humidity) separated by 10 minutes of thermoneutral rest. Before and 51 ± 8 minutes after sauna bathing, brachial artery FMD and postocclusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) were evaluated by means of Doppler ultrasound. ResultsSauna bathing increased core temperature (mean +0.66°C [95% CI 0.54-0.77], P < 0.01) and heart rate (+27 beats/min [24-29], P < 0.01), and decreased systolic (−19 mm Hg [−31 to −6]; P < 0.01) and diastolic (−6 mm Hg [−11 to −1], P < 0.01) blood pressures. Brachial artery FMD was greater after sauna bathing (+1.21% [0.16-2.26], P = 0.04), whereas PORH was unchanged (peak: +0.51 mL/min/mm Hg [−0.13 to 1.15], P = 0.11; area under the curve: +0.21 mL/mm Hg [−0.12 to 0.54]; P = 0.19). ConclusionsA typical Finnish sauna bathing session acutely improves peripheral FMD in middle-aged and older adults with stable CAD.

Identification of transmission foci of Schistosoma mansoni: narrowing the intervention target from district to transmission focus in Ethiopia

BackgroundSchistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection is a significant public health problem in Ethiopia, and has wide distribution in the country. The impact of the disease is particularly high on school-age children. Nationwide 385 endemic districts were identified, whereby control and elimination interventions are underway using school-based annual mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel. The national elimination program targets endemic districts as a whole. The aim of this study was to identify the transmission foci of Schistosoma mansoni and determine prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in Abeshge district.MethodsThe study was conducted from April to May, 2019 among school-age children randomly selected from public elementary schools in Abeshge district, South-central Ethiopia. Demographic information and data on risk factors of S. mansoni infection were gathered using pre-tested questionnaire. Moreover, a stool sample was collected from each child and examined using Kato-Katz thick smear technique. The data were analyzed using STATA_MP version 12.ResultsA total of 389 school-age children from five public elementary schools were included in the study. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni and STHs was 19.3% (75/389) and 35% (136/389), respectively. The prevalence of S. mansoni was 60.6% in Kulit Elementary school, while it was zero in Geraba. The prevalence of S. mansoni was significantly higher among males (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.3–5.1), those with habit of swimming and/or bathing in rivers (AOR = 2.9, 95%CI 1.3–5.1) and involved in irrigation activities (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.0–8.3). Overall, the prevalence of S. mansoni was significantly higher among school children attending Kulit Elementary School compared to those attending the remaining schools (AOR = 12.5, 95%CI 6.2–25.1).ConclusionA wide variation of S. mansoni prevalence was observed among the school children in the different schools. Control interventions better identify and target foci of S. mansoni transmission, instead of targeting the district homogenously.

BATHING HABIT AND LIFESTYLE CHANGING BATHROOM DESIGN AND FACILITIES

Indonesian people to have a habit of cleaning themselves by bathing with cold water. Hot climate and pollution make our activity in a bath twice a day, morning and afternoon or evening. The bathing habits depending on environmental circumstances in which they are located, whether in the village or in the city. Changes affecting the bathing habits of the interior design of a bathroom and shower. The interior design of the house, especially the bathroom and the toilet is required by the city people have different lifestyles with villagers. Social status to be a difference urban life, lifestyle became a standard acknowledgment to upper-income level. Lifestyle change the habits of a shower and bathroom design, as well as supporting facilities. The bathroom becomes a space of relaxation after a full day of activity outside the home. The interior design and product design into healthcare solutions which have the power sanitary technology based on human needs and activities in the bathroom. By using the approach of beauty through the interior design and lifestyle. This study, using qualitative descriptive analysis using literature data, photos, and direct observations in the field.

Factors Influencing Yaws Disease in Bambakaenu Village, Pinembani District, Donggala Regency

Yaws is a contagious disease caused by Treponema pertenue bacteria. Yaws is one of a group of diseases that spread without a host but occurs by direct contact. Yaws disease is strongly influenced by low socio-economic levels, occupancy density, clean water supply, and personal hygiene. This study aimed to determine the factors of yaws disease, including pure water supply, house conditions, and bathing habits. This type of research is analytical survey research with a cross-sectional approach. This research was conducted in Bambakaenu Village, Pinembani District, Donggala Regency in January 2020, with a sample of 86 respondents. The results showed no relationship between clean water supply and yaws, as proven by statistical tests with a p-value of 0.629&gt; 0.05. Meanwhile, the results showed an association between house conditions and yaws, as confirmed by statistical tests with a p-value of 0.002 &lt;0.05. The results showed no relationship between bathing habits and yaws, as proven by statistical tests with a p-value of 0.786&gt; 0.05. It is expected for the community to maintain and always maintain personal and environmental hygiene by still trying to behave clean and healthy to reduce the transmission of yaws disease

Washing the body, cleaning the soul. Baths and bathing habits in a Christianising society

Malgre les profondes transformations du monde antique liees au developpement du christianisme, les sources litteraires, epigraphiques et archeologiques montrent que les bains et les coutumes balnea...

Not your classic bath: adopting and adapting Roman bathing habits in NW Gaul

Roman-style bathhouses are often used as markers to study processes of ‘Romanisation’, or, more generally, the spread of a Roman way of life throughout newly conquered regions. The building type, with its characteristic hypocaust system and pools, was a foreign element in regions unacquainted with communal bathing. However, to assume that these buildings were introduced and spread as a ‘package’, with the standard sequence of rooms and accompanying technology, would be oversimplifying a complex phenomenon of acceptance, rejection and adaptation. Since Roman baths are too often perceived as a mainly urban phenomenon, regions on the fringes of the empire with low levels of urbanisation, including the northern provinces, have been excluded from most seminal works.1 The present paper aims to examine a corpus of baths in NW Gaul from between the 1st and early 4th c. (i.e., the period between the first villa constructions and their abandonment following Germanic invasions) in order to challenge idées fixes2 that their plans were rigid and standardised and that most were in urban settings.

Analysis of Bathing Habits among Spa Visitors

The valorisation of healthy lifestyle has indicated the dynamic increase of healthcare sector. The consumer behaviour has been forming deterministically in health tourism. Visitors of spa towns can select various combinations of services either to sustain their health, to rest, to relax or to recover. It has a great importance for spas offering complex health tourism services to know the demands of guests and to reach the target groups with special, personalized service packages. After considering the statistical indicators of tourists visiting the spas of Northern Great Plain Region and the competitors of a selected spa, this paper aims to investigate the coherence among bathing habits, influencing factors of service demands, age and non-motivating coherences. The survey was taken place in a selected spa in Hajdú-Bihar County in August 2018 with random sampling questionnaire involving 256 visitors. During data analysis the coherence among indicators was examined with variant analysis (Levene’s test), in case of significant result with Welch’s t-test. Variances in age groups were analysed with Tamhane’s and LSD tests (post hoc analyses). We concluded that the primary information source of spas is still the suggestion of friends, acquaintances independently of the age of the respondent. Knowing this is relevant for further marketing communication. The most important features among the respondents are the condition of the spa and cleanness which are the basics of quality services. Motivations with coherence to age are social life and gaining experience, recovery and disease prevention. Visitors have the largest interest for family and kid programs. Recognition of bathing habits helps in marketing communication, reaching target markets effectively, pricing and service developments as well.&#x0D; JEL Classification: Z32

Showering is associated with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease: An observational study in Japanese women

Mycobacterium avium complex refers to a group of environmental bacteria which inhabit water and soil. Although Mycobacterium avium complex is capable of causing refractory lung infections, the risk factors for Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease are still unclear. This study aimed to determine the associations between Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease and soil or water exposure. Using questionnaires along with clinical data, we compared soil exposure, along with bathtub bathing and showering habits between 172 women with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease and 339 women without Mycobacterium avium complex infection as controls. Showering was found to be independently associated with the presence of Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (adjusted odds ratio 5.72, 95%, confidence interval 1.99 to 16.46). Although the mean age of the groups was different, an age-matched sub-analysis yielded similar results. These results indicate that showering may be a risk factor for Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease.