Cent Of Females Research Articles

Domestic violence: recognising the signs

Domestic violence is much more common in the general population than has been previously acknowledged. In 2000, the Department of Health reported that in 1999 4.2 per cent of females had experienced domestic violence. Half of this number had children living with them and 29 per cent of these parents acknowledged that their children were aware of the violence. The levels of conflict within the household and between the parents are important aetiological factors determining psychiatric symptoms in childhood (Department of Health 2000). Domestic violence is often hidden, and a difficult area to ask about within and outside the clinic setting; and there is reason to believe that it is under-reported and under-recorded in all settings.

Public-Private Sector Wage Differentials in Scotland: An Endogenous Switching Model

The public-private sector wage gap in Scotland in 2000 is analysed using the extension sample of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS). Employing an endogenous switching model, and testing for double sample selection from the participation decision and sector choice, the unadjusted wage gap is shown to be 10 per cent for males and 24 per cent for females. For males this is mainly due to differences in productive characteristics and selectivity. For females the picture is more ambiguous. Findings also suggest that there exists a substantial wage premium for male private sector employees. While there is no evidence of a sample selection bias for females, the sector choice of males is systematically correlated with unobservables. Furthermore, the structural switching regression indicates that expected wage differentials between sectors are an important driving force for sectoral assignment.

Current tobacco smoking by the NSW population and the consequences for health

The risk factor responsible for the greatest disease burden in Australia is tobacco smoking, which accounts for approximately 12 per cent of the total burden of disease in males and seven per cent in females. Tobacco smoking contributes to higher drug-related morbidity and mortality than both alcohol and illicit drug use combined. It is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly from: cardiovascular disease; cancers of the lung, larynx and mouth; and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is estimated that approximately half of all long-term smokers will die from smoking-related causes. Smoking while pregnant contributes to an increased risk of having a low birthweight baby. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is known to be a risk factor for lung cancer and cardiovascular disease in adults, and for sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, and lower respiratory disease in children.

Determinants of Sexual Behaviour

A sample of 247 college students were surveyed regarding their experiences of consensual sexual experiences below age 16; experiences of ‘boyfriend/girlfriend’ relationships; experiences of lifetime sexual activity and sexual orientation. By age 16, 12 per cent of respondents have had intercourse. Males are one and half to two times more likely than females to report sexual experiences below age 16. Those with urban origins are significantly more likely to report having had sexual experiences before age 16 than those with rural origins. The period 18–20 is characterised by short term dating, leading to much longer lasting relationships in the 21+ age category. For 18–20 year olds, 50.5 per cent report having had sexual intercourse (57 per cent of males and 47.7 per cent of females). Respondents from Dublin city or county are more likely to report having had sexual intercourse than those from a rural/farm background (64 percent and 39 per cent respectively). A surprising trend was the apparently chaste nature of boyfriend/girlfriend relationships in the 18–20 age group. This study examined only sexual experiences. Further research is required to examine the relationship contexts of various sexual experiences.

Job commitment, job satisfaction and gender as predictors of mentoring in the Nigeria Police

This study investigates the effect of mentoring on commitment to job, job satisfaction and gender in the Nigeria Police. The participants, numbering 592, were recruited for the study from three out of six geo‐political zones in Nigeria using a cluster quota random sampling method. They comprised 396 (66.9 per cent) males and 196 (33.1 per cent) females, 179 (30.2 per cent) officers (senior officers) and 413 (69.8 per cent) junior staff. Two hypotheses and two research questions were tested and answered at 0.05 margin of error using Z score and analysis of variance statistics. Results showed that mentored male police are more committed to their job. The mentored female police showed more satisfaction with their job than the mentored male police. Mentoring was also found to predict commitment to job of the police. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Clinicopathological features and management of gallbladder cancer in Pakistan: a prospective study of 233 cases.

Gallbladder cancer is common in Pakistan and has an extremely poor prognosis. Treatment is primarily surgical. Chemotherapy is frequently used in patients with advanced disease. This study was performed to evaluate and compare the clinicopathological features and management of gallbladder cancer in Pakistani patients, with particular emphasis on factors that influence survival. Two hundred and thirty-three patients with histologically proven gallbladder cancer were studied. Information was prospectively collected on demographic features, clinical and laboratory findings at the time of presentation, influence of therapy, and survival. Data were analyzed to evaluate variables that influenced survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate survival. Most patients were women (77%). Mean age was 55 years (+/-11 years). Fourteen per cent of females were nulliparous. Twenty-six per cent had five or more children. Only 4% of patients had a documented history of typhoid fever. The majority (69%) had a history of symptomatic gallbladder disease. The commonest presenting symptom was pain (89%), followed by nausea and vomiting (52%), weight loss (42%), and jaundice (33%). One-quarter of patients had a palpable abdominal mass. Most had abnormal hepatic function tests and 58% had elevated carcinoma embryonic antigen levels. Stage (P < 0.001), jaundice (P = 0.01) and palpable mass (P = 0.02) were statistically significant variables. However, on multivariate analysis, tumor node metastases (TNM) stage was the only factor influencing survival. Median survival of the patients was 44 months for patients with stage I disease, 23 months for stage II, 17 months for stage III and 6 months for stage IV. These data are comparable with those reported from other developing countries. Most patients presented at an advanced stage of disease and had an extremely poor prognosis. Systemic therapy did not provide any survival benefit. The TNM stage remains the most important factor influencing survival.

Gender differences in the use of social support as a moderator of occupational stress

AbstractStudies of the moderating effect of social support on the direct effects of occupational stressors have yielded conflicting results that have differed in direction and significance. These differences may have been due to the narrow range and/or poor quality of the measures used. Also, males and females may differ in their perceptions of stress sources and outcomes and their use of social support across stressors. This study used the well‐validated Pressure Management Indicator (PMI) to measure social support and eight sources and nine outcomes of occupational stress in a sample of 204 Australian managers (55 per cent females, mean age 41.4 years) from various companies. Multiple regression revealed that for both males and females, social support moderated the effects of stressors on energy levels, job satisfaction, organizational security and organizational commitment, although social support interacted with different stressors across genders. Social support had a significant interaction effect on organizational commitment for males only, and, for females only, a significant interaction effect on state of mind. These results suggest that social support interventions will not reduce the effects of stress on all outcomes, and will produce different results for males and females. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Yoroi-kizome, Genbuku and taking the tonsure: rites of passage among the Bushi in Feudal Japan

The earliest written records extant in Japan were compiled during the Nara period (710-781 A.D.). They are the Kojiki, "Record of Ancient Matters", 712 A.D.; the Nihongi or Nihon Shoki, "Chronicle of Japan", 720 A.D.; and the Many ōshū,"Collection of a Myriad Leaves", an anthology of poetry first published in 759 A.D. but also containing material from the Asuka period(ca 500-700 A.D.). Prior to these writings, the only existing evidence of practices which may be defined as rites of passage is archaeological. From the Neolithic Early Jōmon period (4500-3000 B.C.) there are indications of a systematic extraction of teeth among a sizeable proportion of the population, the ratio being about 70 per cent males and 30 per cent females, with considerable regional variations (Blomberg 1990: 243). In its most drastic form this comprised the removal of the canines and incisors of both maxilla and mandible. This kind of mutilation eventually came to include an equally systematic filing down of the maxillary incisors into a fork or trident shape, with examples of both practices in the same individual. From the evidence of burnt clay figurines dating from the Jōmon as well as theYayoi period (ca 250 B.C.—ca 250 A.D.) it appears that some kind of facial adornment existed. Whether this took the form of scarring, tattooing or painting is of course impossible to ascertain, but it may have been another means of indicating individual distinction or social position.

The impact of the Intifada on the health of a nation*

This article describes the nature and extent of non‐fatal injuries sustained by Palestinians during the first three months of the second intifada in late 2000 by looking at two sets of data. 10,279 cases were obtained from the records of the Red Crescent Organization, which provides first level emergency care via ambulance crews in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. For 6,071 cases in the West Bank, additional information was available from the Ministry of Health, which keeps records of first and second emergency level care provided at hospitals and health points. The Ministry of Health cases were classified by type of weapon, site of injury and level of treatment provided. Fifty‐eight per cent of injuries occurred in young men 18–34 years, but 25 per cent occurred in school children, ten per cent in people over 50 years and five per cent in females. Fifty‐nine per cent of the injuries were caused by bullets and 76 per cent of these affected the upper part of the body; 13.4 per cent of the injuries were severe, with major implication for disability and the need for long‐term care and support.

Completeness of India's Sample Registration System: An assessment using the general growth balance method

In the preceding issue of this journal, a generalized version of the Brass growth balance method was proposed that made it applicable to populations that are not stable and are open to migration. In this companion paper, the results of applying this new procedure to data from India's Sample Registration System for the decades 1971-80 and 1981-90 are discussed. The results at the national level show that, during the decade 1981-90, 5 per cent of the deaths among men, 12 per cent of the deaths among women, and about 7 per cent of births were being missed by the system. Further, it is estimated that the level of under-enumeration in the 1991 Census was more than that of the 1981 Census by 0.7 per cent for males and 1.4 per cent for females. The paper also presents results for major Indian states.

Incidence and Aetiology of Facial Injuries Resulting from Motor Vehicle Accidents in Queensland for a Three‐year Period

No studies have been reported on the frequency and aetiology of facial injuries due to MVAs in Queensland. This study aims to investigate the incidence, aetiology, age and sex distribution of facial injuries resulting from MVAs for a period of three years. Cases were identified from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, Queensland. Information including the type of injury sustained, the time, age and role of the patient in the accident were recorded and analysed. There was an average maxillofacial injury incidence of 4.8/100,000 per year, 53.5 per cent in males and 46.5 per cent in females. A peak incidence was found for both sexes aged 18 to 22 years. In males, 57 per cent of facial injuries occurred in this age group compared to 41 per cent in females. Maxillofacial injuries as a result of MVAs are still relatively high regardless of the legislation for compulsory seatbelt use. Recent advances in seatbelt systems have the potential to reduce the risk of head and face impacts. The airbag is also well established as an effective means of preventing serious head and face injury. However, more research is required to further reduce the incidence of maxillofacial injuries as a result of MVAs.

The sinister significance of dysphagia.

The majority of patients presenting with oesophageal cancer have symptoms for more than three months and advanced disease at presentation. Most appear unaware of the significance of dysphagia as a symptom. Cancer awareness programmes focus on symptoms such as lumps and bleeding. To sample the level of public awareness of the potentially sinister significance of the symptom of dysphagia. A community survey was conducted using a questionnaire to evaluate the subjects' impression of the significance of dysphagia, and compare it with their perception of the significance of breast lump. Patients were stratified to male and female, under and over 45 years. There were 164 subjects interviewed. Seventy-five per cent stated that they would visit their doctor within one week of developing dysphagia compared with 87 per cent questioned about a breast lump (96 per cent females, 80 per cent males). Only 17 per cent felt that cancer was a probable explanation for dysphagia compared with 80 per cent who would consider cancer a likely cause of breast lump. There is evident need of an awareness programme of the potential significance of dysphagia if prognosis for oesophageal cancer is to be improved.

Serum concentration of retinol, beta-carotene, cholesterol, and triglycerides in Saudi school children.

Vitamin A and beta-carotene are often considered as members of a family of antioxidant vitamins that can show protective effects against oxidative stress and some chronic diseases. Data on vitamin A and beta-carotene status in Saudi children are sparse. In the current study the serum concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene, cholesterol and triglycerides were determined in 500 healthy Saudi children aged 6 to more than 18 years. The study group consisted of 247 (49.4 per cent) females and 253 (50.6 per cent) males, living in the Riyadh area of Saudi Arabia. The serum retinol levels in all age groups were within the range reported from industrial countries and in all age groups the mean values were higher than the critical level of 0.2 microgram/ml. No significant difference in serum retinol levels was observed between male and female subjects (p > 0.05), but age was found to be an important covariant of the vitamin. The mean serum beta-carotene concentration in all age groups was significantly higher than previously reported which may suggest an improvement in Saudi children's diets, notably in respect to fruit and vegetable intake. Females seemed to retain a higher level of beta-carotene compared to males which confirmed earlier reports of a positive correlation between age and the beta-carotene level in females. Only males in the age group 6-8.9 years old had a significantly higher level of beta-carotene than their female counterparts; 11.95 +/- 5.85 micrograms/ml compared to 8.53 +/- 3.5 micrograms/ml (p < 0.05).

Population declines of Przewalski's gazelle around Qinghai Lake, China

AbstractPrzewalski's gazelleProcapra przewalskiiis endemic to China and is classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN—The World Conservation Union. Historically, the species occurred in parts of the provinces of Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and Qinghai but now appears to be restricted to three populations around Qinghai Lake. These three populations— Bird Island, Hudong–Ketu and Yuanzhe—have all declined since 1988. The populations have been monitored since 1994 and the smallest, on Bird Island, appears to be on the brink of extinction, with only seven individuals being recorded in 1998. In the same year, the Hudong–Ketu population comprised 56 individuals (29.4 per cent males, 50 per cent females and 21 per cent juveniles) and the Yuanzhe population 51 individuals (29.4 per cent males, 43.1 per cent females and 27.5 per cent juveniles). The causes of the declines vary for each population but include loss of habitat as a result of desertification, poaching and, possibly, wolf predation. Human activity and high juvenile mortality are major threats to the continued survival of the gazelle. Conservation measures proposed are: (i) the establishment of a special reserve for Przewalski's gazelle; (ii) a study of the wolf-gazelle relationship and control of the number of wolves if necessary; (iii) a search for remnant populations of Przewalski's gazelle in other regions in their historical range and the identification of suitable sites for translocation and establishment of new populations.

Incentives to Work: Replacement Ratios and the Cost of Job Loss among Indigenous Australians

The relationship between the social welfare system and employment incentives has received considerable attention in the literature. This paper uses data from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey to consider these issues for indigenous Australians. Two measures are calculated: the replacement ratio which measures the expected gains from employment for those not in work; and the cost of job loss which measures the expected costsof becoming unemployed for those in employment. The estimates presented here show that the replacement ratio is higher for females than males and for those in a married or de facto relationship compared with single people. About 5 per cent of single males and females could expect a higher income from social security than from non‐Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP)scheme employment. Among those with dependent partners 24 per cent of males and 40 per cent of females looking for work could expect a higher income from social security than from non‐CDEP employment. The estimates of the cost of job loss, which include the effects of the duration of unemployment and the replacementratio, show a high cost for some indigenous Australians because of their expected longer duration of unemployment.

The incidence of cleft lip and palate deformities in the south-east of Scotland (1971-1990).

This retrospective study reports the incidence of infants born with the cleft lip and palate anomaly within the Edinburgh Cleft Units catchment area, between 1 January, 1971, and 31 December, 1990. The importance of accurate data collection for local, regional, and national data bases is discussed with reference to the recent CSAG report on cleft lip and palate services in the UK. Five-hundred-and-two cleft lip and palate patients were identified (291 males, 211 females). The incidence is reported as 1.4 per 1000 live births (1 in 711). Twenty-five per cent of clefts affected the primary palate, 45 per cent affected the secondary palate, and the remaining 30 per cent were clefts of both the primary and secondary palate. Overall, a higher percentage of males were affected (58 per cent males to 42 per cent females). Clefts of the secondary palate, however, were more common in females (56 per cent females to 44 per cent males). Data presented in this study is similar to that previously reported from UK centres. It is suggested the accuracy of the UK cleft lip and palate data collection needs to be improved. Prospective data collection in a standardized format carried out on a national basis has to be a priority as recommended by the CSAG report.

Papillary carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct remnant--a review of thyroglossal surgery in a regional centre in the west of Ireland.

A review of thyroglossal duct remnants presenting to a regional centre in the West of Ireland was undertaken. Over a 15 yr period, 25 patients were operated on for duct remnants. The mean age was 19.6 yr and ranged from 3 to 68 yr. There were 16 (64 per cent) males and 9 (36 per cent) females. Seventeen (68 per cent) patients were less than 20 years at the time of surgery. Four patients presented with a sinus and the remainder with a cystic lesion. Two patients experienced recurrent disease. One patient, a 41 yr old female, had a papillary carcinoma of a thyroglossal cyst. There were no clinical features distinguishing this patient from those with benign cystic remnants of the thyroglossal duct. The possibility of carcinoma in older patients, in particular females, presenting with thyroglossal cysts emphasises the importance of performing a formal Sistrunk's operation. It reduces the risk of recurrence of the cyst and may reduce the risk of recurrence of the tumour as the duct may provide a route for the spread of tumour.

Movement of badgers (Meles meles) in a high-density population: individual, population and disease effects.

The movement of 1763 badgers trapped between 36 social groups in Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire, over 18 years was analysed to determine the frequency and duration of moves, the factors associated with a predisposition to move and the spatial pattern of movements. Of those badgers whose capture history could be categorized, nearly half had moved. Of these, 73.1% were classified as 'occasional movers', 22.1% as 'permanent movers' and 4.8% as 'frequent movers'. Most adult badgers that moved made occasional moves (78.8%, n = 67). Cubs made all types of move including permanent moves (29%, n = 10). Seventy per cent of females were non-movers compared with 37% of males. Badgers were significantly more likely to move to smaller groups, whereas male badgers were significantly more likely to move to groups with a greater proportion of females. The spatial pattern of movement differed from the distribution of groups with bovine tuberculosis in the study area. However, temporal changes in movement were significantly related to the incidence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in the following year, indicating that as the movement of badgers between groups varies so does the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in the population. This finding is of central importance in the formulation of badger control policy.

Epidemiology and mortality of burns in Tehran, Iran

In order to assist with the prevention of burn injuries the epidemiology of burns in Tehran was investigated. In a retrospective study, 1239 files of patients who were living in Tehran and were injured between March 1994 and March 1995 were studied. Sixty-three per cent of patients were male and 37 per cent were female (age range, 1 month to 93 years). The highest incidence of burns was in the 16–25 age group ( 30 100000 ). Patients with below 40 per cent of burned surface constituted 52.5 per cent of injuries. The most common cause of burns was kerosene accidents. The most common cause of burns in children was boiling water. In terms of social class the highest rate of burns was observed among illiterate people (burn rate (BR) 39 100000 ). The mean length of hospitalization was 12 days. Of the 1239 cases, 737 patients died. The mortality rate was 51 per cent in males and 69 per cent in females. The mean body surface area burned was higher in females. The mortality rate was higher and the length of hospitalization was shorter in comparison with other studies in other countries.

Sexually transmitted diseases in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Although human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rates are increasing rapidly in Asia, a full understanding of the extent of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in many of these areas is lacking. There have been anecdotes of rising rates of STDs in Mongolia, a country thus far relatively unaffected by HIV. To further the understanding of STDs, a prevalence study was conducted in the STD clinic in Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city in Mongolia. Among 260 patients, the prevalence of gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis was 31.1%, 8.1% and 8.6% respectively for males and 10.3%, 9.9% and 6.0% for females. Sixty-seven per cent of females had trichomoniasis and 19.7% of males had non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). Forty-two per cent of gonococcal isolates had plasmid mediated resistance to penicillin, and chromosomal resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin was documented. No patients were infected with HIV. STDs are a significant problem in Mongolia. Improved control efforts are urgently needed to prevent the emergence of HIV.