Common Risk Behaviors Research Articles

Common mental disorders and risk behaviours in motorcyclists victims of traffic-accidents

Common mental disorders and risk behaviours in motorcyclists victims of traffic-accidents

CLASIFICACIÓN DE ESTUDIANTES DE ENFERMERÍA MEXICANOS ACORDE CON UN INDICADOR DE ESTILO DE VIDA SALUDABLE

Objective: To describe groups of Nursing students according to a healthy lifestyle index. Material and method: Exploratory and quantitative study, conducted at the Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico (UAEM). The sample consisted of 865 Nursing students. A non-hierarchical cluster analysis was made using k-means with a partition in three groups, which represent the lifestyle index. Results: Three clusters representing the student’s lifestyle index were distinguished: poor healthy lifestyle (n=392), healthy lifestyle (n=402) and veryhealthy lifestyle (n=71). Stress, smoking and drinking, are the most common risk behaviours among students. Conclusion: A large number of Nursing students were grouped in the poor healthy lifestyle cluster. Therefore, it is necessary to promote healthy lifestyles in university settings.

Non-adherence to Immunosuppressant after Lung Transplantation – A Common Risk Behavior

Background: After lung transplantation, life-long treatment with immunosuppressive medication is required to prevent rejection and graft loss but adherence to immunosuppressive treatment may be difficult for the lung recipient. Adherence is essential and non-adherence to immunosuppressive treatment can lead to graft loss and death. Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence of non-adherence 1 to 5 years after lung transplantation in relation to symptom burden, health literacy, psychological well-being and relevant demographic variables. Methods: 117 adult lung recipients, due for their annual follow-up 1-5 years after lung transplantation, participated. Four self-report instruments were used for assessment: the Basel Assessment of Adherence with Immunosuppressive Medication Scale, the Newest Vital Sign, the Psychological General Well-Being and the Organ Transplant Symptom and Wellbeing Instrument. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: Thirty percent of the lung recipients were non-adherent. The most common non-adherence dimension was not taking a dose (43%) and not being punctual with the regimen (80%). Of those working full time or part time, 43% were non-adherent (p=.032). A higher level of non-adherence was reported a long time after LuTx with the highest level at the 3-year follow-up. Conclusion: The level of non-adherence among lung recipients was high. The highest levels were found among those who had returned to work. Non-adherence increased with time after lung transplantation.

The problems associated with adolescent pregnancy in Romania: A cross-sectional study.

The extent of pregnancy in adolescents and young adults, especially in low and middle-income countries, is a source of increasing concern given its social and economic impact. We hypothesized that there would be correlations between female patients becoming pregnant at a young age and practices such as harmful alcohol misuse, cigarette smoking, and drug use, the use of toxic substances, low educational attainment, and an essential absence of health care seeking about the outcome of adolescent pregnancies. We performed a prospective cross-sectional study of patients who gave birth between August and November 2017 at St. Pantelimon Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, Romania. Seventy-four patients aged 14 to 20years, with a mean maternal age of 18.07years, were enrolled in the study and answered a 15-item questionnaire about their social, educational, and medical background. Fifty-three patients (71.6%) gave birth by caesarean section and 21 (28.3%) by vaginal delivery. Notably, patients aged 14 to 16years had a lower rate of caesarean delivery compared with those aged 17 to 20years. Moreover, 83.0% of the caesarean sections and 76.1% of the vaginal deliveries were at term. With reference to age and type of delivery, women are more likely to give birth by caesarean section at any age group (the association is not statistically significant at P<.05), except for the age of 15years (five out of six patients in our sample had a spontaneous birth). Smoking was the most common risk behavior in the sample (45.9%, n=34), followed by alcohol consumption (17.5%, n=13) and drug use (5.40%, n=4). A high percentage of caesarean delivery was reported, particularly in patients aged >17years. The percentage of female participants who underwent a caesarean delivery for their second pregnancy was significantly higher than compared with primipara participants. Patients receiving consistent antenatal care visits compared with those who did not monitor their pregnancy did not differ in the likelihood of undergoing a caesarean section.

Prevalence of Tobacco Consumption Among Coal Mine Workers in Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: There is a dearth of literature on prevalence of tobacco consumption among coal mine workers. Aim: To assess the prevalence of tobacco consumption among coal mine workers in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 603 coal mine workers in Cuddalore District. Simple random sampling method was used to recruit the subjects. Informed consent was obtained from the participants. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data on tobacco consumption. The data were entered in Microsoft Excel sheet. SPSS software version 20 was used and descriptive statistics was used. Results: All 603 subjects were males. The mean age of the participants was 35.01 (±8.77). Totally, n=197 (32.67%) subjects reported smoking habit. Of those who reported of smoking habit, cigarette smoking was reported by n=172 (87.2%) subjects. Bidi smoking was reported by n=25 (12.8%) subjects. None of the smokers reported of using smokeless form of tobacco. Conclusion: High prevalence of tobacco smoking was observed among the workers. Combined and organized initiatives by the health care professionals, management and the people should be taken to reduce the tobacco consumption. Common risk factor approach and behavior counseling can be advocated to change their attitude toward tobacco consumption. To start tobacco cessation clinics to aid the workers in cessation of tobacco consumption. To advertise about the ill effects of tobacco by displaying pictures and information in public area and work places.

5 G wireless telecommunications expansion: Public health and environmental implications

The popularity, widespread use and increasing dependency on wireless technologies has spawned a telecommunications industrial revolution with increasing public exposure to broader and higher frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum to transmit data through a variety of devices and infrastructure. On the horizon, a new generation of even shorter high frequency 5G wavelengths is being proposed to power the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT promises us convenient and easy lifestyles with a massive 5G interconnected telecommunications network, however, the expansion of broadband with shorter wavelength radiofrequency radiation highlights the concern that health and safety issues remain unknown. Controversy continues with regards to harm from current 2G, 3G and 4G wireless technologies. 5G technologies are far less studied for human or environmental effects.It is argued that the addition of this added high frequency 5G radiation to an already complex mix of lower frequencies, will contribute to a negative public health outcome both from both physical and mental health perspectives.Radiofrequency radiation (RF) is increasingly being recognized as a new form of environmental pollution. Like other common toxic exposures, the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF EMR) will be problematic if not impossible to sort out epidemiologically as there no longer remains an unexposed control group. This is especially important considering these effects are likely magnified by synergistic toxic exposures and other common health risk behaviors. Effects can also be non-linear. Because this is the first generation to have cradle-to-grave lifespan exposure to this level of man-made microwave (RF EMR) radiofrequencies, it will be years or decades before the true health consequences are known. Precaution in the roll out of this new technology is strongly indicated.This article will review relevant electromagnetic frequencies, exposure standards and current scientific literature on the health implications of 2G, 3G, 4G exposure, including some of the available literature on 5G frequencies. The question of what constitutes a public health issue will be raised, as well as the need for a precautionary approach in advancing new wireless technologies.

Common Health Problems and Risk Behaviors among Adolescent Males in Governmental Secondary Schools, Assuit Governorate

AbstractBackground: During adolescence, males have higher rates of morbidity and suffer from various health problems and risk behaviors.Aim of the Study: To assess the most common health problems and risk behavior performed by adolescent males in Governmental Secondary Schools.Subject and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional design was utilized in this study.Setting: Gamal Farghaly Soultan Governmental Secondary School for males Assuit City.Sample: One hundred fifty five students were chosen randomly from 3 different grades.Tools: One questionnaire sheet composed of 3 parts: Part I: Demographic characteristic of the students, part II: Common health problems (physical, social and psychological), part III: Risk health behavior performed by secondary male students.Results: Physically, 23.9% of the students had medical health problems, out of them the most common were respiratory problems (48.6%). Regarding psychological problems frus-tration was common among (25.8%), while the most common social health problem was peer pressure to perform risk behaviors (52.9%). The most common risk behavior was violence at school (27.7%). Smoking was correlated positively with age (p=0.001).Conclusion: The most common physical, psychological and social health problems were as follow, respiratory prob-lems, frustration and peer pressure to perform risk behaviors while the most common risk behavior was violence at school.Recommendation: More health educational programs to raise the awareness of secondary male students about how to avoid being engaged in health risk behaviors.

Expanding the Understanding of Risk Behavior Associated With Homelessness Among Veterans

To advance large-scale efforts to end veteran homelessness, an understanding of factors that contribute to housing insecurity is necessary. Common risk behaviors (e.g., substance use and risky sexual practices) are associated with lengthier experiences of homelessness among the general homeless population, but less understood among homeless veterans. Additionally, whether emerging risk behaviors among veterans (e.g., sensation seeking and aggression) are associated with lengthy homeless experiences is unknown. Data were drawn from a sample of Los Angeles County veterans surveyed using a mixed nonprobability sampling strategy, which included recruiting veterans via national and local veterans service organizations, college organizations, and social media campaigns. Measures aligning with factors of sensation seeking (reckless driving, gambling, suicidal ideation); substance use (alcohol misuse, tobacco use, driving while intoxicated); risky sexual practices (risking getting a sexually transmitted disease); and aggression (looking to start a fight) were tested in multivariate, multinomial logistic regression analyses to determine their association with varying lengths of homelessness in the past year (less than 1 month, 2-6 months, 6 months to 1 year). Risking getting a sexually transmitted disease, gambling, suicidal ideation, alcohol misuse, tobacco use, driving while intoxicated, and looking to start a fight were associated with 6 or more months of homelessness. Several indicators of risk were associated with brief periods of homelessness, including gambling and looking to start a fight. Although a clear exposure-response effect was not detected with risk behaviors, results suggested there may be some wavering of engagement in risk behaviors over time. Findings suggest sensation seeking and aggression risk behaviors should be included in risk assessments and prevention efforts along with substance use and risky sexual practices to reduce veterans' risk of becoming homeless and reducing risk of chronic homelessness. Further research is needed to understand the trajectory of these risk behaviors and the mechanisms that underlie the association between these risk behaviors and homelessness for veterans.

Water Exposure is a Common Risk Behavior Among Soft and Gas-Permeable Contact Lens Wearers.

To understand soft contact lens (SCL) and gas-permeable (GP) lens wearers' behaviors and knowledge regarding exposure of lenses to water. The Contact Lens Risk Survey (CLRS) and health behavior questions were completed online by a convenience sample of 1056 SCL and 85 GP lens wearers aged 20 to 76 years. Participants were asked about exposing their lenses to water and their understanding of risks associated with these behaviors. Chi-square analyses examined relationships between patient behaviors and perceptions. GP lens wearers were more likely than SCL wearers to ever rinse or store lenses in water (rinsing: 91% GP, 31% SCL, P < 0.001; storing: 33% GP, 15% SCL P < 0.001). Among SCL wearers, men were more likely to store (24% vs. 13%, P = 0.003) or rinse (41% vs. 29%, P = 0.012) their lenses in water. Showering while wearing lenses was more common in SCL wearers (86%) than GP lens wearers (67%) (P < 0.0001). Swimming while wearing lenses was reported by 62% of SCL wearers and 48% of GP lens wearers (P = 0.027). Wearers who rinsed (SCL; P < 0.0001, GP; P = 0.11) or stored lenses in water (SCL; P < 0.0001, GP P = 0.007) reported that this behavior had little or no effect on their infection risk, compared with those who did not. Both SCL (P < 0.0001) and GP lens wearers (P < 0.0001) perceived that distilled water was safer than tap water for storing or rinsing lenses. Despite previously published evidence of Acanthamoeba keratitis' association with water exposure, most SCL, and nearly all GP lens wearers, regularly expose their lenses to water, with many unaware of the risk.

Foodborne and waterborne illness among Canadian Indigenous populations: A scoping review.

Indigenous populations are often at higher risk for foodborne illness than the general Canadian population. To investigate the extent of the literature on the link between food safety and the occurrence of foodborne and waterborne illness in Canadian Indigenous populations. A scoping review was conducted using search strings in five databases and grey literature to identify all papers that studied a Canadian Indigenous population and referred to any potential associations between food safety (including consumption and preparation of traditional foods and retail foods) or water safety practices and food or waterborne illness. Two authors screened papers based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included documents were analyzed for emergent themes. From 1,718 unique records identified, 21 documents were selected. Foodborne illness was most common in children up to 14 years old. Walrus, seal, caribou and whale were the most common traditional foods tied to foodborne illness and were primarily associated with botulism and trichinosis. Aside from consuming the food raw, fermentation was the most common traditional preparation method linked to foodborne illness. There was concern about the safety of retail food but no clear link was identified with foodborne illness. Lastly, although there was concern about tap water, the use of alternate water sources, such as untreated brook water, and hygiene and cleaning practices in communities with boil water advisories were the most common risk behaviours associated with waterborne illness. Consumption of certain game meats, as well as the use of traditional fermentation practices may lead to an increased risk of foodborne illness among Indigenous populations. Concern about tap water may lead to use of unsafe alternate water sources. Further research is needed to examine potential culturally appropriate food and water safety opportunities.

General health influences episodes of xerostomia: a prospective population-based study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the associated factors of changes in symptoms of xerostomia (SOX) in adults aged 20-59. A prospective population-based study was conducted in 2009 (n = 1720) and 2012 (n = 1222) in the urban area of Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Information on SOX was collected in both years together with age, family income, years of schooling, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, changes in the body mass index (BMI; kg/m²), medicine use, self-reported diagnosis of chronic diseases, change in hypertension status and in the use and need for dentures, and number of remaining teeth. Associated factors with changes in SOX were investigated using multinomial logistic regression, considering those who had never reported this symptom as the reference. Prevalence of regular SOX was equal to 3.8% (95% CI: 2.9-5.1) and irregular (one period only) equal to 12.2% (95% CI: 10.2-14.5). Age, smoking habit, medicine use, self-reported diagnosis of depression, and weight gain increased the probability of regular SOX, whereas highest schooling level was associated with lower probability of this symptom. General and psychosocial health influenced the number of episodes of xerostomia symptoms, calling for multidisciplinary actions to prevent common risk behaviors for oral and general diseases.

Pedestrian crash risk assessment and intervention

This article is aimed at identifying the main risk behaviors of pedestrians, sorting them on the basis of risk levels, and, moreover, performing risk assessment and intervention for the pedestrian. In order to achieve this goal, this article analyzes a large amount of traffic accident data in Beijing and finds that the movable sight obstacle is an important cause for traffic accident between pedestrians and motor vehicle (hereinafter referred a vehicle–pedestrian accident). Some tables and figures display when and where the movable sight obstacle usually occurs and also shows their logical relationship with other causes. Based on the results of investigation and analysis, the vehicle–pedestrian mechanism diagram was established using the method of fault tree analysis. The diagram shows some key factors and their effect level leading to the accident. The key importance coefficient model was adopted to estimate the function of individual risk behavior quantitatively during the processing of accident. In order to take advantage of the key importance coefficient model, the following research was conducted: first, we analyzed traffic accident data from 2005 to 2014 to find common pedestrians risk behaviors. Second, since traffic accidents and movable sight obstacle are closely related to motor vehicle violations, we collected and analyzed the data of traffic enforcement from 2007 to 2014. Finally, taking into account the individual preferences of policemen, we interviewed 200 police officers and others to calibrate our estimates. Through these efforts, we sorted the pedestrians’ risk behaviors in table. Unlike past research, the object of this study is pedestrian risk behaviors and faults. Furthermore, we also gained understanding to the mechanism of vehicle–pedestrian accident, which was already applied to assessment and intervention for pedestrians in some primary schools in Beijing.

Health risk behaviors among male students in secondary schools in Erbil city

Background and objective: Health behaviors and risk behaviors are often related to the community in a more complex pattern of behaviors associated with lifestyles. Risk behaviors include drinking alcohol, physical fighting, smoking, sexual intercourse and drug abuse. This study aimed to assess the rates of some health risk behaviors among male students of secondary schools in Erbil city and to find out associated factors with those risk behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was used. A self-administer questionnaire was used to collected data from December 17th, 2012 to July 17th, 2013 in 12 male secondary schools. 500 students were chosen randomly out of 11343 males' secondary school students. Results: Smoking was the most common risk behavior among the students (41.7%), followed by physical fighting (33.3%), sexual intercourse (15.5%), alcohol drinking (6.6%), and the lowest risk behaviors comes from drug abuse (2.7%). There was significant association between age and drug abuse which was more common among those ≥21 years than those of younger age groups. Conclusion: The highest health risk behavior among all male students in secondary schools in Erbil city was cigarette smoking. There was statistically significant association between age and drug abuse.

Multiple risk behaviors for non-communicable diseases and associated factors in adolescents

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of risk behaviors for non-communicable diseases and analyze their associated factors in adolescents. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008 with 1,139 adolescents aged 14 to 19 years attending public and private high schools in Cuiabá, Midwestern Brazil. Data were collected using a selfadministered questionnaire, including a semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. The prevalence of tobacco smoking, alcohol experimentation, physical inactivity, unsatisfactory meal pattern, and excessive intake of saturated fat and sodium were evaluated. The associations between risk behaviors and socioeconomic variables, weight status, and self-perceived health status were evaluated. Results: The most common risk behaviors were excessive sodium intake (88%), unsatisfactory meal pattern (72%), excessive intake of saturated fat (39%), and alcohol experimentation (39%). Four of 10 adolescents were exposed to two risk behaviors simultaneously. Among male adolescents, the main factors associated with risk behaviors were: type of school, class schedule, education level of the household head, weight status, and self-perceived health status. Among female adolescents, age, type of school, class schedule, and education level of the household head were the main factors associated with risk behaviors. Conclusion: The prevalence of exposure to risk behaviors for non-communicable diseases was high, highlighting the simultaneous presence of tobacco smoking and experimentation of alcoholic beverages. Special attention should be given to educational activities to minimize the effects of the simultaneous occurrence of multiple risk behaviors.

Risky behaviours and attitudes of healthy Nigerians towards kidney failure: a case study of Ede north local government workers.

Objective: This research work is aimed at determining the kidney failure risk behaviours and attitudes of healthy populace of workers of Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. Methods:We adopted a descriptive survey research method. The study population consisted of both male and female local government workers in Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State. A self developed questionnaire, Kidney Failure Risk Behaviours (KFRB) research instrument, with nine items and two point response scale of 'Yes' and 'No' was administered and completed questionnaire was collated, coded and analysed using descriptive statistic of frequent count and percentages to describe the demographic characteristics of the respondents. Bar and pie charts were used to analyze the data relating to risk behaviours and attitude of the respondents to kidney failure. Results: The study showed that the common kidney failure risk behaviors exhibited by workers in Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State are the use of herbal remedies 284 (85.8%), use of alcohol 239 (72.2%) and cigarette smoking 134 (40.1%). The study also showed that 183 (55.3%) were indifferent, 44 (13.3%) had positive attitude while 104 (31.4%) had negative attitude towards kidney failure. Thus majority of the respondents were indifferent towards kidney failure. Conclusion: The reflections of their attitude about their knowledge of kidney failure in their exhibitions of risk behaviours for kidney failure are strong indications of the need for health advocacy on kidney failure of these groups of workers and the healthy populace. Keywords: Kidney failure, risk behaviours, attitude, healthy populace

Contribution of Positivity Ratio and Self-Control to Reduced Gambling Severity among Adolescents.

In the past few years, gambling among adolescents has become a common health risk behavior, one that might lead to other health risk behaviors. Research on the etiology of gambling behavior among adolescents has hitherto focused primarily on the factors contributing to increased gambling severity (GS). The present study is different, in that it examines two key personality components that may help curb GS: self-control (SC) and positivity ratio (PR)--the latter being defined as the positive ratio between positive and negative affects--as factors that predict reduced GS among adolescents. A convenience sample of 595 adolescents, ages 13 to 19 (M = 15.13, SD = 1.53), from six secondary and middle schools in five major cities in Israel, was taken between February and April 2012. Four instruments were used: a Gambling Behavior Scale, the DSM-IV (adapted for juveniles), the Adolescent SC Scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The main findings showed that PR moderated the association between SC and GS--highlighting the importance of PR in reducing the likelihood of problem gambling and bolstering the individual's SC skills and pointing to possible preventive actions that might be taken in the community to promote healthy adolescent behavior.

Screening and brief intervention for substance misuse: Does it reduce aggression and HIV-related risk behaviours?

To explore whether reducing substance misuse through a brief motivational intervention also reduces aggression and HIV risk behaviours. Participants were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial in primary care if they screened positive for substance misuse. Substance misuse was assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test; aggression, using a modified version of the Explicit Aggression Scale; and HIV risk, through a count of common risk behaviours. The intervention was received on the day of the baseline interview, with a 3-month follow-up. Participants who received the intervention were significantly more likely to reduce their alcohol use than those who did not; no effect was identified for other substances. In addition, participants who reduced substance misuse (whether as an effect of the intervention or not) also reduced aggression but not HIV risk behaviours. Reducing substance misuse through any means reduces aggression; other interventions are needed for HIV risk reduction.

Associations of psychological capital, demographic and occupational factors with cigarette smoking among Chinese underground coal miners.

BackgroundAs a specific male occupational group, underground coal miners have been commonly found to have a high prevalence of cigarette smoking. It is of urgent need to explore some factors that could be intervened to reduce smoking from personal or internal perspective. The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations of psychological capital (PsyCap), demographic and occupational factors with smoking among Chinese underground coal miners.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in a coal-mining population in northeast China. Twenty-five hundreds of male underground miners were sampled from six coal mines. Self-administered questionnaires involving current smoking status, specific scales to measure the levels of PsyCap, effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and perceived physical environment (PPE), and some demographic and occupational factors were completed anonymously after a day shift. Complete responses were obtained from 1,956 participants (response rate: 78.2%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the factors in relation to current smoking.ResultsThe overall smoking prevalence was 52.4%. After controlling for demographic and occupational variables, PsyCap was not associated with smoking. Compared with the miners in the lowest tertile of resilience, the odds ratios (ORs) of smoking for the miners in the intermediate tertile and highest tertile were 1.30 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.99–1.70) and 1.58 (95% CI: 1.13–2.20), respectively. Compared with the miners in the lowest tertile of optimism, the ORs of smoking for the miners in the intermediate tertile and highest tertile were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.61–1.03) and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.51–0.92), respectively. Low education and high PPE were the risk factors of smoking, whereas ERI had no association with smoking.ConclusionsMore than half of the underground coal miners were current smokers, which indicated that cigarette smoking might be a common health risk behavior in this occupational population. High resilience and PPE, together with low education were the risk factors of smoking, whereas high optimism was a protective factor. Consequently, PsyCap had mixed effects on cigarette smoking. Investment in resilience and optimism should be given more attention for the purposes of the prevention and reduction of smoking among occupational populations.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1349-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Health-Risk Behaviors Among High School Athletes and Preventive Services Provided During Sports Physicals

IntroductionPreparticipation examinations (PPEs), or sports physicals, present opportunities for health care providers to identify and discuss common adolescent health-risk behaviors. We sought to examine the prevalence of health-risk behaviors among high school athletes and the proportion of providers who address these behaviors during PPEs. MethodFor this descriptive study we used data from two statewide surveys: a survey of adolescents (n = 46,492) and a survey of nurse practitioners and physicians (n = 561). ResultsThe most prevalent risk behaviors reported by student athletes were low levels of physical activity (70%), bullying perpetration (41%), and alcohol use (41%). Most providers (≥75%) addressed many common risk behaviors during PPEs but fewer addressed bullying, violence, and prescription drug use. Topics discussed differed by provider type and patient population. DiscussionMany providers addressed critical threats to adolescent health during PPEs, but findings suggest potential disconnects between topics addressed during PPEs and behaviors of athletes.

Serological survey for sparganum infection in people of central China

Abstract During 2006–2008, twenty cases with sparganosis caused by eating live tadpoles emerged in Henan province, central China. To determine seroprevalence of anti-sparganum antibodies and obtain information about habits of eating live tadpoles and risks for sparganum infection, a serological survey was carried out in one village of Henan. Antisparganum IgG in 298 serum samples were assayed by ELISA using excretory and secretory (ES) antigens of Spirometra mansoni spargana. The results showed 56.71 % (169/298) of inhabitants had the history of eating live tadpoles. The overall seroprevalence was 5.7 % (17/298). The seroprevalence of the inhabitants who had the habit of eating tadpoles (9.47 %) was obviously higher than those who did not (0.78 %) (P &lt; 0.01). Eating live tadpoles had become the most common risk behavior for sparganum infection. Hence, the comprehensive public health education should be carried out in endemic areas, and the habit of eating live tadpoles must be discouraged.