Dimensions Of Health Research Articles

Social capital and health beliefs: Exploring the effect of bridging and bonding social capital on health locus of control among women in Dhaka

This cross-sectional study examined if social capital affects women's health attributions. The study used the Internet Social Capital Scale (ISCS) and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scale to measure Social Capital and Health Locus of Control. A predefined 38-item questionnaire was used to survey 485 purposively selected women. A bidirectional reciprocal structural equation model was used to measure the covariance between Social Capital and Health Locus of Control. We hypothesized that women with strong social capital, particularly those rich in bridging ties, would exhibit a greater sense of agency and empowerment over their health, attributing their health outcomes less to internal factors like fate and more to external influences like powerful others and broader social support. However, we found that when women have higher social capital, their external health locus of control increases. Bridging and bonding social capital lower women's internal health control, but bridging social capital leads to higher attributes to powerful others. Likewise, we expected women with more social capital would exhibit a lower perception of uncontrollability over their health, but is not the case. The findings underscore the necessity for women to have more social capital.

Pengaruh Pengeluaran Pemerintah Sektor Kesehatan, Pengeluaran Makanan Perkapita, dan Rasio Ketergantungan Terhadap Indeks Pembangunan Manusia di Kabupaten Provinsi Lampung

The province of Lampung, strategically located on the island of Sumatra, is facing challenges in improving human development that have yet to meet desired expectations. Data indicates that the Human Development Index (HDI) there is still below the national average and that of Sumatra as a whole. The study was conducted in the 13 districts of Lampung Province during the period 2017-2022 using panel data regression with a Random Effect Model (REM). This research aims to investigate the Human Development Index (HDI) in the districts of Lampung Province, focusing on the dimensions of economics, education, and health. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of government expenditure on the health sector, dependency ratio, and per capita food expenditure on the HDI. The results show that 1) Government expenditure in the health sector significantly contributes positively to improving the HDI in Lampung Province. Conversely, 2) per capita food expenditure has a significant negative impact, as does 3) the dependency ratio, which also significantly affects the HDI but in a negative direction. Therefore, further attention to these factors is expected to enhance human development in Lampung Province. This study provides deep insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Lampung District in improving the welfare of its people, and it offers policy recommendations that can lead to inclusive and sustainable development in the future.

Angelica Sinensis and Chinese Arborvitae: A Review on its Phytochemical & Pharmacological Importance

Angelica sinensis and Chinese arborvitae has had a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and have been used to heal various ailments such as heartburn, overnight urination, arthritis, circulation problems and androgenic alopecia, pain, hemorrhoids, abnormally heavy bleeding during menstrual periods and many other conditions. The modern pharmacological studies discovered that these two plants have a wide variety of beneficial attributes for human health. Besides, its importance, a review of this both plants have not been properly assessed in the scientific literature to date. Here, we review and summarize the historic and recent literature concerning the botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of this wonder plant. This summary could be advantageous for future research objective to exploit the therapeutic potential of these beneficial medicinal plants.

PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT AMONG ADOLESCENT: GENDER DIFFERENCE

This study is aimed at finding the difference in personal adjustment in adolescents of Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. Hypothesis testing research design is adopted for this study. Data is collected from 100 male and 100 female adolescents using standardized questionnaire following convenience sampling technique. SPSS is used for data analysis. The results revealed that the present level of personal adjustment practices is just below the average among adolescents of Muzaffarpur district. The present level of home, health, social and emotional dimensions of personal adjustment practices is above the average among adolescents of Muzaffarpur district. Female reported higher personal adjustment than male in case of personal adjustment. It is also reported that female is significantly higher in case of home, health and social dimension of personal adjustment while no significant difference reported for emotional dimension among adolescents of Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. It is recommended to adolescents of Muzaffarpur district of Bihar to maintain the level and take help of psychiatric for further better level.

E pluribus, quaedam. Gross Domestic Product out of a Dashboard of Indicators

AbstractIs aggregate income enough to summarize well-being? We address this long-standing question by exploiting a quantitative approach that studies the relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) and a set of economic, social and environmental indicators for nine developed economies. We introduce a mathematical approach to the analysis of economic indicators. By employing dimensionality reduction and time series reconstruction techniques, we quantify the share of variability stemming from a large set of different indicators that can be compressed into a univariate index. We also evaluate how well this variability can be explained if the univariate index is assumed to be respectively the gross domestic product, national income, household income, or household spending. Our results indicate that all the four univariate measures are doomed to fail in accounting for the variability of all the domains. Even if GDP emerges as the best option among the four economic variables, its quality in synthesizing the variability of indicators belonging to other domains is poor (about 35%). Our approach provides additional support for policy makers interested in measuring the trade offs between income and other relevant social, health and ecological dimensions. Finally, our work adds new quantitative evidence to the vast literature criticizing the usage of GDP as a measure of well-being.

Brave New World of Artificial Intelligence: Its Use in Antimicrobial Stewardship-A Systematic Review.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health problem in the One Health dimension. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging in healthcare, since it is helpful to deal with large amounts of data and as a prediction tool. This systematic review explores the use of AI in antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) and summarizes the predictive performance of machine learning (ML) algorithms, compared with clinical decisions, in inpatients and outpatients who need antimicrobial prescriptions. This review includes eighteen observational studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The exclusion criteria comprised studies conducted only in vitro, not addressing infectious diseases, or not referencing the use of AI models as predictors. Data such as study type, year of publication, number of patients, study objective, ML algorithms used, features, and predictors were extracted from the included publications. All studies concluded that ML algorithms were useful to assist antimicrobial stewardship teams in multiple tasks such as identifying inappropriate prescribing practices, choosing the appropriate antibiotic therapy, or predicting AMR. The most extracted performance metric was AUC, which ranged from 0.64 to 0.992. Despite the risks and ethical concerns that AI raises, it can play a positive and promising role in ASP.

Mental health in athletes: Does authentic leadership matter?

Recent research has attested to the prevalence of mental health issues in sport, and the need to identify factors that could promote athletes’ mental health. In this study, we investigated: (a) whether authentic leadership is associated with athletes’ mental health directly and indirectly via psychological capital and prosocial and antisocial behaviour experienced from one’s teammates; and (b) whether the hypothesized model testing these relationships is the same in higher versus lower competitive level athletes. We examined two dimensions of mental health, namely positive mental health and mental illness. A total of 751 athletes (Mage = 22.92, SD = 8.53; 294 female) from a range of sports completed a multi-section questionnaire administered via an online survey. Path analysis showed that authentic leadership was positively related to positive mental health via psychological capital and prosocial behaviour and negatively linked to mental illness via psychological capital and antisocial behaviour. The effects of authentic leadership on positive mental health via prosocial teammate behaviour and subsequently psychological capital, and on mental illness via prosocial teammate behaviour, were stronger in higher compared to lower competitive level athletes. The findings suggest that by adopting an authentic leadership style coaches could strengthen athletes’ positive mental health and protect them from mental illness. This may happen by increasing athletes’ psychological capital and prosocial behaviour within the team and decreasing antisocial behaviour within the team.

Food System vs. Sustainability: An Incompatible Relationship in Mexico

The Mexican food system has suffered deep transformations due to multiple technological advances and political and free trade agreements, transiting from a food system for self-consumption to a system based on exports and imports that has resulted in excessive agricultural activity intensification, leading to environmental deterioration. Our species’ survival will depend on our capacity to manage systems, considering all ecosystems, especially the climate and food systems. International organizations insist that sustainable food systems could be a useful strategy to address malnutrition and hunger while respecting the environment. However, the food system in Mexico needs to be connected to the environmental, social, health, and food security dimensions. Sustainability in Mexico synthesizes the contradictions of agriculture and the Mexican diet, not only in its economic and productive dimensions but also in the social and environmental ones. Public policies in all sectors of the country must be interconnected and organized to guarantee the sustainability of a system that benefits the environment and population health while respecting the related economic and social elements. This review aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the Mexican food system’s history and current situation and analyze proposals for its sustainability.

“Let’s Talk About Sex”: How Sexual Health Dimensions are Integrated into Verbal Discourses in Teen Dramas Available on Video on Demand

“Let’s Talk About Sex”: How Sexual Health Dimensions are Integrated into Verbal Discourses in Teen Dramas Available on Video on Demand

Theoretical Foundations of Culturally Responsive Teaching and Connections to Saskatchewan Curriculum and Indigenous Education

This paper will examine the attributes of culturally responsive teaching (CRT) as well as its theoretical foundations. Gay’s (2018) work describes the eight attributes of CRT as validating, comprehensive and inclusive, multidimensional, empowering, transformative, emancipatory, humanistic, normative, and ethical. After unpacking each attribute, I will present and discuss four dimensions of Gay’s (2018) theoretical foundations of CRT which include culturally diverse curriculum, teacher caring, home and school connection, and academic achievement. Further, I will write about how CRT and the epistemologies of Indigenous education can lead to healthy and transformative spaces for Indigenous students in Saskatchewan public schools. For the purposes of this paper, I define healthy and transformative spaces as spaces where students have their needs met in the four dimensions of spirit, mental, physical, and emotional health. Keywords: Indigenous education; culturally responsive teaching; students; education; healthy and transformative spaces

Development of a Value Assessment Framework for Pediatric Health Technologies Using Multicriteria Decision Analysis: Expanding the Value Lens for Funding Decision Making

ObjectivesA health technology assessment (HTA) does not systematically account for the circumstances and needs of children and youth. To supplement HTA processes, we aimed to develop a child-tailored value assessment framework using a multicriteria decision analysis approach. MethodsWe constructed a multicriteria-decision-analysis-based model in multiple phases to create the Comprehensive Assessment of Technologies for Child Health (CATCH) framework. Using a modified Delphi process with stakeholders having broad disciplinary and geographic variation (N = 23), we refined previously generated criteria and developed rank-based weights. We established a criterion-pertinent scoring rubric for assessing incremental benefits of new drugs. Three clinicians independently assessed comprehension by pilotscoring 9 drugs. We then validated CATCH for 2 childhood cancer therapies through structured deliberation with an expert panel (N = 10), obtaining individual scores, consensus scores, and verbal feedback. Analyses included descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, exploratory disagreement indices, and sensitivity analysis. ResultsThe modified Delphi process yielded 10 criteria, based on absolute importance/relevance and agreed importance (median disagreement indices = 0.34): Effectiveness, Child-specific Health-related Quality of Life, Disease Severity, Unmet Need, Therapeutic Safety, Equity, Family Impacts, Life-course Development, Rarity, and Fair Share of Life. Pilot scoring resulted in adjusted criteria definitions and more precise score-scaling guidelines. Validation panelists endorsed the framework’s key modifiers of value. Modes of their individual prescores aligned closely with deliberative consensus scores. ConclusionsWe iteratively developed a value assessment framework that captures dimensions of child-specific health and nonhealth gains. CATCH could improve the richness and relevance of HTA decision making for children in Canada and comparable health systems.

Unveiling the Air Quality Impacts of Municipal Solid Waste Disposal: An Integrative Study of On-Site Measurements and Community Perceptions

This study examines air quality conditions in and around a classroom located in the Sarıçam/Adana region of Türkiye, near the campus of Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University and the Sofulu municipal solid waste (MSW) facility. This academic setting was strategically chosen due to its proximity to the waste facility. The study aims to provide a comprehensive view of the environmental and social impacts of solid waste management through a methodological approach that combines quantitative on-site measurements and qualitative survey studies. Findings from measurements and surveys underline the significant and measurable impacts of MSW facilities on the ambient air quality of university residents. The analysis revealed a marked increase in concentrations of key pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), dust, and methane (CH4). At sampling point N1, H2S levels rose from 0 ppm in July to 13 ppm in November. Methane increased from 0.2% to 2.5% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) at the same point, although it remained within safety limits. Additionally, CO levels showed a 40% increase, and dust concentration levels rose from 0.21 mg/m3 to 2.36 mg/m3 from summer to winter, indicating a seasonal variation likely influenced by the landfill’s operational dynamics, as well as changes in temperature and relative humidity. In particular, the results indicate high concentrations of CO, H2S and dust, which are directly related to air quality degradation. The study also sheds light on the impacts of these waste disposal facilities on the general well-being and health of the university community, particularly on students and staff. In addition to these findings, the study highlights a general lack of awareness in the university community about the impacts of MSW facilities on air quality. This highlights the need for increased education and information dissemination. The results support the development of comprehensive and effective strategies, including technical solutions and public awareness initiatives, to mitigate the impacts of these facilities on residential areas. In conclusion, the impacts of MSW facilities on air quality should be seen as a multidimensional issue that requires a holistic approach addressing environmental, health, social, and educational dimensions.

Healthy Lifespan Statistics Derived From Cross-Sectional Prevalence Data Using the Sullivan Method are Informative Summary Measures of Population Health

Health expectancy (HE), commonly derived from cross-sectional prevalence data using the Sullivan method, serves as the most frequently used summary measure of population health. Like lifespan distribution statistics, which are often discussed alongside life expectancy (LE) in demographic studies, analogous statistics on healthy lifespans can provide valuable information on population health. We examine whether healthy lifespan distribution statistics beyond HE can be estimated based on cross-sectional prevalence data and the life table, the data inputs of the Sullivan method. To do so, we treat the Sullivan method as an extension of the stationary population model to health and distinguish between health conditions with and without recovery from the state of decreased health. Our empirical demonstration is based on the prevalence of chronic diseases in selected European countries in 2017 from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), as well as on life tables from EUROSTAT. We find that the Sullivan method, when considered as an extension of the stationary population model to health, allows for the estimation of a healthy survival distribution and its statistics, beyond HE, for health characteristics with no recovery from the state of decreased health. We show that for such health conditions, the method requires that the number of persons in full health in a stationary population does not increase with age. We argue that for such health dimensions, HE conditional on being in good health at the life table radix age is of relevance for health policy interventions. In our empirical application, we show that the conditional and unconditional measures of HE can give substantially different pictures of population health. Furthermore, we show that across European countries, in contrast to the negative relationship between LE and lifespan inequality, higher HE is associated with greater inequality in healthy years lived when conditional on being healthy at age 50. Overall, the Sullivan method, when considered as an extension of the stationary population model, proves to be a valuable tool for deriving summary statistics of population health beyond HE, which are highly relevant to public policy. * This article belongs to a special issue on “Levels and Trends of Health Expectancy: Understanding its Measurement and Estimation Sensitivity”.

The "bubbles"-study: Validation of ultra-short scales for the assessment of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms.

Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms cause substantial psychological and economic burdens around the globe. To mitigate the negative consequences, the negative symptoms should be identified at an early stage. Therefore, the implementation of very brief valid screening tools in mental health prevention programs and in therapeutic settings is advantageous. In two studies on representative German population samples, we developed and validated three ultra-short scales-the "bubbles"-that consist of only one item based on the Depression Anxiety Stress 21 subscales (DASS-21) for the assessment of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. The results of Study 1 (N = 1,001) and Study 2 (N = 894) revealed that the bubbles are valid instruments that fit the DASS-21 subscales on the factor level. Moreover, the bubbles replicated the association pattern of the DASS-21 subscales with demographic variables, and with variables that belong to the negative and the positive dimension of mental health. Thus, due to their time- and cost-efficiency, the bubbles can be used as brief screening tools in research (e.g., large-scale studies, longitudinal studies, experience sampling paradigms) and in praxis. Their shortness can prevent fatigue, motivation decrease, and participants' drop-out.

Health-related quality of life 1 year after a large-scale industrial fire among exposed inhabitants of Rouen, France: 'The Post Fire 76 Health' study.

A large-scale industrial fire occurred in Rouen, France, in 2019. This study assessed the health-related quality of life of people exposed to its consequences 1 year later. The study population comprised inhabitants of the exposed area and a non-exposed area. A representative sample was randomly selected using a stratified design. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire to describe fire exposure and to calculate three health-related quality of life scores according to the SF12-v2 scale. After adjustment, descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted. The sample comprised 4773 participants (response rate 47.7%). In the exposed area, the average mental, physical and overall health scores were 47.5, 52.0 and 73.8 out of 100, respectively. Mean mental and overall health scores were higher in the non-exposed area (49.0 and 76.0, respectively). After adjustment, a lower mental health score was associated with a higher number of perceived types of exposure, reaching -3.72 points [-5.41; -2.04] for five or more different types of perceived exposure. A lower mental health score was associated with soot deposits (-1.04 [-1.70; -0.39]), perceiving odours [(-2.04 [-3.22; -0.86]) up to the day of data collection], and having seen, heard or been awakened by the fire (-1.21 [-1.90; -0.52]). A slightly lower physical health score was associated with soot deposits (-0.57 [-1.07; -0.08]). This study highlighted associations between exposure to the consequences of the industrial fire in Rouen and a deterioration of perceived health-related quality of life 1 year later, particularly the mental health dimension.

A Socio Economic Exploration of Bediya Community of Rasabeda Village in Pursuit of Sustainable Development By IJISRT

Tribal communities have been an integral and captivating part of Indian society since the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. India is home to the second-largest tribal population in the world. Spread all across the country, these communities have rich traditions, vibrant cultures, and unique lifestyles. One such major tribal community is Bediya. This study is focused on bediya settlement in Rasabeda, a village in the hills of the Chota Nagpur plateau. The settlement is highly vulnerable and underdeveloped. The study aims to examine the socio- economic challenges faced by the Bediya residents, highlighting the community's current state of pervasive poverty and undernourishment. The aim of the research is to present a detailed analysis of Rasabeda by employing a multifaceted approach encompassing economic, demographic, social, livelihood, health, education, and agricultural dimensions. The research seeks to contribute valuable insights into fostering lasting development in the Bediya community. The findings of this study hold significance while implementing effective strategies for sustainable growth and improvement within similar contexts.

Immigrant Perspectives of Social Connection in a Nontraditional Migration Area.

Social connection is a core dimension of health and wellness among all populations, yet the experience of moving to and living in a new country makes social and community-level influences particularly salient for immigrants. We interviewed 38 Latino immigrants living in a nontraditional migration area to explore the social and community foundations of health and wellness. Using hybrid (inductive/deductive) qualitative analysis, we identified seven domains of social connection from the perspective of the interviewed participants: (1) lens of the individual; (2) immigrant experience; (3) interpersonal support; (4) community belonging; (5) community capital; (6) community navigation; and (7) social acceptance. Social connection domains generated by participants are consistent with the scientific literature, but this study identifies the specific social factors that immigrants describe as most salient to their own health and wellness. Our community-generated understanding of social connection can be used by healthcare providers to reduce risks and build on assets that will improve the health of immigrants living in nontraditional migration areas. Additionally, these results might serve as a foundation for a quantitative measure that can be used by providers to more accurately and comprehensively assess the social connection of their patients and by researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of community-level interventions for immigrants.

School refusal profiles maintained by negative reinforcement and their relationship with self-perceived health.

Health alterations and school refusal behavior may significantly affect student evolution in all areas of student lives. The objective of this study was to use latent profile analysis to identify school refusal profiles sustained by negative reinforcement and to determine their relationship with distinct self-perceived health variables (Satisfaction, Well-being, Resilience, Performance, and Risk-Taking). The School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (SRAS-R) and the Child Health and Illness Profile (CHIP-CE/CRF) were administered to 737 students (60.9% male) aged between 8 and 10 (M = 8.76, SD = 0.74). Three profiles of school refusal maintained by negative reinforcement were obtained: no risk, moderate risk, and high risk. It was confirmed that school refusal through negative reinforcement correlates negatively with health dimensions, also finding that a higher risk profile for school refusal is associated with lower levels of self-perceived health. Similarly, it was determined that the high-risk profile is the most maladaptive, with significantly lower data in four of the five self-perceived health dimensions that were evaluated. In conclusion, remaining in situations with no or moderate risk of school refusal due to negative reinforcement encourages higher levels of self-perceived health, while being at high risk of school refusal due to negative reinforcement is associated with worse self-perceived health.

Where I'm Livin’ and How I'm Feelin’: Associations among community stress, gender, and mental-emotional health among Black Americans

RationaleStructural racism is a primary avenue for the perpetuation of racial health disparities. For Black Americans, both historically and contemporarily, the neighborhood context serves as one of the most striking examples of structural racism, with stressful neighborhood contexts contributing to the well-documented inequalities in psychological functioning among this population. ObjectiveThus, in this study, we adapted an intersectional-ecological framework to investigate the links between community stress and multiple dimensions of mental-emotional health for Black men and women. MethodsDrawing on cross-sectional data from 842 Black Americans from the Milwaukee area, we tested both objective (Area Deprivation Index; ADI) and subjective (perceived neighborhood disadvantage; PND) indicators of community stress as simultaneous predictors of negative and positive affect and the odds of psychological disorder (depression, anxiety) in multilevel models, examining gender differences in these linkages. ResultsResults showed greater objective community stress was related to lower levels of negative affect for both men and women and lower odds of psychological disorder for women specifically. Greater subjective community stress was related to higher levels of negative affect and lower levels of positive affect for both men and women and to higher odds of psychological disorder for women specifically. ConclusionsFindings highlight the complex intersectional nature of the links between community stress and Black Americans' mental-emotional health. Specifically, findings demonstrate the pernicious psychological effects of perceived community stress and allude to Black Americans', particularly women's, active resistance and resilience to objective disadvantage, potentially through investing in social relationships in their neighborhoods.

Photocatalytic dye degradation and hydrogen peroxide sensing by a novel copper-Schiff base complex prepared via mechanochemical method

ABSTRACT Water pollution, primarily caused due to hazardous organic and inorganic substances, is a cause of concern for human health and development, for it manifests adverse repercussions across health, economic, and social dimensions. The footprints of its adverse effects are also left on aquatic/marine life forms. In the light of the negative impacts of such substances, the development of efficient remediation techniques becomes pertinent. In this article, we report a water-soluble glutamic acid Schiff base copper complex (Cu-GSb) that has been synthesised by taking recourse to a mechanochemical approach, relying upon solid-state reagent interactions in a benign environmental setting, eluding a rigorous refluxing condition and overuse of solvents. The experimental results revealed that the ligand coordinates to the metal centre in a bidentate fashion through the imine nitrogen and carboxylate oxygen, respectively, adopting a distorted square planar geometry. Further, the complex’s utility in mitigating chemical hazards has been demonstrated through the studies involving degradation of organic dyes like methylene blue and bromocresol green, and decomposition/sensing of H2O2. Notably, as a photocatalyst towards the degradation of above-mentioned dyes under visible light irradiation, our study showed the photocatalytic efficiency of Cu-GSb to be ~95% in 50–60 min. The rate of degradation reaction has been found to follow first-order kinetics with rate constant values of 6 × 10−2 and 5.66 × 10−2 min−1 for MB and BCG, respectively. Furthermore, the results of H2O2 sensing evaluation revealed that the complex is capable of potentially decomposing H2O2 in about 20–30 min. The compounds have been routinely characterised by UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR).