Labor Occupations Research Articles

Abstract 4125957: Feasibility and Acceptability of Behavioral Weight Loss Programs for Men in Trade and Labor Occupations

Objective: Men who work in trade and labor occupations experience high rates of obesity and related cardiovascular disease due to high rates of sedentary leisure time and poor diet. Despite this, they are underrepresented in weight control programs. This pilot randomized trial evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a 6-month program tailored to this occupational group versus a non-tailored standard-of-care behavioral weight loss program. Methods: Men with overweight or obesity working in trade and labor occupations were randomly assigned to either a tailored program or the DPP Group Lifestyle Balance program delivered via 16 one-hour virtual group sessions. In-person assessments were conducted at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Semi-structured interviews and self-report were used to assess the acceptability of the interventions. Feasibility was assessed using recruitment metrics and proportion group sessions and study assessments completed. Results: Participants (N = 28; median 44.0 years, interquartile range (IQR): 38.5-54.5), median 31.8 BMI, IQR 31.1-39.6) were recruited into the study over 7 months, and 71% and 79% were retained for assessments at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Overall, participants attended a median of 7 of the 16 group sessions (IQR 2.5-11.5). The tailored group completed a median of 11 of 16 weekly online progress reports (IQR 5-15). All participants reported that they would recommend the programs to other men and felt confident that they would continue using the strategies learned in the programs. Though the trial focused on feasibility rather than efficacy, median weight losses at 6 months were -3.0% in the tailored group (95% CI -9.3, -0.6) and -1.9% in the standard group (95% CI -7.4, 2.0). Conclusions: Results suggest that both the tailored and standard weight loss interventions were well received by this group, but engagement was low. Future research should focus on understanding how to increase engagement rather than exclusively tailoring the program to this occupational group to enhance this group's involvement with cardiovascular disease prevention programs.

Lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in ankylosing spondylitis than non-inflammatory rheumatic disease controls in a 1978-98 study: a potential effect of increased physical energetics in manual occupations in the pre-2000 chronologic era.

No article on serum lipids in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and control subjects has been reported from USA. The primary aim of this study was to determine if any difference occurred in serum lipid levels in AS and control rheumatic disorders in two time periods, 1978-98 and 2000-10. The secondary aim was to investigate variables associated with lipid levels and if a difference was found between AS and control disorders. The AS patients were compared to non-inflammatory rheumatic disorders (NIRDs) in 1978-98 and 2000-10 surveys and to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the 2000-10 survey. Patients were matched within 5 years of age, sex, and clinic or hospital source. In the 1978-98 survey, entry mean (SEM) serum cholesterol level [mg/dL] was highly (p<0.001) significantly lower in 69 AS [179.0 (4.8)] than 69 matched NIRD controls [208.0 (5.6)]. In 29 pairs of AS and NIRD subjects having manual labour occupations, mean (SEM) cholesterol level was additionally lower in AS [156.7 (5.9)] and higher in 29 NIRD controls [213.3 (8.6)] (p<0.001). In manual labour workers, mean (SEM) serum triglyceride was significantly lower (p=0.004) in 15 AS [110.3 (14.1)] than 14 NIRD controls [185.2 (19.3)]. In the 2000-10 survey, no lipid difference was found between AS vs. NIRD control patients. In the 1978-98 survey, AS had significantly lower mean serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels than NIRD control patients. Associated manual labour occupations may have significantly contributed to results, possibly related to increased energy expenditures from physical activity in the pre-2000 era.

Labor Market and Occupation in Russia: Problems and Prospects

Labor Market and Occupation in Russia: Problems and Prospects

Joining late, leaving early? Immigrant-native disparities in labor market exit

The retirement behavior of immigrants has received limited attention, despite many countries seeing rising immigrant shares in their aging populations. Population-wide data for Sweden reveals that the retirement hazard rate is higher among immigrants as early as age 50. Approaching age 65, marginal migrant groups are instead more likely to remain in the labor force rather than conform to retirement age norms. While education and family circumstances explain little of these retirement gaps, labor market history, health, and occupation are important determinants. Immigrant-native differences are more pronounced among men than women. Findings suggest that economic necessity or opportunity, rather than varying preferences, are the driving factors behind the observed retirement disparities.

1인 가구 특성이 주택점유에 미치는 영향

Single-person households are closely associated with the social issue of housing poverty. The purpose of this study is to present policy alternatives for addressing the challenges faced by single-person households by examining the influence of socio-economic and locational characteristics on occupancy patterns. The results of this study are as follows. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis are as follows. The results revealed that bereavement, increased management costs, residing in the Seoul metropolitan area, being employed in labor, sales, or service occupations, living in officetels or one-room apartments, and owning a car showed statistically significant associations with self-probability. Ragarding of regional characteristics, it was observed that the closer people reside to the metropolitan area, the higher the probability of leasing. Specifically, Gyeonggi-do Province has a higher likelihood of leasing than Seoul. This suggests that tenants may be moving to Gyeonggi Province due to the steep monthly rent increase in Seoul, which they cannot afford. Based on the results of this study, housing support measures and policy implications are presented. The younger generation requires priority housing support measures compared to other generations to address the low birth rate. During a period of continuous increase in housing prices and rents, it is essential to implement housing support measures to prevent involuntary displacement from current residences.

A Study on Socio-economic Profile of Paddy Growers in Milkipur Block of Ayodhya District of Uttar Pradesh, India

The study was conducted in five villages of Milkipur block in Ayodhya district, selected purposively based on proximity to the researcher and accessibility. A complete list of all paddy growers in each selected village was prepared. From this list, a total of 120 farmers were selected using a proportionate random sampling technique. The results of the study revealed that the majority of the respondents exhibited various socio-economic characteristics, such as being in the age category of 39-62 years (61.67%), being literate (84.16%), belonging to the general caste (39.17%), living in nuclear families (85.83%), having a family size of 4-8 members (62.50%), being marginal farmers with land holdings below one hectare (43.33%), and having agriculture as their main occupation with subsidiary agricultural labor occupations (90.83% and 21.66%, respectively). A mixed housing pattern was observed in 56.66% of the respondents. In terms of material possessions, diesel engines (53.33%) and chaff cutters (85.83%) were the main farm power and agricultural implements, respectively. For transportation, bicycles (98.33%) were predominant. In terms of communication media, household materials such as coats (100%) and mobile phones (100%) were reported as main possessions. Additionally, 57.50% of respondents had no participation in any organizations. The majority of respondents (52.50%) reported an annual family income of up to 50,000. Gram pradhan (05.57%), family members (06.00%), and mobile phones (06.00%) were identified as the main formal, informal, and communicational sources of extension contact, respectively.

A randomized comparison of recruitment messages for a weight loss clinical trial targeting men working in trade and labor occupations

BackgroundEngaging diverse populations in clinical trials is vital to research. This study evaluated the effects of varying recruitment messages for a clinical trial. MethodsThe messages were evaluated in a randomly assigned, factorial design that tested enhanced trust (vs. standard) and participant endorsement (vs. standard) messaging.Four postcards were developed and randomly assigned to 4000 potential participants' addresses. Except for the messages of interest, the cards were identical, and participants were directed to four identical study websites and screening forms. Outcomes include unique website visits, visit conversion rate, screening forms completed, and participants randomized into the parent study. ResultsStudy websites received 74 visits (range by message type 9 to 34). There was no significant difference by message type (p = 0.79). Online screening forms were completed by 15 participants (range by message type 0–6), representing a conversion rate of 20.3% of website visits. Seven participants were randomized into the study in response to the postcards (range by message type 0 to 3; 46.7% of screenings). Overall, 0.2% of individuals who received a postcard were randomized into the study. ConclusionDespite developing recruitment messages with participant input, the enhanced messages did not yield a greater response than standard messages. However, this method of evaluating recruitment messages shows promise.

ANALISA FAKTOR INDIVIDU TERHADAP PENYEBAB KEMISKINAN EKSTRIM DI KABUPATEN TANGERANG

This research was conducted with the main aim of examining individual factors that contribute to extreme poverty in the Tangerang Regency, especially in 12 villages located across four district regions: Pakuhaji District, Rajeg District, Solear District, and Sindang Jaya District. By gaining a deeper understanding of the factors driving extreme poverty, it's hoped that poverty alleviation efforts in this area can be more effective and targeted. The research utilized a qualitative descriptive method as the primary approach. Findings indicate that individual factors, particularly in education and employment aspects, significantly contribute to extreme poverty in this region. Analysis reveals that the majority of the population in these 12 villages have low educational attainment, with most having only completed primary or lower secondary education. Additionally, livelihoods are predominantly in the agricultural sector, manual labor, odd jobs, and other informal occupations, showcasing limited job options available. Possible steps to address this include raising awareness about the importance of education through community and private sector participation, enhancing the knowledge and skills of the workforce, improving educational infrastructure, providing job training and internships within local companies, creating new labor-intensive job opportunities, boosting economic infrastructure, and improving access to financing while providing support for community-driven initiatives

Vertebral Fracture and Its Outcomes in Emergency Patients of Kowsar Hospital in Sanandaj: An Epidemiological Study

Background: Vertebral fracture, one of the most incidents in human life, is associated with many complications. Due to the importance of this complication, this study was conducted to epidemiologically investigate vertebral fractures and their consequences in the emergency department of Kowsar Hospital in Sanandaj in 2017. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 350 patients who visited the emergency department of Kowsar Sanandaj Hospital in 2017 due to vertebral fractures were included. The data was extracted from information collected through phone contact and patients’ medical documents. V Kramer and ETA tests were performed to analyze the hypotheses using SPSS 25 software. Results: Men constituted 61% of the patients. The average age of the patients was 42.18 (6.86) years, and almost 41% of the patients lived in Sanandaj. The most common trauma mechanism was fall injury with 44.8%, 59.55% of which were in the lumbar region. Compression and burst fractures had the highest fracture rates with 47.85 and 21.9 percent, respectively. Conclusion: According to the findings, the fractures were more prevalent in men, young people, and in labor and agricultural occupations, and there is a significant relationship between the consequences of fractures with age, sex, and occupation, which indicates the need for more safety considerations in these people. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and subsequently modulate the risk factors associated with falling injuries to reduce this type of injury.

Professioni nella Care economy e occupazione: evidenze su dati amministrativi

The paper analyses the evolution of hiring in the care economy professions. To this end, a dataset is used that merges information from sample and administrative sources on labour market flows and occupations. Empirical analyses show that over the period 2012-2021 there was an increase in hiring in the care economy sector, albeit with a cyclical dynamic mainly linked to the Covid-19 emergency. However, these occupations are associated with a penalty in terms of work intensity compared to the average for other occupations. Finally, in care economy professions, there is a reduction in gender inequality when measured by the average number of days worked during the year

분산투자를 결정하는 요인

Purpose - In this study, we examine the factors related to the asset allocation decisions of individual investors who 1) directly invest in stocks or bonds, 2) indirectly invest in various fund products (excluding CMA and MMF), and 3) invest in both products.&#x0D; Design/methodology/approach - We collect a sample of 3,000 individual investors and investigate the factors influencing investment behavior, especially the diversification tendency in asset allocation, with the “Investor Behavior Survey” that is conducted jointly by the Korea Financial Investment Association and the Korea Gallup Research Institute in 2011 and 2012.&#x0D; Findings - Our regression analyses estimate the marginal effects of various factors such as the amount of total financial assets, monthly income, occupation, age, and gender. The results reveal that male investors with manual labor occupations were less inclined to diversify their investments compared to female investors in office jobs. Additionally, higher monthly income is associated with a greater inclination toward diversification. Therefore, if a positive relationship exists between income and educational level, we may suggest that higher educational levels lead to a greater tendency for diversification.&#x0D; Research implications or Originality - Interestingly, investors who engage in direct investments tend to exhibit a weaker diversification tendency as the amount of their direct investment increases. On the other hand, investors who engage in both direct and indirect investments show a weaker diversification tendency as the amount of total financial assets increases. This suggests that the investment style of investors is closely related to their diversification behavior.

A cross-national perspective on silicosis: incidence, occupational settings, and trends

Abstract Background: Historically, silicosis is a disease of miners, but the last decade witnessed outbreaks in occupational settings not traditionally associated with silica exposure. Evidence from other countries may ground awareness and control of re-emergent risks. Methods: Incident cases of occupational diseases, ranking and trends were analysed within 2012-2016, respectively within 2007-2016 for silicosis using a cross-national comparative study. Labor force profile and occupation were additional data used to identify similarities and differences between Romania and Israel. The incidence rates for silicosis extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 were compared to national, continental, and global level. Results: Between the two countries, the ratio was 1:1.5 for musculoscheletal disorders, 1:3 for respiratory diseases, 1:4 for noise-induced hearing loss, and 1:10 for silicosis. Regarding silicosis, three major diffences were found, namely: the burden of disease, the trend of incidence (ascending in Israel; descending in Romania), and the occupational setting (coal miner in Romania; artificial stone worker in Israel). Globally, Romania was among countries with high incidence of silicosis in 2017. Conclusion: Silicosis was a national issue of concern at the time, but vigilance should continue, given the severity of this disease and the occurrence of other silica-related diseases.

The role of labor market inequalities in the gender gap in depression risk among older US adults

Abstract Background We aim to investigate to what extent gender inequality at the labor market explains higher depression risk for women than men among older US adults. Methods We analyze data for 35,699 US adults aged 50-70 years that participated in the Health and Retirement Study. We calculate the gender gap as the difference in the prevalence of elevated depression symptoms ( &amp;gt; = 3, 8-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) between women and men. We employ a dynamic causal decomposition and simulate the life course of a synthetic cohort from ages 50 to 80 with the longitudinal g-formula. We introduce four nested interventions and assign women the same probabilities of being in a labor force category, occupation class, current income, and prior income as men conditional on women's health and family status until age 70. Findings The gender gap in depression risk is 2.9 percentage points at age 50 which increases to 7.6 per 100 at age 70. Giving women the same employment, occupation, and income opportunities as men decreases the gap on average over ages 50-71 by 1.2%-points (95%CI: -3 to 0.5), 1.2%-points (95%CI: -3 to 0.5), and 1.3%-points (95%CI: -3.2 to 0.3), respectively and 1.6%-points (95%CI: -3.5 to 0), or approximately one third, if we additionally intervene on prior income. The impact of the simulated intervention is particularly large for Hispanics and low-educated groups. Interpretation Policies that equalize labor market opportunities may reduce depression risk in older women and contribute up to one-third to the gender gap in depression risk. Key messages • We disentangle the complex relationship between gender, labor market and mental health in older US adults in an innovative life course approach with the help of hypothetical interventions. • Equalizing opportunities at the labor market reduces the gender depression gap most in groups with the largest gender depression gap, i.e. Hispanics and low educated groups.

Poster 342: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Recreational Athletes Aged 40 and Older: Activity Level as an Indication

Objectives: The number of patients that are continuing to be active is extending into middle age. Many in this population report consistent participation in recreational sports. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is the gold standard for treatment among young athletic patients, but nonoperative treatment has historically been utilized more often in older patient populations. It has been traditionally thought that older adult patients do not share the same activity level as younger patients and thus are not in need of surgical treatment of an ACL injury. There is some hesitancy to treat older patients if they have mild to moderate pre-existing arthritis, but in recent years the literature has demonstrated good outcomes in this population. The type of graft used in older patients is another source of controversy, with many surgeons opting to use allograft rather than a patient’s native tissue for ACLR. Factors that can inform decision-making such as pre-injury activity level and employment have not been thoroughly assessed for these patients. The purpose of this study was to better understand indications for ACLR in patients aged 40 and older by characterizing their activity level, mechanisms of injury, employment status, demographics, surgical characteristics, and patient reported outcomes (PROs). Methods: A registry of prospectively-collected PROs from a single metropolitan ambulatory surgical center was retrospectively reviewed for patients that received an ACLR from 2009-2016. Patients younger than 40 years old, revision procedures, and concomitant ligament repairs or reconstructions were excluded. Demographic, employment, activity, injury, and surgical characteristics were extracted via chart review. The level of strength required by the patient’s occupation was stratified by the definitions from the United States Department of Labor Occupation Requirements Survey (graded as “sedentary”, “light work”, “medium work”, “heavy work”, “very heavy work”). Surgical outcomes include ACLR failure or re-rupture, ipsilateral knee re-operations, and complications. PROs utilized were the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) and Knee Injury &amp; Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) collected pre-operatively and at two years post-operatively. Results: A total of 141 patients were identified. More than half the patients were female (n=81, 58%) and the average age was 47 years old (range: 40-66). Approximately 87% (n=124) of patients had PRO data. The average KOOS and SANE at two-year follow-up were 80.0 ± 15.9 and 85.3 ± 22.0, respectively. The average change from baseline score were 20.8 ± 20.2 and 24.1 ± 30.3 for KOOS and SANE, respectively. Pre-existing arthritis was found in the majority of patients (n=88, 62%). The most common graft type used for ACLR in this group was allograft (n=95, 67%). Injured menisci were typically treated with meniscectomy vs repair (n=65, 56%). The majority of patients (n=104, 77%) were engaged in a sport when they sustained an ACL injury, with 96% being engaged in a sport that requires running, jumping, and other high-impact activity. Those injured while involved in a sport on average demonstrated higher KOOS scores at baseline and at two-year follow up compared to those that were not involved in a sport (61.5 ± 18.0 vs 51.6 ± 18.0 at baseline, p=0.045; 82.8 ± 13.7 vs 70.8 ± 19.5 at two years, p=0.0048). A total of 27 of the sporting-related injuries occurred in patients age 50 or older (60% of n=45 patients age 50 years or older). All of these patients expressed a desire to return to sport and pre-injury activity. Skiing was the most frequently cited sport (n=41, 29%). Most ACL injuries were acute, with just 10% found to be chronic. The mechanism of injury varied by activity, but non-contact type ACL injuries were the most prevalent (n=66, 49%). Although most patients worked in a sedentary or desk job environment (n=87, 65%), some worked in very heavy-duty jobs (n=18, 14%). There was a low incidence of re-ruptures and re-operations (4.5% and 8.7%, respectively). Conclusions: The majority of patients aged 40 and over sustained ACL injuries while engaging in sports, with all of these patients citing a desire to return to sport and pre-injury activity level as their reason for wanting an ACLR. Patients were mostly treated with allograft compared to autograft, and meniscal injuries were most frequently treated through meniscectomy instead of repair. Many of these patients had some form of pre-existing arthritis and still went on to have surgery with excellent outcomes. PROs were also found to be higher initially and at two-year follow-up in the more active adult group, suggesting that pre-injury and post-injury activity level is associated with improved outcomes. When an older adult patient presents with an ACL tear, surgeons should consider the activity level and desires of the patient as they determine the appropriate avenue of treatment. There is certainly a role for conducting ACLR in patients aged 40 or older. [Table: see text][Table: see text][Table: see text]

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Postpartum Infections among Mothers Attending Immunization Service at Health Centers of Nyanza District, Rwanda

Postpartum infections are life-threatening conditions leading to 10% of maternal deaths worldwide; in sub-Saharan Africa, the estimated prevalence of postpartum infections is 11.5%. In Rwanda maternal sepsis contribute up to 56% of all maternal complications, where 5% of them die and most cases come from rural areas. In line with the above-mentioned background, this research aimed to find out the prevalence and factors contributing to postpartum infections in Nyanza District/ Rwanda. This study employed a cross-sectional design, with participants being mothers attending immunization services at health centers in Nyanza district. A sample size of 384 was determined for all health centers, with systematic sampling used to select individual participants. Data collection involved a structured questionnaire and a review of medical records. A case of postpartum infection was identified if self-reported signs or symptoms were also documented in the participant's medical records. Data analysis was conducted using IBM® SPSS 21. Descriptive statistics were utilized, and a bivariate analysis was performed to identify independent variables associated with postpartum infections. Variables significantly associated with the outcome were further analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model. As results, the prevalence of postpartum infection among mothers attending immunization service at health centers of Nyanza District was 9.6%; and the identified&nbsp; factors associated with postpartum infections were delivering by caesarean (aOR=6, 95%CI: 5.082-8.229, P&lt;0.001); frequent vaginal examinations (≥5 times) during labor (aOR= 2.7, 95% CI: 1.331-5.843, P&lt;0.001); prolonged labor (&gt;24 hours) (aOR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.205-6.010, P&lt;0.001); and Farming occupation (aOR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.120-4.966, P=0.048). Hence, the study recommends that healthcare professionals should aim to minimize C-section deliveries and the frequency of vaginal examinations when possible. Prophylactic antibiotics and aseptic techniques should be employed during delivery, especially for mothers with prolonged labor, frequent examinations, C-section deliveries, and farming occupations. Policymakers should develop guidelines to reduce cesarean sections, discourage frequent vaginal examinations, and promote prophylactic antibiotic use for high-risk mothers. Healthcare workers should prioritize infection prevention practices for mothers undergoing C-sections. Additionally, efforts should focus on reducing labor duration and ensuring timely interventions to prevent complications leading to postpartum infections. High-risk groups should be targeted for health education programs promoting hygiene practices and preventing exposure to microbial reservoirs. Further research is needed countrywide to determine the real burden of postpartum infections and identify measures to mitigate these life-threatening infections. Keywords: Postpartum infections, mothers, immunization service, Health Centers, Nyanza District, Rwanda

Health conditions among male workers in mining and other industries reliant on manual labor occupations: National Health Interview Survey, 2007-2018.

Mining is an industry with diverse, demanding occupational exposures. Understanding the prevalence of chronic health conditions in working miners is an area of active research. Of particular interest is how the health of miners compares to that of workers in other industry sectors with a high proportion of manual labor occupations. By comparing similar industries, we can learn what health conditions may be associated with manual labor and with individual industries. This study analyzes the prevalence of health conditions in miners compared to workers employed in other manual-labor-reliant industries. National Health Interview Survey public data were analyzed for the years 2007-2018. Mining and five other industry groups with a high proportion of manual labor occupations were identified. Female workers were excluded because of small sample sizes. The prevalence of chronic health outcomes was calculated for each industry group and compared to that of nonmanual labor industries. Currently-working male miners showed increased prevalence of hypertension (in those age <55 years), hearing loss, lower back pain, leg pain progressing from lower back pain, and joint pain, compared to nonmanual labor industries workers. Construction workers also demonstrated a high prevalence of pain. Miners demonstrated increased prevalence of several health conditions, even when compared to other manual labor industries. Given previous research on chronic pain and opioid misuse, the high pain prevalence found among miners suggests mining employers should reduce work factors that cause injury while also providing an environment where workers can address pain management and substance use.

Unmet need for long-acting and permanent contraceptives and associated factors among married women in Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundLong-acting and permanent methods (LAPMs) prevent women from having unintended pregnancies. Globally, unintended pregnancies, both mistimed and unwanted, occur every year. In developing countries, maternal mortality and unsafe abortions result from unintended pregnancies. This study aimed to assess the unmet need for LAPMs of contraceptives and associated factors among married women of the reproductive age group (15–49 years) in Hosanna Town, Southern Ethiopia, in 2019.MethodsA community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from March 20 to April 15, 2019. Data were collected on 672 current married women in the reproductive age group (15–49) through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Study participants were selected using a multi-stage sampling method. Data were entered into the computer using EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with the unmet need for LAPMs. An odds ratio with 95% CI was used to assess the association between the independent and dependent variables.ResultsThe unmet need for LAPMs for contraception in Hossana town was 234 (34.8%) (95% CI: 29.8, 39.8). Factors significantly associated with the unmet need for LAPMs of contraception were: women’s age 35–49 [AOR = 9.01, 95% CI: 4.21, 19.32]; education of women [AOR = 8.64, 95% CI: 1.65, 45.42]; lack of discussion between partners [AOR = 4.79, 95% CI: 3.11, 7.39]; lack of proper counseling for women [AOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.41, 3.23]; having a daily laborer occupation [AOR = 7.08, 95% CI: 2.44, 20.51]; and attitude of women toward LAPMs of contraception [AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.56].ConclusionsThe unmet need for LAPMs was high in the study area. Age of women, discussions with partners, women ever counseled by health professionals, respondents’ educational status, husband’s educational status, women’s attitude toward LAPMs, and respondents’ occupational status were contibutes for high unmet need. High unmet need contributes to an unintended pregnancy and risky abortions. Proper counseling of women and women’s discussions with their husbands is fundamental areas of intervention.

Al-ʿUcha

<i>Al-ʿUcha</i>

Cross-sectional study examining the epidemiology of chronic pain in Nepal.

The World Health Organization recognizes chronic pain as a global public health concern; however, there is a bias towards research conducted in relatively affluent nations. There is a dearth of large-scale epidemiological studies in Nepal using rigorously validated, cross-culturally adapted instruments. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of both chronic pain and chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin and their associations with a range of sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics. We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults (≥18 years) in all households in Ranipani, Baluwa Village Development Committee, Nepal. All adults (n = 887) were approached, and those consenting, who met the inclusion criteria (n = 520, 58.6%), participated. Questionnaires validated in Nepali were used to examine several constructs: demographics; chronic pain; neuropathic pain; pain catastrophizing; resilience, pain intensity; pain interference; sleep disturbance; and depression. The point prevalence of chronic pain was 53.3% (n = 277). The point prevalence of chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin was 12.7% (n = 66). Chronic pain was associated with female gender, older age, and manual labour occupations. Using standardized scoring techniques, compared with available population estimates from other countries, those with chronic pain were associated with lower pain intensity and resilience scores and higher pain catastrophizing, pain interference, and depression scores. These findings are broadly comparable to epidemiological studies from other countries, and these indicate areas for targeting interventions (eg, occupational and mental health). For comparison, more data are needed, from larger population samples in this region.

ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION OF POTATO PLANTING MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the factors influencing the adoption of potato planting material technologies in the central agricultural zone of Plateau State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 306 potato farmers randomly from the study area. Primary data was collected through structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, adoption index, logit regression and factor analysis. The result revealed that 74.8% of the potato farmers were males, with a mean age of 40 years. The study further revealed that majority (91.2%) of the respondents had a form formal education with a mean household size of 6 persons. The results from the adoption index showed that seed tuber technology was highly adopted with an adoption score of 5.96, cutting seed technology with 2.52 and true potato seed technology with adoption score of 1.81. The results of logit regression revealed that household, labour and other occupations other than potato farming all significantly influenced adoption of potato planting technologies. The result of factor analysis revealed the major constraints faced by farmers to include poor technical information, economic problem, inadequate resources, environmental problem, pathological problem and technological problem. The study concluded that seed tuber potato planting technology was the most highly adopted in the study area. The study recommended that the dissemination of technical information should be increased by ensuring more contacts with farmers by extension agents; and proper soil, water, pest and disease management practices should be intensified among farmers.