Lower Annual Income Research Articles

Socio-economic conditions of fishermen in Kanaighat Upazila of Sylhet, Bangladesh

The present study was undertaken to portray the socioeconomic conditions of fishermen in Kanaighat upazilla, Sylhet. A well-structured questionnaire was used to gather data from a total of 50 randomly chosen fishermen. About 55% of fishermen worked exclusively in the fishing activities, while 30% worked in agriculture and 15% worked as day laborers. The fishermen' highest yearly income ranged from BDT 25,000 to 40,000, while their lowest annual income ranged from BDT 5000 to 10,000. About % of fisherman had no education, 32% could only sign, % had primary education (up to 5 classes), and just 3 % had both S.S.C. and H.S.C. Almost all fishermen had sanitary facilities, with 67.5 % having kaccha and 32.5 % having semi-concrete. Approximately 100 % of the fishermen utilized tube well water, with 65 % having their own tube-well and the remainder using a neighbor's tube-well. The government did not give Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGD) cards in the study area. The main obstacles were discovered to be a lack of scientific information, illiteracy, and a lack of governmental assistance. Mohajan provides most of them with fishing equipment such as a boat, a net, and credit. Fishermen employed a variety of nets, including Ber jal (seine net), Current jal (gill net), Jhaki jal (cast net), and Thela jal (Push net). The Surma River was the primary source of fishing. They also caught fish from the Andu, Rouwa, and Atghaiya beels. Fishers in the study region had no other choices for earning a living outside fishing in the area.

Trends in asthma among adults in the United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005 to 2018

BackgroundAsthma is a common chronic disease in American adults. The prevalence of asthma has varied over time, but there are few studies on the long-term trend of asthma in American adults. ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence and trend of asthma in American adults from 2005 to 2018 and analyze the risk factors for asthma. MethodsData collection was performed from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005 to 2018. The unweighted number and weighted percentages of normal participants and patients with asthma and the trends of asthma were calculated. Weighted univariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for asthma. ResultsA total of 39,601 adults were included in this study. From 2005 to 2018, the overall prevalence of asthma in American adults was 8.41%, whereas that in young, middle-aged, and elderly adults was 8.30%, 8.70%, and 7.92%, respectively. The estimated prevalence of asthma in the overall adults and young adults increased with time (P for trend = .03, difference = 0.023 and P for trend = .007, difference = 0.060, respectively), and the estimated prevalence of middle-aged and elderly adults remained stable with time (P for trend = .33, difference = 0.015 and P for trend = .80, difference = −0.024, respectively). ConclusionAsthma in American adults was on the rise. Female sex, non-Hispanic Blacks, individuals with low annual household income, active smokers, obese patients, patients with hypertension, patients with diabetes, and individuals with positive asthma family history were associated with a higher risk for developing asthma.

Hispanic Ethnicity and Social Determinants of Health in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: The Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry.

Rationale: There is a noticeable underrepresentation of minorities in clinical trials and registries in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Prior studies evaluating the association between Hispanic ethnicity and clinical outcomes in patients with PAH have not assessed the socioeconomic profile of Hispanic individuals or the significance of social determinants of health in clinical outcomes. Objectives: To determine the association between Hispanic ethnicity, social determinants of health, and clinical outcomes in PAH. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of adult participants with PAH enrolled in the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry, a multicenter U.S.-based registry of patients treated at pulmonary hypertension care centers. Participants were classified as Hispanics and non-Hispanic White individuals, based on self-reported ethnicity. A comparison of baseline clinical and sociodemographic characteristics between groups was performed as well using absolute standardized differences (ASD). The primary outcome of the study was to assess transplant-free survival between Hispanics and non-Hispanic White individuals. A Cox proportional hazards model was used for the multivariable analysis after adjusting for age, sex, PAH etiology, annual income, education level, and health insurance. Results: A total of 683 individuals were included, 98 (14.3%) of Hispanic ethnicity. Hispanic patients had impaired access to health care (31.6% vs. 12.9% Medicaid/uninsured; ASD, 0.35), lower education level (72.6% vs. 94.0% high school graduates or higher; ASD, 0.60), and lower annual income (32.0% vs. 17.4% with income <20,000 U.S. dollars; ASD, 0.47), compared with non-Hispanic White individuals. Hispanic patients had a higher frequency of emergency room visits and a higher number of hospitalizations, despite having similar disease severity (incidence rate ratio, 1.452; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.326-1.590; and 1.428; 95% CI, 1.292-1.577, respectively). Although the unadjusted analysis showed a lower transplant/death hazard ratio for Hispanics (hazard ratio, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.24-0.94; P = 0.032), there was no association between Hispanic ethnicity and outcome in the multivariable model after adjusting for social determinants of health and other covariates (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.35-1.62; P = 0.474). Conclusions: Hispanic ethnicity was not associated with differences in survival after adjusting for social determinants of health and other factors. Social determinants of health are important to consider when assessing the association between ethnicity and outcomes in PAH.

Association between physical activity knowledge and attitude on diabetes among normal weight and overweight/obese type-2 diabetic patients: a rural community-based cross-sectional study.

Physical activity is one of the most important regimens for the treatment of diabetes. Hence, we aimed to examine the association between physical activity knowledge (PAK), knowledge and attitude on diabetes among rural T2DM patients. The PAK, knowledge and attitude on diabetes were targeted to evaluate in rural Indian T2DM patients. A cross-sectional community-based survey was carried out with eighty-four patients with known T2DM in rural population of India. Among 84 patients, 46 were overweight/obese and 38 patients with normal weight were participated in our study. The odds of smoking were found to be a significant socio-demographic risk factor (OR: 4.42, 95% CI 0.93-20.33 and P<0.001) compared to non-smokers. The PAK categories such as A, B & D had associated with BMI. The OR, 95% CI and P. Value are (5.610, 2.18-14.38 and P<0.001; 1.72, 0.72-4.12 and P 0.030; 2.55, 1.05-6.20 and P 0.047) except in category C. Iilliterates, low annual income, poor knowledge on T2DM and negative attitude, OR (4.50; 12.87; 10.80 and 47.66) were reported disagree or don't know with PAK questionnaire. The results have impact on the design of new education programs will assist in preventing and managing complications related to T2DM.

THE PUNONG BARANGAY IN SOUTHERN NUEVA VIZCAYA: THEIR LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR AND COMPETENCIES

The Punong Barangay are agents of development in the national government and they play a vital role in the development and progress of our country through a strong barangay local government. The study conducted used the descriptive approach and utilized a validated survey instrument on leadership behavior and competencies. The cluster random sampling using the proportional allocation was utilized to gather data from 234 samples. The data analysis showed that the respondents were predominantly male, married, about 45 years old, high school graduates, with low annual income and with 5-9 dependents. Their leadership behavior and competencies were found as very satisfactory. There was no significant relationship between leadership behavior and profile variables. The study will serve as benchmarking reference to further improve punong barangays’ leadership behavior and competencies for good local governance. KEYWORDS: Punong Barangay, leadership behavior, and competencies

A23 ESTIMATING INDIRECT AND OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS IN PEDIATRIC INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: A NATION-WIDE CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS

BackgroundIdentifying disease-related costs is a crucial step to plan for proper allocation of resources and future healthcare services for persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Data on pediatric inflammatory bowel disease-associated costs are limited.AimsWe aimed to estimate indirect and out of pocket (OOP) pediatric IBD-associated costs in Canada.MethodsIn a nation-wide cross-sectional analysis, caregivers of children and young adults (<17 years) with IBD were invited to complete a questionnaire on lost work hours and OOP costs related to IBD in the 4 weeks prior to the survey. Participants were re-invited to periodically answer the same questionnaire every 3–9 months for 2 years. Lost productivity was calculated using the Human Capital method. Costs were reported in 2018 inflation-adjusted Canadian dollars. Predictors of high cost users (top 25%) were examined using negative binomial regression.ResultsConsecutive 243 (82 incident cases) of 262 (92.7%) approached participants completed the first survey with a total of 450 surveys longitudinally completed over 2 years. The annual median indirect costs per patient were $5,951 (IQR $1,812- $12,278), with $5,776 (IQR $1,465-$11,733) for Crohn’s disease (CD) and $6,084 (IQR $2,470-$13,371) for ulcerative colitis (UC) (p=0.77). The annual median per patient OOP costs were $2,925 (IQR $978- $8,125) with $3,021 (IQR $978- $8,125) for CD and $2,600 (IQR $975- $8,125) for UC (p=0.55). Older age (10-17y) at diagnosis (p=0.04) and parents in part-time employment (p=0.01) were predictors of higher indirect costs, while female sex (p<0.001), parents with a lower education level (p<0.001) and lower annual family income (p<0.01) were associated with higher OOP costs.ConclusionsIndirect and OOP IBD-associated costs are substantial and more likely to affect families with unstable employment and lower annual income. Examining different strategies and interventions to reduce these costs such as virtual platforms, telephone and outreach clinics especially in poor communities and families with low annual income is warranted.Funding AgenciesCIHRThe Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba

Comparison of Narrative Video and Flipchart Presentation to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening Among Latinas Along the Border.

Cervical cancer incidence and mortality is higher among Latinas compared with non-Hispanic White women and barriers to screening include lack of knowledge, lack of access to health care, and cultural factors. Both video and printed material have been found effective as health education tools in underserved populations. The purpose of this study was to show no difference between a flipchart presentation facilitated by a community health worker and a narrative video with limited in-person interaction in increasing cervical cancer screening rates among Latinas along the U.S.-Mexico border. Study design: Randomized controlled study. Participants: women in a community-based cervical cancer screening program. Primary outcome was screening completion and secondary outcomes were changes in psychosocial variables. Total sample size was 500. Most participants were born in Mexico, had a low annual income, preferred Spanish, and did not have a regular doctor. Overall, 371 (74.2%) participants completed screening. There was no significant difference in screening completion between educational delivery modes. The only variable significantly associated with screening completion was age, with 51- to 65-year-olds being 44% more likely than 21- to 40-year-olds to have a Pap test. The only psychosocial variable that was significantly different by delivery mode was perceived susceptibility. The majority of all participants found both the video and flipchart presentation to be acceptable. A health promotion program delivered via self-administered video or PowerPoint slides showed no difference in increasing cervical cancer screening rates.

Abstract NS1: Mobile Health Technology Is Feasible And Effective For Self-management Support Among Underserved Stroke Survivors

Background and Purpose: Self-management Support (SMS) helps stroke survivors control risk factors to prevent second stroke. Little is known about feasibility and effectiveness of using mobile health technology (MHT) for SMS among underserved stroke survivors. The investigators studied feasibility and effectiveness of using a video teleconference mobile application to deliver a SMS program to underserved, hard to reach stroke survivors. Methods: The Video teleconference Self-management TO Prevent stroke (V-STOP) program was evaluated using longitudinal design with measurements at baseline, immediately post intervention (6 weeks), intermediate (12 weeks), and at study end (18 weeks). Medically underserved stroke survivors with uncontrolled stroke risk factors were included. Feasibility was assessed as time in intervention, telehealth satisfaction, stroke knowledge and SMS effectiveness were measured as psychological (depression, PHQ-8; anxiety, GAD-7), social (community integration questionnaire), and stroke self-management (goal attainment) outcomes. Generalized estimating equations were used with site and time in intervention as covariates. Results: V-STOP was successfully delivered to 106 participants using MHT over 2 years. Mean age was 59.3 (±10.9), majority were white (82.1%), males (54.3%), not living alone (85.9%), married (52.8%), with low annual income (&lt;$25,000) ( 58.5%), and health insurance (59.4%). Program feasibility indicated mean number of V-STOP sessions were 4.6 (±1.8), with 4.4 (±2.0) hours of total time for the intervention. Overall satisfaction at 6 weeks with V-STOP (4.8(±0.5)) and telehealth (4.7(±0.5)) was high. Stroke knowledge was high at 12 weeks (9.6(±0.7)). SMS effectiveness indicated improvement in psychological outcomes at 6, 12, and 18 weeks from baseline; depression (18 weeks - β = 0.64 (CI 0.49-0.84)) and anxiety (18 weeks - β = 0.66 (CI 0.51-0.85)). Community integration improved by 18 weeks - β = 1.08 (CI 1.01-1.16) and stroke self-management also improved long term at 12 and 18 weeks (β = 0.92 (CI 0.84-0.99). Conclusion: MHT is feasible to deliver SMS to underserved stroke survivors. It improves psycho-social and self-management goal setting and goal attainment outcomes.

P632 Estimating indirect and out-of-pocket disease-associated costs in paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a nation-wide cross-sectional analysis

Abstract Background Identifying disease-related costs is a crucial step to plan for proper allocation of resources and future healthcare services for persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Data on paediatric inflammatory bowel disease-associated costs are limited. We aimed to estimate indirect and out of pocket (OOP) paediatric IBD-associated costs in Canada. Methods In a nation-wide cross-sectional analysis, caregivers of children and young adults (&amp;lt;17 years) with IBD were invited to complete a questionnaire on lost work hours and OOP costs related to IBD in the 4 weeks prior to the survey. Participants were re-invited to periodically answer the same questionnaire every 3–9 months for 2 years. Lost productivity was calculated using the Human Capital method. Costs were reported in 2018 inflation-adjusted Canadian dollars. Predictors of high cost users (top 25%) were examined using negative binomial regression. Results Consecutive 243 (82 incident cases) of 262 (92.7%) approached participants completed the first survey with a total of 450 surveys longitudinally completed over 2 years. The annual median indirect costs per patient were $5,951 (IQR $1,812- $12,278), with $5,776 (IQR $1,465-$11,733) for Crohn Disease (CD) and $6,084 (IQR $2,470-$13,371) for Ulcerative Colitis (UC) (p=0.77). The annual median per patient OOP costs were $2,925 (IQR $978- $8,125) with $3,021 (IQR $978- $8,125) for CD and $2,600 (IQR $975- $8,125) for UC (p=0.55). Older age (10-17y) at diagnosis (p=0.04) and parents in part-time employment (p=0.01) were predictors of higher indirect costs, while female sex (p&amp;lt;0.001), parents with a lower education level (p&amp;lt;0.001) and lower annual family income (p&amp;lt;0.01) were associated with higher OOP costs. Conclusion Indirect and OOP IBD-associated costs are substantial and more likely to affect families with unstable employment and lower annual income. Examining different strategies and interventions to reduce these costs such as virtual platforms, telephone and outreach clinics especially in poor communities and families with low annual income is warranted.

Distribution and risk factors of self-reported cancer cases in adults in China, 2015

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and risk factors of self-reported cancer in adults in China in 2015. Methods: The data used in this study were from China Chronic Disease and Risk Factors Surveillance in 2015. The frequency and proportion of the classified variables were analyzed by descriptive statistics, the disordered classified variables were compared by χ2 test, and the possible risk factors of cancer patients were screened by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: In 2015, there were 1 809 self-reported tumors patients in China, including 689 males (0.63%), 1 120 females (1.03%), 769 (0.71%) in the eastern region, 465 (0.43%) in the central region and 575 (0.53%) in the western region. The patients were mainly distributed in people aged 45- and 55- years old, being overweight or obese, living in eastern urban area, having low education level, being married, having low annual household income and being occupational population. The results of multivariate logistic regression showed that compared with the western region, the prevalence rate of cancer was higher in the eastern region (OR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.04-1.06), while lower in the central region (OR=0.94, 95%CI: 0.93-0.95); the risk for cancer in people with family history of malignancy was higher than that in people without family history of malignancy (OR=1.95, 95%CI:1.94-1.96) the risk for cancer in people with an annual household income of less than 10 000 yuan or between 10 000 and 50 000 yuan was higher than that in people with an annual household income of more than 50 000 yuan (<10 000 yuan: OR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.58-1.60; between 10 000 and 50 000 yuan: OR=1.27, 95%CI: 1.26-1.28); and the risk for cancer in people living urban areas was lower than that in people living in rural areas (OR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.97-0.99). In terms of personal behavior and diet, the risk for cancer in smokers was 1.25 times higher than that in non-smokers (OR=1.25, 95%CI: 1.24-1.26), and the risk for cancer in alcoholics was 1.16 times higher than that in non-alcoholics (OR=1.16, 95%CI: 1.15-1.17), the risk for cancer in people with insufficient vegetable and fruit intakes was 1.29 times and 1.03 times higher than those in people with sufficient intakes of vegetables and fruits, respectively (OR=1.29, 95%CI: 1.28-1.30;OR=1.03,95%CI: 1.02-1.04). People with low frequency of high-intensity exercise had a higher risk for cancer compared with those with high frequency of high-intensity exercise (OR=1.32, 95%CI: 1.31-1.33), the risk for cancer was higher in people with low frequency of moderate exercise than in people with high frequency of moderate exercise (OR=1.08, 95%CI: 1.07-1.09). The risk for cancer in people with sedentary time less than 2 hours was higher than that in those with sedentary time more than 2 hours (OR=1.69, 95%CI: 1.68-1.70), and the risk for cancer in people who ate moderate amount of red meat was lower than that in people who ate excessive amount of red meat (OR=0.86, 95%CI: 0.85-0.87). Conclusions: The number of female self-reported cancer was more than that in males, and the number of self-reported cancer in the eastern region was higher than that in the central and western regions. Living in eastern region, with family history of malignancy, having low annual household income, smoking, drinking, insufficient vegetable intake, insufficient fruit intake and low frequency of high-intensity exercise and low frequency of moderate intensity exercise were the main risk factors for cancer, while living in central region, living in urban area and low red meat intake were protective factors.

Predictors associated with fathers' successful completion of the FOCUS program

AbstractObjectiveThis research examines fathers' individual and social characteristics associated with completion of a fatherhood education program in the context of Child Protective Services (CPS).BackgroundResponsible Fatherhood and similar programs are known to contribute to healthy parenting relations. Despite the growing body of literature on fatherhood programs, few studies have examined factors that may influence fathers' completion of a fatherhood program. In this study, we examined predictors of fathers' completion of the Families Offering Children Unfailing Support (FOCUS) program.MethodThe study used secondary data of fathers (n = 675) involved with child welfare services who participated in the FOCUS program in the Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas, region. The analyses included binomial logistic regression and classification tree to examine associations between fathers' successful program completion and predictor variables.ResultsLogistic regression analysis revealed fathers having higher annual income were 1.59 times more likely to complete the program than were fathers having lower annual income. Also, fathers having a child welfare conservatorship referral were 1.89 times more likely to complete the program compared to fathers having other types of referrals. Classification tree analysis revealed that ethnicity, nonmarried status, and older age predicted fathers' program completion.ConclusionThis study advances understanding of which individual and social characteristics predict fathers' completion of the FOCUS for Fathers program.ImplicationsTo increase father participation, practitioners may consider increasing the scheduling and session format options along with reconsidering the sequencing of their incentives. Programs also may consider the importance of facilitating trust and camaraderie between the program facilitators and participants.

Farmer's perception towards Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojana in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojana (PMVDVY) scheme was launched by Prime Minister on 14th April 2018. This scheme's main motive is to improve the livelihood andincome of tribals especially tribal women by providing employment opportunities through various value addition activities of tribal products and make them self-reliant. The present study was conducted in the state of Andhra Pradesh under ITDA-Rampachodavaram during the year 2021–22. The study was undertaken to assess the perception of beneficiaries towards PMVDVY scheme.A total of 105 sample size was taken by using proportionate random sampling method in eight villages under twomandals for the current study. The findings of the study revealed that, majority of the beneficiaries were belonged to young age group and female gender category. The study also revealed that most of them are illiterates, having low annual income and small land holdings.From the findings, it was also revealed that majority of the beneficiaries had moderate level of utilisation of source of information, with medium economic motivation, extension contact, awareness regarding PMVDVY and market orientation. Then coming to the perception ofbeneficiaries towards PMVDVY was found favourable.

Empowering Low-Income Asian American Women to Conduct Human Papillomavirus Self-Sampling Test: A Community-Engaged and Culturally Tailored Intervention.

BackgroundAsian American women face disproportionate burden of cervical cancer (CC) than non-Hispanic white women in the U.S. The goal of this study was to assess the feasibility and impact of a culturally tailored intervention to promote Human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling test among hard-to-reach Asian American women.MethodsWe adopted the community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to conduct this efficacy study. A total of 156 female participants (56 Chinese, 50 Korean, and 50 Vietnamese) were recruited from community-based organizations (CBOs) in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. The intervention components included HPV-related education, HPV self-sampling test kit and instructions, group discussions, and patient navigations, all available in Asian languages. We examined several outcomes, including the completion of HPV self-sampling, HPV-related knowledge, perceived social support, self-efficacy, and comfort with the self-sampling test at post-intervention assessment.ResultsThe majority of Asian American women had low annual household income (62.3% earned less than $20,000) and low educational attainment (61.3% without a college degree). We found significant increase in participants’ knowledge on HPV (baseline: 2.83, post: 4.89, P <.001), social support (baseline: 3.91, post: 4.09, P < .001), self-efficacy (baseline: 3.05, post: 3.59, P < .001), and comfortable with HPV self-sample test (baseline: 3.62, post: 4.06, P < .001).ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first intervention study that promoted HPV self-sampling test among Asian American women. Our findings showed that CBPR culturally tailored intervention of self-sampling was highly effective in empowering low-income Asian American women to conduct HPV self-sampling tests.

Risk factors for scabies in school children: a systematic review

Scabies is one of the most common itchy dermatoses, mainly in vulnerable age groups such as young children and the elderly. Although rarely fatal, it can lead to several severe complications. Its occurrence has been attributed to low-income countries, low socioeconomic level, lack of knowledge of scabies and preventive health behaviors, overcrowding, and poor sanitation. This review aims to determine the risk factors for scabies in children. Materials and methods. The search was performed in 4 main databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, World of Science (WOS), and Google Scholar. The target population was school children (community/boarding/primary school) that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The case studies articles, narrative articles, review papers, and articles focusing on general skin outcomes were excluded from this review. Results. A total of 11 studies were included in this review after systematic assessment and appraisal. Scabies infection is significantly higher in children living in the urban areas with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 6.9 times compared to rural areas. Scabies occurrence in children is significantly higher in illiterate parents (aOR = 3.49), low annual household income (aOR = 2.13), inaccessibility and poor utilization of water (aOR = 1.64), and large families (family size &gt;4) (aOR = 1.82). School factors that are significant risk factors for scabies include the level of education (aOR = 1.67), number of students per dormitory ≤ 10 (aOR = 6.99), and no access to the school infirmary (aOR = 1.62). Individual factors such as poor personal hygiene (aOR = 1.69) and environmental factors such as high temperature and low humidity (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 2.37) also significantly contribute to scabies infection. Conclusion. Risk factors for scabies are multifactorial, including sociodemographic factors, parent socioeconomic status, housing, family, school, individual and environmental factors. Hence, public health interventions should address all the factors to ensure effective prevention and control of scabies among children. Key words: scabies, systematic review, children, risk factors

PRESENT SCENARIO OF USING FEED ADDITIVES AND FEED SUPPLEMENT DURING CATTLE FATTENING IN DHAKA DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH

This study was conducted to find out the relationship among different aspects of cattle fattening and use of anabolic steroids and feed additives. The data were collected through an interview schedule from 65 respondents of 4 upazila/ thana of Dhaka city who were involved in cattle fattening. Parameters were studied in relation to socio- economic conditions of farmers and use of anabolic steroids and feed additives and their effects on animals and environment. In this study 80.0% farmers' were involved in others occupation, followed by 17.0% in livestock business. About 65.0% respondents had higher education, 20.0% had higher secondary education, 12.0% obtained secondary education and the rest of them were primary education. Irrespective of literacy only 6.0% of the farmer had training. Results showed that about 58% respondents used anabolic steroids for the duration of 3 to 6 months long cattle fattening (P&lt;0.001) program. The chi-square (11.093) value of annual income indicates that with increase of annual income and use of anabolic steroids have decreased. The significant (P&lt;0.01) association was observed in case of anabolic steroids and source of money, annual income, number of cattle fattening, breeds, fattening period, starting and finishing age. About 78% respondents used feed additives for cattle fattening from own resources (P&lt;0.001) and most of cattle fattened for 3 to 6 months (P&lt;0.01). The result demonstrated that respondents of low annual income used more anabolic steroid and feed additives as a growth promoter for cattle fattening and they prefer in powder form.

Patterns and Predictors of Air Cleaner Adherence Among Adults with COPD.

Poor indoor air quality has been associated with worse chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) morbidity. In-home portable air cleaners reduce indoor pollutants and could improve respiratory health. Factors associated with air cleaner adherence among adults with COPD remains unknown. In a 6-month trial of former smokers with COPD, participants (n=116) received active or sham portable air cleaners. Air cleaner adherence was measured by electronic monitors. Potential baseline predictors of adherence included individual factors (demographics, socioeconomic status, smoking history, psychological well-being), COPD disease severity, and housing characteristics. Time and season were also considered. Stepwise logistic regression and longitudinal fixed effect analysis were performed to assess independent predictors of adherence. A total of 109 participants had an objective measure of adherence, and 76.1% used at least 1 air cleaner 80% of the time (defined a priori as adherent). Higher annual household income ≥$35,000 (odds ratio [OR]=4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-18.0) and use of heat pump/electricity (versus gas) for heating (OR=6.1, 95%CI, 1.7-22.4) were associated with higher odds of adherence. Further, poor quality of life (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, per 10-point increase) and prior year exacerbations were associated with lower odds of adherence (OR=0.65, 95%CI, 0.4-1.0) and (OR=0.26, 95%CI, 0.1-0.9), respectively. Adherence was highest during the first month and lower during winter compared to other seasons. These findings suggest that cold weather season, use of gas for home heating, and lower annual income negatively impact adherence. Poor quality of life and worse disease control may also decrease adherence. Addressing factors associated with air cleaner adherence should be considered when designing future environmental studies.

A Study on Communication Behaviour of Extension Personnel of Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh

Successful communication is the main job of an extension worker. He cannot expect change among farmers unless he is able to communicate effectively to them. This entails the extension personal to have thorough understanding of communication process. This study will be helpful in identifying important variables of extension personnel affecting their communication process. Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh was selected by purposive random sampling. The study was conducted in 7 mandal's which were selected randomly. Respondents were Agricultural officers, agricultural extension officers, village agricultural assistants and village horticultural assistants. The total sample size for the study were 120 extension personnel. majority of the respondents were female, young aged, having high educational status, with low annual income, job experience and training exposure. Perceived work load was high, medium level of job satisfaction and low level of Innovativeness and medium level of achievement motivation and medium level of communication behaviour was observed. The findings of overall communication behaviour of extension personnel indicate that there is need to increase the communication behaviour from medium to high through suitable training programs on latest Communication technologies and communication skills, providing needed literature.

Characterization of Beekeepers and Their Activities in Seven European Countries

Beekeeping is an ancient activity that is gaining interest among practitioners and society in general. It is as an activity with positive impacts in the environmental, social and economic spheres, with the potential to reconnect these dimensions and contribute to sustainable development. Thus, it is important to determine the profiles of beekeepers across the world, and to understand the main social, economic or ecological drivers that shape their activities. Hofstede cross-cultural dimensions were used to better explain differences between countries. A survey was undertaken of beekeepers in different countries (Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, and Spain) in the native language of each nation. A total of 313 questionnaires, using an online platform or in paper form, was delivered face-to-face during training or dissemination events in 2019. Norway and Finland were the countries with the highest percentage of respondents with a university degree (&gt;80%), while Spain (42%) and Croatia (48%) presented the lowest percentages. Most participants were experienced beekeepers (59% had more than five years of experience) with more than 50 colonies. With the exception of Italy, beekeeping appears to be a hobby or an additional professional activity. The main beekeeping products for these beekeepers were honey, wax, colonies and propolis, with an average honey production per season of 24.5 kg/hive. Crossing socio-demographic characteristics and Hofstede cross-cultural dimensions showed a relation among countries with higher Power Distance Index (PDI; this value expresses how society accepts and expects a certain inequality of power) and lower annual income and educational level (Croatia, Portugal, and Spain). A strong correlation appeared between Masculinity Femininity Index (MFI; this value refers to gender effects in society, with feminine societies meaning that the dominant values are caring for others and quality of life, as opposed to masculine societies, which are driven by competition, achievement and success) and age, income and education, with Norway presenting the most feminine society, with more educated and older beekeepers. The Uncertainty Aversion Index (UAI; this value explains how members of a society feel when dealing with unknown situations) was strongly associated with education. The results showed that increasing beekeepers’ income will contribute to balancing the distribution of power among members of society, and that this might be achieved by training, especially in Croatia, Portugal, Spain, and Italy.

Prevalence and Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors in Transgender Persons in the United States.

The cardiovascular health of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) persons, a growing population in the United States, has become a subject of heightened interest. We sought to assess the prevalence and predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in transgender men, transgender women, and gender nonconforming persons in the United States. A cohort of individuals self-identified as TGD (ie, transgender or gender nonconforming) in the United States was identified using the 2018 Centers for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Among the 1019 TGD individuals studied, 378 (37.1%) identified their transition status as male-to-female, 394 (38.7%) as female-to-male, and the remaining 247 (24.2%) as gender nonconforming. A total of 138 (13.5%) had reported CVD, while 881 (86.5%) did not. The prevalence of CVD in TGD individuals identified as male-to-female, female-to-male, and gender nonconforming were noted to be similar (14.6% vs. 13.5% vs. 12.1%; P = 0.69). TGD persons with CVD were older with lower annual income. They also had higher rates of smoking, lower rates of regular exercise, and higher rates of smoking and chronic medical comorbidities. Independent predictors of CVD in TGD persons included older age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and depressive disorder. In this contemporary cross-sectional nationally representative survey, CVD was prevalent in nearly 14% of TGD persons. Further studies examining interventions to reduce CV risk and enhance access to medical care in the TGD population are warranted.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Northern China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHypertension has always been a worldwide health concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension among adult residents of northern China, where people usually have a high-fat, high-salt diet and heavy alcohol consumption.MethodsThrough the Early Screening and Comprehensive Intervention Project for High Risk Groups of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Inner Mongolia of northern China, we collected data of 70,380 residents, from September 2015 to June 2017. We assessed the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the total population and sub-populations. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with the prevalence and control of hypertension.ResultsAmong participants, only 13.4% had optimal blood pressure levels. About 55.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 55.3–56.1%) of the participants had hypertension. In addition, the awareness, treatment, control and control under-treatment rate of hypertension were 52.8% (95%CI = 52.3–53.3%), 43.3% (95%CI = 42.8–43.8%), 8.6% (95%CI = 8.3–8.9%) and 19.8% (95%CI = 19.2–20.4%), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression showed that older, male, Han, living in rural areas, current drinker, not married, lower educational level, lower annual income, diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia were more likely to be suffered from hypertension (P < 0.05). Controlled hypertension was less common in those younger, Mongol, not married, farmer, current drinker, lower educational level, obesity, diabetes, without prior CHD, and without prior CVD (P < 0.05).ConclusionAmong populations aged 35–75 years in Northern China, more than half have hypertension, fewer than one-tenth have successfully controlled hypertension, and fewer than one-fifth of hypertension patients receiving treatment have controlled hypertension.