Risk Factors In Samples Research Articles

Trends and emerging directions in HIV risk and prevention research in the Philippines: A systematic review of the literature.

BackgroundThe Philippines is experiencing one of the fastest growing epidemics globally. Evidence-based public health policies are needed. To describe the public health literature on HIV risk groups and prevention approaches in the Philippines, we reviewed published empirical studies with HIV-related outcomes.MethodsBased on an a priori systematic review protocol, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases for quantitative studies conducted in the Philippines that reported on HIV risk groups factors and interventions to prevent HIV. The search included studies published as of April 2018.ResultsWe identified 755 records, screened 699 unique titles and abstracts, and conducted full text review of 122 full reports of which 51 articles met inclusion criteria. The majority were cross-sectional studies describing HIV and STI prevalence and risk factors in samples recruited from the Philippines. Four HIV prevention programs conducted in the Philippines were identified, all of which reported improvements on HIV knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Overall, female sex workers (FSWs) constituted the primary study population, and few studies reported data from men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWIDs), and youth. No studies reported on transgender populations. Most studies were focused on examining condom use-related outcomes and STI history, few had biomarkers for HIV, and none addressed biomedical HIV prevention strategies.ConclusionThis review identifies an agenda for future HIV research that is needed to address the growing and shifting nature of the HIV epidemic in the Philippines.

Inherent Difficulties Accounting for Prenatal and Perinatal Risk Factors in Samples of Post-institutionalized Children

Research on international adoption has indicated that a majority of children present with a variety of special needs [1, 2]. Researchers often cite the institutional environment as the source of special needs in foreign adopted children [3, 4]. While the current article provides a general overview of developmental delays and deficits in post-institutionalized children, the overriding tenet is a call for better identification of pre- and perinatal risk factors in post-institutionalized children. The Prenatal History “Wild Card”: Inherent Difficulties Accounting for Prenatal and Perinatal Risk Factors in Samples of Post-institutionalized Children Over the past decade and a half, an increasing body of literature pertaining to international adoption has emerged. In 2004 alone, the U.S. Department of State reported more than 20,000 children were adopted from foreign countries [2]. In the United States however, the number of international adoptions have more than doubled since 1992 [5]. While similarities exist between international and domestic adoptions, children adopted from foreign countries present a number of unique issues and challenges [6]. Many of these issues and challenges stem from the fact that internationally-adopted children are very likely to have experienced out-of-home or institutionalized care. Gunnar, Grotevant and Johnson’s survey of internationally adopted children in Minnesota for example, indicated that prior to adoption 72% had experienced multiple transitions [7]. In addition Johnson suggests that roughly the same number of children adopted from foreign countries have a history of institutionalization [6]. There is now considerable evidence linking numerous poor developmental outcomes to children with a history of institutionalization [1; 8]. These findings are not surprising when considering the likelihood of exposure to the many conditions hazardous to physical, cognitive and socio-emotional development institutionalized children may face [2]. It is now well recognized, for example, that many foreign orphanages are understaffed, and institutionalized children will likely experience malnutrition, attachment problems and cognitive delays and deficits [1]. It may be obvious to even the casual observer that poor developmental outcomes are a direct result of early caretaker neglect and insufficient stimulation in the institutionalized setting. However, the general assumption that such outcomes are a direct result of the institutionalized environment is only part of the story. Although the relative contribution of nature and nurture to human development has been argued for centuries, a current review of the literature on post-institutionalized children is overwhelmingly focused on the post-natal (nurture) influences. While it is usually recognized that pre-and-perinatal influences contribute, the recognition is typically based on assumptions and speculation without the support of empirical data. The following sections will highlight what we know about the developmental outcomes for many post-institutionalized children. In contrast, we will then see that we know very little about the specific pre- and perinatal life history factors that may have contributed to these outcomes.

Socioeconomic status and susceptibility to alcohol-related harm

Socioeconomic status and susceptibility to alcohol-related harm

The role of infection by Opisthorchis viverrini, hepatitis B virus, and aflatoxin exposure in the etiology of liver cancer in Thailand. A correlation study.

The incidence of the two principle types of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma) in five different areas of Thailand was compared with the prevalence of exposure to the main risk factors in samples of the population. Cholangiocarcinoma showed striking variations in incidence, which correlated closely with markers of exposure to the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini. However, there was little geographic variation in incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma or in prevalence of the major risk factors (chronic carriage of hepatitis B virus and exposure to aflatoxin), and apparently there was little relationship between them.

Risks of acute traumatic intracranial haematoma in children and adults: implications for managing head injuries.

To determine the factors influencing the risk of an acute traumatic intracranial haematoma in children and adults with a recent head injury. Prospective study of incidence of risk factors in samples of patients attending accident and emergency departments and in all patients having an acute traumatic intracranial haematoma evacuated in one regional neurosurgical unit during 11 years. Accident and emergency departments in Scotland or Teesside and regional neurosurgical centre in Glasgow. 8406 Adults and children (less than or equal to 14 years) who attended accident and emergency departments and 1007 consecutive patients who had an operation for an acute traumatic intracranial haematoma. Data were complete in 8366 and 960 patients respectively. Overall, children were less at risk than adults (one in 2100 v one in 348 respectively). In both age groups the presence of a skull fracture and changes in conscious level permitted identification of subgroups of patients with widely differing degrees of risk. In children the absolute risk ranged from one in almost 13,000 without a fracture or altered conscious level to one in 12 for a child in a coma and with a fracture; the pattern was similar in adults, the risks in corresponding groups ranging from one in almost 7900 to one in four. Although children attending hospital after a head injury have a lower overall risk of a traumatic haematoma, the main indicators of risk, a skull fracture and conscious level, are the same as in adults, and the pattern of their combined effect is similar. Guidelines for managing adults with recent head injury may therefore be applied safely to children; with the increasing provision of facilities for computed tomography they should be revised to ensure early scanning of more patients with head injury.