Risky Lifestyle Behaviors Research Articles

Poor psychosocial status and cardiovascular risk factors are associated with depression or anxiety

Abstract Background Depression and anxiety are rising in South Africa but their associations with psychosocial and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) remain under explored. This study determined the associations of depression and anxiety traits with poor psychosocial wellbeing, risky lifestyle behaviours and cardiometabolic diseases. Methods In a population-based cross-sectional study, data were collected via administered questionnaires, clinical examinations and biochemical assessments. Depression and anxiety traits were ascertained via the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalised Anxiety Disorder screening questions. Multivariable logistic regressions determined the associations with depression and anxiety traits; the basic model comprised sociodemographic factors, physical inactivity, tobacco smoking and alcohol misuse (CAGE ≥2). Psychosocial and cardiometabolic variables were entered individually in separate models. Results Among 678 participants, median age 52 years and mainly women (81%), prevalence of depression scores ≥10 were 14.2% (men:12.7%, women:14.6%, p = 0.498) and anxiety scores ≥10 were 10.2% (men:10.3%, women:10.2%). In the basic regression models, depression, but not anxiety, was associated with being separated, living as married/widowed vs. single (OR:2.01, 95%CI:1.02-3.94), and alcohol misuse (2.07, 1.13-3.78). Depression and anxiety were associated with decreasing social support (depression: 1.09, 1.04-1.12; anxiety: 1.09, 1.04-1.14), and increasing number of adverse life events. Hypertension (1.76, 1.07-2.90, p = 0.025), diabetes (1.98, 1.03-3.82, p = 0.041) and dyslipidaemia (1.97, 1.01-3.85, p = 0.048) were associated with depression but not anxiety. Conclusions The high burden and associations of depression and anxiety traits with poor psychosocial wellbeing suggest a need for holistic care approaches. The associations of depression traits with CVRFs warrant screening and care of depression in the presence of cardiometabolic diseases and alcohol misuse. Key messages • The high burden of depression and anxiety traits in South Africa is associated with poor social support and quality of life, and increasing adverse life events experienced. • The associations of depression traits with hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and alcohol misuse highlight the need for integrated management strategies.

P-458 Development and validation of the fertility lifestyle assessment scale

Abstract Study question Can the development of the “Fertility Lifestyle Assessment Scale” contribute to the evaluation of person lifestyle habits related to fertility? Summary answer The development of the Fertility Healthy Lifestyle Assessment Scale will contribute to the evaluation of person lifestyle habits related to fertility. What is known already Healthy lifestyle habits are important for preparing the body and reproductive hormones for the demands of conception. Malnutrition, overeating, smoking, sedentary life, stress, sleep deprivation etc., situations all represent unhealthy lifestyles. The individuals may also preserve and increase fertility potential by modifying their lifestyles. Despite wide evidence about the benefits of healthy lifestyle for individuals with fertility problems, lifestyle is not systematically evaluated in generally fertility clinics. Current in study aimed to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool in order to determine risky lifestyle behaviors that may contribute to the development of fertility problems of individuals. Study design, size, duration A methodological study was conducted between July 2020- December 2021. An item pool (123 items) was prepared by reviewing the literature and the opinions of researchers and fertility experts. A multidisciplinary team of doctor, nurses and patient collaborated to asses suitability of each item of Fertility Lifestyle Assesment Scale. The Item Content Validity Index varied between .80 and 1.00. As a result a final 46-item Fertility Lifestyle Assessment Scale was developed. Participants/materials, setting, methods Participants (a) who can speak, read and write Turkish; (b) 18 years of age or older; married/single women or men, (c) who have not yet had children, and (d) who are considering having children in the future were included. The sample of this study consisted of 526 participants who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to be a part of the present study. Main results and the role of chance In the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) coefficient of 46 items was .865 and the result of Bartlett’s sphericity test was χ2 = 15265.707, p < .001. As a result of EFA, it was determined that the scale consisted of seven subscale. Also, seven subscales were exposed to explanatory analysis: “emotional well-being”, “physical activity”, “sleep quality”, “nutrition”, “clothing/hygiene”, “use of technology”, “spiritual dimension”. These seven subscales explained 71.25% of the total variance, which shows the power of the factor structure of the scale. The total Cronbach’s alpha was .87. The item-total score correlation coefficients ranged between .19 and .57. The Pearson correlation coefficients between subscale scores and scale total scores were between .21 and .98. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the subscales ranged from .60 to .98. According to the Spearman–Brown analysis, the split-half correlation coefficient was .898. Item scores were different from each other (Hotelling’s T2 = 1189.347, p= .000). This scale is valid and reliable for measuring the healthy lifestyle for improving fertility of women and man who unmaried. Limitations, reasons for caution The limitation of the study was that only 3/1 of the sample to which the scale was applied was composed of men. Wider implications of the findings This scale can be used to evaluate fertility-related lifestyle factors in individuals who are considering getting pregnant starting from the preconceptional period or who have fertility problems and apply for treatment. The scale may be easily performed by healthcare professionals and may contribute to improve fertility. Trial registration number Not applicable

Behind the Genetics: The Role of Epigenetics in Infertility-Related Testicular Dysfunction.

In recent decades, we have witnessed a progressive decline in male fertility. This is partly related to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g., obesity and diabetes mellitus) and risky lifestyle behaviors. These conditions alter male fertility through various non-genetic mechanisms. However, there is increasing evidence that they are also capable of causing sperm epigenetic alterations, which, in turn, can cause infertility. Furthermore, these modifications could be transmitted to offspring, altering their general and reproductive health. Therefore, these epigenetic modifications could represent one of the causes of the progressive decline in sperm count recorded in recent decades. This review focuses on highlighting epigenetic modifications at the sperm level induced by non-genetic causes of infertility. In detail, the effects on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and the expression profiles of non-coding RNAs are evaluated. Finally, a focus on the risk of transgenerational inheritance is presented. Our narrative review aims to demonstrate how certain conditions can alter gene expression, potentially leading to the transmission of anomalies to future generations. It emphasizes the importance of the early detection and treatment of reversible conditions (such as obesity and varicocele) and the modification of risky lifestyle behaviors. Addressing these issues is crucial for individual health, in preserving fertility, and in ensuring the well-being of future generations.

Behavioural and nutritional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among the Ghanaian population- a cross-sectional study

BackgroundLifestyle behavioural risk factors have been linked to increased cardiovascular disease. Recent data have shown increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) burden in Ghana. This study aimed to describe the behavioural and nutritional risk factors for ASCVD among Ghanaians, and how these risk factors vary by ethnicity, demography and residence.MethodsWe used data from the Ghana Heart Study, a community-based cross-sectional study that recruited participants from eight communities from four regions using a multi-stage sampling technique. Information about various lifestyle behaviours (LBs), including cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, physical inactivity, and fruit and vegetable intake, was obtained using a questionnaire. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS statistics 25. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to test associations between demographic characteristics and various LBs.ResultsThe participants' median (interquartile) age was 46.0 (27.0) years. Of the 1,106 participants (58% females, 80.4% urban dwellers), 8.6% reported using tobacco, 48.9% alcohol, 83.7% physically inactive, 81.4% and 84.9% inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, respectively. Age, sex, ethnicity, and religion were associated with tobacco use, whereas age, sex, educational level, marital status, ethnicity, employment status, and region of residence were associated with physical inactivity. Similarly, ethnicity, employment status, and residence region were associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable intake. Rural dwellers were more likely to be physically inactive and consume inadequate fruits and vegetables. Almost 92% had a combination of two or more LBs. The main predictors of two or more LBs for ASCVD were educational level, marital status, ethnicity, and employment status.ConclusionLifestyle risk factors for ASCVD were highly prevalent in Ghana, with significant age, sex, ethnic, and regional differences. These risky lifestyle behaviors tend to occur together and must be considered in tailoring public health education.Trial registrationThe study was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn as ChiCTR1800017374.

Clustering of lifestyle behaviours and analysis of their associations with MAFLD: a cross-sectional study of 196,515 individuals in China

BackgroundThe aggregation of lifestyle behaviours and their association with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) remain unclear. We identified lifestyle patterns and investigated their association with the risk of developing MAFLD in a sample of Chinese adults who underwent annual physical examinations.MethodsAnnual physical examination data of Chinese adults from January 2016 to December 2020 were used in this study. We created a scoring system for lifestyle items combining a statistical method (multivariate analysis of variance) and clinical expertise (Delphi method). Subsequently, principal component analysis and two-step cluster analysis were implemented to derive the lifestyle patterns of men and women. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the prevalence risk of MAFLD among lifestyle patterns stratified by sex.ResultsA total of 196,515 subjects were included in the analysis. Based on the defined lifestyle scoring system, nine and four lifestyle patterns were identified for men and women, respectively, which included “healthy or unhealthy” patterns and mixed patterns containing a combination of healthy and risky lifestyle behaviours. This study showed that subjects with an unhealthy or mixed pattern had a significantly higher risk of developing MAFLD than subjects with a relatively healthy pattern, especially among men.ConclusionsClusters of unfavourable behaviours are more prominent in men than in women. Lifestyle patterns, as important factors influencing the development of MAFLD, show significant sex differences in the risk of MAFLD. There is a strong need for future research to develop targeted MAFLD interventions based on the identified behavioural clusters by sex stratification.

Multidomain modifiable dementia risk factors are associated with poorer cognition in midlife.

Studies of modifiable dementia risk factors (MDRFs) generally consider MDRFs individually, despite strong evidence that they co-occur in adult populations. In a large sample of middle-aged adults, this study aimed to determine the frequency and co-occurrence of MDRFs, spanning five domains (mood symptomatology, risky lifestyle behaviors, cardiovascular conditions, cognitive/social engagement, sleep disorders/symptomatology). The relationship between number of domains in which MDRFs were reported with cognitive performance and subjective cognitive concerns was then determined. Middle-aged adults (n = 1,610) enrolled in the Healthy Brain Project and completed self-report surveys about their health and lifestyle. Participants also completed the Cogstate Brief Battery and the Cognitive Function Instrument, a measure of subjective ratings of cognition. Participants were classified according to number of domains (mood symptomatology, risky lifestyle behaviors, cardiovascular conditions, cognitive/social engagement, sleep disorders/symptomatology) in which they reported at least one MDRF (0-5). Age, sex, education, and ethnicity were adjusted for in analyses. Most individuals (66.5%) reported MDRFs in two or more domains. Compared with individuals displaying no MDRFs, individuals with MDRFs in 3-5 domains showed worse learning/working memory performance and greater subjective cognitive concerns, with the magnitude of these differences moderate-to-large (d = 0.30-0.93). Individuals displaying MDRFs in five domains also showed worse attention/psychomotor function (d = 0.58) compared to those displaying no MDRFs. These findings may suggest that multidomain MDRFs are highly frequent in middle-aged adults and are related to poorer cognition. This supports that modifiable dementia risk is multidimensional and raises the possibility that multidomain behavioral intervention trials in middle-aged adults may be useful to delay or prevent cognitive impairment or decline. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Poor knowledge and awareness of human papillomavirus and cervical cancer among adult females in rural Ghana

Cervical cancer (CC) continues to be a global burden, and a disease of public health interest, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study explored the knowledge and awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and CC and the risk-behavioural characteristics of an adult female population in rural Ghana. A total of 274 women, aged 21 years and above were recruited through multi-stage sampling. A questionnaire was used to obtain data on their socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics and assess their knowledge and awareness of HPV and CC through face-to-face interviews. In all, 187 (68.2%) participants had poor knowledge of HPV and CC with 87 (31.8%) having good knowledge. Only 18.2% and 48.9% of them had prior awareness of HPV infection and CC, respectively. Their primary source of information was the broadcast media (TV and Radio stations) (60.1%). Regarding risky lifestyle behaviours, the mean age at sexual debut was 18.52 ± 2.39 years, 82.8% have had more than one lifetime sexual partner, 81.0% were multiparous with 51.5% using oral contraceptives. Women with higher educational attainment (cOR = 0.41; 95%CI = 0.20-0.81), monthly income (cOR = 0.31; 95%CI = 0.10-1.02), and lifetime sexual partners (aOR = 0.46; 95%CI = 0.21-1.00) were less likely to have poor CC and HPV knowledge compared to their counterparts. In conclusion, adult females in the rural population have limited knowledge and awareness of HPV infection and CC with low CC screening. Intensive educational campaigns should be organised and spearheaded on multiple platforms by the Ghana Health Service and civil societies to sensitise and educate women, in the rural parts of the country, on CC and its related preventive measures.

Post-High School Military Enlistment and Long-Term Well-Being

Longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used to evaluate the impact of post-high school military enlistment during emerging adulthood. Comparisons were made between matched samples of emerging adults who enlisted in the military ( n = 576) and their civilian counterparts ( n = 576) on well-being over a decade later. Well-being was broadly conceptualized to reflect socioeconomic well-being, physical health, mental health, and risky lifestyle behaviors. Matching maximizes confidence that findings reflect differences due to enlistment, rather than pre-existing characteristics that contribute to both enlistment rates and well-being. No consistent differences emerged between the matched samples. Service members reported some indicators of better mental health (perceived stress, anxiety), yet higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, and civilians reported some indicators of better physical health. Strengths-based perspectives and models that account for the concurrent possibility that military service may positively and negatively impact well-being are needed in future research.

Health Risks, Perceptions, and Self-Care Patterns: A Comparative Study Between Older and Younger Filipinos

Worldwide trends in health risks, lifestyle behaviors, health perceptions, and health-seeking patterns suggest alarming disparities among individuals from low- and middle-income countries; particularly for older individuals (≥ 60 years). This study aims to compare health risks, perceptions, lifestyle behaviors, and health-seeking patterns between younger (< 60 years) and older (≥ 60 years) Filipinos from rural communities in the Philippines; and assess relationships between demographic, health risks and perceptions, and lifestyle behaviors to bolster health promotion efforts. A comparative cross-sectional study was employed with 863 younger and 427 older Filipinos. Results show that older participants were more likely to be single/widowed and had ≤ high school education. Older participants had higher rates of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and depression but were more likely to report higher quality of life, ≥ 150 minutes of physical activity per week, ≥ 5 servings of fruits and vegetable per day, more difficulty falling asleep, report seeing a physician regularly, going to the community health center when sick, and attend stress management classes compared to their younger counterparts (all p’s < .001). There were no differences in rates of obesity, self-medication, and use of integrative health. Older age was associated with higher risks, improved health perceptions, healthier lifestyle behaviors, and better health-seeking patterns. Our data suggest that health risks are higher in older individuals but risky lifestyle behaviors were higher in younger individuals and suggest the need to design separate health promotion interventions that target the unique needs of older and younger Filipinos from rural communities.

Risk factors associated with driving under the influence of drugs in the USA

BackgroundDriving under the influence of drugs (DUID) is a burgeoning public health concern in the USA. Because little is known about individuals who engage in DUID, the purpose of this...

Meditation and Preventive Cardiac Health

Thanks to advancements in medical and technical therapy, heart failure (HF) patients are now better predicted. A longer lifespan is linked to an increase in the number of risky lifestyle factors and behaviours that put a person at risk for heart failure (HF) early on in life. Doctors dealing with this challenging illness place emphasis only on medicinal products or medical equipment, although changes in lifestyles may assist to prevent and cure heart failure and are often neglected. The effects of weight reduction and exercise on cardiovascular disease (HF), as well as the impact of nutritional supplements and mindfulness on the illness's causes, physiopathology, and therapy, were studied by researchers.

E-cigarette Use Among Young Adult Patients: The Opportunity to Intervene on Risky Lifestyle Behaviors to Reduce Cancer Risk.

Use of e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is on the rise. We administered a health needs survey via email to 804 adult primary care and oncology patients at a large urban academic medical center in 2019. We examined differences in e-cigarette use by smoking status, personal history of cancer, alcohol use, and second-hand tobacco smoke exposure. Of the 804 participants, 90 (11.2%) reported ever using e-cigarettes. E-cigarette use was more prevalent in young adults (risk ratio [RR] for 18-24years: 4.58, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.05, 10.26), current smoking (RR 4.64, 95% CI 1.94, 11.07), very often/often binge drinking (RR 3.04, 96% CI 1.38, 6.73), and ≥ 1 smokers in the home (RR 3.90, 95% CI 2.10, 7.23). Binge alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking are associated with increased risk cancer. Inquiries about e-cigarette use among adults 25-40years present providers the opportunity to also counsel young adult about reducing cancer risk.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRE-MARRIAGE PRECONCEPTIONAL CARE AND THE COUNSELING ROLE OF MIDWIVES

Introduction: Preconceptional care is an important opportunity to identify risk factors affecting the pregnancy process and to provide appropriate care. In this study; it was aimed to provide preventive health services related to reproductive health to couples who applied for marriage and to emphasize the importance of midwives in preconceptional care services. Method: The population of the descriptive study consisted of couples who applied to Izmir Bornova Municipality Marriage Office between June 15, 2016 and June 15, 2017. Sample selection was not made, all couples who agreed to participate and were given counseling formed the sample (n: 126). Data were collected through a questionnaire using face-to-face interview method, and their analyzes were presented in the SPSS 20.0 package program by making a percentage distribution. Results: The average age of women is 26.0±4.0 (min:18.0-max:42.0). It was determined that 91.2% of the participants planned pregnancy after getting married. 42.6% of those planning pregnancy use cigarette, 33.9% use alcohol, only 20.9% exercise regularly. 96.0% of the participants stated that consultancy should be given before getting married, 30.2% of them stated that this training should be given by experts and 19.0% by midwives. Discussion and Conclusion: In our study, where we evaluated the application for marriage as an opportunity and offered preconceptional counseling, it was determined that the participants planning pregnancy had risky lifestyle behaviors and wanted to receive formal training from experts. It is thought that preconceptional counseling, which will be given by midwives by expanding its scope within the scope of primary health care services, will contribute to harmony in marriage and the formation of healthy generations.

Does Flourishing Reduce Engagement in Unhealthy and Risky Lifestyle Behaviours in Emerging Adults?

Emerging adulthood is a transitional life stage with increased probability of risky and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours that are known to have strong links with premature mortality and morbidity. Wellbeing, as a positive subjective experience, is identified as a factor that encourages self-care and may steer individuals away from risky lifestyle behaviours. Investigating wellbeing–behaviour links in the emerging adult population may increase understanding of the factors that lead to, and ways to prevent, engagement in risky behaviours. This study examines the association between flourishing, that is, the experience of both high hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing, and a broad range of risky and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours among emerging adults in Australia. A cross-sectional survey of 1155 emerging adults aged 18–25 years measured wellbeing, socio-demographics, and six groups of lifestyle behaviours surrounding substance use, physical activity, diet, sex, sun protection, and driving. Bivariate and multivariate statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that flourishing was negatively associated with more dangerous types of risk behaviours, such as driving under the influence of drugs, and positively associated with self-care behaviours, such as healthier dietary behaviour and sun protection. If enabling emerging adults to flourish can contribute to reduced engagement in risky/unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, then promoting it is an important goal for health promotion efforts not only because flourishing is desirable in its own right, but also to bring about sustainable change in behaviour. Further research is needed to inform the designs of such interventions.

Change Matters: Binge Drinking and Drugging Victimization over Time in Three College Freshman Cohorts

ABSTRACT The “once bitten, twice shy” (OBTS) hypothesis argues that crime victims who change their involvement in risky lifestyle behaviors reduce their likelihood of experiencing repeat victimization. Tests of this hypothesis have yielded weak to mixed results, which may be due to methodological issues. We address these methodological issues by testing the OBTS hypothesis for repeat drugging victimization with survey data from a panel of three freshman cohorts at three large, public universities. Supportive of the OBTS hypothesis, the multivariate results show that, on average, those not drugged at Time 1 or Time 2 and those drugged at Time 1 and Time 2 increased the number of days they binge drank in the past month significantly more than those who were drugged at Time 1 only. Our findings have implications for both victimology theory and drugging prevention programming.

A high burden of adverse life events and poor coping mechanisms experienced by urban-dwelling black South Africans

AimIn view of the current context of poverty and socio-economic inequalities and the high and rising burdens of HIV infection and non-communicable diseases in South Africa, this study aims to describe the distribution of adverse life events (ALEs) by age and gender, and examine the socio-demographic characteristics, psychosocial coping mechanisms, risky lifestyle behaviours and family burden of HIV-related ill-health associated with ALEs in 25-74-year-old black residents of Cape Town.Materials and methodsIn a random cross-sectional sample, 12 ALEs, tobacco and alcohol use, sense of coherence (SOC), locus of control (LOC) and impact of HIV in the family were determined by administered questionnaires. Data analyses included descriptive statistics adjusted for the realised sample. Multivariable linear regression models assessed the independent associations of increasing number of ALEs.ResultsAmong 1099 participants, mean lifetime score of ALE categories examined was 6.1 ±2.1 (range 0–12) with men reporting significantly higher number of events compared with women (p<0.001). The most frequent ALE was the death of a loved one (88.5%) followed by a major financial crisis (81.2%) with no trend across gender or age group. In the multivariable linear regression model, increasing ALEs were significantly associated with male gender, unemployment, having spent >50% of life in urban areas, >7 years of education, problematic alcohol use and poorer psychosocial coping mechanisms defined by low SOC and LOC. All four variables pertaining to HIV-related burden of ill-health in the family were significantly associated with increasing ALEs.ConclusionsConsidering that lower SOC and LOC and problem drinking were significantly linked to ALEs, policymakers need to formulate strategies that improve coping mechanisms and promote problem-solving behaviours, target the high burden of alcohol misuse and address unemployment.

Determining the Cut Off Score of the Healthy Lifestyle Screening Tool among High School Students.

BackgroundSeveral lifestyle factors such as not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, eating healthily, regular exercise, and maintaining a normal weight have been known to play an important role in optimal health. A screening tool that has a standardized score that indicates healthy or risky lifestyle behaviors is needed for health promotion. However, such a tool that focuses on lifestyle behaviors have not incorporated scores to summarize the results. The purpose of this study is to develop the cut-off points of the Healthy Lifestyle Screening tool.MethodsData collection in this study was done from 198 Filipino high school students utilizing the Healthy Lifestyle Screening Tool.ResultsReceiver Operating Curve (ROC) results indicated cut-off score of 98 to separate into low and high score groups. The mean scores for all subcomponents were significantly different in between two groups. The general population fell in the high score category with a mean total score of 105.61 in which 81.31% were categorized in the high score group and 18.61% in the low score group. Subjects in general obtained low mean scores in specific subscale components such as rest (2.46) water (2.66) and exercise (2.78).ConclusionIncreasing the total score by working on low scoring components will be beneficial in achieving a healthy lifestyle. This study reinforced the importance of holistic approach regarding health and well-being among high school students.

High prevalence of helminth infections in mother-child pairs from three central provinces of Lao People's Democratic Republic

In Southeast Asia, the large majority of the population remains affected by parasitic worms despite longstanding mass treatment and health education campaigns. Soil-transmitted helminths and also the fish-borne liver fluke negatively affect development during early childhood.Here, the prevalence of helminth infections in stool samples of 610 mother-child pairs from Khammouane, Bolikhamxay and Vientiane provinces in Lao People's Democratic Republic was determined by formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique.Overall, 15.1% of the children and 46.9% of the mothers were positive for at least one helminth species. Helminth detection rates varied significantly by province with the highest prevelance in Khammouane and the lowest in Bolikhamxay province. Mothers that were positive for soil-transmitted helminths were significantly more likely to have children positive for the same helminth species (p < 0.01) but this was not the case for the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini. A protective effect of breastfeeding against soil-transmitted helminths was revealed.Our data reconfirm the generally high helminth burden among mother-child pairs who likely share a number of risky lifestyle behaviors also with other family members. To reduce maternal burden of helminths, we propose that anti-helmintic treatment of women of childbearing age and of mothers during postnatal care should be included in the national strategy.

Infertility Risk Factors and Nurse’s Role

There are many known and unknown risk factors affecting fertility. Nowadays although infertility risk factors have been revealed with the researches carried out today, studies are still going on for many factors brought about by modern life. Nurses should be aware of risk factors that negatively affect fertility in order to prevent deterioration of fertility abilities of individuals. Infertility nurses should assess life-style behaviors in detail while taking anamnesis from couples who have fertility problems or apply for long-term and financially expensive treatment methods such as assisted reproductive techniques. In addition, nurses should do counseling to couples on lifestyles that have an impact on the fertility of individuals and follow the current literature on the subject. Especially risky lifestyle behaviors should be improved if there is no time problem for the couple. Otherwise, treatment strategies should be developed to change these behaviors and individual care plans should be provided to individuals about healthy lifestyle behaviors. In addition, nurses should train couples for risk factors. In this context, the risk factors causing the infertility and nursing roles will be discussed in our review.&#x0D; Key words: Ä°nfertilty, Risk Factors, Nursing, Role

Effectiveness of Lifestyle Health Promotion Interventions for Nurses: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Risky lifestyle behaviours amongst nurses have been well documented. Studies have shown non-adherence among nurses to national public health guidelines for physical activity, diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Obesity and overweight are prevalent in nurses. A study of Scottish nurses showed that 69% were overweight or obese, which was higher than rates for other healthcare professionals, unqualified care staff and those in non-health related occupations.