Social-demographic Background Research Articles

The Association Between Learning Style, Social Demographic Background, and Pharmacology Assessment Result Amongst First Year Medical Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia During Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction: A variety of medical treatments are based on the scientific understanding gathered from pharmacology studies. Thus, pharmacology is crucial in medicine. Many universities around the world have resorted to online learning of pharmacology as a result of the unique coronavirus epidemic, which has an indirect impact on the student’s academic achievement. Apart from learning styles, the socio-demographic background of a student, which includes the student’s family income, parental educational level, and residential area, is another important factor that influences pharmacology academic achievement. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving first-year medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Universiti Putra Malaysia which used a questionnaire regarding the socio-demographic background and learning style. In addition, the pupils were given a set of pharmacological questions to assess their academic performance. Results: Findings revealed that the family income had a considerable impact on medical students’ academic performance with a significant value for the Chi-Square at p = 0.013. The pupils’ learning styles had no discernible impact on their academic success with an insignificant Fisher’s exact test value at p = 0.822. Conclusion: Lower-income students (those with parental income below the median) were significantly more likely to have poorer academic outcomes than their higher-income peers. Our findings imply that policymakers can prevent COVID-19 from worsening existing achievement gaps in higher education by focusing on resolving the economic and health burden imposed by COVID-19.

Community engagement on-site rapid test for chlamydia and gonorrhea among men who have sex with men: a pioneering study in Guangzhou, China

BackgroundChlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections are prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. However, compared to syphilis and HIV, the testing rate for chlamydia and gonorrhea remains low. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility for conducting rapid nucleic acid test for chlamydia and gonorrhea in MSM community-based organizations (CBO).MethodWe recruited our participants through an MSM CBO where free HV and syphilis testing were routinely provided. We collected data including social-demographic background, sexual history, chlamydia and gonorrhea testing history, and reasons for accepting this on-site rapid testing. Urine and/or anorectal swab samples were collected and tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea on-site and the testing results were delivered in about 1.5 h. Positive cases received on-site free treatment.ResultsFrom August 2020 to October 2020, 634 MSM visited the CBO for syphilis and HIV testing and 158 (158/634, 24.9%) accepted the on-site chlamydia and gonorrhea rapid test, 135 were finally enrolled. The positive rate fo chlamydia was 16.3% (22/135) and 3.0% (4/135) for gonorrhea, respectively. Only 19.3% participants had previously undergone chlamydia and gonorrhea testing and 68.9% (93/135) participants reported that they had heard of gonorrhea, 47.4% (64/135) had heard of chlamydia. The main reason for testing was “free for charge” (66.2%), followed by “convenient, ‘shorter waiting time” (45.2%) and “had high-risk sexual behavior recently” (16.3%).ConclusionsThis pilot study showed that the chlamydia and gonorrhea infection rate remains high among MSM, while the testing rate was low. On-site rapid testing is feasible and potentially preferred by MSM.

The Association between Family Relationship, Deviant Peer Socialization, Self-Concept and Aggressive Behavior among At-Risk Student in Selangor

A total of 400 student with disciplinary problem aged 13 to 18 years old from eight secondary schools in the state of Selangor were chosen using multi-stage cluster sampling. A set of questionnaires which are consists of social demographic background, family Relationship Characteristics scale, Peer Deviancy Scale, Self-concept scale and Aggression Scale were used to collect the data. Findings revealed that majority of respondents show the moderate level of self-concept, family relationship, and aggressive behavior and low level of deviant peer socialization. The results of t-test showed that there were significant differences in family beliefs, family structure and deviant peers socialization based on gender and age. There were significant differences in aggressive behavior based on gender, while self-concept has significant differences based on age. Findings also indicated that family relationship, self-concept, deviant peer socialization have a significant relationship with the aggressive behavior. The multiple regression analysis showed that sex, deviant peer socialization, family structure and self-concept have significantly predicted aggressive behavior and socialization of deviant peers was the most important predictor, followed by family structure, self-concept, and sex. The results of this study have important implications for those involved in school and adolescents’ systems.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards contraceptive Use among Unmarried Females Students at Mount Kenya University Rwanda

Background: Contraceptive use is one of the effective means for preventing unintended pregnancies and is highly affected by cultural and social demographic background especially in premarital or unmarried females. Rwanda has made great effort to promote women’s health and to decrease the maternal mortality and morbidity, but there is still a long journey to prevent post abortion morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practices towards contraceptive use among female students. Methods: This is a quantitative cross sectional study conducted among 313 female students recruited using a stratified sampling method combined with a simple random sampling. Online questionnaire was used to collect data from study participants. Obtained data was processed and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics was used to get background information of the study population, and multivariate analysis was used to evaluate factors influencing contraceptive use. Results: The mean age of participants was 25.6±3.3SD, Undergraduates respondents represented 92.7%, 7.3% of respondents were in postgraduates. The results showed that the knowledge of unmarried female students is generally good and their attitudes towards contraceptives are positive. Among 313 participants, 65.8% reported to be sexually active, 76.7% had used any modern contraceptive and 76.2% had practiced unprotected sexual intercourse at least once. A total of 11.5% have had unintended pregnancies at least once. The most commonly known and used methods were condoms and pills. Fear of side effects (55.6%) and lack of information about contraceptives (18.5%) have been reported as factors influencing the non-use of contraceptives. Conclusion: This study concluded that there is still a gap in contraceptive use among sexually active unmarried female students, and recommended the university needs to increase awareness of university students towards contraceptive use.

Factors Associated with Dental Root Caries: A Systematic Review.

The objectives of this review were to identify the factors associated with root caries and to describe their relationship with the presence and extent of root caries. A search was carried out on the PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases for articles published between January 1990 and October 2018. Information was extracted on the factors associated with the presence or extent of decayed or filled root surfaces and/or decayed root surfaces. Factors were sorted into 6 categories: social-demographic background, general health, health behaviors, fluoride exposure, oral health habits, and oral health condition. The quality of the 127 identified relevant papers was assessed, and those of low methodological quality were excluded. Finally, 44 articles reporting on 40 cross-sectional studies were included. The total sample size comprised 78,183 participants from different countries around the world. Positive correlations were detected between root caries and age, gingival recession, and use of tobacco, while negative correlations were found for social position, use of fluoride toothpaste, and oral hygiene status. Mixed findings were reported for association with the number of teeth and dental visit behaviors. This systematic review found a number of factors in different categories to be associated with root caries. People who are older, of lower socioeconomic status, or tobacco users and those with more gingival recession and poorer oral hygiene have higher risk of root caries. This systematic review found a number of factors associated with root caries, including age, social position, exposure to fluoride, and oral hygiene status. This information helps dental public health workers and clinicians identify the groups at high risk of caries and the factors to act on for more effective prevention and management of root caries (e.g., use fluoride toothpaste and improve oral hygiene).

Weight misperception and its barriers to keep health weight in Chinese children

To examine the prevalence rate of misperception, assess the relationship between weight perception and weight-related behaviors in Chinese children. A total of 2708 children aged 7-12 years from five public primary schools and their parents completed questionnaires assessing social demographic background, dietary and activity related factors. Weight and height were measured by trained investigators. The prevalence of misperception was defined by comparing calculated BMI and their perceived weight status. Log-binomial model yielded adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for each behavior by weight misperception in boys and girls separately. Misperception was more prevalent in normal weight children 33.3% for girls and 40.5% for boys and boys were more likely to underestimate their weight status than girls. Associations were observed between misperceived thinness and eating before bed, want to eat seeing others eating, eating sugar and snacks frequently, monophagia and choosy in food both in girls and boys. And associations between misperceived fatness and depression and want to eat seeing others eating were found only in girls. Our findings underscore the importance of weight perception in shaping realistic body image among normal weight children. Education must be introduced to help children accurately look on their body shape.

Cognitive and emotional covariates of violence exposure among former prisoners: links to antisocial behavior and emotional distress and implications for theory

In this study, formerly incarcerated men (N = 123) were assessed for their experiences with violence in the community as well as their current behavioral and mental health status (antisocial behavior and emotional distress). Participants also completed measures of two constructs theorized to moderate relations between exposure to violence and outcomes: cognitive beliefs supporting aggressive responding and negative emotional reactivity to witnessed violence. Data on key social-demographic background factors affecting outcomes were also collected. Analyses showed that, after controlling the effects of background factors, relationships between experiences with violence in the community and behavioral/mental health were moderated by cognitive beliefs and emotional reactivity. At high levels of support for aggressive responding, significant positive links were observed between exposure to violence and antisocial behavior as well as emotional distress. At high levels of negative reactivity to violence, a significant positive link was observed between exposure to violence and emotional distress (but not antisocial behavior). Findings are discussed with respect to research and theory on the effects of exposure to violence in high-risk adult populations.

Concepts of labour status and their operationalisation in cross-national comparative social surveys

In the social sciences, the occupation variable is used to derive socio-economic status and/or occupational prestige. This article describes occupation as an indicator for social status and labor status as an indicator of the respondent's position in the life-cycle. First, we identify variables necessary to measure occupation, employment and the labour force concept from ILO (International Labour Organisation, Geneva). Second, we introduce strategies for harmonizing the underlying social concepts of the measurements in surveys across countries. Third, we present our own instrument to measure occupation and labour status as social demographic background variables in cross-national comparative surveys. Finally, we summarize the findings from a pilot survey. The test revealed that the instrument enables the data needed for the social science analysis of socio-economic status and occupational prestige to be collected with ease.

A survey on cerebral infarction/transient ischemic attack inpatients compliance with secondary stroke prevention and follow-up 90 days

Poor compliance with evidence-based-medicine guidelines could significantly influence the effect of stroke prevention strategies. The objectives of this survey are to investigate the current status in Beijing of cerebral infarction/TIA (transient ischemic attack) inpatients' adherence to the evidence-based-medicine secondary prevention and behavior modifications both at the discharge and at 90-day follow up. The survey included cerebral infarction/TIA patients successively admitted from 1, Oct 2006 to 1, May 2007, used ACEI/ARB, Statin, anti-platelet agents therapy, accepted carotid endarterctomy or angioplasty or stent, and modified behaviors to stop smoking and control weight. Data of patients during hospitalization were obtained from the medical documents in the inpatient department of 7 centers. The detailed information included the medicine therapy, lifestyle modifications, patients' social demographic background (age, sex, education and way of payment), major risk factors for stroke, and ischemic event subtypes (TIA or cerebral infarction). Above information of part of patients were collected through telephone interview at 90-day follow-up if the patients were not able to visit the clinic. 708 cerebral infarction/TIA inpatients who didn't have contraindications were included. Among them, the patents who haven't used anti-platelet agents, nor taken statin, nor accepted ACEI/ARB were about 0.4%, 41.8% and 63.6% respectively. Neither 27% of the patients have accepted the instructions on stop smoking. While about 588 patients suitable to drug therapy were followed up at 90 days, but the percentage of these patients who haven't compliance on anti-platelet agents, statin, ACEI/ARB was 26.9%, 52.6% and 59.4% respectively. Only 66.9% of the smoking patients have received the doctor instructions on smoking cessation. Stroke recurrence rate in China is higher than that of average figures in western countries. One of the key reasons of high recurrence of stroke in China is the poor adherence to stroke secondary prevention guidelines. Thus, investigate current status of secondary prevention among hospitals in capital of China and promote strategies to enhance the adherence to the guidelines and fill the gap between the clinical practice and evidence-based medicine in China, which is able to lower the stroke recurrence and save lives are urgently needed. Physician should take great care of the patient's compliances on the evidenced-based-medicine secondary prevents and behavior modifications, and take effective measures to improve the compliances.

Relationships between unfavourable health status and smoking cessation attempts in Hungary

The study examines associations between intentions to quit smoking and health status in three age groups of Hungarian smokers, along with social-demographic background variables. In 2002, a cross-sectional representative health survey of the sample of 12668 adults was conducted in Hungary. The associations between health status and intentions to quit smoking were analysed with logistic regression among current smokers (N = 3408). The influence of health-related and social predictor variables was tested separately in different age groups (18-34, 35-49, 50-64, >65). Experiences of chest pain principally motivate young adults to quit smoking. Middle-aged smokers consider quitting because of suffering from cardio-vascular disease. Among the oldest, only respiratory disease influenced quitting attempts. Among social background variables only the fact of living with a spouse had an influence, gender and socio-economic status did not. Connections between health status and quitting intentions are weakening as age is increasing. The population seems to become gradually conscious of the connections between circulatory problems and smoking. Quitting attempts are restrained by the general attitude that ill health is a normal part of the ageing process.

태권도 수련에 따른 공격성 및 공격희생 요인비교 분석

In this research, we composed the students as population who trained Taekwondo more than 6 months among the primary school students located in Taegu Metropolitan until May, 2003 in order to make a close inquiry what primary school students` Taekwondo practice degree affects the aggression and the peer nomination. So, we did cluster sampling method 500 people in considering the probability proportionate to size according to primary school students` social demographic individuality and Taekwondo training level. And, by the object of 463 valid specimen, we got the conclusion as following in consequence of the analysis the factors that the difference of the Aggression and the Peer Nomination level followed by the social demographic background(sex, school years, academic records and parents` education level) and Taekwondo training degree(Taekwondo skill level, Taekwondo training period and Taekwondo training attitude) and Taekwondo training degree affect the Aggression and the Peer Nomination. First, the parents` education level influences in Linguistic Aggression of primary school student practiced Taekwondo. Second, Taekwondo skill senior`s Hostility and Peer Nomination level is low, and the students who have trained Taekwondo continuously more than 3 years got low Hostility and Peer Nomination level. And recessive trainees` Hostility level is lower than other groups, and simple trainees` Peer Nomination level is the lowest among other groups. Third, Taekwondo skill level and training period have an negative effect on the factor of the Hostility among lower change factors of Aggression. Also, Taekwondo skill level and training period affects Peer Nomination negatively and training attitude affects Peer Nomination positively.