Sociodemographic Context Research Articles

Oral Hygiene Habits and Use of Fluoride in Developmental Age: Role of Parents and Impact on their Children.

Introduction In healthcare, the need to pay more attention to the achievement of two objectives within the society arises: health promotion and prevention in terms of nutrition, good education, sport, and health education. Scientific evidence shows that adequate health standards must be learned since childhood through the help of parents and appropriate school projects. Parental intervention must be appropriate to support the responsibility of their children's health. In oral health, it has been established for many years that there is a correlation between parental behaviors and lifestyles and children's attitude. The aim of this study is to verify the close relation between behaviors, habits, lifestyles, and the knowledge of parents about their oral health and, consequently, their focus and care for their own children's oral health. Furthermore, the awareness of parents about the importance and use of fluorine was to be determined. Materials and Methods The study lasted 15 months and was conducted from April 2018 to July 2019: an anonymous 29-question questionnaire was administered to all parents who accompanied their children (aged between 3 and 12 years) going under treatment in the Pediatric Dentistry Unit of the University Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Rome. Anamnestic data, sociodemographic context (e.g., educational level and occupation), oral health habits, and prevention of parents and children and fluoride knowledge were investigated. The study received ethical approval. 204 questionnaires were collected. The data gathered were recorded with a specifically designed computer program and collected and analyzed using a Microsoft Excel 10 database. Data were evaluated using standard statistical analysis software; descriptive statistics including mean ± SD values and percentage were calculated for each variable. The relationship between the age of parents, between mother or father and the parents' degree of education levels, and the knowledge for their own children's oral health was explored using the chi-square test of homogeneity and Fisher's exact test (P value of < 0.05 considered as statistically significant). Results From the acquired data, it is possible to deduce that the major respondents were mothers aged from 36 to 45, while only a small part were fathers aged above 45 years. Questions related to parents' oral hygiene habits were included in the questionnaire, and from the sample taken into consideration, it emerges that 64.7% of the respondents (67.1% mothers and 57.7% fathers) periodically attend a dental office for a checkup, 20.9% tend to postpone the treatment, and 15.2% go there just for emergency. Some of the questions showed that 80% of the interviewed subjects use fluoride toothpaste for their child's oral hygiene. Conclusion Prevention in childhood, in addition to being synonymous with monitoring the oral health of the child, means first of all to pay attention to parents who are the main behavioral reference. It emerged that there is no adequate knowledge about fluorine, especially when the subjects have a low educational level. A role of fundamental importance for the diffusion of adequate concepts in the field of oral hygiene is covered, according to the data received from the study carried out, by the dentist and dental hygienist.

Preservice Teachers from Physical Education: Differences between Ireland and Spain in Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility

The present study aimed to analyse and contrast the experiences of six Preservice Physical Education Teachers (onwards PPET) from two different socio-demographic contexts, Spain and Ireland, regarding the use of Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (henceforth TPSR) during their work placement. The sample consisted of six students aged between 21 and 25 years (three boys and three girls), in their final year of their bachelor’s degree, who had completed their work placement within the education pathway in different schools in Ireland and Spain. Each student participated in a semistructured interview to find out about their practicum experience, the relevance of TPSR and its relation to occupational socialisation theory. After transcription of the interviews, the results show great similarity between the two contexts, with a positive assessment of the experience and its high relevance for both the teacher tutor and the teachers during their nonuniversity education. Spanish students largely described the importance of past school experiences, showing a very positive assessment of past experiences as PE teachers. On the other hand, it is the students from Ireland who placed greater value on the applicability of TPSR in other subjects. In addition to having more experience using other pedagogical models, they also emphasised the importance of planning before applying methodologies such as TPSR.TPSR is highlighted as a suitable model for the promotion of social values in the classroom, although the training received during the degree course is insufficient for the proper application of the model. It is concluded that TPSR was perceived by Spanish and Irish students as a suitable methodology for teaching undergraduate students, but the students’ previous experiences must be taken into account.

Pathways to healthy aging – Exploring the determinants of self-rated health in older adults

ObjectiveThe decade 2021–2030 has been declared the Decade of Healthy Aging by the United Nations General Assembly, underlining that health is central to the experience of older age and the opportunities that aging brings. Self-rated health (SRH) appears consistent with the state of objective health, and therefore can serve as a simple core indicator of healthy aging. SRH can be affected by psychological and lifestyle factors, and by the developmental and sociodemographic context, which can directly and indirectly influence subjective health status. The aim of the present study was to establish the structure of the relationships between SRH, health-related behavior, subjective wellbeing, developmental tasks attainment and sociodemographic factors in the late-life period. MethodsThe study group consisted of 340 Polish retired seniors, aged 61 to 94 (M = 70.75, SD = 6.48): 88 men (25.9 %) and 252 women (74.1 %). The respondents completed the following measures: 10-point numerical scale for SRH, Health-Related Questionnaire for Seniors, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Developmental Tasks Questionnaire for Seniors and a sociodemographic survey. ResultsThe group demonstrated a medium level of SRH and other variables. SHR was positively correlated with health-related behavior, wellbeing, developmental tasks attainment and perceived economic status, and negatively with age. Structural equation model revealed that health-related behavior, wellbeing, age and economic status have a direct influence on SRH. Developmental tasks attainment was found to predict health behavior, although no direct relationship with SRH was found. ConclusionsA broader understanding of healthy aging is achieved by considering the context of its factors. Psychological interventions should promote a healthy lifestyle and adapt it to the late life period to promote health among seniors.

The Effects of Socio-Demographic Context on Perceived Parenting Styles Among Adolescents. A Demographical Study in Andhra Pradesh

The objective of the present study is to find the effects of area of residence, and family structure on Adolescents' perceived parenting A demographical study in Andhra Pradesh. Background: rural population is more homogenous in social, racial, and psychological traits that negatively correlate with heterogeneity. (Most are agriculturists and are directly connected with agriculture). More heterogeneous than rural. Urbanity and heterogeneity are positively co-related (Different population types are seen in cities, different places, religions, caste, class, race, community, economic and cultural differences, occupations, and behavioral patterns are also different). Family structure is in the form of two types. Nuclear and joint families differ in the support that each inherently offers, affecting adolescents' behavior. Method: The present study sampled 1208 male and female high school seniors from three schools in Andhra Pradesh and area of residence, family structure relationship to parenting styles. Seniors completed a demographic survey that gathered family structure information and the number of disciplinary incidents, and they also completed a parenting style survey that measured parent parenting modes. R.L. Bharadwaj eight parenting style tool was administered to respondents to find the middle adolescents' perceived parenting styles. Conclusion: The study found that adolescents from urban and rural semi-urban showed a significant difference in lenient standards and moralism practices. Analysis revealed that adolescents living with joint and nuclear families with a neglecting parenting style were less likely to receive disciplinary incidents compared to adolescents living with joint family structure. Previous research suggested that an authoritative parenting style tends to benefit adolescents regardless of the family structure. Implications of the Present study results summarize that the area of residence (Rural, urban, and Semi-urban) showed significant differences in Andhra Pradesh middle adolescents' perceived parenting styles. The study implies that nuclear family middle adolescents perceiving parenting style significantly differed on neglecting a parent than joint family respondent’s perceived parenting style.

Behavioral factors impacting adoption and frequency of use of carsharing: A tale of two European cities

Innovative mobility services have emerged in many urban areas, causing a notable change in transport supply. Particularly, free-floating carsharing has allowed gaining short-term access to cars on an as-needed basis. In Europe, carsharing has experienced remarkable growth in the past few years and is often perceived as a shift towards sustainable mobility. While an increasing number of studies have analyzed individuals’ behavior, most authors analyze carsharing in contexts where this service is not available yet. Furthermore, little attention has been given to exploring the role played by psychosocial aspects. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by exploring carsharing usage in two European cities (Madrid and Munich), cities with a different timespan implementation. Based on the individual-level dataset from a survey campaign conducted in 2019, we develop a Generalized Structural Equation Model (GSEM) that estimates how sociodemographic characteristics, mobility-related attributes, and psychological attitudes affect carsharing usage. The research identifies a higher use of free-floating carsharing among males, young, wealthy, well-educated individuals, and those who reside in inner and denser districts. Interestingly, the model results suggest that people with a high sharing propensity, variety-seeking lifestyle, and preference for driving have a significantly higher familiarity with carsharing services, while pro-environmental behaviors reduce carsharing usage. This research shows the importance of the background and sociodemographic context on carsharing usage by comparing the results obtained for each city. Finally, the paper provides interesting policy implications, helpful for planners and policymakers to better understand the factors impacting carsharing usage and its potential effects on travel behavior and sustainability.

Male partner involvement in health interventions: A systematic review of best practices in Sub-Saharan Africa

Health promotion programmes aimed at the involvement of men are implemented in a complex cultural and socio-demographic context that reifies persistent unequal gender relations. The explanations and evidence for the mechanisms by which male involvement facilitates health and wellness, are, however, less clear. Drawing on findings from a qualitative systematic review of peer-reviewed studies, this article synthesises the literature on health, social policy, and programme interventions for improving male partner involvement to promote sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Findings suggest that combining approaches such as mass education campaigns and health and social care programmes, targeting both men and women, improves male participation. Finally, enhancing participation of both men and women in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health program programmes, can lead to positive gender role transformations and positive health and social care outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: HIV; AIDS; Male Involvement; Health Interventions; Sub-Saharan Africa

Privacy and housing: research perspectives based on a systematic literature review.

Grounded in psychological and social constructs, the need for privacy is reflected in human socio-spatial behaviour and in our own home. To discuss housing privacy, this article presents a systematic literature review (SLR) that identified theoretical and methodological aspects relevant to the topic. The research was based on consolidated protocols to identify, select and evaluate articles published between 2000 and 2021 in three databases (Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scielo), with 71 eligible articles identified for synthesis. The results showed a concentration of studies in the American, European and Islamic context, and the increase in this production since 2018. This was guided by the inadequacy of architectural and urban planning projects, by new forms of social interaction and, recently, by the COVID-19 pandemic. From a theoretical point of view, the SLR demonstrated the importance of investigating privacy in housing from a comprehensive perspective, observing its different dimensions (physical, social and psychological) and characterizing the issues involved and the context under analysis. Methodologically, the main instruments identified were: (i) to behavioural analysis, questionnaires, interviews and observations; (ii) to built environment evaluation, in addition to the previous ones, space syntax analysis, architectural design and photographs analysis; (iii) for the general characterization of users, the data collection regarding the socio-demographic and cultural context and the meanings attributed to spatial organizations; (iv) to characterize the participants of the investigations, the analysis of personality traits, the ways to personalize the space, user satisfaction/preferences and the influence of social interactions on these perceptions.

Sosiodemografi dan tingkat kecemasan mahasiswa pada masa pandemi COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is an epidemiological crisis. It has impacted psychological conditions, creating concerns about the mental health of young people around the world – including anxiety issues. Though past research has revealed that the level of anxiety may depend on the person's sociodemographic background, not many have examined the topic within the pan-demic context. Moreover, sociodemographic context may differ – due to cultural relativism. This study aimed to determine the relationship of sociodemographic factors with anxiety levels in university students. This study used a cross-sectional study design. Participants were undergraduate students of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah. The accidental sampling method was used to select 415 participants. Data collection was performed online using a google form. Data were analyzed by univariate, bivariate, and multivariate tests. The results of this study showed that the prevalence of severe anxiety was 57.20% (n=239) in university students. The results of multivariate analysis showed that relatives/acquaintances affected by COVID-19 and geographic location were associated with anxiety levels (p&lt;0.05). Participants who have relatives/acquaintances infected with COVID-19 have a 1.70 times higher risk of experiencing severe anxiety (OR=1.70; 95%CI=1.111-2.602). Participants who live in urban areas have a 1.79 times higher risk of experiencing severe anxiety (OR=1.79; 95%CI=1.142-2.818). Students were expected to manage anxiety during a pandemic. Recommendation to the university includes providing health promotions to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and psychological consultation services to maintain the mental health of students during the pandemic.

Zootherapy as a potential pathway for zoonotic spillover: a mixed-methods study of the use of animal products in medicinal and cultural practices in Nigeria

BackgroundUnderstanding how and why people interact with animals is important for the prevention and control of zoonoses. To date, studies have primarily focused on the most visible forms of human-animal contact (e.g., hunting and consumption), thereby blinding One Health researchers and practitioners to the broader range of human-animal interactions that can serve as cryptic sources of zoonotic diseases. Zootherapy, the use of animal products for traditional medicine and cultural practices, is widespread and can generate opportunities for human exposure to zoonoses. Existing research examining zootherapies omits details necessary to adequately assess potential zoonotic risks.MethodsWe used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data from questionnaires, key informant interviews, and field notes to examine the use of zootherapy in nine villages engaged in wildlife hunting, consumption, and trade in Cross River State, Nigeria. We analyzed medicinal and cultural practices involving animals from a zoonotic disease perspective, by including details of animal use that may generate pathways for zoonotic transmission. We also examined the sociodemographic, cultural, and environmental contexts of zootherapeutic practices that can further shape the nature and frequency of human-animal interactions.ResultsWithin our study population, people reported using 44 different animal species for zootherapeutic practices, including taxonomic groups considered to be “high risk” for zoonoses and threatened with extinction. Variation in use of animal parts, preparation norms, and administration practices generated a highly diverse set of zootherapeutic practices (n = 292) and potential zoonotic exposure risks. Use of zootherapy was patterned by demographic and environmental contexts, with zootherapy more commonly practiced by hunting households (OR = 2.47, p < 0.01), and prescriptions that were gender and age specific (e.g., maternal and pediatric care) or highly seasonal (e.g., associated with annual festivals and seasonal illnesses). Specific practices were informed by species availability and theories of healing (i.e., “like cures like” and sympathetic healing and magic) that further shaped the nature of human-animal interactions via zootherapy.ConclusionsEpidemiological investigations of zoonoses and public health interventions that aim to reduce zoonotic exposures should explicitly consider zootherapy as a potential pathway for disease transmission and consider the sociocultural and environmental contexts of their use in health messaging and interventions.

Association Between Health Literacy and Work Ability in Employees With Health-Related Risk Factors: A Structural Model.

IntroductionIn workplace health promotion (WHP), health literacy and work ability are considered as outcomes of high interest. Therefore, the question arises as to what extent individual health literacy skills have an impact on work ability alongside sociodemographic influences.ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the associations between a structural model of health literacy as well as sociodemographic context factors and the work ability among employees with health-related risk factors.Materials and MethodsThe study was based on baseline data of a workplace-related intervention (158 employees with health-related risk factors, 53.8% women, 48 ± 10 years). Health literacy skills were assessed with Lenartz's Questionnaire (measuring “self-perception”, “proactive approach to health”, “dealing with health information”, “self-control”, “self-regulation”, and “communication and cooperation”). Work ability was measured by the German Short Form of the Work Ability Index (WAI). As sociodemographic context factors, sex, age, and educational level were assessed. The associations were examined using structural equation modeling with partial least squares (SmartPLS 2.0.M3). Common quality criteria were applied and significance level was set at α = 5%.ResultsModel's reliability, validity, and structure could be validated. Regarding the impact on work ability, “self-regulation” showed a statistically significant direct effect (ß = 0.32, t(∞) = 4.00, p < 0.01, f2 = 0.09) and “self-perception” had a significant indirect effect (ß = 0.13, t(∞) = 2.53, p < 0.05). The only additional association with work ability was found for age (ß = −0.25, t(∞) = 3.82, p < 0.01, f2 = 0.04). The WAI score variance was explained to 17.5% by the health literacy skills and to 27.5% considering the additional sociodemographic context factors.ConclusionAccording to the structural model of health literacy, in employees with health-related risk factors, a target group-specific WHP approach could be the encouragement of self-regulation and self-perception. However, additional resources and conditions influencing work ability should be considered.

Social contextual factors associated with lifetime HIV testing among the Tushirikiane urban refugee youth cohort in Kampala, Uganda: Cross-sectional findings.

BackgroundUrban refugee youth may live in social contexts characterized by structural drivers of HIV such as poverty and violence. Knowledge gaps remain regarding HIV testing practices among urban refugee youth, despite the increasing trend toward refugee settlement in urban contexts. This study examined social contextual factors associated with lifetime HIV testing among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a community-based study with a peer-recruited cohort of urban refugee youth aged 16–24 years living in Kampala’s informal settlements, and present baseline cross-sectional findings. We conducted descriptive statistics and logistic regression to examine socio-demographic (e.g., gender and age), material (e.g., income insecurity and education), relational (e.g., social support), and symbolic contexts (e.g., HIV-related stigma and intimate partner violence (IPV]) associated with lifetime HIV testing.ResultsParticipants (n = 450) had a mean age of 20.4 years (standard deviation: 2.4 years), most lived in Uganda for 1–5 years (53.2%), and less than half reported lifetime HIV testing (43.4%). In multivariable analyses, odds of lifetime HIV testing were higher among youth with secondary school education or higher (adjusted odds ratio (aOR]: 2.30, 95% confidence interval (CI]: 1.27–4.17), currently employed (aOR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.03–3.10), and reporting IPV (aOR: 3.61, 95% CI: 1.43–9.10). Having children was marginally associated with HIV testing (aOR: 2.17, 95% CI: 0.98–4.81, p = 0.052).ConclusionsFindings demonstrate suboptimal HIV testing and the importance of tailored strategies to reach urban refugee youth who are unemployed and have limited formal education. There is a need to meaningfully engage urban refugee youth to create enabling environments for sexual health.

Hypothyroidism in Conakry: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects

Hypothyroidism is a frequent endocrine disorder that can occur at any age and predominantly affects women. The etiologies are diverse and may vary according to the geographical and socio-demographic context. The objective of our work was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of hypothyroidism in Conakry, Guinea. Materials and Method: This was a descriptive study with prospective data collection, over the period from December 2016 to May 2021. It focused on patients seen at the endocrinology consultation of Conakry University Hospital. Epidemiological, clinical, etiological, therapeutic, and evolutionary variables of patients diagnosed or followed-up for hypothyroidism were collected and analyzed. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism was defined by elevated TSH and/or decreased FT4/FT3. Results: Out of a total of 290 patients who consulted for thyroid pathology, hypothyroidism concerned 49 patients, i.e. , a frequency of 14%. Women were the most affected with a sex ratio of 0.13. The mean age of patients was 48.65 ± 19.93 years with extremes of 2 years and 80 years. Hypo-metabolic syndrome was the main clinical sign and was manifested mainly by constipation found in 48.89% of cases. TSH was elevated in all cases with a mean level of 24.56 ± 14.17 mIU/ml. Hypertension was the most frequently associated pathology (57%). Three etiological groups of hypothyroidisms were found. These were thyroidectomy in 42.85% of cases, thyroiditis in 34.69% of cases and post synthetic antithyroid hypothyroidism. All patients were treated with L-thyroxin, with a favorable clinical course. Follow-up was regular in 16 patients (32.65%). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is common in this population, and primarily affects women. Thyroid surgery was the main cause of hypothyroidism in this work.

Menstrual cycle among adolescents: girls' awareness and influence of age at menarche and overweight.

Objective:To characterize the menstrual cycle (regularity and menstrual flow length), the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and self-monitoring of the cycle in students from Lisbon region, and explore the effect of chronological age, age at menarche and body mass index (BMI) on menstrual disorders.Methods:This is a cross-sectional study with 848 girls aged 12–18 years. A questionnaire about the sociodemographic context and characteristics of the menstrual cycle, and weight and height measures were assessed. BMI was classified according to International Obesity Taskforce criteria. A descriptive analysis of the variables was made, and Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were determined.Results:Mean age at menarche was 12.4 years and mean BMI was 22.0kg/m2. Among adolescents, 59% have regular menstrual cycle, 83% have menstrual flow length of ≤6 days. 88% suffered from dysmenorrhea, among which 8,7% declare absenteeism from school and 49% took pain medication, and 65% self-monitor their menstrual cycle. Higher maternal education was associated with a higher self-monitoring of menstrual cycle among the sample (OR 1.60; 95%CI 1.15–2.17). Girls with menarche <12 years-of-age are more likely to have menstrual flow length of >6 days (OR 1.73; 95%CI 1.19–2.51) and dysmenorrhea (OR 1.87; 95%CI 1.11–3.16) than those with menarche ≥12 years-of-age. No significant association between BMI and menstrual cycle variables was observed.Conclusions:The results suggest that menstrual disorders are frequent and may be associated with early menarche, but not with BMI. It is important to encourage self-monitoring of the menstrual cycle to detect menstrual disorders timely and promote health and well-being.

Correlation of family functionality and burden of informal caregivers of hospitalized older adults.

to analyze the relationship between family functionality and burden of informal caregivers of hospitalized older people. this is a cross-sectional study conducted with 98 informal caregivers of hospitalized older people in an inpatient unit of a large hospital in São Carlos, São Paulo. For data collection were used questionnaires to sociodemographic and care context characterization, to evaluate burden and family functionality. Descriptive analyzes and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used. female caregivers predominated, who took care of their parents and had no training. Approximately 59.8% of caregivers had good family functionality and 49.5% scored for mild to moderate burden. There was a negative correlation, moderate magnitude, between family functionality and burden (p<0,001). The higher the burden score, the lower the family functionality score and vice versa. caregivers with high burden had worse family functionality. Therefore, nurses need to identify such conditions early and implement assertive interventions so that the family functions as a therapeutic resource.

Temporomandibular disorder symptoms in the university context

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the impact of the university context of different academic fields and class times and the sociodemographic context on the symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Methods A total of 2912 university students, divided into 26 undergraduate courses distributed in the fields of biology and exact and human sciences in the day and night participated in this study. The symptoms of orofacial pain and TMD were assessed using a self-explanatory questionnaire for screening, as recommended by the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. The data were analyzed using frequency distribution tables and multiple logistic regression at a 5% significance level. Results There was a significant association between the female sex and the attended class time. Women and undergraduates of night courses were 1.60 times more likely to present symptoms related to TMD compared to women studying during the day. Conclusion It was concluded that, within the university context, women and undergraduate students enrolled in night courses were more likely to present with TMD symptoms.

Clustering Inflammatory Markers with Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Diabetes Type 2 Can Support Family Physicians' Clinical Reasoning by Reducing Patients' Complexity.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) is a complex disease associated with chronic inflammation, end-organ damage, and multiple comorbidities. Initiatives are emerging for a more personalized approach in managing DM2 patients. We hypothesized that by clustering inflammatory markers with variables indicating the sociodemographic and clinical contexts of patients with DM2, we could gain insights into the hidden phenotypes and the underlying pathophysiological backgrounds thereof. We applied the k-means algorithm and a total of 30 variables in a group of 174 primary care (PC) patients with DM2 aged 50 years and above and of both genders. We included some emerging markers of inflammation, specifically, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the cytokines IL-17A and IL-37. Multiple regression models were used to assess associations of inflammatory markers with other variables. Overall, we observed that the cytokines were more variable than the marker NLR. The set of inflammatory markers was needed to indicate the capacity of patients in the clusters for inflammatory cell recruitment from the circulation to the tissues, and subsequently for the progression of end-organ damage and vascular complications. The hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid hormonal axis, in addition to the cytokine IL-37, may have a suppressive, inflammation-regulatory role. These results can help PC physicians with their clinical reasoning by reducing the complexity of diabetic patients.

Social Risks as the Source of Threats and Concerns: The Survey in the Czech Republic

The object of this research was to determine the subjective recognized social threats in the context of contemporary society. Given the growing number of people who feel threatened by certain social threats, there is a presumption that the risk is real, and the identified groups are affected by social risks. The recognition of social threats in the population has a broader social context, and may be influenced by key socio-demographic factors. This influence is significant for many risks, and helps to better understand the nature of the specific groups at risk. It also allows us to recognize that the socio-demographic and family context creates specific conditions for the occurrence of social threats. The aim of the paper is to find the relationships between different types of social threats and gender, age groups, personal situation (occupation), educational attainment, and family situation. A similar study was carried out by the OECD in 2018 (the Czech Republic was not included). The research was designed as cross-sectional ex-post-facto, and the statistical significance was determined using χ2 test of independence. The survey was carried out in 2018–2019 nationwide across the Czech Republic. The processed data of 5425 respondents has shown that, in the Czech Republic, the subjectively perceived significant threats seem to be the loss of job and unemployment, insufficient skills, and an unwillingness to educate oneself or to be trained, social pressure, and unsatisfactory housing conditions. The research reveals that the recognition of social threats depends on social and family conditions, and there exist specific groups feeling threats more intensively than exist in others. The groups that are at the most risk are individuals with primary education and an apprenticeship. In the population, women are more at risk, as well as the 25–34 and 45+ age groups.

The Biopsychosocial Model and Perinatal Health Care: Determinants of Perinatal Care in a Community Sample.

Insufficient care in the perinatal period is associated with poorer maternal health, poorer perinatal outcomes, infant mortality, and health inequalities. Identifying the sources of and reducing the rates of insufficient care is therefore a major clinical and public health objective. We propose a specific application of the biopsychosocial model that conceptualizes prenatal and postpartum care quality as health markers that are influenced by psychological factors and family and social context. Clinic attendance data were abstracted from the electronic medical records of N = 291 participants enrolled in a longitudinal pregnancy cohort study of healthy women who have been followed since the first trimester; the Kotelchuck Index (KI) was calculated as an index of perinatal care utilization. Detailed prenatal psychological, social, and sociodemographic data were collected from self-report questionnaire and interview. Bivariate analyses indicated socio-demographic (e.g., race), psychological (e.g., response to perceived racism, affective symptoms, trauma experience), and social and family context (e.g., social support, family size) significantly influenced pre- and post-natal care utilization. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusting for medical complications, identified social and family context as robust predictors of perinatal care utilization. The findings underscore the need for biopsychosocial models of health care and highlight several potential strategies for improving health care utilization.

Effects of personalized invitation letters on research participation among general practitioners: a randomized trial

BackgroundParticipation of general practitioners is crucial for health care studies. However, recruiting them is an ongoing challenge and participation rates of general practitioners around the globe are often low. One feasible and cost-efficient approach to potentially enhance participation rates among general practitioners are personalized invitation letters, since they may increase one’s attention to and appreciation of a study. Still, evidence whether this method actually affects participation is scarce and ambiguous in relation to physicians.MethodsWe undertook a randomized trial in a sample of general practitioners from three German states in the context of a large, observational study on physicians’ coordination and uptake of recommended cardiovascular ambulatory care. An intervention group (n = 757 general practitioners) received a personalized invitation to participate in the observational study, the control group (n = 754 general practitioners) received a generic invitation. Both groups were blinded to group assignment. Eventual participation rates as well as the number and types of responses overall were compared between arms. Besides the main intervention, sociodemographic and geographical context factors were considered as well.ResultsThe overall participation rate among physicians was 2.6% (2.8% in the intervention group and 2.4% in the control group). No statistically significant effect of personalization on participation of physicians was found (relative risk to participate when receiving a personalized invitation of 1.17 [95%-CI: 0.62, 2.21]). However, the number of responses to the invitation varied significantly between the geographical regions.ConclusionsPersonalization of first written contact alone did not improve research participation among general practitioners, which was overall very low.Trial registrationThe study in which the trial was embedded has been registered prospectively at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) under registration number DRKS00019219.

Factors Affecting Perceived Health Benefits and Use Behaviors in Urban Green Spaces During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern China Megacities.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has alienated people from urban green spaces (UGSs) that have various health outcomes for humans. However, little is known about the influential factors of perceived health benefits and use behaviors in UGSs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the key factors that influence perceived health benefits and use behaviors in UGSs and to assess the mediating role of place attachment in relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chinese megacities.Methods: We conducted an online questionnaire survey from December 2020 to March 2021 in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China. Six multiple regression models were constructed to investigate the main factors by which UGSs influence citizens' perceived health benefits and use behaviors. Four mediation models were established using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method to explore the mediating effect of place attachment.Results: A total of 628 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The results revealed that some UGS components (green space access, maintenance, and soundscape) significantly affected perceived health benefits for citizens (physical, mental, and social health) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, use behaviors (frequency of visits, duration of visits, and activity intensity) were mainly affected by the sociodemographic context but less affected by UGS components. In addition, UGS components were found to significantly predict place attachment, which in turn influenced the perceived health benefits, frequency, and duration of visits.Conclusions: This study distinguished the key factors that affect perceived health benefits and use behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: green space access, maintenance, soundscape, and sociodemographic characteristics. Place attachment still needs to be considered when discussing how to encourage citizens to visit UGSs during the pandemic. These findings provide implications for policymakers and landscape planners regarding design and management measures for UGSs that are conducive to coping with pandemics.