Sociodemographic Patterns Research Articles

Syndromic diagnosis, sexual behavior, and management in rural population among all cases attending sexually transmitted infection clinic in a tertiary care center from the east-central zone of India: A retrospective study.

Rural population constitutes a significant population of our country. According to the regions, the sexual behavior and pattern of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) changes because of variation in health facilities, education, and sociocultural belief. To study the sociodemographic profile, sexual behavior, and pattern of STIs based on the syndromic approach in the rural population attending STIs clinic from the east-central zone of India. Between January 2020 and July 2022, a retrospective study was carried out in a STIs clinic at a tertiary care facility in India's east-central region. Data included demographics, clinical profiles (syndromic approach), and sexual behavior from all the rural population suffering from STIs. The data were corroborated using the proper statistical tools. Seven hundred and twenty-two (63.6%) of the 1135 STI cases were from the rural population. The gender ratio was 17:1, with 333 (46.1%) patients between the ages of 20 and 30 years. Four hundred and ninety-four (68.4%) of the rural population had education qualifications below the 10th class. The predominant occupation was a homemaker (582; 80.6%). Drug abuse was noted in 13 (1.8%) cases. Lower abdominal pain was the most clinical manifestation seen in 441 (61%) cases, followed by vaginal discharge in 89 (12.3%) cases. The majority of the patients presented with the first episode of symptoms and had a single regular partner with no symptoms in a partner. In 22.9% of cases, the partner had a history of frequent travel. In 94.1% of cases, protective measures were not used. Young married adults, female partners, lower education, and low-income classes were among those who had STIs, with frequent unprotected sexual activity. Lower abdominal pain is the most common symptom in this area.

Association Between Household Online Grocery Delivery Service Use and Food and Drink Purchase Behavior in England: Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Online grocery delivery services (OGDSs) are a popular way of acquiring food. However, it is unclear whether OGDS use is associated with the healthiness of purchases and whether there are sociodemographic differences in OGDS use. If so, the increased prevalence of OGDS use may have implications for population diet, and differential OGDS use could contribute to diet inequalities. This study aimed to examine whether OGDS use varies by sociodemographic characteristics and is associated with the amount and types of groceries purchased. Item-level take-home food and drink purchase data (n=3,233,920 items) from households in London and the North of England were available from the 2019 UK Kantar fast-moving consumer goods panel (N=1911). Purchases were categorized as being bought online or in-store. We used logistic regression to estimate the likelihood of an above-median frequency of OGDS use by sociodemographic characteristics. We used Poisson regression to estimate the differences in energy and nutrients purchased by households that had above- and below-median OGDS use and the proportion of energy purchased from products high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) online versus in-store among households that used both shopping methods (n=665). In total, 668 (35%) households used OGDSs at least once in 2019. Of the households that used OGDSs, the median use was 5 occasions in 2019. Households were more likely to have above-median use in London versus in the North of England (odds ratio 1.29, 95% CI 1.01-1.65) and if they had a higher annual household income (odds ratio 1.56, 95% CI 1.02-2.38 for ≥£50,000 [US $64,000] vs <£20,000 [$25,600]). Households with above-median OGDS use had a higher weekly mean purchase of energy by 1461 (95% CI 1448-1474) kcal per person compared with households with below-median OGDS use. For households that used a combination of in-store and online shopping, HFSS products made up a lower proportion (-10.1%, 95% CI -12% to -8.1%) of energy purchased online compared to in-store. Differences in grocery purchases between households with above- and below-median OGDS use could have positive or negative consequences. The extra energy purchased among households with above-median OGDS use could lead to overconsumption or food waste, which has negative consequences for population and environmental health. Alternatively, this extra energy may be replacing out-of-home purchasing, which tends to be less healthy, and may be beneficial for the population diet. Households made fewer HFSS purchases when shopping online compared to in-store, which may be due to differences in the shopping environment or experience, such as fewer promotions and advertisements when shopping online or not having to transport and carry purchases home. As higher-income households used OGDS more frequently, the implications of this sociodemographic pattern on dietary inequalities must be explored.

Childhood circumstances, social mobility and the obesity transition: Evidence from South Africa

The distribution of obesity tends to shift from rich to poor individuals as countries develop, in a process of shifting sociodemographic patterns of obesity that has been called the ‘obesity transition’. This change tends to happen with economic development, but little is known about the specific mechanisms that drive the change. We propose that improvements in childhood circumstances with economic development may be one of the drivers of the obesity transition. We explore whether the social gradient in body weight differs by childhood socioeconomic status (SES), proxied by the respondent’s mother having Grade 12, using South Africa’s nationally representative panel National Income Dynamics Study. In support of our hypothesis, we find that the social gradient in body weight is less positive for adults who had a high childhood SES, and already appears to have reversed among high-SES women who also had a high childhood SES. Upward social mobility over an individual’s life course or across a single generation is associated with higher body weight compared to a stable high SES. But a high SES sustained in childhood and adulthood – or across more than one generation – may decrease adult obesity risk, and result in a reversal of the social gradient in body weight. Random effects within-between models show that the social gradient in body weight and its interaction with childhood SES are driven more by differences in income between individuals than by short-run changes in income within individuals, again suggesting that the obesity transition is driven by long-run changes rather than by very short-run changes. Our results are broadly robust to using several alternative measures of body weight, childhood SES and adult SES. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that widespread improvements in childhood circumstances and nutrition with economic development may contribute to the shift to later stages of the obesity transition.

Challenges with phenotyping dementia in a low resource setting; Frontotemporal dementias (FTDs) as a case study in Nigeria

AbstractBackgroundPhenotyping dementia is a major problem in low resource settings like Nigeria and it has implication for research and management of people with dementia. Challenges associated with phenotyping dementia are embedded in poor health financing and lack of health personnel. This study aimed at scoping studies on dementia in Nigeria to identify those related to frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and describe the pattern of its presentation in a memory clinic as a means of highlighting challenges of phenotyping.MethodA literature search of studies on dementia that reported FTDs as a phenotype and or described profile or pattern of FTDs in Nigeria was conducted. In addition, a review of hospital records of all persons clinically diagnosed with dementia (PWD) using the ICD 10 criteria was conducted. Those with FTD phenotypes were identified. The cohort comes from a memory clinic in University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Records of these individuals with FTDs were reviewed and data (including sociodemographic details, clinical profile and pattern of presentation) extracted for case series report.ResultsLiterature search yielded 2 studies; a retrospective study that reported dementia phenotypes including FTD and a case report. From a total of 216 PWD, we identified and included 14 persons with FTDs (6.5%) in this case series. Initially, 32 records of tentative diagnosis of FTD were identified, however, 18 persons with incomplete evaluation after the initial assessment were excluded. The mean age (±S.D) of those included (n = 14) is 67.7(±8.4). The main presenting complaints were behavioral with 57.1% presenting to the hospital at least a year after onset of symptoms. The most common behavioral problem identified was personality change accompanied with disinhibition in 9 persons (64.3%). Symptoms started before age 60 years in only one person. Two of the 14 persons had an initial diagnosis of schizophrenia until subsequent review with neuroimaging. Delay in carrying out neuroimaging due to financial constraint was a major challenge in making a diagnosis.ConclusionThere is paucity of data on FTDs in Nigeria. Out‐of‐pocket payment for assessment is a major setback in phenotyping dementia and it has implication on both clinical practice and research.

The Relationship Between Smartphone Usage Pattern and Cervical Proprioception in Adults with Text Neck Syndrome in Malaysia

Background: Text neck syndrome can cause cervical degeneration in addition to other developmental, musculoskeletal, and social complications. The aim of the current study is to examine the association between smartphone usage patterns and demographics with cervical spine joint proprioception in adults with text neck syndrome (TNS). Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was chosen to investigate the association between sociodemographic and smartphone usage patterns with cervical joint proprioception. A validated smartphone usage pattern questionnaire was administered to 125 participants who used smartphones for more than three hours a day and suffered from TNS, and all samples underwent cervical proprioception testing. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and independent t-tests. Results: The result shows that there was a significant association between gender, education, BMI, phone usage hours and cervical proprioception (p&lt;0.05). However, no significant association was found with smartphone usage pattern and cervical proprioception. Conclusions: It is concluded that smartphone use can negatively impact cervical proprioception. Smartphone users are advised to be aware of these potential health risks and take steps to reduce them to achieve better health and well-being.

Burnout, resilience, and subjective well-being among Portuguese lecturers' during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lecturers face a large wide of occupational stressors. If the prolonged stress and the symptomatology associated with the working conditions to which lecturers were exposed were already a concern before the pandemic, the pandemic may have exacerbated this psychosocial vulnerability. Burnout is a psychological syndrome that develops in response to chronic work stress. This study aims to describe burnout amongst lecturers working in Portugal and to analyse potential determinants of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire distributed via social networks. The survey collected sociodemographic and sleep patterns data in addition to applying the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (personal, work- and student-related burnout), the Resilience Scale, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The sample included 331 lecturers from 35 different colleges and faculties. Three significant models explained personal (R2 = 54%), work- (R2 = 47%) and student- (R2 = 19%) related burnout. Lower levels of resilience and higher levels of depression and stress were significantly associated with personal and work-related burnout. Changes in sleep patterns were additionally associated with both personal and work-related burnout. Higher education institutions must recognize the impact of the work environment and organizational culture on faculty mental health and take proactive measures to improve this environment. These institutions can implement support strategies such as educational technology training, professional development programmes, emotional support resources, and workload flexibility. Implementing measures to enhance lecturers' resilience and overall life satisfaction could potentially help mitigate burnout and improve the well-being of educators, ultimately contributing to the overall quality of education.

Spatial variability in socio-demographic factors affecting participation in the Australian national bowel cancer screening program

ObjectivesThe objective of this paper is to analyse the socio-demographic and spatial patterns associated with bowel cancer screening in Australia. Despite the importance of screening in reducing mortality via early intervention, it remains the case that overall screening rates are uneven between different socio-demographic groups and geographic regions. Notwithstanding this, there is limited knowledge in Australia regarding the interplay between socio-demographics and geography in relation to bowel cancer screening. Thus, this paper explores the socio-demographic and spatial patterns of screening participation across Australian regions to better inform public health policy and programs. Study designThis is a nationwide ecological study based on aggregate spatial data. MethodsAn ecological study is conducted using bowel cancer screening rates and selected socio-demographic data measured at the Statistical Area 3 level. Geographically weighted regression software is used to conduct global and spatial regression analysis. ResultsThe global regression results show that higher rates of screening participation were associated with employment/education disengagement and volunteering while in contrast, lower rates of participation were associated with higher rates of indigenous populations, people with chronic health conditions, and people with poor English skills. Considering the spatial analysis, the analysis shows that once the spatial non-stationarity in the data is considered the influence of the variables shown to be significant in the global model, has significant spatial variability. ConclusionFrom a public health perspective, addressing shortfalls in bowel cancer screening participation is an important priority. In order to understand differences in participation rates it is important to consider both socio-demographic factors as well as the geographic or spatial distribution of these factors.

COVID-19 risk perception and political actors: how confidence in the government or opposition affected risk perception during the Italian lockdown

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the connections between the socio-demographic patterns of COVID-19 risk perception and the influence of confidence in the government or opposition during the first Italian lockdown. Confidence in political actors is used as a proxy for the adoption of the interpretative frames they provide. Socio-demographic characteristics are crucial in understanding the perception of risks ascribed to a specific event. However, the politicization of such events and the subsequent production of interpretative frames by political actors gives rise to further crucial factors when the event is characterized by ‘uncertainty’. This empirical analysis is based on primary data from a survey conducted in Italy during the last three weeks of closures (26 April−17 May 2020, N = 1,704) and clearly shows that the most worried respondents were women, elderly people, those living in the north of Italy, those with an upper-secondary school level of education or those with a job in the socio-cultural professions. Accounting for confidence in the government or opposition shows that respondents who have a higher degree of confidence in the opposition were less worried than those with a higher degree of confidence in the government. As politicization of the pandemic primarily divided those in favour and those opposed to the strict measures to limit infections at the expense of the health of the economy and personal freedom, the positions of respondents on these two trade-offs (economy/lockdown and freedom/lockdown) are accounted for. The analysis shows that position on these two dimensions completely reflects the association between confidence in political actors and risk perceptions – apart from the elderly, those resident in the north of Italy and socio-cultural professionals. These results provide insights into the literature assessing the socio-demographic patterns of COVID-19 risk perception and the politicization of the pandemic.

The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey.

There is a dearth of research on the nature and extent of variation in patterns of health service use in Saudi Arabia. This is an important gap in knowledge, given ongoing efforts to improve service provision and delivery. This study examined the relationship between the region of residence and socio-demographic factors and patterns of health service use in Saudi Arabia. Data were taken from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey (SHIS), a national multistage survey of individuals aged 15 years and above in Saudi Arabia. Data included measures of service use, respondent health, socio-demographic characteristics, and region or area of residence. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to describe the data and examine the likelihood of a respondent visiting a doctor or healthcare professional in the preceding 12 months. In addition, the analyses examined the role of health and socio-demographic characteristics within selected regions. The increased likelihood of using health services in terms of visiting a doctor or healthcare professional was related to poor health status, being female, married, having a low income, and residing in particular regions. Respondents aged <65 and who lived furthest from service providers were less likely to visit a doctor or other health professionals (p < 0.01). Residents who lived in Riyadh, Al Medina, Baha, or Aseer demonstrated a higher likelihood of service utilization compared to respondents residing in other regions (p < 0.05). In sub-group analyses, there was variation between regions with respect to socio-demographic status and distance to service. Region of residence and income level, in particular, may help to explain the likelihood of primary care use in Saudi Arabia and the distinct patterns of service use in relation to regional and socio-demographic characteristics. The relationship between regional variation in service utilization and the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents may reflect differences with respect to population need, enabling, and predisposing factors as represented in Anderson's Behavioral Model (ABM) of health service use. The findings from this study underscore the importance of considering region or area of residence when seeking to understand the utilization of health services, particularly primary care services.

Burn injury as a public health problem in Odisha: clinico-epidemiological study of patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital and prospects for control

Background: Burn injuries continue to pose a significant and preventable global health challenge, with developing countries like India experiencing a troubling rise in cases. This study aimed to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics and patterns of burn injuries among patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital's. Methods: Over a six-month period, a hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using semi-structured questionnaires, with prior consent from patients or their caregivers. Clinical assessments were also conducted to determine the percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) affected and the most severely affected body part. Results: 145 patients included in the study, the females were (56.55%), primarily aged between 21 and 40 years. Hindus (58.62%), lived in rural areas (63.45%), and were married (66.90%). Accidental burns accounted for 81.38% of cases, mainly occurring at home (84.83%). Flame burns were more common among females, while electric burns were more prevalent among males. The majority of burn injuries covered up to 30% of TBSA (44.83%), with the upper limbs being the most severely affected (42.76%). Alarmingly, only 36.55% of patients were admitted on the same day as the injury. Infection (55.86%) and amputation (8.97%) were the most common complications observed, and 14 deaths (9.66%) occurred during the study period. Conclusions: This study highlights the vulnerability of females to flame burns, often stemming from unsafe cooking practices. Delayed hospital admissions were associated with a higher mortality rate. Efforts to promote safety and awareness, particularly in rural areas, are crucial to reducing the burden of burn injuries in India.

Association between body mass index and dental caries among public primary school pupils in a southern-Nigerian metropolis

Background: The relationships between BMI and caries have been observed in many previous studies. Some studies have reported that normal and underweight children were at higher risk for dental caries compared to those who were overweight. Conversely, other studies have also reported that overweight/obese children were at higher risk. Yet, others concluded there was no association between BMI and dental caries. However, this information is sparse among children in South-South, Nigeria. Objectives: To determine the relationships between BMI status and dental caries among public primary school children in Port Harcourt. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study among selected primary school pupils in Port Harcourt. Information elicited included socio-demographic characteristics and pattern of refined sugar consumption. BMI was calculated using the following formula: weight in kg/ height in meters squared. Based on BMI scores, the children were classified into four categories; underweight (BMI ≤5th percentile), normal weight (BMI &gt;5th and ˂85th percentile), overweight (BMI ≥85th and ˂95th percentile), and obese (BMI ≥95th percentile). Oral examination was conducted to assess for dental caries, which was recorded using DMFT/dmft index. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21 and the level of significance was p&lt;0.05 Results: One hundred and eighty-nine pupils participated, comprising 100(52.9%) females and 89(47.1%) males, with a median age of 11 years. Prevalence of caries was 13.8%. The mean DMFT/dmft among the children was 1.6 (±0.9). Mother’s and Father’s levels of education were the statistically significant factors (p = 0.01). BMI was however not statistically significant (p = 0.06). Conclusion: BMI was not statistically significant in its association with dental caries, but more of normal and overweight children were prone to dental caries compared to the underweight children.

Social inequalities in the risk of giving birth to a small for gestational age child in Sweden 2010-16: a cross-sectional study adopting an intersectional approach.

Well-established associations exist between the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) and unidimensional sociodemographic factors. We investigated social inequalities in SGA risk and adopted an intersectional approach that simultaneously considers different social categories. By doing so, we could assess heterogeneities in SGA risk within unidimensional sociodemographic categories. We included all live 679694 singleton births in Sweden between 2010 and 2016. The outcome was SGA, and the exposures were age, maternal educational level, dichotomous migration status and civil status. Thirty-six possible combinations of these factors constituted the exposure in an intersectional model. We present odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)-a measurement of discriminatory accuracy (i.e. the ability to discriminate the babies born SGA from those who are not). Women with low education and women born outside Sweden had ORs of 1.46 (95% CI 1.38-1.54) and 1.50 (95% CI 1.43-1.56) in unidimensional analyses, respectively. Among women aged under 25 with low education who were born outside Sweden and unmarried, the highest OR was 3.06 (2.59-3.63). The discriminatory accuracy was low for both the unidimensional model that included all sociodemographic factors (AUC 0. 563) and the intersectional model (AUC 0.571). The intersectional approach revealed a complex sociodemographic pattern of SGA risk. Sociodemographic factors have a low accuracy in identifying SGA at the individual level, even when quantifying their multi-dimensional intersections. This cautions against interventions targeted to individuals belonging to socially defined groups to reduce social inequalities in SGA risk.

EHealth profile of patients with diabetes

Abstract Background Digital health technology can be useful to improve the health of patients with diabetes, to support patient-centered care, and self-management. In this cross-sectional study, we described the eHealth profile of patients with diabetes, based on their use of digital health technology, and its association with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods We used data from the “Qualité Diabète Valais” cohort study, conducted in one region of Switzerland (Canton Valais) since 2020. Participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes completed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and on the use of digital health technology. We defined eHealth profiles based on three features, i.e., ownership or use of 1) internet-connected devices (smartphone, tablet, or computer), 2) mHealth applications, and 3) connected health tools (activity sensor, smart weight scale, or connected blood glucose meter). We assessed the association between sociodemographic characteristics and participants’ eHealth profiles using stratified analyses and logistic regression models. Results 398 participants (38% women) with a mean age of 65 years were included. The vast majority (94%) were Swiss citizens or bi-national; 14% had a primary level education, 51% a secondary level, and 32% a tertiary level. Some 75% of participants had type 2 diabetes. Some 90% of the participants owned internet-connected devices, 43% used mHealth applications, and 44% owned a connected health tool. Older age and a lower educational level were associated with lower odds of all features of the eHealth profile. Conclusions While most participants owned internet-connected devices, only about half of them used mHealth applications or owned connected health tools. Older participants and those with a lower educational level were less likely to use digital health technology. eHealth implementation strategies need to consider these sociodemographic patterns among patients with diabetes. Key messages • eHealth use among patients with diabetes was associated with younger age and higher education. • eHealth strategies need to consider that patients at higher risk of complications are those who use eHealth the least.

Nutritional Status and Perceived Stress of Healthcare Professionals in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Background: The healthcare profession has been associated with stress which has been found to affect nutritional status. Purpose: This study was aimed at evaluating the perceived stress-nutritional status nexus of healthcare professionals in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 414 healthcare professionals. The study sample was obtained by using a two-stage cluster sampling approach. Data on socio-demographic and meal pattern was collected through a pretested self-administered questionnaire. Results: Body Mass Index (BMI) was obtained from height and weight measurements and classified as underweight (BMI&lt;18.5), normal weight (BMI=18.5-24.99), overweight (BMI=25.0-29.99), obesity (BMI≥30). Perceived stress was evaluated using the perceived stress scale version 10 (PSS-10). Data were analyzed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 26 and subjected to Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis to establish relationship and predictors of perceived stress at 5% level of significance. The healthcare professionals’ age was 35.91±9.31 years with 86.2% being ≤ 45 years and 60% were females. Two meals a day were taken by 85.7%. BMI showed 49.3% to be overweight/obese. The mean perceived stress score was 15.02 with 47.6% having high perceived stress. Age (p=0.016), gender (p=0.001), marital status (p=0.001) and professional group (p=0.048) had significant relationship with perceived stress. The association between BMI and perceived stress was not significant (Chi-square = 0.562; p=0.905). Predictors of stress were gender (OR: 0.505, CI=0.308-0.830; p=0.007) and marital status (OR: 1.914, CI=1.143-3.208; p=0.014). Conclusion: The study showed high level of obesity and perceived stress. Nutrition education intervention is recommended.

The Epidemiology of Domain-Specific Physical Activity in New Zealand Adults: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Survey.

Surveillance of domain-specific physical activity (PA) helps to target interventions to promote PA. We examined the sociodemographic correlates of domain-specific PA in New Zealand adults. A nationally representative sample of 13,887 adults completed the International PA Questionnaire-long form in 2019/20. Three measures of total and domain-specific (leisure, travel, home, and work) PA were calculated: (1)weekly participation, (2)mean weekly metabolic energy equivalent minutes (MET-min), and (3)median weekly MET-min among those who undertook PA. Results were weighted to the New Zealand adult population. The average contribution of domain-specific activity to total PA was 37.5% for work activities (participation = 43.6%; median participating MET-min = 2790), 31.9% for home activities (participation = 82.2%; median participating MET-min = 1185), 19.4% for leisure activities (participation = 64.7%; median participating MET-min = 933), and 11.2% for travel activities (participation = 64.0%; median MET-min among participants = 495). Women accumulated more home PA and less work PA than men. Total PA was higher in middle-aged adults, with diverse patterns by age within domains. Māori accumulated less leisure PA than New Zealand Europeans but higher total PA. Asian groups reported lower PA across all domains. Higher area deprivation was negatively associated with leisure PA. Sociodemographic patterns varied by measure. For example, gender was not associated with total PA participation, but men accumulated higher MET-min when taking part in PA than women. Inequalities in PA varied by domain and sociodemographic group. These results should be used to inform interventions to improve PA.

Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and feeding patterns: Linkages with stunting among children aged 6-23 months

Stunting is still a significant public health problem in Indonesia. The interaction between the inadequacy of feeding practices and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) are the direct causes of stunting. The study aimed to assess the relationship between WASH and child feeding patterns with stunting among children aged 6-23 months. The study used a cross-sectional design conducted in July-August 2022 in the working area of Simbang Community Health Center, Maros Regency. Samples of 90 children aged 6-23 months were selected by simple random sampling. Data on sociodemographic, WASH and feeding patterns were collected by interview using a questionnaire. Stunting was measured by a height-for-age z-score. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Logistic Regression. The results showed that the prevalence of stunting was 31,1%. Mother's age &lt;20 years, low maternal height, sex of child, non-exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding started, the poor sewage management and availability of latrines related to stunting (p&lt;0,05). Multivariate test results showed low maternal height (p=0,005; OR=21,015), sex of child (p=0,001; OR=22,332), poor sewage management (p=0,008; OR=10,992), and non-exclusive breastfeeding (p=0,002; OR=20,509) has a significant effect on stunting. In conclusion, the WASH and inadequacy of feeding practices contribute to stunting.

A Cross Sectional Study for Assessment of the Pattern of Partial Edentulism in Various Municipalities of Kavre District

Introduction: Partial edentulism refers to missing one or more natural teeth but not all. Classifying the partial edentulous arches is necessary as it helps in treatment planning, designing and recognition of prosthetic support for removable partial denture. The main aim of this study was to access patterns of partial edentulism among patients and determine its association with socio-demographic parameters. Methods: Patients from various municipalities of Kavre district were selected for the study. Total of 206 patients were selected. The study was divided into two part. Questionnaire related to demographic data and intraoral examination to evaluate the pattern of partial edentulism according to Kennedy's Classification and Applegate's rule. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between Socio-demographic variables and pattern of partial edentulism. Statistical evaluation will be done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0), the level of significance set at p-value &lt;0.05. Result: The number of partially edentulous was less in the age group 20-30 years 38 (27.33%) and 45(28.48%) respectively, whereas, it was high in age group above 50 years 52 (37.41 %) and 57 (36.08 %) respectively. Kennedy's Class III was the most common type of partial edentulism in both maxillary arch 62 (48.82%) and mandibular arch 71 (46.71%) followed by Class I in both maxilla 31(24.41%) and 38(25%). The least common type of partial edentulism was found to be Class IV. Among the modifications Class III Modification I was the most prevalent condition in both maxillary 17 (27.42%) and mandibular arch 22 (30.9%). Conclusion: The study showed that age had statistically significant association with different classes of partial edentulism in both maxillary and mandibular arches. Whereas, gender had no association with the patterns of partial edentulism.

Pattern and Epidemiological Characters of Meningitis Infections, Cairo Egypt. 2016–2019

Background and study aim Egypt is an endemic area with meningitis infections, which is associated with high complications and death rates making it a medical emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are around 1 million of cases per year worldwide with 135–200,000 fatal cases. The aim of the study is to describe the socio demographic, economic and clinical pattern of meningitis, to determine the outcomes of the disease in term of complications and fatality, to identify the causative organisms, and potential factors associated with either complications or mortality. Patients and Methods All patients presents with symptoms of meningitis according to the standardized case definition of CDC and confirmed with either cerebrospinal fluid analysis or brain imaging were recruited from Ain Shams University Hospitals by retrospective reviewing of medical records along the period from 2016 to the end of 2019. Socioedemographic, clinical and outcome data were also collected (extracted from the records) Results One thousand three hundred twenty-four (1324) patients were enrolled in the current study. males were more infected than females, children were the most vulnerable group. The main cause of septic meningitis was streptococcus meningitis, mainly among children after Haemophilic influenza due to the introducing the HIB vaccine in vaccination program November 2014. Bacterial meningitis was the leading cause of death among studied patient and deafness was the main neurological complication. Conclusion Early clinical suspicion of CNS infection and immediate management are crucial factors in reduction of the still high morbidity and mortality rates. The changes in the pattern of causative organisms must be considered when starting empiric antibiotic.

Epidemiology of Asbestosis between 2010-2014 and 2015-2019 Periods in Colombia: Descriptive Study.

Asbestosis is a prevalent worldwide problem, but scarce data sourced from developing countries are available. We describe the sociodemographic characteristics and patterns in the occurrence of care provided for asbestosis in Colombia during the periods 2010-2014 and 2015-2019 to establish the behavior, trends, and variables associated with concentrations among people attended by asbestosis. A retrospective descriptive study was carried out with data from the Integrated Social Protection Information System (SISPRO) for two 5-year periods. People attended by asbestosis (ICD-10: J61) were identified; the frequency of patient visits, sociodemographic characteristics, case distribution patterns, and trends in both five-year periods were described, as was the crude frequency (cFr, 95% CI) of asbestosis (1,000,000 people/year) in both five-year periods (cFr ratio, 95% CI). During the period 2010-2019, 765 people attended by asbestosis were identified; there were 308 people attended by asbestosis between 2010-2014 (cFr: 2.20, 1.96-2.47), and ther were 457 people attended by asbestos between 2015-2019 (cFr: 3.14, 2.92-3.50). In both periods, the estimated cFr in men was nine times the estimated cFr in women. The cFr increased in the 2015-2019 period (cFr_ratio: 1.23, 1.06-1.43). Compared with the 2010-2014 period, the cFr of asbestosis increased in women (cFr_ratio: 1.44, 1.03-2.01), in the Andean (cFr_ratio: 1.61, 1.35-1.95) and Caribbean regions (cFr_ratio: 1. 66, 1.21-2.30), in the urban area (cFr_ratio: 1.24, 1.05-1.48), and in the age groups 45-59 years (cFr_ratio: 1.34, 1.001-1.79) and ≥60 years (cFr_ratio: 1.43, 1.13-1.83). During two five-year periods, the cFr of asbestosis was higher in men; between the first and second five-year periods, it increased significantly, especially in urbanized geographic areas and in populations aged ≥45 years. The estimates possibly reflect the effect of disease latency or the expected impact of public health policies to monitor asbestos exposure and complications.

EHealth profile of patients with diabetes.

Digital health technology can be useful to improve the health of patients with diabetes and to support patient-centered care and self-management. In this cross-sectional study, we described the eHealth profile of patients with diabetes, based on their use of digital health technology, and its association with sociodemographic characteristics. We used data from the "Qualité Diabète Valais" cohort study, conducted in one region of Switzerland (Canton Valais) since 2019. Participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes completed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and on the use of digital health technology. We defined eHealth profiles based on three features, i.e., ownership or use of (1) internet-connected devices (smartphone, tablet, or computer), (2) mHealth applications, and (3) connected health tools (activity sensor, smart weight scale, or connected blood glucose meter). We assessed the association between sociodemographic characteristics and participants' eHealth profiles using stratified analyses and logistic regression models. Some 398 participants (38% women) with a mean age of 65 years (min: 25, max: 92) were included. The vast majority (94%) were Swiss citizens or bi-national and 68% were economically inactive; 14% had a primary level education, 51% a secondary level, and 32% a tertiary level. Some 75% of participants had type 2 diabetes. Some 90% of the participants owned internet-connected devices, 43% used mHealth applications, and 44% owned a connected health tool. Older age and a lower educational level were associated with lower odds of all features of the eHealth profile. To a lesser extent, having type 2 diabetes or not being a Swiss citizen were also associated with a lower use of digital health technology. There was no association with sex. While most participants owned internet-connected devices, only about half of them used mHealth applications or owned connected health tools. Older participants and those with a lower educational level were less likely to use digital health technology. eHealth implementation strategies need to consider these sociodemographic patterns among patients with diabetes.