Socioeconomic Risk Factors Research Articles

Anemia and Underweight among Married Women in Yemen; Evidence from Yemen Demographic Health Survey (YDHS-2013)

Background: Women in conflict are vulnerable to health and nutrition risks. Anemia and underweight are the common risks faced by women particularly in war torn countries. Yemen is one of the most affected places that has a fragile public health system due to the conflict. Increasing conflict has put women’s health and wellbeing at risk and has severely affected their nutritional development. Therefore, this study aims to examine the association between underweight and anemia with different risk factors among married women in Yemen.
 Methods: This study used the data from Yemen demographic health survey-2013 (YDHS-2013) of married women aged 15-59 year. Bivariate and multivariate logistic models were used to study the association between anemia and underweight with various socio-economic and maternal health risk factors.
 Results: A positive and significant association of socio-economic and maternal health risk factors was found with anemia and underweight. Women belonging to more prosperous groups had the lowest odds of underweight [OR=0.30, P<0.001)] and anemia [OR=0.61, P<0.001). The study also examined some key risk factors like breast feeding, iron supplements and contraceptive use among women and found a positive and significant association of these risk factors with underweight and anemia.
 Conclusions: Nutritional challenges have to be addressed especially in the country like Yemen. The results clearly indicate that women in Yemen are facing acute nutritional risks of underweight and anemia. Therefore, policy interventions are required to address their nutritional needs and also empower them economically to minimize these nutritional risks. Moreover, nutrition related interventions are required to attain the targets for sustainable development goals in Yemen.

Examining the Association Between Household Enrollment in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Wasting and Stunting Status Among Children Experiencing Poverty in the Philippines: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study assessed whether enrollment in a national conditional cash transfer program was associated with wasting and stunting among children experiencing extreme poverty in the Philippines. Data were drawn from cross-sectional surveys collected from 10 regional areas in the Philippines between April 2018 and May 2019. A total of 2945 children aged between six months and 12 years comprised the analytical sample. Multilevel logistic regression was conducted to estimate the association between enrollment in Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and stunting and wasting, controlling for sociodemographic factors and clustering by region. There was no meaningful association between household enrollment in 4Ps and the wasting status of children, but enrollment in 4Ps was associated with lower odds of stunting and differed by geography type. Findings suggest that the current design of 4Ps may not address sudden shocks that contribute to wasting, but may address the underlying socioeconomic risk factors associated with stunting.

Socioeconomic risk factors for long-term opioid use: A national registry-linkage study.

Opioid use has increased substantially as a treatment for chronic pain, although harms from long-term opioid therapy outweigh the benefits. More knowledge about factors associated with long-term opioid use is needed. We aimed to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and long-term opioid use in the period 2010-2019. This was a nested case-control study in which the cases were all persons ≥18 years with long-term opioid use, that is use of opioids for more than 3 months (N = 215,642). Cases were matched on gender, age and index year (first long-term use period) with four controls who filled at least one opioid prescription, but never developed long-term opioid use in the study period (N = 862,568). We performed a logistic regression analysis adjusted for relevant confounders, stratified on age groups (18-67 years and 68 years and above). In the younger age group, long-term opioid use was associated with low education (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 1.54; 95% confidence interval, CI [1.51-1.57]), low income (1.33 [1.31-1.36]), being unemployed (1.40 [1.38-1.42]) and receiving disability pension (1.36 [1.33-1.38]). Weaker associations were found for living in a single-person household or in a dense geographical area. Similar associations were found for the older age group. We found that low socioeconomic status was associated with long-term opioid use both among people in working age and older people. These results indicate a need for social and financial support for non-pharmacological treatment of chronic pain among people with lower socioeconomic status. This study shows that people with low socioeconomic status are at higher risk of developing long-term opioid use. In the clinical setting, physicians should consider socioeconomic status when prescribing opioids for chronic pain. Non-pharmacological treatment options funded by public health services should be prioritized to those with low socioeconomic status as long-term opioid use in chronic pain patients is not recommended.

Social determinants of self-reported oral health among Sámi in Sweden.

To investigate the prevalence of poor self-reported oral health and to identify socio-demographic, socio-economic and cultural-related risk factors associated with poor oral health among Sámi in Sweden. A Sámi sample frame was constructed drawing from three pre-existing registers. All identified persons aged 18-84 were invited to participate in the study during February-May 2021. Among the 9249 invitations, 3779 answered the survey. The frequencies of the independent variables in terms of socio-economic, socio-demographic and cultural-related factors as well as the outcome, self-reported oral health, were calculated first. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated to assess the relationship between the independent variables and the outcome. Overall, 32.5% of the participants reported a poor oral health with a higher prevalence among men compared to women. Among the socio-demographic factors, being old (PR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.59-2.51), unmarried (PR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03-1.33) and divorced or widow-er (PR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.09-1.46) were statistically associated to poor self-reported oral health. Among the socio-economic factors, a low education level (PR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.29-1.89), belonging to the poorest quintile (PR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.35-1.96), and experiencing difficulties to make ends meet several times during the last 12 months (PR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.51-1.99) were statistically significant related to poor oral health. The self-reported oral health among Sámi in Sweden appears to be worse than that of the general Swedish population. Several socio-economic and socio-demographic factors were found to be strongly associated with poor self-reported oral health. Targeted interventions addressing these social determinants are needed to reduce inequalities in oral health among the Sámi population.

Socio-economic risk factors and wildfire crime in Italy: a quantile panel approach

In this paper, we analyse the socio-economic determinants of environmental crimes such as those focused on wildfire in Italy using panel data at the regional level. We also investigate the effect of economic downturns on wildfire crime. Using the nonadditive fixed effect quantile panel regression model, it was found that socio-economic factors, such as material deprivation, play an important role in driving wildfire crime. Also, risk factors such as unemployment and income inequality were seen to affect the probability of crime in the same direction. On the other hand, a negative relationship between level of education and wildfire crime was found. The results for business cycle support the conjecture that economic downturns have a significant impact on the probability of environmental crime and that the effect is particularly binding in the southern regions where unemployment and income inequality are greater. We also found evidence of a positive correlation between organised crime and wildfire crime. Once again, the grip of organised crime appears to be stronger in the southern regions.

Distinct socioeconomic profile of patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19 and prepandemic respiratory infections in Brussels’s deprived areas: a case–control study

ObjectiveBelgium has been hit harder by COVID-19 than other countries in Europe. While clinical risk factors are well studied, socioeconomic risk factors remained underexplored. This study’s objective was to analyse...

Socioeconomic and home educational resource risk factors and Children's literacy and social skills in Guyanese families: Mediating role of parental cognitive engagement and parental guidance.

This study examined the mediating role of parental cognitive engagement and parental guidance on the associations between family socioeconomic and home environment resource risk factors and children's literacy and social skills in Guyana. The sample consisted of 1208 families from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds drawn from the 2019 to 2020 country-level UNICEF MICS data. Caregivers provided assessments of socioeconomic conditions, educational resources in the home environment, cognitive engagement, parental guidance and children's literacy and social skills. Family socioeconomic risk had an indirect association with social skills through cognitive engagement. Home environment educational resource risk had indirect associations with children's literacy and social skills through parental guidance. Findings are discussed in terms of identifying protective factors within families in low- and middle-income Caribbean countries that can better inform intervention efforts geared at reducing risks to childhood development.

Associations of Fatty Liver Disease With Recovery After Traumatic Injury

IntroductionFatty liver disease (FLD) is associated with systemic inflammation, metabolic disease, and socioeconomic risk factors for poor health outcomes. Little is known on how adults with FLD recover from traumatic injury. MethodsWe studied adults admitted to the intensive care unit of a level 1 trauma center (2016-2020), excluding severe head injury/cirrhosis (N = 510). We measured the liver-spleen attenuation difference in Hounsfield units (HUL-S) using virtual noncontrast computerized tomography scans: none (HUL-S>1), mild (−10≤HUL-S<1), moderate/severe (HUL-S < −10). We used Cox models to examine the “hazard” of recovery from systemic inflammatory response (SIRS score 2 or higher) organ dysfunction, defined as sequential organ failure assessment score 2 or higher, and lactate clearance (<2 mmol/L) in relation to FLD. ResultsFifty-one participants had mild and 29 had moderate/severe FLD. The association of FLD with recovery from SIRS differed according to whether an individual had shock on admission (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-1.05 with shock; HR = 1.81; 95% CI 1.43-2.28 without shock). Compared to patients with no FLD, the hazard of lactate clearance was similar for mild FLD (HR = 1.04; 95% CI 0.63-1.70) and lower for moderate/severe FLD (HR = 0.40; 95% CI 0.18-0.89). ConclusionsFLD is common among injured adults. Associations of FLD with outcomes after shock and critical illness warrant further study.

Investigating the association between socioeconomic and agricultural risk factors and the incidence of Salmonella Heidelberg and Salmonella Typhimurium in Ontario in 2015: A multi-level ecological approach.

The incidence of salmonellosis, and other enteric zoonotic diseases, has been associated with various food and environmental exposures and socioeconomic factors. Increasingly, there is interest in exploring differences among serotypes of Salmonella to better inform public health prevention efforts. Consequently, we investigated whether rates of Salmonella Heidelberg and Typhimurium in Ontario communities in 2015 were influenced by household characteristics, agricultural factors, and the presence of meat plants. Data for each reported case of S. Heidelberg and S. Typhimurium in Ontario in 2015 were collected. Expected cases of each serotype were calculated, stratified by age group and sex, according to the underlying population distribution from the Canadian census. Socioeconomic, agricultural census data, and data concerning provincial and federally inspected meat plants were combined with observed and expected case counts. The association between community-level agricultural, meat processing, and socioeconomic variables, serotype, and the rate of salmonellosis in each census subdivision (CSD) was explored using multilevel Poisson models, with random intercepts for CSD and census division (CD). Rates of S. Heidelberg and S. Typhimurium were associated with the proportion of married individuals in a CSD, and were higher in CSDs with the highest quantile of labour participation compared to those in the lowest quantile. There was an interaction effect between cattle, poultry and swine farm density in a CD and serotype, with rates of either serotype decreasing as cattle, poultry, or swine farm density in the encompassing CD increased. The rate of the decrease varied by serotype. Our findings concerning community-level household characteristics may be explained by the influence of family structure and occupation on food consumption patterns and environmental exposures. Rates of S. Heidelberg and S. Typhimurium may be lower in areas with increased animal farm density due to naturally acquired immunity from routine exposure to Salmonella via livestock.

The cumulative impact of socioeconomic disadvantage on educational attainment during austerity: a comparative cross-cohort approach

ABSTRACT Despite much empirical evidence highlighting the harmful effect of socioeconomic disadvantage on educational outcomes, there is a relative lack of understanding of how different risk factors impact upon attainment. Importantly, it has yet to be established what effect, if any, austerity cuts have had on the most disadvantaged students. Using rich data from two British cohort studies (Next Steps and MCS), this cross-cohort study explores how educational inequalities impact on attainment in distinct cohorts of students at identical age-points, whilst also examining the role of wider political and socioeconomic circumstances. The analysis reconfirms the detrimental effect of exposure to socioeconomic risk factors on attainment, highlighting the relative importance of some (e.g. social housing) over others, and emphasising the disproportionate association of exposure to multiple risks with poorer outcomes. For both cohorts, the attainment gap is already clear at age 11, and widens at every level of risk across secondary education. Despite the implementation of austerity, no evidence is found for worsening inequalities at an individual level. However, the persistent link between disadvantage and attainment means that, on a cohort level, increasing levels of disadvantage during austerity will inevitably lead to greater proportions of young people facing an attainment ‘penalty’.

Social and clinical risk factors associated with hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Brussels's deprived and multiethnic areas.

In Belgium, the Brussels-Capital region was severely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. Various hypotheses were mentioned in order to explain Brussels' excess disease spreading and mortality rate, but socioeconomic risk factors are increasingly recognized. This study's objective was to analyze clinical and social profiles of patients hospitalized for COVID-19, by nationality groups, in two hospitals located in Brussels's deprived and multiethnic areas. Data covered hospitalized COVID-19 patients from two Brussels hospitals (n = 787) between the 1st of March 2020 and the 31st of June 2020. Social data was collected using hospital records, and clinical data was extracted from hospitals' COVID-19 databases. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) of the association between two outcomes (Intensive Care Unit admission and mortality) and risk factors (social and clinical). Patients from Sub-Saharan Africa were younger, had a higher prevalence of obesity, lacked health insurance, and had the highest proportion of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission (27.7%) but the lowest mortality rates than other nationality groups. Patients from North Africa had a higher prevalence of diabetes compared to other nationality groups and a high proportion of European patients came from nursing homes. Patients deprived of health insurance had a higher risk of ICU admission compared to those who had insurance (OR IC95%; 1,9 1.1-3.6, p = 0.03). Other risk factors as sex and obesity were significantly associated to ICU admission and, age and hypertension were significantly associated to mortality. Social and clinical profile of the patients differs between the nationality groups, and some risk factors for Intensive Care Unit admission and mortality were linked to more patients' precarious situation as the availability of health insurance. This study underlines the role of selected social health determinants and the importance of routinely collecting social along with clinical data.

Food Insecurity, Diet Quality, and Hypertension Risk in Rural Nicaragua

Background Individuals within rural Nicaragua have demonstrated elevated risk for hypertension (HTN); however, research examining socio-economic and dietary risk factors is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between food security, dietary patterns, and HTN risk in rural Nicaragua. Methods This cross-sectional study included adult participants recruited from volunteer-led health clinics in the mountainous region of the Central Highlands in the state of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, in March 2018. Data collection included an oral survey focusing on household socio-demographics, food security, dietary patterns, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Results A total of 123 men and women aged 18 years and up participated in the study (85% of whom were female). Participants were 32.2(± 15.7) years old on average. Food insecurity risk was high, with 78.4% of households identified as severely food insecure. The most commonly consumed daily foods included beans (88%), corn tortillas (84%), and rice (80%). The mean BMI was 26.2 kg/m2 (± 3.9), with 45 percent of participants were identified as overweight and 17.4% as obese. Sixty-three percent exhibited elevated blood pressure, and independent t-test results demonstrated food insecurity was marginally associated with blood pressure (p=0.077) and geographic location (p= 0.060) but not weight status (p=0.97). No significant associations were identified via regression analysis Conclusions Participants from rural Nicaragua reported a lack of dietary variety which contrasts dietary patterns recommended for optimal blood pressure control and a lack of healthful food access as demonstrated by elevated food insecurity and related HTN. This study highlights the link between nutrition, socio-economic risks, and health disparities, as well as the need to for future research around healthful food access and hypertension.

Gastric troubles in Iran: The role of social and economic factors in Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor for gastric cancer in Iran, but the impact of socioeconomic factors on its prevalence is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the socioeconomic inequalities and risk factors associated with H. pylori infection in Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted based on the PERSIAN cohort study. A total of 20460 individuals aged 35 to 70 years in Ardabil, Iran were included in the study. H. pylori infection was determined based on stool tests and clinical records. Multilevel logistic regression models with random intercepts at household and community levels were used to identify risk factors associated with H. pylori prevalence. The concentration index (CIn) and concentration curve (CC) were employed to assess socioeconomic-related inequality. In this study, 70.4% (CI 69.6-71.0) of the participants were infected with H. pylori, with a higher prevalence in women (71.2%) than men (69.6%). Age (OR: 1.37, CI: 1.17-1.61), sex (OR: 1.20, CI: 1.12-1.28), level of education (OR: 1.33, CI: 1.17-1.49), cardiac disease (OR: 1.32, CI:1.18-1.46), and BMI groups (OR: 2.49, CI: 1.11-5.58) were significantly associated with H. pylori infection based on the multivariable logistic regression. The results of the CIn and CC indicated that H. pylori were more prevalent among economically disadvantaged groups (CIn: -0.1065; [-0.1374 to -0.0755]). The prevalence of H. pylori in Iran is higher than in other developing countries, and significant socioeconomic inequality exists between the poor and the rich. To reduce the rate of gastric cancer, socio-economic and demographic factors, especially the poor and people with low levels of education, should be considered.

Mapping Health Disparities in 11 High-Income Nations

Health care delivery faces a myriad of challenges globally with well-documented health inequities based on geographic location. Yet, researchers and policy makers have a limited understanding of the frequency of geographic health disparities. To describe geographic health disparities in 11 high-income countries. In this survey study, we analyzed results from the 2020 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy (IHP) Survey-a nationally representative, self-reported, and cross-sectional survey of adults from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. Eligible adults older than age 18 years were included by random sampling. Survey data were compared for the association of area type (rural or urban) with 10 health indicators across 3 domains: health status and socioeconomic risk factors, affordability of care, and access to care. Logistic regression was used to determine the associations between countries with area type for each factor, controlling for individuals' age and sex. The main outcomes were geographic health disparities as measured by differences in respondents living in urban and rural settings in 10 health indicators across 3 domains. There were 22 402 survey respondents (12 804 female [57.2%]), with a 14% to 49% response rate depending on the country. Across the 11 countries and 10 health indicators and 3 domains (health status and socioeconomic risk factors, affordability of care, access to care), there were 21 occurrences of geographic health disparities; 13 of those in which rural residence was a protective factor and 8 of those where rural residence was a risk factor. The mean (SD) number of geographic health disparities in the countries was 1.9 (1.7). The US had statistically significant geographic health disparities in 5 of 10 indicators, the most of any country, while Canada, Norway, and the Netherlands had no statistically significant geographic health disparities. The indicators with the most occurrences of geographic health disparities were in the access to care domain. In this survey study of 11 high-income nations, health disparities across 10 indicators were identified. Differences in number of disparities reported by country suggest that health policy and decision makers in the US should look to Canada, Norway, and the Netherlands to improve geographic-based health equity.

One Health Approach to Leptospirosis: Human-Dog Seroprevalence Associated to Socioeconomic and Environmental Risk Factors in Brazil over a 20-Year Period (2001-2020).

Despite being considered a neglected, re-emerging and the most widespread zoonotic disease worldwide, human-dog leptospirosis has not been subjected to One Health approach, and neither were its socioeconomic and environmental risk factors, as well as concomitant spatial analysis over time. Accordingly, notified human leptospirosis cases, incidence rate and urban hotspot areas, in addition to a systematic review of dog leptospirosis cases, were performed nationwide from 2001 to 2020 in Brazil. Data on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), flooding and study areas were also assessed and tabulated. Human-dog leptospirosis cases were simultaneously mapped with overlapping flooding areas, along with the main circulant serovars. Comparative outcome has shown that dogs may be exposed similarly to humans, becoming important sentinels and/or reservoirs for human leptospirosis in larger geographic areas. Moreover, the study herein can help in the decision and implementation of public policies in Brazil and may serve as a model for other tropical countries worldwide.

Poster 255: Socioeconomic Predictors of Time to Initial Evaluation, Time to Surgery, and Postoperative Outcomes among Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction Patients

Objectives: Operative management of patellar instability with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) has been associated with good results, but socioeconomic disparities may be an obstacle to patients receiving timely care and achieving satisfactory outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify socioeconomic predictors of time to initial evaluation, time to surgery, and postoperative outcomes among lateral instability patients undergoing MPFLR. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients at our institution who underwent primary MPFLR with allograft from 2011 to 2019. Patients were administered an email survey to assess symptom history, socioeconomic variables (ex. language, race, ethnicity, marital status, household size), and postoperative outcomes including Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain, Kujala score, MPFL-Return to Sport After Injury (MPFL-RSI) score, and return to work and sport. Predictors of time to initial evaluation, time to surgery, concomitant procedures, and postoperative outcomes were identified using multivariable linear and logistic regression with stepwise selection. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Seventy patients were included in the cohort (mean age 24.8 years, 72.9% female, mean follow- up time 45.7 months). Mean time to evaluation was 6.4 months (range 0-221) and mean time to surgery was 73.6 months (range 0-444). Home ownership was predictive of reduced time to surgery (β: -56.5 [- 104.7 to -8.3]; p = 0.02). Non-white race was predictive of increased odds of undergoing a concomitant procedure (OR: 12.4 [1.8 to 83.4]; p = 0.01). Full-time employment was predictive of higher satisfaction (β: 14.1 [4.3 to 23.9]; p = 0.006) and higher Kujala score (β: 8.7 [0.9 to 16.5]; p = 0.03). Conclusions: Certain markers of higher socioeconomic status, including home ownership and full-time employment, were predictive of higher satisfaction and knee function following MPFLR for patellar instability. Non-white race was associated with higher risk of concomitant procedures. Identifying modifiable socioeconomic risk factors for delayed presentation and poorer surgical outcomes may allow surgeons to prioritize earlier intervention among the most vulnerable segments of their patient population.

Socioeconomic and Demographic Risk Factors of Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan: A Case Study of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Child sexual abuse is a harsh reality and a threat of harm to children. Pakistan’s high population growth and increasing poverty has resulted in child labor on streets. Children are exposed to all forms of abuse including sexual exploitation. The main objective of this study is to find out the risk factors of child sexual abuse. The present study has been conducted in the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. The respondents have been selected from places where children are found most often, selling products, or wondering in search of jobs. Primary data was collected through semi-structured questionnaire using snowball sampling. The total response was found at 50, including Pakistani and Afghan refugees’ children. According to the results 76% children are deprived of their parents’ proper attention, 96% are very poor and just earning below Rs. 8000, 66% are in the age group of 8 to 12 years, 72% of the respondents have only one room in their house, 78% respondents are not enrolled in school; about 22 % sample respondents left the school early, 64% of the respondent having large family size (family members more then 6), and 98% of the victims were out of homes for earnings. It is concluded that the main risk factors of child abuse consist of poverty, child labor, large family size, school dropout, and low parental warmth. With respect to most of the variables, no significant difference was found between the two nationals.

Familial Analysis of Nonunion in a Genealogic Population Database Demonstrates No Evidence of Heritable Risk.

To determine whether there is evidence of heritable risk for nonunion using a large, state-wide population database. Database. Level 1 Trauma Center. All Utah residents from 1996 to 2021 who sustained a long bone fracture and their family members were included. The primary outcome was nonunion and the prevalence of nonunion among the patients' first-, second-, and third-degree relatives. The secondary objective was to identify demographic, injury, and socioeconomic risk factors associated with nonunion. In total, 150,263 fractures and 6577 nonunions (4.4%) were identified. This was highly refined to a 1:3 matched cohort of 4667 nonunions of 13,981 fractures for familial clustering analysis. Cox proportional hazards did not demonstrate excessive risk of nonunion among first- ( P = 0.863), second- ( P = 0.509), and third-degree relatives ( P = 0.252). Further analysis of the entire cohort demonstrated that male sex (relative risk [RR] = 1.15; P < 0.001), Medicaid enrollment (RR = 2.64; P < 0.001), open fracture (RR = 2.53; P < 0.001), age group 41-60 years (RR = 1.43; P < 0.001), and a history of obesity (RR = 1.20; P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for nonunion. Our results demonstrate no evidence of heritable risk for nonunion. Independent risk factors for nonunion were male sex, Medicaid enrollment, open fracture, middle age, and a history of obesity. Although it is important to identify modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors, these results continue to support that the risk of nonunion is multifactorial, relating to injury characteristics, operative techniques, and patient-specific risk factors. Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Socioeconomic risk factors for low birth weight newborns: A population-based study.

Data was collected from a 4-year maternal-newborn registry. There were 5,316 LBW and 54,029 normal birth weight (NBW). The prevalence of LBW was 9%. The Native women in the LBW group compared to non-native women were 10.4% (1784/5316) vs. 8.4% (3532/5316) with a P-value of 0.001. There were more illiterate mothers in the LBW compared to the NBW, respectively: 8.1% (1597/19497) vs. 7.5% (1763/23230) with a P-value of 0.001. Working mothers tend to have more LBW infants compared to mothers with NBW, 8.4% (1588/17217) vs. 7.9% (2532/31891) and P-value 0.001. Young mothers (<20 years old) with early childbearing had more LBW compared to older mothers, respectively 12.7% (180/1414) vs. 8.9% (5149/52919) P-value <0.001. Women with no antenatal care reported a high rate of LBW compared to women with regular antenatal care: 14.2% (516/3696) vs. 8.6% (4741/55691) P-value <0.001. LBW babies were born more from assisted conception pregnancies (38% compared to 8.4% of normal pregnancies) P-value <0.001. Smoking mothers scored higher with LBW at 13.6% vs. 8.3% and a P-value of 0.001. There were no differences between the two groups regarding religion, consanguinity, marital status, or family income. Risk factors for low birth weight can be improved by providing antenatal care, smoking cessation, optimizing high-risk pregnancy care, and governing assisted reproduction regulations.

Socio-Economic Characteristics and Risk Factors Affecting Domestic Violence in Montenegro: A Case-Control Study.

Domestic violence is defined as the combined pattern of physical, psychological, economic and/or sexual violence against a family member. Intimate partner violence is the most common form. We aimed to present the basic characteristics of the Montenegrin families and family members affected by domestic violence, with the intent to inform the global mosaic of differences related to cultural specificities. A cross-sectional study was performed using 323 cases judicially processed and officially judged according to Criminal Act from 2015-2017 in Montenegro. Socioeconomic characteristic were investigated followed by analysis of many variables. Demographic characteristics, socio-economic status, and other characteristics of the perpetrators and the victims, as well as characteristics of violent act with posible risk factors, are presented. The results of case-control analyisis of intimate-partner relationships are given, too. A typical example of domestic violence in Montenegro shows an intimate couple with a violent male and a victimized female partner, living in a rented residence in the suburbs, with both partners in the fourth decade of their lives. The most frequent income level was poor, with half of the batterers and nearly three quarters of the victims unsatisfied with their marriage. The increased presence of such factors (both modifiable and unmodifiable) in the partiarchical families suffering from domestic violence should spark interest in public health and government authorities regarding domestic violence screening adapted for patriarchical societies.