Young Urban Population Research Articles

Periodontal Status of Active Age Population in the Republic of Bulgaria

Periodontal health is an important component of oral health. Numerous studies prove the progressing nature of periodontal diseases and their dependence on a number of demographic and socio-economic factors.
 The purpose of the study is to examine the periodontal status of the active age population in the Republic of Bulgaria and to define its dependence on social and demographic factors.
 To accomplish the study goals epidemiological and survey cards were developed and approbated and epidemiological study was conducted, including clinical dental examination and anonymous survey among 416 Bulgarian citizens aged 18 to 65 years. The results were statistically analyzed to establish the dependencies between the periodontal status and socio-demographic factors.
 Only 69 (16.59%) of the study subjects have no periodontal problems (CPI = 0) in all sextants, while all other patients have different degrees of periodontal disease. One can witness an increase of the periodontal disease incidence, proportional to the age of the patients, as well as its decrease with increasing the frequency of dental visits on behalf of the patients and their oral health self-assessment. Healthy periodontal tissues prevail in young patients and urban population. Gingival inflammation and calculus are prevalent among middle-aged people, rural population as well as in individuals of lower educational level. Periodontal pockets of varying depths are being registered mostly among the older people and the subjects with low and average income. Higher severity of the periodontal pathology is observed in individuals of lower educational levels and lower income.
 These facts verify the conclusion about an inadequate state commitment as regards the dental health problems of the population, while bearing in mind that the treatment of periodontal conditions is not reimbursed by NHIF.

Cost-Effectiveness of Peer-Educator-Delivered Lifestyle Modification for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention in a Young Healthy Population in Sri Lanka: A Trial-Based Economic Evaluation and Economic Model.

BackgroundThis study evaluated the cost effectiveness of an intensive lifestyle modification (LSM) intervention delivered by peer educators for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a young at-risk population in a low healthcare resource setting.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term cost effectiveness of an intensive lifestyle modification intervention for type 2 diabetes prevention in a young urban at-risk population in Sri Lanka.MethodsThis was an economic evaluation using cost and outcome data from a randomized controlled trial. We randomized 3539 healthy individuals aged 5–40 years with risk factors for type 2 diabetes to either 3-monthly (P-LSM n = 1727) or 12-monthly (C-LSM n = 1812) peer-educator advice aimed at reducing weight, improving diet, reducing psychological stress and increasing physical activity. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from a health system perspective with outcomes expressed as disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Intervention costs and outcomes were collected during a median clinical trial period of 3 years and extrapolated to a lifetime horizon using economic modelling. Uncertainty in the lifetime model was explored by structural and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.ResultsThe costs of the more intensive peer support programme were partially offset by reduced costs of type 2 diabetes complications recorded over the trial period and completely offset by lifetime cost savings of 6000 LKR. The more intensive P-LSM also averted more DALYs, estimated at 0.456 DALYs over the lifetime of participants.ConclusionsIn a young at-risk Sri Lanka population, an intensive LSM programme was cost effective, averting more DALYs at an acceptable additional cost than a much less intensive LSM programme. Early intervention in young at-risk people represents good value for money from the Sri Lankan health care payer perspective.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41669-021-00284-5.

Этнопсихологические аспекты идентичности с городом среди молодежи

The object of the study is the identity with the city among regional youth. Subject: psychological aspects of youth identity in different ethnic groups. Purpose: to determine the psychological basis for identification with the city of residence among young people, as well as the structure of identity with the city in its various ethnic groups.
 A modified identification scale with the city developed by M. Lalli was the methodological toolkit. For statistical data processing, the Friedman analysis of variance by Chi-square criterion was used.
 The results of the work contribute to the search for the psychological foundations of the rooting of young people in their cities in order to minimize the internal migration of the able-bodied young urban population, set their development and prosperity, and implement their personal and professional plans.

Psychosocial risk factors among young people of medium urban Siberian city: a gender aspect (according to a cross-sectional epidemiological study)

Aim . To determine the levels of psychosocial factors (PSF) of the cardiovascular risk (CVR) in young men and women in gender dimension (on the model of Tyumen). Material and methods . An epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of the Tyumen population among men (n=1000, response 85,0%) and women (n=1000, response 70,3%) of 25-64 years old; 25,0% in each life decade. Data were obtained from young people aged 25-34 and 35-44 years old compared with a standardized age value (25-64 years). The PSF examination was carried out according to the algorithms of the WHO MONICA-Psychosocial Program. Results . Among young open urban population, the prevalence of moderate levels of depression and life exhaustion, a high level of hostility, moderate level of personal anxiety in men and a high level of personal anxiety in women was observed. In men of 25-34 years, compared with the general population values, the highest prevalence of the personal anxiety moderate level and hostility high level was revealed. There were high personal anxiety, depression and hostility levels among young women. In the gender dimension, young women were characterized by a significantly higher prevalence of high levels of CVR PSF: personal anxiety, depression, hostility, life exhaustion, moderate levels of life exhaustion, men —moderate levels of personal anxiety and hostility. Conclusion . The data obtained should be useful for formation of preventive cardiology programs on the basis of PSF assessing, starting from a young age.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage in a Young Urban Population: Etiologies and Outcomes in Patients 50 and Younger

Goal: There is limited research on intracerebral hemorrhage in young urban populations. There is reduced access to healthcare and a high prevalence of multiple comorbidities in this vulnerable population. We studied the etiologies and outcomes of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in an urban North Philadelphia cohort aged 50 years old and younger. Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review of subjects 50 years old and younger who presented with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage at Temple University Hospital was conducted. A novel scoring system was used to classify the cause of each intracerebral hemorrhage. This system was used to assign a degree of likelihood that hypertension, amyloid angiopathy, tumor, oral anticoagulants, vascular malformations, infrequent causes, or cryptogenic etiologies were present. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage was excluded. The prevalence of each risk factor and outcomes were analyzed. Findings: Of the 110 patients in the study, the most common etiology was hypertension (82.7%). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between patients with multiple possible etiologies for their hemorrhage. Vascular malformations and cavernomas were rare (5.5%). Conclusions: Hypertension was the most common cause of intracerebral hemorrhage in a young urban population. The presence of multiple possible etiologies does not correlate with a worse prognosis of mortality. There is a need for further research into hemorrhagic stroke in young populations.

When Your Neighbourhood Changes: Living Through Gentrification in Amsterdam Oud-West

This qualitative study investigates the lived experiences of gentrification for locals in the urban neighbourhood of Oud-West in Amsterdam. A gentrification policy was used to turn this neighbourhood with a relatively low socioeconomic status and limited property investment into an attractive area of reinvestment and economic activity. For locals, this strategy resulted in changes to the urban landscape, such as soaring housing prices, new investment projects, tourism, and a new, transient, young urban professional group of inhabitants. Following this demographic change, the locals that have not been physically displaced nevertheless experience a sense of displacement. By analyzing the concept of ‘transience’, this study shows how the relatively short and less integrated stay of global young urban professionals results in a perceived loss of social cohesion. Moreover, this young urban professional population’s increasing demand for an ‘Airspace’ type of hospitality radically changes local and authentic businesses, resulting in a perceived lack of diversity and authenticity. Furthermore, locals report how they experience new inhabitants to be less tolerant towards ‘big city life’, and have a stronger sense of malleability.

VITAMIN D AND SEMEN QUALITY IN URBAN, YOUNG, HEALTHY MEN (ANDROLS)

Background and Objective
 Our aim was to evaluate whether the blood concentration of 25(OH)D3 is associated with semen quality and sperm morphology parameters in young men.
 Material and methods
 Healthy, urban volunteers aged 20-35 were recruited from universities, clubs and societies in the macroregion of Lower Silesia (Poland). We evaluated medical history, lifestyle factors and environmental threats, collected semen samples, and evaluated vitamin D levels. We acquired data for 177 subjects.
 Results
 The mean concentration of 25(OH)D3was 13.7 ± 8.9 ng/ml. Only a minority of the included subjects (18%) had a serum 25(OH)D3 concentration above the lower limit (20 ng/ml). In total, 39% had severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml). None of the studied semen parameters was correlated with the serum concentration of 25(OH)D3; we also found no correlations after adjusting for alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, carrying a mobile phone in pant pockets, body mass index, caffeine consumption and physical activity.
 Conclusion
 Our data indicate that the serum concentration of 25(OH)D3 was not correlated with semen quality in a healthy, young urban population with prevalent vitamin D insufficiency.

Prevalence of Stress in Young Urban Population in a City of Northern India

Prevalence of Stress in Young Urban Population in a City of Northern India

A pragmatic lifestyle modification programme reduces the incidence of predictors of cardio-metabolic disease and dysglycaemia in a young healthy urban South Asian population: a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThere is an increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in young urban South-Asians. We tested the effect of a pragmatic trimonthly lifestyle modification (LSM) programme (P-LSM) versus a less-intensive 12-monthly control LSM (C-LSM) intervention on a primary composite endpoint of predictors of cardio-metabolic disease (new onset T2DM, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) and markers of cardio-renal disease) in participants aged 5–40 years with risk factors for T2DM.MethodsThis was a randomised controlled trial performed at the National Diabetes Centre, Sri-Lanka. We individually randomised 4672 participants at risk of T2DM, of whom 3539 (mean age 22.5 (range 6–40 years, 48% males) received either trimonthly (P-LSM n = 1726) or 12-monthly (C-LSM n = 1813) peer educator advice aimed at reducing weight, improving diet, reducing psychological stress and increasing physical activity.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 3 years, the cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint was n = 479 in P-LSM (74 per 1000 person years) vs. 561 in C-LSM (96 per 1000 person years), with an incident rate ratio (IRR) of 0.89 (95% CI 0.83–0.96, P = 0.02). In post hoc analyses, new onset dysglycaemia (T2DM, IFG and IGT), was the major contributor to the composite and was significantly reduced by P-LSM (IRR 0.9, 95% CI 0.83–0.97, P = 0.01). A significant impact of P-LSM on the incidence of the composite endpoint was noted in 1725 participants (P-LSM n = 850, C-LSM n = 875) aged below 18; P-LSM n = 140 (48 per 1000 person years) versus C-LSM n = 174 (55.4 per 1000 person years), with an IRR of 0.83 (95% CI 0.73–0.94, P = 0.004).ConclusionsIn a young at-risk South-Asian population, a pragmatic LSM programme significantly reduces the incidence of predictors of cardio-metabolic disease. Our results highlight the importance of early intervention in young at-risk subjects.Trial registrationWorld Health Organization international clinical trial registry platform (SLCTR/2008/003). Registration Date: March 28, 2008. Retrospectively registered.

Assessment of Prevalence, Beliefs, and Habits of Hookah Smoking Among People with a Medical Background Compared to People with a Non-medical Background: A Cross-sectional Self-administered Questionnaire-based Study.

Introduction: Hookah smoking has seen a reemergence in popularity in the last 30 years, particularly in the young urban population. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of and the attitude and beliefs about hookah smoking of people with a medical background and compare it with people from a non-medical background.Materials and methods: An anonymous questionnaire with ten questions about various aspects of hookah smoking was formulated using Google forms®, which was then circulated via Facebook®, Whatsapp® and emails to the intended participants and all responses were recorded and analyzed.Results: The total number of respondents were 470. The number of respondents with a medical background was 45.31%. The percentage of the respondents with a medical background who smoked a hookah was 28.63%, while the same percentage of the respondents with a non-medical background was 63.42. The perception of hookah being less harmful than a cigarette was not found to be statistically different between the two groups. Respondents with a medical background were more ignorant of the presence or absence of tobacco in the hookah they smoked. The average duration of the hookah smoking habit, the frequency of its use per month, and the average lengths of the hookah smoking session were 3.52 years (95% CI of 3.21 to 3.82), 1.946 (95% CI 1.799 to 2.093), and 58.90 minutes (95% CI of 54.42 to 63.37), respectively.Conclusion: The knowledge about the ill effects of smokeless tobacco should be integrated into the structured teaching curriculum of undergraduate medical and dental courses as they prepare future physicians and dental surgeons for an anti-tobacco campaign.

Becoming a city Buddhist among the young generation in Seoul

The quest for spirituality among young urban dwellers represents a novel and highly distinctive form of social reproduction in contemporary South Korea. As young people are forced by a hyper-competitive work environment, fragmenting family, and high youth unemployment, they strive to overcome the attendant feelings of stress and anxiety, turning to the anti-materialist values of Buddhism. Within this context, the emergence of Mahayana Buddhism’s ‘engaged Buddhism’ – as manifested in Jungto Society – provides an interesting case study to examine the ways in which the culture of healing is being popularized among the young city dwellers. Of particular appeal to this generation is Jungto Society’s combination of individualistic practice with social action, which also differentiates it from other Buddhist organizations. Based on participant observation and in-depth interviews with young city dwellers who engage in Buddhist meditation and practices, this article aims to analyze how a young urban population strives to reconcile the knowledge and management of one’s heart, promoted by Buddhist religion, with the neoliberal ethos of self-improvement. This article argues that the fundamental Buddhist concepts generate a certain form of self-reflection among their practitioners that expands both their religious and civic minds.

Attitudes, Knowledge and Beliefs Regarding Fertility Preservation Among People of Transgendered Experience: Preliminary Results

The transgendered population has traditionally been excluded from population health and sexuality research. Limited research suggests that many transgendered people have not considered fertility preservation. Modern techniques allow for people of transgender experience to have biological children through cryopreservation of sperm or eggs. It is believed that multiple barriers prevent people of transgender experience from engaging in fertility preservation. This ongoing study examines the attitudes, knowledge and beliefs of people of transgendered experience in regards to fertility. Patients at different stages of transition were sampled from multiple endocrine, psychiatric and family practice clinics in Toronto. Semi-structured questionnaires were distributed during routine medical appointments. The target sample size for this study is 200 patients, making this the largest study to date that will specifically evaluate reproductive knowledge and beliefs among the transgendered population. Preliminary data from the first twelve patients revealed a young patient population, with ages ranging from 19-25 years. Participants reported a broad range of terms to describe their gender and/or sexuality. Seven of twelve patients surveyed were taking hormone replacement therapy. Five of twelve patients desired children, with four reporting their fertility to be somewhat important to them. Six had fertility options discussed with them at some point during their treatment, while eight noted that cost was a barrier in banking sperm or eggs. Preliminary results from this young urban population suggests that a moderate number of transgendered patients are aware of their reproductive options and have interest in preserving their fertility.

Financial Literacy and Urban Indian Youth

This Project is a research on the status of Financial Literacy in India. We have looked at the Young Urban Population in India using Primary Data collected with the help of questionnaire. We have observed that income and education levels have high correlation with financial literacy, which leads to participation in financial markets. While Investor Education Programs and instruments like Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) have been of help to increase involvement of people from lower income groups, much can done to improve the effectiveness of these programs.

A 100 smart cities, a 100 utopias

In my response to the commentaries on my anchor article, I have taken on board the key question of how and why India has become the site of production of 100 proposed smart cities. I forward a notion of ‘technocratic nationalism’ to suggest that it is the young urban population in India who have largely bought into the smart city dream. Whilst drawing encouragement from the largely positive commentaries on my article, I then take on three main critiques of the article – first, that it has inadvertently promoted a hegemony of ‘city-ness’ by focusing on the imagined smart city to be; second, that the smart city has strong connections with colonial urban planning and third, whether Dholera should be considered the first smart city at all. I suggest that the article’s city-ness and postcolonial links to India’s urban planning is both political and heuristic, since it is the postcolonial ‘urban’ moment where India has situated its moment of modernity globalization and economic power. I contend that the final critique is based on a misinterpretation of the use of the word ‘first’, which was always intended to reflect a politics of innovation among cities. Finally, I suggest that the other ‘gaps’ in my article highlighted by one of the commentators is not a gap, rather beyond the scope and objectives of an exploratory article such as this.

Urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis strain types, defined by high-resolution multilocus sequence typing, in relation to ethnicity and urogenital symptoms among a young screening population in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

IntroductionPrevious studies found conflicting results regarding associations between urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections and ethnicity or urogenital symptoms among at-risk populations using either ompA-based genotyping or high-resolution multilocus sequence typing (MLST)....

Misuse of social media marketing by alcohol companies

Background and Aims: Epidemiological transition in the form of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) now becoming the main cause of mortality and morbidity is very much evident even in developing countries like India. Alcohol is an important risk factor for NCD. The use of alcohol is increasing especially in young people and women. This increased use can be attributed to aggressive and innovative marketing by alcohol, in spite of and due to restrictions on its marketing. Social media, in recent times, has been misused by alcohol companies for marketing their products legally, due to legal loophole. The present study examined the reach of alcohol companies on social media and the marketing strategies used by them. Design, Settings, Participants: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were explored for accounts and content by alcohol companies for marketing their product. Policies of social media sites pertaining to alcohol marketing were also studied. Measurements: Alcohol marketing was measured in terms of content posted by alcohol companies, use of direct or surrogate advertisement and engagement with users. Findings: Alcohol companies have been conveniently using social media to target young urban population with direct and surrogate advertisements of their products. Current social media policies and laws are ineffective in controlling it. Conclusions: Amendment of laws pertaining to alcohol marketing to include social media also in its ambit is necessary. Social media sites should revise their policies to prevent alcohol marketing and promotion especially to underaged users.

Attitudes, beliefs and norms relating to contraceptive use among young migrant and non-migrant adults in urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The young urban population of Tanzania is growing rapidly, primarily due to rural-urban migration. More information is needed on the challenges facing young adult urban women and men in using family planning (FP). The purpose of this study is to identify perceptions, interpersonal and familial attitudes, and sociocultural norms regarding FP among young adults (18–25 years) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, comparing responses by sex, marital status and migration status. We conducted 12 focus groups with young adult men and women (n = 74) in Dar es Salaam in December 2009. Participants knew of modern contraceptive methods, but had serious concerns about side effects. Single men and women preferred condoms. Female migrants stated that traditional methods were ineffective, yet commonly used in rural areas. Men's desires for more children frequently led female migrants not to use FP, while many married long-term residents used FP discreetly. Single women sometimes received the support of their parents/boyfriends to access and use contraception. Findings highlight differences in experiences among young adult men and women based on their migrant and marital status at the individual, interpersonal and normative levels. Future efforts to promote FP should engage existing social support systems and cultivate new ones in response to barriers.

Assessment of Trace Elements in Scalp Hair of a Young Urban Population in Brazil

The aim of this study was to establish background values for toxic and essential elements in hair, interelement correlations and the differences in levels between genders in a healthy young population from Southern Brazil. Hair samples (n=167) were collected from healthy students aged 12-18 years. Trace element concentrations in hair were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The study provided relatively low values for toxic elements and balanced concentrations for the essential elements in the adolescents' hair with reliable reference data. Interestingly, this study also demonstrated statistical correlations considered newfound between the elements in hair. Hair mercury levels were influenced by gender; with males presenting higher values. The overall findings of the present study, with respect to the estimated chemical elements, are of prime importance in the evaluation of reference values for determining environmental effects on children living in urban areas.

Epidemiological profile of acute bacterial meningitis in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) remains a public health problem in Brazil. To evaluate the epidemiology of ABM cases at Giselda Trigueiro Hospital, Rio Grande do Norte, a descriptive retrospective survey was conducted covering 2005 to 2008. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from the epidemiology department of the hospital and analyzed. Out of 168 ABM cases, 24.4%, 10.7%, and 2.4% were, respectively, caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenza b, and 5.4% by other bacteria. The mean age was 22.48 +/- 18.7 years old. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the main causative pathogen in the young urban population.

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Bioaccumulative Hydroxylated PBDE Metabolites in Young Humans from Managua, Nicaragua

Our aim was to investigate exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in a young urban population in a developing country, with focus on potentially highly exposed children working informally as scrap scavengers at a large municipal waste disposal site. We also set out to investigate whether hydroxylated metabolites, which not hitherto have been found retained in humans, could be detected. We assessed PBDEs in pooled serum samples obtained in 2002 from children 11-15 years of age, working and sometimes also living at the municipal waste disposal site in Managua, and in nonworking urban children. The influence of fish consumption was evaluated in the children and in groups of women 15-44 years of age who differed markedly in their fish consumption. Hydroxylated PBDEs were assessed as their methoxylated derivates. The chemical analyses were performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, using authentic reference substances. The children living and working at the waste disposal site showed very high levels of medium brominated diphenyl ethers. The levels observed in the referent children were comparable to contemporary observations in the United States. The exposure pattern was consistent with dust being the dominating source. The children with the highest PBDE levels also had the highest levels of hydroxylated metabolites. Unexpectedly, very high levels of PBDEs were found in children from an urban area in a developing country. Also, for the first time, hydroxylated PBDE metabolites were found to bioaccumulate in human serum.