Twenty-year associations between disordered eating behaviors and sociodemographic features in a multiple cross-sectional sample

BACKGROUND

Disordered eating behaviors (DEB) impact on health and wellbeing worldwide. This study aimed to examine sociodemographic trends in the prevalence of DEB over 20 years in the Australian general population.

METHODS

Data were derived from five sequential cross-sectional surveys (1998, 2008, 2009, 2016 and 2017) with population-representative samples of adults and adolescents residing in South Australia (N = 15 075). DEBs investigated were objective binge eating (OBE), strict dieting/fasting, and purging. Sociodemographic data included gender, age, educational level, work and marital status, and residence.

RESULTS

OBE prevalence increased significantly. Strict dieting/fasting also increased from 1998 to 2008/9 but remained stable between 2008/9 and 2016/7. Purging prevalence did not change significantly over time. All survey years were associated with a significantly higher odds of OBE, and strict diet/fasting compared to 1998. Lower age, a higher Accessibility Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) score, higher body mass index (BMI), higher educational attainment, and not being in a married or de facto relationship were independently associated with greater adjusted odds for endorsing OBE. Younger age, female gender, and higher BMI were also independently associated with greater adjusted odds for endorsing strict dieting/fasting.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased prevalence of DEBs in various strata of Australian society has both public health and clinical implications. The results refute the stereotype that eating disorders (EDs) predominantly affect young women. They build impetus for future research on EDs among men and older individuals, with a view to developing tailored public health and clinical interventions for these populations.

Sociodemographic profile, work practices, and disease awareness among stone mine workers having silicosis from Central Rajasthan

Background and Objectives

Silicosis continues to pose an important health hazard among workers having occupational exposure to stone dust. Several studies have addressed clinical presentation, radiographic and pulmonary function abnormalities in workers with silicosis. This study was planned to analyze sociodemographic profile and awareness about several aspects of silicosis among the stone mine workers visiting our centre.

Methods

A questionnaire was administered in a convenient sample of eligible subjects over six years period. The questionnaire was aimed to collect sociodemographic variables, like age, gender, educational status, residential background, smoking status etc., apart from information on work-related profile including protective measures taken. Also knowledge and attitude regarding silicosis was assessed. Silicosis awareness index was also calculated as per the response received.

Results

Majority of the study subjects were male (96.6%) with rural background (98.5%). 54.1% subjects were in the age group of 30 to 50 years. 81.9% mine workers were illiterate. The common addictions observed among them included smoking (60%), tobacco chewing (34%), alcohol (20%) etc., Varying duration of work exposure was observed with more than 10 years in 63.4% and more than 20 years in 32.2% workers. The commonest work exposing them to stone dust was breaking stones by chisel and hammer (51%) followed by separation of stone slab (20%) and stone drilling (15%). 80.9% subjects were not aware of the term silicosis, more than 80% were not aware of the symptoms and causes of silicosis. Only one fifth subjects were having awareness of using protection against the disease. Overall awareness about silicosis was better among literate and youngers participants.

Conclusions

Stone mining industry reflects male dominance, poor literacy, long working hours for many years, financial compulsion to start and continue the job and very poor awareness regarding the disease silicosis and importance of personal protection at workplace.

Sociodemographic features and outcomes of peritonitis episodes in children on peritoneal dialysis

INTRODUCTION

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is one of the most preferred kidney replacement therapies in children. However, it has an important complication such as peritonitis. This study was planned to investigate the causes and frequency of peritonitis in children with PD.

METHODS

The demographic features, peritonitis episodes and microbiological characteristics of PD patients followed up for 5 years.

RESULTS

Fifty pediatric PD patients who met the study criteria in a 5-year period were included in the study. Consanguineous marriage was 64% and 44% of the mothers was illiterate. Nineteen patients had no peritonitis episode and a total of 54 peritonitis episode were experienced. The overall peritonitis rate was one episode per 24.4 patient-months. Culture negativity rate was 44%.

CONCLUSION

Even though factors such as the education level of the parents, the number of people or rooms in the house, dialysis modality were thought to influence peritonitis episodes, they could not be shown statistically. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Factors Associated with the 30-Day and 1-Year Smoking Abstinence of Women in Korea: The Effect of Nicotine Dependency, Self-Efficacy, and Mental Illness

Despite the success of tobacco control efforts in reducing smoking rates during the past 50 years, data on the factors contributing to quitting success are still lacking. Smoking-related mortality among women has also not declined. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize sociodemographic features, smoking-related behaviors, mental illness, and smoking cessation in woman smokers in Korea who were registered in the Quitline program. Furthermore, factors associated with 30-day and 1-year successful smoking cessation after enrollment in the Quitline program were investigated. A total of 3360 adult woman Quitline users from 2007 to 2018 were included in the final analysis, with information on their age, education level, marital status, body mass index, frequency of alcohol consumption per month, nicotine dependency, self-efficacy for smoking cessation, presence of a smoking cessation supporter, and mental health history collected upon registration with the Quitline program in Korea. Their cessation outcome was investigated with a 1-year follow-up until the end of 2019. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with smoking cessation at the 30-day and 1-year follow-ups. The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that lower nicotine dependency, higher self-efficacy, and the presence of a smoking cessation supporter improved the odds of smoking cessation at the 30-day and 1-year follow-ups. In contrast, users with a mental health condition were less likely to achieve smoking cessation. Incorporating methods to increase self-efficacy in women who decide to quit smoking will contribute to facilitating more attempts to quit and achieving greater success in smoking cessation among woman smokers.

Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Psychiatric Inpatients Hospitalized Involuntarily and Voluntarily in a Mental Health Hospital

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we aimed to investigate and compare the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of psychiatric inpatients hospitalized involuntarily and voluntarily. To our knowledge, there is no study analyzing involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in our country.

METHOD

In this retrospective study, we included a total of 504 patients who were involuntarily or voluntarily hospitalized in Bolu Izzet Baysal Mental Health Hospital between 1^st of May and 31^st October 2010. The data were obtained from the hospital records.

RESULT

In the 6-month period, 13.1% of 504 inpatients were hospitalized involuntarily. The number of male patients who were involuntarily hospitalized was higher than the number of female patients. Most of the patients in the involuntary hospitalized group were graduates of primary school, were not married and were not working at the time of hospitalization. Schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis in the involuntarily hospitalized psychiatric patients and these patients needed longer stay in the hospital. The next hospitalization of the involuntarily hospitalized patients was mostly involuntary.

CONCLUSION

Most of the involuntarily hospitalized psychiatric inpatients were male, were not working and had the diagnosis of schizophrenia. These general psychiatric risk factors were more important in involuntary hospitalization compared to voluntary hospitalization. We concluded that the high prevalence of involuntary hospitalizations deserved further studies.

The relationship of gestational smoking with pregnancy complications and sociodemographic characteristics of mothers

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship of gestational smoking and passive smoking with pregnancy complications like preterm delivery, low birthweight, early membrane rupture, abruptio placentae, fetal distress and preeclampsia. We also analyzed the sociodemographic features of mothers who smoked during their pregnancy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Pregnant women have been questionned for their habits of smoking and household members' usage of tobacco products during their antenatal visits. Perinatal outcome of gestational smoking was assessed by the type of the delivery, birthweight, occurrence of preeclampsia, early membrane rupture and fetal distress during pregnancy. Differences in group means were analyzed with the Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test and ANOVA.

RESULTS

There wasn't any significant statistical difference between the smokers' (n=86), passive smokers' (n=118) and nonsmokers' (n=77) groups in terms of maternal age, socioeconomic status of the family, gestational age, Apgar scoring and the rate of delivery by cesearian section. However, gestational smoking was found to be more common in mothers with poor or none education (p=0.001). There wasn't any significant statistical change in the rates of fetal distress, early membrane rupture, abruptio placentae and preeclampsia by gestational smoking (p>0.05). But, infants of mothers who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day showed statistically significant birthweight deficits (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Data from this study indicate that gestational smoking is more common among women with low education and results in low birthweight. Therefore, it is essantial to educate the women before pregnancy and implement new smoking cessation programs for pregnancy.