直接面视下短程督导化疗治疗初治涂阳肺结核患者效果分析

目的分析和评价迎泽区接受直接面视下的短程督导化疗的初治涂阳肺结核患者效果。方法对2004年7月至2007年6月接受国家提供的免费板式抗结核药品治疗的初治涂阳肺结核患者246例管理和疗效进行回顾性分析。结果初治涂阳肺结核患者总体治愈率达87.4%,疗程中对患者督导率77.2%,22.4%患者在治疗的不同时期终止取药,其中因对抗结核药品治疗顺应性差占首位,其次为药品的不良反应。结论接受短程督导化疗治疗的大多数初治涂阳肺结核患者能够治愈,疗程中应正确引导和教育患者,提高其相关知识水平和对直接面视下的短程督导化疗治疗的顺应性,确保抗结核治疗方案顺利完成。     

Health care seeking among pulmonary tuberculosis suspects and patients in rural Ethiopia: a community-based study

Background  

Health care seeking is a dynamic process that is influenced by socio-demographic, cultural and other factors. In Ethiopia, there are limited studies regarding the health seeking behaviour of tuberculosis (TB) suspects and TB patients. However, a thorough understanding of patients' motivation and actions is crucial to understanding TB and the treatment of disease. Such insights would conceivably help to reduce delay in diagnosis, improve treatment adherence and thereby reduce transmission of TB in the community. The objective of this study was to describe and analyze health care seeking among TB suspects and pulmonary TB (PTB) cases in a rural district of the Amhara Region in Ethiopia.     

Respiratory symptoms and illnesses among brick kiln workers: a cross sectional study from rural districts of Pakistan

Background

Breastfeeding has been shown consistently in observational studies to be protective of overweight and obesity in later life. This study aimed to investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and weight status in a national sample of Australian children and adolescents.

Methods

A secondary analysis of the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey data involving 2066, males and females aged 9 to 16 years from all Australian states and territories. The effect of breastfeeding duration on weight status was estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Compared to those who were never breastfed, children breastfed for ??6 months were significantly less likely to be overweight (adjusted odds ratio: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.45, 0.91) or obese (adjusted odds ratio: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.90) in later childhood, after adjustment for maternal characteristics (age, education and ethnicity) and children's age, gender, mean energy intake, level of moderate and vigorous physical activity, screen time and sleep duration.

Conclusions

Breastfeeding for 6 or more months appears to be protective against later overweight and obesity in this population of Australian children. The beneficial short-term health outcomes of breastfeeding for the infant are well recognised and this study provides further observational evidence of a potential long-term health outcome and additional justification for the continued support and promotion of breastfeeding to six months and beyond.     

河北省10城市初治涂阳肺结核病患者全程督导短程间歇化疗效果分析

目的分析河北省10城市部分初治涂阳肺结核病患者全程督导短程间歇化疗效果。方法从本省10城市分别抽取其市辖门诊2007年1月1日至12月31日结核病防治机构登记治疗的新发涂阳肺结核病患者,采用两阶段全程间歇短程化疗方案和全程督导的管理方法,收集化疗患者相关数据。结果强化期末痰菌阴转率为90.1％,满疗程治愈率为91.5％,不同性别患者治愈率接近,各年龄组患者治愈率不同,65岁以上年龄组患者的治愈率较低,其中75岁以上年龄组最低为73.7％,但与其他年龄组差别无统计学意义,不良反应总发生率12.1％。结论全程间歇短疗程化疗方案具有疗效高、不良反应少,患者容易接受、易管理等优点。     

Cost implications of delays to tuberculosis diagnosis among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia

Background  

Delays seeking care worsen the burden of tuberculosis and cost of care for patients, families and the public health system. This study investigates costs of tuberculosis diagnosis incurred by patients, escorts and the public health system in 10 districts of Ethiopia.     

流动人口肺结核病人就诊延迟原因分析

目的 了解流动人口肺结核病人就诊延迟时间及其影响因素。方法 抽取山东省7个市12个县(市、区)共计314例流动人口肺结核病人,利用自制调查问卷进行调查。结果 314例流动人口肺结核病人中,就诊延迟平均天数为18.84 d,中位数为10 d;其中,从出现症状到就诊间隔≤2周186例,占59.2%,≥4周77例,占24.5%,2～4周51例,占16.2%;影响流动人口肺结核病人就诊延迟时间的因素包括每周工作天数、医疗保障情况、初始症状严重程度及距最近乡镇卫生院(社区卫生服务中心)的时间(P<0.05)。结论 流动人口肺结核病人就诊延迟时间较长,就诊延迟时间受多种因素影响。     

Beryllium exposure and pulmonary function: a cross sectional study of beryllium workers

A cross sectional study of 297 white male workers employed in a large beryllium plant was conducted to test the hypothesis that long term exposure to beryllium is associated with decrements in pulmonary function. Spirometric measurement of pulmonary function, chest radiographs, and arterial blood gas measurements were collected. After controlling for age, height, and smoking in multivariate regression models, decrements in FVC and FEV1 were found to be associated with cumulative exposure to beryllium in the period up until 20 years before the health survey. These decrements were observed in workers who had no radiographic abnormalities. The alveolar-arterial oxygen difference was associated with cumulative exposure in the 10 years immediately before survey, after controlling for age and smoking. These findings suggest that beryllium may have both short and long term pulmonary effects that are distinct from the classic forms of acute and chronic beryllium disease.     

Menstrual pattern among adolescent girls of Pokhara Valley: a cross sectional study

Background

Menstruation is a normal physiological process occurring every month throughout the reproductive age of the females. However, significant variation in menstrual pattern is observed among adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine menstrual pattern among adolescent girls of Pokhara Valley.

Method

A cross sectional study was conducted in seven schools of Pokhara Valley. A total of 260 adolescent girls were included in the study. Girls were requested to complete questionnaire containing 19 items. Selected girls voluntarily agreed to answer questionnaire under the supervision of the researcher and then the data was analyzed.

Results

Mean age of the girls was 14.0?±?1.3 years. Mean age at menarche was 12.2?±?0.9 years. The mean cycle length of the subjects was 34.8?±?11.8 days. It was observed that as many as 167(64.2%) girls had irregular menstrual cycle and significant association was found between regularity of menstruation and ethnicity. Seven (2.7%) girls had a menstrual cycle length shorter than 21 days, 60(23.1%) had cycle longer than 35 days and 193(74.2%) had a normal cycle length between 21 and 35 days. Majority 231(88.8%) had normal duration of menstruation. Dysmenorrhoea was reported by more than half of the girls and significant association was found between severity of dysmenorrhoea with school absenteeism and treatment needed.

Conclusion

Dysmenorrhoea was the most common menstrual problem among adolescent girls. Girls’ school attendance was affected due to menstrual pain. Girls with severe dysmenorrhea needed medical treatment. Irregular menstruation was reported by more than half of the girls and significant association was found with the ethnicity.

     

High Prevalence of tuberculosis infection among medical students in Makerere University,Kampala: results of a cross sectional study

Background

Uganda’s Ministry of Health registered a 12% increase in new Tuberculosis (TB) cases between 2001 and 2005. Of these, 20% were from Kampala district and most from Mulago national referral hospital where the largest and the oldest medical school is found. Medical students are likely to have an increased exposure to TB infection due to their training in hospitals compared to other university students. The study compared the prevalence of TB infection and associated factors among undergraduate medical and veterinary students in Makerere University, Uganda.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study with 232 medical and 250 veterinary undergraduate students. Socio-demographic and past medical history data was collected using questionnaires. A tuberculin skin test was performed on the volar aspect of the left forearm. An induration ≥10 mm in diameter after 48-72 hrs was considered positive. Logistic regression was used to determine association of independent variables with TB infection.

Results

The prevalence of TB infection was higher in medical students (44.8%, 95% C.I= 38.4-51.3%) compared to veterinary students (35.2%, 95% C.I = 29.3-41.1%). The significant predictors of TB infection were: being a medical student (aOR=1.56, 95% CI = 1.05-2.31), male sex (aOR=1.75, 95% CI = 1.17-2.63), history of contact with a confirmed TB case (aOR=1.57, 95% CI = 1.06-2.31) and residing at home (aOR=2.08, 95% CI = 1.20-3.61). Among the medical students, having gone to a day compared to boarding high school (aOR=2.31, 95% CI = 1.06-5.04), involvement in extracurricular clinical exposure (aOR=3.39 95% CI = 1.60-7.16), male sex, residence at home, and history of contact with a TB case predicted TB infection.

Conclusion

Medical students have a higher prevalence of TB infection than veterinary students probably due to increased exposure during training. There is a need to emphasize TB infection control measures in hospitals and the general community.     

Determinants of timely initiation of breastfeeding among mothers in Goba Woreda,South East Ethiopia: A cross sectional study

Background  

Although breastfeeding is universal in Ethiopia, ranges of regional differences in timely initiation of breastfeeding have been documented. Initiation of breastfeeding is highly bound to cultural factors that may either enhance or inhibit the optimal practices. The government of Ethiopia developed National Infant and Young Child Feeding Guideline in 2004 and behavior change communications on breast feeding have been going on since then. However, there is a little information on the practice of timely initiation of breast feeding and factors that predict these practices after the implementation of the national guideline. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and determinant factors of timely initiation of breastfeeding among mothers in Bale Goba District, South East Ethiopia.     

Beryllium exposure and pulmonary function: a cross sectional study of beryllium workers.

A cross sectional study of 297 white male workers employed in a large beryllium plant was conducted to test the hypothesis that long term exposure to beryllium is associated with decrements in pulmonary function. Spirometric measurement of pulmonary function, chest radiographs, and arterial blood gas measurements were collected. After controlling for age, height, and smoking in multivariate regression models, decrements in FVC and FEV1 were found to be associated with cumulative exposure to beryllium in the period up until 20 years before the health survey. These decrements were observed in workers who had no radiographic abnormalities. The alveolar-arterial oxygen difference was associated with cumulative exposure in the 10 years immediately before survey, after controlling for age and smoking. These findings suggest that beryllium may have both short and long term pulmonary effects that are distinct from the classic forms of acute and chronic beryllium disease.     

Primary osteoarthritis and occupations: a national cross sectional survey of 10 412 symptomatic patients

Aims: To describe the age standardised prevalence of symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) in a nationwide cross sectional survey of 10 412 patients in France, and their functional and work limitations.

Methods: Cases in the survey were compared with their expected counterpart by age, gender, and occupational groupings using data from the 1998 French National Survey on Health Impairment and Disability.

Results: Women represented 66.2% of the sample; mean age was 66.2 years. One third of patients had OA of the knee, 16% of the hip, and 12% of the hand; a third had multiple joint OA. Peak prevalence of symptomatic OA was in the 60–69 year category in women and in the 70–79 year category in men. Agricultural workers showed a significant excess prevalence of OA, with an observed to expected (O/E) ratio of 1.7 in women and 2.3 in men. Linear trends in prevalences between white collar, "mixed" collar, and blue collar workers were also significant, with odds ratios respectively of 1.0, 2.9, and 2.6 in women and 1.0, 1.2, and 1.7 in men. Specific excess prevalence was found in women among housekeepers (O/E 4.4), and in men among unskilled labour workers (O/E 10.3) and truck drivers (O/E 6.7). Total work disability was highest among blue collar workers and partial disability among agricultural workers.

Conclusion: Results contribute to the mounting evidence that OA is potentially aetiologically linked to occupation in a sizeable segment of the population and that OA can no longer be considered an inevitable disease of ageing.

     

Determinants of satisfaction with health care provider interactions at health centres in central Ethiopia: a cross sectional study

Background  

In primary health care, provider-patient interaction is fundamental platform and critically affects service delivery. Nevertheless, it is often ignored in medical research and practice and it is infrequently subjected to scientific inquiry, particularly in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with health care provider interactions and its influencing factors among out-patients at health centers in West Shoa, Central Ethiopia.     

Health related quality of life among adolescents with premenstrual disorders: a cross sectional study

Background  

Premenstrual disorders usually refer to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). This study was designed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a sample of Iranian adolescents with premenstrual disorders.     

Adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment among pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a qualitative and quantitative study

Background  

Tuberculosis (TB) patients have difficulty following a long-term treatment regimen. Efforts to improve treatment outcomes require better understanding of adherence as a complex behavioral issue and of the particular barriers to and facilitators of patient adherence.     

Tuberculosis recurrence in smear-positive patients cured under DOTS in southern Ethiopia: retrospective cohort study

Background  

Decentralization of DOTS has increased the number of cured smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) patients. However, the rate of recurrence has increased mainly due to HIV infection. Recurrence rate could be taken as an important measure of long-term success of TB treatment. We aimed to find out the rate of recurrence in smear-positive patients cured under DOTS in southern Ethiopia.     

睡眠打鼾与浙江省成年人高血压患病关联的研究

目的 探讨打鼾与成年人高血压患病的关联。方法 对中国慢性病前瞻性研究浙江省桐乡市基线数据进行横断面分析,剔除调查时自报曾被医生诊断患有恶性肿瘤、心脏病和脑卒中患者后,纳入分析30~79岁者共56 728人。采用logistic回归模型分析打鼾与高血压患病之间的OR值。结果 调查对象中,经常打鼾、偶尔打鼾和不打鼾的比例分别为24.55%、23.94%和51.51%。男性中的比例分别为32.40%、26.55%和41.05%;女性中的比例分别为19.00%、22.08%和58.92%。调整人口社会学因素、行为生活方式、睡眠时间、BMI和腰围等危险因素后,高血压患病风险随打鼾频率的增加而增加（P<0.001）。与不打鼾者相比,经常打鼾者和偶尔打鼾者高血压患病的OR值（95% CI）分别为1.17（1.12~1.23）和1.12（1.07~1.18）。与不打鼾者相比,经常打鼾与高血压的关联在男性和女性、已绝经女性和未绝经女性、中心性肥胖和非中心性肥胖人群中的关联差异有统计学意义。结论 睡眠时打鼾与高血压患病存在关联。打鼾对高血压的影响在女性、中心性肥胖者和未绝经者中更明显。     

Pesticide exposure, risk factors and health problems among cutflower farmers: a cross sectional study

This was a cross-sectional study which aimed to determine associations between hematologic indices such as red blood cell cholinesterase (RBC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), with illnesses related to pesticide exposure among cutflower farmers in La Trinidad, Benguet. One hundred two (102) randomly selected cutflower farmers underwent comprehensive, personal physical health and laboratory examinations and answered a questionnaire on work practices and illness. Majority were males (52%) and most belonged to the 20–35 age group (45%). Majority of exposed farmers were symptomatic, with most common complaints being headache (48%), easy fatigability (46.1%) and cough (40.2%). Analysis showed that RBC cholinesterase levels were positively associated with age (p = 0.02), and selling pesticide containers (p = 0.008). number of years of using pesticides (p = 0.022), use of contaminated cloth (p = 0.033), incorrect mixing of pesticides (p = 0.041), sex (p = 0.002) and illness due to pesticides (p = 0.005) were correlated with abnormal MCV. Significant associations were also found for hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet count. Predictors of RBC cholinesterase were years of pesticide use (p = 0.037) and abnormalities on health (p = 0.029). The findings of the study can be used for information dissemination and pesticide reduction programs for the cutflower farmers.     

DOTS improves treatment outcomes and service coverage for tuberculosis in South Ethiopia: a retrospective trend analysis

Background  

DOTS as a strategy was introduced to the tuberculosis control programme in Southern region of Ethiopia in 1996. The impact of the programme on treatment outcomes and the trend in the service coverage for tuberculosis has not been assessed ever since. The aim of the study was to assess trends in the expansion of DOTS and treatment outcomes for tuberculosis in Hadiya zone in Southern Ethiopia.