Anthropometric study of Ethiopian pre-school children

A community based cross sectional anthropometric study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in north western Ethiopia. One thousand four hundred and twenty two children were enrolled in the study. Stunting which is expressed by height for age below -2 standard deviation (SD) was seen in 43% of the children. The prevalence of wasting which is expressed by weight for height below -2 SD was 9%. The highest percentages of stunting and wasting were found in the age group 12-23 months. Compared with the national Center for Health Statistics (USA)/World health organization (NCHS/WHO) reference data all the indicators were shifted to the left. Urgent nutritional rehabilitation for those that are wasted, proper nutritional education for reducing the high prevalence of malnutrition and identifying risk factors for the poor nutritional status is suggested.     

奉贤区南桥社区学龄前儿童肥胖情况分析

目的：了解南桥社区学龄前儿童肥胖情况,以便制定有效的防治干预措施。方法：2014年5月对辖区内10所幼儿园共2379名儿童进行健康体检,并收集体检资料,进行回顾性分析。结果：学龄前儿童超重和肥胖的检出率分别占13.11%和6.89%。超重的发生率3～4岁组为15.56%,肥胖的患病率5～6岁组为8.62%,男童肥胖的患病率检出率为7.83%,女童检出率为5.88%,两者差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论：社区儿童超重、肥胖的患病率甚高,与不良生活方式、不合理饮食及缺少锻炼有关,需要社会、家庭、学校、医院齐抓共管。     

青岛市城阳区儿童超重、肥胖患病率调查

目的了解青岛市城阳区儿童超重和肥胖患病现状。方法以随机整群抽样的方法,抽取青岛市城阳区5450名儿童测查身高、体重,以中国学龄儿童超重、肥胖筛查体重指数（BMI）分类标准计算超重和肥胖的患病率。结果青岛市城阳区3～18岁儿童超重、肥胖总检出率分别为12.8%、9.0%,其中男童分别为13.9%、9.9%,女童分别11.6%、8.4%。4～7岁肥胖检出率女童大于男童,差异无统计学意义（P〈0.05）。7～13岁男童和女童肥胖检出率差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。13～18岁肥胖检出率男童大于女童,差异无统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论青岛市城阳区儿童超重和肥胖日益增多,必须加强对儿童肥胖的防治。     

某市城区中小学生营养状况的调查分析

目的了解诸城市中小学生营养状况,为学生营养不良及超重和肥胖现象的综合防治提供依据。方法根据《中小学生健康体检管理办法》等有关规定,于2010年对诸城市28628名中小学生的营养状况进行了一次基线调查。营养评价标准采用2002年《学校卫生人员培训教材》。结果营养不良者所占比例,小学生、初中生分别为2.55%、4.20%(P<0.01),男生与女生分别为3.65%、2.81%(P<0.01);超重、肥胖者所占比例,小学生与初中生分别为27.68%、25.21%(P<0.01),男生与女生分别为29.24%、23.43%(P<0.01)。结论诸城市中小学生的营养状况总体为营养缺乏和营养过剩并重,应尽快采取措施,在中小学生中开展营养不良和超重及肥胖的干预工作。     

Prediction of peak expiratory flow rates in stunted children

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of stunting on peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) in Malawian children. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Two public primary schools randomly selected in Blantyre, the largest city in Malawi. SUBJECTS: 266 boys and 273 girls aged six to 14 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PEFR, height, weight and age of children were determined using standard techniques. Nutritional status of children was assessed using WHO/NCHS height for age, weight for age and weight for height reference standards. RESULTS: The data of PEFR were analysed by regression on age and stature. One hundred children (18.6%) were classified as stunted. None of them was under weight or wasted. The equations for prediction of PEFR were calculated separately for stunted and non-stunted children. Stature was a significant predictor of PEFR values in both groups of children. The differences between stunted and non-stunted children of both sexes in slopes and intercepts of the regression lines of PEFR on stature were non-significant. Stunted children of both sexes had significantly lower PEFR than their counterparts with normal height for age index. CONCLUSIONS: Stunting in Malawian children aged six to 14 years is associated with decreased rate of development of PEFR in proportion to linear growth retardation. Prediction equations calculated for children with normal height for age index can be used for assessment of PEFR in stunted children.     

全国儿童期单纯性肥胖流行病学调查济南市区报告

目的了解济南市区儿童期单纯性肥胖症流行病学特点。方法采取随机整群抽样方法,调查0～17岁儿童6758名,儿童肥胖判定标准按WHO的身高标准体重值,标准差记分法,体重高于中位数一个标准差为超重,两个标准差为肥胖。测量体重、身长/身高,3岁以上肥胖儿童以1∶1比例配对测量腰围、臀围、大腿围及血压;然后进行统计学分析。结果肥胖总检出率11.36%,超重总检出率14.95%,其中男童肥胖、超重检出率分别为14.26%、16.55%,女童肥胖与超重分别为7.96%、13.14%。3岁前男女儿童BMI平均值分别为17.10、16.65,3～6岁略降低,6岁后上升,12岁分别为20.52、19.69。肥胖儿童收缩压与舒张压高于第95百分位数比例分别为8.58%、11.15%,明显高于正常体重儿童的比例1.72%、4.46%。结论济南市区儿童单纯性肥胖检出率增加,随年龄增长快速上升趋势,肥胖者已具有心血管损害指标,预防控制重点应在学龄前期。     

某区农村高年级小学生营养知信行和营养状况的调查分析

目的了解广州市番禺区农村高年级小学生的营养知识、态度、行为及营养状况,为进一步开展健康教育提供科学依据。方法随机抽取5～6年级小学生共200人进行问卷调查和身高体质量测量。结果小学生营养知识与态度、知识与行为间有正相关系;学生营养不良者达17.5%,超重或肥胖达30.5%,女生营养不良发生率(27.5%)显著高于男生(10.8%)(χ2=9.235,P<0.05),男生肥胖发生率(22.5%)显著高于女生(11.3%)(χ2=4.116,P<0.042)。结论广州市番禺区农村高年级小学生营养知识比较缺乏,并存有营养过剩和营养不良的问题,应加强该群体营养知识的教育并培养良好的饮食行为习惯。     

Expectancies and other psychosocial factors associated with alcohol use among early adolescent boys and girls.

Early experimentation with drinking increases the lifetime risk for substance abuse and other serious health and social problems. We studied factors associated with early alcohol experimentation by surveying 4,263 sixth- to eighth-grade students (67.1% White, 23.5% Black, 7.2% other races combined; 2.2% missing data) from seven schools in one suburban school district. The prevalence of drinking in the last 30 days was 12.1% for boys and 13.1% for girls (12.6% overall); 6.6% among sixth graders, 11.1% among seventh graders, and 19.5% among eighth graders. In multiple logistic regression analyses, controlling for grade, positive alcohol expectancies, perceived prevalence, and deviance acceptance were associated positively, self-control negatively, with drinking for both boys and girls. Among boys, grade point average was negatively associated with drinking. Among girls, propensity for risk-taking and problem-behaving friends were positively associated and high parental expectations were negatively associated with drinking. Alcohol use in our sample of early adolescent boys and girls was better explained by modifiable psychosocial factors such as alcohol expectancies, perceived prevalence, and self-control than by grade.     

Comparison of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drug usage among school students in three Pacific Island societies

BACKGROUND: Many Pacific Island countries are in social and epidemiological transition, but there are little population data about drug and alcohol usage among adolescents in this region. METHODS: Random samples of school students aged 11-17 years completed surveys in three populations: Pohnpei State in the Federated States of Micronesia (n=1495), Tonga (n=2808) and Vanuatu (n=4474). RESULTS: Among 15-year-olds, boys in Tonga reported the highest prevalence of weekly smoking (29%), followed by boys in Pohnpei (17%). Kava use at a potentially harmful level (i.e. daily) was low in all countries. Drunkenness on two or more occasions was much more common among 15-year-old boys in Pohnpei (51%) than same-age youth in the other countries. Marijuana use was most often reported by boys (20%) and girls (20%) in Pohnpei, while solvents had been used most often by boys in Pohnpei (15%), and methylated spirits by boys in Tonga (20%). In all countries bullying of other students was independently related to regular smoking, while bullying behaviour and strong relationships with peers and others outside of the family were related to past drunkenness and use of illegal drugs in Tonga and Vanuatu. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, levels of adolescent substance use were consistently higher in Tonga and Pohnpei than in Vanuatu. These unique data provide a basis for setting priorities and evaluating action to address the health risks posed by substance use in these Pacific Island societies.     

Smokeless Tobacco and Cigarette Use Among Black Secondary School Students in South Africa

This study was conducted in 2001 with the aim of providing data on black South African secondary school students’ tobacco use status, knowledge, and attitudes. The sample included 330 Grade 10 and 382 Grade 12 secondary school pupils chosen at random from six rural secondary schools in one of the regions in the Northern Province of South Africa. Results show a prevalence of 9.1% current smokers among boys and 5% among girls, and 8.4% current snuff users among girls and 3.9% among boys. The mean age of onset to take snuff was 12.5 years and that for smoking cigarettes 14.8 years. Adolescents who reported that some family member or their peers used tobacco were more likely to be users of tobacco. Two-thirds of the current snuff users believed that using snuff was safer than smoking cigarettes. Knowledge was found to be related to attitude but not with tobacco use behavior. Awareness of the adverse effects of such tobacco habits was poor and intervention programs to curb tobacco use is required.     

遗传因素对青少年血压的影响

目的 分析遗传因素对青少年血压的影响.方法 采用整群抽样方法,对上海市青浦区2所初级中学和2所高级中学的11～ 17岁4175名在校学生采用问卷调查的形式收集父母高血压史,同时测量血压、身高、体质量.调查时发现血压超过正常水平的调查对象,在1个月内复测血压.结果 参加调查的学生共4175名,其中女性2183名(52.3％),男性1992名(47.7％);血压正常者占72.5％(3025名),女性76.3％(1666名),男性68.3％(1361名),男女比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);正常高值血压占18.0％(750名)[女性14.2％(310名),男性22.1％(440名)];1级高血压为8.3％(344名)[女性8.2％(179名),男性8.3％(165名)],2级高血压为1.3％(54名)[女性1.3％(28名),男性1.3％(26名)].女性超重和肥胖的检出率分别为6.7％(147名)和3.0％(66名);男性为13.7％(271名)和6.3％(125名),男女超重比例差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).父亲和/或母亲有高血压史者占13.0％(541名),男性为12.6％(251名),女性为13.3％(290名).高血压遗传背景的检出率在各级血压分组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 遗传因素对青少年高血压无明显影响,超重和肥胖可能与血压水平增高有关.     

Smokeless tobacco and cigarette use among black secondary school students in South Africa

This study was conducted in 2001 with the aim of providing data on black South African secondary school students' tobacco use status, knowledge, and attitudes. The sample included 330 Grade 10 and 382 Grade 12 secondary school pupils chosen at random from six rural secondary schools in one of the regions in the Northern Province of South Africa. Results show a prevalence of 9.1% current smokers among boys and 5% among girls, and 8.4% current snuff users among girls and 3.9% among boys. The mean age of onset to take snuff was 12.5 years and that for smoking cigarettes 14.8 years. Adolescents who reported that some family member or their peers used tobacco were more likely to be users of tobacco. Two-thirds of the current snuff users believed that using snuff was safer than smoking cigarettes. Knowledge was found to be related to attitude but not with tobacco use behavior. Awareness of the adverse effects of such tobacco habits was poor and intervention programs to curb tobacco use is required.     

Adolescent smoking behavior in Japan, 1996.

We conducted second nationwide survey on smoking behavior among Japanese high school students. The survey was a cross-sectional sampling survey. The survey's targets were junior and senior high schools throughout Japan. Sample schools were selected by stratified cluster sampling. Self-administered anonymous questionnaires were sent to sample schools for all students to fill out. 65.6% of the junior high schools and 67.0% of the senior high schools were responded to this survey. A total of 117,325 students responded and 115,814 questionnaires were subjected to analysis. 7.5% of boys and 3.8% of girls in the 1st grade of junior high school were classified as current smokers, compared with 36.9% of boys and 15.6% of girls in 3rd grade of senior high school. Less than 1% of boys and girls in the 1st grade of junior high school were classified as daily smokers, this figure increased markedly by the 3rd grade of senior high school to reach 25.4% of boys and 7.1% of girls. Of students in the 3rd grade of senior high school, 21.2% of boys and 9.9% of girls had tried smoking before 13 year of age. Cigarette consumption also increased with age, although the proportion of those smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day did not. The major source for cigarettes among current smokers was vending machines. This survey revealed that smoking prevalence among Japanese high school students has already reached quite high level. Comprehensive energetic measures for control minor smoking are necessary in Japan.     

The nutritional status of a rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: the Ndunakazi project.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the nutritional status of six month to 11 year old rural Black children and their mothers as a first phase in a nutrition intervention project. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: A rural African community +/- 60 km northwest of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. SUBJECTS: A random sample of 127 mothers and 105 pre-school and 131 primary school children were selected from this community. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometric (height and weight), biochemical and dietary and socio-demographic information was collected. RESULTS: Among the pre-schoolers anaemia was present in 23.8%, iron deficiency in 19.8%, while marginal vitamin A deficiency was observed in 44.9%. Urinary iodine levels indicated moderate iodine deficiency in 31.8% and severe iodine deficiency in 9.1%. In primary school children the prevalence of anaemia was 22%, while marginal vitamin A deficiency was observed in 50.8%. Moderate iodine deficiency was observed in 37.9% of primary school children while 13.6% presented with severe iodine deficiency. The prevalence of goitre in this group was 22.1%. Almost 22% of mothers were anaemic and 18.9% were iron deficient. Only 1.6% of mothers were marginally vitamin A deficient. An enlarged thyroid was observed in 26.7% of mothers of which 17.3% were palpable and 9.4% visible. Of mothers 43.4% were overweight while 33.8% were obese. CONCLUSION: The rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, showed a high prevalence of anaemia, marginal vitamin A deficiency and iodine deficiency. The information gathered during this cross sectional study served as a basis to plan and implement an intervention study aimed at addressing the nutritional deficiencies.     

Substance use among night high school students in Japan]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco use, alcohol drinking, and illicit drug use among night high school students in Japan. METHOD: 247 students (180 boys and 67 girls) from 3 night high schools were asked to complete self-administered anonymous questionnaires in classrooms. The average age of the participants was 18.7 years. RESULTS: Overall, 76.0% of the participants reported lifetime alcohol use, and 44.0% reported drinking alcohol during the past 30 days. Of the former, 24.6% reported experiencing alcohol-induced blackouts and 18.9% reported drinking alcohol without adult supervision at the age of 13 years or younger. 58.3% of the participants reported experimenting with smoking cigarettes, 42.3% reported having smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days, and 34.8% reported smoking cigarettes daily. 43.0% of the participants who had experienced smoking cigarettes had started smoking at the age of 13 years or younger. The lifetime prevalence of any illicit drugs was 9.8% for boys and 5.2% for girls; overall, it was 8.6%. The most commonly used illicit drugs were marijuana (6.4%), inhalants (6.4%), butane gas (4.5%), and nitrites (3.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Although the results showed that there were no significant differences in alcohol drinking experience between night high school and general high school students, problematic drinking behavior was observed. In the case of cigarette smoking, night high school students outnumber general high school students. In previous studies in Japan, the former population showed the highest prevalence of illicit drug use. These findings provide evidence that substance use represents a problem among night high school students. Based on this evidence, health education in night high schools should include not only zero tolerance for or abstinence from substance use but also secondary and tertiary prevention approaches.     

Volatile substance misuse among high school students in South America

This article summarizes data from a 2004 study of over 300,000 high school students (aged 13-18 years) in nine South American countries. A probabilistic sample targeted urban secondary schools, utilizing a self-administered questionnaire on prevalence and frequency of substance use. Multivariate analysis showed that volatile substances were the first or second most commonly reported substances used after alcohol and cigarettes in all countries (lifetime prevalence range: 2.67% [Paraguay] to 16.55% [Brazil]). Previous studies have highlighted volatile substance misuse among street children, whereas this study demonstrates that it is common among South American high school students.