Anaemia and iron deficiency among adolescent schoolgirls in peri-urban Bangladesh

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency among adolescent schoolgirls in peri-urban Bangladesh, and to identify various factors associated with anaemia in this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design. SETTING: Girls' high schools in five sub-districts of Dhaka. SUBJECTS: Adolescent girls (n=548) aged 11-16 y from nine schools in Dhaka district participated in the study. Socio-economic, anthropometric and dietary information were collected. Blood haemoglobin (Hb), serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS), serum ferritin (SF) and serum retinol (vitamin A) were determined. RESULTS: The prevalence of anaemia (Hb<120 g/l) among the participants was 27%. Seventeen percent had depleted iron stores (SF<12 microg/l). Of all anaemic girls, 32% had iron deficiency anaemia (Hb<120 g/l and SF<12 microg/l). When the girls were classified by serum vitamin A, the third with the lowest serum retinol levels had significantly lower Hb and SF levels. Significant positive correlations were observed between Hb and serum iron, TS, SF and retinol, while there was a negative correlation with serum TIBC. Occupancy, frequency of consumption of large fish, serum iron, TIBC, TS, SF and serum vitamin A were strongly related to Hb by multiple regression analysis. For 1 microg/l change in SF concentration, there was a 0.046 g/l change in Hb, when adjusted for all other factors. CONCLUSION: Anaemia among these adolescent schoolgirls in peri-urban Bangladesh cannot be explained by iron deficiency alone, and other causes may also exist in this population.     

Evaluation of a mass measles immunization campaign in Yaoundé, Cameroun

A mass measles immunization campaign carried out in Yaoundé, Cameroun, has been evaluated. Sixty per cent of the children were immune to measles at the time of the campaign. Only 51 % of the susceptible children received vaccine. This was caused by a lack of attendance at the vaccination centres and errors in the selection of children given vaccine. The vaccine administered was relatively ineffective: 40% seroconversion. Difficulties which probably contributed to the low seroconversion rate included sub-optimal vaccine titre, inadequate doses of vaccine, and the relatively long time of vaccine utilization under tropical temperatures. Overall, 83 % of the vaccine given to the vaccinating team was wasted. Future immunization campaigns can be improved through better screening of the children, improved handling of the vaccine, the use of marker vaccines, and improved health education.     

Prevention of measles in Israel: implications of a long-term partial immunization program

Following the introduction of routine measles immunization in Israel in 1967, rapid and persistent modifications in the pattern of the disease were observed, including much more limited and more widely spaced epidemics, a change in the age distribution of measles cases, and a progressively increasing herd immunity that was estimated, following the 1982 epidemic, at 91.6 percent for the first 26 generations. This pattern supports the expectation that measles can be eliminated in Israel provided a herd immunity greater than or equal to 94 percent can be achieved before the next epidemic, which is predicted for 1988-89. A logistic approach to the elimination of measles in Israel requires (a) maintenance of an immunization rate of at least 90 percent in each newborn generation; (b) identification and immunization of still susceptible children in the 1-5 year and 6-9 year age groups, to attain vaccination coverage for at least 97 percent of this population (which should result in immunity among at least 94 percent); (c) provision of similar coverage for older, susceptible individuals in selected groups of children, adolescents, and young adults at high risk; (d) disease surveillance based on an early identification of the main sources of infection and monitoring of the active foci of disease in the neighbouring territories, which are an important potential source of the introduction of infection.     

Rubella screening and immunization of schoolgirls: a long-term evaluation

A three-year rubella immunization programme is described in which 9,231 Edinburgh schoolgirls were screened for rubella antibodies. Of these girls 2,519 (27·3%) were found to have rubella HAI titres of < 32, and 2,258 were immunized with either Cendehill or RA27/3 rubella vaccine. Of those who were immunized, 99% were found to have detectable HAI antibody two months later.     

Risk for measles related to immunization status in two Tucson high schools

An outbreak of measles occurred in Tucson, AZ, in 1985; 112 of the 225 cases were among students at two large high schools. A review of the immunization records of all students at both schools was undertaken in order to assess the risk of a person contracting measles in relation to that person's immunization status. Two factors, the lack of an immunization record and immunization prior to 12 months of age, showed a positive association with contracting measles. The association was statistically significant at one high school but not the other. At the first high school, students who were immunized at 12 to 14 months of age had a greater risk of infection than those immunized at 15 months or older. However, age at immunization of 12 to 14 months was not associated with a significantly higher risk when persons with multiple doses of vaccine were excluded from the analysis. Students of both schools showed a lower attack rate for those who had received multiple doses of vaccine, but the difference was not statistically significant.     

Risk identification of abused women participating in a women,infants, and children program

Demographic characteristics, social and health risk factors, and responses to open‐ended questions regarding health and abuse experiences were analyzed in a study of women participants in a Women, Infants, and Children supplemental food program at a mid‐western county health department. Of the 400 respondents, 124 had experienced physical abuse according to the Partner Abuse Scale: Physical (PASPH) for determining physical abuse (Hudson, 1990). Quantitative and qualitative procedures were applied to the data. A trimmed model indicated that the best predictors of PASPH score were self‐perceived abuse and number of medical/health conditions. Implications for service and program development include strategies for ongoing assessment, intervention, and evaluation to detect and to address physical and nonphysical assault. Epidemiological investigation and follow‐up are recommended for health conditions discovered as prevalent in this population.     

Seroprevalence of measles among children affected by national measles elimination program in Korea, 2010

Background

Following the implementation of national measles elimination plan in Korea, the elimination was declared in 2006. In order to sustain the elimination, high population immunity should be continuously monitored. To evaluate the current age-related susceptibility within the Korean population, we conducted the seroprevalence in children and adolescents who were affected by the national measles elimination plan.

Methods

We used residual serum specimens to measure measles specific IgG and geometric mean titer (GMT) in birth cohorts 2007–2008 and 1997–2003. Among birth cohorts, 2007–2008 cohorts were grouped to evaluate the timeliness of first dose of MMR, 1994–2003 cohorts were grouped to evaluate the effect of keep-up MMR2 campaign, and 1992–1993 cohorts were grouped to evaluate the effect of catch-up campaign in 2001.

Results

Overall, measles seropositivity rate was 86%. The highest seroprevalence of measles IgG was in birth cohorts 2007–2008. Measles seropositivity declined continuously in age groups. The birth cohorts 1994–1996 showed significantly lower levels of seropositivity and GMT than did the other birth cohorts.

Conclusion

Despite efforts to eliminate measles for the past 10 years in Korea, our study revealed specific birth cohorts remaining at risk for transmission. The adolescents born during 1994–1996 had the lowest measles seropositivity levels, and might represent a ‘pocket’ that has potential at increased risk for measles transmission. Further discussion for follow-up immunization should be placed for consideration in the near future.     

2010年北京市麻疹疫苗强化免疫宣传效果评价

目的为了保证2010年北京市麻疹疫苗强化免疫活动顺利实施,对其宣传效果进行评价,为调整宣传策略提供科学依据。方法以北京市居民为调查对象,采用以Mitofsky-Waksberg法进行分阶段抽样,于2010年9月分别在麻疹疫苗强化免疫活动开展前、中及后期开展电话调查,评价宣传效果。结果在麻疹疫苗强化免疫活动开展前、中及后期,调查对象对北京市所有8月龄至14周岁儿童在2010年9月11～20日免费接种麻疹疫苗的强化免疫政策知晓率分别为52.1%,76.6%和73.3%;家中有8月龄至14周岁儿童的调查对象对该政策知晓率分别为71.5%,92.7%和96.2%;有8月龄至14周岁儿童的家长已经或计划给孩子接种强化免疫的麻疹疫苗的行为意向或行为持有率分别为94.9%、97.5%、97.6%差别具有统计学意义。调查对象获取麻疹疫苗强化免疫政策信息途径主要是大众媒体。结论北京市麻疹疫苗强化免疫宣传活动效果显著,大众媒体和社区动员相结合可有效促进麻疹疫苗强化免疫政策的传播和目标人群积极主动接种麻疹疫苗。     

Rural urban differences in weight,body image,and dieting behavior among adolescent Egyptian schoolgirls

Overweight and obesity prevalence among adolescents is increasing worldwide and may be associated with increased risk for the development of obesity and chronic diseases in adulthood. Dissatisfaction with weight and body shapes is a contributor to the growing incidence of adolescent eating disorders. Our purpose was to compare the relationship between body weight and body image in a convenience sample of rural and urban girls. We also wanted to examine the influence of the mothers on their daughters by asking the girls how their mothers would classify their body shapes. Three hundred and forty adolescent Egyptian schoolgirls representing Cairo and surrounding rural areas were studied. The girls were from private and public schools. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Body image was determined by asking participants to indicate which of five silhouettes of a female body most closely resembled her own current body size. We also asked them to select the silhouette that closely resembled their mothers' current body size. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference standards, 35% of the girls were > or = 85th percentile, while 13% were > or = 95th percentile. Overweight was more prevalent in urban than rural girls and in those with higher socio-economic status than in lower socio-economic status girls. Girls' perceptions of how their mothers viewed their bodies differed from how the girls viewed their own bodies. From a policy point of view, these data underscore the need to consider not only the health risks associated with overweight and its distribution on the body, but also the weight and body image of the target audience in the design of clinical and public health intervention programs worldwide.     

Description of tobacco use and cessation among Bhutanese refugees participating in a tobacco cessation program

Objectives. To compare the tobacco use, exposure, and cessation differences between Bhutanese refugee and non-Hispanic Caucasian tobacco users in a US federally qualified health center tobacco cessation program.

Design. A retrospective cohort study reviewing data from 374 patients counseled on tobacco cessation was performed. Demographic information, tobacco use history, exposure to tobacco, and type of tobacco used characterized baseline assessments. The patient record was followed forward in time to evaluate tobacco cessation outcomes as the dependent variable. Data were analyzed using odds ratios and the Mann–Whitney U-test.

Results. Data analysis included 318 patients (211 non-Hispanic Caucasian patients and 107 Bhutanese refugee patients). Bhutanese refugees demonstrated a higher likelihood of smokeless tobacco product use than the non-Hispanic Caucasian population (67.3% vs 1%, OR?=?214.971, 95% CI 50.429, 916.383), and a greater odds of having household tobacco users (OR?=?2.533, 95% CI 1.532, 4.186). Likewise, the non-Hispanic Caucasian population exhibited larger odds of smoking cigarettes vs the Bhutanese population (97.2% vs 26.2%, OR?=?96.399, 95% CI 38.449, 241.687), had a higher odds of passive smoke exposure (OR?=?12.765, 95% CI 5.36, 30.393), and higher likelihood of a past quit attempt (OR?=?9.037, 95% CI 5.180, 15.765). Significant gender differences with regard to type of tobacco used were noted among Bhutanese refugees. Bhutanese refugees demonstrated significantly higher likelihood of tobacco cessation, compared with the non-Hispanic Caucasian population, at all length cutpoints, while showing no difference in number of follow-up visits or median time followed.

Conclusion. These culture-specific findings, showing unique tobacco use characteristics and increased cessation among the Bhutanese refugee population, provide novel information helpful to professionals identifying and treating these individuals for tobacco cessation. More research is needed to confirm our results and findings.