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Reproductive Health Jul 2024There is a dearth of research examining the couple characteristics in determining contractive utilization behavior in developing countries. This study fills the gap by...
BACKGROUND
There is a dearth of research examining the couple characteristics in determining contractive utilization behavior in developing countries. This study fills the gap by analyzing the roles of women's intra-household bargaining power and spousal age differentials in predicting contraceptive utilization behavior in Pakistani women.
METHODS
A sample of 13,331, excluding pregnant and sexually inactive married women aged 15-49, was extracted from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. The dataset is cross-sectional. Exploratory analysis was used to examine the pattern of contraceptive knowledge, types of contraceptive utilization, and intention to use contraceptives among women. Furthermore, binary regressions were employed to examine the association of women's intrahousehold bargaining power and spousal age difference with contraceptive utilization without and after accounting for all potential covariates.
RESULTS
Only 33% of women use contraceptives, while 30% express an intention to use contraceptives in the future. Almost all women (98%) knew about modern contraceptives. Compared to same-age couples, higher odds of current contraceptive use are observed among women whose husbands are at least 20 years older than them or whose husbands are young to them. The odds of the intention to use contraceptives tend to increase with the increase in spousal age difference. Women's intra-household bargaining is a significant predictor of current contraceptive utilization and intention to use contraceptives.
CONCLUSION
Findings underscore the importance of considering the couple's characteristics in reproductive healthcare programming and policies.
RECOMMENDATION
Greater women's intra-household bargaining power and smaller spousal age differences are associated with higher contraceptive usage. Empowering women and promoting their decision-making authority within households can enhance reproductive health outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Pakistan; Contraception Behavior; Adolescent; Young Adult; Middle Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Family Planning Services; Contraception; Spouses; Intention; Family Characteristics
PubMed: 38961450
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01815-z -
BMC Public Health Jul 2024In the United States (US), three types of vaccines are available to prevent invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), a severe and potentially fatal infection: quadrivalent...
BACKGROUND
In the United States (US), three types of vaccines are available to prevent invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), a severe and potentially fatal infection: quadrivalent conjugate vaccines against serogroups A, C, W, Y (MenACWY), and monovalent vaccines against serogroup B (MenB) as well as a newly licensed pentavalent vaccine (MenABCWY) protecting against serogroup A, B, C, W, and Y. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) routinely recommends MenACWY vaccine for all 11- to 12-year-olds with a booster dose at 16 years. MenB vaccination is recommended based on shared clinical decision-making (SCDM) for 16- to 23-year-olds. Recently, the pentavalent meningococcal vaccine (MenABCWY) was recommended by the ACIP. Meningococcal vaccine uptake is suboptimal across the country, particularly among individuals with lower socioeconomic status (SES), despite these recommendations. The objective of the spatial analyses was to assess the relationship between stocking of MenACWY and MenB vaccines, area-level SES, and state-level policies.
METHODS
The number of MenACWY and MenB doses stocked by vaccinators was obtained from IQVIA and the CDC's Vaccine for Children (VFC) program and compiled into a county-level dataset from 2016 to 2019. SES, as measured using the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), state-level school recommendations, and universal purchasing programs were among the main county-level covariates included to control for factors likely influencing stocking. Data were stratified by public and private market. Bayesian spatial regression models were developed to quantify the variations in rates of stocking and the relative rates of stocking of both vaccines.
RESULTS
After accounting for county-level characteristics, lower SES counties tended to have fewer doses of MenB relative to MenACWY on both public and private markets. Lower SES counties tended to have more supply of public vs. private doses. Universal purchasing programs had a strong effect on the markets for both vaccines shifting nearly all doses to the public market. School vaccination strategy was key for improving stocking rates.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the results show that MenACWY has greater stock relative to MenB across the US. This difference is exacerbated in vulnerable areas without school entry requirements for vaccination and results in inequity of vaccine availability. Beyond state-level policy and SES differences, SCDM recommendations may be a contributing factor, although this was not directly assessed by our model.
Topics: Humans; Meningococcal Vaccines; United States; Meningococcal Infections; Child; Adolescent; Healthcare Disparities; Young Adult; Health Services Accessibility
PubMed: 38961431
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19081-w -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Jul 2024The utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is experiencing a global surge, accompanied by the adoption of national CAM policies in numerous...
BACKGROUND
The utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is experiencing a global surge, accompanied by the adoption of national CAM policies in numerous countries. Traditional Persian medicine (TPM) is highly used as CAM in Iran, and the ongoing scientific evaluation of its interventions and the implementation of evidence-based medicine (EBM) encounters various barriers. Therefore, comprehending the characteristics and interactions of stakeholders is pivotal in advancing EBM within TPM policies. In this study, we utilized both classical stakeholder analysis and social network analysis to identify key stakeholders and potential communication patterns, thereby promoting EBM in TPM policy-making.
METHODS
A cross-sectional nationwide stakeholder analysis was conducted in 2023 using snowball sampling. The interviews were carried out using a customized version of the six building blocks of health. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Stakeholders were assessed based on five factors (power, interest, influence, position, and competency). The connections and structure of the network were analyzed using degree, betweenness, closeness centrality, and modularity index to detect clusters of smaller networks.
RESULTS
Among twenty-three identified stakeholders, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) and the Public were the most powerful and influential. The Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences was the most competent stakeholder. Social network analysis revealed a low density of connections among stakeholders. Pharmaceutical companies were identified as key connectors in the network, while the Public, supreme governmental bodies, and guilds acted as gatekeepers or brokers. The MOHME and Maraji were found to be high-ranking stakeholders based on four different centrality measures.
CONCLUSION
This study identifies powerful stakeholders in the network and emphasizes the need to engage uninterested yet significant stakeholders. Recommendations include improving competence through education, strengthening international relations, and fostering stronger relationships. Engaging key connectors and gatekeepers is essential for bridging gaps in the network.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Iran; Medicine, Traditional; Social Network Analysis; Stakeholder Participation; Male; Female; Evidence-Based Practice; Adult; Evidence-Based Medicine; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38961415
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04564-5 -
BMC Public Health Jul 2024In the UK people living in disadvantaged communities are less likely than those with higher socio-economic status to have a healthy diet. To address this inequality, it... (Review)
Review
In the UK people living in disadvantaged communities are less likely than those with higher socio-economic status to have a healthy diet. To address this inequality, it is crucial scientists, practitioners and policy makers understand the factors that hinder and assist healthy food choice in these individuals. In this scoping review, we aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among disadvantaged individuals living in the UK. Additionally, we used the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to synthesise results and provide a guide for the development of theory-informed behaviour change interventions. Five databases were searched, (CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) for articles assessing healthy dietary intake of disadvantaged adults living in the UK. A total of 50 papers (34 quantitative; 16 qualitative) were included in this review. Across all studies we identified 78 barriers and 49 facilitators found to either impede and/or encourage healthy eating. Both barriers and facilitators were more commonly classified under the Environmental, Context and Resources TDF domain, with 74% of studies assessing at least one factor pertaining to this domain. Results thus indicate that context related factors such as high cost and accessibility of healthy food, rather than personal factors, such as lack of efficiency in healthy lifestyle drive unhealthy eating in disadvantaged individuals in the UK. We discuss how such factors are largely overlooked in current interventions and propose that more effort should be directed towards implementing interventions that specifically target infrastructures rather than individuals.
Topics: Humans; United Kingdom; Vulnerable Populations; Diet, Healthy; Adult
PubMed: 38961413
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19259-2 -
BMC Public Health Jul 2024Providing nurturing care for young children is essential for promoting early child development (ECD). However, there is limited knowledge about how mothers and fathers...
BACKGROUND
Providing nurturing care for young children is essential for promoting early child development (ECD). However, there is limited knowledge about how mothers and fathers across diverse contexts in sub-Saharan Africa care for their children and from whom they receive guidance and support in their caregiving roles. We aimed to examine caregivers' nurturing care practices and sources of parenting knowledge in rural Mozambique.
METHODS
This is a secondary analysis using data from a qualitative evaluation of a pilot intervention to improve nurturing care for early child health and development within existing health systems. The evaluation was conducted across three primary care health facilities and their catchment areas in Nampula province, Mozambique. For this study, we analyzed data from in-depth interviews conducted with 36 caregivers (32 mothers and 4 fathers) to investigate mothers' and fathers' daily caregiving experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.
RESULTS
Caregivers described various caregiving roles relating to general caregiving of young children (e.g., feeding, bathing, caring for child's health) and stimulation (e.g., play and communication) activities. Mothers more commonly engaged in general caregiving activities than fathers, whereas both mothers and fathers engaged in stimulation activities. Other family members, including siblings, grandparents, and aunts/uncles, were also actively engaged in general caregiving activities. With respect to sources of parenting knowledge, caregivers received parenting guidance and support primarily from their own mothers/parents and facility-based health providers.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight the importance of adopting a holistic approach involving caregivers and their context and reveal potential strategies to promote caregiving and ECD in rural Mozambique and similar contexts.
Topics: Humans; Mozambique; Female; Parenting; Male; Rural Population; Qualitative Research; Adult; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Fathers; Mothers; Child, Preschool; Infant; Middle Aged; Caregivers; Young Adult; Interviews as Topic
PubMed: 38961411
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19291-2 -
Health Research Policy and Systems Jul 2024Many people face problems about physical, mental, and social dimensions of health, and may have complex needs. They often experience a mismatch between their needs and...
Many people face problems about physical, mental, and social dimensions of health, and may have complex needs. They often experience a mismatch between their needs and the ability of the healthcare system to meet them, resulting in under- or overutilization of the healthcare system. On one hand, improving access to community-based primary healthcare for hard-to-reach populations should bring all healthcare and social services to one point of contact, near the community. On the other hand, better addressing the unmet needs of people who overuse healthcare services calls for integrated care among providers across all settings and sectors. In either case, intersectoral action between healthcare and social professionals and resources remains central to bringing care closer to the people and the community, enhancing equitable access, and improving health status. However, efforts to implement integrated care are unevenly weighted toward clinical and professional strategies (micro level), which could jeopardize our ability to implement and sustain integrated care. The development of appropriate policies and governance mechanisms (macro level) is essential to break down silos, promote a coherent intersectoral action, and improve health equity.
Topics: Humans; Health Policy; Health Services Accessibility; Health Services Needs and Demand; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; Health Equity; Social Work; Primary Health Care; Delivery of Health Care; Intersectoral Collaboration; Community Health Services
PubMed: 38961404
DOI: 10.1186/s12961-024-01171-1 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Jul 2024Although posterior decompression with fusion (PDF) are effective for treating thoracic myelopathy, surgical treatment has a high risk of various complications. There is... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Perioperative complications and cost of posterior decompression with fusion in thoracic spine for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and ossification of the ligamentum flavum -a comparative study using a national inpatient database.
BACKGROUND
Although posterior decompression with fusion (PDF) are effective for treating thoracic myelopathy, surgical treatment has a high risk of various complications. There is currently no information available on the perioperative complications in thoracic ossification of the longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL) and thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (T-OLF). We evaluate the perioperative complication rate and cost between T-OPLL and T-OLF for patients underwent PDF.
METHODS
Patients undergoing PDF for T-OPLL and T-OLF from 2012 to 2018 were detected in Japanese nationwide inpatient database. One-to-one propensity score matching between T-OPLL and T-OLF was performed based on patient characteristics and preoperative comorbidities. We examined systemic and local complication rate, reoperation rate, length of hospital stays, costs, discharge destination, and mortality after matching.
RESULTS
In a total of 2,660 patients, 828 pairs of T-OPLL and T-OLF patients were included after matching. The incidence of systemic complications did not differ significantly between the T-OPLL and OLF groups. However, local complications were more frequently occurred in T-OPLL than in T-OLF groups (11.4% vs. 7.7% P = 0.012). Transfusion rates was also significantly higher in the T-OPLL group (14.1% vs. 9.4%, P = 0.003). T-OPLL group had longer hospital stay (42.2 days vs. 36.2 days, P = 0.004) and higher medical costs (USD 32,805 vs. USD 25,134, P < 0.001). In both T-OPLL and T-OLF, the occurrence of perioperative complications led to longer hospital stay and higher medical costs. While fewer patients in T-OPLL were discharged home (51.6% vs. 65.1%, P < 0.001), patients were transferred to other hospitals more frequently (47.5% vs. 33.5%, P = 0.001).
CONCLUSION
This research identified the perioperative complications of T-OPLL and T-OLF in PDF using a large national database, which revealed that the incidence of local complications was higher in the T-OPLL patients. Perioperative complications resulted in longer hospital stays and higher medical costs.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Thoracic Vertebrae; Ligamentum Flavum; Spinal Fusion; Middle Aged; Decompression, Surgical; Aged; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament; Postoperative Complications; Japan; Databases, Factual; Ossification, Heterotopic; Length of Stay; Reoperation; Retrospective Studies; Inpatients; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38961370
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07617-5 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jul 2024The available evidence presented inconsistencies and inconclusive findings regarding the associations between co-existing asthma and mortality among COVID-19 patients....
BACKGROUND
The available evidence presented inconsistencies and inconclusive findings regarding the associations between co-existing asthma and mortality among COVID-19 patients. The objective of the current study is to investigate the relationship between asthma and severe outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in an infection-naïve population.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort study using propensity score matching was conducted. The COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalisation in Hong Kong from January 1, 2022, to November 13, 2022, an Omicron-predominated period, were identified. Severe clinical outcomes were defined as ICU admission and inpatient death after the first positive PCR results as well as a composite outcome of both.
RESULTS
Of the 74,396 hospitalised COVID-19 patients admitted, 1,290 asthma patients and 18,641 non-asthma patients were included in the matched cohort. The rates of death and the composite outcome were 15·3% and 17·2%, respectively, among the non-asthma patients,12·2% and 13·6%, respectively, among the asthma patients, with adjusted hazard ratios equal to 0·775 (95% CI: 0·660-0·909) and 0·770 (95% CI: 0·662-0·895), respectively. The negative association was more apparent in the elderly and female groups. Asthma remained a factor that lowered the risk of disease severity even though the patients were not fully vaccinated with at least two doses.
CONCLUSIONS
We used real-world data to demonstrate that asthma was not a risk factor for COVID-19 severity of the infections of Omicron variant, even though the patients were not fully vaccinated.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Female; Male; Retrospective Studies; Asthma; Middle Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Hong Kong; Aged; Adult; Hospitalization; Severity of Illness Index; Propensity Score; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38961350
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09520-9 -
Journal of Public Health Policy Jul 2024Armed conflicts exacerbate public health challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inequality across groups and poverty in rural areas can be an important factor in triggering...
Armed conflicts exacerbate public health challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inequality across groups and poverty in rural areas can be an important factor in triggering local wars. This study investigates whether equitable distribution of public services by governments across urban and rural geographical regions reduces the risk of local wars initiated by armed groups in Sub-Saharan African countries. Does an equitable distribution of public services such as healthcare and clean water public services across regions decrease the risk of armed conflicts? Uneven distribution of public services can increase the risk of conflict by contributing to group grievances, rural poverty, and rent-seeking competition over government resources. Analyses of 39 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1947 to 2021 show that a one-standard deviation increase in equal access to public services by urban-rural location lowers the risk of armed conflict, a substantial 37 to 53 percent with consideration of a battery of control variables.
PubMed: 38961278
DOI: 10.1057/s41271-024-00472-7 -
Nature Ecology & Evolution Jul 2024
PubMed: 38961255
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02465-x