Search

Background: Disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) has been used to gain a better understanding of the population's quality of life. Objectives: The authors aimed to estimate age and sex-specific disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) for urban and rural areas of Bangladesh, as well as to investigate the differences in DFLE between males and females of urban and rural areas. Methods: Data from the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics-2016 and the Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)-2016 were used to calculate the disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) of urban and rural males and females in Bangladesh in 2016. The DFLE was calculated using the Sullivan method. Results: With only a few exceptions, rural areas have higher mortality and disability rates than urban areas. For both males and females, statistically significant differences in DFLE were reported between urban and rural areas between the ages of birth and 39 years. In comparison to rural males and females, urban males and females had a longer life expectancy (LE), a longer disability-free life expectancy, and a higher share of life without disability. Conclusion: This study illuminates stark urban–rural disparities in LE and DFLE, especially among individuals aged < 1–39 years. Gender dynamics reveal longer life expectancy but shorter disability-free life expectancy for Bangladeshi women compared to men, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address these pronounced health inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to explore the association of obesity by body mass index (BMI) measurements with subjective health status (SHS), objective health status (OHS) and wellbeing status among older adults in England. The sample of 5640 participants (aged 50 years and over) are considered from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing Wave 8 dataset. Multivariate logistic regression analysis is performed to explore the cross-sectional relationship of the study variables. The statistical analyses explored those overweight and obese older adults are progressively vulnerable to increasing odds of poor SHS, OHS and poor wellbeing in an adjusted model compared to their normal-weight counterparts. The outcome of the present study would enable policymakers and healthcare providers to have greater insight into the effects of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors and the effect of high BMI on older adults' health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Living in hilly neighbourhoods can be associated with sedentary behaviour, but no study has compared sedentary behaviour and its associations with frailty, chronic diseases, and poor health between flat and hilly neighbourhoods among older adults. This study, therefore, compared older adults' sedentary behaviour and its association with frailty, poor health, and chronic disease status between low and hilly neighbourhoods. Methods: This study utilised a STROBE-compliant cross-sectional design with sensitivity analyses and a common methods bias assessment. The participants were 1,209 people aged 50+ years who resided in flat (Ablekuma North, n = 704) and hilly (Kwahu East, n = 505) neighbourhoods in Ghana. The data were analysed with the independent samples t-test and hierarchical linear regression. Results: Older adults in the hilly neighbourhood were more sedentary than those in the flat neighbourhood. The association between sedentary behaviour and chronic disease status was significant in both neighbourhoods, but this relationship was stronger in the hilly neighbourhood. Older adults in the flat neighbourhood reported lower sedentary behaviour at higher frailty (β = -0.18; t = -3.2, p < 0.001), but those in the hilly neighbourhood reported higher sedentary behaviour at higher frailty (β = 0.16; t = 3.54, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Older adults living in the hilly neighbourhood reported higher sedentary behaviour. In the hilly neighbourhood, sedentary behaviour was more strongly associated with frailty and chronic disease status. Older adults in hilly neighbourhoods may need extra support to avoid sedentary behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research shows that frailty is associated with higher sedentary behaviour, but the evidence to date regarding this association is inconclusive. This study assessed whether the above association is moderated or modified by gender and age, with sedentary behaviour measured with a more inclusive method. Methods: This study adopted a STROBE-compliant cross-sectional design with sensitivity analyses and measures against common methods bias. The participants were community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 66 years) in two Ghanaian towns. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data from 1005 participants after the minimum sample size necessary was calculated. The hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: After adjusting for the ultimate confounders, frailty was associated with higher sedentary behaviour (β = 0.14; t = 2.93; p <0.05) as well as partial and absolute sedentary behaviour. Gender modified the above associations in the sense that frailty was more strongly associated with sedentary behaviour among women, compared with men. Age also modified the association between frailty and sedentary behaviour, which suggests that frailty was more strongly associated with higher sedentary behaviour at a higher age. Conclusion: Sedentary behaviour could be higher at higher frailty among older adults. Frailty is more strongly associated with sedentary behaviour at a higher age and among women, compared with men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) kept track of COVID‐19 data at country level daily during the pandemic that included the number of tests, infected cases and fatalities. This daily record was susceptible to change depending on the time and place and impacted by underreporting. In addition to reporting cases of excess COVID‐19‐related deaths, the WHO also provided estimates of excess mortality based on mathematical models. Objective: To evaluate the WHO reported and model‐based estimate of excess deaths to determine the degree of agreement and universality. Methodology: Epidemiological data gathered from nine different countries between April 2020 and December 2021 are used in this study. These countries are India, Indonesia, Italy, Russia, United Kingdom, Mexico, the United States, Brazil and Peru and each of them recorded more than 1.5 million deaths from COVID‐19 during these months. Statistical tools including correlation, linear regression, intraclass correlation and Bland–Altman plots are used to assess the degree of agreement between reported and model‐based estimates of excess deaths. Results: The WHO‐derived mathematical model for estimating excess deaths due to COVID‐19 was found to be appropriate for only four of the nine chosen countries, namely Italy, United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil. The other countries showed proportional biases and significantly high regression coefficients. Conclusion: The study revealed that, for some of the chosen nations, the mathematical model proposed by the WHO is practical and capable of estimating the number of excess deaths brought on by COVID‐19. However, the derived approach cannot be applied globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study investigated the association between fear of falling and self‐care behaviours of older people with hypertension. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Methods: This study was conducted in 2019 on 301 older people with hypertension above the age of 60 years in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Persian Falls Efficacy Scale‐International, and a hypertension‐related self‐care behaviour questionnaire. Results: Analyses revealed that gender, educational level and history of falling were significant factors associated with fear of falling; and marital status, educational level and income source were significant factors associated with self‐care behaviours (p < 0.05). Partial correlations controlling for education revealed a significant positive correlation showing that high fear of falling is associated with worse health promotion self‐care behaviours and significant inverse correlations with psycho‐emotional, social and daily self‐care behaviours (p < 0.05), meaning that high fear of falling is associated with better self‐care for these dimensions. Patient or Public Contribution: This study involved patients in order to evaluate the validity and reliability of the questionnaires. The study was conducted on older people with hypertension referred to hypertension clinics in hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, nearly 15% of people suffer from various kinds of disabilities, and China has the largest disabled population in the world. The poor mental health status of people with disabilities has become an essential issue in most countries. The main aim of this study was to explore the potential impact of internet use on depression risk among middle-aged and older adults with different types of disabilities. Methods: The data used in this study were obtained from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected by Peking University. A binary logit model was used to analyze the impact of internet use on the depression risk among adults with disabilities, and the substitute variable method and the propensity score matching method were used to examine the robustness of the results. Results: (1) Internet use was negatively associated with depression risk among disabled people, and the higher the frequency of their internet use, the lower the probability of their depression risk. (2) Different social activities related to the internet had different impacts on the depression risk, and the decline in depression risk was mainly related to watching videos, watching news, and chatting via the internet. (3) Internet use reduced the depression risk of adults with physical disabilities, but had no impact on those with other types of disabilities. Conclusions: Our study suggests that internet use may have a positive spillover effect on decreasing the depression risk of disabled people, but the reduction effect is significantly affected by the social activities related to the internet and the types of disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The study aims to determine the social care need among overweight and obese older adults by identifying the number of social care support receipts from different sources. Methods. A sample of 5640 participants (aged 50 years and over) taken from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing Wave 8 dataset. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between the study variables. Results. The statistical analyses demonstrated that overweight and obese older adults are the recipients of increasing amounts of informal social care. Moderate and morbidly obese participants are the recipients of increasing amounts of formal care compared to their normal-weight counterparts, with morbid obesity being a strong predictor for receipt of formal care. Conclusions. The present study's findings demonstrate that for older adults aged 50 years presence of morbid obesity is a strongest predictor for receipt of formal care, and their well-being is not associated with formal or informal care receipt. The findings on how wider lifestyle factors influence the number of social care receipts, from different sources, may help policymakers and healthcare providers to allocate limited resources for adult social care services and promote healthy ageing rather than just focusing on weight loss alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an increased prevalence of people living alone in later life, understanding the health and wellbeing of older women living alone in the UK is an important area of research. Little is known about health and wellbeing in this population and whether they differ from those who cohabit. This paper fills this research gap. Analysis was undertaken of Wave 8 of the Understanding Society Household Panel Survey, including variables such as internet use and volunteering. Differences were found between those who live alone and cohabit. Volunteering was a predictor of better health outcomes for those who lived alone but not for those who cohabit, despite similar rates of volunteering. Internet use predicted some better health outcome for those who cohabit but poorer for those who live alone. This suggests lifestyle factors vary in how they affect the health and wellbeing of older women, depending on cohabitation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: More people are living alone across the life course: in later life this can have implications for practical and psychosocial support. The Covid pandemic emphasised the importance of this when the UK government restricted movement outside of households to limit the spread of disease. This had important ramifications regarding social contact and practical support. The objectives of this study were to explore the experience of older women living alone during this time, with a focus on health and wellbeing. Research design and methods: This study used an Interpretative Phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with seven women (aged 65 +), living alone in the UK. Interviews were carried out between May and October 2020. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. Results: Findings show that life course events shaped how living alone was experienced in later life. Convergences and divergences in lived experience were identified. Three superordinate themes emerged from the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Productivity, Ownership, and Interconnectedness. Discussion and implications: Findings highlight the importance of life course events in shaping the experience of later life. They also provide a better understanding of the lived experience of living alone as an older woman, increasing knowledge of this group and how living alone can affect health and wellbeing. Implications for research and practice are discussed, such as the importance of recognising the specific support needs for this group in later life, and the need for further knowledge about groups whose needs are not met by standard practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the year 2003 when the first walkability scale was published to date, person-environment fit models and empirical research, some of which was published in Health Promotion International , have encapsulated healthy communities in 'neighborhood walkability'. While there is no doubt that neighborhood walkability positively influences health-seeking behaviors and health, recent models suggest that their measurement and conceptualization have not emphasized the role played by psychosocial and personal factors in aging in place. Thus, the development of scales measuring human ecosystem factors has not recognized all critical factors suited for older adults. In this paper, we aim to draw on relevant literature to frame a more holistic construct, hereby referred to as Socially Active Neighborhoods (SAN), that would better support aging in place in older populations. Through a narrative review based on a systematic search of the literature, we define the scope of SAN and delineate some contextual implications for gerontology, health promotion and psychometric testing. SAN, unlike neighborhood walkability in its current measurement and conceptualization, incorporates critical theory-informed psychosocial factors (i.e. safety and disability friendliness of neighborhood infrastructure) that can encourage older adults with physiological and cognitive limitations to maintain physical and social activities as well as health in later life. The SAN is the result of our adaptation of key person-environment models, including the Context Dynamics in Aging (CODA) framework, that recognizes the role of context in healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate parental knowledge of tobacco effects on health and parental perceptions on tobacco control measures at households in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Out of 1436 tobacco-using parents, a total of 400 participants were selected for the cross-sectional survey using a multi-stage probability sampling. Overall knowledge and perceptions of parents were scored. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were performed. There were 19.8% of parents who had good knowledge about health effects of tobacco and 40.8% had positive perception on home initiatives of tobacco control measures respectively. The study revealed that knowledge of overall tobacco effects on health (AOR = 20.92, 95% CI = 2.60–167.83), asthma (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.17–0.49), infertility (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.24–0.77) and pre-eclampsia (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.14–0.90) were significantly increased the odds of parents good knowledge. Whereas parental perceptions indicate that living in the joint family was positively associated with controlling tobacco use (AOR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.88–5.13). It suggests that health education programs need to be developed to improve parental awareness on the adverse health effects of tobacco use at households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortality forecasts are essential part for policymaking in any aging society. In recent years, methods to model and forecast mortality have improved considerably. Among them, Lee-Carter method is one of the most influential method. In this paper, Lee-Carter method is applied to forecast mortality and life expectancy of Bangladesh. A functional data analysis approach is used to decompose the smoothed log-mortality rates in Lee-Carter framework for higher goodness-of-fit of the models and for longer forecast horizons. Bangladesh has been experiencing a mortality transition and has gained life expectancy in last few decades. The fitted model here showed higher pace of mortality decline for women in Bangladesh than that of men. The forecasts showed continuation of mortality improvement in long run and by 2060 life expectancy at birth is expected to reach over 80 years for both sexes in Bangladesh. The study also predicts the effect of reduction in infant mortality on the life expectancy in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older women are more likely to live alone in later life in the UK; however, relatively little is known as to how this has an association with poorer health. This paper attempts to fill this research gap, assessing if living alone is a risk factor for poorer health in later life. The Household Panel Survey data, wave 8 were used which was collected during 2017 in the United Kingdom. Women's household types were divided into three types: living alone, living with a partner and living with others (not a partner). Seven health and wellbeing outcome variables were used. Descriptive analysis and regression analyses examined the role of living alone in predicting health and wellbeing, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic (SES) factors. Results showed significant differences between the household types. However, living alone was not found to be a risk factor for poorer health once SES variables were included in the regression models. While there were differences in the health and wellbeing of the three household composition types, these differences were not found to be significant once demographic and socioeconomic variables were accounted for. Future UK policy should aim to reduce inequalities in SES throughout the life course to improve health and wellbeing in later life. Future research directions include a more detailed examination of the determinants of health of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale/Aim: Falls can have severe consequences particularly for older patients with cancer undergoing ambulatory care. The aim of the study is to identify the predictors of falls in older patients receiving cancer ambulatory care and evaluate the accuracy of the final multivariable model in detecting older patients with falls. Method: A retrospective study was conducted on 300 older patients aged 60 years and above that were referred for ambulatory care in three oncology clinics based at hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Participants completed a questionnaire comprising demographic, history of falls, and cancer‐related factors. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors associated with falls. Results: A total of 35.3% of the older patients with cancer had experienced a fall in the 6 months following the start of their ambulatory care. The most important predictors of falls include the fourth stage of cancer (odds ratio [OR]: 6.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.20–13.08, p < 0.001), fear of falling (OR: 5.64, 95% CI: 2.58–12.33, p < 0.001), use of hearing (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.07–5.29, p = 0.033) and visual aids (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.12–5.01, p = 0.025), and the number of visits to the doctor (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.21, p = 0.035). Conclusions: The results indicate that a reduction in falls is possible by introducing strategies to improve care for older patients in the advanced stage of cancer, eliminating the causes of fear of falling, examining and improving vision and hearing, and identifying and addressing the underlying causes of visits to the doctor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of developing an effective action-based model of care for multimorbid patients has become common knowledge, but it remains unclear why researchers in Nigeria have not paid attention to the issue. Hence, this study assessed the quality of health services using the Donabedian model and aimed to recommend an effective hospital care delivery model for older people in Nigeria with multimorbidity. A cross-sectional study using face-to-face data was conducted between October 2021 and February 2022. The reported data were collated, checked, coded, and entered into JISC online survey software and then exported to IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27 for analysis, sourced from the University of West London, London, United Kingdom. The data were collected from the outpatient department of four high-volume public secondary hospitals in Niger State (the largest hospital in the three senatorial zones and that of the state capital). Systematic random sampling was used to select 734 patients with two or more chronic diseases (multimorbidity) aged 60 years and above who presented for routine ambulatory outpatient and consented to participate in the study. A Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) tool was used to assess the structure, and the process quality was assessed by the patients' experiences as they navigated the care pathway, whereas the outcome was measured using the patients' overall satisfaction. Using Spearman's correlation, no statistically significant association was observed between satisfaction level with the healthcare that was received and the five domains of health facility readiness (Total score Basic Amenities, Total score Basic Equipment, Total score infection control, Total score diagnostic capacity, Total score essential drugs), and the general facility readiness. Finally, the process component superseded the structure as the determinant of the quality of healthcare among multimorbid patients in Niger State. The emphasis of the process should be on improving access to quality of care, improving patient–physician relationships and timing, reducing the financial burden of medical care, and building confidence and trust in medical care. Therefore, these factors should be incorporated into designing the healthcare model for multimorbid patients in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to critically review the literature on the consequences of obesity among older adults and its association with health, well-being, and social care need. A search was conducted using, primarily, three databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, or MEDLARS Online (MEDLINE) and Academic Search Elite with the help of Boolean operators. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were set to avoid bias in the selection of articles. Publications were reviewed to identify the impact of obesity among older people in terms of health and social care needs and to establish a relation between them. Gaps in the literature have been identified concerning obesity in the older adults, their health status, well-being, and social care need. The research questions were formulated to satisfy these gaps. A conceptual model was developed to map out the theoretical threads to form a diagrammatic representation to satisfy the research questions based on existing literature.The literature review established that the degree of disabilities and comorbidities related to obesity are directly proportionate and identified the gaps in the literature, where further research work is needed. The research objectives were built according to the identified gaps, the research questions were formulated to satisfy the research objectives, and a conceptual framework was also drawn to establish the links between the research questions. This review will guide a way forward to explore the unmet care needs of the aging society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive social challenge with severe health and demographic consequences. Global statistics indicate that more than a third of women have experienced IPV at some point in their lives. In South Africa, IPV is considered a significant contributor to the country's broader problem with violence and a leading cause of femicide. Consequently, IPV has been the major focus of legislation and research across different disciplines. The present article aims to contribute to the growing scholarly literature by predicting factors that are associated with the risk of experiencing IPV. We used the 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey dataset and restricted our analysis to 1,816 ever-married women who had complete information on the variables that were used to generate IPV. Prior research has mainly used regression analysis to identify correlates of IPV; however, while regression analysis can test a priori specified effects, it cannot capture unspecified inter-relationship across factors. To address this limitation, we opted for machine learning methods, which identify hidden and complex patterns and relationships in the data. Our results indicate that the fear of the husband is the most critical factor in determining the experience of IPV. In other words, the risk of IPV in South Africa is associated more with the husband or partner's characteristics than the woman's. The models developed in this study can be used to develop interventions by different stakeholders such as social workers, policymakers, and or other interested partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent influx of Myanmar Rohingya people are allowed in Bangladesh simply due to humanitarian reason, of which older people are amongst the most vulnerable groups. Utilizing integrated methods, the refugee crisis is being managed jointly by various stakeholders. Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) is an NGO that has been providing support to older Rohingya people in the camps since the crisis began through their Age Friendly Support (AFS) centres. These centres provide basic medical treatment, counselling, education, health and wellbeing services, indoor games, and recreational services/activities. Yet, there have not been any studies to understand the expectations of older Rohingya people living in the camps. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the current YPSA support for older Rohingya people living in the Ukhiya camps and to evaluate their expectations for returning to Myanmar. A pilot survey was conducted on 26th April 2019 in two camp sites and in-depth interviews were also conducted with 4 participants (2 males and 2 females), followed by a focus group discussion. It emerged that older Rohingya people received necessary support services from these YPSA centres and are generally happy with those services. Although they remain grateful to Bangladesh for sheltering them, they are not as happy compared to their lives back in Myanmar. Most of the older people reported that their expectations involved a return to Myanmar as soon as possible as well as seeking justice from the international community so that the Rohingya crisis could soon come to an end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health concern, with women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bearing a disproportionately high burden. This study investigates the prevalence and factors correlated with attitudes regarding wife-beating among Bangladeshi women in urban–rural contexts. Methods: A sample of 13,033 urban women and 51,344 rural women data from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019 were analyzed using the Chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression model. Results: The findings reveal that arguing with her husband is the widespread reason for wife-beating in Bangladesh (urban: 17.3%, rural: 21.9%), followed by neglecting the children (urban: 12.7%, rural: 15.8%). About 8% of urban women and 10% of rural women favoured the opinion that refusing to involve sexual intercourse is a legitimate justification for wife-beating. In comparison, around 5% feel that a husband has a right to beat his wife due to burning food. The respondents' age, education, marital status, number of children, socioeconomic level, any health or physical difficulty, having problems becoming pregnant, and the husband's age are all significant factors in justifying wife-beating. Conclusions: Bangladesh has a massive challenge in eliminating IPV. Women from lower socioeconomic classes, low levels of education, other challenges, and residents of rural areas are particularly more vulnerable than their urban counterparts. Therefore, it is vital to develop a proper action plan that considers women's education and occupation to raise awareness of the various implications of wife-beating in women, particularly in Bangladesh's rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exemptions of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for poor people in Ghana have not been sufficiently explored. Using a qualitative approach that involved gathering and analyzing viewpoints from the community, this article investigates the factors that are used to determine NHIS exemptions. Focus group discussions and interviews of key informants were conducted during the period (August 2015–August 2016) within the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions in Ghana. Nine focus group discussions were conducted in nine different communities with 72 respondents. Nine key informants including local and national policy makers, civil servants, and local community members were also interviewed. A sampling method was adopted to capture a range of understandings of community indicators of poverty for NHIS exemptions. Community perceptions of the indicators of poverty included interconnected themes of income, employment, education, assets, and social marginalization. The findings highlight contextual and community descriptions associated with exemptions, of which poverty is a predictor, and discovered that to identify the indigent for exemptions based only on income and quantitative measures is not enough. The results are significant for a number of reasons including poor fit with official measures and the neglect of lay perspectives. For practice implications, our findings show that communities should be principal stakeholders for describing the disadvantaged groups that require exemptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Severe undernutrition among under-5 children is usually assessed using single or conventional indicators (i.e., severe stunting, severe wasting, and/or severe underweight). But these conventional indicators partly overlap, thus not providing a comprehensive estimate of the proportion of malnourished children in the population. Incorporating all these conventional nutritional indicators, the Composite Index of Severe Anthropometric Failure (CSIAF) provides six different undernutrition measurements and estimates the overall burden of severe undernutrition with a more comprehensive view. This study applied the CISAF indicators to investigate the prevalence of severe under-5 child undernutrition in Bangladesh and its associated socioeconomic factors in the rural-urban context.Methods: This study extracted the children dataset from the 2017-18 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS), and the data of 7661 children aged under-5 were used for further analyses. CISAF was used to define severe undernutrition by aggregating conventional nutritional indicators. Bivariate analysis was applied to examine the proportional differences of variables between non-severe undernutrition and severe undernutrition group. The potential associated socioeconomic factors for severe undernutrition were identified using the adjusted model of logistic regression analysis.Results: The overall prevalence of severe undernutrition measured by CISAF among the children under-5 was 11.0% in Bangladesh (rural 11.5% vs urban 9.6%). The significant associated socioeconomic factors of severe undernutrition in rural areas were children born with small birth weight (AOR: 2.84), children from poorest households (AOR: 2.44), and children aged < 36 months, and children of uneducated mothers (AOR: 2.15). Similarly, in urban areas, factors like- children with small birth weight (AOR: 3.99), children of uneducated parents (AOR: 2.34), poorest households (APR: 2.40), underweight mothers (AOR: 1.58), mothers without postnatal care (AOR: 2.13), and children's birth order ≥4 (AOR: 1.75), showed positive and significant association with severe under-5 undernutrition.Conclusion: Severe undernutrition among the under-5 children dominates in Bangladesh, especially in rural areas and the poorest urban families. More research should be conducted using such composite indices (like- CISAF) to depict the comprehensive scenario of severe undernutrition among the under-5 children and to address multi-sectoral intervening programs for eradicating severe child undernutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tackling malnutrition is a major health priority for a developing country like Bangladesh. This study explored the differences in prevalence of having only one form, and multiple forms, of severe malnutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) among under-5 children in Bangladesh, and aimed to identify the important factors affecting these. Data were extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic Health Surveys conducted in 2007, 2011 and 2014. The outcome measures were 'only one form' and 'multiple forms' of severe malnutrition in children aged under 5 years. A Chi-squared test was performed to find the association of outcome variables with selected socio-demographic factors and logistic regression models were applied to identify risk factors. A total of 19,874 children aged under 5 years were included in the analysis. The overall proportion with one form of severe child malnutrition was approximately 12%, and the proportion with multiple forms was 8%. Age, mother's education, father's occupation, mother currently working, watching television, source of water, solid waste used in cooking, intimate partner violence (IPV), wealth index, urban/rural place of residence and birth cohort were found to be significant factors for both having only one and having multiple forms of severe child malnutrition. Children with an uneducated mother of poor socioeconomic class had a higher risk of severe malnutrition. Children of fathers with a professional occupation were at lower risk of having multiple forms of severe malnutrition. The proportions of children aged under 5 years with one or multiple forms of severe malnutrition were shown to be high in Bangladesh. The prevention of malnutrition in the country should be seen as a significant public health issue and given top priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence is a persistent social problem in Zimbabwe and has been linked to patriarchal attitudes that promote the superiority of men in marital relationships while denying women agency. Using 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey data, we examined the influence of female autonomy on intimate partner violence. Our analysis was restricted to 2847 women who were in some form of sexual union. Consistent with earlier studies, our results show that more than 40% of the women had experienced some form of intimate partner violence. The most prevalent form of intimate partner violence was emotional violence, followed by physical violence and sexual violence. Low levels of economic autonomy and supportive attitudes towards wife-beating increased the risk of intimate partner violence, while late marriage reduced the risk of all forms of intimate partner violence. Findings provide a basis for interventions that may increase economic control and improve decision making for women, although the association between economic violence and economic decision making requires further research that examines the possibility of reverse causality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are currently 1.5 million indigenous people in Bangladesh, constituting 1.8% of the total population and representing one of the country's most deprived communities. This study explores the health status and quality of life along with their determinants among indigenous older people in Bangladesh in order to fill the knowledge and evidence gap on this topic. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was deployed in October 2019 in the Sylhet division of Bangladesh which involved a cross-sectional survey among 400 indigenous older adults (200 males, 200 females) from 8 tea gardens using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Ten in-depth interviews were also conducted with providers of the tea garden health facilities. Descriptive analysis, multiple logistic and multi-nominal linear regression were performed to explore associated factors around health and quality of life. Results: Of the total respondents, the majority (79.5%) had chronic diseases, with visual difficulty being predominant (74%) among the conditions. Almost all (94%) of the respondents experienced delays in receiving treatment and poverty was identified by most (85%) as the primary cause of those delays. Extreme age, being male, living alone and low family income were significantly associated with suffering from chronic conditions. Furthermore, having a chronic condition and extreme age were found to be significantly associated with a low quality of life. Health service providers identified lack of logistical support in the health facilities, the economic crisis and lack of awareness as the major causes of poor health status and poor health seeking behaviour of the indigenous older adults. Conclusion: Indigenous older men in extreme old age are more vulnerable to adverse health conditions and poor quality of life. Health literacy and health seeking behaviour is poor among indigenous older adults generally and there is a huge gap in the health services and social supports available to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examines trends and puts forward projections of under-5 mortality (U5M) in Bangladesh and identifies the effects of maternal high-risk fertility behaviours and use of healthcare services. Methods: Data from seven waves of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (1994–2014) were analyzed for trends and projections of U5M and a Chi-square (χ2) test was used to identify if there was any association with maternal high-risk fertility behaviours and use of healthcare services. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the effects of fertility behaviors and healthcare usage on the occurrence of U5M adjusting with confounders. Results: U5M declined from 82.5 to 41.0 per 1000 livebirths during 1994–2014 and is projected to further reduce to 17.6 per 1000 livebirths by 2030. The study identified a noticeable regional variation in U5M with maternal high-risk fertility behaviours including age at birth <18 years (aOR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.23–2.76) and birth interval <24 months (aOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.02–2.37) found to be significant determinants. There was a 39–53% decline in this rate of mortality among women that had used antenatal care services at least four times (aOR, 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27–0.97), delivery care (aOR, 0.47, 95% CI: 0.24–0.95), and had received postnatal care (aOR, 0.61, 95% CI: 0.41–0.91) in their last birth. Cesarean section was found to be associated with a 51% reduction in U5M (aOR, 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29–0.82) compared to its non-use. Conclusion: The Sustainable Development Goals require a U5M rate of 25 per 1000 livebirths to be achieved by 2030. This study suggests that with the current trend of reduction, Bangladesh will achieve this target before the deadline. This study also found that maternal high-risk fertility behaviours and non-use of maternal healthcare services are very prevalent in some regions of Bangladesh and have increased the occurrence of U5M in those areas. This suggests therefore, that policies and programmes designed to reduce the pregnancy rates of women that are at risk and to encourage an increase in the use of maternal healthcare services are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study attempts to evaluate the role of Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Founding Father of Bangladesh, in his initial plan on higher education and to produce adequate human resources to rebuild the country since independence. Secondary sources of information are used to evaluate his role in higher education expansion in Bangladesh. It has been revealed that the economic growth and development seen in Bangladesh today was largely impacted by his education plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to examine the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) policy from the perspective of local communities. Qualitative data from 9 key informant interviews and 72 community respondents in 9 focus group discussions were analyzed using a thematic network approach. The focus-group discussions took place in seven different communities in seven regions of Ghana. The findings noted a disconnection between NHIS policy and community life. More so, the findings showed an explicit link between equity and access with its impacts on health outcomes. The qualitative results indicated lack of voice and understanding as the features limiting people from accessing the NHIS facilities. Understanding of equity as a key theme revealed, first, lack of stakeholder engagement and consultation or participation in the NHIS decision-making process. Second, it was established that while the policy indicated a will to include all the core poor for an equitable NHIS, there is lack of willingness to implement this aim fully. Finally, despite being a pro-poor intervention by name, practical management of the NHIS is transmitted down vertical silos from the national level, with the lack of joined-up government at the center undermining local partnerships. Thus, not only are national expectations being dashed locally, local expectations are dashed nationally. This article proposes that community viewpoints should be given higher priority given that NHIS has since its inception been associated with medical treatments and biomedical paradigm. Promoting community participation, understanding, and voices should be recognized to shape the future NHIS policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale, aims, and objectives: The recent outbreak of coronavirus (COVID‐19) has infected around 1 560 000 individuals till 10 April 2020, which has resulted in 95 000 deaths globally. While no vaccine or anti‐viral drugs for COVID‐19 are available, lockdown acts as a protective public health measures to reduce human interaction and lower transmission. The study aims to explore the impact of delayed planning or lack of planning for the lockdown and inadequate implementation of the lockdown, on the transmission rate of COVID‐19. Method: Epidemiological data on the incidence and mortality of COVID‐19 cases as reported by public health authorities were accessed from six countries based on total number of infected cases, namely, United States and Italy (more than 100 000 cases); United Kingdom, and France (50 000‐100 000 cases), and India and Russia (6000‐10 000 cases). The Bayesian inferential technique was used to observe the changes (three points) in pattern of number of cases on different duration of exposure (in days) in these selected countries 1 month after World Health Organization (WHO) declaration about COVID‐19 as a global pandemic. Results: On comparing the pattern of transmission rates observed in these six countries at posterior estimated change points, it is found that partial implementation of lockdown (in the United States), delayed planning in lockdown (Russia, United Kingdom, and France), and inadequate implementation of the lockdown (in India and Italy) were responsible to the spread of infections. Conclusions: In order to control the spreading of COVID‐19, like other national and international laws, lockdown must be implemented and enforced. It is suggested that on‐time or adequate implementation of lockdown is a step towards social distancing and to control the spread of this pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale, aims, and objectives: The COVID‐19 pandemic of 2020 has overpowered the most advanced health systems worldwide with thousands of daily deaths. The current study conducted a situation analysis on the pandemic preparedness of Bangladesh and provided recommendations on the transition to the new reality and gradual restoration of normalcy. Method: A complex adaptive system (CAS) framework was theorized based on four structural dimensions obtained from the crisis and complexity theory to help evaluate the health system of Bangladesh. Data sourced from published reports from the government, non‐governmental organizations, and mainstream media up to June 15, 2020 were used to conduct a qualitative analysis and visualize the spatial distribution of countrywide COVID‐19 cases. Results: The findings suggested that Bangladesh severely lacked the preparedness to tackle the spread of COVID‐19 with both short‐ and long‐term implications for health, the economy, and good governance. Absence of planning and coordination, disproportionate resource allocations, challenged infrastructure, adherence to bureaucratic delay, lack of synchronized risk communication, failing leadership of concerned authorities, and incoherent decision‐making have led to a precarious situation that will have dire ramifications causing many uncertainties in the coming days. Conclusions: Implementation of response protocols addressing the needs of the community and the stakeholders from the central level is urgently needed. The development of mechanisms for dynamic decision‐making based on regular feedback and long‐term planning for a smooth transition between the new reality and normalcy should also be urgently addressed in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anemia is a common problem in children particularly in developing countries and taking steps to tackle it is one of the major public health challenges for Nepal. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of individual, household and community level determinants of childhood anemia in Nepal. Methods: Data was taken from a nationally representative sample of 1,942 Nepalese children aged from 6–59 months. The Chi-square test was used to determine the bivariate relationship between the selected variables and childhood anemia and a multilevel logistic regression model with a random intercept at household and community level was used to identify important determinants of this kind of anemia. Results: The results showed that 52.6% (95% CI: 49.8%-55.4%) of the children were anemic while 26.6% (95% CI: 24.0%-29.3%) of them were moderate to severe. The prevalence of overall anemia was higher among children aged less than 11 months as well as in underweight children, children of underweight, anemic and uneducated mothers and those in the terrain ecological regions. Multivariable analysis showed that children aged less than 11 months, who were underweight and had anemic mothers were more likely to have moderate or severe anemia. Children in the hilly ecological region were less likely to have it compared to mountain and terrain ecological regions. Children in middle-class families and children of mothers who completed secondary education were more likely to have anemia. Conclusion: Nepal is facing a serious public health problem due to the high prevalence of childhood anemia. This adverse situation occurs due to socio-demographic and geographical factors such as age, malnutrition status, mother's anemia status, socio-economic status and regional variations. Prevention of childhood anemia should be given top priority in Nepal and should be considered as a major public health intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Development Research is the property of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19), which started from Wuhan, China, in late 2019, have spread worldwide. A total of 5,91,971 cases and 2,70,90 deaths were registered till 28th March, 2020. We aimed to predict the impact of duration of exposure to COVID-19 on the mortality rates increment. Methods: In the present study, data on COVID-19 infected top seven countries viz., Germany, China, France, United Kingdom, Iran, Italy and Spain, and World as a whole, were used for modeling. The analytical procedure of generalized linear model followed by Gompertz link function was used to predict the impact lethal duration of exposure on the mortality rates. Findings: Of the selected countries and World as whole, the projection based on 21st March, 2020 cases, suggest that a total (95% Cl) of 76 (65–151) days of exposure in Germany, mortality rate will increase by 5 times to 1%. In countries like France and United Kingdom, our projection suggests that additional exposure of 48 days and 7 days, respectively, will raise the mortality rates to10%. Regarding Iran, Italy and Spain, mortality rate will rise to 10% with an additional 3–10 days of exposure. World's mortality rates will continue increase by 1% in every three weeks. The predicted interval of lethal duration corresponding to each country has found to be consistent with the mortality rates observed on 28th March, 2020. Conclusion: The prediction of lethal duration was found to have apparently effective in predicting mortality, and shows concordance with prevailing rates. In absence of any vaccine against COVID-19 infection, the present study adds information about the quantum of the severity and time elapsed to death will help the Government to take necessary and appropriate steps to control this pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caesarean section is considered a relatively preferable and safe method of delivery as compared to normal delivery. Since the last decade, its prevalence has increased in both developed and developing countries. In the context of developing countries viz., South Asia (the highest populated region) and South-East Asia (the third-highest populated region), where a significant proportion of home deliveries were reported,however, the preference for, caesarean delivery and its associated factors are not well understood. Objective: To study the caesarean delivery in the South and South-East Asian countries and to determine the factors associated with the preference for caesarean delivery. Methodology: Demographic and Health Survey Data on from ever-married women of nine developing countries of South and South-East Asia viz., Vietnam, India, Maldives, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Cambodia have been considered. Both bivariate and binary logistic regression models were used to estimate the propensity of a woman undergoing for caesarean delivery and to assess the influence of maternal socioeconomic characteristics towards the preference for caesarean delivery. Results: Obtained results have shown an inclination of caesarean delivery among urban than rural women and are quite conspicuous, but is found to be underestimated mostly among rural women. Caesarean delivery in general is mostly predisposed among women whose baby sizes are either very large or smaller than average, have a higher level of education and place of delivery is private medical institutions. The logistic regression also revealed the influence of maternal socioeconomic characteristics towards the preference for caesarean delivery. Based on nine South and South-East Asian countries an overall C-section prevalence of 13%, but based on institutional births its increase to 19%. The forest plot demonstrated that a significant inclination of C-section among urban than rural regions. In Meta-Analysis, very high and significant heterogeneity among countries is observed, but confirms that in terms of prevalence of C-section all of the countries follow independent pattern. Conclusion: Study of seven urban and four rural regions of nine South and South- East Asian countries showed, a significant inclination towards the caesarean delivery above the more recent outdated WHO recommended an optimal range of 10–15%and are associated maternal socioeconomic characteristics. In order to control unwanted caesarean delivery, the government needs to develop better healthcare infrastructure and along with more antenatal care related schemes to reduce the risks associated with increased caesarean delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important parameter in the assessment of quality health care lies on patient satisfaction. Despite concerted efforts to improve health-care services, patient satisfaction coupled with the quality of hospital care at disposal remain a significant challenge in Nigeria. The purpose of the study was to determine the perception on factors associated with prolonged waiting time and patient satisfaction at the outpatient department of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital in Nigeria. A mixed-method research was utilized. Questionnaire was administered on 95 outpatients, and a focus group discussion (FGD) was held with eight participants. Statistical analysis was utilized to determine the association between dependent and independent variables. Data from FGD were analyzed with NVivo 10. The overall hospital satisfaction was found to be 75.8% among the study population. There was a significant inverse relationship between the level of satisfaction with the doctor and employment status and educational level and a significant direct relationship between the level of satisfaction with the doctor and appointment status and type of visits. The results of FGD show that patients were satisfied with the neatness of the hospital, doctor's professionalism, and patient–doctor relationship. Dissatisfaction was with extended patient waiting time and the small size infrastructure of the hospital, inefficient handling of patient files by nurse aids, and thoroughness of the physicians. The results showed that majority of the patients were dissatisfied with the waiting time for consultation in the hospital. In other words, consultation time positively correlated with the level of patient satisfaction. To improve the overall patient satisfaction, the waiting time for consultation should be reduced significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Public Health is the property of Turkish Journal of Public Health and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The proportion of elderly has been increased gradually over the past years and this has created many causes for concerns particularly in individual's health status. Relatively little is known about health status of older ethnic group across the world. The study aims to explore the health status of ethnic elderly among Tea Garden workers in Bangladesh. A total of 229 elderly were interviewed from different tea gardens. Prevalence ratio and adjusted prevalence ratio were calculated using simple and multiple Poisson regression analysis. The study revealed that more than 90% of the elderly had suffered from multi-morbidity. Gender, age, family behavior, number of meals in a day, taking milk or milk products and taking sugar were highly associated factor to lead healthy life for elderly. Female and unemployed elderly were in more risk to suffer from multi-morbidity, illiterate were also a risk factor for multi-morbidity but effected by confounding factors. An elderly who rated himself as unhealthy was 1.75 times more risk in compare to healthy elderly. In addition, the ethnic elderly who were suffering from difficulties of seeing, getting up, standing, remembering and others disability were in more risk of suffering from multi-morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the gender differential effects of eating habits and physical activity on overweight and obesity among school-aged adolescents in Bangladesh. Nationally representative data extracted from the 2014 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) were utilized. The survey collected information related to physical and mental health from 2989 school-aged adolescents in Bangladesh. An exploratory data analysis and multivariate logistic regression model were employed in this study. Female adolescents were at a lower risk of being overweight or obese (AOR=0.573) than males, with a prevalence of 7.4% (males: 9.9%). The results showed that high consumption of vegetables (both: AOR=0.454; males: AOR=0.504; females: AOR=0.432), high soft drink consumption (both: AOR=2.357; males: AOR=2.929; females: AOR=1.677), high fast food consumption (both: AOR=2.777; males: AOR=6.064; females: AOR=1.695), sleep disturbance (both: AOR=0.675; males: AOR=0.590; females: AOR=0.555) and regular walking or cycling to school (both: AOR=0.472; males: AOR=0.430; females: AOR=0.557) were vital influencing factors for being overweight or obese among adolescents for both sexes. Sedentary activities during leisure time were also identified as significant predictors of being overweight or obese for males. Regular fruit and vegetable consumption, the avoidance of soft drinks and fast food, an increase in vigorous physical activity, regular attendance at physical education classes and fewer sedentary leisure time activities could all help reduce the risk of being overweight or obese for both sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Millions of children and others across the world are being dangerously exposed to tobacco smoke and toxins in their own homes. Whilst there is limited interest in laws and interventions controlling tobacco use in public places in Bangladesh, no attention has been given to preventing tobacco-use inside homes. This study explores the familial and socio-cultural factors that provide obstacles for ensuring tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh. Materials and methods: A mixed-method design was adopted and from among the 1,436 tobacco users identified in a population of 11,853, 400 (tobacco users) were selected for cross-sectional survey. This survey involved a probability proportional sampling procedure, and 24 In-Depth Interviews. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to explore the association of familial and socio-cultural factors with tobacco-use at home adjusted by other demographic characteristics. Thematic content analysis was done on the qualitative data, and then inferences were drawn out collectively. Results: This study revealed that the prevalence of tobacco-use in the home was 25.7% in urban residential areas in Bangladesh. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that familial and socio-cultural factors were significantly associated with tobacco-use at home: marital status (OR 3.23, 95% CI: 1.37–6.61), education (OR 2.14, 95% CI: 1.15–3.99), smoking habits of older family members (OR 1.81 95% CI: 0.91–2.89), tobacco being offered as hospitality and for entertainment (OR 1.85, 95% CI: .94–2.95) and lack of religiosity practice (OR 2.39, 95% CI: 1.27–4.54). Qualitative findings indicated that social customs, lack of religious practice, tobacco-use of older family members, and lack of family guidance were key obstacles for enabling tobacco-free homes in urban areas. Conclusion: Use of tobacco at home is continuing as part of established familial and socio-cultural traditions. If tobacco-use at home is not addressed seriously by the authorities then the emerging threat of second-hand smoke exposure and harmful consequences of tobacco- use will be exacerbated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass migration is increasing urban populations globally. One country where urban migration is significantly increasing is Bangladesh, where systematic research will explore the reasons for urban migration in order to devise policies in this area, including maintaining the balance of urban–rural developments. This study used the Urban Health Survey (UHS) 2013 to ascertain the reasons for urban migration in large divisional cities in Bangladesh. The 2013 survey examined the differences between male and female migration, alongside any significant sociodemographic factors that might contribute to their motivation for moving to the city. The survey revealed that a majority of women (64.8%) migrated for family purposes, for example, joining husbands or in-laws, or parents/children. However, in recent years, female migrants have been involved in income-generating activities mostly due to a recent garment-making boom in Dhaka and its suburbs. A higher proportion of men (85.3%) moved to urban areas for work-related reasons: searching for new jobs, better income, or transfer in services. Among the sample in this study, 77% of the respondents (79.3% female and 73.5% male) migrated from villages. This migration mostly centered on Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, where 68.1% of the total study sample migrated followed by 15.7% who went to Chittagong. The results indicate that the contemporary urban-centered economic policy in Bangladesh might require revision to accommodate the increased migrants from rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Intimate partner violence is a major problem worldwide and it is one of the most social issues in Armenia. Empowerment is one of the important factors that helps women to break the cycle of violence by their husband/partner. The aim of this research is to explore the impact of intimate partner violence on empowerment of Armenian women of reproductive age group. Methods. This cross-sectional study used data Armenia Demography and Health Survey Data 2015-16. A total 6116 women were selected from 8749 households at both urban and rural places of Armenia for interview using multistage cluster sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. Results. The respondents aged between 35 and 49 years are more likely to face violence compared to other age group (p≤0.001). The respondents who have no decision-making power, about 89% of them, are experiencing intimate partner violence, whereas only 11% are facing intimate partner violence among those who have decision-making power (p≤0.001). The logistic regression analysis reveals that age of the respondents, number of children in the households, wealth index, and empowerment status are significantly associated with intimate partner violence. Conclusion. Intimate partner violence has significant impact on the empowerment of women in Armenia. This study revealed that women with no empowerment are more likely to experience intimate partner violence compared to those women who are empowered in Armenian society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Among university students, large numbers are involved with smoking and suffer from many chronic diseases. This study examined tobacco smoking prevalence and potential predictors among university students in Sylhet Division, Bangladesh. Methods A total of 416 students were selected for face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression analysis was used to fulfil the specific objectives of the study. Results It was discovered that the prevalence of smoking among university students in Sylhet Division was 37% and almost half of current male students were smokers. Mother's occupation and peer smoking status were found to be significant factors. Although data were collected using multistage sampling, the stages (type of university, universities, departments and academic levels) were insignificant with smoking status. There is a 2.1 times greater likelihood of a student becoming a smoker if a close friend is a smoker. The adjusted living expenses (>$100) was a proactive factor, though individually it was a significant factor. Conclusions This study and previous studies found that smoking initiation among female students is negligible, so gender-specific health promotion and intervention is needed in Bangladesh. Tobacco control awareness programs and 'No smoking' signage should be displayed within university campuses and sanctioned by university authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between health condition and conversion factors (i.e. environmental, individual and social) among workers in the ready-made garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh. It used data gathered from a cross-sectional survey of 775 RMG workers in the Dhaka and Narayanganj districts. Using multiple logistic regression, the study found that: (1) achieving good health among RMG workers is hindered by various factors including high job-related demands, high noise levels, workplace crowding, heavy workloads, and low level of educational attainment; (2) job-related rewards and marital status have contributed to achieving good health; (3) health condition of workers is worse for women than for men; and (4) poor health condition is more prevalent among the oldest age group than in the lowest age category. The main contributions of this research: (1) this study develops a comprehensive framework to determine the factors affecting the health condition of manufacturing workers in general, and RMG workers in particular; and (2) it also examines the effects of both psychosocial and physical working conditions on the health of RMG workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although young people in South Africa are growing up in an era where their socioeconomic circumstances are seemingly better than those of their parents' generation, they face greater risks in their trajectory to adulthood. This is mainly because the environment in which they are making sexual decisions is also rapidly evolving. Currently, South Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the world among young people aged 15-24. This study examined the effect of sexual behaviours initiated in adolescence on enrolment in post-secondary education. The analysis was conducted using data from the longitudinal Cape Area Panel Study (CAPS, Waves 1-5) conducted in 2002-2009, which focused on young people's sexual behaviours in Cape Town, South Africa. The sample was restricted to 3213 individuals who reported sexual debut during adolescence. Using logistic regression models fitted separately for males and females, the results revealed that several factors acted as either hindrances or protective factors to enrolment in post-secondary education. Early sexual debut (by age 17) was negatively associated with participation in tertiary education. Other variables that had a negative effect included not using contraception at first sex, parenthood, engaging in risky behaviours such as illegal substance use, cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol and neglect of school homework (doing less than an hour a day). Higher levels of parental education (except for paternal education in the female model), urban residence and higher aspirations and analogous behaviours (studying) acted as protective factors and were positively associated with post-secondary education initiation. The paper also points to the relationship between early sexual debut and persistent socioeconomic inequality and provides empirical evidence for re-thinking policy development and implementation around schooling and sex education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on health expectancy has been carried out in Bangladesh but none of it has examined the differences in Disability-Free Life Expectancy (DFLE) between urban and rural setting in context of rapid urbanization of Bangladesh in past decades. Objectives: The present study aims to estimate DFLE for people of all ages living in urban and rural areas in Bangladesh, and to examine the differences in DFLE between these two areas. Methods: Data from the Sample Vital Registration System 2010 and the Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2010 were used in this study. The Sullivan method was applied to estimate DFLE in Bangladesh. Results: Higher rates of mortality and disability were observed in rural areas compared to urban areas with few exceptions. Statistically significant differences in DFLE were revealed from birth to age 15 years for both sexes between urban and rural areas. Urban males had a longer life expectancy (LE), longer DFLE and shorter LE with disability both in number and proportion when compared to rural males. Rural females at age 20+ years had a longer LE than urban females but urban females had a longer DFLE and a shorter LE with disability in both number and proportion at all ages than did rural females. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there were clear inequalities in LE, DFLE and LE with disability between rural and urban areas of Bangladesh along with age-specific differences as well. These findings may serve as useful and benchmark for intervention and policy implications for reducing the gap in health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]