| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Andersson Sundell, Karolina, 1978, et al.
(author)
-
Factors associated with switching and combination use of antidepressants in young Swedish adults.
- 2013
-
In: International journal of clinical practice. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1742-1241 .- 1368-5031. ; 67:12, s. 1302-10
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Little is known on factors associated with switching and combination use of antidepressants. Our aim was to describe such use and to analyse the association with socioeconomic factors and level of care in Swedish adults aged 20-34 years.
|
|
| 3. |
- Andersson Sundell, Karolina, 1978, et al.
(author)
-
Socio-economic determinants of early discontinuation of anti-depressant treatment in young adults.
- 2013
-
In: European journal of public health. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1464-360X .- 1101-1262. ; 23:3, s. 433-440
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Early discontinuation of anti-depressant treatment is common. This study analysed whether socio-economic factors influence early discontinuation among new anti-depressant users aged 20-34 years. METHODS: Our study population included all Swedes aged 20-34 years who purchased anti-depressants in 2006 and had not purchased such drugs in the preceding 6 months (n = 25 003). We obtained prescription data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Information about demographic and socio-economic factors (country of birth, marital status, household size, education level, occupation, income and social assistance) was collected from Statistics Sweden by record linkage. We defined early discontinuation as filling only one anti-depressant prescription within a 6-month period. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to analyse the socio-economic factors associated with early discontinuation. RESULTS: We identified 6536 individuals (26.1%) as early discontinuers. Early discontinuation was less common among women [odds ratio (OR) = 0.82; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.75-0.87] and in those with at least two years of higher education (OR = 0.71; 95% CI 0.61-0.83), whereas it was more common among those born outside Sweden (OR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.48-2.10) and those who received social assistance (OR = 1.26; 95% CI 1.11-1.44). Compared with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, SSRI, early discontinuation was more common among individuals who started treatment with a tri-cyclic anti-depressant, TCA, (OR = 2.58; 95% CI 2.24-2.98) or an anti-depressant other than SSRIs, TCAs or selective serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors/norepinephrine (noradrenaline) re-uptake inhibitors (OR = 2.90; 95% CI 2.05-4.10). CONCLUSION: Early discontinuation occurred more commonly among social assistance recipients and those with immigrant background, suggesting that those groups might require greater support when initiating anti-depressant therapy.
|
|
| 4. |
- Arunachalam, Natarajan, et al.
(author)
-
Community-based control of Aedes aegypti by adoption of eco-health methods in Chennai City, India.
- 2012
-
In: Pathogens and global health. - 2047-7732. ; 106:8, s. 488-96
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dengue is highly endemic in Chennai city, South India, in spite of continuous vector control efforts. This intervention study was aimed at establishing the efficacy as well as the favouring and limiting factors relating to a community-based environmental intervention package to control the dengue vector Aedes aegypti.
|
|
| 5. |
- Aryal, Umesh R., 1973, et al.
(author)
-
Establishing a health demographic surveillance site in Bhaktapur district, Nepal : initial experiences and findings
- 2012
-
In: BMC Research Notes. - : BioMed Central. - 1756-0500. ; 5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A health demographic surveillance system (HDSS) provides longitudinal data regarding health and demography in countries with coverage error and poor quality data on vital registration systems due to lack of public awareness, inadequate legal basis and limited use of data in health planning. The health system in Nepal, a low-income country, does not focus primarily on health registration, and does not conduct regular health data collection. This study aimed to initiate and establish the first HDSS in Nepal.RESULTS: We conducted a baseline survey in Jhaukhel and Duwakot, two villages in Bhaktapur district. The study surveyed 2,712 households comprising a total population of 13,669. The sex ratio in the study area was 101 males per 100 females and the average household size was 5. The crude birth and death rates were 9.7 and 3.9/1,000 population/year, respectively. About 11% of births occurred at home, and we found no mortality in infants and children less than 5 years of age. Various health problems were found commonly and some of them include respiratory problems (41.9%); headache, vertigo and dizziness (16.7%); bone and joint pain (14.4%); gastrointestinal problems (13.9%); heart disease, including hypertension (8.8%); accidents and injuries (2.9%); and diabetes mellitus (2.6%). The prevalence of non-communicable disease (NCD) was 4.3% (95% CI: 3.83; 4.86) among individuals older than 30 years. Age-adjusted odds ratios showed that risk factors, such as sex, ethnic group, occupation and education, associated with NCD.CONCLUSION: Our baseline survey demonstrated that it is possible to collect accurate and reliable data in a village setting in Nepal, and this study successfully established an HDSS site. We determined that both maternal and child health are better in the surveillance site compared to the entire country. Risk factors associated with NCDs dominated morbidity and mortality patterns.
|
|
| 6. |
- Aryal, Umesh R., 1973, et al.
(author)
-
Perceived risks and benefits of cigarette smoking among Nepalese adolescents: a population-based cross-sectional study.
- 2013
-
In: BMC public health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 13
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The perceived risks and benefits of smoking may play an important role in determining adolescents' susceptibility to initiating smoking. Our study examined the perceived risks and benefits of smoking among adolescents who demonstrated susceptibility or non susceptibility to smoking initiation. METHODS: In October--November 2011, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in Jhaukhel and Duwakot Villages in Nepal. Located in the mid-hills of Bhaktapur District, 13 kilometers east of Kathmandu, Jhaukhel and Duwakot represent the prototypical urbanizing villages that surround Nepal's major urban centers, where young people have easy access to tobacco products and are influenced by advertising. Jhaukhel and Duwakot had a total population of 13,669, of which 15% were smokers. Trained enumerators used a semi-structured questionnaire to interview 352 randomly selected 14- to 16-year-old adolescents. The enumerators asked the adolescents to estimate their likelihood (0%--100%) of experiencing various smoking-related risks and benefits in a hypothetical scenario. RESULTS: Principal component analysis extracted four perceived risk and benefit components, excluding addiction risk: (i) physical risk I (lung cancer, heart disease, wrinkles, bad colds) ;(ii) physical risk II (bad cough, bad breath, trouble breathing);(iii) social risk (getting into trouble, smelling like an ashtray); and (iv) social benefit(looking cool, feeling relaxed, becoming popular, and feeling grown-up). The adjusted odds ratio of susceptibility increased 1.20-fold with each increased quartile in perception of physical Risk I. Susceptibility to smoking was 0.27- and 0.90-fold less among adolescents who provided the highest estimates of physical Risk II and social risk, respectively. Similarly, susceptibility was 2.16-fold greater among adolescents who provided the highest estimates of addiction risk. Physical risk I, addiction risk, and social benefits of cigarette smoking related positively, and physical risk II and social risk related negatively, with susceptibility to smoking. CONCLUSION: To discourage or prevent adolescents from initiating smoking, future intervention programs should focus on communicating not only the health risks but also the social and addiction risks as well as counteract the social benefits of smoking.
|
|
| 7. |
- Aydin-Schmidt, Berit, et al.
(author)
-
Usefulness of Plasmodium falciparum-specific rapid diagnostic tests for assessment of parasite clearance and detection of recurrent infections after artemisinin-based combination therapy.
- 2013
-
In: Malaria journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2875. ; 12:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) is an important tool for parasite-based malaria diagnosis. High specificity of RDTs to distinguish an active Plasmodium falciparum infection from residual antigens from a previous infection is crucial in endemic areas where residents are repeatedly exposed to malaria. The efficiency of two RDTs based on histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) antigens were studied and compared with two microscopy techniques (Giemsa and acridine orange-stained blood smears) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for assessment of initial clearance and detection of recurrent P. falciparum infections after artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in a moderately high endemic area of rural Tanzania.
|
|
| 8. |
- Beer, Netta, et al.
(author)
-
High effective coverage of vector control interventions in children after achieving low malaria transmission in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
- 2013
-
In: Malaria journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2875. ; 12
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ABSTRACT: Background: Formerly a high malaria transmission area, Zanzibar is now targeting malaria elimination. A major challenge is to avoid resurgence of malaria, the success of which includes maintaining high effective coverage of vector control interventions such as bed nets and indoor residual spraying (IRS). In this study, caretakers' continued use of preventive measures for their children is evaluated, following a sharp reduction in malaria transmission. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted in June 2009 in North A and Micheweni districts in Zanzibar. Households were randomly selected using two-stage cluster sampling. Interviews were conducted with 560 caretakers of under-five-year old children, who were asked about perceptions on the malaria situation, vector control, household assets, and intention for continued use of vector control as malaria burden further decreases. Results: Effective coverage of vector control interventions for under-five children remains high, although most caretakers (65%; 363/560) did not perceive malaria as presently being a major health issue. Seventy percent (447/643) of the under-five children slept under a long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) and 94% (607/643) were living in houses targeted with IRS. In total, 98% (628/643) of the children were covered by at least one of the vector control interventions. Seasonal bed-net use for children was reported by 25% (125/508) of caretakers of children who used bed nets. A high proportion of caretakers (95%; 500/524) stated that they intended to continue using preventive measures for their under-five children as malaria burden further reduces. Malaria risk perceptions and different perceptions of vector control were not found to be significantly associated with LLIN effective coverage. Conclusions: While the majority of caretakers felt that malaria had been reduced in Zanzibar, effective coverage of vector control interventions remained high. Caretakers appreciated the interventions and recognized the value of sustaining their use. Thus, sustaining high effective coverage of vector control interventions, which is crucial for reaching malaria elimination in Zanzibar, can be achieved by maintaining effective delivery of these interventions.
|
|
| 9. |
- Bergman, Eva, 1959-, et al.
(author)
-
Relative growth estimated from self-administered symphysis fundal measurements
- 2011
-
In: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 0001-6349 .- 1600-0412. ; 90:2, s. 179-185
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. To establish absolute-and relative-growth reference curves for the detection of intrauterine growth restriction from weekly self-administered symphysis-fundus (SF) measurements and to assess the influence of fetal sex, maternal obesity and parity. Design. Prospective longitudinal study. Setting. Pregnant women from six primary antenatal care centres. Population. Three hundred women with singleton ultrasound dated pregnancies. Methods. Weekly self-administered SF measurements from gestational week 25 until delivery were obtained. A linear mixed longitudinal model was used to estimate the absolute SF growth using the natural logarithm (lnSF). Relative lnSF growth was calculated as the lnSF measurement in one gestational week subtracted by the lnSF measurement in the previous gestational week. The influence of fetal sex, maternal obesity and parity was assessed in regression models and by a graphical display. Main Outcome Measures. Absolute lnSF and relative lnSF growth curves and influence of fetal sex, maternal obesity and parity on these. Results. SF measurements from 191 women were used to establish an SF-growth reference. The absolute lnSF growth was influenced by maternal obesity, and for fetal sex and parity, borderline significance was recorded; while there was no evidence that the relative lnSF growth could depend on these variables. Conclusions. Weekly self-administered SF measurements can be obtained and used to estimate SF growth. Relative growth of the lnSF height seems to be independent of fetal sex, maternal obesity and parity.
|
|
| 10. |
- Bergman, Eva, 1959-, et al.
(author)
-
Self-administered symphysis-fundus measurements analyzed with a novel statistical method for detection of intrauterine growth restriction : a clinical evaluation
- 2011
-
In: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 0001-6349 .- 1600-0412. ; 90:8, s. 890-896
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. To assess the ability of self-administered symphysis fundus measurements used with the Shiryaev-Roberts statistical method (SR method) to identify growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses and compare it with the traditional SF method (symphysis fundus measurements used with a population-based reference curve). Design. Longitudinal study. Setting. Pregnant women attending primary antenatal care centres. Population. From a population of 1 888 women with singleton ultrasound-dated pregnancies, we analyzed data from 1 122 women. Methods. Weekly self-administered SF measurements from gestational week 25 until delivery were analyzed according to the SR method. Neonatal morbidity and small for gestational age (SGA) were used as proxies for IUGR. Small for gestational age was defined as a birthweight less than two standard deviations (SD) and <10th percentile. We assessed the sensitivity of the SR and the SF methods to detect neonatal morbidity and SGA. Main Outcome Measures. Birth-related mortality, respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, Apgar score <= 6 at five minutes, pH <= 7.00 in the umbilical artery, neonatal care, preterm delivery, operative delivery for fetal distress and SGA. Results. For the SR method, the sensitivity for neonatal morbidity was between 6.0 and 36.4%, for SGA <2SD 36.8%, and for SGA <10th percentile 20.9%. The SF method had a sensitivity between 6.0 and 13.8% for neonatal morbidity, 52.3% for SGA <2SD and 28.6% for SGA <10th percentile. Conclusions. The SR and the SF methods had low sensitivities for neonatal morbidity.
|
|
