| 1. |
- Sarkar, Plabon, et al.
(författare)
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Self-reported urinary tract infection and bacterial vaginosis symptoms among indigenous adolescents during seasonal periods of water scarcity : A cross-sectional study in Bandarban Hill District of Bangladesh
- 2024
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Ingår i: Health Science Reports. - 2398-8835.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and AimsWater scarcity and poor water quality could lead to suboptimum menstrual hygiene practices, and subsequently urinary tract infection (UTI) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). In this study, we estimate the prevalence of self-reported UTI and BV among indigenous adolescent girls during the water scarcity period in the Bandarban Hill Districts in south-eastern Bangladesh.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, a total of 242 indigenous adolescent girls were selected and interviewed during the seasonal water scarcity period (from February to May 2022) in Bandarban. The difference in prevalence of any self-reported UTI or BV symptoms by respondents' characteristics was assessed by χ2 test. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to observe the associated factors.ResultsThe prevalence of self-reported UTI, BV, and any symptoms of UTI or BV among the respondents were 35.54%, 28.93%, and 43.80%, respectively. Ethnicity, studentship status, source of water used for menstrual hygiene, and perceived water quality were significantly associated with the prevalence of any self-reported UTI or BV symptoms.ConclusionFindings recommend further research to cross-check the validity of self-reported prevalence and investigate if the episodes of UTI or BV could be attributable to water scarcity and poor water quality in study areas during dry period.
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| 2. |
- Afentou, Nafsika, et al.
(författare)
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Economic Evaluation of Interventions in Parkinson's Disease : A Systematic Literature Review
- 2019
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Ingår i: Movement Disorders Clinical Practice. - : Wiley. - 2330-1619. ; 6:4, s. 282-290
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundParkinson's disease (PD) management comprises of drug treatments, surgery, and physical activity/occupational therapies to relieve PD's symptoms. The aim of this study is twofold; first, to appraise recent economic evaluation studies on PD management in order to update the existing knowledge; and second, to facilitate decision making on PD management by assessing the cost‐effectiveness of all types of PD interventions.MethodsA systematic search for studies published between 2010 and 2018 was conducted. The inclusion and exclusion of the articles were based on criteria relevant to population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and study design (PICO). The reporting quality of the articles was assessed according to Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards.ResultsTwenty‐eight articles were included, 10 of which were evaluations of drug treatments, 10 deep brain stimulation (DBS), and eight physical/occupational therapies. Among early‐stage treatments, Ti Ji dominated all physical activity interventions; however, its cost‐effectiveness should be further explored in relation to its duration, intensity, and frequency. Multidisciplinary interventions of joint medical and nonmedical therapies provided slightly better health outcomes for the same costs. In advanced PD patients, adjunct drug treatments could become more cost‐effective if introduced during early PD and, although DBS was more cost‐effective than adjunct drug therapies, the results were time‐bound.ConclusionsConditionally, certain PD interventions are cost‐effective. However, PD progression differs in each patient; thus, the cost‐effectiveness of individually tailored combinations of interventions that could provide more time in less severe disease states and improve patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life, should be further explored.
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| 3. |
- Ali, Masum, et al.
(författare)
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Maternal health status and household food security on determining childhood anemia in Bangladesh -a nationwide cross-sectional study
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 21:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of household food security on childhood anemia inBangladesh while controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors.Methods: We used nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) 2011 data for thisstudy, the only existing survey including anemia information and household food security. The sample included2171 children aged 6–59 months and their mothers. Differences between socioeconomic and demographicvariables were analyzed using Chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses wereperformed to estimate the effects of different socioeconomic and demographic factors on childhood anemia. Wealso performed mediation analysis to examine the direct and indirect effect of household food security onchildhood anemia.Results: In Bangladesh, 53% male (95% CI: 50–56) and 51% female (95% CI: 47–54) children aged 6–59 monthswere anemic in 2011. The food insecure households have 1.20 times odds (95% CI: 0.97–1.48) of having anemicchildren comparing to food secure households in the unadjusted model. On the other hand, anemic mothers have2 times odds (95% CI: 1.67–2.44) of having anemic children comparing to non-anemic mothers. However,household food security is no longer significantly associated with childhood anemia in the adjusted model whilemothers’ anemia remained a significant factor (OR 1.87: 95% CI: 1.53–2.29). Age of children is the highest associatedfactor, and the odds are 4.89 (95% CI: 3.21–7.45) for 6–12 months old children comparing to 49–59 months in theadjusted model. Stunting and household wealth are also a significant factor for childhood anemia. Although foodsecurity has no significant direct effect on childhood anemia, maternal anemia and childhood stunting mediatedthat relationship.Conclusions: Future public health policies need to focus on improving mothers’ health with focusing onhousehold food security to eliminate childhood anemia.Keywords: anemia, Child health, Maternal health, Demography and health survey, Bangladesh
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| 4. |
- Ali, Masum, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence, trends, and inequality in noncommunicable diseases in Bangladesh : Evidence from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys 2011 and 2017–2018
- 2024
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Ingår i: Public Health Challenges. - 2769-2450. ; 3:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated the change of the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh from 2011 to 2018 across different socioeconomic groups as well as the factors associated with the changes in prevalence. We used the two waves of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2011 and 2017–2018. Modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate the prevalence rate and ratio of NCDs and to test the association with different demographic and socioeconomic variables. The study found an upward trend of NCDs from 2011 to 2017 in which overweight and obesity, hypertension, and diabetes increased by 1.8, 1.5, and 1.1 times, respectively. In 2011, people from the richest households had 5.6 higher odds of being overweight compared to the poorest, which was reduced to 3.0 in 2017. However, the increment for overweight and hypertension was the highest among the poor and manual workers from 2011 to 2017. The age-adjusted prevalence ratio of overweight increased 4.4 times for the poorest, compared to 1.7 times for the richest. For manual workers, overweight increased 3.8 times, whereas hypertension increased by 2.4 times. The pooled analysis revealed that participants from the richest households have the highest risk of NCDs, with 3.3 times for overweight, 2.3 times for diabetes, and 1.3 times for hypertension, compared to the poorest. However, the prevalence of NCDs is rising quickly among the low socioeconomic groups in Bangladesh, narrowing the gap with higher socioeconomic groups. Our findings call for immediate policy interventions and targeted programs to curb NCD escalation in Bangladesh.
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| 5. |
- Alriksson-Schmidt, Ann I, et al.
(författare)
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CP-North: living life in the Nordic countries? : A retrospective register research protocol on individuals with cerebral palsy and their parents living in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 9:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities. Yet, most individuals with CP are adults. How individuals with CP fare in terms of health, quality of life (QoL), education, employment and income is largely unknown. Further, little is known about the effects of having a child with CP on the parents. The Nordic countries are known for their strong welfare systems, yet it is unknown to what extent the added burden related to disability is actually compensated for. We will explore how living with CP affects health, QoL, healthcare utilisation, education, labour market outcomes, socioeconomic status and mortality throughout the lifespan of individuals with CP and their parents. We will also investigate if these effects differ between subgroups, within and across the Nordic countries. METHODS AND ANALYSES: CP-North is a multidisciplinary 4-year (1 August 2017 to 31 July 2021) register research project. The research consortium comprises researchers and users from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland. Data from CP registries and follow-up programmes, or cohorts of individuals with CP, will be merged with general national registries. All individual studies are structured under three themes: medical outcomes, social and public health outcomes, and health economics. Both case-control and cohort designs will be included depending on the particular research question. Data will be analysed in the individual countries and later merged across nations.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The ethics approval processes in each individual country are followed. Findings will be published (open access) in international peer-reviewed journals in related fields. Updates on CP-North will be published online at http://rdi.arcada.fi/cpnorth/en/.
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| 6. |
- Alriksson-Schmidt, Ann, et al.
(författare)
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Improving the Health of Individuals With Cerebral Palsy: Protocol for the Multidisciplinary Research Program MOVING ON WITH CP
- 2019
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Ingår i: Jmir Research Protocols. - Toronto, Canada : JMIR Publications Inc.. - 1929-0748. ; 8:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common early onset disabilities globally. The causative brain damage in CP is nonprogressive, yet secondary conditions develop and worsen over time. Individuals with CP in Sweden and most of the Nordic countries are systematically followed in the national registry and follow-up program entitled the Cerebral Palsy Follow-Up Program (CPUP). CPUP has improved certain aspects of health care for individuals with CP and strengthened collaboration among professionals. However, there are still issues to resolve regarding health care for this specific population. Objective: The overall objectives of the research program MOVING ON WITH CP are to (1) improve the health care processes and delivery models; (2) develop, implement, and evaluate real-life solutions for Swedish health care provision; and (3) evaluate existing health care and social insurance benefit programs and processes in the context of CP. Methods: MOVING ON WITH CP comprises 9 projects within 3 themes. Evaluation of Existing Health Care (Theme A) consists of registry studies where data from CPUP will be merged with national official health databases, complemented by survey and interview data. In Equality in Health Care and Social Insurance (Theme B), mixed methods studies and registry studies will be complemented with focus group interviews to inform the development of new processes to apply for benefits. In New Solutions and Processes in Health Care Provision (Theme C), an eHealth (electronic health) procedure will be developed and tested to facilitate access to specialized health care, and equipment that improves the assessment of movement activity in individuals with CP will be developed. Results: The individual projects are currently being planned and will begin shortly. Feedback from users has been integrated. Ethics board approvals have been obtained. Conclusions: In this 6-year multidisciplinary program, professionals from the fields of medicine, social sciences, health sciences, and engineering, in collaboration with individuals with CP and their families, will evaluate existing health care, create conditions for a more equal health care, and develop new technologies to improve the health care management of people with CP.
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| 7. |
- Chen, Yaohua Sophie, et al.
(författare)
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COVID-19-related loneliness and social isolation in caregivers of people with brain health challenges : The CLIC-Caregiver Global Survey
- 2021
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. - : Wiley. - 1552-5279. ; 17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Prior to COVID-19, >90% of caregivers of people with brain health challenges (dementia, mental ill health, intellectual disability) experienced high levels of distress, burden, loneliness and social isolation. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased these impacts, particularly since these caregivers are often older and physically vulnerable themselves. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to explore coping and caregiver burden, loneliness and social isolation in caregivers of people with brain health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: CLIC-Caregiver was a cross-sectional, online, and global survey (June 2nd - November 15th , 2020) using self-administered questionnaires directed at informal caregivers of people with long-term brain health challenges. The study was embedded within a larger survey of loneliness and social isolation for general public ('Comparing Loneliness and Isolation in COVID-19' (CLIC)), including validated loneliness and isolation tools. Translated into ten different languages such as Arabic, French, Romanian, etc, the survey was disseminated over 100 countries. Respondents were included in the CLIC-caregiver sub-study if they answered yes to the question 'Do you provide care and support to a family member or friend with a long-term or life-limiting health problem or disability (including mental health)'. The CLIC project received the initial global ethical approval from Ulster University. The data were fully anonymized. RESULT: From the CLIC main study, 5243 (25%) identified themselves as caregivers. This proportion varied in different countries, from 12 % in Romania to 65% in France. 2323 (44%) had care recipients with dementia, 1761 with physical conditions (disability or long-term illness), 832 with enduring mental health problems, and 404 with intellectual disability. Measures of caregiver burden, loneliness and social isolation will be compared across geographic regions, sociodemographic factors, and risk factors for poor outcomes sought. Findings will be distributed to relevant stakeholders in the form of a project report, with region and country-specific outcomes. This will support recommendations and actions supporting caregivers of people with brain health challenges. CONCLUSION: This represents the largest, most widespread survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregivers of people with long-term conditions to date. It will be an important resource for support agencies and to inform policy.
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| 8. |
- Chen, Yaohua Sophie, et al.
(författare)
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COVID-19-related loneliness, social isolation and burden in informal caregivers worldwide
- 2022
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's and Dementia. - : Wiley. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 18:S8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Informal caregivers may experience high levels burden. Prior to COVID-19, loneliness and social isolation, and especially the discordance between them, were recognized for rapid aging-related cognitive decline. The COVID-19 has significantly increased social isolation and loneliness in caregivers. Thus, we aimed to explore the variables that were associated with higher care burden among all caregivers and only among caregivers for people living with dementia, and whether the increased burden could be associated with a discrepancy between loneliness and social isolation. Method: ‘Comparing Loneliness and Isolation in COVID-19’ was an online global survey of over 20,000 respondents, including 5243 caregivers across 50 countries with enduring brain or/and physical health conditions. We first used a multilevel modelling to identify risk factors associated with higher burden. Then, we defined profiles of discrepancy between loneliness and social isolation, based on the differences between standardized score on a scale of loneliness and of social connectedness and estimated the association between the discrepancy and higher burden. Result: In our sample, 74% of caregivers were female, 44% were caring for people with dementia, and 22% for people with multiple conditions, including dementia. The most prevalent age group was 60-69 years old. Factors significantly associated with higher care burden were being female, having poorer financial situation, worse mental health during the pandemic, caring for people with dementia or intellectual disabilities, caring in the same home, being diagnosed with COVID, and changes of care abilities. 40% of caregivers consistently reported high level of loneliness and social isolation, 38% reported consistent lower levels of both, and two groups reported discordance (low levels of loneliness and high social isolation in 13%; high levels of loneliness and mild social isolation in 12%). The latter group was at the highest risk of self-reported increased and intense care burden. Conclusion: This represents the largest, most widespread survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregivers of people with long-term conditions to date and reflects the importance of capturing the nuances in the relationship between loneliness and social isolation in caregivers. It will be an important resource for support agencies and to inform policy.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Ghani, Zartashia, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Short Term Economic Evaluation of the Digital Platform "Support, Monitoring and Reminder Technology for Mild Dementia" (SMART4MD) for People with Mild Cognitive Impairment and their Informal Caregivers
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 86:4, s. 1629-1641
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: A randomized controlled trial of the SMART4MD tablet application was conducted for persons with mild cognitive impairment (PwMCI) and their informal caregivers to improve or maintain quality of life. Objective: The objective was to conduct economic evaluation of SMART4MD compared to standard care in Sweden from a healthcare provider perspective based on a 6-month follow-up period. Methods: Three hundred forty-five dyads were enrolled: 173 dyads in the intervention group and 172 in standard care. The primary outcome measures for PwMCI and informal caregivers were quality-adjusted life years (QALY). The results are presented as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, and confidence intervals are calculated using non-parametric bootstrap procedure. Results: For PwMCI, the mean difference in total costs between intervention and standard care was (sic)12 (95%CI: -2090 to 2115) (US$ =(sic) 1.19) and the mean QALY change was -0.004 (95%CI: -0.009 to 0.002). For informal caregivers, the cost difference was -(sic)539 (95%CI: -2624 to 1545) and 0.003 (95%CI: -0.002 to 0.008) for QALY. The difference in cost and QALY for PwMCI and informal caregivers combined was -(sic)527 (95%CI: -3621 to 2568) and -0.001 (95%CI: -0.008 to 0.006). Although generally insignificant differences, this indicates that SMART4MD, compared to standard care was: 1) more costly and less effective for PwMCI, 2) less costly and more effective for informal caregivers, and 3) less costly and less effective for PwMCI and informal caregivers combined. Conclusion: The cost-effectiveness of SMART4MD over 6 months is inconclusive, although the intervention might be more beneficial for informal caregivers than PwMCI.
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