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BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 18;19(1):416. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Demography and Population Studies Programme, Schools of Public Health and Social Sciences, Faculties of Health Sciences and Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: Religion plays an important role in youth behaviours, making it a significant factor in the discourse on youth sexuality in sub-Saharan Africa. Several studies have found that religion and religiosity play an important role in the sexual behaviours of young people. However, little research in Nigeria has examined the mechanisms through which religiosity influences youth sexual behaviour and if parents' religion moderates this relationship. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 18;19(1):418. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Social Work, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Past research has shown that individuals who have had experiences of out-of-home care (OHC) in childhood have increased risks of premature mortality. Prior studies also suggest that these individuals are more likely to follow long-term trajectories that are characterised by economic, work-, and health-related disadvantages, compared to majority population peers. Yet, we do not know the extent to which such trajectories may explain their elevated mortality risks. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 18;19(1):419. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Center for Health Equity Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.

Background: Early childhood is a crucial time to foster healthy eating and physical activity (PA) habits, which are critical for optimal child health, growth and development. Child care facilities are important settings to promote healthy eating and PA and prevent childhood obesity; however, almost all prior intervention studies have focused on child care centers and not family child care homes (FCCH), which care for over 1.6 million U. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 18;19(1):417. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Social and Health Care Research Center, C/ Santa Teresa Jornet s/n, 16071, Cuenca, Spain.

Background: Although physical activity (PA) integrated in schools' classrooms have shown a positive effect on children's behaviors, its effectiveness on cognitive functions, PA levels and other health variables remains unclear. This article outlines the rationale and methods of two classroom-based PA interventions (MOVI-da10!) on improving adiposity, executive function and motor competence in preschool children.

Methods: A three-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) was carried out including eight schools (rural and urban areas) from Cuenca province, Spain. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 17;19(1):415. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, PO Box 30, 33501, Tampere, Finland.

Background: Most Finnish adolescents are not sufficiently physically active. Health education (HE) provides beneficial starting point for physical activity (PA) promotion in schools. This study evaluates an intervention integrated into three HE lessons to increase PA and reduce sedentary behavior (SB) among eighth graders. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 16;19(1):411. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK.

Background: In Scotland a new, easier to complete bowel screening test, the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), has been introduced. This test gives more accurate information about an individual's risk of having colorectal cancer (CRC), based on their age and gender, and could lead to fewer missed cancers compared to the current screening test. However, there is no evidence of the effect on colonoscopy uptake of providing individuals with personalised risk information following a positive FIT test. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 16;19(1):410. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Interface Demography, Department of Social Research, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences & Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.

Background: Belgium has a large migrant community that is increasingly ageing. As migrants may have faced environmental and social exposures before, during and after migration, they may have experienced an accelerated epidemiological transition. Studying mortality differentials between the migrant and native population may therefore allow for a better understanding of the aetiology of diseases. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 15;19(1):407. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the validity of the Active Australia Survey across different subgroups and its responsiveness to change, as few previous studies have examined this.

Methods: The Active Australia Survey was validated against the ActiGraph as an objective measure of physical activity. Participants (n = 465) wore the ActiGraph for 7 days and subsequently completed the Active Australia Survey. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 16;19(1):409. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, Bangalore, India.

Background: India accounts for more than two-third of mortality due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in south-east Asia. The burden is high in Karnataka, one of the largest states in southern India. There is a need for integration of disease prevention, health promotion, treatment and care within the national program at primary level. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 16;19(1):414. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC, 8001, Australia.

Background: Given the importance of knowing the potential impediments and enablers for physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) in a specific population, the aim of this study was to systematically review and summarise evidence on individual, social, environmental, and policy correlates of PA and SB in the Thai population.

Methods: A systematic review of articles written in Thai and English was conducted. Studies that reported at least one correlate for PA and/or SB in a healthy Thai population were selected independently by two authors. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 16;19(1):413. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Emergency Medicine and Assistant Vice President for Translational Science and Clinical Research Innovation, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 48201, USA.

Background: Targeting habit-development (behavioral automaticity) as part of healthy lifestyle behavior change interventions may improve the adoption and maintenance of healthful behaviors. Few studies, however, have evaluated the feasibility of using a habit-development approach to foster the adoption of recommended physical activity and dietary behaviors. We report quantitative and qualitative data from a feasibility study evaluating a habit-formation intervention to foster healthy dietary and physical activity habits among middle aged African Americans with metabolic syndrome. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 15;19(1):408. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Service d'Information Promotion Education Santé (SIPES), School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP598, Route de Lennik 808, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium.

Background: Early sexual intercourse (SI) may have long-lasting negative impacts on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). So far, these impacts have been studied using age for defining early SI instead of feelings about its timing. The present study examined the association between feelings about the timing of first SI and current HRQoL. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 15;19(1):406. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, 25 Woburn Square, London, WC1H 0AA, UK.

Background: This study explored the role of outdoor air pollution [nitrogen dioxide (NO) and sulphur dioxide (SO)] and indoor air quality (measured with damp or condensation and secondhand smoke exposures) at age 9 months in emotional, conduct and hyperactivity problems at age 3 years.

Method: Data from 11,625 Millennium Cohort Study children living in England and Wales were modelled using multilevel regression.

Results: After adjusting for a host of confounders, having a damp or condensation problem at home was related to both emotional and conduct problems. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 15;19(1):403. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Sophia Papadakis, Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y4W7, Canada.

Background: English Stop Smoking Services primarily deliver behavioural interventions to support abrupt quit attempts. Recent evidence suggests an alternative approach could be offered to clients involving a more gradual reduction of cigarettes smoked leading to complete abstinence, known as 'Cut Down To Stop' (CDTS). The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of stop smoking practitioners and service users who participated in a pilot study of a CDTS service. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 15;19(1):405. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Section of General Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208093, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.

Background: The relationship between migration and health has primarily focused on permanent migrants, although non-permanent migrants comprise a large proportion of global migrants. Non-permanent migrants may have distinct needs that affect their health outcomes. This systematic review 1) examined the evidence concerning whether non-permanent migrants have different health outcomes than other population groups for non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) and 2) sought to describe how non-permanent migration is defined and measured. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 15;19(1):404. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Center for Observational and Real World Evidence (CORE), Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.

Background: Timely and complete vaccination with multi-dose schedules is of public health importance, because an incomplete vaccination series may yield suboptimal disease protection. However, data on adherence of adults to multi-dose vaccines are limited. We sought to estimate adherence to multi-dose hepatitis vaccination schedules among adults in the United Kingdom (UK). Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):397. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore.

Background: Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency and the most common cause of anaemia worldwide. Because of the increased iron requirements during pregnancy, iron deficiency can lead to maternal anaemia and reduced newborn iron stores. We examined the proportion and risk factors of iron deficiency among pregnant women in a developed Asian country. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):401. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Squina International Centre for Infection Control, School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, SAR, China.

Background: The hand hygiene (HH) behaviour of the general public and its effect on illnesses are issues of growing importance. Gender is associated with HH behaviour. HH efficiency is a combination of washing efficiency and hand drying, but information about the knowledge level and HH behaviour of the general public is relatively limited. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):399. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Arizona Prevention Research Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N Martin Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.

Background: Latinos are currently the largest and fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States and have the lowest rates nationally of regular sources of primary care. The changing demographics of Latino populations have significant implications for the future health of the nation, particularly with respect to chronic disease. Community-based agencies and clinics alike have a long history of engaging community health workers (CHWs) to provide a broad range of tangible and emotional support strategies for Latinos with chronic diseases. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):400. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: To investigate the impact of adolescent violent and non-violent criminality and subsequent risk of morbidity and mortality in adulthood in a large Swedish cohort of young men conscripted for military service in 1969/70.

Methods: The cohort consisted of 49,398 18-year-old Swedish conscripts followed up for morbidity and mortality up to the age of 55 years in Swedish national registers. Information about convictions for crime before conscription was obtained from national crime registers. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):402. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Growth and Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.

Background: Both child under- and over-nutrition are major global public health challenges. We aimed to examine thirty-year trends in physical growth, under- and over-nutrition in Chinese urban and suburban children between 1985 and 2015, and discuss implications for child health programmes.

Methods: A total of 610,785 urban and suburban children from birth to 7 years of age were collected from a series of large-scale national surveys in China. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):396. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Institute of Sports Science, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstr. 124, D-72074, Tübingen, Germany.

Background: One central goal of physical education in many countries is to empower students to be physically active throughout their lifespan. Physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) encompasses physical, cognitive, and motivational elements associated with the individuals' ability to be physically active in a health-enhancing way. To date, there is a lack of empirical evidence concerning effective programs and methods to promote PAHCO in physical education. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):398. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

National Ageing Research Institute LTD, 34-54 Poplar Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.

Background: Effective hand hygiene practice can reduce transmission of diseases such as respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and gastrointestinal infections, especially in young children. While hand hygiene has been widely promoted within Australia, primary care providers' (PCPs) and parents' understanding of hand hygiene importance, and their views on hand hygiene in reducing transmission of diseases in the community are unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the views of PCPs and parents of young children on their knowledge and practice of hand hygiene in disease transmission. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):391. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Public Health Solutions, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, PL 30, 00271, Helsinki, Finland.

Background: Persons of African and Middle-Eastern origin living in European countries have a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes, accompanied by high prevalence of obesity among women but not always among men. The aim of this study was to examine whether there are differences in the association between anthropometric measures and glucose levels measured with glycated haemoglobin and fasting blood glucose among persons of migrant origin in Finland.

Methods: Cross-sectional population-based data of the 30-64 year-old participants in the health examination of the Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study was used, selecting persons without diabetes (Russian origin n = 293, Somali origin n = 184, Kurdish origin n = 275). Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):390. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.

Background: Place-based factors have been implicated as root causes of socioeconomic disparities in risky health behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol use. Yet few studies examine the effects of county-level socioeconomic characteristics, despite the fact that social and public health policies are often implemented at the county level. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that county-level socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with individual tobacco and alcohol use. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):394. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Community Outreach Intervention Projects, 1603 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.

Background: Among persons living with HIV, poorer antiretroviral therapy adherence has been reported in African Americans and disproportionate mortality reported in young African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) compared to whites. We report the results of focus groups with young AAMSM living with HIV that explore their opinions about the acceptability and feasibility of a triaged real-time missed dose alert intervention to improve treatment adherence. The purpose of this study is to develop a theory-driven triaged real-time adherence monitoring intervention to promote HIV medication adherence in young AAMSM. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):393. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Cardiovascular Diabetology Research Group Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology Department of Internal Medicine Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Background: Physical literacy (PL), given as a multidimensional construct, is considered a person's capacity and commitment to a physically active lifestyle. We investigated the effect of a holistic physical exercise training on PL among physically inactive adults.

Methods: A non-randomised controlled study was conducted. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):395. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA.

Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) outcomes are adversely impacted by delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: Mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches were utilized to identify healthcare system related barriers to implementation of molecular diagnostics for MDR-TB. Randomly sampled districts from the 5 highest TB burden regions were enrolled during the 4th quarter of 2016. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 11;19(1):392. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon.

Background: In 2014, a study in Munyenge revealed a high prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) among pregnant women. This study investigated he prevalence and risk factors of UGS in pregnancy following scale-up of piped water sources from 2014 to 2017. Secondly, we compared stream usage, stream contact behaviour, infection rate and intensity with the findings of 2014. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 8;19(1):389. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Libera Universita Maria SS Assunta Di Roma, Rome, Italy.

Background: Preventing intimate partner violence or dating violence (DV) among adolescents is a public health priority due to its magnitude and damaging short and long-term consequences for adolescent and adult health. In our study protocol, we complement prior experiences in DV prevention by promoting protective factors (or assets) against gender violence such as communication skills, empathy and problem-solving capability through "Cinema Voice", a participatory educational intervention based on adolescents' strengths to tackle DV.

Methods/design: A longitudinal quasi-experimental educational intervention addressed to boys and girls ages 13-17 years, enrolled in secondary education schools in Alicante (Spain), Rome (Italy), Cardiff (UK), Iasi (Romania), Poznan (Poland) and Matosinhos (Portugal). Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 8;19(1):387. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Aydin, Turkey.

Background: The demand for smoking cessation services has risen in Turkey, as smokers planning to quit reached 35% in 2012. Communication technologies are used globally to support quitters, yet their integration to health services is rare. This study aims to evaluate the effect of support messages through WhatsApp application added to the usual care of a university hospital cessation unit, as compared to usual care alone, on abstinence rates at first month. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 8;19(1):388. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000, CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Background: Timing and types of complementary feeding in infancy affect nutritional status and health later in life. The present study aimed to investigate the factors associated with early introduction of complementary feeding (i.e. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 8;19(1):355. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Background: It has been suggested that an increasing number of Japanese adults remain sexually inexperienced; however, no study has assessed this issue using nationally representative data.

Methods: We used data from seven rounds of the National Fertility Survey of Japan, 1987-2015, and included adults aged 18-39 years (18-34 years in the 1987 survey) in the analyses (sample size 11,553-17,850 [1987-2010]; response rate 70.0-92. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 6;19(1):386. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

St John's Research Institute, Bengaluru, India.

Background: India lacks data on the incidence of Paediatric HIV. In 2010, the Indian Council of Medical Research commissioned a task force study to estimate the paediatric HIV burden in Belgaum district, Karnataka, India. We estimated the HIV incidence, prevalence and associated risk factors of mother to child transmission of HIV among children exposed to maternal HIV by age 24 months. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 5;19(1):383. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

School of Public Health- University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: In remote rural Tanzania, the rate of linkage into HIV care was estimated at 28% in 2014. This study explored facilitators and barriers to linkage to HIV care at individual/patient, health care provider, health system, and contextual levels to inform eventual design of interventions to improve linkage to HIV care.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive qualitative study nested in a cohort study of 1012 newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals in Mbeya region between August 2014 and July 2015. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 5;19(1):385. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Waikato District Health Board, Pembroke Street, Private Bag 3200, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand.

Background: Acute rheumatic fever in New Zealand persists and is a barometer of equity as its burden almost exclusively falls on Māori and Pacific Island populations. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether an incentive programme will result in increased secondary prophylaxis injections over a one-year period compared to a baseline period prior to the intervention.

Methods: The evaluation used a multiple baseline study to determine whether an incentive consisting of a mobile phone and monthly "top-up" (for data/calls) resulted in increased injections, increased texts/calls with nurses, reduced number of visits to get a successful injection, less medicine wasted, and increased nurse satisfaction. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 5;19(1):382. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Queensland Health, 33 Charlotte Street, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia.

Background: While acknowledged as one of social marketing's necessities, limited reporting of segmentation exists. The current study seeks to extend segmentation drawing on all four segmentation bases within the context of Queensland young adult sexual health behaviour.

Methods: An online survey was used to collect data from 15 to 29 year old people in Queensland, Australia. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 5;19(1):381. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Fudan University, P.O. Box 177, 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Background: China has the largest number of cases of diabetes with a high rate of uncontrolled blood sugar. Many studies show that family members' involvement is related to better glycemic control. However, there is a significant problem with low participation of family members. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 5;19(1):384. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection endemic in more than ninety countries of the world. The cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a most common form of leishmaniasis and it remains to be a major public health issue in Saudi Arabia. This study was undertaken to investigate the Leishmania species responsible for CL infection in different provinces of Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 4;19(1):379. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

Background: The current and declining physical activity levels of children is a global concern. Integrating physical activity into the school curriculum may be an effective way not only to improve children's physical activity levels but also enhance educational outcomes. Given the recent national focus in Australia on improving the literacy levels of children in primary school, and an increasing proportion of time spent on explicitly teaching these skills, integrating physical activity into English could be a viable strategy to improve literacy levels and physical activity at the same time. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 4;19(1):380. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Strategic Information Team, Strategic Information and Workforce Development Branch, Global Immunizations Division, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.

Background: High quality data are needed for decision-making at all levels of the public health system, from guiding public health activities at the local level, to informing national policy development, to monitoring the impact of global initiatives. Although a number of approaches have been developed to evaluate the underlying quality of routinely collected vaccination administrative data, there remains a lack of consensus around how data quality is best defined or measured.

Discussion: We present a definitional framework that is intended to disentangle many of the elements that have confused discussions of vaccination data quality to date. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 4;19(1):378. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

ICAP/NEPI project, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Background: Early initiation of sexual activity affects the sexual and reproductive health of the young population. The youth are at a high risk of risky sexual behaviours, including multiple partners and inconsistent condom use. There has been limited research on the level and determinants of early sexual initiation in Woldia town. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 3;19(1):372. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Division of Global HIV & TB, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Over the last decade, the Kenyan HIV treatment program has grown exponentially, with improved survival among people living with HIV (PLHIV). In the same period, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have become a leading contributor to disease burden. We sought to characterize the burden of four major NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus) among adult PLHIV in Kenya. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 3;19(1):375. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Dr. CH69, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a major determinant of tobacco use but little is known whether SES affects nicotine exposure and the degree of nicotine dependence.

Methods: The Pennsylvania Adult Smoking Study is a cross-sectional study of smoke exposure and nicotine dependence among adults conducted in central Pennsylvania between June 2012 and April 2014. The study included several measures of SES, including assessments of education and household income, as well as occupation, home ownership, health insurance, household density and savings accounts. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 3;19(1):374. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, 509 Forest Avenue, Suite 200, Portland, ME, 04101, USA.

Background: Accounting for nearly one-third of all deaths, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Adverse health behaviors are major determinants of this high incidence of disease. Examining local food and physical activity environments and population characteristics in a poor, rural state may highlight underlying drivers of these behaviors. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 3;19(1):369. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Centre for Clinical Research and Prevention Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Hovedvejen, Entrance 5, Nordre Fasanvej 57, DK-2000, Frederiksberg, Denmark.

Background: Unhealthy eating habits are a major problem among adolescents. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of a free breakfast club intervention on dietary habits among students at vocational schools.

Methods: The study included students (n = 318) from four vocational schools in Denmark. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 3;19(1):371. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

University of Nottingham, School of Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK.

Background: Physical activity and self-monitoring are important for children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) but it is unclear whether interventions delivered online are feasible, acceptable to patients and efficacious. The aim was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an internet-based physical activity and self-monitoring programme for children with T1DM, and of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate efficacy.

Methods: A total of 49 children aged 9-12 with T1DM were randomly assigned to usual care only or to an interactive intervention group combining a website (STAK-D) and a PolarActive activity watch (PAW; Polar Electro (UK) Ltd. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 3;19(1):373. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, China.

Background: In the northern region of China, many greenhouse vegetable farmers are exposed to high cumulative levels of pesticides due to long-term work in greenhouses that impacts their health. The aim of the current study was to identify the relationship between cumulative pesticide exposure and sleep disorders among farmers in Yinchuan, Northwest China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 3 consecutive years in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Read More

BMC Public Health 2019 Apr 3;19(1):376. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Box 45436, 104 31, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: The proportion of young adults on disability benefits due to mental disorders has increased in Europe since the early 2000's. Poor educational achievement is a risk factor for disability benefits due to mental disorders in early adulthood, yet no study has examined whether this association has become stronger over time.

Methods: All residents of Stockholm County at the time of graduation from compulsory education between 2000 and 2007 (N = 169,125) were followed prospectively for recipient of disability benefits due to a mental disorder from 2003 to 2011. Read More