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Content Analysis of Food and Beverages Advertisements Targeting Children and Adults on Television in Sri Lanka
Conclusion and recommendations. The Ministry of Health needs to pursue all food and beverages–focused advertisements for policy formulation and implementation. (Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health)
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Prathapan, S., Wijewardena, K., Low, W. Y. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

Utilization of Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, Kerala: A Comparative Study of Insured and Uninsured Below-Poverty-Line Households
We aimed to compare the sociodemographics, health care utilization pattern, and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses of 149 insured and 147 uninsured below-poverty-line households insured under the Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, Kerala, through a comparative cross-sectional study. Family size more than 4 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13-4.82), family member with chronic disease (OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.18-3.57), high socioeconomic status (OR = 2.95; 95% CI = 1.74-5.03), and an employed household head (OR = 2.69; 95% CI = 1.44-5.02) were significantly associated with insured households. Insured hou...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Philip, N. E., Kannan, S., Sarma, S. P. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

Risk Factors for Fall-Related Injuries Leading to Hospitalization Among Community-Dwelling Older Persons: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
This study intended to identify the risk factors for injurious falls that led to hospitalization of older persons living in the community. A hospital-based unmatched incident case-control study was done among 251 cases and 250 controls admitted at a tertiary care centre in Kerala. Mean age of cases was 71.6 ± 9.13 years and that of controls was 67.02 ± 6.17 years. Hip fractures were the predominant injury following falls. Falls were mostly a result of intrinsic causes. After adjusting for other variabes, the risk factors for all injuries were age above 70 years (odds ratio [OR] = 2.25; 95% confidence interval...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Ravindran, R. M., Kutty, V. R. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

Validation of WHOQOL-BREF in Malayalam and Determinants of Quality of Life Among People With Type 2 Diabetes in Kerala, India
This article attempts to establish reliability, construct and discriminant validity of the translated WHOQOL-BREF, and determinants of QOL among people with type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 200 patients with diabetes attending a primary care center in a rural area of Kerala, India. The translated version of WHOQOL-BREF was found to be internally consistent (Cronbach’s α = .86) and demonstrated discriminant and construct validity. Education was found to be an independent determinant of QOL in the physical, psychological, and environmental domains. Thus, the translated version had goo...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Sreedevi, A., Cherkil, S., Kuttikattu, D. S., Kamalamma, L., Oldenburg, B. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

Level of Physical Activity in Population Aged 16 to 65 Years in Rural Kerala, India
Kerala is a state in India with a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In order to control these diseases, the prevalence of modifiable risk factors such as low physical activity need to be studied. For this a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the level of physical activity among 240 residents aged between 15 and 65 years in Kulappuram, a village in north Kerala. Low level of physical activity was seen in 65.8% of the study participants. The average duration of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity per day in different domains such as work, travel, and recreation were 40.5, 10.1, ...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Aslesh, O. P., Mayamol, P., Suma, R. K., Usha, K., Sheeba, G., Jayasree, A. K. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

Perceived Job Stress and Presence of Hypertension Among Administrative Officers in Sri Lanka
A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 275 and 760 randomly selected senior officers (SOs) and managerial assistants (MAs) aged between 30 and 60 years. Sum of scores of efforts, rewards, and overcommitment and effort–reward ratio assessed job stress. Blood pressure was measured and classified using JNC-7 guidelines. The response rates of SOs and MAs were 98.9% and 97.2%, respectively. The prevalence of job stress based on high effort–rewards imbalance among SOs and MAs was 74.6% and 80.5%, respectively. The prevalence of overcommitment among SOs and MAs was 35.3% and 29%, respectively. Statistically si...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Gamage, A. U., Seneviratne, R. D. A. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Metabolic Syndrome Patients in an Urban Tertiary Care Institute in Sri Lanka
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a significant predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). A pretested questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of CVD and its risks among Sri Lankan urban adults (35-55 years) with MetS. KAP scores were predefined as high, moderate, and low. Of the participants (n = 423), 13% were males and 87% were females. Attitudes scores were high among this population, though their knowledge and practices scores on CVD risk factors were moderate. Participants with high mean knowledge scores had significantly lower waist circumference (WC) and showed a trend toward reduced ...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Amarasekara, P., de Silva, A., Swarnamali, H., Senarath, U., Katulanda, P. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

A Risk Score to Predict Hypertension in Primary Care Settings in Rural India
We used the data of 297 participants (15-64 years old) from a cohort study (2003-2010) who were free from hypertension at baseline, to develop a risk score to predict hypertension by primary health care workers in rural India. Age ≥35 years, current smoking, prehypertension, and central obesity were significantly associated with incident hypertension. The optimal cutoff value of ≥3 had a sensitivity of 78.6%, specificity of 65.2%, positive predictive value of 41.1%, and negative predictive value of 90.8%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the risk score was 0.802 (95% confidence interval =...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Sathish, T., Kannan, S., Sarma, P. S., Razum, O., Thrift, A. G., Thankappan, K. R. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

Social Influences of Help-Seeking Behaviour Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Malaysia
This qualitative study aimed to explore the influence of social networks such as family members, friends, peers, and health care providers toward the help-seeking behaviour (HSB) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the public and private primary care settings. In-depth interviews of 12 patients, 9 family members, and 5 health care providers, as well as 3 focus groups among 13 health care providers were conducted. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim for qualitative analysis. Social influences play a significant role in the help-seeking process; once diagnosed, patients source information from p...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Low, L. L., Tong, S. F., Low, W. Y. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

Mapping Unhealthy Behavior Among Economically Active Men Using GIS in Suburban and Rural Areas of Sri Lanka
The burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and certain behavioral risk factors related to NCDs (unhealthy behaviors) are becoming more common. This survey aims to map out such common unhealthy behaviors among all men 35 to 50 years old in a Medical Officer of Health area in the Western Province of Sri Lanka using a geographical information system (GIS) and an interviewer administered questionnaire by visiting all households in the study area. Data were analyzed with ARC GIS and SPSS software. Geographical areas where men with unhealthy behaviors cluster together (clusters) were identified and visually and statistically ...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Silva, J. P. Tags: Increasing Public Health Research Capacity in South Asian Countries Source Type: research

Building Noncommunicable Disease Research Capacity in the South Asian Region: The ASCEND Program
(Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health)
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Oldenburg, B., Wickramasinghe, K., Byrnes, A. Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research

The Threat of Noncommunicable Diseases in South Asia
(Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health)
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Low, W. Y. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research

Gender Differences in Depression Symptoms Among Rice Farmers in Thailand
This study aimed to examine the prevalence of depression symptoms and risk factors by gender among rice farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima Province in Thailand. A cross-sectional study was designed using interviewed questionnaire on lifestyle, work, and depression symptoms. To examine the factors associated with depression symptoms, multiple logistic regression analysis was used. Depression symptoms were found in 39.0% of males and 48.1% of females. Eating healthy food, preparing to prevent the problem, having community integration, hearing loud machines, and using personal protective equipment during work with chemical substanc...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Hanklang, S., Kaewboonchoo, O., Morioka, I., Plernpit, S.-a. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Patient Delay Among Women With Breast Cancer in Rural India
This study was conducted in rural India to identify risk factors associated with patient delay. A total of 212 women with primary breast cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2012 were interviewed. Sociodemographic characteristics, time interval between seeking medical attention and appearance of symptoms, and reasons for delay were inquired. Patient delay was defined as more than 3 months between date of first symptoms and medical consultation. Logistic regression was applied to assess associations between potential risk factors and patient delay. Almost half the women with breast cancer experienced patient delay. Age more th...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Gangane, N., Anshu, , Manvatkar, S., Ng, N., Hurtig, A.-K., Sebastian, M. S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Associations Between Womens Perception of Their Husbands/Partners Social Support and Pap Screening in Pacific Islander Communities
Pacific Islanders experience high rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality. This cross-sectional study examined the extent to which Samoan, Chamorro, and Tongan women’s perceived receipt of social support from their husbands or male partners was associated with rates of routine cancer screening- specifically Pap testing. A total of 585 Pacific Islander women who live in the United States completed a self-report survey. Women who reported having a Pap test within the past 3 years had significantly higher scores on support from their husbands/male partners. Furthermore, the relationship of emotional support and...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - January 20, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Mouttapa, M., Park Tanjasiri, S., Wu Weiss, J., Sablan-Santos, L., DeGuzman Lacsamana, J., Quitugua, L., Flores, P., Flores, P., Paige, C., Tuione May, V., Tupua, M., Schmidt-Vaivao, D., Taito, P., Vaikona, E., Vunileva, I. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research