ABSTRACT
Background: waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) are simple screening tools for hypertension (HT) and type 2 diabetes (DM). Cutoffs of WC for BMI for Asians have been discussed. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of screening tools and associations of WC, BMI with HT and DM. Methods: Data from the national screening programme for metabolic syndrome conducted in 2010 in 21 provinces in the central region of Thailand were analysed. A total of 10 748 participants aged >35 years were included in the analysis with cutoffs of WC set at 90 cm for men, 80 cm for women, and BMI at 23 kg/m2 for both sexes. Results: WC produced low sensitivity and high specificity among male participants, and moderate sensitivity and specificity among female participants, while BMI produced moderate sensitivity and specificity in both sexes. Significant associations were found among those who had high WC only, high BMI only, and both high WC and BMI with HT and DM in both sexes. (males for HT, OR=1.63, 95%CI: 1.15–2.33, OR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.03–1.44 and OR=2.03, 95%CI: 1.07–2.42; males for DM, OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.05–1.83), OR=1.77, 95%CI: 1.07–2.94 and OR= 2.05, 95%CI: 1.57–2.69, females for HT, OR=1.69: 95%CI 1.38–2.07, OR=1.32; 95%CI: 1.09–1.60 and OR=2.54, 95%CI: 2.11–2.91; females for DM, OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.08–1.94, OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.09–1.91 and OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.39–2.09). When the cutoff WC was lowered among male participants to 85 cm, sensitivity increased, and significant strengths of associations with HT and DM were nearly the same. Conclusion: For Thailand, WC and BMI with appropriate cutoffs can be effective screening tools to recruit high-risk populations into health promotion programmes. However, WC and BMI should be implemented with other screening tools for other risk factors because of their moderate accuracy.
ABSTRACT
The study aimed to identify the characteristics and frequency of physical and emotional violence against children by their biological parents and the relationship between children's characteristics, family factors and the extent of violent acts against children. The sample consisted of 212 grade six students in Muang District, Amnatcharoen Province. The data were collected from February 8 to 20, 1999. The results showed that 95.3 per cent of respondents perceived being treated violently by their biological parents, as 76.7 per cent were physical violence and 95.0 per cent were emotional violence. The most common physical and emotional acts of violence were beating by a cane or belt and scolding with rude language respectively. However, the violent acts occurred only occasionally. Only the factors of self-esteem and child's gender could predict the violent acts by fathers for 10.5 per cent; whereas family crises, family relations and self-esteem could predict the violent acts by mothers for 13.0 per cent. Therefore, building self-esteem, encouraging a healthy home environment, and creating proper coping skills against family crises are necessary for reducing violent acts.