Underweight prevalence among young adults from rural areas, Salin Towinship, Magwe Region.

Maintaining a normal body mass index (BMI) throughout the life-span of a person may reduce occurrence as well as the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in terms of years lived with disability and premature death. Lifestyle and socioeconomic factors like physical activity and availability of healthy or unhealthy food may contribute to both extremes of BMI, namely underweight and overweight/obesity. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to estimate the prevalence of underweight and overweight/obesity and selected lifestyle factors in a cluster randomized sample of 335 young adults aged 18-35 years from rural communities residing at SalinTownship, Magwe Region. In addition, it also aims to investigate the association between selected socioeconomic and lifestyle factors with underweight. Data were collected by carrying out face to face interviews with the individuals selected in the sample in 2011 using semi-structured questionnaires and measuring of their weight and height. SPSS version 16 and STATA version 11 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Based on WHO criteria, participants were classified according to their BMI into underweight (BMI < 18.5); normal weight (BMI 18.5 - 24.99); and overweight/obese (BMI > 25). Individuals with normal BMI was found in 72% (95% confi dence interval (CI): 67.1 - 77.0) and the prevalence of underweight was found in 28% (23.0 - 32.9). The majorities of respondents were illiterates, of monastic and primary schooling, and working as farmers and manual workers. Nearly 84% of the respondents were able to have 3 meals per day, and the same proportion consumed vegetables daily. The prevalence of current smokers was 11% and all were found to be males. Seventy-two percent were physically active on a daily basis. Out of these respondents, three-fourths of them were physically active at least two hours per day. A total of 64% reported to sleep during the day and 71% reported less than 8 hours of sleeping during the night. Logistical regression analysis showed that underweight was significantly associated with lower age as compared to higher age (OR = 0.54: CI 0.32 - 0.92). There was no significant association between sex, education, occupation and lifestyle factors.

Catastrophic expenditure for health care in Myanmar.

Protecting households from the catastrophic health care expenditure is important for every health system because it can prevent some people from seeking care and result in impoverishment. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was done in 2014 to determine the magnitude of the catastrophic health care expenditure and its relationship with income, expenditure, residence, and receiving an in-patient care. Altogether 437 households from both urban and rural areas of 1 State and 5 Regions including Nay-Pyi-Taw territory were included in the study. Two thresholds that cover the 10% of total expenditure and 40% of non-food expenditure were used to estimate the catastrophic health care expenditure for one year period in randomly selected households. The estimates of catastrophic health care expenditure were 37.1% and 32.9% for thresholds of 10% of total annual expenditure and 40% of annual non-food expenditure, respectively. The catastrophic health care expenditure was significantly related to both annual household income (p = 0.012) and expenditure (p = 0.009). The estimate of catastrophic expenditure for health care was highest in households of lowest income (quintile) group (42.3%) whereas this estimate was lowest in households with highest income (21.2%), (p = 0.008). The similar trend was detected in the expenditure quintile groups (p = 0.013). The catastrophic expenditure for health care was significantly higher among households residing in the rural area compared to those of urban area (p = 0.001). Similarly, households experiencing hospitalization of any of its members was more likely to have the catastrophic expenditure than those who did not (p = 0.001). This study highlighted the urgent need to promote health, strengthen the strategic approach to universal health care coverage and also to seek ways to improve household income, especially for the rural poor. The establishment of nationwide health insurance system should also be considered.

Infection control measures among interns / house surgeons in teaching hospitals under University of Medicine (1), Yangon.

Health care workers are responsible for prevention and control of communicable diseases in the hospital environment. This study aimed to focus on infection control measures among house officers. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2010 at three teaching hospitals in Yangon City by introducing anonymous self-administered questionnaires to randomly selected 150 respondents. SPSS version 16.0 was used for analysis. Over half of the respondents had high knowledge and perception but the practice was poor. Infection control messages acquired through health talks, seminars and media were infl uencing factors on knowledge while training programs signifi cantly infl uenced both knowledge and perception. Senior house offi cers had significantly higher mean perception scores than their juniors (p=0.005). Their hand washing practice was signifi cantly infl uenced by newspapers and magazines (p=0.003) and poster and pamphlet(p=0.056). Compliance on utilization of surgical mask as a precautionary measure for airborne transmission was associated with knowledge (0.020), adequate supply in wards (p=0.001) and donation from medical product company (p=0.042). They bought gloves for handling infectious materials (p=0.000), and needle recapping practice before discarding was related to knowledge (p=0.05). Knowledge, perception and practice of house offi cers were interrelated to each other. Further education and training of house surgeons, resource allocation and continuous monitoringwere necessary for proper infection control and safe hospital environment.