ABSTRACT
To explore the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and preflood behavioral characteristics among children aged 7-15 years in Hunan, China. In 2000, a retrospective study was carried out among children who had been exposed to the 1998 floods in Hunan. A multistage sampling method was used to select subjects from the flood-affected areas. A structured questionnaire administered to the children selected was used to diagnose PTSD based on the DSM-IV criteria. A parent questionnaire was used to measure preflood behavioral characteristics related to health, behavioral, and habit problems. The association between PTSD and preflood behavioral characteristics was assessed using chi[2]-tests and multivariate logistic regression. A total of 7,038 children from 13,450 households, aged 7-15 years, were investigated. The overall prevalence of PTSD was 2.05%. Generally, the PTSD-positive rate increased with increasing scores for behavioral characteristics. Preflood behavioral characteristics are an important factor influencing the prevalence of PTSD among children exposed to floods. It is therefore necessary to give special attention to children with behavioral problems in order to reduce the psychological impact of floods
ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the prevalence and the risk factors for childhood obesity in Changsha and Shenzhen, China.Methods A case-control study was conducted in 209 obese children (the cases) identified in the investigation on childhood obesity in 6 288 children aged 6 to 9 years in Changsha and Shenzhen in China and 209 children with normal weight (the controls). The cases and controls were matched by gender, age, and school. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the risk factors were measured.Results The prevalence rate of overweight and obese children was 9.28% and 3.30% in Changsha, and 12.17% and 4.22% in Shenzhen, respectively. The rate of overweight children is significantly higher in Shenzhen than in Changsha. No statistical difference was observed in the rate of obesity between the children in both cities. Paternal obesity (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.16), maternal weight gain during pregnancy ≥15.0 kg (OR 5.22, 95% CI 2.78 to 9.80), birth weight ≥4.00 kg (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.24 to 5.26), unhealthy snacks ≥1 per week (OR 3.94, 95% CI 1.11 to 13.99), and watching television ≥2 hours per day(OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.01 to 5.47) were associated with childhood obesity when potential confounding factors were adjusted by multi-variable logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Paternal obesity, gestational weight gain, high birth weight, and unhealthy life-style are important risk factors for obesity in urban children in south China.