Quality of Life and Mental Health Status of Arsenic-affected Patients in a Bangladeshi Population.

Contamination of groundwater by inorganic arsenic is one of the major public-health problems in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted (a) to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and mental health status of arsenic-affected patients and (b) to identify the factors associated with the QOL. Of 1,456 individuals, 521 (35.78%) were selected as case and control participants, using a systematic random-sampling method. The selection criteria for cases (n=259) included presence of at least one of the following: melanosis, leucomelanosis on at least 10% of the body, or keratosis on the hands or feet. Control (nonpatient) participants (n=262) were selected from the same villages by matching age (±5 years) and gender. The Bangladeshi version of the WHOQOL-BREF was used for assessing the QOL, and the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ) was used for assessing the general mental health status. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and the WHOQOL-BREF and SRQ scores between the patients and the non-patients were compared. The mean scores of QOL were significantly lower in the patients than those in the non-patients of both the sexes. Moreover, the mental health status of the arsenic-affected patients (mean score for males=8.4 and females=10.3) showed greater disturbances than those of the non-patients (mean score for males=5.2 and females=6.1) of both the sexes. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors potentially contributing to the lower QOL scores included: being an arsenic-affected patient, having lower age, and having lower annual income. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the QOL and mental health status of the arsenic-affected patients were significantly lower than those of the non-patients in Bangladesh. Appropriate interventions are necessary to improve the well-being of the patients.

Knowing the Consequences of Unprotected Sex with Seroconcordant Partner Is Associated with Increased Safer Sex Intentions among HIV-positive Men in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Unprotected sexual intercourse among HIV-positive people can adversely affect their own health by increasing their exposure to multiple strains of HIV-1 or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The study explored the relationship between knowledge of Nepalese HIV-positive men about the consequences of having unprotected sex with seroconcordant partners and their intention to practise safer sex with such partners. In total, 166 participants recruited conveniently in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, were interviewed. Each participant reported intention to practise safer sex with seroconcordant partners, knowledge about the consequences of having unprotected sex with seroconcordant partners, perceived partnerrelated barriers to condom-use, belief that condoms interfere with sex, and condom-use self-efficacy. Of the 166 participants, 50.6% intended to practise safer sex every time they have sex with seroconcordant partners. Results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the participants who were aware of the possibility of HIV superinfection [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16- 7.34, p=0.022)] or that the presence of STIs in HIV-positive persons increases progression of HIV disease (AOR=2.80, 95% CI 1.08-7.26, p=0.033) were more likely to intend to practise safer sex with seroconcordant partners. Similarly, the participants who were employed or who had lower levels of belief that condoms interfere with sex were more likely to intend to practise safer sex. The findings suggest that improving the knowledge of HIV-positive persons about the consequences of having unprotected sex with seroconcordant partners might improve their intention to practise safer sex with such partners.

Survey of Food-hygiene Practices at Home and Childhood Diarrhoea in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the potential factors of food-hygiene practices of mothers on the prevalence of diarrhoea among their children. Mothers who had children aged 6 months–5 years were recruited in a hamlet in Viet Nam. The food-hygiene practices included hand-washing, method of washing utensils, separation of utensils for raw and cooked food, and the location where foods were prepared for cooking. A face-to-face interview was conducted, and data on 206 mothers were analyzed. The risk of diarrhoea was significantly higher among children whose mothers prepared food for cooking somewhere other than the table (typically on the ground) compared to children whose mothers prepared food on the table (adjusted odds ratio=2.85, 95% confidence interval 1.11-7.28). The results indicate that food-hygiene practices of mothers, such as avoiding preparing food for cooking on the ground, has a potential impact in preventing diarrhoea among children in Viet Nam.

Insufficient level of iodine content in household powder salt in Nepal.

Universal salt iodization (USI) is long term strategy for the control of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) in Nepal. Standardized periodic testing of the iodine content in salt is a critical part of a salt iodisation programme. To achieve programmatic objective, this study was carried out to estimate the iodine content of household salt in Kavre, Lalitpur and Parsa districts of Nepal. Iodometric titration of 1803 salt samples collected from the households through the students of different schools revealed that 289 (16.0%) had less than 15 ppm iodine. Two hundred forty-one powder salt samples without two children logo (14.3% among total powder salt samples) had iodine below 15 ppm. It includes 25.8% of total salt samples from Parsa district of Terai ecological region. Among total, the largest proportion of the population accounting for almost 93.0% used powder salt. In total 1803 salt samples, mean and median iodine concentration were 31.8 ppm (95.0% CI=31.0-32.6) and 29.5 ppm respectively. The mean and median iodine concentration of phoda (dhike) salt were 22.1 ppm (95.0% CI= 19.2-25.1) and 18.9 ppm; powder salt were 32.6 ppm (95.0% CI= 31.7- 33.4) and 30.6 ppm respectively. In the community level, people are still using the non-iodized salt. To eliminate the IDD more efforts are required at program implementation and monitoring level.

Hard-to-reach populations in Japan.

The objective of this study was to assess the trends of sampling locations and methods of studying hard-to-reach populations conducted in Japan. We accessed a Japanese medical database on 30 September 2005 to review 5 study types of hard-to-reach populations conducted in Japan: men who have sex with men, homeless, sex workers, undocumented migrants, and injecting drug users. We then categorized their sampling locations and methods. We found 298 articles on hard-to-reach populations published from 1983 to September 2005. Of the 285 studies sampled, approximately 92% were facility-based studies and the rest were community-based. This tendency was consistent in each subgroup; the majority of the studies were conducted among patients in medical facilities. Our study shows the majority of studies on hard-to-reach populations in Japan adopted a convenience sampling method and were facility-based. We suggest the utilization of comparatively valid techniques, such as time-location or respondent driven sampling to more clearly understand these populations.

Assessment of IDD problem by estimation of urinary iodine among school children.

Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) is a major micronutrient deficiency problem in Nepal. Urinary iodine estimation has been the gold standard employed for the assessment of iodine status and of IDD. This study was conducted with objective to assess the urinary iodine among the school children of Kavre, Lalitpur and Parsa districts. Attempts were made to relate urinary iodine with salt use and other sociodemographic variables. Altogether 190 urine samples (74 samples from Kavre, 89 from Parsa and 27 from Lalitpur district) were collected from school children aged 5-13 years. The urinary iodine was analyzed by using urinary iodine assay kit (Bioclone Australia Pvt Limited). It was found that 3.2% children had urine iodine concentration below 20 microg/l. Similarly, the percentage of children with urine iodine concentration 21-50 microg/l, 51-99 microg/l, 100-299 microg/l and above 300 microg/l were 14.2%, 10.5%, 43.7% and 28.4% respectively. Iodine deficient population of school children was 39.2% of Kavre, 19.1% of Parsa and 25.9% of Lalitpur. Overall, it was found that 27.9% children had urine iodine level less than the normal WHO levels. The median urine iodine level was 139.0 microg/l of Kavre, 266.7 microg/l of Parsa and 244.4 microg/l of Lalitpur school children. Urinary iodine excretion (UIE) median value among male students was 211.9 microg/l, among female students was 190.2 microg/l and the difference was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between consumed salt iodine level and urine iodine excretion level (P > 0.05). Short-term iodine supplementation programs should be arranged for iodine deficient children in the study districts. This study shows that IDD continues to be prevalent in the country as a major public health problem, which requires strengthening effective intervention program and other preventive measures.

School health in rural Nepal: why and how?

School health has been regarded as a high priority intervention in developing countries from the perspective of donor organizations. This paper aims to show why school health is important from the community perspective as well, and how school health programs should be implemented based on a case study by the School and Community Health Project (SCHP) in Nepal. SCHP conducted a needs assessment using a participatory rural appraisal in 28 rural communities (mean household number: 51; mean population: 352) in rural Nepal. As a result, SCHP found 70% of the target communities regarded schools as the most important institutions in their communities. Then, SCHP initiated two school health programs to meet their needs, a Supportive Healthy Environment Program and Child Initiative Program. The community members welcomed them, and all the schools successfully built toilets and water supply systems, and initiated child club activities, even though the school teachers' commitment was limited.

The need for linking healthcare-seeking behavior and health policy in rural Nepal.

In Nepal, little emphasis has been placed on the need to link healthcare-seeking behavior (HCSB) with health policy. The purpose of this study is to identify the HCSB of 405 households that were randomly selected from 28 communities in a hilly region of central Nepal. In assessing HCSB, we found that some form of illness strikes about 50% of households each year. When rural Nepalese are moderately or severely ill, they seek healthcare from traditional healers first, before visiting other health workers. Mild illnesses are treated at home. To improve the health of the rural population, health planners should recognize these realities and incorporate them into the development of health policies.