ABSTRACT
The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF [WHOQOL-BREF] has generally been used for patients, few studies in migrants who move from rural to urban within one country. Many studies asserted that social isolation presents a risk to individual health. Poor social networks are associated with worse QOL. This study examined health-related quality of life [HRQOL] and social support in new-generation migrant workers and compared it with urban workers. Nine hundred thirty new-generation migrant workers and 939 urban controls completed the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and Social Support Rating Scale [SSRS] by stratified sampling in 2011. Spearman's correlation was performed to clarify the relationship between social support and HRQOL in migrants. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify the variables that were associated with HRQOL. The general health, psychological health, and environmental scores of QOL in new-generation migrant workers were lower than in urban workers. New-generation migrants had poorer social support compared with urban controls with regard to general support, objective support, and support utilization. A positive correlation was found between social support and HRQOL. Workers with a higher level of education achieved better psychological, environmental, and general scores than workers with a primary education. Physical, social, environmental, and general health was also closely connected with the age factor. Physical health scores were higher in males than in females. These data suggest that new-generation migrant workers have significant impairment in HRQOL and receive less social support. HRQOL may be affected by social support, education, age, and gender
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Quality of Life , Transients and Migrants , Health , Urban Population , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
Objective To identify the quality of life (QOL)and major influencing factors for migrant workers in Zhejiang province.Methods The QOL of 1217 migrant workers and 1387 permanent urban residents in Zhejiang province were measured by WHOQOL-BREF scale (Chinese version)in a stratified sampling.A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the relationship between the factors and the scores of the four domains.Results There were no significant statistical differences(P＞0.05)found in the scores of physical health,social relationship and general health between migrant workers and urban residents.Their scores of psychological health,surrounding conditions and general quality of life,however,were found lower than urban residents (3.5 ± 0.8 vs 3.6 ± 0.8).Influencing factors for their psychology were education,family conflicts and appetite; those for their surrounding conditions were daily average work hours and appetite.Conclusion Given improvements in the quality of life of migrant workers,rooms to improve were found in such scores as psychological health and surrounding conditions.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the changes of plasma ghrelin,growth hormone (GH) and growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and gastric ghrelin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD ) and to explore their clinical significances.Methods Plasma ghrelin,GH,GHRH,TNFα,IL-6 and C reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 40 COPD patients and 20 controls with chronic bronchitis. Correlated factors of plasma ghrelin,TNFα,IL-6,CRP were analyzed. Body composition was assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis.The expression of gastric ghrelin in patients with COPD was detected.Results Plasma ghrelin was higher in the underweight patients than in the normal weight patients and in the controls [ ( 1.78 ± 0.46 ) ng/L,( 1.39 ± 0.46 ) ng/L,( 1.36 ± 0.39 ) ng/L,respectively].Plasma GH was lower in the underweight patients than in the normal weight patients and in the controls [(4.12 ±0.83) μg,/L,(5.17 ±0.72) μg/L,(6.49 ± 1.13) μg/L,respectively].Plasma GHRH was lower in the underweight patients than in the normal weight patients and in the controls [ (20.43 ± 4.41 ) ng/L,(23.47 ± 3.97) ng/L,( 27.48 ± 10.06) ng/L,respectively ].Plasma ghrelin was higher in the underweight patients than in the controls ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Plasma ghrelin was higher in the underweight patients than in the normal weight patients with COPD.Plasma ghrelin (log transformed) was negatively correlated with BMI and percentage of body fat in the COPD patients.Plasma GHRH was positively correlated with ghrelin in the underweight patients ( r =0.515,P ＜ 0.05 ),while no correlation was found between plasma G H and ghrelin in the underweight patients (r =0.415,P ＞ 0.05 ).Plasma ghrelin was positively correlated with TNFα and IL-6 in the underweight patients.The gastric expression of ghrelin showed no evident difference between the patients with COPD and the controls.Conclusions The plasma GH in COPD patients may not be correlated with ghrelin.The plasma ghrelin level may be a useful indicator for malnutrition in COPD patients.Plasma ghrelin might be involved in the pathogenesis of CODP by affecting the body energy metabolism.
ABSTRACT
Objective To probe into the inequality found in primary public health service available to the migrant population and permanent residents. Methods With on-site interviews, 581 migrant workers and 581 permanent residents in a county in Zhejiang province were surveyed, to learn the inequalities between the two in the expenditure, access and outcomes of the public health service accessible to each. Results only 7. 8% of the migrant population ever had access to medical aid, a ratio far below that of the permanent residents; 40. 9% of the migrant population may turn down medical service beyond their affordability, a ratio far higher; for the migrant population, their ratio of gynecological checkup is 58. 7%, lower than that of the permanent residents (67. 7%). Conclusion Resources and financial allocation to institutions of public health should be enhanced, and social medical and insurance system should be developed and improved, in an effort to encourage the equality of primary public health services accessible to various sectors of the population.