Alcohol and drug intake pattern among truckers of Haryana, India

Background: Newborn period is culturally and traditionally sensitive in every society. Different communities have different traditional practices when it comes to taking care of newborn. Head-shaving in newborn period is one such unique traditional practice existent among rural population of West Bengal. This study was conducted to explore the traditional practice of head-shaving and to highlight its related morbidities among newborns following head-shaving.Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted at triage of special newborn care unit of Malda Medical College and Hospital among 650 mothers who presented to us with their sick newborns following head-shaving. After obtaining informed consent, mothers were interviewed. The data were collected using pre-designed questionnaires. Statistical analyses of the data were done using SPSS version 21.Results: In the present study, majority (52.62%) of the mothers were within the age group of 18-21 years and 94.15% belonged to Muslim community. Neonatal head-shaving was usually done on 4th day of life (48.15%) and on 10th day of life (28.77%). Baby bath following head-shaving was given in 49.54% newborns using pond water and 77.70 % mothers used crude mustard oil for massaging following baby bath. Following head-shaving, 37.69% of newborns presented with poor feeding, 33.23% with abdominal distension and 61.23% presented with respiratory distress.Conclusions: Findings of present study highlights the harmful aspects of traditional practice of head-shaving among newborns in rural Bengal. This practice can be avoided by proper health education and counselling of the mothers and her associates involved in newborn care.

Study on High Risk Behaviour among Adolescents Male and Females of Agra Urban Slums

Background: India estimates third highest number of HIVinfections in the world Adolescents often face significant barrierto getting the information education and services they need.Since discussing reproductive and sexual matter freely is still ataboo in our society. Most of the literature reports that majorityof married or unmarried people had experienced their first sexencounter before age 20. The most of the countries developedor developing especially those with high prevalence ofHIV/AIDS. The intervention in India are directed more towardshigh risk groups rather than adolescents, there has been anincrease in efforts to raise awareness on issues of HIV/AIDSand to influence preventive behaviour particularly regardingsexual activity in vulnerable age group.Methods: The study was performed among adolescents of 13-19years age group residing in randomly selected urban slumsof Agra city. Personal in-depth interview of adolescent’s boysand girls was conducted using a structured questionnaire.Results: Gutkha chewing habit appeared as an futuristicepidemic as 15.0% of adolescents Gutkha chewer, out ofwhich 84.44% were males, the majority of the adolescents71.67% had never seen pornographic films. The 88% ofadolescents said that they believe in religious customs andtaboos, out of which majority 51.89% were males. The sex withunknown status partner majority of adolescents 52% male saidto have sex only with use of condom, 43.33% expressed “nosex relation.Conclusions: The reproductive health education should be apart of curriculum in all schools. Public awareness programmeshould be directed to society. Apart from government sectors,the AIDS education should be programme activity of the localhealth agencies, NGO’s, media agencies.

Prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviour in Jamaican adults and its relationship to sociodemographic and religious factors: findings from the Jamaica health and lifestyle survey 2007-2008 / Prevalencia del comportamiento sexual de alto riesgo en los adultos Jamaicanos y su relación con factores sociodemográficos y religiosos: hallazgos de una encuesta de 2007-2008 sobre salud y estilo de vida en Jamaica

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviours among Jamaican adults and evaluate associations with sociodemographic and religious factors. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study, using a nationally representative sample of Jamaicans, 15-74 years old. Participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire including questions on sexual activity, sociodemographic factors and religious practice. Having two or more sexual partners in the past year, non-use of condoms among persons with multiple partners and a history of previous sexually transmitted infection (STI) were the high-risk characteristics considered in the analysis. We obtained crude and category specific prevalence estimates for high-risk behaviour and estimated odds ratios for association with sociodemographic and religious factors. RESULTS: Data from 2833 participants who reported on sexually activity were analysed. Approximately 25% (95% CI 22, 27) of Jamaican adults had two or more sexual partners in the past year, while 15% (95% CI 13, 17) had a past history of an STI. Approximately 6% (95% CI 5, 7) of persons with multiple partners did not use condoms during sexual intercourse. Overall, 32% (95% CI 30, 35) had any one of the three high-risk characteristics (male, 48%; female, 17%, p < 0.001). Being married, active religious practice and weekly attendance at religious meetings were associated with lower odds of high-risk sexual behaviour, while being in a visiting relationship was associated with higher odds of high-risk behaviour. CONCLUSION: A third of Jamaicans reported sexual practices that increase their risk of HIV infection. High-risk sexual behaviour was more common among men. Being married and weekly attendance at religious services were associated with lower odds of high-risk behaviour.

OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de las conductas sexuales de alto riesgo entre los adultos jamaicanos y evaluar las asociaciones con factores sociodemográficos y religiosos. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal, usando una muestra nacionalmente representativa de jamaicanos, de 15 a 74 años de edad. Los participantes completaron una encuesta administrada por el entrevistador, la cual incluía preguntas sobre actividad sexual, factores sociodemográficos, y práctica religiosa. El haber tenido dos o más parejas sexuales en el último año, la ausencia del uso de condones entre personas con parejas múltiples, y una historia previa de infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS), fueron las características de alto riesgo consideradas en el análisis. Se obtuvieron estimaciones aproximadas y específicas por categorías en relación con las conductas de alto riesgo, así como estimaciones de los cocientes de probabilidades (odds ratios) con respecto a la asociación con los factores sociodemográficos y religiosos. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron los datos de 2833 participantes que informaron estar sexualmente activos. Aproximadamente 25% (95% CI 22, 27) de los adultos jamaicanos habían tenido dos o más parejas sexuales el último año, mientras que 15% (95% CI 13, 17) habían tenido una historia de ITS. Aproximadamente 6% (95% CI 5, 7) de las personas con parejas múltiples no usaron condones durante el acto sexual. En general, 32% (95% CI 30, 35) tenían alguna de las tres características de alto riesgo (varones, 48%; hembras, 17%, p < 0.001). El estar casado, tener una práctica religiosa, y asistir semanalmente a reuniones religiosas, estuvieron asociados con menores probabilidades de comportamiento sexual de alto riesgo, mientras que las relaciones de visitas ocasionales estuvieron asociadas con mayores probabilidades de conducta de alto riesgo. CONCLUSIÓN: Un tercio de la muestra representativa de jamaicanos reportó prácticas sexuales que aumentaban el riesgo de infección por VIH. La conducta sexual de alto riesgo fue más común entre los hombres. El estar casado, y asistir semanalmente a reuniones religiosas, estuvieron asociados con menores probabilidades de comportamiento sexual de alto riesgo.

Study on high-risk behaviour and suicide associated risk factors related to HIV/AIDS among gay or bisexual men / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective Characteristics on AIDS high-risk behaviors in gay or bisexual men with suicide ideas were explored and analyzed.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with the snowball sampling method adopted.Subjects with suicide ideas were collected from responses to the valid questionnaires and subjects with no suicide ideas were collected from the age comparable men.Results The overall rate of gays or bisexuals with suicide ideas was 20.2％ in this survey.The attitude for homogeneity and marital status among the unmarried was more than that among the comparable group (P＜0.05).The rate of AIDS high-risk behaviors as same-sex sexual harassment,bleeding during sexual intercourse in the last year,coitus with unfamiliar same-sex partners in cities,suffering from adult same-sex sexual abuse before the age of 16,having had sexual abuse and abusive behavior,having had active or passive anal kiss,having had active or passive coitus with fingers,alcohol consumption weekly at least once or more,hurt by gays because of attitude and/or same-sex sexual activity and hurt by heterosexual men because of attitude and/or same-sex sexual activity were significantly higher in gays and bisexual men with suicide ideas than those without (P＜0.05).Data from multivariate logistic regression models suggested that harm from gays (Waldx2=6.637,P=0.010) and heterosexual men (Waldx2=5.835,P=0.016) due to attitude on homosexual activity appear to be the risk factors causing the suicide ideas.Conclusion Reducing the social discrimination and harm towards gays and bisexual men could reduce the occurrence of the suicide ideas and have a positive effect on curbing the prevalence of AIDS.

High risk behaviours following alcohol use in alcohol dependent men.

Background & objectives: Heavy alcohol drinking and propensity to risk taking behaviour may both be associated with the occurrence of high risk behaviour. The present study was carried out to examine the association between high risk behaviours and alcohol abuse among patients admitted to an inpatient facility for treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome. Methods: Using event analysis technique, the prevalence and type of high risk behaviour as a consequence of a heavy drinking episode was identified among heavy drinkers. Four types of high risk behaviour namely road traffic accidents, violence, self-injurious and risky sexual behaviour were studied. Patients with and without high risk behaviour were compared on measures of severity of drinking, sensation seeking and impulsivity using addiction severity index, sensation seeking scale and Baratt’s impulsivity scale respectively. Results: In 300 subjects with alcohol dependence syndrome, the most common high risk behaviour was road traffic accident following alcohol use. In 193 (64.3%) subjects heavy drinking episode was associated with high risk behaviours. Compared to those without high risk behaviours, the subjects with high risk behaviours had higher scores on sensation seeking scale and addiction severity index. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings indicated that there was a high prevalence of high risk behaviour following an episode of heavy drinking in male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. Both, severity of drinking and personality factors were associated with the occurrence of high risk behaviour as a consequence of heavy drinking.