Anemia among rural children aged 3-6 in central China and its association with dietary behaviors / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand the status of anemia among rural children aged 3-6 in central China and its relationship with dietary behavior, and to provide reference for prevention and intervention of anemia in rural children.@*Methods@#From April to June 2021, stratified cluster sampling was used to select 1 246 preschool children aged 3 to 6 years old in rural areas in central China. Peripheral blood of the ring finger was collected. Dietary behaviors regarding consumption of cereals and potatoes, fruits, vegetables, soy products, milk, animal foods, food diversity, and drinking water were investigated. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between anemia and dietary behaviors.@*Results@#The detection rate of anemia in rural children aged 3-6 in central China was 13.88%. The anemia detection rate of left behind children (19.00%) was higher than that of non left behind children (11.27%), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=13.93, P <0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the proportion of left behind children ( OR=1.28, 95%CI =1.16-1.56) with anemia was higher than that of non left behind children ( P <0.01). Consumption of animal food intake ≥3 times/week ( OR=0.82, 95%CI =0.69-0.91), and ≥2 kinds of vegetables ( OR= 0.86, 95%CI =0.71-0.93) were associated with lower rate of anemia ( P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#The detection rate of anemia in rural children aged 3-6 years in central China is relatively high, especially in left behind children. Dietary literacy of caregivers should be further improved regarding increased intake of animal foods and vegetables to reduce the risk for anemia in preschoolers.

Breakfast consumption and influencing factors of primary and middle school students in rural poor areas of Guizhou Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand the current situation of breakfast consumption and its influencing factors in primary and middle school students in a poor rural area in a city in Guizhou Province, and to provide scientific basis for child nutrition education and intervention.@*Methods@#A stratified cluster sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey of breakfast behavior and influencing factors among 2 833 students from 3 primary schools and 3 middle schools in a area of Guizhou Province from April to June 2019.@*Results@#The most frequently consumed breakfast was rice noodle products(71.66%), followed by fresh vegetables(45.89%), milk(35.55%), meat/egg/fish(29.33%), beans(19.52%), and fresh fruits(18.74%). The proportion of having breakfast everyday among elementary and middle school students who was 62.97%, and having breakfast 4-6 days peer week was 22.80%, and 14.23% with ≤3 days peer week, and the proportion of boys who ate breakfast every day(65.07%) was higher than girls(61.00%)(χ2=10.01, P<0.05). The proportion of low quality breakfast was 71.87%, and girls(73.68%) were higher than boys(69.94%)(χ2=9.29, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that grade of school, boarding school, and sleep quality are all influencing factors for whether to eat breakfast every day; grade of school, whether to stay at school were factors that affect breakfast quality(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The frequency and quality of breakfast need more improvement among middle and primary school students in a poor rural area of a city in Guizhou Province. Students, parents, and teachers should be educated on nutrition to promote healthy eating and sleeping habits and improve student health.

Predictors of unprotected sex among men who have sex with men in Beijing, China.

To estimate the prevalence of HIV and syphilis and to assess the predictors of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing, a community-based survey recruited MSM in 2005 through internet advertisement, community outreach, and peer referral. Demographic, sexual, and HIV risk behavioral information were collected. Serospecimens were tested for HIV and syphilis infections. Of the 526 participants, 3.2% were HIV-positive, 11.2% syphilis-positive, 50% and 43.3% had UAI with regular and casual sex partners, respectively. Participants practicing UAI with regular male partners were independently associated with lower monthly income (adjusted odds ratio-AOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-3.0) and encountering male sex partners at bathhouses, public washrooms, and parks (AOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0-4.9). Participants practicing UAI with casual male partners were associated with encountering male sex partners at bathhouses, publics washrooms, and park (AOR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.8-5.2) and more male sex partners having receptive anal intercourse (AOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.9), and was inversely associated with receiving money for sex with men (AOR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7). Professional male sex workers were less likely to practice UAI in Beijing, suggesting the benefits of educational outreach to date. Further education, condom promotion, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections should be intensified urgently to combat the rising HIV epidemic among MSM in Beijing.