Underweight prevalence among young adults from rural areas, Salin Towinship, Magwe Region.

Maintaining a normal body mass index (BMI) throughout the life-span of a person may reduce occurrence as well as the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in terms of years lived with disability and premature death. Lifestyle and socioeconomic factors like physical activity and availability of healthy or unhealthy food may contribute to both extremes of BMI, namely underweight and overweight/obesity. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to estimate the prevalence of underweight and overweight/obesity and selected lifestyle factors in a cluster randomized sample of 335 young adults aged 18-35 years from rural communities residing at SalinTownship, Magwe Region. In addition, it also aims to investigate the association between selected socioeconomic and lifestyle factors with underweight. Data were collected by carrying out face to face interviews with the individuals selected in the sample in 2011 using semi-structured questionnaires and measuring of their weight and height. SPSS version 16 and STATA version 11 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Based on WHO criteria, participants were classified according to their BMI into underweight (BMI < 18.5); normal weight (BMI 18.5 - 24.99); and overweight/obese (BMI > 25). Individuals with normal BMI was found in 72% (95% confi dence interval (CI): 67.1 - 77.0) and the prevalence of underweight was found in 28% (23.0 - 32.9). The majorities of respondents were illiterates, of monastic and primary schooling, and working as farmers and manual workers. Nearly 84% of the respondents were able to have 3 meals per day, and the same proportion consumed vegetables daily. The prevalence of current smokers was 11% and all were found to be males. Seventy-two percent were physically active on a daily basis. Out of these respondents, three-fourths of them were physically active at least two hours per day. A total of 64% reported to sleep during the day and 71% reported less than 8 hours of sleeping during the night. Logistical regression analysis showed that underweight was significantly associated with lower age as compared to higher age (OR = 0.54: CI 0.32 - 0.92). There was no significant association between sex, education, occupation and lifestyle factors.

Hand washing and occurrence of diarrhoea and acute respiratory tract infection.

This cross-sectional study done in 2014 explored the hand-washing practice and its relation with the occurrence of acute diarrhoea and acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) among grades 9 and 10 students from No.1 Basic Education High School, North Okkalapa Township, Yangon Region. Altogether 380 students were selected: inclusive of 190 students from ninth grade and the same number of students from tenth grade by using multistage sampling procedure. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were used in data collection. Results indicated that only 19.7% (95% CI = 15.9%, 24.1%) of students reported proper handwashing practices. The occurrence of acute diarrhoea and ARI among students within last three months were reported as 40.8% (95% CI = 35.9%, 45.8%) and 98.2% (95% CI = 96.2%, 99.2%), respectively. There were statistically significant associations between age (p = 0.002), gender (p =0.002), grade (p = 0.001), socio-economic status (p = 0.05) and practice of hand-washing. Moreover,proper hand-washing practice significantly influenced the occurrence of acute diarrhoea (p =0.001) and occurrence of ARI (p = 0.004) among students. Therefore, the enabling environment for hand-washing should be created for children at school as well as in their home settings. This may lead the children to adopt and sustain proper hand washing-practice in regular manner.