HIV/AIDS control practices by dentists of Balochistan - Pakistan

A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Balochistan province of Pakistan to assess the knowledge, perception and infection control practices towards HIV/AIDS among the dentists. The study period was two months and was conducted in Quetta district. Data were collected by mailing questionnaire to 115 dentists, out of which 86 responded [response rate 74.8%].Majority of dentists [63.3%] had overall poor infection control practices. The predictors of infection control practices were found to be sex, marital status and educational attainment. There was a significant association between knowledge, perception and age of the respondents with Spearman's correlation coefficient [P <0.0001], however age was not associated with practice. Infection control practices were found to be strongly associated with overall knowledge and perception of the dentists on HIV/AIDS. The female dentists were found to have increased knowledge on HIV/AIDS as compared to their male counterparts. Regarding the intentions to provide dental treatment to the PLWHAs, less than 25% of the dentists expressed their willingness to provide treatment to HIV infected patients. There is an urgent need to conduct trainings and workshops for the dentists, and the government should provide adequate infection control equipment to government hospitals in Balochistan

Behaviors and Perceptions of Japanese Tourists Affecting Diarrheal Illness and Health Care Need Assessment: A Questionnaire Study

Objectives: To measure the prevalence rate of, and determine the association between food and drink related behaviors and diarrheal illness among Japanese tourists, and assess their health care needs. Methods: Eligible Japanese tourists (1,480) aged ≥15 years traveling in Chiangmai Province in the north, Ayutthaya Province in the center, Kanchanaburi Province in the west, Pattaya City in the east, and Krabi Province in the south of Thailand were enrolled in the study. Of these tourists, 1,318 consented to participate in this study and completed questionnaires in Japanese, giving a response rate of 89.1%. Results: Among these Japanese tourists 21.3% had diarrheal illness, and of these tourists, 5.0% had classical travelers' diarrhea (TD), 11.8% had mild TD, 3.3% had good food and drink related behaviors, and 75.4% had moderate level of perception of diarrhea related to drinking and eating. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated three significant diarrheal illness predictors: large number of previous visits to Thailand, longer stay in Thailand, and the experience of visiting other countries. Furthermore, 56.9% suggested providing an adequate number of toilets at tourist destinations; 53.9% suggested providing a 24-hour emergency call facility for a public ambulance; and 51.9% suggested providing garbage bins and garbage disposal facilities at tourist destinations. Conclusions: TD still affects experienced Japanese tourists who visit Thailand. Although the proportions of the good levels of food and drink related behaviors were low, there were indications that Japanese tourists perceived the risk of contracting TD.

Behaviors and perceptions of Japanese tourists affecting diarrheal illness and health care need assessment: A questionnaire study

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To measure the prevalence rate of, and determine the association between food and drink related behaviors and diarrheal illness among Japanese tourists, and assess their health care needs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eligible Japanese tourists (1,480) aged ≥15 years traveling in Chiangmai Province in the north, Ayutthaya Province in the center, Kanchanaburi Province in the west, Pattaya City in the east, and Krabi Province in the south of Thailand were enrolled in the study. Of these tourists, 1,318 consented to participate in this study and completed questionnaires in Japanese, giving a response rate of 89.1%.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among these Japanese tourists 21.3% had diarrheal illness, and of these tourists, 5.0% had classical travelers' diarrhea (TD), 11.8% had mild TD, 3.3% had good food and drink related behaviors, and 75.4% had moderate level of perception of diarrhea related to drinking and eating. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated three significant diarrheal illness predictors: large number of previous visits to Thailand, longer stay in Thailand, and the experience of visiting other countries. Furthermore, 56.9% suggested providing an adequate number of toilets at tourist destinations; 53.9% suggested providing a 24-hour emergency call facility for a public ambulance; and 51.9% suggested providing garbage bins and garbage disposal facilities at tourist destinations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TD still affects experienced Japanese tourists who visit Thailand. Although the proportions of the good levels of food and drink related behaviors were low, there were indications that Japanese tourists perceived the risk of contracting TD.</p>

INCIDENCE OF TRAVELERS' DIARRHEA AMONG JAPANESE VISITING THAILAND

A cross-sectional survey of 327 Japanese short-term travelers (≤3 weeks) arriving in Bangkok, Thailand was conducted to assess the incidence of travelers’ diarrhea (TD) as well as their symptoms and treatment-seeking behaviors. The incidence of the first episode of TD (FTD) was ascertained retrospectively by questionnaire. Reported by 69 travelers, FTD clustered within the first 8 days of arrival in Thailand, and the incidence rate varied from 2% to 8% with the highest incidence on the third day.<BR> Cumulative probability of FTD was 19% for those arriving in Thai directly from Japan, 42 % for those arriving via Southeast Asia, and 25% for those arriving via other regions at Day 7 by the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Log rank test revealed a higher FTD risk for travelers arriving via other Southeast Asian countries than for those arriving directly from Japan (<I>P</I> < 0.005). Of all the 69 FTD episodes, 33% had classic TD defined as ≥3 unformed stools per 24 hours with at least one accompanying symptom, 49% had moderate TD defined as ≤2 unformed stools with at least one additional symptom or more unformed stools without additional symptoms, and 17% had mild TD defined as with ≤ 2 unformed stools without additional symptoms. Cumulative probability of FTD at Day 7 was 12% for classic TD, 25% for classic plus moderate TD and 30% for all the TD. More than 38% of travelers with diarrhea took medicine brought from Japan. Among travelers with classic TD, 35% bought medicine in Thailand, whereas 47-50% of travelers with moderate and mild TD took only rest without any treatment.