Social networking and help-seeking behaviors in relation to the health of pregnant and puerperal Brazilian women in Japan / 国際保健医療

  Introduction  This study aimed to clarify social networking and help seeking behaviors in relation to the health of pregnant and puerperal Brazilian women in Japan, using unanalyzed data collected in the article titled “Socio-cultural factors affecting the health of pregnant and puerperal Brazilian women in Japan” published in this journal.Methods  We conducted semi-structured interviews of pregnant and puerperal Brazilian women aged ≥20 years in their homes in Prefectures A and B during 2013-2014. We used the Japanese version of the interview guide based on the cultural determinants of help seeking developed by Arnault. The analysis was guided by analytic ethnography, and core themes were derived.Results  The interviews were conducted with 18 women. Their mean age was 32.4 years (5 women in their 20s and 13 women in their 30s). The average length of stay was 12.6 years (6 women: <10 years and 12 women: ≥10 years). Regarding residential status, 12 women were permanent residents. Two categories for social networking were derived: (1) limited social interaction and (2) reliance on family and trusted others. Two categories for help-seeking behaviors were derived: (1) reliance on informal resources close to them and (2) self-reliant problem solving.Conclusions  The social networking and help-seeking behaviors of pregnant and puerperal Brazilian women in Japan were related to their way of cultivating relationships in their transnational life as migrant workers. Their behaviors were also related to their perception on the family, their religion, and their self-reliant problem-solving behaviors.

Association between the type of physical activity and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older adult residents of a semi-mountainous area in Japan

BACKGROUND@#Physical activity is reported to prevent metabolic syndrome. However, it is unclear whether exercise or daily physical activity is more beneficial for residents of semi-mountainous areas. This study aimed to identify whether daily physical activity is more beneficial than exercise for the prevention of metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and older residents in semi-mountainous areas.@*METHODS@#We analyzed secondary data of 636 people who underwent a specific health checkup in a semi-mountainous area of Japan. Physical activity was classified into four types: inactivity (I-type; without exercise and without daily physical activity), only exercise (E-type; with exercise and without daily physical activity), only daily physical activity (D-type; without exercise and with daily physical activity), and full physical activity type (F-type; with exercise and with daily physical activity). We compared the means of risk factors for metabolic syndrome by these four types, followed by logistic regression analysis, to identify whether and to what extent the D-type was less likely to have metabolic syndrome than the E-type.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 28.5% (men 45.7%, women 15.8%). The proportions of men with exercise and daily physical activity were 38.7% and 52.8%, respectively. For women, the proportions were 33.0% and 47.1%, respectively. In women, the D-type had the significantly lowest BMI, smallest waist circumference, highest HDL-C, and lowest prevalence of metabolic syndrome of the four types; the same was not observed in men. Additionally, D-type activity was more strongly associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome than E-type activity in women (adjusted odds ratio 0.24; 95% confidence interval 0.06-0.85, P = 0.028).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Compared to middle-aged and older women residents with exercise in a semi-mountainous area of Japan, those with daily physical activity may effectively prevent metabolic syndrome.

Homecare protective and risk factors for early childhood caries in Japan

BACKGROUND@#Early childhood caries (ECC) affects children across Japan and throughout the world. Thus, it is important to identify dietary and dental care habits that either promote oral health or cause ECC. The objective of this study was to identify protective and risk factors associated with ECC in Japan.@*METHODS@#In a typical rural Japanese community, we selected children born between 2004 and 2008 who had received checkups at their community health center including oral examinations conducted by dentists. We obtained data from children's records and from a questionnaire filled out by parents. We enrolled only children who at their checkup for 18-month-olds had no caries, and we obtained data about them at their checkup for 3-year-olds. We classified children as either having caries (treated or untreated) or being caries-free. We conducted bivariate analyses using data on child/family demographic characteristics, child's dietary habits, and child/parental oral health habits. We also conducted logistic regression analysis to control for variables and identify predictors of the presence/absence of caries.@*RESULTS@#Five hundred sixty six children (278 boys, 288 girls) were enrolled and followed. After 2 years, 173 children (30.6%) presented with caries. Logistic regression analysis predicting caries at follow-up identified the interaction term "bottlefed overnight and brushed irregularly" at 18 months of age as a highly significant predictor of developing caries-adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 14.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-199.71. Two variables measured at follow-up were also significant predictors: having low levels of dental plaque (AOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.34-4.35) and having a mother who had untreated caries (AOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.09-3.12).@*CONCLUSION@#Public health efforts should encourage parents to eliminate bottle feeding overnight and promote brushing twice daily as children's teeth begin to erupt. Greater efforts should be made to teach parents and daytime caregivers how to brush effectively to remove all plaque. Health professionals should pay close attention to mothers' oral health status. Mothers with caries should receive prompt treatment and be assisted in developing better dietary and oral health habits that will benefit themselves and their children. Policies and programs should focus more on family oral health rather than just child oral health.