Associations of the Neighborhood Environment With Substance Use: A Cross-sectional Investigation Among Patients in Compulsory Drug Detention Centers in Thailand / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To identify the associations of characteristics of the neighborhood environment with substance abuse among clients receiving treatment for drug abuse in Thailand. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 1128 drug addicts from 28 neighborhoods who were receiving treatment at all 7 compulsory drug detention centers in Thailand. A trained interviewer conducted structured interviews with the subjects about substance use and the perceived neighborhood environment in their community. A multilevel logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effects of the neighborhood environment on substance use. RESULTS: The majority of participants, 53.8% only used methamphetamine pills, 31.3% used other illicit drugs as well as methamphetamine pills, and 14.9% used an illicit drug other than methamphetamine. Three neighborhood characteristics were associated with substance use. A 1-unit increase in the perceived neighborhood cohesion score was associated with a 15% reduction in methamphetamine pill use and an 11% reduction of the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. Conversely, a 1-unit increase in perceived neighborhood crime predicted 19 and 14% increases in the use of methamphetamine pills and the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug, respectively. In addition, a 1-unit increase in the scores for stigma surrounding addiction corresponded to a 25% increase of the use of methamphetamine pills and a 12% increase in the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. CONCLUSIONS: Substance use among drug addicts was influenced by characteristics of the neighborhood environment. Therefore, prevention and intervention strategies should be designed based on a consideration of the impact of neighborhood context on substance use behaviors.

Associations of the Neighborhood Environment With Substance Use: A Cross-sectional Investigation Among Patients in Compulsory Drug Detention Centers in Thailand / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES@#To identify the associations of characteristics of the neighborhood environment with substance abuse among clients receiving treatment for drug abuse in Thailand.@*METHODS@#A cross-sectional study was conducted of 1128 drug addicts from 28 neighborhoods who were receiving treatment at all 7 compulsory drug detention centers in Thailand. A trained interviewer conducted structured interviews with the subjects about substance use and the perceived neighborhood environment in their community. A multilevel logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effects of the neighborhood environment on substance use.@*RESULTS@#The majority of participants, 53.8% only used methamphetamine pills, 31.3% used other illicit drugs as well as methamphetamine pills, and 14.9% used an illicit drug other than methamphetamine. Three neighborhood characteristics were associated with substance use. A 1-unit increase in the perceived neighborhood cohesion score was associated with a 15% reduction in methamphetamine pill use and an 11% reduction of the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. Conversely, a 1-unit increase in perceived neighborhood crime predicted 19 and 14% increases in the use of methamphetamine pills and the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug, respectively. In addition, a 1-unit increase in the scores for stigma surrounding addiction corresponded to a 25% increase of the use of methamphetamine pills and a 12% increase in the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Substance use among drug addicts was influenced by characteristics of the neighborhood environment. Therefore, prevention and intervention strategies should be designed based on a consideration of the impact of neighborhood context on substance use behaviors.

The Effectiveness of Teaching Patterns, Emphasizing Student Center Management Technique for Sex Education Course of Enrolled Students at Mahasarakham University

This quasi-experimental research aimed to evaluate sexual attitude, self perception of sexual behavior and effectiveness learning process of students who enrolled and studied in sex-education and family life preparation course (SFLP) in Mahasarakham University. The student samples were simple random sampling and divided into two groups such as experiment group (100 students) and control group (100 students) and the learning method in experimental group was integrative teaching with student center orientation while conventional teaching orientation in controlled group. The data were collected by using questionnaire and observing. The percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-test and pair sample t-test were applied for statistic used.Results found that: both experimental groups and control group are similar in sex and the average age of 19 years. Most of them who enrolled in SFLP achievement learning (GPAX) are moderate level (experimental group 63.0%, and control group 74%). The average difference achievement learning score after intervention found a statistical significant difference (p \< 0.001). Most of students have self perception on attitude, such as a female should remain a virgin until her wedding (experimental group 57.0% and control group 62.0%), sexual relationship during adolescence lead to parent’s disappointment (experimental group 57.0% and control group 61.0%), and better sexual relationship occurs when older than this (experimental group 42.0% and control group 44.0%). The sexual nude book is interesting (experimental group 42.0% and control group 44.0%), sexual arousal (experimental group 28.0% and control group 26.0%) and imitation were initialized by male adolescence and sexual intercourse decision (experimental group 25.0% and control group 23.0%). The perception for sexual behavior both male (73.4%) and female (75.0%) agree with their parents are the major role model for sexual adolescence explicit behavior such as having lover partnership (female 64.1%, male 62.5%) be normally behavior and get more opportunity for sexual behavior with other at entertainment and internet places (female 54.7%, male 38.8%). Loving couple should have sexual intercourse on Valentine’s Day (female 34.4%, male 19.4% ) and also be homosexual (female 60.1%, male 38.9%). The attitude level of students for teaching in this subject found that: the student center learning method let them open opportunity for more discussion (level good in experimental group 39% and control group 38%) and share experience about sexual theme. The appropriate sexual media (level good in experimental group 50% control group 26%) had mutual inclusion on sexual context and linkage knowledge and experience or virtual experience and student can get more skill on human sex (level good in experimental group 36% control group 37%).The conclusion of the student center learning method management in SFLP gives more learning participatory, knowledge and attitude also right sexual skill perception.

Emergency Contraceptive Pill Use Among Female Adolescents

This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among 1,434 female teenage students at educational institute in Mahasarakham Province and aimed to study emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) use and determine the relationship among related factors and the emergency contraceptive pills use. Data were collected using interview questionnaire. Statistical analysis such as frequency, percentage, Chi-square, Odds Ratio and multiple logistic regressions were used. The results revealed that the 65.06% of the teenagers had heard of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). The majority of them were between 19-22 years (64.52%), and 27.26% had experience of using ECPs. Most of them received information from friends (63.99%). One third of their friends or known persons (35.69%) had previously used ECPs. There were some common misperception among the subjects, i.e., 38.48% believed that emergency contraceptive pills could prevent pregnancy, 100%, and 56.06% believed that ECPs could prevent pregnancy with the same efficacy as oral contraceptive pills. Pills were always used when having intercourse for 58.30% with the average of 3.45 tablets/month. About 41.70% used ECPs because it is easy to purchase. The highest pills used came from friends advice (78.38%). More than half (56.37%) arrange ready pills before having sexual intercourse, only ECPs used 40.54%. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that pill cost and friends or known persons having previously used ECPs were significantly associated with emergency contraceptive pills used (p \< 0.05). The more increase in age the more association of those variables with emergency contraceptive pills used increased.It can be concluded that ECPs have the highest usage among teenagers. ECPs are easy to purchase, and buyers have been influenced by their friends who suggest pills usage. In addition teenagers still have misunderstandings about ECPs utilisation. So, it is necessary to give them the correct information by the responsible organizations.

The Relationship of Serum Resistin Concentration and Body Mass Index (BMI) of Obese Adolescent in Mahasarakam Province

Resistin is a newly discovered peptide hormone with impact on insulin sensitivity was proposed as a new mechanism to explain the pathogenic sequence of adipocyte-obesity-insulin resistance. This research aimed to determine serum resistin concentration levels in adolescents and the relationship between resistin concentration and body mass index (BMI), in selected high school students in Mahasarakam province. The research protocol and 77 consented students who enrolled in this study were ethical approved by Mahasarakam research ethic committee division. The students weight, height, BMI, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and triglyceride (TG) were examined during March to June 2008. This study found that: 16 male and 61 female adolescent students with average weight 71.27±13.87 kg, height 1.6±0.07 m, BMI 27.67±4.24 kg/m² , biceps skinfold thickness 15.27±6.89 mm, triceps skinfold thickness 23.55±7.54 mm, TG 77.13±43.92 mg/dL, FBS 87.74±8.21 mg/dL and resistin 5.69±0.93 mg/dL. The weight and height of male is higher than female (p =0.003, p \< 0.001 respectively), but biceps skinfold thickness, triceps skinfold thickness, TG of female is higher than male. Resistin was detected in female; concentrations ranged from 3.83 mg/dL to 7.82 mg/dL and in male 3.91 mg/dL to 6.52 mg/dL. In female resistin levels were higher (5.87±0.84) than male (4.98±0.94) (p \< 0.001). The relationship analysis found that: resistin serum levels in both male and female related to BMI, biceps skinfold thickness, triceps skinfold thickness statistical significantly. The furthermore it should be the parameter used as association of serum resistin with markers of obesity (eg. weight, BMI, FBS) was strongly statistical significantly (p \< 0.05) in both gender groups, this may be determinant to indicated insulin resistance prior fasting blood sugar was elevated, but vise-versa for FBS in male.