Sexual violence experienced by male and female Chinese college students in Guangzhou.

OBJECTIVES: Sexual violence research in China is in its early stages. This study described the sexual violence experience of college students in Guangzhou, China, and examined the individual and family factors associated with increased sexual perpetration and victimisation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 2200 college students from three universities in Guangzhou, China, was conducted in 2010. Data on sexual perpetration and/or victimisation experienced during the past 12 months were collected. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the individual and family factors associated with odds of sexual assault perpetration, victimisation, or both. RESULTS: Over a quarter (25.4%) of students experienced at least one form of sexual violence during the past 12 months, either as a perpetrator or as a victim, and nearly 10% of students experienced both perpetration and victimisation. The number of students who identified themselves as being solely a victim was almost three times lower than being a perpetrator only (n=87 vs n=246). Engaging in risky behaviours was associated with increased odds of being a perpetrator and being both a perpetrator and a victim. Prior mistreatment by teachers or bullying by others was linked to increased risk of both perpetration and victimisation. Male students who had indulgent parents (responsive but not demanding) were at increased risk of perpetration compared with those students with authoritative parents (responsive and demanding). CONCLUSIONS: The findings add to empirical data on sexual violence in college students and reinforce the urgent need for implementation of successful sexual violence prevention programmes in China.

[Analysis on the incidence and influencing factors of psychological violence among college students in Guangzhou in 2010].

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence and influencing factors of psychological violence among college students in Guangzhou in 2010. METHODS: Convenience sampling method was used and 2 200 college students from 61 classes of three universities in Guangzhou were interviewed with self-designed questionnaire about the incidence and influencing factors of the psychological violence in 2010. The valid sample was 2 060. Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression were used to assess the incidence and influencing factors of the psychological violence between different genders. RESULTS: A total of 66.3% (1 365/2 060) college students reported having experienced at least one kind of psychological violence during the past 12 months, either as a perpetrator or as a victim. The proportion of psychological violence among males (72.3%, 775/1 072) was significantly higher than that in females (59.7%, 590/988)(χ(2) = 36.39, P < 0.05). The incidence of perpetration only, victimization only, and both perpetration and victimization of psychological violence were 16.1% (331/2 060), 8.9% (184/2 060) and 41.3% (850/2 060), respectively. The incidence of victimization only in females was 10.4% (103/988), which was significantly higher than that in males (7.6%, 81/1 072) (χ(2) = 5.20, P < 0.05). The incidence of both perpetration and victimization in males was 47.3% (507/1 072), which was significantly higher than that in females (34.7%, 343/988) (χ(2) = 33.56, P < 0.05). In males, the multinomial logistic regression showed the risk factors for perpetration only was having harmful behavior habits (OR = 1.90). For victimization only, the risk factors were with siblings (OR = 2.42) and prior mistreatment by teachers from primary to senior high school (OR = 1.78). For both perpetration and victimization, the risk factors were with siblings (OR = 1.88), having harmful behavior habits (OR = 1.98), bad family economic conditions (difficult OR = 1.99, general OR = 1.67) and prior mistreatment by teachers from primary to senior high school(OR = 2.07). In females, the risk factors for perpetration only were self-claimed shortage of monthly living expenses(OR = 2.14) or just enough (OR = 2.26), having harmful behavior habits (OR = 1.69) (all P values<0.05) . For victimization only, the risk factors were bad family economic conditions (difficult OR = 6.67, 15 persons; general OR = 3.81), bullied by others before university(OR = 2.05). For both perpetration and victimization, the risk factors were self-claimed shortage of monthly living expenses (OR = 1.81), bad family economic conditions (OR = 2.43), disharmonious relations between parents (OR = 1.76), physical punishment by parents (OR = 1.66), bullied by others before university (OR = 2.14) and prior mistreatment by teachers from primary to senior high school(OR = 1.73). Having a religious faith was the protective factor (OR = 0.38) (all P values<0.05). CONCLUSION: The incidence of psychological violence among college students is very serious in Guangzhou in 2010. And the influencing factors of it between different genders are different. Females are affected by a wider ranges of factors than males, and are more influenced by family and parents.

[Study on the mobile phone dependence syndrome and its distribution among 2213 college students in Guangzhou].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence, distribution and risk factors of mobile phone dependence syndrome(MPDS)among college students in Guangzhou. METHODS: A unified questionnaire was adopted, with 2311 college students from 6 universities in Guangzhou investigated by cluster sampling. Distribution and risk factors of MPDS among different groups were analyzed by logistic regression. RESULTS: A total number of 2213 effective questionnaires was retrieved, including 1149 males and 1064 females. The average age was(21.33 ± 1.72). The incidence rate of MPDS among studied college students in Guangzhou was 23.3% (515/2213). Regarding the distribution of personal characteristics, significant differences were found in the following aspects:grades, majors in college, being the only child of the family, monthly cost of living, personal characters and the academic performance at school (P<0.05). Regarding the distribution of characteristics among parents, significant differences were found in the following areas:educational levels of the mother, rearing patterns of both parents, status of feeling on mother's caring(P<0.05)etc. The main risk factors for MPDS were as follows:students major in literature and law, with high monthly living cost, father's autocratic and democratic patterns of rearing, mother's autocratic and doting rearing pattern as well as personal feeling on mother's attitude of unconcern. The incidence of MPDS among those persons with uncertain characters was less than those who were extroverts. CONCLUSION: MPDS among college students seemed to be severe in Guangzhou. No difference was found in the incidence rates of MPDS between genders. Should take interventions according to its risk factors.

[Analysis on the incidence and risk factors of campus violence among college students in Guangzhou].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the incidence and risk factors of campus violence in Guangzhou. METHODS: 2200 college students in three universities in Guangzhou were selected by cluster sampling method and were interviewed with self-designed questionnaire about the incidence and risk factors of campus violence in 2010. The final analysis sample was 2103. Chi-square test was used to analyze the gender, grade and major distribution of campus violence. Logistic regression method was used to analyze the influencing factors of campus violence in bully and victim. RESULTS: The incidence of campus violence in Guangzhou was 69.9% (1471/2103). In boys and girls the incidence of campus violence was 75.6% (830/1098) and 63.8% (641/1005) (χ(2) = 34.82, P < 0.05). The incidence of bully and victim of campus violence was 63.6%(1338/2103) and 55.3% (1163/2103). The incidence of bully and victim in boys was 70.9%(778/1098) and 60.0%(659/1098), and in girls was 55.7% (560/1005) and 50.1% (504/1005) (χ(2)(bully) = 51.93, χ(2)(victim) = 20.68, P < 0.01). The incidence of psychological violence was the highest (68.0%, 1430/2103), followed by sexual violence (34.2%, 719/2103), the incidence of physical violence was the lowest (16.5%, 348/2103). Results of logistic regression showed that boys (OR = 1.60), arts (OR = 1.82), with siblings (OR = 1.31), the living expenses was not enough (basic enough OR = 1.35, not enough OR = 1.54), playing the computer games (OR = 1.70), playing tricks such as sliding plate (OR = 2.03), loving violence program (general OR = 1.30, very like OR = 1.44), mother with gamble behavior (OR = 4.29), father's indulgent education style (OR = 1.60), been bullied by others before high school (OR = 1.61), dissatisfaction to the environment and rules of campus (nothing special feeling OR = 1.67, some dissatisfaction OR = 1.89), been treated badly by primary school teacher (one kind OR = 1.35, two kinds and above OR = 1.90)were the risk factors of bully. Boys (OR = 1.23), minority (OR = 1.71), with siblings (OR = 1.39), bad behavior and habit (OR = 1.32), the bad family economic conditions (general OR = 1.51, difficult OR = 1.88), mother with gamble behavior (OR = 2.33), father's indulgent education style (OR = 1.37), occasional physical punishment by mother (OR = 1.35), been bullied by others before high school (sometimes OR = 1.61, often OR = 1.85), high pressure during the study (a little high OR = 1.37, very high OR = 1.40), dissatisfaction to the environment and rules of campus (some dissatisfaction OR = 1.56, completely dissatisfaction OR = 2.04), been treated badly by primary school teacher (one kind OR = 1.70, two kinds and above OR = 2.04)were the risk factors of being victim. CONCLUSION: The campus violence in Guangzhou is serious, especially the psychological violence and sexual violence. And the risk factors of campus violence in bully and victim are multifold.

[The relationship between secular trend of road traffic injuries and gross domestic product per capita in China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between secular trend of road traffic injuries (RTI) and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in China. METHODS: Statistical description was used in the data about cases, injuries, deaths, mileage mortality and 10 million population mortality from 1970 to 2009. Cluster analysis was used to classify the 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. Ecological study was used to explore the relationship between RTI and GDP per capita. RESULTS: There were three stages of RTI in China. It grew rapidly in 1970 - 2002 (from 1.16 to 8.52 per 10 million population), kept steady in 2003 - 2004 (from 8.08 to 8.24 per 10 million population), and decreased obviously in 2005 - 2009 (from 7.55 to 5.08 per 10 million population). The ecological study showed that the population mortality of RTI rose along with the GDP per capita's growth. When the GDP per capita reached to 14 053 yuan (equivalent to 1716 US dollar, in 2005), the mortality began to decrease obviously, the average annual decreasing rate was 10.16%(8.14% - 10.52%)in the following five years. According to the GDP per capita during the period of 1999 - 2009, the 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China were divided into three categories of region. The curves of population mortality of RTI and GDP per capita in different category possessed the same ecological trend. That was the population mortality early rose and then fell along with the GDP per capita's growth. All of they started to decrease obviously in 2005. The GDP per capita among three categories of region was different (45 281 yuan, 22 243 yuan and 10 475 yuan respectively) in the same period. CONCLUSION: In the early stage of economic development, the mortality of RTI increased along with the economic development. When the economic development reached a certain level, the mortality decreased along with the GDP per capita's growth.

The association of road safety knowledge and risk behaviour with paediatric road traffic injury in Guangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: This study describes road traffic injuries among school-aged children in Guangzhou, China, and examines the effect of road safety knowledge and risk behaviours on road traffic injuries. METHODS: A stratified cluster sample of 3747 children from six primary schools and six middle schools in Guangzhou, China, was surveyed. Data were collected on sociodemographic factors and road traffic injuries during the past year. Knowledge about road safety rules was assessed using a 14-item road safety knowledge index, and risky road safety behaviours were measured using a 25-item road safety behaviour index. RESULTS: A total of 403 (10.8%) students reported having at least one road traffic injury during the past 12 months. A high proportion of injuries was found among children who were boys, in primary school and from the suburbs. Bicycle-related injuries were the most common (46.0% of all injuries). Motor vehicle-related injuries had higher hospitalisation rates and worse psychological impact than bicycle or pedestrian injuries. Children with low and medium road safety knowledge had 1.5 to 3 times the odds of injury compared with students with high road safety knowledge. Students with high scores on the risky road behaviour index had twice the odds of injury (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.47 to 2.84) compared with students with low scores. CONCLUSION: Better road safety knowledge and the avoidance of walking or cycling-related risk behaviours are protective factors for road traffic injuries among Chinese school children. More injury prevention programmes are needed to improve road safety knowledge and reduce risk behaviours.

[Survey on the development regarding institution and professional contingence of injury prevention and strategy in China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the development on infrastructure and professional contingence related to injury prevention and control, in China. METHODS: 38 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were investigated by using a self designed questionnaire and data was analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: At present, all the CDCs at provincial and city level had not set up a specific department related to injury prevention and control, except for Shanghai and Guangxi CDCs. The proportions of full-time and part-time staff in all of the investigated CDCs were 37.30% and 62.70% respectively. From 2005 to 2008, the proportions of CDC which had made funds more than 500 000 Yuan available on injury prevention and control were: 27.78% in the eastern areas, 28.58% in central and 7.69% in the western areas of China. There were 76.92% of the CDCs in the western areas of China that the invested funding was less than 100 000 Yuan in the past years. Most of the routine work that had been carried out in those CDCs were surveillance and public education programs including collection of data and special surveys related to injuries on children, adolescents and the elderly population. 44.44%, and 28.57% of the CDCs in the eastern and central parts of the country wished to establish a Department of injury prevention and control, while 76.92% of the CDCs in the western part expressed their strong request for professional training on injury. CONCLUSION: China remained underdeveloped in the development of institutional and professional team working on injuries which called for, setting up related programs to suit the local needs. In accordance with the working condition, the progress that had been made and the objective demand on institutional and professional contingence of the problems in different areas, both short and medium terms on the issue, need to be put forward to develop both institutional and professional programs on injuries in the eastern, central, and western areas of China.

[Study on the secular trend of road traffic injuries and its influencing factors in China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and summarize the secular trend and influencing factors of road traffic injuries(RTI) in China, so as to provide evidence for the management of traffic safety. METHODS: Indexes as fatalities per 10,000 vehicles, fatalities per 100,000 population, fatalities per 10,000 kilometers, motorization(number of vehicles per 1000 population) and mortal coefficient were used. Clustering analysis and ranking correlation were used to analyze the relative factors. RESULTS: The number of casualties of RTI had doubled every decade before the year of 2000. One hundred thousand people were killed in RTI every year since 2000. Facts as: Gross National Product(GNP) of China exceeded 1000 USD in 2002, number of motor vehicles reached 1.3 million in 2005, had both influenced the rates of road traffic fatality, mileage fatality and mortal coefficient which causing them to drop since 2002. In China, RTI happened in the underdeveloped districts in the western part of the country including Tibet, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Qinghai, and in some coastal areas as Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces. Men seemed to be more at risk than women in RTI, and accounted for three-quarters of the victims. Majority of fatalities happened in 21-50 year olds and the fatalities among those over 65 year olds had risen every year. The vulnerable populations in road-user category were pedestrians, passengers, motorcyclists and bicyclists. Under most situations, drivers were responsible for RTI and over half of them were professionals. Bad behaviors were the major causes of RTI, including exceeding the speed limit, handle misfeasance, breaking traffic rules and regulation, having taken alcohol or driving with fatigue etc. Exceeding the speed limit was the most risky factor which causing 75% of the RTI and the traffic deaths increased between 2002 to 2004. A positive correlation was discovered between population fatality rate and the factors as the number of vehicles, volume of road haulage, volume of passengers and the degree of highway etc. with correlation coefficients as r1 = 0.986, r2 = 0.986, r3 = 0.987, r4 = 0.985, P = 0.001, respectively. CONCLUSION: Since 1951, the population fatality rate of RTI had been going up continuously until it began to fall in 2003.

[Evaluation of quality of life of hypertensive patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with hypertension. METHODS: Totally 319 patients with hypertension were investigated for their QOL in comparison with 319 healthy controls using the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-100). RESULTS: The scores of physical functions, psychological condition, independent ability, social relation, living environment, and personal faith and the total score of QOL-100 were significantly lower in the hypertensive patients than in the normal subjects (P<0.01). After adjusting the confounding factors of other diseases, the scores of all the items with the exception of personal faith and the total score of QOL-100 were all lower in the patients than in the controls (P<0.01). Hostelling T2 test and multivariate analysis of variance showed significant differences in the QOL between the hypertensive patients and the controls in the 6 domains synthesized (P<0.01), further demonstrating lowered QOL of hypertensive patients in comparison with the healthy population. CONCLUSION: Improvement of the hypertensive patients' QOL in addition to effective blood pressure control is a basic target in clinical therapy of hypertension.

[Pattern of road traffic injuries in China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pattern of road traffic injuries (RTI) in China and to furnish evidence to formulate strategy and measures to improve RTI. METHODS: Using the data from the National Statistical Office, Ministry of Communications and the Traffic Administration bureau, factors as the time trends, features and risk factors of RTI were analysed for all provinces in China. RESULTS: Over the past 51 years, RTI have increased more than 100-fold. The fatality rate of RTI was up to 8.51 per 100 000 population in 2001, almost doubled for the past ten years. In the past decade, the deaths of RTI always held in the front fifth rank in Guangdong, Shandong and Zhejiang. Calculating mortal coefficient (MC) to evaluate the severity of RTI, Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Ningxia and Gansu stood the worst. The 26 - 45 years age-group represented the majority of all fatalities and overall casualties, and the age-group over 65-year olds having an increased trend in China. The main risk factors of RTI were road quality, motorization, volume of traffic transportation, maldriving and the behaviors of pedestrians. CONCLUSIONS: The main means to reduce RTI would include: improving road traffic environment, setting road safety rules and securing compliance, changing perception, understanding and practice traffic safety.

[Effects of surveillance system and preventive measures on the control of severe acute respiratory syndrome in a university in Guangdong Province of China].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the surveillance system and preventive measurements on the control of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in a university in Guangdong Province. METHODS: A university with more than thirty thousand undergraduates, staff and their relatives was retrospectively studied, from which information regarding the status of epidemic, organization of leadership, disease control strategies and measures were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The construction of the surveillance system in such a model as "individual-dormitory/home-class/unite-faculty and institute-university" largely contributed to the achievement of the goals of low incidence, no secondary, no epidemic, and no death. A series of control measures benefited the early diagnosis, effective isolation, prevention, and treatment of SARS control. CONCLUSION: SARS could be effectively controlled in university only if strict surveillance system is built up, and all-round preventions, including early isolation of both confirmed or suspected cases and close contacted persons, are carried out.

Trends in road traffic crashes and associated injury and fatality in the People's Republic of China, 1951-1999.

The burden of road traffic injuries in the People's Republic of China is increasing as evidenced by trends since 1951. Data from the National Statistical Office, Ministry of Communications and the Traffic Administration Bureau were analyzed. Absolute numbers of crashes, fatalities, and injuries, as well as fatalities per 100,000 population and motorization (number of vehicles per 1000 population) were used as indices to measure trends. Regional variations in trends and the characteristics of people injured or killed were also analyzed. Road traffic crashes increased 68-fold, from around 6000 in 1951 to 413,000 in 1999. Excessive speed was the main reported cause of the crashes. The injuries increased 56-fold--from around 5000 to 286,000--and fatalities 97-fold--from 852 to around 84,000--over the same period. The crash, fatality and injury rates also increased after 1985, due to increased motorization spurred by rapid economic growth. The number of four-wheel motor vehicles increased from 60,000 in 1951 to just under a million four-wheel motor vehicles in 1975 and to 10 million in 1987. The number of four-wheel motor vehicles then rose to 50 million in 1999, with an additional 30 million motorcycles. The increase in motorization and fatalities affected all the provinces. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for populations up to the age of 45 years and the leading cause of working-life years lost in China.