Abortions in Germany - Current data from the statistics on terminations of pregnancy.

Unwanted pregnancies and abortions are experiences shared by many women. In light of the fact that some general framework conditions are currently changing in Germany, and that the Corona pandemic represents a particular challenge for the care of women with unwanted pregnancies, current data from the statistics on terminations of pregnancy of the Federal Statistical Office are outlined. Compared to Europe, Germany has a low proportion of induced abortions. In 2021, 94,596 abortions were reported. The number of abortions as well as the abortion rate and the abortion ratio have decreased since 2001. 95.8% of abortions took place according to the so-called counselling provision. In more than half of the abortions (52.1%) vacuum aspiration was used, in 11.4% curettage, 32.3% were medical abortions using mifepristone. There are large regional differences in the method used.

Sexual and contraceptive behaviour of young adults in Germany - Results from KiGGS Wave 2.

Sexual behaviour is an important aspect of sexual health. 18-year-old and older participants of the KiGGS cohort in KiGGS Wave 2 were asked about their sexual and contraceptive behaviour. Data from 2,966 women and 2,206 men were included in the analysis, which was adjusted to the age and sex distribution of the German population by means of weighting. More than half of the respondents report their first sexual intercourse before reaching the age of majority (women 61%, men 53%). Women report a lower age than men. With regard to the number of opposite-sex sexual partners in the last twelve months, almost 69% of women and 58% of men state that they have had contact. Three or more sexual partners were reported by 11% of women and 20% of men. 7.4% of women have same-sex and 1.4% have both same-sex and opposite-sex sexual contacts, among men the figures are 2.8% and 0.4%, respectively. When asked about the type of contraception used during the last sexual intercourse, about two thirds of the women and more than half of the men indicated the pill; a condom is used by about 44% of the women and about two thirds of the men. Almost one third of the women have already taken the morning-after pill. Overall, the results can help to support prevention and education campaigns on sexual and reproductive health.

European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) 2 - Background and study methodology.

The scientific assessment of health issues, the design and further development of political guidelines as well as the targeted planning of measures in the European Union (EU) require data on population health. For this reason, all EU Member States regularly collect data on the health status, provision of healthcare, health determinants and socioeconomic situation of their respective populations in the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS). Participants are at least 15 years old and live in private households. The second wave of EHIS (EHIS 2) was conducted between 2013 and 2015. For EHIS 2, each EU Member State drew a nationally representative population sample from population registers, censuses, dwelling registers or other statistical or administrative sources. Data collection modes within individual EU Member States were used, according to nationally established methods, including the use of mixed-mode surveys. Across all EU Member States, data collection took an average of eight months to complete. Member States made considerable efforts to achieve the highest possible response rates. The harmonised EHIS data collected are highly comparable and constitute an important information base for European health policy and health reporting.

Utilization of physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy by children and adolescents in Germany.Results of the cross-sectional KiGGS Wave 2 study and trends.

Allied health services such as physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy contribute to the early treatment of health disorders in children and adolescents and promote a healthy development. This article describes the utilization of these allied health services by children and adolescents in Germany and analyses its association with demographic and social factors. The analyses are based on the second wave of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS Wave 2, 2014-2017) including 15,023 participants. Trends are calculated in comparison with the KiGGS baseline study (2003-2006). Within one year, 9.6% of children and adolescents in Germany use physical therapy, 6.1% speech therapy and 4.0% occupational therapy. Speech therapy and occupational therapy are used more frequently by boys than by girls. The utilization of speech therapy is highest among 3- to 6-year-olds with 15.0%. Occupational therapy (8.3%) is most frequently used by 7- to 10-year-olds and physical therapy (16.9%) by 14- to 17-year-olds. Social differences are evident mainly in the higher utilization of occupational therapy and speech therapy and a lower utilization of physical therapy by socially disadvantaged children and adolescents. Over the last ten years, the utilization of speech therapy and physical therapy in children and adolescents has increased significantly.

Vitamin D status among adults in Germany--results from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1).

BACKGROUND: In 1998, more than half of the adult population in Germany had serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D [25(OH)D] levels below the common threshold of 50 nmol/l. Since then, there has been a lot of attention for vitamin D in the scientific community, the media and the general population and serum 25(OH)D levels may have increased as a consequence. With data from the 'German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults' (DEGS1) the current situation of vitamin D status can be analysed. METHODS: DEGS1, a national health survey among adults in Germany conducted by the Robert Koch Institute between 2008 and 2011, included 6,995 persons with available serum 25(OH)D levels. We calculated the proportion of participants with serum 25(OH)D levels <30 nmol/l, 30- < 50 nmol/l and > =50 nmol/l overall and according to age, season and latitude of residence as well as percentiles of serum 25(OH)D according to month of examination. Determinants of vitamin D status were analysed with multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: Mean serum 25(OH)D level was 45.6 nmol/l with no significant sex differences (p = 0.47). 61.6% of the participants had serum 25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/l, 30.2% had levels <30 nmol/l. During summer, half of the participants had levels > =50 nmol/l, during winter time, 25% of the participants had levels <30 nmol/l. A significant latitudinal gradient was observed in autumn for men and in winter for women. In multiple linear regression analyses, examination during winter time, residing in northern latitude, non-use of vitamin D supplements, low sport activity, high Body Mass Index (BMI) and high media consumption were independently and significantly associated with lower serum 25(OH)D levels in both sexes. In addition, among women, significant associations with lower 25(OH)D levels were observed for older age and lower socio-economic status, among men, for low vitamin D intake and more residential traffic. CONCLUSIONS: Serum 25(OH)D levels below the threshold of 50 nmol/l are still common among adults in Germany, especially during winter and spring and in higher latitudes. Potentially modifiable factors of poorer vitamin D status are higher BMI, lack of sport activity and high media use.

Mental health care use among children and adolescents in Germany: results of the longitudinal BELLA study.

Data on mental health care use of children and adolescents in Germany is scarce. This study investigates the degree of mental health care use, its trajectories and influencing factors among children and adolescents in Germany, using longitudinal data of the BELLA study. The BELLA study is the mental health module of the representative German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS). Baseline data of N = 2,863 participants aged 7-17 years were collected between 2003 and 2006. The study sample was followed up in three additional measurement points, assessing general mental health problems and impairment, specific mental health problems, and mental health care use. In the current study, we analysed data from the first three measurement points. At baseline, 5.9 % of all participants used mental health care in the past 12 months. Among those with general mental health problems, 29.5 % sought professional help. Only a minority of participants reporting mental health care use at baseline also sought help at the following two measurement points. Analysing a random intercept only model, mental health care use was found to be more likely among participants living in larger communities as well as in the Eastern part of Germany, among those participants with impairment of mental health problems, and signs of externalizing problems. Our results indicate a temporary character of mental health care use. Participants' impairment was identified to be the strongest predictor of mental health care use.

Higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is associated with immigrant background among children and adolescents in Germany.

In recent years, a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children and adolescents has been reported in countries with moderate climates. Those with an immigrant background living under these conditions are at especially high risk. To date, representative data in Germany is lacking. We analyzed 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations of 10,015 children and adolescents, aged 1-17 y, who participated in the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents. The proportion of immigrants was 25.4%, corresponding well to their percentage of the population. Among 3- to 17-y-old participants, 29% of immigrant boys and 31% of immigrant girls had 25(OH)D concentrations <25 nmol/L (severe to moderate vitamin D deficiency) compared with 18% of nonimmigrant boys and 17% of nonimmigrant girls. Furthermore, 92% of immigrant boys and 94% of immigrant girls had 25(OH)D concentrations <75 nmol/L (levels above 75 nmol/L are defined as optimal regarding various health outcomes) compared with 87% of nonimmigrants. Boys with a Turkish or Arab-Islamic background had an increased risk of having 25(OH)D concentrations <25 nmol/L compared with nonimmigrants (odds ratio [OR] 2.3; [95% CI] 1.4-3.8 and OR 7.6; [95% CI] 3.0-19.1). The same was true for girls with a Turkish (OR 5.2; [95% CI] 2.9-9.6), Arab-Islamic (OR 5.9; [95% CI] 2.5-14.0), Asian (OR 6.7; [95% CI] 2.2-19.8), or African (OR 7.8; [95% CI] 1.5-40.8) background. Supplementation of vitamin D beyond infancy, especially in high-risk groups, or fortification of food should be considered.

Do users of dietary supplements differ from nonusers in their food consumption?

The objective of the study was to analyse macronutrient and food intakes of regular users (310 men, 495 women) and nonusers (1136 men, 1269 women) of vitamin and mineral supplements, aged 18-79 years. These, were participants of the German Nutrition Survey, which was part of the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998. Information on dietary behaviour including supplementation habits was assessed using a validated computerised dietary history method (DISHES 98). There were no major differences in macronutrient intakes between regular users and nonusers. After adjustment for age, energy intake, smoking, sport activity, socio-economic status and East/West German residence, regular supplement use was associated with a higher consumption of drinking water. Among men, a higher consumption of vegetable fat, poultry and fruit/vegetable juice, and among women, a higher consumption of fish, milk products, fruits and tea was also associated with regular supplement use. An inverse association was observed between regular supplement use and the consumption of coffee among women. Significant differences in food consumption between regular users and nonusers were observed, indicating a tendency for a healthier food choice among regular users.