Regular dental check-up status and related factors among Thai residents in Japan.

The objectives of this online study were to determine the status of regular dental check-ups among Thai nationals living in Japan and to identify barriers to regular dental check-ups by comparing them with general health check-ups. We conducted the online survey twice, in 2021 and 2022, among Thai nationals aged 18 years and older living in Japan via social networking services by an organization that supports Thai nationals living in Japan. Respondents between the ages of 30 and 59 were included in this study. Independent factors included gender, age, length of stay in Japan, family economic status, confidence in Japanese and stay for work purposes. Dependent factors were regular dental check-ups and general health check-ups in the past year. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were used for analysis. 56.6% of respondents had regular dental check-ups. The adjusted odds ratio for the proportion of people with regular dental check-ups was significantly higher for those with high economic status, 2.15 (1.06-4.33), compared with those with low economic status. It was also significantly higher 1.88 (1.10-3.21) for those with confidence in the Japanese language compared with those without. The study suggested the need for Japanese language support in addition to financial support for dental health prevention programs for foreigners living in Japan.

Individual and Household Risk Factors for Severe Acute Malnutrition among Under-Five Children in the Analamanga Region, Madagascar.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite some progress made in the fight against malnutrition in Madagascar, hospitals' mortality due to severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains high. This study explores the risk factors for SAM among children hospitalized with SAM in the Analamanga region of Madagascar. METHODS: We conducted an interview based qualitative study of 14 mothers of under-five children with SAM admitted to the hospital's pediatric unit and living in the Analamanga region. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis method. RESULTS: There were direct, intermediate and basic causes of malnutrition shared with other health care settings. Low health literacy such as limited knowledge and optimistic perception of malnutrition, and lack of health service information resulted in delayed hospital visit for care of SAM. Vulnerable working mothers do not benefit from available community support structure. Mothers are unable to practice what they learned because financial difficulties at the household level occupy their time. CONCLUSIONS AND GLOBAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: Consideration of vulnerable working mothers' access to existing health services and interventions to address health literacy are important to prevent SAM at the community level. Study findings would be of interest to practitioners and policy makers in the region and perhaps in other resource limited settings.

Health Economics of Nutrition Intervention in Asia: Cost of Malnutrition.

Asia has recorded the fastest economic growth in the world. However, some countries are still struggling with economic stagnation and poverty. Even in the emerging countries, there are economic disparities between urban and rural areas within a country. Reflecting the situations, nutritional issues in Asia came to be the antithetical situation of excess and insufficiency. The rate of overweight and obesity keeps increasing, especially in emerging countries. Meanwhile, underweight is still a critical problem in the region. Although the importance of nutrition is well recognized for social and economic development, it is difficult to identify the immediate outcome of nutrition interventions. Evidence-based decision-making is an important element of quality health care and efficiency and effectiveness are always key words. Along with enhanced attention to accountability and transparency of budget use in health services, attention to the economic evaluation of nutrition interventions has increased in recent years. In this symposium, we will review the current situation of nutritional issues and economic evaluation of nutrition interventions in Asia through experience of an international organization, the basis and trends for health care economics, and also efforts have been made in an Asian country. Discussion will be made about efficient and effective ways to evaluate projects/programmes for nutrition improvement.

A qualitative study of risk factors related to child malnutrition in Aileu District, Timor-Leste.

Improvement in child nutritional status is one of the major health priorities in Timor-Leste. A qualitative study was conducted in Aileu District, adjacent to the capital of Timor-Leste, Dili, in September 2010 to determine the possible risk factors associated with the high prevalence of child malnutrition. In-depth interviews were conducted to 32 guardians of children aged younger than 5 years. It was observed that early termination of exclusive breast-feeding and a short lactation period along with an unsanitary living environment were associated with the nutritional status of children in the study area. Although previous surveys have reported poor food security conditions in the country, no statements from the subjects supported this contention. The identified possible risk factors for child malnutrition were closely linked to each other and were mostly modifiable.