Community-based intervention for managing hypertension and diabetes in rural Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 80% of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been reported in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, studies on the usefulness of educational interventions run by non-healthcare workers in combating NCDs in resource-limited areas in rural parts of LMICs are limited. This study aimed to identify the effectiveness of a community-based simple educational program run by non-healthcare trained staff for several outcomes associated with NCDs in a resource-limited area. METHODS: Six villages in the Narail district in Bangladesh were selected, two each in the first and second intervention and the control groups, in the Narail district in Bangladesh were selected. Pre- and post-intervention survey data were collected. The first intervention group received the "strong" educational intervention that included a checklist poster on the wall, phone call messages, personalized advice papers, seminar videos, and face-to-face seminars. The second intervention group received a "weak" intervention that included only a checklist poster on the wall in their house. The outcome was the proportion of NCDs and changes in systolic blood pressure and blood sugar level. Confidential fixed-effects logistic regression and multiple linear regression were performed to identify the effectiveness of the intervention. RESULTS: Overall, 600 participants completed the baseline survey and the follow-up survey. The mean systolic blood pressure reduced by 7.3 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.6-9.9) in the first intervention group, 1.9 mm Hg (95% CI - 0.5-4.2) in the second intervention group, and 4.7 mm Hg (95% CI 2.4-7.0) in the control group. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the between-group differences in the decline in systolic blood pressure were significant for the first intervention versus control (p = 0.001), but not for the second intervention versus control (p = 0.21). The between-group differences in the reduction in blood glucose after the intervention, were not significant on multiple linear regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based educational interventions for NCDs provided by non-healthcare staff improved the outcomes of hypertension and risk behaviors. Well-designed community-based educational interventions should be frequently implemented to reduce NCDs in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR; UMIN000050171) retrospectively registered on January 29, 2023.

Examination of Cluster Groups of Risk Behaviors and Beliefs Associated with Non-Communicable Diseases with Latent Class Analysis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural Bangladesh.

This cross-sectional observational study examined the cluster groups of risk behaviors and beliefs associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the demographic factors that influence these cluster groups. The questionnaire survey was conducted in Lohagara Upazila in Narail District, Bangladesh and included basic demographics and items associated with NCDs. The inclusion criteria for the participants in this study included those who were aged between 20 and 80 years and both sexes. The survey items were based on risk behavior, belief, and improvement behavior. To identify the several cluster groups based on NCD-related behavior and belief patterns, a log-likelihood latent class analysis was conducted. Then, a multinomial regression analysis was performed to identify the factor associated with each cluster group. Of the 600 participants, 231 (38.5%) had hypertension, 87 (14.5%) had diabetes, and 209 (34.8%) had a body mass index of 25 or more. Finally, risk behaviors and beliefs associated with NCDs were classified into three cluster groups: (1) very high-risk group (n = 58); (2) high-risk group (n = 270); and (3) moderate-risk group (n = 272). The very high-risk group was significantly associated with female gender, older age, fewer years spent in education, and the absence of daily medication compared to the moderate-risk group. Educational interventions in rural Bangladesh should be immediately implemented to improve the risk behaviors and beliefs associated with NCDs.

Evacuation at Home Delayed the First Medical Intervention in Minamisanriku Town after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

INTRODUCTION: In Japan, evacuation at home is expected to increase in the future as a post-disaster evacuation type due to the pandemic, aging, and diverse disabilities of the population. However, more disaster-related indirect deaths occurred in homes than in evacuation centers after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). The health risks faced by evacuees at home have not been adequately discussed. STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the gap in disaster health management for evacuees at home compared to the evacuees at the evacuation centers in Minamisanriku Town, which lost all health care facilities after the 2011 GEJE. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional and quasi-experimental study based on the anonymized disaster medical records (DMRs) of patients from March 11 through April 10, 2011, that compared the evacuation-at-home and evacuation-center groups focusing on the day of the first medical intervention after the onset. Multivariable Cox regression analysis and propensity score (PS)-matching analysis were performed to identify the risk factors and causal relationship between the evacuation type and the delay of medical intervention. RESULTS: Of the 2,838 eligible patients, 460 and 2,378 were in the evacuation-at-home and evacuation-center groups, respectively. In the month after the onset, the evacuation-at-home group had significantly lower rates of respiratory and mental health diseases than the evacuation-center group. However, the mean time to the first medical intervention was significantly delayed in the evacuation-at-home group (19.3 [SD = 6.1] days) compared to that in the evacuation-center group (14.1 [SD = 6.3] days); P <.001). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) of delayed medical intervention for evacuation-at-home was 2.31 with a 95% confident interval of 2.07-2.59. The PS-matching analysis of the adjusted 459 patients in each group confirmed that evacuation at home was significantly associated with delays in the first medical intervention (P <.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggested, for the first time, the causal relationship between evacuation at home and delay in the first medical intervention by PS-matching analysis. Although evacuation at home had several advantages in reducing the frequencies of some diseases, the delay in medical intervention could exacerbate the symptoms and be a cause of indirect death. As more evacuees are likely to remain in their homes in the future, this study recommends earlier surveillance and health care provision to the home evacuees.

Analysis of Disaster-Related Deaths in the Great East Japan Earthquake: A Retrospective Observational Study Using Data from Ishinomaki City, Miyagi, Japan.

Disaster-related deaths are of two types: direct and indirect. Preventable disaster-related deaths reported in the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) included a large number of indirect deaths. This study aimed to investigate the data on disaster-related deaths in the GEJE in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, and to clarify the scope of disaster-related deaths to help future disaster preparedness. A retrospective observational study was conducted using public data on disaster-related deaths from March 2011 to January 2021, available at Ishinomaki City Hall. Descriptive and Cox regression analyses were conducted. The most common direct cause of disaster-related deaths was respiratory diseases, which were more common among those aged less than three months and over 60 years. Suicide was common among those aged under 60 years, and the proportion increased more than six months after the disaster. The risk of death was significantly higher among those who needed nursing care than among those independent in daily living. The results indicate that measures should be taken for the elderly and those who need care from an early phase after the disaster. The analysis of data on disaster-related deaths in other affected municipalities may provide further evidence to help reduce disaster-related deaths.

Prevalence of Locomotive Organ Impairment and Associated Factors among Middle-Aged and Older People in Nan Province, Thailand.

While locomotive organ impairment among older people is attracting worldwide attention, this issue has not yet been widely investigated in Thailand. This study aimed to measure locomotive organ impairment prevalence and identify the determinants of locomotive function decline among middle-aged and older people in Nan Province, Thailand. This cross-sectional study included anthropometric measurements, a two-step test to investigate locomotive function, and a structured questionnaire to obtain socio-demographic and related information. Logistic regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to identify the determinants of locomotive organ impairment. The study participants were aged 50-87 years old (n = 165), and 71.5% of them had begun experiencing declining locomotive function; < 6 years of school education (adjusted odds ratio: 4.46), body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 (AOR: 3.06), comorbidities (AOR: 2.55), and continuous walking for <15 min (AOR: 2.51) were identified as factors associated with locomotive organ impairment. Moreover, age, knee pain, anxiety about falling in daily life, and difficulty with simple tasks were identified as factors significantly associated with exacerbated locomotive organ impairment (p < 0.05). Appropriate interventions such as guidance or follow-up and recommendations for exercises are needed to prevent locomotive organ impairment and improve treatment.

The Increase in Frequency of Protective Behavior against Pesticide Poisoning in Narail, Bangladesh through Use of an Easy Paper Checklist; an Interventional Study.

Protecting the health of farmworkers is a crucial issue. Previous studies report that safety training and educational interventions might increase farmworkers' protective behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of distributing a checklist as an interventional measure for pesticide protection in rural Asia, where pesticide poisoning is a major problem. This study was a community-based interventional study, using the distribution of a checklist with pesticide protective habits in Narail district, Bangladesh, with a total of 100 eligible males. Two questionnaire surveys were conducted before distributing the checklist and 25 days after. Change between the baseline and follow-up surveys was measured by frequency scores of protective behavior. The average pesticide-protective behavioral score increased from 4.58 in the baseline survey to 8.11 in the follow-up. Additionally, the checklist was more effective in the group with higher education, the younger group, and the group with lower pesticide-protective behavioral scores in the baseline survey. The paper checklist on protective behaviors against pesticide poisoning was effective because of the increase in the frequency of such positive behavior among farmworkers. Thus, intervention measures should be implemented to increase the knowledge and awareness regarding pesticide protection habits to protect the health of farmworkers.

Factors Associated with Regular Zumba Practice as Preliminary Results: A Population-Based Approach in Cebu Province, the Philippines.

The prevalence of overweight/obesity in the adult population in the Philippines has doubled in the past 20 years. Zumba exercise has recently been implemented throughout the Philippines. However, there is scarce information on the effects of Zumba on obesity and Zumba participants' characteristics in the Philippines. This study described the current practice of Zumba in the Philippines, along with the practitioners' characteristics, and identified factors associated with Zumba participation. In this observational, cross-sectional study, a structured questionnaire was used to survey 10 Zumba locations in September 2019. Anthropometric measurements of participants were assessed. Respondents included 171 women (88.6%) and 22 men (11.4%), with a mean (±standard deviation [SD]) age of 44.1 (±8.9) years. All respondents answered that Zumba was enjoyable, and some answered "very enjoyable". Determinants of frequent participation were as follows: being older than the mean age of participants, starting Zumba to enjoy dancing, starting Zumba not to lose weight, shopping mall location, and participation fee required. "To enjoy dance" being a motivation for Zumba practice was identified as a determinant of frequent participation rather than "to lose weight." The element of "enjoyable" may strongly influence the continuation and frequent participation of Zumba exercise in the Philippines.

Self-Esteem, Socioeconomic Status and Social Participation of Persons with Disabilities Living in Areas Affected by Armed Conflict in Colombia.

This cross-sectional study explored the association between self-esteem and social participation of persons with disabilities living in two municipalities affected by armed conflict in Colombia. We studied the socioeconomic status, communication level, social participation, and self-esteem of the participants. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) was used to evaluate the level of self-esteem. We performed bivariate analysis and multiple regression analysis to identify the determinants of higher self-esteem in the target populations. In total, there were 579 participants in the study. The mean RSES score was 28.8 (SD = 4.5). Self-esteem was associated with monthly household income (ß = 0.45, p = 0.028), education level (ß = 0.65, p = 0.048), current job (ß = 1.00, p = 0.017), type of disability (ß = -1.17, p = 0.002), frequency of communication with neighbors or friends (ß = 0.53, p = 0.013), and participation in community organization activities (ß = 0.89, p = 0.019). Frequent communication with their own community, higher levels of school education, and having a job were determinants of higher self-esteem in persons with disabilities. We suggest the importance of an active inclusive reconstruction program to support persons with disabilities in local municipalities affected by armed conflict in developing countries.

Motivation for and Effect of Cooking Class Participation: A Cross-Sectional Study Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

We explored the association between the motivation for and effects of cooking class participation in disaster-affected areas following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. We conducted questionnaire surveys in January and February 2020, and applied three Poisson regression models to a cross-sectional dataset of participants, analyzing three perceived participation effects: increase in new acquaintances and friends, increase in excursion opportunities, potential for gaining motivation, and a new sense of life purpose. We also applied the interaction term of motivation variables and usual eating patterns (eating alone or with others). We obtained 257 valid responses from 15 cooking venues. The interaction term for participants' motivation and eating patterns was associated with their perceived participation effects. "Motivation for nutrition improvement × eating alone" was positively associated with an increase in new acquaintances and friends (IRR: 3.05, 95% CI, 1.22-7.64). "Motivation for increasing personal cooking repertoire × eating alone" was positively associated with increased excursion opportunities (IRR: 5.46, 95% CI, 1.41-21.20). In contrast, the interaction effect of "motivation of increasing nutrition improvement × eating alone" was negatively associated with increased excursion opportunities (IRR: 0.27, 95% CI, 0.12-0.69). The results show that the cooking class was effective, as residents' participation improved their nutritional health support and increased their social relationships.

Surgical symptomatic knowledge among medical staff and community health workers in rural Cambodia: a descriptive study for workforce improvement.

Objective: The surgical workforce needs to at least double by 2030. To increase the workforce, training for non-physician healthcare professionals and community health workers (CHWs) in rural areas is promising to decrease the numbers of untreated surgical patients. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted on surgical activities of non-physician healthcare professionals and CHWs in rural Cambodia. We sought to measure the level of knowledge of surgical symptoms, and identify factors associated with it. A questionnaire survey was administered to people in rural areas of Kratie Province to determine their knowledge of surgical symptoms, and to strengthen the surgical workforce among medical staff and CHWs. Patient/Materials and Methods: To evaluate the knowledge of surgical symptoms among medical staff and CHWs, a self-reported questionnaire was administered to medical staff, CHWs, and villagers in a rural area of Kratie province, Cambodia. The rating score of the number of correct answers among medical staff, CHWs, and villagers was set as the primary outcome. Results: A total of 91 participants, including 31 medical staff, 24 CHWs, and 36 villagers, completed the survey. The median scores for knowledge of symptoms indicative of surgery were 8 (7-8) [median (interquartile range)] in medical staff, 8 (7-8.5) in CHWs, and 8.5 (8-9) in villagers. There was no significant difference in the scores of surgical symptoms among each of the occupational groups. The group of people who recognized low subjective knowledge of surgical symptom by themselves had significantly higher objective score of knowledge of surgical symptom. Conclusion: Knowledge of surgical symptoms among medical staff and CHWs was inadequate. To at least double the surgical workforce by 2030 successfully, accurate evaluation and improvement of surgical symptomatic knowledge among medical staff in rural areas is crucial.

Anxiety and perceived psychological impact associated with needle stick and sharp device injury among tertiary hospital workers, Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Occupational needle stick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) affect healthcare workers' (HCWs') mental health, however, limited evidence is available on the psychological impact of NSSIs, especially in developing countries where most of NSSIs have been reported. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the anxiety and psychological impact regarding NSSIs among HCWs at tertiary hospitals in Lao PDR. In this study, four among seven items of anxiety scale in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (Cronbach's α=0.80) was applied. Participants who experienced NSSIs in the past 6 months showed significantly higher anxiety scores than those who did not experienced (p=0.004) and the average anxiety scores was high shortly after the NSSI. The 42.7% of them were more afraid of needles and sharp devices in the 2 wk after the NSSI than the time of the interview. The results encourage developing countries to adapt a comprehensive NSSI management policy including not only to take adequate precaution measures but psychological support and treatment for HCWs from immediately after NSSIs to improve safety for HCWs and patients. Further studies are needed to develop normative psychiatric scales with cultural adaptation in developing countries which provide convenient mental disorder assessment after NSSIs.

Corrigendum to "Myanmar's human resources for health: current situation and its challenges" [Heliyon 5 (3), (March 2019), e01390].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01390.].

Myanmar's human resources for health: current situation and its challenges.

BACKGROUND: Human resources for health (HRH) are the cornerstone of health systems, enabling the improvement of health service coverage. The systematic fortification of healthcare in Myanmar has accelerated since a new ruling party took office. Since 2006, Myanmar has been listed as one of the 57 crisis countries facing critical health workforce shortages. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the current situation of HRH in the public health sector where major healthcare services are provided to the people of Myanmar. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2017 by collecting secondary data from the official statistic of the Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS), official reports, press-releases, and presentations of Government officials. The data were collected using a formatted excel spreadsheet. A descriptive analysis was applied and the density ratio per 1,000 population for medical doctors and health workers was calculated. FINDINGS: In total, 16,292 medical doctors and 36,054 nurses working at 1,134 hospitals were under the management of MoHS in 2016. The finding revealed that 13 out of 15 States and Regions were below the WHO recommended minimum number of 1 per 1,000 population for medical doctor. The distribution of medical doctors per 1,000 population in the public sector showed a gradually decreasing trend since 2006. Urban and rural medical doctor ratios observed wide disparities. INTERPRETATION: The HRH shortage occurred in almost all State and Regions of Myanmar, including major cities. Wide disparities of HRH were found in urban and rural areas. The Myanmar government needs to consider the proper cost-effective HRH supply-chain management systems and retention strategies. The projection of health workforce, distribution of workforce by equity, effective management, and health information systems should be strengthened.

Examining the relationship between socioeconomic status and the double burden of maternal over and child under-nutrition in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There is little research on the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the familial co-existence of maternal over and child under-nutrition (MOCU). Most of these studies conducted in the Latin American countries. Therefore, we intended to further this important area of query by exploring the relationship between SES and the dual burden of MOCU in Bangladesh. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We used data from the 2014 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS). The analyses were based on the responses of 5687 mother-child pairs. We focused standard of living (hereafter referred to as wealth) as a measure of SES. We determined MOCU if there were an undernourished child and an overweight mother in the same household. RESULTS: Maternal overweight and MOCU prevalence is higher among the wealthier segment whereas prevalence of child under-nutrition is higher among the poorest segment of the households. The relative risk of a household having MOCU increased by the factors of 2.84 (confidence interval (CI) = 1.58-5.12) among households with richest bands of wealth compared to the poorest category. Household from the medium (Relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.07-3.28) and richer SES groups (RRR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.39-4.69) had increased chance for MOCU as compared to the household from poorest SES group. CONCLUSIONS: As opposed to findings from other Latin American countries, the prevalence of MOCU in Bangladesh is higher in the wealthiest households. Findings of our study therefore suggest that overweight prevention programs in wealthier households of Bangladesh need to think out the possibility that their focus households may also include underweight persons.

Differences in infant and child mortality before and after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: a large population-based ecological study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between access to medical care, geological data, and infant and child mortality in the area of North-Eastern Japan that was impacted by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (GEJET) in 2011. DESIGN: A population-based ecological study using publicly available data. SETTING: Twenty secondary medical areas (SMAs) in the disaster-affected zones in the north-eastern prefectures of Japan (Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi). PARTICIPANTS: Children younger than 10 years who died in the 20 SMAs between 2008 and 2014 (n=1 748). Primary and secondary outcome measures: Multiple regression analysis for infant and child mortality rate. The mean values were applied for infant and child mortality rates and other factors before GEJET (2008-2010) and after GEJET (2012-2014). RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2014, the most common cause of death among children younger than 10 years was accidents. The mortality rate per 100 000 persons was 39.1±41.2 before 2011, 226.7±43.4 in 2011 and 31.4±39.1 after 2011. Regression analysis revealed that the mortality rate was positively associated with low age in each period, while the coastal zone was negatively associated with fewer disaster base hospitals in 2011. By contrast, the number of obstetrics and gynaecology centres (ß=-189.9, p=0.02) and public health nurses (ß=-1.7, p=0.01) was negatively associated with mortality rate per person in 2011. CONCLUSIONS: In 2011, the mortality rate among children younger than 10 years was 6.4 times higher than that before and after 2011. Residence in a coastal zone was significantly associated with higher child mortality rates.

Identification of high risk groups with shorter survival times after onset of the main reason for suicide: findings from interviews with the bereaved in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to (1) measure survival lengths after the onset of the main reason for the target's suicide, (2) identify the highest-risk groups and the contributors to early death, in Japan, and (3) clarify peculiar traditional Japanese values concerning suicide. RESULTS: Data for 523 deceased individuals (median age 43.0 years) were collected from bereaved persons. Average survival time from the onset of the main reason for suicide was 1956 days (5.4 years). After controlling for confounding factors, being middle-aged, male, self-employed, and a founding company president were identified as the highest-risk groups. Half of the self-employed founding presidents died within 2 years. Many of the bereaved had observed some signs of the suicide 2 weeks ago. The traditional Japanese idea is that one means of compensating for a serious mistake is to commit suicide, and we observed that many Japanese people still regard suicide as a respectable death, even among the interviewed. The possible intervention time is quite limited; however, those who have contact with the high-risk groups should be alert to behavioral changes or signals of impending suicide.

Prevalence and risk factors of needle stick and sharp injury among tertiary hospital workers, Vientiane, Lao PDR.

OBJECTIVES: Health care workers (HCWs) face risks of needle stick and sharp injuries (NSIs). Most NSIs occur in developing countries, however, no epidemiological study on NSIs is publicly available in Lao PDR. The objective of this study is to identify the prevalence and risk factors of NSIs among HCWs in Lao PDR. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of NSIs among four tertiary hospitals in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic. RESULTS: Six months before the survey, 11.4% (106/932) of hospital staff had experienced NSIs, while 42.1% did in their entire career. Key protective factors of NSIs among nurses included adequate availability of needles, syringes, and sharp equipment (p = 0.042; odds ratio [OR], 0.47) and attendance to educational or refresher courses on safety regarding NSIs (p = 0.038; OR, 0.50). As an on-site practice, single-handed recapping was prevalent (46.7%, 257/550) among participants. CONCLUSIONS: The result showed that high rates of NSIs persist among HCWs. The findings of this research call for comprehensive health and injection safety programs for HCWs involved in clinical practice.

Introduction of a community water supply in rural western Kenya: impact on community wellbeing and child health.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine water availability and community health before and after tube wells were introduced in a rural western Kenyan community. Differences in impact among income quintile groups were quantified, and users' perceptions of their water supply measured. METHODS: We conducted a two-part pre- (2009) and post-intervention (2011), cross-sectional study using structured questionnaires for mothers. RESULTS: In total, 1391 (576 in 2009 and 815 in 2011) mothers participated. Well introduction changed the households' drinking-water source from river to ground water. The median distance to the water source was reduced by 40% (500 to 300 metres) and median collection time was reduced by 50% (30 to 15 minutes). Water consumption per household increased by approximately 20% (from 82.6 to 99.0 L) and drinking of untreated water decreased by approximately 10%. Regression analyses revealed mothers with higher monthly incomes had the highest satisfaction levels (ß=0.167, p<0.001). Positive impacts were strongest among wealthier groups. CONCLUSIONS: The small-scale community water supply dramatically affected user hygiene behaviours and daily life. Water supply access improved from 'no access' to 'basic access'. Household connections to a water supply and hygiene education are important steps to enhance community health.

The effect of a school-based educational intervention on menstrual health: an intervention study among adolescent girls in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of a school-based menstrual education programme on: (1) menstrual knowledge, beliefs and practices, (2) menstrual disorders experienced, and (3) restrictions on menstruating adolescents. DESIGN: Intervention study. SETTING: Araihazar area, Bangladesh. PARTICIPANTS: 416 adolescent female students aged 11-16 years, in grade 6-8, and living with their parents. INTERVENTIONS: A school-based health education study conducted from April 2012 to April 2013. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We randomly selected 3 of 26 high schools in the study area. We delivered 6 months of educational intervention by trained (by an obstetrician and gynaecologist) research assistants (RAs) on menstrual hygiene among school girls. RAs read the questionnaire and participants answered. The changes in knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding menstruation, menstrual disorders experienced, and the restrictions and behaviours practiced by menstruating adolescents were compared between the baseline and the follow-up assessments. RESULTS: After health education, participants reported a significant improvement (p<0.001) in 'high knowledge and beliefs' scores compared to baseline (51% vs 82.4%). Significant improvement was also observed in overall good menstrual practices (28.8% vs 88.9%), including improvements in using sanitary pads (22.4% change after the intervention), frequency of changing pads/cloths per day (68.8%), drying the used absorbent (77.6%), methods of disposing of the used absorbent (25.5%), and cleaning of genitalia (19.2%). During the follow-up, the participants reported significant improvements in the regularity of their menstrual cycle (94.5% vs 99.5%) and fewer complications during menstruation (78.6% vs 59.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The programme produced significant changes in the knowledge, beliefs and practices of menstrual hygiene, complications from lack of hygiene, and the behaviour and restrictions of the menstruating adolescents. These results demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a health education programme for adolescents on menstrual hygiene in secondary schools serving rural Bangladesh.

Mental health status among Burmese adolescent students living in boarding houses in Thailand: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In Tak province of Thailand, a number of adolescent students who migrated from Burma have resided in the boarding houses of migrant schools. This study investigated mental health status and its relationship with perceived social support among such students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study surveyed 428 students, aged 12-18 years, who lived in boarding houses. The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL)-37 A, Stressful Life Events (SLE) and Reactions of Adolescents to Traumatic Stress (RATS) questionnaires were used to assess participants' mental health status and experience of traumatic events. The Medical Outcome Study (MOS) Social Support Survey Scale was used to measure their perceived level of social support. Descriptive analysis was conducted to examine the distribution of sociodemographic characteristics, trauma experiences, and mental health status. Further, multivariate linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between such characteristics and participants' mental health status. RESULTS: In total, 771 students were invited to participate in the study and 428 students chose to take part. Of these students, 304 completed the questionnaire. A large proportion (62.8%) indicated that both of their parents lived in Myanmar, while only 11.8% answered that both of their parents lived in Thailand. The mean total number of traumatic events experienced was 5.7 (standard deviation [SD] 2.9), mean total score on the HSCL-37A was 63.1 (SD 11.4), and mean total score on the RATS was 41.4 (SD 9.9). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that higher number of traumatic events was associated with more mental health problems. CONCLUSIONS: Many students residing in boarding houses suffered from poor mental health in Thailand's Tak province. The number of traumatic experiences reported was higher than expected. Furthermore, these traumatic experiences were associated with poorer mental health status. Rather than making a generalized assumption on the mental health status of migrants or refugees, more detailed observation is necessary to elucidate the unique nature and vulnerabilities of this mobile population.