Public Awareness and Perceptions of Colorectal Cancer Prevention: a Cross-Sectional Survey.

We aimed to investigate awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) lifestyle risk factors, willingness to participate in CRC screening, and preferences concerning channels for information on CRC prevention in the general population, including the target age of the upcoming Norwegian national CRC screening program. The present study was a cross-sectional online survey of adults aged 39 to 55 years registered as Kantar Web Panel respondents in Norway. The survey included demographic characteristics, multiple choice knowledge questions of lifestyle risk factors for CRC, attitudes towards CRC screening, and preferred channels for receiving information on CRC prevention. Of 4375 participants invited, 2007 (46%) answered the survey. The average number of correctly identified lifestyle risk factors for CRC was 7.3 of ten. Women were significantly more likely than men, and those with university or college education more likely than those with lower education to correctly identify at least eight risk factors (odds ratio, OR = 1.53, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.25-1.87, and OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.23-1.86, respectively). The number of correctly identified risk factors was positively associated with willingness to participate in CRC screening (P for trend < 0.001). The national public work force and the Norwegian Cancer Society were selected by 76% and 69% of the participants, respectively, to be trustworthy sources of information on CRC prevention. Awareness of CRC risk factors was associated with willingness to participate in CRC screening. The national public work force and Cancer Society can be generally accepted sources of CRC preventive information.

Iron and zinc content of selected foods in the diet of schoolchildren in Kumi district, east of Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Iron and zinc are essential micronutrients for humans and deficiency of the two elements is widespread in the world with the highest prevalence in less developed countries. There are few data on dietary intake of iron and zinc in Uganda, and no food composition table is available. There is hardly any widely published literature that clearly documents the quality of Ugandan children's diet. Thus information of both food intake and the concentration of these trace elements in local food ingredients are needed in order to assess daily intake. METHODS: The present study focused on the iron and zinc content in selected foods and intake of the micronutrients iron and zinc among schoolchildren in Kumi District, Uganda. Over a period of 4 weeks single 24-hour dietary recall interviews were carried out on a convenience sample of 178 schoolchildren (9-15 years old). Data from the dietary recalls was used when selecting foods for chemical analysis. RESULTS: Results from this study showed that the iron concentrations varied, and were high in some cereals and vegetables. The zinc concentrations in foods generally corresponded with results from other African countries (Mali and Kenya). Data from the 24-hour dietary recall showed that the daily Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) was met for iron but not for zinc. CONCLUSIONS: The schoolchildren of Kumi district had a predominantly vegetable based diet. Foods of animal origin were consumed occasionally. The iron content in the selected foods was high and variable, and higher than in similar ingredients from Kenya and Mali, while the zinc concentrations were generally in accordance with reported values. The total daily zinc (mg) intake does not meet the daily RNI. The iron intake is adequate according to RNI, but due to iron contamination and reduced bioavailability, RNI may not be met in a vegetable based diet. More studies are needed to investigate possible sources of contamination.