Mid Sweden University

Background: Walking is a complex activity that requires high levels of perception and cognitive abilities. Healthy pedestrians who use mobile phones while walking will have their decision-making process affected to varying degrees and may be at greater risk of injury. Previous studies have shown that using mobile phones while walking is becoming increasingly common. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to solve the following problems: What factors influence the intention and behavior of teenagers to use mobile phones while walking? Do different factors play the same role in students of different genders, school types, mobile phone dependence, or mental health status? Based on the above results, what measures should we take to reduce the behaviors of teenagers using mobile phones while walking? Method: This study used a cross-sectional online survey design. The study was conducted in six junior high schools and four senior high schools in Shanghai, China, from December 2019 to January 2020 (N = 4,082 students in Shanghai). The questionnaire was designed based on the theory of planned behavior and analyzed by structural equation model analysis and multi-group invariance analysis. Results: Girls, junior middle school students, and students without mental health problems or mobile phone dependence can better understand the hazards of using mobile phones while walking. They are more willing to accept other people’s suggestions about not using mobile phones while walking. Additionally, they exhibit better self-control and lower levels of intention and behavior when using mobile phones while walking. Conclusions: The key points to preventing teenagers from using mobile phones while walking are to instill a correct attitude toward dangerous behavior, build a stronger sense of norm, help them form good habits in mobile phone use, and improve their ability to control their behavior. 

Background: Muslims who fast during Ramadan abstain from drinking and eating from dawn to sunset, which has major dietary, lifestyle, and metabolic implications. Due to their active schedule, university students are among the most affected groups by the observance of Ramadan fasting. The study investigated changes in the perceived amounts of dietary intake during Ramadan and the factors associated with these changes among Bangladeshi Muslim university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire during the month of Ramadan in the year 2021 (10 May 2021 to 10 June 2021). The data were collected online via Google forms following snowball sampling and convenience sampling principles. The Pearson chi-square test was performed to determine the associations between independent variables (e.g., age, sex, residence, education level, living status) and the dependent variables (e.g., perceived change of carbohydrate-related foods, protein-related foods, oils, whole milk, Ramadan occasion-related foods, and others). Results: A total of 867 university students were recruited; 66% of them were males. The intake of cereals was significantly higher among males than females (12.22% vs. 8.16%, p = 0.001). The vegetable intake was significantly lower among students with hypertension (3.51% vs. 11.98%, p < 0.001) and diabetes (9.43% vs. 11.70%, p < 0.001). The consumption of homemade dishes was significantly higher among students living with their families (47.30% vs. 5.66%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study revealed different changes in perceived dietary intakes and associated factors among university students during Ramadan. Our research calls on policymakers and public health experts to create health education programs and public health awareness campaigns to impart healthy eating behaviors during Ramadan. 

Introduction: The children of female sex workers are the victims of their circumstances from the beginning and are deprived of an environment that encourages optimal physical and psychological development. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among adolescent offspring of female sex workers and compare that with adolescent offspring of slum-dwellers in Daulatdia and Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 394 adolescent children (196 adolescent offspring of sex workers and 198 adolescent offspring of slum dwellers) from March 2024 to May 2024 using a structured questionnaire. The study was conducted through face-to-face interviews where sociodemographic details, along with information regarding emotional and behavioral health problems, were assessed through the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scale, and health-related quality of life was assessed through the Kidscreen-10 scale. Descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: The prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems was 13% for adolescent offspring of Daulatdia and 15% for Korail slum. Age and gender in brothel settings and HRQoL in both settings were found to be significantly associated with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Adolescent offspring of FSWs with low HRQoL (OR = 4.09, p-value < 0.05, CI 1.579–10.595) were 4.09 times more likely to suffer from abnormal mental disorders than those with average or high HRQoL. While in a slum setting, it is 2.825 times higher (OR = 2.825, p-value < 0.05, CI 1.142–6.987). Conclusion: The study concluded that the overall prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems for adolescent offspring of FSWs was significantly lower than for adolescent offspring of slum dwellers in the emotional problem subscale. Tailored interventions should be developed to address the specific needs of individuals with emotional and behavioral health problems while minimizing the detrimental impacts of their stigmatized identity. 

BackgroundDistinct regional variations are observed in terms of factors influencing intimate partner violence (IPV) when women are empowered. This is a noticeable gap, and no comprehensive studies explore these influencing factors across different continents. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between women's empowerment, autonomy, and IPV across different continental regions.MethodThe Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) dataset across 26 countries with low and lower-middle-income countries was used in this study. We focused on a sample of 56,175 women aged 15-49 who had experienced IPV. For data analysis purposes, we have used the Chi-square test and binary logistic regression using Stata. We also account for complexities related to the survey and incorporate sampling weights.ResultsAmong 56,175 women from all six continents, 22,236 experienced IPV. IPV prevalence varies across regions, ranging from 12.81% in Cambodia [95% CI: 11.75%-13.92%] to 69.61% in Sierra Leone [95% CI: 66.93%-72.18%], with an overall prevalence of 39.46%. Empowered women demonstrated reduced odds of experiencing IPV, with notable protective effects in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa (e.g., Burundi: OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.29-0.44) and South and Southeast Asia (e.g., Cambodia: OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.30-0.50), However, exceptions such as Nigeria (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.30-1.79) underscore regional disparities in the impact of empowerment.ConclusionsEmpowering women socially through employment opportunities and autonomy significantly reduces the prevalence of IPV. Notably, women living below the poverty line and with limited education face heightened vulnerability. It is crucial for policymakers, organizations, and communities to utilize these findings to create more comprehensive environments for working women.

Introduction: Prolonged labour pain is a challenging aspect of childbirth. This study examined how a woman's job affects her prolonged labour pain experience in India's diverse healthcare and socioeconomic landscape. Methods: The National Family Health Survey 5, a nationwide study conducted in India investigated the correlation between occupation and prolonged labour pain among 176,385 women aged 15–49 with a 97% survey response rate. Information on labour pain duration and intensity, alongside demographic factors was collected through structured interviews, medical records, and self-reporting. Occupation, age, education, religion, and wealth index were analyzed as predictor variables using cross-tabulation, chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Certain occupations in India, such as clerical, services/household, and agricultural, were linked to increased labour pain compared to women who were not employed. Among these, clerical workers reported the highest level of labour pain at 55.2%. The age group of 20–24 years demonstrated the highest prevalence of prolonged labour pain at 42.4%, and those aged 45–49 exhibited the lowest prevalence at 30.6%. Women with secondary education reported higher pain levels (41.6%) compared to others, this association did not remain significant in the multivariate analysis. Particularly, Hindu (41.9%), and Muslim women (37.6%), experienced more pain compared to other religions, while both the richest (41.7%) and middle-class (41.4%) women reported higher pain levels than other categories. Conclusion: The research unveiled a correlation between occupation and prolonged labour pain. Policymakers can utilize these current findings to enhance preventive planning strategies. It's imperative to give due consideration to the factors identified in the study that are linked with prolonged labour pain. More in-depth primary studies are warranted to explore this issue further. 

Fall injury statistics are scarce in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal. This study examines fall-related injuries and associated risk factors to address critical gaps in injury epidemiology and prevention. Data was collected from 18 August to 17 September 2023 from the emergency and inpatient departments of seven hospitals in Nepal, one from each province. A structured questionnaire, based on the WHO Guidelines, was used for data collection from patients or caregivers. Among 1,175 injury patients, 38.6% sustained nonfatal fall injuries. Males comprised 58.9% of cases. Most falls (93.6%) were unintentional, and 64.5% occurred at home. 32% of all fall injury patients were children under 15 years, and 17.7% were those aged 65 years or older. Farmers and students accounted for 58.5% of all falls. Injured limbs were most common, followed by head injuries (21.7%). Regression analysis revealed disparities in fall injuries associated with province, geography, place of residence, occupation groups, castes, and gender of the patients. Marital status and household income were not found to be significantly associated with falls. Males were more likely than females to receive immediate care after fall injuries. Falls occurring at home disproportionately affect children, the elderly, and those involved in agricultural occupations. The findings highlight the urgent need for implementing targeted interventions, particularly in domestic and rural settings, and addressing inequalities in injury treatment. This record is sourced from MEDLINE/PubMed, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine

BackgroundThe current study investigated Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) and health related quality of life (HRQOL) from the perspective of Swedish patients. Another aim was to assess medicine consumption and income loss due to WAD.MethodThe present study was a planned secondary analysis using baseline data from a prospective, multicentre randomized controlled trial. The study participants were WAD patients, victims of four-wheel motor vehicle collisions at least six months but not more than five years ago. Neck Disability Index and HRQOL were measured. HRQOL was measured by the EQ-5D instrument. Cross tabulations, Box Plots, and regression analyses were performed.Trial registration sectionThe study was registered before data collection started (ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol ID: NCT03022812, initial release 12/20/2016).ResultsThere were 137 WAD participants (78.8% women), and almost three-fourths (74.5%) were married. The majority (54.7%) of the WAD patients were in white-collar jobs, followed by blue-collar jobs (35%) and students /unemployed (10.2%). Both consumption of medicine for neck pain and income loss due to WAD have a negative relation with the Neck Disability Index (NDI). On average, EQ-VAS for WAD women is 58.21 (+/- 17.625), and for men, it is 61.11 (+/- 16.444). WAD patients with a university education have the highest EQ-VAS average of 60.42 (+/- 17.738).ConclusionsThe low HRQOL seen in WAD patients in this study should warrant the attention of the medical fraternity, researchers and policymakers.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) during pregnancy poses a serious threat to maternal health, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite these known risks, the role of spousal educational differences in IPV during pregnancy remains poorly understood. This study aimed to examine this influence, analyzing data from multiple countries across five continents. This study utilized data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) focusing on lower and LMIC countries. DHS employs two-stage sampling to gather comprehensive health data. Thirty countries from five regions were selected. Covariates like husband's age, residence, wealth, education, husband's working status, husband's education, and spousal educational gap were considered. Cross-sectional survey design was considered. Chi-square test was done to find the association between IPV and covariates. Binary logistic regression was used to assess whether the independent variable is related to spousal educational disparity and other covariates of IPV during pregnancy. Out of 152,643 (weighted) pregnant women from all five continents, 8357 (weighted) experienced IPV during pregnancy. IPV is most prevalent in Papua New Guinea (17.01%; 95% CI 15.76-18.38%)), while least prevalent in Cambodia (0.99%; 95% CI 0.88-1.10%)). Overall, the IPV prevalence was (5.47%; 95% CI 5.30-5.65%)). Educational disparity and socioeconomic factors play a significant role in encountering IPV during pregnancy. This study revealed complex, region-specific effects on violence likelihood, emphasizing implications for policymakers and practitioners addressing IPV. Education disparity emerged as a significant factor; lower-educated couples exhibit increased abusive behavior.

Background: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of male adolescents’ attitudes towards wife-beating and to explore the associations between sociodemographic factors and the acceptance of wife-beating in 20 low and lower-middle-income countries. Method: This study utilized a secondary data analysis from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) across 20 lower—and lower-middle-income countries. To understand male adolescents’ attitudes towards justifying wife beatings, we examined factors such as residence, wealth index, education level, and household size. Data analysis was conducted using Stata 17 software, applying weighting methods from the DHS Program to ensure the results accurately represented the target population. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationships between variables. Result: Among the 26,794 individuals surveyed globally, 4.84% believed that wife beating could be justified. In Guinea, the prevalence stood at 13.42%, whereas Zimbabwe reported a figure of 1.56% in sub-Saharan Africa. Similarly, in Timor-Leste, located in South and Southeast Asia, 16.11% of people justified wife beating, while Myanmar had a mere 2.31% expressing such views. Adolescents residing in rural areas were more likely to endorse wife beating compared to their urban counterparts, who had significantly lower odds (AOR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.07–0.67). Likewise, higher levels of education played a crucial role in diminishing the likelihood of endorsing wife beating; in Guinea, adolescents with secondary education or higher were substantially less likely to support such attitudes (AOR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18–0.58). Conclusion: The research findings shed light on how young men view violence against women, revealing differences in attitudes across regions. In Sub-Saharan Africa, there are diverse perspectives, with Guinea having a higher prevalence that requires immediate efforts. The concerning prevalence in Jordan highlights the importance of promoting gender equality in West Asia. These findings emphasize the need for interventions that shift beliefs and encourage tangible behavioral changes. Community workshops and skill-building programs can help translate awareness into action. It is crucial to address these attitudes to combat violence effectively. 

The objective of this study was to explore the stigma among attendants (close relatives or other caregivers) who brought patients with mental illness to the selected mental health facilities in Bangladesh. This mixed-method study was part of a nationwide survey where respondents were conveniently selected. Cross-sectional data were collected from 176 attendants of patients with mental illness, and qualitative data were collected from 40 respondents. Quantitative data were collected in hand-held tablets using the Day’s Mental Illness Stigma Scale questionnaire. Qualitative data was collected in recorders, using a semi-structured guideline. The attendants had more stigma around the patients’ ability to maintain relationships, hygiene and discretion regarding their illness, with the highest level of stigma towards hygiene issues (score: 5.4). There was more positive attitude towards the treatability, curability, and recovery of the patients due to faith in the professional expertise of the service providers at mental health facilities, with the least level of stigma towards professional expertise (score: 6.4). Older people, females, and educated attendants were generally less stigmatized towards patients with mental illness than their counterparts. This study found that more stigma was present around the domains’ relationships, hygiene, anxiety, and visibility, while less stigma was present around the domains’ treatability, curability, and recovery of the patients. Further studies can be conducted to understand the effect of various factors on stigma, to aid in the development of interventions and counselling frameworks.