Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health最新文献

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as related social costs and efforts is increasing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between age at menarche and the risk of MetS, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women over 30 years, using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2020). The analysis of 30 916 participants showed that early menarche (before 11 years) significantly increased the risk of obesity, diabetes, and MetS compared with the median age of 14 years. Late menarche (after 17 years) was also linked to MetS and related disorders. The relationship between age at menarche (at <10 years and >19 years) and the risk of MetS and related disorders exhibited a reversed J-shaped (し) pattern characterized by a pronounced increased risk among those who experience early menarche, whereas the increased risk associated with late menarche was less consistent. These results will help to decrease the risk of MetS and related disorders by enabling early intervention in early and late menarche age groups.

Smoke-free laws (SFL) are more effective with public support. This study investigated the smoking prevalence, public perceptions of smoking rules, and support for comprehensive SFL among 1047 people who smoke (PWS) and 206 people who do not smoke (PNS) aged ≥18 in the 2020 International Tobacco Control Malaysia Survey. Smoking prevalence was highest in nighttime entertainment venues (85.7%), non-air-conditioned eateries (49.7%), and indoor workplaces (34.6%). Respondents reported that smoking was banned in most indoor workplaces (81.7% PNS, 69.2% PWS), air-conditioned eateries (84.7% PNS, 75.7% PWS), and non-air-conditioned eateries (81.2% PNS, 78.7% PWS), but much less so in nighttime entertainment venues (30.1% PNS, 24.6% PWS). Support for comprehensive SFL in public venues was highest among PNS (≥84.9%) but still substantial among PWS (≥49.9%). PWS under 40, Malay, married, and aware of smoking rules supported SFL more. Robust SFL enforcement is essential in Malaysia to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in public places.

According to prior research, Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) immigrants often refrain from seeking health care unless necessitated by medical conditions. Utilizing data from health screenings conducted in APIA immigrant enclaves in Los Angeles, we hypothesize that poorer obesity status would predict higher rates of regular physician access. Analyses involved objectively measured percent body fat (%BF) and survey responses collected between 2011 and 2019. We assessed the association between obesity status and regular physician access, adjusting for insurance status, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. The study population (n = 4102) primarily consisted low-income, low English proficiency APIAs. Participants with a regular physician were significantly more likely to be obese compared to participants without (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.28). This association may suggest that care was sought reactively rather than proactively within this community. Interventions with emphasis on cultural competency and language services may encourage preventative care utilization among this understudied community.

Preconception care (PCC) encompasses a set of actions taken before pregnancy to support the health and well-being of women before conception to improve maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes. The utilization of PCC services is influenced by multifaceted factors that can either enable or impede women's capacity to access and utilize them effectively. This scoping review examined the barriers and facilitators influencing the utilization of PCC services among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) at both individual and community levels. Through an extensive review of published articles from 2004 to 2021, including peer-reviewed sources, barriers and facilitators were identified. At the individual level, barriers included limited knowledge about PCC, neglect of self-health, and financial constraints. Community-level barriers encompassed insufficient supply of supplements, restricted access to health care, high health care costs, and setbacks due to delayed delivery of MCH services. Conversely, individuals reported that credible sources of information, such as friends, family, and community health volunteers, facilitated their engagement with PCC services. At the community level, facilitators included government-regulated supply chains for supplements and the involvement of community workers in health monitoring. Understanding and addressing these factors can help improve the utilization of PCC services among women of reproductive age (WRA) and improve MCH outcomes.

This study aimed to explore sociocultural determinants that might contribute to the increased prevalence and incidence of leptospirosis, and how those determinants can also hinder health promotion interventions, particularly in rural areas of Sri Lanka. Even though several epidemiological studies have been conducted on leptospirosis in the Asia-Pacific region, the sociocultural background of this disease has not received sufficient attention. Therefore, through a qualitative study involving nine public health officials and 25 infected patients in five selected health administrative divisions, we demonstrate that a set of certain sociocultural determinants influence leptospirosis incidence and its prevalence. The thematic analysis generated six themes: a lack of knowledge of the causes and consequences of leptospirosis, false illness interpretations, a lack of readiness for the disease, poor economic conditions, social capital failure, and issues within the health system at the community level. Overall, results suggest that awareness programs aimed at demystifying false interpretations of leptospirosis lie at the center of any health promotion interventions at the community level.

Epidemiological studies have reported that Asian dust (AD), a type of desert dust, has harmful effects on human health. This study aimed to examine the association between AD exposure and hospitalization due to pneumonia. Data on patients in Western Japan admitted for pneumonia were included from a real-world database derived from electronic medical records. We used the meteorological observatory data of the most populous city in each prefecture, in which AD event was defined as a loss of visibility from a distance ≤10 km. A case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression model were used. Overall, 12 938 patients were included, and AD exposure events were observed for 557 days. Exposure to an AD event five days prior to hospitalization was significantly associated with hospitalization for pneumonia after adjusting for weather variables (odds ratio = 1.17). These findings suggest that AD exposure is associated with an increased rate of admission for pneumonia in Western Japan.

Flavored cigarettes encourage youth smoking and deter quitting. No country in Asia-Pacific, a region with some of the world's highest smoking rates, has regulated tobacco flavors. We examined market data, academic literature, and gray literature to describe what is known on flavored cigarettes in the Asia-Pacific region. Of the 12 countries for which market data were available, ten had substantial flavored cigarette market shares ranging from 10% to 97%. With no regulations and growing markets for flavor capsule variants, the tobacco industry's ongoing promotion of flavored cigarettes, which targets primarily youth and women, is expected to drive further increases in smoking prevalence. There are significant research and monitoring gaps on the industry's marketing tactics and use of flavored cigarettes in the region. Given the large market shares, Asia-Pacific countries stand to benefit substantially from a tobacco flavors ban.