by Koji Kakutani, Yoshinori Matsuda, Yoshihiro Takikawa and Hideyoshi Toyoda
Mini Review
The following review aims to introduce electrostatic techniques for addressing public health issues caused by both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) agents. Biotic agents include viruses present in droplets, airborne fungal spores, pollen, and flying insect pests like mosquitoes and houseflies. The abiotic agent discussed is tobacco smoke. Electrostatic techniques involve creating electric fields between charged conductors, such as a metal rod, metal net, and spiked perforated metal plate, and a grounded metal net. These instruments generate two types of electric fields: static electric fields and dynamic electric fields. Static electric fields are utilized to capture or repel the target agents, while dynamic electric fields are employed to eliminate them through arc discharge exposure. Another application of dynamic electric fields is corona discharge generation, beneficial for trapping fine particles from tobacco smoke and viral particles carried by droplet transmission. This is achieved through the production of negative ions and ionic wind in the electric field. The electric fields produced serve as spatial barriers, preventing harmful agents from entering human living spaces by capturing, repelling, and killing them. Notably, the devices proposed in this review have a simple structure, enabling general readers to construct them inexpensively using common materials or modify them as needed. This review provides basic information and instructions on electrostatic techniques, serving as an introduction to new research in public health issues for readers who may not be familiar with technical aspects.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2023, 11(6), 211-218. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-11-6-6
Pub. Date: December 06, 2023
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by Peter D. Hart
Original Research
Background: Muscle strengthening activity (MSA) is encouraged for all adults due to its positive associations with health outcomes, including bone strength, muscular fitness, and health-related quality of life. MSA is also associated with improved functional health and is recommended as part of a multicomponent physical activity program. West Virginia (WV) is currently the lowest-ranking U.S. state in the percentage of adults meeting MSA guidelines. Moreover, the extent to which health status influences MSA in this population is not understood. This study examined the associations between perceived general health and MSA in WV adults. Methods: Data for this study came from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). A total of 5,301 adult participants 18+ years of age residing in WV were extracted from the national dataset. The primary outcome variable was meeting MSA guidelines status, where respondents reporting 2+ days per week of MSA were considered to have met guidelines. The primary predictor variable was perceived general health, where participants rated their general health as "excellent," "very good," "good," "fair," or "poor." General health was also dichotomized, with those responding as good or better categorized as good and all others as poor. Control variables included smoking, alcohol consumption, obese status, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income. Analyses involved percentage estimates (%) of meeting MSA guidelines and multiple logistic regression modeling. Results: Overall, 26.1% (95% CI: 24.5% – 27.7%) of WV adults met MSA guidelines. Across subgroups, male, younger, other races, and more income populations met MSA guidelines at a higher rates than their counterparts. The percentage of meeting MSA guidelines was also higher among those with good as compared to those with poor general health (28.9% versus 18.2%, p < .001) and followed a linear trend from poor to excellent health (p trend < .001). Additionally, adults with good general health saw an 83% increase in odds (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.49 – 2.23) of having met MSA guidelines compared to those with poor health. After controlling for all covariates, these odds were reduced to an increase of 36% (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.07 – 1.72). Finally, the general health and meeting MSA guidelines relationship was stronger (general health × sex p = .004) in males (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.23 – 1.64, p trend < .001) than in females (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.07 – 1.38, p trend = .004) moving from poor to excellent health. Conclusion: These findings indicate that perceived general health is predictive of and may influence MSA behavior in WV adults.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2023, 11(6), 206-210. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-11-6-5
Pub. Date: December 01, 2023
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by Agnes Juan Silver, Grace Nimir Benjamin, Kariane St-Denis and Ferdinand Nsengimana
Original Research
Background: Despite a noticeable decrease over the past ten years, South Sudan still ranks among the countries with the highest maternal and neonatal mortality ratios in the world. The provision of a care that is more client-centered and culturally sensitive, such as Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) in a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) enabling environment, is key to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. Nevertheless, health care providers’ and consumers’ perceptions, awareness and level of knowledge may influence the uptake and potential impact of RMC. Objectives: To assess 1) the level of understanding of RMC and related clinical practices among health care providers, as well as gaps in knowledge and skills for the uptake of RMC at targeted health facilities in the project regions (“What midwives want”); 2) the level of understanding of RMC and SRHR among women of reproductive age (including adolescent girls and women with disabilities), as well as women’s current experiences of care, unmet needs, and preferences at targeted health facilities in the project regions (“What women want”); and 3) the level of understanding of RMC and SRHR among key stakeholders (health facility administrators, male community members, youth representatives) as well as their views and perceptions of women’s SRHR in targeted communities within the project regions. Methods: Using mixed methods, data were collected from health facilities in six states in South Sudan. Quantitative data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010. Some qualitative data were analyzed by grouping them according to the domains of RMC or the domains of SRHR as based on the established literature, while other qualitative data were analyzed by coding and identifying categories and themes within the data. Results: Only 5% of key stakeholders and <1% of women of reproductive age correctly listed three examples of SRHR. Seventy percent of key stakeholders reported that RMC was a commonly used terminology. However, more health care providers than women of reproductive age had heard about RMC either occasionally or often, while more women of reproductive age (43%) than health care providers (8%) had never heard about RMC. When asked to identify key elements of RMC, 53% of health care providers compared to 45% of key stakeholders and 31% of women of reproductive age gave an answer that aligned with one or more of the 12 domains of RMC. The most cited type of support that health care providers required in order to provide RMC was both general and RMC-focused capacity building, followed by increased salaries and other forms of motivation as well as ensuring supplies and equipment are made available. The proportion of women of reproductive age who reported sometimes or never receiving RMC was generally higher than the proportion of health care providers who reported sometimes or never rendering RMC, suggesting a misalignment between the perceptions or reporting practices of these two groups. Similarly, more women of reproductive age reported incidents of mistreatment than did the health care providers. Conclusion: There is a limited understanding of RMC and SRHR among health care providers, key stakeholders, and women of reproductive age. It is recommended that the Ministry of Health, together with implementing partners, organize and conduct RMC and SRHR awareness activities that target service providers, service consumers, and key stakeholders in order to sensitize them to the rights of childbearing women and newborns.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2023, 11(6), 197-205. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-11-6-4
Pub. Date: November 29, 2023
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by George Njogu Karoki, Tula Galgalo, Joyce Balindawa, Lawrence Kirimi Gitonga and Peter Kinyua Gachoki
Original Research
Occupational health risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to health care workers (HCWs) is a burden in the health sector. This determines the prevalence of HIV exposure, uptake of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) among the exposed HCWs and associated factors in Kiambu County, Kenya. A hospital-based cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out in Kiambu and Thika hospitals from April to June 2017. Probability proportionate to size sampling was used to identify 108 and 184 HCWs from Kiambu and Thika. Simple random sampling was used to select participants by cadre from each site. Data was analyzed using EPI Info 7. Bivariate analysis was used to assess association between outcome variables and demographic and occupational characteristics. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used and variables with P-value of <0.20 were entered into multiple regression. A total of 292 HCWs were interviewed. The mean age of respondents was 33.4 years (SD± 9.40), 166 (58.90%) were females, nurses 108 (37%) and 174 (59.59%) were married. Overall prevalence of exposure to HIV was 120/292 (41.1%), 67/ (55.8%) were female, needle stick exposure was 48/120 (40%). Among the exposed, 43 (35.8%) were initiated on PEP out of which 30/43 (70%) completed the treatment course. Results showed doctors (120 aOR 4.6; 95% CI: 1.6-12.6) and work experience of ≤ 5 years (aOR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.0-5.2) to be most at risk of HIV exposure. Age 35-44 years (aOR 4.7; 95% CI: 1.0-23) was associated with PEP uptake. The prevalence of occupational exposure to HIV was high among HCWs, and common route of exposure was needle stick injuries. Age 35-44 years was associated with PEP uptake whereas being a doctor and work experience of ≤ 5 years was associated with significant HIV exposure. Therefore, the study recommended mandatory infection control and prevention training for new employees and adequate counseling to reduce stigma to exposed HCWs.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2023, 11(6), 189-196. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-11-6-3
Pub. Date: November 24, 2023
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by Peter D. Hart
Original Research
Background: Dietary supplements are consumable products that contain ingredients intended to supplement the diet. Dietary supplements are marketed to the public for various reasons, including improving one’s body weight profile, energy, nutrition, sleep, beauty, athletic performance, mental and physical health, and disease risk. The evidence supporting many of these marketing claims is sparse. Furthermore, the extent to which dietary supplement use for a specific purpose influences physical activity (PA) in adult populations is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between dietary supplement use for gaining muscle and PA in U.S. adults. Methods: Adults 20+ years of age from the 2017-2020 (pre-pandemic, 3.2 years) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used. Participants were categorized into one of three supplement groups: uses a supplement to build muscle (USBM), uses a supplement for other reasons (USOR), or non-supplement user (NSU). PA variables included work (VWPA, MWPA), recreational (VRPA, MRPA), transportation (TPA), sedentary time (SED), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), met PA guidelines status (METPA), and physical inactivity (PIA). ANOVA and regression analyses were used while controlling for age, sex, race, income, and BMI. Results: Bivariate analyses showed that USBM adults had significantly greater VRPA (Mean = 168.6 min/week vs. Mean = 65.8 min/week, p = .0034), MVPA (Mean = 481.3 min/week vs. Mean = 228.5 min/week, p = .0019), METPA (Mean = 53.9% vs Mean = 38.5%, p = .0071), and significantly lower PIA (Mean = 34.8% vs Mean = 45.7%, p = .0275), than their counterparts, respectively. In the fully adjusted model predicting MVPA, USOR (b = -203, p = .0055) and NSU (b = -252, p = .0006) groups had significantly less MVPA than USBM. Furthermore, in the fully adjusted model predicting METPA, USOR (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.18 – 1.61) and USBM (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.47 – 4.05) groups had significantly greater odds of METPA, as compared to NSU. Finally, the supplement group-by-sex interaction (p = .0290) indicated that males (Mean = 561.7, SE = 93.3 min/week) in the USBM group had significantly greater MVPA than all other supplement groups, including USBM group females (Mean = 244.1, SE = 49.8 min/week). Conclusion: Results from this study indicate that U.S. adults taking supplements to build muscle report significantly more recreational PA than other supplement or non-supplement users. Furthermore, males taking supplements to gain muscle report significantly more MVPA than all other adults taking and not taking supplements.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2023, 11(6), 183-188. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-11-6-2
Pub. Date: November 17, 2023
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by Obinna Ivoke, Azad R. Bhuiyan, Daniel Sarpong, Rodolfo Vargas, Mario Azevedo and Mario Sims
Original Research
Objectives: To examine the cross-sectional associations of dispositional optimism (DO) with multiple measures of adiposity among African Americans (AA). Methods: Using the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) data, we analyzed baseline data (2000-2004) for 4624 African-American adults. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis with robust standard error was used to estimate the prevalence ratios (PRs; 95% confidence intervals-CI) of DO by adiposity measures, adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status (SES), behavioral factors and depressive symptoms. Results: After full adjustment, high (vs. low) optimism was significantly associated with a 5% reduced prevalence of WHtR ≥ 0.05 (PR=0.95; 95% CI = 0.91, 0.99; P = .008) in the total sample. High (vs. low) DO was also protective of WC ≥ 102 cm (male), ≥ 88cm (female) after adjusting for demographics, SES and behavioral risk factors (PR= 0.94; 95% CI = 0.89, 0.99; P = .028). The association between high (vs. low) optimism and BMI ≥30 kg/m2 was significant (PR= 0.93; 95% CI = 0.87, 0.99; P = .034) after adjustment for demographic factors. Conclusion: High levels of DO could be protective against high abdominal adiposity phenotype among AA.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2023, 11(6), 174-182. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-11-6-1
Pub. Date: November 13, 2023
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