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Background: Primary health care (PHC) plays a major role to ensure the basic right and equal distribution of the essential health
care services. This study presents comparative analyses of PHC in Korea and Uzbekistan, discusses the existing scenario and the
challenges, and provides recommendations.
Methods: This study reviewed secondary data from Korea’s National Statistical Information Service and the State Committee of the
Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistic, regulatory legislation, research reports, and policy papers by research and international institutions.
We focus on comparing input and outcome health data, PHC structure, and health expenditure.
Results: Overall health status of the population in Korea is better than in Uzbekistan; both countries achieved more than 95% immunization
coverage. The reforms implemented in both countries provide initial health care service delivery. However, there are
several challenges such as the distribution of the staff between urban and rural areas and interest of the graduates on specialization
rather than working in PHC system.
Conclusion: PHC plays an important role in the provision of medical services to the population, addressing both health and social
problems; it is the best tool for achieving universal coverage for basic health needs of the population. The community health practitioners
in Korea and nurses in Uzbekistan plays main role in universal coverage through providing essential health care services.
Continuous reform of the PHC system should be directed to strengthen the capacity of the PHC staff in health promotion knowledge
and activities as well as to encourage population to improve their own health.
Objectives: There is higher rates of experience of suicide ideation and suicide attempt of adolescents in the Lima and Callao region compared with the results of the epidemiological study (2013) conducted by Peru National Institute of Mental Health and the Global School-based Student Health Survey (2010) which is was conducted among adolescents across all regions of Peru. Based on the PRECEDE model, this study analyzed the prevalence and the factor associated with the suicide attempt among the adolescent in a poor urban area in Peru.
Methods: A stratified random sampling was used for the survey to select study participants from the 6 secondary schools based in Comas or Callao. The survey was conducted November 25th and December 4th in 2015 and a total of 738 individuals included in the analysis. In order to analyze factors influencing suicide attempt, comparison of predisposing factor, reinforcing factor, enabling factor, behavioral factor, environmental factor, psychological factors by suicide attempt and suicide risk group were identified through the chi-square test and hierarchical logistic regression.
Results: Results showed that those who reported having less parental understanding, less time spent with parents, and ‘almost none/none’ for parental affection had more experience of suicide attempt and were more likely to sort into the high suicide risk group. Also, a greater proportion of those with the experience of suicide attempt had more experience of smoking and alcohol consumption, and experience of physical abuse and feeling insulted and depression in comparison to that of those without experience of suicide attempt. Variables that had a significant effect on suicide attempt included depression, subjective happiness, smoking experience, sexual intercourse, involvement in fight, parental affection, and gender (male).
Conclusions: The results of the current study can serve as grounds for the necessity of acknowledging that adolescent suicide does not simply depend on a couple of factors, but arises from situations in which individual, home, school, social factors influence one another, and therefore adolescent suicide should be prevented and addressed through a multi-dimensional and integrated approach.v
The aim of this study was to explore the association between daily toothbrushing frequency and health risk behaviors of school-going adolescents in poor urban areas of Peru. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 959 school-going adolescents 11∼19 years of age in poor urban areas of Peru in 2014. Health risk behaviors we assessed in the study were smoking; drinking; consuming sugar-sweetened soft drinks (more than one cup); leisure time activities including watching television, playing games, and using the Internet; and never or rarely handwashing with soap.
Daily toothbrushing frequency was divided into two groups (once and twice daily). For statistical analyses, the chi-square test and hierarchical logistic regression were used at 5% level of significance. Of the total respondents, 63 (14.3%) were boys and 53 (10.3%) were girls and 116 (12.1%) engaged in toothbrushing (≤once a day). According to the adjusted logistic regression analysis for socio-demographic characteristics, two behaviors (leisure time use activities, including watching television, playing games, and using the Internet (odds ratio [OR], 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20∼4.35), and never or rarely hand washing with soap (OR, 4.09; CI, 2.48∼6.75) were statistically associated with toothbrushing frequency (≤once a day). We found two health risk behaviors (leisure time activities, including watching television, playing games, and using the Internet, and never or rarely handwashing with soap) associated with toothbrushing frequency among adolescents in the study area. Thus, oral health promotion programs should consider these health risk behaviors associated with toothbrushing frequency.
This study aimed to examine whether being bullied, fighting, and injury, regarded in terms of frequency and nature, were significantly associated with psychological distress and suicidal behavior, independent of substance abuse and parental support in adolescents. Secondary
analysis of data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey from Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu was conducted. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of being bullied, fighting and injury with psychological health outcomes (loneliness, insomnia, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt) at a 5% level of significance. A total of 4122 students were included; 45.5% were male, and 52.0% were 14 years of age or younger. Of the total, 9.3% felt lonely and 9.5% had insomnia most of the time over the last 12 months; 27.6% had suicidal ideation, and 30.9% reported at least one suicide attempt in the last 12 months. Multivariable logistic
regression analysis showed that being bullied, fighting and injury were significantly associated with psychological health outcomes; adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of loneliness, insomnia, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt increased with increased exposure to bullying, fighting, and injury compared to non-exposed group. Among the types of bullying victimization, the highest AORs of insomnia and suicide attempt were among students who were left out of activities, compared to the non-bullied. Among the causes of injury, adolescents injured due to a physical attack were the most likely to report the highest AORs of loneliness, insomnia and suicidal ideation compared to those not
injured. Preventing violence and injury among adolescents might contribute to better mental health and reduction of suicidal behavior.
Introduction: One of the goals of sustainable development is to
make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The healthy city
approach is becoming increasingly important in addressing a large
number of urban health problems and promoting healthy lifestyles in
city dwellers.
Objectives: We performed a case study of the healthy city project in
Wonju, South Korea to find out its characteristics and approaches, and
to explore its relevance to the cities in Nepal.
Methods: We conducted a case study of the healthy city Wonju project
by reviewing relevant published articles and web pages of the city
(http://healthycity.wonju.go.kr), alliance for healthy cities, Korean
statistical information service and World Health Organization. We also
reviewed articles and documents related to healthy cities in South-East
Asian countries and Nepal.
Results: The healthy city Wonju project, started in 2004, executed its
five-year plan between 2006 and 2010, and is currently running with
its 10 year long-term plan (2011- 2020). For its success, Wonju City has
been awarded six times by WHO. Recently, Wonju city organized the
seventh global conference of the AFHC in August, 2016 in Wonju with
the main theme of “our cities, our health, our future”. Key features of
the healthy city Wonju project included: Strong political commitment
of local government, financing the healthy city initiative with tobacco
consumption tax, partnerships with universities, well organized healthy
city teams under city administration, coordination with national
and regional healthy cities alliance, community participation, and
involvement in research for evidence-based planning and evaluation.
Nepal, one of the fast urbanizing countries in South-East Asia faces
large number of urban health problems.
Conclusions: Though numbers of cities and city dwellers are
increasing rapidly, Nepal lacks healthy city projects and networking.
Abstract: The study assessed television viewing >2 h a day and its association with sedentary
behaviors, self-rated health, and academic performance among secondary school adolescents.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among randomly selected students in Lima in 2015.
We measured self-reported responses of students using a standard questionnaire, and conducted
in-depth interviews with 10 parents and 10 teachers. Chi-square test, correlation and multivariate
logistic regression analysis were performed among 1234 students, and thematic analysis technique
was used for qualitative information. A total of 23.1% adolescents reported watching television
>2 h a day. Qualitative findings also show that adolescents spend most of their leisure time
watching television, playing video games or using the Internet. Television viewing had a significant
positive correlation with video game use in males and older adolescents, with Internet use in
both sexes, and a negative correlation with self-rated health and academic performance in females.
Multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that television viewing >2 h a day, independent of
physical activity was associated with video games use >2 h a day, Internet use >2 h a day, poor/fair
self-rated health and poor self-reported academic performance. Television viewing time and sex
had a significant interaction effect on both video game use >2 h a day and Internet use >2 h a day.
Reducing television viewing time may be an effective strategy for improving health and academic
performance in adolescents.
Abstract: The benefit of the breastfeeding has been well-established. In comparison to partial breast
feeding, exclusive breastfeeding has even more benefits. The aim of this study was to identify the
factors associated with breastfeeding exclusivity during the first 6 months of life in order to better
target public health interventions in this community towards healthier infant nutrition and address
child mortality in this population. A cross-sectional survey among 1145 random households was
conducted in the Kwango district of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during 2 November
2015 to 13 November 2015. Women of reproductive age from 15?49 years and having less than
5 years old child were selected for the study. Chi-squared test and bivariate and multivariate analyses
were performed using SPSS. A major finding of this study is 49.2% of the mothers are exclusively
breastfeeding their children, and marital status, literacy, place of delivery, knowledge of exclusive
breastfeeding and access to radio are the key indicators for exclusive breastfeeding. Exclusive
breastfeeding rate is almost equivalent to the national prevalence rate for the DRC. Providing
adequate knowledge to raise awareness of exclusive breast feeding and increase involvement of
health care providers in enhancing knowledge through antenatal care and during delivery and
postnatal care will be the best approaches to increase exclusive breastfeeding practice.
Keywords: exclusive breastfeeding; breast milk; knowledge; DR Congo
Objective: We assessed the socio-environmental and behavioral correlates of having ever had sexual intercourse among Peruvian adolescents aged 12-18years in Lima. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. Result: Of 950 participants, 26.5% of males and 13.0% of females had ever had sexual intercourse. Early adolescents who ever had sexual intercourse had higher odds of being insulted, being involved in a fight, and smoking; whereas late adolescents having sexual experiences were more likely to be male and to report smoking, alcohol consumption, involvment in a fight, and having no/low parental understanding. Conclusion: An integrated approach is useful in addressing risk behaviors in adolescents.
