Articles

Treatment for substance use disorders: the Belgian Treatment Demand Indicator registration protocol

Registration of patients with substance use disorders is of key importance to get insights and to study trends in patients characteristics and substance use patterns. The Treatment Demand Indicator (TDI) is ga...

Authors: Jérôme Antoine, Karin De Ridder, Els Plettinckx, Peter Blanckaert and Lies Gremeaux

Association between pregnancy exposure to air pollution and birth weight in selected areas of Norway

Exposure to air pollution has adverse effects on cardiopulmonary health of adults. Exposure to air pollution in pregnancy may affect foetal development. However, the evidence of such effect remains inconsisten...

Authors: Sviatlana Panasevich, Siri Eldevik Håberg, Geir Aamodt, Stephanie J. London, Hein Stigum, Wenche Nystad and Per Nafstad

Analysis of Non-communicable disease prevention policies in five Sub-Saharan African countries: Study protocol

The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, and there have been calls for adopting a multi-sectoral approach in developing policies and programs t...

Authors: Pamela A. Juma, Shukri F. Mohamed, Jennifer Wisdom, Catherine Kyobutungi and Samuel Oti

Safety and practicability of using mid-upper arm circumference as a discharge criterion in community based management of severe acute malnutrition in children aged 6 to 59 months programmes

The use of proportional weight gain as a discharge criterion for MUAC admissions to programs treating severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is no longer recommended by WHO. The critical limitation with the proportio...

Authors: Paul J. Binns, Nancy M. Dale, Theresa Banda, Chrissy Banda, Bina Shaba and Mark Myatt

The geographic pattern of Belgian mortality: can socio-economic characteristics explain area differences?

Country averages for health outcomes hide important within-country variations. This paper probes into the geographic Belgian pattern of all-cause mortality and wishes to investigate the contribution of individ...

Authors: Wanda M. J. Van Hemelrijck, Didier Willaert and Sylvie Gadeyne

Acute mountain sickness among tourists visiting the high-altitude city of Lhasa at 3658 m above sea level: a cross-sectional study

Traveling to Tibet implies a risk for developing acute mountain sickness (AMS), and the size of this problem is likely increasing due to the rising number of tourists. No previous study on AMS has been conduct...

Authors: Gonggalanzi, Labasangzhu, Per Nafstad, Hein Stigum, Tianyi Wu, Øyvind Drejer Haldorsen, Kristoffer Ommundsen and Espen Bjertness

Iodine in commercial edible iodized salts and assessment of iodine exposure in Sri Lanka

Iodine is an essential micronutrient used by the thyroid gland in the production of thyroid hormones. Both excessive and insufficient iodine intakes can cause thyroid diseases thus harmful to the human body. I...

Authors: Meththika Vithanage, Indika Herath, S. S. Achinthya, Tharanga Bandara, Lakshika Weerasundara, S. S. Mayakaduwa, Yohan Jayawardhana and Prasanna Kumarathilaka

Social, economic and environmental risk factors for acute lower respiratory infections among children under five years of age in Rwanda

In low and middle-income countries, acute lower respiratory illness is responsible for roughly 1 in every 5 child deaths. Rwanda has made major health system improvements including its community health worker ...

Authors: Jean-Modeste Harerimana, Leatitia Nyirazinyoye, Dana R. Thomson and Joseph Ntaganira

Protocol of the Belgian food consumption survey 2014: objectives, design and methods

Dietary patterns are one of the major determinants as far as health and burden of disease is concerned. Food consumption data are essential to evaluate and develop nutrition and food safety policies. The last ...

Authors: Sarah Bel, Sofie Van den Abeele, Thérésa Lebacq, Cloë Ost, Loes Brocatus, Charlotte Stiévenart, Eveline Teppers, Jean Tafforeau and Koenraad Cuypers

Eating quickly is associated with waist-to-height ratio among Japanese adolescents: a cross-sectional survey

Central obesity, based on waist circumference (WC), has more adverse effects on health than general obesity, determined by body mass index. To date, eating quickly has been reported to be risk factors for over...

Authors: Hirotaka Ochiai, Takako Shirasawa, Hinako Nanri, Rimei Nishimura, Masaaki Matoba, Hiromi Hoshino and Akatsuki Kokaze

Height for age z score and cognitive function are associated with Academic performance among school children aged 8–11 years old

Academic achievement of school age children can be affected by several factors such as nutritional status, demographics, and socioeconomic factors. Though evidence about the magnitude of malnutrition is well e...

Authors: Demewoz Haile, Dabere Nigatu, Ketema Gashaw and Habtamu Demelash

Sustainable employability for older workers: an explorative survey of belgian companies

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is developing an online e-guide, which will provide tips and practical information for each EU country (in their national language(s)) on ageing and ...

Authors: Mathieu Verbrugghe, Yoline Kuipers, Bart Vriesacker, Ilse Peeters and Katrien Mortelmans

Healthy together Victoria and childhood obesity—a methodology for measuring changes in childhood obesity in response to a community-based, whole of system cluster randomized control trial

Healthy Together Victoria (HTV) - a complex ‘whole of system’ intervention, including an embedded cluster randomized control trial, to reduce chronic disease by addressing risk factors (physical inactivity, po...

Authors: Claudia Strugnell, Lynne Millar, Andrew Churchill, Felice Jacka, Colin Bell, Mary Malakellis, Boyd Swinburn and Steve Allender

Nearly half of preschool children are stunted in Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Stunting has been the most pressing public health problem throughout the developing countries. It is the major causes of child mortality and global disease burden, where 80 % of this burden is found in develop...

Authors: Amare Tariku, Haile Woldie, Abel Fekadu, Akilew Awoke Adane, Ayanaw Tsega Ferede and Segenet Yitayew

The dangers to children from coconut tree trauma, in KiraKira, Solomon Islands: a retrospective clinical audit

Kirakira is small community of 3,000 people and is the capital of Makira-Ulawa province in Solomon Islands. Kirakira is an impoverished community with a small 30 bed hospital with limited resources. This audit...

Authors: Rajan Rehan, Peter D. Jones, Hashim Abdeen, Heddi Rowas and Jasryn Dhaliwal

Nutritional status of children 0–59 months in selected intervention communities in northern Ghana from the africa RISING project in 2012

Poor nutritional status during childhood and its long-term impact on economic growth and wellbeing is well known. This study assessed the nutritional status of children in selected communities in northern Ghan...

Authors: Mary Glover-Amengor, Isaac Agbemafle, Lynda Larmkie Hagan, Frank Peget Mboom, Gladys Gamor, Asamoah Larbi and Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon

Prevalence and associated factors of clinical manifestations of vitamin a deficiency among preschool children in asgede-tsimbla rural district, north Ethiopia, a community based cross sectional study

Vitamin A Deficiency is a common form of micronutrient deficiency, globally affecting 33.3 % of preschool-age children. An estimated of 44.4 % of preschool children in Africa were at risk for vitamin A deficie...

Authors: Tesfalem Abrha, Yonas Girma, Kebede Haile, Mezgebe Hailu and Mengistu Hailemariam

Vitamin A status and body pool size of infants before and after consuming fortified home-based complementary foods

Home fortification using sachets of micronutrient powder (e.g. “Sprinkles”) is a food-based approach offering an alternative to high dose vitamin A (VA) supplements for infants. The primary objective was to in...

Authors: Sam Newton, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Kwaku Poku Asante, Esi Amoaful, Emmanuel Mahama, Samuel Kofi Tchum, Martha Ali, Kwame Adjei, Christopher R. Davis and Sherry A. Tanumihardjo

Latrine access and utilization among people with limited mobility: A cross sectional study

Latrine access is one of the challenges faced by people with physical disabilities that limit their mobility (PPDs) in their home and working environments. Latrines should be designed, built and located such t...

Authors: Berhanu Asfaw, Muluken Azage and Gebremedhin Berhe Gebregergs

Assessment of iodine status among pregnant women in a rural community in ghana - a cross sectional study

Pregnancy is associated with parallel increase in both iodine, and thyroid hormone requirements suggesting that, there may be the need for additional iodine intake during this period to prevent potential iodin...

Authors: David L. Simpong, Patrick Adu, Rashid Bashiru, Martin T. Morna, Francis A. Yeboah, Kafui Akakpo and Richard K. D. Ephraim

Prevalence of herbal medicine use and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Hossana Town, Southern Ethiopia: facility based cross sectional study

The use of herbal medicine has been on increase in many developing and industrialized countries. More pregnant women use herbal remedies to treat pregnancy related problems due to cost-effectiveness of therapy...

Authors: Tariku Laelago, Tadele Yohannes and Fiseha Lemango

Validity of self-reported out-of-school physical activity among Finnish 11-year-old children

The aim of this study is to assess the repeatability and validity of the Finnish 11-year old children’s out-of-school physical activity (PA) questionnaire using accelerometer as reference method. A sub-sample ...

Authors: Suvi Määttä, Teija Nuutinen, Carola Ray, Johan G. Eriksson, Elisabete Weiderpass and Eva Roos

Individual and community-level factors associated with introduction of prelacteal feeding in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a country with low optimal breast feeding practice, and prelacteal feeding is still a norm. Introduction of prelacteal feeding is a known barrier for optimal breast feeding practices. However, know...

Authors: Abate Bekele Belachew, Alemayehu Bayray Kahsay and Yemane Gabremariam Abebe

Factors associated to the use of insecticide treated nets and intermittent preventive treatment for malaria control during pregnancy in Cameroon

Malaria in pregnancy has been shown to cause both maternal and infant morbidity and mortality especially in sub Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization therefore recommends the use of insecticide treated...

Authors: Ngimuh Leonard, Fokam Bertrand Eric, Anchang-Kimbi K. Judith and Wanji Samuel

Dietary intake patterns and nutritional status of women of reproductive age in Nepal: findings from a health survey

Improper dietary intake pattern in women of reproductive age in Nepal has resulted in the deficiency of essential nutrients. Adequate nutritional status and proper dietary intake pattern of women improves mate...

Authors: Shiva Bhandari, Jamuna Tamrakar Sayami, Pukar Thapa, Matina Sayami, Bishnu Prasad Kandel and Megha Raj Banjara

Validity and reliability of a modified english version of the physical activity questionnaire for adolescents

Adaptation of physical activity self-report questionnaires is sometimes required to reflect the activity behaviours of diverse populations. The processes used to modify self-report questionnaires though are ty...

Authors: Daniel Aggio, Stuart Fairclough, Zoe Knowles and Lee Graves

Prevalence of using non prescribed medications in economically deprived rural population of Pakistan

Self medication is described as an act of procurement and consumption of medical drugs without the advice of medical physician for diagnosis, prescription and surveillance of treatment. There is a paucity of l...

Authors: Abdul Haseeb and Muhammad Bilal

Effectiveness of introducing point of care capillary testing and linking screening with routine appointments for increasing blood lead screening rates of young children: a before-after study

Lead has significant neuro-toxic effects, particularly for young children. Voluntary screening of pre-school aged children for elevated blood lead levels has been an important part of the lead management progr...

Authors: Frances Boreland, David Lyle, Anthony Brown and David Perkins

Health insurance and maternal, newborn services utilisation and under-five mortality

Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was introduced in 2005 as a demand side intervention to remove financial barriers to accessing health services. After almost a decade of implementation, this stu...

Authors: Samuel Bosomprah, Peter Luigi Ragno, Clemens Gros and Hari Banskota

Relationship between mid upper arm circumference and weight changes in children aged 6–59 months

The objectives of this study were to (i) describe the relationship between weight changes and MUAC changes in children aged between 6 and 59 months during treatment for SAM in CMAM programmes in three country ...

Authors: Paul Binns, Nancy Dale, Monsurul Hoq, Chrissy Banda and Mark Myatt

Well-being, gender, and psychological health in school-aged children

Despite being a well-documented phenomenon, gender differences in psychological health complaints in adolescence are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to test factors related to well-being as ex...

Authors: Isabelle Savoye, Nathalie Moreau, Marie-Christine Brault, Alain Levêque and Isabelle Godin

Prevalence and determinants of cigarette smoking among college students: a cross-sectional study in Douala, Cameroon

Tobacco is the most important avoidable risk for non communicable diseases. While tobacco consumption is stable or declining in developed countries, it is increasing in the developing world with a rate of 3.4 ...

Authors: Bertrand Hugo Mbatchou Ngahane, Huguette Atangana Ekobo and Christopher Kuaban

Public health impact and cost-effectiveness of dairy products supplemented with vitamin D in prevention of osteoporotic fractures

Dietary sources of calcium and vitamin D are recommended as a first-line strategy in prevention of osteoporosis-related fractures but their public health and economic impact has never been studied.

Authors: Olivier Ethgen, Mickaël Hiligsmann, Nansa Burlet and Jean-Yves Reginster

Development of the European Health Interview Survey - Physical Activity Questionnaire (EHIS-PAQ) to monitor physical activity in the European Union

A domain-specific physical activity questionnaire (EHIS-PAQ) was developed in the framework of the second wave of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS). This article presents the EHIS-PAQ and describes i...

Authors: Jonas D. Finger, Jean Tafforeau, Lydia Gisle, Leila Oja, Thomas Ziese, Juergen Thelen, Gert B. M. Mensink and Cornelia Lange

How well do physical activity questions perform? A European cognitive testing study

Only few studies have focused on the cognitive processes of the respondents that are involved when answering physical activity questionnaires (PAQs). This study aimed at examining whether two PAQs work as inte...

Authors: J. D. Finger, L. Gisle, H. Mimilidis, C. Santos-Hoevener, E. K. Kruusmaa, A. Matsi, L. Oja, M. Balarajan, M. Gray, A. L. Kratz and C. Lange

Prevalence and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life among women in Halaba special woreda, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region/SNNPR/, Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as feeding infants only breast milk, be it directly from breast or expressed, with no addition of any liquid or solids apart from drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, mine...

Authors: Asrat Sonko and Amare Worku

Reported incidence of fever for under-5 children in Zambia: a longitudinal study

Childhood fever is the most common clinical sign of Plasmodium falciparum infection. It is used as a measure of burden of the disease and the effectiveness of control programs for malaria. This study aimed to det...

Authors: Benson M. Hamooya, Gershom Chongwe, Lungowe Sitali and Hikabasa Halwindi

Wealth status and sex differential of household head: implication for source of drinking water in Nigeria

Source of potable water has implication on the population health. Availability of Improved Drinking Water Sources (IDWS) is a problem in developing countries, but variation exists across segments of the popula...

Authors: Oyewale Mayowa Morakinyo, Stephen Ayo Adebowale and Elizabeth Omoladun Oloruntoba

Poor quality in the reporting and use of statistical methods in public health – the case of unemployment and health

It has previously been reported that many research articles fail to fulfill important criteria for statistical analyses, but, to date, these reports have not focused on public health problems. The aim of this ...

Authors: Fredrik Norström

Are the public getting the message about antimicrobial resistance?

Raising public awareness of the need to use antibiotics appropriately is a major focus of the UK Government’s strategy to tackle antimicrobial resistance. To investigate the public’s views on antibiotic use an...

Authors: Laura J Shallcross, Michelle Berin, Jennifer Roe and Mahdad Noursadeghi

Factors associated with excessive polypharmacy in older people

Older people are a growing population. They live longer, but often have multiple chronic diseases. As a consequence, they are taking many different kind of medicines, while their vulnerability to pharmaceutica...

Authors: Denise Walckiers, Johan Van der Heyden and Jean Tafforeau

Using surveillance data to understand cancer trends: an overview in Morocco

The aim was to use the existing surveillance data sources of cancer in Morocco that could be used to better describe cancer mortality and incidence trends in Morocco.

Authors: M. Obtel, B. Lyoussi, N. Tachfouti, S. Mathoulin Pelissier and C. Nejjari

Prevalence and factors associated with stunting and thinness among adolescent students in Northern Ethiopia: a comparison to World Health Organization standards

Adolescence is last chance for curbing the consequences of malnutrition and breaking the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and poor health. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and the factors assoc...

Authors: Yohannes Adama Melaku, Gordon Alexander Zello, Tiffany K. Gill, Robert J. Adams and Zumin Shi

Factors associated with safe child feces disposal practices in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health survey

According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for water supply and Sanitation definition, safe child feces disposal practices include: children defecation into a latrine, disposal of child stool...

Authors: Muluken Azage and Demewoz Haile

Erratum to: Review of the nutritional benefits and risks related to intense sweeteners

Authors: Olivier Bruyère, Serge H. Ahmed, Catherine Atlan, Jacques Belegaud, Murielle Bortolotti, Marie-Chantal Canivenc-Lavier, Sybil Charrière, Jean-Philippe Girardet, Sabine Houdart, Esther Kalonji, Perrine Nadaud, Fabienne Rajas, Gérard Slama and Irène Margaritis

Reflecting on ICN2: was it a game changer?

At the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), November 2014, 170 member states endorsed the Rome Declaration on Nutrition and a Framework for Action. The Rome Declaration committed to ending maln...

Authors: Hannah Brinsden and Tim Lang

Review of the nutritional benefits and risks related to intense sweeteners

The intense sweeteners currently authorised in Europe comprise ten compounds of various chemical natures. Their overall use has sharply risen in the last 20 years. These compounds are mainly used to formulate ...

Authors: Olivier Bruyère, Serge H. Ahmed, Catherine Atlan, Jacques Belegaud, Murielle Bortolotti, Marie-Chantal Canivenc-Lavier, Sybil Charrière, Jean-Philippe Girardet, Sabine Houdart, Esther Kalonji, Perrine Nadaud, Fabienne Rajas, Gérard Slama and Irène Margaritis

Differentials of modern contraceptive methods use by food security status among married women of reproductive age in Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia

In spite of the massive spending and extensive family-planning promotion, many poor people in the third world remain reluctant to use modern contraceptive method. Mostly when they use modern contraceptives, th...

Authors: Mohammed Feyisso, Tefera Belachew, Amanuel Tesfay and Yohannes Addisu

Correlation of fasting and postprandial plasma glucose with HbA1c in assessing glycemic control; systematic review and meta-analysis

Glycemic control in diabetes mellitus is a cornerstone in reducing morbidity and mortality of the disease. Achieving glycemic control or reducing hyperglycemia significantly decreases the microvascular and mac...

Authors: Ezra Belay Ketema and Kelemu Tilahun Kibret

Placental nitrosative stress and in utero exposure to particulate matter

Authors: Nelly Saenen, Karen Vrijens, Bram Janssen, Narjes Madhloum, Martien Peusens, Wilfried Gyselaers, Charlotte Vanpoucke, Wouter Lefebvre, Harry Roels and Tim Nawrot