Do adult health outcomes in urban population reflect local health risk? A matched cohort analysis of migration effects in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Selective migration may affect health indicators in both urban and rural areas. Sub-Saharan African urban areas show evidence of both negative and positive selection on health status at outmigration. Health outcomes as measured in urban populations may not reflect local health risks and access to health services. METHODS: Using the Ouagadougou Health and Demographic Surveillance System and a migrant follow-up survey, we measured differences in health between matched non-migrants and outmigrants. We applied Cox and competing risks models on migration and death. RESULTS: Controlling for premigration health status, migrants who moved out of Ouagadougou have higher mortality (HR 3.24, 95% CI 1.23 to 8.58) than non-migrants and migrants moving to other Ouagadougou areas. However, these effects vanish in the matched sample controlling for all interactions between death determinants. These and other results show little evidence that migration led to higher mortality or worse health. CONCLUSIONS: Health outcomes as measured in Ouagadougou population do reflect local health risks and access to health services despite high migration intensity. However, neither the hypothesis of effect of health on migration nor the hypothesis of negative effect of migration on health or survival was confirmed.

Counting the Population or Describing Society? A Comparison of English and Welsh and French Censuses.

Data collected at household level in censuses are used for a wide range of purposes including practical planning and academic analysis of changing social conditions. Comparability is a core demographic value, and to understand the limits of the comparability of census data across time and space, it is important to recognise if, how and why, concepts and definitions change between censuses. This paper examines definitions of the household in censuses in England and Wales (E&W) and France from 1960 to 2012 in order to investigate how census definitions have changed and to examine the drivers of such changes. Two research methods were used: (1) longitudinal analyses of census documentation since the 1960s and (2) in-depth interviews with key informants oriented around respondents' roles in the collection and/or use of household data from censuses and surveys. We identify two contrasting national approaches to the data collection exercise that is called a census, which reflect political and institutional differences. These differences call into question the comparability of some aspects of census data across national boundaries, despite increased harmonisation of approaches to data collection. By comparing the evolution of the definitions of the "household" in censuses, we develop insight into the diversity of the priorities of census commissioners and designers, and consider the broader implications of this for producing comparable data.

Head start: cranial osteopathy for common baby problems.

Cranial osteopathy is the gentles form on osteopathy and is particularly suitable for babies where it is used to address a range of problems. It relies on gentle touch and manipulation for both working diagnosis and appropriate management of tension patterns in order to release stresses and tensions throughout the whole body. First we will look at the basic principles underlying the discipline, then at how it can be used in practice for managing conditions such as colic and generally unsettled babies, torticollis, feeding challenges and constipation.

Looking after your health. 3. Avoiding varicose veins.

This article is to summarise key concepts for the health of the midwife with particular focus on standing for prolonged periods. One of the resultant factors relating to standing postures is the slow but avoidable progression of varicose veins. There is a strong genetic bias to these veins, which can be distressing, but here we will highlight awareness and current research.

Looking after your health. 2. Avoiding constipation at work.

This article is to summarise key concepts for the health of the midwife, with particular focus on constipation. This is often a taboo subject even amongst women whi aren't midwives, so they do not always freely discuss the issue. It is a key discussion when talking through iron supplementation, hormonal changes and nutrition within the realm of the midwife. Raising awareness and taking care of your own bowel habits is key to enjoying future health and wellbeing.

Osteopathy: helping pregnant women in pain.

Various therapies are accessed by women who are looking to enhance the experience of pregnancy or to relieve pain from pregnancy-related ailments. This article gives an introduction to how osteopathy may help women presenting with pain. It includes an overview of a case study, in order that midwives can gain insight into how osteopathic medicine approaches and applies knowledge of anatomy and physiology to improve biomechanics that may have become sub optimal giving the symptom of pain. An underlying philosophy of structure governs function.

1. Avoiding back injury.

This article looks at healthcare professionals, in particular midwives, and considers how to maintain back health and prevent injury through principles of good practice. Knowledge of back pain, mindfulness in working conditions and modifications of current practice will reduce the risk of repetitive injury, and present management options in the short- and long term. Considerations on improving the 'working lifestyle' rather than quick fixes are ultimately the long-term goal.

Cultural constructions of the concept of household in sample surveys.

We analyse the use of the concept of household in sample surveys, with evidence drawn from a review of survey definitions, a series of in-depth interviews with data producers and users, and a systematic study of recent literature. We consider the place of the concept within the discipline of demography, and demonstrate how its definition and use interact with cultural values and core concepts integral to the discipline. Focusing on Tanzania as a case study, we examine the diversity of factors that influence the construction of household-level data from cross-sectional household surveys. Throughout the survey process, contrasting interpretations of the meaning of household and different motivations for using specific definitions of the term interact. This generates data and outputs with potential for undercounting, bias, and misrepresentations, with adverse effects on the quality of data used for monitoring development indicators. Some ways of improving data collection on households are proposed.