Measurement of Intermediate Frequency Magnetic Fields Generated by Household Induction Cookers for Epidemiological Studies and Development of an Exposure Estimation Model.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure assessment of intermediate frequency (IF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) is difficult and epidemiological studies are limited. In the present study, we aimed to estimate the exposure of pregnant women to IF-EMFs generated by induction cookers in the household using a questionnaire and discussed its applicability to epidemiological studies. METHOD: Two main home-visit surveys were conducted: a Phase 1 survey to develop an estimation model and a Phase 2 survey to validate the model. The estimation model included the following variables: wattage, cookware diameter, and distance from the hob center (center of the stove). Four models were constructed to determine the importance of each variable and the general applicability for epidemiological studies. In addition, estimated exposure values were calculated based on the Phase 2 survey questionnaire responses and compared with the actual measured values using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. RESULT: The average value of the magnetic field measured in the Phase 1 survey was 0.23 µT (variance: 0.13) at a horizontal distance of 30 cm at the height of the cooking table. The highest validity model was inputted distance from the hob center to the body surface that is variable (correlation coefficient = 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.22-0.75). No clear differences were identified in the correlation coefficients for each model (z-value: 0.09-0.18, p-value: 0.86-0.93). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: No differences were found in the validity of the four models. This could be due to the biased wattage of the validation population, and for versatility it would be preferable to use three variables (distance, wattage, and estimation using the diameter of the cookware) whenever possible. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic measurement of magnetic fields generated by more than 70 induction cookers in a real household environment. This study will contribute to finding dose-response relationships in epidemiological studies of intermediate-frequency exposure without the use of instrumentation. One of the limitations of this study is it estimates instantaneous exposure in place during cooking only.

Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in the Lao People's Democratic Republic: A multilevel analysis.

Anemia is a major public health concern among children aged <5 years in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Thus far, no study has determined the factors associated with anemia among children aged <5 years in the Lao People's Democratic Republic using a nationwide representative sample. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors with multilevel variations among children aged 6-59 months. This quantitative, cross-sectional study used a nationally representative sample from the Lao Social Indicator Survey II, 2017. Children aged 6-59 months tested for anemia were included in this study through multistage sampling approaches. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level of <11.0 g/dL. Multilevel binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine the adjusted effect of the factors associated with anemia. Among the 5,087 children included, the overall prevalence of anemia was 43.0%. Three factors were associated with higher odds of developing anemia-male sex (adjusted odds ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.34), underweight (adjusted odds ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.55), and residence in central provinces (adjusted odds ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.95) and southern provinces (adjusted odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.81). However, the other three factors-age, educational level of the household head, and Hmong-Mien ethnicity-were inversely associated with anemia. To resolve the problem regarding the severity of the anemia among children aged <5 years in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Our findings highlight the need for designing an effective approach to address each factor associated with childhood anemia. Interventions should focus on the prevention of childhood anemia, which is considered a major priority of public health intervention in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associate Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Lao PDR: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Anemia continues to be a major public health problem significant among women of reproductive age (WRA) in developing countries, including Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), where the prevalence of anemia among women remains high. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among WRA 15-49 years in Lao PDR. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study, using the Lao Social Indicator Survey II, 2017 dataset. A total of 12,519 WRA tested for anemia were included in this study, through multistage sampling approaches. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the associated factors of anemia. RESULTS: Of 12,519 women, 4,907 (39.2%) were anemic. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that living in central provinces (aOR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.96-2.38), rural area (aOR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.00-1.20), large family size with more than 6 persons (aOR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.29), pregnancy (aOR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.22-1.74), having any adverse pregnancy outcomes (aOR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03-1.25), poor drinking water (aOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.10-1.39), and poor sanitation facility (aOR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.28) were significantly associated with an increased risk of anemia. Conversely, four factors were associated with anemia preventively, including being aged 25-34 years (aOR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74-0.90), postsecondary education (aOR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60-0.97), Hmong-Mien ethnicity (aOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.39-0.59), and watching television almost daily (aOR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.75-0.95). CONCLUSION: Anemia continues to be a major public health challenge in Lao PDR. Interventions should be considered on geographic variations, improving safe water and sanitation facility, promoting of iron supplements during pregnancy, and health education through mass media for women in rural areas.

Does Father's Social Capital Matter to Child Undernutrition in Myanmar?

This article examined the association between social capital of fathers and child undernutrition using a community-based survey in Myanmar in 2018. The anthropometric measurements of 1546 children aged 6 to 59 months and face-to-face interviews of 1546 respective biological fathers were performed. The three social capital indicators (institutional trust, social supports, and collective action) were included in 2-level logistic regression models for child wasting and child stunting. Social supports from fathers' social networks were protective measures for child wasting and child stunting at individual and community levels, respectively. The collective action of fathers was positively associated with child stunting at individual level. No association was found between institutional trust and both indicators of child undernutrition at all levels. The individual-level collective action on child stunting was conditional on the community-level social supports. Our findings suggest that existing nutritional strategies in Myanmar may be strengthened by targeting fathers to increase their support in child nutrition and by targeting the community to engage in the nutritional programs with their full support.

Difficulties in receiving a medical consultation among Japanese workers with mental health problems.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to elucidate the factors affecting the difficulties in receiving a medical consultation among workers with mental health problems. METHODS: The present study was performed using a cross-sectional survey. We requested occupational physicians and nurses who were members of the Japan Society for Occupational Health to distribute self-administered questionnaires to their clients. RESULTS: Ninety-nine workers (68 males and 30 females), aged 40.6 ± 9.1 yr, returned completed questionnaires; 65% of the respondents had been diagnosed with depression. The most common difficulty perceived by them was that there were no intra-office counselors. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the number of months between the onset of mental health problems and the first medical consultation was significantly associated with age and having no sick leave allowance. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation and enhancement of sick leave allowance may promote early intervention in regard to workplace mental health problems. Mental health education and regular checkups for older workers is also critical for early detection and intervention of mental health problems.

Does the Japanese Society for Hygiene need its own Code of Conduct? A comparison of the responses of councilors and junior members based on a questionnaire survey.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare current awareness of the "On a Code of Conduct for Scientists" (OCCS) among members of the Japanese Society for Hygiene (JSH). METHOD: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was mailed to JSH members, including 439 councilors and 376 junior members (who were under 50 years of age with a membership of 3 years or longer, excluding councilors). Councilors were surveyed from November to December 2007, while junior members were surveyed from November to December 2008. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 40.6% (n = 331/815), with responses from 46.7% of the councilors (n = 205/439) and 33.5% of the junior members (n = 126/376). Among the respondents, 36.0% of councilors (n = 68) and 59.8% of junior members (n = 73) did not know the contents of "On the Code of Conduct for Scientists" (P < 0.01), while 76.3% of councilors (n = 145) and 61.4% of junior members (n = 75) had not heard of it (P < 0.05). However, a majority of the respondents reported interest in the Code [70.0% of councilors (n = 133), 68.6% of junior members (n = 83)] (P < 0.05) and a favorable attitude towards research ethics education [69.3% of councilors (n = 133), 68.9% of junior members (n = 84)] (P < 0.54). In addition, 24.3% of the responding councilors (n = 46) and 15.7% of the responding junior members (n = 19) believe it necessary for JSH to formulate its own code of conduct for scientists (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We clarified the current state of awareness of the OCCS among JSH members as well as the opinion of members for the JSH to have its own Code of Conduct for Scientists. This result provides important information that should be considered during the formulation of an individual code of conduct for scientists in the JSH.

[Attitudes towards the code of conduct for scientists among council members of the Japanese Society for Hygiene].

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to clarify the attitudes towards the code of conduct for scientists among council members of the Japanese Society for Hygiene (JSH). We also aimed to collect information to be used as baseline data for future studies. METHODS: From November to December 2007, 439 Council members of the Japanese Society for Hygiene completed a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The valid response rate was 43.7% (n=192/439). The mean ages of the subjects were 56.2 years for males (n=171), and 53.0 years for females (n=19). Many council members were unfamiliar with the "Code of Conduct for Scientists" established by the Science Council of Japan, suggesting that most of the regular members were also unfamiliar with these guidelines. However, the high level of interest in the "Code of Conduct for Scientists" established by the Science Council of Japan indicated a positive attitude towards learning about research ethics. Moreover, one-half of the subjects responded that JSH should establish a code of conduct for scientists. Below are some of the reasons for requiring JSH to establish a code of conduct: 1. Private information is prevalent in the field of hygiene. 2. The overall stance as an academic society would be established and would encourage individuality in academic societies. 3. Members have various backgrounds within the field of hygiene, and they should have a code of conduct different from that of their institution of affiliation. CONCLUSION: We clarified attitudes towards the Code of Conduct for Scientists among council members of the Japanese Society for Hygiene.

The public's attitudes towards the use of genetic information for medical purposes and its related factors in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge of and attitudes on the use of genetic information for medical purposes among the general public of Japan and to identify how the knowledge and attitudes correlate with gender, age and related factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from June to July 2004. Stratified random samples of 500 adults aged from 20 to 69 years, living in A-ward, Tokyo, Japan, were analyzed using a chi(2) test, t test and discriminant analysis (stepwise method). RESULTS: Findings showed 'interested in the use of genetic information for medical research', 'useful for making effective use of medicine' and 'useful for determining disorders to which one may be susceptible in the future' as the three related factors that influenced discrimination in respondents' attitudes. Of these, 'interested in the use of genetic information for medical research' had a standardized discriminant coefficient of 0.946, indicating greatest relevance to discriminating respondents' attitudes. The factors 'useful for making effective use of medicine' and 'useful for determining disorders to which one may be susceptible in the future' exhibited the next highest discriminant relevance. There was no significant difference in gender and age. CONCLUSIONS: This study clarified the knowledge of and attitudes on the use of genetic information for medical purposes among the general public of Japan.