Predicting Factors for Smoking Behavior among Women Who Frequent Nightlife Entertainment Venues around a University in the Northern Region of Thailand.

This cross-sectional survey aims to study the behaviors and predictors for smoking behaviors among women who frequent nightlife entertainment venues around a university in the northern region of Thailand. Samples comprised 279 women who visited nightlife venues around a university in the northern region of Thailand. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed by chi-square and binary logistic regression. The results found that women who frequented nightlife venues and smoked accounted for 32% and 22% of those who smoked inside such venues. Furthermore, the factors identified as predictive of smoking behavior among women who frequented nightlife entertainment venues included frequently visiting nightlife venues more than 3 days per week (odds ratio (OR) = 8.89, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.31-23.90), having a positive attitude toward smoking (OR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.56-6.28), having a smoking family member (OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.37-5.66), and having a smoking partner (OR = 4.86, 95% CI: 2.38-9.93). Therefore, relevant agencies should continuously promote the right attitudes about smoking to Thai women who frequent nightlife entertainment venues.

Screening high-risk population for hypertension and type 2 diabetes among Thais.

BACKGROUND: waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) are simple screening tools for hypertension (HT) and type 2 diabetes (DM). Cutoffs of WC for BMI for Asians have been discussed. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of screening tools and associations of WC, BMI with HT and DM. METHODS: Data from the national screening programme for metabolic syndrome conducted in 2010 in 21 provinces in the central region of Thailand were analysed. A total of 10 748 participants aged >35 years were included in the analysis with cutoffs of WC set at 90 cm for men, 80 cm for women, and BMI at 23 kg/m2 for both sexes. RESULTS: WC produced low sensitivity and high specificity among male participants, and moderate sensitivity and specificity among female participants, while BMI produced moderate sensitivity and specificity in both sexes. Significant associations were found among those who had high WC only, high BMI only, and both high WC and BMI with HT and DM in both sexes. (males for HT, OR=1.63, 95%CI: 1.15-2.33, OR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.03-1.44 and OR=2.03, 95%CI: 1.07-2.42; males for DM, OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.05-1.83), OR=1.77, 95%CI: 1.07-2.94 and OR= 2.05, 95%CI: 1.57-2.69, females for HT, OR=1.69: 95%CI 1.38-2.07, OR=1.32; 95%CI: 1.09-1.60 and OR=2.54, 95%CI: 2.11-2.91; females for DM, OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.08-1.94, OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.09-1.91 and OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.39-2.09). When the cutoff WC was lowered among male participants to 85 cm, sensitivity increased, and significant strengths of associations with HT and DM were nearly the same. CONCLUSION: For Thailand, WC and BMI with appropriate cutoffs can be effective screening tools to recruit high-risk populations into health promotion programmes. However, WC and BMI should be implemented with other screening tools for other risk factors because of their moderate accuracy.