Reversal and Preventive Pleiotropic Mechanisms Involved in the Antipsychotic-Like Effect of Taurine, an Essential ß-Amino Acid in Ketamine-Induced Experimental Schizophrenia in Mice.

Schizophrenia is a life disabling, multisystem neuropsychiatric disease mostly derived from complex epigenetic-mediated neurobiological changes causing behavioural deficits. Neurochemical disorganizations, neurotrophic and neuroimmune alterations are some of the challenging neuropathologies proving unabated during psychopharmacology of schizophrenia, further bedeviled by drug-induced metabolic derangements including alteration of amino acids. In first-episode schizophrenia patients, taurine, an essential ß-amino acid represses psychotic-symptoms. However, its anti-psychotic-like mechanisms remain incomplete. This study evaluated the ability of taurine to prevent or reverse ketamine-induced experimental psychosis and the underlying neurochemical, neurotrophic and neuroinmune mechanisms involved in taurine's clinical action. The study consisted of three different experiments with Swiss mice (n = 7). In the drug alone, mice received saline (10 mL/kg/p.o./day), taurine (50 and 100 mg/kg/p.o./day) and risperidone (0.5 mg/kg/p.o./day) for 14 days. In the preventive study of separate cohort, mice were concomitantly given ketamine (20 mg/kg/i.p./day) from days 8 to 14. In the reversal study, mice received ketamine for 14 days before taurine or risperidone treatments from days 8 to 14 respectively. Afterwards, stereotypy behaviour, social, non-spatial memory deficits, and body weights were assessed. Neurochemical (dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamic acid decarboxylase, (GAD)), brain derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha, (TNF-α), interleukin-6, (IL-6)] were assayed in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex and hippocampal area. Taurine attenuates ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like behaviour without changes in body weight. Taurine reduced ketamine-induced dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine changes, and increased GAD and BDNF levels in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex and hippocampus, suggesting increased GABAergic and neurotrophic transmissions. Taurine decreases ketamine-induced increased in TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex and hippocampus. These findings also suggest that taurine protects against schizophrenia through neurochemical modulations, neurotrophic enhancement, and inhibition of neuropathologic cytokine activities.

Prevalence and factors associated with mental health problems of psychological distress and depression among rural Victorians - analysis of cross-sectional data (Crossroads II).

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that rates of mental illness are similar in rural and urban Australia, although there are significant workforce shortages in rural regions along with higher rates of chronic disease and obesity and lower levels of socioeconomic status. However, there are variations across rural Australia and limited local data on mental health prevalence, risk, service use and protective factors. This study describes the prevalence of self-reported mental health problems of psychological distress and depression, in a rural region in Australia and aims to identify the factors associated with these problems. METHODS: The Crossroads II study was a large-scale cross-sectional study undertaken in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria, Australia in 2016-18. Data were collected from randomly selected households across four rural and regional towns and then screening clinics from individuals from these households. The main outcome measures were self-reported mental health problems of psychological distress assessed by the Kessler 10 and depression assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Unadjusted odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals of factors associated with the two mental health problems were calculated using simple logistic regression with multiple logistic regression using hierarchical modelling to adjust for the potential confounders. RESULTS: Of the 741 adult participants (55.6% females), 67.4% were aged ≥ 55 years. Based on the questionnaires, 16.2% and 13.6% had threshold-level psychological distress and depression, respectively. Of those with threshold-level K-10 scores, 19.0% and 10.5% had seen a psychologist or a psychiatrist respectively while 24.2% and 9.5% of those experiencing depression had seen a psychologist or a psychiatrist, respectively in the past year. Factors such as being unmarried, current smoker, obesity, were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of mental health problems whereas physical activity, and community participation reduced the risk of mental health problems. Compared to rural towns, the regional town had higher risk of depression which was non-significant after adjusting for community participation and health conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of psychological distress and depression in this rural population was consistent with other rural studies. Personal and lifestyle factors were more relevant to mental health problems than degree of rurality in Victoria. Targeted lifestyle interventions could assist in reducing mental illness risk and preventing further distress.

Profiling and factors associated with glaucoma diagnostic practice in sub-Saharan Africa-a cross sectional study of Nigerian and Ghanaian optometrists.

BACKGROUND: Ghana and Nigeria are the two countries in Africa that currently run the Doctor of Optometry (OD) program in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Optometrists in these countries are licensed to provide glaucoma care. Despite the clinically relevant practice guidelines for glaucoma, there is no data on the practice patterns for glaucoma eye care in SSA, a region with the highest prevalence of glaucoma. This study aimed to profile glaucoma diagnosis adherence to practice guidelines among optometrists in two neighbouring anglophone countries (Nigeria and Ghana). METHODS: A web-based cross-sectional survey of practising optometrists was conducted in both countries. Each country data was weighted to reflect the total number of licensed and practising optometrists at the time of this survey. Descriptive analyses were performed against demography and practice factors using survey commands to adjust for sampling weights when estimating confidence intervals (CI) around prevalence estimates. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with glaucoma diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 493 optometrists (238, 48.3% and 255, 51.7%) from Ghana and Nigeria respectively, responded to the survey-the first to document and compare the glaucoma diagnostic criteria between optometrists in Ghana and Nigeria. More Ghanaian than Nigerian optometrists diagnosed glaucoma and over 90% in both countries reported that they frequently performed either tonometry, visual field testing, or fundus examination during glaucoma diagnosis. Ghanaian optometrists were significantly more likely to diagnose glaucoma than Nigerian optometrists (adjusted odd ratio, AOR = 6.15, 95%CI:1.63-23.15, P = .007). Optometrists who have practiced for more than 10 years (AOR = 7.04; 95%CI:1.74-28.47, P = .006) and private practice optometrists (AOR = 3.33; 95%CI:1.13-9.83, P = .03) were more likely to diagnose glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides information for evaluating glaucoma assessment for optometrists in both countries. Optometrists in both countries are reasonably well-equipped to diagnose glaucoma and are practicing at an adequate level, but with room for improvement.

Factors associated with inadequate receipt of components and non-use of antenatal care services in India: a regional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Failure to use antenatal care (ANC) and inadequate receipt of components of ANC pose a significant risk for the pregnant woman and the baby. This study aimed to examine a regional analysis of factors associated with receiving no ANC and inadequate receipt of components of ANC services among Indian women. METHOD: Information from 173,970 women of reproductive age 15-49 years from the 2019-21 India National Family Health Survey (NFSH-5) was analysed. Logistic regression analyses that adjusted for cluster and survey weights were conducted to assess the socio-demographic and other factors associated with receiving non-use of ANC and inadequate receipt of components of ANC, respectively, in the six regions and 28 states, and 8 union territories in India. RESULTS: Across regions in India, 7% of women reported no ANC, and the prevalence of inadequate and adequate receipt of components of ANC in all six regions ranged from 67 to 89% and 8% to 24%, respectively. Of all the 36 federated entities, the prevalence of inadequate receipt of ANC components was less than two-thirds in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman and the Nicobar Islands, Odisha, and Gujarat. Our analyses revealed that associated factors vary by region, state, and union territories. Women from poor households reported increased odds of receiving no ANC in North, East and North-eastern regions. Women who reported no schooling in South, East and Central regions were associated with increased odds of receiving no ANC. Women from poor households in Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh states reported significantly higher odds of inadequate components ANC than women from rich households. The receipt of inadequate components of ANC was significantly higher among women who never read magazines in Delhi, Ladakh, Karnataka, Telangana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Mizoram states in India. CONCLUSION: A better understanding of the factors associated with and incorporating them into the short- and long-term intervention strategies, including free financial support from the Indian government to encourage pregnant women from lower socioeconomic groups to use health services across all regions, states and union territories.

Demographic factors associated with myopia knowledge, attitude and preventive practices among adults in Ghana: a population-based cross-sectional survey.

PURPOSE: Knowledge, positive attitude and good preventive practices are keys to successful myopia control, but information on these is lacking in Africa. This study determined the KAP on myopia in Ghana. METHODS: This was a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted among adults (aged 18 years and older) living across 16 regions of Ghana between May and October 2021. Data on socio-demographic factors (sex, age, gender, level of education, working status, type of employment, monthly income, and region of residence), respondents' awareness, and knowledge, attitude and preventive practices (KAP) about myopia were collected. Composite and mean scores were calculated from eleven knowledge (total score = 61), eight attitude (48), and nine preventive practice items (33). Differences in mean scores were assessed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and standardized coefficients (ß) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using multiple linear regression to determine the associations between the dependent (KAP) and demographic variables. RESULTS: Of the 1,919 participants, mean age was 37.4 ± 13.4 years, 42.3% were aged 18-30 years, 52.6% were men, 55.8% had completed tertiary education, and 49.2% had either heard about myopia, or accurately defined myopia as short sightedness. The mean KAP scores were 22.9 ± 23.7, 33.9 ± 5.4, and 22.3 ± 2.8, respectively and varied significantly with many of the demographic variables particularly with age group, region, marital status, and type of employment. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed significant associations between region of residence and knowledge (ß =-0.54, 95%CI:-0.87, -0.23, p < 0.001), attitude (ß =-0.24, 95%CI:-0.35,-0.14, p < 0.001) and preventive practices (ß = 0.07, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.12, p = 0.015). Preventive practices were also associated with type of employment (self-employed vs employee: ß = 0.25, 95%CI: 0.15, 4.91, p < 0.05). Knowledge scores were significantly higher in those who lived in the Greater Accra (39.5 ± 18.5) and Eastern regions (39.1 ± 17.5) and lower among those who lived in the Upper West region (6.4 ± 15.6). Government employees and those with tertiary education had significantly higher mean knowledge scores compared with non-government employees (ß = 4.56, 95%CI 1.22, 7.89, p = 0.007), and those with primary/no education (ß = 18.35, 95%CI: 14.42, 22.27, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Ghanaian participants had adequate knowledge of myopia but showed poor attitude and low preventive practices, which varied significantly between regions and were modified by socio-demographic factors. Further research into how education can be used to stimulate Ghanaians' engagement in preventive practices is needed.

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among sub-Saharan Africans (SSA): a comparative study of residents and diasporan dwellers.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out across all the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, with countries setting targets for achieving full vaccination rates. The aim of this study was to compare the uptake of, resistance and hesitancy to the COVID-19 vaccine between SSA locally residents and in the diasporan dwellers. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted using a web and paper-based questionnaire to obtain relevant information on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The survey items included questions on demography, uptake and planned acceptance or non-acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines among SSAs. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine probabilities of outcomes for factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination resistance and hesitancy among SSA respondents residing within and outside Africa. RESULTS: Uptake of COVID-19 vaccines varied among the local (14.2%) and diasporan (25.3%) dwellers. There were more locals (68.1%) who were resistant to COVID-19 vaccine. Participants' sex [adjusted relative risk (ARR) = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58 - 0.93], education [primary/less: ARR = 0.22, CI:0.12 - 0.40, and bachelor's degree: ARR = 0.58, CI: 0.43 - 0.77]), occupation [ARR = 0.32, CI: 0.25-0.40] and working status [ARR = 1.40, CI: 1.06-1.84] were associated with COVID-19 vaccine resistance among locals. Similar proportion of local and diasporan dwellers (~ 18% each) were hesitant to COVID-19 vaccine, and this was higher among health care workers [ARR = 0.25, CI: 0.10 - 0.62 and ARR = 0.24, CI:0.18-0.32, diaspora and locals respectively]. After adjusting for the potential confounders, local residents aged 29-38 years [ARR = 1.89, CI: 1.26-2.84] and lived in East Africa [ARR = 4.64, CI: 1.84-11.70] were more likely to report vaccine hesitancy. Knowledge of COVID vaccines was associated with hesitancy among local and diasporan dwellers, but perception was associated with vaccine resistance [ARR = 0.86,CI: 0.82 - 0.90] and hesitancy [ARR = 0.85, CI: 0.80 - 0.90], only among the local residents. CONCLUSIONS: Differences exist in the factors that influence COVID-19 vaccine acceptance between local SSA residents and thediasporan dwellers. Knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines affects the uptake, resistance, and hesitancy to the COVID-19 vaccine. Information campaigns focusing on the efficacy and safety of vaccines could lead to improved acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.

The impact of information sources on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination remains the most powerful weapon against the emergence of new variants of coronavirus (COVID-19). However, false information about COVID-19 vaccines through various platforms including social media remains a major threat to global public health. This study examined the impact of information sources on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS: A validated web-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 14 March to 16 May 2021, and was administered in both French and English to 2572 participants aged 18 years and over. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical and vaccination history, and the information sources (mainstream media and social media) used by the participants during the pandemic were obtained. There were three main outcomes: The vaccinated group were those who responded in the affirmation (Yes) to the question of whether they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who responded 'not sure' or 'no' to the question were then asked if they were willing to be vaccinated when the vaccine became available in their home countries. The responses to this follow-up question were used to derive the second and third outcome variables of 'vaccine hesitancy' and 'vaccine resistance', respectively. A series of logistic regression analyses were used to examine the impact of information sources on the three main outcomes. RESULTS: The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the participants was lowest among newspaper readers (42%) and highest among TV (72%) and social media users (73%). The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine-resistance was also lowest among newspaper readers (37%) but highest among social media users (87%). Multivariate analyses revealed that compared to those who did not use these information sources, SSA participants who relied on the radio (aOR 0.83, 95%CI = 0.70, 0.99), TV (aOR 0.80, 95%CI = 0.65, 0.97) and social media (aOR 0.79, 95%CI = 0.65, 0.97) for information during the pandemic were less likely to be hesitant towards taking the vaccines. However, social media users (aOR 2.13, 95%CI = 1.62, 2.80), those who watched TV (aOR 1.40, 95%CI =1.08, 1.80), relied on healthcare workers (HCWs: aOR 1.32, 95%CI = 1.07, 1.63) and families/friends (aOR 1.31, 95%CI = 1.06, 1.61) for COVID-19 related information during the pandemic were more likely to resist taking the COVID vaccines in this study. Participants who relied on the newspaper for information during the pandemic were less likely to resist the vaccines (aOR 0.77, 95%CI = 0.62, 0.95) compared to non-readers of a newspaper. CONCLUSION: We found that all six information sources except radio were strong predictors of the resistance towards COVID-19 vaccination. Further research on how these channels can be used to improve the availability of reliable healthcare information is needed. Investments in these resources will protect people and empower them to make appropriate choices about their health.

Depression, anxiety, and stress and adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with history of recurrent pregnancy loss in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether pregnant women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are more likely to experience moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, or stress symptoms than pregnant women without a history of RPL. The secondary purpose was to determine whether women with prior RPL experienced more unfavorable pregnancy outcomes if they had depression, anxiety, or stress. METHODS: A prospective case-control study was conducted that included 47 pregnant women with a history of RPL and 94 pregnant women without prior RPL. Participants 20 weeks of gestation or earlier were included. Both groups completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and were followed up until delivery to determine the pregnancy outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare adverse pregnancy outcomes. RESULT: Among the 47 women with prior RPL, 10 had primary RPL (two or more miscarriages without a successful pregnancy) and 37 secondary RPL (two or more miscarriages with a history of successful pregnancy). RPL was significantly associated with moderate-to-severe levels of depression (P < .001), anxiety (P < .001), and stress (P < .001). Among the RPL group, high stress level was significantly associated with repeat miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.28, 95%CI = 1.25-100.0, P = .03) and preterm labor (AOR = 6.07, 95%CI = 1.61-100.0, P = .04). Depression and anxiety were not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with a history of RPL had considerably higher rates of moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, and stress. Repeat miscarriage and preterm labor were considerably higher among pregnant women with RPL who were experiencing high stress levels at baseline.

Concurrent wasting and stunting among under-five children in the context of Ethiopia: A generalised mixed-effects modelling.

Concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) is a condition where both wasting and stunting exist in a child at the same time. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of WaSt and to identify potential associated factors in Ethiopia.  A total of 33,650 children aged between 0 and 59 months were included in the analysis from the four waves of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants of WaSt. The prevalence of WaSt was found to be 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: (4.5-4.9)), with respectively 2.5% (95% CI: 2.1-3.1) and 4.9% (95% CI: 4.7-5.2) among children in urban and rural settings. Children: (i) in the age group 12-23 months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 4.16, 95% CI: (3.20-5.42)) and 24-59 months (AOR: 3.08, 95% CI: (2.28-4.17)); (ii) who were perceived by their mothers to be smaller than normal at birth (AOR: 1.98, 95% CI: (1.57-2.50)); (iii) had diarrhoea (AOR: 1.38, 95% CI: (1.11-1.71)); and (iv) fever in the past 2 weeks (AOR: 1.38, 95% CI: (1.10-1.71)) reported higher odds of WaSt. Being a female child (AOR: 0.57, 95% CI: (0.48-0.69)), having received measles vaccination (AOR: 0.71, 95% CI: (0.55-0.89)), having a mother with a normal body mass index (18.5-24.9 kg/m2 ) (AOR: 0.57, 95% CI: (0.48-0.68)), having a wealthier household (AOR: 0.67, 95% CI: (0.50-0.90)), and living in rural setting (AOR: 0.49, 95% CI: (0.32-0.74)) were associated with reduced odds of WaSt. The prevalence of WaSt was high, with approximately 1 in 20 Ethiopian children suffering from the condition and needing a prompt response to minimize the poor health and developmental outcomes. Children perceived by their mother to be smaller than normal at birth, older children, and babies with diarrhoea and fever had higher odds of WaSt.

Factors associated with long intensive care unit (ICU) admission among inpatients with and without diabetes in South Western Sydney public hospitals using the New South Wales admission patient data collection (2014-2017).

BACKGROUND: Long stay in intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with poor outcomes, particularly in people with diabetes. It increases the financial burden of care and this is a challenge to the South Western Sydney region, which is already a hotspot for diabetes in Australia. This study compared ICU admission characteristics of people with and without diabetes and the factors associated with long ICU stay among patients admitted to public hospitals in this metropolitan health district from 2014 to 2017. METHODS: Cross-sectional datasets on 187,660, including all ICU admissions in the New South Wales Admitted Patient Data Collection (APDC) from June 2014 - July 2017 in public hospital were extracted. Data on demographic and health insurance status, primary admission diagnosis using ICD-10, comorbidities including death among hospital inpatients aged ≥18 years residing in SWS were analysed. The ICU length of stay was the outcome variable and were classified into short stay (≤48 h) and long stay (> 48 h), and were examined against potential confounding factors using bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Our results showed higher ICU admissions in patients with diabetes than in those without diabetes (5% vs. 3.3%, P < 0.001) over three years. The median and interquartile range (IQR) of length of the ICU stay were similar in both groups [diabetes: 40 h, IQR = 16-88 h vs. non-diabetes: 43 h, IQR = 19-79 h]. The prevalence of long ICU stays among people with and without diabetes were 44.9% [95% CI 42.1, 47.7%] and 43.6% [95% CI 42.2, 44.9%], respectively. For both groups, increased odds of long ICU stay were associated with death and circulatory system disease admissions, while musculoskeletal disease admissions were associated with lower risk of long ICU stay. In the non-diabetes group, male sex, nervous system disease admissions and living in peri-urban areas were associated with higher odds of long ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of ICU admissions among inpatients remain higher in people with diabetes. One in every two admissions to ICU had a long stay. Additional care for those admitted with circulatory system diseases are needed to reduce long ICU stay related deaths in SWS.

Carbon emissions convergence and determinant analysis: Evidence from ASEAN countries.

In this study, we aim to uncover the convergence pattern of carbon emissions and its determinants towards effective reduction policies. In particular, we contribute to the emissions convergence literature by examining convergence in CO2 emissions for a sample of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, spanning the period from 1960 to 2018. We adopt the log (t) club convergence approach and examine convergence patterns in total CO2 emissions as well as emissions disaggregated by sources. We focus on emissions emerging from coal, oil, natural gas and cement production. The findings from the full sample analysis reveal two sub-convergent clubs that reflect population size, geography, and energy demand. The disaggregated analysis by sources show that the sources of emissions significantly influence convergence behaviour across the ASEAN countries investigated. We find that the transition paths of emissions are more pronounced for oil, gas and cement production with a large number of non-converging states. To ascertain the reason behind this result, we examine the determinants of the convergence process. We detect that urbanization plays a vital role in the convergence path of carbon emissions and calls for urgent efforts to decarbonize urbanization-related infrastructure processes.

Analysis of in-hospital mortality among people with and without diabetes in South Western Sydney public hospitals (2014-2017).

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a major public health problem affecting about 1.4 million Australians, especially in South Western Sydney, a hotspot of diabetes with higher than average rates for hospitalisations. The current understanding of the international burden of diabetes and related complications is poor and data on hospital outcomes and/or what common factors influence mortality rate in people with and without diabetes in Australia using a representative sample is lacking. This study determined in-hospital mortality rate and the factors associated among people with and without diabetes. METHODS: Retrospective data for 554,421 adult inpatients was extracted from the population-based New South Wales (NSW) Admitted Patient Data over 3 financial years (from 1 July 2014-30 June 2015 to 1 July 2016-30 June 2017). The in-hospital mortality per 1000 admitted persons, standardised mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated. Binary logistic regression was performed, adjusting for potential covariates and co-morbidities for people with and without diabetes over three years. RESULTS: Over three years, 8.7% (48,038 people) of admissions involved people with diabetes. This increased from 8.4% in 2014-15 to 8.9% in 2016-17 (p = 0.007). Across all age groups, in-hospital mortality rate was significantly greater in people with diabetes (20.6, 95% Confidence intervals CI 19.3-21.9 per 1000 persons) than those without diabetes (11.8, 95%CI 11.5-12.1) and more in men than women (23.1, 95%CI 21.2-25.0 vs 17.9, 95%CI 16.2-19.8) with diabetes. The SMR for those with and without diabetes were 3.13 (95%CI 1.78-4.48) and 1.79 (95%CI 0.77-2.82), respectively. There were similarities in the factors associated with in hospital mortality in both groups including: older age (> 54 years), male sex, marital status (divorced/widowed), length of stay in hospital (staying longer than 4 days), receiving intensive care in admission and being admitted due to primary respiratory and cardiovascular diagnoses. The odds of death in admission was increased in polymorbid patients without diabetes (28.68, 95%CI 23.49-35.02) but not in those with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: In-patients with diabetes continue to have higher mortality rates than those without diabetes and the Australian population. Overall, similar factors influenced mortality rate in people with and without diabetes, but significantly more people with diabetes had two or more co-morbidities, suggesting that hospital mortality may be driven by those with pre-existing health/comorbidities. Urgent measures in primary care to prevent admissions among people with multiple co-morbidities are needed.

Factors associated with perinatal mortality in Nepal: evidence from Nepal demographic and health survey 2001-2016.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal mortality is a devastating pregnancy outcome affecting millions of families in many low and middle-income countries including Nepal. This paper examined the more distant factors associated with perinatal mortality in Nepal. METHODS: A sample of 23,335 pregnancies > 28 weeks' gestation from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey datasets for the period (2001-2016) was analysed. Perinatal Mortality (PM) is defined as the sum of stillbirth (fetal deaths in pregnancies > 28 weeks' gestation) and early neonatal mortality (deaths within the first week of life), while Extended Perinatal Mortality (EPM) is denoted as the sum of stillbirth and neonatal mortality (deaths within the first 28 days of life). Rates of PM and EPM were calculated. Logistic regression generalized linear latent and mixed models (GLLAMM) that adjusted for clustering and sampling weight was used to examine the factor associated with perinatal mortality. RESULTS: Over the study period, the PMR was 42 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 39, 44] per 1000 births for the five-year before each survey; while corresponding EPMR was 49 (95% CI, 46, 51) per 1000 births. Multivariable analyses revealed that women residing in the mountains, who did not use contraceptives, women aged 15-18 years or 19-24 years, and women having no education were associated with increased PM and EPM. The study also identified households using biomass as cooking fuel, and households who reported unimproved sanitation or open defecation were significantly more likely to experience PM and EPM. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions aimed to improve use of contraceptives, and reduce biomass as a source of cooking fuel are needed to achieve the recommended target of < 12 perinatal deaths per 1000 births by 2030.

Community-and proximate-level factors associated with perinatal mortality in Nigeria: evidence from a nationwide household survey.

BACKGROUND: The perinatal mortality rate (PMR) in Nigeria rose by approximately 5% from 39 to 41 deaths per 1000 total births between 2008 and 2013, indicating a reversal in earlier gains. This study sought to identify factors associated with increased PMR. METHODS: Nationally representative data including 31,121 pregnancies of 7 months or longer obtained from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey were used to investigate the community-, socio-economic-, proximate- and environmental-level factors related to perinatal mortality (PM). Generalized linear latent and mixed models with the logit link and binomial family that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights was employed for the analyses. RESULTS: Babies born to obese women (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.89) and babies whose mothers perceived their body size after birth to be smaller than the average size (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.61-2.30) showed greater odds of PM. Babies delivered through caesarean section were more likely to die (aOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 2.02-4.02) than those born through vaginal delivery. Other factors that significantly increased PM included age of the women (≥40 years), living in rural areas, gender (being male) and a fourth or higher birth order with a birth interval ≤ 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Newborn and maternal care interventions are needed, especially for rural communities, that aim at counselling women that are obese. Promoting well-timed caesarean delivery, Kangaroo mother care of small-for-gestational-age babies, child spacing, timely referral for ailing babies and adequate medical check-up for older pregnant women may substantially reduce PM in Nigeria.

Prevalence and factors associated with complementary feeding practices among children aged 6-23 months in India: a regional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate complementary feeding practices significantly contribute to undernutrition among children under 2 years of age in India. However, there is limited up-to-date evidence on the prevalence and factors associated with complementary feeding practices to guide policy actions at the subnational level in India. We investigated the regional prevalence and factors associated with complementary feeding practices in India. METHODS: This study used a sample of 69,464 maternal responses from the 2015-16 National Family Health Survey in India. The prevalence of complementary feeding indicators was estimated using data for each administrative region, namely: North (n = 8469), South (n = 12,828), East (n = 18,141), West (n = 8940), North-East (n = 2422) and Central (n = 18,664). Factors associated with complementary feeding by region in India were investigated using logistic regression Generalized Linear Latent and Mixed Models (GLLAMM) with a logit link and binomial family that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights. RESULTS: The study showed a wide variation in the prevalence of introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods (complementary foods) among infants aged 6-8 months in regional India; highest in the South (61%) and lowest in the Central and Northern regions (38%). Similarly, minimum dietary diversity (MDD) was highest in the South (33%) and lowest in the Central region (12%). Both minimum meal frequency (MMF) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) varied substantially across the regions. The factors associated with complementary feeding practices also differed across Indian regions. Significant modifiable factors associated with complementary feeding practices included higher household wealth index for the introduction of complementary foods in the North and Eastern India; higher maternal education for MMF and MDD in the North and Central regions; and frequent antenatal care visits (≥4 visits) for all indicators but for different regions. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that there are wide differences in regional prevalence and factors associated with complementary feeding practices in India. The improvement of complementary feeding practices in India would require national and sub-national efforts that target vulnerable mothers, including those with no education and limited health service contacts.

Childhood undernutrition in three disadvantaged East African Districts: a multinomial analysis.

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition is an important public health indicator for monitoring nutritional status and survival. In spite of its importance, undernutrition is a significant problem health problem in many East African communities. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with childhood undernutrition in three disadvantaged East African Districts. METHODS: We examined data for 9270 children aged 0-59 months using cross-sectional survey from Gicumbi District in Rwanda, Kitgum District in Uganda and Kilindi District in Tanzania. We considered the level of undernutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) as the outcome variables with four ordinal categories (severely undernourished, moderately undernourished, mildly undernourished, and nourished). Generalized linear latent and mixed models (GLLAMM) with the mlogit link and binomial family that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights were used to identify factors associated with undernutrition among children aged 0-59 months in three disadvantaged East African Districts. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the odds of a child being stunted were higher in Gicumbi District in Rwanda while the odds of a child being wasted and underweight were higher in Kitgum District in Uganda. Having diarrhoea two weeks prior to the survey was significantly associated with severe undernutrition. Wealth index (least poor household), increasing child's age, sex of the child (male) and unavailability of water all year were reported to be associated with moderate or severe stunting/wasting. Children of women who did not attend monthly child growth monitoring sessions and children who had Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) symptoms were significantly associated with moderate or severe underweight. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from our study indicated that having diarrhoea, having ARI, not having water availability all year and not attending monthly child growth monitoring sessions were associated with undernutrition among children aged 0-59 months. Interventions aimed at improving undernutrition in these disadvantaged communities should target all children especially those children from households with poor sanitation practices.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii antibodies in sheep and goats slaughtered at the Kumasi Abattoir, Ghana.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by T. gondii, is an important zoonosis worldwide. In Ghana, information on the disease in humans abounds but scanty in animals. This study was therefore conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection sheep and goats sampled from the Kumasi Abattoir in Ashanti Region, Ghana. A total of 347 serum samples collected from 170 sheep and 177 goats were analyzed for the presence of T. gondii antibodies using a commercial ELISA kit. Results of this study estimated the seroprevalence of 23.7% in goats an, 35.9% in sheep. In sheep, 24 (35.82%) out of a total of 67 male samples were positive and 37 (35.92%) out of a total of 104 female samples were positive while in goats, 6 (8.2%) bucks out of a total of 73 were positive while 36 (34.6%) does out of a total of 104 were positive. There was a significant difference in the rate of seropositivity of female goats (p-value 0.01). This study confirms the existence of T. gondii infection in small ruminants in Ghana and it showed that sheep and dogs are more at risk to T. gondii infection hence meat from such animals could be a potential risk to public health if consumed raw or undercooked.

Moderate and severe household food insecurity predicts stunting and severe stunting among Rwanda children aged 6-59 months residing in Gicumbi district.

Household food insecurity (HFI) plays an important role in child malnutrition in many low-income countries. We determined the association between HFI and stunting and severe stunting among Rwandan children from the Gicumbi district, aged 6-59 months using a cross-sectional study of 2,222 children. HFI factor was calculated by summing all seven HFI (access) frequency questions and was categorised into food security, mildly food insecurity, moderately food insecurity, and severe food insecurity. The association between stunting, severe stunting, and HFI was determined using the multiple logistic regression analyses that adjust for clustering and sampling weights. The odds of moderate and severe HFI were significantly higher among stunted children aged 6-59 months than those who were not stunted (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.11, 1.84] and AOR = 1.35; 95% CI [1.08, 1.69], respectively). Children from households with moderate food insecurity were 2.47 times more likely to be severely stunted (AOR = 2.47; 95% CI [1.77, 3.46]), and those from households with severe food insecurity were more likely to be severely stunted (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI [1.34, 2.48]), compared with children aged 6-59 months from households with food security. Other factors included male children and children who did not attend monthly growth monitoring sessions. This study showed that moderate and severe HFI correlated with stunting and severe stunting. Interventions to improve stunting in Gicumbi children should also focus on male children, children who did not attend monthly growth monitoring sessions, and households with moderate and severe food insecurity.

Determinants of antenatal depression and postnatal depression in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a leading source of morbidity and health loss in Australian women. This study investigates the determinants of antenatal depressive symptoms and postnatal depressive symptoms in an Australian population, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. METHOD: The study used a retrospective cohort of mothers of all live births in public health facilities in 2014 (N = 17,564) within South Western Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Local Health District in New South Wales, Australia. Prevalence of antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms were estimated for the cohort. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to investigate the sociodemographic, psychological and health service determinants of antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms, measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). RESULTS: The prevalence of antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms was 6.2% and 3.3% of the cohort, respectively. Significant risk factors for maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy were, a lack of partner support, history of intimate partner violence, being from the CALD population and low socioeconomic status. Self-reported antenatal depressive symptoms were strongly associated with postnatal depressive symptoms. Risk factors for postnatal depressive symptoms were similar to those for antenatal depressive symptoms, as well as assisted delivery. CONCLUSION: Factors relating to demographic and psychosocial disadvantage were associated with subsequent antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms in New South Wales, Australia. Our study suggests that screening for probable depression and timely referral for expert assessment of at-risk mothers may be an effective strategy to improve maternal mental health outcomes.

Population attributable risk of key modifiable risk factors associated with non-exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Non-exclusive breastfeeding (non-EBF) is a risk factor for many of the 2300 under-five deaths occurring daily in Nigeria - a developing country with approximately 40 million children. This study aimed to quantify and compare the attributable burden of key modifiable risk factors associated with non-EBF in Nigeria to inform strategic policy responses and initiatives. METHODS: Relative risk and exposure prevalence for selected modifiable risk factors were used to calculate population attributable fractions based on Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys data for the period (1999-2013). Scenarios based on feasible impact of community-based interventions in reducing exposure prevalence were also considered to calculate comparative potential impact fractions. RESULTS: In Nigeria, an estimated 22.8% (95% Confidence Interval, CI: 9.2-37.0%) of non-EBF was attributable to primary and no maternal education; 24.7% (95% CI: 9.5-39.5%) to middle and poor household wealth, 9.7% (1.7-18.1%) to lower number (1-3) and no antenatal care visits; 18.8% (95% CI: 6.9-30.8%) to home delivery and 16.6% (95% CI: 3.0-31.3%) to delivery assisted by a non-health professional. In combination, more than half of all cases of non-EBF (64.5%; 95% CI: 50.0-76.4%) could be attributed to those modifiable risk factors. Scenarios based on feasible impacts of community-based approaches to improve health service access and human capacity suggest that an avoidable burden of non-EBF practice of approximately 11% (95% CI: -5.4; 24.7) is achievable. CONCLUSION: Key modifiable risk factors contribute significantly to non-EBF in Nigerian women. Community-based initiatives and appropriate socio-economic government policies that specifically consider those modifiable risk factors could substantially reduce non-EBF practice in Nigeria.