The prevalence of asthma among secondary school students in Afyon, Turkey. (73/1031)

Ethnic origin has been reported to affect the prevalence of atopic diseases in several studies in different parts of the world. The aim of this study was to determine the current and cumulative prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and reactivities to allergen skin prick tests (SPT) among secondary school students in Afyon, Turkey. The data of the first stage were collated through the application of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey Questionnaire on 1,400 students (1,366 were properly completed) registering at various schools in Afyon-Turkey, in the academic year 2000-2001. At the second stage, a physical examination and SPT were performed on 121 students. Of the students within the study group, 53 (3.9%) had experienced an asthma attack within the previous 12 months, 49 (3.6%) had a past history of asthma attacks and 167 (12.2%) reported wheezing attacks within the previous 12 months. The cumulative prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and dermatitis were found to be 7.46%, 8.10% and 3.5%, respectively. A positive SPT reaction to at least one allergen was found in 15.7% of the students. SPT positivity was 11.13% in symptomless students and 20.3% in asthmatic students. In analysis of logistic regression, a history of atopy, as determined in the questionnaire, was seen to be significantly correlated with SPT positivity. The prevalence of self-reported asthma and/or asthma-like symptoms was shown to be lower in students living in Afyon than other countries. Asthma and asthma-like symptoms were found to be significantly more prevalent among students who smoked.  (+info)

Declining hepatitis A seroprevalence among medical students in Bangkok, Thailand, 1981-2001. (74/1031)

The severity of clinical symptoms following hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is age dependent. Hepatitis A in children is mostly an asymptomatic disease while adolescents and adults usually show symptoms of clinical hepatitis. Improved personal hygiene and environmental sanitation has led to a decline in natural immunity acquired in childhood, creating a population of susceptible adults. In the past decade, the incidence and prevalence of hepatitis A disease in Thailand have decreased significantly. In this study, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies among medical students at two different time points in 1996 and 2001. We then compared these results with data from previous studies in 1981 and 1992. The seroprevalence was 73.01%, 30.23%, 16.67% and 6.67% in 1981, 1992, 1996 and 2001, respectively. A significant decline has happened over the past two decades (p < 0.001). Considering the decreasing immunity to HAV in the younger generations, more cases of symptomatic HAV infection could be anticipated. Further seroprevalence studies in other adolescence groups from different socioeconomic status are needed to elucidate the current situation of HAV infection in the young generation more comprehensively and to develop an appropriate prevention program.  (+info)

Strategies to prevent underage drinking. (75/1031)

Alcohol use by underage drinkers is a persistent public health problem in the United States, and alcohol is the most commonly used drug among adolescents. Accordingly, numerous approaches have been developed and studied that aim to prevent underage drinking. Some approaches are school based, involving curricula targeted at preventing alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana use. Other approaches are extracurricular, offering activities outside of school in the form of social or life skills training or alternative activities. Other strategies strive to involve the adolescents' families in the prevention programs. Policy strategies also have been implemented that have increased the minimum legal drinking age, reduced the commercial and social access of adolescents to alcohol, and reduced the economic availability of alcohol. Approaches involving the entire community also have been employed. Several programs (e.g., the Midwestern Prevention Project and Project Northland) have combined many of these strategies.  (+info)

Schistosomiasis, helminth infection and health education in Tanzania: achieving behaviour change in primary schools. (76/1031)

Over a period of one school year a study was carried out into the feasibility and effectiveness of introducing active teaching methods into primary schools in Tanzania with a view to enhancing health education. The Lushoto Enhanced Health Education Project had as a focus personal hygiene with reference to the control of schistosomiasis and helminth infections. When a randomly selected group of children were compared with a comparison group there was evidence of changes in both knowledge and health-seeking behaviour. The passing of messages from children to the community met with mixed results. The observed changes were still evident over 1 year after the project had ended.  (+info)

Will the 'principles of effectiveness' improve prevention practice? Early findings from a diffusion study. (77/1031)

This study examines adoption and implementation of the US Department of Education's new policy, the 'Principles of Effectiveness', from a diffusion of innovations theoretical framework. In this report, we evaluate adoption in relation to Principle 3: the requirement to select research-based programs. Results from a sample of 104 school districts in 12 states indicate that many districts appear to be selecting research-based curricula, but that the quality of implementation is low. Only 19% of the responding district coordinators indicated that schools were implementing a research-based curriculum with fidelity. Common problems included lack of teacher training, lack of requisite materials, use of some but not all of the required lessons and teaching strategies, and failure to deliver lessons to age-appropriate student groups. This study represents the first attempt to assess the quality of implementation of research-based programs as required by the Principles of Effectiveness. We conclude that low levels of funding, inadequate infrastructure, decentralized decision making and lack of program guidance have contributed to the slow progress in improving school-based prevention.  (+info)

The effectiveness of school-based sex education programs in the promotion of abstinent behavior: a meta-analysis. (78/1031)

This review presents the findings from controlled school-based sex education interventions published in the last 15 years in the US. The effects of the interventions in promoting abstinent behavior reported in 12 controlled studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the analysis indicated a very small overall effect of the interventions in abstinent behavior. Moderator analysis could only be pursued partially because of limited information in primary research studies. Parental participation in the program, age of the participants, virgin-status of the sample, grade level, percentage of females, scope of the implementation and year of publication of the study were associated with variations in effect sizes for abstinent behavior in univariate tests. However, only parental participation and percentage of females were significant in the weighted least-squares regression analysis. The richness of a meta-analytic approach appears limited by the quality of the primary research. Unfortunately, most of the research does not employ designs to provide conclusive evidence of program effects. Suggestions to address this limitation are provided.  (+info)

Evaluation of a comprehensive AIDS education curriculum in Hungary--the role of good educators. (79/1031)

The aim of this research was to evaluate a school-based AIDS education programme in Eastern Europe. Four evaluation segments were undertaken: process and outcome evaluations of the training of AIDS educators and of the educational activities for students. While most AIDS education curricula focus on the content of the education, our findings demonstrate that other aspects--including the characteristics of those educators who appear to be most effective, the way in which education is affected by teachers' attitudes, and the cultural implications of transferring programmes from one country to another--also need to be considered, especially in international environments.  (+info)

Impact of particulate air pollutants on allergic diseases, allergic skin reactivity and lung function. (80/1031)

Elevated levels of particulate matter can exacerbate existing asthma and atopy, while evidence that it can promote the induction of atopy and asthma is limited. A cross sectional study was taken to compare the prevalence of eye, nose, ear and airway allergic symptoms, allergic skin sensitivity and lung function in 290 high school students with a history of high 24 hour average exposure to particulate matter less than 10 microm in diameter (PM10) = 170 microg/m3 versus low PM10 of 36 microg/m3 in central Bangkok. Multivariate analysis revealed an increased risk of eye and airway symptoms in groups exposed to higher PM10 levels (p = 0.003, and 0.05, respectively). Positive skin prick tests and a history of having a lawn at home were associated with nasal symptoms (p = 0.008 and 0.04, respectively). Mean FEF(25-75%) (forced expiratory flow that occurs during the middle 50% of the forced expiratory effort) was significantly lower in those who were exposed to higher PM10 levels (3.89 +/- 1 vs 4.42 +/- 0.9 l/sec, p < 0.001). A significant increase in days of school absence and medical expenses was associated with high PM10 exposure. It is concluded that chronic exposure to high PM 10 levels was significantly associated with increased prevalence of eye and airway symptoms and a decrement of FEF(25-75%) resulting in increase of school absence and medical expense.  (+info)