BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that married couples often share similar lifestyles, as well as lifestyle-associated conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. This study aims to prospectively investigate the association between an individual's development of a non-communicable disease and the subsequent development of the same condition in their spouse. METHODS: This population-based cohort study utilized 12 waves of annual prospective surveys from 2005 onwards in Japan, with a discrete-time design. A total of 9,417 middle-aged couples (18,834 participants; discrete-time observations = 118,876) were included. Each participant whose spouse had developed one of six conditions was propensity score-matched with five controls whose spouses had not been diagnosed with the condition: diabetes [n = 1374 vs n = 6870], hypertension [n = 2657 vs n = 13285], hypercholesterolemia [n = 3321 vs n = 16605], stroke [n = 567 vs n = 2835], coronary heart disease (CHD) [n = 1093 vs n = 5465] or cancer [n = 923 vs n = 4615]. Using conditional logistic regression, we assessed participants' development of the same condition within three years following their spouse's diagnosis. RESULTS: Participants whose spouses had developed diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or CHD were more likely to develop the same condition within three years. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were: 1.96 (1.53-2.50), 1.20 (1.06-1.36), 1.63 (1.47-1.81) and 1.43 (1.05-1.95), respectively. No significant associations were observed in stroke [1.69 (0.80-3.58)] or cancer [1.08 (0.75-1.54)]. CONCLUSION Spouses of individuals recently diagnosed with certain metabolic conditions are at a higher risk of developing those conditions themselves. These findings may provide valuable guidance for targeting and personalizing chronic disease screening and prevention efforts.
Humans ; Spouses/statistics & numerical data* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Noncommunicable Diseases/epidemiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Aged, 80 and over ; Adult ; Hypertension/epidemiology*

Objective: To understand the current status of fertility safety cognition among married HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years and to provide evidence for fertility safety intervention in HIV-infected families. Methods: Six districts in Chongqing and Zigong City in Sichuan Province were selected. A questionnaire survey was conducted among married HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years who were followed up from November 2021 to April 2022 to collect their general demographic characteristics, histories of sex experience, fertility intention, and knowledge of birth safety. Unconditional logistic regression and Poisson regression were used to analyze the factors affecting the cognition of birth safety. Results: A total of 266 HIV-infected people were included in the study; 58.3% (155/266) were women, and 48.9% (130/266) had fertility desire. The cognition rate of knowledge of birth safety was 59.4% (158/266). The cognition rate of women's knowledge of birth safety was 2.14 (95%CI: 1.25-3.66) times that of men's. The cognition rate of knowledge of birth safety among HIV-infected persons with a high school education level or above was 1.88 (95%CI: 1.08-3.27) times that of those with a low education level. The cognition rate of knowledge of reproductive safety among HIV-infected people with fertility intention was 1.88 (95%CI: 1.10-3.22) times that of those without fertility intention. The cognition rate of knowledge of birth safety among HIV-infected persons who received AIDS knowledge promotion and education was 9.06 (95%CI: 2.46-33.32) times that of those who did not. The cognition rate of measures of birth safety was 5.3% (14/266). The Poisson regression analysis showed no significant difference in the cognition rate of specific measures among gender, age, education and other factors. Conclusions: HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years and married with a spouse have a low awareness of birth safety, and there are risks of HIV transmission between couples and mother-to-child in the family. Targeted birth safety education and intervention should be strengthened to reduce HIV transmission.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; HIV Infections ; Spouses ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Fertility ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Cognition

This descriptive cross-sectional study presents the health-seeking behaviors among older adults in Central Aurora, Philippines. Using a survey questionnaire, 179 older adults from 4 municipalities were interviewed. Participants were mostly 60-64-year-old married females, living with spouse, children, and grandchildren, with an average monthly income of 1001-5000 pesos, working as farmers, were self-employed, were Roman Catholics, and with an elementary level of education. The health-seeking behaviors were described in terms of physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions, with the spiritual dimension garnering the highest average mean of 4.01 (scale of 1 or never to 5 or always), and physical and mental dimensions the lowest average means of 3.58 and 3.31, respectively. These results attest to the Filipino value for the spiritual realm as an important dimension of health seeking behaviors and the physical and the mental dimensions of lesser concern. Recommendations include creating a wellness program to enhance health-seeking behaviors in all dimensions.
Humans ; Female ; Child ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Spouses ; Catholicism ; Farmers ; Cities ; Philippines ; Marriage ; Health Behavior ; Family ; Health Promotion ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Educational Status

OBJECTIVE: To carry out preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for a couple where the husband was affected by osteogenesis imperfecta combined with balanced translocation using the karyomapping technique. METHODS: Blastocysts were detected using karyomapping, the carrier status of COL1A1 c.760G>A (p.Gly254Arg) variant and the carrier status of the translocated chromosome were analyzed simultaneously. RESULTS: For a total of 10 blastocysts, two euploid blastocysts were found to not carry the COL1A1 c.760G>A (p.Gly254Arg) variant but a balanced translocation. After transplanting one of the blastocysts, clinical pregnancy was achieved. Amniocentesis at 18th gestational week and prenatal genetic testing was in keeping with the result of PGT.A healthy female was born at 40+4 weeks gestation. CONCLUSION For patients simultaneously carrying genetic variant and balanced chromosomal translocation, PGT can be performed with efficiency by the use of karyomapping method.
Blastocyst ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta/genetics* ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Spouses ; Translocation, Genetic

This descriptive correlational study determined the level of hope and spiritual wellbeing among Filipino caregivers of terminally-ill cancer patients, and the relationship of hope and spiritual wellbeing to various patient and caregiver characteristics. The study involved 50 caregivers of terminally-ill-cancer patients, mostly belonging to 51-60 age group (42%) with mean age of 44 years (SD=15), mostly females (72%), married (62%), Roman Catholic (90%), high school graduates (50%), spouses of patients (28%), with an average of 18.36 hours of caregiving in a day for an average duration of 21.4 months. The hope and spirituality scores of caregivers were 3.24 (SD=0.28) and 3.25 (SD=0.46) respectively. Caregivers had high self-efficacy (3.29) but low social support (1.72). Patient's age was moderately correlated with caregiver's hope (r=0.3; p=0.03). Caregiver's educational attainment was significantly associated with hope (p<0.01) and spiritual wellbeing (p<0.01). Caregiver's self-efficacy was moderately correlated with their spiritual wellbeing (r=0.46, p<0.01). Caregiver's hopes were (1) for their patients to get well and recover from their illness, (2) to have strong spiritual faith and be healed with God's help (3) to be hopeful and positive, (4) hope for longer life, (5) resumption of family relations, and (6) free of pain and other discomforts. Caregivers' thoughts on spiritual wellbeing were to have: (1) stronger faith, (2) being prayerful, and (3) being positive. Compared to other studies, Filipino caregivers had lower hope scores, but higher spiritual wellbeing scores. Nursing interventions promoting hope and spiritual wellbeing should be conducted in patients' room, clinic appointments, or during home visits. Nursing care promoting hope and spiritual wellbeing should be part of patients' activities for daily living.
Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Caregivers ; Spirituality ; Family Relations ; Spouses ; Self Efficacy ; Catholicism ; Patients' ; Rooms ; House Calls ; Terminally Ill ; Hope ; Marriage ; Spiritual Therapies ; Social Support ; Neoplasms ; Pain ; Schools

PURPOSE: This study aims to provide base data for designing education and counseling programs for child-raising by identifying the types, characteristics and predictors of parenting behaviors of married immigrant women. METHODS: We used a self-report questionnaire to survey 126 immigrant mothers of young children, who agreed to participate, and who could speak Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, or English, at two children's hospitals and two multicultural support centers. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive analysis, K-means clustering, χ2 test, Fisher's exact test, one-way ANOVA, Schéffe's test, and multinominal logistic regression. RESULTS: We identified three clusters of parenting behaviors: ‘affectionate acceptance group’ (38.9%), ‘active engaging group’ (26.2%), and ‘passive parenting group’ (34.9%). Passive parenting and affectionate acceptance groups were distinguished by the conversation time between couples (p=.028, OR=5.52), ideology of motherhood (p=.032, OR=4.33), and parenting stress between parent and child (p=.049, OR=0.22). Passive parenting was distinguished from active engaging group by support from spouses for participating in multicultural support centers or relevant programs (p=.011, OR=2.37), and ideology of motherhood (p=.001, OR=16.65). Ideology of motherhood was also the distinguishing factor between affectionate acceptance and active engaging groups (p=.041, OR=3.85). CONCLUSION: Since immigrant women's parenting type depends on their ideology of motherhood, parenting stress, and spousal relationships in terms of communication and support to help their child-raising and socio-cultural adaptation, it is necessary to provide them with systematic education and support, as well as interventions across personal, family, and community levels.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Cluster Analysis ; Counseling ; Education ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mothers ; Parenting ; Parents ; Spouses

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the barriers affecting the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) among Senegalese mothers. METHODS: Health facility staffs were surveyed to examine the availability coverage of ANC (infrastructural capacity of health posts to handle maternal and newborn healthcare). A total of 113 women of childbearing age were surveyed to identify factors associated with the accessibility coverage (physical, economic, and information accessibility factors), acceptability coverage (socio-cultural features, social acceptance, and language), and effectiveness coverage (ratio of mothers having completed 4 visits) of ANC. Further, to identify the socio-cultural factors and the specific characteristics of the barriers, 5 focus group discussions were conducted with women of childbearing age, their husbands and mothers-in-law, community health workers, and health facility staff. The effectiveness coverage of ANC was analyzed by reviewing materials from the District Health Information System 2 of Senegal. RESULTS: Key barriers of ANC utilization were associated with acceptability coverage. ANC during early pregnancy was avoided owing to the negative social stigma surrounding miscarriage. The survey results indicated an extremely high miscarriage rate of 30.9% among the participants. The social stigma towards unmarried mothers caused them to hide their pregnancy, which deterred ANC utilization. The husband was the final decision maker and social supporter on ANC utilization. CONCLUSION: To promote the utilization of ANC services among pregnant women in Senegal, it is important to alleviate the social stigma towards miscarriages and unmarried mothers, and to provide greater social support for pregnancies and newborn deliveries within family.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Community Health Workers ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Health Facilities ; Health Information Systems ; Humans ; Illegitimacy ; Infant Health ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Health ; Mothers ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Senegal ; Social Distance ; Social Stigma ; Spouses

OBJECTIVES: There was also an observation about the “sleep” in the Greek era, which is called the primordial current of modern medicine, which is interpreted as a phenomenon organized by God and appears in various forms in Greek mythology. METHODS: We used the words ‘Greek mythology,’ ‘Sleep,’ ‘God of Sleep,’ ‘Greece,’ and ‘myth’ in English and Korean on Google site for information on sleep in Greek mythology. RESULTS: In Greek mythology, stories appeared about the sleeping god Hypnos, his wife Pasithea, and the dream gods Oneiroi, to explain the mystery of sleep. The various ideas of ancient Greeks' sleep are reflected in legends about Ceyx and Alcyone, Psyche, Endymion, Ariadne, Argos, and Polyphemus. CONCLUSIONS: The images of sleep in Greek mythology that have continued for decades include observations and experiences of mankind. This can be interpreted from a medical point of view as the important significance of sleep on humans.
Dreams ; History, Modern 1601- ; Humans ; Mythology ; Spouses

This study examined the possible causes of nutritional inadequacy in Vietnamese immigrant women married to Korean husbands. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of 34 Vietnamese marriage immigrant women and 17 Korean spouses participating in or having experienced Nutrition Plus from four Community Health Centers in Seoul, Korea. The study results showed that the nutritional staus of the Vietnamese marriage immigrant women was affected by the unfamiliar Korean food (cultural factor), low household income (economical factor), difficulty in purchasing Vietnamese food (environmental factor), and low accessibility to nutrition support systems (social factor). The Korean husbands' nutritional status was affected by the unfamiliar Vietnamese food (cultural factor), low household income (economic factor), and irregular working conditions (social factors). Nutritional interventions as a public service to the community needs to be developed and applied. Suggestions are presented regarding the future efforts to better understand and meet the nutrition needs of intermarried couples to respond to their heterogeneous needs and deliver adequate nutrition service to ever increasing intermarried families.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Community Health Centers ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Marriage ; Nutritional Status ; Qualitative Research ; Seoul ; Spouses

We conducted this study to compare the awareness and attitude of Busan housewives about consuming marine products. The survey was conducted from April 10 to May 31, 2019 by using a questionnaire. The degree of preference of seafood was higher among individuals in their 40s than those in the other age groups. Among the women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 70s, the reason for liking seafood was ‘taste’, and for those in their 60s it was ‘nutrition’. Overall the most common reason for disliking seafood was the ‘fishy smell (37.4%)’. Conception degree of nutritive value of seafood was higher among individuals in their 30s and 40s than that for those individuals in their 50s, 60s and 70s. As for the price of seafood, the wives over 40s thought seafood was more expensive than did those wives in their 30s. The younger the individuals were, the lower was the perceived degree of safety was 49.8% of the subjects reported that the main concern for purchase was ‘freshness’. The perceived degree of safety for imported seafood was better for the wives in their 60s and 70s than that for those wives in their 30s, 40s and 50s. The confidence level for local Korean seafood was higher for the wives in their 60s than that for the wives in their 50s. The degree of preference for seafood was moderate overall, except for Jellyfish. Age was positively correlated with conception for safety and dietary attitude (P<0.01), whereas age was negatively correlated with monthly food expenditure, nutrition knowledge and intake requirements (P<0.01). Preference for seafood was positively correlated with conception for safety (P<0.05), nutrition knowledge (P<0.05), dietary attitude (P<0.01), awareness for nutritive value (P<0.01) and intake requirements (P<0.01). Laws and regulations should be reinforced in order to promote eating more seafood and periodic research to determine the actual amount of consumed seafood and people's preferences should be conducted.
Busan ; Eating ; Female ; Fertilization ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Nutritive Value ; Seafood ; Smell ; Social Control, Formal ; Spouses