Dioxins are a most toxic compound ever studied by human until today. Their significant health effects involved all ranges of age, including infants due to exposure to contaminated breast milk. The objective of the study was to appraise the status of dioxin contamination in breast milk among postnatal mothers live in urban and suburban areas in Klang Valley. It was conducted as a cross sectional study involving 101 postnatal mothers who came for their infant second hepatitis B vaccination. The samples were analysed using High Resolution Gas Chromatography (HRGC) following the USEPA Method 8290. About 70.3% of the samples were found detected with dioxin congeners. More suburban mothers have positive breast milk dioxins compared to urban mothers, 100.0% and 67.0% respectively. Significant associated factors include high fat daily intake (p=0.013), high milk daily intake (p= 0.044), high meat daily intake (p=0.001), body mass index more than 30 kg/m2 (p=0.005), and body fat % of more than 26% (p=0.046). In conclusion, amount daily intake of fat diet, meat, milk, body mass index and body fat are significant associated factors for the present of dioxins in breast milk among postnatal mothers in Klang Valley. More suburban mothers contain dioxins in their breast milk, which poses higher risk of health problems among their infants. A comprehensive study need to be conducted and regular followup need to be established in monitoring the future severity of maternal breast milk contamination to ensure the health of the next generations.
Dioxins ; Milk, Human ; Suburban Population ; Breast Feeding

A Sociological survey of 1500 households in 30 communes in Hanoi' s suburbs shows that 1337/1500 households (89.13%) want to be provided with home health care service 25.42% consider this as a measure to improve health - care quality in the community
Delivery of Health Care ; Suburban Health ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Suburban Population

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; Rural Population ; Suburban Population ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo describe secular trends on physical growth of children in China during the year of 1985-2005 and to analyze the urban-suburban-rural difference and its change.

METHODSThe measurements of height, weight and chest circumference obtained from two serial national cross-sectional surveys for children aged 0 to 7 years in China were used to analyze the secular trends, and the growth differences among urban, suburban and rural children were compared.

RESULTSThe average weight and height for both boys and girls from urban, suburban and rural areas have significantly increased in most age groups during the past 20 years; The average chest circumference increased slightly, ranging from 0.0 to 2.0 cm. From 1985 to 2005, the urban-suburban difference in height had become smaller, and that in weight showed similar trend for children under 3 years old but became larger after 3 years old; the suburban-rural difference both in height and weight became larger after 6 months old. The increment per decade in height was the greatest in the suburban group while the greatest increment in weight was the urban group.

CONCLUSIONPositive secular trends were observed among urban, suburban and rural areas in Chinese children under 7 years old during the 1980s and the 2000s, reflecting a rapid socio-economic development in China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anthropometry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Growth ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Rural Population ; Suburban Population ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo investigate and compare the prevalence of erectile dysfunction, hyposexuality and ejaculation disorder among middle-aged and older males in the urban and suburban areas of Beijing.

METHODSUsing the random sampling method, we selected 1 656 men aged > or = 50 years from 15 communities in Beijing. We recorded their scores on the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory for Urology (O'Leary 1995), and analyzed the obtained data using SPSS 17.0.

RESULTSTotally, 1 644 of the subjects were qualified for the study, 1 244 from the urban area and the other 400 from the suburbs. The median scores on IIEF-5, sexual desire and ejaculation were 5, 2 and 4 in the urban males as compared with 13, 2 and 5 in the suburban men, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01). The IIEF-5 score was significantly correlated with age, diabetes, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, drinking and administration of 5alpha-reductase inhibitor in both the urban and suburban groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe sexual function of the middle-aged and older males is better in the suburbs than in the urban area of Beijing. The main reasons might be the lower incidences of diabetes and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, moderate drinking and less use of 5alpha-reductase inhibitor among the suburban men.

Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Suburban Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare stress levels of elementary students according to three regional levels: a large city, a medium-sized city, and a rural area. METHODS: This was a descriptive comparative survey using a convenience sample of 1,161 5th-and 6th-grade students. The stress level was measured by a stress scale that consisted of 65 items regarding personal characteristics, family, school, and peer factors. The data were analyzed by chi-square-test, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression using the SPSS 10.0 statistical program. RESULTS: Overall, the mean stress scores reported by the participants were near the middle of a 5-point scale and the level of familyrelated stress was highest, followed by peer, school, and individual-related stress. Sixth-graders and female students showed higher stress levels than 5th-graders and male students, respectively. The participants reporting unsatisfaction with their lives and those living in large cities tended to have significantly higher stress levels. CONCLUSION: Grade, gender, life satisfaction, and regional levels were all significant factors associated with high stress levels among elementary students. Development of stress management programs for this specific population, especially targeting students who are female and living in large cities, is needed.
Analysis of Variance ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Child ; *Child Psychology ; Family Relations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Rural Population ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Stress, Psychological/*epidemiology ; Students/*psychology ; Suburban Population ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo investigate the age, gender and region specified milk consumption and its changing trends of Chinese 18 - 44 years old adults in 9 provinces (autonomous region) from 1991 to 2006.

METHODSThe data of 18 - 44 aged old adults investigated in Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey from 1991 to 2006 in 9 provinces (autonomous region) were utilized. The numbers of the subjects selected in 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006 were 5593, 5491, 5334, 4188 and 3908, respectively. Changes of the percentage of milk consumption, average intake of daily milk and dietary calcium intake were analyzed across different groups of gender, income levels, and areas.

RESULTSThere was an increasing trend in the percentage of milk consumption and daily intake of milk from 1991 to 2006. The average percentage of Chinese adult milk consumption went up from 2.2% (123/5593) in 1991 to 7.6% (297/3908) in 2006 (Z = -22.16, P < 0.01). Specifically, urban adult and rural adult showed significant increase in the percentages from 9.7% (80/823) to 23.7% (112/472) (Z = -12.81, P < 0.01) and 0.1% (2/2937) to 1.8% (36/1987) (Z = -9.21, P < 0.01) respectively. Percentages of adult who ever drank milk at top income level and bottom income level increased from 4.7% (95/2006) to 14.6% (200/1373) (Z = -17.36, P < 0.01) and from 0.1% (2/1748) to 2.4% (28/1171) (Z = -9.58, P < 0.01), respectively. Meanwhile, the average daily intake of milk increased from (3.6 ± 24.6) g/d in 1991 to (11.8 ± 51.4) g/d in 2006 (F = 67.07, P < 0.01). The daily milk consumption among top income level adults and bottom income level adults increased from (8.5 ± 50.9) g/d to (23.1 ± 71.5) g/d and from (0.2 ± 6.5) g/d to (3.3 ± 23.5) g/d (F = 13.90, P < 0.01), respectively. From 1991 to 2006, milk consumers significantly promoted their percentage of achieving the Chinese dietary reference intake on calcium (800 mg/d) from 6.5% (8/123) to 12.8% (38/297) (Z = -1.67, P < 0.05), whereas this percentage increased from 1.6% (38/5470) to 3.6% (130/3611) among milk non-consumers (Z = -5.66, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONChinese adult milk intake still remains in quite low level, and the situation of milk consumption among rural adults requires further promotion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Calcium, Dietary ; analysis ; China ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Milk ; Nutrition Surveys ; Rural Population ; Suburban Population ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe mortality and trend of injury in 1991 - 2000, the distribution of causes of injuries by areas as well as disease burden in Chinese population were discussed.

METHODSData on mortality level and causes of injuries provided by National Disease Surveillance Program in 1991 - 2000, adjusted by under-reporting rate together with years of potential life lost (YPLL) and WPYLL of injuries and proportion of YPLL and WPYLL of total death, were calculated.

RESULTSThe mortality of injury was kept at a stable level from 1991 to 2000. The adjusted average death rates were 66.56/100,000 with 81.41/100,000 in males, 51.17/100,000 in females, and 38.68/100,000, 74.63/100,000 in urban and rural populations respectively. Death rates of injury in the east, central and west rural areas were 1:1.14:1.21 respectively. Injury was the main cause of death among children and youths. Traffic accident, suicide, drowning, poisoning and fall were main causes of injury accounting for 70 percent of all the injury mortality. Since 1990's, the death rate of traffic accident had been obviously increasing, YPLL and WPYLL in injury 2132 years/10,000 and 1587 years/10,000, respectively. The YPLL and WPYLL were 24.56% and 26.51% of total deaths.

CONCLUSIONThe disease burden of injury was heavy and the death of injury caused more social and economic losses owing to premature death. The increasing death rate of traffic accident called for more attention. Different effective control strategies should be formulated based on different death causes of injury and different target populations.

Age Factors ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Suburban Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Survival Rate ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology ; mortality

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiological status of diabetes' risk factors among urban and suburban residents and their perceptions of their own health status and risk of diabetes.

METHODSStratified multi-stage sampling method was used to conduct the survey among 18-60 years old residents from Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanxi, Henan, Yunnan, and Qinghai provinces in China from March to May in 2013. The Questionnaire of Health Literacy of Diabetes Mellitus of the Public in China was used to conduct the survey, and then the data were analyzed. The main contents of the questionnaire included diabetes mellitus knowledge, diabetes mellitus risk factors and diabetes mellitus risk self-assessment. The results of the survey were standardized by the 6(th) national census data.

RESULTSA total of 4 416 respondents were surveyed, and 4 282 valid questionnaires were successfully collected during the survey and the response rate was 97.0%. After weighted adjustment, the overweight and obesity rate of the residents in 6 provinces was 35.3%, abdominal obesity rate was 54.7%. 77.8% of the residents without diabetes had more than one risk factor, but only 8.5% thought they might got diabetes. The residents with high risk behavior possessing rates of diabetes were in eastern areas (79.7%), urban areas (80.7%), men (84.1%), aged from 45 to 60(100.0%), below primary school education level (83.4%) and enterprise personnel (79.7%). The residents with high risk consciousness of getting diabetes were in eastern areas (11.0%), urban areas (9.7%), men (9.7%), aged from 45 to 60 (12.3%), over college education level (12.7%) and the offices (14.7%). The results of logistic regression showed that residents in the middle areas (OR = 2.148, 95% CI: 1.633-2.920), urban residents (OR = 2.100, 95% CI: 1.611-2.738), male (OR = 2.488, 95% CI: 1.962-3.154), the older (OR = 1.102, 95% CI: 1.090-1.115) had a higher risk behavior rate of diabetes mellitus. Urban residents (OR = 2.784, 95% CI: 1.497-5.175), male (OR = 1.522, 95% CI: 1.152-2.011), the older (OR = 1.022, 95% CI: 1.009-1.035), college educational level (OR = 1.685, 95% CI: 1.033-2.749), with a higher score of health awareness(OR = 1.090, 95% CI: 1.061-1.120)had a higher risk consciousness to being diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSIONThe urban and suburban residents in China had a high risk behavior possessing rates of diabetes, and a low risk consciousness of being diabetes.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Suburban Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

This paper represents the clinical observations including the causes of admission and of deaths in pediatric age admitted during Jan. 1971 to Dec. 1975, into the pediatric ward of St. Paul's Hospital, Catholic Medical College located in the east zone of Seoul, covering the middle socio-economical classes in the regional and suburban populations. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Total admissions during 5 year-period were 2005, with the ratio of male to female 1.63/1. 2. In age distribution, the neonates and the infants less than 1year of age occupied 47.5%of total admissions and 65.9% of total deaths. 3. Major leading diseases of admission were bronchitis and pneumonia, gastroenteritis, pre-maturity, tuberculosis and upper respiratory tract infections, in order of incidence. 4. Total deaths were 129 and the mortality rate was 6.4%. 5. Major leading causes of deaths were pneumonia, pre-maturity, tuberculosis, septicemia, in order of incidence. The diseases of higher fatality rate were idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome, septicemia, encephalitis and encephalopathy, birth trauma and heart disease. 6. The death occurred within 48 hours after admission was 65.9% of total deaths.
Age Distribution ; Bronchitis ; Cause of Death ; Encephalitis ; Female ; Gastroenteritis ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Inpatients* ; Male ; Mortality* ; Parturition ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Seoul ; Sepsis ; Suburban Population ; Tuberculosis