Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Clostridium Difficile In Asia: Opportunities For One Health Management, Deirdre A. Collins, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Clostridium difficile is a ubiquitous spore-forming bacterium which causes toxin-mediated diarrhoea and colitis in people whose gut microflora has been depleted by antimicrobial use, so it is a predominantly healthcare-associated disease. However, there are many One Health implications to C. difficile, given high colonisation rates in food production animals, contamination of outdoor environments by use of contaminated animal manure, increasing incidence of community-associated C. difficile infection (CDI), and demonstration of clonal groups of C. difficile shared between human clinical cases and food animals. In Asia, the epidemiology of CDI is not well understood given poor testing practices in many countries. …

Using Smartwatches For Fitness And Health Monitoring: The Utaut2 Combined With Threat Appraisal As Moderators, Phaik Khee Beh, Yuvaraj Ganesan, Mohammad Iranmanesh, Behzad Foroughi

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Recent advancements in smartwatch technology have led to several applications in continuous fitness and health monitoring. Considering the benefits of smartwatches, their low level of usage for fitness and health monitoring purposes, and the limited understanding of determinants of their usage, this study advances the body of knowledge by developing an innovative and comprehensive research model that integrates the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) with perceived vulnerability and perceived severity as moderators. The model was tested using partial least squares (PLS), in a quantitative study with data from 271 respondents from Malaysia. The results showed …

Effectiveness Of An Adult Food Literacy Program, Andrea Begley, Ellen Paynter, Lucy M. Butcher, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Nutrition education programs aim to improve food literacy domains covering the planning and management, selection, preparation and cooking and eating of healthy food. Reviews indicate programs are effective but acknowledge challenges with evaluation of community focused delivery. Food Sensations^® for Adults (FSA) is a free four-week nutrition and cooking program targeted at low-to-middle income Western Australians who would like to improve their food literacy. The aim of this research was assess how effective FSA is in changing food literacy and selected dietary behaviours. Statistical analysis identified a significant increase in postprogram scores for domains of planning and management, selection …

Examining The Association Between Food Literacy And Food Insecurity, Andrea Begley, Ellen Paynter, Lucy M. Butcher, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Poor food literacy behaviours may contribute to food insecurity in developed countries. The aim of this research was to describe the apparent prevalence of food insecurity in adults at enrolment in a food literacy program and to examine the relationship between food insecurity and a range of independent variables. Individuals attending the Food Sensations^® for Adults program in Western Australia from May 2016 to April 2018 completed a pre-program questionnaire (n = 1433) indicating if they had run out of money for food in the past month (food insecurity indicator), frequency of food literacy behaviours, selected dietary behaviours, and …

Global Access To Antibiotics Without Prescription In Community Pharmacies: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Asa Auta, Muhammad A. Hadi, Enoche Oga, Emmanuel O. Adewuyi, Samirah N. Abdu-Aguye, Davies Adeloye, Barry Strickland-Hodge, Daniel J. Morgan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective To estimate the proportion of over-the-counter antibiotic requests or consultations that resulted in non-prescription supply of antibiotics in community pharmacies globally. Methods We systematically searched EMBASE, Medline and CINAHL databases for studies published from January 2000 to September 2017 reporting the frequency of non-prescription sale and supply of antibiotics in community pharmacies across the world. Additional articles were identified by checking reference lists and a Google Scholar search. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted to calculate pooled estimates of non-prescription supply of antibiotics. Results Of the 3302 articles identified, 38 studies from 24 countries met the inclusion criteria and …

Friendly Schools Universal Bullying Prevention Intervention: Effectiveness With Secondary School Students, Donna Cross, Kevin C. Runions, Therese Shaw, Janice W. Y. Wong, Marilyn Campbell, Natasha Pearce, Sharyn Burns, Leanne Lester, Amy Barnes, Ken Resnicow

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Peer bullying in schools is a significant public health problem that contributes to poor health and wellbeing outcomes for those who bully or are bullied. Meta-analyses of the efficacy of secondary school bullying prevention interventions have typically found no effects or an increase in student bullying. Consequently, few secondary school studies have examined the “real-world” effectiveness of these interventions. This age-cohort study design evaluated the effectiveness of the Friendly Schools (FS) secondary school intervention, previously found to be efficacious. FS was implemented in schools under real-world conditions by an education publisher. Student survey data were collected in 12 schools. The …

Australian Consumer Perceptions Of Regionally Grown Fruits And Vegetables: Importance, Enablers, And Barriers, Stephanie Godrich, Katherine Kent, Sandra Murray, Stuart Auckland, Johnny Lo, Lauren Blekkenhorst, Beth Penrose, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a cornerstone of a balanced diet; their consumption has health, environmental, ethical, and economic implications. This pilot study aimed to: (i) measure fruit and vegetable consumption; (ii) understand consumer perceptions of the perceived importance of regionally grown fresh fruit and vegetables (RGFFV); and (iii) identify the barriers and enablers of access and consumption of RGFFV. The study took place in Tasmania (TAS) and South Western Australia (SWA). A 54-item survey included questions relating to purchasing and consumption patterns; barriers and enablers related to access and consumption of RGFFV; and sociodemographic information. Survey data were analyzed …

Cesarean Delivery In Nigeria: Prevalence And Associated Factors -A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Emmanuel O. Adewuyi, Asa Auta, Vishnu Khanal, Samson J. Tapshak, Yun Zhao

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with caesarean delivery in Nigeria. Design This is a secondary analysis of the nationally representative 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data. We carried out frequency tabulation, χ2 test, simple logistic regression and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses to achieve the study objective. Setting Nigeria. Participants A total of 31 171 most recent live deliveries for women aged 15–49 years (mother–child pair) in the 5 years preceding the 2013 NDHS was included in this study. Outcome measure Caesarean mode of delivery. Results The prevalence of caesarean section (CS) was 2.1% (95% …

Socioeconomic Correlates Of Overweight And Obesity Among Ever-Married Urban Women In Bangladesh, Tania Sultana Tanwi, Sayan Chakrabarty, Syed Hasanuzzaman, Sue Saltmarsh, Stephen Winn

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

The escalating prevalence of overweight and obesity globally is reflected amongst urban women in many low-to-middle income countries. Evidence also shows that overweight and obesity is an increasing trend in Bangladesh. The present study assessed the prevalence and socioeconomic determinants of overweight and obesity among urban women in Bangladesh.

Methods

Data were extracted from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014. A two-stage stratified sampling technique has been used for data collection in this cross-sectional survey. A sample of 1701 ever-married non-pregnant urban women aged 15–49 years was selected for statistical analysis. Descriptive analysis, multiple binomial logistic regression analysis …

It's Not Raining Men: A Mixed-Methods Study Investigating Methods Of Improving Male Recruitment To Health Behaviour Research, Jillian Ryan, Luke Lopian, Brian Le, Sarah Edney, Gisela Van Kessel, Ronald Plotnikoff, Corneel Vandelanotte, Tim Olds, Carol Maher

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background Although gender is an important determinant of health behaviour with males less likely to perform health-protective behaviours, samples in health behaviour research are heavily biased towards females. This study investigated the use of online social network, Facebook, to reach and recruit inactive males to a team-based, social, and gamified physical activity randomised controlled trial. Methods Methodological techniques included a narrative literature review, survey of inactive males (n = 34) who rated advertisement images and text captions on scales of 1–10, and trial Facebook-delivered recruitment campaigns. Advertisement effectiveness was measured by cost-per-click to the study website, number of expressions of …

Home Childbirth Among Young Mothers Aged 15-24 Years In Nigeria: A National Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Emmanuel O. Adewuyi, Vishnu Khanal, Yun Zhao, Lungcit David, Olasunkanmi D. Bamidele, Asa Auta

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective To estimate the prevalence and identify factors associated with home childbirth (delivery) among young mothers aged 15–24 years in Nigeria. Design A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Setting Nigeria. Participants A total of 7543 young mothers aged 15–24 years. Outcome measure Place of delivery. Results The prevalence of home delivery among young mothers aged 15–24 years was 69.5% (95% CI 67.1% to 71.8%) in Nigeria—78.9% (95%CI 76.3% to 81.2%) in rural and 43.9% (95%CI 38.5% to 49.5%, p < 0.001) in urban Nigeria. Using the Andersen’s behavioural model, increased odds of home delivery were associated with the two environmental factors: rural residence (adjusted OR, AOR: 1.39, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.85) and regions of residence (North-East: AOR: 1.97, 95% CI 1.14 to 3.34; North-West: AOR: 2.94, 95% CI 1.80 to 4.83; and South-South: AOR: 3.81, 95% CI 2.38 to 6.06). Three of the enabling factors (lack of health insurance: AOR: 2.34, 95% CI 1.16 to 4.71; difficulty with distance to healthcare facilities: AOR: 1.48, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.88; and < 4 times antenatal attendance: AOR: 3.80, 95% CI 3.00 to 4.85) similarly increased the odds of home delivery. Lastly, six predisposing factors—lack of maternal and husband’s education, poor wealth index, Islamic religion, high parity and low frequency of listening to radio—were associated with increased odds of home delivery. Conclusions Young mothers aged 15–24 years had a higher prevalence of home delivery than the national average for all women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Priority attention is required for young mothers in poor households, rural areas, North-East, North-West and South-South regions. Faith-based interventions, a youth-oriented antenatal care package, education of girls and access to health insurance coverage are recommended to speed up the reduction of home delivery among young mothers in Nigeria.

Perceptions Of Climate Change And Occupational Heat Stress Risks And Adaptation Strategies Of Mining Workers In Ghana, Victor Fannam Nunfam, Jacques Oosthuizen, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Eddie Van Etten, Kwasi Frimpong

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Heavy physical workload for long hours coupled with increasing workplace heat exposure due to rising temperatures stemming from climate change, especially where there are inadequate prevention and control policies, adversely affect workers' health and safety, productive capacity and social well-being. However, variations in workers' concerns and awareness of occupational heat stress and climate change risks impede the effectiveness of heat stress management. A mixed method approach was used to assess climate change perceptions and occupational heat stress risks and adaptation strategies of Ghanaian mining workers. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to collect data from 320 respondents. Quantitative and …

Population Data Centre Profile - The Western Australian Data Linkage Branch, Steve Hodges, Tom Eitelhuber, Alexandra Merchant, Janine Alan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Established in 1995, the Western Australian Data Linkage Branch (DLB) is Australia’s longest running data linkage agency. The Western Australian Data Linkage System (WADLS) employs an enduring linkage model spanning over 60 data collections supported by internally developed and supported software and IT infrastructure. DLB has delivered, and continues to deliver, a range of significant data linkage innovations, many of which have been adopted elsewhere. A current restructure within the Western Australian Department of Health (which we will refer to as the Department of Health) will provide an improved funding model geared toward addressing issues with staff retention, capacity and …

Overview Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2018, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet, Jane Burns, Neil Drew, Michelle Elwell, Millie Harford-Mills, Joanne Hoareau, Andrea Macrae, Christine Potter, Miranda Poynton, Kathy Ride, Avinna Trzesinski

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status (Overview) aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent indicators of the health and current health status of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The initial sections of the Overview provide information about the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, population, and various measures of population health status. The remaining sections are about selected health conditions and risk and protective factors that contribute to the overall health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These sections comprise an introduction and evidence of the extent of …

Perceptions And Experiences Of Emergency Department Staff During The Implementation Of The Four-Hour Rule/National Emergency Access Target Policy In Australia: A Qualitative Social Dynamic Perspective, Roberto Forero, Shizar Nahidi, Josephine De Costa, Daniel Fatovich, Gerry Fitzgerald, Sam Toloo, Sally Mccarthy, David Mountain, Nick Gibson, Mohammed Mohsin, Wing Nicola Man

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: The Four-Hour Rule or National Emergency Access Target policy (4HR/NEAT) was implemented by Australian State and Federal Governments between 2009 and 2014 to address increased demand, overcrowding and access block (boarding) in Emergency Departments (EDs). This qualitative study aimed to assess the impact of 4HR/NEAT on ED staff attitudes and perceptions. This article is part of a series of manuscripts reporting the results of this project. Methods: The methodology has been published in this journal. As discussed in the methods paper, we interviewed 119 participants from 16 EDs across New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD), Western Australia (WA) and …

Summary Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2018, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet, Millie Harford-Mills, Andrea Macrae, Neil Drew

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This latest Summary of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health provides an up-to-date, plain language summary of the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific information on:

• population
• births
• deaths
• common health conditions
• key health risk and protective factors.

The Summary has been prepared by the HealthInfoNet as part of its effort to help 'close the gap' by providing the evidence base to inform practice and policy in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. The Summary aims to make this information available to all people, including those without a specialised knowledge …