{"title":"A Scoping Review of Dietary Intake among Young Adults in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.","authors":"Zoe Pei Jing Ong, Ai Kah Ng, Hazreen Abdul Majid","doi":"10.1177/10105395251332804","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10105395251332804","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Poor dietary intake during young adulthood can increase the risk of chronic diseases, which are rising concerns in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review examined dietary intake among young adults in LMICs, highlighting their energy and nutrient intakes. Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost databases were searched to identify observational studies published in English from January 1, 2014 to July 31, 2024. Rayyan.ai was used to remove duplicates and facilitate the selection process, which two researchers independently carried out. Studies that reported on the energy and nutrient intake of healthy young adults aged 18 to 30 years in LMICs were included. A total of 14 studies were included (nine from upper-middle-income countries, five from lower-middle-income countries, zero from low-income countries). Most of the studies are cross-sectional studies (71.4%). The energy intake of young adults from upper-middle-income countries ranges from 1700 to 2400 kcal/day, while young adult women in lower-middle-income countries showed trends of low-energy intake and insufficient micronutrient intake. Most of the energy intake reported came from carbohydrates, followed by fat and protein. The findings highlighted a significant gap in data from low-income countries, underscoring the need for further research to inform policies and design effective interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"347-360"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144058120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raheema Abdul Raheem, Aminath Huda, Fathimath Shamah, Mariyam Murushidha, Neena Mohamed, Ibrahim Nishan Ahmed, Nazla Rafeeg, Aminath Aroosha, Sarah Jamal, Ali Nazeem, Thaalooth Rasheed, Sumita Taneja, Bitra George, John Macom
{"title":"Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines Against Delta Variant: The Case of the Maldives.","authors":"Raheema Abdul Raheem, Aminath Huda, Fathimath Shamah, Mariyam Murushidha, Neena Mohamed, Ibrahim Nishan Ahmed, Nazla Rafeeg, Aminath Aroosha, Sarah Jamal, Ali Nazeem, Thaalooth Rasheed, Sumita Taneja, Bitra George, John Macom","doi":"10.1177/10105395251325627","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10105395251325627","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drawing on previous research, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on the Delta variant within the context of the Maldives. Using a retrospective design, the study analyzed comprehensive COVID-19 case data from multiple sources, including the Health Protection Agency (HPA), covering the initial reported cases until the end of December 2021. Notably, the data revealed a surge in Delta variant cases three months after administering the first vaccine dose to more than two-thirds of the population, suggesting a single dose was insufficient against Delta variant. However, following the administration of the second dose and additional restrictions, a gradual decline in COVID-19 cases was observed. These findings underscore the importance of implementing the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended preventive measures in conjunction with vaccination, particularly when cases begin to rise, as supported by studies from other countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"366-370"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144053509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beware the Red Spots: Public Health Challenges of Measles and World Health Day.","authors":"Colin Binns, Wah Yun Low","doi":"10.1177/10105395251339950","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10105395251339950","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"329-331"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144063407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Association Between Short-term Ambient Air Pollution and Psoriasis: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study.","authors":"Yu-Tsung Chen, Yu-Ling Li, Chih-Yi Wu, Li-Ying Chen, Hung-Yi Chiou","doi":"10.1177/10105395251328405","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10105395251328405","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This time-stratified case-crossover study evaluated the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and psoriasis. A total of 107 462 psoriasis cases between 2002 and 2016 were retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the association between air pollutants (O<sub>3</sub>, CO, NO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and PM<sub>10</sub>) and psoriasis with each interquartile range (IQR) increase. Consistent associations for psoriasis for each IQR increase in NO<sub>2</sub> and CO exposure were noted at lag 0 both in single-pollutant and multiple-pollutant model. Exposure on lag 0 had the highest odds ratio (OR), decreasing consecutively from lag 1 to lag 3. Both NO<sub>2</sub> and CO had a stronger influence among men, older patients (>60 years old), and patients with chronic disease. Short-term NO<sub>2</sub> and CO exposure was associated with psoriasis. This link might provide insights into how air pollution, at least in part, affects the epidemiology and pathogenesis of psoriasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"386-393"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143744511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Maternal Factors and Breastfeeding Practices Associated With Stunting Among Indonesian Children Aged 6 to 23 Months.","authors":"Putri Cendana, So-Young Kim","doi":"10.1177/10105395251337970","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10105395251337970","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Child stunting in Indonesia remains a major public health issue, affecting physical and cognitive development. This study examined the impact of maternal factors (sociodemographic characteristics and pregnancy history) and breastfeeding practices on stunting in children aged 6 to 23 months, using data from the 2022 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI) of 87 722 children. Chi-square tests were employed to examine relationships between the study variables and child stunting. Multinomial logistic regression was then used to assess the associations. Key findings highlighted the importance of maternal education, adequate antenatal care, and the prevention of low birth weight in addressing child stunting. Children of mothers with no education had a 50% and 26.4% higher risk of severe and moderate stunting, respectively, than those with tertiary education. Lack of antenatal care was associated with an 82.8% and 16.0% higher risk of severe and moderate stunting, respectively, compared to those with four or more visits. Low birth weight significantly increased the odds of severe and moderate stunting by 242.3% and 125.9%, respectively. Breastfeeding practices, such as early initiation, showed no significant link to stunting. These findings emphasize the need for targeted maternal health interventions to reduce stunting, particularly by improving education, antenatal care, and birth outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"402-410"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144059348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nur Aisyah Abdul Rahim, Wan Yuen Choo, Halimah Awang, Noran N Hairi, Norma Mansor
{"title":"Undiagnosed Hypertension: A Silent Epidemic Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Elevated Blood Pressure in Malaysia.","authors":"Nur Aisyah Abdul Rahim, Wan Yuen Choo, Halimah Awang, Noran N Hairi, Norma Mansor","doi":"10.1177/10105395251340928","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10105395251340928","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Undiagnosed hypertension is a major public health threat due to its association with premature death. This study examined the association between factors of health service utilization with undiagnosed hypertension among middle-aged (40-59 years) and older adults (≥60 years) with elevated blood pressure in Malaysia. A cross-sectional analysis of 2838 adults from the Malaysia Ageing and Retirement Survey Wave-1 revealed an undiagnosed hypertension proportion of 55.9%, higher in middle-aged (63.8%) than older adults (45.5%). Obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and regular medical check-ups reduced the odds, while perceived good health increased the odds of undiagnosed hypertension in both age groups. Ethnicity, smoking status, and recent headaches also influenced undiagnosed hypertension in age-specific patterns. Overall, health service utilization emerged as a significant factor of undiagnosed hypertension in both age groups. Targeted health education and regular community hypertension screenings are crucial, particularly for low-risk or seemingly healthy adults, to mitigate the burden of undiagnosed hypertension.</p>","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"418-428"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144082207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Adults Aged 40 Years and Older in China From 2014 to 2024: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Yinxia Luo, Fang Wang, Xia Zeng, Sufang Tan, Liwen Xiang, Shuwen Pang, Xiaoxuan Guo, Xiaorong Mao","doi":"10.1177/10105395251329194","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10105395251329194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) imposed a heavy disease burden on China. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of COPD in adults aged 40 years and older in China through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A web-based search of 11 databases (including PubMed and Web of Science) from January 2014 to September 2024, using specified search/MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms and keywords, was conducted. A total of 92 studies (39 320 patients) were included. The combined prevalence of COPD in Chinese adults aged 40 years and older from 2014 to 2024 was 12.1% (11.3%-13.0%). Subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence was higher in males (16.4%, 15.2%-17.6%) than in females (8.4%, 7.5%-9.3%). The lowest prevalence was 4.8% in the age group of 40 to 49 years and 23.7% in the age group of over 70 years. The prevalence was highest in patients with a BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (22.4%) and decreased with increasing BMI. The prevalence was highest in Northwestern China (13.9%) and lowest in Southern China (9.2%), and was higher in rural residents (13.7%) than urban residents (11.1%). The prevalence was higher among current smokers (18.7%) and former smokers (18.7%) than among non-smokers (7.9%).</p>","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"10105395251329194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143702196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bindu Joseph, Sini Jacob, Robeena Emmanuel, Jignesh Panchal, Muhammad Aziz Rahman
{"title":"How has COVID-19 Impacted Community Mental Health Clinicians and the Delivery of Care in Australia.","authors":"Bindu Joseph, Sini Jacob, Robeena Emmanuel, Jignesh Panchal, Muhammad Aziz Rahman","doi":"10.1177/10105395241309171","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10105395241309171","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"319-321"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142900669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Epidemiological Profile of Tuberculosis Patients and Risk Factors for Poor Treatment Outcomes in Sarpang District, Bhutan: A 17 Years Retrospective Study.","authors":"Nar Bahadur Rai, Kinley Penjor, Amber Bahadur Gurung, Tshewang Samdrup, Yonten Dargay, Samzang Samzang, Kinley Wangdi","doi":"10.1177/10105395251318112","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10105395251318112","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health issues in Bhutan. This study aimed to evaluate epidemiology of TB and predictors of poor treatment outcomes in Sarpang District, Bhutan. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using TB case-based surveillance data of Sarpang District from 2005 to 2021. The outcome of interest was poor treatment outcome. The potential predictors were analyzed using logistic regression. A total of 1704 TB cases were analyzed in this study. The poor outcome in this study was 6.6% with 2.6% deaths due to TB. The patients older than 65 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.58) and sputum non-conversion in the second month with acid-fast bacilli results of scanty (AOR = 3.08), 1+ (AOR = 7.12), and 2+ (AOR = 21.05) were the significant predictors of poor treatment outcome. Therefore, older age and sputum non-conversion in the second month should be given priority.</p>","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"257-264"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143411713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Robert G Cumming, Gantuya Dorj, Vasoontara Sbirakos Yiengprugsawan, Jocelyn G Dracakis, Undram Lkhagvaa, Nirmala Naidoo, Paul Kowal
{"title":"Health and Wellbeing of Older People in Mongolia: A Population-Based Survey.","authors":"Robert G Cumming, Gantuya Dorj, Vasoontara Sbirakos Yiengprugsawan, Jocelyn G Dracakis, Undram Lkhagvaa, Nirmala Naidoo, Paul Kowal","doi":"10.1177/10105395251315885","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10105395251315885","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objectives of this survey were to describe the health of older Mongolians and compare those living in rural areas, urban apartment areas, and urban ger areas in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. A population-based random sample survey of 975 people aged 60 years and older was conducted in 2017 to 2018. Data were collected using methods of the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health. The most common chronic self-reported health conditions were hypertension (65%), arthritis (40%), and angina (23%). Most (80%) reported they were satisfied with life and the mean World Health Organization Quality of Life score on a scale of 0 to 100 was 70.6, which is relatively high. There was a higher prevalence of activities of daily living (ADLs) disability in rural areas, with 17% reporting severe difficulty with at least one ADL. High levels of disability in rural areas suggest the need for improved health and social services, including housing, for older people living outside Ulaanbaatar.</p>","PeriodicalId":55570,"journal":{"name":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"290-296"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969869/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143517576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}