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PubMed1990

Dietary behaviours and sociocultural demographics in Northern Ireland.

Subjects aged 16-64 years (592; 258 men and 334 women), randomly selected from the population of Northern Ireland, kept a 7 d weighed record of all food and drink consumed. Social, personal and anthropometric data were also collected. From the weighed records food consumption was described in terms of forty-one food groups. Using principal components analysis, four distinct dietary patterns were generated which were identified as a traditional diet, a cosmopolitan diet, a convenience diet and a 'meat and two veg' diet. These dietary patterns were then correlated with sociocultural, lifestyle and anthropometric variables. It is clear that dietary behaviour is influenced by a number of inter-related sociocultural demographics and that identifiable population groups in Northern Ireland have different dietary behaviours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Estimates of food and macronutrient intake in a random sample of Northern Ireland adolescents.

Estimates of food consumption and macronutrient intake were obtained from a randomly selected population sample (2%) of 1015 adolescents aged 12 and 15 years in Northern Ireland during the 1990/1991 school year. Dietary intake was assessed by diet history with photographic album to estimate portion size. Reported median energy intakes were 11.0 and 13.1 MJ/d for boys aged 12 and 15 years respectively and 9.2 and 9.1 MJ/d for girls of these ages. Protein, carbohydrate and total sugars intakes as a percentage of total energy varied little between the age and sex groups and were approximately 11, 49 and 20% respectively of daily total energy intakes. Median dietary fibre intakes were approximately 20 and 24 g/d for boys aged 12 and 15 years respectively and 18 and 19 g/d for girls of these ages. Major food sources of energy (as a percentage of total energy intakes) were bread and cereals (15-18%), cakes and biscuits (12-14%), chips and crisps (13-14%), dairy products (9-11%), meat and meat products (9-11%) and confectionery (9%). Fruit and vegetable intakes were low at about 2.5% and 1.5% respectively of total energy intakes. Median fat intakes were high at 39% of total daily energy intakes. Major food sources of fat as a percentage of total fat intakes were from the food groupings: chips and crisps (16-19%), meat and meat products (14-17%), fats and oils (14-16%), cakes and biscuits (13-16%) and dairy products (12-15%). Median intakes of saturated fatty acids were also high at approximately 15% of daily total energy intake while intakes of monounsaturated fatty acids averaged 12% of daily total energy intake. Median polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intakes were low, comprising 5.2 and 5.5% of daily total energy intake for boys aged 12 and 15 years respectively and were lower than the PUFA intakes (5.9 and 6.3% of daily total energy intake) for girls of these ages. About 1.3% for boys and 1.4% for girls of daily total energy intake was in the form of n-3 PUFA. Ca and Mg intakes were adequate for both sexes. Based on these results, some concern about the dietary habits and related health consequences in Northern Ireland adolescents appears justified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Dieting patterns and related lifestyles of school-aged children in the Republic of Ireland.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify differences in food habits and lifestyle behaviours by dieting status among young people in Ireland. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. Participants responded to a self-completion questionnaire designed by researchers on the World Health Organization's collaborative study - Health Behaviour in School Aged Children. Pupils were selected by school and classroom and the sample was stratified to be representative of the geographical distribution of school students in Ireland. SETTING: Data were collected by teachers from school pupils in their classrooms. SUBJECTS: Data were collected from 187 schools which included 8497 pupils (51% girls) aged 9-17 years. RESULTS: While a minority of pupils (12% of girls, 4% of boys) reported that they were on a diet to lose weight, a substantial proportion (28% of girls, 18% of boys) said that they should be on a diet. Dieters reported consuming unhealthy foods less frequently than non-dieters, but did not report an increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. Rather, some categories of dieters reported higher levels of coffee and tobacco use and lower exercise levels than non-dieters. CONCLUSIONS: The results could indicate substitution of unhealthy foods by other unhealthy behaviours as opposed to an increased consumption of healthier foodstuffs, and suggest that both smoking and exercise need to be addressed alongside nutrition in youth health promotion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Policing, collective action and social movement theory: the case of the Northern Ireland civil rights campaign.

In this paper we examine the relationship between social movements and the police through an analysis of the Civil Rights Movement (CRM) which emerged in the late 1960s in Northern Ireland. Following della Porta (1995) and Melucci (1996) we argue that the way in which episodes of collective action are policed can affect profoundly both levels of mobilization and the orientation of social movements. We also submit that the symbolic and representational dimensions of policing can be a significant trigger in the stimulation of identification processes and collective action. The paper concludes by questioning some of the assumptions contained within social movement theory, and their applicability to divided societies such as Northern Ireland.

Catholicism↗
PubMed2001

Social mobility and constitutional and political preferences in Northern Ireland.

During the past thirty years Catholics in Northern Ireland have experienced unprecedented upward social mobility. Some commentators have suggested that this has led Catholics not merely to adopt the lifestyles of the middle class but also to modify their constitutional preferences, leading to a decline in nationalism. In this paper I examine the relationship between social mobility, on the one hand, and, on the other, both constitutional preferences and political (left or right wing) preferences among Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, using survey data collected in 1996. There is no evidence that Catholics' constitutional preferences are related to their mobility experiences.

Choice Behavior↗
PubMed1991

Migration from Northern Ireland: a survey of new year travellers as a means of identifying emigrants.

"Travellers leaving Northern Ireland's air and sea ports at the end of the New Year holiday period 1988 were contacted as a means of identifying potential out-migrants. The method proved to be highly cost effective and reasonably successful. One thousand individuals who had either lived or had been born in Northern Ireland but who were now residing outside the province were obtained from 1,702 traveller contacts. The paper discusses the problems surrounding the representativeness of this sample of emigrants and outlines possible strategies for their resolution. The more significant results of a brief questionnaire survey about migrant origins, destinations, characteristics, motivations and intentions are also presented." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND GER)

Demography↗
PubMed2005

A Y-chromosome signature of hegemony in Gaelic Ireland.

Seventeen-marker simple tandem repeat genetic analysis of Irish Y chromosomes reveals a previously unnoted modal haplotype that peaks in frequency in the northwestern part of the island. It shows a significant association with surnames purported to have descended from the most important and enduring dynasty of early medieval Ireland, the Ui Neill. This suggests that such phylogenetic predominance is a biological record of past hegemony and supports the veracity of semimythological early genealogies. The fact that about one in five males sampled in northwestern Ireland is likely a patrilineal descendent of a single early medieval ancestor is a powerful illustration of the potential link between prolificacy and power and of how Y-chromosome phylogeography can be influenced by social selection.

Chromosomes, Human, Y↗
PubMed2004

High radon concentrations in a house near Castleisland, County Kerry (Ireland)--identification, remediation and post-remediation.

In July 2003, a passive radon measurement carried out over a 3-month period in a house near Castleisland in County Kerry (South-West of Ireland) identified a seasonally adjusted annual average concentration of approximately 49 000 Bq m(-3). This is the highest radon concentration ever recorded in a house in Ireland. It is almost 250 times higher than the national reference level of 200 Bq m(-3) for homes and it gives rise to an estimated annual radiation dose of approximately 1.2 Sv to the occupants. This paper describes the identification of the 'Castleisland house' and gives information on the local geology, the levels of natural background radiation in the area and the follow-up actions taken to remediate the house as well as the efforts made to heighten awareness in the locality of the hazards from radon.

Air Pollution, Radioactive↗
PubMed2002

Inpatient costs and paramilitary punishment beatings in northern Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Paramilitary punishment beatings are a common occurrence in Northern Ireland. Little is known about the costs such attacks impose on the health service. METHODS: Data was collected retrospectively on victims treated by Northern Ireland's regional specialist orthopaedics unit. Data related to all victims treated in the unit between January 1999 and May 2000. RESULTS: Average inpatient care costs were 2010 Pounds ($2914). There was no significant difference in these between patients who were shot and those who were beaten. CONCLUSION: Punishment beatings present a small but significant cost burden to the health service. A fuller understanding of them from a health care perspective is warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

The incidence and repetition of attempted suicide in Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Suicidal behaviour has increasingly become recognized as a major public health problem. This study aimed to establish the extent of hospital-treated attempted suicide in South-west Ireland. METHODS: Between 1995 and 1997, routine data collection, based on the standardized methodology of the WHO/Euro Multicentre Study on Suicidal Behaviour, took place in all general and psychiatric hospitals and prisons in the Southern and Mid-western Health Boards covering one-quarter (863,709) of the Irish population. RESULTS: The annual person-based (aged over 15 years) male and female European age-standardized attempted suicide rates were 163 and 190 per 100,000, respectively. Female rates far exceeded male rates in under 20-year-olds. The peak rates for men and women were in the age range 20-24 (374 per 100,000) and 15-19 (433 per 100,000) years, respectively. One in six (16%) made a repeat attempt within the study period. Adjusting for age, repetition was marginally less common in women. Multivariate analysis investigating the risk of repetition associated with age, method and previous attempts found no age effect for women but an increased risk of repetition among men in their thirties (OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.4). An attempt in the preceding 12 months greatly elevated the risk of repetition, particularly for women (female OR=13.7, 95% CI: 9.3-20.4; male OR=5.6, 95% CI: 4.1-7.8). CONCLUSION: Attempted suicide is a significant public health problem in Ireland. Rates are higher in women and highest among the young. An attempt in the past year greatly increases the risk of repetition, especially in women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Life-years-gained from population risk factor changes and modern cardiology treatments in Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates in Ireland have halved since the mid-1980s, and adult life expectancy has also steadily improved. This study estimated the life-years-gained by CHD treatments and by changes in cardiovascular risk factor levels. METHODS: A previously validated Irish IMPACT CHD mortality model was used to integrate large amounts of data on (i) patient numbers, (ii) treatment uptake, (iii) risk factor trends, (iv) effectiveness of cardiology treatments and risk factor reductions, and (v) median survival in patients with and without CHD, all stratified by age and sex. Results were tested in rigorous sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: There were 3763 fewer CHD deaths than expected in 2000 compared with the base year, 1985. This resulted in approximately 44,060 life-years-gained among people aged 25-84. Specific medical and surgical treatments given in 2000 for CHD patients together gained approximately 14,505 life-years. Population changes in cholesterol and smoking levels accounted for some 32,705 life-years-gained, 66% from reductions in cholesterol alone. Adverse changes in obesity and diabetes resulted in a loss of approximately 3670 life-years. CONCLUSIONS: Use of modern cardiology treatments in Ireland from 1985 to 2000 gained many thousands of life-years. However, twice as many life-years were generated by relatively modest reductions in major risk factors. Effective policies, such as the promotion of healthy diets, and weight reduction, together with the recent nationwide workplace smoking ban, will be essential to maintain and further enhance health gain.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Infant-feeding attitudes of expectant mothers in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland (NI) has one of the lowest rates of breast-feeding initiation and duration in both the UK and the industrialized world. This study therefore aimed to explore the relationship between infant-feeding attitudes and feeding intention and outcome in expectant mothers within NI. Expectant mothers (n = 200) were recruited from hospital antenatal booking clinics. Each completed a demographic questionnaire and the self-administered Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS). Participants (n = 192) were followed up after birth through the Northern Ireland Maternity System. The IIFAS distinguished between those mothers who intended to breast-feed (higher IIFAS scores) and those who intended to artificially feed (lower IIFAS scores) as well as between those who breast-fed and those who artificially fed on discharge from hospital. The IIFAS was also able to distinguish between mothers in regard to feeding intention and outcome on the basis of education, socio-economic class, income and marital status. This suggests that the IIFAS could prove useful in the targeting and evaluation of intervention to promote breast-feeding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Demographic, clinical and social factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection and other sexually transmitted diseases in a cohort of women from the United Kingdom and Ireland. MRC Collaborative Study of women with HIV.

BACKGROUND: Clinical experience suggests many women with HIV infection have experienced no other sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Our objective was to test the hypothesis that a substantial proportion of women with HIV infection in the United Kingdom and Ireland have experienced no other diagnosed STD and to describe the demographic, clinical and social factors associated with the occurrence of other STD in a cohort of HIV infected women. METHOD: Analysis of cross-sectional baseline data from a prospective study of 505 women with diagnosed HIV infection. The setting was 15 HIV treatment centres in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The main outcome measures were occurrence of other STD diagnosed for the first time before and after HIV diagnosis. Data were obtained from interview with women and clinic notes. We particularly focused on occurrence of gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis after HIV diagnosis, as these are the STD most likely to reflect recent unprotected sexual intercourse. RESULTS: The women were mainly infected via heterosexual sex (n = 304), and injection drug use (n = 174). 151 were black Africans. A total of 250 (49.5%) women reported never having been diagnosed with an STD apart from HIV, 255 (50.5%) women had ever experienced an STD besides HIV, including 109 (21.6%) who had their first other STD diagnosed after HIV. Twenty-five (5%) women reported having had chlamydia, gonorrhoea or trichomoniasis diagnosed for the first time after HIV diagnosis, possibly reflecting unprotected sexual intercourse since HIV diagnosis. In all 301 (60%) women reported having had sex with a man in the 6 months prior to entry to the study. Of these, 168 (58%) reported using condoms 'always', 66(23%) 'sometimes' and 56 (19%) 'never'. CONCLUSIONS: Half the women in this study reported having never experienced any other diagnosed STD besides HIV. However, after HIV diagnosis most women remain sexually active and at least 5% had an STD diagnosed which reflect unprotected sexual intercourse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Antimicrobial susceptibility of the pathogens of bacteraemia in the UK and Ireland 2001-2002: the BSAC Bacteraemia Resistance Surveillance Programme.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the current patterns of antimicrobial resistance in the major pathogens of bacteraemia in the UK and Ireland, to highlight any unexpected resistance patterns and to act as a reference baseline for future studies. METHODS: In 2001 and 2002, 5092 blood culture isolates were collected by 29 laboratories distributed across the UK and Ireland. A single central laboratory re-identified the isolates and measured MICs by the BSAC agar dilution method. RESULTS: Oxacillin resistance was found in 42% of Staphylococcus aureus and 76% of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Streptococci were generally susceptible to beta-lactams, but tetracycline resistance was common (except in Streptococcus pneumoniae) and particularly common among group B isolates (82% resistant). Nine percent of S. pneumoniae had reduced susceptibility to penicillin (MICs 0.12-1 mg/L), but none required >/=2 mg/L for inhibition. High-level gentamicin resistance was seen in 43% of Enterococcus faecalis, often in combination with raised ciprofloxacin MICs (>/=32 mg/L), but these isolates remained susceptible to ampicillin and imipenem. Only linezolid and tigecycline showed in vitro potency against a large proportion of Enterococcus faecium. Vancomycin resistance was restricted to enterococci (20% of E. faecium, 3% of E. faecalis) and a single isolate of coagulase-negative staphylococci (0.2%, MIC of 8 mg/L). Escherichia coli isolates were commonly resistant to amoxicillin (56%) and tetracycline (88%) but remained susceptible to ceftazidime, piperacillin/tazobactam and imipenem. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases were detected in 2% of E. coli (none in 2001, 3.2% in 2002), 5% of Klebsiella spp. and 8% of Enterobacter spp. Resistance rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, gentamicin, imipenem and piperacillin/tazobactam were between 4% and 7%. Among the newly licensed and developmental agents, there was no resistance to linezolid in Gram-positive organisms. Ertapenem had a wide spectrum, covering Enterobacteriaceae, streptococci and oxacillin-susceptible staphylococci. MICs of tigecycline were low for Gram-positive species and Enterobacteriaceae except Proteeae and Enterobacter spp. CONCLUSION: Antimicrobial resistance among major bloodstream pathogens to those antimicrobials often selected for empirical therapy was relatively uncommon in 2001-2002, usually <10%. An important exception was oxacillin resistance in S. aureus.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Alcohol consumption and myocardial infarction: a case-control study in France and Northern Ireland.

The effect of alcohol consumption was assessed in 561 men with myocardial infarction and 643 healthy controls recruited from France and Northern Ireland between 1988 and 1991 in the ECTIM Study (Enquête Cas-Témoins de I'Infarctus du Myocarde). In total, patients consumed less wine than did controls, while non-wine-derived alcohol consumption did not differ significantly. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and country of recruitment by logistic regression, alcohol consumption displayed a protective effect against myocardial infarction, the magnitude of which was comparable in both countries. This effect, which was essentially due to wine consumption in France and to nonwine consumption in Northern Ireland, was largely attenuated by the introduction of high density lipoprotein cholesterol into the model. Thus, both wine and nonwine consumption appear to exert a protective effect against myocardial infarction which is partly mediated through an increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The two communities in Northern Ireland: deprivation and ill health.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine differences in socio-economic standing and ill health between the two communities in Northern Ireland. METHODS: This was a descriptive epidemiological study. Deaths from 1991 to 1995 inclusive were used to calculate standardized mortality rates (SMR, under 75 years) at small level using the 1991 Census population estimates. The standardized limiting long-term illness ratios (SIR) were based on the appropriate Census question. Regression models were tested with SMR and SIR as dependent variables and a wide range of socio-economic indicators, including income support and family credit uptake, as independent predictors. RESULTS: Northern Ireland is a very polarized society. More than 60 per cent of the population live in areas which have more than 80 per cent of one religion. Areas with a preponderance of Catholics tend to be more deprived. Unemployment rates, percentage renting, car availability, and education attainment are all worse in Catholic areas. However, there is considerable heterogeneity between areas with similar levels of religious affiliation and the overall pattern varies with the indicator chosen. SMRs rise stepwise with increasing percentage of Catholics. SIRs increase with increasing polarization of areas, but this is much more marked in those with a predominantly Catholic affiliation. Altogether 46.8 per cent of the variance in SMR and 77.9 per cent of that of SIRs could be explained by socio-economic variables alone. Denomination did not have any residual predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: Policy-makers should continue to periodically monitor for differences between the two communities including any differences in service accessibility and uptake. Efforts should be directed towards reducing the inequalities in health for all sections of the community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The population mortality benefits of maximizing the number of eligible patients receiving appropriate cardiology treatments in Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates have been decreasing in many industrialized countries since the 1980s. Up to half this decrease can be attributed to evidence-based medical and surgical cardiology interventions. However, recent studies suggest that modern cardiology treatment uptake levels remain disappointingly low in many patient categories. AIM: To determine the potential for further reductions in CHD mortality in Ireland from increasing the number of eligible patients receiving cardiology treatments. METHODS: A previously validated, cell-based IMPACT CHD mortality model was used to integrate large amounts of data describing CHD patient numbers, and the effectiveness and uptake levels of specific medical and surgical treatments. The CHD mortality reductions potentially achievable through the increased use of specific treatments were then calculated, stratified by age and gender and tested using sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: In 2000, medical and surgical coronary disease treatments together prevented or postponed approximately 1950 CHD deaths in the adult population aged 25-84. However, increasing treatment levels to reach 80% of eligible patients might have prevented or postponed a further 2280 CHD deaths in 2000 (minimum estimate 860, maximum estimate 4000). The biggest gain was from maximizing the treatment uptake of eligible heart failure patients, followed by those receiving statins and secondary prevention therapies. DISCUSSION: Many eligible patients are currently not receiving appropriate evidence-based treatments that would reduce CHD mortality and morbidity. Our results suggest that increasing cardiology treatment uptake in Ireland could at least double the current therapeutic reduction in CHD mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Individual and collective doses from cosmic radiation in Ireland.

This paper assesses the individual and collective doses in Ireland due to cosmic radiation. Information on the exposure to cosmic radiation at ground level is reviewed and published data on the frequency of routes flown by Irish residents is used to calculate the dose due to air travel. Occupational exposure of aircrew is also evaluated. Experimental data on cosmic radiation exposure at ground level is in good agreement with international estimates and the average individual dose is calculated as 300 microSv annually. Published data on international air travel by Irish residents shows a 50% increase in the number of flights taken between 2001 and 2005. This increase is primarily on short-haul flights to Europe, but there have been significant percentage increases in all long-haul flights, with the exception of flights to Africa. The additional per capita dose due to air travel is estimated to be 45 muSv, of which 51% is accumulated on European routes and 34% on routes to the United States. Exposure of aircrew to cosmic radiation is now controlled by legislation and all airlines holding an Air Operator's Certificate issued by the Irish Aviation Authority are required to report annually the doses received by their employees in the previous year. There has been a 75% increase in the number of aircrew receiving doses >1 mSv since 2002. In 2004 and 2005 the average individual doses received by Irish aircrew were 1.8 and 2.0, mSv, respectively. The corresponding per caput dose for the entire population is <3 muSv. While this is low compared with the per caput doses from other sources of cosmic radiation, aircrew exposure represents a higher collective dose than any other identified group of exposed workers in Ireland.

Aircraft↗