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At least 1,315 records · Page 73Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Assessing the state of population health by age-adjusted life expectancies.

OBJECTIVES: A gain in life expectancy of a population is commonly interpreted as an effect of improved health care. After the reunion of Germany in 1990 life expectancy at birth grew extremely in the new federal states. Within one decade after reunion the new federal states had a gain in life expectancy of about five years while the gain in the old federal states was only about two years. METHODS: It has been widely argued that this phenomenon is caused by an obviously improved public health service and environmental protection or even by an increased social status in the new federal states. On the other hand, the median population age grew rapidly in the new federal states, caused by a dramatic reduction of the birth rate as well as a high emigration rate of young people. Using real time series for three selected federal states and for the total Federal Republic of Germany, it is derived that most of the gain in life expectancy is explained by population ageing. RESULTS: An elementary probabilistic procedure is proposed allowing for estimating the amount in life expectancy not attributable to population ageing. CONCLUSIONS: The age-adjusted life expectancy can be regarded as an unbiased measure of a populations' state of health that stays comparable both over time and across countries.

Germany↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Medical flight certification of civil pilots with cardiovascular pathologies].

Comprehensive examination of civil pilots including the clinical-physiological and mental tests was performed with the purpose to improve the system of expert evaluation of health and fight fitness of pilots with cardiovascular pathologies. Mental tests consisted of an MMPI modification, the standard multifactor personality test, portrait choice (adapted Szondi's eight inclinations test), and predictive drawing tests of the unconscious. Type of personality of the persons with cardiovascular pathologies were characterized in terms of individual traits, social behavior, thinking type, stress reaction, protective tactics, and form of deadaptation. Persons with a variety of premorbid cardiovascular pathologies (essential hypertension, atherosclerosis, and neurocirculatory dystonia) reveal specific traits that should be taken into consideration in the process of medical flight certification.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Kaduna beggar children: a study of child abuse and neglect in northern Nigeria.

Kaduna State, Nigeria serves as an example of a third world state that in the wake of rapid change and the weakening of traditional forms of welfare has created an underclass of beggars, many of whom are children. Lack of a comprehensive welfare system in general, and more specifically, protective services for minors, has resulted in the neglect of some children who are exploited by poor families for street begging. Although laws exist to protect minors and prevent street begging by children, they are seldom enforced. Perhaps this is due to the absence of a governmental agency solely responsible for child welfare. In light of the need to assist beggar children, the following measures are recommended: Establish a Bureau for the Protection of Beggar Children. Establish a Division of Protective Services in the Ministry of Social Development. Establish advocacy programs for street children by voluntary agencies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Strategy for controlling poliomyelitis in Mexico: greater vaccination coverage of children less than 1 year of age].

In spite of the widespread use of oral poliovirus vaccine, some countries have not achieved an optimal control of poliomyelitis. According to Sabin, this fact is due to a lack of immunization coverage of children under one year of age. In this study, the relationship between the general morbidity rate for polio and vaccination coverage of children under one year of age, in people protected by the Mexican Institute of Social Security, is analyzed. There is a negative correlation between these two variables: the lesser the coverage, the greater the rates. There is also a correlation between the rate of polio and the rate of polio for the year prior to each of the years of the study period. In a multiple regression model, both the coverage and the rate for the previous year were significantly correlated with the rate of polio. In order to get an optimum control of this disease, it is advantageous to consider that it is not enough to increase the coverage but that this coverage must be opportune, i.e., in the first year of life.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Malaria eradication as a legacy of colonial discourse: the case of Sri Lanka.

Analysis of the history of malaria control in British Ceylon reveals that, besides public health considerations, it was guided by the interests of the colonial powers to expand territory, justify colonial domination, protect the plantation industries and medicalize social misery. The implications of the latter considerations for the choice of a malaria eradication strategy are discussed.

Colonialism↗
PubMed1997

Government responses to HIV/AIDS in Africa: what have we learnt?

While we should not lose sight of the development of vaccines and cures, more immediate priorities include the implementation of effective STD control. The syndromic management approach developed in Zimbabwe to overcome laboratory constraints is a cost-effective way of managing STD. Of urgency is the integration of STD services into primary health-care services, appropriate training of staff, adequate provision and control over drugs and condoms, and incorporation of traditional healers and community-based education on STD. A second area of priority is the strengthening of the interaction between prevention, care and support activities, which act in synergy. Effective prevention and care require easy access to testing facilities with pre- and post-test counselling, appropriate structures and services to provide affordable and sustained care and support to those found to be infected with HIV, provision of drugs for the treatment of opportunistic infections, and the creation of a social environment and a legislation which protect against any form of discrimination the rights of people living with HIV, their sexual partners and their families.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Issues of social policy and ethics in gene technology.

Technical developments in the last ten years have made possible mapping and sequencing of the entire human genome, along with the possibility of treating genetic disorders by manipulating DNA. A variety of issues regarding potential uses and abuses of these technologies have become apparent. They relate to both genetic screening and gene therapy. Problems facing individuals and their families mostly revolve around rights of self-determination and of confidentiality. Health care professionals will need to design optimal systems to provide genetic counseling and to protect confidentiality of DNA data bases. Society and social institutions will need to develop policies and laws that protect the privacy of individuals whose DNA is stored in data banks. Patenting of the results of gene research remains controversial internationally. Moreover, there is concern in many quarters about society's potential abuse of gene technology for eugenic purposes. Gene therapy is now a reality. There is little disagreement on the use of gene therapy to treat genetic diseases in individuals by somatic cell therapy. There is much controversy, however, over the use of germ-line cell therapy. Gene technology has contributed to the growth among a small group of influential people of the Post-Modern Movement, which is strongly antiscience and antitechnology. This movement may pose a long-term threat to future technological advances and should not be ignored. There is much outside of the laboratory that scientists, particularly molecular biologists, can do to assure a secure place for science and technology in our culture.

Ethics, Medical↗
PubMed1993

[Psychological stress caused by work: burnout syndrome].

In a variety of helping professions emotional stress can lead to "burnout". The syndrome is characterised by emotional exhaustion, attitudinal hardening (loss of empathy) and a sense of decreased accomplishment. Longterm consequences of burnout can be mental problems such as depression or psychosomatic disorders. Affected employees are less productive and sick more often. They may even quit their jobs or need early retirement. In spite of this considerable loss of working force often neither those affected nor the employers are aware of the problem in time. Burnout seems to be caused by disproportionally high efforts (time, emotional involvement, empathy) and poor satisfaction (negative outcome) in addition to stressful working conditions (high demands). It affects mainly nurses, physicians, social workers, teachers and other similar professions. In order to prevent burnout, awareness of the problem must be promoted. Examples of job-specific measures for nurses and teachers are given. Their goal is to lower the professional stress and improve satisfaction. Social support and improved team cooperation can further protect against burnout.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Revisiting public health preparedness: Incorporating social justice principles into pandemic preparedness planning for influenza.

Public health professionals are responsible for ensuring the health of the nation, which requires that planners for public health emergencies recognize that not including protection for underserved or marginalized communities poses a risk to the entire population. To assure the protection of these populations in the event of a pandemic outbreak, preparedness planning will benefit from the application of several principles of social justice in assuring the protection of all individuals. This article will review the history between public health and social justice, provide a brief review of pandemic preparedness planning efforts, discuss the importance of and make recommendations for the incorporation of principles of social justice in the development of pandemic preparedness plans, and highlight some of the challenges faced by public health in effectively and equitably meeting its charge to protect the nation's health.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed1999

Prevention by a silymarin/phospholipid compound of ethanol-induced social learning deficits in rats.

We explored the possibility that silymarin (SY), a fraction from Silybum marianum, might protect against the effects of in utero exposure to ethanol upon subsequent social memory function. Three groups of 8 pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats each were provided with a liquid diet containing 35% ethanol derived calories (EDC). One experimental group received a daily subcutaneous injection of 400 mg/kg SY, the second, a 400 mg/kg oral dose of SY, a third group was maintained on the 35% EDC diet. A fourth group served as the pair-fed control group. The liquid diet regimen was maintained throughout pregnancy. Rats pups were fostered by dams in a fifth group that had been maintained on rat chow. At 90 days the pups were tested for social memory. Social recognition scores recorded for the ethanol pups were significantly poorer than those observed in both SY/ethanol groups and the chow group.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Current action for skin cancer risk reduction in English schools: pupils' behaviour in relation to sunburn.

In a random sample of schools distributed throughout all areas of England, 2703 primary school pupils from 46 schools and 2692 secondary school pupils from 32 schools were surveyed regarding behaviour in the sun, and opinions and experience of sunburn. Seventy percent (1879) of primary and 36.5% (982) of secondary pupils recalled hearing about protecting themselves from the sun at school. Primary school pupils who recalled they were told to 'stay in the shade' were more likely say they did so; 27.3% (739) of primary and 20.7% (556) of secondary school pupils reported getting sunburnt; and 53.2% (393/739) primary school pupils and 52.5% (292/556) secondary school pupils reporting sunburn said their sunburn peeled. The most common time both primary and secondary pupils said they got sunburnt at school was at lunchtime (mid-day break); the next most common time was during sports day. Pupils saying they did not protect their skin because they wanted a tan were more likely to report sunburn (41.7% primary and 29.5% secondary) than those giving other reasons. Primary school pupils who said they used sun screen frequently (285/847) were more likely than 'never users' (178/813) to report sunburn, as were secondary school pupils (53/192 and 264/1565 for frequent and 'never users', respectively). Dark- and light-skinned pupils at primary school (27.3 and 27.4%, respectively) were equally likely to say they had been sunburnt. At secondary school, only 10.6% of dark-skinned compared with 22.3% of light-skinned pupils reported sunburn. The last two findings might be related to cultural behaviours and are discussed later. Pupils of all ages need encouragement to protect their skin at mid-day break, to use sunscreens correctly and be aware of alternative sun-protection methods. Education is needed which challenges the notion that a 'tan is beautiful' and uses social teaching methods to empower pupils to carry out sun protection in real life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Shift work and occupational medicine: an overview.

In modern society, more and more people work during 'non-standard' working hours, including shift and night work, which are recognized risk factors for health, safety and social well-being. Suitable preventive and protective measures are required to mitigate the adverse effects and ensure that the worker can cope satisfactorily. These are based mainly on the organization of shift schedules according to ergonomic criteria and on specific medical surveillance. Occupational medicine has to consider very carefully the several factors (psycho-physiological, pathological and social) that can influence tolerance and/or maladaptation.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Maltreated gypsy children: social and health risk factors and high-priority health care needs].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of maltreated gypsy children admitted to centers of protection, as well as their demographic characteristics, type of maltreatment, frequency of associated social and health risk factors, frequent health problems and whether there are differences between these children and the general population of maltreated children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study over an 8-year period (1995-2002). The social and health reports of the maltreated children admitted to protection centers were reviewed and those belonging to the gypsy ethnic group were included. Information collection, definition of concepts and health assessments were performed according to nationwide methodologies, studies and directives. A descriptive and comparative statistical study was performed. RESULTS: During the study period, 873 children were admitted, of whom 74 were from the gypsy ethnic group (a prevalence of 8.5 %, 1.7 times higher than that expected). Demography: mean age: 6.9 years (5.7 SDU); age group 0-5 years age: 56.7 %; females: 51.3 %. No significant demographic differences were observed in gypsy children compared with the general population of maltreated children. However, factors that were significantly more frequent in gypsy children were the prevalence of passive maltreatment (p = 0.0133; odds ratio [OR]: 2.4; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-4.9), belonging to families with more than one social and health risk factor (p = 0.0000; OR: 30.5; 95 % CI: 9.4-99.1) with problems of delinquency (p = 0.0000; OR: 11.7; 95 % CI: 6.3-21.7) and with a history drug/alcohol abuse (p = 0.0000; OR: 3.4; 95 % CI: 1.9-6), presenting at least one health problem (p = 0.0000; OR: 6.9; 95 % CI: 2.7-17.3), absent or incomplete immunizations (p = 0.0000; OR: 4.9; 95 % CI: 3-8.1), disabilities (p = 0.0012; OR: 2.9; 95 % CI: 1.5-5.9) especially of neurological origin (p = 0.0000; OR: 4.8; 95 % CI: 2-11.4), psychomotor developmental delay in children younger than 6 years (p = 0.0330; OR: 2.4; 95 % CI: 1-5.3) and behavioral disorders in adolescents (p = 0.0005; OR: 4.7; 95 % CI: 1.8-12.1). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between maltreatment of gypsy children and the presence in their family of social and health risk factors such as delinquency and mental health problems related to drug addiction/alcoholism. The health status of these children is significantly different from that observed in maltreated children from the general population, with a greater incidence of neurological disabilities and problems and diseases related to chronic neglect and/or abandonment of the child's health, socio-educational and psycho-emotional needs. These children are admitted to centers of protection more frequently than their theoretical risk would predict.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Health Status of German and Foreign Children: Why is Mehmet healthier than Maximilian?].

At least in Germany social epidemiologists have practically never studied the association between the health status of children on one hand and their social status and nationality on the other. The census data from 1995 analysed here include data on social status (employment, social security, per capita income, school education) and nationality; and the 1 % sample of the population living in Germany covers all nationalities and all members of the families interviewed. The analysis includes 50,908 children aged 0-18 years and focuses on the health status and the smoking behaviour of the children and their parents. The result is somewhat surprising: In the age group 0-9 years foreign children seem to be more healthy than German children, despite the fact that their families more often belong to the lower status group and that their parents smoke more than the parents of the German children. It is hypothesised that social support in foreign families is stronger than in German families, and that this protective effect is stronger than the disadvantages of foreign children concerning social status of their families and smoking behaviour of their parents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Ministerial Decree No. 9/88, 20 January 1988.

This Decree sets forth the organizational framework of the public health services in Mozambique. Among the departments of the National Directorate for Social Action within the public health services is the Department of Childhood Support. This Department has the following functions: "a) to organize, direct, and control the implementation of childhood support programs, with the aim of protecting and supporting children; b) to provide special assistance to children seven years old or younger, including assistance related to their health and pedagogical needs; c) to expedite and support the creation of childhood assistance units primarily addressed to the needs of working mothers; d) to provide assistance to orphans and abandoned or neglected children ten years old or younger; this assistance may, in exceptional cases, be extended up to the time a child's primary education ends; e) to plan and participate in the implementation of community-level programs addressing alternative actions of childhood support and the role or adults in the development and general education of children; f) to organize, direct, control, and equip the network of social units in the area of child support; g) to formulate rules and regulations, with the aim of preserving and furthering the goals of the childhood support units, while insuring their adequate operation."

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A critique of the scientific status of biological psychiatry.

Biological psychiatry has four principal modes of investigation but each has been flawed by errors in procedure and inference such that the bulk of existing findings must be called into question. Pedigree studies are ruined by selective adoption, the use of "throw-away kids" to demonstrate so-called genetic effects, lack of case history data, and lapses in "blind" diagnosis. In particular, the Danish adoption studies are challenged, despite the field's insistence that this research has settled the nature-nurture controversy in schizophrenia. Pharmacological-response studies are the next line of methodology and these are marred by a spurious assumption that drugs which work must be correcting a biochemical imbalance that causes the condition. Thirdly, neuropsychological-neurophysiological studies are "heuristic" fishing-expeditions to find a presumed abnormality to account for psychopathology, without doing the prospective longitudinal research necessary to validate such theory. Lastly, biochemical correlates of emotion are treated as if each emotion must have a distinct neuronal substrate rather than possibly representing a general visceral arousal where cognition defines the feeling. All told, biological psychiatry is often more reductionist than acknowledged, does not come up to current scientific standards, and uncritically cites work which is, or should be, discredited. At the heart of the problem is an implicit ideology within biological psychiatry, with insufficient awareness of its social ramifications: "blaming the victim's body" protects the status quo by holding protoplasm at fault for maladjustment rather than the person, family, or community.

Adaptation, Psychological↗