Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health

Studies on the prevalence of hypertension in Vietnam have reported various estimates. There is no up-to-date assessment of the evidence on the magnitude of hypertension in Vietnam. Search engines for scientific and gray literature were used to identify relevant records for eligibility screening and quality assessment. Data from selected articles were extracted using standardized spreadsheets. Statistical analysis included estimating pooled prevalence and odds ratio, heterogeneity evaluation, meta-regression, and subgroup analysis, in addition to sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation. The pooled prevalence of measured hypertension in Vietnam was 21.1% (95% confidence interval = 18.5-23.7) based on 10 studies, and 18.4% (95% confidence interval = 15.2-21.8) based on 3 national surveys. Lower pooled prevalence was estimated for hypertension awareness (9.3%) and hypertension treatment (4.7%). The pooled prevalence of measured hypertension is significantly higher among men. The pooled prevalence of measured hypertension and hypertension awareness and treatment were significantly lower in rural settings. There is a need to strengthen efforts for primary and secondary prevention and disease management to reduce morbidity and mortality, especially in rural residence settings.

Objectives: To assess associations between maternal depression and breastfeeding practices in mothers in the Maldives. Design: A prospective cohort study. The validated questionnaires contained information on demographics, breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding duration, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess association between Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score and breastfeeding practices while adjusting for lifestyle determinants. Cox regression was done to measure the association between maternal depression and breastfeeding duration. Settings: Antenatal clinic at Indira Gandhi Memorial and ADK Hospitals in Male’, Maldives. Subjects: A total of 458 mothers from the antennal clinics were interviewed at 36 weeks of gestation and again at 1, 3, and 6 months after birth. Results: Antenatal depression at 36 weeks of gestation was associated with late initiation of breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio = 3.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.3-6.8). Postnatal depression was associated with shorter duration of exclusive, full, and any breastfeeding (P < .001). Conclusion. Depression is negatively associated with breastfeeding practices. There is a need to manage antenatal postnatal depression in mothers in order to encourage them to initiate breastfeeding earlier and to breastfeed for longer.

This study investigated whether sociodemographic, health behavioral, biomedical, and health status factors are associated with the awareness and treatment status of hypertension. Data were analyzed from 13 180 adults with hypertension in a nationally representative sample collected from 2007 to 2015 through the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among hypertensive Korean adults, only 65.2% were aware of their condition and being treated with antihypertensive medications. Younger age was identified as an important barrier to diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. Although there were slight differences between participants aged <65 and ≥65 years, higher risks of being untreated or being unaware of having hypertension were also associated with male gender, lower education levels, unhealthy behaviors, and a better health conditions. We suggest that aggressive interventions to improve the awareness, treatment, and/or control of hypertension should be applied to young and middle-aged people who are vulnerable to hypertension management.

The Korean National Health Insurance Service provided the Health Screening Cohort Database. To investigate the cumulative effect of statins on cancer development, we defined statin users as those who used statins during 2002 to 2003 at baseline. Statin users were divided into high and low users. Statin nonusers were defined as individuals who had never used statins during the entire period of 2002 to 2015, despite having hypercholesterolemia. In total, 17 737 statin users and 13 412 statin nonusers were included in the final analyses. The median follow-up duration was 12.6 years. Compared with nonusers, the hazard ratios (95% confidential intervals) for any cancer incidence of low users and high users were 1.047 (0.941-1.164) and 0.663 (0.589-0.747) in men and 1.057 (0.938-1.190) and 0.592 (0.517-0.678) in women, respectively, after fully adjusting for possible confounding factors. An inverse association between statin use and any cancer incidence in individuals with hypercholesterolemia was observed.

Interpersonal violence among adolescents is an issue of global public health concern, leading to adverse physical and psychological outcomes among children and young people under the age of 18 years. This article discusses the prevalence of interpersonal violence and identifies their associated factors among school-going adolescents of ages 13 to 17 years using the data from the Sri Lankan Global School-Based Health Survey conducted in 2016. Of the 3262 students who participated, 35.1% (95% confidence interval = 31.0% to 39.5%) were physically attacked and 44.2% (95% confidence interval = 39.2% to 49.4%) were in a fight with peers, one or more times during the 12 months prior to the survey. Being bullied by peers, male sex, 13 to 15 years age group, smoking and alcohol use, considering or attempting suicide, missing classes without permission, and parents not being aware of students’ activities were associated with violence. The study highlights the need for violence prevention programs to address the risk factors among school-going adolescents.

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of fruit and vegetable (FAV) consumption and its associations with noncommunicable diseases risk factors among adults in Laos. In a national cross-sectional survey in 2013, 2527 individuals (18-64 years old) responded to a questionnaire, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, and biochemistry tests were conducted. On average, participants had 0.99 servings of fruits a day and 1.33 servings of vegetables a day, a combined total of 2.32 servings of FAVs per day. Almost 1 in 5 respondents (18.9%) had 2 or more servings of fruit a day, 8.7% had 3 or more servings of vegetables a day, and 94.7% had less than 5 servings of FAV a day. In adjusted logistic analysis, being a Lao-Tai increased the odds of consuming 2 or more servings of fruits daily. Past month binge drinking decreased the odds of having 3 or more servings of vegetables daily. Higher education and urban residence decreased the odds of inadequate (<5 servings) FAV consumption. In adjusted linear regression analysis, increased FAV consumption was associated with higher body mass index scores. A high prevalence of inadequate FAV consumption was found. Interventions targeting identified modifiable risk factors, including lower education, general obesity, and binge drinking, may potentially increase FAV consumption in Laos.

The aim of this study was to investigate trends of body mass index (BMI) with age in westernizing Macau and to make comparisons with Australian data. A representative random sample (n = 1406, 18-93 years, 55% female) from Macau was recruited in 2012. The Australian sample was extracted from the Australian Health Survey 2011-2012 (n = 7958, 18 to ≥85 years, 52% female). BMI in Australians was greater than Macanese, mean difference 4.4 kg/m² (P < .001). While BMI increases steadily with ageing in each population, the plateau for Macau subjects appears 5 to 10 years earlier than Australians. Prevalence of overweight/obesity in young Macanese adults (18-40 years) was 25% (men) and 22% (women), with the greatest increase in BMI from age 25 to 39 years and 24 to 45 years in men and women, respectively. BMI shifts in younger Macanese men and women, which may reflect emerging lifestyle and nutrition transitions, are a future population health concern in Macau.