Prevalence and Determinants of Overweight and Obesity among Urban School Going Adolescents in South Kerala - A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

BACKGROUND Obesity is being designated as a global epidemic by the world health organisation. The problem of obesity is confined not only to adults but also to children and adolescents. Various studies also indicate that the prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst children of all ages is increasing in developing countries in the past few decades. The present study was undertaken to find the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school going adolescents 13 to 17 years of age in urban wards under Government Medical College Health Unit, Thiruvananthapuram. METHODS A cross-sectional study with a sample size of 1100 selected through multistage random sampling was conducted. Physical measurements as well as data regarding sociodemographic variables, dietary behaviour, physical activity, perception of body weight, and awareness regarding overweight and obesity were obtained using a pretested semi structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done, followed by bivariate and multivariate analysis to find out the major determinants of overweight and obesity. RESULTS The prevalence of overweight among adolescents aged 13 - 17 years attending schools under the medical college health unit area was found to be 11.3 % and that of obesity was 3.5 %. Girls had a slightly higher prevalence of overweight (12.3 %) as compared to boys (10.2 %) in the same age group of 13 - 17 years. Prevalence of overweight / obesity is found to be significantly associated with higher socioeconomic status, increased time spent on TV (more than 8 hours a week), increased intake of fatty foods like fish fry and chicken, family history of overweight, and mode of conveyance to school using motor vehicles. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to increase even after improving our schools with more playtime periods and giving health education on healthy eating practices. Balancing interventions are of utmost necessity. There is an equal proportion of students who are underweight especially in the schools of government sector.

U.S. and Canadian College Students’ Fear of Crime: A Comparative Investigation of Fear of Crime and Its Correlates

Being fearful of crime is, unfortunately, a common experience. Research shows that many factors influence a person’s fear of crime, demonstrating that certain groups are generally more fearful than others. Even though they are typically young, college students express being fearful of crime on and off campus. What has yet to be investigated is whether college students who attend school in the United States are fearful at similar levels to their Canadian counterparts. Further, the correlates of fear of crime may also be different. To explore these issues, data from the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment II survey of U.S. and Canadian college students are used. Results show that Canadian college students generally perceive their safety as being higher than U.S. college students, even though they face elevated victimization risks. Further, some correlates of fear of crime differ for U.S. and Canadian college students. These findings suggest the need for additional cross-national comparative work to see if patterns generalize across contexts.

Pengaruh Aromaterapi Lemon (Citrus) terhadap Skala Nyeri Dismenorea pada Mahasiswi Program Studi Ilmu Keperawatan STIKes Baiturrahim Jambi

Dysmenorrhea is a complaint that is often experienced by women during menstruation. Pain management can be done with complementary measures, one of which is by giving lemon aromatherapy (citrus). Lemon aromatherapy contains limonene which can inhibit prostaglandins thereby reducing pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of Lemon Aromatherapy (Citrus) on dysmenorrhea pain scales at students nurse study program the college health science BaiturrahimJambi.This study was conducted by pre-experimental method with a one- group-pre-test-post-test design conducted at the respondent's home. The respondents were 20 females students who experienced dysmenorrhea. This study was conducted on June - July 2020. This study its mean before administration was 4.45 and after administration the mean was 3.25. Based on the results of statistical analysis using the Paired t test, the p-value was 0,000 (p<0.05).It can be concluded that there is an influence of lemon aromatherapy (citrus) on dysmenorrhea pain scales at students nurse study program the college health science Baiturrahim Jambi

College Student Aerobic and Muscle-Strengthening Activity: The Intersection of Gender and Sexual Orientation Among United States Students

The purpose of the study was to examine differences in aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity participation based on the intersection of gender and sexual orientation among cisgender college students. Data from the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment collected between Fall 2015 and Fall 2018 were analyzed. Differences from the population average for meeting aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity (separately) recommendations were computed for each gender and sexual orientation intersection. The likelihood of meeting aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity (separately) recommendations were calculated using a series of logistic regression analyses to determine odds ratios controlling for age, year of enrollment, race/ethnicity, and health status. Overall, more men and those identifying as straight met activity (aerobic and muscle-strengthening) recommendations. Asexual and straight women were less likely to meet activity recommendations compared to men, and bisexual and questioning women were less likely to meet muscle-strengthening recommendations compared to men. Bisexual, pansexual, and questioning individuals were less likely to meet activity recommendations compared to straight individuals among both genders, as were queer and gay men and women who identified as pansexual or another identity. Men who identified as pansexual or another identity, as well as lesbian and queer women were less likely to meet muscle-strengthening recommendations compared to straight individuals. In summary, findings demonstrate that aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity participation disparities are evident based on the intersection of gender and sexual orientation. The intersection of socio-demographic characteristics should be considered by researchers and physical activity promoters in order to better understand and address disparities.

Health sciences librarian competency perceptions: a survey of national community college librarians

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine how community college health sciences librarians perceive their proficiencies in the essential skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary for the practice of a health information professional as defined by the Medical Library Association (MLA) Competencies for Lifelong Learning and Professional Success. A secondary objective was to determine their current level of engagement with the professional community and identify barriers to further professional development.Methods: A survey was posted to various email discussion lists, and volunteer follow-up interviews were conducted.Results: The survey was completed by seventy-five community college health sciences librarians, and seven follow-up interviews were performed. Survey results indicated that community college health sciences librarians perceived themselves as having intermediate or advanced intermediate proficiency in the six MLA competencies. Survey and interview results indicated that community college health sciences librarians were engaged with the profession and faced the same barriers to continued professional development and continued education as other academic librarians.Conclusion: The results affirm that community college librarians who are responsible for collections and services in the health sciences meet the MLA competencies, which fills a gap in the literature regarding how these librarians develop professional competencies and are involved in professional associations. The results suggest that community college librarians can improve their skill levels by continuing their education and following trends in the literature.