Kayako Sakisaka

Social capital and life satisfaction: a cross- sectional study on persons with musculoskeletal impairments in Hanoi, Vietnam

BackgroundSocial capital has been recognized as a major social determinant of health, but less attention has been given to social capital of persons with musculoskeletal impairments. The present study aimed to explore the associations between social capital and life satisfaction of persons with musculoskeletal impairments in Hanoi, Vietnam.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Hanoi, Vietnam. From June to July 2008, we collected data from 136 persons with musculoskeletal impairments who belonged to disabled peoples groups. Social capital was measured using a short version of the Adapted Social Capital Assessment Tool that included group membership, support from groups, support from individuals, citizenship activities, and cognitive social capital. Life satisfaction was measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale. As possible confounding factors, we measured socio-economic factors and disability-related factors such as activities of daily living.ResultsAfter controlling for confounding effects, group membership remained significantly associated with the level of life satisfaction reported by the persons with musculoskeletal impairments. In particular, being an active member of two or more groups was associated with higher life satisfaction. In contrast, other components of social capital such as citizenship activities and cognitive social capital were not significant in the multiple regression analysis of this study.ConclusionsThe findings suggest the importance of considering an active participation in multiple groups toward the enhancement of the life satisfaction among persons with musculoskeletal impairments. To encourage persons with musculoskeletal impairments to have multiple active memberships, their access to groups should be facilitated and enhanced.

Wives’ Attitudes Toward Gender Roles and Their Experience of Intimate Partner Violence by Husbands in Central Province, Sri Lanka

The authors conducted a community based, cross-sectional study to describe the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) by husbands and the association between wives’ attitudes toward gender roles and their experience of IPV in Central Province, Sri Lanka. This article included a representative sample of 624 wives between 15 and 49 years of age and examined the prevalence of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. Then, using multivariate logistic regression analysis, the authors examined the association between wives’ attitudes toward gender roles and IPV. Of the 624 wives, 36% had experienced at least one episode of physical, psychological, or sexual abuse by their husbands during their life time (ever abuse), and 19% had experienced such abuse during the past 12 months (current abuse). The wives were less likely to experience current abuse by husbands if they believed that “outsiders should not intervene to protect abused wives.” They were more likely to experience ever and current isolated psychological abuse by husbands if they did not believe that “a good wife always obeys her husband.” This study suggests that the prevalence of IPV is high in Sri Lanka. Although several published studies on IPV suggest that traditional gender role attitudes tend to increase women’s vulnerability to IPV, this study suggests that in Sri Lanka, the wives who respect cultural norms tend to experience less IPV by husbands.

Mental health status among Burmese adolescent students living in boarding houses in Thailand: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn Tak province of Thailand, a number of adolescent students who migrated from Burma have resided in the boarding houses of migrant schools. This study investigated mental health status and its relationship with perceived social support among such students.MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed 428 students, aged 12–18 years, who lived in boarding houses. The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL)-37 A, Stressful Life Events (SLE) and Reactions of Adolescents to Traumatic Stress (RATS) questionnaires were used to assess participants’ mental health status and experience of traumatic events. The Medical Outcome Study (MOS) Social Support Survey Scale was used to measure their perceived level of social support. Descriptive analysis was conducted to examine the distribution of sociodemographic characteristics, trauma experiences, and mental health status. Further, multivariate linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between such characteristics and participants’ mental health status.ResultsIn total, 771 students were invited to participate in the study and 428 students chose to take part. Of these students, 304 completed the questionnaire. A large proportion (62.8%) indicated that both of their parents lived in Myanmar, while only 11.8% answered that both of their parents lived in Thailand. The mean total number of traumatic events experienced was 5.7 (standard deviation [SD] 2.9), mean total score on the HSCL-37A was 63.1 (SD 11.4), and mean total score on the RATS was 41.4 (SD 9.9). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that higher number of traumatic events was associated with more mental health problems.ConclusionsMany students residing in boarding houses suffered from poor mental health in Thailand’s Tak province. The number of traumatic experiences reported was higher than expected. Furthermore, these traumatic experiences were associated with poorer mental health status. Rather than making a generalized assumption on the mental health status of migrants or refugees, more detailed observation is necessary to elucidate the unique nature and vulnerabilities of this mobile population.

Prevalence and risk factors of needle stick and sharp injury among tertiary hospital workers, Vientiane, Lao PDR

Health care workers (HCWs) face risks of needle stick and sharp injuries (NSIs). Most NSIs occur in developing countries, however, no epidemiological study on NSIs is publicly available in Lao PDR. The objective of this study is to identify the prevalence and risk factors of NSIs among HCWs in Lao PDR.

Wives‘ gender role attitudes and their experience of different types of intimate partner violence in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health problem that has several associations. Objectives We conducted this study to examine the association between wives’ attitudes towards gender roles and their experience of different types of IPV in Central province, Sri Lanka. Methods We carried out a community-based cross sectional study in Central Province. For this, we included 628 ever married women between 15–49-years-old. Using a validated, structured questionnaire, we collected data on womens experience of physical, psychological, and sexual violence and their attitudes towards gender roles. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine the association between womens attitudes towards gender roles and IPV. Results Of total (n=628), 36.6% of the wives experienced at least one of physical, psychological and/or sexual violence by their husbands during their life time (ever abuse), and 19.7% experienced such violence during the past 12 months (current abuse). Wives who disagreed that ‘a good wife obeys her husband always‘ were more likely to have experienced ever (AOR=5.94, 95% CI 2.63 to 13.44, p<0.001), and current (AOR=5.10, 95% CI 1.12 to 23.33, p<0.01) isolated psychological violence. Wives who disagreed that ‘if a husband mistreats or abuse a wife, outsiders should intervene‘ were less likely to have experienced current physical, sexual or both abuse by husbands (AOR=0.26, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.67, p<0.01). Significance In Sri Lanka, wives were less likely to experience IPV by husbands when they respected cultural norms such as ‘a good wife obeys her husband.’ IPV prevention policies need to be culturally sensitive and socially acceptable for the effective prevention of IPV in the country.

Primary health care must go beyond WHO

We were pleased to hear Margaret Chan’s strong commitment to primary health care 30 years after the Alma-Ata Declaration. In your Editorial on her statement (May 31, p 1811), 1