Xiu-Jun Zhang

Loneliness among the rural older people in Anhui, China: prevalence and associated factors

To clarify the prevalence of loneliness and evaluate the impact of social support, family function and socio‐demographic factors on loneliness and their correlation among the rural older people in Anhui, China.

Risk factors for reproductive tract infections among married women in rural areas of Anhui Province, China

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study is to identify factors that contribute to reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among women in rural China, including prevalence, influence of sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, hygienic behaviors and the history of childbearing, menstruation and abortion. STUDY DESIGN A stratified cluster sample of 53,652 married women in rural Anhui Province of China completed an interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire, and underwent gynecological examination and laboratory investigation. RESULTS RTIs were relatively common (30,939/58.1%) among our sample of 53,652 married women. The three most frequent RTIs in our samples were endocervicitis, bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomoniasis, with prevalences of 41.7%, 12.0% and 4.5%, respectively. Multiple infections were prevalent among our sample. 20.4% (10,854) of our sample had two RTIs and 8.8% (4713) had at least three RTIs. Multivariate analysis showed that womens age, education, occupation, dysmenorrhea, number of deliveries, personal hygiene habit, menstrual cycle, menstruation, abortion, the interval between abortion and sexual intercourse afterwards, RTI knowledge and the frequency of sexual intercourse per month were all related to RTIs in our sample. CONCLUSIONS Among married women in rural China, the prevalence of RTIs was high, indicating the need for health education.

Current status of contraceptive use among rural married women in Anhui Province of China

Objectives  This study aims to explore the current status of married women in regard of their use of contraceptive methods (permanent methods versus non‐permanent methods) and to find out factors that affect the use of contraceptive methods in rural areas of Anhui Province of China.

Prevalence and associated factors of induced abortion among rural married women: a cross-sectional survey in Anhui China.

This study aims to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with induced abortion among married women in rural areas of Anhui Province, China.

Incidence and risk factors of bacterial vaginosis among pregnant women: A prospective study in Maanshan city, Anhui Province, China

The aim of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors of bacterial vaginosis among pregnant women.

The prevalence and risk factors of menstrual pain of married women in Anhui Province, China

PURPOSE To investigate the prevalence and the associated risk factors for menstrual pain in a sample of rural married women of reproductive age in Anhui Province of China. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among married women (n = 14,828) aged 18-45 years. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires. Mann Whitney U, Kruskal-Walls H tests and ordinal logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. RESULTS The prevalence of no, moderate, severe menstrual pain was 80.1%, 18.7%, 1.2%, respectively. Lower educational level, lower stress level and earlier age at menarche were protective factors for menstrual pain while women with longer duration of menstrual flow tended to have menstrual pain. Compared to women with a normal body mass index (BMI), significantly higher odds of reporting menstrual pain were detected for women who were lower BMI or higher BMI. Age, length of menstrual cycle, blood type, anemia and previous pregnancy were not significantly associated with dysmenorrhea after controlling for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS There is high prevalence of dysmenorrhea among women in China. Our results suggest that reduction of stress and maintaining a normal BMI may be important for women to have pain-free periods.

Research Advances on Epidemiology of SevereFever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome: ASystematic Review of the Literature

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infection disease caused by SFTSV, a newly discovered bunyavirus. Suspected SFTS cases were first reported in 2006 in Anhui province, China and SFTSV was first isolated in 2009 in Henan province, China. The disease has been reported in more than 23 provinces in central and eastern China and it was also reported in South Korea and Japan. SFTS is a hemorrhagic fever with major clinical manifestations of fever, thrombocytopenia, gastrointestinal symptoms and leucopenia. In severe SFTS patients, the clinical conditions may proceed quickly and result in multi-organ failure. The average case fatality rate was approximately 10% in humans. The incidence rate of SFTS was significantly higher in old age people and fatal cases mainly occurred in elderly people. SFTS is most likely to be transmitted by tickbite and it also can be transmitted from person to person. The potential reservoir hosts of SFTSV including goats, dogs, cattle, chicken and even birds. This article reviews the latest advances on SFTS epidemiology characteristics including risk factors, sources of infection, distribution of SFTS cases, transmission route and aetiological characteristics, laboratory testing, clinical symptoms, susceptible population, relationship between the meteorological factors and SFTS.