scholarly journals Multilevel effects of alcohol among early adolescents in an urban school district

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-94
Author(s):  
Julie Croff ◽  
Ronald Cox ◽  
Isaac Washburn ◽  
Chao Liu ◽  
Clinton Broadbent

Aims: To examine how interpersonal interactions within and between the social networks formed by teachers, parents, students, and others shape the unique culture of the school, which in turn, reciprocally exerts a determining influence on each individual in the network. Design: Cross-sectional study exploring whether factors associated with alcohol use at the individual level also exert influence on the culture of a school. Setting: Twelve middle schools within an urban school district in the Midwestern United States. Participants: Seventh grade students (N = 1,620). Measures: Lifetime alcohol use behaviors; mothers’ and fathers’ involvement in their child’s education; and peer deviance.  Findings: The findings of this study suggest that as parents’ involvement in education increases, and as peer deviance decreases, there are direct benefits to the child, and a protective effect for other children within the school when, in the aggregate, parental involvement increases and peer deviance decreases. Conclusions: The effect of interventions to improve parent involvement and reduce peer deviance, with examinations at the individual-level and school-level, warrant future study.

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 872-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trine Pagh Pedersen ◽  
Bjørn E Holstein ◽  
Rikke Krølner ◽  
Annette Kjær Ersbøll ◽  
Thea Suldrup Jørgensen ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate: (i) how lunch frequency of adolescents varies between schools and between classes within schools; (ii) the associations between frequency of lunch and individual sociodemographic factors and school characteristics; and (iii) if any observed associations between lunch frequency and school characteristics vary by gender and age groups.DesignCross-sectional study in which students and school headmasters completed self-administered questionnaires. Associations were estimated by multilevel multivariate logistic regression.SettingThe Danish arm of the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study 2010.SubjectsStudents (n 4922) aged 11, 13 and 15 years attending a random sample of seventy-three schools.ResultsThe school-level and class-level variations in low lunch frequency were small (intraclass correlation coefficient <2·1 %). At the individual level, low lunch frequency was most common among students who were boys, 13- and 15-year-olds, from medium and low family social class, descendants of immigrants, living in a single-parent family and in a reconstructed family. School-level analyses suggested that having access to a canteen at school was associated with low lunch frequency (OR=1·47; 95% CI 1·14, 1·89). Likewise not having an adult present during lunch breaks was associated with low lunch frequency (OR=1·44; 95% CI 1·18, 1·75). Cross-level interactions suggested that these associations differed by age group.ConclusionsLunch frequency among Danish students appears to be largely influenced by sociodemographic factors. Additionally, the presence of an adult during lunch breaks promotes frequent lunch consumption while availability of a canteen may discourage frequent lunch consumption. These findings vary between older and younger students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Loren Salazar Cardoza ◽  
Christiane Opuszka Machado ◽  
Clara Telles dos Santos ◽  
Doroteia Aparecida Höfelmann

Abstract: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between alcohol use by adolescents and the availability of alcohol outlets in the neighborhood of public schools. We collected primary data including variables at individual and school neighborhood level. Multilevel logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for alcohol use with the exposure variables. A total of 18.4% (95%CI: 13.2; 24.1) of adolescents reported using alcohol, which was associated with variables on the individual level such as being 18 years or older, working, and having previously smoked. Lower alcohol use was observed among adolescents from schools that were located 250m or more from alcohol outlets (OR = 0.29; 95%CI: 0.17; 0.48). Actions to reduce the use of alcohol among adolescents should take student’s and school neighborhood’s characteristics into account.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarina Rebecca Chaiken ◽  
Lisa Han ◽  
Blair G Darney ◽  
Leo Han

BACKGROUND The majority of patients use the internet to search for health information. While there is a vast repository of searchable information online, much of the content is unregulated and therefore potentially incorrect, conflicting, or confusing. Abortion information online is particularly prone to being inaccurate as anti-choice websites publish purposefully misleading information in formats that appear as neutral resources. To understand how anti-choice websites appear neutral, we need to understand the specific website features of anti-choice features that impart trust to viewers. OBJECTIVE We sought to identify characteristics of false or misleading abortion websites that make these websites appear trustworthy to the public. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study using Amazon.com Inc’s Mechanical Turk platform. We used validated questionnaires to ask participants to rate eleven anti-choice sites and one neutral site identified by experts, focusing on site content, creators, and design. We collected socio-demographic data and participant views on abortion. We used a composite measure of “mean overall trust” as our primary outcome. Using correlation matrices, we determined which website characteristics were most associated with overall trust. Finally, we used linear regression to identify participant characteristics associated with overall trust. RESULTS Our analytic sample included 498 participants ranging from ages 22 to 70, 50.1% of whom identified as female. Across eleven anti-choice sites, creator trust (“I believe that the creators of this site are honest and trustworthy”) had the highest correlation coefficient with overall trust (0.70). Professional appearance (0.59), look and feel (0.59), perception that the information is created by experts (0.59), association with a trustworthy organization (0.58), valued features and functionalities (0.54), and interactive capabilities (0.52) all demonstrated strong relationships with overall trust. At the individual level, pro-choice leaning was associated with higher overall trust of the neutral site (B: -0.43, CI: -0.87, 0.01) and lower overall trust of the anti-choice sites (B: 0.52, CI: 0.05, .99). CONCLUSIONS The overall trustworthiness of anti-choice websites is most associated with design characteristics and perceived trustworthiness of the site creator. Those who believe that access to abortion should be limited are more likely to trust anti-choice websites.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e036519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mussie Alemayehu ◽  
Araya Abrha Medhanyie ◽  
Elizabeth Reed ◽  
Afework Mulugeta

ObjectiveThe study aimed to identify the effects of the individual-level and community-level factors on the use of family planning (FP) among married women in the pastoralist community of Ethiopia.DesignA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2018. Data were analysed using R software. To determine the fixed effect of individual-level and community-level factors of FP use, a two-level mixed-effects logistic regression was used. The result was described using the Adjusted OR (AOR), and the variance partition coefficient.Setting and participantsAfar, Ethiopia (2018; n=891) married women of reproductive age (15–49) years.Primary outcome measuresFP use or non-use.ResultsThe current use of FP was 18.7% (16.31%–21.43%). Women who need to walk 1 hour and more to the nearest health facility (AOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.3), have ANC visit of 4 and above (AOR 6.02, 95% CI 1.74 to 20.8), had their last birth at a health facility (AOR 2.71 95% CI 1.27 to 5.81), have five and more children (AOR 4.71, 95% CI 1.86 to 11.9), have high knowledge on FP (AOR 2.74, 95% CI 1.11 to 6.74) and had high intentions to use FP (AOR 10.3, 95% CI 3.85 to 27.6) were more likely to report FP use. The magnitude of the effect of for FP use was smaller than that of 9 of the 13 individual factors. Apart from this 19.4% of the total variance in the odds of using FP attributed to between community difference (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.194). Regarding the community-level characteristics, clusters of having higher electronic media possession (AOR 2.84, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.72) and higher women decision making on FP (AOR 8.35, 95% CI 2.7 to 27.1) were significantly associated with increased FP use compared with clusters with lower reports of these aspects.ConclusionFP use among the pastoralist community is influenced by both individual cluster/community-level characteristics or factors. Even though the effect of clustering in FP use was large in comparison with the unexplained between-cluster variation, it was lower than the individual-level factors.Trail registrtion numberNCT03450564


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (T1) ◽  
pp. 459-464
Author(s):  
Putri C. Eyanoer ◽  
Farhat Farhat ◽  
Elvita Rahmi Daulay ◽  
Fotarisman Zaluchu

BACKGROUND: In Indonesia, a new behavior has been introduced in the community to prevent COVID-19 transmission following 3 months of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia, names this new concept as “the adaptation of new behavior.” However, preventive measures and health protocols encouraged by the government have not yet yielded a significant impact on reducing the COVID-19 positivity rate. This unsuccessful outcome indicates that infective circulation is still occurring caused by incompliant to the health protocol. AIM: This study aimed to measure community perceptions against COVID-19 at the individual level. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a total of 1687 respondents was performed. Questionnaires distributed thru sharing online links which contain questions on perception of vulnerability and severity of COVID-19. Chi-square test used in analysis to determine the difference in perception with respondents’ behavior. RESULTS: A total of 81.7% of respondents who had a perception of “susceptible to contract” performed behavior suited to recommendations and 81.2% study population had a perception of “COVID-19 is severe” executed behavior suited to the recommendation. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the establishment of government recommendations for COVID-19 infection did not guarantee the actual health practice/behavior in the community. The existing misconception of the perspective of seriousness/severity and susceptibility would prevent the country from flattening the curve.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Khammarnia ◽  
Mahsa Haj Mohammadi ◽  
Zahra Amani ◽  
Shahab Rezaeian ◽  
Fatemeh Setoodehzadeh

This study aimed to determine the barriers to implementation of EBP among nurses. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Zahedan City, South East of Iran, in 2014. The questionnaire of barriers to implementation of EBP consists of 27 statements which was distributed among 280 nurses. More than half of the participants agreed that 56% and 57% of barriers to implementation of evidence based practice are related to organizational and individual aspects, respectively. Participants identified barriers at organizational level included the lack of human resources (78.3%), lack of internet access at work (72.2%), and heavy workload (70.0%). Barrier at individual level included lack of time to read literature (83.7%), lack of ability to work with computer (68.8%), and insufficient proficiency in English language (62.0%). Age, educational level, job experience, and employment status were associated with organizational barriers to implementation of EBP. At the individual level only education was associated with barriers to implementation of EBP. Barriers to implementation of EBP occur at both individual and organizational levels. The indicator of quality in nursing practice is EBP. Hence, familiarity with EBP is recommended for Iranian nurses. In addition, knowledge of barriers will help health care system and policy makers to provide a culture of EBP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Hosseinkhani ◽  
H. R. Hassanabadi ◽  
M. Parsaeian ◽  
M. Osooli ◽  
S. Assari ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Academic stress can cause mental and physical problems and affect adolescents’ healthy development. This study aimed to estimate academic stress and explore its sources at the individual- and school levels among school-going adolescents in the city of Qazvin, Iran. Results This cross-sectional study used a stratified cluster sampling to recruit 1724 students aged 12–19 years from 53 schools in Qazvin City. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire. The mean academic stress score was 45.7 (95% CI 45.2, 46.3). The stress level was statistically higher among older 47.5 (95% CI 46.7, 48.3) than younger 44.1 (95% CI 43.4, 44.9) adolescents. The main academic stressors included: future uncertainty 69.7 (95% CI 68.8, 70.7), academic competition 58.5 (95% CI 57.3, 59.6), and interaction with teachers 56.1 (95% CI 55.3, 56.9). Gender, educational period, school type, family socioeconomic status, and father’s education were associated with academic stress. Conclusions We conducted a multilevel study using a random sample of male and female students in the city of Qazvin, Iran. Results indicated moderate levels of stress among Iranian adolescents. The academic stress was associated with several individual and school-level variables. Students and their families and teachers need education on stress prevention methods and coping mechanisms. Future research should focus on developing and testing multilevel policies and interventions to improve students’ mental health and academic performance.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luana Leal Roberto ◽  
Marise Fagundes Silveira ◽  
Alfredo Mauricio Batista De Paula ◽  
Efigênia Ferreira Ferreira ◽  
Andréa Maria Eleutério De Barros Lima Martins ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Tooth loss represents a known marker of health inequality. The association between tooth loss and unfavorable socioeconomic conditions is evident when analyzed at an individual level. However, the effects of contextual characteristics on tooth loss need to be better investigated and understood. The objective of this study was to analyze tooth loss among Brazilian adults (35-44 years of age), in accordance with individual and contextual social characteristics. Methods: This was a multilevel cross-sectional study with data from 9,564 adult participants from the Brazilian Oral Health Survey - SBBrasil 2010. The dependent variable was the number of lost teeth and the independent variables were grouped into structural (socioeconomic & political context) and intermediary (socioeconomic position, behavioral & biological factors, and health services) determinants. Multilevel Hierarchical Negative Binomial Regression was conducted and the Mean Ratio (MR) was estimated. Results: Brazilian adults lost a mean of 7.57 (95% CI 7.1-8.1) teeth. Among the contextual variables, the number of teeth lost was higher among residents of municipalities with high and medium/low Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI) and in municipalities that did not have public water fluoridation. Among the individual variables, dental loss was higher among those who declared themselves yellow/black/brown/indigenous, were older, who had lower income, who had never visited a dentist, who had used dental services for more than a year and those whose most recent visit to the dentist was due to oral health problems. On the other hand, dental loss was lower among adults with higher education levels and males. Conclusions: The number of missing teeth was associated with unfavorable contextual and individual conditions, which reinforces the need to reduce social inequality and guarantee regular, lifetime access to dental services.


2020 ◽  
pp. 030802262095411
Author(s):  
Elin Jakobsson ◽  
Louise Nygård ◽  
Anders Kottorp ◽  
Cecilia Bråkenhielm Olsson ◽  
Camilla Malinowsky

Introduction Older persons with cognitive impairment have often been disregarded in providing information on their own perceptions. This study explored the number of relevant everyday technologies and the ability to use everyday technologies as perceived by persons with cognitive impairment in comparison with their proxies’ estimates using the Short Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire. Method In this cross-sectional study, persons with cognitive impairment ( n = 21) and their proxies ( n = 21) were interviewed on separate occasions with the Short Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire, which measures the number of relevant everyday technologies and the ability to use everyday technologies. The data were analysed with t-tests, z-comparisons, and Fisher’s exact test. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results At the group level, no significant differences were found between persons with cognitive impairments’ perceptions and their proxies’ estimates regarding the number of relevant everyday technologies or the ability to use everyday technologies. On the individual level, significant differences were found in the ability measures within four out of the 21 dyads. Conclusion The persons with cognitive impairment and their proxies verified each other’s responses, providing evidence that persons with cognitive impairment should be the primary source for information about their own everyday technology use.


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