This paper provides a critical review of the prevalence of social phobia in European countries, a description of associated disability and burden and of clinical correlates and risk factors associated with social phobia. On the basis of a comprehensive literature search we identified 21 community studies and two primary care studies. The median lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates of social phobia in community samples referring to DSM-III-R and DSM-IV criteria were 6.65% and 2.0%, respectively. Younger individuals showed the highest rates, and women were more frequently affected than men. Social phobia was shown to be a persistent condition with a remarkably high degree of comorbid conditions, associated impairment and disability. Research deficits lie in a lack of data for most EU countries and in a lack of studies in children and the elderly. No data are available addressing met and unmet needs for intervention and costs, and data for vulnerability and risk factors of malignant course are scarce.

Background: The population is getting older and the risk of pressure ulcers increases with increasing age. Pressure ulcers have a negative impact on the individuals and the society. The quality of life for individuals with pressure ulcers may be lower than for those without pressure ulcers. Aim: The purpose of the study was to map pressure ulcers in people 65 years or older at three point prevalence measurement in nursing homes in Västerbotten. Design: A quantitative study whit three point prevalence with 8256 participants. Prevalence and chi-2 distribution was analyzed. Methods: Secondary data from 8256 participants collected in the years 2000, 2007 and 2013, from care and nursing homes in county Västerbotten. Data were analyzed with Jamovi. Results: The study showed a prevalence of pressure ulcers of 5% and a association between pressure ulcers and pain that was statistically significant (p <0,001). Conclusion: The study showed a trend of decreasing prevalence of pressure ulcers in nursing homes in Västerbotten during the years 2000 to 2013. However, no conclusion could be drawn if the pressure ulcers were due to pain or vice versa. Specific research is needed on subjects of pressure ulcers and pain.

In Ethiopia, one of the primary contributors to blindness is trachoma, which is an infectious ocular disease. There is no record of any prevention programs in rural Ethiopian villages of Oromia, where the prevalence of trachoma is high. The original purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of rural Oromo villagers in Ethiopia on the causes, treatment, and prevention of trachoma, using the health belief model and the social-ecological model as a theoretical framework. Due to a security situation in Ethiopia, final interviews were conducted with immigrant Ethiopians in the US, all of them from the trachoma-endemic rural areas of Oromia, all now living in Phoenix, Arizona. Results showed that this sample of former villagers had limited knowledge of the causes, prevention or treatment of trachoma, and could not recognize, or differentiate it from other eye diseases. The participants had some knowledge of governmental and nongovernmental efforts to control trachoma in their home country - through education and pit latrines. They also knew about the limitations of those programs. All reported that people would be willing to attend classes for trachoma prevention if held at a convenient time and place. These results may be useful in preparing a program to prevent trachoma in rural Ethiopia, and reduce blindness in this population, enabling more individuals to become educated and contributing to their community's well-being. Since trachoma is highly infectious, and participants in this study come from a trachoma-endemic area and do not know how to recognize it for themselves, the need for screening for trachoma on arrival in the US should be examined in more detail.

Background: The burden of Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is high globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends syndromic management of these STIs, based on presentation with signs and symptoms, in resource-limited countries. Due to this syndromic approach, there is little current data on STI prevalence, including asymptomatic STIs, in high risk populations. Methods: We reviewed secondary data collected as part of the screening procedures of 6 clinical trials between 2012 and 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. These trials recruited populations of different sexual orientation and gender, mostly key populations at risk of HIV and STI acquisition. Routine screening for STI symptoms and testing for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichomonas, Syphilis and HIV was performed for all of the studies at screening/enrollment. Results: A total of 639 participants were screened; 411 (64.3%) self-identifying as female, 198 (31%) males, 29 (4.5%) transgender women and 01 (0.2%) transvestite. Median age was 20 years (IQR: 18-24), with the 15-24-year age category contributing 77% to the cohort. Laboratory testing diagnosed 239 (37.4%) people with STI infections in this cohort; only 28 (11.7%) people were symptomatic. 119 (88.8%) of Chlamydial, 64 (82.1%) of Gonorrhoeal, 23 (92%) of Trichomonal and 31(79.5%) of Syphilis infections elicited no signs and/or symptoms. Conclusion: A vast majority of STIs in this high-risk population were asymptomatic. Laboratory testing of causal organism was more reliable in diagnosing STIs than the use of signs and/or symptoms as recommended by WHO.

This thesis aimes to illustrate and describe the current status of refraction and axial length in German children and adolescents. In contrast to previous studies growth curves were generated, instead of analysing myopia prevalence at separate age groups. This allows for an easier understanding and comparison of eye development.:Introduction and Motivation Aims Background Refractive development in infants and children Eye-growth and axial length Methods Study population Measurements Statistical analysis Cumulative part Refractive status in a German paediatric cohort: A cross-sectional analysis of the LIFE Child data Reference curves for refraction in a German cohort of healthy children and adolescents Longitudinal analysis of axial length growth in a German cohort of healthy children and adolescents Zusammenfassung der Arbeit Summary Conclusion Prospect References Appendix Einreichungserklärung Declaration Wissenschaftliche Beiträge zu den Publikationen Acknowledgments

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major public health problem, and it remains one of the global epidemics of non-communicable diseases. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a micro-vascular complication of DM due to a prolonged hyperglycaemia, and it is the most common cause of a visual loss in people living with DM. The global increase in the prevalence of DM has led to an increase in prevalence of diabetic complications, such as DR. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and determinants of DR among the DM patients receiving treatment from Maruleng public healthcare facilities, Mopani District in the Limpopo Province. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used as a primary source data from the DM patients who were readily available at the selected public healthcare facilities to collect a chronic treatment during the time of the study. Selection of eligible DM patients was done through a convenient sampling technique for those who were readily available or willing to take part of the study after receiving all information about the study for them to consent freely without any form of coercion by researcher or any other person. All selected respondents had undergone face-to-face interviews and basic clinical screening for DR to collect a primary source data using piloted structured researcher-administered questionnaire to record data collected from respondents, and calibrated medical equipment were used to measure a clinical variables during clinical screening. Data analysis was carried out using Statistics and Data Analysis (STATA) version 15 software for windows. The characteristics of DM patients were summarised and analysed using a descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics were performed on dependent variable and independent variables using a logistic regression analysis to determine the strength of association between variables, where a potential predictors of DR among DM patients were identified at significant level of less than 0.05 (p<0.05). Results: Out of the 416 DM patients who participated in the study, the majority were females (n=315; 76%) and all DM patients were above the age of 18 years, with a mean age of 61 years (standard deviation [SD] =11.5). The overall prevalence of DR was 35.4% comprising 32% mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR) and 3.4% moderate NPDR. DR was found to be slightly more prevalent in females, at 35.9%, than in males, at 34.6%; particularly in those females with type 2 DM, at 35.1%, comprising 32.1% mild NPDR and 3% moderate NPDR. DR was more prevalent in older females, at 77.8%, comprising 55.6% mild NPDR and 22.2% moderate NPDR. The DM patients aged 55 years and above were found to be 2.7 times more likely to develop DR, at p<0.001, and DM patients with higher systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or more were found to be 1.4 times more likely to develop DR as compared to DM patients with a systolic blood pressure of 139 mmHg or less (≤139 mmHg), at p<0.05. Employed DM patients were 1.4 times more likely to develop DR as compared to unemployed DM patients, at p<0.001. Age of the DM patients, high systolic blood pressure (SBP) or a hypertension of 140 mmHg or more (≥ 140 mmHg), and employment status were significantly associated with higher risk of developing DR among DM patients. Gender, hyperglycaemic state, poor glycaemic control, smoking and high BMI were found to be associated with DR but this association was not statistically significant. Conclusion and recommendations: Slightly more than one third of the DM patients receiving treatment during the study period from the public healthcare facilities in the Maruleng sub-district had some form of DR, which means that nearly four in ten DM patients had some form of DR. Diabetic retinopathy was more prevalent in females, and in older DM patients. Age of the DM patient, employment status, and high systolic blood pressure were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing DR among the DM patients. There is an urgent need to implement a health promotional programmes to educate people about the complications of a diabetes mellitus such as DR, and also to establish a coordinated screening programme for DR among DM patients receiving a chronic treatment, which must be supported by the Department of Health in all public healthcare facilities. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Retinopathy, Prevalence, Determinants / Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA)

Title The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among wind instrument players Objectives The aim of this thesis is to determine the prevalence of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD) in players on wind instruments in the Czech Republic, to determine their consequences and to identify related factors. Methods This thesis has the character of a cross-sectional study with a questionnaire survey. The study included 308 players on wind musical instruments. Outcomes The prevalence of PRMD was 55 % for the whole music group and 62 % for professional players. The higher prevalence of PRMD was statistically significantly associated with the student status (p=0.001), female sex (p=0.026), playing time on the dominant instrument weekly (p=0.001), and earlier incidence of PRMD (p=0.000). 31 % of players confirmed wrist/hand problems, 31 % confirmed problems in the neck area and 28 % confirmed problems in the upper back area. Because of PRMD, participants most frequently visited a health specialist such as a physical therapist and when dealing with their difficulties alone, most often they did some kind of physical activity. Conclusion The prevalence of PRMD in professional players was at a lower level than in foreign literature. Students, women, players playing more hours per week and players...

Termination of pregnancies is a public health concern in many developing countries. In Bangladesh women faces barrier to access health care service for pregnancy termination. Moreover induced termination is illegal, against religion and moral grounds therefore, many pregnancies termination performed by untrained and unsafe way in Bangladesh which leading to maternal morbidity and mortality. On the other side, unintended pregnancy termination such spontaneous abortion, miscarriage occurs due to disease, trauma, genetic defect or biochemical incompatibility of mother and fetus and climate change related vulnerabilities. This study investigates the prevalence and associated factors of terminated pregnancy among Bangladeshi ever-married women. Secondary data was obtained from Bangladesh Demographic Health and Survey (BDHS) for the year of 2017-18. Data was included 20127 samples of ever-married women of reproductive age 15-49 year. Descriptive analysis (chi-square test) and one way- ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) test was conducted to understand the association between factors and pregnancy termination. The study finding revealed that 21% ever-married women had terminated pregnancy and there were statistically association between terminated pregnancy and demographic, socio-economic and reproductive health related factors. Termination of pregnancy is prevalent in Bangladeshi women and need to apply health policy for preventing and intervening programme to eliminate geographic and socio-economic inequalities. For example, providing education and counselling program about reproductive health care service and family planning method help to avoid unintended or unsafe pregnancy termination.

From late of 2019, human is struggling with a new and mutated virus by the name of Covid-19. The speed of prevalence and death caused by it has been very high. It became a trigger to make this area the first and most important issue at this time. Since physical activity can improve immune system, the purpose of this study is the study of the correlation between the number of health/fitness club members and health/fitness numbers with Covid-19 prevalence and death. We assessed 31 European countries from 4 aspects including the number of members of health/fitness clubs, health/fitness club numbers, Covid-19 prevalence, and Covid-19 death. All of the numbers were evaluated per 1 million individuals. To examine the correlation, Person correlation and Linear Regression were used. The results of this study showed that, statistically, there is no relationship between the number of health/fitness club members and Covid-19 prevalence. Also, there is no relationship between the number of clubs and Covid-19 prevalence. However, there was a negative correlation between the number of health/fitness club members and health fitness club numbers with Covid-19 death. In conclusion, based on the results of this study, although physical activity cannot decrease Covid-19 prevalence dramatically, it can surely reduce the number of death caused by Covid-19.

The prevalence and long-term trends of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) among untreated adults have not been reported. Data from 24,653 participants aged ≥18 years were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2010. The prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of untreated ISH were estimated by conducting the independent survey t-test. The prevalence of untreated ISH was 9.4% and decreased from 10.3% in 1999-2004 to 8.5% in 2005-2010 (P =.00248). Old persons, females, and non-Hispanic blacks had higher prevalence of untreated ISH. Compared with 1999-2004, the prevalence of untreated ISH in 2005-2010 decreased among older (33.6%; 95% CI, 30.9%-36.3% vs. 25.1%; 95% CI, 22.7%-27.5%) and female individuals (8.3%; 95% CI, 7.5-9.2% vs. 11.4%; 95% CI, 10.4-12.3%). The stratified prevalence of untreated ISH declined in 2005-2010 (vs. 1999-2004) for older non-Hispanic whites (24.6% vs. 32.8%; P <.0001) and blacks (27.7% vs. 40.8%; P =.0013), non-Hispanic white females (7.5% vs. 10.8%; P <.0001), older individuals with higher education (21.0% vs. 30.6%; P =.0024), and females with lower education (10.1% vs. 13.1%; P =.006). Untreated ISH is more prevalent in older adults and females. Significant decreases in untreated ISH prevalence over time among these groups suggest that public health measures and/or treatment patterns are trending in the right direction.