D. Litt. et Phil. (Curriculum Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The LSH-study started in 2003 at the department of Health and Society at the University of Linköping. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between life condition, stress and health. A total of 1007 people from ten different health centres in Östergötlands län participated. At the follow up, a couple of years later, 795 of the 1007 participated. 127 of the 212 in the attrition turned down the follow up, twelve people were not invited (for example in case of death) and the rest did not respond at all. The purpose of this paper is to find out in what degree the attrition in the follow up can be predicted using the information from the first survey and which variables are important. The differences between different types of attrition have also been examined. Simple and multiple bi- and multinomial logistic regression have been used in the analysis. In total 34 variables were examined and in the final model six variables remained with a significant relation to the attrition. High BMI, regular smoking, high pulse and lack of daily exercise at the first survey were connected to a higher risk for an individual to not participate at the follow up. It is interesting that these factors are considered as risk factors for unhealthy living. Other factors related to a higher attrition were unemployment in the last year before the first survey and if the individual had parents born in another country than Sweden. The risk for attrition increased gradually when more risk factors were shown by the individual. The factors contributing an individual to turn down the follow up instead of not responding at all was if he or she were in the older age segments in the survey or if they were not active in any type of association.

<p>The LSH-study started in 2003 at the department of Health and Society at the University of Linköping. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between life condition, stress and health. A total of 1007 people from ten different health centres in Östergötlands län participated. At the follow up, a couple of years later, 795 of the 1007 participated. 127 of the 212 in the attrition turned down the follow up, twelve people were not invited (for example in case of death) and the rest did not respond at all. The purpose of this paper is to find out in what degree the attrition in the follow up can be predicted using the information from the first survey and which variables are important. The differences between different types of attrition have also been examined. Simple and multiple bi- and multinomial logistic regression have been used in the analysis.</p><p>In total 34 variables were examined and in the final model six variables remained with a significant relation to the attrition. High BMI, regular smoking, high pulse and lack of daily exercise at the first survey were connected to a higher risk for an individual to not participate at the follow up. It is interesting that these factors are considered as risk factors for unhealthy living. Other factors related to a higher attrition were unemployment in the last year before the first survey and if the individual had parents born in another country than Sweden. The risk for attrition increased gradually when more risk factors were shown by the individual. The factors contributing an individual to turn down the follow up instead of not responding at all was if he or she were in the older age segments in the survey or if they were not active in any type of association.</p>

Early menopause, the cessation of ovarian function prior to age 45, affects 5-10% of Western women and is associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes, including premature mortality and cardiovascular disease. Recent literature suggests that high vegetable protein intake may prolong female reproductive function, but no study has evaluated the association between this exposure and early menopause. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between cumulative vegetable protein intake as a percentage of total calories and early menopause in the Nurses’ Health Study II cohort. Women included in analyses were premenopausal at baseline (1991) and followed for up to 20 years. Cases (n=2,077) were defined as women experiencing natural menopause before age 45; women were excluded if early menopause was a result of hysterectomy, oophorectomy or radiation treatment. Non-cases were women whose age at menopause was 45 or greater or who were older than 45 and still premenopausal in 2011 (n=51,007). Intake of vegetable and animal protein was assessed every four years via food frequency questionnaires. In Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for age, smoking, diet, and behavioral factors, women in the highest quintile of cumulatively averaged vegetable protein intake (median=6.5%) had a significant 18% lower likelihood of experiencing early menopause as compared to women in the lowest quintile (3.9%) (95% CI: 0.71-0.94; P-trend=0.004). In contrast, animal and total protein was unrelated to risk. Results were similar in analyses limited to never smokers and never oral contraceptive users. Our findings suggest vegetable protein intake may be inversely associated with early menopause.

"This paper presents a survey of the physical health status of twenty-seven first grade boys and girls in the Paxton Elementary School. Keen interest on the part of the writer in this problem has been felt for a number of years. Because of this interest the writer planned and carried out the health study reported here. The central purpose of this study is to gain keener insight into the health needs of first grade pupils in Paxton Elementary School. On the basis of this understanding to plan more effective experiences that will improve the health of these boys and girls"--Introduction. / Typescript. / "July 22, 1952." / "Submitted to the Graduate School of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science." / Advisor: Virgil E. Strickland, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 36-37).

M.Cur. (Curriculum Studies) / The aim of this study is to determine whether training in stress management through primary mental health education has a positive effect on the learning of effective stress management techniques. This study was carried out on a group of police officers. In an experimental investigation the following method of stress management was used, namely a primary mental health education programme. An at-risk population in the society was identified namely the South African Police Force, and sixty four people from the target population of one hundred and twenty eight candicate-officers 'were selected for this study. A survey of the target population was done and these sampling units met the following criteria: they were all white warrant officers in training in the South.African Police Force from the same level of training, who had all obtained a national diploma in police administration. These members were representatives from throughout South-Africa making it a national study. Their ages ranged from twenty to fifty years of age....

Thesis (MTech (Environmental Health and Occupational Studies))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016 / Currently, the world faces many challenges such as a food shortages, fossil fuel depletion, floods, earthquakes, recession, wars, and climate change. It also faces diseases such as Human Immune Deficiency Virus /Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome /Sexually Transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis (HIV/AIDS /STI and TB). This study focused on HIV/AIDS/STI and TB, and the impact of changes in sexual behaviours of student peer educators as a result of peer education programmes offered by the HIV/AIDS Unit at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Although young people today have a better understanding of risky sexual behaviours, HIV remains a health problem among the youth in South Africa. HIV/AIDS is a disease that affects all sectors of the population- rich and poor, young and adult, educated and uneducated. Tertiary institutions are places where many young female and male students live independently, unsupervised by their parents or guardians, in either private accommodation or student residences. Under these circumstances it may be expected that some students will explore and experience intimacy in their relationships. Hence, universities could play a vital role in shaping students’ attitudes and behaviours towards relationships, safer practices, and respect for others. Given the current absence of a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS, peer education should appear as an important tool in HIV prevention strategy. It draws on several well-known behavioural theories and many researchers view peer education as an effective behavioural change strategy. A formal structured Peer Education Programme was initiated and implemented at the HIV/AIDS Unit at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) since 2004. This initiative was in line with one of the twelve strategic objectives of the HIV/AIDS Unit at the CPUT. This study therefore, aimed to assess the reflexive effect that the Peer Education Programme had on student peer educators who volunteer their services at the HIV/AIDS Unit at CPUT. It further attempted to assess the effect of the Peer Education Programme on changes in sexual behaviours that could occur amongst student peer educators. The purpose of this programme was to explore peer educators who were based in the HIV/AIDS Unit applying their acquired knowledge and skills; so that they may become role models for their peers by practising what they taught, and not taught what they proposed to practice. The study furthermore, forms on how effective the Peer Education Programme of CPUT’s HIV/AIDS Unit is in changing sexual behaviours of the student peer educators.

The acute nervous system toxicity of organophosphate (OP) pesticides is well described. However, the reported long-term effects of OP pesticides on the nervous system are inconsistent. This inconsistency may be due to imprecise estimates of pesticide exposure, variability of central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) assessment, small samples, and poor control of confounding. The primary goal of this research was to examine the association between long-term OP pesticide use on CNS and PNS function among pesticide applicators. An additional goal was to examine the association between high pesticide exposure events (HPEEs), which typically do not result in acute toxicity, and CNS function. Study participants were recruited from among applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) in Iowa and North Carolina. In 2006-2008, 701 male pesticide applicators completed a battery of neurobehavioral (NB) and neurological tests. Information about individual pesticide use was obtained from previous AHS interviews and a questionnaire administered during NB testing. Associations between pesticide use and neurological outcomes were estimated with linear and logistic regression models while controlling for covariates. When associations were examined between agent-specific pesticide use and nine NB tests, significantly poorer performance was observed on four tests and significantly better performance on five tests. Additionally, for some pesticides, we observed differential associations by state, suggesting that regional differences in pesticide practices may influence neurotoxicity. Overall, our results did not provide strong evidence that OP pesticide use was associated with adverse NB test performance. A history of at least one HPEE was reported by 23 percent of participants. Significant adverse associations were observed between HPEEs and two of the nine NB tests. Participants with HPEEs were, on average, 4.9 seconds slower on a test of visual scanning/processing, and 2.2 seconds slower on a test of visual scanning/motor speed. Overall, small but meaningful associations were observed between HPEEs and adverse CNS function. When associations were examined between pesticide use and PNS function, five of six neurological physical examination outcomes were associated with ever-use of one or more OP pesticides. Odds ratios ranged from 1.9 to 3.1. However, mostly null associations were observed between OP pesticide use and electrophysiological tests, hand strength, sway speed and vibrotactile threshold. This study provides some evidence that long-term exposure to OP pesticides is associated with impaired PNS function. In summary, our results suggest that exposure to a few individual OP pesticides as well as HPEEs may contribute to adverse neurological function. The observed exposure-effect associations were present after adjustment for confounding and were independent of past-diagnosed pesticide poisoning. We believe this research contributes important new evidence to an inconsistent literature. Reducing pesticide exposure and preventing HPEEs among pesticide applicators remain important public health goals.

Background HIV/AIDS has always been a concern since it first came up in 1981 in the field of medicine and public health. The trend of overall HIV epidemic has slow down through over 30 years fighting against the disease. Yet, being the largest population nowadays, young people still face high risk of HIV/AID. Sexual transmitted diseases, similar with HIV infection, are also a serious concern in young people. Peer education is widely used in the sexual education in young people. No review focused on the school-based peer education while most young people received their sexual education in schools. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of school-based peer education on HIV/STD prevention and evaluate the factors that are likely to influence the effect of school-based peer education. Method Searching through PubMed and Cochrane Library, a literature review was carried out on the relevant articles about the evaluation of school-based peer education in developing and developed countries around the world from 2000-01-01 to 2014-05-31. Findings 10 experimental studies were chosen in this review, including 3 randomized controlled trials. Among 10 studies, 8 found significant improved about the general knowledge of HIV/STD and all studies showed positive change in attitude and risk perception in the peer-led education. However, no studies found significant effect of peer education on the behavioral change regarding condom use, postponing sexual intercourses and the reduction of sexual partners, etc. The interaction of peer education and the quality of peer-educators plus other demographical factors such as socioeconomic status and religions may influence the effect of school-based peer-led education. Conclusion School-based peer education was demonstrated to be effective on the prevention of HIV/STD in knowledge and attitude improvement, similar with other kinds of peer education. Peer educators and interactions between educators and educatees play important roles in the peer education. Yet, the effect of school-based education still requires long-term assessment. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 201-208). Also available via World Wide Web.