International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health

Published by De Gruyter

Volume 33 Issue 2

April 2021

Issue of International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health

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Contents
Journal Overview

Publicly Available April 28, 2021

Frontmatter

Page range: i-ii

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Editorial

May 16, 2019

Close-in-age exemption laws: focusing on the best interests of children and adolescents

Nuray Kanbur

Article number: 20180143

Review

February 7, 2019

Literature review: nutritional factors influencing academic achievement in school age children

Pattaneeya Prangthip, Yee Mon Soe, Jean Faulan Signar

Article number: 20180142

Abstract

Background and objective Adolescence is a transition period involving tremendous physical, psychological and cognitive growth. For appropriate growth of adolescents in these aspects, a correct quantity and quality of nourishment is required, as a lack of such nourishment among adolescents can lead to various degrees of malnutrition, which may have implications on their health as well as their academic achievements. Materials and methods This review examines the research topics around factors that influence the nutritional status of adolescent students which can affect their academic performance. Results Some of the vital factors include knowledge and attitude about nutrition, eating behaviour, physical activity, socio-economic status of the family, the surrounding environment at school and home, the frequency and timing of meals, nutritional contents and amount of food intake. Conclusion Students who consume a balanced diet perform better in exams, show better behaviour as well as attendance at school and get their assigned tasks done more thoroughly compared with those who do not consume a balanced diet.

Original Articles

October 24, 2018

Appointed by young people – a qualitative study on young patients recruiting hospital staff in Denmark

Signe Hanghøj, Ena L. Thomsen, Charlotte Blix, Pernille Grarup Hertz, Kirsten A. Boisen

Article number: 20180073

Abstract

Background There is a lack of knowledge about young peoples’wishes for the qualifications including skills and personal traits of hospital staff during the recruitment process. Objective The aim of this qualitative study was to explore which qualifications, skills and personal traits young people prefer when recruiting hospital staff. Methods A Youth Recruitment Committee (YRC) consisting of four young people performed six job interviews in parallel to conventional job interviews at Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark. The interviews with the candidates and the subsequent YRC deliberation were observed and recorded, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Four main themes with matching sub-themes emerged from the data: (1) Personality (appearance and commitment), (2) Professional skills (approach, mentality and activities), (3) Project management (skills and experience), (4) Communication (during the interview and experiential approach to youth). It was important to the YRC that the candidate had professional experience working with young people as well as being a skilled project manager. The YRC also assessed the candidates´ communication during the interview. Conclusions By inviting young people in as a separate recruitment committee, their perspectives and preferences were noted without interference from professionals. Our findings are in line with previous research regarding young peoples´ preferences on youth-friendly health services. Furthermore, this approach made it possible to evaluate candidates´ communication skills with young people as they were assessed during the job interviews.

October 24, 2018

Child labor and mental health status of in-school adolescents in a municipal local government area of Lagos state, Nigeria

Oyetomiwa O. Famodu, Ayodeji Matthew Adebayo, Bosede Ehelamioke Adebayo

Article number: 20180075

Abstract

Background Child labor (CL) is on the increase in developing countries with its adverse consequences. Many studies have related CL to physical and social well-being and not mental health (MH). This study was designed to assess the experience of CL and mental health status (MHS) among in-school adolescents and determine the association between them, if any, in a metropolitan area of Lagos state, Nigeria. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in eight private and four public secondary schools using a two-stage cluster sampling method. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on CL and MH. Experience of CL was assessed through a “yes” or “no” response to whether respondents had ever worked or were currently working in exchange for money or not. MHS was measured with the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ). The SDQ is a 25-item instrument with two subdivisions: strength (prosocial) and difficulty scales. Difficulty scale is categorized into emotional, conduct, hyperactivity and peer problems. Each category of the subdivision was scored as normal (low need), borderline (some need) and abnormal (high need). The scores were modified into “positive” (low need) and “negative” (some need and high need). Total difficulty was scored “positive” (0–15) and “negative” (16–40) and prosocial behavior was scored “positive” (6–10) and “negative” (0–5). Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Chi-squared test and logistic regression at α < 0.05. Results The mean age of respondents was 14.1 ± 1.9 years with 61.4% aged 14 years and above and 59.2% were female. About a quarter (23.8%) experienced CL with apprenticeship being the most common form (55%) followed by street trading (10%). About 20% of the respondents had negative MHS on the overall difficulty scale and 8.0% on the prosocial scale. Based on the ratings of the difficulty scale, 39.1% of them had problems with peers, 19.3% had emotional problems, 17.2% had conduct problems and 7.6% were hyperactive. Sex, mothers’ and fathers’ levels of education, and school absenteeism were predictors of CL experience. Respondents who lived with both parents had lower odds of having negative MHS [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.187–0.815]. Conclusion The study revealed that among in-school adolescents in the study area, a considerable percentage of children were involved in CL and had poor MHS especially peer and conduct problems. Concerted efforts at reducing the menace of CL and interventions to promote the MH of in-school adolescents are hereby advocated.

September 26, 2018

Usefulness of hematological parameters for differential diagnosis of endometriomas in adolescents/young adults and older women

Berna Seckin, Mete Can Ates, Ayse Kirbas, Huseyin Yesilyurt

Article number: 20180078

Abstract

Background Inflammatory processes have been considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. However, the predictive role of inflammatory hematological parameters in endometriosis is not clear. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical value of hematologic markers in the differential diagnosis of endometriomas in younger and older reproductive age women. Materials and methods A retrospective chart review was done for 502 patients who underwent surgery: 267 with endometriomas (endometrioma group) and 235 with other benign adnexal cysts (control group). Patients were placed into subgroups as younger (adolescents/young adults, aged <25 years) and older (aged ≥25 years) women. Total and differential white blood cell count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet indices and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for differential diagnosis of endometriomas. Results The mean serum levels of PLR, plateletcrit (PCT), platelet count and CA-125 (reference range below 35 IU/mL) were significantly higher in the endometrioma group (p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for CA-125 was 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.82–0.88] (p < 0.001) for the entire group. However, platelet count, PLR, and PCT showed poor discriminative ability for detecting endometriomas with AUC values of 0.59 (95% CI, 0.55–0.65, p < 0.001), 0.58 (95% CI, 0.53–0.63, p = 0.002) and 0.61 (95% CI, 0.56–0.66, p < 0.001), respectively. In age-stratified analysis, these platelet indices had also low diagnostic performance in both age groups. Conclusions Hematologic markers do not adequately differentiate ovarian endometriomas from other benign cysts in neither adolescents/young adults nor older women.

April 10, 2019

Assessment of the WHO Health Promoting Schools Framework among schools in selected villages of rural Puducherry, South India – a mixed method study

Krishnamoorthy Yuvaraj, Dinesh Kumar, Shanthosh Priyan, Lakshminarayanan Subitha, Gokhale Tanmay, Sreenivasan Vaishnavi

Article number: 20180080

Abstract

Background The health of children and adolescents can be promoted through schools as they spend most of their time in school. The Health Promoting Schools (HPS) framework provides a set of policies to be followed in schools for improving the health status of school-going children and adolescents. The current study was done to assess this framework among schools in rural Puducherry. Methods Key informant interviews were done with the teachers under the six World Health Organisation (WHO) HPS framework domains to develop an observation checklist for the assessment of schools in the study area. After the survey, in-depth interviews were conducted as an approach to explore the existing health promotion activities, facilitating or hindering factors in the implementation of health promotion framework and suggestions for improving the same. Results A quantitative survey on nine schools showed that almost all the schools were lacking in domains such as health promotion policy, behaviour counselling and mental and social support. Physical education, facilities and policies for nutrition and community collaboration exist in only some of the schools. Qualitative interviews also showed similar findings and most of the teachers suggested to include training for general health emergencies and behaviour counselling. Conclusion The current study showed that most of the schools were lacking in almost all the domains under the HPS framework. Hence, stakeholders at all levels should be made aware of this framework and develop a strategy for uniform implementation of it in all the schools in the region.

October 15, 2019

The development and psychometric evaluation of a new instrument to market healthy breakfast and snacks among adolescents

Fatemeh Bastami, Fereshteh Zamani-Alavijeh, Firoozeh Mostafavi

Article number: 20180083

Abstract

Background The consumption of non-nutritious snacks instead of a proper breakfast is becoming more widespread among adolescents. It is expected that using the 4P (product, price, place, promotion) strategies of the social marketing (SM) model can help to better identify factors affecting healthy breakfast and snack consumption. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Healthy Breakfast and Snack Consumption Scale (HBSCS) using the SM model. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted in 2017. First, a scale was developed using the results of a qualitative research based on the SM model. Then, its face, content and construct validities as well as its reliability were assessed. Construct validity was evaluated via exploratory factor analysis conducted on a random sample of 300 high school pupils selected from five girls’ schools located in Isfahan, Iran, using the multistage cluster sampling method. Exploratory factor analysis was performed using the methods of principle components extraction and varimax rotation with eigenvalues greater than 1. Results A four-factor structure that explained 61.73% of the total variance of the HBSCS included healthy breakfast and snack preferences, readiness to pay the price, place preferences and communication channel preferences. Items with an impact score of less than 1.5 were removed. Additionally, items with content validity ratio values of less than 0.62 and content validity index values of less than 0.79 were deleted. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure value was 0.74 [chi-squared (χ 2 ) = 2353.622; p-value < 0.001]. The Cronbach’s α values of the scale and its four dimensions were 0.71 and 0.56–0.72, respectively. Conclusion This scale has acceptable validity and reliability. School authorities and health professionals can use this scale to screen adolescents at risk of consuming unhealthy foods and snacks. Besides, the scale might be used as a framework for assessing, implementing and promoting healthy eating behaviors among pupils.

September 8, 2018

Awareness of bicycle light use of young adults

Ronald Chow, Drew Hollenberg, Jaclyn Viehweger, Sydney LaPierre, Trevor Pettit, Harrison Hui, Raissa Dzulynsky

Article number: 20180086

Abstract

Helmet use amongst bicyclists has been well documented in recent literature. Helmet use is not the only measure cyclists can take to reduce their chance of crashes. Many places, in addition to mandating helmet use by law for youths, also require bicycle lights to be used under low-light conditions (i.e. during sunrise, during sunset and at night). The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness of bicycle light use amongst young adults, with respect to the legalities and also utility of lights while cycling. An anonymous survey was developed and circulated to young adults in Canada, Ireland and the United States of America. A total of 112 individuals completed the survey. Only 13% of individuals had an unsatisfactory knowledge of bicycle light use. As knowledge is the first step towards advocating for new measures, young adults seem well -versed with respect to bicycle light use and may be able to be targeted to increase bicycle light use. Frequency of commute was related to the knowledge of bicycle light use; those who commuted more regularly were more knowledgeable. This study, however, was composed primarily of young adults residing in Canada. Future studies could investigate knowledge among young adults who reside in a region that more regularly commutes using a bicycle, to see whether this trend holds.

April 12, 2019

A brief study on the knowledge and choice of contraception methods in married adolescent girls

Raziye Dut, Ragıp Atakan Al

Article number: 20180091

Abstract

Introduction The fertility rate is 0.25% for 15–19-year-old girls and 16% for 19-year-old girls who are mothers or pregnant with their first child. Fifty-two percent of married adolescents did not have affective contraception. To encourage using the right contraceptive methods in married adolescents, it is essential to examine the behaviors of this group, the level of contraceptive knowledge and the choices they make regarding contraceptive use. Materials and methods One hundred and ten married adolescent females, less than 20 years of age, who visited a gynecology and obstetrics clinic between January 2015 and October 2016 were enrolled in this prospective study. Results Of them 96.4% were unemployed. At the time of the study, 70% of them were pregnant. Of these pregnancies, 46.4% was a first, 19.1% a second and 8.2% a third pregnancy. The abortion rate in this study was 18.3%, and stillbirth was 2.8%. The interval between pregnancies was 20.9 months. The unplanned pregnancy rate was 45.5% and 37.3% of these unplanned pregnancies resulted in at least one healthy child. The most common contraceptive method was the use of condoms (10.9%). Changes in contraceptive methods resulted in pregnancy in 66.7% of the cases. Although 20.9% of the husbands in the study used contraceptive methods, 40.9% of them felt that their husbands should be using contraception. Of the participants 43.5% received their knowledge regarding family planning and contraceptive methods from local health clinics. Discussion Teen marriage, pregnancy and teen parents result in socio-economic and educational difficulties. It is essential to support the adolescent parents using affective contraceptive methods and adolescent-friendly health clinics.

April 11, 2019

Coverage of and compliance to iron supplementation under the National Iron Plus Initiative among reproductive age-group women in urban Puducherry – a cross-sectional study

Surendran Gayathri, Sakthivel Manikandanesan, Jayaseelan Venkatachalam, Sarveswaran Gokul, Arivarasan Yashodha, K. C. Premarajan

Article number: 20180094

Abstract

Background Anaemia is a global health problem and an important cause of morbidity in all age groups, especially among women and children. Various programmes have been implemented to combat anaemia in India and National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) is the latest programme to be implemented. Aim To ascertain the proportion of reproductive age women receiving iron supplementation under the NIPI and assess the compliance and factors hindering the implementation and compliance of the programme. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) during November 2017. The participants were interviewed at their household using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire to obtain information on socio-demographic details, whether they were receiving iron supplements and compliance to the programme. Results Out of 302 study participants, only 138 (45.7%) were found to be receiving the supplements under the NIPI. The major source of iron supplementation was various health facilities (69.4%). Of those not receiving the tablets, 96.3% were non-pregnant non-lactating women. The proportion of study participants receiving iron supplementation through house visits by auxiliary nurse mid-wives (ANMs) was only 1.45%. Of the 138 women receiving supplementation, 85 (61%) were compliant with their medication. Compliance also tended to be higher among pregnant and lactating women. The most important reasons for non-compliance were adverse effects and forgetfulness. The presence of regular house visits by ANMs had a significant association with reception of tablets [prevalence ratio (PR)–1.43]. Pregnant women had a significant association with both reception (PR–2.19) and compliance (PR–1.8) with iron supplementation. Conclusion The current NIPI programme needs to be regularly evaluated to ensure its effective implementation. Importance should be given to non-pregnant non-lactating women to increase coverage among them.

November 17, 2018

Adolescents’ smartphone use at night, sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms

Rian Kusuma Dewi, Ferry Efendi, Eka Mishbahatul M. Has, Joko Gunawan

Article number: 20180095

Abstract

Nowadays smartphones are used anywhere and at any time, day or night, by adolescents. Smartphone use, especially at night, is a risk factor for sleep disturbance and depression in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to analyse the correlation between smartphone use at night, sleep disturbance and depression symptoms in adolescents. This cross-sectional study analysed the data from 714 students in Surabaya, who were selected by using a simple random sampling technique. The independent variable was smartphone usage at night while the dependent variable was sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms. The data was collected using three questionnaires: the smartphone usage at night questionnaire, the Insomnia Severity Index questionnaire and the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale questionnaire. The data was then analysed using Spearman’s rho analysis (α < 0.05). The results indicated that there was a relationship between the use of smartphones at night and sleep disturbance in adolescents with a positive correlation (r = 0.374), and that there was a relationship between the use of smartphones at night and depression symptoms in adolescents with a positive correlation (r = 0.360). This study highlights that the excessive use of smartphones during the night may play a significant role in sleep problems and depressive symptoms among teenagers. Adolescents with sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms should be carefully monitored for signs of smartphone addiction. Nurses should improve health education for adolescents to inform them about the positive use of smartphones to prevent sleep disturbance and to minimise depressive symptoms.

April 17, 2019

Prevalence and determinants of poor quality of sleep among adolescents in rural Puducherry, South India

Gokul Sarveswaran, Kalaiselvy Arikrishnan, Yuvaraj Krishnamoorthy, Manikandanesan Sakthivel, Marie Gilbert Majella, Subitha Lakshminarayanan

Article number: 20180101

Abstract

Background Adolescence is a critical stage of life which is characterized by rapid biological, social and emotional development. India has the highest adolescent population, however, there is paucity of literature reporting the sleep quality among adolescents. Objective To determine the sleep quality and its associated factors among adolescents residing in selected villages of rural Puducherry. Materials and methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents during March and April 2018. Two out of four villages were randomly selected and all the adolescents were contacted through a household visit and a questionnaire was administered. The semi-structured questionnaire contained socio-demographic details of adolescents and details on living environment. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale. Sleep quality is expressed as a proportion with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The association of socio-demographic characteristics with poor sleep quality is reported as a prevalence ratio. Results The total number of adolescents interviewed was 789. The mean age of the study participants was 14.1 (±2.4) years and the majority, 440 (55.8%) were boys and 684 (86.7%) belonged to a nuclear family. More than a quarter, 210 (26.6%) belonged to the middle class as regards socio-economic status. Environmental assessment of households showed more than half, 456 (57.8%) were staying in a “pucca” house and the majority, 642 (81.4%) had adequate cross ventilation. The prevalence of poor quality of sleep among the adolescents was 2.5% (95% CI: 1.6%–3.9%). It was found that higher educational level [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) – 3.43] and belonging to higher socio-economic class (aPR – 5.48) were found to be significant determinants for poor quality of sleep among adolescents. Conclusion The current study found that only 2.5% of the adolescents have poor sleep quality. Adolescents with higher educational level and higher socio-economic status were more prone to have poor quality of sleep.

December 17, 2018

Health awareness, lifestyle and dietary behavior of university students in the northeast part of Bangladesh

Mahmuda Mohammad, Muhammad Abdul Baker Chowdhury, Md Nazrul Islam, Arifa Ahmed, Farha Nusrat Zahan, Mst. Farzana Akter, Shamima Naznin Mila, Tania Akhter Tani, Tanjila Akter, Tanjila Islam, Md Jamal Uddin

Article number: 20180105

Abstract

Introduction University students generally face a variety of challenges. During this period of life, they practice some unhealthy eating patterns and lifestyles. Therefore, we aimed to assess the health awareness status of university students from the northeast part of Bangladesh and to evaluate its associated factors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using a stratified random sampling among public and private university students from the northeast region of Bangladesh and interviewed 1143 students. We used a self-reported questionnaire, including questions related to awareness status, lifestyle practice, dietary habit and socio-demographic factors. To assess students’ health awareness status and its association with their lifestyle practices and socio-demographic factors, we used logistic regression models. Results The majority (61%) of the students were not aware of better health status and their dietary habits were not adequate. Smokers [odds ratio (OR): 0.66; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.44, 0.99] were less likely to be aware of better health status. The participants who thought that they were leading a healthy lifestyle were less likely (OR: 0.71; CI: 0.56, 0.92) to be aware. Moreover, frequency of participating in sports and the psychological factors related to eating behaviors were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with health awareness status. Conclusion Our study findings may help to create a foundation for possible interventional programs on health awareness and nutritional education to improve the health awareness status and dietary behavior of university students. To prevent students from poor eating habits while feeling happy, effective programs (e.g. seminars, projects and media campaigns) should be held, which may include enhancing healthy and recommended amounts of food consumption.

December 4, 2018

The effectiveness of group counseling on prenatal care knowledge and performance of pregnant adolescents in a Kurdish region of Iran

Farzaneh Soltani, Shahla shafaati, Soodabeh Aghababaei, Vida Samiei, Ghodratollah Roshanaei

Article number: 20180108

Abstract

Background Prenatal care in adolescents is one of the most important challenges worldwide, especially in the regions with a specific culture and traditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group counseling on knowledge and performance of pregnant adolescents in prenatal care in a Kurdish region in Iran. Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted on pregnant adolescents attending in the health centers of Mahabad, a Kurdish city in Iran. Using a multi-stage cluster sampling method, after random selection of four health centers as the intervention and the control, primigravida adolescents with gestational age of 16–20 weeks filled out the demographic and midwifery characteristics questionnaire, as well as a prenatal care knowledge and performance of pregnant adolescents’ questionnaire. Then 102 pregnant adolescents (51 people in the control centers and 51 people in the intervention centers), who responded correctly to <50% of the questionnaire items were included in the study. Six sessions of group counseling about prenatal care were held for the intervention group. The control group received the routine prenatal care. Knowledge and performance of pregnant adolescents about prenatal care were compared inter and intra two groups 1 month after the end of the sessions through descriptive-analytic tests including chi-square, independent T and paired T tests. Results In contrast to the control group, the mean scores of adolescents’ knowledge about prenatal care increased after the intervention (from 17.51 ± 5.93 to 24.67 ± 5.79) and showed significant difference to the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the mean scores of adolescent care performance in the intervention group increased (from 5.80 ± 2.19 to 10.33 ± 2.55) and showed significant difference to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of the present study show the positive effects of prenatal care counseling on increasing knowledge and improving the performance of pregnant adolescents.

November 29, 2018

High adenovirus 36 seroprevalence among a population of Hispanic American youth

Emily C. LaVoy, Katherine R. Arlinghaus, Bridgette V. Rooney, Priti Gupta, Richard Atkinson, Craig A. Johnston

Article number: 20180110

Abstract

Infection with adenovirus 36 (Ad36) has been associated with risk of obesity in youth in some studies, but the seroprevalence of this virus has not been examined among all populations. As Hispanic-American youth are of greater risk for obesity than other American youth, we sought to determine the proportion of Ad36 seropositive (Ad36+) students in an urban middle school serving a Hispanic population. We further examined if Ad36+ students were more likely to have obesity, and if Ad36 serostatus impacted changes in weight status following a health intervention. We determined body mass index (BMI) at the beginning and end of a 16-week health intervention among 40 Hispanic-American middle-school students. Ad36 serostatus was determined by enzyme-linked immunsorbent assay (ELISA). Seventy percent of the students were Ad36+. Ad36+ and Ad36 seronegative (Ad36−) did not differ before or after the intervention in body weight measures. The odds of being classified as obese was 1.4 times greater among Ad36+ than Ad36− at baseline, and 2.4 times greater post-intervention, but these were not statistically significant. We report a high seroprevalence of Ad36 among a population of Hispanic-American students. Ad36 seropositivity was associated with a trend for a greater likelihood of having obesity, but did not impact response to a health intervention.

April 11, 2019

Development and psychometric properties of the female adolescents’ sexual reproductive self-care scale

Zainab Alimoradi, Nourossadat Kariman, Fazlollah Ahmadi, Masoumeh Simbar, Hamid AlaviMajd

Article number: 20180116

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this study was to design and evaluate the psychometric properties of an instrument for understanding female adolescents’ reproductive and sexual self-care behaviors. Methods A methodological study was conducted. In the qualitative phase, individual in-depth interviews were performed to develop the initial questionnaire. In the quantitative part, the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated. Findings The initial questionnaire with 128 items was reviewed by the research team and taking into account the cut-off point 1.5 for the item impact and 0.62 for the content validity ratio (CVR), the number of questions fell to 82 items. S-CVR and S-content validity index (CVI) rations were 0.83 and 0.91, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis led to 74 items in seven dimensions. The alpha Cronbach’s coefficient for the whole questionnaire was 0.895 and the intra-cluster correlation coefficient was 0.91. Conclusion The questionnaire developed in this study is reliable and valid for assessing female adolescents’ sexual and reproductive self-care.

October 2, 2018

“Decide Now, Buy Marlboro”: Examining the influence and appeal of Marlboro’s new brand architecture among Filipino adolescents

Lisa P. Lagasse, Marela Kay R. Minosa, Meghan B. Moran, Joanna E. Cohen

Article number: 20180117

Abstract

In recent years, Philip Morris International (PMI) launched a global rebranding strategy to expand the reach of Marlboro. Using a mixed-methods design, this study evaluated the appeal and influence of Marlboro advertising among Filipino youth. Six hundred and twenty-three adolescents aged 13–17 years old in Metro Manila participated in a survey, including three advertising conditions: two for Marlboro and one for Mighty, a local cigarette brand. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired t-tests evaluated differences between the three conditions on participants’ attitudes toward advertisements [measured as identification, likeability, and perceived effectiveness (PE)]. Compared to Mighty, never-smokers rated Marlboro advertisements as more identifiable and likeable. Comparing by smoking status (never vs. ever), multivariable logistic regression assessed the influence of these attitudes on intention to smoke. Increased likeability was associated with greater intention to smoke among never-smokers, and greater PE increased odds of intention to smoke for both never- and ever-smokers. Additionally, six focus group discussions (FGD) explored responses to campaign messaging. Themes were compared within and across groups. Marlboro was also appealing to FGD participants, who described the ads as attractive to youth and promoting “adventure” and “freedom”, whereas the Mighty brand was seen as being for adults and current smokers. Our findings illustrate that Marlboro advertisements are distinctly appealing to youth. Marlboro rhetoric – where consumers are urged to “decide” to “Be Marlboro” – was particularly powerful. These findings support the need for addressing gaps in policies regulating the marketing and promotion of tobacco in the Philippines.

March 26, 2019

Knowledge, attitude and practice of cigarette smoking among senior secondary school students in Depok, Indonesia

Mochamad Iqbal Nurmansyah, Yuyun Umniyatun, Miftahul Jannah, Agung Taufiqurrokhman Syiroj, Didin Nuruddin Hidayat

Article number: 20180124

Abstract

Background Smoking behavior is primarily initiated and established during adolescence. Understanding the social context of smoking behavior among young people is required for developing strategies in preventing first tobacco use. Objective This study aimed at exploring the determinants of smoking behavior among senior secondary school students in Depok, Indonesia by identifying knowledge regarding smoking-related adverse outcomes, perception and attitude toward smoking behavior and tobacco control policy. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional design method. A total of 587 students from six senior secondary schools in Depok, Indonesia participated in this study. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to determine associations between cigarette smoking and independent variables. Results Respondents ranged from 14 to 19 years old students. The proportion of current cigarette smokers were 99 students (17.0%) where the majority of the smokers were male (35.5%). The majority of the students, both smokers and non-smokers, were aware that cigarette smoking causes health problems. The present study found that attitudes that may lead to smoking behavior, in most cases, have been found to be significantly different between smokers and non-smokers. The perception of smoking behavior of smokers and non-smokers, such as smoking makes one more confident, cool, makes it easier to make friends, can relieve stress, symbolizes adulthood and masculinity, was statistically significant to smoking behavior. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of changing youths’ image of cigarette smoking than merely educating students regarding the health hazards of smoking when they already possessed a good knowledge about those issues.

March 19, 2019

Factors associated with knowledge of where to access health care among youth in juvenile detention: a mixed methods study

Titilola Balogun, Catherine Troisi, Michael D. Swartz, Linda Lloyd, Rebecca Beyda

Article number: 20180128

Abstract

Background Mental illness, substance use, and sexual health issues are major health concerns among detained youth compared with the general population. There is a dearth of studies that demonstrate what detained youth in the United States know about where to access health services in the community. Given the magnitude of these health concerns among detained youth compared with youth in the general population, knowing where to access health care in the community could lead to early intervention and better health outcomes. Objectives This study determines what detained youth know about where to access care for mental health symptoms, substance use, and sexually transmitted infections, and identifies the factors associated with knowledge of where to access health care. Methods Data were collected using mixed methods from a cross-sectional sample of 301 detained youth. Information was obtained using surveys (which included closed and open-ended questions), and data abstraction from their medical records. Logistic regression analysis, Chi-squared tests and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data. Results Having a primary care provider, perceived susceptibility, and previous experiences with health care providers all influenced what youth in our study knew about where to seek health care. Conclusions The use of mixed methods including open-ended questions allowed us to gain a better perspective of where detained youth would seek help for health issues. Detained youth have poorer health outcomes yet many did not know where to access health resources. Primary care providers who see youth should provide comprehensive, youth-friendly services.

October 20, 2018

Association between a vegetarian diet and emotional symptoms: a cross-sectional study among adolescents in four developing countries

Alejandra Santivañez-Romani, Valeria Carbajal-Vega, Reneé Pereyra-Elías

Article number: 20180130

Abstract

Background Studies assessing the association between vegetarianism and mental health have found divergent results. Evidence from adolescents in developing countries is scarce. Objective To evaluate the association between a vegetarian diet and emotional symptoms in 15-year-old adolescents from Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam. Methods A cross-sectional, secondary analysis of the Young Lives cohort study was used. The exposure variable was the self-report of being a vegetarian (yes or no). The outcome was the level of emotional symptoms, numerically evaluated using the score obtained in the subscale “Emotional Symptoms” of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We calculated crude and adjusted coefficients (β) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), using generalized linear models of the Gaussian family, considering each sentinel site as a cluster. The analysis was stratified by country. Additionally, we made a global analysis including the four countries. Results A total of 3484 adolescents were analyzed. The overall prevalence of vegetarianism was 4.4%, but it varied between countries (from 0.4% in Vietnam to 11.5% in India). The average emotional symptoms score was 3.5 [standard deviation (SD) 2.3] points. The scores were not statistically different between vegetarians and non-vegetarians (p > 0.05). In the adjusted analysis, in Vietnam, vegetarians had lower emotional symptoms scores on average than non-vegetarians [β: −1.79; 95% CI: −3.05 to −0.55]. No differences were found neither in the other countries nor in the overall sample. Conclusion There was no association between a vegetarian diet and emotional symptoms in the analyzed adolescents of four developing countries.

October 20, 2018

A prospective 1-year study on load reduction of school backpacks shows reversible changes of body posture in schoolchildren

Julia J. Grannemann, Sonja Holzhauer, Siegmar Blumentritt, Jörg Larsen, Lena Braunschweig, Anna K. Hell

Article number: 20180132

Abstract

Background The impact of backpack carrying on body postural changes in schoolchildren has been discussed intensively. However, findings are inconsistent mainly due to the lack of long-term results. Objective The purpose of this investigation was to study the influence of backpack weight on body posture and prevalence of back pain. Methods In our prospective, comparative study, we investigated the influence of backpack weight on 77 schoolchildren (average age 10.8 ± 0.7 years) over a 1-year period. Participants were evaluated at the beginning of the study by clinical examination and formal static posture analysis. Forty-nine students comprised the control group while 28 students in the intervention cohort had the weight of their backpacks reduced by 2 kg. All students were reevaluated after 6 and 12 months by formal postural examination. Results Children with reduced backpack weights had a significantly improved bending posture when wearing their backpacks when compared to the participants of the control group, whereas the analysis of the children while they did not wear their backpacks revealed no difference between the groups. Within the follow-up period all postural changes were reversible once the backpack weight was removed. Conclusions Schoolchildren with heavy backpack loads show postural changes while carrying their backpack but this impact was reversible when backpacks were removed. Continuous reduction of backpack loads minimizes prevalence of back pain.

October 31, 2018

Level, motivation and barriers to participate in physical activity among late adolescents in Puducherry

P. Divyasree, G. Dinesh Kumar, L. Subitha, R.S. Ramesh

Article number: 20180133

Abstract

Background One in every ten deaths globally is accounted for by physical inactivity-related risks. Adolescents constitute 18% of the world’s total population and are at risk of becoming physically inactive in the future. Thus, this study aims to find the level of physical activity (PA) among late adolescents and factors that motivate and prevent them from being active. Methodology Four hundred and fifty adolescents in the age group of 18–19 years were included in the study. Standardized self-administered questionnaires such as the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire were used to assess the level of PA and level of motivation, respectively. In addition, barriers to participating in PA were also elicited. Results This study found that about one third of the subjects (32.4%) were physically inactive. The motivation levels were more pooled towards the self-determined motives and girls are more motivated towards PA than boys. However, PA among males is significantly higher than females. Healthy practices in families was also found to have significant association with increased PA. The major barriers found were the excessive use of electronic gadgets and lethargy. Conclusion One third of the adolescents in this study were physically inactive and several barriers that prevent them from taking up PA were elicited. Therefore, efforts should be taken to emphasize the importance of physical activity among individuals, family members and the peers at institutional level and community level so as to lay foundations for healthy lifestyles in the future. Basic prevention in the emergence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like PA is vital to curb the growing burden of chronic diseases in our country.

February 15, 2019

A pilot study to improve sugar and water consumption in Maltese school children

C. Copperstone, G. McNeill, L. Aucott, D.M. Jackson

Article number: 20180134

Abstract

Background Excessive sugar consumption remains implicated as one of the key dietary factors that has been linked to overweight and obesity in children. Schools have been identified as an important setting for health promotion interventions in children and can be successful in bringing about dietary behavioral change when well designed. Objective The main aim of the study was to conduct a pilot intervention study and assess the possible effects of educational and environmental methodological components on sugar intake and water consumption in Maltese school children. Subjects and methods Face-to-face educational sessions for children and parents were supported by written materials and provision of free drinking water for children for a 12 week period in the school setting. Two main dietary outcomes were measured: non-milk extrinsic sugars(NMES) intake (measured as g/day) and water consumption (measured as servings/day), measured in the pre- and post-intervention periods. The dietary outcomes were measured at school using the novel online dietary assessment tool, REALITYMALTA™. Results 55 children, aged 10-11 years, were recruited, and 48 provided diet data at baseline and end. A reduction in mean energy intakes was noted from 7733 kJ/day (SD 2046) to 6809 (SD 2224) kJ/day (p = 0.03), with water servings intake increased and NMES intake decreased but results not statistically significant. Parent attendance at the educational sessions was low. Conclusions A larger scale study, including multi-level analysis is recommended. Modifying the content of the intervention and finding ways to increase parent engagement should be considered in future.

February 1, 2019

Deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs in adolescents: a study in a tertiary hospital

Catarina Faria, Henedina Antunes, Teresa Pontes, Ana Antunes, Sofia Martins, Susana Carvalho

Article number: 20180137

Abstract

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) – which includes deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) – has been increasingly recognized in the pediatric population. The estimated incidence is 0.07–0.14 cases per 10,000 children. Most cases are associated with two or more risk factors. Medium and long-term complications include recurrence and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Objective To characterize the adolescent population with the diagnosis of DVT of lower limbs in a tertiary hospital, regarding its clinical presentation, associated risk factors, treatment and outcome. Methods Retrospective analysis of adolescents with the diagnosis of DVT of lower limbs in our hospital for a period of 7 years. Results Eight patients were identified; seven were females; median age was 15 years. The main symptoms were local pain and edema. Left lower limb was affected in six patients. PE occurred in two cases. Positive family history of venous thromboembolism was found in five patients. Seven patients had at least two identifiable risk factors. Combined oral contraceptive pill use was the most common (seven patients). Factor V Leiden mutation was found in three patients and protein C deficiency in one. Iliac vein compression syndrome was diagnosed in one patient. The median time for discharge was 8 days. Election treatment was enoxaparin followed by warfarin, for a median period of 10.9 months. Three patients developed PTS. Conclusions Although uncommon, VTE is an emerging reality in adolescents, particularly in females using oral contraceptive pills. Appropriated prevention strategies and treatment are required as most orientations are extrapolated from adults.

November 29, 2018

Prevalence and determinants of condom use among male adolescents in Indonesia

I Gusti Ngurah Edi Putra, Desri Astuti, Dyah Anantalia Widyastari, Dusita Phuengsamran

Article number: 20180141

Abstract

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health problems remain a public health concern in Indonesia. An increase of premarital sex as well as early sexual debut among adolescents without any protection leads to a high risk of adverse sexual and reproductive health consequences. This study aimed to assess condom use prevalence and identify its determinants among male adolescents who are sexually active in Indonesia. This was a cross-sectional study using secondary data from the Adolescent Reproductive Health component of the Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) 2012. The sample for this study was 1341 sexually active male adolescents aged 15–24 years old. Data were analyzed descriptively and using binary logistic regression for bivariate and multivariate analysis. This study found that condom use prevalence among male adolescents at first and last sex accounted for 25.0% and 27.4%, respectively. Determinants of condom use varied by time of sexual intercourse. Knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and obtaining information about condoms were consistently related to condom use at first and last sexual encounter. Meanwhile, residential type, age at first sex, and sexual partner were significant determinants of condom use at sexual debut whilst educational level was only associated with condom use at last sex. As the level of protected sex among male adolescents was very low, providing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is suggested in order to develop the capacity among adolescents in making informed decisions and preventing unsafe sex.

June 1, 2020

Iranian mothers’ needs for reproductive health education of their adolescent daughters: a qualitative study

Shahrbanoo Salehin, Masoumeh Simbar, Zohre Keshavarz, Malihe Nasiri

Article number: 20180144

Abstract

Introduction In order to be effective in discussing high-risk sexual behaviors with adolescents, mothers need to be educated about their adolescent daughters’ sexual issues. As no detailed and exact knowledge on mothers’ educational needs concerning adolescent girls’ reproductive health is available, the current study was intended to investigate mothers’ educational needs concerning their adolescent daughters’ reproductive health. Materials and methods This research was a qualitative content analysis. Purposive sampling was performed to the saturation point. The samples included 26 mothers and 14 key informants. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. Data authenticity was verified based on Lincoln and Guba’s criteria and data analysis was conducted using conventional content analysis with MAXQDA10 software. Findings In this study, three themes and 13 main categories, each with a number of subcategories were extracted. The themes and main categories included: “appropriate educational content (reproductive health, sexual health, general health, psychological health, family health, social health and spiritual health)”, “characteristics of the educator (communicative skill, cognitive skill and moral competence)”, and “effective factors in learning (teaching method, learning conditions and environment, and the learner’s readiness)”. Conclusions The results demonstrated that mothers need to be informed about sexual, reproductive, general, psychological, family, social and spiritual health in adolescent girls. Consequently, the results can help the healthcare authorities to implement need-based programs and boost the effectiveness of education about adolescent girls’ reproductive health for mothers.

Short Communication

May 24, 2019

Psychosocial determinants of stress among adolescents in an urban slum in a city of Western Maharashtra: a cross-sectional study

C.S. Aishwarya, Indranil Samanta, Puja Dudeja

Article number: 20180139

Abstract

Introduction Stress is a major underlying factor in the manifestation of many mental disorders. The prevalence of stress among Indian adolescents varies from 13% to 45%. Hence, the present study was done to assess the psychosocial determinants of stress among adolescents in an urban slum. Methodology This was a cross-sectional analytical study (community based) in an urban slum from January to July 17 with a sample of 230 adolescents aged 10–19 years. An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) tool validated for use in the community was self-administered. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results The commonest stressors were perceived threat to economic position (84.3%), economic difficulty of meeting expenses for treatment of self/family members (63.5%), upcoming exams (61). The stressors that occurred significantly more often (p < 0.05) in males as compared to females were related to sexual desire, conflicts in love affairs, getting a job/employment issues, exam failure and interpersonal relationships within the family. Stressors that occurred significantly more often (p < 0.05) in females than in males were fear of sexual abuse/assault. Significant correlates of the presence of stress were male gender, nuclear family and low family income (p < 0.05). Conclusion The stressors in adolescents in an urban slum are both internal and external. There are gender differentials in type of stressors faced by adolescents.

About this journal

In 2022, Imelda Coyne, Professor in Children's Nursing & Co-Director of the Trinity Research in Childhood Centre (TRiCC) and Maria Demma Cabral, Associate Professor in Adolescent Medicine in Cottage Children's Medical Center, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, took over as Co-Editors-in-Chief of International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health (IJAMH).

Both bring a tremendous wealth of experience and expertise on adolescent health and well-being in broad contexts, and we are excitedly looking forward to this new phase of the journal.

Objective
The International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health (IJAMH) is an international, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, scientific journal with aim to publish original research in all aspects of promotion and improvement of adolescents’ health and wellbeing. We seek original manuscripts, review articles, short communications and letters to the editor from all disciplines worldwide. We welcome manuscripts from our colleagues in medicine, clinical medicine, nursing, health services research, public health and policy and other disciplines that strive to improve adolescents’ health and wellbeing internationally. Our International Editorial Board is dedicated to producing a high-quality scientific journal that is essential reading for healthcare professionals, practitioners, researchers, educators, managers, policy makers, students, and other learners and which advances and promotes adolescents’ health and wellbeing.

Topics

Medicine and Clinical Medicine
Health issues
Adolescents
Hygiene and Environmental Medicine

Article formats
Review Articles, Original Articles, Short Communications, Letters to the Editor