Suicidal Plans and Attempts Among Adolescents in Mongolia: Urban Versus Rural Differences

Background: Although 75% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries, few studies have examined suicidal behaviors among young people in these countries. Aims: This study aimed to examine what individual characteristics were associated with suicidal plans and attempts among Mongolian youth and whether suicidal risks and behaviors varied by urban and rural locations. Method: Logistic regression analyses were utilized to investigate suicidal plans and attempts among 5,393 adolescents using the Global Student Health Survey – 2013. Results: Adolescents who lived in urban areas were at higher risk for suicidal plans and behaviors than those who lived in rural areas; however, the patterns of suicidal risks were similar. Specifically, individual characteristics, such as being female, feeling lonely and worried, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and having fights at school, were associated with suicidal plans and behaviors regardless of the residential places. Limitations: A number of important variables have not been included in the questionnaire such as depression, family and parental support, household income, family constructs etc. Conclusion: Given the comparable patterns of risk between urban and rural adolescents and the relatively high rates of suicidal plans and attempts, similar mental health services and interventions are necessitated for both urban and rural areas

Prevalence and Correlates of Poor Oral Hygiene among School-Going Students in Mongolia

Brushing at least twice a day is one of the most effective methods for the prevention of dental caries and oral diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of poor oral hygiene in Mongolian school-going students. A secondary analysis of nationally representative data from the 2013 Mongolian Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) was performed. In the survey, a questionnaire was completed by 5393 students aged 12–16 years old. The prevalence of poor oral hygiene and its association with some independent variables were analyzed by frequency distribution, chi-squared test, and logistic regression. The overall prevalence of poor oral hygiene was 33%. In the multivariate analysis, male students, inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, parents’ smoking, being exposed to second-hand smoke, poor parental supervision and connectedness, physical inactivity, and sedentary behavior were significantly associated with poor oral hygiene. Meanwhile, students who ate fast food and drank carbonated soft drink were found to be less likely to be poor tooth-brushers in 2013. Various determinants were identified in connection with poor oral hygiene. Based on these findings, it is recommended that an oral health promotion program should be combined with general health promotion and lifestyle intervention programs for this target population

Soil Microbial Contamination And Its Impact On Child Diarrheal Disease Incidence In Ulaanbaatar

Air and soil contamination in developing countries exacerbates due to poor management of waste collection and serves as a morbidity and mortality factor. This study aimed to conduct an assessment of soil pollution level in Ulaanbaatar and establish а correlation between microbial contamination and registered occurrences of contagious diarrheal diseases among children (0-5 years old). This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Ulaanbaatar in June-September of 2016. Samples of soil and contagious diarrheal disease morbidity data in 0-5-year-old children were used. Samples were taken from the sites three times, in July, August, and September. The data analysis was done in the SPSS-21 program and relevant parametric and non-parametric tests were used. The highest level microorganisms were found in the samples taken from sites near major markets and then in the samples from ger areas. The analysis of the samples revealed that 111.78 microorganisms exceed the standard level 1.1 times in summer. The Escherichia coli (E.Coli) and Proteus also contaminated the ground water. All diarrhea occasions in Ulaanbaatar were analyzed by seasons and months, the prevalence was peaking in August. A correlation was found with the soil E.Coli titers and infectious diarrheal disease children under five years old morbidity. The number of microorganisms in soil tends to increase in summer. Diarrheal disease infections among children under five increase most in summer and autumn and correlate with soil contamination with pathogenic microorganisms