Computer Game Use and Television Viewing Increased Risk for Overweight among Low Activity Girls: Fourth Thai National Health Examination Survey 2008-2009

Studies of the relationship between sedentary behaviors and overweight among children and adolescents show mixed results. The fourth Thai National Health Examination Survey data collected between 2008 and 2009 were used to explore this association in 5,999 children aged 6 to 14 years. The prevalence of overweight defined by the age- and gender-specific body mass index cut-points of the International Obesity Task Force was 16%. Using multiple logistic regression, computer game use for more than 1 hour a day was found to be associated with an increased risk of overweight (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.93). The effect of computer game use and TV viewing on the risk for overweight was significantly pronounced among girls who spent ≤3 days/week in 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (AOR = 1.99 and 1.72, resp.). On the contrary, these sedentary behaviors did not exert significant risk for overweight among boys. The moderating effect on risk of overweight by physical inactivity and media use should be taken into consideration in designing the interventions for overweight control in children and adolescents. Tracking societal changes is essential for identification of potential areas for targeted interventions

Estimated cost of extra work hours from co‐workers\u27 drinking in Thailand

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol\u27s harm to others (AHTO) in workplaces has received little attention. A few studies from high-income countries have estimated the cost of AHTO in workplaces, while data from the low- and middle-income countries are lacking. This study aimed to estimate the cost of AHTO in workplaces and to explore factors associated with the cost of AHTO in workplaces. METHODS: Data were taken from 1392 employed respondents who participated in a survey conducted in Thailand from September 2012 to March 2013. The cost of extra work hours was estimated from the hourly wage and extra hours of work. The hourly wage was computed by converting monthly income to weekly income and dividing weekly income by weekly working hours. The gamma regression with log link was used to determine factors associated with the cost of extra working hours. RESULTS: The past-year prevalence of harm from co-workers\u27 drinking was 17.8% among the employed population. The prevalence of working extra hours was 6.1%. On average, an affected worker worked 16.0 extra hours due to co-workers\u27 drinking. In total, 28.8 million hours of extra work was attributed to co-workers\u27 drinking in 1 year. The cost of these extra work hours was 1.8 billion Thai baht (57.8 million USD). Age, education and type of employment were associated with the cost of working extra hours. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The burden of alcohol in workplaces extends beyond drinking workers. Our findings indicate that alcohol imposes a significant cost on co-workers of drinkers

Stigmatizing attitudes toward people living with HIV among general adult Thai population: Results from the 5th Thai National Health Examination Survey (NHES).

HIV-related stigma and discrimination is a significant driver of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. UNAIDS encourages all nations to monitor progress toward elimination of this problem. This study measured the level of stigmatizing attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLHIV) among Thai adults in the general population using recommended global tools.Data from the 5th National Health Examination Survey, conducted in 2014 were used. The survey utilized six questions recommended by the Global Stigma and Discrimination Indicator Working Group and was administered to participants aged 20-59 years old. All analyses were weighted to take into account of the probability of sampling the same-age Thai population. Factors related to a discriminatory attitude according to UNAIDS, defined as agreed to at least one of the two discriminatory issues, were evaluated using Chi square tested and multivariable logistic regression.Of the 10,522 respondents, the most prevalent stigmatizing attitude was anticipated stigma (76.9%), followed by perceived stigma (69.2%), fear of HIV infection (57.0%), and social judgment (38.2%). Fifty-eight point six percent had discriminatory attitudes according to the UNAIDS global indicator. Independent predictors were being female (AOR = 1.21: 95% CI 1.14-1.29), aged 20-39 (AOR = 1.19: 95% CI 1.09-1.30) or 50-59 (AOR = 1.18: 95%CI 1.12-1.26), being Muslim (AOR = 2.03: 95%CI 1.55-2.66), earning < 10,000 Baht/month (AOR = 0.93: 95%CI 0.88-0.99), and living in the Northeast (AOR = 1.67: 95%CI 1.39-2.00) or in Bangkok (AOR = 1.73: 95%CI 1.45-2.07).More than half of the general adult Thai population had stigmatizing attitudes toward PLHIV. The study provided valuable baseline information which could be used as comparison for follow-up surveys with other countries. Interventions to improve Thai society's knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS are urgently needed

Percentage and number of the respondents who had negative attitudes according to particular HIV stigma domains.

<p>Percentage and number of the respondents who had negative attitudes according to particular HIV stigma domains.</p

Bivariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with the UNAIDS’s global indicator on discriminatory attitude toward PLHIV.

<p>Bivariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with the UNAIDS’s global indicator on discriminatory attitude toward PLHIV.</p

Questions asked and their corresponded HIV stigma domain and meaning.

<p>Questions asked and their corresponded HIV stigma domain and meaning.</p

Relationship between characteristics of the respondents and negative attitudes according to particular HIV stigma domains.

<p>Relationship between characteristics of the respondents and negative attitudes according to particular HIV stigma domains.</p

Characteristics of the respondents.

<p>Characteristics of the respondents.</p