Thai adolescents' sexual behaviors and school-based sex education: perspectives of stakeholders in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand

Background: At present, high-risk sexual practices and reproductive health problems are increasingly evident among Thai adolescents. School-based sex education is one strategy to address these problems. Despite rapid westernization in Thailand, sexual matters are still culturally taboo. Thus, perspectives of Thais toward adolescents' sexual behaviors and school-based sex education are not well understood. Objectives: 1) To explore the perspective of stakeholders toward adolescents' sexual behaviors and an existing school-based sex education curriculum; and 2) To recommend an appropriate school-based sex education curriculum that takes into account viewpoints at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community and policy levels. Methodology: This study is based on the descriptive approach to qualitative research. Data were collected from middle and high school students, parents, teachers, school administrators, community leaders, and provincial government authorities from January 4 to July 28, 2006. A total of 90 individuals participated in 28 in-depth interviews, 12 focus group interviews, and 3 classroom observations. Content analysis was used to analyze study data. Results: Thai adolescents engage in various kinds of sexual behaviors. Media and technology are considered by study participants as the greatest influence on these sexual behaviors. Most Thai adults in this study were accepting of adolescents' sexual behaviors such as having a boyfriend or girlfriend and accessing sexually explicit media but not premarital sex. They were also aware of reproductive health problems among adolescents. However, they perceived these problems as family-level problems. All participants supported school-based sex education yet articulated both benefits and costs. Based on stakeholders' recommendations, the appropriate curriculum should emphasize abstinence-only and also provide education about safe sex practices. Morality and Thai culture should also be taught simultaneously. Current school-based sex education is perceived to need improvement in: curriculum, teachers, and the school environment. Conclusion: School-based sex education is recognized as an appropriate strategy to reduce unhealthy sexual behaviors and to promote reproductive health among Thai adolescents

(−)-Crebanine

The asymmetric unit of the title compound [systematic name: 9,10-dimeth­oxy-7-methyl-6,7,7a,8-tetra­hydro-5H-benzo[g][1,3]benzodioxolo[6,5,4-de]quinoline], C20H21NO4, contains two independent mol­ecules with very similar bond lengths and angles. The crystal packing exhibits voids of 131 Å3

Riley Hill, Wake County, North Carolina : an action-oriented community diagnosis including secondary data and qualitative data collection

The following is a document describing the qualitative results of an Action Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) in the Riley Hill community of Wake County, North Carolina. Riley Hill is a traditionally rural and African American community bordering the towns of Wendell and Zebulon. The community diagnosis was performed by a graduate student team from the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from November 2001 to May 2002. The students were assisted with entry into the community by their assigned preceptor, Kimberlee Clifton R.H.Ed., CHES, Teen-Link Program Coordinator for Lincoln Health Community Center Inc. and Riley Hill community member. Qualitative information regarding community strengths and limitations was obtained through interviews and focus groups from service providers and community members conducted in the Riley Hill community. The collected data was then analyzed based upon community perspective, and is presented in the appropriate sections of this document. Following the completion of the AOCD process, the data was presented to a planning committee composed of community members and service providers who assisted in the development of a Community Forum. The Riley Hill community forum was centered on the utilization and initiation of services at the Riley Hill Family Life Center (RHFLC). The Family Life Center is the only resource/recreation center located within the community. The center is currently in the process of addressing many of the issues identified by local residents and service providers. The planning committee, based upon qualitative data obtained from the AOCD process, and input from FLC program directors, decided to focus on the how areas of Education, Recreation, Health, and Job Skill training were addressed by the FLC. The Community Forum took place on May 13th, 2002 at the Riley Hill Family Life Center. The forum contained an initial presentation by the students presenting the AOCD process and the explaining the themes, which would be discussed during the forum. Following this presentation, participants were broken into self-selected groups on the chosen topics. A small group member facilitated each of the small group sessioins. Following the SHOWED method, these groups were intended to elicit information and promote dialogue between community members and service providers regarding the FLC’s role in the community and the application of the chosen themes to currently available or needed services within the Riley Hill community. After completion of the Community Forum, information gathered from participants was assembled and presented to FLC board members and program directors. The results will be used to formulate action steps for the initiation or revitalization of FLC programs, specifically programs addressing the issues identified by forum participants and qualitative AOCD information. In addition to describing the results of the AOCD process, this document details the findings of the Riley Hill community forum and includes several implications resulting from findings from the AOCD process in general, and the interactions between the students and the Riley Hill community.Master of Public Healt

Quality of Life of HIV-Infected Women in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia

In Indonesia the number of HIV infected women is increasing dramtically. Knowing the quality of life in HIV infected women could be optimized the care for those women.  A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the quality of life of HIV infected women those attending the community HIV clinic in Medan, Indonesia. Data were collected from 111 HIV infected women during July to September 2014 by WHOQOL (Bref) questionnaire. The study found that 55 % of HIV infected women in Medan, Indonesia were reported a good quality of life, especially in the physical domain. The highest mean score of quality of life was in physical domain (14.12) with 75.70 % of participants reported a good quality of life, followed by environmental domain (13.57) with 68.50 % of participants reported a good quality of life. The lowest mean score was in social domain (11.50) with more than half of participants (55%) reported a poor quality of life. Therefore, health care provider should be provide social support to improve quality of life among HIV infected women especially in social domain.

Antimicrobial Activity of Coronarin D and Its Synergistic Potential with Antibiotics

Coronarin D is a labdane-type diterpene from the rhizomes of Hedychium coronarium. In the view of our ongoing effort to explore its novel biological activity, antimicrobial activity study of coronarin D was performed. The results showed that coronarin D was active against tested Gram-positive bacteria, inactive for tested Gram-negative bacteria, and weakly active against tested fungi. The antibacterial effect of the combination of coronarin D with nine classical antibiotics against four Gram-positive bacteria was also evaluated. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FIC I ) of coronarin D-antibiotics combinations, calculated from the checkerboard assay, were used as synergism indicator. Out of 36 combinations, 47% showed total synergism, 33% had partial synergistic interaction, 17% showed no effect, and 3% showed antagonism. By combination with coronarin D at concentration of 0.25 minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), the activities of antibiotics were boosted to 4-to 128-fold. These finding suggested an attractive approach to combat the infectious diseases by using coronarin D-antibiotic drug combination

Branding Dissent: Nitirat, Thailand’s Enlightened Jurists

This article examines the political role of a group of academic lawyers based at Thammasat University who have been seeking to reform various aspects of the Thai legal and judicial system. The seven-member group started out by criticising the illegality of the 2006 coup. After the 2010 crackdown against redshirt protestors, the group named itself Nitirat and started to hold seminars, draft legal proposals, and campaign to amend various laws. Nitirat has repeatedly challenged the legal and constitutional underpinnings of three key elements of the Thai state: the judiciary, the military, and the monarchy. In doing so, the group has gained a mass following, drawn mainly from those sympathetic to the “redshirt” movement which broadly supports former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Informally led by scholar Worajet Pakeerat, Nitirat has created a popular branding which is reflected in huge audiences for public events, and the sales of souvenirs. The article aims to answer the following questions: How does Nitirat combine the roles of legal academic and political activist? How does it differ from the traditional mode of Thai public intellectuals? How significant is the Nitirat phenomenon

Evaluation of Police General Hospital's Fracture Liaison Service (PGH's FLS): The first study of a Fracture Liaison Service in Thailand

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the Fracture Liaison service (FLS) in preventing secondary fracture and decreasing 1-year mortality rate after osteoporotic hip fracture, in patients at Police General Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. We studied male and female patients, 50 years of age and older, who presented with a fragility fracture around the hip due to low energy trauma and were admitted to Police General Hospital, participating in PGH's Liaison service from April 1, 2014–March 30, 2015. The sample size was 75 patients, with a follow up time of 1 year. The data from this study was compared with that of a previous study done by Tanawat A. et al. [9] prior to commencement of the FLS project. Results: After a follow up period of 1 year, the mortality rate was measured to be 10.7% and there was no evidence of secondary fragility fracture. Post-injury bone mineral density follow up and osteoporotic medication treatment rates were 48% and 80%, respectively. Patients who participated in the project were found to have a decreasing rate of secondary fracture from 30% to 0% (P < 0.0001), an increasing post-injury BMD follow up rate from 28.3% to 48% (P = 0.0053), and an increase in post-injury osteoporotic medication administration rate from 40.8% to 80% (P = 0.0148), all with statistical significance. However, the 1-year mortality rate was not significant (P = 0.731) when compared to the previous study. Conclusions: Patients with recent hip fractures participating in the Fracture Liaison service had a significantly higher post-injury BMD follow up and osteoporotic medication administration rates. This resulted in a lower risk of secondary fracture than those who did not participate in the Fracture Liaison service at a follow up time of one year

Predictors of health-promoting behaviour among older adults with hypertension in Indonesia

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the predictors of health-promoting behaviour among older adults with hypertension in Bengkulu City, Bengkulu, Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 333 older adults with hypertension, who were selected using multistage sampling method. Data were obtained by face-to-face interview with structured questionnaires. The questionnaires used in this study included the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II), Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS), Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale (SRAHP), Barriers to Health-promoting Behaviour Scales (BAS), Benefits to Health-Promoting Behaviour Scales (BES), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Situational Influences Questionnaire (SIQ). Data were analysed by using multiple linear regressions. Results: The mean and standard deviation (Mean ± SD) of each questionnaire were as follows: HPLP II, 2.55 ± 0.19; HK-LS, 11.83 ± 3.00; SRAHP, 2.00 ± 5.87; BAS, 27.89 ± 2.70; BES, 34.29 ± 2.29; MSPSS, 60.35 ± 8.12; and SIQ, 47.71 ± 6.66. According to the multiple linear regression model, 36.9% of the variation in health-promoting behaviour among older adults with hypertension can be explained by six variables, namely, education, knowledge, self-efficacy, perceived barriers, social support and situational influences (adjusted R2 = 0.369). Conclusions: High and good-quality education will increase the level of health-promoting behaviour, whereas barriers, such as expense and time requirement, can decrease it. Situational influences and support from family and friends can also influence the older adult's attempts to change their health behaviour. Increased self-efficacy will clearly result in improved health-promoting behaviour of older adults with hypertension. Keywords: older adults, Hypertension, Health behaviour, Health promotio

A PILOT RELATIONSHIP OF BOILED WATER OF THE JACK FRUIT LEAF ON MILK FLOW IN POSTPARTUM MOTHERS AT BUDDHACHINARAJ HOSPITAL, PHITSANULOK PROVINCE, THAILAND

This research is a pilot relationship of boiled water of the jack fruit leaf on milk flow in postpartum mothers at Buddhachinaraj Hospital, Phitsanulok Province. Data collection is processed by using a questionnaire to ask general information of postpartum mothers, a questionnaire about palliative care of postpartum mothers 6 hours, and a record form of levels of breast milk flow. It was found that between the amount of drinking boiled water of the jack fruit leaf and the flow of breast milk in the 1st and the 3rd times had positive relationship with Kendall’s tau – b = 0.225 and 0.3777 respectively. The amount of drinking boiled water of the jack fruit leaf in the 3rd time was greater than the 1st time with a statistical significance level of 0.001; t = 7.481, p = 0.001. The level of breast milk flow in the 3rd time was higher than the 1st time with a statistical significance level of 0.001; t = 11.7, p = 0.001. Consequently, drinking boiled water of the jack fruit leaf is related to levels of breast milk flow in postpartum mothers. It is consistent with some studies (Sree Deepthi. G.N, et al., 2017) which stated that jackfruit leaf can be used as a stimulant to encourage breast milk in nursing mothers. Therefore, boiled water of the jack fruit leaf is probably another choice that helps encourage the flow of breast milk

Synthesis of 3-aminocoumarin-N-benzylpyridinium conjugates with nanomolar inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase

A series of 3-amino-6,7-dimethoxycoumarins conjugated with the N-benzylpyridinium moiety through an amide-bond linkage was synthesized and evaluated for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. A number of the benzylpyridinium derivatives exhibited potent activities with inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in the nanomolar concentration range. Among them, the 2,3-difluorobenzylpyridinium-containing compound was the most potent inhibitor with an IC50 value of 1.53 ± 0.01 nM. Docking studies revealed that the synthesized compounds inhibit the target enzyme by a dual binding site mechanism whereby the coumarin portion binds with the peripheral anionic site while the N-benzylpyridinium residue binds with the catalytic anionic site of the enzyme