The Consumption of Indonesian Local Food and Its Relationship with Body Mass Index Among Female University Students

The prevalence of obesity among young adults in Indonesia is a new trend in Indonesia. The study aim was to determine trend of Indonesian local food consumption and its association with Body Mass Index among female university students. It was cross-sectional study and involved 230 Indonesian female university students (18-25 years old) in April-May 2021 using conventional sampling by a self-administered online questionnaire in Malang City. Sociodemographic and dietary habits were collected along with body mass index (BMI) data. This study was approved by Indonesian ethic committee (No:100/PP2M-KE/I/2021) and Chulalongkorn University (029.1/64). Descriptive statistics and Ordinal Logistic Regression were applied. The results showed the average BMI of 217 participants was 21.28+3.30 kg/m2 (95% CI 16.94-34.05), and 167 menus of local Indonesian food were identified. Local cuisine with high carbohydrates and sugar such as fried noodles, meatballs, mixed vegetable soup, biscuits/pastry, fritters with topping, and ice milk tea with topping had a positive impact on overnutrition. Interestingly, chicken porridge had an inverse association with overnutrition. The ordinal regression results showed the length of stay in study area had a significant association with BMI (p=0.001). However, meal frequency and snack time consumption also affected BMI (p=0.046 and 0.024 respectively). The preferred high-carbohydrate food is more significantly associated with overnutrition (p<0.05). It is crucial to adjust nutritional education and people's food menu, particularly in reducing high-carbohydrate and sugar food as well as providing healthy food to these population

Practice, confidence and continuity of breast self-examination among women in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Objective Breast self-examination (BSE) is the most feasible screening tool compared with clinical breast examination and mammography. It is crucial to address the associated factors of practising BSE to develop a targeted BSE promotion programme and improve the BSE quality in Thai women, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design and setting We conducted a cross-sectional study in Thailand’s north and northeast region from March 2020 to November 2022.Participants This study involved 405 women aged 30–70 years old.Variables and outcomes Demographic information, health status and BSE were collected using a modified questionnaire based on the Champion Health Belief Model. The outcomes were ever-practising BSE, BSE practice within the last 6 months, continuity of BSE and confidence in doing BSE. Logistic regression and decision tree analysis identified the associated factors.Results 75.55% of participants ever performed BSE. Around 74.18% did BSE within the last 6 months. Diploma graduates (adjusted OR (aOR) 25.48, 95% CI 2.04 to 318.07), 21–40 reproductive years (aOR 4.29, 95% CI 1.22 to 15.08), ever pregnant (aOR 3.31, 95% CI 1.05 to 10.49), not drinking alcohol (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.55), not receiving hormone replacement (aOR 5.51, 95% CI 2.04 to 14.89), higher knowledge (aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.52), attitude (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.26) and practice/cues of action towards BSE were associated with ever-practising BSE. Frequent high-fat diet, high awareness of breast cancer, lower knowledge of BSE and lower attitude toward BSE were associated with not practising BSE within 6 months and BSE discontinuation. Only high knowledge of BSE was associated with absolute confidence in BSE (p<0.05).Conclusion Despite having a higher percentage than other studies in different countries prior to the pandemic, it is still crucial to improve knowledge of BSE to encourage BSE practice, confidence and continuity of BSE in Thai women. Moreover, the BSE campaign should target women with prolonged exposure to oestrogen and sedentary lifestyle