A Policy pathway to reducing teenage pregnancy in Africa

Background: Teenage pregnancy remains an important and complex issue around the world, with reports indicating that Africa has higher rates than other continents. Studies have indicated that social and economic determinants are associated with these higher rates. Therefore this study aims to identify the social and economic influencers of teenage pregnancy which would help develop a best-practice approach to reduce its incidence in Africa. Methods: Data sets from the World Bank Organisation between 2008 and 2010 specific to 51 Africa countries were obtained to conduct this study, based on availability. Independent t-test, Spearman’s correlation and regression analysis were performed. The eight social and economic variables used in this study are: GDP per capita, GINI index, Female Literacy rate, Health expenditure, Unemployed female rate, Gender equality, Contraceptive prevalence and urban population rate. Results: Independent t-test revealed that in countries where teenage pregnancy rate is high, Literacy rate, contraceptive prevalence rate and Healthcare expenditure rate was low. Spearman correlation indicated that female literacy rate, Healthcare expenditure, GDP per capita and Contraceptive prevalence had a significant inverse relationship with teenage pregnancy rate. Logistic regression indicates that Female Literacy rate is the best predictor of teenage pregnancy in Africa. Conclusion: Result suggest that a practical approach to reduce teenage pregnancy rate in Africa is to implement strategies and policies aimed at improving female literacy rate, Health care expenditure and the GDP per capita of a country. Additionally, an increase in female literacy rate would concurrently increase Contraceptive prevalence rate

Teenage pregnancy in Africa: trends and determinants in the 21st century

Background: Africa remains one of the continents with the highest levels of teenage pregnancies in the world. In spite of this, there are limited empirical research studies on determinants of teenage pregnancy in Africa. This study aims to investigate the trend and determinants of teenage pregnancy in Africa. Several social and economic factors appear to be the causes of teenage pregnancy in Africa. Therefore, understanding the association between teenage pregnancy and various social and economic factors would help reduce teenage pregnancy rate in Africa. Methods: Data sets from the World Bank Organisation of all Africa countries between 2000 and 2010 were obtained to conduct this study. The trends of average teenage pregnancy rate across all regions were examined using descriptive method. Also, the association between teenage pregnancy rate and various economic and social factors were investigated using multivariate statistics methods. Results: In all 52 countries examined there has been a significant reduction in the African teenage pregnancy rate between 2000 and 2010. In addition, correlation analysis carried out showed an inverse significant relationship with life expectancy, literacy rate and contraceptive prevalence. Further analysis reveals that female literacy rate is the most important predictor of teenage pregnancy in Africa. Conclusion: The findings of this research indicate that social and economic factors are important predictors of teenage pregnancy rate in Africa. Evidence from this study suggests that a practical approach to reducing the current teenage pregnancy rate is to develop strategies and policies that support and promotes female literacy

Teenage pregnancy in Africa: Trend and Determinants in the 21st Century

Background: Africa remains one of the continents with the highest levels of teenage pregnancies in the world. In spite of this, there are limited empirical research studies on determinants of teenage pregnancy in Africa. This study aims to investigate the trend and determinants of teenage pregnancy in Africa. Several social and economic factors appear to be the causes of teenage pregnancy in Africa. Therefore, understanding the association between teenage pregnancy and various social and economic factors would help reduce teenage pregnancy rate in Africa. Methods: Data sets from the World Bank Organisation of all Africa countries between 2000 and 2010 were obtained to conduct this study. The trends of average teenage pregnancy rate across all regions were examined using descriptive method. Also, the association between teenage pregnancy rate and various economic and social factors were investigated using multivariate statistics methods. Results: In all 52 countries examined there has been a significant reduction in the African teenage pregnancy rate between 2000 and 2010. In addition, correlation analysis carried out showed an inverse significant relationship with life expectancy, literacy rate and contraceptive prevalence. Further analysis reveals that female literacy rate is the most important predictor of teenage pregnancy in Africa. Conclusion: The findings of this research indicate that social and economic factors are important predictors of teenage pregnancy rate in Africa. Evidence from this study suggests that a practical approach to reducing the current teenage pregnancy rate is to develop strategies and policies that support and promotes female literacy

Socioeconomic determinants of type 2 diabetes in England

Background: The rise in diabetes worldwide and its significance as a cause of disability and premature death has increased the interest of researchers in diabetes mellitus. There is a large volume of published studies describing the role of factors such as income, poor education, inadequate housing conditions and unemployment as key social determinants in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study therefore set out to investigate the main socioeconomic predictors of T2D in England. Methods: Based on the available literature on the socioeconomic determinants of T2D, the variables, unemployment (long-term and short-term), overcrowding, income deprivation and no qualification were selected. Data on the socioeconomic determinants and prevalence of type 2 diabetes were retrieved online from the registry of the Office for National Statistics and the Health and Social Care Information Centre respectively. This was done specifically for the 64 randomly selected districts in England. Following preliminary analysis, multiple regression was conducted to ensure there was no violation of the assumptions of regression. Results: Correlation indicates a significant moderate positive correlation between the prevalence of T2D and each of the variables: long-term unemployment, no qualifications and income deprivation, but no significant relationship with overcrowding. Multiple linear regression analysis indicates that long-term unemployment and no qualification were significant predictors of T2D in England. Conclusions: The evidence from this study suggests that the prioritisation of resources, especially in periods of austerity and welfare reforms, to target these key predictors may achieve much in reducing the prevalence of T2D in England. Hence, it is recommended that a comprehensive data collection of these demographic characteristics are integrated into the existing process, and the collective effects of social, economic and biologic factors are investigated in future studies

The impact of birthweight on adult minor illness: a study on a subclinical population

Official classification for low birth weight is 2500 gram or below. Whilst there is no consensus of what constitutes normal birth weight, it has been suggested that the optimal birthweight for long term health is 3500 - 4500 gram; hence those with birth weight between 2500 and 3490 gram could be deemed to be a sub clinical population. The objective was to investigate the relationship between disease and birthweight and to compare vulnerability of those with suboptimal and optimal birthweight in adulthood. This is a cohort study; with cross sectional retrospective design involving 258 adults aged 18-62 who knew their birth weight. Participants completed a minor illness checklist, using a median split, participants were categorised as high or low minor illness group. Results indicate a negative correlation between birthweight and minor illness score (r = -.155, p = .013). Those born with sub optimal birthweight are more likely to report minor illness symptoms above the media score of 16 (OR 1.70 CI 95% 1.04-2.79).It is concluded that there is a relationship between birthweight and level of minor illness in adulthood. Those born with birthweight 2500 - 3490 gram appear to be more vulnerable to minor illness. Thus, working with Foetal Origins theory, it may be possible that this group experienced a degree of foetal compensation, the consequence being that the immune system is compromised. Application of a three dimensional equilibrium model is suggested in designing interventions that improve foetal environment and subsequent health chances

Developing a basic principles model to inform threshold concepts of public health

Education and training is the foundation stone of effective and sustainable improvement in any discipline; public health and social care is no exception. This short communication offers suggestions for a model of public health practice to support educators, trainers and practitioners in developing and continually improving their skill

Meta analysis investigating the efficacy of drug treatment and non drug treatment of depression in patients with brain injury

Objectives: Brain injury may cause different physical and psychological problems, with depression being one of the commonest illnesses associated with brain injury. The aim of this research study is to analyse the effectiveness of non-pharmacological therapies in the treatment of depression in patients following brain injury. Study Design: This is a meta-analysis comparing pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of depression in patients with brain injury. Methods: Electronic data-base search, hand searching of journals and snowballing method was used to collect relevant data for the study. The only studies that have focused on treatment of depression in brain injury patients between the age of 16 - 64 years were included in this research. Results: Data analysis indicated that both modes of treatment are effective. There was no significant difference between pharmacological studies (pooled effect size d+ value is -0.37) and non-pharmacological studies (pooled effect size d+ value of -0.48). Test for heterogeneity is significant for both sets of data and no publication bias is detected for included studies. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest there is no difference in the efficacy of alternative therapies and pharmacological treatments for depression in patients with brain injury

Modeling the variability of shapes of a human placenta

While it is well-understood what a normal human placenta should look like, a deviation from the norm can take many possible shapes. In this paper we propose a mechanism for this variability based on the change in the structure of the vascular tree

The integrity and organization of the human AIPL1 functional domains is critical for its role as a HSP90-dependent co-chaperone for rod PDE6

Biallelic mutations in the photoreceptor-expressed aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein-like 1 (AIPL1) are associated with autosomal recessive Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), the most severe form of inherited retinopathy in early childhood. AIPL1 functions as a photoreceptor-specific co-chaperone that interacts with the molecular chaperone HSP90 to facilitate the stable assembly of the retinal cyclic GMP (cGMP) phosphodiesterase (PDE6) holoenzyme. In this study, we characterized the functional deficits of AIPL1 variations, some of which induce aberrant pre-mRNA AIPL1 splicing leading to the production of al- ternative AIPL1 isoforms. We investigated the ability of the AIPL1 variants to mediate an interaction with HSP90 and modulate the rod cGMP PDE6 stability and activity. Our data revealed that both the FK506 binding protein (FKBP)-like domain and the tetra- tricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain of AIPL1 are required for interaction with HSP90. We further demonstrate that AIPL1 signifi- cantly modulates the catalytic activity of heterologously expressed rod PDE6. Although the N-terminal FKBP-like domain of AIPL1 binds the farnesylated PDE6a subunit through direct interaction with the farnesyl moiety, mutations compromising the integrity of the C-terminal TPR domain of AIPL1 also failed to modulate PDE6 activity efficiently. These AIPL1 variants moreover failed to promote the HSP90-dependent stabilization of the PDE6a subunit in the cytosol. In summary, we have successfully vali- dated the disease-causing status of the AIPL1 variations in vitro. Our findings provide insight into the mechanism underlying the co-chaperone role of AIPL1 and will be critical for ensuring an early and effective diagnosis of AIPL1 LCA patients

Sequence Diversity in the Dickeya fliC Gene: Phylogeny of the Dickeya Genus and TaqMan® PCR for 'D. solani', New Biovar 3 Variant on Potato in Europe

Worldwide, Dickeya (formerly Erwinia chrysanthemi) is causing soft rot diseases on a large diversity of crops and ornamental plants. Strains affecting potato are mainly found in D. dadantii, D. dianthicola and D. zeae, which appear to have a marked geographical distribution. Furthermore, a few Dickeya isolates from potato are attributed to D. chrysanthemi and D. dieffenbachiae. In Europe, isolates of Erwinia chrysanthemi biovar 1 and biovar 7 from potato are now classified in D. dianthicola. However, in the past few years, a new Dickeya biovar 3 variant, tentatively named ‘Dickeya solani’, has emerged as a common major threat, in particular in seed potatoes. Sequences of a fliC gene fragment were used to generate a phylogeny of Dickeya reference strains from culture collections and with this reference backbone, to classify pectinolytic isolates, i.e. Dickeya spp. from potato and ornamental plants. The reference strains of the currently recognized Dickeya species and ‘D. solani’ were unambiguously delineated in the fliC phylogram. D. dadantii, D. dianthicola and ‘D. solani’ displayed unbranched clades, while D. chrysanthemi, D. zeae and D. dieffenbachiae branched into subclades and lineages. Moreover, Dickeya isolates from diagnostic samples, in particular biovar 3 isolates from greenhouse ornamentals, formed several new lineages. Most of these isolates were positioned between the clade of ‘D. solani’ and D. dadantii as transition variants. New lineages also appeared in D. dieffenbachiae and in D. zeae. The strains and isolates of D. dianthicola and ‘D. solani’ were differentiated by a fliC sequence useful for barcode identification. A fliC TaqMan®real-time PCR was developed for ‘D. solani’ and the assay was provisionally evaluated in direct analysis of diagnostic potato samples. This molecular tool can support the efforts to control this particular phytopathogen in seed potato certification