An Examination of the Demographic Characteristics and Dietary Intake of People Who Meet the Physical Activity Guidelines: NSW Population Health Survey Data 2007

The purpose of this report is to examine the association between physical activity and dietary intake using self reported data from the 2007 NSW Population Health Survey. This report first investigates whether being physically active is associated with healthy dietary behaviours, and then describes the sociodemographic profile of physically active people who do not engage in healthy eating behaviours. Overall, results showed that older people, especially men, tend to do less physical activity compared to younger people, and that obese women were less likely to meet physical activity guidelines compared to healthy weight women. Those who reported a higher intake of fruits and vegetables and/or a lower consumption of soft drinks were more likely to meet the physical activity guidelines. Findings also indicate that among those meeting the physical activity guidelines, men were more likely to report a lower intake of vegetables and a higher consumption of soft drinks and takeaway foods compared to women. Among active people, young people were at a higher risk of unhealthy eating than older age groups. This study strongly supports the hypothesis that physical activity and dietary habits are correlated behaviours, which is consistent with other research findings. The gender and age differences in the association of these health behaviours suggest the value of targeting specific population groups for future interventions

Providing evidence to support obstetric practice change in Vietnam: episiotomy use among Vietnamese-born women living in Australia

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of episiotomy among Vietnamese-born women in Australia, including risk factors for, and pregnancy outcomes associated with, episiotomy. METHODS: This population-based, retrospective cohort study included data on 598 305 singleton, term (i.e. ≥ 37 weeks’ gestation) and vertex-presenting vaginal births between 2001 and 2010. Data were obtained from linked, validated, population-level birth and hospitalization data sets. Contingency tables and multivariate analysis were used to compare risk factors and pregnancy outcomes in women who did or did not have an episiotomy. FINDINGS: The episiotomy rate in 12 208 Vietnamese-born women was 29.9%, compared with 15.1% in Australian-born women. Among Vietnamese-born women, those who had an episiotomy were significantly more likely than those who did not to be primiparous, give birth in a private hospital, have induced labour or undergo instrumental delivery. In these women, having an episiotomy was associated with postpartum haemorrhage (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 1.26; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.08–1.46) and postnatal hospitalization for more than 4 days (aOR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.00–1.29). Among multiparous women only, episiotomy was positively associated with a third- or fourth-degree perineal tear (aOR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.31–3.06); in contrast, among primiparous women the association was negative (aOR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.37–0.60). CONCLUSION: Episiotomy was performed in far fewer Vietnamese-born women giving birth in Australia than in Viet Nam, where more than 85% undergo the procedure, and was not associated with adverse outcomes. A lower episiotomy rate should be achievable in Viet Nam

Trends in overweight and obese adults in Malaysia (1996-2009): a systematic review

Like other nations experiencing rapid industrialization, urbanization and a nutrition transition, there is concern in Malaysia of a possible escalation in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. In 1996, the National Health and Morbidity Survey reported a 16.6% and 4.4% prevalence of overweight and obesity, respectively. In the following decade, there have been several national and community surveys on overweight and obesity in Malaysia. The objective of this systematic review is to describe the trend from 1996 to 2009 in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults in Malaysia nationally and by gender, age and race. Results indicate that there has been a small rise in overweight adults in the years 1996, 2003 and 2006 (20.7%, 26.7% and 29.1%) and a much more dramatic increase in obesity in 1996, 2003, 2004 and 2006 (5.5%, 12.2%, 12.3% and 14.0%). Evidence showed a greater risk for overweight and obesity among women compared with men. Based on the highest-quality studies, overweight and obesity levels were highest among adults 40-59 years old. Overweight levels were highest among Indians, followed by Malays, Chinese and Aboriginals, with less consistency across studies on the order of risk or obesity by ethnicity