Social Epidemiology (Sociology)

Background
The aim of this survey was to explore the baseline knowledge of the Iranian community about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) definition and its two main risk factors, i.e. diabetes and hypertension. This study also introduced a model of public education program with the purpose of reducing the incidence of CKD in high-risk groups and thereby decreasing the economic burden of CKD in Iran.
 
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted on world kidney day 2013 in Isfahan, Iran. Self-administered anonymous questionnaires evaluating the knowledge of CKD and its risk factors were distributed among subjects who participated in a kidney disease awareness campaign. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to examine the differences in the level of knowledge across different socio-demographic groups.
 
Results
The questionnaires were completed by 748 respondents. The majority of these respondents believed that “pain in the flanks” and “difficulty in urination” was the early symptoms of CKD. Roughly, 10.4% knew that CKD could be asymptomatic in the initial stages. Only 12.7% knew diabetes and 14.4% knew hypertension was a CKD risk factor. The respondents who had a CKD risk factor (i.e. diabetes and/or hypertension) were significantly more likely than respondents without CKD risk factor to select “unmanaged diabetes” [Odds Ratio (OR)= 2.2, Confidence Interval (CI) (95%): 1.4–3.6] and “unmanaged hypertension” [OR= 1.9, CI(95%): 1.2–3.0] as “very likely to result in CKD”. No more than 34.6% of all respondents with diabetes and/or hypertension reported that their physician has ever spoken with them about their increased risk for developing CKD.
 
Conclusion
The knowledge of Iranian population about CKD and its risk factors is low. Future public health education programs should put efforts in educating Iranian community about the asymptomatic nature of CKD in its initial stages and highlighting the importance of regular renal care counseling. The high-risk individuals should receive tailored education and be encouraged to adopt lifestyle modifications to prevent or slow the progression of CKD.

ABSTRACT

In Nigeria, sex education is yet to be integrated into the curriculum of secondary school education and many parents are reluctant to discuss sexuality and sexual health openly with their adolescent children. However, little has been investigated on the perception of parents on sexuality education towards their adolescent children. Therefore, this study examined parents’ perception regarding sexuality education among their adolescent children in Offa and Ijagbo communities in Kwara state, Nigeria. Guided by Social Cognitive theory and cultural socialization theory, the study design adopted for this study is survey while samples were drawn from the study population and inferences were then made about the population. Data collection was used to utilize quantitative techniques which include structured questionnaire. The process of data collection was guided by the social science research ethics: confidentiality, beneficence, non-maleficence and voluntariness. Data analysis was descriptive and bivariate using frequency counts and chi-square test of association. Findings illustrated that 78.9% of the respondents affirmed that they have heard of sexuality education, while 21.1% have not. The negative perception of parents on their adolescents in discussing sexuality issues with them revealed a significant association (χ2 = 86.89, p< .05) and conclusion were drawn from parents that religion is a key factor in discussing sexuality education with adolescents’ children (χ2 = 37.77, p< .05). The study envisaged that parents’ perception on sexuality education should be taught by mothers and religion is a key factor in discussing certain sexual topics with their adolescents. Educated parents are equipped with correct and adequate knowledge of sexuality education. This no doubt has serious consequences on sexuality matters as related to young population who are sexually active and have poor knowledge of sex education as regarding addressing issues related to their sexuality, which has implications for educational interventions in Nigeria.

Key Words: adolescent, parents, perception, sexuality,
Word Count: 296

The idea of this special issue emerged in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which became a social and medical fact at the beginning of 2020. Although epidemics and pandemics differ profoundly – not only in terms of the strictly epidemiological or medical dimension of the disease outbreak but also with regards to social and political responses – they produce similar effects by intersecting with existing inequities, thus affecting various vulnerable populations and communities. In consequence, the disruptions they cause mobilise groups and individuals to seek recognition of their rights, fight for equal access to healthcare and stand up against discrimination and social exclusion. The last point became for us a point of departure to think about and conceptualize this special issue.

This paper considers the dual approach to conspiracy theories in anthropological studies. While some anthropologists suggest treating them seriously because they might reveal some truths, others argue that conspiracy theories require serious attention, because they are alarming and present a threat to social cohesion and democracy. Analysing conflicts over HPV immunisation programmes in Ireland, this paper investigates if there is a way of bridging this divide. In contrast to most studies on vaccine hesitancy, this paper avoids reducing the issue to the problem of knowledge deficiency. Instead, it takes a holistic approach: rather than seeing medical conspiracy theorising as a problem of singular groups, it examines it as a relational issue that connects and disconnects different stakeholders, including medical professionals, families, and health administrators.

News of infectious diseases, particularly zoonosis, has been ubiquitous in most developing countries since the last few decades. In Nigeria, Lassa fever has become a perennial blight in specific parts of the country with a high crude fatality rate. While most studies have attended to this problem through the medical lens, this study seeks to use a sociological perspective to identify the household determinants of preventive health practices adopted in the rural areas of Ose local government (Ondo State) to avert Lassa fever.
The study specifically documents the household awareness, perception, and knowledge regarding Lassa fever. Also, an assessment of preventive health practices, exposures, and attitudes related to Lassa fever, as well as social relations and treatment pathway of Lassa fever-related symptoms were attempted. The WHO (2016) Lassa fever preventive practice manual was adopted to score the household preventive-health practice. Literatures were reviewed along the stated objectives. And a combination of Health belief Model and Structural-functionalism of Emile Durkheim was employed as the theoretical framework.
The research adopted a descriptive and exploratory-cross-sectional-non-experimental survey design. Data collection was triangulated (combining quantitative and qualitative methods) to make up for the inefficiency of either method. With the aid of Taro Yamane (1973) sample size determination formula, a total of 623 questionnaires was administered and complemented with 12 in-depth interviews, and 1 key informant interview in 7 rural communities of Ose local government. In the absence of a comprehensive sampling frame containing the list of all households in Ondo state, this study espoused a multistage cluster sampling approach because of the large number of potential households in the study area. The quantitative data were analysed through SPSS (Version 20), at univariate (charts and graph), bivariate (Pearson Chi-square, ANOVA, and Pearson Product Monument Correlation) and multivariate (charts, and step-wise linear regression) levels of analysis. The qualitative data were analysed thematically and discussed along with the quantitative results.
The findings revealed that despite the good awareness about Lassa fever in 94% of the households, 90.2% and 85% of them still scored low in general knowledge of Lassa fever and preventive health practices respectively. Also, the level of knowledge (beta=0.17), age (beta=0.05) and level of exposures (beta=0.36) were found to be good predictors of preventive health practices in the study area. In addition, the study discovered that Mastomys natalensis is prevalent in Ose local government, despite the denials of the people. And the factors that could predict the choice of the treatment pathway for Lassa fever-related symptoms were identified. Finally, the study recommends that the NYSC members should be used to co-ordinate a monthly Lassa fever awareness with emphasis on the risk factors, transmission route, preventive practices and symptoms of Lassa fever. A mini infectious diseases test centre with permanent emergency lines which can be reachable anytime and at no cost should also be put in place in endemic places to hasten response to outbreaks and contain the spread on time.

études de la représentation de la maladie et de la contamination dans les sociétés européennes. le lieu est perçu comme un espace de crise, à la fois source et remède contre l'épidémie. il permet aussi d'établir une géographie des espaces contaminants et contaminés

Background: Patients' beliefs are a major factor affecting tuberculosis (TB) treatment adherence. However, there has been little use of Health Belief Model (HBM) in determining the pathway effect of patients' sociodemographic characteristics and beliefs on TB treatment adherence. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the effect of sociodemographic characteristics and patients' health beliefs on TB treatment adherence based on the HBM concept in Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia among TB patients undertaking treatment. Thirty health centres were randomly selected and one hospital was purposely chosen. Six hundred and ninety-eight TB patients who had been on treatment for 1–2 month, were aged 18 years or above, and had the mental capability to provide consent were enrolled consecutively with non-probability sampling technique from the TB registration book until required sample size achieved. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Structural equation modelling was employed to assess the pathway relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, patients' beliefs, and treatment adherence.

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a relatively young field of endeavour, and hence, future progress will depend on the planning, implementation and rigorous evaluation of additional HIAs of projects, programmes and policies the world over. In the June 2014 issue of the International Journal of Health Policy and Management, Fakhri and colleagues investigated underlying principles of HIA through a comprehensive review of the literature and expert consultation. With an emphasis on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the authors identified multiple issues that are relevant for guiding HIA practice. At the same time, the study unravelled current shortcomings in the understanding and definition of HIA principles and best practice at national, regional, and global levels. In this commentary we scrutinise the research presented, highlight strengths and limitations, and discuss the findings in the context of other recent attempts to guide HIA.

Background: We assessed the mediating role of education in the association between childhood disadvantage and psychological distress in adulthood using longitudinal data collected in three waves, from 1994 to 2008, in the framework of the Tromsø Study (N = 4530), a cohort that is representative of men and women from Tromsø.
Methods: Education was measured at a mean age of 54.7 years, and psychological distress in adulthood was
measured at a mean age of 61.7 years. Ordinary least square regression analysis was used to assess the associations between childhood disadvantage, education, and psychological distress in adulthood. The indirect effects and the proportion (%) of indirect effects of childhood disadvantage (via education) on psychological distress in adulthood were assessed by mediation analysis.
Results: Childhood disadvantage was associated with lower education and higher psychological distress in
adulthood (p < 0.05). Lower education was associated with a higher psychological distress in adulthood (p <
0.05). A minor proportion (7.51%, p < 0.05) of the association between childhood disadvantage and psychological distress in adulthood was mediated by education.
Limitations: Childhood disadvantages were measured retrospectively.
Conclusion: The association between childhood disadvantage and psychological distress in adulthood is primarily independent of education.

Objective: Many researchers view retrospective reports with skepticism. Indeed, the observed association between retrospectively-reported childhood disadvantage (CD) and morbidity in adulthood has been criticized as an artefactual correlation driven by the psychological state of the respondent at the time of reporting (current psychological state). The aim of this study was to assess the role of current psychological state in the association between childhood disadvantage and morbidity in adulthood. Methods: The present analysis used cross-sectional data collected in 2007-2008 within the framework of the Tromsø Study (N=10,765), a representative study of adult men and women in Norway. The association between CD and the physical health outcomes heart attack, angina pectoris, chronic bronchitis/emphysema/COPD, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroid/low metabolism, migraine, hypertension, and comorbidity (i.e., the sum of these physical health outcomes) was assessed with Poisson regression models. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. A wide range of indicators of respondents’ current psychological state were included in the models to assess the % attenuation in estimates. Results: CD was associated with an increased risk of heart attack, angina pectoris, chronic bronchitis/emphysema/COPD, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroid/low metabolism, migraine, hypertension, and comorbidity (p<0.05), independent of respondents’ current psychological state. A sizeable proportion (23-42%) of the association between CD and physical health outcomes was driven by recall bias or mediation via respondents’ current psychological state. Controlling for indicators of current psychological state reduced the strength of associations between CD and physical health outcomes; however, the independent associations remained in the same direction.

The article analyzes the relationship between the disciplines that make the care and the cure of health their object of study, sociology and medicine. Moving from the standpoint of a necessary cooperation between these disciplines, the author focuses on two of the most recent transformations that have invested them and have favored this cooperation. Specifically the author examines the gradual emergence of the issues of the body in sociology, and that of the narrative in the medicine. The essay focuses on the epistemic implications that accompany this double movement, to close with a discussion of the conditions that enable a fruitful collaboration between sociology and medicine. The article ends with an invitation to a rethinking of the notion of method, understood not as a collection of rules that act as orders, but as a set of principles that receive a different, context sensitive interpretation.

Relationship between sociology and medicine; body; embodiment; narrative; illness narratives; method.

In this paper, we introduce a critical revision of different approaches to the study of gastrointestinal pathologies, focusing on intestinal parasitosis in particular. We studied the way in which they have been built and defined, the way in which this has
affected their treatment and we explored the possibility of trying new alternatives for their treatment.
Our interest in the topic arises from the results obtained in different stages of interdisciplinary investigation developed in two Guaraní communities Mbya in Misiones Province, Argentina. In this context, we observed that the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases, parasitic in particular, does not respond to a limited group of causes but it presents multiple
causes of a diverse nature. In this sense, we analyze the necessity of identifying and assessing sociocultural aspects which are not considered in the traditional epidemiological
studies, in order to recognize the biocultural conditions under which theses infections may prosper.

This chapter discusses connections between place, environment, and health, and how geographic tools and methods can help better understand the nature of these associations. Ongoing collaborations between the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Association of American Geographers (AAG) exemplify this integrated perspective. NIDA’s commitment to understanding the social epidemiology of drug abuse and the AAG’s emphasis on integrating geography and geographic methodology into the public health equation have provided opportunities for unique and innovative approaches to understanding drug abuse, drug addiction, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS. This chapter discusses the recent NIDA/AAG Geography and Drug Addiction Symposium, from which this book originated, and provides examples of how researchers included in this book are beginning to use geographic methods to explore aspects of the social environment, which are central to drug abuse research. A brief précis of the chapters of this book is also included.

ABSTRACT In Nigeria, sex education is yet to be integrated into the curriculum of secondary school education and many parents are reluctant to discuss sexuality and sexual health openly with their adolescent children. However, little has been investigated on the perception of parents on sexuality education towards their adolescent children. Therefore, this study examined parents’ perception regarding sexuality education among their adolescent children in Offa and Ijagbo communities in Kwara state, Nigeria. Guided by Social Cognitive theory and cultural socialization theory, the study design adopted for this study is survey while samples were drawn from the study population and inferences were then made about the population. Data collection was used to utilize quantitative techniques which include structured questionnaire. The process of data collection was guided by the social science research ethics: confidentiality, beneficence, non-maleficence and voluntariness. Data analysis was descriptive and bivariate using frequency counts and chi-square test of association. Findings illustrated that 78.9% of the respondents affirmed that they have heard of sexuality education, while 21.1% have not. The negative perception of parents on their adolescents in discussing sexuality issues with them revealed a significant association (χ2 = 86.89, p&amp;lt; .05) and conclusion were drawn from parents that religion is a key factor in discussing sexuality education with adolescents’ children (χ2 = 37.77, p&amp;lt; .05). The study envisaged that parents’ perception on sexuality education should be taught by mothers and religion is a key factor in discussing certain sexual topics with their adolescents. Educated parents are equipped with correct and adequate knowledge of sexuality education. This no doubt has serious consequences on sexuality matters as related to young population who are sexually active and have poor knowledge of sex education as regarding addressing issues related to their sexuality, which has implications for educational interventions in Nigeria. Key Words: adolescent, parents, perception, sexuality, Word Count: 296

Despite the fact that HIV epidemic is mainly driven by injection drug use in Iran, partners of People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) have been seriously neglected in terms of effective preventive interventions. Currently, sexual partners of PWID might have access to some harm reduction services at Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) centers; however, their needs have not been effectively targeted and met. Unfortunately, the current programs implemented by the Ministry of Health have overlooked the importance of this population in the course of the HIV epidemic throughout the country. In this policy brief, we are trying to draw the health policy-makers’ attention to this overlooked population and while reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of some of the readily available options on the table, come up with a recommended action to tackle this problem. Our recommended action that seems to have had promising results elsewhere in Asia would try to implement preventive interventions targeting this particular population through peer prevention programs.