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Background Many young people in Korea today experience deprivation in various areas of life. The social determinants of health approach maintains that social factors play an important role in an individual’s physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate the problem drinking trajectory of young Korean people and identify the effects of multidimensional deprivation on problem drinking. Methods The study used data from 2012 to 2018 found in the Korea Welfare Panel Study. Latent class growth analysis was performed to determine the number of trajectories of problem drinking. After identifying latent classes, a multinomial logistic regression analysis was utilized to examine multidimensional deprivation as a predictor of class membership. Results Latent class analysis yielded three groups: (1) a low-level maintenance group (low level of alcohol use maintained at the low level), (2) a moderate-level increasing group (moderate level of problem drinking with a moderate increase in problem drinking), and (3) a risky drinking increasing group (high level of problem drinking with a rapid increase in problem drinking). Results from multinomial logistic regression showed that deprivation in housing and social deprivation increased the probability of belonging to the risky drinking increasing group compared to other reference groups. Conclusion The study speaks to the need to establish appropriate intervention strategies according to the level and changes in the pattern of alcohol use. The implications of housing and social deprivation concerning problem drinking among young Korean people are also discussed.

BackgroundAdvances in drinking water infrastructure and treatment throughout the 20th and early 21st century dramatically improved water reliability and quality in the United States (US) and other parts of the world. However, numerous chemical contaminants from a range of anthropogenic and natural sources continue to pose chronic health concerns, even in countries with established drinking water regulations, such as the US.Objective/MethodsIn this review, we summarize exposure risk profiles and health effects for seven legacy and emerging drinking water contaminants or contaminant groups: arsenic, disinfection by-products, fracking-related substances, lead, nitrate, per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and uranium. We begin with an overview of US public water systems, and US and global drinking water regulation. We end with a summary of cross-cutting challenges that burden US drinking water systems: aging and deteriorated water infrastructure, vulnerabilities for children in school and childcare facilities, climate change, disparities in access to safe and reliable drinking water, uneven enforcement of drinking water standards, inadequate health assessments, large numbers of chemicals within a class, a preponderance of small water systems, and issues facing US Indigenous communities.ResultsResearch and data on US drinking water contamination show that exposure profiles, health risks, and water quality reliability issues vary widely across populations, geographically and by contaminant. Factors include water source, local and regional features, aging water infrastructure, industrial or commercial activities, and social determinants. Understanding the risk profiles of different drinking water contaminants is necessary for anticipating local and general problems, ascertaining the state of drinking water resources, and developing mitigation strategies.Impact statementDrinking water contamination is widespread, even in the US. Exposure risk profiles vary by contaminant. Understanding the risk profiles of different drinking water contaminants is necessary for anticipating local and general public health problems, ascertaining the state of drinking water resources, and developing mitigation strategies.

Background Substance misuse is a global public health problem. In addition to social and economic concerns, consumption of tobacco and alcohol is associated with susceptibility to cardiovascular, respiratory, and infectious diseases, cancers, and risk of transition to substance use disorders. African data suggest regional differences in the prevalence and patterns of substance use, but a number of key questions remain. This cross-sectional population-based study of middle-aged adults aims to examine prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of substance use in four sub-Saharan African countries, in rural and urban settings. Methods Participants aged between 40 and 60 years were recruited from six research centres as part of the Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic Research study. Data on patterns of tobacco and alcohol consumption was captured, and the latter further assessed using the CAGE (cut-annoyed-guilty-eye) questionnaire. Results Data from 10,703 participants suggested that more men (68.4%) than women (33.3%) were current substance users. The prevalence of current smoking was significantly higher in men than in women (34.5% vs 2.1%, p  < 0.001). Smokeless tobacco was used more by women than men (14.4% vs 5.3%, p < 0.001). Current smoking was associated with alcohol consumption in men, and smoking cessation in men was associated with being a former drinker, having higher socio-economic status, and if married or cohabiting. Current alcohol consumption was higher in men, compared to women (60.3% vs 29.3%), and highest in men from Soweto (70.8%) and women from Nanoro (59.8%). The overall prevalence of problematic alcohol consumption among men was 18.9%, and women 7.3%. Men were significantly more likely to develop problematic drinking patterns, and this was more common in those who were divorced or widowed, and in current smokers. Conclusions Regional variation in the patterns and prevalence of substance use was observed across study sites, and in rural and urban settings. The high levels of substance use recorded in this study are of concern due to the increased risk of associated morbidities. Further longitudinal data will be valuable in determining trends in substance misuse in Africa.

Due to high prevalence rates and deleterious effects on individuals, families, and communities, intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem. Because IPV occurs in the context of communities and neighborhoods, research must examine the broader environment in addition to individual-level factors to successfully facilitate behavior change. Drawing from the Social Determinants of Health framework and Social Disorganization Theory, neighborhood predictors of IPV were tested using hierarchical linear modeling. Results indicated that concentrated disadvantage and female-to-male partner violence were robust predictors of womens IPV victimization. Implications for theory, practice, and policy, and future research are discussed.

Background Diarrhoea poses serious health problems among under-five children (U5C) in Low-and Medium-Income Countries (LMIC) with a higher prevalence in rural areas. A gap exists in knowledge on factors driving rural-non-rural inequalities in diarrhoea development among U5C in LMIC. This study investigates the magnitude of rural-non-rural inequalities in diarrhoea and the roles of individual-level and neighbourhood-level factors in explaining these inequalities. Methods Data of 796,150 U5C, from 63,378 neighbourhoods across 57 LMIC from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (2010–2018) was analysed. The outcome variable was the recent experience of diarrhoea while independent variables consist of the individual- and neighbourhood-level factors. Data were analysed using multivariable Fairlie decomposition at p  < 0.05 in Stata Version 16 while visualization was implemented in R Statistical Package. Results Two-thirds (68.0%) of the children are from rural areas. The overall prevalence of diarrhoea was 14.2, 14.6% vs 13.4% among rural and non-rural children respectively ( p  < 0.001). From the analysis, the following 20 countries showed a statistically significant pro-rural inequalities with higher odds of diarrhoea in rural areas than in nonrural areas at 5% alpha level: Albania (OR = 1.769; p  = 0.001), Benin (OR = 1.209; p  = 0.002), Burundi (OR = 1.399; p  < 0.001), Cambodia (OR = 1.201; p  < 0.031), Cameroon (OR = 1.377; p  < 0.001), Comoros (OR = 1.266; p  = 0.029), Egypt (OR = 1.331; p < 0.001), Honduras (OR = 1.127; p  = 0.027), India (OR = 1.059; p  < 0.001), Indonesia (OR = 1.219; p  < 0.001), Liberia (OR = 1.158; p  = 0.017), Mali (OR = 1.240; p  = 0.001), Myanmar (OR = 1.422; p  = 0.004), Namibia (OR = 1.451; p  < 0.001), Nigeria (OR = 1.492; p  < 0.001), Rwanda (OR = 1.261; p  = 0.010), South Africa (OR = 1.420; p  = 0.002), Togo (OR = 1.729; p < 0.001), Uganda (OR = 1.214; p < 0.001), and Yemen (OR = 1.249; p < 0.001); and pro-non-rural inequalities in 9 countries. Variations exist in factors associated with pro-rural inequalities across the 20 countries. Overall main contributors to pro-rural inequality were neighbourhood socioeconomic status, household wealth status, media access, toilet types, maternal age and education. Conclusions The gaps in the odds of diarrhoea among rural children than nonrural children were explained by individual-level and neighbourhood-level factors. Sustainable intervention measures that are tailored to country-specific needs could offer a better approach to closing rural-non-rural gaps in having diarrhoea among U5C in LMIC.

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a global human rights violation and a public health problem. The phenomenon is linked to adverse health effects for women and children. Mothers of young children in Malawi can be particularly at risk because of gender-based power imbalances. The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence and the risk factors of IPV against mothers of children under-five years of age in rural Malawi. Methods A multistage, cross-sectional study design was used. A sample of 538 mothers of young children was randomly selected from postnatal clinics in Dowa district. The WHO’s Violence against women screening instrument was used to collect data. Logistic regressions were used to determine risk factors that were associated with IPV against mothers. Results Overall prevalence of all four forms of IPV against mothers of under-five children was 60.2%. The prevalence of IPV controlling behavior, psychological, physical, and sexual violence were 74.7, 49.4, 43.7 and 73.2% respectively. In multivariate analyses, mothers whose partners had extra marital affairs were more likely to experience controlling behavior (AOR: 4.97, 95% CI: 2.59–8.55, P  = 0.001), psychological (AOR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.486–3.472, P  = 0.001) and physical (AOR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.48–3.94, P = 0.001) violence than mothers whose partners did not have extra marital affairs. Mothers whose partners consume alcohol were more likely to experience sexual violence (AOR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.17–3.41, P  = 0.001) than mothers whose partners did not drink. Finally, mothers who spent more than 30 min drawing water were at greater risk of experiencing IPV than mothers who spent less than 30 min. Conclusion This study found a significantly higher prevalence of IPV against mothers of under-five children in rural Malawi compared to women in the general population. Micro and macro-level programs aimed at mitigating the partners’ potential risk behaviors identified in this study are suggested. Public health programs that support increased household access to safe water are also recommended to help undermine IPV against mothers.

Background Stunting is one of the most severe and slightly addressed children health problems in Ethiopia in general and the Amhara region in particular, Suitable feeding set pre-requisite for decent nutritional status in every time of human life. Objectives The main purpose of this study was to identify risk factors of stunting and major determinants of stunting among children less than five years in Amhara region. Methods A study was cross-sectional research design via using a quantitative research approach. The data were from the secondary data source and obtained from the DHS program dataset, KR, and PR file were used. Quantitative methods of data analysis were used bivariate and multivariate methods of data analysis were used. Result The logistic regression and chi-square test showed that place of residence, partners education, wealth index of household, source of drinking water, household toilet facility, a household has television, maternal education, BMI of mother, sex of a child, age of a child, and birth weight were significant associated with child stunting. Conclusion The prevalence and trends of stunting were a decline in the Amhara region but the prevalence still high as compared to Ethiopian prevalence. Therefore, there should be an integrated socio-demographic approach is important to reduce or to take dealings or measure the problem in the Amhara region.

Purpose To identify key social and structural factors associated with hazardous alcohol and problematic drug use among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of 2016 to 2019 data from the Generations Study, a probability sample of 1518 SGM adults. Hazardous alcohol and problematic drug use were measured using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) and Drug Use Disorder Identification Test (DUDIT). Candidate predictors included sociodemographic characteristics, minority stressors, adverse childhood experiences, health indicators, and social support. Interpretable machine-learning models with SHapley Additive exPlanations characterized multilevel correlates of 3-level risk categories. Results Hazardous alcohol use was linked to past smoking, lower social support, cancer history, housing instability, and identity-related stressors. Problematic drug use was linked to conversion-therapy exposure, housing discrimination, legal encounters, and mental-health indicators; prediction was more accurate for drug- than alcohol-use risk. Conclusion Structural vulnerability, discrimination, and identity-related stressors emerged as intervention targets to reduce substance-use disparities in SGM adults. Plain Language Summary Title What Social and Life Factors Affect Substance Use in Sexual Gender Minority Adults in the United States, Using Advanced Machine Learning Strategy to Explore Plain Language Summary This study looked at what social and life experiences put LGBTQ+ adults in the United States at higher risk for alcohol and drug problems. We analyzed survey data from the Generations Study 2016 to 2019 which included 1518 sexual and gender minority adults (eg, gay, lesbian, transgender, queer, and bisexual). Alcohol use was measured by how often and how much people drank, while drug use was measured by the frequency and impact of nonalcohol substance use. We also considered many possible influences, such as age, income, childhood experiences, discrimination, health, and support from family and friends. For alcohol use, the most important factors were past smoking, low social support, cancer, unstable housing, and identity-related stress. For drug use, key factors included exposure to conversion therapy, housing discrimination, legal problems, and mental health concerns such as self-harm. Our models were better at predicting drug use than alcohol use. These findings show that alcohol and drug use among LGBTQ+ people is shaped by personal behavior and also by stress, discrimination, and unequal access to stable housing, health, and support. Policies and programs to reduce substance use need to go beyond individual choices and address these broader social and structural conditions. Using transparent machine learning methods, we were able to identify complex patterns that point to where interventions and resources are most needed.

Background: Malaria and alcohol consumption both represent major public health problems. Alcohol consumption is rising in developing countries and, as efforts to manage malaria are expanded, understanding the links between malaria and alcohol consumption becomes crucial. Our aim was to ascertain the effect of beer consumption on human attractiveness to malaria mosquitoes in semi field conditions in Burkina Faso. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used a Y tube-olfactometer designed to take advantage of the whole body odour (breath and skin emanations) as a stimulus to gauge human attractiveness to Anopheles gambiae (the primary African malaria vector) before and after volunteers consumed either beer (n = 25 volunteers and a total of 2500 mosquitoes tested) or water (n = 18 volunteers and a total of 1800 mosquitoes). Water consumption had no effect on human attractiveness to An. gambiae mosquitoes, but beer consumption increased volunteer attractiveness. Body odours of volunteers who consumed beer increased mosquito activation (proportion of mosquitoes engaging in take-off and up-wind flight) and orientation (proportion of mosquitoes flying towards volunteers' odours). The level of exhaled carbon dioxide and body temperature had no effect on human attractiveness to mosquitoes. Despite individual volunteer variation, beer consumption consistently increased attractiveness to mosquitoes. Conclusions/Significance: These results suggest that beer consumption is a risk factor for malaria and needs to be integrated into public health policies for the design of control measures.

The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Colombian Caribbean Region is a priority, specifically in the city of Santa Marta, because in this city are several factors involved in public health problems known as Social Determinants of Health: the city has lack of vegetation and high population density which can be a conditioning factor for the progressive increase in temperature and for heat index; and power outages are common. Therefore, in this paper is presented the curricular design of the course \"Public Health and Sustainable Development\" offered at Universidad del Magdalena. This course covered three topics in its order: 1) the relationship between sustainability and health; 2) the knowledge about SDGs and their global agenda; 3) and ways for increase healthy life and sustainable development in context. With these three topics the SDGs analyzed were: #3 Good health and well-being #4 Quality education, #6 Clean water and sanitation, #7 Affordable and clean energy, #11 Sustainable cities and communities, and #13 Climate action. The evaluation was based on rubrics, the students presented oral workshops and group written reports, and a final report that addressed the relationship between health and public and SDG. It can be concluded that the students achieved a first level of knowledge in the relationship between public health and the SDGs. This work identified that there are three main environmental problems of the city of Santa Marta: the public supply of drinking water for human consumption, continuous increase of high temperatures, and lack of vegetation. In this way, new buildings must generate an impact on public health, guaranteeing a healthy urban environment. In Santa Marta, the University must have a central role as an integrating axis, promoting healthy and sustainable behavior in society; and based in this work there are elements for a climate emergency declaration in Universidad del Magdalena.