Self-Rated Health: When and How to Use It in Studies Among Older People?

Evaluation of noise pollution impact on health in Dhaka city, Bangladesh

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this research was to look at the interrelation between adult health issues in Dhaka and noise pollution.

METHODS

The methodology involved a cross-sectional survey conducted in five different land use categories, with a sample size of 1,016 individuals. A validated questionnaire that focused on sources of perceived noise pollution and health issues related to noise was used to gather subjective data for the study. Objective noise pollution was evaluated using equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq).

RESULTS

Findings revealed noise generated from road traffic are the predominant source of noise pollution, with Thursday evenings during the end of office hours being the noisiest period in Dhaka. All areas in Dhaka exceeded permissible noise levels, posing significant health risks to residents and workers. The study identifies critical gaps in existing noise regulation policies and enforcement.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive noise pollution mitigation strategies, including innovative technologies, real-time monitoring systems, and public awareness campaigns. Further studies in diverse urban contexts are recommended to enhance the understanding of noise pollution's long-term impacts on vulnerable populations.

Health determinants among refugees in Austria and Germany: A propensity-matched comparative study for Syrian, Afghan, and Iraqi refugees

In recent years, Germany and Austria have been among the leading European receiving countries for asylum seekers and refugees (AS&R). The two countries have cultural and economic similarities, but differ, for example, in their health care systems, with AS&R having unrestricted access to health services upon arrival in Austria, but not in Germany. This study investigates the determinants of health among refugees in Austria and Germany, and how these determinants differ between the two countries. We analyze comparable and harmonized survey data from both countries for Syrian, Afghan, and Iraqi nationals aged 18 to 59 years who had immigrated between 2013 and 2016 (Germany: n = 2,854; Austria: n = 374). The study adopts a cross-sectional design, and uses propensity score matching to examine comparable AS&R in the two receiving countries. The results reveal that the AS&R in Germany (72%) were significantly less likely to report being in (very) good health than their peers in Austria (89%). Age and education had large impacts on health, whereas the effects of length of stay and length of asylum process were smaller. Compositional differences in terms of age, sex, nationality, education, and partnership situation explained the country differences only in part. After applying propensity score matching to adjust for structural differences and to assess non-confounded country effects, the probability of reporting (very) good health was still 12 percentage points lower in Germany than in Austria. We conclude that many of the determinants of health among AS&R correspond to those in the non-migrant population, and thus call for the implementation of similar health policies. The health disadvantage found among the AS&R in Germany suggests that removing their initially restricted access to health care may improve their health.

Are We Living Longer and Healthier?

Objective: To examine whether we live healthier as we live longer in Hong Kong, which has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Methods: Sullivan's method was used to evaluate the chronic disease-free life expectancy (CDFLE), life expectancy in good self-perceived health (GPHLE), and impairment-free life expectancy (IFLE) among population aged 50 years and older in Hong Kong in 2007-2016. Results: In spite of the marked improvement in life expectancy in Hong Kong, the increase in GPHLE was much smaller, while CDFLE and IFLE even declined for both genders. The situation was more severe among older population. Discussion: People in Hong Kong live longer but with worsening health. The expansion of chronic diseases, self-perceived poor health, and impairments among older adults calls for more fiscal investments, government attention, and public health policies.