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Nuryakin C, Muchtar PA, Massie NWG, Hambali S. Having exams during Ramadan: The case of Indonesia. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2022; 47:101183. [PMID: 36150255 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2022.101183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This paper studies the impact of fasting on students' learning outcomes in the Indonesian context, the world's largest Muslim country. Precisely, we measure the effects of Ramadan fasting by using a simple 2 × 2 difference-in-differences setting, exploiting the fact that, in 2018 and 2019, the Ramadan period coincided with the final exam periods in Universitas Indonesia. Our study uses Universitas Indonesia's comprehensive student database (SIAK-NG), which provides detailed test scores, student-level, and course-level characteristics, and details on test schedules. It allows us to investigate Ramadan fasting's direct effects, differential effects (whether morning and afternoon test effects vary or not), and cumulative effects (whether or not effects vary over time). We find no evidence of Ramadan's negative effects on students' test scores after controlling for semester-course-class fixed effects, student, class, and course characteristics. Consistently, we also find no evidence of morning-afternoon differential effects. We argue that the absence of (or weak) Ramadan's effects is likely because Muslim students had adapted to the fasting environment earlier in the Ramadan period, allowing them to improve their scores as the exam period progresses. The regression results also suggest that the fasting effects are more positive among students with less good academic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaikal Nuryakin
- Departemen Ilmu Ekonomi, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia; Lembaga Penyelidikan Ekonomi dan Masyarakat, LPEM FEB UI.
| | - Pyan A Muchtar
- Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) Central Senayan II. Gelora Bung Karno, 10270, Central Jakarta.
| | | | - Sean Hambali
- Lembaga Penyelidikan Ekonomi dan Masyarakat, LPEM FEB UI.
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Sulaiman SK, Tsiga-Ahmed FI, Faris ME, Musa MS, Akpan UAO, Umar AM, Abubakar SM, Allaham KK, Alyammahi T, Abdbuljalil MA, Javaid SF, Khan MAB. Nigerian Muslim's Perceptions of Changes in Diet, Weight, and Health Status during Ramadan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14340. [PMID: 36361226 PMCID: PMC9653919 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Islamic month of Ramadan is marked by fasting, when Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset, which has an impact on their dietary habits. The study aimed to assess Nigerian Muslims' dietary modifications during Ramadan and their related changes in body weight and health status. A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Nigerian adult Muslims. The survey assessed sociodemographic, dietary habits, eating behaviors, food choices, perceived weight changes, and health status. The logistic regression model was used to assess the predictors of weight change and perceived health status. There were 770 participants, 62.9% of whom were women, ranging in age from 18 to 60 years with a mean age of 27.7 ± 6.4 years. Fruits, palm dates, homemade foods, milk products, and vegetables were more frequently consumed. There were fewer energy drinks, pastries, salty snacks, and carbonated or sugared drinks consumed during Ramadan than before. Over half (54.6%, 95% CI: 51.0-58.9%) of the respondents lost weight during Ramadan, 37.0% (95% CI: 17.4-38.6%) maintained their weight and 8.4% (95% CI: 6.6-10.6%) gained weight during the month. Nearly all (97.3%, 95% CI: 95.8-98.3%) reported having good health during Ramadan, and 2.7% (95% CI: 1.7-4.1%) reported having a poorer health state during Ramadan. There was a significant weight loss and healthy dietary change associated with Ramadan fasting in Nigeria. Public health measures must be in place to impart such positive health behaviors so that such healthy habits continue throughout the year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahabi Kabir Sulaiman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, Damaturu P.M.B 1047, Nigeria
| | - Fatimah Isma’il Tsiga-Ahmed
- Department of Community Medicine, Bayero University Kano/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano P.M.B 3452, Nigeria
| | - MoezAlIslam E. Faris
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Muhammad Sale Musa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, Damaturu P.M.B 1047, Nigeria
| | - Udoyen Abasi-okot Akpan
- Department of Medicine, National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, 21018 Vinnytsia, Ukraine
| | | | - Salisu Maiwada Abubakar
- Department of Biochemistry and Africa Centre of Excellence for Population Health and Policy, Bayero University, Kano P.M.B. 3011, Nigeria
| | - Kholoud K. Allaham
- Health and Wellness Research Group, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Taif Alyammahi
- Health and Wellness Research Group, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Munther A. Abdbuljalil
- Health and Wellness Research Group, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Syed Fahad Javaid
- Health and Wellness Research Group, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Moien AB Khan
- Health and Wellness Research Group, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Primary Care, NHS North West London, London TW3 3EB, UK
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Moohialdin A, Trigunarsyah B, Islam MS, Siddiqui MK. Physiological impacts on construction workers under extremely hot and humid weather. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2022; 95:315-329. [PMID: 34984491 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-021-01785-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Construction worker health and safety is a primary concern for construction companies and researchers. Arabian Gulf region, like Saudi Arabia, has been experiencing extremely hot and humid (EHH) weather, which directly affects construction workers' health and safety. This study aims to address the problem of EHH weather conditions and their impacts on construction workers' physiological status. METHODS This study assesses the impacts of EHH weather on construction workers' physiological status through the measurement of workers' physical body parameters (age, height, and weight); type of activities; and assigned tasks. Thirty-five multinational workers participated in the measurements, which were conducted in real construction site conditions A quantitative analysis was then applied to quantify the physiological impacts of the weather conditions. Several hypotheses were tested to identify the significant impacts of individual and working aspects on the workers' physiological responses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The results provide empirical evidence that the recorded Heart Rate (HR) exceeded the acceptable physiological zones for construction workers exposed to extremely hot and humid weather conditions. Physical body parameters, work activities, and worker status significantly influence construction workers' physiological responses. This study recommends adopting a continuous monitoring approach as an early warning system under extremely hot and humid weather conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar Moohialdin
- QMS and ISO Lead Auditor, Associate Fellow of the HEA, QUT - Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Bambang Trigunarsyah
- School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Muhammad Saiful Islam
- Construction Engineering and Management, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohsin K Siddiqui
- Civil and Environmental Engineering - Construction Engineering and Management, University of Delaware, 342C Dupont Hall, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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Faris MAIE, Jahrami HA, Obaideen AA, Madkour MI. Impact of diurnal intermittent fasting during Ramadan on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in healthy people: Systematic review and meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION & INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnim.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
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Brima EI, Jenkins RO, Lythgoe PR, Gault AG, Polya DA, Haris PI. Effect of fasting on the pattern of urinary arsenic excretion. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 9:98-103. [PMID: 17213949 DOI: 10.1039/b613340a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Millions of people in some of the poorest regions of the world are exposed to high levels of arsenic through drinking contaminated water. It has been reported that development of cancer caused by arsenic exposure in such populations is dependent on dietary and nutritional factors which can modulate arsenic metabolism. Many people in arsenic exposed regions of Bangladesh and India practice fasting for at least one month every year when they refrain from consumption of food and fluid during daylight hours. How such practices may modulate arsenic metabolism has not been previously investigated. This study investigated this issue by determining total arsenic and its species in urine samples from a group of 29 unexposed volunteers at the beginning of the fasting and at the end of approximately 12 h of fasting period. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ICP-MS was used to measure the total arsenic and arsenic speciation in the urine samples, respectively. The mean total levels of arsenic at the beginning of fasting (18.3 microg g(-1) creatinine) and at the end of approximately 12 h of fasting (17.7 microg g(-1) creatinine) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). However, the percentages of urinary arsenic as the methylated arsenic species methylarsonate (MA) were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) and this species was observed more frequently at the end of fasting, although its overall concentration was similar. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in both the concentrations and percentages of other urinary arsenic species detected, namely arsenobetaine (AB) and dimethylarsinate (DMA). Arsenite (As(III)) and arsenate (As(V)) were also analyzed, but were not detected. We conclude that fasting for a period of 12 h results in a significant increase in the percentage of urinary arsenic as MA, and its frequency of detection in the volunteers at the end of the fasting period is almost nine fold higher. This suggests that metabolism of arsenic is altered by fasting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eid I Brima
- De Monfort University, School of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK
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