Work-family imbalance, social support and health: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Work-family imbalance is a crucial determinant of workers' health. Studies examining the impact of multiple roles in the workplace, conducted in low- and middle-income countries, are limited.

AIMS

To determine the association of work-family imbalance with self-perceived health (SPH) both in men and women, and to examine the interaction of social support with work-family imbalance on this association in a district in western Turkey.

METHODS

This population-based cross-sectional study's sample was randomly derived from working residents aged 30-64 living in Balcova District, Turkey. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted for the associations between SPH, social support at home and at work, work-family conflict (WFC) and family-work conflict (FWC). Social support variables were considered as possible effect modifiers.

RESULTS

Work to family variables had an independent, significant association with poor SPH [odds ratio (OR) = 2.92 (95% CI 1.47-5.78) for WFC, and 2.38 (95% CI 1.22-4.67) for FWC] in only women. In advanced analyses, both social support at work and at home were effect modifiers of the association between FWC and SPH in women (P < 0.001). In men, SPH was significantly associated only with job insecurity [OR = 2.52 (1.22-5.21)].

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies should be conducted to implement effective population prevention strategies to establish work-family balance and to reduce this double burden on women, specifically in low- and middle-income countries.

Impact of social contacts on SARS-CoV-2 exposure among healthcare workers

BACKGROUND

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have an increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection due to occupational exposure. Strict measures generally focus on the patient-to-HCW contacts. However, interactions between the HCWs also pose a high risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure.

AIMS

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of social contacts on the level of SARS-CoV-2 exposure risk among workers by broadening the current risk assessment algorithm.

METHODS

Contact tracing records of the workers in a large university hospital between 19th March and 31st December 2020 were analysed. Multivariate conditional logistic regression models were estimated to evaluate factors associated with high-risk exposure for contacts among workers.

RESULTS

Of the 329 exposed clusters, 260 (79%) were HCW-to-HCW contacted clusters. High-risk exposure was higher in the HCW-to-HCW contacts (44%), when compared to the patient-to-HCW contacts (5%) (P < 0.001). A total of 1827 HCWs contacted a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19-positive co-worker. Among the HCW-to-HCW contacts, high-risk exposure was higher in the support staff (49%, P < 0.001), in non-patient care settings (47%, P < 0.001) and in the social contacts (57%, P < 0.001). Social contacts between workers increased the high-risk exposure (adjusted odds ratio: 3.50, 95% confidence interval 2.62-4.69) in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant association between social contacts among workers and high-risk exposure of SARS-CoV-2 was observed. The results of the study emphasize the need for policies regarding the improved protection of HCWs in social settings in addition to patient care services.

Quantifying gender inequalities in obesity: findings from the Turkish population-based Balcova Heart Study

OBJECTIVES

Sparse evidence is available to explain obesity variations between genders in the Turkish population. To our knowledge, no previous study has analysed the magnitude of gender differences in obesity using common social determinants of health. We aimed to quantify gender inequalities in obesity in terms of education, employment status, occupation and perceived income in a Turkish population.

STUDY DESIGN

The study design used is a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Population-based data from the Balcova Heart Study (n = 16,080) were analysed. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) when comparing obesity prevalence in women vs men within each category of social determinants.

RESULTS

Women had a higher risk of being obese than men (adjusted OR [aOR] = 2.04 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.7-2.1]). Gender inequality in obesity decreased as the level of education increased, from 'primary school' (aOR = 2.5 [95% CI: 2.2-2.8]) to 'university' (aOR = 0.9 [95% CI: 0.6-1.1]). Women had a higher risk of obesity within the 'unemployed' category compared with men (aOR = 2.2 [95% CI: 1.6-3.0]). Gender inequality in obesity decreased with a higher perception of income, from 'low' (aOR = 2.1 [95% CI: 1.6-3.0]) to 'high' (aOR = 1.5 [95% CI: 1.2-2.0]).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the fact that gender inequalities in obesity are greatest within populations of low education, unemployment and lower perception of income. Reduced gender inequality in obesity prevalence was seen for the subpopulation with professional occupations, with women having decreased odds of obesity compared with men. Conversely, unemployed women had increased odds of obesity compared with unemployed men. Increasing the status of women should be prioritised in policies to tackle obesity in the Turkish population and in similar developing populations elsewhere.

Association between seroprevalence of measles and various social determinants in the year following a measles outbreak in Turkey

OBJECTIVES

Despite an ongoing measles elimination programme, a measles outbreak occurred in 2013 in Turkey. Population-based seroprevalence studies are needed to determine seronegativity and explore the reasons for this outbreak. This study aimed to explore the seroprevalence of measles and its association with various social determinants in a provincial population in Turkey in the year following a measles outbreak.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This study was conducted in Manisa Province in 2014 in a sample of 1740 people aged >2 years. The dependent variable was the seroprevalence of measles. Independent variables were sex, age, migration, household size, household density, income, education level, existence of chronic disease and occupational class. Blood samples were collected from participants at family health centres. The presence of specific measles antibodies in serum samples was determined using an anti-measles virus IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, data from 1250 people were analysed. The seroprevalence of measles in the whole study population was 82.2% (95% confidence interval 80.0-84.2). Seroprevalence was 55.4% among subjects aged 2-9 years, 48.7% among subjects aged 10-19 years, 74.1% among subjects aged 20-29 years and 93.6% among subjects aged 30-39 years (P < 0.01). Seroprevalence in subjects aged >40 years was >95%. The lowest seroprevalence was found in primary school children (40.2%), followed by those below the age for primary education (69.8%) and secondary school graduates (75.1%). The prevalence of measles seronegativity was not associated with any of the social determinants when adjusted for age.

CONCLUSIONS

The seroprevalence of measles was lower than expected in the study population and was particularly low in subjects aged <30 years of age despite previous vaccination. Seroprevalence was not associated with social determinants of health that confirmed either an even distribution of virus exposure or fair access to vaccination services. However, the current seroprevalence cannot be sufficiently effective to reach the measles elimination targets, suggesting that it may be necessary to re-evaluate the need for an extra dose of measles vaccine.

A retrospective analysis of antidepressant poisonings in the emergency department: 11-year experience

Between 1993 and 2004, patients with antidepressant poisoning admitted to an emergency department (ED) were analysed retrospectively with regard to demographics, clinical findings and treatment attempts. Age, gender, suicide attempts, classification of antidepressants, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, ECG findings, need for endotracheal intubation, follow-up period and Antidepressant Overdose Risk Assessment (ADORA) criteria were analysed by SPSS software. A total of 356 antidepressant poisoning cases were evaluated. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), especially opipramol and amitriptyline, were the most common agents (58.4%). The most frequent ECG finding was sinus tachycardia (40.7%, n=145). Endotracheal intubation was required in 9.6% of cases. Patients with TCA ingestion had a longer observation time in the ED, abnormal ECG findings, abnormal physical examination findings and more ADORA criteria, than patients who ingested selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) (P=0.008, P=0.008, P<0.001, P<0.001). It was found that the patients who ingested TCA (P=0.001), poisoned with amitriptyline (P=0.001), patients with GCS scores of 8 and less (P=0.001), patients with two or more ADORA criteria (P=0.001), with seizures (P=0.001), with abnormal ECG (P=0.012), and patients with a history of two or more suicide attempts were intubated more frequently. Suicide attempts, classification of the antidepressant, ECG findings, seizure, GCS score and number of detected ADORA criteria affect the need for intubation in patients with antidepressant poisoning.

The effects of choline on body temperature in conscious rats

Choline (75-300 microg) produced dose-dependent hypothermia when injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.). Pre-treatment with the muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine (10 microg, i.c.v.), blocked the hypothermic effect of choline (150 microg), but the response was only partially attenuated by pre-treatment with the nicotinic receptor antagonist, mecamylamine (20 microg, i.c.v.). Pirenzepine (25 microg), a muscarinic M1 receptor antagonist, or hexahydro-siladifenidol (HHSD) (100 microg), a muscarinic M3 receptor antagonist, also blocked choline-induced hypothermia when injected centrally. Unlike the other muscarinic receptor antagonists, M2-selective 11-[[2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyri do[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one (AF-DX116) (10 microg), did not affect choline-induced hypothermia. We also found that choline-induced hypothermia was very sensitive to the ambient temperature. Similar to its effect at room temperature, choline produced dose-dependent hypothermia at 4 degrees C, but this effect was abolished at 32 degrees C. These data suggest that choline produces hypothermia and this effect is mediated by muscarinic receptors.