Journal of epidemiology and community health
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Nov 2012
Meta AnalysisChanges in suicide rates following media reports on celebrity suicide: a meta-analysis.
A growing number of studies indicate that sensationalist reporting of suicide is associated with increases in suicide rates, but in the light of some negative findings, the issue has remained controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the best current evidence on the association between celebrity suicide stories and subsequent suicides. ⋯ Reports on celebrity suicide are associated with increases in suicides. Study region and celebrity type appear to have an impact on the effect size.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Nov 2012
School dropout: a major public health challenge: a 10-year prospective study on medical and non-medical social insurance benefits in young adulthood, the Young-HUNT 1 Study (Norway).
School and work participation in adolescence and young adulthood are important for future health and socioeconomic status. The authors studied the association between self-rated health in adolescents, high school dropout and long-term receipt of medical and non-medical social insurance benefits in young adulthood. ⋯ The strong association between poor self-rated health in adolescence, high school dropout and reduced work integration needs attention and suggests preventive measures on an individual as well as on a societal level.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Oct 2012
Personal, interpersonal and structural challenges to accessing HIV testing, treatment and care services among female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgenders in Karnataka state, South India.
Despite high HIV prevalence rates among most-at-risk groups, utilisation of HIV testing, treatment and care services was relatively low in Karnataka prior to 2008. The authors aimed to understand the barriers to and identify potential solutions for improving HIV service utilisation. ⋯ Embedding some HIV care services within existing programmes for vulnerable populations, as well as improving service quality at government facilities, are suggested to help overcome the multiple barriers to service utilisation. Increasing the uptake of HIV testing, treatment and care services is key to improving the quality and longevity of the lives of HIV-infected individuals.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Sep 2012
Towards the next generation of public health research in India: a call for a health equity lens.
Public health research is at a cross road in India. Despite a high level of health needs and new public health challenges arising in the context of rapid economic growth and social change, public health research is not keeping up with the needs of Indian society. There are, however, new initiatives creating opportunities to increase public health research, thereby raising debates about public health research priorities. ⋯ The authors first outline the main reasons why they believe that public health research has been sidelined in India. Then, the authors argue that health equity should be the overarching principle guiding a public health research agenda. The authors suggest how to integrate equity-oriented strategies into the public health research agenda and propose some key research questions that require urgent attention from their respective disciplines.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Sep 2012
Comparative StudyThe effect of daily weather conditions on myocardial infarction incidence in a subarctic population: the Tromsø Study 1974-2004.
Meteorological factors like cold temperatures and heavy snowfalls have been reported to increase myocardial infarction (MI) incidence, but there are inconsistencies in results as well as in methodology in previous studies. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of meteorological factors on incidence of MI in a population-based study in Tromsø, Norway (69°39'N). ⋯ In this subarctic population, MI incidence was little affected by the weather, probably due to behavioural protection. However, cold weather and heavy snowfall may be associated with increased risk of MI among older people.