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Background: TORCH infections are the most common prenatal infections causing congenital malformation and infant mortality, especially in developing countries. Migrant women might be vulnerable to TORCH infections, but little is known about the association between migration-related characteristics and TORCH infection risk. This study aimed to investigate the impact of migrant status, migration distance, and the spouse's migrant status on the TORCH epidemic among women of childbearing age. Methods: Based on the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project, we analyzed a representative dataset of TORCH infections among women of childbearing age (15–49 years old) in Guangdong Province of China (2014–2019, n = 2,451,297). The past and/or recent infection status of TORCH infections (Toxoplasma gondii [TOX], Cytomegalovirus [CMV], and Rubella virus [RV]) were identified. Demographic and migration-related characteristics were collected. We thoroughly assessed the prevalence of TORCH infections in both migrant and native women and estimated adjusted odd ratios (aOR) for migration-related characteristics using multivariable logistic regression after adjusting the other sociodemographic factors. Results: Among all 2,451,297 participants, 443,725 (18.1%) were migrant women. Migrant women presented a lower risk of past TOX infection (aOR: 0.89, 0.88–0.91) suggesting a healthy migrant effect (HME), but a higher risk of recent TOX infection (aOR: 1.88, 1.77–1.99), past CMV infection (aOR: 1.26, 1.25–1.28) and RV infection in natural ways (aOR: 1.05, 1.04–1.06). Compared with intra-provincial migrants, inter-provincial migrants had a lower past TOX infection (aOR: 0.88, 0.85–0.91), but a higher risk of recent TOX infection (aOR: 1.16, 1.05–1.27) and RV infection (aOR: 1.33, 1.31–1.36). In addition, having a migrant spouse was associated with a higher risk for all types of infection. Conclusion: This study reported the association of migrant status and migration distance with TORCH infections, although the significance and directionality of these associations varied between pathogens. The spouse's migrant status further amplified the infection risk for all types of pathogens. Our findings suggested interventions for preventing the spread of CMV and RV infection and new acquisition of TOX infection for migrants in southern China, to narrow the native-migrant health inequity and decrease the incidence of prenatal infections and related adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People living with HIV(PLWH) are deemed more vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 infection than the uninfected population. Vaccination is an effective measure for COVID-19 control, yet, little knowledge exists about the willingness of men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV in China to be vaccinated. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the willingness of MSM living with HIV to receive COVID-19 vaccination in six cities of Guangdong, China, from July to September 2020. Factors associated with willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination using multivariable logistic regression. Results: In total, we recruited 944 HIV-positive MSM with a mean age of 29.2 ± 7.7 years. Of all participants, 92.4% of them were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants who were separated, divorced, or widowed (adjusted OR: 5.29, 95%CI: 1.02–27.48), had an annual income higher than 9,000 USD (adjusted OR: 1.70, 95%CI: 1.01–2.86), had ever taken an HIV self-test (adjusted OR: 1.78, 95%CI: 1.07–2.95), had ever disclosed sexual orientation to a doctor/nurse (adjusted OR: 3.16, 95%CI: 1.33–7.50), had ever disclosed sexual orientation to others besides their male partners (adjusted OR: 2.18, 95%CI: 1.29–3.69) were more willing to receive the vaccine. Sex with a female partner in the past six months decreased the likelihood of willingness to receive the vaccine (adjusted OR: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.17–0.95). Economic burden, worry that my health condition could not bear the risk of receiving COVID-19 vaccines, and concern that the vaccination would affect the immune status and antiretroviral therapy were the main reasons for unwillingness to receive vaccination. Conclusion: Our study showed that HIV-positive MSM had a high willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Targeted interventions such as health education should be conducted among MSM with HIV infection to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper investigates the relationship between psychological health and quality of life (QOL) of people affected by leprosy (PAL) living in a community in Guangdong province, China.Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to October 2016 in Guangdong province, China. The 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ12) and World Health Organization Quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to evaluate the psychological health and QOL of the participants. PAL recruited for this study included those who were (1) registered in LEPMIS by the end of 2015 and living in the community, (2) able to be contacted by investigators, and (3) willing to provide informed written consent for enrolling in the study. Proportions, medians, and ratios were used to describe the demographics of the participants and χ2 test was used to compare groups with different psychological health states. Pearson's correlation coefficient and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between GHQ12 and QOL score.Results: A total of 7230 PAL (5527 males and 1701 females, average age 67.3 ± 13.1 years) living in the community participated in the study. The participants averaged 1.7 ± 2.7 points on the GHQ12. Of these, 23.5% had scores meeting a psychological disorder (≥3 points). The scores for the physical, psychological, and social relationships, and environment dimensions of QOL were 17.2 ± 2.4, 20.6 ± 2.7, 9.7 ± 1.7, and 24.6 ± 4.0, respectively. Gender, age, employment, profession, and the four dimensions of QOL were independent factors associated with psychological health of PAL.Conclusion: In addition to focusing on the factors associated with poor QOL and psychological health amongst PAL, there is an urgent need for stigma reduction, rehabilitation programs and social integration. This may be achieved by engaging community members together with PAL to design a locally tailored intervention program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in children under 14 years of age in Guangdong, China. We developed a statistical model to classify the risk of drowning among children based on the risk factors.Methods: A multiple-stage cluster random sampling was employed to select the students in Grades 3 to 9 in two townships in Qingyuan, Guangdong. Questionnaire was a self-reported measure consisting of general information, knowledge, attitudes and activities. A univariate logistic regression model was used to preliminarily select the independent variables at a P value of 0.1 for multivariable model. Three-quarters of the participants were randomly selected as a training sample to establish the model, and the remaining were treated as a testing sample to validate the model.Results: A total of 8390 children were included in this study, about 12.18% (1013) experienced drowning during the past one year. In the univariate logistic regression model, introvert personality, unclear distributions of water areas on the way to school, and bad relationships with their classmates and families were positively associated with drowning. However, females, older age and lower swimming skills were negatively associated with drowning. After employing the prediction model with these factors to estimate drowning risk of the students in the testing samples, the results of Hosmer-Lemeshow tests showed non-significant differences between the predictive results and actual risk (χ2 = 5.97, P = 0.65).Conclusions: Male, younger children, higher swimming skills, bad relationship with their classmates and families, introvert personality and unclear distributions of water areas on the way to school were important risk factors of non-fatal drowning among children. The prediction model based on these variables has an acceptable predictive ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that provided first report of dengue outbreak in Dongguan, a city in Guangdong province in China, in 2010. It has been informed that the aim of the study was to identify the cause, discuss the epidemical characteristics of the outbreak and implement preventive measures to stop the outbreak. IT has been stated that the study found that dengue outbreak was initiated by an imported case from Southeast Asia and Aedes albopictus was the only vector responsible for it.

The article discusses a study conducted to investigate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors in Guangdong province of China, which has a population of 85 million. It has been stated that the study results found that metabolic syndrome has become an important public health problem in China and there is an urgent need to develop population level strategies for the prevention, detection and treatment of cardiovascular risk diseases.

Background: The Dabaoshan mine in the southeast of Guangdong Province, China, is at high risk of multi-metal pollutant discharge into a local river (Hengshihe) and the surrounding area. Following approximately 30 years of exposure to these metals, little is known regarding the subsequent health effects and risks for the local residents. In our present study, we have estimated the relationships between long-term environmental exposure to multiple heavy metals and the risk of cancer mortality in a Chinese population in the vicinity of Dabaoshan. Methods: An ecologic study was performed. Between 2000-2007, a total population of 194,131 lived in the nine agricultural villages that surround the Hengshihe area. Heavy metals concentrations were determined in local environmental samples (water and crops) and whole blood taken from 1152 local residents of both a highexposure area (HEA) and a low-exposure area (LEA). We calculated the rate ratio and standardized mortality ratios based on age- and gender-specific cancer mortality rates for the different reference populations (based on district, county and province). Simple, multiple linear and ridge regression models were used to evaluate the associations between exposure to multiple heavy metals and cancer mortality in the nine villages, after adjustment for age and sex. Results: The geometric mean blood levels of cadmium and lead were measured at 24.10 μg/L and 38.91 μg/dL for subjects (n = 563) in the HEA and 1.87 μg/L and 4.46 μg/dL for subjects (n = 589) from the LEA, respectively (P < 0.001). The rate of mortality from all cancers in the HEA was substantially elevated in comparison with the corresponding mortality rate in the LEA for men (rate ratio = 2.13; 95% confidence intervals = 1.63 - 2.77) and women (2.83; 1.91 - 4.19); rates were also significantly elevated compared with the rate when compared to the entire Wengyuan County area, or the provincial reference population. In addition, mortality rates were significantly increased for stomach, lung and esophageal cancer in the HEA in comparison with the corresponding rates in the LEA, in Wengyuan County and the provincial reference population for men, women and both combined. Further analysis showed that there were significantly positive correlations between exposure to cadmium and lead and the risk of all-cancers and stomach cancer mortality among women and both sexes, whilst zinc exposure showed no association with the risk of site-specific cancer mortality in the nine villages evaluated. Conclusions: The findings of this study reveal probable associations between long-term environmental exposure to both cadmium and lead and an increased risk of mortality from all cancer, as well as from stomach, esophageal and lung-cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drowning is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for children, yet non-fatal drowning remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore potential modifiable risk factors of non-fatal drowning among children in rural areas of China.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was first conducted to obtain non-fatal drowning cases, and 7432 students in grades three to eight from 17 schools participated in the cross sectional survey. Of these, 805 students reported that they experienced non-fatal drowning in the previous year. Then 368 cases were selected randomly to participate in a 1:1 matched case-control study. Each drowning case was matched by one control with the same sex and similar age (the gap less than 2 years) who was selected randomly from the same class.Results: Boys were more likely to be involved in non-fatal drowning. Non-fatal drowning most often happened in the afternoon (65.1%) and natural bodies of water were the most common sites of drowning (71.1%). Swimming, diving and playing in natural waters were the leading activities that preceded non-fatal drowning. The significant risk factors for non-fatal drowning were swimming in natural waters without adult supervision (OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.92-6.03), playing in or beside natural waters (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.17-3.70) and poor swimming skills (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.14-6.62). However, the following variables were protective factors: supervisor aged 30 years or over (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.09-0.49) and no water activities (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.18-0.70).Conclusions: The reduction in dangerous water activities, swimming training and enhancement in supervision among children might decrease the risk of non-fatal drowning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The deleterious biological effects of low-level, long-term exposure to heavy metals are well known, and children are the most susceptible population. Dabaoshan Mine in the southeast of Guangdong Province is at high risk of discharging multi-metals pollutants into a local river (Hengshihe) and the surrounding area. The present study aimed to estimate relationships between measured multi-metal exposures and the presence of behavioural problems for the school-aged children in the polluted area. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Children aged 7-16 years living in three villages of the Hengshihe area with different degrees of heavy-metal pollution participated in this study. Local environmental samples (water and crops) and children's hair were collected, and concentrations of heavy metals were determined. The Child Behaviour Check-list (CBCL) was used to assess the presence of behaviour problems. General linear regression was used to analyze the contribution of hair metals to each CBCL subscale with adjustment for socio-demographic confounding factors. Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed significant effects of hair lead, cadmium and zinc levels on CBCL subscales. Log-transformed hair lead, cadmium and zinc levels accounted for an incremental of 8% to 15% variance in anxious/depressed, withdrawn, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, delinquent behaviour and aggressive behaviour. The concurrent log-transformed hair lead and zinc levels were strongly associated with all subscales while the concurrent log-transformed hair cadmium was only significantly associated with withdrawn, social problems and attention problems. Conclusion: This study reveals that heavy metal exposure was associated with increased risk of behavioral problems for school-aged children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]