As one of the largest social networking sites in the world, Facebook holds a great potential for promoting health. In this exploratory study, we analyzed 1352 messages posted to an active Facebook diabetes group to identify the characteristics of the group. The results revealed that the group was international in nature. Users overcame language barriers to communicate with people with similar conditions. Users' interactions were structured around information, emotion, and community building. They exchanged medical and lifestyle information, and highly valued their peers' personal experiences, opinions, and advice. They also demonstrated a positive attitude toward the reality of living with diabetes and generously provided encouragements and affirmations to one another. Great efforts were made to maintain the proper operation of the community by the administrator and a group of core members. As a result, the group was shaped as a social network where peer users share social support, cultivate companionship, and exert social influence. Based on the results, we discussed future directions for research of health communities in a highly connected world.
Based on China fertility survey 2017, this report presents the national fertility level, age-specific fertility rate and parity distribution. The survey results show that during 2006-2016 the mean ages at first marriage and first birth increased by 2.7 and 2.6 years respectively. From 2006 to 2011, the total fertility rate was around 1.60-1.70, and experienced notable fluctuations during 2012-2016. Compared the agespecific fertility in 2006 with in 2011, the curve in 2016 shifted significantly to the right side. Affected by the relaxation of the fertility policy, the proportion of second births among the total births had increased year by year since 2012.
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