The purpose of this study was to investigate predictive factors of the self-care behaviors among Thai teenagers with primigravida. The samples of 206 primigravida teenagers attending ANC clinics of six hospitals in the North-Eastern region of Thailand were included. Data collection was done through self administered-questionnaire. Scales of the questionnaire had reliability coefficients ranging from 0.72 – 0.92. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the percentage-mean score of overall self-care behavior was 76.91. The percentage-mean scores of self-care behaviors in specific trimester were found that the score in the second trimester was lower than the scores in the first and third trimesters (57.58, 60.45, and 64.65, respectively). Factors associated with overall self-care behavior were perceived self-efficacy, perceived social support from family, knowledge on self-care during pregnancy, accessibility to health services, self-esteem and age (r = 0.47, 0.34, 0.28, 0.24, 0.19, and 0.15, respectively). Perceived self-efficacy and knowledge on self-care during pregnancy were the two considerable predictors accounted for 25% of the variance in the self-care behaviors of Thai teenagers with primigravida.

Introduction: Child stunting is one of the global public health problems and breastfeeding is one of the modifiable maternal factors protecting against child stunting. The current study aims to determine the prevalence of breastfeeding and its association with child stunting among adolescent mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. Using multi-stage stratified sampling method, 250 participants were recruited. Data were collected using structured interview questionnaires in 6 districts from August 2016 to March 2017. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used to analyze data. Results: 16.4% of children were stunted and 22.4% were breastfed for ≥6 months. Univariable logistic regression disclosed significantly associated factors of stunting included age at delivery, educational level, family members, weight gain during pregnancy, birth weight, complete immunization, recent illness, breast feeding and complementary feeding (p-value < 0.05). After adjusting multivariable logistic regression analysis for potential confounders, babies breastfed <4 months were 1.83 times at risk compared with those breastfed ≥6 months (OR=1.83, 95%CI=0.41-8.30) but without significance. Conclusion: Efforts to reduce child stunting should include surveillance systems of stunting which should be conducted accompanied by providing perspectives on maternal and child health care, implementing health literacy regarding breastfeeding among adolescent mothers and prevention programs to reduce and prevent child stunting.

Background: Poor sleep quality (PSQ) is an increasing health problem and adolescents also constitute risk groups. Portable mobile and media devices have become a part of children’s lives and may affect their sleep duration and quality. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of PSQ and identify the association between media use and PSQ among adolescents studying in high school grades 10-12.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ratchaburi Province. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to enroll 777 adolescents from 8 schools from August-October 2016. The research instruments comprised factors of demographics and consumption behaviors and the questionnaire of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI).Results: Prevalence of PSQ was 56.24%. The study subjects were mostly 16-17 years old (67.82%) and female (70.39%). Multivariable logistic regression, after controlling for possible confounders, there was an increased odds of PSQ in those who used a social media device (OR=1.34, 95%CI=0.97-1.87), and it showed a higher proportion of social media use among PSQ group.Conclusions: The surveillance system of media use and PSQ should be conducted accompanied by knowledge sharing on media use among parents, teachers and adolescents. To determine causal relationships, further longitudinal studies will be required to test for the association between media users and PSQ. This study may also provide some implications for health promotion on sleep quality of senior high school students.

Background:Sterilization is most widely used fertility regulation method in Nepal. However, prevalence of uptake of female sterilization in central hilly region is less than the national average. The objective of the study was to explore the number and factors related to intention of married women to undergo female sterilization in rural Kathmandu which lies within central hilly region.Materials and Methods:This is a community based cross-sectional survey research conducted in rural area of Kathmandu valley. Two hundred and forty currently married women with at least one child of any age were interviewed using a structured pre-tested questionnaire.Results:More than four-fifth of the respondents intended to undergo sterilization. Almost two-third of them wanted to limit their family size by taking this option. More than one-third of women not-intending to undergo sterilization feared weakness after sterilization. Age of the respondents, duration of marriage, and number of living children were significantly associated with intention to undergo sterilization. 15-24 years age group were six times more likely to have the intention for sterilization (OR 6.79, CI 2.28-20.19) compared to age 35 years and above group. Mothers with less than 3 living children are about three times more likely to have the intention to undergo sterilization (OR 2.87, CI 1.3-6.33) compared to women with more than 2 living children. Women married for 6 to 10 years were three times more likely to have the intention (OR 3.0, CI 1.09-8.27). However, gender of the living children was not associated with intention to undergo sterilization.Conclusion:There were significant numbers of women intending to undergo sterilization. Age of the mother, number of living children and the duration of marriage were found to be significantly influencing the intention to undergo sterilization. However, as intention refers to future plan, the respondents’ intention may change over time. The national family planning program also needs to identify the key factors in accepting the sterilization and target these women to increase utilization.

Background: Poor Sleep Quality (PSQ) is one of the increasing public health problems and adolescents also constitute risk groups. The aims of this study were to explore the prevalence of PSQ and to examine the association between PSQ and depression among adolescents who studied in grades 10 through 12 in high schools. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ratchaburi Province. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to enroll 777 adolescents from 8 schools from August-October 2016. The research instruments comprised demographic factors, the questionnaire of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the center for epidemiological studies depression scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). Results: Prevalence of PSQ was 56.24%. The study samples were mostly 16-17 years old (67.82%) and females (70.39%). Multivariable logistic regression, after controlling for possible confounders showed that depression increased the risk of PSQ by a factor of 2.48 times (OR adj =2.48, 95% CI=1.70-3.63). Conclusion: The surveillance system of depression and PSQ should be conducted accompanied with knowledge sharing on depression and associated factors among parents, teachers and adolescents. School activities should include a program for adolescents' stress management and conflict resolving skills. PSQ is recommended as one of the surveillance factors to prevent depression among adolescents.