ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5444-186X
Current Organisation
Tsinghua University
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Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 06-04-2022
DOI: 10.2196/33394
Abstract: The issue of malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of Congo is severe. Meanwhile, the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene program has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the rates of growth stunting among children. We aimed to explore the association between maternal exposure to mass media and stunting in children through water, sanitation, and hygiene behaviors. Mediation analysis was conducted using data from the 2018 Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys. Mothers’ exposures to television and the internet in the Democratic Republic of Congo significantly decreases the risk of stunting in children by 5% and 10%, respectively, mediated by household water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities and practices. These findings could inform interventions and policies to reduce the rate of stunting rate children by promoting water, sanitation, and hygiene through mass media, especially through the internet and television.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 05-09-2021
Abstract: he issue of malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of Congo is severe. Meanwhile, the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene program has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the rates of growth stunting among children. e aimed to explore the association between maternal exposure to mass media and stunting in children through water, sanitation, and hygiene behaviors. ediation analysis was conducted using data from the 2018 Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys. others’ exposures to television and the internet in the Democratic Republic of Congo significantly decreases the risk of stunting in children by 5% and 10%, respectively, mediated by household water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities and practices. hese findings could inform interventions and policies to reduce the rate of stunting rate children by promoting water, sanitation, and hygiene through mass media, especially through the internet and television.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 07-2021
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2020-048554
Abstract: This study aims to explore the association between maternal depression and the loss of the only child under the family-planning (FP) policy. Cross-sectional data from a Chinese population-based study were analysed. Population from 10 (5 rural and 5 urban) areas in China. Around 300 000 females were included in the study. The FP group was defined as women with one or two live births. Those with no surviving child were classified into the loss-of-only-child group. The non-FP group included women who had more than two live births. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and family types, after stratification and adjustment. MDD was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Inventory. The odds of MDD are 1.42 times higher in the FP group in general (OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.57), as opposed to the non-FP group. In particular, the odds of MDD are 1.36 times greater in the non-loss-of-only-child group (OR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.21 to 1.51) and 2.80 (OR=2.80, 95% CI: 0.88 to 8.94) times greater in the loss-of-only-child group, compared with the non-FP group. The associations between FP groups and MDD appeared to be stronger in the elderly population, in those who were married, less educated and those with a higher household income. The association was found progressively stronger in those who lost their only child. People in the FP group, especially those who lost their only child, are more susceptible to MDD than their counterparts in the non-FP group. Mental health programmes should give special care to those who lost their only child and take existing social policies and norms, such as FP policies, into consideration.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 03-07-2021
DOI: 10.3390/HEALTHCARE9070842
Abstract: Background The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced political unrest, civil insecurity, and military disputes, resulting in extreme poverty and a severely impaired health care system. To reduce the morbidity and mortality in women and children by strengthening healthcare, this study aimed at exploring the relationship between self-reported insecurity of mothers and maternal health-seeking behaviours and diseases in children in the DRC. Method Data collected from 8144 mothers and 14,403 children from the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the National Institute of Statistics in 2017–2018, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), was used. The severity of the conflict in different provinces was measured using the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) reports. Multivariate logistic regression and stratified analysis were utilized to explore the association between conflicts with maternal health-seeking behaviours and diseases among children. Results High self-reported insecurity was positively associated with skilled antenatal care (OR1.93, 95%CI 1.50–2.49), skilled attendants at delivery (OR1.42, 95%CI 1.08–1.87), and early initiation of breastfeeding (OR1.32, 95%CI 1.04–1.68). These associations were more significant in regions with more armed conflict. It was also found that children of mothers with high self-reported insecurity were more likely to suffer from diarrhoea (OR1.47, 95%CI: 1.14–1.88), fever (OR1.23, 95%CI 1.01–1.50), cough (OR1.45, 95%CI 1.19–1.77), and dyspnea (OR2.04, 95%CI 1.52–2.73), than children of mothers with low self-reported insecurity. Conclusions Conflicts increases mothers’ insecurities and negatively affects children’s development. However, high conflict regions have to increase governmental and international assistance to promote the availability and access to maternal and child health services.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-09-2022
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-022-14163-Z
Abstract: Considering the female preponderance of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and disease onset typically after the reproductive years, pregnancy and childbirth may play a role in the aetiology of the disease. Adverse outcomes of pregnancy have been found to precede the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, including RA, but the evidence is scant and inconsistent. Therefore, we investigate whether pregnancy loss is associated with the risk of RA in Chinese women. Data from the China Kadoorie Biobank, conducted by the University of Oxford and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, of 299,629 Chinese women who had been pregnant were used. Multivariable logistic regression and stratified analyses were employed to analyse the association between types of pregnancy loss with the risk of RA. Pregnancy loss was significantly associated with increased risk of RA (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.06–1.18), specifically, spontaneous (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03–1.20) and induced abortions (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06–1.17). There was no significant association between stillbirth and the risk of RA (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.97–1.18). The risk of developing RA increases with the number of pregnancy losses: one loss confers an OR of 1.09 (95% CI 1.03–1.16), two an OR of 1.13 (95% CI 1.05–1.20), three or more an OR of 1.19 (95% CI 1.10–1.28) and OR of 1.06 (95% CI 1.03–1.08) for each additional. Spontaneous and induced abortions are associated with an increased risk of RA in Chinese women.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 10-2021
Abstract: (1) Background: The empowerment of women contributes to better child health and wellness. This study aimed to examine the association between women’s empowerment and complete vaccination of children, as recommended in the National Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on data from the Multiple-Indicator Cluster Survey 6 (MICS-6) to determine the dimensions of women’s empowerment. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between women’s empowerment and complete vaccination of children stratified by household wealth. In total, 3524 women with children aged 12–23 months were included in the study. (3) Results: Women’s empowerment was defined by three dimensions, namely intrinsic agency, enabling resources, and social independence. Children of women with high levels of empowerment had higher odds of complete vaccination, with values of 1.63 (p = 0.002) and 1.59 (p = 0.012) for intrinsic agency and enabling resources of the empowerment, respectively, compared to the children of women with low levels of empowerment however, social independence failed to be associated with the vaccination status of children. After stratification by household wealth, the OR of complete vaccination was higher in women from middle-income households with high levels of intrinsic agency (OR: 2.35, p = 0.021) compared to women from poor households with high levels of intrinsic agency (OR: 1.92, p = 0.004). (4) Conclusions: Higher levels of women’s empowerment, especially intrinsic agency and enabling resources, were associated with complete vaccination in children in the DRC. Household wealth status influenced the associations. The empowerment of women is crucial in promoting the complete vaccination of children and providing equal access to vaccines.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 03-10-2021
Abstract: Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an internet-based and teacher-facilitated sexuality education package on the sexual knowledge and attitudes of Chinese adolescents. Methods: Six middle schools where no sexuality education had been performed with a total of 501 adolescent students (245 males and 256 females) were included in the trial. In total, 14 classes were randomly assigned to the intervention (internet-based sexuality education package) or the control group (classes were conducted as per normal). Students’ sexual knowledge and attitudes were assessed at the baseline, at the end of the intervention, and 12 months after the intervention. Generalized linear models were employed to assess the effects of the intervention. Results: Positive effects of the intervention were observed on sexual knowledge (β = 4.65, 95% CI: 4.12—5.17) and attitudes (β = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.00—1.50) at the end of the intervention. After 12 months, the effects sustained but the magnitude declined for sexual knowledge (β = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.85—2.93) and attitudes (β = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.23—0.75). There were no significant differences between male and female students. Conclusions: Although further modifications are required, the sexuality education package can increase the accessibility of comprehensive sexuality education to adolescents in rural areas in China.
No related grants have been discovered for Kun Tang.