This text is a Stata-specific treatment of generalized linear mixed models, also known as multilevel or hierarchical models. These models are "mixed" in the sense that they allow fixed and random effects and are "generalized" in the sense that they are appropriate not only for continuous Gaussian responses but also for binary, count, and other types of limited dependent variables.

Multilevel and Longitudinal Modeling Using Stata, 3rd Edition

Background. Rates of depression have been rising, as have rates of work stress. We tested the influence of work stress on diagnosed depression and anxiety in young working adults. Method. Participants were enrolled in the Dunedin study, a 1972-1973 longitudinal birth cohort assessed most recently in 2004-2005, at age 32 (n=972, 96% of 1015 cohort members still alive). Work stress (psychological job demands, work decision latitude, low work social support, physical work demands) was ascertained by interview. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were ascertained using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) and diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. Results. Participants exposed to high psychological job demands (excessive workload, extreme time pressures) had a twofold risk of MDD or GAD compared to those with low job demands. Relative risks (RRs) adjusting for all work characteristics were: 1·90 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1·22-2·98] in women, and 2·00 (95 % CI 1·13-3·56) in men. Analyses ruled out the possibility that the association between work stress and disorder resulted from study members' socio-economic position, a personality tendency to report negatively, or a history of psychiatric disorder prior to labour-market entry. Prospective longitudinal analyses showed that high-demand jobs were associated with the onset of new depression and anxiety disorder in individuals without any pre-job history of diagnosis or treatment for either disorder. Conclusions. Work stress appears to precipitate diagnosable depression and anxiety in previously healthy young workers. Helping workers cope with work stress or reducing work stress levels could prevent the occurrence of clinically significant depression and anxiety.

Work stress precipitates depression and anxiety in young, working women and men. Commentary

AIMS: To examine the evidence of association between intimate partner physical or sexual violence (IPV) victimization and alcohol consumption in women. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies released before 6 June 2013. Studies providing an estimate of association between violence and alcohol consumption or alcohol use disorders were eligible for inclusion. Quality was assessed and random effects meta-analyses used to generate pooled odds ratios (OR) where appropriate. Higgins I(2) where P<0.10 was taken to indicate heterogeneity. RESULTS: Fifty-five studies providing 102 estimates of association met the inclusion criteria. Most estimates were not controlled for partner alcohol use and other key confounders. Seven longitudinal studies provided 12 estimates of the association between alcohol and subsequent IPV; nine of 12 estimates showed a direction of increased odds of subsequent IPV, pooled OR=1.27 [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.07-1.52], I(2) =0%, P=0.437. Nine longitudinal studies provided 15 estimates of association between IPV and subsequent alcohol use; 14 of 15 estimates showed a direction of increased odds of subsequent alcohol use, pooled OR=1.25 (95% CI 1.02-1.52), I(2)=0%, P=0.751. Cross-sectional studies showed an association between IPV and alcohol use, pooled OR=1.80, 95% CI 1.58-2.06, but with substantial heterogeneity, I(2)=60.8%, P<0.0001. Definition of alcohol use partly accounted for heterogeneity in cross-sectional estimates. CONCLUSIONS: There is a clear positive association between alcohol use and intimate partner physical or sexual violence victimization among women, suggesting a need for programming and research that addresses this link. However, the temporal direction of the association remains unclear. Longitudinal studies with multiple waves of data collection are needed.

Intimate partner violence victimization and alcohol consumption in women: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) represents a heterogenous spectrum of conditions. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) describes the epidemiology, management, and outcomes of patients with ACS. Data were collected from 11,543 patients enrolled in 14 countries. Of these patients, 30% had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 25% had non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), 38% had unstable angina pectoris, and 7% had other cardiac or noncardiac diagnoses. Over half of these patients (53%) were >/=65 years old. Reperfusion therapy was used in 62% of patients with STEMI. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 40% of these subjects during the index admission. Intravenous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockers were used in 23%, 20%, and 7% of patients with STEMI, NSTEMI, and unstable angina, respectively (STEMI vs NSTEMI, p = 0.0018, and for either group vs unstable angina, p <0.001). Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 4%, 10%, and 5% of patients, respectively (p <0.0001). Hospital case fatality rates were markedly different among patients with STEMI, NSTEMI, and unstable angina (7%, 6%, and 3%, respectively; STEMI vs NSTEMI, p = 0.0459, and for either group vs unstable angina, p <0.001). Congestive heart failure complicated the hospital course in 18%, 18%, and 10% of the patients, respectively (p <0.0001), and recurrent angina with ST-segment changes occurred before discharge in 10%, 10%, and 9% of patients, respectively (p = 0.2644). GRACE provides a detailed and comprehensive global description of the spectrum of patients with ACS.

Baseline characteristics, management practices, and in-hospital outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes in the global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE)☆

Malaria in Equatorial Guinea remains a major public health problem. The country is a holo-endemic area with a year-round transmission pattern. In 2016, the prevalence of malaria was 12.09% and malaria caused 15% of deaths among children under 5 years. In the Continental Region, 95.2% of malaria infections were Plasmodium falciparum, 9.5% Plasmodium vivax, and eight cases mixed infection in 2011. The main strategy for malaria control is quick and accurate diagnosis followed by effective treatment. Early and accurate diagnosis of malaria is essential for both effective disease management and malaria surveillance. The quality of malaria diagnosis is important in all settings, as misdiagnosis can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Microscopy and RDTs are the primary choices for diagnosing malaria in the field. However, false-negative results may delay treatment and increase the number of persons capable of infecting mosquitoes in the community. The present study analysed the performance of microscopy and RDTs, the two main techniques used in Equatorial Guinea for the diagnosis of malaria, compared to semi-nested multiplex PCR (SnM-PCR). A total of 1724 samples tested by microscopy, RDT, and SnM-PCR were analysed. Among the negative samples detected by microscopy, 335 (19.4%) were false negatives. On the other hand, the negative samples detected by RDT, 128 (13.3%) were false negatives based on PCR. This finding is important, especially since it is a group of patients who did not receive antimalarial treatment. Owing to the high number of false negatives in microscopy, it is necessary to reinforce training in microscopy, the “Gold Standard” in endemic areas. A network of reference centres could potentially support ongoing diagnostic and control efforts made by malaria control programmes in the long term, as the National Centre of Tropical Medicine currently supports the National Programme against Malaria of Equatorial Guinea to perform all of the molecular studies necessary for disease control. Taking into account the results obtained with the RDTs, an exhaustive study of the deletion of the hrp2 gene must be done in EG to help choose the correct RDT for this area.

/pdf/comparison-of-three-diagnostic-methods-microscopy-rdt-and-2o50krz42k.pdf

Comparison of three diagnostic methods (microscopy, RDT, and PCR) for the detection of malaria parasites in representative samples from Equatorial Guinea

This study determined the factors associated with gender based violence among 3000 men and women in selected states in Nigeria. Respondents who had experienced physical violence were 806(26.9%), comprising 353(11.8%) males and 453(15.1%) females (p<0.001). Respondents who had experienced sexual violence were 364 (12.1%) of which 221 (7.4%) were males and 143(4.8%) were females (p<0.0001). Married female respondents were more likely to experience physical violence than single respondents (OR= 1.71, 95%CI: 1.15-2.53 p=0.008). In addition, lower risk of experiencing sexual violence among males was observed among those who do not drink alcohol. The study has shown that gender based violence still constitutes a problem in Nigeria, affecting women more than men. However, efforts should be geared towards addressing the factors that promote violence among both sexes through increased awareness and education.

/pdf/factors-influencing-gender-based-violence-among-men-and-13sga690pj.pdf

Factors influencing gender based violence among men and women in selected states in Nigeria.

Malaria remains a major public health problem in Sub Saharan Africa, where widespread poverty also contribute to the burden of the disease. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of childhood fever and socioeconomic factors including poverty in Nigeria, and to examine these effects at the regional levels. Determinants of fever in the last two weeks among children under five years were examined from the 25004 children records extracted from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2008 data set. A two-level random effects logistic model was fitted. About 16% of children reported having fever in the two weeks preceding the survey. The prevalence of fever was highest among children from the poorest households (17%), compared to 15.8% among the middle households and lowest among the wealthiest (13%) (p 6months), whereas the effect of wealth no longer reached statistical significance. While, overall bednet possession was low, less fever was reported in households that possessed bednets. Malaria control strategies and interventions should be designed that will target the poor and make an impact on poverty. The mechanism through which wealth may affect malaria occurrence needs further investigation.

/pdf/poverty-and-fever-vulnerability-in-nigeria-a-multilevel-4mpksndkr1.pdf

Poverty and fever vulnerability in Nigeria: a multilevel analysis

OBJECTIVE: Determine the correlation between the hearing threshold and the serum levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and folic acid among elderly subjects (> 60 years) with age-related hearing loss (...

Age-related hearing loss, vitamin B12, and folate in the elderly

Polypharmacy is a common problem among hemodialysis patients. It is associated with increased hospital admissions, morbidity, mortality, Medication-Related Problems (MRPs), and expenditures. There is a paucity of data on the prevalence of polypharmacy in our setting. This study aims to determine the prevalence of polypharmacy and MRPs and to assess its predictors. We conducted a cross-sectional study in the outpatient hemodialysis unit. A pharmacy resident assessed electronic prescribing records to identify MRPs and discussed therapeutic interventions to enhance effective therapeutic regimens over a three months period. Eighty-three patients were included. The median age was 63 (Interquartile range; IQR = 22), 50% were males, and the mean number of co-morbidities was 3.14 ± 1.64. The prevalence of polypharmacy was 97.6% with a 95% CI (91.6%–99.7%). Medication use without indication, was the highest identified MRPs at 36% (102/280), followed by subtherapeutic dosing at 23% (65/280), and overdosing at 15% (41/280). The number of comorbidities, the presence of ischemic heart disease, and respiratory diseases were the main predictors of the increased number of medications. Polypharmacy is highly prevalent among the Saudi hemodialysis population. A review of the medications prescribed by the pharmacist facilitated the identification of MRPs and provided opportunities for deprescribing to optimize medication use and to reduce polypharmacy in hemodialysis patients.

https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/6/3/76/pdf

Polypharmacy and Medication-Related Problems in Hemodialysis Patients: A Call for Deprescribing

Introduction While Nigeria accounts for only 2% of the world population, it regrettably shares 14% of global maternal death burden. Whether its reported increase in antenatal care utilization is accompanied by increased use of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) is not known. This study assessed trends in utilization of SBAs in Nigeria between 1990 and 2013 and identified its determinants. Methods Data from four consecutive Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey reports between 1990 and 2013 were pooled. We used basic descriptive statistics, test of association, and logistic regression to assess the prevalence, relative change, and determinants of SBA use at 5% significance level. Sample weights were applied, and adjustment was made for survey design and sampling errors. Results Nearly half (46.7%) of the respondents were aged 25-34 years, while half (50.3%) of the respondents had no formal education. The prevalence of SBA use increased only marginally across the years and characteristics studied, from 32.4% in 1990 to 38.5% in 2013, an insignificant 6% increase. Educated women used SBA more than women with no education (92.4% vs 13.1%), and their odds ratio of using SBA were thrice that of uneducated women (odds ratio =3.09, 95% confidence interval =2.17-4.38). Women involved in decisions regarding their use of health facility were 12% more likely to use SBAs than others who do not. Educational attainment, religion, tribe, rural/urban residence, and zone of residence were significant to the use of SBA. Conclusion The use of SBA was very low throughout the study period, barely at one third usage with insignificant changes over the studied period. Women empowerment, including decision-making power and residence, were the strongest determinants of SBA use. To overturn poor child and maternal health outcomes in Nigeria through SBA use, efforts should be targeted at educating girls, sexual and reproductive health education, and accessible and improved health care facility services.

/pdf/trends-and-drivers-of-skilled-birth-attendant-use-in-nigeria-2ov2aoxrir.pdf

Oyindamola B. Yusuf

Papers

Factors influencing gender based violence among men and women in selected states in Nigeria.

Poverty and fever vulnerability in Nigeria: a multilevel analysis

Age-related hearing loss, vitamin B12, and folate in the elderly

Polypharmacy and Medication-Related Problems in Hemodialysis Patients: A Call for Deprescribing

Trends and drivers of skilled birth attendant use in Nigeria (1990–2013): policy implications for child and maternal health