Shorab M, Sharma D, Martins De Mello-Neto J
… +3 more, Henning L, Lindsay D, Leggat PA
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Nov · PMID 40995933
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The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the prevalence of periodontal disease in South Pacific Island countries. A literature search was conducted using Scopus, Medline (via PubMed and Ovid), databases, a...The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the prevalence of periodontal disease in South Pacific Island countries. A literature search was conducted using Scopus, Medline (via PubMed and Ovid), databases, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria for the review were the studies that reported on periodontal disease in the 1- to 85-year age group, excluding data from Australia, New Zealand, and protectorates of the United States and France. The findings from the studies were synthesized, noting the demographics, periodontal disease assessment methods, and main outcomes. The initial search yielded 475 relevant articles. After further screening for eligibility, a total of nine articles were included in this systematic review. In the studies included, the population ranged from 185 to 7966 participants with the age range of 1 to 64 years. The studies were heterogeneous, with each study utilizing different criteria to assess periodontal disease. Notably, the latest study eligible for inclusion was published in 2012. The prevalence of periodontitis ranged from 20% to 100%, with greater prevalence in the age group of 40 years or older. The findings from this review highlighted the need for regular prevalence studies to inform public health policy makers and develop strategies to manage periodontal disease proactively.
Huu TH, The NH, Thai BD
… +4 more, Phuong TN, Phuc Nhu ND, Minh TH, Van CD
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Nov · PMID 40975813
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Dengue is a significant public health concern in tropical countries. This study explored the short-term associations between monthly climatic variables and dengue incidence. Dengue cases and weather parameters from 2001...Dengue is a significant public health concern in tropical countries. This study explored the short-term associations between monthly climatic variables and dengue incidence. Dengue cases and weather parameters from 2001 to 2023 were collected in Can Tho City, a central province of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. A quasi-Poisson regression with a distributed lag linear model was employed to determine the associations. A total of 32 265 dengue cases were collected. Of these cases, 53.7% were male, and 64.1% were under 15. Each 5% increase in relative humidity was associated with a 19.3% increase in dengue cases. Each 1°C increase in average temperature was associated with a 13.8% increase in dengue cases. Rainfall showed a negative effect, with each 5 mm increase in rainfall decreasing cases by 1.3%. Wind velocity showed no significant impact. The study demonstrated that relative humidity and temperature are key predictors for dengue forecasting and prevention.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Nov · PMID 40958196
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Children, especially migrant children, face challenges in participating in health communication with health professionals worldwide. Southeast Asian migrant children possibly encounter this issue in Aotearoa New Zealand,...Children, especially migrant children, face challenges in participating in health communication with health professionals worldwide. Southeast Asian migrant children possibly encounter this issue in Aotearoa New Zealand, as limited literature explores their needs, and there is a notable lack of studies considering children's perspectives. This study describes the health communication needs of New Zealand Southeast Asian migrant children (aged 7-12 years) from the children's perspective. Individual interviews with 13 Southeast Asian migrant children were conducted. Reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken to generate shared meanings as themes. Participants shared their understanding of health concepts and a range of health communication experiences, which generated three themes: readiness for participation, the challenges of health conversations, and a child-friendly atmosphere. Overall, unmet health communication needs of Southeast Asian migrant children are suggested in this study, which signals a need for changes in practice to promote children's health communication participation.
Singh S, Begum A, Kamaruzzaman SB
… +1 more, Mohd Mydin FH
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40931955
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This scoping review investigates the availability of research and policy documents on interventions aligned with the World Health Organization Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (WHO AFCC) framework for populations in M...This scoping review investigates the availability of research and policy documents on interventions aligned with the World Health Organization Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (WHO AFCC) framework for populations in Malaysia. Utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for Scoping Reviews, 78 articles and 11 government documents (N = 89) were included and analyzed in this review. Despite limited studies directly evaluating WHO AFCC interventions, research extensively covers interventions related to older adults' health and social outcomes within the framework's domains. However, actual interventional studies on implementing and evaluating WHO AFCC-aligned interventions in Malaysia are lacking. Collaborative efforts among government agencies, community organizations, and researchers are crucial to developing and evaluating evidence-based interventions and strategies aligned with the WHO AFCC framework in the Malaysian context.
Maruf MA, Weng YH, Lee MH
… +6 more, Lee KY, Wu MS, Bui C, Lo WC, Chiou HY, Chiu YW
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40888312
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The disease burden and government policy related to COVID-19 vary across countries. This study aims to explore whether these varieties have different impact on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of health care...The disease burden and government policy related to COVID-19 vary across countries. This study aims to explore whether these varieties have different impact on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of health care personnel (HCP) in Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted online in selected hospitals of Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia between December 2021 and February 2022. A total of 3,528 valid questionnaires (1,645 from Taiwan, 1,481 from Vietnam, and 402 from Indonesia) were collected for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated significant differences in the KAP among HCP of the three countries. Sufficient knowledge was associated with country (Taiwan and Vietnam), age (>29 y/o), education level (bachelor), profession (physician and allied HCP), and faculty. Positive attitudes were associated with country (Vietnam), education level (below bachelor & bachelor) and age (>29 y/o). Healthy practices were associated with country (Vietnam and Indonesia), age (>29), female, and profession (physician). In conclusion, our results identify factors in relation to the KAP toward COVID-19. The data suggest disease burden and government policies may affect the KAP of HCP toward COVID-19.
Luo H, Guo Z, He Z
… +5 more, Yuan T, Zhu J, Yang T, Liu C, Lu J
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40876866
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Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, this research systematically examines the spatiotemporal trends of depressive disorder and anxiety disorders among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years across 48 Asian...Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, this research systematically examines the spatiotemporal trends of depressive disorder and anxiety disorders among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years across 48 Asian countries/regions from 2016 to 2021. Pre-pandemic (2016-2019), South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia exhibited significant mental disorder prevalence (eg, Iraq's anxiety disorder rate reached 7.79% in 2019). The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health deterioration, particularly in East Asia (eg, Japan's anxiety rate rose from 3.78% to 4.29%) and high-baseline regions (India, Sri Lanka), with no improvement observed by 2021. We recommend cross-sector collaboration and school-based interventions to address regional disparities.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40851271
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While mental health trends among Chinese adolescents have been widely studied, the rural population remains understudied despite its distinctive socioeconomic context, especially regarding long-term trends before, during...While mental health trends among Chinese adolescents have been widely studied, the rural population remains understudied despite its distinctive socioeconomic context, especially regarding long-term trends before, during, and after COVID-19. This study investigates decade-long (2012-2022) depression trends among Chinese rural adolescents, focusing on pandemic-related changes and variations by gender and age. Data for this analysis were drawn from the longitudinal surveys of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) (N = 9,695; age 10-15). Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to determine change patterns in rural adolescents' depression over time. Multiple regression models were computed to assess gender and age differences in pre-pandemic and pandemic-era depression changes. The findings reveal that (a) No statistically significant changes in depression were observed before the COVID-19 pandemic from 2012 to 2018; (b) a statistically significant increase in depression occurred from 2018 to 2020; (c) subsequently, a significant decline was noted from 2020 to 2022; and (d) no statistically significant differences were found between two gender and different age groups regarding their change in depression before and during the COVID-19. The study reveals pandemic-specific fluctuations in rural adolescent depression that affected all subgroups uniformly, highlighting the universal impact of COVID-19 disruptions in rural contexts.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40851260
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Continuously high infection rates of the Severe acute respiratory virus-2 (SARS-Cov-2) may lead to the emergence of new strains. Preventative behavior such as wearing masks and hand hygiene are required to stop transmiss...Continuously high infection rates of the Severe acute respiratory virus-2 (SARS-Cov-2) may lead to the emergence of new strains. Preventative behavior such as wearing masks and hand hygiene are required to stop transmission, but there is concern that the perceived efficacy of vaccines could elicit risk compensation, leading to a decrease in preventative behavior. A convenience sample of 315 vaccinated Indonesian adults (mean age 36.2 years, 61% female) participated in this cross-sectional online study, completing measures of risk perception, social norm, perceived vaccine efficacy, pandemic fatigue, demographic characteristics, and preventative behavior between March and May 2022. Hierarchical regression of preventative behavior showed that perceived vaccine efficacy was a significant positive instead of negative predictor, thus providing no evidence for risk compensation ( = .154, = .002). Potential explanations, implications and suggestions for further study are discussed.
Mohamed Zaki NF, Farzana A, Wan Yuen C
… +5 more, Awang H, Thangiah N, Hisham R, Hairi NN, Mohd Mydin FH
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40851198
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Understanding older adults' perspectives on elder abuse and neglect has received limited attention. Despite decades of deliberation and scholarly debates, there remains no clear consensus on what constitutes abuse. This...Understanding older adults' perspectives on elder abuse and neglect has received limited attention. Despite decades of deliberation and scholarly debates, there remains no clear consensus on what constitutes abuse. This scoping review examines how older adults conceptualize elder abuse and neglect. A systematic search across seven databases and three journals identified 44 articles. Thematic analysis revealed key themes, including associations between abuse and harmful consequences, such as physical injuries, emotional distress, and psychological trauma. Debates on severity, frequency, intent, and context highlight ambiguities in older adults' awareness of elder abuse and neglect. Behaviors perceived as abusive or neglectful were categorized into five main types: physical, psychological, financial, sexual, and neglect. Additional themes emerged, such as social and discriminatory abuse. Cultural contexts significantly influence the perceptions of older people, with diverse interpretations shaped by intentionality and care practices across communities. Although most studies were conducted in high-income countries, participants were predominantly from Asian communities, where filial piety and collectivistic values are emphasized. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies to explore evolving conceptualizations of abuse, refine measurement tools to capture nuanced understandings, and identify emerging forms of abuse.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40851190
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The COVID-19 pandemic reduced social contact, causing social isolation, which is dependent on risk perception-a motivation for social distancing. While studies have examined risk perception as a dual process, its applica...The COVID-19 pandemic reduced social contact, causing social isolation, which is dependent on risk perception-a motivation for social distancing. While studies have examined risk perception as a dual process, its application to real-world risk situations is unexplored. This study investigated the relationships between risk perception, social contact changes, and social isolation during COVID-19. A nationwide cross-sectional sample of 804 adults completed computer-assisted telephone interviews. The main variables were social isolation (face-to-face and non-face-to-face) and risk perception (affective and cognitive). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, logistic regression models, and multinomial logistic regression models. Affective and cognitive risk perceptions were associated with changes in face-to-face and non-face-to-face social contact. Only affective risk perception was associated with social isolation. Thus, social isolation is a health-related concept, higher levels are associated with poorer mental and physical health. In addition, the isolation-reduction recommendations put forth have important well-being-improvement implications.
Lee D, Kim BS, Han K
… +6 more, Chang WH, Cho IY, Choi HL, Park JH, Chun S, Shin DW
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40844179
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This study used the Korean National Health Insurance System database to examine how poststroke disability and stroke type affect the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) in stroke survivors. Data for 217 157 stroke survivors a...This study used the Korean National Health Insurance System database to examine how poststroke disability and stroke type affect the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) in stroke survivors. Data for 217 157 stroke survivors and 312 138 matched controls were analyzed. The relative risk of DM was assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models. Compared with the controls, stroke survivors had a 2.7-fold higher risk of newly diagnosed DM in the first year and a 15% increased risk thereafter. Severe disability was associated with an elevated DM risk in the first year, but the risk was not significant when a one-year lag period was applied. Ischemic stroke survivors showed significantly higher DM risk than controls, but no significant difference was observed for hemorrhagic stroke survivors. These findings suggest that the type and severity of stroke play crucial roles in the development of DM. Close monitoring and early screening for DM in stroke survivors, particularly those with severe disability or ischemic stroke, could help improve long-term outcomes.
Hasan SI, Amer Nordin AS, Hairi FM
… +1 more, Ahmad Tajuddin NAN
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40831022
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Tobacco control is significantly influenced by smoking cessation interventions led by health care providers. However, the experiences of these providers in counseling are not sufficiently explored. This qualitative study...Tobacco control is significantly influenced by smoking cessation interventions led by health care providers. However, the experiences of these providers in counseling are not sufficiently explored. This qualitative study, embedded within an Smoking Cessation Organizing, Planning & Execution (SCOPE) training effectiveness evaluation, delves into the barriers and facilitators encountered in addressing tobacco use at health clinics. We conducted Focus Group Discussions with 38 health care providers, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and medical assistants, across six locations. The transcripts were inductively coded to develop themes. Identified challenges encompassed time constraints, lack of cessation skills, patient default rates, and resource inadequacy. On the contrary, strong rapport, patient readiness to quit, service promotion, and dedicated clinics emerged as facilitators. The study emphasizes that health care providers face barriers at multiple levels-provider, patient, and organizational. Capitalizing on the identified facilitators could improve smoking cessation intervention efforts. The improvement of quit-smoking clinics necessitates strategic inputs from a diverse range of stakeholders.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Nov · PMID 40817914
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This study explored reasons for the shift toward outpatient care in India between 2014 and 2017-18. The study used the most recent unit-level data from health surveys conducted by the National Sample Survey for the years...This study explored reasons for the shift toward outpatient care in India between 2014 and 2017-18. The study used the most recent unit-level data from health surveys conducted by the National Sample Survey for the years 2017-18 and 2014. It is based on the uniform 15-day recall period for utilization of inpatient and outpatient care. Multivariate decomposition analysis was used to identify the contribution of covariates that explain this shift in utilization from inpatient to outpatient care in India. Decomposition analysis suggests that most of this shift is attributable to the change in the coefficient of explanatory variables (98%). The age and nature of diseases accounted for more than 40% of this shift. The age of the patient and non-communicable diseases are the two most significant drivers of the shift toward outpatient care between 2014 and 2017-18.