Objective: To estimate changes in the prevalence of current tobacco use and socioeconomic inequalities among male and female participants from 22 sub-Saharan African countries from 2003 to 2019.

Design, Setting, and Participants: Secondary data analyses were conducted of sequential Demographic and Health Surveys in 22 sub-Saharan African countries including male and female participants aged 15 to 49 years. The baseline surveys (2003-2011) and the most recent surveys (2011-2019) were pooled.

Exposures: Household wealth index and highest educational level were the markers of inequality.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Sex-specific absolute and relative changes in age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use in each country and absolute and relative measures of inequality using pooled data.

Results: The survey samples included 428 197 individuals (303 232 female participants [70.8%]; mean [SD] age, 28.6 [9.8] years) in the baseline surveys and 493 032 participants (348 490 female participants [70.7%]; mean [SD] age, 28.5 [9.4] years) in the most recent surveys. Both sexes were educated up to primary (35.7%) or secondary school (40.0%). The prevalence of current tobacco use among male participants ranged from 6.1% (95% CI, 5.2%-6.9%) in Ghana to 38.3% (95% CI, 35.8%-40.8%) in Lesotho in the baseline surveys and from 4.5% (95% CI, 3.7%-5.3%) in Ghana to 46.0% (95% CI, 43.2%-48.9%) in Lesotho during the most recent surveys. The decrease in prevalence ranged from 1.5% (Ghana) to 9.6% (Sierra Leone). The World Health Organization target of a 30% decrease in smoking was achieved among male participants in 8 countries: Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Benin, Liberia, Tanzania, Burundi, and Cameroon. For female participants, the number of countries having a prevalence of smoking less than 1% increased from 9 in baseline surveys to 16 in the most recent surveys. The World Health Organization target of a 30% decrease in smoking was achieved among female participants in 15 countries: Cameroon, Namibia, Mozambique, Mali, Liberia, Nigeria, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Zambia. For both sexes, the prevalence of tobacco use and the decrease in prevalence of tobacco use were higher among less-educated individuals and individuals with low income. In both groups, the magnitude of inequalities consistently decreased, and its direction remained the same. Absolute inequalities were 3-fold higher among male participants, while relative inequalities were nearly 2-fold higher among female participants.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze trends in levels of lipids and apolipoprotein B in US youths during 18 years from 1999 through 2016.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Serial cross-sectional analysis of US population-weighted data for youths aged 6 to 19 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys for 1999 through 2016. Linear temporal trends were analyzed using multivariable regression models with regression coefficients (β) reported as change per 1 year.

EXPOSURES: Survey year; examined periods spanned 10 to 18 years based on data availability.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Age- and race/ethnicity-adjusted mean levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, and total cholesterol. Among fasting adolescents (aged 12-19 years), mean levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, geometric mean levels of triglycerides, and mean levels of apolipoprotein B. Prevalence of ideal and adverse (vs borderline) levels of lipids and apolipoprotein B per pediatric lipid guidelines.

RESULTS: In total, 26 047 youths were included (weighted mean age, 12.4 years; female, 51%). Among all youths, the adjusted mean total cholesterol level declined from 164 mg/dL (95% CI, 161 to 167 mg/dL) in 1999-2000 to 155 mg/dL (95% CI, 154 to 157 mg/dL) in 2015-2016 (β for linear trend, -0.6 mg/dL [95% CI, -0.7 to -0.4 mg/dL] per year). Adjusted mean HDL cholesterol level increased from 52.5 mg/dL (95% CI, 51.7 to 53.3 mg/dL) in 2007-2008 to 55.0 mg/dL (95% CI, 53.8 to 56.3 mg/dL) in 2015-2016 (β, 0.2 mg/dL [95% CI, 0.1 to 0.4 mg/dL] per year) and non-HDL cholesterol decreased from 108 mg/dL (95% CI, 106 to 110 mg/dL) to 100 mg/dL (95% CI, 99 to 102 mg/dL) during the same years (β, -0.9 mg/dL [95% CI, -1.2 to -0.6 mg/dL] per year). Among fasting adolescents, geometric mean levels of triglycerides declined from 78 mg/dL (95% CI, 74 to 82 mg/dL) in 1999-2000 to 63 mg/dL (95% CI, 58 to 68 mg/dL) in 2013-2014 (log-transformed β, -0.015 [95% CI, -0.020 to -0.010] per year), mean levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol declined from 92 mg/dL (95% CI, 89 to 95 mg/dL) to 86 mg/dL (95% CI, 83 to 90 mg/dL) during the same years (β, -0.4 mg/dL [95% CI, -0.7 to -0.2 mg/dL] per year), and mean levels of apolipoprotein B declined from 70 mg/dL (95% CI, 68 to 72 mg/dL) in 2005-2006 to 67 mg/dL (95% CI, 65 to 70 mg/dL) in 2013-2014 (β, -0.4 mg/dL [95% CI, -0.7 to -0.04 mg/dL] per year). Favorable trends were generally also observed in the prevalence of ideal and adverse levels. By the end of the study period, 51.4% (95% CI, 48.5% to 54.2%) of all youths had ideal levels for HDL, non-HDL, and total cholesterol; among adolescents, 46.8% (95% CI, 40.9% to 52.6%) had ideal levels for all lipids and apolipoprotein B, whereas 15.2% (95% CI, 13.1% to 17.3%) of children aged 6 to 11 years and 25.2% (95% CI, 22.2% to 28.2%) of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years had at least 1 adverse level.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to translate and validate UDI-6 and IIQ-7 in Malay language.

METHODS: A cross sectional study, which recruited 100 participants from two urogynecology clinics. Both questionnaires were initially translated from English to Bahasa Malaysia followed by back translation and final correction done by the professional translators. The participants were requested to maintain a urinary record of the upcoming week for three days that assisted in quantifying the severity of symptoms. None of the subjects were assigned any treatment during the study period. Validity and reliability of the translated questionnaires were determined by checking the internal consistency and also by doing test-retest.

RESULTS: The internal consistency levels of the UDI-6 and IIQ-7 Bahasa Malaysia questionnaires were 0.73 and 0.90 respectively with good test-retest (0.86 and 0.95). Incontinence episodes were strongly associated with obstructive, irritative, and stress symptoms. The factor of day time voiding had strong correlation with obstructive and irritative symptoms.