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2024

母乳育児ピアサポーターの研修の実施とサポートを受けた母親からの評価.

本郷寛子, 名西恵子, 柴沼晃.
チャイルドヘルス 2024 Jan;27(1):67-72.
https://www.shindan.co.jp/books/index.php?menu=03&zcd=6

10時間の母乳育児ピアサポーター研修が十分であったか、支援を受けた母親(56人)の自記調査票への回答から検証した。産後4か月間に支援への満足度を8項目5段階(40点満点)のリッカートスケールで測定したところ、41人(73%)が32点以上の高得点をつけた。10時間の研修で満足度の高いピアサポートを提供できる可能性が示唆された。

A regulatory gap analysis of midwifery to deliver essential reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Kubota S, Ando M, Murray J, Khambounheuang S, Theppanya K, Nanthavong P, Tengbriacheu C, Sisavanh M, Khattiyod T, Asai D, Sobel H, Jimba M.
Lancet Reg Health West Pac 2024;43:100960.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(23)00278-X/fulltext

In Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, midwives are the main providers of primary reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent (RMNCAH) services. We analyzed to what extent practice regulations allow midwives to provide nationally defined essential RMNCAH services.

2023

[Editorial] The power of health promotion to reduce poverty at the global level.

Jimba M, Long Sieber N.
Glob Health Promot. 2023 Dec;30(4):3-5.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17579759231213198

Poverty is a complex and multifaceted problem, but it tends to be quantified in simple terms to facilitate global comparisons. The World Bank defines extreme poverty as an income of no more than US$2.15 a day at 2017 prices. By using this definition, 670 million people in the world were thought to live in extreme poverty by the end of 2022, and 575 million people are expected to be living in extreme poverty by 2030. Although these numbers sound high, poverty rates declined steadily from 1990 through the 2010s. In recent years, however, the speed of poverty reduction has slowed due to polycrisis,1 including climate emergencies, conflicts, food insecurity, and COVID-19.

Challenging the utility of 24-hour recall of exclusive breast feeding in Japan

Nanishi K, Green J, Shibanuma A, Hongo H, Okawa S, Tabuchi T.
BMJ Global Health 2023;8:e013737. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013737
https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/12/e013737

WHO recommends exclusive breast feeding from birth to 6 months. However, to monitor populations, it recommends using the proportion of infants under 6 months who were exclusively breastfed during the previous 24 hours. To assess the usefulness of 24-hour recall, we (1) compared the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding measured by since-birth recall to the prevalence measured by 24-hour recall and (2) quantified each indicator’s association with WHO-recommended, well-established methods for in-hospital breastfeeding support.

ようこそ!みんなの歯科ほけん室

堀口尚司, 三上ゆう子.
東京:日本プランニングセンター. 2023 Nov 11.
https://www.jpci.jp/

脱・歯医者さんアレルギー 令和の歯科はオモシロイ。紀元前からむし歯が治療されていた?明日話せる歴史トリビア満載。全国民 歯科健診義務化へ向けて歯医者さんに行くのが楽しくなる本。歯と口の健康について歯科医が楽しく語ります。

Understanding competency of nursing students in the course of case-based learning in Cambodia: a convergent mixed method study

Koto-Shimada K, Carandang RR, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Ong KIC, Touch S, Koy V, Jimba M.
BMC Nurs. 2023 Aug 11;22(1):265. doi: 10.1186/s12912-023-01420-8.
https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-023-01420-8

In the last decade, nursing education has begun to reform to competency-based education worldwide, including in low-and middle-income countries. Case-Based Learning (CBL), an approach to delivering competency-based education, contributes to acquiring critical thinking competency, problem-solving, higher knowledge, professional value and attitude. However, it needs to be taught in a culturally appropriate manner. In Cambodia, CBL was initiated in a classroom and clinical practicum by faculty and preceptors who graduated from the upgrading course. This study examined the factors associated with the competency level of nursing students, explored the practice and perceptions of teaching–learning activities among students, faculty members and preceptors and assessed the coherence of qualitative and quantitative findings.

[Comment] Breastfeeding and the role of the commercial milk formula industry.

Nanishi K, Hongo H.
Lancet. 2023 Aug 5;402(10400):448. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01195-9.
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140-6736(23)01195-9

The Series paper by Nigel Rollins and colleagues vividly illustrated the ingenious ways in which commercial milk formula marketing influences the decisions of a wide range of people. This is especially evident in Japan. The first Japan-made ready-touse infant formula was launched on March 11, 2019. This was the memorial day of the Great East Japan Earthquake, which successfully presented an image of ready-to-use infant formula as a saviour in emergencies. On March 29, 2019, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare released a revised version of the Infant and Young Child Feeding Guideline for Health Professionals. Only two sentences in the 54-page guideline outline the benefits of breastfeeding. The guideline states, “Do not stick to exclusive breastfeeding”, and also suggests that breastfeeding mothers store commercial milk formula for emergencies.

大都市の外国人診療──multicultureな中でのケア

弓野綾, 沢田貴志.
総合診療. 2023;33(8):905-908.
https://www.igaku-shoin.co.jp/journal/detail/112526#tab2

外国人診療において、言葉の壁、文化の違い、医療制度の壁にしばしば直面する。やさしい日本語、医療通訳の活用法、支援団体や行政の相談窓口の情報を普段から知っておくことが役に立つ。

Improving the quality of maternal and newborn healthcare at the district level: Addressing newborn deaths in Nepal.

Ikeda S, Shibanuma A, Pokharel A, Silwal RC, Jimba M.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023 Aug 2;3(8):e0002101. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002101.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10395984/

Maternal and newborn care quality can be measured in three dimensions (Dimensions 1: care provision, 2: care experience, and 3: human and physical resources); however, little is known about which dimensions are associated with newborn and perinatal deaths. We examined the association between care quality and newborn and perinatal deaths in Nepal.

母乳育児ピアサポートの介入の有無による人工乳使用理由と他の母親の母乳育児を支援したい意思の差

本郷寛子, 名西恵子.
日本母乳哺育学会雑誌 2023 Jun 17(1):3-11.
https://mol.medicalonline.jp/archive/search?jo=du7bonyu&ye=2023&vo=17&issue=1

本研究は, ピアサポート介入の有無により母親の人工乳使用や他の母親の母乳育児を支援したい意思に差があるか検証することを目的とした. 産科4施設で健康な単胎児を出産した母親114人に行ったランダム化比較試験データでの自記式質問票への回答を二次分析した. 介入群は研修を受けたピアサポーターから産後4ヵ月まで電話による支援を受けた. 介入群の60人中47人(78%), 対照群54人中47人(87%)が退院後に人工乳を使っていた. 使用した94人中, 介入群の34%, 対照群の23%が(医療者の指導による)母乳不足から, 介入群の15%, 対照群の26%が(医療者からの指導なしに自分で足りないと思う)母乳不足感から使用していた. 母乳不足感による使用は介入群のほうが有意に少なかった(P=0.02). 他の母親の母乳育児の支援をしたい意思は群間で差はなかった(P=0.25). 支援の意思は, 妊娠中から母乳のみでの育児を意図(P=0.01), 職場復帰(産後6ヵ月以内)(P=0.04)と正の関連, 帝王切開(P=0.04)と負の関連があった.

Determinants of health-related quality of life among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Mizukami A, Trinh MT, Hoang TP, Shibanuma A, Ong KIC, Jimba M.
BMC Rheumatol. 2023 Jun 22;7(1):16. doi: 10.1186/s41927-023-00339-6.
https://bmcrheumatol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41927-023-00339-6

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease which impacts patients’ lives. Many studies in high-income countries have focused on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, evidence of awareness of SLE and HRQoL in low- and middle-income countries is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the determinants of HRQoL of SLE patients in Vietnam, a lower-middle income country.

Association between the person-centered maternity care experience and mental health after delivery in urban and rural Dhading, Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

Tomita Y, Kiriya J, Silwal RC, Ong KIC, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023 May 30;23(1):398. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05709-z.
https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-023-05709-z

Person-centered maternity care is a component of quality care, which includes effective communication, respect, and dignity. Supportive care has a positive effect on mothers’ perinatal experience. In contrast, negative childbirth experiences can cause psychological problems. However, the impact of person-centered maternity care experience on mothers’ mental health after delivery remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we examined the association between person-centered maternity care experience at healthcare facilities and maternal mental health after delivery among Nepali women.

Association of workload and practice of respectful maternity care among the healthcare providers, before and during the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic in South Western Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

Pokharel A, Kiriya J, Shibanuma A, Silwal RC, Jimba M.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2023 May 24;23(1):538. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09561-x.
https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-023-09561-x

Respectful maternity care is an approach that involves respecting women’s belief, choices, emotions, and dignity during the childbirth process. As the workload among maternity care workforce affects intrapartum quality care, respectful maternity care might have also been affected, particularly during the pandemic. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the association between workload among healthcare providers and their practice of respectful maternity care, before and during the early phase of pandemic.

Japanese health and safety information for overseas visitors: a randomized controlled trial

Nishikawa M, Yamanaka M, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2023 Jun 21;23(1):1194. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16117-5.
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-16117-5

International travel to Japan increased steadily until the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Although international travel was curtailed worldwide due to the pandemic, the number of overseas visitors to Japan should increase again after the restrictions are lifted. We assessed the effect of a five-minute digital game on the knowledge of health information and the level of satisfaction with educational health resources of overseas visitors to Japan.

Health literacy among adolescents and young adults in the Eastern Mediterranean region: a scoping review.

Sarhan MBA, Fujiya R, Kiriya J, Htay ZW, Nakajima K, Fuse R, Wakabayashi N, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2023 Jun 8;13(6):e072787. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072787.
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/6/e072787.long

For adolescents and young adults, most health literacy research has been conducted in Western countries, but few studies have been conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). This review aimed to explore the existing health literacy research in the EMR in addition to the levels of health literacy and its associated factors among adolescents and young adults.

Identifying positive and negative deviants and factors associated with healthy dietary practices among young schoolchildren in Nepal: a mixed methods study

Shahi PV, Shrestha RM, Schreinemachers P, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Ong KIC, Jimba M.
BMC Nutr 2023;9:42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-023-00700-5
https://bmcnutr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40795-023-00700-5

School-based interventions have been implemented in resource-limited settings to promote healthy dietary habits, but their sustainability remains a challenge. This explanatory mixed methods study identified positive deviants (PDs) and negative deviants (NDs) from the control and treatment groups in a nutrition-sensitive agricultural intervention in Nepal to identify factors associated with healthy dietary practices. Quantitative data come from the endline survey of a cluster randomized controlled trial of a school and home garden intervention in Nepal.

Impact of oral intervention on the oral and overall health of children living with HIV in Cambodia: a randomized controlled trial.

Kikuchi K, Tuot S, Yasuoka J, Murayama M, Okawa S, Shibanuma A, Nanishi K, Eng S, Huot C, Yi S.
BMC Med. 2023 Apr 28;21(1):162. doi: 10.1186/s12916-023-02862-2.
https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-023-02862-2

Maintaining oral health is essential for improving overall health of children living with HIV. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of an oral health intervention for improving their oral and overall health. In addition, we examined their longitudinal association between changes in oral and overall health.

Association Between Women’s Empowerment and Unmet Family Planning Needs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries in Southeast Asia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Htay ZW, Kiriya J, Sakamoto JS, Jimba M.
Womens Reprod Health 2023 Feb 13.doi: 10.1080/23293691.2023.2174822
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23293691.2023.2174822?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab

This study examined the associations between women’s empowerment and unmet family planning needs in five low- and middle- income countries in Southeast Asia using demographic and health survey data. The sample of ever-married women aged 15 to 49 years across five Southeast Asian countries (Cambodia [n = 10,231], Indonesia [n = 30,965], Myanmar [n = 6,644], the Philippines [n = 13,512], and Timor-Leste [n = 5,750]) were included in this study. We conducted a multiple logistic regression to analyze the associations between the four women’s empowerment indicators and unmet needs. The findings showed positive associations between women’s medium level of agreement to wife-beating, women’s decision-making, level of knowledge, and unmet needs. Both negative and positive associations were reported for labor force participation and unmet needs. Finally, improving women’s decision-making and workplace conditions and encouraging women’s labor force participation can reduce unmet needs for family planning.

Accommodation and disability-specific differences in nutritional status of children with disabilities in Kathmandu, Nepal: A cross-sectional study

Sapkota KP, Shibanuma A, Ong KIC, Kiriya J, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2023 Feb 13;23(1):315. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-14999-z. PMID: 36782145; PMCID: PMC9926754.
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-14999-z https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36782145/

Worldwide, more than 150 million children < 18 years live with disabilities. These children are more vulnerable to malnutrition regardless of institutional care that they receive, such as daycare or residential care. In Nepal, little is known about the status of malnutrition and factors associated with malnutrition among children with disabilities. This study was conducted to investigate the factors associated with malnutrition based on the types of disability and accommodation.

Does benefits-of-breastfeeding language or risks-of-formula-feeding language promote more-positive attitudes toward breastfeeding among midwives and nurses?

Toda A, Nanishi K, Shibanuma A.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023 Mar 11;23(1):163. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05493-w.
https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-023-05493-w

Midwives and nurses are crucial in breastfeeding support. Few studies have explored appropriate language for nursing education on breastfeeding. We assessed the impact of the language used on breastfeeding attitudes among midwives and nurses.

2022

Individual-level social capital is associated with depressive symptoms among middle-aged community dwellers in rural Vietnam: a cross-sectional study

Do DA, Pham TTP, Nguyen CQ, Hoang DV, Fukunaga A, Stickley A, Yazawa A, Phan DC, Hachiya M, Jimba M, Huynh DV, Le HX, Do HT, Mizoue T, Inoue Y.
BMJ Open 2022;12:e064998. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064998
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e064998

There has been comparatively little research on the association between social capital and depressive symptoms in low- and middle-income countries. To address this deficit this study examined the association among middle-aged adults in rural Vietnam.

Cutting the Chain of Discrimination during COVID-19 Pandemic by Health Literacy

Fujii D, Fujimura MS, Ong KIC, Jimba M.
JMAJ. 2022;5(4):535-538.
https://www.jmaj.jp/detail.php?id=10.31662%2Fjmaj.2022-0073

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in discrimination against patients and healthcare workers in the beginning. As more information about COVID-19 prevention became available, discrimination toward the patients and healthcare workers gradually reduced. Instead, people wearing masks in the general public were heavily discriminated when mask-wearing was recommended only for healthcare workers. After the universal use of masks was recommended, discrimination against those who were wearing masks decreased and increased among those who do not wear masks. However, due to the introduction of vaccine passports, the target for discrimination has shifted to people who have not received COVID-19 vaccines. Narrowing vaccine disparity could prevent discrimination toward unvaccinated people. However, some people are hesitating vaccination or cannot be vaccinated because of their health status. These people will remain targets for discrimination even if vaccines were equally distributed. To prevent discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic, improving health literacy of the population could be effective in two ways. First, health literacy could reduce vaccine hesitancy by enabling people to critically evaluate vaccine information. Second, health literacy enables people to respect decisions of others to avoid vaccination. Therefore, interventions improving health literacy have the potential to contribute to cutting the chain of discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cross-Cultural Information for Japanese Nurses at an International Hospital: A Controlled Before–After Intervention Study

Nishikawa M, Yamanaka M, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Jimba M.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 12829. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912829
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12829

This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of providing health information through an ordinary travel guidebook combined with a short digital video compared with an ordinary travel guidebook alone by measuring the anxiety levels of Japanese nurses dealing with foreign patients. We conducted a controlled before–after intervention study in 2016 at a major international hospital in Japan. We created two interventions: (1) a brief piece of health information from a travel guidebook for Japan, (2) the same travel guidebook, and a four-minute digital video in English on health information in Japan, titled Mari Info Japan for nurses. After each intervention, we assessed the nurses’ levels of anxiety about caring for foreign patients. We evaluated the results through statistical testing and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y. Of 111 nurses, 83 (74.8%) completed both interventions and the questionnaires. The second intervention (the guidebook and video) proved more effective than the first (the guidebook) for reducing anxiety related to caring for foreign patients. Japanese nurses can lower their anxiety about dealing with foreign patients by learning about the content of various forms of health care information currently accessible to overseas visitors. Using both guidebooks and digital videos can help to reduce nurses’ anxiety.

Health literacy as a key to improving weight status among Palestinian adolescents living in chronic conflict conditions: a cross-sectional study

Sarhan MBA, Fujiya R, Shibanuma A, Giacaman R, Kiriya J, Kitamura A, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2022 Sep 16;12(9):e061169. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061169. PMID: 36113938; PMCID: PMC9486360
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36113938/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/9/e061169.long

Health literacy moderated the association between direct exposure to violence and weight status. When health literacy levels were higher, lower obesity rates were observed among adolescents who were directly exposed to any form of violence or exposed either to political violence only or domestic and school violence only. The results warrant further investigation of the role of health literacy in adolescent health. It is recommended that policy-makers integrate the health literacy concept into both education and health systems.

Individual- and Neighborhood-Level Factors of Measles Vaccination Coverage in Niamey, Niger: A Multilevel Analysis

Kunieda MK, Manzo ML, Subramanian SV, Jimba M.
Vaccines. 2022; 10(9):1513. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10091513
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/9/1513

Vaccination is a proven equitable intervention if people take advantage of the opportunity to get vaccinated. Niger is a low-income country in West Africa, with a 76% measles 1 vaccination coverage rate in 2016. This study was conducted to identify individual- and neighborhood-level factors that could improve measles 1 vaccination coverage in Niamey, the capital. In October 2016, 460 mothers with children aged 12–23 months were surveyed. The outcome was to determine whether the mother’s child had been vaccinated against measles 1 or not. For individual-level variables of measles 1 vaccination status, the following were included: mother’s age group, mother tongue, maternal education level, husband’s job, where the mother gave birth (at home or at a health center) and whether the mother discussed vaccination with friends. Neighborhood-level factors were access time to the health center, household access to electricity, and a grand-mean-centered wealth score. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed. At the individual-level, primary and secondary-educated mothers were more likely to vaccinate their children against measles 1 (aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.11–3.51). At the neighborhood-level, no factors were identified. Therefore, a strengthened focus on equity-based, individual factors is recommended, including individual motivation, prompts and ability to access vaccination services.

The effectiveness of a behavioral science and design intervention for family savings on use of maternal health services and male involvement: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Hartwig L, Namukose V, Kiriya J, Onyancha C, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health 22, 1579 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13985-1
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35986308/
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-13985-1

Lack of financial preparedness for pregnancy can lead to adverse outcomes during childbirth. Behavioral science interventions have been shown to influence savings behavior. Financial savings interventions can be adapted for the purpose of encouraging individuals to save towards maternal healthcare costs. This article describes a protocol to assess the effectiveness of an intervention formulated with a behavioral science approach for encouraging use of maternal health services through increased financial savings for birth preparedness and maternal healthcare costs among pregnant women or their partners in Uganda. The study will contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of behavioral designs encouraging financial savings during pregnancy into committed mobile money health savings accounts. The study could contribute to demonstrating the effectiveness of savings on birth preparedness, usage of maternal health services, and male involvement in maternal healthcare.

Nutritional status of children under 5 years old in Namibia: adjusting for poor quality child anthropometry

Fujimura MS, Conkle J, Van Wyk M, Jimba M.
J Nutr Sci. 2022;11:e66. doi:10.1017/jns.2022.67
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-nutritional-science/article/nutritional-status-of-children-under-5-years-old-in-namibia-adjusting-for-poor-quality-child-anthropometry/EDEA36E8DB6C2794B2D2979E0E049BBE

The poor assessment of child malnutrition impacts both national-level trends and prioritisation of regions and vulnerable groups based on malnutrition burden. Namibia has reported a high prevalence of malnutrition among children younger than 5 years of age. The present study's aim was to identify the optimal methods for estimating child stunting and wasting prevalence in Namibia using two datasets with suspected poor data quality: Namibia Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) (1992–2013) and Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey (NHIES), 2015/16. This comparative secondary data analysis used two prevalence estimation methods: WHO flags and PROBIT. WHO flags is the standard analysis method for most national household surveys, while the PROBIT method is recommended for poor quality anthropometry. In NHIES (n 4960), the prevalence of stunting (n 4780) was 30·3 and 20·9 % for the WHO flags and PROBIT estimates, respectively, and the national wasting prevalence (n 4637) was 11·2 and 4·2 %, respectively. The trends in nutritional status from NDHS and NHIES showed improvement across WHO flags and PROBIT until 2013; however, from 2013 to 2016, PROBIT showed smaller increases in stunting and wasting prevalence (2·5 and 0·6 percentage points) than WHO flags (6·6 and 5·0 percentage points). PROBIT identified the Khoisan ethnic group and Northern geographical regions with the highest stunting and wasting prevalence, while WHO flags identified similar prevalence across most groups and regions. The present study supports the recommendation to use PROBIT when poor data quality is suspected for constructing trends, and for targeting regions and vulnerable groups.

Gender-based violence and depressive symptoms among female entertainment workers in Cambodia: A cross-sectional study

Ith S, Yi S, Tuot S, Yem S, Chhoun P, Jimba M, Shibanuma A.
PLOS Global Public Health. 2022 Aug 3; 2(8): e0000873. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000873
https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000873

Female entertainment workers (FEWs) are at higher risk of gender-based violence (GBV) than the general population. The prolonged stress and fear caused by GBV increase the likelihood of depression, a major mental health problem among FEWs. However, their mental health issue has received limited attention and remains poorly researched in the context of GBV. We examined the association between GBV and depressive symptoms among FEWs in Cambodia. FEWs in this study experienced high levels and overlapping types of GBV associated with high levels of depressive symptoms. Policy interventions and services should be designed to prevent GBV and support the victims of GBV to mitigate depressive symptoms among FEWs in Cambodia.

Association between Robson Classification Groups and Cesarean Section: A longitudinal analysis in Mongolia

Ulambayar S, Kiriya J, Shibanuma A, Miller R, Duurenbileg A, Jimba M.
Am J Obstet Gynecol Glob Rep. 2022 Jul 17. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xagr.2022.100071
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266657782200020X

The number of cesarean sections has sharply increased worldwide over the last three decades. The World Health Organization recommends the Robson Classification as the best tool for monitoring and auditing cesarean section rates and to safely reduce the rate of avoidable cesarean sections. This study aimed to identify the association between the Robson Classification Group and cesarean section in 2008 and 2018 at the Urguu Maternity Hospital, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and to examine the changes in this association over ten years. The high percentage of mothers who gave birth via cesarean section in Group 5 suggests that healthcare providers should work with Group 5 mothers to increase their willingness to give birth vaginally after a previous cesarean section in an attempt to reduce the overall cesarean section rates. Further research is needed to better understand the factors that may influence the increasing rates of birth through cesarean section.

Effects of the maternal and child health handbook and other home-based records on mothers' non-health outcomes: a systematic review

Carandang RR, Sakamoto JL, Kunieda MK, Shibanuma A, Yarotskaya E, Basargina M, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2022 Jun 21;12(6):e058155. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058155. PMID: 35728908.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35728908/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/6/e058155

This review aimed to investigate the effects of the maternal and child health (MCH) handbook and other home-based records on mothers’ non-health outcomes. The MCH handbook fostered the mother–child bond. Mothers were generally satisfied with the use of home-based records, but their engagement depended on how these records were communicated and used by healthcare providers. Additional measures are necessary to ensure the implementation and effective use of home-based records.

Medium-term outcomes of a program to upgrade the nursing faculty in Cambodia: A qualitative study

Koto-Shimada K, Fujita N, Matsuoka S, Jimba M, Touch S, Zwi AB.
Nurse Educ Today. 2022 Jun 14;116:105438. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105438. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35717813.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35717813/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0260691722001745

The current study aimed to evaluate the medium-term outcomes of an established program that can improve nursing education and to identify relevant factors in light of the institutional development of educational and clinical facilities in Cambodia. A qualitative study incorporating focus group discussions, key-informant interviews, and teaching document reviews was performed with a thematic analysis using the four-level training evaluation model of Kirkpatrick. Finally, factors influencing outcomes were assessed based on the Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory. The findings highlighted the importance of medium-term program delivery and monitoring if one understands the role played in stimulating outcomes. Moreover, the importance of contextual factors including the influence of managers and policy environment were emphasized.

Mediating role of social capital in the association between socioeconomic status and childcare practices in rural Malawi: a cross-sectional study

Choi S, Kiriya J, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2022 May 9;12(5):e054134. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054134. PMID: 35534073.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35534073/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/5/e054134.long

Childcare practices determine the child nutritional outcomes, but resources for good practices are unequally distributed across socioeconomic status (SES). This study first examined the associations between social capital and childcare practices separately across SES groups. It then investigated the mediation effect of social capital between SES and childcare practices. To improve feeding and handwashing practices and to reduce health inequalities in rural Malawi, governments and organisations should consider promoting the value of social support and health. Future research is needed to explain the negative association between cognitive social capital and vaccination among the lower SES group.

Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on breastfeeding support for healthy mothers and the association between compliance with WHO recommendations for breastfeeding support and exclusive breastfeeding in Japan.

Nanishi K, Okawa S, Hongo H, Shibanuma A, Abe SK, Tabuchi T.
PeerJ. 2022 May 19;10:e13347.
https://peerj.com/articles/13347/

Professional breastfeeding support contributes to maternal and child health. However, the influence of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on breastfeeding support has not been carefully examined. Therefore, we assessed maternal breastfeeding intention and professional breastfeeding support before and during the pandemic. We further examined the association of compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for professional breastfeeding support with exclusive breastfeeding during the pandemic.

Competence in Daily Activities and Mental Well-Being among Technical Intern Trainees in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Arita K, Shibanuma A, Carandang RR, Jimba M.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19:3189.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35328879/
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/6/3189

Migrant workers are at a greater risk of having low mental well-being compared to their local counterparts. The Japanese government accepts migrants through its Technical Intern Training programs, but the factors associated with their mental well-being remain unclear. This study aimed to (1) assess trainees’ competence and importance in daily activities and (2) examine the association between their competence and mental well-being. We conducted a cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires. We recruited trainees through their supervising organizations and social media. Among 383 trainees, 30.6% felt difficulty expressing themselves, and 27.4% felt difficulty accomplishing goals. Almost 50% valued self-care, working towards their goals, and managing their finances. Higher competence scores were associated with higher mental well-being scores. Competence may be a key to having higher mental well-being among migrant trainees in Japan. A supportive and enabling environment, as well as mental health promotion at the community level, may improve trainees’ competence in daily activities.

Effects of mHealth on the psychosocial health of pregnant women and mothers: a systematic review.

Sakamoto JL, Carandang RR, Kharel M, Shibanuma A, Yorotskaya E, Basargina M, Jimba M.
BMJ Open 2022;12:e056807. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056807
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35168981/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/2/e056807

To investigate the roles of mobile health, or mHealth, in the psychosocial health of pregnant women and mothers. 44 studies were included among 11 999 identified articles. Most studies reported mixed findings on the roles of mHealth interventions in the psychosocial health of pregnant women and mothers; mHealth improved self-management, acceptance of pregnancy/motherhood and social support, while mixed results were observed for anxiety and depressive symptoms, perceived stress, mental well-being, coping and self-efficacy. Furthermore, pregnant women and mothers from vulnerable populations benefited from the use of mHealth to improve their psychosocial health. The findings suggest that mHealth has the potential to improve self-management, acceptance of pregnancy/motherhood and social support. mHealth can also be a useful tool to reach vulnerable pregnant women and mothers with barriers to health information and facilitate access to healthcare services. However, the high heterogeneity limited the certainty of evidence of these findings. Therefore, future studies should identify the context under which mHealth could be more effective.

Anti-Ascaris IgE as a Risk Factor for Asthma Symptoms among 5-Year-Old Children in Rural Bangladesh with Even Decreased Ascaris Infection Prevalence.

Takeuchi H, Takanashi S, Hasan SMT, Hore SK, Yeasmin S, Ahmad SM, Alam MJ, Jimba M, Khan MA, Iwata T.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2022 Jan 31:1-11. doi: 10.1159/000521717. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35100597.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35100597/
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/521717

Epidemiological studies have indicated that anti-Ascaris IgE enhances asthma and allergies under specific conditions although the association between them is still controversial. The association of anti-Ascaris IgE with increased asthma symptoms among children from a general population with a mild to moderate Ascaris infection prevalence was investigated. The anti-Ascaris IgE levels in wheezing and never-wheezing children in the current study significantly decreased concurrently with Ascaris infection prevalence compared with their corresponding values in 2001. The contribution of anti-Ascaris IgE to wheezing also dropped from 26% in 2001 to 11% in the current study. Despite significant decreases in the levels and the seroprevalence and its contribution to wheezing, anti-Ascaris IgE remained significantly associated with increased risk of wheezing. Anti-Ascaris IgE significantly increased the risk of wheezing in a general population with a mild to moderate Ascaris infection prevalence, suggesting robustness as a risk factor and a possible dose-response relationship.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on movement behaviours of children and adolescents: a systematic review.

Kharel M, Sakamoto JL, Carandang RR, Ulambayar S, Shibanuma A, Yarotskaya E, Basargina M, Jimba M.
BMJ Glob Health. 2022 Jan;7(1):e007190. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007190.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35078809/
https://gh.bmj.com/content/7/1/e007190

Several studies have examined how the lockdown restrictions enforced to halt the spread of COVID-19 have affected children and adolescents' movement behaviours, but there is a need to synthesise these findings. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review to examine the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on children and adolescents' movement behaviours. COVID-19-related lockdowns were detrimental to children and adolescents' movement behaviours, with stricter lockdowns tending to have a bigger impact. Children and adolescents under COVID-19 restrictions are likely to be less active, spend more time on screen, and sleep longer hours than before the lockdown. More studies from low-income and middle-income countries could provide a clearer picture of the impact.

Report of the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death: bringing death back into life.

Sallnow L, Smith R, Ahmedzai SH, Bhadelia A, Chamberlain C, Cong Y, Doble B, Dullie L, Durie R, Finkelstein EA, Guglani S, Hodson M, Husebø BS, Kellehear A, Kitzinger C, Knaul FM, Murray SA, Neuberger J, O'Mahony S, Rajagopal MR, Russell S, Sase E, Sleeman KE, Solomon S, Taylor R, Tutu van Furth M, Wyatt K; Lancet Commission on the Value of Death.
Lancet. 2022 Feb 26;399(10327):837-884. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02314-X. Epub 2022 Feb 1.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02314-X/fulltext

The story of dying in the 21st century is a story of paradox. While many people are overtreated in hospitals with families and communities relegated to the margins, still more remain undertreated, dying of preventable conditions and without access to basic pain relief. The unbalanced and contradictory picture of death and dying is the basis for this Commission. How people die has changed radically over recent generations. Death comes later in life for many and dying is often prolonged. Death and dying have moved from a family and community setting to primarily the domain of health systems. Futile or potentially inappropriate treatment can continue into the last hours of life. The roles of families and communities have receded as death and dying have become unfamiliar and skills, traditions, and knowledge are lost. Death and dying have become unbalanced in high-income countries, and increasingly in low-and-middle-income countries; there is an excessive focus on clinical interventions at the end of life, to the detriment of broader inputs and contributions.

Factors influencing physical distancing compliance among young adults during COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: A photovoice mixed methods study.

Junaedi A, Ong KIC, Rachmatullah F, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Jimba M.
PLOS Global Public Health. 2022 Jan 13;2(1): e0000035. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000035
https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000035

The spreading of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is growing out of control in Indonesia since the first two confirmed cases were announced in March 2020. Physical distancing measures are key to slowing down COVID-19 transmission. This study investigated factors associated with physical distancing compliance among young adults in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area, Indonesia. A convergent photovoice mixed methods design was used. Young adults’ physical distancing compliance scores were high, but they are at risk of not complying due to religious events and changes in workplace policies. Beyond individual efforts, external factors, such as workplace policies and social pressure, play a major role to influence their physical distancing compliance.

2021

Risk of Increasing the Sudden Diagnosis of AIDS in Japan during and after the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Jimba M, Suzuki M, Kitamura T, Carandang RR, Sieber NL.
JMA J. 2021 Dec 24; DOI: 10.31662/jmaj.2021-0174 JMA Journal:Advance Publication
https://www.jmaj.jp/detail.php?id=10.31662%2Fjmaj.2021-0174

Public health centers have played an important role in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Japan. However, the staff members of 469 centers have been overwhelmed by the huge increase in workload, and some public health centers were obliged to temporarily stop regular HIV testing. With the halting of HIV testing during the COVID-19 crisis, the proportion of “Ikinari-AIDS” or a sudden diagnosis of AIDS without prior knowledge of the HIV infection status is expected to rise. To provide essential public health services, it is time for Japan to focus on delivering public health services beyond the existing public health centers.

Health-seeking behaviours in a malaria endemic district in Lao People's Democratic Republic: a mixed methods study.

Ong KIC, Khattignavong P, Keomalaphet S, Iwagami M, Brey P, Kano S, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2021 Dec 13;11(12):e055350. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055350. PMID: 34903551; PMCID: PMC8671991.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34903551/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e055350

This mixed methods study was conducted to explore the barriers and facilitators for health-seeking behaviours in a malaria endemic district in Lao PDR. Public health facility usage was high but barriers existed. Effective policy and enabling environment such as the introduction of the National Health Insurance could help accelerate the progress towards the malaria elimination goal. Moreover, the benefits could go beyond the context of malaria.

Obituaries: Susumu Wakai

Jimba M.
BMJ. 2021; 375 :n2701 doi:10.1136/bmj.n2701
https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2701

Despite his outstanding contributions in medical practice, academic research, and fieldwork in low and middle income countries, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2005 and had to retire from the university at the age of 58. Instead of hiding from the public eye, he disclosed himself as a patient with Alzheimer’s disease on various media to express how a patient like him can still do good to society, giving hope for many similar patients throughout Japan. He started his university life as a fighter against power and then ended his life as a fighter to overcome his illness. On 10 February 2021, after repeated aspiration pneumonia, he died. When he retired from the university in 2005, he passionately emphasised one particular verse from the Bible. To keep compassion to the vulnerable people by himself, he always talked to himself and also reminds us of those words expecting young doctors to remember them.

Multilevel factors influencing contraceptive use and childbearing among adolescent girls in Bara district of Nepal: a qualitative study using the socioecological model.

Sekine K, Khadka N, Carandang RR, Ong KIC, Tamang A, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2021 Oct 19;11(10):e046156. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046156. PMID: 34666997; PMCID: PMC8527108.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34666997/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e046156.long

This study aimed to identify the multilevel factors that influence contraceptive use and childbearing decisions in Nepal and examine relationships among these factors. The convergent results from triangulation confirm that the decision to postpone childbearing is not merely the personal choice of an individual or a couple, highlighting the importance of targeting families and communities. The study underscores the need to challenge restrictive sociocultural norms so that adolescent girls become empowered to exercise greater control over contraceptive use.

壁に耳あり、耳に壁あり(?)

神馬 征峰
国際保健医療, 2021, 36 巻, 2 号, p. 91-94, 公開日 2021/07/22, Print ISSN 0917-6543, https://doi.org/10.11197/jaih.36.91
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jaih/36/2/36_91/_pdf/-char/ja

[追悼 若井 晋先生] 若井晋:次世代へのメッセージ

神馬 征峰
国際保健医療, 2021, 36 巻, 2 号, p. 25-34, 公開日 2021/07/22, Print ISSN 0917-6543, https://doi.org/10.11197/jaih.36.25
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jaih/36/2/36_25/_pdf/-char/ja

Positive deviance for promoting dual-method contraceptive use among women in Uganda: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Kosugi H, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Ong KIC, Mucunguzi S, Muzoora C, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2021 Aug 18;11(8):e046536. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046536. PMID: 34408034 Free article.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34408034/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e046536.long

To examine the effects of a positive deviance intervention on dual-method contraceptive use among married or in-union women. The positive deviance intervention increased dual-method contraceptive use among women, and could be effective at reducing the dual risk of unintended pregnancies and HIV infections. This study demonstrated that the intervention targeting only women can change behaviours of couples to practise dual-method contraception. Because women using non-barrier modern contraceptives may be more reachable than men, interventions targeting such women should be recommended.

Community-based model for the delivery of antiretroviral therapy in Cambodia: a quasi-experimental study protocol.

Tuot S, Teo AKJ, Prem K, Chhoun P, Pall C, Ung M, Ly PS, Jimba M, Yi S.
BMC Infect Dis. 2021 Aug 6;21(1):763. doi: 10.1186/s12879-021-06414-y. PMID: 34362310 Free PMC article.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34362310/
https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-021-06414-y

Multi-month dispensing (MMD) is the mainstay mechanism for clinically stable people living with HIV in Cambodia to refill antiretroviral therapy (ART) every 3-6 months. However, less frequent ART dispensing through the community-based ART delivery (CAD) model could further reduce the clients’ and health facilities’ burden. While community-based services have been recognized as an integral component of HIV response in Cambodia, their role and effectiveness in ART delivery have yet to be systematically assessed. This study aims to evaluate the CAD model’s effectiveness on the continuum of care and treatment outcomes for stable people living with HIV in Cambodia. This study will build the evidence base for future implementation and scale-up of CAD model in Cambodia and other similar settings. Furthermore, it will strengthen engagements with community stakeholders and further improve community mobilization, a vital pillar of the Cambodian HIV response.

[Encyclopedia] Newborn and Child Health

Carandang RR
https://encyclopedia.pub/13625

Home-based records are paper or electronic records retained and used by mothers or caregivers to document the health services received for maternal, newborn, and child health. Little has been studied about the roles of these records on newborn and child health outcomes.

Roles of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook and Other Home-Based Records on Newborn and Child Health: A Systematic Review.

Carandang RR, Sakamoto JL, Kunieda MK, Shibanuma A, Yarotskaya E, Basargina M, Jimba M.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jul 13;18(14):7463. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18147463. PMID: 34299924; PMCID: PMC8306696.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34299924/
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7463

Home-based records are paper or electronic records retained and used by mothers or caregivers to document the health services received for maternal, newborn, and child health. Little has been studied about the roles of these records on newborn and child health outcomes. Hence, we collated and summarized evidence concerning the roles of home-based records in improving newborn and child health. We identified the following roles of home-based records on newborn and child health: promoted newborn/childcare seeking, improved knowledge and practices of newborn/childcare, encouraged home care for childhood illnesses, reduced child mortality and morbidity, and facilitated continuum of care. We observed a mixed effect on age-appropriate immunization (e.g., DTP3 completion) and no effect on the practice of immediate breastfeeding and prevention of perinatal mortality and morbidity. The findings highlighted the effectiveness and usefulness of home-based records to improve newborn and child health outcomes.

Evaluation of a package of continuum of care interventions for improved maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes and service coverage in Ghana: A cluster-randomized trial.

Shibanuma A, Ansah EK, Kikuchi K, Yeji F, Okawa S, Tawiah C, Nanishi K, Addei S, Williams J, Asante KP, Oduro A, Owusu-Agyei S, Gyapong M, Asare GQ, Yasuoka J, Hodgson A, Jimba M; Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project Team.
PLoS Med. 2021 Jun 25;18(6):e1003663. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003663. eCollection 2021 Jun. PMID: 34170904 Free PMC article.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34170904/
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003663

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the continuum of care (CoC) for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) is not always complete. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated package of CoC interventions on the CoC completion, morbidity, and mortality outcomes of woman–child pairs in Ghana. This study found that an integrated package of CoC interventions increased CoC completion and decreased maternal complications requiring hospitalization during pregnancy and maternal mortality after the trial period. It did not find evidence of reduced perinatal and neonatal mortality.

Evaluating Local Multilingual Health Care Information Environments on the Internet: A Pilot Study.

Miller R, Doria-Anderson N, Shibanuma A, Sakamoto JL, Yumino A, Jimba M.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 25;18(13):6836. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18136836. PMID: 34202254; PMCID: PMC8296914.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34202254/
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6836

For foreign-born populations, difficulty in finding health care information in their primary language is a structural barrier to accessing timely health care. While such information may be available at a national level, it may not always be relevant or appropriate to the living situations of these people. Our objective was to explore the quality of online multilingual health information environments by pilot-testing a framework for assessing such information at the prefectural level in Japan. The framework consisted of five health care domains (health system, hospitals, emergency services, medical interpreters, and health insurance). Framework scores varied considerably among prefectures; many resources were machine-translated. These scores were significantly associated with foreign population proportion and the number of hospitals in each prefecture. Our multilingual health care information environment (MHCIE) framework provides a measure of health access inclusivity, which has not been quantified before. It is adaptable to other international contexts, but further validation is required.

Difference in factors associated with continuum of care completion rate from pregnancy to postpartum period in rural Nepal: a community-based, cross-sectional study.

Silwal RC, Shibanuma A, Poudyal AK, Ikeda S, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2021 Jun 16;11(6):e044928. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044928. PMID: 34135036.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34135036/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/6/e044928

The CoC completion rate was low in both districts in Nepal. However, factors associated with the CoC completion rate varied by district. Differences in these factors might be reflected by geographical and socioeconomic conditions and the characteristics of household decision making in these districts.

[BOOK CHAPTER] Community Theater for Health Promotion in Japan. In Arts and Health Promotion: Tools and Bridges for Practice, Research, and Social Transformation.

Sandhu H, Hirose N, Yui K, Jimba M.
Springer ISBN 978-3-030-56417-9 (eBook)
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-030-56417-9

This chapter aims to highlight how theater-based health promotion encouraged medical and health practitioners in resource-limited, rural Japan after World War II, and how works of theater positively transformed community members’ mindsets for health promotion.

[BOOK] DISASTERSHOCK How Schools Can Cope with the Emotional Stress of a Major Disaster: A Manual for Principals and Teachers.

Gerrard B, Buchanan K, Buchanan T, De Young A, Giampaoli J, Giraudo S, Jimba M, Toren NK, Kenardy J, Korzeniowski C.
Institute for School-Based Family Counseling (April 18, 2021).
https://www.amazon.co.jp/DISASTERSHOCK-Schools-Emotional-Stress-Disaster/dp/1952741319/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1620276826&sr=8-1

This book was written for school personnel on how to take practical steps to help the school community cope with the emotional stress of a major disaster.

Factors associated with the length of stay at health facilities after childbirth among mothers and newborns in Dhading, Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

Ikeda S, Shibanuma A, Silwal R, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2021 May 4;11(5):e042058. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042058. PMID: 33947724.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33947724/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/5/e042058

Multiple factors, such as mothers’ conditions, health facility characteristics and external support, were associated with the length of stay after childbirth. However, even if mothers stayed long, they might have not necessarily received timely and proper assessment before discharge.

Understanding frailty among older people living in old age homes and the community in Nepal: A cross-sectional study.

Shah R, Carandang RR, Shibanuma A, Ong KIC, Kiriya J, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2021 Apr 29;16(4):e0251016. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251016. eCollection 2021. PMID: 33914828
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33914828/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0251016

Frailty is a state of being vulnerable to adverse health outcomes such as falls, delirium, and disability in older people. Identifying frailty is important in a low-income setting to prevent it from progressing, reducing healthcare costs, increasing the chances of reversibility, and implementing effective interventions. The factors affecting frailty in older people living in old age homes could differ from those living in the community. This study was conducted to identify the factors associated with frailty in older people residing in old age homes and communities in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Identifying the causal effect of child marriage on unmet needs for modern contraception and unintended pregnancy in Nepal: a cross-sectional study using propensity score matching.

Sekine K, Carandang RR, Ong KIC, Tamang A, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2021 Apr 24;11(4):e043532. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043532.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33895714/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/4/e043532.long

This study aimed to investigate whether child marriage had causal effects on unmet needs for modern contraception, and unintended pregnancy, by estimating the marginal (population-averaged) treatment effect of child marriage. Child marriage appears to increase the risk of unmet needs for modern contraception and unintended pregnancy. These findings call for social development and public health programmes that promote delayed entry into marriage and childbearing to improve reproductive health and rights.

[Correspondence] Does giving infant formula to prevent cow's milk allergy hinder breast-feeding?

Nanishi K, Hongo H, Tada K.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021 Mar;147(3):1118.
https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(20)31639-0/fulltext#%20

In summary, advising caregivers to continue daily CMF supplementation may hinder breast-feeding. In addition, the health risks of nonexclusive breast-feeding may outweigh any favorable effect on cow’s milk allergy and might even increase the incidence of such allergy. In light of the known benefits of breast-feeding, future studies should attempt to identify strategies that prevent cow’s milk allergy without sacrificing those benefits.

EMBRACE intervention to improve the continuum of care in maternal and newborn health in Ghana: The RE-AIM framework-based evaluation.

Kikuchi K, Gyapong M, Shibanuma A, Asah E, Okawa S, Addei S, Nanishi K, Tawiah C, Yasuoka J, Yeji F, Oduro A, Owusu-Agyei S, Quansah-Asare G, Hodgson A, Jimba M; Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Team.
J Glob Health. 2021 Mar 27;11:04017. doi: 10.7189/jogh.11.04017.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33828845/
http://www.jogh.org/documents/2021/jogh-11-04017.htm

Improving maternal and newborn health remains one of the most critical public health challenges, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries. To overcome this challenge, interventions to improve the continuum of care based on real-world settings need to be provided. The Ghana Ensure Mothers and Babies Regular Access to Care (EMBRACE) Implementation Research Team conducted a unique intervention program involving over 21 000 women to improve the continuum of care, thereby demonstrating an intervention program's effectiveness in a real-world setting. This study evaluates the implementation process of the EMBRACE intervention program based on the RE-AIM framework.

Rapidly modifiable factors associated with full vaccination status among children in Niamey, Niger: A cross-sectional, random cluster household survey.

Kondo Kunieda M, Manzo ML, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2021 Mar 31;16(3):e0249026. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249026.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33788877/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0249026

Vaccination status becomes more equitable when interventions are carried out to eliminate poverty or to improve levels in maternal education. Low-income countries need to identify interventions that would have a more immediate and equitable effect. The present study aimed to identify rapidly modifiable factors associated with full vaccination status among children in Niamey, Niger.

Satisfaction of Malaria Patients with Care by Community Health Workers Trained in Microscopy: A Mixed-Methods Study in Palawan, the Philippines.

Akiko Matsumoto-Takahashi EL, Tongol-Rivera P, Villacorte EA, Angluben RU, Jimba M, Kano S.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Mar 22:tpmd190507. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0507.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33755587/
https://www.ajtmh.org/view/journals/tpmd/aop/article-10.4269-ajtmh.19-0507/article-10.4269-ajtmh.19-0507.xml

Palawan is the malaria-endemic province with the highest prevalence of malaria in the Philippines, and microscopists (community health workers) have been allowed to deliver early diagnosis and prompt treatment of malaria throughout the province since 1999. To improve the quality of care, the present mixed-methods study attempted to identify the factors associated with satisfaction of patients in Palawan with their microscopists by analyzing the patients' perspectives. The quantitative study showed that ex-patients' satisfaction with their microscopists was independently enhanced by two factors: high ability in malaria microscopic observation and low household wealth of the patients. Particularly, specific subpopulations (those with lower household wealth, relatively old people, and ethnic minorities) were more satisfied with the microscopists' care. The qualitative study strengthens this finding by showing that their microscopists offered prompt and precise diagnosis and effective treatment for free. In conclusion, microscopists were shown to have an important role in narrowing the disparities in malaria care in Palawan. It is important to maintain/enhance the ability of microscopists in malaria microscopy to satisfy their patients.

Japanese health and safety information for overseas visitors: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Nishikawa M, Yamanaka M, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2021 Mar 21;21(1):558. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10627-w.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33743647/
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-10627-w

Before the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in January 2020, the number of overseas visitors to Japan had increased threefold over the last decade. To minimize the risk of health problems, visitors should be able to access information on the health care systems of the places they visit. Most short-term overseas visitors are young adults. Although they are not very likely to get sick from noncommunicable diseases, they are at high risk for injury and often experience stomach ailments, fever, or nausea when travelling. The objective of this study is to evaluate culturally and linguistically appropriate health information on preventive health behaviours and the health care system in Japan. We will examine the level of satisfaction of overseas visitors to Japan with health care-related educational materials using a five-minute digital game named Sa-Chan Japan.

Assessing depressive symptoms among people living with HIV in Yangon city, Myanmar: Does being a member of self-help group matter?

Than MW, Zaw NT, Minn K, Saw YM, Kiriya J, Jimba M, Win HH, Shibanuma A.
PLoS One. 2021 Mar 18;16(3):e0248807. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248807.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33735312/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0248807

While self-help groups have been formed among people living with HIV, few studies have been conducted to assess the role of self-help groups in mitigating depressive symptoms. This study investigated the association between self-help group membership and depressive symptoms among people living with HIV in Yangon, Myanmar.

Parent-adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive health and the utilization of adolescent-friendly health services in Kailali, Nepal.

Bhatta BR, Kiriya J, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2021 Feb 19;16(2):e0246917. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246917.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33606727/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0246917

Adolescents are vulnerable to various sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems such as unintended pregnancy, HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unsafe abortion. Adolescent-friendly health services offer SRH services such as SRH counseling, contraceptive services, STI and HIV services, and abortion-related services, which may help prevent these risks. Parent–adolescent communication about SRH prevents adolescents from adopting unhealthy SRH practices. However, its association with the utilization of SRH services is less known. Therefore, this study examined the association between parent–adolescent communication on SRH issues and the utilization of adolescent-friendly health services in Nepal.

Impact of Haemophilus influenzae type b combination vaccination on asthma symptoms and pneumonia in 5-year-old children in rural Bangladesh: a longitudinal study and comparison with a previous cross-sectional study.

Takeuchi H, Hasan SMT, Zaman K, Takanashi S, Hore SK, Yeasmin S, Ahmad SM, Alam MJ, Jimba M, Iwata T, Khan MA.
Respir Res. 2021 Feb 3;22(1):35.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33536028/
https://respiratory-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12931-021-01629-8

Although the prevalence of bronchial asthma has been increasing worldwide since the 1970′s, the prevalence among 5-year-old children was significantly lower in 2016 than in 2001 in rural Bangladesh. We aimed to determine whether the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) combination vaccination (without booster) started in 2009 contributed to this decrease.

Parental migration and psychological well-being of left-behind adolescents in Western Nepal.

Kharel M, Akira S, Kiriya J, Ong KIC, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2021 Jan 28;16(1):e0245873.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33507904/
https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245873

International migration is increasing rapidly around the world mostly to obtain a job. International migrant workers usually leave their children back in their country of origin, and among family members, adolescents may experience greater psychological distress from parental separation. However, limited evidence is available on the relationship between parental international migration and psychological well-being of left-behind adolescents. Nepal has a relatively higher and increasing number of international migrants, and this study was conducted to examine the association between parental international migration and the psychological well-being of left-behind adolescents in Nepal.

Factors associated with breast cancer screening intention in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Bhandari D, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Hirachan S, Ong KIC, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2021 Jan 22;16(1):e0245856.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33481894/
https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245856

Breast cancer burden is increasing in low-income countries (LICs). Increasing incidence and delayed presentation of breast cancer are mainly responsible for this burden. Many women do not participate in breast cancer screening despite its effectiveness. Moreover, studies are limited on the barriers associated with low utilization of breast cancer screening in LICs. This study identified breast cancer screening behavior and factors associated with breast cancer screening intention among women in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Nurse-Led Mobile Phone Voice Call Reminder and On-Time Antiretroviral Pills Pick-Up in Nepal: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ayer R, Poudel KC, Kikuchi K, Ghimire M, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
AIDS Behav. 2021 Jan 3. doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-03122-7.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33389377/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10461-020-03122-7

This study investigates the efficacy of a nurse-led mobile phone voice call reminder intervention in improving on-time antiretroviral (ARV) pills collection in Nepal. Between October and December 2017, 468 HIV-positive individuals were recruited randomly and assigned to either nurse-led mobile phone voice call reminder (intervention) group or voice call with health promotion message (control) group, 234 were allocated to each group. We assessed on-time pills pick-up at baseline and six-month follow-up and analyzed it by intention-to-treat method.

2020

Effective school-based preventive interventions for alcohol use in Africa: a systematic review.

Tomokawa S, Miyake K, Akiyama T, Makino Y, Nishio A, Kobayashi J, Jimba M, Ayi I, Njenga SM, Asakura T.
Afr Health Sci. 2020 Sep;20(3):1397-1406.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33402988/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/33402988/

Despite recognition of the risks of alcohol use and importance of prevention from an early age, the effectiveness of school-based interventions in Africa has not been clarified. We aimed to identify effective school-based alcohol use prevention interventions in Africa.

Exploring health literacy and its associated factors among Palestinian university students: a cross-sectional study.

Sarhan MBA, Fujii Y, Kiriya J, Fujiya R, Giacaman R, Kitamura A, Jimba M.
Health Promot Int. 2020 Nov 3:daaa089.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33141166/
https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/heapro/daaa089

Health literacy plays an important role in personal and community health. Since university is a turning point when young adults begin to take responsibility for their own health, understanding university students' health literacy levels is crucial. To this end, we aimed to explore health literacy and its associated factors among Palestinian university students.

"Are Filipinos Aging Well?": Determinants of Subjective Well-Being among Senior Citizens of the Community-Based ENGAGE Study.

Carandang RR, Shibanuma A, Asis E, Chavez DC, Tuliao MT, Jimba M.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Oct 20;17(20):7636.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33092078/
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/20/7636

As people age, they are expected to experience adverse life conditions and major life events. These circumstances might have a significant impact on their subjective well-being. This study investigated the factors associated with subjective well-being among community-dwelling Filipino senior citizens.

Seeking connection: a mixed methods study of mental well-being and community volunteerism among international migrants in Japan.

Miller R, Ong KIC, Choi S, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2020 Aug 20;20(1):1272.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32819356/
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-09381-2

International migration is a stressful process for which non-Western nations are a growing destination. However, little attention has been paid to the psychological well-being of international residents or their local integration in such settings. Prosocial behavior, like volunteering in one’s local community, has been demonstrated to improve mental health in native populations. Volunteerism may be a mental health promotion strategy applicable to non-native migrants as well. In order to assess such a hypothesis, this study investigated the mental well-being of international migrants living in Tokyo, Japan, who did or did not participate in formal volunteering.

新型コロナウイルス感染症-ヘルスプロモーションの役割-

神馬征峰.
日本健康教育学会誌. 2020;22(2):69-71.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/kenkokyoiku/28/2/28_280205/_article/-char/ja/

危機の時はコトの本質を問いやすい時である.中国・武漢市の感染症として始まった新型コロナウイルス感染症(COVID-19)について,「予防」という言葉は,日常用語としても理解しやすいせいか,よく使われている.いっぽう,「ヘルスプロモーション」という言葉はほとんどでてこない.疾病アウトブレイクの際,ヘルスプロモーションは出る幕がないのか.それがヘルスプロモーションの本質なのか.決してそうではない.アウトブレイク時,エンパワメントによって,私たちは感染症に打ち勝つ力をつけ,さらには新たな健康危機に対応できる潜在力を獲得することができる.また,行動変容のアイデアを広げていくことにもヘルスプロモーションは役割を果たせる.COVID-19に対するヘルスプロモーションの実践活動を記録に残し,その成果を残すことによって,今後また起こるであろう健康危機に際し,私たちは多くの教訓を得ることができる.将来,多くの人たちが学びたくなるような歴史をヘルスプロモーションというキーワードのもとに刻みこむ.その使命を私たちは果たしていくべきである.

Positive Deviance for Dual-Method Promotion among Women in Uganda: A Qualitative Study.

Kosugi H, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Ong KIC, Mucunguzi S, Muzoora C, Jimba M.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jul 12;17(14):E5009.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32664646/
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/14/5009

Dual-method use is the most reliable form of protection against unintended pregnancies and human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infections (HIV/STIs). Although dual-method use remains uncommon among women in stable relationships, some women do practice it. In this study, we explored the barriers that make dual-method use rare and the behaviors of women who practice dual-method use using a positive deviance framework in Uganda. We screened 150 women using highly effective contraceptives at five health facilities. We identified nine women who practiced dual-method use and 141 women who did not. In a qualitative study, we conducted in-depth interviews with all nine women practicing dual-method use and 10 women randomly selected out of the 141 who did not.

Psychometric properties of an Arabic-language health literacy assessment scale for adolescents (HAS-A-AR) in Palestine.

Sarhan MBA, Shannon HS, Fujiya R, Jimba M, Giacaman R.
BMJ Open. 2020 Jun 21;10(6):e034943. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034943.
https://pmlegacy.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32565456
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/6/e034943.long

Health literacy research in Palestine is limited, and a locally validated tool for use among adolescents has been unavailable until now. Therefore, this study aimed to adapt health literacy assessment scale for adolescents (HAS-A) into Arabic language (HAS-A-AR) and Palestinian context and to investigate its psychometric properties.

The Influence of Breastfeeding Peer Support on Breastfeeding Satisfaction Among Japanese Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Hongo H, Green J, Shibanuma A, Nanishi K, Jimba M.
J Hum Lact. 2020 May;36(2):337-347.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31437413/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0890334419869601

Peer support may help mothers to feel satisfied with their breastfeeding and to continue breastfeeding. However, previous researchers have not examined the influence of peer support on the three breastfeeding-satisfaction domains. Therefore, we aimed to examine the influence of telephone-based peer support on the following three domains of breastfeeding satisfaction among Japanese mothers: maternal satisfaction, perceived benefit to the infant, and lifestyle compatibility with breastfeeding.

Depressed mood, suicidal behaviors, and health risk behaviors among youths in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: the 2017 CNMI Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Sakamoto JL, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2020 Apr 15;20(1):489.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32293384
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-08663-z

The current study investigated the prevalence of depressed mood, suicide ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt and their associations with health risk behaviors among high school adolescents in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Factors determining job satisfaction of malaria community microscopists in Palawan, the Philippines: a cross-sectional mixed-methods study.

Matsumoto-Takahashi ELA, Tongol-Rivera P, Villacorte EA, Angluben RU, Jimba M, Kano S.
Int Health. 2020 Apr 14. pii: ihaa015.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32285911
https://academic.oup.com/inthealth/advance-article/doi/10.1093/inthealth/ihaa015/5819795

This study was conducted to investigate the overall job satisfaction and its associated factors among microscopists as community health workers who specialize in malaria microscopic diagnosis and treatment in Palawan, the Philippines. The study offered new insights to further lessen the burden of malaria and improve treatment by enhancing their commitment and satisfaction.

Tobacco use and E-cigarette regulation: Perspectives of University Students in the Asia-Pacific.

Wipfli H, Bhuiyan MR, Qin X, Gainullina Y, Palaganas E, Jimba M, Saito J, Ernstrom K, Raman R, Withers M.
Addict Behav. 2020 Mar 28;107:106420.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32251875
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460319310998

The Asia-Pacific is home to 30% of the world's smokers. Additional efforts are needed to reduce negative health impacts of tobacco, including e-cigarettes. The study objectives were to 1. Investigate Asian-Pacific students' knowledge, attitudes, and use of tobacco products; 2. Determine the level of student support for tobacco control policies; and 3. Examine differences in students' attitudes by the strength of national tobacco control policies based on implementation of WHO's MPOWER package, and e-cigarette regulation in their countries.

Effectiveness of peer counseling, social engagement, and combination interventions in improving depressive symptoms of community-dwelling Filipino senior citizens.

Carandang RR, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Vardelon KR, Asis E, Murayama H, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2020 Apr 1;15(4):e0230770.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32236104
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0230770

Little is known about community-based interventions for geriatric depression in low-resource settings. This study assessed the effectiveness of 3-month-duration interventions with peer counseling, social engagement, and combination vs. control in improving depressive symptoms of community-dwelling Filipino senior citizens.

Positive deviance for dual-method promotion among women in Uganda: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Kosugi H, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Ong KIC, Mucunguzi S, Muzoora C, Jimba M.
Trials. 2020 March 17;21:270. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-4192-8.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32183908
https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-020-4192-8

Dissemination and implementation of the e-MCH H andbook, UNRWA's newly released maternal and child health mobile application: a cross-sectional study.

Nasir S, Goto R, Kitamura A, Alafeef S, Ballout G, Hababeh M, Kiriya J, Seita A, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2020 Mar 9;10(3):e034885. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034885.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32156767
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e034885.long

In April 2017, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) released the electronic Maternal and Child Health Handbook, the e-MCH Handbook application. One of the first mobile health (m-Health) interventions in a refugee setting, the application gives pregnant women and mothers access to educational information and health records on smartphones. This study investigated factors associated with the dissemination and implementation of m-Health in the refugee setting.

Patients help other patients: Qualitative study on a longstanding community cooperative to tackle leprosy in India.

Jung SH, Han HW, Koh H, Yu SY, Nawa N, Morita A, Ong KIC, Jimba M, Oh J.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Jan 13;14(1):e0008016.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31929530
dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008016

Although leprosy is portrayed as a disappearing disease, leprosy affected persons in India are still suffering massively. Even further, nearly 60% of the world's newly detected cases are appearing from India alone. The problem has exacerbated due to the drastic decrease of global funding after India's official declaration of 'elimination', which did not foster the actual pain of patients beyond prevalence. Leprosy patients have hardships in their lives due to disabilities, stigma and poverty; thus, they require sustained, continuous care even after release from treatment. Yet, current interventions mostly have a vertical, short-term approach, not showing much progress in lightening the burden of leprosy. In contrast, Little Flower Hospital Community (LFHC) in India has been remarkably providing holistic care for thousands of leprosy patients for 35 years. However, there has not been any research conducted to uncover the underlying factors of this longstanding leprosy control model. Therefore, this research explores the in-depth contextual attributes of this hospital community that has been able to successfully provide sustainable care for a long time even without excessive external funds.

2019

Mental well-being of international migrants to Japan: a systematic review.

Miller R, Tomita Y, Ong KIC, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2019 Nov 3;9(11):e029988.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31685498
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/11/e029988.long

Migration is a stressful process of resettlement and acculturation that can often negatively impact the mental health of migrants. International migration to Japan, a country with dominant ethnic homogeneity, is growing steadily amid an ageing domestic population and severe labour shortages. As a systematic review, this paper was to identify the contemporary barriers to, and facilitators of, mental well-being among the migrant population in Japan.

Leadership and Peer Counseling Program: Evaluation of Training and Its Impact on Filipino Senior Peer Counselors.

Carandang RR, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Vardeleon KR, Marges MA, Asis E, Murayama H, Jimba M.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Oct 24;16(21).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31653118
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/21/4108

Senior volunteers represented a significant, mostly untapped lay resource of informal social care. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the training program on improving senior volunteers' competency toward peer counseling, and explored its impact on their well-being after three months of the program implementation. We conducted a pre- and post-intervention analysis among 60 senior volunteers aged 60-82 years.

Molecular detection of enteric viruses in the stool samples of children without diarrhea in Bangladesh.

Okitsu S, Khamrin P, Takanashi S, Thongprachum A, Hoque SA, Takeuchi H, Khan MA, Hasan SMT, Iwata T, Shimizu H, Jimba M, Hayakawa S, Maneekarn N, Ushijima H.
Infect Genet Evol. 2019 Oct 17;77:104055.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31629889
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567134819302813

A number of molecular epidemiological studies reported the detection of enteric viruses in asymptomatic children. The role of these viruses in an asymptomatic infection remains unclear. This study investigated the enteric viruses in the stool samples collected from children without diarrhea.

Unmet Needs and Coping Mechanisms Among Community-Dwelling Senior Citizens in the Philippines: A Qualitative Study.

Carandang RR, Asis E, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Murayama H, Jimba M.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Oct 4;16(19).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31590288
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/19/3745

The Philippine government is facing a burden of improving health and social services for both the growing elderly and young population. The extent of discussion on aging issues and concerns, however, is minimal at best. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the perceptions of unmet needs and to explore the coping mechanisms of senior citizens across local stakeholders in an urban area in the Philippines.

Effect of psycho-social support by teachers on improving mental health and hope of adolescents in an earthquake-affected district in Nepal: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Dhital R, Shibanuma A, Miyaguchi M, Kiriya J, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2019 Oct 1;14(10):e0223046.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31574127
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0223046

Adolescents can be prone to mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression following disasters. School teachers can provide timely psycho-social support that could instill hope and improve mental health among adolescents in a post-earthquake situation in a low-resource setting. This study examined the effect of training for school teachers on psycho-social support on adolescents' mental health and hope in an earthquake affected district in Nepal.

[Correspondence] Developing country: an outdated term in The Lancet.

Jimba M, Fujimura MS, Ong KIC.
Lancet. 2019 Sep 14;394(10202):918.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31526736
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673619310980?via%3Dihub

In January, 2019, two years after his death, Hans Rosling's final book, Factfulness,1 was published in translation in Japan. It quickly became a bestseller. As Rosling mentioned in the book, he was opposed to dividing the world into two types of countries: developed and developing; high-income and low-income; us and them. In using the words developing country, Rosling explained that we live with an outdated mindset. The progress and achievements of the countries labelled as developing are so diverse that it would be misleading to lump all the countries together based on a single criterion.

Effect of continuum-of-care intervention package on improving contacts and quality of maternal and newborn healthcare in Ghana: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Okawa S, Gyapong M, Leslie H, Shibanuma A, Kikuchi K, Yeji F, Tawiah C, Addei S, Nanishi K, Oduro AR, Owusu-Agyei S, Ansah E, Asare GQ, Yasuoka J, Hodgson A, Jimba M; Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project Team.
BMJ Open. 2019 Sep 11;9(9):e025347.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31511278
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/e025347.long

Ghana’s Ensure Mothers and Babies Regular Access to Care (EMBRACE) implementation research aimed to strengthen CoC. The major activities included the development and implementation of an intervention package and evaluation of its effect on CoC. Based on the findings of formative research, we developed an intervention package to ensure CoC with healthcare providers during ANC, peripartum care (PPC) and PNC. Although CoC is the primary outcome for the impact evaluation, quality of care during the regular contacts is another important outcome for the process evaluation, which provides multifaceted implications for maternal and newborn health programme. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to examine the effects of the CoC intervention package on having adequate contacts with healthcare providers and high-quality care by the mothers and their newborns compared with the standard maternal and newborn care under the national guidelines and to determine the factors associated with having adequate contacts with high-quality care among those in the intervention group in the follow-up survey.

Implementation of national policies for a total asbestos ban: a global comparison.

Lin RT, Chien LC, Jimba M, Furuya S, Takahashi K.
Lancet Planet Health. 2019 Aug;3(8):e341-e348.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31439315
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542519619301093

Two international Conventions from the International Labor Organization (ILO; C162 Asbestos Convention) and the UN (Basel Convention) offer governments guidelines for achieving a total asbestos ban policy, but the long-term effect of these Conventions on policy implementation, and the role of government effectiveness, remains unknown. We aimed to investigate associations between government ratification of the ILO and UN international Conventions, government effectiveness, and implementation of a national total asbestos ban.


Assessing knowledge and behavioural changes on maternal and newborn health among mothers following post-earthquake health promotion in Nepal.

Dhital R, Silwal RC, Simkhada P, Teijlingen EV, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2019 Jul 25;14(7):e0220191.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31344147
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0220191

Disasters can disrupt the existing health system affecting the whole population, but especially vulnerable people such as pregnant women, new mothers and their babies. Despite the global progress in maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) programmes over the years, emergency responses after a disaster are often poor. Post-disaster health promotion could play an important role in improving MNCH outcomes. However, evidence remains limited on the effect of post disaster health promotion activities in low-income countries such as Nepal.

Women's overall satisfaction with health facility delivery services in Ghana: a mixed-methods study.

Adjei KK, Kikuchi K, Owusu-Agyei S, Enuameh Y, Shibanuma A, Ansah EK, Yasuoka J, Poku-Asante K, Okawa S, Gyapong M, Tawiah C, Oduro AR, Sakeah E, Sarpong D, Nanishi K, Asare GQ, Hodgson A, Jimba M; Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project Team.
Trop Med Health. 2019 Jul 5;47:41.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31320830
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6612170/

Skilled birth delivery has increased up to nearly 74% in Ghana, but its quality has been questioned over the years. As understanding women's satisfaction could be important to improving service quality, this study aimed to determine what factors were associated with women's overall satisfaction with delivery services quantitatively and qualitatively in rural Ghanaian health facilities.

Concurrent decreases in the prevalence of wheezing and Ascaris infection among 5-year-old children in rural Bangladesh and their regulatory T cell immunity after the implementation of a national deworming program.

Takeuchi H, Khan MA, Ahmad SM, Hasan SMT, Alam MJ, Takanashi S, Hore SK, Yeasmin S, Jimba M, Iwata T.
Immun Inflamm Dis. 2019 Sep;7(3):160-169.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31256445
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/iid3.253

Epidemiological research on the prevalence of asthma and helminthic infections in various countries has led to the hypothesis that helminthic infections protect against asthma by suppressing the host's immune response. This study was conducted to elucidate whether decreased Ascaris infection following a national deworming program was associated with increased recurrent wheezing among rural Bangladeshi children and to test their anti‐inflammatory immunity.

[Correspondence] How can we avoid making universal health coverage a white elephant?

Jimba M, Fujimura MS, Ong KIC.
Lancet. 2019 Jun 15;393(10189):2394.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31204682
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673619302132

When Irene A Agyepong discussed the potential risk of universal health coverage (UHC) becoming a white elephant in low-income and low-income and lower-middle-income countries, she also demonstrated how, from 1945 to 2019, global dominant ideologies have been alternating between vertical and horizontal approaches to UHC, with the exception of Ghana.

School health and nutrition program implementation, impact, and challenges in schools of Nepal: stakeholders' perceptions.

Shrestha RM, Ghimire M, Shakya P, Ayer R, Dhital R, Jimba M.
Trop Med Health. 2019 May 14;47:32.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31114429
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/31114429/

The School Health and Nutrition (SHN) program is a cost-effective intervention for resource-poor countries. SHN program aims to provide timely support and preventive measures to improve the health of school children, which can be associated with their cognitive development, learning, and academic performance. Stakeholders at different tiers can play significant roles in the program implementation and its success. Their perceptions are equally important to provide information on the factors influencing the implementation process and help to identify the gaps in the process. However, the evidence is scarce on the school health and nutrition policy and program implementation in developing countries. No study has yet explored stakeholders’ perceptions on the SHN program implementation process in low-income countries, including Nepal. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative study to explore (1) the SHN program implementation, (2) its impact, and (3) challenges in Nepal.

Consistent condom use among highly effective contraceptive users in an HIV-endemic area in rural Kenya.

Kosugi H, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Wafula SW, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2019 May 6;14(5):e0216208.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31059524
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0216208

Women of reproductive age are at the highest risk of both HIV infection and unintended pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Highly effective contraceptives (HECs) such as hormonal injectable and implants are widely used in this region. HECs are effective for preventing pregnancies. However, unlike condoms, HECs offer no protection against HIV. Dual-method use, or the use of condoms with HECs, is an ideal option to reduce HIV risk but is infrequently practiced. Rather, women tend not to use condoms when they use HECs and increase their HIV risk from their sexual partners. However, it remains unknown whether HIV status affects such tendency. Given the increasing popularity of HECs in sub-Saharan Africa, this study examined the association between the use of HECs and condom use among HIV-positive and negative women.

Quality gap in maternal and newborn healthcare: a cross-sectional study in Myanmar.

Okawa S, Win HH, Leslie HH, Nanishi K, Shibanuma A, Aye PP, Jimba M.
BMJ Glob Health. 2019 Mar 19;4(2):e001078.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30997160
https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/2/e001078

Access to maternal and newborn healthcare has improved in Myanmar. However, regular contact with skilled care providers does not necessarily result in quality care. We assessed adequate contact made by women and newborns with skilled care providers, reception of high-quality care and quality-adjusted contacts during antenatal care (ANC), peripartum care (PPC) and postnatal care (PNC) in Myanmar.

Determinants of continuum of care for maternal, newborn, and child health services in rural Khammouane, Lao PDR.

Sakuma S, Yasuoka J, Phongluxa K, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2019 Apr 23;14(4):e0215635.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31013303
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0215635

The concept of continuum of care has gained attention as measures to improve maternal, newborn, and child health. However, little is known about the factors associated with the coverage level of continuum of care in Lao PDR. Therefore, this study was conducted 1) to investigate the coverage level of continuum of care and 2) to identify barriers and promoting factors that are associated with mothers’ continuation in receiving services in rural Lao PDR.

Myanmar's human resources for health: current situation and its challenges.

Saw YM, Than TM, Thaung Y, Aung S, Wen-Shuan Shiao L, Win EM, Khaing M, Tun NA, Iriyama S, Win HH, Sakisaka K, Jimba M, Hamajima N, Saw TN.
Heliyon. 2019 Mar 27;5(3):e01390.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30976678
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844018349983?via%3Dihub

Human resources for health (HRH) are the cornerstone of health systems, enabling the improvement of health service coverage. The systematic fortification of healthcare in Myanmar has accelerated since a new ruling party took office. Since 2006, Myanmar has been listed as one of the 57 crisis countries facing critical health workforce shortages. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the current situation of HRH in the public health sector where major healthcare services are provided to the people of Myanmar.

Quality gap in maternal and newborn healthcare: a cross-sectional study in Myanmar.

Okawa S, Win HH, Leslie HH, Nanishi K, Shibanuma A, Aye PP, Jimba M.
BMJ Glob Health. 2019 Mar 19;4(2):e001078.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30997160
https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/2/e001078

Access to maternal and newborn healthcare has improved in Myanmar. However, regular contact with skilled care providers does not necessarily result in quality care. We assessed adequate contact made by women and newborns with skilled care providers, reception of high-quality care and quality-adjusted contacts during antenatal care (ANC), peripartum care (PPC) and postnatal care (PNC) in Myanmar.

Advice on healthy pregnancy, delivery, motherhood and information on non-communicable diseases in the maternal care programme in Myanmar: a cross-sectional study.

Okawa S, Win HH, Nanishi K, Shibanuma A, Aye PP, Saw TN, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2019 Mar 30;9(3):e025186.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30928939
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/3/e025186.long

Pregnancy and delivery periods offer an opportunity for counselling women to improve behavioural risk and prevent complications, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, little evidence is available on counselling offered during antenatal and postnatal care (PNC) in Myanmar. This study aimed to assess the contents of advice and information received by women during antenatal and postnatal counselling and to identify factors associated with receiving those advice and information.

Perceptions of adolescent health literacy in the Palestinian social context: a qualitative study.

Sarhan BAM, Kitamura A, Fujiya R, Jimba M, Giacaman R.
Japanese Journal of Health Education and Promotion. 2019;27(1):29-42.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/kenkokyoiku/27/1/27_29/_article/-char/en

Palestinians are exposed to chronic violence, which has a negative impact on health status. Health literacy is increasingly employed to increase people’s control over their health. This qualitative research explored adolescents’, parents’ and teachers’ views regarding important health-related issues to Palestinian adolescents, as a preliminary step to develop a health literacy tool sensitive to the Palestinian social context.

Prevalence of G6PD Viangchan variant in malaria endemic areas in Lao PDR: an implication for malaria elimination by 2030.

Ong KIC, Iwagami M, Araki H, Khattignavong P, Soundala P, Keomalaphet S, Prasayasith P, Lorpachan L, Xangsayalath P, Pongvongsa T, Hongvanthong B, Brey PT, Kano S, Jimba M.
Malar J. 2019 Mar 12;18(1):75.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30866940
https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12936-019-2715-0

Primaquine is effective against the latent liver stage of Plasmodium vivax. Eliminating the latent liver stage of P. vivax is one of the necessary conditions to achieve the goal of malaria elimination in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) by 2030. However, people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency are at risk of haemolysis when ingesting primaquine. The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of the G6PD Viangchan variant, which is said to be common in Lao PDR and which can result in severe haemolysis in patients exposed to primaquine.

[Correspondence] Health-care disparities for foreign residents in Japan.

Yasukawa K, Sawada T, Hashimoto H, Jimba M.
Lancet. 2019 Mar 2;393(10174):873-874.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30837142
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673619302156

Under the current universal health coverage, Japan's health-care system has been praised for being easily accessible for Japanese patients. However, many foreign residents in Japan continue to face barriers in access to health care, and health disparity remains a major challenge that needs to be addressed. Particular foreign populations, including some asylum seekers and migrant workers with expired visas, are not covered by the universal health coverage in Japan. We are also seeing a concerning trend wherein some hospitals deny care to foreign patients who do not have insurance. Because of specialised coordinators for foreign patients, which the Japanese Government is intending to increase, many hospitals are now encouraged to strictly check identity documents and insurance cards before patients are treated, thereby raising barriers to health-care access for migrant workers with stalled national insurance premiums and asylum applicants.

The press release in Japanese from Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo is available from this link.

Mental health disorders and substance use among people living with HIV in Nepal: their influence on non-adherence to anti-retroviral therapy.

Pokhrel KN, Pokhrel KG, Sharma VD, Poudel KC, Neupane SR, Mlunde LB, Jimba M.
AIDS Care. 2019 Mar 5:1-9.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30835503
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540121.2019.1587365

People living with HIV often experience mental health disorders and engage in substance use. Evidence, however, is limited about the influence of mental health disorders and substance use on non-adherence to ART. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 682 HIV-positive people on ART in Nepal. We measured their depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress levels, substance use, and non-adherence to ART.

Determinants of depressive symptoms in Filipino senior citizens of the community-based ENGAGE study.

Carandang RR, Shibanuma A, Kiriya J, Asis E, Chavez DC, Meana M, Murayama H, Jimba M.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2019 Feb 19;82:186-191.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30822720
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167494319300512

This study investigated the factors associated with depressive symptoms among community-dwelling Filipino senior citizens. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 1021 Filipino senior citizens aged 60-91 years. We used multiple linear regression analysis to identify the factors independently associated with levels of depressive symptoms. We predicted the model using hierarchical regression analysis.

In Memoriam: Professor Takusei Umenai (1941-2018): Hi, Let's Create a Novel Paradigm for Health Science!

Takahashi K, Jimba M.
Asia Pac J Public Health. 2019 Feb 22:1010539519832477.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30793625
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1010539519832477

Women's knowledge on common non-communicable diseases and nutritional need during pregnancy in three townships of Ayeyarwaddy region, Myanmar: a cross-sectional study.

Thandar MM, Kiriya J, Shibanuma A, Ong KIC, Tin KN, Win HH, Jimba M.
Trop Med Health. 2019 Jan 29;47:12.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30723383
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6352420/

Health systems in many countries do not adequately address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) during pregnancy, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Myanmar, most studies on NCDs have investigated risk factors and prevalence of NCDs in the general population. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of common NCDs and nutritional need during pregnancy and to identify the factors associated with such knowledge, in three townships of Ayeyarwaddy region in Myanmar.

Virologic failure in HIV-positive adolescents with perfect adherence in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Natukunda J, Kirabira P, Ong KIC, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
Tropical Medicine and Health. 2019;47:8.
https://tropmedhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41182-019-0135-z

Adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) die owing to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related causes more than adults. Although viral suppression protects people living with HIV from AIDS-related illnesses, little is known about viral outcomes of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa where the biggest burden of deaths is experienced. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with viral load suppression among HIV-positive adolescents (10–19 years) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda.

Perceived social support, coping, and stigma on the quality of life of people living with HIV in Nepal: a moderated mediation analysis.

Shrestha S, Shibanuma A, Poudel KC, Nanishi K, Koyama Abe M, Shakya SK, Jimba M.
AIDS Care. 2019; 31(4):413-420.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29996657
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540121.2018.1497136

Perceived social support, coping strategy, and internalized stigma have been linked with the quality of life (QOL) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). However, little is known about how these psychosocial factors interact with each other and affect QOL. This study incorporated a moderated mediation model to investigate whether coping strategy mediates the relationship between perceived social support and QOL, and to examine whether this mediating effect varies with the level of internalized stigma among PLHIV.

2018

Factors associated with concurrent sexual partnerships among men who have sex with men in Yangon, Myanmar.

Saw TN, Yasuoko J, Saw YM, Than TM, Win EM, Aung ZZ, Cho SM, Shibanuma A, Poudel KC, Win HH, Iriyama S, Jimba M.
Nagoya J Med Sci. 2018 Nov;80(4):505-518.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30587865
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6295436/

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are considered to be one of the groups most at risk of contracting HIV. However, to date, information regarding MSM’s sexual behaviors and the risk factors for their concurrent sexual partnerships (CSP) have not been known in Myanmar. This study aimed to identify factors associated with CSP among MSM.A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2011 in Yangon, Myanmar.

Health and dignity of Palestine refugees at stake: a need for international response to sustain crucial life services at UNRWA.

Kitamura A, Jimba M, MaCahey J, Paolucci G, Shah S, Hababeh M, Shahin Y, Seita A.
Lancet.2018 Dec 22 -Jan 4 2019; 392:2736–44.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30587371
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673618326217

The UN Sustainable Development Goals affirm equality and dignity as essential to the enjoyment of basic human rights, including the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which promotes global solidarity among all people, including refugees. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has provided support to Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank since the 1950s. Today, however, conflict and violence, occupation, high levels of poverty, and other social determinants of health jeopardize the wellbeing of Palestine refugees. Health concerns include non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions, and access to hospital care. Additionally, UNRWA is continuing to face a severe funding crisis. Using a historical and health policy perspective, this Health Policy examines UNRWA strategies that facilitate continuous provision of health-care services for Palestine refugees. Given the increasingly volatile environment faced by this population, a multifaceted international response is needed to enable UNRWA to deliver sustainable services to Palestine refugees and avert further loss of life, dignity, and hope, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight in accordance with applicable international law and UN General Assembly resolutions.

[Correspondence] Shrink the universal health coverage cube.

Jimba M, Fujimura SM.
Lancet. 2018 Dec 13; 392:2551.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30563641
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673618325182

In the era of promoting universal health coverage (UHC), WHO's cube diagram is well known. The diagram explains three types of coverage: service, population, and cost. As the diagram does not address disparities in coverage across population groups, another cube diagram, Step Pyramid, has also been introduced. Although this new model has the potential to urge policy makers to focus on health equity, it still focuses on the expansion of services, populations, and costs, and explicitly centers upon expanding the coverage status of different population groups, including upper-income, middle-income, and lower-income groups.

The Knowledge and Awareness for Radiocesium Food Monitoring after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture.

Kunii N, Fujimura MS, Komasa Y, Kitamura A, Sato H, Takatsuji T, Jimba M, Kimura S.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Oct 18;15(10).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30340414
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/10/2289

On 11 March 2011, Japan experienced a massive earthquake and tsunami that triggered the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, resulting in the release of large amounts of cesium-134 and -137 into the atmosphere. In addition to the food radioactivity control in the markets throughout the country, radiocesium concentrations in locally grown foods were voluntarily inspected and the results were shown to the residents by the local government to raise their awareness of the internal radiation contamination risk from low knowledge in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. In this longitudinal study, local food products for in-home consumption were evaluated by seven different food radioactivity measuring devices in Nihonmatsu City from 2011⁻2017.

The coverage of continuum of care in maternal, newborn and child health: a cross-sectional study of woman-child pairs in Ghana.

Shibanuma A, Yeji F, Okawa S, Mahama E, Kikuchi K, Narh K, Enuameh Y, Nanishi K, Oduro A, Owusu-Agyei S, Gyapong M, Asare GQ, Yasuoka J, Ansah EK, Hodgson A, Jimba M, the Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project Team.
BMJ Global Health 2018;3:e000786.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30233827
https://gh.bmj.com/content/3/4/e000786

The continuum of care has recently received attention in maternal, newborn and child health. It can be an effective policy framework to ensure that every woman and child receives timely and appropriate services throughout the continuum. However, a commonly used measurement does not evaluate if a pair of woman and child complies with the continuum of care. This study assessed the continuum of care based on two measurements: continuous visits to health facilities (measurement 1) and receiving key components of services (measurement 2). It also explored individual-level and area-level factors associated with the continuum of care achievement and then investigated how the continuum of care differed across areas.

Nepalese migrants in Japan: What is holding them back in getting access to healthcare?

Shakya P, Tanaka M, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2018 Sep 7;13(9):e0203645.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30192873
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0203645

Migrants are one of the most deprived and vulnerable groups who receive the least health services in the society. Only a few studies have been conducted on access to healthcare among migrants in Asia, despite hosting 75 million migrants. In Japan, Nepalese migrants constitute the largest South Asian community. Their number increased by three folds from 2011 to 2016. However, little is known about their access to health care in Japan. Based on Andersen's model, we examined the factors associated with access to healthcare among Nepalese migrants in Japan.

Different Pfcrt genotypes and related microsatellite DNA polymorphisms on Plasmodium falciparum differed among populations in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Iwagami M, Tangpukdee N, Wilairatana P, Krudsood S, Dao LD, Nakazawa S, Sinuon M, Socheat D, Yasuoka J, Jimba M, Watanabe H, Kobayashi J, Toma H, Vanisaveth V, Hongvanthong B, Brey PT, Kano S.
Parasitol Int. 2018 Aug 27. pii: S1383-5769(17)30395-1.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30165262
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383576917303951

Malaria morbidity and mortality have decreased gradually in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Presently, WHO sets a goal to eliminate malaria by 2030 in the GMS. However, drug-resistant malaria has been reported from several endemic areas. To achieve the goal of elimination, the status of the emergence and spread of drug resistance should be monitored. In this study, the genotype of the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine (CQ) resistance transporter gene (pfcrt) and 6 microsatellite DNA loci flanking the gene were examined.

[Comment] HIV care continuum for key populations in Indonesia

Poudel KC, Jimba M.
Lancet HIV. 2018 Aug 21. pii: S2352-3018(18)30169-3.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30143456
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352301818301693

The HIV epidemic remains largely concentrated among key populations in countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including Indonesia. Key populations at high risk are people who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers, and transgender people (known as waria in Indonesia). HIV testing and treatment in these groups are low in the region. Engagement of HIV-positive individuals at each stage of the HIV care continuum is crucial for positive outcomes. The continuum, which includes diagnosis, linkage to and retention in HIV care, prescription of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and viral suppression, reduces mortality and morbidity and prevents further HIV transmission. Therefore, better understanding of the care continuum among key populations is needed to address knowledge gaps and improve the outcomes of HIV services.

Mothers' Opisthorchis viverrini infection status and raw fish dish consumption in Lao People's Democratic Republic: determinants of child infection status.

Araki H, Ong KIC, Lorphachan L, Soundala P, Iwagami M, Shibanuma A, Hongvanthong B, Brey PT, Kano S, Jimba M.
Trop Med Health. 2018 Aug 7;46:29.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30093819
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6081849/

Opisthorchis viverrini (Ov) infection is one of the foodborne trematodiases, which is highly endemic in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). The infection occurs especially when people eat raw fish containing Ov metacercariae. As eating raw fish is a traditional culture in Lao PDR, changing this behavior is difficult. A new approach is necessary to control Ov infection because people easily get re-infected even after taking praziquantel unless they change their behaviors. This study aimed to explore factors associated with Ov infection among children and to identify the existing behaviors and perception that might contribute to the control of Ov infection in Lao PDR. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Yommalath district, Khammouane province, in Lao PDR in August and September 2015. In this cross-sectional study, we used a semi-structured questionnaire and interviewed 348 mothers who had a child aged 5-15 years. We also collected the fecal samples from each mother-child pair and used the Kato-Katz method (three slides/sample) to detect Ov eggs.

Agreement on Reporting Intimate Partner Violence Among Nepalese Couples: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Yoshikawa K, Shakya TM, Poudel KC, Jimba M.
J Interpers Violence. 2018 Jul 1:886260518788371.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30019604
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0886260518788371

When intimate partner violence (IPV) data are collected from only one partner, they are often subject to considerable reporting bias. However, it is not easy to collect such data from couples, and inaccuracies might result in discrepancies, which needs a resolution. We assessed the concordance on reports of lifetime and previous year physical, sexual, and emotional IPV against wives, as reported by both Nepalese wives and husbands. The association of possible risk factors with discordant reporting of IPV was also analyzed.

Bottom-up approach to strengthen community-based malaria control strategy from community health workers' perceptions of their past, present, and future: a qualitative study in Palawan, Philippines.

Matsumoto-Takahashi ELA, Tongol-Rivera P, Villacorte EA, Angluben RU, Jimba M, Kano S.
Trop Med Health. 2018 Jul 4;46:24.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29997449
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6030756/

Microscopists have active roles in bringing malaria diagnosis and treatment closer to households in Palawan, the highest malaria-endemic province in the Philippines. To accelerate the elimination of malaria in Palawan, we performed a study based on the bottom-up approach to provide profound data to strengthen this community-based malaria control from the microscopists’ point of view.

Investigating the impact of a community home-based care on mental health and anti-retroviral therapy adherence in people living with HIV in Nepal: a community intervention study.

Pokhrel KN, Sharma VD, Pokhrel KG, Neupane SR, Mlunde LB, Poudel KC, Jimba M.
BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Jun 7;18(1):263.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29879916
https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-018-3170-1

HIV-positive people often experience mental health disorders and engage in substance use when the disease progresses. In resource limited settings, mental health services are not integrated into HIV services. In Nepal, HIV-positive people do receive psychosocial support and other basic health care services from a community home-based care intervention; however, the effects of the intervention on health outcomes is not yet known. Therefore, we examined the impact of the intervention on mental health and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence.

Providing Japanese health care information for international visitors: digital animation intervention.

Nishikawa M, Yamanaka M, Kiriya J, Jimba M.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2018 May 21;18(1):373.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29783982
https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-018-3191-x

Over 24 million international visitors came to Japan in 2016 and the number is expected to increase. Visitors could be at a risk of illness or injury that may result in hospitalization in Japan. We assessed the effects of a four-minute digital animation titled Mari Info Japan on the level of anxiety experienced by international visitors to Japan.

Use of modern contraceptive methods and its association with QOL among Nepalese female migrants living in Japan.

Shah R, Kiriya J, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2018 May 16;13(5):e0197243.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29768459
dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0197243

Modern contraceptive use among migrants may be limited due to factors such as language barriers, socio-economic condition, and inadequate knowledge. Limited evidence is available on the factors associated with the use of modern contraceptive methods by migrants in Japan. Moreover, evidence remains scarce on the quality of life (QOL) of migrants in relation to contraceptive use. As the Nepalese migrant population in Japan is increasing, this study was conducted to address their sexual and reproductive health issues. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to examine the factors associated with the use of modern contraceptive methods and to explore the association between the use of modern contraceptive methods and QOL among married Nepalese female migrants in Japan.

Interventions integrating non-communicable disease prevention and reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health: A systematic review.

Kikuchi K, Ayer R, Okawa S, Nishikitani M, Yokota F, Jimba M, Nakashima N.
Biosci Trends. 2018;12(2):116-125.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29760355
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bst/12/2/12_2018.01070/_article

Reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) care services could be critical entry points for preventing non-communicable diseases in women and children. In high-income countries, non-communicable diseases screening has been integrated into both the medical and public health systems. To integrate these services in low- and middle-income countries, it is necessary to closely examine its effectiveness and feasibility. In this systematic review, we evaluated the effectiveness of integrating gestational and non-gestational non-communicable diseases interventions and RMNCH care among women and children in low- and middle-income countries.

Sexual and reproductive health behavior and unmet needs among a sample of adolescents living with HIV in Zambia: a cross-sectional study.

Okawa S, Mwanza-Kabaghe S, Mwiya M, Kikuchi K, Jimba M, Kankasa C, Ishikawa N.
Reprod Health. 2018 Mar 27;15(1):55.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29587791
https://reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12978-018-0493-8

Adolescents living with HIV face challenges, such as disclosure of HIV status, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH). These challenges affect their future quality of life. However, little evidence is available on their sexual behaviors and SRH needs in Zambia. This study aimed at assessing their sexual behaviors and SRH needs and identifying factors associated with marriage concerns and a desire to have children.

Education and indoor smoking among parents who smoke: the mediating role of perceived social norms of smoking.

Saito J, Shibanuma A, Yasuoka J, Kondo N, Takagi D, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2018 Jan 18:211.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29394912
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-018-5082-9

Parents with less formal education are more likely to smoke indoors, causing socioeconomic disparity in children’s exposure to second-hand smoke. However, little is known about the roles of social factors in the socioeconomic gradients of indoor smoking. We tested the potential mediating role of perceived smoking norms on the associations between education and indoor smoking among parents who smoke.

Gender-specific differences in high-risk sexual behaviors among methamphetamine users in Myanmar-China border city, Muse, Myanmar: who is at risk?

Saw YM, Saw TN, Chan N, Cho SM, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2018 Feb 1;18(1):209.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29390989
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-018-5113-6

Methamphetamine (MA) use is a significant public health concern due to its negative effects on health. However, to date, no epidemiological research has examined high-risk sexual behaviors (inconsistent condom use, having multiple sexual partners and having a history of sexually transmitted infections) among MA users. This topic is particularly important in Myanmar, which is recognized as one of the key MA production countries in the Southeast Asia region. Therefore, this study examined factors associated with high-risk sexual behaviors among MA users in Muse city, Myanmar.

カンボジアの子育てと父親の役割:ポジデビ研究の可能性(連載「ポジデビを探せ!」14)

柴沼晃.
公衆衛生. 82(2):172-177.
http://www.igaku-shoin.co.jp/journalDetail.do?journal=37672

乳幼児を取り巻く家庭環境や社会環境は途上国でも大きく変化している。特に、アジアでは最貧国を脱して経済成長を続ける国が次々と現れている。そのような国では、製造業での雇用が急増しており、女性が工場に働きに出るようになっている。従来であれば家庭で乳幼児の子育てを担っていた母親が平日に不在の家庭も増えている。母親不在の中、乳幼児の発達に必要な衛生環境、栄養、保健サービスへのアクセスにも影響はないだろうか。本稿では、カンボジア、カンダール州におけるフィールド調査から、このような子育て環境の変化にうまく順応して子育てをしている父親の特徴を紹介し、今後のポジデビ研究の可能性を議論する。

Psychological well-being and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among adolescents living with HIV in Zambia.

Okawa S, Mwanza Kabaghe S, Mwiya M, Kikuchi K, Jimba M, Kankasa C, Ishikawa N.
AIDS Care. 2018 May;30(5):634-642.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29347827
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540121.2018.1425364

Physical and psychosocial changes during adolescence could influence the psychological well-being and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) of adolescents living with HIV. However, few studies have assessed these two important issues in Zambia. This study aimed at addressing this gap by examining adolescents’ depressive symptoms and ART adherence.

2017

Adolescents' Experiences and Their Suggestions for HIV Serostatus Disclosure in Zambia: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Okawa S, Mwanza-Kabaghe S, Mwiya M, Kikuchi K, Jimba M, Kankasa C, Ishikawa N.
Front Public Health. 2017 Dec 15;5:326.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29326914
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00326/full

HIV serostatus disclosure is an immense challenge for adolescents living with HIV, their caregivers, and health workers. In Zambia, however, little guidance is available from the adolescents' point of view on the HIV disclosure process. This study aimed to examine the setting of HIV serostatus disclosure for adolescents, its impacts on them, and their suggestions on the best practice of HIV disclosure.

Roles of children and their parents in the reduction of radiation risk after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Fujimura MS, Komasa Y, Kimura S, Shibanuma A, Kitamura A, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2017 Dec 13;12(12):e0188906.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29236725
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0188906

On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced its largest recorded earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0. The resulting tsunami caused massive damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reactors, and the surrounding environment was contaminated with radioactive materials. During this period, some residents were exposed to high levels of radiation (up to 5 millisieverts [mSv]), but since then, many residents have been exposed to low levels of radiation (<1 mSv). This study was conducted to assess the effects of lifestyle and attitude factors on external radiation exposure among Fukushima residents.


Systematic review of the clinical manifestations of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in the Greater Mekong Subregion: implications for malaria elimination and beyond.

Ong KIC, Kosugi H, Thoeun S, Araki H, Thandar MM, Iwagami M, Hongvanthong B, Brey PT, Kano S, Jimba M.
BMJ Glob Health. 2017 Aug 19;2(3):e000415.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29082022
http://gh.bmj.com/content/2/3/e000415

To achieve malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) by 2030, proper case management is necessary. 8-aminoquinolines, such as primaquine, are the only available medicines effective in preventing relapse of the hypnozoite stage of Plasmodium vivax, as well as the onward transmission of Plasmodium falciparum. However, primaquine can cause haemolysis in individuals who have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd). We conducted a systematic review on the reported clinical manifestations of G6PDd to provide a comprehensive overview of the situation in the GMS.

Towards eliminating malaria in high endemic countries: the roles of community health workers and related cadres and their challenges in integrated community case management for malaria: a systematic review.

Sunguya BF, Mlunde LB, Ayer R, Jimba M.
Malar J. 2017 Jan 3;16(1):10.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28049486
https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12936-016-1667-x

Human resource for health crisis has impaired global efforts against malaria in highly endemic countries. To address this, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended scaling-up of community health workers (CHWs) and related cadres owing to their documented success in malaria and other disease prevention and management. Evidence is inconsistent on the roles and challenges they encounter in malaria interventions. This systematic review aims to summarize evidence on roles and challenges of CHWs and related cadres in integrated community case management for malaria (iCCM).

Determinants of attending antenatal care at least four times in rural Ghana: analysis of a cross-sectional survey.

Sakeah E, Okawa S, Rexford Oduro A, Shibanuma A, Ansah E, Kikuchi K, Gyapong M, Owusu-Agyei S, Williams J, Debpuur C, Yeji F, Kukula VA, Enuameh Y, Asare GQ, Agyekum EO, Addai S, Sarpong D, Adjei K, Tawiah C, Yasuoka J, Nanishi K, Jimba M, Hodgson A, The Ghana Embrace Team.
Glob Health Action. 2017;10(1):1291879.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28578634
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16549716.2017.1291879

Improving maternal health is a global challenge. In Ghana, maternal morbidity and mortality rates remain high, particularly in rural areas. Antenatal care (ANC) attendance is known to improve maternal health. However, few studies have updated current knowledge regarding determinants of ANC attendance.

Predicting health-related quality of life in people living with HIV in Nepal: mental health disorders and substance use determinants.

Pokhrel KN, Sharma VD, Shibanuma A, Pokhrel KG, Mlunde LB, Jimba M.
AIDS Care. 2017 May 26:1-7.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28547996
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540121.2017.1332331

HIV-positive people often experience mental health disorders and engage in substance use. Such conditions tend to impair their health-related quality of life (QOL). Evidence, however, is limited about the influence of mental health disorders and substance use on QOL by gender. Also, little is known about the influences of anxiety and high levels of stress on QOL. We recruited 682 HIV-positive people in Nepal and measured their depression, anxiety, stress levels, substance use, and QOL.

Effectiveness of community-based peer support for mothers to improve their breastfeeding practices: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Shakya P, Kunieda MK, Koyama M, Rai SS, Miyaguchi M, Dhakal S, Sandy S, Sunguya BF, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2017 May 16;12(5):e0177434.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28510603
http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177434

Breastfeeding is associated with reduced mortality in children aged less than 5 years. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (registered as PROSPERO 2015: CRD42015019105) to examine the effectiveness of community-based peer support for mothers on their breastfeeding practices as compared to mothers who have not received such a support.

Gender difference in early initiation of methamphetamine use among current methamphetamine users in Muse, Northern Shan State, Myanmar.

Saw YM, Saw TN, Yasuoka J, Chan N, Kham NPE, Khine W, Cho SM, Jimba M.
Harm Reduct J. 2017 14:2.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28482847
https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-017-0147-0

Globally, methamphetamine (MA) use is a significant public health concern due to unprecedented health effects of its use. However, gender similarities and differences in early age of MA initiation and its risk factors among current MA users have been understudied in a developing country setting.

Development of the revised Japanese Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale, short version.

Hongo H, Green J, Nanishi K, Jimba M.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2017 May;26(3):392-395.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28429901
http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/26/3/392.pdf

The Japanese Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (JMBFES) was developed in 2013 based on the original Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES). Mothers' abilities to incorporate breastfeeding into their daily life may influence their decision to continue or discontinue to breastfeed, but that version of the JMBFES had no questions to measure this important aspect of breastfeeding. Therefore, we sought to improve the JMBFES by incorporating questions measuring "lifestyle compatibility-incompatibility," and we conducted psychometric testing of the improved version.

Improving feeding and growth of HIV-positive children through nutrition training of frontline health workers in Tanga, Tanzania.

Sunguya BF, Mlunde LB, Urassa DP, Poudel KC, Ubuguyu OS, Mkopi NP, Leyna GH, Kessy AT, Nanishi K, Shibanuma A, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
BMC Pediatr. 2017 Apr 4;17(1):94.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28376725
https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-017-0840-x

Nutrition training can boost competence of health workers to improve children's feeding practices. In this way, child undernutrition can be ameliorated in general populations. However, evidence is lacking on efficacy of such interventions among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive children. We aimed to examine the efficacy of a nutrition training intervention to improve midlevel providers' (MLPs) nutrition knowledge and feeding practices and the nutrition statuses of HIV-positive children in Tanga, Tanzania.

ケース5:熱帯病対策 貧困の中の未解決問題に挑む (連載「ポジデビを探せ!」7)

荒木瞳. 公衆衛生. 81(5):443-449.
http://dx.doi.org/10.11477/mf.1401208672

取り残された疾患,取り残された人々
 国際連合は,2016年,持続可能な開発目標達成のための取り組みを開始した.キーワードは,「誰一人として取り残さない(Leaving no one behind)」.合計17目標のうち,3番目にあるのが保健目標であり,「あらゆる年齢のすべての人の健康的な生活を確保し,福祉を推進する」ことと定めた.
 目標達成のためには,さまざまな疾病対策をする必要がある.ただし,全て同時にというわけにはいかない.何かを重要視し,何かに優先順位をつけなくてはならない.結果として,どうしても取り残される疾患,取り残される人々が出てきてしまう.

ポジデビ・アプローチ—これまでの経緯,日本での実践,そして今後の展望 (連載「ポジデビを探せ!」6)

モニク・スターニン. (柴沼晃:訳)公衆衛生. 81(4):350-354.

本稿では,モニク・スターニン氏から,本連載「ポジデビを探せ!」読者の皆さんへのメッセージをまず紹介する.同氏は,ポジデビ・アプローチを用いて過去25年以上にわたり公衆衛生をはじめとするさまざまな社会課題の解決に取り組んでこられた.「The Power of Positive Deviance」1)の共著者でもある.次に,同氏が2015年11月14日に東京大学で行った講演「常識の端にある異端を見つめて—ポジデビ・アプローチによる行動変容と社会変革」の一部を紹介する.

Caring for perinatally HIV-infected children: call for mental care for the children and the caregivers.

Kikuchi K, Poudel KC, Rwibasira JM, Majyambere A, Mutabazi V, Nyonsenga SP, Muhayimpundu R, Jimba M.
AIDS Care. 2017 Mar 30:1-7.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28359213
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540121.2017.1307917

Antiretroviral therapy has dramatically improved the survival rate of perinatally HIV-infected children. For them to thrive, it is necessary to understand better their mental health issues. Caregivers play an important role in children's daily care and caregiver mental health may relate to children's mental health. However, this association has rarely been studied. Accordingly, the present study examined the associations between depression of caregivers and that of perinatally HIV-infected children in Kigali, Rwanda. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 475 perinatally HIV-infected children aged 7-14 years and their caregivers.

The gender gap in relation to happiness and preferences in married couples after childbirth: evidence from a field experiment in rural Ghana.

Kamiya Y, Akpalu B, Mahama E, Ayipah EK, Owusu-Agyei S, Hodgson A, Shibanuma A, Kikuchi K, Jimba M; Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project Team.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2017 Mar 15;36(1):8.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28298243
https://jhpn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41043-017-0084-2

How does the gap in preferences between married couples affect their happiness after childbirth? Are couples that share similar preferences happier? In recent years, gender, marriage, and happiness have been considered to be key issues in public health research. Although much research has examined the happiness status of married couples, practically no study has explored the gender gap in relation to happiness and the preferences of married couples after childbirth. Therefore, our study was conducted to assess the association between the preference gap and the happiness status among married couples in the afterbirth period.

An investigation of stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS by doctors and nurses in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Vorasane S, Jimba M, Kikuchi K, Yasuoka J, Nanishi K, Durham J, Sychareun V.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2017 Feb 10;17(1):125.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5301416/
https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-017-2068-8

Despite global efforts, HIV-related stigma continues to negatively impact the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS. Even in healthcare settings, people with HIV/AIDS experience discrimination. Anecdotal evidence suggests that healthcare professionals in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a lower-middle income country situated in Southeast Asia, stigmatize HIV/AID patients. The purpose of this study was to assess HIV stigmatizing attitudes within Laotian healthcare service providers and examine some of the factors associated with HIV/AIDS-related stigma among doctors and nurses.

健康教育(特集 板書例でよく分かる!「現代的課題」に立ち向かう授業)
(Health education)

神馬征峰
道徳教育. 2017 Feb;57(2)10.
http://www.meijitosho.co.jp/detail/07704

Towards eliminating malaria in high endemic countries: the roles of community health workers and related cadres and their challenges in integrated community case management for malaria: a systematic review.

Sunguya BF, Mlunde LB, Ayer R, Jimba M.
Malar J. 2017 Jan 3;16(1):10.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28049486
https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12936-016-1667-x

Human resource for health crisis has impaired global efforts against malaria in highly endemic countries. To address this, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended scaling-up of community health workers (CHWs) and related cadres owing to their documented success in malaria and other disease prevention and management. Evidence is inconsistent on the roles and challenges they encounter in malaria interventions. This systematic review aims to summarize evidence on roles and challenges of CHWs and related cadres in integrated community case management for malaria (iCCM).

2016

ネパールにおけるハンセン病患者および回復者を親に持つ思春期青年の抑うつ傾向、自尊感情および健康関連QOLに関する横断研究
(Health-related quality of life, depression, and self-esteem in adolescents with leprosy-affected parents: results of a cross-sectional study in Nepal)

山口乃生子, Poudel KC, 神馬征峰.
日本ハンセン病学会雑誌(Jpn J Lepr). 2016; 85:65-68.
http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/40020980024

Impact of the Japanese 5S management method on patients' and caretakers' satisfaction: a quasi-experimental study in Senegal.

Kanamori S, Castro MC, Sow S, Matsuno R, Cissokho A, Jimba M.
Glob Health Action. 2016 Nov 28;9:32852.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27900932
http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/32852

The 5S method is a lean management tool for workplace organization, with 5S being an abbreviation for five Japanese words that translate to English as Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. In Senegal, the 5S intervention program was implemented in 10 health centers in two regions between 2011 and 2014.

「みんなの健康学」序説: 公衆衛生を動かした先達からのメッセージ

神馬征峰. 風間書房; 2016.

「みんなの健康」のために尽くした先達が経験した出会いとは? アルベルト・シュバイツァー、フローレンス・ナイティンゲール、荻野吟子、神谷美恵子など13人のドラマティックなストーリーから公衆衛生の精神を学ぶ。

https://www.kazamashobo.co.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=2150
https://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/f/dsg-01-9784759921465
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/475992146X

A School Health Project Can Uplift the Health Status of School Children in Nepal.

Shrestha RM, Miyaguchi M, Shibanuma A, Khanal A, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2016 Nov 3;11(11):e0166001.

School health is effective in helping students achieve health literacy, enhance their health-related behaviors, and thereby improve their health status. However, in resource-limited countries, evidence is limited to show the impact of school health. We determined the association of the school health and nutrition (SHN) project activities on students' a) health knowledge, b) hygiene practices, and c) health outcomes, one year after the project completion.

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0166001
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27812190

Effectiveness of Continuum of Care-Linking Pre-Pregnancy Care and Pregnancy Care to Improve Neonatal and Perinatal Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Kikuchi K, Okawa S, Zamawe CO, Shibanuma A, Nanishi K, Iwamoto A, Saw YM, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2016 Oct 27;11(10):e0164965.

In an era of Sustainable Development Goals, maternal, newborn, and child health still require improvement. Continuum of care is considered key to improving the health status of these populations. The continuum of care is a series of care strategies starting from pre-pregnancy to motherhood-childhood. The effectiveness of such linkage between the pregnancy, birth, and postnatal periods has been demonstrated. However, almost no study has assessed the impact of linkage that starts from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy care on maternal and child health. The present study attempts to fill this gap by assessing the effectiveness of the care linkage between pre-pregnancy and pregnancy care for reducing neonatal, perinatal, and maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials in low- and middle-income countries.

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0164965
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27788176

The effectiveness of a nationwide universal coverage campaign of insecticide-treated bed nets on childhood malaria in Malawi.

Zamawe CO, Nakamura K, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
Malar J. 2016 Oct 18;15(1):505.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27756392
http://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12936-016-1550-9

Although the universal coverage campaign of insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets (ITNs) has been associated with improved malaria outcomes, recent reports indicate that the campaign is losing its sparkle in some countries. In Malawi, the universal coverage campaign was implemented in 2012, but its impacts are yet to be ascertained. Thus, this study examined the effects of the campaign on malaria morbidity among children in Malawi.

ポジデビ・アプローチとは何か? (連載「ポジデビを探せ!」1)
(What is positive deviance?)

神馬征峰. 公衆衛生. 80(11):853-58.
https://www.igaku-shoin.co.jp/journalDetail.do?journal=36601

Motivation and incentive preferences of community health officers in Ghana: an economic behavioral experiment approach.

Shiratori S, Agyekum EO, Shibanuma A, Oduro A, Okawa S, Enuameh Y, Yasuoka J, Kikuchi K, Gyapong M, Owusu-Agyei S, Ansah E, Hodgson A, Jimba M; EMBRACE Implementation Research Team.
Hum Resour Health. 2016 Aug 22;14(1):53.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27549208
https://human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12960-016-0148-1

Health worker shortage in rural areas is one of the biggest problems of the health sector in Ghana and many developing countries. This may be due to fewer incentives and support systems available to attract and retain health workers at the rural level. This study explored the willingness of community health officers (CHOs) to accept and hold rural and community job postings in Ghana.

The impact of a livelihood program on depressive symptoms among people living with HIV in Cambodia.

Shimizu M, Yi S, Tuot S, Suong S, Sron S, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
Glob Health Action. 2016 Aug 9;9:31999.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27511811
http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/31999

Psychological and social problems are major concerns in this era of successful antiretroviral therapy. Although livelihood programs have been implemented extensively to improve the daily living conditions of people living with HIV in Cambodia, no studies have yet investigated the impacts of these programs on the mental health of this vulnerable population. Therefore, we examined the impact of a livelihood program on depressive symptoms and associated factors among people living with HIV in Cambodia.

Applicability of the 5S management method for quality improvement in health-care facilities: a review

Kanamori S, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
Trop Med Health. 2016 Jul 19;44:21.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27462185
http://tropmedhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41182-016-0022-9

The 5S management method (where 5S stands for sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain) was originally implemented by manufacturing enterprises in Japan. It was then introduced to the manufacturing sector in the West and eventually applied to the health sector for organizing and standardizing the workplace. 5S has recently received attention as a potential solution for improving government health-care services in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a narrative literature review to explore its applicability to health-care facilities globally, with a focus on three aspects: (a) the context of its application, (b) its impacts, and (c) its adoption as part of government initiatives.

Clinic Attendance for Antiretroviral Pills Pick-Up among HIV-Positive People in Nepal: Roles of Perceived Family Support and Associated Factors.

Ayer R, Kikuchi K, Ghimire M, Shibanuma A, Pant MR, Poudel KC, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2016 Jul 20;11(7):e0159382. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159382. eCollection 2016.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27438024
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0159382

HIV-positive people's clinic attendance for medication pick-up is critical for successful HIV treatment. However, limited evidence exists on it especially in low-income settings such as Nepal. Moreover, the role of family support in clinic attendance remains under-explored. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the association between perceived family support and regular clinic attendance and to assess factors associated with regular clinic attendance for antiretroviral pills pick-up among HIV-positive individuals in Nepal.

[Letter] The potential of positive deviance approach for the sustainable control of neglected tropical diseases.

Ong KI, Araki H, Kano S, Jimba M.
Trop Med Health. 2016 Jul 13;44:20.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27436959
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4944241/

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have gained much attention in recent years due to the support from various agencies. However, the main approach to combat NTDs has been to cure rather than to prevent. As many NTD infections are closely linked with human behaviors such as hygienic practices and tradition, behavior change is also very crucial to prevent relapse or reinfection. Therefore, we would like to suggest a potential new approach-the positive deviance approach-to tackle NTDs by focusing on the preventive phase. What makes this approach unique is that the solution comes from the affected population themselves and not from the expert outsiders. Preventive chemotherapy that relies on outside aid has serious sustainability issues as reinfection is also high after the aid program has ended. Learning from the success story in Vietnam on preventing childhood malnutrition, the positive deviance approach could end the spread of NTDs once and for all by making full use of the available local solutions.

Training the next generation of global health experts: experiences and recommendations from Pacific Rim universities.

Withers M, Press D, Wipfli H, McCool J, Chan CC, Jimba M, Tremewan C, Samet J.
Global Health. 2016 Jun 23;12(1):34.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27334947
http://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-016-0162-z

Finding solutions to global health problems will require a highly-trained, inter-disciplinary workforce. Global health education and research can potentially have long-range impact in addressing the global burden of disease and protecting and improving the health of the global population.

Health, Resilience, and Human Security: Moving Toward Health for All

Korc M, Hubbard S, Suzuki T, Jimba M.
New York: Japan Center for International Exchange and Pan American Health Organization; 2016.
http://www.jcie.or.jp/books/abstracts/H/HRHS.html
http://www.jcie.or.jp/japan/pub/publst/1463.htm(日本語による解説)
http://iris.paho.org/xmlui/handle/123456789/28286

The purpose of this document is to explain to experts in the health and development fields what a human security approach is and show how it can be applied in an attempt to put individuals and communities on a path toward achieving a virtuous cycle of good health, wellbeing, and resilience. In particular, the document focuses on how the human security approach addresses the linkages among different sources of health threats and ensures that interventions are integrated so as to build and sustain health resilience at the individual, community, and institutional levels as a path toward health for all through universal health coverage. It also focuses on how human security can help translate health gains into improvements in wellbeing on a larger scale. In other words, an emphasis on human security can help us to move beyond focusing on survival to focusing on livelihoods, wellbeing, and dignity.

Ability of HIV Advocacy to Modify Behavioral Norms and Treatment Impact: A Systematic Review.

Sunguya BF, Munisamy M, Pongpanich S, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
Am J Public Health. 2016 Jun 16:e1-e8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27310343
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303179

HIV advocacy programs are partly responsible for the global community's success in reducing the burden of HIV. The rising wave of the global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has prompted the World Health Organization to espouse NCD advocacy efforts as a possible preventive strategy. HIV and NCDs share some similarities in their chronicity and risky behaviors, which are their associated etiology. Therefore, pooled evidence on the effectiveness of HIV advocacy programs and ideas shared could be replicated and applied during the conceptualization of NCD advocacy programs. Such evidence, however, has not been systematically reviewed to address the effectiveness of HIV advocacy programs, particularly programs that aimed at changing public behaviors deemed as risk factors.

Undernutrition Among Infants and Children in Nepal: Maternal Health Services and Their Roles to Prevent it.

Pokhrel K, Nanishi K, Poudel KC, Pokhrel KG, Tiwari K, Jimba M.
Matern Child Health J. 2016 May 28.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27236701
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10995-016-2023-z

Appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) for children aged 6–23 months includes adequate dietary diversity, appropriate meal frequency, and continued breastfeeding. Mothers receiving antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) may adopt better IYCF. This study examined the association of ANC or PNC attendance with IYCF and child nutrition status.

Food-choice motives of adolescents in Jakarta, Indonesia: the roles of gender and family income.

Maulida R, Nanishi K, Green J, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
Public Health Nutr. 2016 May 16:1-9

The aims of the present study were to assess the reliability and validity of the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) and to determine the factors associated with food-choice motives in public junior-high-school students in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Association of opioid agonist therapy with the initiation of antiretroviral therapy - a systematic review.

Mlunde LB, Sunguya BF, Mbwambo JK, Ubuguyu OS, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
Int J Infect Dis. 2016 Mar 29.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27044520
http://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712%2816%2931009-8/fulltext

People who inject drugs are at high risk of HIV infection but often face barriers in accessing medical care including access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Evidence is available about the effectiveness of opioid agonist therapy on drug dependency and risk behaviors. However, it remains scattered regarding access to ART among HIV-positive people who inject drugs. We conducted a systematic review to examine the association of opioid agonist therapy with ART initiation among HIV-positive people who inject drugs.

Factors Influencing Health Facility Delivery in Predominantly Rural Communities across the Three Ecological Zones in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Enuameh YA, Okawa S, Asante KP, Kikuchi K, Mahama E, Ansah E, Tawiah C, Adjei K, Shibanuma A, Nanishi K, Yeji F, Agyekum EO, Yasuoka J, Gyapong M, Oduro AR, Quansah Asare G, Hodgson A, Jimba M, Owusu-Agyei S; Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project Team.
PLoS One. 2016 Mar 31;11(3):e0152235.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27031301
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0152235

Maternal and neonatal mortality indicators remain high in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries. Both maternal and neonatal health outcomes improve when skilled personnel provide delivery services within health facilities. Determinants of delivery location are crucial to promoting health facility deliveries, but little research has been done on this issue in Ghana. This study explored factors influencing delivery location in predominantly rural communities in Ghana.

A Mismatch between High-Risk Behaviors and Screening of Infectious Diseases among People Who Inject Drugs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Mlunde LB, Sunguya BF, Mbwambo JK, Ubuguyu OS, Shibanuma A, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2016 Feb 5;11(2):e0148598.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26849802
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0148598

People who inject drugs are at risk of various infectious diseases. Despite such a risk, evidence is limited which studied the utilization of screening services for common infectious diseases among people who inject drugs in Tanzania. We aimed to examine their high-risk behaviors; utilization of screening services for HIV infection, hepatitis B/C, any other sexually transmitted infection, and tuberculosis; and their associated factors in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

2015

Correlates of health care seeking behavior among people who inject drugs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Mlunde LB, Sunguya BF, Mbwambo JKK, Ubuguyu OS, Shibanuma A, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
International Journal of Drug Policy. 2015 Dec 21. pii: S0955-3959(15)00365-5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26821555
http://www.ijdp.org/article/S0955-3959%2815%2900365-5/abstract

People who inject drugs (PWID) suffer from a high burden of infectious disease. At the same time, they often have poor access to health care. As in other East African countries, the population of PWID is growing in Tanzania, but little is known about their contact with health care services. In this paper we examine patterns of health care use among PWID in Dar es Salaam and identify what factors are associated with regular contact with clinicians during illness.

Continuum of Care in a Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Program in Ghana: Low Completion Rate and Multiple Obstacle Factors.

Yeji F, Shibanuma A, Oduro A, Debpuur C, Kikuchi K, Owusu-Agei S, Gyapong M, Okawa S, Ansah E, Asare GQ, Nanishi K, Williams J, Addei S, Tawiah C, Yasuoka J, Enuameh Y, Sakeah E, Wontuo P, Jimba M, Hodgson A; Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project Team.
PLoS One. 2015 Dec 9;10(12):e0142849.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26650388
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0142849

Slow progress has been made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 in Ghana. Ensuring continuum of care (at least four antenatal visits; skilled birth attendance; postnatal care within 48 hours, at two weeks, and six weeks) for mother and newborn is crucial in helping Ghana achieve these goals and beyond. This study examined the levels and factors associated with continuum of care (CoC) completion among Ghanaian women aged 15-49.

Are Husbands Involving in Their Spouses' Utilization of Maternal Care Services?: A Cross-Sectional Study in Yangon, Myanmar.

Wai KM, Shibanuma A, Oo NN, Fillman TJ, Saw YM, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2015 Dec 7;10(12):e0144135.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26641891
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0144135

Husbands can play a crucial role in pregnancy and childbirth, especially in patriarchal societies of developing countries. In Myanmar, despite the critical influence of husbands on the health of mothers and newborns, their roles in maternal health have not been well explored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with husbands' involvement in maternal health in Myanmar. This study also examined the associations between husbands' involvement and their spouses' utilization of maternal care services during antenatal, delivery and postnatal periods.

Coinfection of Sexually Transmitted Infections among HIV-Positive Individuals: Cross-Sectional Results of a Community-Based Positive Living with HIV (POLH) Study in Nepal.

Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Palmer PH, Mizoue T, Jimba M, Kobayashi J, Acharya B, Pandey BD, Oka S.
J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care. 2015 Nov 2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26527219
http://jia.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/11/02/2325957415614644

In Asian concentrated HIV epidemics, data on coinfection of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among HIV-positive individuals are limited. The authors measured the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhea (NG), and syphilis, and their correlates among 319 HIV-positive individuals in Kathmandu, Nepal. The authors tested blood samples for syphilis and urine samples for CT and NG.

Longitudinal adherence to antiretroviral drugs for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Zambia.

Okawa S, Chirwa M, Ishikawa N, Kapyata H, Msiska CY, Syakantu G, Miyano S, Komada K, Jimba M, Yasuoka J.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015 Oct 12;15(1):258.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26459335
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2393/15/258

Adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs is essential for eliminating new pediatric infections of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since the Zambian government revised the national guidelines based on option A (i.e., maternal zidovudine and infant ARV prophylaxis) of the World Health Organization's 2010 guidelines, no studies have assessed adherence to ARVs during pregnancy up to the postpartum period. This study aimed to examine adherence to ARVs and identify the associated risk factors.

'Only Fathers Smoking' Contributes the Most to Socioeconomic Inequalities: Changes in Socioeconomic Inequalities in Infants' Exposure to Second Hand Smoke over Time in Japan.

Saito J, Tabuchi T, Shibanuma A, Yasuoka J, Nakamura M, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2015 Oct 2;10(10):e0139512. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139512.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26431400
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0139512

Exposure to second hand smoke (SHS) is one of the major causes of premature death and disease among children. While socioeconomic inequalities exist for adult smoking, such evidence is limited for SHS exposure in children. Thus, this study examined changes over time in socioeconomic inequalities in infants' SHS exposure in Japan.

Effective Linkages of Continuum of Care for Improving Neonatal, Perinatal, and Maternal Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Kikuchi K, Ansah EK, Okawa S, Enuameh Y, Yasuoka J, Nanishi K, Shibanuma A, Gyapong M, Owusu-Agyei S, Oduro AR, Asare GQ, Hodgson A, Jimba M; Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project Team.
PLoS One. 2015 Sep 30;10(9):e0139288. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139288. eCollection 2015.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26422685
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0139288

Continuum of care has the potential to improve maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) by ensuring care for mothers and children. Continuum of care in MNCH is widely accepted as comprising sequential time (from pre-pregnancy to motherhood and childhood) and space dimensions (from community-family care to clinical care). However, it is unclear which linkages of care could have a greater effect on MNCH outcomes. The objective of the present study is to assess the effectiveness of different continuum of care linkages for reducing neonatal, perinatal, and maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries.

(巻頭言)二足のわらじ

神馬征峰.
日本健康教育学会誌. 23(3):169-170.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/kenkokyoiku/23/3/23_169/_pdf

「二足のわらじをはく」ことを英語では「二つの帽子をかぶる(wearing two hats)」と表現する.なぜ帽子かというと,職業によってかぶるものが違い,帽子を見れば職業がわかったからだという.日本では足,英語圏では頭.いずれにしても,一見両立しないような仕事を一人でこなすのが,現代でも通じる二足のわらじの意味である.

グローバルレベルのアドボカシー:エイズアドボカシーからの教訓

神馬征峰.
日本健康教育学会誌. 23(3):218-223.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/kenkokyoiku/23/3/23_218/_pdf

アドボカシーの実践的な定義を示すとともに,グローバルレベルでのアドボカシー実践例としてエイズアドボカシーをとりあげ,その特徴を示すことを目的とした.

[Correspondence] Prevention of violence against women and girls at the community level.

Jayatilleke AC, Jayatilleke AU, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
Lancet. 2015 Aug 1;386(9992):427-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26251385
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2814%2961797-9/abstract

In their Series paper on lessons from practice (April 25, p 1672), Lori Michau and colleagues emphasised the importance of social, cultural, and political interactions to prevent violence against women and girls. This approach is especially important for developing countries where many women are in abusive relationships. Although laws have the potential to prevent violence, such violent relationships can continue owing to absence of support after a separation, social stigma, and economic hardships, and put women in greater danger.

What are the factors associated with depressive symptoms among orphans and vulnerable children in Cambodia?

Ong KI, Yi S, Tuot S, Chhoun P, Shibanuma A, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
BMC Psychiatry. 2015 Jul 29;15:178.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26220677
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/15/178

Compared to general children, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) are more exposed to negative outcomes in life such as abuse and neglect. Consequently, OVC are more susceptible to depression. This paper investigated factors associated with depressive symptoms among OVC in Cambodia.

Psychological resilience and active social participation among older adults with incontinence: a qualitative study.

Takahashi K, Sase E, Kato A, Igari T, Kikuchi K, Jimba M.
Aging Ment Health. 2015 Jul 15:1-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26179274
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2015.1065792

Incontinence restricts participation in social activities among older adults. However, some older adults participate in social activities despite this condition. This study aimed to describe how older adults with incontinence could be resilient and actively participate in social activities.

Unnecessary Dieting Intention and Behavior among Female Students in Naha City, Japan.

Myint KZ, Nonaka D, Jimba M, Nanishi K, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Miyagi M, Shinjo M, Kobayashi J.
Trop Med Health. 2015 Jun;43(2):131-40.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26161031
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4491491/

Weight concerns and dieting are prevalent among female adolescents both in Western and Asian countries. They can result in negative psychological and physiological consequences. This study aimed to examine the relative importance of social and personal factors in the decision to diet among female adolescent students in Japan, applying the Theory of Planned Behavior.

学校保健には希望がある-国際保健の現場から
(School Health Potential - From the Perspective of Global Health)

神馬征峰. 学校保健研究. 2015 57(2):74.

Determining a Cut-Off Point for Scores of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form: Secondary Data Analysis of an Intervention Study in Japan.

Nanishi K, Green J, Taguri M, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2015 Jun 24;10(6):e0129698.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26107382
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0129698

Breastfeeding self-efficacy can be measured with the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). Mothers with low BSES-SF scores stop exclusive breastfeeding prematurely, but specific interventions can prevent that undesirable outcome. Because those interventions can be expensive, often one must decide which mothers will receive them. For that purpose, a cut-off BSES-SF score would be useful, but none is available. Therefore, we aimed to assess the overall accuracy of BSES-SF scores as predictors of not practicing post-discharge exclusive breastfeeding, and to choose an appropriate cut-off score for making that prediction.

High Incidence of Neonatal Danger Signs and Its Implications for Postnatal Care in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Okawa S, Ansah EK, Nanishi K, Enuameh Y, Shibanuma A, Kikuchi K, Yasuoka J, Gyapong M, Owusu-Agyei S, Oduro AR, Asare GQ, Hodgson A, Jimba M; Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project Team.
PLoS One. 2015 Jun 19;10(6):e0130712.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26091424
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0130712

Reducing neonatal mortality is a major public health priority in sub-Saharan Africa. Numerous studies have examined the determinants of neonatal mortality, but few have explored neonatal danger signs which potentially cause morbidity. This study assessed danger signs observed in neonates at birth, determined the correlations of multiple danger signs and complications between neonates and their mothers, and identified factors associated with neonatal danger signs.

Patient Knowledge on Malaria Symptoms Is a Key to Promoting Universal Access of Patients to Effective Malaria Treatment in Palawan, the Philippines.

Matsumoto-Takahashi EL, Tongol-Rivera P, Villacorte EA, Angluben RU, Jimba M, Kano S.
PLoS One. 2015 Jun 16;10(6):e0127858.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26079135
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0127858

Palawan, where health care facilities are still limited, is one of the most malaria endemic provinces in the Philippines. Since 1999, microscopists (community health workers) have been trained in malaria diagnosis and feasibility of early diagnosis and treatments have been enhanced throughout the province. To accelerate the universal access of malaria patients to diagnostic testing in Palawan, positive health seeking behavior should be encouraged when malaria infection is suspected.

Factors associated with RTCs among for-hire three-wheeler drivers in Sri Lanka: a case-control study.

Jayatilleke AU, Poudel KC, Dharmaratne SD, Jayatilleke AC, Jimba M.
Inj Prev. 2015 Jun 9. pii: injuryprev-2014-041501.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26060218
http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2015/06/09/injuryprev-2014-041501.abstract

For-hire three-wheeler crashes are a growing burden in Sri Lanka. We conducted this study to examine the factors associated with road traffic crashes (RTCs) among for-hire three-wheeler drivers in Sri Lanka.

The Role of Nutrition Training for Health Workers in Addressing Poor Feeding Practices and Undernutrition Among HIV-Positive Children.

Sunguya BF, Urassa DP, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
In Watson RR, editor. Health of HIV Infected People: Food, Nutrition and Lifestyle without Antiretroviral drugs. Vol. II: Oxford, UK: Elsevier; 2015. p.113-130.
http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?locale=en_JP&isbn=9780128007679
http://amzn.com/0128007672

Social-Contextual Factors Associated with Alcohol Use among Adolescents of Traditional Alcohol User and Nonuser Ethnic Groups of Nepal.

Parajuli VJ, Macdonald S, Jimba M.
J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2015 Apr-Jun;14(2):151-65.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25984956
http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/jbhy6n2SXiSyH9HqxhNj/full

Nepalese society has diverse ethnic groups that can be categorized based on views toward alcohol. In this study, adolescents from the traditional alcohol nonuser (TANU) and traditional alcohol user (TAU) ethnic groups of Nepal are examined for their: (1) alcohol use behavior and (2) social–contextual factors associated with alcohol use.

HIV service delivery models towards ‘Zero AIDS-related Deaths’: a collaborative case study of 6 Asia and Pacific countries

Fujita M, Poudel KC, Green K, Wi T, Abeyewickreme I, Ghidinelli M, Kato M, Vun M, Sopheap S, San K, Bollen P, Rai K, Dahal A, Bhandari D, Boas P, Yaipupu J, Sirinirund P, Saonuam P, Duong B, Nhan D, Thu N, Jimba M.
BMC Health Services Research. 2015, 15:176.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25902708
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/15/176/

In the Asia-Pacific region, limited systematic assessment has been conducted on HIV service delivery models. Applying an analytical framework of the continuum of prevention and care, this study aimed to assess HIV service deliveries in six Asia and Pacific countries from the perspective of service availability, linking approaches and performance monitoring for maximizing HIV case detection and retention.

Training Sri Lankan public health midwives on intimate partner violence: a pre- and post-intervention study

Jayatilleke AC, Yoshikawa K, Yasuoka J, Poudel KC, Fernando N, Jayatilleke AU, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2015. 15:331.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25885635
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/15/331

In many developing countries, intimate partner violence (IPV) training is not available for health providers. As a pioneer among developing countries, in 2009, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health trained a group of community health providers known as public health midwives (PHMs) on IPV. We evaluated that training program's efficacy in improving PHMs' identification and management of IPV sufferers in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Implementation of 5S management method for lean healthcare at a health center in Senegal: a qualitative study of staff perception

Kanamori S, Sow S, Castro MC, Matsuno R, Tsuru A, Jimba M.
Glob Health Action. 2015 Apr 7;8:27256.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25854781
http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/27256

5S is a lean method for workplace organization; it is an abbreviation representing five Japanese words that can be translated as sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. The 5S management method has been recognized recently as a potential solution for improving the quality of government healthcare services in low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction of a community water supply in rural western Kenya: impact on community wellbeing and child health

Sakisaka K, Chadeka EA, Nagi S, Mwandembo DS, Jimba M.
Int Health. 2015 Apr 2. pii: ihv015.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25835431
http://inthealth.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/04/01/inthealth.ihv015.full

This study aimed to examine water availability and community health before and after tube wells were introduced in a rural western Kenyan community. Differences in impact among income quintile groups were quantified, and users' perceptions of their water supply measured.

コロンビア共和国における地雷被災者支援の動向と課題

高橋競, 神馬征峰.
国際保健医療. 30(1):15-21.
http://dx.doi.org/10.11197/jaih.30.15

長年にわたるゲリラや麻薬組織との内線の結果,コロンビアには今も多くの地雷が残されており、地雷被災者支援が社会問題になっている。本稿は、コロンビアにおける地雷被災者支援の最新の動向をまとめ、今後の課題について検討することを目的とした。

健康,政治,権力―国際保健の現場から

神馬征峰.
日本健康教育学会誌. 23(1):43-49.
http://dx.doi.org/10.11260/kenkokyoiku.23.43

日本の平均寿命は今や世界のトップであるが,途上国ではいまだに死をも招きかねない「政治と健康」の課題に直面している.そして歴史的エビデンスだけではない,科学的エビデンスをさぐる動きが活発になってきている).本稿ではまず,途上国の健康問題への取り組みを専門とする国際保健と政治との関係について述べる.次いで,政治課題としての国連ミレニアム開発目標の成果と残された課題を示す.さらに国際保健をめぐる政治と権力のかかわりについて紹介する.そして最後に,政治が不適切に権力を行使したとき,住民はいかに立ち向かうべきか,マハトマ・ガンジーの抵抗運動からの教訓を示したい.そして権力と向き合いながら,いかに健康課題と取り組んでいくべきかを論じる.

健康の政治的決定要因:注目される背景と研究の可能性

柴沼晃.
日本健康教育学会誌. 23(1):50-55.
http://dx.doi.org/10.11260/kenkokyoiku.23.50

平均的な健康水準が改善しているにも関わらず,人々の間には依然として健康格差が存在する.健康格差をもたらす要因には,政策や制度により解消しうるものとしえないものがある.「健康の社会的決定要因」は,人々の健康が,政治や社会,経済的に「本来であれば解消しうる要因」によって強く影響を受けるとの捉え方をする.本稿では,健康の社会的決定要因のうち,政治に関連する要因に着目した「健康の政治的決定要因」について紹介する.

ポリティクスは健康にどのように影響しているのか?:母乳育児を例として

名西恵子.
日本健康教育学会誌. 23(1):56-57.
http://dx.doi.org/10.11260/kenkokyoiku.23.56

健康とポリティクスの関係を理解することは,健康教育やヘルスプロモーションを考えるうえで欠かせない.ガブリエル・パーマーによる「母乳育児のポリティクス:おっぱいとビジネスの不都合な関係」)は,母乳育児を切り口として,健康とポリティクスについて理解を深めるのに最適である.

Ghana's Ensure Mothers and Babies Regular Access to Care (EMBRACE) program: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

Kikuchi K, Ansah E, Okawa S, Shibanuma A, Gyapong M, Owusu-Agyei S, Oduro A, Quansah-Asare G, Hodgson A, Jimba M and for the Ghana EMBRACE Implementation Research Project.
Trials. 2015;16:22.
http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/16/1/22
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25887849

The United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals call for improving maternal and child health status. Their progress, however, has been minimal and uneven across countries. The continuum of care is a key to strengthening maternal, newborn, and child health. In this context, the Japanese government launched the Ghana Ensure Mothers and Babies Regular Access to Care (EMBRACE) Implementation Research Project in collaboration with the Ghanaian government. This study aims to evaluate the implementation process and effects of an intervention to increase the continuum of care for maternal, newborn, and child health status in Ghana.

母乳育児のポリティクス: おっぱいとビジネスとの不都合な関係

ガブリエル・パーマー. 本郷寛子、瀬尾智子 (訳)
http://www.medica.co.jp/catalog/book/5300?e_flg=0
http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4840450080
https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E6%AF%8D%E4%B9%B3%E8%82%B2%E5%85%90%E3%81%AE%E3%83%9D%E3%83%AA%E3%83%86%E3%82%A3%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9/297891240420744

今やその唯一無二の重要性が明らかであるにもかかわらず、母乳育児はなぜうまくいかないのか。赤ちゃんに魔の手を伸ばし、社会に暗い影を落とす張本人とは誰か。人類の歴史とともにある「哺育」を再評価することの重要性を説く著者渾身の新版、待望の完訳。

Caregivers' treatment-seeking behaviour for children under age five in malaria-endemic areas of rural Myanmar: a cross-sectional study.

Thandar MM, Kyaw MP, Jimba M, Yasuoka J.
Malar J. 2015 Jan 5;14(1):1.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25557741
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/14/1/1/

A community-based malaria intervention was introduced through fixed and mobile clinics in rural Myanmar. This study attempted to identify treatment-seeking behaviour of caregivers for children under five and the determinants of appropriate treatment-seeking behaviour in mobile clinic villages (MV) and non-mobile clinic villages (NMV) in malaria-endemic rural areas in Myanmar.

[Correspondence] Informal social control and intimate partner violence.

Jayatilleke A, Jayatilleke A, Jimba M, Yasuoka J.
Inj Prev. 2015 Feb;21(1):70. doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2014-041421.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25326456
http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/21/1/70.2.extract

2014

序章「公衆衛生を学ぶにあたって」

神馬征峰
神馬征峰他.『系統看護学講座 専門基礎分野 健康支援と社会保障制度[2] 公衆衛生(第13版)』. 2-12. 医学書院.

第1章「公衆衛生のエッセンス」

神馬征峰
神馬征峰他.『系統看護学講座 専門基礎分野 健康支援と社会保障制度[2] 公衆衛生(第13版)』. 14-42. 医学書院.

第4章「環境と健康」

安岡潤子
神馬征峰他.『系統看護学講座 専門基礎分野 健康支援と社会保障制度[2] 公衆衛生(第13版)』. 82-108. 医学書院.

第5章「国際保健」

神馬征峰
神馬征峰他.『系統看護学講座 専門基礎分野 健康支援と社会保障制度[2] 公衆衛生(第13版)』. 110-122. 医学書院.
http://www.igaku-shoin.co.jp/bookDetail.do?book=86339

What makes orphans in Kigali, Rwanda, non-adherent to antiretroviral therapy? Perspectives of their caregivers.

Kikuchi K, Poudel KC, Muganda J, Sato T, Mutabazi V, Muhayimpundu R, Majyambere A, Nyonsenga SP, Sase E, Jimba M.
J Int AIDS Soc. 2014 Dec 3;17(1):19310. doi: 10.7448/IAS.17.1.19310.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25477050
http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/19310

Every year, approximately 260,000 children are infected with HIV in low- and middle-income countries. The timely initiation and high level of maintenance of antiretroviral therapy (ART) are crucial to reducing the suffering of HIV-positive children. We need to develop a better understanding of the background of children’s ART non-adherence because it is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to explore the background related to ART non-adherence, specifically in relation to the orphan status of children in Kigali, Rwanda.

Is Baby-Friendly Breastfeeding Support in Maternity Hospitals Associated with Breastfeeding Satisfaction Among Japanese Mothers?

Hongo H, Nanishi K, Shibanuma A, Jimba M.
Matern Child Health J. 2014 Nov 4. doi: 10.1007/s10995-014-1631-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25366103
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-014-1631-8

While the World Health Organization's Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative has increased breastfeeding duration and exclusivity, a survey found that only 8.5% of maternity hospitals in 31 developed countries could be designated baby-friendly. Baby-friendly breastfeeding support is sometimes criticized as mother unfriendly. This study examined whether baby-friendly breastfeeding support was associated with breastfeeding satisfaction, duration, and exclusivity among Japanese mothers.

「国際保健と保健師活動」

神馬征峰
星丹二, 麻原きよみ編.『これからの保健医療福祉行政論(第2版)』. 211-222. 日本看護協会出版社.
http://www.jnapc.co.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=56

世界の現場で見えてきたこと ─フィールドワーカーが見た“学校保健”「第3回 ネパール」

宮口萌
健. 2014(11). 日本学校保健研修社.
http://www.school-health.co.jp/ken_guid.html

Sense of coherence as a key to improve homebound status among older adults with urinary incontinence.

Takahashi K, Kato A, Igari T, Sase E, Shibanuma A, Kikuchi K, Nanishi K, Jimba M, Yasuoka J.
Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2014 Sep 26. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12353.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25257847
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ggi.12353/abstract

Being homebound is regarded as a negative condition for social participation in Japan. However, little is known about the possibility of psychological resilience to prevent being homebound among older adults with urinary incontinence. The present study aimed to examine the association between sense of coherence as a measure of psychological resilience and being homebound among older adults with urinary incontinence.

Female community health volunteers service utilization for childhood illness- improving quality of health services only is not enough: a cross-sectional study in mid-western region, Nepal.

Miyaguchi M, Yasuoka J, Poudyal AK, Silwal RC, Jimba M.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Sep 11;14(1):383.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25212261
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/14/383

Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) are considered service providers for major health problems at the community level in Nepal. However, few studies have been conducted about the roles of FCHVs from the users' perspective. This study sought to examine the current status of FCHV service utilization and identify the determinants of caregivers' utilization of FCHVs' health services in the mid-western region of Nepal.

Power of Community Health in Implementing the Universal Health Insurance System in Japan.

Jimba M.
JMAJ 57(1): 10-14, 2014.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25237270
http://www.med.or.jp/english/journal/pdf/2014_01/010_014.pdf

(This article is a revised transcript of the presentation delivered by the author at the Takemi Program 30th Anniversary Symposium, which was held at the JMA Auditorium, Tokyo, on November 23, 2013.)

Strong nutrition governance is a key to addressing nutrition transition in low and middle-income countries: review of countries' nutrition policies.

Sunguya BF, Ong KI, Dhakal S, Mlunde LB, Shibanuma A, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
Nutr J. 2014 Jun 27;13(1):65.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24970243
http://www.nutritionj.com/content/13/1/65/abstract

Nutrition transition necessitates low and middle-income countries (LAMICs) to scale up their efforts in addressing the burdens of undernutrition and overweight/obesity. Magnitudes of undernutrition and overweight are high in LAMICs, but no study has reviewed the existence of nutrition policies to address it. No evidence is also available on the effect of nutrition policies and governance on the undernutrition and overweight/obesity patterns in such countries. We conducted a policy review to examine the presence and associations of nutrition policies and governance with the children's nutrition statuses in LAMICs.

Poor Nutrition Status and Associated Feeding Practices among HIV-Positive Children in a Food Secure Region in Tanzania: A Call for Tailored Nutrition Training.

Sunguya BF, Poudel KC, Mlunde LB, Urassa DP, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2014 May 20;9(5):e98308.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24846016
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0098308

We conducted this mixed-method study among 748 children aged 6 months-14 years attending 9 of a total of 32 care and treatment centers in Tanga region, Tanzania. We collected quantitative data using a standard questionnaire and qualitative data through seven focus group discussions (FGDs).

Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale: A Longitudinal Study.

Nanishi K, Jimba M.
J Hum Lact. 2014 May 13.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24828780

The 17-item Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) has shown good reliability and validity to measure attitudes toward infant feeding in various countries. It is also known to be associated with breastfeeding intention and exclusivity. However, the IIFAS has not been psychometrically tested among Japanese women. This study thus aimed to develop the Japanese version of the IIFAS (IIFAS-J) and assess its reliability and validity.

Interprofessional education for whom? - challenges and lessons learned from its implementation in developed countries and their application to developing countries: a systematic review.

Sunguya BF, Hinthong W, Jimba M, Yasuoka J.
PLoS One. 2014 May 8;9(5):e96724.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24809509
http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0096724

Evidence is available on the potential efficacy of interprofessional education (IPE) to foster interprofessional cooperation, improve professional satisfaction, and improve patient care. While the intention of the World Health Organization (WHO) is to implement IPE in all countries, evidence comes from developed countries about its efficiency, challenges, and barriers to planning and implementing IPE. We therefore conducted this review to examine challenges of implementing IPE to suggest possible pathways to overcome the anticipated challenges in developing countries.

Acceptance of Wife Beating and Its Association with Physical Violence towards Women in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Couple's Data.

Yoshikawa K, Shakya TM, Poudel KC, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2014 Apr 21;9(4):e95829.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24752579
http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095829

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious global public health issue. Acceptance of wife beating is known to be associated with IPV, but few studies have analysed the acceptance of wife beating from both women and men's points of view. The objective of this study was to examine whether acceptance of wife beating among couples is associated with lifetime and past one-year physical IPV perpetration towards wives in Nepal.

Application of loop analysis for evaluation of malaria control interventions.

Yasuoka J, Jimba M, Levins R.
Malar J. 2014 Apr 9;13(1):140.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24713031
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/13/1/140

Despite continuous efforts and recent rapid expansion in the financing and implementation of malaria control interventions, malaria still remains one of the most devastating global health issues. Even in countries that have been successful in reducing the incidence of malaria, malaria control is becoming more challenging because of the changing epidemiology of malaria and waning community participation in control interventions. In order to improve the effectiveness of interventions and to promote community understanding of the necessity of continued control efforts, there is an urgent need to develop new methodologies that examine the mechanisms by which community-based malaria interventions could reduce local malaria incidence.

Prioritizing Mental Health Issues of Community Residents Affected by Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident.

Komasa Y, Kitamura A, Tsuboi M, Jimba M, Kimura S.
Clinical Neuropsychiatry (2013) 10, 6, 241-244.
http://www.clinicalneuropsychiatry.org/pdf/komasa.pdf

Mental health consequences of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident in Fukushima in 2011 may be observed in a longer term. In this report, lessons learned from the past dissters in Japan, and the present overview of experiences, mental and phychological distress among the people living in Fukushima are discussed.

Factors influencing the National School Health Policy implementation in Lao PDR: a multi-level case study.

Saito J, Keosada N, Tomokawa S, Akiyama T, Kaewviset S, Nonaka D, Waikugul J, Kobayashi J, Souvanvixay M, Jimba M.
Health Promot Int. 2014 Apr 2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24694681
http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/04/02/heapro.dau016.abstract

In the last decade, a National School Health Policy (NSHP) has been formulated in several developing countries following the recommendations of the Global School Health Initiative. However, NSHP implementations across the country have not been fully shared. This study aimed to identify factors that have influenced implementation of the NSHP in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). We conducted key informant interviews with 20 NSHP implementers and document reviews.

Perceived Family Support, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation among People Living with HIV/AIDS: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Amiya RM, Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Pandey BD, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2014 Mar 6;9(3):e90959.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24603886
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/24603886/

Depression and suicidal thinking occur frequently alongside HIV/AIDS, triggering profound detrimental impacts on quality of life, treatment adherence, disease progression, and mortality. Yet the psychosocial factors contributing to these psychiatric comorbidities remain underexplored, particularly in the developing country context. This study thus examined different dimensions of perceived family support in relation to depression and suicidal ideation among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Nepal.

Determining the impact of community awareness-raising activities on the prevention of malaria transmission in Palawan, the Philippines.

Matsumoto-Takahashi EL, Tongol-Rivera P, Villacorte EA, Angluben RU, Yasuoka J, Kano S, Jimba M.
Parasitol Int. 2014 Feb 7. pii: S1383-5769(14)00011-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24508869
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383576914000117

Palawan has the highest malaria endemicity in the Philippines, and malaria remains a major health burden in the region. In 1999, 344 microscopists were trained in Palawan. This allowed for early diagnosis and prompt treatment throughout the island. To take a significant step toward the elimination of malaria on the island, microscopists implemented community awareness-raising activities aimed at preventing transmission of malaria. The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of these activities on the self-implemented preventive measures against malaria by the ex-patients of the microscopists.

Acculturation factors and metabolic syndrome among Japanese-Brazilian men in Japan: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Tashiro M, Yasuoka J, Poudel KC, Noto H, Masuo M, Jimba M.
J Immigr Minor Health. 2014 Feb;16(1):68-76.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23430465
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10903-013-9797-5

This study examines the acculturation effects on metabolic syndrome (MetS), and its related factors, among immigrant Japanese-Brazilian men in Japan. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were utilized. In the quantitative study (n = 149), multiple logistic regression analyses estimated the impact of length of residence and arrival age on MetS. For the qualitative study, five focus group discussions were conducted with participants (n = 26) from the quantitative study sample. The oldest arrival age group was more likely to have MetS (OR, 95% CI 4.41, 1.09-17.78) after adjusting for covariates; whereas, length of residence had no association with MetS.

Cross-border promotion of formula milk in Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Phoutthakeo P, Otsuka K, Ito C, Sayamoungkhoun P, Kounnavong S, Jimba M.
J Paediatr Child Health. 2014 Jan;50(1):51-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24134830
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpc.12391/abstract

This study aims to examine the influence of formula milk promotion via the media from Thailand to Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), where a cultural and linguistic proximity are shared. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a structured questionnaire survey and focus group discussion (FGD) with mothers who had children under 2 years of age and lived in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.

Effectiveness of a breastfeeding self-efficacy intervention: do hospital practices make a difference?

Otsuka K, Taguri M, Dennis CL, Wakutani K, Awano M, Yamaguchi T, Jimba M.
Matern Child Health J. 2014 Jan;18(1):296-306.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23592322
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1265-2

Breastfeeding self-efficacy interventions are important for improving breastfeeding outcomes. However, the circumstances that may influence the effectiveness of the interventions are unclear, especially in the context of hospitals with suboptimal infant feeding practices. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effect of a self-efficacy intervention on breastfeeding self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding, and further assessed the difference in its effect by hospital-routine type.

2013

Nutrition Training Improves Health Workers' Nutrition Knowledge and Competence to Manage Child Undernutrition: A Systematic Review.

Sunguya BF, Poudel KC, Mlunde LB, Urassa DP, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
Front Public Health. 2013 Sep 24;1:37. eCollection 2013. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24350206

Medical and nursing education lack adequate practical nutrition training to fit the clinical reality that health workers face in their practices. Such a deficit creates health workers with poor nutrition knowledge and child undernutrition management practices. In-service nutrition training can help to fill this gap. However, no systematic review has examined its collective effectiveness. We thus conducted this study to examine the effectiveness of in-service nutrition training on health workers' nutrition knowledge, counseling skills, and child undernutrition management practices.

What are the factors associated with HIV testing among male injecting and non-injecting drug users in Lashio, Myanmar: a cross-sectional study.

Saw YM, Yasuoka J, Saw TN, Poudel KC, Tun S, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2013 Jun 20;3(6). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23794581

HIV testing is an effective intervention for reducing HIV risk and providing information on HIV status. However, uptake of HIV testing is a major challenge within the drug-using population due to the stigma and discrimination associated with their illegal drug use behaviours. This study thus aimed to identify factors associated with HIV testing among injecting drug users (IDUs) and non-injecting drug users (NIDUs) in Lashio, Myanmar.

Taking stock of Myanmar's progress toward the health-related Millennium Development Goals: current roadblocks, paths ahead.

Saw YM, Win KL, Shiao LW, Thandar MM, Amiya RM, Shibanuma A, Tun S, Jimba M.
Int J Equity Health. 2013 Sep 11;12:78. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24025845

Myanmar is a developing country with considerable humanitarian needs, rendering its pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) an especially high priority. Yet progress to date remains under-examined on key fronts. Particularly within the three health-related MDGs (MDGs 4, 5, and 6), the limited data reported point to patchy levels of achievement. This study was undertaken to provide an overview and assessment of Myanmar's progress toward the health-related MDGs, along with possible solutions for accelerating health-related development into 2015 and beyond. The review highlights off-track progress in the spheres of maternal and child health (MDGs 4 and 5). It also shows Myanmar's achievements toward MDG 6 targets--in the areas of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

Coinfection of Hepatitis C Virus among HIV-Positive People in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Poudel KC, Palmer PH, Jimba M, Mizoue T, Kobayashi J, Poudel-Tandukar K.
J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care. 2013 Sep 20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24056798

Previous research has studied the rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection among HIV-positive people regardless of their antiretroviral therapy (ART) status. Our objectives were to measure the seroprevalence of HCV both in HIV-positive people receiving ART and in those not receiving ART and to describe the characteristics of coinfected people in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Integrating child health services into malaria control services of village malaria workers in remote Cambodia: service utilization and knowledge of malaria management of caregivers.

Hasegawa A, Yasuoka J, Ly P, Nguon C, Jimba M.
Malar J. 2013 Aug 23;12(1):292. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23968533

Malaria and other communicable diseases remain major threats in developing countries. In Cambodia, village malaria workers (VMWs) have been providing malaria control services in remote villages to cope with the disease threats. In 2009, the VMW project integrated child health services into the original malaria control services. However, little has been studied about the utilization of VMWs' child health services. This study aimed to identify determinants of caregivers' VMW service utilization for childhood illness and caregivers' knowledge of malaria management.

Long-term impact of community-based information, education and communication activities on food hygiene and food safety behaviors in Vietnam: a longitudinal study.

Takanashi K, Quyen DT, Le Hoa NT, Khan NC, Yasuoka J, Jimba M.
PLoS One. 2013 Aug 12;8(8):e70654. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23950978

Ingestion of contaminated water or food is a major contributor to childhood diarrhea in developing countries. In Vietnam, the use of community-based information, education and communication (IEC) activities could be a sustainable strategy to improve food hygiene and food safety behaviors. This study thus examined the long-term impact of community-based IEC activities on food hygiene and food safety behaviors.

Current salt reduction policies across gradients of inequality-adjusted human development in the WHO European region: minding the gaps.

Rodriguez-Fernandez R, Siopa M, Simpson SJ, Amiya RM, Breda J, Cappuccio FP.
Public Health Nutr. 2013 Aug 8:1-11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23924617

OBJECTIVE: To assess current salt reduction policies in countries of the WHO European Region against the backdrop of varying levels of human development adjusted for income, education and health (longevity) inequalities.
DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional study, with data gathered through systematic review of relevant databases and supplementary information provided by WHO Nutrition Counterparts.

Reliability tests and validation tests of the client satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ-8) as an index of satisfaction with childbirth-related care among Filipino women.

Matsubara C, Green J, Astorga LT, Daya EL, Jervoso HC, Gonzaga EM, Jimba M.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013 Dec 17;13:235. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24341288

Satisfaction is an important indicator of the quality of care during childbirth. Previous research found that a good environment at a health facility can increase the number of deliveries at that facility. In contrast, an unsatisfying childbirth experience could cause postpartum mental disorder. Therefore it is important to measure mothers' satisfaction with their childbirth experiences. We tested whether the eight-item Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) provided useful information about satisfaction with childbirth-related care. The government of the Philippines promotes childbirth at health facilities, so we tested the CSQ-8 in the Philippine cities of Ormoc and Palo.

Intention to seek professional psychological help among college students in Turkey: influence of help-seeking attitudes.

Seyfi F, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Otsuka K, Jimba M.
BMC Res Notes. 2013 Dec 6;6:519. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24313965

Depression rates are high among college students in Turkey, but often students do not seek mental health care. This study aimed to examine the association between attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help and intention to seek professional psychological help among such college students. We also examined the factors associated with students' professional psychological help-seeking attitudes. We conducted this cross-sectional study among 456 conveniently sampled graduate and undergraduate students in Ankara. We collected students' data using self-administered, structured questionnaires in the Turkish language and then analyzed the data using both descriptive and multivariate methods.

Development and psychometric testing of the Japanese version of the maternal breastfeeding evaluation scale.

Hongo H, Green J, Otsuka K, Jimba M.
J Hum Lact. 2013 Nov;29(4):611-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23777624

Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months after delivery is globally recommended as optimal infant feeding. However, if mothers evaluate their own breastfeeding by this standard, many might be disappointed because they fail to meet it. In contrast, the Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES) measures mothers' satisfaction with breastfeeding regardless of the duration or exclusivity of breastfeeding. The MBFES has been used in Western countries, but not in Japan.

Determining the active role of microscopists in community awareness-raising activities for malaria prevention: a cross-sectional study in Palawan, the Philippines.

Matsumoto-Takahashi EL, Tongol-Rivera P, Villacorte EA, Angluben RU, Yasuoka J, Kano S, Jimba M.
Malar J. 2013 Nov 1;12:384. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24175934

Malaria remains one of the most prevalent and fatal diseases among the inhabitants of Palawan in the Philippines. Palawan, where healthcare services remain limited, has the highest malaria endemicity in the country. To eliminate malaria, effective prevention measures should be conducted alongside early diagnosis and prompt treatment, which are the major tasks of the trained microscopists in Palawan. However, while the microscopists have implemented community awareness-raising activities aimed at preventing transmission of malaria, the nature and quality of these activities have not been evaluated. The present study identified the factors associated with the strengthening of community awareness-raising activities for malaria prevention implemented by microscopists in Palawan.

Receptivity to tobacco marketing and susceptibility to smoking among non-smoking male students in an urban setting in Lao PDR.

Saito J, Yasuoka J, Poudel KC, Foung L, Vilaysom S, Jimba M.
Tob Control. 2013 Nov;22(6):389-94. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22634572

Tobacco marketing is a contributing factor to adolescent smoking, and now targeting adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. Especially, promotional items with tobacco brand logos have a great impact on adolescent smoking. The authors evaluated whether receptivity to tobacco marketing is associated with susceptibility to smoking among non-smoking male students in Lao PDR.

Efficacy of in-service nutrition training for mid-level providers to improve feeding practices among HIV-positive children in Tanga, Tanzania: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Sunguya BF, Poudel KC, Mlunde LB, Urassa DP, Jimba M, Yasuoka J.
Trials. 2013 Oct 25;14:352. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24156500

Feeding practices and child undernutrition can be improved when trained health workers provide proper nutrition counseling to caregivers. However, this important management component is difficult to achieve in countries where trained health workers are limited; Tanzania is no exception. In rural and semi-urban areas, mid-level providers (MLPs) are left to manage diseases such as HIV/AIDS.Training health workers in nutrition has been shown to be an effective intervention among HIV-negative children elsewhere, but no studies have been conducted among HIV-positive children. Furthermore, in Tanzania and other countries with MLPs, no evidence currently exists demonstrating an improvement in nutrition among children who receive health services given by MLPs. This study thus aims to examine the efficacy of nutrition training of MLPs on feeding practices and the nutrition status of HIV-positive children in Tanga, Tanzania.

Effectiveness of nutrition training of health workers toward improving caregivers' feeding practices for children aged six months to two years: a systematic review.

Sunguya BF, Poudel KC, Mlunde LB, Shakya P, Urassa DP, Jimba M, Yasuoka J.
Nutr J. 2013 May 20;12:66. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23688174

Nutrition training of health workers can help to reduce child undernutrition. Specifically, trained health workers might contribute to this end through frequent nutrition counseling of caregivers. This may improve child-feeding practices and thus reduce the risk of undernutrition among children of counseled caregivers. Although studies have shown varied impacts of health workers' nutrition training on child feeding practices, no systematic review of the effectiveness of such intervention has yet been reported. Therefore, we conducted this study to examine the effectiveness of nutrition training for health workers on child feeding practices including feeding frequency, energy intake, and dietary diversity among children aged six months to two years.

Improved quality of life after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in Nepalese women.

Dhital R, Otsuka K, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Dangal G, Jimba M.
BMC Womens Health. 2013 May 9;13:22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23657142

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common gynecological condition that can affect quality of life (QOL) in women. In Nepal, the prevalence of POP is high, but many affected women are still deprived of treatment. Vaginal hysterectomy with pelvic floor repair is one of the common treatment options for advanced POP. However, QOL outcomes after surgery have not been reported in low-income countries. Thus, we aimed to examine changes in QOL among Nepalese women with POP after such surgery.

Mental health status among Burmese adolescent students living in boarding houses in Thailand: a cross-sectional study.

Akiyama T, Win T, Maung C, Ray P, Sakisaka K, Tanabe A, Kobayashi J, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2013 Apr 12;13:337. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23587014

In Tak province of Thailand, a number of adolescent students who migrated from Burma have resided in the boarding houses of migrant schools. This study investigated mental health status and its relationship with perceived social support among such students.

Better learning in schools to improve attitudes toward abstinence and intentions for safer sex among adolescents in urban Nepal.

Shrestha RM, Otsuka K, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Lamichhane M, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2013 Mar 20;13:22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23509909

School-based sex education is an effective medium to convey health information and skills about preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies among adolescents. However, research on school-based sex education is limited in many developing countries, including Nepal. This study thus had two main objectives: (1) to assess students' evaluation of school-based sex education, and (2) to examine the associations between students' evaluations of school-based sex education and their (a) attitudes toward abstinence and (b) intentions for safer sex.

Limited potential of school textbooks to prevent tobacco use among students grade 1-9 across multiple developing countries: a content analysis study.

Saito J, Nonaka D, Mizoue T, Kobayashi J, Jayatilleke AC, Shrestha S, Kikuchi K, Haque SE, Yi S, Ayi I, Jimba M.
BMJ Open. 2013 Feb 21;3(2). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23430601

Approximately 68,000 to 84,000 adolescents. These are numbers of adolescents who start smoking every day in developing countries. Where can we reach them to prevent their first cigarette? Schools! Especially in developing countries, the advantage of school-based education is compounding as the enrolment of children rapidly increases, and the school textbooks are the most commonly used and crucial educational resources. This is the first multi-country study to evaluate the content of school textbooks about tobacco use prevention in developing countries. The authors hope that this study contributes to seize the chance of tobacco prevention education in developing countries by improving the contents of textbooks.

At the intersection of public health and criminal justice systems

Amiya RM, Cope JE, Poudel KC, Jimba M.
Lancet. 2013 Feb 16;381(9866):534. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23415301

In this correspondence to the Lancet, we comment on the Oct 27editorial highlighting the 2012 UN report, "Sex Work and the Law in Asia and the Pacific". We commend the report and the Lancet's focus on the impacts of legal policies and systems on the health and human rights of sex workers in the context of HIV/AIDS responses. At the same time, we propose a broader consideration of how public health and criminal justice systems may intersect and sometimes collide - including criminal HIV transmission and exposure laws, punitive drug control policies, and criminalization of sexual and gender minorities.

Arsenic Exposure and Oral Cavity Lesions in Bangladesh

Syed EH, Melkonian S, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Otsuka K, Ahmed A, Islam T, Parvez F, Slavkovich V, Graziano JH, Ahsan H, Jimba M.
J Occup Environ Med. 2013;55(1):59-66. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23201591

Toxic metals have profound effects on oral health. We evaluated the effects of arsenic exposure on oral health for the first time, using data from an epidemiological study in Bangladesh. Participants with urinary arsenic levels (286.1-5000.0µg/g) were 2.90 and 2.79 times more likely to develop arsenical lesions of the gums and tongue, respectively, compared with those of urinary arsenic levels of 7.0-134.0µg/g. In summary, higher levels of arsenic exposure showed the risk of arsenical lesions of the gums and tongue. Providing safe water can shun such diseases among arsenic-affected people.

Health-related quality of life, depression, and self-esteem in adolescents with leprosy-affected parents: results of a cross-sectional study in Nepal.

N, Poudel KC, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2013 Jan 10;13:22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23305620

Leprosy patients are stigmatized in Nepalese society. Although intensive rehabilitation support is increasing by the psychological and socioeconomic support networks of leprosy-affected people and their families, these individuals have to deal with a poor quality of life and an ongoing struggle against stigma. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of parental leprosy on the well-being of adolescent children. As a result, adolescents with leprosy-affected parents had higher levels of depressive symptoms, lower levels of self-esteem, and lower HRQOL. Our results suggest that mental health support programs are necessary for adolescents with leprosy-affected parents.

World Health Assembly Agendas and trends of international health issues for the last 43 years: Analysis of World Health Assembly Agendas between 1970 and 2012

Kitamura T, Obara H, Takashima Y, Takahashi K, Inaoka K, Nagai M, Endo H, Jimba M, Sugiura Y.
Health Policy. 2013 May;110(2-3):198-206. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23295159

The World Health Organization (WHO) has the objective of attaining the highest possible level of health for all. The World Health Assembly (WHA) functions as the supreme decision-making body of the WHO. The WHA agenda have to be carefully selected to achieve the objective of the WHO since it determines the policies of the WHO. In this article, we analysed the WHA agenda items between 1970 and 2012 from the viewpoints of chronological change, categories, and relationship with major health issues milestones to provide supportive evidence to set balanced WHA agenda items in the future.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and C-reactive protein in persons with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Poudel-Tandukar K, Poudel KC., Jimba M, Kobayashi J, Johnson AC, Palmer PH.
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2013 Mar;29(3):528-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23003113

This is the first study exploring the association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) in a cohort of people infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. In this study, we discussed that a risk of having high level of inflammation (CRP >3 mg/L) may be high among HIV-positive men and women with 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] serum level of <20 ng/mL. These findings are important in that they may lead to potential new intervention strategies (e.g. supplementation, dietary changes, etc.) to increase improved health and quality of life for HIV-positive people.

Exposure to violence in relation to depressive symptoms among male and female adolescent students in Cambodia.

Yi S, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Palmer PH, Yi S, Jimba M.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2013 Mar;48(3):397-405. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22820619

In post-conflict Cambodia, adolescents continue to suffer from violence and subsequent psychological disorders. This article is written based on the first research study on adolescent health in Cambodia. It reports the high prevalence of exposure to family and community violence and addresses how the exposure might be related to poor mental health condition of adolescents in a developing country. Several potential pathways of the relationship are discussed.

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG): association between its addiction, self-control and mental disorders among young people in Vietnam.

Son DT, Yasuoka J, Poudel KC, Otsuka K, Jimba M.
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2013 Sep;59(6):570-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22718852

30 days for continuously playing MMORPG, then game room staff members bought me food, when I had fallen asleep on the keyboard. I did not shower and change clothes during that time. My mother had to pay 250 USD to take me out of the room. That's my record." An under 18 year-old boy said to me in the interview. Much of what we know about MMORPG and mental health in Vietnam comes from case reports from mental health treatment settings. This study contributes to the literature by adding information on the characteristics of MMORPG gamers and the association between their addiction and psychological status among youths in Vietnam, where limited research has been done.

Receptivity to Tobacco Marketing and Susceptibility to Smoking among Non-smoking Male Students in an Urban Setting in Lao PDR.

Saito J, Yasuoka J, Poudel KC, Foung L, Vilaysom S, Jimba M.
Tob Control. 2013 Nov;22(6):389-94. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22634572

This is rare tobacco research study in Lao PDR, a lower-middle income country in Asia. We argued that focusing only on the restriction of promotional brand items is not enough for preventing smoking among Lao male adolescents. The comprehensive ban of tobacco marketing is indeed critical. In addition, discouraging recognition of pro-tobacco messages is also strongly needed to reduce smoking susceptibility. These findings will contribute to tobacco control research in Asia. Asian countries are facing various challenges for adolescent tobacco use prevention. We need more research in this region.

Making schools healthy among Burmese migrants in Thailand.

Akiyama T, Win T, Maung C, Ray P, Kaji A, Tanabe A, Jimba M, Kobayashi J.
Health Promot Int. 2013 Jun;28(2):223-32. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22434790

In Thailand, a health-promoting school (HPS) program is in place nationwide. However, this policy has not covered Burmese migrant schools. Therefore, to ensure the feasibility of the implementation of a HPS program, we conducted evaluations and an intervention on school health in migrant schools in Thailand. We included 44 primary-level schools in the Tak province in 2008. We were able to evaluate the results of the intervention in 43 of 44 schools in the subsequent year.

2012

A call for parental monitoring to improve condom use among secondary school students in Dares Salaam, Tanzania

Mlunde LB, Poudel KC, Sunguya BF, Mbwambo JK, Yasuoka J, Otsuka K, Ubuguyu O, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):1061. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23216949

About 3.8 million young people aged 15 to 24 years were living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa alone in 2009. Even under such high toll, young people continue to engage in risky sexual behaviors including unprotected sexual intercourse. In other regions, parents have played an important role to reduce risky sexual behaviors among young people. We conducted this study in Dares Salaam to examine the parental role in reducing risky sexual behaviors among secondary school students. We found unprecedented high magnitude of risky sexual behaviors among students. We therefore called for the increase in parental monitoring as it was found to have played a significant role to improve condom use particularly among male students.

A new analytical framework of 'continuum of prevention and care' to maximize HIV case detection and retention in care in Vietnam

Fujita M, Poudel KC, Do Thi N, Bui Duc D, Nguyen Van K, Green K, Nguyen Thi Minh T, Kato M, Jacka D, Cao Thi Thanh T, Nguyen Thanh L, Jimba M.
BMC Health Services Research. 2012;12(1):483. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23272730

The global initiative 'Treatment 2.0' calls for expanding the evidence base of optimal HIV service delivery models to maximize HIV case detection and retention in care. However limited systematic assessment has been conducted in countries with concentrated HIV epidemic. We aimed to assess HIV service availability and service connectedness in Vietnam.

神馬征峰. フィールドに出よう!12 「フィールドワーカーたちの空」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(12):997-1000.

この連載も今回で最後である.フィールドでの宝探しの物語を10人のフィールドワーカーたちにこれまで語ってもらった.すべて知人ではあるが初めて聞く話も多い.どれもが私自身にとっての宝探しの旅でもあった.「フィールド」と言うことによって、外にばかり目がいっていた.フィールドワーカーたちがこれほど深い人生経験をしていたことを知らずにいた.それは私にとっての最大の反省でもあり、収穫でもあった.ただフィールドに出ているだけではいけない.フィールド経験を言葉にし、書くことによって、個々のフィールド経験は一層深化し、一定の普遍性が獲得される.そのことに気付いた.最終回、10人のフィールドワーカーたちが得た宝が何であったか?振り返ってみたい.(続きは雑誌をご覧ください)

安岡潤子. フィールドに出よう!11 「共に暮らし、心通わせ、同じ目標に向かう ―スリランカ農村の環境を活かしてマラリア予防」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(11):904-907.

人生の転機はスラム街で. 今から13年前の冬,パキスタンの商都カラチにあるスラム街を訪れた私は,長老の家でハエの浮いたミルクティーをご馳走になっていた.家畜小屋と一体になった,土壁の粗末な家.糞尿の臭いが鼻を衝く.当時私は国際環境NGOの職員として,パキスタンで環境教育を実施していた.汚水やゴミに埋もれて環境汚染が進むこのスラム街の住民のために,身近な自然を守り環境を改善する大切さを理解してもらう教材を何とか作ろうとしていた.「私たち人間の最優先課題は,動植物を守り自然と共生すること」と,いくら熱心に語りかけても,長老はこの企画に全く興味を示してくれない.ショックだった.(続きは雑誌をご覧ください)

秋山剛. フィールドに出よう!10 「困難な社会状況の中,懸命に生きる人々の姿─中米とタイ・ミャンマー国境地帯での活動経験から」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(10):819-822.

海外青年協力隊の隊員として中米のグアテマラ共和国への派遣,それが私にとって初めてのフィールド経験となった.その後,東京大学大学院に入学し,在学中は国立国際医療センターの研究協力者として,タイのミャンマー人移民社会と関わることになった.(続きは雑誌をご覧ください)

Infant feeding practices and breastfeeding duration in Japan: A review.

Inoue M, Binns CW, Otsuka K, Jimba M, Matsubara M.
Int Breastfeed J. 2012 Oct 25;7(1):15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23098220

This is the first literature review to summarize the factors associating with breastfeeding outcomes in Japan. Smoking, low birth weight of infants and maternal perceptions of insufficient breast milk supply were negative influences on breastfeeding duration, while support from partners is associated with continued breastfeeding. Unlike studies from other countries, our review found that maternal age, family income and maternal educational levels, were not associated with breastfeeding duration in Japan. To monitor risk factors of breastfeeding outcomes and to provide the basis for promoting breastfeeding, cohort studies are warranted with larger samples sizes and clear definitions of breastfeeding.

Adverse birth outcomes among native-born and foreign-born mothers in Taiwan: A population-based birth cohort study.

Shiao LW, Chiang TL.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2012 Oct 13;12(1):110. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23061518

Like other developed countries in Asia, Taiwan is a destination of immigration. Female immigrants, mainly from China and Southeast Asia, come to Taiwan as spouse of Taiwanese men. With the drop of fertility rate to 0.9 births per woman, children of immigrant women have contributed significantly to the growing share of total newborn (10%). Despite a lack of evidence, children born to foreign-born mothers are portrayed negatively as having inferior health and therefore require extra expenditure of social resources. This study provides an opposite view showing that foreign-born women do not experience worse birth outcomes regardless of the disadvantaged socioeconomic position of their families.

The quality of life and mental health status of arsenic-affected patients in a Bangladeshi population.

Syed EH, Poudel KC, Sakisaka K, Yasuoka J, Ahsan H, Jimba M.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2012 Sep;30(3):262-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23082628

Exposure to arsenic is a major public health concern worldwide, affecting 150 million people in more than 70 countries including Bangladesh. In this study, we evaluated the quality of life (QOL) and mental health status of arsenic-affected people in Araihazar, Bangladesh, where arsenic concentration levels ranging from <10µg/L to 864µg/L. Arsenic-affected patients showed lower QOL and mental health status compare with non-patients. As a result, the importance of appropriate interventions requires improving the well-being of arsenic-affected patients.

古林安希子. フィールドに出よう!9 「フィールドを楽しむための3つのポイント」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(9).

多くの読者の皆さんと違い,私は医療従事者としての資格を何も持っていない.修士課程を卒業した今は民間企業に勤務している.一修士学生としてカンボジアでの「フィールドワーク」から得られた体験談をこれから述べたい.私の学んだ国際地域保健学教室では,その2年間の課程の間に,単位取得のための講義の受講と同時に,半数ほどの修士学生が修士研究のため途上国に行き,研究テーマに沿った一次データを集める.時間と費用の関係から,ほとんどの場合,現地に滞在できるのは数週間といった短期間である.(続きは雑誌で)

大塚恵子, 齋藤順子, 神馬征峰. 「海外における健康政策の成功と失敗からの学び」.

小児内科. 2012;44(8):1274-1277.

ヘルスプロモーションを世界に広げる契機となったオタワ憲章が採択されてからすでに25年の月日が流れた.それ以前は,プライマリヘルスケア実践のために健康教育の重要性が主張されていた。ところが,健康教育によって個人の健康知識やスキルが向上しても,目的とする行動変容はなかなか起こりにくいことがある.個に対する臨床的なアプローチに限界があるなかで,個をとりまく社会環境や法の改善が行動変容に有効である,という気づきが、ヘルスプロモーションをヘルスプロモーションたらしてめてきた.(続きは雑誌を)

長谷川文. フィールドに出よう!8 「海外を自分のフィールドにするということ-ハイチの震災復興支援-歌って踊るヘルスプロモーション」. 公衆衛生. 2012;76(8).

カリブ海の島・ハイチ "来月からハイチに1年行ってくれる?" 上司から言われた時,私はハイチがどこにあるのか知らなかった.地図でやっと見つけた小さな島は,遠い世界であった.中米カリブ海の島.リゾートを思い浮かべる方も多いだろう.しかし,ハイチはそんなきらびやかな世界ではない.そんな世界からはほど遠い,現実と向き合っている国であった.(続きは雑誌を)

Perceived Family Support and Depression among People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Shrestha S, Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Kobayashi J, Pandey BD, Yasuoka J, Otsuka K, Jimba M.
J Int Assoc Physicians AIDS Care (Chic). 2012 Sep 19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22993234

Depression is a mental condition that is challenging HIV treatment among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The perception of support from family was advantageous against mental condition of chronic disease patients. We assumed that it also has beneficial effect against depression among PLWHA. Thus, we conducted this research in an Asian country, Nepal, where mental health of PLWHA is always ignored. As expected, the perception of family support has protective effect against depression among PLWHA. This finding can contribute in reducing depression among PLWHA and has opened gateways for further research on different aspects of family support.

Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) improves undernutrition among ART treated, HIV-positive children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Sunguya BF, Poudel KC, Mlunde LB, Otsuka K, Yasuoka J, Urassa DP, Mkopi NP, and Jimba M.
Nutr J 2012, 11:60. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22931107

This is the first study that examined the association between Ready-to-Use- Therapeutic-Foods (RUTF) and undernutrition among HIV-positive children under antiretroviral therapy (ART). We conducted this study against the background of unprecedented magnitude of undernutrition among HIV-positive children even when treated with ART. In this study, RUTF was associated with better underweight and wasting statuses. Moreover, children treated with RUTF for more than just four months were less likely to suffer from chronic form of undernutrition, stunting. Results of this study are important to advocate for scaling up the use of RUTF, which was also endorsed by the World Health Organization.

Promoting community kowledge and action for malaria control in rural Cambodia: potential contributions of Village Malaria Workers.

Lim S, Yasuoka J, Poudel KC, Ly P, Nguon C, Jimba M.
BMC Res Notes. 2012 Aug 3;5(1):405. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22863397

Cambodia has been investing in Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) to improve malaria case management in remote forested areas. However, few studies have assessed the quality of VMWs' services compared to those by a government-run health center from the perspective of community members. This is a pioneering study to compare malaria knowledge and actions between a village with VMWs and a village with a health center. VMWs successfully played an equivalent role as the health center in promoting malaria control. The current government policy on VMWs is reasonable and should be expanded to other villages, where malaria still remains a public health challenge.

菊池君代. フィールドに出よう!7 「フィールドワークの長い道のり-人々の顔の見える研究のために」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(7).

途上国で研究をするためにフィールドワークを計画している人の中には,所属教室の研究者の調査先でデータ収集をさせてもらう人や,あるいは,既存のプロジェクトが活動を行っている場所を研究フィールドにする人もいるだろう.一方で,特にそのようなフィールドへのリソースがなく,自ら初めてフィールドを探す必要がある人もいる.本稿では,後者のような方々に多少なりとも参考としてもらえるよう,私が大学院の研究過程で経験したルワンダでのフィールド探しと,調査実施までの道のりをご紹介したいと思う.(続きは雑誌を)

母乳育児支援コミュニケーション術.
本郷寛子・新井基子・五十嵐祐子共著. 南山堂. 2012. http://www.nanzando.com/books/50341.php

母乳育児支援にとって不可欠なコミュニケーション・スキルについてわかりやすく解説した実践ガイドです.マンガやイラストを使って、ストーリーを読みながら、母乳育児支援をするために必要な知識とコミュニケーション・スキルが自然に学べます.

Migration of Health Workers in the Pacific Islands: A Bottleneck to Health Development.

Yamamoto TS, Sunguya BF, Shiao LW, Amiya RM, Saw YM, Jimba M.
Asia Pac J Public Health. 2012 Jul;24(4):697-709. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22815302

This is a review article about the current state of human resources for health (HRH) in the Pacific Island Region. We showed that the number of countries facing critical shortages has increased, though the average density of health workers is increasing there. Migration is a critical aspect of the HRH shortage, with New Zealand and Australia as the most important destinations for health workers in this region. Although a code of practice for recruitment exists, it has not been successful to stem the brain drain. Commitments from both source and destination countries could make migration a win-win situation.

High risk of ART non-adherence and delay of ART initiation among HIV positive double orphans in Kigali, Rwanda.

Kikuchi K, Poudel KC, Muganda J, Majyambere A, Otsuka K, Sato T, Mutabazi V, Nyonsenga SP, Muhayimpundu R, Jimba M, Yasuoka J.
PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41998. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22860043

This study is one of the first to report pediatric ART adherence in Rwanda and one of the few studies which found an association of ART adherence with four types of different orphan status (double orphan, paternal orphan, maternal orphan, and non-orphan). Findings demonstrated (1) the high risk of non-adherence to ART, (2) the delay in HIV detection and ART initiation among HIV positive double orphans. This article highlighted the urgent need for particular interventions for HIV positive double orphans.

Maternal exposure to intimate partner violence and the risk of undernutrition among under-five children in Bangladesh.

Rahman M. Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Otsuka K, Yoshikawa K, Jimba.
Am J Public Health. 2012 Jul;102(7):1336-45.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22676499

Data from India provide an association between maternal physical intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, assessed through one single global question with stunting among children aged 12-35 months. Using nationally representative data from Bangladesh, our findings revealed an association between maternal exposure to physical or sexual IPV and child underweight and stunting. Our findings reinforce the evidence that improving child nutrition is an additional reason to strengthen efforts to protect women from physical and sexual IPV.

大川純代. フィールドに出よう!6 「その先で待っているのは,成長した自分と元気な子どもたち-ザンビアHIV母子感染予防に関するフィールド調査」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(6).

フィールドでのある日の午後2012年2月23日,ザンビア4度目の渡航から1週間目の午後.夏のザンビアに戻ってたちまち体調を崩した.蒸し暑い部屋で体のだるさ,喉の痛み,絶え間ない咳にじっと耐える.どうしても元気が出ない.facebookにぼやこうにも,インターネットは延々とつながらない.パソコンを開けるが,画面を眺めるばかりで少しも仕事が進まない.すると,突然夕立が来た.屋根を叩きつける大粒の雨,冷やっとした風,湿った土のにおいが五感を刺激した.目が覚めたかのように,「ここはザンビアだった.幼い子どもたちが元気に生きていけるように研究しているんだ」と実感した.(続きは雑誌で)

Sibling care, school performance, and depression among adolescent caretakers in Cambodia.

Yi S, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Palmer PH, Yi S, Yanagisawa S, Jimba M.
Asian J Psychiatr. 2012 Jun;5(2):132-6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22813655

In developing countries, number of trained health workforce is not sufficient and access to healthcare is difficult. In such situation, home-based care for young children is crucial. Previous research has found that sibling caretaking can have positive impacts on the development and well-being of the caretakers. However, sibling caretakers can be deprived of educational rights by being forced to stay at home for helping housekeeping works and taking care of their younger siblings. Sibling caretaking might, therefore, have negative impacts on school performance, which in turn affects mental health conditions of the school-age caretakers. This study is the first study to examine the negative impacts of sibling care responsibility on school performance and mental health conditions of adolescent caretakers in Cambodia.

A lifetime experience of violence and adverse reproductive outcomes: findings from population surveys in India.

Yoshikawa K, Agrawal NR, Poudel KC, Jimba M.
Biosci Trends. 2012 Jun;6(3):115-21. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22890159

Have you ever thought that violence may be related to miscarriages, abortions, or stillbirths? This study attempted to investigate the relationship between violence from partner and non-live birth outcomes using secondary data of a national sample of Indian women. And we found that women who experienced violence were more likely to experience non-live births in their lifetime. Though the evidence does not provide chronological relationship, you would learn violence is not only harmful for physical and mental health of women but also for reproductive health. This study suggests the importance of prompt actions to reduce violence towards women in India.

高橋朋子. フィールドに出よう!5 「フィールドは世界と自分に向き合う場」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(5).

もともと,国際協力に興味があった訳ではない.途上国のために汗水流して働く人は,立派だけれど所詮自分には関係ない話.約10年前の当時,日本の企業で産業保健師として働いていた私にとっては,遠い国の知らない誰かを助けるよりも,目の前の生活習慣病やメンタルヘルス対策のほうがよっぽど大きな関心事だった.その後恩師に誘われて,看護学部(地域看護学)の助手として2年間働いた.「地域保健」って奥が深くて面白いけれども,自分には現場経験が不足していると感じていた.その後,私は「国際保健」の道を歩むようになる.(続きは雑誌で)

Content Analysis of Primary and Secondary School Textbooks Regarding Malaria Control: a Multi-Country Study.

Nonaka D, Jimba M, Mizoue T, Kobayashi J, Yasuoka J, Ayi I, Jayatilleke AC, Shrestha S, Kikuchi K, Haque SE, Yi S.
PLoS ONE. 2012;7(5):e36629. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22574203

This is a unique, multi-country study that investigated the contents of textbooks used by primary and secondary school children in 9 tropical countries endemic for malaria. The textbooks examined in this study rarely addressed life skills information such as the use of insecticide-treated nets, the need for prompt treatment from a health worker, protection of children and pregnant women and recommended therapy. Improving school textbook content in accordance with a national malaria control strategy could be a key challenge in malaria endemic countries. The authors are continuously investigating textbooks, focusing on soil-transmitted helminthiasis, HIV/AIDS and tobacco use for better health education at school.

齋藤順子. フィールドに出よう!4 「公衆衛生活動の糧はフィールドワーク!-中国・青年海外協力隊で新しい自分と出会う」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(4).

私は現在,国際保健を学ぶ博士課程の学生である.修士課程からの3年間,タイとラオスでフィールド調査を行い,卒業後は日本や途上国の公衆衛生に関わる研究者となる夢を持っている.現在の研究および卒業後においても関わり続けるフィールド調査であるが,私の最初のフィールドワークは2005年にまでさかのぼる.当時,東京都内で病院看護師として働いていた私は,新しい環境で看護に関わりたいという思いを持ちながらも,今後の進路を決めかねていた.そんなある日,私は山手線の電車に乗り,なんとなしに車内広告を見上げた.(続きは雑誌で)

高橋競. フィールドに出よう!3 「フィールドは辛くて,とても面白い-コロンビアJICA長期専門家としての地雷被災者支援」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(3).

なぜフィールドへ行ったのか?理学療法士として日本国内で働いていた私が「フィールド」という言葉を意識するようになったのは,国内外の障害者に優しい社会づくりに貢献したいと国際保健の道を志してからだ.メキシコの田舎で地域に根ざしたリハビリテーションを成功させたデビッド・ワーナー氏に憧れていたこともあり,途上国という「フィールド」で,障害者を取り巻く環境のダイナミックな変化を肌で感じることができるのではないかと思っていたのである.(続きは雑誌で)

野中大輔. フィールドに出よう!2 「沈黙は罪なり-ガーナでの寄生虫対策」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(2).

沈黙は罪?「あなたはこの会議に何も貢献していない!」と,ガーナ人のプロジェクトリーダーから叱責されたのは,私がガーナに着いてから約1週間が過ぎた日のことであった.その日は,毎月1回開かれるプロジェクトの定例会議に出席していた.プロジェクトメンバーが集まり,活動の進捗や計画を発表する会議である.なぜ叱責されたのか.会議中,私は全く発言しなかったからである.英語で議論されている内容が理解できなかった訳ではない.他の出席者が私と同じ意見を述べていたし,話し合われていた議題は自分が関わっていない活動に関することであったから,私は沈黙していたのである.(続きは雑誌で)

神馬征峰. フィールドに出よう!1 「フィールドワークは宝さがし」.

公衆衛生. 2012;76(1).

フィールドに出よう!と言ったはいいものの、「フィールドって何?」っと、ここで躓くとなかなか先には進めない。単に「現地」とか「現場」といってもよいのかもしれない。ところが、例えば、日本文化人類学会の発行している「フィールドワーカーズ・ハンドブック」(1)をその調子で訳すと「現場労働者の手引書」となってしまう。人類学に限らず、多くの研究者や実践家は、たぶん、この「現場労働者」という響きを嫌う。差別、かもしれない。が、国際保健の分野でも、研究室の外にでて海外で活動をする際は、フィールドという言葉の響きの方・・・・・(続きは雑誌をご覧ください)

母親が「できる!」と思える母乳育児支援:母親が支えられ,自分もできると思う支援.

本郷寛子. 助産雑誌. 2012;66(1):34-40.

母親が困難を乗り越えて母乳育児を継続することと自己効力感には,関係があることがわかっています.ここでは,母親の自己効力感を高めるコミュニケーション・スキルと,母親が自分でできるようになる支援について学びます.

Scale-up of community-based malaria control can be achieved without degrading community health workers' service quality: the Village Malaria Worker project in Cambodia.

Yasuoka J, Poudel KC, Ly P, Nguon C, Socheat D, Jimba M.
Malar J. 2012 Jan 4; 11:4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22217322

A girl was born deaf in rural Cambodia. Despite her disability, she always wanted to help people who suffered from infectious diseases in her village, where there were no health facilities. Now, she works as a Village Malaria Worker (VMW) and is helping villagers prevent and control malaria. -- The Cambodian government is promoting malaria control in rural villages by training residents to become VMWs. This article evaluates if and how the project has been expanded effectively nationwide.

2011

High rate of unintended pregnancies after knowing of HIV infection among HIV positive women under antiretroviral treatment in Kigali, Rwanda.

Kikuchi K, Wakasugi N, Poudel KC, Sakisaka K, Jimba M.
Biosci Trends. 2011 Dec; 5(6): 255-63. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22281539

Undernutrition among HIV-positive children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: antiretroviral therapy alone is not enough.

Sunguya BF, Poudel KC, Otsuka K, Yasuoka J, Mlunde LB, Urassa DP, Mkopi NP, Jimba M.
BMC Public Health. 2011 Nov 16; 11: 869. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22087543

Quality of antenatal care services in the Birim North District of Ghana: contribution of the community-based health planning and services program.

Naariyong S, Poudel KC, Rahman M, Yasuoka J, Otsuka K, Jimba M.
Matern Child Health J. 2011 Sep 14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21915678

Physicians are a key to encouraging cessation of smoking among people living with HIV/AIDS: a cross-sectional study in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Amiya RM, Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Kobayashi J, Pandey BD, Jimba M. BMC Public Health. 2011 Aug 31; 11: 677. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21878132

Knowing the consequences of unprotected sex with seroconcordant partner is associated with increased safer sex intentions among HIV-positive men in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Nakahara S, Yasuoka J, Jimba M. J Health Popul Nutr. 2011 Jun; 29(3): 191-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21766554

Non-communicable diseases in southeast Asia.

Poudel KC, Fujita M, Green K, Poudel-Tandukar K, Jimba M. Lancet. 2011 Jun 11; 377(9782): 2004-5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21665034

Content analysis of school textbooks on health topics: a systematic review.

Nomoto M, Nonaka D, Mizoue T, Kobayashi J, Jimba M. Biosci Trends. 2011; 5(2): 61-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21572249

Perceived social support and the psychological well-being of AIDS orphans in urban Kenya.

Okawa S, Yasuoka J, Ishikawa N, Poudel KC, Ragi A, Jimba M. AIDS Care. 2011 Sep; 23(9):1177-85.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21500024

Social capital and life satisfaction: a cross-sectional study on persons with musculoskeletal impairments in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Takahashi K, Nguyen TM, Poudel KC, Sakisaka K, Jimba M, Yasuoka J.BMC Public Health. 2011 Apr 1; 11: 206.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21457544

Human Security Approaches for Disaster Recovery and Resilience.

Jimba M, Hubbard S, Sase E, Suzuki T, Otsuka K. Japan Medical Association Journal. 2011; 54(5): 338-41.
http://www.med.or.jp/english/journal/pdf/2011_05/338_341.pdf

2010

Is staying overnight in a farming hut a risk factor for malaria infection in a setting with insecticide-treated bed nets in rural Laos?

Nonaka D, Laimanivong S, Kobayashi J, Chindavonsa K, Kano S, Vanisaveth V, Yasuoka J, Phompida S, Jimba M. Malar J. 2010 Dec 23; 9: 372.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21176242

Reliability and validity of a Nepalese version of the Kiddo-KINDL in adolescents.

Yamaguchi N, Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Shakya D, Ravens-Sieberer U, Jimba M. Biosci Trends. 2010 Aug; 4(4): 178-85.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20811137

Role of risk and protective factors in risky sexual behavior among high school students in Cambodia.

Yi S, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Palmer PH, Yi S, Jimba M. BMC Public Health. 2010 Aug 12; 10(1): 477.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20701808

Intimate partner violence in Sri Lanka.

Jayatilleke AC, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Jayatilleke AU, Jimba M. Biosci Trends. 2010 Jun; 4(3): 90-5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20592458

Sibling caregiving among children orphaned by AIDS: synthesis of recent studies for policy implications.

Yanagisawa S, Poudel KC, Jimba M. Health Policy. 2010 Jun 28; 98(2-3): 121-30.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20591529

Intimate partner violence among general and urban poor populations in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Oshiro A, Poudyal AK, Poudel KC, Jimba M, Hokama T. J Interpers Violence. 2011 Jul; 26(10): 2073-92.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20587461

Traffic rule violations of private bus drivers and bus crashes in Sri Lanka: a case-control study.

Jayatilleke AU, Poudel KC, Nakahara S, Dharmaratne SD, Jayatilleke AC, Jimba M. Traffic Inj Prev. 2010 Jun; 11(3): 263-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20544570

Changing poor mothers' care-seeking behaviors in response to childhood illness: findings from a cross-sectional study in Granada, Nicaragua.

Sakisaka K, Jimba M, Hanada K. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2010 Jun 1; 10:10.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20515485

Wives' attitudes toward gender roles and their experience of intimate partner violence by husbands in Central Province, Sri Lanka.

Jayatilleke A, Poudel KC, Sakisaka K, Yasuoka J, Jayatilleke AU, Jimba M.J Interpers Violence. 2011 Feb; 26(3): 414-32.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20448234

Correlates of sharing injection equipment among male injecting drug users in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Yasuoka J, Joshi AB, Jimba M. Int J Drug Policy. 2010 Nov; 21(6): 507-10.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20413289

Assessing the quality of service of village malaria workers to strengthen community-based malaria control in Cambodia.

Yasuoka J, Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Nguon C, Ly P, Socheat D, Jimba M. Malar J. 2010 Apr 23; 9: 109.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20412600

School-based participatory health education for malaria control in Ghana: engaging children as health messengers.

Ayi I, Nonaka D, Adjovu JK, Hanafusa S, Jimba M, Bosompem KM, Mizoue T, Takeuchi T, Boakye DA, Kobayashi J. Malar J. 2010 Apr 18; 9: 98.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20398416

Rapid increase in Japanese life expectancy after World War II.

Sugiura Y, Ju YS, Yasuoka J, Jimba M. Biosci Trends. 2010 Feb; 4(1): 9-16.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20305339

2009

Unsafe Sexual Behaviors among HIV-positive Men in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Poudel KC, Nakahara S, Poudel-Tandukar K, Yasuoka J, Jimba M. AIDS Behav. 2009; 13: 1143-50
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18770024

Screening for intimate partner violence.

Jayatilleke A, Poudel KC, Jimba M. JAMA. 2009; 302: 2434.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19996396

Influencing factors for seeking HIV voluntary counseling and testing among tuberculosis patients in Cambodia.

Yi S, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Ichikawa M, Tan V, Jimba M. AIDS Care. 2009; 21: 529-34.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19401868

Health promoting schools in urban, semi-urban and rural Lao PDR.

Yoshimura N, Jimba M, Poudel KC, Chanthavisouk C, Iwamoto A, Phommasack B, Saklokham K. Health Promot Int. 2009; 24:166-76.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19244283

Survey of food hygiene practices at home and childhood diarrhoea in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Takanashi K, Chonan Y, Quyen DT, Khan NC, Poudel KC, Jimba M. J Health Popul Nutr. 2009; 27:602-11.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19902795

Working conditions of bus drivers in the private sector and bus crashes in Kandy district, Sri Lanka: A case-control study.

Jayatilleke AU, Nakahara S, Dharmaratne SD, Silva AC, Poudel KC, Jimba M. Inj Prev. 2009; 15: 80-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19346419

Public and private sector treatment of malaria in Lao PDR.

Nonaka D, Vongseththa K, Kobayashi J, Bounyadeth S, Kano S, Phompida S, Jimba M. Acta Trop. 2009; 112: 283-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19683502

The relationship between trust in mass media and the healthcare system and individual health: evidence from the Asia Barometer Survey.

Tokuda Y, Fujii S, Jimba M, Inoguchi T. BMC Med. 2009; 7:4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19161600

Interpersonal trust and quality-of-life: a cross-sectional study in Japan.

Tokuda Y, Jimba M, Yanai H, Fujii S, Inoguchi T. PLoS One. 2008; 3: e3985.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19096704

Hidden criteria for out-of-home day-care centre admission in Pokhara, Nepal: a longitudinal observational study.

Nakahara S, Poudel KC, Lopchan M, Ichikawa M, Poudel OR, Poudel-Tandukar K, Yoshida K.
Early Child Dev Care. 2009; Doi: 10.1080/03004430802525021

Can National Medical Association Journals Make Greater Contributions to Global Health? An international survey and comparison.

Hamamoto M, JImba M, Halstead DD, Wyshak G, Reich MR. Japan Medical Association Journal. 2009;.52(4): 243-58.
http://www.med.or.jp/english/journal/pdf/2009_04/243_258.pdf

「第5章 グローバル化する世界と公衆衛生」 『公衆衛生-健康支援と社会保障制度[2]』(第12版)

神馬征峰、奥野ひろみ、芦野由利子. 医学書院.

2008

Primary health care must go beyond WHO.

Jimba M, Yasuoka J, Sakisaka K, Poudel KC. Lancet. 2008; 372: 887.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18790301

Working group on challenges in global health and Japan's contribution. Human security approach for global health.

Takemi K, Jimba M, Ishii S, Katsuma Y, Nakamura Y, Lancet. 2008; 372: 13-4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18603145

Domestic violence against women in Nepal.

Poudel-Tandukar K, Poudel KC, Yasuoka J, Eto T, Jimba M. Lancet. 2008; 371:1664.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18486738

International nutrition training for local action.

Sakisaka K, Jimba M. Lancet. 2008; 371: 1752.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18502298

The relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and perceived insufficient milk among Japanese mothers.

Otsuka K, Dennis CL, Tatsuoka H, Jimba M. .J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2008; 37: 546-55.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18811774

School and community health project: Part 1: a community development and health project in Nepal.

Jimba M, Poudel-Tandukar K, Poudel KC. JMAJ. 2008; 51: 225-34.

Malaria education from school to community in Oudomxay province, Lao PDR.

Nonaka D, Kobayashi J, Jimba M, Vilaysouk B, Tsukamoto K, Kano S, Phommasack B, Singhasivanon P, Waikagul J, Tateno S, Takeuchi T. Parasitol Int. 2008; 57: 76-82.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17980652

Prenatal iron supplementation in rural Vietnam.

Aikawa R, Jimba M, Nguen KC, Binns CW. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2008; 62: 946-52.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17522600

School and Community Health Project: Part 1: A community development and health project in Nepal.

Masamine J, Poudel-Tandukar K, Poudel KC.Japan Medical Association Journal. Vol.51, No.4, 2008, pp.225-34.
http://www.med.or.jp/english/journal/pdf/2008_04/225_234.pdf

2007

Beyond deworming: the promotion of school-health-based interventions by Japan.

Kobayashi J, Jimba M, Okabayashi H, Singhasivanon P, Waikagul J. Trends Parasitol. 2007; 23: 25-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17134943

Reaching hard-to-reach migrants by letters: an HIV/AIDS awareness programme in Nepal.

Poudel KC, Jimba M, Poudel-Tandukar K, Wakai S. Health Place. 2007; 13: 173-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16427348

AIDS health beliefs and intention for sexual abstinence among male adolescent students in Kathmandu, Nepal: a test of perceived severity and susceptibility.

Iriyama S, Nakahara S, Jimba M, Ichikawa M, Wakai S. Public Health. 2007; 121: 64-72.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17166535

The influence of economic factors on the location of birth among Palestinian women in Bethlehem during the second Palestinian uprising.

Fujiya R, Jimba M, Giacaman R, Nakahara S, Ichikawa M, Wakai S. Trop Doct. 2007; 37: 13-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17326879

Compensation for avian influenza cleanup.

Kanamori S, Jimba M. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007; 13: 341-2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17479909

Hard-to-reach populations in Japan.

Nomura Y, Poudel KC, Jimba M. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2007; 38: 325-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17539282

A challenge for monitoring iodine deficiency disorders in rural Nepal.

Jimba M, Aitken IW, Joshi AB, Ohashi T, Poudyal AK, Wakai S. Trop Doct. 2007; 37: 106-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17540096

Conflict induced internal displacement in Nepal.

Singh S, Sharma SP, Mills E, Poudel KC, Jimba M. Med Confl Surviv. 2007; 23: 103-10.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17542185

HIV superinfection: another reason to avoid serosorting practice.

Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Yasuoka J, Jimba M. Lancet. 2007; 370: 23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17617257

Risk perception, road behavior and pedestrian injury among adolescent students in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Poudel-Tandukar K, Nakahara S, Ichikawa M, Poudel KC, Jimba M. Inj Prev. 2007; 13: 258-63.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17686937

Perceptions towards preventive behaviours against HIV transmission among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Poudel KC, Nakahara S, Poudel-Tandukar K, Jimba M. Public Health. 2007; 121: 958-61.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17606279

2006

Targeting newly enrolled low-age school children for the control of the intestinal helminth infection in rural Nepal.

Poudyal AK, Jimba M, Silwal RC, Murakami I, Sherchand JB, Wakai S. Trop Doct. 2006; 36: 16-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16483421

Keys to success for a school-based malaria control program in primary schools in Thailand.

Okabayashi H, Thongthien P, Singhasvanon P, Waikagul J, Looareesuwan S, Jimba M, Kano S, Kojima S, Takeuchi T, Kobayashi J, Tateno S. Parasitol Int. 2006; 55: 121-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16406685

Availability of childcare support and nutritional status of children of non-working and working mothers in urban Nepal.

Nakahara S, Poudel KC, Lopchan M, Ichikawa M, Poudel-Tandukar K, Jimba M, Wakai S. Am J Hum Biol. 2006; 18: 169-81.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16493631

Nutritional status and associated factors in children aged 0-23 months in Granada, Nicaragua.

Sakisaka K, Wakai S, Kuroiwa C, Cuadra Flores L, Kai I, Mercedes Aragon M, Hanada K. Public Health. 2006; 120: 400-11.

Cross-cultural use of the predetermined scale cutoff points in refugee mental health research.

Ichikawa M, Nakahara S, Wakai S. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2006; 41: 248-50.

Use of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria in an emergency situation after the flood disaster in Mozambique.

Hashizume M, Kondo H, Murakami T, Kodama M, Nakahara S, Lucas ME, Wakai S. Public Health. 2006; 120: 444-7.

Effect of post-migration detention on mental health among Afghan asylum seekers in Japan.

Ichikawa M, Nakahara S, Wakai S. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2006; 40: 341-6.

New professionalism in the 21st century.

Jimba M. Lancet. 2006; 367: 648-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16503458

Oral health status of vulnerable groups in a village of the Central Highlands, southern Vietnam.

Uetani M, Jimba M, Kaku T, Ota K, Wakai S. Int J Dent Hyg. 2006; 4: 72-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16637908

Aid for Africa: listen to women leaders.

Jimba M, Sakisaka K, Hanada K. Lancet. 2006; 367: 1729.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16731266

Why do adult women in Vietnam take iron tablets?

Aikawa R, Jimba M, Nguen KC, Zhao Y, Binns CW, Lee MK. BMC Public Health. 2006; 6: 144.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16753068

Relationship between mechanisms and activities at the time of pedestrian injury and activity limitation among school adolescents in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Poudel-Tandukar K, Nakahara S, Ichikawa M, Poudel KC, Wakai S. Accid Anal Prev. 2006; 38: 1058-63.

Unintentional injuries among school adolescents in Kathmandu, Nepal: a descriptive study.

Poudel-Tandukar K, Nakahara S, Ichikawa M, Poudel KC, Joshi AB, Wakai S. Public Health. 2006; 120: 641-9.

Improving immunization services under the armed conflict in rural Nepal.

Silwal RC, Jimba M, Poudyal AK, Poudel KC, Wakai S.Public Health. 2006; 120: 805-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16879846

Emerging co-infection of HIV and hepatitis B virus in far western Nepal.

Poudel KC, Jimba M, Okumura J, Wakai S. Trop Doct. 2006; 36: 186-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16884638

AIDS and human rights research.

Poudel KC, Jimba M, Wakai S. Trop Doct. 2006; 36: 191-2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16884643

Effects of a long-term volunteer surgical program in a developing country: the case in Vietnam from 1993 to 2003.

Uetani M, Jimba M, Niimi T, Natsume N, Katsuki T, Xuan le TT, Wakai S. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2006; 43: 616-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16986994

Magazine information on safety belt use for pregnant women and young children.

Nakahara S, Ichikawa M, Wakai S. Accid Anal Prev. 2007; 39: 356-63.

Assessment of IDD problem by estimation of urinary iodine among school children.

Joshi AB, Banjara MR, Bhatta LR, Rikimaru T, Jimba M. Nepal Med Coll J. 2006; 8: 111-4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17017401

HIV/AIDS vulnerability of Nepali migrants to India: whose concern?

Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Jimba M. Lancet. 2006; 368: 1648.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17098079

Intimate-partner violence.

Jayatilleke A, Poudel KC, Jimba M. Lancet. 2006; 368: 1765.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17113414

Increase of 'Health and Human Rights' Research Articles in Japan.

Jimba M, Nomura Y, Poudel KC, Fujiya R, Wakai S.Japan Medical Association Journal. 2005; 48(11): 545-9.
http://www.med.or.jp/english/journal/pdf/2005_11/545_549.pdf

School Health Research in Low-Income Countries in East Asia and the Pacific.

Jimba M, Poudel KC, Poudel-Tandukar K, Wakai S. Japan Medical Association Journal. 2005; 48(4): 168-74.
http://www.med.or.jp/english/journal/pdf/2005_04/168_174.pdf

Before 2006

List of publications 1992-2006.pdf

日本語文献