BACKGROUND Weight loss is challenging and maintenance of weight loss is problematic among midlife and older rural women. Finding effective interventions using innovative delivery methods that can reach underserved and vulnerable populations of overweight and obese rural women is a public health challenge. METHODS/DESIGN This Women Weigh-In for Wellness (The WWW study) randomized-controlled tr...

Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia predict poor pregnancy outcome, foetal adiposity and insulin resistance. In India amongst practicing clinicians and policy makers there is little appreciation of widespread vitamin B12 deficiency. We investigated 163 (86 rural, 77 urban) pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in a rural health centre and a referral hospital in the cit...

BACKGROUND The quickening pace of change and adoption of western lifestyles by people in developing countries has led to a sharp rise in the incidence of hypertension. Yet epidemiological studies using validated methods are rare especially in Central Africa. METHODS The prevalence of hypertension, according to the World Health Organization definition (systolic blood pressure [SBP] > or = 160,...

INTRODUCTION Breastfeeding provides health benefits to infants and mothers, yet many women decide against breastfeeding. This study examined differences in the prevalence of breastfeeding among national, urban, rural, and Appalachian regions of the USA. METHODS Secondary data analysis of the US 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (n=27 388) data were completed for prevalence, insurance ...

Over the last 30 years, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including stroke and myocardial infarction, have increased in developing countries. Serum lipids and diet of the Fulani, a rural Nigerian population, were previously studied. Despite their consumption of a diet rich in saturated fat, the overall blood lipid profiles of Fulani men and women are generally favourable. However, Fulani males in...

The nature, impact, and treatment of substance use during pregnancy are well described for women living in urban settings. Less is known about pregnant substance-using women living in rural communities. The objective of this review is to describe the existing evidence for the management of substance use in pregnant women living in rural areas. A systematic review of the literature was conducted...

OBJECTIVE To describe the changes in bulk-billing and out-of-pocket costs for Australian general practice consultations over the period 1995-2001. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of 1996-2001 survey data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH), linked with Medicare and Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) data on general practice consultations from 1995 to 2001. PART...

OBJECTIVE To compare the level of knowledge on reproductive health among urban and rural women of selected area of Bangladesh. MATERIALS AND METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken among 200 women selected purposively from different rural and urban areas of Bangladesh. Data were collected using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire by face to face intervi...

OBJECTIVE Dietary factors seem to play a major role in esophageal carcinogenesis in Golestan Province, a high-incidence area for esophageal cancer in northern Iran. The current study was conducted to evaluate previous reports on severe deficiency of vitamin intake in Golestan. METHODS Using a food frequency questionnaire, food intake data were collected from 30,463 healthy participants in the...