Kazuhiko Moji

Nagasaki University · Graduate School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health

Objective: This study describes the folk beliefs of elderly people living in Kume Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and clarifies their relationship with life history, ikigai (reasons for living), and the number of children. Methods: Interviews were made for 9 men and 18 women aged 69 to 96 years old on their belief on Hinukan (god of fire), Totom...

Background: Current reports suggest a positive association between spirituality and quality of life (QoL) in elders. While most studies are qualitative studies and there has been little validation in quantitative studies using scales to measure spirituality. Hence, we aimed to study the effect of spirituality on mental health and QoL in older peopl...

Introduction In the context of collective efforts taken in Japan to control the spread of COVID-19, the state of emergency and social distancing have caused a negative impact on the mental health of all residents, including foreign communities in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the level of anxiety and its associated factors among non-Japanese...

Snakebite envenoming is a potentially life-threatening global public health issue with Bangladesh having one of the highest rates of snakebite cases. The Bede, a nomadic ethnic group in Bangladesh, traditionally engages in snake-related business such as snake charming. The Bede relies on their own ethnomedicinal practitioners for snakebite treatmen...

Background Some researchers have highlighted the need to integrate spirituality into the definition of health, as they have found a positive relationship between spirituality and quality of life (QoL). Hence, we aim to ascertain the effect of spirituality on mental health and QoL in older people residing in Kumejima Town in Japan. Methods We conduc...

Background Acute diarrhea is a common health problem in children, especially those under five years of age (U5). The mortality rate due to acute diarrhea among U5 children accounted for 11% in Lao PDR in 2016. No study has been done to investigate the etiologic pathogens of acute diarrhea and the risk factors associated with dehydration status amon...

Introduction: The Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) guideline was issued and applied in 2013 by the Japanese Medical Association. Since being issued, the NIPT practice in Japan still has some problems related to indication, access, cost coverage and uniformity. Therefore, our study aimed to identify the Japanese challenges of adopting NIPT into...

Background Students face hardships in determining what are the main points that need more studying in every subject. Checklists are one of the ways that can help students identify the most important pieces of information. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed at examining the impact of using educational checklists on the learning process of postgrad...

Background: Students face hardships in determining what are the main points that need more studying in every subject. Checklists are one of the ways that can help students identify the most important pieces of information. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed at examining the impact of using educational checklists on the learning process of postgra...

Background Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. Methods This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs from...

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. Methods: This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs fro...

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. Methods: This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs fro...

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. Methods: This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs fro...

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. Methods: This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs fro...

Background

Abstract Background Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the prepared-ness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. Methods This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital...

Background Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. Methods This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs from F...

Background Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. Methods This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs from F...

Background Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the prepared�ness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. Methods This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs from...

Background

Background

Background Village health volunteers (VHVs) are responsible for providing primary care in the communities of Laos. Unlike other districts, in Xepon more than 90% of VHVs are male and therefore experience difficulties interacting with pregnant women. To improve outreach to pregnant women, especially among ethnic minorities, a new project was impleme...

Introduction Tungiasis is a ectopic skin disease caused by some species of fleas in the Tunga genus, most notably T. penetrans . The disease afflicts poor and marginalized communities in developing countries. Transmission of tungiasis comprises a complex web of factors including domesticated animals and wildlife. This research explores animal and e...

Background Southeast Asia is experiencing a health transition, where non-communicable diseases (NCD) are exceeding communicable diseases. Despite NCDs accounting for roughly 60–85% of deaths in the region, many developing Southeast Asian countries are beginning to address the impacts of a physically inactive lifestyle for the first time. Our study...

This article demonstrates the nature of infectious diseases; the invasion of the human body by pathogens and the subsequent spread of the pathogens in the societies; modes of transmission and the kinds of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs); and cluster infections with special reference to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Control of COVID-19 is difficu...

Background: This study investigated alcohol consumption prevalence among adolescents in school settings in Lao People's Democratic Republic and identified factors associated with alcohol consumption to establish better school-based interventions. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires containing items assessing alcohol drinking behaviour and...

Background Home delivery (HD) without skilled birth attendants (SBAs) are considered crucial risk factors increasing maternal and child mortality rates in Loa PDR. While a few studies in the literature discuss the choice of delivery in remote areas of minority ethnic groups; our work aims to identify factors that indicated their delivery place, at...

Digitalization of health information can assist patient information management and improve health services even in low middle-income countries. We have implemented a mother and child health registration system in the study areas of Kenya and Lao PDR to evaluate barriers to digitalization. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 healthcare workers...

A pandemic is defined as an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people. Pandemics have occurred throughout human history and appear to be increasing because of rising emergence of viral diseases from animals (zoonoses). The risk of a pandemic arises from t...

Background While patients’ satisfaction is a barometer for healthcare quality, Myanmar did not do enough to assess the antenatal care (ANC) satisfaction. Objective In this study, we aim to assess the satisfaction level of pregnant women with ANC services provided by a public hospital in Myanmar. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with...

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic helminthiasis caused by the migrating larvae of Toxocara canis and T. cati, common roundworms of dogs and cats. Our previous study in Savannakhet Province of Lao PDR showed an infection rate of 44.1% of Toxocara spp. in dogs. Thus, we investigate if this previous high prevalence in the definitive hosts influenced the occu...

Background: Malaria is an endemic disease especially in tropical areas transmitted by Anopheles mosquito through their bites. Therefore, bednets are one of the best methods for protection against their bites. However, many regions have limited access to bednets and limited knowledge about their importance. Objectives: Primary objectives were to est...

Omran (1971) explained the three stages of epidemiological transition starting from 1) the era of pestilence and famine to 3) the degenerative and man-made diseases via 2) the era of receding pandemics. Studies on demographic and health transition after Omran focused mainly on 1) acute infectious diseases in the era of high mortality and high ferti...

Background Nodding syndrome (NS), is an unexplained form of epilepsy which leads to stunted growth, cognitive decline, and a characteristic nodding of the head. Current data about its impact on households in Uganda is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to assess the economic burden of the persistent morbidity of NS on caregivers in affected househo...

This paper argues the effectiveness of Ecohealth education for improving the quality of health and environmental education and for achieving sustainable development in developing countries. To illustrate the need for Ecohealth education, we review the transitions in health education, environmental education and Education for Sustainable Development...

Myanmar has launched an advanced tuberculosis examination policy, which involves specimen exchanges among clinics and referral laboratories. However, with the current paper-based operation, it is difficult to trace information accurately. Therefore, since April 2017, we introduced a pilot operation consisting of an electronic health information sys...

Background: Although protocol registration of systematic reviews/meta-analysis (SR/MA) is still not mandatory, it is highly recommended that authors publish their SR/MA protocols prior to submitting their manuscripts for publication as recommended by the Cochrane guidelines for conducting SR/MAs. our aim was to assess the awareness, obstacles, and...

In recent years, the proliferation of small-scale enterprises based on sales of edible swiftlets’ nests harvested in peat swamp forests in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia has occurred. This study focuses on enterprises that might offer a promising opportunity as a user-side financing system for payments for ecosystem services (PES) to balance forest...

This study aimed to develop a Laotian adolescent version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), determine its reliability and validity, and examine its factorial properties. The study targeted at 7,554 students in lower secondary schools and teacher training colleges in Lao PDR. Self-administered questionnaires were colle...

Background: Southeast Asia is experiencing a health transition where non-communicable diseases (NCD) are exceeding communicable diseases. Despite NCDs accounting for roughly 60-85% of deaths in the region, many developing Southeast Asian countries are beginning to address the impacts of a physically inactive lifestyle for the first time. Our study...

Mosquito-borne infections often have concerted peaks, or are synchronous, across landscapes. This phenomenon might be driven by vector responses to similar environmental conditions that synchronize their abundance. While adult mosquito populations can be synchronous over spatial scales ranging from a few meters to a few kilometers, little to nothin...

Background Although protocol registration of systematic reviews/meta-analysis (SR/MA) is still not mandatory, authors are strongly suggested to publish their SR/MA protocols prior to submitting their manuscripts for publication as recommended by the Cochrane guidelines for conducting SR/MAs. We aimed to assess awareness, obstacles, and opinions of...

Background: Although protocol registration of systematic reviews/meta-analysis (SR/MA) is still not mandatory, authors are strongly suggested to publish their SR/MA protocols prior to submitting their manuscripts for publication as recommended by the Cochrane guidelines for conducting SR/MAs. We aimed to assess awareness, obstacles, and opinions of...

Background: Although protocol registration of systematic reviews/meta-analysis (SR/MA) is still not mandatory, it is highly recommended that authors publish their SR/MA protocols prior to submitting their manuscripts for publication as recommended by the Cochrane guidelines for conducting SR/MAs. our aim was to assess the awareness, obstacles, and...

Background: Although protocol registration of systematic reviews/meta-analysis (SR/MA) is still not mandatory, authors are strongly suggested to publish their SR/MA protocols prior to submitting their manuscripts for publication as recommended by the Cochrane guidelines for conducting SR/MAs. We aimed to assess awareness, obstacles, and opinions of...

Background: Although protocol registration of systematic reviews/meta-analysis (SR/MA) is still not mandatory, it is highly recommended that authors publish their SR/MA protocols prior to submitting their manuscripts for publication as recommended by the Cochrane guidelines for conducting SR/MAs. our aim was to assess the awareness, obstacles, and...

Background: Although protocol registration of systematic reviews/meta-analysis (SR/MA) is still not mandatory, authors are strongly suggested to publish their SR/MA protocols prior to submitting their manuscripts for publication as recommended by the Cochrane guidelines for conducting SR/MAs. We aimed to assess awareness, obstacles, and opinions of...

Plasmodium knowlesi (Pk) is a malaria parasite that naturally infects macaque monkeys in Southeast Asia. Pk malaria, the zoonosis transmitted from the infected monkeys to the humans by Anopheles mosquito vectors, is now a serious health problem in Malaysian Borneo. To create a strategic plan to control Pk malaria, it is important to estimate the oc...

Mosquito surveillance is a fundamental component of planning and evaluating vector control programmes. However, logistical and cost barriers can hinder the implementation of surveillance, particularly in vector-borne disease-endemic areas and in outbreak scenarios in remote areas where the need is often most urgent. The increasing availability and...

The bamboo mosquito, Tripteroides bambusa (Yamada) (Diptera: Culicidae), is a common insect across East Asia. Several studies have looked at the ecology of Tr. bambusa developmental stages separately, but little is known about the factors associated with the persistence (how often) and abundance (how many individuals) of Tr. bambusa stages simultan...

Health is commonly experienced and understood in a variety of ways, including the absence of disease, but also more positively, as functional vitality or as a resource. Scholarly debates about the definition have evolved around a binary opposition between health as a natural phenomenon and health as a socially constructed category. However, when ex...

One of the characteristics of human populations in the Anthropocene is longevity. This is an outcome of the health and mortality transitions. All the countries will face the longevity challenges in Anthropocene, although there has been and will continue to be a potential threat of premature death or human extinction due to natural or man-made disas...

Background Border malaria in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia poses a serious threat to the health of the ethnic minority populations of the region. Traditionally thought to be caused primarily by the malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, recently a zoonotic parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi, has been identified in so...

Background Studies that used activity space to assess built environmental exposure have gained increasing popularity in public health research. However, all those studies were conducted only in urban areas in developed countries. Rural residents have different activity patterns than their counterparts in urban areas. Furthermore, experts in physica...

Most part of Southeast Asia is considered endemic for human-infecting Taenia tapeworms; Taenia solium, T. saginata, and T. asiatica. However, until now there was no report of the occurrence of human cases of T. asiatica in Lao PDR. This study, conducted in Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR, microscopically examined a total of 470 fecal samples by Kato...

The bamboo mosquito, Tripteroides bambusa (Yamada) (Diptera: Culicidae), is a common insect across forested landscapes in Japan. Several studies have reported its overwintering as larvae and eggs, in both natural and artificial water containers. Nevertheless, it is unclear how sensitive this mosquito species is to changes in weather patterns associ...

The Asian Bush Mosquito, Aedes (Finlaya) japonicus japonicus (Theobald) is an important globally invasive mosquito species. In comparison with other major invasive mosquitoes, relatively little is known about Ae. j. japonicus population dynamics in the field. Here, we present results from a 54-biweek long study of Ae. j. japonicus abundance in ovit...

Dogs have been bred since ancient times for companionship, hunting, protection, shepherding and other human activities. Some canine helminth parasites can cause significant clinical diseases in humans as Opisthorchis viverrini causing cholangiocarci-noma in Southeast Asian Countries. In this study, socio-cultural questionnaire, canine parasitologic...

The bamboo mosquito, Tripteroides bambusa (Yamada) (Diptera: Culicidae), is a mosquito species ubiquitous across forested landscapes in Japan. During 2014 we sampled adult mosquitoes from May to November using a sweep net in Nagasaki, Japan. We recorded and managed our field data using Open Data Kit, which eased the overall process of data manageme...

Improper implementation of peatland forest activities has altered the forest ecosystem resulting to near extinct or degradation of the peatland forest and its biodiversity. This research focuses on stakeholder attribute analysis for successful management of the aquaculture projects to ensure enhancement of provisioning services (fish) in the stream...

In recent years, the term Ecohealth has gained currency in Japan, as reflected in the establishment of the Japanese Association for Ecology and Health in 2013. The use of this English term suggests a development based on the import of ideas, but in fact, the term ”Ecohealth” in katakana was coined independently in 1979 by Suzuki Shosuke. More impor...

Background Asymptomatic malaria can be observed in both stable endemic areas and unstable transmission areas. However, although much attention has been given to acute malaria infections, relatively little attention has been paid to asymptomatic malaria. Nonetheless, because the asymptomatic host serves as a reservoir for the malaria parasite, asymp...