Overweight and obesity increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke, and some type of cancers, and maternal health globally. In Cambodia, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women aged 15–49 years increased from 6% in 2000 to 18% in 2014, becoming a public health burden. We examined socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with overweight and/or obesity among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Cambodia. We analyzed data from the 2014 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) that used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Data analysis was restricted to non-pregnant women, resulting in an analytic sample of 10,818 women. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed using STATA V16 to examine factors associated with overweight and obesity. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among non-pregnant women of reproductive age were 15.2% and 2.8% respectively. Factors independently associated with increased odds of overweight and/or obesity including women aged 20–29 years with adjusted odds ratio [AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.6–3.6], 30–39 years [AOR = 4.6; 95% CI: 3.0–6.9], and 40–49 years [AOR = 6.6; 95% CI: 4.3–10.1], married women [AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3–2.7], urban residence [AOR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1–1.5], and women having at least 4 children [AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2–2.5]. The factors were associated with decreased odds of overweight and obesity: completed at least secondary education [AOR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.6–0.8], agricultural work [AOR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–0.8], and manual labor work [AOR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.6–0.9]. Increased age, married women, living in urban residence, and having at least four children were the main risk factors associated with overweight and/or obesity. Conversely, higher education, working in agriculture, and working in manual labor were negatively associated with overweight and/or obesity. Cambodia’s non-communicable disease (NCD) public health programs should consider these characteristic for targeting interventions to further reduce overweight and/or obesity in the coming years.

Background: Global influenza virus circulation decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly due to widespread community mitigation measures. Cambodia eased some COVID-19 mitigation measures in June and July 2020. On 20 August a cluster of respiratory illnesses occurred among residents of a pagoda, including people who tested positive for influenza A but none who were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Methods: A response team was deployed on 25 August 2020. People with influenza-like illness (ILI) were asked questions regarding demographics, illness, personal prevention measures, and residential arrangements. Respiratory swabs were tested for influenza and SARS-Cov-2 by real-time reverse transcription PCR, and viruses were sequenced. Sentinel surveillance data were analyzed to assess recent trends in influenza circulation in the community. Results: Influenza A (H3N2) viruses were identified during sentinel surveillance in Cambodia in July 2020 prior to the reported pagoda outbreak. Among the 362 pagoda residents, 73 (20.2%) ILI cases were identified and 40 were tested, where 33/40 (82.5%) confirmed positive for influenza A (H3N2). All 40 were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Among the 73 residents with ILI, none were vaccinated against influenza, 47 (64%) clustered in 3/8 sleeping quarters, 20 (27%) reported often wearing a mask, 27 (36%) reported often washing hands, and 11 (15%) reported practicing social distancing. All viruses clustered within clade 3c2. A1 close to strains circulating in Australia in 2020. Conclusions: Circulation of influenza viruses began in the community following the relaxation of national COVID-19 mitigation measures, and prior to the outbreak in a pagoda with limited social distancing. Continued surveillance and influenza vaccination are required to limit the impact of influenza globally.

Introduction Overweight and obesity are known the risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). They are the leading risks of global deaths with at least 2.8 million adults dying annually. In Cambodia the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women aged 15-49 years increased from 6% in 2000 to 18% in 2014 becoming a public health burden. We aimed to examine the socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age. Methods We analyzed existing data from Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) 2014 which used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling approach to select samples. Data analysis was restricted to only non-pregnancy with total eligible women of 10818. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed using STATA V16 to assess the determinants of overweight and obesity, taking into account the sampling weight in the analysis. Results Overweight and obesity were 15.2% and 2.8% respectively. Factors independently associated with increased odds of overweight and obesity including women aged 20-29 years with adjusted odds ratio [AOR=2.4; 95% CI: 1.6-3.6], 30-39 years [AOR=4.6; 95% CI: 3.0-6.9] and 40-49 years [AOR=6.6; 95% CI: 4.3-10.1], married women [AOR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.7], urban residence [AOR=1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.5] and women having at least 4 children [AOR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.5]. However following factors were found to be associated with decreased odds of overweight and obesity: completed at least secondary education [AOR=0.7; 95% CI: 0.6-0.8] agricultural work [AOR=0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-0.8] and manual labor work [AOR=0.7; 95% CI: 0.6-0.9]. Conclusions Increased age, married women, living in an urban residence and having at least four children were the main predictors of overweight and obesity while higher education working in agriculture and working in manual labor were the main predictors associated with less overweight and obesity. Therefore, Cambodia NCD public health programs should consider those main predictors to further reduce overweight and obesity in the coming years.

Introduction Anemia is a major public health problem affecting roughly 37% (32 million) of pregnant women worldwide. Anemia during pregnancy is a leading cause of low birth weight, preterm birth, and perinatal/neonatal mortality. Women in developing countries are at higher risk of anemia due to micronutrient deficiencies, hemoglobinopathies, infections, or other socio-demographic factors, especially among pregnant women. This study describes the trends and identifies factors associated with anemia among pregnant women aged 15-49 years old in Cambodia. Methods We analyzed data from the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) for 2005, 2010, and 2014. Data were pooled across the three survey years for all pregnant women aged 15-49 years. Survey weights were applied to account for the complex survey design of the CDHS. Descriptive statistics were estimated for key sociodemographic characteristics of the study population. We ran bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions to assess factors associated with anemia among pregnant women aged 15-49 years old. Results Anemia in pregnant women aged 15-49 in Cambodia decreased from 56% in 2005 to 53% in 2014. Compared to pregnant women from the wealthiest households, women from poorest households were more likely to have anemia (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.76-4.9). Pregnant women from coastal regions were almost twice as likely of having anemia (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-3.0). Pregnant women were more likely anemic if they were in their 2 nd trimester (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.9-3.6) or 3 rd trimester (AOR = 1.6 95% CI: 1.2-2.3). Conclusion Anemia remains highly prevalent among pregnant women in Cambodia. Pregnant women from poorer households, those who were further along in the pregnancy, and those living in coastal and sea regions were at greatest risk of anemia. Public health interventions and policies to alleviate anemia should be prioritized and shaped to address these factors.

In February 2021, routine sentinel surveillance for influenza-like illness in Cambodia detected a human avian influenza A(H9N2) virus infection. Investigations identified no recent H9N2 virus infections in 43 close contacts. One chicken sample from the infected child’s house was positive for H9N2 virus and genetically similar to the human virus.