scholarly journals Health vulnerabilities in adolescence: socioeconomic conditions, social networks, drugs and violence

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 586-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dener Carlos dos Reis ◽  
Thiara Amanda Corrêa de Almeida ◽  
Mariane Mendes Miranda ◽  
Rodrigo Henrique Alves ◽  
Anézia Moreira Faria Madeira

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the health vulnerabilities in adolescence associated with socioeconomic conditions, social networks, drugs and violence from the perspective of students. METHOD: cross-sectional study with 678 students between 14-15 years old in Contagem, Brazil. A self-administered questionnaire divided into modules by subject was used. Quantitative, descriptive and stratified analyses were performed by sex. RESULTS: high percentage of adolescents (40.4%) were beneficiaries of Government financial support called "Bolsa Família" and 14.6% had a job, 57.1% and 23.6% had tried alcohol and tobacco, respectively. We identified 15% of aggression and 26.7% of bullying. The majority informed they never/rarely talk to parents about the daily difficulties (64.5%) and 22% reported insomnia and/or feelings of loneliness. CONCLUSION: the results indicated that there is a need to intensify educational activities that seek to develop cognitive, affective and social skills aimed at improving the way adolescents face the vulnerabilities, in these activities, nursing has a fundamental role.

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helene Berglund ◽  
Henna Hasson ◽  
Katarina Wilhelmson ◽  
Anna Dunér ◽  
Synneve Dahlin-Ivanoff

It has been shown that frailty is associated with low levels of wellbeing and life satisfaction. Further exploration is needed, however, to better understand which components constitute life satisfaction for frail older people and how satisfaction is related to other life circumstances. The aim of this study was to examine relationships between frail older people’s life satisfaction and their socioeconomic conditions, social networks, and health-related conditions. A cross-sectional study was conducted (n=179). A logistic regression analysis was performed, including life satisfaction as the dependent variable and 12 items as independent variables. Four of the independent variables made statistically significant contributions: financial situation (OR 3.53), social contacts (OR 2.44), risk of depression (OR 2.26), and selfrated health (OR 2.79). This study demonstrates that financial situation, self-rated health conditions and social networks are important components for frail older people’s life satisfaction. Health and social care professionals and policy makers should consider this knowledge in the care and service for frail older people; and actions that benefit life satisfaction − such as social support − should be promoted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amrita Ayer ◽  
Eddy R. Segura ◽  
Amaya Perez-Brumer ◽  
Susan Chavez-Gomez ◽  
Rosario Fernandez ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Social networks, norms, and discussions about sexual health may inform sexual practices, influencing risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition. To better understand social networks of Peruvian men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (trans women), we examined key social network members (SNMs), participant perceptions of these network members’ opinions toward sexual health behaviors, and associations between network member characteristics and condomless anal intercourse (CAI). Methods In a 2017 cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 565 MSM and trans women with HIV-negative or unknown serostatus was asked to identify three close SNMs; describe discussions about HIV and STI prevention with each; and report perceived opinions of condom use, HIV/STI testing, and partner notification of STIs. Generalized estimating equations evaluated relationships between SNM characteristics, opinions, and discussions and participant-reported CAI. Results Among participants who identified as MSM, 42.3% of key SNMs were perceived to identify as gay. MSM “never” discussed HIV and STI prevention concerns with 42.4% of heterosexual SNMs, but discussed them “at least once weekly” with 16.9 and 16.6% of gay- and bisexual- identifying SNMs, respectively. Among participants who identified as trans women, 28.2% of key SNMs were perceived as heterosexual; 25.9%, as bisexual; 24.7%, as transgender; and 21.2%, as gay. Trans women discussed HIV/STI prevention least with cis-gender heterosexual network members (40.2% “never”) and most with transgender network members (27.1% “at least once weekly”). Participants perceived most of their close social network to be completely in favor of condom use (71.2% MSM SNMs, 61.5% trans women SNMs) and HIV/STI testing (73.1% MSM SNMs, 75.6% trans women SNMs), but described less support for partner STI notification (33.4% MSM SNMs, 37.4% trans women SNMs). Most participants reported CAI with at least one of their past three sexual partners (77.5% MSM, 62.8% trans women). SNM characteristics were not significantly associated with participant-reported frequency of CAI. Conclusions Findings compare social support, perceived social norms, and discussion patterns of Peruvian MSM and trans women, offering insight into social contexts and sexual behaviors. Trial registration The parent study from which this analysis was derived was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03010020) on January 4, 2017.


Author(s):  
Chiara Lorini ◽  
Laura Ricotta ◽  
Virginia Vettori ◽  
Marco Del Riccio ◽  
Massimiliano Alberto Biamonte ◽  
...  

In Western countries, one of the main barriers to entomophagy is repulsion toward insects. Few studies have investigated the factors that influence attitudes toward entomophagy. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving a sample of 248 university students, focusing on disgust and other potential attributes that can influence insect consumption, including health literacy. We used a 17-item self-administered questionnaire. Consistent with the literature, two items were chosen as outcome variables to evaluate the predictors of the propensity to consume insects: “Have you ever eaten insects or insect-based products?” and “How disgusting do you find eating insects?” The data analysis shows that having already eaten insects is inversely associated with the level of disgust (OR: 0.1, p < 0.01); and it is positively associated with higher levels of health literacy (OR: 3.66, p > 0.01). Additionally, having some knowledge and information about entomophagy is inversely associated with a higher level of disgust (OR: 0.44, p = 0.03 and OR: 0.25, p = 0.03, respectively), while being female is positively associated with disgust (OR: 3.26, p < 0.01). Our results suggest the potential role of health literacy, in addition to other factors, in influencing the willingness to taste insects. However, further studies involving larger and non-convenience samples are needed to confirm our hypothesis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
Sailaja Sharma ◽  
Ratna Shila Banstola ◽  
Sakuntala Pageni

Introduction: Tobacco is one of the proven risk factors, contributes substantially to the rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and associated factors among adolescents of a selected public School in Kaski district. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was adopted and data was collected with self-administered questionnaire from 168 respondents. Results: The prevalence of tobacco-use was 19.6 percent and mean age of initiation was13.84 years. The most common reasons for smoking were peer pressure (63.3%), imitation (27.3%), family influence (27.3%) and quest for new experience (21.2%). Tobacco-use was strongly associated with ethnicity (p=0.03), mother's education level (p=0.02), father's occupation (p=0.03), peer pressure (p=0.01) and friends smoking habit (p=0.03). Conclusion: Tobacco-focused interventions are required for school going adolescents to promote cessation among users and prevent its initiation.


Author(s):  
Nitin Y. Dhupdale ◽  
Jagdish A. Cacodcar ◽  
Purushottam A. Giri ◽  
Vijay S. ◽  
Akshaya Naik

Background: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India observed National Deworming Day (NDD) on February 10, 2016 and second round on August 10, 2016 in all 36 States/UTs of the country. The same initiative was implemented in the state of Goa; the present study was aimed at evaluating this initiative. The objectives of the study were to find the compliance of school children to albendazole tablets and also to find any side effects encountered by the students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in month of Ocober 2016 amongst total of 266 parents completed a self-administered questionnaire. The Data retrieved from completed questionnaires was entered in EpiDATA and analysed by SPSS version 23. Results: Of the total 65.8% of students received albendazole tablets. The overall compliance to the albendazole was 61.3%. Only 4.1% of students developed minor adverse reactions. Overall 78.9% of the parents were willing to participate in the next round of NDD.Conclusions: The compliance to the albendazole was less than expected. There is a greater need to involve parents and teachers to improve the compliance of students towards albendazole to achieve desired outcomes. 


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salih Boushra Hamza ◽  
Yassin A. Abdalla ◽  
Tibyan Hassan Mustafa Alkabashi ◽  
Ahmed A. M. Mustafa ◽  
Khadija Ala Abdelmaqsud Muhmmed ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:In general, the emergence of new technologies such as the internet, social networks and providing opportunities to facilitate and improve global communications quality have created some threats, as Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), which is an emerging psychological problem across the globe. Young defined it as “an individual’s inability to control his or her use of the internet, which eventually causes psychological, social, school, and/or work difficulties in a person’s life”. Students are among the most critical internet and social networks, particularly during the coronavirus recent pandemic. The prevalence of internet addiction and its association with academic performance among Sudanese medical students has not been discussed yet. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of internet addiction on medical students’ academic performance. Methods:This study was an observational descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on medical students at Omdurman Islamic University in Sudan from 321 sample size by stratified random technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire that contains four sections; the last one is the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), a 20-item scale that measures the presence and severity of internet addiction, developed by Young. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 24. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Out of 321 medical students, 186 (57.9%) were females, and 135 (42.1%) were males, with no general differences regarding the addiction score. Social media was the leading platform for internet use purposes (88%), mean internet addiction score was 47.7; most of the respondents (55.8%) fit into the moderate-level addiction. There is an association between the duration of internet time consumption and the IAT score, with 5-6 hour/day scoring the highest (mean 50.1 ± 14.3) (P-value 0.001). There is a significant association between platforms that consume most of the participant time and IAT score, with games scoring the highest (IAT mean 56.4 ± 15) (P-value 0.001). There is an insignificant negative correlation between Internet Addiction Test (IAT) grade and CGPA (p-value 0.07).Conclusion:The mean internet addiction score is 47.7, and most of the respondents (55.8%) show moderate-level addiction. The Internet Addiction Test’s application to medical students’ sample concerning the academic performance found no significant association between Internet Addiction Test score and CGPA score.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
N C Aghukwa

<p><strong>Background</strong>. This study determined and compared responses of 5th- and 6th (final)-year medical students on their attitudes to psychiatry as a profession. Also elicited were their choices of area of future medical specialisation.</p><p><strong>Method</strong>. A prospective and cross-sectional study using an adapted 27-item self-administered questionnaire to obtain responses from 91 5th- and 6th-year medical students at Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Results.</strong> More than 60% of the students’ first choices for future specialisation were surgery, obstetrics/gynaecology or internal medicine. Psychiatry was the first preference for less than 2%. More than 75% of the students’ views on the overall merits and efficacy of psychiatry were positive, although they felt that psychiatry had low prestige and status as a profession. In addition, the same proportion considered that psychiatry was scientific, making advances in the treatment of major mental disorders, and helpful in liaison practice. More than 50% stated that psychiatry would not be their choice of last resort for residency education and the same proportion felt that friends and fellow students rather than family members would discourage them from specialising in psychiatry. More than 50% would feel uncomfortable with mentally ill patients, felt that psychiatry would not be financially rewarding, and did not think that psychiatrists abuse their legal power to hospitalise patients. Attitudes of the two groups of students to psychiatry as a profession were not significantly different (p&gt;0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion.</strong> A clinical clerkship in psychiatry did not influence the students’ choice of future specialisation.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-135
Author(s):  
Javad Amini Saman ◽  
Ali Valinejadi ◽  
Saeed Mohammadi ◽  
Hassanali Karimpor ◽  
Maryam Mirzaei ◽  
...  

Introduction Sleep quality is an essential aspect in human health and function. Considering high prevalence of using smartphones and social networks among students and their impact on sleep quality, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between the overuse of cell phone and addiction to social networks and students’ sleep quality. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran in 2018. Using cluster sampling, 321 students from different disciplines were selected. Data gathering tools consisted of the questionnaire of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Cell phone use and addiction to social networks were assessed using Cell Phone Overuse Scale and a researcher-made questionnaire, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 19) and Pearson’s correlation test. Results The mean total score of sleep quality in students was 6.58 ± 1.05. There was a positive and significant correlation between sleep quality and social networks addiction score (p < 0.05, r = 0.5) and cell phone overuse (p < 0.05, r = 0.44); this is an inverse correlation, because higher scores of the total PSQI denote a lower sleep quality and, in Cell Phone Overuse Scale, higher scores shows overuse. Conclusions According to the findings of this study, there was a significant statistical relationship between the overuse of cell phone and social networks and students’ sleep quality. In other words, students who have had overuse of cell phones had poorer sleep quality. Therefore, providing effective educational programs to improve the sleep quality in this group is essential.


Revista CEFAC ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Maria Zaratini Fernandes ◽  
Maria Cecília Marconi Pinheiro Lima

ABSTRACT Objective: to compare the parents and teachers views about the occurrence of deleterious oral habits in preschool children. Methods: a cross - sectional study with a quantitative analysis. Parents and teachers answered a self-administered questionnaire regarding the deleterious habits of preschool children and signed the Informed Consent Term. At the end, 221questionaries were included. The data were submitted to Chi-square test, Fisher exact and McNemar tests. Results: according to the parents, the most frequent habit was the bottle with 52.04%, followed by the pacifier with 24.09%. According to the teachers, the pacifier was the most frequent one, accounting for 20.36% of cases, followed by the use of bottle (7.69%). In the present sample, 90.95% of the children were breastfed. When related to oral habits, it was observed that the longer the breastfeeding time, the lower the use of pacifiers and bottles. By comparing the questionnaires, it was verified that the parents noticed, more frequently, the oral habits than did the teachers. Conclusion: in the group studied, the parents reported more the presence of deleterious oral habits than did the teachers. It is important that parents, and especially teachers, have information about the harm caused by the prolonged presence of such habits, so that they can encourage their interruption, thus, avoiding possible damages to the stomatognathic system and the performance of orofacial functions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Derauf ◽  
Diana Pandey ◽  
Juliette T. Liesinger ◽  
Euijung Ryu ◽  
Jeanette Y. Ziegenfuss ◽  
...  

Objectives: The development and severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been linked to a number of psychosocial risk factors. Research has shown that the amount of social capital in a community influences the physical and mental health of community members. We assessed the independent role of perceived neighborhood context, including physical and socioeconomic characteristics, and collective efficacy, a form of social capital, on ADHD prevalence. Methods: Cross-sectional study utilizing the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally representative dataset. The population of interest was children between the ages of four and seventeen living in randomly selected households. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the association between indices of perceived neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, built environment, and collective efficacy (study exposures) on risk of ADHD (outcome), controlling for pertinent individual and family risk factors.Results: 9.8 percent of children in the US (ages 4‐17) had ADHD as reported by their caregiver. In multivariate analysis, white race, male gender, increased geographic mobility, exposure to household smoke, exposure to > 2 hours/day TV, and maternal mental illness increased the odds of ADHD, while a two‐parent household reduced the odds. The highest level of perceived neighborhood collective efficacy was associated with reduced risk of ADHD compared to lower levels of perceived collective efficacy (adjusted OR: 0.785; 95% CI: 0.650-0.946; p=.011). Perceived neighborhood socioeconomic conditions and built environment were not associated with ADHD risk.Results: Nine percent of children in the US (ages 4-17 ) had ADHD as reported by their caregiver. Univariately, all 3 neighborhood characteristics were associated with risk of ADHD (p-value =.01, .04, and .0002 for socioeconomic conditions, built environment, and collective efficacy, respectively). After accounting for well-established risk factors for ADHD, perceived neighborhood socioeconomic conditions and built environment were no longer associated with ADHD, while collective efficacy remained significant (p=.0002).  Lower level of perceived neighborhood collective efficacy was associated with increased risk of ADHD (OR: 1.7; 95\% CI: 1.3-2.2, comparing the lowest with the highest level).Conclusions: Our study suggests that perceived neighborhood collective efficacy may buffer the impact of individual-and family-level risk factors for ADHD in children.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document