PARENTAL AWARENESS OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ADDRESSING LOW-INCOME ADOLESCENTS IN BRAZIL

Objective: To evaluate parental awareness and management of overweight and obesity in a sample of low income adolescents registered in a primary health care center (PHCC) in Brazil. Method: Among adolescents registered in the PHCC, 142 agreed to participate in this study and their body mass index was calculated. Unaware of the anthropometric data, parents were visited at home and asked to select a descriptor for their offspring’s body weight (underweight, about right, overweight, and obese). Results: Seventeen adolescents were classified as overweight (12.0%) and 14 as obese (10.0%). Among 17 overweight adolescents, 13 (76.5%) were accurately identified by their parents in that condition, and among 13 obese adolescents, 12 (92.3%) were. Three parents of overweight (23.1%) and five parents (41.6%) of obese adolescents tried to manage their offspring’s weight problem with a healthcare provider support. Conclusions: Despite the fact that parental recognition was relatively high in this population, our data revealed a low demand for interventionsto reverse the adolescent’s overweight and obesity.

Download Full-text

Non-Fatal Deliberate Self-Harm in Three Remote Indigenous Communities in Far North Queensland, Australia

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000589 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (6) ◽

pp. 422-428 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chris Rouen ◽

Alan R. Clough ◽

Caryn West

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Care Center ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

Indigenous Australians ◽

Deliberate Self Harm ◽

Health Care Center ◽

Far North ◽

Primary Health ◽

Self Harm

Abstract. Background: Indigenous Australians experience a suicide rate over twice that of the general population. With nonfatal deliberate self-harm (DSH) being the single most important risk factor for suicide, characterizing the incidence and repetition of DSH in this population is essential. Aims: To investigate the incidence and repetition of DSH in three remote Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland, Australia. Method: DSH presentation data at a primary health-care center in each community were analyzed over a 6-year period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2011. Results: A DSH presentation rate of 1,638 per 100,000 population was found within the communities. Rates were higher in age groups 15–24 and 25–34, varied between communities, and were not significantly different between genders; 60% of DSH repetitions occurred within 6 months of an earlier episode. Of the 227 DSH presentations, 32% involved hanging. Limitations: This study was based on a subset of a larger dataset not specifically designed for DSH data collection and assesses the subset of the communities that presented to the primary health-care centers. Conclusion: A dedicated DSH monitoring study is required to provide a better understanding of DSH in these communities and to inform early intervention strategies.

Download Full-text