HIGH RISK OF POSTPARTUM HAEMORRHAGE AT BOUAKÉ UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL (NORTH-CENTRAL CÔTE D’IVOIRE)

Objectives. Postpartum haemorrhage is one of several direct causes of maternal death in Côte d’Ivoire. It is recurrent in the department of gynaecology and obstetrics at Bouaké University Hospital (CHU de Bouaké), but little is known to date about the underlying risk factors. The present study aims to describe the levels and trends displayed by the risk factors of postpartum haemorrhage before determining the contributing social factors in the aforesaid department. Material and methods. This study is retrospective in nature, concerning the period from 2014 to 2016. Data was obtained from delivery records and through individual interviews. The overall approach adopted is an anthropological one. Results. Postpartum haemorrhage is significant in light of its very high and increasing incidence (22.31%) among multiparous mothers. Within the latter category, fatal complications are a critical problem, with an annual average estimated at 35.98% and on the rise. The overall situation is alarming in view of this progressive deterioration. The persistence of the reproductive morbidity is attributable to various economic, social, cultural, and infrastructural factors. Conclusions. Communicational strategies are proposed as a type of community intervention conducive to social and behavioural change, with multiparous mothers as a priority target group, followed by older mothers in the medium term and by adolescent mothers in the long term. This should raise awareness about high-risk reproductive behaviours and practices as well as the environmental, economic, social, cultural, and infrastructural factors correlated to postpartum haemorrhage, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality and safety of reproductive practices. Keywords: postpartum haemorrhage, reproductive behaviour, high risk, obstetric emergency, maternal morbidity, Côte d’Ivoire.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN ECUADOR: AN OVERVIEW FROM THE RURAL AND INDIGENOUS AREAS OF IMBABURA

Objectives. Sexual violence against women is a major social problem for governments and institutions. International reports warn about its magnitude and its global nature and findings from Latin America have also confirmed the seriousness of the issue. The objective of this article is to address the problem of sexual violence against women in Ecuador, with emphasis on rural and indigenous areas. Material and methods. The official data offered by the Attorney General of the State of Ecuador is analyzed. Likewise, the qualitative information provided by professionals in the province of Imbabura through interviews and focus groups. Results. Quantitative data shows a very significant increase in the number of crimes of sexual violence against women in practically all the provinces of Ecuador in the past three years. Likewise, from a qualitative perspective, patriarchal culture is very present as one of the causes that explain violence. As for the manifestation of sexual violence, its most frequent form is within partner relationships. However, cases of incest, sexual abuse and aggression against minors within the family environment are also common. Conclusions. Data for disaggregated and specific monitoring of sexual violence in Ecuador is limited. In this regard, the use of qualitative methodology to complement such information is recommended. This study identifies a serious situation both in terms of the prevalence and of the impact of sexual violence in Ecuador. Keywords: sexual violence, Ecuador, abuse, rural areas, violence against women.

THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH CANCER

Objectives. The aim of the study was to identify specific elements of stress for adolescents surviving cancer, and the working hypothesis was that there are statistically significant correlations between the items of the three scales used in the study. Material and methods. Between January and February 2020, 45 adolescents participated (13-18 years), 26 girls and 19 boys, in a survey in which three tests were used: Child Depression Inventory -CDI 10 items, Scale of irrationality for children and adolescents-CASI with 28 items in four subscales (Intolerance to frustration given by rules, Global self-assessment, Absolutist requirement for justice, Intolerance to frustration given to work) and post-traumatic developmental scale-SRGS with 15 items. Results. Statistically significant associations were identified between certain items from the scales used in the study and the result very highly statistically significant is given by associating item "I realized it was better to have more trust in me" with item "I learned to defend my personal rights" ( p <0.05, χ 2 t east). The interaction between the dependent variable "I learned to defend my personal rights" with the independent variables "It's awful to be wrongfully blamed by the teacher" and "There are things that bother me" through the regression model and the result was statistically significant (p <0.05, F test). Conclusions. The associations and the results obtained indicate the need for effective communication with adolescents with cancer to identify psycho-emotional needs and stress management. Keywords: cancer, depression, anxiety, adolescence, stress.

ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, STRESS, EMOTIONALITY AND AGGRESSIVITY - FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE IRRATIONAL ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

Objectives. This literature review aimed to reveal the relationship between psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, stress, emotionality and aggression on the one hand, and irrational alcohol consumption and risky sexual activity on the other hand, in students (19-25 years) and adjacent age groups. Material and methods. The study was conducted by analyzing the literature published between 2010 and 2020. The search was conducted in Romanian and English, in 9 international publications, by the following key phrases and terms, separately or in combination: anxiety, depression, stress, emotionality, aggressiveness, alcohol consumption, drinking motives, binge drinking, sexual behavior, risky sex. Results. Applying repeated exclusion criteria, 31 articles remained in the analysis. Among these, risk behaviors were rarely analyzed in connection with psychological factors. Most studies that investigate risky behaviors regarding alcohol consumption and sexual activity, address them according to gender, educational level, age groups. Women were more prone to anxiety and depression, but also to show more psychological aggression compared to men who showed more physical aggression, even in sexual activity. Researches included aggression as a behavioral trait, and emotionality has been used as a variable in studies to validate standardized tools. Irrational alcohol consumption has been significantly associated with risky sexual activity and various forms of aggression. Conclusions. The risk of manifesting and developing depressive and anxiety symptoms is higher in victims of aggression, in people with risky sexual activity, and in consumers of irrational alcohol. In students and young people, stress has high values, contributing to the tendency towards risky behaviors. It is necessary to promote successful coping strategies and mechanisms, both in individual and group level, as well as the development of prevention strategies and therapeutic procedures to improve the listed risk behaviors. Keywords: anxiety, depression, aggression, alcohol consumption, sexual activity.

DIMENSIONS OF CRIME INVOLVING WOMEN IN DRUG TRAFFICKING - LITERATURE REVIEW FROM DEPENDENT BEHAVIOR TO RELAPSE

Objectives. The aim of this study was to review the most important factors influencing women's involvement in drug trafficking. Material and methods. A systematic search of literature was carried out using Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, ProQuest Central, PsychInfo. The inclusion criteria were met by fifty-two studies. In order to facilitate the understanding of the behaviour of women who commit this crime, factor analysis was grouped into social-cultural, personal and psychological factors. Results. The main social and cultural factors considered were the adopted political system, the racial element, the cultural-regional peculiarities, the geographical positioning, the socio-economic status and the sociofamilial environment. The personal factors identified were age, occupation, lifestyle, system of norms and values, and psychological ones referred to indicators of psychological disorders, addictive behavior, the ability to control reactions and the perceived level of self-efficacy. Conclusions. The factors with the highest share of drug trafficking among women were group membership, economic and social status, educational level of parents and friends, prison history and drug use. If in the rural area the main factor that determines women to get involved in drug trafficking is the lack of a job and a low level of education, in the urban area, the influence of the group is significant. Regarding the reasons behind the involvement of women in such criminal acts or in the manifestation of addictive behaviors, these are often compensatory mechanisms, adopted in the absence of effective coping strategies. Keywords: women, drugs, trafficking, addiction, relapse.

ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF A GROUP OF SUBJECTS AGED 65 AND OVER (MOROCCO)

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the health related quality of life of elderly Moroccans living at home as well as determining the factors that influence it. Material and methods. The data was gathered through a questionnaire survey conducted between 2017 and 2018. Age, gender, level of education, socio-professional activity, morbidity and perception of old age were chosen as variables, and the LEIPAD scale was used to evaluate the respondent’s quality of life, French version. Results. This study included 520 subjects aged 65 and above (277 men and 243 women). The average age was 71.2 years, and 60.8% of them were illiterate, 22.3% employed, 25.0% retired, and 52.7% have never worked. In addition, 57.9% of participants had at least one chronic illness and 42.9% had a pessimistic attitude toward old age. Overall, the surveyed subjects’ quality of life was adequate and satisfactory. The main ratings for the areas involving "taking care of oneself" and "depression-anxiety" were the lowest (23.7 and 28.6). On the other hand, the "sexual functioning" area was the most affected (score=73.7), thus impacting the participants’ quality of life. Furthermore, socio-demographic characteristics proved to have a negative impact on the participants’ quality of life. The highest average test scores were reported by women, the oldest subjects (>-75 years), subjects with low levels of education, without professions and retirees, suffering from chronic diseases and those who negatively perceived the old age, which showed a relatively impaired quality of life. Conclusions. The majority of the surveyed people had a good quality of life. Nevertheless, providing adequate treatment for the most disadvantaged elderly people could improve their quality of life and help them reach the old age in good health. Keywords: quality of life, elderly, test LEIPAD, Morocco.

PREDICTORS OF ADOLESCENT INVOLVEMENT IN CLIQUES AND GANGS

Objectives. The gangs came to the attention of the authorities because of the criminal nature of some of them. To understand which are the appropriate measures to prevent and reduce gang delinquency, this paper aimed at identifying the predictors of adolescents' belonging to such groups. Material and methods. Relevant articles published between 2010 and 2020, were searched in three access platforms to the scientific literature. The papers based on the quantitative analysis of the data, which evaluated the predictors of the involvement of adolescents aged 14-21 in gangs, were preserved. Results. Resulting in 33 significant articles, with samples between 75-26232 participants, 11 studies had a longitudinal design, the rest being cross-sectional. Most studies were conducted in the USA, and the rest in European, American, African, and Asian countries. Three categories of predictors were distinguished: familial factors (e.g. deficient parenting, domestic violence), personal factors (e.g. trauma history, low level of self-control), social and economic factors (e.g. criminogenic neighborhood, material and financial instability). The most common predictor was the criminogenic neighborhood, identified by 16 studies. There were also highlighted gender differences regarding gang membership, adolescent boys being more likely to be gang members. Conclusions. This systematic review highlighted that the main factors that can compete to adolescent gang involvement are: criminogenic social environment, low level of self-control, dysfunctional family-educational environment, and low socioeconomic level. As research has shown that many of these can be risk factors for violence, it is necessary to develop coping strategies and heal traumas to prevent the formation and maintenance of the antisocial identity of adolescent gangs. Keywords: gang, clique, adolescents, violence.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE FAMILY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON COMMUNICATION CULTURE IN THE FAMILY

Objectives. Understanding the family's communication culture means understanding the ethnic communication culture, therefore, research on communication culture in the family has an important and practical meaning. The article aims to study generalize the basic characteristics of Vietnamese traditional families, thereby understanding the communication culture in the family, which is the basis for understanding the traditional communication culture of Vietnamese people. Material and methods. This research is done based on the synthesis and analysis of documents related to family and communication in family to make comparisons and make appropriate judgments. 58 scientific value and reliable documents are searched on online databases, websites, indexes and printed documents, typed files in the computer, and then classified by topic groups for analysis. The documents mentioned or cited in the article are fully shown in the list of references. Results. The traditional Vietnamese family has the characteristics of the traditional Asian family; this family model that has dominated all the values and standards of the family, which has a profound effect on the communication culture in the family. It is a type of communication that follows hierarchical order and pattern from top to bottom, emphasis on factors of location, age, gender and communication space. Conclusions. Communication culture in the traditional Vietnamese family bears the imprint of wet rice civilization as well as Confucian and Buddhist ideology creating a polite, flexible communication style and cultural behavior, order and discipline in the family; however, its limitation is hesitation, inhibits personal criticism; there are stricter stereotypes against some family members. Currently, some of the traditional Vietnamese family’s foundations have been changed but the communication culture in the family still needs to be preserved to preserve the communication culture of the nation. Keywords: communication, culture, communication culture, communication in the family, traditional Vietnamese family.

AGE VARIATIONS AND SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN ADIPOSITY AND BODY COMPOSITION AMONG TRIBAL ADOLESCENTS OF KHARAGPUR, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Objectives. Although tribals constitute around 8.6% of the total population of India, detailed information on their body composition is scanty. Thus, our objective was to evaluate age variations and sexual dimorphism in adiposity and body composition among rural tribal adolescents of Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. Material and methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 788 tribal adolescent boys and girls, aged 10-17 years of Kharagpur, West Midnapore, West Bengal, India. Height (kg), weight (cm) and skinfolds were measured following standard method. The Body Mass Index (BMI) was derived. Body composition measures including Percent Body Fat (PBF), Fat Mass (FM), Fat Free Mass (FFM), Fat Mass Index (FMI) and Fat Free mass Index (FFMI) were computed using standard equations. Results. All the variables showed a significant age trend in both sexes. Age-combined significant sex differences existed in mean BMI and all body composition measures. Girls had significantly higher mean values of fat measures (PBF, FM and FMI) whereas boys had significantly higher mean values of non-fat measures (FFM and FFMI). In both sexes, age had significant correlations with BMI and the five body composition measures. Similarly, all body composition indicators were significantly correlated with BMI in both sexes. Conclusions. There were significant age and sex variations in body composition measures. Girls had significantly more fat mass whereas boys had more lean body mass. All body composition measures increased significantly with increasing age as well as BMI. Attainment of puberty could be a mediating factor causing these age variations and sexual dimorphism. Keywords: India, tribal adolescents, age variations, sexual dimorphism, body composition.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WELL-BEING AND SATISFACTION WITH LIFE IN READING-COMPREHENSION AND MATHEMATICAL ABILITIES IN DEAF AND HEARING INDIVIDUALS

Objectives. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate if there are significant differences in reading-comprehension and mathematics between deaf and hearing individuals, identify if the level of Psychological Well-Being and Subjective Well-Being is related to higher mastery in reading-comprehension and mathematics, and finally, determine if self-perceived disadvantages in reading and mathematics by deaf individuals are related with their mastery in reading and mathematics tasks. Material and methods. A mixed-method was conducted including correlational and topological analysis of speech. The sample was constituted by 58 volunteers: five deaf individuals (age M =28.4) and 53 hearings (age M =18.75). Participants responded to the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Ryff´s Scales of Psychological Well-Being after solving the Adults Reading Evaluation and the Buenos Aires Mathematics test. Results. Higher scores were found for the hearing group in reading and mathematics. No correlations were found between Satisfaction with Life and reading and mathematics neither between Psychological Well-Being and reading and mathematics for both groups. The qualitative analysis indicated that deaf individuals perceived no differences in their reading-comprehension and mathematics skills regarding hearings, but they scored significantly lower than hearings. Conclusions. This study corroborated results from previous research about the differences in reading-comprehension and mathematical abilities between deaf and hearing individuals. This study identifies that differences between deaf and hearings might be more related to other factors such as the lack of awareness of difficulties in reading-comprehension and mathematics, while satisfaction with life and psychological well-being appears to be related to employment difficulties. Keywords: Deaf, reading-comprehension, mathematics, psychological well-being, subjective well-being.