Amelia Rodríguez Martín

Unhealthy eating behaviour in adolescents

In recent years, eating disorders (Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa) have increased and are appearing at increasingly younger ages. They affect predominantly adolescent females 12 to 25 years of age. The objective of this study of adolescents is to detect and discuss unhealthy eating behaviour, defined by either of two factors: (1) following a slimming diet not advised or supervised by any person trained in health care; or (2) eating very large quantities at irregular times, not related to anxiety or stress. A transversal study has been undertaken of 630 school children of 14–18 years of age (average: 15.9 years) in Cádiz (Andalucia, Spain), using an anonymous self-reporting questionnaire to collect data on personal and educational situation, on eating habits, on nutritive intake and knowledge of nutrition, and on dieting and physical exercise. The study has considered averages, ratios, statistical significance (x2) and, as a measure of risk, the Disequality Ratio of Prevalence (DRP). Anomalous eating behaviour was detected in 46.3% (292), with females predominant by a ratio of 2:1. Comparing groups with anomalous and with normal eating habits, significant differences were detected in respect of: perception of body image (p < 0.001), frequency of weighing oneself (p < 0.05), periods of abstinence from eating (DRP 1.66; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66–2.37), provocation of vomiting (DRP 2.02; 95% CI: 1.13–3.65), use of laxatives (DRP 4.25; 95% CI: 1.08–9.63), and the exclusion of certain meals and types of food, mainly bread and cereals, fats and sugars. Conclusions are drawn on the substantial scale of unhealthy eating behaviour among adolescents in Cadiz. More adequate education on personal health and related social issues should be provided.

La percepción del sobrepeso y la obesidad infantil por parte de los progenitores

Fundamento: Con frecuencia los padres no perciben la sobrecarga ponderal de sus hijos. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar con que frecuencia se produce este hecho y si esta percepcion se asocia a diferencias en habitos alimentarios, actividad fisica y sedentarismo de sus hijos. Metodos: Estudio transversal de 1.620 ninos de 3 a 16 anos seleccionados en un muestreo por conglomerados (2008-2010). 454 presentaron sobrecarga ponderal. Se estudiaron sus caracteristicas antropometricas, habitos alimentarios, actividad fisica (adaptacion cuestionarios Cindi/Maraton) y sedentarismo. Analizamos las diferencias con ninos con normopeso, sobrecarga ponderal percibida y no percibida (chi2 y Anova). Resultados: Los padres percibieron el 34,7% del sobrepeso y un 72,3% de obesidad en sus hijos varones, y un 10,8% y 53,8% respectivamente en las hijas. Los padres y madres obesos identifican un 54,5% y el 57,7% de los casos de sobrecarga ponderal de varones, frente al 23,8% y 27,8% en ninas. La percepcion del exceso de peso se asocio a la cualificacion profesional del padre (47%) y a la de ser ama de casa en las mujeers (40%). La percepcion coincidio con mayor cumplimiento de recomendaciones de actividad fisica en los hijos (67,5 vs. 77,3%) e hijas (47,5% vs 55,6%) mas jovenes, menor sedentarismo en estas (42,6% vs. 38,9%), y discretas diferencias por sexo y edad en los habitos alimentarios. Conclusiones: Un porcentaje significativo de casos con sobrecarga ponderal infantil no es percibida por sus padres debiendose estudiar sus causas y por que esta percepcion parental no determina diferencias en alimentacion, actividad fisica y sedentarismo de sus hijos.

Epidemiological assessment of the influence of socio-family factors in adolescent pregnancy

Pregnancy in adolescence constitutes a serious public health problem at these ages. It de-stabilizes family homeostasis; family and affective support received by the adolescent is recognized to be a factor of influence in the problem. The objective of the research presented is the empirical study in Cádiz, SW Spain, of the socio-family support received by a group of adolescent mothers, and the influence of this on the development of the pregnancy and the infant, in comparison with a group of adult mothers. A descriptive study of 305 adolescent mothers and 285 adult mothers who gave birth in 1996 and attended the family planning centers of the Primary Health Care District of Cádiz, Spain, in 1997. The variables used included socio-demographic data of the adolescents, information on the pregnancy and birth, on the health of the baby, and on social and family support (by means of the Duke-Inc and Apgar family questionnaires). In the statistical study of the data, frequencies, statistical association, and disequalities of prevalence in the variables were determined. Of the totals, 81.6% (77–86) of the adolescent mothers were unmarried, compared with 22% (17–26) of the adult mothers; 82.3% (78–87) of the adolescents were living with their parents, compared with 39.3% (34–45) of the adults. Family support received is greater among the adolescents (p < 0.01). In this group, in line with increasing family support, there is improvement in - the decision to continue the pregnancy (p < 0.0001), frequency of check-ups (p < 0.0001), less problems in the pregnancy (p < 0.01), differences in the anthropometric values of the baby at birth (p < 0.0001), and breast-feeding (p < 0.001). The conclusion is reached that juvenile pregnancy is not synonymous with more risky pregnancy. There is a positive correlation between the socio-family support received and the general success of the pregnancy and better health in the mother and baby.Pregnancy in adolescence constitutes a serious public health problem at these ages. It de-stabilizes family homeostasis; family and affective support received by the adolescent is recognized to be a factor of influence in the problem. The objective of the research presented is the empirical study in Cádiz, SW Spain, of the socio-family support received by a group of adolescent mothers, and the influence of this on the development of the pregnancy and the infant, in comparison with a group of adult mothers. A descriptive study of 305 adolescent mothers and 285 adult mothers who gave birth in 1996 and attended the family planning centers of the Primary Health Care District of Cádiz, Spain, in 1997. The variables used included socio-demographic data of the adolescents, information on the pregnancy and birth, on the health of the baby, and on social and family support (by means of the Duke-Inc and Apgar family questionnaires). In the statistical study of the data, frequencies, statistical association, and disequalities of prevalence in the variables were determined. Of the totals, 81.6% (77–86) of the adolescent mothers were unmarried, compared with 22% (17–26) of the adult mothers; 82.3% (78–87) of the adolescents were living with their parents, compared with 39.3% (34–45) of the adults. Family support received is greater among the adolescents (p < 0.01). In this group, in line with increasing family support, there is improvement in - the decision to continue the pregnancy (p < 0.0001), frequency of check-ups (p < 0.0001), less problems in the pregnancy (p < 0.01), differences in the anthropometric values of the baby at birth (p < 0.0001), and breast-feeding (p < 0.001). The conclusion is reached that juvenile pregnancy is not synonymous with more risky pregnancy. There is a positive correlation between the socio-family support received and the general success of the pregnancy and better health in the mother and baby.

Accidentalidad e incidencia de accidentes biológicos de riesgo en estudiantes de enfermería

Fundamento Estudiar la incidencia y carac-teristicas de los accidentes biologicos de los estudiantes de enfermeria durante sus practicas hospitalarias. Material y metodo Estudio retrospectivo en cinco centros mediante dos cuestionarios, uno sobre la duracion de las practicas y accidentalidad, y otro sobre caracteristicas, precauciones y actuacion postexposicion. Resultados De 397 alumnos, presentaron accidentes el 70,5%, la accidentalidad fue del 64% (intervalo de confianza del 95%, 59-68). El 15% fueron accidentes con riesgo biologico, predominando pinchazos (39%) y salpicaduras (32,5%); cabe destacar que un 49,2% de los accidentes se produjeron recogiendo el material, asi como debido a la ausencia de proteccion individual en el 58%. Uno de cada 8 accidentes presento riesgo biologico. Conclusiones La accidentalidad fue muy elevada, con importantes deficiencias en la seguridad.

La estructura sísmica de la corteza de la Zona de Ossa Morena y su interpretación geológica

El experimento de sismica de reflexion profunda IBERSEIS ha proporcionado una imagen de la corteza del Orogeno Varisco en el sudoeste de Iberia. Este articulo se centra en la descripcion de la corteza de la Zona de Ossa Morena (OMZ), que esta claramente dividida en una corteza superior, con reflectividad de buzamiento al NE, y una corteza inferior de pobre reflectividad. Las estructuras geologicas cartografiadas en superficie se correlacionan bien con la reflectividad de la corteza superior, y en la imagen sismica se ven enraizar en la corteza media. Esta esta constituida por un cuerpo muy reflectivo, interpretado como una gran intrusion de rocas basicas. La imagen de las suturas que limitan la OMZ muestra el caracter fuertemente transpresivo de la colision orogenica varisca registrada en el sudoeste de Iberia. La Moho actual es plana y, en consecuencia, no se observa la raiz del orogeno.

Use of health services by the climacteric women in primary health care : The need for an integral approach

During the climacteric, women experience multiple health problems. As their needs are not catered for in an integral fashion due to the lack of any specific programme or mechanism to provide for this, they show an increased use of the health services, and an increased rate of referrals to different specialists. This study, carried out in a Basic Health Zone in San Fernando (Cádiz, Andalusía, Spain) on a sample of climacteric women who attended the Health Centre during 1995, examines these points and shows a significantly higher use of the health services in relation to the rest of the female population (those who are not in the climacteric age group) as well as a high percentage of referrals (74.6%) to specialists. It was found that both the level of knowledge about the climacteric and the use of the health services were influenced by the educational level (p<0.001) and age (p<0.05). Women who felt that their families provided an understanding and supportive attitude were found to have less psychological problems and, consequently, less consultations and referrals for this reason (p<0.00001). The authors hope that their findings will provide a basis for the setting up of a programme of integral health care for climacteric women at the level of primary health care. With careful planning and the drawing up of a strategic plan, it would be possible to provide for the needs of this population group in a more satisfactory way, and it would also permit a rationalization of the resources available.

Effects of lipid-based nutrient supplements v. micronutrient powders on nutritional and developmental outcomes among Peruvian infants

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) on childrens Hb, linear growth and development, compared with supplementation with micronutrient powder (MNP). DESIGN The study was a two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial, where participants received either LNS or MNP for daily consumption during 6 months. Supplements were delivered by staff at government-run health centres. Hb, anthropometric, motor development, language development and problem-solving indicators were measured by trained research assistants when children were 12 months of age. SETTING The study was conducted in five rural districts in the Province of Ambo in the Department of Huánuco, Peru. SUBJECTS We enrolled 6-month-old children (n 422) at nineteen health centres. RESULTS Children who received LNS had a higher mean Hb concentration and lower odds of anaemia than those who received MNP. No significant differences in height-for-age, weight-for-height or weight-for-age Z-score, or stunting and underweight prevalence, were observed. Provision of LNS was associated with a higher pre-verbal language (gestures) score, but such effect lost significance after adjustment for covariates. Children in the LNS group had higher problem-solving task scores and increased odds of achieving this cognitive task than children in the MNP group. No significant differences were observed on receptive language or gross motor development. CONCLUSIONS LNS between 6 and 12 months of age increased Hb concentration, reduced anaemia and improved cognitive development in children, but showed no effects on anthropometric indicators, motor or language development.