David Alejandro González-Chica

Clustering of risk behaviors for chronic noncommunicable diseases: a population-based study in southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and identify factors associated with simultaneous risk behaviors for chronic noncommunicable diseases in adults in a southern capital in Brazil. METHOD A cross-sectional, population-based study was carried out with 1720 adults in Florianópolis, Brazil. The simultaneous occurrence of tobacco smoking, abusive drinking, inadequate or unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity during leisure was assessed. The independent variables were demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. RESULTS Only 8.3% of the respondents did not have any of these factors, whereas the simultaneous occurrence of two or more risk behaviors was 59.4%. The simultaneous presence of four risk behaviors (3.4%) was 220% higher of what would be expected by combining the individual prevalence of these factors (1.5%). The likelihood of individuals having two or more risk behaviors simultaneously was greater in young men, with black skin color, living without a partner, with lower household per capita income, and lower education. CONCLUSION It is necessary to implement programs that reduce the risk behaviors for chronic noncommunicable diseases among adults in Brazil, especially between young men with low education and income.

Gravidez não planejada no extremo Sul do Brasil: prevalência e fatores associados

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with unplanned pregnancies in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A standardized questionnaire was applied in 2007 to all pregnant women in the city, including demographic characteristics, childbearing history, socioeconomic status, and prenatal and childbirth care. The study used Poisson multivariate regression analysis with robust adjustment of variance. Among the 2,557 women included in the study, 65% had not planned the current pregnancy. After adjusting for confounders, the following variables were significantly associated with unplanned pregnancy: black or mixed race, age < 20 years, single marital status, low family income, household crowding, smoking, and multiparity. Previous abortion was a protective factor against unplanned pregnancy. The high unplanned pregnancy rate, especially among women with increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, highlights the need to target healthcare programs for this group.

Características sociodemográficas e de assistência à gestação e ao parto no extremo sul do Brasil

This study aimed to compare prenatal and childbirth care received by teenagers and older mothers in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. From January 1st to December 31st 2007, all mothers were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire on the care they received. The chi-square test was used to compare proportions between adolescent and non-adolescent mothers. One-fourth (516) of the infants were born to adolescent mothers. Compared to older mothers, teenagers showed lower rates of the following: completion of at least six prenatal visits (61% x 75%), initiation of prenatal care in the first trimester (58% x 77%), tetanus vaccination (81% x 85%), and completion of prenatal visits with the same health professional (70% x 78%). Meanwhile, teenage motherhood was associated with more: supplementation for iron deficiency (66% x 57%), use of forceps (11% x 6%), and episiotomy (86% x 66%). The findings show that teenage mothers received worse prenatal and childbirth care than older mothers.

Effect of health literacy on quality of life amongst patients with ischaemic heart disease in Australian general practice

Background Appropriate understanding of health information by patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is fundamental for better management of risk factors and improved morbidity, which can also benefit their quality of life. Objectives To assess the relationship between health literacy and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and to investigate the role of sociodemographic and clinical variables as possible confounders. Methods Cross-sectional study of patients with IHD recruited from a stratified sample of general practices in two Australian states (Queensland and South Australia) between 2007 and 2009. Health literacy was measured using a validated questionnaire and classified as inadequate, marginal, or adequate. Physical and mental components of HRQoL were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF12) questionnaire. Analyses were adjusted for confounders (sociodemographic variables, clinical history of IHD, number of CVD comorbidities, and CVD risk factors) using multiple linear regression. Results A total sample of 587 patients with IHD (mean age 72.0±8.4 years) was evaluated: 76.8% males, 84.2% retired or pensioner, and 51.4% with up to secondary educational level. Health literacy showed a mean of 39.6±6.7 points, with 14.3% (95%CI 11.8–17.3) classified as inadequate. Scores of the physical component of HRQoL were 39.6 (95%CI 37.1–42.1), 42.1 (95%CI 40.8–43.3) and 44.8 (95%CI 43.3–46.2) for inadequate, marginal, and adequate health literacy, respectively (p-value for trend = 0.001). This association persisted after adjustment for confounders. Health literacy was not associated with the mental component of HRQoL (p-value = 0.482). Advanced age, lower educational level, disadvantaged socioeconomic position, and a larger number of CVD comorbidities adversely affected both, health literacy and HRQoL. Conclusion Inadequate health literacy is a contributing factor to poor physical functioning in patients with IHD. Increasing health literacy may improve HRQoL and reduce the impact of IHD among patients with this chronic CVD.

Reporting of trans- fat on labels of Brazilian food products

OBJECTIVE The present study investigated how trans-fat is reported on the packaging of foods sold in a Brazilian supermarket. DESIGN The present descriptive, cross-sectional study analysed the ingredient list, nutrition facts label and claims of no trans-fat on the packaging. SETTING A large supermarket in Florianópolis, Brazil. SUBJECTS All food products available at the supermarket. RESULTS Of the 2327 study products, more than half had components containing trans-fat in the ingredient list, especially hydrogenated vegetable fat and its alternative names. A small percentage of food products reported some trans-fat content on the nutrition facts label and roughly a quarter of the food products claimed to contain no trans-fat on the front of the packaging. There was very low agreement among the trans-fat content reported in the nutrition facts label, claims of no trans-fat made on the packaging and the ingredient list. CONCLUSIONS There was low agreement among the different ways of reporting trans-fat, suggesting that it is not possible to rely on the nutrition facts label or no trans-fat claims printed on the packaging of Brazilian food products. Hence, the Brazilian legislation on food labels needs to change to improve the reliability of food labels and to help control the trans-fat intake of the population.

Peso e altura autorreferidos para determinação do estado nutricional de adultos e idosos: validade e implicações em análises de dados

This study evaluated the validity of self-reported weight and height for determining nutritional status and the implications of their use for analyzing associations with health outcomes. A population-based cross-sectional study in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, in 2007 (n = 2,986) drew a sub-sample of 276 individuals aged ≥ 20 years. Mean self-reported weight was similar to measured weight; height was overestimated in men (1.4 cm) and women (2.5 cm); real body mass index (BMI) was underestimated by about 1 kg/m(2). Even with small mean differences, data variability was great. The results were influenced by gender, age, and schooling. The use of self-reported measures underestimated prevalence of overweight and obesity, and unpredictable errors were found in the analysis of association with health outcomes (underestimation, overestimation, and reversal of real effect measures). Correction equations reduced the mean differences but did not resolve variability of the differences, classification errors, or biases in the associations.

Prevalência e fatores associados ao consumo de frutas, legumes e verduras entre adolescentes de escolas públicas de Caruaru, PE

This is a cross-sectional school-based study that evaluated the prevalence and associated factors of the daily intake of fruit and vegetables by adolescents at public schools in Caruaru, Pernambuco. Poisson regression with a hierarchical model, including sociodemographic variables in the first hierarchical level, behavioral variables in the second and diet-related variables in the third was used to assess the factors associated with fruit and vegetable intake. The results showed that of the 600 adolescents interviewed, 10% reported never eating fruit and 30.7% mentioned not eating vegetables. Prevalence of fruit intake was 32.9% and vegetables 29.0%. Only 6.5% reported eating both kinds of food daily. Merely the daily vegetable intake showed a significant difference according to sex (higher among girls). Daily fruit intake was 63% higher among adolescents living in urban areas. Not consuming alcohol was associated with higher fruit intake, though not to vegetable intake. Daily intake of fruits and vegetables was 2.4 times higher among adolescents who consumed rice and beans daily. Daily fruit and vegetable intake among adolescents in Caruaru is below the recommendations, and was associated with gender, residence area, consumption of alcoholic beverages and consumption of rice and beans.

Seasonality of infant feeding practices in three Brazilian birth cohorts

Background We assessed the influence of season of birth on duration of breastfeeding and other feeding patterns in three population-based birth cohort studies in the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Methods In 1982, 1993 and 2004, all hospital-born children in the city were enrolled in three cohort studies (n = 5914, 5249 and 4287, respectively). Children and their mothers were periodically visited in the first 2 years of life, to collect information on the duration of breastfeeding and the ages at which different types of foods were introduced on a regular basis. Two independent variables were studied: month of birth and mean environmental temperature in the first month of life. Survival analyses and chi-squared tests were used to evaluate the associations. Temperature-based slope indices of inequality were also calculated. Results Duration of breastfeeding was lower among children born from April to June (months preceding winter) and spending their first month of life in colder temperatures. The influence of season of birth on breastfeeding patterns and the introduction of cows milk differed according to maternal education, with the strongest effects among children belonging to less educated mothers. Early introduction of fruits (1982 and 1993 cohorts) and vegetables (1982 cohort) were also associated with lower environmental temperature in the first month of life, but not with trimester of birth. Conclusion Colder temperatures adversely affect duration of breastfeeding and feeding patterns in infancy, especially among the poorest. This finding should be considered in breastfeeding promotion programmes.

Sampling: how to select participants in my research study?

Background In this paper, the basic elements related to the selection of participants for a health research are discussed. Sample representativeness, sample frame, types of sampling, as well as the impact that non-respondents may have on results of a study are described. The whole discussion is supported by practical examples to facilitate the readers understanding. Objective To introduce readers to issues related to sampling.

Sample size: how many participants do I need in my research?

The importance of estimating sample sizes is rarely understood by researchers, when planning a study. This paper aims to highlight the centrality of sample size estimations in health research. Examples that help in understanding the basic concepts involved in their calculation are presented. The scenarios covered are based more on the epidemiological reasoning and less on mathematical formulae. Proper calculation of the number of participants in a study diminishes the likelihood of errors, which are often associated with adverse consequences in terms of economic, ethical and health aspects.