Isabel Ruiz Pérez

Factores relacionados con la no participación en el programa de detección precoz de cáncer de mama

OBJECTIVEnTo determine the causes of non-participation in a breast cancer early detection program for women in the northern area of Almería (Spain).nnnMETHODSnWe performed a case-control study. A sample of women included in a breast cancer early detection program between October 2002 and February 2004 was chosen. Participants were interviewed about family, sociodemographic and program-related variables (knowledge, accessibility, attitudes), family and personal history, and health status. Possible differences among women who attended the program and those who did not were analyzed through bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated.nnnRESULTSnA total of 720 questionnaires were completed (350 cases and 370 controls) and 291 women (40.4% of the sample) were replaced. The variables found to be independently associated with non-participation in the program were as follows: not receiving a letter (OR=11.2; 95%CI: 4.6-26.9), undergoing mammography outside the program (OR=4.4; 95%CI: 2.8-6.9), not having illnesses requiring medical examinations (OR=2; 95%CI: 1.3-3), and expressing fear of the result of mammography (OR=1.8; 95%CI: 1.2-2.6).nnnCONCLUSIONSnWomen who did not receive a letter or who underwent mammography outside the program had a greater risk of not attending the program, hence the need to improve the quality of the database. Awareness of the program should be increased among women and health education should be provided to women fearing the outcome.

Situación laboral y salud mental. Resultados de un estudio transversal

The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between employment situation and mental health in the city of Valencia. Between May and July of 1992, a cross sectional study by means of personal interviews was carried out. The total sample was 411 people of these 101 were selected through a random sampling of the working population, the rest (310) consisted of people registered with INEM selected through a predetermined sampling according to age and sex. The variable dependent (psychological morbidity) was measured through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) consisting of 28 items. The results obtained show that 36.4% of the unemployed sample displayed psychological morbidity as opposed to 23.3% of those is employment (p = 0.01). The prevalence Odds Ratio (OR) was calculated by means of a logistic regression model. Those in causal employment had a OR of 8.62 (95% CI = 2.66-27.9) as opposed to those in regular employment after adjusting for age, sex and professional status. Those that had been unemployed for more than a year had a OR of 16.02 (95% CI = 4.60-55.75) as opposed to those employment after adjusting for the same variables. These results seem to confirm a greater psychological morbidity among those with casual employment and the unemployed as opposed to those in regular employment although the transversal design of the study does not highlight any relation of casualty that might exist among the variables.

Frecuencia de infecciones de transmisión sexual y factores relacionados en Pweto, República Democrática del Congo, 2004

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of genital ulcer and urethral discharge in Pweto, Democratic Republic of Congo, and to analyze the association between the estimated prevalence and age, marital status, profession, and number of sexual partners. Methods: We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study through a survey conducted in May 2004 in a representative sample of 106 men in Pweto aged between 15 and 65 years old, with a precision of 9.5%. Questionnaire items about current or previous ulceration and urethral discharge where selfreported and referred to the previous year as of the date of the survey. To study the associations, crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated using multivariate logistic regression. Results: The prevalence was 39.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30-49) for urethral discharge and 33% (95%CI, 24-42) for genital ulcer. Soldiers were identified as a risk group independently of age, the number of sexual partners during the previous year, and marital status. The multivariate analysis showed an adjusted OR of 3.25 (95%CI, 1.10-9.95) (p < 0.05) for the frequency of urethral discharge in soldiers compared with other professions. Conclusions: The high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in Pweto and the associated factors identified prompted the initiation of a controlled condom donation program for soldiers. In conflict situations with a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and lack of health services, humanitarian aid organizations should implement prevention activities focused on risk groups.