Paula Nelas

Risk factors associated with urinary incontinence in Portugal and the quality of life of affected women

To identify risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) and assess the quality of life (QoL) of affected women.

Oral and Gastric Helicobacter Pylori: Effects and Associations

Introduction This study consisted in the comparison of the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) present in the stomach and in saliva of a sample of Portuguese adolescents and the assessment of the association between H. pylori infection with socio-demographic variables and prevalence of dental caries. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was designed including a sample of 447 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years old, attending a public school in Sátão, Portugal. A questionnaire about socio-demographic variables and oral health behaviors was applied. Gastric H. pylori infection was determined using the urease breath test (UBT). Saliva collection was obtained and DNA was extracted by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in order to detect the presence of oral H. pylori. Results The prevalence of gastric H. pylori detected by UBT was 35.9%. Within the adolescents with a gastric UBT positive, only 1.9% were positive for oral H. pylori. The presence of gastric H. pylori was found to be associated with age (>15years, Odds ratio (OR)=1.64,95%CI=1.08-2.52), residence area (urban,OR=1.48,95%CI=1.03-2.29) and parents´ professional situation (unemployed,OR=1.22,95%CI=1.02-1.23). Among those with detected dental caries during the intra-oral observation, 37.4% were positive for gastric H. pylori and 40.2% negative for the same bacterial strain (p=0.3). Conclusions The oral cavity cannot be considered a reservoir for infection of H. pylori. Gastric H. pylori infection was found to be associated with socio-demographic variables such as age, residence area and socioeconomic status.

Family culture and adolescent sexuality.

BACKGROUND Adolescence is characterized by an increase in autonomy and the transformation of family relationships. Their experience has different meanings in future quality of life. OBJECTIVES To analyze the relationship between the sociodemographic variables, of Sexual context and attitudes adopted by teenagers facing sexuality with the organizational culture of the family. METHODS Observational descriptive and correlational, transversal study. The non-probabilistic convenience sample consists of 1216 adolescents attending the 9th year of study in Portuguese Public Schools and is part of the project PTDC/CPE-CED/103313/2008, the questionnaire applied was family organizational culture of Nave (2007) and attitudes towards sexuality of Nelas et al (2010). RESULTS The majority lives in a village (47.5% of boys and 50.0% girls) .12.9%of boys do not use condoms in all relationships, and the same applies to 17.8% of girls. They belong mostly (55.8% boys and 49.5% girls) to a family with poor interpersonal relationships culture. The majority (51.8%) males and (58.9%) females have a family with moderate heuristic culture. Boys and girls (33.6% and 36.9%) both demonstrate a predominantly moderate hierarchy family culture and a moderate social goals family culture as well. Adolescents who have a bad attitude towards sexuality, mostly (43.2%) present a weak interpersonal relationships family culture with statistical significance (χ(2)=32,092, p=0.000) and have moderate hierarchy family culture and also moderate social goals family culture, without statistical significance. CONCLUSION The family that loves, welcomes and cares is the same that educates and informs about sexuality, promoting youth empowerment making them safer, healthier and happier.

Living Conditions and Helicobacter pylori in Adults

Introduction Infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is transmissible and is considered a public health issue which affects people of all ages. The objective of this study was to identify factors (lifestyles, dietary factors, and hygiene conditions) related to the prevalence of H. pylori infection. Methods We carried out an observational cross-sectional study with a community sample of adults from the municipalities of Viseu and Sátão, Portugal. The final sample resulted in 166 adults. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire with questions regarding sociodemographic aspects and lifestyles. H. pylori infection was identified using the 13C-urea breath test. Results No association was found between the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the use of tobacco, alcohol, or coffee or dietary factors. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher in adults who reported higher consumption of fried food and lower consumption of vegetables and fruit. H. pylori infection was significant for the variables of lower frequency of handwashing before going to the bathroom (p = 0.02) and well water consumption (p = 0.05). Conclusion A significant association was found for H. pylori infection with the lower frequency of handwashing before going to the bathroom and the consumption of well water.

Pregnancy and childbirth: What changes in the lifestyle of women who become mothers?

Pregnancy is a period influenced by the interaction of several factors, therefore this study aimed to identify changes in lifestyles due to pregnancy and childbirth in Portuguese and immigrant women in Portugal. This is a qualitative study, using the semi-structured interview, with eighty-two Portuguese and immigrant women. Content analysis was used, with verbatim classification supported by Nvivo 10. It was authorized by an Ethics Commission. Results revealed that the primary changes in lifestyles due to pregnancy were in eating habits (nutrition), daily activity, exposure to danger, sleep and rest patterns, social and family relationships, going out, self-care, work, clothing and footwear, travel, health monitoring and sexual activity and substances consumption. The main change after the birth, manifested by these women, was that their lives began to revolve around their baby.O decurso da gravidez e determinado pela interacao de diversos fatores, pelo que este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer as mudancas nos estilos de vida provocadas pela gravidez e pelo parto em mulheres imigrantes e portuguesas. Estudo de natureza qualitativa, exploratorio, que recorreu a entrevista semiestruturada, em oitenta e duas mulheres imigrantes e portuguesas. Foi utilizada a analise de conteudo com a categorizacao do verbatim suportada pelo Nvivo 10. O estudo foi autorizado por uma Comissao de Etica. Os resultados apontaram como principais mudancas ocorridas nos estilos de vida, provocadas pela gravidez, as relacionadas com a alimentacao, atividade diaria, exposicao a perigos, sono e repouso, relacoes sociais e familiares, saidas, cuidado consigo propria, trabalho, vestuario e calcado, viagens, vigilância de saude, vivencias da sexualidade, e consumos. A principal mudanca, apos o parto, manifestada por estas mulheres, foi que a sua vida passou a ser gerida em funcao do bebe.

Anxiety and depression in adolescents with hostile behaviour.

INTRODUCTION Adolescents go through a phase characterised by physical, mental, psychological and social changes which justify periods of hostile behaviours. The occurrence and intensity of these behaviours may correspond to a psychopathological condition that will affect their future lives. The aim of this research is to identify the socio-demographic and family background variables that influence hostile behaviours in adolescents and to analyse the influence of depression and anxiety in hostile behaviours in adolescents. METHODS This is a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study with epidemiological characteristics. The sample consists of 1890 adolescents, 863 (45.7%) boys and 1027 (54.3%) girls whose average age is 16.26 years. The data collection instrument includes the socio-demographic and family background and anxiety, depression and hostile behaviours in adolescence measurement scales: the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, the Depression Scale and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. RESULTS We found that the prevalent group is between 17 and 21 years old (40.3%) 41.4% boys and 39.4% girls; the highest percentage of the adolescents (37.8%) are in the 10th year of schooling; 50.7% live in the city, 70.0% live with their parents; the monthly household income is medium-high (56.7%) for (56.5%) girls; 3.5% of the adolescents exhibit depressive symptoms, mostly girls who are 17 or older; girls have higher levels of anxiety-trait and boys of anxiety-state. CONCLUSIONS We may conclude that only depression has a relationship with hostile behaviours. It is higher in adolescents with these behaviours. The presence or absence of anxiety is not related to the hostile behaviour in adolescents.

Woman’s Satisfaction with Her Water Birth Experience

Maternal and obstetric health specialist nurses focus their attention on the human responses to life transitions, particularly in physiological situations. The appearance of associations, in Portugal, for physiological birth defence and for water births defence was the reason for this research. This is a qualitative, phenomenological study from the Max Van Manen perspective with the aim to understand the experience of mothers who had one or more water births in Portugal. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who had at least one experience of childbirth in the water. The data were collected between July 2017 and February 2018. From the qualitative analysis of the data emerged seven categories. Considering the dimension of this study only two of these categories are possible to be presented in this article, namely: the benefits of water; and the woman’s satisfaction manifestations with the experience of physiological labour in water.

A satisfação, realização e exaustão dos enfermeiros em Portugal

Background: Changes the level of the professional career and working conditions, implies impairment of physical and mental health, with prejudice on satisfaction, fulfillment and exhaustion of nurses in Portugal. Objectives: Verify if the socio-demographic and professional variables interfere with exhaustion, satisfaction, personal and professional fulfillment. Consider whether job satisfaction interfere with the exhaustion felt by nurses in Portugal. Methodology: It is a quantitative, descriptive, correlational and analytical, retrospective and cross study, whose non-probabilistic sample consists of 534 Portuguese Nurses (23.8% men and 76.2% women), aged between 21 and 57 years (m = 34.83). It was used as data collection the sociodemographic and professional questionnaire, Satisfaction and achievement Scale the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The data was processed with the SPSS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 24 for Windows. Results: The variables: sex, marital status; age; specialized training; time of service; weekly working hours and mode; rewards; public/private institution type, interfere with exhaustion, satisfaction, personal and professional fulfillment. Nurses who show emotional exhaustion and depersonalization are least satisfied (MW = 347.60); (OM = 299.79) respectively. In terms of personal achievement prevail manifested the ones who are very satisfied (MW = 301.40). The entire assessment of burnout level, there is a predominance of little satisfied Nurses (MW = 327.05). Conclusion: In the light of the results obtained and the specificity of the work is urgent implement measures in the management and direction of the health institutions in the sense to lessen the workload by hiring nurses and other measures as the development of intervention programs on time management, conflict, interpersonal relationship and communication; Encourage the recognition of work, valuation and delegation of powers and system of rewards of nurses.

The Evidence-Based Practice: Breastfeeding as a Preventive Factor for Postpartum Depression

Post-partum is expected to be a time of joy. However, this is not always the case, as it can be a time marked by moments of sadness, fatigue and discouragement. This study intended to obtain the best scientific evidence to understand whether breastfeeding has a preventive effect on postpartum depression. For this, an integrative review of the literature was made on the relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum depression through the databases: EBSCO host, LILACS, PubMed, SciELO, institutional repositories and Google Scholar. Most studies identify breastfeeding as being preventive of postpartum depression, highlighting its importance for the puerperium’s mental health and consequently reducing the chances of developing postpartum depression. An informed and supported woman about breastfeeding will be able to feel confident in her new role. A constant investment by the health team, initiated during the couple’s planning process for pregnancy, is essential, and is maintained throughout pregnancy, delivery and postpartum.

The Informal Intercultural Mediator Nurse in Obstetrics Care

Cultural practices linked to maternity require profound knowledge and respect for each woman and for what they consider as making sense in their experience of becoming a mother. However, the same senses are not always shared by the participants, justifying the need for intercultural mediation. The aim of this study was to understand the intercultural mediation in nursing care in obstetrics. It is a qualitative study, using the semi-structured interview to 15 obstetric nurses and analysis of the content supported by NVivo 10. Emerging categories were: meaning attributed to the intercultural mediation, principles of intercultural mediation; functions of informal intercultural mediator nurses, and reasons for intercultural mediation in obstetrics. We conclude that although in their clinical practice in obstetrics, nurses sometimes exercise informal intercultural mediator functions; they need training in intercultural mediation, which is evident from the opinions of the participants.