Browsing by Author "Coutinho, Emilia"
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- Is the immigrant condition associated with low birth weight?Publication . Pereira, Carlos; Coutinho, Emilia; Silva, Alcione; Duarte, João; Veiga, Nélio; Chaves, Cláudia; Ferreira, Manuela; Nelas, Paula; Andrade, CláudiaBackground: Birth weight is the most important predictor of newborn health and can be associated with the neonatal and post-neonatal mortality. The aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of low birth weight in a sample of newborns and to compare with maternal birthplace. Participants and methods: In a cross-sectional approach we evaluated 1601 mother-child pairs (499 immigrant and 1102 Portuguese). Immigrants and their child were consecutively selected during the year 2010 in twenty-one Portuguese maternity hospitals. For each immigrant selected, two Portuguese were included in the study, based on the hospital’s records admission (previous and next admission). Data was collected in a face-to-face interview on the second day after delivery and with the consultation of medical hospital records. Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as a birth weight of less than 2500g and very low birth weight (VLBW) less than 1500g. Premature birth was considered if the baby was born before completing 37 weeks. Results: The prevalence of premature birth was 7.5% in Portuguese and 5.5% in immigrants (p<0.01). The prevalence of LBW in Portuguese newborns was 6.0% and in immigrants was 6.4% (p=0.41). The prevalence of VLBW was 1.0% in both Portuguese and immigrants. The prevalence of LBW differed with maternal birthplace (Brazil = 7.3%, Eastern Europe = 3.3, Western Europe = 8.2%, Africa = 5.8, Asia = 11.1%, p<0.01). Conclusions: These findings showed that the prevalence of low birth weight is similar to referred in others studies and is associated with socioeconomic and maternal variables, and not associated with immigrant condition.
- The use of psychoactive substances and adolescents’ school performancePublication . Pestana, Leonor; Duarte, Joao; Coutinho, Emilia; Chaves, Claudia; Amaral, Odete; Nelas, PaulaThe use of psychoactive substances is a public health problem. The use of these substances usually starts during adolescence and is associated with school problems, namely poor school performance. Research Questions included which psychoactive substances interfere with school performance (learning environment, planning of studies, methods of studying, reading skills, study motivation, overall school performance) in adolescents. The purpose of the study was to analyse the relationship between the use of psychoactive substances and adolescents’ school performance. The Research Methods included a cross-sectional study. Data were collected through a questionnaire which included socio-demographic information, psychoactive substances and a school performance scale (adapted from Fermin, 2005). Non-probability sampling for convenience, with 380 students from 7th, 8th and 9th grade. Data were collected in 2011/2012 among students from a Basic School in the Portuguese Municipality of Viseu. Results: There was a 4.2% of prevalence of drug use: 4,3% in boys and 4.1% in girls. For both genders, the most commonly used drugs were hashish and marijuana (43.8%). Girls (p<0.001), younger students (p<0.001), those whose parents graduated from high-school or who have a higher education (p=0.019) and students who do not use drugs (p=0.000) do better in school. We concluded that drug abuse is associated with adolescents’ poorer school performance. It is therefore important to identify risk groups and develop policies to prevent youngsters from using psychoactive substances because of the major impact they have on individual, family and social levels.
- Violência no namoro, adaptabilidade e coesão familiar em estudantes do ensino superiorPublication . Nelas, Paula; Chaves, Claudia; Coutinho, Emilia; Cruz, Carla; Amaral, OdeteEnquadramento: A violência no namoro é um problema grave, pela prevalência e consequências ao nível da saúde física e mental. Objetivos: Analisar que variáveis sociodemográficas e académicas interferem nos comportamentos de violência no namoro dos estudantes do ensino superior e determinar o modo como a adaptabilidade e coesão familiar interferem nas práticas e comportamentos de violência no namoro. Participantes: A amostra é constituída por 820 estudantes do ensino superior (idade média 20.48 anos, Dp=2.51). Método: É um estudo quantitativo, descrito-correlacional e transversal. O protocolo de investigação é um questionário. Permitiu caracterizar a amostra socio demograficamente, ao nível das Práticas e Comportamentos de Violência no Namoro com a Escala de Dixe, Rodrigues, Freire et al., 2010 e a Adaptabilidade e Coesão Familiar com a Escala de Tribuna, 2000. Resultados: É uma amostra maioritariamente feminina (69.4%), predominam os estudantes solteiros (57.2%), 46.2% frequentam um curso na área da tecnologia e 52.5% frequenta um curso na área da saúde. O sexo, o estado civil e o curso interferem nos comportamentos de violência no namoro. São os estudantes do sexo masculino, do curso na área da tecnologia e a frequentar o 1º ano que manifestam mais comportamentos de violência no namoro, sobretudo a violência stalking e a violência psicológica. A adaptabilidade e a coesão familiar não se mostraram significativas na violência física e sexual, stalking e violência psicológica. Conclusão: Face aos resultados propomos a implementação de programas (debates e fóruns) contra a violência no namoro, nas escolas, focalizados na prevenção primária.