[The prevalence of infection by the hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency viruses in drug users]. / Prevalencia de la infección por los virus de la hepatitis B, C e inmunodeficiencia humana en usuarios de drogas.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate the prevalence of the hepatitis B (HBV) infection, hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its coexistence in intravenous drug users, in order to start afterwards a vaccination and sanitary training programmes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intravenous drug users attended in a health centre and in the drugs addition deshabitation centre of reference located in a marginal urban quarter. Patients were detected from the health centre. During one year (June 1995-1996) facts were collected. The age, sex, consumption, type, administration mechanism and also the described serologies were analysed. It has been carried out descriptive statistics and applied the chi-square [correction of square-ji] test. RESULTS: A study of 355 patients, 295 (83.1%) males and 60 (16.9%) females was carried out. The average age was 28.6 years (SD = 6.5). All serologies in 113 (31.8%) were available. The positive serologies for HIV, 64.6% for HBV and 64.4% had 71.1% for HCV. The three of them coexisted in a 35.4% between HIV, 39.1% of them were VHB and 88% VHC. 49.1% were VHB and VHC. The infection from any of the three virus was related with intravenous administration mechanism, but not with sex or drug type. CONCLUSION: The infection caused from the virus above mentioned is frequent in drug users. A not negligible percentage of patients could benefit from the hepatitis B vaccine administration (67.6%) or other preventive measures.

[Contraception: gypsy versus non-gypsy women]. / Anticoncepción: gitanas frente a payas.

OBJECTIVE: To find the contraceptive methods used or known by women of fertile age, and find differences between gypsy and non-gypsy women. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Primary care centre in El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona). PARTICIPANTS: Women of fertile age, who were sexually active and did not wish to become pregnant, and who attended the centre for any reason. MEASUREMENTS: From March to August 1997, a survey was conducted in which personal data, number of sexual contacts, parity, use and knowledge of contraceptive methods, if and where their method is monitored, and satisfaction with their method were asked. RESULTS: 186 non-gypsy and 126 gypsy women answered the survey. The gypsy women knew less about barrier contraception (diaphragm p < 0.0001); IUD p = 0.0003; spermicides p = 0.001), periodic abstention (p = 0.002) and definitive methods (vasectomy p < 0.0001; tubal occlusion p = 0.0004). The commonest method used by the gypsy women was coitus interruptus (p = 0.0002). Gypsy women asked for less contraceptive advice and had less monitoring of their method (p = 0.001). They had more pregnancies which led to a greater number of live children (p < 0.0001) and induced abortions (p = 0.01). They lived more often with their sexual partner (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Gypsy women know about safe methods but do not use them. They ask less for contraceptive advice and have more induced abortions. There should be family planning programmes aimed at this group, whose cultural and family features are distinct.

PIP: 186 non-Gypsy and 126 Gypsy women attending a primary care center in Barcelona for any reason during March-August 1997 were surveyed regarding personal characteristics and contraceptive knowledge and usage to assess differences between the two groups. The women were of fertile age, sexually active, and did not desire pregnancy. 92% had a regular sexual partner. 83% of the Gypsies and 65% of the others lived with the partner. The average relationship duration was 9.6 years for both groups. The most used contraceptive method was the condom for non-Gypsy women (36%) and withdrawal for Gypsy women (23%). Oral contraceptives and IUDs were the second and third most widely used for both groups, respectively. 18% of Gypsies and 4% of non-Gypsies currently used no method. The Gypsy women had significantly less knowledge of barrier methods, IUDs, spermicides, periodic continence, vasectomy, or tubal occlusion. Gypsy women were significantly less likely to seek contraceptive advice or monitoring of their contraceptive usage. The median number of induced abortions reported was 0.2 for Gypsy and 0.1 for non-Gypsy women. It was concluded that family planning programs should be tailored to promote use of effective contraceptive methods among Gypsy women, who have distinct cultural and family traits.

[The relationship between personality, attitudes and alcohol and tobacco consumption and exercise in students]. / Relación entre personalidad, actitudes y consumo de alcohol, tabaco y ejercicio en escolares.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between tobacco and alcohol use and exercise, attitudes toward these habits, and the Sensation-Seeking personality trait in students. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A transversal descriptive study was carried out in the city of Lérida in 1990 in a sample of 430 sixth-grade students and 383 eighth-grade students. The sample was obtained by random sampling of aggregates and stratified by the titularity of the school. An analysis was made of the tobacco and the alcohol use, the levels of physical exercise and the attitudes, among other variables, using the FRISC questionnaire. In eighth grade students, the Sensation-Seeking personality questionnaire was added. RESULTS: The overall scores for Emotion Seeking (EMS), Disinhibition (DIS), Sincerity, and the overall score for Sensation Seeking (SS) were higher for males. The students most active in sports had more favorable attitudes toward exercise and higher EMS and DIS scores. Smokers and drinkers had favorable attitudes toward these habits, opposed their prohibition, and had higher scores for all the subscales and the overall SS. There was a correlation between favorable attitudes toward tobacco (-0.38) and alcohol (-0.51), and the DIS score. Attitudes toward alcohol also correlated with the overall SS score. DISCUSSION: There was a close relation between habits, attitudes, and personality. Although the approach for modifying unhealthy habits should be proposed from a multifactorial perspective, the SS questionnaire could be a useful element for detecting persons who feel the need to seek new sensations and refocusing this tendency on healthier habits.

[The reliability of a self-administered questionnaire for investigation of the level of exercise, smoking habit and alcohol intake in school children]. / Fiabilidad de un cuestionario autoadministrado para investigar el nivel de ejercicio y el consumo de tabaco y de alcohol entre escolares.

BACKGROUND: The validity of self-administered questionnaires used to study habits during adolescence is often put into doubt. The aim of this study was to analyze the reliability and the aspects of validity of the presentation of a self-administered questionnaire concerning smoking habits, alcohol intake and degree of exercise. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive transversal study was undertaken in 1990 in 846 primary school children in Lleida (Spain) (444 of 6th course and 402 from 8th course). The children were randomly selected by conglomerates (unit = class) and stratified according to the type of school. The degree of exercise, smoking habits and alcohol intake of each student and the consumption perceived within the environment as well as the attitudes and beliefs related to the three habits were studied. Another test was performed in a subsample at two months to study the reliability and aspects related to validity were analyzed by concordance of interrelated questions. RESULTS: The reliability of the second test regarding the degree of exercise was found to have a correlation higher than 0.69. For the main variables related to alcohol consumption, the percentage of agreement was greater than 70% being 78% for the smoking habit. The results did not allow conclusions concerning the reliability of the variables for quantifying consumption and the age of initiation of the same to be obtained. The reliability concerning the attitudes regarding smoking (0.79-0.82) was higher that for alcohol (0.66-0.72) and exercise (0.36-0.54). CONCLUSIONS: The reliability of the variables of the questionnaires on habits of alcohol intake, smoking and degree of exercise within the environment and the attitudes is acceptable. The questionnaire studied was considered useful for studying these habits in school children.

[Early use of tobacco by students]. / Consumo precoz de tabaco en escolares.

We present the results concerning smoking prevalence and related factors from a wider cross sectional survey of a representative sample of 5th and 8th grade schoolchildren (10-11 and 13-14 years old respectively) in the city of Barcelona, Spain. The survey was done in the 1986-87 school year. During this period of life there is an increase in the presence of smoking in the social environment and a rise in use of tobacco by schoolchildren, paralleled by a modification of their personal attitudes, radically opposed to smoking in the younger ages. The construction of a model to separate smokers and non smokers on the basis of predictive variables is attempted through discriminant analysis. Results suggest the most important factors are socioeconomic (lower socioeconomic status, higher amounts of pocket money), environmental (having siblings or friends who smoke), attitudinal (agreeing with certain sentences such as "smoking makes you feel good", "smoking is not as harmful as they say", "smokers are not more interesting persons", "I like the smell of tobacco" and "I'll probably smoke in the future") and related to other health associated behaviors (lower physical activity levels, having got drunk). These data will help in the design of school health programs addressing smoking prevention and provide baseline information for their evaluation.