Factors Associated with Motor Competence in Preschoolers from a Brazilian Urban Area.

Background: Preschool is a crucial period for developing motor skills. Objective: This study evaluated factors associated with motor competence in preschoolers from a Brazilian urban area. Methods: A total of 211 preschoolers (51.2% girls and 48.8% boys) were evaluated. Body mass index was calculated; the Brazilian Economic Research Criterion, the Mini-Mental Scale (MMC) and the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale®, Revised (ECERS-R™) were applied; the Habitual Physical Activity time was recorded; the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2) was performed. Univariate analysis was performed using simple linear regression for the independent variables, considering the motor test subscales as dependent variables. Variables with p < 0.20 in the univariate analysis were considered for the multiple linear regression model and were entered into the stepwise method. Results: The independent variables remaining in the Standard Score Locomotor model were BMI, presence of park at school, and MMC (R2 = 0.16). The independent variables remaining in the Standard Object Control score were MMC and gender (R2 = 0.03). The variables associated with the highest scores of Gross Motor Quotient were MMC, body mass index, and presence of a park at school, respectively (R2 = 0.11). Conclusion: Male eutrophic preschoolers who are physically active and attend schools with parks or courtyards in a Brazilian urban area have the highest scores for global cognitive function and motor competence.

Physical environmental opportunities for active play and physical activity level in preschoolers: a multicriteria analysis.

BACKGROUND: Active play opportunities seems to influence the level of physical activity during childhood. However, a gap remains about which environmental opportunities including the daycare physical environment could have a positive impact on the level of physical activity in preschoolers. OBJECTIVES: (1) To develop an index to measure the environmental opportunities of free active play for preschoolers of middle-income countries; (2) to check the relationship and contribution of the index to explain objectively the level of physical activity. METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional, exploratory study with 51 preschool children. The established criteria for the index according to the literature were: (1) Outdoor time on typical days of the week. (2) Outdoor time on a typical weekend day. (3) The presence of internal space and external environment in the child's home that allows playing. (4) Presence of patio with space for games at the school. (5) Presence of a playground with a toy at the school. We applied multi-attribute utility theory for the determination of the multicriteria index of physical environmental opportunities. Pearson's correlation analysis and simple linear regression were used to verify the association between the index and the physical activity level. RESULTS: The index showed a positive correlation with the level of physical activity, e.g., the average time of MVPA (r = 0.408, p = 0.003). The univariate linear regression demonstrated that the quality of physical environmental opportunities for physical activity explained 20% of the preschooler's classification as active and 16% of the time in moderate to vigorous physical activity (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Physical environmental opportunities for active play have a positive effect on physical activity in preschoolers and should be encouraged in different social segments.

Risk factors for common mental disorders in health care workers in the city of Diamantina, state of Minas Gerais.

INTRODUCTION: The increased prevalence of mental health symptoms in primary care workers in recent years is a major cause of concern, and highlights the need to identify modifiable risk factors for mental health disorders in this population. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors in primary care workers in the city of Diamantina, state of Minas Gerais. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, exploratory study involving 203 workers in different sectors of primary health care. Participants completed the Self-Report Questionnaire (20 item version), the Job Stress Scale (JSS), and a form with questions regarding sociodemographic factors, occupational characteristics, lifestyle and habits. RESULTS: The prevalence of common mental disorders in the sample was 20.2%. These disorders were significantly associated (p ≤ 0.05) with younger age, poor self-assessed health, poor sleep quality and physically demanding work. CONCLUSIONS: Poor working conditions may directly and indirectly affect the occurrence of mental health disorders by influencing lifestyle and habits. The restructuring of organizational norms, together with worker support policies, may positively contribute to the mental health of workers.

Workplace violence among municipal health care workers in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2017.

BACKGROUND: Health care workers stand out in recent studies as a function of high rates of workplace violence. OBJECTIVE: To calculate the prevalence of workplace violence involving health care workers and associated factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with municipal health care workers in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected in interviews from December 2016 through March 2017. Variable workplace violence was considered as outcome on univariate and multivariate analysis. Descriptive and analytical statistical techniques were used (Poisson regression). RESULTS: The study population comprised 203 municipal health care workers (79% response rate). The prevalence of workplace violence was 40.4-47.9% for women and 22.0% for men. Occupational factors associated with violence were job satisfaction, support at work and psychological demands. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rates we found and associated factors point to the relevance of health protection policies targeting this category of workers which may contribute to mitigate the negative effects of violence on the health of workers and consequently on the quality of care delivery.

INTRODUÇÃO: Trabalhadores do setor saúde são destaques em estudos recentes pelas proporções significativas de vivência de violência no trabalho. OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência e os fatores associados à violência entre trabalhadores da saúde. MÉTODO: Estudo de corte transversal, realizado com trabalhadores municipais de saúde. A coleta de dados ocorreu de dezembro de 2016 a março de 2017, por meio de entrevistas a trabalhadores da saúde de Diamantina (MG). Para a análise, a variável violência no trabalho foi tratada como desfecho em análises bivariada e múltiplas. Foram utilizadas técnicas de estatística descritivas e analíticas (regressão de Poisson). RESULTADOS: Participaram da pesquisa 203 trabalhadores municipais de saúde (taxa de resposta de 79%). A prevalência de violência no trabalho foi de 40,4% no total, sendo de 47,9% entre as mulheres e de 22,0% entre os homens. Os fatores do trabalho associados à violência foram a satisfação com o trabalho, o baixo apoio e a alta demanda psicológica no trabalho. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência evidenciada e as associações sugeridas direcionam para a necessidade de reformular e criar políticas de proteção à saúde dos trabalhadores da saúde de modo que amenize os possíveis efeitos dessa experiência na saúde do trabalhador e na qualidade do serviço prestado.

[Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: the profile of workers receiving welfare benefit in Diamantina (MG, Brazil)]. / Distúrbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho: o perfil dos trabalhadores em benefício previdenciário em Diamantina (MG, Brasil).

The objective of this study was to identify the profile of workers receiving temporary or permanent benefit for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) at the Social Welfare Office in Diamantina between 2002 and 2005, and to compare the prevalence among this population. The sample was obtained through analysis of the database containing socio-demographic and clinical variables, and the profile was similar over the years. The most prevalent characteristics were among workers resident in Diamantina, between 40 and 59 years of age of elementary educational level and without difference in gender. The majority were employed in the service sector, with income below US$200 per month. The benefit granted most frequently was social welfare due to illness, the most common diagnosis being back pain with duration of benefit of 10 months. An increase in the incidence of WMSD was observed leading to a marked rise in social welfare retirement due to disability over the years. This study made it possible to establish the profile of workers retired due to WMSD in Diamantina. This tendency of growth in retirement indices reflects the world tendency. The need to implement prevention, promotion and rehabilitation policies for the health of this population arises as a clear priority from this study.