[Do socioeconomic determinants influence school menus?] / ¿Influyen los determinantes socioeconómicos en la oferta de los menús escolares?

Introduction: Introduction: the components of school menus is an important area in health strategies. Objectives: the aim of this study was to analyse differences in adherence to recommended food frequencies and other characteristics of school meals in educational centres according to the type of school and neighbourhood income. Method: schools in the city of Barcelona with a lunch service were offered a three-year review. In the three academic years, 341 schools participated: 175 were public and 165 were private. To identify any differences, the Pearson Chi-squared test or Fisher exact test were used, as appropriate. Statistical analyses were performed with the STATA SE/15 programme. Results: no statistically significant differences were found by the socioeconomic level of the school neighbourhood. Private and subsidised schools showed lower adherence to recommendations on pasta (11.1 %), red and processed meat (24.7 %), total meat (7.4 %) and fresh fruit (12.1 %), and lower use of the recommended cooking oil (13.1 %). In contrast, public schools showed lower adherence to the recommended type of frying oil (16.9 %). Conclusions: in private and subsidised schools, improvements should be recommended on the frequency of intake of certain foods. Future studies should examine the causes of lower adherence to certain recommendations in these centres.

Introducción: Introducción: la oferta de menús escolares es un área relevante en las estrategias de salud. Objetivos: analizar las diferencias en el cumplimiento de las frecuencias recomendadas de alimentos y otras características del comedor escolar en los centros educativos según su titularidad y la renta del barrio. Métodos: se ofreció la revisión trienal a los centros escolares de la ciudad de Barcelona que disponían de servicio de comedor. En los tres cursos académicos, participaron 341 centros: 175 públicos y 165 de titularidad privada. Para observar si existían diferencias, se utilizó la prueba de Pearson Chi-cuadrado o el test exacto de Fisher según el caso. Los análisis se realizaron con el programa estadístico STATA SE/15. Resultados: no se encontraron diferencias significativas según el nivel socioeconómico del barrio del centro educativo. Los centros educativos privados y concertados presentaban un menor cumplimiento en la pasta (11,1 %), las carnes rojas y procesadas (24,7 %), la carne total (7,4 %) y la fruta fresca (12,1 %), así como un menor uso del aceite recomendado para cocinar (13,1 %). Por el contrario, en los centros educativos públicos se observaba un menor cumplimiento en la recomendación del tipo de aceite para freír (16,9 %). Conclusiones: en los centros privados y concertados es necesario recomendar mejoras en la adecuación de las raciones. Se debería indagar en las causas que pueden explicar esta menor adecuación en varios aspectos como en el cumplimiento de las adecuaciones en estos centros.

Healthy and Equitable Interpersonal Relationships, Health Inequalities and Socio-Educational Interventions: A Conceptual Framework for Action.

BACKGROUND: Interpersonal relationships undoubtedly have a bidirectional connection with the health of individuals and communities. Relational models based on equity contribute to well-being, while asymmetrical relationships based on hierarchies and differences of power negatively impact mental, physical, and social health. METHODS: A conceptual framework for understanding the determinants of interpersonal relational models was developed. RESULTS: Structural determinants were identified as the combined action of systems of oppression, the socio-historical context that normalizes violence, and social stratification and segregation, consequences which included inequitable access to power, resources, and opportunities. Intermediate determinants include individual, psychosocial, behavioral, and community aspects. Structural and intermediate determinants impact health and health inequalities through multiple relational patterns that are simultaneously established and sustained by individuals and communities. The health impact of inequitable relational patterns includes: Reduced self-esteem; anxiety, stress, and depression; acceptance of violence; physical and sexual harm; suicide; and murder. CONCLUSIONS: This conceptual framework allows for the modification of relational models by influencing structural and intermediate determinants. Six areas of intervention have been identified: educative policies, school governance, physical and symbolic space, school curriculum, school-community relations, and socio-educative interventions to promote healthy and equitable relationships. Healthy and equitable relationships are associated with improved subjective well-being, health status and protection from violence. Socio-educational interventions that consider the elements of this conceptual framework may be effective in promoting healthy and equitable relational models.

[Sexism and intimate partner violence in adolescents]. / Sexismo y violencia de pareja en adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the efforts to reduce gender inequality, sexism persists. There are still few studies on this matter that consider variables such as sexual desire or migration background. The aim of this study is to analyse the social circumstances (individual and from the immediate context) associated with sexism as well as its relationship with intimate partner violence perpetration amongst adolescents. METHOD: Cross-sectional study with 1421 students aged 13-17 from Alicante and Terrassa (2019-2021). Sexism was measured with the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, which assesses ambivalent, hostile and benevolent sexism. Generalized linear models were carried out and stratified by sex to identify variables associated with sexism. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association between sexism and intimate partner violence. RESULTS: The likelihood of a high score in ambivalent sexism was higher in migrants (girls and boys: p<0.01) and adolescents with migrant parents (girls: p<0.01; boys: p<0.05). Non-heterosexual desire was negatively associated with sexism in girls (benevolent: p<0.01) and boys (ambivalent and hostile: p<0.01; benevolent: p<0.05). Hostile sexism showed association with intimate partner violence perpetration, independently of the rest of the adjustment variables included in the model, for both girls (odds ratio [OR]: 1.07; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.00-1.14) and boys (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03-1.20). CONCLUSIONS: Sexism is present amongst teenagers and its relationship with intimate partner violence is confirmed. Sexual desire and migration background should be taken into account for intimate partner violence prevention.

Dating violence and associated factors among male and female adolescents in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Dating Violence (DV) is a public health problem that is on the rise. In this paper, we aim to analyse different factors associated with DV victimization among female and male adolescents in Spain, considering socioeconomic circumstances, sexual orientation and the presence of different attitudes and experiences related to violence. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from a convenience sample of 640 ever-partnered adolescents aged 13 to 17 at schools in the cities of Alicante (n = 359, 50.1% girls) and Terrassa (n = 281, 51.9%) in the context of an educational intervention to promote healthy relationships. We calculated the prevalence of different forms of DV (physical, sexual and control and fear) and carried out multivariate regression models by sex. RESULTS: 5.5% of girls and 8.7% of boys declared having suffered lifetime physical and/or sexual violence, while 22% of girls and 20.5% of boys reported control and/or fear victimization. The likelihood of DV was higher among migrants and those with foreign-born parents (aPR girls = 2.1 CI95%: 1.1-3.9; aPR boys = 1.9: CI95%: 1.0-3.6); prior experiences of abuse (aPR girls = 1.6; CI95%: 1.0-2.6; aPR boys = 1.7; CI95%: 1.1-2.6); and those who showed higher levels of machismo (aPR girls = 1.0; CI95%: 1.0-1.1; aPR boys = 1.0; CI95%: 1.0-1.1). In girls, DV increased among those who reported lesbian/bisexual orientation and poor relationship with teachers. CONCLUSIONS: DV is socially patterned and increases among LGB adolescents (especially in the case of girls), migrants, and those with foreign-born parents, and adolescents who reported prior experiences of violence in childhood. Future DV prevention programs should consider social inequalities in the likelihood of DV and by reinforcing adolescents' abilities to recognize social support sources and reject machismo and violence.

Food consumption frequency and excess body weight in adolescents in the context of financial crisis in Barcelona (Spain).

OBJECTIVES: To describe food consumption frequency in adolescents in the context of the financial crisis in 2012, and to analyse potential fluctuations in excess body weight between 2008 and 2012. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of eating habits and excess body weight was conducted in adolescents aged 13 to 19 years old from public, subsidised and private secondary schools in Barcelona, Spain. The FRESC lifestyle risk factors survey was used, and food frequency consumption, food recommendations and body mass index were analysed according to gender, year of education and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Girls ate vegetables and fruits more frequently than boys, while the prevalence of junk food consumption was higher in boys. The prevalence of compliance with food recommendations was lower than 50% for all foods, and gender and socioeconomic differences were found for eggs, red meat and soft drinks. Regarding excess body weight, boys had a higher prevalence than girls in the 2 years analysed. Furthermore, a reduction in excess body weight was observed among girls in secondary education in the highest socioeconomic groups (28.7% [95% CI: 24.8-32.6%] in 2008 to 20.5% [95% CI: 17.1-23.8%] in 2012). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of adolescents following food recommendations is low, and gender differences were found in terms of food consumption frequency, even in the context of financial crisis. There is a need to promote programmes and policies to reduce inequalities related to eating habits and excess body weight in adolescents.

[Epidemiological analysis of tuberculous lymphadenopathy in a District of Barcelona: proposal of a diagnostic algorithm]. / Valoración epidemiológica de la linfadenitis tuberculosa en un distrito de Barcelona: propuesta de algoritmo diagnóstico.

BACKGROUND: Barcelona (Spain) has experienced a dramatic change in its demography, which is reflected in the local epidemics of tuberculous lymphadenopathy (TL). The objective of the study is to analyze the associated risk factors to TL in a district of Barcelona with an incidence above 50 cases per 10,000 inhabitants/year, which will help to construct a diagnostic algorithm. METHODS: single-centre retrospective cohort study of all cases of TL diagnosed between 1990 and 2009. Due to the demographic changes, we analyzed 2 separate study periods (1990-1999 and 2000-2009). Socio-demographic, clinical and diagnostic features were assessed and compared between both cohorts and the algorithm was constructed with these results. Data was obtained from all the patients diagnosed with TL in Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) and was sent to the Public Health Agency of Barcelona. RESULTS: in the first study period, 152 patients had TL (73.7% Spanish-born) and in the second study period 147 (70.7% immigrants). In the first period, the percentage of male immigrants was 70.5% and 57.1% were younger than 35 years old but in the second study period, there was a 58.1% of Spanish-born female patients and 69.8% above 35 years old. The percentage of HIV co-infection decreased from 69.9% to 44.2% in the second period but use of immunosuppressive treatment increased to 9.3% in Spanish-born patients. Multivariate analysis showed intravenous drug use (OR 8.2; 95%CI: 3.4-19.8) and immigrant status (OR 4.8; 95%CI: 2.7-8.3) as risk factors associated to TL. CONCLUSION: male immigrants arriving from areas with high burden of TB, younger than 35 years old and Spanish-born women, older than 35 years old, with HIV infection (although with a lower proportion than before year 2000) or receiving immunosuppressive treatment, are the groups with an increased risk of TL in our district.

[Process evaluation in relation to effectiveness assessment: experiences with school-based programs]. / La evaluación del proceso en relación con la evaluación de la efectividad: experiencias de programas en el medio escolar.

Evaluation of public health interventions usually focus on the quality of design and research methods, and less on the quality of the intervention or process evaluation. In process evaluation of school-based interventions, key issues are how completely the intervention is carried out and adherence to the protocol. In addition, exploration of intermediate variables, such as those that influence (and often predict) preventable behavior, is highly useful. This article describes the basic concepts in this topic, using examples of the effectiveness of some preventive interventions carried out in schools. The interventions discussed were mainly quasi-experimental studies, based on data from programs promoted by public health teams in the city of Barcelona. Data from process evaluation of preventive programs in secondary schools that underwent formal assessment of their effectiveness is provided. The examples are drawn from preventive programs of HIV infection or unprotected sexual intercourse (PRESSEC program) and drug consumption prevention (the PASE, PASE.bcn and x kpts programs). These examples show why the intervention process influences the impact of the programs and their results. Thorough planning of process evaluation is essential to obtain valid indicators that will identify, in the effectiveness evaluation of the intervention, the most efficacious strategies to obtain positive outcomes.