Children's use of interactive media in early childhood - an epidemiological study / A utilização de mídias interativas por crianças na primeira infância - um estudo epidemiológico

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the prevalence of interactive media (tablets and smartphones) use by children aged two to four years old, as well as to characterize this use, and investigate habits, practices, parents' participation and opinion about their child's interactive media use. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 244 parents or legal guardians of children enrolled in daycare centers in a small Brazilian municipality was conducted. A questionnaire based on interactive media use and related habits were applied, and economic level was assessed. Children were divided into three different groups according to media use: Group 1 did not use (n=81); Group 2 uses up to 45 min/day (n=83) and Group 3 uses more than 45 min/day (n=80). Then, they were compared with regard to the sociodemographic variables and media use by the Chi-square test and Student's t-test. Results: The prevalence of interactive media use was 67.2%, with a mean time of use of 69.2 minutes/day (confidence interval of 95% - 95%CI 57.1-81.2). The activities most performed were watching videos (55%), listening to music (33%) and playing games (28%). Most parents reported allowing media use in order to stimulate their child's development (58.4%), accompanying them during use (75.2%), and limiting media time (86.4%). Conclusions: We observed high interactive media use prevalence. The predominant way of using these devices was marked by parent-child participation. Most parents reported believing in the benefits of interactive media. Passive activities were more frequent, with restricted time of use.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever a prevalência do uso de mídias interativas (tablets e smartphones) pelas crianças de dois a quatro anos de idade, assim como caracterizar esse uso, investigar hábitos, práticas, participação e opinião dos pais acerca da sua utilização. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 244 pais ou responsáveis de crianças matriculadas em creches de um município brasileiro de pequeno porte. Foi aplicado um questionário sobre hábitos de utilização de mídias interativas e investigação do nível econômico. As crianças foram divididas em 3 grupos de acordo com o uso das mídias: grupo 1 - não utiliza; grupo 2 - utiliza até 45 minutos por dia; e grupo 3 - utiliza mais do que 45 minutos por dia. Os grupos foram comparados quanto às variáveis sociodemográficas e de caracterização do uso das mídias por meio dos testes do qui-quadrado e t de Student. Resultados: A prevalência do uso de mídias interativas foi de 67,2%, com tempo médio de utilização de 69,2 minutos por dia (intervalo de confiança de 95% - IC95% 57,1-81,2). As atividades mais realizadas foram: ver vídeos (55%), escutar músicas (33%) e jogar games (28%). A maioria dos pais relatou permitir a utilização da mídia para estimular o desenvolvimento do seu filho (58,4%), acompanhá-lo durante o uso (75,2%) e limitar o tempo com a mídia (86,4%). Conclusões: Observou-se elevada prevalência do uso de mídias interativas. A forma predominante de utilização das mídias envolve conjuntamente crianças e pais, os quais acreditam nos seus efeitos benéficos. Atividades passivas são as mais realizadas, com restrição do tempo de uso.

La objeción de conciencia en el debate sobre la despenalización del aborto por tres causales en Chile / Conscientious objection in the debate on the decriminalization of abortion for three causes in Chile

ANTECEDENTES: en salud la objeción de conciencia del profesional es posible reconocerla globalmente como la negativa individual y privada para el cumplimiento de un deber jurídico considerado injusto que afecta la conciencia moral de quien objeta. En Chile ha cobrado especial relevancia en la actual discusión sobre la despenalización del aborto en tres causales, emergiendo como uno de los temas centrales. OBJETIVO: el presente artículo describe las principales características observadas en el debate público desde los primeros intentos para restablecer el aborto terapéutico hasta el actual proyecto en tramitación que intenta regular la despenalización del aborto en tres causales. La información fue obtenida a partir de la búsqueda en los principales medios de comunicación, identificando los principales actores, las instituciones y el discurso predominante. RESULTADOS: se identificaron 251 piezas de prensa y 215 actores provenientes en mayor proporción de la Cámara de Diputados, de las Universidades y del Ejecutivo. En el discurso prevalece la referencia a la objeción de conciencia individual e institucional, surgiendo la polémica en torno a su legitimidad y posibles consecuencias. DISCUSIÓN: debe evaluarse con mayor profundidad el fundamento basado en el derecho constitucional a la libertad de conciencia considerando los límites establecidos en un Estado de Derecho democrático y las directrices éticas presentes en la relación clínica. Se plantea la necesidad de regular su ejercicio previendo que no se vulneren derechos fundamentales, en especial de quienes detentan un mayor grado de vulnerabilidad.

BACKGROUND: objection on grounds of conscience by health care professionals is generally recognized as a personal, private refusal to perform a legal duty deemed unjust and deleterious to the objector's moral conscience. Conscientious objection has become a central aspect of the debate on the proposed decriminalization of abortion on three grounds currently underway in Chile. METHODS: this article describes the main constituent elements of the associated public debate, covering from the early efforts to restore therapeutic pregnancy termination through to the draft decriminalization legislation now being discussed in Congress. All data comes from a review of leading media outlets; key participants, institutions and prevailing discourses are identified. RESULTS: the said review encompassed 251 media items and 215 key players affiliated mostly with the Chamber of Deputies, universities, and government. Themes prevailing in associated discourses reference conscientious objection by personal and institutional players, as well as the attendant controversy over its legitimacy and possible consequences. DISCUSSION: this article posits that the constitutional right to freedom of conscience should be scrutinized further with due regard to the limits existing in rule-of-law democracies and to the ethical standards governing doctor-patient relationships. The exercise of conscientious objection privilege needs to be regulated in order to prevent infringement of fundamental rights, especially those of particularly vulnerable segments of the population.

News Portrayal of Cancer: Content Analysis of Threat and Efficacy by Cancer Type and Comparison with Incidence and Mortality in Korea

How the news media cover cancer may have profound significance for cancer prevention and control; however, little is known about the actual content of cancer news coverage in Korea. This research thus aimed to examine news portrayal of specific cancer types with respect to threat and efficacy, and to investigate whether news portrayal corresponds to actual cancer statistics. A content analysis of 1,138 cancer news stories was conducted, using a representative sample from 23 news outlets (television, newspapers, and other news media) in Korea over a 5-year period from 2008 to 2012. Cancer incidence and mortality rates were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service. Results suggest that threat was most prominent in news stories on pancreatic cancer (with 87% of the articles containing threat information with specific details), followed by liver (80%) and lung cancers (70%), and least in stomach cancer (41%). Efficacy information with details was conveyed most often in articles on colorectal (54%), skin (54%), and liver (50%) cancers, and least in thyroid cancer (17%). In terms of discrepancies between news portrayal and actual statistics, the threat of pancreatic and liver cancers was overreported, whereas the threat of stomach and prostate cancers was underreported. Efficacy information regarding cervical and colorectal cancers was overrepresented in the news relative to cancer statistics; efficacy of lung and thyroid cancers was underreported. Findings provide important implications for medical professionals to understand news information about particular cancers as a basis for public (mis)perception, and to communicate effectively about cancer risk with the public and patients.

News Portrayal of Cancer: Content Analysis of Threat and Efficacy by Cancer Type and Comparison with Incidence and Mortality in Korea

How the news media cover cancer may have profound significance for cancer prevention and control; however, little is known about the actual content of cancer news coverage in Korea. This research thus aimed to examine news portrayal of specific cancer types with respect to threat and efficacy, and to investigate whether news portrayal corresponds to actual cancer statistics. A content analysis of 1,138 cancer news stories was conducted, using a representative sample from 23 news outlets (television, newspapers, and other news media) in Korea over a 5-year period from 2008 to 2012. Cancer incidence and mortality rates were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service. Results suggest that threat was most prominent in news stories on pancreatic cancer (with 87% of the articles containing threat information with specific details), followed by liver (80%) and lung cancers (70%), and least in stomach cancer (41%). Efficacy information with details was conveyed most often in articles on colorectal (54%), skin (54%), and liver (50%) cancers, and least in thyroid cancer (17%). In terms of discrepancies between news portrayal and actual statistics, the threat of pancreatic and liver cancers was overreported, whereas the threat of stomach and prostate cancers was underreported. Efficacy information regarding cervical and colorectal cancers was overrepresented in the news relative to cancer statistics; efficacy of lung and thyroid cancers was underreported. Findings provide important implications for medical professionals to understand news information about particular cancers as a basis for public (mis)perception, and to communicate effectively about cancer risk with the public and patients.

Una enfermedad lejana: la información sobre poliomielitis y síndrome post-polio en la prensa hispanolusa, 1995-2009 / A disease of the distant past: information about poliomyelitis and post- poliomyelitis syndrome in the Spanish/Portuguese press, 1995-2009

Se explora el cambio en la percepción social de la polio en la Península Ibérica a través del análisis de contenidos, entre 1995 y 2009, de dos periódicos de gran tirada. La desaparición en la agenda periodística de la polio y de las personas que viven con sus secuelas influyó en el olvido de la misma en la agenda pública. La poliomielitis se vinculó a la pobreza y la ignorancia en países lejanos, susceptibles de acciones de cooperación, siendo objeto de atención solo cuando es percibida como amenaza para Occidente, vinculada a crisis sanitarias o en un sentido metafórico. Así, el síndrome post-polio fue invisibilizado en el caso portugués y débilmente representado en España por el movimiento asociativo.

The change in the social perception of poliomyelitis in the Iberian Peninsula through content analysis of two large-circulation newspapers between 1995 and 2009 is examined. The disappearance from the journalistic agenda of poliomyelitis and people living with the after-effects of the disease led it to be excluded from the public agenda. Poliomyelitis was associated with poverty and ignorance in distant countries that were susceptible to cooperation activities and only came to public attention when it was perceived as a threat to the West, linked to health crises or in a metaphorical sense. Thus, post-poliomyelitis syndrome was barely visible in the Portuguese case and poorly represented in Spain by association.

Trends and Risk Factors of the Epidemic of Charcoal Burning Suicide in a Recent Decade among Korean People

The aims of this study were to analyze annual trends of charcoal burning (CB) suicide, 2000 to 2011, and to examine the risk factors of CB suicide in Korea. Data on suicides (n=138,938) were obtained from the Statistics Korea. The proportion of CB suicides among all suicide deaths reported was 0.7% (84 cases) in 2007, and since 2008 it has rapidly increased to 7.9% (1,251 cases) in 2011. Of significant risk factors of CB suicide, the presence of the media report of Ahn's suicide was the greatest risk factor (adjusted odds ratio, 11.69; 95% CI, 10.30-13.23) of the initial phase of the continuing CB suicides since 2008. Korean Government should urgently consider effective measures against CB suicide, including enforced media regulations on reporting such suicides.

Trends and Risk Factors of the Epidemic of Charcoal Burning Suicide in a Recent Decade among Korean People

The aims of this study were to analyze annual trends of charcoal burning (CB) suicide, 2000 to 2011, and to examine the risk factors of CB suicide in Korea. Data on suicides (n=138,938) were obtained from the Statistics Korea. The proportion of CB suicides among all suicide deaths reported was 0.7% (84 cases) in 2007, and since 2008 it has rapidly increased to 7.9% (1,251 cases) in 2011. Of significant risk factors of CB suicide, the presence of the media report of Ahn's suicide was the greatest risk factor (adjusted odds ratio, 11.69; 95% CI, 10.30-13.23) of the initial phase of the continuing CB suicides since 2008. Korean Government should urgently consider effective measures against CB suicide, including enforced media regulations on reporting such suicides.

Media representation of personality disorder in Jamaica: public scholarship as a catalyst of health promotion / Representación de los trastornos de personalidad en Jamaica por los medios de difusión: la erudición pública como catalizador en la promoción de la salud

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether the public scholarship of the epidemiology of personality disorder (PD) in Jamaica prompted a health promotion outcome. METHODS: A January 2011 to December 2012 trawl of news media articles linking 'PD' to published public scholarship articles on the epidemiology of PD recorded titles and contents of the reports that were culled to capture the emotional responses and psychological defence mechanisms expressed. These were analysed with concomitant social, psychological or behavioural activities occurring in Jamaica, using SPSS version 17 software. RESULTS: Two public scholarship interventions to two major broadsheet newspapers triggered 25 contributed articles, which in turn prompted 160 responses from the public, five commentaries on leading radio stations and four Internet blogs. One hundred and sixty-six (84.2%) of the titles targeted PD in the Jamaican nation; 31 (13.7) articles targeted PD in leaders, athletes, inmates, individuals, families and productivity in Jamaica. One hundred and fifty-five (79.1%) expressed agreement with the scientific epidemiological observations, while 20.9% (n = 41) expressed disagreement. Eighty-two (41.8%) of the responses expressed rationalizations, 47 (24%) were expressions of reaction formation, 27 (13.8%) were in frank denial, while 25 (12.8%) were expressing open acting out responses or blunt projection (15, 7.7%) to the published epidemiology. The difference between 139 (70.9%) popular media responses to contemporary social problems and 57 (29.1%) reports that made no reference to social problems was statistically significant (p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis that public scholarship reports prompted a popular media response, generating a health promotion outcome linking contemporary social events to this medical research is confirmed.

OBJETIVO: Determinar si la erudición pública sobre la epidemiología de los trastornos de personalidad (TP) en Jamaica trajo como resultado un impulso a la promoción de la salud. MÉTODOS: Una serie de artículos de los medios noticiosos, publicados de enero 2011 a diciembre de 2012, vinculaban los "TP" con artículos de erudición pública sobre la epidemiología de los TP. Dichos artículos recogían títulos así como contenidos de reportes seleccionados para captar las respuestas emocionales y los mecanismos de defensa psicológica expresados. Estos fueron analizados a partir de actividades sociales, psicológicas o conductuales concomitantes en Jamaica, utilizando SPSS, la versión de software 17. RESULTADOS: Dos intervenciones de erudición pública de dos periódicos principales de gran formato desataron una contribución de 25 artículos, los que a su vez provocaron 160 respuestas del público, cinco comentarios sobre importantes estaciones de radio, y cuatro blogs de Internet. Ciento sesenta y seis (84.2%) títulos giraron en torno a los TP en la nación jamaicana; 31 artículos (13.7%) tuvieron como centro los TP en dirigentes, deportistas, individuos y familias, así como los vínculos con la productividad en Jamaica. Ciento cincuenta y cinco (79.1%) expresaron su acuerdo con las observaciones epidemiológicas científicas, mientras que el 20.9% (n = 41) expresó su desacuerdo. Ochenta y dos (41,8%) de las respuestas expresaron racionalizaciones; 47 (24%) fueron expresiones de formación reactiva; 27 (13,8%) estaban en franca negación, mientras 25 (12.8%) dieron respuestas abiertamente de pasaje al acto o proyección directa (15, 7.7%) a la epidemiología tratada en las publicaciones. La diferencia entre las 139 (70.9%) respuestas de los medios populares a los problemas sociales contemporáneos y los 57 (29.1%) reportes que no hacían referencia a los problemas sociales, fue estadísticamente significativa (p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONES: Se confirma la hipótesis de que los reportes de erudición pública provocaron una respuesta de los medios populares, trayendo como resultado una promoción de la salud que vincula los acontecimientos sociales contemporáneos con esta investigación médica.

An assessment of the effectiveness of tobacco control measures on behavior changes related to tobacco use among adolescents and young adults in a district in Sri Lanka.

Introduction: Sri Lanka became a signatory to the WHO Frame Work Convention on Tobacco Control in September 2003, and this was ratified in November 2003. With a view to reduce the use of tobacco in Sri Lanka, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act (NATA) No. 27 of 2006 was implemented. Aim: To assess the behavior changes related to tobacco use among adolescents and young adults following exposure to tobacco control measures were implemented by NATA. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 42 adolescent (aged 13-19 years) and 156 young adult (aged 20-39 years) men living in Anuradhapura Divisional Secretary area in Sri Lanka. Cases (current quitters) and controls (current smokers) were compared to ascertain the outcome following the exposure to tobacco control measures. A self-administered questionnaire and focus group discussions were used to ascertain the exposure status in cases and controls. Confounding was controlled by stratification and randomization. Univariate analysis was performed by Backward Stepwise (Likelihood Ratio) method. Results: Among 198 respondents, 66 (27.3% adolescents and 72.7% young adults) were quitters, while 132 smokers (18.2% adolescents and 81.8% young adults) were current smokers. Exposure to the anti-smoking media messages revealed that TV was the strongest media that motivated smokers to quit smoking. Majority (66%) of cases and control were not exposed to tobacco promotion advertisements, while 47% of the cases and 50% of the control had never seen tobacco advertisements during community events. All cases (66) as well as 89% (118) of the control had not noticed competitions or prizes sponsored by tobacco industry during last year ( P = 0.13). Conclusion: Tobacco control measures implemented by NATA had a favorable influence on behavior change related to smoking among quitters and current smokers.

Intention to quit among Indian tobacco users: Findings from International Tobacco Control Policy evaluation India pilot survey.

Introduction: Tobacco users face barriers not just in quitting, but also in thinking about quitting. The aim of this study was to understand factors encouraging intention to quit from the 2006 International Tobacco Control Policy (TCP) Evaluation India Pilot Study Survey. Materials and Methods: A total of 764 adult respondents from urban and rural areas of Maharashtra and Bihar were surveyed through face-to-face individual interviews, with a house-to-house approach. Dependent variable was "intention to quit tobacco." Independent variables were demographic variables, peer influence, damage perception, receiving advice to quit, and referral to cessation services by healthcare professionals and exposure to anti-tobacco messages. Logistic regression model was used with odds ratio adjusted for location, age, gender, and marital status for statistical analysis. Results: Of 493 tobacco users, 32.5% intended to quit. More numbers of users who were unaware about their friends' tobacco use intended to quit compared to those who were aware (adjusted OR = 8.06, 95% CI = 4.58-14.19). Higher numbers of users who felt tobacco has damaged their health intended to quit compared to those who did not feel that way (adjusted OR = 5.62, 95% CI = 3.53-8.96). More numbers of users exposed to anti-tobacco messages in newspapers/magazines (adjusted OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.02-3.03), restaurants (adjusted OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.37-4.46), radio (adjusted OR=4.84, 95% CI = 3.01-7.78), cinema halls (adjusted OR = 9.22, 95% CI = 5.31-15.75), and public transportation (adjusted OR = 10.58, 95% = 5.90-18.98) intended to quit compared to unexposed users. Conclusion: Anti-tobacco messages have positive influence on user's intentions to quit.

Mídia e violência: um olhar sobre o Brasil / Violence and the media: the case of Brazil

O presente artigo discute a espetacularização e a utilizaçãoda violência pela mídia para captar audiência, citando casosbrasileiros, assim como os possíveis papéis da mídia no incentivoou redução da violência. O tema violência perpassaa configuração das sociedades e seus diversos elementos,dentre os quais a mídia se destaca. O debate considera que osmeios de comunicação, como produtores de sentido, podemcontribuir para a transformação de comportamentos e hábitossociais a partir de uma abordagem que valorize a igualdade,a cidadania, a liberdade e a segurança dos sujeitos. Aorestringir a importância e a ênfase ao assunto violência, odiscurso midiático pode contribuir para uma cultura maisequânime no sentido de promover a redução dos índices deviolência.

Diga não a propaganda de cigarros / Say no to tobacco advertising

As decisões tomadas pelo Brasil com a criação de uma nova legislação para regulamentar a exibição da propaganda de cigarro nos grandes veículos de comunicação. A influência da propaganda tabagista na vida dos jovens brasileiros, expostos a este tipo de divulgação nos ambientes que frequentam. As estratégias de comunicação utilizadas pelas marcas de cigarro a fim de atraírem os jovens.

Tabaco na mídia: análise de matérias jornalísticas no ano de 2006 / Tobacco in the media: analysis of journalistic texts in the year of 2006

Visando compreender a relação entre saúde, imprensa e políticas públicas sobre tabaco no Brasil, foram analisadas matérias sobre tabaco divulgadas na imprensa brasileira no ano de 2006. Através de clipping jornalístico de oito principais jornais e revistas do país, as matérias sobre tabaco foram identificadas e posteriormente submetidas à análise de conteúdo, que permitiu categorização e classificação dos textos. A frequência de matérias de 2006 foi comparada aos anos de 2000 e 2003. Foi observado predomínio de matérias com abordagem factual (46,7 por cento). A maioria das matérias fez menção a consequências negativas, como problemas de saúde física (44,2 por cento), morte (20 por cento) e dependência (14,2 por cento). Na análise das manchetes e lides, as principais categorias observadas foram políticas de controle e o movimentos antitabagistas e divulgação de pesquisas. A frequência de matérias de 2006 (N=120) foi semelhante ao ano de 2003 (N=124) e inferior a 2000 (N=174). A cobertura jornalística sobre tabaco em 2006 foi predominantemente restrita aos danos a saúde e ações antitabagistas. A elevada proporção de abordagem factual e a estabilização da frequência de matérias (2003-2006) podem indicar um empobrecimento na discussão sobre o tema no país.

Aiming at understanding the relation among health, press and public policies on Tobacco in Brazil, this article analyses the texts about Tobacco published in the Brazilian press in 2006. In the clipping process of eight newspapers and magazines, the information about Tobacco were identified and then submitted to content analysis allowing categorization and classification of the texts. The frequency of the texts in 2006 was compared to that of in 2000 and 2003. We observed a higher prevalence of factual approach among the texts (46.7 percent). Most of the texts mentioned the negative consequences, such as physical health problems (44.2 percent), death (20 percent) and dependence (14.2 percent). The analysis of the headlines and lead-ins showed control policies, anti-smoking movements and spreading of results as the main categories observed. The frequency of the articles in 2006 was similar to that of in 2003 and lower to that of in 2000. The journalistic coverage on Tobacco in 2006 was restricted predominantly to harm to health and anti-smoking movements. The high proportion of the factual approach and the stabilization in the frequency of texts (2003-2006) might suggest an impoverishment of the discussion on this issue in the country.

The Korean Prediction Model for Adolescents' Future Smoking Intentions / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a prediction model for future smoking intention among Korean adolescents aged 13 to 15 in order to identify the high risk group exposed to future smoking. METHODS: The data was collected from a total of 5940 students who participated in a self-administrated questionnaire of a cross-sectional school-based survey, the 2004 Korea Global Youth Tobacco Survey. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the relevant determinants associated with intentions of adolescents' future smoking. Receiver Operation Characteristic (ROC) assessment was applied to evaluate the explanation level of the developed prediction model. RESULTS: 8.4% of male and 7.2% of female participants show their intentions of future smoking. Among non-smoking adolescents; who have past smoking experience [odds ratio (OR) 2.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92 - 3.88]; who have intentions of smoking when close friends offer a cigarette (OR 31.47; 95% CI = 21.50 - 46.05); and who have friends that are mostly smokers (OR 5.27; 95% CI = 2.85 - 9.74) are more likely to be smokers in the future. The prediction model developed from this study consists of five determinants; past smoking experience; parents smoking status; friends smoking status; ownership of a product with a cigarette brand logo; and intentions of smoking from close friends' cigarette offer. The area under the ROC curve was 0.8744 (95% CI=0.85 - 0.90) for current non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: For efficiency, school-based smoking prevention programs need to be designed to target the high risk group exposed to future smoking through the prediction model developed by the study, instead of implementing the programs for all the students.

Embarazo no deseado y fuentes de información impresas y audiovisuales, en mujeres peruanas (2004-2005) / Unwanted pregnancy and access to printed media in Peruvian women

Background: It is possible that there is a relationship between reading newspapers and magazines, watching televisión and ¡istening to the radio and unwanted pregnancies. Aim: To assess the relationship between the access to printed and audiovisual information resources and unwanted pregnancy in Peruvian women. Material and methods: A sample of 5,071 women, aged between 18 and 30 years was selected from a datábase of a Demographics and Health survey performed between 2004 and 2005. Using the information obtained in the survey, the association between unwanted pregnancies and reading newspapers and magazines, was analyzed. Results: Twenty six percent of women had at least an unwanted child (n =1,327). Radio and televisión were the media mostly used by these women. Seventy five percent of women almost never read newspapers and magazines. The lack of reading and the reliance in televisión and radio as sources of information were all associated with unwanted pregnancy (p <0.001). Conclusions: In this sample of women, there is a negligible interest for reading and a high preference for radio and televisión. This explains the poor knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and the lack of impact of printed materials used in educational campaigns.

Análisis de la cobertura del tema de tabaco en medios impresos mexicanos / Analysis of coverage of the tobacco issue in Mexican print media

Se estima la frecuencia y la forma en que los medios de comunicación presentan el tema de tabaco y las políticas públicas para su control. Se recopilaron y analizaron 660 notas sobre tabaco publicadas en 2007 en seis diarios mexicanos. Se observó un gran incremento de notas en el último semestre del año, debido a la discusión de la legislación local y federal. La mayoría de las notas fue a favor del control de tabaco (49 por ciento) o neutra al respecto (41 por ciento). Los temas más presentes fueron: legislación (36 por ciento), el humo de tabaco (28 por ciento), economía (24 por ciento) y empaquetado (17 por ciento). Los actores mencionados fueron: instituciones gubernamentales (24 por ciento), legisladores (21 por ciento), tabacaleras (18 por ciento), y organizaciones no gubernamentales nacionales (7 por ciento) e internacionales (8 por ciento). Se debe aprovechar la disposición de los medios de comunicación, generalmente a favor, o con una postura neutra, para reallizar actividades de abogacía de las políticas públicas para el control del tabaco.

Estimate the frequency and manner in which mass media represent tobacco and tobacco control policies. 660 stories published in six Mexican newspapers during 2007 were content analyzed. The majority of the news stories were published in the last quarter of the year, due to discussion of pending local and federal legislation. The vast majority of the stories were in favor of tobacco control policies (49 percent) or neutral (41 percent). The most frequently occurring themes in the stories were: legislation (36 percent), tobacco smoke (28 percent), economy (24 percent), and packaging (17 percent). Actors mentioned were: governmental institutions (24 percent), legislators (21 percent), tobacco industry (18 percent), and national and international non-governmental organizations (7 and 8 percent, respectively). Advocacy efforts should take advantage of mass media, which appears generally neutral or in favor of tobacco control policies in Mexico.

Awareness of medical students about Avian flu faculty of medicine, Cairo university 2006-2007

Most experts believe that future flu pandemics are inevitable and may be imminent. And no one can expect what morbidity, mortality and economic impact it will cause. Is to addresses the importance of updated medical education strategy worried about national health problems particularly those with multidimensional aspects. Assessment of some aspects of medical student's awareness about avian flu. A stratified [academic class] random sample composed of about 10% of the total number of students enrolled in each academic year [1[st]-6[st]]. A self-administered questionnaire. About 98% of students were found to hear about the problem, Broadcasting media was the main source [72%], Migrating birds incriminated by about 84% as the source of infection, contact with infected birds [80%] was the main circumstances for infection to occur, the clinical presentation was reported to be similar or more severe than human flu by about 92%. Possibility of cure by drugs 47.4% and prevention by 89%, through avoiding bird contact 72%, by vaccination 25% and by avoiding eating birds by 10%.Medical education curriculum should be updated to include the different aspects related to avian flu as an impending pandemic

Information, education and communication for emergency contraception.

The utilisation of the emergency contraception pills is very low both in the public and private sectors. The major reason for this under-utilisation is the lack of awareness about the method among the users or the providers. A real need arises to aware the potential users or the healthcare providers like obstetrician and gynaecologists, medical practitioners, family planning counsellors, nurses and ANMs. Wider dissemination of information, education and communication about emergency contraception relating to the proper usage, mode of action and provision is the need. The information, education and communication materials developed should always be in languages socioculturally appropriate to the target audience. Mass media like TV, newspapers and women's magazine should also be included for dissemination of messages. Service providers should be informed correctly about the method. Healthcare providers would need basic scientific information of the contents of the emergency contraception pills, mode of action, indications, contra-indications, etc. Emphasis should be put on the method for use only as an emergency or 'second chance' when a primary method is not used or has failed.