[Measurement, monitoring and knowledge of blood pressure: May Measurement Month, Colombia 2017]. / Medición, control y conocimiento de la presión arterial: Iniciativa Mayo Mes de la Medición Colombia 2017.

AIM: To describe the findings of implementing May Measurement Month 2017 in the adult Colombian population to raise awareness of the importance of blood pressure measuring, monitoring, and awareness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: May Measurement Month is a cross-sectional survey that follows the directives of the International Society of Hypertension and the World Hypertension League, which gathers information on cardiovascular risk factors and blood pressure readings. Its implementation in Colombia was lead by the Santander Ophthalmological Foundation (FOSCAL) and the Latin American Society of Hypertension (LASH) with the support of the Colombian Network for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (RECARDI). RESULTS: Data was collected from 11 departments on 21,797 people, 58.7% of whom were female, with an average age of 40.5±17.7 years. The overall prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) was 20.8% (self-reported antihypertensive treatment or systolic blood pressure reading [systolic blood pressure≥140mmHg]). Of the total number of hypertensives, 46.5% had systolic blood pressure readings classified as uncontrolled (systolic blood pressure<140mmHg), and 26.4% were unaware that they were hypertensive who, in this report, we consider to be new cases of HBP. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of (elevated) blood pressure is high in this young adult population, whose lack of awareness of HBP is also high, and HBP in those aware of their condition is poorly controlled. These results highlight the need to implement effective detection programmes for hypertensive patients and to establish standardised treatments to improve HBP control as a strategy to reduce cardiovascular events.

[The tobacco habit among the workers in a general hospital. A survey report]. / Hábito tabáquico entre trabajadores de un hospital general. Informe de una encuesta.

Survey among the workers of a general hospital to investigate how may of them smoke by means of a closed questionnaire given to 1092 Subjects. Smoking habit was positive in 678 (62.1%) and negative in 414 (37.9%); statistical difference was significant p 0.01. The rate for nocturnal workers was 80.0 in comparison with those of the morning and evening with 55.81 and 62.38 respectively. Men smokers had 66.79 of rate and women 57.55 with no statistical difference. Cigarette was the most common form of tobacco consumption, pipe and cigars were very rate. The most important number of smokers were 31-40 (65.4% and 21-30 (62.7%) years old, very few under 21 but among these 63% were smokers. Smoking habit was more common in the groups of high schooling [correction of scolarity]. Physicians were an important group of smokers, 61.6 per cent of 284 use to smoke while working in the hospital. Other characteristics of smokers are discussed and it is concluded that is necessary to take action to get a tobacco free hospital.

[Who smoke at a general hospital? Clinical comment]. / Quiénes fuman en un hospital general? Comentario clínico.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tobacco consumption is a public health problem. Hospitals are not free of this circumstance because there are smokers inside these institutions; thus, it is important to identify who smoke in hospitals. METHOD AND RESULTS: A general survey with closed questions was carried out among 659 workers at a tertiary level general hospital. Smoking habit was positive in 184 employees and negative in 475. The majority of smokers were married and worked in the administrative offices, 46 of which belong to the medical area. Academic level was not an important determinant for tobacco consumption. The habit began between 10 to 20 years of age, mainly in relation with a sensation of pleasure, relaxation, and the need to smoke. CONCLUSIONS: The main site for smoking was the working area, 70% of nonsmokers are converted passive non-voluntary smokers. It is important to take actions to avoid tobacco smoking in hospitals in pursuit of a hospital environment free of tobacco smoke.

A candle means night.

PIP: The Program for the Introduction and Adaptation of Contraceptive Technology de Mexico (PIACT de Mexico) developed a series of pamphlets for use by rural, illiterate, Mexican women. The graphic design and pictorial sequence were the most important features of the pamphlets which answered questions such as where to obtain oral contraceptives and how to use them. The director of the material development must have rapport with the target audience, who should be involved in the content, sequence, and identification of symbols. Content must be limited to important messages. 10 messages can be portrayed in a pamphlet. Nonverbal materials require more time and effort than verbal materials. Several groups of women were asked to arrange the individual messages into the sequence that was most logical to them. In a test of the pamphlet's effectiveness, 700 interviews of illiterate women found that 70% understood 13 pages and 60-70% could interpret the remaining 3. The pamphlet was 16 pages long and printed in black and white. Backgrounds were kept simple, and a combination of photographs of professional models and line drawings told the stories.^ieng

Sex roles in instructional materials: testing the stereotypes.

This special report discusses the significance and potential benefit of portraying men in nontraditional sex roles within pictorial instructional print materials on health and child care. It is based on the cognitive and behavioral findings of a comparative research study conducted in selected rural and periurban areas of Mexico on the use of two versions of an ORS pictorial pamphlet. Major findings of the study were: (1) portraying nontraditional sex roles for men in the ORS pamphlet did not reduce the credibility of technical information contained in the pamphlet; (2) a significantly greater number of subjects preferred the version that portrayed the father figure as co-caretaker of a sick child. These unexpected results have important implications for instructional and motivational communication and health education projects throughout the developing world.