Social capital and the use of health services: a cross-sectional study among brazilian older adults / Capital social e a utilização de serviços de saúde: estudo transversal entre idosos brasileiros

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate the association between social capital and the use of health services among Brazilian non-institutionalized older adults living in an urban metropolitan area. METHODS: The sample was comprised of 2,052 respondents aged 60 or older. Individual Social Capital was measured by The World Bank Integrated Questionnaire (IQ-MSC) dichotomized in "low" and "high" social Capital. Use of health services, community engagement, familiar functionality, and social demographics were assessed. RESULTS: Individuals who belonged to the low social capital group were 73% more likely to have a medical appointment in the 6 months previous to the interview [OR = 1.76; 95%CI 1.19­2.52] compared to the high social capital group. In the opposite direction, individuals who belonged to the low social capital group were 29% less likely to have a dental appointment regularly [OR = 0.71; 95%CI 0.51­0.98], were 88% less likely to be engaged in community projects [OR = 0.12; 95%CI 0.09­0.15], and 42% less likely to have a good familiar functionality [OR = 0.58; 95%CI 0.37­0.88], compared to the older adults who had high levels of social capital. Conclusion: Individual low social capital affected the pattern that older adults used health services in the investigated population differently.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a associação entre o capital social e a utilização de serviços de saúde entre idosos brasileiros não institucionalizados residentes em uma região metropolitana. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta de 2.052 respondentes com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos. O capital social individual foi medido por meio do Questionário Integrado do Banco Mundial, dicotomizado em "baixo" e "alto" capital social. O uso de serviços de saúde, engajamento comunitário, funcionamento familiar e demografia social foram avaliados. RESULTADOS: Indivíduos pertencentes ao grupo de baixo capital social apresentaram 73% mais necessidade de terem atendimento médico nos últimos seis meses anteriores à entrevista [OR = 1,76; IC95% 1,19­2,52], comparados ao grupo de alto capital social. Na direção oposta, indivíduos pertencentes ao grupo de baixo capital social apresentaram-se 29% menos propensos à necessidade de atendimento odontológico regular [OR = 0,71; IC95% 0,51­0,98], 88% mostraram ter menos chances de engajar-se em atividades comunitárias [OR = 0,12; IC95% 0,09­0,15], e 42% menos probabilidade de terem um bom funcionamento familiar [OR = 0,58; IC95% 0,37­0,88], comparado a idosos que apresentaram maiores níveis de capital social. CONCLUSÃO: Baixos níveis de capital social individual afetam diferentemente o padrão de utilização dos serviços de saúde na população investigada.

Association between binge drinking, type of friends and gender: a cross-sectional study among Brazilian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Hazardous drinking among adolescents is a major public health concern. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of binge drinking/alcohol consumption and its association with different types of friendship networks, gender and socioeconomic status among students in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a representative random sample of 891 adolescents (41% male, aged 15-19 years) from public and private schools in 2009-2010. Information on friendship networks and binge drinking was collected using two validated self-administered questionnaires: the Integrated Questionnaire for the Measurement of Social Capital and the first 3 items in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT C). We used the area-based Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), mother and father's educational background, and the type of school to assess socioeconomic status. The chi-squared test was used to examine the associations between sample characteristics or the type of friends and binge drinking (p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant). Ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate the association between binge drinking and the independent variables. RESULTS: A total of 321 (36%) adolescents reported binge drinking (5 or more drinks in one occasion), and among them, 233 (26.2%) adolescents reported binge drinking less than monthly to monthly, and 88 (9.9%) weekly to daily. Binge drinking was associated with being male (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.01-2.28) and with living in a low vulnerability area (having the best housing conditions, schooling, income, jobs, legal assistance and health) (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.05-2.62). Students who reported that their closest friends were from school (as opposed to friends from church) had an increased risk of binge drinking (OR = 3.55, 95% CI 1.91-5.87). In analyses stratified by gender, the association was significant only among the female students. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of binge drinking was high in this sample of Brazilian adolescents, and gender, low social vulnerability and friendship network were associated with binge drinking.

Erosion of lizard diversity by climate change and altered thermal niches.

It is predicted that climate change will cause species extinctions and distributional shifts in coming decades, but data to validate these predictions are relatively scarce. Here, we compare recent and historical surveys for 48 Mexican lizard species at 200 sites. Since 1975, 12% of local populations have gone extinct. We verified physiological models of extinction risk with observed local extinctions and extended projections worldwide. Since 1975, we estimate that 4% of local populations have gone extinct worldwide, but by 2080 local extinctions are projected to reach 39% worldwide, and species extinctions may reach 20%. Global extinction projections were validated with local extinctions observed from 1975 to 2009 for regional biotas on four other continents, suggesting that lizards have already crossed a threshold for extinctions caused by climate change.