Factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders and disability in elementary teachers: A cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this study was to analyze factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders and disability in elementary teachers. This is a cross-sectional study from a representative sample of Brazilian elementary teachers (n = 530). Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire. Sociodemographic, work-related, and behavioural characteristics were the exposure variables. The outcomes were musculoskeletal symptoms, disability, and musculoskeletal disease. Musculoskeletal disease was used as an outcome, as well as an exposure variable when musculoskeletal symptoms and disability were the outcomes. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated by Poisson regression. Variables associated with musculoskeletal symptoms were: length of employment ≥20 years (PR = 1.41), perception of inappropriate infrastructure of schools (RP = 1.21), physical activity (PR = 0.80), and high stress (PR = 1.16) for upper limbs; high stress (PR = 1.23) and perception of inappropriate infrastructure of schools (RP = 1.16) for back/neck; common mental disorders (PR = 1.14 to 1.30), and musculoskeletal disease (PR = 1.19-1.62) for all regions of the body. Musculoskeletal disease (PR = 2.46 to 3.37) and perception of inappropriate infrastructure of schools (PR = 1.53 to 1.95) were associated to disability in all regions of the body. Length of employment >20 years was associated with disability in the upper limbs (PR = 2.06). Common mental disorders were associated with disability in the upper limbs (PR = 1.53) and back and neck (PR = 1.47) while sitting time >120 min/day was inversely associated with disability in the lower limbs (PR = 0.64). The predictors of musculoskeletal disease were length of employment ≥20 years (PR = 1.97), perception of inappropriate infrastructure of schools (PR = 1.57), strength and flexibility activities (PR = 1.66), TV viewing time ≥ 120 min (PR = 1.37), sports practice (PR = 0.39), and common mental disorders (PR = 1.39). Although the associations varied according to the outcome, common mental disorders, perception of inappropriate infrastructure of schools, high stress, and length of employment are variables to be considered in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in teachers. When analyzed as an exposure variable, musculoskeletal disease was the main predictor of musculoskeletal symptoms and disability.

[Agreement between two cutoff points for physical activity and associated factors in young individuals]. / Concordância entre dois pontos de corte para atividade física e fatores associados em jovens.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the agreement between two cutoff points for physical activity (300 and 420 minutes/week) and associated factors in youth. METHODS: The study enrolled 738 adolescents of Londrina city, Paraná, Southern Brazil. The following variables were collected by a self report questionnaire: presence of moderate to vigorous physical activity, gender, age, father and mother education level, with whom the adolescent lives, number of siblings, physical activity perception, participation in Physical Education classes, facilities available to physical activity practice and sedentary behavior. Prevalence of physical activity between criterions were compared using McNemar test and the agreement was analysed by Kappa index. Multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment was applied. RESULTS: The prevalence for physical activity was significantly different: 22,3% for 300 minutes/week and 12,8% for 420 minutes/week (p<0,05), but the agreement was strong (k=0,82, p<0,001). The variables gender, father education, physical activity perception and sedentary behavior were associated to physical activity in both analyzed criteria. Participation in Physical Education class and facilities available to physical activity practice were associated to physical activity only with 300 minutes/week cutoff point. CONCLUSION: Caution is suggested regarding cutoffs use for physical activity in epidemiological studies, considering they can result in differences in prevalence of physical activity and its associated factors.

[Malnutrition and its association with activities during leisure time among adolescents]. / Desnutrição e sua associação com atividades durante o lazer entre adolescentes.

The scope of this study is to analyze the prevalence of malnutrition among adolescents in two Brazilian cities and to analyze possible associations with leisure-time physical activity. 2782 adolescents ranging from 10 to 17 years of age enrolled in public and private schools from a city in the southeastern and another in the southern region participated in the study. Body weight and height were duly recorded. Physical activity was assessed: sports, walking; cycling and watching television. The Chi-square and Poisson regression tests were applied. The prevalence of malnutrition was 13%, being higher among females (14.5%) than among males (11.9%) (p = 0.047). Practicing sport was associated with a lower occurrence of the condition (p = 0.001). The prevalence of malnutrition was significantly lower among those who maintained moderate walking frequency in comparison with those who walked less. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in this study was considered to be high. In addition to this, inadequate nutritional status in adolescents seems associated with risk-related health behavior, such as insufficient leisure-time physical activity.

Nutrition-related habits and associated factors of Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the nutrition-related habits (NRH) of Brazilian adolescents and evaluate the associations with risk factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional school-based was carried out among high school adolescents aged 14-18 years (n = 1,759) from public and private schools from two cities. The NRH were investigated by the weekly consumption of vegetables, fruit, sweet food and fried food. Risk factors investigated were: city, sex, age, socioeconomic status and nutritional status. In statistics, Poisson regression was used with robust variance adjustment. RESULTS: Data indicated low consumption of fruits and vegetables, 70.0 and 71.0%, respectively, and high consumption of sweets and fried food, 66.7 and 63%, respectively. Boys showed risk of inadequate intake of vegetables [prevalence ratios (PR) 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.16] and fruit (PR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.16). Furthermore, adolescents who live in Maringá had greater likelihood of consuming vegetables and fruit (20 and 25%, respectively). However, they presented risk of inadequate consumption of sweets (PR 1.19, 95% CI 1.11-1.28) for adolescents who live in Presidente Prudente. CONCLUSION: We concluded that inadequate NRH show high prevalence among adolescents and indicate the need to employ educational strategies that promote the adoption of more healthy habits and behaviors.

Evaluation of the Omron MX3 Plus monitor for blood pressure measurement in adolescents.

This study analyzed the accuracy/agreement of the Omron MX3 monitor on 165 adolescents. Blood pressure was measured by the automatic monitor connected in Y with the mercury column (three consecutive and simultaneous measures). The independent measures were analyzed, and the mean differences between systolic and diastolic measures for both methods were calculated and compared with British Hypertension Society (BHS) and Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) criteria. The automatic monitor received the highest degree of BHS recommendations for systolic and diastolic blood pressures according to the BHS. The median (25th and 75th) difference between the observer and the monitor measurements was -2 (-6 and 1) mmHg for systolic and 0 (-3 and 1) mmHg for diastolic pressures. The monitor also satisfies the AAMI standard for the studied population. In conclusion, the Omron MX3 Plus monitor can be considered reliable and valid for clinical practice and is in accordance with BHS and AAMI criteria.

[Risk factors associated with overweight among adolescents from western Sao Paulo state]. / Fatores de risco associados ao excesso de peso entre adolescentes da Região Oeste Paulista.

The objective of this study was to analyze the association between being overweight and family risk factors in adolescents from Western Sao Paulo state. This cross-sectional study involved 1779 adolescents of both genders and with ages ranging between 11 and 17 years. The participants' body mass index was calculated, and the family risk factors were analyzed through a questionnaire. Excessive weight was associated with the male gender (CR = 1.55 [1.22-1.97]), studying in a private school (CR = 2.14 [1.56-2.94]) and mother's higher education (CR = 0.52 [0.33-0.83]). There is a need to implement initiatives to fight obesity in the school environment and reach the whole family structure, taking gender-related specificities into consideration.

Association between regular participation in sports and leisure time behaviors in Brazilian adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The belief that adolescents engaged in sports increase their overall physical activity level while simultaneously decreasing physical inactivity has been the foundation of many intervention programs in developing countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between regular participation in sports and both active behaviors and TV viewing during leisure time. METHODS: A total of 1752 Brazilian adolescents (812 = male and 940 = female) participated in this study. Regular participation in sports, as well as active behaviors (exemplified by walking or cycling) and TV viewing during leisure time were assessed by means of a questionnaire. The chi-square test analyzed the association between sports practice and leisure time behaviors, and the Poisson regression with robust variance indicated the magnitude of these associations. RESULTS: The prevalence of regular participation in sports was 14.8% (95% confidence interval 13.2% to 16.5%). After adjustment for all confounders, participation in sports was associated with, at the highest frequency, cycling (PR = 2.55 [1.80-3.60]) and walking (PR = 2.69 [1.98-3.64]) during leisure time. However, there was not an association between the participation in sports and frequency of TV viewing (PR = 1.28 [0.81-2.02]). CONCLUSION: This study presented data indicating that the regular participation in sports is positively associated with a higher frequency of physically active behaviors during leisure time. However, the results did not support the hypothesis that the engagement in sports necessarily decreases leisure time spent in TV viewing.