Unhealthy lifestyles, environment, well-being and health capability in rural neighbourhoods: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases are a leading cause of health loss worldwide, in part due to unhealthy lifestyles. Metabolic-based diseases are rising with an unhealthy body-mass index (BMI) in rural areas as the main risk factor in adults, which may be amplified by wider determinants of health. Changes in rural environments reflect the need of better understanding the factors affecting the self-ability for making balanced decisions. We assessed whether unhealthy lifestyles and environment in rural neighbourhoods are reflected into metabolic risks and health capability. METHODS: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in 15 Portuguese rural neighbourhoods to describe individuals' health functioning condition and to characterize the community environment. We followed a qualitatively driven mixed-method design to gather information about evidence-based data, lifestyles and neighbourhood satisfaction (incorporated in eVida technology), within a random sample of 270 individuals, and in-depth interviews to 107 individuals, to uncover whether environment influence the ability for improving or pursuing heath and well-being. RESULTS: Men showed to have a 75% higher probability of being overweight than women (p-value = 0.0954); and the reporting of health loss risks was higher in women (RR: 1.48; p-value = 0.122), individuals with larger waist circumference (RR: 2.21; IC: 1.19; 4.27), overweight and obesity (RR: 1.38; p-value = 0.293) and aged over 75 years (RR: 1.78; p-value = 0.235; when compared with participants under 40 years old). Metabolic risks were more associated to BMI and physical activity than diet (or sleeping habits). Overall, metabolic risk linked to BMI was higher in small villages than in municipalities. Seven dimensions, economic development, built (and natural) environment, social network, health care, demography, active lifestyles, and mobility, reflected the self-perceptions in place affecting the individual ability to make healthy choices. Qualitative data exposed asymmetries in surrounding environments among neighbourhoods and uncovered the natural environment and natural resources specifies as the main value of rural well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic risk factors reflect unhealthy lifestyles and can be associated with environment contextual-dependent circumstances. People-centred approaches highlight wider socioeconomic and (natural) environmental determinants reflecting health needs, health expectations and health capability. Our community-based program and cross-disciplinary research provides insights that may improve health-promoting changes in rural neighbourhoods.

Factors associated with involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in Portugal.

BACKGROUND: Identifying which factors contribute to involuntary psychiatric hospitalization may support initiatives to reduce its frequency. This study examines the sociodemographic, clinical, and contextual factors associated with involuntary hospitalization of patients from five Portuguese psychiatric departments in 2002, 2007 and 2012. METHODS: Data from all admissions were extracted from clinical files. A Poisson generalized linear model estimated the association between the number of involuntary hospitalizations per patient in one year and sociodemographic, clinical, and contextual factors. RESULTS: An increment of involuntary hospitalizations was associated with male gender [exp([Formula: see text]) = 1.31; 95%CI 1.06-1.62, p < 0.05], having secondary and higher education [exp([Formula: see text]) = 1.45; 95%CI 1.05-2.01, p < 0.05, and exp([Formula: see text]) = 1.89; 95%CI 1.38-2.60, p < 0.001, respectively], a psychiatric diagnosis of psychosis [exp([Formula: see text]) = 2.02; 95%CI 1.59-2.59, p < 0.001], and being admitted in 2007 and in 2012 [exp([Formula: see text]) = 1.61; 95%CI 1.21-2.16, p < 0.01, and exp([Formula: see text]) = 1.73; 95%CI 1.31-2.32, p < 0.001, respectively]. A decrease in involuntary hospitalizations was associated with being married/cohabitating [exp([Formula: see text]) = 0.74; 95%CI 0.56-0.99, p < 0.05], having experienced a suicide attempt [exp([Formula: see text]) = 0.26; 95%CI 0.15-0.42, p < 0.001], and belonging to the catchment area of three of the psychiatric services evaluated [exp([Formula: see text]) = 0.65; 95%CI 0.49-0.86, p < 0.01, exp([Formula: see text]) = 0.67; 95%CI 0.49-0.90, p < 0.01, and exp([Formula: see text]) = 0.67; 95%CI 0.46-0.96, p < 0.05 for Hospital de Magalhães Lemos, Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa and Unidade Local de Saúde do Baixo Alentejo, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations in Portugal are associated with several sociodemographic, clinical, and contextual factors. This information may help identify high-risk patients and inform the development of better-targeted preventive interventions to reduce these hospitalizations.

Violência conjugal e prática assistencial por níveis de atenção à saúde: discurso de enfermeiras / Violencia conyugal y práctica asistencial por niveles de atención sanitaria: discurso de las enfermeras / Conjugal violence and health care practice through levels of health care: nurses´ speeches

RESUMO Objetivo: descrever a prática assistencial da enfermeira frente aos casos de violência conjugal nos três níveis de atenção à saúde. Método: estudo qualitativo realizado com 47 enfermeiras atuantes em uma grande cidade do Nordeste brasileiro. Os dados foram coletados entre setembro e novembro de 2018, sistematizados através do software NVIVO11®, e analisados por meio do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Resultados: a pesquisa despontou que, na identificação dos casos de violência, há necessidade de investigação do cotidiano conjugal e estabelecimento de vínculo com a usuária. No que tange aos encaminhamentos, é necessária articulação com outros profissionais. Considerações finais: a pesquisa oferece subsídios para nortear o cuidado às mulheres em situação de violência conjugal nos três níveis de atenção.

RESUMEN Objetivo: describir la práctica asistencial de la enfermera ante los casos de violencia conyugal en los tres niveles de atención sanitaria. Método: estudio cualitativo realizado con 47 enfermeras que trabajan en una gran ciudad del Nordeste brasileño. Los datos fueron recolectados entre septiembre y noviembre de 2018, sistematizados a través del software NVIVO11®, y analizados a través del Discurso del Sujeto Colectivo. Resultados: la investigación reveló que, en la identificación de los casos de violencia, es necesario investigar la vida conyugal cotidiana y establecer un vínculo con la usuaria. En lo que respecta a los encaminamientos, es necesaria una articulación con otros profesionales. Conclusión: la investigación ofrece subsidios para orientar la atención a las mujeres en situación de violência conyugal en los tres niveles de atención.

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the nurse's care practice in the face of cases of marital violence in the three levels of health care. Method: qualitative study conducted with 47 nurses working in a large city in the Northeast of Brazil. The data were collected between September and November 2018, systematized through NVIVO11® software, and analyzed through the Discourse of the Collective Subject. Results: the research revealed that, in the identification of cases of violence, there is a need to investigate the daily marital life and establish a bond with the user. Regarding referrals, articulation with other professionals is necessary. Final considerations: the research offers subsidies to guide the care of women in conjugal violence situation in the three levels of attention.

The Role of Individual and Neighborhood Characteristics on Mental Health after a Period of Economic Crisis in the Lisbon Region (Portugal): A Multilevel Analysis.

Mental health is an intrinsic dimension of health influenced by individual and contextual factors. This cross-sectional study analyzes the association between the individual, neighborhood characteristics, and one's self-assessed mental health status in the Lisbon region after an economic crisis. Via the application of multilevel regression models, the study assesses the link between one's neighborhood environment-deprivation, low self-assessed social capital, and low self-assessed satisfaction with the area of residence-and mental health regardless of one's individual characteristics. Constraints related to the economic crisis play an important role in the explanation of poor mental health.

Short-term impacts of air temperature on hospitalizations for mental disorders in Lisbon.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with mental disorders are often susceptible to the effects of extreme ambient temperatures. The aim of this study is to assess the short-term impacts of daily mean temperature on hospitalizations for mental disorders in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. METHODS: To assess the short-term impacts of daily mean temperature on hospitalizations for mental disorders (2008-2014), a quasi-Poisson generalized additive model combined with a distributed lag non-linear model was applied. The model was adjusted for day of the week, air pollution, relative humidity, time and seasonality. RESULTS: The number of hospital admissions for mental disorder during the study period was 30,139. Hospital admissions increase significantly with high temperatures on day of exposure, at lag 0-1 and at lag 0-2. Women are more vulnerable than men, and there was no difference between the age groups studied. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure to high temperatures should be considered a significant risk factor for mental disorders; therefore, patient management services may need to be strengthened when extreme high temperature alerts are given.

[Mortality from Suicide in the Municipalities of Mainland Portugal: Spatio-Temporal Evolution between 1980 and 2015]. / Mortalidade por Suicídio nos Municípios de Portugal Continental: Evolução Espácio-Temporal entre 1980 e 2015.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is considered a public health priority. It is a complex phenomenon resulting from the interaction of several factors, which do not depend solely on individual conditions. This study analyzes the spatio-temporal evolution of suicide mortality between 1980 and 2015, identifying areas of high risk, and their variation, in the 278 municipalities of Continental Portugal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Based on the number of self-inflicted injuries and deaths from suicide and the resident population, the spatio-temporal evolution of the suicide mortality rate was assessed via: i) a Poisson joinpoint regression model, and ii) spatio-temporal clustering methods. RESULTS: The suicide mortality rate evolution showed statistically significant increases over three periods (1980 - 1984; 1999 - 2002 and 2006 - 2015) and two statistically significant periods of decrease (1984 - 1995 and 1995 - 1999). The spatio-temporal analysis identified five clusters of high suicide risk (relative risk >1) and four clusters of low suicide risk (relative risk < 1). DISCUSSION: The periods when suicide mortality increases seem to overlap with times of economic and financial instability. The geographical pattern of suicide risk has changed: presently, the suicide rates from the municipalities in the Center and North are showing more similarity with those seen in the South, thus increasing the ruralization of the phenomenon of suicide. CONCLUSION: Between 1980 and 2015 the spacio-temporal pattern of mortality from suicide has been changing and is a phenomenon that is currently experiencing a growing trend (since 2006) and is of higher risk in rural areas.

Introdução: O suicídio é considerado um problema de saúde pública. É um fenómeno complexo que resulta da interação de múltiplos fatores e que não depende unicamente de condições individuais. Este estudo pretende analisar a evolução espácio-temporal da mortalidade por suicídio em Portugal Continental, entre os anos de 1980 e 2015, identificando, nos 278 municípios, áreas de risco e suas alterações. Material e Métodos: Com base no número de óbitos por suicídio e lesões autoinfligidas e na população residente, a evolução espácio-temporal da taxa de mortalidade por suicídio foi analisada através de: i) um modelo de regressão de Poisson joinpoint, e ii) métodos de clusterização espácio-temporal. Resultados: A evolução da taxa de mortalidade por suicídio revelou três períodos de incremento (1980 - 1984, 1999 - 2002 e 2006 - 2015) e dois períodos de decréscimo (1984 - 1995 e 1995 - 1999) estatisticamente significativos. A análise espácio-temporal identificou cinco clusters de risco elevado de suicídio (risco relativo > a 1) e quatro clusters de risco baixo (risco relativo < a 1). Discussão: Os períodos de aumento do fenómeno suicidário parecem coincidir com momentos de instabilidade económica e financeira. O padrão geográfico do risco de suicídio modificou-se: municípios da região Centro e Norte revelam valores próximos dos observados no Sul, amplificando a ruralização do fenómeno suicidário. Conclusão: Entre 1980 e 2015 o padrão espácio-temporal da mortalidade por suicídio tem vindo a alterar-se, sendo atualmente um fenómeno com tendência evolutiva crescente (desde 2006) e de maior risco em territórios rurais.

Social determinants of mental health: a review of the evidence

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study is to present a non-systematic narrative review of the published evidence on the association between mental health and sociodemographic and economic factors at individual- and at area-level. Methods: A literature search of PubMed and Web of Science was carried out to identify studies published between 2004 and 2014 on the impact of sociodemographic and economic individual or contextual factors on psychiatric symptoms, mental disorders or suicide. The results and methodological factors were extracted from each study. Results: Seventy-eight studies assessed associations between individual-level factors and mental health. The main individual factors shown to have a statistically significant independent association with worse mental health were low income, not living with a partner, lack of social support, female gender, low level of education, low income, low socioeconomic status, unemployment, financial strain, and perceived discrimination. Sixty-nine studies reported associations between area-level factors and mental health, namely neighbourhood socioeconomic conditions, social capital, geographical distribution and built environment, neighbourhood problems and ethnic composition. Conclusions: Most of the 150 studies included reported associations between at least one sociodemographic or economic characteristic and mental health outcomes. There was large variability between studies concerning methodology, study populations, variables, and mental illness outcomes, making it difficult to draw more than some general qualitative conclusions. This review highlights the importance of social factors in the initiation and maintenance of mental illness and the need for political action and effective interventions to improve the conditions of everyday life in order to improve population’s mental health (AU)

No disponible

The socio-spatial context as a risk factor for hospitalization due to mental illness in the metropolitan areas of Portugal.

This study's aims are: (i) identifying spatial patterns for the risk of hospitalization due to mental illness and for the potential risk resulting from contextual factors with influence on mental health; and (ii) analyzing the spatial association between risk of hospitalization due to mental illness and potential risk resulting from contextual factors in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto, Portugal. A cross-sectional ecological study was conducted by applying statistical methods for assessing spatial dependency and heterogeneity. Results reveal a spatial association between risk of hospitalization due to mental illness and potential risk resulting from contextual factors with a statistical relevance of moderate intensity. 20% of the population under study lives in areas with a simultaneously high potential risk resulting from contextual factors and risk of hospitalization due to mental illness. Porto Metropolitan Area show the highest percentage of population living in parishes with a significantly high risk of hospitalization due to mental health, which puts forward the need for interventions on territory-adjusted contextual factors influencing mental health.

The socio-spatial context as a risk factor for hospitalization due to mental illness in the metropolitan areas of Portugal / El contexto socioespacial como riesgo de hospitalización por enfermedad mental en áreas metropolitanas de Portugal / O contexto socioespacial como fator de risco de internação por doença mental nas áreas metropolitanas de Portugal

Abstract This study’s aims are: (i) identifying spatial patterns for the risk of hospitalization due to mental illness and for the potential risk resulting from contextual factors with influence on mental health; and (ii) analyzing the spatial association between risk of hospitalization due to mental illness and potential risk resulting from contextual factors in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto, Portugal. A cross-sectional ecological study was conducted by applying statistical methods for assessing spatial dependency and heterogeneity. Results reveal a spatial association between risk of hospitalization due to mental illness and potential risk resulting from contextual factors with a statistical relevance of moderate intensity. 20% of the population under study lives in areas with a simultaneously high potential risk resulting from contextual factors and risk of hospitalization due to mental illness. Porto Metropolitan Area show the highest percentage of population living in parishes with a significantly high risk of hospitalization due to mental health, which puts forward the need for interventions on territory-adjusted contextual factors influencing mental health.

Resumen Este trabajo pretende: (i) identificar los patrones espaciales del riesgo de hospitalización por enfermedad mental y del riesgo potencial resultante de los factores del contexto que influyan en la salud mental y (ii) analizar la asociación espacial entre el riesgo de hospitalización por enfermedad mental y el riesgo potencial resultante de los factores del contexto en las áreas metropolitanas de Lisboa y Porto, Portugal. Se ha realizado un estudio ecológico transversal con la aplicación de métodos estadísticos de evaluación de la dependencia y heterogeneidad espacial. Los resultados revelan una asociación espacial entre riesgo de hospitalización por enfermedad mental y el riesgo potencial resultante de los factores del contexto estadísticamente significativos y con intensidad moderada. Aproximadamente un 20% del total de la población del estudio habita en áreas de riesgo de hospitalización por enfermedad mental y riesgo potencial resultante de los factores del contexto. El Área Metropolitana de Porto tiene el mayor porcentaje de población en municipios con un riesgo de hospitalización por enfermedad mental significativamente alto, imponiendo la necesidad de intervenciones sobre los factores del contexto que influyen en la salud mental, ajustadas a los territorios.

Resumo Este estudo pretende: (i) identificar padrões espaciais do risco de internação por doença mental e do risco potencial resultante dos fatores do contexto com influência na saúde mental; e (ii) analisar a associação espacial entre o risco de internação por doença mental e o risco potencial resultante dos fatores do contexto, nas áreas metropolitanas de Lisboa e Porto, Portugal. Foi conduzido um estudo ecológico transversal com a aplicação de métodos estatísticos de avaliação da dependência e heterogeneidade espacial. Os resultados revelam uma associação espacial entre o risco de internação por doença mental e o risco potencial resultante dos fatores do contexto com significância estatística e de intensidade moderada. Nas áreas, simultaneamente, de risco potencial resultante dos fatores do contexto e risco de internação por doença mental elevados, vivem 20% da população em estudo. Destacou-se a Área Metropolitana do Porto com a maior porcentagem de população residindo em freguesias com risco de internação por doença mental significativamente alto, impondo a necessidade de intervenções sobre os fatores contextuais que influenciam a saúde mental, ajustadas aos territórios.

Suicide in Portugal: Spatial determinants in a context of economic crisis.

This study compares the existing statistical association between suicide mortality and the characteristics of places of residence (municipalities), before and during the current economic crisis, in Portugal. We found that (1) the traditional culture-based North/South pattern of suicidal behaviour has faded away, while the socioeconomic urban/rural divide has become more pronounced; (2) suicide is associated with higher levels of rurality and material deprivation; and (3) recent shifts in suicidal trends may result from the current period of crisis. Strategies targeting rural areas combined with public policies that address area deprivation may have important implications for tackling suicide.

[The geography of diabetes mellitus in Portugal: how context influence the risk of dying]. / Geografias da diabetes mellitus em Portugal: como as condições do contexto influenciam o risco de morrer.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes Mellitus is a public health problem that is on the increase throughout the world, including in Portugal. This paper aims to identify the changing geographic pattern of this cause of death in Portugal and its association with sociomaterial deprivation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a transversal ecological study of the deaths by Diabetes Mellitus in Portuguese municipalities in three periods (1989-1993, 1999-2003 and 2006-2010). It uses a Bayesian hierarchical model in order to obtain a smooth standardized mortality ratio and the relative risk of death by Diabetes Mellitus associated to sociomaterial deprivation. RESULTS: In 1989-1993, the highest smooth standardized mortality ratio values were found in coastal urban municipalities (80% of municipalities with smooth standardized mortality ratio ≥ 161, of which 60% are urban); in 2006-2010, the opposite was found, with the highest smooth standardized mortality ratio values occurring in rural areas in southern inland regions (76.9% of municipalities with smooth standardized mortality ratio ≥ 161, of which 69.2% are rural), particularly the Alentejo. The relative risk of death by Diabetes Mellitus increases with vulnerability associated to social and economic conditions in the area of residence, and is significant in the last two periods (relative risk: 1.00; IC95%: 0.98-1.02). DISCUSSION: Diabetes Mellitus presents a geographic pattern marked by coastal-inland and urban-rural asymmetry. However, this has been altering over the last twenty years. 48% of the population reside in municipalities where the smooth standardized mortality ratio has increased in the last twenty years, particularly in the rural areas of inland Portugal. CONCLUSION: The highest smooth standardized mortality ratio are currently found in rural municipalities with the highest index of sociomaterial deprivation.

Introdução: A Diabetes Mellitus é um problema de saúde pública em crescimento em todo o mundo e também em Portugal. Pretendemos identificar a evolução do padrão geográfico desta causa de morte e a associação com a privação sociomaterial, em Portugal. Material e Métodos: Estudo ecológico transversal dos óbitos por Diabetes Mellitus ocorridos nos municípios portugueses em três períodos (1989-1993, 1999-2003 e 2006-2010). Aplicámos um modelo hierárquico bayesiano, de modo a obter a Razão Padronizada de Mortalidade Suavizada e o Risco Relativo, de mortalidade por diabetes associado à privação sociomaterial. Resultados: Observámos os valores da Razão Padronizada de Mortalidade Suavizada mais elevados, em 1989-1993, nos municípios urbanos do litoral (80% dos municípios com Razão Padronizada de Mortalidade Suavizada ≥ 161, sendo 60% urbanos); em 2006-2010 verificámos o oposto, destacando-se, pelos valores de Razão Padronizada de Mortalidade Suavizada elevados, as áreas rurais localizadas no interior sul do país (76,9% dos municípios com Razão Padronizada de Mortalidade Suavizada ≥ 161 sendo 69,2% rurais), principalmente no Alentejo. O Risco Relativo de mortalidade por Diabetes Mellitus aumenta com o aumento da vulnerabilidade associada às condições sociais e económicas da área de residência, principalmente nos dois últimos períodos (Risco Relativo: 1,00; IC95%: 0,98-1,02). Discussão: A Diabetes Mellitus apresenta um padrão geográfico marcado pela assimetria litoral-interior e urbano-rural, que tem vindo a alterar-se ao longo dos últimos vinte anos, verificando-se uma transição geográfica: 48% da população reside em municípios em que a Razão Padronizada de Mortalidade Suavizada aumentou nos últimos vinte anos, com destaque para as áreas rurais do interior de Portugal. Conclusão: As Razões Padronizadas de Mortalidade Suavizada mais elevadas verificam-se, actualmente, em municípios rurais, com índice de privação sociomaterial mais elevado. Palavras-chave: Demografia; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiologia; Diabetes Mellitus/mortalidade; Factores Socioeconómicos; Portugal.