Investigating unrecognized needs and structural barriers to treatment of depressive symptoms: A nationwide cross-sectional study in Portugal.

This study assesses factors associated with perception of need and affordability concerns regarding mental health services (MHS), among 978 persons with meaningful depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire≥10). We used data from the 6th Portuguese National Health Interview Survey and used logistic regressions with gender, age, severity of symptoms, education, and income as explanatory variables. Health insurance was added as mediation variable. Unrecognized need (59.3% of the sample) was more likely amongst men, those over 65, high-educated, and those with moderate symptoms, compared to women, aged 18-34, low-educated, and those with severe symptoms. Among those reporting they needed MHS, 44.6% were not able to pay for them. Affordability concerns were more likely amongst men, those under 50, severely depressed, high-educated, and less likely amongst those within the highest income quintile. Adjusting for health insurance did not change the results in a meaningful way. Unrecognized need and affordability concerns are common among depressed persons in Portugal but seem unevenly distributed across social groups. Investing in the capacity of primary healthcare services to treat depression may be crucial to promote perception of need and reduce structural barriers.

Gender gap in health service utilisation and outcomes of depression: A cross-country longitudinal analysis of European middle-aged and older adults.

Research has shown that health service utilisation for depression (HSUD) is less common among men than women. However, most evidence is cross-sectional, and there is limited information about gendered outcomes of depression. This cross-country study assesses gender differences in HSUD and in the persistence of depression by using cross-sectional and longitudinal data. We used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), from 5428 participants between 50 and 80 from nine European countries, fulfilling criteria for depression in Wave 5 (assessed by the EURO-D depression scale). We modelled non-HSUD among all those depressed in Wave 5 ("cross-sectional data") and those not depressed in Wave 4 ("longitudinal data"), and the persistence of depression in Wave 6, as a function of gender. We used logistic regressions adjusted for age, marital status, country, education, financial strain, and severity of depression. Non-HSUD was more likely among depressed men than women in both cross-sectional (82.4% vs 73.2%, OR = 1.54, 99%CI = 1.54-1.55) and longitudinal analyses (94.4% vs 88.3%, OR = 2.27, 99%CI = 2.25-2.29). Gender differences were greater among low-educated participants and those with less pronounced financial strain. Among those with HSUD, men were more likely to remain depressed (62.3%, OR = 2.26, 99%CI = 2.22-2.30). Among those without HSUD, depression was more likely to persist among women (45.4%, OR = 0.79, 99%CI = 0.78-0.79). Results suggest that cross-sectional analyses underestimate men's disadvantage in HSUD. Interventions are needed to improve the demand for care and treatment adequacy among men, increasing their perception of need and their mental health literacy.

Gender Equality and Gender Inequalities in Self-Reported Health: A Longitudinal Study of 27 European Countries 2004 to 2016.

Significant gender-based health inequalities have been observed across Europe, with women reporting worse health than men. Still, there has been little examination of how the gender-health gap has changed over time, and how it has been shaped by societal gender equality. We used data from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions Eurostat database (EU-SILC), involving 2,931,081 participants aged 25-64, for 27 European countries. Logistic regressions were performed to model the association between self-reported bad health and gender, in general and over time. Analyses were stratified by employment, education, and clusters of countries according to levels of Gender Equality Index (GEI). Adjusting for age, year, and country, bad health was 17% more likely among women, but this disadvantage ceased after accounting for education and employment. Gender-health inequalities were larger among countries with higher GEI scores and among low-educated groups. The gender-health gap did not reduce significantly between 2004 and 2016, in general and within subgroups. Although societies are becoming more equal, persistent inequalities in employment and income still lead to sustained health differences between men and women.

The role of mobility in sexual risk behaviour and HIV acquisition among sub-Saharan African migrants residing in two European cities.

BACKGROUND: Migrants from high endemic countries accounted for 18% of newly diagnosed HIV infections in Europe in 2017. Knowledge on the link between HIV risk and post-migration travels and their impact on HIV acquisition is scarce, but critical to inform prevention. This study aims to explore risky sexual behaviour and HIV-acquisition among sub-Saharan African migrants, and to assess post-migration mobility as a determinant of sexual risk behaviour. METHODS: Data from two cross-sectional bio-behavioural surveys to assess HIV-prevalence conducted in Lisbon and Antwerp were analysed to explore migration-related characteristics, travel patterns, and sexual risk taking in the host country and abroad. Bi- and multivariate associations were estimated through adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals; multivariable logistic regression determined factors associated with condomless sexual intercourse. RESULTS: Among N = 1508 participants above 18 years (58% males), 68% travelled post-migration (49.2% reported intercourse abroad). The overall proportion of condomless sex at last sexual intercourse was high (68.1%). The odds of condomless sex in the host country was five times higher when the last sexual intercourse abroad was also condomless [OR:5.32; 95%CI:2.98-9.25]. About half of the travellers reported concurrency, i.e. a regular partner in the host country while having other sexual partners abroad. Almost three percent of the participants reported being HIV+, but 5% had a reactive HIV test-result, with similar proportions among travellers and non-travellers. Also, among the n = 75 participants with reactive HIV test-results, condomless sex occurred (n = 40) and was associated with mobility. CONCLUSIONS: Sub-Saharan African migrants are mobile and engage in sexual risk behaviours in the countries of residence and while travelling, increasing risk of post-migration HIV-acquisition. A transnational perspective on HIV prevention and sexual health promotion is needed for effectively reducing migrants' HIV risk related to their mobility.

Understanding the relationship between BMI and sexual dysfunction: Can DSM-5 shed light into this topic? / Entender la relación entre el IMC y la disfunción sexual: ¿puede el DSM-5 arrojar nueva luz sobre este tema?

INTRODUCTION: The links between body weight and sexuality, notably sexual dysfunction (SD), are intricate and not yet fully understood. A more individual-focused evaluation of sexual difficulties, as recently provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), contributes to improve precision in SD diagnosis and has the potential to advance our knowledge on the association between body weight and SD. OBJECTIVES: To identify gender differences in sexual behaviors and SD among Portuguese men and women within different classes of body mass index (BMI); and to explore the association between BMI and SD by using the new DSM-5 criteria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Face-to-face interviews followed by self-completed questionnaires of primary healthcare users in Portugal (n=323). Data on sociodemographic variables, BMI, sexual behaviors and SD were collected. DSM-5 criteria were used to assess sexual dysfunction. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for men and women, respectively, were used for comparison purposes. RESULTS: Overweight and obese women reported less sexual partners, less satisfaction with sexual frequency and rated sexual life as less important. These differences were not found among men. Normal weight men and women had a higher score of IIEF and FSFI, respectively, than those overweight and obese. No significant effects of BMI scale on SD following DMS-5 were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Women's sexual function is more impacted by BMI than men's. Individual-orientated approaches, as proposed in DSM-5, may allow a better understanding on the relation between body size and sexuality in both genders

INTRODUCCIÓN: La relación entre el peso corporal y la sexualidad, en particular la disfunción sexual (DS), es compleja y aún no se entiende por completo. Una evaluación de las dificultades sexuales más centrada en el individuo, como la recientemente proporcionada por el Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales (DSM-5), contribuye a mejorar la precisión en el diagnóstico de la DS y tiene el potencial para avanzar en el conocimiento sobre la asociación entre el peso corporal y la DS. OBJETIVO: Identificar diferencias de género en conductas sexuales y DS entre varones y mujeres portuguesas con diferentes clases de índice de masa corporal (IMC), y explorar la asociación entre IMC y DS utilizando los nuevos criterios del DSM-5. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Entrevistas cara a cara con usuarios de atención primaria de salud en Portugal (n=323), seguidas de cuestionarios autocompletados. Se recogieron datos sobre variables sociodemográficas, IMC, conductas sexuales y DS. Los criterios del DSM-5 se utilizaron para evaluar la DS. El Índice Internacional de Función Eréctil (IIEF) y el Índice de Función Sexual Femenina (IFSF) se utilizaron con fines comparativos, para varones y mujeres, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: Las mujeres con sobrepeso y obesidad comunicaron menos parejas sexuales, menor satisfacción con la frecuencia sexual y calificaron la vida sexual como menos importante. Estas diferencias no se encontraron entre los varones. Los varones y mujeres de peso normal tuvieron una puntuación más alta de IIEF y IFSF, respectivamente, que los varones y las mujeres con sobrepeso y obesidad. No se detectaron efectos importantes de la escala del IMC en la DS según el DSM-5. CONCLUSIÓN: La función sexual de las mujeres está más afectada por el IMC que la de los varones. Los enfoques orientados al individuo, como se propone en el DSM-5, pueden permitir una mejor comprensión de la relación entre el peso corporal y la sexualidad en ambos sexos

Understanding the relationship between BMI and sexual dysfunction: Can DSM-5 shed light into this topic?

INTRODUCTION: The links between body weight and sexuality, notably sexual dysfunction (SD), are intricate and not yet fully understood. A more individual-focused evaluation of sexual difficulties, as recently provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), contributes to improve precision in SD diagnosis and has the potential to advance our knowledge on the association between body weight and SD. OBJECTIVES: To identify gender differences in sexual behaviors and SD among Portuguese men and women within different classes of body mass index (BMI); and to explore the association between BMI and SD by using the new DSM-5 criteria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Face-to-face interviews followed by self-completed questionnaires of primary healthcare users in Portugal (n=323). Data on sociodemographic variables, BMI, sexual behaviors and SD were collected. DSM-5 criteria were used to assess sexual dysfunction. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for men and women, respectively, were used for comparison purposes. RESULTS: Overweight and obese women reported less sexual partners, less satisfaction with sexual frequency and rated sexual life as less important. These differences were not found among men. Normal weight men and women had a higher score of IIEF and FSFI, respectively, than those overweight and obese. No significant effects of BMI scale on SD following DMS-5 were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Women's sexual function is more impacted by BMI than men's. Individual-orientated approaches, as proposed in DSM-5, may allow a better understanding on the relation between body size and sexuality in both genders.