Aspectos metodológicos de la Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Vida en Venezuela / Methodological aspects of the National Survey of Living Conditions in Venezuela

La presente revisión surge dada la importancia otorgada a la Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Vida (ENCOVI) de Venezuela, la edición de dicha encuesta proporciona información representativa de la situacióneconómica, social y de salud de los hogares del país. Los resultados de la encuesta permiten a investigadores y expertos analizar y comprender la magnitud de la crisis en sus diversos aspectos y sus efectos sobre la población y las condiciones de vida, lo que la convierte en una herramienta esencial para entender los problemas que enfrenta la población de Venezuela y la forma de abordarlos de manera efectiva. La ENCOVI proporciona información útil, no solo, a la sociedad civil y Organizaciones No Gubernamentales (ONGs), también a instituciones gubernamentales, al ser divulgada a través de medios de comunicación, aportando importantes insumos para el abordaje de los problemas públicos y los desafíos encada sector, permitiendo comprender las condiciones de vida en los hogares venezolanos. La investigación se basa en un diseño bibliográfico-documental, efectuando para ello 6 fases constituidas por: búsqueda, compilación, revisión, selección,organización y examen sistemático. El objetivo es describir aspectos metodológicos utilizados en la encuesta nacional de condiciones de vida desde el 2014 hasta el 2022.

The present review arises given the importance givento the National Survey of Living Conditions (ENCOVI) of Venezuela, the edition of said survey provides representative information on the economic, social and health situation ofhouseholds in the country. The results of the survey allowresearchers and experts to analyze and understand the magnitudeof the crisis in its various aspects and its effects on the populationand living conditions, which makes it an essential tool tounderstand the problems faced by the population. of Venezuelaand how to address them effectively. The ENCOVI providesuseful information, not only to civil society and NGOs, butalso to government institutions when disseminated throughthe media, providing important inputs for addressing publicproblems and challenges in each sector, allowing understandingof the conditions of life in Venezuelan homes. The research is based on a bibliographic-documentary design, carrying out6 phases consisting of: search, compilation, review, selection,organization and systematic review. The objective is to describemethodological aspects used in the national survey of livingconditions from 2014 to 2022.

Embarazo subsecuente en la adolescencia: causas, consecuencias y posibles soluciones / Subsequent pregnancy in adolescence: Causes, consequences and possible solutions

Introducción: México se encuentra en los primeros lugares de embarazo en la adolescencia entre los países de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico. Por lo tanto, el embarazo de primera vez y subsecuente representa un problema sanitario con impacto negativo en el desarrollo de la adolescente y su hijo, por lo que es necesario estudiar el fenómeno a fin de prevenirlo y contribuir al mejoramiento de las condiciones de salud y vida de dos grupos vulnerables (adolescentes e hijos). Desarrollo: las causas del embarazo subsecuente son diversas, implican aspectos relacionados con el entorno familiar y comunitario, el acceso a los servicios de salud y el nivel educativo. Aunque no es exclusivo de un estrato social, se presenta con mayor frecuencia en adolescentes de bajos recursos. Las consecuencias son de índole físico, psicológico, económico y social, y agudizan las condiciones negativas de salud y las mencionadas como causas, con riesgo de que se repita y se perpetue el problema. Conclusiones: las intervenciones basadas en la atención centrada en la persona han mostrado efectos positivos en la conducta anticonceptiva de las adolescentes. Su adopción e implementación en países en desarrollo amerita la suma de esfuerzos interinstitucionales e interdisciplinares de forma vertical y transversal, con sentido bidireccional, a fin de hacer cambios significativos en la prevención de este fenómeno.

Introduction: Mexico ranks in the first places of teenage pregnancy among the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. For this reason, the first and subsequent pregnancy represents a health problem with a negative impact on the development of the adolescent girl and her child, which is why it is necessary to study the phenomenon, in order to prevent it and to contribute to the improvement of health and living conditions of two vulnerable groups (adolescents and children). Development: The causes of subsequent pregnancy are diverse, involving aspects related to the family and community environment, as well as access to health services, and the educational level. Although it is not exclusive to a social stratum, it occurs more often in low-income adolescents. The consequences are of a physical, psychological, economic and social nature, and they exacerbate the negative health conditions and those mentioned as causes, with the risk of repeating and perpetuating the problem. Conclusions: Person-centered interventions have demonstrated positive effects on the contraceptive behavior of adolescents. Its adoption and implementation in developing countries deserve the sum of inter-agency and interdisciplinary efforts in a vertical and cross-cutting manner with a two-way sense of making significant changes in the prevention of this phenomenon.

Psychological state of a sample of patients with mood disorders during the first French COVID-19 lockdown.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence shows the negative psychological impact of lockdown measures in the general population. It is also important to identify predictors of psychological distress in vulnerable people, particularly patients with history of depressive episodes (the most prevalent psychiatric disorder), in order to adapt mental health strategies for future lockdown measures. This study aim was to (1) compare in 69 healthy controls (HC) and 346 patients with a major depressive episode in the two previous years (PP) self-reported psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, insomnia, suicidal ideation, traumatic stress, anger) and living conditions during the first national French lockdown, and (2) identify predictors of significant psychological distress in PP. The levels of psychological symptoms were very low in HC compared with PP, independently of the living conditions. Half of PP had no psychiatric contact during the lockdown. Loneliness and boredom were independent predictors of depression, anxiety and insomnia, whereas daily physical activity was a protective factor. Virtual contacts protected against suicidal ideation. Our results highlight the need of specific strategies to target loneliness and boredom and to improve care access, including telepsychiatry. Longitudinal studies must investigate the COVID-19 pandemic psychological impact in clinical samples.

What Regional Living Conditions Affect Individual Smoking of Adults in Russia.

Objectives: Our study evaluated the impact of a wide range of characteristics of large administrative regions on the individual level of cigarette smoking in the Russian adult population. Methods: The pool of participants included 20,303 individuals aged 25-64 years. We applied 64 characteristics of the 12 Russian regions under study for 2010-2014. Using principal component analysis, we deduced five evidence-based composite indices of the regions. We applied the generalized estimating equation to determine associations between the regional indices and the individual level of smoking. Results: The increased Industrial index in the region is associated with the probability of smoking (odds ratio = 1.15; 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.24). The other indices show associations with smoking only in separate gender and educational groups. Surprisingly, it was found that the Economic index has no associations with the probability of smoking. Conclusion: We evaluated the key associations of the territorial indices with the individual probability of smoking, as well as the mutual influence between the territorial indices and individual factors.

[Living and health conditions of the immigrant population of the settlements of Huelva.] / Condiciones de vida y salud de la población inmigrante de los asentamientos de Huelva.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the agricultural labor supply in the province of Huelva, the immigrant population has been growing, establishing a situation of irregularity that favors precarious work and hinders access to decent housing. Therefore, our objective was to identify the socio-sanitary needs of the immigrant population facing the living conditions with which they live in the irregular settlements of the province of Huelva. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study of mixed method on an estimated population of 2500 residents in 23 settlements. A quantitative study of socio-sanitary variables was carried out using a survey and observation guide, and a water, air and soil quality study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 inhabitants of the settlements until the saturation of the speeches. RESULTS: The settlements were located far away from the towns. Surrounded by garbage, without running water, electricity, sewer, toilets or showers. Its residents were stocked up on purchased food and water from fields, wells and public fountains, which they stored in jugs of plant protection products. They were mostly in an irregular situation. 49% had a health card and 48% ever went to a health center, declared mostly a good perception of health. They stood out as expressed needs: access to water (main demand), protection from the risk of fire, improvement of the irregular situation and the working conditions, and the need to help and to protect their family of origin. CONCLUSIONS: These living conditions belong to an underdeveloped environment within an advanced society, with access to water being the main problem. Legal irregularity is key for them, preventing them regularized employment contracts and the perception of being able to access to a better future. Their self-perception of health is good and they do not make a greater use of health services, despite the conditions in which they live.

OBJETIVO: Debido a la oferta laboral agrícola de la provincia de Huelva, la población inmigrante ha ido creciendo, estableciéndose una situación de irregularidad que favorece las labores precarias y dificulta el acceso a una vivienda digna. Por ello, nuestro objetivo fue identificar las necesidades socio-sanitarias de la población inmigrante ante las condiciones de vida con las que habitan en los asentamientos irregulares de la provincia de Huelva. METODOS: Estudio descriptivo transversal de método mixto sobre una población estimada de 2.500 residentes en 23 asentamientos. Se realizó estudio cuantitativo de variables socio-sanitarias mediante encuesta y guía de observación y estudio calidad de agua, aire y suelo. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas a 13 habitantes de asentamientos hasta la saturación de los discursos. RESULTADOS: Los asentamientos se localizaban alejados de los municipios. Rodeados de basura, sin agua corriente, electricidad, alcantarillado, inodoros ni duchas. Sus residentes se abastecían de alimentos comprados y agua procedente de campos, pozos y fuentes públicas, que almacenaban en garrafas de productos fitosanitarios. Mayoritariamente estaban en situación irregular. Un 49% tenían tarjeta sanitaria y un 48% acudieron alguna vez a un centro sanitario, manifestando mayoritariamente una buena percepción de salud. Destacaron como necesidades expresadas: el acceso al agua (demanda principal), protección ante el riesgo de incendio, mejora de la situación de irregularidad y las condiciones de trabajo, y la necesidad ayudar y proteger a su familia de origen. CONCLUSIONES: Estas condiciones de vida pertenecen a un entorno sub-desarrollado dentro de una sociedad avanzada, siendo el acceso al agua, el problema principal. La irregularidad legal es clave para ellos, impidiéndoles contratos de trabajo regularizados y la percepción de poder acceder a un futuro mejor. Su autopercepción de salud es buena y no hacen un mayor uso de los servicios sanitarios, a pesar de las condiciones en las que habitan.

Meaningful measures of human society in the twenty-first century.

Science rarely proceeds beyond what scientists can observe and measure, and sometimes what can be observed proceeds far ahead of scientific understanding. The twenty-first century offers such a moment in the study of human societies. A vastly larger share of behaviours is observed today than would have been imaginable at the close of the twentieth century. Our interpersonal communication, our movements and many of our everyday actions, are all potentially accessible for scientific research; sometimes through purposive instrumentation for scientific objectives (for example, satellite imagery), but far more often these objectives are, literally, an afterthought (for example, Twitter data streams). Here we evaluate the potential of this massive instrumentation-the creation of techniques for the structured representation and quantification-of human behaviour through the lens of scientific measurement and its principles. In particular, we focus on the question of how we extract scientific meaning from data that often were not created for such purposes. These data present conceptual, computational and ethical challenges that require a rejuvenation of our scientific theories to keep up with the rapidly changing social realities and our capacities to capture them. We require, in other words, new approaches to manage, use and analyse data.

Thinking clearly about social aspects of infectious disease transmission.

Social and cultural forces shape almost every aspect of infectious disease transmission in human populations, as well as our ability to measure, understand, and respond to epidemics. For directly transmitted infections, pathogen transmission relies on human-to-human contact, with kinship, household, and societal structures shaping contact patterns that in turn determine epidemic dynamics. Social, economic, and cultural forces also shape patterns of exposure, health-seeking behaviour, infection outcomes, the likelihood of diagnosis and reporting of cases, and the uptake of interventions. Although these social aspects of epidemiology are hard to quantify and have limited the generalizability of modelling frameworks in a policy context, new sources of data on relevant aspects of human behaviour are increasingly available. Researchers have begun to embrace data from mobile devices and other technologies as useful proxies for behavioural drivers of disease transmission, but there is much work to be done to measure and validate these approaches, particularly for policy-making. Here we discuss how integrating local knowledge in the design of model frameworks and the interpretation of new data streams offers the possibility of policy-relevant models for public health decision-making as well as the development of robust, generalizable theories about human behaviour in relation to infectious diseases.

Measuring algorithmically infused societies.

It has been the historic responsibility of the social sciences to investigate human societies. Fulfilling this responsibility requires social theories, measurement models and social data. Most existing theories and measurement models in the social sciences were not developed with the deep societal reach of algorithms in mind. The emergence of 'algorithmically infused societies'-societies whose very fabric is co-shaped by algorithmic and human behaviour-raises three key challenges: the insufficient quality of measurements, the complex consequences of (mis)measurements, and the limits of existing social theories. Here we argue that tackling these challenges requires new social theories that account for the impact of algorithmic systems on social realities. To develop such theories, we need new methodologies for integrating data and measurements into theory construction. Given the scale at which measurements can be applied, we believe measurement models should be trustworthy, auditable and just. To achieve this, the development of measurements should be transparent and participatory, and include mechanisms to ensure measurement quality and identify possible harms. We argue that computational social scientists should rethink what aspects of algorithmically infused societies should be measured, how they should be measured, and the consequences of doing so.

Health of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in detention in Tripoli, Libya, 2018-2019: Retrospective analysis of routine medical programme data.

Libya is a major transit and destination country for international migration. UN agencies estimates 571,464 migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Libya in 2021; among these, 3,934 people are held in detention. We aimed to describe morbidities and water, hygiene, and sanitation (WHS) conditions in detention in Tripoli, Libya. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data collected between July 2018 and December 2019, as part of routine monitoring within an Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) project providing healthcare and WHS support for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in some of the official detention centres (DC) in Tripoli. MSF had access to 1,630 detainees in eight different DCs on average per month. Only one DC was accessible to MSF every single month. The size of wall openings permitting cell ventilation failed to meet minimum standards in all DCs. Minimum standards for floor space, availability of water, toilets and showers were frequently not met. The most frequent diseases were acute respiratory tract infections (26.9%; 6,775/25,135), musculoskeletal diseases (24.1%; 6,058/25,135), skin diseases (14.1%; 3,538/25,135) and heartburn and reflux (10.0%; 2,502/25,135). Additionally, MSF recorded 190 cases of violence-induced wounds and 55 cases of sexual and gender-based violence. During an exhaustive nutrition screening in one DC, linear regression showed a reduction in mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of 2.5mm per month in detention (95%-CI 1.3-3.7, p<0.001). Detention of men, women and children continues to take place in Tripoli. Living conditions failed to meet minimum requirements. Health problems diagnosed at MSF consultations reflect the living conditions and consist largely of diseases related to overcrowding, lack of water and ventilation, and poor diet. Furthermore, every month that people stay in detention increases their risk of malnutrition. The documented living conditions and health problems call for an end of detention and better protection of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Libya.

The implementation of random survival forests in conflict management data: An examination of power sharing and third party mediation in post-conflict countries.

Time-to-event analysis is a common occurrence in political science. In recent years, there has been an increased usage of machine learning methods in quantitative political science research. This article advocates for the implementation of machine learning duration models to assist in a sound model selection process. We provide a brief tutorial introduction to the random survival forest (RSF) algorithm and contrast it to a popular predecessor, the Cox proportional hazards model, with emphasis on methodological utility for political science researchers. We implement both methods for simulated time-to-event data and the Power-Sharing Event Dataset (PSED) to assist researchers in evaluating the merits of machine learning duration models. We provide evidence of significantly higher survival probabilities for peace agreements with 3rd party mediated design and implementation. We also detect increased survival probabilities for peace agreements that incorporate territorial power-sharing and avoid multiple rebel party signatories. Further, the RSF, a previously under-used method for analyzing political science time-to event data, provides a novel approach for ranking of peace agreement criteria importance in predicting peace agreement duration. Our findings demonstrate a scenario exhibiting the interpretability and performance of RSF for political science time-to-event data. These findings justify the robust interpretability and competitive performance of the random survival forest algorithm in numerous circumstances, in addition to promoting a diverse, holistic model-selection process for time-to-event political science data.

Assessing and Addressing Family Caregivers' Needs and Risks in Primary Care.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize current practices, barriers, and facilitators to assessing and addressing family caregivers' needs and risks in primary care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, national mail-based survey. SETTING: American Medical Association Masterfile database. PARTICIPANTS: U.S. primary care physicians (N = 106), including general internists (n = 44) and geriatricians (n = 62). MEASUREMENTS: Approaches to assessing and addressing family caregivers' needs and risks; barriers and facilitators to conducting caregiver assessments. RESULTS: Few respondents reported conducting a formal caregiver assessment using a standardized instrument in the past year (10.5%). Informal, unstructured discussions about caregivers' needs and risks were common and encompassed a range of issues, most frequently caregivers' management of patients' safety (41.0%), ability to provide assistance (40.0%), and need for support (40.0%). To address caregiver needs, most respondents endorsed referring patients to services (e.g., adult day care, home care) (69.8%), assessing the appropriateness of the patient's living situation (67.9%), and referring caregivers to community agencies (63.2%). Lack of time was the most frequently cited barrier to assessing caregivers' needs (81.1%). The most commonly endorsed facilitators were access to better referral options (67.0%) and easier referral mechanisms (65.1%). Practice patterns, barriers, and facilitators to caregiver assessment did not differ by physician type. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care physicians use informal, unstructured discussions rather than standardized instruments to assess caregivers' needs and risks. There is heterogeneity in the topics discussed and types of referrals made. Findings indicate the lack of translation of caregiver assessment tools from research to practice.

Prevalence of and lifestyle factors associated with metabolic syndrome determined using multi-level models in Chinese adults from a cross-sectional survey.

People living in the same area are more likely to experience similar socioeconomic characteristics, which leads to cluster effect and influences the generalizability of data regarding metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, previous studies did not consider or adjust for the cluster effect of living circumstances. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of MetS and associated lifestyle factors in Chinese adults 18 to 80 years of age, using multi-level generalized estimation equation (GEE).The participants came from a large-scale cross-sectional population survey. A total of 28,062 participants underwent all the blood tests. Participants meeting at least 3 of the 5 diagnostic criteria were defined as having MetS. Multi-level GEE was used to evaluate the relationship between MetS and lifestyle covariates to control the cluster effect of living circumstances. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of each relationship.A total of 65.70% of the participants had at least 1 clinical feature of MetS, and 2926 were diagnosed with MetS (prevalence 14.03%). 32.74%, 18.93%, 10.25%, 3.25%, and 0.53% of the participants had 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 components, respectively. The prevalence of MetS in men (12.31%) was lower than in women (15.57%). After controlling for the cluster effect of living circumstances, many demographic and lifestyle characteristics were associated with MetS. Overweight (OR = 1.670, 95%CI: 1.600-1.743), obesity (OR = 2.287, 95% CI: 2.136-2.449), current alcohol consumption (OR = 1.053, 95% CI: 1.020-1.086), physical labor (OR=1.070, 95% CI: 1.040-1.101), a high-salt diet (OR=1.040, 95% CI: 1.009-1.071), hyperuricemia (OR=1.264, 95% CI: 1.215-1.316), short sleep duration (OR=1.032, 95% CI: 1.009-1.055), and a family history of cardiovascular disease (OR=1.065, 95% CI: 1.019-1.113), or cerebrovascular disease (OR=1.055, 95% CI: 1.007-1.104) increased the risk of MetS. The risk of MetS increased 6.9% (OR = 1.069, 95% CI: 1.053-1.085) with each 5% increase in body fat percentage.MetS has become a serious public health challenge in China. Many lifestyle factors have been found to be closely associated with MetS, including obesity, a high-salt diet, alcohol consumption, and short sleep duration. Therefore, changes in lifestyle are very important for adults to reduce the prevalence of MetS.

Small but protective social capital against suicide ideation in poor communities: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Coupled with the lowest level of social connectedness, South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. A possible link between community and suicide is social capital imprinted in social connectedness. This study explores whether social capital is protective against suicide ideation in relation to the poverty level of communities, and whether the associations are specific to certain elements of social capital.A total of 908 participants were included to assess cross-sectional association of social capital at individual level with suicide ideation by comparing between poor (government-leased apartments) and non-poor communities (nongovernment-leased apartments). Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine various social capital dimensions in relation to suicide ideation.Suicide ideation was far higher among those living in the poor communities (poor communities 12%; non poor communities 6.3%) and the level of social capital was lower in the poor communities. Nevertheless, the protective effect of social capital, in particular, the cognitive dimension against suicide ideation was demonstrated only in the poor communities (eg, odds ratio = 0.27, 95% confidence interval: 0.12-0.58 for trust in the poor communities). Low income was significantly associated with suicide ideation only in the poor communities, but depression and resilience were associated with suicide ideation both in the poor and non-poor communities.To increase the reliability of the results, established measures based on relevant literature were utilized, but measures on bridging social capital and social network might have relatively low reliability.As to protection against suicide ideation, the extent of reliance on social capital was higher in poor communities than in non-poor communities, in particular, the cognitive dimension was likely to activate in this regard.

Association Between Residential Neighborhood Social Conditions and Health Care Utilization and Costs.

BACKGROUND: Social factors are important drivers of health. However, it is unclear to what extent neighborhood social conditions are associated with total and preventable health care utilization and costs. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of neighborhood social conditions with total annual and potentially preventable Medicare costs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Retrospective cohort study. Medicare claims data from 2013 to 2014 linked with neighborhood social conditions at the US census block group level of 2013 for 93,429 Medicare fee-for-service and dually eligible patients. MEASURES: Neighborhood social conditions were measured by Area Deprivation Index at the census block group level, categorized into quintiles. Outcomes included total annual and potentially preventable utilization and costs. RESULTS: After adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, patients with the least disadvantaged social conditions had higher total annual Medicare costs [$427; 95% confidence interval (CI), $200-$655] and similar potentially preventable costs (-$23; 95% CI, -$56 to $10) as compared with patients with the intermediate level social conditions. Patients with the most disadvantaged social conditions had similar total Medicare costs (-$22; 95% CI, -$342 to $298) but higher potentially preventable costs ($53; 95% CI, $1-$104) than patients with the intermediate level social conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Disadvantaged neighborhood conditions are associated with lower total annual Medicare costs but higher potentially preventable costs after controlling for demographic, medical, and other patient characteristics. Socioeconomic barriers may limit access and use of primary care and disease management services, resulting in a higher proportion of their health care costs going to potentially preventable care.

La actividad física y el estado nutricional y psicosocial del anciano no dependiente / Physical activity and nutritional and psychosocial status in non-dependent elderly

OBJETIVO: Describir el grado de actividad física (AF) de una muestra de ancianos independientes no institucionalizados y la relación entre aquel y el estado nutricional y las condiciones psicosociales de los ancianos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo transversal multicéntrico implementado en los centros de salud urbanos de la ciudad de Huesca en mayores de 75 años. Tamaño muestral 60 pacientes. Se analizaron variables demográficas, psicosociales, nutricionales, antropométricas y AF. Para la medición de esta última, se utilizó la escala breve de Minnesota en español (VREM). RESULTADOS: La edad media fue de 81,58 años (±4) con una distribución por género del 51,7% mujeres. El grupo mostró globalmente una situación de salud favorable: Afectación física leve (45%), correcta salud mental referida al estado cognitivo (93%) o de ánimo (88%), estado social favorable (96%), independencia para las actividades de la vida diaria (100%) y buena calidad de vida percibida (puntuación>70 en el 70%). En relación con la AF se obtuvo una media de 4666,2MET-min/14 días y se identificaron como sedentarios el 10% de los participantes. Se obtuvo una relación inversa estadísticamente significativa de la AF con la incapacidad funcional, la sarcopenia y la composición corporal (perímetro de cintura, diámetro abdominal sagital, índice de masa y porcentaje de grasa corporales) (p < 0,05). La AF no mostró relación significativa con el estado nutricional y las condiciones psicosociales. Sí resultó significativa la observada entre el estado nutricional y las variables de la esfera psicosocial (p < 0,01). CONCLUSIONES: Las características de la población estudiada en las esferas orgánica, funcional, psíquica y social no sugieren importantes limitaciones para la AF. Un porcentaje nada despreciable de ancianos no realiza suficiente AF. Existe una relación significativa entre la realización de ejercicio físico y los índices de composición corporal favorables

OBJECTIVE: To describe the level of physical activity (PA) of a sample of independent non-institutionalised elderly and its relationship between nutritional status and psychosocial conditions of the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in Health Centres of the city of Huesca in a sample size of patients over 75 years-old. Demographic, psychosocial, nutritional, anthropometric, and PA variables were analysed. The short scale of Minnesota in Spanish (VREM) was used to measure the latter. RESULTS: The mean age was 81.58 years (±4) with a gender distribution of 51.7% women. The group were in a good health condition overall: Mild physical impairment (45%), correct mental health as regards cognition (93%) or mood (88%), favourable social status (96%), independence for activities of daily living (100%), and a good perceived quality of life (score>70 in 70%). There was a mean of 4666.2 METS-Min/14 days obtained in PA, and 10% of the participants were identified as sedentary. A statistically significant inverse relationship (P<.05) was observed between PA and functional disability, sarcopenia and body composition (waist circumference, sagittal abdominal diameter, mass index, and body fat percentage). No significant relationship was observed between PA and nutritional status and psychosocial conditions. The relationship between the nutritional status and the variables of the psychosocial sphere was significant (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of the population studied in the organic, functional, psychical, and social spheres do not suggest important limitations for PA. An insignificant percentage of the elderly does not perform enough PA. There is a significant relationship between physical exercise and favourable body composition rates

Social Stability Relates Social Conditions to the Syndemic of Sex, Drugs, and Violence.

The distribution of violence, sexually transmitted infections, and substance use disorders is not random, but rather the product of disease, behavior, and social conditions that co-occur in synergistic ways (syndemics). Syndemics often disproportionately affect urban communities. Studies of syndemics, however, rarely apply consistent measures of social conditions. Here, the construct of social stability (SS) (housing, legal, residential, income, employment, and relationship stability) was evaluated as a consistent measure of social conditions related to sex, drug, and violence exposures in a new population in a Mid-Atlantic urban center. Lower SS predicted greater likelihood of any and combinations of risk. The magnitude varied based on specification: odds of sex-drug-violence exposure were greater for low vs. high latent SS class (OR = 6.25; 95%CI = 2.46, 15.96) compared with low vs. high SS category (OR = 2.64; 95%CI = 1.29, 5.39). A latent class characterized by residential instability was associated with greater likelihood of risk-a relationship that would have been missed with SS characterized only as an ordinal category. SS reliably captured social conditions associated with sexual, drug, and violence risks, and both quantity and quality of SS matter.

Mediators and Moderators of the Influences of Living Alone on Psychological Distress Among Japanese Older Adults.

This study explored gender differences in mediators and moderators of the association between living alone and psychological distress among 2556 Japanese older adults aged 65 years and older. Putative mediators and moderators were physical health, income, informal networks, and social support. Living alone was significantly related to psychological distress only in men. Significant mediators were income in both genders and social support only in men. Living alone in women was related to having more informal networks, which reduced psychological distress. This contributed to mitigating the effect of living alone on psychological distress among women. Effective moderators were not discovered.

How Depressive Symptoms among African American Women Relate to Measures of Social Disorder in Her Childhood and Pregnancy Neighborhood.

Pregnant African American women who report higher levels of social disorder (e.g., vacant housing, drug dealing) in their neighborhoods also report higher levels of depressive symptoms. The effects of social disorder in the neighborhood during childhood on depressive symptoms during pregnancy are not known. Also unknown is the interaction between social disorders in the neighborhood during childhood and during pregnancy regarding depressive symptoms during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to examine whether higher levels of social disorder in the neighborhood during pregnancy buffered the association of social disorder in the neighborhood during childhood (at age 10 as reference) with depressive symptoms during pregnancy among African American women. We conducted a secondary data analysis of 1383 African American women from the Life-course Influences on Fetal Environments (LIFE) Study (Detroit, Michigan, 2009-2011). Women were interviewed in the hospital 24-72 h after the births. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale measured depressive symptoms. Scales measuring social disorder in the neighborhood both during childhood and during pregnancy were also included in the interviews. Women with CES-D scores ≥ 16 were younger, were more likely to be single, and had lower levels of education and household income compared with women with CES-D < 16. There was a significant association between women who report social disorder in their neighborhoods during childhood and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. This effect was moderated by measures of social disorder in the neighborhood during pregnancy (p = .037). Women who reported both low levels of social disorder in their neighborhoods during childhood and during pregnancy had the lowest CES-D scores after controlling for maternal age, marital status, years of education, and family income. The model had a good fit to the data (χ2(6) = 6.36, p = .38). Health care providers should inquire about neighborhood conditions during childhood and during pregnancy and provide referrals for appropriate professional and community support for women who report social disorder in their neighborhoods and depressive symptoms.