School Performance and Young Adult Crime in a Brazilian Birth Cohort.

Poor school performance may increase the risk of crime and violence via effects on self-esteem, risky behaviours, peer networks, and perceived stakes in society. Despite very high rates of violence in Latin America, no longitudinal research has addressed this issue in the region. Two aspects of educational performance (grade repetition and school completion) were examined during adolescence in a population-based Brazilian birth cohort study (n = 3584). Violent and non-violent crime were measured at age 22 years in confidential self-reports; sociodemographic, family, and individual confounders were measured between birth and age 11 years, and potential mediators were measured at age 18 years. The prevalence of violent and non-violent crimes at 22 years was 8.2% and 3.3%, respectively, referring to acts in the previous twelve months. For youth repeating school grades three times or more, the odds of violent crime were 2.4 (95%CI: 1.6-3.6) times higher than for those who had not repeated any school grade. Youth completing school had a lower risk for both violent (OR = 0.5; 95%CI: 0.4-0.7) and non-violent crime (OR = 0.3; 95%CI: 0.2-0.5), compared to those who did not finish school by the expected age. The protective effect of completing school was independent of the number of grades previously repeated. In conclusion, repeating school grades was associated with increased risk for crime; however, successfully managing to complete school by the expected age was an important protective factor against crime, even after multiple grade repetitions. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40865-022-00214-x.

Health service utilization and associated factors, among students at the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil: a cross-sectional study, 2018. / Utilização de serviços de saúde e fatores associados, entre estudantes da Universidade Federal de Pelotas: estudo transversal, 2018.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze health service utilization and associated factors among university students. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with a sample of 2,708 students at the Federal University of Pelotas between November 2017 and July 2018. RESULTS: Of the 1,865 individuals included in the study, 55.8% used health services in the last 12 months, 39.3% used specialized services, and 22.6% used health centers; 45.9% used services funded by the Brazilian National Health System (SUS); 49.1% used health services for the purposes of prevention. There was greater use among females (prevalence ratio, PR=1.34 - 95%CI 1.23;1.46) and students with health needs (PR=1.51 - 95%CI 1.40;1.63). Greater association was found with SUS-funded services: primary health care center (83.0% [95%CI 77.3;87.5]), accident and emergency (81.3% [95%CI 73.2;87.5]) and urgent care center (83.6% [95%CI 76.2;89.0]). CONCLUSION: The analysis indicated that women and people with health needs use health services more and that the SUS is the main service provider.

Maternal depression symptoms and use of child health-care services at The Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of maternal depression on child health-care services utilization. METHODOLOGY: Data from The Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort collected at birth and at 12- and 24-month follow-ups were used. Four outcomes occurring in the second year of life were investigated: number of well-baby visits, number of medical appointments, number of visits to emergency rooms, and number of hospitalizations. The main exposure was maternal depression symptoms at 12-month post-partum as assessed by the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by Poisson regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of mothers with depressive symptoms was 27.6% (95% CI: 26.2-29.0%). These mothers showed a 10% lower probability of taking their children to well-baby visits (0.90; 0.85-0.95; p = 0.001); 16% higher probability to seek medical consultations (1.16; 1.09-1.25, p = 0.001); and they sought emergency services for their children more often (1.30; 1.17-1.45, p < 0.001) as compared to mothers who did not present depressive symptoms. Although the PR for hospitalizations was 26% higher for children from mothers with depressive symptoms, the association did not achieve statistical significance (1.26; 0.98-1.63; p = 0.072). CONCLUSION: Children from mothers with depressive symptoms attend fewer number of preventive consultations. In contrast, they are taken to medical and emergency care more often, suggesting that these children are given healthcare when they are at more advanced stages of their illnesses.

Utilização de serviços de saúde e fatores associados, entre estudantes da Universidade Federal de Pelotas: estudo transversal, 2018 / Uso de servicios de salud y factores asociados, en estudiantes de la Universidad Federal de Pelotas, Brasil: estudio transversal, 2018 / Health service utilization and associated factors, among students at the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil: a cross-sectional study, 2018

Objetivo: Analisar a utilização de serviços de saúde e fatores associados, entre universitários. Métodos: Estudo transversal, aplicado em amostra de 2.708 estudantes da Universidade Federal de Pelotas entre novembro de 2017 e julho de 2018. Resultados: Dos 1.865 estudantes incluídos, 55,8% utilizaram serviços de saúde nos últimos 12 meses, 39,3% utilizaram serviços especializados, e 22,6%, as unidades básicas de saúde (UBS); 45,9% utilizaram serviços do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS); e 49,1% utilizaram os serviços de saúde por motivo de prevenção. Houve maior utilização de serviços entre o sexo feminino (razão de prevalências, RP=1,34 - 1,23;1,46) e estudantes com necessidades de saúde (RP=1,51 - IC95% 1,40;1,63). Apresentaram associação com maior financiamento-SUS a UBS (83,0% [IC95%77,3;87,5]), o pronto-socorro (81,3% [IC95% 73,2;87,5]) e o pronto atendimento (83,6% [IC95% 76,2;89,0]). Conclusão: A análise indicou que mulheres e pessoas com necessidades utilizaram mais os serviços de saúde, e que o SUS foi o principal financiador desses serviços.

Objetivo: Analizar el uso de los servicios de salud y sus factores asociados por estudiantes universitarios. Métodos: estudio transversal aplicado a una muestra de 2.708 estudiantes de la Universidad Federal de Pelotas entre noviembre de 2017 y julio de 2018. Resultados: De los 1.865 estudiantes incluidos, el 55,8% utilizó servicios de salud en los últimos 12 meses; 39,3% utilizó servicios especializados y 22,6% utilizó Unidades Básicas de Salud (UBS); 45,9% utilizó servicios del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS); 49,1% lo utilizó para prevención. Hubo mayor uso entre el sexo femenino (razón de prevalencia, RP=1,34 (IC95%1,23;1,46) y entre personas con necesidades de salud (RP=1,51 - IC95%1,40;1,63). La UBS mostró asociación con mayor financiamiento del SUS (83,0% [IC95%77,3;87,5]), con Urgencias (83,6% [IC95%76,2;89,0]) y atención de emergencia (83,6% [IC95%76,2;89,0]). Conclusión: El análisis indicó que las mujeres y las personas con necesidade utilizan más los servicios de salud y que el SUS es el principal financiador de esos servicios.

Objective: To analyze health service utilization and associated factors among university students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with a sample of 2,708 students at the Federal University of Pelotas between November 2017 and July 2018. Results: Of the 1,865 individuals included in the study, 55.8% used health services in the last 12 months, 39.3% used specialized services, and 22.6% used health centers; 45.9% used services funded by the Brazilian National Health System (SUS); 49.1% used health services for the purposes of prevention. There was greater use among females (prevalence ratio, PR=1.34 - 95%CI 1.23;1.46) and students with health needs (PR=1.51 - 95%CI 1.40;1.63). Greater association was found with SUS-funded services: primary health care center (83.0% [95%CI 77.3;87.5]), accident and emergency (81.3% [95%CI 73.2;87.5]) and urgent care center (83.6% [95%CI 76.2;89.0]). Conclusion: The analysis indicated that women and people with health needs use health services more and that the SUS is the main service provider.