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A person-centred approach to assessing psychosocial and SWB configurations provides a rich picture of individual differences in the ageing processes and can help in designing interventions aimed at enhancing happiness in old age.

Background Nature relatedness can be associated with health-related outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the associations of nature relatedness with physical activity and sedentary behavior. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 9–12 year old children living in Cuenca, Ecuador, was conducted between October 2018 and March 2019. Questionnaires were used to evaluate physical activity (PAQ-C), out-of-school sedentary behavior, nature relatedness and wellbeing. Associations of nature relatedness with physical activity, and sedentary behavior were evaluated using linear regression models or tobit regressions adjusted by age, sex, school type, wellbeing, and body mass index z-score. Results A total of 1028 children were surveyed (average age:10.4±1.22 years, 52% female.). Nature relatedness was positively associated with physical activity (β = 0.07; CI 95%: 0.05–0.09; p < 0.001) and non-screen-related sedentary leisure (β = 3.77 minutes; CI 95%: 0.76–6.68; p < 0.05); it was negatively associated with screen time (β = -5.59 minutes; CI 95%: -10.53–0.65; p < 0.05). Conclusions Findings suggest that nature relatedness is associated with physical activity and some sedentary behaviors among Ecuadorian school-age children. The promotion of nature relatedness has the potential to improve health.

Background Allergic diseases are under-investigated and overlooked health conditions in developing countries. We measured the prevalence of food allergy (FA), airborne allergic disease, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in 2 socio-demographically disparate regions in Ecuador. We investigated which risk factors are associated with these conditions. Methods A cross-sectional study involved 1338 students (mean age: 13 ± 0.9 years old) living in Cuenca (n = 876) and Santa Isabel (n = 462). History of allergic symptoms (noted by parents or doctor) to food, house dust mites (HDM), pollen, and pets were recorded. Sociodemographic characteristics, environmental exposures, and parental history of allergic disorders data were collected. Sensitisation to 19 food and 20 aeroallergens was measured by skin-prick testing (SPT). FA and airborne allergic diseases (to HDM, pollen, cat, or dog) were defined as a report of allergic symptoms noted by doctor, together with a positive SPT (wheal size ≥3 mm). Logistic regression models were used to identify environmental and parental factors associated with allergic conditions. Results FA was prevalent among 0.4% (95% CI 0.2%–0.9%), and food sensitisation among 19.1% of the adolescents. Shrimp was the most frequent food linked with FA and food sensitisation. Risk factors associated with FA could not be evaluated due to the low prevalence. Food sensitisation was higher among adolescents exposed to family smoking (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.14–2.34, p = 0.008) and those with parental history of allergic disorders (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.13–2.49, p = 0.01), but less common among adolescents owning dogs (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41–0.84, p = 0.003). Airborne allergic diseases were prevalent amongst 12.0% of the adolescents (95% CI: 10.4–13.9, n = 1321), with HDM as the primary allergen (11.2%). Airborne allergic diseases were less common among adolescents with more siblings (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65–0.96, p = 0.02) and those who lived with farm animals in the first year of life (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.95, p = 0.04), but, most common among adolescents with a smoking family (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.04–2.70, p = 0.03) and with a parental history of allergic disorders (OR self-perceived: 2.62, 95% CI 1.46–4.71, p = 0.001; OR diagnosed by a doctor: 4.07, 95% CI 2.44–6.80, p < 0.001). Conclusions FA and airborne allergies are less prevalent in Ecuador than in developed regions; there is a great dissociation between the prevalence of allergic disease and allergic sensitisation. Shrimp and HDM were the most prevalent allergens. Risk factors identified in this study to be related to allergic diseases should be considered by physicians, health practitioners, and epidemiologists in Ecuador.

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MÉTODO:Se realizó un estudio transversal en 1508 adolescentes de Cuenca (n=1008) y Santa Isabel (n=500) entre julio de 2013 y julio de 2014. Para determinar alergia alimentaria y sus factores de riesgo se aplicaron cuestionarios de autoreporte y de necesidades básicas insatisfechas, excepto para sensibilización a aeroalérgenos. Este factor de riesgo fue establecido por test cutáneo. Se emplearon modelos de regresión lineal para determinar las asociaciones entre alergia alimentaria y factores de riesgo. RESULTADOS:La prevalencia de alergia alimentaria (síntomas de alergia alimentaria autoreportada más test cutáneo positivo al menos a un alimento), para 1411 participantes con información completa, fue de 2.34 %; no se observó diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las áreas de estudio (Cuenca: 2.31 % vs. Santa Isabel: 2.39 %; p: > 0.05). La rinoconjuntivitis fue el único factor de riesgo asociado con la alergia alimentaria. Los adolescentes que reportaron síntomas de rinoconjuntivitis fueron 5.4 % más propensos a presentar alergia alimentaria que reportaron (p: < 0.001). Ninguna otra interacción persistió estadísticamente significativa en el modelo de regresión lineal completo por lo que ningún resultado fue estratificado por cantón. CONCLUSIONES:La alergia alimentaria determinada por auto reporte y test cutáneo fue prevalente en los adolescentes de Cuenca y Santa Isabel. Para este grupo la rinoconjuntivitis fue el único factor de riesgo relacionado con alergia alimentaria, denotando una predisposición genética a presentar enfermedades alérgicas. La rinoconjuntivitis incrementó un 5.4 % la probabilidad de padecer alergia alimentaria para los adolescentes de las regiones estudiadas. PALABRAS CLAVES ABSTRACT Cross-Sectional Study: Risk Factors for Food Allergy in Adolescents from Cuenca and Santa Isabel, Ecuador BACKGROUND: Food allergy in adolescents has been widely associated with risk factors. the aim of this investigation was determined, among adolescents of Cuenca and santa isabel, the prevalence of food allergy and its association with reported risk factors determined by self-report and skin prick test. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was developed in 1508 adolescents (n = 1008) of Cuenca and santa isabel (n = 500), between July 2013 and July 2014. to define food allergy and risk factors of food allergy self-reported and unsatisfied basic needs questionnaires were applied. Aeroallergen sensitization was determined by skin prick test with aeroallergens. Linear regression models were applied to determine the associations between food allergy and factors risks. RESULTS

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional-digestive disorder in health personnel, with significant repercussions on life quality, work, healthcare system and society. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of reported IBS and its subtypes in the nursing staffs' medical records of a public hospital, in Cuenca - Ecuador. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, descriptive study, with a randomized sample of nursing workers of Hospital Jose Carrasco Arteaga, Cuenca- Ecuador; between June 2017 and April 2018. According to Rome III criteria, medical records were assessed looking for IBS diagnosis and the subtype. Finally, sociodemographic, occupational and psychological factors among the nursing staff was also described. RESULTS: Two-hundred and fourteen medical records were evaluated (average age: 38.7 ± 10.4 years, 95.3% women). A diagnosis of IBS was found in 7.0% (15/214) of the personnel evaluated. The most frequent IBS subtypes were undetermined (46.7%, 7/15) and mixed (26.7%, 4/15). Twenty percent of the nursing staff with IBS, had mental disorders diagnosis (anxiety, depression and/or dysthymia), the same percent worked shifts. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of IBS reported in the nursing staff medical records, in Cuenca- Ecuador was lower than expected (7%). The most frequent IBS subtypes were undetermined subtype, followed by mixed subtype.