Health literacy, a more complex concept than knowledge, is a required capacity to obtain, understand, integrate and act on health information [1], in order to enhance individual and community health, which is defined by different levels, according to the autonomy and personal capacitation in decision making [2]. Medium levels of Health literacy in an adolescent population were found in a study conducted in 2013/2014, being higher in sexual and reproductive health and lower in substance use. It was also noticed that the higher levels of health literacy were in the area adolescents refer to have receipt more health information. The health literacy competence with higher scores was communication skills, and the lower scores were in the capacity to analyze factors that influence health. Higher levels were also found in younger teenagers, but in a higher school level, confirming the importance of health education in these age and development stage. Adolescents seek more information in health professionals and parents, being friends more valued as a source information in older adolescents, which enhance the importance of peer education mainly in older adolescents [3]. As a set of competences based on knowledge, health literacy should be developed through education interventions, encompassing the cultural and social context of individuals, since the society, culture and education system where the individual is inserted can define the way the development and enforcement of the health literacy competences [4]. The valued sources of information should be taken into account, as well as needs of information in some topics referred by adolescents in an efficient health education. Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness which has a profound effect on the health and well-being related with the well-known nature of psychotic symptoms. The exercise has the potential to improve the life of people with schizophrenia improving physical health and alleviating psychiatric symptoms. However, most people with schizophrenia remains sedentary and lack of access to exercise programs are barriers to achieve health benefits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of exercise on I) the type of intervention in mental health, II) in salivary levels of alpha-amylase and cortisol and serum levels of S100B and BDNF, and on III) the quality of life and selfperception of the physical domain of people with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 31 females in long-term institutions in the Casa de Saúde Rainha Santa Isabel, with age between 25 and 63, and with diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Physical fitness was assessed by the six-minute walk distance test (6MWD). Biological variables were determined by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Psychological variables were assessed using SF-36, PSPP-SCV, RSES and SWLS tests. Walking exercise has a positive impact on physical fitness (6MWD -p = 0.001) and physical components of the psychological test...

No abstract

Physical fitness (PF) is a multi-component construct and a biomarker of health. Worse PF is related to vulnerability and predicts worse academic achievements. Thus, assessing PF is important to monitor health in youth. This systematic review aimed to identify and inform physical education, health professionals and entities about existing PF batteries and field-tests that can be used in school settings. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in five electronic databases (Academic Search Complete, Education Resources Information Center, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to identify PF battery protocols that can be carried out in the school setting. Overall, 24 PF batteries were identified. Regarding the PF components assessed, only cardiorespiratory fitness and upper body strength were contemplated in all batteries. Middle-body strength and lower body strength were presented in most batteries (21 and 19 of 24, respectively). Agility (16 of 24) and body composition (16 of 24) were also considered in several batteries, although to a lesser extent. Flexibility (14 of 24) and speed (12 of 24) were the PF components less represented in the batteries. Among the 24 identified PF batteries, 81 PF tests assessing the different PF components were encountered. The advances in the PF field-based assessment in school settings and health in youth resulted in the amplification of the number of existing batteries. Considering the connection between PF and health and the opportunity that the school setting provides to assess fitness in children and adolescents, there is a need for standardization and a consensus of PF assessments in this specific setting.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the construction industry have been described to be falling short in the adoption of several management practices that could help improve their service delivery and subsequent growth within the industry. Thus, this study set out to determine the various factors that could serve as barriers towards achieving proper knowledge management (KM) within these construction organisations. The study adopted a quantitative approach through the use of a questionnaire survey carried out among staff members and stakeholders in management positions of Grade 1 to 3 general building organisations within the Johannesburg region of South Africa. Data gathered were analysed using percentage and factor analysis. The reliability of the research instrument was also tested using Cronbach alpha test while the factorability of the data gathered was tested using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity. The result revealed that the barriers to proper KM practices among SMEs in the study area can be categorised under the following: people related issues, SMEs organisational issues, and project demand issues. It is believed that the findings of this study will go a long way in assisting SME's owners in managing knowledge within their organisation by avoiding certain factors that could hinder effective KM.

No abstract

Palavras-chave: direitos, crianc ßas, dificuldades intelectuais, educac ßão.Na sequência da participac ßão portuguesa no projeto europeu sobre a monitorizac ßão da implementac ßão da Convenc ßão dos Direitos da Crianc ßa, do ponto de vista das crianc ßas com Dificuldade Intelectual e Desenvolvimental (DID) em Portugal, foi elaborado um relat orio de avaliac ßão da situac ßão desde 2001 a 2011. Esta avaliac ßão baseou-se numa metodologia mista com m etodos qualitativos e quantitativos para avaliar v arias areas, entre as quais a educac ßão. Este artigo inclui uma an alise cr ıtica do conte udo e dos recursos dispon ıveis nos ultimos dois relat orios nacionais e de relat orios alternativos das Organizac ßões Não-Governamentais (ONG) entregues a Comissão dos Direitos da Crianc ßa, na area relativa a Educac ßão, bem como um resumo das principais preocupac ßões que pais de crianc ßas com DID se deparam no seu dia-a-dia. Apesar da legislac ßão na area ter sofrido alguma evoluc ßão no sentido da inclusão de todas as crianc ßas, constata-se a escassez de mecanismos de monitorizac ßão e avaliac ßão da sua implementac ßão.Introduc ßão Existe cerca de um milhão de crianc ßas com Dificuldades Intelectuais e Desenvolvimentais (DID) na União Europeia, sendo estas crianc ßas sujeitas a discriminac ßão e exclusão da sociedade, sendo-lhe ainda negados os direitos a boa qualidade a diferentes n ıveis, dos quais se destaca o processo educativo (WHO & World Bank, 2011). Apesar de Portugal ser um pa ıs com um forte compromisso ideol ogico da fam ılia, entendida como fundamental na prestac ßão de cuidados e apoios face as necessidades das suas crianc ßas, tamb em as fam ılias são alvo de discriminac ßão, deparando-se com in umeras barreiras ao n ıvel do apoio financeiro e emocional.Portugal ratificou a Convenc ßão dos Direitos da Crianc ßa (CDC -UNICEF, 1990) a 21 de Setembro de 1990, onde se comprometeu a adotar todas as medidas legislativas (para uma estrat egia nacional) administrativas e outras, para a consecuc ßão dos direitos das crianc ßas em Portugal, reconhecidos no documento internacional, garantindo o seu cumprimento sem qualquer tipo de discriminac ßão, independentemente da deficiência.A CDC organiza-se em 54 artigos, havendo no artigo 23.°uma clara referência as crianc ßas com deficiência que, tal como os seus pares, têm o "direito a uma vida plena e decente em condic ßões que garantam a sua dignidade, favorec ßam a sua autonomia e facilitem a sua participac ßão ativa na vida da comunidade" (p. 16), beneficiando de servic ßos de apoio (UNICEF, 1990). O direito da crianc ßa a educac ßão (obrigat oria e gratuita) vem consagrado no artigo 28.°e visa a promoc ßão do desenvolvimento e da personalidade, incluindo todas as suas potencialidades, preparando-a para uma transic ßão para a vida adulta como cidadão pleno (artigo 29.°-UNICEF, 1990).A pol ıtica atual, no nosso pa ıs, ainda enfrenta in umeros desafios noâmbito da participac ßão plena das crianc ßas com DID, constatando-se a necessidade premente de se reequacionarem norm...

Background Hypertension awareness and control are understudied among older adults in middle-income countries, particularly contextualized according to interpersonal, institutional, and community factors. Research on hypertension in Latin America is acknowledged as insufficient. Methods We analyzed International Mobility in Aging Study data of 803 community-dwelling adults 65–74 years from study sites in the two most populous countries in South America: Brazil and Colombia. The study framework was the socioecological model, positing individual health outcomes are influenced by various behavioral, interpersonal, institutional, and community factors. Logistic regression models identified factors associated with hypertension awareness and control. Results At over 70% of participants, hypertension was prevalent in both samples, and awareness was high (> 80%). In contrast, blood pressure control among diagnosed respondents was low: 30% in Brazil and 51% in Colombia. Factors across the socioecological model were associated with awareness and control. Those with diabetes (OR 4.19, 95%CI 1.64–10.71) and with insufficient incomes (OR: 1.85, 95%CI 1.03–3.31) were more likely to be aware of their hypertension. In Colombia, those reporting no community activity engagement were less likely to be aware of their condition compared to those reporting community activities. In Brazil, it was the opposite. Women (OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.12–2.46) and those reporting strolling shops and stores (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.09-3.00) were significantly more likely to have their hypertension under control. In Brazil, those 70–75 were significantly less likely to have their hypertension under control compared to their younger counterparts. In Colombia, there was no significant difference in the likelihood of hypertension control by age group. Conclusions There were notable differences in some factors across countries, highlighting the importance of theory-based studies within unique Latin American contexts on hypertension and other critical public health problems. Potential solutions for countries in the LAC region to improve hypertension outcomes for older adults include continuing to build access to health care to increase awareness and emphasizing social activities, including strolling in shops, that may support hypertension control as well as other desirable public health outcomes (e.g., exercise, social networks).

The effects of a physical activity program on adaptive behaviour, motor proficiency, fitness, and quality of life of 16 adults with intellectual disability (ID) were analysed. Portuguese versions of Adaptive Behavior Scale, Personal Outcomes Scale, Bruininsky-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test, and Fullerton scale were applied twice before, after, and one month after the program. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used and Bonferroni manual correction was performed to establish a new p-value. The control group stabilized performance over time, the experimental group improved in most domains, such as socialization (p <0.005), responsibility (p <0.005), and arm curl (p <0.01). Our findings call for tailor-made interventions to improve PA levels among adults with ID.