Physical fitness reference values were developed for Latvian children and adolescents. These reference values will permit comparisons between students during physical education lessons and provide a baseline against which progress in physical fitness among northern European youths can be compared.
Almost every fifth child and adolescent participating in organized sports displayed critically low body fat levels. Body fat needs to be assessed regularly in young athletes, to prevent negative consequences on health.
The objective of the study was to explore retrospectively HIV-infected individuals' experience with HIV testing, counselling and the issue of confidentiality in the Latvian context. A qualitative study using grounded theory approach and based on semi-structured in-depth interviews was implemented. Thirteen HIV-positive individuals above 18 were selected, using purposeful sampling, from the 63 HIV-positive individuals registered in Latvia between 1987 and 1997. HIV-infected people are worried that doctors sometimes disrespect confidentiality. Confidentiality was found to be a basic prerequisite for building trusting relationships between an HIV-infected individual and a doctor within the counselling process from the first visit to follow-up counselling and as one of the most important factors of the formation and proper functioning of the physician-patient relationship. Trusting relationships will not be established in situations when an HIV-infected individual is not seen by a doctor as a human being with needs, worries and without understanding his or her situation. Breaches of confidentiality should be seen as shortsighted and can diminish the public's trust in physicians. Counselling should be sensitive to the cultural, historical traditions and prevailing public health practices, social values and political differences in attitude toward the importance of treating someone as a private individual.
Background and Objective. According to the data of epidemiologic research, the prevalence of both excessive and insufficient body weight is increasing in a pediatric population leading to the growing burden of health problems due to these changes. The aim of the study was to understand the current situation of physical development of 9- and 10-year-old boys and girls in Latvia and to estimate the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity among young adolescents. Material and Methods. During 2007–2009, a random sample of healthy 9-year-old (n=184) and 10-year-old (n=320) children from all regions and different socioeconomic groups of Latvia was surveyed in a cross-sectional study. The anthropometric measurements of height, weight, 3 circumferences, and 5 skinfolds were performed. The percentage of body fat was calculated by the equation of Slaughter et al. Body mass index and fat mass index were calculated for each respondent. Children were divided into groups according to these indexes. At the age of 9 years, 69.5% of boys had a normal nutritional level either by BMI or FMI, and 54.5% and 72.2% of the girls of the same age had a normal nutritional level by BMI and by FMI, respectively. Obesity according to BMI in 9-year-old boys was found to be 4.7% and in girls 6.1%; according to FMI, 3.7% and 2.3%, respectively. A similar trend was also observed in the cohort of 10-year-old children. Conclusions. The results of the research showed that the problem of high prevalence of Latvian children with underweight is not smaller than the problem of children with obesity. Evaluation of physical development in children based only body mass index may lead to overdiagnosis of obesity.
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