The repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s lives deserve attention. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety among Brazilian children and its associated factors during social distancing during COVID-19. We used a cross-sectional design with an online survey from April to May 2020 in Brazil. We included children aged 6–12 years and their guardians. The Children’s Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ; scores 4–12) and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS; scores 0–10) were used to measure anxiety. We enrolled 157 girls and 132 boys, with a mean age of 8.84 (±2.05) years; 88.9% of respondents were mothers. Based on CAQ ≥ 9, the prevalence of anxiety was 19.4% (n = 56), and higher among children with parents with essential jobs and those who were social distancing without parents. In logistic regression, the following variables were associated with higher CAQ scores: social distancing without parents; more persons living together in home; and education level of guardians. Based on NRS > 7, the prevalence of anxiety was 21.8% (n = 63); however, no associations with NRS scores were found with the investigated variables. These findings suggest the necessity of implementing public health actions targeting these parents and their children at the population level.

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ObjectiveThe prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among Iraqi immigrants to Sweden is high and partly related to sedentary physical activity and calorie dense food. The aim of the present study was to explore perceptions, experiences and barriers concerning lifestyle modifications (LSM) in Iraqi immigrants to Sweden at risk for T2D.DesignA qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on data collected from gender-specific focus group interviews which took place during a culturally adapted randomised controlled intervention study addressing motivation to lifestyle change, self-empowerment, behavioural modifications and sociocultural barriers to LSM. Seven focus groups were held, with an interval of 1–4 weeks between January and May of 2015; each session lasted approximately 1.5 hours.SettingThe city of Malmö, Sweden.ParticipantsOut of 27 women and 23 men assigned to the intervention group, 19 women and 14 men who attended at least one focus group session were included in the study.ResultsParticipants expressed awareness of the content of healthy lifestyle practices. They also expressed numerous social and cultural barriers to LSM connected to irregular meals, overeating, food and drinking preferences and family expectations. Overeating was described as a consequence of social and cultural norms and expectations and of poor mental well-being. Facilitators for reaching successful LSM were connected to family involvement and support.ConclusionOur study reports that facilitators for LSM are connected to presence of family support. Preventive actions addressing family involvement may benefit Middle Eastern immigrants at high risk for T2D to consider healthier lifestyles practices. Identification of sociocultural barriers and facilitators for LSM are crucial for successful health promotion in minority populations at risk for T2D.Trial registrationTrial registration number: NCT01420198 for the MEDIM-study; Pre-results.

An epidemiological study was performed in Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia, with a total of 306 women enrolled, including 153 incident BC cases and 153 age-matched controls. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between BC risk and serum dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethene (DDE) levels. Sociodemographic and reproductive data, diet, and past exposure to pesticides were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Chemical analysis of samples was performed by high resolution gas chromatography-ECD. Likelihood of developing BC by exposure to these substances was evaluated through odds ratios (OR) adjusted for: first-child breast-feeding, family BC history, body mass index (BMI), parity, and menopausal status. Data analysis was performed by conditional logistic regression techniques. Adjusted OR for exposure to serum DDE and BC suggests an increase risk of BC in the higher category of DDE exposure (OR = 1.95; CI 1.10-3.52). The test for trend was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). We confirm that serum DDE levels bear a positive association to risk of BC and could support the association between risk of BC and burden of DDE exposure.

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An evaluation based on biopsychosocial function is valuable in reaching an accurate assessment of the patient's diagnosis, and ability to work in CMP. Ability to work and degree of sick-leave in patients on long-term sick-leave is determined to a large extent by undiagnosed mental health comorbidities, and not solely somatic complaints.

Background:Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is associated with psychological distress and long-term disability. Underlying diagnoses causing long-term sickness absence due to CMP have not been explored enough. In a somatic health care setting, it is important to identify mental health comorbidity to facilitate the selection of appropriate treatment. The objectives of this study were to compare the scores of depressed mood obtained on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) with the diagnosis of depression made by a psychiatrist, and to study the prevalence of undiagnosed mental health comorbidity in these patients.Methods and patients:83 consecutive patients on sick leave (mean duration 21 months) due to CMP who had been referred by the Social Insurance Office to an orthopedist and a psychiatrist for assessment of the patient’s diagnoses and capacity to work. The mean age was 45 (23–61) years, 58% were women and 52% were immigrants. The accuracy of measurements was calculated using the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV as the Gold standard.Results:Psychiatric illness was diagnosed in 87% of the patients. The diagnosis was depression in 56%, other psychiatric illnesses in 31%, whereas 13% were mentally healthy. Of all the patients, only 10% had a previous psychiatric diagnosis. The median value of the BDI score was 26 points in depressed patients, whereas it was 23 in patients with other psychiatric diagnoses. The sensitivity of the BDI to detect depression was 87.5%. We found good agreement between the BDI score and a diagnosis of depression.Conclusion:Undiagnosed psychiatric disorders were commonly seen in patients with CMP. The high sensitivity of the BDI scores enables the screening of mental health comorbidity in patients with a somatic dysfunction. The test is a useful tool for detecting distress in patients who are on long-term sick leave due to CMP and who need additional treatment.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El cáncer de mama desde 1992 ha sido la segunda causa de muerte femenina en Colombia (tasa promedio anual de 4,5*100.000 hab.) y se reporta una tendencia ascendente por este tipo de neoplasia, y la información sobre los potenciales factores de riesgo del cáncer de la mama en los países Latinoamericanos es escasa. Los objetivos del trabajo fueron probar la protección ofrecida por la lactancia materna, y establecer los factores reproductivos asociados al cáncer de mama en Colombia. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles hospitalarios pareados por edad (+ 2 años) de Julio 1995 a Marzo 1996 en Bogotá. La población de estudio quedó constituída por 171 casos histopatológicamente definidos y 171 controles. La historia reproductiva y sociodemográfica fué recolectada a través de un cuestionario y se utilizó la técnica de regresión logística condicionada para el análisis estadístico de la información. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron como factores de riesgo: la nuliparidad , al contrario de las mujeres con paridades mayores de 3 hijos (OR=3,35 IC 1,4 - 8,0), la edad al primer nacimiento (>20 años vs. menores de 20. OR= 1,83 IC 0,7 - 4,8), el antecedente familiar de cáncer de mama y la lactancia al primer hijo (OR=0,09 IC 0,01-0,64 de 1-11 meses y OR= 0,01 IC 0,00-0,14 para los 12 meses) y la lactancia acumulada por encima de los 24 meses (p=0,001 prueba de tendencia) como principales factores protectores de la enfermedad. CONCLUSIONES: El estudio confirma la importancia de enfocarse en la promoción de la lactancia prolongada y ratifica que el nivel socioeconómico puede determinar los estilos de vida y los eventos reproductivos de las mujeres, explicando el aumento en la mortalidad por cáncer de mama en los países Latinoamericanos, con perfiles de fecundidad y factores de riesgo para el cáncer de mama, similares a los de los países desarrollados.