Association of Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse with Intimate Partner Violence, Poor General Health and Depressive Symptoms among Pregnant Women

Objective We examined associations of childhood physical and sexual abuse with risk of intimate partner violence (IPV). We also evaluated the extent to which childhood abuse was associated with self-reported general health status and symptoms of antepartum depression in a cohort of pregnant Peruvian women. Methods In-person interviews were conducted to collect information regarding history of childhood abuse and IPV from 1,521 women during early pregnancy. Antepartum depressive symptomatology was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Multivariable logistic regression procedures were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results Any childhood abuse was associated with 2.2-fold increased odds of lifetime IPV (95%CI: 1.72–2.83). Compared with women who reported no childhood abuse, those who reported both, childhood physical and sexual abuse had a 7.14-fold lifetime risk of physical and sexual IPV (95%CI: 4.15–12.26). The odds of experiencing physical and sexual abuse by an intimate partner in the past year was 3.33-fold higher among women with a history of childhood physical and sexual abuse as compared to women who were not abused as children (95%CI 1.60–6.89). Childhood abuse was associated with higher odds of self-reported poor health status during early pregnancy (aOR = 1.32, 95%CI: 1.04–1.68) and with symptoms of antepartum depression (aOR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.58–2.71). Conclusion These data indicate that childhood sexual and physical abuse is associated with IPV, poor general health and depressive symptoms in early pregnancy. The high prevalence of childhood trauma and its enduring effects of on women’s health warrant concerted global health efforts in preventing violence.
Authors: Yasmin V. Barrios; Bizu Gelaye; Qiuyue Zhong; Christina Nicolaidis; Marta B. Rondon; Pedro J. Garcia; Pedro A. Mascaro Sanchez
Source: PLoS ONE

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/344059

Vigilancia epidemiológica de la Pertussis: la experiencia Argentina y su importancia para el resto de países de la región

Sr. Editor:
Hemos leído con interés el artículo de Romanin y col. titulado: “Situación epidemiológica de coqueluche y estrategias para su control: Argentina, 2002-2011”, 1 donde los autores presentan las estrategias implementadas en los últimos años en Argentina para la vigilancia epidemiológica y control de Bordetella pertussis. De éstas, la más relevante es la cooperación estrecha entre las entidades sanitarias, especialmente el Ministerio de Salud de la Nación (MSN), el Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia de la Salud de Argentina (SNVS) y La Dirección Estadística e Información en Salud (DEIS) del MSN, interacción que no ocurre en todos los países latinoamericanos.
Authors: Bendezú Medina, Sandy; Pavic Espinoza, Ivana; Solari, Lely
Source: Archivos Argentinos de Pediatria (Arch. argent. pediatr.)
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/338891

Aetiology, epidemiology and clinical characteristics of acute moderate-to-severe diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age hospitalized in a referral paediatric hospital in Rabat, Morocco

The objective of the study was to describe the aetiology, epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the principal causes of acute infectious diarrhoea requiring hospitalization among children under 5 years of age in Rabat, Morocco. A prospective study was conducted from March 2011 to March 2012, designed to describe the main pathogens causing diarrhoea in hospitalized children >2 months and less than 5 years of age. Among the 122 children included in the study, enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) and rotavirus were the main aetiological causes of diarrhoea detected. Twelve (9.8 %) children were referred to an intensive care unit, while two, presenting infection by EAEC, and EAEC plus Shigella sonnei, developed a haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Additionally, six (4.9 %) deaths occurred, with EAEC being isolated in four of these cases. Diarrhoeagenic E. coli and rotavirus play a significant role as the two main causes of severe diarrhoea, while other pathogens, such as norovirus and parasites, seem to have a minimal contribution. Surveillance and prevention programmes to facilitate early recognition and improved management of potentially life-threatening diarrhoea episodes are needed.
Authors: Benmessaoud, R; Jroundi, I; Nezha, M; Moraleda, C; Tligui, H; Seffar, M; Alvarez Martínez, MJ; Pons, MJ; Chaacho, S;Hayes, EB; Vila, J; Alonso,PL; Bassat, Q; Ruiz, J
Source: Journal of Medical Microbiology (J Med Microbiol.)
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/338011

Factors associated with non-use of condoms in an online community of frequent travellers

Background Millions of travellers around the world have gathered together into online communities. The objective is to analyse the factors associated with risky sexual behaviour among travellers. Methods Cross-sectional study was conducted within an online community of travellers using an online survey; we included travellers who had engaged in sexual activity while on their last trip. Risky sexual behaviour was defined as inconsistent condom use (<100%), and the factors associated were evaluated using the prevalence ratio (PR). Results Of the 468 participants, 245 had sex during their last trip. 59.7% did not consistently use condoms, and one out of every four participants reported never using condoms. Having a travel destination of Latin America or the Caribbean was significantly associated with inconsistent condom use. This association was maintained (PR 1.37, CI 95% 1.06–1.77) after adjusting for gender, age, migration, the presence of travel partners, and the use of drugs and alcohol prior to sexual activity. Conclusion An association was observed between travel destination (specifically Latin America or the Caribbean) and risky sexual behaviour. For this reason, tourists should be educated in STI transmission and regional STI and HIV incidences both before and during their travels; public health systems ought to work together with travel agencies, international airports, etc., in order to distribute this information and ensure a responsible travel experience.
Authors:  Alcedo, Sami; Kossuth-Cabrejos, Stefano; Piscoya, Alejandro; Mayta Tristán, Percy
Source: Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (Travel Med Infect Dis.)

URL:  http://hdl.handle.net/10757/338010

Usefulness of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Risk Stratification of Patients With Advanced Heart Failure

Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with increased mortality in patients with acute heart failure (HF) and neoplastic diseases. We investigated the association between NLR and mortality or cardiac transplantation in a retrospective cohort of 527 patients presented to the Cleveland Clinic for evaluation of advanced HF therapy options from 2007 to 2010. Patients were divided according to low, intermediate, and high tertiles of NLR and were followed longitudinally for time to all-cause mortality or heart transplantation (primary outcome). The median NLR was 3.9 (interquartile range 2.5 to 6.5). In univariate analysis, intermediate and highest tertiles of NLR had a higher risk than the lowest tertile for the primary outcome and all-causes mortality. Compared with the lowest tertile, there was no difference in the risk of heart transplantation for intermediate and high tertiles. In multivariate analysis, compared with the lowest tertile, the intermediate and high NLR tertiles remained significantly associated with the primary outcome (hazard ratio [HR] [ 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10 to 2.37 and HR [ 1.55, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.36, respectively) and all-cause mortality (HR [ 1.83, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.14 and HR [ 2.16, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.83, respectively). In conclusion, elevated NLR is associated with increased mortality or heart transplantation risk in patients with advanced HF.
Authors: Benites Zapata, Vicente A.; Hernandez, Adrian V.; Nagarajan, Vijaiganesh; Cauthen, Clay A.; Starling, Randall C.; Tang, W.H. Wilson
Source: The American Journal of Cardiology (Am J Cardiol.)

URL:  http://hdl.handle.net/10757/338009