Quality of life, psychological morbidity and family stress in elderly residing in the community

Este estudo procurou investigar as relações existentes entre morbilidade psicológica, stress familiar e qualidade de vida (QV) da pessoa idosa. A amostra foi constituída por 126 idosos. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref), Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GSI), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); e Index of Family Relations (IFR). Os resultados revelaram a importância da idade, estado civil, escolaridade e número de patologias assim como o género na capacidade funcional, morbilidade, stress familiar e QV. Ao nível dos preditores, a depressão foi a variável que mais contribuiu para a QV. Não foram encontradas variáveis moderadoras no modelo. A discussão e implicações dos resultados são abordadas bem como a intervenção psicológica nesta população.This study sought to understand the relationships among psychological morbidity, family stress and quality of life (QL) of elderly. The sample consisted of 126 elderly. The following instruments were used: the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL); Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref), Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GSI), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the Index of Family Relations (IFR). Results revealed the importance of age, marital status, education and number of pathologies as well as gender on functional capacity, morbidity, family stress and QV. In terms of predictors, depression was the variable that contributed the most to QL. There were no moderating variables in the model. Discussion and implications of results are addressed as well as psychological interventions.(undefined

Social network types and functional dependency in older adults in Mexico

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Social networks play a key role in caring for older adults. A better understanding of the characteristics of different social networks types (TSNs) in a given community provides useful information for designing policies to care for this age group. Therefore this study has three objectives: 1) To derive the TSNs among older adults affiliated with the Mexican Institute of Social Security; 2) To describe the main characteristics of the older adults in each TSN, including the instrumental and economic support they receive and their satisfaction with the network; 3) To determine the association between functional dependency and the type of social network.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Secondary data analysis of the 2006 Survey of Autonomy and Dependency (N = 3,348). The TSNs were identified using the structural approach and cluster analysis. The association between functional dependency and the TSNs was evaluated with Poisson regression with robust variance analysis in which socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and medical history covariates were included.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified five TSNs: diverse with community participation (12.1%), diverse without community participation (44.3%); widowed (32.0%); nonfriends-restricted (7.6%); nonfamily-restricted (4.0%). Older adults belonging to widowed and restricted networks showed a higher proportion of dependency, negative self-rated health and depression. Older adults with functional dependency more likely belonged to a widowed network (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.5; 95%CI: 1.1-2.1).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The derived TSNs were similar to those described in developed countries. However, we identified the existence of a diverse network without community participation and a widowed network that have not been previously described. These TSNs and restricted networks represent a potential unmet need of social security affiliates.</p

Reciclaje de baterías de plomo ácido en Costa Rica: un estudio de caso

This work describes the production of secondary lead in a smelter located in Costa Rica. The only input of the plant is scrap automotive batteries. We describe the environmental management strategies used for waste minimization, including the waste characterization and minimization of gaseous emissions. The waste characterization included the sulphidic slag containing varying quantities of lead (total lead content and TCLP), along with the gaseous analysis (SO2, TSP and P-Pb). Through process improvement, we reduced both the quantity of slag produced and the lead loss to the slag, as well as the concentrations of gas pollutants in the gaseous emissions.Este trabajo describe la producción de plomo secundario en una fundición ubicada en Costa Rica. El único insumo de la planta son las baterías de automóviles de desecho. Nosotros describir las estrategias de gestión ambiental utilizadas para la minimización de residuos, incluyendo la caracterización de residuos y minimización de emisiones gaseosas. los la caracterización de residuos incluyó la escoria sulfídica que contiene cantidades variables de plomo (contenido total de plomo y TCLP), junto con el análisis gaseoso (SO2, TSP y P-Pb). A través de la mejora del proceso, redujimos tanto la cantidad de escoria producido y la pérdida de plomo a la escoria, así como las concentraciones de gas contaminantes en las emisiones gaseosasUniversidad Nacional, Costa RicaEscuela de Químic