Práticas dos enfermeiros na promoção do aleitamento materno

O aleitamento materno é uma prática que se reveste da mais alta importância, tendo repercussões na saúde da criança, da mãe, necessariamente da sociedade, para além de um evidente impacto ambiental e económico. São múltiplos os factores que condicionam a sua implementação, entre eles, as práticas dos enfermeiros na promoção, protecção e apoio à mulher, desde o início da gestação. O presente estudo, objectivou identificar as práticas dos enfermeiros em relação à promoção do aleitamento materno, contribuindo para o aumento de evidências científicas nesta matéria e também para rever as práticas, procurando novas e mais eficazes formas de as implementar. Realizou-se uma investigação não experimental, de análise quantitativa e corte transversal, do tipo descritivo, numa amostra não probabilística por conveniência de 76 enfermeiros a exercer funções nos serviços de: Pediatria, UCIN, Obstetrícia e Urgência Pediátrica do CHBV em Aveiro Utilizou-se um questionário com a caracterização da amostra bem como a identificação de variáveis que influenciam as práticas da promoção do aleitamento materno em quatro dimensões: incentivo, promoção, protecção-apoio e confiança-comunicação da mãe com o enfermeiro. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a idade mais representativa se situa entre os 20- 30 anos (39,5%), com tempo de serviço total entre 0-10 anos (53,3%) a maioria com a Licenciatura como formação académica (56,6%), têm formação como conselheiros do aleitamento materno (40,7%), como promotores (35,5%) e apresentam boas práticas (14,5%). Existem evidências estatísticas que comprovam que a idade (≥ 51anos) e o tempo de serviço (≥21anos) influenciam a dimensão protecção\apoio (p <0,05), os enfermeiros com (0-10anos) investem mais na dimensão promoção do aleitamento materno (p=0,047), o local de trabalho influencia esta prática (p=0,041), sendo os enfermeiros da Pediatria\ UCIN com médias superiores em todas as dimensões. A formação como conselheiro tem influência significativa na dimensão “Incentivo ao aleitamento materno” (p <0,05), a maior parte da amostra está muito motivada (92,1%) verificando-se que a motivação influência as práticas nas dimensões “promoção do aleitamento materno” e” protecção\apoio da amamentação” (p <0,05). Os resultados apontam para a possibilidade de melhorar as práticas, após implementação de programas de formação continua, reflexão em equipa e implementação de estratégias de uniformização para um desempenho excelente. Palavras-chave: Aleitamento materno; práticas dos enfermeiros; promoção do aleitamento materno.ABSTRACT Breastfeeding is a practice of the highest importance, with repercussions on the health of the child, of the mother, necessarily of the society and thus with an obvious environmental and economic impact. There are multiple factors that influence its implementation, including the practices of nurses including the promotion, protection and support to women from the beginning of pregnancy. The main goals of this study are to identify the practices of nurses regarding breastfeeding promotion, contributing to the increase of scientific evidence in this area and also to review the practices, aiming to find new and more effective ways to implement them. A non-experimental research based on quantitative and descriptive analyses was preformed; using a non-probabilistic sample of convenience of 76 nurses was used. They are working in Aveiro in: Pediatric, NICU, Emergency Obstetric and Pediatric CHBV. A questionnaire with a sample characterization and the identification of variables that influence the practices of breastfeeding promotion, was used considering four dimensions: encouragement, promotion, protection, support and trust-communication between mother and nurse. The results show that the most representative age is between 20-30 years (39.5%), with total service time between 0-10 years (53.3%). The majority of the professionals are graduated (56.6%) and trained as breastfeeding counselors (40.7%), as promoters (35.5%) and present good practices (14.5%). There is statistical evidence that attest that age (≥ 51anos) and service time (≥ 21 years) influence the degree of protection\support (p <0.05). The nurses (with 0-10years) invest more on the promotion of breastfeeding (p = 0.047). The workplace influences this practice (p = 0.041), having the nurses of Pediatrics\NICU higher averages in all the skills. The training as a counselor has significant influence on the dimension “Promotion of breastfeeding” (p <0.05). Most of the nurses are very motivated (92.1%). We verified that the motivation influence practices in dimensions “promotion breastfeeding” and “protection\support breastfeeding” (p <0.05). The results point to the possibility of improving practices after implementation of continuous training programs, analyzing the performances on team and implementing strategies for uniformization of excellent performances. Keywords: Breastfeeding; practical nurses, breastfeeding promotion

Building a Portuguese Coalition for Biodiversity Genomics

The diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterization and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative, and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity, has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic and/or endangered, and include plants, insects and vertebrates (fish, birds and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Iodine knowledge is associated with iodine status in Portuguese pregnant women: results from the IoMum cohort study

Lack of knowledge about iodine has been suggested as a risk factor for iodine deficiency in pregnant women, but no studies have addressed this issue in Portugal. So, the aim of this study was to investigate iodine knowledge among Portuguese pregnant women and its association with iodine status. IoMum, a prospective observational study, included 485 pregnant women recruited at Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de S. João, Porto, between the 10th and 13th gestational weeks. Partial scores for knowledge on iodine importance, on iodine food sources or on iodised salt were obtained through the application of a structured questionnaire. Then, a total iodine knowledge score was calculated and grouped into low, medium and high knowledge categories. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured in spot urine samples by inductively coupled plasma MS. Of the pregnant women, 54 % correctly recognised iodine as important to neurocognitive development, 32 % were unable to identify any iodine-rich food and 71 % presented lack of knowledge regarding iodised salt. Of the women, 61 % had a medium total score of iodine knowledge. Knowledge on iodine importance during pregnancy was positively associated with iodine supplementation and also with UIC. Nevertheless, median UIC in women who correctly recognised the importance of iodine was below the cut-off for adequacy in pregnancy (150 µg/l). In conclusion, knowledge on iodine importance is positively associated with iodine status. Despite this, recognising iodine importance during pregnancy may not be sufficient to ensure iodine adequacy. Literacy-promoting actions are urgently needed to improve iodine status in pregnancy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The association of milk and dairy consumption with iodine status in pregnant women in Oporto region

The role of milk and dairy products in supplying iodine to pregnant women is unknown in Portugal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between milk and dairy product consumption and the iodine status of pregnant women in the IoMum cohort of the Oporto region. Pregnant women were recruited between 10 and 13 weeks of gestation, when they provided a spot urine sample and information on lifestyle and intake of iodine-rich foods. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was determined by inductively coupled plasma MS. A total of 468 pregnant women (269 iodine supplement users and 199 non-supplement users) were considered eligible for analysis. Milk (but not yogurt or cheese) intake was positively associated with UIC, in the whole population (P = 0·02) and in the non-supplement users (P = 0·002), but not in the supplement users (P = 0·29). In non-supplement users, adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that milk consumption <3 times/month was associated with a five times increased risk of having UIC < 50 µg/l when compared with milk consumption ≥2 times/d (OR 5·4; 95 % CI 1·55, 18·78; P = 0·008). The highest UIC was observed in supplement users who reported consuming milk once per d (160 µg/l). Milk, but not yogurt or cheese, was positively associated with iodine status of pregnant women. Despite the observed positive association, daily milk consumption may not be sufficient to ensure adequate iodine intake in this population.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved