Famílias acompanhadas na Comissão de Protecção de Crianças e Jovens (CPCJ) de Valongo no ano de 2010 : caracterização sociodemográfica, problemáticas e medidas aplicadas

realização do presente estudo surge no âmbito de uma proposta lançada pela Comissão de Protecção de Crianças e Jovens de Valongo (CPCJ) no sentido de elaborar o diagnóstico das crianças/jovens com medidas aplicadas nos processos de promoção e protecção no ano de 2010. Nestes sentido, consideramos pertinente proceder à caracterização sociodemográfica das crianças/jovens e respectivas famílias acompanhadas, bem como caracterizar de forma pormenorizada o desenvolvimento da actividade processual do referido ano. Em termos de paradigma de investigação, este recai na investigação quantitativa e o design metodológico utilizado refere-se ao design inter – sujeitos, uma vez que os dados observados levaram ao estudo centrado em dois grupos diferenciados, o Grupo dos Maus – Tratos englobando as crianças/jovens sinalizadas por questões que se prendem com a problemática da negligência, observando uma incidência para o género feminino com idades compreendidas entre os 11 e os 14 anos seguindo-se o escalão dos 6 aos 10 anos. Relativamente ao outro grupo, denominado de Grupo da Educação, este caracteriza as crianças/jovens identificadas à CPCJ de Valongo por se encontrarem em situações de perigo em que esteja em causa o direito à educação, abrangendo as problemáticas do abandono/absentismo e insucesso escolar, os elementos deste grupo são predominantemente do género masculino, apresentando em ambos os géneros a predominância para o escalão etário dos 11 aos 14 anos. Observamos ainda que os sujeitos de ambos os grupos habitam maioritariamente com família biológica. Quanto à caracterização das medidas aplicadas salientamos a questão do contexto de aplicação e o tipo de medida mais aplicada. Assim sendo, verificamos quanto ao contexto que, em ambos os grupos, as medidas são aplicadas, maioritariamente, no meio natural de vida da criança/jovem acompanhado, sendo o tipo de medida mais aplicada a Medida de Apoio Junto dos Pais. Importa contudo referir que no Grupo dos Maus-Tratos verifica-se que a duração destas medidas é superior à duração das medidas aplicadas ao Grupo da Educação.This study was carried out within a proposal by the Comissão de Protecção de Crianças e Jovens de Valongo (CPCJ) in order to make a diagnosis of children/youths subject to promotion and protection measures in 2010. In this regard, the socio-demographic characterization of children/youths and their families as well as a detailed characterization of that year’s procedural activity were considered pertinent. The approach in terms of research paradigm lies in the quantitative research and the methodological design used refers to inter-subject design, since the observed data led the study focused on two different groups. The Maltreatment Group is composed of children/youths signaled due to issues related to neglect problems, with higher incidence of females aged between 11 and 14 years old followed by the 6-10 age group. Concerning the other group, named Education Group, it characterizes the children/youths signaled to the CPCJ when their right to education is at risk, covering the problems of school abandonment/absenteeism and failure, it is composed mainly of males and the 11-14 age group was predominant in both genders. We also observe that most subjects of both groups live with their biological families. Concerning the characterization of the applied measures, we stress the issue of the application context and the most widely applied type of measure. As a result, we note that as far as the context is concerned, in both groups the measures are mostly applied in the natural environment of the child/youth and the most widely applied measure is the supporting measure with the parents. It should also be noted that in the Maltreatment Group, the duration of these measures is higher than the duration of the measures applied to the Education Group

Determinants of HIV late presentation among men who have sex with men in Portugal (2014–2019): who’s being left behind?

IntroductionHIV late presentation (LP) remains excessive in Europe. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with late presentation in the MSM population newly diagnosed with HIV in Portugal between 2014 and 2019.MethodsWe included 391 newly HIV-1 diagnosed Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), from the BESTHOPE project, in 17 countrywide Portuguese hospitals. The data included clinical and socio-behavioral questionnaires and the viral genomic sequence obtained in the drug resistance test before starting antiretrovirals (ARVs). HIV-1 subtypes and epidemiological surveillance mutations were determined using different bioinformatics tools. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between predictor variables and late presentation (LP).ResultsThe median age was 31 years, 51% had a current income between 501–1,000 euros, 28% were migrants. 21% had never been tested for HIV before diagnosis, with 42.3% of MSM presenting LP. 60% were infected with subtype B strains. In the multivariate regression, increased age at diagnosis, higher income, lower frequency of screening, STI ever diagnosed and higher viral load were associated with LP.ConclusionOur study suggests that specific subgroups of the MSM population, such older MSM, with higher income and lower HIV testing frequency, are not being targeted by community and clinical screening services. Overall, targeted public health measures should be strengthened toward these subgroups, through strengthened primary care testing, expanded access to PrEP, information and promotion of HIV self-testing and more inclusive and accessible health services

Data_Sheet_1_Determinants of HIV late presentation among men who have sex with men in Portugal (2014–2019): who’s being left behind?.docx

IntroductionHIV late presentation (LP) remains excessive in Europe. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with late presentation in the MSM population newly diagnosed with HIV in Portugal between 2014 and 2019.MethodsWe included 391 newly HIV-1 diagnosed Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), from the BESTHOPE project, in 17 countrywide Portuguese hospitals. The data included clinical and socio-behavioral questionnaires and the viral genomic sequence obtained in the drug resistance test before starting antiretrovirals (ARVs). HIV-1 subtypes and epidemiological surveillance mutations were determined using different bioinformatics tools. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between predictor variables and late presentation (LP).ResultsThe median age was 31 years, 51% had a current income between 501–1,000 euros, 28% were migrants. 21% had never been tested for HIV before diagnosis, with 42.3% of MSM presenting LP. 60% were infected with subtype B strains. In the multivariate regression, increased age at diagnosis, higher income, lower frequency of screening, STI ever diagnosed and higher viral load were associated with LP.ConclusionOur study suggests that specific subgroups of the MSM population, such older MSM, with higher income and lower HIV testing frequency, are not being targeted by community and clinical screening services. Overall, targeted public health measures should be strengthened toward these subgroups, through strengthened primary care testing, expanded access to PrEP, information and promotion of HIV self-testing and more inclusive and accessible health services.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Determinants of HIV late presentation among men who have sex with men in Portugal (2014–2019): who’s being left behind?.docx

IntroductionHIV late presentation (LP) remains excessive in Europe. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with late presentation in the MSM population newly diagnosed with HIV in Portugal between 2014 and 2019.MethodsWe included 391 newly HIV-1 diagnosed Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), from the BESTHOPE project, in 17 countrywide Portuguese hospitals. The data included clinical and socio-behavioral questionnaires and the viral genomic sequence obtained in the drug resistance test before starting antiretrovirals (ARVs). HIV-1 subtypes and epidemiological surveillance mutations were determined using different bioinformatics tools. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between predictor variables and late presentation (LP).ResultsThe median age was 31 years, 51% had a current income between 501–1,000 euros, 28% were migrants. 21% had never been tested for HIV before diagnosis, with 42.3% of MSM presenting LP. 60% were infected with subtype B strains. In the multivariate regression, increased age at diagnosis, higher income, lower frequency of screening, STI ever diagnosed and higher viral load were associated with LP.ConclusionOur study suggests that specific subgroups of the MSM population, such older MSM, with higher income and lower HIV testing frequency, are not being targeted by community and clinical screening services. Overall, targeted public health measures should be strengthened toward these subgroups, through strengthened primary care testing, expanded access to PrEP, information and promotion of HIV self-testing and more inclusive and accessible health services.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Determinants of HIV late presentation among men who have sex with men in Portugal (2014–2019): who’s being left behind?.docx

IntroductionHIV late presentation (LP) remains excessive in Europe. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with late presentation in the MSM population newly diagnosed with HIV in Portugal between 2014 and 2019.MethodsWe included 391 newly HIV-1 diagnosed Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), from the BESTHOPE project, in 17 countrywide Portuguese hospitals. The data included clinical and socio-behavioral questionnaires and the viral genomic sequence obtained in the drug resistance test before starting antiretrovirals (ARVs). HIV-1 subtypes and epidemiological surveillance mutations were determined using different bioinformatics tools. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between predictor variables and late presentation (LP).ResultsThe median age was 31 years, 51% had a current income between 501–1,000 euros, 28% were migrants. 21% had never been tested for HIV before diagnosis, with 42.3% of MSM presenting LP. 60% were infected with subtype B strains. In the multivariate regression, increased age at diagnosis, higher income, lower frequency of screening, STI ever diagnosed and higher viral load were associated with LP.ConclusionOur study suggests that specific subgroups of the MSM population, such older MSM, with higher income and lower HIV testing frequency, are not being targeted by community and clinical screening services. Overall, targeted public health measures should be strengthened toward these subgroups, through strengthened primary care testing, expanded access to PrEP, information and promotion of HIV self-testing and more inclusive and accessible health services.</p

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