The livestock roles in the wellbeing of rural communities of Timor-Leste

The livestock species play very important economic and socio-cultural roles for the wellbeing of rural households, such as food supply, source of income, asset saving, source of employment, soil fertility, livelihoods, transport, agricultural traction, agricultural diversification and sustainable agricultural production. The aim of this work was to identify and characterize the different roles that livestock and livestock species play in rural communities of Timor-Leste, highlighting the importance of animal production for the wellbeing and rural development, and relate the functions performed by livestock production with economic, social and cultural attributes of the communities. The data used in this study were collected in 2011 through a questionnaire survey in three rural communities in the district of Bobonaro, namely in a mountain area, an irrigation plain and a coastal zone, and were complemented with secondary data. Livestock production in Timor-Leste is predominantly familiar being chickens, pigs, goats, cattle, horses, buffaloes and sheep the main species. Beyond the economic function, each livestock species also performs social and cultural functions

Changes of Several Psychological Measures in the Patients with Craniomandibular Disorders, Bruxing Behavior and Sexual Abuse History

Aim: The understanding of psychological correlates of Craniomandibular disorders and Bruxing Behavior has seen significant progress in the last few years. However, studies evaluating association between more complex psychological measures in such disorders are extremely scarce. To investigate this, we evaluated frequency of sexual abuse history in the experimental and two control groups and scores in depression, somatization and dissociation in those with Craniomandibular Disorders and Bruxism with/without sexual abuse history.Methods: Clinical examination, self-report, chief complaint, criteria for craniomandibular disorders and bruxism, the Becker-Lausen Questionnaire for sexual abuse were used in the Craniomandibular Disorder+ Bruxing Behavior, and in two control subgroups to gather data about sexual abuse history. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), 32 questions from the Screening Somatoform Disorders (SOMS-2) instrument and the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) were used in the Craniomandibular Disorder + Bruxism + Sexual Abuse (n=39), in the Craniomandibular Disorder + Bruxism with no sexual abuse subgroup (n=158) and in the no Craniomandibular Disorders no Sexual Abuse subgroup (n=50) so as to gather data about depression, somatization and dissociation, respectively.Results: We show that there was no a statistically significant difference when comparing frequency of sexual abuse history in the experimental and in the two control groups. Means in depression were about 14.7; 11.4; and 9.3 in the Craniomandibular Disorder + Bruxism and Sexual abuse, in the Craniomandibular Disorder + Bruxism with no sexual abuse history, and in the no Craniomandibular Disorders no Sexual abuse history subgroups, respectively (Kruskall-Wallis statistics with post test p<0.02). Means in somatization were 12.1, 10.3, and 8.0, respectively in those subgroups (p<0.006). Means in dissociation were about 22.3, 15.6, and 15.2, respectively (p<0.007).Conclusions: Means in depression, somatization and dissociation were higher and significantly different in the Craniomandibular + bruxing behavior + sexual abuse history subgroup. This study provides further data on frequency of sexual abuse in craniomandibular disorder and bruxer subjects, expands current knowledge about depression and somatization and provides non previously reported data on dissociation