Agricultura familiar e alimentação escolar no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

In Brazil, at least 30% of the total financial resources provided by the federal government for school feeding should be used to buy products from family farming. The present study examines the profile of the purchase of these products in municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), south Brazil, in 2014. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with information obtained through a questionnaire sent to the municipalities and filled by respondents. Of the 371 participating municipalities, 367 acquired products from family farming, and 86.8% of these municipalities achieved the minimum percentage required. Nutritionists and farmers were the main components involved in the articulation of this process. Difficulties faced by these individuals included the lack of organization of the producers, failure to meet the demand, and lack of interest. More than 80% of the municipalities bought food from the “Vegetables”, “Cereals, Breads, Pasta, and Tubers” and “Fruits” groups. Only 8% purchased products from socio-biodiversity. There was a great diversity of food purchased, most of which were in natura, despite the low acquisition of socio-biodiversity products. Results of this study indicated the concern and tendency of the Brazilian municipalities to support the local economy with incentives to consumption and production of regional foods.No Brasil, no mínimo 30% do total dos recursos financeiros repassados pelo governo federal para a alimentação escolar devem ser utilizados na compra de produtos da agricultura familiar. Este estudo analisa o perfil da aquisição desses produtos em municípios do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), em 2014. Foi realizado estudo transversal descritivo com informações obtidas de um questionário encaminhado aos municípios. Dos 371 municípios participantes, 367 adquiriram produtos da agricultura familiar, sendo que 86,8% deles atingiram o percentual mínimo exigido. Os nutricionistas e os agricultores foram os principais envolvidos na articulação do processo e, dentre as dificuldades enfrentadas estão a falta de organização dos produtores, a impossibilidade de cumprirem com a demanda e o desinteresse. Mais de 80% dos municípios compraram dos grupos “Hortaliças, legumes e verduras”, “Cereais, pães, massas e tubérculos” e “Frutas”, embora apenas 8% adquiriam produtos da sociobiodiversidade. Verificou-se uma grande diversidade de alimentos adquiridos, sendo a maior parte produtos in natura, apesar da baixa aquisição de produtos da sociobiodiversidade. Os resultados indicam a tendência dos municípios em fomentar a economia local, com incentivo ao consumo e produção de alimentos regionais

Childhood socioeconomic position and objectively measured physical capability levels in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p><b>Background:</b> Grip strength, walking speed, chair rising and standing balance time are objective measures of physical capability that characterise current health and predict survival in older populations. Socioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood may influence the peak level of physical capability achieved in early adulthood, thereby affecting levels in later adulthood. We have undertaken a systematic review with meta-analyses to test the hypothesis that adverse childhood SEP is associated with lower levels of objectively measured physical capability in adulthood.</p> <p><b>Methods and Findings:</b> Relevant studies published by May 2010 were identified through literature searches using EMBASE and MEDLINE. Unpublished results were obtained from study investigators. Results were provided by all study investigators in a standard format and pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. 19 studies were included in the review. Total sample sizes in meta-analyses ranged from N = 17,215 for chair rise time to N = 1,061,855 for grip strength. Although heterogeneity was detected, there was consistent evidence in age adjusted models that lower childhood SEP was associated with modest reductions in physical capability levels in adulthood: comparing the lowest with the highest childhood SEP there was a reduction in grip strength of 0.13 standard deviations (95% CI: 0.06, 0.21), a reduction in mean walking speed of 0.07 m/s (0.05, 0.10), an increase in mean chair rise time of 6% (4%, 8%) and an odds ratio of an inability to balance for 5s of 1.26 (1.02, 1.55). Adjustment for the potential mediating factors, adult SEP and body size attenuated associations greatly. However, despite this attenuation, for walking speed and chair rise time, there was still evidence of moderate associations.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Policies targeting socioeconomic inequalities in childhood may have additional benefits in promoting the maintenance of independence in later life.</p&gt

Global respiratory syncytial virus–related infant community deaths

Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of pediatric death, with >99% of mortality occurring in low- and lower middle-income countries. At least half of RSV-related deaths are estimated to occur in the community, but clinical characteristics of this group of children remain poorly characterized. Methods The RSV Global Online Mortality Database (RSV GOLD), a global registry of under-5 children who have died with RSV-related illness, describes clinical characteristics of children dying of RSV through global data sharing. RSV GOLD acts as a collaborative platform for global deaths, including community mortality studies described in this supplement. We aimed to compare the age distribution of infant deaths <6 months occurring in the community with in-hospital. Results We studied 829 RSV-related deaths <1 year of age from 38 developing countries, including 166 community deaths from 12 countries. There were 629 deaths that occurred <6 months, of which 156 (25%) occurred in the community. Among infants who died before 6 months of age, median age at death in the community (1.5 months; IQR: 0.8−3.3) was lower than in-hospital (2.4 months; IQR: 1.5−4.0; P < .0001). The proportion of neonatal deaths was higher in the community (29%, 46/156) than in-hospital (12%, 57/473, P < 0.0001). Conclusions We observed that children in the community die at a younger age. We expect that maternal vaccination or immunoprophylaxis against RSV will have a larger impact on RSV-related mortality in the community than in-hospital. This case series of RSV-related community deaths, made possible through global data sharing, allowed us to assess the potential impact of future RSV vaccines

A marca nacional portuguesa em Macau : uma investigação sobre a perceção da marca portuguesa por parte dos residentes em Macau

O conceito de Nation Brand incide sobre as imagens e perceções que as pessoas em geral têm sobre países, as quais são influenciadas por aspetos culturais, históricos, por valores vários, estilos de vida ou mesmo experiências pessoais vividas nos países em causa. Podemos descrever este conceito como a autoapresentação estratégica de um país com o objetivo de criar capital reputacional por meio da sua promoção, através de interesses económicos, políticos e sociais, interna e externamente (Szondi, 2008, p.5 cit. in Foroudi et al., 2016). A presente investigação tem por objetivo avaliar a marca nacional portuguesa em Macau, traçando um perfil sócio-demográfico das regiões em estudo. Procura-se também compreender a influência de Portugal, da marca Portugal, nos processo de compra e de tomada de decisão, assim como avaliar a presença da cultura portuguesa em Macau. Foi realizado um estudo comparativo entre as comunidades de residentes em Macau de origam portuguesa e de origem não portuguesa, tendo por base dois inquéritos por questionário, com uma amostra de conveniência de 70 indivíduos, maiores de idade, sendo 43 de origem portuguesa e 27 de origem não portuguesa. Os resultados desta investigação revelam um maior relacionamento com a marca portuguesa por parte dos residentes de origem nacional, contudo existe também uma avaliação positiva sobre Portugal por parte dos restantes residentes. Os resultados deste estudo salientam ainda a importância da comunicação e do marketing para o reforço da influência portuguesa neste mercado.The concept of Nation Brand focuses on the images and perceptions that people in general have about countries, which are influenced by cultural, historical, diverse values, lifestyles or even personal experiences in the countries concerned. We can describe this concept as the strategic self-presentation of a country with the objective of creating reputational capital through its promotion, through economic, political and social interests, internally and externally (Szondi, 2008, p.5 cit. In Foroudi et al ., 2016). The present investigation aims to evaluate the Portuguese national brand in Macau, tracing a socio-demographic profile of the regions under study. It also seeks to understand the influence of Portugal, of the Portugal brand, in the purchasing and decision-making processes, as well as assessing the presence of Portuguese culture in Macau. A comparative study was carried out between the communities of Macao residents of Portuguese origins and non-Portuguese origins, based on two surveys per questionnaire, with a convenience sample of 70 individuals, aged over 43, being of Portuguese origin and 27 of non-Portuguese origin. The results of this investigation reveal a greater relationship with the Portuguese brand by residents of national origin, however there is also a positive assessment of Portugal by other residents. The results of this study also highlight the importance of communication and marketing to reinforce Portuguese influence in this market

E o que eu sinto? O impacto da imigração na manifestação de sintomatologia ansiosa nas crianças dos 9 aos 12 anos

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto UniversitárioOs aspetos psicológicos da imigração e o impacto do deslocamento e contacto com uma nova cultura, nas crianças, só recentemente tiveram o devido enfoque. Tem sido bastante discutido o facto da imigração entre as nações, ser necessariamente atendida pela presença de riscos psicológicos relativamente graves para as crianças (Aronowitz, 2009). Contudo, os estudos em Portugal que tenham em consideração esta temática ainda são poucos. A presente investigação tem por objetivo estudar o impacto psicológico da imigração na manifestação de sintomatologia ansiosa nas crianças. É um estudo comparativo e correlacional com uma amostra de 60 crianças entre os 9 e os 12 anos de idade em que 30 são portuguesas e 30 são imigrantes. O protocolo de investigação inclui: dois Questionários Sociodemográficos, um para os pais portugueses e outro para os pais imigrantes, e a versão portuguesa do State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) traduzido e adaptado por Ponciano e Matias (Matias, 2004). Os resultados revelaram maiores níveis de ansiedade na população imigrante em comparação com a portuguesa e a existência de uma correlação significativa em função do género, da proveniência e da empregabilidade dos pais. Os resultados deste estudo salientam a importância de um apoio psicológico preventivo para os impactos psicológicos durante o processo de adaptação das crianças imigrantes, como forma de minimizar e prevenir possíveis perturbações.ABSTRACT: The psychological aspects of immigration and the impact of displacement and contact with a new culture, in children, only recently had the proper focus. It has been widely discussed the fact that immigration between nations, is necessarily attended by the presence of relatively severe psychological risks for children (Aronowitz, 2009). Yet studies in Portugal which take account of this subject are still few. This research aims to study the psychological impact of immigration on the symptoms of anxious expression in children. It is a comparative and correlational study with a sample of 60 children between 9 and 12 years old where 30 are Portuguese and 30 are immigrants. The research protocol includes: two Socio-Demographic questionnaires, one for portuguese parents and one for immigrant parents and the Portuguese version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) translated and adapted by Ponciano and Matias (Matias, 2004). The results showed higher anxiety levels in the immigrant population compared to the Portuguese and the existence of a significant correlation in terms of gender, origin and employability of parents. The results of this study underline the importance of preventive psychological support for the psychological impacts during the process of adaptation of immigrant children as a way to minimize and prevent possible disturbances