Repetitive Negative Thinking and Sexual Functioning in Portuguese Men and Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Publish at: International Journal of Sexual Health, Volume 34, Issue 4Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic process involved in the development and maintenance of emotional disorders that negatively affect sexual functioning. However, empirical evidence for the role of RNT on sexual functioning is still lacking. The current study aimed to investigate the role of RNT on sexual functioning in men and women by examining differences in RNT between men and women and between individuals with and without subclinical sexual difficulties. It also aimed to investigate the predictive role of RNT on sexual function indices in men and women. A total of 424 participants (270 women) completed online a sociodemographic questionnaire and Portuguese versions of the Persistent and Intrusive Negative Thoughts Scale, the Female Sexual Functioning Index, and the International Index of Erectile Function. The main findings showed that women scored significantly higher than men on the RNT. Similarly, individuals with subclinical sexual difficulties scored significantly higher on the RNT compared with individuals without sexual difficulties. RNT was a statistically significant and negative predictor of sexual functioning in women and men. The role of RNT on sexual functioning in women and men was found, with men and women with subclinical sexual difficulties more likely to express persistent and intrusive negative thoughts compared with men and women without sexual difficulties. In summary, RNT appears to be a negative predictor of sexual functioning in both women and men, suggesting that individuals with more intrusive and negative persistent thoughts also have more difficulty in their sexual response

Durability of a ventilated stone facade: A case study of a limestone facade affected by the corrosion of the anchorage system

he mechanical behavior of a natural stone ventilated facade is inevitably based on the correct execution of both anchoring elements, stone cladding and enclosure support, either with brick masonry walls or reinforced concrete walls. In the case studied in the present work, the origin of the damages on the facade of a building located in Lisbon has been analyzed, where stone detachments were starting to occur. This enclosure is a ventilated facade cladded with Portuguese limestone Lioz slabs. Non-destructive borescope analysis of the metallic anchoring system employed was performed, as well as X-Ray fluorescence laboratory analysis (FRX) for chemical characterization of the anchoring material. Results obtained demonstrated the problem cause on the stone facade due to incorrect metallic anchoring selection and poor execution combined with stress corrosion effect, especially for slabs with larger dimensions

Conocimiento nutricional y la ingesta de alimentos en adolescentes portugueses

La teoría socio cognitiva de Bandura propone el conocimiento como un factor esencial en el cambio del comportamiento, particularmente en la adopción de estilos de vida físicamente activos y con una alimentación saludable. Aun así, algunas criticas han sido hechas sugiriendo que una alteración del conocimiento por si solo no será suficiente para introducir mejor comportamientos de salud. OBJETIVO: Estudiar la relación entre los conocimientos nutricionales y los hábitos alimenticios de una muestra de adolescentes portugueses. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se ha realizado un estudio transversal, sobre una muestra de 754 adolescentes, se evaluaran los hábitos alimenticios de 346 adolescentes. Los adolescentes rellenaron un cuestionario con informaciones socio-demográficas, con la versión portuguesa del “General Nutrition Knowledge Questionaire for Adolescents (GNKQA)5 y un diario de alimentación de tres días (dos días útiles y un día de fin de semana), que después de haber sido analizado por un grupo de especialistas en nutrición, ha sido utilizado para cálculo del porcentaje de adecuación nutricional. Se ha utilizado el software SPSS Versión 22 para análisis estadístico de los datos. RESULTADOS: La muestra de 734 estudiantes tenia una media de edad de 15,8 (+/- 1,87) e incluía 388 (52,9%) del sexo femenino y 449 (61,2%) que frecuentaban el bachillerato. El Z-Test de las proporciones ha revelado que la muestra que devuelve los diarios de alimentación completos (n=346) fue significativamente (p<0,05) distinto, hubo una mayor proporción del sexo femenino y de adolescentes que frecuentaban la ESO. Los resultados del GNKOA muestran que la media del porcentaje de respuestas correctas han sido de 46,5%(+/-11.82%). La mayoría 86,3% (n=251) de los adolescentes con un diario alimenticio valido presentaban un porcentaje de adecuación nutricional superior al 50%. CONCLUSION: Los datos revelan conocimientos nutricionales pobres y una baja adecuación nutricional, señalando la necesidad de intervenciones de salud pública efectivas para esta edad en Portugal. Aunque necesario el conocimiento nutricional parece no ser suficiente para garantizar la adecuación nutricional de la dieta en adolescentes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

IMPLEMENTAÇÃO DE POLÍTICAS PÚBICAS: UMA QUESTÃO EM DEBATE

Resumo Este texto aborda a relevância de se avaliar a implementação das políticas públicas. Além do reconhecimento da implementação se constituir no “nó cego” das políticas sociais, atualmente uma série de fatores tem levado a uma alteração em formas tradicionais de garantir a proteção social via políticas sociais públicas. Considera-se que a implementação é um momento onde novos processos decisórios entram em cena, sendo os atores políticos locais, responsáveis pelas decisões que devem ser tomadas no momento da execução da política. Tais decisões muitas vezes alteram, ou mesmo revertem, a finalidade precípua dos programas nacionais propostos. Ou seja, a descentralização ao mesmo tempo em que leva a uma fragmentação da ação pública pode alterar o estatuto de cidadania sobre a garantia de direitos face à discricionariedade dos agentes locais. Assim, torna-se fundamental debater como as decisões nacionais são reconfiguradas no plano local, tornando-o também o “lugar de fabricação da ação pública”

Assessment of agricultural information needs in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States for CTA’s Products and Services: Country Study: Mozambique

Executive summary Introduction CTA works primarily through intermediary organisations and partners (non-governmental organisations, farmers’ organisations, regional organisations) to promote agriculture and rural development and to deliver its various information products and capacity building services. By partnering with these organisations, CTA seeks to increase the number of ACP organisations capable of generating and managing information and developing their own information and communication management strategies. In the period 2003 – 2005, CTA undertook a series of needs assessment studies in 21 countries in the ACP Pacific and Caribbean. As a continuation of this process, CTA have now commissioned assessments of the agricultural information needs of 6 countries emerging from prolonged conflict situations in ACP Africa, including Mozambique, which forms the focus of this report. Objectives of the Study The objectives of this study are to develop a strategy for CTA’s approach to post-conflict countries, to improve the effectiveness of CTA’s support for post-conflict countries and to compile baseline data on the status of ICM and ICTs in agriculture and rural development in Mozambique. Methodology The country profile was produced through a desk study. This study relied heavily on information available on the internet and additional information was obtained from various institutions in Mozambique, internationally and from key informants. Through the desk study we were able to identify a list of nine key institutions. This list was discussed with CTA and informants in Mozambique and face to face interviews were requested with each institution. Of these, seven of the institutions agreed, whilst one indicated that it would be closing its operations within a year and was therefore removed from the list. Expected results This study will provide: 1) an inventory of the status of agricultural information services, institutions and other actors and their needs as their relate to physical infrastructure, information availability and access and human capacity development; 2) an assessment of the current and / or planned interventions of the government and bi- or multilateral agencies in the field of information for agriculture and rural development; 3) an overview of the needs of potential partners for CTA activities and services in terms of building capacity for information and communication management; 4) a short-list of potential partners / beneficiaries for CTA activities and services; 5) baseline data to facilitate subsequent monitoring activities. The study will also provide a framework for CTA to develop a framework for action and fashion a strategy aimed at institutions in countries emerging from conflict situations and provide input into its 2006 – 2010 strategic plan. Findings Following the signing of a peace agreement in 1992 to end 16 years of conflict, Mozambique has achieved impressive economic growth and lowered its prevalence of poverty. Sustained by strong foreign investment, real GDP in Mozambique has been growing at rates in excess of 7 percent for the last 4 consecutive years, and per capita income in US dollars has increased by nearly 50 percent between 2001 and 2004. Mozambique’s economic growth, however, implies an important transformation in the composition of its GDP, although services remain the dominant sector. The share of industry in total GDP increased to 27 percent in 2004 from about 16 percent in 1996, whereas the share of agriculture decreased to 23 percent from about 30 percent in the same period. The agricultural sector, however, still supports 80 percent of the economically active population, and agriculture still provides major export earnings from commodities such as prawns and fish, cotton, sugar, timber and cashew nuts. The forestry sector also has an important role in the country, contributing 4 percent of gross domestic product and supplying about 80 percent of the energy used. There is no unified policy or strategy in Mozambique with regard to the management of agricultural information and broad dissemination networks are not well developed. Institutions that fall outside of the state or donor worlds often find it difficult to get hold of information. Information exchange between institutions tends to be informal rather than structured. Agricultural research generally is restricted by the insufficient number of scientists who can formulate and carry out studies relevant to Mozambican needs. Budgets for information management tend to be a low priority. In-house capacity for maintaining and troubleshooting computer networks is a constraint; reliance is made upon private companies specialised in IT. Retention of staff at the centre with IT skills, in the face of competition from the private sector, was cited as a problem by all of the state agencies. Building the capacities of in-house staff was therefore felt to be important. Existing websites, maintained by some of the key institutions vary in their effectiveness as publishing outlets and often tend to be reflections of the institution, its structure and its work programme, rather than being designed specifically to disseminate information, reports, studies, etc. that are produced, or to act as advocacy tools. Use of radio as a means of disseminating information in vernacular languages is still rather limited. Problems in this respect are the costs of translation and payments for the transmissions. Training in how to pass information on to low literacy groups was also indicated by several agencies. This included training in more effective writing skills and training in how to compile radio programmes and audio visual materials. There is a general lack of metadata; documentation on who is doing what and types of available information is generally poor. This has a double negative effect. On one hand, potential data and information users have difficulties finding or getting access to relevant information and on the other hand, information suppliers do not know what they have, which prevents better organisation of information for dissemination. Conclusions Most of the institutions which we interviewed have fairly well-developed links to relevant sources of information; data on the functioning of markets, prices and production levels in the agriculture and fisheries sectors has vastly improved in recent years. Some of these agencies need information on regional and international markets and production levels. Technical data is still harder to source, particularly in Portuguese. There are information needs regarding developments in thinking on food security, forms and means of supporting organisations at community level, participatory approaches to resource management, information on low cost technologies for increasing production and conserving produce, on gender, on HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation strategies and on general rural development issues. Respondents requested capacity building in information management to increase the effectiveness of their organisations. Government services and NGO staff indicated the importance of training in the analysis of socio-economic data. Training in the use of the internet to obtain information and in the targeting of information by library and documentation services was also a broad need. The design and development of web sites was indicated by many respondents, but it is felt that there is a particular need for support in how to conceptualise these as sources of information rather than just ‘publicity’. Training in effective communication to low literacy target audiences, in the development of extension materials and the use of radio and audio-visual materials is also important. Recommendations We recommend that CTA provide support to the development of a national IMC strategy for agricultural information that takes full advantage of the opportunities offered by the new GovNet infrastructure. The ICM strategy should ensure that information is easily available to all stakeholders in rural development. Furthermore, the ICM strategy should prevent a gap from evolving between organisations connected to GovNet and those that are not. Finally, the ICM should provide for communication channels from the rural poor to research organisations and policy makers, to ensure that research and policies are guided by the needs of poor rural households. We recommend that CTA attempts to increase the amount of information disseminated in Portuguese language, particularly in regard to food security, forms and means of supporting organisations at community level, participatory approaches to resource management, information on low cost technologies for increasing production and conserving produce, on gender, on HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation strategies and on general rural development issues. We recommend that CTA support short term research activities targeted at Mozambican-specific issues in relation to agricultural production and the conservation of produce. Links should be set up to inform IIAM and DNER about the information needs of poor farmers, women and PLWHA. These links can be set up through members organisations such as ORAM and UNAC, through Farmer Field Schools and through NGOs to which DNER has outsourced extension activities. We recommend that CTA investigate ways of supporting exchange of experience between organisations involved in training through associations and support to the development of training packages for associations. These should be provided to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of extension efforts in the field. In the long term, the required technical information can be provided to associations through newly developed training packages.The objectives of this study are to develop a strategy for CTA’s approach to post-conflict countries, to improve the effectiveness of CTA’s support for post-conflict countries and to compile baseline data on the status of ICM and ICTs in agriculture.

AFINA-te - a healthy lifestyle information website, online food diary and exercise log directly towards children

Childhood obesity is according to the World Health Organization one of the most concerning problems today. Educating children to a healthier lifestyle is a difficult task due to the lack of interest or concern that they demonstrate. The interest that children have in technology and the time they spent online in games or simply surfing the web may be seen as an opportunity to instill knowledge about healthy eating and healthy lifestyle. There are already several online health counseling websites but it seems to exist a lack of such platforms directly towards to children. Afina-te website is an online platform that aims to monitor and educate children to a healthier lifestyle through the exposition of information, interactive applications and educational games. It is also capable of provide feedback about what users eat and the exercise they practice. This paper describes the development and resulting health counseling website.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Popular education in health with fishermen: an experience outside the nurse's "comfort zone"

Objective: To reflect about a participatory educational activity developed with a group of artisanal fishermen, of a community in the city of São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro. Such action was contextualized by previous findings related to socio-demographic and clinical and lcoal environmental pollution issues. Method: Four fishermen with fishing time between 2 and 20 years participated in the activity. The activity took place in the morning in July, after insertion of the researcher in the scenario in the previous six months. Results: The main difficulties encountered by the fishermen in fishing activity, questions about health problems such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, presence of wounds and treatment modalities were researched using participatory strategy associated with teaching resources. Conclusion: The experience helped identify singularities and challenges faced by the group. At the end, a banner was elaborated containing educational guidelines constructed with the fishermen

Assessment of agricultural information needs in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States for CTA’s Products and Services: Country Study: Angola

Executive summary Introduction CTA works primarily through intermediary organisations and partners (non-governmental organisations, farmers’ organisations, regional organisations) to promote agriculture and rural development and to deliver its various information products and capacity building services. By partnering with these organisations, CTA seeks to increase the number of ACP organisations capable of generating and managing information and developing their own information and communication management strategies. This study is one of six country assessment studies of needs for agricultural information needs in countries emerging from prolonged conflict situations in Africa. Objectives The objectives of this study are to develop a strategy for CTA’s approach to post-conflict countries, to improve the effectiveness of CTA’s support for post-conflict countries and to compile baseline data on the status of ICM and ICTs in agriculture and rural development in Angola. Methodology The country profile was produced through a desktop study that relied heavily on information available on the Internet. Additional information was obtained from informants through e-mail contacts. Using the desktop study we compiled a list of key institutions to interview. This list was discussed via e-mail with CTA and informants in Angola. Informants of nine key institutions were then interviewed face-to-face. Expected results This study will provide: 1) an inventory of the status of agricultural information services, institutions and other actors and their needs as their relate to physical infrastructure, information availability and access and human capacity development; 2) an assessment of the current and / or planned interventions of the government and bi- or multilateral agencies in the field of information for agriculture and rural development; 3) an overview of the needs of potential partners for CTA activities and services in terms of building capacity for information and communication management; 4) a short-list of potential partners / beneficiaries for CTA activities and services; 5) baseline data to facilitate subsequent monitoring activities. The study will also provide a framework for CTA to develop a framework for action and fashion a strategy aimed at institutions in countries emerging from conflict situations and provide input into its 2006 – 2010 strategic plan. Findings During the civil war between UNITA and the Angolan Government that lasted until 2002, the infrastructure in Angola, especially in rural areas, was almost completely destroyed. Since 2002, up to 4.5 million displaced people were resettled in their area of origin or preference and received emergency support. About 2.2 million households (75% of the population) are engaged in subsistence agriculture. Agricultural production is still low but growing rapidly. Since 2002 the area under cultivation has increased with 50 % to 3.2 million hectare but that represents still only 5% of all arable land and Angola still imports about half of its cereal requirements. The main export crops are coffee and palm oil. Livestock numbers are also increasing rapidly since 2002. The production is concentrated in the southern provinces. Access to water is the main constraint for livestock holders in these areas. Fisheries are an important sector, providing direct employment to 35,000 people. Firewood and charcoal are an important source of income for up to 18% of the rural households and the only source of energy to almost all rural households. Timber production is concentrated in Cabinda province. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries contribute 8% to the GNP. Because of the weak infrastructure and the focus on emergency projects, which spent only the minimum on obtaining information and ICM, there is limited information available about the situation in rural areas. The information that is available is fragmented and scattered in many project evaluation reports. To cope with this situation, an informal network of information exchange has developed between NGOs, GoA and bi- and multilateral agencies in Angola over the last four years. The language barrier and outdated libraries are the main obstacles encountered by organisations searching for technical information on agriculture. Limited access to mass media and weak infrastructure are the main obstacles encountered in extension activities. There is currently no national strategy on information management and none of the organisations interviewed had an organisational strategy on information management. Organisations working in the area of agriculture and rural development are now changing to development activities and this change is accompanied by some important changes in information demands. Firstly, there is an increased need for active participation in the planning and implementation of activities by the target group. Secondly, new actors are coming in, while present ones are leaving. Thirdly, it is expected that rural households in Angola will increase production above subsistence level in the near future and will be looking for opportunities to market excess production or divert resources to cash crops. Fourthly, the government is relaxing media controls, allowing freer communication between all stakeholders and a potential increase in the use of media by NGOs. Conclusions Most respondents need information on the actual situation on the ground. Existing information produced between 2002 and 2006 is scattered over many organisations and reports. This information must be consolidated in a data-base before the main implementers leave Angola. Respondents also need information about developments in thinking on food security, rural livelihoods, participatory approaches to resource management and rural development preferably in the form of reference books. Furthermore, information is needed on micro credit and support to associations. This information should be in the form of manuals and exchange visits to successful projects, preferably in Portuguese speaking and/or African countries. Finally, technical information on food crops and fisheries is needed. Respondents need capacity building in information management to increase the effectiveness of the organisation. Especially government officials requested training in the analysis of socio-economic data. Training in the design of questionnaires and in training the interviewers is also necessary. Furthermore, respondents wanted training in the use of the Internet to obtain information and in the design and development of websites, in effective writing and the development of extension materials, in the use of participatory methods and in demand driven extension. Finally, some respondents wanted training in the use of mass media, especially radio and in the production and use of audio-visual training material. Recommendations We recommend that CTA support IDA with the development of a national IMC strategy for agricultural information that will encourage a pro-poor and gender sensitive development strategy. CTA should also supports IDA, FONGA and ADRA with the establishment of an institutional ICM. This would include building a data-base with all information produced to date. Additionally CTA should support a policy for the use of mass media, especially community radio in extension programmes. Simultaneously, the most needed information will have to be made available at central level for ongoing work. Small libraries can be set up for this at IDA and FONGA. Second, a programme of capacity building is needed to enable all actors to implement the policies formulated in the first phase. This programme should be accompanied by a limited provision of resources (Internet access, increased libraries). Trained personnel musts have the resources to use their new skills to implement activities. Successful approaches used at central level can be replicated at provincial level during this stage. Care must be taken that the information system remains pro-poor and gender sensitive. Possibly, specific actions to help prevent the spread of HIV and mitigate its effects should be taken during this phase. Finally, in the long term, specific technical information will need to be supplied for specific target groups such as fish breeders and farmers specialising in niche markets.The objectives of this study are to develop a strategy for CTA’s approach to post-conflict countries, to improve the effectiveness of CTA’s support for post-conflict countries and to compile baseline data on the status of ICM and ICTs in agriculture.