Clinics Biopsychosocial

Immigrant Health Disparities in the United States: Challenges, Structural Violence, and the Role of Social Work

2024-07-23T13:38:30+00:00

Introduction: this paper explores the complex interplay between immigration, health disparities, and political dynamics in the United States, with a focus on the detrimental effects of structural violence on immigrant communities. Drawing on existing research, it examines how hostile political narratives and exclusionary policies exacerbate health inequalities among immigrants, particularly those of color and with undocumented status. The paper highlights the adverse health outcomes associated with prolonged exposure to discriminatory environments, including mental health issues, limited access to healthcare, and heightened vulnerability to exploitation in the workplace. Moreover, it underscores the critical role of social work in addressing immigrant health disparities, advocating for systemic reforms, and promoting health equity through proactive outreach, inclusive research, and advocacy efforts. Ultimately, the paper calls for urgent action to dismantle structural barriers and advance health and social justice for immigrant populations in the United States.
Points of Interest:
• This article examines the detrimental effects of hostile narratives and structural violence on immigrant communities, including barriers to healthcare access, workplace exploitation, and mental health disparities.
• This article explores of the critical role of social work in advocating for systemic reforms and promoting health equity for immigrant populations through proactive outreach, participatory research, and advocacy efforts.
• Finally, this article urgently appeals for concerted efforts to dismantle structural barriers, challenge discriminatory policies, and advance health and social justice for immigrant communities in the United States.

Paternal participation in the pregnancy cycle and at the time of birth: perception of the postpartum woman.

2024-07-10T18:12:18+00:00

Objective: To analyze paternal participation in the pregnancy cycle and at the time of delivery.

Methods: escriptive study with a qualitative approach developed with postpartum women admitted to a maternity ward in the city of Vitória – ES. Data collection was carried out through a semi-structured interview following a script with guiding questions. The interviews were recorded and examined according to the content analysis proposed by Bardin, which is operationalized in three phases: pre-analysis, exploration of the material and treatment of the results.

Results: The parents were not present at the prenatal consultations, given that the partners could not attend because the consultation time coincided with work hours. When the father was present at the consultation or during the child's birth, it was possible to trigger positive aspects for the woman. Themothers did not receive an incentive from health professionals for their parents to participate, which showed a deficit in information about the right to have a companionat the time of delivery.

Conclusion: The father's participation during prenatal care was satisfactory from the point of view of the puerperal woman, although the fathers did not go to prenatal consultations, they were able to go to specific exams and at childbirth they were more present. It was noted fragility of health professionals for notencouraging the father's participation. The difficulty observed for paternal participation in these moments was mainly due to the father's unavailability of schedules, the observed ease was when the father himself was interested in participating.

Health education in the prevention of perinatal mortality: validation of educational technology to provide care to primary care professionals

2024-07-11T21:18:26+00:00

Objective: Validate the educational material of an electronic booklet for preventing perinatal mortality.

Method: This is a methodological study that will be carried out using data from the project “Socio-Spatial Inequalities and Perinatal Mortality: Analysis of Preventable Deaths for (Re)Orientation of Professional Practices in the Metropolitan Region of Greater Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil”, which was financed through the FAPES/CNPq/Decit-SCTIE-MS/SESA No 03/2018 – PPSUS, resulting in a digital booklet.

Results: 12 judges (predominantly female), experts in the field, participated in the validation, who evaluated the booklet in relation to the content and appearance of the program. The general evaluation, through the Content Validity Index, approved the booklet with considerations, highlighted by the judges in the first and second instrument. In carrying out the descriptive analysis of the data, the Excel program was used.

Conclusion: The booklet of the present study was validated by the judges and experts chosen for the validation process, who consider the technology to be an important tool for professionals, whether for diagnosis or identification of risk factors for perinatal mortality.

Nursing professionals’ perception of the COVID-19 pandemic: study carried out in a reference hospital

2024-07-11T19:47:22+00:00

Objective: To analyze the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the perception of nursing professionals.

Method: This is a descriptive, exploratory research with a qualitative approach carried out in a hospital in the city of Vitória, Espírito Santo. 44 professionals participated, including nursing technicians and nurses. Data collection was done through semi-structured interviews, with a questionnaire based on questions with open questions. The organization of the qualitative data obtained through the interviews was based on the content analysis technique, according to BARDIN. The research project for this study received approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee.

Results: 44 professionals took part in this study, 15 (34.09%) nurses and 29 (65.91%) nursing technicians. Regarding the sex of the general participants, 03 were male and 41 were female, aged between 23 and 46 years and experience in the hospital between 1 and 9 years. Through the analysis, it was possible to identify the experiences of these professionals, as well as the actions carried out by the hospital and their perception regarding the prolonged use of PPE .

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of nursing professionals in physical and psychological aspects, due to fear, lack of knowledge, deaths experienced and work overload.

Epidemiological profile of nursing students using psychotropic medications

2024-06-27T13:58:15+00:00

Objective: to analyze the epidemiological profile of nursing students who use psychotropic medications.

Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, conducted in the years 2023 and 2024. A questionnaire was administered to nursing students from a private higher education institution in Vitória, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Subsequently, the data was analyzed and compared with findings from other authors. This study was submitted to and approved by the Ethics and Research Committee, under opinion number 6.176.492.

Results: The majority of participants were women (90.2%), aged between 21 and 24 years (43.9%), of white ethnicity (48.8%), living with their parents (75.6%), and having a per capita income of 2 to 4 minimum wages (46.3%). Additionally, 58.8% had full scholarships, and 87.8% did not choose nursing as their first option. Regarding mental health, 73.2% did not receive professional follow-up. Approximately, 29.27% of students use psychotropic medications; of these, 41.67% receive follow-up from a psychologist, 25% from a psychiatrist, and 25% do not receive any follow-up. Among psychotropic users, 58.33% use anxiolytics, 75% use antidepressants, and 50% use both. Prevalent symptoms include negative thoughts (83.33%), excessive tiredness (83.33%), anxiety (100%), and suicidal thoughts (33.33%).

Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of psychological and physical symptoms among Nursing students using psychotropic medications, indicating the need for interventions focused on mental health in the academic environment. It is essential to implement health education programs, professional guidance, and public policies to promote a healthy educational environment and provide psychological support to students.

Perception of anxiety by adolescents in the school context post COVID-19 pandemic

2024-07-10T20:22:57+00:00

Introduction: Over the last century, several changes have occurred in the economic, social and cultural spheres, which have negatively impacted the health of the population. Due to the need for adaptation and a new, different rhythm of life, a large portion of the population has developed the famous “generalized anxiety disorder”, thus leading to the “age of anxiety”, as the 20th century became known.

Objective: To describe the perception of anxiety by adolescents in the school context and identify its worsening due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: This is a cross-sectional, qualitative study, carried out in 2022, with eighth-year students at Escola Municipal de Ensino Fundamental Zilda Andrade, located in the municipality of Vitória do Espírito Santo, through the application of a semi-structured interview. author’s elaboration.

Results: 16 students participated in this study, referring to the characterization of the profile of the students studied, showing that 62.5% (n=10) of the interviewees were female and that 56.25% (n=9) of these had a predominant age of 13 years.

Conclusion: In summary, there is a lack of knowledge about the concept of the topic among students, which leads to the failure to identify other colleagues who suffer from anxiety symptoms.

Nutrition and eating habits in schoolchildren: repercussions of COVID-19 in a region of social vulnerability

2024-04-15T16:34:32+00:00

Objective: to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the eating habits and nutritional status of children and adolescents in socially vulnerable areas.

Method: Cross-sectional study, applying a semi-structured questionnaire on socioeconomic variables, eating habits and lifestyle, in addition to collecting anthropometric data. The sample consisted of 76 students enrolled in the 6th to 9th year of elementary school at Escola Municipal de Ensino Fundamental Professora Maria Valéria Miranda, located in the neighborhood of Vila Nova de Colares, Serra, Espírito Santo, Brazil. The data was tabulated and analyzed. Quantitative variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative variables were analyzed using content analysis.

Results: There was a predominance of female students (60.53%), aged 13 years (34.21%), attending the 8th grade of elementary school (48.68%). Regarding the nutritional status of the students, it was found that 66.22% of the study population is classified as eutrophic, followed by overweight (20.27%) and obesity (10.81%). In the reports of those surveyed, it was observed that the majority of students reported that the pandemic changed their eating habits.

Conclusion: Although the majority of students in a region of social vulnerability have adequate nutritional status, there is still a significant rate of students characterized as malnourished, therefore, Public Policies need to be strengthened to protect these subjects, including during pandemic periods.

Time series of proportional mortality due to stroke in the adult and resident population of the state of Piauí from 2000 to 2021.

2024-07-31T21:38:21+00:00

Introduction: Stroke is defined as a neurological deficit resulting from a focal lesion in the Central Nervous System, caused by a failure in blood circulation. This includes cerebral infarction, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. According to the *Global Burden of Disease* (GBD) Study 2019, there were 12.2 million new cases of stroke worldwide and 6.55 million deaths attributed to this condition.

Objective: To analyze proportional mortality in the state of Piauí, from 2000 to 2021.

Method: This is an ecological study using secondary data from 2000 to 2021 for the state of Piauí. Data were extracted from the Information Department of the Unified Health System. Joinpoint regression was used to identify the temporal trend.

Results: From 2000 to 2021, there were 27,636 deaths due to stroke in adults aged 20 and above. The age groups of 70 to 79 years and 80 years or older accounted for 65.99% of the total deaths. In 2006, the Proportional Mortality (PM) for both sexes was the highest throughout the period. In all analyzed years, the number of deaths increased by age group. Higher values of proportional mortality occurred from the age group of 40 years onwards. There is a trend of decline in proportional mortality with an Average Annual Percentage Change of 2.4% in the time series. When stratified by sex, PM decreased for both women and men. The age group of 20 to 29 years remained stationary.

Conclusion: The time series evidenced a decline in proportional mortality due to stroke in the state of Piauí, with a special emphasis on the female sex and the age group above 80 years.

The Role of the Physician, Bioethics, and Human Rights in Public Policies for Patient Care

2024-07-23T13:35:37+00:00

The role of the physician in patient care transcends mere clinical practice, encompassing the defense of human dignity. This editorial explores how the principles of bioethics and human rights should guide medical practices to ensure ethical and humane care. Based on the article "Setting a Minimum Standard of Care in Clinical Trials: Human Rights and Bioethics as Complementary Frameworks" by Fatma E. Marouf and Bryn S. Esplin, we discuss the importance of a minimum standard of care and how it reinforces patient dignity.

The acute effects of energy drink with taurine on resting blood pressure in healthy young adults: A systematic review with meta-analysis

2024-07-10T20:28:21+00:00

Introduction: Energy drink with taurine (EDT) has been used to improve physical performance. Its impact on cardiovascular parameters is important to understand a possible risk. We aimed to evaluate the effects of EDT on resting blood pressure through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: The searches were accomplished through Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. We included randomized or non-randomized control trials design, healthy participants older than 18 years. Taurine as an energy drink combined with other compounds were considered. Control intervention used pill or liquid compounds. Outcomes for meta-analysis included resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Risk of Bias tools and GRADE quality of evidence were analyzed.

Results: Three studies were included (48 participants). EDT dosages ranged between 1,000-4,000 mg. Two studies were included for meta- analysis. After the intervention with EDT, SBP underwent significant changes (p < 0.00001) of 3.21 mmHg (95% CI: 2.49; 3.92) (GRADE:OO Low), and DBP also increased after EDT ingestion (p< 0.00001) 1.71 mmHg (95% CI: 1.26; 2.17) (GRADE: OO Low), compared to the control/placebo group.

Conclusion: The meta-analysis suggests that acute EDT increases SBP and DBP, however, the low quality of evidence highlights that further studies with high quality of evidence are necessary.

The occupational therapy clinic in psychosocial care centers: an integrative literature review

2024-04-30T14:22:46+00:00

The suppression of the asylum care model in mental health in Brazil under the influence of the psychiatric reform, ends a new epistemological paradigm with a perspective directed at the individual as a subject in the care processes, breaking through the asylum logic around the disease, promoting their participation and protagonism in the biopsychosocial spheres. The search has the general objective: To describe the practices and performance of the Occupational Therapist in Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS). This is an integrative literature review of a descriptive nature. The search for articles was carried out in the databases Latin American Literature in Health Sciences (Lilacs), Scientific Library Online (SciELO), Portal de Periódicos Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional/Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy (UFSCar), Journal of Occupational Therapy (University of São Paulo) and Interinstitutional Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy (REVISBRATO) using the descriptors: ‘’Mental health’’, ‘’Occupational Therapy’’, ‘’Psychosocial Care’’ and ‘’Deinstitutionalization’’. Along with the Boolean operator AND for survey specifics. Articles that were available in full were included, consistent with the objectives of the study. 472 articles were found, of which 10 were selected. From there, it was verified that the practices of Occupational Therapy professionals are based on interventions that consider the precepts of intersectoriality, interdisciplinarity, singularity and completeness as effective care practices with regard to psychosocial care. The role of an occupational therapist considers daily, exchanges and experiences in the territory as a preponderant locus of intervention, understanding that individuals are a product of social reality and, at the same time, are subjects in the process of construction and transformation of the world and of themselves historically. The care process presents major challenges and must distance itself from pre-established and/or standardized models, since users are a reflection of the social environment in a complex, subjective dynamic, endowed with contradictions and singularities.