Community In Portugal Research Articles

Oral Health Literacy and Determinants among an Elderly Community in Portugal.

High average life expectancy has caused an increase in the elderly population and with it arises the need to characterize this population regarding their health and, in particular, their oral health. The purpose of this study was to assess and characterize oral health, oral rehabilitation, oral health literacy, oral health perception and quality of life in a sample of elderly participants of a physical activity program in Portugal. An observational cross-sectional study was designed with a group of 206 individuals. All the individuals were clinically assessed, DMFT, PSR and the plaque index were registered, and a questionnaire was applied in the form of a "face-to-face" interview with questions related to the quality of life related to oral health (GOHAI index and the REALD-30 scale). Of the 206 study participants, 90.3% admit brushing their teeth daily, 6.3% practice daily flossing, and 5.8% had a dental appointment in the last 12 months. Applying the REALD-30 scale, 22.7% have a low level (score 0-14), 43.7% a moderate level (score 15-22) and 33.6% a high level (score 23-29) of oral health literacy. The GOHAI scale reveals that 37.4% have a high self-perception of their oral health. A considerable proportion of the sample studied present a moderate level of oral health literacy. Therefore, educating each person about their oral health when participating in a specific health program and developing proposals for oral health promotion activities should be widely considered as a strategy towards primary prevention. Future oral health literacy sessions should be held in order to improve oral health and quality of life among the community.

Health Literacy in a migrant portuguese speaking community in Portugal and healthcare use

Abstract Background Health Literacy is strongly related with barriers to accessing healthcare services. Migrants may represent a vulnerable population in this matter, usually correlated with the language barrier. We aim to answer the question “Which are the perceptions, behaviors and skills of a migrant Portuguese speaking community using and getting access to health care in Portugal?” Methods Descriptive, cross-sectional and exploratory study. The Health Literacy Questionnaire (Osborne et al.,2013) was applied with a sociodemographic and health characterization. Data were collected and processed from a sample of 101 participants from a group of 570 people from a migrant community, all native Portuguese speakers mostly born in African Countries with Portuguese as an Official Language. Results The sample represented 17,7% of the total population. Thus, a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 9% were assumed. In the Health Literacy Questionnaire, the Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient was calculated as between 0.714 and 0.928. The analysis dimensions were mostly positioned below the average of the scale and were influenced by education, migratory status and age. “Feeling understood and supported by health professionals” had the worst score. There were better results in those who sought primary health care services and who had chronic illnesses. Self-rated health worsened with increasing length of stay in the country. Approximately 31% never attended healthcare in Portugal because they did not feel the need or were unable to access it. Conclusions This study demonstrated the association between health literacy with migrants and healthcare use excluding the language factor. This community presented low healthcare services use and low health literacy levels despite the use of the same language. Interaction with primary healthcare services improved migrants health literacy. This study supported a community intervention with public and private stakeholders. Key messages • Migrants places potential constraints on healthcare utilisation in destination countries that are not necessarily related to language barrier. • Health Literacy is crucial to migrants health, health care access and Public Health improvement.

Health Literacy of a Migrant community in Portugal on environmental health risks

Abstract Background Social, cultural and environmental factors are crucial for the health of migrants. Health Literacy is a fundamental contribution, giving them greater capacity and making it possible to reduce health inequalities. The aim of this study was to characterize the perception and behavior of a migrant community residing in Portugal, in view of the health risks resulting from the environmental conditions in which they live, and to identify their level of Health Literacy. Methods Cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory study. Data collection was obtained through the application of the “Health Literacy Questionnaire” (Osborne, 2013), complemented with sociodemographic and environmental indicators referring to the physical space and social context of residence. The questionnaires were applied to a sample of the population, coming from Portuguese-speaking African countries, with 101 participants. Data analysis involved measures of descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Of the data obtained, 77.2% reported having problems with humidity in their homes, with poor behavior in terms of heat (64.4%) and cold (90.1%). 76% reported insect and rodent infestations inside their homes. The presence of stagnant water (43.6%), organic waste (29.8%) and poor electrical networks (26.9%) were the main environmental problems identified. About Health Literacy, “Feeling understood and supported by health professionals’ and “Finding good health information”, registered lower levels, with the remaining ones being generally below the average of the scale. internal consistency ranged between 0.71 and 0.92. Conclusions Data analysis showed the precariousness of housing and the inadequacy of support infrastructure, with inherent environmental risks to health. The existence of low levels of Health Literacy was found in most of the domains considered. The results supported and justified the elaboration of a community intervention project with the involvement of local partners. Key messages • Knowing the environmental determinants is essential for disease prevention and health promotion. • Health Literacy is an indispensable vehicle for reducing inequalities in migrant populations.

What did the Portuguese laugh at 200 years ago?

This article aims to identify the existence of a laughter community in Portugal in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Based on research into the beginnings of humour in periodicals published in Portugal, a corpus consisting of newspapers published between 1797 and 1835 was analysed, from the first in which humour was used systematically as a resource (Almocreve de Petas) until the establishment of the Constitutional Monarchy. With the concept of laughter community in mind, evidence was sought that it was present in the period that covers the political, social and economic transition from the Ancien Régime to modern society, having as main players writers, editors, printers, readers and listeners, in a process of production, reception, circulation and appropriation of ideas and meanings. This process, which developed in the public sphere, also played a part in forming incipient public opinion. To detect evidence of this community, clichés, jocular expressions and comic stories conveyed by the periodicals were identified. Very often they were found to have kept the same meaning they had at the time, while some expressions have survived with slight changes, and others simply no longer make people laugh.

Dietary Acculturation and Food Habit Changes among Chinese Immigrants in Portugal.

Chinese individuals who immigrate to a Western country tend to change their eating patterns and behaviors depending on how long they live in the host country. This is dietary acculturation, and it can have a positive or negative impact on eating habits. Thus, we aimed to characterize the dietary acculturation of the Chinese immigrant community in Portugal and check the trend of the direction of this acculturation. The study involved 213 immigrants and assessed food consumption, meal patterns, and dietary acculturation. A mean Western acculturation score of 70.1 ± 8.9. was identified and 71.4% had a high Western acculturation score. No one had low or very high Western acculturation. Participants who have a higher level of acculturation tend to have higher energy and fat intake. The likelihood of mixing meals, including, and combining, Chinese and Portuguese meals and foods is associated with time spent in Portugal. Efforts should be made to encourage Chinese immigrants to make a positive dietary transition during their acculturation process.

Use of WeChat to gratify information needs of the Chinese community in Portugal during the COVID-19 outbreak

[Objectives] This paper seeks to characterize the main themes of COVID-19-related posts delivered by WeChat official accounts targeting Portuguese news, and explore the information needs and preferences of their users. Furthermore, the current study set out to evaluate the influence of coronavirus situation in Portugal on the number of posts, view frequency and total engagement on WeChat platforms. [Methods] Following the selection of COVID-19-related posts published in 2021 by four official accounts targeting Portuguese news, Chi-square tests were conducted to quantitively describe the differences between the four developmental stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal. Negative binominal regression was employed to establish an association between category variables and count data. Regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between COVID-19 infection cases in Portugal and the metrics of selected posts. [Results] A total of 3292 COVID-19-related posts remained. The posts regarding the latest epidemic situation in Portugal, COVID-19 vaccination and the economic news were more prevalent. However, the predominant posts were not consistent with followers’ information demands, and the most in demand information did not generate more engagement. In addition, thematic categories were found to be significantly associated with view frequency and total engagement. Furthermore, a significant difference in thematic categories was identified among the four developmental stages, which in turn was found to be related to the overall engagement of posts. The COVID-19 official case counts in Portugal is predictive of post frequency, view frequency and total engagement. [Conclusions] The results of this study support the view that social media provided diverse information sources for migrants during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is evidently clear from the findings that communicators have to leverage the characteristics of social media, not only for delivering real-time news, but also to gratify public information needs and attract more users.

Evaluation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage in the Elderly in Portugal Using Selective Enrichment Followed by Quantitative Real-Time PCR.

The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals in Portugal is worrisome and among the highest in Europe. Surprisingly, MRSA prevalence in the community was described as very low (<2%) based on studies that used classical culture-based methods (CCBM). We investigated whether the apparent limited spread of MRSA in the community in Portugal might result from low sensitivity of CCBM. Nasopharyngeal- and oropharyngeal-paired samples obtained from senior adults living in nursing (n = 299) or family homes (n = 300) previously characterized by CCBM were reanalyzed. Samples were inoculated in a semi-selective enrichment medium, and those showing visible growth were evaluated by qPCR targeting nuc, mecA, and mecC genes (SSE+qPCR). By SSE+qPCR, 34 of the 1,198 (2.8%) samples were MRSA positive compared with 21 (1.8%) by CCBM. SSE+qPCR improved non-significantly detection of MRSA carriers from 5.4% to 8.0% (p = 0.12) in the nursing home collection, and from 0.3% to 1.7% (p = 0.13) in the family home collection. MRSA isolates belonged to three HA-MRSA clones widely disseminated in Portuguese hospitals. In conclusion, use of semi-selective medium combined with qPCR did not change the overall scenario previously described. In Portugal, MRSA circulation in the community among senior adults is low.

Mobilities and Communities between North Africa and Portugal: Muslims and Jews in the Medieval and Early Modern Ages

This article reflects on the connections between geographical mobility and the constitution of a community in Portugal in the cases of Jews and Muslims in the Middle and Early Modern Ages. Data for the Middle Ages reveal greater mobility of Muslims between the two shores of the Mediterranean, whereas Jewish mobility seems to have been more prevalent within the Iberian kingdoms. This difference persisted in the Early Modern Age: many Muslims were captives, but as men and women alike were taken prisoner, they were able to constitute a community. In the case of Jews, however, most of whom were men going to Portugal voluntarily and who left families behind in North Africa, this gender difference and the social ostracisation that they, too, faced prevented a community from becoming established. This article is part of the special theme section on Mobility and Displacement in and around the Mediterranean: A Historical Approach, guest-edited by Cátia Antunes and Giedrė Blažytė.

Identity Ambivalence among the Eurasian Macanese: Historical Dynamics, Political Regimes and Eating Practices

Abstract This article focuses on the case study of an ethnically and culturally mixed Eurasian Macanese community through their phenomenological experience of identity ambivalence. Our thematic framework includes the structural impact of colonial and postcolonial political regimes in Macao, historical influences on contemporary identity and sociocultural expressions of creolisation. It is argued that the Macanese people illustrate the memory of the ambivalent encounter between the two extremities of the Eurasia (China and Portugal) which started in the 16th-c. and never ceased moving forces to the present day. Furthermore, in the context of fieldwork with the Macanese community in Portugal, an ethnographic approach helps reveal the ambivalent dynamics of similarities and differentiation with respect to food practices and commensality as expressed over dinner by a group of close friends in Lisbon.

Overcoming linguistic barriers in Portuguese higher education: The case of international African students

This article reflects about the contextual and theoretical assumptions of the project ‘Trovoada de Ideias: Linguistic and social inclusion of students from Portuguese-speaking African countries in Portuguese higher education’, an ongoing action research on Portuguese academic language teaching involving students who speak different varieties of Portuguese. By adopting a multidimensional inclusion approach (simultaneously linguistic, cultural and social), the ultimate aim is to contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors of (in)comprehension between students fluent in different norms of Portuguese and the university host community in Portugal, and consequently, building a frame for improving higher education institutions responses to multicultural challenges implied in the social dynamics of language variation.

Financial Knowledge’s Role in Portuguese Energy Literacy

Energy literacy is a concept which is not widely known by the public; however, it has captured the attention of several researchers in recent years. Concerning the assessment of energy and financial knowledge and people’s attitudes, intentions and behavior, it provides a global view of people’s knowledge, feelings, concerns and habits related to energy usage. Since energy is such an important resource in our daily lives, we can hardly imagine living without it. Moreover, considering that its production often requires the use of limited resources and leads to the worsening of already existing environmental problems, finding ways to alert consumers to the efficient management of their consumption is an urgent need. Therefore, in this article, we aimed to evaluate energy literacy levels, considering all the dimensions mentioned above, and search for the determinants of these levels. As an added novelty, we also aimed to determine the role of financial knowledge on energy literacy dimensions. After distributing a questionnaire to the university community in Portugal, we found good levels of energy literacy, despite moderate levels of energy and financial knowledge. Gender seems to be a determinant of all energy literacy dimensions, and financial knowledge has a positive and significant impact on energy knowledge.

Hearing Screening in Preschool Children of a Rural Community in Portugal - A 10-year Experience

Abstract Introduction Preschool hearing screening programmes would identify later onset or progressive hearing losses and conductive hearing loss, due to the high prevalence of otitis media with effusion in childhood. Hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion can have a great impact on reading, writing, central auditory processing and balance. Objectives The present study aims at characterising the audiological alterations found in preschool children screened in a rural community in Portugal, and the correlation between audiological findings and otoscopy. Methodology This is an observational study using the results obtained in a ten year audiological and otological screening of preschool children. Otoscopy, Tympanometry and Audiometry (1, 2 and 4 KHz presented at 40 and 20 dB intensity) were performed at the first stage of the screening and the results were classified as “pass” or “refer”. Every non-normal result of any category would imply a second stage consisting of observation by an ENT specialist at the site and the establishing of a follow-up plan. Written Informed Consent was obtained from the parents prior to initiating the study. Results 595 children aged 5 and 6 years were screened between 2007 and 2017, of whom 192 (32.3%) required referral to the second stage. The most frequent alteration was found in the tympanogram. The tympanograms showed a significant correlation with the otoscopy performed by the ENT doctor, mainly type B tympanograms. The pass/refer audiometry also showed a statistically significant correlation with the medical otoscopy, although weak in all frequencies studied. Conclusion It’s extremely important to perform a hearing screening in the age range of 5-6 years (with a high predisposition to middle ear problems), with the main objective of identifying and referring for treatment children who present alterations in order to reduce the consequences of the hearing impairment.

Mobility regimes and the crisis: the changing face of Chinese migration due to the Portuguese golden visa policy

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to contribute to the ongoing discussion on the selective nature of border regimes as well as to the way the global economic crisis affects migratory flows and policies. For this purpose, our analysis focuses on a public policy created to attract a specific migrant profile, the residence permit for investment activity (ARI), aka Golden Visa, created in Portugal in 2012. The Golden Visa Programme assigns residence visas for Third Country Nationals (TCN) who invest a minimum of 500 thousand Euros. Most candidates and recipients of this visa are Chinese nationals. This paper discusses how the Golden Visa Programme changed the profile of the Chinese community in Portugal by critically looking at how it fitted the neoliberal narrative and politics during the period of the financial crisis that hit Portugal in 2011. In so doing, this paper falls within the broader studies of governmentality and management of borders and migratory flows which cross them.

Língua de Preto, the language of the African slave community in Portugal (16th–19th centuries)

AbstractLíngua de Preto‘language of the Blacks’ (LdP) is the conventional name for the basic variety of Portuguese spoken by the West African slaves deported to Portugal from the end of the 15th century onwards, who formed an important and visible minority within the Portuguese population until the end of the 19th century. The restructured Portuguese they used with the white Portuguese and among themselves is partially known to us through theatre and folk literature. Although its heyday was the 16th century, it apparently continued in use until the 18th century. The present article tries to account for its emergence and continuance and to assess its possible contribution to the formation of West African Portuguese Creoles. What LdP implies for the Portuguese attitude toward language issues is also examined.

The Community Screening Network project - Surveillance of HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections in the community in Portugal

Background Since May 2015 the Community Screening Network established an human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and syphilis screening network in Portugal based on community structures directed to key populations, with the objective of increasing early detection, provide linkage to healthcare and monitor the frequency of infections and its predictors. Methods As part of the Community Screening Network information is collected on rapid tests results from 25 community-based structures that offer HIV (anti-HIV 1/2), viral hepatitis (HBs antigen and anti-HCV) and syphilis (anti-Treponema pallidum) screening. Users aged 18 or older were invited to be part of an open prospective cohort, to complete a structured questionnaire and offered testing; data was anonymously stored but participants have a unique identifier to allow for data linkage. Results From January 2016 to October 2017, 28,072 eligible contacts were performed resulting in 24,281 (86.5%) baseline or follow-up questionnaires (3791 - 13.5% - refusals). During this period 19,088 persons performed a test at any of the organizations (57.1% men, 42.5% women and 0.4% transgender women). In total, 2648 had at least one follow-up evaluation. We found 471 prevalent HIV cases and 47 additional incident cases were detected during follow-up; also, 440 HCV reactive tests of which 24 incident, 310 HBV reactive tests of which 14 incident and 757 syphilis reactive tests of which 112 incident. A reactive result for more than one infection was present in 135 users. Conclusions This structure is a valuable tool for identification and the monitoring of HIV, viral hepatitis and syphilis in the community and showed the added value of offering combined screening.

El retorno de los judeoconversos portugueses en época del conde duque de Olivares

The judeoconverso community in Portugal increased its influence and wealth during the sixteenth century to such an extent that the Count Duke of Olivares conceded them access to the kingdom. Olivares, favourite of Philip IV, made this controversial decision as one of the efforts to end a continuous state of economic decline by taking advantage of their low interest loans. Thus they became the Portuguese bankers in the Peninsula settling down in the metropolis and integrating in the local life. Olivares resorted to this solution trying to reduce government dependence on Genoese bankers and to boost trade and commerce using the networks already established by the rich Portuguese merchants. However, these measures were affected by the religious question and its enormous social weight. The Jewish origin of the bankers caused a serious conflict between the political government and the religious authority.

Genetic characterization of the Brazilian immigrant population in Lisboa with InDel genetic markers (P)

Migration is one of the main factors for genetic variability within populations. Currently, the Portuguese population, and particularly the population from Lisboa, welcomes a considerable number of immigrants. Brazilian immigrants are the main foreign community in Portugal, with about 80 000 individuals in 2015.Insertion/deletion polymorphisms – InDels – are characterized by the presence or absence of small DNA sequences. These variations constitute a group of genetic markers with advantages for forensic identification, especially in highly degraded biological samples, due to the small size of the amplification fragments. Furthermore, InDels not only are useful to solve complex cases of biological kinship, but they also have lower mutation rates.Presently, there is no available data for InDel markers of the Brazilian immigrant population living in Lisboa. Thus, our aim is to characterize this population by typing a group of individuals with a panel of 30 InDel and compare it with other main immigrant populations living in Lisboa (Angola, Cabo Verde, Moçambique, Guiné-Bissau and São Tomé e Príncipe).Therefore, we studied 207 Brazilian immigrants, typing samples with Investigator DIPplex® Kit. Fragments were detected by capillary electrophoresis using the ABI PRISM® 3130xl automated sequencer and results analyzed with GeneMapper v1.4 software. Statistical inference of the genetic data was carried out with Arlequin v3.5 software.The achieved genetic data allowed us to evaluate genetic distances between Portuguese population and immigrant populations. Our results confirm genetic differences between Portuguese population and Brazilian and PALOP's immigrant populations.

‘Those knights in shining armor’: Public intervention on behalf of geology and geologists in Portugal during the dictatorship (1940–1960)

This paper addresses the public intervention on behalf of geology and geologists made by members of the geological community in Portugal, from the 1940s through the 1960s, when the country was living under a dictatorship known as the Estado Novo. Three men stood out during this intervention: Mendes Correia (1888–1960), Carrington da Costa (1891–1982) and Carlos Teixeira (1910–1982). The content and form of their oral and written discourses, their intended audiences, and their scientific and institutional career paths are analyzed. One of the main themes of the discourses was the vindication of a professional space for geology in Portuguese society, a circumstance that led to a confrontation with a widely acknowledged techno-scientific professional group: engineers. This paper demonstrates that the public intervention in favor of geology and geologists was part of a broader process of the Portuguese geological community asserting its scientific and social importance.

Islã: práticas religiosas e culturais

O texto propõe uma narrativa que demonstra como as fronteiras entre a religião e a cultura são fluidas, tendo como ponto de partida as observações, por mim realizadas, na comunidade islâmica em Portugal. Ainda que pesem as divergências e as complexidades do grupo de muçulmanos em Portugal, devido às suas procedências, vertentes islâmicas e movimentos, serão os muçulmanos guineenses os protagonistas nesse artigo por se tratar de um caso de migração contínua naquele país, resultando num aumento dessa população em Portugal. E que, de certa maneira, vem exemplificar a fluidez das relações religião/ cultura, pelas próprias práticas advindas de suas culturas particulares. E mais, como maioria muçulmana procedente de uma mesma região geográfica, reproduzindo traços étnicos, sofrem um processo de segregação, não somente da sociedade mais ampla de acolhimento mas também do grupo religioso islâmico estabelecido em Portugal, o que vem gerar uma situação de conflito.

Prevalence, risk factors, and epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carried by adults over 60 years of age.

The epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the community in Portugal is not completely understood. To evaluate S. aureus and MRSA carriage among the elderly, we conducted a large cross-sectional study between April 2010 and December 2012. A total of 3,361 adults over 60years of age were screened for S. aureus nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal carriage. MRSA were characterized by staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, spa typing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and tested for the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). Risk factors for MRSA carriage were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA carriage among the elderly was 20.1% and 1.8%, respectively. The risk of being an MRSA carrier was higher among the elderly living in retirement homes [odds ratio (OR) = 2.90, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.48-5.48] and those that had been hospitalized in the previous year (OR = 2.64, 95 % CI: 1.47-4.58). Among the 62 MRSA isolates, 64.5% were multidrug-resistant and none carried PVL. Most MRSA (82.3%) were related to three hospital-associated (HA-MRSA) clones disseminated in Portugal: ST105-II (New York/Japan clone; 43.5%), ST5-IVc (Pediatric clone; 19.4%), and ST22-IVh (EMRSA-15 clone; 19.4%). The New York/Japan and Pediatric clones were significantly associated with carriers living in retirement homes, while the EMRSA-15 clone was associated with carriers that had been hospitalized. We conclude that the elderly population in Portugal is essentially free of MRSA. Given the current European societal challenges for a healthy active aging, these results are of importance to healthcare professionals and public authorities to decide on strategies to promote health in this age group.