Middle Socioeconomic Level Research Articles

A influência do nível socioeconômico na resolução temporal em escolares

OBJETIVO: Verificar a influência do nível socioeconômico na resolução temporal de escolares em dois protocolos de avaliação. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi constituída por 44 crianças de seis a 11 anos, sem histórico de alterações otológicas e/ou audiológicas, de doenças neurológicas e psicológicas conhecidas e com audição normal. A amostra foi dividida em três grupos, de acordo com o Critério de Classificação Econômica do Brasil da Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Pesquisa: Grupo 1: nível socioeconômico alto; Grupo 2: nível socioeconômico médio; Grupo 3: nível socioeconômico baixo. Foram aplicados os testes de detecção de intervalos de silêncio (RGDT) e de detecção de intervalo no ruído (GIN). A análise estatística utilizou o teste Ryan-Einot-Gabriel-Welch Multiple Range Test. RESULTADOS: As médias de desempenho dos grupos 1, 2 e 3 foram maiores no teste de detecção de intervalos de silêncio do que em relação ao de intervalos no ruído. Em relação ao nível socioeconômico, em ambos os testes houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Houve influência do nível socioeconômico na resolução temporal medida tanto pelo teste de detecção de intervalos de silêncio quanto pelo de intervalos no ruído.

Determination of the science process skills and critical thinking skill levels

In this research, it was tried to determine the science process skill (SPS) and critical thinking skill (CTS) levels of the 8th grade elementary school students. With this purpose, 308 8th grade students from each of high, middle, and low socioeconomic level schools (totally from six schools) in a randomly selected province of Aegean region were selected as the sample. At the end of the research, it can be said that the students who completed elementary education have middle level developed SPS and CTS. And it is thought according to this research findings that it is important to perform more comprehensive instruction by using different measurement tools.

Elementary teachers’ views about their roles in curriculum development and evaluation process: The case of Denizli

The purpose of this study is to determine the elementary teachers’ participation level to curriculum development process and their views about their own roles on this process. The study was designed as a descriptive study based on the survey model. Semi-structured interview form was used for the study. The questions were prepared according to “The Program Evaluation Forms” that were sent to schools by Ministry of National Education and offers were taken from curriculum and instruction professionals. The form consists of 12 questions five of which are personal ones. The participants of the study are 15 (8 female, 7 male) elementary school teachers working at schools from low, middle and upper socioeconomic levels in Denizli. Each interview lasted approximately 25minutes and notes were taken by the researches. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Interviews were transferred to computer and thirteen pages of raw data were obtained. After that, raw data texts were grouped based on the interview questions and data was analyzed.

A Study on the Effect of Mathematics Teaching Provided Through Drama on the Mathematics Ability of Six-Year-Old Children

This study was conducted to examine the effect of mathematics teaching given through the drama method on the mathematical ability of six-year-old children. The research was conducted in Ankara on 105 children from the kindergarten classes of two different primary schools of the Ministry of National Education, which are at middle socioeconomic level. Thirty-five of the 105 children were selected as the experimental group, 35 of them as the control group and finally 35 as the placebo control group. The placebo control group was formed in order to determine the differences resulting from group interaction. Data were collected by means of the “General Information Form” and the “Test of Early Mathematics Ability-3 (TEMA-3)” developed by Ginsburg and Baroody in 1983. Results showed that mathematic teaching based on the drama method has a positive effect on the mathematical ability of six year of children.

THE EFFECTS OF THE MOTHER HOME-VISIT EDUCATION PROGRAM ON MOTHERS’ ATTITUDES AND EMPATHY LEVELS

This research has been performed to examine the effects of the “Mother Home-Visit Education Program on the mother’s attitudes and empathy levels of the mothers who have 2-4 years-old children in middle socio-economic levels. The study group has been composed of 110 middle socio-economic level mothers divided into the equal number of experimental (55) and control group (55). The experiment design is based on the pre-test and post-test. Mothers have received 10-weeks the “Mother Home-Visit Education Program.” The experimental intervetion aims to measure whether the “Mother Home-Visit Education Program” has an effect on the mothers’ positive and negative behaviors by decreasing and increasing them and a change on the mothers’ empathy levels. Findings obtained with the “General Knowledge Form” and the “ Hammel Mothers Attitudes Scale” and the “Empathic Tendency Scale” which were analyzed by the t-Test. At the end of the research, there was no meaningful differences in the control group mothers. However, the experimental group mothers have exhibited less authoritative, less excessive protective, and less inconsistent behavior attitudes and more democratic attitudes. Moreover, when we compare the control and experimental groups in terms of the empathy levels, the mothers in the experimental group have an increase level of the empathy levels and those in the control group have an decrease level of the empathy levels. As a result, the “Mother Home-Visit Education Program” has effect by increasing the mothers’ positive behaviors, decreasing the mothers’ negative behaviors, and increasing the mothers’ empathy levels

Trends in body mass index, blood pressure and parental smoking habits in middle socio-economic level Turkish adolescents

Patterns of cardiovascular risk factors in populations are not static over time. We examined trends in body mass index (BMI), parental smoking and blood pressure over a 15-year period in Turkish children aged 15-17 years. Two cross-sectional studies were performed in secondary schools in Turkey in 1989-1990 and 2004-2005. Study participants were 673 children in 1989-1990 and 640 adolescents in 2004-2005. Main outcome measures were weight, height, BMI, presence and amount of parental smoking, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Age and sex matched comparisons were performed to assess temporal trends in these measures. Children in 2004-2005 had increased weight, height, BMI and decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure in all age groups compared with children in 1989-1990. According to the international criteria, 3.4% of children were obese and 15.8% were overweight in 2005, compared to 0.7% obese and 4.2% overweight in 1990 (P<0.001). However, a decrease was noted in blood pressure; 16% were classified as hypertensive in 1989-1990 versus 8% in 2004-2005 (P<0.001). The prevalence and amount of parental smoking also decreased over the last 15 years. We observed significant changes in BMI and blood pressure in Turkish children over the last 15 years. Temporal trends in these parameters may indicate a change in the pattern of cardiovascular disease in this population.

Periodical assessment of the prenatal biopsychosocial risk to predict obstetric and perinatal complications in Asian countries 2002-2003.

Objective: To determine the effect of the periodical use of the prenatal biopsychosocial risk assessment (PBR) to predict obstetric and perinatal complications in pregnant women in Asian countries. Materials and methods: In Shanghai, China, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, 565 healthy primigravids were evaluated with PBR at inclusion (14-27 weeks), in a second time (28-32 weeks) and in a third time (33-42 weeks) with assessment of the perinatal outcome. Results: The average age was 25.1±6.4 years old. Most of the women were from middle socioeconomic level, with university academic degree and urban residence. There were 129 (25.6%) obstetric complications, 54 (10.1%) low birth weight babies and 41 (7.3%) perinatal deaths. The ROC analysis showed that the high PBR score was associated with obstetric complications (area under ROC Curves) 0.80 CI 95% 0.71-0.89, preterm birth (area under ROC curves) 0.79, CI 95% 0.68-0.90, low birth weight (area under ROC curves) 0.85, CI 95% 0.77-0.93. The best predictive period was the last (33-42 weeks) to obstetric complications (sensibility: 84.4%, specificity: 69.3%), preterm delivery (sensibility 79.2%, specificity 67.1%) and to low birth weight (sensibility 88%, specificity 77.3%). The baseline sociodemographic and nutritional characteristics and the perinatal outcome were different between the countries, however, the predictive effect of the instrument was similar. Conclusion: The prenatal biopsychosocial risk assessment was clinically valid to predict obstetric complications, preterm birth and low birth weight in two Asian countries when compared to results in Latin-American countries.

Blood pressure levels and psychosocial stress in students of health sciences. University of Valle, Cali, Colombia, 2003-2004.

Objective: To evaluate the levels of family stress, social stress and the blood pressure levels in young people and the possible correlation. Materials and methods: A descriptive study was performed recruiting healthy students of health sciences in the University of Valle in Cali, Colombia during 2002-2003. The psychosocial stress inventory included evaluation of the family stress and the evaluation of social stress. The blood pressure was evaluated by physicians using standardized technique with calibrated manual sphygmomanometers. Results: 185 students were recruited with an average age of 21.2±2.6 years old, 178 (96%) were singles, 100 (54%) were women, 173 (93.5%) were of mixed ethnic background, 154 (83.2%) were from middle socioeconomic level (level 3-4). The family dysfunction was observed in 131 (70.8%) students, 66 (35.6%) had high cumulative social changes. The average blood pressure level in all students was normal (106.4/69.7) with high blood pressure levels in males than in females (p&lt; 0.001) associated with the body mass index (p&lt; 0.001) and the black race ( p&lt; 0.02). Family dysfunction was not associated with changes in blood pressure (p=0.80). Social stress was not associated with blood pressure levels (p=0.98). Conclusion: In young people psychosocial stress was high but did not affect blood pressure levels probably due to compensatory physiologic action of vascular endothelium.

Parasitosis intestinales y su relacion con factores socioeconómicos y condiciones de habitat en niños de Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina

The prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasites (IP) were investigated in children from twopopulations of different socioeconomic level, located in the same area of the city of Neuquen, inorder to evaluate their relationship with habitat conditions and socioeconomic factors. Serial samplesof faeces and anal scraping of 126 children between 2 and 14 years from two sectors of the suburbanarea of Neuquen (Sector I and Sector II) were analyzed. Data concerning habitat conditions andsocioeconomic parameters were obtained by home visits and an observational structured survey.Presence of IP was detected in 50.7% of children from Sector I (suburban neighborhood with adequatesanitary conditions and middle or middle low socioeconomic level) and in 92.9% from children ofSector II (marginal settlement with poor sanitary conditions and low socioeconomic status). Sevenintestinal protozoan and 4 helminth species were identified.

Profile of Mood States and Parental Attitudes in Motherhood: Comparing Women with Planned and Unplanned Pregnancies

Despite the availability of various contraceptive options, in some Western countries most pregnancies are unplanned. The objective of this longitudinal study was to assess the influence of planned and unplanned pregnancy on women's psychological well-being and on maternal attitude toward parenting in the first years after giving birth. A sample of 119 primiparous women (88 planned and 31 unplanned pregnancies) with normal pregnancy, uncomplicated vaginal delivery, and a healthy living baby completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) instrument in the ninth month of pregnancy, and at 1, 6, and 12 months after birth, and the Parental Attitude Research Instrument (PARI) 2 years after the birth. The POMS evaluates mood disturbance and the PARI assesses maternal attitudes toward parenthood in general. Women with unplanned pregnancies demonstrated a significantly more disturbed mood, both in pregnancy and in the first year after the birth. However, at approximately 2 years after childbirth there was no difference between the two groups of women in their rejection of the maternal role, and repressive and punitive maternal attitudes. In primiparas of middle socioeconomic levels, unplanned pregnancy is a risk factor for moderate mood disturbances rather than for an inadequate parental educational role. The study findings demonstrate the need to prevent unplanned pregnancies, and to offer immediate health assistance when particular conditions arise.

Headache complaints associated with psychiatric comorbidity in a population-based sample.

The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency at which people complain of any type of headache, and its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity in S o Paulo, Brazil. A three-step cluster sampling method was used to select 1,464 subjects aged 18 years or older. They were mainly from families of middle and upper socioeconomic levels living in the catchment area of Instituto de Psiquiatria. However, this area also contains some slums and shantytowns. The subjects were interviewed using the Brazilian version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 1.1. (CIDI 1.1) by a lay trained interviewer. Answers to CIDI 1.1 questions allowed us to classify people according to their psychiatric condition and their headaches based on their own ideas about the nature of their illness. The lifetime prevalence of "a lot of problems with" headache was 37.4% (76.2% of which were attributed to use of medicines, drugs/alcohol, physical illness or trauma, and 23.8% attributed to nervousness, tension or mental illness). The odds ratio (OR) for headache among participants with "nervousness, tension or mental illness" was elevated for depressive episodes (OR, 2.1; 95%CI, 1.4-3.4), dysthymia (OR, 3.4; 95%CI, 1.6-7.4) and generalized anxiety disorder (OR, 4.3; 95%CI, 2.1-8.6), when compared with patients without headache. For "a lot of problems with" headaches attributed to medicines, drugs/alcohol, physical illness or trauma, the risk was also increased for dysthymia but not for generalized anxiety disorder. These data show a high association between headache and chronic psychiatric disorders in this Brazilian population sample.

Estrategias de afrontamiento y bienestar psicológico en adolescentes escolarizados de Tucumán

El estudio descriptivo-cuantitativo analizó las estrategias de afrontamiento de 454 adolescentes escolarizados de 15 a 18 años de nivel socioeconómico medio de San Miguel de Tucumán. Se focalizó en las estrategias de afrontamiento con relación a la edad y se correlacionaron los tiposde estrategias utilizadas con el nivel de bienestar psicológico de los jóvenes. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron la Escala de Afrontamiento para adolescentes (adaptación española,ACS, forma general), la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico para Adolescentes (BIEPS) adaptada por Casullo para Argentina y una Encuesta Sociodemográfica diseñada por los autores. Se identificó las estrategias de afrontamiento de los adolescentes, especialmente las que correlacionan con un elevado y un bajo nivel de bienestar psicológico. La investigación aporta datos empíricos para el diseño de programas de prevención con adolescentes no consultantes.

Prevalence of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis in Istanbul school children.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and their related symptoms in Istanbul and to investigate the effect of socioeconomic status on the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis and whether there are differences between the prevalence of childhood asthma in the same and different regions as found in previous studies and our own. The study period was the 1996-1997 school year in three primary schools in Istanbul. For proportional representation of high, middle, and low socioeconomic levels, the schools were selected from three different regions of Istanbul. A translated version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was used. The questionnaire was distributed to the parents of 2600 students aged 6-15 years. All of the 2276 children whose parents responded were included in the survey. The overall cumulative and current prevalences of wheezing were 13.7 and 7.2% respectively and the overall cumulative prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 17.6%. There was no statistically significant difference between asthmatics and non-asthmatics by sex, socioeconomic status and passive smoking. Family history of atopy was found to be significantly higher in asthmatics. Although there are differences in the results of studies concerning the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis not only between different countries but also between different regions of the same city, by using a standardized international method, the actual values may be obtained.

Factors associated with condom use in the male population of Mexico City.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are an important public health problem, due to their medical, social and economic repercussions. Therefore, more knowledge is needed about the sexual behaviour that promotes their spread, in order to improve control and prevention strategies. Our aim was to determine the frequency of male condom use associated with sexual behaviour factors, a history of and knowledge about STDs in a sample of the male population in Mexico City. During 1994 a cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out, using multi-stage sampling with conglomerates, in 1377 men from 15 to 49 years old. The mean age was 34.5 years (SD 7.5 years). Mean age at first sexual relations was 17.7 years (SD 2.8 years). The global proportion of condom use during the last sexual relation was 24.6%; use according to type of female sex partner in the last year was 18.8% with regular partners and 62.5% with occasional partners. The principal predictors of male condom use, identified through statistical modelling, were: younger age (<25 years), middle and high education level (>9 years), middle and high socioeconomic level and type of sexual partners (occasional and regular). This population has risk factors for acquiring and transmitting some STDs, such as occasional sexual partners and a history of STDs. Characteristics which are important in relation to male condom use were identified, such as age (younger than 35), education (complete junior high school or more) and type of sexual partners (occasional and regular).

Factors Associated with Condom Use in the Male Population of Mexico City

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are an important public health problem, due to their medical, social and economic repercussions. Therefore, more knowledge is needed about the sexual behaviour that promotes their spread, in order to improve control and prevention strategies. Our aim was to determine the frequency of male condom use associated with sexual behaviour factors, a history of and knowledge about STDs in a sample of the male population in Mexico City. During 1994 a cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out, using multi-stage sampling with conglomerates, in 1377 men from 15 to 49 years old. The mean age was 34.5 years (SD 7.5 years). Mean age at first sexual relations was 17.7 years (SD 2.8 years). The global proportion of condom use during the last sexual relation was 24.6%; use according to type of female sex partner in the last year was 18.8% with regular partners and 62.5% with occasional partners. The principal predictors of male condom use, identified through statistical modelling, were: younger age (&lt;25 years), middle and high education level (&gt;9 years), middle and high socioeconomic level and type of sexual partners (occasional and regular). This population has risk factors for acquiring and transmitting some STDs, such as occasional sexual partners and a history of STDs. Characteristics which are important in relation to male condom use were identified, such as age (younger than 35), education (complete junior high school or more) and type of sexual partners (occasional and regular).

Prevalencia de violencia doméstica en la ciudad de Durango

Objective. To characterize and determine the prevalence of the different types of gender-associated violence in the city of Durango, Mexico. Material and methods. With a transversal design, 384 women residents of the city of Durango, either living with or having lived with someone before, were interviewed. The sample was proportionately distributed in 6 city sectors which were randomly chosen and representative of the high middle and low socioeconomic levels. Sixty-four interviews were conducted in each city sector. The questionnaire consisted of 184 closed and 22 open questions, including identification, sociodemographic and reproductive data, as well as specific questions on physical, emotional and sexual violence. Results. Median age of the studied group was 41.5 years, ranging from 12 to 48 years. Prevalence of domestic violence was: sexual 42%; physical 40%; emotional 39%. Conclusions. The problem of violence, in its different forms, is a highly prevalent factor wich jeopardizes the welfare of the family nucleus. Higher prevalence values of domestic violence were detected in the presence of factors such as violence antecedents, alcoholism and/or drug consumption by some member of the family. Alvarado-Zaldivar G, Salvador-Moysen J, Estrada-Martinez S, Terrones-Gonzalez A, Prevalencia de violencia domestica en la ciudad de Durango. Salud Publica Mex 1998;40:481-486.

Anxiety and hostility in written verbal samples of male and female subjects. A content analytic study.

Nonclinical populations of male and female subjects of middle socioeconomic level and different age ranges were assessed by means of the content analysis method developed by Gottschalk and associates. Verbal samples consisted of written productions in response to a standard ambiguous instruction to narrate a dramatic or interesting life experience and were scored for anxiety and hostility. Results show that the method shows no influence of gender under the conditions of this study and can be employed for diagnostic purposes, assuming that personality factors and psychopathological influences might have a more pronounced impact on affect scores.

Parity and the prevalence of overweight

Objective: To assess the association between previous term pregnancies and the prevalence of overweight in a group of urban women, controlling for the influence of age. Methods: One thousand twelve women, living in middle and low socioeconomic areas of Mexico City, were interviewed at home and their reproductive histories studied. Height and weight were measured in a clinical setting using controlled procedures. Overweight (BMI > 25) was the dependent variable used to calculate odds ratios and to perform a multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Age and parity were significantly associated with the prevalence of overweight. Controlling for age, two or more previous pregnancies significantly increased the magnitude of the association. Conclusion: During the reproductive years parity seems to increase the risk of overweight in low and middle socioeconomic level urban women.

Migratory plans of Portuguese adolescents.

PIP: A substantial proportion of northern Portuguese adolescents belonging to lower and middle socioeconomic levels plan to eventually migrate abroad. Migratory plans therefore join academic and career plans in forming adolescents' overall personal plans. This paper considers motivations, awareness, and characteristics of 511 8th graders living in Oporto and the Braganca area who stated their intentions to migrate. The intention to migrate proved especially significant in the personal plans of youths from rural areas and of low socioeconomic status. In proportions comparable to that found among migrant workers, unemployment, low pay, and thwarted aspirations fueled the desire to migrate. The percentage of youths firmly committed to relocating increased with age, while overall increased desire to emigrate has been linked to rising domestic unemployment. Respondents were also largely aware of the potential physical, emotional, and psychological problems of living and working abroad. Migration plans were found to directly interfere with students' academic and careers plans. Those planning to migrate were less likely to consider further education and engagement in highly skilled occupations.

Nutritional Profile of Saudi Primary Schoolgirls in an Urban Region

Two hundred eighty-five primary schoolgirls from the urban area of Thugba, Al-Khobar, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia were examined anthropometrically. Hemoglobin estimations and laboratory...