Perception of the risk of contamination through feeding in pregnant and breastfeeding women

Introduction

Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) are substances that are characterized by the cumulative effect at low doses inside the body. Exposure to PTS in pregnant and breastfeeding women, through food consumption, shows various harmful effects on the health of the mother, the fetus and the baby. The objective of this article is to analyze how pregnant and breastfeeding women perceive the presence of chemical substances in food and reflect on the accumulation, transmission and elimination of these substances.

Methodology

Descriptive and interpretive study under the qualitative research paradigm following a phenomenological and ethnographic perspective. As instruments to obtain the primary data we rely on 111 semi-structured interviews with pregnant and breastfeeding women, 4 focused ethnographies, 8 focus groups (63 women), 71 feeding diaries, 71 free listings. To encode the content of the speeches of pregnant and nursing women we rely on the N-Vivo 12 software.

Results

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are concerned about food quality controls. Women trust on local and seasonal foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables from non-extensive crops and close to their home. Foods that produce distrust in women are processed, packaged foods, red meat and large fish. The latter foods promote in women a perception of risk of contamination by chemical substances, manifesting a defenseless situation to maintain a diet without contaminants.

Conclusions

Pregnant and breastfeeding women in Spain have no information on the risk and danger of synthetic chemicals or PTS, with the exception of certain toxic substances such as mercury present in large fish. Women maintain a duality in their own care and that of the fetus or child. This circumstance implies that the women interviewed believe that PTS and synthetic chemicals may have different harmful effects on the mother and the degree of growth of the fetus and, subsequently, of the baby.

Key messages

Future mothers are worried about the type of product they eat, knowing that food influences healthy growth and development of the fetus. Pregnant and breastfeeding women often distrust “processed” or “industrial” foods, which they tend to associate with low quality and large amounts of additives and chemical substances.

Incidence and risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder in a population affected by a severe flood

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to study the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in people who resided in an affected area by an extremely severe flood, and sociodemographic risk factors associated with this condition.

STUDY DESIGN

A geographic information system (GIS) was used to distribute the rainfall data. A case-control study was developed to study the relationship between PTSD and sociodemographic risk factors.

METHODS

To delineate the areas affected by the flood and the intensity of this rainfall in comparison with historical hydrological data, we employed geographical information systems (GIS). Then, we recruited a representative sample of the affected population and another population sample that lived at the time of this disaster in adjacent geographical areas that were not affected. Both groups were randomly selected in primary care practices, from December 1st 2012 to January 31st 2013. All participants, 70 from the affected areas and 91 from the non-affected, filled a sociodemographic questionnaire and the trauma questionnaire (TQ) to identify and rate PTSD symptoms.

RESULTS

Our GIS analysis confirmed that the amount of precipitation in 2012 in the areas affected by the flood was exceptionally high compared with historical average rainfall data (461l per square metre vs 265). Individuals who resided in the affected areas at the time of the flood were at much higher risk of developing PTSD symptoms (OR: 8.18; 95% CI: 3.99-17.59) than those living in adjacent, non-affected localities. Among the sociodemographic variables included in this study, only material and financial losses were strongly associated with the onset of PTSD (P < 0.001). Physical risk during this life-threatening catastrophe also indicated a positive correlation with later development of PTSD symptoms; however, it did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

Populations affected by severe floods may suffer an increase of PTSD symptoms in the following months. This finding, along with the importance of material losses as a predictor for such disorder, may help develop effective plans to minimize the negative impact of these natural disasters on public health.

Personality Dimensions and Attitude Towards the Disease: Fibromyalgia

Introduction

There have been numerous studies that reveal attitudes of different social groups in relation to mental illness, but have not been developed none in other chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia.

Our hypothesis is to demonstrate that there are certain beliefs about the disease that determine attitudes, and these beliefs may be related to certain personality patterns.

Objectives

To determine the relationship between personality dimensions and attribution of causes fibromyalgia.

Method

Evaluation of a sample of medical students, which were administered the following tests: demographic data (age, sex, year of study), Zuckerman-Kuhlman's Questionnaire of personality, level of concern about the disease and survey of possible causes in fibromyalgia.

Results

A total of 34 students were interviewed, between 3rd and 6th grade of Medicine, with a mean age of 24.8 years (sd 5.5). 70.6% were women. 20.6% had contact with the disease (which in most cases a family member diagnosed with fibromyalgia), no statistically significant differences with respect to the concern about the disease, compared with the rest. There is a high level of agreement in the sample in the attribution of cause of fibromyalgia to a genetic predisposition, personality or sleep disorders.

In our study, Neuroticism stands between personality dimension. High scores on this dimension are associated with statistically significant differences (t-student), to attribute the cause “attract attention” (p = 0.02) or the “Influence of the mass media” (p = 0,03) in fibromyalgia.

Conclusions

There are dimensions of personality such as neuroticism, which may influence the attribution of causes of the disease Fibromyalgia.

Prediction of Diagnostic Evolution of Borderline Personality Disorder in Andalusia (Spain)

Introduction:

Along last years psychiatric literature has shown an increased interest about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) diagnosis. Nevertheless, few studies in large samples has been developed in our country. This study is a part of a main research: Personality Disorders in Andalusian Community. Diagnostic evolution and its link with use of health services.

Objectives:

•

Method:

The information has been obtained from the Basic Information Minimum Set: A record of admissions (with clinical and demographic variables) registered in the Andalusian population. We made an observational naturalistic study about the number of inpatients with BPD diagnosis, and an analytical study (Linear Regression) to determine the trend marked in the last years about evolution in the diagnosis of inpatients with Personality Disorders (PD).

Results:

The number of total psychiatric admissions was 99444 (64968 inpatients): 10755 records had a Personality Disorder (PD) diagnosis.The number of patients with BPD diagnosis has increased from 75 in 1995 to 340 in 2004 (11,8% to 26,13% over percentage of PD). the linear regression had a thread of 0,95, with a determination coefficient of 91,6% (standard error 0,34), with statistical significance (p = 0,00), establishing a prediction linear model about the increase of inpatients with BPD diagnosis.

Conclusions:

1.