Socio-cultural determinants of adiposity and physical activity in preschool children: a cross-sectional study.

Both individual socio-cultural determinants such as selected parental characteristics (migrant background, low educational level and workload) as well as the regional environment are related to childhood overweight and physical activity (PA). The purpose of the study was to compare the impact of distinct socio-cultural determinants such as the regional environment and selected parental characteristics on adiposity, PA and motor skills in preschool children. Forty preschools (N = 542 children) of two culturally different urban regions (German and French speaking part of Switzerland) participated in the study (Ballabeina Study). Outcome measures included adiposity (BMI and skinfold thickness), objectively measured sedentary activities and PA (accelerometers) and agility performance (obstacle course). Parental characteristics (migrant status, educational level and workload) were assessed by questionnaire. Children from the French speaking areas had higher adiposity, lower levels of total and of more intense PA, were more sedentary and less agile than children from the German speaking regions (percent differences for all outcome parameters except for BMI ≥10%; all p ≤ 0.04). Differences in skinfold thickness, sedentary activities and agility, but not in PA, were also found between children of Swiss and migrant parents, though they were ≤8% (p ≤ 0.02). While paternal workload had no effect, maternal workload and parental education resulted in differences in some PA measures and/or agility performance (percent differences in both: ≤9%, p ≤ 0.008), but not in adiposity or sedentary activities (p = NS). Regional differences in skinfold thickness, PA, sedentary activities and agility performance persisted after adjustment for parental socio-cultural characteristics, parental BMI and, where applicable, children's skinfolds (all p ≤ 0.01). The regional environment, especially the broader social environment, plays a prominent role in determining adiposity, PA and motor skills of young children and should be implicated in the prevention of obesity and promotion of PA in children. clinicaltrials.gov NCT00674544.

Las Noveletas de António Aurélio Gonçalves: Contradicción y Unidad

La temática de esta tesis tiene su motivación en la ausencia de crítica contemporánea sobre la conceptualización de la producción literaria de António Aurélio Gonçalves (1901–1984) como integrante del movimiento Claridade, específicamente en la dimensión estética de sus noveletas. Este tópico resulta de importancia para la comprensión de la evolución literaria en Cabo Verde, el cual se presenta en la investigación como el soporte material de las reflexiones sociales y las contradicciones internas, así como el espacio donde es posible observar lo que sucede en un momento determinado de la formación social caboverdiana en general y mindelense en particular, durante el período comprendido entre las décadas del 30 al 70 del siglo XX. La exposición de los hechos más significativos de la historia socio-cultural de Cabo Verde, fundamentada mendiante la reflexión sobre la formación de su sociedad y cultura, los rasgos más relevantes de la literatura caboverdiana, la complejidad del proceso de elaboración de una historiografía literaria, sobre todo en lo que corresponde a la periodización, constituyen los puntos que aborda este trabajo. Se analiza el sistema de valores que aportan las obras seleccionadas según los respectivos autores y sus épocas, se exponen los criterios que justifican la selección del escritor António Aurélio Gonçalves y el estudio de las noveletas, por considerar que éstas son exponentes del quehacer y la ideología, no solo del autor seleccionado, sino del movimiento liderado por la revista Claridade.

A Agricultura no Desenvolvimento Socio-económico de Cabo Verde

Comunicação apresentada às “1ª Jornadas sobre a Agricultura de Cabo Verde”, organizadas pelo Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária de Cabo Verde, Instituto de Investigação Científica e Tropical e Instituto Superior de Agronomia, que tiveram lugar em Lisboa em 23/25 de Outubro de 1990. Os autores são, respectivamente, professor catedrático e professor auxiliar convidado do ISCTE. Lisboa.

Socio-economic inequalities in health in Catalonia

In this paper we measure the degree of income related inequality in mental health as measured by the GHQ instrument and general health as measured by the EQOL-5D instrument for the Catalan population. We find that income is the main contributor to inequality, although the share of inequality in mental health that can be explained by income is much greater than the corresponding share of inequality in general health. We also find that the variation in demographic structure reduces income related inequality in mental health but increases income related inequality in general health. The regional variations in both instruments for health are striking, with the Barcelona districts faring relatively bad with respect to the rest of geographical areas and Lleida being the health region where, all else held equal, the population reports the greatest level of health. A big share of inequality in the two health measures, but specially mental health, is due to the favourable position in both health and income of those who enjoy an indefinite contract with respect to the rest of individuals. We also find that risky working conditions affect both health measures and are able to explain an important share of socio-economic inequality.