Prevalence of school violence and use of alcohol and other drugs in adolescents

Period shaming behavior among male students in Luang Prabang Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic: A cross-sectional study

Period shaming is defined as any negative and/or disrespectful behavior in relation to the menstrual cycle and menstruating girls. It is suggested that period shaming may limit girls' potential and ability to fully participate in school and community activities. This study aims to examine the prevalence and factors associated with period shaming among male students in Luang Prabang Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). This was a cross-sectional study which was conducted during November 19-27, 2020. This study included 1,232 male students from secondary school grade 9 to 12 in Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR. Informed consent was obtained from the participants, parents/guardians, and teachers prior to data collection. The data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was employed to examine factors associated with period shaming behavior among male students. The mean age of the participants was 16.4 years old. Of all the male students, 18.8% admitted that they had shamed girls during their menstruation at least once. Of those who committed period shaming, they shamed girls some of the times (63.2%). Male students who had consumed alcohol during the last month before the data collection day (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.32-2.55, P<0.001), had heard of menstruation (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.27-2.44, P<0.001), and those who had attended activities/classes about sexual reproductive health (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.29-2.78, P<0.01), were significantly associated with period shaming behavior. In conclusion, a single focus on providing biological health education may not be enough to address menstrual stigmatization and taboos. The school curriculum should integrate other life skill education with reproductive health, such as respect and gender equality, to encourage behavioral changes among male students, to address menstrual stigma and to support and empower girls' menstrual health at school and in the community.

Psychiatric Symptomatology is Associated with Polydrug Use and School Violence in Early Adolescence

This study investigated the association between psychiatric symptoms and polydrug use, school violence, and sociodemographic factors among Brazilian early adolescents. Using the baseline data collection from the effectiveness evaluation of PROERD, a school-based drug use prevention program, implemented in 30 public schools in São Paulo (n = 2316, M age = 12.3 years, 48.5% girls), multinomial logistic regressions were performed using Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) subscales as response variables, and polydrug use, school violence, and sociodemographic characteristics as explanatory variables. In most SDQ subscales, girls and older students were more likely to have psychiatric symptoms. A positive association was identified between polydrug use and psychiatric symptoms. It was found that those who suffered and perpetrated physical violence had a greater likelihood of presenting psychiatric symptoms. Preventive interventions should consider the greater vulnerability related to the mental health of girls, older students, and those who suffer and perpetrate physical violence at school.

Self-reported violence by nursing students in the context of undergraduate studies

OBJECTIVES

to identify the characteristics of violence in the context of the teaching and learning of the undergraduate Nursing course, from the perspective of students.

METHODS

quantitative, cross-sectional study, developed with 208 undergraduate students in Nursing. The data was obtained through the application of a survey questionnaire and processed by descriptive and bivariate statistics.

RESULTS

of the participants, 69.2% (n = 144) have experienced some kind of violence. Violent acts of a psychological nature were the most frequent, but there were also reports of physical, sexual violence and deprivation or abandonment. Violence was practiced in a theoretical and practical learning environment. Teachers and classmates were the most frequent perpetrators. Most students had no reaction, told friends, family, and colleagues, or pretended that nothing happened in the face of the violent acts.

CONCLUSIONS

violence is present at various moments in the undergraduate Nursing course and can negatively impact the quality of training in the area.

Teaching Socio-Emotional Competencies Among Primary School Students: Improving Conflict Resolution and Promoting Democratic Co-existence in Schools

Teaching socio-emotional skills among primary school students is the key to creating a climate of cooperation in classrooms and reducing disruptive or aggressive behaviors among students. The primary goal of this research is to present an educational proposal for imparting socio-emotional competencies among primary school students. We attempt to impart socio-emotional competencies based on: (1) fostering self-knowledge, self-esteem, and respect for others among students; (2) developing behaviors that allow them to perceive and express feelings and self-regulating emotions; and (3) developing assertive communication skills aimed at improving conflict resolution. This program has been designed in such a way that it is implemented throughout the academic year by organizing bi-monthly sessions of 45 min each, held until the completion of 15 sessions. The sample consists of 100 students in the third grade, with the control and experimental groups having an equal number of students (50 each). The instruments used for this research are: (a) BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory (Youth Version [BarOn EQ-i:YV]): used for measuring emotional and social functioning; (b) the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY): used for assessing social skills; and (c) Questionnaire for the Assessment of School Violence in Preschool and Primary School Questionnaire. To check the effectiveness of the educational intervention, a quasi-experimental design, along with pretest-posttest control group design, is used in accordance with the general linear model. Its effectiveness is also checked using repeated measures analysis of variance. The results show that the program is useful in preventing violent behaviors in the educational field and promoting the development of socio-emotional skills among third grade students. Finally, the applicability of the program to other educational contexts is discussed to enhance students' personal development and decrease the levels of violence found in primary school.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS: (DIS) CONTINUITY OF CARE

ABSTRACT Objective to investigate the follow-up and characteristics of children and youth with special healthcare needs within Primary Health Care services located in a city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Method this qualitative study was supported by the Primary Health Care framework, and interviews were held with 37 health workers from the primary health care units located in the interior of São Paulo. Data were collected from May to December 2018 and treated with inductive thematic analysis. Results from the perspective of the health workers, the characteristics of these children and youth are centered on the dependence of specific care such as to promote psychomotor development, and dependence on technology and pharmacological treatments. They reported the difficulty to access health services while the primary health care services do not implement systematic follow-up. Conclusion these children and youth demand continuous and longitudinal care, which, however, is not provided by primary health care services, considering the discontinuity of care and a lack of networked follow-up. Therefore, health services need to be reorganized to keep up with changes in the child and youth morbidity and mortality to ensure continuous, integral, and networked follow-up to this population.

Consumo de álcool e drogas ilícitas e envolvimento de adolescentes em violência física em Pernambuco, Brasil

O objetivo foi estimar a prevalência e analisar a associação do consumo de álcool e drogas ilícitas com indicadores de violência física em adolescentes. Estudo transversal repetido com estudantes do Ensino Médio em escolas da rede pública em Pernambuco, Brasil (2006, n = 4.207; 2011, n = 6.264). Os dados foram obtidos por questionário. Os indicadores de violência física foram: vitimização por violência física; envolvimento em brigas. As variáveis independentes foram: consumo de álcool e uso de drogas ilícitas. A regressão logística binária foi utilizada para verificar a associação entre o consumo de álcool e drogas e ter sofrido violência física. A prevalência do consumo de álcool por adolescentes que sofreram violência física reduziu em cinco anos, porém, nenhuma alteração foi constatada no uso de drogas ilícitas. As variáveis comportamentais estiveram associadas aos diferentes indicadores de violência, apresentando em geral uma tendência de aumento. Em 2006, adolescentes que usavam drogas ilícitas apresentaram uma chance 2,12 maior de sofrer violência física, e em 2011 este valor foi de 2,41 (IC95%: 1,80; 3,22). A chance de adolescentes que consumiam bebida alcoólica ter envolvimento em brigas aumentou de 1,96 (IC95%: 1,64; 2,34) em 2006, para 2,11 (IC95%: 1,78; 2,51) em 2011. O consumo de álcool pelos adolescentes que sofreram violência física diminuiu em cinco anos, entretanto, o risco de os adolescentes que consumiram bebida alcoólica ou usaram drogas ilícitas sofrerem violência física aumentou ao longo de cinco anos.

Self-esteem and consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances in outsourced workers

Objective

to evaluate self-esteem, the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other substances in outsourced workers of a public university.

Method

a descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional, quantitative study developed with 316 outsourced workers from a municipality in the Southeast of Brazil. Data was collected through a characterization tool, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. For data analysis, we used descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, odds ratio and logistic regression.

Results

the majority of workers had high self-esteem and some used alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and inhalants. A significant association between gender, age group and work shift with self-esteem; between the risk of developing problems related to alcohol consumption with sex, age group, marital status, religious belief and number of children; between the practice of physical activity and the risk of developing problems related to the consumption of tobacco products was found.

Conclusion

this study contributes to the increase of knowledge due to the small number of researches involving this subject and to contribute to the nurses to have subsidies to work with this population using strategies to combat the triggers of psychic disorders.