Diferencias de género en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en adolescentes escolarizados chilenos / Gender differences in health-related quality of life of Chilean adolescent students

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) refers to individuals' perception of their subjective well-being, considering various aspects of their life and the impact on their health. Aim: To analyze gender differences in the HRQOL of adolescent students in Chile, by age, type of school attended, and area of residence. Material and Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study conducted in a population of 5th and 12th grade students attending municipal, subsidized and private schools in 11 regions of the country. HRQOL was assessed with the KIDSCREEN-52, an instrument that has been previously adapted and validated in Chile. The database obtained from that adaption and validation process was analyzed. Results: In total, 7,910 students (median age 14 years, 53% female) completed the questionnaire. Compared to males, females had lower HRQOL scores in most of the KIDSCREEN-52 dimensions. However, males were more likely to have lower scores in the “Peers and Social Support” and “School Environment” dimensions. These differences remained valid when the sample was stratified by age, type of school, and area of residence were analyzed. Conclusions: This study supports the existence of inequalities in the self-perceived HRQOL of Chilean adolescent students. The existing differences are not only related to gender but are also evident when stratifying by type of school attended.

Propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud KIDSCREEN-27 en adolescentes chilenos / Psychometric properties of the quality of life questionnaire health related KIDSCREEN-27 in Chilean adolescents

Background: KIDSCREEN-52, which assesses health related quality of life in adolescents, has been adapted and validated in Chile showing excellent psychometric properties. There is a shorter version of the instrument, whose psychometric properties must be assessed. Aim: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument KIDSCREEN-27 in Chilean adolescents. Material and Methods: A secondary analysis of the database obtained for the adaptation and validation of KIDSCREEN-52. Results: The reliability, calculated through Cronbach’s alpha, for the entire instrument (five dimensions) was 0.89. For physical well-being, psychological well-being, autonomy and relationship with parents and peer social support dimensions, scores were higher than 0.75 while for school environment, the score was 0.69. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the indices obtained to assess the goodness of fit in this study were a χ2 (314) = 10521.4, a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.064 and a Comparative Fit index = 0.96. KIDSCREEN-27 scores were higher among men in the physical well-being, psychological well-being, autonomy and relationship with parents dimensions and among women in social support and peers and school environment dimensions. Scores were higher in younger age groups. Conclusions: The Chilean version of KIDSCREEN-27 instrument has adequate reliability and validity.

Antecedente de agresión sexual y su asociación con conductas de riesgo en adolescentes consultantes en un centro de atención en salud sexual y reproductiva / History of sexual aggression and its association with risk behavior in adolescents consulting a focus on sexual and reproductive health

Antecedentes: La mayoría de los programas de salud reproductiva en Chile operan bajo la premisa de que todas las mujeres y en especial las adolescentes están o han estado comprometidas en relaciones sexuales consensuales, y no consideran que muchas de ellas pueden ser sobrevivientes de agresión sexual y pueden presentar necesidades diferentes en salud sexual y reproductiva. Objetivo: Examinar cuáles conductas de riesgo y variables sociodemográficas y familiares están asociadas al antecedente de agresión sexual en adolescentes consultantes en un centro de atención en salud sexual y reproductiva. Método: Estudio analítico de corte transversal. La información fue recolectada en la primera consulta a 3.064 adolescentes mujeres entre 12 y 19 años, atendidas en un centro de salud sexual y reproductiva en el período 2003-2010. Se usó regresión logística para identificar los factores asociados a la agresión sexual. Resultados: Un 22,7 por ciento reportó antecedente de agresión sexual. Las conductas de riesgo asociadas al antecedente de agresión sexual fueron: inicio de la actividad sexual bajo coerción o bajo efectos del alcohol, mayor número de relaciones afectivas y parejas sexuales, menor edad al inicio de la actividad sexual, menor promedio de notas, mayor consumo de cigarrillo, de alcohol y drogas, y menor edad al inicio del consumo de drogas. Conclusión: El antecedente de agresión sexual deja a las mujeres expuestas a riesgos en la salud sexual y reproductiva, por lo que los equipos de salud debieran ser capaces de detectar estas problemáticas para poder intervenir en forma adecuada y eficaz.

Background: Most of reproductive health programs in Chile operate under the premise that women and adolescent girls in particular, are or have been engaged in consensual sex and do not consider that many of them may be survivors of sexual abuse, and may have different needs in sexual and reproductive health. Objective: Determine which risk behaviors and familial variables are associated with sexual aggression history in adolescents consulting at sexual and reproductive health center. Method: Cross-sectional analytical study. The information was gathered from a structured interview applied in the first consultation to 3,064 adolescent girls between 12 and 19 years, who attended a sexual and reproductive health centre for the period 2003-2010. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with sexual assault. Results: A 22.7 percent reported sexual assault history. Risk behaviors associated with sexual aggression were: onset of sexual activity forced or under influence of alcohol, as many relationships and sexual partners, younger age at onset of sexual activity, lower grade point average, cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug use and younger age at onset of drug use. Conclusion: A history of sexual aggression leaves women at risk for sexual and reproductive health, so health teams should be able to detect these problems in order to intervene appropriately and effectively.

Adaptación transcultural y validación de un instrumento de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en adolescentes chilenos / Validation of an instrument to measure health-related quality of life in Chilean children and adolescents

Background: KIDSCREEN-52 is an instrument to assess health related quality of life in children and adolescents. Aim: To culturally adapt and validate the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire in Chileans. Material and Methods: Two independent translations from the English Spanish language were conciliated and retranslated to English. The conciliated version was tested during a cognitive interview to adolescents of different socioeconomic levels. The final version was validated in 7,910 school attending adolescents. Results: In the cross-cultural adaptation, 50 of the 52 items presented low or medium levels of difficulty and a high semantic equivalence. Distribution according to gender, grades and types of schools was similar to the sample. Single ages were not affected by sex distribution. The Confirmatory Factor Analyses were: X² (1229) = 20996.7, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = .045 and Comparative Fit Index = .96. The instrument had a Cronbach’s alpha of .93. The domains had scores over 0.70 points, with the exception of the "Selfperception" domain, with a score of 0.62. Conclusions: The Chilean version of KIDSCREEN-52 is culturally appropriate and semantically equivalent in its English and Spanish versions (from Spain). Its reliability and validity were adequate.

Factores familiares asociados al inicio sexual temprano en adolescentes consultantes en un centro de salud sexual y reproductiva en Santiago de Chile / Factors associated with early sexual activity among Chilean adolescents

Background: Nowadays, adolescent population begins sexual activity earlier, a behavior with negativepsychological ana social consequences. Aim: To determine the association between family factors and early sexual activity in adolescents oflow and middle socioeconomic level. Material and Methods: A sample of 3,210 adolescents, who confidentially requested care in a sexual and reproductive health university center, between 2000 and 2007, was analyzed. Adolescents who started sexual activity before 15years ofage, and those who started sexual activity after 15years ofage, were compared. Data was collectedfrom structured interviews conducted at the adolescente firstvisit. Logistic regression was used to identify family factors associated with early sexual initiatingin both, men and women. Results: Family factors associated with early sexual activity startwere not being raised by both parents, apoor parent-child relationship, a poor family communication, mothers with a history of adolescent motherhood, mothers employed outside the home and family dysfunction. Among women, the variables associated with a higher risk of early sexual debut were not married parents and history of adolescent fatherhood record among parents. Among men, these variables were permissions without restriction during the week and punishment when family rules were broken. Conclusions: Family factors must be considered in the design ofstrategies to prevent early sexual activity.

Factores asociados al inicio sexual en adolescentes de ambos sexos de nivel socioeconómico medio-bajo de la Región Metropolitana / Factors associated to the sexual debut in adolescent populations in precarious economic settings of Metropolitan Region

Antecedentes: escasa evidencia está disponible en Chile acerca del inicio de la actividad sexual adolescente. Objetivo: examinar cuales variables identificadas previamente están asociadas al inicio de la actividad sexual en una población adolescente de nivel socioeconómico medio-bajo de la Región Metropolitana. Método: los datos corresponden a adolescentes consultantes en CEMERA. Se compararon con adolescentes que habían iniciado actividad sexual y aquellos que no. La información fue recolectada en la primera consulta a 5.854 adolescentes de ambos sexos entre 12 y 19 años. Se usó regresión logística para identificar los factores asociados al inicio sexual. Resultados: 92,6 por ciento mujeres y 7,4 por ciento hombres. El 84,2 por ciento había iniciado actividad sexual y no el 15,8 por ciento. Las variables asociadas al inicio sexual fueron: ser hombre; mayor edad; mayor escolaridad; aspiraciones académicas básicas; desempeño escolar bajo; repitencia escolar; no afiliación religiosa; no asistencia a servicios religiosos; tener un trabajo; tener pareja mayor; tener una pareja que trabaje; conversar temas de sexualidad solo con la pareja; más parejas románticas; no participación social; historia de abuso sexual; mayor número de hijos; mala relación padre-hijo; mala comunicación familiar; supervisión parental limitada; historia de paternidad y/o maternidad adolescente en los padres; padres con baja educación; menor supervisión parental. Conclusión: se necesitan programas que motiven a retardar el inicio sexual. Los programas de educación sexual deberían animar a la conversación de los temas de sexualidad con los padres y capacitar a los educandos a demorar el inicio sexual y/o obtener anticonceptivos, en forma expedita, amigable y confidencial.

Background: little evidence is available from Chile concerning adolescent people's sexual debut. Objective: to examine which variables previously identified were associated to the sexual activity in adolescent populations in precarious economic settings of Metropolitan Region. Method: data from a population of adolescents attending at CEMERA were used to compare those who had sexual debut and those who had not. Analysis used data collected at the adolescent's first visit of 5,854 adolescents, both sexes, aged 12-19. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with sexual debut. Results: 92.6 percent were females and 7.4 percent males. 84.2 percent adolescents had sexual debut and 15.8 percent did not. Variables associated with sexual debut were: gender (male); age (older); education (higher): low academic aspirations (finishing high school only); low academic performance; repeating an academic year; no religious affiliation; no attendance at religious services; having a job; having an older partner; having a partner who works; discussing topics related to sexuality only with partner; more lifetime romantic partners; no social participation; history of sexual abuse; higher number of siblings; poor parent-child relationship; poor family communications; limited parental supervision; history of adolescent parenthood in parents; low parental education; low family involvement in the adolescent's life. Conclusion: programs that encourage the delay of sexual debut are needed. Sexual health education programs should encourage the discussion of sexuality with parents and enable girls and boys to delay sexual debut or to obtain contraceptives easily and privately.

Características y consecuencias de las agresiones sexuales en adolescentes consultantes en un centro de salud sexual y reproductiva / Characteristics of sexual assault and its consequences in adolescents at a sexual and reproductive health center

Antecedentes: La agresión sexual es un evento traumático y doloroso que afecta de manera transversal, a las víctimas de ambos sexos, de todos los niveles socioeconómicos con graves consecuencias para la salud física, psicológica y social para quienes la sufren. Objetivo: Determinar las características de las agresiones sexuales y sus consecuencias en adolescentes consultantes en un centro de atención en Salud Sexual y Reproductiva. Método: Estudio analítico de corte transversal de 573 adolescentes atendidas en un centro de medicina reproductiva (CEMERA) en el período 2003-2010 y que reportaron antecedente de abuso sexual. Se estudiaron tanto las características como las consecuencias del abuso, datos que se obtuvieron desde las fichas clínicas. Resultados: En el 86,5 por ciento de los casos se reportó abuso sexual y en un 13,5 por ciento violación. El 48,5 por ciento de los agresores son familiares. La edad más vulnerable fue entre 5-9 años con un 41,2 porciento. En el 39,2 por ciento el abuso sexual fue reiterado. En un 43,4 por ciento el lugar fue el propio hogar de la víctima. Un 70 por ciento reveló y de estos el 45,9 por ciento lo hizo en forma tardía. Sólo en un 19 por ciento se hizo la denuncia legal. De las adolescentes que iniciaron actividad sexual voluntaria (83,3 por ciento), un 35,4 por ciento tenía menos de 15 años. Un 11,8 por ciento reportó 3 y más parejas sexuales. Conclusión: El antecedente de abuso sexual debe ser considerado en la atención de adolescentes que consultan por salud sexual y reproductiva. El equipo de salud debe estar preparado para atender sus múltiples necesidades.

Background: Sexual assault is a traumatic and painful event, which affects victims of both genders, across all socioeconomic levels, with serious consequences for physical, psychological, and social health. Objective: Determine the characteristics of sexual assault and its consequences in adolescents at a sexual and reproductive health center. Method: Analytic and cross-sectional study of 573 adolescents seen at a reproductive medicine center (CEMERA) in the period 2003-2010 and who reported history of sexual abuse. Patient's clinical records were reviewed to study the characteristics as well as the consequences of sexual abuse. Results: The abuse was reported as sexual abuse in 86.5 percent of the cases and as rape in 13.5 percent. In 48.5 percent of the cases, the aggressors were relatives of the victims. The most vulnerable group is between 5-9 of age, representing 41.2 percent of the cases. For 39.2 percent of the cases, the sexual abuse was reiterative, and in 43.4 percent, the abuse took place on the victim's home. 70 percent of the victims told someone about the abuse; 45.9 percent of those revealed their abuse in a delay manner. Only 19 percent of victims filed a legal complaint. Of the adolescents who started voluntary sexual activity (83.3 percent) a 35.4 percent was under de age of 15, and 11,8 percent reported having 3 or more sexual partners. Conclusion: A history of sexual abuse must be considered in the attention of adolescents who consult for reproductive and sexual health. The health team must be prepared to address their multiple needs.

Batería multidimensional de cuestionarios culturales para la investigación en salud mental: aplicación en una muestra pobalcional chilena / Multidimensional battery of cultural questionnaires for research in mental health: application in a Chilean population sample

Este estudio reporta los resultados de la aplicación en Chile de la Batería Multidimensional de Cuestionarios Culturales para la investigación en salud mental desarrollada en Heidebelberg, Alemania (freund et al., 2011). El propósito de esta batería es contribuir a la investigación transcultural en el ámbito de la salud mental, mediante la medición de un espectro amplio y heterogéneo de variables culturales, en un nivel individual. La batería está compuesta por una adaptación de las siguientes escalas: Escala de Conceptualización del Self ( Self-Construal Scale SCS; Singelis, 1994). Escala de Ideología de los Roles Sexuales (Sex-Role Ideology Scales, SRIS; Kalin & Tilby, 1978) y Escala de Rigidez-Flexibilidad de las Normas (Tightness-Looseness Scale, TLS; Gelfand et al., 2007). Se aplicó la batería en una muestra representativa de 343 participantes de Santiago, Chile. Los resultados indican adecuadas propiedades psicométricas en todas las escalas seleccionadas. Destacan en los resultados, los altos puntajes de la población chilena en las variables independencia e interdependencia en la conceptualización del self; una ideología de roles sexuales más igualitaria en jóvenes y personas de mayor ingreso económico y mayor rigidez en las normas familiares que en las normas sociales

This study reports the results of the application, in Chile of the Multidimensional Battery of Cultural Questionnaires for research in mental health, developed in Heidelberg, Germany (freund et al., 2011). The purpose of this battery was to contribute to transcultural research in the field of mental health by measuring a wide and diverse range of cultural variables on an individual level. The battery is composed of adaptations of the following sacale: the Self-Construal Scale (SCS; Singelis, 194), the Sex-Role Ideology Scale (SRIS; Kalin & Tilby, 1978), and the Tightness-Looseness Scale (TLS; Gelfand eta al., 2007). The battery was administered to a representative sample of 343 participants from Santiago, Chile. All of the scales used were found to have adequate psychometric properties. The results show that Chileans score higher on independent and independent measures of self-construal; women, youths, and people of higher income level have more egalitarian sex-role ideology; and there is greater tightness to family then to social norms.

Percepciones y experiencias del inicio sexual desde una perspectiva de género, en adolescentes consultantes en un centro universitario de salud sexual y reproductiva / Perceptions and experiences of sexual debut from a gender perspective in adolescents consulting in a university centre for sexual and reproductive health care

Antecedentes: El contexto en que se inicia la actividad sexual en adolescentes tiene importantes signifca-dos para las personas e implicancias en salud pública. Objetivo: Conocer con un enfoque exploratorio, los factores que infuyen en el inicio de la actividad sexual en adolescentes y explorar el contexto en el cual ocurre. Método: Muestra de adolescentes, hombres y mujeres, sexualmente activos entre 14 y 19 años, re-clutados en el CEMERA, durante 2007. Se realizaron 117 entrevistas semiestructuradas. Se utilizó el análisis temático de los datos. Los signifcados e interpretaciones fueron constantemente verifcados a través de sucesivos análisis. Resultados: El grado de control personal que tuvieron sobre los factores que condujeron a su primera experiencia sexual, determinó como ellos/as se sintieron con esta experiencia. Aquellos/as que dijeron que había sido una buena experiencia, demoraron el inicio sexual hasta que se sintieron cómodos/as con el momento y con quien debutaron sexualmente. Sin embargo, sentimientos de culpa marcaron el evento, porque ellos/as habían transgredido las normas sociales. En contraste, la coerción de sus parejas y los efectos del alcohol, fueron razones que llevaron a una experiencia sexual prematura y no deseada. Conclusiones: El rol de la interacción con sus pares, el abuso de alcohol y la presión de la pareja, en el caso de las niñas, infuyen en la actividad sexual prematura y no deseada. Las intervenciones educacionales debieran considerar estos aspectos para que tengan relevancia personal y el impacto pueda ser mayor en la postergación del inicio de la actividad sexual o que esta sea protegida.

Background: It is important to understand that the timing and context in which sexual intercourse is initiated, has signifcant personal and public health implications. Objective: To explore the factors that infuence the initiation of frst intercourse among adolescent females and males and the context in which this event occurs. Methods: A sample of sexually active teenagers both female and male, aged between 14 and 19 years, were recruited from a University Centre for Sexual and Reproductive Health Care (CEMERA), during 2007. One hundred and seventeen semi structural interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Meanings and interpretations that emerged were constantly verifed through subsequent inquiry. Results: The degree of personal control over the factors that led to their frst experience of intercourse determined how adolescents refected upon the experience. Those who were ready and felt well were more likely to have delayed intercourse until they were comfortable with when and with whom the sexual debut occurred. However, feelings of blame because the social norms were transgressed marked the event. In contrast, coercion from sexual partners and being under effect of alcohol were reasons for premature and unwanted frst experience of sexual intercourse. Conclusions: The role of peer interaction and abuse of alcohol, and the pressure from sexual partner to infuence in premature and unwanted sexual activity, may to generate educational interventions of greater personal relevance and impact to prevent risky sexual behaviors.

Comportamientos sexuales y diferencias de género en adolescentes usuarios de un sistema público de salud universitario / Sexual behavior and gender differencesamong adolescents consultingat a university public health system

Background: The predetermined gender roles and the emphasis on reproductive responsibility on women, excluding men, have negative consequences on their sexual reproductive health and satisfactory sexual practices. Aim: To describe and analyze changes in sexual practices and gender differences in adolescents of the lower-middle socioeconomic level, users of public health system who started their sexual activity. Material and methods: We studied 4,971 adolescents of both sexes aged between 12 and 19 years, who consulted in a clinic for adolescents between the years 1990 and 2005. Several variables related to adolescent sexuality were considered. Uni and bivariate analysis were carried out and a model of stratified lineal regression per sex was fixed to explain the following variables: age at which sexual activity is initiated, number of sexual partners, time period between start of dating and the start of sexual activity along time. Results: The average age when men and women start their sexual activity was 15.7 and 15.5years, respectively. Along years and among women but not men, there was a reduction in the age of start of sexual activity and an increase in the number of sexual partners. The mean íapse between start of dating and the start of sexual activity in men and women was 6.2 and 7.5 months, respectively. This figure had an 11.696 and 13.9 percent reduction per year of study in females and males, respectively. Conclusions: There is an increasing expansion of sexual roles in adolescents, but certain patterns of contradictory conservative reasoning are maintained.

Factores de riesgo de la conducta suicida en niños y adolescentes / Risk factors of suicidal behavior in children and adolescents

El objetivo de este artículo es revisar en la literatura científica los factores de riesgo asociados al intento de suicidio en niños y adolescentes y de esta manera contribuir a la mejor delimitación de grupos de riesgo, con fines preventivos y terapéuticos. El suicidio es la segunda o tercera causa de muerte en jóvenes de 15 a 19 años de edad. Los análisis seculares apoyan la hipótesis que existe un verdadero incremento de este fenómeno, desde 1950 a la fecha, entre los adolescentes y adultos jóvenes de la población europea y norteamericana. En Chile, según los datos consolidados por el Departamento de Informática del Ministerio de Salud desde 1986 a 1996, las tasas de suicidio han tenido un aumento gradual en los últimos años, a excepción de los años 1992 y 1993. En el caso de los adolescentes las tasas han permanecido relativamente estables en el periodo observado. La prevalencia del intento de suicidio es aún más difícil de conocer. En general se acepta que los intentos son 10 a 50 veces más numerosos que los suicidios. Estudios de seguimiento de adolescentes que han realizado un intento de suicidio, muestran que el 10 por ciento se suicida dentro de los 10 años siguientes. El género y la edad aparecen como factores de riesgo relevantes. Los suicidios completados son más comunes entre los hombres; las mujeres tienen un mayor riesgo en las otras conductas suicidas. El riesgo de suicidio aumenta con la edad. El suicidio antes de los 15 años es inusual; la mayoría de los niños y adolescentes con conducta suicida presentan algún tipo de psicopatología. Los trastornos psiquiátricos más frecuentemente asociados son trastorno de ánimo, principalmente la depresión, abuso de sustancias y conductas antisociales. La ansiedad, agregada a un cuadro clínico de ideación suicida, más bien cumple un rol amplificador en el desarrollo y/o la mantención de la ideación suicida que un factor de riesgo per se. La evidencia es clara en cuanto a que las adversidades familiares contribuyen a incrementar el riesgo suicida. Ausencia de calidez familiar, falta de comunicación con los padres y discordia familiar aparecen como los factores más frecuentemente asociados a la conducta suicida. La derivación oportuna, evaluación del funcionamiento familiar y el desarrollo de tratamientos efectivos en gente joven con morbilidad psiquiátrica pueden ser muy efectivos en reducir la conducta suicida