Galvanic vestibular stimulation to improve postural instability, voluntary attention, and quality of life in Parkinson's disease patients / Estimulação vestibular galvânica na melhora da atenção voluntária e da qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença de Parkinson e desequilíbrio corporal

ABSTRACT Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) influences body balance and has proved to be useful to improve patients' mood, quality of life, and cognitive skills. This study aimed to present three cases of patients with Parkinson's disease and postural instability who had been submitted to GVS to improve their balance, by assessing the impact of this intervention on their cognition, mood, and quality of life. Patients were assessed before and after GVS sessions concerning P300 latency and scores on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and the 39-item quality-of-life Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). The three patients' P300 latency improved, possibly indicating improved attention. Their PDQ-39 score also improved, possibly indicating a positive impact on their quality of life. Their GDS-15 score did not change before and after the intervention. None of the patients had any intervention side effects. This three-case experimental pilot study has shown that GVS is a safe method, possibly useful to improve attention and, therefore, the quality of life of patients presented with Parkinson's disease.

RESUMO A Estimulação Vestibular Galvânica (EVG) atua no equilíbrio corporal e tem se mostrado útil na melhora do humor, da qualidade de vida e de habilidades cognitivas. O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar três casos de pacientes com doença de Parkinson e instabilidade postural que foram submetidos à EVG para melhorar o equilíbrio e avaliar o impacto dessa intervenção na cognição, no humor e na qualidade de vida. Os pacientes foram avaliados antes e após as sessões de EVG quanto a latência do potencial evocado P300, pontuação na escala de depressão geriátrica de 15 itens (EDG-15) e pelo questionário de qualidade de vida na doença de Parkinson de 39 itens (PDQ-39). Os três pacientes apresentaram melhora na latência do P300, indicando possível melhora na atenção. Apresentaram melhora na pontuação do PDQ-39, indicando possível impacto positivo na qualidade de vida. A pontuação na EDG-15 não modificou antes e após a intervenção. Nenhum paciente apresentou efeitos colaterais decorrentes da intervenção. Com base neste estudo piloto experimental de três casos, a EVG mostrou-se um método seguro e possivelmente útil para melhorar a atenção e, consequentemente, a qualidade de vida de pacientes com doença de Parkinson.

Sexual and physical intimate partner violence among women using antenatal care in Nampula, Mozambique

The aim was to estimate the prevalence of sexual and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and its associated factors, in a sample of pregnant women using antenatal care (ANC) in Nampula province - Mozambique. This cross-sectional study was carried out in six health units in Nampula, from February 2013 to January 2014. Overall, 869 participants answered the Conflict Tactics Scale 2. The lifetime and past year prevalence of sexual abuse was 49% and 46%, and of physical abuse was 46% and 44%, respectively. Lifetime and past year sexual abuse was significantly associated with living as a couple, alcohol drinking and having a past diagnosis of gonorrhea. Lifetime and past year physical abuse increased significantly with age and was associated with living as a couple, alcohol drinking and history with syphilis. The prevalence of lifetime and previous year violence among women using ANC was high and similar showing that most women were constantly exposed to IPV. ANC provides a window of opportunity for identifying and acting on violence against women