Conocimientos de la dimensión ambiental en estudiantes de medicina y residentes de medicina general integral / Knowledge about the Environmental Dimension in Medical Students and Family Medicine Residents

Introducción: El daño al medio ambiente es cada vez mayor, los problemas ambientales globales crecen por día, ya sea por causas naturales o antrópicas. Esto provoca la aparición y agravamiento de diversas enfermedades por lo que existe una relación entre los problemas ambientales y los problemas de salud. Por esta razón los médicos deben conocer profundamente dicha relación lo que permitirá desempeñar mejor sus variadas funciones y entre ellas las educativas. Objetivo: Evaluar el nivel de conocimientos sobre la dimensión ambiental en estudiantes de sexto año de la carrera de Medicina y residentes de primer año de Medicina General Integral. Métodos: Se aplicó una encuesta de conocimientos, a través de la plataforma Moodle, sobre conceptos, factores y problemas relacionados con el medio ambiente y sus vínculos con problemas de salud, a 32 estudiantes de sexto año terminado de la carrera de Medicina correspondiente al 35,55 por ciento del total de la matrícula, así como a 29 residentes de medicina general integral también con primer año de la residencia finalizado para un 55,76 por ciento de los matriculados. Las muestras pertenecientes a las facultades de ciencias médicas Manuel Fajardo y Salvador Allende se seleccionaron de forma aleatoria. Resultados: El resultado general de la encuesta fue de un 21,88 por ciento de aprobados para los estudiantes y de un 27,59 por ciento para los residentes. Estos concordaron con un bajo porciento de aciertos en diferentes preguntas, por ejemplo, las que exploraron conceptos importantes como medio ambiente y desarrollo sostenible, así como la de los problemas ambientales de Cuba y sus efectos, como el deterioro de la condición higiénico-sanitaria (ambientales) en los asentamientos humanos, entre otros. Conclusiones: El nivel de conocimiento mostrado por los estudiantes y los residentes, acerca de la dimensión ambiental, evidencia insuficiencias cognoscitivas en esta esfera y en su relación con la actividad profesional(AU)

Introduction: Environmental damage is increasing over time; global environmental problems are growing every day, whether due to natural or man-made causes. This brings about the appearance and worsening of various diseases, based on the relationship between environmental problems and health problems. For this reason, physicians must have deep understanding of this relationship, which will allow them to carry out their various functions better, including educational ones. Objective: To assess, in sixth-year medical students and in first-year residents of Family Medicine, their level of knowledge about the environmental dimension. Methods: A knowledge survey was applied, using the Moodle platform, about concepts, factors and problems related to the environment and their links with health problems. The respondents were 32 students in the sixth academic year of the Medicine major, a figure accounting for 35.55 percent of the total enrollment; as well as 29 Family Medicine residents also with the first academic year of their residency completed, which accounted for 55.76 percent of those enrolled. The samples belonging to Manuel Fajardo and Salvador Allende medical schools were randomly selected. Results: The general result of the survey was 21.88 percent of approved respondents for students and 27.59 percent for residents. These coincided with a low percentage of correct answers in different questions; for example, those that explored important concepts such as environment and sustainable development, as well as that of Cuba's environmental problems and their effects, such as the deterioration of the hygienic-sanitary condition (environmental) in human settlements, among others. Conclusions: The level of knowledge shown by students and residents about the environmental dimension shows cognitive deficiencies in this sphere and in its relationship with professional activity(AU)

Necesidad de una formación ambiental en la carrera de medicina / The need for environment-related training in the medical major

El deterioro del medio ambiente es un hecho indiscutible. Se llama a la comunidad internacional, a los Gobiernos y pueblos a frenar el daño causado y a colaborar con la recuperación. No obstante, el perjuicio resulta cada vez mayor. Diversos problemas naturales destruyen la Tierra, también los causados por el ser humano, como el cambio climático y la contaminación, cuyas nefastas consecuencias generan y agravan los problemas de salud vegetal, animal y humana. El cambio climático influye en el comportamiento de enfermedades transmisibles y no transmisibles. La contaminación, a través de contaminantes ambientales, como los disruptores endocrinos, pueden conllevar a la aparición de enfermedades crónicas. A pesar de que estas condiciones afectan al medio ambiente y en particular al hombre, no existe una verdadera conciencia ambiental, por lo que cabe preguntarse: ¿por qué persiste esta situación a pesar de los esfuerzos realizados y de la divulgación de esta problemática no solo en Cuba sino también a nivel mundial? Los insuficientes conocimientos de la temática ambiental y su no interiorización influyen en la falta de conciencia, por eso es imprescindible impartirlos en la carrera de medicina para lograr una verdadera formación en esta esfera, que contribuya con el desarrollo de una conciencia ambiental en la población, pues una de las funciones del médico es educar. Cuba tiene potencialidades que le permiten enfrentar los problemas ambientales que atentan contra el desarrollo socioeconómico, en general, y contra la vida, en particular, para así poder lograr un desarrollo humano sostenible(AU)

Environmental degradation is an indisputable fact. The international community, governments and peoples are called upon to stop the damage caused and to collaborate with its recovery. However, the damage is increasing. Various natural problems destroy the Earth; also those caused by humans, such as climate change and pollution, whose dire consequences generate and aggravate plant health, animal health and human health problems. Climate change influences the behavior of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Pollution, through environmental pollutants, such as endocrine disruptors, can lead to the appearance of chronic diseases. Despite the fact that these conditions affect the environment and the human being in particular, there is no true environmental awareness, so it is worth asking: Why does this situation persist despite efforts made and the disclosure of this problem not only in Cuba but also worldwide? Insufficient knowledge about environmental issues and its lack of internalization influence the lack of awareness; that is why, it is essential to teach them in the medical major, in order to achieve real training in this area, which contributes to the development of environmental awareness among the population, because one of the functions of the physician is to educate. Cuba has potential resources that allows to face environmental problems that threaten socioeconomic development, in general, and against life, in particular, in order to achieve sustainable human development(AU)

Green conversion of municipal solid wastes into fuels and chemicals

Presently, the society is facing a serious challenge for the effective management of the increasing amount of produced municipal solid wastes. The accumulated waste has caused a series of environmental problems such as uncontrolled release of greenhouse gases. Moreover, the increasing amount of wastes has resulted in a shortage of areas available for waste disposal, resulting in a nonsustainable waste management. These problems led to serious public concerns, which in turn resulted in political actions aiming to reduce the amount of wastes reaching the environment. These actions aim to promote sustainable waste management solutions. The main objective of these policies is to promote the recycling of municipal solid waste and the conversion of waste to energy and valuable chemicals. These conversions can be performed using either biological (e.g., anaerobic digestion) or thermochemical processes (e.g., pyrolysis). Research efforts during the last years have been fruitful, and many publications demonstrated the effective conversation of municipal solid waste to energy and chemicals. These processes are discussed in the current review article together with the change of the waste policy that was implemented in the EU during the last years.

VALORACIÓN AMBIENTAL PARA LA GENERACIÓN DE UN MODELO PARTICIPATIVO DE EDUCACIÓN NO FORMAL / ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE GENERATION OF A PARTICIPATORY MODEL OF NON FORMAL EDUCATION

El propósito de este artículo es establecer un diagnóstico de los humedales de Bañó y Los Negros basado en el análisis y caracterización de las esferas social, económica y natural, a fin de entender las causas de los eventos físicos, económicos, sociales y educativos que expliquen el desfasamiento entre percepciones y culturas adecuadas para la sostenibilidad ambiental del territorio y la consideración de tales causas para la generación de un modelo educativo no formal. La problemática ambiental existente en los humedales es el resultado de las presiones de tipo antrópico a la que han sido sometidos, la ausencia de una cultural ambiental ha llevado a sus habitantes a desequilibrar tales ecosistemas. Como resultado del diagnóstico territorial se identificaron una serie de problemas ambientales: desecación de humedales, pérdida de la biodiversidad, deficientes condiciones sanitarias, contaminación del suelo y agua, y manejo inadecuado de residuos. Factores como el bajo nivel educativo, las escasas oportunidades de empleo y los pocos ingresos por núcleo familiar inciden de forma indirecta en el deterioro de los humedales. Se resalta que un 85,8% del total de la población tiene más de 16 años de vivir en el área de estudio, por lo tanto tienen un conocimiento empírico de los humedales y de los problemas presentes en ellos.

The purpose of this article is to establish a diagnosis of the wetlands of Bañó and Negros based on the analysis and characterization of the social, economic and natural spheres in order to understand the causes of physical, economic, social and educational events that explain the destaging between perceptions and cultures adequate for the environmental sustainability of the territory and the consideration of such causes for the generation of a non-formal educational system. The existing environmental problem in the wetlands of Bañó and Negros is the result of the pressures of anthropic type they have been submitted to, the absence of an environmental culture has led residents to unbalance the ecosystems in mention. As a result of the territorial diagnosis, a number of environmental problems ranging from desiccation of wetlands, loss of biodiversity, poor sanitary conditions, soil and water pollution to inappropriate waste management were identified. Factors such as a low level of education, limited employment opportunities and little household income affect indirectly the deterioration of wetlands. It's important to note that 85,8% of the total population has been living in the study area for more than 16 years. Therefore they have a broad knowledge of the wetlands and of the problems present in them.

Effectiveness of Self Instructional Module on Environmental Education on level of Awareness of Prospective Teachers.

The present study was designed to experiment the effect of self instructional module on environmental education on level of awareness of prospective teachers. Environmental Education is a way of implementing the goals of environmental protection. National Policy on Education (1986) has also stressed the need to create a consciousness of environment in order to reduce and prevent the present and future environmental imbalances. The teacher acts as a change agent in the society. If the teacher is aware of environmental problems and their consequences, he is able to generate awareness among the young generation who are the future of any country. For this very purpose, a self instructional module on environmental education has been developed and empirically validated and also has been administered on the selected sample of 30 prospective teachers. The findings suggested that self instructional module was sufficiently effective. It was found that self instructional module has significant effect on awareness level of prospective teachers. The self instructional module has implications for students, parents, teachers, administrators and policy makers.

Preocupación amiiental entre población universiaria: representaciones socialess e implicación personal en temas ambientales en la universidad de aniooquia / Envirnmental conncern among university population: social representations and personal involvement in environmental issues at university of antioquia

En el artículo, derivado de investigación, se muestran las dificultades identificadas en la ciudadela de la Universidad de Antioquia al momento de construir una definición de ambiente en la cual se incluya al ser humano como parte integral del mismo. Para tal fin se aplicaron dos encuestas, la primera que fue denominada "prueba piloto" sirvió para afinar las preguntas usadas en el campo de la psicología a la hora de abordar la preocupación ambiental, ésta es, la escala de Likert; la segunda, fue la encuesta depurada y aplicada entre empleados, docentes y estudiantes de la ciudad universitaria, que ofreció los elementos necesarios para analizar las representaciones sociales del ambiente que comprenden la valoración de los problemas ambientales, el nivel de implicación personal y la capacidad de acción, permitiendo una lectura desde la perspectiva antropológica de las relaciones entre los humanos y el ambiente en ese contexto social.

This article, derived from research, shows the difficulties identified in the Citadel of the University of Antioquia when it comes to constructing a definition of the environment in which the human being, as an integral part, must be included. For this purpose, two surveys were applied, the first one which was called "a pilot test" served to refine the questions used in the field of psychology in addressing environmental concerns, this is, the Likert scale; the second one, was a refined survey that was applied among employees, teachers, and students, at the University Campus, which offered the elements needed to analyze the social representations comprising the assessment of environmental problems, the level of personal involvement, and the capacity of action, allowing a reading from the anthropological perspective of relationships between humans and the environment in this social context.

Agente comunitário de saúde: questões ambientais e promoção da saúde em comunidades ribeirinhas / Community health agent: environmental issues and promoting health in riverside communities

No presente artigo, discutem-se as concepções de saúde e ambiente de agentes comunitários de saúde (ACSs) atuantes em duas comunidades ribeirinhas do eixo Ilhéus-Itabuna, sul da Bahia, Brasil, e suas atividades de promoção da saúde voltadas para o ambiente. Foram analisadas entrevistas semiestruturadas de 14 ACSs, tratadas com a técnica do discurso do sujeito coletivo proposta por Lefèvre e Lefèvre (2005). Nos discursos, os ACSs revelaram uma concepção ampla de saúde (qualidade de vida e direito) e relacionaram o ambiente ao território, embora o concebam como lugar onde as pessoas vivem. Também fazem relação entre saúde e melhorias no ambiente, e apesar de viverem e trabalharem em um território com problemas ambientais graves, suas atividades voltadas para o ambiente são pontuais e de conduta individual. Nessa perspectiva, reorientando o processo de trabalho, os ACSs indicam a capacidade de criar novas formas de relação entre ambiente e saúde. Potencializar esses atores que vivem na cena da tensão dos vários territórios em que transitam, valorizando seus saberes e sua vivência do(no) ambiente onde moram ou trabalham, pode ser o primeiro passo na direção da mudança, com a reorientação das práticas sanitárias e do modelo assistencial.

This article discusses the health and en-vironmental concepts of community health agents (CHAs) working in two riverside communities in the Ilhéus-Itabuna axis, in southern Bahia, Brazil, and their health promotion activities focused on the en-vironment. Semi-structured interviews carried out among 14 CHAs were analyzed using the collective subject discourse technique proposed by Lefèvre and Lefèvre (2005). In their discourses, the CHAs proved to have a broad view of health (quality of life and rights) and related the environment to the territory, although they consider this as the place where people live. They also relate health to environmental improvements, and although they live and work in a territory where there are serious environmental issues, they undertake environment-related activities only occasionally and individually. From this perspective, reorienting the work process, the CHAs show they are able to create new forms of relationship between the environment and health. Leveraging these players, who live on the scene of the tension of the several territories they transit in, valuing their knowledge and their experience of (in) the environment where they live or work, can be the first step taken toward change, with the reorientation of the health practices and of the health care model.

Tecnologia da informação e sustentabilidade: levantamento das principais práticas verdes aplicadas à área de tecnologia / Information technology and sustainability: survey about the main green practices applied to the field of technology

As questões envolvendo os problemas ambientais tornaram-se uma grande preocupação mundial nos últimos anos. E mesmo que a área de Tecnologia da Informação (TI) tenha contribuído bastante para a construção desse panorama, cada vez mais, diretores e gerentes de TI têm se mostrado preocupados com o impacto ambiental proporcionado pela TI. Essa situação tem feito com que diferentes práticas venham sendo adotadas de modo a reduzir o desperdício e aumentar a eficiência dos processos relacionados à operação dos computadores, sendo comumente referidas pelos praticantes da área como iniciativas de TI Verde. Assim, objetivou-se nesta pesquisa identificar as principais práticas de TI Verde adotadas pelas organizações. O estudo, realizado a partir da análise de 196 anúncios publicados na internet sobre esse tema, identificou 37 diferentes práticas de TI Verde, agrupadas em sete categorias distintas: práticas de conscientização, datacenter verde, descarte e reciclagem, fontes alternativas de energia, hardware, impressão e software.

The issues involving environmental problems have become a major global concern in recent years. Even though Information Technology (IT) has contributed significantly to build this scenario, IT directors and managers have expressed concerns about the environmental impact provided by IT. This situation has driven different practices to reduce waste and increase the efficiency of processes related to computer operations, being commonly reported by practitioners as Green IT initiatives. Thus, this study aimed to identify the main Green IT practices adopted by organizations. The study, based on the analysis of 196 announcements published on internet sites, identified 37 different Green IT practices, grouped into seven categories: practices of awareness, green data center, disposal and recycling, alternative energy sources, hardware, printing and software.

Factores de riesgo psicosociales y ambientales asociados a trastornos mentales / Psychosocial and environmental risk factors associated with mental disorders

En Colombia, son escasos los estudios sobre la asociación de los factores psicosociales y medioambientales con trastornos mentales de mayor prevalencia; tales estudios son necesarios debido al contexto de violencia, inseguridad social e inestabilidad laboral y económica del país. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar los factores de riesgo psicosociales y ambientales de los trastornos mentales, en los usuarios de servicios de psicología de Colombia. Para ello, se aplicaron el Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview y un cuestionario de evaluación del Eje IV del DSM-IV-TR, a 490 participantes. Se utilizaron análisis descriptivos y de factores de riesgo. Como factor de riesgo para la depresión, se identificaron los problemas de vivienda, acceso a los servicios de asistencia sanitaria, los relativos al grupo primario, los económicos, del ambiente social y los problemas laborales. Para la ansiedad generalizada se identificaron los problemas económicos y los relativos a la enseñanza. Para los trastornos de pánico, fueron relevantes los problemas relacionados con el ambiente social, y para la fobia social, los problemas de enseñanza, los laborales y el ambiente social.

In Colombia, there are few studies on the association of psychosocial and environmental factors with the most prevalent mental disorders; such studies are important due to the context of violence, social insecurity, and job and economic instability in the country. The objective of this study was to identify the psychosocial and environmental risk factors for mental disorders, in users of psychologicalservices in Colombia. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and a Questionnaire to evaluate the Axis-IV of the DSM-IV-TR were applied to 490 participants.The analysis comprised descriptive statistics and risk factors. As riskfactors for depression, there were identified housing problems, access to health care services, problems related to the primary group, economics, problems of the social environment, and labor. For generalized anxiety, there were identified economic and education issues. For panic disorders, the risk factors were related to social environment, and for social phobia, the risk factors were problems in education,work and social environment.

Experiencias de paz en conflictos fronterizos por el agua / Peace xperiencess in border conflicts due t water

El artículo aborda algunos de los conflictos recientes surgidos entre países por la disputa de los recursos hídricos compartidos, en especial por los ríos fronterizos. A pesar de las complejas problemáticas entre países fronterizos que, en algunos casos, convocan múltiples formas de violencia como camino para tramitar las diferencias de intereses, en la realidad emergen diversas experiencias de paz que permiten generar y mantener acuerdos sobre el uso y el acceso al agua. Estas experiencias de paz pueden señalarse como formas de paz imperfecta. En la primera parte del artículo se presenta un marco general de los conflictos recientes entre países como producto de diversos intereses frente al tema del agua; en la segunda parte se realiza una revisión de la problemática ambiental en el marco de los estudios actuales sobre la paz; por último, se presentan experiencias de paz entre los países que disputan recursos hídricos, reportadas por organismos de las Naciones Unidas y ordenadas con base en la matriz propuesta por el profesor Francisco Muñoz de la Universidad de Granada.

This document describes some international conflicts that are a consequence of the fight for shared hydrological resources, especially rivers located at international borders. It is a paradox that, despite the complex problems between bordering countries that negotiate through violence in conflicts of interests, many peace experiences emerge in reality in order to generate and maintain agreements concerning the use and access to water. These peace experiences can be called "imperfect peace experiences". The first part of the text presents a general context of recent international conflicts as a result of different interests regarding water-related topics. Secondly, a review of the environmental problems within the framework of current studies concerning peace is carried out. Finally, some of the peace experiences between countries in dispute over hydrological resources are introduced, reported by different organizations belonging to the United Nations, and are then ordered according to the model proposed by Francisco Muñoz, professor of the Universidad de Granada.