Nutritional and Physical Activity Status among Adults Living in Low-Cost Housing Area in Selangor / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

This study aimed to assess the nutritional and physical activity status among adults living in low-cost housing area. This cross-sectional study involved 115 adults aged from 18 to 59 years old (46 male and 69 female). Anthropometric and body composition measurements of height, weight, body fat percentage, waist and hip circumference were taken. Biochemical measurements included blood glucose, blood cholesterol and blood pressure. Dietary intake was evaluated by interviewing subjects using Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ). Physical activity status was determined by interviewing subjects using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Most of the subjects were found to be mainly on low socioeconomic status and working as blue collar workers. The mean body mass index (BMI) for men and women were 27.3 ± 6.3 kg/m2 and 28.5 ± 5.3 kg/m2, respectively. The waist-hip ratio of men and women were 0.92 ± 0.07 and 0.86 ± 0.06, respectively. Mean blood pressure observed was 128.8 ± 18.8 mmHg (systolic) and 78.2 ± 12.1 mmHg (diastolic). Mean blood glucose was reported to be 6.6 ± 3.2 mmol/L while the mean blood cholesterol was 5.2 ± 1.0 mmol/L. Overall energy intake was 2705 ± 603 kcal with the contribution of 53.4% carbohydrate, 13.5% protein and 32.5% fat to overall energy intake. The nutrients that did not achieve Malaysia’s Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) were calcium (73.1%), thiamine (70.5%), folate (25.0%) and vitamin A (19.6%). The mean physical activity of subjects was 6739.8 ± 8135.6 MET-min/week (high physical activity). In conclusion, the adults living in low-cost housing have unsatisfactory nutritional status yet they have good physical activity level which might be contributed by their occupation.

Salud ambiental infantil en el contexto de la reubicación de familias de campamentos a viviendas sociales / Child health environment in the context of relocating of camp site families to social housing

Introducción: Intervenciones habitacionales destinadas a superar la pobreza pueden generar cambios en la situación de salud de la población infantil, modificando factores de riesgo en el entorno físico y social de niños y niñas. El objetivo fue identificar indicadores de salud ambiental infantil susceptibles de ser modificados con la reubicación de familias desde campamentos a vivienda social. Sujetos y método: Estudio transversal en niños de 2-8 años. Se comparó dos grupos de familias provenientes de campamentos. Un grupo fueron familias reubicadas en viviendas sociales entre 2001 y 2002 (n = 115). El otro grupo corresponde a niños cuyas familias permanecieron en campamentos (n = 88) de la zona poniente de Santiago. Se recolectó información sobre: características socioeconómicas, ambiente intradomiciliario y de barrios, y eventos en salud: síntomas respiratorios, accidentabilidad y cuidado materno infantil. Se emplearon pruebas de x², Fisher y Mann-Whitney para la comparación de los grupos. Resultados: Se identifican diferencias entre los grupos comparados en relación a la tenencia de mascotas, presencia de hongos/humedad en el hogar, tipo de combustibles utilizados y problemas de seguridad percibidos en los barrios (p<0,05). Las familias de campamentos reportan una mayor tenencia de mascotas (73,8% v/s 32,2%%), presencia de huellas de humedad/hongos en el hogar (43,2% v/s 18,3%), uso de leña (39,8% v/s 0,0%), en comparación con familias de viviendas sociales. Residentes de viviendas sociales perciben mayores problemas de seguridad en el barrio, mientras que los niños presentan mayor frecuencia de síntomas relacionados con asma y menor diversidad de accidentes en el hogar comparado con el grupo residente en campamentos. Conclusiones: Entre los factores estudiados, aquellos susceptibles de ser modificados con la reubicación de familias desde campamentos a vivienda social se vinculan a indicadores de calidad del aire interior y seguridad en los barrios. Lo anterior refuerza la necesidad de profundizar en las influencias positivas y negativas de la movilidad residencial de estos grupos, desde una perspectiva centrada en el bienestar infantil.

Introduction: Housing interventions aimed at overcoming poverty can lead to changes in the health status of children by modifying risk factors in their physical and social environment Objective: the aim was to identify children's environmental health factors to change with the relocation of families from slums to public housing. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in children ages 2-8 years old of families relocated to public housing (n=115) who were compared to children residing in slums (n=88) in Santiago, Chile. Family socioeconomic characteristics, indoor environment and neighborhoods were collected. It was included respiratory symptoms, accidents and maternal-child care of children. x², Fisher and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare groups. Results: There were differences in households related to pets keeping, presence of humidity/molds in homes, types of fuels, and perceived safety problems in neighborhoods (p<0.05). The families from slums reported higher tenancy of pets (73.8% v/s 32.2%%), humidity/molds in homes (43.,2% v/s 18.3%), use of wood for heating (39.8% v/s 0.0%), compared with families of public housing. Residents of public housing perceived more safety problems in neighborhood, and children have more asthma related symptoms and have lower diversity of accidents in home. Conclusion: Among the factors studied, indoor air quality and safety in neighborhoods could be linked to changes from the relocation of families. This reinforces the need to deepen the positive and negative influences of residential mobility of these groups focused on child welfare perspective.

Condição de saúde bucal, comportamentos, autopercepção e impactos associados em estudantes universitários moradores de residências estudantis / Oral health status, behaviours, self-perception and associated impacts among university students living in student residences

Introdução: Na perspectiva dos projetos de Universidade Saudável, uma estratégia importante é a avaliação da condição de saúde dos estudantes universitários. No Brasil, um dos grupos vulneráveis é o que reside em moradias estudantis institucionais. Objetivo: Este estudo transversal investiga a condição de saúde bucal, os comportamentos, a autopercepção e os impactos associados em moradores de residências estudantis em uma universidade pública. Material e método: A amostra foi constituída de 68 residentes das quatro Casas de Estudantes Universitários da Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), em Goiânia. Os dados foram coletados por meio de exame clínico bucal e entrevista. Resultado: A condição bucal mais prevalente foi a cárie, sendo que 74,6% dos estudantes necessitavam de tratamento para essa condição. A pior condição periodontal observada foi a presença de cálculo (50,8%). A maioria dos estudantes informou que escovava os dentes três vezes ao dia, usava fio dental e necessitava de tratamento odontológico. Dor de dente nos seis meses anteriores à pesquisa foi relatada por 33,8% da amostra; sangramento gengival ao escovar, por 41,2%, e 19,1% afirmaram procurar o serviço odontológico da universidade. O relato de consumo de açúcares entre as refeições foi muito alto e quase 18% fumavam. Mais da metade dos estudantes (51,4%) relatou estar indiferente ou insatisfeita em relação à sua boca e aos seus dentes. O maior impacto da condição bucal foi a dificuldade para comer ou beber, e 19,1% relataram ter faltado à aula em razão de problemas bucais. Conclusão: Os estudantes apresentaram alto percentual de necessidades de tratamento para cárie, bons hábitos de higiene bucal e autopercepção da sua saúde bucal com características negativas.

Introduction: In regard to Healthy University projects, an important strategy is the assessment of university students? health status. In Brazil, a vulnerable group is the one living in university student residences. Objective: This descriptive cross-sectional study aims to investigate the oral health status, behaviors, self-perception and its associated impacts among public university students living in student residences. Material and method: The study population consisted of 68 students who live in four university residences from the Federal University of Goiás in the city of Goiânia. Data were collected through oral clinical examination and interviews. Result: The most prevalent buccal condition was dental caries, and 74.6% of the students had treatment needs for this condition. The worst periodontal condition observed was dental calculus (50.8%). Most of the students reported that they brush their teeth three times a day, use dental floss and need for dental treatment. Dental pain in the last six months was reported by 33.8%, gingival bleeding by 41.2%, and 19.1% had sought the university dental service for treatment. Sugar consumption between meals was very high and almost 18% were smokers. More than half of the students (51.4%) reported being indifferent or dissatisfied with their mouth and teeth. The greatest oral health impact was difficulty for eating or drinking, and 19.1% reported to have missed classes due to oral disorders. Conclusion: Students presented high percentage of treatment needs for caries, good oral hygiene habits, and negative self-perception of their oral health condition.