Fuentes de contaminación intradomiciliaria y enfermedad respiratoria en jardines infantiles y salas cunas de Temuco y Padre Las Casas, Chile / Association between indoor contamination and respiratory diseases in children living in Temuco and Padre Las Casas, Chile

Background: Indoor air pollution, is the main cause of population exposure to polluting agents. Aim: To establish an environmental profile of indoor contamination emission sources in families of children under 5years that assist to kindergartens in Temuco and Padre Las Casas. To associate respiratory disease episodes in children with indoor contamination. Material and methods: Cross sectional analysis of 355 family groups subjected to questionnaires about indoor contamination and number of respiratory disease episodes. Results: Forty six percent of mothers or caregivers smoked, 37 percent smoked at home and 93 percent smoked one to two cigarettes per day. There was a significant association between respiratory diseases in children and drying clothes in the kitchen, using firewood for heating and the presence of humidity in the dwelling. Mothers identified as indoor contaminants the use of braziers in 76 percent of cases and firewood stoves in 24 percent. Ninety seven percent considered that these appliances were detrimental for respiratory health. Conclusions: The lack of awareness about indoor contamination among subjects of low socioeconomic status, should prompt educational campaigns to modify behaviors in their dwellings.

Prevalencia de tabaquismo en enfermeras de la IX Región, Chile / Prevalence of smoking among nurses in the nineth region of Chile

Background: Smoking is noxious for health and is considered a public health priority. The prevalence of smoking is increasing, specially in women. Among nurses, its prevalence is 42.7 percent. Aim: To study the prevalence of smoking among Chilean nurses. Material and methods : A cross sectional analysis of the prevalence of smoking among 290 female nurses living in 9th Region of Chile. A nicotine addiction scale was applied to smokers. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 37.9 percent and the percentage of former smokers was 18.3 percent. Twenty percent of the sample was an occasional smoker. The starting age for the habit was between 17 and 20 years (49.4 percent). Twenty seven percent of nurses without children and 42 percent of those with children smoked. Having a couple or not, did not influence the smoking habit. Ninety percent of smokers had a very low addiction to nicotine. Conclusions : The prevalence of smoking obtained in a sample of nurses is similar to that obtained by former studies in other population samples in Chile