Adolescent Body Weight Perception: Association With Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors.

To assess the prevalence of weight misperception in American adolescents and its association with diet and physical activity behaviors, Youth Risk Behavior Survey data were utilized for this study. Based on reported and perceived weight, adolescents in the study were grouped into four categories (true negative [52.4%] = normal body mass index [BMI]/accurate weight perception; false negative [11.3%] = high BMI/weight misperception; false positive [11.6%] = normal BMI/weight misperception; and true positive [24.8%] = high BMI/accurate weight perception). Diet and physical activity of adolescents were compared in these categories. A total of 12,016 participants were included in our analysis (74.9% aged 15-17 years, 54.5% Whites, 52% females). Almost a third (31.8%) were overweight and obese, and more than a fifth (22.9%) misperceived their weight (11.6% overestimated and 11.3% underestimated their weight). In a gender-stratified analysis, the odds of avoiding a healthy diet and physical inactivity were higher among those with body weight misperception.

Perceptions of adolescent 'simulated clients' on barriers to seeking contraceptive services in health centers and pharmacies in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To examine adolescent simulated clients' perceived barriers to quality care as they sought information on contraceptives in public-sector healthcare facilities and pharmacies in Mexico. STUDY DESIGN: We used a qualitative research design and conducted semi-structured interviews with eight young women who posed as simulated clients at health centers and pharmacies in Mexico City. Grounded Theory was used to analyze the transcripts. RESULTS: Barriers to receiving information about contraceptives included healthcare professionals who gave administrative pretexts to avoid providing services. Simulated clients also felt judged by healthcare professionals and reported a lack of simple, understandable and pertinent information. Healthcare professionals did not ensure clients understood and had no further questions about using contraceptives, which resulted in clients' poor perceived self-efficacy, as well as a lack of confidence in the healthcare system to help them. CONCLUSIONS: When healthcare professionals fail to provide services according to the World Health Organization's five basic criteria of adolescent friendly care, adolescents perceive important barriers in their access to contraceptive methods. Quality of sexual health care in Mexico would benefit from efforts to improve healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes and skills related to adolescent friendly service delivery.

Detection and care practices for postpartum depressive symptoms in public-sector obstetric units in Mexico: Qualitative results from a resource-constrained setting.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is amenable to detection and treatment, but effectively addressing it is contingent on policies, practices, and health care providers working together to address the issue. The aim of this study is to describe a sample of health care providers' existing practices in public-sector obstetric units in Mexico related to detecting and offering care to women with depressive symptomology. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 40 health care providers (16 physicians, 13 nurses, three social workers, and eight psychologists) from one tertiary-level and two secondary-level, public-sector obstetric units, were conducted by members of a trained research team from May to July 2012. Qualitative data were analyzed in Spanish according to Grounded Theory, using Nvivo 10 software. RESULTS: Lack of hospital guidelines, training, and time constraints are reasons given for not detecting PPD symptoms among women. Providers reported that their role is cursory and limited to giving women anticipatory guidance for what to expect emotionally after childbirth or providing a trusting atmosphere for women to express their feelings. Care is fragmented and inadequate, in part because of the lack of protocols that define who makes mental health referrals and where. Providers indicated PPD is important but not prioritized in health care for pregnant and postpartum women. CONCLUSION: Critical needs in obstetric units include formal mental health care detection and care protocols during the perinatal period, strategies to address mental health needs despite short hospital stays, and training for providers on how to implement detection and care protocols and strategies.