Showing papers by "Pan American Health Organization published in 1987"
TL;DR: It is argued that sociocultural risk factors emerge in the modernization process as a result of social structural imbalances generated by economic development and represent independent risk factors for elevated arterial blood pressure.
Abstract: The relationship between individual modernization and elevated arterial blood pressure was examined in a study in urban Brazil. We hypothesized that elevated blood pressure would result from the discrepancy between an individual's style of life and his or her economic resources; specifically, we suggested that when modern life-style acquisition exceeded economic resources, a circumstance referred to as “life-style stress,” blood pressure would be elevated. This factor was related to diastolic, but not systolic, blood pressure, independently of a variety of biologic, dietary, and sociocultural confounding factors. The perceived change associated with life events also predicted diastolic, but not systolic, blood pressure. Other predictors of diastolic blood pressure were calcium intake, fat intake, race, age, and the body mass index. We argue that sociocultural risk factors emerge in the modernization process as a result of social structural imbalances generated by economic development and represent independent risk factors for elevated arterial blood pressure.
63 citations
TL;DR: The results are consistent with a model in which degree of community modernization, especially as it influences social class structure, is a boundary condition determining the relationship between the adoption of modern behaviors and health status.
53 citations
01 Jan 1987
TL;DR: The central question is this: Is environmentally induced stress a causal factor in the occurrence of episodes of major depression and of schizophrenic disorder?
Abstract: Our central question is this: Is environmentally induced stress a causal factor in the occurrence of episodes of major depression and of schizophrenic disorder? If so, what are the processes involved?
40 citations
TL;DR: Critical control points for milk formula were heating, holding after heating, cleaning and disinfecting bottles, nipples and pans used to store milk, and utensils used to dispense the milk.
32 citations
TL;DR: The results demonstrate that there is only a low correlation between maternal age and diastolic blood pressure, but no correlation was found with systolicBlood pressure; maternal weight gain correlates with blood pressure changes; and a significant correlation was observed between birth weight and average diastolics blood pressure during the third trimester.
27 citations
TL;DR: The reference period method, introduced to avoid the arbitrary rules and definitions required for an analysis based on the concept of a menstrual cycle, is discussed and its limitations presented.
Abstract: Patterns of vaginal bleeding are an important factor in the acceptability of contraceptive methods. The analysis of data obtained from daily menstrual diary records is a major methodological problem to which no satisfactory solution exists. This review describes approaches to the analysis of bleeding patterns among contracepting and non-contracepting women and reviews the difficulties involved. The reference period method, introduced to avoid the arbitrary rules and definitions required for an analysis based on the concept of a menstrual cycle, is discussed and its limitations presented. The review draws on reports of meetings convened by the World Health Organization and the University of Exeter Family Planning Unit to discuss issues in the analysis. Previously unpublished methods are summarized and areas of controversy and topics for further research are identified.
25 citations
TL;DR: The fetal cranial measurements were the only ones to demostrate a different pattern of evolution in symmetrical and asymmetrical small‐for‐dates, therefore a useful measurement in making a differential diagnosis between both retardations.
Abstract: Ninety-four high-risk pregnancies were studied weekly in a prospective and longitudinal study. Uterine height, biparietal diameter (BPD), cranial perimeter (CrP) and abdominal perimeter (AbP) were measured. Amniotic fluid volume (AFV) was assessed. Of the sample selected, 58 neonates were appropriate for gestational age and 36 were small-for-date (17 symmetrical and 19 asymmetrical). The sensitivity values in diagnosis of small-for-dates were: 67% for BPD, 42% for CrP, 94% for AbP, 56% for Uterine Height and 28% for AFV. The specificity for the five variables ranged from about 91% to 100%. If we consider symmetrical and asymmetrical retardation separately, the sensitivity values for the former were: 94%, 77%, 100%, 77% and 24% for BPD, CrP, AbP, Uterine Height and AFV respectively. For symmetrical retardation, the sensitivity values were: 43%, 11%, 90%, 37% and 32% for BPD, CrP, AbP, Uterine Height and AFV respectively. The fetal cranial measurements were the only ones to demonstrate a different pattern of evolution in symmetrical and asymmetrical small-for-dates. This is therefore a useful measurement in making a differential diagnosis between both retardations. The earliest diagnoses were made in the symmetrical small-for-date group.
21 citations
TL;DR: In Latin America and the Caribbean as discussed by the authors, a new emphasis on domestic production of technology over imports and the evaluation of medical technology for its appropriate use in the region has been proposed.
Abstract: Great variation exists in the health care delivery systems throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In general, medical technology is concentrated in large cities at private hospitals that serve a small, elite segment of the population. What is missing in most of these countries is a clearly defined social policy guaranteeing distribution of medical technology to all segments of society. While data is scarce, it appears that political and economic concerns, rather than medical concerns, determine what and how much technology will be available to all segments of the society. Products are sometimes imported that compete with domestically produced ones. Moreover, transfers of technology often fail to include the necessary knowledge to make imported technology truly useful. However, current economic crises throughout the region are forcing changes in policies; as a result, there is a new emphasis on domestic production of technology over imports and the evaluation of medical technology for its appropriate use in Latin America and the Caribbean.
21 citations
TL;DR: The need for reference material in Latin America similar to that of other parts of the world is highlighted in this article, where it is recommended that additional reference material being made available for vitamins in food, for polar and non-polar organic pesticides in vegetables, for organophosphorus pesticide and veterinary drugs in meat etc.
Abstract: Even if some Latin American countries still need to extend their capacity for food quality control, many do have good control laboratories and high quality research institutions. That makes the need for reference material in Latin America similar to that of other parts of the world. The region has special problems related to mail and shipment delays, and to the lack of information on available reference material. It is recommended that additional reference material being made available for vitamins in food, for polar and non-polar organophosphorus pesticides in vegetables, for organophosphorus pesticide and veterinary drugs in meat etc. Reference material should simulate real samples as closely as possible; reference samples for water should contain phthalates which in environmental samples interfere with organochlorines and reference material for organophosphates in vegetables should contain metabolites and degradation products. It is also recommended that commercial standards for trace metals should have the production date and the guaranteed stability printed on the label. Information on reference material should be included in the methods published by AOAC, AOCS and similar publications.
1 citations
TL;DR: The rapid advances made in the field of communications with the availability of microcomputers has provided a unique tool to accessing information to developing countries.