| 221. |
- Caldera, Trinidad, et al.
(författare)
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Psychological impact of the hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua in a one-year perspective
- 2001
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Ingår i: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0933-7954 .- 1433-9285. ; 36:3, s. 108-114
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Whereas natural disasters more commonly occur in low-income countries, almost all studies on psychological consequences have been conducted in the Western world. In countries where resources are poor it is of importance to know which groups should be targeted for early intervention after a disaster. The study aims at assessing the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD and of post-traumatic symptoms among people afflicted by hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua and at identifying risk factors for PTSD symptoms 6 months following a disaster. METHOD: At four primary health care centres, 496 consecutive adult patients were interviewed 6 months after hurricane Mitch regarding PTSD symptoms (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, HTQ), disaster experiences and post-disaster help-seeking. RESULTS: All individuals resident in the area during Mitch were judged to have experienced a trauma fulfilling A criteria for PTSD. Regarding more specific traumas, 39% reported a close relative to be dead or seriously injured and 72% had their house partly or completely destroyed. Prevalence of PTSD ranged from 9.0% in the worst afflicted area to 4.5% in a less damaged area. From a dimensional perspective, PTSD symptoms according to HTQ 6 months after the disaster were significantly associated with the death of a relative (beta-coefficient 0.257, P = 0.000), a house destroyed (beta-coefficient 0.148, P = 0.001), female sex (beta-coefficient 0.139, P = 0.001), previous mental health problems (beta-coefficient 0.109, P = 0.009) and illiteracy (beta-coefficient 0.110, P = 0.009). Those with previous mental health problems (OR = 4.84; 95% CI = 3.04-7.66) were more likely than others to seek from help, any source whereas the opposite was true for illiterate people (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.21-0.69). Of all respondents, 8.5% reported that they had thought of taking their lives, and illiterates (OR 2.84; 95% CI = 1.12-4.37) and those with previous mental health problems (OR 2.84; 95% CI = 1.12-4.57) were at particular risk for suicidal problems. One year after Mitch, half of those identified as PTSD cases at 6 months still fulfilled the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. CONCLUSION: PTSD represents a serious mental health problem after a disaster. Those with illiteracy, females and those with previous mental health problems should be targets for early post-disaster intervention.
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| 222. |
- Corriols, Marvin, et al.
(författare)
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Aquifer investigations in the Leon-Chinandega plains, Nicaragua, using electromagnetic and electrical methods
- 2009
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Ingår i: Near Surface Geophysics. - 1873-0604. ; 7:5-6, s. 413-425
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Leon-Chinandega plains are located in the north-western part of Nicaragua and represent the most important groundwater reservoir of the country. The aquifer is comprised of three hydrogeological units. The top unit is an unconfined alluvial and below a more consolidated volcanic aquifer is found. These aquifers rest on an ignimbrite unit that acts as the basement of the aquifer. The plains are mainly used for agricultural purposes and most of the irrigation comes from upper aquifer wells (not deeper than 70 m) allocated within the shallow unconfined aquifer. Transient electromagnetic soundings (TEM) and continuous vertical electrical soundings (CVES) were carried out in order to obtain information regarding the geology of the study area. Two TEM profiles extending from the Pacific coast towards the volcanic chain were carried out with an approximate separation between soundings of 250 metres. A grid of TEM soundings was also performed in an area located between the towns of Posoltega and Quezalguaque. CVES were carried out in different areas of the plains in order to obtain detailed information on the geology and distribution of the shallow aquifer. This information was later correlated with information available from wells in the area. One of the objectives of this investigation was to test and evaluate the applicability of the TEMfast48 equipment in the study area. In the plains area the TEM method shows very good results where a general geophysical model of mostly a three-layered earth can be obtained. In the coastal areas the models are more irregular and complex. The results from the CVES generally agree with the TEM models but present more details, especially in areas of complex geology. The penetration depth for the TEM soundings reached almost 100 m at most, depending on the depth to a low resistivity layer. In some areas the depth to the basement was estimated with long-layout CVES. In general, it was possible to obtain consistent geoelectrical models of the area and the methods complement each other well. The geoelectrical models are an excellent addition to other investigation methods as they provide an overview of the aquifer system and can serve as a basis for refining the conceptual and numerical models of the aquifer system. This information is expected to become very valuable for the exploration, management and protection of the groundwater resources in the Leon-Chinandega plains to ensure sustainability of the resource.
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| 223. |
- Elming, Sten-åke, et al.
(författare)
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A palaeomagnetic study and age determinations of Tertiary rocks in Nicaragua, Central America
- 2001
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Ingår i: Geophysical Journal International. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0956-540X .- 1365-246X. ; 147:2, s. 294-309
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Palaeomagnetic, K-Ar and Ar40/Ar39 measurements have been made to elucidate Nicaragua's plate tectonic history. These show that the Nicaraguan Highland rotated 90° counterclockwise between 30 and 18 Myr ago, but the Pacific Coastal Plain has not rotated.A lack of data has prevented a direct comparison with the tectonic history of adjacent areas, in particular, the Chortis Block, which is the part of the Caribbean Plate that is geologically most closely related to the Nicaraguan Highland. However, our data suggest that the Caribbean Plate in this part of Central America was not consolidated until c. 15 Ma.
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| 224. |
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| 225. |
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| 226. |
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| 227. |
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| 228. |
- Picado, Francisco, et al.
(författare)
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Ecological, Groundwater, and Human Health Risk Assessment in a Mining Region of Nicaragua
- 2010
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Ingår i: Risk Analysis: an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis. - : Wiley. - 1539-6924. ; 30:6, s. 916-933
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Macroinvertebrates and fish in the contaminated river are faced with a higher risk to suffer from exposure to Hg than humans eating contaminated fish and bacteria living in the groundwater. The river sediment is the most hazardous source for the macroinvertebrates, and macroinvertebrates make up the highest risk for fish. The distribution of body concentrations of Hg in fish in the mining areas of the basin may exceed the distribution of endpoint values with close to 100% probability. Similarly, the Hg concentration in cord blood of humans feeding on fish from the river was predicted to exceed the BMDLs(0.1) with about 10% probability. Most of the risk to the groundwater quality is confined to the vicinity of the gold refining plants and along the river, with a probability of about 20% to exceed the guideline value.
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| 229. |
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| 230. |
- Obando Medina, Claudia, et al.
(författare)
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A qualitative study on primary health care professionals' perceptions of mental health, suicidal problems and help-seeking among young people in Nicaragua
- 2014
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Ingår i: BMC Family Practice. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2296. ; 15, s. 129-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Mental health problems among young peoples are a growing public health issue around the world. In low- income countries health systems are characterized by lack of facilities, human resources and primary health care is rarely an integrated part of overall health care services. This study aims at exploring how primary health care professionals in Nicaragua perceive young people's mental health problems, suicidal problems and help-seeking behaviour.METHODS: Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with nurses and doctors working in primary health care services in León, Nicaragua. A qualitative research design was applied. Data was analysed using thematic analysis approach.RESULTS: This study revealed that doctors and nurses were reluctant to deal with young people presenting with suicidal problems at the primary health care. This was more likely to stem from feelings of incompetence rather than from negative attitudes. Other barriers in providing appropriate care to young people with mental health problems were identified such as lack of time, lack of privacy, lack of human resources, lack of trained professionals and difficulties in communicating with young people. The primary health care (PHC) professionals suggested different solutions to improve care for young people with suicidal problems.CONCLUSION: PHC doctors and nurses in Nicaragua felt that providing skilled mental health services to young people was a priority for them but they also identified a number of barriers to be able to do so. They discussed ways to improve young people's willingness to share sensitive issues with them and suggested ways to make PHC more appreciated by young people.
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