| 1. |
- Schmeer, Kammi K., et al.
(författare)
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Maternal resources and household food security : evidence from Nicaragua
- 2015
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Ingår i: Public Health Nutrition. - 1368-9800 .- 1475-2727. ; 18:16, s. 2915-2924
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Women (especially mothers) are theorized as critical to reducing household food insecurity through their work and caregiver roles. The present study tests these assumptions, assessing how maternal economic and social resources are associated with food insecurity in households with young children. Design: Data from a population-based sample of households was collected in Leon, Nicaragua (n 443). Data include a newly validated measure of household food insecurity (ELCSA), maternal resource measures, and household economic status and demographics. Regression analysis tests the statistical associations (P<0.05) of maternal resources with household, adult-specific and child-specific food insecurity. Setting: Municipality of Leon, Nicaragua. Subjects: Households with children aged 3-11 years in rural and urban Leon. Results: Only 25 % of households with young children were food secure, with 50 % mildly food insecure and 25 % moderately/severely food insecure. When mothers contributed substantially to household income, the odds of moderate/severe household food insecurity were 34 % lower than when their spouse/partner was the main provider. The odds of food insecurity were 60 % lower when mothers managed household money, 48 % lower when mothers had a secondary (v. primary) education, 65 % higher among single mothers and 16 % lower with each indicator of social support. Results were similar for adult-and child-specific food insecurity. Conclusions: This research provides new evidence that maternal economic and social resources are important for reducing household food insecurity and adult- and child-specific food insecurity. Women's social status, social support and access to economic resources need to be enhanced as a part of policies aimed to reduce food insecurity in high-poverty settings.
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| 2. |
- Caldera, Trinidad, et al.
(författare)
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Parasuicide in a low income country : results from a three year hospital surveillance in Nicaragua.
- 2004
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 32:5, s. 349-355
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: A study was undertaken to assess the incidence of parasuicide in Nicaragua, to identify groups at risk, and to describe the characteristics of parasuicides, such as methods used and seasonal and diurnal patterns. Method: All hospital-admitted parasuicide cases in the area of León, Nicaragua, were assessed over a three-year period using standardized instruments. Results: Two hundred and thirty-three parasuicide cases were identified in the catchment area giving a parasuicide rate of 66.3/100,000 inhabitants per year based on the population 10 years and older. Corresponding figure for 15 years and older was 71.3. A majority were females (68.8%), who were significantly younger than the males (mean 20.8 years vs. mean 24.6 years). The highest rates were found in the age group 15 - 19 years with a female rate three times higher than the male rate (302.9 vs. 98.9). Pesticides, a highly lethal substance, were used as method in 19.1% of the attempts. Consistent seasonal variation with peaks in May - June and September - October were found over the years. Among parasuicide cases, 46.5% had been in contact with the healthcare system within 6 months before attempting suicide. Conclusions: Parasuicides represent a significant health problem among young people in Nicaragua. Preventive efforts should be directed especially towards the life situation for young girls, limitation of availability of suicide means, increased awareness in schools concerning suicidal problems, as well as improved management of patients with mental health problems within primary healthcare.
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| 3. |
- Herrera Rodríguez, Andrés, 1966-
(författare)
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Heaven can wait : studies on suicidal behaviour among young people in Nicaragua
- 2006
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In developed countries, suicidal behaviour is recognised as a significant public health problem among young people, but there are few studies from developing countries on this subject. The present thesis aims at estimating the extent of the problem and at exploring factors related to suicidal behaviour among young people in a developing country, Nicaragua, using a combined quantitative and qualitative approach. Three studies were conducted between 1999 and 2006. In the first study, all hospital admitted suicide attempt cases in the area of León were assessed over a three year period. Secondly, a qualitative study using individual in-depth interviews was conducted with eight girls aged between 12 and 19 admitted to hospital after attempting suicide. Thirdly, a study using the Attitudes Towards Suicides (ATTS) questionnaire was conducted in a community based sample of 278 young people aged 15-24 years to assess own suicidal behaviours, attitudes towards suicide as well as exposure to suicidal behaviour among significant others. The hospital surveillance showed that suicide attempt rates were highest among females in the age group 15-19 years with a female rate three times that of males (302.9 versus 98.9 per 100,000 inhabits per year). Drug intoxication and pesticides were the most commonly used methods for the attempts. A consistent seasonal variation with peaks in May-June and September-October was found in each of the three years, possibly related to exam periods in schools. Findings in the qualitative approach led to a tentative model for pathways to suicidal behaviour based on four main categories: Structuring conditions, triggering events, emotions and action taken. Dysfunctional families, lack of confidential and trustworthy contacts and interpersonal conflicts followed by emotions of shame and anger were some important components in the model. The community studies showed that suicidal expressions (life-weariness, death wishes, suicidal ideation, suicide plans and suicide attempts) were common among young people where more than 44.8% of males and 47.4% of females reported some kind of suicidal expression. Gender differences were small. Exposure to suicidal behaviour among others was associated with higher levels of self-reported suicidal behaviour. The attitude study showed that boys had less pro-preventive attitudes than girls, possibly indicating their higher risk for completed suicide. Exposure to suicidal behaviour and own suicidal behaviour showed an association with specific patterns of attitudes. The findings should be taken into consideration when planning for prevention of suicidal behaviour among young people in a developing country like Nicaragua.
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| 4. |
- Herrera Rodríguez, Andrés, et al.
(författare)
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Pathways to suicidal behaviour among adolescent girls in Nicaragua
- 2006
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Ingår i: Social Science and Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0277-9536 .- 1873-5347. ; 62:4, s. 805-814
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adolescent girls are the most frequent suicide attempters worldwide. However, there is little knowledge about pathways leading to suicidal behaviour among young people, in particular in low-income countries. This study explores the motives and processes related to suicidal behaviour among young girls in Nicaragua. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with eight girls aged between 12 and 19 admitted to hospital after attempting suicide. The audio-taped interviews lasted 2–4 h and were transcribed, translated into English and coded for content. Grounded theory and content analysis were used to construct a theory of the mechanisms behind their suicidal behaviour. A tentative model exploring pathways to suicidal behaviour is described with four main categories: structuring conditions, triggering events, emotions and actions taken. The model illustrates the dialectic interplay between structure and actions taken. Actions taken were categorized as problem solving or various forms of escape where failure with either of these strategies resulted in a suicide attempt. Dysfunctional families, absent fathers and lack of integration into society were some of the structuring conditions that lead to emotional distress. Abuse, deaths in the family, break-up with boyfriends or suicide among friends acted as triggering events. A striking finding was the obvious narrative competence of the girls. Our findings indicate that suicide prevention programmes for young people must offer support from professionals, independent of their family and social networks. Institutions in the community in contact with young people with suicidal behaviour must develop communicative skills to offer a trusting environment mobilising the resources that young people have.
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| 5. |
- Obando Medina, Claudia, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Suicidal expression in adolescents in Nicaragua in relation to youth self-report (YSR) syndromes and exposure to suicide
- 2011
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Ingår i: Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health. - : Bentham Open. - 1745-0179. ; 7, s. 89-96
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Suicide and suicidal expressions among young people represent a major public health problem worldwide. Most studies are from high-income countries, and it remains unclear whether prevalence and risk factors show a similar pattern in other settings. This study aims to assess the prevalence of suicidal expressions and serious suicidal expressions (ideation, plans and attempts) among adolescents in Nicaragua, in relation to previously reported risk factors, such as exposure to suicide in significant others (parents, siblings, partners or friends) and mental health problems.Methods: 368 adolescents aged 15-18 years were randomly selected from public secondary schools in León, Nicaragua. Data was collected using Attitude Towards Suicide (ATTS) and Youth Self-Report questionnaires (YSR). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted.Results: Suicide ideation prevalence in the past year was 22.6%, suicide plans 10.3%, and suicide attempts 6.5%. Girls were significantly more likely to report suicidal ideation. Multivariate analyses showed that anxious/depressed, somatic complaints and exposure to suicidal behavior in significant others were significantly associated with own serious suicidal expressions.Conclusions: The prevalence of serious suicidal expressions among young people in Nicaragua is within the range reported from Western high-income countries. An attempted or completed suicide in someone close, is associated with own suicidal expressions even in the absence of increased mental distress. Furthermore, somatic complaints should alert healthcare professionals of the possibility of increased suicide risk.
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| 6. |
- Obando Medina, Claudia, et al.
(författare)
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I keep my problems to myself : pathways to suicide attempts in Nicaraguan young men
- 2011
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Ingår i: Suicidology Online. - 2078-5488. ; 2, s. 17-28
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This qualitative study is an attempt to understand the pathways leading to attempted suicide of young men in León, Nicaragua. Our research is based on in-depth interviews with twelve young men between the ages of 15 and 24 who had recently attempted to take their own life. The analysis is based on a grounded theory approach. The young men who participated in this study had a broadly similar background, insofar as they all came from broken families and had dropped out from school at an early age. They also all faced similar problems, such as unemployment and alcohol abuse. On this basis a model describing the pathways leading to the suicide attempts was constructed based on the informants’ experiences. In all cases the decision to attempt suicide was found to be an expression of frustration with the present conditions of life. Combined with this was the traumatic influence of a troubled childhood within an unloving, unstable family. Attention has been paid to the ambivalent and antagonistic relationships that the informants experienced within their own families from childhood onwards, and the subsequent inability to establish any meaningful relationships in later life. This study aims to increase our understanding of the complexity of suicidal behaviours in order to help develop genderspecific prevention strategies.
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| 7. |
- Dahlblom, Kjerstin, et al.
(författare)
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Home alone : children as caretakers in León, Nicaragua
- 2009
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Ingår i: Children and society. - : Wiley. - 0951-0605 .- 1099-0860. ; 23:1, s. 43-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article seeks to explore and understand the life situations of sibling caretakers in poor areas in León, Nicaragua. The every day lives for caretakers were studied through observations and interviews with children, informants and parents. The children themselves were satisfied and proud to be trusted as caretakers and felt useful in contributing to their families' livelihood. However, in a life course perspective the caretaking role implies a narrowing of life options. Early on they seem to acquire essential life skills but as they grow older many are at risk of falling behind due to their marginalised situation and lack of basic education.
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