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OBJECTIVE: To assess factors associated with depression symptoms in high school students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving high school students was conducted in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, 2001. A total of 724 students aged 14-18 years answered questionnaires on life and health conditions. Another questionnaire was applied to working (44.8 percent) and unemployed (22.9 percent) students to collect information on working conditions. Factors associated to depressive disorders were analyzed using multiple logistic regression controlled for occupational status. RESULTS: Overall prevalence rate of depression was 7.5 percent. Rates according to gender were 39 (10.3 percent) in females and 15 (4.3 percent) in males. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that factors associated with depressive disorders were: poor self-perception of health (OR=5.78), being female (OR = 2.45), and alcohol consumption (OR=2.35). CONCLUSIONS: The study results showed that sociodemographic, lifestyle and health variables were associated with symptoms of depression in this population. These ndings suggest that it is important to have mental health professionals available in high schools for early detection of mental conditions and student counseling.

OBJETIVO: Investigar os fatores associados a sintomas depressivos em estudantes do ensino médio. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo transversal com estudantes residentes no Município de São Paulo, Brasil, em 2001. O total de 724 estudantes com idades entre 14 e 18 anos preencheram questionários de condições de vida e saúde. Dentre eles, os estudantes trabalhadores (44,8 por cento) e desempregados (22,9 por cento) também responderam a um outro questionário de condições de trabalho. A regressão logística foi utilizada para determinar os fatores associados para apresentar distúrbios depressivos, utilizando-se a "situação ocupacional" para ajustar o modelo. RESULTADOS: A prevalência dos sintomas depressivos na população estudada foi de 7,5 por cento; as taxas de acordo com o sexo foram de 39 (10,3 por cento) e 15 (4,3 por cento) nos adolescentes dos sexos feminino e masculino, respectivamente. A regressão logística mostrou que os fatores associados aos distúrbios depressivos são: baixo escore na auto-avaliação da saúde (OR=5,78), ser do sexo feminino (OR=2,45) e consumo de bebidas alcoólicas (OR=2,35). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados mostraram que variáveis sociodemográficas, de estilo de vida e de saúde estavam associadas aos distúrbios depressivos. Esses achados sugerem a importância de que profissionais de saúde mental em escolas de ensino médio efetuem rastreio para reconhecer precocemente problemas mentais e fornecer aconselhamento aos estudantes.

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OBJECTIVE: To assess factors associated with depression symptoms in high school students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving high school students was conducted in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, 2001. A total of 724 students aged 14-18 years answered questionnaires on life and health conditions. Another questionnaire was applied to working (44.8%) and unemployed (22.9%) students to collect information on working conditions. Factors associated to depressive disorders were analyzed using multiple logistic regression controlled for occupational status. RESULTS: Overall prevalence rate of depression was 7.5%. Rates according to gender were 39 (10.3%) in females and 15 (4.3%) in males. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that factors associated with depressive disorders were: poor self-perception of health (OR=5.78), being female (OR = 2.45), and alcohol consumption (OR=2.35). CONCLUSIONS: The study results showed that sociodemographic, lifestyle and health variables were associated with symptoms of depression in this population. These findings suggest that it is important to have mental health professionals available in high schools for early detection of mental conditions and student counseling.

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Populations of Mexican descent have high occurrences of neural tube defects (NTDs). A recent study suggested that folic acid supplements may not protect these populations from NTDs. In a case-control study, the authors investigated the role of folic acid and dietary folate intake in NTD risk among Mexican Americans living along the Texas-Mexico border. From January 1995 to February 1999, 148 Mexican-American women with NTD-affected pregnancies and 158 women with normal live births were interviewed in person about use of vitamin supplements and dietary intakes during a 6-month periconceptional period (from 3 months before conception to 3 months after conception). Daily preconceptional consumption of vitamin supplements containing folic acid was 2.5% in control women and 2.0% in case women (odds ratio = 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19, 3.22). With adjustment for maternal age, education, obesity, and previous stillbirth or miscarriage, the risk estimate was essentially null (odds ratio = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.22, 5.78). Combined folic acid intake from diet and supplements showed only a modest risk reduction for intakes of > or = 1.0 mg per day (adjusted odds ratio = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.31, 1.72). The fact that the primary folic acid exposure was in the form of dietary polyglutamates rather than the more easily absorbed supplemental monoglutamates may explain an apparent decreased effect in this population.

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