RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: As part of a national accelerated campaign to eliminate measles, we conducted a study, to define the epidemiology of measles in the Central Region. DESIGN: A descriptive survey was carried out on retrospective cases of measles. SETTING: Patients were drawn from the three district hospitals (Assin, Asikuma and Winneba Hospitals) with the highest number of reported cases in the region. SUBJECTS: Records of outpatient and inpatient measles patients attending the selected health facilities between 1996 and 2000. Data on reported measles cases in all health facilities in the three study, districts were also analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The distribution of measles cases in person (age and sex), time (weekly, or monthly, trends) and place (residence), the relative frequency, of cases, and the outcome of treatment. RESULTS: There was an overall decline in reported cases of measles between 1996 and 2000 both in absolute terms and relative to other diseases. Females constituted 48%-52% of the reported 1508 cases in the hospitals. The median age of patients was 36 months. Eleven percent of cases were aged under nine months; 66% under five years and 96% under 15 years. With some minor variations between districts, the highest and lowest transmission occurred in March and September respectively. Within hospitals, there were sporadic outbreaks with up to 34 weekly cases. CONCLUSION: In Ghana, children aged nine months to 14 years could be appropriately targeted for supplementary, measles immunization campaigns. The best period for the campaigns is during the low transmission months of August to October. Retrospective surveillance can expediently inform decisions about the timing and target age groups for such campaigns.
Asunto(s)
Sarampión/epidemiología , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Gráficos por Computador , Recolección de Datos , Femenino , Ghana/epidemiología , Hospitales de Distrito/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Sarampión/mortalidad , Sarampión/prevención & control , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
This article reports findings of a study on self-injury, childhood abuse, and self capacities that supports a theory for understanding and assisting self-injuring individuals in crisis. In the study, 233 adults from partial hospital settings and an outpatient clinic answered questions concerning self-injury, abuse history, and three self capacities (the ability to tolerate strong affect, the ability to maintain a sense of self-worth, and the ability to maintain a sense of connection to others). More than 60% reported childhood abuse. More than half reported self-injury. Individuals with a history of self-injury showed greater impairment of self capacities than individuals who did not report self-injury. Individuals with a history of childhood abuse showed greater impairment than did individuals who did not report childhood abuse. Greatest impairment was associated with both self-injury and abuse. Implications of the results are explored and the theory for assisting self-injuring individuals in crisis is presented.
Asunto(s)
Intervención en la Crisis (Psiquiatría) , Apego a Objetos , Autoimagen , Conducta Autodestructiva/prevención & control , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Niño , Maltrato a los Niños/psicología , Centros de Día , Femenino , Humanos , Control Interno-Externo , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Desarrollo de la Personalidad , Psicoterapia , Medición de Riesgo , Conducta Autodestructiva/psicologíaRESUMEN
A sample of 258 college students responded to three items in Likert-format designed by the authors to elicit information relating directly to the three criteria for body-dysmorphic disorder described in DSM-III-R (1987). 70% of the participants endorsed some agreement with an item regarding dissatisfaction with some aspect(s) of their bodies. 46% indicated some preoccupation with this aspect of their appearance, and 48% indicated some exaggeration of their perceived body image. Sex differences were significant on all three items. 28% of the sample endorsed all three of the items taken together. These results raise questions about the utility of a diagnosis which, as it is currently defined, could conceivably apply to a large percentage of the population and which disproportionately targets women.