South American Countries (south + american_country)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Immigration and femininity in Southern Europe: A gender-based psychosocial analysis

JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
J. M. González-González
Abstract Despite the growing presence of female immigrants in Western countries, research on the subject highlights two important biases that hinder appropriate explanation of the migratory phenomenon and hence prevent adequate intervention. First, most of the research studies conducted so far focus on male migration; second, the macro-social perspective has prevailed in these areas of study since socio-economic and political aspects have taken centre stage in analyses on migratory phenomena, From a gender-based psychosocial perspective, this study addresses the migration project of 53 women from different South American countries, the Maghreb region and Eastern Europe now living in Southern Spain. For this purpose we conducted 23 in-depth interviews, and staged six discussion groups with the aim of elucidating to what extent gender-based psychosocial beliefs,stereotypes, ideology and identity,determine women's migration process. Our results suggest that the main stages in the process,deciding to emigrate, itinerary for social and labour integration in the host country, and general assessment of the migration experience,are strongly influenced by psychosociological constructs which arise as a result of female gender-typing or female profile. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Survey of laxative use by adults with self-defined constipation in South America and Asia: a comparison of six countries

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2 2010
A. WALD
Summary Background, In contrast to the US and Europe, prevalence and laxative use for self-defined constipation among adults was previously reported to be unassociated with age among adults in South Korea and Brazil. Aim, To determine whether observations in South Korea and Brazil are reflective of other Asian and South American countries. Methods, A total of 8100 adults from Argentina, Colombia, Indonesia and China completed a questionnaire identical to that previously used in South Korea and Brazil. Results, Prevalence of constipation was similar to that reported for Brazil and South Korea and was 2.17-fold (95% CI: 1.71,2.64) higher amongst women than amongst men. Prevalence increased with age amongst all adults in Argentina and China and only among men in Colombia and Brazil. With the exception of Indonesia, the majority of those with constipation had symptoms at least once weekly, and for ,3 years. Less than one-third of adults reported using laxatives to treat constipation. Laxative use was not associated with gender and increased with age in Argentina and Colombia. Conclusions, No clear geographical or cultural tendencies were observed in the prevalence of constipation and laxative use among the South American and Asian countries studied in this survey. Aliment Pharmacol Ther,31, 274,284 [source]


Institutional Change and Ethnic Parties in South America

LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS AND SOCIETY, Issue 2 2003
Donna Lee Van Cott
ABSTRACT The central question of this article is why indigenous social movements formed electorally viable political parties in Latin America in the 1990s. This development represents a new phenomenon in Latin America, where ethnic parties have been both rare and unpopular among voters. Institutional reforms in six South American countries are examined to see if the creation and success of these parties can be correlated with changes in electoral systems, political party registration requirements, or the administrative structure of the state. The study concludes that institutional change is likely to be a necessary but not sufficient condition for the emergence and electoral viability of ethnic parties. [source]


Self-Prescription Practices in Recent Latino Immigrants

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 3 2008
Maren J. Coffman
ABSTRACT Objective: Self-prescription involves the purchase and use of restricted medications without medical advice. Although common in Central and South American countries, little is known about this practice among Latino immigrants in the United States. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to explore how Latino immigrants obtain and use prescription medications without accessing the formal health care system. Design: This exploratory descriptive study used focus groups to gain an understanding of the use of prescription medications without medical care. Sample: Three focus group discussions were held with 19 adult Latino immigrants who were new residents in the United States, and did not have health insurance; most were undocumented. Results: Analysis of the data revealed 4 major themes: (a) health care barriers, (b) cultural norms, (c) self-care, and (d) self-prescription. Conclusions: The data indicate that this population experiences significant barriers to accessing health care, forcing them to seek treatment alternatives including the purchase and use of drugs manufactured in Mexico. There are many public health and safety concerns related to self-prescription practices. Nurses need to be aware of the barriers to health care that lead to these potentially dangerous medication practices, and to recognize and understand self-prescription. [source]


Historical aspects, current status and prospects of pejerrey aquaculture in South America

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 7 2008
Gustavo M Somoza
Abstract The pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis (Valenciennes, 1835) is an inland water fish from the Pampas region comprising part of Argentina, Uruguay and the South of Brazil. Pejerrey is a very popular fish in this region and has a long history of domestic and international introductions, which attests to the high quality and market value of its flesh, as well as its attractiveness as a game fish. The desirable characteristics of pejerrey also make it a good candidate for aquaculture, and the first trials on pejerrey cultivation (atheriniculture) were started more than a century ago in Argentina. In spite of the considerable interest in its development, little progress has been made and atheriniculture is still restricted to propagation and stocking for sport fishing purposes. In this review, we summarize the history of atheriniculture and the biological, technological, scientific, cultural and infrastructural constraints to pejerrey aquaculture development thus far. We also suggest possible scenarios of pejerrey aquaculture development compatible with the socio,economic conditions of South American countries. Our projections also take into consideration recent scientific findings on the biology of pejerrey and technological advances in seafood processing, storage and transportation, as well as the latest trends of seafood consumption and international markets. The best production strategy remains to be determined by trial and error but it is likely that, initially, production should focus on a differentiated, high-quality fish for the premium or international markets rather than attempting to compete with the cheap fish from natural sources. An international cooperation project with Japan has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of breeding pejerrey in captivity and mass producing seeds efficiently in Argentina, and has provided the foundation for the development of intensive and extensive farming of this species. [source]


Environmental modulation of reproductive activity of the invasive mussel Limnoperna fortunei: implications for antifouling strategies

AUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 7 2009
DEMETRIO BOLTOVSKOY
Abstract Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) (Bivalvia) invaded Argentina through the Río de la Plata estuary around 1990 and is presently established throughout five South American countries as a dominant component of the benthic fauna and a major nuisance for industry and power plants. Between 1997 and 2006 we monitored the reproductive activity of L. fortunei through weekly measurements of planktonic larvae in six South American water bodies: Río de la Plata estuary, Paraná and Carapachay rivers, Salto Grande, Itaipú and Embalse de Río Tercero reservoirs. Mean larval densities varied between 4000 and 7000 individuals m,3; except in the reservoirs of Itaipú (450 ind. m,3) and Salto Grande (869 ind. m,3), where the mussel was first recorded shortly before our surveys, and upstream dispersal is limited (Salto Grande). In all cases, reproductive output decreases during the winter. At four of the six sites surveyed larval densities were comparatively high for 8.8,10.2 months per year. A lower food supply is possibly responsible for the shorter reproductive period of 5.9 months at Embalse. At Salto Grande, there is a well-defined mid-summer drop in larval numbers, coinciding with blooms of cyanobacteria. We propose that, in addition to temperature, two major factors may regulate the reproductive activity of L. fortunei: (i) the availability of food; and (ii) blooms of toxic cyanobacteria, significantly shortening the otherwise very long reproductive period. This information is important for the design of antifouling programmes involving the use of molluscicides, and has potential for reduced biocide use. These results provide supporting evidence for some fundamental ecological theories of invasions discussed here. [source]


Risk for gastroschisis in primigravidity, length of sexual cohabitation, and change in paternity

BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2007
Monica Rittler
Abstract BACKGROUND: Maternal epidemiologic similarities between gastroschisis and preeclampsia have led to the objective of evaluating the risk for gastroschisis related to primigravidity, change in paternity, and length of cohabitation, considered as risk factors for preeclampsia. METHODS: The subjects were 288 newborns with isolated gastroschisis and 576 normal controls, matched by maternal age. They were ascertained in the Estudio Colaborativo Latino Americano de Malformaciones Congenitas hospital network of 10 South American countries between 1982 and 2005. Epidemiologic variables were compared among controls, between primigravidas and multigravidas, between multigravidas who had and had not changed partners, and between mothers with short and long cohabitation times with their partners. Risks associated with primigravidity, short cohabitation time, and changing paternity, as well as their combinations, were calculated. An eventual interaction between maternal age and the three risk factors was assessed. RESULTS: Only a short cohabitation time showed a significant OR for gastroschisis (OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.52,3.66, p < .001), whereas ORs were not significant for primigravidity (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.84,2.35, p = .192) nor for changing paternity (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.49,3.10, p = .752). The risk was highest for multigravidas who had changed partners (OR = 8.71, 95% CI: 2.93,21.12, p < .001), followed by multigravidas who had not changed partners (OR = 3.99, 95% CI: 1.07,15.43, p = .049), and by primigravidas (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.58,5.76, p = .001), all having cohabitated for a short time. Maternal age did not modify these risks. CONCLUSIONS: Three groups at risk for a child with gastroschisis were identified, all having in common a short cohabitation time. Antigenic or "modern" lifestyle,related factors might be involved in the origin of gastroschisis. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]