A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Violence and child mental health in Brazil: The Itaborai Youth Study methods and findings
Authors: Bordin IA, Duarte CS, Ribeiro WS, Paula CS, Coutinho ESF, Sourander A, Ronning JA
Publisher: WILEY
Publication year: 2018
Journal: International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
Journal name in source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
Journal acronym: INT J METH PSYCH RES
Article number: ARTN e1605
Volume: 27
Issue: 2
Number of pages: 15
ISSN: 1049-8931
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1605
Abstract
ObjectivesTo demonstrate a study design that could be useful in low-resource and violent urban settings and to estimate the prevalence of child violence exposure (at home, community, and school) and child mental health problems in a low-income medium-size city.MethodsThe Itaborai Youth Study is a Norway-Brazil collaborative longitudinal study conducted in Itaborai city (n=1409, 6-15 year olds). A 3-stage probabilistic sampling plan (random selection of census units, eligible households, and target child) generated sampling weights that were used to obtain estimates of population prevalence rates.ResultsStudy strengths include previous pilot study and focus groups (testing procedures and comprehension of questionnaire items), longitudinal design (2 assessment periods with a mean interval of 12.9months), high response rate (>80%), use of standardized instruments, different informants (mother and adolescent), face-to-face interviews to avoid errors due to the high frequency of low-educated respondents, and information gathered on a variety of potential predictors and protective factors. Children and adolescents presented relevant levels of violence exposure and clinical mental health problems.ConclusionsPrevalence estimates are probably valid to other Brazilian low-income medium-size cities due to similarities in terms of precarious living conditions. Described study methods could be useful in other poor and violent world regions.
ObjectivesTo demonstrate a study design that could be useful in low-resource and violent urban settings and to estimate the prevalence of child violence exposure (at home, community, and school) and child mental health problems in a low-income medium-size city.MethodsThe Itaborai Youth Study is a Norway-Brazil collaborative longitudinal study conducted in Itaborai city (n=1409, 6-15 year olds). A 3-stage probabilistic sampling plan (random selection of census units, eligible households, and target child) generated sampling weights that were used to obtain estimates of population prevalence rates.ResultsStudy strengths include previous pilot study and focus groups (testing procedures and comprehension of questionnaire items), longitudinal design (2 assessment periods with a mean interval of 12.9months), high response rate (>80%), use of standardized instruments, different informants (mother and adolescent), face-to-face interviews to avoid errors due to the high frequency of low-educated respondents, and information gathered on a variety of potential predictors and protective factors. Children and adolescents presented relevant levels of violence exposure and clinical mental health problems.ConclusionsPrevalence estimates are probably valid to other Brazilian low-income medium-size cities due to similarities in terms of precarious living conditions. Described study methods could be useful in other poor and violent world regions.
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