Ana Amélia Freitas-Vilela

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition associated with significant challenges in daily functioning and well‐being. Caregivers often experience substantial psychological and physical burden. However, comprehensive synthesis of quality of life (QoL) outcomes for both individuals with ASD and their caregivers remains limited. This study evaluated QoL in individuals with ASD and their caregivers and examined key psychological, social, and economic determinants. A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024538872). PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, and preprint repositories were searched for studies published between January 2013 and July 2025. Eligible studies assessed QoL using validated instruments in individuals with ASD aged ≤ 19 years and/or their caregivers. Random‐effects meta‐analysis was used to estimate pooled mean differences. Of 14,368 records identified, 216 studies were included. Quantitative meta‐analyses included up to 173 studies, depending on the outcome and availability of comparable data. Individuals with ASD scored 21.7 points lower than peers (95% CI: −26.9 to −16.5; p < 0.0001). Caregivers scored 13.64 points lower than controls (95% CI: −19.21 to −8.06; p < 0.0001). Emotional and social domains were most affected. Higher Human Development Index was associated with better QoL. QoL is markedly reduced in individuals with ASD and their caregivers, underscoring the need for multidimensional and equitable interventions.

Introduction: Social isolation affected the mental health of the population in an extensive way and led to changes in eating habits, causing people to reduce their consumption of healthy foods and increase their intake of unhealthy foods. Objective: To evaluate the association between the consumption of unprocessed/minimally processed foods and anxiety symptoms among members of a Brazilian academic community. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving individuals of a Brazilian public university, by way of online. The academic community was composed of university students, professors, and administrative technicians in education. Only subjects aged 18 or above were included. Unprocessed/minimally processed foods were evaluated through a questionnaire, based on Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian population that evaluated the type of processing used in food production to which each food item. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory for a general population. The following variables were included as covariates: age, sex, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, academic role, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Descriptive analyses were performed to characterize the population, and linear regression models were evaluated to verify the association between unprocessed/minimally processed foods and anxiety symptom scores. Results: A total of 195 subjects filled out the online questionnaire. The means (standard deviations) were as follows: anxiety symptoms 49.57 (8.55); age 28.46 (10.40) years; unprocessed/minimally processed foods daily consumption 0.87 (0.24) times a day; and BMI 25.44 (5.49) Kg/m2. Most of the academic community was female (72.68%), did not practice physical activity (59.79%), did not smoke (91.75%), consumed alcohol (51.55%), and were students (71.13%). In the multivariate linear regression, after adjusting for potential confounders variables, higher daily consumption of unprocessed/ minimally processed foods was associated with lower anxiety symptoms during social isolation due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (ß = −6.69; 95% Confidence Interval = −11.73; −1.66; p-value = 0.009). Conclusion: The consumption of unprocessed/minimally processed foods reduced anxiety symptoms in individuals of the academic community at the university studied.

Introduction: Social support is an essential factor for health-related behavior, including eating habits. Little is known about whether social support could promote healthier eating habits during pregnancy.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between psychological and physical interpersonal violence (IV) and healthy and unhealthy dietary markers of food consumption among Brazilian adults. The study utilized data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey, which included a representative sample of 88,531 residents 18 years or older. The exposures encompassed psychological and physical IV within the 12 months preceding the interview. The outcomes focused on regular consumption (≥ 5 times/week) of healthy dietary markers and unhealthy dietary markers. Multinomial logistic regression models were employed to analyze the interest relationship, considering the complex sample design. The findings revealed that male victims of psychological and physical IV had lower consumption of healthy dietary markers. Additionally, both men and women victims of psychological violence had a higher consumption of unhealthy foods. Women who reported physical violence and men who had physical violence inflicted by others were also more likely to report regular consumption of unhealthy foods. The results underscore the potential role of IV victimization as a risk factor for inadequate consumption. Further research is needed to ascertain whether similar associations occur in other populations and contexts.

Several studies have shown COVID-19 has affected the mental health and quality of life of students. This study aimed to assess the quality of life of students in two Brazilian public universities in 2020, using a cross-sectional study. The profile of the participants was delineated from a sociodemographic questionnaire, and the quality of life was assessed by the WHOQOL-bref. A total of 144 students were assessed, in which most of them were under 23 (57%), female (78%), self-declared brown (46%) and without a partner (87%). Most of them declared to sleep less than 8 hours a day, considered their quality of life to be good, and were satisfied with their health. The social relationships domain had the highest average, followed by the environment, physical and psychological domains. The perception of the student's quality of life was considered good, and the factors associated were sex, family income, and number of sleeping hours.

Diversos estudos têm demonstrado que a pandemia do COVID-19 tem prejudicado a saúde mental e a qualidade de vida dos estudantes. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade de vida dos estudantes em duas universidades públicas brasileiras em 2020, utilizando um estudo transversal. O perfil dos participantes foi delineado a partir de um questionário sociodemográfico e a qualidade de vida foi avaliada pelo WHOQOL-bref. Um total de 144 estudantes participaram, sendo a maioria com idade inferior a 23 anos (57%), do sexo feminino (78%), autodeclarada pardos (46%) e sem companheiro(a) (87%). A maioria declarou dormir menos de 8 horas/dia, considerou sua qualidade de vida como sendo boa e estavam satisfeitos com a sua saúde. O domínio relações sociais teve maior média, seguido pelos domínios meio ambiente, físico e psicológico. A percepção sobre a qualidade de vida dos estudantes foi considerada boa e os principais fatores associados foram sexo, renda familiar e número de horas dormidas.

Resumo Objetivos: avaliar a associação entre o índice de massa corporal pré-gestacional e pós-parto e a densidade de macronutrientes da dieta com o sub-relato de energia da dieta na gestação. Métodos: análise transversal com 327 puérperas da cidade de Mesquita, no Rio de Janeiro. Aplicou-se o questionário de frequência alimentar na primeira semana após o parto tendo como base o consumo dos dois últimos trimestres gestacionais. O balanço energético foi calculado a partir da divisão da ingestão de energia pela taxa metabólica basal (sub-relato<1,35). Adotou-se a regressão logística multivariada para analisar as associações entre os índices de massa corporal e a densidade dos macronutrientes da dieta (proteína, carboidratos e lipídios) com o balanço energético (sub-relato ou não). Resultados: a ingestão média de energia foi de 2.894 kcal e 25% das mulheres foram classificadas com sub-relato. Mulheres obesas no pós-parto tiveram maiores chances (OR=1,90; IC95%=1,09-3,33) de sub-relato de energia na gravidez e gestantes com balanço energético <1,35 apresentaram dieta com maior densidade de proteína (OR=2,37; IC95%=1,37-4,09) e menor densidade de gordura (OR=1,81; IC95%=1,04-3,15). Conclusão: a obesidade no pós-parto foi associada ao sub-relato de energia na gravidez e o balanço energético associou-se a densidade dos macronutrientes da dieta

Objectives: to evaluate the association of pre-pregnancy and current body mass index and the density of dietary macronutrients on underreporting of energy intake at pregnancy. Methods: cross-sectional analysis of 327 postpartum women from the city of Mesquita, in Rio de Janeiro. A food frequency questionnaire was administered at maternity ward having the last six months of the pregnancy as the time frame. Energy balance was considered as the outcome, and it was calculated as the division of energy intake by basal metabolic rate (underreport <1.35). Multivariate logistic regression was applied to test the associations between body mass index (pre-gestational and postpartum) on energy balance (underreport or not). Dietary density of protein (4th quartile), carbohydrate (1st quartile) and fat intake (1st quartile) were tested. Results: mean energy intake was 2,894 kcal and near of 25% of the women were considered as underreported during pregnancy. Obese women had higher chance (OR=1.90; CI95%=1.09-3.33) of being underreported at pregnancy. Underreported women presented greater chance of report dietary intake with higher contents of protein (OR=2.37; CI95%=1.37-4.09) and lower density of fat (OR= .81; CI95%=1.04-3.15). Conclusion: underreported pregnant women had higher chance of report great and lower amounts of protein and fat dietary densities.

Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) é exemplo em saúde pública de qualidade. O objetivo foi descrever o Projeto de Extensão Saber SUS e o uso de metodologia ativa de ensino. O público-alvo foram estudantes do ensino médio de escolas públicas e privadas de Jataí-Goiás. Foram definidas cinco estações sobre o SUS: Princípios e Diretrizes do SUS; Unidade Básica de Saúde/ Unidade de Pronto Atendimento; Estratégia Saúde da Família/ Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família; Vacinação; Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência/ Acolhimento com Classificação de Risco. Nas cinco estações foram empregadas metodologias ativas de ensino. O tempo médio das ações em cada estação foi de sete minutos e o número de participantes variou entre 6 e 10. Assim, o Projeto de Extensão Saber SUS contribuiu para divulgar e promover o SUS e o uso da metodologia ativa permitiu que os estudantes tornassem protagonistas do processo de ensino-aprendizagem.

Little is known about the repercussions of intimate partner violence (IPV) on nutritional outcomes in pregnancy, especially regarding diet. The aim was to investigate whether the occurrence of physical IPV at any time during pregnancy is associated with gestational dietary patterns. 161 adult pregnant women were enrolled in a prospective cohort study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Overall and severe physical IPV were measured to evaluate IPV at any time during pregnancy. Three gestational dietary patterns (“Healthy”, “Common-Brazilian”, and “Processed”) were established by principal component analysis. The effect of physical IPV was tested in relation to the score of adherence to each of the dietary patterns. The occurrence of overall and severe physical IPV at any time during pregnancy was 20.4% and 6.8%, respectively. Women living in intimate relationships in which overall and severe physical IPV occurred had an average increase of 0.604 units (95%CI 0.149-1.058) and 1.347 units (95%CI 0.670-2.024), respectively, in the Processed dietary pattern adherence score. No association with “Healthy” and “Common-Brazilian” dietary patterns was observed. Physical IPV was associated with greater adherence to a dietary pattern of lower nutritional quality.