Search Results (319)

Introduction: Dental caries and molar–incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) are prevalent conditions affecting children’s oral health, with functional, aesthetic, and psychosocial implications. In Spain, previous studies have highlighted geographic and sociodemographic disparities in their distribution, particularly among rural and migrant populations. Objective: To characterise oral health status, in terms of caries and MIH, among 6–7-year-old children from the towns of Palos de la Frontera, Mazagón, and San Bartolomé. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 229 children recruited from public primary schools. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and behavioural data were collected through clinical examination and interview. Statistical analysis included univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Huelva. Results: The prevalence of caries (DMFT ≥ 1) was 53.3%, with mean DMFT and dft indices of 1.78 and 0.31, respectively. MIH affected 32.8% of the cohort, with a predominance in the first permanent molars (teeth 36 and 26). Multivariate analysis identified independent predictors of caries: African (OR = 7.47; 95% CI: 2.84–23.8) and European (OR = 4.56; 95% CI: 1.26–22.3) parental origin, poor oral hygiene (OR = 3.07; 95% CI: 1.60–6.03), and the presence of MIH (OR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.64–6.42). The municipality of San Bartolomé was associated with a higher risk of MIH (OR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.21–7.45). Conclusions: The high prevalence of caries and MIH in the Condado-Campiña district, exceeding national averages, reflects oral health inequities linked to social determinants (migrant origin, locality) and clinical factors (MIH, oral hygiene). Targeted preventive interventions are urgently needed in high-risk populations, including culturally tailored education and policies ensuring equitable access to dental care services. Full article

Despite extensive prevention strategies in Spain since the 1980s, gender-based violence, including among adolescents, remains prevalent, as observed in the Romance SUCC-ED Project (R&D&I Operating Programme ERDF Andalusia 2014–2020). This research study investigates the dimensions, meanings, relationships, and practices shaping the culture of romance in digital Andalusian adolescence (12–16 years) and its potential impact on school trajectories in Compulsory Secondary Education. Based on the premise that equality-focused relationship education is key to preventing gender violence, the study employs an ethnographic methodology with 12 Andalusian school case studies (4 out of them are located in rural areas) and 220 in-depth interviews (126 girls, 57.3%; 94 boys, 42.7%). This article aims to empirically explain gender violence in early adolescence by analysing the culture of romance as an explanatory factor. Findings reveal an interconnected model where dimensions (love, couple, sexuality, pornography, social networks, and cultural references), meanings (constructed by adolescents within each of them), relationships (partner), and practices (control and jealousy) reinforce romanticised femininity and dominant masculinity, thus explaining the high incidence of gender-based violence among students in the study. Full article

Background/Objectives: Bruxism has been associated with dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Visceral manual therapy (VMT) has shown beneficial effects on the vagal tone and modulation of ANS activity. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate and short-term effects of VMT in individuals with clinically based bruxism. Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted including 24 individuals with clinically based bruxism. Participants received two sessions of either VMT or a sham placebo technique. Outcome measures included heart rate variability (HRV), both normal-to-normal intervals (HRV-SDNN), and the root mean square of successive normal-to-normal intervals (HRV-RMSSD), as well as muscle tone and stiffness and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs). Measurements were made at T1 (baseline), T2 (post-first intervention), T3 (pre-second intervention), T4 (post-second intervention), and T5 (4-week follow-up). Results: A significant time*group interaction was observed for HRV-SDNN (p = 0.04, η² = 0.12). No significant changes were found for muscle tone or stiffness. PPTs significantly increased at C4 after the second session (p = 0.049, η² = 0.16) and at the left temporalis muscle after the first session (p = 0.01, η² = 0.07). Conclusions: The findings suggest that two sessions of VMT may lead to significant improvements in HRV-SDNN compared to the placebo, suggesting a modulatory effect on autonomic function. No consistent changes were observed for the viscoelastic properties of the masticatory muscles. Isolated improvements in pressure pain sensitivity were found at C4 and the left temporalis muscle. Further research with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up is needed to determine the clinical relevance of VMT in the management of signs and symptoms in individuals with bruxism. Full article

Background/Objectives: Virtual reality has emerged as a promising intervention for pain management in individuals with cancer. Although its clinical effects have been explored, little is known about participant adherence and dropout behavior. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled dropout rate in randomized controlled trials using virtual reality to treat cancer pain; assess whether dropout differs between groups; and explore potential predictors of attrition. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL up to April 2025. Eligible studies were randomized trials involving cancer patients or survivors that compared VR interventions for pain management with any non-VR control. Proportion meta-analyses and odds ratio meta-analyses were performed. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic, and meta-regression was conducted to explore potential predictors of dropout. The JBI appraisal tool was used to assess the methodological quality and GRADE system to determine the certainty of evidence. Results: Six randomized controlled trials were included (n = 569). The pooled dropout rate was 16% (95% CI: 8.2–28.7%). Dropout was slightly lower in VR groups (12.7%) than in controls (21.4%), but the difference was not statistically significant (OR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.51–1.72; I² = 9%; GRADE: very low). No significant predictors of dropout were identified. Conclusions: VR interventions appear to have acceptable retention rates in oncology settings. The pooled dropout estimate may serve as a reference for sample size calculations. Future trials should improve reporting practices and investigate how VR modality and patient characteristics influence adherence. Full article

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an endemic parasitic disease in southern European countries, such as Spain. Andalusia, the most southwestern region of Europe, is the community with the highest number of registered horses and farms in Spain and one of the main international exporters of Andalusian (Spanish Purebred) horses worldwide. Considering the current expansion of this disease and the possible effect of climate change on its prevalence, studying the EP prevalence in this region is compelling. Molecular (PCR) and serological methods (cELISA and IFAT) were used to study the true and apparent prevalences during a period of three consecutive years, evaluating the effects of age, sex, season, year of testing, and province. Results showed different EP prevalences between western and eastern provinces, as well as among seasons. Moreover, a positive association was observed between age and T. equi seropositivity, without any effect of sex. Our findings demonstrate that Andalusia is an EP endemic region, but prevalences were lower compared to central and northern Spanish regions. Moreover, EP prevalence has not increased in Andalusia in recent years despite climate changes. Full article

One of the major challenges in the construction sector involves achieving sustainability in all three of its dimensions: economic, social, and environmental. Economic and environmental assessments have already been unified, but social indicators are still excluded. In this line, it is important for a rapid introduction of sustainability indicators that the evaluations of its three dimensions are carried out simultaneously and without adding new training or a large workload to the project. In this work, it is proposed to use the definition of tasks in construction cost databases. These, due to their long tradition in the sector, have a clear definition of the contours of the problem and the inventory of resources. Therefore, based on this inventory that does not leave any unaccounted element, the evaluation of the social dimension is proposed through the use of the work units of the databases as an element of occupational risk assessment. The project cost and risk assessment are performed simultaneously in the construction of a social housing project in Andalusia, Spain. The costs of prevention measures represent 5% of the work units’ costs and reduce the risk indicator by 65%. Full article

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries have a substantial impact on athletes, affecting sports performance and increasing the risk of future musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., osteoarthritis). Injury prevention programs are essential to reduce the risk of sport-related injuries and meta-analyses can provide a large amount of information in a single article. Objective: To summarize the pooled effects of injury prevention programs focused on any form of physical exercise in the incidence and risk of musculoskeletal injuries and reinjuries by sports and musculoskeletal body regions. Methods: The CINAHL (via EBSCOhost), Embase (via Elsevier), Epistemonikos, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus (via EBSCOhost), and the Cochrane Library e-databases were searched from inception to 7 October 2024. Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials were considered. The methodological quality of systematic reviews was assessed with AMSTAR 2. The degree of overlap between meta-analyses of interest was calculated. Results: Fourteen systematic reviews were included. Thirteen of these reviews were focused on soccer. Overall, meta-analyses including a specific injury prevention program (FIFA 11+ and FIFA 11+ kids) found that these programs may reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries among soccer players. Concretely, FIFA 11+ may reduce the risk of ankle, knee, hip/groin, and hamstring injuries, whereas FIFA 11+ kids may decrease the risk of ankle and knee injuries. Conclusions: FIFA 11+ and FIFA 11+ kids may reduce the risk of sports musculoskeletal injuries, mainly in the lower limbs. However, many clinical and methodological issues (e.g., the lack of meta-analyses in many types of sports) were discussed and highlighted the difficulty of making robust clinical recommendations with the current data. Full article

Background/Objectives: Self-care in people with diabetes requires constant physical and emotional effort, which can be a barrier to adhering to the care plan. The sense of coherence (SOC) might play a role in self-care. This study aimed to examine the relationship between sense of coherence and self-care in people with Diabetes Mellitus. Methods: A systematic review with narrative synthesis (14 studies) and with meta-analysis (seven studies) was conducted. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsychInfo and Scopus up to June 2025. We included original studies that assessed the relationship between SOC and self-management in people with diabetes and reported the correlation coefficient or other compatible statistic. Selection bias (probabilistic vs. non-probabilistic), classification bias (validity and reliability of the instrument) and confounding (control of sex, age and type of diabetes) were evaluated. The meta-analysis used a random-effects model with sensitivity and subgroup analyses to assess robustness. Results: Fourteen studies with 9800 participants (type 1 or 2 diabetes) were included. Of the studies, eight used probability sampling, only one had classification bias risk, and three had low bias risk. A positive, moderate association was found between SOC and adherence to self-care (r = 0.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29, 0.35; N = 3985; average per study: 569.3). Limitations: a small number of studies; all were descriptive and cross-sectional. Conclusions: A sense of coherence may play a relevant role in improving adherence to the self-care plan in people with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Full article

As a globe leader in tourism, Spain relies on this sector as a key economic pillar, contributing over 12% to its GDP. The hospitality industry has expanded steadily in response to growing demand. In parallel, recent years have witnessed an exponential rise in tourist accommodations, such as privately owned properties repurposed for short-term rentals, largely facilitated by digital platforms. This study explores the evolution and spatial distribution of these accommodations, assessing their share within the overall housing stock across different scales. The focus is on Andalusian municipalities, a region characterized by both its geographical diversity and its significant tourism footprint. This study highlights two primary areas of concentration: the region’s Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines (most notably the Costa del Sol, centered in Malaga) and internationally renowned heritage cities such as Seville, Granada, and Cordoba. By applying quantitative methods, this research assesses the clustering of tourist accommodations in relation to major cultural landmarks, including several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The findings provide an analysis of the implications of this trend, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities it presents within the tourism sector, particularly against the backdrop of mounting criticism surrounding the sustainability and socio-economic impacts of this evolving model of tourism. Full article

Objectives: The objective of this overview of systematic reviews with meta-analysis was to summarize the evidence on the possible effectiveness of interventions focused on physical activity in improving and preventing postpartum depression symptoms. Methods: CINAHL (via EBSCOhost), Embase, Epistemonikos, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus (via EBSCOhost), and the Cochrane library were searched from inception to 19 February 2025. The methodological quality of the included reviews was assessed with AMSTAR 2. The degree of overlap between meta-analyses was calculated. Results: A total of eight systematic reviews were included. Overall, the included meta-analyses showed favorable results regarding the effects of physical activity on postpartum depression symptoms. Considering specific physical activity modalities, the largest number of meta-analyses focused on aerobic exercise, yoga, or multimodal exercise. In all three cases, most meta-analyses found that aerobic exercise, yoga, and multimodal exercise could be beneficial in reducing postpartum depression symptoms. Furthermore, several meta-analyses explored the effectiveness of walking, finding positive results in favor of this intervention in reducing postpartum depression symptoms. Finally, movement in water was only explored in one meta-analysis, and no differences were found between these interventions and control groups. Conclusions: Aerobic exercise, walking, yoga, and multimodal exercise programs may improve postpartum depression symptoms. Movement in water was not more effective than control groups for reducing this outcome. However, the results of our overview should be considered with caution, since important methodological and clinical implications have been discussed (e.g., lack of subgroups by prevention and treatment) and should guide the development of future systematic reviews on this topic. Full article

Background: this overview of systematic reviews with meta-analysis summarized the epidemiology of suicide in cancer, mainly focused on prevalence, incidence, and risk. Methods: the CINAHL (via EBSCOhost), Embase, PsycINFO (via ProQuest), and PubMed databases were searched from inception to February 2024. AMSTAR 2 evaluated the methodological quality of reviews. The degree of overlap between reviews was calculated. Results: Twelve systematic reviews with meta-analysis were included. The prevalence of suicidal ideation in prostate cancer was 9.85% (95%CI 7.31–12.70%). The relative risk of suicidal ideation in prostate cancer was 2.01 (95%CI: 1.52–2.64) in comparison to controls without this type of cancer during the first 12 months after diagnosis. Furthermore, the risk of suicidal ideation was higher among individuals with bladder cancer in comparison to people without this clinical condition (HR 1.90, 95%CI 1.29−2.81). The crude suicide mortality rate per 100,000 person-years in prostate cancer was 47.1 per 100,000 person-years (95%CI 39.85–54.96). Incidence suicide death per 100,000 person-years was higher in sarcoma (60.99 per 100,000 person-years, 95%CI 17.37–214.19), esophagus (87.71 per 100,000 person-years, 95%CI 27.42–280.54), and pancreas (75.39 per 100,000 person-years, 95%CI 41.80–135.97). Finally, the standardized mortality ratio by suicide was higher in the pancreas (SMR 6.42, 95%CI 1.60–25.76), bone and cartilage (SMR 9.59, 95%CI 1.54–59.77), and mesothelioma (SMR 13.07, 95%CI 1.61–105.80). Conclusions: overall, meta-analyses underlined the relevance of suicide mortality in different cancer sites and geographical regions. Some meta-analyses also found suicidal ideation may be important in prostate or bladder cancer. Full article

(1) Background: The objective of this study was to verify a model proposed adapted to the case of teachers working in the field of early childhood education of children with functional diversity. The model analyses the relationship between the perceptions, use, and necessity of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the level of ICT training. (2) Methods: Snowball sampling was used to acquire a random sample of 254 in-service teachers working in early childhood education centers including children with functional diversity in Andalusia (Spain). A partial least squares–structural equation model was developed. (3) Results: A positive relationship between teachers’ perceptions of ICTs and their use was found, corroborating the findings of previous studies on pre-service teachers working with students with functional diversity. However, unlike previous studies, no significant relationship was found between ICT use and needs and the level of ICT training. The novelty of this study is that the participants are in-service teachers, the education context is early childhood, and the model includes age as a control variable, which had a negative impact in this case in Spain. (4) Conclusions: The importance of improving teacher training to optimize the use of ICTs is emphasized. The professionals interviewed highlighted the need for early assessments and increased material and human resources in public educational institutions. The urgency of administrative restructuring to expedite the delivery of financial aid and the recruitment of more specialized professionals is underscored. Full article

This study examines the demographic dynamics of Extremadura and Andalusia, two autonomous communities in southern Spain characterized by low income levels and marked territorial differences in terms of ageing and depopulation. Based on the observation of growing demographic pressure associated with low birth rates and emigration to more economically dynamic areas, a methodological approach based on spatial analysis techniques is proposed. In particular, the ageing index and demographic dependency ratio indicators are used, applying tools such as Hot Spot Analysis and Cluster and Outlier Analysis to identify significant spatial patterns and outliers. The results show a high concentration of ageing and dependency in provinces such as Cáceres and Almería, suggesting greater demographic vulnerability. In contrast, urban areas such as Seville and Granada, as well as the Guadalquivir depression, show more favorable indicators, reflecting greater resilience. Likewise, municipalities with demographic behavior that is anomalous with respect to their surroundings are detected, which raises the need for micro-territorial studies aimed at understanding these exceptions and designing more effective public policies adapted to the local context. Full article

This study evaluates Spain’s biomethane production potential for 2030 and 2050, focusing on agricultural residues, livestock manure, municipal solid waste (MSW), and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge. The research aims to provide a regional analysis based on historical data on livestock populations, cultivated land, waste availability, and demographic projections. Using utilization coefficients and technological assumptions derived from existing biogas infrastructure, the study estimates that Spain could generate 9.71 TWh of biomethane by 2030, slightly below the national target of 10.41 TWh. By 2050, agricultural and livestock residues are expected to contribute 30.04 TWh, accounting for nearly 80% of total biomethane production, while the relative share of MSW and WWTP sludge will decrease. Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Castilla y León emerge as key contributors due to their extensive agricultural and livestock sectors. Catalonia and Madrid maintain significant roles driven by urban waste generation. The findings underscore the need for infrastructure expansion, particularly enhancing biomethane injection facilities into the natural gas grid, alongside financial incentives to support industry growth. This study highlights the role of biomethane in Spain’s renewable energy sector, emphasizing its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, optimize organic waste utilization, and contribute to a sustainable energy transition. Full article

Background/Objectives: The nutritional habits of older adults are increasingly relevant to public health, particularly given the rising prevalence of obesity and its associated chronic diseases. This study aims to analyze the relationship between the Healthy Eating Index (IASE) and Body Mass Index (BMI) in older adults in Spain, focusing on food frequency, dietary preferences, and socioeconomic factors influencing nutritional security. Methods: The study is part of the Eating Matters project, assessing food (in)security in older adults across Andalusia and Catalonia between April 2022 and January 2024. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 190 participants (≥65 years), recruited in primary healthcare centers. The questionnaire included three blocks: food insecurity assessment (FIES scale), diet quality with the Healthy Eating Index for the Spanish Population (IASE), and sociodemographic factors. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and logistic regression models to identify associated factors with overweight and obesity. Results: The average BMI was 28.5 kg/m² (SD = 4.29), with 46.3% of participants classified as overweight and 32.1% as obese. A significant negative correlation (r = −0.79, p < 0.05) was found between healthy food consumption and BMI, while personal income showed a moderate positive correlation with adherence to a healthy diet (r = 0.42, p < 0.05). Logistic regression indicated that frequent consumption of processed meats and confectionery was a significant identify associated factors with overweight/obesity, with a model accuracy of 68% and sensitivity of 95%. Conclusions: Older adults with lower incomes and higher consumption of ultra-processed foods exhibited a higher risk of obesity. These findings highlight the need for public policies promoting food accessibility and targeted nutrition education for older adults, including guidance on balanced diets, adequate protein intake, and the prevention of sarcopenia, to encourage healthier dietary patterns in aging populations. Full article