Environmental factors associated with adolescent antisocial behavior in a poor urban community in Brazil.

Background: Investigating risk factors for anti-social behavior (ASB) is particularly relevant in a poor urban and violent community of a developing country where homicide is the primary cause of death among 15-24-year olds.

Objectives: To identify individual and environmental factors associated with ASB in adolescents from an urban poor community in the outskirts of São Paulo City, Brazil.

Method: This cross-sectional study was based on a probabilistic sample of clusters that included all eligible households (women aged 15-49 years with a son or daughter <18 years of age).

Primary care and children's mental health in Brazil.

Objective: Primary care offers opportunities to expand children's access to mental health (MH) services, but a given practice's community context and staff attitudes may influence which integration models are feasible. The aim of this study was to explore the possibility of using community-based primary care to increase access to MH services in low-income communities in Brazil.

Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken using focus groups with adolescents aged 11 to 16 (n = 46), parents (n = 40), and primary care clinicians and staff (n = 52) from public-sector health centers in 6 low-income Brazilian communities chosen for their geographic diversity.

Severe physical punishment and mental health problems in an economically disadvantaged population of children and adolescents.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of severe physical punishment of children/adolescents in a low-income community, and to examine child mental health problems as a potential correlate.

Method: This study is a Brazilian cross-sectional pilot study of the World Studies of Abuse in Family Environments. A probabilistic sample of clusters including all eligible households (women aged 15-49 years, son/daughter < 18 years) was evaluated.