Objetivo: Identificar os determinantes da desnutrição infantil, na Comuna de Bom Jesus, em Angola. Métodos: Estudo transversal de base populacional com 742 crianças menores de 5 anos, Bom Jesus, Angola, 2010. Foi aplicado um inquérito por entrevista para coleta das variáveis independentes, seguido da aferição do peso e estatura. A classificação nutricional seguiu critérios da Organização Mundial da Saúde (2006). Para identificar os fatores associados aos déficits de peso/idade (P/I), estatura/idade (E/I) e peso/estatura (P/E), foram calculadas razões de prevalência mediante regressão de Poisson com variância robusta, utilizando-se modelos de determinantes hierarquizados. Resultados/Conclusões: Bairro de moradia, idade da criança e sexo associaram-se aos déficits nutricionais. No nível distal, observou-se maior chance entre crianças de domicílios sem energia elétrica, que viviam com o pai e cujo pai tinha outra família, respectivamente, aos déficits de P/I, P/E e E/I. No nível intermediário, maior chance foi observada entre crianças cujo domicílio era abastecido com água de rio ou lago e os déficits de P/I (RP:2,01; IC95%1,01-4,02) e E/I (RP:1,67; IC95%1,04-2,69), assim como entre déficit de P/E e crianças cuja ordem de nascimento era a partir do terceiro. Neste nível, observou-se menor chance do déficit de P/E entre crianças cuja idade da mãe era entre 25 e 34 anos e déficit de P/I e aquelas com um irmão menor de 5 anos. No nível proximal, maior chance foi observada em crianças que apresentaram vômito, 15 dias anteriores à pesquisa, e os déficits de P/I (RP:2,01; IC95%1,33-3,30) e E/I (RP:1,53; IC95%1,04-2,69). Maior chance foi observada entre o déficit linear e a manifestação de diarreia com muco e sangue, à véspera do inquérito. Esses resultados justificam a elaboração de intervenções voltadas à adequada assistência pré-natal e puericultura e melhoria do acesso à água de qualidade. / Objective: To identify the determinants of childhood malnutrition in the community of Bom Jesus in Angola. Methods: Population based cross-sectional study of 742 children under 5 in Bom Jesus, Angola, 2010. Data on the independent variables were collected using an interview, and height and weight were measured. Nutritional status was classified according to World Health Organization (2006) criteria. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to calculate prevalence ratios in order to identify factors associated with weight/age (W/A), height/age (H/A) and weight/height (W/H) deficiencies, using hierarchical models of the determinants. Results/Conclusions: Neighborhood of residence and age and sex of the child were associated with nutritional deficiencies. On the distal level, there was association between not being connected to an electricity grid, the presence of the father in the household and having another family being, respectively, to W/A. W/H and H/A deficiencies. At the intermediate level, there was association between household water supply from the river or lake and W/A (PR:2.01; 95%CI 1.01-4.02) and H/A (PR:1.67; 95%CI 1.04-2.69) deficiencies, as well as between W/H deficit and children whose birth order was 3rd or later. At this level there was an inverse association between W/H and mother being aged between 25 and 34 and W/A deficiency and having one sibling aged under 5. At the proximal level, was observed association between children who had presented vomiting within the 15 days preceding the research and W/A (PR:2.01; 95%CI 1.33-3.30) and H/A (PR:1.53; 95%CI 1.04-2.69) deficiencies. Association was observed between linear deficiency and diarrhea containing blood or mucus on the day before the survey. These results justify the creation of interventions directed at adequate pre-natal care and childcare, improving and increasing access to clean water and sanitation.

Introdução: O consumo de alimentos com elevado índice glicêmico e carga glicêmica tem sido associado ao aumento no risco de desenvolvimento de síndrome metabólica, importante precursor da doença cardiovascular e do diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Entretanto, esses achados ainda são inconsistentes e a utilização do índice glicêmico e da carga glicêmica para prevenção ou tratamento da síndrome metabólica e dos fatores de risco que a compõe ainda é controversa. Objetivos: Validar o diabetes mellitus autorreferido e verificar a associação do índice glicêmico e da carga glicêmica com a síndrome metabólica e seus componentes. Métodos: Foram utilizados dados provenientes do Inquérito de Saúde de São Paulo (ISA-Capital 2008) referentes a adultos e idosos de ambos os sexos residentes nessa cidade. Trata-se de estudo transversal, de base populacional, com amostra probabilística de indivíduos residentes em domicílios permanentes localizados na área urbana do município. As informações utilizadas são provenientes de um questionário estruturado, dois recordatórios alimentares de 24 horas, exames bioquímicos, valores aferidos de pressão arterial e medidas antropométricas (peso, estatura e circunferência da cintura). Foram estimadas as prevalências de diabetes mellitus e síndrome metabólica para o município de São Paulo. A validação diabetes mellitus autorreferido foi realizada mediante cálculo da sensibilidade, especificidade e valores preditivos positivo e negativo. O consumo alimentar habitual foi obtido por meio da incorporação dos dados alimentares no software Multiple Source Method. A associação entre índice glicêmico e carga glicêmica da dieta e síndrome metabólica e seus componentes foi verificada por meio de modelos de regressão logística estimados segundo faixa etária. Todas as análises levaram em consideração o desenho amostral do estudo. Resultados: As prevalências de diabetes mellitus e síndrome metabólica no município de São Paulo foram estimadas em 8,0 por cento e 30,2 por cento , respectivamente. A sensibilidade do diabetes mellitus autorreferido foi 63,8 por cento (IC 95 por cento : 49,2-76,3), a especificidade 99,7 por cento (IC 95 por cento : 99,1-99,9), o valor preditivo positivo 95,5 por cento (IC 95 por cento : 84,4-98,8) e o valor preditivo negativo 96,9 por cento (IC 95 por cento : 94,9-98,2). O índice glicêmico associou-se com a lipoproteína de alta densidade (OR: 1,16; IC 95 por cento : 1,02-1,32) em adultos e com a síndrome metabólica (OR: 1,24; IC 95 por cento : 1,1-1,37), a glicemia de jejum (OR: 1,15; IC 95 por cento : 1,01-1,31) e a pressão arterial (OR: 1,26; IC 95 por cento : 1,05-1,51) em idosos. Conclusão: O dado de diabetes mellitus autorreferido é válido, especialmente entre idosos residentes no município de São Paulo. Os resultados evidenciam a necessidade do rastreamento do diabetes mellitus em indivíduos assintomáticos que apresentem um ou mais fatores de risco para essa condição, principalmente na população adulta. No presente estudo, o IG da dieta associou-se à SM, glicemia de jejum e pressão arterial elevadas em idosos e apenas ao HDL-c baixo em adultos. As diferentes respostas entre os adultos e idosos podem sugerir que o índice glicêmico tem ação distinta entre os grupos etários. Ressalta-se que a qualidade do carboidrato parece ser mais importante do que a junção da qualidade-quantidade do carboidrato consumido para os parâmetros metabólicos avaliados na população da cidade São Paulo. / Introduction: High glycemic index and glycemic load intake has been associated with an increased risk for developing metabolic syndrome, an important precursor of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, these findings are inconsistent and the use of glycemic index and glycemic load for prevention or treatment of metabolic syndrome and the risk factors components is still controversial. Objectives: To validate self-reported diabetes mellitus and evaluate the association between glycemic index, glycemic load and metabolic syndrome and its components. Methods: Data were used from the Health Survey of São Paulo (ISA-Capital 2008) related to adults and elderly of both sexes living in this city. It is cross-sectional population-based study of individuals living in permanent homes located in the urban area of the municipality. Information used came from a structured questionnaire, two 24-hour dietary recalls, biochemical analysis, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements (weight, height and waist circumference). Prevalences of diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome were estimated for the city of São Paulo. The validation of self-reported diabetes mellitus was made by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values. Usual food intake was achieved by the incorporation of food data in Multiple Source Method software. The association between glycemic index and glycemic load of the diet and metabolic syndrome and its components was verified by logistic regression models according to age group. All analysis took into account the sampling design of the study. Results: Diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome prevalences in São Paulo city were 8.0 per cent and 30.2 per cent , respectively. The sensitivity of self-reported diabetes mellitus was 63.8 per cent (95 per cent CI: 49.2 to 76.3), specificity was 99.7 per cent (95 per cent CI: 99.1 to 99.9), the positive predictive value was 95.5 per cent (95 per cent CI: 84.4 to 98.8) and the negative predictive value was 96.9 per cent (95 per cent CI: 94.9 to 98.2). Glycemic index was associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR: 1.16; 95 per cent CI: 1.02 to 1.32) in adults and with metabolic syndrome (OR: 1.24; 95 per cent CI: 1.1 to 1, 37), fasting blood glucose (OR: 1.15; 95 per cent CI: 1.01 to 1.31) and blood pressure (OR: 1.26; 95 per cent CI: 1.05 to 1.51) in elderly. Conclusion: Self- report diabetes mellitus data is valid, especially among elderly people living in São Paulo. The results show the need for diabetes mellitus screening in asymptomatic individuals who have one or more risk factors for this condition, especially in adults. Glycemic index was associated with metabolic syndrome and elevated fasting blood glucose and blood pressure in elderly and only with low high density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults. The different responses among adults and elderly may suggest that glycemic index has distinct action between age groups. Carbohydrate quality seems to be more important than the joint quality-quantity of the ingested carbohydrate for metabolic parameters evaluated in the population of São Paulo city.

INTRODUÇÃO: Problemas de saúde mental são responsáveis por uma morbidade significativa em todo o mundo, por sua frequência e pela associação com comorbidades físicas, níveis de incapacitação e prejuízo na qualidade de vida de portadores e cuidadores. A ocorrência de transtornos mentais comuns (TMC) é influenciada por fatores biológicos, sociais, econômicos e demográficos. O contexto social pode ter papel importante na etiologia dos transtornos mentais e na sua prevalência. OBJETIVOS: Investigar fatores de risco que contribuem para a prevalência, incidência e prognóstico de TMC em população de baixa renda da cidade de São Paulo, considerando distintos níveis contextuais: indivíduo, domicílio e setor censitário. MÉTODO: O presente estudo utilizou dados da investigação longitudinal de base populacional \"São Paulo Ageing & Health Study\" (SPAH). Os indivíduos selecionados eram residentes em domicílios em que houvesse pelo menos dois participantes do estudo com avaliação para presença de TMC, identificada pelo instrumento Self Reporting Questionaire (SRQ-20). Foram avaliadas as associações independentes entre TMC e características sociodemográficas e dos domicílios dos participantes, através de modelos de regressão logística multinível, tendo como desfechos a prevalência de TMC na inclusão e a presença de TMC em avaliação de dois anos de seguimento. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 2.366 indivíduos no estudo transversal, realizado no período de 2003 a 2005. A prevalência de TMC nesta amostra foi de 43%. As características individuais sexo, idade, escolaridade e ocupação estiveram associadas à prevalência de TMC. As características de domicílios aglomeração, morar com crianças, bens materiais, saneamento básico e renda familiar também se associaram à prevalência de TMC. Modelos de regressão logística multinível mostraram que parte da variância na prevalência de TMC foi associada ao nível do domicílio, com associações entre aglomeração, renda familiar e prevalência de TMC, mesmo após controle para características individuais. No estudo longitudinal foram incluídos 1.733 indivíduos, reavaliados no período de 2005 a 2007. A prevalência de TMC na avaliação de seguimento foi de 33%, sendo que 8% não apresentavam TMC na inclusão. As características individuais sexo, idade e ocupação, e a característica de domicílio renda familiar estiveram associadas à presença de TMC na avaliação de seguimento. Modelos de regressão logística multinível para os dados longitudinais mostraram que a maior parte da variância na presença de TMC foi associada ao nível do indivíduo, com associações entre sexo, faixa etária, escolaridade, ocupação e TMC, mesmo após controle para características do domicílio. O nível de domicílio também contribuiu de forma independente para a variância relacionada à presença de TMC no seguimento, com associação de efeito fixo para renda familiar, mesmo após controle para características individuais. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados mostraram que características individuais contribuem para a maior parte da variância na prevalência, incidência e prognóstico de TMC, mas há uma associação independente com o nível domicílio, que não é explicada completamente pela renda familiar. Esses resultados indicam que características do ambiente onde as pessoas vivem contribuem para sua saúde mental, sugerindo que pesquisas futuras se concentrem nas características psicossociais de domicílios e vizinhanças para estudo de contexto social e TMC / INTRODUCTION: Mental health problems are responsible for significant morbidity worldwide, due to its high frequency and association with physical comorbidities, levels of disability and impact in quality of life of patients and caregivers. The occurrence of common mental disorders (CMD) is influenced by biological, social, economic and demographic factors. The social context may play an important role in the etiology of mental disorders and their prevalence. OBJECTIVES: To investigate risk factors associated with the prevalence, incidence and prognosis of CMD in a low income population from the city of São Paulo, considering different contextual levels: individual, household, and census tract. METHOD: The present study used data from the population-based prospective investigation \"São Paulo Ageing & Health Study\" (SPAH). The individuals selected were living in households in which there were at least two study participants with assessments for presence of TMC, identified by the instrument Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). We assessed independent associations between CMD and the sociodemographic and households characteristics of the participants, through multilevel logistic regression models, having as outcome variables the prevalence of CMD at inclusion and the presence of TMC at the 2-year follow-up assessment. RESULTS: We included 2.366 individuals in the cross-sectional study, carried out in the period from 2003 to 2005. The prevalence of CMD in this sample was 43%. Individual characteristics sex, age, education and occupation were associated with the prevalence of CMD. The household characteristics crowding, living with children, possessions, basic sanitation and family income were also associated with the prevalence of CMD. Multilevel logistic regression models showed that part of the variance in the prevalence of CMD was associated with the household level, with associations between crowding, family income and prevalence of CMD, even after controlling for individual characteristics. In the longitudinal study, 1.733 individuals were reassessed in the period of 2005-2007. The prevalence of CMD at 2 years was 33%, with 8% in individuals without TMC at inclusion. Individual characteristics sex, age and occupation and household characteristic family income were associated with presence of CMD at follow-up. Multilevel logistic regression models for longitudinal data showed that most of the variance associated with presence of CMD was associated with the level of the individual, with associations between sex, age, education, occupation and CMD, even after controlling for household characteristics. The household level also contributed independently to the variance related to the presence of TMC at follow-up, with associated fixed effect for family income, even after controlling for individual characteristics. CONCLUSION: The results showed that individual characteristics contribute to most of the variance in the prevalence, incidence and prognosis of TMC, but there is an independent association with the household level, which is not fully explained by family income. These results indicate that characteristics of the environment where people live contribute to their mental health, suggesting that future research focus on the psychosocial characteristics of households and neighborhoods to study the social and TMC

Objetivos: a) Estimar a prevalência da violência por parceiro íntimo (VPI) na gestação e verificar sua associação com fatores sócio-demográficos, de saúde reprodutiva, sexual e mental entre usuárias de serviços públicos de saúde da Grande São Paulo; b) Identificar aspectos da vulnerabilidade individual e contextual relacionados à violência. Metodologia: a) entrevistas estruturadas (questionário) com 1922 usuárias, entre 15 e 49 anos, em 14 serviços públicos de saúde; b) 3 grupos focais com gestantes e c) 4 entrevistas em profundidade com mulheres que sofreram VPI na gestação. Resultados: 20% (IC95% 18,2 a 21,8) referem algum episódio de VPI na gestação. Em análise multivariada, observou-se que diversos fatores estão associados à VPI na gestação. As usuárias que referem VPI na gestação apresentam padrão mais grave e freqüente de VPI na vida. Este fenômeno relaciona-se com desproteção na família de origem; gravidez indesejada; mudanças no corpo e na libido da mulher. Conclusão: A alta prevalência de VPI na gestação sugere que esta questão deve ser vista como importante problema de saúde pública / Objectives: a) To examine de prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and its association with demographics and reproductive, sexual and mental health factors among public health care users in São Paulo, Brazil; b) To identify individual and contextual vulnerability to VPI during pregnancy. Methodology: a) interview with 1922 users, aged from 15 to 49, of 14 public health services; b) 3 focal groups with pregnant women c) 4 interviews with women abused during pregnancy. Results: 20% (IC95% 18,2 a 21,8) reported IPV during pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression indicated that several factors are associated with VPI during pregnancy. Women who referred IPV during pregnancy were significantly more likely to have severe and frequent pattern of IPV during their lives. This event is related to unsafe family context, unintended pregnancy, changes on women body and libido. Conclusion: High prevalence rates for IPV during pregnancy points out that this issue should be regarded as a major public health problem

En France, la vaccination repose principalement sur l’action des médecins généralistes (MG). L’augmentation de l’opinion défavorable du public envers la vaccination, associée au constat d’une couverture vaccinale insuffisante, démontre l’importance de prendre en compte les attitudes et perceptions des MG vis-à-vis de la vaccination. Les objectifs de ce travail de thèse étaient d’évaluer les connaissances, perceptions, attitudes, et pratiques des MG français vis-à-vis de certains vaccins, pour lesquels la couverture vaccinale est sub-optimale et/ou pour lesquelles des polémiques existent. En 2014, une vague d’enquêtes par questionnaire téléphonique a été mise en place auprès de 1582 MG français pour mieux connaître leurs comportements, attitudes et pratiques vaccinales. Plusieurs résultats ont mis en évidence l’hétérogénéité des pratiques et des perceptions des MG concernant la vaccination. Tout d’abord, nous avons mis en évidence que les MG avaient une attitude discordante entre leurs pratiques vaccinales pour leurs propres enfants et leurs recommandations vaccinales pour leurs patients. Ensuite, nous avons étudié la perception par les MG des polémiques vaccinales concernant les effets indésirables des vaccins. Cependant, les MG interrogés étaient soit sensibles aux polémiques, soit les rejetaient, sans que cela soit associé au caractère fondé ou non de la polémique. Puis nous avons étudié les recommandations des MG pour la vaccination à méningocoque C, qui étaient très insuffisantes dans notre étude, ce qui participe à la couverture vaccinale basse de ce vaccin. Le manque de communication autour de ce vaccin pourrait être imputé en partie à une campagne de vaccination insuffisante. Par la suite, nous avons étudié la décision des MG face à un enfant devant être vacciné, mais présentant une infection mineure fébrile. Une majorité des MG a préféré reporter cette vaccination, la fièvre étant le facteur influençant le plus cette décision. Les recommandations officielles françaises ne permettent pas de définir clairement l’attitude à adopter dans cette situation. Enfin, nous avons décrit les outils plébiscités par les MG pour améliorer leur pratique vaccinale au quotidien. Certains de ces outils existent mais semblent manquer de visibilité. En conclusion, les MG ne peuvent améliorer leurs pratiques qu’avec une formation spécifique à la vaccination, des outils identifiés et disponibles, et un soutien des pouvoirs publics qui s’engagent avec des recommandations claires / In France, vaccination relies mainly on general practitioners (GPs). The increase in the public's unfavourable opinion on vaccination, associated with the insufficient vaccination coverage, demonstrates the importance of taking into account the attitudes and perceptions of GPs regarding vaccination. The objectives were to assess the knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and practices of French GPs regarding vaccines with insufficient vaccination coverage and / or for which controversies exist. In 2014, a telephone survey questionnaire was conducted on 1582 French GPs to learn more about their behaviours, attitudes and vaccine practices. Our results have highlighted the heterogeneity of GPs’ practices and perceptions regarding vaccination. First, we found that GPs reported discordances between their vaccine practices for their own children and their vaccine recommendations for their patients. Then, we studied the GPs’ perception of the vaccine polemics concerning adverse effects of some vaccines. However, the interviewed GPs were either sensitive to the polemics or rejected them, without being associated with the well-founded nature of the controversy. Then we looked at GPs’ recommendations for meningococcal C vaccination to their patients, which were very low in our study. These low recommendations contributes to the low vaccine coverage of this vaccine. The lack of communication about this vaccine could be partly attributed to an insufficient vaccination campaign. Subsequently, we examined GPs’ decision facing a child to be vaccinated, but presenting an uncomplicated common cold. A majority of GPs decided to postpone this vaccination, with fever being the most important factor influencing this decision. The French official recommendations do not define clearly the attitude to be adopted in this situation. Finally, we described the tools that GPs would find useful to improve their daily immunization practice. Some of these tools exist but seem to lack visibility. In conclusion, GPs can only improve their practices with specific immunization training, identified and available tools, and with the support of public authorities who commit themselves with clear recommendations

<p>Small firms often have inadequate access to the capital necessary for sucessful management. The Swedish Government introduced in the mid-1990s allowance rules that facilitate retention of profit for sole proprietorships and partnership firms. The tax credits arising from the allowances give certain benefits as a source of financing compared to traditional forms of credits. Among the more essential benefits are that the payment for some parts of the tax credit can be put on hold almost indefinitely, or alternatively never be paid. The firms are free to use these means, and the responsibility of future payment of the postponed tax debt stays with the individual firms. The comprehensive purpose of the dissertation may be stated as to increase the understanding of small Swedish firms, especially sole proprietorships, utilizing possibilities for allowances for income smoothing and internal financing. At the beginning the dissertation describes case studies, comprising a smaller selection of microfirms. With a starting-point from the accounted and reported income-tax returns, alternative calculations are made where additional positive tax and finance effects appear possible to obtain. One purpose of these studies is to increase the insight regarding the possibilities of income smoothing and internal financing that arise from utilizing these allowances. </p><p>These studies also illuminate, to what extent and in what way they are being used in reality. Another objective of these studies is to give a more substantive insight into the technics behind the different allowances, appropriation to positive or negative interest rate allocation appropriation or dissolving of tax allocation reserve appropriation or dissolving of “expansion fund” Theories regarding the creation of resources, through building of capital, and theories on financial planning and strategy are studied. The purpose is to find support for the choice of theoretical grounded underlying independent variables that can be used in cross-sectional studies to explain the use of the possibilities of appropriations. Theories of finance that are of greatest interest, in the operationalisation of these variables, are theories that discuss the choices of different financing alternatives for small firms. The “pecking order theory”, describes the firm’s order of priority when choices of finance alternatives are made. The concept of “financial bootstrapping” expands the frame for different forms of financing choices that especially very small firms have at their disposal.</p><p>The last part of the theoretical frame deals with the phenomenon of “income smoothing,” which can be translated as leveling out profits/losses. A number of financial and non-financial variables are supported by and operationalised from these financial theories e.g., return on sales, capital turnover, quick ratio and debt-to-equity ratio, respectively age, gender and line of business. Cross-sectional studies are implemented for the taxation years of 1996 and 1999, on databases that have been extracted from Statistics Sweden. The group of 87,276 sole proprietorships included in the study were required to complete tax returns and pay taxes for the business activity according to the supporting schedule, N2, information from the sole proprietorships’ income statement and balance sheet in an accounting statement that comes with the income tax return form. The possibilities of allowances are considered as dependent variables. The intention of the cross-sectional studies is to survey and describe the utilization of possible allowances, with the support of the financial and non-financial independent variables. The connection of these variables to the decision of sole proprietorships to appropriate to the tax allocation reserve is also summarized in a logistic regression model. A number of theoretically based propositions are made for the purpose of observing how the variables are connected to the chances that sole proprietorships actually appropriate to this form of allowance. Appropriation to the tax allocation reserve stands out as the most practiced form of allowance. The studies also clarify that utilization varies among different forms of allowances, but that not all firms that have the prerequisites to utilize the possibilities really do so to the full. A further utilization of the different possibilities of allowances is often conceivable. For the sole proprietorships that are not utilizing these possibilities, the allowances should be considered eligible as a contribution to internal financing and to increase access to capital.</p>

The theme of this thesis is suicide mortality in its various aspects, seen from an international, European perspective. It questions the existence of social (structural) concomitants to suicide mortality and investigates attitudes towards and legislation concerning suicide, as well as some historical processes pertaining to their development. Paper 1 replicates an authoritative study of the "correlates of suicide" on a national level in European countries. It shows that the findings of this study do not hold 16 years later, and it presents some ideas as to why these changes have taken place. It is suggested that there are no simple social correlates to suicide on this level, and that suicide rates tend to vary according to, among other things, international cultural influences. Paper 2 investigates penal legislation relating to suicide in European countries. Three types of punishable action are found: 1) aiding suicide, 2) abetting suicide, and 3) driving somebody to suicide. A majority of European countries include some of these acts in their criminal laws. However, the laws vary very widely between countries, thereby constituting a notable exception to the common presumption of uniformity of law. The scope of the criminalization and the severity of the penalties for the crimes covary both with cultural attitudes towards suicide and with suicide rates. The results are interpreted as indicating the existence of a cultural-normative system, consisting of the cultural attitudes towards suicide, the laws regulating the actions relating to suicide and, perhaps, religion. It influences the occurrence of suicide, mainly by offering individuals cultural models of behavior. Paper 3 describes the process towards the decriminalization of suicide (in 1864) in Sweden, its causes and consequences. It is suggested that the law change took place because of a) the international ideological currents of the time (the heritage of the Enlightenment), b) the examples presented by other European countries, and c) the radical changes in people's behavior. The reform was long overdue, and thus did not have a direct effect on suicide mortality. The increase in Swedish suicide rates in the 19th century is seen as connected with certain aspects of the "modernization" process. Paper 4 addresses the prospects and problems connected with the ap-plication of Talcott Parsons's functionalist theory to suicide research, in particular when contrasting it with Durkheim's theory. It is found that the latter, despite its shortcomings, still dominates socially oriented suicide research. Parsons's theory is seen as implicating the cultural primacy of suicide mortality. Its general usability is, however, highly uncertain since many of its essential constituent parts are not well suited to the subject. A model for suicide rates, consisting of cultural (domestic and inter-national), political, social, diffusion and availability factors is presented. Taken together, the papers constitute a case for cultural (as opposed to socio-structural) research into suicide mortality. They question the repeated testing of structural variables in favor of creating cultural indicators. They suggest some new lines of research, and call for a consistently universal perspective on the problem of suicide and suicide mortality. / <p>Härtill fyra uppsatser.</p>

Small firms often have inadequate access to the capital necessary for sucessful management. The Swedish Government introduced in the mid-1990s allowance rules that facilitate retention of profit for sole proprietorships and partnership firms. The tax credits arising from the allowances give certain benefits as a source of financing compared to traditional forms of credits. Among the more essential benefits are that the payment for some parts of the tax credit can be put on hold almost indefinitely, or alternatively never be paid. The firms are free to use these means, and the responsibility of future payment of the postponed tax debt stays with the individual firms. The comprehensive purpose of the dissertation may be stated as to increase the understanding of small Swedish firms, especially sole proprietorships, utilizing possibilities for allowances for income smoothing and internal financing. At the beginning the dissertation describes case studies, comprising a smaller selection of microfirms. With a starting-point from the accounted and reported income-tax returns, alternative calculations are made where additional positive tax and finance effects appear possible to obtain. One purpose of these studies is to increase the insight regarding the possibilities of income smoothing and internal financing that arise from utilizing these allowances. These studies also illuminate, to what extent and in what way they are being used in reality. Another objective of these studies is to give a more substantive insight into the technics behind the different allowances, appropriation to positive or negative interest rate allocation appropriation or dissolving of tax allocation reserve appropriation or dissolving of “expansion fund” Theories regarding the creation of resources, through building of capital, and theories on financial planning and strategy are studied. The purpose is to find support for the choice of theoretical grounded underlying independent variables that can be used in cross-sectional studies to explain the use of the possibilities of appropriations. Theories of finance that are of greatest interest, in the operationalisation of these variables, are theories that discuss the choices of different financing alternatives for small firms. The “pecking order theory”, describes the firm’s order of priority when choices of finance alternatives are made. The concept of “financial bootstrapping” expands the frame for different forms of financing choices that especially very small firms have at their disposal. The last part of the theoretical frame deals with the phenomenon of “income smoothing,” which can be translated as leveling out profits/losses. A number of financial and non-financial variables are supported by and operationalised from these financial theories e.g., return on sales, capital turnover, quick ratio and debt-to-equity ratio, respectively age, gender and line of business. Cross-sectional studies are implemented for the taxation years of 1996 and 1999, on databases that have been extracted from Statistics Sweden. The group of 87,276 sole proprietorships included in the study were required to complete tax returns and pay taxes for the business activity according to the supporting schedule, N2, information from the sole proprietorships’ income statement and balance sheet in an accounting statement that comes with the income tax return form. The possibilities of allowances are considered as dependent variables. The intention of the cross-sectional studies is to survey and describe the utilization of possible allowances, with the support of the financial and non-financial independent variables. The connection of these variables to the decision of sole proprietorships to appropriate to the tax allocation reserve is also summarized in a logistic regression model. A number of theoretically based propositions are made for the purpose of observing how the variables are connected to the chances that sole proprietorships actually appropriate to this form of allowance. Appropriation to the tax allocation reserve stands out as the most practiced form of allowance. The studies also clarify that utilization varies among different forms of allowances, but that not all firms that have the prerequisites to utilize the possibilities really do so to the full. A further utilization of the different possibilities of allowances is often conceivable. For the sole proprietorships that are not utilizing these possibilities, the allowances should be considered eligible as a contribution to internal financing and to increase access to capital.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2008. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 118 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Analytic Health Sciences, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-77). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;