Host feeding preferences of sandflies in rural area, Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the fauna and host feeding preferences of sandflies as for domestic animals in an endemic area of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. METHODS: The sandflies collections were carried out from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am in an area 40 meters away from one of the residences in a farm in Southern Brazil, between January and April, 2004. Collection was performed using four Falc?o light traps, placed 5 m apart from each other beside a cage, each one of them containing an animal bait (swine, dog, rabbit, and chicken). RESULTS: A total of 1,697 specimens of sandflies were collected as follows: Nyssomyia whitmani, Pintomyia fischeri, Migonemyia migonei, Nyssomyia neivai, Pintomyia pessoai and Psathromyia shannoni. The prevalent species was N. whitmani. There were no feeding preferences of sandflies as for the animals studied. CONCLUSIONS: N. whitmani and P. fischeri are opportunistic species and female insects probably adjust their eating habits to host availability, suggesting eating eclecticism of these insects in anthropic environments.     

Socioeconomic factors and attitudes towards household prevention of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic area in Southern Bahia, Brazil

A survey was conducted to identify socioeconomic conditions and attitudes towards household prevention of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Corte de Pedra, located in the county of Tancredo Neves, an endemic region in southern Bahia, Brazil. A questionnaire was applied in July 1997, focusing on social and economic variables, habits, and attitudes towards prevention of arthropod bites. All families (100%) living in the study area were surveyed, comprising 168 households with 851 individuals. Approximately 66.7% of the families earned up to one minimum wage, supporting an average of 5.1 residents per household. Most (57.2%) of the families did not use any type of protection against bites. Fumigation by burning various types of materials was the most customary form of prevention. Individual protection measures were rarely used. Since there was evidence of household and peridomiciliary transmission in the study area, use of impregnated bed nets is an alternative for intradomiciliary protection.     

Prevalence and associated factors to rural occupational accidents, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of rural occupational accidents and its association with potential risk factors. METHODS: The study was carried out in a urban area of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted. A representative sample of rural workers was selected using a multi-stage sampling. From January to April 1996, a total of 258 rural families were visited and all the 580 rural workers identified in those households answered a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of rural occupational accidents was 11%. After allowing for potential confounders, the main occupational hazards, as shown by logistic regression, were lower socioeconomic status (OR=1.81), non-white skin color (OR=3.50), and poor work satisfaction (OR=2.77).     

Prevalence and factors associated to migraine in adult population, Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: Migraine is a disease of high prevalence with important impact on people's daily activities. The study aimed at assessing the distribution of migraine in adult population and some of its determinants. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted with a multi-stage and probabilistic sampling. A total of 2,715 individuals aged 20 to 64 years old living in the urban area of the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, were interviewed. A questionnaire was applied according to the recommendations of the International Headache Society to define the main outcome. Crude and adjusted analysis were performed using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of headache and migraine was 71.3% (95% CI: 69.6-73.0) and 10.7% (95% CI: 9.4-12.1) respectively. Women showed a four-fold risk greater than men and white skin people showed 1.4 times greater risk than those non-white. Women taking oral contraceptives or shots against pregnancy showed a risk for migraine 1.3 times greater than those women not taking these medicines. Socioeconomic level and regular menstrual periods in the last three months were not found to be associated with migraine. CONCLUSIONS: Migraine is a disease that affects mainly women being associated to the white skin color and use of hormonal contraceptives.     

Physical violence and associated factors: a population-based study in Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of physical violence and its association with sociodemographic aspects, stressful life events, and the use of health services due to emotional problems. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted with a sample of 1,954 14-year-old or older inhabitants of the city of Canoas (Southern Brazil). They were selected by means of conglomerate sampling according to a pre-established system. Data were obtained in visits to households by means of a confidential semi-structured questionnaire. A bivariate analysis was carried out through multinomial logistic regression, and the multivariate analysis by polytomous logistic regression, categorizing the outcome by age group. RESULTS: The findings show a prevalence of 9.7% (CI 95%: 8.37;11.03) and association with: women 20 years old and older (OR=2.74; CI 95%: 1.52;4.94); higher schooling rate (p<0.03); higher experience of stressful life events at 20 years of age or more (OR=6.61; CI 95%: 2.71;16.1); and doctors' appointments due to emotional problems as of 10 years of age (p>0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of physical violence in the population was significant, resulting in important emotional consequences and impact on health services, requiring capacity building of the professionals in the field.     

Prevalence and risk factors for anemia in Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence and evaluate the risk factors of anemia. METHODS: Cross sectional populational based study of the urban area of Criciuma town, in the state of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. The study population was a probabilistic sample of 476 children aged under three years. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia found in the sample was 60.4% for children aged 0 to 35.9 months according to the Brault-Dubuc criteria and 54% for children aged 6 to 35.9 months according to the OMS criteria. The prevalence of anemia increases with age up to 18 months-old and then decreases. It is less prevalent in families where the father has a higher education level and where there is a higher total family income. Nevertheless, even within the 25% higher income group 40% of the children are anemic. The prevalence of anemia is higher among children living in unfinished and overcrowded houses, where the toilet is not equipped with flush, and among children who have two or more older brothers. It is also higher among teenager mothers (<20 years), and 35 years old or older mothers. The prevalence of anemia is lower among women who had 5 to 9 prenatal visits during pregnancy. Low weight at birth was associated with iron deficiency. The nutritional condition was associated with anemia only according to weight/age criteria. Hospitalizations in the last 12 months were not associated with the disease. In the hierarchical multivariate analysis children age, family income, and crowded house were the only significant variables. Reproductive health history, health service visits, birth weight, breast-feeding, anthropometry, and morbidity did not characterize a risk factor of anemia in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The study makes it evident that social inequality is a strong determinant of anemia. The risk imposed by anemia to children in regard to their health and intellectual development requires immediate action.     

Smoking among teenagers in an urban area in Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of tobacco smoking and its determinants among adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, using a multiple stage sampling, was carried out in 1997 and a sample of adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years who were living in the urban area of Pelotas, Brazil, was studied. Those who reported having smoked at least one cigarette per week during the last month were considered smokers. Chi-square test was used to compare proportions and conditional logistic regression was applied in the multivariate analysis. RESULTS/ CONCLUSIONS: Six hundred and thirty-two adolescents were interviewed, among which 38 were non-respondents. Of those interviewed, 11.1% were smokers at time of the study, 6.8% were former smokers and 82.1% had never smoked. Prevalence of tobacco smoking was directly related to the age. Even after adjusting for confounding factors, those who had left or failed at school, their parents were divorced or reported alcohol abuse in the last month showed a higher odds ratio for smoking.     

Self-reported vaginal discharge among pregnant women in an urban area in Southern Brazil: prevalence and associated factors

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with self-reported vaginal discharge among pregnant women in the city of Rio Grande, South Brazil. Using a cross-sectional design, a standard interview was applied to pregnant women at home by previously trained interviewers, covering the following: demographic, reproductive, and socioeconomic data, household conditions, health care, and illnesses during pregnancy, including vaginal discharge. The chi-square test was used to compare proportions, and Poisson regression was used in the multivariate analysis. Among the 339 pregnant women interviewed, 52% reported vaginal discharge. The following variables were significantly associated with the outcome: age (prevalence rate, PR = 1.49), marital status (PR = 1.31), urinary tract infection (PR = 1.56), hyperglycemia (PR = 1.48), use of an intrauterine device (PR = 2.35), and history of preterm delivery (PR = 1.37), with oral contraception showing a protective effect (PR = 0.79). Prevalence of self-reported discharge was high among this group of pregnant women. Several risk factors were also identified for the disease under study. These findings can contribute to the implementation of preventive interventions.     

Unplanned pregnancy in Southern Brazil: prevalence and associated factors

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with unplanned pregnancies in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A standardized questionnaire was applied in 2007 to all pregnant women in the city, including demographic characteristics, childbearing history, socioeconomic status, and prenatal and childbirth care. The study used Poisson multivariate regression analysis with robust adjustment of variance. Among the 2,557 women included in the study, 65% had not planned the current pregnancy. After adjusting for confounders, the following variables were significantly associated with unplanned pregnancy: black or mixed race, age < 20 years, single marital status, low family income, household crowding, smoking, and multiparity. Previous abortion was a protective factor against unplanned pregnancy. The high unplanned pregnancy rate, especially among women with increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, highlights the need to target healthcare programs for this group.     

Talc pneumoconiosis among soapstone handicraft workers in a rural area of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Talc pneumoconiosis in Brazil has received little research attention to date. The disease was investigated in Mata dos Palmitos, a district of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais State, among soapstone handicraft workers. The district has some 180 inhabitants, of whom 108 are engaged in handicrafts production, while 15 alternate handicrafts production with work in the soapstone quarries. A clinical and occupational investigation was conducted, along with a respiratory symptoms standardized questionnaire, chest x-ray (ILO standard), and spirometry. Clinical data showed a low prevalence of respiratory complaints. Dyspnea was the most frequent symptom. Chronic bronchitis was identified in 12 adult workers. Chest x-rays showed evidence of small lung opacities in 5 workers, and in 11 there was suspicion of the same opacities. One worker showed a plaque-shaped pleural thickening. Seven workers showed abnormal spirometry. The soapstone dust composition showed breathable asbestos fibers from the amphibole group (tremolite-actinolite). The results suggest talc asbestosis occurrence among soapstone handicraft workers.     

Risk factors for overweight in children from Southern Brazil

Risk factors for overweight were investigated in a cross-sectional survey of children aged 12-59 months in the Southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre (n = 2,660). Odds ratios (OR) for overweight, defined by weight/height > 2 z-scores of the NCHS standards, were estimated for socioeconomic and demographic conditions, social environment, and childhood health events. Prevalence of overweight was 6.5%. In the multivariate model, the odds of overweight were positively associated with maternal education (schooling > 12 years, OR = 2.36; 95%CI: 1.21-4.60; 9-11 years, OR = 2.07; 95%CI: 1.16-3.70) and family income per capita > 2 times the minimum wage (OR = 1.86; 95%CI: 1.13-3.08) and negatively associated with maternal work (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.52-0.99). Odds were higher for children born large-for-gestational-age (OR = 2.29; 95%CI: 1.36-3.85) and lower for children born small (OR = 0.57; 95%CI: 0.33-0.99), as compared to those born with adequate birth weight for gestational age. Paternal schooling, parental occupation, and maternal age at the child's birth were associated with overweight in the unadjusted model only. Programs are needed to prevent overweight during childhood, with special attention to families and children at increased risk.     

Avoidable infant mortality and associated factors in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, 2000-2003

A case-control study was performed to investigate the association between the categories avoidable and non-avoidable death and socio-demographic, maternal reproductive, and neonatal status. The study used multivariate logistic regression according to a hierarchical model to analyze 1,139 infant deaths from 2000 to 2003. The variables sex, maternal age, number of live born infants, type of pregnancy, place of birth, and 5-minute Apgar were not associated with avoidable deaths. However, maternal schooling 相似文献   

Association between health risk behaviors in parents and adolescents in a rural area in southern Brazil

This article aimed to assess the association between health risk behaviors in parents and adolescents in a rural area. The sample included 377 schoolchildren 10 to 18 years of age and 338 parents. The following variables were analyzed: level of leisure-time and commuting physical activity, inadequate eating habits, overweight/obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Prevalence rates for smoking and alcohol consumption by adolescents in the previous 30 days were 6.7% and 27%, respectively. Forty-five percent of adolescents failed to reach the target physical activity score. Adherence to steps to healthy eating was low. Physical activity in adolescents was positively associated with that of parents, and adolescent drinking was associated with maternal alcohol consumption. There was no significant association for other behaviors. In the analysis stratified by gender, level of physical exercise in female adolescents was associated with that of fathers. Parental health risk behaviors were associated with the behaviors in the adolescent children in this rural area.     

Evaluation of mother-and-child health care in an urban area of Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze primary health care provided to mother-and-child population in Teresópolis, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: A population survey was performed at the main vaccination station on the local Vaccine National Day, to collect information about the use of health care services and preventive primary care. RESULTS: Information was collected from 329 mothers and their children. More than 90% of children had at least one pediatric visit in the past three months. Almost all had their growth chart, but in 30% of them the child's weight was not registered. There was a positive association between having a routine visit and the registration of the child's weight in the card (RP = 1.34; IC: 1.13-1.58; p = 0.0002). Around 59% of the mothers had a medical visit after giving after birth; 25% said they had never had a Pap smear test before, and 36% never had a breast examination. There was a positive association between the mother's age being over 20 years and ever having a Pap smear test (RP = 1.56; IC: 1.08-2.26; p = 0.03). Almost 70% of the mothers referred the use of any contraception method, and the most common used were contraceptive pills, condoms and tubal ligation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some limitations, the results suggest a valid and useful methodology, which allows the identification of important needs in primary health care delivery to children and their mothers.     

Communication related to pesticides use in a rural area of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]

OBJECTIVE: To assess communications aspects related to pesticide use in a rural area of the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. METHODS: The study was carried out in the area of S?o Louren?o stream. It was based on methodological triangulation comprising: semi-structured interviews and observation of a local population sample (about 600 inhabitants); structured questionnaire to collect data on the local community; and records of lectures given by argonomic engineers, pesticides traders and other public service professionals. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This study pointed out to the historical misinformation on pesticides in rural areas; the emphasis on technical language in educational and training activities available which constitutes a barrier for rural workers knowledge acquisition and empowerment; and the industry/commerce's pressure to legitimate pesticide trading, reinforcing the existing communication process, resulting in unfavorable inclusion of the rural worker into a broader market economy.     

Vaccination coverage and risk factors associated to non-vaccination in a urban area of northeastern Brazil, 1994]

INTRODUCTION: The assessment of vaccination coverage and risk factors for non-vaccination is important to evaluate vaccination programs and to identify children not properly vaccinated. METHODS: A cross-sectional household survey was carried out in the municipality of S. Luís, Maranh?o, Brazil by means of a standardized questionnaire. Multistage cluster sampling was used to identify children of 12-59 months of age residing in the city in 1994. The mother or other person responsible for the children was interviewed. Fifty census clusters were visited and 40 households were sampled in each. On average, 15 children were found in each cluster. Design effect was calculated for each estimate. Health service utilization was analyzed according to socioeconomic and demographic indicators, and perceived morbidity using proportional hazard modeling (Cox's regression). RESULTS: Vaccination coverage levels were 72.4% for BCG, 59.9% for three doses of polio vaccine, 57% for three doses of DTP vaccine and 54.7% for measles vaccine. Vaccination levels have remained statistically unchanged over the last three years. Lower maternal schooling continues to be associated with increased risk of non-vaccination in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Vaccination levels were low. Health education activities are one of the suggested strategies to increase vaccination coverage.