Ariadnes Nobrega de Oliveira

Alterações auditivas em trabalhadores de indústrias madeireiras do interior de Rondônia

Occupational noise is considered a physical risk that is frequent in almost all industrial segments. That is why occupational safety and health professionals give it special attention. The present study investigated the presence of audiometric alterations in wood industry workers from the countryside of Rondonia, Brazil. Sixteen workers of three industries took part in the study. They were interviewed on their hearing capacities and went through audiologic examination by means of preliminary tonal audiometry and acustic impedance tests. All the participants were male, most of them under 25 years old. They reported not having finished elementary school. Half of the sample presented auditory complaints and mentioned use of hearing protectors. Audiometric tracings disclosed alterations in half of the sample.

Survey of hearing disorders in an urban population in Rondonia, Northern Brazil

OBJECTIVE To identify the prevalence of hearing loss for the population in the urban area. METHODS A cross-sectional household survey based on the World Health Organization Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol was conducted in 298 households in the urban area of Monte Negro, Rondonia, Northern Brazil, from 2005 to 2007. Ear examinations, behavioral audiometry and pure tone audiometry were conducted on 577 individuals. RESULTS The results showed that 3.8% (95%CI 2.17;5.45) of population were classified in the disabling hearing impairment category. The prevalence of moderate hearing impairment was 3.4%; severe impairment was 0.4%; and profound hearing impairment was not found. CONCLUSIONS The impairing hearing loss prevalence found in this study is within of the international prevalence for this level of hearing loss and smaller than observed in a previous study in the South region of Brazil.

Inquerito de perdas auditivas em populacao urbana, Rondonia, Brasil

OBJECTIVE To identify the prevalence of hearing loss for the population in the urban area. METHODS A cross-sectional household survey based on the World Health Organization Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol was conducted in 298 households in the urban area of Monte Negro, Rondonia, Northern Brazil, from 2005 to 2007. Ear examinations, behavioral audiometry and pure tone audiometry were conducted on 577 individuals. RESULTS The results showed that 3.8% (95%CI 2.17;5.45) of population were classified in the disabling hearing impairment category. The prevalence of moderate hearing impairment was 3.4%; severe impairment was 0.4%; and profound hearing impairment was not found. CONCLUSIONS The impairing hearing loss prevalence found in this study is within of the international prevalence for this level of hearing loss and smaller than observed in a previous study in the South region of Brazil.

Pesquisa de perdidas auditivas en poblacion urbana, Rondonia, Brasil

OBJECTIVE To identify the prevalence of hearing loss for the population in the urban area. METHODS A cross-sectional household survey based on the World Health Organization Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol was conducted in 298 households in the urban area of Monte Negro, Rondonia, Northern Brazil, from 2005 to 2007. Ear examinations, behavioral audiometry and pure tone audiometry were conducted on 577 individuals. RESULTS The results showed that 3.8% (95%CI 2.17;5.45) of population were classified in the disabling hearing impairment category. The prevalence of moderate hearing impairment was 3.4%; severe impairment was 0.4%; and profound hearing impairment was not found. CONCLUSIONS The impairing hearing loss prevalence found in this study is within of the international prevalence for this level of hearing loss and smaller than observed in a previous study in the South region of Brazil.

Towards Oral Health Promotion

What is the concept of health? What is oral health? What is the concept of health and oral health promotion? Is there a prescription to follow for any individual or a population? Can this universal prescription be refined to serve both developed and developing countries as well as populations with social deprivation characteristics? Many other questions could be raised before the discussion of oral health promotion or health promotion, yet the fact is that oral health is an important part of general health (1). Previous studies have thoroughly documented the association between oral health and other health conditions as well as also oral health’s relation to quality of life (2, 3). However, health promotion cannot be targeted to only health sector efforts; intersectorial actions are necessary to make oral health more affordable. Therefore, it is not possible to improve oral health without assembling the evolution of the concept of health promotion.