Célia Landman Szwarcwald

Avaliação das condições de atendimento do Programa de Saúde do Adolescente no Município do Rio de Janeiro

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of dental caries and need for treatment among 18 years-old males in Florianópolis, Southern Brazil. In addition, the associations between dental caries and socioeconomic conditions were tested. A cross sectional study was carried out. A random sample of 300, was selected from a list of Brazilian Army conscripts. Clinical data were collected according to World Health Organization criteria. Socioeconomic data (years of education of the subjects, their fathers and mothers and family income) were collected through interviews. The statistical significance of associations between socioeconomic indicators and dental caries prevalence were tested using the chi-square test whilst for severity of dental caries Mann-Whitney test was used. The prevalence of dental caries was 81% and the mean DMF-T was 4.5. The mean number of teeth that needed treatment was 1.2. Both dental status and treatment need were statistically significantly associated with socioeconomic indicators. Those with low levels of education and income experienced more disease and needed more treatment than those from high levels of education and income.

Mortalidade por armas de fogo no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: uma análise espacial

Mortality caused by firearms has been increasing at an alarming rate in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This study analyzes the gradual evolution of firearm mortality rates in this Brazilian state from 1979 to 1992, according to sex, age, and area of residence (capital city, metropolitan area, or the states interior), and uses spatial statistical techniques to describe the propagation of this firearm mortality epidemic in time and space. During the period analyzed, mortality due to firearms showed the greatest increase among 15- to 19-year-old male adolescents, with yearly rates ranging from 13 to 16%, according to area of residence. For children 10 to 14 years of age, mortality caused by firearms increased by 10% annually in the same period. The highest annual increase occurred in the states interior. At the beginning of the period studied, dissemination of firearm mortality was observed to follow a definite direction parallel to the federal road that runs along the east coast of the state. Between 1990 and 1992, however, the increase in deaths by firearms spread out in practically every direction. Empirical confirmation of a general expansion of firearm wound mortality contradicts the usual claim that violence is concentrated in areas of extreme poverty within Brazils largest cities. Programs for prevention and control of this epidemic should focus on its various aspects and take into consideration both collective issues (such as proliferation of firearms among persons involved with international firearm smuggling, increases in criminal activity, expansion of drug trafficking, and exclusion from social opportunities) and personal issues (relationships and interaction of young people with their families, schools, and social environment).

Condição de vida e mortalidade infantil: diferenciais intra-urbanos no Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

The objective of this study was to show infant mortality differentials in different areas of Recife, analyzing the relationship between living conditions and mortality risk. An ecological study design compared infant mortality coefficients in 1995 with living conditions indicators obtained from the 1991 National Demographic Census. Information on the 770 infant deaths and 27,965 live births were collected from death and birth certificates. Information on water supply, sanitation, garbage collection, literacy, schooling, income, and overcrowding were used to establish a compound indicator for living conditions, constructed through factor analysis. The neighborhoods were then ordered according to the level of living conditions and grouped in 4 clusters, through hierarchical cluster analysis. Infant, neonatal, and post-neonatal mortality coefficients were 23.94, 17.66, and 6.28, respectively, for cluster I; and 32.04, 20.24, and 11.80 for cluster IV. In general, an inverse relationship was found between infant mortality and living conditions in clusters from Recife, revealing inequalities that are disguised when coefficients are expressed as averages for the entire city.

Atualização da lista de causas de mortes evitáveis por intervenções do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil

Endereço para correspondência: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Coordenação-Geral de Doenças e Agravos Não Transmissíveis, Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco G, Edifício-sede, 1 Andar, Sala 142, Brasília-DF. CEP: 10058-900 E-mail: deborah.malta@saude.gov.br; cgdant@saude.gov.br Deborah Carvalho Malta Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil

Ill-defined causes of death in Brazil: a redistribution method based on the investigation of such causes

OBJECTIVE To propose a method of redistributing ill-defined causes of death (IDCD) based on the investigation of such causes. METHODS In 2010, an evaluation of the results of investigating the causes of death classified as IDCD in accordance with chapter 18 of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) by the Mortality Information System was performed. The redistribution coefficients were calculated according to the proportional distribution of ill-defined causes reclassified after investigation in any chapter of the ICD-10, except for chapter 18, and used to redistribute the ill-defined causes not investigated and remaining by sex and age. The IDCD redistribution coefficient was compared with two usual methods of redistribution: a) Total redistribution coefficient, based on the proportional distribution of all the defined causes originally notified and b) Non-external redistribution coefficient, similar to the previous, but excluding external causes. RESULTS Of the 97,314 deaths by ill-defined causes reported in 2010, 30.3% were investigated, and 65.5% of those were reclassified as defined causes after the investigation. Endocrine diseases, mental disorders, and maternal causes had a higher representation among the reclassified ill-defined causes, contrary to infectious diseases, neoplasms, and genitourinary diseases, with higher proportions among the defined causes reported. External causes represented 9.3% of the ill-defined causes reclassified. The correction of mortality rates by the total redistribution coefficient and non-external redistribution coefficient increased the magnitude of the rates by a relatively similar factor for most causes, contrary to the IDCD redistribution coefficient that corrected the different causes of death with differentiated weights. CONCLUSIONS The proportional distribution of causes among the ill-defined causes reclassified after investigation was not similar to the original distribution of defined causes. Therefore, the redistribution of the remaining ill-defined causes based on the investigation allows for more appropriate estimates of the mortality risk due to specific causes.OBJECTIVE To propose a method of redistributing ill-defined causes of death (IDCD) based on the investigation of such causes. METHODS In 2010, an evaluation of the results of investigating the causes of death classified as IDCD in accordance with chapter 18 of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) by the Mortality Information System was performed. The redistribution coefficients were calculated according to the proportional distribution of ill-defined causes reclassified after investigation in any chapter of the ICD-10, except for chapter 18, and used to redistribute the ill-defined causes not investigated and remaining by sex and age. The IDCD redistribution coefficient was compared with two usual methods of redistribution: a) Total redistribution coefficient, based on the proportional distribution of all the defined causes originally notified and b) Non-external redistribution coefficient, similar to the previous, but excluding external causes. RESULTS Of the 97,314 deaths by ill-defined causes reported in 2010, 30.3% were investigated, and 65.5% of those were reclassified as defined causes after the investigation. Endocrine diseases, mental disorders, and maternal causes had a higher representation among the reclassified ill-defined causes, contrary to infectious diseases, neoplasms, and genitourinary diseases, with higher proportions among the defined causes reported. External causes represented 9.3% of the ill-defined causes reclassified. The correction of mortality rates by the total redistribution coefficient and non-external redistribution coefficient increased the magnitude of the rates by a relatively similar factor for most causes, contrary to the IDCD redistribution coefficient that corrected the different causes of death with differentiated weights. CONCLUSIONS The proportional distribution of causes among the ill-defined causes reclassified after investigation was not similar to the original distribution of defined causes. Therefore, the redistribution of the remaining ill-defined causes based on the investigation allows for more appropriate estimates of the mortality risk due to specific causes.

Estimação da mortalidade infantil no contexto de descentralização do sistema único de saúde (SUS)

The article discusses strategies for estimating infant mortality in the decentralized Brazilian National Health System. It presents direct and indirect techniques for measuring infant mortality, the ways these can be applied and the methodological problems that arise. It further discusses the Ministry of Healths permanent life events information systems and the strategies for evaluating the adequacy of information for the calculation of infant mortality. These issues are set in the context of the new needs that have emerged from the decentralization of the Brazilian health system. Finally, it remarks on the challenge of direct estimation of infant mortality using Ministry of Health information systems in small-scale municipalities and the shortcomings of the data available.

Social inequalities in health behaviors among Brazilian adults: National Health Survey, 2013

BackgroundConsidering the high socioeconomic inequalities prevailing in Brazil and lifestyle as a strong determinant of morbidity and premature mortality, our purpose was to evaluate the degree of socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of health behaviors among Brazilian adult population using data from the 2013 Brazilian National Health Survey.MethodBased on a sample of 49,025 individuals aged 20 to 59 years, we estimated the prevalence of several health behaviors and a score of unhealthy behaviors according to gender, education, race/color and possession of private health insurance. The prevalence ratios adjusted by age and gender were estimated by means of multiple Poisson regression and the analyses took into account the sampling design.ResultsSignificant social inequalities were identified in the Brazilian adults. Higher prevalence of current smoking, leisure-time physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, whole milk consumption and low ingestion of greens, vegetables, and fruits were observed among the less educated, in the non-white population, and among those without private health insurance. Higher prevalence of heavy episodic drinking was found in the non-white population, but no difference in the consumption of fatty meat was found according to skin color. Score of unhealthy behavior higher than 6 was more frequent in lower educational strata (PR = 3.74) in the non-white population (PR = 1.39) and among those without private health insurance (PR = 1.78). Compared to women, men had higher prevalence rates of smoking, hazardous alcohol consumption, and fatty meat consumption and lower consumption of greens, vegetables and fruits.ConclusionThe results of the study emphasize the importance of monitoring social inequalities in health as part of national health policies and the urgent need to prioritize actions to promote healthy behaviors, especially among the most socially vulnerable segments of society.

Avaliação da cobertura de vacinação em Teresina - Piauí (Brasil - 1983)

The objective of the present study was to estimate the immunization coverage of polio, triplice, BCG and measles in children one year of age in the urban area of the municipality of Teresina (Piaui), in 1983. Two sampling methods were used. Henderson and Sundaresan1 and an adaptation of the first and the results were later compared. An analysis was carried out to discriminate those children who had completed their vaccinations from those who had failed to do so, based on social indicators such as education of the parents and number of residents and children in each household. Part of the study focused on the principal motives given by the mother for not having vaccinated their children.

Relationship between salt consumption measured by 24-h urine collection and blood pressure in the adult population of Vitória (Brazil)

High salt intake is related to an increase in blood pressure and development of hypertension. However, currently, there are no national representative data in Brazil using the gold standard method of 24-h urine collection to measure sodium consumption. This study aimed to determine salt intake based on 24-h urine collection in a sample of 272 adults of both genders and to correlate it with blood pressure levels. We used a rigorous protocol to assure an empty bladder prior to initiating urine collection. We excluded subjects with a urine volume <500 mL, collection period outside of an interval of 23-25 h, and subjects with creatinine excretion that was not within the range of 14.4-33.6 mg/kg (men) and 10.8-25.2 mg/kg (women). The mean salt intake was 10.4±4.1 g/day (d), and 94% of the participants (98% of men and 90% of women) ingested more than the recommended level of 5 g/d. We found a positive association between salt and body mass index (BMI) categories, as well as with salt and blood pressure, independent of age and BMI. The difference in systolic blood pressure reached 13 mmHg between subjects consuming less than 6 g/d of salt and those ingesting more than 18 g/d. Subjects with hypertension had a higher estimated salt intake than normotensive subjects (11.4±5.0 vs 9.8±3.6 g/d, P<0.01), regardless of whether they were under treatment. Our data indicate the need for interventions to reduce sodium intake, as well the need for ongoing, appropriate monitoring of salt consumption in the general population.

Tendência de fumantes na população Brasileira segundo a Pesquisa Nacional de Amostra de Domicílios 2008 e a Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde 2013

OBJECTIVE To compare current tobacco smoking prevalence in the Brazilian population and the federal states in adults (aged ≥ 18 years), using the National Household Survey 2008 and National Health Survey, 2013. METHODS Using data from two national surveys conducted in 2008 and 2013, the paper examines the current tobacco smoking prevalence in Brazil at the national level and at the federal state level. We calculated the percentage change for the period. RESULTS Overall, results show -19% reduction in current tobacco smoking prevalence from 18.5% (2008) to 14.7% (2013). Results also show a significant percentage decline in smoking prevalence across geographic regions and demographic characteristics including gender, race, age and education levels. The decline occurred in all regions, urban and rural areas, and in most states. The reduction was -17.5% for men and -20.7% for women, having occurred in all age groups, with the greatest reduction in the group from 25 to 39 years of age; in all categories of race/color, a higher prevalence was found among the blacks and browns. It also declined in all the levels of schooling, with a higher reduction in lower education levels. In 2013, the prevalence for people with less education was 19.7% and 8.7% for those with college degrees. CONCLUSION There was an average reduction of about 19% in tobacco consumption in Brazil and the Brazilian states in both sexes, all ages, and race color. Tobacco consumption in the country is one of the lowest in the world and has declined significantly, which can be attributed to the control policies, regulation, and prevention.