Márcia Carréra Campos Leal

O conhecimento sobre Aids de homens idosos e adultos jovens: um estudo sobre a percepção desta doença

The scope was to compare awareness of elderly males and young adults about aids, taking education into consideration. By means of an epidemiological, descriptive and cross-sectional study, the information of 30 elderly males and 62 young adults about the concept, transmission, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of aids was investigated by structured interviews based on a standardized and validated questionnaire. Frequency distribution, Chi-square test or Fishers exact test, as well as Students t test or the Mann-Whitney test were used, with a significance level of 0.05 for contingency and variance analysis. The Mantel-Haenszel test with a significance level of 0.05 and Odds Ratio with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine scholarship influence. Individual perception of good health was greater among young adults (61.3% vs 43.3% for elderly) and major sexual activity for elderly males was detected (80% vs 62.9% of young adults). Nevertheless, the elderly males declared adequate knowledge about aids less frequently (26.7% vs 80.6% of young adults); prior HIV test (13.3% vs 24.2% of young adults) and receiving orientation about aids (36.7% vs 98.4% of young adults). Elderly males had insufficient information on HIV/aids, when compared with young adults, highlighting the need to pay closer attention to the elderly population.

Violência contra idosos no ambiente doméstico: prevalência e fatores associados (Recife/PE)

The scope of this paper was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with domestic violence against the elderly. It is a cross-sectional study with 274 subjects, aged 60 years or more, of both sexes. Data were collected through interviews at home or in the USF based on a script structured in three parts: questionnaire with socio-demographic and bio-demographic information, two rating scales and a tool for identifying abuse. Among the respondents, 20.8% reported having experienced at least one type of violence in their home environment. An association was revealed between those living with a greater number of individuals, among women and elderly people who are dependent for day-to-day activities. After applying the logistic regression model, only the variables of sex and family configuration were significantly associated, with evidence of greater frequency among those who lived with six or more residents and women. These findings highlight the magnitude and seriousness of the problem and point to the need for action to combat violence against the elderly.

Association between social deprivation and causes of mortality among elderly residents in the city of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil

This paper aims to analyze mortality among elderly residents in the city of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, and its association with social deprivation (hardship) in the year 2000. An ecological study was performed, and 94 neighborhoods and 5 social strata were analyzed. The independent variable consisted of a composite social deprivation indicator, obtained for each neighborhood and calculated through a scoring technique based on census variables: water supply, sewage, illiteracy, and head-of-households years of schooling and income. The dependent variables were: mortality rate in individuals > 60 years of age and cause-specific mortality rates. The association was calculated by means of the Pearson correlation coefficient, linear regression, and mortality odds between social deprivation strata formed by grouping of neighborhoods according to the indicators quintiles. The data show a statistically significant positive correlation between social deprivation and mortality in the elderly from pneumonia, protein-energy malnutrition, tuberculosis, diarrhea/gastroenteritis, and traffic accidents, and a negative correlation with deaths from bronchopulmonary and breast cancers.

Fatores associados ao risco de quedas em idosos institucionalizados: uma revisão integrativa

The scope of this research is to identify the major risk factors associated with accidental falls among the elderly. It involves an integrative review of the literature between 2002 and 2012 in English and Portuguese. The selection of articles was based on the following key words in the Lilacs, Medline and BDENF databases: accidental falls, homes for the elderly and health services. In the final sample 19 articles were selected, of which 11 were national and 8 were international. They indicate that the major factors related to the risk of accidental falls in Homes for the Elderly are: being female, being diagnosed with chronic disease, treatment with benzodiazepine, earlier cases of accident falls, and mobility restriction. The research reveals that architectonic and furniture inadequacies in Homes for the Elderly may be predisposing factors for accidental falls. Analysis of the articles reveals the need for further longitudinal studies and, consequently, enhanced monitoring of the conditions of the functional capacity of the elderly, especially the risks related to falls, considered one of the leading causes of death among institutionalized elderly individuals.

Physical abuse of older people reported at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil

This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the profile of physical abuse against older people who underwent forensic examination at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. The cases, with data from 1,027 forensic reports, were described according to characteristics of the incident, victim, and aggressor. Most cases of violence were produced by mechanical energy, either with blunt objects or by empty-handed attack; the most common day of the week was Sunday, most frequently in the evening, and in the victims home; typical cases involved mild injuries on more than one part of the victims body. The majority of the victims were men, 60 to 69 years of age, brown (mixed-race), married or living with a partner, and retirees/pensioners. The majority of the aggressors were men, known to the victim, and attacking alone. The social transcendence of violence against older people clearly calls for investment in programs to deal with the problem in order to ensure better quality of life for the elderly.

Idosos: associação entre o conhecimento da aids, atividade sexual e condições sociodemográficas

PURPOSE: To verify the association between knowledge of Aids, sexual activity and social-demographic conditions in aged participants of a permanent education program at Brazil Northeast University. METHOD: Cross-sectional study, carried through from March to July 2006, included a sample of 165 aged people, by a simple non randomized sampling. Data collection was made with a half-structuralized interview. Aids knowledge was the dependent variable and included concept of illness, prevention, transmission, etiological agent, existence of treatment and cure impossibility. Socio-demographic data and sexual activity corresponded to the independent variable. For statistical analysis, with SPSS software, version 13.0, Pearson independence X² test and Kendall X² test were performed, adopting p< 0.05 for rejection of null hypothesis. RESULTS: Incomplete or incoherent answers of Aids knowledge and transmission corresponded to 71.5% and 52.7%, respectively. Condom use for prevention was reported by 56,9%, approximately 66% referred treatment existence for Aids and 66.7%, absence of cure. The etiological agent was identified by 64%. Socio-demographic data and sexual activity data were: age 59.3% (60-69 years), schoolarship 72% (more than 9 years of study), civil status 34.5% (married), income 45.5% (2-4 minimum wages), 24.8% with sexual activity. There was significant association (p< 0.01) between Aids knowledge and scholar level. CONCLUSIONS: Although these results cannot be generalized for the aged population, one can assume that level of knowledge on Aids is still precarious and distinguished by scholar level.

Fatores que interferem na sexualidade de idosos: uma revisão integrativa

The scope of this article is to analyze the scientific evidence addressing the factors that influence the sexuality of the elderly. It involved an online search carried out in pairs, including original articles published between 2006 and October 2011 in Portuguese, English or Spanish, which fulfilled the requirements of the study. The MEDLINE, LILACS, CidSaude and BDENF databases were used with the key words: sexualidade e idoso / sexuality and elderly / sexualidad y anciano. The articles selected were assessed for methodological quality using two instruments, namely CASP and the Hierarchical Classification of Evidence. After analysis, 15 articles were included in the review, which discuss the culture of asexuality of the elderly, whereby the experience of sexuality only prevails among younger people. The absence of the partner due to widowhood, attributing value to beauty standards of the young, the occurrence of disease, use of medication, and changes in sexual physiology were identified as important factors that influence the sexuality of the elderly. The conclusion drawn is that social and cultural factors, changes in body physiology, and the occurrence of disease interfere with the sexuality of the elderly, making it necessary for nursing professionals to be proactive in debunking myths and providing orientation.

Epidemiologia do uso de medicamentos entre idosos em area urbana do Nordeste do Brasil

OBJECTIVE To analyze medication use and associated factors among the elderly. METHODS A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 400 elderly people aged over 60 living in the urban area covered by the Family Health Strategy program in Recife, Northeastern Brazil in 2009. Individuals were selected by systematic random sampling and household data were collected. Demographic, socio-economic, lifestyle factors including nutrition practices and health variables were evaluated. Medication use was the independent variable. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis were performed. RESULTS The prevalence of medication use was 85.5%. Polypharmacy (> 5 drugs) occurred in 11% of cases. Of the 951 drugs reported, 98.2% were prescribed by doctors and 21.6% were considered unsafe for the elderly. The most commonly prescribed groups were: cardiovascular drugs (42.9%), central nervous system agents (20.2%) and drugs with an effect on the digestive tract and metabolism (17.3%). The use of polypharmacy was associated with education (p = 0.008), self-reported health (p = 0.012), self-reported chronic disease (p = 0.000) and the number of doctor appointments per year (0.000). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate a high proportion of medication use among the elderly, including of those considered unsuitable, and inequality among groups of elderly individuals regarding the use of medication, when education, number of doctor appointments and self-reported health are considered.OBJECTIVE To analyze medication use and associated factors among the elderly. METHODS A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 400 elderly people aged over 60 living in the urban area covered by the Family Health Strategy program in Recife, Northeastern Brazil in 2009. Individuals were selected by systematic random sampling and household data were collected. Demographic, socio-economic, lifestyle factors including nutrition practices and health variables were evaluated. Medication use was the independent variable. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis were performed. RESULTS : The prevalence of medication use was 85.5%. Polypharmacy (> 5 drugs) occurred in 11% of cases. Of the 951 drugs reported, 98.2% were prescribed by doctors and 21.6% were considered unsafe for the elderly. The most commonly prescribed groups were: cardiovascular drugs (42.9%), central nervous system agents (20.2%) and drugs with an effect on the digestive tract and metabolism (17.3%). The use of polypharmacy was associated with education (p = 0.008), self-reported health (p = 0.012), self-reported chronic disease (p = 0.000) and the number of doctor appointments per year (0.000). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate a high proportion of medication use among the elderly, including of those considered unsuitable, and inequality among groups of elderly individuals regarding the use ofmedication, when education, number of doctor appointments and self-reported health are considered.

Perfil de pacientes idosos e tempo de permanência em ambulatório geronto-geriátrico

Objective: To identify the profile of aged outpatients attended at the Nucleo de Atencao ao Idoso and the variables that interfere on duration of stay in the service. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional research was carried through, based on the analysis of 1,194 medical reports of aged outpatients attended from 2000 up to 2004. The variables were: socio-demographic data, clinical registers in medical evaluation and duration of stay of the aged outpatients at the clinic. A logistic regression was performed to analyze the relation between clinical variables and time of stay. Results: Women (76.5%) were more numerous than men (23.5%), in all age intervals. According to scholarship, 12.9% were illiterate and the most prevalent category (37.1%) had incomplete first degree. The number of aged widower women (38%) was three times those of widower men (12%). The majority of aged (94.4%) had a company of housing and 84.4% did not have health plan. The mean duration of stay in the service was 2 years and 8 months, with standard deviation of 1.5 years. The variables with major influence on duration of stay were: age, dizziness complaints, refractive, hearing and urinary disturbances, cataract, and bone fractures. Conclusions: According to the logistic regression, surgical history, hearing and urinary disturbances, as well as bone fractures contributed to increase duration of stay, but dizziness complaints, refractive disturbances and cataract reduced the stay of the elderly in the service.

Prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva e fatores associados entre idosos institucionalizados

Objective Determining the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors in institutionalized elderly.Methods Cross-sectional study that included 211 elderly from Brazil and 342 from Portugal, all residing in long-stay institutions. The survey instrument was the Geriatric Depression Scale.Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms was found among 49.76% of the elderly in Brazil and in 61.40% of the Portuguese seniors. The Brazilian elderly with depressive symptomatology have the single marital status, low number of years of study and gender as main associated factors. Among the Portuguese elderly, the main associated factor was the age over 70 years.Conclusion The prevalence of depressive symptoms was high and its early recognition may contribute to the quality of life of institutionalized elderly.