Olga Maria Panhoca da Silva

A contribuição da vulnerabilidade na determinação do índice de desenvolvimento humano: estudando o estado de Santa Catarina

The concept of Human Development is grounded on the assumption that progress should not be measured just in economic terms, but must also encompass other social, cultural and political characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between vulnerability and human development, proposing an approach for attaining the fourth and fifth Millennium Goals, based on a study of municipalities in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The data were taken from the Human Development Atlas published in Portuguese by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Brazil during 20001 and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics - IBGE 8, 9. After a superficial analysis of this State, all the municipalities were analyzed in greater detail through the Municipal Human Development Index (HDI-M) ratings for their vulnerability indicators and components. The HDI-M ratings were scored by vulnerability variables, described in quartiles for each HDI-M. The HDI proved useful for the general description of the conditions in this State and distinguishing groups of municipalities. When broken out into groups, some indicators showed significant inequalities.

Levamisol não previne lesões de estomatite aftosa recorrente: um ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado por placebo

OBJECTIVE: to utilize a double-blind protocol to provide clarification about the safety and effectiveness of levamisole in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. METHODS: Fourteen patients took a decreasing dose of oral levamisole for six months (initial dose 150mg three times a week) and ten others were placebo control patients. All were evaluated monthly. RESULTS: The number of crises had a tendency to decrease in both groups, but without a difference between groups. The number of lesions diminished significantly in the two groups, but upon comparison the difference was not significant. Duration of the lesions diminished significantly in the placebo, however when compared to the levamisole group, difference was not significant during treatment. The intensity of pain was significantly lower in the two groups, but upon comparison, pain was significantly lower in the placebo group. The final global evaluation showed improvement in 50% of patients of the levamisole group and in 70% of the placebo, without a significant difference between treatments. No difference in the frequency of collateral effects was observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Levamisole, as used in this protocol, is a safe drug. When compared with the placebo, levamisole is not effective in the prophylactic treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The placebo effect is important in diseases where emotional factors affect recurrence or expression of symptoms.

CONDIÇÕES SANITÁRIAS NO OESTE DE SANTA CATARINA: CONSTRUINDO UM DIAGNÓSTICO DAS POPULAÇÕES RURAIS E PEQUENAS COMUNIDADES

Introduction: The concern about sanitary conditions and water quality has been described in the Millennium Development Goals by the UN. As part of this global context, it is important to diagnose the sanitary conditions of rural areas and small communities in Brazil. Objective: To diagnose the sanitary conditions in a municipality of Western Santa Catarina state. Material and Methods: This was a crosssectional population-based study carried out in the municipality of Palmitos, Western Santa Catarina state. The sample was self-weighted into two selection stages, census sector and households. A descriptive analysis of the variables was performed. Results: Three-hundred sixty-six participants over 15 years old from one-hundred thirty-six households were interviewed. Households had a well or a spring as the primary location of water collection; 13.1% had no channeling of the water into the house; in rural areas, the main destination for the bathroom and sanitary waste occurs is crude tanks; in addition, much of the garbage (40.7%) is burned in the houses. Conclusion: The conditions of use of drinking water, and the destination of the waste water (sewage) and household waste present polluting characteristics in need of educational and social intervention. Individual and public health may be affected by the lack of appropriate measures concerning the use of natural resources.