Patricia Lima Ferreira Santa Rosa

WORK ABILITY OF HEALTH CARE SHIFT WORKERS: WHAT MATTERS?

This paper aims at identifying variables associated with inadequate work ability among nursing personnel at a public hospital, considering factors related to socio‐demographic, lifestyles, working conditions, and health outcomes. A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, as part of a larger research study on tolerance to 12 h night work. Nursing staff included registered nurses, nurse technicians, and nurse aides; in total, there were 996 healthcare workers (878 female; 118 male) at the time of the study. Some 696 workers (69.9%) of the population agreed to participate. Data collection (October 2004–July 2005) was based on a comprehensive questionnaire about living and working conditions (including incivility at work, work demands, work control, and support), mental and physical health symptoms (fatigue and sleep problems), and work ability. This report presents analyses of the adapted Brazilian version of the Work Ability Index (WAI) and associated variables. The study population worked one of the following shift schedules at this hospital: 12 h nights followed by 36 h off or 9 h or 6 h day (morning or afternoon) shifts. The mean age of the respondents was 34.9 (S.D.±10.4) years of age; 31.5% of the participants held two jobs. Statistical analyses using a hierarchical multiple logistic regression model were performed to evaluate the factors associated with inadequate (moderate and low scores) of the WAI. The significantly associated factors were socio‐demographic (income responsibility, sole breadwinner, raising kids, age group), working conditions (thermal discomfort, organization of the workplace, and verbal abuse), and health outcomes (high body mass index, obesity, sleep problems, and fatigue). In spite of limitations of the study design, results indicate that the nursing profession is associated with stressful working conditions, contributing to inadequate WAI. This is in addition to bad living conditions and precarious work. Intervention measures, either at the workplace or at individual levels, are necessary to prevent a decrease in work ability, even in this quite young working population.

Men’s perceptions and attitudes toward their wives experiencing menopause

ABSTRACT In this study, we explore men’s perceptions, experiences, and attitudes toward wives experiencing natural menopause. We interviewed 20 men using the oral history method. Descriptive categories of experiences, such as misconceptions about menopause overcome through coexistence and recognition of women’s perspectives; recognition of women’s needs and efforts to provide support; coping with changes in marital relations and need to start a new time in couple’s life; and existence of several needs as husbands of women experiencing menopause were explored. A better understanding by men about the changes experienced by menopausal women fosters the development of a better emotional support for their wives, which improves the quality of marital relations.In this study, we explore mens perceptions, experiences, and attitudes toward wives experiencing natural menopause. We interviewed 20 men using the oral history method. Descriptive categories of experiences, such as misconceptions about menopause overcome through coexistence and recognition of womens perspectives; recognition of womens needs and efforts to provide support; coping with changes in marital relations and need to start a new time in couples life; and existence of several needs as husbands of women experiencing menopause were explored. A better understanding by men about the changes experienced by menopausal women fosters the development of a better emotional support for their wives, which improves the quality of marital relations.

Satisfaction with the use of contraceptive methods among women from primary health care services in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

Objectives: to assess satisfaction with the use of contraceptive methods among women attending primary health care services in São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: cross-sectional study conducted with a sample of 668 women aged 18-49 years, who were enrolled in 38 primary health care facilities in São Paulo city, Brazil, in 2015. Exclusion criteria were no sexual initiation, use of irreversible contraceptive methods for more than five years, pregnancy and no contraceptive method use. Data were analyzed using chi-square and multivariate logistic regression. Results: in general, women were satisfied with current contraceptive method (78.7%). The higher percentage of satisfaction was observed among IUD users (94.7%), and female and male sterilization users (93.5% and 91.7%, respectively). Withdrawal users were less satisfied (52.9%). Contraceptive method itself was the only factor associated with satisfaction. Barrier or traditional method users were less likely to be satisfied with their contraceptive methods than irreversible method users. Conclusions: long acting contraceptive method and irreversible method users were more satisfied with their contraceptive methods. Efforts should be undertaken in order to make these contraceptives available and accessible in primary health care facilities in Brazil.

Use of medicinal plants by black women: ethnography study in a low-income community

Objetivo Explorar crencas, valores e praticas relativas ao uso das plantas medicinais entre familias negras de baixa renda. Metodo Pesquisa etnografica cujo processo de observacao participante foi desenvolvido em uma comunidade de baixa renda da periferia da Cidade de Sao Paulo. Vinte mulheres negras foram entrevistadas. Resultados Dois subtemas culturais, Uso remedios que aprendi a fazer com minha mae e com os religiosos para cuidar das doencas e Remedios caseiros servem para resolver problemas que nao sao graves, e o tema cultural Uso remedio caseiro para resolver doencas simples, pois tenho sempre que preciso, e de graca e nao precisa de receita medica representam as crencas, valores e praticas relativos ao uso das plantas medicinais entre familias negras de baixa renda. Conclusao O desenvolvimento dessas praticas, que pode estar mascarando vulnerabilidades etnicas e sociais, revela a resiliencia das mulheres negras de baixa renda no enfrentamento dos problemas que encontram no processo saude-enfermidade.

Uso de las plantas medicinales por las mujeres negras: estudio etnográfico en una comunidad de bajos ingresos

Objetivo Explorar crencas, valores e praticas relativas ao uso das plantas medicinais entre familias negras de baixa renda. Metodo Pesquisa etnografica cujo processo de observacao participante foi desenvolvido em uma comunidade de baixa renda da periferia da Cidade de Sao Paulo. Vinte mulheres negras foram entrevistadas. Resultados Dois subtemas culturais, Uso remedios que aprendi a fazer com minha mae e com os religiosos para cuidar das doencas e Remedios caseiros servem para resolver problemas que nao sao graves, e o tema cultural Uso remedio caseiro para resolver doencas simples, pois tenho sempre que preciso, e de graca e nao precisa de receita medica representam as crencas, valores e praticas relativos ao uso das plantas medicinais entre familias negras de baixa renda. Conclusao O desenvolvimento dessas praticas, que pode estar mascarando vulnerabilidades etnicas e sociais, revela a resiliencia das mulheres negras de baixa renda no enfrentamento dos problemas que encontram no processo saude-enfermidade.

Uso de plantas medicinais por mulheres negras: estudo etnográfico em uma comunidade de baixa renda

Objetivo Explorar crencas, valores e praticas relativas ao uso das plantas medicinais entre familias negras de baixa renda. Metodo Pesquisa etnografica cujo processo de observacao participante foi desenvolvido em uma comunidade de baixa renda da periferia da Cidade de Sao Paulo. Vinte mulheres negras foram entrevistadas. Resultados Dois subtemas culturais, Uso remedios que aprendi a fazer com minha mae e com os religiosos para cuidar das doencas e Remedios caseiros servem para resolver problemas que nao sao graves, e o tema cultural Uso remedio caseiro para resolver doencas simples, pois tenho sempre que preciso, e de graca e nao precisa de receita medica representam as crencas, valores e praticas relativos ao uso das plantas medicinais entre familias negras de baixa renda. Conclusao O desenvolvimento dessas praticas, que pode estar mascarando vulnerabilidades etnicas e sociais, revela a resiliencia das mulheres negras de baixa renda no enfrentamento dos problemas que encontram no processo saude-enfermidade.