Rosa Lívia Freitas de Almeida

Estudo ecológico sobre os possíveis determinantes socioeconômicos, demográficos e fisiográficos do suicídio no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 1998-2002

Epidemiology has identified violence as a major worldwide public health concern. Suicide is classified as violence. This study analyzes the association between suicide and socio-demographic factors. The methodological design was ecological, using correlation techniques and backward multiple linear regression. Normality of the residuals in the final model was analyzed. Proportional mortality in relation to total deaths was identified as the best outcome for modeling (R(2) = 0.41). The resulting variables were: % Pentecostal religion, % single marital status in the population over 10 years of age, mean years of schooling, altitude of the municipality, % homes without latrines, % population over 10 years of age working in the educational sector, and % population over 10 years with per capita earnings up to one minimum wage. All these variables were statistically significant at 5%. The results support the idea of the influence of extrinsic causal factors in determination of suicide.

Via, homem e veiculo: fatores de risco associados a gravidade dos acidentes de transito

OBJETIVO Analizar las caracteristicas de las victimas, vias y vehiculos involucrados en accidentes de transito y los factores de riesgo de accidentes con ocurrencia de obito. METODOS Estudio de cohorte no concurrente considerando los accidentes de transito en Fortaleza, CE, de enero de 2004 a diciembre de 2008. Se utilizaron datos del Sistema de Informaciones de Mortalidad, del Sistema de Informaciones Hospitalarias y de los bases de datos de Licencia para conducir y Vehiculos del Departamento Estatal de Transito. Tecnicas de relacionamiento deterministico y probabilistico se aplicaron para integrar las bases de datos. Se efectuo el analisis descriptivo de las variables relacionadas con las personas, las vias los vehiculos y el tiempo. Se utilizaron los modelos lineales generalizados en la investigacion de los factores de riesgo para obito por accidente de transito. El ajuste del modelo fue verificado por la tasa de vero-semejanza y el analisis ROC. RESULTADOS Se registraron 118.830 accidentes en el periodo. Predominaron colision/choque (78,1%), atropellamientos (11,9%), choque con obstaculo fijo (3,9%), con motocicletas (18,1%). Ocurrieron obitos en 1,4% de los accidentes. Estuvieron independientemente asociados al obito por accidente de transito: bicicletas (OR= 21,2; IC95% 16,1;27,8), atropellamientos (OR= 5,9; IC95% 3,7;9,2), choque con obstaculo fijo (OR= 5,7; IC95% 3,1;10,5) y accidentes con motociclistas (OR= 3,5; IC95% 2,6;4,6). Los principales factores contribuyentes fueron envolvimiento de una unica persona (OR= 6,6; IC95% 4,1;10,73), presencia de conductores sin licencia para conducir (OR= 4,1; IC95% 2,9;5,5), un unico vehiculo involucrado (OR= 3,9; IC95% 2,3;6,4), sexo masculino (OR= 2,5; IC95% 1,9; 3,3), transito en vias de jurisdiccion federal (OR= 2,4; IC95% 1,8;3,7), horario madrugada (OR= 2,4; IC95% 1,8;3,0), y dia domingo (OR= 1,7; IC95% 1,3;2,2), todas ajustadas de acuerdo con el modelo log-binomial. CONCLUSIONES Las acciones de promocion y prevencion de accidentes en el transito deben enfocarse en accidentes con vehiculos de dos ruedas, que mas frecuentemente involucran una unica persona, sin licencia para conducir, del sexo masculino, en horarios nocturnos, en fines de semana y en las vias donde se desarrollan mayores velocidades.OBJECTIVE To describe the main characteristics of victims, roads and vehicles involved in traffic accidents and the risk factors involved in accidents resulting in death. METHODS A non-concurrent cohort study of traffic accidents in Fortaleza, CE, Northeastern Brazil, in the period from January 2004 to December 2008. Data from the Fortaleza Traffic Accidents Information System, the Mortality Information System, the Hospital Information System and the State Traffic Department Driving Licenses and Vehicle database. Deterministic and probabilistic relationship techniques were used to integrate the databases. First, descriptive analysis of data relating to people, roads, vehicles and weather was carried out. In the investigation of risk factors for death by traffic accident, generalized linear models were used. The fit of the model was verified by likelihood ratio and ROC analysis. RESULTS There were 118,830 accidents recorded in the period. The most common types of accidents were crashes/collisions (78.1%), running over pedestrians (11.9%), colliding with a fixed obstacle (3.9%), and with motorcycles (18.1%). Deaths occurred in 1.4% of accidents. The factors that were independently associated with death by traffic accident in the final model were bicycles (OR = 21.2, 95%CI 16.1;27.8), running over pedestrians OR = 5.9 (95%CI 3.7;9.2), collision with a fixed obstacle (OR = 5.7, 95%CI 3.1;10.5) and accidents involving motorcyclists (OR = 3.5, 95%CI 2.6;4.6). The main contributing factors were a single person being involved (OR = 6.6, 95%CI 4.1;10.73), presence of unskilled drivers (OR = 4.1, 95%CI 2.9;5.5) a single vehicle (OR = 3.9, 95%CI 2,3;6,4), male (OR = 2.5, 95%CI 1.9;3.3), traffic on roads under federal jurisdiction (OR = 2.4, 95%CI 1.8;3.7), early morning hours (OR = 2.4, 95%CI 1.8;3.0), and Sundays (OR = 1.7, 95%CI 1.3;2.2), adjusted according to the log-binomial model. CONCLUSIONS Activities promoting the prevention of traffic accidents should primarily focus on accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles that most often involves a single person, unskilled, male, at nighttime, on weekends and on roads where they travel at higher speeds.

Widespread nasal carriage of Mycobacterium lepraeamong a healthy population in a hyperendemic region of northeastern Brazil

A case-control study was conducted to determine the presence of Mycobacterium leprae DNA in nasal secretions of leprosy cases and nonleprosy individuals in Fortaleza, Brazil. It included 185 cases identified by physicians at the Dona Libânia National Reference Centre for Sanitary Dermatology (CDERM). A control group (Co) (n = 136) was identified among individuals from CDERM not diagnosed as leprosy cases. To augment the spatial analysis of M. leprae specific repetitive element (RLEP) positive prevalence, an external group (EG) (n = 121), a convenience sample of healthy students, were included. Polymerase chain reaction for the RLEP sequence was conducted for all participants. Prevalence of RLEP positivity for cases and Co were 69.2% and 66.9%, respectively, significantly higher than for EG (28.1%), and reported elsewhere. Male sex, belonging to a lower socioeconomic status (D/E), history of a previous contact with a case and being older, were associated with being a leprosy case. Our geographical analysis demonstrated that the bacillus is widespread among the healthy population, with clusters of RLEP positive multibacillary cases concentrated in distinct areas of the city. Our results suggest that in endemic areas, as in Fortaleza, surveillance for both nonhousehold leprosy contacts and members of the general population living in cluster areas should be implemented.

Man, road and vehicle: risk factors associated with the severity of traffic accidents

OBJETIVO Analizar las caracteristicas de las victimas, vias y vehiculos involucrados en accidentes de transito y los factores de riesgo de accidentes con ocurrencia de obito. METODOS Estudio de cohorte no concurrente considerando los accidentes de transito en Fortaleza, CE, de enero de 2004 a diciembre de 2008. Se utilizaron datos del Sistema de Informaciones de Mortalidad, del Sistema de Informaciones Hospitalarias y de los bases de datos de Licencia para conducir y Vehiculos del Departamento Estatal de Transito. Tecnicas de relacionamiento deterministico y probabilistico se aplicaron para integrar las bases de datos. Se efectuo el analisis descriptivo de las variables relacionadas con las personas, las vias los vehiculos y el tiempo. Se utilizaron los modelos lineales generalizados en la investigacion de los factores de riesgo para obito por accidente de transito. El ajuste del modelo fue verificado por la tasa de vero-semejanza y el analisis ROC. RESULTADOS Se registraron 118.830 accidentes en el periodo. Predominaron colision/choque (78,1%), atropellamientos (11,9%), choque con obstaculo fijo (3,9%), con motocicletas (18,1%). Ocurrieron obitos en 1,4% de los accidentes. Estuvieron independientemente asociados al obito por accidente de transito: bicicletas (OR= 21,2; IC95% 16,1;27,8), atropellamientos (OR= 5,9; IC95% 3,7;9,2), choque con obstaculo fijo (OR= 5,7; IC95% 3,1;10,5) y accidentes con motociclistas (OR= 3,5; IC95% 2,6;4,6). Los principales factores contribuyentes fueron envolvimiento de una unica persona (OR= 6,6; IC95% 4,1;10,73), presencia de conductores sin licencia para conducir (OR= 4,1; IC95% 2,9;5,5), un unico vehiculo involucrado (OR= 3,9; IC95% 2,3;6,4), sexo masculino (OR= 2,5; IC95% 1,9; 3,3), transito en vias de jurisdiccion federal (OR= 2,4; IC95% 1,8;3,7), horario madrugada (OR= 2,4; IC95% 1,8;3,0), y dia domingo (OR= 1,7; IC95% 1,3;2,2), todas ajustadas de acuerdo con el modelo log-binomial. CONCLUSIONES Las acciones de promocion y prevencion de accidentes en el transito deben enfocarse en accidentes con vehiculos de dos ruedas, que mas frecuentemente involucran una unica persona, sin licencia para conducir, del sexo masculino, en horarios nocturnos, en fines de semana y en las vias donde se desarrollan mayores velocidades.OBJECTIVE To describe the main characteristics of victims, roads and vehicles involved in traffic accidents and the risk factors involved in accidents resulting in death. METHODS A non-concurrent cohort study of traffic accidents in Fortaleza, CE, Northeastern Brazil, in the period from January 2004 to December 2008. Data from the Fortaleza Traffic Accidents Information System, the Mortality Information System, the Hospital Information System and the State Traffic Department Driving Licenses and Vehicle database. Deterministic and probabilistic relationship techniques were used to integrate the databases. First, descriptive analysis of data relating to people, roads, vehicles and weather was carried out. In the investigation of risk factors for death by traffic accident, generalized linear models were used. The fit of the model was verified by likelihood ratio and ROC analysis. RESULTS There were 118,830 accidents recorded in the period. The most common types of accidents were crashes/collisions (78.1%), running over pedestrians (11.9%), colliding with a fixed obstacle (3.9%), and with motorcycles (18.1%). Deaths occurred in 1.4% of accidents. The factors that were independently associated with death by traffic accident in the final model were bicycles (OR = 21.2, 95%CI 16.1;27.8), running over pedestrians OR = 5.9 (95%CI 3.7;9.2), collision with a fixed obstacle (OR = 5.7, 95%CI 3.1;10.5) and accidents involving motorcyclists (OR = 3.5, 95%CI 2.6;4.6). The main contributing factors were a single person being involved (OR = 6.6, 95%CI 4.1;10.73), presence of unskilled drivers (OR = 4.1, 95%CI 2.9;5.5) a single vehicle (OR = 3.9, 95%CI 2,3;6,4), male (OR = 2.5, 95%CI 1.9;3.3), traffic on roads under federal jurisdiction (OR = 2.4, 95%CI 1.8;3.7), early morning hours (OR = 2.4, 95%CI 1.8;3.0), and Sundays (OR = 1.7, 95%CI 1.3;2.2), adjusted according to the log-binomial model. CONCLUSIONS Activities promoting the prevention of traffic accidents should primarily focus on accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles that most often involves a single person, unskilled, male, at nighttime, on weekends and on roads where they travel at higher speeds.

The historic data series on AIDS in the state of Ceará, Brazil

This study describes the historic records on AIDS in the Brazilian state of Ceará, with analysis by gender, age group and race. It is a descriptive, retrospective, ecological study, analyzing 7,896 notifications of cases of AIDS, of people aged 13 and above, resident in the Ceará, over the period 2001 through 2011. Percentage occurrences and other data were calculated based on the variables gender, age group and race. Average and comparison tests were made, considering p < 0.05 and the trend line. There is a progressive increase in the number of cases. The majority of cases are in men. The ratio between the sexes falls from 2003 through 2007, but the number of women is still lower overall in the period. Higher rates of occurrence were found between the ages of 30 and 39, and of those with black-white mixed-race skin color (80%). Based on the variables studied in the series that was analyzed, the results indicate a need for differentiated strategies in prevention and control of the disease in the state.

Social determinants and their interference in homicide rates in a city in northeastern Brazil

OBJECTIVE This paper aims to analyze the possible relationship between social determinants and homicide mortality in Fortaleza (CE), Brazil. METHOD To investigate whether the rate of mortality by homicides is related to social determinants, an ecological study with emphasis on spatial analysis was conducted in the city of Fortaleza. Social, economic, demographic and sanitation data, as well as information regarding years of potential life lost, and Human Development Index were collected. The dependent variable was the rate of homicides in the period 2004 to 2006. In order to verify the relationship between the outcome variable and the predictor variables, we performed a multivariate linear regression model. RESULTS We found associations between social determinants and the rate of mortality by homicides. Variables related to income and education were proven determinants for mortality. The multiple regression model showed that 51% of homicides in Fortaleza neighborhoods are explained by years of potential life lost, proportion of households with poor housing, average years of schooling, per capita income and percentage of household heads with 15 or more years of study. The coefficients for years of potential life lost and households with poor housing were positive. CONCLUSION The findings indicate that the mortality by homicide is associated with high levels of poverty and uncontrolled urbanization, which migrates to the peripheries of urban centers.

Presence of Mycobacterium leprae genotype 4 in environmental waters in Northeast Brazil

INTRODUCTION: This study quantified Mycobacterium leprae bacilli in environmental water samples from five municipalities in the State of Ceará by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and compared the identified genotypes with those obtained from leprosy patient biopsies. METHODS: We collected five replicas from each of the 30 selected reservoirs and skin lesion biopsies from 25 new leprosy cases treated at a reference center in Fortaleza, Ceará from 2010 to 2013. The 16S rRNA gene region of M. leprae was amplified by qPCR and a standard curve was created with the pIDTBlue 16SrRNAMlep plasmid. The Juazeiro do Norte water samples and the biopsies were genotyped (single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] 1 to 4) and the SNP 4 genotypes were subtyped. RESULTS: Of the 149 water samples analyzed, 54.4% were positive for the M. leprae DNA. The M. leprae bacilli copy number ranged from 1.42 × 10 -1 to 1.44 × 10 + 2 . Most biopsies showed SNP type 4 (64%), while all samples from Juazeiro do Norte were SNP type 4, with subtype 4-N appearing at the highest frequency. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that environmental waters containing M. leprae bacilli play an important role in disease transmission, justifying PGL-1 seropositivity in individuals living in areas where there is no reported case, and in leprosy cases individuals who report no previous contact with other case. Therefore, further investigation is needed to clarify disease transmission in this region and to explore the role of the environment. We also suggest that in this area surveillance for leprosy cases should be intensified.

Genotyping comparison of Mycobacterium leprae isolates by VNTR analysis from nasal samples in a Brazilian endemic region

Abstract This study analyzed the genetic diversity by MIRU-VNTR of Mycobacterium leprae isolates from nasal cavities and related to epidemiological and clinical data. The sample consisted of 48 newly diagnosed leprosy cases that tested positive for M. leprae PCR in nasal secretion (NS) attending to the National Reference Center of Dermatology Dona Libania (CDERM), Fortaleza, Brazil. Total DNA was extracted from NS of each patient and used for amplification of four M. leprae VNTR loci. Four clusters of M. leprae isolates were formed with identical genotypes. In the spatial analysis, 12 leprosy cases presented similar genotypes organized into 4 clusters. The most common genotypes in the current study was AC8b: 8, AC9: 7, AC8a: 8, GTA9: 10, which may represent a genotype of circulating strains most often in Ceará. A minimum set of four MIRU-VNTR loci was demonstrated to study the genetic diversity of M. leprae isolates from NS.

Genotyping of Mycobacterium leprae for better understanding of leprosy transmission in Fortaleza, Northeastern Brazil

Leprosy is endemic in large part of Brazil with 28,761 new patients in 2015, the second largest number worldwide and reaches 9/10.000 in highly endemic regions and 2.7/10.000 in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Northeast Brazil. For better understanding of risk factors for leprosy transmission, we conducted an epidemiologic study supplemented by 17 locus VNTR and SNP 1–4 typing of Mycobacterium leprae in skin biopsy samples from new multibacillary (MB) patients diagnosed at a reference center in 2009 and 2010. Among the 1,519 new patients detected during the study period, 998 (65.7%) were MB and we performed DNA extraction and genotyping on 160 skin biopsy samples, resulting in 159 (16%) good multilocus VNTR types. Thirty-eight of these patients also provided VNTR types from M. leprae in nasal swabs. The SNP-Type was obtained for 157 patients and 87% were of type 4. Upon consideration all VNTR markers, 156 different genotypes and three pairs with identical genotypes were observed; no epidemiologic relation could be observed between individuals in these pairs. Considerable variability in differentiating index (DI) was observed between the different markers and the four with highest DI [(AT)15, (TA)18, (AT)17 and (GAA)21] frequently demonstrated differences in copy number when comparing genotypes from both type of samples. Excluding these markers from analysis resulted in 83 genotypes, 20 of which included 96 of the patients (60.3%). These clusters were composed of two (n = 8), three (n = 6), four (n = 1), five (n = 2), six (n = 1), 19 (n = 1) and 23 (n = 23) individuals and suggests that recent transmission is contributing to the maintenance of leprosy in Fortaleza. When comparing epidemiological and clinical variables among patients within clustered or with unique M. leprae genotypes, a positive bacterial index in skin biopsies and knowledge of working with someone with the disease were significantly associated with clustering. A tendency to belong to a cluster was observed with later notification of disease (mean value of 3.4 months) and having disability grade 2. A tendency for lack of clustering was observed for patients who reported to have lived with another leprosy case but this might be due to lack of inclusion of household contacts in the study. Although clusters were spread over the city, kernel analysis revealed that some of the patients belonging to the two major clusters were spatially related to some neighborhoods that report poverty and high disease incidence in children. Finally, inclusion of genotypes from nasal swabs might be warranted. A major limitation of the study is that sample size of 160 patients from a two year period represents only 15% of the new patients and this could have weakened statistical outcomes. This is the first molecular epidemiology study of leprosy in Brazil and although the high clustering level suggests that recent transmission is the major cause of disease in Fortaleza; the existence of two large clusters needs further investigation.

Natural environmental water sources in endemic regions of northeastern Brazil are potential reservoirs of viable Mycobacterium leprae

BACKGROUND The detection of live Mycobacterium leprae in soil and animals other than humans suggests that the environment plays a role in the transmission of leprosy. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of viable M. leprae in natural water sources used by the local population in five municipalities in the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. METHODS Samples were collected from 30 different sources. Viable bacilli were identified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the M. leprae gyrA gene and sequencing of the PCR products. Physicochemical properties of each water source were also assessed. FINDINGS M. leprae gyrA mRNA was found in 23 (76.7%) of the water sources. No association was found between depth of the water and sample positivity, nor was there any association between the type of water used by the population and sample positivity. An association between viable M. leprae and temperature and pH was found. Georeferencing showed a relation between the residences of leprosy cases and water source containing the bacterium. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The finding of viable M. leprae in natural water sources associated with human contact suggests that the environment plays an important role in maintaining endemic leprosy in the study region.