Rosa Maria Ferreiro Pinto

Utilização dos Centros de Atenção Psicossocial (CAPS) na cidade de Santos, São Paulo, Brasil

To report on the clientele treated at community mental health services (CAPS) in the city of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, a census was conducted of the patients examined at the services from June 1, 2001, to June 30, 2001. The patients initial contact with the service was registered, and data were recorded on a standardized form, using the medical case history as a source of information. Among the 1,673 patients, average age was 46 years, 59.0% were female, 58.0% lived with their families, and mean duration of treatment was three years. Some 38.0% were schizophrenic, schizotypical, or in acute delusional states, 31.0% presented mood disorders, and 17.0% were neurotic. Treatment modalities included out-patient psychiatric (81.0%), individual (23.0%), group (13.0%), and psychosocial rehabilitation (4.3%). In Santos, CAPS treat all categories of mental disorders (and frequently those considered the most severe cases) expected at this type of service. The treatment model is that of an out-patient psychiatric clinic.

Prevalence of potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae from Acanthamoeba and Naegleria genera in non-hospital, public, internal environments from the city of Santos, Brazil

Acanthamoeba and Naegleria species are free-living amoebae (FLA) found in a large variety of natural habitats. The prevalence of such amoebae was determined from dust samples taken from public non-hospital internal environments with good standards of cleanliness from two campuses of the same University in the city of Santos (SP), Brazil, and where young and apparently healthy people circulate. The frequency of free-living amoebae in both campuses was 39% and 17% respectively, with predominance of the genus Acanthamoeba. On the campus with a much larger number of circulating individuals, the observed frequency of free-living amoebae was 2.29 times larger (P< 0.00005). Two trophozoite forms of Naegleria fowleri, are the only species of this genus known to cause primary amoebian meningoencephalitis, a rare and non-opportunistic infection. We assume that the high frequency of these organisms in different internal locations represents some kind of public health risk.

Condição feminina de mulheres chefes de família em situação de vulnerabilidade social

O estudo efetuou uma aproximacao com a historia de mulheres residentes na regiao central de Santos para compreender sua condicao de vida, estrategias de sobrevivencia e representacoes sobre o papel feminino e a construcao de sua identidade como mulher. Utilizou-se da historia oral para captar os elementos mais significativos da trajetoria vivida por nove mulheres por meio de entrevistas realizadas no domicilio. A historia delas mostrou processos de rupturas e continuidades, a fragilidade da populacao sob o efeito dos processos de vulnerabilidade e exclusao, revelando a condicao feminina de mulheres em situacao de vulnerabilidade social.

Environmental analyses of the parasitic profile found in the sandy soil from the Santos municipality beaches, SP, Brazil.

The environmental contamination by geohelminths represents a world public health problem and has been well documented by several authors. However, few papers describe the presence of such contamination in saline soils of coastal beaches. A study was performed on the beaches of the municipality of Santos in the period between May 2004 to April 2005 with the aim of determining the degree of contamination, and the correlation between contamination level and seasonal conditions and characteristics of the environment. Of the 2,520 samples analyzed, 18.2% (458) were contaminated, 32.3% (148) of which were localized in childrens recreational areas (playgrounds). The parasite profile found in the analyzed samples indicated the presence of several zoonotic parasites: Ancylostoma larvae (82.5%), Toxocara sp. eggs (59.4%), Ancylostomidae-like eggs (37.1%), coccid oocysts (13.5%), Trichostrongylus sp. eggs and larvae, Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, (11.6%), Entamoeba sp. cysts (10.0%), Strongyloides sp. (4.8%), several free nematoids and some non-identified parasitic structures (3.3%). It was established that the highest frequency of parasitic structures occurred in the months between May and October 2004, and from February to March 2005. An increase in the diversity of parasitic forms was documented in the months between February to December 2004 and from January to April 2005, these periods having the highest rainfall.

Condições de vida de portadores de transtornos psicóticos vivendo em cortiços em Santos, SP

OBJETIVO: Descrever condicoes de vida e sociabilidade de portadores de transtornos mentais graves moradores de corticos. PROCEDIMENTOS METODOLOGICOS: Estudo qualitativo com moradores adultos de corticos da regiao central de Santos, SP, realizado em 2004-2006. Foram realizadas observacoes etnograficas em quatro corticos e entrevistas semi-estruturadas em profundidade com oito mulheres que conviviam com portadores de transtornos psicoticos. A forma de analise empregada foi a qualitativa fundamentada na Antropologia. ANALISE DOS RESULTADOS: Os corticos apresentaram caracteristicas especificas quanto a sociabilidade. As dificuldades com os pacientes psicoticos decorriam da quebra minima das regras minimas. Em um dos corticos, uma moradora agia como cuidadora dos pacientes e mantinha contato proximo com o servico de saude. Apesar do convivio cotidiano com os portadores, as participantes nao possuiam informacoes sobre o transtorno e os consideravam loucos, nervosos ou mentalmente fracos. Acreditavam que deveriam morar em outro local que nao o cortico. CONCLUSOES: A populacao moradora de corticos nao trata os portadores de transtorno psicotico de forma diferente da populacao geral, devido a desconhecimento, discriminacao e estigma. As condicoes de vida sao precarias para todos e nao sao diferentes para os moradores portadores de transtorno psicotico, exceto para aqueles que residiam na moradia coletiva com maior numero de pacientes, organizada em funcao deles e dependente economicamente de seus beneficios.OBJECTIVE To describe the living conditions and sociability among people with severe mental disorders living in slums. METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES A qualitative study was carried out among adults living in slums in the central region of Santos, Southeastern Brazil, conducted in 2004-2006. Ethnographic observations were made in four slum properties, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight women who were living with individuals with psychotic disorders. The analysis method used was qualitative, based on anthropology. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS The slum properties presented specific characteristics regarding sociability. The difficulties with psychotic patients came from breakage of the minimal rules. In one of the slum properties, one resident acted as a caregiver for the patients and kept closely in touch with the healthcare services. Despite day-to-day contact with such patients, the participants did not have any information about such disorders and believed that the patients were mad, nervous or mentally weak. They believed that such individuals should live in places other than the slum property. CONCLUSIONS The population living in these slum properties did not deal with the individuals with psychotic disorders any differently from the general population, because of lack of knowledge, discrimination and stigmatization. The living conditions were poor for everyone, without any difference for the residents with psychotic disorders, except for those living in the collective residence with a greater number of patients, which was organized around them and was economically dependent on their benefits.

Living conditions of people with psychotic disorders living in slums in Santos, Southeastern Brazil

OBJETIVO: Descrever condicoes de vida e sociabilidade de portadores de transtornos mentais graves moradores de corticos. PROCEDIMENTOS METODOLOGICOS: Estudo qualitativo com moradores adultos de corticos da regiao central de Santos, SP, realizado em 2004-2006. Foram realizadas observacoes etnograficas em quatro corticos e entrevistas semi-estruturadas em profundidade com oito mulheres que conviviam com portadores de transtornos psicoticos. A forma de analise empregada foi a qualitativa fundamentada na Antropologia. ANALISE DOS RESULTADOS: Os corticos apresentaram caracteristicas especificas quanto a sociabilidade. As dificuldades com os pacientes psicoticos decorriam da quebra minima das regras minimas. Em um dos corticos, uma moradora agia como cuidadora dos pacientes e mantinha contato proximo com o servico de saude. Apesar do convivio cotidiano com os portadores, as participantes nao possuiam informacoes sobre o transtorno e os consideravam loucos, nervosos ou mentalmente fracos. Acreditavam que deveriam morar em outro local que nao o cortico. CONCLUSOES: A populacao moradora de corticos nao trata os portadores de transtorno psicotico de forma diferente da populacao geral, devido a desconhecimento, discriminacao e estigma. As condicoes de vida sao precarias para todos e nao sao diferentes para os moradores portadores de transtorno psicotico, exceto para aqueles que residiam na moradia coletiva com maior numero de pacientes, organizada em funcao deles e dependente economicamente de seus beneficios.OBJECTIVE To describe the living conditions and sociability among people with severe mental disorders living in slums. METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES A qualitative study was carried out among adults living in slums in the central region of Santos, Southeastern Brazil, conducted in 2004-2006. Ethnographic observations were made in four slum properties, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight women who were living with individuals with psychotic disorders. The analysis method used was qualitative, based on anthropology. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS The slum properties presented specific characteristics regarding sociability. The difficulties with psychotic patients came from breakage of the minimal rules. In one of the slum properties, one resident acted as a caregiver for the patients and kept closely in touch with the healthcare services. Despite day-to-day contact with such patients, the participants did not have any information about such disorders and believed that the patients were mad, nervous or mentally weak. They believed that such individuals should live in places other than the slum property. CONCLUSIONS The population living in these slum properties did not deal with the individuals with psychotic disorders any differently from the general population, because of lack of knowledge, discrimination and stigmatization. The living conditions were poor for everyone, without any difference for the residents with psychotic disorders, except for those living in the collective residence with a greater number of patients, which was organized around them and was economically dependent on their benefits.

Farmácia: a porta de entrada para o acesso a medicamentos para idosos residentes em Santos

Abstract This study aimed to profile the consumption of drugs by seniors,with emphasis on the association between the most commonly purchased drugs of continueduse and other drugs without medical prescription,and to evaluate the social role of the pharmacist in private pharmacies.The method was qualitative research, of the comprehensive and expla -natory type, carried outin the city of Santos in 2008, inneighborhoods with high concentration of elderly people(IBGE 2000). In these neighborhoods, three private pharmacieswere identified.They authorized the conductionof the research for one week. During this period,interviews were performedbasedon a structured script.The results showed that the elderly mostly consumethe pharmacological classes of dru-gs ofcontinuous use: antihypertensives, antidiabetic drugs, diuretics and the antiplatelet agent.The main drugs acquired without medical prescription were: analgesics and antipyretics, anti-flu drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal medicines. Some of those who comprise this set could not have been acquired without prescription. The evidences point to the fact that self-prescribedconsumption, associa -ted with the utilizationof drugs of continuous use, is a common practice among the elderly.Keywords: Elderly; Use of Drugs; Medicine Without Prescription.

Condiciones de vida de portadores de trastornos psicóticos viviendo en habitaciones colectivas en Santos, Sureste de Brasil

OBJETIVO: Descrever condicoes de vida e sociabilidade de portadores de transtornos mentais graves moradores de corticos. PROCEDIMENTOS METODOLOGICOS: Estudo qualitativo com moradores adultos de corticos da regiao central de Santos, SP, realizado em 2004-2006. Foram realizadas observacoes etnograficas em quatro corticos e entrevistas semi-estruturadas em profundidade com oito mulheres que conviviam com portadores de transtornos psicoticos. A forma de analise empregada foi a qualitativa fundamentada na Antropologia. ANALISE DOS RESULTADOS: Os corticos apresentaram caracteristicas especificas quanto a sociabilidade. As dificuldades com os pacientes psicoticos decorriam da quebra minima das regras minimas. Em um dos corticos, uma moradora agia como cuidadora dos pacientes e mantinha contato proximo com o servico de saude. Apesar do convivio cotidiano com os portadores, as participantes nao possuiam informacoes sobre o transtorno e os consideravam loucos, nervosos ou mentalmente fracos. Acreditavam que deveriam morar em outro local que nao o cortico. CONCLUSOES: A populacao moradora de corticos nao trata os portadores de transtorno psicotico de forma diferente da populacao geral, devido a desconhecimento, discriminacao e estigma. As condicoes de vida sao precarias para todos e nao sao diferentes para os moradores portadores de transtorno psicotico, exceto para aqueles que residiam na moradia coletiva com maior numero de pacientes, organizada em funcao deles e dependente economicamente de seus beneficios.OBJECTIVE To describe the living conditions and sociability among people with severe mental disorders living in slums. METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES A qualitative study was carried out among adults living in slums in the central region of Santos, Southeastern Brazil, conducted in 2004-2006. Ethnographic observations were made in four slum properties, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight women who were living with individuals with psychotic disorders. The analysis method used was qualitative, based on anthropology. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS The slum properties presented specific characteristics regarding sociability. The difficulties with psychotic patients came from breakage of the minimal rules. In one of the slum properties, one resident acted as a caregiver for the patients and kept closely in touch with the healthcare services. Despite day-to-day contact with such patients, the participants did not have any information about such disorders and believed that the patients were mad, nervous or mentally weak. They believed that such individuals should live in places other than the slum property. CONCLUSIONS The population living in these slum properties did not deal with the individuals with psychotic disorders any differently from the general population, because of lack of knowledge, discrimination and stigmatization. The living conditions were poor for everyone, without any difference for the residents with psychotic disorders, except for those living in the collective residence with a greater number of patients, which was organized around them and was economically dependent on their benefits.