Significancia Estadística en Ciencias de la Salud: Limitaciones y Alternativas / Statistical significance in the field of health sciences: limitations and alternatives

Introducción. La prueba de significancia de la hipótesis nula (PSHN) constituye la herramienta más usada para evaluar hipótesis científicas y tomar decisiones al respecto, en especial en ciencias de la salud. Sin embargo, por décadas ha estado en el centro del debate, ya que se han identificado varios problemas conceptuales y de interpretación. Se realizó una revisión de artículos científicos que ilustran las críticas de esta controversia y su relevancia en el ámbito de la investigación en salud. Algunas alternativas para la PSHN son una adecuada interpretación del valor p, uso de intervalos de confianza, incluir el tamaño del efecto y adoptar un marco de inferencia bayesiana. En todos los casos en que se utilice PSHN, su uso debe ser claramente justificado.

Background. Null hypothesis significance testing (NSHT) constitutes the most widely applied tool for the evaluation of scientific hypotheses and decision making in health sciences. However, the method has been the centre of a heated debate where various criticisms related to conceptual and interpretational problems. A review of scientific articles that illustrate the criticisms of this controversy and its relevance in the field of health research was carried out. Some alternatives for the NSHT are an adequate interpretation of the p-value, use of confidence intervals, including the effect size and adopting a Bayesian inference framework. In all cases where NSHT is used, its use should be clearly justified.

Aspectos de saúde mental investigados em policiais: uma revisão integrativa / The aspects of mental health investigated in the police: an integrative review

Resumo Esta revisão integrativa teve por objetivo identificar quais aspectos de saúde mental dos policiais têm sido mais investigados na literatura, considerando o período de 2012 a 2018. Foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados PubMed, LILACS, SciELO e PePSIC. Foram analisados 84 artigos, quanto a 4 categorias: características dos estudos; saúde mental dos policiais; fatores de risco para problemas mentais; e fatores protetivos e para desenvolvimento da saúde. A análise dos artigos mostrou que Estados Unidos e Brasil produziram mais sobre o tema e que depressão, estresse e transtornos de ansiedade foram as patologias mais frequentes nos artigos analisados. Fatores individuais e do trabalho associaram-se ao adoecimento e fatores protetivos e intervenções foram pouco investigados. Estudos futuros poderão abordar essas lacunas.

Abstract This integrative review aimed to identify which aspects of the police officers' mental health have been more investigated in the literature, considering the period from 2012 to 2018. We searched the PubMed, LILACS, SciELO and PePSIC databases. A total of 84 articles were analyzed in four categories: characteristics of the studies; mental health of police officers; risk factors for mental problems; and protective and health development factors. The analysis of the articles showed that the United States and Brazil were the countries with most production on the subject, and that depression, stress, and anxiety disorders were the most frequent pathologies in the analyzed articles. Individual and work factors were associated with illness and protective factors and interventions were scarcely investigated. Future studies may address these shortcomings.

Alternativa didáctica para estimular el pensamiento creativo de los profesores y estudiantes / Didactic alternative to stimulate the creative thinking of teachers and students

RESUMEN Fundamento: actualizar de forma constante los métodos, procedimientos y vías para resolver problemas, cuyas soluciones constituyen estereotipos de la estadística inferencial, los cuales no estimulan el pensamiento creador de profesores y estudiantes. Objetivo: ilustrar a través de la resolución de problemas de la estadística inferencial como estimular el pensamiento creador de los profesores de Bioestadística y los estudiantes de la carrera de Medicina. Métodos: se emplean los métodos teóricos: análisis-síntesis, inducción-deducción y abstracción-concreción. Construcción de curvas de la distribución normal, procesos de comprensión, explicación e interpretación. Se aplican métodos, procedimientos y algoritmos matemáticos y estadísticos. Resultados: se elabora una alternativa didáctica para estimular el pensamiento creativo de los profesores y estudiantes de la carrera de Medicina, la cual ilustra la importancia del tema: Introducción a la inferencia estadística. Se integran y se sistematizan conceptos de variable aleatoria, distribución normal, probabilidad, dominio de aceptación, dominio de rechazo, estimaciones puntuales, entre otras. Conclusiones: mediante situaciones de salud a enfrentar por el Médico General en su quehacer profesional, en las cuales se evidencien las necesidades de interpretar los errores de primero y segundo género: α y β. Se consolidan los conocimientos y habilidades relacionadas con los conceptos abordados en el tema: introducción a la estadística inferencial, mediante programas informáticos profesionales se visualizan los resultados alcanzados, según la modelación y la simulación matemática.

ABSTRACT Background: constantly update the methods, procedures and ways to solve problems, whose solutions constitute stereotypes of the inferential statistics, which do not stimulate the creative thinking of teachers and students in general. Objective: to illustrate, through the resolution of problems of inferential statistics, how to stimulate the creative thinking of the Biostatistics professors and the students of the Medicine degree. Methods: the theoretical methods used are analysis-synthesis, induction-deduction and abstraction-concretion. Construction of curves of the normal distribution, comprehension processes, explanation and interpretation. Mathematical and statistical methods, procedures and algorithms are applied. Results: a didactic alternative is elaborated to stimulate the creative thought of the professors and students of the Medicine degree, which illustrates the importance of the topic: Introduction to the statistical inference. Concepts of random variable, normal distribution, probability, acceptance domain, rejection domain, point estimates, among others, are integrated and systematized. Conclusions: health situations are created to be faced by the General Practitioner in his professional work that evidences the needs to interpret the errors of first and second gender: α and β. The knowledge and skills related to the concepts addressed in the subject are consolidated: Introduction to Inferential Statistics, through professional computer programs visualize the results achieved, according to modeling and mathematical simulation.

Características sociodemográficas y motivos de consulta de las personas atendidas en el Centro de Atención Psicológica de la Universidad de Costa Rica (2004-2013) / Socio-demographic Characteristics and Consultation Motives of Persons Attending the Psychological Services Center at the University of Costa Rica (2004-2013)

Resumen En este estudio se tuvo como objetivo sistematizar la información sociodemográfica y los motivos de consulta de las personas atendidas en el Centro de Atención Psicológica (CAP) de la Escuela de Psicología de la Universidad de Costa Rica. Para ello, se analizaron 743 expedientes correspondientes a personas atendidas entre los años 2004 y 2013. Se encontró un aumento del 1700% en la cantidad de casos atendidos, así como una mediana de 10 sesiones y de 56.5 días en cuanto al tiempo de espera. Poco más de la mitad de los expedientes pertenecieron a mujeres, y en su mayoría, correspondieron a personas en la adultez joven, infancia y adultez media, residentes de los cantones cercanos al CAP tales como San José, Montes de Oca, Goicoechea, Desamparados, Cartago y La Unión, y con diversidad de ocupaciones, aunque con preponderancia de quienes se dedicaban al estudio. Se encontró una amplia variedad de motivos de consulta que se agruparon en 20 categorías. Aunque ninguna de estas aglutinó más del 10%, los motivos de consulta en la mayoría de los expedientes correspondieron a las categorías relacionadas con el ámbito de familia o pareja (problemas familiares, problemas de disciplina o crianza, problemas de pareja, y separación o divorcio) y a las relacionadas con el componente emocional (alteración emocional, tristeza o depresión, y agresividad). Se presentan análisis adicionales de los motivos de consulta según sexo y edad.

Abstract This study aimed to systematize the socio-demographic information and consultation motives of those persons who attended the School of Psychology Psychological Services Center (CAP) at the University of Costa Rica. For this purpose, 743 files of patients who attended the CAP between 2004 and 2013 were analyzed. An increase of 1700% in the number of cases was found, along with a median of 10 sessions per consulting patient and 56.5 days of waiting time. Just over half of the cases were women, and most were from young adults, children and middle-aged adults, residents of cities nearby CAP such as San José, Montes de Oca, Goicoechea, Desamparados, Cartago and La Union, and with a variety of occupations, but with a preponderance of students. Furthermore, a wide variety of consultation motives was found, and they were grouped into 20 categories. Although none of these categories contains more than 10% of cases, most consultation motives correspond to categories related to the fields of the family or the couple (family problems, discipline problems or parenting, relationship problems, and break-up or divorce) and those related to the emotional component (emotional disturbance, sorrow or depression, and aggressiveness). Additional analysis of consultation motives by sex and age are presented.

National Natural Science Foundation-supported papers in the field of epidemiological methods and health statistics: A trend analysis / 中华医学图书情报杂志

The National Natural Science Foundation-supported papers in the field of epidemiological methods and health statistics since 1987 were analyzed by trend analysis in order to have a better understanding of the development,current situation and history in the field of epidemiological methods and health statistics,and provide reference for the selection of topics,approval of projects and optimization of supporting structure in the field of epidemiological methods and health statistics.

Criação de um banco de dados personalizado de baixo custo em um serviço público de reprodução humana / Created a customized database for human reproduction at a low cost for the public service

Todo serviço de reprodução humana necessita de um banco de dados para arquivar e manejar avaliações estatísticas. O serviço público de Reprodução Humana do Hospital Pérola Byington usava uma planilha Excel™ que se mostrou insuficiente para o adequado gerenciamento de informações, evidenciou a necessidade de um programa específico que facilitasse uma consulta rápida ao resumo dos ciclos de FIV, sem que houvesse qualquer probabilidade de erro no preenchimento e nas estatísticas posteriormente feitas. Considerando a inexistência de recursos para compra de um programa, tornava­se necessária a criação de uma plataforma a partir de um software de uso livre. Optamos por usar a plataforma fornecida pelo Centers for Disease Control and Prevention e assim originou­se o CRSMinfo, composto de formulários com subdivisões dos procedimentos, incluindo todas as informações relevantes para consulta e levantamento automatizado de dados. Seu uso mostrou­se extremamente eficiente, aprimorou os protocolos laboratoriais e possibilitou estudos e pesquisas.(AU)

Efficient software it's absolutely necessary for any human assisted reproduction (ART) lab. Perola Byington Public Hospital's ART center has used a spreadsheet in Excel with more than 200 columns for data storage of all in vitro fertilization cycles for years, making it very difficult to create complex statistics to analyze data and lead to quick statistic evaluation. Since we are working with a very tight budget, we selected an open source software created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and after months of programming we created CRSMinfo, which contains a form with subdivision of procedures, including all the information for research and automatic sorting of the data. The use of CRSMinfo software at Perola Byington Hospital has been extremely efficient, improving the protocols for the realization of studies and researches.(AU)

Tendencias y pronósticos de la hipertensión arterial en la provincia de Santiago de Cuba (2001-2015) / Tendencies and prognosis of high blood pressure in Santiago de Cuba (2001-2015)

Se realizó una investigación observacional, descriptiva y aplicada sobre los pacientes hipertensos de Santiago de Cuba, con análisis de series temporales, que abarcó desde enero de 2001 hasta diciembre de 2014. Las variables analizadas fueron la edad y el año de ocurrencia del proceso. Toda la información utilizada se obtuvo a través de los registros de pacientes dispensarizados en el modelo 241-476, certificados de defunción y bases de datos de mortalidad MortaProf, concernientes a los años de estudio y disponibles en el Departamento de Estadísticas de la Dirección Provincial de Salud del territorio. el diagnóstico de la hipertensión arterial en Santiago de Cuba constituye un gran problema de salud, evidenciado por una disminución de la incidencia y un aumento de las tasas de prevalencia, mortalidad y letalidad atribuibles a esa afección, cuyo pronóstico en cuanto a los indicadores de morbilidad y mortalidad apunta hacia un incremento en 2015.

An observational, descriptive and applied investigation on hypertensive patients in Santiago de Cuba was carried out with temporary series analysis that spanned from January, 2001 to December, 2014. The analyzed variables were the age and the year when the process occurred. All the used information was obtained through the patients records categorization in the 241-476 pattern, death certificates and MortaProf mortality databases, concerning the years of study and available in the Health Provincial Direction Statistics Department of the territory. The hypertension diagnosis in Santiago de Cuba constitutes a great health problem, evidenced by a decrease of the incidence and an increase of the prevalence, mortality and fatality rates attributable to that disorder whose prognosis as for the morbidity and mortality indicators points toward an increment in 2015.

Edentulism in Brazil: trends, projections and expectations until 2040 / Edentulismo no Brasil: tendências, projeções e expectativas até 2040

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the edentulism rates in Brazil and make projections for the next years. Data were collected from three national oral health surveys. The percentage of edentulous jaws was calculated. Projections were made for the years 2020, 2030 and 2040, assuming that edentulism follows a logistic function. Population projections were also performed. Annual change in proportion of edentulous jaws was -0.04% for teenagers, -0.96% for adults and 0.76% for the elderly. By 2040, edentulous jaws will be virtually zero among teenagers, 1.77% among adults and 85.96% among the elderly. Teenagers will slightly decrease in number; adults will increase and subsequently decrease; the elderly will continue to increase. In teenagers and adults, the number of edentulous jaws will decrease, being approximately 616,000 in 2040. In the elderly, it will increase alarmingly, reaching over 64 million in 2040. Edentulism is declining in Brazil among teenagers and middle-aged adults, but is still increasing and will continue to increase for the next decades among the elderly.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar as taxas de edentulismo no Brasil e fazer projeções para os próximos anos. Os dados foram coletados de três censos nacionais de saúde bucal. O percentual de arcadas edêntulas foi calculado. Foram feitas projeções para 2020, 2030 e 2040, assumindo que o edentulismo segue uma função logística. Também foram realizadas projeções populacionais. A variação anual da proporção de arcadas edêntulas foi de -0,04% para jovens, -0,96% para adultos e 0,76% para idosos. Até 2040, o percentual de arcadas edêntulas será virtualmente zero entre jovens, 1,77% entre adultos e 85,96% entre idosos. O número de jovens vai diminuir levemente; o de adultos vai aumentar e depois diminuir; e o de idosos vai continuar aumentando. Para jovens e adultos, o número de arcadas edêntulas vai diminuir, aproximando-se de 616.000 em 2040. Para os idosos, este número vai aumentar alarmantemente, alcançando mais de 64 milhões em 2040. O edentulismo está diminuindo no Brasil entre jovens e adultos, mas está aumentando e continuará a aumentar nas próximas décadas entre os idosos.

Investigation and analysis on status quo of health statistic personnel in Chongqing municipality / 重庆医学

Objective To understand the status quo of the health statistics human resources in Chongqing municipality. Methods The status quo of the health statistic human resources in Chongqing municipality was investigated by the national health statistics reporting system.The age,seniority,qualifications,specialty,job title,distribution,etc.in the health personnel were ana-lyzed by the SPSS17.0 statistical software.Results 74.89% of health statistic personnel were part-time workers.In the vast ma-jority of medical institutions,the number of health statistician was 1 or 2.As to the education background,73.50% of the total stat-istician number only got the junior college degree even below.Only 216 statistic personnesls′major fitted to the staff positions.Ba-nan district in the major city,Tongnan county and Dazu district in the west area,Wushan county in the east area,Dianjiang county and other counties in central area,and the new urban development area were relatively lack of human resources of the health statistic personnel.Conclusion The health statistic team in Chongqing municipality has low stability,inadequate staff and poor professional quality.The distribution of statistic personnel human resources is uneven among the five functional areas and various districts and counties.

Secular trends of premarital medical examination in China during 1996 and 2013 / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To describe the secular trends of premarital medical examination ( PME ) in China during 1996 and 2013 and to assess the impacts of national health policies on the PME rate. Methods:The information on marriage and PME for districts and counties in 31 provinces of China was annually collected by the Office for National Maternal & Child Health Statistics of China, and the infor-mation on the health policies was from official governmental websites. According to the main health poli-cies, the calendar years were categorized into 3 periods:1996 to 2003 was mandatory PME period;2004 to 2008 was encouraged voluntary PME period; and 2009 to 2013 was free-paid voluntary PME period. Results: During the 18-year period, 284 242 719 people were registered for a marriage in which 107 198 795 were examined, giving the PME rate of 37. 7%. During the mandatory PME period, the rate ranged 52 . 7% -67 . 7% with an average of 60 . 9% ( urban 71 . 5%, and rural 51 . 7%) . In 2004 , the first year when the PME became voluntary, the rate was abruptly dropped to 2. 6%, and thereafter gradually increased to 11 . 5% in 2008 . As the policies of the free-paid voluntary PME were subsequently issued, the rate was quickly increased to 52. 3% (urban 49. 8%, and rural 54. 6%) in 2013. The in-creasing trend was consistently observed both in urban and rural areas, and across East, Middle, West, and Northeast economical regions. However, the rates differed greatly among provinces. In 2013, 5 pro-vinces had rates of >90% ( Guangxi 97 . 5%, Fujian 96 . 0%, Ningxia 95 . 4%, Zhejiang 93 . 4% and Anhui 90. 1%), whereas some provinces were stuck at a low rate, including developed and underdeve-loped provinces/cities. The PME rate in 2013 was 27. 4% for Shanghai, 25. 5% for Guangdong, 12. 4%for Chongqing, 5. 8% for Beijing and 4. 6% for Tianjin. Underdeveloped provinces were Guizhou (6. 4%) and Qinghai (1. 8%). Conclusion:As various national policies to promote voluntary PME were issued, the PME rate was significantly increased after a sharp decline, though it varied greatly by provinces. For provinces with high PME rate, PME-related health benefits need to be evaluated;for provinces with low rate, it is of important practical significance to explore a cost-effective health service model that is likely incorporated with pre-pregnancy examination.

A comparative study on health statistical survey system between China and the United States of American / 预防医学

Objective To compare the difference on health statistical survey system between China and United States of American.Methods Four aspects in statistical agencies,legislation,survey items and health statistics information were compared.Results The system in China has its own characteristics,but it also faced with many challenges,including the relatively slow transfer and exchange of statistical information,the lack of legislation on data dissemination and sharing,the insufficient diversification of survey items and survey content.Conclusion The statistics information center of Ministry of Health should strengthen the management and coordination to ensure the data collection timely and accurately.The policies should be strengthened to protect data privacy and improve data dissemination.

Registro para la localización y caracterización de la discapacidad, en relación a los marcos de referencia / Local de inscrição e caracterização de deficiência em conexão com quadros de referencia / Registration for location and characterization of disability in connection with frames of reference

Objetivo: Analizar el Registro para la Localización y la Caracterización de las personas con discapacidad, en relación a los marcos de referencia. Metodología: Investigación de tipo descriptiva transversal, desarrollada entre los años 2009-2010 en la Universidad de Boyacá, que contempla la aplicación del registro en los municipios del departamento y posterior interpretación de la información, con análisis de contenido y estadístico descriptivo; este último, realizado con base en los datos suministrados por el Departamento Nacional de Estadísticas y por el Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, de los 123 municipios de Boyacá (42.705 registros), denominado “Análisis del Registro para la Localización y la Caracterización de las personas con discapacidad, en relación con los marcos de referencia en el departamento de Boyacá”. Resultados: La distribución de las preguntas del registro, se focalizan en detectar las características correspondientes al marco de protección social básica con el 58,42%, el cual se centra en la subsistencia, protección y afecto; con un 38,20% y en segunda instancia, se ubica el marco de compensación y cohesión social y finalmente, se encuentra el marco de equiparación y desarrollo local con un 3,37%. De igual forma, se observa que el predominio de las personas con discapacidad, es del sexo femenino mayor de 60 años, ubicada en el área rural dispersa, con bajos niveles de escolaridad y escasa participación laboral y social. Conclusiones: Se evidenció que la mayor cantidad de preguntas que contiene el registro, corresponden al marco denominado de protección social básica, que busca conocer las características sociodemográficas, funcionales y de salud de la población...

Produção da informação sobre mortalidade por causas externas: sentidos e significados no preenchimento da declaração de óbito / Production of information on mortality from external causes: meanings and significances in the filling out of death certificates

The study sought to understand the meanings and significances that physicians attribute to the Death Certificate (DO) and the implications of subjectivity in the production of information on mortality. Guided by qualitative research, semi-structured interviews and content analysis, techniques were chosen for understanding representations and experiences involved in the filling out of the DO. The results revealed that different meanings and significances are attributed to the DO depending on how death occurred, in accordance with the different attributes the document acquires from a practical standpoint, in terms of 'epidemiological' and 'legal' functions. The results suggest that the DO used as a technical and objective instrument for data collection and production of health statistics does not lack subjectivity, which turns it into an instrument that in the medical practice and social reality reflects cultural issues, the social position of the subjects who fill it out and their representations of death.

O estudo objetivou compreender os sentidos e os significados que os médicos atribuem à Declaração de Óbito (DO) e as implicações da subjetividade na produção da informação sobre mortalidade. Orientada pela pesquisa qualitativa, a entrevista semiestruturada e a análise de conteúdo foram eleitas como técnicas para compreensão das representações e experiências que envolvem o preenchimento da DO. Os resultados revelaram que diferentes sentidos e significados são imputados à DO dependendo da forma como o óbito ocorreu e de acordo com as distintas atribuições que esse documento adquire do ponto de vista prático, a exemplo das funções 'epidemiológica' e 'jurídico/legal'. Os resultados sugerem que a 'DO' utilizada como um instrumento técnico e objetivo para coleta de dados e produção de estatísticas de saúde, não é desconstituída de subjetividade, tornando-se, na prática médica e na realidade social, um instrumento que refletirá questões culturais, o lugar social do sujeito que a preenche e as suas representações sobre a morte.

Mortalidade masculina em três capitais brasileiras, 1979 a 2007 / Male mortality in three Brazilian State Capitals, 1979-2007

INTRODUÇÃO: No Brasil, verifica-se maior mortalidade masculina em praticamente todas as idades e na quase totalidade das causas. OBJETIVO: Estimar e descrever a tendência da mortalidade masculina, entre 1979 e 2007, em São Paulo (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ) e Porto Alegre (RS). MATERIAL E MÉTODO: As populações de estudo referem-se aos residentes nas três capitais, nos triênios 1979/81, 1990/92, 1999/2001 e 2005/07 e respectivos óbitos. As fontes de dados incluíram Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística e Sistemas de Informações em Saúde do Brasil. Calcularam-se os coeficientes de mortalidade gerais e específicos (brutos e padronizados). RESULTADOS: Verificaram-se declínio da proporção de crianças e de jovens e crescimento da proporção de idosos. Até 24 anos, os homens predominaram na população; a partir daí observaram-se maiores participações femininas e razões de sexos cada vez mais baixas, evidenciando, entre idosos, maior presença de mulheres, fato associado à elevada mortalidade masculina. Houve perda intensa de jovens por causas externas. Em 2005/07, este grupo correspondeu à principal causa de morte masculina até a faixa de 40-44 anos. Nos grupos etários seguintes, as doenças circulatórias foram a principal causa. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: As localidades evidenciam características de cidades em desenvolvimento, com redução da fecundidade, aumento da sobrevivência e envelhecimento populacional. As estimativas do elevado risco de morrer dos homens tornam clara sua vulnerabilidade, demandando ações que possibilitem redução da mortalidade por causas evitáveis, eliminando comportamentos de risco e incentivando ...

INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, there is a higher male mortality in almost all ages and causes. The objective is to estimate and describe the trend in male mortality, between 1979/2007, in three State Capitals (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre). METHODS: The study populations refer to the residents in the three cities, in 1979/1981, 1990/1992, 1999/2001 and 2005/2007, and their deaths. The data source was Health Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Overall (crude/standardized) and specific mortality coefficients were calculated. RESULTS: Up to 24 years, men predominate in the population; after, it has been observed higher female participation and gender ratios ever lower. This fact is associated with high male mortality and the intense involvement of young men with external causes. Throughout the series, these causes were responsible for large risk estimates of male death. In 2005/2007, this group was the leading cause of death in men until the age 40-44 years. In the following age groups, deaths by circulatory system diseases are the main cause. CONCLUSION: These capitals show features of a developing city, with reduced fertility, increased longevity and consequent trend to an aging population. Estimates of the men high risk of dying make clear their vulnerability. The intensity with these events occur demand actions that will reduce the mortality rates of preventable diseases and the men's risky behaviors. It is necessary that men adopt healthier lifestyles habits, thus increasing life expectancy and reducing the gender differences in mortalities. .

Mortalidade perinatal em hospitais do Estado de São Paulo: aspectos metodológicos e algumas características maternas e do concepto / Perinatal mortality in hospitals of the State of São Paulo: methodological aspects and some characteristics of mothers and conceptuses

OBJECTIVE: to verify perinatal mortality and its associated components in an investigation about the history of gestations/deliveries. METHODS: the study was carried out at six maternity hospitals in the State of São Paulo that were interested in participating in the research. The population was composed of 7,058 women, of whom 6,530 gave birth, the number of conceptuses was 6,602: 56 stillbirths and 6,546 live births, of which 28 died in the first week of life. Variables related to the mother, the pregnancy, the delivery and the conceptus were studied. RESULTS: the perinatal mortality coefficient was 12.7 per 1,000 births, 66.7% of the conceptuses were stillbirths and 33.3% were live births who died aged less than 7 days at the same hospital where they were born. Approximately 27% of the conceptuses were children of adolescent mothers and 44% of the mothers were primigravidae. Prenatal assistance was attended by 92% of the women, type of pregnancy showed 67.8% of preterm gestations with similar proportions for each one of the components. The coefficient for twin gestations was more than four times higher than the coefficient for mothers of singleton gestations. Regarding type of delivery, Cesarean sections corresponded to 31.1% of the total, and it is important to notice that there was a non-negligible amount of surgical deliveries in mothers whose product was a stillbirth. The coefficient according to sex was higher for males (1.8: 1), and as for birth weight, the highest proportion occurred among those who weighed less than 2,500g (67.9%). CONCLUSIONS: there was a relationship of the proportion of neonatal deaths in the first hours of life and the proportion of fetal deaths to the quality of the care offered in the women's pregnancy-puerperal cycle...

OBJETIVO: verificar a mortalidade perinatal e seus componentes associados em investigação sobre a história das gestações/partos. MÉTODO: o estudo foi feito em seis maternidades do Estado de São Paulo que manifestaram interesse em participar. A população foi composta de 7.058 mulheres, das quais 6.530 tiveram parto; o número de conceptos foi 6.602, sendo 56 nascidos mortos e 6.546 nascidos vivos, dos quais 28 morreram na primeira semana de vida. Variáveis relativas à mãe, à gravidez e ao parto e ao concepto foram estudadas. RESULTADOS: o coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal foi igual a 12,7 por mil nascimentos; 66,7% dos conceptos foram nascidos mortos e 33,3%, nascidos vivos, que morreram com menos de sete dias, no mesmo hospital em que nasceram. Cerca de 27% dos conceptos eram filhos de mães adolescentes e 44% eram primigestas. O pré-natal foi realizado por 92% das mulheres; o tipo de gestação mostrou 67,8% de gravidezes de pré-termo com proporções semelhantes para cada um dos componentes. O coeficiente para gestações duplas foi mais de quatro vezes o correspondente aos de mães de gestações únicas. Quanto ao tipo de parto, cesarianas corresponderam a 31,1% do total, sendo importante notar quantidade não desprezível de partos cirúrgicos em mães com produto nascido morto. O coeficiente segundo sexo mostrou-se maior no masculino (1,8: 1) e quanto ao peso ao nascer, a maior proporção ocorreu entre os que pesaram menos de 2.500g (67,9%). CONCLUSÕES: houve relação entre a proporção dos óbitos neonatais nas primeiras horas de vida e a de óbitos fetais com a qualidade da assistência oferecida no ciclo gravídico puerperal das mulheres...

Estudo ecológico sobre o desenvolvimento da saúde no Brasil / Ecological study on the development of health in Brazil

Avaliar o nível de saúde das Unidades da Federação (UF) do Brasil, por meio de um indicador sintético - Índice de Desenvolvimento da Saúde (IDS). O IDS foi composto pelas dimensões: (1) Recursos de saúde: disponibilidade e qualidade dos recursos de saúde; (2) Cobertura por atenção básica e saneamento; (3) Eficácia das políticas de saúde. Cada dimensão englobou um conjunto de indicadores obtidos em bases de dados nacionais. Em 2005, o Brasil apresentava nível intermediário de desenvolvimento da saúde, tendo progredido de patamares inferiores, desde 1999. A maioria das UF apresentava déficits em "recursos" e "cobertura". A dimensão da "eficácia" mostrou-se altamente desenvolvida em todo Brasil. Conclusões: A construção do indicador sintético IDS possibilitou constatar deficiências e disparidades significativas na disponibilidade e qualidade dos recursos de saúde, em grande parte do território nacional. Esses resultados podem auxiliar gestores de saúde no desafio de tornar a saúde pública universal.

The scope of this paper was to assess the health level in Brazilian states using the Health Development Index (HDI). The HDI consisted of the following dimensions: (1) Health resources: Availability and quality of health resources; (2) Primary Healthcare coverage and sanitation; (3) Effectiveness of health policies. Each dimension was composed of a set of indicators obtained from national databases. In 2005, Brazil had an intermediate level of development of health, having progressed from a low level in 1999. Most states had medium and low development, with deficits in resources and coverage. The dimension of effectiveness was highly developed nationwide. With the construction of a synthetic indicator (HDI) it was possible to detect that in most of the country there are severe deficiencies in the availability and quality of health resources. These results can help health managers to tackle the challenge of making public health universal.

Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sexuales en la provincia de Santiago de Cuba / Knowledge, attitudes and sexual practices in Santiago de Cuba province

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 3 559 personas (15-35 años de edad), con vistas a caracterizar los conocimientos, las actitudes y prácticas sexuales y su relación con las manifestaciones de las enfermedades de transmisión sexual y el sida en la provincia de Santiago de Cuba. De los integrantes de la casuística, 46,4 % de quienes iniciaron sus relaciones sexuales a los 10-14 años y 82,0 % de quienes las tuvieron con personas del mismo sexo, eran varones. Respecto al condón, 18,6 % de las mujeres y 17,6 % de los hombres refirieron haberlo usado en sus primeras relaciones sexuales; pero nunca lo utilizaron 31,8 y 30,2 % de los que practicaron coito anal y vaginal, respectivamente. Entre las prácticas sexuales predominaron la penetración vaginal (94,6 %) y el sexo oral (62,0 %). La tasa de no respuesta y no participación fue de 18 %, con un intervalo de confianza de 95 %.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 3 559 people (15-35 years old) was carried out, with the objective of characterizing the knowledge, attitudes and sexual practices and their relation to the manifestations of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS in Santiago de Cuba province. From the members of the case material, 46,4 % of those who began their sexual relations at 10-14 years and 82,0 % of those who began them with persons of the same sex, were males. Regarding condom, 18,6 % of the women and 17,6 % of the men, referred to have used it in their first sexual relations; but 31,8 and 30,2 % of those who practiced anal and vaginal coitus never used it. Among the sexual practices, vaginal penetration (94,6 %) and oral sex (62,0 %) prevailed. The rate for no answer and no participation was 18 %, with a confidence interval of 95 %.

Desigualdades nos indicadores de saúde da mãe e do recém-nascido, no Estado do Paraná / Inequalities in indicators of women and child's health in Paraná State, Brazil

Analisaram-se características dos nascimentos em municípios do Paraná, agrupados em municípios-sede e não-sede de Regional de Saúde (RS), segundo variáveis da mãe, do recém-nascido, da gestação e do parto, contidas no Sistema de Informação sobre Nascidos Vivos (Sinasc) de 2006. A razão de prevalência para mães adolescentes (RP=1,24), com baixa escolaridade (RP=2,02), partos não-hospitalares (RP=3,44), menos de quatro consultas de pré-natal (RP=1,22) e raça/cor não-branca (RP=1,71) indica risco para os residentes em municípios não-sede de RS. Por outro lado, o baixo peso ao nascer (RP=0,95), o parto cesáreo (RP=0,91) e a prematuridade (RP=0,87) foram mais frequentes para os residentes em municípios-sede de RS. Em municípios não-sede existe maior dificuldade de acesso a serviços de saúde, devendo os municípios-sede de RS reforçar a vigilância, especialmente aos municípios sob sua responsabilidade que apresentam indicadores considerados de risco à saúde da mulher e da criança.

The study analyzed birth characteristics in municipalities of the State of Paraná, grouped in Health Districts (HD) seat and non-seat municipalities, considering the mother, newborn, pregnancy and childbirths variables of 2006, obtained from the national System of Live Birth Information (Sinasc). The prevalence rate for adolescent mothers (PR=1.24), little schooling (PR=2.02), childbirths outside hospital (PR=3.44), less than four prenatal care appointments (PR=1.22) and African descendent race/color (PR=1.71) indicated risks for the residents in the group of non-seats municipalities. On the other hand, low birth weight (PR=0.95), cesarean deliveries (PR=0.91) and prematurity (PR=0.87) were more frequent among residents of HD seat municipalities. In these municipalities, the population may have less access to health care services, thus HD seat municipalities have to reinforce the surveillance, especially of those municipalities under their responsibility that presented greater risk to the health of children and women.