Evaluation of emergency contraception use among women receiving gynecological treatment in the Brazilian Amazon

INTRODUCTION: The use of a postcoital hormonal contraception regimen has been described and is known as emergency contraception (EC) or "the morning-after pill". The aim of this study was to evaluate the use and level of knowledge about emergency oral contraception (EC) among women attending the gynecology outpatient clinic of the Hospital Fundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia of the State of Pará, the second largest state in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 316 sexually active women, aged 18 to 50 years, who attended the gynecology outpatient clinic. Participants were included based on spontaneous demand between June and July 2012. Patients answered a questionnaire with 29 questions, including: age in years, educational attainment, knowledge about EC, and previous use of the method. The primary outcome was knowledge on EC use. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 31.84 years (SD ±8.00). As for their educational level, 46.84% of them had completed high school, and only 8.55% had higher education. Most of the women obtained information about EC through friends (48.61%, n = 152), and only 7.30% from their doctors. Although most participants (83.54%) reported to be aware of the method, only 0.63% reported that EC could be used up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse; 57.59% did not know how to use it; and 76.58% (n = 242) had never used the method. CONCLUSION: The women in our study seem to have a high level of knowledge and prevalence of use of emergency contraception, although few of them knew about the time limit for its use. They should receive more information about emergency contraception

Knowledge about emergency contraception among women referred for treatment at a university hospital in Brazil

BACKGROUND: Emergency contraception (EC) has many important indications. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of use and knowledge about the correct use of EC among women referred for treatment at a university hospital in Brazil. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of use and knowledge about the correct use of EC among women referred for treatment at a university hospital in Brazil. METHODS: Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings: The study was conducted with patients admitted to the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) from 2009 to 2010. Patients: Sexually active women aged 18 to 50 years. Interventions: Patients answered a questionnaire on the use of and knowledge about EC. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome: prevalence of knowledge about correct EC use. Secondary outcome: prevalence of EC use. RESULTS: 134 patients participated in this study. 61.2% of women reported regular use of birth control pills, 18.7% of condoms, 9.0% of other methods, 3.0% of intrauterine device, and 8.1% used no contraceptive method. As for EC, 86.5% of interviewees reported having knowledge about the method, and 43.1% of these reported knowing how to use EC. However, only 12.0% of interviewees correctly reported how EC should be used. The prevalence of EC use in our sample was 19.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Although most interviewees reported having some knowledge about EC, only a small number were able to accurately describe its proper use.

Taxas de infecção relacionadas a partos cesáreos e normais no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre / Rates of infection related to cesarean and vaginal delivery at HCPA

Introdução: Indicadores de gestão hospitalar são utilizados para mensurar quantitativamente a qualidade da gestão e proporcionam informações fundamentais para o seu controle. Esse estudo compara a taxa de infecção pós-parto relacionada aos partos cesáreo e vaginal. Embora o risco de infecção puerperal esteja presente em ambos os procedimentos, o risco é maior após o parto por cesariana, devido à natureza invasiva do procedimento. Objetivo: Comparar a taxa de infecção puerperal relacionada ao parto cesáreo com a taxa relacionada ao parto normal. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo, de caráter observacional, cujos dados foram coletados no Sistema de Indicadores de Gestão do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, abrangendo o período de janeiro de 2004 a dezembro de 2010. Resultados: A taxa de cesariana no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre foi de 32,55% durante o período investigado. Entre os nascimentos, durante o mesmo período, a taxa de infecção após partos por cesariana foi de 2,8%, e de 0,8% após partos vaginais (p < 0,001). Conclusão: A taxa de infecção associada à cesariana é maior do que a relacionada aos partos normais. A taxa de infecção de cesarianas vem diminuindo desde 2004, após esse hospital ter adotado como rotina a administração de antibiótico profilaxia durante a indução anestésica.

Introduction: Hospital management indicators are used to measure service quality and provide important information for quality control. This study compares the postpartum infection rate following cesarean and vaginal delivery. Although risk of infection is present in both procedures, the risk is higher after cesarean delivery because of the invasive nature of the procedure. Objective: To compare the rate of puerperal infection after cesarean and vaginal delivery. Methods: The data for this retrospective cohort study were collected from the Management Indicator System (IG) of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), covering the period from January 2004 to December 2010. Results: The rate of cesarean delivery at HCPA was 32.55% during the period investigated. Among births at HCPA during the same period, the infection rate after cesarean delivery and vaginal delivery was 2.8% and 0.8%, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: The rate of infection related to cesarean deliveries is higher than that related to vaginal deliveries. The infection rate of cesarean delivery has been declining since 2004 after the hospital adopted the routine administration of antibiotic prophylaxis during induction.