Conicity index as an indicator of abdominal obesity in individuals with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: The conicity index is indicated as a tool for assessing the nutritional status of renal individuals undergoing hemodialysis. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of abdominal obesity using the conicity index in individuals with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis to verify its association with sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with 941 individuals undergoing hemodialysis in a metropolitan area in southeastern Brazil. The conicity index was estimated and cutoffs of 1.275 and 1.285 for men and women, respectively, were used. For the analysis of the results, binary logistic regression was performed and the odds ratio (OR) was estimated with their respective confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: The conicity index was high in 56.54% of men (95% CI: 34.34-70.16) and 43.46% of women (95% CI: 38.45-55.20). We found that both adult men (OR = 3.71; 95% CI: 2.27-6.07) and adult women (OR = 4.06; 95% CI: 2.41-6.84) were more likely to have abdominal obesity, as well as self-declared mixed-raced (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.01-3.00) and single men (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.00-2.68). CONCLUSIONS: The conicity index is an important anthropometric indicator to estimate abdominal obesity in individuals with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.

Determinants of access to hemodialysis services in a metropolitan region of Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease has made it a public health issue. Research on access to hemodialysis services is fundamental for appropriate and assertive approaches to the disease. This study analyzed the factors that influence access to hemodialysis services, from the dimensions of availability, accessibility, and acceptability. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional census epidemiological study involving 1024 individuals in the Metropolitan Region of Brazil in 2019. Data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Factors that increase the chance of belonging to the lowest level of access were: age group from 30 to 59 years (OR 2.16, IC95% 1.377-3.383), female (OR 1.74, IC95% 1.11-2.72), and lower income or equal to two minimum wages (OR 1.80, IC95% 1.17-2.76); the factors medium coverage of the family health strategy or the gateway to public health policy in Brazil (OR 0.54, 95%CI 0.29-0.99), no previous conservative treatment (OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.38-0.91), lack of paid work (OR 0.35, 95%CI 0.15-0.85), retirement/sick leave (OR 0.27, 95%CI 0.12-0.64), and self-assessment of health status as bad or very bad (OR 0.62, 95%CI 0.40-0.96) reduced the chance of belonging to the lowest access level. CONCLUSION: Access to hemodialysis services in a metropolis in the southeastern region of Brazil is influenced by contextual, predisposing, enabling, and health needs characteristics. Those who are female, aged between 30 and 59 years, having an income less than or equal to 2 times minimum wage in Brazil, are at the lowest levels of access, which reinforces the role social determinants in health.

A population-based study of the relationship between advanced maternal age and premature/early-term birth in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To verify whether advanced maternal age (AMA), defined as women of ≥35 years, is associated with premature and early-term birth in Brazil, according to the onset of labor (spontaneous or provider-initiated). METHODS: Cross-sectional population-based study. The "Birth in Brazil" study interviewed 23 894 puerperal women between 2011 and 2012, in all regions of Brazil. The current analysis included 17 994 adult mothers and their newborns (15 448 aged between 20-34 years, and 2536 ≥ 35 years). A propensity score was used to assess the likelihood of AMA women giving birth to premature or early-term infants (spontaneous or provider-initiated) compared to women aged 20-34 years. To balance the groups, we used maternal, prenatal, and childbirth characteristics. RESULTS: The general prematurity rate was 10.24%, of which the majority of births were spontaneous (55.73%). Conversely, early-term births were more often provider-initiated (54.81%). AMA did not increase the chance of premature births, whether spontaneous or provider-initiated. However, AMA was associated with a higher rate of provider-initiated early-term birth (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.23-1.77). CONCLUSION: AMA alone does not contribute to premature birth; AMA's independent association with provider-initiated early-term birth may not be based solely on clinical indications.

Impacto das mensagens de texto para redução do absenteísmo às consultas especializadas: um estudo aleatorizado / Impacto de los mensajes de texto para reducir el absentismo en consultas especializadas: un estudio aleatorio / Impact of text messages to reduce absenteeism in specialized consultations: a aleatorized study

O objetivo deste estudo foi testar o impacto de um lembrete por mensagem de texto eletrônica, via WhatsApp®, sobre a taxa de absenteísmo nas consultas de subespecialidades pediátricas. Este estudo aleatorizado foi composto por um grupo controle e um experimental. Os participantes do grupo experimental receberam um aviso por WhatsApp® lembrando a data da consulta. Foram incluídos no estudo todos os usuários agendados (primeira vez e retornos) para consultas de subespecialidades pediátricas. Para as análises foi calculado os percentuais e realizou-se o teste Qui-quadrado de associação. Um total de 998 participantes foram incluídos para análise. A maioria dos participantes era do sexo masculino (59 porcent). A taxa de absenteísmo no grupo experimental foi de 24 porcent e no grupo controle, 25,5 porcent, representando uma diferença de 1,5 porcent (p= 0,580). A taxa de absenteísmo era particularmente mais alta para consultas agendadas na segunda-feira, com 30 porcent (p= 0,009). Globalmente, o uso de lembretes por mensagens de texto em estudos com diferentes populações reduz a taxa de absenteísmo. No entanto, nossas descobertas sugerem que o envio de mensagens de texto via WhatsApp® como lembretes de consulta não é uma ferramenta eficaz na redução do absenteísmo de subespecialidades pediátricas(AU)

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el impacto de un recordatorio a través de un mensaje de texto por WhatsApp® sobre la tasa de absentismo en las consultas de subespecialidades pediátricas. Este estudio aleatorizado fue compuesto por un grupo control y un grupo experimental. Los participantes del grupo experimental recibieron un recordatorio a través de WhatsApp® que rememoraba la fecha de la consulta. Todas las consultas programadas de la subespecialidad pediátrica, tanto las realizadas por primera vez como las siguientes, fueron incluidas en el estudio. Para el análisis fueron calculados los porcentajes mediante la prueba chi-cuadrado. Fueron incluidos 998 participantes en el análisis, de los cuales la mayoría eran hombres (59 por ciento). La tasa de absentismo del grupo experimental fue de 24 por ciento, mientras la del grupo control fue de 25,5 por ciento, lo que representa una diferencia del 1,5 por ciento (p= 0,580). La tasa de absentismo fue del 30 por ciento (p= 0,009), lo que resultó particularmente alta para las consultas programadas para los lunes. Generalmente los estudios que utilizaron mensajes de texto en diferentes poblaciones, como recordatorio, redujeron la tasa de absentismo de las consultas. Sin embargo, nuestros resultados sugieren que enviar mensajes de texto a través del WhatsApp® como recordatorio de consultas médicas no es una herramienta efectiva para reducir el absentismo en las subespecialidades pediátricas(AU)

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of WhatsApp® text messaging reminders on the rate of non-attendance to pediatric specialty consultation. Randomized examination was conducted of a control group and an experimental group. Participants in the experimental group received a WhatsApp® reminder of the appointment date. All the appointments scheduled for the pediatric subspecialty were included, i.e. first-time appointments as well as those following. Data analysis was based on percentage estimation by the chi-square test. A total 998 participants were included in the analysis, most of whom were men (59 percent). The non-attendance rate was 24 percent in the experimental group and 25.5 percent in the control group, for a difference of 1.5 percent (p= 0.580). The non-attendance rate was 30 percent (p= 0.009), particularly high for appointments scheduled for Mondays. In general terms, studies using text messaging as reminders in different populations reduced the rate of non-attendance to consultation. However, our results suggest that sending WhatsApp® text messages as reminders of medical appointments is not an effective tool to reduce non-attendance to pediatric consultation(AU)

Adverse childhood experiences and bullying in late adolescence in a metropolitan region of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences and bullying are factors associated with an increased risk of harmful outcomes to the physical and mental health of adolescents, which may affect their resilience. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the association between exposure to childhood adversities and bullying behaviors in late adolescence. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The study included adolescents in the 15-19 age range, enrolled in high schools located in a metropolitan region of Brazil. METHODS: School-based epidemiological survey with a sample of 2293 students, stratified by municipality of school location, with data collected between 2016 and 2017. Descriptive and inferential statistics were obtained through two instruments: Questionnaire on the History of Adversity in Childhood and Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire in adapted versions. RESULTS: A high percentage of students were exposed to at least one childhood adversity (89.9%). Among those exposed, 56.6% experienced one to three adversities and 33.3%, from four to ten adversities. The results showed that victims of bullying were more likely to have been exposed to childhood adversities (OR = 9.8, 95%CI = 5.94-16.10), as did the aggressors (OR = 5.8, 95%CI = 3.64-9.17). CONCLUSIONS: Students involved in bullying (victims and aggressors) were more likely to have been exposed to adversity during childhood. These findings highlight the need to address the causes of violence in order to provide healthy and safe development for children and adolescents, preventing negative outcomes to physical and mental health.

Diseases Neglected by the Media in Espírito Santo, Brazil in 2011-2012.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study were to identify and analyse the Diseases Neglected by the Media (DNMs) via a comparison between the most important health issues to the population of Espírito Santo, Brazil, from the epidemiological perspective (health value) and their effective coverage by the print media, and to analyse the DNMs considering the perspective of key journalists involved in the dissemination of health topics in the state media. METHODOLOGY: Morbidity and mortality data were collected from official documents and from Health Information Systems. In parallel, the diseases reported in the two major newspapers of Espírito Santo in 2011-2012 were identified from 10,771 news articles. Concomitantly, eight interviews were conducted with reporters from the two newspapers to understand the journalists' reasons for the coverage or neglect of certain health/disease topics. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Quantitatively, the DNMs identified diseases associated with poverty, including tuberculosis, leprosy, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and trachoma. Apart from these, diseases with outbreaks in the period evaluated, including whooping cough and meningitis, some cancers, respiratory diseases, ischaemic heart disease, and stroke, were also seldom addressed by the media. In contrast, dengue fever, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer, tracheal cancer, and bronchial and lung cancers were broadly covered in the period analysed, corroborating the tradition of media disclosure of these diseases. Qualitatively, the DNMs included rare diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), leishmaniasis, Down syndrome, and verminoses. The reasons for the neglect of these topics by the media included the political and economic interests of the newspapers, their editorial line, and the organizational routine of the newsrooms. CONCLUSIONS: Media visibility acts as a strategy for legitimising priorities and contextualizing various realities. Therefore, we propose that the health problems identified should enter the public agenda and begin to be recognized as legitimate demands.

[Pregnant Cards information and medical records of primary care on prenatal care]. / Informações dos cartões de gestantes e dos prontuários da atenção básica sobre assistência pré-natal.

PURPOSE: To determine the agreement between the information on pregnant cards and on primary care medical records about prenatal assistance in the city of Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. METHODS: A population study of 360 puerperal women living in this city was interviewed at three hospitals where the cards were copied. Prenatal care data were collected by reviewing the medical records at the city health unit. The information was collected, processed, and submitted to Kappa, Adjusted Kappa, and McNemar tests to check agreement and tendency to disagreement between the cards and the medical records. RESULTS: The levels of agreement within prenatal care were predominantly moderate (Kappa=0.4-0.6). There was a higher tendency to keep records of appointments on the cards (McNemar=22.3; p-value<0.01). Records of supplementation with folic acid and ferrous sulphate were kept more often on the medical records (McNemar=70.8 and 69.8, respectively; p-value<0.01). The tetanus vaccination coverage was about 50%. Clinical and obstetric procedures and laboratory tests were primarily recorded on the card. CONCLUSION: The medical records of primary care were underused as a tool for communication among health professionals, highlighting a precarious record keeping. The results suggest that thought be given to guarantee that the minimum procedures established by the Guidelines of Maternal and Infant Health are followed, and also to the importance of clinical record keeping in health services, since there is variation depending on the source of information.

[Adaptation of the process of prenatal care in accordance with criteria established by the Humanization of Prenatal and Birth Program and the World Health Organization]. / Adequação do processo de assistência pré-natal segundo critérios do Programa de Humanização do Pré-natal e Nascimento e da Organização Mundial de Saúde.

The scope of this article is to assess the adequacy of the process of prenatal care provided to users of the Unified Health System in the city of Vitória, in accordance with criteria established by the Humanization of Prenatal and Birth Program (PHPN) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The information on the prenatal care records of 360 pregnant women interned in public hospitals in the city at the time of delivery were assessed. The information was collected, processed and submitted to descriptive statistical analysis for calculations of absolute and relative frequencies and confidence intervals. None of the pregnant women were given entirely appropriate prenatal care in accordance with WHO criteria, and only 5% of pregnant women received prenatal care in line with PHPN. 44.7% of the women did not begin prenatal care until the 4th month. With respect to conducting technical procedures in the appointments, the main emphasis was on checking maternal weight (95.0%) and blood pressure (95.6%). The results indicate the need for a review of the number of prenatal appointments in the municipality and the adoption of strategies to meet the minimum criteria that need to be performed during prenatal care in public health services.

[Access to dental care during prenatal assistance]. / Acesso à assistência odontológica no acompanhamento pré-natal.

This study sought to evaluate the self-perceived response to dental care during prenatal assistance in the Unified Health System (SUS) in the Metropolitan Region of Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. 1032 postpartum women were interviewed and 1006 prenatal records copied. Postpartum women's self-perceived response was measured by the Oral Health Index Profile-14. When an impact was identified, dental care rendered in educational, preventive and curative terms was considered adequate. When there was no impact, assistance was considered adequate in educational and preventive terms. The Chi-square test revealed an association between prenatal care and dental care. Oral health impact on quality of life was 14.7%. Dental care received by mothers in educational terms was rated at 41.3%, while in preventive terms it was 21% and in curative terms it was 16.6%. Six or more prenatal appointments coupled with educational activities was closely associated with adequate dental care (p < 0.05). Access to dental care is facilitated when pregnant women attend health services and become involved in educational activities during the prenatal period. Consequently, educational measures appear to indicate an improvement in prenatal care in the SUS.