[Evaluation by HIV/AIDS specialists of risk of HIV infection in university students, based on different sex practices]. / Avaliação dos riscos da infecção pelo HIV segundo diferentes práticas sexuais na perspectiva de estudantes universitários e especialistas em HIV/AIDS.

To detect the beliefs concerning the risk levels related to several sexual practices/habits and the HIV infection among undergraduate students and to compare their opinion with the AIDS experts were the objectives of this study. A 25-item questionnaire (Likert Probability Scale) about sexual practices/habits were answered by undergraduate students enrolled in the courses of nursing, medical school, pharmacy-biochemistry, psychology. Based on Factorial analysis and by using the Varimax Rotation System, 25 patients were distributed in 7 factors, and 5 patients were excluded. From the 20 patients, 5 were reunited in 2 factors and studied in this paper. Factor X reunited the patients 1 (vaginal intercourse with condom) and 2 (anal sex with condom). In factor Y the patients included were: 3 (heterosexual intercourse), 4 (vaginal intercourse without condom) and 5 (anal intercourse without condom). In 80% of the 5 patients, it was observed that the students have knowledge similar to the experts"s evidences But, continuing education is necessary to these people, as human beings and as future health care givers to the HIV infected/AIDS patients.

[Preventive measures against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases known by students in the health field]. / Medidas preventivas contra a AIDS e outras doenças sexualmente transmissíveis conhecidas por universitários da área de saúde.

This study was carried out in to identify the preventive measures against Aids and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) that undergraduate health students predominantly know and to identify if there is a significant difference among the measures mentioned, considering the sex of subjects studied. A questionnaire was answered by health undergraduate students randomly selected. The results show that most of the items mentioned as preventive for Aids and other STD are important measures for their prevention. However, when data are analysed considering the frequency, that is the number of students that mentioned correct measures, we can observe that it is less than it was expected, what is very worrying. Another point observed in the results is that, there was no statistical difference, according to the sex of subjects studied. Data analysis evidence that knowledge of most undergraduate students is not enough, reinforcing the need to implement continuous specific educational actions.

[Information and education on sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS and human sexuality--a case report after 14 years of experience]. / Informação/educação em DST/AIDS/sexualidade humana--um relato de experiência de 14 anos.

The authors present their 14-year experience about Information/education on sexually transmitted diseases/Aids and human sexuality. They describe the actions implemented, emphasizing the positive and negative points. Concerning the positive results they mention the divulgation of information about preventive measures against HIV infection/Aids, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and human sexuality to several people from scientific and non scientific community. Another positive point is the transmission of knowledge gotten in such experiences at undergraduation and graduation teaching, as well as the development of research. Concerning the negative aspects, the difficult to evaluate the information actions, specially lectures was perceived, mainly because it is a communication tool basically unilateral. The authors mention some facts that historically influenced the implementation of the official actions.

[Hospital infections in teaching hospitals: analysis of their control]. / Infecção hospitalar nos hospitais escola: uma análise sobre seu controle.

The purpose of this study is to identify methodologies of vigilance and hospital infection control, to analyse nurse's actuation in the context of hospital infection control and to associate nurse's actuation on the control of hospital infection and the execution of nursing process. It is an analytic-descriptive study developed at 81 Commissions of Hospital Infection Control (CCIH) at School Hospitals from 21 Brazilian states through a questionnaire. The variables studied were: characteristics and functioning of CCIH; criteria to diagnose hospital infection; methods of data collection; types of epidemiological vigilance, prevention and control measures and nurse's participation. The analysis of data was qualitative and quantitative. The results showed that in the collection of data prevailed general vigilance (66.6%) and the association of passive and active methods (48.4%); 67 CCIH mentioned measures of prevention and control, related to urinary tract (54 CCIH) and to respiratory tract (21 CCIH). The antimicrobian control distinguishing the lack of resonance between the CCIH and the units personnel brings to the conclusion that the problems of hospital infection control are, in their essence, of philosophical, educational or administrative character. Authors evidenced the importance of the implementation of methodologies to facilitate the control of hospital infection, indicating that the adoption of nursing process, as an instrument, can result in benefits to CCIH and to patients.

[Communicable diseases and isolation: a nursing student's perceptions]. / Doenças transmissíveis e isolamento: a percepção de aluno de enfermagem.

The Communicable Diseases have been associated to stigma and segregation for a long time. This investigation was carried out in order to detect the undergraduation students' perception concerning communicable diseases and isolation, as well as their expectation in working at isolation units. A questionnaire was elaborated and then validated by 3 referees. We attested that some of these students have stereotyped and negative conotations concerning the bearer of such diseases and isolation. Just a few of them mentioned that they would choose this specific unit as the workplace. It is important for us, professors, to know their previous knowledgement about the concepts of communicable diseases and isolation, so that we can reinforce the positive features and work with the negative ones during the courses. It can contribute to prepare these students to give an effective nursing care without fears and stigmas.

[The trash collection service: occupational risks versus damages to health]. / O serviço dos coletores de lixo: riscos ocupacionais versus agravos à saúde.

The authors studied the kind of work a sample of 36 garbage collectors have been doing in a city of the State of São Paulo. A high frequency of occupational accidents and sick-due to health problem and some occupational risks was observed among them, and also that these worker haven't worn the individual protection equipment received, that probably contributes to such number of stop working.

[A scale of attitudes towards AIDS: a psychometric analysis]. / Escala de atitude frente à AIDS: uma análise psicométrica.

The objective of the present methodological study was to construct and validate a scale of attitudes of people concerning AIDS, to aid in the diagnosis of favourable and unfavourable attitudes and evaluation of educational programs related to AIDS. The steps followed to develop the Likert-type scale were: elaboration of items related to knowledge, feelings and reactions about AIDS; apparent validation and verification of content; application of the instrument in a sample of people; evaluation of the ability to discriminate the items; study of the internal reliability of the scale; factor analysis of the scale to establish the fundamental dimensions of the instrument. The final scale contained 25 items. This instrument showed a high coefficient of reliability and validity.

PIP: The objective was to construct and validate a scale of attitudes towards AIDS to be used in evaluating AIDS education programs. In Phase 1, a total of 129 statements were collected related to the cause of the disease, knowledge about AIDS, and evaluation of the carrier. The scale resembled the attitudes scale of Likert. Phase 2 entailed the validation of content by 10 professionals with more than 5 years of experience. Consequently, the initial scale of 129 items was reduced to 111 items. Phase 3 comprised the evaluation of discriminative power in Group A (78 military persons aged 18-20) and Group B (75 secondary school students aged 15-18). Only 7 out of 11 items represented significant differences between the two groups (p 0.05). Phase 4 involved the study of the coefficient of reliability of the scale using the coefficient of correlation of Pearson as corrected by the formula of Spearman-Brown. The correlation coefficient calculated between the scores obtained from responses of even items and odd items was 0.81 and that corrected by the Spearman-Brown formula was 0.90 (p 0.001), demonstrating a sufficiently significant correlation which indicated that the scale represented considerable equivalence or adequacy of the sample of items. Phase 5 consisted of factorial analysis. The first moment calculated the correlations of 77 items according to Pearson. The correlations between the subscales and between those and the total scores were significant at the level of p 0.001, mainly because of the large sample of 153 subjects. In the second moment, the 77-item scale was subjected to a factorial analysis which yielded 28 factors whose auto values were more than 1.0 according to the criteria of Kaiser. The third moment selected by the T-test of Student 25 final sub-category items: 6 in disease origin, 11 in knowledge of the disease, and 8 in evaluation of the carrier. The fourth moment again yielded 11 auto values larger than 1.0.

[Epidemiological expression of other sexually transmitted diseases among AIDS patients]. / Expressão epidemiológica de outras doenças sexualmente transmissíveis entre portadores de AIDS.

This study was carried out in order to estimate the frequency of other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among AIDS patients and to identify their epidemiological association and possible relations to the groups most exposed to the virus. The data were collected from the medical case histories and the STD were identified on the basis of data provided by anamnesis, physical examination and laboratory examinations. Of the total of HIV/AIDS patients assisted at the hospital studied (S. Paulo State, Brazil), between January 1986 and January 1992, 207 were included as sample subjects for this survey. Of the patients studied, 88 (42.5%) had some other STD and 119 (57.5%) had no other STD, equivalent to a proportion of 0.7 STD patients-STD to each non-STD patient. The most prevalent STD identified were hepatitis B (33.3%), syphilis (30.3%) and gonorrhoea (12.9%). Concerning the means of transmission by which the patients had probably been infected with HIV, blood transmission was the most prevalent (44.9%); followed by sexual contact (21.3%); sexual/blood (17.9%); in 25.9% it was undetermined. In a particular comparison of sexual and blood transmission and the presence of other STD a statistical difference in those cases that were exposed to sexual transmission was observed.

[Information theory as an instrument for research on verbal integration between the AIDS carrier and the nursing team]. / Teoria da informação como instrumento de pesquisa na integração verbal entre o portador de AIDS e a equipe de enfermagem.

The objective of this paper was to verify the use of variables included in the information Theory in study that deals with verbal interaction between AIDS patients and Nursing team. The results showed that the use of the variability calculation in data retained in SAVI matrix improves the statistical data and permit that the quality of the dialogue can be evaluated.

[Knowledge about AIDS among rural workers]. / O conhecimento sobre AIDS entre trabalhadores rurais.

The objective of the present study was to identify the knowledge rural workers have about AIDS in order to develop a specific educational projects. It was observed that part of the population which spontaneously participated in the study presented characteristics of misinformation and alienation about AIDS, as well as about situations that may pose risks to workers. On the basis of the responses obtained, an educational project about AIDS was elaborated to reach 1300 workers employed at a Sugar and Alcohol Mill.

PIP: The principal objective was to identify the knowledge that Brazilian rural laborers have about AIDS in order to develop a specific education project. The data were collected among sugar can cutters in a sugar and alcohol plant in the interior of the State of Sao Paulo. 96 workers were interviewed during their lunch hour using a pretested questionnaire. 81.3% were males and 18.7% were females with the majority of males (72.8%) aged 17-40 and females aged 21-40. 67.7% were married and only 3.1% were separated, cohabiting, or widowed. Concerning the question about the character of AIDS, 26 (27.1%) states that it was the disease that could not be cured, 25 (26%) did not know, 15 (15.6%) said it was dangerous, 10 (10.4%) said it was evil, 9 (9.4%) said it was to be feared, and 7 (7.3%) said it was cured and stubborn. As to the question about contracting AIDS, 42 (43.7%) said by sex, 28 (29.1%) did not know, 9 (9.4%) said by walking in the street with strangers, 6 (6.2%) said from dirt, 5 (5.2%) said from diseases blood, and 4 (4.2%) said from dirty needles. Regarding the question how to avoid AIDS, 24 (25%) said not to walk with anyone, 23 (23.9%) did not know, 16 (16.6%) said to use condoms, 12 (12.5%) said to use protection. 8 (8.3%) said to stay with the spouse, 7 (7.3%) said to be clever, 5 (5.2%) said not to have sex with anyone, and 2 (2.1%) said not to participate in hedonistic practices. In connection with the question if they believed in the existence of AIDS, 23 (23.9%) of men said yes, 26 (27.1%) said no, and 29 (30.3%) were not certain. Among women, 9 (9.4%) said yes, 5 (5.2%) said no, and 4 (4.1%) were not certain. These highly fragmented replied with the characteristics of misinformation about AIDS are also compatible with situations that could carry risks for the laborers. These data served as the basis of an education project involving 1300 laborers in the sugar plant during 4 weeks with the didactic means of a video film followed by group discussion about the subject.

[Risk of infections by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among health professionals]. / Risco de infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) em profissionais da saúde.

To investigate the occupational risk of infection by HIV among health professionals, 36 cases of occupational accidents involving exposure to material potentially infected with HIV, reported at a Brazilian General Hospital (HCFMRP), were studied. Of the injured workers 75% were female and 25% male (ranging from 23 to 49 years old) and just one of them had high-risk behavior of HIV infection. Of these health professionals, 52.8% were nursing auxiliaries, 19.4%, nurses, 13.9%, nursing attendants, 5.5%, laboratory technicians, 2.8% surgery instrumentalist, 2.8% accountants and 2.8% nursing technicians. In 47.2% of cases the workers had a parenteral exposure to blood (needlestick injuries). The right hand and fingers were the body areas most effected. The serologic test to detect HIV antibodies by the ELISA method was required of all the workers. The results were negative and no seroconversion was registered during the one year follow-up period. The professionals were retested one month, 2 months, 6 months and one year after the exposure. In conclusion, the risk of infection by HIV among health professionals of HCFMRP seems to be very low. Continuing education should be provided for health care workers with a view to reinforcing the use of universal precaution, especially those to prevent injuries caused by needles or other sharp instruments.

[The role of the nurse, the nurses' aide and the nurses' assistant in caring for the patient in communicable disease isolation]. / O papel da enfermeira, da auxiliar de enfermagem e do atendente de enfermagem na assistência ao paciente em isolamento de doenças transmissíveis.

The instrumental and expressive activities performed by nurses and nurse's aides in the caring given to patients carrier of communicable diseases and that were hospitalized in an isolation unit of a general hospital were surveyed. The authors concluded that nursing team performed more instrumental activities than expressive ones the nursing attendant was one who did the higher number of the first activities, followed by the nursing auxiliary and the nurse.

[Sexually transmitted diseases: concepts, attitudes and perceptions among dustmen]. / Doenças sexualmente transmissíveis: conceitos, atitudes e percepções entre coletores de lixo.

The concepts regarding sexually transmitted diseases (STD) of 41 (63.07%) dustmen of a country town in S. Paulo State, Brazil, are presented in order to provide support for the preparation of health education programmes on STD for this and similar populational groups. The data collected from interviews with these workers show that a considerable number of them have inadequate concepts about STD. These results demonstrate the lack of information and education on this subject, and the need to implement educational activities.

[Research, conferences and articles on hospital infection: the aspects addressed by nurses]. / Pesquisas, conferências e artigos em infecção hospitalar: aspectos abordados pelos enfermeiros.

The purpose of this paper is to study investigations that were developed by nurses and deal with Hospital Infection, in order to understand which features of this subject have been more emphasized. A retrospective survey was made, of the papers published in Brazilian Nursing Congresses and in Brazilian Periodicals of Nursing, from 1980 th 1987.

[Educational actions and sexually transmitted diseases]. / Ações educativas e doenças sexualmente transmissíveis.

Some historical aspects concerning the Sexually Transmissible Diseases are presented in this article, as well as the importance of the educational actions for the prevention and control of such diseases and the nurse and other health professional's educative function. The authors also present a sistematical propose of a basic course about Syphilis, Gonorrhoea and AIDS.

[Verbal interaction between the nursing team and the AIDS patient]. / Interação verbal entre a equipe de enfermagem e o paciente aidético.

3,336 verbal behaviors between 3 AIDS patients and a nursing team were analyzed. The pattern and priority areas of verbal behaviors which occur, according to the SAVI system, as well as the amount of information transmitted were determined. The results showed that the verbal behaviors ranged from relative ambiguity in terms of message clarity to clean and non-contradictory messages. The interaction tended to move away from stereotypy.