[Epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the city of Rio de Janeiro: changes after vaccination against B and C serogroups] / Epidemiologia da doença meningocócica na cidade do Rio de Janeiro: modificações após vacinação contra os sorogrupos B e C.

Meningococcal disease has been a serious public health problem in the city of Rio de Janeiro, with high attack rates among younger children, high case fatality rates, and predominance of serogroup B. In December 1994 the second vaccination drive against B and C meningococcal disease was performed with the objective of protecting children ages 6 months to 13 years. A total of 950 thousand children received 2 doses of vaccine produced by the Finlay Institute of Cuba. In 1995 a change was observed in the disease pattern with a predominance of serogroup C and a higher global attack rate, particularly among children under 1 year of age, teenagers, and young adults. In vaccinated groups the attack rate was lower than in 1994, due to a decrease in serogroup B. No change was observed in the case fatality rate.

[Reliability and accuracy of reported causes of death from cancer. I. Reliability of all cancer reported in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil] / Confiabilidade e validade dos atestados de óbito por neoplasias. I. Confiabilidade da codificação para o conjunto das neoplasias no Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

Mortality records are often used in epidemiological studies, particularly in cancer studies. This paper aims to evaluate reliability and accuracy of cancer mortality data in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A systematic random sample of 394 death certificates was obtained from a total of 12615 cancer deaths. This sample was recoded by an independent codifier. A kappa coefficient of 0.89 (95% C.I. 0.86-0.92) was obtained to the third digit, which increases to 0.95 (95% C.I. 0.94-0.96) when restricted to the mortality list used in international publications. The positive predictive value was 95.7% for this sample. These results reveal a high standard reliability of cancer mortality records in the State of Rio de Janeiro making them suitable for use in epidemiological research.

[Reliability and accuracy of reported causes of death from cancer. II. Accuracy of stomach cancer reported in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro County, Brazil] / Confiabilidade e validade dos atestados de óbito por neoplasias. II. Validação do câncer de estômago como causa básica dos atestados de óbito no Município do Rio de Janeiro.

Quality of data is a central concern in epidemiological studies, particularly when using secondary data. This study aims to carry out on reliability and accuracy of stomach cancer mortality data in the city of Rio de Janeiro. A simple random sample of 97 death certificates was obtained from a total of 645 stomach cancer deaths in 1990, and was used for validation. A questionnaire specifically designed to obtain clinical and laboratory data was completed for each case. Two physicians read this questionnaire and completed the new death certificates, allowing analysis of the instrument's reliability. A total of 86 cases were studied as a consequence of 11 losses (11.3%). Reliability analysis of questionnaires revealed 90.7% agreement according to stomach cancer diagnosis (kappa = 0.73). Accuracy was calculated by positive predictive value: 90.7%. Eight cases were discharged after clinical and laboratory revision. The study concludes that mortality data by stomach cancer in the city of Rio de Janeiro are very reliable, and that their level of accuracy is adequate for use in epidemiological studies.