The current analysis has pointed out the importance of clinical and health service characteristics as potential indicators of non-adherence after initiating therapy. Early assessment and intervention strategies should be priorities in these AIDS public referral centres. Feasible and reliable indicators for the routine monitoring of adherence should be incorporated in clinical practice.

ResumoObjetivos: Determinar os índices de aleitamento materno exclusivo e complementado e identificar variáveis que interferem na prática da amamentação no município de Itaúna (MG). Resultados: A prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo no sexto mês foi de 5,3%, e de aleitamento materno aos 12 meses, 33,7%. A mediana de aleitamento materno exclusivo foi de 40 dias, e a mediana de aleitamento materno, 237 dias. A análise multivariada mostrou associação negativa (p < 0,05) entre o tempo de aleitamento materno exclusivo e as variáveis: intenção de amamentar (< 12 meses), peso do recém-nascido (< 2.500 g) e uso de chupeta. O menor tempo de aleitamento materno foi associado (p < 0,05) com idade materna (< 20 anos), número de consultas de pré-natal (< 5 e > 9 consultas), uso de álcool ou tabaco, tempo da primeira mamada (> 6 horas) e uso de chupeta. Métodos Conclusões

Interest in self-rated health (SRH) as a tool for use in disease and mortality risk screening is increasing. The authors assessed the discriminatory ability of baseline SRH to predict 10-year mortality rates compared with objectively measured health status. Principal component analysis was used to create a health score that included systolic blood pressure, presence of diabetes mellitus, body mass index, electrocardiographic parameters, B-type natriuretic peptide, and other biochemical and hematologic measures. From 1997 to 2007, a total of 474 of the 1,388 baseline participants died and 81 were lost to follow-up, yielding 11,833 person-years of observation. The adjusted hazard ratio for death was 1.74 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32, 2.29) for persons reporting poor health versus those reporting good health. When combined with age and sex, SRH had a C statistic to predict death equal to 0.69 (95% CI: 0.67, 0.71), which was comparable to that of the inclusive health score (C = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.72). The addition of other parameters, such as lifestyle, physical functioning, mental symptoms, and physical symptoms, had little effect on these 2 predictive models (C = 0.71 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.73) and C = 0.71 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.74), respectively). The abilities of the SRH and the health score models to predict death decreased in parallel fashion over time. These results suggest that older adults who report poor health warrant particular attention as persons who have accumulated biologic markers of disease.

The study identified higher use of medicines by women, making them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of polytherapy, such as drug interactions and inadequate use of medicines.

Objectives: To determine rates of exclusive breastfeeding and of complementary feeding and to identify variables that interfere with breastfeeding in the municipality of Itaúna, MG, Brazil.Methods: A longitudinal study was undertaken enrolling 246 women who gave birth at the maternity unit of the Manoel Gonçalves Hospital, in Itaúna, MG. The mothers and their infants were seen monthly for the first 12 months after birth or until they stopped breastfeeding. Survival analysis procedures were used to study the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and of complementary feeding. The impact on breastfeeding duration of a series of co-variables was assessed by means of Cox regression modeling. Results:The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months was 5.3%, and for breastfeeding at 12 months it was 33.7%. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 40 days, and median breastfeeding duration was 237 days. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a negative association (p < 0.05) between duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the following variables: intended breastfeeding duration (< 12 months), birth weight of child (< 2,500 g) and use of a pacifier. Shorter breastfeeding duration was associated (p < 0.05) with maternal age (< 20 years), number of prenatal consultations (< 5 and > 9 consultations), use of alcohol or tobacco, delay before first feed (> 6 hours) and use of a pacifier. Conclusions

No abstract

Renal transplant patients have the best quality of life of the three treatment modalities. It is necessary to increase access to renal transplants.

Missed opportunities for congenital syphilis and HIV perinatal transmission preventionOportunidades perdidas na prevenção da sífi lis congênita e da transmissão vertical do HIV ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of missed opportunities for congenital syphilis and HIV prevention in pregnant women who had access to prenatal care and to assess factors associated to non-testing of these infections. METHODS:Cross-sectional study comprising a randomly selected sample of 2,145 puerperal women who were admitted in maternity hospitals for delivery or curettage and had attended at least one prenatal care visit, in Brazil between 1999 and 2000. No syphilis and/or anti-HIV testing during pregnancy was a marker for missed prevention opportunity. Women who were not tested for either or both were compared to those who had at least one syphilis and one anti-HIV testing performed during pregnancy (reference category). The prevalence of missed prevention opportunity was estimated for each category with 95% confi dence intervals. Factors independently associated with missed prevention opportunity were assessed through multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS:The prevalence of missed prevention opportunity for syphilis or anti-HIV was 41.2% and 56.0%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that race/skin color (non-white), schooling (<8 years), marital status (single), income (<3 monthly minimum wages), having sex during pregnancy, history of syphilis prior to the current pregnancy, number of prenatal care visits (<6), and last prenatal visit before the third trimester of gestation were associated with an increased risk of missed prevention opportunity. A negative association with missed prevention opportunity was found between marital status (single), prenatal care site (hospital) and fi rst prenatal visit in the third trimester of gestation. CONCLUSIONS:High rates of non-tested women indicate failures in preventive and control actions for HIV infection and congenital syphilis. Pregnant women have been discontinuing prenatal care at an early stage and are failing to undergo prenatal screening for HIV and syphilis.