This study aimed to characterize women's socioeconomic and epidemiological profile in Uberaba according to the breast cancer screening practice and identify associated factors with this practice. This is a cross-sectional research part of the Women's Health Survey in Uberaba (MG). Data was collected by home interview, referring to socioeconomic and epidemiological issues and breast cancer screening practice, from a sample of 1,520 women above 20 years of age. After processing the data, we performed statistical analysis with measures of association by the Chi-square test, bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression, with a significance level of 5%. The results showed a profile of breast cancer screening practice with white women (66%), high schooling and per capita income, in common-law marriage (67,5%), non-heads of households (64,4%) and non-smokers (64,6%). Factors associated with higher practice were the age groups 40-49 and 50-69 years (PR = 0.7 and 0.64), per capita income higher than one minimum wage (PR = 1.17) and public or health plan mammography coverage (PR = 1.98 and 1.94). We can conclude that factors associated with breast cancer screening practice have been identified in the studied sample.

Objective The frequent occurrence of inconclusive serology in blood banks and the absence of a gold standard test for Chagas'disease led us to examine the efficacy of the blood culture test and five commercial tests (ELISA, IIF, HAI, c-ELISA, rec-ELISA) used in screening blood donors for Chagas disease, as well as to investigate the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among donors with inconclusive serology screening in respect to some epidemiological variables. Methods To obtain estimates of interest we considered a Bayesian latent class model with inclusion of covariates from the logit link. Results A better performance was observed with some categories of epidemiological variables. In addition, all pairs of tests (excluding the blood culture test) presented as good alternatives for both screening (sensitivity > 99.96% in parallel testing) and for confirmation (specificity > 99.93% in serial testing) of Chagas disease. The prevalence of 13.30% observed in the stratum of donors with inconclusive serology, means that probably most of these are non-reactive serology. In addition, depending on the level of specific epidemiological variables, the absence of infection can be predicted with a probability of 100% in this group from the pairs of tests using parallel testing. Conclusion The epidemiological variables can lead to improved test results and thus assist in the clarification of inconclusive serology screening results. Moreover, all combinations of pairs using the five commercial tests are good alternatives to confirm results.

Objective: Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia and one of the main factors in the clinical deferral of blood donors. This fact prompted the current study that aimed to determine the prevalence and etiology of anemia in blood donor candidates and to evaluate the hematological screening technique used for the exclusion of these donors. Methods: This was a prospective study that compared two groups (Anemic and Non-anemic). Initially screening for anemia was performed by manually measuring hemoglobin (Bioclin® Kit); the results were subsequently compared with an automated screening method (Coulter T-890). The etiology was investigated by hemoglobin electrophoresis in alkaline and acid pH, Hb A2 dosage and measurement of the ferritin concentration by immunoagglutination. Differences and associations of interest were analyzed using the Yates and McNemar's Chi-square tests and the Fisher, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: The deferral rate due to anemia was 4.2%; iron deficiency was identified in 37.5% and beta thalassemia in 9.3% of the excluded candidates. There was a significant discrepancy between the two techniques used to measure hemoglobin with 38.1% of initially deferred donors presenting normal hemoglobin levels by the automated method. Conclusion: The results show a high rate of blood donors being deferred for anemia and confirm that iron deficiency is the most prevalent cause. The discrepancies found by comparing screening methods suggest that hemoglobin and hematocrit levels should be confirmed before deferring a donor due to anemia; this may increase supplies in blood banks.

BackgroundHemovigilance is an organized system of surveillance throughout the transfusion chain intended to evaluate information in order to prevent the appearance or recurrence of adverse reactions related to the use of blood products. ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to assess the late reporting of incidents related to possible seroconversion in respect to age, marital status and ethnical background, annual variations in late reporting, the number of reports opened and closed, seroconversion of donors and transfusions of blood products within the window period. MethodsThis retrospective, descriptive study used data on blood donations in the blood bank in Uberaba during the period from 2004 to 2011. Some socio-epidemiological characteristics of the donors and serology test results of donors and recipients were analyzed in respect to the late reporting of incidents related to possible seroconversion. The Chi-square test, odds ratio and a regression model were used for statistical analysis. ResultsFrom 2004 to 2011, the blood bank in Uberaba collected 117,857 blood bags, 284 (0.24%) of which were investigated for late reported incidents. The profile of the donors was less than 29 years old, unmarried and non-Whites. Differences in age (p-value < 0.0001), marital status (p-value = 0.0002) and ethnical background (p-value < 0.0001) were found to be statistically significant. There was no statistical difference between men and women (0.24% and 0.23% respectively; p-value = 0.951). The number of late reported incidents increased until 2008 followed by a downward trend until 2011. There were twelve cases of seroconversion in subsequent donations (seven human immunodeficiency virus, four hepatitis B and one hepatitis C) with proven human immunodeficiency virus infection after screening of only one recipient. ConclusionThe twelve cases of seroconversion in donors with subsequent infection proven in one recipient underscores the importance of this tool to increase transfusion safety.

We propose a new general Bayesian latent class model for evaluation of the performance of multiple diagnostic tests in situations in which no gold standard test exists based on a computationally intensive approach. The modeling represents an interesting and suitable alternative to models with complex structures that involve the general case of several conditionally independent diagnostic tests, covariates, and strata with different disease prevalences. The technique of stratifying the population according to different disease prevalence rates does not add further marked complexity to the modeling, but it makes the model more flexible and interpretable. To illustrate the general model proposed, we evaluate the performance of six diagnostic screening tests for Chagas disease considering some epidemiological variables. Serology at the time of donation (negative, positive, inconclusive) was considered as a factor of stratification in the model. The general model with stratification of the population performed better in comparison with its concurrents without stratification. The group formed by the testing laboratory Biomanguinhos FIOCRUZ-kit (c-ELISA and rec-ELISA) is the best option in the confirmation process by presenting false-negative rate of 0.0002% from the serial scheme. We are 100% sure that the donor is healthy when these two tests have negative results and he is chagasic when they have positive results.

RESUMO Objetivo Classificar o nível de complexidade assistencial requerido da Enfermagem por pacientes oncológicos internados. Método Estudo observacional, seccional, de abordagem quantitativa, realizado diariamente com pacientes oncológicos em unidades de internação de Oncologia Clínica e Cirúrgica de um hospital de referência ao tratamento de câncer durante o período de três meses. A coleta foi realizada por meio da aplicação de um questionário semiestruturado e instrumento de classificação de pacientes de Fugulin et al. (2007). Resultados Foram entrevistados 242 pacientes e realizadas 1309 avaliações com maior quantidade de indivíduos do sexo masculino e que possuíam o Ensino Fundamental incompleto. Houve maior ocorrência de câncer no sistema gastrintestinal e sistema reprodutor feminino, respectivamente, na internação de Oncologia Clínica e Cirúrgica, com maior taxa de ocupação nos meses de junho e de maio, nessa ordem. O comportamento observado foi bastante similar em ambas as internações, correspondendo, respectivamente, a pacientes que se enquadravam nos cuidados mínimos (33,1%; 35,1%) e intermediários (30,2%; 37,5%). Conclusão e implicações para a prática O sistema de classificação de pacientes e dimensionamento em Enfermagem na área oncológica merece maiores discussões e carece de instrumentos validados capazes de representar a real situação do cuidado.

Objective To classify the level of complexity of care required from Nursing by hospitalized oncology patients. Methods This is an observational, sectional, quantitative study, carried out daily with oncology patients in the Clinical and Surgical Oncology inpatient units of a cancer treatment reference hospital during a three-month period. The collection was carried out through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire and an instrument of patient classification by Fugulin et al. (2007). Results 242 patients were interviewed and 1309 evaluations were performed, with a greater number of males and those with incomplete elementary school education. There was a higher occurrence of cancer in the gastrointestinal system and female reproductive system, respectively, in the admission of Clinical and Surgical Oncology, with higher occupancy rate in the months of June and May, in that order. The behavior observed was quite similar in both admissions, corresponding, respectively, to patients who fell into minimal (33.1%; 35.1%) and intermediate care (30.2%; 37.5%). Conclusion and implications for practice The patient classification and dimensioning system in Nursing in oncology deserves further discussion and lacks validated instruments capable of representing the real situation of care.

Objetivo: conhecer os fatores que se associam ao conhecimento sobre o exame de Papanicolaou em mulheres usuárias do Serviço Público Municipal de Saúde. Método: estudo quantitativo e transversal, realizado no interior de São Paulo com 180 mulheres. Utilizou-se instrumento para caracterizar o perfil e verificar o conhecimento. Realizou-se análise estatística descritiva, teste qui-quadrado para análise bivariada e regressão logística binária para multivariada. Resultados: as mulheres possuíam +/-43,6 anos, a maior parte tinha trabalho remunerado, cor parda, companheiro, não utilizava preservativo, não apresentava queixas ginecológicas e realizava o exame em tempo adequado. O conhecimento foi satisfatório quanto ao local e à forma de realização do exame e insatisfatório quanto à população-alvo e periodicidade. Conclusão: associaram-se ao conhecimento satisfatório as variáveis cor da pele branca, renda familiar, queixa ginecológica e realizar o exame em tempo adequado; mulheres com renda familiar mensal de dois ou mais salários mínimos apresentaram mais chances de ter conhecimento adequado sobre o exame de Papanicolaou.