Health literacy, a more complex concept than knowledge, is a required capacity to obtain, understand, integrate and act on health information [1], in order to enhance individual and community health, which is defined by different levels, according to the autonomy and personal capacitation in decision making [2]. Medium levels of Health literacy in an adolescent population were found in a study conducted in 2013/2014, being higher in sexual and reproductive health and lower in substance use. It was also noticed that the higher levels of health literacy were in the area adolescents refer to have receipt more health information. The health literacy competence with higher scores was communication skills, and the lower scores were in the capacity to analyze factors that influence health. Higher levels were also found in younger teenagers, but in a higher school level, confirming the importance of health education in these age and development stage. Adolescents seek more information in health professionals and parents, being friends more valued as a source information in older adolescents, which enhance the importance of peer education mainly in older adolescents [3]. As a set of competences based on knowledge, health literacy should be developed through education interventions, encompassing the cultural and social context of individuals, since the society, culture and education system where the individual is inserted can define the way the development and enforcement of the health literacy competences [4]. The valued sources of information should be taken into account, as well as needs of information in some topics referred by adolescents in an efficient health education. Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness which has a profound effect on the health and well-being related with the well-known nature of psychotic symptoms. The exercise has the potential to improve the life of people with schizophrenia improving physical health and alleviating psychiatric symptoms. However, most people with schizophrenia remains sedentary and lack of access to exercise programs are barriers to achieve health benefits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of exercise on I) the type of intervention in mental health, II) in salivary levels of alpha-amylase and cortisol and serum levels of S100B and BDNF, and on III) the quality of life and selfperception of the physical domain of people with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 31 females in long-term institutions in the Casa de Saúde Rainha Santa Isabel, with age between 25 and 63, and with diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Physical fitness was assessed by the six-minute walk distance test (6MWD). Biological variables were determined by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Psychological variables were assessed using SF-36, PSPP-SCV, RSES and SWLS tests. Walking exercise has a positive impact on physical fitness (6MWD -p = 0.001) and physical components of the psychological test...

The objective of the study is to analyze the temporal trend of leptospirosis incidence, according to rainfall levels in Santa Catarina, according to seasonality, from 2005 to 2015. This is an ecological study of time series, with date of leptospirosis, rainfall levels and population. The incidence rates of leptospirosis, relative excess of incidence, Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and an angular coefficient (β) were analyzed from the linear regression adjustment, with a 5% significance level. Distribution of leptospirosis cases, rainfall levels and cases reason/rainfall levels, stratified by month of occurrence were presented. There were 5,274 cases of leptospirosis, with the monthly average being 439 cases, ranging from 211 in September to 770 in January. The mean rate of leptospirosis was 7.03 per 100,000 habitants. The average rainfall level was 158.68 mm, with the lowest levels occurring in August, average of 124.9 mm, and the highest in January average of 213.20 mm. The positive correlation between leptospirosis rates and rainfall levels, during the period from January to December (r = 0.68, p = 0.023), indicates a positive temporal association between the amount of rainfall and the cases of the disease. The disease occurred all year round and presented a distinct seasonality from October to March.

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Objective To review the relationship between overweight at 6 years of age and socioeconomic conditions at birth, breastfeeding, early feeding practices and birth weight. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 473 six-year-old schoolchildren from public and private schools living in a municipality in Southern Brazil. Sociodemographic and breastfeeding data and other initial feeding practices were obtained through interviews with the mothers at home. Birth weight and gestational age were obtained from the child’s health card. Anthropometric data of the schoolchildren were collected during school visits. Bivariate and multivariate analyzes were performed using the Poisson Regression between the independent variables and overweight. Results The prevalence of overweight was 33.2%; 83.2% of the children were breastfed and out of these, 48.4% were breastfed only in the first six months. Non-breastfed children exhibited a 20% higher overweight prevalence (PR=1.20; 95%CI 1.13; 1.28). Children with exclusive breastfeeding for six months exhibited a lower overweight prevalence (PR=0.94; 95%CI 0.89; 0.99). Conclusion In this study, breastfeeding showed to be a protective factor for overweight.

The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was the first human retrovirus known as a direct causal agent of a malignant disease. The vertical route of HTLV transmission is the most frequent pathway of the virus contamination. This study was performed to determine the prevalence ratio of HTLV-1 infection among nursing women. From January 2004 to January 2005, blood samples from 1033 nursing mothers from Paraíba, Brazil were evaluated for HTLV antibodies by ELISA and HTLV-1 viral particles confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HTLV antibodies were detected in 7 women. The overall seroprevalence ratio was 0.68% and HTLV-1 viral sequences were confirmed by PCR in 2 women. These preliminary data suggest that HTLV screening should be introduced as a mandatory test before breastfeeding and breast milk donation in Paraíba, Brazil. Additionally, counseling programs would help reduce the prevalence ratio of HTLV-1 infected individuals in this Brazilian region.