The article presents gender and age-specific selected anthropometric data for a representative sample of elderly Brazilians in the city of São Paulo. This was a cross-sectional, population-based household survey. A total of 1,894 older adults (men and women, > 60 years) were examined from January to March 2001. Data were presented as means and percentiles for body mass (BM); height or stature (ST); body mass index (BMI); waist (WC), hip (HC), arm (AC), and calf (CC) circumferences; triceps skinfold thickness (TST); and arm muscle circumference (AMC), and differences were described according to age (all variables) and gender (BMI). Except for HC (men), all anthropometric variables were lower in the oldest than in the youngest individuals (p < 0.01) in both genders. BMI was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in women than men (all age groups). The observations suggest that there is loss of muscle mass and redistribution and reduction of fat mass with age (both genders). The data can be used in clinical practice and epidemiological studies based on interpretation of anthropometric measurements in the elderly in São Paulo.

This study provides the prevalence, by gender and age-groups, of observed physical performance test (PPT) assessing functional limitation for representative samples of elderly Brazilian subjects living in São Paulo city. This cross-sectional epidemiological study, both population- and household-based, is part of a multicenter survey (SABE) undertaken in seven Latin American and Caribbean countries and coordinated by the Pan-American Health Organization. From January 2000 to March 2001, 2,143 elderly individuals (>or= 60 years) of both sexes were examined. Of this total, 1,894 participated in the study. PPT included handgrip strength, standing balance, timed repeated "chair stand", and "pick up a pen". Results have shown (based on chi-square) that the prevalence relating to the performance differed according to sex, age group, and from one test to another. With increasing age, there was a reduction (p = 0.000) in both males and females in the proportion of individuals that had better results on the tests. The male group, on every test, when compared to women from the same age group, had a more individuals with better scores. Data suggest that older individuals and women have more functional limitations.

Results suggest that breastfeeding can protect children against overweight and obesity, thus representing yet another advantage of maternal milk.

The use of different cutoff values for the definition of rapid weight gain did not interfere in the associations between birth weight and rapid weight gain with fat mass percentage, BMI, waist and neck circumferences. Children with the highest birth weight, those who undergo rapid weight gain in infancy and whose mothers were obese, seemed to be more at risk for overweight/obesity.

The high proportion of anemic children indicates the need to emphasize, in prenatal and infant health programs, intervention measures for anemia control. Our results could guide these measures, focusing on the groups at greatest risk, such as low birthweight babies and the children of adolescent mothers.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate working conditions associated with health-related quality of life (HRQL) among nursing providers. METHODS:Cross-sectional study conducted in a university hospital in the city of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, during 2004Brazil, during -2005. The study sample comprised 696 registered nurses, nurse technicians and nurse assistants, predominantly females (87.8%), who worked day and/or night shifts. Data on sociodemographic information, working and living conditions, lifestyles, and health symptoms were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The following questionnaires were also used: Job Stress Scale, Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Ordinal logistic regression analysis using proportional odds model was performed to evaluate each dimension of the SF-36. RESULTS:Around 22% of the sample was found to be have high strain and 8% showed an effort-reward imbalance at work. The dimensions with the lowest mean scores in the SF-36 were vitality, bodily pain and mental health. High-strain job, effort-reward imbalance (ERI>1.01), and being a registered nurse were independently associated with low scores on the role emotional dimension. Those dimensions associated to mental health were the ones most affected by psychosocial factors at work. CONCLUSIONS:Effort-reward imbalance was more associated with health than high-strain (high demand and low control). The study results suggest that the joint analysis of psychosocial factors at work such as effort-reward imbalance and demand-control can provide more insight to the discussion of professional roles, working conditions and HRQL of nursing providers. Psychosocial and work organization factors have been special objects of interest of study and interventions in the light of the precarious and unstable relationship between work and production, 19 the nature of illnesses among workers, and a growing concern with people's well-being and quality of life.Psychosocial factors at work are associated to the interaction between environment and working conditions, job duties and individual worker characteristics taking into account all their features and demands, including those outside the work environment. Workers' health and work performance are affected by these interactions and their experience. 11 Studies with populations of workers have suggested that psychosocial stressors such as high psychological strain, lack of control and social support, high effort and reward at work and overcommitment can be associated RESUMO OBJETIVO: Avaliar condições de trabalho associadas à qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde entre profi ssionais de enfermagem. MÉTODOS:Estudo transversal realizado em um hospital universitário de São Paulo, SP, em 2004SP, em -2005. A população estudada foi de 696 enfermeiros, técnicos e auxiliares de enfermagem, predominantemente feminina (87,8%) e que trabalhava em turnos diurnos e/ou noturnos. Os dados sociodemográfi cos, de condições de trabalho e de vida...

Resumo O estudo compara duas técnicas para a detecção da presença de Aedes aegypti: pesquisa de larva e armadilha de oviposição. Em duas áreas do município de Salvador, Bahia, foram investigadas 5.026 domicílios. As duas técnicas empregadas foram usadas simultaneamente nos mesmos domicílios. Diferentes níveis de positividade (larva e ou ovo) foram detectados entre e dentro das duas áreas. Contudo, apenas a armadilha de oviposição detectou uma diferença estatística significante entre as duas áreas (z = 9,520 p < 0,001). A comparação entre os Índices de Breteau, Índice Predial e Índice de Oviposição revelou o último método como o mais sensível poder de detecção da positividade para A. aegypti. A prevalência da razão de positividade para a armadilha de oviposição foi de 3,4 e 2,1 (para áreas 1 e 2 respectivamente), quando comparada com a pesquisa de larva. A armadilha de oviposição provou ser um método econômico e operacionalmente viável, sendo muito efetivo na vigilância de A. aegypti. Palavras-chaves: Pesquisa de larva. Armadilha de oviposição. Vigilância de Aedes aegypti.Abstract This study compares two techniques for detecting the presence of Aedes aegypti: larval surveys and the oviposition trap. In two areas of the municipality of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil were investigated 5,026 households. Larval surveys and oviposition traps were used simultaneously in these households. Different positivity levels (larvae and/or eggs) were detected between and within the two areas. However, only the use of the oviposition trap detected a significant statistical difference between the areas (z = 9,520, p < 0.001). Comparison of the Breteau, Household and Oviposition Indices reveals greater power of detection of positivity in the oviposition trap. There were prevalence ratios of positivity for ovipositision trap of 3.4 and 2.1 (for areas 1 and 2 respectively) when compared with larval surveys. The oviposition trap proved to be an economical and operationally viable method, and the most effective in the surveillance of this species.

INTRODUÇÃO: A alimentação da criança no 1º ano de vida é muito importante para seu crescimento e desenvolvimento. A alimentação complementar é influenciada por complexos fatores sociais, econômicos e culturais. OBJETIVO: Verificar a idade de introdução de alimentos complementares no primeiro ano de vida, e sua relação com variáveis demográficas e socioeconômicas. MÉTODOS: Estudou-se uma coorte de crianças nascidas em Hospital Universitário do Município de São Paulo. A verificação da idade de introdução de alimentos foi feita a partir de fichas preenchidas pela mãe, diariamente, onde constavam os alimentos oferecidos à criança a cada dia, até o final do seguimento. A introdução dos alimentos foi descrita utilizando-se a técnica de análise de sobrevida de Kaplan & Meier, e a análise de associação entre idade de introdução dos alimentos e as variáveis independentes foi feita pelo modelo de análise multivariável de Cox. RESULTADOS: As idades medianas de introdução de água ou chá, leite não materno, frutas, verduras e legumes, cereais e tubérculos foram menores de 6 meses. Foram verificadas associações estatisticamente significativas entre escolaridade materna, renda familiar, trabalho materno e introdução de alguns alimentos. CONCLUSÃO: Houve introdução precoce de água ou chá e de leite não materno. Além da renda e do trabalho materno, a escolaridade materna parece ser a variável que mais influencia a introdução de alimentos complementares.