The aim of the present study was to characterize the utilization of medicines by the Brazilian population, using data from the Brazilian World Health Survey. Medicines were grouped according to the active pharmaceutical ingredient based on an adaptation of the World Health Organization standard list of essential medicines. The analysis included the characteristics of individuals who keep medicines at home and who had used them within the reference period (within two weeks prior to the interview), according to presence of medical prescription. Nearly half of the participants (49.0%) reported use of medicines during the reference period. Older and wealthier individuals and those with chronic diseases or disabilities and with poor self-rated health keep and use medicines more frequently. For 25.0% of the individuals that had used medicines during the reference period, none of the drugs had been prescribed by a health professional. Among the individuals who had medicines prescribed in the last appointment, 13.0% were unable to obtain the prescribed medication (of these, 55.0% could not afford it). The most widely utilized group was that of the analgesics (22.0%), and only 51.0% of the individuals using this type of medicine had received a medical prescription for it.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a cobertura efetiva da detecção da infecção pelo HIV durante a gestação, em âmbito nacional. MÉTODOS: A cobertura efetiva do teste de HIV na gestação foi definida como a proporção de gestantes que teve atendimento pré-natal (pelo menos uma consulta), pedido de teste de HIV e conhecimento do resultado antes do parto, sendo estimada por processo de amostragem, utilizando-se as informações coletadas no Estudo-Sentinela Parturiente, 2002. As desigualdades da cobertura efetiva foram analisadas por: grande região; tamanho populacional do município de ocorrência do parto; e grau de instrução da mãe. RESULTADOS: A cobertura efetiva do teste de HIV durante a gestação foi estimada em 52%. As enormes desigualdades socioespaciais ficaram evidenciadas na comparação entre as regiões Nordeste (24%) e Sul (72%); entre parturientes analfabetas (19%) com as que têm o ensino fundamental completo (64%); entre as que realizaram o parto em municípios pequenos (36%) com as que o realizaram em municípios com mais de 500 mil habitantes (66%). As recomendações do Ministério da Saúde foram atendidas, completamente, por somente 27% parturientes. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados estabelecem a necessidade de haver medidas voltadas para maior cobertura da detecção do HIV na gestação, e indicam que os programas do Programa Nacional de DST e Aids e os programas de saúde da mulher devem ser intensificados, com estratégias conjuntas entre eles.

PURPOSE:To present selected results of military conscript surveys related to HIV/AIDS, conducted in Brazil, 1997Brazil, -2002. METHODS: Questionnaires including information on socio-demographic data, sexual behavior practices, sexually transmitted infections-related problems, and use of injecting drugs were completed by 30970 individuals, obtained through a 2-stage sampling. An index of sexual risk behavior was developed to take into account multiplicity of partners and irregularity of condom use. The HIV infection prevalence rate was estimated for 2002. Logistic regression was used to identify the most important determinants of HIV infection. RESULTS:The percentage of regular condom use increased from 38% (1997) to 49% (2002), and the index of sexual risk behavior decreased from 0.98 in 1997 to 0.87, in 2002. The HIV infection prevalence rate was 0.09%, in 2002, which remained unchanged since1998 Riskier sexual practices among young men with incomplete education and among "men who have sex with men" were found as well as among the participants who reported at least one sexually transmitted infections -related problem. The most important predictor of HIV infection was to be positive for syphilis. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated value of the HIV infection prevalence supports the diagnosis of a concentrated HIV epidemic, in Brazil. Results indicate that particular attention needs to be paid for regional differentials, and for special subgroups, in Brazil.