Objectives. We evaluated the effects of the Family Health Program (FHP), a strategy for reorganization of primary health care at a nationwide level in Brazil, on infant mortality at a municipality level. Methods. We collected data on FHP coverage and infant mortality rates for 771 of 5561 Brazilian municipalities from 1996 to 2004. We performed a multivariable regression analysis for panel data with a negative binomial response by using fixed-effects models that controlled for demographic, social, and economic variables. Results. We observed a statistically significant negative association between FHP coverage and infant mortality rate. After we controlled for potential confounders, the reduction in the infant mortality rate was 13.0%, 16.0%, and 22.0%, respectively for the 3 levels of FHP coverage. The effect of the FHP was greater in municipalities with a higher infant mortality rate and lower human development index at the beginning of the study period. Conclusions. The FHP had an important effect on reducing the infant mortality rate in Brazilian municipalities from 1996 to 2004. The FHP may also contribute toward reducing health inequalities.

This study focused on the psychometric properties of the

BackgroundDeterminants of the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) differ in effect and magnitude across populations. The present study aimed to identify factors associated with discontinuation of EBF in a municipality in northeastern Brazil, including variables that have received little or no attention in previous literature.MethodsThis cohort study involved 1,344 mother-child pairs selected from maternity hospitals in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. Subjects were followed up for 6 months through monthly home visits, and discontinuation of EBF was recorded. Possible determinants were tested using Cox’s four-level hierarchical survival model, taking into consideration the temporal proximity of the predisposing factors to interruption of EBF. Median duration of EBF was estimated using Kaplan-Meier’s survival curve.ResultsMedian duration of EBF was 89 days. Out of the 19 variables tested, 9 showed an association with EBF cessation; of these, two had never been evaluated in Brazilian studies, namely, mother partner’s appreciation for breastfeeding (hazard ratio [HR] 0.62; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.48-0.79) and limiting the number of nighttime feeds at the breast (HR 1.58; 95% CI 1.11-2.23). Another two variables that had been previously evaluated, but had never been described as determinants of discontinuation of EBF showed association: presence of cracked nipples (HR 2.54; 95% CI 2.06-3.13) and prenatal care provided by public services (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.17-1.55). Other variables showing associations with the outcome were: guidance on breastfeeding received at the hospital (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.68-0.92), birth in a Baby-Friendly Hospital (HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.99), less than or equal to 8 years of maternal schooling (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.17-1.53), mother working outside the home (HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.53-1.95), and use of a pacifier (HR 1.40; 95% CI 1.14-1.71).ConclusionsThe study confirmed that the factors associated with EBF duration are multiple, variable, and dependent on the population being evaluated. Characteristics that had never been previously evaluated or described, at least in Brazilian studies, behaved as determinants of EBF in the present study, and thus allow to expand the existing list of factors determining this practice.

Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and low educational levels have a greater chance of having periodontal disease than do those without osteoporosis.

Background: Many epidemiologic studies report the odds ratio as a measure of association for cross-sectional studies with common outcomes. In such cases, the prevalence ratios may not be inferred from the estimated odds ratios. This paper overviews the most commonly used procedures to obtain adjusted prevalence ratios and extends the discussion to the analysis of clustered cross-sectional studies.

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a prevalência e fatores associados no que se refere ao desempenho anormal do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor de crianças matriculadas na educação infantil pública em Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, em 2009 (n = 438). Esta é uma pesquisa epidemiológica de corte transversal, com amostragem por conglomerado e sorteio das escolas e crianças. Foram verificados os fatores associados por meio de aplicação de questionário às mães e de teste Denver II ao filho. A análise estatística realizou o teste χ2 com intervalo de 95% de confiança e α = 5%. A prevalência de desempenho anormal do desenvolvimento foi 46,3%. Na análise de regressão logística, as variáveis estatisticamente significantes associadas foram: sexo masculino (RP = 1,43; p = 0,00), cinco anos de idade (RP = 1,42; p = 0,00), não realização de pré-natal (RP = 1,41; p = 0,00), início do pré-natal > 3 meses (RP = 1,25; p = 0,00) e consumo alcoólico na gestação (RP = 1,55; p = 0,00). A prevalência foi elevada, apontando a necessidade de pré-natal precoce, alertando sobre o consumo alcoólico, e de vigilância nos primeiros anos de vida, visando a prevenir ou tratar precocemente as alterações.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the association between work-related psychosocial factors and the prevalence of mental disorders among pre-school and elementary school teachers. METHODS:This cross-sectional study was undertaken with 1,024 teachers from municipal public schools and from the ten largest private schools in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia State (Northeastern Brazil) in 2001. The main independent variable was based on the demand-control model, which classifies individuals according to their job pressures. The dependent variable was the incidence of mental disorders as evaluated by a self-reporting questionnaire. The measure of frequency was prevalence, and the measure of association was the prevalence ratio. A logistic regression model was used as the main statistical technique. RESULTS:There was a 44% prevalence of mental disorders among teachers. Evidence suggests that these were associated with work-related demands and control issues, after controlling for confounding variables such as sex, geographic region and social support. The prevalence of mental disorders among high-strain teachers was 1.5 times greater than that among low-strain teachers. CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence of mental disorders was high among teachers of the municipality. There was evidence that this was associated with job demands.

Investigou-se a associação entre aspectos psicossociais do trabalho e queixas de dor musculoesquelética (DME) em professores. Um estudo censitário de corte transversal investigou 4.496 professores da rede municipal de ensino infantil e fundamental de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. Informações sobre queixas de dor musculoesquelética em membros superiores, membros inferiores e dorso (variáveis dependentes), categorias do Modelo Demanda-Controle (variáveis independentes) e covariáveis foram coletadas num questionário padronizado autoaplicável. Análises de regressão logística multivariada revelaram que professores com trabalho de alta exigência apresentaram prevalência de DME mais elevada e professores em baixa exigência, prevalência mais baixa, em cada um dos três segmentos corporais estudados. Professores em trabalho ativo apresentaram prevalência de DME mais elevada do que professores em trabalho de baixa exigência, em membros superiores e dorso. Maiores taxas de prevalência de DME associaram-se à maior demanda psicológica nos três segmentos corporais e ao baixo controle sobre o trabalho em membros superiores, apenas.