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The choice of study designs must take into account arguments for ethical investigation and consensus on the use of new technology.

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RESUMO A abordagem psico-social das hepatites virais é escassa na literatura. Este texto apresenta os resultados de uma investigação sobre as informações técnico-científicas de prevenção dessas afecções entre profissionais de saúde inscritos num curso de especialização em saúde pública, onde se utilizou a abordagem estrutural das representações sociais, realizando-se um teste de evocação livre com o termo "hepatite" e aplicando-se um questionário sobre modos de transmissão e prevenção das hepatites virais. O conjunto de profissionais (N=190) era composto por 10 categorias profissionais; idade entre 22-60 anos (com média=33,6 anos); maioria era mulheres (80%); originárias da região Sudeste (35,3%), Nordeste (27,4%), Centro-Oeste (20,5%) e Norte (16,8%). A estrutura das representações sociais de hepatite mostra um sistema central constituído por "doença" e um sistema periférico por "contágio", "saneamento", "sexo", "tratamento", "morte", "cuidado", "dieta", "tipos", "vigilância" e "repouso". Constataramse lacunas e incorreções sobre riscos de transmissão por água contaminada, promiscuidade sexual e transfusão sanguínea. Destaca-se a contradição entre teoria e prática, o que se depreende de um enfoque fragmentado na formação dos profissionais de saúde.

Gaze R, Maul de Carvalho D, Rangel-Tura LF. Información de los maestros sobre la transmisión y la prevención de las hepatitis virales en el Brasil. Salud Publica Mex 2003;45:245-251. El texto completo en inglés de este artículo también está disponible en: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html Resumen Objetivo. Evaluar los conocimientos y prácticas de profesores escolares en la prevención de hepatitis viral. Material y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal en tres ciudades de Brasil, de agosto a noviembre de 1999. La muestra estuvo constituida por 360 sujetos: 334 mujeres y 26 hombres, 81 (22.5%) de Belém, 123 (34.2%) de Nataly 156 (43.3%) de Río de Janeiro. Se determinaron diferencias culturales en cuanto a conocimientos, prácticas y actitudes. Se utilizó un cuestionario clasificado según su contenido semántico en categorías de transmisión y prácticas preventivas; las respuestas se evaluaron como "errores" y "aciertos". Los datos se tabularon y analizaron usando EPIINFO 6.4, y las respuestas abiertas se clasificaron de acuerdo con el contenido semántico. La comparación de las frecuencias de las respuestas entre las ciudades se hizo mediante ji cuadrada. Resultados. En 837 respuestas en la categoría transmisión y 771 en prevención, la comida y el agua fueron las más frecuentemente citadas (40%). En transmisión, las respuestas subsecuentes fueron, en orden de frecuencia: transfusión de sangre (16%), conocimiento inadecuado (9%), causas posibles de enfermedades hepáticas (9%) y transmisión sexual (7%). En prevención, las respuestas subsecuentes fueron, en orden de frecuencia: aspectos generales de prevención (13%), inmunización (9%), calidad de los servicios de salud (8%) y prevención sexual (5%). El número de "aciertos" sobre mecanismos de transmisión y prácticas de prevención varió entre 0 y 80%. Conclusiones. Los resultados sugieren que se debe invertir más en la difusión de conocimientos sobre hepatitis viral, su transmisión sexual y por el uso de drogas inyectables. El texto completo en inglés de este artículo también está disponible en: http:// www.insp.mx/salud/index.html Palabras clave: hepatitis viral; conocimiento; prácticas preventivas; Brasil Gaze R, Maul de Carvalho D, Rangel-Tura LF. Information from teachers on viral hepatitis transmission and prevention in Brazil.

Total HAV and HBc seroprevalence rates in two socioeconomic groups in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, were estimated in 1,100 surplus serum samples from routine laboratory tests identified by sex, age, neighborhood, and category of medical care, i.e., the public health system or National Unified Health System (SUS) as compared to private health services (NSUS). Seroprevalence rates by age, 95% confidence intervals, and statistical significance tests for differences between SUS and NSUS are presented. Distribution of seroprevalence rates (P) for total HAV (P = 88.8%; 95% CI = 86.8-90.6) and total HBc (P = 15.3%; 13.2-17.6) by age showed an ascending curve. Prevalence rates in the SUS group were significantly higher that in the NSUS group, for both HAV (chi2 = 31.15; p < 0.0001) and HBV (chi2 = 15.41; p < 0.0001). The high prevalence rates reflect the epidemiological pattern of HAV infection in developing countries and the relevance of the social and environmental context. The proportion of susceptible individuals in the < 5 and > 20 year groups highlights the need to vaccinate for hepatitis A and the potential increase in severe cases. High HVB prevalence among adolescents underscores the importance of vaccinating this group. The results serve as a reminder to health professionals concerning biosafety norms.

OBJECTIVE:Training health providers is a strategy for improving health care quality that need to be technically correct and comply with the conceptual universe of the trainees. A pilot study was carried out to explore the consistency of knowledge on blood transmission of viral hepatitis among primary care providers. METHODS:A non-identified questionnaire was applied to 190 providers attending a public health training program in 2003 and 2004. Answers were compared according to two groups: physicians, nurses and dentists (115 subjects) and other health providers (66 subjects). Frequencies of correct and incorrect answers were compared through Chi-square test (χ 2 ). Nine respondents did not inform their occupation. RESULTS:The study population mainly comprised women (80%) aged 20 to 60 years from Northeastern (27.4%), Southeastern (35.3%), and Midwestern (37.3%) regions. Blood transfusion was associated with hepatitis B and C for 57.5% of the respondents; hemophilia was associated with hepatitis B and C for 55.7% of the respondents, while 74% considered to be incorrect the statement: "viral hepatitis cannot be transmitted through blood" and 16.4% considered it correct. The number of correct answers regarding blood transfusion was greater in the group of physicians, nurses and dentists than other providers (χ 2 =1.2; p=0.2741). CONCLUSIONS:These findings were compared with current data on viral hepatitis transmission and the consistency of the answers concerning different risk factors was evaluated. These providers' knowledge on blood transmission of these conditions shows inconsistencies that may jeopardize the effectiveness of prevention and control programs.