Evaluation of emergency contraception use among women receiving gynecological treatment in the Brazilian Amazon

Introduction: The use of a postcoital hormonal contraception regimen has been described and is known as emergency contraception (EC) or “the morning-after pill”. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use and level of knowledge about emergency oral contraception (EC) among women attending the gynecology outpatient clinic of the Hospital Fundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia of the State ofPará, the second largest state in the Brazilian Amazon. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted with 316 sexually active women, aged 18 to 50 years, who attended the gynecology outpatient clinic. Participants were included based on spontaneous demand between June and July 2012. Patients answered a questionnaire with 29 questions, including: age in years, educational attainment, knowledge about EC, and previous use of the method. The primary outcome was knowledge on EC use. Results: Participants' mean age was 31.84 years (SD ± 8.00). As for their educational level, 46.84% of them had completed high school, and only 8.55% had higher education. Most of the women obtained information about EC through friends (48.61%, n = 152), and only 7.30% from their doctors. Although most participants (83.54%) reported to be aware of the method, only 0.63% reported that EC could be used up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse; 57.59% did not know how to use it; and 76.58% (n = 242) had never used the method. Conclusion: The women in our study seem to have a high level of knowledge and prevalence of use of emergency contraception, although few of them knew about the time limit for its use. They should receive more information about emergency contraception

Taxas de infecção relacionadas a partos cesáreos e normais no HCPA

Introdução: Indicadores de gestão hospitalar são utilizados para mensurar quantitativamente a qualidade da gestão e proporcionam informações fundamentais para o seu controle. Esse estudo compara a taxa de infecção pós-parto relacionada ao parto cesáreo e vaginal. Embora o risco de infecção puerperal esteja presente em ambos os procedimentos, o risco é maior após o parto por cesariana, devido à natureza invasiva do procedimento. Objetivo: Comparar a taxa de infecção relacionada ao parto cesáreo com a de parto normal buscando avaliar a correlação de um possível aumento de risco. Métodos: Estudo de caráter observacional, cujos dados foram coletados no sistema de Indicadores de Gestão (IG) do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), abrangendo o período de janeiro de 2004 a dezembro de 2010.Resultados: A taxa de cesariana no HCPA foi 32,55% durante o período investigado. Houve uma diferença entre a taxa de cesarianas cobertas pelo SUS (31,80%) e por outros convênios (70,59%). Entre os nascimentos no HCPA durante o mesmo período, a taxa de infecção após partos por cesariana foi de 2,8% e 0,8% após partos vaginais.Conclusão: A taxa de infecção associada à cesariana é maior do que a relacionada aos partos normais. A taxa de infecção de cesarianas vem diminuindo desde 2009.Palavras-chave: parto normal; parto cesáreo; infecção puerperal

Knowledge about emergency contraception among women referred for treatment at a university hospital in Brazil

Objective: To evaluate knowledge about emergency contraception (EC) in women who are referred for treatment at the HCPA. The study investigated prevalence of use and of knowledge about correct use of the method. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings: The study was conducted with patients admitted at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, from 2009 to 2010. Patients: Sexually active women, age range 18 to 50 years. Interventions: Patients answered a questionnaire about the use and knowledge about emergency contraception. Main Outcome Measures:  Primary outcome: prevalence of knowledge about the correct use of EC. Secondary outcome: prevalence of use of emergency contraception. Results: 61.2% of women reported using regular birth control pills, 18.7% used condoms, 9.0% used other methods, 3.0% used intrauterine device and 8.2% did not use a contraceptive method. Emergency contraception: 86.5% of interviewees reported having knowledge about the method, and 43.1% of those interviewees reported knowing how to use EC. In our study, 12.0% of interviewees correctly reported how to use EC. The prevalence of the use of EC in our sample was 19.4%. Conclusions: Though most interviewees reported having some knowledge about EC, only a small number were able to accurately describe its proper use

Knowledge about emergency contraception among women referred for treatment at a university hospital in Brazil

BACKGROUND: Emergency contraception (EC) has many important indications. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of use and knowledge about the correct use of EC among women referred for treatment at a university hospital in Brazil. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of use and knowledge about the correct use of EC among women referred for treatment at a university hospital in Brazil. METHODS: Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings: The study was conducted with patients admitted to the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) from 2009 to 2010. Patients: Sexually active women aged 18 to 50 years. Interventions: Patients answered a questionnaire on the use of and knowledge about EC. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome: prevalence of knowledge about correct EC use. Secondary outcome: prevalence of EC use. RESULTS: 134 patients participated in this study. 61.2% of women reported regular use of birth control pills, 18.7% of condoms, 9.0% of other methods, 3.0% of intrauterine device, and 8.1% used no contraceptive method. As for EC, 86.5% of interviewees reported having knowledge about the method, and 43.1% of these reported knowing how to use EC. However, only 12.0% of interviewees correctly reported how EC should be used. The prevalence of EC use in our sample was 19.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Although most interviewees reported having some knowledge about EC, only a small number were able to accurately describe its proper use