Effectiveness of the Brazilian Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Programme in reducing the prevalence and incidence of Leishmania infantum infection.

Background Control strategies adopted by the Brazilian Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Programme (VLSCP) include identifying and culling seropositive infected dogs, early diagnosis and treatment of human cases, chemical control of the vector and population awareness. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the VLSCP on the prevalence and incidence rates of Leishmania infantum in children residing in areas under different VLSCP intervention times. Methods A quasi-experimental epidemiological study with a panel (two cross-sectional) and a concurrent cohort was performed in three areas of Belo Horizonte, southeast Brazil. The first cross-sectional study (I) was carried out with 1875 children, 478 of which were enrolled in the cohort study. In the second cross-sectional study (II), 413 additional children were included, totalizing 891 children. Laboratory diagnosis was performed by ELISA-rK39. Analyses included multilevel logistic and Poisson regression models. Results The incidence rates of L. infantum infection were: 14.4% in the area where VLSCP intervention was initiated in 2006 (AI2006); 21.1% in the area where intervention was initiated in 2008 (AI2008); and 11.6% in the area where intervention was initiated in 2010 (AI2010 - control area). A follow-up period of 24 months showed that the persons-time incidence rates in AI2006, AI2008, and AI2010 were: 6.2/100, 10/100, and 5.6/100 persons/24 months, respectively. The final prevalence rates of infection (cross-sectional II - in 2012), compared to the initial rates (cross-sectional I - in 2010), increased 83.7% in AI2006, 74.1% in AI2008, and decreased 5% in AI2010. Analysis of the effectiveness revealed that children residing in AI2008 are more likely to be infected (OR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.06-3.23) and present a higher risk of infection (IRR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.05-2.95) compared to those in AI2010. No statistically significant differences were observed in asymptomatic infection (OR and IRR) in AI2006 compared to AI2010. Conclusions The VLSCP was not effective at controlling L. infantum infection in areas where interventions had respectively been carried out for six and four years. However, it is unclear what the consequences in terms of human infection and diseases would be in the absence of the VLSCP. Efforts to improve the effectiveness of control measures remain a necessary priority

Compreendendo a vivência do paciente portador de doença de Crohn Comprendiendo la vivencia del paciente portador de enfermedad de Crohn Understanding the experience of patients who have Crohn's disease

OBJETIVO: Compreender o significado de ser portador da doença de Crohn. MÉTODOS: Estudo qualitativo, com abordagem Hermenêutica. Foram realizadas oito entrevistas com pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado da doença, tendo como questão norteadora "como é ser portador de doença de Crohn?" RESULTADOS: Foi identificada a seguinte categoria: Alteração no projeto de vida, a qual teve como principais fatores modificadores: ser doença crônica, alimentação, medo, falta de liberdade, prevenção de complicações e esperança. Os pacientes utilizam para isso algumas estratégias para superar as dificuldades e desenvolver habilidades próprias para seguir em frente. CONCLUSÃO: Tentar compreender a natureza humana e conhecer o ser e sentir da pessoa é uma construção que precisa ser melhorada nos cursos da área de saúde para que os profissionais possam dar o suporte necessário aos pacientes e oferecer uma assistência de enfermagem adequada.<br>OBJETIVO: Comprender el significado de ser portador de la enfermedad de Crohn. MÉTODOS: Estudio cualitativo, con abordaje Hermenéutico. Fueron realizadas ocho entrevistas a pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de la enfermedad, teniendo como pregunta norteadora "¿cómo es ser portador de la enfermedad de Crohn?" RESULTADOS: Fue identificada la siguiente categoría: Alteración en el proyecto de vida, la cual tuvo como principales factores modificadores: ser enfermedad crónica, alimentación, miedo, falta de libertad, prevención de complicaciones y esperanza. Los pacientes utilizan para eso algunas estrategias para superar las dificultades y desarrollar habilidades propias para seguir adelante. CONCLUSIÓN: Intentar comprender la naturaleza humana y conocer el ser y sentir de la persona es una construcción que precisa ser mejorada en los cursos del área de la salud para que los profesionales puedan dar el soporte necesario a los pacientes y ofrecer una asistencia de enfermería adecuada.<br>OBJECTIVE: To understand the meaning of having Crohn's Disease. METHODS: Qualitative study, with a hermeneutic approach. Eight interviews were held, with patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of the disease. The main question of the study was: "what is it like to have Crohn's Disease?". RESULTS: The analysis was performed according to a category identified as: changes in the life perspective. The main changing factors of the category were: having a chronic disease, food, fear, lack of freedom, prevention of complications and hope. For doing so, they use a few strategies to overcome the difficulties, developing their own skills to move forward. CONCLUSION: Trying to understand the human nature, knowing how a person is and their feelings are a construction that needs to be improved in the healthcare courses, so that the professionals can provide the necessary support to the patients and offer adequate nursing care

Work ability and stress in a bus transportation company in Belo Horizonte, Brazil Avaliação da capacidade para o trabalho e estresse em uma empresa de transporte coletivo de Belo Horizonte, Brasil

Demographic, occupational and psychosocial characteristics affect the health and occupational performance of workers. The objective of the present study was to elaborate a profile of the work ability and factors that affect it in a bus transportation company in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The instruments used included a socio-demographic and occupational questionnaire, the Work Ability Index and the Job Stress Scale. Demographic information revealed that 85.7% of the 126 employees of the company were active workers, 98% were males, with an average of 39 years of age (SD= 10) and 79 months working in the company (SD= 68); more than half reported having a low schooling level. In terms of personal habits, 88% were exposed to one or more risk factors, especially a sedentary lifestyle. The average strain value (as a consequence of stress) was 0.78 (SD= 0.2) and 75.3% reported episodes of violence at the workplace. The work ability was good to excellent among 89% of the workers. Results from the logistic regression analysis showed that strain was the only significant variable in relation to the Work Ability Index, (estimated odds ratio of 0.02). The results suggest that psychosocial factors presented the greatest association with work ability, and preventive and/or corrective measures should be implemented.<br>Características demográficas, ocupacionais e psicossociais afetam a saúde e o desempenho dos trabalhadores. O objetivo deste estudo foi elaborar um perfil da capacidade para o trabalho e fatores que a afetam em uma empresa de transporte coletivo de Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Índice de Capacidade para o Trabalho, a Job Stress Scale e um questionário sociodemográfico e ocupacional. Dos 126 trabalhadores, 14,3% estavam aposentados ou afastados, todos por doença. Entre os ativos, a maioria era do sexo masculino (98%), com idade média de 39 anos (DP=10), baixa escolaridade (acima de 50%) e tempo médio na empresa de 79 meses (DP=68). Quanto aos hábitos pessoais, 88% estavam expostos a um ou mais fatores de risco, em especial o sedentarismo. O valor médio de desgaste (conseqüência do estresse) foi 0,78 (DP=0.2) e 75,3% relataram episódios de violência no trabalho. A capacidade para o trabalho foi boa ou ótima em 89% dos casos. No modelo de regressão logística com variável resposta ICT, a única variável significativa foi o desgaste (razão de chance estimada de 0,02). Os resultados sugerem que fatores psicossociais apresentaram maior associação com a capacidade para o trabalho e medidas preventivas e/ou corretivas devem ser implementadas