The Contribution of Online Social Networks for Drug Abuse Treatment Referral: a Pilot Study

Background: The consumption of psychoactive drugs is growing in Brazil, as well as the access of social networks. This study is a preliminary short report about the contribution of online social networks for drug abuse treatment. The study aimed to evaluate the role of an online social network to engage psychoactive drug users in treatment. Methods: A descriptive study was undertaken from July to September 2015. The study population were psychoactive drugs users who accessed voluntarily the webpage “Stay Free of Drugs” (SFD) from the social network Facebook. Results: A total of 25 psychoactive drug users were enrolled in the study, and 16 (64%) accessed a healthcare centre seeking treatment. The average from the users’ online contact to their visit to the healthcare centre was 8.4 days. Half of the participants were exclusive alcohol users and accessed the webpage at night (65%). Conclusions: The use of a social network showed a potential importance in referring drug users to treatment, also acting as health education strategy

Accuracy of two methods to detect the presence of halitosis: the volatile sulfur compounds concentration in the mouth air and the information from a close person

This study aimed to analyze the accuracy of two methods for detecting halitosis, the organoleptic assessment by a trained professional (OA) with volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) measurement via Halimeter® (Interscan Corporation) and information obtained from a close person (ICP). Methodolody:Participants were patients and companions who visited a university hospital over one year period to perform digestive endoscopy. A total of 138 participants were included in the VSC test, whose 115 were also included in the ICP test. ROC curves were constructed to establish the best VSC cut-off points. Results:The prevalence of halitosis was 12% (95%CI: 7% to 18%) and 9% (95%CI 3% to 14%) for the OA and ICP, respectively. At the cut-off point >80 parts per billion (ppb) VSC, the prevalence of halitosis was 18% (95%CI: 12% to 25%). At the cut-off point >65 ppb VSC, sensitivity and specificity were 94% and 76%, respectively. At the cut-off point >140 ppb, sensitivity was 47% and specificity 96%. For the ICP, sensitivity was 14% and specificity 92%. Conclusions:VSC presents high sensitivity at the cut-off point of >65 ppb and high specificity at the cut-off point of >140 ppb. ICP had high specificity, but low sensitivity. The OA can express either occasional or chronic bad breath, whereas the ICP can be a potential instrument to detect chronic halitosis

Percepção de jovens LGBT sobre violência em relacionamentos íntimos

A violência entre parceiros íntimos (VPI) tem em sua raiz a desigualdade de gênero e pode ter como consequências desde o isolamento social até suicídios e homicídios. Ela ocorre também em casais não heterossexuais (lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, travestis e transexuais – LGBT. Pouco se conhece sobre VPI entre jovens LGBTs. O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender a percepção de jovens LGBT sobre VPI e seu enfrentamento. A pesquisa teve abordagem qualitativa, realizada por meio de entrevista semiestruturada com 16 jovens LGBT de 18 a 30 anos de duas universidades públicas do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Foi feita análise de conteúdo dos dados coletados com o apoio do software webQDA. Os dados foram classificados em quatro categorias: tipificação do que é percebido como VPI, sua magnitude e fatores que a influenciam; desigualdades geradoras de VPI entre pessoas LGBT; LGBTfobia implícita e explícita percebida no ambiente universitário; reconhecimento e enfrentamento da VPI. A VPI com jovens LGBTs nem sempre é percebida pelos envolvidos e a desigualdade de gênero foi frequentemente considerada como motivação à VPI. O ambiente universitário foi visto como mais acolhedor, porém ainda assim existindo LGBTfobia. Amigos são os primeiros a serem buscados para apoio em violência, seguido pelo setor saúde. Conclui-se que jovens LGBTs passam por VPI com o agravante da sobreposição de vitimizações pela homofobia e têm maior dificuldade de obter apoio

A invisibilidade da magnitude do estupro de meninas no Brasil

OBJECTIVE Compare official data on notifications of sexual violence against girls aged 10 to 13 years with data on pregnancy for the same age group between 2012 and 2018. METHODS This is an epidemiological, descriptive, cross-sectional study with data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) on violence against and pregnancy of girls aged 10 to 13 years from 2012 to 2018. Data on sexual violence were accessed in the Health Information System (SINAN); on pregnancy, in the Live Births Information System (SINASC), on fetal deaths, in the Mortality Information System (SIM), and on abortions, in the Hospital Admission System (SIH). RESULTS Between 2012 and 2018, out of 136,387 pregnancies, there were 120,185 live births and 15,402 interrupted pregnancies by abortions or fetal deaths of mothers who became pregnant aged 13 years or younger. In the same period, SINAN received 46,548 notifications of sexual abuse against girls aged 10 to 13 years. The number of girls who became pregnant before the age of 14, victims of statutory rape, was 2.9 times higher than the number of cases notified to SINAN. CONCLUSION The lack of adequate notification of statutory rapes in Brazilian official statistics leads to the underestimation of its magnitude.OBJETIVO Comparar dados oficiais notificados de violência sexual contra meninas de 10 a 13 anos com dados sobre gravidez nessa mesma faixa etária entre 2012 e 2018. MÉTODOS estudo epidemiológico, descritivo, de corte transversal, com dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS) sobre violência e gestação de meninas com idades entre 10 e 13 anos, dos anos de 2012 a 2018. Os dados sobre violência sexual foram acessados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Os dados sobre gravidez foram buscados em três Sistemas de Informação: o de Nascidos Vivos (SINASC), o de Mortalidade (SIM), para os óbitos fetais e o de Internações hospitalares (SIH), para os de aborto. RESULTADOS No período de 2012 a 2018 houve 136.387 gestações, sendo 120.185 nascimentos e 15.402 gestações interrompidas por aborto ou óbito fetal de mães que engravidaram com 13 anos ou menos. No mesmo período foram notificados ao SINAN 46.548 casos de abuso sexual de meninas com idades entre 10 e 13 anos. O número de meninas que engravidaram antes dos 14 anos, vítimas de estupro de vulnerável, foi 2,9 vezes maior do que o número de casos notificados ao SINAN. CONCLUSÃO A falta de registro adequado do estupro de vulnerável nas estatísticas oficiais no Brasil leva a subestimativa de sua magnitude

Spatial and temporal patterns of infant mortality and its components in Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT Objectives. The study aims to assess the trend of neonatal, post-neonatal, and infant mortality from 1996 to 2020 within the metropolitan region of the state of Rio de Janeiro and other regions. Methods. Ecological study using the region as analysis unity. Data were accessed from the Mortality Information System and Live Birth Information System in the capital Rio de Janeiro, in the neighboring areas of Niterói, São Gonçalo, Baixada Fluminense, and the remaining regions of the state of Rio de Janeiro State. We applied Poisson multilevel modeling, where the models’ response variables were infant mortality and its neonatal and post neonatal components. Fixed effects of the adjusted models were region and death year variables. Results. During the 1996-2020 period, the Baixada Fluminense showed the highest infant mortality rate as to its neonatal and post neonatal components. All adjusted models showed that the more recent the year the lower the mortality risk. Niterói showed the lowest adjusted risk of infant mortality and its neonatal and post neonatal components. Conclusion. Baixada Fluminense showed the highest mortality risk for infant mortality and its neonatal and post-neonatal components in the metropolitan region. The stabilization in mortality rates in recent years was identified by the research

Impact Assessment of Urethral Meatus Morphology and Penile Biometry in Transurethral Prostate and Bladder Surgery

Objective. To analyze the penile and urethral meatus biometry and its correlation with meatoplasty during endoscopic resections. We also propose a new classification for urethral meatus morphology. Materials and Methods. We prospectively studied 105 patients who underwent prostate and bladder transurethral resections. We performed standardized measurement of penile and urethral meatus biometry followed by penile photo in the front position. The need to perform meatoplasty or dilatation during resectoscope introduction was registered. Data were analyzed comparing the correlation between two groups: without intervention (Group A) and with intervention (Group B). Results. We observed in Group A and Group B, respectively, the average length of urethral meatus of 1.07 cm versus 0.75 cm (p<0.001) and average width of urethral meatus of 0.59 cm versus 0.38 cm (p<0.001). Considering the morphology of the urethral meatus, we propose a new classification, in the following groups: (a) typical; (b) slit; (c) point-like; (d) horseshoe; and (e) megameatus. The point-like meatus was the one that most needed intervention, followed by the slit and the typical meatus (p<0.001). Conclusions. Point-like and slit-shaped urethral meatus, as well as reduced length and width of the urethral meatus, are the determining factors