Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Guinea-Bissau: A Sexually Transmitted Genotype 2 with Parenteral Amplification?

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa is the continent with the highest prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Genotype 2 HCV is thought to have originated from West Africa several hundred years ago. Mechanisms of transmission remain poorly understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To delineate mechanisms for HCV transmission in West Africa, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of individuals aged ≥50 years in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Dried blood spots were obtained for HCV serology and PCR amplification. Prevalence of HCV was 4.4% (47/1066) among women and 5.0% (27/544) among men. In multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for HCV infection were age (baseline: 50–59 y; 60–69 y, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.67, 95% CI: 0.91–3.06; ≥70 y, AOR: 3.47, 95% CI: 1.89–6.39), belonging to the Papel, Mancanha, Balanta or Mandjako ethnic groups (AOR: 2.45, 95% CI:1.32–4.53), originating from the Biombo, Cacheu or Oio regions north of Bissau (AOR: 4.16, 95% CI: 1.18–14.73) and having bought or sold sexual services (AOR: 3.60, 95% CI: 1.88–6.89). Of 57 isolates that could be genotyped, 56 were genotype 2. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that transmission of HCV genotype 2 in West Africa occurs through sexual intercourse. In specific locations and subpopulations, medical interventions may have amplified transmission parenterally

Anxiety and coping in women with breast cancer in chemotherapy

Objetivo: identificar las estrategias de enfrentamiento utilizadas por las mujeres con cáncer de mama sometidas a quimioterapia y la asociación con el perfil de la ansiedad que presentan. Método: estudio transversal de tipo analítico. Utilizamos muestra aleatoria de 307 mujeres con cáncer con quimioterapia previa, adyuvante o paliativa. Se recogieron los datos con entrevistas registradas en un formulario y búsqueda activa en los registros médicos, Escala de Modo de Enfrentamiento de Problemas e Inventario de Ansiedad y Estado. Se utilizó para análisis el Paquete Estadístico para Ciencias Sociales 19.0, coeficiente de correlación Pearson y la prueba de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: hubo una asociación significativa del rasgo ansiedad y las estrategias de enfrentamiento centradas en el problema y en la emoción (pObjetivo: identificar as estratégias de enfrentamento utilizadas por mulheres com câncer de mama em quimioterapia e verificar a associação com o perfil de ansiedade por elas apresentado. Método: estudo de corte transversal do tipo analítico. Utilizou-se amostra aleatória de 307 mulheres com câncer em tratamento quimioterápico prévio, adjuvante ou paliativo. Coletou-se os dados com técnica de entrevista com registro em formulário, busca ativa nos prontuários, Escala de Modo de Enfrentamento de Problemas e Inventário de Ansiedade e Estado. Utilizou-se para análise o Pacote Estatístico para Ciências Sociais 19.0, coeficiente de correlação de Pearson e o teste Mann-Whitney. Resultados: existiu associação significante do traço de ansiedade e as estratégias de enfrentamento com foco no problema e com foco na emoção (pObjective: to identify the coping strategies used by women with breast cancer in chemotherapy and to verify the association with the anxiety profile presented by them. Method: cross-sectional study of the analytical type. We used a random sample of 307 women with cancer in previous chemotherapy, adjuvant or palliative treatment. The data was collected using an interview technique with form registration, active search in medical records, Scale of Mode of Confronting Problems and Inventory of Anxiety and State. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences 19.0, Pearson correlation coefficient and the test Mann-Whitney were used. Results: there was a significant association of the anxiety trait and problem-focused coping strategies with a focus on emotion (