Use of insect repellent as personal protection among women of childbearing age in an arbovirus endemic area in Northeastern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors associated with the individual use of insect repellent by women of childbearing age living in area endemic for arboviruses in Fortaleza, Brazil. METHODS: This is a cohort study carried out between 2018 and 2019 with women aged between 15 and 39 years in Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil. A total of 1,173 women users of one of the four selected primary health care units participated in the study. The outcome was divided into: continued use, discontinued use, and nonuse of insect repellent. Crude and adjusted multinominal logistic regression analysis was carried out guided by a hierarchical model, with presentation of the respective odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The independent variables include: socioeconomic and demographic data, environmental and sanitary characteristics, knowledge of the insect repellent, and behavioral and pregnancy-related aspects. RESULTS: Only 28% of the participants reported using insect repellent during the two waves of the cohort. Women with higher education (OR=2.55; 95%CI 1.44-4.51); who are employed (OR=1.51; 95%CI 1.12-2.03); who received guidance from healthcare professionals (OR=1.74; 95%CI 1.28-2.36) and the media (OR=1.43; 95%CI 1.01-2.02); who intensified precautions against mosquitoes during the epidemic (OR=3.64; 95%CI 2.29-5.78); and who were pregnant between 2016 and 2019 (OR=2.80; 95%CI 1.83-4.30) had increased odds for continued use of insect repellent. CONCLUSION: The use of insect repellent among women of childbearing age was associated with a higher level of education, employment, guidance on insect repellent provided by healthcare professionals and the media, behavioral changes to protect against mosquitoes during the Zika virus epidemic, and pregnancy when occurring as of the beginning of the epidemic period.

Use of insect repellent as personal protection among women of childbearing age in an arbovirus endemic area in Northeastern Brazil / Uso de repelente como medida de proteção pessoal por mulheres em idade fértil residentes em áreas endêmicas para arboviroses no Nordeste do Brasil

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the factors associated with the individual use of insect repellent by women of childbearing age living in area endemic for arboviruses in Fortaleza, Brazil. Methods: This is a cohort study carried out between 2018 and 2019 with women aged between 15 and 39 years in Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil. A total of 1,173 women users of one of the four selected primary health care units participated in the study. The outcome was divided into: continued use, discontinued use, and nonuse of insect repellent. Crude and adjusted multinominal logistic regression analysis was carried out guided by a hierarchical model, with presentation of the respective odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The independent variables include: socioeconomic and demographic data, environmental and sanitary characteristics, knowledge of the insect repellent, and behavioral and pregnancy-related aspects. Results: Only 28% of the participants reported using insect repellent during the two waves of the cohort. Women with higher education (OR=2.55; 95%CI 1.44-4.51); who are employed (OR=1.51; 95%CI 1.12-2.03); who received guidance from healthcare professionals (OR=1.74; 95%CI 1.28-2.36) and the media (OR=1.43; 95%CI 1.01-2.02); who intensified precautions against mosquitoes during the epidemic (OR=3.64; 95%CI 2.29-5.78); and who were pregnant between 2016 and 2019 (OR=2.80; 95%CI 1.83-4.30) had increased odds for continued use of insect repellent. Conclusion: The use of insect repellent among women of childbearing age was associated with a higher level of education, employment, guidance on insect repellent provided by healthcare professionals and the media, behavioral changes to protect against mosquitoes during the Zika virus epidemic, and pregnancy when occurring as of the beginning of the epidemic period.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar os fatores associados ao uso de repelente individual por mulheres em idade fértil residentes em área endêmicas para arboviroses em Fortaleza, Brasil. Métodos: Coorte realizada entre 2018 e 2019, com mulheres entre 15 e 39 anos, moradoras em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. Participaram 1.173 mulheres, usuárias de quatro unidades primárias de saúde do município. O desfecho foi categorizado em: uso continuado, uso descontinuado e não uso de repelente. Realizada análise de regressão logística multinominal norteada por modelo hierárquico, com apresentação dos respectivos odds ratio (OR) e intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%). As variáveis independentes incluem: dados socioeconômicos e demográficos, características ambientais e sanitárias, conhecimento sobre o repelente e aspectos comportamentais e relacionados à gravidez. Resultados: Somente 28% das participantes referiram o uso de repelente durante as duas ondas da coorte. Mulheres com escolaridade superior (OR=2,55; IC95% 1,44-4,51); com emprego (OR=1,51; IC95% 1,12-2,03); que receberam orientações por profissionais da saúde (OR=1,74; IC95% 1,28-2,36) e pela mídia (OR=1,43; IC95% 1,01-2,02); que intensificaram os cuidados contra o mosquito na epidemia (OR=3,64; IC95% 2,29-5,78); estavam grávidas entre 2016 e 2019 (OR=2,80; IC95% 1,83-4,30) tiveram as chances aumentadas para uso continuado de repelente. Conclusões: O uso de repelente entre mulheres em idade fértil mostrou-se associado a um maior nível de escolaridade, ao emprego, às orientações sobre repelente fornecidas por profissionais de saúde e pela mídia, às mudanças comportamentais de cuidado contra o mosquito durante a epidemia da Zika e à gravidez quando ocorrida a partir do início do período epidêmico.

Positivity of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika infections in women in Northeast Brazil post-Zika epidemic.

The state of Ceará, in the Northeast Region of Brazil, presents the simultaneous circulation of Zika (ZIKV), dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses. In 2017 there were a high number of cases of these three arboviruses, especially CHIKV. Here, we detected the presence of arboviruses ZIKV, DENV and CHIKV and their coinfections in women in endemic regions of the city of Fortaleza, Ceará in a post-Zika epidemic year. Sociodemographic and environmental characteristics associated with arbovirus positivity were also analyzed. Women (n = 1289) between 15 and 39 years old were included. RT-qPCR was performed for virus detection and IgM antibody positivity was also analyzed. One hundred and six (8.3%) participants were positive for one or more arboviruses. Monoinfections (76; 5.9%) were distributed between 22 (1.7%) for ZIKV, 39 (3.1%) for DENV and 15 (1.2%) for CHIKV. Co-infections were detected in 30 (2.3%) of the positive participants and one case with triple infection was found. IgM positivity was found in 2.4% of ZIKV RT-qPCR, 9.6% of DENV and 16.3% of CHIKV. RT-qPCR positivity for arboviruses was associated with low socioeconomic class and presence of a water box sealing in the household. A higher positivity to the three viruses occurred in the month with the lowest wind velocity, which was also preceded by the highest peak of rain and humidity. We identified the simultaneous circulation and co-infection of ZIKV, DENV and CHIKV in Fortaleza in a post-Zika epidemic year. We also highlight the need for continuous epidemiological surveillance combined with molecular diagnostic tools.

Projeto Mais Médicos para o Brasil: uma análise da Supervisão Acadêmica / More Doctors in Brazil Project: an analysis of Academic Supervision / Proyecto Más Médicos para Brasil: um análisis de la supervisión académica

A carência de médicos no Brasil tem sido minimizada por meio do Programa Mais Médicos. Durante a permanência no programa, os médicos participam de processos de aperfeiçoamento profissional, como a Supervisão Acadêmica, por meio da qual é concedido apoio pedagógico para o fortalecimento de habilidades e competências necessárias ao trabalho na Atenção Básica. Em 2015, foram realizadas visitas in loco e atividades longitudinais de supervisão, além de encontros locorregionais, nos quais foram abordadas temáticas relacionadas às doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, às doenças tropicais negligenciadas, ao panorama do programa, à Saúde Mental e ao processo de trabalho na Atenção Básica. O elenco desses conteúdos converge com o perfil epidemiológico prevalente na população, bem como com a dinâmica de trabalho na Atenção Básica. Assim, a Supervisão Acadêmica tem se mostrado uma ferramenta potente para a qualificação do programa e da Atenção Básica.

The shortage of physicians in Brazil has been alleviated by the More Doctors Program. As part of the program, physicians participate in professional enhancement processes, such as academic supervision, through which pedagogical support is given to strengthen the necessary skills and competencies for working in Primary Care. In 2015, onsite visits and longitudinal supervisory activities took place, in addition to regional meetings, which addressed topics related to noncommunicable chronic diseases, neglected tropical diseases, an overview of the program, Mental Health, and Primary Care work process. This list of themes is consistent with the prevalent epidemiological profile of the population, as well as work dynamics in Primary Care. In short, Academic Supervision has proven to be a powerful tool for the program qualification and Primary Care.

La carencia de médicos en Brasil ha sido minimizada por medio del Programa Más Médicos. Durante la permanencia en el Programa, los médicos participan de procesos de perfeccionamiento profesional, como la supervisión académica por medio de la cual se proporciona apoyo pedagógico para el fortalecimiento de habilidades y competencias necesarias para el trabajo en la Atención Básica. En 2015, se realizaron visitas in situ y actividades longitudinales de supervisión, además de encuentros regionales in situ, en donde se abordaron temáticas relacionadas a las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, a las enfermedades tropicales negligenciadas, al panorama del Programa, a la salud mental y al proceso de trabajo en la Atención Básica. El conjunto de estos contenidos converge con el perfil epidemiológico prevalente en la población, así como con la dinámica de trabajo en la Atención Básica. Por lo tanto, la supervisión se ha mostrado una herramienta potente para la calificación del Programa y de la Atención Básica.

Projeto Mais Médicos para o Brasil: a experiência pioneira do apoio institucional no Ministério da Educação / More Doctors for Brazil Project: the pioneerexperience of institutional support by the Ministry of Education / Proyecto Más Médicos a Brasil: una experiencia pionera del apoyo institucionale del Ministerio de la Educación

O Projeto Mais Médicos para o Brasil (PMMB) foi criado em 2013, em virtude da necessidade de fixar profissionais médicos na Atenção Primária à Saúde e reorientar a formação médica no Brasil. No intuito de fortalecer as ações do PMMB nos Estados, especialmente aquelas relacionadas ao processo de Supervisão Acadêmica dos médicos do PMMB, o Ministério da Educação estruturou uma proposta de apoio institucional (AIMEC), pioneira no âmbito desta Instituição. Os primeiros apoiadores foram contratados em março de 2014, para os estados de Minas Gerais, Bahia, Ceará e Rio Grande do Sul. Este trabalho vem relatar essa experiência, com a discussão sobre os pontos fortes e frágeis desta iniciativa pioneira, na perspectiva de apontar oportunidades de seu fortalecimento e consolidação. O AIMEC tem se apresentado como um novo e interessante modo de gestão e tem sido uma ferramenta valorizada entre os diversos atores do PMMB. Por meio do diálogo e trabalho colaborativo, resultados positivos têm sido observados, o que tem impactado diretamente no aperfeiçoamento do PMMB.

The More Physicians for BrazilProject (PMMB) was created in 2013 because of the need to establish health professionals in Primary Health Care and reorient medical educationin Brazil. In order to strengthen the actions of PMMB in the States, especially those related to the Academic Supervision process for PMMB’s doctors, the Ministry of Education structuredan institutional support proposal (AIMEC), a pioneering effort within this Institution. The firstsupporters were hired in March 2014, in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Ceará and Rio Grande do Sul. This research has been reporting this experience with an active discussion about the strengthsand weaknesses of this pioneering initiative, with the objective of pointing out an approach forits strengthening and consolidation. The AIMEC has emerged as a new and interesting way ofmanagement and has been a valuable tool between the various participants in the PMMB. Throughdialogue and collaborative work, positive results have been observed, which have a direct impacton the improvement of the PMMB.

El Proyecto Más Médicos a Brasil (PMMB) fue creado en 2013 por la necesidadde fijar los profesionales de salud en la Atención Primaria de Salud y reorientar la educaciónmédica en Brasil. Con el fin de fortalecer las acciones de PMMB en los Estados, sobre todo losrelacionados con el proceso de Supervisión Académica para los médicos do PMMB, el Ministeriode Educaciónha estructurado una propuesta de apoyo institucional (AIMEC), pionero dentro deesta Institución. Los primeros seguidores fueron contratados en marzo 2014, a los estados deMinas Gerais, Bahia, Ceará y Río Grande do Sul. Este trabajo ha sido la presentación de informesde esta experiencia a la discusión acerca de las fortalezas y debilidades de esta iniciativa pionera,con el fin de señalar las oportunidades de su fortalecimiento y consolidación. El AIMEC se haconvertido en una forma de gestión nuevo e interesante y ha sido una herramienta valiosa entrelos diversos actores de PMMB. Através del diálogo y del trabajo colaborativo, se han observadoresultados positivos, lo que ha impactado directamente en la mejora de PMMB.