Epidemiological aspects of leprosy in Juazeiro-BA, from 2002 to 2012.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, able to infect large numbers of people. This work is relevant to Juazeiro-BA, a hyper-endemic area for leprosy, since unravel the behavior of the disease in the area, may suggest the decision making for sectors of surveillance, establishing strategies, organizing and evaluating programs and services. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the epidemiology of leprosy in Juazeiro-BA, from 2002 to 2012. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted based in data of the Diseases Notification System, assigned by the service of Epidemiology from Juazeiro-BA, between 2002 and 2012. RESULTS: 1,916 new cases of leprosy were detected between 2002 and 2012, of which 921 (48.07%) represented male sex, 995 (51.93%) female, and there was a reduction in the incidence rate of leprosy per 100,000 inhabitants. Most carriers were brown individuals, with low levels of education, living in the urban area, being more prevalent in the economically active age group. Through statistical analysis we found that there are more chances of developing sequelae among men, and multibacillary individuals older than 45 years. CONCLUSIONS: The work serves to direct efforts to control this disease, and highlights the importance of active search for new cases to achieve an early diagnosis, reducing the number of sequels and allowing breaking the chain of disease transmission.

Parto normal ou cesariana? Fatores que influenciam na escolha da gestante / ¿Parto natural o cesárea? Factores que influyen en la elección de la mujer embarazada / Normal childbirth or cesarean? Factors affecting the choice of pregnancy

Objetivo: conhecer fatores que influenciam na decisão da via de parto de gestantes atendidas em uma Unidade de Saúde de Juazeiro-Bahia. Método: pesquisa qualitativa de caráter exploratório-descritivo, desenvolvido com gestantes acompanhadas em Unidade de Saúde entre março e junho de 2010. Participaram da entrevista semiestruturada 12 mulheres grávidas com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos, e para categorização do material utilizou-se análise de conteúdo. Resultados: a maior parte delas optaria pelo parto normal devido à rápida recuperação. A experiência anterior influiu na escolha da via de parto, seja esta da própria gestante ou outrem. Dentre as influências relatadas, destacaram-se: a mãe, profissionais de saúde e a mídia. Avaliaram que as informações perpassadas no pré-natal não eram satisfatórias. Considerações Finais: ressalta-se a relevância do acesso ao pré-natal de qualidade, com ações que proporcionem escolhas seguras, esclarecendo dúvidas e anseios da futura mãe, tranquilizando-a para o momento do parto.

Aim: to know the factors that influence the decision of the parturition mode of pregnant women attending Juazeiro-Bahia, Health Unit. Method: qualitative research if character exploratory-descriptive, developed with pregnant women followed in the Family Health Unit of Juazeiro-BA, conducted between March and June, 2010. Twelve pregnant women, with aged over 18 years, participated in the semi-structured interviews. For the categorization of the material, it was used content analysis. Results: most of them opted for normal parturition because has a rapid recovery. Previous experience influenced in parturition choice, whether herself or others. Among the influences reported, stood his mother, health professionals and the media. Noted that the information given in prenatal were unsatisfactory. Final Thoughts: it emphasizes the importance of access to a care quality prenatal, with actions that provide safe choices, clarifying doubts and reassures of the future mother, reassuring her to the time of parturition.

Objetivo: conocer los factores que influyen en la decisión del tipo de parto de las mujeres embarazadas en Juazeiro-BA. Método: investigación cualitativo con carácter exploratorio-descriptivo, desarrollado con mujeres embarazadas acompañadas en la Unidad de Salud de la Familia, entre marzo y junio de 2010. Participaron de las entrevistas semiestructuradas 12 mujeres embarazadas con edad igual o superior a 18 años, y para la clasificación de los materiales, utilizó el análisis de contenido. Resultados: la mayoría optaron por parto natural debido a la rápida recuperación. La experiencia anterior influye en la elección del parto. Entre las influencias reportadas, estaban la madre, profesionales de la salud y medios de comunicación. Tomó nota de que la información contenida en prenatal no era satisfactoria. Consideraciones finales: se destaca la importancia del acceso a un prenatal de calidad, con acciones que ofrecen opciones seguras, aclarando dudas de la madre y tranquilizándola para el parto.

[Representations of the elderly on the influenza vaccine]. / Representações de idosos sobre a vacina da gripe.

This study sought to understand the social representations of health and immunization for elderly individuals vaccinated and unvaccinated with influenza vaccine. The theoretical benchmark adopted was the Theory of Social Representations of a qualitative nature. The research was carried out with thirty elderly individuals, fifteen of whom were vaccinated against influenza and fifteen who were not. Individual interviews were conducted using a questionnaire for characterization and the Free Word Association of Test (TALP) as data collection instruments and analysis was conducted using Central Nucleus Theory. TALP data revealed differences between the representations for the elderly of the two groups. Those vaccinated considered health as being synonymous with well-being, permitting the conduct of daily activities and immunization as something that protects them from various evils. However, those who remained unvaccinated defined health as a product of divine will and immunization as something that protects, but has side effects, which discouraged them from taking it. The study indicated the importance of health education and demystification of misconceptions about vaccines, since healthy habits must be increasingly encouraged, thereby reducing the high rates of preventable morbidity and mortality.