Perceived discrimination in health services and preventive dental attendance in Brazilian adults.

OBJECTIVES: It is evident that discriminatory attitudes affect different dimensions of personal life, including health. This study aimed to verify the association between perceived discrimination in health services and preventive dental attendance in Brazilian adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used secondary data from the 2013 National Health Survey (PNS), a representative survey of the Brazilian population. The response rate was 91.9%, with 60,202 adults agreeing to complete the oral health self-perception questionnaire. Data were analysed using the software STATA 14.0. A descriptive sample analysis was conducted that considered sample weight as well as an association between health discrimination and factors associated with preventive dental attendance through Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Adjusted analysis demonstrated that, regarding the reasons that led to discrimination, lack of money, social class and type of working occupation showed a negative association with preventive dental attendance. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that discrimination perpetuates health inequities. Those with worse social conditions need more assistance as they struggle with discrimination and end up going for a check-up after the disease is established or advanced. Preventive care, which could change the health condition of the disadvantaged population, is often a reality only for those less vulnerable.

[Unsafe abortion in Pernambuco State, Brazil, 1996-2006]. / Magnitude do aborto inseguro em Pernambuco, Brasil, 1996 a 2006.

This study estimates the total number of unsafe abortions and the ratio of unsafe abortions to live births in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, and in the State's micro-regions (GERES) from 1996 to 2006. A descriptive, ecological, time trend study was performed on the ratio of unsafe abortions to live births. The number of hospital admissions from complications of abortions was obtained from the Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). The Alan Guttmacher Institute methodology was used to estimate the number of unsafe abortions. The majority of admissions and estimated unsafe abortions occurred in the 1st and 4th GERES. As for the ratio of unsafe abortions to live births, there was an upward trend in the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th GERES and a decrease in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th GERES, but the trends were only statistically significant in the 1st,5th, 10th, and 11th GERES. In conclusion, Pernambuco showed a high abortion-related hospitalization rate from 1996 to 2007. The estimated number of unsafe abortions was high, with an average of 56,457 per year, 4,705 per month, or 157 per day.

[Trends in maternal-infant transmission of AIDS after antiretroviral therapy in Brazil]. / Tendência da transmissão vertical de Aids após terapia anti-retroviral no Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: The increase in the number of AIDS cases among women has led to an increase in the maternal-infant transmission of human acquired immunodeficiency virus. Measures for the control of this type of transmission were implemented in Brazil in 1996. The aim of the present study was to analyze time trends in maternal-infant transmission of AIDS among Brazilian children. METHODS: The present study included children born in Brazil between 1990 and 2001. We used the database of notified AIDS cases in children 13 years of age or younger between 1990 and 2004. Exponential regression models adjusted to the time series provided the annual variation rates and observed and expected values for the period. RESULTS: We found a significant increasing trend for cases born prior to the year in which anti retroviral therapy was introduced, with an increase rate of about 12% (t<0.003) per year. Rates from different states ranged from 5.9% to 31%. The analysis of expected and observed cases for each of the country's five Regions showed a reduction in the number of cases among children born from 1997 onwards, with a progressive year-to-year reduction. The number of notified cases among children born in 2001 was less than 10% the number of expected cases. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest a favorable response to the implementation of policies for the prevention of maternal-infant HIV transmission in Brazil, as observed in other parts of the world.