Validity of hearing screening using hearTest smartphone-based audiometry: performance evaluation of different response modes.

Objective: To investigate the validity of hearing screening with hearTest smartphone-based audiometry and to specify test duration addressing the two response modes and hearing loss criteria.Design: A diagnostic accuracy study comparing hearing screening with conventional audiometry.Study sample: Three hundred and forty individuals, aged between 5-92 years.Results: Of the 340 participants, 301 undertook all test procedures (273 adults and 28 children). Sensitivity and specificity were >90% for hearTest hearing screening to identify disabling hearing loss for both response modes with adults and children. We found similar sensitivity in identifying any level of hearing loss for both response modes in children, with specificity >80%, and for the self-test mode in adults. Low specificity was observed when identifying any level of hearing loss in adults using the test-operator mode. In adults, there was a significant difference between test duration for the test-operator and self-test modes.Conclusion: Hearing screening using hearTest smartphone-based audiometry is accurate for the identification of both disabling hearing loss and any level of hearing loss in adults and children in the self-test response mode. The test-operator mode is also an option for children; however, it does not provide good accuracy in identifying mild level of hearing loss in adults.

Prevalence and causes of hearing impairment in Fundong Health District, North-West Cameroon.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and causes of hearing impairment in Fundong Health District, North-West Cameroon. METHODS: We selected 51 clusters of 80 people (all ages) through probability proportionate to size sampling. Initial hearing screening was undertaken through an otoacoustic emission (OAE) test. Participants aged 4+ years who failed this test in both ears or for whom an OAE reading could not be taken underwent a manual pure-tone audiometry (PTA) screening. Cases of hearing impairment were defined as those with pure-tone average ≥41 dBHL in adults and ≥35 dBHL in children in the better ear, or children under age 4 who failed the OAE test in both ears. Each case with hearing loss was examined by an ear, nose and throat nurse who indicated the main likely cause. RESULTS: We examined 3567 (86.9%) of 4104 eligible people. The overall prevalence of hearing impairment was 3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8-4.6). The prevalence was low in people aged 0-17 (1.1%, 0.7-1.8%) and 18-49 (1.1%, 0.5-2.6%) and then rose sharply in people aged 50+ (14.8%, 11.7-19.1%). Among cases, the majority were classified as moderate (76%), followed by severe (15%) and profound (9%). More than one-third of cases of hearing impairment were classified as unknown (37%) or conductive (37%) causes, while sensorineural causes were less common (26%). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of hearing impairment in North-West Cameroon is in line with the WHO estimate for sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of cases with known causes are treatable, with impacted wax playing a major role.

Interventions to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss.

BACKGROUND: This is the second update of a Cochrane Review originally published in 2009. Millions of workers worldwide are exposed to noise levels that increase their risk of hearing disorders. There is uncertainty about the effectiveness of hearing loss prevention interventions. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions for preventing occupational noise exposure or occupational hearing loss compared to no intervention or alternative interventions. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the CENTRAL; PubMed; Embase; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; and OSH UPDATE to 3 October 2016. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCT), controlled before-after studies (CBA) and interrupted time-series (ITS) of non-clinical interventions under field conditions among workers to prevent or reduce noise exposure and hearing loss. We also collected uncontrolled case studies of engineering controls about the effect on noise exposure. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed study eligibility and risk of bias and extracted data. We categorised interventions as engineering controls, administrative controls, personal hearing protection devices, and hearing surveillance. MAIN RESULTS: We included 29 studies. One study evaluated legislation to reduce noise exposure in a 12-year time-series analysis but there were no controlled studies on engineering controls for noise exposure. Eleven studies with 3725 participants evaluated effects of personal hearing protection devices and 17 studies with 84,028 participants evaluated effects of hearing loss prevention programmes (HLPPs). Effects on noise exposure Engineering interventions following legislationOne ITS study found that new legislation in the mining industry reduced the median personal noise exposure dose in underground coal mining by 27.7 percentage points (95% confidence interval (CI) -36.1 to -19.3 percentage points) immediately after the implementation of stricter legislation. This roughly translates to a 4.5 dB(A) decrease in noise level. The intervention was associated with a favourable but statistically non-significant downward trend in time of the noise dose of -2.1 percentage points per year (95% CI -4.9 to 0.7, 4 year follow-up, very low-quality evidence). Engineering intervention case studiesWe found 12 studies that described 107 uncontrolled case studies of immediate reductions in noise levels of machinery ranging from 11.1 to 19.7 dB(A) as a result of purchasing new equipment, segregating noise sources or installing panels or curtains around sources. However, the studies lacked long-term follow-up and dose measurements of workers, and we did not use these studies for our conclusions. Hearing protection devicesIn general hearing protection devices reduced noise exposure on average by about 20 dB(A) in one RCT and three CBAs (57 participants, low-quality evidence). Two RCTs showed that, with instructions for insertion, the attenuation of noise by earplugs was 8.59 dB better (95% CI 6.92 dB to 10.25 dB) compared to no instruction (2 RCTs, 140 participants, moderate-quality evidence). Administrative controls: information and noise exposure feedbackOn-site training sessions did not have an effect on personal noise-exposure levels compared to information only in one cluster-RCT after four months' follow-up (mean difference (MD) 0.14 dB; 95% CI -2.66 to 2.38). Another arm of the same study found that personal noise exposure information had no effect on noise levels (MD 0.30 dB(A), 95% CI -2.31 to 2.91) compared to no such information (176 participants, low-quality evidence). Effects on hearing loss Hearing protection devicesIn two studies the authors compared the effect of different devices on temporary threshold shifts at short-term follow-up but reported insufficient data for analysis. In two CBA studies the authors found no difference in hearing loss from noise exposure above 89 dB(A) between muffs and earplugs at long-term follow-up (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.03 ), very low-quality evidence). Authors of another CBA study found that wearing hearing protection more often resulted in less hearing loss at very long-term follow-up (very low-quality evidence). Combination of interventions: hearing loss prevention programmesOne cluster-RCT found no difference in hearing loss at three- or 16-year follow-up between an intensive HLPP for agricultural students and audiometry only. One CBA study found no reduction of the rate of hearing loss (MD -0.82 dB per year (95% CI -1.86 to 0.22) for a HLPP that provided regular personal noise exposure information compared to a programme without this information.There was very-low-quality evidence in four very long-term studies, that better use of hearing protection devices as part of a HLPP decreased the risk of hearing loss compared to less well used hearing protection in HLPPs (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.69). Other aspects of the HLPP such as training and education of workers or engineering controls did not show a similar effect.In three long-term CBA studies, workers in a HLPP had a statistically non-significant 1.8 dB (95% CI -0.6 to 4.2) greater hearing loss at 4 kHz than non-exposed workers and the confidence interval includes the 4.2 dB which is the level of hearing loss resulting from 5 years of exposure to 85 dB(A). In addition, of three other CBA studies that could not be included in the meta-analysis, two showed an increased risk of hearing loss in spite of the protection of a HLPP compared to non-exposed workers and one CBA did not. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is very low-quality evidence that implementation of stricter legislation can reduce noise levels in workplaces. Controlled studies of other engineering control interventions in the field have not been conducted. There is moderate-quality evidence that training of proper insertion of earplugs significantly reduces noise exposure at short-term follow-up but long-term follow-up is still needed.There is very low-quality evidence that the better use of hearing protection devices as part of HLPPs reduces the risk of hearing loss, whereas for other programme components of HLPPs we did not find such an effect. The absence of conclusive evidence should not be interpreted as evidence of lack of effectiveness. Rather, it means that further research is very likely to have an important impact.

Interaction between noise and cigarette smoking for the outcome of hearing loss among women: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the interaction between exposure to noise and smoking in relation to prevalence of hearing loss among women. METHODS: A sample of women aged 20-49 years (n = 1,723) from a population-based cross-sectional study carried out in Brazil in 2006 was examined. Hearing loss was assessed using a yes-no validated question. Biological interaction was analyzed using the additive scale and measured with interaction contrast ratio (ICR) and assessment of dose-response relationship. RESULTS: The combined effect of exposure to noise and cigarette smoking on hearing loss (adjusted prevalence ratio (PRadj) = 3.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.81, 5.52) was greater than expected based on the additive single effects of smoking (PRadj = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.81) and noise (PRadj = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.86, 3.82). ICR estimates were not statistically significant. The prevalence of hearing loss among noise-exposed women increased with duration of smoking (P trend = 0.026), number of cigarettes smoked per day (P trend = 0.034), cumulative tobacco use (P trend = 0.030), and early age at smoking initiation (P trend = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Noise and smoking may have a combined effect on hearing loss but further studies are still needed. A dose-response relation of smoking for the noise effect among women is suggested.

The use of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics questionnaires to identify hearing disability: a systematic review. / A utilização dos questionários do Washington Group on Disability Statistics para identificação da incapacidade auditiva: uma revisão sistemática.

PURPOSE: To investigate the use of instruments from the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) to obtain data on hearing disability (HD). RESEARCH STRATEGIES: We conducted searches in the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, Lilacs databases and the grey literature. The software "The State of the Art through Systematic Review" and "Mendeley" were used to assist in the bibliographic reference organization, selection, and storage. SELECTION CRITERIA: we followed the guidelines proposed by the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis" and we selected studies that met the following inclusion criteria: written in English or Portuguese, within the period of 2001 to 2017 and have used the WG hearing disability question. DATA ANALYSIS: The variables analyzed into the studies were: WG module, country and year of data collection, sample size and composition, objective of the study, publication journal, HD estimate of prevalence and accuracy measures. RESULTS: Sixty-five studies are included in the review, conducted with data from 30 countries. The WG Short Set of question was the most often used. Hearing disability prevalence ranged from 0.2 to 2.3% and only three studies estimated the accuracy of the instrument to identify HD. CONCLUSION: The hearing disability question of WG has been used worldwide and mainly in developing countries. The short variation in the estimated prevalence measurements within studies seems favorable to the WG's goal of generate estimates that allow international comparison. However, the shortage of validity studies indicates the need for further investigations with this purpose.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a aplicação dos instrumentos do Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) para obtenção de dados sobre incapacidade auditiva (IA). ESTRATÉGIA DE PESQUISA: Foram conduzidas buscas nas bases de dados PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science e Lilacs, e na literatura cinzenta. Os softwares State of the Art through Systematic Review e Mendeley foram utilizados como ferramentas para organização, seleção e armazenamento dos documentos. CRITÉRIOS DE SELEÇÃO: Seguiram-se orientações propostas pela Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. De acordo com critérios de inclusão, foram selecionados estudos publicados em inglês ou português, entre 2001 e 2017, que aplicaram a pergunta sobre IA do WG. ANÁLISE DOS DADOS: Foram definidas como variáveis de análise: módulo WG utilizado, país e ano da coleta de dados, tamanho e composição da amostra, objetivo do estudo, periódico de publicação, estimativa da prevalência de IA e medidas de acurácia. RESULTADOS: Foram 65 os estudos incluídos, conduzidos com dados de 30 países. O módulo curto do WG foi mais comumente utilizado. As estimativas de prevalência da IA variaram de 0,2 a 2,3%, e apenas três estudos estimaram a acurácia do instrumento para sua identificação. Conclusão: O emprego do instrumento do WG, módulo de incapacidade auditiva, tem ocorrido em nível mundial, principalmente em países em desenvolvimento. A pequena variação entre as medidas de prevalência estimadas pelos estudos parece ser favorável ao objetivo do WG em gerar estimativas que permitam comparação internacional. No entanto, a escassez de estudos de validade indica a necessidade de mais investigações.

Assessment of the feasibility of Juntos: A support programme for families of children affected by Congenital Zika Syndrome.

Background: The 2015-16 Zika epidemic resulted in thousands of children born with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). In Brazil, gaps in the health system often caused parents to be left with insufficient information and support. Consequently, we developed and piloted Juntos - a participatory support programme which aims to improve knowledge, capacities and build support networks for caregivers of children with CZS.   Methods: Six caregiver groups received the programme between August 2017 and June 2018: three in Rio de Janeiro and three in Bahia. We assessed the feasibility of Juntos against six of the eight areas of a feasibility framework described by Bowen et al. to consider whether Juntos 'could work'. These areas were: acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, adaptation and limited efficacy. We used mixed methods including: 1) baseline and end-line questionnaires completed by all group participants; 2) in-depth interviews with 18 participants, seven facilitators and three key stakeholders; 3) participant focus group discussions after each session; 4) researchers session observation; and 5) recording programme costs.  Results: 37/48 (77%) enrolled families completed both questionnaires. Acceptability and demand were noted as high, based on participant responses to interview questions, focus group feedback and satisfaction scores. Potential for implementation and practicality were also demonstrated through interviews with facilitators and key stakeholders and analysis of project documents. Two groups included caregivers of children with non-Zika related developmental disabilities, showing potential for adaptability. Self-reported quality of life scores increased in caregivers between baseline and end-line, as did the dimensions of family relationships and daily activities in the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PEDS QL) Family Impact Module, showing limited efficacy.   Conclusions: The programme showed feasibility according to Bowen's framework. However, further research of scale up, particularly in the areas of integration, expansion and limited efficacy are needed to ascertain if the programme is effective.

Factors associated with notification of noise-induced hearing loss in Brazil, 2013-2015: an ecological study. / Fatores associados à notificação de perda auditiva induzida por ruído no Brasil, 2013-2015: estudo ecológico.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with the notification of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (SINAN) in Brazil. METHODS: This was an ecological study to estimate the proportion of municipalities that had notified NIHL. Logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors. RESULTS: Between 2013-2015, 277 (5.0%) municipalities notified NIHL. Notification was more prevalent among municipalities in an Occupational Health Referral Center (CEREST) coverage area (OR=1.62 - 95%CI 1.02;2.59) or those that had a CEREST in their territory (OR=4.37 - 95CI% 2.75;6.93), those that were closer to the state capital (OR=1.43 - 95%CI 1.06;1.92) and those with a high human development index (OR=2.35 - 95%CI 1.16;4.75). Among the municipalities located in a CEREST coverage area, notification was more frequent when there was a speech-language-hearing professional in the team (OR=1.96 - 95%CI - 1.47;2.63) and when employee turnover was low (OR=1.88 - 95%CI 1.40;2.52). CONCLUSION: Contextual factors influence NIHL notification, particularly the presence of CERESTs and their qualification.

Validity of hearTest Smartphone-Based Audiometry for Hearing Screening in Workers Exposed to Noise.

PURPOSE: This article investigates the validity of a smartphone-based audiometry for hearing screening to identify hearing loss in workers exposed to noise. RESEARCH DESIGN: This is a validation study comparing hearing screening with the hearTest to conventional audiometry. The study population included all workers who attended the Brazilian Social Service of Industry to undergo periodic examinations. Sensitivity, specificity, the Youden index, and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) for hearing screening obtained by the hearTest were estimated according to three definitions of hearing loss: any threshold greater than 25 dB hearing level (HL), the mean auditory thresholds for 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz greater than 25 dB HL, and the mean thresholds for 3, 4, and 6 kHz greater than 25 dB HL. Note that 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all measurements. RESULTS: A total of 232 workers participated in the study. Hearing screening with the hearTest presented good sensitivity (93.8%), specificity (83.9%), and Youden index (77.7%) values, a NPV (97.2%), and a low PPV (69.0%) for the identification of hearing loss defined as any auditory threshold greater than 25 dB HL. For the other definitions of hearing loss, we observed high specificity, PPV and NPV, as well as low sensitivity and Youden index. CONCLUSION: The hearTest is an accurate hearing screening tool to identify hearing loss in workers exposed to noise, including those with noise-induced hearing loss, although it does not replace conventional audiometry.

Cochrane method for systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss - abridged.

PURPOSE: Assess the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions at work on noise exposure or occupational hearing loss compared to no or alternative interventions. RESEARCH STRATEGIES: Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, OSHupdate, Cochrane Central and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) were searched. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT), Controlled Before-After studies (CBA) and Interrupted Time-Series studies (ITS) evaluating engineering controls, administrative controls, personal hearing protection devices, and hearing surveillance were included. Case studies of engineering controls were collected. DATA ANALYSIS: Cochrane methods for systematic reviews, including meta-analysis, were followed. RESULTS: 29 studies were included. Stricter legislation can reduce noise levels by 4.5 dB(A) (very low-quality evidence). Engineering controls can immediately reduce noise (107 cases). Eleven RCTs and CBA studies (3725 participants) were evaluated through Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs). Training of earplug insertion reduces noise exposure at short term follow-up (moderate quality evidence). Earmuffs might perform better than earplugs in high noise levels but worse in low noise levels (very low-quality evidence). HPDs might reduce hearing loss at very long-term follow-up (very low-quality evidence). Seventeen studies (84028 participants) evaluated hearing loss prevention programs. Better use of HPDs might reduce hearing loss but other components not (very low-quality evidence). CONCLUSION: Hearing loss prevention and interventions modestly reduce noise exposure and hearing loss. Better quality studies and better implementation of noise control measures and HPDs is needed.

Mothers as facilitators for a parent group intervention for children with Congenital Zika Syndrome: Qualitative findings from a feasibility study in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The Zika virus outbreak in Brazil (2015-2016) affected thousands of children who were born with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Families play an important role in their care of children with complex needs, yet their knowledge, experience and skills are rarely harnessed in existing interventions to best support these families. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the use of mothers as facilitators for a community-based group intervention for children with CZS and their caregivers in Brazil. METHODS: Four facilitators were trained to deliver the 10-week intervention called "Juntos". Two were mothers of a child with CZS ("expert mothers") and two were therapists (speech therapist and physiotherapist). The intervention was delivered to three groups, generally including 8-10 caregivers. Two researchers, who were psychologists, observed the groups and held focus group discussions at the end of each session. They undertook semi-structured interviews post intervention with a purposive sample of caregivers, and with the facilitators. Observation notes were collated and summarised. Transcripts were transcribed and thematically analysed using five elements to assess feasibility: acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality and adaptation. RESULTS: The use of expert mothers as facilitators was considered to be acceptable and there was demand for their role. Their experiential knowledge was viewed as important for sharing and learning, and supporting and encouraging the group. The intervention was delivered with fidelity by the expert mothers. The practicality of the intervention was facilitated by holding the group sessions in the community, providing transport costs to facilitators and participants, paying expert mothers and therapist facilitators equally and supporting the expert mothers through a mentorship programme. Equal payment with the therapist enabled the expert mothers to better facilitate the groups, through increased confidence in the value of their role. Adaptation of the intervention included development of video resources and mentoring guidelines. CONCLUSION: The use of expert mothers as facilitators of caregiver groups provides a unique approach to harness the knowledge, experience, and skills of families to provide care, and is likely to be feasible in similar contexts.

Juntos: A Support Program for Families Impacted by Congenital Zika Syndrome in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The 2015-2016 Zika virus outbreak in Brazil was unprecedented and resulted in the birth of more than 3,000 children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). These children experience multiple complex health conditions and have limited services to support them and their family's needs. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND PILOTING: An existing family support program for children with cerebral palsy (Getting to Know Cerebral Palsy) was adapted to the Zika context in Brazil through expert consultation. The program was pilot tested at 2 sites among 6 groups of caregivers (total of 48 families) from August 2017 to June 2018. Group observation and focus group discussions with facilitators and participants at the end of each session informed fast-track learning, which was used to tailor the program for future groups. Fast-track learning-adjusting the intervention in real time based on gathered feedback-was found to be a helpful process to inform and hone the program from its initial concept. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The intervention, Juntos, is a facilitated participatory group program for caregivers of children who have CZS. The group sessions are cofacilitated by a parent of a child who has CZS and an allied health professional. The group meets for 10 sessions that last 4 hours. Each session includes an icebreaker, activities, and group discussions. Content covers practical information on caring for a child with a developmental disability including that caused by Zika. Psychosocial support forms an important component, and families are guided from the first week to define and develop their own communities of support. Six pilot groups were successfully run in Rio de Janeiro and Greater Salvador, Bahia. The groups gave positive feedback on acceptability and demand. CONCLUSIONS: The program has the potential to be an important tool for community health and social support services in South America in response to Zika. The program can also be applied to children with neurodevelopmental disabilities other than those caused by the Zika virus, which could be important in ensuring families of children with CZS are less isolated.

Congenital Zika Syndrome-Assessing the Need for a Family Support Programme in Brazil.

The Zika outbreak in Brazil caused congenital impairments and developmental delays, or Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). We sought to ascertain whether a family support programme was needed and, if so, could be adapted from the Getting to Know Cerebral Palsy programme (GTKCP) designed for children with cerebral palsy (CP). We conducted a systematic review of the needs of families of children with CZS or CP in low- and middle-income countries and reviewed the findings of the Social and Economic Impact of Zika study. We undertook a scoping visit to three facilities offering services to children with CZS in Brazil to understand potential utility and adaptability of GTKCP. The literature review showed that caregivers of children with CZS experience challenges in mental health, healthcare access, and quality of life, consistent with the CP literature. The scoping visits demonstrated that most support provided to families was medically orientated and while informal support networks were established, these lacked structure. Caregivers and practitioners expressed an eagerness for more structure community-based family support programmes. A support programme for families of children with CZS in Brazil appeared relevant and needed, and may fill an important gap in the Zika response.

[Factors associated with quality of work accident records in Brazil's Mortality Information System]. / Fatores associados à qualidade de registros de acidentes de trabalho no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade no Brasil.

This study aimed to identify factors associated with the quality of fatal work accident records in the Brazilian Mortality Information System in individuals 18 to 65 years of age from 1998 to 2013. The quality of the record of possible causal relationship between accidents and the work , a field that appears on death certificates and is exclusive to accidents among external causes, was analyzed with two variables: (1) record "ignored" (R-IGN, yes/no); (2) missing or inconsistent records (R-AUS, yes/no). A total of 665,531 deaths were located, of which 67.7% of the records showed poor quality. Factors associated with record "ignored" were: male sex; white skin color; schooling less than university; non-blue-collar workers or non-farmers; death certificate issued by the Forensic Medical Office (IML); Southeast and Northeast regions of the country; and death in hospital. Missing or inconsistent records were associated with: age greater than 34 years; non-white skin color; no schooling; all regions of Brazil except the Southeast; death in hospital or at home; police report as the source of information; and death certificate issued by the IML. The factors independently associated with poor quality of completion of the field included individual dimensions, source issuing the death certificate, place of death, and geographic variables. The findings reveal the need to improve the quality of death records in hospitals, the IML, and police reports, besides training and supervising teams throughout Brazil.

Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar fatores associados à qualidade do registro de acidentes de trabalho fatais no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM), ocorridos com pessoas de 18 a 65 anos, entre 1998 e 2013, no Brasil. A qualidade do registro da possível relação causal de acidentes com o trabalho , campo existente em declarações de óbitos, exclusivo para acidentes dentre as causas externas, foi analisada com duas variáveis: (1) registro "ignorado" (R-IGN, sim/não); (2) registros ausentes ou inconsistentes (R-AUS, sim/não). Foram encontrados 665.531 óbitos dentre os quais 67,7% dos registros de eram de má qualidade. Fatores associados a registro "ignorado" foram: sexo masculino; cor da pele branca; escolaridade menor que a superior; não operários ou não agricultores; atestante Instituto Médico Legal (IML); regiões Sudeste e Nordeste; e óbito em hospital. Registros ausentes ou inconsistentes se associaram: à idade acima de 34 anos; à cor da pele não branca; a sem escolaridade; a todas as regiões, exceto à Sudeste; a óbito em hospital ou no domicílio; a boletim de ocorrência como fonte; e a atestante IML. Esses fatores, independentemente associados à má qualidade de preenchimento do campo , compreendiam dimensões individuais, da fonte de emissão, do local do óbito e geográficas. Isso revela a necessidade de melhoria da qualidade de declarações de óbito em hospitais, IML e boletins de ocorrência, treinando e supervisionando equipes em todo o Brasil.

El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar factores asociados a la calidad del registro de accidentes de trabajo fatales en el Sistema de Información sobre Mortalidad (SIM), ocurridos con personas de 18 a 65 años, entre 1998 y 2013, en Brasil. La calidad del registro de la posible relación causal de accidentes con el trabajo , campo existente en las declaraciones de fallecimiento, exclusivo para accidentes entre las causas externas, se analizó con dos variables: (1) registro "ignorado" (R-IGN, sí/no); (2) registros ausentes o inconsistentes (R-AUS, sí/no). Se encontraron 665.531 óbitos entre los cuales un 67,7% de los registros de eran de mala calidad. Los factores asociados al registro "ignorado" fueron: sexo masculino; color de piel blanco; escolaridad menor que la superior; no obreros o no agricultores; con atestado del Instituto Médico Legal (IML); región sudeste y nordeste; y fallecimiento en hospital. Los registros ausentes o inconsistentes se asociaron a: edad por encima de 34 años; color de piel no blanca; sin escolaridad; todas las regiones, excepto la sudeste; fallecimiento en hospital o en el domicilio; boletín de ocurrencia como fuente; y con atestado IML. Estos factores independientemente asociados a la mala calidad en la cumplimentación del campo incluían dimensiones individuales, de la fuente de emisión, del lugar del fallecimiento y geográficas. Esto revela la necesidad de mejora en la calidad de las declaraciones de óbito en hospitales, IML y boletines de ocurrencia, entrenando y supervisando equipos en todo Brasil.

The recording of fatal work-related injuries in information systems in Brazil. / Registro de dados sobre acidentes de trabalho fatais em sistemas de informação no Brasil.

This study aims to identify information systems having fatal work-related (ATF) data in Brazil, describing their characteristics, flows and barriers to information quality. Using a documental research approach, we found: the Mortality Information System (SIM), the Hospital Admission Register from the Unified Health System (SIH-SUS), the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and the Violence and Injuries Surveillance Program (VIVA) from the Health Ministry; the Work-related Injuries Reporting System (SISCAT) of the Ministry of Social Insurance; and the Annual Report of Social Information (RAIS), Ministry of Labour and Employment. A lack of key common variables limits the construction of a single database composed by all ATF recorded cases. From several barriers identified, the most relevant for data quality was the lack of work-relatedness recognition and recording, a task performed by the health team.

O objetivo deste estudo é identificar sistemas de informação que dispõem de dados sobre acidentes de trabalho fatais (ATF) no Brasil, descrever suas características, fluxos e barreiras para a qualidade da informação. Empregando-se o método da pesquisa documental, foram encontrados: o Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM), o Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do SUS (SIH/SUS), o Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan) e o Sistema do Programa Vigilância de Violência e Acidentes (VIVA) do Ministério da Saúde; o Sistema de Informação de Comunicação de Acidentes do Trabalho (Siscat) da Previdência Social; e do Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego, a Relação Anual de Informações Sociais (RAIS). A falta de variáveis chave comuns limita a construção de uma base de dados única com todos os casos de ATF registrados. Dentre os vários filtros e barreiras identificados destaca-se o não reconhecimento da relação do acidente com o trabalho pelos profissionais registrantes.

Seeking the recognition of voice disorder as work-related disease: historical-political movement. / Em busca do reconhecimento do distúrbio de voz como doença relacionada ao trabalho: movimento histórico-político.

The high prevalence of voice disorders among professionals who use their voice as a working tool, signals the existence of a collective illness caused by voice wear through poor working conditions and lack of social protection. This article describes the construction of a political movement seeking recognition of voice disorder as a work-related disease in Brazil. This is a narrative review on the historical processes, including social subjects, production of knowledge and the proposals for a strategic agenda, in view of the urgency of including voice disorder in the Brazilian Ministry of Health's list of work-related diseases. The analysis comprises three strands: a) technical and scientific, on advances in characterization of voice disorder and establishment of its connection with work; b) juridical and institutional, on legal recognition of this linkage; c) political and professional, on mobilization of social actors to advocate recognition of work-related voice disorders (WRVDs). The key role of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo in fomenting discussions about WRVDs over the course of this movement lasting nearly two decades is highlighted, along with the main difficulties in achieving formal recognition of WRVDs .

A elevada prevalência de alteração vocal no exercício do trabalho sinaliza um adoecimento coletivo, determinado pelo desgaste da voz sob precárias condições ocupacionais. Este artigo descreve a construção, no Brasil, do movimento histórico-político em busca do reconhecimento do distúrbio de voz como doença relacionada ao trabalho (DVRT). Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa, com relato dos processos históricos, incluindo os sujeitos sociais, a produção de conhecimento, os fatos que marcaram a trajetória do movimento e as proposições de uma agenda estratégica, tendo em vista a urgência da inclusão do DVRT na lista de doenças relacionadas ao trabalho do Ministério da Saúde. Foram adotados três eixos de análise: a) técnico-científico, sobre os avanços na caracterização do distúrbio de voz e do nexo com o trabalho; b) jurídico-institucional, relativo às formas institucionais de reconhecimento jurídico deste nexo; e c) político-profissional, no qual se discute a articulação dos atores sociais na defesa do reconhecimento do DVRT. Durante quase duas décadas destacam-se o importante papel da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo no fomento às discussões e as principais dificuldades para o reconhecimento formal do DVRT.

Development and assessment of the feasibility of a Zika family support programme: a study protocol.

The Zika virus outbreak in Brazil in 2015 affected thousands of people. Zika is now known to cause congenital malformations leading to impairments and developmental delays in affected children, including Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Children with CZS have complex care needs. Caregivers require significant levels of support to meet these needs, and there are large gaps in healthcare services. This study aims to develop, pilot and assess the feasibility and scalability of a community-based Family Support Programme for caregivers of children with CZS. The programme is adapted from the Getting to Know Cerebral Palsy (GTKCP) programme for the context of CZS in Brazil. GTKCP is a 10-session programme held with 6-10 caregivers in the local community. It includes practical, educational, peer-support and psychosocial aspects, which aim to improve confidence and capacity to care for a child with CP, and quality of life and empowerment of caregivers. The research project contains four components: Ascertaining need for the caregiver programme: a mixed-methods approach that included two literature reviews, interviews with key stakeholders in country, and incorporation of findings from the Social and Economic Impact of Zika study.Adapting GTKCP for the context of CZS and Brazil: undertaken with guidance from technical experts.Pilot testing the intervention: deliver the 10-session programme to one group of caregivers of children with CZS in Rio de Janeiro and another in Greater Salvador.Update the manual through fast-track learning from participant and facilitator feedback. Assessing the feasibility of the intervention for scale up: deliver the updated programme to two groups each in Rio de Janeiro and Greater Salvador, and evaluate the acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, adaptation, integration, expansion, and limited efficacy, through questionnaires, direct observation, semi-structured interviews and cost calculation. The project has ethics approval in both the UK and Brazil.

Quality of the record of data on fatal workplace injuries in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of the data on fatal workplace injuries in Brazil, in the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the Information System of Notifiable Diseases (SINAN-AT), analyzing the spatial and temporal distribution between 2007 and 2012. METHODS: We identified fields related to fatal workplace injuries, which were examined for completeness and the use of the "ignored" option. From the SIM, we extracted the records of deaths from external causes, which require the completing of the field about their relation with work. From the SINAN, we analyzed the field, which allows us to identify fatal cases among s severe workplace injuries. RESULTS: In the SIM, from 469,121 records, the field was left unfilled or filled as ignored in 84.2% of them; the Brazilian region with the highest proportion was the Northeast (79.1%), from which the state of Alagoas (94.4%) had the highest amount. There was a 5.5% decreasing trend between 2007 (86.6%) and 2012 (81.8%). Among the 251,681 records found in the SINAN-AT, 28.3% had unfilled or ignored responses for , varying from 39.7% in 2007 to 23.2% in 2012, a 41.6% decrease. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of the records on the fields of interest needed to identify fatal workplace injuries is poor in the SIM, but gradually improving. Recording quality was better for SINAN-AT, which has also been strongly getting better lately.

A utilização dos questionários do Washington Group on Disability Statistics para identificação da incapacidade auditiva: uma revisão sistemática / The use of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics questionnaires to identify hearing disability: a systematic review

RESUMO Objetivo Investigar a aplicação dos instrumentos do Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) para obtenção de dados sobre incapacidade auditiva (IA). Estratégia de pesquisa Foram conduzidas buscas nas bases de dados PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science e Lilacs, e na literatura cinzenta. Os softwares State of the Art through Systematic Review e Mendeley foram utilizados como ferramentas para organização, seleção e armazenamento dos documentos. Critérios de seleção Seguiram-se orientações propostas pela Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. De acordo com critérios de inclusão, foram selecionados estudos publicados em inglês ou português, entre 2001 e 2017, que aplicaram a pergunta sobre IA do WG. Análise dos dados Foram definidas como variáveis de análise: módulo WG utilizado, país e ano da coleta de dados, tamanho e composição da amostra, objetivo do estudo, periódico de publicação, estimativa da prevalência de IA e medidas de acurácia. Resultados Foram 65 os estudos incluídos, conduzidos com dados de 30 países. O módulo curto do WG foi mais comumente utilizado. As estimativas de prevalência da IA variaram de 0,2 a 2,3%, e apenas três estudos estimaram a acurácia do instrumento para sua identificação. Conclusão: O emprego do instrumento do WG, módulo de incapacidade auditiva, tem ocorrido em nível mundial, principalmente em países em desenvolvimento. A pequena variação entre as medidas de prevalência estimadas pelos estudos parece ser favorável ao objetivo do WG em gerar estimativas que permitam comparação internacional. No entanto, a escassez de estudos de validade indica a necessidade de mais investigações.

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate the use of instruments from the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) to obtain data on hearing disability (HD). Research strategies We conducted searches in the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, Lilacs databases and the grey literature. The software "The State of the Art through Systematic Review" and "Mendeley" were used to assist in the bibliographic reference organization, selection, and storage. Selection criteria we followed the guidelines proposed by the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis" and we selected studies that met the following inclusion criteria: written in English or Portuguese, within the period of 2001 to 2017 and have used the WG hearing disability question. Data analysis The variables analyzed into the studies were: WG module, country and year of data collection, sample size and composition, objective of the study, publication journal, HD estimate of prevalence and accuracy measures. Results Sixty-five studies are included in the review, conducted with data from 30 countries. The WG Short Set of question was the most often used. Hearing disability prevalence ranged from 0.2 to 2.3% and only three studies estimated the accuracy of the instrument to identify HD. Conclusion The hearing disability question of WG has been used worldwide and mainly in developing countries. The short variation in the estimated prevalence measurements within studies seems favorable to the WG's goal of generate estimates that allow international comparison. However, the shortage of validity studies indicates the need for further investigations with this purpose.

Fatores associados à notificação de perda auditiva induzida por ruído no Brasil, 2013-2015: estudo ecológico / Factores asociados a la notificación de pérdida auditiva inducida por ruido en Brasil, 2013-2015: estudio ecológico / Factors associated with notification of noise-induced hearing loss in Brazil, 2013-2015: an ecological study

Objetivo: Investigar fatores associados à notificação de perda auditiva induzida por ruído (Pair), no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação no Brasil. Métodos: Estudo ecológico para estimar a proporção de municípios notificantes de Pair. Foram empregados modelos de regressão logística para identificar fatores associados. Resultados: Entre 2013 e 2015, 277 (5,0%) municípios notificaram Pair. A notificação foi mais comum entre municípios com cobertura por Cerest (OR=1,62 - IC95% 1,02;2,59) ou que sediavam unidade de Cerest em seu território (OR=4,37 - IC95% 2,75;6,93), a menor distância da capital do estado (OR=1,43 - IC95% 1,06;1,92) e com alto índice de desenvolvimento humano (OR=2,35 - IC95% 1,16;4,75). Entre os municípios situados em área com cobertura de Cerest, a notificação foi mais comum quando na equipe havia fonoaudiólogo (OR=1,96 - IC95% 1,47;2,63) e era baixa a rotatividade de profissionais (OR=1,88 - IC95% 1,40;2,52). Conclusão: Fatores contextuais influenciam na notificação de Pair, notadamente a existência e qualificação dos Cerest.

Objetivo: Investigar factores asociados con la notificación de pérdida auditiva inducida por ruido (Pair) en el Sistema de Información de Agravamientos de Notificación Obligatoria en Brasil. Métodos: Estudio ecológico para estimar la proporción de municipios notificantes de Pair. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística para identificar factores asociados. Resultados: Entre 2013-2015, 277 (5,0%) municipios notificaron Pair. La notificación fue más común entre los municipios con cobertura de los Centros de Referencia en Salud Ocupacional (Cerest) (OR=1,62 - IC95% 1,02; 2,59), o que albergaron Cerest (OR=4,37 - IC95% 2,75; 6,93), cercanos a la capital (OR=1,43 - IC95% 1,06; 1,92) y con alto índice de desarrollo humano (OR=2,35 - IC95% 1,16; 4,75). Entre los municipios en área de cobertura de Cerest, la notificación fue más alta cuando había fonoaudiólogo en el equipo (OR=1,96 - IC95% 1,47; 2,63) y baja rotación de profesionales (OR=1,88 - IC95% 1,40; 2,52). Conclusión: Factores contextuales influyen en la notificación de Pair, en particular, la existencia y cualificación de los Cerest.

Objective: To investigate factors associated with the notification of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (SINAN) in Brazil. Methods: This was an ecological study to estimate the proportion of municipalities that had notified NIHL. Logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors. Results: Between 2013-2015, 277 (5.0%) municipalities notified NIHL. Notification was more prevalent among municipalities in an Occupational Health Referral Center (CEREST) coverage area (OR=1.62 - 95%CI 1.02;2.59) or those that had a CEREST in their territory (OR=4.37 - 95CI% 2.75;6.93), those that were closer to the state capital (OR=1.43 - 95%CI 1.06;1.92) and those with a high human development index (OR=2.35 - 95%CI 1.16;4.75). Among the municipalities located in a CEREST coverage area, notification was more frequent when there was a speech-language-hearing professional in the team (OR=1.96 - 95%CI - 1.47;2.63) and when employee turnover was low (OR=1.88 - 95%CI 1.40;2.52). Conclusion: Contextual factors influence NIHL notification, particularly the presence of CERESTs and their qualification.

Gathering Occupational Health Data from Informal Workers: The Brazilian Experience.

This study describes how occupational health data have been gathered by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) to provide morbidity and mortality estimates for formal and informal workers. In 2007, data on work-related diseases and injuries was incorporated into the compulsory notification system (SINAN) and analyzed by the SUS occupational health service network, which covers all Brazilian states. However, this work has not been fully implemented, resulting in the large-scale undercounting and underreporting of cases, particularly in relation to informal workers. This is suggestive of barriers that prevent access to services and good quality health care. The inclusion of work-related diseases and injuries in SINANs appears to be a feasible strategy for the collection of useful data for the surveillance of the entire universe of workers, particularly in countries where informal workers prevail within the labor force. Attention needs to be paid to the disparities in access and quality that affect low-paid, informal workers.