Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health among women in an ancient mining area in Brazil.
Rev Panam Salud Publica
; 25(2): 157-61, 2009 Feb.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19531311
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to describe the reproductive profile and frequency of genital infections among women living in the Serra Pelada, a former mining village in the Pará state, Brazil. A descriptive study of women living in the mining area of Serra Pelada was performed in 2004 through interviews that gathered demographics and clinical data, and assessed risk behaviors of 209 randomly-selected women. Blood samples were collected for rapid assay for HIV; specimens were taken for Pap smears and Gram stains. Standard descriptive statistical analyses were performed and prevalence was calculated to reflect the relative frequency of each disease. Of the 209 participants, the median age was 38 years, with almost 70% having less than four years of education and 77% having no income or under 1.9 times the minimum wage of Brazil. About 30% did not have access to health care services during the preceding year. Risk behaviors included alcohol abuse, 24.4%; illicit drug abuse, 4.3%; being a sex worker, 15.8%; and domestic violence, 17.7%. Abnormal Pap smear was found in 8.6%. Prevalence rates of infection were HIV, 1.9%; trichomoniasis, 2.9%; bacterial vaginosis, 18.7%; candidiasis, 5.7%; Chlamydial-related cytological changes, 3.3%; and HPV-related cytological changes, 3.8%. Women living in this mining area in Brazil are economically and socially vulnerable to health problems. It is important to point out the importance of concomitant broader strategies that include reducing poverty and empowering women to make improvements regarding their health.
Search on Google
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Salud de la Mujer
/
Enfermedades de los Genitales Femeninos
Tipo de estudio:
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
País como asunto:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Idioma:
En
Año:
2009
Tipo del documento:
Article