Oswaldo Cruz Foundation

About: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation is a facility organization based out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Trypanosoma cruzi. The organization has 18673 authors who have published 36752 publications receiving 802378 citations. The organization is also known as: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz & FIOCRUZ.

[Validity of self-reported weight and height and the body mass index within the "Pró-saúde" study].

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the validity of self-reported weight and height and the body mass index (BMI). METHODS: A study was made of 3,713 employees of a public university in Rio de Janeiro, in which they were participants in Phase 1 of a longitudinal study. Information was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire, and measurements were carried out after its application. Student's paired t-test, Bland & Altman's graphs and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were utilized to evaluate the differences between the measured and the reported parameters. The sensitivity and specificity of the various BMI categories were estimated. RESULTS: There was high agreement between the measured and reported weights (ICC=0.977) and heights (ICC=0.943). The BMI sensitivity, in its various categories, was around 80%, and the specificity was close to 92%. There was a slight and uniform tendency toward self-reported weight underestimation and self-reported height overestimation in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported and measured weight and height information had good agreement and validity. In similar populations, when few resources are available, it is possible to use self-reported data instead of actual measurements.

Work ability of health care shift workers: What matters?

Abstract: This paper aims at identifying variables associated with inadequate work ability among nursing personnel at a public hospital, considering factors related to socio-demographic, lifestyles, working conditions, and health outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as part of a larger research study on tolerance to 12 h night work. Nursing staff included registered nurses, nurse technicians, and nurse aides; in total, there were 996 healthcare workers (878 female; 118 male) at the time of the study. Some 696 workers (69.9%) of the population agreed to participate. Data collection (October 2004-July 2005) was based on a comprehensive questionnaire about living and working conditions (including incivility at work, work demands, work control, and support), mental and physical health symptoms (fatigue and sleep problems), and work ability. This report presents analyses of the adapted Brazilian version of the Work Ability Index (WAI) and associated variables. The study population worked one of the following shift schedules at this hospital: 12 h nights followed by 36 h off or 9 h or 6 h day (morning or afternoon) shifts. The mean age of the respondents was 34.9 (S.D.+/-10.4) years of age; 31.5% of the participants held two jobs. Statistical analyses using a hierarchical multiple logistic regression model were performed to evaluate the factors associated with inadequate (moderate and low scores) of the WAI. The significantly associated factors were socio-demographic (income responsibility, sole breadwinner, raising kids, age group), working conditions (thermal discomfort, organization of the workplace, and verbal abuse), and health outcomes (high body mass index, obesity, sleep problems, and fatigue). In spite of limitations of the study design, results indicate that the nursing profession is associated with stressful working conditions, contributing to inadequate WAI. This is in addition to bad living conditions and precarious work. Intervention measures, either at the workplace or at individual levels, are necessary to prevent a decrease in work ability, even in this quite young working population.

Caracterização dos casos de violência doméstica contra a mulher atendidos em dois hospitais públicos do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract: This paper aims at: (a) to analyze the distribution of the cases of domestic violence against women (adolescent and adult) in relation to emergency care due to external causes; (b) to characterize the victims and the rendered care; (c) to analyze the circumstances in which events happened. In methodological terms, it tries to articulate the quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study was developed in two public hospitals of reference placed in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Of the 72 assisted women, most referred to the husband, the partner or the boyfriend as the aggressor (69,4%) and were beaten (70.4%), especially on the face and on the head. The study cames to the conclusion that the health services should provide a good clinical care and promote prevention's actions.

Influência de fatores socioeconômicos na contaminação por agrotóxicos, Brasil

Abstract: OBJETIVO: A elevada utilizacao de agrotoxicos, sem os cuidados necessarios, tem contribuido para a degradacao ambiental e o aumento das intoxicacoes ocupacionais, sendo um dos principais problemas de saude publica no meio rural brasileiro. O objetivo do trabalho e avaliar a exposicao de um grupo de trabalhadores da area rural do Estado do Rio de Janeiro a agrotoxicos anticolinesterasicos, atraves das atividades da acetilcolinesterase eritrocitaria (AChE) e da butirilcolinesterase plasmatica (BChE), e o impacto de alguns indicadores socioeconomicos e de utilizacao de agrotoxicos sobre a contaminacao humana. METODOS: Para a avaliacao da exposicao de 300 agricultores residentes em cinco comunidades do distrito de Mage, RJ, uma amostra aleatoria de 55 trabalhadores foi selecionada e determinadas as atividades individuais de acetilcolinesterase eritrocitartia (AChE) e butirilcolinesterase plasmatica (BChE). As atividades enzimaticas foram avaliadas segundo o metodo de Ellman modificado por Oliveira-Silva. Dados socioeconomicos e de utilizacao de agrotoxicos para cada trabalhador da amostra foram obtidos em entrevista estruturada. O possivel papel dos indicadores socioeconomicos e de uso de agrotoxicos sobre o nivel de contaminacao dos trabalhadores foi estimado por analise de regressao linear multipla, utilizando-se a atividade enzimatica como variavel dependente e os indicadores socioeconomicos e de uso de agrotoxicos como variaveis independentes. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSOES: Os dados obtidos mostraram resultados distintos em relacao a incidencia da exposicao excessiva, de acordo com o indicador enzimatico utilizado. No grupo de trabalhadores, 3,6% (2) foram identificados pelos resultados de BChE e 41,8% (23) pela AChE, sendo considerados intoxicados individuos com pelo menos um dos indicadores positivos. A avaliacao desses dados frente aos indicadores socioeconomicos e de utilizacao de agrotoxicos, destaca a importância do nivel de escolaridade sobre a prevalencia das intoxicacoes. Para os demais determinantes estudados, nenhuma correlacao significativa foi tao evidente.