Publications by authors named "Paulo R B Souza-Junior"
Using representative data from the 2019 National Health Survey (PNS-2019), we aim to investigate whether violent physical and sexual victimization differs by sexual orientation in Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study using data from a nationwide household-based survey. The PNS sample was selected with a three-stage cluster sampling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUsing Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) to Identify the Healthcare Needs among Women of Reproductive Age Who Migrated from Venezuela to Brazil, 2018-2021.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
June 2024
In 2021, an RDS survey was conducted among Venezuelan migrant women of reproductive age who migrated to two Brazilian cities (Manaus and Boa Vista) from 2018 to 2021. To start the RDS recruitment, we chose seeds non-randomly in both cities. The study variables were age, educational level, self-rated health, pregnancy, migratory status and use of health services.
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- - This study examined the prevalence of self-reported perineal laceration among postpartum women in Brazil, finding that 49.5% experienced lacerations, with specific demographic and clinical factors influencing this rate.
- - Key risk factors identified included being an adolescent, being a first-time mother (primipara), excessive weight gain during pregnancy, and the use of the Kristeller maneuver during childbirth.
- - The findings emphasize the need for improved prenatal and childbirth care practices to minimize laceration risks, and highlight the necessity for further research to align self-reported data with medical records for better health policies.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to estimate trachoma prevalence in both indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Maranhão, Brazil, using a population-based survey with probabilistic sampling.
- It assessed trachomatous inflammation (TF) in children aged 1-9 and trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in those aged 15 and older, finding TF prevalences of 0.1% in non-indigenous and 2.9% in indigenous populations, with TT at 0.1% among indigenous groups.
- Though both populations fell within acceptable limits for trachoma elimination, the higher TF prevalence in indigenous groups signals a greater disease vulnerability, potentially improved by socioeconomic factors and the WHO's SAFE strategy efforts.
Article Synopsis
- - The study compares cervical cancer screening coverage in Brazil between 2013 (78.7%) and 2019 (81.3%), showing an increase in tests performed among women aged 25-64, with a decrease in those who never underwent screening from 9.7% to 6.1%.
- - Factors influencing screening rates included higher prevalence among white women, those with more education and income, and residents of the South and Southeast regions; common reasons for not participating included the belief the test was unnecessary and not being asked to take it.
- - Despite improved screening rates, significant inequalities in access remain, highlighting the need for organized programs to better reach vulnerable women at risk of cervical cancer.
Sexual behavior and self-declaration of sexual orientation among people 18-64 years in Brazil: results from the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices survey, 2013 and the National Health Survey, 2019.
BMC Public Health
August 2023
Article Synopsis
- Population surveys are crucial for understanding and controlling the spread of HIV and STIs by monitoring high-risk sexual behaviors.
- A comparison of two surveys indicated that estimates for men who have sex with men (MSM) and women who have sex with women (WSW) were significantly higher when directly asked, contrasting with lower self-reported figures.
- Findings reveal that MSM and WSW prevalence varies based on factors like education, age, relationship status, and geographical location, but condom usage has improved significantly among certain demographics in recent years.
The objective is to analyze the factors associated with the worsening of the self-rated health (SRH) of Brazilian women who live with elderly people with functional dependence (EFD) during the first wave of COVID-19. ConVid - Behavior Research was used as a data source. For the analysis, the group of women who lived with EFD was compared with those who lived with the elderly without any dependence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDifferences in the profiles of illness and lifestyles among agricultural and non-agricultural workers were investigated using data from the National Health Survey (Brazilian acronym PNS) of 2013 and 2019. The prevalence and 95% CIs were calculated for the following variables: self-reported morbidities, poor self-rated health, limitations of usual activities, number of NCD, major or minor depression and lifestyles. The Poisson model was used to calculate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios, by gender and age.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the prevalence of alcohol consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze the factors associated with this behavior during the period of social distancing among Brazilian adolescents.
Methods: Cross-sectional study using data from the ConVid Adolescents survey, carried out via the Internet between June and September 2020. The prevalence of alcohol consumption before and during the pandemic, as well as association with sociodemographic variables, mental health, and lifestyle were estimated.
The article aims to estimate the incidence and worsening of back pain (BP) during the first wave of COVID-19 in Brazil, as well as to investigate demographic, socioeconomic factors and associated changes in living conditions. ConVid - Behavior Research, applied between April and May 2020, was used as data source. The number and distribution of respondents who developed BP and those who had a worsening of the preexisting problem, their 95% confidence intervals and Pearson's Chi-square test were estimated.
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- The study aimed to analyze drinking and driving habits and their prevalence in 2013 and 2019 using data from Brazil's National Survey of Health.
- Researchers interviewed over 60,000 individuals in 2013 and nearly 86,000 in 2019, using logistic regression to identify associations with drinking and driving behavior.
- Findings revealed a decrease in drinking and driving from 2013 to 2019, with men being more likely to engage in this behavior, especially those aged 30 to 39, living in rural areas, or riding motorcycles, highlighting the need for ongoing traffic safety initiatives.
Objective: To describe the consumption of psychotropic drugs in the adult population residing in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, after the Vale dam collapse, which occurred in 2019.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, part of the Brumadinho Health Project, developed in 2021, with a representative population-based sample of adults (18 years and over) residing in Brumadinho. A total of 2,805 adults with information on self-reported use of psychotropic drugs (antidepressants and anxiolytics-hypnotics/sedatives) in the last 15 days were included in the analysis.
Objective: To analyze the factors associated with paid work, after the dam failure, based on geographic strata, among men and women residing in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais.
Methods: Baseline data from participants of the Brumadinho Health Project, aged 18 years or older, obtained through a questionnaire, between July and November 2021 (n=2,783) were used. The dependent variable was paid work after the dam failure and the explanatory variables were geographic stratum, age, education, race/skin color, self-perception of health and employment relationship before the event.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to understand the impact of a dam rupture in Brumadinho, Brazil, on asthma, COPD, and respiratory symptoms among adults by analyzing various demographic and lifestyle factors.
- - Findings revealed a prevalence of asthma (7.2%), COPD (3.5%), wheezing (8.8%), dry cough (23.6%), and nose irritation (31.8%), highlighting increased risks for women, smokers, and those living in affected areas.
- - The research indicated that education level inversely correlated with wheezing and dry cough, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address respiratory health in vulnerable populations.
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of multimorbidity and sociodemographic and residential factors associated with this condition among adults living in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais.
Methods: Cross-sectional study with baseline data from the Brumadinho Health Project, conducted in 2021 and comprising 2,777 individuals aged 18 years and over. The outcome variable was multimorbidity, defined by the existence of two or more of 20 chronic diseases.
Objective: To present the methodological aspects of the Brumadinho Health Project and to describe the epidemiological profile of participants in the baseline cohort.
Methods: Prospective, population-based cohort study in a representative sample of residents (aged 12 and over) of Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, after a mining tailings dam failure. Information for the baseline was collected in 2021, two years after the mining tailings dam collapsed, including sociodemographic, health and service use aspects, among others.
Female sex workers (FSW) suffer stigma and discrimination that negatively impact their physical and mental health and affect access to health care services. This paper aims to describe selected health indicators among FSW in 12 Brazilian cities in 2016. Brazilian cross-sectional Biological Behavioral Surveillance Survey was conducted in 2016 among 4328 FSW recruited by respondent-driven sampling.
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- The text compares the sampling plans of the Brazilian National Health Surveys conducted in 2013 and 2019, focusing on how the changes impacted the coefficient of variation (CV) and the design effect (Deff) of various health indicators.
- It highlights that for most indicators in the 2019 survey, both the CV and Deff values decreased, indicating improved estimates, except for certain indicators like health insurance coverage which had high Deff values.
- The text concludes that while expanding the sample size presents challenges, new probabilistic sampling strategies are necessary to minimize costs and reduce clustering effects in national health surveys.
Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among front-line healthcare workers in Northeast Brazil: a respondent-driven sampling approach.
BMJ Open
June 2022
Objectives: We assessed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages and occurrence of biological accidents among front-line healthcare workers (HCW).
Design, Setting And Participants: Using respondent-driven sampling, the study recruited distinct categories of HCW attending suspected or confirmed patients with COVID-19 from May 2020 to February 2021, in the Recife metropolitan area, Northeast Brazil.
Outcome Measures: The criterion to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW was a positive self-reported PCR test.
The article aims to analyze the pandemic's effect on the burden of care for elderly persons with functional dependency according to the presence of hired caregivers and socioeconomic conditions in the year 2020. Data were obtained from the ConVid - Behavior Survey of 2020. We calculated the percentage distribution and prevalence of the population living with elderly persons with functional dependency during the COVID-19 pandemic according to sex, race/color, and income.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe growth in longevity in Brazil has drawn attention to more useful population health measures to complement mortality. In this paper, we investigate socio-spatial differences in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy based on information from the Brazilian National Health Survey (PNS), 2013 and 2019. A three-stage cluster sampling with stratification of the primary sampling units and random selection in all stages was used in both PNS editions.
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- * Low awareness of preventive measures like PrEP was identified, and unprotected sex was common among participants; lifetime HIV testing rates were around 57%-66% across the cities.
- * High rates of stimulant drug use and unprotected sexual practices were noted in young men, highlighting the need for better communication strategies to enhance HIV prevention and encourage safer sex.
Introduction: HIV incidence estimates are essential to monitor the progress of prevention and control interventions.
Methods: Data collected by Brazilian surveillance systems were used to derive HIV incidence estimates by age group (15-24; 25+) and sex from 1986 to 2018. This study used a back-calculation method based on the first CD4 count among treatment-naïve cases.
We aimed to assess the factors associated with frequent sadness and nervousness in Brazilian adolescents, during the Covid-19 pandemic, in 9470 adolescents (aged 12-17 years), interviewed from June 27 to September 17, 2020. Prevalences and prevalence ratios were estimated according to socio-demographic variables and factors related to family, school, friends, and health. Brazilian adolescents often felt sad (32.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To estimate prevalence of healthy behaviors among individuals aged 30 years or more, diagnosed with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus, using information from the National Health Survey, 2019.
Methods: Cross-sectional study with cluster sampling and simple random sampling in three stages. Individuals were aggregated according the following conditions: having arterial hypertension; arterial hypertension only; diabetes mellitus; diabetes mellitus only; arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus only; without chronic non-communicable diseases.