[Prevalence of moderate and excessive alcohol consumption and associated factors among residents of Quilombo Communities (hinterland settlements founded by people of African origin) of Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil]

Quality of life of women from a quilombola community in northeastern Brazil

Abstract Quilombola communities are present in many Brazilian states living in precarious health conditions. This is due to geographic isolation, limitations to the access of the area in which they live in, and the lack of quality in the service when it is needed to be provided. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the quality of life of women from a quilombola community in northeastern Brazil. It is an observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study. 160 adult women were first interviewed through a form to collect a profile and then it was applied the WHOQOL Quality of Life questionnaire – bref. It was observed that the women were on average 40.7 years old (±17.25), married, self-declared black, who did not finish elementary school, housewife, had no income, with their own masonry house, with up to 6 rooms, supplied by a box of community treated water. Quality of Life had median scores in the domains: physical (3.18), psychological (3.4), social relationships (3.45) and environment (2.59). With this research, it was possible to characterize the quilombola community of Santa Luzia do Norte-AL regarding the difficulties of access to health and income generation, issues that affect their health condition. The problems described in this study can contribute to health actions being planned and carried out in order to improve socioeconomic and health conditions in this community, considering the social, political and environmental context, valuing their traditional knowledge and practices.

Cardiovascular risk factors across different levels of urbanization in Brazilian Afro‐derived communities ( quilombos )

OBJECTIVES

The frequency of cardiovascular diseases has increased throughout the world. People of African descent have been disproportionately affected, particularly if they reside in urban settings. In this work, we evaluate risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and other chronic diseases in rural and urban Afro-derived communities (quilombo) in Central Brazil. We also determine if there are associations between the frequency of CVD risk factors, sex, and proximity to urban environments.

METHODS

Through a cross-sectional study of participants (n = 347) within three Brazilian Afro-derived communities: Kalunga (a semi-isolated rural community; n = 214), Cocalinho (a non-isolated rural village; n = 70), and Pé do Morro (an urban community; n = 63), we collected data regarding chronic disease (i.e., CVD, diabetes, and hypertension) risk through questionnaires, anthropometrics, blood pressure, and blood samples using standard protocols. Differences between variables were tested by the Chi-square test of Pearson and Fisher's Exact Test, independent sample t-tests, analysis of variances, and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p ≤ .05).

RESULTS

The prevalence of hypertension, overweight, obesity, and other cardiovascular risk factors were higher in the non-isolated rural and urban communities than in the semi-isolated rural community. We found significant sex differences in the distribution of the CVD risk factors, with all occurring at a higher frequency among females.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that Brazilian Afro-derived communities are currently going through an epidemiological transition. The urban lifestyle and its environmental factors are likely contributing to an escalation in cardio-metabolic disease risk. However, the magnitude of this transition differentially impacts the sexes, as females suffer a higher frequency of risk factors compared to males.

The intersection race/skin color and gender, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption: cross sectional analysis of the Brazilian National Health Survey, 2013

This study aims to investigate whether the intersectional identities defined by race/skin color and gender are associated with smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol in a representative sample of Brazilian adults. This is a cross-sectional study with 48,234 participants in the Brazilian National Health Survey (PNS) - 2013. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were used to estimate the associations of intersectional categories of race/skin color and gender (white woman, brown woman, black woman, white man, brown man, black man) with smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol, based on the combination of weekly "days" and "servings". The prevalence of smoking varied from 10.6% for white women to 23.1% for black men, while the prevalence of elevated consumption of alcohol ranged from 3.3% to 14%, respectively. In comparison to white women, only white, brown, and black men presented greater chances of smoking, reaching the OR of 2.04 (95%CI: 1.66-2.51) in black men. As to excessive consumption of alcohol, all intersectional categories showed greater chances of consumption than white women, with the greatest magnitude in black men (OR = 4.78; 95%CI: 3.66-6.23). These associations maintained statistical significance after adjustments made for sociodemographic, behavioral, and health characteristics. Results demonstrated differences in smoking habit and excessive consumption of alcohol when the intersectional categories were compared to traditional analyses. These findings reinforce the significance of including intersectionality of race/skin color and gender in epidemiological studies.

Abuse of alcohol among farmers: Prevalence and associated factors

We sought to identify the prevalence and factors associated with alcohol abuse among farmers living in a medium-sized municipality in northeastern Brazil during 2019 and 2020. Trained interviewers applied the standardized questionnaire to 450 participants. Sociodemographic, health, income and work characteristics were investigated. The tracking of alcohol misuse was done using the CAGE questionnaire (Cut down, Annoyed by criticism, Guilty and Eye-opener), being the cut-off point ≥ 2. Poisson Regression was applied with robust estimation to verify the reasons of prevalence (RP) in bivariate and multivariate analysis. The prevalence of alcohol abuse among farmers was 32% (95% CI 27.8-36.4). Factors such as being male, having a diagnosis of mental disorder in the family, being a smoker, and using drugs were associated with the higher prevalence of the outcome. Being 60 years old or older was associated with a lower prevalence of alcohol abuse. These results indicate the need for social support to this group of workers in the context of occupational health.

Condom use and vulnerabilities to sexually transmitted infections in quilombola communities: a descriptive study, Sergipe, Brazil, 2016-2017

OBJECTIVE

To analyze frequency of condom use according to vulnerability factors for sexually transmitted infections in quilombola communities in Sergipe state, Brazil.

METHODS

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in 2016-2017. A structured questionnaire with sociodemographic and behavioral questions was used; rapid HIV and syphilis tests were performed. Comparisons between categorical variables were performed using Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Among the 367 individuals from 14 communities, the majority had low levels of education (72.8%), were not working (59.7%) and had a stable sex partner (90.7%). Lack of access to prevention supplies and information accounted for respondent programmatic vulnerability. There was a higher proportion of inconsistent condom use with a stable partner (90.1%) among individuals who reported lack of access to information (p=0.001) and inconsistent use with a casual partner (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Frequency of condom use with a stable partner was significantly proportional to condom use with a casual partner and access to information on prevention.

Sentidos e Práticas em Saúde Mental em Comunidades Quilombolas no Estado de Rondônia

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender como os remanescentes quilombolas de duas comunidades do Vale do Guaporé no estado de Rondônia produzem sentidos sobre saúde mental. A partir de uma abordagem qualitativa foram realizadas entrevistas abertas e rodas de conversas com 18 participantes de ambos os sexos. A análise do material empírico foi realizada de acordo com as propostas de análise do discurso, sob a perspectiva da Psicologia Discursiva. Por meio do recurso teórico-analítico foram identificados três repertórios interpretativos sobre saúde mental: construção do sofrimento mental: reconhecimento e formas de lidar com os sintomas psiquiátricos; recursos utilizados pelos moradores da comunidade no cuidado em saúde mental; e consumo excessivo de bebidas alcoólicas como problema de saúde mental. Esses sentidos apontam para a necessidade de construção e implementação de intervenções e políticas públicas de saúde direcionadas a essa população que levem em consideração seus aspectos sócio-históricos e culturais.

Itinerários Terapêuticos e Formas de Cuidado em um Quilombo do Agreste Alagoano

Resumo A presente pesquisa caracteriza-se por um estudo de caso que objetiva analisar os itinerários terapêuticos de saúde de moradores de um quilombo do agreste de Alagoas, identificando as formas de cuidado cotidianas presentes no território. A pesquisa tem como perspectiva a noção de saúde e direitos humanos, no entendimento da saúde enquanto um direito fundamental garantido a todo ser humano. Participaram do estudo cinco moradores da comunidade que apresentam histórico de agravo e/ou doença: uma jovem mulher, acima de 18 anos; uma adulta, dois idosos e uma idosa. A pesquisa teve como instrumentos diário de campo e entrevista semiestruturada. As entrevistas foram realizadas nas residências dos participantes, após transcritas foram submetidas a análise de conteúdo e apresentadas três trajetórias de cuidado presentes no território, definidas como: Automedicação e religiosidade como alternativas à saúde; Chás, ervas e conhecimentos populares como prática de cuidado; Entre a atenção básica, práticas privatistas e benzimentos. Os resultados da pesquisa demonstram que os primeiros recursos acionados pelos moradores são a automedicação, o uso de chá e ervas, a práticas religiosas, a conversas com vizinhos, e as rezas e benzimentos. O segundo passo à resolubilidade do agravo é a busca por medicamentos na UBS e o terceiro passo o atendimento hospitalar e serviços particulares. Apesar de haver no território abrangência do serviço de saúde o mesmo não responde as necessidades da comunidade, sendo que a mesma busca a resolubilidade de seus agravos em práticas populares, automedicação e serviços privados de saúde.

First description and evaluation of SNPs in the ADH and ALDH genes in a population of alcoholics in Central-West Brazil

Worldwide, different studies have reported an association of alcohol-use disorder (AUD) with different types of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes for aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). In Brazil, there is little information about the occurrence of these SNPs in the AUD population and an absence of studies characterizing the population in the Central-West Region of Brazil. Actually, in Brazil, there are more than 4 million people with AUD. Despite the major health hazards of AUD, information on alcohol consumption and its consequences are not well understood. Therefore, it is extremely important to characterize these SNPs for the better understanding of AUD as a genetic disease in the Brazilian population. The present study, unlike other studies in other countries, is done with a subject population that shows a significant amount of racial homogenization. We evaluated the presence of SNPs in the ADH (ADH1B, ADH1C, and ADH4) and ALDH (ALDH2) genes in alcohol users of Goiânia, State of Goiás - Brazil, and then we established a possible relationship with AUD by allelic and genotypic study. This study was conducted with a population of people with AUD (n = 99) from Goiás Alcohol Dependence Recovery Center (GO CEREA) and Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Drugs (CAPS AD), and with a population of people without AUD as controls (n = 100). DNA was extracted from whole-blood samples and the genotyping was performed using TaqMan^® SNP genotyping assays. For characterization and evaluation of SNPs in the population, genotype frequency, allele frequency, haplotype frequency, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and linkage disequilibrium were analyzed. Statistical analyses were calculated by GENEPOP 4.5 and Haploview software. The allele 1 was considered as "wild" (or *1) and allele 2 as mutant (or *2). Significant differences were found for ADH1B*, ADH4*2, and ALDH2*2 SNPs when the genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed. In addition, four haplotypes were observed between ADH1B*2 and ADH1C*2 through linkage disequilibrium analysis. The genetic variants may be associated with protection against AUD in the population studied.