[Cigarette smoking among bank employees]

Smoking Prevalence Among Users of Primary Healthcare Units in Brazil: The Role of Religiosity

The objective of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association between religious involvement and tobacco use in a large representative sample of users of primary healthcare units of Ribeirão Preto, Southeast Brazil. Current and past smoking habits were determined among 1055 users of primary healthcare units. Participants' religiosity was measured using the DUREL questionnaire. The prevalence of smoking among men was 16.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 12.0-22.5] and among women was 12.6% (95% CI 10.4-15.0). Among the current smokers, 40.9% were light smokers, 24.6% were moderate smokers, and 34.5% were heavy smokers. The mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was 13.5. Respondents who have a religion had a lower smoking prevalence than people who had no religion. Current smoking prevalence tended to be higher among people who do not practice their religion than people who practice their religion. Smoking status is also associated with self-reported religiosity, organizational religious activity and some aspects of intrinsic religiosity. Religiosity is an important factor in influencing the smoking behavior in Brazilian users of the public health services.

Descrição sócio-demográfica, laboral e de saúde dos trabalhadores do setor de serviços de alimentação dos restaurantes populares do estado do Rio de Janeiro

OBJETIVO: Este artigo tem o objetivo de descrever uma população de trabalhadores de alimentação coletiva com foco nos perfis sócio-demográfico, laboral e de saúde. MÉTODOS: O estudo, do tipo seccional, foi realizado com 426 trabalhadores dos restaurantes populares do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, com um questionário aplicado por entrevistadores treinados. Os testes para fins de verificação de associação foram o quiquadrado de Pearson, e, alternativamente, o teste exato de Fisher para amostras pequenas. RESULTADOS: Os homens representaram 62,7% do total de trabalhadores. A idade média dos funcionários foi de 35,1 anos, (DP=10,3). Quanto à escolaridade, somente 11,3% possuíam escolaridade menor que quatro anos e 42,2% entre cinco e oito anos de escolaridade. Os incômodos ambientais apresentaram a seguinte ordem decrescente de importância na percepção dos trabalhadores: temperatura (90,1%), ruído (51,2%), esforço físico (36,2%) e luminosidade (10,5%). Os relatos de doenças com diagnóstico médico apresentaram prevalência de: 15,0% "doença osteomusculares relacionadas ao trabalho (DORT)"; 14,3% hipertensão arterial sistêmica; 12,7%, gastrite e 2,1%, diabete Mellitus tipo II. Em relação aos acidentes de trabalho 20,2% relataram ter sofrido corte, seguido de contusão com 16,0%, nos últimos doze meses. CONCLUSÃO: A análise dos dados permitiu concluir que, embora os diferentes cargos sofram a ação do ambiente de trabalho, da remuneração e da qualificação, estas questões estiveram mais associadas aos auxiliares de serviços gerais.

[Public health and behavior modification: a contemporary issue]

Most cardiovascular disease risk factors can be modified through life-style changes. Choices of habits and behavior are in fact heavily influenced by concepts of normality and social values. However, social influences fail to fully explain these choices, insofar as health-related habits are also shaped by personal experience. The main limitations of public health practice can probably be found at this subjective level. This article emphasizes the need to consider determinants of human behavior at different levels, increasingly important for strategies to promote health and prevent disease, or at least delay its onset. The primary focus is to influence rules and laws aimed at protecting life. The article also discusses possible strategies for translating scientific knowledge into public health action, avoiding the restriction to the "healthy life" regulatory role. Finally, participation by public health professionals is suggested in places where population groups share life experiences, such as workplaces, schools, and churches, developing approaches which include those experiences as well as fears and hopes related to health. Scientific facts might thus be transformed into more familiar elements of everyday life.