Physical Activity among Elderly Teachers Working in Basic Education Schools

This study aimed to assess the levels of physical activity (PA) among elderly teachers. It was an epidemiological, cross-sectional, and analytical web survey conducted with teachers working in public basic education schools. Data collection took place between October and December 2021 through an online form. The dependent variable was physical activity practice, classifying teachers as either physically active or inactive. Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple analyses were performed using Poisson Regression with robust variance. A total of 1907 teachers participated in the study, of whom 5.6% were elderly, ranging in age from 60 to 72 years. Regarding PA practice, elderly teachers were found to be more physically inactive compared with adult teachers (PR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.04; 1.34). Conclusion: A statistically significant difference in PA practice was observed between adult and elderly teachers, indicating that elderly teachers are more physically inactive.

Working conditions and mental health of community health workers in the COVID-19 pandemic

This study examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression associated with Community Health Workers' (CHWs') working conditions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil by applying a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic conditions, command of technologies and working conditions during the pandemic, as well as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive and multiple Poisson regression analyses were performed with robust variance, to a 5% level of significance (p < 0.05) for the final model. A total of 1,220 CHWs from 36 municipalities participated in the study. Prevalences were 41.8% and 31.6% for anxiety and depression, respectively, while 22.5% of the group displayed symptoms of both conditions. Being female, up to 40 years old, having more than 500 users registered for monitoring, and inadequate supply of personal protective equipment were associated with anxiety and depression among the CHWs. Prevalence of anxiety and depression was high among CHWs during the pandemic and working conditions figured prominently among the associated factors.

Voice Disorders and Mental health of Basic Education Teachers in a Brazilian Municipality

OBJECTIVE

To identify associations with voice disorders in elementary school teachers of a Brazilian municipality STUDY DESIGN: This was a quantitative cross-sectional and analytical study with probability sampling carried out in the 2016 school year METHOD: Self-report of vocal complaints was used for the dependent variable vocal disorder. The independent variables were sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, working conditions that generate discomfort, habits and behaviors, mental health and self-perception of health. For the evaluation of the Burnout Syndrome (BS), the questionnaire Cuestionário para la Evaluación del Syndrome de Quemarse por el Trabajo (CESQT) was used and, for depression, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale instrument. Multiple fit models were used applying the Binary Logistic Regression RESULTS: A total of 634 teachers participated in this study. There was a predominance of women (85.3%) with mean age 40.6 years (SD ±9.5); 62.1% were married, 70.2% had children and a mean teaching time of 12.9 years (SD ±8.4); 19.3% had voice disorders; 14.5% experienced BS and 24.0% depression. Voice disorders were associated with women (OR=2.30) working longer weekly hours (OR=1.75), with psycho-emotional problems, with burnout (OR=1.95) and depressive symptoms (OR=1.70), and were also associated with women who reported negative self-perception of health (OR= 1.97) CONCLUSION: Voice disorders appear to be strongly associated with mental health problems, mainly in women, in those with a longer working week and those who reported a negative perception of health. Public policies are required to prevent psycho-emotional problems and for vocal health promotion of the teaching category.

Clustering of behavioral risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases in climacteric women

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of clustering of behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases, as well as the associated factors in climacteric women.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional, analytical study, with random selection of climacteric women, aged between 40 and 65 years, and registered in Family Health Strategy units. The dependent variable was clustering of three or more behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases. The definition of associated variables was made after Poisson multiple regression analysis with robust variance.

Results

We evaluated 810 women, and 259 (32.0%) had a clustering of risk factors. The main risk behaviors were physical inactivity and low fruit consumption. The variables associated with clustering of behavioral factors were age group 52-65-years, marital status without a partner, overweight/obesity, moderate to severe anxiety and depression symptoms.

Conclusion

There was a considerable prevalence of women with three or more behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases. Demographic variables and those related to health conditions were shown to be associated. Considering the results recorded, health services must provide differentiated care policies to climacteric women, seeking to alleviate high morbidity and mortality of chronic non-communicable diseases.

Working conditions, lifestyle and mental health of Brazilian public-school teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the working conditions, lifestyle and mental health of Brazilian public-school teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an epidemiological websurvey, carried out from August to September 2020. Teachers from public schools in rural and urban areas in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, participated in the study. A digital questionnaire was used and the study addressed variables related to four major thematic topics: sociodemographic and economic profile, working conditions, lifestyle and health conditions, and mental health problems during the pandemic. The sample consisted of 15,641 teachers, of which 13.3% worked in rural areas, 81.9% were women, 56.2% were aged 41-60 years, 66.8% were married, 99.2% were working remotely and 79.8% adhered to social distancing. During the pandemic, 40.6% showed a decrease in family income, 33.7% were dissatisfied with their work, 58% reported increased body weight, 47.9% did not exercise, 35.8% were part of at least one risk group for COVID-19, 40.5% had some flu-like symptoms during the pandemic and 1.2% tested positive for COVID-19. Regarding mental health problems, 25.9% of teachers self-reported formal diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression during the pandemic. In addition, 7.1% of teachers were drinking more alcohol than usual, 33.4% started having sleep problems, 30.4% were using relax/sleep/anxiety/depression medications, 67.1% reported that their quality of life worsened and 43.7% reported having severe fear of COVID-19. It was also found that 82.3% of teachers had at least one mental health problem during the pandemic, such as increased alcohol consumption, sleep problems, use of psychotropic medication, decreased quality of life, and fear of COVID-19. The results of this study reveal the numerous challenges and the extent of the impact of the pandemic on working conditions, lifestyle, and especially on the mental health of teachers.

Sociodemographic and occupational factors associated with anxiety symptoms in Community Health Agents

Community Health Agents (CHAs) play a crucial role in assisting the population. Due to the complexity of functions and situations to which they are exposed, they can present with emotional problems. The aim of this article was to verify the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and the association with sociodemographic and occupational factors in community health agents. It is a cross-sectional and populational study that used a questionnaire to collect data on the sociodemographic, economic and occupational conditions and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Descriptive analyses and multiple Poisson regression were performed with robust variation, considering a 5% significance level (p <0.05) for the final model. A total of 673 community health agents were evaluated. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in the STAI-State was 47.4% and in the STAI-trait, 42.4%. The time working as a CHA longer than five years was associated with the STAI-state (p<0.001) and the STAI-trait (p=0.018), where as the female gender was associated with the STAI-trait (p=0.011). A high prevalence of anxiety symptoms in community health agents was verified. Health promotion strategies aimed at improving and monitoring the mental health of these workers by reducing anxiety disorders is required.

Dietary risk behaviors for chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazilian medical students

College students in general commonly present unhealthy habits and, as a result, they can develop chronic non-communicable diseases. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of clustering of dietary risk behaviors for chronic non-communicable diseases and associated factors among medical students. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 231 students in the 1^st, 7^th and 11^th semesters of undergraduate medical courses at three institutions in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Information on food intake was obtained through a survey of risk and protection factors for chronic diseases conducted by telephone. Statistical analysis was carried out using Poisson regression with robust variance. With regard to the clustering of dietary risk behaviors for chronic diseases, 30.8% of the students had three or more such behaviors. In the multivariate analysis, it was found that the prevalence of dietary risk behaviors was significantly higher among first-semester students. It is believed that students in other semesters had a lower prevalence of clustering of dietary risk behaviors because they had in-depth knowledge about the benefits of a healthy diet.

Factors associated with voice complaints in community health agents

PURPOSE

To verify the prevalence of vocal complaints and their association with sociodemographic, economic, occupational, and behavioral factors among the population of Community Health Agents (CHA).

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional and analytical study conducted in the city of Montes Claros, MG, in which 674 CHA participated. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire that includes sociodemographic, economic, behavioral, occupational, and voice-use aspects based on the Screening Index for Voice Disorder (SIVD). Bivariate analysis was performed by Pearson's chi-square test and Poisson multiple regression with robust variance to verify the association between the variables.

RESULTS

There was a high prevalence of vocal complaints, the most cited being dry throat, throat clearing, tiredness when talking, and hoarseness. We observed a significant association between female gender, lack of restful sleep, alcohol use, regular to very poor self-rated health, and anxiety.

CONCLUSION

There was a significant percentage of vocal complaints, and the associated factors found will guide actions to promote vocal and general health.

Self-reported outcomes after hearing aid fitting in Minas Gerais, Brazil

PURPOSE: To analyze the self-reported outcomes after hearing aid fitting among individuals in the northern region of Minas Gerais and associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional and analytical study with a random sample of adults and elderly attending the public health care service was conducted in the northern region of Minas Gerais (86 municipalities), Brazil. Study's participants answered International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) questionnaires. Data were analyzed descriptively and analytically with Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: We interviewed 272 adults and 112 individuals reported not using their hearing aids regularly. The mean of IOI-HA global score was lower than expected. The individual's relationship with their hearing aid (Factor 1) was worse than the individual's relationship with their environment (Factor 2). Lower global scores were statistically associated with no work. CONCLUSIONS: The observed scores for the study's population are lower than those recorded in other studies. The results suggest that there are limitations in the fitting and follow-up of individuals who received hearing aids.

Avaliação da capacidade funcional dos idosos e fatores associados à incapacidade

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a capacidade funcional e analisar as características associadas à incapacidade dos idosos atendidos em uma Estratégia da Saúde da Família em Montes Claros-MG. Utilizou-se a escala de Lawton e Brody e a escala de Katz, analisadas pela regressão logística multinomial. Foram entrevistados 286 idosos cuja idade variou de 60 a 103 anos, média de 71,2 anos (DP ± 8,3). Destes, 61,9% autorreferiram independentes quanto à capacidade funcional. A dependência apenas na AIVD foi positivamente associada à faixa etária ≥ 75 anos (OR = 8,38), ao sexo feminino (OR = 3,64) e com doença cardíaca (OR = 3,24). A dependência tanto nas AIVD como nas ABVD foi positivamente associada à faixa etária ≥ 75 anos (OR = 6,40), sem companheiro (OR = 3,26), aos que apresentavam AVE (OR = 51,85), doença cardíaca (OR = 4,18) e aos com diabetes (OR = 3,35). A maior proporção de idosos foi considerada independente para a realização de atividades básicas e instrumentais de vida diária. Contudo, uma parcela expressiva ainda apresenta comprometimento do estado funcional. É essencial que as equipes da Estratégia da Saúde da Família busquem a promoção da saúde e a prevenção de doenças, além de intervenções terapêuticas que possam minimizar os fatores que interferem na capacidade funcional.

A importância da capacitação em saúde auditiva: uma revisão integrativa

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar a produção científica, sobre capacitação em saúde auditiva nos últimos cinco anos. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória nas bases de dados: MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS. Foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura publicada no período de 2007 a 2011, utilizando os descritores: Audição, Deficiência Auditiva, Hipoacusia, Perda Auditiva, Perda da Audição, Perda da Capacidade Auditiva, Pessoas com Deficiência Auditiva, Portadores de Deficiência Auditiva, Portadores de Insuficiência Auditiva, Portadores de Surdez, combinadas com: Capacitação, Capacitação em Serviço, Programa Saúde da Família, Capacitação de Recursos Humanos em Saúde.Foram encontrados 31 artigos e selecionados cinco, que contemplavam a temática pesquisada. Destes, três eram direcionados aos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde que atuavam em Equipes de Saúde da Família, para verificar a efetividade das capacitações em relação à saúde auditiva infantil, e dois trabalhadores de empresas, para sensibilizar os profissionais sobre a prevenção das alterações auditivas nas atividades profissionais. Dois estudos com os Agentes Comunitários de Saúde utilizaram a videoconferência e a capacitação presencial simultaneamente e outro somente presencial. Observou-se que a videoconferência é um meio que pode proporcionar a disseminação do conhecimento, no entanto deve ser utilizada de uma forma complementar. Nos estudos com trabalhadores verificou-se que as capacitações devem ser permanentes e enfocar mais o uso, manuseio e conservação dos protetores auditivos. As publicações confirmam a efetividade das capacitações, porém, há poucos trabalhos nesta área, o que vem reforçar a importância de novas pesquisas com enfoque na educação em saúde auditiva.

Satisfação com Aparelhos de Amplificação Sonora Individual entre usuários de serviços de saúde auditiva

OBJETIVO: Conhecer a satisfação com Aparelho de Amplificação Sonora Individual entre usuários assistidos pelo serviço de saúde auditiva do Norte de Minas, identificando os fatores associados e a percepção sobre a assistência. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, exploratório, conduzido no Norte de Minas Gerais, com 302 indivíduos assistidos pelo Serviço de Atenção à Saúde Auditiva, que responderam a um questionário de avaliação do serviço de saúde auditiva e satisfação com o aparelho. Foi aplicada regressão logística para verificar a associação entre as variáveis sóciodemográficas e a satisfação com o aparelho. RESULTADOS: A média de satisfação com o aparelho foi 5,09 e de avaliação do serviço foi 7,25, em uma escala de zero a dez. Na época da entrevista, 46% dos entrevistados relataram que não estavam fazendo uso do aparelho há mais de um mês, sendo que a maioria alegou dificuldades na adaptação. Os pacientes que tiveram dúvidas em relação ao uso do aparelho, apresentaram menores escores de satisfação. CONCLUSÃO: Os pacientes assistidos pelo Serviço Único de Saúde, de uma forma geral, alcançaram um indicador de satisfação regular com o aparelho e um indicador bom com o serviço ofertado.

Prevalência de alterações de fala em crianças por meio de teste de rastreamento

OBJETIVO: conhecer a prevalência de alterações de fala em crianças que frequentam o 1º ano do ensino fundamental em escolas públicas de Montes Claros - MG no ano de 2010, por meio de teste de rastreamento, verificar os resultados da triagem com a variável sexo e conhecer os principais processos fonológicos presentes nas crianças pesquisadas. MÉTODO: utilizou-se o Teste de Rastreamento de Distúrbios Articulatórios de Fala - TERDAF adaptado, um instrumento validado para este fim. Os alunos foram selecionados aleatoriamente para a aplicação do teste. RESULTADOS: foram avaliadas 404 crianças com média de idade de seis anos e cinco meses, 52,0% eram do sexo feminino. A prevalência de alterações de fala foi de 33,7%. Pode-se observar presença de ceceio em 8,4% das crianças. Dos 137 alunos com alguma alteração nos processos fonológicos, os mais utilizados foram: substituição de /λ/ por /i/ ou /y/, /l/ por /r/, /z/ por /s/ e omissão do /l/ e /r/. A chance de alterações de fala em crianças do sexo masculino foi 2,53 vezes àquela do sexo feminino. A média do tempo gasto durante o teste foi de um minuto e dezoito segundos. Conclusão: a prevalência de crianças com alterações de fala está em acordo com outros estudos. Ações do profissional fonoaudiólogo em pareceria com educadores contribuem para facilitar a aprendizagem como medida preventiva.

Processo de construção de indicadores em saúde auditiva

OBJETIVO: avaliar a adequação de um instrumento, que está em fase de implantação, elaborado pela Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de São Paulo quanto ao serviço de saúde e uso da prótese auditiva. MÉTODOS: instrumento composto por 17 perguntas que avaliam o serviço e a satisfação do usuário. A avaliação do serviço refere ao atendimento de forma geral, o tempo de espera pelo aparelho, e o(s) retorno(s) após recebimento do aparelho. A satisfação do usuário avalia o tempo de uso do(s) aparelho(s) durante o dia e em quais momentos na vida do paciente o seu uso trouxe melhora. Foi aplicado em 17 sujeitos, com idades entre 21 a 91 anos, média de 61,8 anos. Onze eram do sexo masculino. RESULTADOS: no indicador para avaliação no serviço sugere valorar sobre testagem com mais de um aparelho. No indicador da satisfação há necessidade de modificar a pontuação quanto ao tempo de uso da prótese e quanto à melhora em determinados locais, há ainda necessidade de acréscimo de local de uso do aparelho. CONCLUSÃO: faz-se necessária a reformulação e reavaliação do instrumento apresentado. Apesar da limitação devido ao pequeno número de indivíduos pesquisados, verificou-se que os respondentes estão relativamente satisfeitos, porém há queixas quanto à adaptação da prótese auditiva.