scholarly journals Epidemiological Profile of Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma in a Region of Southern Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Moreno ◽  
Ricardo Ludwig Schmitt ◽  
Maria Gabriela Lang ◽  
Vanessa Gheno

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is responsible for 75% of deaths from malignant skin cancer. The incidence of CM in the southern region of Brazil, particularly in the western region of Santa Catarina, is possibly higher than estimated. In this study, the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with CM treated in the western region of Santa Catarina was examined. A cross-sectional study was performed with patients diagnosed with CM from January 2002 to December 2009, from 78 counties of the western region of the state of Santa Catarina. Data were collected using a protocol adapted from the Brazilian Melanoma Group and 503 patients were evaluated. The incidence and prevalence of CM found in this region are much higher than those found elsewhere in the country. This fact is most likely due to the phenotypic characteristics of the population and the high incidence of UV radiation in this region due to its location in southern Brazil, as is the case in the countries of Oceania.

Author(s):  
Michelle Dornelles Santarem ◽  
Mariane Marmontel ◽  
Nathália Lima Pereira ◽  
Letícia Becker Vieira ◽  
Ricardo Francalacci Savaris

Abstract Objective To characterize the sociodemographic profile of women victims of sexual violence treated at a university hospital in southern Brazil. Method The present cross-sectional study included all female victims of sexual violence who attended the sexual violence unit at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA, in the Portuguese acronym) from April 18, 2000 to December 31, 2017. Data were extracted from the electronic record of the patients and stored in a standardized questionnaire database with epidemiological aspects of the victim, the perpetrators and the type of aggression. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test for trend and descriptive statistics with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results During the length of the study, 711 women victims of sexual violence were treated. The mean age of the patients was 24.4 (±10) years old (range from 11 to 69 years old) and most of the victims were white (77.4%), single (75.9%) and sought care at the unit within 72 hours after the occurrence (80.7%). In most cases, violence was exerted by a single perpetrator (87.1%), who was unknown in 67.2% of cases. Victims < 19 years old showed a higher risk of not using contraception (relative risk [RR] = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.9–3.6). Conclusion Most victims of sexual violence were treated within 72 hours of the occurrence. The majority of these victims were white and young, and those < 19 years old had a higher risk of not using contraception and to know the sexual perpetrator.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dayane A. Padilha ◽  
Vilmar Benetti-Filho ◽  
Renato Simoes Moreira ◽  
Tatiany Soratto Teixeira Soratto ◽  
Guilherme Augusto Maia ◽  
...  

COVID-19 has assumed significant and lasting proportions worldwide. Following initial cases in the Western mesoregion, the State of Santa Catarina (SC), southern Brazil, was heavily affected as a whole by the pandemic in early 2021. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreading patterns in the SC state through March 2020 to April 2021 using genomic surveillance. During this period, 23 distinct variants, including two VOCs (Beta and Gamma) were identified, among which, the Gamma and related lineages were predominant in the second pandemic wave within SC. However, a regionalization of P.1-like-II in the Western region was observed, concomitant to the increase in cases, mortality, and case fatality rate (CFR) index. This is the first evidence of the regionalization of the SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the and highlight the importance of tracking variants, dispersion and their impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the public health system in Brazilian states.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo André Medeiros de Oliveira ◽  
Alexandrina Gomes de Oliveira ◽  
Ana Cristina Tillmann ◽  
Camila da Cruz Ramos de Araujo ◽  
Cecília Bertuol ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION: attention has been focused on investigating the prevalence of physical activity PA in different populations.OBJECTIVE: to analyze factors associated with the usual practice of PA in women from areas of Santa Catarina, Brazil.METHODS: the cross-sectional study enrolled a sample of 2750 women with a mean age of 32.97±10.9 years. PA was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire IPAQ. The sample was divided into six groups: Southern Region; Itajaí Valley; Northern Region; Western Region; Highlands Region and the Greater Florianópolis Region, SC, Brazil. Statistical analysis was descriptive and inferential.RESULTS: approximately 68.3% of women were considered sufficiently active active + very active, in particular the Greater Florianópolis Region, SC, Brazil. In the practice of moderate and moderate + vigorous activity, the women of Western Region presented the highest averages 65±64 min/d; 105±102 min/d, respectively, and those in the range of 20-32 years old showed 61% chance of being considered active compared with women in the range of 46-59 years old. As for the body mass index BMI, women with normal weight of the South Region and Itajaí Valley regions had 2.24 95% CI;1.15-4.35 and 1.76 95% CI; 1.14-2.73 times more chances to be active when compared to the overweight women.CONCLUSION: women in the regions of Santa Catarina were considered sufficiently active. Moderate + vigorous PA was the most prevalent in the six regions studied.


Author(s):  
Jacob Obodai ◽  
Paul Kitson Baffour Asamoah ◽  
Joseph Edusei

The cocoa industry in Ghana is plagued with a number of challenges. Among such challenges is the issue of insecurity. This notwithstanding, there are limited scholarly findings on the nature and the underlying factors associated with these insecurity issues. This paper examined the cocoa industry in the Sefwi Akontombra District in the Western Region of Ghana and presents an analysis of the processes and procedures for cocoa purchasing in the district; the securityarrangements and mechanisms put in place during cocoa purchasing peak periods; the nature of access roads in cocoa growing areas in the district; and the influence of access roads on the insecurity of cocoa purchasing in the district. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and using a cross sectional study design, the case of OLAM Ghana Limited, a private licensed cocoa buying company operating in Sefwi Akontombra was examined. Primary data were gathered from purchasing clerks, drivers, warehouse keepers and officials of the company. Data from the District Command of the Ghana Police Service and the Department of Feeder Roads district office were solicited using interview guides. Non-participant observation and taking of photography were also employed as data capturing mechanism during the study. The study espoused content analysis in analysing the contents of the interviews and observational field notes in order to identify the main themes that emerge from the responses given by the respondents or the observation notes made. Inferences and implications were drawn then drawn from the analysis. The study found out that there was no security measure by OLAM Ghana Limited to ensure the safety of funds meant for cocoa buying, the storage and the transportation of cocoa beans in the study district. There was also no security arrangement during peak cocoa purchasing periods in the study district by key stakeholders within the cocoa sector in the district. Moreover, access road was further found out to be a major factor that accounts for some of the insecurity issues associated with cocoa purchasing activities in the Sefwi Akontombra District. The study thus recommends the development and adoption of security arrangements and mechanism by all stakeholders within the cocoa industry in the study district and the making of security issues a top priority by OLAM Ghana Limited.


Author(s):  
Eyas K. Farran ◽  
Dania S. Waggas ◽  
Tala A. Alkhunani ◽  
Safwan A. Almuwallad ◽  
Rola A. Aljohani

Abstract Objective Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that can lead to lifelong disabilities. There is a significant increase in the global incidence of the disease. In Saudi Arabia (SA), the western region has the greatest number of MS cases. However, there is a lack of studies and research to assess public knowledge in the region. Thus, we aim to assess the public's knowledge of MS in Jeddah, SA. Methodology We conducted a cross-sectional study surveying 468 participants from the general population of Jeddah. A validated MS knowledge questionnaire (MSKQ-25) was used. Results Most participants were female 347 (74.1%) with a mean age of 35.73 ± 14.71 standard deviation (SD). MS was found in 14 (3%) of the participants. The average score of the (MSKQ) was 7.42 SD ± 4.568 versus the average score of people with MS with a mean of 13.92 SD ± 3.33 and a p value > 0.001. No significant variation was found in knowledge between gender and age groups, but there was a significant correlation between the educational level and the knowledge level. Conclusion The mean knowledge score was below average, which indicates poor knowledge of MS. Since the western region has the highest number of MS cases in SA, the level of understanding needs to increase. This can be improved by conducting educational programs using various types of media.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
James Osei-Yeboah ◽  
Kenneth Kwame Kye-Amoah ◽  
William K. B. A. Owiredu ◽  
Sylvester Yao Lokpo ◽  
Joseph Esson ◽  
...  

Background. There is a dearth of information about the burden of cardiometabolic risk factors among the Ghanaian health workforce in the Western Region. This study sought to determine the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among healthcare workers at the Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal Hospital in the Western Region of Ghana.Materials and Methods. A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 112 employees of the Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal Hospital was conducted. The cardiometabolic risk variables assessed were obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and diabetes. Sociodemographic parameters were also captured. The prevalence of hypertension and obesity was determined using the JNC VII panel and WHO BMI criteria for obesity classifications. Blood lipids and glucose concentrations were evaluated using standard methods.Results. The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension was 16.07% and 52.68%, respectively. About 38.39% of participants were overweight, and 12.50% were obese. Atherogenic dyslipidaemia was 26.79%, whereas prediabetes glycaemic levels and diabetes incidence were 5.41% and 4.50%, respectively. Fifty percent (50.00%) of participants presented at least one cardiometabolic risk factor. Aging and adiposity were associated with increasing cardiometabolic risk.Conclusion. Cardiometabolic risk factors are prevalent among healthcare providers in Sefwi-Wiawso. The cardiometabolic dysregulation observed among this cohort of healthcare professionals may be modulated by age and adiposity.


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