ABSTRACT Objective: Exposures to sharps injuries occurring in the community are relatively frequent. We describe characteristics of community sharp exposures reported in the city of Rio de Janeiro from 1997 to 2010. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of exposure reports to sharps in the community reported to a surveillance system, designed for health care workers, of the Municipal Health Department of Rio de Janeiro. The characteristics of exposed individuals analyzed included types of exposure, the circumstances of the accident, and the prophylaxis offered. Results: 582 exposures were studied. Median age was 30 years and 83 (14%) involved children with less than 10 years of age. Two hundred and seventeen (37%) occurred with sharps found in the streets. The exposure was percutaneous in 515 (89%) and needles where involved in 406 (70%) of them. The sharps were present in the trash in 227 (39%) or in the environment in 167 (29%) of the reports. Professionals who work with frequent contact with domestic or urban waste were 196 (38%). The source was known in 112 (19%) of the exposures and blood was involved in 269 (46%). Only 101 (19%) of the injured subjects reported a complete course of vaccination for hepatitis B. Antiretroviral prophylaxis was prescribed for 392 (68%) of the exposed subjects. Conclusions: Sharps injuries occurring in the community are an important health problem. A great proportion would be avoided if practices on how to dispose needles and sharps used outside health units were implemented.

Este artigo objetiva avaliar os conhecimentos, as práticas e as atitudes dos profissionais pré-natalistas da rede de serviços públicos de saúde (SUS) do município do Rio de Janeiro (MRJ) e identificar as principais barreiras para a implantação dos protocolos assistenciais de manejo da sífilis na gestação. Estudo transversal com 102 profissionais pré-natalistas da rede SUS do MRJ, correspondendo a uma taxa de resposta de 70% dentre os elegíveis. Foi realizada análise uni e bivariada com utilização do software SPSS 16.0. Foram verificadas diversas barreiras relacionadas ao conhecimento e à familiaridade com os protocolos assistenciais, dificuldades na abordagem das DST, questões dos usuários e contexto organizacional, que apresentaram distribuição distinta segundo tipo de serviço de saúde. Profissionais com mais acesso a treinamentos e manuais técnicos apresentaram melhor desempenho, sendo esses efeitos discretos. A identificação de barreiras para a adoção de protocolos assistenciais é fundamental para a formulação de estratégias de intervenção. O acesso ao conteúdo dos protocolos por treinamentos e manuais técnicos mostraram efeito discreto na melhoria das condutas assistenciais, sendo necessárias outras abordagens de educação continuada dos profissionais.

This article seeks to evaluate knowledge, practices and attitudes of health care workers (HCW) involved in antenatal care in the Unified Health System (SUS) in Rio de Janeiro City (RJC) and to identify major barriers to the implementation of treatment for syphilis in pregnancy care protocols. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 102 HCW in antenatal care at SUS, corresponding to 70% of the eligible pool. Univariate and bivariate analysis were performed using SPSS version 16.0. A number of barriers were identified with respect to knowledge of and familiarity with the current protocols, difficulties related to DST management, relationship with patients and clinics organizational context, which were distinct according to the type of health unit. HCW who had greater access to training and technical manuals had a better performance, although the overall effect was discrete. Identifying barriers to adherence to health care protocols is essential to formulate intervention strategies. Access to protocols through training and technical manuals showed a discrete effect in the improvement of the care delivered to patients, pointing to the need of innovative ongoing education of HCW.

Este artigo objetiva avaliar os conhecimentos, as práticas e as atitudes dos profissionais pré-natalistas da rede de serviços públicos de saúde (SUS) do município do Rio de Janeiro (MRJ) e identificar as principais barreiras para a implantação dos protocolos assistenciais de manejo da sífilis na gestação. Estudo transversal com 102 profissionais pré-natalistas da rede SUS do MRJ, correspondendo a uma taxa de resposta de 70% dentre os elegíveis. Foi realizada análise uni e bivariada com utilização do software SPSS 16.0. Foram verificadas diversas barreiras relacionadas ao conhecimento e à familiaridade com os protocolos assistenciais, dificuldades na abordagem das DST, questões dos usuários e contexto organizacional, que apresentaram distribuição distinta segundo tipo de serviço de saúde. Profissionais com mais acesso a treinamentos e manuais técnicos apresentaram melhor desempenho, sendo esses efeitos discretos. A identificação de barreiras para a adoção de protocolos assistenciais é fundamental para a formulação de estratégias de intervenção. O acesso ao conteúdo dos protocolos por treinamentos e manuais técnicos mostraram efeito discreto na melhoria das condutas assistenciais, sendo necessárias outras abordagens de educação continuada dos profissionais.

This article seeks to evaluate knowledge, practices and attitudes of health care workers (HCW) involved in antenatal care in the Unified Health System (SUS) in Rio de Janeiro City (RJC) and to identify major barriers to the implementation of treatment for syphilis in pregnancy care protocols. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 102 HCW in antenatal care at SUS, corresponding to 70% of the eligible pool. Univariate and bivariate analysis were performed using SPSS version 16.0. A number of barriers were identified with respect to knowledge of and familiarity with the current protocols, difficulties related to DST management, relationship with patients and clinics organizational context, which were distinct according to the type of health unit. HCW who had greater access to training and technical manuals had a better performance, although the overall effect was discrete. Identifying barriers to adherence to health care protocols is essential to formulate intervention strategies. Access to protocols through training and technical manuals showed a discrete effect in the improvement of the care delivered to patients, pointing to the need of innovative ongoing education of HCW.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a freqüência da tuberculose e das outras principais doenças oportunistas definidoras de síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida, no momento em que estes casos são notificados, no Município do Rio de Janeiro. MÉTODOS: Análise do banco de dados do Sistema de Vigilância Epidemiológica do Programa de Doenças Sexualmente Transmissíveis e Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro, no período de 1993 a 2002. RESULTADOS: A expansão da definição de casos de síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida ocorrida em 1998 criou um aumento substancial no número de casos notificados de síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida, principalmente por aqueles que passaram a ser definidos pelo critério imunológico. Dentre os casos de síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida que foram definidos apenas por doença, a candidíase em suas diversas formas manteve-se como a doença oportunista de maior freqüência no momento da notificação. Embora a pneumonia por Pneumocystis carinii se apresentasse como a segunda doença mais freqüente na maioria dos anos observados, a partir de 2001, a tuberculose ultrapassou-a em freqüência, tornando-se a segunda doença mais freqüente no momento da notificação dos casos de síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar da diminuição do número de casos de síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida definidos por doença, a tuberculose manteve-se como um importante evento definidor dessa síndrome, sendo atualmente de ocorrência mais freqüente do que a pneumonia por Pneumocystis carinii e a toxoplasmose, provavelmente por sua alta taxa de prevalência na cidade.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency of tuberculosis and of the other principal opportunistic infections defining acquired immunodeficiency syndrome at the time such cases were reported in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: Analysis of the data compiled in the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Program for the Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome database from 1993 to 2002. RESULTS: The expanded definition of a case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, implemented in 1998, resulted in a substantial increase in the number of reported cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, especially of those defined by immunologic criteria. Among the cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome defined only by disease, esophageal candidiasis, in its various forms, remained the most common opportunistic infection present at the time the cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were reported. Although Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was the second leading opportunistic infection in most of the years evaluated, it was surpassed by tuberculosis in 2001. CONCLUSION: Despite the decreased numbers of cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome defined by disease, tuberculosis remains a significant acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining event, currently more common than P. carinii pneumonia and toxoplasmosis. This is probably due to the high rate of tuberculosis prevalence in the city.

We examined the characteristics of AIDS mortality in Rio de Janeiro city from 1995 to 2003. During this period, highly active antiretroviral therapy with protease inhibitors was made available, and it changed the pattern of the epidemics. There was a 47.5% reduction in the number of AIDS deaths within the period, with an increase in the proportion of women among the deceased; their schooling was lower than that of the men, similar to the trends of the national-level epidemics. The main place of death changed from university hospitals to emergency rooms. The proportion of cases reported to the National Diseases Surveillance System (SINAN) reported only through the death certificate remained high. Although there is free distribution of antiretrovirals by the public health system, many patients still lack access to diagnosis and treatment. We need to give priority to access to anti-HIV testing and treatment, to increase the quality of care and to look into the issue of adherence in order to further reduce AIDS mortality.