SOFRIMENTO CRÔNICO: PERCEPÇÃO DE MÃES DE CRIANÇAS DEPENDENTES DE VENTILAÇÃO MECÂNICA

Objective: To know the mothers’ perception of the main difficulties in the care of children with special needs dependent on mechanical ventilation. Methods: A qualitative research conducted from August to November 2013 at the Dr. Waldemar Alcântara Hospital in Fortaleza, CE. Respondents were seven mothers of children under mechanical ventilation. Data were collected using sociodemographic questionnaires and guiding questions, from which emerged thematic categories that underwent content analysis, with data being discussed in the light of the relevant literature. Results: The average age of mothers ranged 18-36 years. Six were married or had formed a common-law marriage. Education level ranged from illiteracy to complete secondary education. Family income was up to one minimum wage. Mothers reported anguish and fear regarding the initial impact of the diagnosis, with little understanding of the biomedical language and a lot of questions during the whole period after diagnosis and during hospitalization. Conclusion: Difficulties involve aspects related to family abandonment, the distancing from the other children at the expense of the care of the disable child, the difficulty in engaging in social relationships, and the prognosis and care of their child. The hospital environment generates psychological repercussions on the expectation and hopelessness regarding the cure of their child, as they know they might die. Healthcare professionals can favor incredible transformations, generating a new “care”, broader and humanized, facilitating the recovery/restructuring of the family within this new universe.

PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF MAMMOGRAPHY AND PAP SMEAR TEST

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with the performance of mammography and pap smear test in women from the city of Maringá, Paraná. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study conducted with 345 women aged over 20 years in the period from March 2011 to April 2012. An interview was carried out using a questionnaire proposed by the Ministry of Health, which addressed sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases and issues related to mammographic and pap screening. Data were analyzed using bivariate analysis, crude analysis with odds ratio (OR) and chi-squared test using Epi Info 3.5.1 program; multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed using the software Statistica 7.1, with a significance level of 5% and a confidence interval of 95%. Results: The mean age of the women was 52.19 (±5.27) years. The majority (56.5%) had from 0 to 8 years of education. Additionally, 84.6% (n=266) of the women underwent pap smear and 74.3% (n=169) underwent mammography. The lower performance of pap smear test was associated with women with 9-11 years of education (p=0.01), and the lower performance of mammography was associated with women without private health insurance (p<0.01). Conclusion: The coverage of mammography and pap smear test was satisfactory among the women from Maringá, Paraná. Low education level and women who depended on the public health system presented lower performance of mammography.

ALCOHOL AS A SOCIAL MEDIATOR AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Objective: To identify the prevalence of alcohol consumption in Psychology students of a higher education institution in the city of Montes Claros, MG. Methods: Quantitative crosssectional descriptive research conducted from September to October 2014. The population consisted of 116 Psychology students from the city of Montes Claros, MG. Data were collected using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Inventário de Expectativas e Crenças Pessoais Acerca do Álcool – IECPA (Inventory of Expectations and Personal Beliefs about Alcohol), the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and the Escala de Satisfação com o Suporte Social – ESSS (Social Support Satisfaction Scale). Descriptive analysis of data was performed using SPSS 19.0. Results: The sample had a predominance of female gender (82.75%, n=96), pardos (65.51%, n=76) and single (60.34%, n=70) individuals. Regarding the AUDIT risk classification, it was found that 49.13% (n=57) of the respondents were in the level 4, considered alcohol dependence. They reported occasional use of alcohol, smoking and other substances, which refer to ASSIST level 1 classification, with 94.82% (n=110). Regarding the IECPA, 87.06% (n=101) of the individuals were classified as level 1, with low vulnerability to the effects of alcohol. As to the ESSS, 68.10% (n=79) of the students showed high social support. Conclusion: Regarding the sample studied, it was found a high prevalence of dependence on alcohol and other legal and illegal drugs.