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.

Levels of some heavy Metals in Cocoyam ( Colocasia esculentum ) grown on Soil receiving Effluent from a Paint Industry

The levels of some heavy metals in soil samples and tubers of cocoyam ( Colocasia esculentum ) grown on soil receiving paint wastes (PWS) has been investigated using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer (Unicam 939/959 model). Similar analyses were carried out for the same plant from a control area. The studies revealed that although the P.W.S contained abnormally high levels of Pb (474.14mgkg-1) and Cu (137.85mgkg-1). The paint waste tuber (PWT) recorded low levels of these metals: Pb (2.13mgkg-1) and Cu (13.85mgkg-1) respectively. Correlation analysis tested at 0.05 level of significance show that no significant correlation existed between the metals levels in the soil and the level in the tuber. In all cases the levels of the metals in the tubers were well below the upper limit documented for unpolluted plant. The results however suggest the ineffectiveness of the use of Colocasia esculentum as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution in soil.

Spatial distribution of triatomines in domiciles of an urban area of the Brazilian Southeast Region

Reports of triatomine infestation in urban areas have increased. We analysed the spatial distribution of infestation by triatomines in the urban area of Diamantina, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Triatomines were obtained by community-based entomological surveillance. Spatial patterns of infestation were analysed by Ripley’s K function and Kernel density estimator. Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land cover derived from satellite imagery were compared between infested and uninfested areas. A total of 140 adults of four species were captured (100 Triatoma vitticeps, 25 Panstrongylus geniculatus, 8 Panstrongylus megistus, and 7 Triatoma arthurneivai specimens). In total, 87.9% were captured within domiciles. Infection by trypanosomes was observed in 19.6% of 107 examined insects. The spatial distributions of T. vitticeps, P. geniculatus, T. arthurneivai, and trypanosome-positive triatomines were clustered, occurring mainly in peripheral areas. NDVI values were statistically higher in areas infested by T. vitticeps and P. geniculatus. Buildings infested by these species were located closer to open fields, whereas infestations of P. megistus and T. arthurneivai were closer to bare soil. Human occupation and modification of natural areas may be involved in triatomine invasion, exposing the population to these vectors.