Artículos - Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate possible differences in plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of selenium among elderly with and without a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods:

Cross-sectional study, performed with an elderly group with Alzheimer’s disease, diagnosed by a geriatric doctor, and compared to an elderly group without the disease, equaling gender, education, and age. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry determined plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of total selenium (Se_t).

Results:

The mean age was 74.41±7.1 years in the Alzheimer’s disease group and 71.46±5.1 years among the control group. The Alzheimer’s disease group presented lower plasma concentrations (mean of 45.29±14.51 µg/dL vs. 55.14±14.01 µg/dL; p=0.004), and erythrocyte Se_t (median of 56.36 µg/L vs. 76.96 µg/L; p<0.001). The logistic regression model indicated an association between erythrocyte Se_t concentrations and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (p=0.028).

Conclusion:

Elderly with Alzheimer’s disease present lower selenium concentrations in the evaluated organic compartments.

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to build and validate an educational booklet for bathing and hygiene of elders at home.

Methods:

a methodological study, developed through data collection in literature and situational diagnosis, booklet construction, material qualification through validation by expert judges (11 nurses) and target audience (30 caregivers). Data were analyzed descriptively. The minimum content validity index of 0.80 was considered.

Results:

in content and appearance validation, experts assigned Content Validity Index global of 0.92, while for assessment of the material’s suitability, the booklet was classified as “superior”, with an average of 90%. In the validation of caregivers, the overall Content Validity Index was 1.0.

Conclusion:

the booklet was successfully validated and can be considered in the context of health education and collaborate with an adequate and safe practice of bathing and hygiene of elders at home.

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To analyze the temporal trends in the fertility rate, proportion of antenatal consultations and caesarean sections in Brazilian adolescents aged 15 to 19, between 2000 and 2015. Methods: The fertility rate, proportion of prenatal consultations and proportion of routes of birth were calculated using data from DATASUS. The trend analysis was performed using the Prais-Winsten regression model and the annual percentage change.

Results:

There was a trend of reduction of 3.5% per year in the fertility rate among adolescents (p<0.05), in addition to an increasing trend of 6% per year in the proportion of more than six antenatal consultations (p <0.0001) and an increasing trend of 6.8% per year in the proportion of caesarean sections (p<0.0001).

Conclusion:

Despite the decreasing trend in fertility rates among Brazilian adolescents, they remain high. Also noteworthy is the growing trend for caesarean sections, even with improved access to antenatal care.