Paraíba State, Brazil is one of the poorest areas in that country; many of the hospitals are not high quality and medical training is not comparable to that of developed countries. Nevertheless, the rate of cesarean section delivery in urban hospitals has risen from 19.0 per cent in 1977 to 28.5 in 1981. Despite the larger volume of obstetric services in government hospitals, these hospitals had lower cesarean section rates than private hospitals, both profit and non-profit.
This study was performed to characterize the epidemiological status of brucellosis in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. The State was divided into three regions. Herds were randomly sampled in each region and a pre-established number of animals were sampled in each of these herds. A total of 3,489 serum samples from 674 herds were collected. In each herd, an epidemiological questionnaire was conducted. This questionnaire focused on herd traits, as well as husbandry and sanitary practices that could be associated with the risk of infection. The serum samples were screened for antibodies against Brucella spp. by the Rose-Bengal Test (RBT), and all positive sera were confirmed by the 2-mercaptoethanol test (2-ME). The herd was considered positive if at least one animal had positive results for both the RBT and the 2-ME test. The prevalence rates of infected herds and animals in the State were 4.6% [3.2-6.5%] and 2.5% [1.1-3.9%], respectively. The prevalence rates of infected herds and animals in the regions were, respectively: region 1, 3.2% [1.5-6.6%] and 1.7% [0.5-5.7%]; region 2, 2.2% [0.9-5.2%] and 0.7% [0.3-1.7%]; and region 3, 7.9% [5.0-12.2%] and 3.2% [1.6-6.3%]. The risk factor (odds ratio, OR) associated with the presence of the infection was Zebuine as the predominant breed (OR=12.30 [1.32-114.64]).
The aim of this survey was to determine epidemiological indicators for leptospirosis in equids from Paraíba state, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 138 equids were sampled from 58 rural properties, and for the diagnosis of leptospirosis it was used the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) with 22 serovars as antigens. A seropositivity found was 40.6% (56/138). The reactive serogroups were Australis (43%), Sejroe (16.3%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (14.3%), Grippotyphosa (10.2%), Canicola (6.1%), Tarassovi (4.1%), Pomona (2%), Ballum (2%) and Hebdomadis (2%). Animals over 36 months of age presented higher chance of get seropositive (odds ratio = 3.04; 95% CI = 1.23 – 7.56; P = 0.016). The results obtained in the present work point to the high occurrence of seropositive equids for Leptospira sp. in the semiarid of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. As it is the first report of seropositive equidae in Paraíba, other surveys should be conducted in the region aiming to isolate and identify the agent for the determination of the current infection in the animals.
Based on data gathered during fieldwork in 1981, the article looks at protein-energy malnutrition amongst children in poor farm households in North-east Brazil, from the point of view of household labour resources and development cycles. A high-risk stage of household development through which all poor rural households pass as they mature is identified
This study aimed to obtain information about the knowledge and attitudes of veterinarians in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, regarding the care of abused animals, the profile of possible aggressors, and their perceptions of the relationship between animal maltreatment and interpersonal violence. For this purpose, an online survey containing 21 questions was made available to veterinarians registered in the Regional Veterinary Medicine Council of Paraíba (CRMV - PB). The chi-square test with a 5% significance level (p < 0.05) was used for statistical analysis. According to the interviewees, 70.7% (53/75) of the abuse victims were small animals. Negligence (68% [51/75]) and the absence of medical care (68% [51/75]) were the most evident forms of abuse. Furthermore, 82.7% (62/75) of them believed in the relationship between animal maltreatment and interpersonal violence. In addition, 90.7% (68/75) of the interviewees responded that they have not experienced technical difficulty in identifying maltreatment. However, 48% (36/75) stated to not know the animal abuse law, 90.7% (68/75) did not report the aggressors, and 81.3% (61/75) stated that the absence of measures by the competent public bodies makes it harder to report the abuse. This study concluded that these professionals will, at some point in their clinical routine, encounter situations of animal maltreatment and human violence, as they are in a privileged position to identify such acts. However, they need more normative knowledge about animal abuse crimes.
Objective: Identify family bonds that support coping with chronic childhood illness from the perspective of comprehensive care. Method: This exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach was performed in a public hospital in the Brazilian state of Paraíba between December 2011 and March 2012 through semi-structured interviews with mothers of chronically ill children. Thematic analysis was used for the interpretation of the data. Results: The support bonds constituted by the family include the nuclear and extended family; friends; neighbours; the government; healthcare professionals; and mothers who share the same experience. The social support provided falls under different dimensions, such as instrumental support, emotional support, informational support, reinforcement, and positive social interaction. Conclusion: Knowing the bonds that support families coping with chronic illness and their demands for attention and support is fundamental for providing comprehensive and humanised healthcare to those involved in this trajectory.
