[Prevalence of tobacco use and associated factors among women in Paraná State, Brazil]

Dual and Poly Use of Tobacco Products in a Sample of Pregnant Smokers: A Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to assess the use of dual/poly tobacco in a sample of pregnant women.

DESIGN

cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

Twenty prenatal care units in Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil. We evaluated 127 high-risk pregnant smokers during prenatal care. Those who were 12-38 weeks pregnant and were currently smoking conventional cigarettes. The study enrollment took place between January 2015 and December 2015. The dual/poly prevalence of tobacco products during pregnancy and the characteristics related to smoking in pregnant smokers through a specific questionnaire containing questions related to sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, gestational history, smoking history, secondhand smoke exposure, nicotine dependence, motivation stage and use of alternative forms of tobacco.

RESULTS

Mean age was 26.9 ± 6.6 years, most had only elementary education and belonged to lower income economic groups. Twenty-five (19.7%) smoked conventional cigarettes only while 102 used conventional and alternative forms of tobacco products. Smoking pack-years was significantly lower in those only smoking conventional cigarettes than in dual/poly users. Proportion of patients with elevated degree of nicotine dependence was higher in conventional cigarettes users. On the other side, alcohol intake was higher in dual/poly smokers when compared to conventional cigarettes group. The alternative forms of smoking were associated with significantly higher occurrences of comorbidities as pulmonary, cardiovascular and cancer.

CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE

The prevalence of alternative forms users of smoking products is high during pregnancy. These data reinforce the importance of a family approach towards smoking in pregnant women and education about the risks of alternative forms of tobacco.

Efficacy of a Gender-Relevant Smoking Cessation Intervention Among Women in Brazil: Findings from a Group Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: There is scarcity of smoking cessation programs that take gender into account during its development, implementation, and evaluation. We evaluated the efficacy of a theory-based, culturally, and gender-relevant smoking cessation intervention delivered by Community Health Workers (CHWs) among Brazilian women that augments the smoking cessation program offered through the public health system (PHS). Materials and Methods: A total of 328 women current smokers (100% cigarette smokers) were recruited across 8 towns in a tobacco producing state in Brazil between 2014 and 2017. Four towns were randomly assigned to the intervention (12 home visits by a CHW and a scheduled appointment to attend the smoking cessation program at the PHS) and four towns to the control condition (scheduled appointment to attend the cessation program at the PHS). The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day smoked tobacco abstinence at 7-month follow-up with biochemical verification. Results: Retention at 7-month follow-up was 80.7% (intervention) and 85.1% (control). Using intention-to-treat analysis, abstinence at 7-month-follow-up was 20% in the intervention arm versus 11% in the control arm. Multivariable modeling showed that participants in the intervention arm had 1.88 times the odds of self-reported smoking cessation than control participants after adjustment for depressive symptomatology, self-efficacy, and having someone in the house who smokes. Besides the intervention, only self-efficacy remained significant in the full model as a predictor of cessation. Replication of these analyses using the objective measure of carbon monoxide at a cutoff score of 8 ppm yielded similar results. Conclusions: A theory-based, culturally, and gender-relevant intervention, delivered by CHWs, can successfully promote smoking cessation among women. Clinical Trial Registration No. NCT03845413.

Development of a gender-relevant tobacco cessation intervention for women in Brazil-an intervention mapping approach to planning

The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a theory-based, culturally and gender-relevant Community Health Worker (CWH)-led tobacco cessation intervention for low-income Brazilian women who augments the tobacco cessation program offered through the public health system using Intervention Mapping (IM). We began with the establishment of a network of representatives from different segments of society followed by comprehensive needs assessments. We then established a logical planning process that was guided by a theoretical framework (Social Cognitive Theory) and existing evidence-based tobacco cessation programs, taking into account socio-political context of a universal health care system. Given the gender-relevance of our intervention and the importance of social support in tobacco cessation among women, we chose an intervention that would be delivered within the public health system but augmented by CHWs that would be trained in behavior change by researchers. One of major advantages of utilizing IM was that decisions were made in a transparent and supportive manner with involvement of all stakeholders throughout the process. Despite the fact that this process is very taxing on researchers and the health care system as it takes time, resources and negotiation skills, it builds trust and promotes ownership which can assure sustainability.

Uso de tabaco em mulheres acompanhadas em um centro de atenção psicossocial

Resumo Objetivo: Analisar fatores sociodemográficos e clínicos associados ao uso de produtos derivados do tabaco em mulheres com transtornos mentais e comportamentais acompanhadas em um centro de atenção psicossocial. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo de prevalência, com uma amostra aleatória de 181 mulheres com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos, com diagnóstico médico de transtornos mentais e comportamentais segundo a Classificação Internacional de Doenças. A coleta de dados foi realizada no período de agosto de 2016 a abril de 2017, por meio de entrevista telefônica com as participantes do estudo. Os dados foram submetidos a tratamento estatístico por meio de análise descritiva e medidas de tendência central. Resultados: Dentre as 181 mulheres entrevistadas, 24,9% faziam uso de produtos derivados do tabaco, predominando as mulheres com: idade entre 40 a 49 anos, raça/cor parda, escolaridade entre um e oito anos estudados, renda entre um e menos que dois salários mínimos, sem trabalho fora de casa, ausência de residência com companheiro, e com religião católica. Quarenta e nove mulheres (27,1%) relataram comorbidades, principalmente Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica e Diabetes Mellitus, apresentando relação com o uso de produtos derivados de tabaco (p=0,049). Conclusão: A prevalência do uso de produtos derivados de tabaco em mulheres com transtornos mentais e comportamentais é elevada se comparada à população geral feminina, e tem relação com a presença de comorbidades clínicas.

Características do uso de produtos derivados do tabaco entre universitários do curso de Odontologia em uma Universidade de Curitiba

Resumo Introdução Profissionais da saúde, incluindo dentistas, são referências de comportamento e exercem grande influência sobre a população que assistem. Objetivo Este estudo teve como objetivos investigar a prevalência do uso de produtos derivados do tabaco entre universitários de Odontologia, analisar fatores associados à ocorrência do uso e quais são os produtos mais utilizados. Material e método Realizou-se um estudo transversal descritivo por meio de um questionário online no ano de 2012. A estatística descritiva gerou um perfil da amostra e aplicou-se o teste Qui-quadrado para análise de associação entre variáveis, seguido da análise multivariada de regressão logística com as variáveis que se mostraram significativas. Resultado A prevalência de uso de produtos derivados de tabaco foi de 24,92%. O narguilé mostrou-se o produto de maior uso (66,23%), seguido do cigarro industrializado (54,55%). Os fatores associados ao uso de produtos de tabaco foram ‘morar sozinho’ (p=0,012; OR=2,13; IC=1,17-3,85), ‘conviver com alguém que fuma’ (p=0,000; OR=3,22; IC=1,75-5,91) e ‘permanecer próximo às pessoas enquanto elas fumam’ (p=0,000; OR=6,96; IC=2,37-20,45). Conclusão Este estudo provê informação importante para desenvolvimento de programas de sensibilização e capacitação dos profissionais de saúde por instituições de ensino superior em relação ao uso de produtos derivados de tabaco.

Pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs and the impact on women

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between the pictorial graphic health warnings on cigarette packs and their impact on intention to quit smoking among women.

METHODS

Population-based cross-sectional study among 265 women daily smokers in the State of Paraná in 2010. The sample size was calculated using cluster sampling. Participants were asked whether they had seen any pictorial graphic health warnings in the past 30 days, whether these warnings made them think about quitting, and intensity of these thoughts. The data was analyzed using logistic regression and the independent variables included age, educational attainment, whether they had children, whether they had attempted to quit smoking in the past 12 months, age of smoking initiation, number of cigarettes smoked per day, their town of residence, and how soon after waking do they smoke their first cigarette.

RESULTS

Participants (91.7%) reported seeing the pictorial graphic health warnings in the past 30 days. Women with elementary education or below and women with some/complete high school education were more likely to think about quitting smoking after seeing the pictorial graphic health warnings than women with higher education (OR = 4.85; p = 0.0028 and OR = 2.91; p = 0.05), respectively). Women who attempted to quit smoking in the past 12 months were more likely to think about quitting than women who had not (OR = 2.49; p = 0.001). Quit attempts within the last 12 months were associated with intensity of these thoughts (OR = 2.2; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Results show an association between pictorial graphic health warnings and intent to quit smoking among women with warnings having a greater impact among women with less education and who had attempted to quit smoking within the past year. Tobacco control strategies should be implemented across all groups of women regardless of their educational attainment.

Is there a role for community health workers in tobacco cessation programs? Perceptions of administrators and health care professionals

INTRODUCTION

Studies have shown that with appropriate training, Community Health Workers (CHWs) can be actively involved in health promotion and disease prevention (including tobacco cessation). This study examined the perceptions of administrators and health care professionals regarding the actual and potential role(s) of CHWs in a tobacco cessation program (TCP) within a universal health care system.

METHODS

This study was part of a larger exploratory, cross-sectional comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the TCP through the primary care public health system in 7 towns in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Questionnaires were administered to 84 administrators at different levels (regional, municipal, and health units) and 80 health care professionals who were directly involved in the TCP. For this study, we assessed the perceptions of administrators and health care professionals on the actual and potential role(s) of CHWs in the TCP.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 56.2%. Although 48.4% of respondents indicated that CHWs already participated in the TCP, there was a wide range in the participants' responses regarding their involvement (33.3% among regional administrators and 65% among health care professionals). Identification/referral of patients and promotion of the TCP in the community were the most frequent CHWs' activities reported. Overall, respondents were very receptive about trained CHWs having multiple roles in the TCP, except for delivery of a brief intervention.

CONCLUSION

With appropriate training, health care administrators and health care professionals are very receptive regarding the involvement of CHWs in a TCP delivered through a public health system.

Influence of risk behavior aggregation in different categories of physical activity on the occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors

BACKGROUND

We aimed to verify the association of risk behavior aggregation in different categories of physical activity (PA) with the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (RF) employees at a public university.

METHOD

We analyzed data of 376 employees, which were visited in their workplace for measurement of weight, height and questionnaires to identify the risk behaviors and risk factors. Chi-square test was used to analyze the association between the dependent and independent variables and binary logistic regression was used to construct a multivariate model for the observed associations.

RESULTS

Associations were found between the aggregation of following risk behaviors: smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, considered in different categories of PA, and the increase in RF, except for the presence of hypertriglyceridemia. Individuals with two or more risk behaviors in occupational PA category are more likely to be hypertensive (3.04 times) and diabetes (3.44 times). For the free time PA category, these individuals were 3.18 times more likely to have hypercholesterolemia and for locomotion PA, more likely to be hypertensive (2.42 times) and obese (2.51 times).

CONCLUSION

There are association between the aggregation of two or more risk behaviors and the presence of cardiovascular RF.