Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health among women in an ancient mining area in Brazil

The purpose of this study was to describe the reproductive profile and frequency of genital infections among women living in the Serra Pelada, a former mining village in the Pará state, Brazil. A descriptive study of women living in the mining area of Serra Pelada was performed in 2004 through interviews that gathered demographics and clinical data, and assessed risk behaviors of 209 randomly-selected women. Blood samples were collected for rapid assay for HIV; specimens were taken for Pap smears and Gram stains. Standard descriptive statistical analyses were performed and prevalence was calculated to reflect the relative frequency of each disease. Of the 209 participants, the median age was 38 years, with almost 70% having less than four years of education and 77% having no income or under 1.9 times the minimum wage of Brazil. About 30% did not have access to health care services during the preceding year. Risk behaviors included: alcohol abuse, 24.4%; illicit drug abuse, 4.3%; being a sex worker, 15.8%; and domestic violence, 17.7%. Abnormal Pap smear was found in 8.6%. Prevalence rates of infection were: HIV, 1.9%; trichomoniasis, 2.9%; bacterial vaginosis, 18.7%; candidiasis, 5.7%; Chlamydial-related cytological changes, 3.3%; and HPV-related cytological changes, 3.8%. Women living in this mining area in Brazil are economically and socially vulnerable to health problems. It is important to point out the importance of concomitant broader strategies that include reducing poverty and empowering women to make improvements regarding their health

Environmental health · Geography · Population · Reproductive health · Sociology · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights · Indigenous Studies and Ecology · Medicine

• A minimum income for healthy living

  J N Morris, A J M Donkin et al.•Journal of Epidemiology and…•2000

  Añadir item

• Tabaco, álcool e outras drogas entre adolescentes em Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

  Open Access•Rogério Lessa Horta, Bernardo L Horta et al.•Cadernos de Saude Publica•2007

  Añadir item

• Relacionamento violento na adolescência e risco de DST/Aids

  Open Access•Stella R Taquette, Maria Helena Ruzany et al.•Cadernos de Saude Publica•2003

  Añadir item

• Controle da transmissão da malária em área de garimpo no Estado do Amapá com participação da iniciativa privada

  Open Access•Álvaro Augusto Couto, Álvaro Augusto Ribeiro D'Almeida Couto et al.•Cadernos de Saude Publica•2001

  Añadir item