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The study aims to describe the consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages according to sociodemographic, health and location variables. Cross-sectional study with ELSA-Brasil data (2008-2010). A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, food, health data and anthropometry. Descriptive analysis and association with variables of interest were carried out. In the sample, 8% of the total caloric value comes from non-alcoholic beverages (5.6%: sugary drinks), and 4% from alcoholic beverages (2.7%: beer). Consumers of unsweetened and artificially sweetened beverages reported moderate/strong physical activity, former smokers and higher education. The opposite was true for sugary drinks. Eutrophic people reported higher consumption of sugary drinks and those obese, artificially sweetened and beer. Alcohol consumption varied with age (young: beer; elderly: wine/spirits) and education (low education: beer/spirits; higher education: wine). Coffee, natural juice and soda were the most consumed non-alcoholic beverages and beer was the most prevalent alcoholic beverage. Consumption variation was observed according to geographic location. The consumption of sugary and alcoholic beverages is high in Brazil and public health strategies are required.Objetiva-se descrever o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e não alcoólicas segundo variáveis sociodemográficas, de saúde e localização. Estudo transversal com dados do ELSA-Brasil (2008-2010). Aplicou-se questionário para coleta de dados sociodemográficos, de alimentação, saúde, além de antropometria. Realizou-se análise descritiva e associação com variáveis de interesse. Na amostra, 8% do valor calórico total é proveniente de bebidas não alcoólicas (5,6%: bebidas açucaradas), e 4% de bebidas alcoólicas (2,7%: cerveja). Os consumidores de bebidas não adoçadas e adoçadas artificialmente realizam atividade física moderada/forte, são ex-fumantes e apresentam escolaridade alta. O oposto foi verificado para as bebidas açucaradas. Indivíduos eutróficos relataram maior consumo de bebidas açucaradas e os obesos, as adoçadas artificialmente e cerveja. O consumo de bebidas alcoólicas variou com a idade (jovens: cerveja; idosos: vinho/destiladas) e escolaridade (baixa: cerveja/destiladas; alta: vinho). Café, suco natural e refrigerante foram as bebidas não alcoólicas mais consumidas e a cerveja a alcoólica mais prevalente. Observou-se variação de consumo segundo a localização geográfica. O consumo de bebidas açucaradas e alcoólicas é alto no Brasil e estratégias de saúde pública são necessárias.

This work assessed the concurrent and face validity of the MacArthur scale, which attempts to capture subjective social status in society, neighborhood and work contexts. The study population comprised a convenience sample made up of 159 adult participants of the ELSA-Brasil cohort study conducted in Minas Gerais between 2012 and 2014. The analysis was conducted drawing on Conceptual Metaphor Theory and using corpus linguistic methods. Concurrent validity was shown to be moderate for the society ladder (Kappaw = 0.55) and good for the neighborhood (Kappaw = 0.60) and work (Kappaw = 0,67) ladders. Face validity indicated that the MacArthur scale really captures subjective social status across indicators of socioeconomic position, thus confirming that it is a valuable tool for the study of social inequalities in health Brazil.

This study analyzed data from the telephone-based Surveillance System of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (VIGITEL) to assess the prevalence of clusters of healthy behavior patterns (non-smoker, non-alcohol-drinker, regular leisure-time physical activity and recommended consumption of fruit and vegetables) and the temporal trend between 2008 and 2013. Additionally, we evaluated whether the association between level of schooling and clustering of three or more healthy behavior patterns decreased in this same period. Prevalence ratios were obtained using Poisson regression. We found that between 2008 and 2013, the clustering prevalence of three or more healthy behavior patterns increased from 20% to 25% in men, and from 26% to 32% in women, suggesting an increase in the prevalence of healthy behavior patterns in Brazil. This increase was found at all levels of schooling. However, the association between levels of schooling and the prevalence of clustering of three or more healthy behavior patterns remained constant during the period. Thus, the results suggest that educational disparities in clustering of three or more healthy behavior patterns did not change over time, despite the social improvements observed in the country in recent years.

This study sought to estimate the prevalence of the combination of Body Mass Index (BMI) plus Waist Circumference (WC) and of BMI plus Waist to Height Ratio (WHR) and to investigate associated factors. A two-stage random sample of adults (20 years) living in former African slaves communities (Quilombos) was taken in Vitória da Conquista in the State of Bahia in 2011. Combined BMI+WHR nutritional risk was defined by the simultaneous presence of BMI25.0Kg/m2 or27.0Kg/m2, if aged60 years and WHR0.5. BMI + WC nutritional risk was defined by elevated BMI in addition to WC80cm for women, or94cm for men. Among the 739 participants, the prevalence of combined nutritional indicators were 35.3% (BMI + WHR) and 26.8% (BMI + WC). Female sex and hypertension increased the chances of a combination of both indicators, while being unmarried decreased the chances. The prevalence of BMI + WHR was higher in the 40-59 year age range and the prevalence of BMI + WC was higher in the 40-49 year age range. Less schooling increased the chances of the combined BMI + WHR indicator and watching television for more than two hours/day increased the chances of the BMI + WC indicator. The high prevalence of combined nutritional indicators indicate the need of diet promotion actions to prevent obesity.

Educative actions are an important component of health promotion in Brazil's primary healthcare program, the Family Health Strategy (FHS). The efficacy of these actions is evidenced by compliance with healthy behaviors and in the reduction of rates of mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to identify whether access to information regarding the prevention of oral cancer is greater among elders whose residences are registered with the FHS. SPSS® was utilized to obtain estimates that were corrected for sample design, considering the magnitude of the associations between access to such information with personal determinants, the use and cost of healthcare, health-related behaviors and health outcomes. 58.9% of the 492 participating elders reported having access to such information. We verified that there was a greater chance for access among residents of houses registered by the FHS; those with greater per capita income (2.01/1.183.43); non-smokers (2.00/1.16-3.46); those that realized oral self-examination (6.35/3.46-11.64); and those that did not perceive discomfort in the mouth, head or neck (2.06/1.02-4.17). Access was greater among residents of homes registered by the FHS. Personal determinants of health, health-related behaviors and health outcomes are influenced or influence access to information regarding the prevention and management of oral diseases.

The scope of this research was to investigate the potential differences between men and women in the addition of salt to prepared food. The study included 47,557 individuals aged 18 to 64 participating in the Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Disease Surveillance System by Telephone Interview carried out in 26 Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District in 2006. Differences between men and women were tested by the chi-square test and the association magnitudes between the dependent and independent variables were estimated by the Odds Ratio obtained by Multiple Logistic Regression analysis. The prevalence of the addition of salt to prepared food was 8.3%, being higher among men (9,8% vs 6,9%, p0.01). After adjustment, the addition of salt to prepared food was higher in individuals with self-rated fair to poor health, reporting cardiovascular disease and living in the North of Brazil. Hypertensive individuals reported addition of less salt to prepared food. Educational level was not associated with salt usage. Men add more salt than women. Public health policies aimed at reducing salt intake by the population should take into account the gender differences in salt intake and the factors that contribute to such differences.

Adolescence is typically a developmental phase characterized by change and experimentation and therefore varying exposure to health hazards. We aimed at estimating the prevalence of protective and risk health behaviors of adolescents interviewed in the 2009 National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE). PeNSE, a partnership between the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) and the Ministry of Health, using a PDA-based self-administered questionnaire collected information on 60,973 students enrolled at 1,453 public and private schools in the 27 state capitals and the Federal District.Among the food items most often consumed (or = 5 days per week), were beans (62.6%) and fruit (31.5%), but also sweets (58.3%) and soft drinks (37%), 43.1% of the students were sufficiently physically active but 79.5% spent2 hours per day in front of the TV. As for drug use, 6.3% reported being current tobacco smokers, 27% drank alcoholic beverages regularly and 8.7% had used illicit drugs at least once. These results should guide stakeholders and policy makers in the development and implementation of programs and recommendations aimed at curtailing unhealthy exposures of adolescents in Brazil.

The scope of this article was to describe indoor passive smoking, at home and at work, among Brazilians (15+ years) participants of the "Special Research on Smoking", a sub-sample of the PNAD 2008. Non-smokers who reported exposure to indoor household smoking were classified as daily or occasional passive smokers, based on the frequency of exposure. Associations with socio-demographic factors were verified by logistic regression analysis. Among 25,005 participants, prevalence of daily and occasional household exposure were 12.5% and 21%, respectively. Compared to those not exposed, daily exposure decreased with increasing age, schooling and income. Occasional exposure is not influenced by age, but decreases with increasing schooling and income. Compared to the Southeast Region, daily exposure was lower in the North and Central West and higher in the Northeast. Among those 10,933 with indoor occupations, 55% of men and 45% of women reported worksite exposure and 67% of them also reported household exposure. Prevalence of exposure at work is higher in men, older adults (55+ years) and among those with lower schooling and income and lower among South Region residents. Social inequality in Brazil is seen in greater exposure to passive smoking among those with lower incomes and less education.

The article describes the prevalence of tobacco exposure among adolescents at the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE) and investigates socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with smoking. The profile of a current smoker was defined as reporting having smoked at least one cigarette in the previous 30 days. The socio-demographic characteristics studied were age, sex, race/skin color, mother education, household assets index and school (public or private). Risk and protective behaviors included were alcohol and drug experimentation, sexual intercourse, consumption of at least one glass of alcohol in the past 30 days and perform or be willing to perform physical activity on most days of the weeks. Prevalence of current smoker was 6.3% (95%CI:5,87-6,74) and was positively associated with older age, lower education of the mother, brown skin color, study in public school and presence of all the risk and protective behaviors studied. On the multivariate analysis, smoking remained associated with age and risk behaviors. To perform or be willing to perform physical activity were inversely related to smoking. The coexistence of risk behaviors is also present in adolescence, suggesting that health promotion policies to the adolescence might have a broader impact, including on tobacco use.

This study compares the use of health services among economically active men according to labor market status in the years 1998, 2003, 2008 and investigates whether both are associated after adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics and health indicators. All males aged 15 to 64, participating in the National Household Survey 1998, 2003 and 2008 were included. The association between labor market status and use of services in 2008 was estimated by Poisson regression. 33,726 males were surveyed and the prevalence of medical and dental care use was found to be higher among workers with social protection. The frequency of health care use increased over the period, but remained significantly higher among formally employed workers. Unemployment and work without social protection were negatively associated with medical and dental care visits. The socio-economic structure that establishes different social groups with unequal health conditions also affects the use of health services. Further investigation into the social and physical barriers to health care use by the unemployed and informal workers is required in order to reduce perceived health inequities.