Obesity is considered a serious public health problem, as an epidemic disease with major global repercussions that is associated with the development of other chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The current study examines the distribution of adult obesity in different countries using a beta regression model. This is a descriptive ecological study with a quantitative and inferential approach and a focus on beta regression analysis. Application of this method used a set of real data from public sources on adult obesity in 78 countries in 2014. Descriptive data analysis showed that 50% of the countries showed adult obesity prevalence greater than 20%. In addition, analysis of the distribution of prevalence by country showed lower adult obesity levels in countries of Asia and Africa. Meanwhile, higher values were found in countries of the Americas and Europe. Boxplot analysis also evidenced a possible difference in the proportion of obese adults between the Americas and Europe on one side and Africa and Asia on the other. Adjustment of the beta regression model with varying dispersion and 5% significance identified mean annual per capita alcohol intake, percentage of insufficient physical activity, percentage of the population living in urban areas, and life expectancy as variables associated with adult obesity.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the prevalence of burnout syndrome (BS) in physicians working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Paraíba and to investigate the association between BS and the sociodemographic and labor variables of these professionals.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study including physicians who were active during the pandemic in Paraíba, whether they were on the front line (group 1) or not (group 2). Sociodemographic and labor variables were collected, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) questionnaire was applied.RESULTS: A total of 126 physicians were included, including 82 who were on the front line. Among the professionals with results compatible with BS, 85.5% were in group 1, compared with 14.5% in group 2, and this difference was statistically significant. At the 5% level, the variables associated with BS were age (24-33 years), not having children, working on the front line, working in the COVID-19 ICU, being on duty, and having contracted COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: This case series found a positive association between the development of BS and medical action on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic in Paraíba.

Objective: Evaluate the degree of impairment of the quality of life of people with Hansen’s disease, according to social demographic and clinical variablesMethod: Descriptive, transversal, quantitative study, involving 45 patients from a reference hospital located in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. For obtaining data, interviews were performed based on a semi-structured questionnaire, including social demographic and clinic variables of the participants; to evaluate their life quality the instrument Dermatology Life Quality Index, was used, after approval in the Committee of Ethics in Research of the Federal University of Paraíba. In the data analysis, the non-parametric Test of the Chi-square of Pearson was used with level of significance of 5% (p<0,05), being used the Yates correction continuity, when necessary.Results: It is highlighted a prevalence of male, brown, single, aged 18 to 40 individuals, with family income lower than three minimum salaries and low schooling. From this total, 88,9% presented the clinical multibacillary form of the Hansen’s disease and 60% of them, with level of impairment of quality of life varying between moderate and very serious, according to scores of the instrument used.Conclusion: It is reassured the important impact of the Hansen’s disease in the quality of life of their carriers, as indicated by the high scores obtained in the application of the DLQI. Objetivo: Evaluar el grado de deterioro de la calidad de vida de las personas con enfermedad de Hansen, de acuerdo con las variables sociodemográficas y clínicasMétodo: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, cuantitativo, que involucró a 45 pacientes de un hospital de referencia en João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. Para la obtención de datos, las entrevistas se realizaron a partir de un cuestionario semiestructurado que incluyó las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas de los participantes; para evaluar su calidad de vida se utilizó el instrumento Dermatology Life Quality Index, luego de su aprobación en el Comité de Ética en Investigación de la Universidad Federal de Paraíba. En el análisis de los datos, se utilizó la Prueba no paramétrica del Qui-cuadrado de Pearson con un nivel de significación del 5% (p <0,05), usándose la continuidad de corrección de Yates, cuando fue necesario.Resultados: Se destaca la prevalencia de individuos varones, pardos, solteros, de entre 18 y 40 años, con ingresos familiares inferiores a tres salarios mínimos y baja escolaridad. De este total, el 88,9% presentó la forma clínica multibacilar de la enfermedad de Hansen y el 60% de ellos, con un nivel de deterioro de la calidad de vida que varía entre moderado y muy grave, según los puntajes del instrumento utilizado.Conclusión: Se confirma el importante impacto de la enfermedad de Hansen en la calidad de vida de sus portadores, como lo indican los altos puntajes obtenidos en la aplicación del DLQI. Objetivo: Avaliar o grau de comprometimento da qualidade de vida de pessoas com hanseníase, segundo variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas. Método: Estudo descritivo, transversal, quantitativo, envolvendo 45 pacientes de um hospital de referência, localizado em João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. Para obtenção dos dados, realizou-se entrevistas a partir de questionário semiestruturado, contemplando variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas dos participantes; para avaliar sua qualidade de vida foi utilizado o instrumento Dermatology Life Quality Index, após aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Na análise dos dados, utilizou-se o Teste não-paramétrico do Qui-quadrado de Pearson com nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05), sendo utilizado a Correção de Continuidade de Yates, quando necessário.Resultados: Evidencia-se uma prevalência dos indivíduos do sexo masculino, pardos, solteiros, com idade entre 18 e 40 anos, com renda familiar inferior a três salários mínimos e baixa escolaridade. Desse total, 88,9% apresentavam a forma clínica multibacilar da hanseníase e 60% deles, com grau de comprometimento da qualidade de vida vaiando de moderado a muito grave, segundo escores do instrumento utilizado.Conclusão: Reafirma-se o importante impacto da hanseníase na qualidade de vida de seus portadores, tal como indicado pelos altos escores obtidos na aplicação do DLQI.

Objetivo: estudar a tendência das proporções de casos notificados de Esquistossomose nos municípios endêmicos da Paraíba entre 2005 e 2014. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, exploratório com abordagem quantitativa. Os dados utilizados foram secundários, disponíveis no site do DATASUS através do SISPCE, entre os anos de 2005 e 2014, coletados no período de outubro de 2016. Foram realizados testes estatísticos, com auxílio do software R, para igualdade de proporções e teste de tendência de proporções. Resultados: Os casos de esquistossomose na Paraíba diminuíram no período analisado. O município de Alhandra e Caaporã não apresentaram tendência com base no teste. Já as cidades de João Pessoa, Sapé, Pitimbu, Conde apresentaram tendência decrescente e Lucena tendência crescente. Conclusão: Programas de controle da esquistossomose no estado da Paraíba apresentaram impactos positivos, levando a uma diminuição no número de casos na maioria das cidades em estudo.

This study aims to analyze the temporal distribution of human (HVL) and canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in the state of Paraíba between 2012 and 2017, by Intermediate and Immediate Geographic Region (GR). As an ecological study with a quantitative approach, data were collected in the LACEN PB database; Dra. Telma Lobo Central Public Health Laboratory, Paraíba; and refer to positive cases of HVL and CVL presented in the state in the period under study. Poisson Regression Modeling was used to quantify the average number of cases from one year to another. The results revealed that the immediate GRs of Mamanguape - Rio Tinto, Campina Grande, and Cajazeiras present a statistically significant increasing trend in the average number of HVL cases. The immediate GRs of Campina Grande, Patos, Cuité - Nova Floresta, Itaporanga, and João Pessoa revealed a significant increase in the average number of CVL cases during the period analyzed. The need for reorganization of disease control operations and preventive actions was confirmed, especially in those regions identified with growth.