O nível de conhecimento sobre a causa e prevenção do câncer é extremamente importante. O diagnóstico do câncer bucal é relativamente fácil em função da sua localização anatômica. Além disso, os fatores de risco para esta doença podem ser facilmente detectados durante a anamnese e geralmente estão ligados ao estilo de vida do indivíduo. Esse estudo avaliou o nível de, conhecimento, de estudantes universitários da cidade de Curitiba/PR sobre câncer bucal e os fatores causais. A amostra constituiu-se de 300 universitários, maiores de 18 anos de idade, de ambos os sexos e escolhidos aleatoriamente. Um questionário específico com perguntas abertas e fechadas foi empregado. Os dados obtidos demonstraram que desses 300 entrevistados, 259 (86,3%) responderam saber que o câncer poderia ocorrer na boca e cerca de 117 (39%) afirmaram que conheciam a existência de lesões cancerizáveis. O tabagismo (69,3%), a falta de higiene bucal (20,3%) e as radiações (10,6%) foram os prováveis fatores de risco mais apontados. O álcool que é considerado um agente promotor foi considerado como fator causal da doença por apenas 22 (8%) entrevistados. Quanto ao tratamento, um total de 113 (37,6%)  procuraria o cirurgião-dentista se suspeitasse de câncer na boca. Esse trabalho demonstrou que uma parcela representativa da população universitária sabe que o câncer pode acometer a boca e que o tabagismo é um dos fatores de risco, entretanto, desconhecem o papel do álcool. Esses achados reforçam a necessidade de implementação de medidas preventivas visando a divulgação dos reais fatores de risco para o câncer bucal.

Health promotion aims to ensure that the population has improved living and health conditions, and schools are appropriate environments in which to do this. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of health promotion in terms of oral health in special schools for mentally disable pupils in Brazil. The study was cross-sectional and adopted a qualitative and quantitative approach, using triangulation methods to observe the reality. An epidemiological survey was performed in order to analyse the oral health status; a semi-structured questionnaire and participative observation were used for the qualitative analysis of the health promotion activities undertaken in the schools; case studies were carried out to evaluate the profile of oral health status in the context of the schools. The sample was comprised of 383 school-children aged 2-19, stratified among 7 schools, Curitiba/Paraná/Brazil. The analysis was performed by means of frequency distribution and associations between variables, using the SPSS 16.0 program. The oral health status prevalences in the population studied were dental caries, 49.3%; bleeding gums, 23.8%; dental trauma, 11% and toothache in the last 3 months, 17,8%. Dental caries and bleeding gums experience was associated with the level of the mother's education (p<0.00) and age group (p<0.00). Dental trauma and toothache in the last 3 months were associated with the level of the mother's education (p<0.00 and p<0.00, respectively). Analysis of the dimensions of health promotion demonstrated that health is being promoted in all the schools studied. However, the analysis of oral health indicators per school revealed a possible interference of socio-demographic aspects in the results. It was concluded that the analysed special schools for the mentally disabled promote health. However, the socio-demographic profile of this population appears to have greater influence on vulnerability than the school context in relation to oral health status.

O propósito desta pesquisa avaliativa foi analisar a capacitação dos líderes da Pastoral da Criança da Igreja Católica e identificar potencialidades e fragilidades para promoção da saúde bucal. Utilizou- se a Metodologia de Avaliação Rápida, de caráter participativo. Foram realizadas oficinas de avaliação, análises documentais, entrevistas com informantes- chave, grupos focais e observação participante de uma capacitação no Guia do Líder. Tendo como categorias interpretativas o empoderamento e a integralidade, procedeu- se à análise de conteúdo. A saúde bucal é trabalhada de forma integrada aos demais temas e ações complementares dão suporte às ações educativas. A tendência pedagógica adotada pela instituição pesquisada contempla o princípio do empoderamento. Contudo, questões técnicas tiveram maior ênfase na capacitação do que as pedagógicas. Discussões sobre questões pedagógicas e trabalho em redes, nas capacitações, foram consideradas pontos fundamentais para consolidação e ampliação da ação avaliada.

Background Road accidents are an important cause of mortality in big cities in Brazil mainly in metropolitan areas like Curitiba. Aims/Objectives/Purpose This study aims to analyse epidemiological characteristics of victims and traffic accidents and identify space distribution of traffic accident's occurrences. Methods The analysis of traffic accident's space distribution (georeferencial) was accomplished to enlarge the knowledge of occurrence standard's and its distribution regularity related to each Regional Administrative Office, neighbourhood and streets of Curitiba. An index of accidents by population and an index of accidents by demographic density were generated to determine criteria risk of accidents in each neighbourhood and allowing comparability. To characterise victims and accidents, a descriptive and analytical epidemiological study was accomplished, based on an institutional secondary data base evaluation supplied by Epidemiology Centre of Curitiba's Municipal Health Office. Results/Outcomes The main findings reaffirm accident's predominance in the male young adult gender, but for each age group and each type of traffic user (pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, driver, passenger) there are specificities which contribute to determine the risk of suffering a traffic accident and they need differentiated specific intervention strategies to become efficient. It's necessary to establish partnership with traffic related parts, registration standards, interaction among institutions which compose the system and to develop analyses and evaluation methodologies of generated data. Significance/Contribution to the Field This work supplies elements to the construction of a reliable information system which gives subsides to elaborate prevention and intervention actions, allowing better orientation of public policies of the sector.