Perinatal morbidity and mortality were high among cases of ruptured membranes. Morbidity and mortality were associated with factors such as fewer prenatal visits, extreme prematurity and low birth weight in this group.

RESUMO:Objetivos: Analisar a prevalência e os fatores associados à anemia em crianças de Rio Branco, Acre. Métodos: Participaram do estudo 610 crianças de 6 a 59 meses. Foi aplicado um questionário com questões sobre as características da mãe, práticas alimentares e morbidades pregressas. O diagnóstico de anemia baseou-se no valor de hemoglobina de 110 g/l. Na análise dos fatores associados foi utilizada a regressão de Poisson múltipla, com entrada das variáveis em blocos hierarquizados. Resultados: A prevalência de anemia foi de 51,8%. Os fatores associados à anemia foram: idade abaixo de 24 meses: (razão de prevalência [RP]: 1,51; intervalo de confiança em 95% [IC95%]: 1,17-1,95); anos de estudo da mãe entre 5-8 anos (RP: 1,34; IC95%: 1,13-1,58) e igual ou inferior a 4 anos (RP: 1,32; IC95%: 1,05-1,65); situação de anemia da mãe (RP: 1,28; IC95%: 1,08-1,51); freqüência de consumo em menos de uma vez por semana de carnes (RP: 1,35; IC95%: 1,03-1,77) e frutas (RP: 1,28; IC95%: 1,09-1,52). Conclusões: A prevalência de anemia em crianças de Rio Branco é um problema grave em saúde pública. Destaca-se a necessidade do fortalecimento de políticas em atenção à saúde da família e ao aconselhamento sobre as práticas alimentares voltadas a mãe.Palavras-chave: anemia; saúde da criança; estado nutricional; estudos transversais; fatores epidemiológicos; prevalência. ABSTRACT:Objectives: To analyse the prevalence and factors associated with anaemia in children from Rio Branco, Acre. Methods: The study included 610 children between 6 and 59 months old. A questionnaire was issued with questions on characteristics of the mother, feeding practices and antecedent morbidity. The anaemia diagnosis was based on haemoglobin levels at 110 g/l. Multiple Poisson regression was used to analyse the associated factors with variables entered into hierarchical blocks. Results: The anaemia prevalence was 51.8%. The factors associated with anaemia were the following: age below 24 months (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.51 and 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.17 to 1.95); years of formal education for the mother between 5-8 years (PR: 1.34 and 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.58) and less than or equal to 4 years (PR: 1.32 and 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.65); anaemia in the mother (PR: 1.28 and 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.51); and consumption frequency less than once a week for meats (PR: 1.35 and 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.77) and fruits (PR: 1.28 and 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.52). Conclusions: The prevalence of anaemia among children in Rio Branco is a serious public health problem. The results highlight the need to strengthen policies on family health care and provide mothers with counselling on feeding practices.

The training of future physicians should be concurrent with the development of different skills and attitudes. This warrants the need to regularly provide students with opportunities for self-development throughout their academic career. This approach was exemplified in a medical school in the Brazilian Amazon, where students were allowed to play the role of high school teachers. As part of this exercise, they conducted reinforcement classes for high school students to increase the number of university admissions. The medical students were solely responsible for organizing and implementing this project, giving them the opportunity to develop teaching and leadership skills, enhance their understanding of communication and administration and contribute toward the society.

The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) and associated lifestyle factors in college students in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazilian Western Amazon region. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 874 undergraduate students from a public university. The general prevalence of CNCDs was 15.6%. After adjusting for sex and age, the CNCD-associated lifestyle factors included the following: sedentary during leisure time (preva-