A carregar...
Publicação
Infecção por chlamydia trachomatis: conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas de uma população de estudantes universitários das áreas da saúde
| Nome: | Descrição: | Tamanho: | Formato: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.17 MB | Adobe PDF |
Autores
Orientador(es)
Resumo(s)
A infecção sexualmente transmissível (IST), causada por Chlamydia trachomatis, é considerada mundialmente como um importante problema de saúde pública, porque pode causar infertilidade e morbilidade a longo termo, existindo a possibilidade de transmissão ao recém-nascido de mãe infectada.
Os indivíduos entre os 15 e os 24 anos de idade são os que se encontram em maior risco. Para além das suas consequências, a presença desta infecção sem tratamento pode potenciar até dez vezes a transmissão do vírus da imunodeficiência humana adquirida.
Contribuindo a consciencialização sobre os vários aspectos da saúde sexual e o conhecimento sobre este agente e suas sequelas para que os jovens em risco se protejam e admitindo o Plano Nacional de Saúde lacunas no conhecimento dos profissionais da área sobre este tema, o presente trabalho teve como objectivos: 1) estudar o conhecimento sobre a infecção por C. trachomatis, sinais, sintomas, sequelas e vias de transmissão das IST; 2) conhecer as atitudes e práticas associadas à transmissão de IST e 3) avaliar a prevalência da infecção por C. trachomatis e Neisseria gonorrhoeae numa população de estudantes universitários das áreas da Saúde. Para tal, utilizou-se um questionário, cuja avaliação sugeriu que estes jovens possuem um baixo conhecimento sobre os sinais, sintomas e sequelas deste agente e das outras IST, sendo preocupante verificar que existem estudantes que não reconhecem os diferentes tipos de relação sexual como vias de transmissão destas infecções.
A pesquisa dos microrganismos citados, efectuou-se através da aplicação de uma técnica de biologia molecular em amostras de urina e a presença de anticorpos anti-C. trachomatis efectuou-se através uma técnica de imunofluorescência indirecta no soro. Não foram identificados casos de infecção activa, mas registou-se uma taxa de 14,4% de títulos reactivos de anticorpos anti-C. trachomatis, o que indica uma percentagem considerável desta população já foi infectada por este agente.
Estudos futuros semelhantes a este, em diferentes populações, são necessários para avaliar a prevalência global de infecção por C. trachomatis em Portugal, assim como para relacionar as atitudes e práticas com a transmissão das IST e com o conhecimento entre a população portuguesa. Medidas básicas de prevenção como a informação à população parecem ser urgentemente necessárias.
Chlamydia trachomatis is the etiologic agent of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), known worldwide as an important public health issue, because it can cause infertility, long term morbidity along with infection in newborns from infected mothers. Individuals between 15 and 24 years of age are at most risk of acquiring this infection, besides its complications, the presence of infection without treatment may increase until ten times the possibility of human immunodeficiency vírus transmission. Knowing that the awareness about various aspects of sexual health and the knowledge about this agent and its consequences contributes for young people at risk to protect themselves, and also that the Portuguese National Health Plan recognized the existence of gaps in the knowledge of health care professionals about this subject, this study aimed: 1) to assess knowledge about C. trachomatis infection and other STI about, signs, symptoms and modes of transmission; 2) to understand sexual behavior and attitudes associated with the transmission of STI and 3) to know the prevalence of infection by C. trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a population of university students of health care courses. They answered a questionnaire and its analysis suggested that these participants have low knowledge about this agent and other STI, with respect to signs, symptoms and sequelae. It is worrying that some participants did not recognize the different types of sexual intercourse as a mode of transmission for these infections. Identification of the above mentioned microrganisms, was performed through the aplication of a PCR technique in urine samples and the presence of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies, was detected through an indirect immunofluorescence assay in serum samples. No cases of active infection with C. trachomatis were identified, but antibodies were found in 14,4% of the participants, indicating that a reasonable number of participantes already had an infection by C. trachomatis. Future studies similar to this one, but in different populations are needed to assess the overall prevalence of infection by C. trachomatis in our country, and to relate the attitudes and sexual behavior with the knowledge of the Portuguese population. Basic preventive measures such as information of the population appear to be urgently needed.
Chlamydia trachomatis is the etiologic agent of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), known worldwide as an important public health issue, because it can cause infertility, long term morbidity along with infection in newborns from infected mothers. Individuals between 15 and 24 years of age are at most risk of acquiring this infection, besides its complications, the presence of infection without treatment may increase until ten times the possibility of human immunodeficiency vírus transmission. Knowing that the awareness about various aspects of sexual health and the knowledge about this agent and its consequences contributes for young people at risk to protect themselves, and also that the Portuguese National Health Plan recognized the existence of gaps in the knowledge of health care professionals about this subject, this study aimed: 1) to assess knowledge about C. trachomatis infection and other STI about, signs, symptoms and modes of transmission; 2) to understand sexual behavior and attitudes associated with the transmission of STI and 3) to know the prevalence of infection by C. trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a population of university students of health care courses. They answered a questionnaire and its analysis suggested that these participants have low knowledge about this agent and other STI, with respect to signs, symptoms and sequelae. It is worrying that some participants did not recognize the different types of sexual intercourse as a mode of transmission for these infections. Identification of the above mentioned microrganisms, was performed through the aplication of a PCR technique in urine samples and the presence of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies, was detected through an indirect immunofluorescence assay in serum samples. No cases of active infection with C. trachomatis were identified, but antibodies were found in 14,4% of the participants, indicating that a reasonable number of participantes already had an infection by C. trachomatis. Future studies similar to this one, but in different populations are needed to assess the overall prevalence of infection by C. trachomatis in our country, and to relate the attitudes and sexual behavior with the knowledge of the Portuguese population. Basic preventive measures such as information of the population appear to be urgently needed.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Doenças sexualmente transmitidas Chamydia trachomatis Universitários Infertilidade dos jovens Profissionais de saúde Utilização inconsistente do preservativo Risco Conhecimento Atitudes e práticas