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Aims To investigate the hypothesis that the change from the female predominance of diabetes mellitus to a standard of equality or even male preponderance can already be observed in Brazilian mortality statistics. Methods Data on deaths for which diabetes mellitus was listed as the underlying cause were obtained from the Brazilian Mortality Information System for the years 1980 to 2012. The mortality data were also analyzed according to the multiple causes of death approach from 2001 to 2012. The population data came from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The mortality rates were standardized to the world population. We used a log-linear joinpoint regression to evaluate trends in age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR). Results From 1980 to 2012, we found a marked increment in the diabetes ASMR among Brazilian men and a less sharp increase in the rate among women, with the latter period (2003–2012) showing a slight decrease among women, though it was not statistically significant. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that diabetes mellitus in Brazil has changed from a pattern of higher mortality among women compared to men to equality or even male predominance. more...

Background Record linkage is a useful tool for health research. Potential benefits aside, its use raises discussions on privacy issues, such as whether a written informed consent for access to health records and linkage should be obtained. The authors aim to systematically review studies that assess consent proportions to record linkage. Methods 8 databases were searched up to June 2011 to find articles which presented consent proportions to record linkage. The screening, eligibility and inclusion of articles were conducted by two independent reviewers. The authors carried out meta-regression, subgroup and sensitivity analyses to assess heterogeneity. Results Of the 141 studies identified, only 11 presented empirical consent proportions and were included in the systematic review. The consent proportion varied widely from 39% to 97%. Seven studies presented consent proportions of 88% or higher, one of 72%, and only three presented consented proportion equal to or lower than 53%. None of the studies9 characteristics evaluated explained heterogeneity. Conclusion The results of this review show that, in general, individuals tend to consent to the use of their data for record linkage, with exceptions in specific populations or minorities. The authors believe that this, as well as the cited literature, lends support to policies that, while keeping relevant ethical controls in place, do not require individual informed consent for each and every study that relies on secondary data. more...

A saúde sexual de mulheres lésbicas não é um tema frequentemente discutido em nossas sociedades. As questões de saúde da mulher são classificadas sob uma única categoria abrangente e excluem algumas das preocupações específicas de mulheres lésbicas, que, em geral, não têm o mesmo comportamento em relação à saúde que as mulheres heterossexuais. Esta tendência se deve a uma série de razões, entre as quais: falta de conhecimento sobre saúde e risco sexuais lésbicos, medo de estigmatização pelos prestadores de serviço e o processo de "se assumir" (coming out) para esses profissionais, que além de desconhecido, é, algumas vezes, hostil. Além disso, a pouca pesquisa sobre lésbicas e saúde lésbica na África do Sul torna difícil para as mulheres que assim se autoclassificam saberem que questões de saúde sexual as afetam especificamente, bem como onde e de que forma lidar com certos problemas. Existe uma percepção equivocada e generalizada de que questões de sexo seguro não afetam mulheres lésbicas tanto quanto mulheres heterossexuais. O artigo apresenta as visões de um grupo de mulheres de 18 a 35 anos que se autoidentificam como lésbicas na África de Sul. Por meio de questionários autoaplicados e discussões, essas mulheres partilham suas experiências e pensamentos sobre sexo lésbico (seguro) e como elas têm-se relacionado e continuam a se relacionar sexualmente com outras mulheres no momento de HIV e Aids. Lesbian women's health and sexual health is a theme not generally discussed in our societies. Women's' health issues are generally classified under one umbrella, and exclude some of the concerns specific to lesbian women. Lesbian women in general do not have the same health-seeking behaviours as heterosexual women. This is due to a number of reasons including: lack of knowledge about lesbian sexual health and sexual risk, fear of stigmatization by service providers, and the "coming out" process to unfamiliar and sometimes unsympathetic health-related service providers. Furthermore, limited research on lesbians and lesbian health in South Africa makes it difficult for lesbian women to know what sexual health issues affect them specifically, where and how to address these issues. There is a general misconception that safe sex issues do not affect lesbian women as much as they affect heterosexual women. The paper presents views of a group of young self-identified lesbian women in South Africa between the ages of 18 and 35. Through self-administered questionnaires and discussions these women share their experiences and thoughts of lesbian (safe) sex and how they have related and continue to relate sexually with other women in the time of HIV and Aids. more...