To evaluate how the country of origin affects the probability of being delivered by cesarean section when giving birth at public Portuguese hospitals. Women delivered of a singleton birth (n = 8228), recruited from five public level III maternities (April 2005–August 2006) during the procedure of assembling a birth cohort, were classified according to the country of origin and her migration status as Portuguese (n = 7908), non-Portuguese European (n = 84), African (n = 77) and Brazilian (n = 159). A Poisson model was used to evaluate the association between country of birth and cesarean section that was measured by adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The cesarean section rate varied from 32.1% in non-Portuguese European to 48.4% in Brazilian women (p = 0.008). After adjustment for potential confounders and compared to Portuguese women as a reference, Brazilian women presented significantly higher prevalence of cesarean section (PR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.08–1.47). The effect was more evident among multiparous women (PR = 1.39; 95%CI: 1.12–1.73) and it was observed when cesarean section was performed either before labor (PR = 1.43; 95%CI: 0.99–2.06) or during labor (PR = 1.30; 95%CI: 1.07–1.58). The rate of cesarean section was significantly higher among Brazilian women and it was independent of the presence of any known risk factors or usual clinical indications, suggesting that cultural background influences the mode of delivery overcoming the expected standard of care and outcomes in public health services.

Background: A microbiological analysis of samples taken from hands of food handlers and utensils/crockery in food service units was used to assess the risk of food contamination. We aimed to assess indicators of microbiological contamination in different food service units. Methods: We used data for an official inspection proposal (2018–2019) in different food service units serving a district in Northeast Portugal. We showed the proportion of positive samples for each microorganism assessed in samples taken from hands and kitchen utensils/crockery. Results: Out of 471 samples taken from hands of food handlers, 26.8% (n = 126) were classified as “unsatisfactory” due to the presence of at least Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and/or total and fecal coliforms. Such a proportion varied according to the type of food service unit with a higher proportion being observed in Canteens (40.0%) and in Retirement Home/Day Care Centers (37.8%). More than one third of 649 samples taken from kitchen utensils/crockery were classified as “unsatisfactory” (n = 181; 27.9%) or “bad” (n = 49; 7.6%). There were significant differences in these proportions across food service units, with a higher proportion of “unsatisfactory” samples being observed in Fishmongers and Butcher Shops/Charcuteries (50.0% and 45.1%, respectively), while a higher proportion of “bad” samples was observed in both Pastry/Bakery and Fishmonger establishments (33.3%), followed by Butcher Shops/Charcuteries (14.1%). Conclusions: Our results emphasize the need of awareness of hygiene practices among food handlers of different food service units, particularly in Fishmongers, Pastry/Bakery establishments and Butcher Shops/Charcuteries, highlighting the need of a periodic hygienic evaluation.

Introduction: Rates of episiotomy and severe perineal tears (SPT) are indicators of the quality of obstetric care. Time-trends in the reported occurrence of episiotomy and SPT can contribute to understand both, changes in care and in the frequency of risk factors. Therefore, we aimed to estimate time trends in the frequency of SPT in Portugal and its relationship with episiotomy. Methods: We conducted a nationwide register-based study using data from the national inpatient database of all Portuguese public hospitals between 2000 and 2015. Time-trend analysis using joinpoint regression models was performed to identify trends (joinpoints) and compare time changes in the prevalence of SPT and risk factors expressed as annual percentage changes (APC) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI). Poisson regression models were fitted to estimate whether time-trends in SPT rates were explained by changes in risk factors and to assess the association between episiotomy and SPT. Adjusted relative risk (aRR) and their respective 95% CI were obtained. Results: From 908,999 singleton vaginal deliveries, 20.6% were instrumental deliveries, 76.7% with episiotomy and 0.56% were complicated by SPT. Among women with non-instrumental deliveries and no episiotomy SPT decreased from 2009 onwards (1.3% to 0.7%), whereas SPT kept increasing in women with episiotomy for both non-instrumental (0.1% in 2000 to 0.4% in 2015) and instrumental deliveries (0.7% in 2005 to 2.3% in 2015). Time-trends in potential risk factors did not explain the observed increase in SPT. Episiotomy was associated with a decrease in SPT with adjusted RR varying between 2000 and 2015 from 0.18 (95%CI:0.13–0.25) to 0.59 (95%CI:0.44–0.79) for non-instrumental deliveries and from 0.45 (95%CI:0.25–0.81) to 0.50 (95%CI:0.40–0.72) for instrumental deliveries. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that episiotomy rate could safely further decrease as the main factor driving SPT rates seems to be an increase in awareness and reporting of SPT particularly among women who underwent an episiotomy.

Introdução: A mortalidade por cancro do colo do útero em Portugal apresenta valores mais elevados em relação a outros países europeus. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a variação da mortalidade por cancro do colo do útero, observada em Portugal nas últimas seis décadas.Material e Métodos: Obtivemos taxas de mortalidade por cancro do colo do útero (padronizadas para a idade) reportadas em Portugal (1955–2014), através da International Agency for Research on Cancer. Utilizando análise de regressão linear joinpoint, obtivemos a percentagem de variação anual da taxa (%VA) e respetivo intervalo de confiança a 95% (IC 95%) de acordo com a idade (30–39; 40–49, 50–64; 65–74 e ≥ 75 anos)Resultados: No grupo com 30–39 anos, a mortalidade por CCU diminuiu 1,9% ao ano, durante todo o período (IC 95%: –2,3; –1,4), atingindo 0,5/100 000 em 2014. Nas mulheres com 40–49 anos houve decréscimo acentuado entre 1971 e 1981 (%VA = –11,6; IC 95%: –14,6; –8,6), com subsequente aumento de 2,4% ao ano (IC 95%: 1,0; 3,8) até 2001, mas que reverteu a partir desse ano (%VA = –5,2; IC 95%: –7,7; –2,6), atingindo 3,0/100 000 em 2014. A mortalidade por cancro do colo do útero diminuiu de 29,2 para 6,7/100 000, de 34,3 para 7,7/100 000, e de 24,7 a 9,2/100 000, respetivamente, nas mulheres com 50–64, 65–74 e com 75 ou mais anos. Nestes três grupos o decréscimo ocorreu principalmente nas décadas de 70 e 80, não havendo variação significativa da taxa nas últimas três décadas.Discussão: O maior decréscimo da mortalidade por cancro do colo do útero observada em Portugal ocorreu na década de 70 em paralelo com profundas alterações no Sistema Nacional de Saúde caracterizadas pelo aumento do acesso ao diagnóstico precoce e da qualidade do tratamento. Nas últimas três décadas, a mortalidade por cancro do colo do útero estabilizou em idades mais avançadas, o que pode ser explicado parcialmente por fatores com impacto na adesão aos programas de rastreio.Conclusão: Houve marcado declínio da mortalidade por cancro do colo do útero em todos os grupos etários, embora com estagnação deste indicador desde meados da década de 80 para grupos etários mais avançados. Os resultados sugerem a necessidade de incrementar a adesão a programas de rastreio em Portugal.

There is a well-known relationship between induced labour and caesarean rates. However, it remains unknown whether this relationship reflects the impact of more complex obstetric conditions or the variability in obstetric practices. We sought to quantify the independent role of the hospital as a variable that can influence the occurrence of caesarean section after induced labour.