{"title":"Reviewed article: Fonseca MEO, Azevedo FKSF, Silva ALR, Pepato MA, Brito WI, Pavan E, Fontes CJF, Oliveira RG. Healthcare-associated infections in an intensive care unit: a descriptive study, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, 2018-2021. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2026:35;e20250405.","authors":"Mariana Del Grossi Moura","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250405.a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250405.a","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20250405.a"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147597378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mayane Emanuelle Oliveira Fonseca, Francisco Kennedy Scofoni Faleiros Azevedo, Ana Luiza Rodrigues Silva, Marco Andrey Pepato, Wagner Izidoro de Brito, Eduarda Pavan, Cor Jesus Fernandes Fontes, Ruberlei Godinho de Oliveira
{"title":"Healthcare-associated infections in an intensive care unit: a descriptive study, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, 2018-2021.","authors":"Mayane Emanuelle Oliveira Fonseca, Francisco Kennedy Scofoni Faleiros Azevedo, Ana Luiza Rodrigues Silva, Marco Andrey Pepato, Wagner Izidoro de Brito, Eduarda Pavan, Cor Jesus Fernandes Fontes, Ruberlei Godinho de Oliveira","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250405.en","DOIUrl":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250405.en","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyze the demographic and microbiological characteristics and clinical outcomes of people with healthcare-associated infections (HAI) admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Mato Grosso state, Brazil, between 2018 and 2021, comparing the pre-COVID-19 and the COVID-19 pandemic periods.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a descriptive and longitudinal study with secondary data on people diagnosed with HAI. HAI, isolated microorganisms, sensitivity profile, comorbidities, clinical outcomes and sociodemographic data were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 2018 and 2021, 384 people were admitted to the ICU. There were 218 HAI episodes in 179 of them. In the pre-pandemic period (2018-2019), 95 episodes were recorded in 73 people, predominantly associated with: mechanical ventilation (48.4%), male sex (65.8%), the 40-64 age group (43.8%), those of mixed race (80.8%) and hypertensive (45.2%), with 19.2% recovery and 79.4% death. During the pandemic period (2020-2021), 123 episodes occurred in 106 people, with a predominance of primary bloodstream infection (43.1%) in females (50.9%), in the 17-39 age group (40.6%), those of mixed race (65.1%), and with hypertension (35.8%), with a 62.3% cure rate and a 37.7% death rate. There was persistently high overall carbapenem resistance in both periods. Between 2018 and 2019, Klebsiella pneumoniae (81.2%) and Acinetobacter spp. (78.6%) predominated. Between 2020 and 2021, resistance was found for Klebsiella pneumoniae (73.9%) and Acinetobacter spp. (80.0%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HAI in the ICU remained severe and associated with persistent antimicrobial resistance, mainly to multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. This emphasized the urgency of more effective prevention and control strategies in the hospital setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20250405"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13037786/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147597335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Janilza Silveira Silva, Renata Barbosa Vilaça Marques de Carvalho, Alcides Souto de Oliveira, Liza Regina Bueno Rosso, Leia Regina Silva, Diego Spinoza Dos Santos, Clea Elisa Ribeiro, Katiuska Ferraz Jansen Negrello, Cláudia Weingaertner Palm, Dirlene Pacheco Venâncio, Monique Boese, Aroldo José Borges Carneiro, Tatiane Bartneck Telles, Silvio Luis Rodrigues Almeida
{"title":"Severe cases of hepatitis A: case series in Curitiba, Paraná, 2023-2024.","authors":"Janilza Silveira Silva, Renata Barbosa Vilaça Marques de Carvalho, Alcides Souto de Oliveira, Liza Regina Bueno Rosso, Leia Regina Silva, Diego Spinoza Dos Santos, Clea Elisa Ribeiro, Katiuska Ferraz Jansen Negrello, Cláudia Weingaertner Palm, Dirlene Pacheco Venâncio, Monique Boese, Aroldo José Borges Carneiro, Tatiane Bartneck Telles, Silvio Luis Rodrigues Almeida","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250869.pt","DOIUrl":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250869.pt","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Describe the epidemiological profile of the hepatitis A outbreak in Curitiba, Paraná, between November 2023 and May 2024, with emphasis on the clinical and laboratory characterization of cases that progressed to death or liver transplantation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Descriptive case series study based on confirmed cases of hepatitis A. Severe cases, defined by death or liver transplantation, were identified via the Mortality Information System and Hospital Epidemiological Surveillance Centers. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained by reviewing medical records. Proportions, measures of central tendency, and dispersion were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 281 confirmed cases, the majority were male (74.7%), with a median age of 29 years. Six people (2.1%) progressed to severe forms, of whom three received a diagnosis of fulminant hepatitis. The median age of the severe cases was 43 years, with a male predominance (5/6), and two were homeless individuals. Among the severe cases, five resulted in death, and one in a liver transplant. The most common symptoms and complications were jaundice, acute renal failure, and the need for mechanical ventilation (5/6). Laboratory results indicated hepatic dysfunction (median aspartate aminotransferase of 3,448 U/L; median international normalized ratio of 3) and renal dysfunction (median urea 52 mg/dL and creatinine 3 mg/dL). The median hospitalization length was 11 days.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this outbreak, there were cases requiring liver transplantation and progressing to death, demonstrating that, although generally self-limiting, the disease can present with a severe course. Timely response and targeted vaccination may be key strategies in outbreak scenarios.</p>","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20250869"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13035272/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147597301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reviewed article: Zago JKM, Anjos GM, McKenna GJ, Leles CR, Jordã LMR. Provision of dental prostheses in the oral health care network: a mixed methods study, Goiânia, Brazil, 2019. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2026:35;e20250099.","authors":"Fernanda Campos de Almeida Carrer","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250099.b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250099.b","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20250099.b"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147597338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reviewed article: Zago JKM, Anjos GM, McKenna GJ, Leles CR, Jordã LMR. Provision of dental prostheses in the oral health care network: a mixed methods study, Goiânia, Brazil, 2019. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2026:35;e20250099.","authors":"Elisa Lopes Pinheiro","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250099.a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250099.a","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20250099.a"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147597304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jéssica Karla Maia Zago, Gabriela Montenegro Dos Anjos, Gerald John McKenna, Claudio Rodrigues Leles, Lidia Moraes Ribeiro Jordão
{"title":"Provision of dental prostheses in the oral health care network: a mixed methods study, Goiânia, Brazil, 2019.","authors":"Jéssica Karla Maia Zago, Gabriela Montenegro Dos Anjos, Gerald John McKenna, Claudio Rodrigues Leles, Lidia Moraes Ribeiro Jordão","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250099.en","DOIUrl":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250099.en","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyze the provision of dental prostheses by the oral health care network (OHCN) of Goiânia, capital city of Goiás state, Brazil.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a convergent mixed methods study, with semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis and schematic representation of the OHCN. Monthly data on dental prosthesis placements in 2016 and 2019 were extracted from the Outpatient Care Control System of both the Goiânia City Health Department and the Goiás State Health Department, and their averages were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>22 individuals participated; seven service users, eight dentists from primary health care (PHC), five from dental specialty centers (DSC) and two from oral health administration/appointment coordination. The Goiás state DSC provided an average of 24.5 denture placements/month in 2016, and 27.16 in 2019, while the Goiânia city DSC provided 8.25 placements in 2016 and 2.66 in 2019. The only type of prosthesis provided was the conventional complete denture. Quantitative-qualitative data integration adjustment at the methods level (comparison and merger) confirmed the findings that the OHCN fulfills the requirements for reception in PHC and referral to the DSC, where dental prosthesis procedures were performed. The local network proved slow in providing dental prostheses, whereby meeting prosthetic demands fell short of targets (12.4%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite low productivity, the OHCN ensures conventional complete dentures for service users. According to the interviewees, adequacy of material resources, expansion of monthly appointments for dental prostheses, including in PHC, diversification of other types of prostheses, strengthening the use of counter-referral, and improvement of appointment coordination are measures necessary for improving dental prosthesis provision.</p>","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20250099"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13030123/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147597388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana Claudia Klein de Almeida de Chaves, Rodrigo Dalke Meucci
{"title":"Monitoring influenza vaccination coverage among older adults: a rural cohort study, Rio Grande, 2017-2022.","authors":"Ana Claudia Klein de Almeida de Chaves, Rodrigo Dalke Meucci","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250561.en","DOIUrl":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250561.en","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To estimate influenza vaccination coverage in older adults from the municipality of Rio Grande rural cohort, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, using baseline data from 2017 and follow-up data from 2018-2019 and 2020-2022, and to identify factors associated with vaccination uptake during these periods.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cohort study, based on part of the EpiRural Rio Grande project, conducted at three points in time: baseline in 2017 and follow-up in 2018-2019 and 2020-2022. A total of 651 participants aged 60 years or older were included in all waves. Vaccination information was self-reported. Vaccination coverage proportions (%) were estimated at each follow-up point. Analysis of factors associated with vaccination used hierarchical ordinal logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Influenza vaccination coverage increased from 71.5% at baseline to 85.7% in 2020-2022. In the adjusted analysis, the highest odds of vaccination was associated with not working (OR 1.93; 95%CI 1.24; 2.99), not smoking (OR 2.44; 95%CI 1.45; 4.12), being a former smoker (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.61; 4.59), diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema (OR 1.85; 95%CI 1.04; 3.28), using long-term medication (OR 1.62; 95%CI 1.06; 2.40), and seeking care at a primary health care center in the last year (OR 2.55; 95%CI 1.82; 3.63).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Influenza vaccination coverage increased over time, although below the national target, and was higher among participants linked to health services and with chronic conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20250561"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13012720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147518175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Isabelle Leticia Bender de Souza, Andressa Brum, Aline Nardelli, Mariângela Monteiro de Melo Baltazar, Fabiana Gonçalves de Oliveira Azevedo Matos, Luciana Paula Grégio d'Arce
{"title":"Underreporting of oral cleft cases: a descriptive study, western Paraná, 2015-2019.","authors":"Isabelle Leticia Bender de Souza, Andressa Brum, Aline Nardelli, Mariângela Monteiro de Melo Baltazar, Fabiana Gonçalves de Oliveira Azevedo Matos, Luciana Paula Grégio d'Arce","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20240716.en","DOIUrl":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20240716.en","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To verify whether there was underreporting of oral cleft cases on the Live Birth Information System (Sistema de Informações Sobre Nascidos Vivos, SINASC) in the 10th Paraná Health Region, analyzing agreement between SINASC data and those recorded at a referral center in the same health region, as well as to define average prevalence in the period 2015-2019.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological study. Data were obtained from both databases according to International Classification of Diseases (10th revision) codes. The ratio between cases and live births in the same year and location was used as a frequency measure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We analyzed 121 cases, 44 based on SINASC data and 77 based on referral center data. According to SINASC, the prevalence rate was 8.75 cases per 10,000 inhabitants, while according to the referral center it was 16.87 cases per 10,000 inhabitants, indicating 42.86% underreporting on SINASC. Regarding the analysis of oral cleft classification, 68.19% of cases had their cleft type determined on the SINASC.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study demonstrated that, in the 10th Paraná Health Region, there was underreporting on SINASC of people born with oral clefts between 2015 and 2019. This could perhaps have been resolved if the data on the live birth certificate had been edited after birth when the cleft was detected.</p>","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20240716"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13008300/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147518190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Epidemiological profile, completeness of notifications, and factors associated with the adequacy of treatment for syphilis during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study, Ubá, 2018-2023.","authors":"Priscila Teixeira Silva, Luana Vieira Toledo, Brunnella Alcantara Chagas de Freitas, Valker Araújo Feitosa","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250056.en","DOIUrl":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250056.en","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyze the epidemiological profile of syphilis during pregnancy, the completeness of notifications, and the factors associated with treatment adequacy in Ubá, a region of Minas Gerais, between 2018 and 2023.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional study with records from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). The annual detection rate of syphilis during pregnancy and logistic regression to assess treatment were calculated. Data completeness was calculated and categorized.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The detection rate ranged from 17.7 cases per 1 thousand live births in 2019 to 41.3 in 2022. Pregnant women had a median age of 23 years (interquartile range 19; 28), with 61.9% identifying as Black and 36.1% diagnosed in the third trimester. Penicillin was indicated in 75.3% of cases, and partner treatment occurred in 41.2%. Completeness was excellent for the variables \"pregnancy trimester at diagnosis\" (100.0%) and \"nontreponemal test\" (98.9%); poor for \"education level\" (65.4%) and \"clinical classification\" (70.6%). Inadequate prescriptions were higher among pregnant people diagnosed in the third trimester than among those diagnosed in the first trimester (odds ratio [OR] 2.00; 95% confidence interval [95%CI].30; 3.07). Pregnant people with a nonreactive result for the nontreponemal test (OR 13.48; 95%CI 5.93; 30.64) and those who did not undergo the treponemal test (OR 1.65; 95%CI 1.13; 2.40) had higher odds of inadequate prescription. There were more prescription failures among pregnant people whose sexual partners were not treated (OR 1.91; 95%CI 1.34; 2.72).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A high detection rate and failures in notification completeness and in the treatment prescribed for pregnant people with syphilis were observed.</p>","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20250056"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13008299/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147518244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Janilza Silveira Silva, Renata Barbosa Vilaça Marques de Carvalho, Alcides Souto de Oliveira, Tatiane Bartneck Telles, Liza Regina Bueno Rosso, Leia Regina Silva, Diego Spinoza Dos Santos, Dirlene Pacheco Venâncio, Monique Boese, Katiuska Ferraz Jansen Negrello, Cláudia Weingaertner Palm, Clea Elisa Ribeiro, Aroldo José Borges Carneiro, Silvio Luis Rodrigues Almeida
{"title":"Knowledge and practices related to hepatitis A among adolescents: a cross-sectional study in Curitiba, Paraná, 2024.","authors":"Janilza Silveira Silva, Renata Barbosa Vilaça Marques de Carvalho, Alcides Souto de Oliveira, Tatiane Bartneck Telles, Liza Regina Bueno Rosso, Leia Regina Silva, Diego Spinoza Dos Santos, Dirlene Pacheco Venâncio, Monique Boese, Katiuska Ferraz Jansen Negrello, Cláudia Weingaertner Palm, Clea Elisa Ribeiro, Aroldo José Borges Carneiro, Silvio Luis Rodrigues Almeida","doi":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250871.en","DOIUrl":"10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20250871.en","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess the knowledge and practices of adolescents attending state public schools in Curitiba, Paraná, regarding hepatitis A.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study evaluating the knowledge and practices of adolescents aged 16 years or older, recruited by convenience sampling from public schools in Curitiba, Paraná. Knowledge was assessed using multiple-choice questions, organized into three dimensions: Pathology; Transmission and Symptomatology; and Prevention and Cure. Risk behaviors were scored in ascending order of exposure and grouped into five dimensions: Hygiene; Dietary Habits; Drinking Water; Tobacco Products; and Sexual Behaviors. Scores were standardized on a 0-10 scale and classified as very low (0⊢2.5), low (2.5⊢5), moderate (5⊢7.5), and high (7.5⊢10). Appropriate descriptive and inferential analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 298 adolescents participated (52.0% female; 63.1% self-identified as White), with a mean age of 16.6±0.7 years. The mean knowledge score was 3.7±3.0 and was higher among females (p=0.039). The lowest mean score was observed in the Transmission and Symptomatology dimension (3.3±3.2; p<0.001). The mean risk behaviors score was 1.7±1.3 and was higher among males (p=0.001); higher scores indicate greater exposure to risk behaviors. The Sexual Behaviors dimension presented the highest score (6.3±1.4; p<0.001). No correlation was found between knowledge and risk behaviors (Spearman's rho=0.00; p=0.983).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Knowledge about hepatitis A was low, particularly regarding transmission and symptoms. Although the overall risk behaviors score fell within the low category, the Sexual Behaviors dimension was classified as moderate, indicating a relevant vulnerability that requires targeted interventions for adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":520611,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil","volume":"35 ","pages":"e20250871"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12995282/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147483091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}