RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar o conhecimento das puérperas sobre o teste do pezinho. Métodos: Foram investigadas 75 puérperas que buscaram atendimento na atenção primária no período de outubro de 2014 a fevereiro de 2015. Um formulário foi aplicado pela pesquisadora principal e os dados resultantes foram analisados por estatística descritiva por meio dos programas Microsoft Office Excel e Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Foi feito teste de associação e determinado o poder estatístico. Resultados: Das 75 puérperas, 47 (62,7%) gostariam de receber maiores esclarecimentos sobre o teste do pezinho, com destaque para o período adequado de coleta, seguido pelas doenças triadas. A maioria das participantes (n=55; 85,9%) levou seu filho para realização do teste entre o terceiro e o sétimo dia de vida, conforme preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde. Das puérperas, 54 (72%) não souberam citar quais são as doenças triadas pelo teste do pezinho em Minas Gerais nem sabiam que a maioria delas tem etiologia genética. O profissional de saúde que informou sobre esse teste foi um médico. Essa orientação ocorreu durante o pré-natal em 57% dos casos e, na alta hospitalar em 43%. O teste de associação mostrou que as mães com maior escolaridade possuem maior conhecimento sobre a finalidade e a importância do teste do pezinho. O poder estatístico encontrado foi de 83,5%. Conclusões: O conhecimento das puérperas sobre o teste do pezinho é superficial e pode ser reflexo da atuação da equipe de saúde.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of puerperal mothers about the Guthrie test. Methods: A total of 75 mothers who sought primary care between October 2014 and February 2015 were investigated. The form was applied by the main researcher and the data was analyzed, using descriptive statistics with Microsoft Office Excel, and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programs. Association tests and statistical power were applied. Results: Among the 75 mothers, 47 (62.7%) would have liked to receive more information about the newborn screening, especially regarding the correct sample collection period, followed by the screened morbidities. Most participants (n=55; 85.9%) took their children to be tested between the third and the seventh day of birth, as recommended by the Brazilian Health Ministry. Fifty-four women (72%) were unable to name the morbidities screened by the test in Minas Gerais, and they were also unaware that most have genetic etiology. The health professional who informed the mother about the Guthrie test was mainly the physician. This information was given prenatally to 57% of the cases, and to 43 % at the time of discharge from the hospital. The association test showed that mothers with higher education have more knowledge about the purpose and importance of the Guthrie test. The statistical power was 83.5%. Conclusions: Maternal knowledge about the Guthrie test is superficial and may reflect the health team’s usual practice.

Abstract This work aimed to characterize mortality by sickle cell disease in Brazil. The MEDLINE electronic database was searched using the terms ‘mortality' and ‘sickle cell disease' and ‘Brazil' for articles published in the last five years aiming to provide a current analysis of the subject in question. Eight studies on mortality by sickle cell disease were carried out in the Brazilian states of Maranhão, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Mato Grosso do Sul. The majority of the deaths occurred in patients with sickle cell anemia, which is the most common genotype and causes the most severe clinical manifestation of the disease. In summary, there are few published studies on mortality related to sickle cell disease in Brazil, and most are from the state of Minas Gerais. This study emphasizes the importance of developing more studies on sickle cell disease mortality, so that it may be possible to profile gene carriers and give health professionals more data to strategize the delivery of more effective assistance to these individuals. Despite the early diagnosis of sickle cell disease by the Neonatal Screening Program and the use of preventive and therapeutic measures (penicillin, immunization and hydroxyurea), mortality by sickle cell disease on the world stage is still significant.