Total fluoride intake in children aged 22-35 months in four Colombian cities

Objective: To obtain information on the level of total fluoride intake from food, beverages and toothpaste by children at the age of 22-25 months of low and high socioeconomic status (SES) in major Colombian cities. Methods: Daily fluoride intake was assessed by the duplicate plate method and by recovered toothpaste solution during a 3-day period and afterwards analysed by the microdiffusion method. Results: Mean daily fluoride intake was 0.11 (+/-0.10), 0.14 (+/-0.12), 0.10 (+/-0.07) and 0.07 (+/-0.06) mg/kg body weight (bw)/day in Bogota, Medellin, Manizales and Cartagena, respectively. The total fluoride intake was higher in low-SES subjects in the cities of Medellin and Bogota. In the high-SES children of the four cities, the average intakes ranged from 0.06 to 0.09 mg F/kg bw, whereas, the low-SES children in three cities had intakes between 0.11 and 0.21 mg F/kg bw (Cartagena, 0.07). Toothpaste (containing 1000-1500 ppm F, with 1500 ppm F being more common) accounted for approximately 70% of total fluoride intake, followed by food (24%) and beverages (<6%). More than half the children had their teeth brushed by an adult, on average twice a day, using 0.22-0.65 g of toothpaste. Conclusion: Children from three Colombian cities have a mean total daily fluoride intake above the 'optimal range'. Health authorities should promote an appropriate use of fluoridated dentifrices discouraging the use of dentifrices containing 1500 ppm F in children younger than 6 years of age and promoting a campaign of education of parents and oral health professionals on adequate toothbrushing practices

Confiança na polícia em Minas Gerais: o efeito da percepção de eficiência e do contato individual

O artigo busca identificar e analisar os principais fatores que impactam a confiança na polícia em Minas Gerais. Utilizou-se a pesquisa "Vitimização e Percepção de Medo em Belo Horizonte e Minas Gerais" de 2009, aplicada em 29 municípios. Além de Belo Horizonte, abrangeu 5 cidades da Região Metropolitana, 7 cidades consideradas polos regionais e 16 municípios com população inferior a 10 mil habitantes. Os resultados mostram que indivíduos confundem funções do trabalho policial com as do sistema de justiça criminal. O contato com a polícia reduz a confiança, especialmente quando ele é iniciado por policiais. Nas cidades menores, onde a polícia é mais próxima dos cidadãos e a criminalidade é menor, a polícia recebe mais confiança do que nas maiores. A percepção de eficiência em solucionar problemas relacionados à violência é a variável que produz maior efeito positivo no nível de confiança que a instituição recebe