Back pain is an important health and economic problem affecting a significant part of our population. It is of interest to both medical and behavioral professionals concerned with the complex role of the social and psychological factors in the etiology of somatic ailments. Although there has been much written about back injuries in military and industrial settings, little is known about the epidemiological patterns in a general population (Nagi et al., 1973). The objective of this study is to find: a) the major factors connected to back pain, b) whether the general work-stress index is related to back pain, where the general work-stress index is the sum of job stressors including psychological demands, job insecurity, physical exertion, decision latitude and the social support at work, and c) the relationship especially amongst back pain, activity restriction, age, job satisfaction and income. The National Population Health Survey (NPHS) database is used in this project. Some statistical techniques such as logistic regression and log-linear models are used for data analysis. In this project all explanatory variables in logistic regression models are treated as continuous variables; all variables when used in log-linear models are treated as categorical data. Results are compared between these different methods. They are in close agreement with each other. We conclude that age has very high impact on back pain with significance level being lower than 1 %; activity restriction also has a strong relationship with back pain; chronic stress, childhood and adult stressors all have high association with back pain; job stressor and recent life bad events are related fairly to back pain at significant level 5%; and income and job satisfaction do not have direct impact on back pain. Although there is not much that can be done to change the normal aging process of the spinal column, some of the predictors identified such as job stressors are amenable to change. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

Introdução: Os múltiplos e interativos efeitos protetores do aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME) na saúde e sobrevivência infantil justificam as recomendações universais para promover sua prática. Poucos são os estudos que avaliam a tendência do padrão do AME entre países. Objetivo: Analisar a mudança temporal do AME em cinco países da América Latina e Caribe (ALC) comparando dados das décadas de 1990 e 2000. Métodos: A dissertação é composta por um manuscrito, que avaliou dados de crianças de 0 a 6 meses incluídas nas amostras das pesquisas Demographic Health Survey conduzidas em Brasil, Colômbia, Haiti, Peru e República Dominicana. Foram estimadas as prevalências do AME e suas taxas anuais de variação ponderada, segundo país e ano de inquérito. A duração do AME foi estimada usando a análise de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier, considerando a idade atual da criança como o tempo de sobrevida e o AME como variável binária, referente à situação da prática no momento da entrevista. As curvas de sobrevivência foram construídas por país, em cada década, e a comparação entre elas usou o teste log-rank. A mediana do tempo de amamentação foi calculada para cada variável independente e a relação entre essas variáveis e o desmame até os seis meses foi analisada pela técnica de regressão de Cox com modelo múltiplo. Resultados: A prevalência de AME aumentou em quatro dos cinco países estudados, com incremento ao ano mais marcante na Colômbia (11 por cento ) e no Haiti (17 por cento ). A duração mediana apresentou duas tendências de evolução: aumento com equidade na Colômbia e no Haiti, e estagnação com distribuição desigual entre os subgrupos populacionais da última década no Brasil, Peru e República Dominicana. No modelo múltiplo de regressão, variáveis de demografia e do perfil de uso dos serviços de saúde associaram-se à duração do AME. A residência em área rural foi a variável reiteradamente associada, de forma negativa no Brasil (HR=1,68; IC 95 por cento :1,06-2,67) e na Colômbia (HR=1,39; IC 95 por cento :1,03-1,87), enquanto que positivamente no Peru (HR=0,40; IC 95 por cento :0,19-0,83). Conclusão: O balanço da tendência do AME na ALC é positivo, embora não uniforme ao longo das duas décadas analisadas. Os achados sinalizam a necessidade de intervenções para a promoção do AME que levem em consideração a localização geográfica das famílias e a qualidade prestada nos serviços de saúde / Introduction: Multiple and interactive protective effects of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in health and child survival justify recommendations for promoting universal practice. There are few studies that assess the tendency of the pattern of EBF between countries. Objective: To analyze the temporal change of the AME in five countries in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) comparing data from 1990 and 2000 decades. Methods: The dissertation consists of a manuscript, which evaluated data from children aged 0 to 6 months in the samples of the Demographic Health Survey conducted research in Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Peru and the Dominican Republic. Were estimated the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and its weighted annual rates of change, according to country and survey year. The duration of EBF was estimated using survival analysis Kaplan-Meier method, considering the current age of the child as the survival time and EBF as binary variable, concerning the state of practice at the time of the interview. The survival curves were constructed for each country, in every decade, and the comparison between them used the log-rank test. The median duration of breastfeeding was calculated for each independent variable and the relationship between these variables and weaning at six months was analyzed using Cox regression model. Results: The prevalence of EBF increased in four of the five countries studied, increasing the most remarkable years in Colombia (II per cent ) and Haiti (17 per cent ). The median duration of evolution showed two trends: growth with equity in Colombia and Haiti, and stagnation with unequal distribution among the population subgroups of the last decade in Brazil, Peru and the Dominican Republic. In the multiple model of regression variables and the demographic profile of use of health services were associated with duration of EBF. The residence in a rural area was the variable consistently associated negatively in Brazil (HR = 1.68, CI 95 per cent : 1,06-2,67) and Colombia (HR = 1.39, CI 95 per cent : 1,03-1,87), while positively in Peru (HR = 0.40, CI 95 per cent : 0,19-0,83). Conclusion: The balance of the trend of EBF in LAC is positive, though not uniform throughout the two decades analyzed. The findings suggest the need for interventions for the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding taking into account the geographical location of families and provided quality health services

Introdução: Os múltiplos e interativos efeitos protetores do aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME) na saúde e sobrevivência infantil justificam as recomendações universais para promover sua prática. Poucos são os estudos que avaliam a tendência do padrão do AME entre países. Objetivo: Analisar a mudança temporal do AME em cinco países da América Latina e Caribe (ALC) comparando dados das décadas de 1990 e 2000. Métodos: A dissertação é composta por um manuscrito, que avaliou dados de crianças de 0 a 6 meses incluídas nas amostras das pesquisas Demographic Health Survey conduzidas em Brasil, Colômbia, Haiti, Peru e República Dominicana. Foram estimadas as prevalências do AME e suas taxas anuais de variação ponderada, segundo país e ano de inquérito. A duração do AME foi estimada usando a análise de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier, considerando a idade atual da criança como o tempo de sobrevida e o AME como variável binária, referente à situação da prática no momento da entrevista. As curvas de sobrevivência foram construídas por país, em cada década, e a comparação entre elas usou o teste log-rank. A mediana do tempo de amamentação foi calculada para cada variável independente e a relação entre essas variáveis e o desmame até os seis meses foi analisada pela técnica de regressão de Cox com modelo múltiplo. Resultados: A prevalência de AME aumentou em quatro dos cinco países estudados, com incremento ao ano mais marcante na Colômbia (11 por cento ) e no Haiti (17 por cento ). A duração mediana apresentou duas tendências de evolução: aumento com equidade na Colômbia e no Haiti, e estagnação com distribuição desigual entre os subgrupos populacionais da última década no Brasil, Peru e República Dominicana. No modelo múltiplo de regressão, variáveis de demografia e do perfil de uso dos serviços de saúde associaram-se à duração do AME. A residência em área rural foi a variável reiteradamente associada, de forma negativa no Brasil (HR=1,68; IC 95 por cento :1,06-2,67) e na Colômbia (HR=1,39; IC 95 por cento :1,03-1,87), enquanto que positivamente no Peru (HR=0,40; IC 95 por cento :0,19-0,83). Conclusão: O balanço da tendência do AME na ALC é positivo, embora não uniforme ao longo das duas décadas analisadas. Os achados sinalizam a necessidade de intervenções para a promoção do AME que levem em consideração a localização geográfica das famílias e a qualidade prestada nos serviços de saúde / Introduction: Multiple and interactive protective effects of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in health and child survival justify recommendations for promoting universal practice. There are few studies that assess the tendency of the pattern of EBF between countries. Objective: To analyze the temporal change of the AME in five countries in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) comparing data from 1990 and 2000 decades. Methods: The dissertation consists of a manuscript, which evaluated data from children aged 0 to 6 months in the samples of the Demographic Health Survey conducted research in Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Peru and the Dominican Republic. Were estimated the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and its weighted annual rates of change, according to country and survey year. The duration of EBF was estimated using survival analysis Kaplan-Meier method, considering the current age of the child as the survival time and EBF as binary variable, concerning the state of practice at the time of the interview. The survival curves were constructed for each country, in every decade, and the comparison between them used the log-rank test. The median duration of breastfeeding was calculated for each independent variable and the relationship between these variables and weaning at six months was analyzed using Cox regression model. Results: The prevalence of EBF increased in four of the five countries studied, increasing the most remarkable years in Colombia (II per cent ) and Haiti (17 per cent ). The median duration of evolution showed two trends: growth with equity in Colombia and Haiti, and stagnation with unequal distribution among the population subgroups of the last decade in Brazil, Peru and the Dominican Republic. In the multiple model of regression variables and the demographic profile of use of health services were associated with duration of EBF. The residence in a rural area was the variable consistently associated negatively in Brazil (HR = 1.68, CI 95 per cent : 1,06-2,67) and Colombia (HR = 1.39, CI 95 per cent : 1,03-1,87), while positively in Peru (HR = 0.40, CI 95 per cent : 0,19-0,83). Conclusion: The balance of the trend of EBF in LAC is positive, though not uniform throughout the two decades analyzed. The findings suggest the need for interventions for the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding taking into account the geographical location of families and provided quality health services

Background: Suicidal behaviour is a major public health problem that has not abated over the past decade. Adopting machine learning algorithms that allow for combining risk factors that may increase the predictive accuracy of models of suicide behaviour is one promising avenue toward effective prevention and treatment. Methods: We used Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health and Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey to build conditional inference random forests models of suicidal behaviour in Canadian general population and Canadian Armed Forces. We generated risk algorithms for suicidal behaviour in each sample. We performed within- and between-sample validation and reported the corresponding performance metrics. Results: Only a handful of variables were important in predicting suicidal behaviour in Canadian general population and Canadian Armed Forces. Each model’s performance on within-sample validation was satisfactory, with moderate to high sensitivity and high specificity, while the performance on between-sample validation was conditional on the size and heterogeneity of the training sample. Conclusion: Using conditional inference random forest methodology on large nationally representative mental health surveys has the potential of generating models of suicidal behaviour that not only reflect its complex nature, but indicate that the true positive cases are likely to be captured by this approach.

Introduction HIV infection is a global health concern and the epidemic is particularly serious in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding HIV-related knowledge, attitude and behavior is a key element for prevention programs. Because of rural-urban variations in social and economic factors, this study was conducted to assess urban-rural disparities in HIV-related knowledge, attitude and behavior in Burkina Faso. Methods This study is based on a nationally representative data from the 2010 Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey. Odds ratios from the logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between HIV-related knowledge, attitude and behaviors with residence (urban /rural). Results More rural residents were uneducated (82.13%), illiterates (80.13%), and poor (94.54%) compared to urban residents with values of 17.87%, 19.87% and 5.45%, respectively. The prevalence of HIV residents was significantly lower among rural residents (0.65%) as compared with urban residents (1.88%). Rural residents compared to urban residents were more likely to have incomplete knowledge or inappropriate HIV-related attitude and behavior: incomplete knowledge about HIV (OR = 3.38, 95% CI 3.15 – 3.63), incomplete knowledge of MTCT prevention methods (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.88 – 2.16), non-accepting attitude toward people living with HIV (OR = 3.01, 95% CI 2.78 – 3.26), unfavorable for youth education on condom use (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.41 – 1.65), first sex before 15 years old (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.96 – 1.21), multiple sex partnership among men (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.33 – 1.75), don’t know any source of condoms (OR = 3.02, 95% CI 2.67 – 3.42) and don’t know any source of female condoms (OR = 3.27 95% CI 3.04 – 3.51). Conclusion Compared to urban residents, Burkina Faso rural residents tend to have limited HIV knowledge, limited access to condom. Also, compared to urban residents, more Burkina Faso rural residents had inappropriate HIV attitude and behavior. However, the HIV prevalence was lower among rural residents. The disparities between urban and rural residents of Burkina Faso with respect to HIV knowledge, attitude and behaviors calls for appropriate public health measures to increase HIV awareness in rural areas.

Introduction: Access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is a basic human right, yet globally748 million people lack access to improved drinking water, 2.5 billion lack access to improved sanitation and 946 million still practice open defecation. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 66% of the global new HIV infections. Access to improved WASH is an important issue, especially for people living with HIV/AIDS. They are more prone to opportunistic infections like diarrhea arising from the lack of proper sanitation and access to clean water. In Kenya, there is a dearth of literature examining the association between HIV status and the access to improved water and sanitation. This study sought to address this topic. Aim: We set out to determine the association between HIV status and the access to improved water and sanitation in Kenya using the 2008 -2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). Methods: The study analyzed 3753 HIV negative households and 422 HIV positive households. For descriptive statistics, a weighted sample was used to obtain the frequencies and percentages. Weighted bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to establish the association between HIV status and the independent variables of interest. Results: There were no statistically significant associations in access to improved water or improved sanitation comparing HIV status and covariates measuring the access to improved water and sanitation. We did find, however, a statistically significant higher odds of HIV positive households reporting treating their drinking water compared to HIV negative households (adjusted odds ratio = 1.4; 95% confidence interval 1.11, 1.84). Discussion: HIV positive patients are more vulnerable to opportunistic infections than the rest of the population.It is imperative for the Kenyan gorvenment to tailor specific interventions that are targeted to this particular group,through scaling up the access to basic sanitation and piped water as well as emphasizing appropriate water treatment methods at the point of use.

Introduction: Millions of children worldwide die before they reach their fifth birthday. Approximately 50% of all deaths in children are associated with malnutrition. Although remarkable improvements have been seen in the past few decades, child malnutrition remains a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Malnutrition has been linked to various morbidities and as the underlying cause of 57% of mortality in the country. It is caused by complex and multidimensional biological, social economic, and environmental factors. There are scarce literatures examining the environmental factors, such as access to water and sanitation, on the likelihood of child malnutrition as measured by stunting, wasting, and underweight in Ethiopia, which the current study sought to investigate. Aim: The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between households’ access to water and sanitation facilities and the likelihood that a child will become stunted or wasted or underweight. Methods: The study utilized a nationally representative data from 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. The sample size was 9,611 children aged 0-59 months. A weighted descriptive statistical analysis was performed to examine the frequency distribution of the study’s primary independent variables (sanitation and water), dependent variables (childhood stunting, wasting, and underweight), and all other variables included in the study. Weighted bivariate analysis was conducted using logistic regression to quantify association between stunting, wasting, and being underweight and different independent variables. Weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to control for potential confounders while examining the relationship between the primary independent and dependent variables. Odds ratios, 95% confidence limits, and p-value were calculated. We considered three sets of potential confounders: child’s (child’s gender, child’s age, and child’s size at birth diarrheal disease, fever), maternal (maternal education) and household characteristics (maternal BMI, place of residence, wealth index, stool disposal, time to get water). Only variables that showed significant association (p-value Main results: Approximately 44%, 10%, and 29% of the children under-five years of age were stunted, wasted, and underweight, respectively. About 54% of the study population used unimproved source of drinking water and about 82% used unimproved sanitation facility. Our bivariate logistic analysis revealed that children in households with unimproved source of drinking water had higher odds of stunting compared to children in households with improved drinking water source (OR: 1.2; 95% CL 1.02-1.34). Adjustment for child’s characteristics yielded AOR: 1.2; 95% CL 1.0-1.4. Addition of maternal characteristics attenuated this association (AOR: 1.1; 95% CL 1.0-1.3 1.0; 95% CL 0.8-1.2). Finally, inclusion of household characteristics showed stunting was not associated with unimproved source of drinking water (AOR: 1.0; 95% 0.8-1.2). The bivariate analysis revealed household access to unimproved source of drinking water was not significantly associated with wasting (OR: 1.0; 95% CL 0.8-1.3) and underweight (OR: 1.2; 95% CL 1.0-1.4). Adjustment of child, maternal, and household characteristic showed an inverse association between source of drinking water and wasting (AOR: 0.7; 95% CL 0.6-0.9). In the bivariate analysis, access to unimproved sanitation was significantly associated with stunting (OR: 1.3; 95% CL 1.02-1.74) and underweight (OR: 1.5; 95% CL 1.1-2.1). Compared to children living in homes with access to improved sanitation facility, children in household with unimproved sanitation facility had 1.4 increased odds of being stunted (95% CL 1.1-1.9) after adjustment for child’s characteristics. Adjustment of child, maternal, and household characteristics attenuated this association (AOR: 1.1; 95% CL 0.8-1.5). Children in household with unimproved sanitation facility had higher odds of being underweight after adjusting for child characteristics (AOR: 1.6; 95% CL 1.2-2.2). Addition of maternal characteristic reduced the association (AOR: 1.5; 95% CL 1.1-2.0). Finally, the addition of household characteristics further attenuated this association (AOR: 1.4; 95% CL 1.1-1.9). Children from households with improved water but unimproved sanitation had higher odds of wasting and being underweight compared to children living in household with both services: AORs adjusted for child’s characteristics were 2.3 (95% CL 1.3-4.3) for wasting and 2.4 (95% CL 1.6-3.6) for underweight; when maternal characteristics were included, AORs were 2.2 (95% CL 1.2-4.1) and 2.1 (95% 1.4-3.3) for wasting and underweight, correspondingly; finally, when household characteristics were included AORs were 2.0 (95% CL 1.1-3.9) and 1.9 (95% CL 1.2-3.0), respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggest that household access to unimproved source of drinking water and sanitation increase the likelihood of malnutrition. Therefore, initiatives to increase access to improved sources of drinking water and sanitation facilities along with nutritional intervention could help alleviate the high burden of malnutrition in Ethiopia.

Student Number : 0411802R - MSc (Med) research report - Faculty of Health Sciences / Unintended pregnancy among the youth is a serious public health problem for it exposes the young women and the foetuses to higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Although recognised as a major public health problem, studies on it have been limited and localised in South Africa. Using the 1998 South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS) data set, this study examines the distribution of and factors associated with unintended pregnancy among South African youth. The 1998 SADHS was a nationally representative cross-sectional survey with a probability sample of twelve thousand (12 000) women between the ages of 15 and 49. The survey used a structured questionnaire to collect information on fertility issues in general from the respondents. Analysis was based on 1 395 observations which was arrived at after sub setting observations of women aged 15-24 that had pregnancy at the time of and/or three years preceding the survey. Logistic regression model was employed to estimate the effects of identified predictors on unintended pregnancy. The results show a high level of unintended pregnancy with only 29% of the pregnancies wanted. The level of unintended pregnancy varies by region and some socio-economic variables. Respondents from KwaZulu Natal had the highest percentage (81%) of unintended pregnancy while North West had the lowest at 56%. It was also found that the higher the educational level of the respondents, the higher the incidence of unwanted pregnancy. Among the respondents using modern method of contraception, 74% reported having unintended pregnancy while the probability of unintended pregnancy was found to decrease with increase in age at first intercourse. Overall, about 69% of respondents who reported unintended pregnancy had last sexual relation with their regular partners, 21% with marital partners and 10% with casual partners. Using stepwise logistic regression, five critical predictors of unintended pregnancy among South African youth were identified. These are: age group, region, marital status, education and relationship to the last sexual partner. The findings of this study have implications for reproductive health policies and programs in designing appropriate national programs for reducing the incidence of unintended pregnancy among South African youth. The need for further research into this area using triangulated methodology is recommended.

OBJETIVO: Analisar o padrão de consumo de medicamentos segundo características demográficas e condições de vida da população de estudo. METODOLOGIA: A pesquisa foi desenvolvida a partir dos dados do projeto Inquérito de Saúde de São Paulo, ISA-SP, estudo transversal com base populacional, que levantou as condições de vida e saúde da população de quatro áreas do Estado de São Paulo. Foi utilizado período recordatório de 3 dias para o uso de medicamentos. A caracterização demográfica da amostra foi feita por meio da idade e sexo, e a sócio-econômica pelas renda familiar e escolaridade do entrevistado e do chefe de família. RESULTADOS: O uso de medicamentos foi declarado por 33,9% e revelou-se maior entre: os grupos de maior idade, o sexo feminino, as famílias com maior escolaridade do chefe, aqueles que se declararam brancos e os que relataram maior renda familiar. Mais de um terço dos que relataram uso de medicamento declarou automedicação, que foi mais freqüente entre jovens e homens. Uma minoria declarou desconhecer o que é “medicamento genérico". A média da fração da renda familiar gasta com medicamentos foi de 6,2%, e aumentou com a idade, com a menor renda e com a menor escolaridade. CONCLUSÃO: Essa pesquisa revelou diferenças significativas no consumo, na automedicação e no gasto com medicamentos de diferentes sugrupos populacionais. Os trabalhos sobre perfil de consumo de medicamentos podem contribuir para a discussão sobre a problemática de acesso da população às terapias farmacológicas e podem subsidiar políticas públicas que visem promover acesso universal e uso racional dos medicamentos. / OBJECTIVE: To analyze the pattern of medicine use, according to demographic characteristics and life conditions of the population. METHODS: This study was developed with the databank of the project “Health Survey of State of Sao Paulo (ISA-SP)", a population based household survey transversal study, that studied the life and the health condition of the population of four areas in the State of Sao Paulo. The information about drug consume was collected with a recall period of 3 days. The sample was characterized by the sex and the age, as demographic data, and by the years of study of the subject and the head of the family, and the household income, as socioeconomic data. RESULTS: The drug use was declared by 33,9% of the subjects, which revealed to be higher among the elders, the women, the individuals which the head of the family presented more years of study, among the ones who declared to have white skin, and among the subjects with higher household income. More then one third of the individuals who used drugs reported selfmedication, which was more frequent among the youngsters and the men. A minority declared to ignore what does “generic medicine" means. The average expense with medicines was 6,2% of the household income, which shows to increase with the age, lower hosehold income and less years of study. CONCLUSION: This research revealed significant differences on consume, selfmedication, and expenses with medicines of different population subgroups. Studies about the pattern of drug use can contribute to the discussion of the problematic involving the access of the population to pharmacological therapies and support public policies which aims the rational use and the universal access to the drugs.

Introdução: A relação entre cães, gatos e seres humanos é antiga e ainda polêmica ,principalmente, nos aspectos referentes à questão da saúde. O desequilíbrio na população animal levou a excessos populacionais, que junto com a falta de saneamento e o crescimento desordenado das cidades, propiciaram a disseminação de zoonoses, principalmente, nas metrópoles. Ainda não é claro o risco dos animais à população humana frente aos benefícios possíveis. Justificativa: As freqüentes interações entre o homem e animais de estimação propiciam surgimento de novas zoonoses, tornando fundamental o conhecimento da dinâmica populacional de cães e gatos nas diferentes cidades brasileiras. A análise desses parâmetros, através de um inquérito domiciliar, abrirá um novo leque de opções, que permitirá novos conhecimentos técnicos e poderá ser um norteador de políticas públicas para essa área tão carente de informação. Objetivo: Analisar o perfil da população domiciliada de cães e correlacionando com as condições dos domicílios e do seu entorno e o nível sócio- econômico dos proprietários de animais. Material e Método: Foram utilizados dados de estudos de corte transversal e base populacional, com uso de questionários aplicados em entrevistas domiciliares. A área estudada foi o município de São Paulo, as entrevistas foram realizadas em 2003, como parte do “Inquérito de Saúde no Município de São Paulo – ISA - CAPITAL". O presente projeto analisou o bloco de entrevistas que versa sobre a questão de cães e gatos nos domicílios. A análise geral dos dados foi realizada pelos softwares SPSS e STATA. Resultados: Em 42,77 % dos lares há presença de cães e/ou gatos. A média de idade dos cães nas residências é de 4,28 anos e a dos gatos é de 3,44 anos. Houve predominância de fêmeas na população felina e de machos na canina. Foi notada uma alta porcentagem, 90,13 % dos cães e 71,93% dos gatos, de vacinação contra a Raiva , nos últimos 12 meses. As clínicas particulares têm grande importância na vacinação contra a Raiva com 29,8 % dos cães vacinados em clínicas e 55,5 % dos gatos. Conclusões Finais: Há necessidade de um sistema de informação entre clínicas particulares e serviço público, principalmente no tocante à vacinação contra a raiva; maior número de estudos sobre a população felina na cidade; programas educativos para a população em geral e para os “cuidadores" de cães. / The relationship between dogs or cats with human is ancient and nevertheless controversy. The imbalance in the animal population drove to an overpopulation that allied to the lack of sanitation and disordered increase of the cities enabled the dissemination of zoonoses especially in the metropolises. It is still not clear the risk of the animals to the human population compared to the plausible benefits. Justification: The frequent interactions between man and domestic animals results in new zoonoses emergences, and in this context the information of dog and cats population dynamics in different Brazilian cities is crucial. The analysis of these parameters, through a health survey, will raise new options that could allow improvement in technical information. As an effect, this development could have a leading role in public politics for an area with such scarce knowledge.Objective: To analyze the profile of dogs an cats and its parameters related (vaccination, population dynamics), with the household and surroundings conditions by making use of a health survey. Materials and Methods: Transversal cut study and populational basis investigation with use of inquiries applied on household interviews were performed. The examined area was São Paulo city in 2003, as part of the “Health Survey in São Paulo municipality"- Inquérito de Saúde no Município de São Paulo – ISA - CAPITAL". The present survey analyzed the segment of the interviews that comprised the information on the dogs and cats in the domiciles. The general data analysis was performed with the softwares SPSS and STATA. Results: Our results indicated that 42,77% of the domiciles have either dogs, cats or both. The average age of the dogs is 4,28 years and of the cats 3,44 years. There was a predominance of females in the canine population and males in the feline one. A high level of rabies vaccination was noticed (90,13 % of dogs and 71,93% of cats) in the last 12 months. The private practices were responsible for a significant participation in the rabies vaccination with 29,8% of the dogs and 55,5% of the cats. Final conclusions: There is a need for an information network between private practices and public service specially regarding vaccination against rabies, and also a requirement for more studies on the feline population of the city, as well as educational programs for the general population and the animal caretakers.