Luiz Augusto Facchini

Desempenho do PSF no Sul e no Nordeste do Brasil: avaliação institucional e epidemiológica da Atenção Básica à Saúde

A pesquisa, desenvolvida dentro dos Estudos de Linha de Base do Proesf analisou o desempenho do Programa Saude da Familia (PSF) em 41 municipios dos Estados de Alagoas, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina. Utilizou delineamento transversal, com grupo de comparacao externo (atencao basica tradicional). Entrevistou 41 presidentes de Conselhos Municipais de Saude, 29 secretarios municipais de Saude e 32 coordenadores de Atencao Basica. Foram caracterizados a estrutura e o processo de trabalho em 234 Unidades Basicas de Saude (UBS), incluindo 4.749 trabalhadores de saude; 4.079 criancas; 3.945 mulheres; 4.060 adultos e 4.006 idosos. O controle de qualidade alcancou 6% dos domicilios amostrados. A cobertura do PSF de 1999 a 2004 cresceu mais no Nordeste do que no Sul. Menos da metade dos trabalhadores ingressaram por concurso publico e o trabalho precario foi maior no PSF do que em UBS tradicionais. Os achados sugerem um desempenho da Atencao Basica a Saude (ABS) ainda distante das prescricoes do SUS. Menos da metade da demanda potencial utilizou a UBS de sua area de abrangencia. A oferta de acoes de saude, a sua utilizacao e o contato por acoes programaticas foram mais adequados no PSF.

Prevalência de quedas em idosos e fatores associados

OBJECTIVE: Increased life expectancy and consequent growth of the elderly population has resulted in changes in the epidemiological morbidity and mortality profile. In the group of chronic degenerative diseases, falls are a prevailing among those preventable conditions. The objective of the study was to assess prevalence of falls in the elderly and to describe their associated factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study comprising 4,003 elderly subjects (aged 65 years or more) living in areas covered by primary health care in 41 municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants from seven Brazilian states. Wald test for heterogeneity and linear trend were used for the estimation of significance level. Adjusted analysis was conducted using Poisson regression and adjusted prevalence rates were estimated. RESULTS: The prevalence of falls among the elderly was 34.8%, significantly higher in women (40.1%) than men. Among those who experienced falls, 12.1% had fractures as a consequence. The prevalence of falls was directly associated with older age, sedentary lifestyle, self-perception of poor health and more chronic drug use reported. The prevalence of falls was similar in the elderly attending different care services (basic health care units and Family Health Program). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of falls among elderly could be reduced through actions targeting their needs in health care units, especially regarding preventable associated factors.

Atividade física em adultos e idosos residentes em áreas de abrangência de unidades básicas de saúde de municípios das regiões Sul e Nordeste do Brasil

Shifts in Brazils demographic structure have expanded the countrys elderly population and consequently increased the rates of chronic diseases. This paper describes the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle and associated factors in a cross-sectional study, including 4,060 non-elderly and 4,003 elderly adults in 41 cities in seven States of the country. Prevalence of sedentary lifestyle was 31.8% (95%CI: 30.4-33.2) in non-elderly adults and 58.0% (95%CI: 56.4-59.5) in the elderly; sedentary lifestyle was more frequent in the Northeast and among males. Low family income was associated with higher prevalence of sedentary lifestyle in both non-elderly and elderly adults, while low schooling was only observed among the elderly. There was an inverse association between self-reported health status and sedentary lifestyle. Mean prevalence of sedentary lifestyle was higher in areas covered by pre-PROESF units in comparison to other health system models. We conclude that sedentary lifestyle is highly prevalent and that disadvantaged socioeconomic groups are more likely to be sedentary.

Operacionalização do conceito de classe social em estudos epidemiológicos

Procura-se demonstrar que e possivel operacionalizar o conceito de classe social de forma a utiliza-lo em estudos epidemiologicos. Foi adaptado as caracteristicas da formacao social de Pelotas, RS (Brasil), modelo de classificacao desenvolvido para o Mexico e comparado com o desenvolvido para Ribeirao Preto, SP (Brasil). Mediu-se o poder discriminatorio das duas classificacoes em termos do processo saude-doenca, tendo como variavel dependente o crescimento de 5.384 criancas nascidas em 1982. As duas classificacoes estao associadas com diferencas significativas (P<0,001) no crescimento infantil, mas o modelo do Mexico mostra melhor poder discriminatorio do que a classificacao de Ribeirao Preto. Quando ambas foram incluidas em uma analise multivariada do peso e da altura das criancas, o efeito do modelo do Mexico foi altamente significativo (P<0,001), ao contrario do efeito da classificacao, modelo Ribeirao Preto.

Health information technology in primary health care in developing countries: a literature review

This paper explores the debate and initiatives concerning the use of information technology (IT) in primary health care in developing countries. The literature from 1992-2002 was identified from searches of the MEDLINE, Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature Database (LILACS), Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases. The search identified 884 references, 350 of which were classified according to the scheme described by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). For the analysis of advantages, problems and perspectives of IT applications and systems, 52 articles were selected according to their potential contribution to the primary health-care processes in non-developed countries. These included: 10 on electronic patient registries (EPR), 22 on process and programmatic action evaluation and management systems (PPAEM) and 20 on clinical decision-support systems (CDS). The main advantages, limitations and perspectives are discussed.

Intoxicação por agrotóxicos no Brasil: os sistemas oficiais de informação e desafios para realização de estudos epidemiológicos

Brazil is one of the world leaders in pesticide consumption and exposed workers are numerous and diversified. Acute poisonings are just the most visible aspect of pesticide impact on human health. An assessment of many official information systems that notify pesticide poisoning concluded that none of them performed appropriately the role of a surveillance system. Only acute and severe cases are notified. One of the main gaps concerns exposure information: the only official source (the Agronomic Prescriptions) has many limitations and is not available for research. A review of published articles in Brazil shows a quantitative and qualitative increase of studies in this area with many different approaches. The impact of such a high chemical burden and the huge numbers of workers exposed are two important reasons for the development of an epidemiological research on pesticide poisoning, an issue that has still a vast field to cover in Brazil.

Acesso a medicamentos de uso contínuo em adultos e idosos nas regiões Sul e Nordeste do Brasil

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalencia de acesso a medicamentos de uso continuo para tratar hipertensao arterial sistemica, diabetes mellitus e/ou problemas de saude mental e fatores associados. Foi desenvolvido estudo transversal no âmbito do Projeto de Expansao e Consolidacao Saude da Familia (PROESF) em 41 municipios do Sul e Nordeste do Brasil. A amostra incluiu 4.060 adultos e 4.003 idosos residentes na area das unidades basicas de saude (UBS). A prevalencia de acesso a medicamentos de uso continuo em adultos foi de 81% e em idosos, 87%. O maior acesso entre os adultos da Regiao Sul esteve associado com maior idade, melhor nivel economico, tipo de morbidade cronica e participacao em grupos na UBS; entre os adultos do Nordeste, com hipertensao arterial sistemica exclusiva ou combinada com diabetes mellitus; entre os idosos do Sul, com maior escolaridade; entre os idosos do Nordeste, com maior idade, maior escolaridade, nao fumantes, vinculo com a UBS e modelo de atencao Programa Saude da Familia (PSF). Os resultados revelam importante iniquidade em saude, reforcando a necessidade de politicas para ampliar o acesso principalmente para populacoes de menor poder aquisitivo.

Child labor and health: problems and perspectives.

Abstract Child labor remains a widespread problem. Although it can have positive effects, in some situations it has negative effects on health and development of the children. Although mainly a problem in developing countries, it is also possible to find child workers, some working in hazardous activities, in developed countries. The authors describe the child labor profiles in developed and developing countries, the principal occupations of children, and their concomitant hazards. They summarize the epidemiologic evidence for a greater impact of some occupational exposures on the health of children as compared with adults, and the theoretical concerns about the impact of child labor on health, and suggest policies that can be used to combat harmful child labor.

Prevalence of falls in elderly in Brazil: a countrywide analysis

We conducted a cross-sectional study of a sample of 6,616 elderly living in urban areas of 100 municipalities in 23 Brazilian states, who responded to questions on the occurrence of falls in the 12 months prior to the interview, and occurrence of fractures due to the falls. The prevalence of falls among the elderly was 27.6% (95%CI: 26.5-28.7). Among those reporting falls, 11% had suffered fractures as a result. Of the elderly, 36% had received guidance about the precautions necessary to prevent falls, and about 1% had required surgery. Falls were associated with female gender, older age, low socioeconomic status, obesity and sedentary lifestyles. The prevalence of falls differed significantly between the North and other regions of Brazil. The study shows a high prevalence of falls, and underlines the need for preventive strategies targeting modifiable risk factors.

Estudo transversal sobre saúde mental de agricultores da Serra Gaúcha (Brasil)

OBJETIVO: Considerando a escassez de estudos rurais de base populacional, buscou-se avaliar as associacoes entre caracteristicas do trabalho rural e a ocorrencia de morbidade psiquiatrica menor- MPM. METODOS: Utilizando delineamento transversal, estudaram-se 1.282 agricultores de 446 estabelecimentos. As informacoes foram coletadas por entrevista direta, a partir da percepcao do trabalhador. O indice de Kappa foi adotado para controle de qualidade. Caracterizaram-se as condicoes produtivas, dados sociodemograficos e indicadores de saude mental. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de MPM afetou 37,5% dos agricultores. As prevalencias foram maiores entre produtores de feijao e menores entre os de maca. Encontrou-se risco aumentado nos estabelecimentos de 26 a 50 ha, e risco reduzido associado a maior mecanizacao e aumento de escolaridade. A ocorrencia de intoxicacao por agrotoxicos mostrou forte associacao com MPM, embora nao se possa definir a direcao dessa associacao. CONCLUSOES: Os resultados alertam para a dimensao dos problemas e para a urgencia de medidas que visem a proteger a saude dos agricultores.