Validity and reliability of the tuberculosis-related stigma scale version for Brazilian Portuguese.

BACKGROUND: Stigma associated with tuberculosis (TB) has been an object of interest in several regions of the world. The behaviour presented by patients as a result of social discrimination has contributed to delays in diagnosis and the abandonment of treatment, leading to an increase in the cases of TB and drug resistance. The identification of populations affected by stigma and its measurement can be assessed with the use of valid and reliable instruments developed or adapted to the target culture. This aim of this study was to analyse the initial psychometric properties of the Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale in Brazil, for TB patients. METHODS: The Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale is a specific scale for measuring stigma associated with TB, originally validated in Thailand. It presents two dimensions to be assessed, namely Community perspectives toward tuberculosis and Patient perspectives toward tuberculosis. The first has 11 items regarding the behaviour of the community in relation to TB, and the second is made up of 12 items related to feelings such as fear, guilt and sorrow in coping with the disease. A pilot test was conducted with 83 TB patients, in order to obtain the initial psychometric properties of the scale in the Brazilian Portuguese version, enabling simulation of the field study. RESULTS: As regards its psychometric properties, the scale presented acceptable internal consistency for its dimensions, with values ≥0.70, the absence of floor and ceiling effects, which is favourable for the property of scale responsiveness, satisfactory converging validity for both dimensions, with values over 0.30 for initial studies, and diverging validity, with adjustment values different from 100%. CONCLUSION: The results found show that the Tuberculosis-Related Stigma scale can be a valid and reliable instrument for the Brazilian context.

Integrated health service delivery networks and tuberculosis avoidable hospitalizations: is there a relation between them in Brazil?

BACKGROUND: The early identification of the Breathing Symptoms within the scope of Primary Health Care is recommended, and is also one of the strategies of national sanitary authorities for reaching the elimination of tuberculosis. The purpose of this study is to consider which attributes and which territories have shown the most significant progress in Primary Health Care, in terms of coordination of Health Care Networks, and also check if those areas of Primary Health Care that are most critical regarding coordination, there were more or less cases of avoidable hospitalizations for tuberculosis. METHODS: This is an ecological study that uses primary and secondary data. For analysis, coropletic maps were developed through the ArcGIS software, version 10.2. There was also the calculation of gross annual and Bayesian rates for hospitalizations for tuberculosis, for each Primary Health Care territory. RESULTS: There were satisfactory results for attributes such as Population (n = 37; 80.4 %), Primary Health Care (n = 43; 93.5 %), Support System (n = 45; 97.8 %); the exceptions were Logistics System (n = 32; 76.0 %) and Governance System, with fewer units in good condition (n = 31; 67.3 %). There is no evidence of any connection between networks' coordination by Primary Health Care and tuberculosis avoidable admissions. CONCLUSION: The results show that progress has been made regarding the coordination of the Health Care Networks, and a positive trend has been shown, even though the levels are not excellent. It was found no relationship between the critical areas of Primary Health Care and tuberculosis avoidable hospitalizations, possibly because other variables necessary to comprehend the phenomena.

Assessment of the coordination of integrated health service delivery networks by the primary health care: COPAS questionnaire validation in the Brazilian context.

BACKGROUND: Health systems organized as networks and coordinated by the Primary Health Care (PHC) may contribute to the improvement of clinical care, sanitary conditions, satisfaction of patients and reduction of local budget expenditures. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate a questionnaire - COPAS - to assess the coordination of Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks by the Primary Health Care. METHODS: A cross sectional approach was used. The population was pooled from Family Health Strategy healthcare professionals, of the Alfenas region (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Data collection was performed from August to October 2013. The results were checked for the presence of floor and ceiling effects and the internal consistency measured through Cronbach alpha. Construct validity was verified through convergent and discriminant values following Multitrait-Multimethod (MTMM) analysis. RESULTS: Floor and ceiling effects were absent. The internal consistency of the instrument was satisfactory; as was the convergent validity, with a few correlations lower then 0.30. The discriminant validity values of the majority of items, with respect to their own dimension, were found to be higher or significantly higher than their correlations with the dimensions to which they did not belong. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the COPAS instrument has satisfactory initial psychometric properties and may be used by healthcare managers and workers to assess the PHC coordination performance within the Integrated Health Service Delivery Network.

[Tuberculosis and social inequity in health: an ecological study using multivariate statistical techniques, São Paulo, Brazil]. / Tuberculose e iniquidade social em saúde: uma análise ecológica utilizando técnicas estatísticas multivariadas, São Paulo, Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the patterns of São Paulo state municipalities, in Brazil, regarding the relationship between tuberculosis and indicators of health care services, health care service availability, context, and social inequality. METHODS: This ecological study covered all 645 municipalities of São Paulo and eight variables belonging to three dimensions: health care service availability, context, and social inequality. Data were analyzed using hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering, principal components analysis, and geoprocessing. RESULTS: The analysis revealed five groups of municipalities: group 1 (117 municipalities), with similar directly observed treatment (DOT) and family health strategy (FHS) coverage, high tuberculosis incidence and death coefficients, and a low human development index (HDI); group 2 (142 municipalities), with low DOT and FHS coverage; group 3 (36 municipalities), with medium DOT and FHS coverage and high tuberculosis incidence, high demand for anti-HIV testing, and treatment dropout; group 4 (186 municipalities) with lower HDI as compared to groups 2, 3, and 5, but high FHS coverage and the lowest numbers of anti-HIV testing, tuberculosis incidence, and DOT coverage; and group 5 (164 municipalities), with better social conditions as compared to the other groups, medium FHS coverage, and higher DOT coverage. Together, the first two components selected for the study-health service availability in terms of DOT coverage indicator and social inequality indicator-explained 76.96% of the variance. In municipalities with high DOT coverage there was evidence of better organized tuberculosis control services. CONCLUSIONS: Municipalities with the highest social inequality had FHS coverage. However, without DOT, FHS seem less efficient to control tuberculosis.

[The families and directly observed treatment of tuberculosis: senses and prospects to the production of care]. / Famílias e o tratamento diretamente observado da tuberculose: sentidos e perspectivas para produção do cuidado.

The purpose was to identify the families' participation on care management of patients with tuberculosis. Also, to ascertain the contribution offered by health professionals for patients'families with ongoing treatment, and investigate the importance attributed by the families to the directly observed treatment It is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in the municipality of Ribeirão Preto/SP with families of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. For data collection, it was developed an instrument that underwent pretesting and content validation. Ninety four subjects were interviewed. According to the results, 64 (68.096) relatives participated in the care management and 81 (86.2%) reported a good relationship with the staff. Sixty three family members (67%) did not receive any guidance about drugs and 75 (80.0%) of the respondents considered the strategy as relevant. The findings indicate that the Directly Observed Treatment has limitations regarding the guidelines of clinical management of the disease, the inclusion of family in care management and understanding of its goals.

Evaluation by community health agents of the attributes of Primary Health Care for fighting leprosy: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the attributes of Primary Healthcare are present in leprosy control actions in Londrina from Community Health Workers' (CHW) perspectives. METHOD: Observational and evaluative study. Data collection occurred between January and March 2020 in Londrina, Paraná, using the questionnaire "Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCATool) - Hansen's disease - CHW version" and a population-based census of 246 CHWs from 52 Primary Healthcare Units. The analyses used a cutoff point (≥ 6.6), central tendency, and dispersion measures. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests were used to analyze differences. Results: The general performance towards the primary healthcare attributes were evaluated as strong (mean = 6.95 / SD = 1.08) and the essential score (mean = 7.39 / SD = 1.0). On the other hand, the derived score was evaluated as poor (mean = 6.07 / sd = 1.06). Concerning the Access attribute, the rural zone had a lower score than the urban (mean = 4.47 / SD = 1.63). Conclusion: The study highlights issues that can be improved, such as first contact access, catalog of services offered to leprosy patients, information provided to the community, professional training, and differences in PHC performance between urban and rural regions.

The role of Primary Healthcare in the coordination of Health Care Networks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Lisbon region, Portugal. / Atenção Primária à Saúde na coordenação das Redes de Atenção à Saúde no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, e na região de Lisboa, Portugal.

Considering the trajectory of Rio de Janeiro e Lisboa region regarding strengths of the their health local systems to achieve health for all and equity, the study aimed to compare the organization of the Primary Healthcare from both regions, searching to identify the advancement which in terms of the Delivery Health Networks' coordination. It is a case study with qualitative approach and assessment dimensions. It was used material available online such as scientific manuscripts and gray literature. The results showed the different grades regarding Delivery Health Networks. Lisboa region present more advancement, because of its historic issues, it has implemented Primary Healthcare expanded and nowadays it achieved enough maturity related to coordination of its health local system and Rio de Janeiro suffers still influence from historic past regarding Primary Healthcare selective. The both regions has done strong bids in terms of electronic health records and telemedicine. After of the study, it is clearer the historic, cultural and politics and legal issue that determined the differences of the Primary Healthcare coordinator of the Delivery Health Network in Rio de Janeiro and Lisboa region.

Spatial analysis of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil (2006-2012).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil, and to identify spatial and space-time clusters for the risk of occurrence of these events. METHODS: This is a descriptive, ecological study that considered the hospitalizations records of the Hospital Information System of residents of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Southeastern Brazil, from 2006 to 2012. Only the cases with recorded addresses were considered for the spatial analyses, and they were also geocoded. We resorted to Kernel density estimation to identify the densest areas, local empirical Bayes rate as the method for smoothing the incidence rates of hospital admissions, and scan statistic for identifying clusters of risk. Softwares ArcGis 10.2, TerraView 4.2.2, and SaTScan™ were used in the analysis. RESULTS: We identified 169 hospitalizations due to tuberculosis. Most were of men (n = 134; 79.2%), averagely aged 48 years (SD = 16.2). The predominant clinical form was the pulmonary one, which was confirmed through a microscopic examination of expectorated sputum (n = 66; 39.0%). We geocoded 159 cases (94.0%). We observed a non-random spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis concentrated in the northern and western regions of the municipality. Through the scan statistic, three spatial clusters for risk of hospitalizations due to tuberculosis were identified, one of them in the northern region of the municipality (relative risk [RR] = 3.4; 95%CI 2.7-4,4); the second in the central region, where there is a prison unit (RR = 28.6; 95%CI 22.4-36.6); and the last one in the southern region, and area of protection for hospitalizations (RR = 0.2; 95%CI 0.2-0.3). We did not identify any space-time clusters. CONCLUSIONS: The investigation showed priority areas for the control and surveillance of tuberculosis, as well as the profile of the affected population, which shows important aspects to be considered in terms of management and organization of health care services targeting effectiveness in primary health care.

Pulmonary tuberculosis in São Luis, State of Maranhão, Brazil: space and space-time risk clusters for death (2008-2012).

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to identify space and space-time risk clusters for the occurrence of deaths in a priority city for the control of tuberculosis (TB) in the Brazilian Northeast. METHODS: Ecological research was undertaken in the City of São Luis/Maranhão. Cases were considered that resulted in deaths in the population living in the urban region of the city with pulmonary TB as the basic cause, between 2008 and 2012. To detect space and space-time clusters of deaths due to pulmonary TB in the census sectors, the spatial analysis scan technique was used. RESULTS: In total, 221 deaths by TB occurred, 193 of which were due to pulmonary TB. Approximately 95% of the cases (n=183) were geocoded. Two significant spatial clusters were identified, the first of which showed a mortality rate of 5.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants per year and a high relative risk of 3.87. The second spatial cluster showed a mortality rate of 0.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants per year and a low relative risk of 0.10. A significant cluster was observed in the space-time analysis between 11/01/2008 and 04/30/2011, with a mortality rate of 8.10 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants per year and a high relative risk (3.0). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of priority sites for the occurrence of deaths can support public management to reduce inequities in the access to health services and permit an optimization of the resources and teams in the control of pulmonary TB, providing support for specific strategies focused on the most vulnerable populations.

Factors associated with knowledge about tuberculosis and attitudes of relatives of patients with the disease in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the knowledge regarding tuberculosis among relatives of patients with tuberculosis and the possible factors associated with this event and also to conduct comparative analyses between groups of relatives with or with few knowledge regarding tuberculosis, considering their attitudes in both groups. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in which the sample was obtained through simple and randomized method. The data were collected by trained interviewers and validated tool. Logistic regression analyses were done using statistical software SPSS, version 22.0. RESULTS: Among the 110 subjects recruited for the study, 85 (87.5%) were women, and the mean age was 49 years. Regarding common symptoms of tuberculosis, 102 relatives (90.9%) pointed the chronic cough; regarding the knowledge about tuberculosis transmission modes, 100 (90.9%) of them pointed symptomatic respiratory as the probable infection source. The relatives also reported other tuberculosis transmission models: sharing of clothes (n = 87; 79.1%) and household utensils (n = 66; 60%); sexual relations (n = 50; 50%). Illiterate relatives (adjusted OR = 4.39; 95%CI 1.11 - 17.36), those who do not watch or watch little television (adjusted OR = 3.99; 95%CI 1.2 - 13.26), and also those who do not have the Internet access (adjusted OR = 5.01; 95%CI 1.29 - 19.38) were more likely to have low knowledge regarding tuberculosis. Regardless the group, with or without tuberculosis knowledge, the attitudes of both were satisfactory. CONCLUSION: There are evidences that social inequity is associated to the tuberculosis knowledge of patient relatives.

Quality of primary health care: an analysis of avoidable hospitalizations in a Minas Gerais county, Brazil.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of primary health care based on avoidable hospitalizations of men and women of all ages, from 2008 to 2012 in Alfenas County in the south of Minas Gerais state. This was an ecological study based on data from the Hospital Information System (HIS). The medical diagnoses selected for the study were pneumonia, diabetes mellitus and diseases of the circulatory system. There was a predominance of elderly males diagnosed with pneumonia, with an average hospital stay of five days. Admission rates for diseases of the circulatory system and diabetes mellitus tended to remain stable during the study period. While for pneumonia there was a tendency of growth that reached a plateau in early March 2009, bringing the average rate up from 2.01 to 3.51. The data suggest that primary health care is poorly organized to meet these diagnoses, particularly for pneumonia.

[Coordination of primary healthcare networks: semantic validation of an adapted instrument]. / Coordenação das redes de atenção à saúde pela atenção primária: validação semântica de um instrumento adaptado.

This cross-sectional study conducted a semantic validation of the instrument for evaluating the coordination of primary care networks, adapted to the evaluation checklist on the degree of integration of healthcare networks, considering each item's relevance, coherence, and comprehension by the study's reference population. The sample consisted of 56 healthcare professionals that work in the Family Health Strategy in Alfenas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The instrument has five dimensions and 78 items with Likert-type responses. The process involved three stages: evaluation and adaptation of the items by a group of experts, evaluation and suggestions for the items by 50 health professionals, and confirmation of the items by six health professionals. The instrument's items proved comprehensible for the reference population. The instrument can be a useful tool to back decision-making by policymakers in reorganizing local health systems.

[Primary Health Care in the coordination of health care networks: an integrative review]. / A atenção primária à saúde na coordenação das redes de atenção: uma revisão integrativa.

Health systems organized in health care networks and coordinated by Primary Health Care can contribute to an improvement in clinical quality with a positive impact on health outcomes and user satisfaction (by improving access and resolubility) and a reduction in the costs of local health systems. Thus, the scope of this paper is to analyze the scientific output about the evidence, potential, challenges and prospects of Primary Health Care in the coordination of Health Care Networks. To achieve this, the integrative review method was selected covering the period between 2000 and 2011. The databases selected were Medline (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System online), Lilacs (Latin American Literature in Health Sciences) and SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online). Eighteen articles fulfilled the selection criteria. It was seen that the potential impacts of primary care services supersede the inherent weaknesses. However, the results revealed the need for research with a higher level of classification of the scientific evidence about the role of Primary Healh Care in the coordination of Health Care Networks.

[Social stigma and the families of patients with tuberculosis: a study based on cluster and multiple correspondence analysis]. / Estigma social e as famílias de doentes com tuberculose: um estudo a partir das análises de agrupamento e de correspondência múltipla.

The social stigma associated with TB is a challenge facing management of the area of public health care. The aim of this study was to investigate the social stigma in families of patients with TB and identify the profile of those who are affected by the event in relation to socioeconomic and demographic conditions. It is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in 2011 in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil, with a sample of 110 individuals. The data were analyzed using the univariate descriptive technique and cluster and multiple correspondence assessment. The stigmatized groups tend to have lower scholarity, incipient access to the media and little understanding about TB, as opposed to those that have higher educational levels, continuous access to the media, consider themselves well informed and show proactive attitudes to deal with the disease. The identification of varied profiles highlights the need to develop health interventions to cater to the singularities of families with respect to the social stigma of the disease.

Patients' perceptions on the performance of a local health system to eliminate leprosy,Paraná State, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, leprosy has been listed among the health priorities since 2006, in a plan known as the "Pact for life" (Pacto pela Vida). It is the sole country on the American continent that has not reached the global goal of disease elimination. Local health systems face many challenges to achieve this global goal. The study aimed to investigate how patients perceive the local health system's performance to eliminate leprosy and whether these perceptions differ in terms of the patients' income. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Londrina, State of Paraná, Brazil. Interviews were performed with the leprosy patients. The local health system was assessed through a structured and adapted tool, considering the domains judged as good quality of health care. The authors used univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses. One hundred and nineteen patients were recruited for the study, 50.4% (60) of them were male, 54.0% (64) were between 42 and 65 years old and 66.3% (79) had finished elementary school. The results showed that patients used the Primary Health Care service near their place of residence but did not receive the leprosy diagnosis there. Important advances of this health system were verified for the elimination of leprosy, verifying protocols for good care delivery to the leprosy patients, but these services did not develop collective health actions and did not engage the patients' family members and community. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The patients' difficulty was observed to have access to the diagnosis and treatment at health services near their homes. Leprosy care is provided at the specialized level, where the patients strongly bond with the teams. The care process is individual, with limited perspectives of integration among the health services for the purpose of case management and social mobilization of the community to the leprosy problem.

Atenção Primária à Saúde na coordenação das Redes de Atenção à Saúde no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, e na região de Lisboa, Portugal / The role of Primary Healthcare in the coordination of Health Care Networks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Lisbon region, Portugal

Resumo Considerando a trajetória do Rio de Janeiro e da Região de Lisboa no que tange ao fortalecimento dos seus sistemas de saúde para alcance da saúde para todos e da equidade, propôs-se uma análise comparativa da organização da Atenção Primária à Saúde, buscando identificar os avanços desta em termos de coordenação das Redes de Atenção à Saúde. Trata-se de um estudo de caso, de orientação qualitativa e com dimensões avaliativas. Utilizou-se material disponível online, considerando artigos científicos e literatura cinza. Os resultados acenam para compassos diferentes no tocante às RAS, na região de Lisboa, com maior velocidade, até por questões históricas, foi implementado o modelo de APS abrangente e que hoje alcançou grau de maturidade suficiente no que tange à coordenação do seu sistema, enquanto o Rio de Janeiro sofre influências dos resquícios históricos de uma Atenção Primária à Saúde seletiva. O plano de carreira aparece como estratégia para fixação das equipes de saúde. As regiões têm feito apostas fortes nos prontuários eletrônicos e na telemedicina. Depois do estudo, ficam claras as questões históricas, culturais e políticas e jurídicas que acabam por determinar diferenças na APS coordenadora de RAS no Rio de Janeiro e na região de Lisboa.

Abstract Considering the trajectory of Rio de Janeiro e Lisboa region regarding strengths of the their health local systems to achieve health for all and equity, the study aimed to compare the organization of the Primary Healthcare from both regions, searching to identify the advancement which in terms of the Delivery Health Networks' coordination. It is a case study with qualitative approach and assessment dimensions. It was used material available online such as scientific manuscripts and gray literature. The results showed the different grades regarding Delivery Health Networks. Lisboa region present more advancement, because of its historic issues, it has implemented Primary Healthcare expanded and nowadays it achieved enough maturity related to coordination of its health local system and Rio de Janeiro suffers still influence from historic past regarding Primary Healthcare selective. The both regions has done strong bids in terms of electronic health records and telemedicine. After of the study, it is clearer the historic, cultural and politics and legal issue that determined the differences of the Primary Healthcare coordinator of the Delivery Health Network in Rio de Janeiro and Lisboa region.

Spatial analysis of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil (2006-2012) / Análise espacial das internações evitáveis por tuberculose em Ribeirão Preto, SP (2006-2012)

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil, and to identify spatial and space-time clusters for the risk of occurrence of these events. METHODS This is a descriptive, ecological study that considered the hospitalizations records of the Hospital Information System of residents of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Southeastern Brazil, from 2006 to 2012. Only the cases with recorded addresses were considered for the spatial analyses, and they were also geocoded. We resorted to Kernel density estimation to identify the densest areas, local empirical Bayes rate as the method for smoothing the incidence rates of hospital admissions, and scan statistic for identifying clusters of risk. Softwares ArcGis 10.2, TerraView 4.2.2, and SaTScanTM were used in the analysis. RESULTS We identified 169 hospitalizations due to tuberculosis. Most were of men (n = 134; 79.2%), averagely aged 48 years (SD = 16.2). The predominant clinical form was the pulmonary one, which was confirmed through a microscopic examination of expectorated sputum (n = 66; 39.0%). We geocoded 159 cases (94.0%). We observed a non-random spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis concentrated in the northern and western regions of the municipality. Through the scan statistic, three spatial clusters for risk of hospitalizations due to tuberculosis were identified, one of them in the northern region of the municipality (relative risk [RR] = 3.4; 95%CI 2.7-4,4); the second in the central region, where there is a prison unit (RR = 28.6; 95%CI 22.4-36.6); and the last one in the southern region, and area of protection for hospitalizations (RR = 0.2; 95%CI 0.2-0.3). We did not identify any space-time clusters. CONCLUSIONS The investigation showed priority areas for the control and surveillance of tuberculosis, as well as the profile of the affected population, which shows important aspects to be considered in terms of management and organization of health care services targeting effectiveness in primary health care.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Descrever a distribuição espacial dos casos de internações evitáveis por tuberculose no município de Ribeirão Preto, SP, e identificar aglomerados espaciais e espaço-temporais de risco para a ocorrência desses eventos. MÉTODOS Estudo descritivo e ecológico que considerou os registros de internações no Sistema de Informação Hospitalar dos residentes de Ribeirão Preto, SP, no período de 2006 a 2012. Para as análises espaciais foram considerados somente os casos com endereços registrados, sendo os mesmos geocodificados. Recorreu-se à estatística de densidade Kernel para identificar as áreas de maior densidade, taxa bayesiana empírica local como método de suavização das taxas de incidência de internações e estatística de varredura para identificação de aglomerados de risco. Para as análises foram utilizados os softwares ArcGis 10.2, TerraView 4.2.2 e SaTScanTM. RESULTADOS Foram identificadas 169 internações por tuberculose. A maioria das internações ocorreu com pessoas do sexo masculino (n = 134; 79,2%) com idade mediana de 48 anos (DP = 16,2). A forma clínica predominante foi a pulmonar, com confirmação por exame microscópico da expectoração (n = 66; 39,0%). Foram geocodificados 159 (94,0%) casos. Observou-se distribuição espacial não aleatória de internações evitáveis por tuberculose, concentradas nas regiões norte e oeste do município. Por meio da estatística de varredura, identificaram-se três aglomerados espaciais de risco para internações por tuberculose, um na região norte do município (risco relativo [RR] = 3,4; IC95% 2,7-4,4); o segundo, na região central, onde há uma unidade prisional (RR = 28,6; IC95% 22,4-36,6); e o último, na região sul, área de proteção para as internações (RR = 0,2; IC95% 0,2-0,3). Não foram identificados aglomerados espaço-temporais. CONCLUSÕES A investigação mostrou áreas prioritárias para o controle e vigilância da tuberculose e um perfil de população atingida, evidenciando aspectos importantes a serem considerados em termos de gestão e organização dos serviços de saúde com vistas à efetividade da Atenção Primária à Saúde.

Quality of primary health care: an analysis of avoidable hospitalizations in a Minas Gerais county, Brazil / Qualidade da atenção primária à saúde: uma análise segundo as internações evitáveis em um município de Minas Gerais, Brasil

The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of primary health care based on avoidable hospitalizations of men and women of all ages, from 2008 to 2012 in Alfenas County in the south of Minas Gerais state. This was an ecological study based on data from the Hospital Information System (HIS). The medical diagnoses selected for the study were pneumonia, diabetes mellitus and diseases of the circulatory system. There was a predominance of elderly males diagnosed with pneumonia, with an average hospital stay of five days. Admission rates for diseases of the circulatory system and diabetes mellitus tended to remain stable during the study period. While for pneumonia there was a tendency of growth that reached a plateau in early March 2009, bringing the average rate up from 2.01 to 3.51. The data suggest that primary health care is poorly organized to meet these diagnoses, particularly for pneumonia.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a qualidade da atenção primária à saúde, com base nas internações evitáveis, de homens e mulheres de todas as faixas etárias, no período de 2008 a 2012, em uma cidade do sul de Minas Gerais. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico realizado a partir dos dados do Sistema de Informação Hospitalar (SIH-SUS). Os diagnósticos médicos selecionados foram: pneumonia, diabetes mellitus e doenças do sistema circulatório. Houve predomínio de idosos, do sexo masculino, com diagnóstico de pneumonia, mediana do tempo de internação de cinco dias e aumento dos gastos com tais hospitalizações. A tendência da taxa de hospitalização para as doenças do sistema circulatório e diabetes mellitus manteve-se estável durante o período em estudo. Quanto à pneumonia, verificou-se uma tendência crescente, sendo encontrado um platô no início de março de 2009, que elevou a taxa média de 2,01 para 3,51. Os dados sugerem que a atenção primária à saúde está pouco organizada para atender a esses diagnósticos, principalmente no que se refere à pneumonia.

Factors associated with knowledge about tuberculosis and attitudes of relatives of patients with the disease in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil / Fatores associados ao conhecimento sobre tuberculose e atitudes das famílias de pacientes com a doença em Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo

To investigate the knowledge regarding tuberculosis among relatives of patients with tuberculosis and the possible factors associated with this event and also to conduct comparative analyses between groups of relatives with or with few knowledge regarding tuberculosis, considering their attitudes in both groups.

Investigar o conhecimento das famílias sobre tuberculose e os possíveis fatores associados a essa ocorrência, além de efetuar uma análise comparativa dos grupos de familiares com conhecimento ou com pouco conhecimento quanto às suas atitudes para com o paciente com tuberculose.

Pulmonary tuberculosis in São Luis, State of Maranhão, Brazil: space and space-time risk clusters for death (2008-2012)

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to identify space and space-time risk clusters for the occurrence of deaths in a priority city for the control of tuberculosis (TB) in the Brazilian Northeast. METHODS: Ecological research was undertaken in the City of São Luis/Maranhão. Cases were considered that resulted in deaths in the population living in the urban region of the city with pulmonary TB as the basic cause, between 2008 and 2012. To detect space and space-time clusters of deaths due to pulmonary TB in the census sectors, the spatial analysis scan technique was used. RESULTS: In total, 221 deaths by TB occurred, 193 of which were due to pulmonary TB. Approximately 95% of the cases (n=183) were geocoded. Two significant spatial clusters were identified, the first of which showed a mortality rate of 5.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants per year and a high relative risk of 3.87. The second spatial cluster showed a mortality rate of 0.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants per year and a low relative risk of 0.10. A significant cluster was observed in the space-time analysis between 11/01/2008 and 04/30/2011, with a mortality rate of 8.10 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants per year and a high relative risk (3.0). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of priority sites for the occurrence of deaths can support public management to reduce inequities in the access to health services and permit an optimization of the resources and teams in the control of pulmonary TB, providing support for specific strategies focused on the most vulnerable populations. .