Physical disabilities caused by leprosy in 100 million cohort in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy continues to be an important cause of physical disability in endemic countries such as Brazil. Knowledge of determinants of these events may lead to better control measures and targeted interventions to mitigate its impact on affected individuals. This study investigated such factors among the most vulnerable portion of the Brazilian population. METHODS: A large cohort was built from secondary data originated from a national registry of applicants to social benefit programs, covering the period 2001-2015, including over 114 million individuals. Data were linked to the leprosy notification system utilizing data from 2007 until 2014. Descriptive and bivariate analyses lead to a multivariate analysis using a multinomial logistic regression model with cluster-robust standard errors. Associations were reported as Odds Ratios with their respective 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Among the original cohort members 21,565 new leprosy cases were identified between 2007 and 2014. Most of the cases (63.1%) had grade zero disability. Grades 1 and 2 represented 21 and 6%, respectively. Factors associated with increasing odds of grades 1 and 2 disability were age over 15 years old (ORs 2.39 and 1.95, respectively), less schooling (with a clear dose response effect) and being a multibacillary patient (ORs 3.5 and 8.22). Protective factors for both grades were being female (ORs 0.81 and 0.61) and living in a high incidence municipality (ORs 0.85 and 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the developing of physical disabilities remains a public health problem which increases the burden of leprosy, mainly for those with severe clinical features and worse socioeconomic conditions. Early diagnosis is paramount to decrease the incidence of leprosy-related disability and our study points to the need for strengthening control actions in non-endemic areas in Brazil, where cases may be missed when presented at early stages in disease. Both actions are needed, to benefit patients and to achieve the WHO goal in reducing physical disabilities among new cases of leprosy.

The association between a conditional cash transfer programme and malaria incidence: a longitudinal ecological study in the Brazilian Amazon between 2004 and 2015.

BACKGROUND: Malaria causes 400 thousand deaths worldwide annually. In 2018, 25% (187,693) of the total malaria cases in the Americas were in Brazil, with nearly all (99%) Brazilian cases in the Amazon region. The Bolsa Família Programme (BFP) is a conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme launched in 2003 to reduce poverty and has led to improvements in health outcomes. CCT programmes may reduce the burden of malaria by alleviating poverty and by promoting access to healthcare, however this relationship is underexplored. This study investigated the association between BFP coverage and malaria incidence in Brazil. METHODS: A longitudinal panel study was conducted of 807 municipalities in the Brazilian Amazon between 2004 and 2015. Negative binomial regression models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic covariates and time trends were employed with fixed effects specifications. RESULTS: A one percentage point increase in municipal BFP coverage was associated with a 0.3% decrease in the incidence of malaria (RR = 0.997; 95% CI = 0.994-0.998). The average municipal BFP coverage increased 24 percentage points over the period 2004-2015 corresponding to be a reduction of 7.2% in the malaria incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Higher coverage of the BFP was associated with a reduction in the incidence of malaria. CCT programmes should be encouraged in endemic regions for malaria in order to mitigate the impact of disease and poverty itself in these settings.

Conditional Cash Transfer Program and Leprosy Incidence: Analysis of 12.9 Million Families From the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort.

Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease predominately affecting poor and marginalized populations. To test the hypothesis that poverty-alleviating policies might be associated with reduced leprosy incidence, we evaluated the association between the Brazilian Bolsa Familia (BFP) conditional cash transfer program and new leprosy case detection using linked records from 12,949,730 families in the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort (2007-2014). After propensity score matching BFP beneficiary to nonbeneficiary families, we used Mantel-Haenszel tests and Poisson regressions to estimate incidence rate ratios for new leprosy case detection and secondary endpoints related to operational classification and leprosy-associated disabilities at diagnosis. Overall, cumulative leprosy incidence was 17.4/100,000 person-years at risk (95% CI: 17.1, 17.7) and markedly higher in "priority" (high-burden) versus "nonpriority" (low-burden) municipalities (22.8/100,000 person-years at risk, 95% confidence interval (CI): 22.2, 23.3, compared with 14.3/100,000 person-years at risk, 95% CI: 14.0, 14.7). After matching, BFP participation was not associated with leprosy incidence overall (incidence rate ratio (IRR)Poisson = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.04) but was associated with lower leprosy incidence when restricted to families living in high-burden municipalities (IRRPoisson = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77, 0.96). In high-burden municipalities, the association was particularly pronounced for paucibacillary cases (IRRPoisson = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.98) and cases with leprosy-associated disabilities (IRRPoisson = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.97). These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that social policies might contribute to ongoing leprosy control efforts in high-burden communities.

Therapeutic itineraries of quilombola adults for oral health care in a rural district of Bahia, Brazil. / Itinerários terapêuticos para cuidados em saúde bucal de adultos quilombolas de um distrito rural da Bahia, Brasil.

This study examined the oral health-related therapeutic itineraries of quilombola adults in a rural district of Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. This qualitative study involved ten semi-structured interviews of adult members of the quilombola community, in May 2021, which were then transcribed and analysed using content analysis. The results showed little or poor oral hygiene at some stage of life, especially in childhood and adolescence, the use of popular oral health care practices, and experiences of professional care featuring tooth extraction. Use of health services was mostly reported only in the period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses as to perceived ease of access to health services in the community varied. One common complaint as to satisfaction with oral health was the need to use or replace dental prostheses. This study concluded that oral health must be promoted jointly with disease prevention, dental rehabilitation and recognition for the knowledge and worldview of the quilombola population.

O estudo analisou os itinerários terapêuticos relacionados à saúde bucal de adultos quilombolas de um distrito rural de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, na qual foram realizadas dez entrevistas semiestruturadas com adultos quilombolas em maio de 2021, transcritas e analisadas por meio da análise de conteúdo. Os resultados evidenciaram ausência e/ou precariedade na higiene bucal em alguma fase da vida, especialmente infância e adolescência; utilização de práticas populares para cuidado a saúde bucal e experiências de cuidado profissional marcados pela exodontia. A utilização de serviços de saúde foi relatada, em sua maioria, apenas no período anterior à pandemia de COVID-19, os entrevistados divergiram quanto à percepção de facilidade do acesso aos serviços de saúde em sua comunidade. Os relatos sobre a satisfação da saúde bucal destacaram a necessidade de uso ou substituição de próteses dentárias. À guisa de conclusão, entende-se que é necessária a promoção de saúde bucal de forma articulada com ações que possibilitem a prevenção de agravos, a reabilitação odontológica e a valorização do conhecimento e da visão de mundo da população quilombola.

Vulnerability to loss of follow-up and death due to tuberculosis among homeless individuals in Brazil: a retrospective cohort study. / Vulnerabilidade à perda de seguimento e ao óbito por tuberculose nas pessoas em situação de rua no Brasil: um estudo de coorte retrospectiva.

This retrospective cohort study identified factors associated with loss of follow-up and death due to tuberculosis (TB) in the homeless population (HP) in Brazil, estimating odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) by multinomial logistic regression. A total of 3,831 TB cases in this population were analyzed, of which 57.0% had unfavorable outcomes. Loss of follow-up was associated with: history of abandonment (OR=2.38; 95%CI 2.05-2.77), unknown HIV serology (OR=1.79; 95%CI 1.38-2.32), HIV coinfection (OR=1.73; 95%CI 1.46-2.06), drug use (OR=1.54; 95%CI 1.31-1.80), age (OR=0.98; 95%CI 0.97-0.99), mixed clinical form (OR=0.64; 95%CI 0.42-0.97), extrapulmonary form (OR=0.46; 95%CI 0.29-0.73), government beneficiary (OR=0.64; 95%CI 0.50-0.81), and supervised treatment (OR=0.52; 95%CI 0.45-0.60). Regarding death, the following were associated: age (OR=1.03; 95%CI 1.01-1.05), unknown HIV serology (OR=2.39; 95%CI 1.48-3.86), alcohol consumption (OR=1.81; 95%CI 1.27-2.58), and supervised treatment (OR=0.70; 95%CI 0.51-0.96). Overlapping vulnerabilities in the health-disease process of homeless individuals with TB were observed, requiring comprehensive and cross-sectoral care practices.

Esta coorte retrospectiva identificou os fatores associados à perda de seguimento e ao óbito por tuberculose na população em situação de rua no Brasil, estimando-se as odds ratios (OR) e seus intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) por regressão logística multinominal. Analisaram-se 3.831 casos de tuberculose nessa população, dos quais 57,0% tiveram desfechos desfavoráveis. Associaram-se à perda de seguimento: histórico de abandono (OR=2,38; IC95% 2,05-2,77), desconhecimento da sorologia do HIV (OR=1,79; IC95% 1,38-2,32) e coinfecção com HIV (OR=1,73; IC95% 1,46-2,06), uso de drogas (OR=1,54; IC95% 1,31-1,80), idade (OR=0,98; IC95% 0,97-0,99), forma clínica mista (OR=0,64; IC95% 0,42-0,97) e extrapulmonar (OR=0,46; IC95% 0,29-0,73), auxílio de programa governamental (OR=0,64; IC95% 0,50-0,81) e tratamento supervisionado (OR=0,52; IC95% 0,45-0,60). Em relação ao óbito, associaram-se: idade (OR=1,03; IC95% 1,01-1,05), desconhecimento da sorologia do HIV (OR=2,39; IC95% 1,48-3,86), uso de álcool (OR=1,81; IC95% 1,27-2,58) e tratamento supervisionado (OR=0,70; IC95% 0,51-0,96). Percebeu-se a sobreposição de vulnerabilidades no processo saúde-doença das pessoas em situação de rua com tuberculose, demandando práticas cuidativas intersetoriais e integrais.

Association between racial iniquities and oral health status: a systematic review. / Associação entre iniquidades raciais e condição de saúde bucal: revisão sistemática.

The present study aimed to investigate the association between racial iniquities and oral health status. This is a systematic review with a protocol registered on the Prospero Platform (CRD42021228417), with searches carried out in electronic databases and in gray literature. Our study identified 3,028 publications. After applying the eligibility criteria and risk of bias analysis, 18 studies were selected. The results indicate that individuals of black/brown race/skin color have unfavorable oral health conditions, mainly represented by self-rated oral health, tooth loss, caries, and periodontitis. The results showed racial iniquities in oral health in different countries, for all analyzed indicators, with a greater vulnerability of the black population.

O objetivo deste estudo é investigar a associação entre iniquidades raciais e condição de saúde bucal. Trata-se de revisão sistemática com protocolo cadastrado na plataforma prospero (CRD42021228417), com buscas realizadas em bases de dados eletrônicas e na literatura cinzenta. Identificou-se 3.028 publicações e após aplicação dos critérios de elegibilidade e análise do risco de vieses, 18 estudos foram selecionados. Os resultados indicam que indivíduos de raça/cor da pele preta/parda apresentam condições de saúde bucal desfavorável, representada principalmente pela autoavaliação de saúde bucal, perda dentária, cárie e periodontite. Os resultados evidenciaram iniquidades raciais em saúde bucal em diferentes países, para todos os indicadores analisados, com maior vulnerabilidade da população negra.

Factors associated with unsuccessful tuberculosis treatment among homeless persons in Brazil: A retrospective cohort study from 2015 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and a curable disease. In Brazil, TB treatment outcomes are particularly worse among homeless populations who are either of black race, malnourished or living with HIV/AIDS and other comorbidities. This study therefore evaluated factors associated with unsuccessful TB treatment among homeless population (HP) compared to those with shelter. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The study population was composed of 284,874 people diagnosed with TB in Brazil between 2015 and 2020 and reported in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN), among which 7,749 (2.72%) were homeless and 277,125 (97.28%) were sheltered. Cox regression analysis was performed with both populations to identify factors associated with unsuccessful TB treatment, and significant predictors of TB treatment outcomes. Results show that HP are more susceptible to unfavorable outcomes when compared to sheltered people (Hazard Ratio (HR): 2.04, 95% CI 1.82-2.28). Among the HP, illicit drug use (HR: 1.38, 95% CI 1.09-1.74), mental disorders (HR: 2.12, 95% CI 1.08-4.15) and not receiving directed observed treatment (DOT) (HR: 18.37, 95% CI 12.23-27.58) are significant predictors of poor treatment outcomes. The use of illicit drugs (HR: 1.53, 95% CI 1.21-1.93) and lack of DOT (HR: 17.97, 95% CI 11.71-27.59) are associated with loss to follow-up, while lack of DOT (HR: 15.66, 95% CI 4.79-51.15) was associated with mortality among TB patients. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Homeless population living in Brazil are twice at risk of having an unsuccessful treatment, compared to those who are sheltered, with illicit drugs use, mental disorders and lack of DOT as risk factors for unsuccessful TB outcomes. Our findings reinforce the arguments for an intersectoral and integral approach to address these determinants of health among the vulnerable homeless populations.

Hypertension in Quilombola children and adolescents.

ABSTRACT: To determine the prevalence of prehypertension (PH) and hypertension (AH) in quilombola children and adolescents, as well as to analyze sociodemographic, behavioral, and health characteristics.Prevalence study conducted in random samples of quilombola children and adolescents from 06 to 19 years of age, in remaining quilombo communities in Cachoeira-Bahia. Identification, sociodemographic, behavioral, anthropometric, and blood pressure (BP) data were used. Descriptive analyses of the variables of interest were performed based on absolute (N) and included frequencies (percentage, prevalence). Pearson's Chi-square (χ2) and Fisher Exact tests determined possible differences.Of the 668 participants, 54.3% were children, 51.2% were male, and 29.4% presented alterations in BP. PH and AH were found in 12.7% and 14.3% of the children, respectively; for adolescents, these values were 12.5% and 15.4%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between the prevalence of AH in the 2 population groups, nor between the PH measurements. Most families reported a low socioeconomic status. Among children, 6.6% were underweight, 14.6% were overweight, 10.7% were obese, 12.7% presented a Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) > 0.5; 70.1% were inactive and 88.4% had a sedentary lifestyle; 5.6% of the adolescents were underweight, 12.8% were overweight, 9.2% were obese, 11.5% presented a WHtR > 0.5; 78% were inactive and 92.1% had a sedentary lifestyle. Normotensive children and adolescents, and those with alterations in BP differed only in terms of the Body Mass Index (P = .007) and WHtR (P < .001). The consumption of unhealthy foods was high.The high prevalence of PH and AH, as well as of exposure to potential risk factors for AH in quilombola children and adolescents, reveals a worrisome situation, and demands further studies to identify risk factors for this disease and the need for interventions beyond the health sector, especially as regards disease prevention and control in the early stages of life, aiming to reduce its prevalence as adults.

Performance evaluation of tuberculosis control in Brazilian municipalities.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of tuberculosis control in Brazilian municipalities. METHODS: This is an ecological study on Brazilian municipalities that notified at least four new cases of tuberculosis, with a minimum of one new case of pulmonary tuberculosis between 2015 and 2018. The municipalities were stratified according to the population in < 50 thousand, 50-100 thousand, 100-300 thousand, and > 300 thousand inhabitants, and the k-means method was used to group them within each population range according to the performance of six indicators of the disease. RESULTS: A total of 2,845 Brazilian municipalities were included, comprising 98.5% (208,007/211,174) of new tuberculosis cases in the period. For each population range, three groups (A, B, and C) of municipalities were identified according to the performance of the indicators: A, the most satisfactory; B, the intermediates; and C, the least satisfactory. Municipalities in group A with < 100 thousand inhabitants presented results above the targets for laboratory confirmation (≥ 72%), abandonment (≤ 5%), and cure (≥ 90%), and comprised 2% of new cases of the disease. Conversely, municipalities of groups B and C presented at least five indicators with results below the targets - HIV testing (< 100%), contact investigation (< 90%), directly observed therapy (< 90%), abandonment (> 5%), and cure (< 90%) -, and corresponded to 66.7% of new cases of tuberculosis. In group C of municipalities with > 300 thousand inhabitants, which included 19 of the 27 capitals and 43.1% of new cases of tuberculosis, the lowest percentages of contact investigation (mean = 56.4%) and directly observed therapy (mean = 15.4%) were verified, in addition to high abandonment (mean = 13.9%) and low coverage of primary health care (mean = 66.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Most new cases of tuberculosis occurred in municipalities with unsatisfactory performance for disease control. Expanding the coverage of primary health care in these places can reduce abandonment and increase the contact investigation and directly observed therapy.

Street people in Brazil: a descriptive study of their sociodemographic profile and tuberculosis morbidity, 2014-2019. / População em situação de rua no Brasil: estudo descritivo sobre o perfil sociodemográfico e da morbidade por tuberculose, 2014-2019.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the sociodemographic profile of street people (SP) registered on the Single Register for Social Programs (CadÚnico) as at 2019 and tuberculosis morbidity in this population notified on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (Sinan) from 2014 to 2018. METHODS: This was a descriptive study carried out with data from Sinan and CadÚnico. RESULTS: 127,536 people registered on CadÚnico and 14,059 with tuberculosis notified on Sinan were included in the study. Higher concentrations of SP were found in the states of the South and Southeast regions. In the two subpopulations analyzed, there was a predominance of male SP (CadÚnico = 86.8%; Sinan = 80.9%), people of Black race/skin color (CadÚnico = 67.5%; Sinan = 64.1%) and with incomplete high school education or less (CadÚnico = 81.9%; Sinan = 60.1%). The high treatment dropout proportion (39.0%) was reflected in the high percentage of reentry and relapse. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis continues to be a serious Public Health problem that aggravates survival conditions on the streets of Brazil.

Epidemiological characteristics and temporal trends of new leprosy cases in Brazil: 2006 to 2017.

Our study aims to describe trends in new case detection rate (NCDR) of leprosy in Brazil from 2006 to 2017 overall and in subgroups, and to analyze the evolution of clinical and treatment characteristics of patients, with emphasis on cases diagnosed with grade 2 physical disabilities. We conducted a descriptive study to analyze new cases of leprosy registered in the Brazilian Information System for Notificable Diseases (SINAN), from 2006-2017. We calculated the leprosy NCDR per 100,000 inhabitants (overall and for individuals aged < 15 and ≥ 15 years) by sex, age, race/ethnicity, urban/rural areas, and Brazilian regions, and estimated the trends using the Mann-Kendall non-parametric test. We analyzed the distributions of cases according to relevant clinical characteristics over time. In Brazil, there was a sharp decrease in the overall NCDR from 23.4/100,000 in 2006 to 10.3/100,000 in 2017; among children < 15 years, from 6.94 to 3.20/100,000. The decline was consistent in all Brazilian regions and race/ethnicity categories. By 2017, 70.2% of the cases were multibacillary, 30.5% had grade 1 (G1D) or 2 (G2D) physical disabilities at diagnosis and 42.8% were not evaluated at treatment completion/discharge; cases with G2D at diagnosis were mostly detected in urban areas (80%) and 5% of cases died during the treatment (leprosy or other causes). Although the frequency of leprosy NCDR decreased in Brazil from 2006 to 2017 across all evaluated population groups, the large number of cases with multibacillary leprosy, physical disabilities or without adequate evaluation, and among children suggest the need to reinforce timely diagnosis and treatment to control leprosy in Brazil.

Correction: Geographic and socioeconomic factors associated with leprosy treatment default: An analysis from the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007714.].

Medicinal plants and people with tuberculosis: description of care practices in Northern Bahia, 2017. / Plantas medicinais e pessoas com tuberculose: descrição de práticas de cuidado no norte da Bahia, 2017.

OBJECTIVE: To describe medicinal plants used by people with tuberculosis (TB) in municipalities in Northern Bahia, in 2017. METHODS: A descriptive study was carried out with primary data on medicinal plants used by people with TB ≥18 years old, presented according to botanical nomenclature and frequency of consumption. RESULTS: Of the 80 people interviewed, 50 reported consuming some kind of medicinal plant; these were mainly male (34), ≥47 years old (22), of brown/black skin color (34), with up to complete primary education (25), married (26), not economically active (30), earning up to BRL 300/month (26), with coughs (33) and with no previous history of TB (44). Two species stood out in the citations, Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (worm-seed: 23 citations), and Solanum capsicoides All. (cockroach berry: 17 citations). CONCLUSION: There was widespread use of medicinal plants as a TB care practice in six municipalities in Northern Bahia.

Incidence of and Factors Associated With Leprosy Among Household Contacts of Patients With Leprosy in Brazil.

Importance: Despite progress toward reducing global incidence, leprosy control remains a challenge in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To estimate new case detection rates of leprosy among household contacts of patients with previously diagnosed leprosy and to investigate its associated risk factors. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study included families registered in the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort linked with nationwide registries of leprosy; data were collected from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2014. Household contacts of patients with a previous diagnosis of leprosy from each household unit were followed up from the time of detection of the primary case to the time of detection of a subsequent case or until December 31, 2014. Data analysis was performed from May to December 2018. Exposures: Clinical characteristics of the primary case and sociodemographic factors of the household contact. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incidence of leprosy, estimated as the new case detection rate of leprosy per 100 000 household contacts at risk (person-years at risk). The association between occurrence of a subsequent leprosy case and the exposure risk factors was assessed using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regressions allowing for state- and household-specific random effects. Results: Among 42 725 household contacts (22 449 [52.5%] female; mean [SD] age, 22.4 [18.5] years) of 17 876 patients detected with leprosy, the new case detection rate of leprosy was 636.3 (95% CI, 594.4-681.1) per 100 000 person-years at risk overall and 521.9 (95% CI, 466.3-584.1) per 100 000 person-years at risk among children younger than 15 years. Household contacts of patients with multibacillary leprosy had higher odds of developing leprosy (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% CI, 1.17-1.88), and the odds increased among contacts aged 50 years or older (adjusted OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 2.03-4.76). Leprosy detection was negatively associated with illiterate or preschool educational level (adjusted OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38-0.92). For children, the odds were increased among boys (adjusted OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.20-2.42). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings in this Brazilian population-based cohort study suggest that the household contacts of patients with leprosy may have increased risk of leprosy, especially in households with existing multibacillary cases and older contacts. Public health interventions, such as contact screening, that specifically target this population appear to be needed.

Association between treatment outcome, sociodemographic characteristics and social benefits received by individuals with tuberculosis in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 2014-2016. / Associação entre desfecho do tratamento, características sociodemográficas e benefícios sociais recebidos por indivíduos com tuberculose em Salvador, Bahia, 2014-2016.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze association between tuberculosis treatment outcome, sociodemographic characteristics and receipt of social benefits. METHODS: this was a cohort study conducted in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, in the period 2014-2016; we analyzed bivariate associations between treatment outcome, sociodemographic characteristics and social benefits. RESULTS: 216 individuals were followed, of whom 79.6% were cured; higher cure proportion was associated with schooling >9 years (87.5%; p=0.028), marital union (86.3%; p=0.031), and household density ≤2 individuals/bedroom (84.1%; p=0.013); we took as our reference individuals with schooling ≤9 years, not in marital union, and housing density >2 people/bedroom; higher cure proportion was also found among recipients of government and non-government benefits (90.5%), and among those who only received direct benefits (81.6%). CONCLUSION: schooling >9 years, marital union, and household density ≤2 individuals/bedroom were associated with higher cure; this outcome was more frequent among individuals receiving government and non-government benefits, and among individuals receiving only direct benefits.

Itinerários terapêuticos para cuidados em saúde bucal de adultos quilombolas de um distrito rural da Bahia, Brasil / Therapeutic itineraries of quilombola adults for oral health care in a rural district of Bahia, Brazil

Resumo O estudo analisou os itinerários terapêuticos relacionados à saúde bucal de adultos quilombolas de um distrito rural de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, na qual foram realizadas dez entrevistas semiestruturadas com adultos quilombolas em maio de 2021, transcritas e analisadas por meio da análise de conteúdo. Os resultados evidenciaram ausência e/ou precariedade na higiene bucal em alguma fase da vida, especialmente infância e adolescência; utilização de práticas populares para cuidado a saúde bucal e experiências de cuidado profissional marcados pela exodontia. A utilização de serviços de saúde foi relatada, em sua maioria, apenas no período anterior à pandemia de COVID-19, os entrevistados divergiram quanto à percepção de facilidade do acesso aos serviços de saúde em sua comunidade. Os relatos sobre a satisfação da saúde bucal destacaram a necessidade de uso ou substituição de próteses dentárias. À guisa de conclusão, entende-se que é necessária a promoção de saúde bucal de forma articulada com ações que possibilitem a prevenção de agravos, a reabilitação odontológica e a valorização do conhecimento e da visão de mundo da população quilombola.

Abstract This study examined the oral health-related therapeutic itineraries of quilombola adults in a rural district of Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. This qualitative study involved ten semi-structured interviews of adult members of the quilombola community, in May 2021, which were then transcribed and analysed using content analysis. The results showed little or poor oral hygiene at some stage of life, especially in childhood and adolescence, the use of popular oral health care practices, and experiences of professional care featuring tooth extraction. Use of health services was mostly reported only in the period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses as to perceived ease of access to health services in the community varied. One common complaint as to satisfaction with oral health was the need to use or replace dental prostheses. This study concluded that oral health must be promoted jointly with disease prevention, dental rehabilitation and recognition for the knowledge and worldview of the quilombola population.

Associação entre iniquidades raciais e condição de saúde bucal: revisão sistemática / Association between racial iniquities and oral health status: a systematic review

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo é investigar a associação entre iniquidades raciais e condição de saúde bucal. Trata-se de revisão sistemática com protocolo cadastrado na plataforma prospero (CRD42021228417), com buscas realizadas em bases de dados eletrônicas e na literatura cinzenta. Identificou-se 3.028 publicações e após aplicação dos critérios de elegibilidade e análise do risco de vieses, 18 estudos foram selecionados. Os resultados indicam que indivíduos de raça/cor da pele preta/parda apresentam condições de saúde bucal desfavorável, representada principalmente pela autoavaliação de saúde bucal, perda dentária, cárie e periodontite. Os resultados evidenciaram iniquidades raciais em saúde bucal em diferentes países, para todos os indicadores analisados, com maior vulnerabilidade da população negra.

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the association between racial iniquities and oral health status. This is a systematic review with a protocol registered on the Prospero Platform (CRD42021228417), with searches carried out in electronic databases and in gray literature. Our study identified 3,028 publications. After applying the eligibility criteria and risk of bias analysis, 18 studies were selected. The results indicate that individuals of black/brown race/skin color have unfavorable oral health conditions, mainly represented by self-rated oral health, tooth loss, caries, and periodontitis. The results showed racial iniquities in oral health in different countries, for all analyzed indicators, with a greater vulnerability of the black population.

Socioeconomic determinants of leprosy new case detection in the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort: a population-based linkage study.

BACKGROUND: Although leprosy is recognised as a disease of poverty, there is little evidence on the specific socioeconomic factors associated with disease risk. To inform targeted strategies for disease elimination, we investigated socioeconomic markers of leprosy risk in Brazil. METHODS: Socioeconomic data from the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort were linked to the Brazilian national disease registry (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação) for leprosy from Jan 1, 2007, to Dec 31, 2014. Using Poisson regression, we assessed the association of socioeconomic factors with risk of incident leprosy in the full cohort and in children (aged 0-15 years), by leprosy subtype and region of residence. FINDINGS: In an analysis of 23 899 942 individuals including 18 518 patients with leprosy, increased levels of deprivation were associated with an increased risk of leprosy in Brazil. Directions of effect were consistent in children younger than 15 years and across disease subtypes. Individuals residing in regions with the highest poverty in the country (central-west, north, and northeast regions) had a risk of leprosy incidence five-to-eight times greater than did other individuals. Decreased levels of income and education and factors reflecting unfavourable living conditions were associated with an up to two-times increase in leprosy incidence (incidence rate ratio 1·46, 95% CI 1·32-1·62, for lowest vs highest quartile of income per capita; 2·09, 95% CI 1·62-2·72, for lowest vs highest level of education). INTERPRETATION: Within the poorest half of the Brazilian population, the most deprived individuals have the greatest risk of leprosy. Strategies focusing on early detection and treatment in the poorest populations could contribute substantially to global disease control. FUNDING: Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Brazil), the Conselho Nacional das Fundações Estaduais de Amparo à Pesquisa, Economic and Social Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, and Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal.

Effects of social protection on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in low or middle-income and in high-burden countries: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a poverty infectious disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Evidences suggest that social protection strategies (SPS) can improve TB treatment outcomes. This study aimed to synthesize such evidences through systematic literature review and meta-analysis. We searched for studies conducted in low- or middle-income and in high TB-burden countries, published during 1995-2016. The review was performed by searching PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and LILACS. We included only studies that investigated the effects of SPS on TB treatment outcomes. We retained 25 studies for qualitative synthesis. Meta-analyses were performed with 9 randomized controlled trials, including a total of 1,687 participants. Pooled results showed that SPS was associated with TB treatment success (RR = 1.09; 95%CI: 1.03-1.14), cure of TB patients (RR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.01-1.22) and with reduction in risk of TB treatment default (RR = 0.63; 95%CI: 0.45-0.89). We did not detect effects of SPS on the outcomes treatment failure and death. These findings revealed that SPS might improve TB treatment outcomes in lower-middle-income economies or countries with high burden of this disease. However, the overall quality of evidences regarding these effect estimates is low and further well-conducted randomized studies are needed.

Leprosy in children under 15 years of age in Brazil: A systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease neglected, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, considered a public health problem because may cause permanent physical disabilities and deformities, leading to severe limitations. This review presents an overview of the results of epidemiological studies on leprosy occurrence in childhood in Brazil, aiming to alert health planners and managers to the actual need to institute special control strategies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Data collection consisted of an electronic search for publications in eight databases: Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), PuBMed, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), SciVerse Scopus (Scopus), CAPES theses database, CAPES journals database and Web of Science of papers published up to 2016. After apply selection criteria, twenty-two papers of studies conducted in four different regions of Brazil and published between 2001 and 2016 were included in the review. The leprosy detection rate ranged from 10.9 to 78.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. Despite affecting both sexes, leprosy was more common in boys and in 10-14-year-olds. Although the authors reported a high cure proportion (82-90%), between 1.7% and 5.5% of the individuals developed a disability resulting from the disease. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The findings of this review shows that leprosy situation in Brazilian children under 15 years is extremely adverse in that the leprosy detection rate remains high in the majority of studies. The proportion of cases involving disability is also high and reflects the difficulties and the poor effectiveness of actions aimed at controlling the disease. The authors suggest the development of studies in spatial clusters of leprosy, where beyond the routine actions established, are included news strategies of active search and campaigns and actions of educations inside the clusters of this disease. The new agenda needs to involve the precepts of ethical, humane and supportive care, in order to achieve a new level of leprosy control in Brazil.