Socio-demographic, clinical and health behavior correlates of sitting time in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Identifying correlates of sedentary behavior in older adults is of major importance to healthcare. To our knowledge, there are no population studies in Latin America examining which factors are associated to high sitting time in older adults. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify socio-demographic, clinical, and health behavior correlates of sitting time in a representative sample of older adults living in Southeastern Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in twenty-four municipalities of the Triangulo Mineiro region in the State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. A structured questionnaire was applied to obtain information on socio-demographic, clinical, and health behavior factors. Overall sitting time was assessed using a self-report instrument. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis was used to verify the association of sitting time with socio-demographic, clinical, and health behavior factors. RESULTS: 3,296 older adults (61.5% women and 38.5% men) were included in the analysis. The overall median was 240.0 minutes of sitting time/day. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis showed that the group with the highest sitting time presented the following characteristics: women, age greater than 70 years, unschooled status, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, use of medication, poor self-rated health, dependence in basic activities of daily living, and absence of regular physical activity. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that socio-demographic, clinical, and health behavior factors are associated with high sitting time in older adults from Southeastern Brazil. The results may help to identify older adults that should be targeted in interventions aiming at reducing sitting time.

[Performance evaluation of primary care services for the treatment of tuberculosis]. / Avaliação de desempenho de serviços da atenção básica para o tratamento da tuberculose.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the performance of primary care services for the treatment of tuberculosis according to the assessment referential of health services (structure/process) in Cabedelo, a port city in the state of Paraíba. METHOD: An evaluation quantitative, cross-sectional study, in which were carried out 117 interviews with health professionals using a structured instrument. The analysis was based on the construction of indicators using a standardized value for the reduced variable (z=1). RESULTS: The structural indicators showed regular performance for the following variables: professional training, access to record instruments and coordination with other services. The process indicators related to external actions and information about the disease had unsatisfactory performance. The directly observed treatment and the flows of reference/counter-reference had regular performance. CONCLUSION: The focused professional qualification, the fragmentation of practices and the unsystematic home care constitute obstacles for carrying out actions aimed at providing expanded, continuous and resolute care.



[Effectiveness in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Foz do Iguaçu, the triple-border area of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina]. / Efetividade no diagnóstico da tuberculose em Foz do Iguaçu, tríplice fronteira Brasil, Paraguai e Argentina.

This study sought to assess the effectiveness of health services in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Foz do Iguaçu-PR, the triple border region of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. In this epidemiologic, cross-sectional study, 101 persons with tuberculosis were interviewed in 2009 by using an instrument based on the Primary Care Assessment Tool . The analysis was based on proportions and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%) and means. Emergency units (37%) and primary health care units (26%) were the most sought units. Access to medical consultation on the same day reached 70%, but tuberculosis was suspected in less than 47% of patients; bacilloscopy was conducted in 50% of patients. We conclude that although these services provide rapid care, they do not determine the true diagnosis and lead the patient to seek specialized services. Specialty services are more effective in establishing the correct diagnosis. In the triple border region, seeking care at a primary health care unit led to extra time and more returns to the hospital for a tuberculosis diagnosis.

[Delays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in a town at the triple border of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina]. / Retardo no diagnóstico da tuberculose em município da tríplice fronteira Brasil, Paraguai e Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors linked to patients and health services in delays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. METHODS: Epidemiological study in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil, 2009. The Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted for appraising tuberculosis treatment, was the instrument used. Descriptive statistics techniques were used, such as frequency distributions, central tendency and dispersion measurements (median and interquartile intervals), and odds ratios. RESULTS: There were greater delays in seeking health services for those in the age group 60 years and older, for females, for patients with low levels of education, and for patients with poor knowledge of the disease. Clinical variables (being a new case and HIV infection) and behavioral variables (use of tobacco and alcohol consumption) were not linked with delays in diagnosis. The median time delays before diagnosis attributable to patients and to the health services were 30 days and 10 days, respectively. Emergency 24-hour medical services and primary health care services were not effective in identifying suspicious cases of tuberculosis and requesting tests to confirm the diagnosis, with a high percentage of referrals to the Tuberculosis Control Program clinic. CONCLUSIONS: Going to primary health care services for diagnosis increased the time before diagnosis of the disease was reached. The Tuberculosis Control Program clinic was more effective in diagnosis of tuberculosis, due to the training of the staff and to an organized process for receiving patients, including the availability of tests to support the diagnosis.

[Assessment of tuberculosis treatment accessibility for patients co-infected or not with the human immunodeficiency virus]. / Avaliação do acesso ao tratamento de tuberculose por coinfectados ou não pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana.

This study aimed to evaluate accessibility to treatment for people with TB co-infected or not with HIV. This cross-sectional study addressed issues regarding accessibility to treatment in a city in the interior of São Paulo state, Brazil. The instrument Primary Care Assessment Tool was utilized with 95 people. To evaluate access to treatment, Student's t test was used. The mean scores of variables were analyzed separately and compared between two groups (people with TB co-infected with HIV and people with TB not co-infected with HIV ). Mean scores showed that HIV co-infected people presented greater difficulties in gaining access than those not co-infected. Professionals visited co-infected people more often when compared to those not co-infected; the co-infected people almost never accessed treatment for their disease in the Health Unit nearest their home. There is, therefore, the need for greater integration and communication between the programs for treatment of Tuberculosis and STD/AIDS.

[The coordination of care for tuberculosis control]. / A coordenação da assistência no controle da tuberculose.

This descriptive epidemiological study analyzed the coordination of tuberculosis (TB) patient care in primary healthcare services according to 23 patients, 16 professionals, and 17 administrators from Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, using an instrument adapted to evaluate TB. According to the informants, the coordination of healthcare provided to patients under the treatment of the Tuberculosis Control Program team was considered satisfactory; however, when there is a need to refer the patient to other care units there are weak points in the coordination of healthcare, which include: interruption of communication flow; and patients' incipient participation in the care process, with a need to increase the sense of responsibility for patient care and encourage patients to become active agents in the process.

[Access to healthcare services for tuberculosis: analysis of patient satisfaction]. / Acesso aos serviços de atenção à tuberculose: análise da satisfação dos doentes.

Tuberculosis remains a pubic health challenge. Uncountable efforts are made to control the disease, and patient treatment and accessibility to healthcare can hinder reaching a cure. The objective of this article is to analyze the satisfaction of tuberculosis patients regarding tuberculosis control services. This is an epidemiological, prospective study, using both a quantitative and qualitative approach. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participants included 77 patients. The quantitative data were positively evaluated, and the qualitative data permitted an understanding of the patients' experience regarding their accessibility and treatment. Aspects such as the criteria for performing Directly Observed Treatment and the proximity of the healthcare facility to the patients' residence affected their satisfaction, which implies the need to reorganize healthcare services in order to provide more appropriate care to tuberculosis patients.

[The front door of the Ribeirão Preto health system for diagnosing tuberculosis]. / A porta de entrada para o diagnóstico da tuberculose no sistema de saúde de Ribeirão Preto/SP.

The first contact of TB (tuberculosis) patients with the health system occurs at the front door and is essential to access to diagnosis. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze patients' first contact with the health system for TB diagnosis in Ribeirão Preto. The study was based on an instrument of the Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted for TB care in Brazil. Structure interviews were conducted with 100 TB patients diagnosed between June 2006 and July 2007. Of all patients, 61% were referred to the diagnosis place and only 29% sought the service spontaneously; 66% sought for primary care services, and 34% for secondary and tertiary services. Public services diagnosed 89% of all cases, 44% of which were diagnosed in emergency services. A total 88% of patients were not from the area covered by the service. Although patients have sought for primary care services, close to their houses, the diagnosis occurred in secondary and tertiary health care.

[Financial challenges to access tuberculosis treatment in Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo]. / Barreiras econômicas na acessibilidade ao tratamento da tuberculose em Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo.

The objective of this study was to analyze the financial challenges that patients have to deal with to access the Tuberculosis (TB) Care Reference Centers in Ribeirão Preto. Adjustments were made to the Primary Care Assessment (PCAT) and an opinion poll was made with one-hundred patients following treatment and 16 health care professionals working at TB Reference Centers in Ribeirão Preto. Anova, Kruskall Wallis and chi-square tests were used. Most patients were males and most health care professionals were female. Differences were found between Centers C and A, in that Center C (p=0.028) offers a bus pass, and in A (p=0.010) patients paid for their own transportation. The indicator medical appointment in 24 hours showed a satisfactory level. There were disagreements between the reports from patients and health professionals as to the center offering the bus pass. Patients face challenges in their treatment, such as costs with transportation or being late for work, which result in losses in the family income.

Tuberculosis control: patient perception regarding orientation for the community and community participation.

To evaluate, from the patient's perspective, actions of orientation for the community and community participation carried out in tuberculosis control in health services in Ribeirão Preto-SP. This was an evaluative quantitative exploratory study which used part of the Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted and validated for tuberculosis care, applied through interview, with 100 patients. Indicators of the instrument and analysis of variance were used. The realization of social partnerships for delivery of the sputum pot together with the community, the delivery of the sputum pot to the community by professionals, and the participation of the community to discuss the problem of tuberculosis were identified, 5%, 6% and 5%, respectively. The health services with fewer patients in treatment showed the best indicators. The actions of social partnerships, searching for respiratory symptomatics in the community and community participation in tuberculosis control are poorly incorporated by health services.

Predictors of favorable results in pulmonary tuberculosis treatment (Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, 2001-2004).

Based on data available in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, predictive factors of favorable results were identified in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, diagnosed between 2001 and 2004 and living in Recife-PE, Brazil. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression methods were used. In multivariate analysis, the following factors remained: Age (years), 0 to 9 (OR = 4.27; p = 0.001) and 10 to 19 (OR = 1.78; p = 0.011), greater chance of cure than over 60; Education (years), 8 to 11 (OR = 1.52; p = 0.049), greater chance of cure than no education; Type of entry, ne wcase s (OR = 3.31; p < 0.001) and relapse (OR = 3.32; p < 0.001), greater chances of cure than restart after abandonment; Time (months) 2, 5--6 (OR = 9.15; p < 0.001); 6--9 (OR = 27.28; p < 0.001) and More than 9 (OR = 24.78; p < 0.001), greater chances of cure than less than 5; Health Unit District, DSII (OR = 1.60; p = 0.018) and DSIIV (OR = 2.87; p < 0.001), greater chance sof cure than DS II.

Temporal evolution and characterization of congenital syphilis cases in Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2007-2015. / Evolução temporal e caracterização dos casos de sífilis congênita em Minas Gerais, Brasil, 2007-2015.

The objective was to analyze the temporal trend of the incidence of congenital syphilis (CS) and to characterize the disease in the state of Minas Gerais (MG) between 2007 and 2015. Quantitative study, of a time series analysis, with the database from the Information System of Diseases Notification, referring to cases of CS reported in MG between 2007 and 2015. It was used descriptive statistics, calculation of the incidence rate of CS and polynomial regression model for temporal trend analysis. The results showed that in the period 4,381 cases were registered. The incidence rate ranged from 0.61 to 5.08 per 1,000 live births (LB),with an increase in the temporal trend of the CS incidence coefficient in the period from 2007 to 2015, with an annual rate variation of 30.6% (95% CI: 21.0 - 41.0). There was a predominance of brown-skinned newborns (38.7%), up to 6 days old (94.7%) and the majority (63.6%) did not present any suggestive manifestations of CS, but definitive diagnosis for recent CS (95.2%). The number of reported cases is increasing, suggesting that it is necessary, for improvement in the prenatal care, diagnosis, appropriate treatment, health care and notification.

Objetivou-se analisar a tendência temporal da incidência de sífilis congênita (SC) e caracterizar a doença no estado de Minas Gerais (MG) entre 2007 e 2015. Estudo quantitativo, de análise de série temporal, com banco de dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, referentes aos casos de SC notificados em MG entre 2007 e 2015. Utilizou-se estatística descritiva, cálculo da taxa de incidência de SC e modelo de regressão polinomial para análise de tendência temporal. Os resultados mostraram que no período registraram-se 4.381 casos. A taxa de incidência variou entre 0,61 e 5,08/1.000 nascidos vivos (NV), com incremento na tendência temporal do coeficiente de incidência da SC no período de 2007 a 2015, com variação anual da taxa de 30,6% (IC95%: 21,0 ­ 41,0). Houve predomínio de recém-nascidos de cor de pele parda (38,7%), faixa etária de até 6 dias de vida (94,7%) e a maioria (63,6%) não apresentou, em relação ao exame físico, qualquer manifestação sugestiva de SC, porém teve diagnóstico definitivo para SC recente (95,2%). O número de casos notificados é crescente, sugerindo que há uma necessidade de melhoria na assistência ao pré-natal, diagnóstico, tratamento adequado, ações de saúde e notificação.

Temporal trend of HIV/AIDS cases in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2007-2016. / Tendência temporal dos casos de HIV/aids no estado de Minas Gerais, 2007 a 2016.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the temporal trend of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) incidence, detection and mortality coefficients in the state of Minas Gerais between 2007 and 2016. METHODS: this was a time series study of data held on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (Sinan) using Prais-Winsten regression. RESULTS: in the period studied, 35,349 cases were notified, with predominance of sexually transmitted cases (81.7%), 50.3% of which were heterosexual cases and 22.8% were homosexual cases. AIDS incidence increased (annual change 1.6%; 95%CI 0.0;3.3) as did HIV detection (annual change 60.3%; 95%CI 22.9;109.0). The mortality rate was stationary; HIV+ notifications increased from 3.8% in 2007 to 65.1% in 2016. CONCLUSION: the growing trend of HIV+ detection coincided with the government strategy to identify cases. AIDS incidence increased.

Health services in tuberculosis control: family focus and community orientation.

This study aimed to assess, according to patients' perception, the performance of the Health Services responsible for tuberculosis (TB) control, concerning the dimensions family focus and community orientation. A cross-sectional evaluative research was carried out with 108 TB patients. A questionnaire developed by Starfield and Macinko was used, adapted for TB care by Villa and Ruffino-Netto. Results evidence, in the first dimension, that health professionals (HP) are concerned with patients' signs and symptoms; and, at a lower level, with other health problems of relatives, endangering the comprehensive healthcare. In the second dimension, HP show little concern with the active search of cases, deficiency in HP training, and low rates of examined contacts. Results show the need to broaden HP's epidemiological view, as their attention is focused on patients, with few preventive actions concerning family/community. This evidences the need for a closer relationship among HP/patients/family/community.

Characteristics of cases of tuberculosis coinfected with HIV in Minas Gerais State in 2016.

This study aimed to characterize the cases of tuberculosis (TB) co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, after the notification sheet modification, and to verify the association between the new variables and the treatment outcome. It is an analytical cross-sectional study with TB/HIV cases notified in the year 2016 to the Brazilian Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação). Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and multiple correspondence analysis were performed to verify the association between the outcome, ageand associated diseases. Of the 180 cases, most were male (75.6%) between 30 and 49 years old (63.3%), mixed ethnicity (black and white) (49.4%), 94.4% had the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and 60.6% had pulmonary TB. The molecular test was not performed at the time of diagnosis in 70.5% of the cases. Homeless people (4.4%) and prisoners (3.9%) featured prominently among the special populations. People between 40 and 49 years old without concurrent diseases were cured in 40.0% of the cases; 18.9% abandoned the treatment due to smoking, drug abuse and mental illness in the age group between 20 and 29 years old. The deaths were associated with the age group between 30 and 39 years old and the occurrence of AIDS. The results have shown that the groups considered vulnerable (drug users, smokers and people with mental illness) abandoned the treatment, the notification upon death from AIDS in adults was late and some treatments were inadequate. The epidemiological surveillance, prevention and assistance strategies towards cases of TB/HIV must be improved in order to achieve the goal of the Brazilian National Plan to end Tuberculosis as a Public Health Problem until 2035 in the state.

Aspects related to the outcomes of the treatment, in international borders, of cases of tuberculosis as associated to comorbidities.

OBJECTIVE: analyzing the aspects associated with case outcomes and the international border situation when it comes to patients with tuberculosis (TB) associated with comorbidities. METHOD: exploratory descriptive epidemiological study, analyzing all new cases of TB with comorbidities reported in 2013 on SISNAN in the cities at the border of the state of Paraná and Paraguay. The variables used were: sociodemographic, clinical and operational. To analyze the data, descriptive analysis and the chi-square test were applied. RESULTS: 227 cases of tuberculosis associated with comorbidities were reported and 70.9% were from cities bordering Paraguay. Alcoholism (22.0%) and AIDS (13.7%) were the most common comorbidities. The chi-square test presented a statistical association of border cities with negative outcomes and not performing directly observed treatments. CONCLUSION: Through the study, it was possible to find that the location of border cities can be determinant for a negative outcome.

HIV/AIDS case definition criteria and association between sociodemographic and clinical aspects of the disease reported in the State of Minas Gerais from 2007 to 2016.

INTRODUCTION: Over 30 years after the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic, several strategies have been implemented to verify the trend of the infection, the profile of the affected individuals, and the impact of prevention and control measures, with notification of asymptomatic carriers being the most recent measure. This study aimed to verify the geographic distribution of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and analyze the association between case definition criteria, sociodemographic data, and clinical aspects of the disease in the State of Minas Gerais between 2007 and 2016. METHODS: In this ecological and analytical study, 35,349 cases of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome reported in the State of Minas Gerais between 2007 and 2016 were analyzed. The data were analyzed using multiple correspondence factor analysis, time series analysis, descriptive statistics, and spatial distribution of the cases by macro-region. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were brown-skinned individuals, alive, diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome on the basis of the criteria adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and living in municipalities with more than 50,000 (80.5%) inhabitants. Between 2007 and 2016, there was an increase in the number of criteria used for diagnosing human immunodeficiency virus. By contrast, a consequent decrease was observed in the number of criteria used for defining cases, which were adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rio de Janeiro/Caracas, and for identifying AIDS-related deaths. Young people aged between 13 and 29 years, individuals whose education level is compatible with the observed age, and homosexual men were associated with the HIV+ criterion. CONCLUSIONS: Out study showed that after the mandatory notification of human immunodeficiency virus-positive cases in 2014, there was a decrease in other criteria for defining human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases and changes in the profile of people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity and associated factors in school children and adolescents in a medium-sized Brazilian city.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children and adolescents in a medium-sized Brazilian city. METHODS: In total, 1,125 children and adolescents between the ages of 5.6 and 18 years from public and private schools participated in the study. The sample included 681 girls and 444 boys. Each subject's weight and height were obtained according to Brazilian guidelines (SISVAN). The triceps (TSF), subscapular (SSF), biceps, suprailiac, femoral and calf skinfolds were measured in triplicate. Body mass index (BMI) was classified as the BMI percentile (BMIP) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 criteria. The percentage body fat (%BF) was obtained using the equations by Slaughter et al., 1998. Categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-squared test. RESULTS: Overall, 364 participants with excess weight were identified: 17.3% were overweight, and 15.0% were obese. Among the girls, 18.0% were overweight, and 12.5% were obese; among the boys, 15.3% were overweight, and 18.0% were obese. These prevalence rates were higher when the time spent watching TV or participating in media-related activities surpassed 5 hrs/day, when individuals belonged to a higher economic class and when the head of the family had a higher education level (≥12 years). CONCLUSION: It is important to emphasize the need to increase our understanding of factors associated with overweight and obesity, and it is essential to implement measures and policies aimed at reversing this trend, such as stimulating healthy eating habits and physical activity and reducing time spent watching TV and participating in other media activities, including video games and social networking.

[Access to diagnosis of tuberculosis in Brazilian medium-sized municipality]. / Acesso ao diagnóstico da tuberculose em município brasileiro de médio porte.

OBJETIVO: Evaluating access to tuberculosis diagnosis, from the perspective of patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 108 tuberculosis patients. Data were collected using the brazilian instrument Primary Care Assessment Tool - PCAT-Brazil, adapted for attention to tuberculosis, including socio-economic and demographic indicators, location of diagnosis and diagnostic access tuberculosis. The analysis of the data was of frequency, average, standard deviation, confidence interval and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Most cases were diagnosed in hospitals (52.8%). The patient sought the Health Unit on average three times until receiving medical care. The indicators of difficulty of displacement, expenditure on motorized transport and consultation within 24 hours to discover the disease were not satisfactory and regular. The chi-square test showed a statistical association between diagnosis location and seeking the nearest health unit from home. CONCLUSIONS: There are weaknesses in the early diagnosis of tuberculosis in primary care. There are many challenges to be faced to strengthen this level of health care, with organizational capacity to overcome the shortcomings related to the patient and the service that make it difficult to access the diagnosis of the disease.

Primary Health Care and tuberculosis: services evaluation. / Atenção Primária à Saúde e tuberculose: avaliação dos serviços.

INTRODUCTION:: In order to control tuberculosis, the Brazilian Ministry of Health recommends the decentralization of control actions directed to the Primary Health Care, and there are few studies on the performance of the Tuberculosis Control Program in decentralized contexts. OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the performance of Primary Health Care services in tuberculosis treatment. METHODS:: This is an evaluative study with cross-sectional approach conducted in 2011. Two hundred and thirty-nine health professionals from Primary Health Care units were interviewed using a structured instrument based on the evaluation reference of the health services quality (structure - process - results). The performance of these services was analyzed applying techniques of descriptive statistics, validation, and construction of indicators and by determining the reduced variable "Z". RESULTS:: The indicators "participation of professionals in tuberculosis patients' care" (structure) and "reference and counterreference" (process) had the best evaluations, whereas "professional training" (structure) and "external actions for tuberculosis control" (process) had the worst results. CONCLUSION:: The decentralization of tuberculosis control actions has been taking place in a vertical manner in Primary Health Care. The challenge of controlling tuberculosis involves overcoming constraints related to the engagement, training, and turnover rates among health professionals, which is a coordination between services and monitoring of control actions in Primary Health Care.