Social Representations of Hesitant Brazilians about Vaccination against COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The control of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a great challenge. Understanding the thoughts and beliefs underlying vaccine hesitancy can help in the formulation of public policies. The present study aimed to analyze the social representations of hesitant Brazilians about vaccination against COVID-19. METHODS: Qualitative research guided by the Theory of Social Representations, carried out through an online survey among Brazilian adults living in Brazil. The data were analyzed using the IRaMuTeQ software. RESULTS: Of the 173,178 respondents, 10,928 were hesitant and declared reasons for vaccination hesitation. The analysis generated three classes: mistrust of the vaccine and underestimation of the severity of the pandemic; (dis)information and distrust of political involvement; and fear of adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: Social knowledge, presented by the representations apprehended in this study, demonstrates difficulty in discerning the reliability of information and a social imagination full of doubts and uncertainties. Understanding the internal dynamics of these groups, with their representations of the world, is important to propose policies and actions that echo and cause changes in the understanding of the role of immunization. It is essential to shed light on the sociological imagination so that gaps filled with false information can be dismantled and confronted with scientific knowledge accessible to the population.

Trustworthiness of information sources on vaccines for COVID-19 prevention among Brazilians.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the trustworthiness of information sources, perception of clear information about the vaccine, and strategies to increase adherence to vaccination to provide managers with information that helps establish effective communication with the population about vaccination. METHOD: This is an online survey conducted between January 22 and 29, 2021, preceded by an Informed Consent, that aims to assess vaccine hesitancy, which corresponded to the first week of vaccination initiation to prevent COVID-19 in Brazil. Data were obtained from a questionnaire made available through a free platform and stored in Google Forms and later exported to the SPSS statistical package for analysis. The sample consisted of all questionnaires from participants who self-declared as age 18 or older, Brazilian, and residing in Brazil at the time of the survey. Incomplete records with more than 50% of blank items and duplicates were excluded. All categorical variables were analyzed from their absolute and relative frequencies. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to verify the relationship between dependent variables and independent variables. RESULTS: The results show that trust in information sources diverges between hesitant and non-hesitant. They also showed that some participants show an overall distrust that seems to have deeper foundations than issues related only to the source of information. The high rejection of television and the WHO as sources of information among hesitant suggests that integrated actions with research institutes, public figures vaccinating, and religious leaders can help to combat vaccine hesitation. Two actors become particularly important in this dynamic, both for good and bad, and their anti-vaxxer behavior must be observed: the doctor and the Ministry of Health. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to gathering valuable information to help understand the behavior and thinking relevant to the adherence to vaccination recommendations.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and social inequalities in different subgroups of healthcare workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has exacerbated health inequalities worldwide. Yet, such a perspective has not been investigated in specific healthcare workers and their resulting inclusion as a priority group for vaccination have been an important focus of political and social discussion. This study aimed at investigating whether SARS-CoV-2-seropositivity in healthcare workers in a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was influenced by social determinants of health and the social vulnerability in subgroups of workers. METHODS: A serological survey was conducted in 1,154 healthcare workers in June and July 2020. The association between the serological test results for detection of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and socioeconomic, occupational characteristics and transportation used by the workers to commute was assessed using the Pearson´s chi-square test and Cramer's V. FINDINGS: Overall, the serum prevalence for the virus in the healthcare workers was 30% (342/1141). Non-white workers (208/561) with lower income (169/396) and schooling (150/353), as well as users of the mass transportation system (157/246) showed the highest infection rates. Importantly they mostly corresponded to hospital support workers (131/324), in particular the cleaning personnel (42/70). Accordingly, income, schooling and work modality appeared as negative predictors, as ascertained by forest plot analysis. INTERPRETATIONS: The data clearly illustrate the inequality in SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Brazilian population, comprising even healthcare workers of the Brazilian unified health system.

Low COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire world, and the vaccine has emerged as a source of hope for return to normal life. Still, various countries have reported high vaccine hesitancy rates. It is important to know the vaccine hesitancy profile in Brazil to help design adequate communication strategies. METHODS: A voluntary, anonymous online survey was conducted from January 22 to 29, 2021, including resident Brazilian adults to assess factors related to vaccine hesitancy. Sociodemographic and epidemiological data were analyzed. A bivariate analysis was conducted with the independent variables, with vaccine hesitancy as the outcome variable, and a multivariate logistic model was used to calculated adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: The sample included 173,178 respondents, and vaccine hesitancy was found in 10.5%. The principal factors associated with vaccine hesitancy were the following: assigning importance to the vaccinés efficacy (AOR = 16.39), fear of adverse reactions (AOR = 11.23), and assigning importance to the vaccinés country of origin (AOR = 3.72). Other risk factors were the following: male gender (AOR = 1.62), having children (AOR = 1.29), 9 years of schooling or less (AOR = 1.31), living in the Central-West region (AOR = 1.19), age ≥ 40 years (AOR = 1.17), and monthly income < U$788.68 (AOR = 1.13). The two vaccines available in Brazil, Covishield and CoronaVac, showed similar confidence, 80.13% and 76.36%, respectively, despite the higher rejection of the latter vaccinés Chinese origin. INTERPRETATION: This online survey confirms the low vaccine hesitancy rate among Brazilians and allowed the identification of a profile that can assist the elaboration of communication strategies to increase vaccine adherence. FUNDING: National Institute of Women, Children and Adolescents Health Fernandes Figueira, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

[Guidelines for a line of care for children and adolescents with complex chronic health conditions]. / Recomendações para uma linha de cuidados para crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas complexas de saúde.

The definition of complex chronic health condition (CCHC) is important for identifying children and adolescents occupying pediatric beds in Brazilian hospitals, where they live out their childhood, requiring complex care by multidisciplinary teams in network format both in-hospital and in home care. The current article addresses guidelines for a line of care for children and adolescents with CCHCs. An expert panel validated 13 guidelines organized in three dimensions. Using the consensus conference technique, experts from different specialties validated the guidelines. We concluded that the process requires planning, professional training, and the production of an inter-sector research agenda involving other definitions, reviewing norms and conventions as to what is expected. Expectations include the ideal professional composition and profile for comprehensive care of these children and adolescents with CCHCs and safeguards for their rights, with access to a wide variety of social equipment, including but not limited to the health sector.

Destacamos a definição de condição crônica complexa de saúde (CCC) para identificar crianças e adolescentes que ocupam leitos pediátricos em hospitais brasileiros e vivem a primeira infância nestes hospitais, demandando cuidados complexos, realizados por equipes multidisciplinares, acionando o trabalho em rede, tanto no âmbito hospitalar quanto no domicílio. O presente artigo apresenta e discute recomendações para uma linha de cuidados voltados para crianças e adolescentes com CCC. Foram validadas em um painel de especialistas 13 recomendações organizadas em três dimensões. Por meio da adaptação da técnica de conferência de consenso, profissionais de diferentes especialidades validaram as recomendações. Concluímos serem necessárias ações de planejamento, formação profissional e produção de uma agenda de pesquisa intersetorial, que se coloca junto a outras definições, revendo normas e convenções quanto ao que se esperaria como sendo a composição e o perfil profissional ideais para o cuidado integral dessas crianças e adolescentes com CCC e garantia dos seus direitos, com acesso aos mais variados equipamentos sociais, não somente de saúde.

Destacamos la definición de condición crónica compleja de salud (CCC) para identificar a niños y adolescentes que ocupan camas pediátricas en hospitales brasileños y viven la primera infancia en estos hospitales, necesitando cuidados complejos, realizados por equipos multidisciplinares, con la puesta en práctica del trabajo en red, tanto en el ámbito hospitalario como en el domiciliario. El presente artículo expone y discute recomendaciones para una línea de cuidados dirigidos a niños y adolescentes con CCC. Se validaron en un panel de especialistas 13 recomendaciones, organizadas en tres dimensiones. Mediante la adaptación de la técnica de conferencia de consenso, profesionales de diferentes especialidades validaron las recomendaciones. Concluimos que son necesarias acciones de planificación, formación profesional y creación de una agenda de investigación intersectorial, que se sitúan junto a otras prioridades, con el fin de revisar las normas y convenciones, en relación a lo que se esperaría respecto a la composición y perfil profesional ideales para el cuidado integral de esos niños y adolescentes con CCC, así como la garantía de sus derechos y el acceso a los más variados equipos sociales, no solamente de salud.

Recomendações para uma linha de cuidados para crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas complexas de saúde / Guidelines for a line of care for children and adolescents with complex chronic health conditions / Recomendaciones para una línea de cuidados orientados a niños y adolescentes con condiciones crónicas complejas de salud

Destacamos a definição de condição crônica complexa de saúde (CCC) para identificar crianças e adolescentes que ocupam leitos pediátricos em hospitais brasileiros e vivem a primeira infância nestes hospitais, demandando cuidados complexos, realizados por equipes multidisciplinares, acionando o trabalho em rede, tanto no âmbito hospitalar quanto no domicílio. O presente artigo apresenta e discute recomendações para uma linha de cuidados voltados para crianças e adolescentes com CCC. Foram validadas em um painel de especialistas 13 recomendações organizadas em três dimensões. Por meio da adaptação da técnica de conferência de consenso, profissionais de diferentes especialidades validaram as recomendações. Concluímos serem necessárias ações de planejamento, formação profissional e produção de uma agenda de pesquisa intersetorial, que se coloca junto a outras definições, revendo normas e convenções quanto ao que se esperaria como sendo a composição e o perfil profissional ideais para o cuidado integral dessas crianças e adolescentes com CCC e garantia dos seus direitos, com acesso aos mais variados equipamentos sociais, não somente de saúde.

The definition of complex chronic health condition (CCHC) is important for identifying children and adolescents occupying pediatric beds in Brazilian hospitals, where they live out their childhood, requiring complex care by multidisciplinary teams in network format both in-hospital and in home care. The current article addresses guidelines for a line of care for children and adolescents with CCHCs. An expert panel validated 13 guidelines organized in three dimensions. Using the consensus conference technique, experts from different specialties validated the guidelines. We concluded that the process requires planning, professional training, and the production of an inter-sector research agenda involving other definitions, reviewing norms and conventions as to what is expected. Expectations include the ideal professional composition and profile for comprehensive care of these children and adolescents with CCHCs and safeguards for their rights, with access to a wide variety of social equipment, including but not limited to the health sector.

Destacamos la definición de condición crónica compleja de salud (CCC) para identificar a niños y adolescentes que ocupan camas pediátricas en hospitales brasileños y viven la primera infancia en estos hospitales, necesitando cuidados complejos, realizados por equipos multidisciplinares, con la puesta en práctica del trabajo en red, tanto en el ámbito hospitalario como en el domiciliario. El presente artículo expone y discute recomendaciones para una línea de cuidados dirigidos a niños y adolescentes con CCC. Se validaron en un panel de especialistas 13 recomendaciones, organizadas en tres dimensiones. Mediante la adaptación de la técnica de conferencia de consenso, profesionales de diferentes especialidades validaron las recomendaciones. Concluimos que son necesarias acciones de planificación, formación profesional y creación de una agenda de investigación intersectorial, que se sitúan junto a otras prioridades, con el fin de revisar las normas y convenciones, en relación a lo que se esperaría respecto a la composición y perfil profesional ideales para el cuidado integral de esos niños y adolescentes con CCC, así como la garantía de sus derechos y el acceso a los más variados equipos sociales, no solamente de salud.