[Addressing HIV/AIDS and syphilis in Venezuelan migrant women from the perspective of health managers in the North of BrazilManejo de la infección por el VIH/sida y la sífilis en mujeres migrantes venezolanas desde la perspectiva de los gestores de salud en el norte de Brasil]. / Enfrentamento de HIV/aids e sífilis em mulheres venezuelanas migrantes na perspectiva de gestores de saúde no Norte do Brasil.

Objective: To identify the perception of health managers regarding the actions taken and the challenges encountered in addressing HIV and syphilis in Venezuelan migrant women in Brazil. Method: This descriptive-exploratory study using a qualitative approach was conducted from January to March 2021 in the municipalities of Boa Vista (state of Roraima) and Manaus (state of Amazonas). Audio interviews with the participants were transcribed in full and examined using thematic content analysis. Results: Ten managers were interviewed (five in Boa Vista and five in Manaus). Content analysis identified the following domains and themes: available infrastructure for diagnosis and treatment of AIDS and syphilis - access, availability of medical appointments /waiting list, training of health teams, and psychosocial support; challenges faced by Venezuelan women - language, documentation issues, and frequent address changes; and strategies and actions adopted and expectations for addressing HIV/AIDS and syphilis in the context of migration. Conclusions: Despite the care provided to Venezuelan women in Brazil - guaranteed by the universal nature of the Brazilian health system - language and lack of documentation remain as barriers. Given the absence of action plans and future planning for the care of migrant women with HIV or syphilis in municipalities, it is important to develop public policies aimed at minimizing the difficulties faced by this population.

Objetivo: Determinar la percepción de los gestores de salud sobre las medidas adoptadas y los desafíos encontrados para manejar la infección por el VIH y la sífilis en mujeres migrantes venezolanas en Brasil. Métodos: Este estudio descriptivo y exploratorio, con enfoque cualitativo, se realizó de enero a marzo del 2021 en los municipios de Boa Vista (estado de Roraima) y Manaos (estado de Amazonas). La grabación de las entrevistas de los participantes se transcribió en su totalidad. El análisis se basó en la técnica de evaluación temática del contenido. Resultados: Se hicieron entrevistas a diez gestores (cinco en Boa Vista y cinco en Manaos). En el análisis del contenido se observaron los siguientes ejes y temas: la estructura disponible para el diagnóstico y tratamiento del sida y de la sífilis, con inclusión de acceso, cupos de atención, filas de espera y formación de equipos de salud y apoyo psicosocial; los desafíos enfrentados por las mujeres venezolanas, como idioma, problemas de documentación y frecuencia de cambio de domicilio; las estrategias y medidas adoptadas y las expectativas para enfrentar la infección por el VIH/sida y la sífilis en el marco de la migración. Conclusiones: A pesar de las medidas de acogida a las mujeres migrantes venezolanas, garantizadas por la universalidad del sistema de salud brasileño, todavía existen algunas barreras como el idioma y la falta de documentación. Ante la falta de planes de acción y planificación futura de la atención a las mujeres migrantes portadoras del VIH o con sífilis en los municipios, es importante formular políticas públicas con el fin de reducir las dificultades enfrentadas por este grupo de la población.

[Barriers and facilitators to confronting HIV/aids and syphilis experienced by Venezuelan women living in BrazilFactores facilitadores y barreras que tienen las mujeres venezolanas residentes en Brasil respecto de la infección por el VIH/sida y la sífilis]. / Barreiras e facilitadores do enfrentamento de HIV/aids e sífilis por venezuelanas residentes no Brasil.

Objective: To describe the perception of Venezuelan women regarding access to health care, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV/aids and syphilis in Brazil. Method: This is a descriptive, exploratory study employing a qualitative approach, performed from February to May 2021 in the municipalities of Manaus, state of Amazonas, and Boa Vista, state of Roraima. The interviews with participants were fully transcribed, with identification of themes based on content analysis. Results: Forty women were interviewed (20 in Manaus and 20 in Boa Vista). Following transcription and translation of the accounts, two analytical categories were identified: barriers to healthcare access, with four subcategories - language, cost, adverse drug reactions, and COVID-19 pandemic; and facilitators of healthcare access, again with four subcategories - Unified Health System (SUS), National Policy of Comprehensive Women's Health, National Social Assistance Policy, and relationship between healthcare professionals and SUS users. Conclusion: The results showed the need to design strategies to mitigate the difficulties faced by migrant women from Venezuela living in Brazil regarding the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/aids and syphilis, going beyond the healthcare support guaranteed by law.

Objetivo: Describir la percepción de las mujeres venezolanas sobre el acceso a los servicios de salud, al diagnóstico y al tratamiento de la infección por el VIH/sida y la sífilis en Brasil. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo y exploratorio, con enfoque cualitativo, realizado entre febrero y mayo del 2021 en los municipios de Manaos, estado de Amazonas, y Boa Vista, estado de Roraima. Las entrevistas con las participantes se transcribieron en su totalidad, y se exploraron los puntos de interés según el análisis del contenido. Resultados: Se entrevistaron 40 mujeres (20 en Manaos y 20 en Boa Vista). A partir de la transcripción y la traducción de las conversaciones, se establecieron dos categorías para el análisis del contenido: las barreras de acceso a los servicios de salud (subcategorías: idioma, costos relacionados con la salud, reacciones adversas a los medicamentos y pandemia de COVID-19); y los factores facilitadores del acceso (cuatro subcategorías: Sistema Único de Salud, Política nacional de Atención Integral a la Salud de la Mujer, Política Nacional de Asistencia Social y relación entre los profesionales de salud y las usuarias del Sistema Único de Salud). Conclusión: Los resultados mostraron la necesidad de formular estrategias para mitigar las dificultades que enfrentan las mujeres migrantes de Venezuela residentes en Brasil en relación con el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la infección por el VIH/sida y la sífilis, más allá de la protección de la salud garantizada por la ley.

Factors associated with latent tuberculosis among international migrants in Brazil: a cross-sectional study (2020).

BACKGROUND: Migrants are a high priority group for TB control measures due to their high exposure to risk factors such as poverty and social vulnerability. The study aimed to identify factors associated with latent TB among international migrants living in four Brazilian state capitals. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in September and October 2020 in a sample of 903 international migrants living in four Brazilian state capitals: Boa Vista/RR (458), Manaus/AM (136), São Paulo/SP (257), and Curitiba/PR (52). Data were collected with a questionnaire consisting of open and closed questions on personal characteristics, information on TB, and use of preventive measures. Tuberculin skin test (TST) was performed, with reading after 72 h by trained nurses and using 5 mm induration as the positive cutoff. Chi-square test (X2) and Fisher's exact test, both two-tailed, were used to compare statistically significant levels of association between the migrants´ sociodemographic characteristics, vulnerability, and latent TB infection (LTBI). Binary logistic regression was applied to calculate odds ratios and respective 95% confidence intervals. For all the tests, type I error of 5% was defined as statistically significant (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Prevalence of LTBI among migrants was 46.1% in Manaus/AM, 33.3% in São Paulo/SP, 28.1% in Curitiba/PR, and 23.5% in Boa Vista/RR. Factors associated with latent infection were age, male gender, and brown or indigenous race. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed high prevalence of latent TB among international migrants.

[Variations in the detection of congenital Zika syndrome associated with changes in protocolsVariación de la detección del síndrome congénito por el virus del Zika en función de los cambios de los protocolos]. / Variação na detecção da síndrome congênita do Zika em função de alterações em protocolos.

In 2015, Brazil faced a Zika virus epidemic that spread to other countries in the world. As a result, recommendations regarding reporting criteria for congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) were issued in the form of protocols. The frequent changes in these recommendations may have affected clinical management and the access to post-diagnostic support by children who were affected by CZS, but who ended up not being identified. In the present study, 39 cases of CZS reported in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, from 2015 to 2016 were re-classified in terms of diagnosis using the current protocol, which is different from the protocol used in 2015. According to this re-classification, only eight out of 36 cases would be confirmed, based on the criterion of two or more signs or symptoms of CZS with or without microcephaly plus positive serologic results. Also, considering the decrease in the head circumference cut-off point defining microcephaly, 17 cases would no longer meet the definition for this condition. Even though the current protocol does not rely on head circumference alone for CZS reporting and confirmation, it should be noted that this is still the main sign considered by health care teams, and therefore the decrease in the cut-off point might have compromised early CZS detection. A review of "ruled out" cases would be advisable in moments of protocol transition to determine whether these cases have been correctly classified.

En el 2015, Brasil enfrentó una epidemia de infección por el virus del Zika que se propagó por varios países del mundo. Posteriormente, se divulgaron recomendaciones acerca de los criterios de notificación de casos del síndrome congénito por el virus del Zika (SCZ) por medio de protocolos. Los cambios frecuentes de esas recomendaciones podrían haber afectado el manejo clínico y el acceso al apoyo posterior al diagnóstico de los niños afectados, pero no identificados. En el presente estudio, se reclasificó el diagnóstico de 39 casos del SCZ notificados en el estado de Espírito Santo en el período 2015-2016, de acuerdo con el protocolo vigente en la actualidad, que es distinto del que regía en el 2015. Por causa de la reclasificación, se confirmaron únicamente ocho de los 36 casos, con observancia del criterio de dos o más signos o síntomas del SCZ acompañados o no de microcefalia y con confirmación serológica. Además, por la disminución del perímetro cefálico que define la microcefalia, 17 casos no correspondieron a esa afección. A pesar de que en el protocolo vigente no se utiliza solamente el perímetro cefálico como criterio para la notificación y confirmación del SCZ, cabe resaltar que este hallazgo es, con todo, la mayor señal para los equipos de salud, puesto que indica un riesgo de falta de detección temprana del SCZ. Convendría examinar los casos "descartados" en el momento de la transición entre protocolos, con el fin de determinar si se clasificaron correctamente.

[Congenital Zika syndrome: sociodemographic profile of mothersSíndrome congénito por el virus del Zika: perfil sociodemográfico de las madres]. / Síndrome congênita do vírus Zika: perfil sociodemográfico das mães.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the sociodemographic profile of mothers of children with congenital Zika syndrome. METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study. The 39 mothers of live born babies among the cases notified in 2015 and 2016 with confirmed diagnosis of congenital Zika syndrome in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, were invited to participate. Of these, 25 mothers were enrolled. Data were collected using a socioeconomic questionnaire and a field diary. RESULTS: Skin color was self-reported as non-white by 19/25 mothers (74.0%), and 16 (64.0%) reported having a partner. Regarding schooling, 12 (48.0%) had completed high school. Per capita income varied from no income to US$ 1 111.11, and ranged from none to US$ 61.72 for 12 women (48.0%). Seventeen women (68.0%) lived in underprivileged periphery areas with poor living conditions. Of the 25 women, 16 (64.0%) had a job prior to the pregnancy; and of these, 12 (75.0%) were fired or quit after the baby was born. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of mothers shows that the Zika epidemics was not equanimous and preferentially affected women with low income and lower social class. In this sense, we believe that congenital Zika syndrome may be determined by social inequalities in Brazil. The data described in the present study may be useful for the planning of effective actions to ensure a social protection network for children with congenital Zika syndrome and their families.

OBJETIVO: Describir el perfil sociodemográfico de las madres de niños con síndrome congénito por el virus del Zika. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, de abordaje cuantitativo. Se invitó a participar en el estudio a 39 madres de niños nacidos vivos pertenecientes al grupo de casos notificados entre 2015 y 2016 con diagnóstico confirmado de síndrome congénito por el virus del Zika en el estado de Espírito Santo. De las 39 mujeres, 25 aceptaron participar. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un formulario para identificar el perfil sociodemográfico y un diario de campo. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 107 estudios. Al final del proceso de clasificación se incluyeron 18 artículos que presentaban datos sobre la asociación entre el péptido C y el riesgo cardiovascular. Cinco estudios proporcionaron datos sobre la relación entre el péptido C y la mortalidad cardiovascular y general. El péptido C presentó una asociación positiva con el índice de masa corporal en población china, y una asociación inversa con el colesterol HDL en muestras poblacionales de Asia, Oriente Medio y Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, no fue posible realizar un metanálisis para los componentes de riesgo cardiovascular. Por otro lado, el péptido C se asoció con la mortalidad cardiovascular (RR = 1,62, IC95%: 0,99 a 2,66) y general (RR = 1,39, IC95%: 1,04 a 1,84). CONCLUSIONES: De las 25 madres, 19 (74,0%) manifestaron no ser blancas y 16 (64,0%) tener una pareja. En cuanto a la escolaridad, 12 (48,0%) poseían eduación media completa. El ingreso domiciliario per cápita varió desde ningún ingreso hasta US$ 1 111,11; 12 mujeres (48,0%) reportaron desde no tener ingresos hasta un ingreso de US$ 61,72. En cuanto a la vivienda, 17 (68,0%) vivían en zonas periféricas con condiciones precarias. De las 25 mujeres, 16 (64,0%) presentaban vínculo laboral antes de la gestación, y de estas 12 (75,0%) fueron despedidas o renunciaron después del nacimiento del niño. Conclusiones. El perfil de las madres reveló que la epidemia no fue equitativa y alcanzó mayormente a mujeres de bajos ingresos y de estratos sociales desfavorecidos. En ese sentido, la enfermedad podría ser determinada por las desigualdades sociales de salud presentes en el país. Los datos encontrados son útiles para planificar acciones efectivas enfocadas a garantizar una red de protección social para niños con síndrome congénito por el virus del Zika y sus familias.

Treatment outcomes of MDR-tuberculosis patients in Brazil: a retrospective cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a threat for the global TB epidemic control. Despite existing evidence that individualized treatment of MDR-TB is superior to standardized regimens, the latter are recommended in Brazil, mainly because drug-susceptibility tests (DST) are often restricted to first-line drugs in public laboratories. We compared treatment outcomes of MDR-TB patients using standardized versus individualized regimens in Brazil, a high TB-burden, low resistance setting. METHODS: The 2007-2013 cohort of the national electronic database (SITE-TB), which records all special treatments including drug-resistance, was analysed. Patients classified as MDR-TB in SITE-TB were eligible. Treatment outcomes were classified as successful (cure/treatment completed) or unsuccessful (failure/relapse/death/loss to follow-up). The odds for successful treatment according to type of regimen were controlled for demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: Out of 4029 registered patients, we included 1972 recorded from 2010 to 2012, who had more complete outcome data. The overall success proportion was 60%. Success was more likely in non-HIV patients, sputum-negative at baseline, with unilateral disease and without prior DR-TB. Adjusted for these variables, those receiving standardized regimens had 2.7-fold odds of success compared to those receiving individualized treatments when failure/relapse were considered, and 1.4-fold odds of success when death was included as an unsuccessful outcome. When loss to follow-up was added, no difference between types of treatment was observed. Patients who used levofloxacin instead of ofloxacin had 1.5-fold odds of success. CONCLUSION: In this large cohort of MDR-TB patients with a low proportion of successful outcomes, standardized regimens had superior efficacy than individualized regimens, when adjusted for relevant variables. In addition to the limitations of any retrospective observational study, database quality hampered the analyses. Also, decision on the use of standard or individualized regimens was possibly not random, and may have introduced bias. Efforts were made to reduce classification bias and confounding. Until higher-quality evidence is produced, and DST becomes widely available in the country, our findings support the Brazilian recommendation for the use of standardized instead of individualized regimens for MDR-TB, preferably containing levofloxacin. Better quality surveillance data and DST availability across the country are necessary to improve MDR-TB control in Brazil.

Risk factors for differential outcome following directly observed treatment (DOT) of slum and non-slum tuberculosis patients: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Brazil's National Tuberculosis Control Program seeks to improve tuberculosis (TB) treatment in vulnerable populations. Slum residents are more vulnerable to TB due to a variety of factors, including their overcrowded living conditions, substandard infrastructure, and limited access to healthcare compared to their non-slum dwelling counterparts. Directly observed treatment (DOT) has been suggested to improve TB treatment outcomes among vulnerable populations, but the program's differential effectiveness among urban slum and non-slum residents is not known. METHODS: We retrospectively compared the impact of DOT on TB treatment outcome in residents of slum and non-slum census tracts in Rio de Janeiro reported to the Brazilian Notifiable Disease Database in 2010. Patient residential addresses were geocoded to census tracts from the 2010 Brazilian Census, which were identified as slum (aglomerados subnormais -AGSN) and non-slum (non-AGSN) by the Census Bureau. Homeless and incarcerated cases as well as those geocoded outside the city's limits were excluded from analysis. RESULTS: In 2010, 6,601 TB cases were geocoded within Rio de Janeiro; 1,874 (27.4 %) were residents of AGSN, and 4,794 (72.6 %) did not reside in an AGSN area. DOT coverage among AGSN cases was 35.2 % (n = 638), while the coverage in non-AGSN cases was 26.2 % (n = 1,234). Clinical characteristics, treatment, follow-up, cure, death and abandonment were similar in both AGSN and non-AGSN TB patients. After adjusting for covariates, AGSN TB cases on DOT had 1.67 (95 % CI: 1.17, 2.4) times the risk of cure, 0.61 (95 % CI: 0.41, 0.90) times the risk of abandonment, and 0.1 (95 % CI: 0.01, 0.77) times the risk of death from TB compared to non-AGSN TB cases not on DOT. CONCLUSION: While DOT coverage was low among TB cases in both AGSN and non-AGSN communities, it had a greater impact on TB cure rate in AGSN than in non-AGSN populations in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Tuberculosis DALY-Gap: Spatial and Quantitative Comparison of Disease Burden Across Urban Slum and Non-slum Census Tracts.

To quantitatively assess disease burden due to tuberculosis between populations residing in and outside of urban informal settlements in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we compared disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), or "DALY-gap." Using the 2010 Brazilian census definition of informal settlements as aglomerados subnormais (AGSN), we allocated tuberculosis (TB) DALYs to AGSN vs non-AGSN census tracts based on geocoded addresses of TB cases reported to the Brazilian Information System for Notifiable Diseases in 2005 and 2010. DALYs were calculated based on the 2010 Global Burden of Disease methodology. DALY-gap was calculated as the difference between age-adjusted DALYs/100,000 population between AGSN and non-AGSN. Total TB DALY in Rio in 2010 was 16,731 (266 DALYs/100,000). DALYs were higher in AGSN census tracts (306 vs 236 DALYs/100,000), yielding a DALY-gap of 70 DALYs/100,000. Attributable DALY fraction for living in an AGSN was 25.4%. DALY-gap was highest for males 40-59 years of age (501 DALYs/100,000) and in census tracts with <60% electricity (12,327 DALYs/100,000). DALY-gap comparison revealed spatial and quantitative differences in TB burden between slum vs non-slum census tracts that were not apparent using traditional measures of incidence and mortality. This metric could be applied to compare TB burden or burden for other diseases in mega-cities with large informal settlements for more targeted resource allocation and evaluation of intervention programs.

Social protection in areas vulnerable to tuberculosis: a mixed methods study in São Luís, Maranhão.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze the risk areas for tuberculosis and the influences of social protection on the development of treatment for the disease in the municipality of São Luís, Maranhão. METHODS: this is explanatory sequential mixed method research. In the quantitative phase, the data were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System from 2010 to 2019, with georeferencing being carried out to identify areas vulnerable to tuberculosis. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were carried out with individuals who received social benefits. RESULTS: 7,381 cases were geocoded, and, from the purely spatial scanning analysis, it was possible to identify 13 spatial clusters of risk. As for the interviews, there was a positive relationship between patient improvement and receiving benefits. CONCLUSIONS: geographic space and social determinants are relevant for reorienting monitoring actions for the conditions that generate the health-disease process.

International Migration, Refugees, and Spread of Tuberculosis in Brazil: Analysis of Clusters, Trends, and Associated Factors (2010-2021).

BACKGROUND: International migration is a global phenomenon with significant implications on the health-disease process due to exposures along transit routes and local/destination epidemiological indicators. We aimed to analyze the transmission and spread of tuberculosis among international migrants and refugees from a spatiotemporal perspective and the associated factors. METHOD: This was an ecological study of cases of tuberculosis in international migrants in Brazil, between 2010 and 2021. Annual incidence rates were calculated and spatiotemporal scan techniques were used to identify municipalities at risk. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with tuberculosis in international migrants. RESULTS: A total of 4037 cases of tuberculosis were reported in Brazil in international migrants. Municipalities at risk for this event were identified using the spatiotemporal scan technique, and a cluster was identified with ITT: +52.01% and ETT: +25.60%. A higher probability of TB infection was identified in municipalities with a TB incidence rate >14.40 cases/100 inhabitants, population >11,042 inhabitants, Gini index >0.49, and illiteracy rate >13.12%. A lower probability was found in municipalities with average per capita household income >BRL 456.43. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that health authorities implement monitoring and rigorous follow-up in affected areas to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment completion for international migrants, preventing disease spread to other communities.

Correlation between the spatial distribution of leprosy and socioeconomic indicators in the city of Vitória, State of ES, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is a disease that is directly linked to poverty. The number of cases in Vit6ria, the capital city of Espírito Santo, has been decreasing in recent years, but the disease remains highly endemic. This research aimed to identify relationships between the epidemiological status of leprosy and socioeconomic indicators during the period from 2005 to 2009. METHODS: An ecological study was performed based on the spatial distribution of leprosy in Vit6ria, Espírito Santo, between 2005 and 2009. The source data used were records available at the Secretary of State for Health of the Espírito Santo. We used the Urban Quality Index (IQU) as the leprosy-associated socioeconomic variable. The data were analysed with covariate and spatial effects by the WinBugs programme (Version 1.4) and R (Version 2.12). RESULTS: The spatial distribution of leprosy in the district is not uniform. By studying the geographic distribution of leprosy cases, and the risks estimated by the complete Bayesian model, it was possible to gain further insight into the distribution of leprosy cases. It was noted that neighbourhoods with a low IQU have a higher leprosy case detection rate than neighbourhoods with a higher IQU. This result reinforced the theory that a low IQU is associated with the emergence of leprosy. CONCLUSION: The model methodology adopted enabled the verification of the effect of the influence of covariates related to the social determinants of health as well as the spatial structure, in contrast to the gross rate method that does not aggregate this information. The results obtained suggest that leprosy control may be promoted by improving the socioeconomic indicators of neighbourhoods, and highlights the need for implementation of health policies aimed at people who live in areas where they are at greatest risk of getting sick.

Follow-up of patients diagnosed with and treated for tuberculosis in Brazil: financial burden on the household.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implications of the proportion of annual family income spent in the pre- and post-diagnosis periods in tuberculosis patients followed for after at least one year after completing tuberculosis treatment in Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of tuberculosis patients followed for at least one year after completing tuberculosis treatment in five Brazilian capitals (one in each region of the country). RESULTS: A total of 62 patients were included in the analysis. The overall average cost of tuberculosis was 283.84 Brazilian reals (R$) in the pre-diagnosis period and R$4,161.86 in the post-diagnosis period. After the costs of tuberculosis disease, 71% of the patients became unemployed, with an overall increase in unemployment; in addition, the number of patients living in nonpoverty decreased by 5%, the number of patients living in poverty increased by 6%, and the number of patients living in extreme poverty increased by 5%. The largest proportion of annual household income to cover the total costs of tuberculosis was for the extremely poor (i.e., 40.37% vs. 11.43% for the less poor). CONCLUSIONS: Policies to mitigate catastrophic costs should include interventions planned by the health care system and social protection measures for tuberculosis patients with lower incomes in order to eliminate the global tuberculosis epidemic by 2035-a WHO goal in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Prevalence of tuberculosis, COVID-19, chronic conditions and vulnerabilities among migrants and refugees: an electronic survey.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the prevalence of tuberculosis, coronavirus, chronic conditions and vulnerabilities among migrants and refugees in Brazil. METHOD: this is a cross-sectional study of the electronic survey type conducted with international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics was applied for the analysis, with calculation of position and dispersion measures. Regarding the categorical variables, relative and absolute frequencies were estimated. RESULTS: the study participants were 553 migrants and refugees, verifying 3.07%, 7.2% and 27.3% prevalence of tuberculosis, COVID-19 and chronic conditions, respectively. Among the vulnerabilities, 32% reported unemployment, 37.6% moved to Brazil as a result of the social situation in their countries and 33.6% were living as refugees or sheltered people. CONCLUSION: tuberculosis, chronic diseases and COVID-19 presented higher prevalence values in migrants and refugees than in the general population. As this is a population group that still has significant difficulty accessing health services and social protection systems, based on diverse evidence, the study will subsidize public policies, Nursing care and the incorporation of new routines in the service.

Access of people with pulmonary tuberculosis to government programs: Primary Care professionals' perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze Primary Health Care professionals' perceptions about the access of people with pulmonary tuberculosis to government social support and income transfer programs. METHODS: multicenter/qualitative study, carried out in Family Health Units in four Brazilian capitals: Belém/Pará, Campo Grande/Mato Grosso do Sul, Recife/Pernambuco and Rio de Janeiro/Rio de Janeiro. Fifty-eight professionals participated (social workers, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, physicians and nursing technicians), who provided assistance to people with pulmonary tuberculosis. Individual interviews were conducted, and the content analysis technique was used. RESULTS: among the participants, 45/77.6% were women and 33/56.9% were between 25 and 40 years old. Two thematic categories were organized, demonstrating the perceptions about the possibilities of access to government programs by people with pulmonary tuberculosis in vulnerable situations and the obstacles inherent to this context. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: it is necessary to move forward in improving patient access to social programs.

National Vaccine Coverage Survey 2020: methods and operational aspects.

OBJECTIVE: The national vaccination coverage survey on full vaccination at 12 and 24 months of age was carried out to investigate drops in coverage as of 2016. METHODS: A sample of 37,836 live births from the 2017 or 2018 cohorts living in capital cities, the Federal District, and 12 inner cities with 100 thousand inhabitants were followed for the first 24 months through vaccine record cards. Census tracts stratified according to socioeconomic levels had the same number of children included in each stratum. Coverage for each vaccine, full vaccination at 12 and 24 months and number of doses administered, valid and timely, were calculated. Family, maternal and child factors associated with coverage were surveyed. The reasons for not vaccinating analyzed were: medical contraindications, access difficulties, problems with the program, and vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS: Preliminary results showed that less than 1% of children were not vaccinated, full coverage was less than 75% at all capitals and the Federal District, vaccines requiring more than one dose progressively lost coverage, and there were inequalities among socioeconomic strata, favorable to the highest level in some cities and to the lowest in others. CONCLUSION: There was an actual reduction in full vaccination in all capitals and the Federal District for children born in 2017 and 2018, showing a deteriorating implementation of the National Immunization Program from 2017 to 2019. The survey did not measure the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have further reduced vaccination coverage.

Development and content validation of a mobile application for monitoring latent tuberculosis treatment.

BACKGROUND: Non-compliance with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment is a reality. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an mobile device application for monitoring the treatment of LTBI. METHODS: We defined the requirements, elaborated on the application's conceptual map, generated implementation and prototyping alternatives, and validated content. RESULTS: Feedback on the validity of content were: "usefulness, consistency, clarity, objectivity, vocabulary, and precision" from professionals, and "clarity" from patients. CONCLUSIONS: The application proved to be easy to understand, according to the assessment of both professionals and people undergoing treatment for LTBI.

People with Disabilities and COVID-19 in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil: between invisibility and lack of Public Policies. / Pessoas com Deficiência e COVID-19 no estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil: entre a invisibilidade e a falta de Políticas Públicas.

This article aims to analyze the profile of people with disabilities among the cases notified by the COVID-19 panel of Espírito Santo and the possible associations with the positive result of the COVID-19 test. Descriptive cross-sectional study among people with disabilities with positive and negative tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Associations of epidemiological and clinical variables were performed using the chi-square test and logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratio. Lethality rate of COVID-19 was 4.9% (175 cases) in the group of people with disabilities, and 3% (3,016) in the group without disabilities. People with disabilities, male (OR=1.34; 95%CI 1.22-1.47), race/black color (OR=1.55; 95%CI 1.09-2.20), and those who were hospitalized (OR=2.27; 95%CI 1.71-3.02) were associated with positive tests for COVID-19. The pandemic emphasizes the need to create specific legal care mechanisms and targeted public policies for this population.

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o perfil das pessoas com deficiência dentre os casos notificados pelo painel COVID-19 do Espírito Santo e possíveis associações com o resultado positivo do teste COVID-19. Estudo Transversal descritivo entre as pessoas com deficiência com testes positivos e negativos para o diagnóstico de COVID-19. Foram realizadas associações das variáveis epidemiológicas e clínicas, utilizando o teste qui-quadrado e modelos de regressão logística para se estimar o odds ratio. A letalidade por COVID-19 foi de 4,9% (175 casos) no grupo das pessoas com deficiência, e 3% (3.016) no grupo sem deficiência. Pessoas com deficiência do sexo masculino (OR=1,34; IC95% 1,22-1,47), raça/cor preta (OR=1,55; IC95% 1,09-2,20), e as que ficaram internadas (OR=2,27; IC95% 1,71-3,02) apresentaram associação com testes positivos para COVID-19. A pandemia enfatiza a necessidade de criar mecanismos legais de cuidados específicos e políticas públicas focalizadas para essa população.

Serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among prison system workers in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2020. / Prevalência sorológica de infecção por SARS-CoV-2 entre trabalhadores do sistema prisional do Espírito Santo, 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among prison system workers in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, between August-September 2020. METHODS: This was a stratified sample survey, using interviews and serological tests for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Among the 986 interviewers, the serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 11.9% (95%CI 8.1%;15.7%) in health professionals, and 22.1% (95%CI 18.8%;25.3%) in prison officers. Positivity was more frequent among health professionals in the north of the state (19.7%) and in male prison officers (24.0%). Among seropositive individuals, fatigue was the most frequent symptom in prison agents (13.4%) and myalgia in health professionals (10.8%); and the most prevalent comorbidities among the seropositive individuals were asthma or bronchitis (16.2%), in health professionals, and hypertension in prison officers (12.8%). CONCLUSION: The serological prevalence of SARS-Cov-2 infection was higher in prison officers, a finding that can support disease control and prevention actions in this scenario.

[Yellow fever prevention and control: assessment of surveillance activities in a previously unaffected area in Brazil]. / Prevenção e controle da febre amarela: avaliação de ações de vigilância em área indene no Brasil.

Following the reemergence of yellow fever in 2014/2015, Brazil recorded its largest yellow fever epidemic in recent decades, mainly affecting the country's Southeast region. Yellow fever is a hemorrhagic viral disease caused by a flavivirus transmitted by sylvatic mosquitos (Haemagogus; Sabethes). In the urban cycle, eradicated in Brazil since 1942, the virus is transmitted by Aedes aegypti. Nonhuman primates are the principal hosts of the virus and constitute "sentinels" in yellow fever surveillance. This article describes the control and prevention activities launched during the yellow fever epidemic in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, and the implementation of vaccination, through an ecological study with a spatial approach. The study revealed the lack of detection of epizootics in nonhuman primates by surveillance services in Espírito Santo, with simultaneous detection in humans. The study presented the evolution of vaccination activities, reaching 85% overall coverage for the state in six months, varying widely, from 59% to 122%, between municipalities (counties). Importantly, 55% of the municipalities with timely immunization, considering the interval adopted for this study, did not present human cases. The intensification of surveillance activities, communication between areas, and multidisciplinary teams in managing the epidemic optimized the detection and diagnosis of human cases and allowed control of the epidemic. The study identifies progress and points to some late measures and gaps in surveillance that require improvements.

A partir da reemergência da febre amarela em 2014/2015, o Brasil registrou nos anos sequentes sua maior epidemia de febre amarela das últimas décadas, atingindo principalmente a região sudeste. A febre amarela, doença viral hemorrágica, é causada por um flavivírus, transmitido por mosquitos silvestres (Haemagogus; Sabethes). Na ocorrência do ciclo urbano, erradicado no Brasil desde 1942, a transmissão se dá pelo Aedes aegypti. Primatas não humanos são os principais hospedeiros do vírus e constituem "sentinelas" na vigilância da febre amarela. Este artigo descreve as ações de controle e prevenção desencadeadas durante a epidemia de febre amarela no Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil, e a implementação da vacinação por meio de um estudo ecológico com abordagem espacial. O estudo evidenciou a falha na detecção de epizootias em primatas não humanos pelos serviços de vigilância do Espírito Santo, sendo simultânea à detecção em humanos. Apresentou a evolução das ações de vacinação, com alcance de 85% de cobertura vacinal geral para o estado em seis meses, sendo heterogênea entre os municípios (de 59% a 122%). Destaca-se que 55% dos municípios com ações de imunização em tempo oportuno, considerando o intervalo adotado para este estudo, não apresentaram casos em humanos. A intensificação das ações de vigilância, interlocução entre as áreas e equipes multidisciplinares na condução da epidemia otimizou a detecção e o diagnóstico dos casos em humanos e viabilizou o controle da epidemia. Foi possível reconhecer avanços, apontar algumas medidas tardias e lacunas na vigilância que necessitam melhorias.

A partir del resurgimiento de la fiebre amarilla en 2014/2015, Brasil registró los años siguientes su mayor epidemia de fiebre amarilla de las últimas décadas, alcanzando principalmente la región sudeste. La fiebre amarilla, enfermedad viral hemorrágica, es causada por un flavivirus, transmitido por mosquitos silvestres (Haemagogus; Sabethes). Respecto a la ocurrencia del ciclo urbano, erradicado en Brasil desde 1942, la transmisión se produce por el Aedes aegypti. Primates no humanos son los principales huéspedes del virus, y constituyen "centinelas" en la vigilancia de la fiebre amarilla. Este artículo describe las acciones de control y prevención desencadenadas durante la epidemia de fiebre amarilla en el Estado de Espírito Santo, Brasil, y la implementación de la vacunación mediante un estudio ecológico con abordaje espacial. El estudio evidenció el fallo en la detección de epizootias en primates no humanos por los servicios de vigilancia de Espírito Santo, siendo simultánea a la detección en humanos. Presentó la evolución de las acciones de vacunación, con alcance de un 85% de cobertura en la vacunación general para el estado en seis meses, siendo heterogénea entre los municipios (de 59% a 122%). Se destaca que un 55% de los municipios con acciones de inmunización en tiempo oportuno, considerando el intervalo adoptado para este estudio, no presentaron casos humanos. La intensificación de las acciones de vigilancia, interlocución entre las áreas y equipos multidisciplinarios en la gestión de la epidemia optimizó la detección y diagnóstico de los casos humanos y viabilizó el control de la epidemia. Fue posible reconocer avances, apuntar algunas medidas tardías y lagunas en la vigilancia que necesitan mejorías.