Vulnerabilities of Arab refugees in primary health care: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To map and analyze the vulnerabilities of Arab refugees in the context of primary health care. METHOD: Scoping review in which studies published in English, Spanish and Portuguese languages from 2011 onwards were reviewed. The following databases were surveyed: Cochrane, Scopus, Health System Evidence, MedLine-PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Lilacs, Web of Science, SciELO, NYAM Grey Literature, BVS, Capes Thesis and Dissertation Database, Refworld and Journal of Refugee Studies. Data were analyzed in light of the concept of vulnerability. RESULTS: Of the 854 studies identified, 40 articles were held for analysis and extraction of vulnerability indicators in the individual, social and programmatic dimensions. Regarding the individual dimension, the main indicators identified were unemployment, unstable and overcrowded housing, lack of sanitation and access to water, mental disorders, communicable and chronic noncommunicable diseases, etc. In the programmatic dimension, were identified, mainly, health teams with work overload, lack of preparation to deal with cultural and linguistic barriers, and delays in providing care. In relation to the social dimension, lack of access to schools, to information about health programs in the host countries, and to rights, among others, were found. CONCLUSION: Vulnerabilities found highlight the disadvantage of refugees regarding health programs, services and system in host countries, in addition to highlighting the deep inequalities that affect this group. It is pointed out the need for programs and policies that promote actions, within the scope of primary health care, which recognize and respond to the health needs of refugees.

Vulnerabilities of Arab refugees in primary health care: a scoping review / Vulnerabilidades de refugiados árabes na atenção primária à saúde: uma revisão de escopo

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To map and analyze the vulnerabilities of Arab refugees in the context of primary health care. METHOD Scoping review in which studies published in English, Spanish and Portuguese languages from 2011 onwards were reviewed. The following databases were surveyed: Cochrane, Scopus, Health System Evidence, MedLine-PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Lilacs, Web of Science, SciELO, NYAM Grey Literature, BVS, Capes Thesis and Dissertation Database, Refworld and Journal of Refugee Studies. Data were analyzed in light of the concept of vulnerability. RESULTS Of the 854 studies identified, 40 articles were held for analysis and extraction of vulnerability indicators in the individual, social and programmatic dimensions. Regarding the individual dimension, the main indicators identified were unemployment, unstable and overcrowded housing, lack of sanitation and access to water, mental disorders, communicable and chronic noncommunicable diseases, etc. In the programmatic dimension, were identified, mainly, health teams with work overload, lack of preparation to deal with cultural and linguistic barriers, and delays in providing care. In relation to the social dimension, lack of access to schools, to information about health programs in the host countries, and to rights, among others, were found. CONCLUSION Vulnerabilities found highlight the disadvantage of refugees regarding health programs, services and system in host countries, in addition to highlighting the deep inequalities that affect this group. It is pointed out the need for programs and policies that promote actions, within the scope of primary health care, which recognize and respond to the health needs of refugees.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Mapear e analisar as vulnerabilidades de refugiados árabes no contexto da atenção primária à saúde. MÉTODO Revisão de escopo em que foram analisados estudos publicados nos idiomas inglês, espanhol e português, a partir de 2011. As bases foram Cochrane, Scopus, Health System Evidence , MedLine-PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Lilacs, Web of Science , SciELO, NYAM Grey Literature , BVS, Banco de teses e dissertações Capes, Refworld e Journal of Refugee Studies. A análise dos dados foi realizada à luz do conceito de vulnerabilidade. RESULTADOS Dos 854 estudos identificados, restaram 40 artigos para análise e extração dos indicadores de vulnerabilidade nas dimensões individual, social e programática. Em relação à dimensão individual, os principais indicadores identificados foram desemprego, moradias instáveis e superlotadas, falta de saneamento e de acesso à água, agravos mentais, doenças transmissíveis e crônicas não transmissíveis etc. Na dimensão programática foram identificadas, principalmente, equipes de saúde com sobrecarga de trabalho, falta de preparo para lidar com as barreiras culturais e linguísticas, demora para o atendimento. Em relação à dimensão social, constatou-se falta de acesso às escolas, à informação sobre os programas de saúde dos países de acolhida, aos direitos, entre outros. CONCLUSÃO As vulnerabilidades constatadas evidenciam desvantagem dos refugiados perante os programas, serviços e sistema de saúde nos países de acolhida, além de colocar em evidência as profundas desigualdades que incidem nesse grupo. Aponta-se a necessidade de programas e políticas que promovam ações, no âmbito da atenção primária à saúde, que reconheçam e respondam às necessidades de saúde de refugiados.

The incidence of tuberculosis and its relation to social inequalities: Integrative Review Study on PubMed Base / La incidencia de la tuberculosis y su relación con las desigualdades sociales: Estudio de revisión integradora en la Base PubMed / A ocorrência da tuberculose e sua relação com as desigualdades sociais: Estudo de revisão Integrativa na Base PubMed

Abstract Objective: to identify how the literature presents the relation between tuberculosis and social inequalities. Method: integrative review in which the combination of the descriptors "tuberculosis" and "social iniquity" guided the search for articles available in PubMed. A total of 274 articles were identified, and after reading the title and abstract, 13 studies were selected. The empirical material was analyzed according to the hermeneutics, highlighting the variables related to social inequalities, seeking to understand the main themes that embody the association between tuberculosis and social inequalities. Results: In general, the literature presents the social inequalities as factors that can interfere in the cure and/or control of the disease, such as age, income, unemployment, unskilled labor, access to health services, among others. Therefore, it does not include a deeper relationship between the organization of society and the production of the disease. Conclusion and implications for practice: A comprehensive understanding of tuberculosis disease is required, in order to expand interventions to support the control and elimination of the disease and, above all, the reduction of social inequalities. The understanding of tuberculosis as a disease enables expanding strategies to face it.

Resumen Objetivo: identificar cómo la literatura presenta la relación de la tuberculosis y desigualdades sociales. Método: revisión integrativa en que la combinación de los descriptores "tuberculosis" y "social iniquity" orientaron la investigación de artículos disponibles en el PubMed. Se identificaron 274 artículos, y después de la lectura del título y resumen, se seleccionaron 13 estudios. El material empírico fue analizado según la hermenéutica, con destaque a las variables relacionadas a las desigualdades sociales, buscando aprehender los principales temas que corporifican la asociación entre tuberculosis y desigualdades sociales. Resultados: En general, la literatura presenta las desigualdades sociales como factores que pueden interferir en la cura y/o control de la enfermedad, especialmente: edad, ingresos, desempleo, trabajo no calificado, acceso a servicios de salud, entre otros. No incluye, por lo tanto, una relación más profunda entre la organización de la sociedad y la producción de la enfermedad. Conclusión e implicación para la práctica: Se requiere comprensión totalizante de la enfermedad por tuberculosis, con la finalidad de ampliar intervenciones para que apoyen el control y la eliminación de la enfermedad y, sobre todo, la reducción de las desigualdades sociales. La comprensión de la tuberculosis como una enfermedad relacionada con la determinación social posibilita ampliar las estrategias para su enfrentamiento.

Resumo Objetivo: Identificar como a literatura apresenta a relação entre a tuberculose e as desigualdades sociais. Método: Revisão integrativa em que a combinação dos descritores "tuberculosis" e "social inequity" orientaram a pesquisa de artigos disponíveis no PubMed. Foram identificados 274 artigos e, após a leitura do título e resumo, foram selecionados 13 estudos. O material empírico foi analisado segundo a hermenêutica, com destaque às variáveis relacionadas às desigualdades sociais, buscando-se apreender os principais temas que corporificam a associação entre a tuberculose e as desigualdades sociais. Resultados: De modo geral, a literatura apresenta as desigualdades sociais como fatores, que podem interferir na cura e/ou no controle da doença, com destaque para: idade, renda, desemprego, trabalho não qualificado, acesso aos serviços de saúde, entre outros. Não inclui, portanto, uma relação mais profunda entre a organização da sociedade e a produção da doença. Conclusão e Implicações para a prática: Requer-se compreensão totalizante do adoecimento por tuberculose, com a finalidade de ampliar intervenções que apoiem o controle e a eliminação da enfermidade e, sobretudo, a redução das desigualdades sociais. A compreensão da tuberculose como uma doença relacionada à determinação social possibilita ampliar as estratégias para o seu enfrentamento.

Representations on adherence to the treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify representations regarding adherence to the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis from the perspective of patients who were discharged upon being cured. METHOD: A qualitative study with patients who completed the drug treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in São Paulo. Social Determination was used to interpret the health-disease process, and the testimonies were analyzed according to dialectical hermeneutics and the discourse analysis technique. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were interviewed. The majority (80.9%) were men, in the productive age group (90.4%) and on sick leave or unemployed (57.2%) during the treatment. Based on the testimonies, three categories associated with adherence to treatment emerged: the desire to live, support for the development of treatment and care provided by the health services. CONCLUSION: For the study sample, adherence to the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was related to having a life project and support from the family and health professionals. Free treatment is fundamental for adherence, given the fragilities arising from the social insertion of people affected by the disease. Therefore, special attention is required from the health services to understand patient needs.

Human heterophilic antibodies against equine immunoglobulins: assessment of their role in the early adverse reactions to antivenom administration.

The presence of human heterophilic antibodies against horse immunoglobulins (HHA-HI) was determined by ELISA in sera from healthy volunteers and from patients who received equine antivenom for therapy of snake bite envenoming. These patients were selected from two independent clinical studies: one in Colombia in which patients received antivenom constituted by whole IgG (n=25); and the other in Brazil where an antivenom constituted by F(ab')(2) fragments was administered (n=31). Results show that healthy volunteers have antibodies, mainly of the IgG class, able to react with whole equine IgG. Additionally, patients have IgG antibodies that react both with whole equine IgG and F(ab')(2) fragments. In both clinical studies, no significant differences were observed in the HHA-HI titres between the patients who presented early adverse (anaphylactoid) reactions and those who did not develop them. In addition, no variation in titre was observed in samples collected before and after antivenom administration. These results do not support the hypothesis that the incidence of early adverse reactions to antivenom administration correlates with the titre of HHA-HI in the serum of patients. Nevertheless, participation of these antibodies as part of a multifactorial pathogenic mechanism associated with these reactions cannot be ruled out.