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

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

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

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

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

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

População em situação de rua no Brasil: estudo descritivo sobre o perfil sociodemográfico e da morbidade por tuberculose, 2014-2019 / Población sin hogar en Brasil: estudio descriptivo sobre el perfil sociodemográfico y la morbilidad por tuberculosis, 2014-2019 / Street people in Brazil: a descriptive study of their sociodemographic profile and tuberculosis morbidity, 2014-2019

Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil sociodemográfico da população em situação de rua (PSR) inscrita no Cadastro Único para Programas Sociais (CadÚnico) até 2019, e da morbidade por tuberculose nessa população notificada no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan) no período 2014-2018. Métodos: Estudo descritivo sobre dados do Sinan e do CadÚnico. Resultados: Foram incluídas 127.536 pessoas cadastradas no CadÚnico e 14.059 com tuberculose notificadas no Sinan. Foram observadas maiores concentrações da PSR nos estados das regiões Sul e Sudeste. Nas duas subpopulações analisadas, predominou uma PSR do sexo masculino (CadÚnico = 86,8%; Sinan = 80,9%), de raça/cor da pele negra (CadÚnico = 67,5%; Sinan = 64,1%) e escolaridade até o ensino médio incompleto (CadÚnico = 81,9%; Sinan = 60,1%). A alta proporção de abandono (39,0%) do tratamento refletiu-se nos elevados percentuais de reingresso e recidiva. Conclusão: A tuberculose permanece como grave problema de Saúde Pública, que agrava a condição de sobrevivência nas ruas do Brasil.

Objetivo: Caracterizar el perfil sociodemográfico de la población sin hogar (PSR) inscrita en el Registro Único para Programas Sociaes (CadÚnico) hasta 2019 y la morbilidad tuberculosa en esta población notificada en el Sistema de Información de Agravamientos de Notificación (Sinan) de 2014 a 2018. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo realizado con datos del Sinan y CadÚnico. Resultados: Se incluyeron 127.536 personas registradas en el CadÚnico y 14.059 con tuberculosis notificada en el Sinan. Se observaron concentraciones más altas de PSR en los estados del Sur y Sudeste. En las dos subpoblaciones analizadas, hubo predominio de PSR masculina (CadÚnico = 86,8%; Sinan = 80,9%), raza/color negra (CadÚnico = 67,5%; Sinan = 64,1%) y baja escolaridad, hasta la secundaria incompleta (CadÚnico = 81,9%; Sinan = 60,1%). Se evidenció una alta proporción de abandono (39,0%) del tratamiento por el alto porcentaje de reingreso y recaída. Conclusión: La tuberculosis sigue siendo un problema grave de Salud Pública, que agrava la condición de supervivencia en las calles de Brasil.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Associação entre desfecho do tratamento, características sociodemográficas e benefícios sociais recebidos por indivíduos com tuberculose em Salvador, Bahia, 2014-2016 / Asociación entre resultado del tratamiento, características sociodemográficas y beneficios sociales recibidos por individuos con tuberculosis en Salvador, Bahía, Brasil, 2014-2016 / Association between treatment outcome, sociodemographic characteristics and social benefits received by individuals with tuberculosis in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 2014-2016

Objetivo: analisar associação entre desfecho do tratamento da tuberculose, características sociodemográficas e benefícios sociais recebidos. Métodos: estudo de coorte desenvolvido em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, no período 2014-2016; analisaram-se associações bivariadas entre desfecho do tratamento, características sociodemográficas e benefícios sociais. Resultados: foram acompanhados 216 indivíduos, dos quais 79,6% foram curados; maior proporção de cura associou-se com escolaridade >9 anos (87,5%; p=0,028), união conjugal (86,3%; p=0,031) e densidade domiciliar ≤2 pessoas/dormitório (84,1%; p=0,013); foram adotados como referência indivíduos com escolaridade ≤9 anos, sem união conjugal, e densidade domiciliar >2 pessoas/dormitório; maior proporção de cura também foi verificada entre indivíduos que recebiam benefícios governamentais e não governamentais (90,5%) ou somente benefícios diretos (81,6%). Conclusão: escolaridade >9 anos, união conjugal e densidade domiciliar ≤2 pessoas/dormitório associaram-se com maior proporção de cura; este desfecho foi mais frequente entre indivíduos que acumulavam benefícios governamentais e não governamentais ou recebiam somente benefícios diretos.

Objetivo: analizar la asociación entre resultados del tratamiento de la tuberculosis, características sociodemográficas y los beneficios sociales recibidos. Métodos: estudio de cohorte en Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, en el período 2014-2016; se analizaron correlaciones bivariadas entre resultados del tratamiento, características sociodemográficas y beneficios. Resultados: participaron 216 individuos, de los cuales 79,6% fueron curados; una mayor proporción de cura se asoció con escolaridad >9 años (87,5%; p=0,028), unión conyugal (86,3%; p=0,031) y densidad domiciliaria ≤2 personas/dormitorio (84,1%; p=0,013); fueron adoptados como referencia escolaridad ≤9 años, solteros y densidad domiciliaria >2 personas/dormitorio; mayor curación también se verificó entre individuos que recibían beneficios gubernamentales y no gubernamentales (90,5%) o únicamente beneficios directos (81,6%). Conclusión: escolaridad >9 años, unión conyugal y densidad domiciliaria ≤2 personas/dormitorio se asociaron con curación; este resultado fue más frecuente entre los que acumulaban beneficios gubernamentales y no gubernamentales o recibían solamente beneficios directos.

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

Socioeconomic risk markers of leprosy in high-burden countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Over 200,000 new cases of leprosy are detected each year, of which approximately 7% are associated with grade-2 disabilities (G2Ds). For achieving leprosy elimination, one of the main challenges will be targeting higher risk groups within endemic communities. Nevertheless, the socioeconomic risk markers of leprosy remain poorly understood. To address this gap we systematically reviewed MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, LILACS and Web of Science for original articles investigating the social determinants of leprosy in countries with > 1000 cases/year in at least five years between 2006 and 2016. Cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, and ecological studies were eligible for inclusion; qualitative studies, case reports, and reviews were excluded. Out of 1,534 non-duplicate records, 96 full-text articles were reviewed, and 39 met inclusion criteria. 17 were included in random-effects meta-analyses for sex, occupation, food shortage, household contact, crowding, and lack of clean (i.e., treated) water. The majority of studies were conducted in Brazil, India, or Bangladesh while none were undertaken in low-income countries. Descriptive synthesis indicated that increased age, poor sanitary and socioeconomic conditions, lower level of education, and food-insecurity are risk markers for leprosy. Additionally, in pooled estimates, leprosy was associated with being male (RR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.06-1.67), performing manual labor (RR = 2.15, 95% CI = 0.97-4.74), suffering from food shortage in the past (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.05-1.85), being a household contact of a leprosy patient (RR = 3.40, 95% CI = 2.24-5.18), and living in a crowded household (≥5 per household) (RR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.14-1.67). Lack of clean water did not appear to be a risk marker of leprosy (RR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.65-1.35). Additionally, ecological studies provided evidence that lower inequality, better human development, increased healthcare coverage, and cash transfer programs are linked with lower leprosy risks. These findings point to a consistent relationship between leprosy and unfavorable economic circumstances and, thereby, underscore the pressing need of leprosy control policies to target socially vulnerable groups in high-burden countries.

Effects of social protection on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in low or middle-income and in high-burden countries: systematic review and meta-analysis / Efeitos da proteção social sobre os desfechos do tratamento da tuberculose em países de renda baixa e média ou de carga alta da doença: uma revisão sistemática e meta-análise / Efectos de la protección social en los resultados del tratamiento contra la tuberculosis en países con baja o media renta y gravemente afectados: revisión sistemática y metaanálisis

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

A tuberculose (TB) é uma doença infecciosa associada à pobreza que afeta milhões de pessoas no mundo. As evidências sugerem que estratégias de proteção social podem melhorar os desfechos do tratamento da TB. O estudo teve como objetivo resumir essas evidências através de uma revisão sistemática da literatura e uma meta-análise. Foram buscados estudos realizados em países de renda baixa e média ou com carga alta de TB, publicados entre 1995 e 2016. A revisão foi realizada através de uma busca em PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect e LILACS. Incluímos apenas os estudos que investigavam os efeitos das estratégias de proteção social sobre os desfechos do tratamento da TB. Foram incluídos 25 estudos na síntese qualitativa. As meta-análises foram realizadas com 9 estudos randomizados e controlados, totalizando 1.687 participantes. Os resultados mostraram que as estratégias de proteção social estavam associadas ao sucesso do tratamento da TB (RR = 1,09; IC95%: 1,03-1,14), à cura dos pacientes de TB (RR = 1,11; IC95%: 1,01-1,22) e à redução do risco de abandono do tratamento (RR = 0,63; IC95%: 0,45-0,89). Não detectamos os efeitos das estratégias de proteção social sobre a falha terapêutica ou mortalidade. Os achados mostram que as estratégias de proteção social podem melhorar os desfechos do tratamento em países com renda baixa e média ou com alta carga da doença. Entretanto, a qualidade das evidências com relação a essas estimativas de efeito é baixa, e são necessários mais estudos randomizados e bem conduzidos.

La tuberculosis (TB) es una enfermedad infecciosa, característica de la pobreza, que afecta a millones de personas en todo el mundo. Las evidencias sugieren que las estrategias de protección social (EPS) pueden mejorar los resultados del tratamiento de la TB. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido resumir tales evidencias, a través de una revisión sistemática de la literatura y metaanálisis. Buscamos estudios realizados en países de baja renta o ingresos medios y con altas tasas de morbilidad por TB, publicados durante 1995-2016. La revisión la llevamos a cabo realizando búsquedas en PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect y LILACS. Incluimos sólo estudios que investigaron los efectos de las EPS en los resultados de los tratamientos contra la TB. Seleccionamos 25 estudios para realizar su síntesis cualitativa. Realizamos metaanálisis con 9 ensayos controlados aleatorios, incluyendo a un total de 1.687 participantes. Los resultados agrupados mostraron que las EPS estaban asociadas con tratamientos exitosos contra la TB (RR = 1,09; 95%CI: 1,03-1,14), la curación en pacientes de TB (RR = 1,11; 95%CI: 1,01-1,22) y con la reducción en el riesgo de abandono del tratamiento de TB (RR = 0,63; 95%CI: 0,45-0,89). No detectamos efectos de las EPS en los resultados de fracaso del tratamiento y muerte por TB. Estos hallazgos revelaron que las EPS podrían mejorar los resultados de los tratamientos por TB en las economías de países con baja renta o ingresos medios, o países con altas tasas de esta enfermedad. No obstante, la calidad general de las evidencias, en relación con estos resultados, es baja e indica que son necesarios más estudios controlados aleatorios bien realizados.

Effect of the Brazilian conditional cash transfer and primary health care programs on the new case detection rate of leprosy.

BACKGROUND: Social determinants can affect the transmission of leprosy and its progression to disease. Not much is known about the effectiveness of welfare and primary health care policies on the reduction of leprosy occurrence. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the Brazilian cash transfer (Bolsa Família Program-BFP) and primary health care (Family Health Program-FHP) programs on new case detection rate of leprosy. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted the study with a mixed ecological design, a combination of an ecological multiple-group and time-trend design in the period 2004-2011 with the Brazilian municipalities as unit of analysis. The main independent variables were the BFP and FHP coverage at the municipal level and the outcome was new case detection rate of leprosy. Leprosy new cases, BFP and FHP coverage, population and other relevant socio-demographic covariates were obtained from national databases. We used fixed-effects negative binomial models for panel data adjusted for relevant socio-demographic covariates. A total of 1,358 municipalities were included in the analysis. In the studied period, while the municipal coverage of BFP and FHP increased, the new case detection rate of leprosy decreased. Leprosy new case detection rate was significantly reduced in municipalities with consolidated BFP coverage (Risk Ratio 0.79; 95% CI  =0.74-0.83) and significantly increased in municipalities with FHP coverage in the medium (72-95%) (Risk Ratio 1.05; 95% CI  =1.02-1.09) and higher coverage tertiles (>95%) (Risk Ratio 1.12; 95% CI  =1.08-1.17). CONCLUSIONS: At the same time the Family Health Program had been effective in increasing the new case detection rate of leprosy in Brazil, the Bolsa Família Program was associated with a reduction of the new case detection rate of leprosy that we propose reflects a reduction in leprosy incidence.