Distinctive Amplitude-Integrated EEG Ictal Pattern and Targeted Therapy with Carbamazepine in KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 Neonatal Epilepsy: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Carbamazepine (CBZ) is effective in treating KCNQ2/3-related seizures, which may present with a distinctive amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) pattern. OBJECTIVE: To assess how improved recognition of the distinctive aEEG ictal pattern associated with KCNQ2/3 variants has enabled early and effective targeted therapy with CBZ. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of five neonates with KCNQ2/3 pathogenic gene variants admitted at a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over an 8-year period. RESULTS: The distinctive ictal aEEG pattern was recognized in four neonates after an average of 61.5 hours (minimum 12 hours, maximum 120 hours) from the first electroclinical seizure and prompted the use of CBZ that was effective in all. The two most recently diagnosed patients could avoid polytherapy as they received CBZ as the first and second antiseizure medication, respectively. Three out of five patients with continuous normal voltage (CNV), sleep-wake cycling (SWC), and shorter postictal suppression had normal neurodevelopmental outcome. Regarding the remaining two infants, one was not trialed with CBZ and had a high seizure burden, both presented with a prolonged postictal suppression, no SWC, and had moderate-to-severe developmental delay. Genetic results became available after the neonatal period in all but one of the infants, who had a prenatal diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Recognition of the distinctive ictal aEEG pattern in the NICU allowed early and effective targeted therapy with CBZ in four neonates, well before genetic results became available. Furthermore, a CNV background pattern with SWC and short postictal suppression were associated with normal developmental outcomes.

[Analysis of the national DST/Aids policy from the perspective of advocacy coalition framework (ACF)]. / Análise da política nacional de DST/Aids sob a perspectiva do modelo de coalizões de defesa.

The success of the National STD/AIDS Program in Brazil is, to a great extent, associated with the multiplicity of social actors involved in the fight against AIDS. The scope of this article is to analyze the dynamics of changes occurring within the subsystem of national STD/AIDS policy in the light of the advocacy coalition framework (ACF) model. The study is based on documentary analysis of regulatory frameworks and interviews with key informants. The results point to the formation of three coalitions: Coalition A (social engagement); Coalition B (the force of governmental policies/actors); and Coalition C (international partnerships) which, mediated by the House of representatives and scientific institutions, wage disputes to translate their viewpoints into government actions. The data show that, despite being successful, the National STD/AIDS Policy faced great difficulties in establishing standards that addressed the needs of the population. However, although coalitions have different strategies, they are convergent, as they are directed towards the same objectives. It is worth mentioning that nowadays, the conservative wave in Brazil tends to preclude renewed policies in the field of AIDS and may threaten well-established human and social rights. Such impacts need to be analyzed in future studies.

O sucesso do Programa Nacional de DST/Aids no Brasil se deve, em boa medida, à pluralidade de atores sociais engajados no combate à Aids. Este artigo visa analisar a dinâmica de mudanças ocorridas dentro do subsistema da Política Nacional de DST/Aids à luz do modelo de coalizões de defesa (MCD). Trata-se de um estudo que se vale da análise documental dos marcos normativos e de entrevistas com informantes-chave. Os resultados apontam para a formação de três coalizões: Coalizão A (engajamento social), Coalizão B (força governamental), e Coalizão C (parcerias internacionais), que, mediadas pelos parlamentares e instituições científicas, travam disputas traduzindo seus pontos de vista em ações governamentais. Os achados mostram que, embora bem-sucedida, a Política Nacional de DST/Aids enfrentou grandes dificuldades em estabelecer padrões que contemplassem as necessidades da população. Entretanto, mesmo que as coalizões contem com estratégias distintas, apresentam-se como convergentes, pois se direcionam para o mesmo objetivo. Vale ressaltar que, nos dias atuais, a onda conservadora atuante no Brasil apresenta tendência a inviabilizar novas políticas no campo da Aids e ameaça direitos humanos e sociais adquiridos. Tais impactos devem ser analisados em estudos futuros.

[Cooperative Federalism, Regionalization and the Institutional Governance Profile of Regional Intergovernmental Commissions in Brazil]. / Federalismo Cooperativo, Regionalização e o Perfil de Governança Institucional das Comissões Intergestores Regionais no Brasil.

The scope of this article is to present and analyze the institutional governance profile of the 434 regional interagency committees operating in 25 states of the Brazilian Federation. The data were taken from the National Survey of Regional Interagency Committees (CIR), a census conducted in the years 2017 and 2018, and were collected through a questionnaire applied to the coordinators/directors/presidents of the CIR. The composition of the CIR profile was carried out using an analysis matrix specifically developed for this study, which combines 23 variables organized in five dimensions of institutional governance: institutional legitimacy, compliance and consistency of operation, quality of structure and operating conditions, federative equilibrium and quality of decision-making. The results show, on the one hand, an interagency institutional governance system consolidated throughout the national territory, with significant acceptance by the state and municipal spheres and clearly defined and publicized operating rules. On the other hand, it reveals a complex of levels characterized by marked limitations in financial and human resources and management infrastructure, in addition to action concentrated on emergency problems in the management of the network of health care and services.

Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar e analisar o perfil de governança institucional das 434 comissões intergestores regionais em funcionamento em 25 estados da federação brasileira. Os dados são da Pesquisa Nacional das Comissões Intergestores Regionais (CIR), um estudo censitário realizado nos anos de 2017 e 2018, e foram coletados por meio de um questionário aplicado aos coordenadores/diretores/presidentes das CIR. A composição do perfil das CIR foi realizada empregando uma matriz de análise especificamente desenvolvida para este estudo, que combina 23 variáveis organizadas em cinco atributos da governança interna dessas instâncias: legitimidade institucional, adesão e regularidade de funcionamento, qualidade da estrutura e condições de funcionamento, equilíbrio federativo e qualidade do processo decisório. Os resultados mostram, por um lado, um sistema de governança institucional intergestores consolidado em todo o território nacional, com significativa adesão das esferas estadual e municipal e regras de funcionamento definidas e publicizadas. Por outro, um complexo de instâncias caracterizadas por expressivas limitações de recursos financeiros, humanos e de infraestrutura de gestão e atuação concentrada em problemas emergenciais da gestão da rede de ações e serviços de saúde.

[Agenda 2030 in Argentina: perceptions of health experts, comparison with the perceptions of Brazilian experts and the first impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic]. / Agenda 2030 en Argentina: percepciones de expertos en salud, comparación con expertos de Brasil y primeros impactos de la pandemia COVID-19.

The 2030 Agenda - a strategy of the United Nations Organization (UN) to promote global and sustainable human development capable of satisfying basic social needs - is still in the initial stages in most of the countries of South America. The scope of this investigation was to consult a group of health experts on the possibilities of Argentina fulfilling the 2030 Agenda, especially the goals of ODS3 - Health and Wellbeing - when they were consulted on obstacles, challenges, and policy recommendations to meet the goals. The change of management of the government in December 2019, and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, broadened the investigation incorporating the analysis of the incumbent Minister of Health of the Nation on the 2030 Agenda, the study carried out and the current perspectives in the pandemic period. The results were analyzed from a comparative standpoint with a Brazilian study, which revealed that most experts agree on the country's potential to meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda. However, in the analysis of the new Minister of Health, there are "the paradoxes of the pandemic" that relate to the opportunity to empower the health system pursuant to the Covid-19 pandemic.

La Agenda 2030, una estrategia de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) para promover un desarrollo humano global y sostenible capaz de satisfacer necesidades sociales básicas, aún se encuentra en sus etapas iniciales en la mayoría de los países de América del Sur. La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo consultar a un grupo de expertos en salud sobre las posibilidades de Argentina de cumplir con la Agenda 2030, en especial las metas del ODS3-Salud y Bienestar-, a su vez que se les consultó sobre los obstáculos, desafíos y recomendaciones de políticas para cumplir con las metas. El cambio de gestión del gobierno en diciembre de 2019, y el surgimiento de la pandemia COVID19 en el presente año, amplió la investigación incorporando el análisis del actual Ministro de Salud de la Nación sobre la Agenda 2030, el estudio realizado y las perspectivas actuales en el periodo de la pandemia. Los resultados fueron analizados en perspectiva comparada con un estudio brasilero, y mostraron que la mayoría de los expertos coincide en el bajo potencial del país para cumplir con las metas de la Agenda 2030. Sin embargo en el análisis del nuevo Ministro de salud surgen "las paradojas de la pandemia" que refieren a la oportunidad de fortalecer el sistema sanitario producto de la pandemia COVID-19.

Longevity and cost of care: the challenge of a self-managed health plan. / Longevidade e custo da assistência: o desafio de um plano de saúde de autogestão.

This paper aims to analyze the relationship between the cost of health care and the aging of the population assisted by a self-managed plan, reflecting on the ways to address the challenge arising from this conjunction of population demographic changes. This is a descriptive study of the 1997-2016 period based on secondary data from the management operator of the health plan under study and from another administrative database of a self-managing provider with broad nationwide coverage. Older adults (over 60 years) increased 55% during the study period. On the other hand, the so-called "very old" (over 80 years) grew 332.8%. The population above 60 years corresponds to 25.7% of the total, and accounts for 68.8% of expenses. Most of the population covered (84,6%) is located in the State of Rio de Janeiro, which has the highest per capita health care cost in Brazil. We found a relationship between aging of the beneficiary population and increased expenditure. It is imperative to invest in health promotion and disease prevention initiatives as a way of improving the quality of life and financial sustainability of the plan, and define a subsystem that delimits and regulates access to the network and is accepted by the beneficiaries.

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a relação entre o custo da assistência e o envelhecimento da população assistida por um plano de autogestão, refletindo sobre possibilidades de enfrentamento do desafio advindo dessa conjunção de fatores. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do período 1997 a 2016, efetivado a partir de dados secundários provenientes da operadora do plano de saúde em estudo, e outro banco administrativo de operadora de autogestão de grande abrangência nacional. Os idosos (mais de 60 anos) aumentaram no período do estudo 55,5%. Já os chamados "muito idosos" (acima de 80 anos) cresceram em quantidade 332,8%. A população acima de 60 anos corresponde a 25,7% do total sendo responsável por 68,8% das despesas. A grande maioria da população atendida (84,6%) está localizada no Estado no Rio de Janeiro, o qual tem o mais alto custo per capita em saúde no País. Foi encontrada relação entre o envelhecimento da população beneficiária e o aumento das despesas. É imperioso investir em iniciativas de promoção da saúde e prevenção de doenças como forma de melhora da qualidade de vida e viabilidade financeira do plano, além de definir um sub-sistema que delimite e discipline o acesso à rede e seja aceito pelos beneficiários.

Cervical cancer control limiting factors and facilitators: a literature review. / Fatores limitadores e facilitadores para o controle do câncer de colo de útero: uma revisão de literatura.

This paper reviews the limiting factors and facilitators of access to Brazilian cervical cancer care public health services. This review employed bibliographic database Medline (interface with the Virtual Health Library/BVS and PubMed) and Lilacs / SciELO portals. We sought publications for the period 2011-2016 based on the use of specific terms from the sources consulted, regarding "cervical neoplasms" and "access to health services". We found 704 papers initially, which were shortlisted to 31 following adopted criteria, which were further reduced to 19 papers to make up the final selection. Access facilitating aspects such as wide coverage of the Pap smear test and coverage of biopsies equivalent to the number of altered prevention tests were mentioned. However, access limiting aspects such as inadequate Pap smear's periodicity, difficulties in scheduling appointments and exams, high rate of advanced staging and delays in diagnosis and treatment onset were also reported.

Este artigo revisa os fatores limitadores e facilitadores do acesso aos serviços públicos de saúde no Brasil na área da atenção ao câncer de colo de útero (CCU). Nesta revisão, foram utilizadas a base de dados bibliográficos Medline (interface com Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde/BVS e PubMed) e os portais Lilacs e SciELO. Buscou-se publicações referentes ao período 2011-2016, a partir do uso de termos específicos das fontes consultadas, relativos a 'neoplasias do colo do útero' e 'acesso aos serviços de saúde'. Foram inicialmente encontrados 704 artigos, mas, considerando os critérios adotados, foram selecionados 31 artigos, dos quais foram incluídos 19. Foram mencionados aspectos facilitadores do acesso como ampla cobertura do exame Papanicolaou e de biopsias equivalente ao número de preventivos alterados. Entretanto, aspectos limitadores de acesso como periodicidade inadequada do Papanicolau, dificuldades para agendamento de consultas e exames, alto índice de estadiamento avançado e atrasos no diagnóstico e no início de tratamento, também foram apresentados.

An approach to suicide among adolescents and youth in Brazil. / Uma abordagem sobre o suicídio de adolescentes e jovens no Brasil.

This essay article examines suicide among young people in Brazil on the basis of Durkheim's classical approaches as revisited in current discussions of social integration networks. It presents arguments regarding the behaviour of suicide mortality rates in the light of classical public health assumptions as to social causality in processes of health and illness. The mortality rates, updated in line with international statistics, review of data in Brazilian studies and recent series for Brazil, reveal suicide "aptitudes" by age, sex and social group. The linear and non-linear nature of the trends are treated in the context of pathways in complex social systems. Current data were prospected in the Ministry of Health'sNational Mortality Information System and World Health Organisation databases. In this policy analysis study, a conceptual outline was built up from classical theory updated to the present-day context, analysis of data relevant to the study object and observation of target groups for comprehensive, inclusive policies. The results of this analysis reveal that adolescents and young people are highly liable to growing, sustained, high-impact vulnerability to suicide.

O artigo analisa de forma ensaística o suicídio entre jovens no Brasil a partir das abordagens clássicas de Durkheim atualizadas pelo debate contemporâneo sobre redes de integração social. Apresenta argumentação sobre a evolução das taxas de mortalidade por suicídio segundo as premissas clássicas da saúde pública sobre as causas sociais no processo saúde-doença. As taxas de mortalidade são atualizadas segundo estatísticas internacionais, revisão de dados em estudos nacionais e séries recentes para o Brasil e que evidenciam a existência de estoques nacionais de suicídio segundo idade, sexo e grupos sociais. O caráter linear e não linear das séries são tratados no contexto das trajetórias em sistemas sociais complexos. Os dados atualizados são pesquisados no Sistema de Informação de Mortalidade do Ministério da Saúde e nas bases da Organização Mundial de Saúde. O estudo utiliza o modelo de análise de políticas onde a base conceitual é construída a partir de teorias clássicas e atualizadas ao contexto atual, da análise dos dados relevantes ao objeto e da observação de grupos alvo de políticas públicas inclusivas e abrangentes. Os resultados desta análise atestam a alta relevância dos adolescentes e jovens brasileiros como vulneráveis ao suicídio de modo crescente, sustentado e de alto impacto.

Mortality by road traffic accidents in adolescents and young people, Brazil, 1996-2015: will we achieve SDG 3.6? / Mortalidade por acidentes de transporte de trânsito em adolescentes e jovens, Brasil, 1996-2015: cumpriremos o ODS 3.6?

This paper aims to analyze the main characteristics of Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) mortality in Brazil for the period 1996-2015, focusing on the 10-29 years' age group. This is a two-step study consisting of (i) a bibliographic review on the topic of traffic violence in Brazil, and (ii) a study on RTA mortality in the Mortality Information System (SIM). The former situates the state of the art of scientific production on the theme and produces the theoretical reference for the analysis of the latter. During the period, about 39,000 people died by RTA, of which about 13,200 adolescents and young people died. The country should curb mortality to somewhere around 19,500/year and, among adolescents and young people, to 6,500/year to achieve SDG 3.6. With the establishment of the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB), RTA mortality rate fell between 1997 and 2000. The rate increased in the subsequent decade. The focus on adolescents and young people help us understand that, in the post-CTB and Prohibition, male black and brown motorcyclists became the main victims. The literature provides data analysis and shows that reduction is currently submitted to an articulated discussion that involves worker's health, gender, employment, urban mobility and advertising policies. Concerning SDG, this means that achieving SDG 3.6 is a process that involves interacting with policies targeting other SDGs.

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar principais características da mortalidade por ATT no Brasil, 1996-2015, com foco na faixa de 10-29 anos. Estudo com 2 etapas articuladas: (i) revisão bibliográfica sobre o tema violência no trânsito no Brasil; (ii) estudo da mortalidade por ATT no SIM. A primeira situa o estado da arte da produção científica sobre o tema e produz o referencial teórico para a análise da segunda. No período, morreram por ATT cerca de 39.000 pessoas/ano, das quais cerca de 13.200 adolescentes e jovens. Para atingir o ODS 3.6, o país deve reduzir a mortalidade para algo em torno de 19.500/ano e, entre adolescentes e jovens, para 6.500/ano. Com a instituição do CTB houve queda na taxa de mortalidade por ATT entre 1997 e 2000. A taxa aumentou na década posterior. O foco nos adolescentes e jovens ajuda a compreender: no período pós CTB e Lei Seca, motociclistas do sexo masculino, pretos e pardos tornaram-se as principais vítimas. A literatura levantada propicia a análise dos dados e demonstra que a redução passa por uma discussão articulada que envolve políticas de saúde do trabalhador, gênero, emprego, mobilidade urbana e propaganda. Em termos de ODS isto significa que atingir o ODS 3.6 é um processo que envolve a interação com políticas que visem outros ODS.

Federalism and health policy in Brazil: institutional features and regional inequalities. / Federalismo e políticas de saúde no Brasil: características institucionais e desigualdades regionais.

This article analyses the main characteristics of federalism in Brazil and its institutional relations with health policy. It discusses federalism from a classical perspective highlighting the essentially centralized nature of Brazil's system and the prevalence of decentralizing health policies underpinned by the principles enshrined by the 1988 Constitution.We used primary data obtained from an electronic questionnaire responded by secretaries of health sitting on the governing bodies of the country's health region and secondary data Ministry of Health databases covering the current health regions. The findings show that significant progress has been made in the implementation of regional governing bodies, yet without any significant impact on the reduction of deep regional inequalities in primary and hospital care. It concludes by suggesting that the persistence of inequalities is down to weak central coordination capacity and an inappropriate trade-off between a centralized federal system and competition between entities, thus undermining cooperative regionalization of the public health system as envisaged by the 1988 Constitution.

Este artigo analisa as características do federalismo no Brasil e suas relações institucionais com as políticas de saúde. Em termos conceituais, articula elementos teóricos clássicos com a tradição predominante no país acerca do caráter centralizador do federalismo e descentralizador das políticas decorrentes da Constituição de 1998. As bases empíricas incluem fontes primárias (pesquisa censitária com os secretários municipais de saúde participantes de colegiados estaduais) e secundárias (bases administrativas do Ministério da Saúde consolidadas nas regiões de saúde existentes). O artigo demonstra a implantação avançada dos colegiados regionais de gestão, porém sem repercussão direta na redução das grandes desigualdades regionais observadas na atenção primária e hospitalar. Conclui atribuindo a persistência destas disparidades à baixa capacidade de coordenação central e a um trade-off inadequado entre a centralização federativa na União e os componentes competitivos entre entes subnacionais. Como resultado, as dimensões cooperativas esperadas pelo desenho constitucionais são comprometidas para além da influência dos fatores socioeconômicos tradicionais.

[Decentralization, AIDS, and harm reduction: the implementation of public policies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Descentralização, AIDS e redução de danos: a implementação de políticas públicas no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

This paper assesses how decentralization of resources and initiatives by the Brazilian National SDT/AIDS Program has impacted the transfer of funds for programs to prevent HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1999-2006). The effects of the decentralization policy on Rio de Janeiro's Syringe Exchange Programs (SEPs) are assessed in detail. Decentralization effectively took place in Rio de Janeiro in 2006, with the virtual elimination of any direct transfer from the Federal government. The elimination of direct transfers forced SEPs to seek alternative funding sources. The structure of local SEPs appears to be weak and has been further undermined by current funding constraints. Of 22 SEPs operating in 2002, only two are still operational in 2006, basically funded by the State Health Secretariat and one municipal government. The current discontinuity of SEP operations may favor the resurgence of AIDS in the IDU population. A more uniform, regulated decentralization process is thus needed.

Mecanismos de governança, instituições societárias e burocracia estatal: reflexões sobre instituições societárias e porosidade governamental / Governance mechanisms, societal institutions, and State bureaucracy: concerns over societal institutions and governmental porosity

RESUMO Este ensaio discute os mecanismos de governança participativa no setor público a partir de teorias sobre liberdades civis, democracias dialógicas, formações burocráticas estatais e reformas de governança pública. O objetivo foi analisar a repercussão desses temas em agendas e alternativas de políticas de governança pública e participativa no Brasil com ênfase nos conflitos entre governantes, políticos, funcionários, grupos de interesses e coalizões civis em disputa nos processos decisórios. O artigo assinala o caráter híbrido da democracia brasileira, em que o universalismo weberiano e a orientação às instituições de Estado de Bem-Estar que foram entrelaçados na matriz constitucional de 1988 operam em competição com duas outras lógicas - por um lado, a herança estamental da burocracia pública e, por outro, as iniciativas de governanças horizontais e participativas. As contradições dinâmicas entre esses quatro eixos definirão a competição pelo aparelho de Estado no contexto atual.

ABSTRACT This essay discusses participative governance mechanisms in the public sector grounded on theories of civil liberties, dialogical democracies, patterns of state bureaucracies, and public governance reforms. We aimed to analyze the effects of these issues on political agendas and public and participative governance alternatives in Brazil, emphasizing conflicts among rulers, politicians, civil servants, interest groups, and advocacy coalitions in dispute in decision-making processes. The article signals a hybrid nature of the Brazilian democracy in which Weberian universalism and rules of Welfare State institutions inscribed in the 1988 constitutional matrix operate through competition between two other logic streams - strata inheritance of state bureaucracy on the one hand and initiatives in favor of horizontal and participative governance on the other. The dynamic contradictions among these four issues will define the pattern of current competition for State apparatus.

Political Obstacles to Regionalization of the SUS: perceptions of Municipal Health Secretaries with seat in the Bipartite Interagency Commissions. / Obstáculos políticos à regionalização do SUS: percepções dos secretários municipais de Saúde com assento nas Comissões Intergestores Bipartites.

This paper aims to identify and analyze the political obstacles to the implementation of Organizational Contract of Public Action (COAP) based on the perceptions of municipal health secretaries of Bipartite Interagency Commissions (CIB). For this purpose, we interviewed 195 secretaries (92% of the total) from October 2015 to August 2016. Based on the approach of policy analysis, the main hurdles identified were, in short, a traditional obstacle (lack of resources), one that has been gaining strength in recent years (judicialization of politics) and another, perhaps unheard of: the party-political system and the State Executive Branch are the great absentees in the coalitions in support of SUS regionalization policies. We can conclude that such obstacles indicate an extremely negative setting for the implementation of the COAP and other SUS regionalization policies. Thus, it is incumbent upon those involved to reflect, negotiate and build consensus on improving the health of the population and overcome such obstacles if, of course, they embrace the authors' concept that regionalization is fundamental for the SUS.

Coap and SUS Regionalization: the various implementation patterns in the Brazilian states. / O COAP e a Regionalização do SUS: os diversos padrões de implementação nos estados brasileiros.

This paper analyzes the implementation process of the Public Action Organizational Contract (Coap) and its impacts on state agendas of SUS regionalization, comparing the different institutional reactions of the states to the strategy proposed by Decree 7.508/11. The comparison of developing dynamics of state agendas took as reference a normative baseline structured in eight strategic political-institutional moments in the implementation of the Coap in accordance with the logic defined in Decree 7.508/11. We collected data through a questionnaire containing 35 questions (1 open, 25 closed and 9 mixed) and extensive documentary research in 2013 and 2014 in all states, except for the Federal District. Results showed that state agendas were distributed around three differentiated developing patterns: six states maintained greater distance from the national agenda established by Decree 7.508/11, engaging in a very fragmented way; 12 states engaged in the Coap agenda, selectively focusing on specific moments or stages, strengthening the process they have been developing; and 10 states maintained greater performance regularity during the eight moments of the Coap implementation cycle.

Sistemas de saúde, mecanismos de governança e porosidade governamental em perspectiva comparada / Health systems, mechanisms of governance, and governmental porosity in a comparative perspective

RESUMO O artigo apresenta uma análise comparada de dez países selecionados sobre as relações entre governança participativa, perfis socioeconômicos e sistemas de saúde com resultados sanitários e de Indicadores de Governança Global. As fontes principais foram bases de dados produzidas e/ou compiladas pelo Banco Mundial. O modelo analítico se apoia em enfoque institucionalista para tratar de proteção social e governança participativa - esta, como utilizada, recobre as noções de participação social, porosidade governamental e regulação responsiva. Os resultados mostram uma sólida convergência entre perfis socioeconômicos mais distributivos, sistemas sanitários com maior financiamento público e universalismo e melhores indicadores de governança. Esta análise reforça os argumentos sobre trajetórias institucionais socialmente virtuosas e sujeitas a reforços positivos capazes de produzir melhores resultados sociais e políticos ao longo do tempo.

ABSTRACT This paper presents a comparative analysis of ten selected countries regarding the established relationships of participative governance, socioeconomic profiles, and health care systems with health outcomes and Global Governance Indicators. Significant sources were databases produced or compiled by the World Bank. The analytical model adopts an institutionalist approach to address social protection and participative governance - the latter, as used, recovers notions of societal participation, government porosity, and responsive regulation. Outcomes show a solid convergence of more distributive socioeconomic profiles, more universalist health systems with higher government financing, and better governance indicators. This analysis supports the arguments that socially virtuous institutional paths subjected to positive feedback favor better social and political outcomes over time.

Tensions between approach paradigms in public policies on drugs: an analysis of Brazilian legislation in 2000-2016. / Tensões paradigmáticas nas políticas públicas sobre drogas: análise da legislação brasileira no período de 2000 a 2016.

Brazilian public policy on drugs has been permeated by two diametrically opposing approaches: one focusing on prohibition and the other on non- prohibition. Similarly, there have been two opposing approaches to mental healthcare, one centered on hospitalization and the other psychosocial care and development. In the context of these different paradigms, this article presents an analysis of twenty-two documents sourced by the legislative rules over the last sixteen years. After the year 2000, a renewed focus by healthcare community on drugs was noticeable as was the immersion of a harm reducing approach. Following international trends, although there are still considerable divergencies between (a) psychosocial care and(b) residential care in the therapeutic communities there seems to be an alignment to anti- prohibition approaches.

Análise da política nacional de DST/Aids sob a perspectiva do modelo de coalizões de defesa / Analysis of the national DST/Aids policy from the perspective of advocacy coalition framework (ACF)

Resumo O sucesso do Programa Nacional de DST/Aids no Brasil se deve, em boa medida, à pluralidade de atores sociais engajados no combate à Aids. Este artigo visa analisar a dinâmica de mudanças ocorridas dentro do subsistema da Política Nacional de DST/Aids à luz do modelo de coalizões de defesa (MCD). Trata-se de um estudo que se vale da análise documental dos marcos normativos e de entrevistas com informantes-chave. Os resultados apontam para a formação de três coalizões: Coalizão A (engajamento social), Coalizão B (força governamental), e Coalizão C (parcerias internacionais), que, mediadas pelos parlamentares e instituições científicas, travam disputas traduzindo seus pontos de vista em ações governamentais. Os achados mostram que, embora bem-sucedida, a Política Nacional de DST/Aids enfrentou grandes dificuldades em estabelecer padrões que contemplassem as necessidades da população. Entretanto, mesmo que as coalizões contem com estratégias distintas, apresentam-se como convergentes, pois se direcionam para o mesmo objetivo. Vale ressaltar que, nos dias atuais, a onda conservadora atuante no Brasil apresenta tendência a inviabilizar novas políticas no campo da Aids e ameaça direitos humanos e sociais adquiridos. Tais impactos devem ser analisados em estudos futuros.

Abstract The success of the National STD/AIDS Program in Brazil is, to a great extent, associated with the multiplicity of social actors involved in the fight against AIDS. The scope of this article is to analyze the dynamics of changes occurring within the subsystem of national STD/AIDS policy in the light of the advocacy coalition framework (ACF) model. The study is based on documentary analysis of regulatory frameworks and interviews with key informants. The results point to the formation of three coalitions: Coalition A (social engagement); Coalition B (the force of governmental policies/actors); and Coalition C (international partnerships) which, mediated by the House of representatives and scientific institutions, wage disputes to translate their viewpoints into government actions. The data show that, despite being successful, the National STD/AIDS Policy faced great difficulties in establishing standards that addressed the needs of the population. However, although coalitions have different strategies, they are convergent, as they are directed towards the same objectives. It is worth mentioning that nowadays, the conservative wave in Brazil tends to preclude renewed policies in the field of AIDS and may threaten well-established human and social rights. Such impacts need to be analyzed in future studies.

Health policies and federative gaps in Brazil: an analysis of regional capacity of services delivery. / Políticas de saúde e lacunas federativas no Brasil: uma análise da capacidade regional de provisão de serviços.

This paper analyzes Brazilian health regions according to their service delivery capacity from the debate on the crisis of cooperative federalism in the SUS that resulted from decentralizing process established in the 1988 Constitution. Service delivery capacity tracer indicators were selected by regions and statistical analyses evidenced greater regional capacity in hospital care and large asymmetries with regard to the availability of physicians, high complexity equipment and private insurance coverage. In conclusion,we argue that further solutions are required to strengthen governmental capacity to reduce regional inequalities throughincreased central coordination.

[Health consortia: a case study of best practices]. / Consórcios de saúde: estudo de caso exitoso.

Local Health Consortia have been used as alternatives and innovative models for improving health care provision. They are closely linked to the strategy aimed at regionalizing health care in Brazil and are in keeping with the health sector's administrative reform process, seeking greater efficiency, rationality, and quality in the supply of services to the population. In the development of such forms of cooperation, we view some consortia as weak structures with a short lifespan, while others have survived for considerable lengths of time. This case study on the Penápolis Consortium, the oldest in Brazil (having lasted for 14 years), examines the dynamics of cooperation and the reasons for its sustainability. Its formation is a mixture of restructuring the regional supply and the entrepreneurial spirit of its leaders, along with State incentives. The Consortium's local capacity to solve cases with quality care and flexible management has proven to be an important factor. Participants share the important notion that the operational rules are fair, and the reasons for its success stem from the collective perception of reasonably symmetrical political gains as the result of political cooperation.

Syringe exchange programs in Brazil: preliminary assessment of 45 programs.

The present study aims to evaluate the current operation of Brazilian syringe exchange programs (SEP). After consulting national and regional networks of people working in projects/programs aiming to reduce drug-related harm, we identified 134 potential participant programs. Unfortunately, only 45 SEPs answered a survey, even after repeated attempts. The survey addressed: coverage, funding, procurement of basic supplies, managerial capacity, and the local political environment. Findings were triangulated with in-depth interviews with key informants. The main findings included: satisfactory adherence to the initiatives and adequate documentation, but deficiencies in terms of coverage and monitoring, and uneven procurement of resources. Program personnel work mostly on a provisional basis, despite the efforts of local coordinators. Most programs are funded by the National STDs/AIDS Program. A comprehensive agenda aiming to improve current operations should include: concerted efforts to improve local and regional databanks, incentives/sanctions toward full accountability of initiatives carried by the programs, and a genuine culture of monitoring and evaluation.