Origen y evolución del control de salud / Origin and evolution of periodic health check-ups

Los controles periódicos de salud son aquellos cuidados médicos realizados a intervalos regulares, motivados por la necesidad de evaluar la salud en general y prevenir enfermedades a futuro. Se presume que comenzaron a ponerse en práctica durante el siglo XIX para la detección precoz de la tuberculosis y otras enfermedades contagiosas. A principios del siglo XX fueron difundidos los programas de examinación médica en el contexto de la estimación del riesgo de enfermedad y/o muerte previo a la contratación de seguros de vida. El desarrollo tecnológico posterior a la Segunda Guerra mundial fomentó el interés en estas examinaciones periódicas con la implementación de pruebas masivas de rastreo, lo que aumentó de manera considerable de la mano de los servicios de medicina prepaga. En los últimos años se han realizado múltiples esfuerzos por cuantificar los beneficios de estos controles. Si bien existen diversas opiniones respecto a su utilidad, pareciera ser que el enfoque actual del control periódico de salud implica tener en cuenta las necesidades de las personas, el riesgo individual y la relación médico-paciente como eje de la discusión. (AU)

Periodic health check-ups are medical care performed at regular intervals, motivated by the need to assess general health and prevent future diseases. It is presumed that they began to be implemented in the 19thcentury for the early detection of tuberculosis and other contagious diseases, and later spread in the early 20thcentury in the context of estimating the risk of illness and/or death prior to taking out life insurance. The technological development after the World War II encouraged interest in these periodic examinations with the implementation of mass screening tests, which increased considerably with the introductionof prepaid medical services. In recent years, multiple efforts have been made to quantify the benefits of such controls. While there are varying opinionsas to their usefulness, it appears that the current approach to periodic health check-ups is to take into account the needs of individuals, their individual risk, and the doctor-patient relationship at the core of the discussion. (AU)

Prevenção primária: análise de um movimento e possibilidades para o Brasil / Primary prevention: a movement analysis and possibilities to Brazil

Este trabalho tem como objetivos refletir sobre a temática da prevenção primária e discutircriticamente sobre algumas das idéias que permeiam este campo. A primeira parte apresenta osurgimento da temática da prevenção em um movimento específico na psicologia dos EUA que critica modelos individualistas e remediativos de atuação. São apresentados aspectos históricos econstitutivos da prevenção primária, a diferenciação entre níveis, tipos e abordagens de prevenção e reflete-se sobre a relação entre prevenção primária e promoção de saúde. Define-se o que são fatores de risco e fatores de proteção e os indicadores e as dimensões do bem-estar. A segunda parte discute problemas e questões controversas no debate sobre a prevenção primária, a partir de noções presentesnos trabalhos de George W. Albee e Emory L. Cowen. Na terceira parte são apresentadas aspossibilidades oferecidas por este modelo para a realidade brasileira a partir da crítica a algumas dasidéias destacadas. A noção de educação emancipadora e a tomada de uma perspectiva histórica na compreensão da constituição do homem são consideradas como necessárias para a superação do positivismo que permeia noções e práticas preventivas. Enfatiza-se a inseparabilidade entre prevenção e mudança social.

This paper discusses the primary prevention and some ideas developed in this . The first sectionpresents the origins of prevention theme at a specific movement in US psychology which criticizes the individualistic and remediative frameworks. Historical and constitutive dimensions of primary prevention, differences between preventive levels, types, and approaches and considerations about the relationship between prevention and health promotion are presented. The authors define risk and protection factors, wellness indicators and dimensions. The second section discusses controversies related to primary prevention, based on the ideas presented by G. W. Albee and E. L. Cowen?s works. The third section presents critical considerations about this framework at Brazilian social reality. It isargued that the shift from positivism inside preventive ideas and practices have as a necessary condition the notion of emancipatory education and an historical perspective to the comprehension of human development. The inseparability of prevention and social change are emphasized.

Personal reflections on twentieth century vaccinology.

The science of vaccinology was created in the late 18th and 19th centuries by "giants" of the time including Jenner, Pasteur, Koch, von Behring, Ehrlich and Lister. Relatively little technologic advance was made in the period leading to World War II except for yellow fever and influenza vaccines. Support for war efforts fueled developments which led to the modern era of vaccines of 1950 onwards. The author's career in vaccinology, which began in 1944, was recognized in the 2002 Prince Mahidol Award given in Bangkok, Thailand. This review presents the substance of the Award lecture delivered on January 29, 2003.

Salud comunitaria II producción prevención

Presenta investigación de campo sobre la atención primaria de salud