São Paulo urban health index: measuring and mapping health disparities / Índice de saúde urbana de São Paulo: medindo e mapeando disparidades em saúde

ABSTRACT: Objective: To calculate and map the health inequalities in the city of São Paulo using the Urban Health Index (UHI) methodology. Methods: Seven indicators were selected from the Brazilian census: (1) proportion of households with access to sewage systems, (2) proportion of households served by regular waste collection, (3) proportion of households with two or more toilets, (4) proportion of households receiving tap water, (5) average income per household, (6) percentage of white people, and (7) literacy rate. Based on the UHI methodology, all health indicators were standardized and aggregated into a single metric at the census tract level. The UHI scores were ranked and plotted. The disparity ratio and the graph slope were calculated. The correlation between indicators was tested. Results were geocoded to produce a map of health risks. Results: The distribution of index values showed a linear middle section and deviations at each end. The disparity ratio found was 2.95, while the slope was 0.30. All indicators were significantly correlated. The map displayed a typical pattern of health inequality between the downtown and the periphery. The tracts located in the city's downtown had higher UHI values than those on the outskirts. Conclusions: The results of this study presented a visual distribution of health disparities in the city of São Paulo, proving to be a valuable method for identifying areas that require public health attention.

Resumo: Objetivo: Calcular e mapear as desigualdades em saúde na cidade de São Paulo por meio da metodologia do índice de saúde urbana (UHI). Métodos: Sete indicadores foram selecionados do censo brasileiro: (1) proporção de domicílios com acesso a esgoto, (2) proporção de domicílios com coleta regular de lixo, (3) proporção de domicílios com dois ou mais banheiros, (4) proporção de domicílios que recebem água encanada, (5) renda média por domicílio, (6) porcentagem de pessoas brancas e (7) taxa de alfabetização. Usando a metodologia UHI, todos os indicadores de saúde foram padronizados e agregados em uma única métrica para o setor censitário. Os valores de UHI foram classificados e plotados. A razão de disparidade e a inclinação do gráfico foram calculadas. A correlação entre os indicadores foi testada. Os resultados foram geocodificados, produzindo um mapa de risco à saúde. Resultados: A distribuição dos valores do índice apresentou uma seção intermediária linear e desvios nas extremidades. A taxa de disparidade encontrada foi de 2,95, enquanto o coeficiente angular foi 0,30. Todos os indicadores apresentaram correlação significativa. O mapa exibiu um arranjo característico de desigualdade em saúde entre o centro e a periferia. Os setores localizados na região central da cidade apresentaram valores de UHI mais elevados do que os da periferia. Conclusão: Os resultados deste estudo apresentaram uma distribuição visual das disparidades de saúde na cidade de São Paulo, demonstrando ser um método valioso para a identificação de áreas que requerem atenção da saúde pública.

Mortality for oral Cancer in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 1996 to 2012 / Mortalidade por Câncer de boca em Minas Gerais, Brazil, de 1996 a 2012 / La mortalidad en Cáncer de boca en Minas Gerais, Brasil, 1996 a 2012

Aim: To investigate the spatial-temporal distribution of mortality from oral cancer in Minas Gerais between 1996 and 2012. Methods: The analysis of the growth trend rates of the series was made by Moving Average. Results: In the period there were 8.675 deaths from mouth cancer and these were identified in all the regions of the state. Being, 6,974 (80,4%) men and 1,701 (19,6%) women. Regarding the crude rate, we observed a tendency of growing of mortality from this cancer type. This phenomenon was also observed when executed the weighting by sex, especially for males and over 60 years old. Was rejected the null hypothesis of stationary of mortality series for oral cancer in Minas Gerais during the period. Conclusion: Moving Average weighted by age and gender allowed to observe an increase in the mortality rate in all age groups and for both sexes especially men and older than 60 years.

Objetivo: Investigar a distribuição espaço-temporal da taxa de mortalidade por câncer de boca do estado de Minas Gerais entre 1996 e 2012. Métodos: A Média Móvel foi utilizada para analisar a tendência de crescimento da taxa. Resultados: No período estudado ocorreram 8.675 óbitos por câncer de boca e estes foram identificados em todas as microrregiões do estado. Sendo, 6.974 (80,4%) homens e 1.701(19,6%) mulheres. Houve tendência de crescimento da taxa bruta de mortalidade por este tipo de câncer. Este fenômeno também foi observado quando executado a ponderação por sexo, principalmente para o sexo masculino e indivíduos acima dos 60 anos. Foi rejeitada hipótese de nulidade de estacionariedade da mortalidade por câncer de boca em Minas Gerais no período estudado com elevação da taxa de 2,22 em 1996 para 3,87 em 2012. Conclusão: Observou-se o crescimento da taxa nas faixas etárias estudadas, em homens e acima de 60 anos.

Objetivo: Investigar la distribución espacial y temporal de la mortalidad por cáncer oral en el estado de Minas Gerais entre 1996 y 2012. Métodos: El promedio móvil se utilizó para analizar la tendencia de la tasa de crecimiento. Resultados: En el período hubo 8.675 muertes por cáncer de boca y éstos fueron identificados en todas las regiones del estado. Y, 6.974 (80,6%) eran hombres y 1.701 (19,6%) mujeres. Con respecto a la tasa bruta, se observa una tendencia creciente en la mortalidad por este tipo de cáncer y cuando se ejecuta la ponderación por sexo, especialmente para los varones y más de 60. Rechazó la hipótesis nula de estacionariedad de la mortalidad por cáncer oral en Minas Gerais durante el período. Conclusión: Promedio ponderado por edad y sexo Mobile ha observado tasa de crecimiento en los grupos de edad y en los hombres y por encima de 60 años.

30 Years of dental research in Australia and India: A comparative analysis of published peer review literature.

Background: A sustained program of research is an integral part of human-kind's efforts to improve oral health. In addition, dental research is a vital part of the development of a strong and prosperous dental education system and has been one of the three pillars of the higher education sector (Research, Education and Service) for a very long time. Aim: This study aims to examine the last 30 years of peer review published dental literature in both, Australia and India, and to define the trends in publication over that time. Materials and Methods: This study used the Pubmed database using a set of core dental words for the years 1980 to 2009. Detailed analysis of the year-by-year rates of publication was done using Microsoft Excel. Results: India is on a near exponential upward growth while Australia through the latter half of the last decade has been more stable in output. State-wise breakdown in both countries shows that the proportions are more consistent for Australia, but for India, a major number of publications can be traced to three states. Conclusion: It is expected that dental research in Australia will grow in the coming decade as the new dental schools embed their educational programs and mature to develop strong research profiles. However, India is becoming a significant force in the published peer review dental research literature, and is growing at a very rapid rate.

Qualitative research and dental public health.

The use of Qualitative Research (QR) methods are now getting common in various aspects of health and healthcare research and they can be used to interpret, explore, or obtain a deeper understanding of certain aspects of human beliefs, attitudes, or behavior through personal experiences and perspectives. The potential scope of QR in the field of dental public health is immense, but unfortunately, it has remained underutilized. However, there are a number of studies which have used this type of research to probe into some unanswered questions in the field of public health dentistry ranging from workforce issues to attitudes of patients. In recent health research, evidence gathered through QR methods provide understanding to the social, cultural, and economic factors affecting the health status and healthcare of an individual and the population as a whole. This study will provide an overview of what QR is and discuss its contributions to dental public health research.