Demandas de cuidado em saúde mental na atenção primária à saúde: perspectiva de enfermeiros supervisores / Demands for mental health care in primary health care: the perspective of supervisor nurses / Demandas de atención de salud mental en la atención primaria de salud: la perspectiva de las enfermeras supervisoras

Objetivo: descrever as demandas de cuidado em saúde mental na Estratégia Saúde da Família, na perspectiva de enfermeiros supervisores. Métodos: estudo descritivo-exploratório de abordagem qualitativa realizado em 10 unidades de Estratégia Saúde da Família de um município da região centro-oeste do Brasil. Participaram do estudo 13 enfermeiros supervisores. Os dados foram coletados por meio de grupos focais, observação participante e anotações em diário de campo e foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo, modalidade temática. Resultados: emergiu a categoria temática Demandas e ações em saúde mental que revela as principais demandas de cuidado em saúde mental no contexto da Atenção Primária que foram relacionadas ao uso problemático de álcool e outras drogas, além de casos de sofrimento ou transtornos mental. Sobre as ações de cuidado em saúde mental à saúde, os participantes verbalizaram a prescrição indiscriminada e prolongada de psicofármacos, práticas integrativas e complementares e encaminhamentos para outros serviços. Conclusão: há limitação da oferta de ações em saúde mental no âmbito da Estratégia de Saúde da Família, com ausência de alguns cuidados específicos que poderiam ser possibilitados com a instrumentalização das equipes. (AU)

Objective: to describe the demands of mental health care in the Family Health Strategy, from the perspective of supervisor nurses. Methods: descriptive-exploratory study with a qualitative approach carried out in 10 units of the Family Health Strategy in a city in the Midwest region of Brazil. Thirteen nurse supervisors participated in the study. Data were collected through focus groups, participant observation and notes in a field diary and were subjected to content analysis, thematic modality. Results: the thematic category Demands and actions in mental health emerged, revealing the main demands for mental health care in the context of Primary Care, which were related to the problematic use of alcohol and other drugs, in addition to cases of suffering or mental disorders. Regarding mental health care actions, the participants verbalized the indiscriminate and prolonged prescription of psychotropic drugs, integrative and complementary practices and referrals to other services. Conclusion: there is a limitation in the offer of actions in mental health within the Family Health Strategy, with the absence of some specific care that could be made possible with the instrumentalization of the teams. (AU)

Objetivo: describir las demandas de atención en salud mental en la Estrategia Salud de la Familia, desde la perspectiva de enfermeras supervisoras. Métodos: estudio descriptivo-exploratorio con abordaje cualitativo realizado en 10 unidades de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia en una ciudad del Medio Oeste de Brasil. Participaron trece supervisoras de enfermería. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de grupos focales, observación participante y anotaciones en un diario de campo y fueron sometidos a análisis de contenido, modalidad temática. Resultados: surgió la categoría temática Demandas y acciones en salud mental, revelando las principales demandas de atención en salud mental en el contexto de Atención Primaria, las cuales estaban relacionadas con el uso problemático de alcohol y otras drogas, además de casos de sufrimiento o trastornos mentales. En cuanto a las acciones de atención en salud mental, los participantes verbalizaron la prescripción indiscriminada y prolongada de psicofármacos, prácticas integradoras y complementarias y derivaciones a otros servicios. Conclusion: existe una limitación en la oferta de acciones en salud mental dentro de la Estrategia de Salud de la Familia, con la ausencia de alguna atención específica que podría hacerse posible con la instrumentalización de los equipos. (AU)

Pursuance of a Yoruba name for cervical cancer in Southwest Nigeria: a case study.

OBJECTIVES: Participants' comprehension of research process affects the quality of research output, which is the reason why translation of research instruments into local languages is standard practice. Literature has consistently reported that in Africa, knowledge about cervical cancer is low but paradoxically, expressed, and actual uptake of human papillomavirus vaccine for its prevention is high. This study explored the Yoruba names of cervical cancer among Yoruba people in Ibadan, Nigeria to guide the translation of cervical cancer research instruments to Yoruba language. DESIGN: Exploratory case study design was used and data were obtained with 10 in-depth interviews and four focused group discussions. Data were analysed using content analysis. SETTINGS: The study took place in Ibadan North local government area, Southwest Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: These were 4 traditional healers, 3 Yoruba linguists, 3 public health educators and 38 parents of adolescents. MEASURES: These were Yoruba names for cervical cancer and their meanings. RESULTS: Participants were aware of cervical cancer but only the traditional healers and public health educators had names for it. These names were highly varied. The public health educators gave names that were linked with different parts of the female reproductive system and external genital which were actually different medical conditions. Each traditional healer also had different names for cervical cancer, which either described the female body parts, or symptoms of female genital infections. These various names can lead to unnecessary misconceptions and misinformation about cervical cancer, its prevention, management, and research. CONCLUSIONS: There was no consensus Yoruba name for cervical cancer among the study participants. Efforts to educate the Yoruba speaking populace about cervical cancer, its prevention, management and participation in its research can be frustrated if a generally accepted Yoruba name is not provided for this cancer. Stakeholders' collaboration is required to get an appropriate Yoruba name for cervical cancer.

Sunlight: Time for a Rethink?

UVR is a skin carcinogen, yet no studies link sun exposure to increased all-cause mortality. Epidemiological studies from the United Kingdom and Sweden link sun exposure with reduced all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. Vitamin D synthesis is dependent on UVB exposure. Individuals with higher serum levels of vitamin D are healthier in many ways, yet multiple trials of oral vitamin D supplementation show little benefit. Growing evidence shows that sunlight has health benefits through vitamin D-independent pathways, such as photomobilization of nitric oxide from cutaneous stores with reduction in cardiovascular morbidity. Sunlight has important systemic health benefit as well as risks.

Non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci (NASM): their role in bovine mastitis and One Health.

Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) are gaining importance in mastitis and public health, and some NAS have been reclassified as mammaliicocci (NASM). Bovine milk production has a major influence on the world economy, being an essential source of income for small, medium and large producers, and bovine mastitis caused by NASM can cause an economic impact. Mastitis generates financial losses due to reduced revenue, increased veterinary costs and expenses associated with animal slaughter. However, it is also a public health issue involving animal health and welfare, human health and the ecosystem. Furthermore, it is an increasingly common infection caused by NASM, including antimicrobial-resistant strains. Despite all these adverse effects that NASM can cause, some studies also point to its protective role against mastitis. Therefore, this review article addresses the negative and positive aspects that NASM can cause in bovine mastitis, the virulence of the disease and resistance factors that make it difficult to treat and, through the One Health approach, presents a holistic view of how mastitis caused by NASM can affect both animal and human health at one and the same time.

Perspectives on Iron Deficiency as a Cause of Human Disease in Global Public Health.

Iron (Fe) is a necessary trace element in numerous pathways of human metabolism. Therefore, Fe deficiency is capable of causing multiple health problems. Apart from the well-known microcytic anemia, lack of Fe can cause severe psychomotor disorders in children, pregnant women, and adults in general. Iron deficiency is a global health issue, mainly caused by dietary deficiency but aggravated by inflammatory conditions. The challenges related to this deficiency need to be addressed on national and international levels. This review aims to summarize briefly the disease burden caused by Fe deficiency in the context of global public health and aspires to offer some hands-on guidelines.

Assessing Biomedical and Psychosocial Factors in a Cross-Sectional Study of School Dropouts Among Pregnant Adolescents and Young Mothers in Quito, Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Over nearly three decades, Ecuador experienced a significant rise in adolescent motherhood. OBJECTIVES: By focusing on social, health, and psychological aspects, the research aims to reveal the complex factors influencing the decision to discontinue education. The emphasis on providing a platform for direct expression of personal experiences not only adds qualitative depth to the study but also ensures that the voices of those involved are heard authentically. METHODS: Employing a nonexperimental, descriptive, cross-sectional approach with qualitative and quantitative methods, the research delves into the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. Descriptive statistics, presented through tables and graphs, were used for variable analysis, complemented by inferential statistics to validate hypotheses. Focus group sessions, processed with ATLAS.ti (ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin, Germany) underwent a thorough review in workshops with Servicio de Atención Integral para Adolescentes (SAIA) experts. Adolescent participants were randomly recruited through the hospital's system. RESULTS: The findings unveiled a significant dropout rate among adolescents, where pregnancy was just one factor influencing their decision. Those discontinuing education often embraced a life project centered on motherhood and domestic roles, facing domestic violence and mental health disorders. In contrast, those persisting with education were driven by professional development, facing challenges but benefiting from family support. Despite unwanted pregnancies and low contraceptive use, many found personal growth and identity affirmation in motherhood. CONCLUSIONS: Our research highlights key insights into factors like pregnancy desire, contraception, reactions, and challenges. Urgent action is needed to address systemic problems and provide holistic support, acknowledging the resilience and validity of choices made by adolescent mothers in balancing motherhood with education and career goals.

Building public engagement and access to palliative care and advance care planning: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Research evidence suggests that a lack of engagement with palliative care and advance care planning could be attributed to a lack of knowledge, presence of misconceptions and stigma within the general public. However, the importance of how death, dying and bereavement are viewed and experienced has been highlighted as an important aspect in enabling public health approaches to palliative care. Therefore, research which explores the public views on strategies to facilitate engagement with palliative care and advance care planning is required. METHODS: Exploratory, qualitative design, utilising purposive random sampling from a database of participants involved in a larger mixed methods study. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted (n = 28) and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Thematic findings were mapped to the social-ecological model framework to provide a holistic understanding of public behaviours in relation to palliative care and advance care planning engagement. RESULTS: Three themes were generated from the data: "Visibility and relatability"; "Embedding opportunities for engagement into everyday life"; "Societal and cultural barriers to open discussion". Evidence of interaction across all five social ecological model levels was identified across the themes, suggesting a multi-level public health approach incorporating individual, social, structural and cultural aspects is required for effective public engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Public views around potential strategies for effective engagement in palliative care and advance care planning services were found to be multifaceted. Participants suggested an increase in visibility within the public domain to be a significant area of consideration. Additionally, enhancing opportunities for the public to engage in palliative care and advance care planning within everyday life, such as education within schools, is suggested to improve death literacy and reduce stigma. For effective communication, socio-cultural aspects need to be explored when developing strategies for engagement with all members of society.

Incorporating art into a biology course: a student-curated art exhibition about COVID-19.

Incorporating art into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses can be an effective way to help students understand scientific concepts and think about those concepts more holistically. Additionally, art can be used to inform the public about scientific issues. To explore this topic more fully, we developed an assignment for an upper-level biology course in which students curated an art exhibition focused on the 2019 coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Working in pairs, students identified pieces of art in the College's permanent collection that they felt related to some aspect of the pandemic. Each pair wrote a short curator's statement and a more traditional academic essay. The works of art and the curator's statements were displayed on campus. Visitors to the exhibition were invited to complete a short survey about the exhibition and its relevance to COVID-19. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the students enjoyed and valued the assignment. Limited data from visitors to the exhibition show that they thought the art helped them think more deeply about the pandemic. Based on these results, we conclude that the development of art exhibitions in STEM courses can benefit the students and the public.

Pseudomyopia treated with auricular point sticking combined with periocular needle-embedding therapy and prevention of true myopia: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. / è€³ç©´è´´åŽ‹è”åˆçœ¼å‘¨æ¿é’ˆæŠ€æœ¯é¢„é˜²å‡æ€§è¿‘è§†å‘çœŸæ€§è¿‘è§†è¿›å±•ï¼šå¤šä¸­å¿ƒéšæœºå¯¹ç §è¯•éªŒ.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the clinical effect and safety of auricular point sticking combined with periocular needle-embedding therapy for pseudomyopia and prevention of true myopia. METHODS: A total of 269 children with pseudomyopia were randomized into an observation group (134 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a control group (135 cases, 5 cases dropped out). In the control group, the healthy education was provided. In the observation group, besides the intervention as the control group, the auricular point sticking was delivered at gan (CO12), pi (CO13), xin (CO15) and yan (LO5) on one ear in each treatment, combined with periocular needle-embedding technique at bilateral Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yuyao (EX-HN 4) and Sibai (ST 2). There were 2 weeks of interval after 4 weeks of treatment. One course of treatment was composed of 6 weeks and 2 courses were required. Separately, before treatment, after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and after 12 weeks (the 1st follow-up visit) and 24 weeks (the 2nd follow-up visit) of treatment completion, the spherical equivalent (SE), SE progression, axial length (AL) progression, accommodative amplitude (AMP), the score of the TCM symptom and the general symptom were observed in the two groups. The safety and compliance were evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, SE increased when compared with that before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and AMP was larger than that before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05). After 12 weeks of treatment, and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, the progression of SE was slower in the observation group compared with that in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.001). After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, the progression of AL in the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001); and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, AMP of the observation group was larger when compared with that in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.001). After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, the total scores of TCM symptom and general symptom were reduced in comparison with those before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05); after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, the total scores of TCM symptom and general symptom were lower than those before treatment in the control group (P<0.05). In the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, the difference of the total score of TCM symptom and general symptom in the observation group was larger than that of the control group (P<0.05). In the observation group, compared with the control group, the scores for pale/dark complexion in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits and that for lassitude in the 2nd follow-up visit were lower (P<0.05), the score for poor concentration after 12 weeks of treatment and that for poor sleep and memory in the 2nd follow-up visit were lower (P<0.05). There were no adverse reactions in the two groups. The compliance was 98.5% in the observation group and was 96.3% in the control group, without statistical difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of health education, auricular point sticking combined with periocular needle-embedding therapy can effectively prevent from true myopia, control the increase of SE, delay the growth of AL and improve AMP in children with pseudomyopia. This compound therapeutic regimen can relieve the general symptom and comprehensively prevent from myopia through multiple approaches, with high safety and satisfactory compliance.

Human Healthcare and Its Pharmacy Component from a Safety Point of View.

Healthcare plays a crucial role in public and national safety as a significant part of state activity and a component of national safety, whose mission is to organize and ensure affordable medical care for the population. The four stages of the genesis of healthcare safety development with the corresponding safety models of formation were defined: technical, human factor or security management, systemic security management, and cognitive complexity. It was established that at all stages, little attention is paid to the issues of the formation of the pharmaceutical sector's safety. Taking into account the development of safety models that arise during the four stages of the genesis of safety science, we have proposed a model of the evolution of pharmaceutical safety formation. At the same time, future research is proposed to focus on new holistic concepts of safety, such as "Safety II", evaluation and validation methods, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, where the development of this topic remained in the second stage of the evolution of science, the search for pharmaceutical errors related to drugs.

Impact of supplementation with iron-folic acid (IFA) and vitamin D3 compared with IFA alone on haemoglobin levels in elderly people with mild-to-moderate anaemia: protocol for the double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled Iron and vitamin D trial in Elderly Anemia (IDEA).

INTRODUCTION: Anaemia in the elderly is often difficult to treat with iron supplementation alone as prevalence of anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) alone or mixed with iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) is high in this age group. Hepcidin remains high in ACD, preventing utilisation of iron for heme synthesis. Vitamin D3 has shown hepcidin suppression activity in both in vitro and in vivo studies. As there is no study assessing the effect of iron-folic acid (IFA) with vitamin D3 on haemoglobin levels in the elderly in India, we want to conduct this study to estimate the impact of supplementation of a therapeutic package of IFA and vitamin D3 on haemoglobin levels in the elderly with mild-to-moderate anaemia in comparison with IFA only. The study will also assess the impact of the proposed intervention on ferritin, hepcidin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, C reactive protein (CRP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a community-based, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial. The study will be done in the Kalyani municipality area. Individuals aged ≥60 years with mild-to-moderate anaemia and normal vitamin D3 levels will be randomised into the intervention (IFA and vitamin D3 supplementation) group or the control group (IFA and olive oil as placebo). All medications will be self-administered. Follow-up will be done on a weekly basis for 12 weeks. The calculated sample size is 150 in each arm. Block randomisation will be done. The primary outcome is change in haemoglobin levels from baseline to 12 weeks. Secondary outcome is change in serum ferritin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, hepcidin, CRP and PTH levels from baseline to 12 weeks. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee of All India Institute of Medical Sciences Kalyani has been obtained (IEC/AIIMS/Kalyani/Meeting/2022/03). Written informed consent will be obtained from each study participant. The trial results will be reported through publication in a reputable journal and disseminated through health talks within the communities. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CTRI/2022/05/042775. PROTOCOL VERSION: Version 1.0.

Combined effect of brazilin-rich extract and lawsone methyl ether against infection-causing bacteria.

Bacterial contamination and infection widely affect the food, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. Additionally, these bacteria developed resistance to synthetic antibiotics causing public health danger, globally. Natural plant extracts (NPE) are suitable alternatives to synthetic antibiotics to tackle antimicrobial resistance problems. Furthermore, a blend or combination of different NPEs exerts a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the combined effect of brazilin-rich extract (BRE) and lawsome methyl ether (LME) against infection-causing common bacteria were evaluated. BRE had a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against most of the Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) while LME was active against most of the Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis). The combination of BRE and LME at 2:1 and 1:1 concentration significantly reduced the MIC value of each compound as compared to either BRE or LME concentration alone (P < 0.05). Further time-kill kinetics revealed a 3.0-3.5 log reduction in Gram-positive bacteria and a 2.5-3.0 log reduction in Gram-negative bacteria during 120 min of incubation, respectively. Therefore, a combination of BRE and LME was recommended as natural antibacterial to synthetic antibiotics for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Re-evaluation of certain aspects of the EFSA Scientific Opinion of April 2010 on risk assessment of parasites in fishery products, based on new scientific data. Part 1: ToRs1-3.

Surveillance data published since 2010, although limited, showed that there is no evidence of zoonotic parasite infection in market quality Atlantic salmon, marine rainbow trout, gilthead seabream, turbot, meagre, Atlantic halibut, common carp and European catfish. No studies were found for greater amberjack, brown trout, African catfish, European eel and pikeperch. Anisakis pegreffii, A. simplex (s. s.) and Cryptocotyle lingua were found in European seabass, Atlantic bluefin tuna and/or cod, and Pseudamphistomum truncatum and Paracoenogonimus ovatus in tench, produced in open offshore cages or flow-through ponds or tanks. It is almost certain that fish produced in closed recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) or flow-through facilities with filtered water intake and exclusively fed heat-treated feed are free of zoonotic parasites. Since the last EFSA opinion, the UV-press and artificial digestion methods have been developed into ISO standards to detect parasites in fish, while new UV-scanning, optical, molecular and OMICs technologies and methodologies have been developed for the detection, visualisation, isolation and/or identification of zoonotic parasites in fish. Freezing and heating continue to be the most efficient methods to kill parasites in fishery products. High-pressure processing may be suitable for some specific products. Pulsed electric field is a promising technology although further development is needed. Ultrasound treatments were not effective. Traditional dry salting of anchovies successfully inactivated Anisakis. Studies on other traditional processes - air-drying and double salting (brine salting plus dry salting) - suggest that anisakids are successfully inactivated, but more data covering these and other parasites in more fish species and products is required to determine if these processes are always effective. Marinade combinations with anchovies have not effectively inactivated anisakids. Natural products, essential oils and plant extracts, may kill parasites but safety and organoleptic data are lacking. Advanced processing techniques for intelligent gutting and trimming are being developed to remove parasites from fish.

Quality of antenatal care in 13 sub-Saharan African countries in the SDG era: evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys.

BACKGROUND: Maternal and neonatal mortality remains high in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with women having 1 in 36 lifetime risk. The WHO launched the new comprehensive recommendations/guidelines on antenatal care (ANC) in 2016, which stresses the essence of quality antenatal care. Consequently, the objective of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the quality of ANC in 13 SSA countries. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that is premised on pre-existing secondary data, spanning 2015 to 2021. Data for the study was obtained from the Measure DHS Programme and included a total of 79,725 women aged 15-49 were included. The outcome variable was quality ANC and it was derived as a composite variable from four main ANC services: blood pressure taken, urine taken, receipt of iron supplementation and blood sample taken. Thirteen independent variables were included and broadly categorised into individual and community-level characteristics. Descriptive statistics were used to present the proportion of women who had quality ANC across the respective countries. A two-level multilevel regression analysis was conducted to ascertain the direction of association between quality ANC and the independent variables. RESULTS: The overall average of women who had quality ANC was 53.8% [CI = 51.2,57.5] spanning from 82.3% [CI = 80.6,85.3] in Cameroon to 11% [CI = 10.0, 11.4] in Burundi. Women with secondary/higher education had higher odds of obtaining quality ANC compared with those without formal education [aOR = 1.23, Credible Interval [Crl] = 1.10,1.37]. Poorest women were more likely to have quality ANC relative to the richest women [aOR = 1.21, Crl = 1.14,1.27]. Married women were more likely to receive quality ANC relative to those cohabiting [aOR = 2.04, Crl = 1.94,3.05]. Women who had four or more ANC visits had higher odds of quality ANC [aOR = 2.21, Crl = 2.04,2.38]. Variation existed in receipt of quality ANC at the community-level [σ2 = 0.29, Crl = 0.24,0.33]. The findings also indicated that a 36.2% variation in quality ANC is attributable to community-level factors. CONCLUSION: To achieve significant improvement in the coverage of quality ANC, the focus of maternal health interventions ought to prioritise uneducated women, those cohabiting, and those who are unable to have at least four ANCs. Further, ample recognition should be accorded to the existing and potential facilitators and barriers to quality ANC across and within countries.

Addressing the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Crisis in Pakistan's Healthcare System: An Urgent Call for Holistic Action.

The recent resurgence of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Pakistan's Balochistan province has significantly impacted both the medical community and the general population. Initially perceived as a concerning development, the situation has deteriorated, culminating in the infection and mortality of healthcare workers directly engaged in managing this virulent outbreak. This critical situation necessitates an urgent and collective response, transcending national boundaries to involve the international healthcare community.

Health workforce strategies during COVID-19 response: insights from 15 countries in the WHO Africa Region.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic unveiled huge challenges in health workforce governance in the context of public health emergencies in Africa. Several countries applied several measures to ensure access to qualified and skilled health workers to respond to the pandemic and provide essential health services. However, there has been limited documentation of these measures. This study was undertaken to examine the health workforce governance strategies applied by 15 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We extracted data from country case studies developed from national policy documents, reports and grey literature obtained from the Ministries of Health and other service delivery agencies. This study was conducted from October 2020 to January 2021 in 15 countries - Angola, Burkina Faso, Chad, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo. RESULTS: All 15 countries had national multi-sectoral bodies to manage the COVID-19 response and a costed national COVID-19 response plan. All the countries also reflected human resources for health (HRH) activities along the different response pillars. These activities included training for health workers, and budget for the recruitment or mobilization of additional health workers to support the response, and for provision of financial and non-financial incentives for health workers. Nine countries recruited additional 35,812 health workers either on a permanent or temporary basis to respond to the COVID-19 with an abridged process of recruitment implemented to ensure needed health workers are in place on time. Six countries redeployed 3671 health workers to respond to the COVID-19. The redeployment of existing health workers was reported to have impacted negatively on essential health service provision. CONCLUSION: Strengthening multi-sector engagement in the development of public health emergency plans is critical as this promotes the development of holistic interventions needed to improve health workforce availability, retention, incentivization, and coordination. It also ensures optimized utilization based on competencies, especially for the existing health workers.

A política nacional de práticas integrativas e complementares na grande Vitória: uma análise sobre os caminhos e proposições das PIC como proposta de tratamento de saúde do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) / The national policy for integrative and complementary practices in the metropolitan region of Vitória/ES: an analysis of the paths and propositions for PIC as a proposal for health treatment at the SUS / La política nacional de prácticas integrativas y complementarias en gran Vitória: un análisis sobre los caminos y proposiciones del PIC como propuesta de atención a la salud del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS)

Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa que tem por objetivo investigar a implementação das Práticas Integrativas e Complementares no SUS na Grande Vitória. Como estratégia metodológica foram utilizadas as entrevistas semiestruturadas com três profissionais (servidoras públicas) que atuam neste contexto: uma professora de Educação Física, uma Psicóloga e uma Assistente Social. Os resultados indicam barreiras como o preconceito, a descrença e a falta de legitimidade das PIC, as quais dificultam tanto a atuação profissional, quanto a busca dos usuários por esses tratamentos (AU).

Qualitative research that investigated the implementation of Integrative and Complementary Practices in SUS. As a methodological strategy, semi-structured interviews were used with three professionals (public servants) who work in this context: a physical education teacher, a psychologist and a social worker. It was identified that most of the PIC are offered in the capital city, leaving the other municipalities short of services. About these services, the professionals claim that there are barriers such as prejudice, disbelief and lack of legitimacy of the PIC, which hinder both the professional performance and the users' search for these treatments (AU).

Investigación cualitativa que tuvo como objetivo investigar la implementación de Prácticas Integradoras y complementares en el SUS. Como estrategia metodológica, se utilizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con tres profesionales (servidores públicos) que actúan en este contexto: una profesora de educación física, una psicóloga y una asistente social. Se identificó que la mayor parte del PIC se ofrece en la capital, quedando los demás municipios sin disponibilidad. En relación a estos servicios, los profesionales afirman que existen barreras como el prejuicio, la incredulidad y la falta de legitimidad de la PIC, que dificultan tanto la actuación profesional como la búsqueda de estos tratamientos por parte de los usuarios (AU).

Condição de saúde bucal de pacientes internados em um hospital público brasileiro / Oral health condition of patients admitted to a Brazilian public hospital / Condición de salud bucal de pacientes ingresados en un hospital público brasileño

Frequentemente, subestima-se a importância da manutenção da saúde bucal, negligenciando o fato de que infecções orais não se restringem à cavidade oral. O impacto das infecções orais, como cáries, doenças periodontais e outras patologias bucais não deve ser minimizado. Tais condições têm o potencial de desencadear complicações sistêmicas significativas, incluindo endocardite, pneumonia e até mesmo acidente vascular encefálico. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a condição de saúde bucal de pacientes hospitalizados em um hospital público brasileiro. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, que utilizou a análise de prontuários médicos de pacientes admitidos em uma instituição hospitalar pública brasileira e atendidos pelo serviço de odontologia da instituição. As afecções orais mais diagnosticadas, em ordem de frequência, foram: cárie dentária (40%), gengivite (23,7%), queilite angular (22,5%), doença periodontal (18,7%), candidose oral (7,5%), úlceras traumáticas (6,2%), lesão potencialmente maligna (2,5%) e herpes labial (2,5%). O estado de saúde e higiene bucal dos pacientes foi considerado precário. Parte significativa dos pacientes apresentou afecções bucais com potencial risco de complicações à saúde durante a internação e necessidade de tratamento odontológico invasivo e/ou de urgência. A saúde bucal no ambiente hospitalar tem um papel muito importante para a efetivação da saúde integral dos pacientes internados.

Oral health maintenance is often underestimated, neglecting the fact that oral infections are not confined to the oral cavity. The impact of oral infections such as dental caries, periodontal diseases, and other oral pathologies should not be minimized. These conditions can trigger significant systemic complications, including endocarditis, pneumonia, and even stroke. Hence, this study describes the oral health condition of patients hospitalized in a Brazilian public hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional, exploratory and retrospective study was conducted by analyzing medical records of patients admitted to a Brazilian public hospital, and attended by the institution's dentistry service. The most diagnosed oral conditions, in order of frequency, were dental caries (40%), gingivitis (23.7%), angular cheilitis (22.5%), periodontal disease (18.7%), oral candidiasis (7.5%), traumatic ulcers (6.2%), potentially malignant lesion (2.5%), and labial herpes (2.5%). The patients' oral health and hygiene were considered precarious. A significant number of patients presented oral conditions with potential for health complications during hospitalization and a need for invasive and/or urgent dental treatment. Oral health in a hospital setting plays a crucial role in achieving comprehensive care for hospitalized patients.

Se subestima con frecuencia la importancia de mantener la salud bucal, pasando por alto el hecho de que las infecciones orales no se limitan a la cavidad oral. El impacto de las infecciones orales, como caries, enfermedades periodontales y otras patologías bucales, no debe minimizarse. Estas condiciones tienen el potencial de desencadenar complicaciones sistémicas significativas, como endocarditis, neumonía e incluso accidente cerebrovascular. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la condición de salud bucal de pacientes hospitalizados en un hospital público brasileño. Se trata de un estudio transversal, mediante el análisis de historias clínicas de pacientes ingresados en una institución hospitalaria pública brasileña, atendidos por el servicio de odontología de la institución. Las afecciones orales más diagnosticadas, en orden de frecuencia, fueron: caries dental (40%), gingivitis (23,7%), queilitis angular (22,5%), enfermedad periodontal (18,7%), candidiasis oral (7,5%), úlceras traumáticas (6,2%), lesiones potencialmente malignas (2,5%) y herpes labial (2,5%). Se consideró que el estado de salud e higiene bucal de los pacientes era precario. Una parte significativa de los pacientes presentó afecciones bucales con potencial riesgo de complicaciones para la salud durante la hospitalización y la necesidad de tratamiento odontológico invasivo y/o de urgencia. La salud bucal en el entorno hospitalario desempeña un papel muy importante para la efectividad de la salud integral de los pacientes hospitalizados.

A política nacional de práticas integrativas e complementares na grande Vitória: uma análise sobre os caminhos e proposições das PIC como proposta de tratamento de saúde do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) / The national policy for integrative and complementary practices in the metropolitan region of Vitória/ES: an analysis of the paths and propositions for PIC as a proposal for health treatment at the SUS / La política nacional de prácticas integrativas y complementarias en gran Vitória: un análisis sobre los caminos y proposiciones del PIC como propuesta de atención a la salud del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS)

Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa que tem por objetivo investigar a implementação das Práticas Integrativas e Complementares no SUS na Grande Vitória. Como estratégia metodológica foram utilizadas as entrevistas semiestruturadas com três profissionais (servidoras públicas) que atuam neste contexto: uma professora de Educação Física, uma Psicóloga e uma Assistente Social. Os resultados indicam barreiras como o preconceito, a descrença e a falta de legitimidade das PIC, as quais dificultam tanto a atuação profissional, quanto a busca dos usuários por esses tratamentos.

Qualitative research that investigated the implementation of Integrative and Complementary Practices in SUS. As a methodological strategy, semi-structured interviews were used with three professionals (public servants) who work in this context: a physical education teacher, a psychologist and a social worker. It was identified that most of the PIC are offered in the capital city, leaving the other municipalities short of services. About these services, the professionals claim that there are barriers such as prejudice, disbelief and lack of legitimacy of the PIC, which hinder both the professional performance and the users' search for these treatments.

Investigación cualitativa que tuvo como objetivo investigar la implementación de Prácticas Integradoras y complementares en el SUS. Como estrategia metodológica, se utilizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con tres profesionales (servidores públicos) que actúan en este contexto: una profesora de educación física, una psicóloga y una asistente social. Se identificó que la mayor parte del PIC se ofrece en la capital, quedando los demás municipios sin disponibilidad. En relación a estos servicios, los profesionales afirman que existen barreras como el prejuicio, la incredulidad y la falta de legitimidad de la PIC, que dificultan tanto la actuación profesional como la búsqueda de estos tratamientos por parte de los usuarios.

Effect of Yoga in Industrial Workers with Chronic Venous Insufficiency: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and objective: Prolonged standing is one of the significant contributors to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in industry workers. Yoga is proven to be an effective therapy in treating occupational hazards. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of yoga on CVI among industry workers. Methodology: Male workers (n = 100) from machinery manufacturing industries in Bangalore meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited for the study. The yoga group received a specifically designed yoga module for 6 days a week for 12 weeks, and the control group was offered lifestyle suggestions. Plasma homocysteine was used as the primary outcome variable, whereas Venous Clinical Severity Score, ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI), ankle and calf circumference, CVI questionnaire, and Chalder fatigue scale were assessed as secondary variables at baseline and the end of 12 weeks of intervention. Results: Eighty-eight participants (yoga = 43, control = 45) completed the study. A one-way analysis of covariates (ANCOVA) was used to determine the significant differences between groups in the post-values. A significant difference was found between groups in plasma homocysteine (partial eta squared = 0.34, p < 0.001). All variables, except for ABPI, calf circumference, and ankle circumference, had shown statistically significant differences between the yoga and control groups after 12 weeks of intervention, with moderate to high effect sizes. There were no significant adverse events associated with the intervention. Conclusions: Yoga practices can reduce the symptoms of CVI along with vascular inflammation as indicated by reduced plasma homocysteine. Overall, yoga practices are found to be safe and efficacious for managing CVI. IEC Reference Number: RES/IEC-SVYASA/184/2021 Trial Registration Number (If Clinical Trial): CTRI/2021/02/030944.