Inequity in utilizing health services in the Brazilian Amazon: A population-based survey, 2015.

BACKGROUND: Although Brazil has a public and universal healthcare system, utilization of health services is marked by social and regional discrepancies. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with underutilization of healthcare services in the Brazilian Amazon. METHOD: Cross-sectional, population-based study. Adults aged over 18 years old were selected through probabilistic sampling. Underutilization of healthcare services was defined as never seeing a physician or a dentist. Poisson regression with robust variance was performed to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A complex sample design was considered. RESULTS: A total of 4001 individuals were included, of which 419 (10.4%; 95% CI, 9.5-11.4%) never visited a physician or a dentist. In the adjusted analysis, underutilization was higher among poorer people (PR = 3.32; 95% CI, 2.16-5.11), men (PR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.10-1.65), people with brown skin color (Brazilian mixed race; PR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.02-1.76), and people who are separated (PR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.01-1.94) and widowed (PR = 1.55; 95% CI, 1.02-2.37), when compared with the reference categories. Individuals with informal jobs, those who are retired, students/housewives, and unemployed people were more vulnerable to underutilization than formal workers (P < .04). CONCLUSION: Underutilization of healthcare services occurs in one-tenth of adults in Manaus Metropolitan Region and is associated with social and economic inequities.

Prevalence of psychotropic and antidepressant use in a Brazilian Amazon city: analysis of two cross-sectional studies.

This article aims to assess the prevalence of psychotropic and antidepressant use and associated factors in a Brazilian Amazon city. Two cross-sectional studies conducted in Manaus in 2015 and 2019 with adults selected by probabilistic sampling. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated by Poisson regression with robust variance. 3,479 participants were included in 2015 and 2,321 in 2019; 2.0% used psychotropics in 2015 and 2.7% in 2019. Antidepressants were used by 0.4% (2015) and 1.4% (2019). Psychotropic use was lower in younger (PR = 0.41; 95%CI: 0.19-0.90), partnerless (PR = 0.64; 95%CI: 0.44-0.93), and informal workers (PR=0.47; 95%CI: 0.25-0.86), but higher in people with poor health (PR=2.86; 95%CI: 1.71-4.80), multimorbidity (PR = 3.24; 95%CI: 1.87-5.60), and who visited doctors (PR = 3.04; 95%CI: 1.45-6.38) or dentists (PR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.08-2.10). Antidepressant use was higher in 2019 (PR = 2.90; 95%CI: 1.52-5.54), people with poor health (PR = 2.77; 95%CI: 1.16-6.62), and multimorbidity (PR = 8.72; 95%CI: 2.71-28.00), while lower in informal workers (PR = 0.33; 95%CI: 0.12-0.87) and unemployed (PR = 0.26; 95%CI: 0.08-0.81). Use of psychotropics remained stable in Manaus from 2015 to 2019, while antidepressant use more than tripled, which was marked by social inequalities.

Continuity of Primary Care in the Brazilian Amazon: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the continuity of primary care in universal health care systems, especially in underserved areas. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 4,001 adults (≥18 years old) living in the Manaus Metropolitan Region in 2015. Interviews were conducted in households selected with probabilistic sampling. City and neighborhood variables were collected from databanks. Prevalence ratios (PR) of the continuity of care (defined as using a primary care service and having been previously registered in the Family Health Strategy program) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with multilevel Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 20.6% (95%CI 19.4-21.9%) of the participants reported continuity of primary care. Women (PR = 1.38; 95%CI 1.18-1.61), nonwhite individuals (PR = 1.13; 95%CI 1.05-1.21), and poorer people (PR = 1.55; 95%CI 1.19-2.02) had higher levels of continuity, whereas health insurance holders had lower levels of continuity (PR = 0.46; 95%CI 0.34-0.62). Individuals with continuity of care had more physician consultations (PR = 1.06; 95%CI 1.02-1.10), dentist consultations (PR = 1.16; 95%CI 1.05-1.28), fewer depressive (PR = 0.59; 95%CI 0.44-0.79) and anxiety symptoms (PR = 0.64; 95%CI 0.48-0.85), and a higher quality of life (ß = 0.033; 95%CI 0.011-0.054) than those without continuity. CONCLUSIONS: Continuity of care was attained by two-tenths of the population and the level of continuity was high among socioeconomically disadvantaged people. Good outcomes and health services usage increased with continuity of care.

Use of health services by adults in Manaus, 2019: Protocol of a population-based survey.

INTRODUCTION: Health services utilization is an indirect measure of the rights and equity of a health system. A 2015 survey conducted in the Manaus metropolitan region showed that in the previous year, over 70% of adults visited the doctor and 1 in 3 had visited a dentist. Socioeconomic factors and inequality played a central role in the usage of healthcare services and health situation in this population. Since then, political and economic crisis are evolving in Brazil. This project aims to estimate the prevalence of use of health services and the health status of the adults residing in Manaus in 2019. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a population-based survey of adults (≥18 years old) residing in Manaus. This survey will be conducted in the first half of 2019 with 2300 participants who will be interviewed at home, selected from a probabilistic sampling in 3 stages (census tracts, household, and dweller), and stratified by sex and age quotas based on official estimates. The participants will be interviewed using previously validated tools and questions employed in Brazilian official surveys, which will cover use of health services and supplies, health status, and lifestyle. Primary outcome will be any healthcare usage in the last 15 days. Associations between health services usage and socioeconomic data and health outcomes will be assessed using a Poisson regression with a complex sampling design correction. Results will be reported according to the strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology statement. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. All participants will sign an informed consent before the interview. The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed manuscripts, reports, conference presentations, and through the media.

Prevalence of psychotropic and antidepressant use in a Brazilian Amazon city: analysis of two cross-sectional studies / Prevalência de uso de psicotrópicos e antidepressivos em uma cidade da Amazônia brasileira: análise de dois estudos transversais

Abstract This article aims to assess the prevalence of psychotropic and antidepressant use and associated factors in a Brazilian Amazon city. Two cross-sectional studies conducted in Manaus in 2015 and 2019 with adults selected by probabilistic sampling. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated by Poisson regression with robust variance. 3,479 participants were included in 2015 and 2,321 in 2019; 2.0% used psychotropics in 2015 and 2.7% in 2019. Antidepressants were used by 0.4% (2015) and 1.4% (2019). Psychotropic use was lower in younger (PR = 0.41; 95%CI: 0.19-0.90), partnerless (PR = 0.64; 95%CI: 0.44-0.93), and informal workers (PR=0.47; 95%CI: 0.25-0.86), but higher in people with poor health (PR=2.86; 95%CI: 1.71-4.80), multimorbidity (PR = 3.24; 95%CI: 1.87-5.60), and who visited doctors (PR = 3.04; 95%CI: 1.45-6.38) or dentists (PR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.08-2.10). Antidepressant use was higher in 2019 (PR = 2.90; 95%CI: 1.52-5.54), people with poor health (PR = 2.77; 95%CI: 1.16-6.62), and multimorbidity (PR = 8.72; 95%CI: 2.71-28.00), while lower in informal workers (PR = 0.33; 95%CI: 0.12-0.87) and unemployed (PR = 0.26; 95%CI: 0.08-0.81). Use of psychotropics remained stable in Manaus from 2015 to 2019, while antidepressant use more than tripled, which was marked by social inequalities.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a prevalência do uso de psicotrópicos e antidepressivos e fatores associados em uma cidade da Amazônia. Dois estudos transversais foram realizados em Manaus, em 2015 e 2019, com adultos selecionados por amostragem probabilística. Razões de prevalência (RP) e intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) foram calculados por regressão de Poisson. Foram incluídos 3.479 participantes em 2015 e 2.321 em 2019; 2,0% usaram psicotrópicos em 2015 e 2,7% em 2019. Antidepressivos foram usados por 0,4% (2015) e 1,4% (2019). O uso de psicotrópicos foi menor em jovens (RP = 0,41; IC95%: 0,19-0,90), sem companheiros (RP = 0,64; IC95%: 0,44-0,93) e trabalhadores informais (RP = 0,47; IC95%: 0,25-0,86), mas maior em pessoas com saúde ruim (RP = 2,86; IC95%: 1,71-4,80), multimorbidade (RP = 3,24; IC95%: 1,87-5,60) e que visitaram médico (RP = 3,04; IC95%: 1,45-6,38) ou dentista (RP = 1,50; IC95%: 1,08-2,10). O uso de antidepressivos foi maior em 2019 (RP = 2,90; IC95%: 1,52-5,54), e pessoas com saúde ruim (RP = 2,77; IC95%: 1,16-6,62) e multimorbidade (RP = 8,72; IC95%: 2,71-28,00), mas menor em trabalhadores informais (RP = 0,33; IC95%: 0,12-0,87) e desempregados (RP = 0,26; IC95%: 0,08-0,81). O uso de psicotrópicos permaneceu estável em Manaus de 2015 a 2019, enquanto o de antidepressivos triplicou, sendo marcados por desigualdades sociais.

Arrabidaea chica for oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer: a protocol of a randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Oral mucositis is an iatrogenic condition of erythematous inflammatory changes which tends to occur on buccal and labial surfaces, the ventral surface of the tongue, the floor of the mouth and the soft palate of patients receiving chemotherapy. This protocol of ongoing randomised parallel group clinical trial aims to access the therapeutic effect of an herbal gel containing 2.5% Arrabidaea chica Verlot standardised extract on oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer compared with low-level laser therapy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Patients with head and neck cancer held at Clinics Hospital of University of Campinas, Sao Paulo, who develop early signs/symptoms of oral mucositis are eligible. Baseline characteristics of participants include oral mucositis grade and quality of life assessments. Enrolment started in November 2017 with allocation of patients to one of the study groups by means of randomisation. Patients will be treated either with Arrabidaea chica or laser until wound healing. Monitoring includes daily assessment of mucositis grade and diameter measurement by photographs and millimetre periodontal probe. Treatments will be concluded once mucositis is healed. A blinded assessor will evaluate mucositis cure after referred by the study team. At this point, the gel tube will be weighed to indirectly assess patient's compliance. At close-out, data will be analysed by a blinded researcher following the procedures described in the statistical analyses. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This clinical trial was approved by the ethics committee of research in humans at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of University of Campinas (report no. 1,613,563/2016). Results from this trial will be communicated in peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: RBR-5×4397.

Health services utilization in the Brazilian Amazon: panel of two cross-sectional studies

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To investigate the use of health services among adults living in Manaus, Amazonas. METHODS This was a panel of two cross-sectional studies conducted in Manaus in 2015 and 2019. Individuals aged ≥ 18 years were selected by probabilistic sampling and interviewed at home. The study outcomes were doctor visits and hospitalizations in the previous 12 months, and unmet surgical needs. Variations between 2015 and 2019 were tested using chi-squared goodness-of-fit test. Poisson regression with robust variance was employed to calculate the prevalence ratios (PR) of the outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS The surveys included 5,800 participants in total. Visits to the doctor decreased from 2015 (78.7%) to 2019 (76.3%; p < 0.001), hospital admissions increased from 2015 (7.9%) to 2019 (11.5%; p < 0.001), and unmet surgical needs decreased in the period (15.9% to 12.1%; p < 0.001). These variations were particularly observed in vulnerable individuals - sicker; poorer; non-whites; and those belonging to lower social classes, with less access to education, formal jobs, and health insurance (p < 0.05). Doctor visits were higher in people with fair health status (PR = 1.09; 95%CI 1.06-1.12), health insurance (PR = 1.13; 95%CI 1.09-1.17), and chronic diseases (p < 0.001) but lower in men (PR = 0.87; 95%CI 0.84-0.90) and informal workers (PR = 0.89; 95%CI 0.84-0.94). Hospitalizations were higher in people with worse health statuses (p < 0.001), without partners (PR = 1.27; 95%CI 1.05-1.53), and with multimorbidity (PR = 1.68; 95%CI 1.33-2.12) but lower in men (PR = 0.55; 95%CI 0.44-0.68), older adults (p < 0.001), informal workers (PR = 0.67; 95%CI 0.51-0.89), and unemployed (PR = 0.72; 95%CI 0.53-0.97). Unmet surgical needs were higher in older adults (p < 0.001), middle-class people (PR = 1.24; 95%CI 1.01-1.55), worse health statuses (p < 0.001), and chronic diseases (p < 0.001) but lower in men (PR = 0.76; 95%CI 0.65-0.86). CONCLUSIONS From 2015 to 2019, less people visited the doctor, more were admitted to hospitals, and less were in need of surgery or aware of that need, potentially indicating poorer access to health services.

Prevalence of health services utilization in Brazil: a systematic review and meta-analysis. / Prevalência de utilização de serviços de saúde no Brasil: revisão sistemática e metanálise.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the prevalence of use of health services in Brazil. METHODS: systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based cross-sectional studies; MEDLINE, EMBASE, other sources, and microdata of surveys were searched; two researchers selected the studies, extracted the data and assessed methodological quality to include in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: from 1,979 retrieved references, 27 studies were included; the prevalence of medical visits in the previous year was 71% (confidence interval of 95% [95%CI] = 69; 73%; I2=99%); the proportion of women in each study (p=0.001; R2=25%) and the recall period (p>0.001; R2= 72%) contributed to the heterogeneity; prevalence of dental consultation was 37% (95%CI = 32; 42%; I2=100%), and of hospitalization, 10% (95%CI = 9; 11%; I2=98%), in the last year. CONCLUSION: more than half of the population had at least one medical visit, about one-third had a dental consultation and a tenth was hospitalized in the previous year.

Prevalência de utilização de serviços de saúde no Brasil: revisão sistemática e metanálise / Prevalencia de uso de servicios de salud en Brasil: revisión sistemática y meta-análisis / Prevalence of health services utilization in Brazil: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJETIVO: estimar a prevalência da utilização de serviços de saúde no Brasil. MÉTODOS: revisão sistemática e meta-análise de estudos transversais de base populacional; foram pesquisadas MEDLINE, EMBASE, outras fontes e microdados de inquéritos; duas pesquisadoras selecionaram os estudos, extraíram os dados e avaliaram a qualidade metodológica para inclusão na meta-análise. RESULTADOS: localizaram-se 1.979 referências, foram incluídos 27 estudos; a prevalência de consulta médica no último ano foi de 71% (intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]= 69; 73%; I2= 99%); diferenças na proporção de mulheres nas amostras (p=0,001; R2=25%) e no tempo recordatório dos estudos (p>0,001; R2=72%) contribuíram para a alta heterogeneidade; a prevalência de consultas odontológicas foi de 37% (IC95% = 32; 42%; I2=100%), e de hospitalização, 10% (IC95% = 9; 11%; I2=98%), no último ano. CONCLUSÃO: mais da metade da população realizou uma consulta médica, cerca de um terço foi ao dentista e um décimo hospitalizou-se no último ano.

OBJETIVO: analizar la prevalencia de uso de servicios de salud en Brasil. MÉTODOS: revisión sistemática de estudios transversales. Se buscó en MEDLINE, EMBASE, otras fuentes y microdatos de encuestas, indexados hasta enero/2017; dos investigadores seleccionaron, extrajeron datos y evaluaron la calidad metodológica de los estudios; combinamos los estudios en una meta-análisis. RESULTADOS: obtuvimos 1.979 referencias e incluimos 27; la prevalencia de visita médica en el último año fue 71% (intervalo de confianza al 95% [IC95% ] = 69 a 73%; I2=99%); la proporción de mujeres (p=0,001; R2=25%) y período de recuerdo (p>0,001; R2=72%) contribuyeron para la heterogeneidad; la prevalencia de consulta a un dentista fue de 37% (IC95% = 32 a 42%; I2=100%), y de hospitalización, 10% (IC95% = 9 a 11%; I2=98%), en el último año. CONCLUSIÓN: más de la mitad de la población hizo una visita médica, cerca de un tercio consultó con el dentista y una décima parte fueron hospitalizadas en el último año.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the prevalence of use of health services in Brazil. METHODS: systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based cross-sectional studies; MEDLINE, EMBASE, other sources, and microdata of surveys were searched; two researchers selected the studies, extracted the data and assessed methodological quality to include in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: from 1,979 retrieved references, 27 studies were included; the prevalence of medical visits in the previous year was 71% (confidence interval of 95% [95%CI] = 69; 73%; I2=99%); the proportion of women in each study (p=0.001; R2=25%) and the recall period (p>0.001; R2= 72%) contributed to the heterogeneity; prevalence of dental consultation was 37% (95%CI = 32; 42%; I2=100%), and of hospitalization, 10% (95%CI = 9; 11%; I2=98%), in the last year. CONCLUSION: more than half of the population had at least one medical visit, about one-third had a dental consultation and a tenth was hospitalized in the previous year.