Malaria prevention knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Zambezia Province, Mozambique.

BACKGROUND: In Mozambique, socio-economic and cultural factors influence the wide adoption of disease preventive measures that are relevant for malaria control strategies to promote early recognition of disease, prompt seeking of medical care, sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and taking intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women. However, there is a critical information gap regarding previous and ongoing malaria social and behavioural change (SBC) interventions. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices of beneficiaries of SBC interventions. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 2018 in two rural districts of Zambezia Province, Mozambique. A structured questionnaire was administered to 773 randomly selected households. Respondents were the adult heads of the households. Descriptive statistics were done. RESULTS: The main results show that 96.4% of respondents recalled hearing about malaria in the previous 6 months, 90.0% had knowledge of malaria prevention, and 70.0% of preventive measures. Of the 97.7% respondents that had received ITNs through a mass ITN distribution campaign, 81.7% had slept under an ITN the night before the survey. In terms of source of health information, 70.5% mentioned the role of community volunteers in dissemination of malaria prevention messages, 76.1% of respondents considered worship places (churches and mosques) to be the main places where they heard key malaria prevention messages, and 79.1% asserted that community dialogue sessions helped them better understand how to prevent malaria. CONCLUSIONS: Results show that volunteers/activists/teachers played an important role in dissemination of key malaria prevention messages, which brought the following successes: community actors are recognized and people have knowledge of malaria transmission, signs and symptoms, preventive measures, and where to get treatment. There is, however, room for improvement on SBC messaging regarding some malaria symptoms (anaemia and convulsions) and operational research is needed to ascertain the drivers of malaria prevalence and inform the SBC approach.

Are we interconnected? A qualitative study on the role and perception of different actors on malaria social behaviour change interventions in rural Mozambique.

BACKGROUND: Interconnecting institutions (health and education sector) and community (through a network of community structures) in social and behaviour change (SBC) activities can add value in an effort for malaria prevention towards a long-term objective of elimination. This approach has been implemented since 2011 in some rural districts of Mozambique. The objective of this study is to describe the perceptions of community and institutional actors on malaria prevention interventions in rural Mozambique. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study with a constructivist research paradigm was conducted in October 2018 in two rural districts of Zambezia Province with high malaria burden in Mozambique. Key-informant sampling was used to select the study participants from different actors and layers: malaria community volunteers, health professionals, non-governmental actors, and education professionals. In-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to explore the perceptions of these actors. Classic content analysis looking for themes and semantics was used, and saturation guided the sample size recruitment. RESULTS: A total of 23 institutional actor IDIs took place, and 8 FGDs were held. Four themes emerged from the content analysis: (1) organizational and functional aspects; (2) knowledge about malaria; (3) perception of institutional actors on SBC and community involvement; and, (4) perception of institutional actors on the coordination and leadership on SBC malaria interventions. Community structures were well organized, linked to the health sector and operational, with good knowledge of malaria prevention. Education sector (school teachers) links with the health sector were in some cases good, and in other cases, non-existent. The importance of SBC interventions for malaria control was recognized by health actors, although the activities are delegated to non-governmental institutions. Domestic budgetary allocation constraints, quality of intervention and lack of SBC standard indicators were also identified by health actors as aspects for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Community structures, volunteers and primary school teachers have good knowledge on malaria prevention and regularly sensitize community members and students. Institutional health actors and partners recognize their role on malaria prevention activities, however, more interconnection is needed at different levels.

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention for labour and birth care in Brazilian private hospitals: a protocol.

BACKGROUND: In Brazilian private hospitals, caesarean section (CS) is almost universal (88%) and is integrated into the model of birth care. A quality improvement intervention, "Adequate Birth" (PPA), based on four driving components (governance, participation of women and families, reorganisation of care, and monitoring), has been implemented to help 23 hospitals reduce their CS rate. This is a protocol designed to evaluate the implementation of PPA and its effectiveness at reducing CS as a primary outcome of birth care. METHODS: Case study of PPA intervention conducted in 2017/2018. We integrated quantitative and qualitative methods into data collection and analysis. For the quantitative stage, we selected a convenient sample of twelve hospitals. In each of these hospitals, we included 400 women. This resulted in a total sample of 4800 women. We used this sample to detect a 2.5% reduction in CS rate. We interviewed managers and puerperal women, and extracted data from hospital records. In the qualitative stage, we evaluated a subsample of eight hospitals by means of systematic observation and semi-structured interviews with managers, health professionals and women. We used specific forms for each of the four PPA driving components. Forms for managers and professionals addressed the decision-making process, implemented strategies, participatory process in strategy design, and healthcare practice. Forms for women and neonatal care addressed socio-economic, demographic and health condition; prenatal and birth care; tour of the hospital before delivery; labour expectation vs. real experience; and satisfaction with care received. We will estimate the degree of implementation of PPA strategies related to two of the four driving components: "participation of women and families" and "reorganisation of care". We will then assess its effect on CS rate and secondary outcomes for each of the twelve selected hospitals, and for the total sample. To allow for clinical, socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics in women, we will conduct multivariate analysis. Additionally, we will evaluate the influence of internal context variables (the PPA driving components "governance" and "monitoring") on the degree of implementation of the components "participation of women and families" and "reorganisation of care", by means of thematic content analysis. This analysis will include both quantitative and qualitative data. DISCUSSION: The effectiveness of quality improvement interventions that reduce CS rates requires examination. This study will identify strategies that could promote healthier births.

[Revisiting definitions and natures of intersectoriality: a theoretical essay]. / Revisitando definições e naturezas da intersetorialidade: um ensaio teórico.

This theoretical essay addresses definitions and central characteristics of intersectoral actions for health. It aims, therefore, to reflect on the knowledge produced about the conceptions and nature of health intersectoral actions. An integrative review was conducted for the construction of the analyses from publications referring to the 2000-2019 period identified in the Lilacs, SciELO, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases. The corpus included 12 papers, with aspects related to the aim, purpose or method of intersectoral action under analysis, outlining similarities and contrasts between definitions. Given the opacity in the construction of definitions, we had to point out a socio-historical construction of the concepts, and that the provisional definitions express a certain blurring or erasure in dispute within the field of health that can lead to different viewpoints and are barriers to include the implementation of intersectoral actions related to health promotion in daily practices. Such reflections derived a set of propositions about the nature of intersectoral health actions that aim to contribute to the debate on the theme.

Este ensaio teórico aborda definições e características centrais das ações intersetoriais para a saúde. Tem como objetivo, portanto, refletir sobre o conhecimento produzido a respeito das concepções e da natureza das ações intersetoriais para a saúde. Para a construção das análises, realizou-se uma revisão integrativa a partir de publicações referentes ao período de 2000 a 2019 identificadas nas bases de dados Lilacs, SciELO, Web of Science e Science Direct. O corpus contemplou 12 artigos, sendo analisados os aspectos relacionados com a finalidade, o propósito ou o método da ação intersetorial, sendo possível traçar similaridades e contrastes entre as definições. Diante da opacidade na construção de definições, coube situar que existe uma construção sócio-histórica dos conceitos, mas as definições provisórias expressam certo borramento ou apagamento que se encontram em disputa no interior do campo da saúde e que podem direcionar a distintos pontos de vista e constituir barreiras para incluir a implementação das ações intersetoriais relacionadas à promoção da saúde nas práticas cotidianas. De tais reflexões derivaram um conjunto de proposições acerca das naturezas das ações intersetoriais para a saúde, com vistas a contribuir para o debate sobre a temática.

Primary care experiences in 25 years of Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva: a review of the scientific literature. / Experiências em atenção primária em 25 anos da Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva: uma revisão de literatura.

The term "basic care" is restricted to a few countries like Brazil. Since the 1978 Alma-Ata Conference, "primary health care" (PHC) has been used to designate care at the first level. The paper summarizes the experiences of evaluation in primary health care, based on the review of the set of manuscripts published by Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. A bibliographic search was made in the SciELO database in the 1996-2020 period. Several descriptors were selected in the spectrum of evaluation and basic care/primary care. The reviewed studies suggest the existence of two analytical periods over the 25 years of the Journal. The first, characterized by the 1996-2010 studies, had the studies of structure/process/results by Donabedian as its predominant theory. The second, from 2011-2020, was Billings' theories on Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) and Starfield's PHC attributes. The main dimensions presented in the studies refer to evaluations with a quantitative approach and are induced by the policies and public consultations of the Ministry of Health, and instruments referenced by it.

O termo "atenção básica" tem seu uso restrito a poucos países como o Brasil. No mundo, desde a Conferência de Alma-Ata de 1978, o termo "atenção primária à saúde" (APS) é utilizado para designar o cuidado no primeiro nível de atenção. O artigo sintetiza as experiências de avaliação em atenção primária à saúde, a partir da revisão do conjunto de manuscritos publicados pela Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. Fez-se busca bibliográfica na base de dados SciELO desse periódico, no período 1996-2020. Selecionaram-se diversos descritores no espectro da avaliação e atenção básica/atenção primária. Os estudos revisados sugerem a existência de dois períodos analíticos ao longo dos 25 anos da Revista. O primeiro, caracterizado pelos estudos de 1996-2010, teve como teoria predominante, os estudos de avaliação de estrutura/processo e resultados a partir de Donabedian. O segundo, de 2011-2020, as teorias de Billings sobre condições sensíveis à APS e de atributos da APS de Starfield. As principais dimensões apresentadas nos estudos referem-se a avaliações com abordagem quantitativa e induzidas pelas políticas e consultas públicas do Ministério da Saúde, além de instrumentos referendados por esse.

[Postpartum care for women in primary care: building an assessment model]. / Cuidado pós-parto às mulheres na atenção primária: construção de um modelo avaliativo.

Postpartum care for women in primary healthcare (PHC) is important for reducing their morbimortality, but there is no clearly described theory on such care, and the assessment studies are rare. This study aimed to develop and systematize an assessment model for women's postpartum care in PHC, verifying it evaluability. An evaluability study was performed using a Brazilian and international literature review, review of national documents, and interviews with stakeholders. Such evidence backed the elaboration of an assessment model that was validated in a consensus workshop. The data were analyzed with thematic analysis. The study elaborated the program's theory, in which postpartum care in PHC ideally takes place with a comprehensive approach to the woman's physical, psychological, emotional, and social needs, considering the individuality of women with liveborn children or in situations of fetal/neonatal death, initiating prenatal care and continuity in the postpartum period, and with the involvement of spouses and other family members. The program's theory established the program's contextualization and logical design, with objectives, targets, activities, outputs, results, and impact, previously not explained systematically in the literature and documents. Postpartum care was found to be evaluable through an implementation analysis, and the program's theory was defined, with the potential for use by various stakeholders at both the national and international levels to implement and/or improve comprehensive postpartum care for women.

Health promotion and quality of life: a historical perspective of the last two 40 years (1980-2020). / Promoção da saúde e qualidade de vida: uma perspectiva histórica ao longo dos últimos 40 anos (1980-2020).

This article updates the previous text of the main author published in 2000, revisiting the scientific evidence that reaffirms the contribution of health to the quality of life of individuals and populations. More than the access to health services of any quality, it is necessary to face determinants of health in its entirety, which requires healthy public policies, an effective intersectoral articulation of public power and mobilization of the population. The authors revisit the emergence and development of health promotion, focusing on the analysis of the most promising health strategies for the increase in quality of life, especially in societies with high social and health inequalities, as in the case of Brazil, reinforced by the recent pandemic of COVID-19. Such strategies were concretized on healthy municipalities and intersectoral actions, in health and in all policies which confront social determinants, through their own foundations and practices that are closely related to innovations in public management for integrated and sustainable local development, in view of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Objectives (SDG).

Este artigo atualiza o texto anterior do autor principal publicado em 2000, revisitando as evidências científicas que reafirmam a contribuição da saúde para a qualidade de vida de indivíduos e populações. Mais do que o acesso a serviços de saúde de qualidade, é necessário enfrentar os determinantes da saúde em toda a sua amplitude, o que requer políticas públicas saudáveis, uma efetiva articulação intersetorial do poder público e a mobilização da população. Os autores revisitam a emergência e o desenvolvimento da promoção da saúde, centrando sua análise nas estratégias mais promissoras para o incremento da qualidade de vida propostas pelo setor saúde, sobretudo em formações sociais com alta desigualdade sociosanitária, como é o caso do Brasil, reforçada pela recente pandemia de COVID-19. É no movimento dos municípios saudáveis e em ações intersetoriais, na saúde em todas as políticas e no enfrentamentos dos determinantes sociais da saúde que tais estratégias se concretizam, através de seus próprios fundamentos e práticas, que estão estreitamente relacionados com as inovações na gestão pública para o desenvolvimento local integrado e sustentável, "vis a vis" a nova Agenda 2030 e seus Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS).

[Challenges to Performance Management: logical analysis of an Evaluation Policy in Health Surveillance]. / Desafios à Gestão do Desempenho: análise lógica de uma Política de Avaliação na Vigilância em Saúde.

Acknowledging the contributions of the assessment area in supporting the performance of health policies, is to admit it in an ongoing and permanent way in the management context. This requires a set of procedures that go beyond monitoring and evaluation practices, known as performance management. The goal of this study was to analyze the logic of the Health Surveillance (HS) Evaluation Policy of Pernambuco, comparing it with the corresponding Canadian policy. For this purpose, a qualitative study of logical analysis of the program theory was carried out, using as a tool the design of the logical model of performance management and its respective matrix of analysis and judgment with the criteria to be evaluated. In HS, 9 key-informants were interviewed, and documents were analyzed; the Canadian model was analyzed based on a paper written by Lahey (2010). Both policies analyzed by this study are convergent and have the necessary elements for performance management. While the evaluation featured largely in the Canadian model, monitoring was the driving force behind the institutionalization of assessment practices in HS. Some lessons learned in the Canadian model can be recommended, such as the development of an assessment plan, based on the strategic and decision-making level of HS.

Reconhecer as contribuições da área de avaliação no suporte ao desempenho das políticas de saúde, é admiti-la de forma contínua e permanente no contexto da gestão. Isso requer um conjunto de procedimentos, para além das práticas de monitoramento e avaliação, denominado gestão do desempenho. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar a lógica da Política de Avaliação da Vigilância em Saúde (VS) de Pernambuco, comparando-a com a Política canadense correspondente. Para tal, foi realizado um estudo qualitativo, análise lógica da teoria do programa, utilizando-se como ferramenta o desenho do modelo lógico da gestão do desempenho, e sua respectiva matriz de análise e julgamento com os critérios a serem avaliados. Na VS, foram entrevistados 9 informantes-chave e analisados documentos; o modelo canadense foi analisado com base em um documento produzido por Lahey (2010). As duas políticas estudadas são convergentes, possuindo os elementos necessários à gestão do desempenho. Porém, enquanto a avaliação teve destaque no modelo canadense, o monitoramento constituiu-se o eixo condutor da institucionalização das práticas avaliativas na VS. Algumas lições aprendidas no modelo canadense podem ser recomendadas, como o desenvolvimento de um plano de avaliação, pautado no nível estratégico e decisor da VS.

Evaluation of comprehensive care for older adults in primary care services.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of comprehensive care for older adults in primary care services in the Brazilian Unified Health System in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 157 primary care services from five health regions in midwestern São Paulo responded, from October to December 2014, the pre-validated 2014 questionnaire for primary care services assessment and monitoring. We selected 155 questions, based on national policies and guidelines on this theme. The responses indicate the service performance in older adults' care, clustered into three areas of analysis: health care for active and healthy aging (45 indicators, d1), chronic noncommunicable diseases care (89 indicators, d2), and support network in aging care (21 indicators, d3). Performance was measured by the sum of positive (value 1) or negative (value 0) responses for each indicator. Services were clustered according to k-means of the performance scores of each domain. After weighting the domains (Z tests), we estimated the associations between the scores of each domain and independent management variables (typology, planning and evaluation of services), with simple and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Chronic noncommunicable diseases care (d2) showed, for all clusters, better average performance (55.7) than domains d1 (35.4) and d3 (39.2). Service performance in the general area of planning and evaluation associates with the performance of older adults' care. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluated services had incipient implementation of comprehensive care for older adults. The evaluation framework can contribute to processes to improve the quality of primary health care.

[Training of Human Resources for Health in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau: Evolution of Structures and Processes in a Fragile State]. / Formação de Recursos Humanos em Saúde na República da Guiné-Bissau: Evolução das Estruturas e Processos num Estado Frágil.

INTRODUCTION: In the context of fragility that characterizes the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, there is an absence of effective management of human resources for Health, which begs reflection regarding training that is provided. The purpose of this study was to analyse the training of human resources for Health in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau since 1974, placing it in the national context and relating the analysis to the situation described for Fragile States. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using the content analysis of the results of semi-structured interviews, focus group and documentary analysis, we analysed the training offer on human resources for Health in two pillars - at the level of the structures / training institutions; and at the level of processes. The consideration of the context in which it takes place allowed for an integrated analysis in the reality experienced by Fragile States. RESULTS: We synthesize the historical steps of the establishment of human resources for Health, describing the structures and their procedures, concretely of the public entities like the National School of Health and the Faculty of Medicine, as well as of the private entities that proliferate in the country. DISCUSSION: The country reflects the problems that have been identified for the African Region, and for Fragile States in particular, namely: weak health leadership / governance; limitation in the implementation of the planned training strategies; inadequate human resources training capacity; total / partial dependence on training funding, proliferation of private, unofficially recognized training providers. CONCLUSION: The models that emerge as a response to the fragility in this area partially allow to respond to the training needs of the country but neglect the quality and perpetuate dependencies, aggravating the weaknesses of the State and of the public sector.

Introdução: No contexto de fragilidade que caracteriza a República da Guiné-Bissau constata-se uma ausência de gestão eficaz de recursos humanos da Saúde, impondo-se a reflexão sobre a sua formação. Tivemos por objetivo analisar a oferta formativa de recursos humanos da Saúde na República da Guiné-Bissau de 1974 a esta parte, enquadrando-a no contexto nacional e relacionando a análise com o descrito para Estados-Frágeis. Material e Métodos: Recorrendo a análise de conteúdo dos resultados de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, grupo focal e análise documental, analisámos a oferta de formação de recursos humanos da Saúde em dois pilares ­ ao nível das estruturas/instituições formadoras; ao nível dos processos de formação. A consideração do contexto em que esta decorre permitiu uma análise integrada na realidade vivida por Estados-Frágeis. Resultados: Sintetizámos os passos históricos da formação de recursos humanos da Saúde, descrevendo as estruturas e seus procedimentos, concretamente das entidades públicas como a Escola Nacional de Saúde e a Faculdade de Medicina, e também das entidades privadas que proliferam no país. Discussão: O país enquadra os problemas definidos para a Região Africana, aproximando-se do descrito para Estados-Frágeis, apresentando: fraca liderança/governação em saúde; limitação na implementação das estratégias de formação planeadas; inadequada capacidade de formação de recursos humanos; dependência total/parcial no financiamento da formação, proliferação de entidades formadoras privadas, não oficialmente reconhecidas. Conclusão: Os modelos que emergem como resposta à fragilidade nesta matéria permitem parcialmente responder às necessidades de formação do país mas negligenciam a qualidade e perpetuam dependências, agravando as fragilidades do Estado e do setor público.

Elementary and lower secondary school students' perceptions of the Health at School Programme: a case study in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. / Percepção de escolares do ensino fundamental sobre o Programa Saúde na Escola: um estudo de caso em Belo Horizonte, Brasil.

The Health at School Programme is a Brazilian inter-sector policy resulting from a partnership between the Ministries of Health and Education to expand health actions to public school students, with a view to the comprehensive education of primary and lower middle school students. This qualitative study was carried out in 2016 to investigate Brazilian schoolchildren's perceptions of activities under the Health at School Programme. Data were collected from schoolchildren eleven to fourteen years of age using the written report (essay) as the instrument. Analysis of the reports highlighted two themes: 1. the Health at School Programme as care, and 2. the Health at School Programme as benevolence. For some, the activities meant the possibility of health care, of identifying problems and arranging solutions, and the opportunity for gaining information and learning that may be beneficial in maintaining health - the offer was received passively, however; for others, they were a blessing, a favour, for which they showed their gratitude. The schoolchildren were passive and receptive, without being proactive enough to produce their own health. Co-responsibility seems to be a seed that is still germinating.

O Programa Saúde na Escola é uma política intersetorial brasileira, sendo resultado da parceria entre os Ministérios da Saúde e da Educação, com a finalidade de ampliar as ações de saúde aos alunos da rede pública, com vistas à formação integral dos estudantes da Educação Básica. Estudo qualitativo realizado em 2016, com o objetivo de investigar a percepção que os escolares brasileiros possuem em relação às atividades desenvolvidas pelo Programa Saúde na Escola. A coleta de dados foi realizada com escolares de onze a quatorze anos, e, como instrumento de coleta, foi utilizado o relato escrito (redação). A partir da análise dos relatos, foram identificados dois temas: 1. O Programa Saúde na Escola como cuidado, e 2. O Programa Saúde na Escola como benesse? Para alguns, as atividades significam a possibilidade do cuidado na área de saúde, para identificar os problemas e encaminhar as soluções, ter a possibilidade de ter informações e algum aprendizado que poderá ser benéfico na manutenção da saúde. No entanto, para uns, foi uma oferta recebida passivamente. Para outros uma benesse, um favor, para o qual mostram a sua gratidão. Os escolares se mostraram passivos e receptivos sem, no entanto, o protagonismo necessário à produção da própria saúde. A corresponsabilização parece ser uma semente ainda germinando.

Mortality patterns in municipalities of a mining region before the Brumadinho dam failure, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil / Padrões de mortalidade em municípios de uma região mineradora antes do rompimento da barragem de Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brasil

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the patterns of overall mortality and mortality from external causes and the temporal evolution in the municipalities of the Paraopeba River Basin, before the socio-environmental disaster of the Brumadinho dam and, additionally, to investigate the correlation between mortality and socioeconomic deprivation in these municipalities. Methods: Global Burden of Disease Study mortality estimates for 26 municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were analyzed. Rates of overall mortality and mortality from external causes were estimated in the triennia (T) T1 (2000 to 2002), T2 (2009 to 2011), and T3 (2016 to 2018). Pearson's correlation coefficient measured the association between mortality rates and socioeconomic deprivation, according to the Brazilian Deprivation Index (IBP). Results: There was a decrease in overall mortality in the Paraopeba River Basin from 717.7/100 thousand to 572.6/100 thousand inhabitants, and in most municipalities between T1-T3. Mortality from external causes increased from 73.3/100 thousand to 82.1/100 thousand, and it was higher in these municipalities compared with the mean for Brazil and Minas Gerais. Deaths from suicide and interpersonal violence increased from 29.6/100 thousand to 43.2/100 thousand in most of the 26 municipalities. Death rates due to unintentional injuries decreased during the period, and those due to transport injuries, increased. There was a positive correlation between socioeconomic deprivation and the percent change in mortality rates. Conclusion: Despite the strong presence of mining activity in the region, such did not reflect in the improvement of the sanitary situation. Death rates due to external causes increased in the period, associated with inequalities, which must be considered in the planning for the recovery of the disaster areas.

RESUMO: Objetivo: Descrever os padrões de mortalidade geral e por causas externas e a evolução temporal nos municípios da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Paraopeba previamente ao desastre socioambiental de Brumadinho e, adicionalmente, investigar a correlação entre a mortalidade e a privação socioeconômica nesses municípios. Métodos: Foram analisadas estimativas de mortalidade do Estudo Carga Global de Doenças referentes a 26 municípios de Minas Gerais. Calcularam-se taxas de mortalidade geral e por causas externas nos triênios (T) T1 (2000 a 2002), T2 (2009 a 2011) e T3 (2016 a 2018). O coeficiente de correlação de Pearson mediu associação entre as taxas de mortalidade e a privação socioeconômica, segundo Índice Brasileiro de Privação. Resultados: Houve declínio da mortalidade geral na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Paraopeba de 717,7/100.000 para 572,6/100.000 hab. e na maioria dos municípios entre T1-T3. A mortalidade por causas externas aumentou de 73,3/100.000 para 82,1/100.000 e foi mais elevada nesses municípios comparando-se com a média do Brasil e de Minas Gerais. As mortes por suicídio e violência interpessoal aumentaram de 29,6/100.000 para 43,2/100.000 na maioria dos 26 municípios. Os acidentes não intencionais reduziram-se no período, e as taxas por acidente de transporte aumentaram. Houve correlação positiva entre a privação socioeconômica e a variação percentual das taxas de mortalidade. Conclusão: Apesar da forte presença da atividade mineradora na região, isso não refletiu na melhoria do quadro sanitário, as causas externas aumentaram no período, associadas às desigualdades, o que deve ser considerado no planejamento para a recuperação das áreas do desastre.

[The implementation of decentralized health systems: a comparative study of five cases in Bahia, Brazil]. / Análise da implantação da gestão descentralizada em saúde: estudo comparado de cinco casos na Bahia, Brasil.

Understanding the effects of health decentralization policies in Brazil requires different methodological approaches to capture the issue's complexity from distinct angles. Five case studies were thus performed to evaluate the degree of implementation of components related to decentralization of the health system management in selected municipalities (counties) in Bahia State, Brazil. A logical model was elaborated with definitions related to policy goals. A comparative study of the five municipalities, considered "exemplary cases", showed that decentralization alone does not explain the organizational changes in the municipal health systems. Local government characteristics such as the municipal master plan, governing capacity, and governance proved important for heath care changes. The main problems and insufficiencies were found in the system's management and quality of healthcare delivered to the population. The authors discuss their findings and identify critical areas for future interventions with special emphasis on the institutionalization of planning and evaluation and the development of inter-sector projects.

Integração das ações do Programa Saúde na Escola entre profissionais da saúde e da educação: um estudo de caso em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais / Integration of School Health Program actions among health and education professionals: a case study in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais

RESUMO O Programa Saúde na Escola tem como meta a construção de escolas saudáveis. Estudo de caso, de abordagem qualitativa com intenção de identificar e compreender como se comportam, no esforço de integração, profissionais envolvidos no Programa Saúde na Escola, a partir de sua inserção nas atividades preconizadas. Após construção do modelo lógico do programa, foi realizado consenso com experts para elaboração de matriz de indicadores, originando roteiro semiestruturado. Foram realizadas 25 entrevistas, nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde e Escolas de Ensino Fundamental, além das Gerências Regionais da Saúde e da Educação. As práticas foram consideradas multissetoriais, sem soma de esforços e coparticipação efetiva, sendo planejadas por um único setor ou profissional; os gaps existentes são reconhecidos tanto quanto a importância do programa; as práticas acontecem com baixo vínculo entre equipes. A forma fragmentada de perceber os problemas dos escolares dificulta essa integração.

ABSTRACT The School Health Program aims to build healthy schools. This qualitative case study aimed to identify and understand how professionals involved in the School Health Program behave in the integration based on their inclusion in the recommended activities. The consensus was reached with experts to develop a matrix of indicators after building the Program's logical model, resulting in a semi-structured roadmap. Twenty-five interviews were held in the Basic Health Units, Elementary Schools, and the Regional Health and Education Administrations. The practices were multisectoral, with no combined efforts and effective co-participation, planned by a single sector or professional, the existing gaps are recognized as much as the importance of the program, and the practices are implemented with a low bond between teams. The fragmented perception of students' problems hinders this integration.

[Scientific Research Policy for Health in Portugal: I - European and National Environment]. / Política de Investigação Científica para a Saúde em Portugal: I - Enquadramento Europeu e Nacional.

The global debate on scientific research policy for human health has been led by World Health Organisation with important contributions from other stakeholders such as Council on Health Research for Development, the World Bank and the Global Forum for Health Research. Recently it has been dominated by the thematic agendas of major global financiers. There is a growing interest worldwide in making better use of the evidence resulting from scientific research in health, in the decision-making process regarding health policies, which is fraught with difficulties, as it is the case in Europe. After more than 40 years of democracy and 30 years of European integration, Portugal has bridged the research gap it had previously. However, when compared to global and European research policies, Portugal still has a long way to go regarding investment in research and development.

O debate global sobre a política de investigação científica para a saúde humana tem sido liderado pela Organização Mundial da Saúde com contribuições importantes de outros stakeholders como o Council on Health Research for Development, o Banco Mundial e o Fórum Global para Investigação em Saúde, dominado recentemente pelas agendas temáticas de grandes financiadores globais. Existe um crescente interesse mundial em fazer melhor uso da evidência resultante da investigação científica para saúde, nas tomadas de decisão relacionadas com a definição de políticas de saúde. Na Europa verifica-se porém a existência de uma complexidade inerente à interação entre a investigação e a tomada de decisão política. Após cerca de 40 anos de democracia e 30 anos de integração europeia, Portugal superou o atraso científico estrutural. Contudo, a análise desta matéria à luz das políticas de investigação definidas a nível global e europeu mostra que há ainda um longo caminho a percorrer quando se fala em investimento global em Investigação & Desenvolvimento.

[Scientific Research Policy for Health in Portugal: II - Facts and Suggestions]. / Política de Investigação Científica para a Saúde em Portugal: II ­ Factos e Sugestões.

After more than 40 years of democracy and 30 years of European integration, Portugal has bridged the research gap it had previously. However, when compared to global and European research policies, Portugal still has a long way go regarding investment in research and development. Health Research in Portugal has been managed by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and the National Health Institute Doctor Ricardo Jorge, and it has not been a political priority, emphasized by the absence of a national scientific research plan for health, resulting in a weak coordination of actors in the field. The strategic guidelines of the 2004 - 2010 National Health Plan are what comes closest to a health research policy, but these were not implemented by the institutions responsible for scientific research for the health sector. Trusting that adopting a strategy of incentives to stimulate health research is an added-value for the Portuguese health system, the authors present five strategic proposals for research in health in Portugal.

Tendo Portugal superado o atraso científico estrutural vivido até há cerca de três décadas, a análise desta matéria à luz das políticas de investigação definidas a nível global e europeu mostra que há ainda um longo caminho a percorrer quando se fala em investimento global em Investigação & Desenvolvimento. A investigação para a saúde em Portugal tem tido tutela partilhada entre a Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia e o Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, sendo que esta matéria não tem sido uma prioridade - a realidade demonstra a não existência de um plano de investigação científica para a saúde em Portugal, o qual possa pôr em franca articulação os diferentes atores intervenientes. As orientações estratégias do Plano Nacional de Saúde 2004 - 2010 são as que mais se aproximam de uma política de investigação para a saúde para Portugal sem que, no entanto, as questões então abordadas tenham sido desenvolvidas de uma forma abrangente ou, à posteriori, implementadas pelas instituições que têm responsabilidades sobre a investigação científica no setor da saúde. Na convicção de que adoptar uma estratégia de incentivo à investigação para a saúde consiste uma mais-valia para o sistema de saúde português, os autores propõem neste trabalho cinco sugestões estratégicas em matérias de investigação para a saúde em Portugal.

Revisitando definições e naturezas da intersetorialidade: um ensaio teórico / Revisiting definitions and natures of intersectoriality: a theoretical essay

Resumo Este ensaio teórico aborda definições e características centrais das ações intersetoriais para a saúde. Tem como objetivo, portanto, refletir sobre o conhecimento produzido a respeito das concepções e da natureza das ações intersetoriais para a saúde. Para a construção das análises, realizou-se uma revisão integrativa a partir de publicações referentes ao período de 2000 a 2019 identificadas nas bases de dados Lilacs, SciELO, Web of Science e Science Direct. O corpus contemplou 12 artigos, sendo analisados os aspectos relacionados com a finalidade, o propósito ou o método da ação intersetorial, sendo possível traçar similaridades e contrastes entre as definições. Diante da opacidade na construção de definições, coube situar que existe uma construção sócio-histórica dos conceitos, mas as definições provisórias expressam certo borramento ou apagamento que se encontram em disputa no interior do campo da saúde e que podem direcionar a distintos pontos de vista e constituir barreiras para incluir a implementação das ações intersetoriais relacionadas à promoção da saúde nas práticas cotidianas. De tais reflexões derivaram um conjunto de proposições acerca das naturezas das ações intersetoriais para a saúde, com vistas a contribuir para o debate sobre a temática.

Abstract This theoretical essay addresses definitions and central characteristics of intersectoral actions for health. It aims, therefore, to reflect on the knowledge produced about the conceptions and nature of health intersectoral actions. An integrative review was conducted for the construction of the analyses from publications referring to the 2000-2019 period identified in the Lilacs, SciELO, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases. The corpus included 12 papers, with aspects related to the aim, purpose or method of intersectoral action under analysis, outlining similarities and contrasts between definitions. Given the opacity in the construction of definitions, we had to point out a socio-historical construction of the concepts, and that the provisional definitions express a certain blurring or erasure in dispute within the field of health that can lead to different viewpoints and are barriers to include the implementation of intersectoral actions related to health promotion in daily practices. Such reflections derived a set of propositions about the nature of intersectoral health actions that aim to contribute to the debate on the theme.

Avaliação da terceira etapa do método canguru na atenção primária a saúde / Evaluation of the third stage of the kangaroo method in primary health care / Evaluación de la tercera etapa del método canguro en atención primaria de salud

Objetivo: avaliar a assistência prestada às crianças pela Atenção Primária à Saúde na terceira etapa do método canguru. Métodos: estudo transversal com 156 crianças pré-termo no período de janeiro a junho de 2020. Utilizou-se questionário contendo variáveis sócio-demográficas, clínicas e relacionadas à assistência prestada. Resultados: Dentre as crianças: 54,5% tinham idade acima de seis meses; 51,9% eram do interior ou de outras localidades; 94,9% eram de baixa renda; 39,1% tiveram peso menor que 1500g; 62,2% e 12,2% nasceram com idade gestacional entre 28 a 33 semanas e inferior a 28 semanas, respectivamente. Quanto à assistência prestada: 74,4% das crianças não realizaram consultas na atenção primária e dentre as atendidas, 78,2% classificaram como ruim/regular; 59,6% não receberam visita domiciliar. Conclusão: a avaliação da terceira etapa do método canguru na atenção primária, sob o olhar de mães, apontou fragilidades na qualificação, integralidade da assistência, redesenho/discussão da rede, na referência e contra-referência.

Objective: to evaluate the assistance provided to children by Primary Health Care in the third stage of the kangaroo method. Methods: cross-sectional study with 156 preterm children from January to June 2020. A questionnaire was used containing socio-demographic, clinical and care-related variables. Results: Among the children: 54.5% were over six months old; 51.9% were from the countryside or other locations; 94.9% were low-income; 39.1% weighed less than 1500g; 62.2% and 12.2% were born with gestational age between 28 and 33 weeks and less than 28 weeks, respectively. As for the assistance provided: 74.4% of the children did not undergo consultations in primary care and among those attended, 78.2% classified it as poor/fair; 59.6% did not receive a home visit. Conclusion: the evaluation of the third stage of the kangaroo method in primary care, from the perspective of mothers, pointed out weaknesses in qualification, comprehensiveness of care, network redesign/discussion, in reference and counter-reference.

Objetivo: evaluar la asistencia brindada a los niños por la Atención Primaria de Salud en la tercera etapa del método canguro. Métodos: estudio transversal con 156 niños prematuros de enero a junio de 2020. Se utilizó un cuestionario con variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y asistenciales. Resultados: Entre los niños: 54,5% tenían más de seis meses; El 51,9% eran del campo u otras localidades; 94,9% eran de bajos ingresos; El 39,1% pesaba menos de 1500 g; El 62,2% y el 12,2% nacieron con edades gestacionales entre 28 y 33 semanas y menos de 28 semanas, respectivamente. En cuanto a la asistencia brindada: el 74,4% de los niños no acudió a consultas en atención primaria y entre los atendidos, el 78,2% la clasificó como mala / regular; El 59,6% no recibió visita domiciliaria. Conclusión: la evaluación de la tercera etapa del método canguro en atención primaria, desde la perspectiva de las madres, señaló debilidades en la calificación, integralidad de la atención, rediseño / discusión de la red, en referencia y contrarreferencia.

A tool for exploring the dynamics of innovative interventions for public health: the critical event card.

OBJECTIVES: Public health interventions are increasingly represented as complex systems. Research tools for capturing the dynamic of interventions processes, however, are practically non-existent. This paper describes the development and proof of concept process of an analytical tool, the critical event card (CEC), which supports the representation and analysis of complex interventions' evolution, based on critical events. METHODS: Drawing on the actor-network theory (ANT), we developed and field-tested the tool using three innovative health interventions in northeastern Brazil. Interventions were aimed to promote health equity through intersectoral approaches; were engaged in participatory evaluation and linked to professional training programs. The CEC developing involve practitioners and researchers from projects. Proof of concept was based on document analysis, face-to-face interviews and focus groups. RESULTS: Analytical categories from CEC allow identifying and describing critical events as milestones in the evolution of complex interventions. Categories are (1) event description; (2) actants (human and non-human) involved; (3) interactions between actants; (4) mediations performed; (5) actions performed; (6) inscriptions produced; and (7) consequences for interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The CEC provides a tool to analyze and represent intersectoral internvetions' complex and dynamic evolution.