[Analysis of infant mortality in coverage areas of health centers in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (1994-1996)]. / A mortalidade infantil em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil, por área de abrangência dos Centros de Saúde (1994-1996).

Geographic analysis of health conditions highlights regional and intra-urban inequalities. This study aims to identify intra-urban discrepancies in the city of Belo Horizonte, studying the infant mortality coefficients (IMC) in the various areas of the metropolitan area and evaluating their evolution from 1994 to 1996. The study uses data from 1994 to 1996 regarding birth and death records (from the SINASC and SIM registries). It also uses "thematic maps" related to geographic coverage areas of municipal health centers to demonstrate differences in infant mortality coefficients. The empirical Bayesian method was applied to correct possible random fluctuation in IMC due to small and unstable numbers. A 24.4% reduction in the overall coefficient was observed in the city from 1994 to 1996. Decreases also occurred in the health center coverage areas. In 1994, eight areas presented an IMC above 50/1,000, while in 1996 no area reached that coefficient. In 1994, 29 areas presented an IMC from 35 to 50/1,000, as compared to only four areas in 1996. In 1996 there were more areas with IMC below 35/1,000 as compared to 1994. In 1996, more homogeneity was observed in IMC distribution and hence a reduction in intra-urban inequalities.

[Social pediatrics and its reformist proposals]. / A pediatria social e as suas apostas reformistas.

This article reflects on the constitution of Social Pediatrics in Brazil, viewing it as a movement for reform in children's health care involving teaching, services, and pediatric practice. The article includes a historical and bibliographical review of the Social Pediatrics' field and the provision of children's health care, analyzing its relations with movements for the reform of medical education and health care and its conceptual framework, including several authors' definitions and formulations on the theme.

Managed care in Latin America: the new common sense in health policy reform.

This article presents the results of the comparative research project, "Managed Care in Latin America: Its Role in Health System Reform." Conducted by teams in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and the United States, the study focused on the exportation of managed care, especially from the United States, and its adoption in Latin American countries. Our research methods included qualitative and quantitative techniques. The adoption of managed care reflects the process of transnationalization in the health sector. Our findings demonstrate the entrance of the main multinational corporations of finance capital into the private sector of insurance and health services, and these corporations' intention to assume administrative responsibilities for state institutions and to secure access to medical social security funds. International lending agencies, especially the World Bank, support the corporatization and privatization of health care services, as a condition of further loans to Latin American countries. We conclude that this process of change, which involves the gradual adoption of managed care as an officially favored policy, reflects ideologically based discourses that accept the inexorable nature of managed care reforms.

[Managed care in Latin America: transnationalization of the health sector in the context of reform]. / La atención gerenciada en América Latina. Transnacionalización del sector salud en el contexto de la reforma.

This article presents the results of the comparative research project "Managed Care in Latin America: Its Role in Health Reform". The project was conducted by teams in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and the United States. The study's objective was to analyze the process by which managed care is exported, especially from the United States, and how managed care is adopted in Latin American countries. Our research methods included qualitative and quantitative techniques. Adoption of managed care reflects transnationalization of the health sector. Our findings demonstrate the entrance of large multinational financial capital into the private insurance and health services sectors and their intention of participating in the administration of government institutions and medical/social security funds. We conclude that this basic change involving the slow adoption of managed care is facilitated by ideological changes with discourses accepting the inexorable nature of public sector reform.

["User embracement" and the working process in health: Betim's case, Minas Gerais, Brazil]. / O acolhimento e os processos de trabalho em saúde: o caso de Betim (MG).

The subject of this paper is changes in health care when "user embracement" is used as a strategic aim. According to the "user embracement" concept, health care clients are the center of the health services' organization, including the following: 1) care for everyone seeking it, thus guaranteeing universal accessibility; 2) reorganization of the work process, such that its central thrust is shifted from the physician to the multiprofessional staff, or "user embracement team", in charge of "hearing" users and becoming involved in solving their health problems; and 3) solidarity, humanity, and citizenship as parameters for the relationship between health care users and providers. The research showed improvement of non-medical health care productivity and greater accessibility by users. After nine months, the "user embracement team" solved 50% of the health problems themselves. The above-mentioned effects were also linked to workers' motivation, leading to greater creativity in the work process.

[Public health, local health units, and the Brazilian health system]. / Saúde pública, rede básica e o sistema de saúde Brasileiro.

This article focuses on the development of public health in Brazil, with the aim of analyzing the present process of decentralization of health care. The authors argue that the neoliberal or conservative position is unable to offer a reasonable solution to problems in the health care system. On the other hand, the reformist position concentrates its attention on the health system and its administration, taking as its model a positivistic approach to natural and administrative sciences. The authors further argue that only a radical change in the prevailing medical paradigm and a predominance of social over biological aspects would meet the health needs of the population.

[The basic network of health services: physicians and their representation regarding the service]. / Rede básica de serviços de saúde: médicos e suas representações sobre o serviço.

This article aims to analyse the representations of doctors of public sector in Campinas, SP, Brazil, taking as reference the process of decentralization which the health reform being undertaken in Brazil is undergoing. It is assumed that the success of this reform will depend largely on the attitude that these doctors show towards its various aspects. The following subjects were then focused on: the policies and management of the health services, the health-disease process, the doctor-patient relationship and labour process as it affects the health team.