Implementation impact assessment of Uber System on mortality from traffic injuries in Brazilian capitals.

The rapid expansion of Uber System and e-hailing apps has been transforming the logistics network and urban mobility around the world. The present work aims at evaluating the impact of Uber System on the traffic injury mortality (TI) in implementation in Brazilian capitals. A quasi-experimental design of interrupted time series was used. The monthly mortality rates for TI standardized by age were analised. The date of availability of Uber app, specific to each capital, was considered as the start date. Data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics were used. For the data analysis from interrupted time series design, ARIMA with transfer function were fitted. In 95,6% (n=25) of Brazilian capitals, there was no impact of Uber System implementation, twelve months after the start of its activities, on mortality from traffic injuries. A reduction in mortality from this cause was observed after the System was implemented in Belo Horizonte e Rio de Janeiro. The impact was progressive and continuous on TI mortality in both. More studies are needed to establish the factors associated with the inequalities observed in the impact of the Uber System implementation between different locations and the heterogeneity of effects.

Impact of the program life in traffic and new zero-tolerance drinking and driving law on the prevalence of driving after alcohol abuse in Brazilian capitals: An interrupted time series analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the main factors for morbidity and mortality from traffic accidents. In 2010 and 2013, the Program Life in Traffic was implemented in Brazil, including the international initiative "Road Safety in Ten Countries", which established actions to reduce one of the main risk factors for road traffic injuries, the driving under the influence of alcohol. In 2012, a new zero-tolerance drinking and driving law (new dry law) was implemented, establishing a zero-tolerance limit for the drivers' blood alcohol concentration, and increasing punitive measures. This study aimed at analyzing the impact of these measures on the prevalence of driving under the influence of alcohol abuse in Brazilian capitals. METHODS: An interrupted time series study was conducted using the models of autoregressive integrated moving average or seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average. The main outcome was the prevalence of driving after alcohol abuse in the adult population (≥ 18 years). The model's predictors were the interventions "Program Life in Traffic" and "New Dry Law". The former was implemented in the first quarter of 2011, initially in five capitals: Belo Horizonte, Campo Grande, Palmas, Teresina, and Curitiba, being expanded to the other capitals in the first quarter of 2013. The latter was implemented in the country on the first quarter of 2013. Data source for the study was the records of the surveillance system for risk and protection factors of chronic diseases through telephone survey (Vigitel) from 2007 to 2016. RESULTS: The time intervals considered in the study were the quarters. Thirty-eight units were considered in the analysis, corresponding to time series points. It was found that after the implementation of the Program Life in Traffic, in the first quarter of 2011, there was a reduction in the prevalence in Belo Horizonte and Curitiba. Because the introduction of the New Dry Law and the Program Life in Traffic took place in similar periods in the other cities, there was a significant reduction in the outcome prevalence in the cities of Aracaju, Belo Horizonte, Boa Vista, Fortaleza, João Pessoa, Maceió, Manaus, Palmas, Porto Alegre, Recife, Teresina, Rio Branco, and Vitória following the law application. CONCLUSION: The present study identified an immediate impact of the Program Life in Traffic in two capitals (Belo Horizonte and Curitiba) and a joint impact of the New Dry Law in 13 capitals. The results of this study have implications for strengthening interventions aimed at reducing the burden of morbidity and mortality from traffic accidents in Brazil.

Magnitude and factors associated with motor road traffic injuries in Brazil: Results from the National Health Survey, 2019.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the magnitude and factors associated with self-reported road traffic injuries (RTI) in Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted using data from individuals aged 18 years or older, participants in the 2019 National Health Survey, a population-based conducted on 88,531 adult individuals in Brazil. Three indicators were analyzed: (i) Proportion (%) of individuals aged 18 years or older who were involved in RTI in the past 12 months; (ii) Proportion (%) of car drivers who were involved in RTI in the past 12 months; and (iii), Proportion (%) of motorcycle drivers who were involved in RTI in the past 12 months. In the inferential analysis, multiple Poisson regression was used to analyze the association between demographic and socioeconomic variables and RTI, stratified for the general population, population of car and motorcycle drivers. RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of self-reported RTI in the past 12 months was 2.4%. The South, Southeast, Northeast, Central-West, and North regions of Brazil had prevalences of 2.0%, 2.1%, 2.7%, 3.2%, and 3.4%, respectively. The results also show that most developed regions (South and Southeast) showed the lowest prevalence's, the highest frequencies were observed in those with lower socioeconomic development levels (Central-West, North, and Northeast). The prevalence was also higher in the subgroup of motorcyclists when compared to car drivers. In the general sample, the Poisson model showed an association between male sex, younger age, low level of education, residing outside capitals and metropolitan regions, in the North, Northeast and South regions and the prevalence of RTI. In car drivers, similar associations were found, except for area of residence. In motorcycle drivers, young age, low level of education, living in urban areas were associated with increased prevalence of RTI. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of RTI is still high within the country, with disparities between regions, affecting more motorcyclists, young people, males, individuals with low education, and residents of the countryside.

Performance of family health teams for tackling chronic diseases in a state of the Amazon.

The most common cause of death worldwide is noncommunicable diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the adequacy of the work process among family health teams and compare differences in regional adequacy in the state of Tocantins, in the Amazonian Region, Brazil. Categorical principal components analysis was used, and scores of each principal component extracted in the analysis were compared among health regions in Tocantins. A post hoc analysis was performed to compare the heath region pairs. The adequacy of family health teams' work process was evaluated with respect to the Strategic Action Plan to Tackle NCDs. The results showed that the family health teams performed actions according to the Strategic Action Plan to Tackle NCDs. However, overall, the adequacy percentages of these actions according to the axes of the Plan are very uneven in Tocantins, with large variations among health regions. The family health teams in the Bico do Papagaio (Region 1), Médio Norte Araguaia (Region 2), Cantão (Region 4) and Capim Dourado (Region 5) regions have adequacy percentages ≥ 50% with the Strategic Action Plan to Tackle NCDs, whereas all other regions have percentages <50%. Health teams perform surveillance actions, health promotion, and comprehensive care for NCDs in accordance with the guidelines of the Strategic Action Plan to Tackle NCDs. The challenge of NCDs in primary care requires a care model that is tailored to users' needs and has the power to reduce premature mortality and its determinants.

Evaluation of the primary care for chronic diseases in the high coverage context of the Family Health Strategy.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study evaluated the adequacy of the Family Health Strategy for the primary care model for chronic noncommunicable diseases and the changes that occurred between the two cycles of external evaluations of the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care, which took place in 2012 and 2014, in the higher coverage context of the Family Health Strategy of Brazil, in the state of Tocantins, Brazil. METHODS: The data source contained information on the infrastructure of the 233 Primary Health Units and on the work process of 266 health teams. The Principal Component Analysis for Categorical Data technique and the McNemar chi-squared statistical test for comparing paired samples were used, and a significance level of 5% with a 95% Confidence Interval was used. RESULTS: The analysis identified a low proportion of dispensing of medications for the treatment of chronic disease in both cycles. There was a significant increase in seasonal influenza vaccination, in the number of sterilization, procedure, dressings and inhalation rooms. There was a small but significant reduction in the materials for cervical cancer screening, although they are available in almost 90.0% of the PHUs. More than 70.0% of the health teams carried out additional health education activities, encouraged physical activity, registered schoolchildren with health needs for monitoring, evaluated user satisfaction and user referral. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study highlighted the improvement of the structure of the Primary Health Units, but identified a low provision of medicines to treat chronic diseases. The health promotion was performed as the main work process tool of family health teams, but it was little focused on intersectoral actions and on actions with the population in the area or on the empowerment of users through self-management support for chronic diseases. Furthermore, it is critical that the Family Health Strategy in Tocantins be organized and focused on the care of chronic diseases to improve and adapt itself to a primary chronic care model.

Injuries from traffic accidents and use of protection equipment in the Brazilian population, according to a population-based study.

The article aims to describe the injuries in traffic according to demographic characteristics, use of protective equipment, use of health services, activity limitations and disabilities. The percentage involvement in traffic accidents with injuries, the percentage of use of protective equipment, use of health services, limitation of daily activities, disability and sequelae, according to educational level, race, color, sex, age and region of residence it estimated.The use of safety belt in the adult population was 79.4%and 50.2% in the front seats and back, respectively; the helmet use among motorcycle drivers and passengers were respectively 83.4 and 80.1. Safety equipment are less used in the North and Northeast and in the countryside. Reported car accident last month 3.1%, being higher in males 4.5%, the people of complete primary schooling and School graduate, young adult and the brown race-color. Among the injured received some form of health care due to this accident 52.4%, were admitted 7.7%. They reported having had limitation of daily activities, disabilities and consequences arising from traffic accidents 14.1%. Car accidents are high in the country.

Trends in premature mortality due to chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazilian federal units.

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have a high mortality rate, mainly in lower and middle income countries. The major groups are cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic respiratory disease (CRD), cancer and diabetes. The Action Plan to reduce NCDs in Brazil, 2011-2022 established a 2% yearly reduction in the NCD premature mortality rate as a goal. The aim of the study was to analyze trends in premature mortality rates and also show goal achievement scenarios for each Federal Unit (FU). A time series analysis of the standardized mortality rate between 2000-2011 was performed using the linear regression model. The average annual rate of increase and the 95% confidence interval were estimated. Each FU was classified as being likely or unlikely to achieve the goal. The FUs likely to achieve the goal were: for CVD - Federal District, Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Espírito Santo and Paraná states; for CRD - Amazonas, Federal District and Paraná. For neoplasms and diabetes, none of the FUs are likely to achieve the goal. The articulation of the three levels of government will allow the strengthening of interventions to reduce the determinants of NCDs and to improve access and quality in health care.

Alcohol consumption and driving in Brazilian capitals and Federal District according to two national health surveys.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of indicators of alcohol consumption and driving for Brazilian capitals based on two population surveys performed in Brazil in 2013. METHODS: Cross sectional study with data from adults (≥ 18 years) participants of the Telephone Survey on Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (Vigitel) and the National Health Survey (NHS). Prevalence for indicators of alcohol consumption and driving was then calculated. RESULTS: The proportion of adult drivers who drove soon after drinking was significantly higher among males (29.3% - Vigitel and 24.4% - NHS), the young aging 18 to 29 years (31.6% - Vigitel and 24.1% - NHS) and among residents of the capitals of the Midwest (33.7% - Vigitel and 28.3% - NHS). The proportion of adults who reported drinking and driving was higher among males (9.4% - Vigitel and 7.4% - NHS) in the 18 to 29 age group (7.1% - Vigitel; 4.5% - NHS), and among residents of the capitals of the Midwest (7.9% - Vigitel and 6.1% - NHS). CONCLUSION: The study estimated the prevalence of the habit of driving after alcohol consumption among drivers and in the general population. There was consistency between the results from two nationwide surveys.

Investigation of ill-defined causes of death: assessment of a program's performance in a state from the Northeastern region of Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The proportion of ill-defined causes of death (IDCD) was persistently high in some regions of Brazil in 2004. In 2005, the Brazilian government implemented a project in order to decrease this proportion, especially in higher priority states and municipalities. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of this project in Alagoas - a state from the Northeast region of Brazil. METHOD: We selected a probabilistic sample of 18 municipalities. For all IDCD identified in 2010, we collected the verbal autopsy (VA) questionnaires used for home investigation, and the Ministry of Health (MoH) form, which contains information about the final disease and cause of death taken from hospital records, autopsies, family health teams, and civil registry office records. The completion rate of the MoH form and VA was calculated using the number of deaths with specific causes assigned among investigated deaths. RESULTS: A total of 681 IDCD were recorded in 2010 in the sample, of which 26% had a MoH and/or VA3 forms completed. Although the majority of cases were attended by health professionals during the terminal disease, the completion rate was 45% using the MoH form and 80% when VA was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence that the training of the epidemiological surveillance teams in the investigation and certification of causes of death could contribute to improve the quality of mortality data.

Vigitel--Aracaju, Sergipe, 2008: the effects of post-stratification adjustments in correcting biases due to the small amount of households with a landline telephone.

INTRODUCTION: The Telephone Survey has several attractions, such as low operational costs and speed the process, when compared to the Household Survey. However, the exclusion of house holds without a landline phone canpose a serious question of the valid it yof the estimates. OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the use of post stratification adjustments to correct the potential biasdue to low coverage of landline phonein the results published in the Vigitel system. METHODS: We compared the prevalence obtained by the Household Survey and the Vigitel, in Aracaju, Sergipe, where 49% of households had a telephone, calculating the differences measured between the surveys thatused the square root mean square error as a measure of accuracy of the estimate. RESULTS: The Household Survey showed ten variables associated with landline phone. From this set of variables, post stratification weights corrected the potential bias of the consumption of beans in five or more days per week, vegetables intake regularly and recommended self-assessment of health as bad and morbidity of diabetes,while the weights partially eliminated the bias of the prevalence of asthma, possession of health insurance coverage and prevention of breast cancer in women aged 50 to 59 years. CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce the potential bias in the results published by Vigitel system, in areas with low telephone coverage, it becomes necessary to use alternative weighting procedures and selection strategy of external variables for construction of post-stratification weights.

[Mortality due to Road Traffic Accidents in Brazil in the last decade: trends and risk clusters]. / Mortalidade por Acidentes de Transporte Terrestre no Brasil na última década: tendência e aglomerados de risco.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal trends of mortality due to Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) as well as identify the existence and location of high risk death clusters for RTA using spatial analysis. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive study of temporal trends by RTA, pedestrians, motorcyclists, motorists and passengers and spatial analysis for 2000 and 2010. The data was obtained from the Mortality Information System, and standardized rates were calculated by age in Brazilian states and municipalities grouped by population size. RESULTS: The mortality rates due to RTA between 2000 and 2010 varied from 18 to 22.5 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. The risk of death for pedestrians decreased in recent years, though motorists, motorcyclists and passengers saw a rising trend. A higher risk of death by RTA occurred in municipalities with populations up to 20,000 inhabitants and in those from 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants. Spatial analysis revealed risk clusters for RTA and motorcyclists and pillion riders with an increase between 2000 and 2010 and enlargement of the areas most at risk in the Northeast. CONCLUSION: Increase in the rates of mortality by RTA mostly in the Northeast. Coordinated action between government, civil society and the citizens themselves is required to tackle this problem.

[Analysis of the occurrence of traffic injuries and related factors according to the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) Brazil, 2008]. / Análise das ocorrências das lesões no trânsito e fatores relacionados segundo resultados da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD) Brasil, 2008.

The study describes the estimates of occurrence of injury due to traffic accidents among the Brazilian population based on data obtained from the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD). It is a probabilistic sample, in which 391,868 people were interviewed. in three stages, namely municipalities, census sectors and households. The traffic accident (TA) and the safety belt usage variables were described according to socio-demographic variables and region of residence. Proportions, 95% confidence intervals, χ² tests and p values were calculated. 2.5% (CI95% 2.4-2.6%) of the population reported higher traffic accident (TA) incidence among males (3.5%; CI95%: 3.4-3.6), youths (4.4%; CI95%: 4.2-4.6) and residents in the Central-West region (3.3% CI95%3.0-3.6). Most of the events involved drivers or passengers of cars or vans (53.9%), followed by motorcyclists or pillion passengers (30.1%), cyclists (7.6%) and pedestrians (5.25%). The front seat safety belt is used by 73.2% (CI95% 72.2-74.2) and the rear seat safety belt is only used by 37.4% (CI95% 36.6-38.2). Traffic accidents led to the abandonment of their habitual activities by 30.7% of those involved. The severity of injuries in traffic accidents demands further preventive and legislative measures to reduce such incidents.

Prevalence of alcohol and drug consumption among adolescents: data analysis of the National Survey of School Health.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of alcohol and other drugs consumption, among adolescent students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with conglomerate samples of 60,973 students at freshman year high school in public and private schools in capitals and the Federal District in Brazil, in 2009. The 95% confidence interval and the prevalence of alcohol and drug consumption were analyzed. RESULTS: For the set of surveyed students, the following were identified: experimenting alcoholic beverages (71.4%; 95%CI 70.8-72.0); regular alcoholic beverage consumption (27.3%; 95%CI 26.7-28.0); drunkenness in lifetime (22.1%; 95%CI 21.6-22.7); family is worried when the student gets home drunk (93.8%; 95%CI 93.3-94.2); problems with alcohol use (9.0%; 95%CI 8.6-9.4); consumption of other drugs (8.7%; 95%CI 8.3-9.1). CONCLUSION: This study shows the extension of the alcohol and drugs problem among Brazilian adolescents, with special emphasis on the easy access of students to alcoholic beverages at parties, bars, stores, and at home.

Gender and schooling inequalities in risk and protective factors for chronic diseases among Brazilian adults, through telephone survey.

OBJECTIVES: To assess risk and protective factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCD) and to identify social inequalities in their distribution among Brazilian adults. METHODS: The data used were collected in 2007 through VIGITEL, an ongoing population-based telephone survey. This surveillance system was implemented in all of the Brazilian State capitals, over 54,000 interviews were analyzed. Age-adjusted prevalence ratios for trends at different schooling levels were calculated using Poisson regression with linear models. RESULTS: These analyses have shown differences in the prevalence of risk and protective factors for CNCD by gender and schooling. Among men, the prevalence ratios of overweight, consumption of meat with visible fat, and dyslipidemia were higher among men with more schooling, while tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle, and high-blood pressure were lower. Among women, tobacco use, overweight, obesity, high-blood pressure and diabetes were lower among men with more schooling, and consumption of meat with visible fat and sedentary lifestyles were higher. As for protective factors, fruit and vegetables intake and physical activity were higher in both men and women with more schooling. CONCLUSION: Gender and schooling influence on risk and protective factors for CNCD, being the values less favorable for men. VIGITEL is a useful tool for monitoring these factors amongst the Brazilian population.

Prevalence and social distribution of risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess risk factors for chronic noncommunicable disease (CND) and to identity social inequalities in their distribution among the adult Brazilian population. METHODS: Study of CND risk factors (including tobacco use, overweight and obesity, low fruit and vegetable intake (LFVI), insufficient leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), sedentary lifestyle, and alcohol abuse, among other risks) in a probabilistic sample of 54 369 individuals from Brazil's 26 state capitals and Federal District, in 2006, using the Surveillance System of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases through Telephone Interviews (VIGITEL), a computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) survey system, and calculated age-adjusted prevalence ratios for trends in education levels using Poisson regression with linear models. RESULTS: Men reported higher tobacco use, overweight, LFVI, sedentary lifestyle, and alcohol abuse versus women, but lower insufficient LTPA. In men, education was associated with increased overweight and sedentary lifestyle, but decreased tobacco use, LFVI, and insufficient LTPA. Among women, education was associated with decreased tobacco use, overweight, obesity, LFVI, and insufficient LTPA, but increased sedentary lifestyle. CONCLUSION: In Brazil, prevalence of CND risk factors (except insufficient LTPA) is higher in men. For both sexes, the CND risk factor prevalence ratio is influenced by level of education.

[Unintentional injuries at the Emergency Department Injury Surveillance System--Brazil, 2006]. / Atendimentos de emergência por acidentes na Rede de Vigilância de Violências e Acidentes--Brasil, 2006.

In 2006, the Brazilian Ministry of Health established the Injury Surveillance System Network in Sentinel Services (Rede VIVA) to describe data on injuries victims treated at emergency departments (ED), especially minor injuries which do not cause deaths and hospitalization. This study describes the characteristics of unintentional injuries victims treated in these EDs by means of a transversal descriptive study with data coming from EDs located in 35 municipalities with the highest injury rates. The data were collected during 30 consecutive days in an alternated 12-hour shift. There were a total of 41,677 patients with unintentional injuries, mainly among males (64.8%), people aged 20 to 29 years (23.0%) and low level of education (45.8%). Falls were the main cause (40.1% overall), followed by transport related injuries (26.6% overall). The more frequent place of occurrence were public streets (36.3% overall) and residences (33.6% overall). The body parts most affected were upper members (42.7%), lower members (42.0%) and head/face (29.2%). The injury surveillance in sentinel services allows collecting timeless data about minor cases which is essential for planning and implementing preventive measures.

[Alcohol-related injuries in emergency departments in Brazil, 2006 and 2007]. / Consumo de álcool entre vítimas de acidentes e violências atendidas em serviços de emergência no Brasil, 2006 e 2007.

Alcohol-related injuries are an important public health issue worldwide. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of alcohol intake perceived by interviewers among injury victims seen at emergency departments in selected Brazilian cities. Cross-sectional data were collected from the injury surveillance system based on sentinel health services recently implemented in the country through intentional sampling in 2006 and 2007 and analyzed in Epi Info 3.5.1. Alcohol intake perception was higher in violence-related injuries than in unintentional injuries (37.9% versus 8%). For violence-related injuries, highest proportions of alcohol intake perception were observed among males (43.7%), 20 to 39 years old (45.3%), blacks (40.5%), and low schooling level victims (40.3%). Settings where these injuries occurred with the highest concerned proportions were taverns (78.2%) and public places (39.5%). Higher alcohol intake perception was observed in assaults (39.1%), suicide attempts (25.4%), transport-related injuries (16.8%), and falls victims (5.9%).

Reductions in firearm-related mortality and hospitalizations in Brazil after gun control.

This paper provides evidence suggesting that gun control measures have been effective in reducing the toll of violence on population health in Brazil. In 2004, for the first time in more than a decade, firearm-related mortality declined 8 percent from the previous year. Firearm-related hospitalizations also reversed a historical trend that year by decreasing 4.6 percent from 2003 levels. These changes corresponded with anti-gun legislation passed in late 2003 and disarmament campaigns undertaken throughout the country since mid-2004. The estimated impact of these measures, if they prove causal, could be as much as 5,563 firearm-related deaths averted in 2004 alone.