Family Health Strategy Coverage in Brazil, according to the National Health Survey, 2013.

OBJECTIVE: to present Family Health Strategy (ESF) coverage according to the National Health Survey (PNS), comparing to administrative data and previous coverage of the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD 2008), and describe the frequencies of home visiting teams. METHODS: it was compared data from 2013 according to PNS and data from the Ministry of Health and the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD 2008). Home visiting indicators of PNS were stratified by education and Major Regions. RESULTS: the proportion of households registered in Family Health Teams in Brazil was 53.4% (95%CI: 52.1-54.6), being higher in rural areas and in the Northeast. The proportion of residents in registered households was 56.2%, similar to the Ministry of Health (56.4%) and showed growth compared to PNAD 2008 (50.9%). There was variation between regions, UF and capitals. People with lower education level have received more home visiting monthly. DISCUSSION: the ESF is an important promoter of health equity and its coverage and scope increase is successful in the country.

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.

Smoking trend indicators in Brazilian capitals, 2006-2013.

This study aims to analyze the trend of indicators related to smoking in the capitals of Brazil from 2006 to 2013. Information on smoking trends extracted from the survey of risk and protective factors for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are analyzed through telephone interviews - VIGITEL conducted from 2006-2013 for the adult population in Brazilian capitals. To estimate the trend, the simple linear regression model was used. The prevalence of smokers in Brazil showed a relative reduction of 0.62% for each year of the survey, ranging from 15.6% in 2006 to 11.3% in 2013. A decrease was observed in both sexes in all age ranges except between 55 and 64 years in all education levels and regions. The total population of former smokers remained stable, with a reduction for men. Smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day decreased from 4.6% (2006) to 3.4% (2013), or 0.162 percentage points per year. Passive smoking at home decreased among women 13.4% (2009) to 10.7% (2013), a reduction of 0.72% per annum. Passive smoking at work has remained stable over the period. The smoking trend reduced in the period in most indicators, reflecting the importance of the tobacco control actions in the country.

Surveillance and monitoring of major chronic diseases in Brazil - National Health Survey, 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Brazil, according to the information collected from individuals aged 18 years or older. METHODS: Data from the National Health Survey (PNS), 2013, a transversal population-based study, were used. The proportions of each NCD were calculated and presented according to sex, with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI), with the absolute values. RESULTS: Of the total respondents, 45.1% reported presenting at least one NCD. The region with the highest prevalence of NCDs was the South (52.1%). Hypertension showed the highest prevalence among NCDs, with 21.4%, followed by chronic back problem (18.5%), depression (7.6%), arthritis (6.4%), and diabetes (6.2%). The intense/very intense degree of limitation showed a higher prevalence of other mental illnesses (37.6%) and cerebrovascular accident (25.5%). CONCLUSION: The improvement of health services is essential for an effective response to the double burden of illness in the middle- and low-income countries.

Smoking Trends among Brazilian population - National Household Survey, 2008 and the National Health Survey, 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To compare current tobacco smoking prevalence in the Brazilian population and the federal states in adults (aged ≥ 18 years), using the National Household Survey 2008 and National Health Survey, 2013. METHODS: Using data from two national surveys conducted in 2008 and 2013, the paper examines the current tobacco smoking prevalence in Brazil at the national level and at the federal state level. We calculated the percentage change for the period. RESULTS: Overall, results show -19% reduction in current tobacco smoking prevalence from 18.5% (2008) to 14.7% (2013). Results also show a significant percentage decline in smoking prevalence across geographic regions and demographic characteristics including gender, race, age and education levels. The decline occurred in all regions, urban and rural areas, and in most states. The reduction was -17.5% for men and -20.7% for women, having occurred in all age groups, with the greatest reduction in the group from 25 to 39 years of age; in all categories of race/color, a higher prevalence was found among the blacks and browns. It also declined in all the levels of schooling, with a higher reduction in lower education levels. In 2013, the prevalence for people with less education was 19.7% and 8.7% for those with college degrees. CONCLUSION: There was an average reduction of about 19% in tobacco consumption in Brazil and the Brazilian states in both sexes, all ages, and race color. Tobacco consumption in the country is one of the lowest in the world and has declined significantly, which can be attributed to the control policies, regulation, and prevention.

Health care in adults with self-reported hypertension in Brazil according to the National Health Survey, 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To describe health care indicators in adults with self-reported hypertension in Brazil, according to socio-demographic characteristics. METHODS: Data from the National Health Survey 2013, a cross-sectional population-based study, about health care of self-reported hypertension and health services were used. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated for sex, age, race/color skin and schooling levels, representing Brazil and major regions. RESULTS: Hypertension was reported by 21.4% (95%CI 20.8 - 22.0) of respondents, being higher in women and in people without instruction and incomplete middle school. Among these, 45.9% (95%CI 44.0 - 47.7) reported having received medical care for the last time in a basic health unit; 81.4% (95%CI 80.1 - 82.7) reported taking medication for high blood pressure; and 92.0% (95%CI 91.2 - 92.8) reported having taken all requested complementary examinations. CONCLUSION: It is important to know the coverage and access to health services for the care of patients with hypertension, in order to improve care quality and reduce identified inequalities.

Risk and protective factors for chronic diseases by telephone survey in capitals of Brazil, Vigitel 2014.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of risk and protective factors for chronic diseases in Brazilian adult population in 2014 and investigate the associated sociodemographic factors. METHODS: Analyses were performed based on data from telephone interviews (Vigitel 2014) on probabilistic samples of adult population (≥ 18 years old) from the capitals of the 26 Brazilian States and the Federal District, living in households with landline phones. Prevalence is presented by gender, age and educational level, and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) are estimated using Poisson Regression model. RESULTS: Among the 40.853 adults who were interviewed, 10.8% were smokers and 21.2% ex-smokers. Among the respondents, 16.5% reported alcohol abuse and 52.5% were overweight, factors that were more frequent among men. The prevalence of recommended intake of fruits and vegetables was 24%, intake of sweets was 18.1% and replacements of main meals for snacks was 16.2%, factors that were higher among women. Leisure time physical activity reached 35.3% and increased with the level of education. Hypertension was the most frequent disease achieving 24.8%, which was higher among women and increased with age. CONCLUSION: The results from Vigitel 2014 indicate that risk factors are, in general, more frequent among men, older adults and less educated individuals, characterizing the socioeconomic and cultural dimensions in determining chronic diseases.