Social Media and the Influence of Fake News on Global Health Interventions: Implications for a Study on Dengue in Brazil.

Social media usage is growing globally, with an exponential increase in low- and middle-income countries. Social media changes the ways in which information-sharing occurs, intensifying the population's exposure to misinformation, including fake news. This has important repercussions for global health. The spread of fake news can undermine the implementation of evidence-based interventions and weaken the credibility of scientific expertise. This is particularly worrisome in countries, such as Brazil, in a sociopolitical context characterized by a lack of popular trust in public institutions. In this project report, we describe our experience with the spread of fake news through the social media platform WhatsApp during the implementation of a cluster randomized controlled trial aimed at reducing dengue incidence in children in Fortaleza (Brazil). During initial visits to selected clusters, the research team was met with resistance. Then, soon after data collection started, fake news began circulating about the study. As a result, the research team developed strategies to dispel suspicion and further promote the study. However, the climate of violence and mistrust, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, forced the interruption of the study in 2019. The lessons learned from our experience in Fortaleza can be useful to other researchers and practitioners implementing large-scale interventions in this era of health-related misinformation.

Early diagnostic indicators of dengue versus other febrile illnesses in Asia and Latin America (IDAMS study): a multicentre, prospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in the early diagnosis of dengue are urgently needed, especially in resource-limited settings where the distinction between dengue and other febrile illnesses is crucial for patient management. METHODS: In this prospective, observational study (IDAMS), we included patients aged 5 years and older with undifferentiated fever at presentation from 26 outpatient facilities in eight countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, El Salvador, Indonesia, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Viet Nam). We used multivariable logistic regression to investigate the association between clinical symptoms and laboratory tests with dengue versus other febrile illnesses between day 2 and day 5 after onset of fever (ie, illness days). We built a set of candidate regression models including clinical and laboratory variables to reflect the need of a comprehensive versus parsimonious approach. We assessed performance of these models via standard measures of diagnostic values. FINDINGS: Between Oct 18, 2011, and Aug 4, 2016, we recruited 7428 patients, of whom 2694 (36%) were diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed dengue and 2495 (34%) with (non-dengue) other febrile illnesses and met inclusion criteria, and were included in the analysis. 2703 (52%) of 5189 included patients were younger than 15 years, 2486 (48%) were aged 15 years or older, 2179 (42%) were female and 3010 (58%) were male. Platelet count, white blood cell count, and the change in these variables from the previous day of illness had a strong association with dengue. Cough and rhinitis had strong associations with other febrile illnesses, whereas bleeding, anorexia, and skin flush were generally associated with dengue. Model performance increased between day 2 and 5 of illness. The comprehensive model (18 clinical and laboratory predictors) had sensitivities of 0·80 to 0·87 and specificities of 0·80 to 0·91, whereas the parsimonious model (eight clinical and laboratory predictors) had sensitivities of 0·80 to 0·88 and specificities of 0·81 to 0·89. A model that includes laboratory markers that are easy to measure (eg, platelet count or white blood cell count) outperformed the models based on clinical variables only. INTERPRETATION: Our results confirm the important role of platelet and white blood cell counts in diagnosing dengue, and the importance of serial measurements over subsequent days. We successfully quantified the performance of clinical and laboratory markers covering the early period of dengue. Resulting algorithms performed better than published schemes for distinction of dengue from other febrile illnesses, and take into account the dynamic changes over time. Our results provide crucial information needed for the update of guidelines, including the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness handbook. FUNDING: EU's Seventh Framework Programme. TRANSLATIONS: For the Bangla, Bahasa Indonesia, Portuguese, Khmer, Spanish and Vietnamese translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Decomposition of socioeconomic inequalities in arboviral diseases in Brazil and Colombia (2007-2017).

BACKGROUND: We used surveillance data from Brazil and Colombia during 2007-2017 to assess the presence of socioeconomic inequalities on dengue, chikungunya and Zika at the neighborhood level in two Latin American cities. METHODS: To quantify the inequality, we estimated and decomposed the relative concentration index of inequality (RCI) accounting for the spatiotemporal distribution of the diseases. RESULTS: There were 281 426 arboviral cases notified in Fortaleza, Brazil, and 40 889 in Medellin, Colombia. The RCI indicated greater concentration of dengue cases among people living in low socioeconomic settings in both sites. The RCIs for chikungunya in Fortaleza covered the line of equality during their introduction in 2014, while the RCIs for Zika and chikungunya in Medellin indicated the presence of a small inequality. The RCI decomposition showed that year of notification and age were the main contributors to this inequality. In Medellin, the RCI decomposition showed that age and access to waste management accounted for 75.5%, 72.2% and 54.5% of the overall inequality towards the poor for dengue, chikungunya and Zika, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study presents estimates of the socioeconomic inequality of arboviruses and its decomposition in two Latin American cities. We corroborate the concentration of arboviral diseases in low socioeconomic neighborhoods and identify that year of occurrence, age, presence of healthcare facilities and waste management are key determinants of the heterogenous distribution of endemic arboviruses across the socioeconomic spectrum.

Educação e promoção da saúde: uma experiência pedagógica potencializadora do protagonismo infanto-juvenil no enfrentamento ao Aedes aegypti / Health education and promotion: a pedagogical experience to enhance children and youth leadership in combating Aedes aegypti / Education and health promotion: a pedagogical experience that enhances the leadership of children and youth in coping with Aedes aegypti

Este artigo apresenta um recorte dos resultados da experiência pedagógica realizada com estudantes por meio da interlocução entre saúde e escola, permeada pela educação e promoção da saúde enquanto potencializadores do protagonismo infantojuvenil. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, pesquisa-ação, realizado com 55 estudantes em minicursos em duas escolas municipais de Fortaleza (CE). Esta pesquisa versa sobre a implementação de uma abordagem ecossistêmica em ambiente escolar para a promoção da saúde, prevenção e controle do Aedes aegypti. Observa-se que as ações de controle contra o vetor dependerão de ampla participação de diversos grupos e comunidades. Os estudantes perceberam a necessidade de intensificar ações de promoção da saúde no cotidiano e promover o protagonismo e a autonomia dos sujeitos para coletivamente compreender a saúde como resultante das condições de vida para um desenvolvimento social mais equitativo. Conclui-se que o incremento de atividades dirigidas à mudança comportamental dos alunos, concentrando-se em componentes educativos, e a compreensão de que a saúde resulta de múltiplos determinantes alinham-se a uma articulação de ações de promoção de saúde fomentadoras de um saber coletivo, que estimula no indivíduo e na coletividade sua autonomia e emancipação para o cuidado de si e de seu entorno.

This paper presents the results of a pedagogical experience carried out with students via dialogue between healthcare and school, based on health education and promotion as potentiators of youth leadership. To investigate the implementation of an ecosystem approach in a school environment for health promotion, and Aedes aegypti control and prevention, a qualitative action research was carried out with 55 students attending mini-courses in two municipal schools in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Results show that action aimed at vector control depend on the broad participation of different groups and communities. Students realized the need to enhance daily health promotion actions and to promote youth leadership and autonomy to collectively understand health as a result of living conditions, seeking more equitable social development. In conclusion, the increased activities aimed at behavioral change, focusing on educational components, and the understanding that health results from multiple determinants, assumes an articulation of health promotion actions that foster collective knowledge to stimulate individual and community autonomy and emancipation in caring for themselves and their surroundings.

Este artículo presenta un extracto de los resultados de la experiencia pedagógica realizada con estudiantes a través del diálogo entre salud y escuela, permeada por la educación y la promoción de la salud como potenciadoras del protagonismo infantil. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo, investigación acción realizada con 55 alumnos en minicursos en dos escuelas municipales de Fortaleza (CE), Brasil. Se trata de la implementación de un enfoque ecosistémico en un ambiente escolar para la promoción de la salud, prevención y control del Aedes aegypti. Se observa que las acciones de control del vector dependerán de la amplia participación de diferentes grupos y comunidades. Los estudiantes percibieron la necesidad de intensificar las acciones de promoción de la salud en el cotidiano y promover el protagonismo y la autonomía de los sujetos para comprender colectivamente la salud como resultado de condiciones de vida para un desarrollo social más equitativo. Se concluye que el aumento de actividades dirigidas al cambio de comportamiento de los estudiantes, con foco en los componentes educativos, y la comprensión de que la salud resulta de múltiples determinantes, se alinean con una articulación de acciones de promoción de la salud que fomenten el conocimiento colectivo que estimule en el individuo y la colectividad su autonomía y emancipación para cuidar de sí mismos y de su entorno.

Diagnostic performance of anti-Zika virus IgM, IgAM and IgG ELISAs during co-circulation of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses in Brazil and Venezuela.

BACKGROUND: Serological diagnosis of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is challenging because of the antibody cross-reactivity among flaviviruses. At the same time, the role of Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) is limited by the low proportion of symptomatic infections and the low average viral load. Here, we compared the diagnostic performance of commercially available IgM, IgAM, and IgG ELISAs in sequential samples during the ZIKV and chikungunya (CHIKV) epidemics and co-circulation of dengue virus (DENV) in Brazil and Venezuela. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Acute (day of illness 1-5) and follow-up (day of illness ≥ 6) blood samples were collected from nine hundred and seven symptomatic patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter study between June 2012 and August 2016. Acute samples were tested by RT-PCR for ZIKV, DENV, and CHIKV. Acute and follow-up samples were tested for IgM, IgAM, and IgG antibodies to ZIKV using commercially available ELISAs. Among follow-up samples with a RT-PCR confirmed ZIKV infection, anti-ZIKV IgAM sensitivity was 93.5% (43/46), while IgM and IgG exhibited sensitivities of 30.3% (10/33) and 72% (18/25), respectively. An additional 24% (26/109) of ZIKV infections were detected via IgAM seroconversion in ZIKV/DENV/CHIKV RT-PCR negative patients. The specificity of anti-ZIKV IgM was estimated at 93% and that of IgAM at 85%. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings exemplify the challenges of the assessment of test performance for ZIKV serological tests in the real-world setting, during co-circulation of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV. However, we can also demonstrate that the IgAM immunoassay exhibits superior sensitivity to detect ZIKV RT-PCR confirmed infections compared to IgG and IgM immunoassays. The IgAM assay also proves to be promising for detection of anti-ZIKV seroconversions in sequential samples, both in ZIKV PCR-positive as well as PCR-negative patients, making this a candidate assay for serological monitoring of pregnant women in future ZIKV outbreaks.

Scaling up of Eco-Bio-Social Strategy to Control Aedes aegypti in Highly Vulnerable Areas in Fortaleza, Brazil: A Cluster, Non-Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.

Aedes aegypti is a cosmopolitan vector for arboviruses dengue, Zika and chikungunya, disseminated in all Brazilian states. The Eco-Bio-Social (EBS) strategy is vital in Aedes aegypti control as it mobilizes stakeholders (government, professionals, society, and academics) to promote healthy environments. This paper describes the rationale and methods of expanding the EBS strategy for Aedes aegypti control in Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil. A cluster, non-randomized controlled clinical trial was developed to analyze the strategy's effectiveness in vulnerable territories (high incidence of dengue and violent deaths; low HDI; substandard urban infrastructure, high population density, and water scarcity). We selected two intervention and two control groups, resulting in a sample of approximately 16,000 properties. The intervention consisted of environmental management by sealing large elevated water tanks, introduction of beta fish in waterholes, elimination of potential breeding sites, and mobilization and training of schoolchildren, endemic disease workers, health workers, social mobilizers, and community leaders; community surveillance of arboviruses; construction and validation of a booklet for the prevention of arboviruses in pregnant women. We analyzed the costs of arboviruses to government and households, the intervention cost-effectiveness, chikungunya's chronicity, and acceptance, sustainability, and governance of vector control actions. The primary outcome (infestation) was analyzed using the house, container, and Breteau indices. We hope that this study will help us understand how to scale up strategies to fight Aedes aegypti in vulnerable areas.

Spatiotemporal distribution and socioeconomic disparities of dengue, chikungunya and Zika in two Latin American cities from 2007 to 2017.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence, pattern and magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities on dengue, chikungunya and Zika in Latin America, accounting for their spatiotemporal distribution. METHODS: Using longitudinal surveillance data (reported arboviruses) from Fortaleza, Brazil and Medellin, Colombia (2007-2017), we fit Bayesian hierarchical models with structured random effects to estimate: (i) spatiotemporally adjusted incidence rates; (ii) Relative Concentration Index and Absolute Concentration Index of inequality; (iii) temporal trends in RCIs; and (iv) socioeconomic-specific estimates of disease distribution. The spatial analysis was conducted at the neighbourhood level (urban settings). The socioeconomic measures were the median monthly household income (MMHI) for Brazil and the Socio-Economic Strata index (SES) in Colombia. RESULTS: There were 281 426 notified arboviral cases in Fortaleza and 40 887 in Medellin. We observed greater concentration of dengue among residents of low socioeconomic neighbourhoods in both cities: Relative Concentration Index = -0.12 (95% CI = -0.13, -0.10) in Fortaleza and Relative Concentration Index = -0.04 (95% CI = -0.05, -0.03) in Medellin. The magnitude of inequalities varied over time across sites and was larger during outbreaks. We identified a non-monotonic association between disease rates and socioeconomic measures, especially for chikungunya, that changed over time. The Relative Concentration Index and Absolute Concentration Index showed few if any inequalities for Zika. The socioeconomic-specific model showed increased disease rates at MMHI below US$400 in Brazil and at SES-index below level four, in Colombia. CONCLUSIONS: We provide robust quantitative estimates of socioeconomic inequalities in arboviruses for two Latin American cities. Our findings could inform policymaking by identifying spatial hotspots for arboviruses and targeting strategies to decrease disparities at the local level.

Abordagem ecobiossocial e promoção da saúde na escola: tecendo saberes para a vigilância comunitária no controle do Aedes aegypti / Abordaje eco-bio-social y promoción de la salud en la escuela: cómo tejer saberes para la vigilancia comunitaria en el control del Aedes aegypti / Ecobiosocial approach and health promotion at school: building knowledge for community surveillance in Aedes aegypti control

Este estudo objetiva implementar ações de vigilância comunitária no controle do vetor Aedes aegypti em ambiente escolar à luz da promoção da saúde e da abordagem ecobiossocial. Trata-se de uma análise qualitativa que versa sobre os pressupostos de uma pesquisa-ação. Para a produção de dados, utilizou-se um minicurso agregado à técnica Photovoice, concluído com grupos focais. Os dados empíricos foram processados pelo software Iramuteq® e submetidos à análise de conteúdo de Minayo. A pesquisa foi realizada em duas escolas municipais de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil, com a participação de 55 estudantes. Os resultados mostraram o incentivo à reflexão das práticas de participação e corresponsabilidade social nas ações de vigilância comunitária e cuidado com o meio ambiente como aliados do controle vetorial. O Photovoice mostra-se propulsor no alinhavo dessas temáticas, desperta o espírito cooperativo e integrativo, possibilitando sua difusão e continuação em outras escolas. (AU)

El objetivo de este estudio es implementar acciones de vigilancia comunitaria en el control del vector Aedes aegypti en el ambiente escolar bajo la óptica de la promoción de la salud y de un abordaje eco-bio-social. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo que trata sobre las presuposiciones de una investigación-acción. Para la producción de datos, se utilizó un minicurso agregado a la técnica Photovoice, concluido con grupos focales. Los datos empíricos fueron procesados por el software Iramuteq® y sometidos al análisis de contenido de Minayo. El estudio se realizó en dos escuelas municipales de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil, con la participación de 55 estudiantes. Los resultados mostraron el incentivo a la reflexión de las prácticas de participación y corresponsabilidad en las acciones de vigilancia comunitaria y cuidado con el medio ambiente como aliados del control vectorial. El Photovoice se muestra propulsor en el esbozo de esas temáticas, despierta el espíritu cooperativo e integrador y sugiere su difusión y continuación en otras escuelas. (AU)

This study aims to implement community surveillance actions for Aedes aegypti vector control in the school environment in the light of health promotion and the eco-bio-social approach. This qualitative study addresses the assumptions of action research. Data was collected through a short course coupled with the Photovoice technique, and the collection was completed with focus groups. The empirical data were processed by Iramuteq® software and submitted to Minayo's content analysis. The research was conducted in two municipal schools of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, with the participation of 55 students. The results showed the incentive to reflect participation and socially-shared accountability practices in the community surveillance and environmental care actions as vector control allies. Photovoice proves to be a driver in the alignment of these themes, awakening the cooperative and integrative spirit, and its dissemination and continuation are suggested in other schools. (AU)

Sustainable, healthy cities: protocol of a mixed methods evaluation of a cluster randomized controlled trial for Aedes control in Brazil using a community mobilization approach.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is increasing in its global presence with an estimated 4 billion people at-risk of infection in at least 128 countries. Despite the promising results of EcoHealth and community mobilization approaches to Aedes reduction, more evidence of their efficacy on reducing dengue risk is needed. The principal research question is to determine if interventions based upon community mobilization reduce the risk of dengue virus infection among children 3 to 9 years old compared to usual dengue control practice in Fortaleza, Brazil. METHODS: The present study will follow a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) design with randomization at the census tract level with equal allocation to the two arms. In each arm, there will be 34 clusters of 86 children between 3 to 9 years old for an expected total of 5848 children enrolled in the study, assuming a risk reduction of 29.5% based upon findings from a previous multi-site cRCT. The primary outcomes are rates of anti-dengue Immunoglobulin G (IgG) seroconversion and adult female Aedes density. The intervention is based upon a participatory health research approach, Socializing Evidence for Participatory Action (SEPA), where the research evidence is used to foster community engagement and ownership of the health issue and solution. Following allocation, intervention communities will develop and implement their own solutions that will likely include a wide variety of collective events and media approaches. Data collection activities over a period of 3 years include household visits for blood collection, household surveys, and entomological surveys; and qualitative activities including focus groups, in-depth interviews, and document analysis to evaluate the process, acceptability, fidelity, and sustainability of the intervention. Study participants will be aware of their assignment and all research staff will be blinded although the intervention assignment will likely be revealed to field staff through interaction with participants. DISCUSSION: The results of our study will provide evidence on community mobilization as an intervention for dengue control. We anticipate that if community mobilization is effective in Fortaleza, the results of this study will help develop evidence-based vector control programs in Brazil, and also in other countries struggling with Aedes-transmitted diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN66131315, registration date: 1 October 2018.

The social face of Aedes control: women take the floor in a suburban district of Fortaleza, Brazil. / Face social do controle do Aedes: em um bairro periférico de Fortaleza, Brasil, as mulheres tomam a palavra.

Aedes aegypti is currently a critical disease agent and is responsible for viruses such as Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue's four serotypes. This mosquito's relevance to the current social body has come to the fore and triggered urgent EcoHealth investigations since this approach aims to articulate different theoretical fields to understand the historical linkages between nature, society and health. Based on an ethnographic premise, this study considered the unequal and unfair conditions that make women's health vulnerable to dengue, analyzing their practices and perceptions about the potential breeding grounds in the public space. A semi-structured interview and participant observation, as well as a field diary, were used to compose the study. The research included the participation of ten women living in the outskirts of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, from January to August 2014. The category "Social inequality, context and practices in the public space" emerged from the content analysis. The narratives revealed that unstable living conditions and evident social inequality might influence in a context permeated by waste, with great potential for dengue's mosquito proliferation.

O Aedes aegypti é um importante agente transmissor de afecções na atualidade, sendo o responsável por enfermidades como Zika, Chikungunya e os quatro sorotipos do Dengue. Por ocasião da relevância desse mosquito para o corpo social atual, investigações em Ecossaúde se tornam prementes, já que essa abordagem visa articular diferentes campos teóricos para entender as conexões históricas entre a natureza, a sociedade e a saúde. Partindo de uma premissa etnográfica, este estudo considerou as condições de desigualdade e injustiça que tornam vulneráveis a saúde de mulheres em torno do dengue, analisando práticas e percepções destas acerca dos potencias criadouros existentes no espaço público. Para compor o estudo, utilizou-se a entrevista semiestruturada e a observação participante, com uso de diário de campo. A pesquisa contou com a participação de dez mulheres moradoras de um bairro periférico da cidade de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil, tendo ocorrido no período de janeiro a agosto de 2014. Da Análise de Conteúdo emergiu a categoria "Iniquidade social, contexto e práticas no espaço público". A partir das narrativas, constatou-se que condições precárias de vida e evidente iniquidade social poderão influenciar em um contexto permeado por lixo, com grande potencial para a proliferação do mosquito causador da dengue.

Face social do controle do Aedes: em um bairro periférico de Fortaleza, Brasil, as mulheres tomam a palavra / The social face of Aedes control: women take the floor in a suburban district of Fortaleza, Brazil

Resumo O Aedes aegypti é um importante agente transmissor de afecções na atualidade, sendo o responsável por enfermidades como Zika, Chikungunya e os quatro sorotipos do Dengue. Por ocasião da relevância desse mosquito para o corpo social atual, investigações em Ecossaúde se tornam prementes, já que essa abordagem visa articular diferentes campos teóricos para entender as conexões históricas entre a natureza, a sociedade e a saúde. Partindo de uma premissa etnográfica, este estudo considerou as condições de desigualdade e injustiça que tornam vulneráveis a saúde de mulheres em torno do dengue, analisando práticas e percepções destas acerca dos potencias criadouros existentes no espaço público. Para compor o estudo, utilizou-se a entrevista semiestruturada e a observação participante, com uso de diário de campo. A pesquisa contou com a participação de dez mulheres moradoras de um bairro periférico da cidade de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil, tendo ocorrido no período de janeiro a agosto de 2014. Da Análise de Conteúdo emergiu a categoria "Iniquidade social, contexto e práticas no espaço público". A partir das narrativas, constatou-se que condições precárias de vida e evidente iniquidade social poderão influenciar em um contexto permeado por lixo, com grande potencial para a proliferação do mosquito causador da dengue.

Abstract Aedes aegypti is currently a critical disease agent and is responsible for viruses such as Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue's four serotypes. This mosquito's relevance to the current social body has come to the fore and triggered urgent EcoHealth investigations since this approach aims to articulate different theoretical fields to understand the historical linkages between nature, society and health. Based on an ethnographic premise, this study considered the unequal and unfair conditions that make women's health vulnerable to dengue, analyzing their practices and perceptions about the potential breeding grounds in the public space. A semi-structured interview and participant observation, as well as a field diary, were used to compose the study. The research included the participation of ten women living in the outskirts of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, from January to August 2014. The category "Social inequality, context and practices in the public space" emerged from the content analysis. The narratives revealed that unstable living conditions and evident social inequality might influence in a context permeated by waste, with great potential for dengue's mosquito proliferation.

Saúde indígena potyguara: por outras configurações políticas e estéticas na Saúde Coletiva / Potyguara indigenous health: for other political and aesthetic configurations in Collective Health

Resumo Desde seu entendimento como ausência de doença, bem-estar, até direito humano, o conceito saúde indígena, na literatura acadêmica, apresenta-se empobrecido de questões que dizem respeito à vida nas aldeias indígenas. São reduzidas as publicações no Ceará, sendo a maior parte, principalmente, de pesquisadores da Antropologia e da História que trabalham com questões sobre territorialização, etnicidade e espiritualidade. Desse modo iniciou-se, em 2008, em uma universidade do Estado do Ceará, um projeto sobre "Saúde Intercultural", em três etapas, que prosseguiu de 2015 a 2017, com o desenvolvimento de uma tese de doutorado, com o objetivo de provocar uma cartografia dos modos de saúde potyguara em Monsenhor Tabosa, para deslocar a maneira de percebermos a saúde com arte, política e ética na área da Saúde Coletiva. As danças, os cantos, os gritos, o segredo das rezas, o uso das tecnologias são produções que criam rachaduras e desestabilizam as compreensões que temos de saúde, política e estética. As ações políticas indígenas possuem aberturas às inovações, e os potyguara têm possibilitado deslocamentos no que vem sendo reiterado e reificado como saúde indígena através da literatura acadêmica, trazendo novas estéticas que assumem a saúde como produção de vida.

Abstract The concept of indigenous health in the academic literature, from its understanding as an absence of disease, well-being, and a human right, is impoverished by questions concerning life in indigenous villages. The publications in Ceará state, Brazil, are reduced, most of them mainly by researchers of Anthropology and History who work on issues of territorialization, ethnicity and spirituality. In 2008, a project on "Intercultural Health" in three stages, which continued from 2015 to 2017, started at a university in the state of Ceará, with the development of a doctoral thesis, with the aim of provoking a mapping of potyguara health ways in Monsenhor Tabosa, to displace the way we perceive health with art, politics and ethics in the area of Collective Health. The dances, songs, cries, secrets of the prayers, use of the technologies are productions that create cracks and destabilize the understandings that we have about health, politics and aesthetics. Indigenous political actions are open to innovations, and potyguara have made displacements in what has been reiterated and reified as indigenous health through academic literature, bringing new aesthetics that assume health as a production of life.

Supporting and strengthening research on urban health interventions for the prevention and control of vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty: scoping reviews and research gap analysis.

BACKGROUND: More than half of the world's population currently lives in urban settlements that grow both in size and number. By 2050, approximately 70% of the global population will be living in urban conglomerations, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. Mobility, poverty, different layers of inequalities as well as climate variability and change are some of the social and environmental factors that influence the exposure of human populations in urban settings to vector-borne diseases, which pose eminent public health threats. Accurate, consistent, and evidence-based interventions for prevention and control of vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty in urban settings are needed to implement innovative and cost-effective public policy and to promote inclusive and equitable urban health services. MAIN BODY: While there is growing awareness of vector-borne diseases epidemiology at the urban level, there is still a paucity of research and action being undertaken in this area, hindering evidence-based public health policy decisions and practice and strategies for active community engagement. This paper describes the collaboration and partnership of the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the "VEctor boRne DiseAses Scoping reviews" (VERDAS) Research Consortium as they joined efforts in response to filling this gap in knowledge and evidence by supporting the development of a series of scoping reviews that highlight priority research gaps and policy implications to address vector-borne and other infectious diseases at the urban level. CONCLUSIONS: The set of scoping reviews proposed in this special issue presents a critical analysis of the state-of-the-art of research on urban health interventions for the prevention and control of vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty. The authors of the 6 reviews highlighted severe gaps in knowledge and identified organizational and theoretical limitations that need to be urgently tackled to improve cities preparedness and vector control response. The more pressing need at present is to ensure that more implementation research on vector-borne diseases in urban settings is conducted, addressing policy and practice implications and calling for more political commitment and social mobilization through adequate citizen engagement strategies.

Antropologia das doenças transmissíveis: interpretações do contágio e diferenças culturais / Anthropology of communicable diseases: interpretations of contagion and cultural differences

Este livro apresenta os resultados de diversas pesquisas realizadas pelo autor sobre o tema do contágio ao longo das últimas duas décadas, em diversos países. Trata-se de material inédito na língua portuguesa e reorganizado no intuito de identificar um único fio condutor e elementos comuns entre material recolhido em contextos socioculturais bem diversificados, bem diferenciados.Os diversos capítulos expõem, a seu modo, conclusões parcialmente publicadas em periódicos e capítulos de livros

Taking innovative vector control interventions in urban Latin America to scale: lessons learnt from multi-country implementation research.

Prior to the current public health emergency following the emergence of chikungunya and Zika Virus Disease in the Americas during 2014 and 2015, multi-country research investigated between 2011 and 2013 the efficacy of novel Aedes aegypti intervention packages through cluster randomised controlled trials in four Latin-American cities: Fortaleza (Brazil); Girardot (Colombia), Acapulco (Mexico) and Salto (Uruguay). Results from the trials led to a scaling up effort of the interventions at city levels. Scaling up refers to deliberate efforts to increase the impact of successfully tested health interventions to benefit more people and foster policy and program development in a sustainable way. The different scenarios represent examples for  a 'vertical approach' and a 'horizontal approach'. This paper presents the analysis of a preliminary process evaluation of the scaling up efforts in the mentioned cites, with a focus on challenges and enabling factors encountered by the research teams, analysing the main social, political, administrative, financial and acceptance factors.

Semi-analytical solution for the temperature profiles in solid-state laser disks mounted on heat spreaders.

Temperature profiles in pumped solid-state laser disks are generally calculated numerically by using finite-element programs to solve the heat conduction equation in the disk and the heat spreader. Analytical expressions exist for the longitudinal temperature profile in the case of an infinitely thick heat spreader or in the limit of zero thickness of the disk. We are presenting a simplified, semi-analytical method to calculate the three-dimensional temperature profiles for any disk or heat spreader dimensions by solving the heat conduction equation using Hankel transforms. This method allows for straightforward optimization of the cooling properties of heat-sink-mounted solid-state and semiconductor disk lasers.

Innovative dengue vector control interventions in Latin America: what do they cost?

BACKGROUND: Five studies were conducted in Fortaleza (Brazil), Girardot (Colombia), Machala (Ecuador), Acapulco (Mexico), and Salto (Uruguay) to assess dengue vector control interventions tailored to the context. The studies involved the community explicitly in the implementation, and focused on the most productive breeding places for Aedes aegypti. This article reports the cost analysis of these interventions. METHODS: We conducted the costing from the perspective of the vector control program. We collected data on quantities and unit costs of the resources used to deliver the interventions. Comparable information was requested for the routine activities. Cost items were classified, analyzed descriptively, and aggregated to calculate total costs, costs per house reached, and incremental costs. RESULTS: Cost per house of the interventions were $18.89 (Fortaleza), $21.86 (Girardot), $30.61 (Machala), $39.47 (Acapulco), and $6.98 (Salto). Intervention components that focused mainly on changes to the established vector control programs seem affordable; cost savings were identified in Salto (-21%) and the clean patio component in Machala (-12%). An incremental cost of 10% was estimated in Fortaleza. On the other hand, there were also completely new components that would require sizeable financial efforts (installing insecticide-treated nets in Girardot and Acapulco costs $16.97 and $24.96 per house, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The interventions are promising, seem affordable and may improve the cost profile of the established vector control programs. The costs of the new components could be considerable, and should be assessed in relation to the benefits in reduced dengue burden.

Clinical evaluation of dengue and identification of risk factors for severe disease: protocol for a multicentre study in 8 countries.

BACKGROUND: The burden of dengue continues to increase globally, with an estimated 100 million clinically apparent infections occurring each year. Although most dengue infections are asymptomatic, patients can present with a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms ranging from mild febrile illness through to severe manifestations of bleeding, organ impairment, and hypovolaemic shock due to a systemic vascular leak syndrome. Clinical diagnosis of dengue and identification of which patients are likely to develop severe disease remain challenging. This study aims to improve diagnosis and clinical management through approaches designed a) to differentiate between dengue and other common febrile illness within 72 h of fever onset, and b) among patients with dengue to identify markers that are predictive of the likelihood of evolving to a more severe disease course. METHOD/DESIGN: This is a prospective multi-centre observational study aiming to enrol 7-8000 participants aged ≥ 5 years presenting with a febrile illness consistent with dengue to outpatient health facilities in 8 countries across Asia and Latin America. Patients presenting within 72 h of fever onset who do not exhibit signs of severe disease are eligible for the study. A broad range of clinical and laboratory parameters are assessed daily for up to 6 days during the acute illness, and also at a follow up visit 1 week later. DISCUSSION: Data from this large cohort of patients, enrolled early with undifferentiated fever, will be used to develop a practical diagnostic algorithm and a robust clinical case definition for dengue. Additionally, among patients with confirmed dengue we aim to identify simple clinical and laboratory parameters associated with progression to a more severe disease course. We will also investigate early virological and serological correlates of severe disease, and examine genetic associations in this large heterogeneous cohort. In addition the results will be used to assess the new World Health Organization classification scheme for dengue in practice, and to update the guidelines for "Integrated Management of Childhood Illness" used in dengue-endemic countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01550016. Registration Date: March 7, 2012.

Calculation of temperature profiles in solid-state laser disks mounted on multi-layered heat spreaders using Hankel transforms.

The main challenge in disk laser design is the realization of efficient heat removal from the pumped area by optimizing the heat spreader design and the water impingement cooling. This generally requires the calculation of the temperature distribution in the disk by numerically solving the heat conduction equation using finite element algorithms. We have developed a simple method to calculate disk temperature profiles that is based on analytically solving the heat conduction equation in Hankel transform space. This method can be applied to disks that are mounted on multi-layered, water-cooled heat spreaders, which may include glue or solder layers and dielectric coating layers. The temperature and heat fluxes at the interfaces of the layers are connected via a heat transfer matrix, which allows for straightforward incorporation of additional heat sink layers or an undoped cap into the model. This generalized model allows for the parametric optimization of the heat distribution in pumped solid-state laser and semiconductor laser disks.