Effects of the Mais Médicos Program on Primary Healthcare and its impacts on health: a rapid systematic review / Efectos del Programa Mais Médicos en Atención Primaria y sus impactos en la salud: una revisión sistemática rápida. / Efeitos do Programa Mais Médicos na Atenção Primária e seus impactos na saúde: uma revisão sistemática rápida

The distribution of doctors in Brazil is marked by inequalities, hindering full and universal access to healthcare, fundamental to SUS. The Mais Médicos Program (PMM) reached peak of emergency provision in 2016, with 18,800 doctors allocated to 4,509 municipalities, one of the largest interventions of its type. A rapid systematic review was carried out to gather evidence of the Program's impacts on primary healthcare and on the assisted population's health. 570 studies were extracted and the final selection included 32 articles. Regarding the Program's effects, there was a rapid expansion in primary healthcare coverage, an improvement in comprehensiveness and humanization of healthcare, as well as significant impact on hospitalizations for primary healthcare sensitive conditions, which resulted in an approximate reduction of 23 thousand hospitalizations throughout three years, saving R$30 million for SUS. Critical points that undermined the Program's potential impact were also identified: focus deviations; changes in priority criteria and undue replacement of hired doctors by PMM physicians, in addition to the disruption caused by the departure of 8,500 Cuban doctors in November 2018. It is estimated that the relaunch of the Mais Médicos Program, in 2023, especially based on existing evidence, will promote the continued progress of the Program.

La distribución de médicos en Brasil es desigual, lo que dificulta el acceso pleno y universal a la salud, fundamental para el SUS. El Programa Mais Médicos (PMM) alcanzó su pico en 2016, con 18.088 médicos asignados a 4.509 municipios, una de las mayores intervenciones de su tipo en el mondo. Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática rápida para recopilar evidencia de los efectos del programa de Atención Primaria de Salud (APS) y sus impactos en la salud de la población atendida. Se extrajeron 570 estudios y fueran seleccionados 32 artículos. Acerca de los efectos del Programa, hubo una rápida ampliación de cobertura en APS, mejora en la integralidad y humanización de la atención de salud, así como un impacto en las hospitalizaciones a lo largo de tres años, ahorrando R$30 millones para el SUS. Puntos críticos que socavaban el impacto potencial del Programa fueran identificados: desviaciones en el enfoque; cambios en criterios de prioridad y sustitución indebida de médicos, además del trastorno provocado por la salida de 8.500 médicos cubanos en noviembre de 2018. Se estima que el relanzamiento del Programa Mais Médicos en 2023, especialmente con base en la evidencia existente, promoverá el progreso continuo del Programa.

A distribuição de médicos no Brasil é marcada por desigualdades, prejudicando o acesso integral e universal à saúde, basilar para o SUS. O Programa Mais Médicos (PMM) atingiu o auge do provimento emergencial em 2016, com 18.088 médicos em 4.509 municípios, uma das maiores intervenções desse tipo no mundo. Realizou-se uma revisão rápida e sistemática para coletar evidências dos efeitos do Programa na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) e impactos na saúde da população atendida. Extraíram-se 570 estudos e a seleção final incluiu 32 artigos. Quanto aos efeitos do Programa, verificaram-se rápida expansão na cobertura da APS, melhoria na integralidade e humanização da atenção à saúde e impacto significativo nas internações por condições sensíveis à APS, gerando aproximadamente 23 mil internações ao longo de três anos, economizando R$ 30 milhões para o SUS. identificaram-se também pontos críticos que prejudicaram o potencial de impacto do Programa: desvios na focalização; mudanças nos critérios de prioridade e substituição indevida de médicos já contratados por outros do PMM, além da ruptura causada pela saída de 8.500 médicos cubanos em novembro de 2018. Estima-se que o relançamento do Programa Mais Médicos em 2023, principalmente a partir de evidências já existentes, promoverá a continuidade dos progressos do Programa.

Prevented cases of neural tube defects and cost savings after folic acid fortification of flour in Brazil.

Anencephaly, encephalocele, and spina bifida are congenital neural tube defects and are the main causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality and impose a heavy economic burden on health systems. This study to estimates the direct costs of neural tube defects from the perspective of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and the prevented cases and cost savings during the period in which mandatory folic acid fortification was in effect in the country (2010-2019). It is a top-down cost-of-illness oriented study based on the prevalence of the disorders in Brazil. Data were collected from the Brazilian Ministry of Health's outpatient and hospital information system databases. The direct cost was estimated from the total patient-years, allocated by age and type of disorder. Prevented cases and cost savings were determined by the difference in the prevalence of the disorders in the pre- and post-fortification periods based on the total number of births and the sum of outpatient and hospital costs during the period. The total cost of outpatient and hospital services for these disorders totaled R$ 92,530,810.63 (Int$ 40,565,896.81) in 10 years; spina bifida accounted for 84.92% of the total cost. Hospital costs were expressive of all three disorders in the first year of the patient's life. Between 2010 and 2019, mandatory folic acid fortification prevented 3,499 live births with neural tube defects and resulted in R$ 20,381,586.40 (Int$ 8,935,373.25) in hospital and outpatient cost savings. Flour fortification has proved to be a valuable strategy in preventing pregnancies with neural tube defects. Since its implementation, there has been a 30% decrease in the prevalence of neural tube defects and a 22.81% decrease associated in hospital and outpatient costs.

Foco na satisfação dos usuários como estratégia participativa para fomentar o acesso e a qualidade da Atenção Primária à Saúde do Distrito Federal / Focus on client satisfaction as a participatory strategy to promote access and quality of Primary Health Care in the Federal District

Resumo Para construir uma Atenção Primária à Saúde de qualidade deve-se considerar atributos essenciais e participação social. Este estudo, norteado pelo compromisso da saúde coletiva de fomentar processos de cogestão a partir de estratégias participativas, teve como objetivo compreender a percepção dos usuários sobre o atendimento recebido e o funcionamento de sua Unidade Básica de Saúde. O estudo transversal, qualitativo, de caráter exploratório-descritivo realizou a coleta de dados em 25 unidades de saúde urbanas e rurais do Distrito Federal, entre agosto de 2018 e fevereiro de 2019. Para elaborar este artigo, foram utilizadas as respostas a uma pergunta aberta de um questionário semiestruturado. Nelas, os usuários fizeram sugestões ou queixas a respeito dos serviços de saúde prestados. As respostas foram analisadas utilizando o software AtlasTI e sistematizadas em categorias temáticas. Ao final, foram organizadas nas seguintes categorias: elenco de profissionais, turnos de funcionamento, serviços disponíveis e infraestrutura. A escuta qualificada dos usuários permite conhecer as singularidades dos serviços para o planejamento e a construção de um modelo de atenção comprometido com o ato de cuidar, na perspectiva dos atores que compõem os territórios de saúde.

Abstract Quality in Primary Health Care can only be endured by considering essential attributes and social participation. This study, guided by collective health and its commitment to foster co-management processes based on participatory strategies, examined user perception regarding the care received and the functioning of their Basic Health Unit. A cross-sectional, qualitative, descriptive exploratory study was conducted with data collected at 25 urban and rural Primary Health Units in the Federal District, between August 2018 and February 2019, using a validated semi-structured questionnaire. Answers were analyzed using the AtlasTI software and grouped into the following thematic categories: professional staff, working shifts, available services and infrastructure. Qualified listening to users allows us to know the singularities of the services for planning and building a care model committed to the act of caring, from the perspective of health care users.

Covid-19: temporal evolution and immunization in the three epidemiological waves, Brazil, 2020-2022.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the temporal evolution of morbimortality due to Covid-19 and vaccination coverage during the health emergency in Brazil. METHODS: Number of cases and deaths due to Covid-19 were extracted from the public panel of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, according to epidemiological week (EW) and geographic region. Data on vaccines and variants were obtained, respectively, from the Information System of the National Immunization Program and the Genomic Surveillance System of SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Three peaks of deaths characterized the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic: in EW 30 of 2020, in the EW 14 of 2021 and in the EW six of 2022; three case waves, starting in the North and Northeast regions, with higher rates in the third wave, mainly in the South region. Vaccination started in the epidemiological week three of 2021, rapidly reaching most of the population, particularly in the Southeast and South regions, coinciding with a reduction exclusively in the mortality rate in the third wave. Only from the beginning of the second wave, when Gama was the dominant variant, 146,718 genomes were sequenced. From the last EW of 2021, with vaccination coverage already approaching 70%, the Omicron variant caused an avalanche of cases, but with fewer deaths. CONCLUSIONS: We noticed the presence of three waves of Covid-19, as well as the effect of immunization on the reduction of mortality in the second and third waves, attributed to the Delta and Omicron variants, respectively. However, the reduction of morbidity, which peaked in the third wave during the domination of the Omicron variant, remained the same. The national and centralized command of the pandemic confrontation did not occur; thus, public administrators took the lead in their territories. The overwhelming effect of the pandemic could have been minimized, if there had been a coordinated participation of three spheres of the Brazilian Unified Health System administration, in the joint governance of the pandemic fight.

Development of an Index to Assess COVID-19 Hospital Care Installed Capacity in the 450 Brazilian Health Regions.

OBJECTIVE: The article seeks to assess the Brazilian health system ability to respond to the challenges imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by measuring the capacity of Brazilian hospitals to care for COVID-19 cases in the 450 Health Regions of the country during the year 2020. Hospital capacity refers to the availability of hospital beds, equipment, and human resources. METHODS: We used longitudinal data from the National Register of Health Facilities (CNES) regarding the availability of resources necessary to care for patients with COVID-19 in inpatient facilities (public or private) from January to December 2020. Among the assessed resources are health professionals (certified nursing assistants, nurses, physical therapists, and doctors), hospital beds (clinical, intermediate care, and intensive care units), and medical equipment (computed tomography scanners, defibrillators, electrocardiograph monitors, ventilators, and resuscitators). In addition to conducting a descriptive analysis of absolute and relative data (per 10,000 users), a synthetic indicator named Installed Capacity Index (ICI) was calculated using the multivariate principal component analysis technique to assess hospital capacity. The indicator was further stratified into value ranges to understand its evolution. RESULTS: There was an increase in all selected indicators between January and December 2020. It was possible to observe differences between the Northeast and North regions and the other regions of the country; most Health Regions presented low ICI. The ICI increased between the beginning and the end of 2020, but this evolution differed among Health Regions. The average increase in the ICI was more evident in the groups that already had considerably high baseline capacity in January 2020. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to identify inequalities in the hospital capacity to care for patients affected by COVID -19 in the Health Regions of Brazil, with a concentration of low index values in the Northeast and North of the country. As the indicator increased throughout the year 2020, inequalities were also observed. The information here provided may be used by health authorities, providers, and managers in planning and adjusting for future COVID-19 care and in dimensioning the adequate supply of hospital beds, health-care professionals, and devices in Health Regions to reduce associated morbidity and mortality. We recommend that the ICI continue to be calculated in the coming months of the pandemic to monitor the capacity in the country's Health Regions.

Covid-19: temporal evolution and immunization in the three epidemiological waves, Brazil, 2020-2022 / Covid-19: evolução temporal e imunização nas três ondas epidemiológicas, Brasil, 2020-2022

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE Describe the temporal evolution of morbimortality due to Covid-19 and vaccination coverage during the health emergency in Brazil. METHODS Number of cases and deaths due to Covid-19 were extracted from the public panel of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, according to epidemiological week (EW) and geographic region. Data on vaccines and variants were obtained, respectively, from the Information System of the National Immunization Program and the Genomic Surveillance System of SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS Three peaks of deaths characterized the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic: in EW 30 of 2020, in the EW 14 of 2021 and in the EW six of 2022; three case waves, starting in the North and Northeast regions, with higher rates in the third wave, mainly in the South region. Vaccination started in the epidemiological week three of 2021, rapidly reaching most of the population, particularly in the Southeast and South regions, coinciding with a reduction exclusively in the mortality rate in the third wave. Only from the beginning of the second wave, when Gama was the dominant variant, 146,718 genomes were sequenced. From the last EW of 2021, with vaccination coverage already approaching 70%, the Omicron variant caused an avalanche of cases, but with fewer deaths. CONCLUSIONS We noticed the presence of three waves of Covid-19, as well as the effect of immunization on the reduction of mortality in the second and third waves, attributed to the Delta and Omicron variants, respectively. However, the reduction of morbidity, which peaked in the third wave during the domination of the Omicron variant, remained the same. The national and centralized command of the pandemic confrontation did not occur; thus, public administrators took the lead in their territories. The overwhelming effect of the pandemic could have been minimized, if there had been a coordinated participation of three spheres of the Brazilian Unified Health System administration, in the joint governance of the pandemic fight.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Descrever a evolução temporal da morbimortalidade por covid-19 e da cobertura vacinal no período da emergência sanitária no Brasil. MÉTODOS Número de casos e óbitos por covid-19 foram extraídos do painel público do Ministério da Saúde, conforme semana epidemiológica (SE) e região geográfica. Dados sobre vacinas e variantes foram obtidos, respectivamente, do Sistema de Informação do Programa Nacional de Imunizações e do Sistema de Vigilância Genômica do SARS-CoV-2. RESULTADOS A evolução da pandemia de covid-19 caracterizou-se por três picos de óbitos: na 30ᵃ semana epidemiológica de 2020, na 14ᵃ de 2021 e na sexta de 2022; três ondas de casos, iniciando-se nas regiões Norte e Nordeste, com maiores taxas na terceira onda, principalmente na região Sul. A vacinação teve início na terceira semana epidemiológica de 2021, atingindo rapidamente a maior parte da população, particularmente nas regiões Sudeste e Sul, coincidindo com redução da taxa de mortalidade, mas não de morbidade na terceira onda. No total, 146.718 genomas foram sequenciados, mas somente a partir do início da segunda onda, na qual a variante dominante foi a Gama. A partir da última SE de 2021, quando a cobertura vacinal já se aproximava de 70%, a variante Ômicron causou uma avalanche de casos, porém com menos óbitos. CONCLUSÕES É nítida a presença de três ondas de covid-19, bem como o efeito da imunização na redução da mortalidade na segunda e na terceira ondas, atribuídas às variantes Delta e Ômicron, respectivamente. Contudo não houve efeito na redução da morbidade, que atingiu o pico na terceira onda, na qual dominou a variante Ômicron. O comando nacional e centralizado do enfrentamento à pandemia não ocorreu; assim, os gestores locais assumiram a liderança em seus territórios. O efeito avassalador da pandemia poderia ter sido minimizado, caso houvesse a participação coordenada das três esferas de governo no SUS.

Síndrome Inflamatória Multissistêmica e Covid-19 em crianças e adolescentes: aspectos epidemiológicos, Brasil, 2020-2021 / Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome and COVID-19 in children and adolescents: epidemiological aspects, Brazil, 2020-20211

RESUMO Este estudo descreve aspectos epidemiológicos da Síndrome Inflamatória Multissistêmica Pediátrica (SIM-P) associada à Covid-19 e óbitos por Covid-19 em crianças (0-9 anos de idade) e adolescentes (10-19 anos de idade). As fontes de dados, de 2020-2021, foram os Sistemas de Vigilância Epidemiológica para SIM-P e de Informação sobre Mortalidade para Covid-19, gerenciados pelo Ministério da Saúde. Foram notificados 1.503 casos, mais frequentes em crianças (77%) do que em adolescentes (23%); e 93 óbitos por SIM-P em 26 das 27 Unidades da Federação. O maior número de casos em crianças foi notificado em São Paulo (268), contudo, a maior incidência ocorreu no Distrito Federal (7,8/100 mil habitantes). A proporção de óbitos por SIM-P foi 5,4% em crianças e 8,7% em adolescentes. No período avaliado, houve 2.329 óbitos por Covid-19 em menores de 20 anos de idade, com maior taxa em adolescentes (4,4/100 mil habitantes) do que em crianças (2,7/100 mil habitantes), com maiores taxas em Roraima. Recomenda-se intensificação da imunização contra Covid-19 nessa população, aumentando a proteção contra os efeitos negativos dessa doença e da SIM-P, que podem apresentar consequências em curto, médio e/ou longo prazo, de modo a não comprometer a inserção plena destes cidadãos na sociedade.

ABSTRACT This study describes epidemiological aspects of the Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 and mortality by COVID-19 in children (0-9 years old) and adolescents (10-19 years old). The data sources, for 2020-2021, were the Epidemiological Surveillance System for MIS-C and Mortality Information System for COVID-19, both managed by the Ministry of Health. There were 1,503 cases, more frequent in children (77%) than in adolescents (23%), and 93 reported deaths due to MIS-C in 26 of the 27 States of the Country. The highest number of cases in children was reported in São Paulo (268), but the highest incidence took place in the Federal District (7.8 per 100,000 inhabitants). The rate of deaths due to MIS-C was 5.4% in children and 8.7% in adolescents. There were 2,329 deaths due to COVID-19 in the population under 20 years old, with a higher rate in adolescents (4.4 per 100,000 inhabitants) than in children (2.7); the highest rate occurred in Roraima. We recommend intensifying immunization against COVID-19 in such population, increasing protection against the negative effects of COVID-19 and MIS-C, which may have short, medium and/or long-term consequences, so as not to compromise the full integration of these citizens into society.

Structure and responsiveness: are Primary Health Care Units prepared to face COVID-19? / Estrutura e responsividade: a Atenção Primária à Saúde está preparada para o enfrentamento da Covid-19?

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the need for global efforts to grant universal health coverage and access, which imposes management challenges for Primary Health Care (PHC). This study aimed to develop and apply an instrument to assess the PHC Units' responsiveness to COVID-19, based on co-production efforts between university researchers and PHC technical teams. The instrument composed of two modules, included identification, operating hours, workforce, work process, structure, equipment, furniture, supplies, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), Symptomatic Respiratory Patient (SRP) examinations and follow-up, information, surveillance, integration, communication, and management. All the 165 PHC Units in Brasília were invited to complete the instrument. Main results: there was physical structure adaptation (adequate configuration of waiting rooms, internal and external spaces allowing safe distance); provision of PPE and COVID-19 tests; active search for SRP/COVID-19 suspects by phone, mobile or home visits; monitoring flows of patient transfer and telehealth implementation. In conclusion, the PHC Units reorganized their services to meet the demands of the pandemic context. Providing information about structure and responsiveness of PHC Units may subside health systems for planning and decision-making at different levels of management, which is crucial to determine strategies to empower and reinforce PHC responsivity in situations of pandemics and other calamities.

RESUMO A pandemia de Covid-19 reforçou a necessidade de esforços globais para garantir cobertura e acesso universal à saúde, impondo desafios na gestão da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Este estudo objetivou desen- volver e aplicar um instrumento de avaliação da responsividade das Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) diante da Covid-19, baseado na coprodução entre pesquisadores universitários e equipes técnicas da APS. O instrumento, dividido em dois módulos, incluiu identificação; horário de funcionamento; processo de trabalho; estrutura física, equipamentos, mobiliário, suprimentos e Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPI); atendimento, exames e acompanhamento de Usuários Sintomáticos Respiratórios (USR); vigilância, integração, comunicação e gestão. Todas as 165 UBS foram convidadas a completar o instrumento. Principais resultados: houve readequação da estrutura física (salas de espera, espaços internos/externos); fornecimento de EPI e de testes Covid-19, busca ativa de USR/suspeitos Covid-19 por telefone/visitas domiciliares, monitoramento de fluxos de transferência de pacientes e telessaúde. Concluindo, as UBS reorganizaram seus serviços para atender necessidades da pandemia. Fornecer informações sobre estrutura e capacidade de resposta das UBS pode subsidiar sistemas de saúde para planejamento e tomada de decisões, em diferentes níveis de gestão, crucial para determinar estratégias para reforçar a responsividade da APS em situações de pandemias e outras calamidades.

Challenges facing the More Doctors program (Programa Mais Médicos) in vulnerable and peri-urban areas in Greater Brasilia, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: A shortage of physicians, especially in vulnerable and peri-urban areas, is a global phenomenon that has serious implications for health systems, demanding policies to assure the provision and retention of health workers. The aim of this study was to analyze the strategies employed by the More Doctors Program (Programa Mais Médicos) to provide primary care physicians in vulnerable and peri-urban parts of Greater Brasilia. METHODS: The study used a qualitative approach based on the precepts of social constructivism. Forty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted: 24 with physicians employed as part of the More Doctors program, five with program medical supervisors, seven with secondary care physicians, twelve with primary care coordinators, and one federal administrator. The interviews occurred between March and September 2019. The transcripts of the interviews were submitted to thematic content analysis. RESULTS: The partnership between the Ministry of Health and local authorities was essential for the provision of doctors-especially foreign doctors, most from Cuba, to assist vulnerable population groups previously without access to the health system. There was a notable presence of doctors with experience working with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, which was important for gaining a better understanding of the effects of the endemic urban violence in the region. The incentives and other institutional support, such as enhanced salaries, training, and housing, transportation, and food allowances, were factors that helped provide a satisfactory working environment. However, the poor state of the infrastructure at some of the primary care units and limitations of the health service as a whole were factors that hampered the provision of comprehensive care, constituting a cause of dissatisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: More Doctors introduced a range of novel strategies that helped ensure a supply of primary care doctors in vulnerable and peri-urban parts of Greater Brasilia. The inclusion of foreign doctors, most from Cuba, was crucial for the success of the health services provided for the local communities, who subsist in violent and socioeconomically deprived urban areas. However, it became clear that barriers from within the health service itself hampered the physicians' capacity to provide a satisfactory service. As such, what is needed for primary care to be effective is not just the recruitment, training, and deployment of doctors, but also investment in the organization of the whole health system.

[Intergenerational perceptions and practices in breastfeeding and child feeding among quilombola women in Goiás State, Brazil]. / Percepções e práticas intergeracionais de mulheres quilombolas sobre aleitamento materno e alimentação infantil, Goiás, Brasil.

This exploratory qualitative study aimed to identify sociocultural and intergenerational aspects of perception and practices in child feeding among quilombola women, members of maroon communities in Brazil. A focus group with 12 mothers and another group with four grandmothers of children under five years of age were conducted in a rural quilombola community in the State of Goiás, Brazil. The data were analyzed with thematic content analysis, yielding four central themes and respective subthemes, which were then represented in a socioecological conceptual model with four levels of influence on child feeding as the outcome. Theme 1 dealt with the reasons for breastfeeding which included the child's health, financial issues, and positive maternal attitude toward breastfeeding. Theme 2 encompassed factors that negatively influence breastfeeding, such as the perception of "too little milk", use of teas, sequential pregnancy, and the child's characteristics. Theme 3 dealt with complementary feeding, generally introduced too early, including foods consumed by the family and ultra-processed foods. Theme 4 addressed the support network, consisting of the family and community dimension, featuring the grandmothers' role, acting in the intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge and support for mothers, while health services, with educational activities related to breastfeeding, played a lesser role in quilombola women's decisions and practices. The promotion of adequate and healthy child feeding practices should address aspects of the quilombola women's sociocultural context and adopt emancipatory approaches, guaranteeing quality care for this population.

Estudo qualitativo exploratório com objetivo de identificar aspectos socioculturais e intergeracionais nas percepções e práticas sobre alimentação infantil entre mulheres quilombolas. Um grupo focal com 12 mães e outro com quatro avós de crianças menores de cinco anos foi realizado em uma comunidade quilombola rural em Goiás, Brasil. Para análise dos dados empregou-se análise de conteúdo na modalidade temática, da qual emergiram quatro temas centrais e respectivos subtemas, que foram posteriormente representados em modelo conceitual socioecológico com quatro níveis de influência sobre o desfecho da alimentação infantil. O tema 1 tratou dos motivos para amamentar que incluiu a saúde da criança, questões financeiras e sentimento materno positivo em relação à amamentação. O tema 2 englobou fatores que influenciam negativamente o aleitamento materno, como a percepção de "pouco leite", o uso de chás, nova gravidez da mãe e características da criança. O tema 3 tratou da alimentação complementar, geralmente introduzida precocemente, incluindo alimentos consumidos pela família e alimentos ultraprocessados. O tema 4 abordou a rede de suporte, composta pela dimensão familiar/comunitária, com destaque para o papel das avós, atuando na transmissão intergeracional de conhecimentos tradicionais e no apoio às mães, e os serviços de saúde, com oferta de ações educativas sobre aleitamento materno, tendo menor participação nas decisões e práticas das mulheres quilombolas. A promoção de práticas alimentares infantis adequadas e saudáveis precisa considerar aspectos do contexto sociocultural de mulheres quilombolas e se pautar em abordagens emancipatórias, garantindo uma atenção qualificada à essa população.

Se trata de un estudio cualitativo exploratorio, con el fin de identificar aspectos socioculturales e intergeneracionales en las percepciones y prácticas sobre alimentación infantil, entre mujeres quilombolas. Se formaron un grupo focal con 12 madres y otro con 4 abuelos de niños menores de cinco años en una comunidad quilombola rural en Goiás, Brasil. Para el análisis de datos se empleó el análisis de contenido en la modalidad temática, de la cual emergieron cuatro temas centrales, y sus respectivos subtemas, que estuvieron posteriormente representados en el modelo conceptual socioecológico con cuatro niveles de influencia sobre el resultado de la alimentación infantil. El tema 1 trató sobre los motivos para amamantar, que incluyó la salud del niño, cuestiones financieras y sentimiento materno positivo en relación con la lactancia materna. El tema 2 englobó factores que influencian negativamente la lactancia materna, como la percepción de "poca leche", el uso de infusiones, nuevo embarazo de la madre y características del niño. El tema 3 trató de la alimentación complementaria, generalmente introducida precozmente, incluyendo alimentos consumidos por la familia y alimentos ultraprocesados. El tema 4 abordó la red de apoyo, compuesta por la dimensión familiar/comunitaria, destacando el papel de las abuelas, actuando en la transmisión intergeneracional de conocimientos tradicionales y en el apoyo a las madres, así como los servicios de salud, con una oferta de acciones educativas sobre lactancia materna, teniendo menor participación en las decisiones y prácticas de las mujeres quilombolas. La promoción de prácticas alimentarias infantiles adecuadas y saludables necesita considerar aspectos del contexto sociocultural de mujeres quilombolas y pautarse en abordajes emancipatorios, garantizando una atención cualificada a esa población.

COVID-19 as the leading cause of hospital deaths in the Brazilian public health system in 2020.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the profile of hospital deaths in Brazil according to cause of admission during the pre-pandemic (2019) and pandemic periods (2020). METHODS: Descriptive study based on individual-level records of all hospital admissions with death outcomes reimbursed by the Brazilian National Health System in 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: The number of hospital deaths increased by 16.7% in 2020 compared with 2019 (522,686 vs 609,755). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was associated with 19.5% (118,879) of all hospital deaths in 2020, surpassing diseases of the circulatory system (15.4%, 93,735) and diseases of the respiratory system (14.9%, 91,035). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 was the main cause of death in public hospitals in Brazil in 2020.

Cases of violence against people with disabilities notified by Brazilian health services, 2011-2017. / Casos de violência contra pessoas com deficiência notificados por serviços de saúde brasileiros, 2011-2017.

OBJECTIVE: To describe cases of violence against people with disabilities notified by Brazilian health services between 2011 and 2017. METHODS: This was a descriptive study of secondary data on notifications of violence against people with disabilities recorded on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (Sinan). RESULTS: 116,219 cases of violence against people with disabilities were recorded in the period. Most of the victims were female (67%), White (50.7%), between 20 and 59 years old (61.6%) and mentally disabled (58.1%), with multiple disabilities occurring frequently (15.9%), especially mental and intellectual disabilities. Self-inflicted violence accounted for 44.5% of notifications. Physical violence was the most reported (51.6%), and in 36.5% of notifications the probable aggressor was a family member. CONCLUSION: The description of cases of violence against people with disabilities notified by Brazilian health services can contribute to the formulation and improvement of public policies to address this important problem.

Brazil's more doctors programme and infant health outcomes: a longitudinal analysis.

BACKGROUND: Providing sufficient numbers of human resources for health is essential for effective and accessible health services. Between 2013 and 2018, the Brazilian Ministry of Health implemented the Programa Mais Médicos (PMM) (More Doctors Programme) to increase the supply of primary care doctors in underserved areas of the country. This study investigated the association between PMM and infant health outcomes and assessed if heterogeneity in the impact of PMM varied by municipal socio-economic factors and health indicators. METHODS: An ecological longitudinal (panel) study design was employed to analyse data from 5565 Brazilian municipalities over a 12-year period between 2007 and 2018. A differences-in-differences approach was implemented using longitudinal fixed effect regression models to compare infant health outcomes in municipalities receiving a PMM doctor with those that did not receive a PMM doctor. The impact of PMM was assessed on aggregate and in municipality subgroups. RESULTS: On aggregate, the PMM was not significantly associated with changes in infant or neonatal mortality, but the PMM was associated with reductions in infant mortality rate (IMR) (of - 0.21; 95% CI: - 0.38, - 0.03) in municipalities with highest IMR prior to the programme's implementation (where (IMR) > 25.2 infant deaths per 1000 live births). The PMM was also associated with an increase in the proportion of expectant mothers receiving seven or more prenatal care visits but only in municipalities with a lower IMR at baseline and high density of non-PMM doctors and community health workers before the PMM. CONCLUSIONS: The PMM was associated with reduced infant mortality in municipalities with the highest infant mortality rate prior to the programme. This suggests effectiveness of the PMM was limited only to the areas of greatest need. New programmes to improve the equitable provision of human resources for health should employ comprehensive targeting approaches balancing health needs and socio-economic factors to maximize effectiveness.

Trends in COVID-19 case-fatality rates in Brazilian public hospitals: A longitudinal cohort of 398,063 hospital admissions from 1st March to 3rd October 2020.

BACKGROUND: Almost 200,000 deaths from COVID-19 were reported in Brazil in 2020. The case fatality rate of a new infectious disease can vary by different risk factors and over time. We analysed the trends and associated factors of COVID-19 case fatality rates in Brazilian public hospital admissions during the first wave of the pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of all COVID-19-related admissions between epidemiological weeks 10-40 in the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) was delimited from available reimbursement records. Smoothing time series and survival analyses were conducted to evaluate the trends of hospital case fatality rates (CFR) and the probability of death according to factors such as sex, age, ethnicity, comorbidities, length of stay and ICU use. RESULTS: With 398,063 admissions and 86,452 (21.7%) deaths, the overall age-standardized hospital CFR trend decreased throughout the period, varying from 31.8% (95%CI: 31.2 to 32.5%) in week 10 to 18.2% (95%CI: 17.6 to 18.8%) in week 40. This decreasing trend was observed in all sex, age, ethnic groups, length of stay and ICU admissions. Consistently, later admission (from July to September) was an independent protective factor. Patients 80+ year old had a hazard ratio of 8.18 (95% CI: 7.51 to 8.91). Ethnicity, comorbidities, and ICU need were also associated with the death risk. Although also decreasing, the CFR was always around 40-50% in people who needed an ICU admission. CONCLUSIONS: The overall hospital CFR of COVID-19 has decreased in Brazilian public hospitals during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020. Nevertheless, during the entire period, the CFR was still very high, suggesting the need for improving COVID-19 hospital care in Brazil.

Timely availability of public data for health management: COVID-19 wave´s analysis / Disponibilidade de dados públicos em tempo oportuno para a gestão: análise das ondas da COVID-19

The aim of this study is to support health management, with recent and reliable information, during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Notified and confirmed cases and deaths by COVID-19 were evaluated from three public databases. 1)  Data from the Coronavirus Panel of the Ministry of Health, updated daily, show the existence of two epidemic waves. 2)  The Civil Registry Transparency Portal, also with recent data, points to high mortality rates of COVID-19, especially in older age groups. 3)  The cases, reported by the Information System of the Epidemiological Surveillance of Influenza (Sivep-gripe), confirmed mainly by laboratory test, show predominance of men, high age groups, white race/color, residence in urban areas, presence of comorbidities, higher occurrence of hospitalization and lower use of intensive care unit. This last database, in addition to the first wave, records only the first eight epidemiological weeks of the second wave.  The vertiginous rate of increase in cases and deaths in the second wave points to the need for more drastic measures of social distancing, in addition to the expansion of vaccination against COVID-19. The combination of the three banks expands information that can support timely decision-making.

O objetivo deste estudo é apoiar a gestão em saúde, com informações recentes e confiáveis, durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Casos notificados e confirmados e óbitos por COVID-19 foram avaliados a partir de três bancos de dados públicos.1) Dados do Painel Coronavírus do Ministério da Saúde, atualizados diariamente, mostram a existência de duas ondas epidêmicas. 2) O Portal da Transparência do Registro Civil, também com dados recentes, aponta altas taxas de mortalidade do COVID-19, especialmente nas faixas etárias mais velhas. 3) Os casos notificados pelo Sistema de Informação da Vigilância Epidemiológica da Influenza (Sivep-gripe), confirmados principalmente por exame laboratorial, mostram predominância de homens, faixas etárias elevadas, raça/cor branca, residência em áreas urbanas, presença de comorbidades, maior ocorrência de internação e menor uso de unidade de terapia intensiva. Esta última base de dados, além da primeira onda, registra apenas as primeiras oito semanas epidemiológicas da segunda onda. A vertiginosa taxa de aumento de casos e óbitos na segunda onda aponta para a necessidade de medidas mais drásticas de distanciamento social, além da expansão da vacinação contra o COVID-19. A combinação dos três bancos expande as informações, que podem apoiar a tomada de decisões em tempo oportuno.

COVID-19 e SIM-P: morbimortalidade em crianças e adolescentes no Brasil, 2020-2021 / Mortalidade e morbidade em crianças e adolescentes por COVID-19 no Brasil

Objetivos: descrever a evolução temporal da morbidade e mortalidade por COVID-19 e síndrome inflamatória multissistêmica pediátrica temporalmente associada à COVID-19, a SIM-P, em crianças e adolescentes brasileiros.   Métodos: Trata-se de estudo descritivo, baseado em dados secundários oficiais. A mortalidade por COVID-19 foi analisada de acordo com os dados do Portal da Transparência do Registro Civil. A morbimortalidade por SIM-P foi verificada a partir de boletins epidemiológicos estaduais e federal. Resultados: no período de um ano registraram-se 2.346 óbitos por COVID-19 em crianças e adolescente. Do total, 78% são óbitos entre adolescentes, que vem aumentando exponencialmente em 2021, na segunda onda da epidemia. A taxa de mortalidade por COVID-19 nas crianças foi de 1,8 por 100 mil habitantes, enquanto em adolescentes foi três vezes maior (5,6 por 100 mil habitantes). A SIM-P foi notificada em 26 das 27 Unidade da Federação e 77% dos casos incidem em menores de 10 anos. Conclusões: o aumento da morbimortalidade por COVID-19 em crianças e adolescentes   reforça a necessidade de medidas drásticas de contenção da epidemia. A COVID-19 apresenta consequências a curto e longo prazo, podendo comprometer a saúde de crianças e adolescentes, além de interferir no seu desenvolvimento integral, atividade física, socialização adequada, desempenho escolar e, futuramente, na sua inserção plena na sociedade.

O objetivo do estudo é caracterizar o perfil de morbimortalidade por COVID-19 e síndrome inflamatória multissistêmica pediátrica temporalmente associada à COVID-19 (SIM-P) em crianças e adolescentes. Foram analisadas bases de dados e documentos oficiais de 2019 a 2021. O número de óbitos foi obtido do Portal da Transparência do Registro Civil (2020-2021) e do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (2019). A taxa de mortalidade geral e por COVID-19 padronizada por sexo e faixa etária para cada Unidade da Federação (UF) foi calculada. Os dados sobre a SIM-P foram obtidos a partir de boletins epidemiológicos das UF e do governo federal (2020-2021). No período analisado foram registrados 2.190 óbitos por COVID-19, sendo 77,7% em adolescentes. A taxa de mortalidade geral nas crianças e adolescentes foi de 16,6 por 10 mil habitantes e a de COVID-19 foi 0,3 por 100 mil habitantes; a taxa de mortalidade diferiu entre as UFs e grupos etários. A SIM-P foi notificada em 24 das 27 UFs em 2020-2021, com maior incidência no Distrito Federal. Discute-se a recomendação de qualificação profissional para o diagnóstico e assistência de casos de SIM-P no Brasil. Urgem medidas drásticas de contenção da epidemia, especialmente em adolescentes, cujo número de mortes vem se sobrepondo a cada dia. Há divergência sobre a segurança de aulas presenciais, pois com epidemia fora de controle a aglomeração de jovens deve ser evitada. A COVID-19 tem consequências a curto e longo prazo, podendo comprometer a saúde de crianças e adolescentes, interferindo no seu desenvolvimento integral, na socialização adequada, no desempenho escolar e, futuramente, na sua inserção plena na sociedade.

Violence's cases against disabled persons notified by Brazilian health services, 2011 to 2017 / Casos de violencia contra personas con discapacidad notificados por los servicios de salud brasileños, 2011 a 2017 / Casos de violência contra pessoas com deficiência notificados por serviços de saúde brasileiros, 2011-2017

Objective: To describe the cases of violence against disabled persons notified by Brazilian health services in the period from 2011 to 2017. Methods: A descriptive study of secondary data of notifications of violence against disabled persons registered in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan). Results: 116,219 cases of violence against disabled persons were recorded in the period. Most of the victims were female (67%), white (50.7%), between 20 and 59 years old (61.6%) and mentally disabled (58.1%), with multiple disabilities occurring frequently (15.9%), especially mental and intellectual. Self-inflicted violence accounted for 44.5% of notifications. Physical violence was the most reported (51.6%), and in 36.5% of notifications the likely aggressor was family. Conclusion: The description of cases of violence against disabled persons notified by Brazilian health services can contribute to the formulation and improvement of public policies to face this important problem

Objetivo:  Descrever os casos de violência contra pessoas com deficiência notificados por serviços de saúde brasileiros, em 2011-2017. Métodos: Estudo descritivo de dados secundários das notificações de violência contra pessoas com deficiência no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan). Resultados: Foram registrados 116.219 casos de violência contra pessoas com deficiência no período. A maioria das vítimas era do sexo feminino (67%), branca (50,7%), na idade de 20 a 59 anos (61,6%), com deficiência mental (58,1%), sendo frequente a ocorrência de múltipla deficiência (15,9%), especialmente mental e intelectual. A violência autoprovocada correspondeu a 44,5% das notificações, enquanto a violência física foi a mais notificada (51,6%); em 36,5% das notificações, o provável agressor era um membro da família. Conclusão: A descrição dos casos de violência contra pessoas com deficiência, notificados por serviços de saúde brasileiros, pode contribuir para a formulação e aprimoramento de políticas públicas voltadas a esse importante problema.

Colapso na Saúde em Manaus: o fardo de não aderir às medidas não farmacológicas de redução da transmissão da COVID-19 / Colapso de la salud en Manaos: la carga de no adherirse a medidas no farmacológicas para reducir la transmisión de COVID-19 / Colapso na Saúde em Manaus: o fardo de não aderir às medidas não farmacológicas de redução da transmissão da COVID-19

The purpose of this article is to compare the evolution of COVID-19 in Manaus and Fortaleza, two epicenters of the pandemic in 2020, analyzing legal measures by local governments and levels of social isolation. An algorithm was defined to calculate the Homestay Index (HSI), using data from the Google Mobility Report. The Decree's timeline, the HSI evolution, the incidence of COVID-19 and the number of deaths from March/2020 to January/2021 were analyzed. The population of Fortaleza was exposed to more consistent measures of social distance, than those of Manaus. Longer homestay was observed from March to May 2020 and Fortaleza achieved higher and more lasting levels. As of June 2020, the HSI fell, notably in Manaus, reaching levels below zero in late December. As an aggravating factor, the government decreed ample isolation in Manaus on December 23/2020, but after protests, it repeals it on December 26/2020. A Judicial Decision determines the complete closure in Manaus on January 02/2021, but it was too late: SUS collapses with an exponential increase in deaths. In Fortaleza, the demand for health services is high, but under control. We consider that only the strict application of non-pharmacological measures and mass immunization can prevent further deaths.

O objetivo desse artigo é comparar o comportamento do COVID-19 em Manaus e Fortaleza, dois epicentros da pandemia em 2020, analisando medidas legais dos governos locais e níveis de isolamento social. Definiu-se um algoritmo para calcular o Índice de Permanência Domiciliar (IPD), com dados do Google Mobility Report. Analisou-se a linha do tempo dos Decretos, a evolução do IPD, da incidência de COVID-19 e do número de óbitos de março / 2020 a janeiro / 2021. A população de Fortaleza esteve exposta a medidas de distanciamento social mais consistentes que as de Manaus. Maior permanência domiciliar foi observada de março a maio de 2020 e Fortaleza atingiu níveis mais elevados e duradouros. A partir de junho o IPD caiu, sobretudo em Manaus, atingindo níveis abaixo de zero no final de dezembro. Como agravante, o governo decreta amplo isolamento em Manaus em 23/12/2020, mas após protestos, revoga-o em 26/12/2020. Uma Decisão Judicial determina o fechamento completo em Manaus em 01/02/2021, mas foi tarde demais: o SUS entra em colapso com aumento exponencial dos óbitos. Em Fortaleza a demanda por serviços de saúde está elevada, mas sob controle.

Inpatient flow for COVID-19 in the Brazilian health regions / Fluxo de internação por COVID-19 nas regiões de saúde do Brasil

Objective: To investigate the flows of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the 450 regions and 117 Brazilian health macro-regions between March and October 2020. Method: Descriptive study, comprising all hospitalizations due to COVID-19 registered in the Flu Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (SIVEP-Gripe) between the 8th and 44th epidemiological weeks of 2020. The proportion of hospitalizations for COVID-19 occurred within same health region of residency was calculated, stratified according to periods of greater and lesser demand for health care, according to the population size of health regions. The indicator of migratory efficacy was calculated, which takes into account the evasion and invasion of patients, by crossing the data of origin of the patients (health region of residence) with the data of the place of hospitalization (health region of attendance). Results: 397,830 admissions were identified for COVID-19 in the period. Evasion was 11.9% of residents in health regions and 6.8% in macro-regions, pattern that was maintained during the peak period of hospitalizations for COVID-19. There was an average of 17.6% of evasion of residents of health regions in the Northeast and of 8.8% in health regions of the South. Evasion was more accentuated in health regions with up to 100 thousand / inhabitants (36.9%), which was 7 times greater than that observed in health regions with more than 2 million / inhabitants (5.2%). The negative migratory efficacy indicator (-0.39) indicated a predominance of evasion. Of the 450 Brazilian health regions, 117 (39.3%) had a coefficient of migratory efficacy between -1 and -0.75 and 113 (25.1%) between -0.75 and -0.25. Conclusion: The results indicate that the regionalization of the health system proved to be adequate in the organization of care in the territory, however the long distances traveled are still worrying.

Objetivo: Investigar os fluxos de internações por COVID-19 nas 450 regiões e 117 macrorregiões de saúde brasileiras no período de março a outubro de 2020. Método: Estudo descritivo, compreendendo todas as internações por COVID-19 registradas no Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe (SIVEP-Gripe) entre a 8ª e a 44ª semanas epidemiológicas de 2020. Foi calculada a proporção das internações por COVID-19 realizadas pelos residentes que ocorreram dentro da sua respectiva região de saúde, estratificado segundo períodos de maior e menor demanda de internações e segundo o porte populacional das regiões de saúde. Foi calculado o indicador de eficácia migratória, que leva em consideração a evasão e invasão de pacientes, por meio do cruzamento dos dados de origem dos pacientes (região de saúde de residência) com os dados do local da realização das internações (região de saúde de atendimento). Resultados: Foram identificadas 397.830 internações por COVID-19 no Brasil. A evasão foi de 11,9% dos residentes nas regiões de saúde e de 6,8% nas macrorregiões; o padrão que se manteve também no período de pico das internações por COVID-19. Houve em média 17,6% de evasão dos residentes das regiões de saúde do Nordeste e de 8,8% nas regiões de saúde do Sul. A evasão foi mais acentuada nas regiões de saúde com até 100 mil/hab. (36,9%), a qual foi 7 vezes maior que a verificada nas regiões de saúde com mais de 2 milhões/habitantes (5,2%). O indicador de eficácia migratória negativo (-0,39) indicou predomínio da evasão. Das 450 regiões de saúde brasileiras, 117 (39,3%) apresentaram coeficiente de eficácia migratória entre -1 e -0,75 e 113 (25,1%) entre -0,75 e -0,25. Conclusão: Os resultados indicam que a regionalização do sistema de saúde mostrou-se adequada na organização do atendimento no território, porém as longas distâncias percorridas ainda são preocupantes

Direct from the COVID-19 crisis: research and innovation sparks in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread throughout more than 160 countries, infecting millions of people worldwide. To address this health emergency, countries have organized the flow of production and innovation to reduce the impact on health. This article shows the response of the Brazilian scientific community to meet the urgent needs of the public unified health system [SUS], aiming to guarantee universal access to an estimated population of 211 million. By December 2020, Brazil had recorded more than six million cases and approximately 175,000 deaths. METHODS: We collected data on research, development and innovation projects carried out by 114 public universities (plus Oswaldo Cruz Foundation [Fiocruz] and Butantan Institute), as reported on their websites. Additionally, we examined the studies on COVID-19 approved by the National Comission for Research Ethics, as well as those reported on the Ministry of Education website as of May 15, 2020. RESULTS: The 789 identified projects were classified according to research categories as follows: development and innovation (n = 280), other types of projects (n = 226), epidemiologic research (n = 211), and basic research on disease mechanisms (n = 72). Most proposals focused on the development and innovation of personal protective equipment, medical devices, diagnostic tests, medicines and vaccines, which were rapidly identified as research priorities by the scientific community. Some promising results have been observed from phase III vaccine trials, one of which is conducted in partnership with Oxford University and another of which is performed with Sinovac Biotech. Both trials involve thousands of volunteers in their Brazilian arms and include technology transfer agreements with Fiocruz and the Butantan Institute, respectively. These vaccines proved to be safe and effective and were immediately licensed for emergency use. The provision of doses for the public health system, and vaccination, started on January 17, 2021. CONCLUSIONS: The mobilized Brazilian scientific community has generated comprehensive research, development and innovation proposals to meet the most urgent needs. It is important to emphasize that this response was only possible due to decades of investment in research, development and innovation in Brazil. We need to reinforce and protect the Brazilian science, technology and innovation system from austerity policies that disregard health and knowledge as crucial investments for Brazilian society, in line with the constitutional right of universal health access and universal health coverage.