Addressing the Public Health Crisis of Maternal Mortality: A National Research Agenda.

This Viewpoint discusses the National Institutes of Health initiative that focuses on research that reduces preventable maternal mortality, decreases severe maternal morbidity, and promotes health equity.

Learning from the universal, proactive outreach of the Brazilian Community Health Worker model: impact of a Community Health and Wellbeing Worker initiative on vaccination, cancer screening and NHS health check uptake in a deprived community in the UK.

BACKGROUND: Delays in preventative service uptake are increasing in the UK. Universal, comprehensive monthly outreach by Community Health and Wellbeing Workers (CHW), who are integrated at the GP practice and local authority, offer a promising alternative to general public health campaigns as it personalises health promotion and prevention of disease holistically at the household level. We sought to test the ability of this model, which is based on the Brazilian Family Health Strategy, to increase prevention uptake in the UK. METHODS: Analysis of primary care patient records for 662 households that were allocated to five CHWWs from July 2021. Primary outcome was the Composite Referral Completion Indicator (CRCI), a measure of how many health promotion activities were received by members of a household relative to the ones that they were eligible for during the period July 2021-April 2022. The CRCI was compared between the intervention group (those who had received at least one visit) and the control group (allocated households that were yet to receive a visit). A secondary outcome was the number of GP visits in the intervention and control groups during the study period and compared to a year prior. RESULTS: Intervention and control groups were largely comparable in terms of household occupancy and service eligibilities. A total of 2251 patients in 662 corresponding households were allocated to 5 CHWs and 160 households had received at least one visit during the intervention period. The remaining households were included in the control group. Overall service uptake was 40% higher in the intervention group compared to control group (CRCI: 0.21 ± 0.15 and 0.15 ± 0.19 respectively). Likelihood of immunisation uptake specifically was 47% higher and cancer screening and NHS Health Checks was 82% higher. The average number of GP consultations per household decreased by 7.4% in the intervention group over the first 10 months of the pilot compared to the 10 months preceding its start, compared with a 0.6% decrease in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the short study period these are promising findings in this deprived, traditionally hard to reach community and demonstrates potential for the Brazilian community health worker model to be impactful in the UK. Further analysis is needed to examine if this approach can reduce health inequalities and increase cost effectiveness of health promotion approaches.

Indicadores de salud perinatal en una región española entre los años 2015 y 2020 / Perinatal health indicators in a region of Spain corresponding to the period 2015 to 2020

Fundamentos: La disponibilidad en la literatura de datos relacionados con variables perinatales en la población española son muy escasos. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la evolución de los indicadores de salud perinatal atendiendo a los grupos de riesgo de prematuridad y de peso al nacimiento, la proporción de parto múltiple, de cesárea y de mortinatos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal poblacional de los partos en once hospitales de Castilla y León (enero de 2015 a junio de 2020). Hubo 70.024 recién nacidos (RN) procedentes de 68.769 partos. Se utilizó el análisis de regresiónJointpoint para identificar cambios en la tendencia a lo largo de los años, y la regresión logística binomial para ajustar la potencial interacción del tipo de hospital, el sexo, el tipo de parto y el parto múltiple en las frecuencias de prematuridad y de fallecimiento. Resultados: Hubo un descenso de partos del 19,9% y de los múltiples del 42%, sin cambios en los RN prematuros (7,7%) ni en los mortinatos (0,44%). El porcentaje de cesáreas fue del 21,5% con una ligera tendencia temporal descendente. El fallecimiento (mortinato) se asoció al parto múltiple pretérmino; especialmente a la combinación varón-varón (p<0,05). Los RN pretérminos tardíos y términos precoces mostraron mayor riesgo de fallecer frente a los RN a término: OR 7,7 (IC95% 5,6-10,7) y 2,4 (IC95% 1,6-3,6), respectivamente; así como el grupo de bajo peso (OR 17,6; IC95% 13,9-22,2) y el pequeño para la edad gestacional (OR 3,4; IC95% 1,9-5,8), frente a los de peso adecuado. Conclusiones: Previo al desarrollo de la pandemia por COVID-19 existe un descenso de la natalidad, incluidos los partos múltiples, sin cambios en los mortinatos ni en la prematuridad. Los RN pretérminos tardío y términos precoces tienen mayor riesgo de fallecer intraútero.(AU)

Backgorund: The availability in the literature of data related to perinatal variables in the Spanish population is very scarce. The aim of this study was to know the evolution of perinatal health indicators according to the risk groups of prematurity and birth weight, the proportion of multiple births, caesarean section and stillbirths. Methods: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of births in eleven hospitals in Castilla y León (January 2015 to June 2020). There were 70,024 newborns from 68,769 deliveries. Jointpoint regression analysis was used to identify changes in trend over the years, and binomial logistic regression was used to adjust for the potential interaction of hospital type, sex, type of delivery and multiple births on the frequencies of prematurity and death. Results: There was a 19.9% decrease in deliveries and a 42% decrease in multiple births, with no change in preterm (7.7%) and stillbirths (0.44%). The percentage of caesarean sections was 21.5% with a slight downward trend over time. Death (stillbirth) was associated with preterm multiple birth; especially with the male-male combination (p<0.05). Late preterm and early term newborns showed higher risk of death compared to term newborns: OR 7.7 (95%CI 5.6-10.7) and 2.4 (95%CI 1.6-3.6), respectively; as well as the low birth weight group (OR 17.6; 95%CI 13.9-22.2) and small for gestational age (OR 3.4; 95%CI 1.9-5.8), compared to those of adequate weight. Conclusions: Prior to the development of the COVID-19 pandemic there is a decline in births, including multiple births, with no change in stillbirths or prematurity. Late preterm and early term newborns are at increased risk of intrauterine death.(AU)

The effects of cash transfers on adult and child mortality in low- and middle-income countries.

Poverty is an important social determinant of health that is associated with increased risk of death1-5. Cash transfer programmes provide non-contributory monetary transfers to individuals or households, with or without behavioural conditions such as children's school attendance6,7. Over recent decades, cash transfer programmes have emerged as central components of poverty reduction strategies of many governments in low- and middle-income countries6,7. The effects of these programmes on adult and child mortality rates remains an important gap in the literature, however, with existing evidence limited to a few specific conditional cash transfer programmes, primarily in Latin America8-14. Here we evaluated the effects of large-scale, government-led cash transfer programmes on all-cause adult and child mortality using individual-level longitudinal mortality datasets from many low- and middle-income countries. We found that cash transfer programmes were associated with significant reductions in mortality among children under five years of age and women. Secondary heterogeneity analyses suggested similar effects for conditional and unconditional programmes, and larger effects for programmes that covered a larger share of the population and provided larger transfer amounts, and in countries with lower health expenditures, lower baseline life expectancy, and higher perceived regulatory quality. Our findings support the use of anti-poverty programmes such as cash transfers, which many countries have introduced or expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, to improve population health.

Effect of integrated intervention to prevent child drowning in rural areas of Guangdong, China: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 15 years in Guangdong Province, China. This serious public health issue also exists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which have few value-integrated intervention programs. The current study presents an integrated intervention project that aims to explore an effective pattern of prevention for child drowning in rural areas and feasibility to perform in other LMICs. METHODS: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial by comparing the incidence of non-fatal drowning among children in two groups in rural areas of southern China. We recruited the participants in two phases and reached a total of 10 687 students from 23 schools at two towns in Guangdong Province, China. At the first and second phases, 8966 and 1721 students were recruited, respectively. RESULTS: The final evaluation questionnaires were collected after 18 months of integrated intervention, where we obtained 9791 data from Grades 3-9. The incidence of non-fatal drowning between the intervention and control groups after intervention did not differ significantly from the baseline according to the total number of students, male students, female students and Grades 6-9 [0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI): [0.66, 1.00]; p = 0.05, 1.17; 95% CI: [0.90, 1.51]; p = 0.25, 1.40; 95% CI: [0.97, 2.02]; p = 0.07 and 0.97; 95% CI: [0.70, 1.34]; p = 0.86], except for Grades 3-5 (1.36; 95% CI: [1.02, 1.82]; p = 0.037). The study observed a significantly positive benefit of awareness and risk behaviours of non-fatal drowning between the intervention and control groups (0.27, 95% CI: [0.21, 0.33]; p = 0.00, -0.16; 95% CI: [-0.24, -0.08]; p = 0.00). CONCLUSIONS: The integrated intervention exerted a significant impact on the prevention and management of child non-fatal drowning, especially in rural areas.

Ethical considerations and methodological uses of Facebook data in public health research: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Since 2016, around seven in 10 adults in the United States (U.S.) actively use Facebook. While much Facebook data is publicly available for research, many users may not understand how their data are being used. We sought to examine to what extent research ethical practices were employed and the research methods being used with Facebook data in public health research. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO registration CRD42020148170) of social media-based public health research focused on Facebook published in peer-reviewed journals in English between January 1, 2006 and October 31, 2019. We extracted data on ethical practices, methodology, and data analytic approaches. For studies that included verbatim user content, we attempted to locate users/posts within a timed 10-min period. RESULTS: Sixty-one studies met eligibility criteria. Just under half (48%, n = 29) sought IRB approval and six (10%) sought and obtained informed consent from Facebook users. Users' written content appeared in 39 (64%) papers, of which 36 presented verbatim quotes. We were able to locate users/posts within 10 min for half (50%, n = 18) of the 36 studies containing verbatim content. Identifiable posts included content about sensitive health topics. We identified six categories of analytic approaches to using these data: network analysis, utility (i.e., usefulness of Facebook as a tool for surveillance, public health dissemination, or attitudes), associational studies of users' behavior and health outcomes, predictive model development, and two types of content analysis (thematic analysis and sentiment analysis). Associational studies were the most likely to seek IRB review (5/6, 83%), while those of utility (0/4, 0%) and prediction (1/4, 25%) were the least likely to do so. CONCLUSIONS: Stronger guidance on research ethics for using Facebook data, especially the use of personal identifiers, is needed.

Facilitating the Urgent Public Health Need to Improve Data Sharing With Tribal Epidemiology Centers.

Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) are an essential and unique part of the public health system and an important part of federal efforts to improve the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native people. Pursuant to federal statute, TECs serve the 574 federally recognized Tribes (hereinafter, "Tribes") and their members across the United States, as well as American Indian and Alaska Native people in general. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for timely, complete, and accurate public health data, particularly for American Indian and Alaska Native communities and others who may have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. This article reviews the history and importance of TECs and federal statutes governing TECs' ability to access and use protected health information for public health purposes. TECs and Tribes often encounter difficulty receiving public health data from state and federal agencies despite their designation as "public health authorities" under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and associated regulations. Limited access to this information hinders the statutory mission of TECs as well as Tribal monitoring of and response to public health threats such as SARS-CoV-2. Agency acknowledgment and compliance with current federal law regarding data sharing with TECs are essential to improve data access and the fragile public health of Tribal communities.

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Indian tribal population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a significant public health problem across the nations, is among the top ten leading causes of death. More than 370 million indigenous people (referred to as tribal people in India) are spread across 90 countries. India has the largest tribal people of 104 million. Tribal populations are not exceptional to the threat of type 2 DM (T2DM) and other non-communicable diseases, and hence, public health programmes are addressing this problem. This paper reports the systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on the prevalence of T2DM. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to understand the prevalence of T2DM among the tribal populations of India, following the guidelines of the PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. The gender-wise prevalence was recalculated by extracting the data wherever possible. Forest plots were depicted based on the prevalence, and other analyses were performed. RESULTS: On initial searches from three databases, 5422 citations were identified, and ultimately 27 studies were included in the review. These studies were undertaken amongst different tribes in different parts of India. The pooled prevalence of T2DM among men, women and combined were 6.04% (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.55% to 6.57%), 6.48% (95% CI: 6.01% to 6.99%) and 4.94% (95% CI: 4.72% to 5.17%), respectively. Considerable heterogeneity was found among these studies. CONCLUSION: This systematic review provides an overview of the prevalence of T2DM among the Indian tribal population. The pooled overall prevalence is slightly lower than the general population. This situation is worrisome as the epidemic of T2DM will affect the poor tribal communities, who can least afford to bear the health care costs. Hence, the public health care services must be strengthened in all tribal areas. This review further warrants establishing surveillance of T2DM in tribal areas.

O papel dos RNAs longos não codificantes na insuficiência cardíaca: uma revisão de literatura / The role of non-coding long RNAs in heart failure: a literature review / El papel de las RNAs largas no codificantes en la insuficiencia cardiaca: una revisión de la literatura

A Insuficiência Cardíaca (IC) é uma das principais causas de internação hospitalar no mundo e tem um elevado grau de morbidade e mortalidade, sendo um grave problema de saúde pública. Os lncRNAs (RNAs longo não codificantes), têm funções regulatórias transcricionais e/ou pós transcricionais bem complexas e que ainda não são totalmente claras, mas que podem exercer influência sobre as doenças cardiovasculares, dentre elas a IC. Assim o estudo teve como objetivo identificar na literatura o papel dos lncRNAs na patogênese da IC por meio de uma revisão integrativa com busca sistemática. Foram considerados elegíveis para leitura e composição do estudo 33 artigos e os principais papéis dos lncRNA na IC foram relatados como possíveis marcadores biológicos para diagnóstico e prognóstico da doença devido a sua expressividade na corrente sanguínea. Além disso, os lncRNAs podem estar relacionados à capacidade funcional uma vez que o aumento ou diminuição de sua expressão promove redução da apoptose de células endoteliais, melhora a disfunção cardíaca, distúrbios de contratilidade e dos canais de cálcio em pacientes com IC. Portanto, os lncRNAs parecem estar envolvidos na patogênese e/ou fisiopatologia da IC, podendo ser utilizados como biomarcadores genéticos com sensibilidade e especificidade semelhantes ou superiores aos empregados atualmente no diagnóstico e prognóstico da IC.

Heart Failure (HF) is one of the main causes of hospitalization worldwide and has a high degree of morbidity and mortality being considered a public health pro- blem. lncRNAs (non-coding long RNAs) have very complex transcriptional and/or post- transcriptional regulatory functions that are still not entirely clear but may influence car- diovascular diseases, including HF. Thus, the study aimed to identify in the literature the role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of HF through an integrative review with a systema- tic search. A total of 33 articles were considered eligible for reading and composition of the study. The roles of lncRNA in HF were reported as possible biological markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease due to its expressiveness in the bloodstream. In addition, lncRNAs may be related to functional capacity since the increase or decrease in their expression promotes a reduction in endothelial cell apoptosis, and improves car- diac dysfunction, contractility, and calcium channel disorders in patients with HF. The- refore, lncRNAs seem to be involved in the pathogenesis and/or pathophysiology of HF and can be used as genetic biomarkers with sensitivity and specificity similar or superior to those currently employed in the diagnosis and prognosis of HF.

La Insuficiencia Cardiaca (IC) es una de las principales causas de hospita- lización en el mundo y tiene un alto grado de morbimortalidad considerándose un pro- blema de salud pública. Los lncRNAs (ARN largos no codificantes) tienen funciones re- guladoras transcripcionales y/o post-transcripcionales muy complejas que aún no están del todo claras pero que pueden influir en las enfermedades cardiovasculares, incluida la IC. Así pues, el estudio se propuso identificar en la literatura el papel de los lncRNAs en la patogénesis de la IC mediante una revisión integradora con una búsqueda sistemática. Un total de 33 artículos fueron considerados elegibles para su lectura y composición del estudio. Las funciones de los lncRNA en la IC se señalaron como posibles marcadores biológicos para el diagnóstico y pronóstico de la enfermedad debido a su expresividad en el torrente sanguíneo. Además, los lncRNAs pueden estar relacionados con la capacidad funcional, ya que el aumento o disminución de su expresión promueve una reducción de la apoptosis de las células endoteliales y mejora la disfunción cardiaca, la contractilidad y los trastornos de los canales de calcio en pacientes con IC. Por tanto, los lncRNAs parecen estar implicados en la patogénesis y/o fisiopatología de la IC y pueden ser utili- zados como biomarcadores genéticos con sensibilidad y spe-cificidad similares o superi- ores a los empleados actualmente en el diagnóstico y pronóstico de la IC.

Impacto de la legalización del consumo recreativo del cannabis / Impact of the legalisation of recreational cannabis use

En los últimos años se han producido importantes cambios legislativos en numerosos países respecto al consumo de cannabis con fines medicinales y/o recreativos, que han facilitado su accesibilidad. Actualmente, Uruguay, Canadá y algunos estados de EE.UU. han legalizado el consumo recreativo, aplicando distintos modelos legislativos. El objetivo de la presente revisión es analizar los efectos que ha tenido la legalización del cannabis recreativo sobre su consumo y sus consecuencias. En general, las evidencias indican que la legalización se ha asociado a un descenso en el precio, mayor concentración de THC (potencia), mayor diversidad de presentaciones para su consumo, una menor percepción de riesgo y un incremento en el consumo en adultos y de forma moderada en adolescentes (aunque sea ilegal el consumo para ellos), así como un aumento de las consecuencias adversas derivadas del consumo en la salud pública. Se ha producido un descenso en los arrestos relacionados con el consumo, pero el mercado ilegal sigue utilizándose de forma habitual. No se ha detectado un incremento de la demanda de tratamiento por este consumo. Por el momento, estos cambios legislativos no han conseguido alcanzar sus objetivos principales que eran suprimir el mercado ilegal y proteger a los grupos más vulnerables, mientras que, por el contrario, parecen implicar un incremento de algunos aspectos negativos asociados al consumo de cannabis. Sin embargo, teniendo en cuenta que la mayoría de estos cambios legislativos han entrado en vigor hace relativamente poco tiempo, se requiere un periodo de seguimiento mayor para poder extraer conclusiones definitivas. (AU)

In recent years, there have been important legislative changes in many countries regarding the use of cannabis for medicinal and/or recreational purposes, which have facilitated access to it. Uruguay, Canada and some of the US states are the only jurisdictions that have legalised recreational consumption, applying different legislative models. The aim of this review is to analyse the effects that the legalisation of recreational cannabis has had on its use and its consequences. In general, the evidence accumulated to date indicates that the legalisation of cannabis has been associated with a decrease in the price of the substance, higher concentration of THC (potency), greater diversity of presentations for consumption, lower risk perception and an increase in consumption in adults and moderately in adolescents (even though it is illegal for them to consume), as well as an increase in the adverse consequences derived from cannabis consumption on public health. There has been a decrease in drug-related arrests, but the illegal market continues to be frequently used. No increase in the demand for treatment due to cannabis consumption has been detected. Therefore, these legislative changes have so far failed to achieve their main objectives, which were to suppress the illegal market and protect the most vulnerable groups, while on the contrary, they seem to imply an increase in some of the negative aspects associated with cannabis consumption. However, taking into account that most of these legislative changes have entered into force relatively recently, a longer follow-up period is required to be able to draw definitive conclusions. (AU)

Sífilis congênita no Brasil: atualização de conceitos e desafios do tratamento na neonatologia / Congenital syphilis in Brazil: updating concepts and treatment challenges in neonatology

A sífilis, também chamada de lues, é uma infecção sistêmica, tratável, causada pela espiroqueta Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum). A transmissão desta bactéria ocorre principalmente pelo contato sexual, mas também pode ser transmitida verticalmente durante a gestação para o feto, via transplacentária ou via canal de parto ­ com lesão ativa ­ em casos de mãe com sífilis não tratada ou tratada de forma inadequada, de acordo com o Ministério da Saúde. A ausência do tratamento precoce, pode levar à cronificação da doença, com gravidade variável e sequelas irreversíveis; assim como na gestante pode haver maior risco de abortamento, prematuridade, óbito fetal ou do recém-nascido (RN) e de desenvolvimento de sífilis congênita (SC). A lues ainda consiste em um problema da saúde pública brasileira e vem se apresentando de forma crescente no país, nos últimos cinco anos, devido ao maior número de testes rápidos realizados para diagnóstico, à redução do uso de preservativos e da distribuição de penicilina na atenção primária. Consequentemente, há um aumento da incidência de SC e de RN expostos à sífilis, levando ao tratamento inadequado e, muitas vezes, desnecessário para a condição clínica apresentada por esse bebê. É de tamanha importância diferenciar ambos os casos, uma vez que apresentam condutas distintas e causam grande impacto na vida deste RN e da sua família. O público-alvo consiste em profissionais médicos, assistentes e residentes, que prestam assistência direta aos pacientes do setor da neonatologia do HSPM. Diante disso, baseado nas diretrizes terapêuticas do Ministério da Saúde (MS) do Brasil e na revisão integrativa de literaturas atualizadas, este trabalho objetiva atualizar conceitos relacionados à SC, diferenciar SC do RN exposto à sífilis, padronizar o manejo clínico na maternidade e, consequentemente, reduzir as taxas da incidência e prevalência da SC no país, assim como reduzir os impactos ocasionados por condutas inadequadas no manejo clínico desses pacientes. Palavras-chave: Sífilis. Lues. Sífilis congênita. Manejo clínico. Neonatologia.

Análise espacial de casos prováveis de dengue no município de São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil / Spatial analysis of probable dengue cases in the municipality of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil / Análisis espacial de los casos probables de dengue en el municipio de São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil

INTRODUÇÃO: A dengue é considerada uma das principais arboviroses mundiais, caracterizada no Brasil pelo aumento de casos graves e óbitos. OBJETIVO: realizar análise espacial dos casos prováveis de dengue em São Luís - MA. MÉTODOS: Estudo ecológico de base populacional dos casos prováveis de dengue, notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) em 2015 e 2016, ocorridos no município de São Luís ­ MA. Foram georreferenciados 4.681 casos prováveis de dengue por setores censitários, calculadas as taxas de incidência e ajustadas através do estimador bayesiano empírico local. Foi utilizado o estimador de densidade de Kernel e Moran Global e Local para a análise espacial. RESULTADOS: Evidenciou-se através do estimador de densidade de Kernel, áreas quentes (alta-densidade) nos setores censitários da região noroeste do município. As taxas de incidência foram ajustadas pela aplicação do método bayesiano empírico local, identificando-se maior quantidade de setores com média e alta incidência. A partir do índice de Moran global foi evidenciada autocorrelação espacial positiva estatisticamente significativa para as taxas de incidência de dengue (I=0,69; p<0,001) e para as taxas de incidência ajustadas pelo método bayesiano (I=0,80; p<0,001). De acordo com o índice de Moran local, identificou-se clusters de setores de alta incidência de dengue em áreas com alta densidade populacional na região nordeste e noroeste do município. CONCLUSÃO: A pesquisa demonstrou que os estimadores bayesianos ajudaram a minimizar os problemas de subnotificação e da influência do tamanho populacional nos setores censitários.

INTRODUCTION: Dengue is considered one of the main arboviruses in the world, characterized in Brazil by the increase in severe cases and deaths. OBJECTIVE: to perform spatial analysis of probable dengue cases in São Luís - MA. METHODS: Population-based ecological study of probable dengue cases, reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) in 2015 and 2016, which took place in the city of São Luís - MA. 4,681 probable dengue cases were georeferenced by census sectors, incidence rates were calculated and adjusted using the local empirical Bayesian estimator. The Kernel and Moran Global and Local density estimator was used for spatial analysis. RESULTS: Hot areas (high-density) in the census sectors of the northwest region of the municipality were evidenced through the Kernel density estimator. Incidence rates were adjusted by applying the local empirical Bayesian method, identifying a greater number of sectors with medium and high incidence. From the global Moran index, statistically significant positive spatial autocorrelation was evidenced for the dengue incidence rates (I = 0.69; p <0.001) and for the incidence rates adjusted by the Bayesian method (I = 0.80; p <0.001). According to the local Moran index, clusters of sectors with a high incidence of dengue were identified in areas with high population density in the northeast and northwest regions of the municipality. CONCLUSION: The research demonstrated that Bayesian estimators helped to minimize the problems of underreporting and the influence of population size on census tracts.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El dengue es considerado una de las principales arbovirosis a nivel mundial, caracterizada en Brasil por el aumento de casos graves y muertes. OBJETIVO: Realizar un análisis espacial de los casos probables de dengue en São Luís - MA. MÉTODOS: Estudio ecológico de base poblacional de los casos probables de dengue, notificados en el Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) en 2015 y 2016, ocurridos en el municipio de São Luís - MA. Se georreferenciaron 4.681 casos probables de dengue por sectores censales, se calcularon las tasas de incidencia y se ajustaron mediante el estimador empírico bayesiano local. Para el análisis espacial se utilizó el estimador de densidad Kernel y Moran global y local. RESULTADOS: Se evidenció a través del estimador de densidad Kernel, áreas calientes (de alta densidad) en los sectores censales de la región noroeste del municipio. Las tasas de incidencia se ajustaron mediante la aplicación del método bayesiano empírico local, identificándose una mayor cantidad de setores con incidencia media y alta. A partir del índice global de Moran se evidenció una autocorrelación espacial positiva estadísticamente significativa para las tasas de incidencia de dengue (I=0,69; p<0,001) y para las tasas de incidencia ajustadas por el método bayesiano (I=0,80; p<0,001). Según el índice local de Moran, se identificaron clusters de sectores de alta incidencia de dengue en áreas con alta densidad de población en las regiones noreste y noroeste del municipio. CONCLUSIÓN: La investigación demostró que los estimadores bayesianos ayudaron a minimizar los problemas de infradeclaración y la influencia del tamaño de la población en los sectores censales.

Healthy or diseased mouth? representations of oral health in vulnerable populations / ¿Boca sana o boca enferma? representaciones de la salud bucal en sectores vulnerables

Background: The society and the State must provide dental care and help prevent oral health problems by implementing public policies with cultural relevance that allow society to address and improve the inequity in health care that systematically affects people's well-being. The present study seeks to understand the representations of dental health in people who attend primary care services in vulnerable urban and rural areas of the central zone of Chile. Specifically, the representations of the causes, morbidities, and symptoms attributed to the healthy and diseased mouth. Material and Methods: A qualitative study based on the Grounded Theory was conducted, analyzing the social representations of oral health in a sample of 161 adult people receiving treatment at public primary care services and dental emergency units in rural and urban communes. Empirical saturation and triangulation by time, place, and subjects give reliability to the study. Results: The data obtained show that dental health is mainly valued for its implications for self-esteem and social integration. A naturalization of dental health problems is evidenced as an adaptive strategy to traditional access barriers, which is counterproductive with preventive strategies. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest the need to reinforce education in dental health implemented in a transversal manner, having aesthetic values and the population's expectations of sociability as the key to action.

Antecedentes: Como sociedad y desde el Estado debemos cuidar y prevenir los problemas de salud oral invirtiendo en políticas públicas con pertinencia cultural que nos permitan subsanar la inequidad sanitaria que afecta de manera integral el bienestar de las personas. El estudio busca comprender las representaciones de la salud dental en personas que asisten a la atención primaria en sectores urbanos y rurales vulnerables de la zona central de Chile; en especial las representaciones de las causas, morbilidades y síntomas atribuidos a la boca sana y enferma. Material y Métodos: Estudio cualitativo que analiza desde la Teoría Fundamentada las representaciones sociales de la salud bucodental en una muestra de 161 personas adultas consultantes de los servicios públicos de atención primaria y de urgencia odontológica en comunas rurales y urbanas. La saturación empírica y la triangulación por tiempo, lugar y sujetos otorgan confiabilidad al estudio. Resultados: Los datos obtenidos dan cuenta que la salud dental es principalmente valorada por sus implicancias para la autoestima y la integración social. Se evidencia una naturalización de los problemas de salud dental, como estrategia adaptativa a las tradicionales barreras de acceso, lo que es contraproducente con las estrategias preventivas. Conclusión: Los resultados del estudio nos alertan respecto de la necesidad de reforzar la educación en salud dental, teniendo como clave para la acción, de manera transversal, los valores estéticos y las expectativas de sociabilidad de la población.