Maternal health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of health workers in three Brazilian municipalities.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the experiences of maternal health workers in three Brazilian cities, located in the Northeast (São Luís), Southeast (Niterói), and South (Pelotas) regions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Qualitative research carried out between December 2020 and February 2021. Interviews were conducted, in person or remotely, with 30 health workers, doctors and nurses, working in maternity hospitals of different degrees of complexity. RESULTS: Sociodemographic characteristics, employment relationships and professional qualification of the interviewees were described. Two thematic axes were identified: 1) changes in hospital organization and dynamics in the pandemic; 2) Illness and suffering of health workers. The majority of respondents were women. Most physicians had work relationships in the public and private sectors. In Niterói, health workers had better professional qualifications and more precarious work relationships (as temporary hires), compared to São Luís and Pelotas. In the context of the uncertainties resulting from the pandemic, this situation generated even more insecurity for those workers. The statements at the beginning of the pandemic covered topics such as changes in the organizational dynamics of services, healthcare, telemedicine, and interaction between health workers and users. In the health workers' perception, the initial period of the health emergency, which resulted in intense changes in the provision of services, was marked by an increase in preterm births, perinatal mortality, and fetal losses. Work overload, fear of contamination, concern for family members and uncertainties regarding the new disease caused intense suffering in health workers who had little institutional support in the cities studied. The suffering experienced by health workers went beyond the work dimension, reaching their private life. CONCLUSION: Changes caused by the pandemic required immediate adjustments in professional practices, generating insecurities in healthcare regardless of the location studied. The method of hiring health workers remained the same as the previously practiced one in each city. Due to the risk of disease transmission, measures contrary to humanization practices, and more restrictive in São Luís, were reported as harmful to obstetric care. The Covid-19 pandemic was a huge challenge for the Brazilian health system, aggravating the working conditions experienced by health workers. In addition to the work environment, it was possible to briefly glimpse its effects on private life.

Experiences of women in prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care during the COVID-19 pandemic in selected cities in Brazil: The resignification of the experience of pregnancy and giving birth.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted public and private health systems around the world, impairing good practices in women's health care. However, little is known about the experiences, knowledge, and feelings of Brazilian women in this period. The objective was to analyze the experiences of women, seen at maternity hospitals accredited by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS, acronym in Portuguese), regarding health care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods, their interpersonal relationships, and perceptions and feelings about the pandemic. This was a qualitative, exploratory research, carried out in three Brazilian municipalities with women hospitalized in 2020, during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum period, with COVID-19 or not. For data collection, semi-structured individual interviews (in person, by telephone, or by digital platform) were conducted, recorded and transcribed. The content analysis of thematic modalities was displayed as per the following axes: i) Knowledge about the disease; ii) Search for health care in prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum periods; iii) Experience of suffering from COVID-19; iv) Income and work; and v) Family dynamics and social support network. A total of 46 women were interviewed in São Luís-MA, Pelotas-RS, and Niterói-RJ. Use of media was important to convey information and fight fake news. The pandemic negatively impacted access to health care in the prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum periods, contributing to worsening of the population's social and economic vulnerabilities. Women experienced diverse manifestations of the disease, and psychic disorders were very frequent. Social isolation during the pandemic disrupted the support network of these women, who found social support strategies in communication technologies. Women-centered care-including qualified listening and mental health support-can reduce the severity of COVID-19 cases in pregnant, parturient, and postpartum women. Sustainable employment and income maintenance policies are essential to mitigate social vulnerabilities and reduce risks for these women.

Influenza vaccination coverage in elderly and high-risk adults: characterization of associated factors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with non-vaccination against influenza in the risk group. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study, carried out in the city of Rio Grande (RS). The outcome was defined as belonging to risk groups and not having been vaccinated in the last 12 months. Demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral variables, and access for health services were analyzed. RESULTS: In this study, 680 individuals participated. The prevalence was 46.0% (95%CI: 41.8-50.3), ranging from 27.9% (elderly) to 81.8% (pregnant women). Young adults, single, intermediate socioeconomic bracket, smoker, with depressive symptoms, who did not perform physical activity and did not consult a physician in the last year, had a higher prevalence of non-vaccination. CONCLUSION: Half of the sample was not vaccinated in the period. Due to the similarity of influenza-like illness and the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19), increasing vaccination would minimize mortality and use of hospital beds due to influenza, optimizing the response of hospital capacity.

Acesso a Unidades Básicas de Saúde no município de Pelotas/Rio Grande do Sul

O objetivo do trabalho é analisar o fluxo de acesso às Unidades Básicas de Saúde no município de Pelotas/RS no ano de 2022. Metodologia: Estudo qualitativo observacional, exploratório e descritivo realizado através da coleta de dados na Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, e busca nas bases de dados referenciais. Resultados: Em Pelotas/RS, no ano de 2022, possuía 51 Unidades Básicas contempladas por 100 equipes de saúde. Em relação ao horário de funcionamento, 90% das unidades atuavam em horário comercial e, apenas 10%, em horário estendido. Quanto à territorialização, encontrava-se em processo de adesão à política de população adscrita, tendo, no momento do estudo, 45 de suas unidades com a área populacional total de abrangência. Além disso, nos últimos anos foi implementado o sistema de acolhimento como forma de primeiro atendimento. Conclusões: No que tange ao objeto de estudo - o acesso - viu-se que a principal barreira está no horário de funcionamento das unidades. A modificação na forma de atendimento, implementado o acolhimento, foi visivelmente benéfico à população, permitindo maior porta de entrada à saúde. Evidenciou-se, ainda, algumas lacunas que podem impedir o acesso integral dos indivíduos, como a falta de alguns profissionais nas unidades e a fragmentação do sistema, esse último podendo ser solucionado com o incentivo e o investimento à tecnologia, a favor da integração dos serviços.

Mortalidade materna no Brasil: análise da associação de recursos financeiros federais de custeio / Maternal mortality in Brazil: analysis of association with federal financial resources of costing

Introdução: A razão de mortalidade materna é importante não somente para avaliar a saúde das mulheres, mas também é indicador de desenvolvimento econômico e de desigualdades sociais, sendo base para avaliar a eficiência dos sistemas de saúde de países. O financiamento desses sistemas é fundamental para caracterizá-los em sua dimensão de serviços e ações para as populações. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar a associação entre os gastos federais de custeio em Atenção Básica e de Média e Alta Complexidade, desde 2008 até 2017, e a mortalidade materna. Métodos: O estudo foi ecológico, quantitativo e utilizou dados secundários dos bancos do Ministério da Saúde, analisando correlação entre financiamento e mortalidade materna. Resultados e Conclusão: Entre os resultados, não foi encontrada associação significativa entre custeio federal de AB e MAC e mortalidade materna; o Brasil apresenta mortalidade materna ainda alta e praticamente sem modificações nos últimos dez anos, ainda que existam diferenças de até quatro vezes na taxa de mortalidade materna entre as regiões, porém sem significativa associação com o financiamento.

Introduction: Maternal mortality rates are important not only to assess women's health but also as an indicator of economic development and social inequalities, supporting the assessment of the efficacy of country's health systems. Financing of these systems is essential to characterize them as services and actions for populations. This study aimed to assess the association of federal funding expenses on Primary Health Care (PHC) and Medium and High Complexity Health Care (MHCHC) from 2008 to 2017 with maternal mortality. Method: This quantitative, ecological study used secondary data from databases of the Brazilian Ministry of Health to analyze the correlation between financing and maternal mortality. Results and Conclusion: The results did not show a significant association of federal financing of PHC and MHCHC with maternal mortality; in Brazil high maternal mortality rates are still high and have remained almost unchanged over the last ten years, although there are differences of up to four-fold in mortality rates among regions, but with no significant association with financing.

Influenza vaccination coverage in elderly and high-risk adults: characterization of associated factors / Cobertura vacinal de influenza em idosos e adultos de alto risco: caracterização dos fatores associados

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with non-vaccination against influenza in the risk group. Methods A cross-sectional, population-based study, carried out in the city of Rio Grande (RS). The outcome was defined as belonging to risk groups and not having been vaccinated in the last 12 months. Demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral variables, and access for health services were analyzed. Results In this study, 680 individuals participated. The prevalence was 46.0% (95%CI: 41.8-50.3), ranging from 27.9% (elderly) to 81.8% (pregnant women). Young adults, single, intermediate socioeconomic bracket, smoker, with depressive symptoms, who did not perform physical activity and did not consult a physician in the last year, had a higher prevalence of non-vaccination. Conclusion Half of the sample was not vaccinated in the period. Due to the similarity of influenza-like illness and the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19), increasing vaccination would minimize mortality and use of hospital beds due to influenza, optimizing the response of hospital capacity.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a prevalência e os fatores associados à não vacinação contra influenza em grupos de risco. Métodos Estudo transversal, de base populacional, realizado em Rio Grande (RS). O desfecho foi definido como pertencer aos grupos de risco e não ter se vacinado nos últimos 12 meses. Foram analisadas variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas, comportamentais e de acesso a serviços de saúde. Resultados Participaram 680 indivíduos. A prevalência foi de 46,0% (IC95%: 41,8-50,3), variando de 27,9% (idosos) a 81,8% (gestantes). Adultos jovens, solteiros, de nível econômico intermediário, tabagistas, com sintomas depressivos, que não praticavam atividade física e não consultaram um médico no último ano tiveram maior prevalência de não vacinação. Conclusão Metade da amostra não foi vacinada no período. Pela semelhança da síndrome gripal com a doença pelo coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19), aumentar a vacinação minimizaria a mortalidade e a utilização de leitos hospitalares devido à influenza, otimizando a resposta da capacidade hospitalar.

[The impact of low birth weight related to gestational depression on federal funding of public health: a study in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil]. / O impacto do baixo peso ao nascer relacionado à depressão gestacional para o financiamento federal da saúde pública: uma análise do Município de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

Low birth weight is related to morbidity and mortality and sequelae during infant development, thereby impacting health system costs. It is thus important to evaluate factors that influence low birth weight and to estimate their impact on the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). This was a nested prospective study in a cohort of pregnant women who received prenatal care and gave birth in the National Health System in hospitals with ICUs in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Gestational depression was associated with a fourfold risk of low birth weight (PR = 3.94; CI: 1.49-10.36). Based on the population-attributable fraction, in the overall population an estimated 36.17% of low birth weight infants are born to mothers with an episode of depression during pregnancy, with an estimated cost of more than R$76 million (U$38 million) in Brazil. The study recommends the expansion of preventive and therapeutic mental health care measures for pregnant women and the adequate use of resources in the Unified National Health System to improve neonatal outcomes.

O impacto do baixo peso ao nascer relacionado à depressão gestacional para o financiamento federal da saúde pública: uma análise do Município de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil / The impact of low birth weight related to gestational depression on Federal funding of public health: a study in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

O baixo peso ao nascer está relacionado com morbimortalidade e sequelas no desenvolvimento infantil, impactando nos custos dos sistemas de saúde, por isso é importante avaliar fatores que o influenciam, estimando seu impacto no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Este é um estudo prospectivo aninhado a uma coorte de gestantes que realizaram pré-natal e parto exclusivamente pelo SUS nos hospitais com UTI da cidade de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Entre os resultados, concluiu-se que mães com episódios de depressão gestacional apresentam quase quatro vezes mais chances de ter um filho com baixo peso ao nascer (RP = 3,94; IC: 1,49-10,36). Valendo-se do cálculo da fração atribuível na população, estima-se que, na população geral, 36,17% dos bebês com baixo peso ao nascer são filhos de mães que tiveram episódio depressivo, estimando-se um custo que pode chegar a mais de R$ 76 milhões no Brasil. Sugere-se que se ampliem as ações preventivas e curativas para as gestantes na área da saúde mental, possibilitando melhor desfecho de saúde dos recém-nascidos, e que se utilizem adequadamente os recursos do SUS.

Low birth weight is related to morbidity and mortality and sequelae during infant development, thereby impacting health system costs. It is thus important to evaluate factors that influence low birth weight and to estimate their impact on the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). This was a nested prospective study in a cohort of pregnant women who received prenatal care and gave birth in the National Health System in hospitals with ICUs in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Gestational depression was associated with a fourfold risk of low birth weight (PR = 3.94; CI: 1.49-10.36). Based on the population-attributable fraction, in the overall population an estimated 36.17% of low birth weight infants are born to mothers with an episode of depression during pregnancy, with an estimated cost of more than R$76 million (U$38 million) in Brazil. The study recommends the expansion of preventive and therapeutic mental health care measures for pregnant women and the adequate use of resources in the Unified National Health System to improve neonatal outcomes.