Primary health care as assessed by health professionals: comparison of the traditional model versus the Family Health Strategy

The impact of an enhanced health surveillance system for COVID-19 management in Serrana, Brazil

Objective

To describe the successful implementation of an enhanced public health surveillance system based on early detection, tracing contacts, and patient follow-up and support.

Study design

A prospective observational cohort study conducted in Serrana, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Methods

The implementation was based on four axes: increasing the access to SARS-CoV-2 testing; correct swab collection; testing patients with mild symptoms; and patient follow-up. Positivity rate, patient demographic and clinical characteristics, dynamics of disease severity, SARS-CoV-2 genome evolution, and the impact on COVID-19 research were assessed from August 23, 2020 to February 6, 2021 (between epidemiological week 35/2020 and 5/2021, a total of 24 weeks).

Results

The number of sites collecting rt-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was increased from one to seven points and staff was trained in the correct use of personal protective equipment and in the swab collection technique. During the study period, 6728 samples were collected from 6155 participants vs. 2770 collections in a similar period before. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 1758 (26.1%) swabs vs. 1117 (36.7%) before the implementation of the surveillance system (p < 0.001). Positivity rates varied widely between epidemiological weeks 35/2020 and 5/2021 (IQR, 12.8%-31.3%). Out of COVID-19 patients, 91.1% were adults at a median age of 35 years (IQR, 25-50 years), 42.6% were men and 57.4% were women, with a SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate of 28.6% and 24.4% (p < 0.001), respectively. The most common symptoms were headache (72.6%), myalgia (65.0%), and cough (61.7%). Comorbidities were found in 20.8% of patients, the most common being hypertension and diabetes. According to the World Health Organization clinical progression scale, 93.5% of patients had mild disease, 1.6% were hospitalized with moderate disease, 3.2% were hospitalized with severe disease, and 1.4% died. The enhanced surveillance system led to the development of COVID-19 related research.

Conclusions

The enhanced surveillance system in Serrana improved COVID-19 understanding and management. By integrating community and academic institutions, it was possible to monitor SARS-CoV-2 positive cases and variants, follow the epidemic trend, guide patients, and develop relevant research projects.

Solicitude em visita domiciliar de enfermeiras no cuidado pré-natal de alto risco: relato de experiência

Resumo Objetivos relatar a experiência de produção de cuidado no pré-natal de alto risco, por meio de visitas domiciliares estruturadas na solicitude. Método estudo descritivo, na modalidade relato de experiência, pautado na vivência de enfermeiras em desenvolver visitas domiciliares, sob o referencial da solicitude para 17 mulheres com gravidez de alto risco. Resultados as visitas domiciliares possibilitaram às enfermeiras a valoração dos aspectos subjetivos do cuidado, com apreensão de necessidades das mulheres e compreensão da gravidez na vida de cada uma delas, aspectos determinantes à atenção pré-natal integral. Promoveu cuidado singular e contraposição às insuficiências e negativas experienciadas na atenção pré-natal recebida, ancorada no modelo biomédico. Conclusão e implicações para a prática a visita domiciliar por enfermeiras, sob os auspícios da solicitude, revelou-se como tecnologia de atenção pré-natal de alto risco que produz acolhimento de necessidades singulares, assim como conduz a reconstrução do cuidado no contexto da gravidez de alto risco.

[Spatial analysis of the quality of Primary Health Care services in reducing child mortality]

This study sought to analyze the correlation of the quality of Primary Health Care services in reducing child mortality, via geoprocessing. It involved an ecological study, with a cross-sectional approach, in which secondary data from all 5,565 Brazilian municipalities were used to analyze the infant mortality rate (IMR) and cause of infant death. The data related to IMR was obtained from the Mortality Information System. For the spatial analysis, 5,011 municipalities were included. The clustering analyses were performed using GEODA software and the spatial regression analyses were performed using ARCGIS 10.5 software. In Brazil, there was a 45.07% reduction in IMR between the years 2000 and 2015. The greatest reduction occurred in the northeastern region of the country, although it is still the region with the highest IMR. Of the 749 municipalities analyzed in the differential cluster for infant death, 153 had high IMR. The areas with the greatest increase in IMR were found in the North and Northeast regions. In Brazil, IMR proved to be inversely associated with the accessibility to high complexity services, health management strata and population size, reference for childbirth, live birth rate, per capita income and unemployment rate. A progressive reduction in IMR was recorded between 2000 and 2015.

[Mental health and organizational quality of primary healthcare services in Brazil]

The study aimed to assess the quality of care for persons with mental health distress in primary healthcare services in Brazil and the association with organizational structure variables. This evaluative study used data from the Brazilian National Program to Improve Acess and Quality in Primary Care (PMAQ-AB), collected in 2018. The study excluded teams that reported not performing this type of care. The sum of the 13 selected mental health indicators produced a score that was classified in three groups of quality: G1 (0 to 5 points - lower quality), G2 (6 to 9 points - medium quality), and G3 (10 to 13 points - higher quality), and the results were associated with nine organizational context variables favoring the teams' permanence in the respective quality groups. The study evaluated 36,384 teams, located in 5,026 municipalities (counties). The score ranged from 1 to 13 points (G1 = 9.7%; G2 = 25.1%; G3 = 65.2%). Having an environment favorable to dispensing medicines and privacy during patient consultations; existence of a medical specialist, psychologist, and pharmacist; inter-consultation with the Expanded Family Health Care Centers (NASF) and Centers for Psychosocial Care (CAPS); and weekly or biweekly team meetings, were more frequent in the teams with higher quality (p < 0.001). In conclusion, structural conditions related to infrastructure and availability of healthcare workers, as well as inter-consultation and spaces for reflection to discuss the (re)organization of work processes in care for patients with mental health distress are factors that influence the quality of care, requiring attention, especially given recent political setbacks.

Atuação cotidiana no Sistema Único de Saúde em sua terceira década

RESUMO Objetivo compreender a atuação cotidiana no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), em sua terceira década, sob a ótica dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Método pesquisa qualitativa, ancorada na Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados e no Interacionismo Simbólico, com 82 profissionais de saúde que atuam na APS. Teve como fonte de evidências a entrevista aberta individual e memorandos. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre abril de 2017 e março de 2018, em 14 unidades de APS de três municípios pertencentes às regiões sanitárias distintas de Minas Gerais. Resultados a atuação cotidiana no SUS é apresentada pelos profissionais da APS e perpassa pela compreensão que tem do SUS, do trabalho na APS e sua implicação na atuação profissional; pelo impacto da gestão; o contexto atual do SUS e sua influência na assistência (in)segura. Conclusões e implicações para a prática: fatores que ocasionam insegurança ao profissional podem comprometer a qualidade da assistência e as boas práticas, contribuindo para reflexões de profissionais, gestores e usuários sobre a relevância da proatividade na participação popular para que mudanças ocorram frente ao contexto da APS possibilitando ao profissional mais segurança em suas ações e melhorias na qualidade da atenção à saúde.

Atenção ao pré-natal de gestantes de risco e fatores associados no Município de São Paulo, Brasil

Resumo: Avaliou-se a atenção ao pré-natal de gestantes de alto risco e a identificação de fatores associados, no Município de São Paulo, Brasil. Pesquisa avaliativa com 689 gestantes encaminhadas pela atenção primária à saúde (APS) para a atenção especializada (AE) em 2016. Considerou-se o modelo de APS como variável independente principal: unidade de saúde da família (USF), unidade básica de saúde (UBS) e UBS mista. Utilizou-se modelos de regressão logística múltipla (forward selection) para os desfechos “início precoce do pré-natal” e “acompanhamento compartilhado entre AE e APS”. Evidenciou-se maior chance de “início precoce do pré-natal” e “acompanhamento compartilhado entre AE e APS” ser encaminhada por USF. Independentemente da APS, apresentou associação para “início precoce do pré-natal” ter a pele branca, e para “acompanhamento compartilhado entre AE e APS” ter recebido visita domiciliar. Os resultados evidenciam a importância de serviços organizados segundo o modelo USF, que realizam visita domiciliar e são atentos às vulnerabilidades implícitas nas características individuais das gestantes.

PROGRAMA MAIS MÉDICOS EM MUNICÍPIO DE FRONTEIRA INTERNACIONAL E OS DESAFIOS DA GESTÃO EM SAÚDE

Resumo A cooperação técnica entre os países latino-americanos tem promovido grandes debates no campo da saúde coletiva e na consolidação da gestão do trabalho no Sistema Único de Saúde. Objetivou-se compreender as concepções de gestores da Atenção Primária à Saúde de um município em região de fronteira - historicamente distante do movimento da reforma sanitária brasileira - sobre a implantação do Projeto Mais Médicos. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, fundamentado na hermenêutica-dialética, de abordagem exploratória, realizado na região de fronteira trinacional entre Brasil, Paraguai e Argentina. Foram realizadas entrevistas abertas, gravadas, transcritas e analisadas de forma interpretativa e dialética no âmbito empírico-conceitual. No entendimento das gestoras, o Projeto contribuiu para a manutenção da oferta de serviços na Atenção Primária local, e é um caminho para a garantia de prestação da assistência médica em município de região fronteiriça. O Projeto também colaborou para a corresponsabilização pelo cuidado. Observou-se movimento dialético no atributo longitudinalidade e também nas dificuldades de operacionalizar o binômio gestão-planejamento, demonstrando contradição nas práxis operacionais dos serviços. Conclui-se que, para as gestoras entrevistadas, o Projeto mostrou-se importante estratégia de gestão do trabalho em saúde, conquanto haja um nó crítico baseado no pontual período de permanência destes profissionais nas equipes da Atenção Primária.

Family Health Strategy associated with increased dental visitation among preschool children in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Early-life dental service utilization could improve child dental health.

AIM

Identify contextual, socioeconomic, and child characteristics associated with dental visitation by age 3 years.

DESIGN

Within a Brazilian birth cohort (N = 435), multivariable regression models were fitted to identify independent predictors of having made a dental visit at age 3 years. Contextual variables considered included health center type (Traditional vs. Family Health Strategy, which perform home visits) and composition of oral health teams at the heath center where mothers accessed prenatal care.

RESULTS

Dental visitation was positively associated with Family Health Strategy health centers (36% vs. 23%) and with higher maternal education and family social class. Visitation was lowest among families served by a health center without a dentist, but number of dentists and oral health team composition were not associated with visitation among facilities with ≥1 dentists. Dental visitation was not statistically significantly associated with caries experience but was higher if parents reported worse oral health-related quality of life. The vast majority of dental decay remained untreated.

CONCLUSIONS

Dental visits were underutilized, and socioeconomic inequalities were evident. Dental visitation was more common when mothers received prenatal care at Family Health Strategy health centers, suggesting a possible oral health benefit.