EFFICACY OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAM OF IRON SUPPLEMENTATION IN THE ANAEMIA CONTROL IN INFANTS ASSISTED BY CHILD EDUCATION CENTERS

Introduction: iron deficiency occurs in endemic proportion among hildren and is one of the causal factors of inappropriate cognitive, social, motor and reduced learning ability, putting infants as a priority group for nutritional intervention programs aiming to control iron deficiency. Thus, in 2005 the Ministry of Health established the National Program of Iron Supplementation (PNSF) available for the universe of children of 6-24 months old attended in Basic Health Units. Objective: to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and analyse the efficacy of profilatic supplementation with ferrous sufate. Methods: a prospective follow-up study intervention that was developed in the city of Guarujá – SP, Brazil in the universe of children between 6-24 months old attended in the Public Basic Health Units whose parents authorized their participation. The supplement was offered in accordance with the standards of PNSF and diagnosis of anaemia was performed before and 6 months after the intervention period. As a criterion for anaemia was used the standards of the World Health Organization that defines moderate anaemia to haemoglobin (Hb) between 11.0 and 9,5gHb/dL and severe anaemia to below 9,5gHb/dL. Results: a total of 136 children under two years, (81% of total) participated in the study. No statistically significant difference was found between the mean Hb concentration before and after the intervention period (p=0.684). The initial mean Hb was 11,6g/dL (SD=1.82) and the final 11.5g/dL (SD=1.31). Although only 11 of the 49 anemic reached normal values, 33 of them showed an increase in Hb concentration. Conclusion: there was an increase in Hb concentration among children with severe anaemia. There was no change in the situation of children with moderate anaemia. Supplementation with ferrous sulphate was not sufficiently effective in controlling iron deficiency in infants

A disseminação da COVID-19: um papel expectante e preventivo na saúde global

Coronaviruses (CoV) make up a large family of viruses, known since the mid-1960s, which received this name due to the spikes on its surface, which resemble a crown (from the Latin corona). CoV infections can cause everything from a common cold to severe respiratory syndromes, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV). COVID-19 is a new variant of the coronavirus, and its isolation occurred in China on January 7th, 2020. COVID-19 has stood out with a high impact on public health due to the high number of cases with infection in a short period of time. However, it is possible to observe that 17% of patients confirmed with COVID-19 have severe infections and about 2.5% of these patients die. Current studies have shown that the number of mild and asymptomatic cases may be even greater. Thus, the challenges for controlling unreported cases of patients with mild symptoms that are spreading the virus and interfering with the magnitude and real data of the cases stand out. The transmission of the coronavirus occurs between humans, and it can occur from person to person through the air, through coughing or sneezing, by touching or shaking hands or by contact with contaminated objects or surfaces, followed by contact with the mouth, nose or eyes. Given the fluctuation in the incidence and the lethality rate, it is essential to stand out the precepts of health promotion in search of reorienting hygiene practices, considering that there is validity in health care models, still with a curative approach and the current situation experienced by the world population requires a preventive stance.Os coronavírus (CoV) compõem uma grande família de vírus, conhecidos desde meados da década de 1960, que receberam esse nome devido às espículas na sua superfície, que lembram uma coroa (do latim corona). As infecções pelo CoV podem causar desde um resfriado comum até síndromes respiratórias graves, como a síndrome respiratória aguda grave (SARS-CoV) e a síndrome respiratória do Oriente Médio (MERS-CoV). O COVID-19 é nova variante do coronavírus, sendo que o seu isolamento ocorreu na China em 07/01/2020. O COVID-19 tem se destacado com alto impacto na saúde pública devido ao elevado número de casos com a infecção em um curto período de tempo. Entretanto, é possível observar que apenas 17% dos pacientes confirmados com COVID-19 apresentam infecções graves e cerca de 2,5% destes pacientes morrerem. No entanto, os estudos atuais tem evidenciado que o número de casos leves e assintomáticos podem ser ainda maiores. Dessa forma, destacam-se os desafios para o controle dos casos não notificados de pacientes com sintomas leves que estão espalhando o vírus e interferindo na magnitude e nos dados reais dos casos. A transmissão do coronavírus acontece entre humanos, podendo ocorrer de pessoa a pessoa pelo ar, por meio de tosse ou espirro, pelo toque ou aperto de mão ou pelo contato com objetos ou superfícies contaminadas, seguido pelo contato com a boca, nariz ou olhos. Dada a oscilação da incidência e da taxa de letalidade reforça-se a importância dos preceitos da promoção da saúde em busca da reorientação de práticas de higiene, considerando que há vigência nos modelos assistenciais em saúde, sendo hegemônico o curativismo e a atual situação vivenciada pela população mundial exige postura preventiva

Sexual abuse characteristics in Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil: from victims to aggressors, from diagnosis to treatment

Introduction: Sexual violence against children and adolescents in Brazil is an underreported public health problem. Knowing the profile of the victims and the factors related to each case is a strategy for the development of more effective public policies.Objective: To describe the profile of children and adolescent victims of sexual abuse, characteristics of aggression and aggressors, consequences for victims, and legal actions related to sexual abuse.Methods: Sociodemographic characteristics of the victims were analyzed, as well as characteristics of the aggressors and aggression, and clinical, psychological, and legal aspects of 61 sexually abused patients admitted to the specialized outpatient clinic of the Network of Health for Violence and Sexual Abuse located in Santo André, São Paulo State, Brazil.Results: Victims had a mean age of 10.4 years, female (60.7%, n= 37), white (70.5%, n= 43), and admitted to the care network after of 72 hours of having been a victim of abuse (68.3%, n = 40). Most of the aggressions were by a sexual act (65.6%, n = 40) and by an individual known by the victim (72.1%, n= 44). As a result of sexual abuse, the children had a change in family composition (42.6%, n = 26), cognitive disturbances (34.4%, n= 21), emotional disturbances (83.6%, n= 51), and behavioral disorders (54.1%, n= 33). Two-thirds of the cases resulted in a police investigation, only 20% of the offenders were convicted.Conclusion: Girls suffer sexual abuse where the perpetrator is known and close to the family; they delay seeking health services and can present mental disorders related to those abuses, but the perpetrators remain unpunished in most cases

Analysis of COVID-19 mortality and case-fatality in a low- income region::an ecological time-series study in Tocantins, Brazilian Amazon

Introduction: Inserted in the vulnerable context of the Brazilian Amazon, the state of Tocantins has suffered damages with the dissemination of COVID-19 in its territory; however, little evidence is published from this state. Objective: This study aims to analyze the case-fatality, mortality, and incidence of COVID-19 in Tocantins. Methods: This is an ecological study, population-based, time-series analysis of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the state of Tocantins from March 2020 to August 2021. Results: During the examined period, 219,031 COVID-19 cases, and 3,594 deaths were registered due to disease. Two possible occurrence peaks were characterized in this time-series analysis. Remarkably, the Second Wave had the highest lethality rates (3.02% - April 2021), mortality (39.81 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants – March 2021), and incidence (1,938.88 cases per 100,000 inhabitants – March 2021). At the end of the period, mortality, incidence, and lethality showed flat trends, suggesting a positive outcome of the vaccination program. Conclusion: The prevention, surveillance, and control actions of COVID-19 cases in Tocantins State have been directed to mitigate the deleterious effects of the pandemic. Nevertheless, efforts are still needed to decrease lethality, mortality, and incidence trends, and ultimately to achieve control of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.Introdução: Inserido em vulnerável contexto da Amazônia Brasileira, o estado de Tocantis tem sofrido danos com a disseminação da COVID-19 em seu território; entretanto, escassas evidências têm sido publicadas sobre este estado. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a letalidade, mortalidade e incidência da COVID-19 em Tocantins. Método: Este é um estudo ecológico, de base populacional, com análises de séries temporais de casos e óbitos de COVID-19 no estado do Tocantins de março de 2020 a agosto de 2021. Resultados: No período examinado, foram registrados 219.031 casos de COVID-19 e 3,594 óbitos devido a doença. Foram caracterizadas nesta análise de série temporal a formação de duas possíveis ondas. Notavelmente, a segunda onda apresentou as maiores taxas de letalidade (3,02% - abril de 2021), mortalidade (39,81 óbitos por 100.000 habitantes - março de 2021) e incidência (1.938,88 casos por 100.000 habitantes - março de 2021). No final do período, a mortalidade, incidência e letalidade apresentaram tendências estacionárias, sugerindo um resultado positivo do programa de vacinação. Conclusão: As ações de prevenção, vigilância e controle dos casos de COVID-19 no Estado do Tocantins têm sido direcionadas para mitigar os efeitos deletérios da pandemia. No entanto, esforços ainda são necessários para diminuir as tendências da letalidade, mortalidade e, em última instância, para alcançar o controle da pandemia de COVID-19 na região

Educação em suporte básico de vida: o impacto da aulademonstrativa em estudantes de graduação em ciências da saúde

Background: Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) is a severe public health problem and a leading cause of death worldwide. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), basic life support (BLS) is the bedrock for improving people's survival after a cardiac arrest, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation is crucial. Through scientific evidence, empowering health professionals focuses on education in resuscitation is vital to identify and attend a CPA victim. In Brazil, there is a lack of data that evaluates the BLS knowledge of health science students. This study analyzed the knowledge retention of medicine, nursing, and physiotherapy students after one year of having a lecture-demonstration on BLS. Method: Longitudinal study. Undergraduate students of health science participated in the data collection and answered a questionnaire based on BLS following AHA guidelines. Data were collected during two consecutive years, in three different moments (an assessment, a test after a lecture, and an assessment test one year later). Results: The group improved its score after the class on BLS; the number of correct answers doubled (p <0.001); however, one year later, that score decreased significantly (p <0.001). Conclusion: No retention of knowledge in health sciences students after a year of a lecture-demonstration on BLS.Introdução: A parada cardíaca (PC) é um grave problema de saúde pública e uma das principais causas de morte em todo o mundo. De acordo com a American Heart Association (AHA), o suporte básico de vida (SBV) é a base para melhorar a sobrevivência das pessoas após uma parada cardiorrespiratória e a ressuscitação cardiopulmonar é um aspecto crucial. Por meio de evidências científicas, capacitar os profissionais de saúde com foco na educação em ressuscitação é fundamental para identificar e atender uma vítima de parada cardíaca. No Brasil, faltam dados que avaliem o conhecimento em SBV de estudantes de ciências da saúde. Este estudo analisou a retenção de conhecimento de estudantes de Enfermagem, Fisioterapia e Medicina, após um ano de realização de uma palestra-demonstração sobre SBV. Método: Estudo longitudinal. Estudantes de graduação em ciências da saúde que participaram da coleta de dados e responderam a um questionário baseado no SBV seguindo as diretrizes da AHA. Os dados foram recolhidos durante dois anos consecutivos, em três momentos distintos (uma avaliação, um teste após a aula e um teste de avaliação um ano após a aula). Resultados: O grupo melhorou sua pontuação após a palestra sobre SBV; o número de acertos dobrou (p <0,001); no entanto, um ano depois, essa pontuação diminuiu significativamente (p <0,001). Conclusão: Não houve retenção de conhecimento após um ano de uma aula-demonstrativa sobre SBV em estudantes de ciências da saúde

MeTA-Edu: uma nova metodologia para validação de tecnologias educacionais aplicada à prevenção da COVID-19 em adultos com câncer

Introduction: validated educational technologies favor access to reliable and adequate information, representing a critical risk communication tool for cancer patients during public health emergencies. Objective: to assess the validity and reliability of an electronic booklet on COVID-19 for adults with cancer. Methods: methodological validation by a panel of 22 experts linked to Brazil’s national curriculum vitae database. Sampling was performed by convenience, snowball, and selection techniques according to Jasper’s criteria. The validity of the booklet was evaluated by an electronic questionnaire using the content validity index (CVI), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the suitability assessment of materials (SAM) instrument, and the metalinguistic thematic analysis for educational technologies (MeTA-Edu) of dissertation proposals. Results: the expert panel consisted of 22 doctors with homogeneous sociodemographic characteristics, high specialization in education (86.4%), and teaching experience (average = 17.8 years). In general, the educational technology was validated by experts for content (overall CVI = 0.953) with a high degree of agreement (ICC = 0.958) and suitability of the content, literacy demand, graphics, layout, and typography, learning stimulation and motivation, and cultural appropriateness (SAM = 90.6%). After thematic analysis, 94 dissertation proposals were identified, mainly of the visual language type (47.9%) and referential/informative function (68.1%). Most expert suggestions were accepted (83.0%), and only 17.0% were rejected. Conclusion: the validity and reliability of the booklet “Uncomplicating COVID-19 for people with cancer” were ratified by experts. These findings can contribute to the methodological optimization of the validation of educational technologies and innovation of health education strategies, subsidizing cancer care in times of crisis.Introdução: O uso de tecnologias educacionais validadas favorece o acesso às informações confiáveis e adequadas e representa uma importante ferramenta de comunicação de risco para portadores de câncer durante emergências em saúde pública. Objetivo: Avaliar a validade e confiabilidade de uma cartilha eletrônica sobre a COVID-19 para adultos portadores de câncer. Métodos: Estudo metodológico de validação por 22 juízes especialistas residentes vinculados à plataforma nacional de curriculum vitae do Brasil. A amostragem foi realizada por conveniência e bola-de-neve, e a seleção, conforme os critérios de Jasper. A validade da cartilha foi avaliada por questionário eletrônico através do índice de validade de conteúdo (CVI), coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC), o instrumento de avaliação da adequabilidade de materiais (SAM) e a análise temática metalinguística para tecnologias educacionais (MeTA-Edu) de proposições dissertativas. Resultados: A banca avaliadora foi composta por 22 doutores com características sociodemográficas homogêneas e elevado especialização na área de educação (86,4%) e experiência docente (média = 17,8 anos). De modo geral, a tecnologia educacional foi validada pelos juízes especialistas quanto ao conteúdo (CVI global = 0,953) com alto grau de concordância (ICC= 0,958) e adequação de conteúdo, literacia necessária para a compreensão, desenho gráfico, layout e tipografia, estimulação e motivação de aprendizagem e adequação cultural (SAM= 90,6%). Após análise temática, foram identificadas 94 proposições dissertativas, principalmente no tipo de linguagem visual (47,9%), e função referencial/informativa (68,1%). Assim, 83,0% das sugestões foram acatadas e 17,0%, rejeitadas mediante justificativa. Conclusão: A validade e confiabilidade da cartilha “Descomplicando a COVID-19 para pessoas com câncer” foi ratificada pelos juízes especialistas. Estes achados podem contribuir para a otimização metodológica da validação de tecnologias educacionais e inovação de estratégias de educação em saúde, subsidiando a assistência oncológica em tempos de crise

The Adverse Events in Lumbar Dynamic Stabilization: a Prospective Case Series

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the complication rate in lumbar dynamic stabilization surgery for back pain in situations where conventional rigid implants could have been employed, with a follow-up of at least five years. METHODS AND FINDINGS: All patients who underwent semi-rigid lumbar spine fixation with the dynamic system consecutively between 2002 and 2007 in our departmentwere included. Minimum follow up period was 5. Adverse events and reoperations were registered for analysis. In the study period, 144 patients were treated with the dynamic system and studied. Three screws were badly positioned. There were two (1,39%) infections, with surgical cleaning necessary in one case. The late complications included a radiolucency signal in 22 screws (2,86%) and four broken screws (0,52%) out of 770 screws.Nineteen patients (20,13%) needed reoperation due to pain or screw associated problems. Three (2,08%) of these cases received additional treatment due to segmental kyphosis, five (3,47%) due to flat back, five (3,47%) due to adjacent level stenosis, 4 (2,7%) due to lumbar pain complaints, and two (1,39%) due to a broken screw. CONCLUSIONS: The lumbar dynamic stabilization system is an option for the treatment of degenerative spinal diseases. However it is not free of adverse events and had rates of implant failure, complications, and reoperations similar to those described on literature with rigid systems

Judicialização da saúde na Amazônia Ocidental: decisões coletivas do tribunal de justiça do Estado do Acre, Brasil

Introduction: the judicialization of health is an alternative to the health services in Brazil, despite criticism of judicial decisions and control of public health policy. The large number of actions that demand health services is a health problem that characterizes the political, social, ethical, legal, and health systems of the Public Health Policy. Objective: to analyze the judicialization of health care in the Acre State, Brazil, from 2010 to 2016. Methods: it is a documentary and cross-sectional study of collegiate decisions, with final judgments, in the period from 2010 to 2016, issued by the Court of Justice of the State of Acre, Results: all proposed actions were Writ of Mandamus. The use of preliminary injunction was the most common strategy (n = 34; 94.44%). One third of the respondents were not questioned by the State of Acre (n = 9; 25%) as decisions of the Court of Justice on health concern medicines, examinations, and procedures, in these cases, it only manages interests, with no litigation per se. (n = 25, 69.44%). Men and women demanded in the same proportion, all of them characterized by living in poverty (n = 28; 77.78%). Conclusion: the collective health decisions handed down by the State Court of Justice Acre, Brazil, guarantee access to health goods and services to the claimants, with emphasis on preliminary injunctions and grounds based on the principle of human dignity, physical integrity and life, and on medical prescriptions in each specific case and, in a third of the cases, serving as a mere administration of interests.Introdução: a judicialização da saúde é uma alternativa aos serviços de saúde no Brasil, apesar das críticas às decisões judiciais e ao controle das políticas públicas de saúde. O grande número de ações que demandam serviços de saúde é um problema de saúde que caracteriza os sistemas político, social, ético, jurídico e de saúde da Política Pública de Saúde. Objetivo: analisar a judicialização da saúde no Brasil, Amazônia Ocidental, de 2010 a 2016. Método: estudo documental e transversal de decisões colegiadas, com sentenças definitivas, no período de 2010 a 2016, proferidas pelo Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Acre, cujo foco principal é o contexto, fatores e consequências que os conduzem ao seu direito à saúde no Judiciário. Resultados: todas as ações propostas eram mandatos de segurança. O uso de liminar foi uma estratégia comum entre os autores (n = 34; 94,44%). um terço dos respondentes não foi contestado pelo Estado do Acre (n = 9; 25%). Já as decisões do Tribunal de Justiça em matéria de saúde dizem respeito a medicamentos, exames e procedimentos (n = 25, 69,44%). Homens e mulheres propõem a mesma proporção e uma característica básica dos autores é a pobreza (n = 28; 77,78%). Conclusão: as decisões coletivas de saúde proferidas pelo Tribunal de Justiça do Estado são legais, constitucionais e refletem a alteração entre todos os órgãos que integram a relação em que se estabelece a judicialização, que pode ser alcançada por meio do aprimoramento do processo de incorporação. tecnologias ao SUS, para a boa execução da política pública de saúde, com a manutenção dos princípios da universalidade e integralidade do Sistema Único de Saúde

Deciphering Multifactorial Correlations of COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality in the Brazilian Amazon Basin

Amazonas suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mortality and fatality rates soared and scarcity of oxygen and healthcare supplies led the health system and funerary services to collapse. Thus, we analyzed the trends of incidence, mortality, and lethality indicators of COVID-19 and the dynamics of their main determinants in the state of Amazonas from March 2020 to June 2021. This is a time-series ecological study. We calculated the lethality, mortality, and incidence rates with official and public data from the Health Department. We used the Prais–Winsten regression and trends were classified as stationary, increasing, or decreasing. The effective reproduction number (Rt) was also estimated. Differences were considered significant when p < 0.05. We extracted 396,772 cases of and 13,420 deaths from COVID-19; 66% of deaths were in people aged over 60; 57% were men. Cardiovascular diseases were the most common comorbidity (28.84%), followed by diabetes (25.35%). Rural areas reported 53% of the total cases and 31% of the total deaths. The impact of COVID-19 in the Amazon is not limited to the direct effects of the pandemic itself; it may present characteristics of a syndemic due to the interaction of COVID-19 with pre-existing illnesses, endemic diseases, and social vulnerabilities

Do we really know who are left behind and who are at risk of being left behind?

There is enough evidence to show the importance of the first 1000 days of life for child survival and development, and the next 8000 days for a child to reach adulthood. Yet discrimination, place of residence, socio-economic status, and inequalities within and between countries contribute to earlier mortality and significant morbidities for mothers and their children, particularly in settings with limited resources. Therefore, many children and adolescents and their families were left behind. JHGD has been raising public health issues related to inequalities and right to health. In this issue, articles generate debate around human dignity and health disparities. Several articles discuss a verity of health issues particularly in Amazon and Northeast region. School health was also discussed in this issue. Three studies were conducted in schools in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Research indicate that many children and adolescents are left behind. We are missing many opportunities to bridge the gap of inequality. Actions need to be taken now to make sure no one is left behind