Avaliação de estratégias do Ministério da Saúde para incentivar a resposta municipal a AIDS no Brasil

The aim of this study was to evaluate strategies by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to expand the municipal response to AIDS. Cities "included" and "not included" in Federal strategies for "municipalization" of the response were compared according to the response profile and trends in the epidemic. Multinomial logistic regression was used, among other statistical procedures. Municipalities included from 1994 to 1998 showed higher chances of providing HIV diagnostic testing [OR = 15.0; 95%CI: 5.6-40.1], of having AIDS services [OR = 18.4; 95%CI: 8.4-40.5], and reducing cases involving heterosexual [OR = 3.1; 95%CI: 1.4-7.3], homosexual/bisexual [OR = 3.0; 95%CI: 1.4-6.2], and IDU transmission [OR = 6.6; 95%CI: 2.9-14.9] as compared to those "included in 2003" and "not included". There were no associations between the included Municipalities, greater coverage in prevention, the reduction in cases due to vertical transmission or blood transfusion, or mortality rates. Municipalities with a more structured response were associated with better results. The findings suggest that the municipalization policy contributed to improvement in the local response to AIDS.Avaliar as estratégias do Ministério da Saúde para ampliar a resposta municipal a AIDS. Cidades "incluídas" e "não incluídas" nas estratégias federais de municipalização foram comparadas segundo perfil da resposta e da epidemia. Regressão logística multinomial foi usada, entre outros procedimentos estatísticos. Municípios incluídos entre 1994/98 apresentaram maior chance de ofertar o diagnóstico do HIV [OR = 15,0; IC95%: 5,6-40,1], possuir serviços de AIDS [OR = 18,4; IC95%: 8,4-40,5] e reduzir casos por transmissão heterossexual [OR = 3,1; IC95%: 1,4-7,3], homo/bissexual [OR = 3,0; IC95%: 1,4-6,2] e uso de drogas injetáveis [OR = 6,6; IC95%: 2,9-14,9] do que os "incluídos em 2003" e os "não incluídos". Não houve associações entre municípios incluídos, a maior cobertura de prevenção e a redução de casos por transmissão vertical, transfusão de sangue e taxas de mortalidade. Municípios com resposta mais estruturada associam-se a melhores resultados. Os achados sugerem que a política de municipalização contribuiu para aprimorar a resposta

The AIDS epidemic in Brazil and differences according to geographic region and health services supply

The aim of this study was to identify different profiles in the AIDS epidemic in Brazil by relating them to the health sector's organization, situations involving increased risk of infection, and the degree of implementation of the response by health services. The Brazilian municipalities (counties) were grouped according to the magnitude of the epidemic and its trends from 2002 and 2006, and were then studied using indicators obtained from secondary databases. Municipalities with large epidemics (39%) displayed more situations associated with risk of infection, and those with an upward trend in incidence (11.5%) showed a lower degree of response. Cities with large epidemics but with downward or stable trends had 68.6% of all the anonymous testing centers and 75.8% of the outpatient clinics, and performed 81.4% of all the HIV antibody tests in the health system. Preventive measures in schools and primary health services showed low coverage rates. Differences were observed between geographic regions. Inequalities in the degree of implementation of the response to HIV may contribute to different profiles in the epidemic around the country.Identificar diferentes perfis da epidemia de AIDS no Brasil relacionando-os à organização do setor saúde, às situações relacionadas ao risco de infecção e ao grau de implantação da resposta. Municípios brasileiros foram agrupados segundo magnitude e tendência da epidemia entre 2002 e 2006, e estudados por meio de indicadores obtidos em bases de dados secundários. Municípios com epidemias de grande magnitude (39%) apresentaram um maior número de situações associadas ao risco e os com tendência de aumento da incidência (11,5%) menor grau de implantação da resposta. Cidades com grandes epidemias que reduzem/estabilizam concentraram 68,6% dos Centros de Testagens, 75,8% dos ambulatórios e 81,4% dos exames anti-HIV feitos no sistema de saúde. Ações preventivas em escolas e na atenção básica apresentaram baixa cobertura comparativamente à área assistencial. Diferenças entre regiões foram observadas. Desigualdades no grau de implantação da resposta ao HIV podem contribuir para a ocorrência de diferentes perfis da epidemia no país

The effect of prevention methods on reducing sexual risk for HIV and their potential impact on a large-scale : a literature review

A existência de diferentes métodos preventivos que oferecem elevado grau de proteção contra o HIV tem trazido à luz um desafio: como países que proporcionaram ampla cobertura de prevenção e tratamento poderão utilizar novos métodos preventivos para reverter taxas de incidência que permanecem elevadas, até mesmo crescentes, em grupos sociais específicos? Realizamos uma revisão narrativa da literatura com a finalidade de examinar os métodos preventivos e as intervenções estruturais que, no contexto de epidemias concentradas populacional e geograficamente, podem ter maior impacto nas taxas de incidência. Com isso, analisamos o conhecimento acerca do grau de proteção dos diferentes métodos, seus limites e suas potencialidades. O alcance e a efetividade dos métodos têm sido minimizados, notadamente, por barreiras estruturais e psicossociais, como falhas de adesão, uso inconsistente ao longo do tempo ou apenas em situações em que as pessoas se percebem em maior risco. Indivíduos e grupos sociais mais atingidos pela epidemia têm limitado o uso e o não uso de métodos de acordo com seus valores, necessidades identificadas de prevenção e condições de vida. Isso impede que um método isoladamente venha a promover um forte impacto de redução na epidemia. Políticas baseadas na oferta conjunta e na complementaridade entre os métodos, na atenção aos aspectos psicossociais que interferem no seu uso e na redução das barreiras estruturais de acesso poderão ter maior impacto na incidência, especialmente se forem planejadas e implantadas com participação e mobilização social.A spectrum of diverse prevention methods that offer high protection against HIV has posed the following challenge: how can national AIDS policies with high coverage for prevention and treatment make the best use of new methods so as to reverse the current high, and even rising, incidence rates among specific social groups? We conducted a narrative review of the literature to examine the prevention methods and the structural interventions that can have a higher impact on incidence rates in the context of socially and geographically concentrated epidemics. Evidence on the protective effect of the methods against sexual exposure to HIV, as well as their limits and potential, is discussed. The availability and effectiveness of prevention methods have been hindered by structural and psychosocial barriers such as obstacles to adherence, inconsistent use over time, or only when individuals perceive themselves at higher risk. The most affected individuals and social groups have presented limited or absence of use of methods as this is moderated by values, prevention needs, and life circumstances. As a result, a substantial impact on the epidemic cannot be achieved by one method alone. Programs based on the complementarity of methods, the psychosocial aspects affecting their use and the mitigation of structural barriers may have the highest impact on incidence rates, especially if participation and community mobilization are part of their planning and implementation

Sustentabilidade da política de acesso a medicamentos anti-retrovirais no Brasil

OBJECTIVE: The expense of acquiring antiretroviral drugs in Brazil has given rise to debate about the sustainability of the policy of universal access to Aids medications, despite the evident benefits. The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of the Ministry of Health's spending on acquiring antiretroviral drugs from 1998 to 2005, the determining factors and the medium-term sustainability of this policy (2006-2008). METHODS: The study on the evolution of spending on antiretrovirals included analysis of their prices, the year-by-year expenditure, the number of patients utilizing the medication, the mean expenditure per patient and the strategies for reducing the prices maintained during this period. To analyze the sustainability of the policy for access to antiretrovirals, the cost of acquiring the drugs over the period from 2006 to 2008 was estimated, along with the proportion of gross domestic product and federal health expenditure represented by this spending. The data were collected from the Ministry of Health, the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and the Ministry of Planning. RESULTS: The expenditure on antiretrovirals increased by 66% in 2005, breaking the declining trend observed over the period from 2000 to 2004. The main factors associated with this increase were the weakening of the national generics industry and the unsatisfactory results from the process of negotiating with pharmaceutical companies. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian policy for universal access is unsustainable at the present growth rates of the gross domestic product, unless the country compromises its investments in other fields.OBJETIVO: Os gastos com a aquisição de anti-retrovirais no Brasil têm suscitado debates sobre a sustentabilidade da política de acesso universal a medicamentos para Aids, a despeito de seus evidentes benefícios. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar, no período de 1998 a 2005, a evolução dos gastos do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil com a aquisição de anti-retrovirais e seus determinantes, assim como a sustentabilidade desta política a médio prazo (2006-2008). MÉTODOS: O estudo da evolução dos gastos com anti-retrovirais compreendeu a análise de seus preços, do dispêndio ano a ano, do número de pacientes que utilizam a medicação, do gasto médio por paciente e das estratégias para a redução de preços adotadas no período. No tocante à análise de sustentabilidade da política de acesso a anti-retrovirais foram estimadas as despesas com a aquisição de medicamentos no período de 2006 e 2008 e a participação desses gastos no Produto Interno Bruto e nas despesas federais com saúde. Os dados foram coletados do Ministério da Saúde, do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística e do Ministério do Planejamento. RESULTADOS: As despesas com anti-retrovirais aumentaram 66% em 2005, interrompendo a tendência de redução observada no período 2000-2004. Os principais fatores associados a esse aumento foram o enfraquecimento da indústria nacional de genéricos e os resultados insatisfatórios dos processos de negociação com empresas farmacêuticas. CONCLUSÕES: A política de acesso universal no Brasil não é sustentável com as atuais taxas de crescimento do Produto Interno Bruto, sem que o País comprometa investimentos em outras áreas

Late Entry into HIV Care: Estimated Impact on AIDS Mortality Rates in Brazil, 2003–2006

Background: Worldwide, a high proportion of HIV-infected individuals enter into HIV care late. Here, our objective was to estimate the impact that late entry into HIV care has had on AIDS mortality rates in Brazil. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyzed data from information systems regarding HIV-infected adults who sought treatment at public health care facilities in Brazil from 2003 to 2006. We initially estimated the prevalence of late entry into HIV care, as well as the probability of death in the first 12 months, the percentage of the risk of death attributable to late entry, and the number of avoidable deaths. We subsequently adjusted the annual AIDS mortality rate by excluding such deaths. Of the 115,369 patients evaluated, 50,358 (43.6%) had entered HIV care late, and 18,002 died in the first 12 months, representing a 16.5% probability of death in the first 12 months (95% CI: 16.3-16.7). By comparing patients who entered HIV care late with those who gained timely access, we found that the risk ratio for death was 49.5 (95% CI: 45.1-54.2). The percentage of the risk of death attributable to late entry was 95.5%, translating to 17,189 potentially avoidable deaths. Averting those deaths would have lowered the 2003-2006 AIDS mortality rate by 39.5%. Including asymptomatic patients with CD4(+) T cell counts >200 and <= 350 cells/mm(3) in the group who entered HIV care late increased this proportion by 1.8%. Conclusions/Significance: In Brazil, antiretroviral drugs reduced AIDS mortality by 43%. Timely entry would reduce that rate by a similar proportion, as well as resulting in a 45.2% increase in the effectiveness of the program for HIV care. The World Health Organization recommendation that asymptomatic patients with CD4(+) T cell counts <= 350 cells/mm(3) be treated would not have a significant impact on this scenario.Brazilian National Ministry of HealthDeutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ, German Agency for Technical Cooperation) in BrazilBrazilian Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development

Reincidentes en el cuidado, pero sin derecho a la prevención: un análisis de la oferta de la profilaxis posexposición sexual al VIH en Porto Alegre, Brasil

This study seeks to identify challenges in the implementation of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, based on an analysis of actions taken by healthcare professionals in the state-run health sector in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Based on a qualitative approach that included ethnographic observations and in-depth interviews, we found that contextual, institutional, and individual factors represented challenges to the implementation of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. Barriers to implementation included the historical context structuring healthcare services and practices, the lack of training and/or continued education in health, and certain attitudes on the part of healthcare professionals (ideas regarding both the strategy itself as well as the individuals that seek PEP). We conclude that there is a need for greater attention to specialized services for STI/HIV/AIDS as well as the professionals that provide these services, in order to guarantee greater effective access to this strategy at the local level.Buscamos identificar los desafíos para la implementación de la profilaxis posexposición sexual al VIH, a partir de analizar el accionar de las y los profesionales de la salud en un servicio de salud pública en Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Desde un enfoque cualitativo, con técnicas de observación etnográfica y entrevistas en profundidad, se encontró que los factores contextuales, organizacionales e individuales eran desafíos para implementar la profilaxis posexposición sexual al VIH. Las barreras para su implementación incluyeron el contexto histórico de la estructuración y la actuación del servicio, la falta de capacitación y/o educación continua en salud, y las concepciones de las y los profesionales de la salud (ideas sobre la estrategia en sí, y sobre las personas que buscan PEP). Se concluye que existe la necesidad de mayor atención al universo de servicios especializados en ITS/VIH/sida y a las y los profesionales que componen estos servicios, a fin de garantizar una mayor efectividad en el acceso a la estrategia a nivel local

Hombres heterosexualmente activos, masculinidades, prevención de infección por VIH y búsqueda de profilaxis posexposición sexual consentida

Hegemonic masculinity has distanced heterosexually active men from the responses to the HIV epidemic. However, with the combined prevention paradigm, post-exposure prophylaxis offers new ways to manage the risks of HIV infection, while at the same time bringing about new challenges. The aim of this paper is to discuss – through the lens of gender and masculinities – how heterosexually active men perceive their HIV risk and how they manage prevention methods and strategies, including post-exposure prophylaxis. Employing qualitative methods, 16 heterosexually active men in five health services from different Brazilian cities were interviewed. The analysis indicates that condom use – the main prevention method – was conditioned by subjective and contextual factors, and its failure stands out as the primary reason for seeking out post-exposure prophylaxis. We argue that ideals of hegemonic masculinity permeate perceptions and risk management discourses in the current context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.La masculinidad hegemónica distancia a los hombres heterosexuales activos de las respuestas a la epidemia de sida. Sin embargo, con el paradigma de la prevención combinada, la profilaxis posexposición sexual hace posible nuevas formas de gestionar los riesgos de infección, al tiempo que trae nuevos desafíos. El objetivo de este artículo es, a la luz de la perspectiva de género y de las masculinidades, discutir cómo los hombres heterosexuales activos perciben su riesgo frente al VIH, cómo manejan los métodos y estrategias de prevención, incluyendo la profilaxis posexposición sexual. El estudio de abordaje cualitativo entrevistó 16 hombres heterosexuales activos en cinco servicios de salud de diferentes ciudades brasileñas. El análisis señala que el uso del condón, principal método de prevención, fue condicionado a factores subjetivos y contextuales; y su fallo se destaca como el principal motivo de búsqueda de la profilaxis posexposición sexual. Los ideales de masculinidad hegemónica penetraron los discursos de percepción y gestión de riesgo en el actual contexto de la epidemia de sida

'Repeat offenders' in care, but with no right to prevention : an analysis of the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Buscamos identificar los desafíos para la implementación de la profilaxis po-sexposición sexual al VIH, a partir de analizar el accionar de las y los profesionales de la salud en un servicio de salud pública en Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Desde un enfoque cualitativo, con técnicas de observación etnográfica y entrevistas en profundidad, se encontró que los factores contextuales, organizacionales e individuales eran desafíos para implementar la profilaxis posexposición sexual al VIH. Las barreras para su imple-mentación incluyeron el contexto histórico de la estructuración y la actuación del servicio, la falta de capacitación y/o educación continua en salud, y las concepciones de las y los profesionales de la salud (ideas sobre la estrategia en sí, y sobre las personas que buscan PEP). Se concluye que existe la necesidad de mayor atención al universo de servicios especializados en ITS/VIH/sida y a las y los profesionales que componen estos servicios, a fin de garantizar una mayor efectividad en el acceso a la estrategia a nivel local.This study seeks to identify challenges in the implementation of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, based on an analysis of actions taken by healthcare professionals in the state-run health sector in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Based on a qualitative approach that included ethnographic observations and in-depth interviews, we found that contextual, institutional, and individual factors represented challenges to the implementation of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. Barriers to implementation included the historical context structuring healthcare services and practices, the lack of training and/or continued education in health, and certain attitudes on the part of healthcare professionals (ideas regarding both the strategy itself as well as the individuals that seek PEP). We conclude that there is a need for greater attention to specialized services for STI/HIV/AIDS as well as the professionals that provide these services, in order to guarantee greater effective access to this strategy at the local level

Late entry into HIV care: lessons from Brazil, 2003 to 2006

Background: To ascertain the population rates and proportion of late entry into HIV care, as well as to determine whether such late entry correlates with individual and contextual factors. Methods: Data for the 2003-2006 period in Brazil were obtained from public health records. A case of late entry into HIV care was defined as one in which HIV infection was diagnosed at death, one in which HIV infection was diagnosed after the condition of the patient had already been aggravated by AIDS-related diseases, or one in which the CD4(+) T-cell count was &lt;= 200 cells/mm(3) at the time of diagnosis. We also considered extended and stricter sets of criteria (in which the final criterion was &lt;= 350 cells/mm(3) and &lt;= 100 cells/mm(3), respectively). The estimated risk ratio was used in assessing the effects of correlates, and the population rates (per 100,000 population) were calculated on an annual basis. Results: Records of 115,369 HIV-infected adults were retrieved, and 43.6% (50,358) met the standard criteria for late entry into care. Diagnosis at death accounted for 29% (14,457) of these cases. Late entry into HIV care (standard criterion) was associated with certain individual factors (sex, age, and transmission category) and contextual factors (region with less economic development/increasing incidence of AIDS, lower local HIV testing rate, and smaller municipal population). Use of the extended criteria increased the proportion of late entry by 34% but did not substantially alter the correlations analyzed. The overall population rate of late entry was 9.9/100,000 population, specific rates being highest for individuals in the 30-59 year age bracket, for men, and for individuals living in regions with greater economic development/higher HIV testing rates, collectively accounting for more than half of the cases observed. Conclusions: Although the high proportion of late entry might contribute to spreading the AIDS epidemic in less developed regions, most cases occurred in large cities, with broader availability of HIV testing, and in economically developed regions.Brazilian Ministry of HealthBrasilien - Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ Brazil, German Society for Technical Cooperation in Brazil)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP, Sao Paulo Research Foundation