Evaluating Social Protection Policies: Lessons from Brazil

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is considered a valuable mechanism for improving the quality of public policy and has become politically important for policymakers. However, few studies have covered the process of designing and implementing the administrative structures required for effective M&E. Pioneering approaches to evaluating social protection policies by Brazil's Secretariat of Evaluation and Information Management (SAGI) provide key lessons around effective M&E systems. These include the importance of timing evaluations so that they contribute to decision-making processes, ensuring qualified researchers both commission and conduct the evaluations, and developing a reporting system which both handles feedback sensitively and remains transparent about results. This IDS Policy Briefing was produced by the Rising Powers in International Development (RPID) programme and the Centre for Social Protection(CSP), based at IDS.DFI

Socio-economic and environmental differentials, and mortality in a developing urban area (Belo Horizonte - Brazil)

Studies on health inequalities on developing cities are scarce. They have mainly focused on infant and child mortality and life expectancy at birth. Studies of adult mortality and cause- specific studies have seldom been carried out. An ecological study was performed in order to investigate the relationship between mortality due to all causes of death, infectious diseases, combined illness of diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition, external causes, homicides, and motor vehicle traffic accidents, and socio- environmental conditions in a developing city, Belo Horizonte in Brazil. Death certificates relating to 1994 were processed. A total of 10,558 certificates were geocoded according to 75 geographical areas. The areas were classified according to the income of the head of family (or female illiteracy when appropriate), and plausible routinely environmental factors. In the study of mortality due to infectious diseases, water, sanitation, crowding, and rubbish collection were tested. Among the external causes, the study focused on homicide and motor vehicle traffic accidents, testing the effect of public illumination, crowding and the average time for police response to a phone call. Analytical and descriptive techniques were used in the study. Mortality rate (MR) ratios were estimated using random effects Poisson regression. A high correlation was found between socio-economic and environmental variables. These correlated to the distribution of mortality rates across the areas. Shantytown areas (the favelas) presented higher risk of mortality than non-favela areas. Infectious diseases, homicide, and combined illness of diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition (under 5 years old) presented MR ratios of 1.59,2.05, 1.62, respectively. All of them presented p-values for trend <0.00. Deaths due to all causes presented 1.12 (p=0.04). Adverse socio-economic and environmental conditions are associated with higher rates of specific cause of death. Deprived areas encompass highest vulnerable groups. The use of routine data in developing countries can be used to measure the inequalities in health, helping build up more adequate urban and health policies

Efeito da Ansiedade Competitiva Sobre a Tomada de Decisão do Passe em Atletas de Futebol da Categoria Sub-17

No se sabe si la ansiedad competitiva genera efectos en el rendimiento de toma de decisiones en los atletas. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar el efecto de la ansiedad competitiva sobre toma de decisiones del pase en futbolistas jóvenes. Se trata de una investigación prospectiva, cuya muestra fue formada por 40 jugadores de la categoría sub-17. La versión en portugués del Competitive State Anxiety Intentory se completó 45 minutos antes del comienzo de una partida de fútbol. La toma de decisiones se evaluó mediante los criterios del instrumento de evaluación del rendimiento del juego por medio del Game Performance Assessment Instrument. Los resultados mostraron una influencia significativa de la ansiedad cognitiva (R² = .20; p = .001), de la ansiedad somática (R² = .45; p = .001) y de la autoconfianza sobre el índice de toma de decisión del pase (R² = .31; p = .001). Se concluyó que la ansiedad competitiva puede considerarse un factor que interviene en la toma de decisiones del pase de jóvenes jugadores de fútbol de sexo masculino.Não se sabe se a ansiedade competitiva acarreta efeito no desempenho da tomada de decisão em atletas. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar o efeito da ansiedade competitiva sobre a tomada de decisão do passe em jovens atletas de futebol. Trata-se de uma investigação prospectiva, cuja amostra foi composta por 40 atletas de futebol da categoria sub-17. A versão em língua portuguesa do Competitite State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2R) foi preenchida 45 minutos antes do início de uma partida de futebol. A tomada de decisão foi avaliada pelos critérios do Game Performance Assessment Instrument. Os resultados apontaram influência significativa da ansiedade cognitiva (R² = .20; p = .001), da ansiedade somática (R² = .45; p = .001) e da autoconfiança sobre o índice de tomada de decisão do passe (R² = .31; p = .001). Concluiu-se que a ansiedade competitiva pode ser considerada um fator interveniente na tomada de decisão do passe de jovens atletas de futebol do sexo masculino.It is not known if competitive anxiety affects decision-making performance in athletes. This study aimed to analyze the effect of competitive anxiety on passing decision-making in young soccer players. This is a prospective study, whose sample consisted of 40 soccer athletes of the under-17 category. The Portuguese version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2R) was filled out by athletes 45 minutes before the start of a soccer match. Decision-making was evaluated in a real game situation. The analysis and categorization of actions were based on the Game Performance Assessment Instrument. The results showed significant influence of cognitive anxiety (R² =.20; p = .001), somatic anxiety (R² = .45; p = .001) and self-confidence about the passing decisionmaking index (R² = .31; p = .001). It was concluded that competitive anxiety can be considered an intervening factor in decisionmaking of the pass of young male soccer players.Keywords: test validity, scaling, elderly, depression

The potential impact of austerity on attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil

In the recent decades, Brazil has outperformed comparable countries in its progress toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals. Many of these improvements have been driven by investments in health and social policies. In this article, we aim to identify potential impacts of austerity policies in Brazil on the chances of achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and its consequences for population health. Austerity’s anticipated impacts are assessed by analysing the change in federal spending on different budget programmes from 2014 to 2017. We collected budget data made publicly available by the Senate. Among the selected 19 programmes, only 4 had their committed budgets increased, in real terms, between 2014 and 2017. The total amount of extra money committed to these four programmes in 2017, above that committed in 2014, was small (BR$9.7 billion). Of the 15 programmes that had budget cuts in the period from 2014 to 2017, the total decrease amounted to BR$60.2 billion (US$15.3 billion). In addition to the overall large budget reduction, it is noteworthy that the largest proportional reductions were in programmes targeted at more vulnerable populations. In conclusion, it seems clear that the current austerity policies in Brazil will probably damage the population’s health and increase inequities, and that the possibility of meeting SDG targets is lower in 2018 than it was in 2015

Innovations for Sustainability: Pathways to an efficient and post-pandemic future

3rd Report prepared by The World in 2050 initiativ

The brazilian foreign policy and the health international cooperation at the beginning of Lula's government

O objetivo principal do artigo é discutir as iniciativas de cooperação técnica internacional do Brasil na área de saúde. Tendo como ponto de referência as diretrizes de política externa do governo Lula estabelecidas em 2003, o artigo analisa a consistência entre as diretrizes gerais de política externa e os desafios de implementação de políticas públicas setoriais em períodos de transição. O caso analisado foi o da transição do governo Fernando Henrique Cardoso para o governo Lula (2002-2003). O trabalho evidenciou a grande diversidade e a complexidade das iniciativas na área de saúde, a importância das políticas setoriais para a consecução da agenda internacional do país e, por outro lado, a importância dos relacionamentos internacionais para a implementação das metas plurianuais de desenvolvimento na saúde. Uma conclusão importante do artigo torna evidente que os ajustes entre os diferentes tipos e níveis das políticas públicas dependem de esforços institucionais específicos, não sendo produzidos automática e espontaneamente durante as transições entre mandatos presidenciais em países democráticos.The main goal of this article is to discuss the Brazilian initiatives in the field of health international technical cooperation. Departing from the general foreign policy guidelines established by Lula’s government in 2003, the article analyzes the consistency between foreign policies directives and public policies implementation issues in areas like health during government transitions. The case study here was the transition period between the second term of Fernando Henrique Cardoso and the first term of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva presidencies in Brazil (2002-2003). The research revealed a great diversity and the complexity of the federal government initiatives in the area of health technical cooperation, as well as the importance of technical cooperation for the advancement of the presidential international agenda. There are also important feedback mechanisms involved, as the international cooperation helps to achieve domestic goals in areas like health. An important conclusion of this research unveils the fact that the fine adjustments between types and levels of public policies do not occur automatic or spontaneously after a presidential transition in a democratic country

The brazilian foreign policy and the health international cooperation at the beginning of Lula's government

O objetivo principal do artigo é discutir as iniciativas de cooperação técnica internacional do Brasil na área de saúde. Tendo como ponto de referência as diretrizes de política externa do governo Lula estabelecidas em 2003, o artigo analisa a consistência entre as diretrizes gerais de política externa e os desafios de implementação de políticas públicas setoriais em períodos de transição. O caso analisado foi o da transição do governo Fernando Henrique Cardoso para o governo Lula (2002-2003). O trabalho evidenciou a grande diversidade e a complexidade das iniciativas na área de saúde, a importância das políticas setoriais para a consecução da agenda internacional do país e, por outro lado, a importância dos relacionamentos internacionais para a implementação das metas plurianuais de desenvolvimento na saúde. Uma conclusão importante do artigo torna evidente que os ajustes entre os diferentes tipos e níveis das políticas públicas dependem de esforços institucionais específicos, não sendo produzidos automática e espontaneamente durante as transições entre mandatos presidenciais em países democráticos.The main goal of this article is to discuss the Brazilian initiatives in the field of health international technical cooperation. Departing from the general foreign policy guidelines established by Lula’s government in 2003, the article analyzes the consistency between foreign policies directives and public policies implementation issues in areas like health during government transitions. The case study here was the transition period between the second term of Fernando Henrique Cardoso and the first term of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva presidencies in Brazil (2002-2003). The research revealed a great diversity and the complexity of the federal government initiatives in the area of health technical cooperation, as well as the importance of technical cooperation for the advancement of the presidential international agenda. There are also important feedback mechanisms involved, as the international cooperation helps to achieve domestic goals in areas like health. An important conclusion of this research unveils the fact that the fine adjustments between types and levels of public policies do not occur automatic or spontaneously after a presidential transition in a democratic country

Effect of Competitive Anxiety on Passing Decision-Making in Under-17 Soccer Players

Abstract It is not known if competitive anxiety affects decision-making performance in athletes. This study aimed to analyze the effect of competitive anxiety on passing decision-making in young soccer players. This is a prospective study, whose sample consisted of 40 soccer athletes of the under-17 category. The Portuguese version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2R) was filled out by athletes 45 minutes before the start of a soccer match. Decision-making was evaluated in a real game situation. The analysis and categorization of actions were based on the Game Performance Assessment Instrument. The results showed significant influence of cognitive anxiety (R² =.20; p = .001), somatic anxiety (R² = .45; p = .001) and self-confidence about the passing decision-making index (R² = .31; p = .001). It was concluded that competitive anxiety can be considered an intervening factor in decision-making of the pass of young male soccer players.Keywords: test validity, scaling, elderly, depressio