Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) in primary care centers in Chile / Rehabilitación basada en la comunidad (RBC) en centros de atención primaria en Chile

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the implementation status of the Community-Based Rehabilitation in Chile. METHODS Quantitative, transversal and descriptive study. The scope was constituted by the 66 community-based rehabilitation centers in the Chilean Metropolitan Region that implemented Community-Based Rehabilitation until December 2016. The sampling was based on a census method, so all the community centers were contacted. A self-administered questionnaire designed based on the Community-Based Rehabilitation matrix defined by the World Health Organization was applied. The questionnaire was answered on-line by the coordinators of the strategy in their respective centers. The data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS A heterogeneous level of implementation of Community-Based Rehabilitation was identified, specifically in terms of the components of the matrix described by the World Health Organization. The most implemented component was Health; the Social, Livelihood and Empowerment components were moderately implemented; and the Education component was the least implemented. CONCLUSION The implementation of Community-Based Rehabilitation is mainly based on the Health component. The level implementation of the other components of the matrix needs to be increased, as well as interdisciplinary and intersectoral strategies to achieve greater social inclusion of people with disabilities.

RESUMEN OBJETIVO Describir el estado de implementación de la Rehabilitación Basada en la Comunidad en Chile. MÉTODOS Estudio cuantitativo, transversal y descriptivo. El universo estuvo conformado por los 66 centros comunitarios de rehabilitación de la Región Metropolitana de Chile que implementaron la Rehabilitación Basada en la Comunidad hasta diciembre de 2016. El muestreo tuvo intención censal, por lo que se contactaron todos los centros comunitarios. Se aplicó un cuestionario autoadministrado diseñado con base a la matriz de Rehabilitación Basada en la Comunidad definida por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. El cuestionario fue respondido on-line por los coordinadores de la estrategia en sus respectivos centros. El análisis de datos se realizó utilizando estadígrafos descriptivos. RESULTADOS Se identificó un nivel heterogéneo de implementación de la Rehabilitación Basada en la Comunidad, específicamente en cuanto a los componentes de la matriz descrita por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. El componente más implementado fue Salud; los componentes Social, Subsistencia y Fortalecimiento fueron medianamente implementados; y el componente Educación fue el menos implementado. CONCLUSIÓN La implementación de la Rehabilitación Basada en la Comunidad se basa principalmente en el componente Salud. Se requiere aumentar el nivel de implementación de los otros componentes de la matriz, así como de estrategias interdisciplinarias e intersectoriales para lograr una mayor inclusión social de las personas con discapacidad.

Medición de drogas ilícitas en aguas residuales: estudio piloto en México / Assessing illicit drugs in wastewater: a pilot study in Mexico

Resumen: Objetivo: Monitorear el consumo de drogas a través de la medición de sus metabolitos en aguas residuales. Material y métodos: Se obtuvieron muestras de 31 plantas de tratamiento de agua residual y de 95 sitios con poblaciones específicas (38 escuelas, 42 unidades de tratamiento de adicciones y 15 centros de readaptación social). Usando cromatografía líquida de ultra-alta resolución, se midieron nueve metabolitos de seis drogas. Resultados: Ocho de nueve metabolitos de drogas fueron identificados en aguas residuales. Los metabolitos de marihuana (THC-COOH), cocaína (benzoilecgonina) y metanfetamina fueron identificados en escuelas, centros de readaptación social y de tratamiento de adicciones. En Nuevo Laredo, Culiacán y Torreón se encontraron los consumos per cápita más elevados de cocaína, marihuana, anfetamina y metanfetamina. Conclusiones: El monitoreo del uso de drogas a través de aguas residuales es factible en México y podría constituir un sistema de vigilancia para identificar cambios de su consumo en el tiempo.

Abstract: Objective: Monitor drug use through wastewater metabolite measurement. Materials and methods: Wastewater samples were obtained from 31 wastewater treatment plants and 95 sites with specific populations (38 schools, 42 units of addiction treatment and 15 penitentiaries). Using ultra high liquid chromatography, we measured nine metabolites from six drugs. Results: Eight out of nine drug metabolites were identified in the samples. Marijuana (THC-COOH), cocaine (benzoylecgonine) and methamphetamine were identified in schools, centers of addiction treatment and penitentiaries. Nuevo Laredo, Culiacan and Torreon had the highest consumption of cocaine, marijuana, amphetamine and methamphetamine. Conclusions: Monitoring drug use through wastewater is feasible in Mexico and could constitute a surveillance system to identify changes in the time.

Drug interactions and adverse events in a cohort of Warfarin users attending Public Health Clinics / Interações medicamentosas e eventos adversos em uma coorte de usuários de varfarina que freqüentam clínicas de saúde pública

Background: Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant involved in important interactions with foods and other drugs. Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence of adverse events reported by warfarin users and their relationship with drug interactions. Methods: This was an open cohort, prospective study conducted in an 18-month period with warfarin users attending public health clinics of the city of Ijuí, Brazil. Data were collected by means of interviews administered at patients' home every month. Patients' responses were confirmed by review of medical records when patients sought medical care. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Potential drug interactions were evaluated in a database and vitamin K consumption was quantified using a validated method. Results: A total of 68 patients were followed-up; 63 completed the study and 5 died in the study period. Mean number of medications taken by the patients was 9.6 ± 4.5, and mean number of interactions involving warfarin was 2.91 ± 1.52. Most potential interactions increased the risk of bleeding, 61 of them severe interactions and 116 moderate interactions. Eighty-seven episodes of bleeding and 4 episodes of thrombosis were reported by a total of 37 and 4 patients, respectively. At the occurrence of these events, 56.5% of warfarin users were also taking omeprazole, 35.9% were taking simvastatin and 25.0% paracetamol. Most patients had a low vitamin K intake. Conclusions: A high frequency of potential interactions between warfarin and other drugs was detected, but a low intake of foods that could possibly affect the effects of warfarin was observed. Based on our results, it seems prudent to follow patients on warfarin therapy for drug-drug interactions, aiming to control adverse effects and to promote a safe and effective therapy

Análisis de Situación Integral de Salud (ASIS) de la comunidad del barrio Santa María, Bajo Boulogne, partido de San Isidro / Comprehensive health situation analysis of Santa María community, Bajo Boulogne, San Isidro district

Introducción: ASIS en un instrumento para conocer la realidad sanitaria que incluye la perspectiva de los actores, destinado a encaminar la planificación de las actividades en salud orientadas a la comunidad. Objetivo: recabar características sociodemográficas de la población, indagar los problemas de salud identificados por la comunidad, conocer qué estrategias utilizan para atenderlos y conocer sus recursos sociosanitarios. Material y métodos: Método de Análisis Rápido y Planificación Participativa (MARPP) implementado entre junio de 2013 y mayo de 2014 en la comunidad del barrio Santa María, Bajo Boulogne, San Isidro, República Argentina. Se integraron datos de tres fuentes: datos sociodemográficos del Censo Nacional 2010, encuesta domiciliaria para conocer los problemas de salud de la comunidad y un relevamiento de sus recursos sociosanitarios. Resultados: según los datos del Censo, los menores de 19 años representan el 33% de la población, mayoritariamente argentina y alfabetizada. Las viviendas disponen de conexión con agua corriente, desagüe cloacal y gas. Un 12,8% vive con necesidades básicas insatisfechas. Adicionalmente, se encuestaron 225 viviendas con una tasa de respuesta del 70%. El 30% (67/225) de los adultos y el 42% (52/122) de los niños (expresado por adultos responsables) informaron haber padecido algún problema de salud agudo en los últimos dos meses. Para ambos grupos, el principal problema de salud percibido fueron trastornos respiratorios; para los adultos, el segundo en frecuencia fueron los del aparato locomotor. El 55% de los adultos reconocieron padecer algún problema crónico, principalmente cardiovascular. Los problemas más destacados del barrio fueron la inseguridad y la violencia. El 73% refirió conocer el Centro de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria San Pantaleón, y el 34% manifestó usarlo habitualmente. Conclusiones: este relevamiento representa una primera aproximación a la percepción y a las necesidades de la comunidad. (AU)

Introduction: ASIS is an instrument to know the health situation including the perspective of the actors, and to guide the planning of activities in health-oriented community. Aims: to collect socio-demographic characteristics of the community population, to investigate health problems identified by the community and learn what strategies used to solve them, and know their health resources. Methods: Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) methodology implemented between June 2013 and May 2014 in the Santa María community, Bajo Boulogne, Argentina. Data were collected from three sources: socio-demographic data from the 2010 National Census, we conducted a survey ad hoc on a sample to know the health problems of the community, and we described their health resources. Results: according to Census data, under age 19 account for 33% of the population, mainly from Argentina and alphabetized. Their houses have connection with running water, sewerage and gas. 12.8% live with unsatisfied basic needs. In addition, 225 homes were surveyed with a response rate of 70%: 30% (67/225) of adults and 42% (52/122) of children (expressed by responsible adults) reported having had an acute health problem in the past two months. For both, the main perceived health problem was respiratory; for adults, the second in frequency were of musculoskeletal problems. Fifty-five percent of adults suffer from some recognized, mainly cardiovascular chronic problem. The major problems reported were insecurity and violence. 73% reported knowledge of the Centro de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria San Pantaleón, although it usually uses only 34% of respondents. Conclusions: it represents a first approach to the perception and the needs of the community. (AU)

Serum uric acid and disorders of glucose metabolism: the role of glycosuria

Hyperuricemia has been associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. We studied the association between hyperuricemia and glycemic status in a nonrandomized sample of primary care patients. This was a cross-sectional study of adults ≥20 years old who were members of a community-based health care program. Hyperuricemia was defined as a value >7.0 mg/dL for men and >6.0 mg/dL for women. The sample comprised 720 participants including controls (n=257) and patients who were hypertensive and euglycemic (n=118), prediabetic (n=222), or diabetic (n=123). The mean age was 42.4±12.5 years, 45% were male, and 30% were white. The prevalence of hyperuricemia increased from controls (3.9%) to euglycemic hypertension (7.6%) and prediabetic state (14.0%), with values in prediabetic patients being statistically different from controls. Overall, diabetic patients had an 11.4% prevalence of hyperuricemia, which was also statistically different from controls. Of note, diabetic subjects with glycosuria, who represented 24% of the diabetic participants, had a null prevalence of hyperuricemia, and statistically higher values for fractional excretion of uric acid, Na excretion index, and prevalence of microalbuminuria than those without glycosuria. Participants who were prediabetic or diabetic but without glycosuria had a similarly elevated prevalence of hyperuricemia. In contrast, diabetic patients with glycosuria had a null prevalence of hyperuricemia and excreted more uric acid and Na than diabetic subjects without glycosuria. The findings can be explained by enhanced proximal tubule reabsorption early in the course of dysglycemia that decreases with the ensuing glycosuria at the late stage of the disorder.

Comparison of dermatoses seen in community health camps and a tertiary care centre in Kashmir.

Background: Various environmental, socio-economic and geographical factors influence the pattern of dermatoses in an area. Observations made at tertiary dermatology centres may not reflect the actual pattern of dermatoses at the community level. Aims: To evaluate the pattern of dermatoses at community level and compare it with that at a tertiary centre. Methods: Cases were registered through community visits in block Hazratbal in Kashmir valley, once a week over a calendar year. The pattern of dermatoses observed was compared with that seen at the tertiary centre over the same period. Results: A total of 1065 community cases, with 1105 dermatoses, were compared with 4358 patients with 4466 dermatoses seen at the tertiary centre. Non-infectious dermatoses in each group were more common than infectious dermatoses (34.08% infectious dermatoses versus 65.97% non-infectious in community cases and 29.42% infectious dermatoses versus 70.58% non-infectious in hospital patients). Infectious cases were seen significantly more in the community (34.08%) than at the tertiary centre (29.42%). Among the infectious diseases, fungal infection was the most common and in the non-infectious group, pigmentary disorders were the most common, followed by acne and eczema. Conclusion : Infectious dermatoses were found statistically significantly more in community cases as compared to hospital patients while the opposite was the case with non-infectious dermatoses. The study emphasizes the need for providing frequent dermatology services to the community at the primary healthcare level so that the burden of dermatoses, especially infectious, may be reduced. Also, wider studies should be conducted in different regions in order to assess the actual magnitude of dermatological illnesses in the community.

Do patients with tuberculosis referred from a tertiary care referral centre reach their peripheral health institution.

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in India. The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), started in 1997, involved medical colleges in the control of TB on a high priority. We assessed whether patients with TB referred from a tertiary care hospital in Delhi reached the desired peripheral health institution and had their treatment initiated. Methods. This descriptive, retrospective study was done at a tertiary care hospital and included all patients with a diagnosis of TB (pulmonary or extrapulmonary) who were seen at the referral centre during the year 2011. Data were collected from various records of the referral centre and analysed for availability of feedback of the referred patients. Information regarding their registration and initiation of treatment was also collected. Postcards were used for the first time to trace referrals in patients with TB. Results. The majority (94%) of patients with TB seen in the referral centre at a tertiary care facility were referred to a peripheral health institution nearest to their place of residence. Feedback on referral was received from these institutions for 79.4% of patients from the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi and for 47.4% of patients from outside the NCR of Delhi. Conclusion. We found that a majority of patients with TB were referred and the registration and initiation of treatment could be traced in >75% of patients.

Perspectives of the Community and PHC Doctors from Three Southern States in India on Community Preference for Health Services Provided by Rural Medical Practitioners.

Research question: Study to determine the reasons why community members continue to access healthcare through Rural Medical Practitioners (RMPs). Objective : To find out the impression of stakeholders i.e. community leaders, PHC doctors and members of community on the need of RMPs cater to the health needs of the communities. Study design : Cross sectional study. Setting : Remote and rural villages in Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala. Participants : 322 persons who include 59 RMPs, 81 village heads, 55 PHC doctors and 127 patients.

Interventions for the treatment of obesity among children and adolescents in Latin America: a systematic review / Intervenciones para el tratamiento de la obesidad en niños y adolescentes en Latinoamérica: una revisión sistemática

Objective. The objective of this systematic literature review was to identify evidence-based strategies associated with effective healthcare interventions for prevention or treatment of childhood obesity in Latin America. Materials and methods. A systematic review of peer-reviewed, obesity-related interventions implemented in the healthcare setting was conducted. Inclusion criteria included: implementation in Latin America, aimed at overweight or obese children and evaluation of at least one obesity-related outcome (e.g., body mass index (BMI), z-score, weight, and waist circumference, and body fat). Results. Five interventions in the healthcare setting targeting obese children in Latin America were identified. All five studies showed significant changes in BMI, and the majority produced sufficient to large effect sizes through emphasizing physical activity and health eating. Conclusion. Despite the limited number of intervention studies that treat obesity in the healthcare setting, there is evidence that interventions in this setting can be effective in creating positive anthropometric changes in overweight and obese children.

Objetivo. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática de la literatura fue identificar estrategias basadas en evidencia asociadas con intervenciones en salud efectivas para la prevención y el tratamiento de la obesidad infantil en Latinoamérica. Material y métodos. Se realizó una revisión sistemática por pares de intervenciones relacionadas con la obesidad, que fueron llevadas a cabo en clínicas de atención para la salud. Criterios de inclusión: implementadas en Latinoamérica, dirigidas a niños con obesidad y sobrepeso y evaluación de por lo menos un resultado relacionado con obesidad (ej. índice de masa corporal (IMC), puntaje Z, peso, circunferencia de cintura o grasa corporal). Resultados. Se identificaron cinco intervenciones dirigidas a niños obesos en clínicas de salud en Latinoamérica. Todas las intervenciones mostraron cambios significativos en IMC y la mayoría obtuvo un tamaño del efecto grande a través de la promoción de actividad física y alimentación saludable. Conclusión. A pesar del número limitado de estudios de intervención para tratar la obesidad en clínicas de salud, existe evidencia que las intervenciones en estos lugares pueden ser efectivas en alcanzar cambios antropométricos positivos en los niños con obesidad y sobrepeso.

Atividade física em profissionais de saúde do Sul e Nordeste do Brasil / Physical activity among health professionals from South and Northeast Brazil

Foi realizado um estudo transversal, em 240 unidades básicas de saúde (UBS) dos modelos tradicional de assistência ou vinculadas ao Programa Saúde da Família (PSF), envolvendo 3.347 profissionais de saúde, que responderam ao Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física. A prevalência de sedentarismo (< 150 minutos por semana) foi de 27,5 por cento (IC95 por cento: 25,9-29,0). O sedentarismo foi mais freqüente nos profissionais do modelo tradicional, sendo tal diferença explicada pela presença dos agentes comunitários de saúde, cuja ocupação é bastante ativa apenas no modelo PSF. Houve maior percentual de sedentarismo nos profissionais que trabalham em municípios de grande porte e possuem alto nível sócio-econômico. Destaca-se a importância de projetos de capacitação de profissionais de saúde para a orientação e a prática de atividade física e a articulação entre profissionais de UBS e educadores físicos.

This cross-sectional study analyzed 240 primary healthcare units, linked either to the traditional primary care model or the Family Health Program (FHP), involving a total of 3,347 health professionals who answered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Prevalence of sedentary lifestyle (< 150 minutes of physical activity per week) was 27.5 percent (95 percentCI: 25.9-29.0). Sedentary lifestyle was more frequent among health professionals in the traditional model, with the difference explained by the presence of community health agents, whose work only involves extensive physical activity in the FHP model. Sedentary health professionals were proportionally more common in large cities with better socioeconomic conditions. The study highlights the importance of education for health professionals aimed at orientation and practice in physical activities and collaboration between primary healthcare workers and physical education teachers.

A community based approach to improve health care seeking for newborn danger signs in rural wardha, India.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the effect of community mobilization and health education effort on health care seeking behavior of families with sick newborns, and to explore the rationale behind the changed health care seeking behaviors of mothers in a rural Indian community. METHODS: In the present community based participatory intervention, a triangulated research design of quantitative (survey) and qualitative (Focus group discussions, FGDs) method was undertaken for needs assessment in year 2004. In community mobilization, women's self help groups; Kishori Panchayat (KP, forum of adolescent girls), Kisan Vikas Manch (Farmers' club) and Village Coordination Committees (VCC) were formed in the study area. The trained social worker facilitated VCCs to develop village health plans to act upon their priority maternal and child health issues. The pregnant women and group members were given health education. The Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) technique was used to monitor awareness regarding newborn danger signs among pregnant women. In year 2007, a triangulation of quantitative survey and a qualitative study (free list and pile sort exercise) was undertaken to find out changes in health care seeking behaviors of mothers. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in mothers' knowledge regarding newborn danger signs. About half of the mothers got information from CLICS doot (female community health worker). The monitoring over three years period showed encouraging trend in level of awareness among pregnant women. After three years, the proportion of mothers giving no treatment/home remedy for newborn danger signs declined significantly. However, there was significant improvement in mothers' health care seeking from private health care providers for sick newborns. CONCLUSION: The present approach improved mothers' knowledge regarding newborn danger signs and improved their health care seeking behavior for newborn danger signs at community level. Due to lack of faith in government health services, women preferred to seek care from private providers.

Risk factors for anemia in infants assisted by public health services: the importance of feeding practices and iron supplementation

OBJETIVO: Investigar os fatores de risco para anemia em lactentes atendidos nos serviços públicos de saúde. MÉTODOS: Em estudo transversal, foram avaliadas 205 crianças de 6 a 12 meses no município de Viçosa (MG). A coleta de dados envolveu variáveis socioeconômicas, ambientais e biológicas, bem como aquelas relacionadas ao estado nutricional, à mãe, ao nascimento, ao cuidado com a saúde infantil, às práticas alimentares e à suplementação com ferro. O diagnóstico da anemia baseou-se nos valores de hemoglobina inferiores a 11 g/dL, utilizando o fotômetro portátil Hemocue. Na análise da associação das variáveis com a anemia, foi utilizada a regressão logística múltipla hierarquizada. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de anemia foi de 57,6 por cento. Apresentaram maior chance de anemia os lactentes que pertenciam às famílias com renda per capita inferior a 0,5 salário mínimo, não consumiam frutas diariamente e não ingeriam suplementos medicamentosos com ferro. CONCLUSÃO: A adequada assistência à saúde e nutrição das famílias de baixa renda, o incentivo às práticas alimentares saudáveis e a prescrição de suplementos medicamentosos com ferro são medidas de grande importância para a prevenção e o controle da anemia entre os lactentes atendidos nos serviços públicos de saúde.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors for anemia in infants assisted by public health services. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study carried out in Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, 205 children from 6 to 12 months were evaluated. Socioeconomic, environmental and biological data were collected, as well as information on child's birth, nutritional status, maternal data, child health care practices, feeding practices, and iron supplementation. Diagnosis of anemia was based on hemoglobin levels under 11 g/dL, using a portable Hemocue photometer. To analyze variables associated with anemia, a hierarchical logistic regression model was used. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 57.6 percent. Family income per capita less than 0.5 minimum wage, frequency of fruit intake less than daily and lack of iron supplementation increased the chance of anemia among infants. CONCLUSION: Adequate health and nutrition support to low income families, promotion of healthy nutritional habits and prescription of iron supplements are of great importance to prevent and manage anemia in infants assisted by public health services.

Reaching the unreachable: barriers of the poorest to accessing NGO healthcare services in Bangladesh.

The NGO Service Delivery Program (NSDP), a USAID-funded programme, is the largest NGO programme in Bangladesh. Its strategic flagship activity is the essential services package through which healthcare services are administered by NGOs in Bangladesh. The overall goal of the NSDP is to increase access to essential healthcare services by communities, especially the poor. Recognizing that the poorest in the community often have no access to essential healthcare services due to various barriers, a study was conducted to identify what the real barriers to access by the poor are. This included investigations to further understand the perceptions of the poor of real or imagined barriers to accessing healthcare; ways for healthcare centres to maximize services to the poor; how healthcare providers can maximize service-use; inter-personal communication between healthcare providers and those seeking healthcare among the poor; and ways to improve the capacity of service providers to reach the poorest segment of the community. The study, carried out in two phases, included 24 static and satellite clinics within the catchment areas of eight NGOs under the NSDP in Bangladesh, during June-September 2003. Participatory urban and rural appraisal techniques, focus-group discussions, and in-depth interviews were employed as research methods in the study. The target populations in the study included males and females, service-users and non-users, and special groups, such as fishermen, sex workers, potters, Bedes (river gypsies), and lower-caste people-all combined representing a heterogeneous community. The following four major categories of barriers emerged as roadblocks to accessing quality healthcare for the poor: (a) low income to be able to afford healthcare, (b) lack of awareness of the kind of healthcare services available, (c) deficiencies and inconsistencies in the quality of services, and (d) lack of close proximity to the healthcare facility. Those interviewed perceived their access problems to be: (a) a limited range of NGO services available as they felt what are available do not meet their demands; (b) a high service-charge for the healthcare services they sought; (c) higher prices of drugs at the facility compared to the market place; (d) a belief that the NGO clinics are primarily to serve the rich people, (e) lack of experienced doctors at the centres; and (f) the perception that the facility and its services were more oriented to women and children, but not to males. Others responded that they should be allowed to get treatment with credit and, if needed, payment should be waived for some due to their poverty level. While the results of the study revealed many perceptions of barriers to healthcare services by the poor, the feedback provided by the study indicates how important it is to learn from the poorest segment of society. This will assist healthcare providers and the healthcare system itself to become more sensitized to the needs and problems faced by this segment of the society and to make recommendations to remove barriers and improvement of access. Treatment with credit and waived payment for the poorest were also recommended as affordable alternative private healthcare services for the poor.

Programa de Psiquiatría ambulatoria (PPA) de la Comuna Til Til en el marco de la psiquiatría comunitaria / Psychiatry program in Til Til commune in the community psychiatry framework

En el presente trabajo se muestran los fundamentos técnicos, organización, puesta en marcha y evolución de un Programa de Psiquiatría en la Comuna de Til Til, inserto en el COSAM (Centro Comunitario de Salud Mental y Familiar) de la mencionada Comuna. Esta iniciativa de salud surge en el marco de posibilitar que los usuarios reciban atención psiquiátrica en su comuna de residencia, junto al trabajo de psicólogos, terapeuta ocupacional, asistentes sociales, monitores de salud mental y profesionales de salud general de la comuna, es decir, un trabajo de equipo en que cada uno de los integrantes se articula armónicamente proporcionando finalmente una atención global al usuario, evitando largos y costosos desplazamientos al Instituto Psiquiátrico, único centro en donde el usuario podía recibir atención especializada previo a la instalación de este programa, reduciendo descompensaciones y hospitalizaciones y generando en la comunidad una nueva actitud hacia el portador de alguna patología psiquiátrica severa.

Unequal treatment access and malaria risk in a community-based intervention program in the Philippines.

This study assesses the influence of several malaria risk factors and volunteer health worker (VHW) accessibility on parasite prevalence and treatment-seeking in a remote area of Mindanao, the Philippines. An anti-malaria program in the area seeks to devolve malaria diagnosis and treatment to the VHWs. Firstly, the relationship between malaria and demographic factors, bednet use, and access to treatment was investigated. Secondly, adults from villages with and without resident VHWs were questioned on historical and proposed treatment-seeking for fever and the capacity of the communities to support more health workers was assessed. Parasite prevalence was significantly higher among patients living in villages lacking a resident VHW (adjusted OR=3.88, p=0.02), where proposed delays in consulting VHWs and the official health service, and the use of alternative medicine, were also significantly higher. Kinship or social closeness to VHWs appears to play a role in accessibility. The educational and economic requirements demanded of VHWs impede potential expansion of the program to non-serviced villages. If the effectiveness and equity of community-based treatment strategies is to be increased, increased flexibility allowing use of local, less-educated, drug dispensers needs to be considered.

Prevalence of Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Korea: Community-Based Primary Care Study

There have been many epidemiological and clinical researches on chronic fatigue (CF) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) since the 1990s, but such studies have been quite limited in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the point prevalence of CF and CFS in patients who visited community-based eight primary care clinics in Korea. The study subjects were 1,648 patients aged 18 yr and over who visited one of eight primary care clinics in Korea between the 7th and 17th of May 2001. The physicians determined the status of the subjects through fatigue-related questionnaires, medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. The subjects were categorized into no fatigue, prolonged fatigue, CF and then CF were further classified to medically explained CF (Physical CF and Psychological CF) and medically unexplained CF (CFS and idiopathic chronic fatigue). The point prevalence of CF and CFS were 8.4% (95% CI 7.1-9.7%) and 0.6% (95% CI 0.2-1.0%). Medically explained CF was 80.5% of CF, of which 57.1% had psychological causes. The clinical characteristics of CFS were distinguished from explained CF. CF was common but CFS was rare in community-based primary care settings in Korea.

Quality of life after community-based rehabilitation for blind persons in a rural population of South India.

This study aimed to determine the impact of community-based rehabilitation on the quality of life of blind persons in a rural south Indian population. We performed a population-based survey followed by clinical examinations to identify blind persons in a rural south Indian population. Pre-and-post rehabilitation quality of life of 159 blind persons aged 15 years or above was ascertained through a questionnaire previously validated for use in this population. Post-rehabilitation quality-of-life scales showed some improvement for 151 (95.0%) subjects. The additional benefit from rehabilitation was greatest for the self-care and mobility subscales, ranging from 24.6% to 30.0% for the self care subscale and 37.6% to 44.3% for the mobility subscale with effect sizes of 21.5 and 2.38 respectively. Overall quality of life scores were not significantly different between those who did and did not receive economic rehabilitation (P = 0.1). Blind persons in this rural population benefited considerably from rehabilitation services even if economic rehabilitation is not provided. Initiatives against blindness need to consider rehabilitation of the blind as a priority.

Utilization of and barriers to public sector tuberculosis services in India.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis control in India still faces many challenges related to the provision of services under the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) strategy. We assessed the utilization of and barriers to the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) services based on DOTS in 4 states of India, and recommend actions to optimize utilization of the RNTCP services. METHODS: Two districts each in 4 states with more than 50% of the population covered under the RNTCP in 2002, representing diverse levels of general health indicators, were selected. Sex-disaggregated data on patients who reported to the RNTCP facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in 2002 were reviewed from the laboratory and tuberculosis registers to assess the utilization of these services. Data on barriers to utilization of the RNTCP services were collected through interviews of 4310 patients with tuberculosis who were 16 years of age or older. RESULTS: A total of 83,099 patients had reported for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the study areas, of whom 29,279 were women (35.2%). The proportion of sputum-positive diagnosis was lower in women (10.8% [95% CI 10.5%-11.1%]) than men (17% [95% CI 16.7%-17.3%]). For the treatment of tuberculosis, 21592 patients were registered in the study areas; 6789 were women (31.4%). Among new smear-positive tuberculosis patients, 79.9% of women (95% CI 78.4%-81.4%) and 74.4% of men (95% CI 73.4%-75.4%) were cured. Multivariate analysis revealed that the odds of not completing the process of diagnosis of tuberculosis were significantly higher for patients > 50 years of age, those who were never married or married currently, those with symptoms for < or = 15 days, those who had gone alone for diagnosis, and those who were not informed about a suspicion of tuberculosis by the health personnel at the time of diagnosis. Among the reasons for not completing the process of diagnosis of tuberculosis, health provider-related barriers were cited most frequently (45.9%), followed by improvement in symptoms. Health provider-related barriers were also cited most frequently (40.4%) by those who had completed the process of diagnosis but did not start treatment in the RNTCP facility. On multivariate analysis, the odds of not completing the treatment of tuberculosis were significantly higher for men, those who were ever married, those who were not informed that tuberculosis was curable, those who were not informed of the duration of treatment at the time of starting treatment, those who were dissatisfied with the DOTS provider, and those who had health facility staff as the DOTS provider compared with those who had an anganwadi/health worker. Medicine-related barriers were cited most frequently by patients who had defaulted in the intensive (37.1%) or continuation (23.1%) phase of treatment. CONCLUSION: Of the persons utilizing the RNTCP services, about one-third are women. The health services-related factors indicated in the multivariate analysis for less than optimal utilization of the RNTCP services, and the health provider-related and treatment-related barriers to utilization of the RNTCP services at various levels cited by the patients suggest the need to adopt a patient-centred approach to improve utilization of the RNTCP services.

Capture-recapture methods for estimation of fertility and mortality in a rural district of Turkey

The study used capture-recapture methods to determine if information on births, deaths and family planning use obtained from two data sources provides the same or more complete information than that available from a single source. Five different data sources used were: village heads [mukhtars], community health volunteers, primary health care centres, maternal and child care units and local administrative units [health group presidencies] in 10 selected villages in a rural area of Turkey from May to October 1999. Although the numbers of deaths and births were estimated, no estimation of the number of women using any family planning method could be made. The study highlights some data collection problems of the surveillance system in Turkey and recommends that the routine surveillance systems be strengthened