How did South Africans with disabilities experience COVID-19? Results of an online survey

Background: People with disabilities are a large, disadvantaged minority, comprising approximately 12% of the population. The South African government has ratified international and regional disability treaties but deals with disability rights within general anti-discrimination legislation. There are no specific frameworks to monitor justice for people with disabilities. The study aims to inform further development of disability inclusive mechanisms relating to crises including pandemics. Objectives: This study explored the perceptions of South Africans with disabilities, to understand their experiences during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), focussing on socioeconomic, well-being and human rights aspects. Method: An online survey tool generated quantitative and qualitative data. Widespread publicity and broad recruitment were achieved through project partners networks. Participants responded via mobile phone and/or online platforms. Results: Nearly 2000 people responded, representing different genders, impairments, races, socio-economic status, education and ages. Findings include: (1) negative economic and emotional impacts, (2) a lack of inclusive and accessible information, (3) reduced access to services, (4) uncertainty about government and non-government agencies' support and (5) exacerbation of pre-existing disadvantages. These findings echo international predictions of COVID-19 disproportionally impacting people with disabilities. Conclusion: The evidence reveals that people with disabilities in South Africa experienced many negative impacts of the pandemic. Strategies to control the virus largely ignored attending to human rights and socioeconomic well-being of this marginalised group. Contribution: The evidence will inform the development of the national monitoring framework, recognised by the South African Government and emphasised by the United Nations as necessary to ensure the realisation of the rights of people with disabilities during future crises including pandemics.

Perfill de pacientes con cáncer en un centro de oncología en Bogotá / Profile of Cancer Patients at an Oncology Center in Bogotá / Perfil de pacientes com câncer em um centro de oncologia em Bogotá

Introducción: La experiencia de vivir con un cáncer repercute significativamente en la vida, pues afecta todo el ser, lo que demanda de enfermería comprender las características del cuidado de las personas y de sus seres queridos para poderlo cuidar. Objetivo: Describir y comparar la caracterización para el cuidado de los pacientes con cáncer. Método: Estudio descriptivo comparativo realizado con 131 pacientes con cáncer atendidos en tres servicios oncológicos, determinando el perfil sociodemográfico, la carga percibida y la apropiación de las tecnologías para el cuidado. El análisis se realizó utilizando estadística descriptiva, la comparación con prueba chi cuadrado y de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: Predomina el género femenino, edad promedio de 54 años (DE: 17,4), baja dependencia y estado cognitivo intacto, baja escolaridad, falta de ocupación laboral, nivel socioeconómico bajo y alto nivel de apoyo familiar. La percepción de bienestar es positiva en el aspecto físico, social y espiritual, para la mayoría. La apropiación de las tecnologías es media. Excepto por algunas variaciones, los pacientes presentan condiciones comunes para el cuidado. Conclusión: Los pacientes perciben apoyo, en especial familiar, bienestar físico, social y espiritual, excepto psicológico, lo que permite planear un cuidado de enfermería que garantice mejor acceso, seguridad y continuidad.

Introduction: The experience of living with cancer impacts significantly the life as it affects the whole being. In the nursing practice all this demands to understand the care characteristics of people living with cancer and their beloved ones in order to be able to care them. Objective: To describe and compare the characterization of care for cancer patients. Method: This is a comparative descriptive study conducted using 131 cancer patients who received health care in three oncologic services; it is intended to determine the sociodemographic profile, the measured load and the appropriation of care technologies. The analysis was carried out by using descriptive statistics and comparisons based on chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Most of the patients were women with an average age of 54 years (SD: 17.4); they showed low drug-dependence, intact cognitive condition, and low schooling levels; many of them lacked a job and had a low socio-economic status but with strong family support. The well-being perception was positive regarding the physical, social, and spiritual aspects for most of the patients. There was a mean appropriation of technologies. Except for some variations, the patients show some conditions requiring a common care. Conclusion: Patients perceive support, especially from their families, with physical, social and spiritual wellbeing, but not psychological well-being. This allows to plan the nursing care so as to ensure a better access, safety and continuity.

Introdução: A experiência de conviver com cancro afeta significativamente a vida, pois magoa o ser tudo, e isso demanda da enfermagem compreender as carateristicas do cuidado das pessoas e seus seres queridos para puderem cuidá-los. Objetivo: Descrever e comparar a caracterização para o atendimento de pacientes com cancro. Método: Estudo descritivo comparativo realizado com 131 pacientes com cancro atendidos em três serviços oncológicos, determinando o perfil sociodemográfico, a sobrecarga percebida e a apropriação das tecnologias para o cuidado. A análise foi feita mediante estatística descritiva, a comparação com teste qui-quadrado e de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: Predomina o género feminino, idade média de 54 anos (SD: 17,4), baixa dependência e estado cognitivo intacto, baixa escolaridade, falta de ocupação laborai, baixas rendas e alto nível de apoio familiar. A percepção de bem-estar é positiva no aspecto físico, social e espiritual, para a maioria. A apropriação das tecnologias é média. Com exceção de algumas variações, os pacientes apresentam condições comuns para o cuidado. Conclusão: Os pacientes percebem apoio, em especial familiar, bem-estar físico, social e espiritual, exceto psicológico, o que permite planejar um cuidado de enfermagem garantindo melhor acesso, segurança e continuidade.

Evolução das desigualdades socioeconômicas na mortalidade infantil no Brasil, 1993-2008 / Evolution of socioeconomic inequalities in infant and child mortality in Brazil, 1993-20

No Brasil, a mortalidade infantil e na infância apresentam tendência decrescente. Poucos estudos investigaram a evolução temporal das desigualdades socioeconômicas nesses óbitos, no nível individual. O objetivo foi investigar a evolução temporal da magnitude das desigualdades na mortalidade infantil e na infância, segundo a escolaridade materna e a renda domiciliar per capita, no período 1993-2008, no Brasil. Foram utilizados microdados das Pesquisas Nacionais por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD). A medida de desigualdade empregada foi o índice de concentração (IC), calculado para os óbitos infantis e na infância, segundo escolaridade materna e renda domiciliar per capita. No período de 1993 a 2008, houve redução das desigualdades na mortalidade infantil e na infância, no nível individual, segundo a escolaridade materna e a renda domiciliar per capita. Em 2008, a concentração dos óbitos na infância entre crianças cujas mães tinham menor escolaridade era maior do que a concentração dos óbitos infantis. Os IC segundo a renda apresentaram maior variabilidade, mas também demonstraram menor concentração dos óbitos ao final do período. A medição das desigualdades em saúde é importante para o acompanhamento da situação de saúde da população.

In Brazil, infant and child mortality reveal a downward trend. Few studies have investigated the temporal trends in the inequalities of these deaths, at individual level, according to socio-economic status. The scope of this article was to investigate the temporal trends of the magnitude of inequalities in infant and child mortality, between groups defined by maternal education and household income per capita in the 1993-2008 period in Brazil. Microdata from the National Household Sample Survey were used. The inequality measure was the concentration index (CI). It was calculated for infant and child deaths, according to maternal education and household income per capita. During the 2003-2008 period, there was a reduction in inequalities in infant and child mortality, at individual level, and according to maternal education and household income per capita. In 2008, the concentration of child deaths among children whose mothers had less education was higher than the concentration of infant deaths. The CI according to income had greater variability, but also demonstrated a lower concentration of deaths at the end of the period. The measurement of inequalities in health is important for monitoring the population health situation.