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The authors warn governments, societies and humanity about the future of Amazonia. It is dying. Who will save Amazonia? The world is at war with COVID-19, climate change and social inequality. This book shows that Amazonia is a key entity in the victory of humanity against these three 'plagues' of modernity. A worldwide mobilization is needed to stop its cultural and ecological destruction. Its full submission to the market and to predatory privatization contribute to this process that has had a global impact. It is an open question as many diseases and pandemics could spread throughout the world as a result of continued destruction of this incredibly biodiverse region. It has about 163 indigenous peoples, over 2000 rivers and 400 billion trees. It is important for world food security, climate change mitigation and bioindustries. Its importance for humanity is analyzed from a sustainable perspective. This tragedy has been aggravated by the dispersion of COVID-19 in the region. This book shows that Brazilian Amazonia's future is a world tragedy. Who will save Amazonia? According to Marcílio and Marilene, the responsibility of its sustainable protection comes from us all. © Nova Science Publishers, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved.
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Digital transformation is a term used to indicate a set of changes caused by the massive use of digital technologies, implemented in a "disruptive" way in social environments. This literature review study analyses some of these transformations, particularly in the field of digital communications and interactions, against the backdrop of Information Management in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, divising current and future opportunities and challenges. The results are presented in two analytical blocks. In the first, the disruptive scenarios, the changes in styles and in the ways of organizing and performing work, the rapid dissemination of the technologic-based services, the opportunities and challenges are assessed. The second block discusses some of the informational behaviours that, in the pandemic context, have marked the character of digital communications and interactions, focusing on aspects such as use and privacy of data, digital tracking strategies, and the exponential increase in the dissemination of false and outdated and fake news, in a context as pandemic as it is infodemic. In the concluding remarks, some of the critical issues and priority lines of enquiry to figure in current and future research agendas are summarised. © 2022 Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra. All rights reserved.
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Research Objective: This research explores the role that socioeconomic factors play on the pandemic development and it provides government with public control implications. Theoretical background: Government of different regions responds to the pandemic with various government policies and interventions. Meanwhile, socioeconomic factors that are long-term results of government policies also impact the development of the pandemic in different regions. We study how these socioeconomic factors are related with the COVID-19 pandemic development. Research Design: Using data from IBGE - Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Ministry of Health, and Santa Catarina State Department of Health, we conduct a set of regression analyses at the municipality-level using socioeconomic factors as independent variables, and log-transformed confirmed COVID-19 cases and confirmed COVID-19 deaths as dependent variables. Results: We identify several significant indicators of pandemic outcomes and we find that municipalities in the Brazilian state with more basic health units, higher bedroom density, higher autonomy level of municipal revenue tend to have more confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19. We also find other socioeconomic factors including sanitation condition and age group diversity as important indicators of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths. Originality: This research is one of the first to understand the impact of socioeconomic factors on the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and it utilizes unique datasets that have not been used by other studies to our best knowledge. Practical and theorical contributions: The deliverables of this research will improve the understanding of the ongoing pandemic, predict the pandemic development trend, and prepare the policymakers with improved information provisioning by pointing out the significant impacts of socioeconomic factors.
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Background and aims: The Coronavirus Disease Pandemic - 2019 (COVID-19) represents, to date, the greatest public health challenge of the 21st century. Stroke, on the other hand, is nationally the main cause of disability, accompanied by a considerable and costly number of hospitalizations. This paper questions the impact of COVID-19 on stroke notifications. Methods: Articles were searched using the descriptors: Ischemic Stroke;Hemorrhagic Stroke;Cerebrovascular events;COVID-19 and Brazil. The research platforms were Pubmed, Scielo, Virtual Health Library and DataSUS. Results: Since the beginning of the pandemic in Brazil, in March 2020, there has been a reduction of approximately 20% in the number of stroke cases reported compared to 2019. This reality is consistent with the international scenario of possible underreporting and reduced demand for medical care in mild and intermediate cases. Although, according to medical societies of national specialties, COVID-19 does not change the recommendations for the management of patients with stroke, the result of this context may be a late start of care, loss of the therapeutic window and worsening of stroke outcomes in the country. The attention to safety protocols and the importance of telemedicine for pre-hospital care was also highlighted. Conclusion: Given the decrease in the number of cases of stroke, there is an alert regarding underreporting and delay in care, problems already present in the national scenario that may be potentiated by the pandemic, where the concern with COVID-19 overlaps with other diseases, which may increase the damage (in the short and long term) to public health.
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Background and aims: Until the 1st week of January / 2021, Brazil is the 3rd country with the highest number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus Disease- 2019 (COVID- 19). Annually, neurological diseases and their complications culminate in approximately 200,000 hospitalisations in the Brazilian public health system. This work intends to investigate the relation between COVID-19 and its effect on the condition of neurological patients. Methods: The research used the descriptors: Coronavirus Infections, Brazil, Nervous System Diseases;in PubMed, Scielo and Virtual Health Library databases. Through DataSUS, epidemiological data was collected about: Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy. Results: It was expected an increase in urgent hospitalisations related to the neurological diseases scanned. According to studies carried out in other countries, the exacerbation of neurological symptoms is possible. Contrariwise, there was a significant reduction in hospitalizations related to these diseases (DataSUS), especially between April and October 2020, when the number of COVID-19 cases increased dramatically in Brazil. The cause of reduction in hospitalisations may come from a scenario of systematic underreporting triggered by the pandemic. Hospitalisation due to coronavirus infection, in the Brazilian context, allows complications of pre-existing neurological diseases, resulting from COVID-19, to not be properly registered and notified in the integrated system. Conclusion: Brazil, due to its integrated health system, is able to provide full data collected from all its territory. Had there not been a noticeable reduction in hospital care due to fear of infection, this would enable further research and understanding of the effects of COVID-19 on pre-existing neurological conditions. (Figure Presented).
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Background: In March 2020, the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) announced COVID-19 countrywide community transmission and issued guidelines on social distancing measures. Using real life data, we aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on HIV care in Brazil, and summarize the actions taken by the MoH to guarantee proper health care for people living with HIV (PLWHIV). Methods: We obtained MoH electronic records, from January-October 2019/2020, on HIV self test (HIVST), viral load (VL), CD4+ T counts (CD4), genotyping, and antiretroviral (ART) prescription, including post- (PEP) and pre-exposure (PrEP) prophylaxis. We used descriptive statistics to quantify COVID-19 impact on HIV care in Brazil and compared indicators of both years by unpaired T-tests. Results: In April 2020, PEP and PrEP dispenses fell 57% and 53%, respectively, when compared to January, and new PrEP users dropped 70%. Four months supplies provision and telemedicine resulted on 64% and 53% increase on PEP and PrEP dispenses and 288% rise on new PrEP users in October, when compared to April. The number of HIVST distributed by MoH and PLWHIV who had the first CD4 and VL before ART initiation dropped 35% and 48%, respectively, when comparing April to January 2020, reflecting the pandemic impact on HIV diagnosis. In return, MoH recommended HIVST for key/ priority populations, pregnant women, patients with TB, STI, viral hepatitis, immunossupressed, or hospitalized due to respiratory syndrome. When comparing to April, HIVST distribution raised 95% in October and the number of PLWHIV who had the first CD4 and VL before ART initiation was 56% higher, in September. When comparing 2020 to 2019, the number of PLWHIV who started ART and those that had the first CD4 and VL before ART initiation was 29% and 48% lower in April 2020, respectively;but 18% and 15% in September. Considering January-October, the proportion of PLWHIV overdue for ART dispensation raised 11% and ART dispense for 30 days dropped 53% in 2020;but increased 27% and 105%, for 60 and 90 days, respectively. The use of telemedicine, annual VL for those clinically stables, and 90-days ART supply held link to public health services and viral load suppresion. Conclusion: PLWHIV are vulnerable during COVID-19 pandemic due to compromised immune system or care continuum interruption by community containment measures. Monitoring of HIV care indicators associated to timely actions is an effective way to overcome COVID-19 pandemic challenges and guarantee proper health care for PLWHIV.
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Objective: To describe the process of creating "Talk to the Midwife Recife - PE" as a telenursing service using WhatsApp (R) as a support tool to promote maternal health in the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This is an experience report type study. The creation of "Talk to the Midwife Recife - PE" followed the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine and the Health Care Quality Committee of America in relation to the provision of health care. Remote and virtual work with construction of a layout for WhatsApp (R) and an Informed Consent Form were used to authorize teleguidance. The data was stored in electronic records. The selection criteria to compose the team of nurse-midwives were being available and acting voluntarily, living in the metropolitan region of Recife-PE and having experience in nursing-midwifery. Activities began on March 19, 2020. Results: In total, 56 nurse-midwives worked in teleguidance. In three months, 2,300 users received teleguidance with an average time of 20 minutes, 43% were in the third trimester of pregnancy, 21% in the second and 13% in the first trimester, 7% were mothers. In order to support teleguidance, instant messages were built according to pregnant women's and puerperal women's needs and a protocol on obstetric care and COVID-19. The project was replicated to 10 cities in Brazil. Conclusion: The creation of "Talk to the Midwife Recife - PE" made it possible to offer a telenursing service with welcome and security to promote maternal health in times of COVID-19 pandemic.