The Infomóvel-An information system for managing HIV/AIDS patients in rural areas of Mozambique

Mobile health is gradually revolutionizing the way medical care is delivered worldwide. In Mozambique, a country with a high human immunodeficiency virus prevalence, where antiretroviral treatment coverage is 77% accompanied by a 67% of retention rate, the use of mobile health technology may boost the antiretroviral treatment, by delivering care beyond health facilities and reaching underrepresented groups. Leveraging new technologies is crucial to reach the 95-95-95 United Nations target by 2030. The design, development, implementation, and evaluation of a mobile health platform called Infomóvel were covered in this article. Its intended use involves collaboration with community health workers and aims to increase human immunodeficiency virus patient access, adherence, and retention to care. Methods: Using the Design Science Research Methodology, Infomóvel was created, as well as this publication. The explanation of various actions includes everything from problem description to observational study and goal-following for a solution, which results in the design and development of a platform proposal. Before the utility assessment of Infomóvel was conducted to make adjustments, a demonstration phase was conducted in one region of Mozambique. Results: The initial subjects of the Infomóvel flowchart and physical process design were patients receiving antiretroviral medication who were enrolled in the patients tracking system and who had consented to home visits. The case manager examines the file before importing it into the Infomóvel database stored on a cloud server using the website www.commcarehq.org . The case manager application synchronises with the Infomóvel server database, enabling the import of latest data and access to the lists of new patients and community health workers. The community health worker uses his phone to access his application, which allows him to record the geographic coordinates and sort the list of patients by priority and type of visit. Conclusion: Results from Infomóvel add to the growing body of data showing that mobile health techniques are beneficial for managing stable individuals with chronic conditions in Mozambique. These approaches can be scaled up and better utilised. However, additional studies should be conducted to quantify the resources needed to implement on a larger scale.

Leptospirosis in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: An Ecosystem Approach in the Animal-Human Interface.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is an epidemic-prone neglected disease that affects humans and animals, mostly in vulnerable populations. The One Health approach is a recommended strategy to identify drivers of the disease and plan for its prevention and control. In that context, the aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of human cases of leptospirosis in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and to explore possible drivers. Additionally, it sought to provide further evidence to support interventions and to identify hypotheses for new research at the human-animal-ecosystem interface. METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS: The risk for human infection was described in relation to environmental, socioeconomic, and livestock variables. This ecological study used aggregated data by municipality (all 496). Data were extracted from secondary, publicly available sources. Thematic maps were constructed and univariate analysis performed for all variables. Negative binomial regression was used for multivariable statistical analysis of leptospirosis cases. An annual average of 428 human cases of leptospirosis was reported in the state from 2008 to 2012. The cumulative incidence in rural populations was eight times higher than in urban populations. Variables significantly associated with leptospirosis cases in the final model were: Parana/Paraiba ecoregion (RR: 2.25; CI95%: 2.03-2.49); Neossolo Litolítico soil (RR: 1.93; CI95%: 1.26-2.96); and, to a lesser extent, the production of tobacco (RR: 1.10; CI95%: 1.09-1.11) and rice (RR: 1.003; CI95%: 1.002-1.04). CONCLUSION: Urban cases were concentrated in the capital and rural cases in a specific ecoregion. The major drivers identified in this study were related to environmental and production processes that are permanent features of the state. This study contributes to the basic knowledge on leptospirosis distribution and drivers in the state and encourages a comprehensive approach to address the disease in the animal-human-ecosystem interface.

Perfil epidemiológico do atendimento antirrábico humano em Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil / Epidemiologic profile of human anti-rabies treatment in Porto Alegre, RS, brazil

As mordeduras animais são injúrias que se destacam pela possibilidade de transmissão da raiva, sendo esta uma doença com letalidade de 100 por cento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar o perfil epidemiológico do atendimento antirrábico humano pós-exposição e analisar a adequação de sua indicação. Foi realizado estudo transversal, tendo como fonte de dados a ficha de notificação do SINAN preenchida nos serviços de saúde pelos profissionais responsáveis pelo atendimento no segundo semestre de 2006. Entre os 2.223 casos investigados, 50,3 por cento dos indivíduos eram do sexo masculino; a faixa etária com mais agressões foi a de 20 a 59 anos (47,6 por cento); a forma de agressão responsável pela maior número de atendimentos foi a mordedura (87,4 por cento) e 35,3 por cento das agressões ocorreram nos membros inferiores. A espécie animal predominante foi a canina (91,7 por cento). Em relação ao tratamento prescrito, 78,1 por cento dos sujeitos receberam indicação de vacina e 6,4 por cento, soro. Foram considerados como adequadamente indicados 96,2 por cento dos tratamentos. Embora os tratamentos tenham sido corretamente prescritos, faz-se necessária a valorização da observação do animal agressor para diminuir o número de tratamentos dispensados.

Animal bites are injuries that carry the risk of rabies transmission, a disease with a 100 percent mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiologic profiles of post exposure human anti-rabies treatments and to analyze whether prescriptions were appropriate. This cross-sectional study collected data from the forms of the Brazilian Notification System (Sistema Nacional Agravos de Notificação - SINAN), which were filled out by the professionals responsible for treatment in healthcare services in the second semester of 2006. Of the 2,223 cases identified, 50.3 percent of the individuals were male, the age group with the greatest number of cases was 20 to 59 years (47.6 percent); the type of injury responsible for the largest number of medical consultations was animal bite (87.4 percent), and 35.3 percent of the injuries were in the lower extremities. Dogs were the animals that caused the most injuries (91.7 percent). The analysis of type of treatment showed that vaccination was prescribed for 78.1 percent of the individuals, and anti-rabies serum, for 6.4 percent. Of the all treatments, 96.2 percent were classified as correctly prescribed. Although treatments were classified as necessary, the option of keeping animals that cause aggressions under observation should be considered so that the number of treatments administered can be reduced.

[Epidemiologic profile of human anti-rabies treatment in Porto Alegre, RS, brazil]. / Perfil epidemiológico do atendimento antirrábico humano em Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.

Animal bites are injuries that carry the risk of rabies transmission, a disease with a 100% mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiologic profiles of post exposure human anti-rabies treatments and to analyze whether prescriptions were appropriate. This cross-sectional study collected data from the forms of the Brazilian Notification System (Sistema Nacional Agravos de Notificação - SINAN), which were filled out by the professionals responsible for treatment in healthcare services in the second semester of 2006. Of the 2,223 cases identified, 50.3% of the individuals were male, the age group with the greatest number of cases was 20 to 59 years (47.6%); the type of injury responsible for the largest number of medical consultations was animal bite (87.4%), and 35.3% of the injuries were in the lower extremities. Dogs were the animals that caused the most injuries (91.7%). The analysis of type of treatment showed that vaccination was prescribed for 78.1% of the individuals, and anti-rabies serum, for 6.4%. Of the all treatments, 96.2% were classified as correctly prescribed. Although treatments were classified as necessary, the option of keeping animals that cause aggressions under observation should be considered so that the number of treatments administered can be reduced.

[Abandon reasons of post-exposure human anti-rabies treatment in Porto Alegre (RS, Brazil)]. / Motivos de abandono do tratamento antirrábico humano pós-exposição em Porto Alegre (RS, Brasil).

In Brazil, rabies is an endemic disease with a fatality rate of 100%. The number of cases has decreased, but the number of cases for treatment after exposure and treatment dropout is still high. This study investigated the causes of anti-rabies treatment abandon, after exposure, in Porto Alegre (RS, Brazil), from July to December 2006. A case series was designed. Two hundred and eighty abandon cases were selected through randomized systematic sampling, out of 962 registered in Sinan. Data was collected in people's homes through interviews, by means of a questionnaire. According to the interviewees, 66.4% concluded the prescribed number of vaccines. This information was not registered in Sinan. Among the subjects confirmed of abandoning the treatment (94/280), 24.5% reported that they thought it was not necessary to complete the treatment, while 13.8% felt that they did not receive clear guidelines about what to do. Health services attempted to contact absents in only 19.2% of the cases. Data entered in Sinan present failures. These occurred because patients started treatment at one health service and continued in a different one. As a consequence, information about the conclusion of the treatment was not entered into the system.

Motivos de abandono do tratamento antirrábico humano pós-exposição em Porto Alegre (RS, Brasil) / Abandon reasons of post-exposure human anti-rabies treatment in Porto Alegre (RS, Brazil)

A raiva é uma doença endêmica no Brasil, com letalidade de 100 por cento. O número de casos tem diminuído, porém o de tratamento pós-exposição continua elevado, assim como o de abandono. O objetivo do estudo foi investigar as causas do abandono do tratamento antirrábico humano pós-exposição em Porto Alegre (RS), no segundo semestre de 2006. Foi utilizado o delineamento de série de casos, sendo selecionados 280 casos por amostragem aleatória sistemática entre os 962 registrados no Sinan como abandono de tratamento. Os dados foram coletados em entrevistas domiciliares, utilizando-se questionário específico. Segundo os entrevistados, 66,4 por cento concluíram o número de vacinas prescritas, não estando esses dados registrados no Sinan. Entre aqueles que foram confirmados como abandono (94/280), 24,5 por cento referiram não ter considerado necessário completá-lo, e 13,8 por cento não se sentiram orientados sobre como proceder. Somente em 19,1 por cento dos casos houve a busca ativa dos faltosos pelos serviços de saúde. O registro no Sinan apresenta falhas. Estas ocorrem devido ao fato de o paciente iniciar o tratamento em um serviço de saúde e dar continuidade em outro, não havendo retroalimentação do sistema com dados sobre a sua conclusão.

In Brazil, rabies is an endemic disease with a fatality rate of 100 percent. The number of cases has decreased, but the number of cases for treatment after exposure and treatment dropout is still high. This study investigated the causes of anti-rabies treatment abandon, after exposure, in Porto Alegre (RS, Brazil), from July to December 2006. A case series was designed. Two hundred and eighty abandon cases were selected through randomized systematic sampling, out of 962 registered in Sinan. Data was collected in people's homes through interviews, by means of a questionnaire. According to the interviewees, 66.4 percent concluded the prescribed number of vaccines. This information was not registered in Sinan. Among the subjects confirmed of abandoning the treatment (94/280), 24.5 percent reported that they thought it was not necessary to complete the treatment, while 13.8 percent felt that they did not receive clear guidelines about what to do. Health services attempted to contact absents in only 19.2 percent of the cases. Data entered in Sinan present failures. These occurred because patients started treatment at one health service and continued in a different one. As a consequence, information about the conclusion of the treatment was not entered into the system.