Perceived discrimination in health services and associated factors in Manaus Metropolitan Region, Brazil: a cross-sectional population-based study.

Objectives: Discrimination is the differentiated treatment of individuals due to prejudgments. Discriminatory practices in health care result in negative effects on patients' health. In Brazil, skin color represents the main form of racial discrimination, which may have an impact on the accessibility and quality of health care. The Brazilian Amazon lacks investigations on this topic at the population level. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of perceived discrimination in health services and associated factors in the Manaus Metropolitan Region, state of Amazonas, Brazil.Design: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with a probabilistic sample of adults interviewed in 2015. The associated factors were investigated by calculating the prevalence ratio (PR) using Poisson regression with robust variance.Results: A total of 4,001 participants were included. The overall prevalence of perceived discrimination was 12.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.8-13.9%). When compared to the reference categories, women (PR = 1.43; 95%CI: 1.20-1.70), individuals with brown skin color (Brazilian mixed race; PR = 1.33; 95%CI: 1.04-1.71), people who suffer from hypertension (PR = 1.27;95%CI: 1.03-1.57), and people who frequently used health services (p≤0.03) experienced more discrimination from health professionals.Conclusions: The prevalence of perceived discrimination in health services in Manaus Metropolitan Region is frequent and is associated with ethnic, social and health-related factors. Investments in inclusive public health policies and a better quality of health assistance are required to tackle this problem.

Diretrizes de prática clínica para o tratamento da Covid-19 no Brasil: uma revisão sistemática / Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of Covid-19 in Brazil: A systematic review

Introdução: A Coronavirus Disease-2019 é uma doença infectocontagiosa que afeta o sistema respiratório, que surgiu na China e logo se espalhou pelo mundo. Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade metodológica e transparência das Diretrizes de Prática Clínica brasileiras para o tratamento da Coronavirus Disease-2019. Materiais e Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática realizada em 2020 nas fontes de dados: MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Scopus e Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, National Guideline Clearinghouse e Guidelines International Network, e sites do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, Sociedades Médicas Brasileiras, Conselhos de Medicina, Conselho Federal de Enfermagem e Conselho Federal de Fisioterapia. A avaliação da qualidade metodológica e da transparência das diretrizes ocorreu por meio do instrumento Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation, versão II, realizada por quatro autores. Resultados: Foram encontradas 33 diretrizes, das quais foram incluídas 14 para análise. Somente uma diretriz apresentou pontuações acima de 60% em todos os domínios. Entre os seis domínios, três apresentaram maiores pontuações: Escopo e finalidade, Envolvimento das partes interessadas e Clareza da apresentação. Discussão: Apesar da fragilidade metodológica, os autores se preocuparam em apresentar as recomendações de forma clara e concisa, através de informações-chave e opções terapêuticas que facilitam a tomada de decisão. Conclusão: As diretrizes brasileiras apresentaram baixa qualidade metodológica, em que somente uma diretriz foi recomendada e classificada com alta qualidade e transparência metodológica.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is an infectious disease affecting the respiratory tract, which emerged in China and spread rapidly throughout the world. Objective: To evaluate the methodological quality and transparency of Brazilian clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted in 2020 on Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Scopus, LILACS, National Guideline Clearinghouse and Guidelines International Network databases, in addition to online searches on the Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brazilian Medical Association, Federal Council of Medicine, Federal Council of Nursing and Federal Council of Physical Therapy websites. The methodological quality and transparency of the guidelines were assessed using the second version of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument developed by four authors. Results: 33 guidelines were found of which 14 were included in the analysis. There was only one guideline that scored above 60% in all domains. Among the six domains, higher scores were found in the following three domains: scope and objective, stakeholder involvement and clarity of presentation. Discussion: Despite methodological weakness found, the authors were keen to provide clear and concise recommendations through key information and therapeutic options to facilitate decision making. Conclusions: Brazilian clinical practice guidelines were found to be of poor methodological quality, from which only one guideline was recommended and classified as to be of high methodological quality and transparency.

Introducción: La enfermedad por coronavirus (Covid-19) es una patología infecciosa que afecta al sistema respiratorio, la cual se originó en China y se extendió rápidamente por todo el mundo. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad metodológica y la transparencia de las guías de práctica clínica brasileñas para el tratamiento de la enfermedad por coronavirus (Covid-19). Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática en 2020 en las bases de datos Medline (vía PubMed), Embase, Scopus, LILACS, National Guideline Clearinghouse y Guidelines International Network, además de consultas en los sitios web del Ministerio de Salud de Brasil, Asociación Médicas Brasileña, Consejo Federal de Medicina, Consejo Federal de Enfermería y Consejo Federal de Fisioterapia. La evaluación de la calidad metodológica y la transparencia de las guías se realizó con el instrumento Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE), segunda versión realizada por cuatro autores. Resultados: Se encontraron 33 guías, de las que se incluyeron 14 en el análisis. Hubo una sola guía que obtuvo una puntuación superior al 60% en todos los dominios. Entre los seis dominios, se presentaron puntuaciones más altas en los siguientes tres dominios: alcance y objetivo, participación de las partes interesadas y claridad de la presentación. Discusión: A pesar de la fragilidad metodológica, los autores se interesaron por presentar las recomendaciones de forma clara y concisa a través de información clave y opciones terapéuticas que faciliten la toma de decisiones. Conclusión: Las guías de práctica clínica brasileñas mostraron tener una baja calidad metodológica, de las que solamente una guía fue recomendada y clasificada como de alta calidad y transparencia metodológica.

Use and self-medication with antibiotics among adults in the Brazilian Amazon: a panel of two cross-sectional studies, 2015 and 2019.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of antibiotics use and self-medication among adults living in Manaus, Amazonas in 2015 and 2019. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Analysis of two cross-sectional studies conducted in Manaus in 2015 and 2019. Adults aged ≥18 years were interviewed at home following a three-phase probabilistic sampling (census tracts, household, and individual). Primary outcome was the use of antibiotics in the previous 15 days. Poisson regression with robust variance was employed to calculate the prevalence ratios (PR) of antibiotics use adjusted by independent variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of antibiotics use in the previous fortnight was 3.7% (95%CI 3.1-4.4%; n=3,479) in 2015 and 8.0% (95%CI 6.7-9.3%; n=2,321) in 2019. Self-medication increased from 19.2% (95%CI 12.4-26.0%; n=130) in 2015 to 30.7% (95%CI 22.5-38.8%; n=187) in 2019. Beta-lactams were the most used (252/317) and self-medicated (60/317) antibiotics in both surveys. Use of antibiotics was higher in 2019 (PR=2.05; 95%CI 1.60-2.64) compared to 2015 and among women (PR=1.66; 95%CI 1.16-2.39) compared to men. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotics use and self-medication in Manaus increased from 2015 to 2019. Enforcement of health regulation is needed to improve compliance and minimize potential risks.