Predictive genetic panel for adult asthma using machine learning methods.

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is heterogeneous and multifactorial, making its accurate characterization a complex process. Therefore, identifying the genetic variations associated with asthma and discovering the molecular interactions between the omics that confer risk of developing this disease will help us to unravel the biological pathways involved in its pathogenesis. Objective: We sought to develop a predictive genetic panel for asthma using machine learning methods. Methods: We tested 3 variable selection methods: Boruta's algorithm, the top 200 genome-wide association study markers according to their respective P values, and an elastic net regression. Ten different algorithms were chosen for the classification tests. A predictive panel was built on the basis of joint scores between the classification algorithms. Results: Two variable selection methods, Boruta and genome-wide association studies, were statistically similar in terms of the average accuracies generated, whereas elastic net had the worst overall performance. The predictive genetic panel was completed with 155 single-nucleotide variants, with 91.18% accuracy, 92.75% sensitivity, and 89.55% specificity using the support vector machine algorithm. The markers used range from known single-nucleotide variants to those not previously described in the literature. Our study shows potential in creating genetic prediction panels with tailored penalties per marker, aiding in the identification of optimal machine learning methods for intricate results. Conclusions: This method is able to classify asthma and nonasthma effectively, proving its potential utility in clinical prediction and diagnosis.

Understanding the municipal-level design and adaptation of pay-for-performance schemes across two states of Brazil.

The design of complex health systems interventions, such as pay for performance (P4P), can be critical to determining such programmes' success. In P4P programmes, the design of financial incentives is crucial in shaping how these programmes work. However, the design of such schemes is usually homogenous across providers within a given scheme. Consequently, there is a limited understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of P4P design elements from the implementers' perspective. This study takes advantage of the unique context of Brazil, where municipalities adapted the federal incentive design, resulting in variations in incentive design across municipalities. The study aims to understand why municipalities in Brazil chose certain P4P design features, the associated challenges, and the local adaptations made to address problems in scheme design. This study was a multiple-case study design relying on qualitative data from twenty municipalities from two states in northeastern Brazil. We conducted two key informant interviews with municipal-level stakeholders and focus group discussions with primary care providers. We also reviewed municipal PMAQ laws in each municipality. We found substantial variation in the design choices made by municipalities regarding 'who was incentivised', the 'payment size' and 'frequency'. Design choices affected relationships within municipalities and within teams. Challenges were chiefly associated with fairness relating to 'who received the incentive', 'what is incentivised', and the 'incentive size'. Adaptations were made to improve fairness, mostly in response to pressure from the healthcare workers. The significant variation in design choices across municipalities and providers' response to them highlights the importance of considering local context in the design and implementation of P4P schemes and ensuring flexibility to accommodate local preferences and emerging needs. Attention is needed to ensure the choice of 'who is incentivised' and the 'size of incentives' are inclusive and fair, and the allocation and 'use of funds' are transparent.

Does pay-for-performance design matter? Evidence from Brazil.

Pay-for-performance (P4P) schemes have been shown to have mixed effects on health care outcomes. A challenge in interpreting this evidence is that P4P is often considered a homogenous intervention, when in practice schemes vary widely in their design. Our study contributes to this literature by providing a detailed depiction of incentive design across municipalities within a national P4P scheme in Brazil [Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ)] and exploring the association of alternative design typologies with the performance of primary health care providers. We carried out a nation-wide survey of municipal health managers to characterize the scheme design, based on the size of the bonus, the providers incentivized and the frequency of payment. Using OLS regressions and controlling for municipality characteristics, we examined whether each design feature was associated with better family health team (FHT) performance. To capture potential interactions between design features, we used cluster analysis to group municipalities into five design typologies and then examined associations with quality of care. A majority of the municipalities included in our study used some of the PMAQ funds to provide bonuses to FHT workers, while the remaining municipalities spent the funds in the traditional way using input-based budgets. Frequent bonus payments (monthly) and higher size bonus allocations (share of 20-80%) were strongly associated with better team performance, while who within a team was eligible to receive bonuses did not in isolation appear to influence performance. The cluster analysis showed what combinations of design features were associated with better performance. The PMAQ score in the 'large bonus/many workers/high-frequency' cluster was 8.44 points higher than the 'no bonus' cluster, equivalent to a difference of 21.7% in the mean PMAQ score. Evidence from our study shows how design features can potentially influence health provider performance, informing the design of more effective P4P schemes.

Reflexos do pagamento por desempenho na atuação do(a)s profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde, Paraíba, Brasil / Effects of pay-for-performance on the work of primary health care professionals in the state of Paraíba, Brazil / Reflejos del pago por desempeño en la actuación de los y las profesionales de la atención primaria de la salud, Paraíba, Brasil

O estudo buscou compreender a influência da estratégia do Pay for Performance (P4P), por meio do Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e Qualidade da Atenção Básica (PMAQ-AB), na atuação do(a)s trabalhadore(a)s. Trata-se de um estudo de caso qualitativo realizado com o(a)s trabalhadore(a)s das Estratégias de Saúde da Família. A análise foi realizada mediante a técnica de construção de narrativas. Constatou-se que o P4P contribuiu para qualificação do processo de trabalho, ao mesmo tempo que estimulou competição e conflito entre as equipes, aflorando sentimentos de culpa e injustiça e, devido à precarização do trabalho, o estímulo financeiro se descaracteriza, tornando-se complemento salarial. Problemas macroestruturais afetam as condições de trabalho e a motivação do(a)s trabalhadore(a)s, de modo que modelos de incentivo financeiro, isoladamente, não são suficientes para reverter tal cenário.

This study sought to understand the influence of pay-for-performance (P4P) on worker performance using data from the National Program for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ-AB). We conducted a qualitative case study with professionals working in family health strategy teams. The data were analyzed using the narrative construction technique. The findings show that P4P contributed to the improvement of work processes, while at the same time stimulating competition and conflict between the teams, causing feelings of guilt and injustice. However, the original purpose of the financial incentive is defeated due to poor working terms and conditions, becoming akin to a salary supplement. Macrostructural problems affect working conditions and worker motivation, showing that financial incentive models alone are not sufficient to reverse this situation.

El estudio buscó comprender la influencia de la estrategia Pay for Performance (P4P), por medio del Programa de Mejora del Acceso y Calidad de la Atención Básica (Pmaq-AB), en la actuación de los trabajadores y las trabajadoras. Se trata de un estudio de caso, cualitativo, realizado con los trabajadores y las trabajadoras de las Estrategias de Salud de la Familia. El análisis se realizó mediante la construcción de narrativas. Se constató que el P4P contribuyó para la calificación del proceso de trabajo, al mismo tiempo que incentivó competencia y conflicto entre los equipos, haciendo aflorar los sentimientos de culpa e injusticia y, debido a la precarización del trabajo, el incentivo financiero se descaracteriza pasando a ser complemento salarial. Problemas macroestructurales afectan las condiciones de trabajo y la motivación de los trabajadores y de las trabajadoras, de modo que los modelos de incentivo económico, aisladamente, no son suficientes para revertir ese escenario.

des troço / dis section

Com poemas escritos entre janeiro de 2020 e junho de 2023, "des troço" apresenta, de maneira poética, o modo como seu autor elaborou um olhar estético para elementos singulares que transversalizaram nossos corpos individuais e coletivos em um período intenso e difícil da vida no Brasil e no mundo. A obra conta com 45 poemas, divididos em cinco partes/capítulos, tem prefácio de Alexis Milonopoulos e capa com pintura de Júlia Nascimento Gomes.

PDE4D gene variants and haplotypes are associated with asthma and atopy in Brazilian children.

PDE4D (Phosphodiesterase 4D) gene encodes a hydrolase of cyclic AMP. PDE4D genetic variants have been associated with asthma susceptibility. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between PDE4D variants (and haplotypes) with asthma and atopy in a Brazilian population. The study comprised 1,246 unrelated participants from the SCAALA (Social Changes Asthma and Allergy in Latin America) program. Genotyping was performed using the Illumina 2.5 Human Omni bead chip. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the association between PDE4D variants and asthma/atopy phenotypes in PLINK 1.09 software. Twenty-four SNVs in PDE4D were associated with atopy or asthma. The rs6898082 (A) variant increased asthma susceptibility (OR 2.76; CI 99% 1.26-6.03) and was also related to a greater PDE4D expression in the GTEx database. Also, the variant rs6870632 was further associated with asthma in meta-analysis with a replication cohort. In addition, the variants rs75699812 (C), rs8007656 (G), and rs958851 (T) were positively associated with atopy. Moreover, these variants formed an atopy risk haplotype (OR 1.82; CI 99% 1.15-2.88). Also, these variants were related to lower levels of IL-10. Functional in silico assessment showed that some PDE4D SNVs may have an impact on gene regulation and expression. Variants in the PDE4D are positively associated with asthma and allergy markers. It is possible that these variants lead to alteration in PDE4D expression and therefore impact immunity and pulmonary function.

[For the return of high vaccination coverage]. / Pela reconquista das altas coberturas vacinais.

The global decline in vaccine coverage led the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019 to define vaccine hesitation as one of the world's top ten threats to public health. In Brazil, the drop in vaccination coverage began in 2012, increasing from 2016, and was aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The warning of low vaccination coverage is accompanied by the reintroduction of immunopreventable diseases such as measles. The return of diseases so far eradicated, such as polio, can aggravate the ongoing health crisis. Despite the Brazilian National Immunization Program being recognized as one of the most effective worldwide and its continuous efforts, it is facing an extremely challenging scenario regarding immunization coverage. This article describes the Project for the Regaining of the High Vaccination Coverage (PRCV) and the strategy of working at the frontline, conducted in the local level, which has been implemented since 2021 and is already starting to show promising results. The PRCV was organized in three thematic axes with shared and specific actions, including: vaccination; information systems; communication and education. The outcomes achieved allow us to affirm that it is possible to reverse the low vaccination coverage, based on the articulation of structural and interinstitutional actions, with the strengthening of public policies and development of short-, medium-, and long-term measures. The most powerful factors of the PRCV are its approach to frontline professionals, the social pact for vaccination, and the establishment of local support networks for vaccinations.

O declínio global das coberturas vacinais levou a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), em 2019, a definir a hesitação vacinal como uma das dez maiores ameaças mundiais à saúde pública. No Brasil, a queda da cobertura vacinal teve início em 2012, acentuando-se a partir de 2016, e sendo agravada pela pandemia de COVID-19. O alerta da baixa cobertura vacinal vem acompanhado pela reintrodução de doenças imunopreveníveis como o sarampo. O retorno de doenças até então eliminadas, como a poliomielite, pode agravar a crise sanitária ainda em curso. Mesmo sendo reconhecido como um dos mais efetivos programas de imunizações do mundo e dos esforços permanentes, o Programa Nacional de Imunizações enfrenta um cenário extremamente adverso no que tange às coberturas vacinais. Este artigo descreve o Projeto pela Reconquista das Altas Coberturas Vacinais (PRCV) e a estratégia de trabalhar na ponta do sistema, executada nos territórios, que vem sendo implementada desde 2021 e já começa a apresentar resultados promissores. O PRCV foi organizado em três eixos temáticos com atuação compartilhada e ações específicas, a saber: vacinação; sistemas de informação; comunicação e educação. Os resultados já alcançados permitem afirmar que é possível conseguir a reversão das baixas coberturas vacinais, a partir da articulação de ações estruturais e interinstitucionais, com o fortalecimento das políticas públicas e desenvolvimento de medidas de curto, médio e longo prazos. Os fatores mais potentes do PRCV são sua abordagem junto aos profissionais da ponta, o pacto social pela vacinação, e a estruturação de redes locais de apoio às imunizações.

La disminución global de las coberturas de vacunación llevó a la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), en 2019, a definir la vacilación de la vacunación como una de las diez mayores amenazas para la salud pública en el mundo. En Brasil, la caída de la cobertura de vacunación comenzó en 2012, se acentuó a partir de 2016 y se vio agravada por la pandemia de COVID-19. La alerta de baja cobertura vacunal va acompañada de la reintroducción de enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación como el sarampión. El regreso de enfermedades hasta ahora eliminadas, como la poliomielitis, puede agravar la crisis sanitaria aún en curso. A pesar de ser reconocido como uno de los programas de inmunización más efectivos del mundo y de los esfuerzos permanentes, el Programa Nacional de Inmunización enfrenta un escenario extremadamente adverso en lo que se refiere a las coberturas vacunales. Este artículo describe el Proyecto por la Reconquista de las Altas Coberturas Vacunales (PRCV) y la estrategia de trabajo al final del sistema, ejecutada en los territorios, que se implementa desde 2021 y ya comienza a mostrar resultados prometedores. El PRCV fue organizado en tres ejes temáticos con actuación compartida y acciones específicas, a saber: vacunación; sistemas de Información; comunicación y educación. Los resultados ya alcanzados permiten afirmar que es posible lograr la reversión de las bajas coberturas vacunales, a partir de la articulación de acciones estructurales e interinstitucionales, con el fortalecimiento de las políticas públicas y desarrollo de medidas de corto, mediano y largo plazo. Los factores más potentes del PRCV son su abordaje junto a los profesionales de la punta, el pacto social por la vacunación, y la estructuración de redes locales de apoyo a las inmunizaciones.

Prognostic value of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio for predicting death in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system and can cause changes in other systems. Early identification of patients with a higher potential for complications is critical to provide the best possible treatment to reduce the disease's lethality. This study aimed to analyze the behavior of hematologic biomarkers in predicting mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. This retrospective cohort study used data from the medical records of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between March and August 2020 in two referral hospitals for treatment of the disease in the city of Cuiabá (in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil). Clinical and laboratory characteristics related to cardiovascular involvement and death during hospitalization were evaluated. Neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, as well as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MRL), were used as potential biomarkers of death. A total of 199 patients were included (male: 113; mean age: 51.4 years). Leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts showed a statistically significant association with death, as did NLR and MRL. Satisfactory accuracy in predicting death was observed for leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, NLR, and MLR counts. The hematologic biomarkers studied may be useful for prognosticating hospitalized patients for the possibility of death from COVID-19.

Cartografia dos processos de trabalho na pandemia da COVID-19 em um Centro Especializado em Reabilitação da Paraíba

Este artigo analisa, a partir de um processo cartográfico, os efeitos da pandemia de COVID-19 no processo de trabalho de um Centro Especializado em Reabilitação do tipo IV da Rede de Cuidado à Pessoa com Deficiência na Paraíba. Buscou-se evidenciar os desafios e as invenções cotidianas para a garantia da oferta do cuidado durante o distanciamento físico imposto pela pandemia. As informações foram coletadas durante oito encontros remotos, conversas em grupos de Whatsapp® e análise de três documentos da instituição. No primeiro ano da pandemia, para evitar a transmissão da COVID-19, foram suspensas as atividades presenciais, com adoção do home office e uso criativo das tecnologias de comunicação para possibilitar atendimentos remotos. Num segundo momento da pandemia, foi implementado o retorno gradual às atividades presenciais. Essas invenções apontaram/intensificaram desafios enfrentados pela instituição para a oferta do cuidado integral. Foi evidenciado o caráter caleidoscópico de práticas e fluxos instituídos, potencializando a autopoiese do cuidado, ao mesmo tempo em que observamos a adoção de ações que, apesar de funcionais para o período de distanciamento físico, desfavoreceram o cuidado em ato e criaram barreiras de acesso. Mesmo assim, podemos dizer que tais invenções foram soluções capazes de sustentar um tipo de olhar da instituição sobre as condições de vida e saúde das Pessoa com Deficiência na pandemia.

Pay-for-performance for primary health care in Brazil: A comparison with England's Quality Outcomes Framework and lessons for the future.

Pay-for-performance (P4P) has been widely applied in OECD countries to improve the quality of both primary and secondary care, and is increasingly being implemented in low- and middle-income countries. In 2011, Brazil introduced one of the largest P4P schemes in the world, the National Programme for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ). We critically assess the design of PMAQ, drawing on a comparison with England's quality and outcome framework which, like PMAQ, was implemented at scale relatively rapidly within a nationalised health system. A key feature of PMAQ was that payment was based on the performance of primary care teams but rewards were given to municipalities, who had autonomy in how the funds could be used. This meant the incentives felt by family health teams were contingent on municipality decisions on whether to pass the funds on as bonuses and the basis upon which they allocated the funds between and within teams. Compared with England's P4P scheme, performance measurement under PMAQ focused more on structural rather than process quality of care, relied on many more indicators, and was less regular. While PMAQ represented an important new funding stream for primary health care, our review suggests that theoretical incentives generated were unclear and could have been better structured to direct health providers towards improvements in quality of care.

Pela reconquista das altas coberturas vacinais / For the return of high vaccination coverage / Para la recuperación de altas coberturas de vacunación

O declínio global das coberturas vacinais levou a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), em 2019, a definir a hesitação vacinal como uma das dez maiores ameaças mundiais à saúde pública. No Brasil, a queda da cobertura vacinal teve início em 2012, acentuando-se a partir de 2016, e sendo agravada pela pandemia de COVID-19. O alerta da baixa cobertura vacinal vem acompanhado pela reintrodução de doenças imunopreveníveis como o sarampo. O retorno de doenças até então eliminadas, como a poliomielite, pode agravar a crise sanitária ainda em curso. Mesmo sendo reconhecido como um dos mais efetivos programas de imunizações do mundo e dos esforços permanentes, o Programa Nacional de Imunizações enfrenta um cenário extremamente adverso no que tange às coberturas vacinais. Este artigo descreve o Projeto pela Reconquista das Altas Coberturas Vacinais (PRCV) e a estratégia de trabalhar na ponta do sistema, executada nos territórios, que vem sendo implementada desde 2021 e já começa a apresentar resultados promissores. O PRCV foi organizado em três eixos temáticos com atuação compartilhada e ações específicas, a saber: vacinação; sistemas de informação; comunicação e educação. Os resultados já alcançados permitem afirmar que é possível conseguir a reversão das baixas coberturas vacinais, a partir da articulação de ações estruturais e interinstitucionais, com o fortalecimento das políticas públicas e desenvolvimento de medidas de curto, médio e longo prazos. Os fatores mais potentes do PRCV são sua abordagem junto aos profissionais da ponta, o pacto social pela vacinação, e a estruturação de redes locais de apoio às imunizações.

The global decline in vaccine coverage led the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019 to define vaccine hesitation as one of the world's top ten threats to public health. In Brazil, the drop in vaccination coverage began in 2012, increasing from 2016, and was aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The warning of low vaccination coverage is accompanied by the reintroduction of immunopreventable diseases such as measles. The return of diseases so far eradicated, such as polio, can aggravate the ongoing health crisis. Despite the Brazilian National Immunization Program being recognized as one of the most effective worldwide and its continuous efforts, it is facing an extremely challenging scenario regarding immunization coverage. This article describes the Project for the Regaining of the High Vaccination Coverage (PRCV) and the strategy of working at the frontline, conducted in the local level, which has been implemented since 2021 and is already starting to show promising results. The PRCV was organized in three thematic axes with shared and specific actions, including: vaccination; information systems; communication and education. The outcomes achieved allow us to affirm that it is possible to reverse the low vaccination coverage, based on the articulation of structural and interinstitutional actions, with the strengthening of public policies and development of short-, medium-, and long-term measures. The most powerful factors of the PRCV are its approach to frontline professionals, the social pact for vaccination, and the establishment of local support networks for vaccinations.

La disminución global de las coberturas de vacunación llevó a la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), en 2019, a definir la vacilación de la vacunación como una de las diez mayores amenazas para la salud pública en el mundo. En Brasil, la caída de la cobertura de vacunación comenzó en 2012, se acentuó a partir de 2016 y se vio agravada por la pandemia de COVID-19. La alerta de baja cobertura vacunal va acompañada de la reintroducción de enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación como el sarampión. El regreso de enfermedades hasta ahora eliminadas, como la poliomielitis, puede agravar la crisis sanitaria aún en curso. A pesar de ser reconocido como uno de los programas de inmunización más efectivos del mundo y de los esfuerzos permanentes, el Programa Nacional de Inmunización enfrenta un escenario extremadamente adverso en lo que se refiere a las coberturas vacunales. Este artículo describe el Proyecto por la Reconquista de las Altas Coberturas Vacunales (PRCV) y la estrategia de trabajo al final del sistema, ejecutada en los territorios, que se implementa desde 2021 y ya comienza a mostrar resultados prometedores. El PRCV fue organizado en tres ejes temáticos con actuación compartida y acciones específicas, a saber: vacunación; sistemas de Información; comunicación y educación. Los resultados ya alcanzados permiten afirmar que es posible lograr la reversión de las bajas coberturas vacunales, a partir de la articulación de acciones estructurales e interinstitucionales, con el fortalecimiento de las políticas públicas y desarrollo de medidas de corto, mediano y largo plazo. Los factores más potentes del PRCV son su abordaje junto a los profesionales de la punta, el pacto social por la vacunación, y la estructuración de redes locales de apoyo a las inmunizaciones.

Conflito distributivo: análise do Programa de Melhoria do Acesso e Qualidade da Atenção Básica (PMAQ-AB) em duas capitais nordestinas / Conflicto distributivo: análisis del Programa de Mejora del Acceso y Calidad de la Atención Básica (PMAQ-AB) en dos capitales del nordeste de Brasil / Distributive conflict: analysis of the Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care (PMAQ-AB) in two Brazilian northeastern capitals

Este artigo analisa a execução do PMAQ-AB a partir de sua contextualização em um cenário político nacional de profundas transformações, desde o reformismo fraco que promoveu lenta extensão de direitos até o contrarreformismo forte da restauração neoliberal. Para debater os elementos relacionados ao trabalho e às disputas pela distribuição dos recursos públicos, foi realizado estudo de caso com trabalhadores, gestores e conselheiros de saúde em duas capitais do nordeste brasileiro. Os resultados evidenciam o acirramento do conflito distributivo e o resultado desfavorável aos trabalhadores no contexto pós-golpe parlamentar de 2016. As dinâmicas locais expõem processos de contração salarial e individualização das relações de trabalho e a reafirmação da meritocracia como justificativa ideológica da precarização. A isso, trabalhadores se contrapõem pela reafirmação de sua condição coletiva de classe, em favor de benefícios derivados do PMAQ, como recomposição salarial para todos.(AU)

Este artículo analiza la realización del PMAQ-AB a partir de su contextualización en un escenario político nacional de profundas transformaciones, desde el reformismo débil que promovió una lenta extensión de derechos contra el reformismo fuerte de la restauración neoliberal. Para discutir los elementos relacionados al trabajo y a las disputas por la distribución en los recursos públicos se realizó un estudio de caso con trabajadores, gestores y consejeros de salud en dos capitales del nordeste brasileño. Los resultados ponen en evidencia el recrudecimiento del conflicto distributivo y el resultado desfavorable para los trabajadores en el contexto post-golpe parlamentario de 2016. Las dinámicas locales exponen procesos de contracción salarial e individualización de las relaciones de trabajo y la reafirmación de la meritocracia como justificativa ideológica de la precarización. A eso se contraponen los trabajadores por medio de la reafirmación de su condición colectiva de clase, en favor del beneficio derivado del PMAQ con la recomposición salarial para todos.(AU)

This article analyzes the implementation of the Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care (PMAQ-AB) in the context of a national political scenario of deep transformations, from the weak reformism that promoted slow extension of rights to the strong counter-reformism of neoliberal restoration. It is a case study with health workers, managers, and counselors in two capital cities in northeastern Brazil, discussing matters of work and distributive disputes of public resources. Results show the intensification of these conflicts in health and the unfavorable outcome for workers after the parliamentary coup in 2016 political context. Local dynamics expose the wage contraction and individualization of labor relations and the reassertion of meritocracy as an ideological ground for precariousness. Workers oppose this, reaffirming their collective class condition, favoring the benefit derived from PMAQ for fully regaining their group wages.(AU)

Operadores linguísticos das relações de poder no cuidado às pessoas com deficiência / Linguistic operators of power relations in the care of persons with disabilities / Operadores de lenguaje de las relaciones de poder en la atención a personas con discapacidad

Esse artigo analisa as construções discursivas das pessoas que operam o cuidado nos serviços ambulatoriais no Sistema Único de Saúde brasileiro e seus efeitos nos corpos de pessoas com deficiência. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo e analítico, de abordagem cartográfica, com a participação de trabalhadoras, gestoras, usuárias-cidadãs e seus familiares, em um Centro Especializado em Reabilitação na Paraíba que oferta cuidado ambulatorial multiprofissional para quatro áreas da deficiência (física, intelectual, visual e auditiva) e para o transtorno do espectro do autismo. Identificamos diversos dispositivos disciplinares, dentre eles a operacionalização de diferentes códigos linguísticos que estruturam relações assimétricas de poder no controle dos corpos. Reconhecemos que as complexas relações de poder são imanentes ao campo da assistência à saúde, não exclusivamente da Rede de Cuidado à Pessoa com Deficiência. Identificar e dar visibilidade aos efeitos dessas relações na produção do cuidado em saúde permite balizarmos nossas atuações como seres políticos no mundo do cuidado.

This article analyzes the discursive constructions of people who provide care in outpatient services in the Brazilian Unified Health System and their effects on the bodies of people with disabilities. This is a qualitative and analytical study, with a cartographic approach, with the participation of workers, managers, user-citizens and their families, in a Specialized Rehabilitation Center in Paraíba that offers multidisciplinary outpatient care for four areas of disability (physical, intellectual, visual and auditory) and autism spectrum disorder. We identified several disciplinary devices, among them the operationalization of different linguistic codes that structure asymmetrical power relations in the control of bodies. We recognize that complex power relations are immanent in the field of health care, not exclusively in the Care Network for Persons with Disabilities. Identifying and giving visibility to the effects of these relationships in the production of health care allows us to define our actions as political beings in the world of care.

Este artículo analiza las construcciones discursivas de las personas que brindan atención en los servicios de consulta externa del Sistema Único de Salud de Brasil y sus efectos en los cuerpos de las personas con discapacidad. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo y analítico, de abordaje cartográfico, con participación de trabajadores, gestores, ciudadanos-usuarios y sus familias, en un Centro Especializado de Rehabilitación en Paraíba que ofrece atención para cuatro áreas de discapacidad (física, intelectual, visual y auditiva) y para el trastorno del espectro autista. Identificamos varios dispositivos disciplinarios, entre ellos la operacionalización de códigos lingüísticos, que estructuran relaciones asimétricas de poder en el control de los cuerpos. Reconocemos que las complejas relaciones de poder son inmanentes en el campo de la atención ala salud, no exclusivamente en la Red de Atención a s Personas con Discapacidad. Identificar y visibilizar los efectos de estas relaciones en la producción del cuidado en salud nos permite definir nuestras acciones como entes políticos en el mundo del cuidado.

Performance bonuses and the quality of primary health care delivered by family health teams in Brazil: A difference-in-differences analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pay-for-performance (P4P) programmes to incentivise health providers to improve quality of care have been widely implemented globally. Despite intuitive appeal, evidence on the effectiveness of P4P is mixed, potentially due to differences in how schemes are designed. We exploited municipality variation in the design features of Brazil's National Programme for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ) to examine whether performance bonuses given to family health team workers were associated with changes in the quality of care and whether the size of bonus mattered. METHODS AND FINDINGS: For this quasi-experimental study, we used a difference-in-differences approach combined with matching. We compared changes over time in the quality of care delivered by family health teams between (bonus) municipalities that chose to use some or all of the PMAQ money to provide performance-related bonuses to team workers with (nonbonus) municipalities that invested the funds using traditional input-based budgets. The primary outcome was the PMAQ score, a quality of care index on a scale of 0 to 100, based on several hundred indicators (ranging from 598 to 660) of health care delivery. We did one-to-one matching of bonus municipalities to nonbonus municipalities based on baseline demographic and economic characteristics. On the matched sample, we used ordinary least squares regression to estimate the association of any bonus and size of bonus with the prepost change over time (between November 2011 and October 2015) in the PMAQ score. We performed subgroup analyses with respect to the local area income of the family health team. The matched analytical sample comprised 2,346 municipalities (1,173 nonbonus municipalities; 1,173 bonus municipalities), containing 10,275 family health teams that participated in PMAQ from the outset. Bonus municipalities were associated with a 4.6 (95% CI: 2.7 to 6.4; p < 0.001) percentage point increase in the PMAQ score compared with nonbonus municipalities. The association with quality of care increased with the size of bonus: the largest bonus group saw an improvement of 8.2 percentage points (95% CI: 6.2 to 10.2; p < 0.001) compared with the control. The subgroup analysis showed that the observed improvement in performance was most pronounced in the poorest two-fifths of localities. The limitations of the study include the potential for bias from unmeasured time-varying confounding and the fact that the PMAQ score has not been validated as a measure of quality of care. CONCLUSIONS: Performance bonuses to family health team workers compared with traditional input-based budgets were associated with an improvement in the quality of care.

Repetir, repetir - até ficar diferente: cartografia de um cuidado / Repeat, repeat - until it becomes different: cartography of a health practice

Este artigo é produto de uma pesquisa sobre o cuidado em saúde mental em uma Unidade Integrada de Saúde da Família (USF) do município de João Pessoa-PB. Ela ocorreu no segundo semestre de 2015 e utilizou a cartografia como dispositivo para o rastreamento de acontecimentos, afetos e encontros que servissem de analisadores para a produção desse cuidado. Suas micronarrativas foram produzidas através de consultas individuais, reuniões de equipe e visitas domiciliares, que foram debatidas em discussões coletivas e registradas em diários de campo. Sua síntese se dá aqui, na Narrativa em Quatro Atos de um Acontecimento do Cuidado produzido, significado e capturado por todos os envolvidos na pesquisa. Discutem-se, através dela, as potencialidades da atenção básica na Rede de Atenção Psicossocial (RAPS) e os ainda persistentes equívocos da centralidade do saber-poder psiquiátrico na reprodução de práticas manicomiais. Conclui-se, assim, que a imersão num território afetivo-existencial amplia e enriquece de potencialidades tanto a produção do cuidado quanto a pesquisa em saúde.(AU)

This article is the product of a research on mental health care in a Family Health Integrated Unit (USF) in the city of João Pessoa-PB. It occurred in the second half of 2015 and used cartography as a device for tracking events, affections and encounters serving as analyzers for the production of this care. Its micronarratives were produced by individual consultations, team meetings and home visits, which were debated on collective discussions and registered in a field diary. Its synthesis is given here, in a Narrative in Four Acts of a Care Occurrence produced, meant and captured by all those involved in the research. It is discussed, through it, the potential of Primary Care in Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) and the still persistent misconceptions of the centrality of psychiatric knowledge-power in the reproduction of madhouse practices. It is concluded that immersion in an affective-existential territory expands and enriches both the production of care and health research.(AU)

Este artículo es producto de una investigación sobre la atención a la salud mental en una Unidad Integrada de Salud Familiar (USF) en la ciudad de João Pessoa-PB. Ocurrió en el segundo semestre de 2015 y utilizó la cartografía como dispositivo de seguimiento de eventos, afectos y encuentros que sirvieron de analizadores para la producción de este cuidado. Sus micronarrativas se produjeron a través de consultas individuales, reuniones de equipo y visitas domiciliarias, que se debatieron en discusiones colectivas y se registraron en diarios de campo. Su síntesis tiene lugar aquí, en la Narrativa de Cuatro Actos de un Evento de Cuidado producido, significado y plasmado por todos los involucrados en la investigación. Se discute, a través de él, el potencial de la atención primaria en la Red de Atención Psicosocial (RAPS) y los conceptos erróneos aún persistentes sobre la centralidad del conocimiento-poder psiquiátrico en la reproducción de las prácticas de asilo. Así, se puede ver que la inmersión en un territorio afectivo-existencial expande y enriquece tanto la producción de cuidados como la investigación en salud.(AU)

Hospitalizations of the elderly for reasons related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) infection, Rondônia, Brazil, 2010­2018 / Hospitalizações de idosos por motivos relacionados à infecção por vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV)/síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS), Rondônia, Brasil, 2010­2018

Introduction: For the elderly, cultural factors and social paradigms predispose to the rejection of condom use, which favors human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. The North region was the last area for the spread of HIV in Brazil. Rondônia, although with a slight decline in the HIV detection rate in recent years, is still among the states with high mortality rate due to HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Brazil. Objective: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of the elderly patients who were hospitalized for reasons related to HIV infection in the state of Rondônia, Brazil. Methods: Descriptive study of secondary data recorded from 2010 to 2018. The cause of hospitalization was identified in the field referring to the main and secondary diagnoses of the hospitalization authorization form. Results: Between 2010 and 2018, Rondônia recorded 1,073,932 hospitalizations for any cause in the state's public hospitals. Out of these, 183,803 (17.1%) were of elderly patients over 60 years of age and 249 (0.13%) were due to HIV/AIDS. There was a progressive increase in the number of hospitalizations during the study period, as well as a predominance of younger elderly men (67.1±6.0 years old). The mean length of hospitalizations was 21.3±21.1 days and 57 (24.1%) elderly patients died. Conclusion: Despite all the progress made in HIV prevention and treatment, the state of Rondônia still has a progressive increase in hospitalizations of elderly people for reasons related to HIV/ AIDS. HIV transmission prevention strategies should be emphasized in the elderly population in the state.

Introdução: Fatores culturais e paradigmas sociais predispõem o idoso à rejeição do uso de preservativo, o que favorece a transmissão do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) nesse grupo. A região Norte foi a última área alvo da disseminação do vírus no Brasil. Rondônia, embora com discreto declínio na taxa de detecção nos últimos anos, encontra-se entre as unidades federativas com mortalidade superior à média nacional. Objetivo: Descrever as características demográficas e clínicas dos idosos que se internaram por motivos relacionados à infecção pelo HIV em hospitais públicos de Rondônia. Métodos: Estudo descritivo de dados secundários registrados no período de 2010 a 2018. A causa da hospitalização foi identificada nos campos referentes aos diagnósticos principal e secundário da autorização de internação hospitalar (AIH). Resultados: Entre 2010 e 2018, o estado de Rondônia registrou 1.073.932 internações por todas as causas nos hospitais públicos/conveniados do SUS. Desse total, 183.803 (17,1%) foram de idosos maiores de 60 anos, das quais apenas 249 (0,13%) foram motivadas por HIV/síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS). Embora de baixa magnitude, observou-se aumento progressivo do número das hospitalizações durante período estudado. Houve um predomínio de internações de idosos do sexo masculino e na sexta década de vida (67,1±6,0 anos). O tempo médio de internação foi de 21,3±21,1 dias e 57 (24,1%) dos idosos evoluíram para óbito. Conclusão: Apesar de todo o progresso obtido na prevenção e tratamento do HIV, o estado de Rondônia ainda apresenta elevação progressiva das hospitalizações de idosos por motivos relacionados ao HIV/AIDS. Estratégias de prevenção da transmissão do HIV devem ser enfatizadas para a população de idosos.

Pay for performance in primary care: the contribution of the Programme for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care (PMAQ) on avoidable hospitalisations in Brazil, 2009-2018.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the effect of pay-for-performance (P4P) schemes on provider performance is mixed in low-income and middle-income countries. Brazil introduced its first national-level P4P scheme in 2011 (PMAQ-Brazilian National Programme for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality). PMAQ is likely one of the largest P4P schemes in the world. We estimate the association between PMAQ and hospitalisations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) based on a panel of 5564 municipalities. METHODS: We conducted a fixed effect panel data analysis over the period of 2009-2018, controlling for coverage of primary healthcare, hospital beds per 10 000 population, education, real gross domestic product per capita and population density. The outcome is the hospitalisation rate for ACSCs among people aged 64 years and under per 10 000 population. Our exposure variable is defined as the percentage of family health teams participating in PMAQ, which captures the roll-out of PMAQ over time. We also provided several sensitivity analyses, by using alternative measures of the exposure and outcome variables, and a placebo test using transport accident hospitalisations instead of ACSCs. RESULTS: The results show a negative and statistically significant association between the rollout of PMAQ and ACSC rates for all age groups. An increase in PMAQ participating of one percentage point decreased the hospitalisation rate for ACSC by 0.0356 (SE 0.0123, p=0.004) per 10 000 population (aged 0-64 years). This corresponds to a reduction of approximately 60 829 hospitalisations in 2018. The impact is stronger for children under 5 years (-0.0940, SE 0.0375, p=0.012), representing a reduction of around 11 936 hospitalisations. Our placebo test shows that the association of PMAQ on the hospitalisation rate for transport accidents is not statistically significant, as expected. CONCLUSION: We find that PMAQ was associated with a modest reduction in hospitalisation for ACSCs.

[Mapping the intricacies of care networks for persons with disabilities, from the perspectives of users-citizens-guides]. / Cartografiar el tejido de redes de atención para personas con discapacidad, desde la perspectiva de usuarias-ciudadanas-guías.

This article presents an analysis of the production of care networks for persons with disabilities in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. We employed a qualitative methodology with a cartographic approach, involving the participation of four users-citizens-guides. Weekly virtual meetings were held throughout the second half of 2020, in which we were able to collect, systematize, and theorize on four issues: 1) guilt and (non) life expectancy on the part of persons with disabilities; 2) the place of disability in family dynamics; 3) the production of specific core relational dependency networks; and 4) the public vs. private care offerings for persons with disabilities. Based on these findings, we were able to lend visibility to and explicitly affirm the ways in which these user-citizens participate in the complex process of care building for persons with disabilities and their families.

En este artículo analizamos la producción de redes de atención para personas con discapacidad, en el estado de Paraíba, Brasil. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo, con enfoque cartográfico, en el que participaron cuatro usuarias-ciudadanas-guías. Se realizaron reuniones virtuales semanales a lo largo del segundo semestre de 2020, en las que pudimos recolectar, sistematizar y producir consistencia teórica, a partir de cuatro analizadores: 1) culpabilidad y (no) esperanza de vida de la persona con discapacidad; 2) el lugar de la discapacidad en la dinámica familiar; 3) la producción de núcleos de dependencia relacional específicos; y 4) el público vs. ofertas privadas de atención para las personas con discapacidad. A partir de ellos, fue posible producir visibilidades y enunciabilidades sobre las formas en que estas usuarias-ciudadanas son parte del complejo proceso de construcción de cuidados para las personas con discapacidad y sus familias.

Socioeconomic inequalities in the quality of primary care under Brazil's national pay-for-performance programme: a longitudinal study of family health teams.

BACKGROUND: Many governments have introduced pay-for-performance programmes to incentivise health providers to improve quality of care. Evidence on whether these programmes reduce or exacerbate disparities in health care is scarce. In this study, we aimed to assess socioeconomic inequalities in the performance of family health teams under Brazil's National Programme for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ). METHODS: For this longitudinal study, we analysed data on the quality of care delivered by family health teams participating in PMAQ over three rounds of implementation: round 1 (November, 2011, to March, 2013), round 2 (April, 2013, to September, 2015), and round 3 (October, 2015, to December, 2019). The primary outcome was the percentage of the maximum performance score obtainable by family health teams (the PMAQ score), based on several hundred (ranging from 598 to 914) indicators of health-care delivery. Using census data on household income of local areas, we examined the PMAQ score by income ventile. We used ordinary least squares regressions to examine the association between PMAQ scores and the income of each local area across implementation rounds, and we did an analysis of variance to assess geographical variation in PMAQ score. FINDINGS: Of the 40 361 family health teams that were registered as ever participating in PMAQ, we included 13 934 teams that participated in the three rounds of PMAQ in our analysis. These teams were located in 11 472 census areas and served approximately 48 million people. The mean PMAQ score was 61·0% (median 61·8, IQR 55·3-67·9) in round 1, 55·3% (median 56·0, IQR 47·6-63·4) in round 2, and 61·6% (median 62·7, IQR 54·4-69·9) in round 3. In round 1, we observed a positive socioeconomic gradient, with the mean PMAQ score ranging from 56·6% in the poorest group to 64·1% in the richest group. Between rounds 1 and 3, mean PMAQ performance increased by 7·1 percentage points for the poorest group and decreased by 0·8 percentage points for the richest group (p<0·0001), with the gap between richest and poorest narrowing from 7·5 percentage points (95% CI 6·5 to 8·5) to -0·4 percentage points over the same period (-1·6 to 0·8). INTERPRETATION: Existing income inequalities in the delivery of primary health care were eliminated during the three rounds of PMAQ, plausibly due to a design feature of PMAQ that adjusted financial payments for socioeconomic inequalities. However, there remains an important policy agenda in Brazil to address the large inequities in health. FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council, Newton Fund, and CONFAP (Conselho Nacional das Fundações Estaduais de Amparo à Pesquisa).