Programa de Vigilância e Controle da Leishmaniose Visceral: um estudo de avaliabilidade / Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Program: an evaluability study

Resumo Trata-se de um Estudo de Avaliabilidade (EA) do Programa de Vigilância e Controle da Leishmaniose Visceral (PVCLV), com vistas à construção de bases para uma futura avaliação. Utilizou-se uma abordagem descritivo-qualitativa em quatro etapas: (1) Delimitação do programa; (2) Construção do modelo lógico, com a explicitação dos recursos necessários, atividades a serem desempenhadas e resultados esperados, bem como das matrizes avaliativas, com as dimensões de análise, categorias e indicadores; (3) Identificação de perguntas avaliativas e escolha do desenho da avaliação; (4) Recomendações dos autores sobre o PVCLV e a pertinência da realização da avaliação do programa. Este EA concluiu que a intervenção está apta a ser avaliada, porque foi possível identificar o delineamento da intervenção; o consenso entre os especialistas sobre ela; e a identificação de perguntas avaliativas que subsidiam uma posterior avaliação. Destaca-se a importância da participação de atores-chave em todas as etapas de desenvolvimento do estudo, os quais têm papel central no processo de desenvolvimento do programa nos diversos níveis de gestão. Espera-se que esta pré-avaliação contribua para identificação de prioridades e redirecionamento das ações, de modo a assegurar factibilidade na avaliação do PVCLV, gerando ações de intervenção em tempo oportuno.

Abstract This is an Evaluability Study (ES) of the Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Program, with a view to building bases for a future evaluation. A descriptive-qualitative approach was used in four steps: (1) Delimitation of the program; (2) Construction of the logical model, with the explanation of the necessary resources, the activities to be performed and the expected results, as well as the evaluative matrices, with the dimensions of analysis, categories and indicators; (3) Identification of evaluative questions and choice of evaluation design; (4) Authors' recommendations on Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Program and the pertinence of carrying out an evaluation of the program. This ES concluded that the intervention was able to be evaluated, because it was possible to identify the intervention design; the consensus among specialists about it; and the identification of evaluative questions that support a subsequent evaluation. It highlights the importance of the participation of key actors in all stages of the study's development, which have a central role in the program's development process at the various management levels. It is expected that this pre-assessment will contribute to identifying priorities and redirecting actions, to ensure feasibility in the assessment of Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Program, generating intervention actions promptly

Epidemiological profile and lethality of visceral leishmaniasis/human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in an endemic area in Northeast Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: The association of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a concern worldwide, and this co-infection is linked to increased lethality. The Northeast is the region that mostly reports cases of VL in Brazil. The knowledge of risk factors associated with VL/HIV co-infection and its impact on lethality is extremely important. METHODS: The present study analyzed the epidemiologic features of cases with VL/HIV co-infection in the state of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil, from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS: There were 858 and 11,514 reported cases of VL and HIV infection, respectively. The average incidences of VL and HIV infection were 1.82 and 24.4/100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Of all reported cases of VL, 4.9% (42/858) also had HIV infection. There was an inverse spatial association between VL and HIV infection incidences. The lethality rates of VL, HIV infection, and co-infection were 9.9%, 26.1%, and 16.6%, respectively. Most of the patients were males and lived in urban areas. The cases of VL mostly occurred in children aged below 10 years, whereas the cases of HIV infection and VL/HIV co-infection were primarily observed in adults between 20 years and 39 years old. CONCLUSIONS: We defined the profile and areas with most cases of co-infection and found that the lethality of VL with co-infection increased in the current period. These findings contribute to applying efforts with a greater focus in these identified populations to prevent future deaths.

Epidemiological profile and lethality of visceral leishmaniasis/human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in an endemic area in Northeast Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The association of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a concern worldwide, and this co-infection is linked to increased lethality. The Northeast is the region that mostly reports cases of VL in Brazil. The knowledge of risk factors associated with VL/HIV co-infection and its impact on lethality is extremely important. METHODS: The present study analyzed the epidemiologic features of cases with VL/HIV co-infection in the state of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil, from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS: There were 858 and 11,514 reported cases of VL and HIV infection, respectively. The average incidences of VL and HIV infection were 1.82 and 24.4/100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Of all reported cases of VL, 4.9% (42/858) also had HIV infection. There was an inverse spatial association between VL and HIV infection incidences. The lethality rates of VL, HIV infection, and co-infection were 9.9%, 26.1%, and 16.6%, respectively. Most of the patients were males and lived in urban areas. The cases of VL mostly occurred in children aged below 10 years, whereas the cases of HIV infection and VL/HIV co-infection were primarily observed in adults between 20 years and 39 years old. CONCLUSIONS: We defined the profile and areas with most cases of co-infection and found that the lethality of VL with co-infection increased in the current period. These findings contribute to applying efforts with a greater focus in these identified populations to prevent future deaths.