Assessment of a Brazilian public policy intervention to address schistosomiasis in Pernambuco state: the SANAR program, 2011-2014.

BACKGROUND: Brazil is an endemic country for schistosomiasis in the Latin American and Caribbean countries. Pernambuco is a higher-endemic Brazilian state among the 19 states reporting the disease in the country; schistosomiasis affects 102 (55%) of its 185 municipalities. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment cycles of the SANAR Program (Plan to Reduce and Eliminate Neglected Diseases) in Pernambuco State in Northeast Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in 2014 via a household survey in 117 hyperendemic locations in the state of Pernambuco. We compared the schistosomiasis prevalence rates in hyperendemic locations, aggregated by geographical region, before and after the intervention. The dependent variable was a positive stool test result by the Kato-Katz method, and the main exposure variable was the number of treatment cycles (one/two). The covariables were the regions of the state and socioenvironmental, socioeconomic, demographic and behavioral characteristics. RESULTS: In all, 12,969 individuals were interviewed, 8932 of whom had stool tests. Of these, 4969 (55.6%) underwent two cycles of collective treatment. Changes in the environmental conditions since 2011 were minimal. Comparison before (2011) and after (2014) treatment showed an average schistosomiasis prevalence of 18.6%, decreasing to 4.1% and 2.0% in locations with one and two treatment cycles, respectively. In 2014, the highest schistosomiasis prevalence was found in the forest area (2.8%), while the lowest was found in the northern region (1.2%) of the state. The adjusted analysis showed a lower occurrence of schistosomiasis in individuals living in areas with two treatment cycles than in individuals from areas with just one cycle (PR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: The political decision made in Pernambuco to implement the SANAR Program in 2011 greatly impacted the burden of schistosomiasis. This program was effective in reducing the occurrence of schistosomiasis in hyperendemic areas in Pernambuco, with a stronger response in areas with two cycles of collective treatment.

Smoking trend indicators in Brazilian capitals, 2006-2013.

This study aims to analyze the trend of indicators related to smoking in the capitals of Brazil from 2006 to 2013. Information on smoking trends extracted from the survey of risk and protective factors for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are analyzed through telephone interviews - VIGITEL conducted from 2006-2013 for the adult population in Brazilian capitals. To estimate the trend, the simple linear regression model was used. The prevalence of smokers in Brazil showed a relative reduction of 0.62% for each year of the survey, ranging from 15.6% in 2006 to 11.3% in 2013. A decrease was observed in both sexes in all age ranges except between 55 and 64 years in all education levels and regions. The total population of former smokers remained stable, with a reduction for men. Smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day decreased from 4.6% (2006) to 3.4% (2013), or 0.162 percentage points per year. Passive smoking at home decreased among women 13.4% (2009) to 10.7% (2013), a reduction of 0.72% per annum. Passive smoking at work has remained stable over the period. The smoking trend reduced in the period in most indicators, reflecting the importance of the tobacco control actions in the country.

Sources for obtaining drugs for hypertension in Brazil: results from the National Health Survey, 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the sociodemographic differences among adults with hypertension regarding the sources for obtaining drugs for hypertension treatment in Brazil. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of data from the National Health Survey 2013; the outcomes considered for the analysis were the sources for obtaining drugs for treating high blood pressure. RESULTS: The great majority (74%) of patients with hypertension taking drugs use a single source for obtaining them, 7.3% (95%CI 6.4 - 8.4) reported getting all the drugs through private health plans, 22.7% (95%CI 21.0 - 24.4) by pharmacies of the public health system, 21.8% (95%CI 20.2 - 23.4) by the Popular Pharmacy Program, and about one-third (29.5%; 95%CI 27.7 - 31.4) exclusively by commercial pharmacies. Having the public health system as the single source for obtaining the drugs was found to decrease with age, was lower in white people, decreased strongly with increase in education, and was lower for residents in the North region. Exclusive obtainment through the Popular Pharmacy Program was lower for people with higher education. Obtainment in commercial pharmacies was positively associated with being male, with higher education level, being older, and having white skin color. Obtainment using more than one source was positively associated with increasing age and inversely associated with higher education levels. CONCLUSIONS: The results allowed the identification of a trajectory of patients in obtaining drugs for the treatment of hypertension, aiming at explaining how the drugs are obtained and the impact of public policies in this sector in the country.

Trend of the risk and protective factors of chronic diseases in adolescents, National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE 2009 e 2012).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of major risk and protection factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in school-aged children in Brazilian capitals surveyed in the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey in its two editions, 2009 and 2012. METHODS: The frequencies, with Confidence Interval of 95%, of the following demographic variables were compared: food intake, body image, physical activity, smoking, alcohol and other drugs. Prevalence was compared in the two editions of the survey. RESULTS: The proportion of students who attend two physical education classes a week was maintained at 49% between 2009 and 2012, increasing in public schools from 50.6% (95%CI 49.8 - 51.4) to 52.5% (95%CI 49.2 - 55.7), and decreasing in private schools. There was no change in the proportion of students who watch two hours or more of television daily, about 80%. As for body image, there was no change between the two editions, and about 60% considered themselves being of normal weight. There was a reduction in the percentage of adolescents who experienced cigarettes, from 24.2% (95%CI 23.6 - 24.8) to 22.3% (95%CI 21.4 - 23.2), and the prevalence of smoking was maintained at about 6% (there was no statistical difference between 2009 and 2012). The consumption of beans, fruits, sweets and soft drinks also decreased. Frequency of drug experimentation was of 8.7% (95%CI 8.3 - 9.1) in 2009, and 9.6% (95%CI 9.0 - 10.3) in 2012, with no difference between confidence intervals, and the frequency of alcohol experimentation was maintained at about 70%; the percentage of use in the past 30 days was also maintained at around 27%. CONCLUSION: In the Brazilian capitals, the vast majority of prevalence of risk factors were kept stable in the two editions of the National Survey of School. These data generate evidence to guide the implementation of public policies to minimize the exposure of adolescents to risk factors.

Situations of violence experienced by students in the state capitals and the Federal District: results from the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE 2012).

OBJECTIVE: To describe violent events experienced by school-aged adolescents in school, around the school and in the family context, and to compare the results of the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey of 2009 and 2012. METHODS: Indicators related to violence involving teenagers were analyzed. The prevalence rates and confidence intervals of 95% were calculated for events of interest according to gender and type of school (public or private) and regions. RESULTS: Prevalence rates were: insecurity in the route between home-school (9.1%), insecurity in school (8.0%), physical assault in the last 12 months (18.2%), engaging in fights in the last 12 months (20.7%), fighting with a cold weapon (8.3%), fighting with firearms (6.9%), physical assault by a family member (11.6%) and having been seriously injured in the last 12 months (10.3%). The situations of violence were more prevalent among male students from public schools. The comparison with the 2009 survey showed increased prevalence in all the variables studied. CONCLUSION: Teenagers are exposed to different forms of violence, and the data from the National Survey of School Health can support the planning of preventive actions.

Factors associated with injuries in adolescents, from the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE 2012).

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of injuries among teenagers and to examine the associated risk factors, such as sociodemographic characteristics, risk behaviors, family ties and other factors. METHOD: The prevalence of the outcome (injury) was estimated with a 95%confidence interval. In order to verify factors associated with the injury, a bivariate analysis was made with estimated odds ratio (OR) and its respective confidence intervals. Then, a multivariate analysis was carried out, only with variables whose descriptive level was equal to or lower than 5% (p < 0.05) remaining in the model. RESULTS: The study of injury in adolescents, based on the data from the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), pointed out that 10.3% of the teenagers suffered severe injuries in the past 12 months, such as cuts or perforations, broken bones or dislocated joints. The following variables remained independently associated with "suffering severe injuries": being a male teenager; black, mulatto or indigenous race/color and working. Factors related to family ties are significant when the relations are fragile amongst members: adolescents that are injured the most are the ones who suffer most aggressions at home, who skip classes without notifying their parents, those who do not live with their parents and have low family control. The most relevant aspects of mental health are insomnia and loneliness. The factors associated to the exposure to situations of violence that remained in the model were: insecurity in school and in the route home-school; getting a ride with someone inebriated; drinking and driving motorized vehicles; not wearing the seatbelt; not wearing a helmet and being bullied. Among the factors of individual behavior, the following can be emphasized: use of alcohol, cigarettes, trying illicit drugs and early sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: The analysis of the determinants for suffering injuries in childhood and adolescence shows the complex relationship between associated factors, which points to the need for action towards several aspects to reduce social inequalities, strengthen family ties and prevent violent contexts and individual risk factors.

[Mortality due to Road Traffic Accidents in Brazil in the last decade: trends and risk clusters]. / Mortalidade por Acidentes de Transporte Terrestre no Brasil na última década: tendência e aglomerados de risco.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal trends of mortality due to Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) as well as identify the existence and location of high risk death clusters for RTA using spatial analysis. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive study of temporal trends by RTA, pedestrians, motorcyclists, motorists and passengers and spatial analysis for 2000 and 2010. The data was obtained from the Mortality Information System, and standardized rates were calculated by age in Brazilian states and municipalities grouped by population size. RESULTS: The mortality rates due to RTA between 2000 and 2010 varied from 18 to 22.5 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. The risk of death for pedestrians decreased in recent years, though motorists, motorcyclists and passengers saw a rising trend. A higher risk of death by RTA occurred in municipalities with populations up to 20,000 inhabitants and in those from 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants. Spatial analysis revealed risk clusters for RTA and motorcyclists and pillion riders with an increase between 2000 and 2010 and enlargement of the areas most at risk in the Northeast. CONCLUSION: Increase in the rates of mortality by RTA mostly in the Northeast. Coordinated action between government, civil society and the citizens themselves is required to tackle this problem.

[Accidents and violence in childhood: survey evidence of emergency care for external causes--Brazil, 2009]. / Acidentes e violência na infância: evidências do inquérito sobre atendimentos de emergência por causas externas - Brasil, 2009.

Understanding the characteristics and magnitude of accidents and violence due to external causes in children from 0 to 9 years of age is becoming ever more important in Public Health. The scope of this paper was to analyze emergency care for accidents due to external causes in children. The Sentinel Urgency and Emergency Services of the Violence and Accident Vigilance System (VIVA Survey), performed in 74 urgency services in the Federal District and 23 State capitals in 2009 was used. Data of 7,123 children were analyzed: 6,897 (96.7%) victims of accidents and 226 (3.3%) of violence. In comparison with victims of violence, the visits for accidents were more frequent among white children from 2 to 5 years old occurring in the home (p < 0.05). Among the accidents, falls and burns predominated in the 0 to 1group, while traffic accidents were most frequent in the 6 to 9-year-old age group (p < 0.001). With respect to violence, the visits for neglect and physical assault predominated, respectively, in extreme age groups, with someone in the family being the perpetrator (p < 0.001). Information on the occurrence of external causes in children may support health promotion policies, besides guiding health professionals, teachers and families in the prevention of such causes.

[Accidents by external causes in adolescents: care in sentinel urgency and emergency services in the Brazilian State Capitals--2009]. / Causas externas em adolescentes: atendimentos em serviços sentinelas de urgência e emergência nas Capitais Brasileiras - 2009.

Adolescents are seeking new references and experiences, which may involve attitudes of risk and exposure to accidents and violence from external causes. These events constitute a serious Public Health problem. The scope of this study was to analyze the occurrence of accidents by external causes in adolescents from 10 to 19 years of age attended at sentinel urgency and emergency services in Brazil. Data from the 2009 Surveillance System for Violence and Accidents (VIVA 2009) was analyzed in 74 emergency units in 23 state capitals and the Federal District. The findings revealed that 6,434 adolescents (89.8%) were victims of accidents and 730 (10.2 %) were victims of violence. The main causes of the accidents were falls and traffic accidents, and assaults were predominant in violence. For both accidents and violence, non-white male adolescents were predominant and the events occurred most frequently on the public highways. A marked increase was detected, with hospitalization of victims of violence between 15 and 19 years of age. Understanding the epidemiological reality of external causes among adolescents represents an important tool for health prevention and promotion policies and the culture of peace seeking to reduce morbidity and mortality.