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This article analyzes Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS), established by the 1988 Constitution. The papper initially presents the previous trajectory of national health policy and the context of democratization in the 1980s, which favored health reform and created a public, universal, and comprehensive health system. It then explores the advances and contradictions recorded in more than three decades of implementation of the SUS. The main advances observed were the creation of institutional mechanisms compatible with the federative arrangement and social participation, political and administrative decentralization, the national expansion of access to health, changes in the health care model, including strengthening primary care, and improvements in health indicators. On the other hand, the persistence of structural problems and disputes between different health agendas, with differences between governments, led to contradictions in financing and public-private relations in health. Despite the differences between countries, the analysis of the Brazilian case provides lessons on the challenges in building universal health systems in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding intracranial aneurysm treatment, the clip versus coil debate remains inconclusive and lacking studies in Brazil. To examine trends in the management of intracranial aneurysms in Brazil over time, both ruptured and unruptured. A descriptive and exploratory study was conducted based on data of neurovascular procedures for aneurysm treatment using the Brazilian Public Health System database (DATASUS). The variables analyzed were the number of procedures, mortality rates, length of hospital stays, and global costs of hospitalization, from 2010 to 2019. Temporal trend analysis and statistical comparisons were conducted to assess changes over time and differences between the treatment options. The mean annual number of aneurysm treatments with endovascular embolization was 2206.30 (± 309.5), with a non-significant increasing trend (B = 55.66; p = 0.104). Conversely, microsurgical clipping exhibited a significant decreasing trend (B = -69.97; p < 0.001) with a mean of 1133.1 (± 223.12) procedures. The mortality rate associated with clipping procedure was higher in the period, with a mean difference of 5.23 (± 0.39); ([CI95%: 4.36; 6.10]; p < 0.001) and showed an increase trend, while embolization showed a stable trend. The length of in-hospital stay remained stable for clipping but increased for embolization. Costs associated with clipping increased over time, whereas costs for embolization decreased. This study highlights a significant shift in the treatment of aneurysm towards Endovascular Embolization. Despite higher costs, endovascular procedures were associated with lower mortality rates and shorter hospital stays. These findings provide valuable insights into aneurysm treatment patterns and indicators in a middle-income country's Public Health System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, the judicialization of public health for access to medications has resulted in significant challenges to the management of public policies, especially at the municipal level. To evaluate the profile of drug litigations against the Campinas municipal health system from 2017 to 2021, this study analyzed the characteristics of litigants, medicine dispensation, and the timing of court decisions. A quantitative, analytical, and comparative cross-sectional study was conducted using data on the dispensation of 506 types of medications and 493 court cases. The analysis included sociodemographic, procedural, medical–sanitary, and pharmaceutical assistance management variables. The time of court decisions was assessed using the Kruskal‒Wallis test complemented by the Dunn test. The plaintiffs were predominantly adults, females, and self-declared students, and some cases involved nonresidents. Most of the lawsuits were represented by private lawyers, gratuitousness of justice and with decisions favorable to the plaintiff. However, only 43% of the patients obtained a preliminary injunction or early tutelage. The median time needed for a court decision from the date of case filing was 12 days until the granting of a preliminary injunction or early tutelage and 6.5 months until a judgment or dismissal without a decision on the merits. Approximately 32.4% of the medications dispensed by the judicial pharmacy already belonged to the list of the Brazil's Unified Health System in 2020; 46.3% were prescribed by their generic name; 75.5% had therapeutic equivalents, and 94.9% had marketing authorization from the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency. Judicialization in Campinas is an alternative way of accessing medications, but it is time-consuming and benefits only a small portion of the population (0.068%). The characteristics of the plaintiffs and judicialized medicines highlight the need to review health policies to promote equitable and efficient access to essential treatments for the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the health and economic burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributed to alcohol consumption in 2019 for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) stratified by states. Observational, descriptive, and ecological study. We used population attributable fractions (PAFs) of NCDs due to alcohol consumption from the Global Burden of Disease study. We applied the PAFs to the costs of hospitalizations and outpatient procedures of medium to high complexity paid by SUS for each outcome, obtained from official databases. We also calculated the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and mortality caused by alcohol-related NCDs. We converted the costs into international dollars (Int$) using the purchasing parity power in 2019. Alcohol-related NCDs accounted for 8.48% of deaths and 7.0% of DALYs among men, and 1.33% of deaths and 1.6% of DALYs among women. The main diseases were substance use, digestive, and neoplastic diseases. The SUS spent Int$202.0 million on alcohol-related NCDs, mostly on hospitalizations. The highest health burden was observed in the states of the Northeast region, and the highest expenses in the states from the South. The burden and cost values varied by sex, age group, and state. The study showed that alcohol consumption has a significant impact on Brazilian population morbidity and mortality and SUS expenditures, especially among men. These results can support policies for the prevention and control of alcohol consumption and health promotion at the subnational level, prioritizing strategies that are more appropriate to local realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marketing authorization of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) in Brazil is recent. The features of these therapies impose specialized regulatory action and are consequently challenging for developers. The goal of this study was to identify the industry's experience in clinical development, marketing authorization and access to ATMPs through the Unified Health System (SUS, acronym in Portuguese), from a regulatory perspective. A survey containing structured questions was conducted among research participants who work at companies that commercialize ATMPs. A descriptive analysis was performed. We invited 15 foreign pharmaceutical companies, of which 10 agreed to participate. Overall, participants assessed that Brazil has a well-established regulatory system, especially the sanitary registration by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), which ensures the quality, safety, and efficacy of the products. The Agency's good interaction with the regulated sector, the harmonization of sanitary and ethical assessment systems with other countries, and the analysis time in the biosafety assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) stand out as positive in industry's evaluation. On the other hand, it is important to advance the pricing regulation for these products since Brazilian regulations do not establish specific criteria for ATMP. One of the biggest challenges is the difficulty for the SUS in reimbursing these very high-cost therapies, especially using current Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methods. Considering the increasing number of approvals of cell and gene therapies in Brazil in the coming years, a close dialogue between the industry and the public sector is recommended to advance regulatory improvements (pricing and HTA). Additionally, the construction of policies to promote the national Health Economic-Industrial Complex, based on a mission-oriented vision that encourages innovative models of financing, especially those that consider risk-sharing and co-financing technologies, will help provide the population with universal, equitable and sustainable access to ATMP in the SUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The Health Gym Program is the main health promotion strategy in the Brazilian public health system. This paper aims to measure the impact of the Health Gym Program on hospital admission expenses for stroke in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Subject and methods: This public health impact evaluation used a panel of socioeconomic, demographic, and epidemiological data from 2007 to 2019 for all 185 municipalities in the state of Pernambuco. The empirical strategy used pre-tests, ordinary least-squares econometric modeling, and quantile regression as a robustness test. Results: The municipalities that implemented the Health Gym Program spent an average of 21.04% less on hospitalizations for stroke than the municipalities that did not, and this result was statistically significant at the 1% level. Further, the density of program coverage within the municipality also impacts the reduction of expenses. This saving is directly proportional to the number of hubs of the program in the municipalities. An increase of one program hub for every 10,000 inhabitants results in a 4.57% reduction in expenditure on stroke hospitalizations in the municipalities. Conclusion: The presence of the Health Gym Program led to a reduction in expenses related to hospital admissions for stroke, which may indicate that this program effectively expands the scope of health promotion actions in primary healthcare. The evidence generated from this study can be used to implement evidence-based policies aimed at preventing and controlling chronic diseases in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In Brazil, the judicialization of public health for access to medications has resulted in significant challenges to the management of public policies, especially at the municipal level. To evaluate the profile of drug litigations against the Campinas municipal health system from 2017 to 2021, this study analyzed the characteristics of litigants, medicine dispensation, and the timing of court decisions. A quantitative, analytical, and comparative cross-sectional study was conducted using data on the dispensation of 506 types of medications and 493 court cases. The analysis included sociodemographic, procedural, medical–sanitary, and pharmaceutical assistance management variables. The time of court decisions was assessed using the Kruskal‒Wallis test complemented by the Dunn test. The plaintiffs were predominantly adults, females, and self-declared students, and some cases involved nonresidents. Most of the lawsuits were represented by private lawyers, gratuitousness of justice and with decisions favorable to the plaintiff. However, only 43% of the patients obtained a preliminary injunction or early tutelage. The median time needed for a court decision from the date of case filing was 12 days until the granting of a preliminary injunction or early tutelage and 6.5 months until a judgment or dismissal without a decision on the merits. Approximately 32.4% of the medications dispensed by the judicial pharmacy already belonged to the list of the Brazil’s Unified Health System in 2020; 46.3% were prescribed by their generic name; 75.5% had therapeutic equivalents, and 94.9% had marketing authorization from the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency. Judicialization in Campinas is an alternative way of accessing medications, but it is time-consuming and benefits only a small portion of the population (0.068%). The characteristics of the plaintiffs and judicialized medicines highlight the need to review health policies to promote equitable and efficient access to essential treatments for the population.

Objective: To estimate the direct costs of treating excess body weight in children and adolescents attending a public children's hospital. Methods: This study analyzed the costs of the disease within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) for 2,221 patients with excess body weight using a microcosting approach. The costs included operational expenses, consultations, and laboratory and imaging tests obtained from medical records for the period from 2009 to 2019. Healthcare expenses were obtained from the Table of Procedures, Medications, Orthoses/Prostheses, and Special Materials of SUS and from the hospital's finance department. Results: Medical consultations accounted for 50.6% (R$703,503.00) of the total cost (R $1,388,449.40) of treatment over the period investigated. The cost of treating excess body weight was 11.8 times higher for children aged 5-18 years compared to children aged 2-5 years over the same period. Additionally, the cost of treating obesity was approximately 4.0 and 6.3 times higher than the cost of treating overweight children aged 2-5 and 5-18 years, respectively. Conclusion: The average annual cost of treating excess body weight was R$138,845.00. Weight status and age influenced the cost of treating this disease, with higher costs being observed for individuals with obesity and children over 5 years of age. Additionally, the important deficit in reimbursement by SUS and the small number of other health professionals highlight the need for restructuring this treatment model to ensure its effectiveness, including a substantial increase in government investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work presents as a research problem the importance of efficiency, planning, and principles of good management aiming at capillarity and equity to generate greater access and quality of services. The objective of this article was to identify the expansion of the Family Health Strategy in Brazil between 2007 and 2020, and which variables may explain this evolution. This is a descriptive, ecological research, developed between 2007 and 2020 in Brazil; its variable of interest was the estimated population coverage of this strategy (%). An increase in the coverage of the Family Health Strategy was observed in all regions of Brazil between 2007 and 2020, especially in the Northeast region. At the state level, this coverage showed a significant positive relationship with the following variables: towns with fewer than 40,000 inhabitants and monthly income inferior to half a minimum salary. The Brazilian version of the Family Health Strategy seeks inspiration from the best and most successful health models to achieve high performance and efficiency to provide equity and access to health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social Health Organizations (SHOs) are private entities that receive resources from governments for the management of public healthcare services. With the history of market interest in public health and the high volume of resources transferred to SHOs, one must question if the market logic continues to be inserted in this management model. The understanding of the dynamics of providing healthcare services to the population in the different contracts may help to understand how possible changes in the contracted services may have an influence. This is a descriptive-exploratory study using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Documental research was conducted through the collection of data from management contracts and amendments. The State of São Paulo was chosen because of its economic representativeness and for being the pioneer state in the implementation of SUS services managed by SHO. Medical specialties were included in 184 renegotiations (6.14%) and excluded in 187 (6.24%), whereas non-medical services were included in 26 renegotiations (2.97%) and excluded in 144 (16.44%). Regarding examinations, 101 renegotiations (18.07%) had their goals increased and 60 (10.73%) reduced, while 6 renegotiations (1.07%) included exams and 12 (2.14%) excluded them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This narrative review aims to analyze the literature on Collective Health to recognize what has been discussed in Popular Health Education (PHE) from 2019 to 2022. Fifty-nine articles were selected, critically analyzed, and separated into six summary categories: popular education practices as promoters of a participatory vision of health; popular education and the valorization of local popular culture knowledge and practices; popular health education as a strategy to support social reconstruction in the face of setbacks in public policies; the importance of national articulation in popular education as a response to its devaluation; popular education as a liberating project thinking about the democratic formation and the fight against institutional and structural violence; popular education in the university health training process. We achieved significant results that elucidate the importance of PHE within the Unified Health System and the academic education of health professionals, fostering respect for ancestral knowledge and care horizontality. We also reaffirm the need for national articulation and dialogue with grassroots movements to advance Brazil's emancipatory and dignifying health agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RESUMO A educação pode agir como um fator transformador da prática de saúde ao promover encontros de sujeitos, da assistência à gestão. Ao intermediar a realidade assistencial, o gestor passa a integrar o espaço onde se produz saúde e educação, permitindo o aprendizado e a construção conjunta de respostas aos problemas inerentes à rotina de trabalho. Com objetivo de analisar a perspectiva dos gestores acerca de uma proposta de educação permanente em cuidado paliativo para capacitação de médicos e enfermeiros da Atenção Primária à Saúde, foi realizada uma pesquisa-ação, com abordagem qualitativa, na atenção primária da região Médio Paraíba do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Através da análise das entrevistas semiestruturadas, realizadas com oito gestoras e a representante da Comissão de Integração Ensino-Serviço da região de saúde, emergiram quatro dimensões temáticas: necessidades, aplicabilidade, equipe de saúde e acesso. Identificou-se que a proposta educacional elaborada, ao agregar educação permanente em saúde e cuidado paliativo, possibilitou à gestão vislumbrar uma estratégia dinâmica e capaz de transformar as práticas de serviço da atenção primária. Envolver a gestão ampliou o escopo do modelo proposto, potencializando sua apropriação não só no nível local, mas de forma integrada à rede de atenção à saúde.

Despite significant advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV, adherence remains a challenge. While Brazil has validated scales for treatment adherence, few assess treatment adherence barriers. This underscores the necessity for validated questionnaires on adherence barriers to identify patient-specific challenges and enhance strategies for ART adherence. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Adherence Barriers Questionnaire for HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ABQ-HIV), a 17-item questionnaire assessing the adherence barriers to ART, for the Brazilian context and to evaluate its psychometric properties in HIV patients. A methodological study on the psychometric properties and factorial structure of ABQ-HIV was conducted. The study followed seven steps: consent of the original authors, two translations, synthesis of the translations, expert committee, back-translation, pre-test, and reliability test. A high content validity index (0.93) was achieved with the expert committee. The study sample consisted of 230 adults with HIV, with 37.0 (29.3-45.0) years as the median age (IQR), and 52.2% were male. The exploratory factor analysis with a three subscales structure of 17 items showed good interpretability (Bartlett’s sphericity (1167.2 [136]; p < 0.001) and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin = 0.602) and internal consistency (α = 0.76; Ω = 0.76). The fit indicators were satisfactory (χ2 = 89.931; df = 88; p > 0.005; RMSEA = 0.010; RMSR = 0.07; CFI = 0.996; GFI = 0.940; AGFI = 0.907; NNFI = 0.995). The Brazilian version of ABQ-HIV is a potential instrument for identifying specific barriers to adherence to ART in adults living with HIV in Brazil.

Abstract Background The surge in individuals facing functional impairments has heightened the demand for rehabilitation services. Understanding the distribution of the rehabilitation workforce is pivotal for effective health system planning to address the population’s health needs. Objective To investigate the spatial and temporal dispersion of physical therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and occupational therapists across various tiers of care within Brazil’s Unified Health System and its regions. Method This is an ecological time series study on the supply of rehabilitation professionals. Data were obtained from the National Register of Health Establishments from 2007 to 2020. The density of professionals was calculated per 10,000 inhabitants annually for Brazil and its five regions. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the temporal trends of the density of professionals, considering a 95% confidence interval. Results In 2020, the most notable concentrations of psychologists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists in Brazil were observed in the domain of Specialized Health Care, with densities of 0.60, 0.20, and 0.16 professionals per 10,000 inhabitants, respectively. Conversely, the highest density of physical therapists was found within Hospital Health Care, with a density of 1.19 professionals per 10,000 inhabitants. Notably, variations in professional dispersion across different regions were apparent. Primary Health Care exhibited the highest density of professionals in the Northeast region, while the Southern region accounted for the highest densities in all professional categories within Specialized Health Care. The southeast region exhibited the largest workforce within Hospital Health Care. A marked upsurge in professional availability was noted across all categories, notably in the occupational therapy sector within hospital care (AAPC: 30.8), despite its initial low density. Conclusion The implementation of public health policies played a significant role in the expansion of the rehabilitation workforce at all three levels of care in Brazil and its various regions from 2007 to 2020. Consequently, regional disparities and densities of professionals have emerged, mirroring patterns observed in low-income countries.

Abstract Introduction In Brazil, a country of continental dimensions, the health needs of each region have an impact. In this context and the name of the principle of equity, the SUS organizes actions especially aimed at social groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and indigenous peoples. The concept of justice proposed by John Rawls is one of equity, which is essential to this country. Methods This is an ecological, descriptive study, which analyzed hospital spending on cardiovascular diseases in the Unified Health System (SUS) among the indigenous elderly population and other ethnicities/colors in Brazil, between 2010 and 2019. Results Hospitalization costs and fatality rates for indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities, between 2010 and 2019, were evaluated. A reduction in hospitalization costs for the indigenous population and an increase in other populations was observed throughout the historical series, while there was an increase in fatality rates for both groups. A comparison was made between hospitalization costs and the fatality rates of indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities according to sex, between 2010 and 2019. It was observed that regardless of sex, there are significant differences (p

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to dental care, which may have affected pediatric dental care offered in primary healthcare settings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the quantity of dental procedures performed in primary healthcare for children aged 6 to 12 years, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is an ecological study using data from the health information system of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. The variables considered were: coverage of first programmed dental consultation, restoration of permanent and deciduous teeth, topical fluoride application (individual per session), emergency care, and deciduous tooth extraction. Two periods were considered: period I (March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020) and period II (April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021), before and during the pandemic, respectively. Comparisons between periods were made using the paired nonparametric Wilcoxon test with a significance level of 5%. Results There was an increase in emergency care from 15.4 to 32.4% (p = 0.0095) and a decrease in the number of restorations of deciduous teeth from 32.8 to 20.2% (p = 0.0217). The first programmed consultation showed a decrease of 9.60% (p = 0.0930) in period II. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has hindered access to primary dental care for children, impacting the quantity of emergency care, reducing restorations of deciduous teeth, and first programmed dental consultations. These findings highlight the need for strategies to ensure that pediatric dental care is not neglected during pandemics.

This study aimed to estimate the economic costs of excessive sodium consumption in terms of hospitalizations and outpatient procedures of medium and high complexity (OPMHC) for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and its states in 2019. Ecological study. This study used population attributable fractions (PAFs) of excessive sodium consumption estimated by the Global Burden of Disease study based on the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (3 g of sodium per day), the average population consumption, and relative risks of sodium–outcome pairs. PAFs were applied to the total costs of hospitalizations and OPMHC paid by SUS for each outcome obtained from the Outpatient and Hospital Information Systems. The costs per 10,000 inhabitants in all the Brazilian states were calculated and converted into international dollars (Int$), considering the purchasing parity power in the year 2019. Excessive sodium consumption resulted in Int$ 98,882,386.36 (95% uncertainty interval: Int$ 3,398,343.53–312,065,319.80) in hospitalizations and OPMHC costs in Brazil in 2019. Males and the 55- to 69-year-old age group had the highest expenditures attributable to excessive sodium consumption. Cardiovascular diseases were the most significant contributors to the costs associated with the risk factor. Southern and southeastern states had the highest costs of diseases attributable to sodium. Excessive sodium consumption has a significant economic burden on SUS, particularly among men and more developed states. This underscores the inequalities in socio-economic factors and access to health services throughout the country. Economic analyses at the subnational level can provide evidence for public policy planning to define the most appropriate actions for the population's sociodemographic reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to dental care, which may have affected pediatric dental care offered in primary healthcare settings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the quantity of dental procedures performed in primary healthcare for children aged 6 to 12 years, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is an ecological study using data from the health information system of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. The variables considered were: coverage of first programmed dental consultation, restoration of permanent and deciduous teeth, topical fluoride application (individual per session), emergency care, and deciduous tooth extraction. Two periods were considered: period I (March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020) and period II (April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021), before and during the pandemic, respectively. Comparisons between periods were made using the paired nonparametric Wilcoxon test with a significance level of 5%. Results: There was an increase in emergency care from 15.4 to 32.4% (p = 0.0095) and a decrease in the number of restorations of deciduous teeth from 32.8 to 20.2% (p = 0.0217). The first programmed consultation showed a decrease of 9.60% (p = 0.0930) in period II. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has hindered access to primary dental care for children, impacting the quantity of emergency care, reducing restorations of deciduous teeth, and first programmed dental consultations. These findings highlight the need for strategies to ensure that pediatric dental care is not neglected during pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The surge in individuals facing functional impairments has heightened the demand for rehabilitation services. Understanding the distribution of the rehabilitation workforce is pivotal for effective health system planning to address the population's health needs. Objective: To investigate the spatial and temporal dispersion of physical therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and occupational therapists across various tiers of care within Brazil's Unified Health System and its regions. Method: This is an ecological time series study on the supply of rehabilitation professionals. Data were obtained from the National Register of Health Establishments from 2007 to 2020. The density of professionals was calculated per 10,000 inhabitants annually for Brazil and its five regions. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the temporal trends of the density of professionals, considering a 95% confidence interval. Results: In 2020, the most notable concentrations of psychologists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists in Brazil were observed in the domain of Specialized Health Care, with densities of 0.60, 0.20, and 0.16 professionals per 10,000 inhabitants, respectively. Conversely, the highest density of physical therapists was found within Hospital Health Care, with a density of 1.19 professionals per 10,000 inhabitants. Notably, variations in professional dispersion across different regions were apparent. Primary Health Care exhibited the highest density of professionals in the Northeast region, while the Southern region accounted for the highest densities in all professional categories within Specialized Health Care. The southeast region exhibited the largest workforce within Hospital Health Care. A marked upsurge in professional availability was noted across all categories, notably in the occupational therapy sector within hospital care (AAPC: 30.8), despite its initial low density. Conclusion: The implementation of public health policies played a significant role in the expansion of the rehabilitation workforce at all three levels of care in Brazil and its various regions from 2007 to 2020. Consequently, regional disparities and densities of professionals have emerged, mirroring patterns observed in low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In Brazil, a country of continental dimensions, the health needs of each region have an impact. In this context and the name of the principle of equity, the SUS organizes actions especially aimed at social groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and indigenous peoples. The concept of justice proposed by John Rawls is one of equity, which is essential to this country. Methods: This is an ecological, descriptive study, which analyzed hospital spending on cardiovascular diseases in the Unified Health System (SUS) among the indigenous elderly population and other ethnicities/colors in Brazil, between 2010 and 2019. Results: Hospitalization costs and fatality rates for indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities, between 2010 and 2019, were evaluated. A reduction in hospitalization costs for the indigenous population and an increase in other populations was observed throughout the historical series, while there was an increase in fatality rates for both groups. A comparison was made between hospitalization costs and the fatality rates of indigenous populations and other colors/ethnicities according to sex, between 2010 and 2019. It was observed that regardless of sex, there are significant differences (p<0.05) between hospitalization costs and fatality rates, with higher costs for patients of other colors/ethnicities and higher fatality rates for the indigenous population. Conclusions: Hospitalization costs due to cardiovascular diseases in elderly people from indigenous populations were lower compared to other ethnicities in most federative units, which may suggest an unequal allocation of resources or access for this indigenous population to the SUS. Although there is no strong correlation between spending on hospital admissions and fatality rates, it was found that these rates increased between 2010 and 2019, while spending was reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate health promotion and prevention in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) between 2008 and 2022. Method: An epidemiological study was conducted, with an ecological approach, as a time series. APPS-related data available in the Outpatient Information System of the SUS (SIA/SUS) over the last 15 years were used, normalized to every 100,000 Brazilian residents, characterizing the incidence. COVID-19 pre- and post-pandemic periods were outlined to verify its impact on productivity. The data were analyzed with a significance level of 5%. Result: Between 2008 and 2022, 6,933,081,931 APPS were carried out in the SUS. The most frequent modality was home visits (56.3%), and the most common health professionals were health and endemic agents (59.8%). For the entire study period, the incidence was 3,407,327 APPS per 100,000 Brazilian residents, with an annual median of 281,999. Furthermore, there was a significant decreasing trend over the last 15 years (p

Introduction: This research was based on the essential components of palliative care provided by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Objective: To find out the knowledge primary care physicians and nurses have on palliative care in oncology and to identify the educational needs and perspectives related to the integration of this practice in primary care. Method: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with 17 primary care health professionals from the National Health System in eight Brazilian municipalities from Médio Paraíba, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between March and August 2022. Results: The results were analyzed along five axes: palliative care, welcoming in health, communication, health networking and learning. These axes corresponded to the main aspects detected in the research and revealed that professionals expressed a strong need for an adapted training program. Conclusion: The need for an educational process in palliative care capable of combining patient and family centered care with strengthening and valuing primary care professionals was highlighted.

Objective: To measure the cost of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Brazil to present an updated overview of the economic impact. Methods: A descriptive and retrospective analysis was carried out using macro and micro-costing techniques. It was based on information available in the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s databases, national and international guidelines for the clinical management of COPD, and the opinion of specialists. The time horizon adopted included the period from January to December 2019 and considered the direct medical costs linked to the provision of health care. Results: The analysis revealed that the costs of hospital management of COPD totaled BRL107,867,664.40. This represents 8.2% of the total costs of care related to the group of respiratory diseases in Brazil during the specified time range. In addition, it was evidenced that there is a substantial increase in the cost related to the management of the stable phase of the disease according to the severity of the condition, ranging from BRL418.50 for Stage I to BRL4,257.53 for Stage IV. Conclusion: This cost analysis and the estimated prevalence of COPD identified in Brazil demonstrate the importance of implementing effective strategies and public policies aiming to reduce risk factors associated with the disease.

Introduction: Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital deformity, with an incidence of 1.53/1000 live births, and treatment is predominantly carried out in the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde SUS). In 1999, the Live Birth Information System (Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos SINASC) implemented the gap to be filled in regarding congenital deformities. Studies have demonstrated the significant underreporting of the fissure in SINASC. Method: The number of children born per year in Brazil between 2012 and 2018 was surveyed in the respective regions, projecting the number of cleft children born per year using the proportion 1.53/1000 live births. From these data, the number of cleft patients notified in the SUS system was observed and compared with the projection made by observing an estimate of notification by region. The evolution of government spending by region on cleft lip and palate surgery in the period from 2012 to 2018 was also verified. Results: There was a notification of 54.1% to 36.7% of children born with cleft, with the Southeast Region having the best rate and the Northeast with the lowest notification rate. Federal spending on cleft lip and palate surgery decreased between 2012 and 2018, compared to the number of births with clefts, which remained stable during this period. Conclusion: Although SINASC is an important tool, the significant underreporting of this condition impacts public policies, as it uses data inconsistent with reality. Another concern is the decrease in federal spending on cleft surgery, which shows that more children are failing to receive adequate treatment

Abstract Brazil’s public healthcare system (SUS) offers specialized oral health services to Brazilians, but the productivity of specialists, such as Pediatric Dentists, has not been characterized. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the outpatient dental procedures (ODPs) carried out by Pediatric Dentists within the SUS. An epidemiological study with an ecological, longitudinal, retrospective, and quantitative approach was conducted. The ODPs carried out by Pediatric Dentists within the SUS were characterized based on type of procedure, complexity level, and circumstance (urgent or elective). Data were analyzed using a descriptive and analytical approach, considering a significance level of 5%, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (the 2020-2022 years were not included in secondary analyses). In the last 15 years, 29,234,972 ODPs were carried out by Pediatric Dentists within the SUS. Clinical procedures were the majority (55.4%), significantly more frequent than all other types of procedures (all p 0.05). In addition, low complexity ODPs were the majority (90.1%), significantly more frequent than medium (9.7%) and high complexity procedures (0.1%) (both p

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Contextualize the adherence to the Prontuário Eletrônico do Cidadão (PEC – Citizen's Electronic Health Record) by Brazilian municipalities and the evolution of the electronic strategy of the Unified Health System (e-SUS) for Primary Healthcare (PHC) during its 10 years. METHODS: This descriptive study added information on adherence to the use of medical records extracted from the database of the Secretaria de Atenção Primária à Saúde (SAPS– Primary Healthcare Secretary) of the Federal Government between 2017 and 2022. We analized the number of computerized basic healthcare units that used some electronic medical records, the number of those that used simplified data collection (SDC), and those that implemented the citizen's electronic health record (PEC) in the same period. A descriptive synthesis of the functionalities and modules implemented in the system during its 10 years of development was also carried out. RESULTS: The adherence of Brazilian municipalities to the PEC has grown exponentially in the last five years, going from 8,930 healthcare units in 2017 to 26,091 in 2022. As expected, while the main functionalities and improvements developed in this decade sought to implement new flows and modules of administrative, clinical care, and care management processes and health service administration, improving aspects of usability and technological infrastructure of the application architecture was also crucial for the success of the system. CONCLUSIONS: In 2023, the milestone of a decade will be celebrated since the beginning of health records implementation by Brazilian municipalities, marked by technological and infrastructure challenges and improvements and new functionalities that highlight the technological evolution of the e-SUS PHC system and strategy. Despite many other tools, the PEC is arguably Brazil's leading electronic medical record today, as it has always invested in evolution, updating itself in technological and usability opportunities.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To present the results of a cost analysis of remote consultations (teleconsultations) compared to in-person consultations for patients with type 2 diabetes, in the Brazilian public healthcare system (SUS) in the city of Joinville, Santa Catarina (SC). In addition to the costs from the local manager’s perspective, the article also presents estimates from the patient’s perspective, based on the transportation costs associated with each type of consultation. METHOD Data were collected from 246 consultations, both remote and in-person, between 2021 and 2023, in the context of a randomized clinical trial on the impact of teleconsultation carried out in the city of Joinville, SC. Teleconsultations were carried out at Primary Health Units (PHU) and in-person consultations at the Specialized Health Center. The consultation costs were calculate by the method time and activity-based costing (TDABC), and for the estimate of transportation costs data was collected directly from the research participants . The mean costs and time required to carry out each type of consultation in different scenarios and perspectives were analyzed and compared descriptively. RESULTS Considering only the local SUS manager’s perspective, the costs for carrying out a teleconsultation were 4.5% higher than for an in-person consultation. However, when considering the transportation costs associated with each patient, the estimated value of the in-person consultation becomes 7.7% higher and, in the case of consultations in other municipalities, 15% higher than the teleconsultation. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that the incorporation of teleconsultation within the SUS can bring economic advantages depending on the perspective and scenario considered, in addition to being a strategy with the potential to increase access to specialized care in the public network.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze sociodemographic variables that may interfere with the clinical outcome of patients with voice or swallowing complaints. Methods: a descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study in which the medical records of patients above 18 years old treated at the Voice Clinic of the Speech-Language-Hearing Service of the Rio de Janeiro University Hospital between 2010 and 2018, were analyzed, including 81 medical records - 47 from females and 34 from males. Patients were divided according to three types of outcomes, namely: discharge, dismissal, and abandonment. The sociodemographic variables were sex, marital status, education level, income, whether they were occupational voice users, and the main complaint. The relative and absolute frequencies were calculated to analyze the results, and the Pearson´s chi-square test was used for inferential analysis (significance level of 5%). Results: sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated with the outcomes when the type of complaint (voice or swallowing) was not considered, separately. The study found a significantly higher frequency of patients with voice complaints who were discharged from speech-language-hearing therapy (p = 0.020). The higher frequency of such patients who abandoned therapy was significantly associated with an income of up to one minimum wage (p = 0.041). People with swallowing complaints were not significantly associated with sociodemographic variables. Conclusion: the most frequent outcome was treatment abandonment. In this study, low family income was associated with treatment abandonment by patients with voice complaints. Patients with swallowing complaints had a lower frequency of treatment abandonment and discharge than patients with voice complaints.

Introduction: Financial toxicity can increase healthcare costs, in addition to negatively impacting the therapeutic adherence and healthrelated quality of life of cancer patients within the public healthcare system. Objective: To correlate financial toxicity with the adults living with cancer health-related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional, correlational study conducted with 179 patients receiving care from the Unified Health System in a capital city in southern Brazil. Data collection was performed from September 2021 to December 2022, using questionnaires containing sociodemographic and clinical data, and the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General. The correlation between financial toxicity and health-related quality of life was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient at a 5 % significance level. Results: The correlation between financial toxicity and health-related quality of life was 0.41 (p-value < 0.001). The financial toxicity and health-related quality of life scores were 20.1/44 and 73.3/108, respectively. Conclusion: This study has found that the lower the financial toxicity, the better the patients' health-related quality of life. In this sense, recognizing the presence of financial toxicity in the treatment course could help improve adherence to treatment and health-related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the regulatory framework and federal guidelines that support the process of implementing health technologies in the Unified Health System (SUS) through analysis of documents and legislation related to the National Health Technology Management Policy, published between 2009 and 2021. The search and selection of documents and subsequent data extraction were carried out. The documents were grouped into three categories: structural regulatory documents, recommendations on evaluation of technologies, and recommendations on clinical guidelines. In 38.8% of the regulatory documents, citations to implementation related mainly to SUS clinical guidelines were identified; however, no document dedicated to guiding implementation actions was identified. Recommendations related to implementations were identified in 27.1% of the reports and 66.1% of the guidelines, although without standardization and, in general, in little detail, focusing on resources and actions needed for making technology available rather than on methods and interventions for its implementation. The results evidence a gap in formal guidelines to guide the implementation process in Brazil, representing an opportunity for the development of models aligned with the reality of the SUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian Unified Health System provides universal health care access without regard to sexual orientation and gender identity. We conducted a nationwide study with a cross-sectional design and intentional sampling methods to investigate factors associated with Basic Health Unit (BHU) use by the LGBTQIA+ community. Data were collected via a questionnaire available through social networks. Statistical analysis included Poisson regression with robust variance. A total of 603 LGBTQIA+ community members participated in the study, of whom 417 (69.2%) had visited a BHU in the last year. The factors “transgender woman” and “self-rated health status as very good/good/fair” increased the probability of BHU use in the last year by 10% (PR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.00–1.20) and 9% (PR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.01–1.18), respectively. “Not suffering sexual orientation-related discrimination at a BHU” and “Not suffering discrimination by a receptionist or waiting room worker” increased the probability of use by 28% (PR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.22–1.34) and 22% (PR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.14–1.30), respectively. Our study supports evidence that access to primary health care services in Brazil can be influenced by the social determinants gender identity and sexual discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Emergency Contraception (EC) is available in Brazil since 1996, when it was adopted as one if the family planning strategies and, in 1998, for use in services assisting victims of sexual violence. In the country, its use is regulated by guidelines. Its access through SUS (Unified Health System), however, does not seem to occur in a standardized manner. Methods: The aim of the study was to analyze the availability and barriers to accessing emergency contraception (levonorgestrel) in Brazilian municipalities with more than 500 thousand inhabitants. The survey was carried out by a form sent to the Municipal Health Departments (SMS) managers and a search on the list of standardized medicines by the hospitals in the same municipalities. Results: The Basic Health Units were identified as the standard access places to EC. However, one of the obstacles mentioned is the need for a prescription for dispensing in almost 80% of the analyzed cities. Access in emergency situations at night and on weekends is also uncertain, since although 67% of the places stated that they dispense at the hospital level, the item was only standardized in 21% of the hospital lists. Discussion: The difficult access this drug in the public system essentially tends to harm the poorest women, who are the ones who suffer most from the consequences of an unwanted pregnancy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The municipality of São Paulo has historically been marked by a heterogeneous implementation and coexistence of conflicting models of SUS management and Primary Health Care (PHC). The administration of health services management contracts was consolidated and associated with a productivist rationale. The selective PHC weaknesses tend to be pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the present article aims to analyze work management and care in PHC during the COVID-19 pandemic in the municipality of São Paulo through a multicenter qualitative research anchored in the Paideia theoretical framework. We conducted 31 in-depth interviews with PHC clients and workers, along with participant observation. We noted the municipal management’s authoritarian and managerialist stance when conducting the responses, with little room for listening and dialogue. We identified weakened collective spaces and service-community bond, bureaucratization and precariousness of work processes, and NASF’s dismantling. In this setting, care was characterized by significantly reducing the expanded and shared clinical practice and the distancing from the territorial and community-based PHC guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to understand how the cities of São Paulo state organized the coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the role of Primary Health Care (PHC) as an analyzing element of the healthcare model. This descriptive quantitative study was grounded on a survey with a probabilistic sample of 253 municipalities in the state of São Paulo in which municipal managers were interviewed through a questionnaire. Absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies were described after weighting according to the three population strata. The results indicate that the population size is an essential analytical component. During the pandemic, the organization prioritized flow readjustment and clinical care in most municipalities. Prenatal care and childcare continuing actions consisted of biomedical actions with appointments. Regarding the promotion of expanded healthcare responses, the smaller municipalities, which are structured based on the PHC, performed better. On the other hand, large cities fragmented healthcare and vaccination. The intersectoral actions of community care and from a territorial perspective were still retracted, and PHC still struggles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined municipal managers’ perceptions of extraordinary funding and its use to address COVID-19. In this multiple-case, quantitative and qualitative study, using embedded mixed methods, semi-structured interviews were conducted in six case-municipalities in São Paulo state. Secondary data for 2020 to 2022, drawn from information systems, were analysed. The municipalities differed by population, health expenditures and access to federal funding, making it possible to observe different financial management strategies and resource allocation. In addition to the extraordinary funding, considerable budget transfers were found to have been made by Parliamentary Amendments during the study period. In a context where the national Unified Health System is underfunded, extraordinary funding and budget transfers by Parliamentary Amendments often enabled managers to organise municipal health systems to meet their understanding of health needs and possible responses to those needs. Funding to address COVID-19 was allocated mainly to medium- and high-complexity services and to engaging private companies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding COVID-19 exposure differences among Healthcare Workers (HCWs) across various healthcare units is crucial for their protection and effective management of future outbreaks. However, comparative data on COVID-19 among HCWs in different healthcare units are scarce in Brazil. This study evaluated the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and workplaces in HCWs from three distinct healthcare settings in Brazil. It also examined COVID-19 symptom dynamics reported by them. The cohort comprised 464 HCWs vaccinated with two doses of CoronaVac and a BNT162b2 booster from different institutions: Primary Health Care Units (PHCUs), Emergency Care Units (ECUs), and Hospitals. Participants answered a questionnaire and underwent blood collection at various time points after vaccinations. RT-PCR data and post-vaccination antibody responses were utilized as indicators of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We found that most infected HCWs worked in ECUs, where positive RT-PCR percentages were higher compared to PHCUs and Hospitals. ECUs also showed the highest seropositivity and antibody levels, especially after the first CoronaVac dose. The second dose of CoronaVac diminished the differences in the antibody levels among HCWs from ECUS, PHCUs, and Hospitals, indicating the benefit of the second dose to equalize the antibody levels between previously exposed and unexposed persons. Moreover, COVID-19 symptoms appeared to evolve over time. • The seropositivity and antibody levels were evaluated according to the workplace of HCWs. • 100% of HCWs were seropositive in 2D, regardless of the workplace. • N IgG and S IgG levels were higher in HCWs from ECUs compared to HCWs from PHCUs. • The risk for COVID-19 among HCWs seems to be related to the type of healthcare unity and rates of occupational exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim was to conduct a comprehensive scoping review of available researches on the impact of blepharoplasty on quality of life and its scope within the Unified Health System. Methods: A literature search was performed in the Virtual Health Library, Capes Journals, SciELO, LILACS, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published within the past five years. Results: Out of the 323 studies initially selected, nineteen studies were included in the final sample. Seven studies (36.8%) examined the impact of blepharoplasty on quality of life, while others assessed functional criteria (31.5%) or subjective factors related to quality of life (26.3%). The majority of the studies demonstrated positive effects of blepharoplasty on quality of life, self-esteem, personal satisfaction, well-being, and visual improvement. However, limited data were found regarding the coverage of blepharoplasty in the public healthcare system, with no specific studies on this topic. Conclusion: Blepharoplasty has been shown to positively impact quality of life, highlighting the need to ensure the access to this procedure within the public healthcare when appropriate. The lack of data on blepharoplasty within the Unified Health System indicates a research gap and emphasizes the importance of further studies to explore its impact on quality of life, as well as its coverage and expansion.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the reasons for seeking the Pediatric Emergency Room (PER) of a city in the state of São Paulo and define the profile of users who seek the service. METODOLOGY: Observational prospective study conducted from February to August 2021, through structured interviews with guardians of children taken to the PSP with a form developed for the research containing sociodemographic and clinical information, in addition to the emergency classification at the time of triage. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or absolute frequency and percentage. RESULTS: A total of 252 caregivers were interviewed, with the majority being mothers (76.2%) or fathers (15.9%), with a mean age of 32 years (SD=±8.7). High or moderate level of concern about the childs health status was answered by 91.6% of caregivers, although most cases were classified at screening as minor or not urgent (77.3%). CONCLUSION: The level of concern of the caregiver and the belief that PER provides more effective care motivated the non-urgent search for this service. The data reflect the need for health education to raise awareness of the flow of care in the Unified Health System, identifying primary health care as the gateway to the system and the PER as a place intended for urgent and emergency care. Ultimately, it is intended to contribute to the provision of care in a qualified manner to the comprehensive health of the child.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is a major public health concern worldwide. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the factors that facilitate access to care for viral hepatitis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Using a sequential mixed method, this evaluation research was conducted in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. METHODS: Mapping of references and selection of regions were made based on the quantity and heterogeneity of services. The stakeholders, including the managers of the State Department of Health and professionals from reference services, were identified. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted using content analysis and discussions guided by the dimensions of the analysis model of universal access to health services. RESULTS: In the political dimension, decentralizing services and adhering to the Intermunicipal Health Consortium are highly encouraged. In the economic-social dimension, a commitment exists to allocate public funds for the expansion of referral services and subsidies to support users in their travel for appointments, medications, and examinations. In the organizational dimension, the availability of inputs for testing, definition of user flow, ease of scheduling appointments, coordination by primary care in testing, collaboration following the guidelines and protocols, and engagement in extramural activities are guaranteed. In the technical dimension, professionals actively commit to the service and offer different opening hours, guarantee the presence of an infectious physician, expand training opportunities, and establish intersectoral partnerships. In the symbolic dimension, professionals actively listen to the experiences of users throughout their care trajectory and demonstrate empathy. CONCLUSIONS: The results are crucial for improving comprehensiveness, but necessitate managerial efforts to enhance regional governance.

Abstract Background To evaluate the cost-effectiveness ratio and economic impact of the Rapid Antigen Test (TR-Ag) to replace RT-PCR for the detection of the new Coronavirus in the Unified Health System (SUS). Methods This is a cost-effectiveness analysis. Clinical protocols were used for the diagnosis of COVID-19 at the São José Municipal Hospital, located in the city of Itaberá-SP. The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) was divided into two scenarios. In the first, the accuracy reported by the test manufacturers was included, and in the second, the cost resulting from a systematic review. Both were compared with the performance of the RT-PCR test. The increase in diagnoses was chosen as a health outcome and absenteeism was used as a criterion for assessing the economic impact. Results The analysis resulted in incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of R$ 42,136.67 and R$ 68,329.73 for every thousand tests, according to the accuracy of the manufacturers’ TR-Ag tests and what is reported in the literature in relation to RT-PCR, respectively. The average value found for the RT-PCR test (R$ 202.87) represents an increase of 165.32% in cost in relation to the value found for the TR-Ag. 4,305 tests were performed between April 2020 and December 2021 at the referral hospital. Also, maintaining the use of RT-PCR as the first choice for diagnosing COVID-19 and regulating absenteeism in the economically active population could have an impact of up to R$ 1,022,779.68 on municipal management. Conclusion It is concluded that the TR-Ag are configured as a cost-effective alternative for the SUS in the detection of the new Coronavirus. The strategy becomes economically favorable for the expansion of testing, combating the COVID-19 pandemic and reducing the impact on the local economy. However, studies are needed to validate the accuracy of the tests so that economic evaluations on the subject are more assertive.

Abstract Introduction Accidents at work are events that endanger the health and life of workers. They are considered a public health problem, being the object of studies and actions in the Brazilian health system. The collapsed of the ore tailings dam in the municipality of Brumadinho, Brazil, in January 2019, shocked the world due to the proportion of environmental and human damage caused. In this context, concern for the health of workers gained prominence. This paper evaluated the impact of the collapse of the mining tailings dam in Brumadinho, on notifications of occupational health problems before and after the disaster. Methods An observational, longitudinal and retrospective study, of the time series type with a statistical approach was carried out on notifications of work-related injuries and diseases, available in the local database of the Notifiable Diseases Information System between January 2017 and December 2021. Results During the study period, 520 notifications of work-related injuries and conditions were registered. Of this total, 67.3% were serious work accidents, 26.0% mental disorders, 12.3% accidents with biological material and 2.9% repetitive strain injuries/musculoskeletal disorders, occupational dermatoses and induced hearing loss by noise. Occurrences were more frequent in 2019, the year in which the mining disaster occurred, recording 65.2% of total notifications. Regarding the volume of notifications after the disaster, there was a statistically significant reduction (p

Abstract Objectives This study evaluated the radiographic progressions of scoliotic curves higher than 40° in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). These subjects waited for the surgical procedure while elective surgeries were on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inadditiontoradiographicprogressions, this studydescribed the quality of life of these patients. Methods This study is a retrospective cohort assessing 29 AIS patients with surgical indications registered in the Brazilian public healthcare service. We compared the scoliotic radiographic measurements in two moments: at the beginning of the interruption of elective surgeries due to the COVID-19 pandemic and when these procedures resumed. Results When comparing the radiographic measurements before and after the suspension of assessments for elective surgeries, we observed a significant increase in main curve angles ( p < 0.001), with variations ranging from 0 to 68° and a median valueof10°.Insecondary curves, weobserved anincreaseinangles fromthe proximal thoracic ( p < 0.001) and lumbar ( p = 0.001) regions. However, the increase in the main thoracic region was not significant ( p = 0.317). Conclusion The suspension of elective surgeries for AIS resulted in a significant increase in the radiographic values of patients' spine deformities. This increase harmed the quality of life of these subjects and their families.

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by impaired cognitive function. It results in high morbidity, including a large number of hospitalizations, and mortality, generating high costs to health systems. Objective The present epidemiological analysis evaluated the number of hospitalizations and deaths by AD as the main diagnosis in Brazil between 2010 and 2020. This endeavor should contribute to a better understanding of the disease and its implications. Methods The present analytical, observational, longitudinal, and retrospective study used data extracted from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS, in the Portuguese acronym). The variables include the number of hospitalizations, the total cost spent, the average cost per hospitalization, the average length of hospital stay, the number of deaths during hospitalization, the mortality rate per hospitalization, sex, age group, region, and race. Results From 2010 to 2020, there were 188,811 deaths and 13,882 hospitalizations for AD, with a total expenditure of BRL 25,953,019.40 in hospitalizations. The average length of hospital stay was 25 days. Over the considered period, mortality, the number of hospitalizations, and the total cost increased while the average length of stay decreased. Conclusion From 2010 to 2020, AD represented a large portion of hospital admissions, generating a significant cost to the health system and a large number of deaths. These data are important to undertake joint efforts to prevent hospitalizations of these patients in order to minimize impacts on the health system.

Abstract Surgical correction is an effective treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with deformities over 45°. In the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS, Sistema Único de Saúde), if the surgical procedure is indicated, the patients are placed on a waiting list and wait until the treatment can be performed. An extended waiting period can be harmful due to worsening symptoms and increased treatment costs. Additionally, it has negative effects on the mental health and quality of life of these patients. This paper is a systematic review protocol to answer the following question: “What is the impact of the delayed surgical correction of AIS considering costs and quality of life?” Collecting health status information is the first step to improve high complex public health actions. Future publications from this protocol may serve as a subsidy to point out potential priority criteria to enhance the global health of AIS patients and the management of Brazilian public health financial resources.

Introduction: Obesity and overweight have been increasing in Brazil and in the world, in an expressive way, as well as the demand for bariatric surgeries. As a result, post-bariatric plastic surgery has also grown, especially abdominal dermolipectomy. The objective is to describe the frequency of post-bariatric plastic surgeries performed by the Unified Health System (SUS - Sistema Único em Saúde, in portuguese) from January 1, 2015 to October 21, 2020. Methods: Ecological study, where individuals who underwent post-bariatric surgeries were selected. bariatric tests by SUS obtained by the Hospital Information System of Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS - Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde, in portuguese). Data from the 27 states of the national territory were analyzed and the following variables were used: gender, age group, procedure performed, level of education. Results: The southeastern region of the country had the highest number of post-bariatric surgeries. White individuals, on the other hand, had higher numbers than other races (60.9%), abdominal dermolipectomy was the most frequent (53.7%) followed by mammoplasty (22.3%). Conclusion: Plastic surgeries have increased significantly in the last five years, and are more frequent among white women, aged between 35 and 44 years, living in the southeastern region of the country.

Objective: To evaluate the annual number of skin smear microscopies for leprosy performed in the Unified Health System (SUS) in the last decade. Methods: An ecological, longitudinal, retrospective, and quantitative study was conducted using data from the Ambulatory Information System (SIA/SUS). The number of skin smear microscopies for leprosy per 100,000 residents was estimated for Brazil and its five macroregions, between 2013 and 2022, with a significance level (a) of 5%. Results: More than 1.3 million skin smear microscopies were reported in the last decade in the SUS. The median annual incidence was 67 skin smear microscopies for leprosy per 100,000 residents, with the maximum observed in 2013 (82) and the minimum in 2022 (46). Annual incidences in the North, Central-West, and Northeast macro-regions were significantly higher than the national estimate, whereas in the South and Southeast, they were lower (p

Introduction: Emergency Contraception (EC) is available in Brazil since 1996, when it was adopted as one if the family planning strategies and, in 1998, for use in services assisting victims of sexual violence. In the country, its use is regulated by guidelines. Its access through SUS (Unified Health System), however, does not seem to occur in a standardized manner.Methods: The aim of the study was to analyze the availability and barriers to accessing emergency contraception (levonorgestrel) in Brazilian municipalities with more than 500 thousand inhabitants. The survey was carried out by a form sent to the Municipal Health Departments (SMS) managers and a search on the list of standardized medicines by the hospitals in the same municipalities.Results: The Basic Health Units were identified as the standard access places to EC. However, one of the obstacles mentioned is the need for a prescription for dispensing in almost 80% of the analyzed cities. Access in emergency situations at night and on weekends is also uncertain, since although 67% of the places stated that they dispense at the hospital level, the item was only standardized in 21% of the hospital lists.Discussion: The difficult access this drug in the public system essentially tends to harm the poorest women, who are the ones who suffer most from the consequences of an unwanted pregnancy.

This study aimed to understand, from the users of Health Information Systems' perspectives, the essential components these technologies must present to be considered appropriate for incorporation and use in the Brazilian Unified Health System. As a secondary objective, we organized the results in the dimensions of the RE-AIM framework to facilitate future translation into practice. Qualitative exploratory research was carried out through a questionnaire with open-ended questions. We built the questions based on the RE-AIM and RE-AIM QuEST frameworks. For data organization and analysis, we used the NVivo 12® software, opting for the thematic categorical analysis strategy in three stages. Twenty-nine primary care and hospital services professionals participated, including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, dentists, community health workers, and management positions. Among the five dimensions of the framework used, sixteen analytical categories emerged. Constructs related to the interoperability between different healthcare services, implementation costs, infrastructure, reduction of bureaucracy, and guarantee of information security were deemed essential when considering implementing a new information system. The sustainability of technology in health services was directly associated with its performance quality to ensure that health professionals do not abandon the use of its functions. Plain Language Summary: Idealizing Information Systems: Perspectives of Health Professionals This study aimed to understand, from the users of Health Information Systems' perspectives, the essential components these technologies must present to be considered appropriate for incorporation and use in the Brazilian Unified Health System. As a secondary objective, we organized the results in the dimensions of the RE-AIM framework to facilitate future translation into practice. We conducted qualitative exploratory research using a questionnaire with open-ended questions. Twenty-nine primary care and hospital services professionals participated, including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, dentists, community health workers, and management positions. The results show that the interoperability between different healthcare services, implementation costs, infrastructure, bureaucracy reduction, and information security guarantee is essential when implementing a new information system. The sustainability of technology in health services was directly associated with its performance quality to ensure that health professionals do not abandon its functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the issue of equity in health and justice from the perspective of public health bioethics, describing the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), equating legitimate interests for essential goods, such as health. The conception of John Rawls’ theory of justice is “justice as fairness” and has a seventeenth century contractualism tenor. Although it was not conceived specifically for health and marked by the “difference principle”, it promoted, in the field of health care, the institution of health systems created on the basis of universal access and equity in the distribution of scarce resources. The principles of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) guarantee access to all levels of care, equality in health care, without distinctions or privileges of any kind, integrity in health care, free of charge, community participation and decentralization, regionalization and hierarchization of health actions and services, which gives the SUS a strong Rawlsian bias. The Brazilian model was built on the principle that health is a right of all and a duty of the State, therefore, it is based on the assumption of universal and equal access to health actions and services for its promotion and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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