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Purpose: Investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the higher education through the perception of Brazilian undergraduates. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1006 students of public and private universities. Data collection happened between September-December 2020 with an online questionnaire addressing socioeconomic characteristics, use of anxiolytics/antidepressants and issues related to the course. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression (α = 5%). Results: Most students (68.7%) perceived an impact on their education and reported a high satisfaction with the course (62.2%). Age (OR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.96 – 0.99), residing in the northern region of the country (OR= 1.26, 95%CI: 1.06 – 1.50), enrollment at a public university (OR= 1.28, 95%CI: 1.17 – 1.40) and lower satisfaction with the course (OR= 1.13, 95%CI: 1.04 – 1.23) were associated with the perception of impact. Regarding self-rated performance in the courses, 41.7% students reported a very low/low performance. A family income of up to two times the monthly minimum wage (OR= 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48 – 0.97), residing in the northeastern region of the country (OR= 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48 – 0.97) and lower satisfaction with the course (OR= 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23 – 0.53) were associated with this outcome. Conclusions: The pandemic negatively affected two thirds of undergraduates, especially the younger, from the northern region, public universities and those less satisfied with the course. Nearly forty percent of students rated their academic performance during the pandemic as very low/low, especially those with a low family income, from the northeastern region and those less satisfied with the course.

Objective: to describe the epidemic curves and analyze the epidemiological profile of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in a triple border city. Method: descriptive-quantitative. The population consisted of COVID-19 cases that required hospitalization, analyzing variables such as: age, gender, race/color, city where they lived, occupation, pregnant woman, institutionalized patient and evolution. Descriptive statistical analysis and analysis of variance and chi-square tests were used. Results: four epidemic curves were identified in the studied period. Among hospitalized cases, males predominated (55%). Cure was the most frequent outcome in curves 1, 2 and 4, but with no statistical difference (p = 0.2916). Curve 3 showed a higher frequency of deaths (41.70%) in relation to cures (38.77%). The mean ages were significantly different between the curves, with curve 4 having the lowest mean age. Conclusion: it was concluded that the epidemic curves were influenced by different situations; unvaccinated population, easing of restrictive measures, reopening of the Brazil-Paraguay border, interruption of control actions, crowding of people and circulation of new variants of the disease. Through the epidemiological profile of hospitalized patients, it was concluded that being male, of mixed race/color, aged between 61 and 85 years, and being deprived of freedom were associated with hospitalization and the occurrence of death.

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the contextual factors associated with the quality of life (QOL) of Brazilian children aged 0–12 years during the strict period of social isolation. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September 2020 using an online questionnaire on QOL-related family factors and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™). Results were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: The sample had 849 children, mostly from the South Region of Brazil (75%), white (83%), with typical development (79%), sedentary (68%), using screen (85%) for >3 h/day (44%). Their mothers were their main caregivers (90%). The following variables were significantly associated with high scores of QOL: typical health status (OR 2.38; 95%CI 1.60–3.55; screen time ≤2 h/day (OR 1.62; 95%CI 1.17–2.24); social distancing considered as “easy” (OR 1.67; 95%CI 1.20–2.32), and stimulation of the child by the family (OR 1.93; 95%CI 1.08–3.45). Conclusions: This study indicates that the family context can influence children’s QOL, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and home environment reorganization.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the incompleteness and trend of incompleteness of the race/color variable in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 whose outcome was death, in Brazil, between April 2020 and April 2022. METHODS Ecological time series study on the incompleteness of the race/color variable in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 whose outcome was death in Brazil, its macro-regions and Federative Units (FU), by joinpoint regression, calculation of Monthly Percent Change (MPC) and Average Monthly Percent Change (AMPC), based on data from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS). RESULTS The incompleteness of the race/color variable in COVID-19 hospitalizations with a death outcome in Brazil was 25.85%, considered poor. All regions of the country had a poor degree of incompleteness, except for the South, which was considered regular. In the period analyzed, the joinpoint analysis revealed a stable trend in the incompleteness of the race/color variable in Brazil (AMPC = 0.54; 95%CI: -0.64 to 1.74; p = 0.37) and in the Southeast (AMPC = -0.61; 95%CI: -3.36 to 2.22; p = 0.67) and North (AMPC = 3.74; 95%CI: -0.14 to 7.78; p = 0.06) regions. The South (AMPC = 5.49; 95%CI: 2.94 to 8.11; p = 0.00002) and Northeast (AMP = 2.50; 95%CI: 0.77 to 4.25; p = 0.005) regions showed an increase in the incompleteness trend, while the Midwest (AMPC = -2.91 ; 95%CI: -5.26 to -0.51; p = 0.02) showed a downward trend. CONCLUSION The proportion of poor completeness and the stable trend of incompleteness show that there was no improvement in the quality of filling in the race/color variable during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, a fact that may have increased health inequalities for the black population and made it difficult to plan strategic actions for this population, considering the pandemic context. The results found reinforce the need to encourage discussion on the subject, given that the incompleteness of health information systems increases inequalities in access to health services and compromises the quality of health data.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant social and health impact. Given the high risk of contagion and the potential collapse of the healthcare system, strategies such as social isolation, the use of personal protective equipment, and an increased reliance on telemedicine were adopted. These measures altered the dynamics of end-of-life patient care. Methodology: This observational cross-sectional study explored the experiences of home care staff providing end-of-life care and the impact of the pandemic on the care process, as well as on their quality of life and emotional well-being. A survey incorporating the adapted Care Of the Dying Evaluation (iCODE) questionnaire was conducted, alongside an assessment of quality of life using question 30 of the EORTC QLQ, and emotional wellbeing using the PANAS scale. Results: The experiences of 131 deceased patients were characterized. Professionals reported adequate therapeutic efforts in managing pain, dyspnea, and delirium. Additionally, they noted that the pandemic impeded treatment in 24% of the patients. The average quality of life score for professionals was 6 points, with a predominantly positive affect reported. Conclusions: Healthcare professionals in home-based care programs observed that the pandemic affected the treatment of nearly a quarter of end-of-life patients. Nonetheless, they highlighted that satisfactory symptomatic care and control were maintained. Additionally, they reported an adequate quality of life.

Objective: to analyze care in severe psychic crises from the perspective of health professionals, people, and family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: a multiple-case study, carried out with eight health professionals, six people in a crisis, and seven family members, monitored for three months, from October 2021 to June 2022, in a Brazilian capital. The data was analyzed using content analysis and the theoretical framework of necropolitics. Results: three categories emerged: "Scrapping the Psychosocial Care Network," "Outpatient Psychosocial Care Centre," and "Attending to the psychic crisis in the pandemic." This confirms a necropolitics that cuts across the field of mental health and affects vulnerable people, and the debate on funding and race is urgent. Conclusion: The lack of specialized mental health services, coupled with outpatient mental health services that began before the pandemic, has worsened crisis care.

Objective: To analyze the follow-up of people affected by leprosy in health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative approach, carried out in Basic Health Units and the Leprosy Reference Service in Campina Grande-Paraíba - Brazil. Data collection between October 2021 and February 2022. The study population consisted of users undergoing treatment and being monitored for leprosy reactions. The data was analyzed using Bardin's Content Analysis. Results: Three categories emerged: users' lack of knowledge about leprosy and its control, their feelings about the disease and treatment, and weakened leprosy control in Primary Health Care. Conclusion: We observed fragility in the follow-up of users affected by leprosy, related to the lack of medication and professionals, as well as the user's perception of the disease.

Analyzing the SARS data can provide insights into the severe form of COVID-19, contributing to short, medium, and long-term pandemic response planning. The virus entered Brazilian through air travel, spreading via airport connections. The spatial diffusion of COVID-19 transmission is linked to the territorial division of labor (referring to characteristic daily activities), as reflected in the urban hierarchical network, which serves as a framework for analyzing COVID-19 transmission. This analysis covers mobility aspects such as density, connectivity and the movement of people at different scales. The objective is to evaluate the transmission of SARS and COVID-19 in the state of Rondônia, Western Amazon, between 2020 and 2021, using geoprocessing techniques for spatiotemporal analysis. Maps depicting the urban hierarchy (understood as cities organized by size, from smallest to largest) of the municipalities of Rondônia, along with SARS incidence rates and their standard deviation, were created using QGIS program, version 2.18.20. Spatiotemporal analysis was conducted using Kulldorff statistics to identify clusters of SARS cases in each municipality. A higher concentration of SARS rates ​​was observed in municipalities in the northwestern part of the state. Six spatiotemporal clusters were identified, but no clear pattern of spatial distribution was observed. The spatial diffusion of COVID-19 transmission is linked to the territorial division of labor (i.e., the spatial classification based on the predominant economic activity in each area), as evidenced by the urban hierarchical network, which serves as a reference for analyzing COVID-19 transmission.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the scientific evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behavior in adults. Method: Systematic review, conducted from June to October 2022, in the following databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Virtual Health Library, Excerpta Medica database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar. The selection, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality were carried out using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies tool. Considering that most of the studies evaluated had significant methodological differences, it was decided to carry out a qualitative synthesis of the data. Results: A total of 2112 articles were found, from which eight articles were selected that analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behavior in adults. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the suicidal behavior in adults worldwide, especially when related to race, gender, age, religion, socioeconomic, family and legal issues, and pre-existing mental disorders, leading to a greater propensity for suicidal act.

Abstract Objective: to understand nurses’ leadership perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian university hospitals, through the lens of John Kotter’s concepts and his eight-step change model. Method: a multicenter qualitative research with an analytical design. The sample comprised 139 nurses working in COVID-19 settings, interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were categorized through Bardin’s content analysis based on John Kotter’s concepts and his eight-step change model. Results: the findings yielded significant insights into nurses’ perceptions of leadership during the COVID-19 response, which exhibited characteristics consistent with Kotter’s principles. There is evidence of leadership based on the pursuit of knowledge, grounded in polished communication, facilitating teamwork through a relationship of trust and respect. The recognition of the complexity and difficulty of exercising nursing leadership, particularly in crisis contexts, is apparent. Conclusion: nurses’ perceptions reinforce essential elements for leadership practice, such as the importance of seeking diverse knowledge, polished communication, relationships based on trust and respect, and recognition of the complexity of leadership, thus presenting characteristics in line with Kotter’s principles.

Methods Cross-sectional study with a thematic analytical approach, derived from the international initiative "The Health Care Workers Study" (HEROES), conducted among healthcare workers in Chile during the second semester of 2022 and the first of 2023 through semi-structured interviews and inductive coding. Results A narrative synthesis of 35 interviews in four themes: care at work: the presence of changes in work tasks, concern about becoming infected, collective "mystique", stigma due to being a healthcare worker, conflicts with patients; care at home: multiple ways of arranging household tasks, the relevance of living with others, interrelation with work dynamics, "double burden" among women; relationship with one's own mental health: recognition of mental health impact, the stress associated with change and uncertainty, perception of work overload, feelings of guilt or responsibility for infecting family members; and beliefs and values about the pandemic and its effects: acceptance of psychological impact on healthcare workers, organizational culture as a relevant element in postponing one's own mental health, initial disbelief in the effects of the pandemic, similarities with previous periods of social upheaval, and equality among people in terms of vulnerability to the disease. Conclusions Five elements emerge as potential areas for intervention: gender perspective, previous exposure to crisis experiences, self-care spaces, peer support, and institutional response. The care perspective helps study the relationship between some stressors and healthcare workers' mental health in the context of a pandemic.

ABSTRACT Objectives: to map the educational actions conducted with primary health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: a scoping review conducted in August 2023, which covered databases such as CINAHL, Medline, LILACS, IBECS, BDENF, and Web of Science. In total, 32 publications were analyzed through content analysis. Results: the primary beneficiaries of the educational actions included 69% physicians, 56% nurses, 25% pharmacists, 13% social workers and dentists, 9% psychologists, community health agents, and laboratory professionals, and 6% nursing technicians, nutritionists, and physical educators. The predominant educational interventions were training sessions (mentioned in 19 publications), followed by Continuing Health Education (10 publications) and Continuing Education (three publications). Final Considerations: the educational interventions demonstrated positive impacts on professional practice, particularly the Continuing Health Education actions, which were notable for stimulating critical problem-solving among professionals.

Abstract Objective: to analyze the frequency and associated risk factors for COVID-19 infection and the availability of Personal Protective Equipment used by primary healthcare workers. Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted over six months in Rio Grande do Sul. Descriptive analysis was performed, with the comparison of independent samples using Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s Exact test (p

Abstract Objective The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal behavior are still the subject of studies. It is hypothesized that the pandemic may have contributed to the development of suicidal ideation by intensifying psychosocial risk factors. Our objective was to investigate such correlated factors in Brazil. Method The study used an online and cross-sectional survey encompassing 448 adult participants. Sociodemographic questionnaires and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire were used, and binary logistic regression was employed to identify predictors. Results The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 22.3%. The results indicate that people who self-identified as black and brown (OR = 2.42), who were part of the risk group for COVID-19 (OR = 2.41), and who reported more psychological symptoms (OR = 1.50) were more likely to have suicidal ideation. Conclusion Public policies to prevent suicidal behavior and promote mental health in the most vulnerable groups might be needed beyond the pandemic context, especially among the black population.

Abstract: The article analyzes the fight against COVID-19 in three Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. A multiple case study was carried out in a comparative perspective, based on a bibliographic review, documentary analysis, and secondary data, considering characteristics of the countries and the health system, evolution of COVID-19, national governance, containment and mitigation measures, health systems response, constraints, positive aspects and limits of responses. The three countries had distinct health systems but were marked by insufficient funding and inequalities when hit by the pandemic and recorded high-COVID-19 mortality. Structural, institutional, and political factors influenced national responses. In Argentina, national leadership and intergovernmental political agreements favored the initial adoption of centralized control measures, which were not sustained. In Brazil, there were limits in national coordination and leadership related to the President’s denialism and federative, political, and expert conflicts, despite a universal health system with intergovernmental commissions and participatory councils, which were little used during the pandemic. In Mexico, structural difficulties were associated with the Federal Government’s initial reluctance to adopt restrictive measures, limits on testing, and relative slowness in immunization. In conclusion, facing health emergencies requires strengthening public health systems associated with federative, intersectoral, and civil society coordination mechanisms and effective global solidarity mechanisms.

Introduction: Dengue is an asymptomatic infection or present symptoms like low fever to disabling high fever, severe headache, retroocular, muscle and joint pain, in addition to skin rashes, and if associated with COVID-19, it can worsen the illness condition. Objective: investigate the epidemiological evolution of dengue in the pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods from an American and Brazilian perspective. Methodology: descriptive study, based on the search for information in epidemiological bulletins, data from DATASUS and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, in addition to articles available in databases provided by SciELO, ScienceDirect and Pubmed. Results: In the period before the pandemic, the high number of notifications was due to the DENV2 serotype, causing a large epidemic. In the years 2020-2021 there was a drop in the number of notifications due to the introduction of social and public health measures, misdiagnosis between the signs/symptoms of dengue and COVID-19, inaccurate serological tests and underreporting. In 2022 and 2023, the epidemiological scenario again points to increasing notification of dengue cases, mainly due to changes in routine vector control during the pandemic, combined with favorable environmental factors, such as increased rainfall. Conclusion: the neglect of both dengue fever and other diseases has negatively impacted the population today, since in order to mitigate the damage caused by the pandemic, actions to promote and prevent the health of endemic diseases in our territory, when placed in the background, have caused the underreporting of cases, influenced by changes in the political, economic and health spheres of society.

ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify the factors that influenced the mental capacity to work of nursing technicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: a cross-sectional study, carried out at two reference hospitals in assisting the population during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 237 professionals from Intensive Care Units participated and answered a questionnaire. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the correlation between mental capacity to work and variables related to risks of contamination, institutional support and health. Results: lack of COVID-19 tests, lack of knowledge of routine, absences in 2021 and mental illness contributed to worse mental capacity to work. Management embracement and physical capacity were considered protective factors. Conclusions: reduced work capacity in relation to mental demands can affect professional performance and quality of care, with implications for patients and health institutions.

Abstract: Although food insecurity presents a decreasing trend worldwide, some regions recently observed an increase in hunger levels. Such was the case in Brazil between 2014 and 2018, during and after the great Brazilian recession, and between 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper describes the evolution of food insecurity in Brazil between 2004 and 2022 using Brazilian National Household Sample Survey (PNAD), Brazilian Household Budget Survey (POF) and Continuous PNAD. Households were classified in 20 types of arrangements, and the most vulnerable living arrangements between 2004 and 2018 were identified by multinomial logistic models. Overall, households headed by women (single blacks, whites or in couples) with or without children were the most prone to food insecurity. As for the evolution of food insecurity in Brazil between 2018 and 2022, logistic models were applied to estimate moderate and severe food insecurity levels among the 20 household types. Additionally, effects of the emergency aid and idiosyncrasies of the COVID-19 pandemic were estimated.

The paper analyzed, in two periods, the challenges and perspectives in the working life of professors who carried out telework during the COVID-19 pandemic, with professors from the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD). A questionnaire on the Google platform was used to collect data in two moments of the pandemic. The results showed the possibility of continuing remote work, but alternating between remote and full-time. Since step 1, five months after the start of the pandemic, and step 2, in 2022, teachers readjusted many situations to face the times of pandemic and remote work/teaching. Positive aspects were facilities brought by remote work and the low incidence of contagion. They suggest the institution to improve assistance on virtual platforms and training, because 58% want full or partial continuity of remote activities.

Objective: to identify factors associated with adherence to the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. Method: cross-sectional and analytical study with 348 postpartum women in shared accommodation at the Municipal Maternities of Recife-PE. Data was collected through interviews during the months of June to September 2022. Pearson’s Chi-Square or Fisher’s Exact tests and the Poisson regression model were applied for statistical analysis. Results: 17.2% of pregnant women adhered to the complete vaccination schedule, and adherence was associated with access to the internet/TV/radio (p-value = 0.011), routine prenatal vaccination (p-value = 0.019), safety of the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and partner support (p-value = 0.020). Postpartum women without access to the internet/TV/radio, and who feel confident about the effectiveness of the vaccine, had higher prevalence rates for adhering to COVID-19 vaccination, with PRs of 2.56 and 3.25, respectively. Conclusion: there was evidence of low adherence to the vaccination schedule against COVID-19 during the gestational period, considering the number of recommended doses and the interval between them. Therefore, professionals in their clinical practice must make pregnant women aware of the importance of immunization and compliance with the vaccination schedule.

Abstract Objective Considering the psychosocial repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on children, this case study aims to describe the work process involved in the construction and execution of the Children in the COVID-19 Pandemic module, which comprised the National Course on Mental Health and Psychosocial Care in COVID-19, hosted by the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Method Data from the materials that made up the module (booklet, video lesson, forum, and live broadcast), the profile of those enrolled, as well as emerging themes from participants' questions and comments (forum and live broadcast) were analyzed. Results Thirty-one percent of the course participants, who were predominantly female psychologists, completed the module. The booklet, developed with an accessible language, met the general guidelines for the development of manuals aimed at providing guidance on health care, seeking to address emerging demands in order to qualify the care for children in the context of COVID-19. Conclusion There was a great diversity of themes addressed in the material resulting from the forum and the live broadcast, which were discussed in order to contribute to the planning of psychosocial care strategies aimed at mitigating the negative repercussions of the pandemic on child development, as well as to offer a space for sharing knowledge and experiences on professional practice during this major public health emergency.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused changes in the families’ social support network, employment status, and family income, which are the focus of attention of family health nurses. This study aims to describe the pandemic’s repercussions in the areas of attention of the structural dimension of families according to the Dynamic Model of Family Assessment and Intervention, as perceived by Portuguese families, and to relate the changes in their employment status according to the variables of the structural dimension. A quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted using snowball sampling. A questionnaire of sociodemographic characterization and assessment of the family structural dimension according to the model’s operational matrix was applied to 235 family members. Changes were found in their employment status; family income; intensity and frequency of contact with family, friends, and coworkers; frequency of contact with educational/health/religious institutions and community groups; cultural activities; and housing comfort conditions such as the use of heating/air conditioning, gas, and water consumption. Changes in employment status were related to family income, interaction with friends, frequency of cultural activities, and use of air conditioning and heating. Knowing the implications of the pandemic on the family’s structural dimension results in a nursing intervention more focused on family needs.

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the impact of social distancing on different areas of marital life during the Covid-19 pandemic. 1121 Brazilians, who were living with romantic partners, answered an online survey about their social distancing practices during the pandemic and aspects of their relationship. Most participants did not report impairment in marital behavior and 68% did not report experiencing willingness to divorce during pandemic. However, binary logistic regressions showed that the Odds Ratio of reporting willingness to divorce was lower for individuals with longer cohabitation (OR = 0.998), while higher when there was a decrease in positive marital behaviors (OR = 1.8 - 3.13), and also reported an increase in the conflicts, arguments and fights (OR = 6.12 - 6.43). Indicators of higher confinement at home during the pandemic were associated with higher chances of reporting willingness to divorce.

Introduction: Medical students faced numerous problems to combat the COVID-19 pandemic as the least experienced medical staff members. Awareness of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students is essential to manage and control its adverse effects. Objective: This study aimed to explore medical students’ perceptions and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study in May and June 2020 involving semi-structured phone interviews with 19 medical students. Data were collected through in-depth telephone interviews and analyzed with MAXQDA 10 software using the conventional content analysis proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. Results: Thirty subcategories, six categories, and three themes emerged from the data analysis. The themes included perceived mental and emotional paradox (pleasurable feelings complicated by negative feelings and emotions), encountering catastrophe (being confronted with a lack of equipment and disorganized management; working in turmoil), and attempting to adapt to unpleasant conditions (individual efforts toward psychological adjustment; attempting to resile as a professional). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had multiple positive and negative emotional, educational, and occupational effects on medical students. This study highlighted these effects by exploring the students’ experiences. Design of an organized pandemic response plan for medical student is recommended in various aspects of education, patient care and coping skills for future pandemics.

Objective. This study seeks to describe the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health services in Chile. Methods. This study is part of ongoing multicountry research known as the Mental Health Care – Adverse Sequelae of COVID-19 study (or the MASC study) that includes seven countries. Chile is the only one in Latin America. This study used a convergent mixed methods design. The quantitative component analyzed data about public mental health care collected between January 2019 and December 2021 from the open-access database at the Ministry of Health. The qualitative component analyzed data collected from focus groups of experts that included professionals in charge of mental health services, policy-makers, service users and caregivers. Finally, the data synthesis was performed by triangulation of both components. Results. By April 2020, mental health service provision had been reduced by 88% in primary care; moreover, secondary and tertiary levels had also reduced their mental health activities by, respectively, 66.3% and 71.3% of pre-COVID levels. Negative sequelae were described at the health systems level, and full recovery had not been achieved by the end of 2021. The pandemic affected the essential characteristics of community-based mental health services, with adverse impacts on the continuity and quality of care, reduced psychosocial and community support, and negative effects on health workers’ mental health. Digital solutions were widely implemented to enable remote care, but challenges included the availability of equipment, its quality and the digital divide. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant and enduring adverse effects on mental health care. Lessons learned can inform recommendations for good practices for the ongoing and future pandemics and health crises, and highlight the importance of prioritizing the strengthening of mental health services in response to emergencies.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze the quality of life and metamemory and verify their predictors in students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: a cross-sectional survey carried out through online collection with the application of an initial questionnaire to characterize the sample, the WHOQOL-brief to investigate the quality of life, and the Metamemory Questionnaire in Adults (short version) - MIAr to evaluate metamemory in a group of undergraduate and postgraduate students. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Multiple linear regression was performed to verify the predictor variables. A significance level of 5% (p ≤ 0.05) was considered. Results: 977 university students participated in the study, the majority (70.73%) of whom were females and with an income range below three minimum wages (63.56%). For quality of life, income range, being in the risk group for COVID-19, and age were predictors for both the undergraduate and postgraduate groups. In contrast, on an excellent metamemory, the predictors were male gender and age. Conclusion: for students, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the main predictor of quality of life was having a higher income bracket, and the main predictor of metamemory was being a male.

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify factors associated with fear of COVID-19 among women who experienced pregnancy or childbirth during the pandemic. Methods: a cross-sectional study, nested within a prospective cohort, using an online survey, from August 2021 to February 2022, based on descriptive data analysis. Results: of the 431 participants, 52.8% were postpartum women and 20.1% were pregnant women. With regard to fear of COVID-19, a mean score of 20.46 was obtained (moderate fear). The highest fear scores were present in women whose newborns were admitted to hospital in neonatal critical units (p=0.032), and the lowest among those covered by supplementary health (insurance) (p=0.016). Conclusion: among pregnant and postpartum women, high fear of COVID-19 translated into the possibility of having newborns admitted to hospital in a critical unit. The importance of supporting actions to support pregnant/postpartum women’s mental health in relation to COVID-19 or other threats that may influence the neonatal outcome stands out.

ABSTRACT Objective: to reflect on the applicability of the Medical Healing of Souls (MHS) by health professionals as a welcoming strategy in post-pandemic mental health. Methods: a theoretical and reflective study, based on Viktor Frankl’s philosophy, based on the book “The Doctor and the Soul, From Psychotherapy to Logotherapy” and scientific literature. Results: the study was structured in two discursive approaches: MHS in the field of health; The applicability of MHS in post-pandemic mental health care. Final considerations: MHS can be used in mental health care, in health emergencies, promoting a more humane performance of health professionals, facilitating the integration of inevitable suffering into a meaningful life.

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a public health emergency around the world. The risk, severity, and mortality of the disease has been associated to chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. There are multiple pathophysiological explanations that relate these two entities. The possibility of a bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 has been raised. Most studies agree that diabetes mellitus of any etiology is associated with a negative outcome of the infection. Also, CO-VID-19 can cause a worsening of glycemic control and can be a trigger for the development of diabetes mellitus type 1.

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on personal dimensions and its relationship with the work context of nursing technicians who worked in ICUs. Method: A cross-sectional mixed-method study (convergent parallel). A total of 229 nursing technicians from intensive care units participated and responded a questionnaire. The study was conducted using the IRaMuTeQ software for lexicographic verification and similarity analysis of the corpus and the Minitab 19 software for comparison between means and logistic regression. Results: Fear was found that the biggest impact on the lives of nursing technicians. The professionals experienced stress and anxiety as a consequence of the fear of Coronavirus infection and its transmission to their families. Conclusion: The pandemic affected the daily personal lives of nursing technicians, in the same work context, in different ways.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify factors associated with permission for child vaccination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Cross-sectional study, with parents/guardians of children aged up to 1 year, 11 months and 29 days, aged 18 years or older, with internet access and residents of the state of Alagoas. The collection was conducted between June 2021 and April 2022, using a structured instrument via Google forms®. Fisher’s Exact and Pearson’s chi-square statistical tests were used. Results: A total of 94 parents/guardians participated. There was an association between permission for child vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic and higher education level of parents/guardians, with the lack of an educational bond with the child, and between parents/guardians who would allow the application of the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: Permission for child vaccination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with higher education level of parents/guardians and the absence of educational bond of the child.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the exercise of professional autonomy of intensive care nurses during times of the new coronavirus pandemic. Method: A descriptive, qualitative study, conducted with 19 nurses from Intensive Care Units of two public hospitals and one private hospital. The information was produced from October 2020 to January 2021, through semi-structured interviews, using content analysis in thematic modality, guided by Eliot Freidson’s Sociology of Professions. Results: Nursesargued that it was difficult, amidst the pandemic, to act with all the prerogatives assigned to them by their social mandate, for various reasons, such as limited knowledge about the disease, fragile teamwork communication, and scarcity of material and human resources. Conclusion: The exercise of professional autonomy is shaped by the confrontation of multiple factors that impact the performance of intensive care nurses, especially in a context of pandemic crisis.

ABSTRACT Objective: Qualify the shift handover in an Obstetric Unit during the COVID-19 pandemic period, through Permanent Health Education. Method: Action research conducted in southern Brazil. The research was conducted from interviews with healthcare professionals and students and the data were analyzed using the Reflexive technique. Interventions took place in different work shifts, with the support of a serial album as a didactic and educational resource. Results: The data analysis made it possible to record experiences and the delineation of two thematic categories: From traditional approaches to the reinvention of learning in healthcare work; and From conformism to professional growth. Conclusion: The shift handover in the Obstetric Unit, through Permanent Health Education, enabled autonomous, interactive, and cooperative learning; awakened the desire to transcend the work routine; and highlighted the need to continuously (re)signify the healthcare work process.

ABSTRACT Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the first ranked cause of death worldwide. Adhering to health promoting lifestyle behaviors will maintain an individual’s cardiovascular health and decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Methods: In this descriptive study, 150 nursing faculty were surveyed via a non-probability (purposive) sampling method to assess their adherence to health promoting lifestyle in order to know the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The Arabic version of Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) was used to achieve this goal. Results: Seventy-two nursing faculty completed the survey. The results indicated that the study sample had moderate level of health promotion based on Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Conclusion: Nursing faculty are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases based on their health promoting lifestyle behaviors as they scored low level of “health responsibility”, “physical activity”, and “stress management “. Encouraging healthy behaviors is recommended to prevent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases.

This study analyzes changes in social life during the pandemic and the early stages of the post-pandemic period within a population characterized by high levels of informality in Lima, particularly the textile district of Gamarra, encompassing 89,123 people. A qualitative approach was adopted, based on 62 semi-structured interviews with garment manufacturers, in-store traders, and street vendors. Two distinct moments could be identified: a) experiences confronting the shock induced by the Covid-19 pandemic; and b) experiences of reconfiguring work and daily life, alongside strategies adopted by the population. In conclusion, the study suggests that some elements of daily life acquired during the Covid-19 pandemic may carry over into the future, inducing society to place greater emphasis on preventive measures against emerging risks, including behaviors related to hygiene and health, fostering closer family ties, increased utilization of digitalization and hybrid work models, and the cultivation of enhanced social capital.

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the profile of emergency eye-related visits and compare the findings with the same period before the pandemic. Methods Cross-sectional study performed during one year at a reference eye hospital. Cases registered at the emergency Municipal Hospital Complex of Santo Andre, Brazil, between March, 2019 and February, 2020 were included in the study as the Pre-pandemic group. Cases registered between March, 2020 and February, 2021 were included as the Pandemic group. Cases were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and Related Health Problems. Results There was a decrease of 52.1% in the emergency eye care visits during the pandemic period (n=9,198) when compared to the pre-pandemic period (n=19,220), with significant reductions in nonspecific cases (-98.1%), postoperative visits (-67.0%), disorders of the conjunctiva (-54.1%), tear film (-49.4%) and refraction (-85.6%) during the pandemic period. Conditions such as retina disorders (+202.7%), sclera disorders (+76.2%), orbit disorders (+20.2%), glaucoma (+66.6%) and trauma (+19.4%) have shown increased rates, as well as those related to eyelids (+186.9%), cornea (+33.4%), uvea (+40.2%), and herpes (+55.3%). Conclusion A drastic reduction in the number of eye-related emergency visits was observed during the Covid-19 pandemic, outlining a new profile of care, with higher frequency of sight-threatening conditions and lower frequency of contagious and non-specific diagnosis.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze factors associated with mandibular function impairment in people with Parkinson’s disease during social isolation due to COVID-19. Methods: this cross-sectional, quantitative, analytical study used a database with 115 records of patients presented with this condition (obtained via telemonitoring in a research conducted in 2020) and assessed sociodemographic aspects and the Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire (MFIQ). The variables addressed in the associations were sex, age, marital status, denture use, disease duration, and daily levodopa dose. Results were obtained with the Fisher´s exact test, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: after analyzing the database, the final sample comprised 62 eligible records - 61% were males, 79% were above 60 years old, 63% wore dentures, and 93% had low severity of mandibular function impairment, according to MFIQ. No significant associations were found between the study variables and MFIQ (p < 0.05). Conclusion: the degree of mandibular impairment was low, and the study variables were not associated with mandibular function impairment in patients presented with Parkinson´s disease, during social isolation, due to COVID-19.

Covid-19 has arisen deep changes in formal Education as a result of a sudden transition from in person to remote Education. Effects in different fields, such as mental health and socioeconomic vulnerability, also need follow up and evaluation. So, this paper aims to analyze the educational inequalities amplified by the pandemics, as well as the remote Education effects on students, educators and families. Its theoretical framework consisted of the reproduction theories and philosophical works on heterotopy, speed and the world and Education digitalization. The results show that previous achievements in schooling access, quality and equality took steps backwards. Mental health and student motivation have suffered negative effects. Digital Education does not seem to keep the same level of outcomes and equality. Therefore, remote Education has implied deep changes in schooling routines and ways of learning, some of them susceptible of negatively affecting students. Remote Education, despite its lower costs and prestigious halo, is to be used cautiously and with parsimony.

La situación COVID-19 naturalizó la irrupción de nuevas prácticas docentes, y el uso de tecnologías educativas, en un contexto de transformación de la participación de las personas senior. El objetivo del trabajo consiste en la evaluación de una experiencia intergeneracional acaecida en la pandemia a través del uso de las nuevas tecnologías. Fue realizado un estudio descriptivo exploratorio utilizando como instrumento un cuestionario, creado ad hoc, con preguntas abiertas y cerradas, con el objetivo de evaluar mediante la opinión de 108 participantes, una experiencia intergeneracional virtual entre el alumnado del grado de educación social y personas mayores de centros sociales, para conocer sus necesidades, y ofrecer un recurso incorporado desde el aula. En el análisis de los datos obtenidos se hace patente el replanteamiento del concepto y la práctica tradicional de educación con personas mayores, y se postula como necesaria la ampliación del acervo de conocimientos de los futuros profesionales de la educación social. No se trata tan sólo de una diferencia teórica. Esta situación está repercutiendo en las políticas, pero también en el modo de atención a las necesidades educativas y culturales de las personas mayores, que se están viendo claramente mermadas a causa del coronavirus. /// The COVID-19 situation naturalized the emergence of new teaching practices, and the use of educational technologies, in a context of transformation of the participation of seniors. The objective of the work consists in the evaluation of an intergenerational experience that occurred in the pandemic through the use of new technologies. An exploratory descriptive study was carried out using a questionnaire as an instrument, created ad hoc, with open and closed questions, with the aim of evaluating, through the opinion of 108 participants, a virtual intergenerational experience was evaluated between students of the social education degree and older people from social centers, to find out their needs, and offer a resource incorporated from the classroom. This is not just a theoretical difference. This situation is having repercussions on policies, but also on the way of attending to the educational and cultural needs of the elderly, which are clearly being diminished due to the coronavirus.

Abstract Brazil has experienced several major epidemics of influenza, and the most destructive was in 1918-1919. This article focuses on mortality, mitigation policies, and the consequences of pandemic influenza during the national period. We provide the first mortality estimates for the 1890-1894 influenza pandemic and correct figures for later epidemics. The 1918-1919 episode cost more lives than assumed, although some cities suffered less, possibly because of public health actions. Influenza caused pandemics in 1957, 1968, 1976, and 2009, but these did not cause unusual outbreaks in Brazil.

Objective: To identify the factors that influence the adoption of technological tools by business students during the pandemics. Method: Quantitative with the submission of an online quiz to students of a Brazilian university which was estimated by a Structured Equation Model. Results: The perceived usefulness and ease of use of a technological tool do not have a positive influence on the students' attitudes towards its use; at the same time, a positive relation was found between the interactivity and the cost-benefit ratio of the platforms and students' attitudes. Conclusion: It can be concluded that offering a digital teaching platform with resources that allow high interaction between students and instructors and does not involve high costs for students, can help to increase the willingness to use the platform.

Background: During epidemic disease outbreaks, people’s daily lives are restricted by quarantine and social distancing measures that can affect not only their physical and mental health but also other aspects of their lives, including education. The quality of medical education has suffered amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with on-site classes and conferences canceled or postponed. To address the resultant gaps in learning and supplement the rigors of formal medical teaching, recent research has suggested the use of nonfictional films. However, research on the educational and therapeutic value of fictional films is currently lacking. Methods: This study explored fiction films featuring medical practices, diseases, and treatments. The researcher conducted multiple searches using the largest internet movie databases (Internet Movie Database (IMDb), the American Film Institute Catalog, and the British Film Institute’s Collections Search) and literature research focusing on studies related to the value of films as visual learning and educational tools and their therapeutic effects on viewers in times of pandemics. Results: The researcher chose a representative selection of 20 films from over 100 years of cinematic history to educate and intellectually challenge practitioners under lockdown and use as a therapeutic tool. This study identified many ways films could be a potent instrument for medical education and a wide range of educational and therapeutic possibilities for use during public health crises. Medical fiction offers a highly entertaining and effective way to expand and improve medical knowledge and practices while respecting pandemic restrictions. The findings expand our knowledge on the value of medical fiction as an educational and therapeutic tool. Conclusions: Fictional films can be an advantageous, effective, and entertaining medium for educating physicians and improving their medical skills and practices. When public health crises or other concerns necessitate «work from home» and socially distanced conditions, movies can augment and enhance high-level medical learning and offer new perspectives that might be obscured in times of trauma, making them especially valuable for those struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper presents a differential study on the way education was delivered within families during the COVID-19 lockdown (spring 2020) in the Valencian Community (Spain). Composite indicators based on responses to a survey for families were used to describe their difficulties (identified as “gaps”) in home-schooling. We also considered traditional indicators of family socioeconomic and cultural level. Taking into account the characteristics of the distributions, we analyzed the results using nonparametric tests (chi-square, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H). Our findings advocate more work to further identify and define valid composite indicators to describe the contexts in which families operate as an educational setting, in order to use them as covariate variables for family socioeconomic and cultural level in research on factors associated with performance.

Abstract The pandemic of COVID-19 demanded unprecedented efforts from psychologists to adapt to technology-mediated care. This study aimed to analyze the scientific production concerning the perception of Brazilian psychologists on online psychotherapy during the pandemic through a scoping review. We consulted four databases, while the reviewed corpus comprehended 29 studies. Psychologists identified both benefits and barriers in the transition to online psychotherapy practice, but the perception that the sparing use of this resource is valid and beneficial predominated. There is a strong perception that information and communication technologies will definitely integrate the repertoire of resources used by psychotherapists, as another relevant alternative, posing the need for further studies.

Abstract Health authorities such as the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that while SARS-CoV-2 contamination from surfaces such as food or its packaging is possible, it is not seen as the primary way of contagion. In studies addressing virus survival on surfaces, the virus is no longer detected on porous objects such as corrugated cardboard and fabric after 2 and 5 days, respectively, and also on non-porous surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for periods longer than 7 days. It was also observed that this persistence depends on environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation incidence. The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (Covid-19) pandemic also had an impact on food industries, whereby digitalization trends increased, as well as the packaging industry with the expansion of e-commerce, consumer demand for packaging that is easy to disinfect and the development of more environmentally responsible packaging. On the other hand, taking into account the fear of contamination by the virus, consumers felt safer handling disposable products or single-use packaging instead of reusable packaging, which goes against the progressive ban on disposable packaging in regions, such as the European Union (EU). In the post-pandemic, concerns regarding the usage of plastics will be resumed, and in the long term, a reduction in the use of single-use packaging and a growth in recyclable waste generation rates similar to those predicted before Covid-19 is expected.

ABSTRACT Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic Increased the risk of impairing the mother-infant bonding. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the early bond established between mother and infant and postpartum depression (PPD) in pregnancies that occurred during the pandemic period, to identify the factors that may have influenced these outcomes and to verify if there was an association between bonding and probable PPD. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of postpartum women from a public maternity hospital in the city of São Paulo conducted from February to June 2021, involving 127 mother-baby dyads. The initial data were collected in the immediate postpartum period and between 21–45 days after birth, using a semi-structured questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, gestational and birth conditions, and baby characteristics; the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) were used to evaluate PPD and bonding, respectively. Results: The presence of probable PPD and unplanned pregnancies were associated with higher PBQ score and risk to impaired bonding (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). EPDS showed a high prevalence of PPD (29.1%) and was not associated with any Studied variable. Probably, this high prevalence of probable PPD was due to the context of insecurity secondary to the pandemic. Conclusions: We observed an increase in the prevalence of probable PPD and unplanned pregnancies during the first 18 months of the pandemic, which were associated with worse scores in mother-infant bonding. The impaired bond can affect the future development of children born during this period.

Objective: to analyze the health care provided to women in peripartum and parturition during the pandemic period of COVID-19. Method: analytical and cross-sectional study, conducted with 404 puerperal women from three maternity hospitals in Paraná - Brazil, between the months of September-December/2021. Data were analyzed by chi-square test (p

Objective: To describe study protocol and initial results of research project COVID-Inconfidentes. Method: This paper described the methodological procedures adopted and the prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the population. A household survey was conducted between October and December 2020, in two historic cities of Brazil's mining region. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody was detected using the Wondfo® rapid test. The face-to-face interview consisted of administration of a questionnaire containing registration data, sociodemographic and economic variables, living habits, general health condition, mental health, sleep habits, and eating and nutrition. Results: We evaluated 1,762 residents, of which 764 (43.4 %) were in Mariana and 998 (56.6 %) in Ouro Preto. For both cities, 51.9 % of the interviewees were female, with a predominance of the age range 35 to 59 years old (47.2 %). The prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection was 5.5 % in both cities, 6.2 % in Ouro Preto, and 4.7 % in Mariana (p-value > 0.05). Conclusion: The study was effective to estimate the seroprevalence of infection by the virus and its findings will enable further analyses of the health conditions of the population related to social isolation and the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with the manifestation of Minor Psychiatric Disorders (MPD) among university students in southern Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Cross-sectional study, conducted in August and September 2020, with 464 university students. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used with a cut-off point ≥ 7, and associated factors were identified through crude and adjusted analyses using logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of MPD was 76.5%. Factors positively associated with the outcome were female gender, job loss during the pandemic, use of psychoactive substances, and difficulties in following online classes. Being in social distancing for seven months or more was negatively associated with the outcome. Conclusion: High prevalence of MPD among the studied sample, as well as a relationship between this outcome and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.