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Free, post-study and indefinite access to the best prophylactic, diagnostic and therapeutic method that has been demonstrated to be effective during the study is a fundamental condition for protecting research participants. Since its inception in ethical regulations for research with human beings, Brazil has made this condition a cornerstone of protection for study participants. Through a qualitative analysis of Chapter VI of Law 14874, a new Law that regulates research with human beings in Brazil it was possible to perceive that there was a regression in the protection and recognition of the fundamental rights and dignity of the human beings participating in the research.

The aim of the present study was to describe the conceptual and operational definitions of the frailty syndrome recommended by the Brazilian Consensus on Frailty in Older People. In 2015, a task force consisting of Brazilian specialists on human aging conducted a bibliographical review on frailty among older people in Brazil and established a consensus on the main findings through periodic meetings. A total of 72 articles were included in the analysis, comprising one systematic review, two conceptual discussions, two methodological descriptions, four longitudinal studies focusing on mortality and worsening of the frailty profile, eight cross-cultural adaptation studies, and 55 cross-sectional or prevalence studies. Forty-five studies (62.5%) used the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) frailty scale, of which seven (15.2%) used unadjusted cut-off points for their samples and 17 (36.9%) modified at least one of the five items of the instrument. The prevalence of frailty varied between 6.7 and 74.1%. When the CHS frailty scale was used, the wide range of prevalence — from 8 to 49.3% — depended on the cut-off points used to classify changes in gait speed and handgrip strength, as well as the research setting. The studies were based on four major conceptual models of frailty. Frailty in older people represents a state of physiological vulnerability and should not be confused with disabilities or multi-morbidities. In the Brazilian population, the prevalence of frailty has not yet been adequately estimated, and the cut-off points of the items of the frailty scales should be adapted to the parameters of this population.

BACKGROUND: Existing instruments for the diagnosis of frailty are limited by their focus on mobility evaluation, failure to incorporate comorbidities, and dichotomous classification of patients as frail or non-frail, which hinders adequate identification of frail older adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frailty profile of outpatients seen at a secondary geriatric care service in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, as measured by the Visual Scale of Frailty, and describe the five levels of health status proposed by this instrument in terms of function, disabilities, and comorbidities. METHODS: The medical records of patients who attended the clinic between February 2011 and February 2014 were evaluated, and the patients classified in accordance with the Visual Scale of Frailty. Continuous variables were analyzed by ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test, and categorical variables, by the χ2 test. Analyses were performed in SPSS Version 19.0. RESULTS: A total of 813 medical records were evaluated. Among these patients, 5.2% were considered robust, 31% at risk of frailty, 24.6% as frail, 34.8% as highly complex frail, and 4.4% as frail individuals in the final stage of life. Analysis of the health status categories demonstrated an association between these categories, greater functional impairment, and greater presence of disabilities and comorbidities. CONCLUSION: The Visual Scale of Frailty is a useful tool in assessing the health status of older adults and indicated a high prevalence of frailty in the studied population.

Introduction: People with disabilities face many challenges on a daily basis. Despite legislative advances and inclusion policies, discrimination against people with disabilities persists in various areas of life, including access to health services. Aim: This study aims to conduct an integrative literature review to investigate the factors associated with discrimination faced by people with disabilities in health services. Materials and Methods: The search was conducted in February 2024 in the IBECS, Lilacs, BDEnf, Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The health descriptors (DeCS) “people with disabilities,” “social discrimination,” and “health services” were used. Original articles available in full, from the last five years, and in any language were included. The exclusion criteria were duplicate articles and those that did not answer the guiding question. Results: A total of 162 records were identified, from which 17 studies were selected, resulting in a final sample of 10 articles. The main factors associated with the discriminatory experiences faced by people with disabilities when accessing and using the health system were “stigmatization,” “negligence,” “prejudice,” and “access difficulties.” Conclusions: Significant drivers of discrimination were identified, including financial barriers, lack of training for health professionals, and other gaps that generate prejudice, stigmatization, and neglect. It is essential to implement public policies to ensure service accessibility, provide financial assistance for people with disabilities, establish training programs for health professionals, and conduct more research on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To identify differences in the barriers to access health services between the population with and without vulnerable conditions based on the results of the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición Continua 2023 (Ensanut Continua 2023). Material and methods. Four categories of vulnerability were defined between the population with health needs that did not seek care and users of health services who went to institutions that did not correspond to them. The reasons for not requesting care and for requesting care in an institution that did not correspond to them were grouped by type of access barrier. The differences between the barriers reported according to the vulnerability category were analyzed, as well as the expenditure to address health needs. Results. Regardless of their vulnerable situation, an important part of the population must overcome barriers to seek or obtain the care they require. The most frequent barriers were personal and organizational. The population with more vulnerable conditions reported more personal and economic barriers. Conclusions. To advance in the satisfaction of the right to health, it is necessary to strengthen the organizational capacity of health services to improve their availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality, and reduce the vulnerability conditions of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has created additional challenges for family health. Worry, fear, and anxiety associated with this disease can affect the perception of family health. The study's objective was to analyze the factors associated with health vulnerability of family members in the Peruvian population after pandemic. Methods Observational, cross‐sectional, and analytical study. Sampling was nonprobabilistic. The sample consisted of 519 residents who met the following inclusion criteria: Peruvian resident, of both genders, over 18 years of age, who lives with their family, and who agrees to participate in the study. For data collection, the “SALUFAM” and “PRE‐COVID‐19” scales were used, which measure the health vulnerability of family members and concern about the contagion of COVID‐19, respectively. Data collection was done between January and March, 2023. Results Living in the Coast region increases by 3.299 times (95% CI = 1.55–9.28; p = 0.003) the probability of lower family health vulnerability compared to residents from the Jungle region. In the same way, having a low concern about the contagion of COVID‐19 increases 2.77 times (95% CI = 1.02–7.53; p = 0.044) the probability of less vulnerability to family health, unlike participants who are highly concerned about the contagion of COVID‐19. Conclusions It should be necessary to design prevention and family health promotion strategies according to the geographical region; it is also essential to provide education on the risks and the importance of prevention measures for COVID‐19, regardless of their initial level of concern.

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic has created additional challenges for family health. Worry, fear, and anxiety associated with this disease can affect the perception of family health. The study's objective was to analyze the factors associated with health vulnerability of family members in the Peruvian population after pandemic. Methods: Observational, cross‐sectional, and analytical study. Sampling was nonprobabilistic. The sample consisted of 519 residents who met the following inclusion criteria: Peruvian resident, of both genders, over 18 years of age, who lives with their family, and who agrees to participate in the study. For data collection, the "SALUFAM" and "PRE‐COVID‐19" scales were used, which measure the health vulnerability of family members and concern about the contagion of COVID‐19, respectively. Data collection was done between January and March, 2023. Results: Living in the Coast region increases by 3.299 times (95% CI = 1.55–9.28; p = 0.003) the probability of lower family health vulnerability compared to residents from the Jungle region. In the same way, having a low concern about the contagion of COVID‐19 increases 2.77 times (95% CI = 1.02–7.53; p = 0.044) the probability of less vulnerability to family health, unlike participants who are highly concerned about the contagion of COVID‐19. Conclusions: It should be necessary to design prevention and family health promotion strategies according to the geographical region; it is also essential to provide education on the risks and the importance of prevention measures for COVID‐19, regardless of their initial level of concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the possibility of applying Fuzzy Logic in analyzing the vulnerability of Women Who Have Sex with Women to Sexually Transmitted Infections/HIV/AIDS. Methods: We developed a Fuzzy Logic system with 17 input variables and one output variable, using data related to vulnerability in a municipality located in the Midwest region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Results: The factor with the greatest positive impact was the confirmation that a low understanding of Sexually Transmitted Infections/HIV/AIDS is associated with higher vulnerability. Conversely, the statement “Not disclosing sexual activity to healthcare professionals,” where individuals do not admit to having sex with women, had the least impact. Conclusions: Fuzzy Logic facilitates the identification of vulnerability, expressed through the analysis of interaction between variables in each dimension. This makes it a promising method to assist in analyzing the vulnerability of specific populations.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the manifestations presented by parents of children and adolescents who require special health attention that can impact their mental health. Methods: exploratory, qualitative research, based on the concept of vulnerability, with data collection carried out through interviews with 18 parents of children and adolescents with special health care needs, hospitalized in the pediatric ward of a hospital in Paraná, between May/2017 and May/ 2018. Data analyzed by inductive thematic analysis. Results: parents experienced situations of vulnerability when providing care at home, with repercussions on their mental health, expressed by manifestations of lack of protection, anxiety and depression. Final considerations: It is important that health professionals seek to expand actions to promote care and reduce situations that generate threats, insecurities, concerns and damage to the health of parents, which can impact and further weaken care for children and adolescents who need attention especially health.

Background: Personal emotions and affects have been identified and studied in the context of pandemics, as well as coping strategies centered on emotional regulation or the balance between positive and negative emotions. Objectives: The objectives of this paper are to identify an emotion and affect structure in our sample and analyze the relationship of these dimensions with resilient coping in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This study employed a cross-sectional design that involved a non-probabilistic sample with 598 participants over the age of 18, with 51.1% being female, and an average age of 40.73 years. First, the emotional structure was identified through principal component analysis (PCA). Secondly, a linear regression analysis was performed to investigate emotional dimensions as predictors of coping. Results: A valid and reliable emotional structure with four dimensions was identified. The regression model revealed that coping is positively associated with the active and positive dimension and negatively correlated with the negative and moral dimensions. Conclusions: Emotional dimensions are predictors of coping, with moral and negative dimensions having a negative effect, while active and positive dimensions have a positive effect. When designing interventions for coping strategies, multiple dimensions of emotions and affective states in people who are in vulnerable situations must be considered.

Background: Personal emotions and affects have been identified and studied in the context of pandemics, as well as coping strategies centered on emotional regulation or the balance between positive and negative emotions. Objectives: The objectives of this paper are to identify an emotion and affect structure in our sample and analyze the relationship of these dimensions with resilient coping in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This study employed a cross-sectional design that involved a non-probabilistic sample with 598 participants over the age of 18, with 51.1% being female, and an average age of 40.73 years. First, the emotional structure was identified through principal component analysis (PCA). Secondly, a linear regression analysis was performed to investigate emotional dimensions as predictors of coping. Results: A valid and reliable emotional structure with four dimensions was identified. The regression model revealed that coping is positively associated with the active and positive dimension and negatively correlated with the negative and moral dimensions. Conclusions: Emotional dimensions are predictors of coping, with moral and negative dimensions having a negative effect, while active and positive dimensions have a positive effect. When designing interventions for coping strategies, multiple dimensions of emotions and affective states in people who are in vulnerable situations must be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Being introduced in the interpretations on the perspectives of the expansion of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic in the 1990s, the concept of vulnerability seeks to articulate the individual dimension of vulnerability to HIV to social and programmatic contexts, often marked by inequality and social injustice. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the uses of the multifactorial conception (individual, social, programmatic) of vulnerability in studies on women and HIV/AIDS, from 1990 to 2018, published in SciELO. Methods: From the scoping review of the national literature, 39 selected studies were classified as to the use of the concept of vulnerability in consistent, partial, or inconsistent use. Results: The main aspects associated with women’s vulnerability to AIDS were difficulty in negotiating condom use, social and symbolic dimension of marriage and motherhood, differentiated meanings of sexuality between genders, and fragility of sexual and reproductive rights. We observed gaps regarding the articulation of the three components of the concept and a scarcity of evaluations of interventions guided by the referential of vulnerability. Conclusion: The findings indicate the potential contribution of the concept in the analysis of the syndemic between HIV, social, racial, gender inequalities, and other health problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Understanding the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care of children with special health needs. Methods: Exploratory, qualitative research, anchored in the conceptual framework of health vulnerability in the individual, social and institutional dimensions. Interviews were carried out from October 2020 to February 2021 (pre-vaccination against COVID-19) with 19 family caregivers, 11 professionals from education, social protection and health institutions and 15 primary health care nurses in a Brazilian city on the Brazil-Argentina-Paraguay border. Reflective thematic analysis was applied. Results: Discontinuity in care, low scope of social protection and unstable institutional context marked the attention of children with special health needs. Individual vulnerabilities were highlighted as a result of vaccination delays, fear of contagion and changes in development; institutional vulnerability due to restrictions on home visits, waiting lists, lack of professionals and absence of group activities; and social vulnerability related to difficulties in social assistance and the closure of land borders. Elements related to the telehealth strategy and mechanisms that assume professional responsibility expressed strengths for the care of children with special health needs. Conclusion: The restrictive measures adopted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the care of children with special health needs, intensifying their individual and social vulnerabilities. Strengthening family and community contexts and expanding dialogue between sectors of primary health care indicate avoiding a mismatch between professional support and the pressing needs of these children, ensuring continuity of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the evidence of content validity and response process of a health vulnerability item bank. Methods: Psychometric study with support of Pasquali's theoretical pole in which 62 specialists with different sociodemographic and academic characteristics were selected and 15 of them responded to the content validity questionnaire. After adjustments, the bank moved to the response process validity phase and was evaluated by 12 health service users. A content validity coefficient was used to evaluate the items and the bank, which had the reliability assessed by the binomial test, considering a percentage of 80% and p-value >0.05. Results: The bank presented good evidence of content validity by experts. The coefficients were 0.87 for the subject element, 0.86 for the social element and 0.865 for the general element. The target audience made suggestions in the response process validity phase to better understand the items (total coefficient: 0.89), which were considered clear, accurate and understandable. Conclusion: The final version of the item bank has 535 items, 238 for the subject and 297 for the social element. It presents evidence of validity of content and response process and is suitable for testing the validity of internal structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE Investigate evidence of validity of the Family Vulnerability Scale (EVFAM-BR) as an instrument to support population-based management in primary health care (PHC), in the scope of Health Care Planning (PAS). METHODS This is a psychometric study to assess any additional evidence of the internal structure of EVFAM-BR using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and network analysis (NA). A preliminary version of the scale with 38 items was submitted to patients of PHC facilities that use the PAS methodology, distributed across the five regions of Brazil. For the primary CFA data, factor loadings and predictive power (R2) of the item were used. Seven model adjustment indices were adopted and reliability was measured by three indicators, using Bayesian estimation. RESULTS The preliminary version of the scale was applied to 1,255 patients. Using the AFC, factor loadings ranged from 0.66 to 0.90 and R2 from 0.44 to 0.81. Both the primary indicators and the model adequacy indices presented satisfactory and consistent levels. According to the NA, the items were appropriately associated with their peers, respecting the established dimensions, thus demonstrating sustainability and stability of the proposed model. CONCLUSIONS The evidence of validity presented by EVFAM-BR indicates, for the first time in Brazil, a concise instrument that is able to assertively measure family vulnerability, potentially supporting population-based management.

The objective of this study was to systematically investigate and review studies on the concept of vulnerability associated with the health of the older population. Articles were selected, filtered, and analyzed following the steps recommended by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Screening and data extraction were performed independently by 2 reviewers using templates developed by the authors. Data extracted included specific details about population, interest, and context. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they: 1) were cross-sectional or prospective, 2) involved community-dwellers aged ≥60 years, 3) were published in the last 10 years, and 4) had as a concept vulnerability associated with the health of the older population. A total of 833 studies were identified and screened, 26 of which were included. Most included studies addressed vulnerability in older adults as an individual aspect, whether biological or psychological. The remaining studies reported vulnerability as affecting socio-environmental, health care system, and multifactorial aspects. Therefore, the concept of “vulnerability in older people” was not properly defined in the biomedical scientific community. When we return to the guiding question of this review, we can conclude that the conditions of vulnerability of older people are being treated broadly and diversely, producing different methodological strategies. The systematic review was conducted in the United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases between August and December 2020 and updated in September 2022, with registration number CRD42022361649.

Abstract Background Leptospirosis, caused by the Leptospira bacteria, is an acute infectious disease that is mainly transmitted by exposure to contaminated soil or water, thereby presenting a wide range of subsequent clinical conditions. This study aimed to assess the distribution of cases and deaths from leptospirosis and its association with social vulnerability in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between 2010 and 2019. Methods The lethality rates and incidence of leptospirosis and their association with gender, age, education, and skin color were analyzed using chi-square tests. The spatial relationship between the environmental determinants, social vulnerability, and the incidence rate of leptospirosis in the different municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul was analyzed through spatial regression analysis. Results During the study period, a total of 4,760 cases of leptospirosis, along with 238 deaths, were confirmed. The mean incidence rate was 4.06 cases/100,000 inhabitants, while the mean fatality rate was 5%. Although the entire population was susceptible, white-colored individuals, males, people of the working-age group, along with less-educated individuals, were more affected by the disease. Lethality was higher in people with dark skin, and the prime risk factor associated with death was the direct contact of the patients with rodents, sewage, and garbage. The social vulnerability was positively associated with the incidence of leptospirosis in the Rio Grande do Sul, especially in municipalities located in the center of the state. Conclusions It is evident that the incidence of the disease is significantly related to the vulnerability of the population. The use of the health vulnerability index showed great relevance in the evaluation of leptospirosis cases and can be used further as a tool to help municipalities identify disease-prone areas for intervention and resource allocation.

This study aimed to further explore the concept of health vulnerability in Argentina, including environmental pollution in 2010. To this end, we developed a geo-referenced database of PM2.5 concentrations and emissions data from the national emissions inventory to analyze possible correlations with the demographic, activity, education, and health data from the 2010 national census. In addition, to provide a more complete picture of health vulnerability in Argentina, an extended index (SVI + PM2.5) was constructed and mapped, including PM concentration. We obtained data for annual PM2.5 values emissions and air concentrations in Argentina from public sources (GEEA-AEIv3.0M for emissions and the Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group V5.GL.03 dataset for surface PM2.5). We evaluated health vulnerability using the "Sanitary Vulnerability Index" (SVI). PM2.5 emissions are concentrated in urban and intensive agricultural areas of Argentina. PM2.5 air concentrations were acceptable (≤10 µg/m3) in only 15% of the Argentinean territory. The newly developed SVI + PM2.5 index showed that exposure to particulate material significantly increases the vulnerability shown by SVI in almost all census blocks. These results indicate that the new SVI + PM2.5 index might help identify populations that are at risk because of social issues or air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The study aimed to analyze the perception of risk for infection by Treponema pallidum in female public security workers, in the capital of the State of Goiás, Goiânia. This is a qualitative, descriptive research with 47 women through the application of a semi-structured instrument. To analyze the collections of narratives, the content analysis method was used. There was the emergence of 03 (three) thematic categories: (Mis) General knowledge about syphilis; Taboos regarding the use of condoms in a monogamous relationship; and New tools and health education. The main findings reveal the low perception of knowledge about syphilis, the feeling of invulnerability and the low adherence to the use of condoms among women in the police force. These results reinforce the need for effective intervention programs to prevent this infection, which has epidemic proportions and is projected to increase, among public security workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the repercussions of transphobia on trans men’s and transmasculine people’s health. Method: a qualitative study carried out with 38 participants, 35 trans men and three trans men, who attended specialized transgender health services in Bahia, Brazil. In-depth interviews were carried out between June 2019 and February 2020. The Discourse of Collective Subject technique was used and interpretation based on the theoretical concept of transphobia. Results: transphobia has intra and interpersonal repercussions on the life and health of trans men and transmasculine people who attend health services. There were experiences of violence in the private space, fraying of family ties; discrimination in the school space; limitation in professional/work opportunities; barriers to self-care and access to health services; elaboration of trans identity protection strategies; consequences of transphobia on psycho-emotional health. Conclusion: transphobia is a social disease that affects different life and health dimensions. It causes damage to the socialization of trans men and transmasculine people, in addition to health service spaces as well as in family environments, schools, universities and at work, which result in non-adherence to self-care, distancing from health services and psycho-emotional distress.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze content validity evidence and response processes of a bank of items for measuring vulnerability to physical inactivity in adults. Method: Methodological study, with 13 specialists and 46 representatives of the target population. The Content Validity Index (CVI) and binomial test were calculated; data obtained through validity based on response processes were collected through interviews. Results: Of the 105 constructed items, 16 were excluded (CVI0.78), 34 were changed and 4 were deleted after evaluating the evidence of response processes. In the end, 97 items remained, with a global CVI of 0.92, organized into two dimensions: Subject (CVI=0.91) and Social (CVI=0.94). Conclusion: The items presented adequate parameters and evidence of validity; and can subsidize the construction of instruments that consider the subject’s and social vulnerability in understanding physical inactivity.

Background: Leptospirosis, caused by the Leptospira bacteria, is an acute infectious disease that is mainly transmitted by exposure to contaminated soil or water, thereby presenting a wide range of subsequent clinical conditions. This study aimed to assess the distribution of cases and deaths from leptospirosis and its association with social vulnerability in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between 2010 and 2019. Methods: The lethality rates and incidence of leptospirosis and their association with gender, age, education, and skin color were analyzed using chi-square tests. The spatial relationship between the environmental determinants, social vulnerability, and the incidence rate of leptospirosis in the different municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul was analyzed through spatial regression analysis. Results: During the study period, a total of 4,760 cases of leptospirosis, along with 238 deaths, were confirmed. The mean incidence rate was 4.06 cases/100,000 inhabitants, while the mean fatality rate was 5%. Although the entire population was susceptible, white-colored individuals, males, people of the working-age group, along with less-educated individuals, were more affected by the disease. Lethality was higher in people with dark skin, and the prime risk factor associated with death was the direct contact of the patients with rodents, sewage, and garbage. The social vulnerability was positively associated with the incidence of leptospirosis in the Rio Grande do Sul, especially in municipalities located in the center of the state. Conclusions: It is evident that the incidence of the disease is significantly related to the vulnerability of the population. The use of the health vulnerability index showed great relevance in the evaluation of leptospirosis cases and can be used further as a tool to help municipalities identify disease-prone areas for intervention and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: After an acquired neurological lesion, some people are in situations of greater vulnerability to complications and comorbidities, which can exert impacts on their life and health, compromise their quality of life, and lead to hospitalizations and premature death. Identifying the vulnerability situation can guide nurses in the development of actions to prevent complications, comorbidities, and other conditions after the neurological lesion. Objective: To validate a scale to identify the vulnerability situation of people with motor disabilities after an acquired neurological lesion (Escala de Vulnerabilidade de Pessoas com Deficiência, EVU-PcD). Materials and method: The article presents a methodological development and psychometric study with a quantitative approach. The construct validity stages were as follows: application of the Vulnerability Scale for people with motor disabilities after an acquired neurological lesion (EVU-PcD) and reliability and confirmatory factor analysis. EVU-PcD, initially with 38 items, was applied to 102 individuals with acquired motor disabilities. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha from 0.7 to 0.9. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the structural equations model for latent variables a path diagram was used. Results: The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.86, which was considered excellent. The fit indices, chi-square ratio (1.63), root mean square of approximation errors (0.08) and parsimonious fit quality index (0.61) presented acceptable indicators of adequacy to the final model with three domains and 28 items. Conclusions: The final factor structure of the EVU-PcD scale with 28 items showed satisfactory reliability and validity results to identify the vulnerability of people with motor disabilities after an acquired neurological lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Bioetica is the property of Conselho Federal de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Bioetica is the property of Conselho Federal de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: In adolescents, the vulnerabilities resulting from HIV infection are linked to the biopsychosocial singularities of the phase, making them a priority group for health strategies. Objective: To analyze the state of the art regarding situations of vulnerability of adolescents who (co)live with HIV. Method: Integrative literature review conducted in eight libraries/databases to answer the guiding question. The standardized recommendations for review were followed, the findings were categorized and discussed according to the vulnerability framework. Result: 7,517 publications were identified, of which 11 were included. Different situations of individual, social and programmatic vulnerability experienced by young people with HIV were evidenced, namely: omission of diagnosis, stigma, discrimination, low adherence to antiretroviral therapy, emotional distress, among others. Discussion: Adolescents living with HIV are susceptible to situations that expose them to real and/or potential risks. In this sense, it is imperative to qualify health services and actions, in a logic of universal and integral offer, free of judgments based on personal beliefs. Conclusion: Adolescents who (co)live with HIV are inserted in dynamic, subjective, and complex contexts of vulnerability, constrained by individual, social and programmatic aspects that negatively influence their adolescence, their health, and their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The concepts of risk and vulnerability have been discussed in the healthcare field and represent different approaches in the process of care, with an important amount of interventions that included drug prescriptions and treatments. Objectives: To analyze the healthcare professionals’ perceptions of the concepts of risk and vulnerability and their influence on Medication Use Process. Methods: Data were collected in an academic tertiary hospital, from a focus group conducted with healthcare professionals who are active in diverse settings of care. The meeting was recorded, audio statements were transcribed and coded, and the content was organized and analyzed using content analysis. Results: Three physicians, 2 nurses and 2 pharmacists participated in the study. The findings suggest that there is a continuum between both concepts, with vulnerability preceding risk: each individual has its own range of vulnerability prior to the drug administration, being risk inherent to the drug utilization process. Conclusions: According to the research subjects, reducing vulnerability can potentially prevent additional drug therapy problems development: the patient has to be the focus of the medication use process, not only the drug and its risk.

Copyright of Cadernos de Saude Publica is the property of Escola Nacional de Saude Publica Sergio Arouca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

OBJECTIVE: Investigate evidence of validity of the Family Vulnerability Scale (EVFAM-BR) as an instrument to support population-based management in primary health care (PHC), in the scope of Health Care Planning (PAS). METHODS: This is a psychometric study to assess any additional evidence of the internal structure of EVFAM-BR using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and network analysis (NA). A preliminary version of the scale with 38 items was submitted to patients of PHC facilities that use the PAS methodology, distributed across the five regions of Brazil. For the primary CFA data, factor loadings and predictive power (R2) of the item were used. Seven model adjustment indices were adopted and reliability was measured by three indicators, using Bayesian estimation. RESULTS: The preliminary version of the scale was applied to 1,255 patients. Using the AFC, factor loadings ranged from 0.66 to 0.90 and R2 from 0.44 to 0.81. Both the primary indicators and the model adequacy indices presented satisfactory and consistent levels. According to the NA, the items were appropriately associated with their peers, respecting the established dimensions, thus demonstrating sustainability and stability of the proposed model. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of validity presented by EVFAM-BR indicates, for the first time in Brazil, a concise instrument that is able to assertively measure family vulnerability, potentially supporting population-based management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the sociodemographic profile and spatial distribution of positive asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 in Poços de Caldas. The sample was calculated with a confidence level of 95% (z=1.96), sampling error of 5% and design effect (deff) of 1.2. The selection was performed by the double-stage cluster technique. Logistic regression models were used, and spatial analysis was done by the Arcgis desktop software 10.8. The prevalence of asymptomatic positives among the 1,222 participants increased from 2.2% (95% CI: 0.8%-3.6%) in the first stage to 5.3% (95% CI: 3.1%-7.5%) in the third. There were more positive results among women (OR=2.36; CI95: 1.03-5.40), with lower educational level (OR= 2.30; IC95%: 1.22-4.34), and who were left without income in the pandemic (OR=3.78; IC95%: 1.59-9.03). The positive cases were located close to the access roads. There was a difference in the prevalence of the disease according to sociodemographic characteristics, and the highways played a key role in these dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to analyze the prevalence of tuberculosis, coronavirus, chronic conditions and vulnerabilities among migrants and refugees in Brazil. Method: this is a cross-sectional study of the electronic survey type conducted with international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics was applied for the analysis, with calculation of position and dispersion measures. Regarding the categorical variables, relative and absolute frequencies were estimated. Results: the study participants were 553 migrants and refugees, verifying 3.07%, 7.2% and 27.3% prevalence of tuberculosis, COVID-19 and chronic conditions, respectively. Among the vulnerabilities, 32% reported unemployment, 37.6% moved to Brazil as a result of the social situation in their countries and 33.6% were living as refugees or sheltered people. Conclusion: tuberculosis, chronic diseases and COVID-19 presented higher prevalence values in migrants and refugees than in the general population. As this is a population group that still has significant difficulty accessing health services and social protection systems, based on diverse evidence, the study will subsidize public policies, Nursing care and the incorporation of new routines in the service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Interface - Comunicação, Saúde, Educação is the property of Fundacao UNI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of SMAD Revista Electronica Salud Mental, Alcohol y Drogas is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirao Preto and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rev Rene is the property of Rev Rene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rev Rene is the property of Rev Rene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Signos is the property of Universidad Santo Tomas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Prevenção de Infecção e Saúde is the property of Revista Prevencao de Infeccao e Saude and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to further explore the concept of health vulnerability in Argentina, including environmental pollution in 2010. To this end, we developed a geo-referenced database of PM2.5 concentrations and emissions data from the national emissions inventory to analyze possible correlations with the demographic, activity, education, and health data from the 2010 national census. In addition, to provide a more complete picture of health vulnerability in Argentina, an extended index (SVI + PM2.5) was constructed and mapped, including PM concentration. We obtained data for annual PM2.5 values emissions and air concentrations in Argentina from public sources (GEEA-AEIv3.0M for emissions and the Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group V5.GL.03 dataset for surface PM2.5). We evaluated health vulnerability using the “Sanitary Vulnerability Index” (SVI). PM2.5 emissions are concentrated in urban and intensive agricultural areas of Argentina. PM2.5 air concentrations were acceptable (≤10 µg/m3) in only 15% of the Argentinean territory. The newly developed SVI + PM2.5 index showed that exposure to particulate material significantly increases the vulnerability shown by SVI in almost all census blocks. These results indicate that the new SVI + PM2.5 index might help identify populations that are at risk because of social issues or air pollution.

Syphilis has reemerged as a serious public health problem in Brazil and worldwide, disproportionately affecting men who have sex with men (MSM) and travestis and transgender women (TrTGW). Studies on sexually transmitted infections (STI) in adolescents from these key populations are relatively scarce. This is a Brazilian multi-center, cross study with prevalence analysis, using as baseline the PrEP1519 cohort of sexually active MSM and TrTGW adolescents, recruited from April 2019 to December 2020. Analyses were made using the dimensions of vulnerability to STI/HIV and logistic regression models were conducted to estimate the odds ratios of the association between the predictor variables and positive treponemal test for syphilis at the moment of entry in the study. In total, 677 participants were analyzed; participants’ median age was 18.9 years (IQR: 18.1-19.5); 70.5% (477) self-declared as black; 70.5% (474), as homosexuals/gays; and 48 (7.1%), as trans women or travestis. The baseline prevalence of syphilis was 21.3%. In the final logistic regression model, higher chance of syphilis was associated with: self-reported episode of STI in the last 12 months (OR = 5.92; 95%CI: 3.74-9.37), sex worker (OR = 3.39; 95%CI: 1.32-8.78), and < 11 years of schooling (OR = 1.76; 95%CI: 1.13-2.74). The prevalence of syphilis among MSM/TrTGW adolescents aged from 15 to 19 years was alarming, much higher than the described for the general population within this age range and associated with vulnerability factors. This reinforces the urgent need to strengthen public health programs to debate about race, gender, sexuality, and prevention.

Objective: to understand the perspective of nurses regarding the obstacles faced by physically disabled women in regard to cytopathological examinations. Methods: qualitative study with 11 nurses from Basic Health Units, including urban and rural areas. Data was processed and analyzed using the software IRAMUTEQ (R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires). Results: classes 1 and 5 were grouped into the class “Inadequate infrastructure”; class 2 was “Results of the collected exams”; class 3, “Feelings at the time of examination”; and 4 “Team training”. Conclusion: we revealed that women presented negative feelings during the examination, professionals lacked further training, there were no strategies to deal with the situation in the unit, and facilities were inadequate to attend the needs of the users. Contributions to practice: we demonstrated that it is essential to provide care to physically disabled women and carry out routine exams in this population. Furthermore, this study can give support to strategies to adapt and improve the knowledge of the workers who provide care.

Abstract Objective: to analyze the prevalence of tuberculosis, coronavirus, chronic conditions and vulnerabilities among migrants and refugees in Brazil. Method: this is a cross-sectional study of the electronic survey type conducted with international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics was applied for the analysis, with calculation of position and dispersion measures. Regarding the categorical variables, relative and absolute frequencies were estimated. Results: the study participants were 553 migrants and refugees, verifying 3.07%, 7.2% and 27.3% prevalence of tuberculosis, COVID-19 and chronic conditions, respectively. Among the vulnerabilities, 32% reported unemployment, 37.6% moved to Brazil as a result of the social situation in their countries and 33.6% were living as refugees or sheltered people. Conclusion: tuberculosis, chronic diseases and COVID-19 presented higher prevalence values in migrants and refugees than in the general population. As this is a population group that still has significant difficulty accessing health services and social protection systems, based on diverse evidence, the study will subsidize public policies, Nursing care and the incorporation of new routines in the service.

Men have always been the main users of psychoactive substances, but in recent decades there has been a significant increase in the number of female addicts. Women have different physiological responses and, in addition, suffer greater social stigma due to chemical dependence. The present study sought to know the profile of women who use psychoactive substances in Maringá (PR). It has a transversal character, using data from the Detailed Report of Assistance to this audience, from 2012 to 2019. The data were analyzed in a descriptive way. There were 8,888 attendances, distributed in different health or social assistance units. The users were mostly young, single, with children, with medium education, performing informal jobs and had a monthly income of less than one minimum wage. Knowledge of this profile allows for the acceptance and better development of health-promoting strategies, considering the inequalities related to the gender variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Família, Ciclos de Vida e Saúde no Contexto Social (REFACS) is the property of Universidade Federal do Triangulo Mineiro, Instituto de Ciencias da Saude and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)