Search

Objective: To estimate prevalence of the full vaccination schedule for children 12 to 24 months old and to analyze associated factors., Methods: Survey with cluster sampling carried out in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, between December 16, 2020, and January 4, 2021. Children born in Vitória in 2017 and 2018 were included. We estimated the prevalence of vaccination schedules. Poisson regression was used to verify association with full vaccination coverage., Results: We included 788 children. Full vaccination coverage was found to be 57% taking a 95% confidence interval (95%CI 50.98;62.98). Prevalence of full vaccination coverage was lowest when private services were used for immunization (prevalence ratio [PR] 0.67; 95%CI 0.51;0.86) and when mothers had ≥ 4 children (PR 0.55; 95%CI 0.32;0.94)., Conclusion: We found low vaccination coverage and a drop in booster doses. Use of private services for immunization and number of children were associated with incomplete vaccination coverage.

Objective: To describe the polio vaccination status in 26 state capitals, the Federal District, and 12 municipalities in Brazil, among children born between 2017 and 2018., Methods: This was a population-based household survey conducted from 2020 to 2022, which assessed polio vaccination coverage in children, considering valid, administered, and timely doses by municipality., Results: Data were collected from 37,801 children. Vaccination coverage for the complete valid dose schedule was 87.5% (95%CI 86.2;88.7), dropping to 79.6% (95%CI 78.1;81.0), when the booster dose was considered. The dropout rate was 4.5% for the complete schedule, and 11.7% for the first booster. There was no correlation between campaign implementation and high coverage., Conclusion: Vaccination coverage for the complete valid dose schedule and the first booster did not meet the 95.0% target. Regional disparities and the association between vaccination coverage and social indicators should be taken into consideration in strategies to increase coverage.

Objective: To analyse vaccination coverage and factors associated with incomplete polio vaccination in a cohort of children born in 2017-2018, in state capitals and interior region municipalities of Northeast Brazil., Methods: Household survey of children aged ≤24 months conducted between 2020 and 2022. Vaccination coverage and dropout rates were estimated, as well as factors associated with incomplete vaccination, analyzed by calculating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI)., Results: : Among 12,137 children, vaccination coverage (4 doses) was 80.9% (95%CI 78.4;83.1); 8.4% were not vaccinated. Not having a vaccination card (OR=18.06; 95%CI 10.01;32.61) and use of private services (OR=1.46; 95%CI 1.23;1.74) were associated with incomplete vaccination. Higher dropout rates were found for the booster dose, especially in the highest stratum., Conclusion: Low vaccination coverage, poor dose follow-up and high dropout rates were found for polio vaccines in the areas studied.

Objective: To estimate and compare vaccination coverage among children born in 2017-2018 in São Paulo and Campinas, according to the Vaccination Coverage Survey (ICV 2020) and the National Immunization Program Information System (SI-PNI)., Methods: ICV 2020 analyzed vaccination card records. Coverage was calculated and compared to doses recorded on the SI-PNI, divided by the target population., Results: In São Paulo, according to ICV, in 2017 only BCG (91.7%; 95%CI 87.0;94.7) and rotavirus first dose (90.6%; 95%CI 86.5;93.5) achieved the goals; in 2018, BCG (93.4%; 95%CI 89.5;95.8), rotavirus first dose (90.5%; 95%CI 85.3;94.0), pneumococcal first dose (95.3%; 95%CI 91.7;97.4), meningococcal C first dose (95.1%; 95%CI 91.5;97.2) and pneumococcal second dose (95.0%; 95%CI 91.4;95.0). In Campinas, only BCG achieved the target in 2017 (93.0%; 95%CI 88.8;95.7) and none in 2018. According to the SI-PNI, no vaccine achieved the target in either city., Conclusion: Vaccination coverage was lower than expected and more precise estimates are necessary for adequate monitoring of childhood vaccination status.

Objective: To evaluate opportunity for vaccination in children born alive in Londrina, up to 6 months old and the relationship between socioeconomic stratum and vaccination regularity., Method: Population survey study based on a retrospective cohort of children born in 2017 and 2018 that identified vaccines not administered in a given session. Vaccination regularity was compared between socioeconomic strata using Pearson's chi-square test., Results: Out of 456 vaccination cards, the proportion of vaccination opportunities not recovered for doses to be administered at birth and at two, four and six months was 5.0% (95%CI 3.1;7.5), 4. 5% (95%CI 2.8;6.9), 7.2% (95%CI 5.0;10.2) and 2.1% (95%CI 1.0;4.0), respectively. There was no statistical difference in vaccination regularity between the strata., Conclusion: Missed opportunities for vaccination were found at all ages. Socioeconomic stratum did not influence vaccination regularity.

Objective: To analyze vaccine hesitancy associated factors and repercussions on vaccination coverage., Methods: Cohort of children born in 2017-2018, living in Brazilian state capitals, Federal District (FD), and 12 inner region cities, stratified by socioeconomic level. National Vaccination Coverage Survey (2020) data on hesitancy, access and programmatic difficulties were obtained by interview and coverage was calculated from vaccination card dose and date records., Results: 37801 children were studied, 31001 in the capitals/FD, 6800 in the inner cities. Hesitation between 38.8(95%CI 33.6;44.4) and 57.9(95%CI 54.1;61.6) in high versus low stratum; 64.1(95%CI 58.9;68.9) to 41.7(95%CI 38.4;45.8) among mothers with <8 years of schooling versus 16 years or more; 42.1(95%CI 38.2;46.2) to 55.0(95%CI 52.0;54.7) among private service users versus public service only users. Coverage: full=7.2(95%CI 1.0;38.3); 25.3(95%CI 18.7;33.3) for hesitant people; and 44.7(95%CI 43.0;46.4) for the remainder., Conclusion: High vaccine hesitancy in several groups affecting vaccination coverage and hindering vaccination target achievement. Access problems and programmatic difficulties contribute to low coverage.

Objective: To estimate vaccination coverage and analyze factors associated with full vaccination among children up to 15 months old in the city of Natal-RN, Brazil., Methods: Population-based survey with data recorded on children's vaccination cards and interviews conducted in 2020 and 2021. Analysis of factors associated with complete vaccination was performed by calculating prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) using Poisson regression., Results: Among 688 children studied, vaccination coverage was 45.4% (95%CI 37.2;53.9) and 15.5% (95%CI 10.6;22.2) for valid and on-time doses, respectively. Higher vaccination coverage was associated with females (PR=1.08; 95%CI 0.78;1.48) and socioeconomic strata C and D (PR=1.44; 95%CI 1.03;2.02)., Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the city of Natal has low vaccination coverage for all immunobiologicals.

Objective: To estimate measles-mumps-rubella vaccination coverage, delay and loss to follow-up in children up to 24 months old living in Brazilian cities., Methods: Surveys and questionnaires with a retrospective cohort of live births in 2017-2018, analyzing vaccination coverage and sociodemographic data of children and families, based on vaccination card records and interviews., Results: Valid coverage of first dose was 90.0% (95%CI 88.9;91.0) and 81.1% for the second dose (95%CI 79.8;82.4). Delay for both doses was 23.2% (95%CI 21.9;24.5) and loss to follow-up was 10.8% (95%CI 9.9;11.8). Socioeconomic stratum A had the lowest vaccination coverage and the higher the child's birth order, the lower the vaccination coverage for the second dose. Children whose mothers had 13 to 15 years of education had higher vaccination coverage., Conclusion: Coverage did not meet the recommended target. Differentiated strategies to resolve difficulties in access, misinformation, and vaccination hesitancy will help improve vaccination coverage.

Objective: To analyze vaccination coverage and factors associated with incomplete vaccination in inland municipalities of Northeastern Brazil., Methods: This was a household survey using cluster sampling conducted in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia state, Caruaru, Pernambuco state, Sobral, Ceará state and Imperatriz, Maranhão state between 2020 and 2022. Vaccination coverage by valid doses and vaccine hesitancy were analyzed, with the odds ratio (OR) estimated and adjusted using logistic regression., Results: Among 1,847 children, complete vaccination coverage was 49.2% (95%CI 43.9;54.5). Factors associated with incomplete vaccination included: higher income (OR 1.53; 95%CI 1.02;2.31), residence in Sobral (OR 4.35; 95%CI 3.04; 6.21) and >1 child (OR 1.20; 95%CI 1.11;1.32). Parental decision not to vaccinate and difficulties in traveling to vaccination centers contributed to vaccine hesitancy., Conclusion: Low vaccination coverage and incomplete vaccination were associated with social issues in the socioeconomic strata analyzed.

Objective: To analyze factors associated with full vaccination coverage with valid doses, in children from four state capitals and three other cities in Southeast Brazil., Method: Analysis of a population survey conducted in 2020-2021, with a sample stratified according to socioeconomic levels of children born in 2017-2018, with data collected through photographic records of their vaccination cards. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for full vaccination coverage were estimated based on the characteristics of the family, mother and child., Results: Among 8703 children, lowest coverage occurred in strata A and B (OR=0.39; 95%CI 0.23;0.67 and OR=0.38; 95%CI 0.25;0.58); in consumption level A/B (OR=0.38; 95CI% 0.28;0.52); among those with income >BRL8000/month (OR=0.23; 95%CI 0.12;0.42); in children of mothers with higher education (OR=0.47; 95%CI 0.32;0.71); in children not vaccinated exclusively in the public service (OR=0.37; 95%CI 0.26;0.51) and in children with a vaccination delay of up to 6 months (OR=0.28; 95%CI 0.22;0.37)., Conclusion: Coverage did not reach the targets for controlling vaccine-preventable diseases and was negatively associated with higher socioeconomic status., Main Results: Vaccination coverage for the full schedule with valid doses was very low, putting the control of vaccine-preventable diseases at risk in the four state capitals and three other cities in the interior region of Southeast Brazil., Implications for Services: Brazilian National Health System managers and workers need to know the factors associated with low vaccination coverage and increased risk of abandoning the schedule, access problems and National Immunization Program difficulties., Perspectives: Understanding determinants of low vaccination coverage provides support for the discussion and design of effective public policies to address barriers and qualify health services for vaccination.

Objective: To analyze measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination coverage among children up to 24 months old and factors associated with non-vaccination in a 2017-2018 live birth cohort, in state capitals and large interior region cities in Northeast Brazil., Methods: Population-based survey analyzing vaccination coverage and sociodemographic factors through logistic regression., Results: For 12,137 children, vaccination coverage was 79.3% (95%CI 76.5;81.8), and the dropout rate was 10.6%. Association with non-vaccination: socioeconomic stratum A (OR-a 1.29; 95%CI 1.10;1.50), living in the interior region (OR-a 1.22; 95%CI 1.07;1.39), no access to the Bolsa Família Program (OR-a 1.19, 95%CI 1.05;1.34), family income ≤BRL 1,000 (OR-a 1.17, 95%CI 1.03;1.31), mother not working (OR-a 1.28, 95%CI 1.15;1.42), >1 child per mother (OR-a 1.12, 95%CI 1.08;1.17), and no vaccination card (OR-a 10.69, 95%CI 6.27;18.20)., Conclusion: Low vaccination coverage and a high dropout rate in state capitals and municipalities in the interior region of Northeast Brazil., Main Results: 79.3% vaccination coverage with incomplete vaccination associated with living in higher socioeconomic strata and in interior region municipalities, and children without vaccination records. High dropout rates in the state capitals Natal and João Pessoa., Implications for Services: Recognition of low coverage and factors associated with non-vaccination provides health services with relevant information with a view to planning strategic actions to increase measles, mumps and rubella vaccination coverage., Perspectives: Low coverage and identification of non-vaccination indicate the importance of targeting actions in the Brazilian National Health System to achieve the targets recommended by the National Immunization Program, for populations in Northeast Brazil.

Objective: To analyze vaccination coverage up to 24 months of age according to race/ skin color in the 2017-2018 live birth cohort in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil., Methods: Population-based survey conducted in 2020 and 2021. Vaccination coverage up to 24 months of age was estimated according to administered, valid and timely doses. Crude association of race/skin color was estimated by calculating the crude Prevalence Ratio and respective 95% Confidence Intervals, using Poisson regression., Results: Of the 688 children in the selected cohort, there was greater coverage among Black children for administered doses (White 30.5%; Black 47.8%; 95%CI) and valid doses (White 25.8%; Black 40.1%; 95%CI), although without statistical significance, and lower coverage for timely doses, in the full schedule excluding yellow fever (PR = 0.21; 95%CI 0.04;0.90)., Conclusion: There was lower timely coverage among Black children compared to White children., Main Results: It was found that racial inequalities and social disparities were reflected in vaccination coverage of Black children in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, showing lower prevalence of timely and full vaccination schedules among those children., Implications for Services: The results demonstrate the need to strengthen equitable public policies and the implementation of practices that seek to improve vaccination coverage, thus reducing racial inequalities in child immunization., Perspectives: Health service managers will be able to plan actions and strategies in childhood immunization services, in order to increase vaccination coverage and reduce vaccination hesitancy among Black people and people from lower socioeconomic strata.

The objective was to analyze the temporal effects of age, period, and cohort on mortality from all female homicides, and from female homicides and by firearms, in Brazil from 1980 to 2019. Data were accessed from Brazilian health records. There was an increase in the risk of death in the 2000s in the North and Northeast regions and a decrease in the Southeast, South, and Midwest. Younger women had a higher risk of death than women born between 1950 and 1954. The findings may be correlated with the inefficiency of the Brazilian state in protecting female victims of violence., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To characterize the use of private services in infant vaccination and assess vaccination coverage according to the service used., Methods: : This was a national vaccination survey conducted in 2020 that estimated the use of private vaccination services and vaccination coverage among infants residing in state capitals and 12 inland municipalities., Results: : Of the 37,801 participants, 25.1% (95%CI 23.2;27.2) used private services at least once, with higher proportions in capitals, larger cities and in the South and Southeast regions. Socioeconomic and demographic differences were identified among families, based on the service used. The coverage for the set of vaccines administered up to 24 months was 60.3% (95%CI 58.6;62.0) in the public service and 59.5% (95%CI 55.9;63.0) in private services, and up-to-date vaccines, 10.3% (95%CI 9.1;11.6) and 9.4% (95%CI 7.4;11.8), respectively., Conclusion: The use of private services was frequent, with low coverage for the set of vaccines, regardless of the type of service used, especially for up-to-date vaccines.

Objective: To analyze full vaccination coverage in live births in 2017 and 2018 in the capitals of the Midwest region of Brazil, according to social strata., Methods: Population-based household survey with cluster sampling. Full coverage in children at 12 and 24 months of age and sociodemographic factors were analyzed., Results: 5,715 children were analyzed. Full coverage at 12 months of age was 67.9% (95%CI 65.4;70.4), while at 24 months it was 48.2% (95%CI 45.3;51.1). Pneumococcal vaccine had the highest vaccination coverage (91.3%), while the second dose of rotavirus vaccine had the lowest (74.2%). In Campo Grande, no vaccine reached coverage above 90%, with BCG (82.9%) and hepatitis B (82.1%) standing out. Campo Grande and Brasília had the worst vaccination coverage in the high social stratum (24 months of age)., Conclusion: Vaccination coverage in the Midwest was below 80%, falling short of the recommended target and associated with socioeconomic factors.

Objective: To estimate vaccination coverage, identify barriers and hesitancy to vaccinating children up to 24 months, born between 2017-2018, living in the urban area of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil., Methods: Population survey carried out from 2020 to 2021, which assessed sociodemographic characteristics and vaccination status among children., Results: Among 451 included children, vaccination coverage was below 80%. Meningococcal C vaccine had the lowest coverage for administered doses (76.3%; 95%CI 70.5;81.3) and doses on time (27.4%; 95%CI 23.1;32.1). The statements "vaccines cause serious adverse reactions" (26.4%; 95%CI 18.1;36.8) and "you don't need vaccination for diseases that no longer exist" (22%; 95%CI 15.7;29.8) were the most frequent regarding vaccination hesitancy. Lack of vaccines was the main barrier to care (86.6%; 95%CI 71.8;94.3)., Conclusion: Vaccination coverage in children born in 2017-2018 was below the target recommended for the full schedule of administered doses, both valid and timely administered.

Objective: To estimate vaccination coverage in children born between 2017-2018, living in urban areas of state capitals, the Federal District and 12 inland municipalities in Brazil, and to identify associated factors., Methods: This was a household survey conducted between 2020-2022, among children up to 24 months old. Vaccination coverage was estimated according to family, maternal and child characteristics., Results: Among the 37,801 children in the sample, complete coverage (doses administered) was 60.1% (95%CI 58.6;61.6) and 6.1% (95%CI 5.4;7.0) had not received any vaccines. Coverage was lower among children of mothers with lower level of education (OR = 0.70; 95%CI 0.54;0.90) and in those who experienced delays in receiving any vaccine by 6 months old (OR = 0.28; 95%CI 0.24;0.32)., Conclusion: Vaccination coverage is below the expected levels. Effective communication strategies are needed to reinforce the importance of routine vaccination, prevent delays and abandonment of the vaccination schedule, in order to recover the high coverage levels achieved in past decades.

Objective: To estimate vaccination coverage and analyze sociodemographic factors associated with non-vaccination in children born in 2017 and 2018 in the state capitals of Northeast Brazil., Methods: A household survey using cluster sampling was conducted from 2020-2022 to estimate vaccination coverage and hesitancy. Factors associated with non-vaccination were analyzed using logistic regression to calculate Odds Ratios (OR) and their Confidence Intervals (95%CI)., Results: Natal was the capital with the lowest vaccination coverage, below 75.0% for most immunizers. Teresina had rates equal to or greater than 90.0% for all vaccines. Among those interviewed, 99.1% (95%CI 98.9;99.3) believe that vaccines are important for health; 95.4% (95%CI 95.0;95.8) trust immunobiologicals and 79.6% (95%CI% 78.8;80.3) are not afraid of reactions. Belonging to the highest socioeconomic stratum (adjusted OR: 1.34 - 95%CI 1.20;1.50) was as a factor associated with non-vaccination., Conclusion: Low coverage highlights the need for a better understanding of regional specificities and social inequalities.

Objective: To estimate hepatitis A vaccination coverage in 24-month-old children and identify factors associated with non-vaccination., Methods: This was a survey involving a sample stratified by socioeconomic strata in capital cities (2020-2022), with coverage estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), the factor analysis was performed using the prevalence ratio (PR) by means of Poisson regression., Results: Among 31,001 children, hepatitis A coverage was 88.1% (95%CI 86.8;89.2). Regarding socioeconomic strata (A/B), the variable immigrant parents/guardians was associated with non-vaccination (PR = 1.91; 95%CI 1.09;3.37); in strata C/D, children of Asian race/skin color (PR = 4.69; 95%CI 2.30;9.57), fourth-born child or later (PR = 1.68; 95%CI 1.06;2 .66), not attending daycare/nursery (PR = 1.67; 95%CI 1.24;2.24) and mother with paid work (PR = 1.42; 95%CI 1.16;1.74) were associated with non-vaccination., Conclusion: Hepatitis A coverage was below the target (95%), suggesting that specificities of social strata should be taken into consideration., Main Results: Hepatitis A vaccination coverage was 88%. Non-vaccination was greater in children with immigrant guardians (strata A/B); of Asian race/skin color, fourth-born child or later, those not attending daycare/nursery and mother with paid work (C/D strata)., Implications for Services: The results of this study contributed to the Ministry of Health and Health Departments in monitoring vaccination coverage and identifying factors that may negatively impact hepatitis A vaccination coverage., Perspectives: Further research is needed on the impact of migration on hepatitis A vaccination and vaccination in general. Health managers should be attentive to the different factors affecting vaccination among social strata.

Objective: To analyze vaccination coverage according to social strata in children up to 24 months old, living in the municipality of Londrina (PR), Brazil., Methods: This was a population-based survey conducted between 2021 and 2022, in which vaccination coverage and sociodemographic aspects of mothers and families were evaluated using Pearson's chi-square test., Results: In a sample of 456 children, complete vaccination coverage varied according to social strata, being 36.0% (95%CI 26.8;57.8); in stratum A; 59.5% (95%CI 26.1;86); in stratum B; 66.2% (95%CI 51.7;78.1); in stratum C; and 70.0% (95%CI 56.1;81.0) in stratum D., Conclusion: The analysis of vaccination coverage indicated that social stratum A is at highest risk for vaccine-preventable diseases., Main Results: The results of the study showed low full vaccination coverage in children up to 24 months of age in Londrina, being higher in the less financially advantaged social stratum, compared to the most advantaged., Implications for Services: The results found can support the qualification of the immunization program and enable, based on planning and ongoing health education, the definition of unique strategies to improve vaccination coverage., Perspectives: Future perspectives point to the importance of carrying out investigations into the challenges inherent to vaccination, as well as qualitative and quantitative research addressing health professionals to better understand the data.

Objective: To analyze the reliability of records held on the National Immunization Program Information System (SI-PNI) in a subsample of children included in the national vaccination coverage survey in Brazilian state capitals and Federal District in 2020., Methods: This was a study of agreement between data recorded on vaccination cards (doses and dates) and on the SI-PNI for 4050 children with full coverage at 24 months., Results: Data on 3587 children were held on the SI-PNI, with losses of 11% (95%CI: 10;12). Total agreement between doses and dates in the two sources was 86% (95%CI: 86;87), however taking each dose and vaccine individually, variation was greater, with 32% of data in only one source., Conclusion: Part of the information was not recorded, but the discrepancy can be considered small. Nonetheless, underrecording of doses and children can compromise vaccination coverage estimates, altering the numerator and denominator data., Main Results: Subsample of 4,050 children, among those completing the full schedule at 24 months studied in the national survey, 11% had not been recorded on the SI-PNI, 32% had unrecorded doses (doses or dates) and there was 8% disagreement between vaccination cards and SI-PNI records., Implications for Services: Recognizing the difficulties faced by the SI-PNI and the discrepancies between sources is essential for adopting initiatives to improve data quality, so as to avoid inaccurate estimates of childhood vaccination coverage., Perspectives: This study is expected to contribute to improving the quality of records and the usability of data for monitoring vaccination coverage of the immunization program from the local to the national level.

Objective: To evaluate vaccination coverage and delay in vaccine dose administration in infants in six municipalities in the Southern region of Brazil., Methodology: National Vaccination Coverage Survey 2020, with infants born alive in 2017 and 2018, carried out from September 2020 to March 2022. Coverage of doses administered, doses administered on time and delay in dose administration were evaluated., Results: For 4681 infants analyzed, coverage for vaccines recommended up to 24 months was 68.0% (95%CI 63.9;71.8%) for doses administered and 3.9% (95%CI 2.7%;5.7%) for doses administered on time. Delay time for the majority of late vaccinations was ≤ 3 months. For some boosters, 25% of vaccine administration was delayed by ≥ 6 months., Conclusion: In addition to tracking vaccine defaulters, strategies are needed to encourage compliance with the vaccination schedule at the recommended ages., Main Results: Vaccination coverage for the set of vaccines recommended up to 24 months was 68.0% and 3.9% for on-time doses. Delay time for some doses exceeded six months in up to 25% of infants with delayed vaccination., Implications for Services: Monitoring vaccine administration at the recommended ages is necessary, with the adoption of strategies that reinforce routine vaccination to prevent vaccination delays and abandonment., Perspectives: Primary care in surveillance and care for infants needs to reinforce actions to ensure timely vaccination. Studies to deepen knowledge of vaccination delay, determinants and strategies for their reduction are necessary.

This article aims to analyze temporal trends in female firearm homicides in the Northeast of Brazil during the period 2000-2019. We conducted an ecological study using data on firearm homicides of women aged 10 years and over obtained from the Mortality Information System. The population data were taken from the 2010 Census. Homicide rates were calculated after correcting the data to account for differences in the quality and coverage of death records. Trends were assessed using negative binomial regression and described using relative risk and p values. Average annual percentage changes in homicide rates were also calculated. The regional firearm homicide rate during the study period was 4.40 per 100,000 women. Rates were highest in the state of Alagoas (5.40), the 15-19 age group (5.84) and in public thoroughfares (1.58). Trends were upward across all states except Pernambuco, where they were downward, and Alagoas, where rates were stationary. The place of occurrence with the highest percentage increase in firearm homicides over the study period was public thoroughfares. Female firearm homicides showed an upward trend across most northeastern states.

The present study aimed to analyze the effects of age, time period, and birth cohort on the temporal evolution of mortality rates due to prostate cancer in men from the state of Acre, Brazil, in the period of 1990 to 2019. This is an ecological study in which the temporal trend was evaluated by the joinpoint method, estimating the annual percentage variations of the mortality rates. The age-period-birth cohort effects were calculated by using the Poisson Regression method, using estimation functions. The mortality rates showed an increase of 2.20% (95%CI: 1.00-3.33) in the period studied, tended to increase with age. A relative risk (RR) of 0.67 (95%CI: 0.59-0.76) was observed between 2005 and 2009, 0.76 (95%CI: 0.67-0.87) from 2005 on, and 1.44 (95%CI: 1.25-1.68) from 2015 on. The cohorts from 1910 to 1924 presented a risk reduction (RR < 1), when compared to the reference cohort (1935). Regarding the time period, the creation of public policies and the establishment of guidelines are suggested as factors which may have contributed to more access to diagnosis, in consonance with the cohort effect. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiological scenario of prostate cancer in regions that are more vulnerable in terms of socioeconomic conditions.

Objective: To describe timely vaccination completion and obstacles in the first 24 months of life in Brazil, examining associations with maternal race/skin color., Methods: Study participants were 37,801 children born in 2017 and 2018 included in the National Immunization Coverage Survey. We calculated prevalence and 95% confidence intervals for timely vaccine completeness and obstacles at 5, 12 and 24 months of life, according to maternal race/skin color. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression., Results: 7.2% (95%CI 6.3;8.2) of mothers faced difficulties in taking their children to be vaccinated, and 23.4% (95%CI 21.7;25.1) were not vaccinated when taken. These proportions were 75% (95%CI 1.25;2.45) and 97% (95%CI 1.57;2.48) higher, respectively, among Black mothers. At least one vaccination was delayed among 49.9% (95%CI 47.8;51.9) and 61.1% (95%CI 59.2;63.0) of children by 5 and 12 months, respectively. These rates were higher among Black/mixed race mothers., Conclusion: There are racial inequalities in both the obstacles faced and in vaccination rates in Brazil., Main Results: Marked racial inequalities were found in the obstacles to vaccination of children under 24 months in Brazil and to timely vaccination at 5 months and in the first year of life., Implications for Services: Racial inequalities in the occurrence of vaccination shortcomings in health services, in the objective restrictions faced by families in taking their children to vaccination centers and in incomplete vaccination in a timely manner need to be addressed by the Brazilian National Health System., Perspectives: Equal public policies to address barriers to vaccination and qualification of health services need to be implemented. Studies need to deepen understanding of the structural determinants that lead to racial disparities.

Objective: To describe vaccination coverage and hesitation for the basic children's schedule in Belo Horizonte and Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais state, Brazil., Methods: Population-based epidemiological surveys performed from 2020 to 2022, which estimated vaccine coverage by type of immunobiological product and full schedule (valid and ministered doses), according to socioeconomic strata; and reasons for vaccination hesitancy., Results: Overall coverage with valid doses and vaccination hesitancy for at least one vaccine were, respectively, 50.2% (95%CI 44.1;56.2) and 1.6% (95%CI 0.9;2.7), in Belo Horizonte (n = 1,866), and 64.9% (95%CI 56.9;72.1) and 1.0% (95%CI 0.3;2.8), in Sete Lagoas (n = 451), with differences between socioeconomic strata. Fear of severe reactions was the main reason for vaccination hesitancy., Conclusion: Coverage was identified as being below recommended levels for most vaccines. Disinformation should be combated in order to avoid vaccination hesitancy. There is a pressing need to recover coverages, considering public health service access and socioeconomic disparities., Main Results: Vaccination coverage of children up to 4 years old was 50.2% in Belo Horizonte, and 64.9% in Sete Lagoas. Fear of severe reactions and believing that vaccination against eradicated diseases is unnecessary were the main reasons for vaccination hesitancy., Implications for Services: Recovery of high vaccination coverage among children, considering public health service access conditions and socioeconomic inequities. Acting on reasons for hesitancy that can assist in targeting actions., Perspectives: The multifactorial context of vaccination hesitancy demands the development of health education strategies to raise awareness about child immunization.

Improvements in diagnostics for schistosomiasis in both humans and snail hosts are priorities to be able to reach the World Health Organization (WHO) goal of eliminating the disease as a public health problem by 2030. In this context, molecular isothermal amplification tests, such as Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA), are promising for use in endemic areas at the point-of-need for their accuracy, robustness, simplicity, and time-effectiveness. The developed recombinase polymerase amplification assay targeting the Schistosoma mansoni mitochondrial minisatellite region (SmMIT-RPA) was used to detect S. mansoni DNA from both laboratory and field Biomphalaria snails. Laboratory snails were experimentally infected and used at one, seven, and 28 days post-exposure (dpe) to 10 S. mansoni miracidia to provide samples in the early pre-patent infection stage. Field samples of Biomphalaria spp. were collected from the Mucuri Valley and Jequitinhonha Valley regions in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, which are endemic for S. mansoni. The sensitivity and specificity of the SmMIT-RPA assay were analysed and compared with existing loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), PCR-based methods, parasitological examination of the snails, and nucleotide sequencing. The SmMIT-RPA assay was able to detect S. mansoni DNA in the experimentally infected Biomphalaria glabrata as early as one dpe to 10 miracidia. It also detected S. mansoni infections (55.5% prevalence) in the field samples with the highest accuracy (100% sensitivity and specificity) compared with the other molecular tests used as the reference. Results from this study indicate that the SmMIT-RPA assay is a good alternative test to be used for snail xenomonitoring of S. mansoni due to its high sensitivity, accuracy, and the possibility of detecting early pre-patent infection. Its simplicity and portability also make it a suitable methodology in low-resource settings., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Aims: This study describes the spatio-temporal dynamics of new visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases notified in Brazil between 2001 and 2020., Methods and Results: Data on the occurrence of the disease were obtained by means of the Notifiable Diseases Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Joinpoint, temporal generalized additive models and conditional autoregressive (CAR) models were used to analyse the temporal evolution of the rates in Brazil, states and regions. Spatio-temporal generalized additive and CAR models were used to identify the distribution of annual risks of VL occurrence in the Brazilian territory in relation to variation in the spatial average. There were 63,966 VL cases in the target period (3.198 cases/year), corresponding to a mean incidence rate of 1.68 cases/100,000 inhabitants. Of these, 4451 resulted in deaths, which gives a mean mortality rate of 0.12 deaths/100,000 inhabitants and a case fatality of 6.96%. The highest incidence rate was found in the North region, followed closely by the Northeast region, which presented the second and first highest mortality rates, respectively. For all of Brazil, and in the Northeast region, there were stability in the incidence rates, while the other regions showed an increasing trend in different time segments in the period: Central-West up to 2011, North up to 2008, Southeast up to 2004, and South up to 2010. On the other hand, all regions experienced a reduction in incidence rate during the last years of the series. The Northeast region had the highest number of municipalities with statistically significant elevated relative risks. The spatio-temporal analysis showed the highest risk area predominantly in the Northeast region in the beginning of the time series. From 2002 to 2018, this area expanded to the interior of the country., Conclusions: The present study has shown that VL has expanded in Brazil. However, the North and Northeast regions continue to have the highest incidence, and the risk of infection has decreased in recent years., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has had a major impact on health systems. Vaccines have been shown to be effective in improving the clinical outcome of COVID-19, but they are not able to fully prevent infection and reinfection, especially that caused by new variants., Methods: Here, we tracked for 450 days the humoral immune response and reinfection in 52 healthcare workers from Brazil. Infection and reinfection were confirmed by RT-qPCR, while IgM and IgG antibody levels were monitored by rapid test., Results: Of the 52 participants, 19 (36%) got reinfected during the follow-up period, all presenting mild symptoms. For all participants, IgM levels dropped sharply, with over 47% of them becoming seronegative by the 60th day. For IgG, 90% of the participants became seropositive within the first 30 days of follow-up. IgG antibodies also dropped after this period reaching the lowest level on day 270 (68.5 ± 72.3, p<0.0001). Booster dose and reinfection increased the levels of both antibodies, with the interaction between them resulting in an increase in IgG levels of 130.3 arbitrary units., Conclusions: Overall, our data indicate that acquired humoral immunity declines over time and suggests that IgM and IgG antibody levels are not associated with the prevention of reinfection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Franco-Luiz, Fernandes, Silva, Bernardes, Westin, Santos, Fernandes, Simões, Silva, Gava, Alves, de Carvalho Melo, da Silva-Pereira, Alves and Fonseca.)

Background: COVID-19 has become a major public health problem after the outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Great efforts to contain COVID-19 transmission have been applied worldwide. In this context, accurate and fast diagnosis is essential., Methods: In this prospective study, we evaluated the clinical performance of three different RNA-based molecular tests - RT-qPCR (Charité protocol), RT-qPCR (CDC (USA) protocol) and RT-LAMP - and one rapid test for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies., Results: Our results demonstrate that RT-qPCR using the CDC (USA) protocol is the most accurate diagnostic test among those evaluated, while oro-nasopharyngeal swabs are the most appropriate biological sample. RT-LAMP was the RNA-based molecular test with lowest sensitivity while the serological test presented the lowest sensitivity among all evaluated tests, indicating that the latter test is not a good predictor of disease in the first days after symptoms onset. Additionally, we observed higher viral load in individuals who reported more than 3 symptoms at the baseline. Nevertheless, viral load had not impacted the probability of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2., Conclusion: Our data indicates that RT-qPCR using the CDC (USA) protocol in oro-nasopharyngeal swabs samples should be the method of choice to diagnosis COVID-19., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is a significant public health issue in Brazil. The present ecological study describes the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of TL cases reported in the country, and analyzes the spatial and temporal patterns of the incidences and risks of occurrence across the five geopolitical regions and 27 federative units., Methodology/principal Findings: Data regarding new cases of TL notified between 2001 and 2020 were obtained from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Joinpoint and spatial and temporal generalized additive models were used to establish trends in the evolution of TL during the target period. The incidence rate for the entire period was 226.41 cases/100,000 inhabitants. All regions of Brazil showed trends of decreasing incidence rates, albeit with fluctuations at specific times, with the exception of the Southeast where rates have increased since 2014, most particularly in Minas Gerais state. The disease was concentrated predominantly in the North region, with Acre state leading the incidence rank in the whole country, followed by Mato Grosso (Midwest), Maranhão and Bahia (Northeast) states. The spatial distribution of the risk of TL occurrence in relation to the annual averages was relatively stable throughout the period. The cutaneous form of TL was predominant and cases most frequently occurred in rural areas and among men of working age. The ages of individuals contracting TL tended to increase during the time series. Finally, the proportion of confirmations by laboratory tests was lower in the Northeast., Conclusion/significance: TL shows a declining trend in Brazil, but its widespread occurrence and the presence of areas with increasing incidence rates demonstrate the persistent relevance of this disease and the need for constant monitoring. Our findings reinforce the importance of temporal and spatial tools in epidemiologic surveillance routines and are valuable for targeting preventive and control actions., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Belo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a pressing public health problem in Brazil. The proper implementation of disease control programs in priority areas is a challenge for healthcare managers. The present study aimed to analyze the spatio-temporal distribution and identify high risk areas of VL occurrence in the Brazilian territory. We analyzed data regarding new cases with confirmed diagnosis of VL in Brazilian municipalities, from 2001 to 2020, extracted from the Brazilian Information System for Notifiable Diseases. The Local Index of Spatial Autocorrelation (LISA) was used to identify contiguous areas with high incidence rates in different periods of the temporal series. Clusters of high spatio-temporal relative risks were identified using the scan statistics. The accumulated incidence rate in the analyzed period was 33.53 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The number of municipalities that reported cases showed an upward trend from 2001 onward, although there was a decrease in 2019 and 2020. According to LISA, the number of municipalities considered a priority increased in Brazil and in most states. Priority municipalities were predominantly concentrated in the states of Tocantins, Maranhão, Piauí, and Mato Grosso do Sul, in addition to more specific areas of Pará, Ceará, Piauí, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Bahia, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Roraima. The spatio-temporal clusters of high-risk areas varied throughout the time series and were relatively higher in the North and Northeast regions. Recent high-risk areas were found in Roraima and municipalities in northeastern states. VL expanded territorially in Brazil in the 21st century. However, there is still a considerable spatial concentration of cases. The areas identified in the present study should be prioritized for disease control actions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Suicide is a complex and multi-determined phenomenon. Higher rates are observed in men and are related to multiple risk factors, including mental disorders, financial crises, unemployment, and easy access to highly lethal means of perpetration, such as firearms. We studied the effects of age, period, and cohort (APC) on total and firearm-related suicides in men in Brazil and its major regions from 1980 to 2019. Death records were extracted from the Brazilian Ministry of Health's Mortality Information System. Estimable functions were used to estimate APC models, through the Epi library of the R statistical program, version 4.2.1. During the study period, Brazil had an average rate of 10.22 deaths per 100,000 men. Among regions, rates ranged from 8.62 (Northeast) to 16.93 (South). The same profile was observed in suicides by firearms. After estimating the APC models, we observed a temporal trend of increasing total suicides for Brazil and regions, except for the South region, where the trend was stationary. The trend was downward for firearm suicides for all locations. A positive gradient was observed in the mortality rate with advancing age for total suicides; and peak incidence between 20-29 years, with subsequent stabilization, for suicides perpetrated by firearms. There was a reduction in the risk of death for suicides perpetrated by firearms in relation to the reference period (1995-1999) for all locations, except in the North region, where the effect was not significant. The younger generations from the 1960s onwards had a higher risk of death from total suicide and a lower risk for those perpetrated by firearms in relation to the reference cohort (1950-1954). We observed a reduction in the mortality trend for suicides perpetrated by firearms, a reduction in the risk of death in the 2000s and for men born after 1960. Our results suggest reducing the risk of death from suicide by firearms in Brazil and regions. However, there is an upward trend in mortality from total suicides in the study period (1980-2019) and for younger cohorts., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Rodrigues et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease associated with poverty. It is estimated that 7.1 million people are infected with Schistosoma mansoni in Latin America, with 95% of them living in Brazil. Accurate diagnosis and timely treatment are important measures to control and eliminate schistosomiasis, but diagnostic improvements are needed to detect infections, especially in areas of low endemicity., Methodology: This research aimed to evaluate the performance of 11 diagnostic tests using latent class analysis (LCA). A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in a low endemicity area of the municipality of Malacacheta, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Feces, urine, and blood samples were collected from 400 residents older than 6 years of age, who had not been treated with praziquantel in the 12 months previous to the collection of their samples. The collected samples were examined using parasitological (Helm Test ® kit Kato-Katz), nucleic acid amplification tests -NAATs (PCR, qPCR and LAMP on urine; PCR-ELISA, qPCR and LAMP on stool), and immunological (POC-CCA, the commercial anti- Schistosoma mansoni IgG ELISA kit from Euroimmun, and two in-house ELISA assays using either the recombinant antigen PPE or the synthetic peptide Smp150390.1) tests., Results: The positivity rate of the 11 tests evaluated ranged from 5% (qPCR on urine) to 40.8% (commercial ELISA kit). The estimated prevalence of schistosomiasis was 12% (95% CI: 9-15%) according to the LCA. Among all tests assessed, the commercial ELISA kit had the highest estimated sensitivity (100%), while the Kato-Katz had the highest estimated specificity (99%). Based on the accuracy measures observed, we proposed three 2-step diagnostic approaches for the active search of infected people in endemic settings. The approaches proposed consist of combinations of commercial ELISA kit and NAATs tests performed on stool. All the approaches had higher sensitivity and specificity than the mean values observed for the 11 tests (70.4 and 89.5%, respectively)., Conclusion: We showed that it is possible to achieve high specificity and sensitivity rates with lower costs by combining serological and NAATs tests, which would assist in the decision-making process for appropriate allocation of public funding aiming to achieve the WHO target of eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2030., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Mesquita, Caldeira, Favre, Massara, Beck, Simões, Carvalho, Neves, de Oliveira, Lacerda, de Almeida, Carvalho, Mourão, Oliveira, Silva-Pereira and Fonseca.)

Objective: To evaluate changes in selected laboratory tests in the population included in the Brumadinho Health Project, according to the exposure to the dam failure., Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out on representative sample of residents (≥12 years) in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, including: 1) non-exposed; 2) directly affected by tailings sludge; 3) residents in mining area. The prevalence of abnormal results of blood count, total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, urea, estimate of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were estimated. The Prevalence Ratios (PR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI) of having an abnormal laboratory finding were estimated using Generalized Linear Models with Poisson probability distribution. Crude and adjusted models were estimated for age range, gender, diabetes, body mass index, smoking, hypertension., Results: After adjusting, there was no difference in PR between the three populations for most tests, with the exception of the population residing in an area with mining activity and not directly affected by the mud, with a lower chance of having altered total cholesterol (PR: 0.84; 95%CI 0.74-0.95) and a higher chance of having altered HDL cholesterol (PR: 1.26; 95%CI 1.07-1.50), hs-CRP (PR: 1.19; 95%CI 1.04-1.37), and eGFR <60mL/min/1,73 m2 (PR: 1.51; 95%CI 1.05-2.19)., Conclusion: No significant differences were found in the prevalence of biochemical and hematological alterations between the populations directly exposed and not exposed to tailings. Only the group residing in the mining area had a higher prevalence of alterations related dyslipidemia, renal disease, and inflammation.

Objective: To present the urban arboviruses (dengue, zika and chikungunya) stratification methodology by the territorial receptivity Index, an instrument for the surveillance and control of these diseases, which considers the heterogeneity of an intra-municipal territory., Methods: Ecological study that uses as unit of analysis the areas covered by health centers in Belo Horizonte. For the development of a territorial receptivity index, indicators of socio-environmental determination of urban arboviruses were selected in order to integrate the analysis of main components. The resulting components were weighted by the analytic hierarchy process and combined via map algebra., Results: The territorial receptivity index showed great heterogeneity of urban infrastructure conditions. The areas classified with high and very high receptivity correspond to approximately 33% of the occupied area and are mainly concentrated in the administrative planning regions of East, Northeast, North, West, and Barreiro, especially in areas surrounding the municipality. When the density of dengue cases and Aedes eggs, from 2016, were superimposed with the stratification by the index of territorial receptivity to urban arboviruses, areas of very high receptivity had a high density of cases and Aedes eggs - higher than that observed in other areas of the city, which corresponds to a very small percentage of the municipal territory (13.5%)., Conclusion: The analyses indicate the need for the development of adequate surveillance and control actions for each context, overcoming the logic of homogeneous allocation throughout the territory.

Cervical cancer is a public health issue with high disease burden and mortality in Brazil. The objectives of the present study were, firstly, to analyze age, period, and cohort effects on cervical cancer mortality in women 20 years old or older from 1980 to 2019 in the North, South, and Southeast Regions of Brazil; and secondly, to evaluate whether the implementation of a national screening program and the expansion of access to public health services impacted the examined period and reduced the risk of death compared with previous years and among younger cohorts. The effects were estimated by applying Poisson regression models with estimable functions. The highest mortality rate per 100,000 women was found in Amazonas (24.13), and the lowest in São Paulo (10.56). A positive gradient was obtained for death rates as women's age increased. The states in the most developed regions (South and Southeast) showed a reduction in the risk of death in the period that followed the implementation of the screening program and in the cohort from the 1960s onwards. The North Region showed a decreased risk of death only in Amapá (2000-2004) and Tocantins (1995-2004; 2010-2019). The findings indicate that health inequities remain in Brazil and suggest that the health system has limitations in terms of decreasing mortality associated with this type of cancer in regions of lower socioeconomic development.

This is a cross-sectional study on the availability of prescribed medicines in Primary Health Care (PHC), with a probabilistic sample of 1,221 users of public pharmacies in a health pole municipality in Minas Gerais, in 2017. Medicine availability indicators were estimated, and a hierarchical logistic regression was performed, according to the behavioral model of health service use. Only 39.3% of patients received all medicines in the prescribed quantities. The most and the least available medicines were, respectively, those for the digestive system/metabolism, and for blood and hematopoietic organs. Full availability of the prescribed treatment was associated with higher schooling (≥ 8 years OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.4); proximity to the pharmacy (≤15 min OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.3); absence of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.7-2.9), and a smaller number of prescription drugs (≤ 2 OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.3-4.4; 3/4 OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2-2.1). These results showed differences in medicine availability within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), and highlighted the need to reorganize the dispensing services network and pharmaceutical procurement planning, as well as to develop public policies to protect the vulnerable population.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a public health problem with a high prevalence and lethality in Brazil. This study aims to estimate the lethality and associated factors in individuals with VL and assess survival time, emphasizing VL/HIV coinfection. This retrospective study has 37,583 individuals notified and confirmed with VL in the Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) between 2007 and 2018 (Brazil). Lethality was evaluated considering VL deaths, deaths from other causes (OC), and non-deaths. We performed a multinomial logistic regression, with non-death as the benchmark category. We conducted a survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier method), emphasizing VL/HIV coinfection. Most individuals were young, male, mixed race, low schooling level, and urban dwellers. The lethality rate was 10.2% (VL and OC deaths) and 7.8% (VL deaths). The prevalence of HIV infection was 8.81%. A higher likelihood of VL and OC deaths was observed in older age groups, females, and with a higher number of symptoms. A higher likelihood of OC deaths was identified in individuals with HIV. A lower likelihood of VL and OC deaths was observed for individuals on VL therapy. The mean survival time was longer for VL/HIV individuals, who had a lower survival rate than those with VL. The data point to the need for attention to the timely diagnosis of VL and HIV and adequate pharmacological treatment in this population., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death globally, impacting heavily on the most vulnerable populations. This study aimed to analyze changes in the prevalence of these diseases, health conditions, access, and health services in Brazil between 2008 and 2019. Tests of differences and generalized linear models were used as analytical tools, considering complex sampling from the PNAD 2008, PNS 2013, and PNS 2019 surveys, to test temporal changes in the prevalence and the prevalence ratio estimates, adjusted by sociodemographic variables. An increase in the prevalence of Depression, Diabetes, Cancers, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Chronic Pulmonary problems, and Musculoskeletal problems was observed. A decline in rheumatoid arthritis, chronic renal failure, and diseases of the circulatory system was identified. Among Brazilians with at least one NCD, an increase in coverage by the family health strategy over time was observed. However, there was a reduction in timely medical care and obtaining of free prescription drugs.

Introduction: Breast cancer is an important public health problem worldwide, with important disparities in incidence, mortality, and survival rates between developed and developing countries due to inequalities regarding access to measures for the prevention and treatment of the disease. In Brazil, there are higher rates of incidence and a downward trend in mortality in regions of greater socioeconomic development., Objective: To evaluate the effect of age, period, and birth cohort on breast cancer mortality in women aged 20 years and older in the states of the Northeast Region of Brazil, an area of high socioeconomic vulnerability, from 1980 to 2019., Methods: The death records were extracted from the DATASUS Mortality Information System website (Department of National Health Informatics) from the Ministry of Health of Brazil. Estimable functions were used to estimate the age-period and cohort models (APC) using the Epi library from the R statistical software version 6.4.1., Results: The average breast cancer mortality rate for the period was 20.45 deaths per 100,000 women. The highest coefficients per 100,000 women were observed in the states of Pernambuco (21.09 deaths) and Ceará (20.85 deaths), and the lowest in Maranhão (13.58 deaths) and Piauí (15.43 deaths). In all of the locations, there was a progressive increase in mortality rates in individuals over 40 years of age, with higher rates in the last five-year period (2015-2019). There was an increase in the risk of death for the five-year period of the 2000s in relation to the reference period (1995-1999) in the Northeast region and in the states of Alagoas, Bahia, Maranhão, Paraíba, and Piauí. In addition, there was an increased risk of death for women born after the 1950s in all locations., Conclusion: The highest mortality rates in all five-year periods analyzed were observed in states with greater socioeconomic development, with an increase in mortality rates in the 2000s, and a higher risk of death in the younger cohorts., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: In Brazil, case-fatality from visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is high and characterized by wide differences between the various political-economic units, the federated units (FUs). This study was designed to investigate the association between factors at the both FU and individual levels with the risk of dying from VL, after analysing the temporal trend and the spatial dependency for VL case-fatality., Methodology: The analysis was based on individual and aggregated data of the Reportable Disease Information System-SINAN (Brazilian Ministry of Health). The temporal and spatial distributions of the VL case-fatality between 2007 and 2017 (27 FUs as unit of analysis) were considered together with the individual characteristics and many other variables at the FU level (socioeconomic, demographic, access to health and epidemiological indicators) in a mixed effects models or multilevel modeling, assuming a binomial outcome distribution (death from VL)., Findings: A linear increasing temporal tendency (4%/year) for VL case-fatality was observed between 2007 and 2017. There was no similarity between the case-fatality rates of neighboring FUs (non-significant spatial term), although these rates were heterogeneous in this spatial scale of analysis. In addition to the known individual risk factors age, female gender, disease's severity, bacterial co-infection and disease duration, low level schooling and unavailability of emergency beds and health professionals (the last two only in univariate analysis) were identified as possibly related to VL death risk. Lower VL incidence was also associated to VL case-fatality, suggesting that unfamiliarity with the disease may delay appropriate medical management: VL patients with fatal outcome were notified and had VL treatment started 6 and 3 days later, respectively, in relation to VL cured patients. Access to garbage collection, marker of social and economic development, seems to be protective against the risk of dying from VL. Part of the observed VL case-fatality variability in Brazil could not be explained by the studied variables, suggesting that factors linked to the intra FU environment may be involved., Conclusions: This study aimed to identify epidemiological conditions and others related to access to the health system possibly linked to VL case-fatality, pointing out new prognostic determinants subject to intervention., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

This study aimed to analyze the temporal effects (age, period, and cohort) on female homicide mortality in the states of Northeast Brazil from 1980 to 2017. This ecological time trend study used APC with a Bayesian approach and the deterministic method Integrated Nested Laplace Approximations (INLA) in the parameters' inference. The female homicide rates for each state of the Northeast were standardized by the direct method after correction of the death records for quality of information and underreporting. Data were also obtained on race/color, place of death, and means of perpetration. During the period analyzed, after correcting the death records, the Northeast region showed a mean rate of 5.40 female homicide deaths per 100,000 women, with a significant increase in all the states in the 2000s. In all the states, there was an increase in relative risk (RR) of homicide death in the second and third decades of life and a protective effect in older women. Except for the state of Sergipe, there was an increase in the risk of death in all five-year periods in the 2000s. The Northeast region as a whole and the states of Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Piauí showed a protective effect for women from older generations. There were also higher proportions of deaths in black women, homicides committed at home, and those perpetrated with firearms. The current study's findings may correlate with the spread of violence in Brazil in the 2000s and the Brazilian State's failure to protect women from violence.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to estimate the direct medical costs of the treatment for mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) using three therapeutic approaches in the Brazilian context., Methods: We performed this economic assessment from the perspective of the Brazilian public healthcare system. The following therapeutic approaches were evaluated: meglumine antimoniate, liposomal amphotericin B, and miltefosine. Direct medical costs were estimated considering four treatment components: a) drug, b) combined medical products, c) procedures, and d) complementary tests., Results: Treatment with meglumine antimoniate had the lowest average cost per patient (US$ 167.66), followed by miltefosine (US$ 259.92) in the outpatient treatment regimen. The average cost of treatment with liposomal amphotericin B was US$ 715.35 both in inpatient regimen. In all estimates, the drugs accounted for more than 60% of the total cost for each treatment approach., Conclusions: These results demonstrate the marked differences in costs between the therapeutic alternatives for ML. In addition to efficacy rates and costs related to adverse events, our data have the potential to support a complete cost-effectiveness study in the future. Complete analyses comparing costs and benefits for interventions will assist health managers in choosing drugs for ML treatment in Brazil as well as in establishing effective public health policies.

Background: Schistosomiasis is highly debilitating and related to poverty, leading to chronic health problems. This disease is important for public health due to the high prevalence, severity of clinical forms and heterogeneous spatial and temporal patterns. In Brazil, about 1.5 million people are at risk of infection with Schistosoma mansoni, with an annual average of 500 deaths. In this study, the temporal change in mortality was evaluated in relation to the effects of age, period and birth cohort, in Brazil and regions, from 1980 to 2014., Methods: In this study, we analyzed the influence of age, period and birth cohort (APC effects) on the temporal evolution of schistosomiasis mortality in Brazil from 1980 to 2014, according to sex and geographic regions of the country. The death records were extracted from the SIM (Mortality Information System) of the DATASUS website (Department of National Health Informatics) of the Ministry of Health of Brazil. The temporal effects were estimated using Bayesian models and the INLA (Integrated Nested Laplace Approximations) method for parameter inference., Results: More than 24 thousand deaths were registered in the analyzed period, mainly in men from the Northeast region. In Brazil, children under 14 years of age had protection against death from schistosomiasis. There was no significant effect for others ages. From 1990 to 1999, there was a protective effect for death from schistosomiasis and a null effect in the other periods. There was a decreasing trend in the risk of death among birth cohorts. The greatest risk was among people born from 1903 to 1912. There was a protective effect for death among people born after 1968. Men were at risk of death between 25 and 54 years old, while women were at risk after seventy years of age. The southern and central-western regions had a risk of death until 1989 and had a protective effect between1995 and 1999. The northern region had a risk of death between 1985 and 1994, and a protective effect after 2005. The northeast and Southeast regions had protective effects for death between the years 1990 and 1999, and after 2000, respectively. People born until 1952 and 1957 were at risk of dying in the South and North regions, respectively, and a protective effect among people born after 1968, in both regions. In the Northeast region, there was a protective effect among people born after 1963. In the other regions, there was a risk of death among people born until 1962 and a protective effect among people born after 1973. The Central-West region had the least declining trend in risk of death among birth cohorts., Conclusions: The birth cohorts had a great influence on the decreasing trend of schistosomiasis mortality in Brazil. This result may be due to the interaction between demographic changes and greater access to health and sanitation services, in addition to the impact of schistosomiasis control measures experienced by younger cohorts., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Cervical cancer (CC) is a public health problem with a high disease burden and mortality in developing countries. In Brazil, areas with low human development index have the highest incidence rates of Brazil and upward temporal trend for this disease. The Northeast region has the second highest incidence of cervical cancer (20.47 new cases / 100,000 women). In this region, the mortality rates are similar to rates in countries that do not have a health system with a universal access screening program, as in Brazil. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the effects of age, period and birth cohorts on mortality from cervical cancer in the Northeast region of Brazil. Estimable functions predicted the effects of age, period and birth cohort. The average mortality rate was 10.35 deaths per 100,000 women during the period analyzed (1980-2014). The highest mortality rate per 100,000 women was observed in Maranhão (24.39 deaths), and the lowest mortality rate was observed in Bahia (11.24 deaths). According to the period effects, only the state of Rio Grande do Norte showed a reduction in mortality risk in the five years of the 2000s. There was a reduction in mortality risk for birth cohorts of women after the 1950s, except in Maranhão State, which showed an increasing trend in mortality risk for younger generations. We found that the high rates of cervical cancer mortality in the states of northeastern Brazil remain constant over time. Even after an increase in access to health services in the 2000s, associated with increased access to the cancer care network, which includes early detection (Pap Test), cervical cancer treatment and palliative care. However, it is important to note that the decreased risk of death and the mortality rates from CC among women born after the 1960s may be correlated with increased screening coverage, as well as increased access to health services for cancer treatment observed in younger women., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objective: To evaluate non-adherence to pharmacotherapy for chronic diseases and to investigate the existence of socioeconomic inequalities related to this outcome in Brazil., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on data from the National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of the Rational Use of Medicines (PNAUM). The study population corresponded to individuals aged 18 years or older with a medical diagnosis of at least one chronic disease and an indication for pharmacological treatment. The dependent variable was non-adherence to chronic disease pharmacotherapy measured by less than 80% adherence to drug therapy. Socioeconomic inequality related to non-adherence was assessed by absolute (SII) and relative (RII) inequality indices, calculated by logistic regression analyses., Results: The prevalence of non-adherence to pharmacotherapy in Brazil was 20.2%, ranging from 17.0 to 27.8% between regions. Furthermore, this study revealed absolute and relative socioeconomic inequalities in non-adherence to pharmacotherapy of chronic diseases in Brazil (SII = -7.4; RII = 0.69) and the Northeast (SII = -14.0; RII = 0.59) and Center West (SII = -20.8; RII = 0.38) regions. The probability of non-adherence to pharmacotherapy in Brazil was higher among individuals with worse socioeconomic status., Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate the need for the restructuring and strengthening of public policies aimed at reducing socioeconomic inequalities, in order to promote equity in adherence to the pharmacotherapy associated with chronic diseases.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a disease associated with low-income populations. Thus, in assessing the burden of this disease, it is important to include its economic impact on individuals. We aimed to evaluate CL economic impact on patients treated at a referral service in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study based on the analysis of interviews and medical records from which we assembled direct medical and non-medical costs related to CL, from a societal perspective. One hundred patients were included; 50% had a monthly per capita income of up to USD 259.60 and spent on average USD 187.32 with the disease, representing an average monthly impact of 22.5% (USD 133.80). The disease imposed direct medical costs, such as: private medical appointments, medications, medical exams, dressing material, and co-participation in health insurances. Direct non-medical costs were mainly related to patients' transportation to health centers (USD 4,911.00), but also included medically-necessary care, food, and domestic and business outsourcing services. Although the Brazilian public health system guarantees access to health care, CL still represents a substantial economic impact for patients. The main action to reduce the expenses with this disease is decentralizing services for CL diagnosis and therapeutic approach, as well as increasing their efficiency.