Associação espacial entre variáveis socioeconômicas e risco relativo de nascimentos pré-termo na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP) e na Área Metropolitana de Lisboa (AML)

Leprosy in urban space, areas of risk for disability and worsening of this health condition in Foz Do Iguaçu, the border region between Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina

BACKGROUND

Leprosy is a public health problem and a challenge for endemic countries, especially in their border regions where there are intense migration flows. The study aimed to analyse the dynamics of leprosy, in order to identify areas of risk for the occurrence of the disease and disability and places where this health condition is worsening.

METHOD

This ecological study considered the new cases of leprosy reported in the municipality of Foz do Iguaçu from 2003 to 2015. Spatial and spatial-temporal scan statistics were used to identify the risk areas for the occurrence of leprosy, as well as the Getis-Ord Gi and Getis-Ord Gi* methods. Areas of risk for disabilities were identified by the scan statistic and kernel density estimation.

RESULTS

A total of 840 cases were reported, of which 179 (21.3%) presented Grade 1 or 2 disabilities at the time of diagnosis. Leprosy risk areas were concentrated in the Southern, Eastern and Northeastern Health Districts of the municipality. The cases of Grade 2 disability were observed with higher intensity in regions characterized by high population density and poverty.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study have revealed changes in the pattern of areas at risk of leprosy according to the investigated periods. In addition, it was possible to verify disabilities as a condition present in the investigated cases, or that may be related to the late diagnosis of the disease. In the areas of risk identified, patients have reported worse physical disability after diagnostic confirmation, or indicate inadequate clinical examination, reinforcing the need for structuring leprosy control services in a qualified manner.

Is there association between human development index and tuberculosis mortality risk? Evidence from a spatial analysis study in the south of Brazil

The goal of this study was to analyse the spatial pattern of tuberculosis (TB) mortality using different approaches, namely: mortality rates (MR), spatial relative risks (RR) and Bayesian rates (Global and Local) and their association with human development index (HDI), Global and its three dimensions: education, longevity and income. An ecological study was developed in Curitiba, Brazil based on data from Mortality Information System (2008-2014). Spatial scan statistics were used to compute RR and identify high-risk clusters. Bivariate Local Indicator of Spatial Associations was used to assess associations. MR ranged between 0 and 25.24/100.000 with a mean (standard deviation) of 1.07 (2.66). Corresponding values for spatial RR were 0-27.46, 1.2 (2.99) and for Bayesian rates (Global and Local) were 0.49-1.66, 0.90 (0.19) and 0-6.59, 0.98 (0.80). High-risk clusters were identified for all variables, except for HDI-income and Global Bayesian rate. Significant negative spatial relations were found between MR and income; between RR and HDI global, longevity and income; and Bayesian rates with all variables. Some areas presented different patterns: low social development/low risk and high risk/high development. These results demonstrate that social development variables should be considered, in mortality due TB.

Variações espaciais e desigualdades regionais no indicador de mortalidade infantil do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo é analisar as variações espaciais e as desigualdades regionais no indicador de mortalidade infantil do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. O estudo foi feito considerando os municípios desse estado no período de 2003 a 2012 e tendo em vista a seleção de três dimensões operativas de análise: taxa de mortalidade infantil (TMI) e proporção da população atendida nas Equipes Saúde da Família (PCSF); TMI e proporção de nascidos vivos sem acompanhamento pré-natal (PNVSPN); TMI e Índice de Privação Material (IPM). Os dados foram coletados em fontes secundárias oficiais, modelados em Sistema de Informação Geográfica e analisados com recursos da estatística espacial descritiva e bayesiana. Os resultados indicaram redução das TMI em Minas Gerais, mas ainda persistem acentuadas desigualdades regionais, com taxas elevadas nos municípios com elevados IPM e PNVSPN. Observa-se, pois, a necessidade de ampliação e qualificação do acesso ao pré-natal e intervenções no contexto regional em setores nem sempre ligados ao sistema de saúde, mas que são fundamentais para redução da mortalidade infantil.

Connecting the dots on health inequalities--a systematic review on the social determinants of health in Portugal

INTRODUCTION

Health inequalities are recognised as a public health issue worldwide, but only a few countries have developed national strategies to monitor and reduce them. Despite its considerable health inequalities, Portugal seems to lack a systematic strategy to tackle them, possibly due to the absence of organised evidence on the issue. We performed a systematic review that aimed to describe the available evidence on social inequalities in health in Portugal, in order to contribute towards a comprehensive and focused strategy to tackle them.

METHODS

We followed the PRISMA guidelines and searched Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed for studies that looked at the association between a measure of socioeconomic status and a health outcome in the Portuguese resident population since the year 2000. We excluded health behaviours and healthcare use from our search. We performed a qualitative description of the results.

RESULTS

Seventy-one publications were selected, all reporting observational analyses, most of them using cross-sectional data. These publications showed strong evidence for health inequalities related to education and gender, chiefly for obesity, self-rated health and mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of the eligible publications showed that current research does not seem to have consistently covered the link between health and key Portuguese social problems. A strategy focusing on the monitoring of most prevalent diseases, most determining socioeconomic factors and vulnerable populations would be crucial to guide academic research in a country in which health inequalities are so ubiquitous and deeply rooted.

REGISTRATION

This systematic review is not registered.