"Although the number of new infections has dramatically decreased during the last ten years, portraying this country [Uganda] as the 'AIDS miracle', the number of people already infected and progressing to AIDS is increasing. Acces to anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, as well as to medicines for treatment of opportunistic infections (TOI), is essential for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to enjoy their right to life and health. Although access to these essentail medicines forms part of the core content of the right to health, which states should be able to provide irrespective of their available resources, slightly more than half of the people in need in Uganda were accessing them in June 2005. Of 63,896 PLWHA accessing ARVs, still 83.5 percent are paying the medicines out of their pockets. This is despite the fact that Uganda receives funds from various sources, among which Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF) and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Although the cost of ARV treatment in Uganda has dramatically decreased since 1997, the price of treatment remains still unaffordable for most Ugandans. ... This study comprises five chapters. The present chapter exposes the problem, the objectives of the study and the research questions, reviews the literature available on the subject, outlines the study's structure, proposes a methodology and points out the study's limitations and relevance. Chapter two sets out the international legal framework of the study. It oulines the scope of the right of PLWHA to access to essential treatment under different international instruments of relevance for Uganda and its connection with other human rights. The chapter also assesses the implications of this right for state and non-state actors. Chapter three sets out the national legal, policy and judicial framework. It explores the action taken by the various branches of the government in addressing the international obligations with regard to access essential treatment. This chapter will also look at the role played by other relevant stakeholders in the realisation of this right in Uganda. Chapter four analyses the various obstacles that impede the realisation of this right at national level, taking into account the globalisation process, the political situation of Uganda, as well as other socio-economic factors. Chapter five provides the final conclusions and recommends legal, judicial and administrative channels towards the realisation of the right to access essential treatment for OLWHA in Uganda." -- Introduction. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2005. / [Prepared under the supervision of] Dr. Ben Kiromba Twinomugisha, Makerere University / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/academic_pro/llm1/dissertations.html / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

En mars 2020, l’Organisation mondiale de la santé déclare une pandémie mondiale de SARS-CoV-2. Rapidement, le gouvernement du Québec décrète l’état d’urgence sanitaire alors que la métropole de la province, Montréal, se voit affligée de la plus forte prévalence du virus lors de la première vague. La vulnérabilité et les iniquités antérieurement documentées sont potentialisées parmi les populations migrantes et plus spécifiquement pour celles vivant sans assurance médicale. Selon les données les plus récentes, 50 000 à 70 000 personnes vivent sans couverture médicale au Québec. Déjà, avant la pandémie, les personnes migrantes sans assurance médicale (MSAM) étaient confrontées à des barrières culturelles, linguistiques, économiques lorsqu’elles se présentaient dans le réseau public de santé. Ce mémoire de maîtrise vise à documenter les enjeux sociaux, de santé et d’accès aux soins au Québec, plus spécifiquement à Montréal pour la population MSAM dans le contexte de la COVID-19. Une analyse thématique des entretiens semi-dirigés menés auprès de personnes MSAM (n=19) est supportée par le cadre des déterminants sociaux de santé (Gautier et al.,2020). Quatre thèmes émergents de l’analyse seront présentés: Perceptions et attentes par rapport aux politiques (1), Précarité des conditions de vie et de travail : la position sociale déterminante avant et durant la pandémie (2), Stratégies d’adaptation (et leurs limites) pour prévenir les menaces à la santé (3) intraitables institutions de santé en pandémie de COVID-19 (Ou comment les institutions accentuent-elles les barrières d’accès aux soins?) (4). Les résultats de ce projet de recherche mettent en lumière des difficultés et des défis, potentiellement productrices d’ISS, auxquelles ont dit faire face les personnes MSAM durant les premières vagues de la pandémie. Des recommandations sont adressées aux décideurs et aux institutions de santé afin de favoriser l’inclusion des personnes MSAM dans la société québécoise. Celles-ci touchent notamment des politiques et des programmes pour améliorer leur accessibilité aux soins de santé et aux programmes sociaux en temps de pandémie et même au-delà. / In March 2020, WHO declares a global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Quickly, the Quebec government declared a state of health emergency while the metropolis of the province, Montreal, was afflicted with the highest prevalence of the virus during the first wave. Vulnerability and previously documented inequities are growing among migrant populations and more specifically for those living without medical insurance. According to the most recent data, 50,000 to 70,000 people live without medical coverage in Quebec. Already before the pandemic, uninsured migrants faced cultural, linguistic and economic barriers when they entered the public health network. This master's thesis aims to document the health and social challenges that they are facing in the context of COVID-19, in Quebec Province, specifically in Montreal. A thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews conducted with uninsured migrants (n = 19) is supported by the social determinants of health framework (Gautier et al., 2020). Three emerging themes of the analysis will be presented: Precarious living and working conditions: Four emerging themes of the analysis will be presented: Perceptions and expectations in relation to policies (1), precarious living and working conditions: the decisive social position before and during the pandemic (2), adaptation strategies (and its limits) to prevent threats to health (3) Intractable health structures in the COVID-19 pandemic (or how to accentuate the barriers to access to care?) (4). The results of this research project shed light on the difficulties and challenges, potentially producing ISS, that uninsured migrants said they faced during the first waves of the pandemic. Recommendations are addressed to decision-makers and health institutions in order to promote the inclusion of uninsured migrants in Quebec. These relate to policies and programs to improve their accessibility to health care and social programs in times of pandemic and even beyond.

[pt] O presente estudo tem por objetivo geral analisar a relação dos profissionais em formação nas residências multiprofissionais em saúde no que tange ao atendimento de pessoas trans em um hospital universitário do município Rio de Janeiro. Evidenciar o tema da transexualidade a partir do olhar das profissionais de saúde é fundamental para a construção de uma formação profissional e de uma educação permanente em saúde de qualidade que contribua para a criação de espaços de diálogos entre as profissionais de saúde e a população atendida. Para isto, este trabalho teve como objetivos específicos: 1) Identificar a percepção das profissionais de saúde em formação acerca das demandas das pessoas transexuais que comparecem aos serviços de saúde, 2) Analisar a interação entre profissionais de saúde e as pessoas trans no atendimento de suas demandas e 3) Analisar a incorporação e reificação da dimensão de gênero na formação da residência em saúde pública a partir do olhar das profissionais. Os episódios de atitudes discriminatórias contra as sexualidades consideradas desviantes da norma são recorrentes nos ambientes de saúde. Foram realizadas oito entrevistas individuais com profissionais de saúde residentes do segundo ano de formação dos programas de residência multiprofissionais. Na análise dos dados coletados, utilizamos a análise de conteúdo das narrativas das profissionais de saúde entrevistadas, a partir de três categorias: Noções sobre transexualidade e demandas em saúde, atendimento às pessoas trans e interação com as profissionais de saúde e gênero e formação profissional. Observamos que as dificuldades de lidar com as questões relativas ao gênero e à sexualidade, especialmente à sexualidade feminina, faz com que as profissionais de saúde reduzam o impacto de suas ações. Os resultados apontam que a maneira como esses profissionais entendem e constroem as noções de gênero e sexualidade, torna-se uma das principais barreiras de acesso das pessoas trans aos serviços. / [en] This study aims to evaluate healthcare professionals (HCP) during their multiprofessional postgraduate training - residency - and their perceptions of the care dispensed to transgender people in a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro city. It is highly important to value the transexuality subject from the HCP perspective in order to build proper professional education and permanent health education that allows experience exchange spaces between those professionals and the population. This work has as specific goals: 1) To identify the in-training HCP perception about the demands of transgender people who attend to the health facility, 2) To evaluate the intercommunication between HCPs and trans people regarding the resolution of their needs and 3) To evaluate the internalization and reification of gender dimension in the public health education during residency from the professionals perception. Gender discrimination episodes against people whose sexuality is considered deviating is recurrent in health care institutions.. For this work, we conducted 8 interviews with 2nd-year health care students during their multiprofessional residency. To perform data analysis the content analysis method was used to evaluate the narratives of the interviewees, using three categories: basic knowledge on transexuality and health needs, health care to trans people and interactions with HCP and gender and professional training. We observed that the difficulties in dealing with gender and sexuality topics, specially those regarding female sexuality, reduce the impact of the action of those health professionals. Our results evidentiate that the manner the HCPs deal with gender and sexuality and how they understand those subjects are barriers to transgender people on their access to health care services.

<p>This thesis comprises three essays that empirically investigate important issues in two areas of health economics: physician labour supply and health insurance policy interventions.</p> <p>In the first essay, gendered associations between family status and physician labour supply are explored in the Canadian labour market, where physicians are paid according to a common fee schedule and have substantial discretion in setting their hours of work. Data from 1991 to 2006 show no gender difference in physician labour supply after controlling for family status. Male and female physicians have statistically indistinguishable hours of work when never married and without children. Married male physicians, however, have higher market hours than unmarried male physicians and parenthood either increases their hours or leaves them unchanged. In contrast, married female physicians have lower market hours than unmarried physicians and parenthood substantially lowers market hours. Little change over time in these patterns is observed for males, but for females two offsetting trends are observed: the magnitude of the marriage-hours effect declined, whereas that for motherhood increased. Preferences and/or social norms induce substantially different labour market outcome across the sexes. In terms of work at home, the presence of children is associated with higher hours for male physicians, but for females the hours increase is at least twice as large. A male physician’s spouse is much less likely to be employed in the presence of children, and if employed, has lower market hours in the presence of children. In contrast, a female physician’s spouse is more likely to be employed in the presence of children, and if employed, has slightly lower market hours in the presence of children. Both male and female physicians have lower hours of work when married to another physician.</p> <p>This second essay examines the impacts of a mandatory, universal prescription drug insurance program on health care utilization and health outcomes in a public health care system with free physician and hospital services. Beginning in 1997, all residents of the province of Quebec, Canada, were required by law to have drug insurance coverage. Under this program, all persons under age 65 who are eligible for a private plan are required to join that plan, while the public prescription drug insurance plan covers all Quebecers who are not eligible for a private plan. Using the National Population Health Survey from 1994 to 2003, we find that the mandatory program substantially increased drug coverage among the general population. The program also increased medication use and general practitioner visits but had little effect on specialist visits and hospitalization. Findings from quantile regressions suggest that there was a large improvement in the health status of less healthy individuals. Further analysis by pre-policy drug insurance status and the presence of chronic conditions reveals a marked increase in the probability of taking medication and visiting a general practitioner among the previously uninsured and those with a chronic condition. We also find evidence of positive health gains among the chronically ill.</p> <p>The third essay examines the impact of delisting routine eye exam services on patient eye care utilization and on providers’ labour market outcomes in a public health care system. Beginning in the early 1990s, provincial governments in Canada started to de-insure routine eye examinations from the basket of publicly funded health care services. We exploit delisting policy changes across Canadian provinces to estimate the impact of delisting from the supply- and demand-sides. Demand side analysis using the National Population Health Survey and Canadian Community Health Survey data suggests that the delisting of eye exams for the working age population decreased the probability of using eye care among this population group. However, the number of visits among those who continued to use eye care services was not affected. We also find suggestive evidence that the delisting policies targeted at the working age population were associated with increased eye care utilization among the elderly patients. Using the optometrist sample from the Canadian census data we find that the delisting of eye exams decreased optometrists’ weekly work hours while raised their annual work weeks. There was no statistically significant effect on optometrists’ income.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Cervical cancer rates among Vietnamese American women are the highest when compared to other women of color and white women. In an article by Taylor, Nguyen, and McPhee, a majority of Vietnamese Americans immigrated to the United States over the last three decades; and the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans identified cervical cancer among Vietnamese women as one of the most important health disparities experienced by the Asian American population. HPV vaccination, according to the CDC, helps prevent cervical cancer and it is recommended that female and male preteens, ages 11 or 12, receive the vaccination. My research aims to better understand what second generation Vietnamese American women know about the HPV vaccination, their relationship to healthcare, and their overall health. By interviewing second generation Vietnamese American women, I hope they become more empowered to ask their doctors about health disparities that affect their communities. In looking at preventative measures to cervical cancer and trying to better understand a vulnerable population's relationship to healthcare, I hope that the rates of cervical cancer will go down in Vietnamese American women. Furthermore, I hope to push for greater disaggregation of data collection among Asian American populations to better understand the health disparities that affect the various ethnicities that fall under the umbrella term, Asian American.

Introdução: A situação epidemiológica da tuberculose (TB) no âmbito mundial e no Brasil ainda evidencia importante magnitude, acrescentandose o problema crescente da Tuberculose Multirresistente (TBMR). A TB é exemplo consagrado que evidencia as desigualdades sociais e as limitações de acesso à saúde. A adesão ao tratamento da TBMR é um dos aspectos cruciais do cotidiano da assistência em saúde e uma das maiores dificuldades no controle da enfermidade. Objetivos: Analisar como se processa a adesão ao tratamento para a TBMR, em um grupo de indivíduos que completaram com sucesso o tratamento medicamentoso; e propor alternativas para incrementar a adesão. Métodos: Estudo de abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvido em Centro de Referência para Controle da TB e TBMR do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram coletados, no período de abril a setembro de 2012, depoimentos de indivíduos que vivenciaram o adoecimento por TBMR e que aderiram ao tratamento medicamentoso até a alta por cura. Os depoimentos foram analisados segundo técnica de análise de discurso e interpretados à luz da Hermenêutica-Dialética e da Teoria da Determinação Social do Processo Saúde-Doença. Resultados: Entrevistouse 21 sujeitos, sendo: 17 (80,9%) pertencentes ao sexo masculino; 19 (90,4%) encontravam-se na faixa etária produtiva; 11 (52,4%) tinham 9 ou mais anos de escolaridade; 14 (66,7%) estavam afastados do trabalho ou desempregados durante o tratamento e relataram ter recebido auxílio, como vale transporte e cesta básica; 14 (66,7%) eram acompanhados pela Estratégia Saúde da Família; 18 (85,7%) tinham tratamento anterior para TB; 20 (95,2%) realizaram o tratamento da TBMR na modalidade Diretamente Observado, executado na Unidade Básica de Saúde (19: 95,0%); 16 (76,2%) caminhavam até o local para o Tratamento Diretamente Observado; sendo que 17 (80,9%) levavam até 30 minutos para o deslocamento; 16 (76,1%) realizaram o tratamento por 18 a 20 meses; 7 (33,6%) possuíam outra doença além da TBMR; 4 (40,0%) faziam uso de cigarro e nenhum sujeito fazia uso de álcool, durante o tratamento.Verificou-se que, como produto da forma como se realiza o trabalho e a vida, há uma variedade de questões que acabam por mediar o processo de adesão ao tratamento, que são determinadas por relações de interdependência e de subordinação. Fundamentalmente, a adesão ocorreu devido ao desejo de viver face à inevitabilidade da morte; ao suporte físico, emocional/psicológico e financeiro; e à forma como o serviço de saúde oferece o cuidado e se organiza para o tratamento medicamentoso. Conclusão: A adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso da TBMR não se reduz a um ato de vontade estritamente individual, mas depende da forma como se realiza a vida em sociedade e da acessibilidade aos serviços de saúde. Ressalta-se a necessidade de entender tais processos para apoiar a prática assistencial dos profissionais de saúde envolvidos no tratamento das pessoas com TBMR, em particular a Enfermagem, com vistas a fortalecer a adesão e apoiar as estratégias para o controle da TBMR. / Introduction: The epidemiological situation of Tuberculosis (TB) in the world, as well as in Brazil, shows an important magnitude, adding to the growing problem of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB). TB is an enshrined example highlighting the social inequalities and limited access to health care. Adherence to treatment of MDR-TB is a crucial aspect of everyday health care and one of the greatest difficulties in controlling the disease. Objetive: To analyze the adherence process to the treatment for MDR-TB in a group of individuals who have successfully completed drug treatment; and propose alternatives for increasing the treatment adherence for MDR-TB. Methods: A qualitative study, developed in a Reference Center for Tuberculosis Control and MDR-TB in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. During the period of April - September 2012, testimonials were collected from individuals who experienced MDR-TB and who adhered to drug treatment until discharge for being cured. The reports were analyzed according to discourse analysis technique and interpreted in the light of hermeneutics-dialectics and the Theory of Social Determination of the Health-Disease Process. Results: Twenty-one (21) subjects were interviewed, 17 (80.9%) were male; 19 (90.4%) were in the productive age group; 11 (52.4%) had 9 or more years of schooling; 14 (66.7%) were out of work or unemployed during treatment and reported receiving aid, such as transportation vouchers and food baskets; 14 (66.7%) were accompanied by the Family Health Strategy; 18 (85.7%) had previous treatment for TB; 20 (95.2%) underwent the treatment of MDR-TB in the form Directly Observed, performed in the Basic Health Care Unit 19: (95.0%); 16 (76.2%) walked to the location for the Directly Observed Treatment; and 17 (80.9%) took 30 minutes for the displacement; 16 (76.1%) underwent treatment for 18 to 20 months; 7 (33.6%) had diseases other than MDR-TB; 4 (40.0%) were tobacco smokers and no subject was using alcohol during treatment. It was found that, as a product of how the work is done and life, there are a variety of issues that ultimately mediate the adherence process to the treatment, which are determined by relations of interdependence and subordination. Fundamentally, the treatment adherence for MDR-TB was due to the desire to live, given the inevitability of death; physical support, emotional/psychological and financial; and how the health service offers care and is organized for medical treatment. Conclusion: Adherence to medication treatment of MDR-TB is not limited to a strictly individual act of will, but it depends on how one lives life in society and their access to health services. The need to understand these processes to support the care practice of health professionals, involved in the treatment of people with MDR-TB, needs to be emphasized, particularly in nursing, in order to strengthen the membership and support the strategies for the control of MDR-TB.

Objetivos: Este estudo é parte do Projeto Saúde, Bem-estar e Envelhecimento (SABE), com o objetivo de identificar as desigualdades no acesso e uso de serviços de saúde entre idosos no município de São Paulo, Brasil. Métodos: Em 2000, foram entrevistados, 2143 indivíduos com 60 anos ou mais, utilizando-se o questionário padronizado do SABE. A amostra foi obtida em dois estágios, utilizando-se setores censitários com reposição, probabilidade proporcional à população e complementação da amostra de pessoas de 75 anos. Os dados finais foram ponderados, de forma a serem expandidos. Foi mensurado o uso de serviços hospitalares (internações) e ambulatoriais (consultas médicas) nos últimos quatro meses e o não uso de serviços de saúde (mesmo precisando), relacionando-os com fatores de capacidade, necessidade e predisposição (renda total, escolaridade, seguro saúde, morbidade referida, auto-percepção, sexo e idade). Resultados: A proporção dos entrevistados que referiu ter utilizado algum serviço de saúde, nos últimos quatro meses, foi de 4,7 por cento com relação à internação hospitalar e 64, 4 por cento com referência ao atendimento ambulatorial. Dos atendimentos ambulatoriais, 24,7 por cento ocorreu em hospital público e 24,1 por cento em serviço ambulatorial público sendo que nos serviços privados, 14,5 por cento ocorreu em hospital e 33,7 por cento em clínicas. A não utilização foi relacionada à pouca gravidade da doença, qualidade e distância dos serviços e custo. Na regressão logística multivariada, observou-se associação entre a utilização de serviços e sexo, presença de doenças, auto-percepção de saúde, interação da renda e escolaridade e posse de seguro saúde, sendo que a escolaridade isoladamente apresentou efeito inverso. Conclusão: Foram observadas desigualdades no uso e acesso aos serviços de saúde e inadequação do modelo de atenção, indicando necessidade de políticas públicas que levem em conta as especificidades dessa população, facilitem o acesso e possam reduzir essas desigualdades / Objectives: This research is part of a project called Health, Well-being and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean, “SABE study", and aims to study the inequalities in use and access to health care services among the elderly persons in the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: In 2000, 2.143 individuals aged 60 or older, dwelling in the urban area of São Paulo, were interviewed using census sectors with replacement and probability proportional to population. To achieve the desired number of respondents 75 or older, additional homes close to the selected census sector were used, with weighting of the final results. The use and access to health services were measured for outpatient medical services and hospital admission in the context of the personal characteristics of the subjects, context and need for health care. Results: Considering the elderly who needed healthcare assistance in the four months prior to the interview, 4,7% were hospitalized and 64,4% needed ambulatory care, being 24,7% in public hospitals and 24,1% in public ambulatory health services. As for the private services, this number was 14, 5% for hospitals and 33, 7% for medical clinics. In the multivariate analysis, there is an association between use of health services, sex, diseases, wealth quintiles and health insurance. However, the opposite effect was found for the variable “educational level". Conclusions: The results demonstrate inequalities in use and access to health services and a problematic health care system. Public policies should take into account the different needs of this older population, in order to facilitate access to health care services and reduce inequalities.

De forma acentuada nos últimos anos, há ênfase de que os cuidados de saúde oferecidos à população devam ser ofertados por ações e serviços qualificados de Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). O Brasil tem feito esforços no sentido de orientar seu Sistema Único de Saúde, de caráter universal e descentralizado, por meio de um modelo de APS, que é a Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF). Nesse contexto, em 2002, o município de Belo Horizonte, com uma população de 2.412.937 habitantes promoveu uma mudança macro estrutural no seu sistema de saúde, expandindo o acesso à saúde a 70% da população por meio da Estratégia de Saúde da Família. Essa reorientação pressupõe o acesso universal e contínuo a serviços de saúde de qualidade e resolutivos, a efetivação da integralidade em seus vários aspectos, bem como, a coordenação dos usuários na rede de serviços, devendo proporcionar maior racionalidade na utilização dos demais pontos da rede de atenção à saúde, como nas internações hospitalares. No contexto internacional, uma série de investigações sobre indicadores da atividade hospitalar tem sido utilizados como medida da efetividade da APS. Entre eles, o ambulatory care sensitive conditions (Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária – ICSAP), utilizado como medida indireta do funcionamento da atenção primária à saúde, tanto para avaliar impacto global da adequação da atenção primária nos sistemas de saúde , seu acesso ou qualidade, como para analisar a utilização inadequada da atenção hospitalar. Analisou-se espaço-temporalmente as taxas de ICSAP, modelando sua associação para variáveis relacionadas às características organizacionais das equipes de saúde da família e aos indicadores demográficos e sócio-econômicos da população do município, modeladas através de modelos mistos. Do total de 435.253 internações (249/10.000/ano) que ocorreram no município entre 2003 e 2006, as ICSAP somaram 115.340 (26,4% - 66/10.000/ano). O declínio global nas internações por ICSAP foi de 17,9% ao longo do período, enquanto das não ICSAP apenas 8,3% ( p<0,001). Em 2003, as mulheres dos setores censitários de médio IVS tiveram 110 internações /10.000 habitantes a mais em comparação com mulheres dos setores de baixo IVS. Nos setores de elevado IVS, partiam de 204/10.000 internações a mais que nas de baixo risco (P<0,001). No entanto, houve nítida diminuição dessas desigualdades com o decorrer de tempo, após a implantação das equipes de saúde da família: as ICSAP em mulheres dos setores de baixo IVS, a queda das taxas padronizadas anuais das ICSAP de 2003 a 2006 foi de 5,9/10.000 hab., para aquelas de setores de médio IVS de 34,8/10.000 hab. e nos setores de elevado IVS. 55,9/10.000 hab (P<0,001). Cinco grupos de diagnósticos representam 59,3% do total das ICSAP no período. Em termos percentuais, o maior declínio correspondeu às internações por doenças inflamatórias dos órgãos pélvicos femininos (71%), doenças imunizáveis (58%) e hipertensão (49%), enquanto que as internações por broncopneumonia bacteriana e acidente vascular cerebral não apresentaram redução no período. A associação de aspectos ligados à qualidade dos serviços, como a manutenção do mesmo médico nas equipes, foi capaz de reduzir em 0,53 ICSAP por 10.000 hab./ano para as mulheres (IC (95%) -1,03; -0,04) e de 0,22 ICSAP por 10.000 hab./ano para os homens (IC (95%) -0,62; 0,16), por cada mês a mais de permanência do mesmo médico nas equipes. Os resultados sugerem que a Estratégia Saúde da Família pode contribuir de maneira importante não apenas na diminuição das taxas de internação por condições sensíveis à atenção primária em grandes metrópoles, como na promoção de maior eqüidade na atenção à saúde da população. / The role of qualified actions and services of primary health care has received a pronounced emphasis in recent years. In this regard, Brazil has organized its universal and decentralized National Health System using its model of primary care - the Family Health Strategy (FHS). In this context, in 2002, the city of Belo Horizonte, whith 2,412,937 inhabitants, promoted a change in its macro structural health system, expanding the population access to health though an increase of 70% in Family Health Strategy coverage. This shift presupposes universal and continuous access to resolutive and qualified health services, the achievement of integrality in various aspects, as well as the coordination of users of the network of health services, aiming to result in a greater efficiency in the use of other points of health care, such as in hospital care, in the network. In the international context, a series of investigations of indicators of hospital activity have been used as a measure of the effectiveness of primary care. Among them, the construct of Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) has been applied as an indirect measure of the functioning of primary health care, both to assess the overall impact of primary care in health systems, including questions of access and quality, and to evaluate the inappropriate use of hospital care. In this study, we investigated trends and factors associated with avoidable hospitalizations due to ACSC following the implementation of the Family Health Strategy in Belo Horizonte - Brazil. To do so, we considered spacetime rates of these hospitalizations, modelling their association with organizational characteristics of the strategy and socio-economic and demographic indicators of the population. Of the total of 435,253 hospitalizations (249/10.000/year) that occurred in the municipality between 2003 and 2006, those sensitive to ambulatory care totaled 115,340 (26.4%, 154,07/10.000 in 2006). The overall decline in admissions for these sensitive conditions was 17.9% over the period, while that of non-sensitive ones was only 8.3% (p<0.001). The reduction in standardized rates of annual ACSC from 2003 to 2006 was higher in census tracts of greater socioeconomic vulnerability. This decline was more pronounced in women, with reductions of 5.9, 34.8 and 55.9 hospitalizations /10.000 inhabitants in areas of low, medium and high vulnerability during the period (p <0.001). Five groups of diagnoses led to 59.3% of total ACSC hospitalizations during the period. In percentage terms for diagnostic groups, the biggest declines were for inflammatory diseases of female pelvic organs (71%), diseases preventable by immunization (58%) and hypertension (49%); while hospitalizations for bacterial pneumonia and stroke showed no reduction in the period. In terms of aspects related to quality of services, maintaining the same physician in the Family Health Team associated with lower rates of hospitalization - 0.53 less hospitalizations per 10,000 inhabitants/year for women (- 0,53 CI (95%) -1.03, -0.04) and 0.22 less per 10,000 inhabitants/year for men (- 0,22 CI (95%) -0.62, 0.16) for each additional month that the same doctor remained with the team. The results suggest that the Family Health Strategy can play an important role in reducing the rates of hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in large cities, as well as in promoting greater equity in health care.

A população mundial vem envelhecendo, diante dessa premissa a Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), bem como, o Ministério da Saúde (MS) do Brasil, vem buscando adaptar-se a esta realidade através de políticas públicas capazes de promover o envelhecimento ativo e da atenção à saúde adaptada às necessidades da população idosa. A OMS propôs a adequação da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) às necessidades dos idosos. O Brasil, por sua vez, segue as orientações da OMS, dentro da linha de cuidado voltada para a saúde dos idosos, na Estratégia de Saúde da Família e dentro da Política de Atenção à Saúde da Pessoa Idosa. No entanto, ainda não há evidências quanto à avaliação da adequação destas políticas e de sua relação com a forma como os idosos percebem sua saúde geral e bucal. Desta forma, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar a extensão do cuidado em saúde que é acessado por idosos moradores de dois distritos de Porto Alegre/RS, em relação ao preconizado para efetividade da Atenção Primária à Saúde, e realizar um censo das unidades de saúde de APS dos mesmos distritos a fim de estabelecer uma relação entre os dados empíricos levantados e: i) Políticas de Saúde relacionadas com a Atenção Primária à Saúde voltadas às necessidades das pessoas idosas, ii) autoavaliação de saúde geral e iii) percepção de saúde bucal. A metodologia do estudo contou com um estudo teórico realizado através de um levantamento de documentos, um estudo epidemiológico de base populacional de delineamento transversal e um censo de unidades de saúde. Os resultados deste estudo apontam para uma realidade distinta entre o que as Políticas voltadas para os idosos preconizam e o que é oferecido para os idosos. Foram observadas limitações em relação ao acesso, longitudinalidade, integralidade e qualidade do cuidado. Além disso, foi possível observar que em relação à autoavaliação de saúde os resultados mostraram associações entre a avaliação positiva da saúde e fatores psicossociais (sintomatologia depressiva), características pessoais (nº de morbidades) e ambientais (orientação do serviço para a APS). Já em relação à percepção de saúde bucal, os resultados apontaram associação com determinantes primários (satisfação com último atendimento odontológico, resiliência e renda suficiente para as necessidades da família), comportamentos em saúde (hábito tabágico) e condições de saúde bucal (número de dentes e presença de restos radiculares). A conclusão que se chegou a partir de tais resultados é que há uma necessidade premente de ampliação do acesso e qualificação do cuidado para que a Atenção Primária disponibilizada para os idosos que vivem nos distritos Lomba do Pinheiro e Partenon em Porto Alegre possa ser realmente considerada adequada às necessidades dos idosos. Além disso, é necessário que se leve em consideração o papel da Atenção Primária a saúde na avaliação da sua própria saúde e na percepção de saúde bucal por parte de idosos. / The world population is aging. In response to those trends the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MH), are aiming at tackling such matters through public policies that promote active aging through health care adapted to the needs of the elderly population. The WHO has proposed an Age-friendly Primary Health Care (PHC) that lies in accordance with the needs of the elderly. In Brazil, the WHO guidelines are followed within older people care provision, in the Family Health Strategy, and within the National Health Policy for the Elderly Person. However, there is still no evidence concerning the assessment of adequacy of these policies and its association with how older people perceive their general and oral health. Thus, this study aimed to verify the extension towards primary health care provided by health services accessed by older persons living in two sanitary districts of Porto Alegre/RS in relation with the recommendation in terms of effectiveness of primary health care. In addition, a census of the primary health care services of the two sanitary districts was carried out forming, along with the epidemiological survey, the basis of the empirical data that allowed establish a relationship with: i) Health Policies related to Primary Health Care and targeting on the needs of older persons, ii) self-rated health and iii) self-perceived oral health. The methodology included: theoretical study made by a documental research, a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study and a health PHC services census. The results of this study show a distinct reality between what policies targeting older persons recommend and what is actually provided, limitations in terms of access, longitudinally, comprehensiveness and quality of care were observed. Furthermore, it was observed that positive self-rated health was associated with psychosocial factors (depressive symptomatology), personal characteristics (number of morbidities) and environmental characteristics (orientation towards PHC Attributes). Self-perceived oral health was associated with primary determinants of health (satisfaction with prior dental appointment, resilience and income that was enough to meet family needs), 17 health behaviors (smoking habit) and oral health status (number of teeth and of root remnants). Concluding, there is an urgent need to increase access and to qualify care so that Primary Health Care services made available for older people, at least for those who live in the Lomba do Pinheiro and Partenon sanitary districts of Porto Alegre/RS, reach its goals of providing adequate and resolutive care that is adequate to the needs of the elderly. Furthermore, it is necessary to take into account the role of Primary Health Care on the rate of health and perception of oral health by the elderly. Still, advances in relation to equity and quality of care in respect to primary health care professionals continued education attainment were observed.

L’accès aux soins est une préoccupation des pouvoirs publics, des patients et des médecins. Après avoir identifié le rôle et les différentes aspirations de ces acteurs de santé, une synthèse reposant sur la construction des concepts en sciences sociales est proposée afin de comparer les différentes approches de l’analyse et de la mesure de l’accès aux soins. En France, ce concept est principalement étudié à travers les difficultés financières ou la distance géographique, pourtant sa nature est multidimensionnelle. A partir de cette analyse, deux enquêtes ont été menées pour recueillir les perceptions de mille patients et cinq cents médecins libéraux afin de déterminer précisément la nature et la fréquence des difficultés d’accès aux soins. Les résultats montrent que les principaux obstacles sont le temps d’attente en cabinet chez les généralistes et le délai d’obtention d’un rendez-vous chez les spécialistes. Ces éléments sont également des facteurs de renoncement aux soins. L’enquête réalisée auprès des médecins identifie leurs perceptions concernant les difficultés d’accès aux consultations de leurs patients, leurs conditions de travail et les solutions privilégiées pour diminuer lesdélais de prise en charge des patients. Un vif intérêt pour le regroupement avec d’autres confrères est exprimé, en particulier pour les jeunes médecins. Ainsi, les deux principaux modes d’organisation émergents de l’offre de soins, les maisons de santé pluriprofessionnelles et la télémédecine, sont analysés et discutés à la suite de retours d’expériences et d’entretiens semi-directifs. A l’initiative des acteurs locaux, ces coopérations entre professionnels de santé favorisent la qualité et la durabilité des services de soins sur les territoires. / Access to health care is a concern for governments, patients and physicians. This study identifies the role and aspirations of health stakeholders and, based on the construction of social science concepts, it compares the previous conceptual frameworks analyzing and measuring access to health care. Access to health care is a multidimensional concept; however it was mainly analyzed through financial difficulties or geographical distance in France. Two surveys were conducted to collect the perceptions of one thousand patients and five hundred liberal doctors to determine the origin and frequency of problems of access to health care. The results show that the main barriers are the waiting time in the office of general practitioner and the waiting period to get an appointment with specialists. These previous factors lead also to health carerenunciation. Concerning the physicians, the survey identifies their perceptions of patient’s difficulties, their working conditions and their preferred solutions against the waiting period before patients care receiving. It appears that young doctors are particularly interested in group medical practices. Thus, the two main emerging organizations offering health care i.e., multidisciplinary health house and telemedicine are analyzed and discussed as a result of feedbacks and semi-structured interviews. At the initiative of local actors, cooperation between health professionals promotes the quality and sustainability of health care services in the territories.