Inequalities in levels of health between regions within a country are frequently regarded as a problem. Zimbabwe is characterised by poor and unequal conditions of health (both the state of people‘s health and health services). The health system of the country shows severe spatial inequalities that are manifested at provincial, district and even local levels. The current research therefore examines and analyses the spatial inequalities and temporal variation of health conditions in Zimbabwe. Composite indices were used to determine the people‘s state of health in Zimbabwe. Administrative districts were ranked according to the level of people‘s state of health. Cluster analysis was also performed to demarcate administrative districts according the level of health service provision. Districts with minimum difference were demarcated in a single cluster. Clusters were delineated using data on patterns of diseases and health and such clusters were used to demarcate the country‘s spatial health system according to the Adapted Epidemiological Transition Model. This was meant to evaluate the applicability of the model to Zimbabwe. It emerged from the research that generally the country‘s health conditions are poor and the health system is characterised by severe spatial inequalities. Some districts are experiencing poor health service provision and serious health challenges and are still in the age of pestilence and famine but others have good health service provision as well as highly developed health conditions and are in the age of degenerative and man-made diseases of the epidemiological transition model. It further emerged that the country‘s health has been evolving with signs of improvement since the 1990s. Some proposals are made in research for spatial development of health in the country. Recommendations were made regarding possible adjustment to previous strategies and policies used in Zimbabwe, for the development of the health system of the country. New strategies were also recommended for the improvement of the health system of the country. / Geography / Ph.D. (Geography)

The present thesis entitled "Health and social situation of unemployed persons living in Český Krumlov" deals with the issue of unemployment in the context of a human life situation. The five chapters the theoretical section define issues of health and its determinants with emphasis on the social determinants of health, and also deal with the characteristics of unemployment from an economic and social health point of view, the definition of the competencies of the Labour Office and other employment services, as well as with specific information about Český Krumlov including unemployment statistics relating to its territory. The practical part is based on quantitative research study. To collect data for this survey, interviewing method (a questionnaire) was used. A specific questionnaire was created, which contained mostly closed questions in the form of scales with a bilateral scale used for measuring the living situations of people questioned. Research tool focused on the subjective evaluation of the respondents in the areas of financial, social and health situation. The research sample consisted of individuals registered as jobseekers with the Labour Office in Český Krumlov. That means I used a deliberate choice through institutions. The selection was conducted by direct addressing potential respondents upon arriving at the Labour Office workplace in Český Krumlov. The questionnaires were distributed personally, so the return was 96.7%. After elimination of incomplete or logically incorrectly completed questionnaires, a total of 353 questionnaires were collected using the afformentioned procedure. The aim was to describe the health and social situation of unemployed persons living in Český Krumlov region and determine whether there is a relationship between social and health situation of the unemployed, and the relationship between unemployment length records and social situation of the unemployed. In line with the objectives of the work, two basic research questions were established in the following wording: "Does the subjective assessment of selected characteristics of the social situation reflect in the subjective evaluation of selected aspects of health of the unemployed?" And "Does the length of registration reflect in the subjective evaluation of the social situation of the unemployed?" To the research questions, the hypotheses were determined, which assumed that increasing the value of one variable will increase the value of the other variable. As the characteristics of the social situation for the first research question were chosen: duration of the records, perception of unemployment, living with a partner and financial situation. Health was due to the characteristics of the social situation assessed from three aspects - overall, mental and physical. The results of this research thus show that three out of four selected characteristics are reflected in the health of unemployed people in at least two respects. In terms of social situation, the results confirmed that the duration of the unemployment records are deteriorating financial situation and also the tolerance of the people around towards the unemployed from the perspective of the job seekers. These findings not only correspond with the current knowledge in this area, but also point out that the health and social problem of unemployment is still relevant even today, when the existential threat to the unemployed is averted. The diploma thesis could thus serve the Labour Office in Český Krumlov in the basic orientation about the health and social status of their registered candidates. Furthermore, it could be an incentive for local nonprofit organizations to establish cooperation with the unemployed if needed. The thesis could also enrich the existing research dealing with this issue in one of the regions with the highest unemployment rates in the country.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-01-30T11:26:59Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Jonas Carlos Berquo Alarcao - 2014.pdf: 1932769 bytes, checksum: d3e510eca18999d83c98a8b3ffd75cc3 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-01-30T11:27:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Jonas Carlos Berquo Alarcao - 2014.pdf: 1932769 bytes, checksum: d3e510eca18999d83c98a8b3ffd75cc3 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-30T11:27:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Jonas Carlos Berquo Alarcao - 2014.pdf: 1932769 bytes, checksum: d3e510eca18999d83c98a8b3ffd75cc3 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-27 / The SUS Ombudsman is a channel of qualified citizens hearing, capable of guaranteeing them the fundamental right to health, insofar as it presents to the system management instances, the needs or weaknesses identified by citizens or users. For the perfect operation of the SUS Ombudsman, it must be configured on network with software deployment demands management : SUS Ombudsman system. In Goiás state , till the beginning of 2014, the number of municipalities with the implanted system was extremely low. The state network is organized to the level of Regional Health, located in the municipalities of each region headquarters, with the existence of Ombudsman regional dialogues . In Rio Vermelho Health Region , we observed a number of issues regarding the Ombudsman work that were impeding the advance of the network to the municipal level. This study intended to raise awareness of the local health managers in the region, under the Inter-Regional Commission - CIR, on the role of the SUS Ombudsman and its importance and thereby to get achieving maximum response time to citizens, to institute the responsible staff for the Municipal Ombudsman Health and to deploy SUS Ombudman System in 100% of the municipalities in the region. For this, we used an Intervention Project, based on the assumptions of action research. The intervention was structured in the form of an action plan and implemented through strategies developed by the Department of Rio Vermelho Goiás Health Region in partnership with the Management of the Ombudsman, both organs of the State Office of Health. As results, we have obtained: a. pact of maximum response to ombudsman demands directed to municipalities, the setting of the responsible ones by Municipal Ombudsman in 16 municipalities in Rio Vermelho Region and the expansion of the network state Ombudsman with the implementation of SUS Ombudsman system in 15 municipalities. We have noted that in a Health Region, it is fundamental the integration of Regional Health with municipalities under their geographical jurisdiction, in particular, within the CIR space, since this integration when directed to building or strengthening the process regionalization of health always results in advances in the Regional System. Using the space of CIR to discuss the strengthening of the Ombudsman allowed us to comprehend the need for it in a network structure and to include municipalities on network. As the new structure and workflow established in the region, it will be possible to achieve new breakthroughs in the management of the Ombudsman demands such as: to reduce further the response time, to decrease the number of unanswered demands and to use the information in the management system, both in regional and municipal levels / A Ouvidoria do SUS é um canal de escuta qualificada dos cidadãos capaz de garantir a eles o direito fundamental à saúde, na medida em que apresenta às instâncias de gestão do sistema as necessidades ou fraquezas apontadas pelos cidadãos/usuários. Para o perfeito funcionamento da Ouvidoria do SUS ela deve ser configurada em Rede com a implantação do software de gestão das demandas: sistema OuvidorSUS. No Estado de Goiás, até o início de 2014, o número de municípios com o sistema implantado era extremamente reduzido. A rede estadual está organizada até o nível das Regionais de Saúde, localizadas nos municípios sede de cada Região, com a existência de interlocuções regionais de Ouvidoria. Na Região de Saúde Rio Vermelho, observou-se uma série de problemas em torno do trabalho da Ouvidoria do SUS que estavam impedindo o avanço da rede à esfera municipal. O presente trabalho objetivou sensibilizar os gestores municipais de saúde da região, no âmbito da Comissão Intergestores Regional – CIR, quanto ao papel e a importância da Ouvidoria do SUS e com isso conseguir pactuar prazo máximo de resposta aos cidadãos, instituir os responsáveis pela Ouvidoria Municipal de Saúde e implantar o Sistema OuvidorSUS em 100% dos municípios da Região. Para tanto, utilizou-se de um Projeto de Intervenção, fundamentado nos pressupostos da pesquisa-ação. A intervenção foi estruturada em forma de plano de ação e operacionalizada através de estratégias desenvolvidas pela Gerência da Regional de Saúde Rio Vermelho-Goiás em parceria com a Gerência de Ouvidoria, ambos órgãos da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde. Como resultados obteve-se: a pactuação do prazo máximo de resposta às demandas de ouvidoria encaminhadas aos municípios, a configuração dos responsáveis pelas Ouvidorias Municipais de 16 municípios da Região Rio Vermelho e a expansão da rede estadual de Ouvidoria com a implantação do sistema OuvidorSUS em 15 municípios. Notou-se que em uma Região de Saúde é fundamental a integração da Regional de Saúde com os municípios sob sua jurisdição geográfica, em especial, dentro do espaço da CIR, uma vez que essa integração quando orientada no sentido de construção ou fortalecimento do processo de regionalização da saúde sempre resultará em avanços do Sistema Regional. Utilizar o espaço da CIR para a discussão do fortalecimento da Ouvidoria possibilitou a compreensão da necessidade de estrutura-la em rede e incluir os municípios nessa rede. Como a nova estrutura e fluxo de trabalho estabelecido na Região será possível atingir novos avanços na gestão das demandas de Ouvidoria tais como: reduzir ainda mais o prazo de resposta, diminuir o número de demandas não respondidas e utilizar as informações do sistema na gestão do sistema regional e municipal.

The way physicians are paid for the provision of care is a relevant aspect of health care systems. Fee-for-service (FFS) payment system has been criticized for affecting quality of care, contributing to the fragmentation of health care, and for rising costs of health care systems. Alternative payment plans (APP) have been introduced as options to the traditional FFS payment scheme. Despite the link between payment methods and behavior of physicians that has been established; there is a lack of evidence about the impact of payment systems on wellness of physicians, specifically on their perception of professional equity and daily distress of physicians. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of APP on physicians’ perceptions of professional equity and daily distress. The following questions guided this dissertation: 1) Does professional equity perceived by physicians vary among practitioners paid by FFS, APP, or blended alternatives? 2) Is the payment method associated with daily distress of medical practitioners? and 3) Are levels of professional equity, daily distress, and career satisfaction of physicians different by gender and payment methods? In 2011, a cross-sectional study was conducted with physicians practicing in the Saskatoon Health Region (SHR), the largest health authority of Saskatchewan, Canada. Physicians completed a questionnaire evaluating their perceptions of professional equity and daily distress. Analyses of variances (ANOVA) were performed to assess differences in professional equity (overall and by its fulfillment, financial, and recognition dimensions) and daily distress among physicians paid by FFS, APP, and blended schemes. As multivariable analyses, a linear regression was used to test the interaction between specialty and payment methods on the perception of professional equity, controlling for the number of patients, gender, and age group. A mixed linear regression model was built to predict daily distress, testing demographics, workload, complexity of patients, payment method, career satisfaction, and practice profile; the random component of the model considered the influence of geographic area of practice. Also, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to evaluate differences among professional equity, daily distress, and career satisfaction by payment method and gender. In total, 382 (48.1%) physicians participated in the study. Response bias was tested and found to be negligible (Appendix F). The ANOVA identified that physicians paid by APP perceived higher professional equity than those paid by FFS (p=0.005), as well as higher levels of income (p=0.03) and recognition (p=0.001) equity than those with FFS. In the multivariable analyses, a higher level of professional equity was predicted among family practitioners (FPs) paid by APP and blended schemes in comparison to those paid by FFS. Additionally, the payment method was a predictor of daily distress when adjusted by other factors. Lower levels of distress were found among physicians who had more than 75% of patients with complex conditions and were paid by APP compared to those paid by FFS and blended methods. The MANOVA identified that female physicians had poorer wellness indicators than male practitioners. Multiple comparisons identified higher levels of equity among male physicians paid by APP than those with FFS, although this benefit was not observed among female ones. In conclusion, physicians paid by APP perceived higher professional equity (fair economic rewards and appropriate recognition) in comparison to those paid by FFS. Particularly, FPs paid by APP perceived higher professional equity than those FPs paid by FFS. Additionally, the payment method was identified as an associated factor with distress; lower levels of daily distress were predicted among physicians paid by APP who see high proportions of patients with complex conditions. Notwithstanding, female physicians had poorer wellness indicators and the impact of APP on professional equity was only distinguished among males. A potential unequal impact of APP must be recognized between female and male physicians.

Inequalities in levels of health between regions within a country are frequently regarded as a problem. Zimbabwe is characterised by poor and unequal conditions of health (both the state of people’s health and health services). The health system of the country shows severe spatial inequalities that are manifested at provincial, district and even local levels. This research therefore examines and analyses the spatial inequalities and temporal variation of health conditions in Zimbabwe. Composite indices were used to determine the people’s state of health in Zimbabwe. Administrative districts were ranked according to the level of people’s state of health. Cluster analysis was also performed to demarcate administrative districts according the level of health service provision. Districts with minimum difference were demarcated in a single cluster. Clusters were delineated using data on patterns of diseases and health and such clusters were used to demarcate the country’s spatial health system according to the Adapted Epidemiological Transition Model. This was used to evaluate the applicability of the model to Zimbabwe. It emerged from the research that generally the country’s health conditions are poor and the health system is characterised by severe spatial inequalities. Some districts are experiencing poor health service provision and serious health challenges and are still in the age of pestilence and famine but others have good health service provision as well as highly developed health conditions and are in the age degenerative diseases of the epidemiological transition model. It further emerged that the country’s health has been evolving with signs of improvement since the 1990s. Recommendations were made regarding possible adjustment to previous strategies and policies used in Zimbabwe, for the development of the health system of the country. New strategies were also recommended for the improvement of the health system of the country. Some proposals are made for further research on the spatial development of health in the country. / Geography / D. Litt et. Phil. (Geography)

Inequalities in levels of health between regions within a country are frequently regarded as a problem. Zimbabwe is characterised by poor and unequal conditions of health (both the state of people’s health and health services). The health system of the country shows severe spatial inequalities that are manifested at provincial, district and even local levels. This research therefore examines and analyses the spatial inequalities and temporal variation of health conditions in Zimbabwe. Composite indices were used to determine the people’s state of health in Zimbabwe. Administrative districts were ranked according to the level of people’s state of health. Cluster analysis was also performed to demarcate administrative districts according the level of health service provision. Districts with minimum difference were demarcated in a single cluster. Clusters were delineated using data on patterns of diseases and health and such clusters were used to demarcate the country’s spatial health system according to the Adapted Epidemiological Transition Model. This was used to evaluate the applicability of the model to Zimbabwe. It emerged from the research that generally the country’s health conditions are poor and the health system is characterised by severe spatial inequalities. Some districts are experiencing poor health service provision and serious health challenges and are still in the age of pestilence and famine but others have good health service provision as well as highly developed health conditions and are in the age degenerative diseases of the epidemiological transition model. It further emerged that the country’s health has been evolving with signs of improvement since the 1990s. Recommendations were made regarding possible adjustment to previous strategies and policies used in Zimbabwe, for the development of the health system of the country. New strategies were also recommended for the improvement of the health system of the country. Some proposals are made for further research on the spatial development of health in the country. / Geography / D. Litt et. Phil. (Geography)

Cette recherche vise à décrire l’association entre certaines variables démographiques telles que l’âge de la mère, le sexe, le rang de naissance et le statut socio-économique – représenté par l’indice de Pampalon – et l’hypotrophie fœtale au Québec. L’échantillon est constitué de 127 216 naissances simples et non prématurées ayant eu lieu au Québec entre le 1er juillet 2000 et le 30 juin 2002. Des régressions logistiques portant sur le risque d’avoir souffert d’un retard de croissance intra-utérine ont été effectuées pour l’ensemble du Québec ainsi que pour la région socio-sanitaire (RSS) de Montréal. Les résultats révèlent que les enfants de premier rang et les enfants dont la mère était âgée de moins de 25 ans ou de 35 ans et plus lors de l’accouchement ont un risque plus élevé de souffrir d’hypotrophie fœtale et ce dans l’ensemble du Québec et dans la RSS de Montréal. De plus, les résultats démontrent que le risque augmente plus la mère est défavorisée. Puisque l’indice de Pampalon est un proxy écologique calculé pour chaque aire de diffusion, les intervenants en santé publique peuvent désormais cibler géographiquement les femmes les plus à risque et adapter leurs programmes de prévention en conséquence. Ainsi, le nombre de cas d’hypotrophie fœtale, voire même la mortalité infantile, pourraient être réduits. / This study describes the association between demographic variables such as the mother’s age, the child’s gender and birth order, and the socio-economic status – that can now be assessed by the Pampalon Index – with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in the province of Quebec. The analyses are based on a sample of 127,216 singletons and term births that occurred in the province of Quebec between July 1st, 2000 and June 30th, 2002. Logistics regressions on the risk of having suffered from IUGR were produced for the entire province of Quebec and for the health region of Montreal. In the province of Quebec and in the health region of Montreal, the results reveal that the risk of IUGR is higher for first-born infants, and for infants whose mother was under 25 years of age or aged 35 years and older. Moreover, the risk of IUGR increases with poverty. Since the Pampalon Index is calculated for each dissemination area, public health interventions can now target the most vulnerable women and reduce the number of IUGR cases or even infant mortality.

Cette recherche vise à décrire l’association entre certaines variables démographiques telles que l’âge de la mère, le sexe, le rang de naissance et le statut socio-économique – représenté par l’indice de Pampalon – et l’hypotrophie fœtale au Québec. L’échantillon est constitué de 127 216 naissances simples et non prématurées ayant eu lieu au Québec entre le 1er juillet 2000 et le 30 juin 2002. Des régressions logistiques portant sur le risque d’avoir souffert d’un retard de croissance intra-utérine ont été effectuées pour l’ensemble du Québec ainsi que pour la région socio-sanitaire (RSS) de Montréal. Les résultats révèlent que les enfants de premier rang et les enfants dont la mère était âgée de moins de 25 ans ou de 35 ans et plus lors de l’accouchement ont un risque plus élevé de souffrir d’hypotrophie fœtale et ce dans l’ensemble du Québec et dans la RSS de Montréal. De plus, les résultats démontrent que le risque augmente plus la mère est défavorisée. Puisque l’indice de Pampalon est un proxy écologique calculé pour chaque aire de diffusion, les intervenants en santé publique peuvent désormais cibler géographiquement les femmes les plus à risque et adapter leurs programmes de prévention en conséquence. Ainsi, le nombre de cas d’hypotrophie fœtale, voire même la mortalité infantile, pourraient être réduits. / This study describes the association between demographic variables such as the mother’s age, the child’s gender and birth order, and the socio-economic status – that can now be assessed by the Pampalon Index – with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in the province of Quebec. The analyses are based on a sample of 127,216 singletons and term births that occurred in the province of Quebec between July 1st, 2000 and June 30th, 2002. Logistics regressions on the risk of having suffered from IUGR were produced for the entire province of Quebec and for the health region of Montreal. In the province of Quebec and in the health region of Montreal, the results reveal that the risk of IUGR is higher for first-born infants, and for infants whose mother was under 25 years of age or aged 35 years and older. Moreover, the risk of IUGR increases with poverty. Since the Pampalon Index is calculated for each dissemination area, public health interventions can now target the most vulnerable women and reduce the number of IUGR cases or even infant mortality.