Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Antenatal Care (ANC) is a key strategy in achieving positive maternal health outcomes. ANC is an important entry point into formal health care services. ANC is very low in cost and among the most effective packages to promote and establish good health before childbirth and the early postnatal period; therefore, it is very feasible for the good results it is proven to have on maternal and child health. South Africa has had free ANC services since 1994. Despite these free services a lot of women still attend the ANC clinics late or do not attend follow-up visits, hindering the quality of care during pregnancy. The first ANC visit should be in the first trimester of pregnancy or as early as possible, because with the first visit underlying conditions must be identified and managed to promote maternal and foetal health. ANC initiation after 20 weeks may increase maternal, foetal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. In the Cape Winelands there are still 27.3% of women that attend ANC after 20 weeks gestation. This may hinder the quality of care during pregnancy and may lead to negative health outcomes for mother and or baby. The purpose of the study is to understand why some women still do not attend ANC before 20 weeks gestation even when it is available.

ABSTRACT Background: Morbidity patterns of patients attending general practices in Soweto, a suburban township south of Johannesburg, were studied using the international classification of primary care (ICPC) as a coding instrument. The ICPC was used to code reasons for encounter and diagnosis. One hundred and one private practices were in Soweto at the time of the survey and thirty-one of these practices were selected using random number tables to obtain as wide a distribution of geographical and socio economic groups as possible. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the morbidity patterns of patients attending general practices in Soweto during a week in November of the summer of 1997; and a week in June of the winter of 1998. Objectives: 1) To determine demographic details of responding general practitioners in Soweto including sex, age and area of practice. 2) To determine socio-demographic features of patients attending practitioners in Soweto including age, sex, highest educational level, and occupation. Township of residence, housing details, namely number of rooms in residence, and number of persons living in residence. 3) To determine the initiator of the consultation, namely whether it was doctor initiated, patient initiated, or referred to the practitioner from another practitioner or clinic. IV 4) To determine factors related to the condition for which the patient consulted the doctor, including reason for encounter, diagnosis and whether the presenting problem was a new or an ongoing problem. 5) To determine the relationships between the above variables. Design: A prospective descriptive study design was employed in which doctors completed a survey questionnaire of all patients attended to in their practices during two weeks, one week in summer and one week in winter. Results: The 25 doctors in summer and the 20 doctors in winter, included in the survey described 4,432 encounters. These patients presented with 5,710 problems. Forty point three percent of patients (1780) were male and 59,7% patients (2,632) were female. Fifty two percent of patients (2306) were seen in summer and 48% (2,125) patients were seen in winter allowing the comparison of seasonal variation in morbidity patterns. The majority of patients were in the 20 to 50 year age group, followed by those under ten years of age. In all age groups, except children under the age of ten years, there were more encounters with females than males. In under ten year olds, male encounters were more than female encounters for all ages and twice as frequent as female encounters in the group under the age of one year. Most patients had a secondary education and lived in four roomed houses. Upper respiratory tract infections constituted, 16% (767) of the diagnoses and cough accounted for 16.1% (901) of all the reasons for encounter in all age groups especially in children below the age of 10 years. Digestive complaints were second most common reason for encounter and V diagnoses in the younger children especially in boys. Encounters and diagnoses associated with the eye, male genital system, female genital system, pregnancy and child bearing, ear, psychological, social and blood immune system disorders each accounted for less than 2% of the encounters experienced. Complaints of the musculoskeletal system were frequent in older patients. Family planning, vaginal discharge and painful urination occurred in the 10 to 50 year old age groups. As for encounters, diagnoses were age related with hypertension and osteoarthritis being the most common chronic disease afflicting patients over 30 years of age. Nineteen point seven percent (870) of the patients belonged to the trade and technical occupation, 13.6% (604) of the patients were children, 12.2% (539) of patients were unemployed, 9.6% (423) of patients were scholars, 9.4% (414) were professional, 8.6% (379) of patients were students, 8.1% (360) were pensioners and 7.6% (338) were office workers. Seven point three percent of the patients (325) were Labourers, and 3.9% (172) of the patients were housewives. Thirteen point seven percent of the patients (605) were from Meadowlands, 13% (577) from Dobsonville, 7.2% (318) from other areas outside Soweto, 6.7% (298) were from Orlando East, 6.6% (294) were from Zola and 6.1% (270) from Chiawelo. Less then 5% of the patients came from the remaining townships. Discussion: The present survey recorded encounters of 25 general practitioners in Summer and 20 general practitioners in Winter, with 4,432 patients and 5,710 VI problems. The week time period of the present survey is similar to that of Bourne et al. which determined the morbidity spectrum seen by a representative sample of 8% of the medical practitioners in South Africa in 1985. The sample size of the present study is considerably smaller than the comprehensive Cape Morbidity study, which was conducted over 1 year and recorded 49,347 diagnoses by 15 practitioners. This survey included 38,368 white patients and 14,979 patients of mixed racial origin but no blacks were included. The same limitation applies to the pilot survey conducted by Bloom et al in Cape Town between 1984 and 1988, where 13 practices recorded 64,959 encounters. Studies conducted outside South Africa are similar to those conducted within the country. This survey in comparison with other countries reflects consistency in the incidence of illness encountered by the family practitioner and also contemporary trends in morbidity seen in general practice. Most of the inhabitants of Soweto still make use of coal-stove fires and the town ship is usually enveloped in pall of heavy smoke coming from these coal stove fires. The main impression of Soweto is that of overcrowding and poverty, and still struggling in providing basic services including potable toilets to its poorer districts. Schools in Soweto remain largely without flushed toilets, furniture and electricity. Most of Soweto still has row upon row of so call matchbox houses crowded into unpaved dusty streets that are poorly lit. The above conditions explain the high reasons for encounter and diagnoses of respiratory and digestive conditions among the patients attending the private practices. This study shows that an enormous amount of everyday illness occurs in children and therefore education and advice for parents on how to cope with illness in their children remains important. VII Study Limitation: This survey was conducted in an impoverished township community where many people would attend clinics. It has selected encounters where the patients have the ability to pay for the services of a medical doctor. Conclusion: Few studies appear to be as comprehensive as this study where the reasons of encounter, the diagnosis, patient demographic and socio-economic data was recorded. This is also the largest survey conducted in an urbanized South African township. This survey has found a similar trend in the spectrum of disease, therefore providing a significant analysis of morbidity patterns encountered by the family practitioner in Soweto. There is an on going concern of the role of sexually transmitted diseases in the transmission of HIV, and this study has shown a significant burden of sexually transmitted disease in the asymptomatic population, particularly women in the age group 20 to 30 and 30 to 40 years. The overall burden of diseases in Soweto shows that respiratory problems are significant in all age groups. Chronic diseases such hypertension, osteoarthritis, presumed gastrointestinal infections, asthma and malignant neoplasm of the stomach as well as the anxiety disorders also featured prominently in the top 20 reasons for encounter and diagnoses. Information about mental health status in South Africa is scanty and has possibly led to an inadequate identification of a potential problem. This study has shown anxiety disorder/anxiety state as being a common reason for encounter and diagnoses in adults attending private practices in Soweto. To determine whether this survey reflects the morbidity patterns in this population as a whole would require additional data from the Government hospitals and clinics.

Este estudo é um recorte de uma pesquisa multicêntrica, financiado pela FAPESP, intitulado Deficiência de ferro em crianças de três a doze meses: determinantes biológicos, sociais, e suas implicações para o incentivo ao Aleitamento Materno Exclusivo(AME). A temática deste recorte focalizou o crescimento, morbidade infantil e Aleitamento Materno (AM) e teve como objetivo geral analisar o crescimento, segundo os índices antropométricos e o estado de saúde, a partir da morbidade referida pela mãe, das crianças de 3 a 11 meses e 29 dias de idade, e suas relações com o tipo de AM, atendidas em dois serviços de saúde de cidades do Estado de São Paulo, no período de julho de 2005 a julho de 2006. Trata-se de um estudo transversal. Participaram do estudo 254 crianças de 3 a 11 meses e 29 dias de idade, atendidas em consulta de puericultura previamente agendada, nos serviços de saúde selecionados. Para coleta de dados, elaborou-se um formulário específico a partir do utilizado no estudo multicêntrico. As análises foram realizadas com auxílio do programa Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, versão 11,5 for Windows). O valor dos índices peso/altura, altura/idade e peso/idade, para cada uma das referências utilizadas, foi calculado em programas disponibilizados nos sites do CDC e OMS, respectivamente. Foram estabelecidas comparações entre o tipo de aleitamento materno e os índices antropométricos (peso/comprimento e comprimento/idade), segundo os referenciais CDC e OMS. Para identificação da associação ou não entre doença, uso de medicamentos antiinfecciosos e causa de internação referida pelas mães e o tipo de AM, foram utilizados os Testes Qui-Quadrado e Exato de Fisher. Os resultados revelaram uma prevalência maior de mães adolescentes na amostra, comparando-se com índices dos dois municípios. A prevalência de AM, no total da amostra, foi de 71,7% e AME de 11,8%. Tanto pelo referencial CDC como pela OMS, as crianças apresentaram maior freqüência de peso elevado para altura, consideradas obesas, dentre as crianças desmamadas, comparando-se com as que estavam em AM. A comparação entre os dois referenciais de crescimento foi realizada pelo teste de concordância estatística Kappa, mostrando maiores discordâncias nas crianças de 3 a 6 meses, principalmente no que se refere ao índice peso por comprimento. Nas crianças de 3 a 6 meses, encontramos resultados estatisticamente significantes, com valor de p=0,048, para associação entre AME e doenças respiratórias, sugerindo efeito protetor do AME para essas doenças. Os resultados encontrados neste estudo revelam achados motivadores para futuras investigações. / This study is part of a larger, FAPESP-funded, multicentric research study: Deficiência de ferro em crianças de três a doze meses: determinantes biológicos, sociais, e suas implicações para o incentivo ao Aleitamento Materno Exclusivo(AME) Iron deficiency in children three to twelve months old: biological and social determinants and their implications on exclusive breast feeding (EBF). This part of the study focused on child growth and morbidity, and breast feeding (BF). The study population consisted of 254 children with ages from three months to eleven months and 29 days, users of two health services in cities in the state of Sao Paulo. The main objective was to analyze the growth of those children according to anthropometric indexes and their health condition based on the morbidity reported by their mothers, and the relationships with the type of breast feeding. This is a cross-sectional study. The studied children were seen in previously scheduled puericulture appointments at the selected health services, from July 2005 to July 2006. Data collection was performed using a specific form, developed from the one used in the multicentric study. The analyses were carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, 11.5 for Windows). The weight/height, height/age, and weight/age index values for each of the references used were calculated using the software available on the CDC and WHO websites, respectively. Comparisons were established between the type of breast feeding and the anthropometric indexes (weight/height and height/age) according to the CDC and WHO references. The Chi- Square and Exact Fisher Tests were used to identify if there was an association or not between the disease, the use of anti-infection drugs, cause of hospitalization reported by the mothers, and the type of BF. Results showed a greater prevalence of teenage mothers in the sample, compared to rates in both municipalities. The BF prevalence in the whole sample was 71.7%, and 11.8% for EBF. According to the CDC reference as well as the WHO, weaned children presented a greater frequency of high weight for their height, and were considered obese compared to those being breastfed. The comparison between both growth references was performed using Kappa statistical concordance test, revealing greater discordances in children with 3 to 6 months of age, mainly regarding weight/height indexes. For children with the age of 3 to 6 months, statistically significant results were found, with p=0.048 for the association between EBF and respiratory diseases. This suggests EBF has a protective effect for these diseases. The results found in this study reveal motivating findings for further studies.

A presente tese de doutorado é derivada de um componente do projeto de pesquisa/intervenção denominado Pré-natal no Celular (PRENACEL), que utilizou serviço de mensagens curtas de texto via celular, direcionadas às gestantes, para verificar se essa estratégia contribui para o aumento da adesão das mulheres às práticas recomendadas para o período gravídico-puerperal. Objetivo: analisar a Morbidade Materna Grave - MMG (Condições Potencialmente Ameaçadoras à Vida - CPAV e Near Miss Materno - NMM) entre mulheres atendidas em quatro instituições hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no município de Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo. Método: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório-analítico, com um componente quantitativo (vigilância das MMG e análise de caso-controle para a verificação dos fatores associados) e um componente qualitativo que investigou o Itinerário Terapêutico das mulheres com morbidade grave. Foram coletados os dados de 1259 mulheres (91 casos de MMG, 1.007 controles pertencentes ao estudo PRENACEL e 161 casos de MMG que realizaram o pré-natal em outras unidades de saúde ou outros municípios, mas que pertencem à mesma regional de saúde do estado). A coleta de dados ocorreu de 01 de agosto de 2015 a 02 de fevereiro de 2016. As entrevistas foram realizadas no período de pós-parto imediato, utilizando para isso um formulário semiestruturado aplicado nos hospitais pesquisados. Os dados foram digitados no Research Eletronic Data Capture (REDCap) e em seguida transportados para o software Data Analysis and Statistical Software (STATA) versão 9.1. Calculou-se indicadores de morbidade e mortalidade, Odds Ratio (OR), Intervalo de Confiança (IC) (95%) em análise de Regressão Logística Múltipla. Para a análise dos dados qualitativos utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo. Resultados: Durante os seis meses do estudo ocorreram duas mortes maternas, 19 NMM e 240 CPAV. A Razão do NMM foi de 5,4 casos por 1.000 nascidos vivos e a Razão de Mortalidade Materna foi de 57,1 óbitos por 100.000 nascidos vivos. A análise de regressão logística múltipla mostrou associação entre MMG e gestação de risco (maiores chances de evolução desfavorável da saúde6 materna ou fetal) (OR: 4,5; IC95% 2,7-7,7) e trabalho de parto induzido (OR: 2,1; IC95% 1,2-3,9). Em relação ao Itinerário Terapêutico, as mulheres ao adoecerem seguiram trajetórias diversas, buscaram serviços da baixa e alta complexidade, procuraram também por vizinha, farmácia e uso de automedicação. Destacam-se entraves referentes ao acolhimento, continuidade do cuidado, resolutividade e referência na Rede de Atenção à Saúde. Conclusões: Observou-se significativa frequência de MMG na população estudada, e os fatores de risco estão relacionados principalmente à assistência, não foi observado associação entre variáveis sociodemográficas e MMG. Identificou-se problemas em toda a cadeia de cuidados obstétricos, e este conhecimento permite o entendimento de como o sistema de saúde se organiza em relação ao atendimento das mulheres com complicações maternas graves. / This doctoral thesis is derived from a component of the research/intervention project intitled prenatal on the cell phone (PRENACEL), which used short text message service, addressed to pregnant women, to verify if this strategy contributed to the increase of women\'s adherence to best practices for the pregnant-puerperal period. Objective: To analyze Severe Maternal Morbidity - SMM (Potentially LifeThreatening Conditions - PLTC and Near Miss Maternal - NMM) among women assisted in four hospital institutions of the Brazilian Public Health System (named SUS) in Ribeirão Preto, a city located in São Paulo State. Method: It is an exploratory-analytical study, with a quantitative component (surveillance of SMM and case-control analysis for the verification of associated factors) and a qualitative component investigating the Therapeutic Itinerary of women with severe morbidity. The data of 1259 women (91 cases of SMM and 1.007 controls belonging to the PRENACEL study were collected and 161 cases of SMM among women who were assisted by the prenatal care in other health units or towns belonging to the same regional health state). The data collection was carried out in the hospitals from August 1, 2015 to February 2, 2016. The interviews were administered in the immediate postpartum period using a semistructured formulary. The data was typed in Research Eletronic Data Capture (REDCap) and then transported to the software Data Analysis and Statistical Software (STATA) version 9.1. Morbidity and mortality indicators were calculated, Odds Ratio (OR), Confidence Interval (CI) (95%) and Multiple Logistic Regression analysis was performed. For the analysis of qualitative data, Content Analysis was used. Results: During the six months of the study there were two maternal deaths, 19 NMM and 240 PLTC. The reason for the NMM was 5.4 cases by 1,000 born alive and the maternal mortality ratio was 57.1 deaths by 100,000 born alive. Multiple analysis showed association between SMM and risk gestation (higher chances of unfavorable evolution of maternal or fetal health) (OR: 4.5; IC95% 2.7-7.7) and induced labor (OR: 2.1; IC95% 1.2-3.9). Regarding the Therapeutic Itinerary, women followed different trajectories seeking8 for health services of low and high complexity, but also looking for neighbors, drugstores and using self-medication. Several barriers were identified such as in their reception in the health system, in the continuity of care, in the problem-solving by health professionals and in the reference in the health care network. Conclusions: It was observed a significant frequency of SMM in the studied population, and the risk factors are mainly related to the quality of the assistance. Association between sociodemographic variables and SMM was not observed. Problems were identified throughout the obstetric care chain, and this knowledge allows the understanding of how the health system is organized in relation to the care of women with serious maternal complications.

Este estudo objetivou avaliar a independência funcional de adultos com fraturas decorrentes de causas externas, na admissão hospitalar, alta e um mês após o regresso ao domicílio por meio da Medida de Independência Funcional (MIF), bem como caracterizá-los quanto ao perfil sócio-demográfico. A pesquisa foi realizada entre novembro de 2006 e abril de 2007; a amostra foi composta por 74 pacientes internados no Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia de um hospital de São Paulo. Foram predominantes indivíduos do sexo masculino (91,9%), com média de idade de 31,8 anos, cor branca (51,3%), vítimas de acidentes de trabalho (51,4%). As fraturas de membros inferiores foram predominantes, representando 73,0%, seguidos dos membros superiores, com 13,5%. Os dias de ocorrências mais freqüentes foram os finais de semana (32,7%), e os horários com maior concentração de casos foram os que abrangiam o período de 12 a 24 horas (60,8%). Os acidentes automobilísticos foram responsáveis por 58,1% das internações, seguidos das quedas (20,0%). Quanto à independência funcional: houve um aumento considerável nas médias dos valores da MIF motor e total no decorrer da avaliação. Observou-se que a incapacidade funcional aumenta em casos de acidentes automobilísticos e atropelamentos e naqueles em que os membros inferiores são atingidos / This study aimed to evaluate the functional independence of adults with fractures due to external causes, in admission and discharge from the hospital, and one month after returning to the domicile. The scale used was The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the sample was characterized according to the socio-demographic profile, The survey was made between November 2006 and April 2007; the sample was composed by 74 interns of the Orthopedic and Trauma Institute of a hospital, in the city of Sao Paulo. The individuals were predominantly males (91,9%) with average age of 31,8 years, white (51,3%) and victims of labor accidents (51,4%). The fractures of inferior limbs were predominant, representing 73,0% of the cases, followed by superior limbs, which were 13,5%. The most frequent days of occurrence were weekends (32,7%), and the most common times were from 12:00pm to 12:00am (60,8%). The automobile accidents were responsible for 58,1% of admissions, followed by falls (20,0%). In what comes to functional independence, there was a considerable increase in the average values of the motor FIM and total FIM throughout the study. It was observed that the functional incapability increases in cases of automobile and running over accidents, and also in the ones where the inferior limbs were affected

Realizou-se este estudo com o objetivo de descrever a evolução da morbidade por transtornos mentais de maior freqüência para o município de Alfenas, Minas Gerais, por meio dos dados fornecidos pelo sistema de informática do Sistema Único de Saúde - DATASUS, para a série histórica de 1995 a 2007. Para isto montou-se um roteiro de coleta de dados sobre morbidade hospitalar por Transtornos Mentais, Morbidade Hospitalar Geral e ainda Morbidade Hospitalar por Gravidez, Parto e Puerpério (GPP), uma vez que a descrição das internações por transtornos mentais foi feita avaliando-se esta causa considerando-a dentro do total de causas de internações, como também avaliando-se o peso que esta representava para o município nos anos estudados, excluindo a principal causa de morbidade hospitalar, como é o caso das internações por GPP. Os resultados desta investigação possibilitaram mostrar que o perfil das internações por Transtornos Mentais no município de Alfenas diminuiu ao longo da série histórica, uma vez que a proporção de internações apresentou redução de aproximadamente 80%. Quanto ao tempo de permanência, em dias, pode - se observar que há maior prevalência nos homens em detrimento as mulheres. Em relação ao custo da internação percebeu-se que este apresentou aumento tanto para o sexo masculino quanto para o sexo feminino e o grupo de diagnósticos de transtornos psiquiátricos que mais demandaram recursos financeiros foram aqueles relacionados aos transtornos esquizofrênicos. Os transtornos mentais mais freqüentes são aqueles relacionados ao diagnóstico de Esquizofrenia, Álcool e Outras Substâncias Psicoativas e Transtornos Afetivos, sendo que os diagnósticos relacionados à esquizofrenia, no ano de 2005, correspondiam a aproximadamente 70% de todas as internações por transtornos mentais no município. Conclui-se com este trabalho que há uma necessidade de maiores estudos neste campo, vista a relevância que os transtornos psiquiátricos representam não só ao município como também ao país. Questões como a mudança no perfil da morbidade psiquiátrica, passando as internações com diagnósticos relacionados à esquizofrenia representarem maior peso, devem ser avaliadas na medida em que se explique qual a razão desde acontecimento nos últimos anos. / This study was made with the objective to describe the evolution of morbidity by mental disorders with more frequency in the municipal district of Alfenas in Minas Gerais State by data provided by the informatics system of The Unified Health System (DATASUS) from 1995 to 2007. For this, it was created a guide for the data collection about hospital morbidity by Mental Disturbs, General Hospital Morbidity and Hospital Morbidity by Pregnancy, Labour and Puerperium (PLP). Therefore, the description of the hospitalization by mental disorders was made evaluating its cause and considering it in the total of causes hospitalizations and also, evaluating the work that it represented for the area during the study, excluding the main cause for the Hospital Morbidity, as it is for the cases of hospitalizations by PLP. The results of this investigation made possible to show that the aspects of hospitalizations by Mental Disorders in Alfenas, diminished during the period since that the proportion of hospitalizations presented a reduction of approximately 80%. As for the period of permanence, in days, it is noticed that there is a higher prevalence of men in disadvantage to women. In relation to the cost of the hospitalizations, there was a considered rise for both genders and the group of diagnosis of psychiatric disturbs which demanded more financial sources were the ones related to schizophrenic disturbs. The most common mental disturbs are the ones related to the diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Substances and Emotional Disturbs. The diagnosis related to schizophrenia in 2005 corresponded approximately 70% of all hospitalizations by mental disturbs in the district. In conclusion, there is a necessity of more studies in this field because of the relevance that the psychiatric disturbs present, not only for the district but also for the country. The changes in the psychiatric morbidity aspects with the hospitalization diagnosis related to schizophrenia being higher, the reason of the occurrences in the last years must be evaluated and explained.

A presente tese de doutorado é derivada de um componente do projeto de pesquisa/intervenção denominado Pré-natal no Celular (PRENACEL), que utilizou serviço de mensagens curtas de texto via celular, direcionadas às gestantes, para verificar se essa estratégia contribui para o aumento da adesão das mulheres às práticas recomendadas para o período gravídico-puerperal. Objetivo: analisar a Morbidade Materna Grave - MMG (Condições Potencialmente Ameaçadoras à Vida - CPAV e Near Miss Materno - NMM) entre mulheres atendidas em quatro instituições hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no município de Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo. Método: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório-analítico, com um componente quantitativo (vigilância das MMG e análise de caso-controle para a verificação dos fatores associados) e um componente qualitativo que investigou o Itinerário Terapêutico das mulheres com morbidade grave. Foram coletados os dados de 1259 mulheres (91 casos de MMG, 1.007 controles pertencentes ao estudo PRENACEL e 161 casos de MMG que realizaram o pré-natal em outras unidades de saúde ou outros municípios, mas que pertencem à mesma regional de saúde do estado). A coleta de dados ocorreu de 01 de agosto de 2015 a 02 de fevereiro de 2016. As entrevistas foram realizadas no período de pós-parto imediato, utilizando para isso um formulário semiestruturado aplicado nos hospitais pesquisados. Os dados foram digitados no Research Eletronic Data Capture (REDCap) e em seguida transportados para o software Data Analysis and Statistical Software (STATA) versão 9.1. Calculou-se indicadores de morbidade e mortalidade, Odds Ratio (OR), Intervalo de Confiança (IC) (95%) em análise de Regressão Logística Múltipla. Para a análise dos dados qualitativos utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo. Resultados: Durante os seis meses do estudo ocorreram duas mortes maternas, 19 NMM e 240 CPAV. A Razão do NMM foi de 5,4 casos por 1.000 nascidos vivos e a Razão de Mortalidade Materna foi de 57,1 óbitos por 100.000 nascidos vivos. A análise de regressão logística múltipla mostrou associação entre MMG e gestação de risco (maiores chances de evolução desfavorável da saúde6 materna ou fetal) (OR: 4,5; IC95% 2,7-7,7) e trabalho de parto induzido (OR: 2,1; IC95% 1,2-3,9). Em relação ao Itinerário Terapêutico, as mulheres ao adoecerem seguiram trajetórias diversas, buscaram serviços da baixa e alta complexidade, procuraram também por vizinha, farmácia e uso de automedicação. Destacam-se entraves referentes ao acolhimento, continuidade do cuidado, resolutividade e referência na Rede de Atenção à Saúde. Conclusões: Observou-se significativa frequência de MMG na população estudada, e os fatores de risco estão relacionados principalmente à assistência, não foi observado associação entre variáveis sociodemográficas e MMG. Identificou-se problemas em toda a cadeia de cuidados obstétricos, e este conhecimento permite o entendimento de como o sistema de saúde se organiza em relação ao atendimento das mulheres com complicações maternas graves. / This doctoral thesis is derived from a component of the research/intervention project intitled prenatal on the cell phone (PRENACEL), which used short text message service, addressed to pregnant women, to verify if this strategy contributed to the increase of women\'s adherence to best practices for the pregnant-puerperal period. Objective: To analyze Severe Maternal Morbidity - SMM (Potentially LifeThreatening Conditions - PLTC and Near Miss Maternal - NMM) among women assisted in four hospital institutions of the Brazilian Public Health System (named SUS) in Ribeirão Preto, a city located in São Paulo State. Method: It is an exploratory-analytical study, with a quantitative component (surveillance of SMM and case-control analysis for the verification of associated factors) and a qualitative component investigating the Therapeutic Itinerary of women with severe morbidity. The data of 1259 women (91 cases of SMM and 1.007 controls belonging to the PRENACEL study were collected and 161 cases of SMM among women who were assisted by the prenatal care in other health units or towns belonging to the same regional health state). The data collection was carried out in the hospitals from August 1, 2015 to February 2, 2016. The interviews were administered in the immediate postpartum period using a semistructured formulary. The data was typed in Research Eletronic Data Capture (REDCap) and then transported to the software Data Analysis and Statistical Software (STATA) version 9.1. Morbidity and mortality indicators were calculated, Odds Ratio (OR), Confidence Interval (CI) (95%) and Multiple Logistic Regression analysis was performed. For the analysis of qualitative data, Content Analysis was used. Results: During the six months of the study there were two maternal deaths, 19 NMM and 240 PLTC. The reason for the NMM was 5.4 cases by 1,000 born alive and the maternal mortality ratio was 57.1 deaths by 100,000 born alive. Multiple analysis showed association between SMM and risk gestation (higher chances of unfavorable evolution of maternal or fetal health) (OR: 4.5; IC95% 2.7-7.7) and induced labor (OR: 2.1; IC95% 1.2-3.9). Regarding the Therapeutic Itinerary, women followed different trajectories seeking8 for health services of low and high complexity, but also looking for neighbors, drugstores and using self-medication. Several barriers were identified such as in their reception in the health system, in the continuity of care, in the problem-solving by health professionals and in the reference in the health care network. Conclusions: It was observed a significant frequency of SMM in the studied population, and the risk factors are mainly related to the quality of the assistance. Association between sociodemographic variables and SMM was not observed. Problems were identified throughout the obstetric care chain, and this knowledge allows the understanding of how the health system is organized in relation to the care of women with serious maternal complications.

Haiti is a Caribbean island with a humanitarian medical center providing healthcare services to 90,000 residents. Pregnant women visiting the medical clinic for prenatal care often do not return for delivery; instead, they return home to deliver alone or with the assistance of a traditional matron. Home-birth practices increase maternal-child health morbidity and mortality in an already fragile country. The purpose of this project was to gain a deeper understanding of Haitian pregnant women's preferences to deliver at home or at the healthcare clinic. The transtheoretical model for behavior change and the Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model guided the project. Two focus groups of 10 pregnant women total were recruited in the community of Delmas 32, Haiti. Group 1 was comprised of 5 women who delivered at home with matrons and Group 2 was comprised of 5 women who delivered at the clinic. Structured questions were asked to identify themes related to delivery location preferences. Focus group transcripts were analyzed guided by the Krueger and Casey strategy model. The thematic analysis was aligned with the peer-reviewed literature. Findings revealed that lack of access to care, lack of education and sensitization, and the attitude of healthcare personnel impacted women's preference for delivery at the clinic. Findings also supported a need to educate staff and the community in the best options for maternal-child care. A workshop was developed, based on the project findings, to share the recommendations with the clinic staff. The clinical leadership have indicated that they will implement the project recommendations. This project has the potential to support social change by reducing maternal-child deaths in Delmas 32 and across the Caribbean.

Background. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease mainly affecting the joints but has also extra articular manifestations and an increased cardiovascular (CV) co-morbidity. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and antibodies against citrullinated proteins/peptides (ACPA) are diagnostically important and are related to a more severe disease. The aetiology is unknown but RA is considered a complex disease caused by both genetic and environmental factors. The heritability is estimated to be 60% with the main contribution from the HLA region. The relative homogeneity of the population in northern Sweden due to low immigration and founder effects has shown to be suitable for genetic studies. Objectives. The aim of this thesis has been to identify genes contributing to the susceptibility of RA and the CV co-morbidity in particular. To achieve this, multi-case families from the four northern most counties of Sweden were collected for linkage studies to identify susceptibility genes. Association studies with genetic polymorphisms in genes, involved in inflammation or being of importance for atherothrombotic manifestations (ATM) in the general population, were performed in RA-patients concerning ATM e.g. myocardial infarction, angina pectoris with intervention, stroke/TIA, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE) at follow-up. Methods & Results. 47 families with 134 affected and 216 unaffected relatives were included in a genome-wide linkage study (GWL) performed with microsatellite markers at an average of 10cM resolution analysed using ABI PRISM 3730 DNA sequencer and non-parametric multipoint linkage in the Merlin program. Eight linked loci were identified with HLA as the most significant and a novel region on chromosome 14. In a follow-up analysis on a custom Illumina chip, with 13 additional families, yielding a total of 198 affected and 197 unaffected relatives. The majority of the 1536 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) used in the Illumina follow-up analyses was focused on chromosome 14. Statistical analyses with linkage and transmission disequilibrium test narrowed the region to 4 cM, a region containing multiple plausible RA candidate genes (Paper I). In Paper II  serum samples from 163 affected and 157 first degree relatives were analysed with EliA ACPA assay on ImmunoCAP250 for ACPA (IgA, IgG, IgM) and RF (IgA, IgM) isotypes. Both concentrations and frequencies were increased among the relatives compared with controls but lower compared with RA-patients and with a different relative distribution of the isotypes. The genetic contribution to ATM was studied in Paper III and IV using selected SNPs analysed using ABI PRISM 7900HT sequence detector system. In Paper III, RA-patients (n=467) were compared with age and sex matched controls (n=696) with respect to SNPs in tumor necrosis factor receptor II (TNFRII)(M196R), ß-fibrinogen -455 (G-455A), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) (4G/5G) and Factor XIIIA (Val34Leu). Hypertension was predicted by TNFRII R allele and to a higher extent in combination with the A-allele in ß-fibrinogen. The 4G allele in PAI-1 was more frequent in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and the FXIIIA Leu34 variant in patients with DVT/PE. In Paper IV, the minor allele of the polymorphism in growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) was found to be associated with RA (n=696) per se but also to ATM, a SNP in the 9p21.3 locus was also associated with ATM. A significant association to stroke was found in female patients homozygote for the minor allele of GDF15. Stoke among male patients was significantly associated with carrying the major allele of two SNPs in the CD40 gene. DVT/PE was associated with the minor allele of GDF15. Conclusion. A novel locus on chromosome 14 of importance for RA susceptibility in northern Sweden was found. The minor allele of TNFRII separately and together with the minor allele of ß-fibrinogen -455 was associated with hypertension and the 4G allele in PAI-1 was associated with IHD and  the Leu34 variant was associated with DVT/PE in RA patients. The GDF15 minor allele was associated with RA per se, ATM and DVT/PE in RA patients and a genotype in the SNP on 9p21.3 was associated with ATM. Stroke among females was associated with GDF15 and stroke among males with two SNPs in CD40.

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has been associated with use of illegal or unprescribed prescription drugs, as well as different adverse psychiatric effects, such as ma-nia, psychosis and hostility. Further, there is an association between use of AAS and other different risk behaviours, including carrying guns and reckless driving. Taken together, these data suggest that there is a group of AAS users that are not elite athletes, but rather young men at risk for psychiatric illness and criminality, and who use AAS primarily for their aes-thetic effects and possibly for their psychoactive effects. The aim of this thesis is to investi-gate further the connection between use of AAS and use of other drugs, and to investigate whether the proposed side effects of AAS cause an increase in morbidity and mortality. The first study (Paper I) investigates morbidity and mortality in persons testing positive for AAS compared to persons testing negative for AAS at a doping laboratory. Paper II of this thesis studies the presence of psychoactive drugs in diseased men who tested positive for AAS upon autopsy and whether there is any difference between deceased users of AAS and deceased users of heroin or amphetamine (control group). The third article (Paper III) dis-cusses a surprising finding in paper I of increased seizures NOS in users of AAS. Paper IV and V are interview studies from an out-patient substance abuse clinic. The main findings in Paper I was that the majority of deceased users of AAS were also positive for other drugs and/or alcohol on autopsy, and that users of AAS more often than the control group had died from intentional death (suicide or homicide). The main finding of Paper II was that users of AAS were severely at risk for premature death compared to both the control group and the general population. Paper III concluded that the high prevalence of Convulsion NOS in users of AAS most likely was the result of concomitant substance abuse and withdrawal from such use. Paper IV concluded that twelve percent of the patients at the substance abuse clinic had used AAS for at least one cycle. Users of AAS had a higher risk of having been convicted of a violent offence, and users of AAS more often reported having been physically abused. In Paper V, long-terme users of AAS were found to have an increased risk for developing depression in connection with cessation of AAS use. AAS was also re-ported to be used in preparation for crime. In summary, this thesis concludes that there is a solid association between use of AAS and use of other psychotropic drugs in certain subpopulations, and that users of AAS are at risk for premature death due to unnatural causes that may be secondary to use of AAS.