PURPOSE: The main aim of this study was to systematically assess the factors that influence maternal health care services utilization by women in Awash Fentale woreda (district), Ethiopia. DESIGN: A quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional design was selected as the methodology for this study. METHOD: Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 422 women aged 15 to 49 years through a stratified sampling technique. Data was entered, analyzed and interpreted using SPSS computer program. Binary logistic regression model was used to identify the factors that influence maternal health care services utilization. RESULTS: The findings of this research indicated that not attending school, not watching television, and not owning a Bajaj (three-tire motorbike) significantly influenced low utilization of antenatal care (ANC) visits, while exposure to media, including reading newspapers, was positively associated with the adequacy of ANC visits. Similarly, factors such as not attending school and not watching television at all influenced delivery care (DC) services utilization negatively, while husbands’ low income and not watching television at all were negatively associated with postnatal care (PNC) service utilization. This research study found that 80 (19%) of the respondents preferred to give birth at home and the remaining 342 (81%) preferred a health facility for their delivery services. In addition, 43% of the respondents were not satisfied with the care and attention given by the health care provider and approximately 52% of the respondents were not satisfied with the cleanliness of the health facilities. It was also illustrated in this study that family members’ influence was one of the major barriers identified for DC services utilization. Conclusion: Policy making, planning, and implementation should focus on factors that influence maternal health care services utilization and barriers to DC services. In order to increase the utilization of maternal health care services by women with low levels of educational status, husbands ’low income or wealth quintile, and low media exposure, strategies were developed by the researcher. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Background. The study objective was to determine how the population located in five remote rural areas responded to HIV testing offered by mobile clinics operating under Family Health International, an international NGO that provides health services, especially HIV prevention and family planning. The study sought to identify how different segments of the population, classified according to their socio-demographic characteristics, responded to HIV testing. The analysis is based on secondary data, collected between October 2009 and September 2010, on clients who came to seek health services at mobile clinics. The population is geographically located in five districts: OR Tambo in Eastern Cape, Amajuba in KwaZulu-Natal, Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni in Mpumalanga, and Sekhukhune in Limpopo. Although these mobile clincs provided comprehensive health services, HIV prevention and family planning were the main focus of attention. Methods. A total number of 9015 individuals aged 18 years and older visited the mobile clinics during the period October 2009 to September 2010. Eight socio-demographic characteristics were collected and used to determine the association between HIV testing and the aforementioned eight variables. The association between the independent variables (sex, age, level of education, marital status, occupation, number of living children, district of residence and area of residence) and HIV testing (the dependent variables) was first investigated using a descriptive analysis and then performing a logistic regression. Results. More than 88% of individuals aged 18 years and older who visited the mobile clinics in the areas covered by the FHI project are from rural areas. HIV testing is still low in these areas, even though the services are provided close to their homes by the mobile clinics. It was found that only 34.7% of the mobile clinic’s clients tested for HIV during the period from October 2009 to September 2010. Out of eight independent variables included in the logistic regression model, five were found to have a statistically significant association with HIV testing, being: sex, age, education, occupation and area of residence Although the majority of these mobile clinics’ clients are females (77.1%), males tested in higher proportion than females accross all areas. The results showed that HIV testing decreases with age, with the age category 18 - 24 years testing for HIV in higher proportion than the age group 25 - 34 years and decreasing further when people become older. Individuals are more likely to take an HIV test when their level of education is higher than matric and tend to respond the same to a HIV testing offer when they have no education, primary or secondary level. Employment was found to be an enabling factor to test for HIV. People who are employed tested for HIV in a higher proportion than people who were unemployed or still in school. The area of residence (classified as rural, semi-urban and urban) showed that HIV testing is higher in urban than in semi-urban areas, and low in rural areas. The analysis by sex showed that education is important for women because women who had either primary, secondary or a higher level of education tested for HIV better than women who do not have any level of education. For males, education was not statistically significant regarding HIV testing. The different age groups showed the same pattern for both sexes regarding HIV testing, but young males in the category 18-24 years showed higher odds of testing for HIV than females in the same age category. With occupation variable, females who are either students or employed tested for HIV almost in the same proportion and their odds of testing for HIV were double that of unemployed females. Employed males showed a notably higher difference in testing for HIV than males who were either in school or unemployed. The area of residence showed the same pattern for males and females, with both testing in higher proportions in urban and semi-urban areas than in rural areas. Conclusion. Women from rural areas, with no education, were found to test for HIV less than any other individual in the areas under study. Women tested better when they had been exposed to any form of education. The provision of education to women in the form of an extensive and aggressive door to door HIV awareness campaign should therefore make a difference in increasing the uptake of HIV testing in the five areas covered by the mobile clinics. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Objective: To determine whether continuity of care (COC) reduces emergency department (ED) visits and/or readmission in adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective cohort of adolescents discharged with psychiatric disorder between April 1, 2002 and March 1, 2004 was identified using hospital administrative databases. Good COC was defined as at least one aftercare contact in 30 days. Confounding by patient characteristics was adjusted for by propensity-score-matching of good and poor COC adolescents. Cox PH was used to analyze time to outcome. Results: 48.77% of adolescents had good COC. 38.39% of adolescents had ED visit or readmission in the year post-discharge. Good COC increased risk of readmission (HR = 1.38 (1.14 – 1.66)), but not of ED visits (HR = 1.14 (0.95 – 1.37)). Conclusions: COC increased risk of readmission by 38% but did not increase risk of ED visits. These findings are contextualized. Implications to adolescent mental health service delivery are discussed.

Objective: To determine whether continuity of care (COC) reduces emergency department (ED) visits and/or readmission in adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective cohort of adolescents discharged with psychiatric disorder between April 1, 2002 and March 1, 2004 was identified using hospital administrative databases. Good COC was defined as at least one aftercare contact in 30 days. Confounding by patient characteristics was adjusted for by propensity-score-matching of good and poor COC adolescents. Cox PH was used to analyze time to outcome. Results: 48.77% of adolescents had good COC. 38.39% of adolescents had ED visit or readmission in the year post-discharge. Good COC increased risk of readmission (HR = 1.38 (1.14 – 1.66)), but not of ED visits (HR = 1.14 (0.95 – 1.37)). Conclusions: COC increased risk of readmission by 38% but did not increase risk of ED visits. These findings are contextualized. Implications to adolescent mental health service delivery are discussed.

INTRODUÇÃO: O conceito de equidade enfatiza a diversidade como condição humana e propõe que a diferença seja tratada como princípio orientador das políticas públicas. O objetivo dessa investigação foi verificar a equidade na atenção à saúde de pessoas com indicativos de transtornos mentais comuns (TMC) na cidade de São Paulo. Foram analisadas a procura e utilização dos serviços de saúde, bem como o gasto com saúde no último mês de pessoas com indicativos de TMC, que referiram morbidade quinze dias precedentes à entrevista domiciliar, segundo características sociodemográficas e de condições de saúde. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo de corte transversal e utilizados os dados do Inquérito de Saúde no Município de São Paulo (ISA - Capital) de 2008. Foram selecionados sujeitos com 16 anos ou mais e com indicativos de transtornos mentais comuns; estes foram avaliados por meio do instrumento Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Foram analisados a procura e utilização de serviços de saúde, e o gasto com saúde no último mês, correlacionando com aspectos sociodemográficos e de condições de saúde. RESULTADOS: A procura pelo serviço de saúde foi menor entre as mulheres, maior na faixa etária dos 30 aos 44 anos e na faixa etária de 60 anos ou mais. A proporção de pessoas que procuraram pelo serviço e obtiveram atendimento foi elevada, o mesmo ocorreu para aquelas que procuraram por médico e foram atendidas por meio de consulta. A procura pelo SUS foi menor entre as pessoas de cor branca, de renda per capita elevada, com união estável e entre as pessoas com ensino superior. A cobertura pelo SUS foi menor para as pessoas das faixas etárias de 45 a 59 anos e de 60 anos ou mais, com renda per capita elevada, com Ensino Médio ou Técnico e Ensino Superior. As pessoas que gastaram mais com a saúde da família foram aquelas com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, de cor branca, das faixas de renda per capita mais elevadas, com união estável e com Ensino Superior. Em relação à posse de plano de saúde, pessoas de cor branca, com renda per capita elevada e indivíduos com doença crônica apresentaram maiores chances de possuir este serviço. CONCLUSÕES: Foi observado, na população com indicativos de TMC, que não houve desigualdades no acesso e utilização dos serviços entre as pessoas que buscaram por ajuda diante de morbidade. Verificou-se que o SUS atende e cobre os gastos majoritariamente dos mais pobres, denotando uma cobertura desigual que favorece os mais necessitados, porém, considerando o fator idade, ficou explícita uma situação de iniquidade, pois foi constatado que o SUS oferece maior cobertura para a população mais jovem e não contempla as necessidades da população mais idosa. Além disso, verificou-se também uma demanda reprimida de pessoas que não acessaram o serviço, indicando barreiras que antecedem à busca / INTRODUCTION: The equity concept emphasizes diversity as a human condition and proposes this aspect as a guiding principle of the public policy. The objective of this investigation was to verify the equity in health care of people with signs of common mental disorders (CMD) in the city of São Paulo. We analyzed the demand and use of health services and the expenses on health in the last month of people with signs of CMD who reported morbidity 15 days before the home interview, according to socio-demographic characteristics and health conditions. METHODS: We developed a cross-sectional study and used the data from São Paulo\'s health survey (ISA - Capital) of 2008. We selected subjects with 16 years of age or older and with signs of common mental disorders; who were evaluated using the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). We analyzed the demand and the use of health services, and the health expenses in the last month, correlating them with sociodemographic and health condition aspects. RESULTS: The demand for health services was lower among women, higher in the age group from 30 to 44 years old and in the age group of 60 years old or more. The proportion of people who sought the service and were cared for was high, and the same thing happened to those who sought medical attention and had an appointment. The demand for SUS was lower among white people with high per capita income, married and among people with higher education degrees. The coverage of SUS was significantly lower for people aged between 45 and 59 years old and those aged 60 years old or more, with high per capita income, with high school, technical or college degree. The people who spent more on Family health were those with 60 years old or more, white, with high per capita income, married and with college degree. Regarding health care insurance ownership, white people with high per capita income and individuals with chronic diseases presented higher chances of owning a health care insurance. CONCLUSIONS: We observed, among people with signs of CMD, that there were no inequalities in the access and use of health services for those who sought for help faced with morbidity. We verified that SUS serves and covers the expenses mainly of the poorer, denoting an unequal coverage that favours the ones who need it the most, however, taking the age factor into account, a situation of inequity was explicit, since it was verified that SUS offers a wider coverage to the younger population and does not contemplate the needs of the elderly. In addition, there was also a repressed demand of people who could not access the health service, indicating barriers that precede the search

Introcução: Estima-se que, no mundo, mais de 350 milhões de pessoas de todas as idades tenham depressão. Em 2010, a depressão foi a segunda principal causa de anos vividos com incapacidade. Embora haja tratamentos eficazes, a proporção de casos diagnosticados e tratados é baixa em todo o mundo, menor ainda nos países de média e baixa renda. Objetivos. Estimar a prevalência de Episódio de Depressão Maior (EDM) na população de 20 anos ou mais cadastrada na Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) em dois municípios do Estado do Amazonas (Coari e Tefé); avaliar a associação de EDM com características individuais e investigar a associação entre EDM e utilização de serviços de saúde. Método. Estudo de corte transversal conduzido entre agosto de 2013 e maio de 2014 com amostra representativa da população com 20 anos ou mais, cadastrada na ESF da área urbana dos municípios de Coari e Tefé. Os desfechos \"Depressão maior\" e \"Utilização de Serviços de Saúde\" foram avaliados com a escala Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) e questões sobre uso de serviços de atenção primária, urgência ou emergência e atenção médica especializada. Foram avaliadas as seguintes exposições: características demográficas e socioeconômicas, apoio social, eventos de vida estressantes, uso de tabaco e álcool, morbidades físicas e tratamento para transtornos mentais. As entrevistas foram realizadas no domicílio do participante. Regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para examinar a associação entre EDM e os fatores de exposição; os resultados foram apresentados como razão de prevalência, com os respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC 95%). Resultados. A prevalência geral de EDM foi 19,1% (IC 95% 17,2-21,1), sendo 22,2% (IC 95% 19,3-25,0) para mulheres e 16,0 (IC 95% 13,4-18,5) para homens. As prevalências de EDM em Coari e Tefé foram 18,3% (IC 95% 15,7-21,0) e 19,9% (IC 95% 17,2-22,7), respectivamente. Sexo feminino, ausência de apoio social de amigos/colegas, maior número de eventos de vida produtores de estresse e de morbidades físicas foram associados independentemente com depressão maior. Baixa escolaridade e baixa renda, uso de tabaco e uso de risco de álcool foram associados com depressão maior nas análises não ajustadas. EDM foi independentemente associado com a utilização dos três tipos de serviço de saúde investigados. Menos que 4,0% da população estudada recebiam algum tipo de tratamento relacionado à saúde mental. Conclusão. O Estado do Amazonas tem altos índices de desemprego, pobreza e baixa escolaridade, fatores de risco conhecidos para depressão. Uma parcela dos habitantes de Coari e Tefé apresentou indicadores de desvantagem social. Neste contexto, a alta prevalência de EDM encontrada no estudo, cerca de um em cada cinco adultos, não surpreende. As características individuais associadas com EDM nestes municípios são similares aos fatores de risco para depressão no Brasil e em outras partes do mundo. Apesar dos participantes com depressão utilizarem com maior frequência os serviços de saúde, apenas uma pequena proporção da população estudada recebia tratamento para transtornos mentais. Existe uma grande lacuna para o tratamento de depressão no Estado do Amazonas. Programas de tratamento que incluam identificação e tratamento de depressão no contexto da atenção primária devem ser desenvolvidos / Introduction. It is estimated that more than 350 million people of all ages have depression. In 2010, depression was the second leading cause of years lived with disability. Although there are effective treatments, the proportion of cases diagnosed and treated is low around the world, and even smaller in low and middle income countries. Objective. To estimate the prevalence of Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in the population aged 20 years or over enrolled in Brazil\'s Family Health Strategy (FHS) in two municipalities in the state of Amazonas: Coari and Tefé; to evaluate the association of MDE with the individuals\' characteristics; and to investigate the association of MDE with use of health services. Method. Cross-sectional study conducted between August 2013 and May 2014 with a representative sample of the population aged 20 or over enrolled in the FHS in the urban area of Coari and Tefé. The outcomes \"major depression\" and \"use of health services\" were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale (PHQ-9) and questions about the use of primary care services, as well as emergency and specialized medical care. The following exposure variables were evaluated: demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, social support, stressful life events, use of tobacco and alcohol, physical morbidities and treatment for mental disorders. Interviews were carried out at the participants\' home. Poisson regression was used to examine the association between MDE and exposure factors; results are presented as prevalence ratios, with its respective 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results. The overall prevalence of MDE was 19.1% (95% CI 17.2 - 21.1) and 22.2% (95% CI 19.3 - 25.0) for women and 16.0 (95% 13.4 - 18.5) for men. The prevalence of MDE in Coari and Tefé were 18.3% (95% CI 15.7 - 21.0) and 19.9% (95% CI 17.2 - 22.7), respectively. Being a woman, lack of social support from friends/colleagues, increased number of stressful life events and physical morbidity were independently associated with major depression. Lower formal education and income, tobacco use and risk use of alcohol were associated with MDE in unadjusted analysis. MDE was independently associated with use of three types of health care investigated. Less than 4.0% of the study population received any type of treatment related to mental health. Conclusion. The state of Amazonas has high rates of unemployment, poverty and low education achievement, known risk factors for depression. A portion of the inhabitants of Coari and Tefé presented indicators of social disadvantage. In this context, the high prevalence of MDE - about one in five adults - is not surprising. Individual characteristics associated with MDE in these municipalities are similar to risk factors for depression in Brazil and worldwide. Although participants with depression used health services frequently, only a small proportion of the study population received treatment for mental disorders. There is a large treatment gap for depression in the state of Amazonas. Treatment programs that include identification and treatment of depression in the context of primary health care should be developed

No description available.

Introduction Chaque année, 289 000 femmes décèdent des complications reliées à la grossesse et à l’accouchement, et 2.9 millions de nouveau-nés décèdent avant d’atteindre 28 jours de vie. La quasi-totalité (99%) des décès maternels et néonataux ont cours dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire (PRFI). L’utilisation des services obstétricaux essentiels, incluant l’assistance qualifiée à l’accouchement (AA) et les services postnataux, contribue largement à la réduction de la morbidité et de la mortalité maternelle et néonatale. Il est donc essentiel d’évaluer les déterminants et les inégalités de couverture de ces services, en vue d’informer l’élaboration de politiques et de programmes de santé dans les PRFI. Objectifs 1. Étudier systématiquement les déterminants et inégalités socioéconomiques, géographiques et démographiques dans l’utilisation des services de santé postnataux dans les PRFI. 2. Évaluer l’effet de la politique de subvention des frais aux usagers introduite au Burkina Faso en 2007 sur les taux d’utilisation de l’assistance qualifiée à l’accouchement, en fonction du statut socioéconomique (SSE). Méthodes 1. Nous avons réalisé une revue systématique sur l’utilisation des services postnataux dans les PRFI, en fonction des déterminants socioéconomiques, géographiques et démographiques. Notre étude incluait une méta-analyse de l’utilisation des services selon les quintiles de SSE et le milieu de vie (urbain vs. rural). 2. Nous avons utilisé un devis quasi-expérimental. Les sources de données consistaient en deux sondages représentatifs (n=1408 et n=1403), conduits respectivement en 2008 et 2010 auprès de femmes des districts sanitaires de Houndé et de Ziniaré au Burkina Faso, en plus d’une enquête sur la qualité structurelle des soins offerts dans les centres de santé primaire. Nous avons utilisé des modèles de régression de Poisson, multi-niveaux et segmentés, afin d’évaluer l’effet de la politique de subvention sur les taux d’AA. Nous avons estimé des ratios et différences de taux d’incidence ajustés, en fonction du SSE et du temps écoulé depuis l’introduction de la subvention. Résultats 1. Les estimés de ratio de cotes (RC) agrégés (IC 95%) pour les femmes de SSE élevé (5e quintile ou Q5), Q4, Q3 et Q2 (référence : quintile le plus pauvre, Q1) étaient respectivement : 2.27 (1.75 – 2.93); 1.60 (1.30-1.98); 1.32 (1.12-1.55); et 1.14 (0.96-1.34). La méta-analyse a aussi démontré un gradient d’utilisation des services postnataux entre les femmes urbaines et rurales : RC (IC 95%) = 1.36 (1.01-1.81). L’évaluation narrative a par ailleurs identifié une différence dans la couverture de services selon le niveau d’éducation. 2. Pour les femmes de faible SSE, le taux d’AA était 24% plus élevé (IC 95% : 4-46%) immédiatement après l’introduction de la subvention, en comparaison au taux attendu en l’absence de ladite subvention. L’ampleur de l’effet a diminué dans le temps, correspondant à des estimés (IC 95%) de 22% (3-45%) à 6 mois, 20% (1-43%) à 12 mois, et 17% (-4-42%) à 24 mois après l’introduction de la subvention. La force d’association variait selon les strates de SSE, l’effet le plus prononcé étant observé au sein du SSE le plus faible. Conclusions 1. L’utilisation des services postnataux demeure inéquitable selon le SSE et l’accessibilité géographique aux formations sanitaires dans les PRFI. 2. Notre étude suggère que l’introduction de la subvention des frais aux usagers au Burkina Faso résulte en une augmentation soutenue dans le taux d’assistance qualifiée à l’accouchement, particulièrement chez les femmes de faible SSE. Cette évidence scientifique devrait alimenter l’élaboration de programmes de santé materno-infantile, en plus de guider la planification de politiques et le renforcement des systèmes de santé des PRFI. / Background Each year, 289 000 women die from complications related to pregnancy, childbirth or the postnatal period, and 2.9 million newborns decease before reaching 28 days of life. The near totality (99%) of maternal and neonatal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Utilization of essential obstetric care services including skilled birth attendance (SBA) and postnatal care (PNC) largely contributes to the reduction of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is a strong need to assess the determinants and inequalities in coverage of SBA and PNC services, to inform health policy planning. Objectives 1. Systematically assess the socioeconomic, geographic and demographic inequalities in PNC services utilization in LMICs. 2. Evaluate the effect of Burkina Faso’s 2007 user-fee subsidy policy on SBA rate across socioeconomic status (SES) strata. Methods 1. We conducted a systematic review of the association between PNC services utilization and key determinants, including a meta-analysis of PNC use across socioeconomic status quintiles, and place of residence (urban vs. rural). 2. We used a quasi-experimental design. The data sources were two representative surveys (n=1408 and n=1403) carried out in 2008 and 2010, respectively, of women from Houndé and Ziniaré health districts of Burkina Faso, and a survey of health centres assessing structural quality of care. Multilevel segmented Poisson regression models were used to assess the effect of subsidy on SBA rate. We estimated adjusted rate ratios and rate differences as a function of time and socioeconomic status level. Results 1. The pooled odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) estimates for highest SES women (quintile 5, Q5), Q4, Q3 and Q2 (reference: poorest quintile, Q1) were respectively: 2.27 (1.75 – 2.93); 1.60 (1.30-1.98); 1.32 (1.12-1.55); and 1.14 (0.96-1.34). Meta-analysis also showed a PNC utilization divide between urban and rural women: OR (95% CI) = 1.36 (1.01-1.81). Narrative assessment of studies identified a gradient in PNC coverage across education levels. 2. For low-SES women, immediately upon the introduction of the subsidy policy, the rate of SBA was 24% higher (95% CI: 4-46%) than expected in the absence of subsidy policy introduction. The magnitude of the apparent effect decreased over time, with the corresponding estimates (95% CI) being 22% (3-45%) at 6 months, 20% (1-43%) at 12 months, and 17% (-4-42%) at 24 months after the policy introduction. Furthermore, the magnitude of the association varied across SES strata, with the apparent effect being most pronounced in the low SES stratum. Conclusions 1. PNC utilization remains inequitable across socioeconomic status and geographic access to health facilities in LMICs. 2. Our study suggests that introduction of user fee subsidy in Burkina Faso resulted in sustained increase in the rate of SBA, especially among low-SES women. This evidence should inform maternal and child health programmes and guide health policies and health care systems in LMICs.

La scoliose idiopathique de l’adolescent (SIA) est le type de déformation musculosquelettique le plus fréquent dans la population pédiatrique, pour une prévalence d’environ 2,0%. Depuis l’arrêt des programmes scolaires de dépistage de la SIA dans les années 1980 au Canada, nous ne disposions d’aucune donnée sur l’utilisation des services de santé par les patients présentant une SIA suspectée. En l’absence de tels programmes, des changements dans les patrons d’utilisation des services spécialisés d’orthopédie pédiatrique sont anticipés. La thèse a donc pour but d’étudier la pertinence de la référence dans ces services des jeunes avec SIA suspectée. Elle est structurée autour de trois principaux objectifs. 1) Valider un instrument de mesure de la morbidité perçue (perception des symptômes) dans la clientèle d’orthopédie pédiatrique; 2) Étudier la relation entre la morbidité perçue par les profanes (le jeune et le parent) et la morbidité objectivée par les experts; 3) Caractériser les itinéraires de soins des patients avec SIA suspectée, de façon à en élaborer une taxonomie et à analyser les relations entre ceux-ci et la pertinence de la référence. En 2006-2007, une vaste enquête a été réalisée dans les cinq cliniques d’orthopédie pédiatrique du Sud-Ouest du Québec : 831 patients référés ont été recrutés. Ils furent classés selon des critères de pertinence de la référence (inappropriée, appropriée ou tardive) définis en fonction de l’amplitude de la courbe rachidienne et de la maturité squelettique à cette première visite. La morbidité perçue par les profanes a été opérationnalisée par la gravité, l’urgence, les douleurs, l’impact sur l’image de soi et la santé générale. L’ensemble des consultations médicales et paramédicales effectuées en amont de la consultation en orthopédie pédiatrique a été documenté par questionnaire auprès des familles. En s’appuyant sur le Modèle comportemental de l’utilisation des services d’Andersen, les facteurs (dits de facilitation et de capacité) individuels, relatifs aux professionnels et au système ont été considérés comme variables d’ajustement dans l’étude des relations entre la morbidité perçue ou les itinéraires de soins et la pertinence de la référence. Les principales conclusions de cette étude sont : i) Nous disposons d’instruments fidèles (alpha de Cronbach entre 0,79 et 0,86) et valides (validité de construit, concomitante et capacité discriminante) pour mesurer la perception de la morbidité dans la population adolescente francophone qui consulte en orthopédie pédiatrique; ii) Les profanes jouent un rôle important dans la suspicion de la scoliose (53% des cas) et leur perception de la morbidité est directement associée à la morbidité objectivée par les professionnels; iii) Le case-mix actuel en orthopédie est jugé non optimal en regard de la pertinence de la référence, les mécanismes actuels entraînant un nombre considérable de références inappropriées (38%) et tardives (18%) en soins spécialisés d’orthopédie pédiatrique; iv) Il existe une grande diversité de professionnels par qui sont vus les jeunes avec SIA suspectée ainsi qu’une variabilité des parcours de soins en amont de la consultation en orthopédie, et v) La continuité des soins manifestée dans les itinéraires, notamment via la source régulière de soins de l’enfant, est favorable à la diminution des références tardives (OR=0,32 [0,17-0,59]). Les retombées de cette thèse se veulent des contributions à l’avancement des connaissances et ouvrent sur des propositions d’initiatives de transfert des connaissances auprès des professionnels de la première ligne. De telles initiatives visent la sensibilisation à cette condition de santé et le soutien à la prise de décision de même qu’une meilleure coordination des demandes de consultation pour une référence appropriée et en temps opportun. / Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the type of musculoskeletal deformity most frequently encountered in the pediatric population with a prevalence of approximately 2.0%. Since the Canadian school screening programs were discontinued in the 1980s, data detailing health service utilization or typical reference patterns for patients with suspected AIS are no longer available. Without such programs, changes in the utilization patterns of pediatric orthopedic specialized services are anticipated. The thesis therefore aims to study the appropriateness of referral of youths with suspected AIS. It comprises three main objectives: 1) To validate a measurement tool based on perceived morbidity (perception of the symptoms) in the orthopedic pediatric patient population, 2) To study the relationships between morbidity perceived by lay persons (the young patient and his parent), and the objective morbidity determined by medical professionals, 3) To characterize the healthcare service pathways of suspected AIS cases upstream of their first orthopedic consultation in order to define a taxonomy of the pathways and analyse their relationships with the appropriateness of referral. In 2006-2007, an extensive survey conducted in the five clinics serving southwest Quebec recruited 831 patients. They were categorized using criteria for the appropriateness of referral (inappropriate, appropriate or late) based on the amplitude of the main spinal curve and skeletal maturity at the first visit. Lay perceived morbidity was operationalized according to the seriousness, urgency, pain, self-image and general perceived health. Medical and paramedical visits upstream of the pediatric orthopedic consultation were documented with questionnaires to the families. Based on Andersen’s Health Behavior Model, the individual (facilitating and enabling), professional and systemic factors were considered as control variables in the study of associations between perceived morbidity or healthcare trajectories, and appropriateness of referral. The main conclusions of the thesis are: i) Reliable (Cronbach alpha between 0.79 and 0.86) and valid (construct, concurrent and discriminant validity) measurement tools are available to evaluate the perceived morbidity in the French-speaking adolescent population that consults in pediatric orthopedics, ii) Lay stakeholders play an important role in the suspicion of scoliosis (53% of cases) with their perceived morbidity directly related to the objective morbidity, and therefore associated to the appropriateness of referral, iii) The current orthopedic casemix is considered suboptimal with regards to the appropriateness of referral, and the actual mechanisms for reference are in fact responsible for a large number of inappropriate (38%) and late (18%) referrals to specialized pediatric orthopedic services, iv) Adolescents with suspected AIS consult with a wide range of health specialists resulting in a large variety of healthcare pathways upstream of the orthopedic consultation, and v) Continuity of healthcare services, mainly through a regular source of care for the child, is favourable to a reduction in late referrals (OR=0.32 [0.17-0.59]). This thesis is intended to contribute to the advancement of conceptual, empirical and applied knowledge leading to a series of knowledge translation initiatives targeting primary health care providers. Such initiatives have the potential to increase awareness of the condition, to support decision-making as well as to improve the coordination of consultation requests, thus promoting appropriateness and timeliness of referrals.

O presente estudo examina as relações entre autocuidado e envelhecimento, nas narrativas de idosos favelados da cidade de São Paulo. Trata-se de estudo qualitativo no qual se investigou as formas de autocuidado adotadas pelos entrevistados, com ênfase na relação com os serviços de saúde. Defende-se que o autocuidado não pode ser compreendido como simples adoção de saberes técnicos para a promoção da saúde, mas como uma atitude prática, relacionada à experiência de envelhecer, às condições de vida e às interações familiar e comunitária. Propõe-se a necessidade de resistir à tendência de responsabilização individual do idoso pela sua saúde, freqüentemente associada às propostas de autocuidado. / This study examines, in narratives, the relationships between self-care and aging for elderly who live in a slum of Sao Paulo city. It is a qualitative research which analysis self-care strategies, undertaken by the interviewed, emphasizing the ir relationship with health care services. The analysis supports that self-care can not be understood as a plain adoption of technical skills in order to promote health but as a practical behavior related to aging experience, life conditions, family and community interactions. The study proposes that it?s necessary to avoid take elderly as the main responsible in other to promote their own health, what is often related to self-care strategies.