Esta dissertação investiga a associação entre a distribuição espacial das taxas de internações hospitalares pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) em Porto Alegre e fatores sócio econômicos demográficos. De um número inicial de 102.215 registros de internações hospitalares ocorridas entre julho de 2005 a junho de 2006, obtivemos 92.148 com endereços válidos, contendo as variáveis relacionadas à internação (hospital, causa, data e tempo de permanência) e ao paciente (sexo, idade e endereço). Os endereços das internações foram localizados nos respectivos bairros de Porto Alegre, previamente estratificados por variáveis sócio econômicas demográficas selecionadas. As taxas de internações hospitalares (excluídos as por partos) por bairros em Porto Alegre apresentaram um padrão espacial de distribuição não aleatório, sendo menores na região central da cidade, com melhores indicadores de condições sócio econômicas. Entretanto, este comportamento não foi observado em taxas de internações por procedimentos de alto custo, representados neste estudo por angioplastias. Mesmo assim, o SUS mostrou-se equitativo em se tratando de internações hospitalares, pois proporcionou acesso às mesmas em maior número às regiões mais carentes, representadas por estratos de piores índices sócio econômicos demográficos. Encontramos correlações das taxas gerais de internações com as variáveis independentes taxa de fecundidade, coeficiente de mortalidade externa e renda, sendo esta última a mais altamente significativa (p=0,0000002). Isto evidencia a influência de determinantes sociais em internações hospitalares pelo SUS no município. Salientamos que os achados neste estudo podem embasar os gestores públicos municipais de saúde na hora de decidir sobre distribuição de serviços hospitalares. / This dissertation investigates the association between the spatial distribution of the rates of hospital admissions by the Public Health Care System (SUS) in Porto Alegre and socio economic demographic factors. From an initial number of 102,215 records of hospital admissions occurred between July 2005 and June 2006, obtained 92,148 valid addresses containing the variables related to hospitalization (hospital, cause, date and length of stay) and patient (sex, age and address). The addresses of the hospital were located in their neighborhoods of Porto Alegre, previously stratified by socio economic demographic variables selected. The rates of hospital admissions (excluding births per) for neighborhoods in Porto Alegre showed a spatial pattern of distribution not random, and lower in the central region of the city with better indicators of socio economic conditions. However, this behavior was not observed in rates of admissions procedures for high-cost, represented in this study for angioplasties. Still, the SUS proved to be fair in the case of hospitalization, as has access to it in many poor regions, represented by strata of poorer socio economic demographic indices. We found correlations of the general rates of hospitalization with the independent variables in fertility rate, mortality rate and foreign income, the latter being the most highly significant (p = 0.0000002). This shows the influence of social determinants in the hospitalization by the SUS in the city. We stress that the findings in this study are based on authorizing municipal public health at the time to decide on distribution of hospital services.

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2016-07-15T18:34:27Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO_FINALMENTE.pdf: 926485 bytes, checksum: 323b2acc40d730e23d446043ee5486b7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-15T18:34:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO_FINALMENTE.pdf: 926485 bytes, checksum: 323b2acc40d730e23d446043ee5486b7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-24 / O envelhecimento no Brasil tem sido experenciado a partir de um perfil de superposição de processos epidemiológicos, associados a desfavoráveis contextos políticos, sociais e econômicos, afetando diretamente a saúde enquanto produto social destas relações. O objetivo geral dessa pesquisa foi analisar a relação entre o envelhecimento ativo e os determinantes sociais da saúde em idosos residentes em uma área coberta pela Estratégia de Saúde da Família. O estudo foi analítico de corte transversal e a população composta pelos idosos acompanhados por uma da Equipes de Saúde da Família atuantes na USF Jordão Alto/Recife. As variáveis independentes foram aquelas referentes aos determinantes sociais da saúde presentes no modelo esquemático criado por Dahlgren e Whitehead. Como variável dependente, foi utilizada a variável latente envelhecimento ativo, criada com a junção de capacidade funcional e qualidade de vida, categorizada posteriormente como muito ativo , médio ativo e pouco ativo . Como parte da análise foi feita associação, inicialmente univariada e depois multivariada, utilizando-se a regressão multinomial através do método forward. Observou-se, portanto, que a idade avançada apresenta um risco maior para o envelhecimento pouco ativo , assim como, não consumir açúcar e ter renda de até dois salários mínimos. Ser mulher idosa, ter a cor da pele não considerada como branca, não ter convívio familiar e ter até cinco anos de estudo apresentaram-se como fatores de risco para se ter um envelhecimento médio ativo . Já o fato de não ter sofrido nenhum acidente de trabalho se caracterizou como um fator de proteção para o envelhecimento. A principal indagação desse estudo obtém como resposta que tal relação é indissociável. Em algum nível sempre se observará a ação de algum determinante afetando o envelhecimento, seja enquanto fator de risco para a sua qualidade, seja como fator de proteção permitindo aflorar todo o potencial de vida dos indivíduos. / The aging in Brazil have been experienced from an overlapping epidemiological process profile associated with unfavorable political contexts, socials and economics, directly affecting the health as social product of these relations. The general aim this research was the analysis of relationship between active aging and health social determinants in elders living in a Family Health Strategy. The study was analytical cross-sectional cohort and the population composed by elderly accompanied by Family Health Strategy unit in the neighborhood Jordão Alto/Recife. Independent variables were about the health social determinants presents in the schematic model created by Dahlgren and Whitehead. The latent variable active aging was composed by functional capacity and quality of life and after categorized itself as very active , medium active and little active . As part of the analysis was made univariate association and after multivariate association, using multinomial logistic regression by the forward method. Was observed that advanced age shows a greater risk to little active aging , as well as, not sugar intake and have income until two brazilian minimum wages. Be woman elderly, have no considered as white flesh tone, have no familiar relationships and had study up to five years proved to be risk factors to have medium aging . While the fact that not suffered anyone occupational accident was a protection for an aging. The main question of this study, about the relationship between active aging and social determinants of health, get an answer that these relationship is inseparable. At any level always will be observed the action of some determinant affecting the aging, whether as a risk factor for its quality, as a protection factor allowing emerge all the potential life of individuals.

In Canada, falls are one of the leading causes of injury and deaths for seniors. These types of injuries can typically be avoided through falls prevention programs, and past studies suggest that these health services have significantly reduced seniors’ falls risk and rates in Canada. Despite the abundance of falls prevention research, practices and programs available in the country, Aboriginal Elders remain overrepresented in fall-related injury and fatality rates. The elevated rates of falls for Aboriginal Elders indicate that current falls prevention programs and standards may not be reaching those most vulnerable to fall hazards and injuries. My thesis is written in the publishable paper format and is comprised of two papers. Using an exploratory case study methodology in paper one, I investigated the social determinants of health that Inuvialuit Elders and LFPPs identify as factors that increase, decrease, or have no effect on the likelihood of an Inuvialuit Elder experiencing a fall. Together, we found that personal health status and conditions, personal health practices and coping skills, physical environments, social support networks, and access to health services increase Inuvialuit Elders likelihood of experiencing a fall, health practices and coping skills and access to health services decrease Inuvialuit Elders likelihood of experiencing a fall, and culture has no affect on the likelihood of Inuvialuit Elders experiencing a fall. In paper two, I used a participatory action research approach informed by postcolonial theory to examine what current falls prevention recommendations are offered by local falls prevention programmers (LFPPs) in order to reduce fall rates among Inuvialuit Elders in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; and to understand how falls prevention programs for Inuvialuit Elders can be co-created with participants to be culturally safe. In it, I provide the recommended strategies of developing and implementing a culturally safe falls prevention program for Inuvialuit Elders, as suggested by the LFPPs and Inuvialuit Elders who participated in the research. Taken together, the papers in this thesis make it apparent that research concerning falls prevention for Aboriginal Elders and falls prevention programs continues to be influenced by colonial practices. As a result, there is a demonstrated need for program development and research in this area to work towards reducing health disparities and challenging colonial practices.

There is limited knowledge on the sexual health behaviors of young adults with physical disabilities, as people with disabilities have traditionally been treated homogenously without acknowledgement of the potential differences between disability types. The objective of this study was twofold. The first goal was to take a novel approach by guidance of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework to compare how young adults with physical disabilities compare against those without physical disabilities in: 1) vaginal sexual activity, 2) condom usage, and 3) the effect of SDOH factors as potential mediators in predicting unprotected vaginal sex. Relatedly, the second goal was to investigate whether there was a difference in condom usage based on disability type criteria, specifically examining membership into the following impairment groups: physical disability, chronic health conditions, vision impairments, hearing impairments, and stuttering/stammering problems. This study employed secondary data analysis based on data from the National Longitudinal Adolescent to Adult Health Survey (ADD Health) – Wave III, in-home interview, public-use dataset. The variables used for the SDOH proxies were job status, student status, housing type, level of education, mentor status, cohabitation status, and health insurance status. Additionally, other social and demographic factors were also accounted in the model: age, race/ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Results from bivariate regression suggest that only those young adults with visual impairments and those with stuttering/stammering issues are less likely to engage in sexual activity when compared to their healthy counterparts. Regarding condom usage among sexually active individuals, those with physical disabilities, chronic health conditions, and hearing impairments may be less likely to use protection than their counterparts. However, further investigation revealed that the associations between condom usage and those disability type groups are mediated by 1 of the 7 measures of SDOH (cohabitation status) and three demographic factors – gender, race, and age. Hence, it is not the disability type that reduces safe sex practices compliance, but rather that those disability groups are associated to social and demographic factors that are, in turn, linked to unsafe sex practices. Furthermore, it appears that irrespective of disability membership, gender, age, race, and cohabitation status are all associated with condom use compliance. Findings advocate for a supplementary investigation of the relative contributions of the particular social factors that mediate the effect between disability status and condom usage.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Heavy alcohol drinking is a serious health concern in many African countries such as Namibia and South Africa. The heavy use of alcohol is mainly due to avoid coping with the realities of life. There is however, a paucity of research on heavy alcohol use amongst women, particularly in Oshana region of Namibia, where problem drinking is threatening the well-being of women and society. This study explored the psycho-social determinants of women who are heavy alcohol users in the Oshana region. The study design was explorative and descriptive within a qualitative approach. The social constructionist theory underpinned this study. Four participants were randomly selected from the Developmental Social Services caseload which led the researcher to snowball the other four participants for a total of eight participants in the study. Data was collected by means of semi-structured face-to-face interview with the aid of an interview guide. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and field notes were taken. Thematic analysis was used to analyse and interpret the data. The participants identified with coping with realities among women heavy drinking. They reported psychological and social factors affected the well- being of women drinking. These factors included poverty, unemployment, family pressure or influence, availability and accessibility of alcohol, expression, stress, low self-esteem, fear of loneliness and many others. Based on these results, some of the suggestions put forward by all the participants and the researcher concluded the study with a recommendation that an awareness can be created by service providers such as social workers working with women who are heavy drinkers to establish and improve alcohol programmes in Oshana Region and Namibia as a whole.

This is an inter-disciplinary argument for a moral entitlement to a capability to be healthy. Motivated by the goal to make a human right to health intelligible and justifiable, the thesis extends the capability approach, advocated by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, to the theory and practice of the human health sciences. Moral claims related to human health are considered at the level of ethical theory, or a level of abstraction where principles of social justice that determine the purpose, form, and scope of basic social institutions are proposed, evaluated, and justified. The argument includes 1) a conception of health as capability, 2) a theory of causation and distribution of health capability as well as 3) an argument for the moral entitlement to a sufficient and equitable capability to be healthy grounded in the respect for human dignity. Moreover, the entitlement to the capability to be healthy is defended against alternative ethical approaches that focus on welfare or resources in evaluating and satisfying health claims. In specific, it is argued that human health is best understood as a capability to be healthy - a meta-capability to achieve a cluster of basic and inter-related capabilities and functionings. Such a cluster of capabilities and functionings is in line with Martha Nussbaum's central human capabilities. A theory of causation and distribution of health capability is put forward that integrates the 'classic' biomedical factors of disease (genetic endowment, exposure to hazardous materials, behaviour), social determinants of disease, and Drèze and Sen's econometric analysis of the causation and distribution of acute and endemic malnutrition. Furthermore, the argument critiques Norman Daniels's revised Rawlsian theory of health justice, and advocates for the capability approach to recognize group capabilities in light of 'population health' phenomena. Lastly, the thesis also argues that a coherent, capability conception of health as a species-wide conception will tend to make any theory of justice recognizing health claims a cosmopolitan theory of justice.

Official-language minorities in Canada may face specific issues in accessing health care services that can lead to negative consequences on their health, utilization of health care services and satisfaction with the health care system. A secondary data analysis of the 2006 Survey on the Vitality of Official-Language Minorities revealed significant differences between the Anglophone minority (n=5,161) and the Francophone minority (n=12,029) with regards to general health, and access to and use of health care services. Important predictors of these outcomes included age, education level, household income, marital status and place of residence (urban/rural). Access to health care services in the minority language was associated with self-perceived health in the Anglophone minority only. Health policy recommendations elaborated in light of the findings include working on both the supply and the demand of health care services offered in the two official languages, while taking into consideration important contextual differences between regions.

The goal of this thesis was to reposition individual preparedness within a social environmental context. First, a theoretical model was developed to more accurately represent the social environmental considerations neglected in current preparedness research and policy. A series of three studies tested this model using a mixed-methods approach: First, subjective conceptualizations of preparedness were explored in a qualitative analysis (N = 12). Findings revealed that participants evaluated their readiness not in terms of prescribed activities, but perceptions about their current resourcefulness as well as past local hazards. Participants’ had positive social environments which also reinforced their perceived coping ability in future emergency events. Subsequent thesis studies investigated the role social environment further, using quantitative data. The second study explicitly tested whether perceptions of risk and coping could explain differences in preparedness based on demographic attributes linked to variations in social environment. Data from a survey examining Canadians perceptions regarding terrorism threats (N = 1503) revealed that greater anticipated response was significantly associated with increased age, as well as female gender, higher education levels, and higher income levels. Statistically significant differences in threat appraisals were also reported based on these demographic groupings. However, mediation analyses demonstrated that with the exception of gender, differences in anticipated response could not be explained via risk perceptions or perceived coping efficacy, suggesting that social environment’s role in preparedness is not related to the internal processes often targeted in current campaigns. The third study used a multilevel design to investigate the contextual role of neighbourhood social environment in anticipated emergency response. Results demonstrated that a more deprived social neighbourhood context was related to lowered anticipated emergency response. This relationship was maintained after controlling for significant individual-level factors such as previous experience and sociodemographics, highlighting the importance of neighbourhood social context in facilitating emergency preparedness. Taken together, these findings provide novel evidence that focusing preparedness strategies to primarily target internal processes is misguided, and that future research and policy must position preparedness efforts in the context of existing social environmental resources and barriers in order to build capacity for effective emergency response.

Disaster vulnerability and health status are determined by the intersecting social identities individuals possess in a given context. Based on two months fieldwork in Bangladesh, this study employs a comparative exploratory case study methodology to understand the way in which the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Oxfam and Gonoshasthaya Kendra construct and deploy the concepts of gender, empowerment and women’s health within their disaster management policies and programs. It finds that disaster management interventions that fail to understand the intersectional nature of women’s vulnerability risk entrenching or creating forms of both privilege and oppression. Combining intersectionality, Moser’s Practical and Strategic Gender Needs and Sen’s Capability Approach, this study aims to deconstruct the embedded view of women in disaster management by suggesting that a social determinants of health approach, paired with intersectionality, could provide important insights into disaster management interventions and their effectiveness in addressing the gendered realities of women facing disasters.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the fact that the total burden of TB has decreased dramatically, the distribution of that burden across the Canadian population has not changed. A century ago, the Indigenous population of Canada had a significantly higher TB mortality than the non-Indigenous population. This gap still exists today. TB is a disease of poverty, and understanding the role of the social determinants of health (SDH) may provide insights into the causes of persistence of TB in the Indigenous population. Research questions: This thesis tackles three questions: 1) Can a TB outbreak that took place over a century ago be reconstructed? 2) What can we learn about the relationship between the disease, the population it afflicted, and the environment in which the outbreak took place? 3) How can reconstruction of a TB outbreak be used to evaluate policy interventions? Area studied: Analyses were limited to the Qu’Appelle Agency, located in Southeastern Saskatchewan. Methodology: An agent-based model of socioeconomic environment of the Qu’Appelle Agency was developed to study the relationship between TB and SDH. Data on TB mortality, demographics, agricultural production, material circumstances, and economic factors of production were used to study the relationship between TB and SDH at the aggregate level. Results: 1) Extensive aggregate data analyses were carried out and an agent-based model of TB transmission and of the socioeconomic environment of the Qu’Appelle Agency was developed. 2) Results of these analyses identify a number of important parameters responsible for the high TB mortality in the Agency. These parameters include biological factors, housing, social characteristics, agricultural output, and policies of the Department of Indian Affairs. Conclusions: This research demonstrates that reconstruction of an outbreak of an infectious disease that took place over a century ago is a complex undertaking that hinges on availability of data and significant expertise in a variety of fields, such as health sciences, economics, mathematics, and modelling approaches. The further one goes into the past, the more one is forced to rely on assumptions, which make the reconstructed web of relationships between agent, host, and environment that caused the outbreak less certain. Despite the inherent uncertainty, the process of outbreak reconstruction provides a deep and multi-faceted understanding of the interactions among the agent, the host, and the environment. The resulting model is a useful way of studying policy interventions that could be applied in other contexts as well – to other infectious diseases or TB outbreaks on other reserves. Keywords: [population health, epidemiology, tuberculosis, Indigenous peoples, agent-based modelling, social determinants of health]