Diarrhoea, particularly infectious diarrhoea, in children below five years of age is recognised as one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. This is especially true in residential areas of developing countries where there is substandard sanitation and overcrowding which are reservoirs for farther transmission. Shigellosis is endemic in developing countries and in Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, a region where unique geographic, economic, political, sociocultural, and personal factors interact to create distinctive continuing challenges to prevention and control. Our study was undertaken to establish baseline information on incidences of Shigella, its serotype and resistant pattern of isolates from human faeces from residents of Johannesburg, South Africa. All stools received from January to April 2013 from the private health care system were cultured on standard media for isolation of Shigella and confirmed by standard biochemical reactions and serological method. Antibiotic sensitivity test was determined by the agar diffusion method. 11009 stool samples were assayed from patients aged between 22 days to 94 years with a 110 Shigella isolates yield, of which 47 (43%) were S. flexneri, 61 (55%) S. sonnei and 1 (1%) of S. dysentriae and S. boydii respectively. Majority of patients 76 (69%) were children between < 1 to 5 years old followed by those between 6 to 10 years 13(12%). Of the four species isolated from children of up to 10 years old, S. sonnie was confirmed in 52 cases (59%) and S. flexneri in 36 cases (41%). A total of 53 (48%) males and 57 (52%) females were infected. However, a hundred per cent susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone but high levels of resistance to Co-trimoxazole (83%), tetracycline (72%), and ampicillin (26%) was noted. From the 110 isolates, 96 (87%) were resistant to one or more drugs while 14 (13%) were fully susceptible. These results show that S. sonnei followed by S. flexneri as predominating aetiology of shigellosis and Ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin as effective drugs against all four Shigella species. / Health Studies / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

São sistematizados e discutidos aspectos conceituais e operacionais da vigilãncia epidemiológica e do controle de eventos adversos à saúde, da monitorização em saúde pública, da pesquisa em saúde pública, do controle sanitário de produtos de consumo humano, riscos ambientais e do exercício profissional na área biomédica e, por fim, do apoio laboratorial aos serviços de saúde, vigilância epidemiológica e à pesquisa. Com fundamento nessa sistematização e discussão, é proposto um modelo de vigilância epidemiológica compatível com as diretrizes constitucionais vigentes e, portanto, aplicável, com as adaptações necessárias, ao processo de reorganização do Sistema Nacional de Saúde. Nesse modelo, os sistemas de vigilância epidemiológica para específicos eventos adversos à saúde seriam compostos por três sub-sistemas: a) Sub-sistema de informação para ações de controle: com a atribuição de coletar e analisar sistematicamente dados de específicos eventos adversos à saúde e/ou dos respectivos programas de controle, como também da coleta esporádica de informações por meio de inqüéritos e investigações epidemiológicas de campo. Neste sub-sistema as informações obtidas seriam rapidamente analisadas, para, com base nas recomendações técnicas disponíveis ou em normas já existentes, indicar as medidas imediatas de controle; b) Sub-sistema de inteligência epidemiológica: com a atribuição da análise sistemática dos dados recebidos do correspondente sub-sistema de informação para ações de controle para, incorporando os conhecimentos científicos e tecnológicos disponíveis, elaborar recomendações com as bases técnicas para as ações de controle de agravos específicos à saúde, divulgando-as regularmente a todos que delas necessitam. Este sub-sistema deverá identificar lacunas no conhecimento científico e tecnológico, referentes à especificos eventos adversos à saúde, induzindo pesquisas com vistas a superá-las. Deverá ainda constituir o primeiro nivel de incorporação, pelo Sistema Nacional de Saúde, do conhecimento produzido no campo da investigação cientifica e tecnológica; c) Sub-sistema de pesquisa: com a atribuição de desenvolver investigações cientificas e tecnológicas, induzidas pelo sub-sistema de inteligência epidemiológica e voltadas à solução de problemas emergentes e/ou prioritários em saúde pública. Nesse modelo os sistemas de vigilância para especificos agravos à saúde têm, obrigatoriamente, três componentes: a) coleta da informação; b) análise; c) ampla disseminação das informações analisadas acrescidas de recomendações com as bases técnicas para as ações de controle. Por sua vez, constituem a inteligência do Sistema Nacional de Saúde para específicos agravos à saúde, oferecendo condições técnicas para maior eficiência e eficácia e ainda, contínuo aprimoramento e atualização dos programas de saúde. / Conceptual and operational aspects of epidemiologic surveillance of adverse health events, public health monitoring, research in public health, sanitary control of human consuming products, risk from environment and from medical technologies, and laboratory support for health services, epidemiological surveillance and research are systematized and discussed. Based on this systematization and discussion it is proposed a concept of epidemiologic surveillance which is compatible with the established constitutional guiding, and thence applicable for reorganization process of National Health System, after requisitive adjusting. In this approach the Epidemiological Surveillance System for specific adverse health events would be consisted of three subsystems: a) Information for control actions subsystem: which assures the systematic collection and analysis of data on specific adverse health events and/or of the respective control programs, and of the sporadic collection of data by means of field epidemiological inquiring and investigation. In this subsystem the obtained data will be promptly analysed in order to identify the immediate measures, based on available technical recommendations or established guides or rules; b) Epidemiological intelligence subsystem: which conducts the systematic analysis of data received from the respective information subsystem control actions in order to elaborate recommendations with a technical basis of specific adverse health events related to a control intervention, and publishing them regularly and widely to all concerned, after being incorporated into available scientific and technologic knowledge. This subsystem should identify the gaps in the scientific and technologic knowledge related to the specific adverse health events, and induce researches with the purpose of overcoming these areas of weakness. It should also constitute the first level of incorporation of the knowledge in the scientific and technologic investigation are a by National Health System; c) Research subsystem: which is responsible for scientific and technologic investigation development by epidemiological intelligence subsystem and aimed at solving the emerging and/or priority problems in public health. In this approach the surveillance systems for specific adverse health events require three components: a) the information data collection; b) the data analysis; c) the wide diffusion of the analysed information data including the recommendation with technical support for control proceedings. In its turn, these components constitute the National Health System inteliggence for specific adverse health events to offer technical conditions for high efficiency and efficacy, and also a continuos improvement and modernization of health programs.

M.Cur. / Statistics prove that the monster called HIV/AIDS invades our country. More women are said to be HIV positive in comparison to men. The midwives are the frontline health workers who have to care for these pregnant HIV positive women and therefore are at occupational risk of HIV infection because of their caring role. The experience of midwives regarding the delivery of the babies of HIV positive women was not well addressed before as limited studies have been undertaken about the experiences of midwives, therefore inspiring the researcher to undertake this study. The purpose of this study was to: • Explore and describe how midwives experienced the delivery of the babies of HIV positive women. • Describe the guidelines for health professionals to support midwives in order for them to render good midwifery care. The paradigmatic perspective of this study was guided by the Theory for Health Promotion in Nursing (Rand Afrikaans University, Department of Nursing Science, 1992:2-15), which reflects the focus on the whole person.

PhD (Mathematics) / Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics / In this study, we developed multiscale models of vector-borne diseases. In general, the transmission of vector-borne diseases can be considered as falling into two categories, i.e. direct transmission and environmental transmission. Two representative vector-borne diseases, namely; malaria which represents all directly transmitted vector-borne diseases and schistosomiasis which represents all environmentally transmitted vector-borne diseases were studied. Based on existing mathematical modelling science base, we established a new multiscale modelling framework that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of vector-borne diseases treatment and preventive interventions. The multiscale models consisted of systems of nonlinear ordinary differential equations which were studied for the provision of solutions to the underlying problem of the disease transmission dynamics. Relying on the fact that there is still serious lack of knowledge pertaining to mathematical techniques for the representation and construction of multiscale models of vector-bone diseases, we have developed some grand ideas to placate this gap. The central idea in multiscale modelling is to divide a modelling problem such as a vector-bone disease system into a family of sub-models that exist at different scales and then attempt to study the problem at these scales while simultaneously linking the sub-models across these scales. For malaria, we formulated the multiscale models by integrating four submodels which are: (i) a sub-model for the mosquito-to-human transmission of malaria parasite, (ii) a sub-model for the human-to-mosquito transmission of malaria parasite, (iii) a within-mosquito malaria parasite population dynamics sub-model and (iv) a within-human malaria parasite population dynamics sub-model. For schistosomiasis, we integrated the two subsystems (within-host and between-host sub-models) by identifying the within-host and between-host variables and parameters associated with the environmental dynamics of the pathogen and then designed a feedback of the variables and parameters across the within-host and between-host sub-models. Using a combination of analytical and computational tools we adequately accounted for the influence of the sub-models in the different multiscale models. The multiscale models were then used to evaluate the effectiveness of the control and prevention interventions that operate at different scales of a vector-bone disease system. Although the results obtained in this study are specific to malaria and schistosomiasis, the multiscale modelling frameworks developed are robust enough to be applicable to other vector-borne diseases. / NRF

Due to their contagiousness, communicable disease require healthcare staff to not only see to the needs of their patient, but also to the protection of themselves and other people from getting infected. Ethical issues and dilemmas tied to the patient’s anatomy and confidentiality arise as interventions to prevent further spread of the disease necessarily involve informing others about the risk of infection. Knowledge of and about communicable disease is necessary for acts of caution to be taken by both the person carrying it and those who are at risk of becoming infected. The Swedish communicable disease control system is regulated mainly with the Communicable Diseases Act (smittskyddslag, SFS 2004:168) and confidentiality within healthcare is regulated by the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (offentlighets- och sekretesslag, SFS 2009:400). In this thesis we identify dilemmas and concessions in the taking of measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, focusing especially on these two laws. This is done from the perspective of social work in healthcare settings with some focus on healthcare counsellors. For this purpose we have used content analysis with a deductive approach, produced a coding schedule, and analyzed relevant data in official documents. To discuss identified dilemmas and concessions further, we have used a theory of care ethics and utilitarianism. In our results we describe dilemmas consisting of situations where it is impossible to both maintain secrecy regarding the patient’s status as ill while informing others about their risk of infection, situations where differing interests arise, and situations where several principles which need to be followed differ from one another. These dilemmas are ethical in nature rather than legal, although professionals must make decisions regarding what information to share and what to keep secret. This makes for situations where practical answers to ethical dilemmas are necessary, and the contagious nature of the patient’s disease makes work more difficult. / I arbetet med smittsamma sjukdomar ska hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal inte enbart värna om patienten, utan även andra människor. Sjukdomarnas smittsamhet medför försvårande omständigheter och medför andra etiska frågor än andra sjukdomar. Inte minst uppstår etiska problem kopplade till patientens autonomi och sekretesskydd vid smittsamma sjukdomar på grund av risken för att också andra kan bli sjuka. Vetskap om sjukdomen är ett måste för att rimliga försiktighetsåtgärder ska kunna vidtas av både den smittade och osmittade personer. Smittskyddet i Sverige regleras främst genom smittskyddslagen (SFS 2004:168) och hälso- och sjukvårdens sekretess genom offentlighets- och sekretesslagen (SFS 2009:400). Vi identifierar dilemman och avvägningar i det praktiska arbetet med att besluta om och vidta smittskyddsåtgärder utifrån lagstiftningen, och diskuterar sedan dessa. Vårdetik lyfts och appliceras. Uppsatsens utgångspunkt är socialt arbete i hälso- och sjukvård, och delvis rollen som hälso- och sjukvårdskurator. Metoden består av innehållsanalytisk bearbetning, kodning, av lagtext och förarbeten med en deduktiv ansats. I resultatet redovisar vi hur balans mellan olika rättigheter och skyldigheter genomsyrar smittskyddslagen (2004), vars primära syfte är att tillgodose befolkningens behov av skydd mot smittsamma sjukdomar. För att uppnå detta görs flera avsteg från sekretessen som annars gäller i hälso- och sjukvård. Vi identifierar och beskriver de dilemman och avvägningar som uppstår som situationer där det är omöjligt att både hemlighålla patientens sjukdomsstatus och skydda andra från smitta, då det råder skilda intressen, och situationer då skilda principer behöver följas. Dessa dilemman är främst etiska och praktiska i och med att den som fattar beslut om och vidtar smittskyddsåtgärder måste besluta vilka uppgifter som ska röjas och på vilket sätt. Etiska riktlinjer är inte irrelevanta och kan utgöra både vägledning genom olika dilemman och avvägningar, men också försvåra det praktiska arbetet i och med de verkliga konsekvenser smittskyddsåtgärder har för människorna de berör. Dessutom väger alltid lagen tyngre när det gäller att instruera professionella i hur de ska agera. Skyddet mot spridning av vissa sjukdomar prioriteras över skyddet av patientens sekretess.

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The impact of infant feeding practices in the prevention of mother-to-childtransmission of HIV raised concerns in the field of health services. Breast feeding adds an additional 15-30% risk of HIV transmission to the infant; therefore, mothers who are HIV-positive are in need of information regarding safe infant feeding. A descriptive design for this particular study was applied with a primary quantitative approach. A convenient sample of sixty (n=60) participants between the ages of 15 – 37 were taken from subjects that enrolled in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme in Onandjokwe district. The sample formed 85% of the target population (N=71). A structured questionnaire with closed and openended questions was used and completed by the researcher. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch. Permission to conduct the research was obtained from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Namibia, and the Onandjokwe district Hospital. A pilot study was conducted that constituted 25% of the sample. Validity and reliability was insured by the pilot study and the consultation of an expert in HIV research and an expert in nursing research. The presentation of results was mostly descriptive in nature by using frequency tables and a pie chart. The results showed that all participants (n=60/100%) were offered HIV counselling and testing during antenatal care. Mothers who were HIV positive knew that there is a possibility that the baby might be infected through breast milk. Furthermore, the study found that 70% (n=42) of participants used breast feeding exclusively, 20% (n=12) used replacement feeding and 10% (n=6) used mixed feeding practices. It was concluded that pregnant women and mothers known to be HIV-infected should be informed of the infant feeding practice recommended by the national or subnational authority to improve HIV-free survival of HIV-exposed infants. This includes information about the risks and benefits of various infant feeding options based on local assessments and guidance in selecting the most suitable option for their own situation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die invloed van voedingspraktyke vir babas by die voorkoming van moeder-na-kindoordrag van die menslike immuungebrekvirus (MIV) het kommer op die gebied van gesondheidsdienste laat ontstaan. Borsvoeding dra ’n addisionele 15–30% risiko van MIV-oordrag tot die baba by en daarom benodig moeders wat MIV-positief is inligting ten opsigte van veilige voeding van hulle babas. 'n Beskrywende ontwerp vir hierdie besondere studie is gebruik tesame met 'n primêr kwantitatiewe benadering. 'n Gerieflikheidsteekproef van sestig (n=60) deelnemers tussen die ouderdomme 15–37 jaar is gekies uit persone wat ingeskryf het vir die voorkoming van moeder-na-kind-oordrag (VMNKO) program in Onandjokwe-distrik. Die steekproef het 85% van die teikenpopulasie (N=71) uitgemaak. 'n Gestruktureerde vraelys met geslote en oop vrae is gebruik en deur die navorser voltooi. Etiese goedkeuring vir die studie is verkry van die Etiese Kommitee van die Fakulteit Gesondheidswetenskappe, Universiteit Stellenbosch. Toestemming om die navorsing te doen, is verkry van die Ministerie van Gesondheid en Maatskaplike Dienste, Namibië, en die Onandjokwe Distrikshospitaal. 'n Loodsstudie is onderneem wat 25% van die steekproef behels het. Geldigheid en betroubaarheid is verseker deur die loodsstudie en oorlegpleging met 'n kundige op die gebied van MIV-navorsing en 'n kundige in verpleegnavorsing. Die aanbieding van resultate was meestal deskriptief van aard deur van frekwensietabelle en 'n sektordiagram gebruik te maak. Die resultate het getoon dat MIV-berading en -toetsing gedurende voorgeboortesorg aan alle deelnemers (n=60/100%) aangebied is. Moeders wat MIV-positief is, het geweet dat daar 'n moontlikheid bestaan dat die baba moontlik deur moedersmelk geïnfekteer kan word. Verder het die studie bevind dat 70% (n=42) van deelnemers uitsluitlik borsvoeding gebruik, 20% (n=12) gebruik ’n vervanging vir moedersmelk en 10% (n=6) gebruik gemengde voedingspraktyke. Daar is tot die slotsom gekom dat swanger vroue en moeders van wie bekend is dat hulle MIV-geïnfekteer is, ingelig behoort te word oor die babavoedingspraktyk aanbeveel deur die nasionale of subnasionale owerheid vir die verbetering van MIVvrye oorlewing van babas wat aan die MIV blootgestel is. Dit sluit in inligting oor die risiko’s en voordele van verskeie babavoedingsopsies gebaseer op plaaslike assesserings en leiding ten opsigte van die kies van die geskikste opsie vir hulle eie situasie.

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological transition theory, first postulated by Omran in 1971, provides a useful framework for understanding cause-specific mortality changes and may contribute usefully to predictions about cause-specific mortality. However, understandings of mortality transitions and associated epidemiological changes remain poorly defined for public health practitioners due to lack of evidence from low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, understanding of the concept and development of epidemiological transition theory as well as population burden of premature mortality attributable to risk factors is needed. OBJECTIVES: This thesis aims to understand how epidemiological transition theory has been applied in different contexts, using available evidence on mortality transitions from high, middle- and low- income countries, as well as the contribution of risk factors to mortality transitions, particularly for premature mortality. METHODS: A Medline literature search from 1971 to 2013 was conducted to synthesise published evidence on mortality transition (paper I). A descriptive analysis of trends in cause of death using INDEPTH data was conducted, focusing on specific causes of death in 12 INDEPTH sites in Africa and Asia, using the INDEPTH 2013 standard population structure for appropriate comparisons across sites (paper II). A retrospective dynamic cohort database was constructed from Swedish population registers for the age range 30-69 years during 1991-2006, to measure reductions in premature non-communicable disease mortality using a life table method (paper III). Prospective cohort data from Västerbotten Intervention Programme from 1990 to 2006 were used to measure the magnitude of premature non-communicable disease mortality reductions associated with risk factor changes for each period of time (paper IV). FINDINGS: There were changes in emphasis in research on epidemiological transition over the four decades from 1971 to 2013, from cause of death to wide-ranging aspects of the determinants of mortality with increasing research interests in low-and middle-income countries, with some unconsidered aspects of social determinants contributing to deviations from classic theoretical pathways. Mortality rates declined in most sites, with the annual reductions in premature adult mortality varied across INDEPTH sites, Sweden, which now is at late stage of epidemiological transition stage, achieved a 25% reduction in premature mortality during 1991-2006. Overall downward trends in risk factors have helped to reduce premature mortality in the population of Västerbotten County, but some benefits were offset by other increasing risks. The largest mortality changes accrued from reductions in smoking, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. CONCLUSIONS: This thesis established patterns of current epidemiological transition in high, middle-and low-income countries (Asia and Africa), where the theory fits the transition patterns in some countries, but with some needs for further adjustments in other settings, as well as deviations from the classical ET theory in the last four decades. It highlights the need to identify the burden of mortality and morbidity, particularly for reducing mortality occurring before the age of 70 years and its attribution to risk factors, which are a major public health challenge. This informs shifting of public health priorities and resources towards prevention and control of chronic non-communicable disease risk factors.

<p><i>Chlamydophila pneumoniae</i> (<i>C. pneumoniae</i>) has been suggested as a stimulator of chronic inflammation in atherosclerosis. <i>C. pneumoniae</i> DNA was demonstrated in aortic biopsies in 50% of patients with stable angina pectoris or acute coronary syndrome undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. <i>C. pneumoniae</i> mRNA, a marker of replicating bacteria, was demonstrated in 18% of the aortic biopsies. </p><p>Inflammation may have a role in the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection and aortic valve stenosis. <i>C. pneumoniae </i>DNA was demonstrated in aortic biopsies in 26% of thoracic aortic aneurysm patients and in 11% of aortic dissection patients undergoing thoracic surgery and in 22% of stenotic aortic heart valves from patients undergoing aortic valve replacement. No bacterial mRNA was demonstrated in these aortic biopsies, nor in the valves, suggesting that the infection has passed into a persistent state. <i>C. pneumoniae</i> DNA was demonstrated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in only 5% of aortic valve stenosis patients and not in thoracic aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection patients, suggesting that the bacterium disseminated to the cardiovascular tissue long before the patient required surgery. The copper/zinc ratio in serum, a marker of infection/inflammation, was significantly elevated in thoracic aortic aneurysm patients, supporting an inflammatory pathogenesis. Patients positive for <i>C. pneumoniae</i> in the aortic valve had more advanced coronary atherosclerosis, further supporting a possible role for <i>C. pneumoniae</i> in atherosclerosis. </p><p>Mice were infected with <i>C. pneumoniae</i> that disseminated to all organs investigated (i.e. lungs, heart, aorta, liver and spleen). Trace element concentrations were altered in infected animals with an increased copper/zinc ratio in serum, a progressively increased iron concentration in the liver and a progressively decreased iron concentration in serum. Iron is important for <i>C. pneumoniae</i> metabolism, and a changed iron homeostasis was noted in infected mice by alterations in iron-regulating proteins, such as DMT1 and hepcidin.</p>

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among adults in Vietnam. Little is known about the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in NCDs and other NCD-related factors in urban areas, in particular among the poor living in slum areas. Understanding these disparities are essential in contributing to the knowledge, needed to reduce inequalities and close the related health gaps burdening the disadvantaged populations in urban areas.  Objective: To examine the burden and health system responsiveness to NCDs in Hanoi, Vietnam and investigate the role of socioeconomic inequalities in their prevalence, subsequent healthcare utilization and related impoverishment due to health expenditures.  Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 3,736 individuals aged 15 years and over who lived in 1211 randomly selected households in 2013 in urban Hanoi, Vietnam. The study collected information on household’s characteristics, household expenditures, and household member information. A qualitative approach was implemented to explore the responsiveness of commune health stations to the increasing burden of NCDs in urban Hanoi. In-depth interview approach was conducted among health staff involved in NCD tasks at four commune health stations in urban Hanoi. Furthermore, NCD managers at relevance district, provincial and national levels were interviewed.  Results: The prevalence of self-reported NCDs was significantly higher among individuals in non-slum areas (11.6%) than those in slum areas (7.9%). However, the prevalence of self-reported NCDs concentrated among the poor in both slum and non-slum areas. In slum areas, the poor needed more health care services, but the rich consumed more health care services. Among households with at least one household member reporting diagnosis of NCDs, the proportion of household facing catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment were the greater in slum areas than in non-slum areas. Poor households in slum areas were more likely to face catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment. The poor in non-slum areas were also more likely to face impoverishment if their household members experienced NCDs. Health system responses to NCDs at commune health stations in urban Hanoi were weak, characterized by the lack of health information, inadequate human resources, poor financing, inadequate quality and quantity of services, lack of essential medicines. The commune health stations were not prepared to respond to the rising prevalence of NCDs in urban Hanoi.  Conclusion: This thesis shows the existence of socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of self-reported NCDs in both non-slum and slum areas in urban Hanoi. NCDs associated with the inequalities in health care utilization, catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment, particular in slum areas. Appropriate interventions should focus more on specific population groups to reduce the socioeconomic inequalities in the NCD prevalence and health care utilization related to NCDs to prevent catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment among the households of NCD patients.  The functions of commune health stations in the urban setting should be strengthened through the development of NCDs service packages covered by the health insurance.

Estudo sobre o fenômeno dos grupos de apoio aos pacientes sob a ótica da Ciência da informação, tendo em vista as questões relacionadas ao acesso à informação e ao conhecimento no campo da saúde pública. O contexto preparatório da transição paradigmática da modernidade para a pós-modernidade tem como fenômeno inovador a ação dos grupos de apoio aos pacientes na promoção da saúde e da melhoria global da qualidade de vida, por meio de ações de informação. As ações desses grupos são observadas por meio de pesquisa empírica qualitativa. São investigadas de forma específica as fontes às quais recorrem os pacientes de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis para lidar com a incerteza. Os resultados de entrevistas com profissionais de saúde e pacientes reforçam a importância dos grupos e a confiança e solidariedade subjacentes a eles. Conclui-se que os pacientes recorrem em primeiro lugar ao médico quando necessitam de informação de alta confiabilidade, mas também aos enfermeiros, amigos e à mídia. Os resultados sugerem a necessidade de ampliação da operação pública dos grupos de apoio com vistas à promoção da saúde, ao acesso livre e aberto à informação científica transliterada em saúde pública. Sugerem também a necessidade de criação de sistemas de informação voltados especificamente para os mediadores dos grupos de apoio aos pacientes, segmento ainda não contemplado com dispositivos informacionais adequados de apoio ao desenvolvimento de suas ações. / Study on the phenomenon of the support groups for the patients under the optics of Information Science, with a view to the issues related to the information access and knowledge in public health; in the context of the paradigmatic transition of the modernism to post modernism, the support groups are considered as innovative input for patients under the standpoint of the support for the health promotion and the quality of life improvement. The research, a qualitative empirical survey, analyzes entities that promote support groups for patients of non communicable chronicle diseases, aims to identify which information sources the patients seek in order to deal with the uncertainty, and distress in face of the diagnosis of a chronicle disease. The results of the interviews with health professionals and patients show the importance of the groups and their character of confidence and underlying solidarity. It concludes that the patients consider physicians as their most important sources of information, but also ask the nurses, friends and the media for more information. The study suggests some parameters for the expansion of the public operation of the support groups with a view to the health promotion, to the free and open access to \"translated\" scientific information in public health. It suggests also that there is a lack of specific information systems to support the professionals that work as information intermediaries in such groups.