A forma atual da organização local dos serviços de saúde motiva o desenvolvimento de estudos que explicitem a busca de cuidados terapêuticos, permitindo, assim, pensar a organização e funcionamento da rede de serviços de saúde com mais dinamismo, à qual as pessoas possam optar, ou outras formas de cuidado, que melhor resolvam seus problemas de saúde. A temática do presente estudo visa a estabelecer relações entre a rede de serviços de saúde disponíveis e as práticas e trajetórias terapêuticas de pacientes portadores de câncer,em um Município da região Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O presente estudo tem por objetivo conhecer e caracterizar essa rede, bem como a utilização de serviços e as trajetórias e práticas terapêuticas dos usuários portadores de câncer, no Município referido. É um estudo exploratório, descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa, com uso de entrevistas a 13 sujeitos cadastrados na Liga Feminina de Combate ao Câncer do Município. As entrevistas identificaram problemas em relação ao modelo de atenção e de gestão da saúde, revelados pelas dificuldades que os sujeitos apresentam em suas trajetórias terapêuticas, com vários caminhos traçados para encontrar o tratamento adequado. Desta forma, também foram muitas as práticas terapêuticas procuradas pelos sujeitos, devido às dificuldades de atendimento na rede de assistência à saúde do Município. Os resultados apontaram para a necessidade de problematizar junto aos gestores, trabalhadores de saúde, prestadores de serviço e instâncias de controle social do Sistema Único de Saúde, a oferta de serviços de saúde tanto no âmbito municipal, quanto regional. Para a efetivação de um atendimento integral, é importante que os serviços de saúde se organizem para atender às necessidades definidas pelos sujeitos, no sentido de minimizar as assimetrias no atendimento à atenção oncológica, como também a outras especialidades. / The current configuration of the health services organization, is reason for the development of studies that specify the search for therapeutic care, thus allowing thinking over the organization and operation of the health services network in a more dynamic way so that people may choose health services or other care alternatives that best solve their health problems. The theme of this study aims at establishing a relationship between the available network of health services and the therapy practices and trajectories of patients with cancer in the municipality, state of Rio Grande do Sul. This study has therefore the objective of learning and characterizing the available network of health services, the utilization of services and the therapy trajectories and practices of users with cancer in the studied municipality. It is an exploratory, descriptive study of qualitative approach with the application of interviews with 13 subjects enrolled in the Feminine League for Coping Cancer in the municipality. The interviews demonstrate problems regarding the model of health care and management, revealed by the difficulties that the subjects present over their therapy trajectories with several ways to be traced in order to find the proper treatment. The subjects also searched for several therapy practices due to the care difficulties in the local health care network. The results point out to the need of raising the problem of the offer of health services both in the municipal and in the regional range with the management staff, health workers, services professionals and sectors of social control of the SUS. In order to perform an integral care, it is important that the health services get organized in order to meet the health needs as defined by the subjects in the sense of minimizing the asymmetries in the attendance of oncological care as well as of other specialties. / La forma actual de la organización de los servicios de salud, motiva el desarrollo de estudios que expliciten la búsqueda de cuidados terapéuticos, permitiendo así pensar la organización y el funcionamiento de la red de servicios de salud con más dinamismo, en la cual las personas puedan optar por servicios de salud o otras formas de cuidado, que mejor resuelvan sus problemas de salud. La temática del presente estudio visa, establecer una relación entre la red de servicios de salud disponibles y las prácticas y trayectorias terapéuticas de pacientes portadores de cáncer en la municipalidad, provincia de Rio Grande do Sul. El presente estudio tiene, el objetivo de conocer y caracterizar la red de servicios de salud disponible, la utilización de servicios y las trayectorias y prácticas terapéuticas de usuarios portadores de cáncer en aquella municipalidad. Es un estudio exploratorio, descriptivo de abordaje cualitativo, con aplicación de entrevistas a 13 sujetos registrados en la Liga Femenina de Combate al Cáncer de la Municipalidad. Las entrevistas demuestran problemas con relación al modelo de atención y de gestión de la salud, revelados por las dificultades que los sujetos presentan en sus trayectorias terapéuticas con varios caminos trazados para encontrar el tratamiento adecuado. De esta forma, también fueron varias las prácticas terapéuticas buscadas por los sujetos debido a las dificultades de atención en la red de asistencia a la salud de la municipalidad. Los resultados apuntan para la necesidad de tratar el problema junto a los gestores, trabajadores de salud, prestadores de servicio e instancias de control social del SUS, la oferta de servicios de salud tanto en el ámbito municipal como en el regional. Para los efectos de una atención integral, es importante que los servicios de salud se organicen para atender las necesidades en salud definidas por los sujetos en el sentido de minimizar las asimetrías en la atención oncológica, como también en otras especialidades.

A forma atual da organização local dos serviços de saúde motiva o desenvolvimento de estudos que explicitem a busca de cuidados terapêuticos, permitindo, assim, pensar a organização e funcionamento da rede de serviços de saúde com mais dinamismo, à qual as pessoas possam optar, ou outras formas de cuidado, que melhor resolvam seus problemas de saúde. A temática do presente estudo visa a estabelecer relações entre a rede de serviços de saúde disponíveis e as práticas e trajetórias terapêuticas de pacientes portadores de câncer,em um Município da região Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O presente estudo tem por objetivo conhecer e caracterizar essa rede, bem como a utilização de serviços e as trajetórias e práticas terapêuticas dos usuários portadores de câncer, no Município referido. É um estudo exploratório, descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa, com uso de entrevistas a 13 sujeitos cadastrados na Liga Feminina de Combate ao Câncer do Município. As entrevistas identificaram problemas em relação ao modelo de atenção e de gestão da saúde, revelados pelas dificuldades que os sujeitos apresentam em suas trajetórias terapêuticas, com vários caminhos traçados para encontrar o tratamento adequado. Desta forma, também foram muitas as práticas terapêuticas procuradas pelos sujeitos, devido às dificuldades de atendimento na rede de assistência à saúde do Município. Os resultados apontaram para a necessidade de problematizar junto aos gestores, trabalhadores de saúde, prestadores de serviço e instâncias de controle social do Sistema Único de Saúde, a oferta de serviços de saúde tanto no âmbito municipal, quanto regional. Para a efetivação de um atendimento integral, é importante que os serviços de saúde se organizem para atender às necessidades definidas pelos sujeitos, no sentido de minimizar as assimetrias no atendimento à atenção oncológica, como também a outras especialidades. / The current configuration of the health services organization, is reason for the development of studies that specify the search for therapeutic care, thus allowing thinking over the organization and operation of the health services network in a more dynamic way so that people may choose health services or other care alternatives that best solve their health problems. The theme of this study aims at establishing a relationship between the available network of health services and the therapy practices and trajectories of patients with cancer in the municipality, state of Rio Grande do Sul. This study has therefore the objective of learning and characterizing the available network of health services, the utilization of services and the therapy trajectories and practices of users with cancer in the studied municipality. It is an exploratory, descriptive study of qualitative approach with the application of interviews with 13 subjects enrolled in the Feminine League for Coping Cancer in the municipality. The interviews demonstrate problems regarding the model of health care and management, revealed by the difficulties that the subjects present over their therapy trajectories with several ways to be traced in order to find the proper treatment. The subjects also searched for several therapy practices due to the care difficulties in the local health care network. The results point out to the need of raising the problem of the offer of health services both in the municipal and in the regional range with the management staff, health workers, services professionals and sectors of social control of the SUS. In order to perform an integral care, it is important that the health services get organized in order to meet the health needs as defined by the subjects in the sense of minimizing the asymmetries in the attendance of oncological care as well as of other specialties. / La forma actual de la organización de los servicios de salud, motiva el desarrollo de estudios que expliciten la búsqueda de cuidados terapéuticos, permitiendo así pensar la organización y el funcionamiento de la red de servicios de salud con más dinamismo, en la cual las personas puedan optar por servicios de salud o otras formas de cuidado, que mejor resuelvan sus problemas de salud. La temática del presente estudio visa, establecer una relación entre la red de servicios de salud disponibles y las prácticas y trayectorias terapéuticas de pacientes portadores de cáncer en la municipalidad, provincia de Rio Grande do Sul. El presente estudio tiene, el objetivo de conocer y caracterizar la red de servicios de salud disponible, la utilización de servicios y las trayectorias y prácticas terapéuticas de usuarios portadores de cáncer en aquella municipalidad. Es un estudio exploratorio, descriptivo de abordaje cualitativo, con aplicación de entrevistas a 13 sujetos registrados en la Liga Femenina de Combate al Cáncer de la Municipalidad. Las entrevistas demuestran problemas con relación al modelo de atención y de gestión de la salud, revelados por las dificultades que los sujetos presentan en sus trayectorias terapéuticas con varios caminos trazados para encontrar el tratamiento adecuado. De esta forma, también fueron varias las prácticas terapéuticas buscadas por los sujetos debido a las dificultades de atención en la red de asistencia a la salud de la municipalidad. Los resultados apuntan para la necesidad de tratar el problema junto a los gestores, trabajadores de salud, prestadores de servicio e instancias de control social del SUS, la oferta de servicios de salud tanto en el ámbito municipal como en el regional. Para los efectos de una atención integral, es importante que los servicios de salud se organicen para atender las necesidades en salud definidas por los sujetos en el sentido de minimizar las asimetrías en la atención oncológica, como también en otras especialidades.

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.

The voices and experiences of immigrant and refugee women in Canada have been conspicuously absent from policy issues, programme planning, and mental health literature. However, more immigrant and refugee women than men, from traditional cultures, are considered to have mental health needs, because of risk factors such as stress at the time of migration, and because of Canadian policies and programmes which disadvantage them. This study explores from the consumers perspective the reasons for disparate mental health service utilization between South Asian and Latin American women in Vancouver. Using a cross-sectional, exploratory, case study approach, and a feminist perspective, ten South Asian and ten Latin American women who have used mental health services were interviewed in depth. Sixty percent of the participants were survivors of violence and torture. Five Latin American women were survivors of pre-migration catastrophic stress. Their mental health needs were characterised by traumatic experiences, grieving and depression. Except for the three who were married, they had no traditional support networks. In contrast with the South Asian group they appeared to have less shame and covert behaviour. Mental illness, considered a ‘house secret’, carries great stigma in the South Asian community, and has serious ramifications for the immediate as well as the extended family. Among South Asian participants seven had been subjected to wife battering, and four of their spouses had a substance abuse problem. Their mental health needs were also triggered by traumatic experiences, grieving and depression. The more established South Asian women had extended family living in Vancouver, yet social support was still lacking. Having ‘no one to turn to’ was a pervasive theme across both groups of women; their experiences characterised by loss. Analysis of data exploring the decision to use services illustrates stages in a process of recovery from experienced violence. Post migration domestic violence and pre-migration violence have devastating, life-shattering consequences which require culturally sensitive interventions by social workers and other health care professionals. An obligatory stage in the clinical intervention process is to explore the issue of violence. Finally, policy decisions which impact upon women from ethnocultural communities in Canada must embrace a philosophy which considers well-trained, culturally-sensitive, linguistically—competent workers a priority. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

This study looks at two community mental health facilities. The one setting is that of a state aided organisation, while the other is a non-government organisation (NGO). These two settings are contrasted in terms of how they conceptualise the concept 'community', their physical settings and facilities, and the activities and processes at each setting. The differences in the day-to-day operational processes, and activities according to their respective philosophies - psychiatric medical model and ecological model - are explored and captured from the participants through utilising qualitative data gathering methods such as interviews, observations and the personal experiences of the researcher. The information obtained from each participant in both settings reflect how they think, feel and behave towards their work. This information contributes to an understanding of how community mental health clinics operate. Finally the recommendations are of how work could be done differently, making them both more community orientated. / M. A.(Clinical Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / VIGS is 'n gesondheidsprobleem wat 'n impak uitoefen op alle gebiede in die samelewing. Voorkoming is die enigste vorm van bekamping. As gevolg hiervan, word VIGS-voorkoming binne die funksies van primere gesondheidsorg geplaas. Die persoon wat die funksies van primere gesondheidsorg uitoefen, is die gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker. Binne hierdie raamwerk is die terme primere gesondheidsorg, gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker en VIGS bespreek en die onderlinge interaksie is aangetoon. Die opleiding wat die gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker op VIGS-gebied ondergaan, is meegemaak. Die prioriteite wat op nasionale, provinsiale en plaaslike vlak bestaan is deur middel van onderhoude nagevors. Die effektiwiteit van die VIGS-voorkomingsboodskap soos oorgedra deur die gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker is tydens 'n inligtingsessie van hoerskoolleerlinge bepaal. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings is in elk van bogenoemde gevalle gemaak. VIGS-voorkomingsinisiatiewe is nog in die kinderskoene in Suid-Afrika, maar het 'n belangrike rol te speel. / AIDS is a health problem that impacts on all societal spheres. Prevention is the only form of combat. Therefore, AIDS prevention falls within the functions of primary health care. The person performing these functions is the community health worker. Within this framework the terms primary health care, community health worker and AIDS were discussed and their interrelatedness illustrated. A session during which community health workers received training in aspects of AIDS was attended. Priorities existing at national, provincial and local levels were researched through interviews. The effectiveness of the community health worker in spreading the AIDS prevention message was determined during an information session for secondary school pupils. Conclusions and recommendations were made in each of these cases. AIDS prevention initiatives are still in its infancy in South Africa, but has an important role to play. / Health Studies / M.A. (Ontwikkelingsadministrasie)

This study looks at two community mental health facilities. The one setting is that of a state aided organisation, while the other is a non-government organisation (NGO). These two settings are contrasted in terms of how they conceptualise the concept 'community', their physical settings and facilities, and the activities and processes at each setting. The differences in the day-to-day operational processes, and activities according to their respective philosophies - psychiatric medical model and ecological model - are explored and captured from the participants through utilising qualitative data gathering methods such as interviews, observations and the personal experiences of the researcher. The information obtained from each participant in both settings reflect how they think, feel and behave towards their work. This information contributes to an understanding of how community mental health clinics operate. Finally the recommendations are of how work could be done differently, making them both more community orientated. / M. A.(Clinical Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / VIGS is 'n gesondheidsprobleem wat 'n impak uitoefen op alle gebiede in die samelewing. Voorkoming is die enigste vorm van bekamping. As gevolg hiervan, word VIGS-voorkoming binne die funksies van primere gesondheidsorg geplaas. Die persoon wat die funksies van primere gesondheidsorg uitoefen, is die gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker. Binne hierdie raamwerk is die terme primere gesondheidsorg, gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker en VIGS bespreek en die onderlinge interaksie is aangetoon. Die opleiding wat die gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker op VIGS-gebied ondergaan, is meegemaak. Die prioriteite wat op nasionale, provinsiale en plaaslike vlak bestaan is deur middel van onderhoude nagevors. Die effektiwiteit van die VIGS-voorkomingsboodskap soos oorgedra deur die gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker is tydens 'n inligtingsessie van hoerskoolleerlinge bepaal. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings is in elk van bogenoemde gevalle gemaak. VIGS-voorkomingsinisiatiewe is nog in die kinderskoene in Suid-Afrika, maar het 'n belangrike rol te speel. / AIDS is a health problem that impacts on all societal spheres. Prevention is the only form of combat. Therefore, AIDS prevention falls within the functions of primary health care. The person performing these functions is the community health worker. Within this framework the terms primary health care, community health worker and AIDS were discussed and their interrelatedness illustrated. A session during which community health workers received training in aspects of AIDS was attended. Priorities existing at national, provincial and local levels were researched through interviews. The effectiveness of the community health worker in spreading the AIDS prevention message was determined during an information session for secondary school pupils. Conclusions and recommendations were made in each of these cases. AIDS prevention initiatives are still in its infancy in South Africa, but has an important role to play. / Health Studies / M.A. (Ontwikkelingsadministrasie)

Text in English / Malaria is endemic throughout Uganda and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Malaria causes complications in 80.0% of all pregnancies in Uganda. This study attempted to identify factors that influence pregnant women’s utilisation of anti-malaria services in the Buikwe district of Uganda. These factors were contextualised within the Social Learning Theory’s major concepts. The target populations comprised pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (phase 1) and midwives providing antenatal services (phase 2) at 16 clinics in the Buikwe district of Uganda during the data collection phase of the study. Structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 400 randomly selected pregnant women and with the accessible population of 40 midwives. Pregnant women, who had progressed beyond primary school level education, were more likely to take intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) drugs and to use long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) to prevent malaria. Pregnant women were more likely to implement malaria-preventive actions if they lived within five kilometres of clinics, were satisfied with available health services, were knowledgeable about the malaria preventive measures and had used IPT during previous pregnancies. Pregnant women who implemented one malaria-preventive action were likely to implement other actions as well (Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.65; p<0.05). Midwives’ provision of malaria-preventive services to pregnant women were influenced by the availability of IPT drugs, accessibility of safe drinking water, frequency of giving health education to pregnant women, cooperation with village health teams, malaria-related in-service training, midwives’ education level and experience. Although 97.9% of the pregnant women had taken IPT and 84.2% of those who had received LLINs, utilised these nets, malaria prevention during pregnancy could be improved. All pregnant women should attend antenatal clinics at least four times during each pregnancy, commencing during the first trimester of pregnancy to receive adequate health education and prenatal services, including IPT and LLINs. All midwives should receive malaria-related in-service training. Regular audits of midwives’ records should identify and address strengths and weaknesses related to the prevention and management of malaria during pregnancy. Such actions could enhance the prevention and management of malaria, estimated to affect 80% of pregnant women in Uganda. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)