Oral health care and health decentralization in Brazil: two case studies in Bahia State

A comparative case study was performed in two selected municipalities in the State of Bahia, Brazil, to discuss the relationship between health system decentralization and characteristics of oral health services. A logical model was developed and submitted to an expert panel. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, field observation, and analysis of secondary data from the national Health System database. The results point to the influence of municipal government characteristics on oral health practice. One municipality was classified as having an intermediate standard of oral health system implementation (50%), while the other showed only 11% implementation. The study showed that the decentralization process has not been accompanied by an effort to improve management capacity in the local oral health services, despite the transfer of funds to this area.     

Decision-making process and administrative practice: managing the State Health Secretariat in Bahia, Brazil

This case study is based on research performed by the Bahia State Health Secretariat (SESAB), aimed at analyzing management practices during the implementation of a State government administrative reform. The institutional agenda shows evidence of limited participation by civil society and technical and operational staff in problem selection and prioritization, resulting from a work process pressured by high-level executive government staff. Decisions regarding "output" (projects, services, and activities) were made under the responsibility of subordinate operational levels and did not appear as issues in the institutional routine. Concerns related to "input" (financial and human resources) consumed most of the high-level efforts, with internal and external negotiations and compromises to assure access to them. Meanwhile the possible "outcome", namely public health status, represents the "occult subject" of the institutional discourse. Information emerges in institutional disputes as a technical "power resource" in its medical, epidemiological, health, and administrative dimensions. The issue of government "representation" and allied interests is based on ideological dispositions and authoritarian practices, thus contradicting the need for management transparency and modernization.     

Self-rated health and associated factors in adults: a population survey in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil, 2007-2008

The subjective concept of health included in the self-rated health process allows identifying factors associated with good self-rated health in populations. This cross-sectional population-based study in 2007-2008 focused on self-rated health and associated factors among adults (n = 1,516) in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil. The multivariate analysis used Poisson regression, with fair/poor self-rated health as the dependent variable. Differences in gender, age group, level of schooling, and income negatively affected individuals' self-rated health. After adjusting for age, gender, and self-reported illness, the estimated risks for fair/poor health were higher for the unemployed, obese, and those with some self-reported illness. The results suggest that differences in living conditions for adults in Rio Branco are associated with precarious self-rated health.     

Critical issues for implementing oral health policy in the city of Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil

This study focuses on policy implementation by public organizations. This was a qualitative, exploratory case study focusing on Brazil's National Oral Health Policy, known as "Smiling Brazil", implemented in Salvador, the State capital of Bahia. The study aimed to identify factors that facilitated or hindered the policy's implementation, based on the public policy cycle and Carlos Matus' government triangle concept, for the period from 2004 to 2007. Data collection strategies included analysis of municipal documents, interviews with key informants, and direct observation of top management meetings at the Municipal Health Secretariat. The main factors that hindered implementation of the municipal oral health policy were the project's lack of specificity; lack of human resources; and lack of financial autonomy in the Municipal Health Secretariat. The study showed that the lack of connection between the variables comprising the government triangle raised obstacles to the implementation of oral health policy in Salvador.     

Trends in hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, 1998-2009

Respiratory diseases are the leading cause of hospitalizations in Brazil (excluding hospital admissions related to childbirth, pregnancy, and postpartum). To analyze the trend and seasonality of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, 1998-2009, a time trend study was performed using simple linear regression. Hospitalization rates for all respiratory diseases and specifically for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia were calculated by year and age group. Hospitalizations for all respiratory diseases decreased by 45.6% (β = -2.2; p < 0.001); those due to asthma showed the largest decline (annual average 1.2/10,000), pneumonia showed the largest reduction until 2002, subsequently tending to stabilize, and COPD remained unchanged. The under-5-year age group showed the largest decline in hospitalizations for all respiratory diseases. There was no seasonality in hospitalizations for COPD. There was a reduction in the burden of hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases in Salvador, mainly due to the drop in asthma and pneumonia in children < 5 years. However, the city still has hospitalization rates for respiratory diseases that are higher than in other large Brazilian cities.     

Evaluation of primary care coverage in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil (2000 to 2007)

In order to test a method for evaluating coverage of primary healthcare services in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil (2000-2007), a study of spatial and temporal clusters was performed, with the city and its 12 health districts as the analytical units. The real and potential coverage rates were estimated for various primary care procedures. Estimation of coverage rates used both the Ministry of Health guideline and a second standard aimed at establishing an approximation to the population's health needs. The data were obtained from the Outpatient Information System of the Unified National Health System (SIA-SUS). Low coverage rates were observed, despite a slight increase in real coverage for medical consultations (7.8%) and basic nursing care (66.7%). Meanwhile, dental consultations showed a 40% reduction. The study discussed the possibilities for using the methodology to monitor coverage and its limitations given the deficiencies in the information systems.     

Social inequalities and the rise in violent deaths in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil: 2000-2006

An ecological study was carried out using information zones as units of analysis in order to assess the evolution of socio-spatial inequalities in mortality due to external causes and homicides in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, in 2000 and 2006. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística--IBGE) and the City Health Department (Secretaria Municipal de Saúde) provided the data sources, and causes of death were reviewed and reclassified based on reports from the Institute of Legal Medicine (Instituto Médico Legal). The information zones were classified into four social strata according to income and schooling. The ratio between mortality rates (inequality ratio) was calculated and confirmed a rise of 98.5% in the homicide rate. In 2000, the risk of death due to external causes and murders in the stratum with the worst living conditions was respectively 1.40 and 1.94 times greater than in the reference stratum. In 2006 these figures were 2.02 and 2.24. The authors discuss the implications for inter-sectoral public policies, based on evidence from the study's findings.     

The physician-patient relationship under the Family Health Program in three municipalities in Bahia State, Brazil

This study discusses the physician-patient relationship under the Family Health Program (FHP) in Bahia State, Brazil. Assuming that the physician-patient relationship is influenced by macro and micro-contextual factors, we linked health surveillance and the ecological model of human development, both influenced by contextualism. The methodological strategies included: a census of FHP physicians in Bahia and direct observation of consultations by 20 physicians in three municipalities (counties). There were significant differences in the implementation of the FHP in the three municipalities, with an impact on the physician-patient relationship. As for orientation of clinical practice, health surveillance has not been incorporated by the physicians observed in this study. According to the micro-contextual analysis, health problems were frequently not treated in a contextualized way. FHP guidelines, when incorporated by the municipalities, produce differences in care as observed in the physician-patient relationship. The health surveillance approach, reported as a tool for collective work, proves efficient for describing, evaluating, and improving the FHP, and this study concludes that it is a powerful conceptual tool for dealing with the physician-patient relationship.     

Inter-sector social mobilization for dengue control in Bahia State, Brazil

Discussions on the health-disease process and health promotion indicate the need to reach beyond the limits of the health sector itself to link knowledge from various fields in order to promote better health conditions for the population. Inter-sector approaches have thus emerged as a new rationale for guiding public policies. This study aimed to analyze the implementation of inter-sector actions in social mobilization for dengue control in Bahia State, Brazil, from 2008 to 2009, using evaluative research. A log frame was developed to define criteria for assessing the degree of implementation of the above-mentioned actions (implemented; partially implemented; not implemented). The results identified political support from government agencies as the main positive factor for inter-sector practices. Barriers included the concentration of responsibilities in a single sector and lack of planning as a work tool. The results emphasize inter-sector linkage as a persistent challenge.     

Meanings and practices associated with health and illness among the homeless in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil

This article aimed to analyze the practices and meanings associated with health and illness among homeless people in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil. A qualitative anthropological study was conducted with participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 13 subjects 30 to 66 years of age. The results point to extremely precarious living and health conditions among the homeless. The narratives emphasize frequent violence. The main health problems were substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, mental disorders, and dental, dermatological, and gastrointestinal problems. Among other meanings, health was associated with the capacity to cope with everyday difficulties. Meanwhile, illness was identified as a state of weakness that hindered the struggle for survival. Homeless people only turned to health services when their health problems were serious and urgent. In conclusion, the study showed the need for specific policies to improve living conditions and access to healthcare for this population.     

The political and administrative context of the implementation of Health Districts in the State of Bahia, Brazil

This investigation was conducted in order to determine the political and administrative context prevailing during the implementation of health districts in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The documentary review includes laws, agreements, and contracts at the State and Federal levels from 1987 to 1989. This period corresponded to the first phase of the State government after the 1986 elections. Information was also obtained from key informants and former directors of the State Secretariat of Health at the central level. We describe how the policy for regionalization by territory and population was formulated, and we review both State and national planning procedures, identifying the events leading to the decision to create health districts. We list the political instruments related to this decision and analyze the positions of the various actors in the Brazilian Health System in relation to this strategic choice. Brief comments are given about the difficulties faced by this proposal during the period studied.     

Professional practices in public dental healthcare: case study of two municipal districts, Bahia State, Brazil

This paper examines the working facilities and processes of dentists in the primary healthcare systems of two towns in Bahia State, Brazil, striving to analyze the extent to which factors related to dental care, training, placement and professional profiles influence their practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine dentists in both towns, with work process organization patterns in Municipality C being closer to the structuring principles of Brazil's National Health System than in Municipality E. This seems to be related to management characteristics, with networking links among individual, collective, and preventive clinical activities and planning noted in Municipality C. Despite these differences, the practitioners presented similarities in terms of dual militancy and perceptions of the public and private healthcare fields. The hegemony of the private sector seems to be influencing the professional practices of dentists in the public health system.     

Prevalence of overweight and associated factors in adults: a population survey in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil, 2007-2008

Population studies in Brazil have shown an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in adult populations in all regions of the country. The objective was to estimate prevalence and identify risk factors associated with overweight among adults in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil. The study included a cross-sectional population-based sample of 1,469 adults. Multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression, taking overweight (BMI > 25kg/m2) as the dependent variable. Prevalence of overweight was 46.9%, higher among women. Overweight tended to increase with age in both men and women. Overweight was associated with socioeconomic, demographic, and morbidity variables such as hypertension and dyslipidemia. The high prevalence of overweight in adults of both sexes suggests a public health problem. Control measures and prevention of health risks associated with excess weight are necessary.     

2007～2008年血液科住院患者医院感染分析

目的 通过对2007～2008年血液科住院患者医院感染分析,了解病原菌分布情况,指导临床经验性用药.方法 对医院血液科2007年1月～2008年8月住院患者中临床分离出病原菌的分布情况进行分析.结果 在各种培养物阳性100例菌株中,革兰阴性菌占52%,革兰阳性菌占35%,真菌占13%,血培养阳性率为36%,痰培养阳性率为27%,尿培养阳性率为21%,分泌物,咽拭子及便培养阳性率分别为7%、6%、3%,引起感染病原菌中排列前3位的分别为大肠埃希菌、表皮葡萄球菌、肺炎克雷伯菌.结论 2007～2008年医院血液科住院患者医院感染的致病菌以革兰阴性杆菌为主,临床上在细菌培养结果 出来前建议用以革兰阴性菌为主,兼顾革兰阳性菌的广谱抗菌活性强的抗菌药物.     

The dynamics of mental health care: health professionals' signs, meanings, and practices in a Center for Psychosocial Care in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil

This article analyzes the system of signs, meanings, and practices concerning mental health used by health professionals at a Center for Psychosocial Care (CAPS) in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil. A nine-month ethnographic observation was conducted at the center, complimented by interviews and focus groups involving all staff with university and secondary schooling. Three models of care coexist at the center: the humanized biomedical model; the psychosocial model, with an emphasis on the institution; and the psychosocial model, with an emphasis on the territory, thus highlighting elements of conflict between professionals in their perception of the desired psychiatric reform and the practices to be adopted in this perspective. When compared to the asylum-based model, there is unquestionable evidence of a transformation in the care provided, mainly based on a "clinic of encounter", rooted in questioning, thinking-through, and experimenting dialogical interpersonal relationships as well as the ability to listen to the other, which explains the clinical and social impact of this approach.     

Spatial analysis of neonatal mortality and associated factors in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, 2000-2006

An ecological study was performed to identify patterns in the spatial distribution of neonatal mortality and risk areas as well as associated factors in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, 2000-2006. A thematic map was constructed, and techniques were used for formal assessment of spatial dependence. No spatial and spatial regression models were used to assess possible relationships between selected factors and spatial distribution of neonatal mortality. Spatial autocorrelation was observed in neonatal mortality (I = 0.17; p = 0.0100), so its distribution was non-random. The analysis showed a spatial pattern in which the highest risk (> 9.0/1,000 live births) was concentrated in the downtown areas and peripheral neighborhoods with the highest concentration of low-income families, and this was associated with the target risk factors. The proportion of low birth weight newborns was the only variable that was significantly associated with neonatal mortality. Living conditions may have contributed to the uneven spatial distribution of neonatal mortality in this city.     

Conflicting situations in the reception of oral health teams from the Family Health Program in Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brazil

The study discusses the conflicting situations that arise while receiving oral health teams in Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brazil. The main orientation for the Family Health Program is based on analyzing health care work flowcharts. The current qualitative research used semi-structured interviews and practical observation as the data collection techniques. There were 17 study subjects: group I (dentists and dental assistants - 6); group II (other health workers - 6); and group III (users - 5). Users' first contact with the family health team is in the reception, often in a tense and conflicting atmosphere, but with the potential for alternatives for change, as a privileged space for the use of low-key technologies. The therapeutic process varies: e.g. clinical consultation, emergency care, scheduled follow-up, and referral to other health services in the system. However, oral health teams conduct the reception process in different ways, depending on the practitioners' commitment and unique characteristics.