The aim of this study was to describe quality indicators for prenatal care in Brazil as part of the Program for the Improvement of Access and Quality (PMAQ-AB). The study analyzed number of prenatal visits, vaccination status, prescription of ferrous sulfate, physical examination, orientation, and laboratory tests, based on which a summary quality indicator was constructed. Data were collected in 2012-2013 during interviews conducted by External Evaluators of the PMAQ-AB, with 6,125 users who had done their last prenatal follow-up in Family Health units. During prenatal follow-up, 89% reported six or more visits, more than 95% received a tetanus booster and prescription of ferrous sulfate, 24% reported having received all the procedures in the physical examination, 60% received all the orientation, and 69% had all the recommended laboratory tests. Only 15% of interviewees had received adequate prenatal care, including all the recommended measures, and there was a significantly higher proportion of "complete" care in pregnant women that were older, with higher income, in the Southeast region of Brazil, in municipalities with more than 300,000 inhabitants, and in those with (HDI) in the upper quartile. There are persist social and individual inequalities that can be targeted by measures to upgrade the teams' work processes.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyze the association between the socioeconomic characteristics and the access to or use of health services among older adults.METHODS This is a systematic review of the literature. The search has been carried out in the databases PubMed, LILACS and Web of Science, without restriction of dates and languages; however we have included only articles published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The inclusion criteria were: observational design, socioeconomic factors as variables of interest in the analysis of the access to or use of health services among older adults, representative sample of the target population, adjustment for confounding factors, and no selection bias.RESULTS We have found 5,096 articles after deleting duplicates and 36 of them have been selected for review after the process of reading and evaluating the inclusion criteria. Higher income and education have been associated with the use and access to medical appointments in developing countries and some developed countries. The same association has been observed in dental appointments in all countries. Most studies have shown no association between socioeconomic characteristics and the use of inpatient and emergency services. We have identified greater use of home visits in lower-income individuals, with the exception of the United States.CONCLUSIONS We have observed an unequal access to or use of health services in most countries, varying according to the type of service used. The expansion of the health care coverage is necessary to reduce this unequal access generated by social inequities.

Objectives: to outline and examine the adequacy of the structure and processes used by Access and Quality Improvement Program (PMAQ-AB)

Objective: to analyze the Family Health Strategy (FHS) coverage time trend in Brazil, its Regions and Federative Units (FUs) from 2006-2016. Methods: this was an ecological study with time series analysis of Ministry of Health Primary Care Department data; Prais-Winsten regression was used. Results: FHS coverage in Brazil in 2006 and 2016 was 45.3% and 64.0%, respectively, with an increasing trend of coverage (annual variation = 8.4%: 95%CI 7.4;9.3); all five regions showed an increasing trend in coverage, as did the majority of FUs, with the exception of Roraima, Amapá, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba, which showed stability; in 2016, 14 FUs had coverage of between 75 and 100%, and 11 had coverage of between 50 and 74,9%; coverage in São Paulo and the Federal District was below 50%. Conclusion: although, overall, FHS coverage increased, 13 FUs had coverage below 75% in 2016; therefore, more efforts are needed to universalize FHS coverage.

OBJECTIVE Evaluate the association of multimorbidity, primary health care model and possession of a private health plan with hospitalization.METHODS A population-based cross-sectional study with 1,593 elderly individuals (60 years old or older) living in the urban area of the city of Bagé, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The outcome was hospitalization in the year preceding the interview. The multimorbidity was evaluated through two cut-off points (≥ 2 and ≥ 3). The primary health care model was defined by residence in areas covered by traditional care or by Family Health Strategy. The older adults mentioned the possession of a private health plan. We performed a gross and adjusted analysis by Poisson regression using a hierarchical model. The adjustment included demographic, socioeconomic, functional capacity disability and health services variables.RESULTS The occurrence of overall and non-surgical hospitalization was 17.7% (95%CI 15.8–19.6) and 10.6% (95%CI 9.1–12.1), respectively. Older adults with multimorbidity were admitted to hospitals more often when to older adults without multimorbidity, regardless of the exhibition’ form of operation. Having a private health plan increased the hospitalization by 1.71 (95%CI 1.09–2.69) times among residents in the areas of the Family Health Strategy when compared to elderly residents in traditional areas without a private health plan.CONCLUSIONS The multimorbidity increased the occurrence of hospitalizations, especially non-surgical ones. Hospitalization was more frequent in older adults with private health plan and those living in Family Health Strategy areas, regardless of the presence of multiple diseases.

This study assessed the prevalence of depression and associated factors among Brazilian elderly in Arroio Trinta, Southern Brazil. During home visits, a questionnaire was administered to all people aged 60 or older living in the municipality in 2013. The Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-15) was used. The χ 2 test was performed to compare proportions and Poisson regression with robust adjustment of variance in the multivariate analysis. The effect measure applied was the prevalence ratio. The prevalence of depression among 552 (out of 568) elderly studied was 20.4% (95%CI 17.3 - 23.8). An adjusted analysis conducted according to a predefined hierarchical model showed higher prevalence ratios of depression among females, single people, those with lower household income, smokers, and those who had been hospitalized in the 12 months preceding the interview. Engaging in leisure-time activities such as dances and religious activities or regular physical activity were protective factors for depression. Results from this study demonstrate the need of proper treatment and management of this condition at the community level.

actions aimed at the reproductive period and chronic morbidities were the focus of primary care. FHS implementation strengthens health promotion.

OBJECTIVETo assess the inequalities in access, utilization, and quality of health care services according to the socioeconomic status.METHODSThis population-based cross-sectional study evaluated 2,927 individuals aged ≥ 20 years living in Pelotas, RS, Southern Brazil, in 2012. The associations between socioeconomic indicators and the following outcomes were evaluated: lack of access to health services, utilization of services, waiting period (in days) for assistance, and waiting time (in hours) in lines. We used Poisson regression for the crude and adjusted analyses.RESULTSThe lack of access to health services was reported by 6.5% of the individuals who sought health care. The prevalence of use of health care services in the 30 days prior to the interview was 29.3%. Of these, 26.4% waited five days or more to receive care and 32.1% waited at least an hour in lines. Approximately 50.0% of the health care services were funded through the Unified Health System. The use of health care services was similar across socioeconomic groups. The lack of access to health care services and waiting time in lines were higher among individuals of lower economic status, even after adjusting for health care needs. The waiting period to receive care was higher among those with higher socioeconomic status.CONCLUSIONSAlthough no differences were observed in the use of health care services across socioeconomic groups, inequalities were evident in the access to and quality of these services.