Effectiveness of the law on priority for the elderly in health claims in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The growth of older adults is a global event. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the law on priority for the elderly in relation to the procedural processing of health claims made in the Lower Courts of Justice of the judicial district of the Capital of Rio de Janeiro State. A descriptive cross-sectional study of the proceedings assigned in the period from 2018 to 2019 was conducted. The total sample included 1,040 identified cases, but only 240 were eligible (23%). Most claims were related to home care services (26.3%), particularly for adults aged 80 years and over (54.7%). The legal effectiveness of the law for the 60- to 79-year-old age group was 86% and 97.3% for other elderly people. The processing time of the lawsuits, however, was shorter for mature adults than for older people (p=0,020) and similar between older adults aged 80 years or above and other elderly adults (p=0,400). Monitoring the impact of this law on society is essential, older people are at a stage of life in which the issue of time is essential, particularly when the claim is related to health.

What does a doctor need to know about breastfeeding and adolescent health and pregnancy?

“…Comprehensive adolescent health care (AISA) should offer periodic routine and occasional care, when the situation requires it, in order to work on issues related to the prevention of injuries and health promotion, recognizing risk behaviors and/or signs/symptoms that may denote the onset of some disease. The actions of this service should be aimed at reducing vulnerability and risks to physical and emotional health; promoting relationships of trust and self-care; preventing injury and manifesting diseases in adults, but with early onset, diseases related to unprotected sexual activity; and questioning about work, school, citizenship, technology, digital addiction, environment, nutritional aspects, and violence 27 , 28 .…”

“…The AISA should be extended to the entire population aged between 10 and 20 years, with longitudinal and distinct follow-up between the different stages, to be carried out through individualized outpatient care, home visits, and participation in educational groups with the following objectives general: monitor physical growth and development; expand vaccination coverage; promote sexual and reproductive health; promote food and nutrition education; promote safety and accident prevention; promote the prevention of intentional injuries in the home, school, and interpersonal environment; encourage health promotion and prevention of the most common diseases in this age group; promote physical and mental hygiene and the practice of leisure activities appropriate to each phase; and provide socialization, cultural stimulation, and adaptation of adolescents. In this age group, pregnancy is still considered a social and public health problem 28-31 in their social environment, promoting oral health 27 – 30 .…”

“…In 10 years, the number of births in children under 19 years in Brazil has decreased by about 40%, but the teenage pregnancy rate is still high, with more than 400,000 pregnant women per year. Only 2% of teenagers who became pregnant continued their studies 27 – 30 .…”

“…For the teenage mother, complications and severity will be greater or lesser according to age, parity, adherence to prenatal care, weight gain, and socioeconomic and cultural factors. The physical consequences are hypertension; anemia, resulting from situations of poverty, malnutrition, chronic malnutrition, and inadequate diet to avoid gaining weight; higher rate of cesareans; urinary and genital infections; maternal mortality (risk increases the lower the chronological age and with successive pregnancies at short intervals); spontaneous and clandestine abortions; toxemia; and dystocia, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) 27 – 30 .…”

“…As psychosocial consequences, there is emotional tension, family rejection that increases the probability of developing physical and mental problems; loss of autonomy; partner abandonment; low schooling, associated with low socioeconomic status, being the cause of higher absenteeism in prenatal care; difficulty in returning to school after childbirth due to the fragile support network; and dreams interrupted by the lack of preparation for work, as many drop out of school when they become pregnant and, therefore, lose the opportunity to acquire knowledge and enter the job market 27 – 30 .…”