Impact of the Family Health Program on gastroenteritis in children in Bahia, Northeast Brazil: An analysis of primary care-sensitive conditions

In seeking to provide universal health care through its primary care-oriented Family Health Program, Brazil has attempted to reduce hospitalization rates for preventable illnesses such as childhood gastroenteritis. We measured rates of Primary Care-sensitive Hospitalizations and evaluated the impact...

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Main Authors: Laura J. Monahan, Gregory S. Calip, Patricia M. Novo, Mark Sherstinsky, Mildred Casiano, Eduardo Mota, Inês Dourado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2019-04-01
Series:Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125905933/view
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author Laura J. Monahan
Gregory S. Calip
Patricia M. Novo
Mark Sherstinsky
Mildred Casiano
Eduardo Mota
Inês Dourado
author_facet Laura J. Monahan
Gregory S. Calip
Patricia M. Novo
Mark Sherstinsky
Mildred Casiano
Eduardo Mota
Inês Dourado
author_sort Laura J. Monahan
collection DOAJ
description In seeking to provide universal health care through its primary care-oriented Family Health Program, Brazil has attempted to reduce hospitalization rates for preventable illnesses such as childhood gastroenteritis. We measured rates of Primary Care-sensitive Hospitalizations and evaluated the impact of the Family Health Program on pediatric gastroenteritis trends in high-poverty Northeast Brazil. We analyzed aggregated municipal-level data in time-series between years 1999–2007 from the Brazilian health system payer database and performed qualitative, in-depth key informant interviews with public health experts in municipalities in Bahia. Data were sampled for Bahia’s Salvador microregion, a population of approximately 14 million. Gastroenteritis hospitalization rates among children aged less than 5 years were evaluated. Declining hospitalization rates were associated with increasing coverage by the PSF (P = 0.02). After multivariate adjustment for garbage collection, sanitation, and water supply, evidence of this association was no longer significant (P = 0.28). Qualitative analysis confirmed these findings with a framework of health determinants, proximal causes, and health system effects. The PSF, with other public health efforts, was associated with decreasing gastroenteritis hospitalizations in children. Incentives for providers and more patient-centered health delivery may contribute to strengthening the PSF’s role in improving primary health care outcomes in Brazil.
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spelling doaj.art-001e8e7f2061413ea957fe7499cb87372022-12-22T00:49:34ZengSpringerJournal of Epidemiology and Global Health2210-60062019-04-013310.1016/j.jegh.2013.03.002Impact of the Family Health Program on gastroenteritis in children in Bahia, Northeast Brazil: An analysis of primary care-sensitive conditionsLaura J. MonahanGregory S. CalipPatricia M. NovoMark SherstinskyMildred CasianoEduardo MotaInês DouradoIn seeking to provide universal health care through its primary care-oriented Family Health Program, Brazil has attempted to reduce hospitalization rates for preventable illnesses such as childhood gastroenteritis. We measured rates of Primary Care-sensitive Hospitalizations and evaluated the impact of the Family Health Program on pediatric gastroenteritis trends in high-poverty Northeast Brazil. We analyzed aggregated municipal-level data in time-series between years 1999–2007 from the Brazilian health system payer database and performed qualitative, in-depth key informant interviews with public health experts in municipalities in Bahia. Data were sampled for Bahia’s Salvador microregion, a population of approximately 14 million. Gastroenteritis hospitalization rates among children aged less than 5 years were evaluated. Declining hospitalization rates were associated with increasing coverage by the PSF (P = 0.02). After multivariate adjustment for garbage collection, sanitation, and water supply, evidence of this association was no longer significant (P = 0.28). Qualitative analysis confirmed these findings with a framework of health determinants, proximal causes, and health system effects. The PSF, with other public health efforts, was associated with decreasing gastroenteritis hospitalizations in children. Incentives for providers and more patient-centered health delivery may contribute to strengthening the PSF’s role in improving primary health care outcomes in Brazil.https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125905933/viewFamily Health Program (Programa Saúde da Família; (PSF)National Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde; (SUS)Pediatric gastroenteritisPrimary care
spellingShingle Laura J. Monahan
Gregory S. Calip
Patricia M. Novo
Mark Sherstinsky
Mildred Casiano
Eduardo Mota
Inês Dourado
Impact of the Family Health Program on gastroenteritis in children in Bahia, Northeast Brazil: An analysis of primary care-sensitive conditions
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Family Health Program (Programa Saúde da Família; (PSF)
National Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde; (SUS)
Pediatric gastroenteritis
Primary care
title Impact of the Family Health Program on gastroenteritis in children in Bahia, Northeast Brazil: An analysis of primary care-sensitive conditions
title_full Impact of the Family Health Program on gastroenteritis in children in Bahia, Northeast Brazil: An analysis of primary care-sensitive conditions
title_fullStr Impact of the Family Health Program on gastroenteritis in children in Bahia, Northeast Brazil: An analysis of primary care-sensitive conditions
title_full_unstemmed Impact of the Family Health Program on gastroenteritis in children in Bahia, Northeast Brazil: An analysis of primary care-sensitive conditions
title_short Impact of the Family Health Program on gastroenteritis in children in Bahia, Northeast Brazil: An analysis of primary care-sensitive conditions
title_sort impact of the family health program on gastroenteritis in children in bahia northeast brazil an analysis of primary care sensitive conditions
topic Family Health Program (Programa Saúde da Família; (PSF)
National Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde; (SUS)
Pediatric gastroenteritis
Primary care
url https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125905933/view
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