Studies about work ability have grown in importance owing to the worldwide aging of active populations. Research has shown that measuring work ability has a predictive value in cases of long-term sickness absence and early retirement. Our goal was to analyze the work ability and associated factors of civil servants from a higher education institution in Brazil. The participants in this cross-sectional study were 600 technical-administrative workers at a public university. Work ability was measured using the work ability index. The participants were as follows: 51.8 % male; mean age of 45 years (SD = ±11); married or in a stable union (61.5 %); holding a graduate degree (56.7 %); having only one job (83.3 %), working 40 h a week or less (78.6 %); not working evenings (79.8 %); and having direct contact with the public (58.3 %). The prevalence of reduced work ability was 13.9 %. The following factors were found to be associated with reduced work ability: age 50 years old or above (PR = 2.58; 95 % CI 1.25–5.09); female (PR = 2.77; 95 % CI 1.25–3.60); education up to secondary school (PR = 2.37; 95 % CI 1.13–3.59); overall poor self-assessed health (PR = 2.96; 95 % CI 1.32–3.93); signs and symptoms of depression (PR = 4.86; 95 % CI 2.23–6.55); sedentariness (PR = 3.00; 95 % CI 1.38–4.68) and poor social support at work (PR = 4.01; 95 % CI 1.66–4.37). Most of the participants showed good work ability, but some subjects had reduced work ability. This study makes a contribution to expanding the discussion about the factors associated with work ability toward proposing actions for maintaining that ability or helping recovery in the case of diminished ability. Such actions can help reduce work absenteeism and early retirement, both of which have a social and economic impact in Brazil. Studying the determinants of work ability and recommendations to address those determinants will help efforts to improve the quality of life of individuals, both at work and personally, and promote healthy aging.

Reliable data on cause of death (COD) are fundamental for planning and resource allocation priorities. We used GBD 2015 estimates to examine levels and trends for the leading causes of death in Brazil from 1990 to 2015. We describe the main analytical approaches focused on both overall and specific causes of death for Brazil and Brazilian states. There was an overall improvement in life expectancy at birth from 1990 to 2015, but with important heterogeneity among states. Reduced mortality due to diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, and other infectious diseases contributed the most for increasing life expectancy in most states from the North and Northeast regions. Reduced mortality due to cardiovascular diseases was the highest contributor in the South, Southeast, and Center West regions. However, among men, intentional injuries reduced life expectancy in 17 out of 27 states. Although age-standardized rates due to ischemic heart disease (IHD) and cerebrovascular disease declined over time, these remained the leading CODs in the country and states. In contrast, leading causes of premature mortality changed substantially - e.g., diarrheal diseases moved from 1st to 13th and then the 36th position in 1990, 2005, and 2015, respectively, while violence moved from 7th to 1st and to 2nd. Overall, the total age-standardized years of life lost (YLL) rate was reduced from 1990 to 2015, bringing the burden of premature deaths closer to expected rates given the country’s Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In 1990, IHD, stroke, diarrhea, neonatal preterm birth complications, road injury, and violence had ratios higher than the expected, while in 2015 only violence was higher, overall and in all states, according to the SDI. A widespread reduction of mortality levels occurred in Brazil from 1990 to 2015, particularly among children under 5 years old. Major shifts in mortality rates took place among communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disorders. The mortality profile has shifted to older ages with increases in non-communicable diseases as well as premature deaths due to violence. Policymakers should address health interventions accordingly.

Resumo O estudo objetivou investigar conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas de profissionais da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) sobre o controle do câncer do colo do útero (CCU) recomendadas pelo Ministério da Saúde (MS). Trata-se de estudo transversal, que utilizou questionário autoaplicável junto aos médicos e enfermeiros da ESF de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, em 2019. Para a análise, empregou-se os testes qui-quadrado e exato de Fisher, nível de significância 5%. Entre os 170 pesquisados, o que correspondeu a 93% dos profissionais da ESF no município, a prevalência de conhecimento adequado foi de 39,4% e teve associação com idade mais jovem e sexo feminino. A prevalência de atitude adequada foi de 59.5%, e de práticas adequadas 77,6%, ambos associados a maior tempo de graduação. A presença das diretrizes do MS nas unidades associou-se aos desfechos conhecimento e prática adequada, ratificando a importância de material de apoio para consulta dos profissionais. Apenas 28,2% dos profissionais relataram ter recebido capacitação nos últimos três anos e 50,3% realizaram ações educativas para as usuárias. Destaca-se necessidade de ações de educação permanente junto aos profissionais, visando uma atuação mais efetiva para o enfrentamento e erradicação do CCU.

Ambient temperature may lead to decompensation of cardiovascular diseases and deaths by acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Little is known about this relationship in South American countries located in regions of a hot climate. This study aims to investigate the effects of ambient temperature on mortality due to AMI in six Brazilian micro-regions, which present different climates. We analyzed daily records of deaths by AMI between 1996 and 2013. We estimated the accumulate relative and attributable risks with lags of up to 14 days, using distributed non-linear lag model. Micro-regions that were closest to the equator did not show an association between temperature and mortality. The lowest risk temperatures varied between 22 °C and 28 °C, in the Southern region of Brazil and the Midwest region, respectively. Low temperatures associated with the highest mortality risk were observed in the same areas, varying between 5 °C and 15 °C. The number of deaths attributed to cold temperatures varied from 176/year in Brasilia to 661/year in São Paulo and those deaths attributed to hot temperatures in Rio de Janeiro amounted to 115/year. We showed the relative risk and the attributable risk of warmer and colder days in tropical regions. The estimate of the number of deaths due to climate, varying according to each area, is a way of bringing information to those responsible for health policies based on easily-understood measurements.

A síndrome de burnout resulta de um processo crônico de exposição a estressores laborais. Caracteriza-se pelas dimensões exaustão emocional, despersonalização e baixa realização profissional. Profissionais de saúde são propensos a ela por lidarem diretamente com pessoas e sofrimento, o que prejudica sua saúde e o cuidado ofertado à sociedade. A atenção primária à saúde é o nível assistencial mais adjacente à comunidade, expondo os profissionais às realidades desta. Este estudo objetiva identificar a prevalência de burnout nos profissionais da atenção primária e fatores associados. Estudo transversal, realizado com 153 profissionais de saúde da atenção básica do município de Juiz de Fora, entre 2013 e 2014. Utilizou-se o Maslach Burnout Inventory para mensurar o desfecho. A prevalência da síndrome foi de 51%, destacando-se que ela foi maior entre os profissionais de enfermagem. As variáveis associadas ao desfecho após análise multivariada foram: autoavaliação do estado de saúde ruim e insatisfação no trabalho. O trabalho no nível primário de atenção é complexo e exigente, o que torna relevante atentar para a saúde e satisfação destes profissionais, visando resguardar seu bem-estar e a produção do cuidado de qualidade à sociedade.

Our objectives with this study were to describe the spatial distribution of mammographic screening coverage across small geographical areas (micro-regions) in Brazil, and to analyze whether the observed differences were associated with spatial inequities in socioeconomic conditions, provision of health care, and healthcare services utilization. We performed an area-based ecological study on mammographic screening coverage in the period of 2010-2011 regarding socioeconomic and healthcare variables. The units of analysis were the 438 health micro-regions in Brazil. Spatial regression models were used to study these relationships. There was marked variability in mammographic coverage across micro-regions (median = 21.6%; interquartile range: 8.1%-37.9%). Multivariable analyses identified high household income inequality, low number of radiologists/100,000 inhabitants, low number of mammography machines/10,000 inhabitants, and low number of mammograms performed by each machine as independent correlates of poor mammographic coverage at the micro-region level. There was evidence of strong spatial dependence of these associations, with changes in one micro-region affecting neighboring micro-regions, and also of geographical heterogeneities. There were substantial inequities in access to mammographic screening across micro-regions in Brazil, in 2010-2011, with coverage being higher in those with smaller wealth inequities and better access to health care.