Physical activity: practice this idea

Sedentary habits or insufficient activities to promote health benefits can influence the occurrence of chronic diseases. The cardiovascular risk factors arise, at least partially, from the individual-environment interaction during life, and worsen with aging and lack of physical exercise. Health promotion and prevention are among the greatest challenges of public health policies. However, physical activity turns out to be rarely recommended and, thus have a very poor adhesion. In spite of consensus about the benefits of physical activity in both primary and secondary prevention, only 32% of adults and 66% of children and adolescents, according to Healthy People 2010 guideline, practice leisure-time physical activity. Thus, the regular practice of physical activity and healthy habits require changes in basic concepts in government and social policies. The higher involvement of public and private sectors related to health and education, the more expressive would be the reduction in socioeconomic costs and the improvement in quality of life.

Antioxidant intake among Brazilian adults - The Brazilian Osteoporosis Study (BRAZOS): a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Antioxidant nutrient intake and the lesser formation of free radicals seem to contribute to chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the intake profile of the main dietary antioxidants in a representative sample of the adult Brazilian population and discuss the main consequences of a low intake of these micronutrients on overall health. Methods The sample comprised 2344 individuals aged 40 years or older from 150 cities and was based on a probabilistic sample from official data. The research was conducted through in-home interviews administered by a team trained for this purpose. Dietary intake information was obtained through 24-h recall. The Nutrition Data System for Research software program was used to analyze data on the intake of vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc, which was compared to Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Differences in intake according to sex, anthropometrics, socioeconomic status and region were also evaluated. The SPSS statistical package (version 13) was used for the statistical analysis. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results Higher proportions of low intake in relation to recommended values were found for vitamin E (99.7%), vitamin A (92.4%) and vitamin C (85.1%) in both genders. Intake variations were found between different regions, which may reflect cultural habits. Conclusion These results should lead to the development of public health policies that encourage educational strategies for improving the intake of micronutrients, which are essential to overall health and prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Factors affecting prenatal care use and pregnancy outcome in Texas: A comparative study among and within Black, Anglo, and Hispanic populations

This research project is a study in the field of public health to test the relationships of demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and biological factors with (1) prenatal care use and (2) pregnancy outcome, measured by birth weight. It has been postulated that demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors are associated with differences in the use of prenatal care services. It has also been postulated that differences in demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and biological factors result in differences in birth weight. This research attempts to test these two basic conceptual frameworks. At the same time, an attempt is made to determine the population groups and subgroups that are at increased risk (1) of using fewer prenatal care visits, and (2) of displaying a higher incidence of low birth weight babies. An understanding of these relationships of the demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and biological factors in the use of prenatal care visits and pregnancy outcome, measured by birth weight, will potentially offer guidance in the planning and policy development of maternal and child health services. The research considers four major components of maternal characteristics: (1) Demographic factors. Ethnicity, household size, maternal parity, and maternal age; (2) Socioeconomic factors. Maternal education, family income, maternal employment, health insurance coverage, and household dwelling; (3) Behavioral factors. Maternal smoking, attendance at child development classes, mother's first prenatal care visit, total number of prenatal care visits, and adequacy of care; and, (4) Biological factors. Maternal weight gain during pregnancy.^ The research considers 16 independent variables and two dependent variables.^ It was concluded that: (1) Generally, differences in demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors were associated with differences in the average number of prenatal care visits between and within population groups and subgroups. The Hispanic mothers were the lowest users of prenatal care services. (2) In some cases, differences in demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and biological factors demonstrated differences in the average birth weight of infants between and within population groups and subgroups. (3) Differences in demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and biological factors resulted in differences in the rates of low birth weight babies between and within population groups and subgroups. The Black mothers delivered the highest incidence of low birth weight infants.^ These findings could provide guidance in the formulation of public health policies such as MCH services, an increase in the use of prenatal care services by prospective mothers, resulting in reduction of the incidence of low birth weight babies, and consequently aid in reducing the rates of infant mortality. ^

Algunas reflexiones sobre el análisis de la implementación de políticas de salud a nivel local : El caso de la Atención Primaria de la Salud (APS) en el Municipio de La Plata

En este trabajo se presenta parte del enfoque tomado en una investigación sobre la dinámica involucrada en la construcción de políticas públicas en salud a través de un análisis de caso. El caso se ha construido tomado a la atención primaria de la salud como punto nodal y en particular se han considerado los procesos participativos que se supone forman parte central de ésta. Para ello se tomó como unidad de análisis a los actores directamente involucrados en implementación de acciones tendientes al fortalecimiento de la Atención Primaria de la Salud (APS) a nivel local. Se realizó un relevamiento empírico de carácter cualitativo, realizado en dos etapas, con un total de 42 entrevistas a personal de los Centros de Atención Primaria de la Salud del Municipio de La Plata. Entre las conclusiones se presenta un panorama de la dinámica inherente a la implementación de la APS, particularmente en lo que a los procesos participativos refiere, considerando lo acontecido en prácticamente una década.

Algunas reflexiones sobre el análisis de la implementación de políticas de salud a nivel local : El caso de la Atención Primaria de la Salud (APS) en el Municipio de La Plata

En este trabajo se presenta parte del enfoque tomado en una investigación sobre la dinámica involucrada en la construcción de políticas públicas en salud a través de un análisis de caso. El caso se ha construido tomado a la atención primaria de la salud como punto nodal y en particular se han considerado los procesos participativos que se supone forman parte central de ésta. Para ello se tomó como unidad de análisis a los actores directamente involucrados en implementación de acciones tendientes al fortalecimiento de la Atención Primaria de la Salud (APS) a nivel local. Se realizó un relevamiento empírico de carácter cualitativo, realizado en dos etapas, con un total de 42 entrevistas a personal de los Centros de Atención Primaria de la Salud del Municipio de La Plata. Entre las conclusiones se presenta un panorama de la dinámica inherente a la implementación de la APS, particularmente en lo que a los procesos participativos refiere, considerando lo acontecido en prácticamente una década.

Algunas reflexiones sobre el análisis de la implementación de políticas de salud a nivel local : El caso de la Atención Primaria de la Salud (APS) en el Municipio de La Plata

En este trabajo se presenta parte del enfoque tomado en una investigación sobre la dinámica involucrada en la construcción de políticas públicas en salud a través de un análisis de caso. El caso se ha construido tomado a la atención primaria de la salud como punto nodal y en particular se han considerado los procesos participativos que se supone forman parte central de ésta. Para ello se tomó como unidad de análisis a los actores directamente involucrados en implementación de acciones tendientes al fortalecimiento de la Atención Primaria de la Salud (APS) a nivel local. Se realizó un relevamiento empírico de carácter cualitativo, realizado en dos etapas, con un total de 42 entrevistas a personal de los Centros de Atención Primaria de la Salud del Municipio de La Plata. Entre las conclusiones se presenta un panorama de la dinámica inherente a la implementación de la APS, particularmente en lo que a los procesos participativos refiere, considerando lo acontecido en prácticamente una década.

Algunas reflexiones sobre el análisis de la implementación de políticas de salud a nivel local : El caso de la Atención Primaria de la Salud (APS) en el Municipio de La Plata

En este trabajo se presenta parte del enfoque tomado en una investigación sobre la dinámica involucrada en la construcción de políticas públicas en salud a través de un análisis de caso. El caso se ha construido tomado a la atención primaria de la salud como punto nodal y en particular se han considerado los procesos participativos que se supone forman parte central de ésta. Para ello se tomó como unidad de análisis a los actores directamente involucrados en implementación de acciones tendientes al fortalecimiento de la Atención Primaria de la Salud (APS) a nivel local. Se realizó un relevamiento empírico de carácter cualitativo, realizado en dos etapas, con un total de 42 entrevistas a personal de los Centros de Atención Primaria de la Salud del Municipio de La Plata. Entre las conclusiones se presenta un panorama de la dinámica inherente a la implementación de la APS, particularmente en lo que a los procesos participativos refiere, considerando lo acontecido en prácticamente una década.

A meta-avaliação como instrumento para a qualificação da avaliação de políticas públicas de saúde

Trata-se da meta-avaliação de um processo avaliativo desenvolvido por secretários e assessores técnicos municipais de uma região de saúde do estado de São Paulo, com foco nos critérios de utilidade e participação. É uma pesquisa qualitativa, cuja base empírica foi 1) o material produzido em sete oficinas realizadas com os representantes municipais, com vistas à avaliação de um aspecto da linha de cuidados em saúde sob a ótica da integralidade; e 2) as entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas com os mesmos atores após a finalização do processo avaliativo. Para a avaliação do critério de utilidade, utilizou-se principalmente o referencial de KIRKHART (2000), com o objetivo de ampliar a análise para além do uso instrumental dos achados avaliativos e focá-la na identificação de influências múltiplas exercidas por um fenômeno complexo como um processo avaliativo. A análise do critério participação se deu com base no referencial de COUSINS e WHITMORE (1998), buscando a identificação no material empírico de decisões ou aspectos contextuais que fizeram com que a opção participativa fosse aprofundada ou limitada no processo em foco. O trabalho destaca a importância de explicitar pressupostos que baseiam a metodologia da avaliação/ meta-avaliação escolhida, e a necessidade de se buscar referenciais teóricos de análise compatíveis com a opção realizada, frisando a inexistência de posturas neutras ou estudos totalmente objetivos; e a importância de capacitar avaliadores a acompanharem a demanda dos participantes de um processo participativo com a flexibilidade necessária para conferir-lhe o maior aproveitamento possível. Conclui-se pela viabilidade, com vantagens, da realização de processos participativos locais com gestores na Saúde Pública, destacando a possibilidade de ganhos em formação e o enriquecimento dos processos de negociação em nível do território, de forma coerente à política de construção das regiões de saúde no SUS.

The role of the state in health public policies: an overview of the debate on the concept of State and the Brazilian case

This article is the result of a narrative literature review. The objective is to show the development of an overview on the ideological debate on the design of state health policies. We argue that the role of the state in the development of health policy, even under the pressure of the global market, may create alternatives to promote and drive economic and social development, meaning they are not subject to economic constraints imposed by the liberal ideal of market. Here is a part of a theoretical discussion about the construction and presence of the State in Latin America, particularly in Brazil. We take the approaches of the Marxist tradition and liberal to the issue as reference. This discussion allows us to understand the historical role of the state in the maintenance of social policies, specifically health, is an alternative to public control eases the intense capital mobility promoted by economic globalization. In this sense, the theme makes the Brazilian health an important issue of social sciences, why is the historicity of the construction of the Brazilian health system, as a public policy that can mirror the actual reconstruction of the institutional framework of the Brazilian state with the establishment instances of negotiation between the various spheres of power that strengthen the state in this process of democratization of Brazilian society.

DETERMINE Working Document #1 'Policies and actions addressing the social determinants of health inequalities: examples of activity at EU member state level in Europe'

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) is a partner in the European project DETERMINE, building on its previous involvement in the Closing the Gap project in 2004-2006. In the first year of the project (2007-2008) 15 DETERMINE partners identified policies and actions that have taken place within countries, and at the EU level, to address Social Determinants of Health Inequalities. These policies and actions were identified via a questionnaire, which also identified structures and tools/mechanisms being used in the country to support a 'health in all policy' approach.

Attitudes of the public towards policies to address obesity

Key points Obesity and the related health burden is a growing problem in Ireland. Understanding public attitudes to policy interventions is important, as it provides a key indicator of the potential effectiveness of interventions and the readiness of the general public for policy implementation. The present research aimed to determine public acceptance of a range of policies to address obesity in Ireland. To this end, a survey of attitudes towards obesity-oriented policies among a nationally representative sample of the population of Irish adults was conducted. Strikingly high levels of public support were evident for a wide range of obesity-oriented interventions. The findings support prior research on behaviour change in key policy areas such as diet and smoking which demonstrates that support for interventions tends to decrease as the intrusiveness of interventions increases. Consistent with previous research, socio-demographic factors only explain a small portion (2 - 6%) of the variance in policy support. Overall, the findings indicate substantial public readiness for addressing obesity in Ireland, particularly through child-focused policies, informational measures, subsidies for healthy foods and co-operation between government and the food industry. - See more at: http://www.safefood.eu/Publications/Research-reports/Attitudes-of-the-public-towards-policies-to-addres

The drift of public spending towards the elderly: A generational analysis of the trend of public policies in Spain

The tendency for public welfare spending to be increasingly aimed at the elderly has been pointed out for the US and other developed countries. While population ageing is a common trend, it is not obvious why the shift in spending exceeds the trend in ageing, or why per capita spending on the elderly increases.We show that this is the case in Spain, identify the losers from this development, discuss the policies that underlie this trend, and propose adjustments based on Musgrave s fixed proportions rule as an inter-generationally fair distribution.