Evaluation of the Maternal Health Indicators: An Ecological Study from 2000 to 2014

The aiming of this worksheet is to evaluate and to compare the quantity of prenatal appointment indicators;childbirth by kind of delivery;maternal mortality coefficient and maternal deaths number. It is about an ecological, descriptive and analytical study, made through the appreciation of secondary data related to the maternal mortality in Rio Grande do Norte, from 2000 to 2014. To that, it was used information from SISPACTO to compare real data to the estimated goals. The results show that there was an increase on the number of women who performed seven or more prenatal queries, in turn, there was an increase of alive newborns through cesarean, moreover, it is observed an oscillation on the maternal deaths number by residence during the studied period, achieving superior values to the agreed goals during the last two analyzed years. It is concluded that the maternal health, in Rio Grande do Norte, negative indicators are being presented concerning the maternal mortality, in spite of presenting an improvement on the prenatal access.

Pró-Saúde and PET-Saúde in the Context of Reorientation Policy of Health Professions Training

The health education has been a topic discussed throughout Brazil, as the country is experiencing a period of expansion of higher education and it needs to give quality. So they were implanted two federal programs to allow that health students to approach their professional reality to make them capable of full mode. The paper aims to discuss the experience of the participating members of these programs for professional reorientation. The study is exploratory and descriptive conducted with participants of the programs in the city of Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, in the year 2014. This study aims to present an experience report from the experience of the mentors in Reorientation National Program for Health Professional Training (Pró-Saúde), associated with the Labor Education Program for Health (PET-Saúde) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)/Sciences College of Trairi (FACISA), with emphasis on the reorientation of professional practice, provided by integrating teaching-service and community as well as exchange of knowledge between tutors, mentors and students participating in the project, from the development of interdisciplinary activities, giving the opportunity to reflect on these actions and services offered based on the epidemiological analysis provided by research, intervening in this reality.

Report on the Educational Process for the Promotion of Health of Women Attended in a Reference Center of Social Assistance

This article discusses one experienced by students and preceptors of Programs Pro-Pet-Health and Health of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte/Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairí in the Reference Center for Social Assistance (CRAS) in the municipality of experience Santa Cruz/RN, with a view to the relationship between preventive health activities and social assistance. The proposed work of Pro-Pet in the assistance unit sought to unravel the lifestyle of the target audience in order to know the risk factors and suggest the adoption of health measures for disease prevention. Work to guide the educational process for health promotion with socioeconomic and cultural contextualization built on scientific papers surveyed in Lilacs and Scielo data was used. On average, 12 women aged between 35 and 60 years participated in the group. Eight group sessions occurred in the period from March to May 2014. Regarding work methodologies, we used dynamic integration and self-knowledge;dialogued lectures;lectures;reports of experiences;thematic workshops;educational videos;wheels conversation complemented by the use of texts and poems;as well as application of the checklist in conducting health and anthropometry. The experience helped identify the characteristics of the group and plan understandable and meaningful guidance for women, facilitating the understanding of the importance of self-care in preventing disease.

Assessment of the Accessibility of Users in Primary Health Care

Objectives: The goal of this project was to evaluate the quality of the accessibility of the adult population to services in Primary Health Care, with a view to contribute to the development of measures that will propose improvement in the offered assistance. Methods: This is a quantitative and evaluative study made in the municipality of Santa Cruz, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with a sample of 180 people. The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte under Opinion number 152/2012. Results: It was found that the adult population classified the quality of care from regular to good, showing an association with the waiting time, time spent from the unit to one’s house and the reception. Conclusions: It could be concluded that this study contributes to the development of strategies able to provide a full and equitable care to the adult population in the primary health care network, since this is the gateway to other levels of care, because it aims to promote adult health and prevent diseases.

Implementation of Quick HIV Tests in a Basic Health Unit in the Town of Santa Cruz-RN:Experiment Experienced by the PRO/PET-Saude Students

This article is about a report of the experiment of PRO/PET-Saúde students in the anti-HIV tests implementation in the town of Santa Cruz-RN. The goal is to report the importance and discuss the aspects of the moment experienced above inside the basic health unit in the town of Santa Cruz-RN. The experience occurred in the months from February to March 2014 and they were conducted within 8 hours per week. This way, it is observed that the period lived made possible great reflection about the making of the examination in the pre-natal appointment routines, cataloguing challenges which come up during their adequacy within the services. Lastly, the action developed aimed for the aggregation of an active learning process in the search for a critical sense in the experienced practice, allowing and prioritizing the basic health unit as a scope of reference and counter-reference in the public health service, increasing concrete answers and the needs of the population, guaranteeing an adequate service delivery and strengthening the SUS more and more. The insertion of students through the PRO/PET-Saúde-Rede Cegonha enables a reorientation of professional formation, from the integration between service and teaching.

Assessment of Comprehensive Health Care of the Elderly in Primary Health Care

Objective: To assess comprehensive care in the elderly population, as well as the quality of care in Primary Health Care. Methods: This is an exploratory descriptive study with a quantitative approach, conducted from July to December 2012, in the city of Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. A sample of 130 subjects chosen by drawn was calculated, and data collection was performed at their homes. Results: There were interviewed 130 people, 92 (70.8%) women and 38 men (29.2%), with a minimum age of 60 and maximum of 96 years, with a mean of 72.8, median of 72.0 and a standard deviation of 8.3. Regarding the quality of care ratings of the PHC team, 48.5% (n = 63) of respondents stated this to be good, while 32.3% (n = 42) rated this as fair. Conclusions: In this perspective, one of the most appreciated meanings that were given to comprehensive care by health care professionals refers to holistic knowledge of each patient, resulting in the non-fragmentation of care. Thus, it is noticed that comprehensiveness has some weaknesses that need to be corrected, which shows the need for education and training of professionals assigned to primary health care services.

Evaluation of Child Health by Basic Indicators of Health:Historical Series 2005-2014

The continuous assessment of child health services generates knowledge about the real needs of health services and actions in order to achieve better results and indicators. Thus, this study proposes to analyze child health indicators, based on the information systems of health services. This is a descriptive, ecological epidemiological study carried out using secondary data from the following information systems: Information System on Live Births and Mortality Information System, in a historical series of ten years (2005-2014) of the state of Rio Grande do Norte and its health micro regions. It was observed a decrease in infant, neonatal, preterm, late neonatal and postnatal mortality coefficients when compared to the first and last year of the observed period, as well as the concentration of these in micro-regions of health. There was also a positive association between the early neonatal component and infant death. In this perspective, it is important to evaluate the quality of prenatal care, childbirth, puerperium, the first week of integral health and follow-up of the child’s growth and development, as well as to relate the socio-demographic conditions that may be associated with infant morbimortality. Therefore, the importance of situational health assessment studies for the effectiveness of care provided is highlighted, identifying weaknesses and monitoring the effectiveness of strategies.

Quality of Service to Users of Primary Health Care:A Study of Evaluation

The quality of service to people in Primary Healthcare (PHC) is linked to the provision of quality service by professionals who integrate this service in the community. Accordingly, this study aims to evaluate the service given by health professionals in primary health care, from the user’s perception. This is an evaluative and quantitative study, conducted with people who use the PHC service. 180 adults are interviewed in the city of Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The results show that most respondents are women. The average age is of 36.65, median of 34.00 and standard deviation of 11,554. With regards to the quality of service, it ranges from fair to good. When performing correlation between the quality of service and time spent to reach the service, most people say that they spend between 0 and 15 minutes from their house to the healthcare service unit. About reception, respondents reported being satisfied and that the service has been responsible and quality for health monitoring. Thus, it is noted that the user classifies the quality of the service in primary healthcare as regular, showing weaknesses that need to be corrected to prevent damage in service provision in Primary Healthcare.

Evaluation of Quality Care for Senior Citizens in Primary Health Care

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality care received by senior citizens in Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Unified Health System, with the objectives of contributing with the comprehensive implementation of humanized conduct and actions for this part of the population. Methods: This is a descriptive-exploratory study with a quantitative approach that was conducted in the city of Santa Cruz, which is located in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, with a population of 130 senior citizens. The research was approved by the Committee for Ethics in Research at the Federal University at Rio Grande do Norte under protocol 152/2012. Results: In the results, the classification of the PHC services varied from good to reasonable. Regarding the assistance offered to the aging and comprehensive care, there were failures in accordance with how it’s recommended in the National Healthcare System. This concludes, through the perspective of the elderly user, the need for the reformulation of the activities which are offered to this population and therefore the implementation of conduct for better service in the area of Primary Health Care.

Advances in the Health Training Process Quality:Links between Education,Service and Community

This study proposes to discuss the experience lived by Pró-Saúde and PET-Saúde team of FACISA/ UFRN together with the Municipal Health Department of Santa Cruz/RN from a critical-reflexive perspective about the interaction between education, service and community as well as advances in approach and the strengthening between the school and Primary Health Care. This is an exploratory study with an experience report approach of the Pró-Saúde and PET-Saúde team from 2012 to 2014. The integration of these programs in experimental scenarios of the Unified Health System and the strengthening of the proposed training of human resources capable of the current healthcare system were observed. Thus, contributions in health in undergraduate courses and practices of health services are important, since the approach to the reality of the population and their social needs contribute to the vocational training quality.

Clinical Follow-Up Nursing Quality in Child Health

Objective: The present work aims to evaluate the impact of the activities of nursing consultations on health conditions of children served in Clínica de Enfermagem Salvando Vidas com Educa??o. Methods: This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, realized from January through December 2012, at the Clínica de Enfermagem (Nursing Clinic), in the Santa Cruz County, Rio Grande do Norte’s countryside, Brazil. Results: The obtained results showed a significant correlation between the type of pathology and final treatment proven by the value of p = 0.000;as for assessed 60%, more than half were discharged;the most prevalent diseases were the association between cutaneous and gastric with 11% who were discharged and, lastly, the association between gastric and respiratory with 7% discharged. Conclusion: Thus, the activities developed by the project are not restricted to the examination during the nursing consultation, since educational activities are planned from the data obtained in those consultations.

Oral Health and Self-Perception in the Elderly

Background: Investigating self-perception of oral health among the elderly may contribute towards changing public health and assistance policies in the area. Methods: The present study assessed the oral health status (tooth decay, need for treatment, periodontal status, use of and need for dental prosthesis, soft tissue alterations and self-perception of oral health) of 102 elderly people from two community groups in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil. Results: Mean age was 69.9 years and 82.4% were female. Mean DMFT was 30.17 with a predominant missing component;63.7% were edentulous. Regarding prosthesis, 29.4% and 67.6% of elderly patients did not use upper and lower dentures respectively, while 66.7% and 78.4% required some type of upper and lower prosthesis respectively. Among valid sextants, 44.3% presented dental calculus and 34.3% presented loss of attachment from 6 to 8 mm. Soft tissue alterations were found in 58.8%. Despite of precarious clinical conditions and dental treatment needs, good oral health perception was found (49%), as well as satisfaction with the appearance of teeth and gums (60.8%). Conclusion: Subjects displayed unsatisfactory oral health conditions, accumulated over time and resulting from the lack of policies favoring this age group. There is a need for oral rehabilitation that enables the recovery of function and esthetics among the elderly, restoring their self-esteem and improving social interaction.

Painful Symptomatology Reported by Dentistry Students at a Brazilian University

Objectives: Identification of the level of knowledge on ergonomics principles, and application of these by dentistry students to investigate whether painful symptomatology was experienced. An-other objective is the expansion of discussions on occupational health in academic settings. Study Design and Settings: Dentistry students of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (n = 148) were surveyed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire to determine the severity of musculoskeletal symptoms experienced. Data were analyzed through EpiInfo 7.0 to measure central trends and variability 5for quantitative variables, absolute and relative frequencies for categorical variables, and significance between groups (confidence intervals and chisquare). Association analysis (Pearson) was also carried out. Results: Ergonomic measures were not reported by students. Within the musculoskeletal symptoms described, females were the most affected, independent of academic level. Conclusions: Positive correlations were verified between all categories and all anatomic regions (e.g., neck, lower back, wrists, hands, and shoulders). Data suggest progressive worsening of symptoms, which will eventually result in leaves of absence.

Senior Citizens’Cultural Activity and Participation in Community Life

Objective: This study has the objective to know the cultural activities of the senior citizen and their participation in community life as encouraged by Primary Health Care professionals. Methods: This is a quantitative study that was performed on 130 senior citizens in the city of Santa Cruz, in the Brazil state of Rio Grande do Norte. Results: The participation of senior citizens in groups is very beneficial because it increases their autonomy and self-esteem, socialization, well-being and consequently, which leads to a higher quality of life. However, there were some failures in the promotion of healthy aging and the adoption of strategic activities. Conclusions: Based on this observation, it is expected that this study can provide resources for the primary health care professionals to try to stimulate senior citizens by carrying out cultural activities that value and increase their potential, quality of life and self-esteem and, thus, promote active and healthy aging.

Maternal and Child Care Assessment Focused on Prenatal Care and Birth

Objective: This study aims at assessing maternal and child care provided from prenatal to birth, so that it can reveal the weaknesses and potentialities of prenatal program in order to guide the development of strategic plans. Methods: This is an exploratory descriptive study with a quantitative approach, conducted in the city of Santa Cruz, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, from November 2012 to February 2013. The sample consisted of 200 women, chosen by draw, mothers of children under two years old who had attended the Primary Health Care System. The study used a semi-structured questionnaire used by the Ministry of Health. Our research project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, under the approval No. 311.613. Results: It was found that most mothers were rated from good to very good in the quality of care during prenatal and birth. As to the performance of prenatal and birth care services, most women performed those services under the municipality’s Public Health System, and the prenatal care primarily under Basic Health Care Units. Conclusion: In this assessment study, indicators regarding maternal and child care provided during the prenatal period were found to be positive, which contributes to the reduction of maternal and child mortality. The study also shows that Primary Health Care is essential to ensuring an effective, humane and comprehensive health care.