Abstract
ObjectiveThis study investigated whether the presence of care workers who completed a specialization course on family health was associated with improved care and maternal and child health indicators in municipalities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.MethodsNegative binomial regression models with fixed effects were used for the 79 municipalities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, with repeated observations for the period 2009–2015. For our reference, the parameter “number of professionals who completed the course” calculated the proportion of professionals who completed the course, and was divided by the total number of primary health care professionals in the municipality to create a ratio. The cutoff points used represented tertile distribution: T3: high (0.35–1.00), T2: intermediate (0.02–0.33) and T1: low (0.00–0.01); to avoid biased results, the analysis was also performed for the years prior to the beginning of the course in question (2009 and 2010).ResultsDuring the study period, enrollment of pregnant women, exclusive breastfeeding for children under 4 months, and up-to-date vaccinations in children younger than 1 year to 23 months increased (high to intermediate categories) in municipalities where professionals who completed the specialization course worked. Growth in the intermediate ratio was also observed in indicators related to cervical cancer screening and new diagnoses of congenital syphilis in infants under one year of age.ConclusionsThe presence of care workers who completed a specialization course on family health was seen to be associated with improved care and indicators for maternal and child health in municipalities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. These findings reaffirm the importance and effectiveness of policies on training and continuing education for the Brazilian Unified Health System.
Highlights
In Brazil, the 1988 Constitution established health as a right for all and a responsibility of the government, which created the Unified Health System (SUS)
Enrollment of pregnant women, exclusive breastfeeding for children under 4 months, and up-to-date vaccinations in children younger than 1 year to 23 months increased in municipalities where professionals who completed the specialization course worked
Growth in the intermediate ratio was observed in indicators related to cervical cancer screening and new diagnoses of congenital syphilis in infants under one year of age
Summary
In Brazil, the 1988 Constitution established health as a right for all and a responsibility of the government, which created the Unified Health System (SUS). The SUS provides the entire population access to health care and services based on the principles of universality, comprehensiveness, and equity. In order to meet public and individual health needs, especially for low-income populations, the Family Health Strategy (FHS) is at the center of government actions and investments to reorient the health care model (from a hospital-based and individual-focus model to one centered around the family and the community) and implement primary health care (PHC) [1]. Despite the growth in team numbers and expansion in the activities and services offered, Brazil faces problems implementing the care model and providing skilled health care. While public access to primary care services has grown undeniably, the quality and effectiveness of the services offered still leave room for improvement [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
