State ofMinas Gerais Research Articles

Itinerários terapêuticos de mulheres quilombolas do norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract Quilombolas are ethnic-racial groups, of black ancestry, and had their territories consolidated in Brazil in regions with difficult access and far from large centers. The objective of this study is to know the therapeutic itinerary (IT) adopted by quilombola women in traditional communities located in the North of the state of Minas Gerais. This is a qualitative study with the theoretical model using the Arthur Kleinman health care system. The study scenario was 23 quilombola communities in northern Minas Gerais. Forty quilombola women aged between 25 and 89 years were interviewed. Data analysis was performed following the IT. Units of analysis emerged that were grouped into three categories: quilombola women and the meaning of health and care; the professional care system in quilombola communities; and route of care in situations experienced by women. The therapeutic itinerary of the communities is mainly related to the actions of popular medicine. It was also possible to observe that there are weaknesses in relation to health care due to factors such as difficulty of access to institutionalized services.

Analysis of the access of pregnant women to the first programmatic dental appointment: an ecological study.

To plan and evaluate public health policies, it is important to understand the influence of social factors on the quality and access to dental care. This study aimed to verify the potential association between the indicators of pregnant women receiving dental care and the social and health care indicators of cities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. A cross-sectional ecological study was performed with secondary data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and the Health Care Department of the Ministry of Health regarding the cities of Minas Gerais. The study analyzed three health care indicators (such as more than six prenatal, the proportion of syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus tests, and oral health coverage) and four social indicators (average monthly wage, illiteracy rate, proportion of employed population, and rate of adequate sanitary sewerage). Bivariate analysis (Mann-Whitney test) and logistic regression were performed using Jamovi software. All of the indicators analyzed were associated with the access of pregnant women to dental care. However, in the regression models, only health care indicators remained statistically significant. Thus, although social indicators are associated with the access of pregnant women to dental appointments, access to primary health care and the teamwork of primary health care teams may overcome social inequality in the access of pregnant women to dental care.

Therapeutic itineraries of quilombola women in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Quilombolas are ethnic-racial groups, of black ancestry, and had their territories consolidated in Brazil in regions with difficult access and far from large centers. The objective of this study is to know the therapeutic itinerary (IT) adopted by quilombola women in traditional communities located in the North of the state of Minas Gerais. This is a qualitative study with the theoretical model using the Arthur Kleinman health care system. The study scenario was 23 quilombola communities in northern Minas Gerais. Forty quilombola women aged between 25 and 89 years were interviewed. Data analysis was performed following the IT. Units of analysis emerged that were grouped into three categories: quilombola women and the meaning of health and care; the professional care system in quilombola communities; and route of care in situations experienced by women. The therapeutic itinerary of the communities is mainly related to the actions of popular medicine. It was also possible to observe that there are weaknesses in relation to health care due to factors such as difficulty of access to institutionalized services.

SINTOMAS DEPRESSIVOS E FATORES ASSOCIADOS EM GESTANTES ASSISTIDAS NA ATENÇÃO PRIMÁRIA À SAÚDE

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms in pregnant women attended in primary healthcare. Method: this is an epidemiological, cross-sectional and analytical study conducted in Montes Claros, in the north of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The dependent variable (depressive symptoms) and independent variables (sociodemographic characteristics, social support, obstetric characteristics, sexuality and health conditions) were collected through a questionnaire and validated scales. The collection took place between October 2018 and November 2019. Descriptive, bivariate and multiple analyzes were performed through multinomial logistics regression. Results: a sample of 1,279 pregnant women was evaluated. The estimated prevalence of moderate and serious depressive symptoms was 16.2% and 25.2%, respectively. Low social support (p<0.001), low sexual performance (p = 0.002) and a high level of perceived stress (p<0.001) were factors associated with moderate depressive symptoms. First gestational trimester (p = 0.006), low social support (p<0.001), low sexual performance (p<0.001) and a high level of perceived stress (p<0.001) were factors associated with serious depressive symptoms. Conclusion: the prevalence of moderate and serious depressive symptoms in pregnant women attended in primary healthcare was considerable. Factors related to social support, gestational quarter (first quarter), sexuality and perceived stress showed association with these symptoms. Caution and the promotion of mental health is necessary for pregnant women in this scenario.

Opiliones (Arachnida: Opiliones) de la Mata Atlántica del Área de Protección Ambiental Fernão Dias, sur de Minas Gerais, Brasil

The Atlantic Forest harbors the world’s greatest diversity of harvestmen. However, this biome is highly modified and fragmented, negatively impacting biodiversity. Thus, the present study aimed to inventory the harvestmen fauna in the Fernão Dias Environmental Protection Area (Fernão Dias EPA), in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The study was conducted in the municipality of Gonçalves, within the Fernão Dias EPA. Harvestmen sampling took place from October 2019 to March 2020. A total of 265 individuals from 24 species and morphospecies were collected. Reported six new species for the state: Acanthogonyleptes singularis (Mello-Leitão, 1935), Ampheres luteus (Giltay, 1928), Meteusarcoides caudatus (Piza, 1940), Ogloblinia intermedia (Soares, 1944), Megapachylus anomalus (Mello-Leitão, 1922), and Gonyleptes pseudogranulatus (Soares, 1946). This underscores the importance of the Fernão Dias EPA for the protection of the harvestmen fauna in the state of Minas Gerais.

Juridicization and Judicialization of Health by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Minas Gerais Between 2016 and 2020

O Ministério Público, com a promulgação da Constituição de 1988, consolidou-se como instituição à qual foi atribuído o papel de zelar para que os poderes públicos e os serviços de relevância pública respeitem os direitos assegurados constitucionalmente. Desse papel decorre a estreita ligação entre a atuação do Ministério Público e a defesa da saúde como direito e do Sistema Único de Saúde. Nessa atuação, identificam-se dois tipos ideais: o modelo de atuação demandista e o modelo resolutivo, sendo que neste se prioriza a tentativa de solução extrajudicial dos conflitos, característico da juridicização da saúde. Este trabalho pretendeu contribuir para os estudos da juridicização da saúde e, ademais, para a compreensão da tutela do direito à saúde exercida pelo Ministério Público. Para tanto, foi realizada análise dos dados referentes aos procedimentos registrados entre 1º de janeiro de 2016 e 31 de dezembro de 2020 pelos membros do Ministério Público do Estado de Minas Gerais no Sistema de Registros Único. Constatou-se que a forma predominante de atuação do Ministério Público de Minas Gerais corresponde ao modelo resolutivo, vez que somente cerca de 10% dos procedimentos encerrados tiveram como desfecho o ajuizamento de ação judicial. A análise mostrou, ainda, a classificação por temas e por tipo de procedimento, conduzindo à interpretação de que prevalece um trabalho mais reativo às demandas trazidas às Promotorias de Justiça, em detrimento da apreciação de temas e de políticas públicas coletivos e estruturantes do Sistema Único de Saúde.

YELLOW ALERT: Persistent Yellow Fever Virus Circulation among Non-Human Primates in Urban Areas of Minas Gerais State, Brazil (2021-2023).

Yellow fever virus (YFV) is the agent of yellow fever (YF), which affects both humans and non-human primates (NHP). Neotropical NHP are highly susceptible to YFV and considered sentinels for YFV circulation. Brazil faced a significant YF outbreak in 2017-2018, with over 2000 human cases and 2000 epizootics cases, mainly in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This study aimed to investigate whether YFV circulation persisted in NHP after the human outbreak had subsided. To this end, NHP carcass samples collected in Minas Gerais from 2021 to 2023 were screened for YFV. RNA was extracted from tissue fragments and used in RT-qPCR targeting the YFV 5'UTR. Liver and lung samples from 166 animals were tested, and the detection of the β-actin mRNA was used to ensure adequacy of RNA isolation. YFV RNA was detected in the liver of 18 NHP carcasses collected mainly from urban areas in 2021 and 2022. YFV positive NHP were mostly represented by Callithrix, from 5 out of the 12 grouped municipalities (mesoregions) in Minas Gerais state. These findings reveal the continued YFV circulation in NHP in urban areas of Minas Gerais during 2021 and 2022, with the attendant risk of re-establishing the urban YFV cycle.

Effect of Rainfall and Technification on Arabica Coffee Productivity in Minas Gerais

Arabica coffee is the main agricultural product of the state of Minas Gerais and its production has great social and economic importance in the state. Several factors affect coffee productivity, such as climate, fertilization, soil, cultivars, management, disease incidence, and the presence of irrigation. More than 80% of the coffee crops in the state are rainfed, and are dependent on rainfall. The availability of water, especially during flowering and grain filling, is of great importance for productivity and the consequent economic return of the activities. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rainfall from September to January on Arabica productivity in coffee-growing municipalities in Minas Gerais based on monthly accumulations limited to 210 mm. Municipal agricultural production data from IBGE from 2012 to 2019 for processed Arabica coffee and monthly rainfall data with 2.5 minutes spatial resolution, made available byWorldClim for the period 2010-2018, were used for this purpose. The ratio of productivity per accumulated rainfall was calculated for the coffee municipalities to determine the level of municipal technification and to filter out discrepant data. The municipalities were divided into technification groups and linear regression curves were determined for each group. For low and medium tech municipalities, a high correlation was obtained between rainfall from September to January, with monthly accumulations limited to 210 mm, and Arabica coffee productivity. In high tech municipalities, there was no significant correlation due to the presence of irrigation. The equations obtained showed the potential to estimate the effect of rainfall during the analyzed period on the productivity of municipalities in all regions of Minas Gerais and even productivity estimates based only on monthly rainfall.

Unconventional food plants: knowledge and consumption in a state in southeastern Brazil

Background: Although some previous studies have investigated the nutritional and health properties of unconventional food plants (UFPs), there is limited information regarding their application in the diet. This is the first study that evaluated UFP consumption in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Objective: This study examined how well the population of Minas Gerais, Brazil knew about UFPs and their use. Design: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from an online survey (November 2020 to March 2021). Participants/setting: Participants were 1026 adults resided in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Main outcome measures: This study collected socioeconomic data, UFP knowledge and consumption from the participants. The sociodemographic influence on UFP knowledge was evaluated. Statistical analyses performed: The Chi-square test (in category variables) and Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis (in continuous variables) were used to assess the association between UFP knowledge and sociodemographic data. Results: Half of the participants were not familiar with the term UFP and 41.4% could not identify UFPs’ edible and inedible/toxic parts. UFPs’ general knowledge was associated to being a female, as well as living in a city with less than 200,000 inhabitants (p<0.05). Most of the participants rarely/never consumed UFPs. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the population evaluated did not know much about UFP and that UFP consumption is low.

Observational study on seizures of marijuana, cocaine and crack in a city in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte

It is estimated that 275 million people in the world between 15 and 64 years old used drugs of abuse in 2020. In the same year, the Brazilian Federal Police seized about 546,439.57 kg of marijuana and 91,234.87 kg of cocaine, demonstrating that the use and abuse of psychoactive substances are on the rise in everyday life. This study aimed to describe the profile of seizures of marijuana, cocaine and crack, carried out by the Civil Police, in the region of Betim in the state of Minas Gerais. This is a descriptive observational study, carried out on a documentary basis, in the years 2017 and 2018. The information was collected through the analysis of the final reports issued by the Betim Police Department, and the Social Defense Event Records (REDS). The results demonstrate that 568 definitive reports and REDS were analyzed, and the sociodemographic profile of the individual apprehended in connection with illicit drugs is composed mainly of men (86.4%), single (86.6%), with incomplete elementary education (33.2%), with a median age of 20 years. The 24 hour Police Station (88%) and the north region Police Station (22.7%) were where the largest seizures took place; illicit drug trafficking (85.6%) was the main crime related to these seizures, and marijuana was the most seized drug (51.1%). Knowledge of the profile of drug seizures in this region allows for the creation of prevention measures for the trafficking and use of illicit drugs, contributing to the improvement of public health and safety.

Hematological parameters: is there a difference between those released by the hematological analyzer and to the customer?

This study aimed to compare the hematological parameters released by hematological analyzers with those released in customer reports. We conducted a descriptive study in the laboratories of a medium-sized municipality in the state of Minas Gerais registered in the National Register of Health Establishments. Interviews were conducted using a questionnaire to obtain information regarding the parameters released by the analyzers and those available in the customer's report. Sixteen laboratories were evaluated, and none of them released all the parameters obtained from the hematological analyzers to customers. The red blood cell distribution width was released in 88% of the laboratories, atypical lymphocytes in 70%, mean platelet volume in 50%, platelet distribution width and platelet count in 20%. No laboratory released information on reticulocytes, fraction of immature reticulocytes and immature granulocytes, nucleated erythrocyte count, immature platelet fraction and reticulocyte hemoglobin, and large platelet rate. All evaluated clinical analysis laboratories had at least one parameter that was not released in the customer's report despite being released by the hematological analyzers. The lack of knowledge on the part of professionals about the clinical importance of each parameter of the complete blood count results in a loss in patient assessment, and it is important to include these parameters in the complete blood count report.

Leishmaniasis: neglected diseases also by health professionals

The increasing number of cases of leishmaniasis, the expansion of transmission areas, and its high impact on public health highlight that there are still many challenges to achieving success in the Surveillance and Control Program of this neglected disease. Additionally, the inherent difficulty in early diagnosis and prompt and accurate therapeutic intervention make leishmaniasis still a health problem that afflicts society. In 2017, the first case of human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was reported in Lavras, in the southern state of Minas Gerais. Since then, seven more cases have been reported, with two resulting in death. Regarding Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), it has also been reported in several municipalities in the region. In this context, it is necessary to study new control strategies, as well as optimize existing ones, to prevent the occurrence of new cases of the disease. In light of the above, this study aimed to investigate cases of VL and CL in the area covered by the Regional Health Secretariat (RHS) of Varginha and understand the perception of primary health care professionals (PHCPs) regarding this condition. To meet these objectives, existing data in the RHS of Varginha were analyzed, seeking a better understanding of the existing gaps in the field of leishmaniasis. A total of 115 PHCPs representing all 50 municipalities in the Health Region participated in the study. Participants were questioned about the management of leishmaniasis cases, transmission mode, clinical signs, and biological, and epidemiological aspects of the disease. After analyzing the results, it was possible to perceive a lack of knowledge about the local epidemiological reality, as well as difficulties in identifying prevention and control measures related to reservoirs, the environment, and humans. The conceptual gaps among health professionals reinforce the pressing need to implement continuing education programs, given the indispensable role of these professionals in the success of the control program.

Assessment of the potential of coprocessing as a destination for municipal solid waste in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

The current climate crisis has resulted in efforts to reduce greenhouse effect emissions (GEE) both in the industrial and in the public sanitation sectors. In the year of 2022, there were 10 operational cement kilns licensed for coprocessing in the state of Minas Gerais, with a combined production capacity of 18.8 Mt/year. In the same year, 40.2% of the 853 municipalities in the state still disposed of their municipal solid waste (MSW) in irregular dumps and landfills, which corresponds to approximately 2Mt of MSW per year. Given the strong presence of cement industries in the region, the coprocessing of MSW could represent both a useful tool in MSW management and a strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of the sector, as long as the waste characteristics are made adequate to the technical demands of the process. This work assesses different pre-treatment routes in order to prepare MSW for coprocessing in cement kilns. For each scenario, a preliminary analysis of the potential treatment capacity of these wastes by local cement industries is performed. The results indicate that reducing MSW water content, whether through triage or thermal treatment, drastically increases the lower heating value (LHV) and its applicability as an alternative fuel in cement plants. When considering a 25% alternative fuel ratio in cement kilns, up to 590,000 t/year of MSW could be coprocessed in the State of Minas Gerais.

Frailty and spatialization of older adults in the city of Uberlândia with IVCF-20.

To describe the functional clinical profile of elderly people linked to primary health care, using the Functional Clinical Vulnerability Index (IVCF-20) and to spatialize those with the greatest functional decline by primary health care units in the municipality of Uberlândia, in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), in the year 2022. A cross-sectional study with secondary data from the Municipal Health Department of Uberlândia-MG. The variables were compared using Student's t-test, Mann Whitney test, Pearson's chi-square, and multinomial logistic regression to obtain the independent effect of each variable. The significance level adopted was 5% (p < 0.05). The georeferenced database in ArcGIS® was used. 47,182 older adults were evaluated with a mean age of 70.3 years (60 to 113 years), 27,138 of whom were women (57.52%), with a clear predominance of low-risk or robust older adults (69.40%). However, 11.09% are high-risk older adults and 19.52% are at risk of frailty. Older men had independently lower odds of moderate and high risk compared to older women (OR = 0.53; p < 0.001). A high prevalence of polypharmacy was observed, 21.40% of the older adult population, particularly in frail older adults, with a prevalence of 63.08%. There was a greater distribution of frail older adults around the central region of the municipality and in health units with a larger coverage area. The IVCF-20 made it possible to screen frailty in primary health care. The instrument is capable of stratifying the risk of older adults in health care networks through primary health care, enabling the application of individualized preventive, promotional, palliative, or rehabilitative interventions, according to the clinical functional stratum of the older adult and the compromised functional domains. Risk stratification and spatial distribution of the frailest older adults can be a good strategy for qualifying health professionals with the aim of maximizing the autonomy and independence of the older adults.

Mudanças climáticas e Plano Diretor: mitigação de inundações em Belo Horizonte

Abstract The UN's New Urban Agenda has penetrated urban planning at the same time as extreme events caused by climate change. In view of the scenario of increased flooding in Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, the Master Plan approved instruments to mitigate the impacts through discounts on the fees charged for additional building rights for new buildings that use “green and blue infrastructure.” The applicability of this incentive is analyzed across the territory based on a comparison between the discounts and the costs of new sustainable techniques. It is concluded that the instruments tend to be adopted where land value is higher, being insufficient for a large part of the city, mainly areas with greater climate vulnerability, which demand more direct interventions from the government.

Chemical and Physical Characterization of Swift Guano in Quartzitic Karst Landscape in Brazil

The Private Reserve of Natural Patrimony (RPPN) of the Santuário of Caraça is found in a mountain region within the Quadrilátero Ferrífero geological province in the State of Minas Gerais. In this region, intense metamorphic processes shaped their siliciclastic rocks, enabling the formation of fractures and diaclasis, the favourite routes of weathering during the development of karst landscapes. The natural cavities thus formed, mainly in the RPPN sector called “Pico do Inficionado”, provide shelter for countless swifts of the species Streptoprocne zonaris and S. biscutata, responsible for the accumulation of guano on the floor. However, guano is a substance rich in nutrients, mainly phosphates and nitrates, and this is the main nutrient supply in permanently dry caves. This work studied the physical (density) and chemical (organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium and pH) characteristics of 21 guanos layers, correlating their contents with the depth of seven deposits and separating the results into factors. Considering that, knowing that the guano deposits contain crucial elements such as Ca, Mg, and especially P and N, which act as an energy source for many chemotrophic organisms, the subdivision of the studied elements allowed us to defer three factors: the first one features the concentrations of Al, P, K, Na and CO, the second one was determined for N, pH and density. Finally, the third factor was based on Ca and Mg. The quartzitic material influences the chemical and physical composition of the deepest guano. As the rock changes, elements like Al and K are released and enrich the deeper layers, as well as increasing density due to the presence of sand in the material.

AGROCLIMATIC ZONING OF ARABICA COFFEE CROPS IN THE REGION OF LAVRAS, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

Coffee growing is the most relevant agricultural activity in the state of Minas Gerais. Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is the most widely cultivated in the state and is more sensitive to the climate, requiring milder temperatures for commercial production. Water deficit and airtemperature are the main factors used in the agroclimatic zoning of coffee, requiring annual water deficits below 150 mm and an average annual air temperature between 19°C and 21°C for suitability for cultivation. The Lavras region has municipalities with contrasting areas planted with Arabica coffee, being located in a transition zone of the growing crop. Therefore, the objective was to use interpolated climatic surfaces of mean monthly temperature and monthly precipitation, with high spatial resolution (30 seconds) of the WorldClim2 project, in order to perform the agroclimatic zoning for Arabica coffee in 11 municipalities around Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The water balance was calculated by the Thornthwaite method and the contour of existing plantations was obtained from a survey conducted by EPAMIG for the year 2018. The annual water deficit varied from 19 mm to 47 mm and the temperature from 17.5°C to 20.5°C. According to the geospatial analysis and scientific geovisualization techniques, it was observed that most of the region is suitable for cultivation of Arabica coffee, but spatial variations in water deficit may interfere with productivity and economic viability of implementation in certain areas.

Freshwater decapod crustaceans from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: species composition and distribution.

Brazil contains about 5% (~120 spp.) of the total known species of freshwater decapods. Information on the occurrence of freshwater decapod species in the state of Minas Gerais is dispersed and much of this remains unpublished. We hereby propose to present the first inventory of freshwater decapods from the state, based on data compiled from publications and scientific collections and obtained from fieldwork in the state. Eleven species of freshwater decapods were recorded in Minas Gerais, including three species of crabs (Trichodactylidae), seven of shrimps (Palaemonidae) and one species of freshwater squat lobster (Aeglidae), classified into three infraorders, three families, and four genera. The genus Macrobrachium C.S. Bate, 1868 comprised most of the decapod records. The reduced number of species in relation to coastal states is related, at least in part, to the absence of amphidromic species. Environmental degradation and the construction of dams in several watersheds may be possible causes of this absence. The records obtained from surveys carried out in national parks situated in Minas Gerais and its surroundings indicate the importance of these areas for the conservation of decapod fauna in the state.

Odonata (Insecta) richness in Atlantic Forests from Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Inventories provide important information about species, both from a biogeographic perspective and in terms of their conservation status. Among insects, dragonflies are extensively surveyed in Brazil; however, significant knowledge gaps still exist regarding the distribution of these organisms in the country, particularly in threatened biomes such as the Atlantic Forest. In this study, we present data on an Odonata community collected in the Serra do Papagaio State Park between 2015 and 2016. We recorded 64 species, including six new records for the state of Minas Gerais, along with ten species with problematic conservation status, either due to a lack of distribution data or some degree of extinction risk. Our results highlight the importance of inventories in expanding our knowledge of species distribution and providing data that can aid in the assessment of their conservation status.

Barter operations: a multivariate analysis of its use by soybean producers from the state of Minas Gerais

Brazil is the second largest producer of soybeans in the world, in which, in addition to boosting other food industries dependent on this oilseed, it promotes agricultural production in development and technification. The state of Minas Gerais is the seventh largest soybean producing in Brazil and it is responsible for approximately 5% of the total processing of this grain. However, this agricultural activity still lives with risks associated with the production. One of the most important tools for the producer's risk management is the barter, configured as an operation that allows the producer to exchange his future production for inputs, being able to freeze his prices and amortize these values with a fixed volume of production. Although this tool is useful in risk management, there is little information about the knowledge of producers related to this tool and its benefits and possibilities in risk management. In this sense, the present study sought to analyze factors that influence soybean producers in Minas Gerais with regard to barter as a risk management and fundraising tool, based on the application of a questionnaire structured around the variables and specificities of producers in the state. The results obtained show that soybean producers in Minas Gerais, for the most part, do not have a detailed knowledge of the tool and, mainly for this reason, they are afraid of its realization.