Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Introduction: In 2020, concurring with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP) representation Universidade Aberta do Sistema Único de Saúde (UNA-SUS) launched the self-learning course “Attention to Frequent Neurological Problems in Primary Care,” with an instructional design strategy designed to the target audience of physicians, with four editions offered between 2020 and 2023. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the profile of doctors taking the course in terms of completion rate, region, and gender, as well as to analyze factors that interfere with adherence to the course, with a focus on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The behavior of physicians enrolled in the course was analyzed using the enrollment database managed by the UNA-SUS Executive Secretariat, with a quantitative analysis of the correlation between enrollment and completion rates and demographic data over the four years of the course using Python software version 3.12.0. Results: 4,014 physicians were enrolled, with a peak enrolment in 2021 and better completion rates in 2020. The majority of participants were females (61.83%) from the Southeast region (31.98%) and in the 31-35 age range, with a higher volume of enrollments between 26 and 40 years of age. Demographic factors and gender influenced enrollment and completion rates. Across all regions, there was a general increase in both enrollment and completion rates, although there was a drop in the completion rate in the regions during the peak year of the pandemic, followed by a gradual decline in enrollments. Completion rates were 51.4% and 43.6% for males and females respectively in 2020, with a decline in subsequent years, maintaining a parameter common to this profile of self-learning courses. Conclusions: It was evident that both the pandemic and the process of resumption of care had an impact on physicians’ adherence to the course, especially between 2020 and 2021, when there was a reduction in completion rates, and in 2023, when there was a lower number of enrollments; however, completion rates remained at an adequate volume, suggesting that the pedagogical strategies were successful.

Introduction: Due to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, most Brazilians remained restricted to their homes for long periods, causing worsening of psychological issues and, consequently, impacting suicide rates, especially among older adults, who constitute a risk group for   the disease. Therefore, it is worth observing not only illnesses directly caused by the virus, but also deaths resulting from worse mental health. In this context, it is essential to analyze the possible implications of the pandemic for the act of suicide. Objective: Our main objective is to verify suicide rates among older adults in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a secondary objective, to clarify some aspects about this extreme act. Methods: This is an ecological, cross-sectional study carried out by reviewing data available on the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System and on the “Mortalidade em Porto Alegre” website. The study scope corresponds to all older people who self-harmed and died in the city of Porto Alegre, from March 2020 to May 2023, a period that corresponds to the coronavirus pandemic. Results: We found that, in the study period, there were 407 deaths by suicide, of which 21.3% correspond to the older adult population, 51.5% of them aged between 60 and 69 years, 34.4% between 70 and 79 years, 13.7% aged 80 years or over, and 1.1% of unknown age. As for ethnicities, 87.4% were Caucasian, with 4.6% Black, 1.1% mixed-race, 1.1% Asian, and 5.7% of unknown ethnicity. In terms of suicide by region of the capital, the Centro region predominated, with 27,6% of deaths recorded. Furthermore, 79.3% older adult men died by suicide. To establish a chronological comparison, we collected data from 2017 to 2019 and verified that the age distribution regarding suicides among older adults was predominantly concentrated in the age group between 60-69 years, and, in total, there were 78 suicides in Porto Alegre during the period in question. Conclusions: We observed that the older adult population accounts for an important portion of suicides in Porto Alegre and that general rates increased in the capital during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Due to the countless losses and isolation to which this population was subjected, we can assume that there have been psychological impacts. Therefore, Primary Health Care professionals must be trained to always address mental health issues, especially with regard to the older adult population, preventing this type of death so that we can reverse this sad scenario.

Introduction: Open University of the Unified Health System (UNA-SUS) has played a vital role in cooperating to transform the reality of certain social groups regarding their rights, including People with Disabilities (PWD). Among courses produced there are 28 courses covering psychosocial, physical, visual, and auditory aspects, in addition to broader themes such as management and public health policies for PWD, exceeding 200 thousand enrollments. Objective: To describe the profile of enrolled students in PWD themes from 2013 to 2023. Methods: This is an observational and cross-sectional study, in which data was collected from the 255,411 enrolled individuals, namely: sex, age, gender, race/color, education, country of birth, current country, state of birth and current state (in the case of Brazil), profession, course taken, and enrollment date. Descriptive statistics, absolute and relative frequencies, and bivariate analyses were performed. Results: Among those enrolled, 83% were women, 46.5% were black, 24.81% has between 25-29 years old, and 59.8% were graduates. Among health workers, 7% were nurses, 6% physiotherapists, 6% nursing technicians, and 5% psychologists. There was significant student participation (38.38%). Conclusions: In the pursuit for health equity, improving care for PWD is essential. The data suggest a progressive increase in the demand for training on this topic and growing interest among workers for a more equitable health care approach. UNA-SUS has contributed to enabling health workers and students to qualify in specific themes, contributing to the strengthening of the Unified Health System.

Introduction: The Programa Mais Médicos para o Brasil (PMMB) aims to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in vulnerable areas and strengthen medical training with a focus on Primary Health Care (PHC). Distance education (DE) has been an important strategy for the continuous qualification of professionals linked to the program, particularly through the Lato Sensu Specialization Course in Family Practice (FP) offered in DE format. In this context, synchronous tools and activities that allow real-time interactions have gained prominence. Objective: This study investigated the expectations of students and tutors in the PMMB regarding the synchronous activities planned in the Lato Sensu Specialization Course in FP, offered by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Mato Grosso do Sul and the Open University of the Unified Health System (UNA-SUS). Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative-qualitative study was conducted with students and tutors, using an online questionnaire to collect data, including open-ended questions about participants’ expectations, in April 2024. Responses from 722 students and 72 tutors were analyzed using IRaMuTeQ software, employing lexical treatment, descending hierarchical classification (DHC), correspondence factor analysis (CFA), and similarity analysis. Results: The analysis revealed five classes of words that represent participants’ expectations. Among students, expectations were predominantly positive, with an emphasis on the desire to acquire knowledge, share experiences, and participate in activities. Tutors and students, although optimistic, expressed concerns about the high workload of the course. “Knowledge” emerged as the central expectation, interwoven with experience sharing, educational activities, and a desire for continuous learning. Conclusions: Participants’ expectations are positive, although some concerns remain regarding the inclusion of synchronous activities in the teaching-learning process.

Introduction: The Open University of the Brazilian Unified Health System (UNASUS) is a strategy for continuing education in health through distance learning (EaD). The Health Educational Resources Collection (ARES) is one of its pillars, being the largest digital health collection in Latin America, promoting open access to knowledge and education in a democratic and unrestricted manner. Objective: To discuss the importance of ARES, presenting its model for accessing and distributing digital educational resources, thereby promoting the democratic dissemination of health knowledge based on scientific evidence. Methods: This exploratory study analyzes the educational resources of the ARES platform, focusing on the open access policy and free distribution of materials. Data were collected through: 1) Manual review of ARES metadata, which includes the type of resource, UNASUS network institutions, and areas of study; 2) Electronic review of the Pubmed, Bireme, ERIC, SciELO and Google Scholar databases to understand the functioning and importance of virtual repositories in health. There was no time restriction, considering the long history of virtual repositories. Results: Virtual repositories and digital libraries, driven by the popularization of EaD and e-learning, have a significant impact on global research, but accessibility is still uneven. The ARES platform, a specialized health repository, uses green open access, allowing free access, download and reuse of its 20,512 educational resources. Of these, 65.43% focus on ‘Primary Care and Family Health.’ The integration of digital collections in cooperation networks expands access and improves training and resource management. Conclusions: Digital repositories, such as ARES, democratize access to digital information, being an important tool for family and community physicians who seek comprehensive care for their patients, especially those belonging to historically vulnerable groups and from remote areas.

Problem: The shortage of physicians in Primary Health Care (PHC), especially in remote areas of Brazil, is a critical challenge. Addressing this issue requires the qualification of public health professionals, with a focus on family health, through a reflective and problem-based approach that integrates theory and practice and leverages information and communication technologies. Methods: In this context, a Family Pratice  Specialization Course was designed, developed, and offered to physicians participating in a Provision Program. The initiative involved field experts, the Brazilian Society of Family Pratice, and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) partnering with the Open University System of SUS (UNA-SUS). Results: The course combines synchronous and asynchronous activities and includes supervised practice in healthcare settings. To date, 5,369 physicians have enrolled, gaining an opportunity to deepen their theoretical knowledge in Family and Community Medicine and enhance their reflections and practices while working in PHC under the Federal Physician Provision Program. Conclusions: Although still ongoing, the course has already demonstrated a positive impact in terms of scope and robustness. It represents a significant advancement in qualifying physicians for PHC, contributing to both the professional development of participants and the improvement of healthcare delivery in Brazil.

Introduction: Brazil ranks third in the world for the number of women deprived of their liberty, highlighting the continuous growth of this incarcerated population. Although the Penal Execution Law mandates that these women be held in exclusive prisons, the reality shows a predominance of mixed facilities, compromising the guarantee of rights and access to adequate incarceration conditions. Objective: This study aims to describe the impacts of incarceration on the sexual and reproductive health of women deprived of their liberty in Latin America. Methods: The research follows the criteria of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and analyzed 203 studies, of which 8 were selected for review. Results: The main challenges identified include menstrual insecurity, lack of access to contraceptive methods, early separation of the mother-baby bond, difficulties in accessing cancer screening tests and sexually transmitted infections, as well as recurrent institutional violence. These factors demonstrate the fragility of the prison system and its inability to meet the specific needs of these women. Conclusions: The complexity of this issue requires careful attention and a multidisciplinary approach to ensure effective public policies that promote adequate assistance and guarantee respect for the sexual and reproductive rights of incarcerated women. Expanding research on this topic is essential to better understand these challenges and propose more effective intervention strategies.

Introduction: Population aging is a globally consolidated  process.  As  the  population  ages, new health needs arise, leading health services to renew and improve their capacity to comprehensively care for the elderly. In Brazil, the role of Primary Care, with an emphasis on    the Family Health Strategy, stands out. Recognizing the population of its assigned area enables health care planning that addresses the needs of its population. Objective: To investigate the health conditions of the population in a microarea in Seridó, characterizing the sociodemographic and clinical profile of these elderly people and identifying prevalent health conditions. Methods: This is an observational study conducted in a microarea located in Seridó Potiguar. The study subjects were elderly people aged 60 years or older residing in the aforementioned microarea and with an active medical record. The research instrument was based on the Elderly Health Record. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 20. Results: The dependent variable was polypharmacy, and the chi-square test and prevalence  ratio were calculated. Data were collected from 49 elderly people, most of whom were female, single, had children, and had no disabilities. Hypertension was the prevalent health condition       in the population; polypharmacy appeared in 32.7% of participants and was significantly higher    in individuals over 71 years of age (PR=0.260; 95% CI=0.073;0.928). Conclusions: This study showed that polypharmacy is more frequent in older individuals. As people age, they become more exposed to diseases, especially Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases, making them more susceptible to using a greater number of medications.

Introduction: With the rapid increase in the elderly population, depression has become a growing public health concern, especially due to factors such as social isolation and comorbidities. Primary Health Care (PHC) is seen as essential for the early detection and treatment of this condition. Objective: The study aimed to identify the main complications related to these symptoms, select the most effective tools for early screening of depression, and describe the therapeutic approaches used in this population. Method: The integrative review included articles from databases such as Medline and Scopus, published between 2015 and 2024, and highlighted evidence-based practices. Results: The results showed that group interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and community activities, are effective in reducing depressive symptoms, while the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was widely used for early screening. Despite the effectiveness of tools like the Mini-Mental State Examination, the lack of national standardization for screening tools was identified as a challenge. Conclusão: It is concluded that PHC plays a central role in promoting healthy aging, although it is necessary to standardize diagnostic tools and train health professionals for a more integrated approach.

Problem: Populations living in isolated regions with limited infrastructure face barriers in accessing health services and emergency care.          In this context, first aid training becomes a critical strategy to strengthen autonomy, improve emergency response capacity, and preserve lives. Methods: The action consisted of a practical and interactive approach, with learning stations for first aid maneuvers. Mannequins were used for demonstrations, and interpreters helped overcome language barriers. The evaluation included direct observation, active listening, and qualitative reports from residents and medical students. Data were qualitatively analyzed. Results: We observed good community adherence, with younger residents demonstrating easier learning. The local nurse, as a community leader, facilitated engagement. Challenges included difficulties in correctly performing maneuvers among some adults and persistent language barriers, mitigated by interpreters and pedagogical adaptations. Medical students reported significant improvements in cultural sensitivity and practical skills. Conclusions: The experience highlights the importance    of continuous and culturally adapted educational interventions, empowering local leaders and strengthening community autonomy. Integrating traditional and technical knowledge is essential to ensure sustainability and effectiveness, while contributing to the training of health professionals better prepared for intercultural contexts.