Validity and reliability of the tuberculosis-related stigma scale version for Brazilian Portuguese.

Background: Stigma associated with tuberculosis (TB) has been an object of interest in several regions of the world. The behaviour presented by patients as a result of social discrimination has contributed to delays in diagnosis and the abandonment of treatment, leading to an increase in the cases of TB and drug resistance. The identification of populations affected by stigma and its measurement can be assessed with the use of valid and reliable instruments developed or adapted to the target culture.

The role of Primary Healthcare in the coordination of Health Care Networks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Lisbon region, Portugal.

Considering the trajectory of Rio de Janeiro e Lisboa region regarding strengths of the their health local systems to achieve health for all and equity, the study aimed to compare the organization of the Primary Healthcare from both regions, searching to identify the advancement which in terms of the Delivery Health Networks' coordination. It is a case study with qualitative approach and assessment dimensions. It was used material available online such as scientific manuscripts and gray literature.

Spatial analysis of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil (2006-2012).

Objective: To describe the spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil, and to identify spatial and space-time clusters for the risk of occurrence of these events.

Methods: This is a descriptive, ecological study that considered the hospitalizations records of the Hospital Information System of residents of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Southeastern Brazil, from 2006 to 2012. Only the cases with recorded addresses were considered for the spatial analyses, and they were also geocoded.

Integrated health service delivery networks and tuberculosis avoidable hospitalizations: is there a relation between them in Brazil?

Background: The early identification of the Breathing Symptoms within the scope of Primary Health Care is recommended, and is also one of the strategies of national sanitary authorities for reaching the elimination of tuberculosis. The purpose of this study is to consider which attributes and which territories have shown the most significant progress in Primary Health Care, in terms of coordination of Health Care Networks, and also check if those areas of Primary Health Care that are most critical regarding coordination, there were more or less cases of avoidable hospitalizations for tuberculosis.

Methods: This is an ecological study that uses primary and secondary data.

Assessment of the coordination of integrated health service delivery networks by the primary health care: COPAS questionnaire validation in the Brazilian context.

Background: Health systems organized as networks and coordinated by the Primary Health Care (PHC) may contribute to the improvement of clinical care, sanitary conditions, satisfaction of patients and reduction of local budget expenditures. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate a questionnaire - COPAS - to assess the coordination of Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks by the Primary Health Care.

Methods: A cross sectional approach was used.

Factors associated with knowledge about tuberculosis and attitudes of relatives of patients with the disease in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

Objective: To investigate the knowledge regarding tuberculosis among relatives of patients with tuberculosis and the possible factors associated with this event and also to conduct comparative analyses between groups of relatives with or with few knowledge regarding tuberculosis, considering their attitudes in both groups.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in which the sample was obtained through simple and randomized method. The data were collected by trained interviewers and validated tool.

Quality of primary health care: an analysis of avoidable hospitalizations in a Minas Gerais county, Brazil.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of primary health care based on avoidable hospitalizations of men and women of all ages, from 2008 to 2012 in Alfenas County in the south of Minas Gerais state. This was an ecological study based on data from the Hospital Information System (HIS). The medical diagnoses selected for the study were pneumonia, diabetes mellitus and diseases of the circulatory system.

Pulmonary tuberculosis in São Luis, State of Maranhão, Brazil: space and space-time risk clusters for death (2008-2012).

Introduction: The objective was to identify space and space-time risk clusters for the occurrence of deaths in a priority city for the control of tuberculosis (TB) in the Brazilian Northeast.

Methods: Ecological research was undertaken in the City of São Luis/Maranhão. Cases were considered that resulted in deaths in the population living in the urban region of the city with pulmonary TB as the basic cause, between 2008 and 2012.

Patients' perceptions on the performance of a local health system to eliminate leprosy,Paraná State, Brazil.

Background: In Brazil, leprosy has been listed among the health priorities since 2006, in a plan known as the "Pact for life" (Pacto pela Vida). It is the sole country on the American continent that has not reached the global goal of disease elimination. Local health systems face many challenges to achieve this global goal.

[Social stigma and the families of patients with tuberculosis: a study based on cluster and multiple correspondence analysis].

The social stigma associated with TB is a challenge facing management of the area of public health care. The aim of this study was to investigate the social stigma in families of patients with TB and identify the profile of those who are affected by the event in relation to socioeconomic and demographic conditions. It is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in 2011 in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil, with a sample of 110 individuals.

[Coordination of primary healthcare networks: semantic validation of an adapted instrument].

This cross-sectional study conducted a semantic validation of the instrument for evaluating the coordination of primary care networks, adapted to the evaluation checklist on the degree of integration of healthcare networks, considering each item's relevance, coherence, and comprehension by the study's reference population. The sample consisted of 56 healthcare professionals that work in the Family Health Strategy in Alfenas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The instrument has five dimensions and 78 items with Likert-type responses.

[The families and directly observed treatment of tuberculosis: senses and prospects to the production of care].

The purpose was to identify the families' participation on care management of patients with tuberculosis. Also, to ascertain the contribution offered by health professionals for patients'families with ongoing treatment, and investigate the importance attributed by the families to the directly observed treatment It is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in the municipality of Ribeirão Preto/SP with families of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. For data collection, it was developed an instrument that underwent pretesting and content validation.

[Tuberculosis and social inequity in health: an ecological study using multivariate statistical techniques, São Paulo, Brazil].

Objective: To identify the patterns of São Paulo state municipalities, in Brazil, regarding the relationship between tuberculosis and indicators of health care services, health care service availability, context, and social inequality.

Methods: This ecological study covered all 645 municipalities of São Paulo and eight variables belonging to three dimensions: health care service availability, context, and social inequality. Data were analyzed using hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering, principal components analysis, and geoprocessing.

[Primary Health Care in the coordination of health care networks: an integrative review].

Health systems organized in health care networks and coordinated by Primary Health Care can contribute to an improvement in clinical quality with a positive impact on health outcomes and user satisfaction (by improving access and resolubility) and a reduction in the costs of local health systems. Thus, the scope of this paper is to analyze the scientific output about the evidence, potential, challenges and prospects of Primary Health Care in the coordination of Health Care Networks. To achieve this, the integrative review method was selected covering the period between 2000 and 2011.