O objetivo deste artigo foi apresentar a metodologia, resultados descritivos preliminares e a confiabilidade dos instrumentos utilizados no Projeto COMQUISTA. Estudo transversal com indivíduos adultos (>18 anos) e crianças (até cinco anos) de comunidades quilombolas de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. A coleta de dados compreendeu a realização de entrevistas individuais e domiciliares, aferição de medidas antropométricas e pressão arterial. Utilizou-se o questionário semiestruturado da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS), adaptado para a população quilombola, e as entrevistas foram realizadas em computadores portáteis. Foram visitados 397 domicílios e entrevistados 797 adultos e 130 crianças. O perfil demográfico dos quilombolas foi semelhante ao dos brasileiros quanto ao sexo e idade, porém, eles apresentaram precário acesso ao saneamento básico e baixo nível socioeconômico. A análise de confiabilidade demonstrou a adequação das estratégias adotadas para garantia e controle de qualidade no estudo. A metodologia empregada foi considerada adequada para o alcance dos objetivos e pode ser utilizada em outras populações. Os resultados sugerem a necessidade da implantação de estratégias para melhorar a qualidade de vida e reduzir o grau de vulnerabilidade dos quilombolas.

IntroductionAs non-communicable disease (NCD) burden rises worldwide, community-based programmes are a promising strategy to bridge gaps in NCD care. The HealthRise programme sought to improve hypertension and diabetes management for underserved communities in nine sites across Brazil, India, South Africa and the USA between 2016 and 2018. This study presents findings from the programme’s endline evaluation.MethodsThe evaluation utilises a mixed-methods quasi-experimental design. Process indicators assess programme implementation; quantitative data examine patients’ biometric measures and qualitative data characterise programme successes and challenges. Programme impact was assessed using the percentage of patients meeting blood pressure and A1c treatment targets and tracking changes in these measures over time.ResultsAlmost 60 000 screenings, most of them in India, resulted in 1464 new hypertension and 295 new diabetes cases across sites. In Brazil, patients exhibited statistically significant reductions in blood pressure and A1c. In Shimla, India, and in South Africa, country with the shortest implementation period, there were no differences between patients served by facilities in HealthRise areas relative to comparison areas. Among participating patients with diabetes in Hennepin and Ramsey counties and hypertension patients in Hennepin County, the percentage of HealthRise patients meeting treatment targets at endline was significantly higher relative to comparison group patients. Qualitative analysis identified linking different providers, services, communities and information systems as positive HealthRise attributes. Gaps in health system capacities and sociodemographic factors, including poverty, low levels of health education and limited access to nutritious food, are remaining challenges.ConclusionsFindings from Brazil and the USA indicate that the HealthRise model has the potential to improve patient outcomes. Short implementation periods and strong emphasis on screening may have contributed to the lack of detectable differences in other sites. Community-based care cannot deliver its full potential if sociodemographic and health system barriers are not addressed in tandem.

This study analyzes nutritional status, estimates the prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity, and investigates factors associated with these outcomes in a two-stage random sample of adults (> 20 years) in quilombos (communities that descend from African slaves) in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia State, Brazil, in 2011. Among 739 participants, prevalence rates were 31.8% and 10.2% for overweight and obesity, respectively, and 55.7% for increased waist-to-height ratio (> 0.50). Prevalence of overweight was higher among 30-39-year-olds, while abdominal obesity was more frequent among older individuals. Female sex, eating chicken or beef with untrimmed fat, and hypertension were associated with higher odds of overweight and abdominal obesity, while smoking and single marital status were associated with lower odds. The results show high prevalence rates for overweight and abdominal obesity in these very poor and socially isolated communities. Specific preventive and control measures are urgently needed.