Health literacy, a more complex concept than knowledge, is a required capacity to obtain, understand, integrate and act on health information [1], in order to enhance individual and community health, which is defined by different levels, according to the autonomy and personal capacitation in decision making [2]. Medium levels of Health literacy in an adolescent population were found in a study conducted in 2013/2014, being higher in sexual and reproductive health and lower in substance use. It was also noticed that the higher levels of health literacy were in the area adolescents refer to have receipt more health information. The health literacy competence with higher scores was communication skills, and the lower scores were in the capacity to analyze factors that influence health. Higher levels were also found in younger teenagers, but in a higher school level, confirming the importance of health education in these age and development stage. Adolescents seek more information in health professionals and parents, being friends more valued as a source information in older adolescents, which enhance the importance of peer education mainly in older adolescents [3]. As a set of competences based on knowledge, health literacy should be developed through education interventions, encompassing the cultural and social context of individuals, since the society, culture and education system where the individual is inserted can define the way the development and enforcement of the health literacy competences [4]. The valued sources of information should be taken into account, as well as needs of information in some topics referred by adolescents in an efficient health education. Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness which has a profound effect on the health and well-being related with the well-known nature of psychotic symptoms. The exercise has the potential to improve the life of people with schizophrenia improving physical health and alleviating psychiatric symptoms. However, most people with schizophrenia remains sedentary and lack of access to exercise programs are barriers to achieve health benefits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of exercise on I) the type of intervention in mental health, II) in salivary levels of alpha-amylase and cortisol and serum levels of S100B and BDNF, and on III) the quality of life and selfperception of the physical domain of people with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 31 females in long-term institutions in the Casa de Saúde Rainha Santa Isabel, with age between 25 and 63, and with diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Physical fitness was assessed by the six-minute walk distance test (6MWD). Biological variables were determined by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Psychological variables were assessed using SF-36, PSPP-SCV, RSES and SWLS tests. Walking exercise has a positive impact on physical fitness (6MWD -p = 0.001) and physical components of the psychological test...

OBJECTIVE: To describe health care strategies for older people living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Bahia state, Brazil. METHODS: This is an ecological study involving LTCFs identified in Bahia state, which were invited to participate in a survey conducted between April and June 2021. The variables of interest were LTCF characteristics, health care strategies, visits received from national public health system (SUS, in Portuguese) teams, and health care actions taken by SUS. A comparative analysis was performed between LTCFs located in the East macro-region and other parts of the state, in general and also stratified by funding type (private and non-private). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 177 LTCFs, more than half of them were located in the East macro-region, seat of the state capital. Most facilities declared themselves as non-private (68%). Less than one-third of the LTCFs had their own health teams. Although 67% of LTCFs reported some health care provided by SUS, only 49% reported clinical consultations, with even lower percentages for other SUS actions, except for vaccination (91%). The East macro-region had a lower percentage of LTCFs accompanied by a SUS team, and the highest percentage of LTCFs with supplementary health insurance. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the limited access of LTCF residents to essential health services, due to a general neglect of this population by public health care providers. The inadequacy of public policies to support LTCFs has important consequences for the quality of care offered to residents.

Analysis of the number of syphilis hospitalizations in elderly women in Brazil between 2010 and 2019 by age group

No abstract

Introdução: Demência é uma síndrome clínica decorrente do comprometimento da função cognitiva, cuja incidência e prevalência são acrescidas com a idade, sendo uma das principais causas de perda da independência e autonomia do idoso. Durante a pandemia, idosos com demência formaram grupo de grande vulnerabilidade, sofrendo extenso impacto no manejo clínico de sua doença, gerando consequências em toda conjuntura familiar, principalmente em seus cuidadores. Metodologia: Revisão de literatura integrativa através da busca bibliográfica nas bases: Scielo, Lilacs e BVS . Descritores utilizados: “demência”, “pandemia” e “COVID-19”. Foram encontrados 112 artigos, 82 destes foram descartados por não se relacionarem diretamente com a temática ou não possuírem textos disponibilizados na íntegra . Incluídos nesse estudo artigos que abordassem eixos temáticos das demências e da pandemia e artigos com menos de 10 anos que tratassem do conceito das demências. Resultados: Estudos mostram que a pandemia trouxe limitações em diferentes âmbitos para pacientes com demência e seus cuidadores. A dificuldade no acesso ou conhecimento da tecnologia e a falta de acompanhamento integral geraram redução de confiança no diagnóstico.  Além disso, mostraram que o isolamento social pode comprometer o acesso à estimulação cognitiva e sobrecarregar as famílias no cuidado com esse paciente. Conclusão: Dado o exposto, pacientes com demência e seus cuidadores são populações vulneráveis que foram notadamente afetadas durante a pandemia. Esse estudo mostra a necessidade de intervenções em saúde, o manejo de sintomas psicológicos  e comportamentais nesses pacientes e a importância de uma rede de apoio aos seus cuidadores.