BackgroundBrazil has made progress towards a more equitable distribution of health care, but gains may be threatened by economic instability resulting from the 2008 global financial crisis. This study measured predictors of health care utilization and changes in horizontal inequity between 2008 and 2013.MethodData were from two nationally representative surveys that measured a variety of sociodemographic, health behaviors and health care indicators. We used Poisson regression models to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios and the Horizontal Equity Index (HEI) standardized by health needs to measure inequity in the utilization of doctor and dentist visits, hospitalizations and reporting of a usual source of care (USC) for those 18 and older. To estimate the HEI, we ranked the population from the poorest to the richest using a wealth index. We also decomposed the HEI into its different components and assessed changes from 2008 to 2013.ResultsThe population proportion with doctor and dentist visits in the past year and a USC increased between 2008 and 2013, while hospitalizations declined. In 2013, pro-rich inequity in doctor visits increased significantly while the distribution of hospitalizations shifted from pro-rich in 2008 to neutral in 2013. Dentist visits were highly pro-rich and USC was slightly pro-rich; the distribution of dentist visits and USC did not change over time. Health need was a strong predictor of health care utilization regardless of the type of coverage (public or private). Education, wealth, and private health plans were associated with the pro-rich orientation of doctor and dentist visits. Private health plans contributed to the pro-rich orientation of all outcomes, while the Family Health Strategy contributed to the pro-poor orientation of all outcomes.ConclusionThe results of this study support the claim that Brazil’s population continued to see absolute gains in access to care despite recent economic crises. However, gains in equity have slowed and may even decline if investments are not maintained as the country enters deeper financial and political crises.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12939-016-0431-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Resumo: Neste trabalho, avaliam-se quantitativa e qualitativamente as informações do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (SINASC). A cobertura das informações por município foi estimada pela razão entre nascidos vivos informados e estimados. Para avaliação da qualidade das informações do SINASC, relacionou-se o sistema à base de dados do estudo Nascer no Brasil, 2011-2012, e foram estimados coeficientes kappa de concordância. Em 2013, a cobertura das informações foi alta e homogênea em todas as Unidades da Federação. Entretanto, a análise por município brasileiro apresentou maior heterogeneidade espacial. Quanto à qualidade de preenchimento das informações do SINASC, os coeficientes kappa de concordância foram estatisticamente diferentes de zero para todas as variáveis testadas (p < 0,001), e as distribuições marginais para todas as variáveis consideradas foram semelhantes nas duas bases de dados. A idade gestacional foi a variável que mostrou pior concordância, com valor de kappa de 0,461. O indicador que descreve as inconsistências, medido pela soma do quadrado das diferenças entre os percentuais de prematuridade informados e esperados por faixa de peso ao nascer, teve o valor mais alto na Região Norte e o menor na Região Sul, apontando para desigualdades geográficas na mensuração da idade gestacional.

IntroductionPerceived discrimination is related to poor health and has been offered as one explanation for the persistence of health inequalities in some societies. In this study, we explore the prevalence and correlates of perceived discrimination in a large, multiracial Brazilian metropolitan area.MethodsThe study uses secondary analysis of a regionally representative household survey conducted in 2010 (n=12,213). Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression assess the magnitude and statistical significance of covariates associated with reports of any discrimination and with discrimination in specific settings, including when seeking healthcare services, in the work environment, in the family, in social occasions among friends or in public places, or in other situations.ResultsNearly 9% of the sample reported some type of discrimination. In multivariable models, reports of any discrimination were higher among people who identify as black versus white (OR 1.91), higher (OR 1.21) among women than men, higher (OR 1.33) among people in their 30’s and lower (OR 0.63) among older individuals. People with many health problems (OR 4.97) were more likely to report discrimination than those with few health problems. Subjective social status (OR 1.23) and low social trust (OR 1.27) were additional associated factors. Perceived discrimination experienced while seeking healthcare differed from all other types of discrimination, in that it was not associated with skin color, social status or trust, but was associated with sex, poverty, and poor health.ConclusionsThere appear to be multiple factors associated with perceived discrimination in this population that may affect health. Policies and programs aimed at reducing discrimination in Brazil will likely need to address this wider set of interrelated risk factors across different populations.