Cadernos de saúde pública
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Cadernos de saúde pública · Jan 2020
The effect of lockdown on the COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil: evidence from an interrupted time series design.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments worldwide have implemented social distancing policies with different levels of both enforcement and compliance. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis to estimate the impact of lockdowns on reducing the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in Brazil. Official daily data was collected for four city capitals before and after their respective policies interventions based on a 14 days observation window. ⋯ In São Luís, we observed a reduction of 37.85% while in Fortaleza the decrease was 33.4% on the average difference in daily deaths if the lockdown had not been implemented. Similarly, the intervention diminished mortality in Recife by 21.76% and Belém by 16.77%. Social distancing policies can be useful tools in flattening the epidemic curve.
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Cadernos de saúde pública · Jan 2020
Racial inequalities and death on the horizon: COVID-19 and structural racism.
COVID-19 incidence and mortality in countries with heavy social inequalities differ in population terms. In countries like Brazil with colonial histories and traditions, the social markers of differences are heavily anchored in social and racial demarcation, and the political and social dynamics and processes based on structural racism act on this demarcation. ⋯ The authors discuss government responses and COVID-19 indicators according to race/color, demonstrating the maintenance of historical storylines that continue to threaten black lives. The article also discusses the importance of local resistance movements, organized in the favelas, precarious urban spaces underserved by the State and occupied by black Brazilians.
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Cadernos de saúde pública · Jan 2020
[Brazilian validation of the item banks on Sleep Disturbance and Wake Disturbance in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)].
This study aimed to validate the Brazilian version of the item banks for Sleep Disturbance and Wake Disturbance from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Validation of these item banks used classical test theory, item response theory, calibrations of items according to the gradual response model proposed by Samejima, and analysis of Differential Item Functioning (DIF), with a sample consisting of 627 participants over 18 years of age. As for data quality, there were no missing data, five items from the Sleep Disturbance bank and four items from the WE bank showed a floor effect, and none of the banks showed a ceiling effect. ⋯ The calibration showed that the items' psychometric properties were satisfactory with good coverage of the sleep-wake construct. As for DIF, both the Sleep Disturbance and Wake Disturbance banks proved to be homogeneous for the different test groups. In conclusion, the version in Brazilian Portuguese for the item banks on Sleep Disturbance and Wake Disturbance in the PROMIS proved to be a reliable, precise, and valid instrument with robust psychometric analyses.