POPLINE Document Number: 315157
Author(s):
Cesar JA
Goncalves TS
Neumann NA
Oliveira Filho JA
Diziekaniak AC
Source citation:
Cadernos de Saude Publica, 2005 Nov-Dec;21(6):1845-1855.
Abstract:
Community surveys are essential to estimate health indicators, evaluate health programs, and define health interventions. In 2002, a cross-sectional survey of children under five was conducted in 18 areas of the poorest counties in North and Northeast Brazil. Nine areas were visited by volunteer community health workers (CHW) under the Children's Mission, and the others were not visited. Using a standard questionnaire, trained interviewers collected information at the household level for 1,528 children, 782 of whom were visited monthly by CHWs and 772 were not. All the children and their families were living below the poverty line; 40.0% of the parents were illiterate, per capita daily income was about US$0.30, and household conditions were substandard. However, most were living less than 1km from a public health service and almost all children who were referred to these services received medical care. Prenatal care was also poor in terms of number of medical visits and laboratory tests. Children visited by CHWs from the Children's Mission received better care in terms of growth monitoring, number of medical check-ups, and prenatal iron supplementation. (author's)
Keywords:
BrazilIndex page
Research Report
Health Surveys
Children
Low Income Population
Community Workers
Child Health
Health Services
Program Accessibility
Antenatal Care
South America, Eastern
South America
Latin America
Americas
Developing Countries
Health
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Social Class
Socioeconomic Status
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Health Personnel
Delivery of Health Care
Program Evaluation
Programs
Organization and Administration
Maternal Health Services
Maternal-Child Health Services
Primary Health Care