Abstract Objective: To evaluate the barriers to access and oral health care faced by children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) according to their motor impairment through the perception of caregivers. Material and Methods: A case series study was carried out at three health institutions in Pernambuco, Brazil. The study sample consisted of 94 caregivers of 5-to-18-year-old patients with CP, according to GMFCS (The Gross Motor Function Classification System). Data were collected using a semi-structured form to evaluate the barriers to access and analyzed statistically by the chi-square and Fisher exact tests, adopting a 5% level of significance. In addition, binary logistic regression was performed to determine the weight of the variables in explaining the outcome variable. Results: There were major difficulties involving transportation (p=0.04) and structural accessibility to dental services (p<0.01) among children and adolescents with severe CP. In addition, the more severe the CP, the greater the difficulty of accessibility (OR=4.09,) and the lower the income (OR=8.80), the greater the motor impairment. Conclusion: Despite the availability of access to dental services, low-income families have more severe CP patients, contributing to the daily difficulties already faced by them in oral health care.

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar os cuidados em saúde bucal de crianças/adolescentes com Paralisia Cerebral (PC) segundo a gravidade, através da percepção dos pais/cuidadores. Estudo série de casos realizado em serviços de saúde de Pernambuco com 94 mães/cuidadores de sujeitos com PC entre 5 e 18 anos. Avaliaram-se fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos, cuidados em saúde bucal e uso de serviços odontológicos (SO). O Sistema de Classificação da Função Motora Grossa mostrou 67% com comprometimento motor grave. Indivíduos com PC grave tiveram frequência significantemente maior de pertencerem a famílias com renda mais baixa (89%, p < 0,001), residirem no interior (44%, p < 0,005), terem dificuldades de transporte (60%, p = 0,04) e acessibilidade aos SO (88%, p = 0,009) e maior necessidade de higiene bucal (67%, p = 0,008) realizada pelas mães (94%, p < 0,001). Apesar das barreiras de acesso aos SO, o mesmo foi facilitado para aqueles com PC grave, com uso precoce dos SO, mas com baixa oferta de dentistas e de humanização. Esses resultados informam problemas relacionados aos cuidados diários em saúde bucal, contexto de vida das famílias, de apoio institucional e de qualidade dos SO a serem enfrentados com políticas públicas socioeconômicas e de saúde integrais inclusivas e equânimes.

Abstract The aim was to evaluate the oral health care of children/adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) according to severity through the perceptions of parents/caregivers. A case series study was conducted at health services in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil with 94 mothers/caregivers of subjects with CP from 5 and 18 years old. Sociodemographic factors, oral health care and use of dental services (DS) were evaluated. The Gross Motor Function Classification System showed 67% with severe motor impairment. Subjects with severe CP had significantly higher frequencies of belonging to families with lower income (89%, p < 0.001), living in the interior (44%, p < 0.005), having transportation difficulties (60%, p = 0.04), difficulty regarding access to DS (88%, p = 0.009) and a greater need for oral hygiene (67%, p = 0.008), which was performed exclusively by the caregiver (94%, p < 0.001). Despite identified access barriers, dental care was facilitated for those with severe CP, early DS use, but low availability of dentists and low degree of humanization were cited as major problems. These results reveal problems related to daily oral health care, family living context, institutional support and quality of DS that should be addressed in comprehensive, inclusive, equitable social and economic public policies.

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar os cuidados em saúde bucal de crianças/adolescentes com Paralisia Cerebral (PC) segundo a gravidade, através da percepção dos pais/cuidadores. Estudo série de casos realizado em serviços de saúde de Pernambuco com 94 mães/cuidadores de sujeitos com PC entre 5 e 18 anos. Avaliaram-se fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos, cuidados em saúde bucal e uso de serviços odontológicos (SO). O Sistema de Classificação da Função Motora Grossa mostrou 67% com comprometimento motor grave. Indivíduos com PC grave tiveram frequência significantemente maior de pertencerem a famílias com renda mais baixa (89%, p < 0,001), residirem no interior (44%, p < 0,005), terem dificuldades de transporte (60%, p = 0,04) e acessibilidade aos SO (88%, p = 0,009) e maior necessidade de higiene bucal (67%, p = 0,008) realizada pelas mães (94%, p < 0,001). Apesar das barreiras de acesso aos SO, o mesmo foi facilitado para aqueles com PC grave, com uso precoce dos SO, mas com baixa oferta de dentistas e de humanização. Esses resultados informam problemas relacionados aos cuidados diários em saúde bucal, contexto de vida das famílias, de apoio institucional e de qualidade dos SO a serem enfrentados com políticas públicas socioeconômicas e de saúde integrais inclusivas e equânimes.

Abstract The aim was to evaluate the oral health care of children/adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) according to severity through the perceptions of parents/caregivers. A case series study was conducted at health services in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil with 94 mothers/caregivers of subjects with CP from 5 and 18 years old. Sociodemographic factors, oral health care and use of dental services (DS) were evaluated. The Gross Motor Function Classification System showed 67% with severe motor impairment. Subjects with severe CP had significantly higher frequencies of belonging to families with lower income (89%, p < 0.001), living in the interior (44%, p < 0.005), having transportation difficulties (60%, p = 0.04), difficulty regarding access to DS (88%, p = 0.009) and a greater need for oral hygiene (67%, p = 0.008), which was performed exclusively by the caregiver (94%, p < 0.001). Despite identified access barriers, dental care was facilitated for those with severe CP, early DS use, but low availability of dentists and low degree of humanization were cited as major problems. These results reveal problems related to daily oral health care, family living context, institutional support and quality of DS that should be addressed in comprehensive, inclusive, equitable social and economic public policies.

Objective: To assess the impact and correlation of socioeconomic vulnerability on COVID-19 outcomes and social distancing in Brazil. Methods: The Gini Coefficient (GC), the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), epidemiological data on COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil, and the Social Distancing Index (SDI) were retrieved from online databases and assessed for each Brazilian state. Data was statistically analyzed through non-parametric tests and multiple linear regressions. Results: The mean values for the GC and SVI were 0.495 and 0.261, respectively. A positive statistically significant correlation between the socioeconomic indicators and the three variables related to the COVID-19 outbreak was found. States with very low social vulnerability presented fewer deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants due to COVID-19 than states with moderate social vulnerability. SVI was a predictor of accumulated cases, confirmed deaths, and social distancing in Brazilian states during COVID-19. Conclusions: The COVID-19 outcomes and SDI in Brazilian states are correlated to the socioeconomic condition. The pandemic impacts are more severe in less favored communities.

Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto e a correlação da vulnerabilidade socioeconômica nos desfechos da COVID-19 e no distanciamento social no Brasil. Materiais e Métodos: O Coeficiente de Gini (CG), o Índice de Vulnerabilidade Social (IVS), dados epidemiológicos sobre a epidemia da COVID-19 no Brasil e o Índice de Distanciamento Social (IDS) foram obtidos a partir de bases de dados online e avaliados para cada estado brasileiro. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente através de testes não-paramétricos e de regressão logística linear. Resultados: Os valores médios para o CG e IVS foram 0.495 e 0.261, respectivamente. Uma correlação estatística positiva foi encontrada entre os indicadores socioeconômicos e as três variáveis relacionadas à epidemia de COVID-19. Os estados brasileiros com menores índices de vulnerabilidade social apresentaram uma quantidade menor de mortes pela COVID-19, para cada cem mil habitantes, quando comparados com estados com vulnerabilidade social moderada. O IVS foi um preditor para o acumulado de casos, mortes confirmadas e distanciamento social nos estados brasileiros durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Conclusão: Os desfechos da COVID-19 e o IDS nos estados brasileiros estão correlacionados com a condição socioeconômica. Os impactos da pandemia são mais severos nas localidades mais vulneráveis.