Impact of Health Access on Hospitalization of Children and Youth with Cerebral Palsy and Paralytic Syndromes in Brazilian Regions

Silvia Baltieri () and Rubens Wajnsztejn
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Silvia Baltieri: ABC Medical School, Santo André CEP 09060-650, SP, Brazil
Rubens Wajnsztejn: Scientific Writing Laboratory, Specialized Learning Center, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, ABC Medical School, Santo André CEP 09060-650, SP, Brazil

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: In 2021, 28.16% of Brazilians were aged 0–19 years, highlighting the critical need for medical care in diagnosing and treating cerebral palsy (CP). In developing countries, CP prevalence reaches 7/1000 live births, emphasizing the importance of healthcare access, which influences diagnosis and prognosis. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between health infrastructure across different Brazilian regions and its impact on hospitalization and mortality rates among children with CP and other paralytic syndromes. An ecological time-series design was used, analyzing secondary population-based data from DATASUS, covering January 2018 to December 2021. The data included healthcare facilities, physicians, hospitalizations, and deaths for individuals aged 0–19 years, with analysis conducted using Microsoft Excel. The results revealed significant disparities in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in the northern and northeastern regions. A notable correlation was found between healthcare inequalities and hospitalizations and mortality rates, with the northern region showing significant results ( p = 0.03 for hospitalizations and p = 0.02 for mortalities). This study underscores significant regional disparities in healthcare access in Brazil, contributing to variations in hospitalization rates for children and adolescents, especially in the northern region.

Keywords: Unified Health System; socioeconomic factors; cerebral palsy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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