Resumo

COSTA, Ana Maria Magalhães et al. Assessment of the impact of the NGO Refazer on medical care for children at social risk. Rev Panam Salud Publica [online]. 2011, vol.30, n.3, pp. 231-239. ISSN 1020-4989.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1020-49892011000900007.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the impact of activities by the nongovernmental organization Refazer in support of medical care for children at social risk. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted of 77 patients from Rio de Janeiro in treatment at the Fernandes Figueira Institute and supported by Refazer. The assessment period was two years, one before and the other during the intervention period while being supported by the NGO. The percentage of hospitalizations, average length of stay, severity of the illness, use of technology, number of outpatient consultations, and clinical conditions involved were compared. RESULTS: The indicators linked with the hospitalizations revealed changes during the intervention period. There was a reduction in the average time and percentage of hospitalization. The most common pathologies were congenital malformations, chromosomal anomalies, and diseases of the nervous system. These diseases and HIV/AIDS were more prevalent in children that remained hospitalized even after receiving support from the NGO. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the indicators showed that the outcomes are adequate to the NGO's mission and that the population helped benefits from participation in the social support network. Although it cannot be stated that the benefits found are due exclusively to the activities of the NGO, a simple and easy-to-use evaluation of adequacy was developed that NGOs themselves can use, representing progress toward the institutional use of evaluations by NGOs working in health.

Palavras-chave : Non-governmental organizations; program evaluation; child; hospitalization; Brazil.