Población y Salud en Mesoamérica

Ways to ensure full verification of victims and their importance in the effective use of insurance funds in Ukraine

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

The purpose of this study is to analyze Ukraine’s system for verifying state insurance payments to victims of industrial accidents, assess its effectiveness, and compare it with verification models in the European Union. The research highlights significant inefficiencies in Ukraine’s current framework, including fragmented databases, delayed payments, and potential misuse of insurance funds. By contrasting this system with best practices in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Austria, the study identifies key deficiencies and provides policy recommendations for improvement. The findings reveal that Ukraine lacks real-time verification, automated fraud detection, and centralized data integration, leading to financial losses and delays in compensating victims. These inefficiencies place a significant burden on the state budget and pension funds, reducing the effectiveness of social protection programs and negatively impacting economic stability. In contrast, EU countries implement structured, multi-tiered verification systems, leveraging automated cross-checks, digital identity tracking, and transparent monitoring mechanisms. The study also explores the economic and social impact of ineffective verification, demonstrating how misallocated pension funds contribute to financial instability and reduced quality of life for affected workers. Using a mixed-method approach, the research combines official government data, legislative analysis, and case studies from regional pension offices to evaluate verification accuracy and fraud detection rates. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing Ukraine’s verification process, including preventive verification, interagency database integration, and increased transparency to align with EU standards. These reforms are essential for ensuring fair compensation for victims, strengthening financial oversight, and improving social security systems in Ukraine while reducing the economic strain on public finances.

Association of Air Pollution and Mental Disorders in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica, 2016-2019

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Introduction: Various studies have identified exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particulate matter (PM₁₀) and other pollutants as a risk factor for the incidence of mental disorders. However, these associations have not been previously explored in Costa Rica. Methods: An ecological-geographic study was designed at the district level in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) of Costa Rica. Data on suicide events, suicide attempts, and depression were obtained from 154 districts of the GAM of Costa Rica; along with data on two pollutants: NO₂ and PM₁₀ for a period of four years (2016 to 2019). Data were correlated using a robust negative binomial regression model and a geographically weighted regression. Results: The association between pollutants and suicide was positive, but not significant, the same happened with the relationship between NO₂ and suicide attempt. The model shows a negative but non-significant relationship between PM₁₀ and suicide attempt, while an increase of one unit of NO₂ (> 40μg/m³) was linked to a higher incidence rate of depression (percentage change: 9.50%, CI:5.00% to 14.00%). Conclusions: Higher levels of pollution were associated with an increase in the incidence rate of depression in the GAM districts of Costa Rica. The association between pollutants and suicide and suicide attempt and the independent variables cannot be affirmed or rejected. It is necessary to indicate other possible ways of configuring the relationship with more explanatory variables.

Psychological health in people having suffered from COVID-19: predictors

Luisa Angelucci Bastidas, José Eduardo Rondón Bernard — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Introduction: It is estimated that a significant percentage of people who have suffered from COVID-19 may continue to experience physical symptoms and psychological health sequels. There are different psychosocial factors that could potentially explain and predict the health of COVID-19 survivors. In this sense, the aim of this study was to explore how gender, age, educational level, loss of close relatives due to the disease, oxygen assistance, post-COVID-19 chronic disease diagnosis, and the physical and psychological difficulties suffered, affect the psychological health of people having suffered from COVID-19. Method: A prospective single-group study was implemented, and a participation of 419 individuals was registered, of both sexes, selected via a purposive sampling. Two instruments were administered: The Goldberg General Health Questionnaire, to measure social dysfunction, anxiety and depression; and a second instrument designed for this research, to evaluate sociodemographic, and disease-related variables. Results: The model explaining the greatest percentage of variance is one of social dysfunction (16 %), compared to another one of anxiety and depression (14 %). On the other hand, being female (B = -.15; B = -.22), younger (B = -.28; B = -.16), and having physical (B = .17; B = .14) or psychological (B = .2; B = .13) difficulties, seems to predict higher levels of social dysfunction and of anxiety and depression. Post-COVID-19 chronic illness diagnosis (B = .11) predicts only the levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Considering the results, it is recommended to design psychosocial programs aimed at addressing the psychological health of individuals having suffered from COVID-19. Results of the study shall be analyzed considering sampling limitations.

Vertigo and dizziness, a global public health issue: Recommendations for an appropriate approach in Chile

Jorge Colipí Sáez, Alexis Leandro Gonzalez Burboa — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Introduction: Vertigo and dizziness are common symptoms in clinical practice and have garnered increasing interest due to the significant costs they impose on healthcare systems worldwide. These symptoms have a substantial impact on individuals' functionality, increase the risk of falls, and are associated with various comorbidities. Proposal: This study provides information on the prevalence of vertigo and dizziness in Europe, the United States, and South America, and proposes a series of specific recommendations to address these issues within the context of Chile. Argumentation: Taking into account the Chilean healthcare model and the strategies of the primary care resolutivity program, practical suggestions are presented for healthcare professionals and family physicians. These recommendations incorporate the guidelines of the Bárány Society, as well as experiences and strategies developed in Europe and the United States. Conclusions: The proposals emphasize the importance of training primary care professionals in the use of the TiTrATE algorithm and the HINTS protocol, improving infrastructure and equipment for vestibular evaluation and rehabilitation, establishing a common language among clinicians, academics, and researchers regarding vestibular disorders, and developing a basic training plan in vestibular medicine.